Been Busy
I've been busy over the past few months. I realize the time I usually browse the web and post to this blog was early mornings--and I've been "sleeping in" until 6 a lot recently.
The rest of my time has been spent on a few things.
I've been studying the history and geology of the local area--especially the mountains. It all got started with One Hundred Years in Yosemite. And Oak to pine to timberline, which specifically chronicles the history of the foothill region where I grew up. I also have a number of books on and by John Muir I've been reading.
Most of these histories had something about the geology of the mountains, which is fascinating to the scientist in me. I've devoured Geology of the Sierra Nevada which is an easy read considering the dry subject matter.
This geology knowledge has come in handy on the various field trips the family and I have been taking. Especially in the area of the lower kings where interesting metamorphic rocks abound.
A lot of the outside adventures are offset by the introduction of digital television, HD Tivo, and the Wii to the household. The ability to record/play HD Discovery channel is fantastic. And while we don't play the Wii a whole bunch, we enjoy Wii Sports and Wii Play a lot.
The boys are obsessed with Transformers. So time is spent either watching the movie, or playing with the toys, or running around the house taking turns "being" transformers.
Monica kept bugging me about her desire for a new camera. She said that I couldn't upgrade my traction (tires) on the truck until she got her camera. She wanted a real 35mm format SLR. We got the Cannon Rebel XTi and a couple of entry-level lenses. Of course this turns out to be another nerds paradise for me with the technical aspects of exposure and an expensive proposition for gear. But I happen to have two really incredible photographic subjects walking around the house. We've been having fun with the ability to take pretty good pictures of them in various lighting situations.
The rest of my time is spent with this pesky thing called "work." It is a necessary distraction that occupies most of my daylight hours these days. But it provides some piece of mind and the ability to pay for the rest of life--so I guess it's worth it.. :)
The rest of my time has been spent on a few things.
I've been studying the history and geology of the local area--especially the mountains. It all got started with One Hundred Years in Yosemite. And Oak to pine to timberline, which specifically chronicles the history of the foothill region where I grew up. I also have a number of books on and by John Muir I've been reading.
Most of these histories had something about the geology of the mountains, which is fascinating to the scientist in me. I've devoured Geology of the Sierra Nevada which is an easy read considering the dry subject matter.
This geology knowledge has come in handy on the various field trips the family and I have been taking. Especially in the area of the lower kings where interesting metamorphic rocks abound.
A lot of the outside adventures are offset by the introduction of digital television, HD Tivo, and the Wii to the household. The ability to record/play HD Discovery channel is fantastic. And while we don't play the Wii a whole bunch, we enjoy Wii Sports and Wii Play a lot.
The boys are obsessed with Transformers. So time is spent either watching the movie, or playing with the toys, or running around the house taking turns "being" transformers.
Monica kept bugging me about her desire for a new camera. She said that I couldn't upgrade my traction (tires) on the truck until she got her camera. She wanted a real 35mm format SLR. We got the Cannon Rebel XTi and a couple of entry-level lenses. Of course this turns out to be another nerds paradise for me with the technical aspects of exposure and an expensive proposition for gear. But I happen to have two really incredible photographic subjects walking around the house. We've been having fun with the ability to take pretty good pictures of them in various lighting situations.The rest of my time is spent with this pesky thing called "work." It is a necessary distraction that occupies most of my daylight hours these days. But it provides some piece of mind and the ability to pay for the rest of life--so I guess it's worth it.. :)
posted by Steve at 5:51 AM
3 Comments:
Have you read Indian Summer? It's written by a guy who was basically abandoned by his father to local Choinumne Yokuts in 1850. I thought it was pretty interesting and talks about basically the area from the foothills to Reedley/Centerville to Tulare Lake.
But geologically-wise I really liked the outing Craig Poole lead to the where they turn-up fossils by the bucket load (front-end-loader bucket loads), and then that afternoon he took the group to the Coalinga fossil beds. We used to do that in Coalinga as kids. Anyway, Craig leads quite a few outings through the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.
A book about National Park Service life in the Sierras my Dad recommends, and I've been waiting until I get through some brain candy, is: The Last Season
My Dad knew the guy who drifted off up there. Pretty nice depiction of back country life, though, I hear...
Have fun, bro!
Thanks for the recommendations. I loved Indian Summer (seems like good movie fodder--maybe it's already been "done"in Dances with Wolves). I started The Last Season and it's hard to put it down.
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