When I did my personal 2008 retrospective, I saw that although I perceived 2008 as a very hard year, it was more in the nature of challenges attempted and succeeded than random hard stuff. In other words, it was a year of much progress ( Read more... )

Was at the Wenatchee River last weekend. Saw hundreds, if not thousands, of salmon running the river. As you drive out Highway 2, there are several areas of aquamarine blue pools that can be seen perfectly from the highway, and in the pools were hordes of salmon - herding together going against the current. In the darker pools, you could not see ( Read more... )

Two of my dearest friends from youth have reentered my life. It is only phone and email contact, but to reconnect with each has brought such a feeling of satisfaction. One is happily married with 2 kids - that he is an 8th grade teacher of history and english is no surprise. The other is just divorced (last week) and is an environmental chemist ( Read more... )