Slip Sliding Away

Left the cabin this morning to find it was snowing lightly. A heavy wet snow that will chill you to the bones if you stay out in it too long or are not dressed properly. Definitely made our side road a slippery mess. The existing snow on the road had turned to a very wet slush on top and ice beneath. Made it difficult for traction, even in 4-wheel drive. Made it down our road, across the bridge (that started life as a flatbed railroad car) over Payton Creek and onto the main forest service road without incident. Took a sip of hot coffee. Still in 4-wheel drive I made it up the hill and under the arch that marks the entry/exit to Mt Index Riversites while all the time trying to deftly avoid the bomb craters that were once potholes. Only one more dicey spot to go, the downhill S-curve about 100 meters from the junction with HY-2. Started down the hill and got into the first turn before I was able to see the dark color 4-door sedan that had slid into the ditch on the east side of the roadway. No emergency blinkers to warn any oncoming traffic (that would be me). Just had time to try to look to see if anyone was huddled inside before I was past it and turning onto the highway. Roads remained nasty all the way down the mountains to Gold Bar where the snow turned to rain. Punched out of 4-wheel drive into 2-wheel drive. Time for another sip of hot coffee (thank you CJ) and the commute began.

Husky Blackout Thursday

Thanks to my cousin Kevin I went to my first game at Husky Stadium on Thursday. Dawgs were hosting UCLA Bruins for a 5pm kickoff game. This was the last home game of the year and the last game at Husky Stadium for the seniors on the team. To honor the seniors the coaches and team decided to wear, for the first time in Husky history, all black uniforms. I am a traditionalist and prefer the Dawgs wear the school colors of purple and gold but I must admit that the black uniforms were very cool. That said, I still prefer purple and gold and by that I mean the real purple and gold, not the lavender that the school adopted under the Neuheisel regime.

The Dawgs won 24-7 and I got to see Jake Locker score on a 3yd run off left tackle. The stadium itself is incredibly loud when 67,000 fans are "woofing", stomping and chanting. Again, very cool. The fans on this night had been asked to wear black to commemorate Blackout Thursday and they did. Odd to see all that black versus the sea of purple normally seen here.

I had a blast and look forward to seeing more games live.

Winter 2010

We spent the past 2.5 days without power. A very strong storm front passed through and the strong winds at its command swept through the Cascades with a vengeance leaving carnage in its wake. One of our friends had a large tree fall and take out 1/3 of the new shop he was building. Tree limbs and debris was littered everywhere. On my way home I came across downed power lines that were arcing so fiercely that you could see the glow from a good half mile away. The brush and grass were on fire despite the rain coming down. It was about 6 meters off the roadway and I passed by quickly. I knew full well that this meant there would be no power at the cabin.

It is very interesting how the loss of electricity changes your life. We so take it for granted that when we hit the light switch, the lights will come on. That we will have heat and a stove to cook on. When those things are taken from you, your life style changes immediately. For us, the loss of power also meant the loss of water since we rely on a pump to get water from the creek. No water, no toilet.

I have to say though that it some fundamental way I really enjoy these times without all the luxuries that surround our daily lives. Without power there is absolute silence. No "white noise" emanating from the micro-wave, DVR, wall heaters, refrigerator, etc. Even the very slight hum associated with lights is eliminated. The quiet is complete and envelopes you like a soft comforting blanket. It reminds me of the times I have spent in wilderness areas. The quiet is so complete it is almost palpable and takes some getting used too.

We have been through this before so we have all the necessary supplies readily at hand: candles, firewood, flashlights, headlamps, water, etc. With the new gas grill we bought this summer we even have a very convenient method of cooking without electricity.

Coming home to a dark cold cabin should be unconcerting and a little daunting but for me it is not. The dark is like an old friend to me. When I was a teenager I used to go into the woods at night and run the trails, human and game, and end up in a little clearing far from my house. I would sit there and listen to the night sounds and try to identify them. I would gaze up at the stars and moon and have wonderful thoughts of "life out there". I like the dark. Coming into the cabin I found the 2 cats, also night creatures, at the door to greet me. With my headlamp on I could see their eyes glowing green as they watched my approach through the glass of the front door. Very cool. Once inside I light the candles that are at the ready and then get a fire going in the cast iron stove. It only takes about 30 minutes before the heat from the fire takes control and forces the chill to find another place to lurk. I then make myself a Powers and coke, sit down at the oak dining room table and enjoy the total lack of man made noise. That noise is replaced by the sounds of nature: wind, rain, scurrying little forest creatures, trees whispering to each other (and to you too if you only listen), the creek water against ancient stone. Very comforting.

When the power came back on it was almost with a bit of regret that I hit the light switches and turned the heaters on. The refrigerator buzzed back to life and the micro-wave beebed loudly back into existence.

Oh well, the winter of 2010 has just begun.

Yellowstone Bison in a Land of Fire

This was an awesome sight. This is what it must have like in the days of the mountain men.

Montana Bucks

Pictures taken on the National Bison Refuge about 50 miles out of Missoula, MT.

Picture Impact

I was going through more pictures last night in an effort to get rid of those that are blurry or of landscapes long lost to memory. In the process, I came across several rolls of film I had taken of Jessi when she was about 5-6YO. For some reason those pictures hit me like a ton of bricks. Uncontrollably I got very emotional and was suddenly very happy I was alone. I am not an emotional person by habit so this emotional outburst came as quite a shock. Then I found myself wondering "why". The simple reason of course was that I missed Jessi when she was at that age. Before the "dark years" when all seemed lost. She was so young and innocent, looking at the world with fresh eyes and wonderment. Everything to her was new and exciting and she never was very good at hiding her emotions so it was always fun to watch her and her discoveries. Or could it be that I missed those days because I missed those days in many ways. I was gone from home a lot, either working or working out at the gym. That seemed so important to me then and now I would rather have the time back being with and watching the kids grow up. I was never one for a lot of hugging, kissing and touching and yet I find myself wishing I had done just that. Too late, can't go back. If I had been more touchy feely, would it have made a difference in her life? In mine? Same goes for CJ and Austin. I would give a lot to go back and spend time just snuggling and being close with CJ. I know she craved that at the time and yet I was an emotional blackboard that had been thoroughly cleaned. Or perhaps the emotions evoked from looking at those pictures was due to the woe of knowing that I was getting older and that life in many ways had escaped me. You can never go back and it does not do any real good to look back, but I do. Alas, I must continue the push forward in the yoke of life. Or is there yet still time to shrug off the yoke and savor the time left to me and to perhaps make up for lost time?