The birds and the bees outside, doing what they do best.
Beautiful days!
I have been reflecting on the unfortunate nature of this journal: the busier and more interesting my life becomes, the less I have time to write. It is only when academic deadlines find me holed up indoors for days on end that I start constantly posting about the most innane details of the day.
That being said, guess what I'm doing tonight? It's the same thing that I did last night and the night before. You guessed it: reading! Woo-hoo... And further I go into the world of poor Cuba in final years of the 19th century. Hopefully I don't disappear completely. :)
I got my first sunburn this weekend. Just the topside of my arms, fortunately, which serves as a potent warning that the season has shifted into one with many more hazards for pale-skinned people such as myself. It happened on Sunday when Mohammed and I went for a two-hour walk, which led to the discovery of Oregon River Sports' "demo day" on one of the larger ponds in Alton-Baker Park. This essentially meant free (and limited) use of all the kayaks and canoes that they regularly rent, so Mohammed and I immediately signed up and hopped in the first thing they pushed towards us, which happened to be a canoe. It turns out that canoes are tricky beasts! I'll never forget our first attempt to make a solid right turn, which resulted mostly in me tipping the canoe precariously back and forth followed by slight forward motion --towards the bank. Mohammed turned around and asked, "What are you doing?" in a bewildered middle eastern accent. I had to laugh and point at him accusingly with my paddle. "I don't know!! What are YOU doing??"
So canoeing was unexpectedly difficult, followed by singed arm flesh. But all in all there is no complaining about a job that pays one to float around in the sun during the weekend with a good-natured foreigner. :)
namaste,
Jacki
I have been reflecting on the unfortunate nature of this journal: the busier and more interesting my life becomes, the less I have time to write. It is only when academic deadlines find me holed up indoors for days on end that I start constantly posting about the most innane details of the day.
That being said, guess what I'm doing tonight? It's the same thing that I did last night and the night before. You guessed it: reading! Woo-hoo... And further I go into the world of poor Cuba in final years of the 19th century. Hopefully I don't disappear completely. :)
I got my first sunburn this weekend. Just the topside of my arms, fortunately, which serves as a potent warning that the season has shifted into one with many more hazards for pale-skinned people such as myself. It happened on Sunday when Mohammed and I went for a two-hour walk, which led to the discovery of Oregon River Sports' "demo day" on one of the larger ponds in Alton-Baker Park. This essentially meant free (and limited) use of all the kayaks and canoes that they regularly rent, so Mohammed and I immediately signed up and hopped in the first thing they pushed towards us, which happened to be a canoe. It turns out that canoes are tricky beasts! I'll never forget our first attempt to make a solid right turn, which resulted mostly in me tipping the canoe precariously back and forth followed by slight forward motion --towards the bank. Mohammed turned around and asked, "What are you doing?" in a bewildered middle eastern accent. I had to laugh and point at him accusingly with my paddle. "I don't know!! What are YOU doing??"
So canoeing was unexpectedly difficult, followed by singed arm flesh. But all in all there is no complaining about a job that pays one to float around in the sun during the weekend with a good-natured foreigner. :)
namaste,
Jacki