getting back to the new normal
We had a grand time for Nathan’s birthday Saturday. He even got hit on by a
woman at the pub where we ate. We started early because we had to get up at
5 a.m. Sunday to drive him to the Victoria airport. Jude, bless her heart, drove
as always. I slept in the back seat, rousing slightly when we stopped at the
giant gnome, but not really waking up until we got to the airport.
We saw Nathan off with the usual heavy hearts and came home, talking about
what’s ahead for 2012. Our extended holidays don’t actually end until tonight,
when the LSU-Alabama football game determines the national champs. But
it’s always good to get a head start, no matter how slight.
We have numerous projects for the house and property, all of which will be
reported here. In May I plan to drive to Kansas to see my oldest grandchild
Sean graduate from high school, then bring him back with me for a visit,
hopefully picking up Nathan and his brother Jin on the way.
That’s right: ROAD TRIP!
I relish the chance to find out what Sean’s been up to. I haven’t spent any
significant time with him since 2003. We’ll have hour upon hour to talk
about this crucial transition in his life. And we’ll be cruising some pretty
choice scenery, as well.
Speaking of road trips, I have two observations of our jaunt to Victoria that
terday that I wanted to share:
(1) with two stops at Tim Horton’s and one at Taco Bell, Jude
Nathan and I generated a lot of trash. I realize that our
choices were voluntary, but it’s supremely simple to eat
that way, and a rare treat for me. Mind you, virtually all
of it was recycled. I used the numerous paper wrappers to
start a fire in our woodstove when we got home. But if the
overwhelming majority of all such trash is just thrown
away, it’s really disheartening. Please recycle.
(2) on the drive home, I noticed that most of the alder trees
that line the highway were starting to bud. Let’s review:
Early January. Canada. Trees budding. I don’t know how
this figures into the climate change debate, but it’s weird.
Geaux, Tigers, tonight!
Comments are closed.
Anchor Struck 
My good friend Megan, who lives outside Spokane, said they’ve had no snow this year – just a little smattering a few times, but none now – and the temps have been abnormally high. Pretty scary to think that global warming is speeding up, isn’t it? I read a news article yesterday that said there is no snow at Antarctica – – now THAT’S scary!!!
We see stories in the news here about Inuit (Eskimo) villages in the Arctic having to relocate due to global warming. As I understand it, ice cap melting is accelerating because water run-off underneath the glaciers lubricates their slide to the ocean. Plus, smaller glaciers reflect less sunlight, which the larger ocean then absorbs. Strange, isn’t it, to be a member of a species that is consciously engaged in its own extinction?
It is scary what is happening with our planet. Alaska is getting the oscillating cycle this year. I was just thinking of the insects that the warmer temps cannot kill out. I bet the farmers will have a hard time this year.
I do recycle and not just paper. I save the tabs off of soda and beer cans and turn them in to a lady for childrens hospital.
The mountain pine beetle, about the size of a grain of rice, is spreading rapidly in B.C. due to warmer temperatures. It’s already killed 40 million acres of trees here and has crossed the Rockies into Alberta. It’s also a problem in Colorado and Wyoming. Not only do the dead trees create a fire hazard, they can no longer effectively reduce GHG.