Saturday, September 29, 2007


Another tabula rasa:

29 comments:

Sawsee said...

Yesterday, was a rather unique day for me! I had planned to go hiking with my buddy but on Wednesday he began to raise his concerns about the rain that was forecast; it was going to be muddy and cold. He was concerned that his sleeping bag was not warm enough and if he had proper hiking boots. I suggested to him that maybe he did not have the proper gear – allowing him to graciously bow out of our plans.

I never showed him my disappointment, but rather was bolstered by his excuses knowing that I could make the 6 mile uphill hike with a heavy overnight pack. So, I continued to plan and re-packed numerous times in an attempt to lighten my load. I set my alarm for 4:17 a.m. (yes, that is correct: 4:17, early in the morning) and awoke at 3 a.m. filled with anticipation, and finally arose at 4:15. I filled my waterbottle, hoisted my pack into my car and began my 5 hour trip (3 hours driving, 2 hours on the ferry) to reach the bottom of the mountain.

After 1/2 hour of driving I became aware of my feet and, with a sudden dread, realized I was still wearing my slippers – I had forgotten my hiking boots! So, I had to turn around, calculating that it would be too late to do the journey by the time I returned to get my boots, as it would have meant taking a later ferry (which ended up being cancelled anyway!)

After a few hours sleep, I decided to head out to our local mountains, a mere 45 minutes away. Within an hour I was in the most incredible, natural alpine area imaginable. Surprisingly, this was the first time I had ever explored my own backyard. What a day!

Greybishop said...

Oh, that's just rich.
I've come close to walking out in my slippers a few times this summer, since I always wear sandals, it feels pretty much the same to wear my slippers out the door. Haven't slipped...yet.

I love that you found such serene beauty in your own back yard.

Personally, humping a travel mug full of tea out to my backyard is about as much hiking as I do.

The good news is that if I forget to change out of my slippers before I go it's only a short trip to correct my error.

Great pic Sawsee. Sounds like a great adventure. Except for the 4:17 AM part. ;o)

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh....

I could smell the fresh air the moment I saw your picture. Thanks for sharing, Sawsee.

Yes, Sawsee, joy can be anywhere you are, even in your own backyard. You just have to open your mind and heart to it. I'm happy that you had such a wonderful day.

LOSTbean said...

sawsee, explain to me the rationale of setting the alarm clock for 4:17? not 4:00 or 4:15, but 4:17. is your morning, gettin' pretty routine so calculated that you know you'll only need, say, 43 minutes to get ready? or 38 minutes?

(the virgo in me has to have everything in time start or end on a zero or 5.

Sawsee said...

Hi All!

Lady! I love your quote: "...joy can be anywhere you are, even in your own backyard. You just have to open your mind and heart to it."

GB! I love the fact you use a 'travel' mug when you go to your backyard!

lostbean! Yes, lb, every setting of my alarm is carefully calculated. Before I stumbled upon this amazing technique I would have set my alarm for 4:00 or 4:15 or 4:30. Unfortunately, for those of us that try to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep, it is very easy to rationalize the thought of sleeping for a "few more minutes" until 4:20 or 4:35. My, highly unpublished, technique chooses times that ARE irrational and seemingly important times. This helps clear the doziness in my brain when I see the odd time, accompanied by the shrill sound of the alarm. It works!

Greybishop said...

I added a special post, inspired by your adventure, over at my blog.

http://greybishop.blogspot.com/2007/10/sawsees-slippers.html

Anonymous said...

Hi, Sawsee! Your highly unpublished technique wouldn't work on me. By the time I actually heard the alarm, it would probably be about 4:30, or 4:45, or 5:00.....

Sawsee said...

Very cool GB! YOU are an inspiration!

Lady! As Lostbean mentioned, I do have a fairly precise amount of time alotted when choosing my alarm setting. This means I have to get up, the minute the alarm rings.

This allows the sound of the alarm to quickly enter my dreamworld, and snaps me out of my slumber.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful picture, Sawsee. I had to laugh when I read your story because I've walked out of my house barefoot twice already this school year! I don't particularly like shoes, and I'm either barefoot or wearing Crocs most of the time. The Crocs are so darn comfy that I sometimes forget I'm wearing them. And vice-versa, apparently.

Sawsee said...

Hi Jess! I've never tried on a pair of crocs yet but I'll have to give them a try.

I hope your home reno is going 'OK'!

Greybishop said...

Speaking of "Going Ok" I want an update from JDH! We need to be kept informed!

Sawsee said...

Yes, I second GB's request: How is everything, JDH?

Anonymous said...

Sorry, not JDH here (though I hope all is well, too)...Sawsee, your story is a riot, and the picture is magical! I thought it was just a beautiful pic out of a landscapes/nature book, I had no idea you took it! You really can smell the fresh air and feel a gentle breeze right through the screen...LIG, your comment is so true, I'm very grateful for the beauty of home...And, though I've never left in my slippers, I have been busted with mismatched socks (don't get dressed in the dark) and when a term paper was barely going to meet the deadline, I ran to class with the paper and stapler in my hands, forgetting all about the several paperclips/clamps I had stuck in my hair and on my shirt during the writing process...This was in my 4 alarms days (And I have no wild partying tales to use as an excuse)!!!

Greybishop said...

Newbie!

That's sitcom worthy!

Sawsee said...

Hi newbie! Welcome back! Yes, you paint a very vivid visual of your paperclip incident!

Early mornings tend to fuzz normal checks to see if one has the proper socks, and anything askew.

One time I was picking up my friend, on the way to college. We had a long partying episode the night before and clarity was non-existent. He absent-minded, put on his wife's coat. I could not contain myself when I saw him and my snort alerted him of his dress.

Anonymous said...

Howdy, All! Sawsee, that story is hilarious, and I bet you've never let him live it down (isn't that really what friends are for?)!

Sawsee said...

Hi newbie! Exactly!

Unfortunately, in most cases, cameras are typically not around to document these precious moments!

Sawsee said...

Years ago, I was leaving my condo and a lady, who was entering the building, gave me a strange look. It was not until I got to work did I realize my ear was full of shaving foam...

Anonymous said...

Hi all. Love the shaving foam in the ear! Our home "reno" is actually an "updo." We are building my brother's log home from the ground up. I thought it was going to be a cute little cabin. It's a 3200 sq ft lodge! 2 of my 3 kids are currently sick, so I may not go this weekend. Only time will tell....Oh, and I HIGHLY recommend the Crocs. If you can get past how ugly they are, wear them for about a week, and you'll never want to wear anything else. I bought them in black, too, so I can wear them until it's just too cold for my toes!

Greybishop said...

It's October 5th and I'm still in sandals and shorts! Yay!

Anonymous said...

Of course, GB is too stubborn to wear anything but shorts until it's what, about 30 degrees? That's Fahrenheit, by the way. It's really warm here, too. We're still using our pool. Come to think of it, maybe that's why my kids are sick.....Seriously, it's been sunny and in the 80s. I'm loving it. The warm weather hasn't inspired me to split much firewood, though. I have about 3-4 cords of it, just waiting for me. I started yesterday, and I was a sweatball! I know I'll be happy in January, but geez! It's magical firewood--it warms you twice!

Greybishop said...

It's currently 26 (that's 79 F)C here. Beautiful.

Any weather I don't have to shovel...

Sawsee said...

Hi Jess! You'll have to post some pictures of the little 3200 sq. ft. log cabin! Wow, 3-4 cords! Are they in rounds?

I'm not sure if anyone has ever checked out my other blog but it has a few wood chopping stories...

Hey GB! We had a slight frost this morning! I'm not sure if this means we are going to have an early winter or not! Right now it is sunny, promising and around 55 F.

Anonymous said...

Um, I don't know if they are in rounds because I don't know what that means. I just know that we have a ton of it, and it all needs to be split.

I e-mailed GB some pix of the "cabin," and he is certainly welcome to post anything I send him. I don't have a clue how to post a pic. I'm lucky I can e-mail! I'll see if I have any pix of that Sarcasm Shirt hard at work.

Greybishop said...

Didn't get the pix yet, Jess. Which address?

Anonymous said...

Seriously, GB? I sent to you, Beaner, C4L, CCLost, and LIG. I know LB got it because she e-mailed me back. Um, I sent it to...the same one I always use...no clue what it is, but it's NOT gettheaddy. Hmmm, I check my "sent" mail and do it again.

Anonymous said...

OK GB, I sent it again. Let me know if you don't get it.

Sawsee said...

Jess, I call wood 'rounds' when the log is initially chainsawed into sections.

A lot of wood is semi-split into quarters if purchased from a firewood supplier; a totally unsplit block of wood I call a 'round'.

Greybishop said...

I got Jess's pics and posted them.

That's a helluva house!