I am excited. This is the fourth year I've entered the Hubbard Museum of the American West Photo Competition. The first year I entered two photos - they both came straight back to me. The second year I had two photos make the exhibit, but I don't think either one of them placed. Last year I had four photos make the exhibit and three of them made Honorable Mention.
I knew the exhibit was scheduled to open this week and I had not heard anything. I even mentioned to Jonathan last night that maybe they would not make it this year. But since I'd made the exhibit before, I was pretty confident that at least something would hang on the walls there again this year.
When one submits something, one always dreams that it will do well. But my philosophy has been I'll be happy if it just makes the exhibit. But this year . . . . . I won 1st place in landscape, with 2 other Honorable Mentions also in Landscape. And I have another photo that is in the Ranching and Agriculture category that made the exhibit.
With a first place win, I've decided to go and enjoy the Awards Ceremony and Reception Friday evening. It is really the first year that I could have gone. One year we were planning to go and we had car trouble in the RV and were stuck in the Rapid City area.
My prior years exhibit photos are posted at my website page Museum Exhibits. I will be posting this years photos next week on the same page.
And yes, I let out a big WHEEEEEEEE and danced a little jig. Definitely a good day for me.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
My bird feeders
While we were gone, I had my cylinder feeders out, but no one to fill the ground feeder and the loose seed hanging feeder. My son in law takes care of horse and dog, but I don't pester him about the bird feeders also. The cylinders last almost a month, so the birds don't totally forget me.
I left while dove hunting season was still going on. The birds are finding my feed again, the winter sparrows are returning, but I was not seeing doves.
While I really did not mind the dove hunting go on in my neighborhood, there was a lot more shooting this year. I had not seen them like I was before I left. And I was more attached to the doves this year, because I'd been watching them every morning. So I was really glad to see one of the doves show up at the feeder this morning. Hopefully, he'll tell his friends and I'll see more of them.
I left while dove hunting season was still going on. The birds are finding my feed again, the winter sparrows are returning, but I was not seeing doves.
While I really did not mind the dove hunting go on in my neighborhood, there was a lot more shooting this year. I had not seen them like I was before I left. And I was more attached to the doves this year, because I'd been watching them every morning. So I was really glad to see one of the doves show up at the feeder this morning. Hopefully, he'll tell his friends and I'll see more of them.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Sensory Saturation
So far today 43 emails, yesterday 45 emails on my .mac email account. I signed up a month or so ago to the TEXBIRDs list serve. I also signed up for three stock photography list serves. While I am enjoying hearing about the various bird sightings all over Texas, I also am finding it frustrating. I am interested in many of these sightings. Reading about them makes me want to go and see them. Two are actually near my area - the Red Phalarope is up near Killeen, and there are mountain plovers near Lake Granger. The mountain plovers come every year. The Red Phalarope is way out of his normal range, possibly a lifetime opportunity for me to see it.
This is my first year to read the TexBird list serve during fall migration. While we were in Illinois, there were sightings of flocks of sandhill cranes flying over Pflugerville - so near where I live. AAAAACK! I was in Illinois!
And right now, much as I want to go see the Red Phalarope, I've got deadlines. Deadlines are a good thing. They mean that I am getting photography out where other people can see the photos. If my work is accepted, it adds to my resume. It is definitely what I need to be doing right now. But I feel pulled in many directions at once.
But that part of me that is interested in EVERYTHING has some unfulfilled yearnings at this point. Yes, I do get to do so many things, I should be content. But this stop at home is a short one. Too many things are "calling" me, needing attention. Normal housework, clutter, photography submissions, laundry, new photo shoots, bill paying, scheduling doctor visits, birdwatching in my own yard, exercise, etc.
In addition to the emails from TEXBIRDS are stock photography listserves . I think the 10% rule might apply here - 10% is worth reading, the rest just consumes time. Plus, personalities and issues get thrown in. And there is a lot of turmoil in the stock world as the royalty free images and the ultra cheap microstock images dry up money that many photographers were used to receiving from their licensed, rights managed images. People get angry and vocal when their livelihoods are threatened.
Thrown into the mix of my email are actual letters from family and friends. I don't want to miss those. And, I get a small number of "forwards." Some of those are worth reading, some I've seen before. I do a quick glance, and of course, compulsively save everything. I don't forward much these days. If I do forward, it means I thought it unique and worth someone's time to read.
To keep up with world events, I read my news on My Yahoo. I get the top stories from Reuters, Reuters Business, Reuters US Market, Reuters entertainment, AP Entertainment, E! Online, Reuters TV, AP Top Stories, Denver Rocky Mountain News, the Los Angeles Times (from when Debra lived in California), Most Emailed News Stories, Most Viewed News Stories, USATODAY.com:Opinions, Stock Market Quotes, Weather, and Ski Snow Reports. While I don't read everypost, I do scan the list a couple of times a day.
I have my photography sites as well. I check on the Forum Posts at the Digital Image Cafe and check out the recent photos at the Critique Corner there. I've dropped back but DPChallenge also has an active forum. That is what got me started looking into stock photography as one of the pieces in a photography business. Plus, since I've been participating at the online photo sites for almost four years, I've got friends there. I want to know "what's up?" And I continue to get new information that helps me with my photography. And I know that some of these friends, acquaintances, and strangers read my blog.
I forgot to mention that I use Google Analytics to find out how many people visit my blog and website each day. The maps as to where my visitors come from is both gratifying and humbling - somehow, people all over the globe have found my blog. Some of the dots on the map I can make a guess as to who it is. Many I have no clue. Somehow, I got mentioned at Photo Malaysia - I never found the link. I got a lot of hits to both my blog and website.
Lots of useful information, sometimes lots of fun, but on some days a bit much to process. When I went to the mall yesterday to buy software to upgrade my Photoshop CS, I knew I was a little sensory saturated. Too many stores, too many people, too much to see and process. Some days I love the mall, yesterday I was tired. I got my software, stopped for some Dippin' Dot ice cream, and left.
Perhaps when I've gotten all these submissions out, when we are back home for a longer stretch, I won't feel stretched so thin.
This is my first year to read the TexBird list serve during fall migration. While we were in Illinois, there were sightings of flocks of sandhill cranes flying over Pflugerville - so near where I live. AAAAACK! I was in Illinois!
And right now, much as I want to go see the Red Phalarope, I've got deadlines. Deadlines are a good thing. They mean that I am getting photography out where other people can see the photos. If my work is accepted, it adds to my resume. It is definitely what I need to be doing right now. But I feel pulled in many directions at once.
But that part of me that is interested in EVERYTHING has some unfulfilled yearnings at this point. Yes, I do get to do so many things, I should be content. But this stop at home is a short one. Too many things are "calling" me, needing attention. Normal housework, clutter, photography submissions, laundry, new photo shoots, bill paying, scheduling doctor visits, birdwatching in my own yard, exercise, etc.
In addition to the emails from TEXBIRDS are stock photography listserves . I think the 10% rule might apply here - 10% is worth reading, the rest just consumes time. Plus, personalities and issues get thrown in. And there is a lot of turmoil in the stock world as the royalty free images and the ultra cheap microstock images dry up money that many photographers were used to receiving from their licensed, rights managed images. People get angry and vocal when their livelihoods are threatened.
Thrown into the mix of my email are actual letters from family and friends. I don't want to miss those. And, I get a small number of "forwards." Some of those are worth reading, some I've seen before. I do a quick glance, and of course, compulsively save everything. I don't forward much these days. If I do forward, it means I thought it unique and worth someone's time to read.
To keep up with world events, I read my news on My Yahoo. I get the top stories from Reuters, Reuters Business, Reuters US Market, Reuters entertainment, AP Entertainment, E! Online, Reuters TV, AP Top Stories, Denver Rocky Mountain News, the Los Angeles Times (from when Debra lived in California), Most Emailed News Stories, Most Viewed News Stories, USATODAY.com:Opinions, Stock Market Quotes, Weather, and Ski Snow Reports. While I don't read everypost, I do scan the list a couple of times a day.
I have my photography sites as well. I check on the Forum Posts at the Digital Image Cafe and check out the recent photos at the Critique Corner there. I've dropped back but DPChallenge also has an active forum. That is what got me started looking into stock photography as one of the pieces in a photography business. Plus, since I've been participating at the online photo sites for almost four years, I've got friends there. I want to know "what's up?" And I continue to get new information that helps me with my photography. And I know that some of these friends, acquaintances, and strangers read my blog.
I forgot to mention that I use Google Analytics to find out how many people visit my blog and website each day. The maps as to where my visitors come from is both gratifying and humbling - somehow, people all over the globe have found my blog. Some of the dots on the map I can make a guess as to who it is. Many I have no clue. Somehow, I got mentioned at Photo Malaysia - I never found the link. I got a lot of hits to both my blog and website.
Lots of useful information, sometimes lots of fun, but on some days a bit much to process. When I went to the mall yesterday to buy software to upgrade my Photoshop CS, I knew I was a little sensory saturated. Too many stores, too many people, too much to see and process. Some days I love the mall, yesterday I was tired. I got my software, stopped for some Dippin' Dot ice cream, and left.
Perhaps when I've gotten all these submissions out, when we are back home for a longer stretch, I won't feel stretched so thin.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
My computer
About a month ago, my computer keyboard began acting up. The right half of the screen became intermittent, but some keys were worse than others. The delete key, the "l" key, the return key and the space bar were especially erratic. Apple has an alternative "built in" keyboard that you can use the touch pad that I was able to use as a workaround. But that really slowed down my typing. We put it in the shop before the New York trip, but a simple keyboard replacement did not cure the problem. I did all my work, keywording my images that are at Acclaim with this faulty keyboard setup. Even instant messaging.
When we got home from this last trip, we got my computer back into the shop. Even though Henry rigged me up a substitute computer with a mac mini, an additional hard drive, big keyboard and my new large monitor, it just was not the same. The larger more traditional keyboard did not have the same feel as my laptop. Trying to use the mouse to clone out the dust spots on images did not work very well. Picture me moving the mouse on my leg in front of the desk, keyboard in my lap. And it was not a one hand project to clone either. Left hand had to be on the keyboard (option key) while the right hand was trying to get the cursor positioned. Not ideal, not at all.
Whether this is good or bad, I can't tell, but I spend a lot of time at my computer every day. I get the news from MyYahoo. I check several photo discussion boards to learn new things and to keep up with my online photography friends. I also use instant messaging. I do my blog and I read several other blogs. Plus I work on my photos. And let's don't forget email. Not only do I get email from friends and family, I'm now on three list serves that send email all day long. But it is fun email. Texbirds tells me where I could go to sight birds (actually had me wanting to be back in Texas during this fall migration!). The stock photography emails give me information about the stock photography world (as well as the politics of it-arghhh!). And, of course, when one is bored, there is always "Solitaire til Dawn." With my laptop, I can be in my office, in the living room, or at Starbucks. With the substitute, I was stuck in my office.
Today MY computer came back. Henry had "cloned" it so that I did have a computer. They pretty much replaced everything but the external case this time, so Henry had to take everything we had backed up and reload it to my repaired computer.(Thank you God that we HAD backed everything up!)
It may be silly to miss something as mundane as a computer, but I did miss my laptop. I'm glad it is back home.
When we got home from this last trip, we got my computer back into the shop. Even though Henry rigged me up a substitute computer with a mac mini, an additional hard drive, big keyboard and my new large monitor, it just was not the same. The larger more traditional keyboard did not have the same feel as my laptop. Trying to use the mouse to clone out the dust spots on images did not work very well. Picture me moving the mouse on my leg in front of the desk, keyboard in my lap. And it was not a one hand project to clone either. Left hand had to be on the keyboard (option key) while the right hand was trying to get the cursor positioned. Not ideal, not at all.
Whether this is good or bad, I can't tell, but I spend a lot of time at my computer every day. I get the news from MyYahoo. I check several photo discussion boards to learn new things and to keep up with my online photography friends. I also use instant messaging. I do my blog and I read several other blogs. Plus I work on my photos. And let's don't forget email. Not only do I get email from friends and family, I'm now on three list serves that send email all day long. But it is fun email. Texbirds tells me where I could go to sight birds (actually had me wanting to be back in Texas during this fall migration!). The stock photography emails give me information about the stock photography world (as well as the politics of it-arghhh!). And, of course, when one is bored, there is always "Solitaire til Dawn." With my laptop, I can be in my office, in the living room, or at Starbucks. With the substitute, I was stuck in my office.
Today MY computer came back. Henry had "cloned" it so that I did have a computer. They pretty much replaced everything but the external case this time, so Henry had to take everything we had backed up and reload it to my repaired computer.(Thank you God that we HAD backed everything up!)
It may be silly to miss something as mundane as a computer, but I did miss my laptop. I'm glad it is back home.
My computer
About a month ago, my computer keyboard began acting up. The right half of the screen became intermittent, but some keys were worse than others. The delete key, the "l" key, the return key and the space bar were especially erratic. Apple has an alternative "built in" keyboard that you can use the touch pad that I was able to use as a workaround. But that really slowed down my typing. We put it in the shop before the New York trip, but a simple keyboard replacement did not cure the problem. I did all my work, keywording my images that are at Acclaim with this faulty keyboard setup. Even instant messaging.
When we got home from this last trip, we got my computer back into the shop. Even though Henry rigged me up a substitute computer with a mac mini, an additional hard drive, big keyboard and my new large monitor, it just was not the same. The larger more traditional keyboard did not have the same feel as my laptop. Trying to use the mouse to clone out the dust spots on images did not work very well (picture me moving the mouse on my leg in front of the desk, keyboard in my lap. And it was not a one hand project to clone either. Left hand had to be on the keyboard (option key) while the right hand was trying to get the cursor positioned. Not ideal, not at all.
Whether this is good or bad, I can't tell, but I spend a lot of time at my computer every day. I get the news from MyYahoo. I check several photo discussion boards to learn new things and to keep up with my online photography friends. I do my blog and I read several other blogs. Plus I work on my photos. And let's don't forget email. Not only do I get email from friends and family, I'm now on three list serves that send email all day long. But it is fun email. Texbirds tells me where I could go to sight birds (actually had me wanting to be back in Texas during this fall migration!). The stock photography emails give me information about the stock photography world (as well as the politics of it-arghhh!). And, of course, when one is bored, there is always "Solitaire til Dawn." With my laptop, I can be in my office, in the living room, or at Starbucks. With the substitute, I was stuck in my office.
Today MY computer came back. Henry had "cloned" it so that I did have a computer. They pretty much replaced everything but the external case this time, so Henry had to take everything we had backed up and reload it to my repaired computer.(Thank you God that we HAD backed everything up!)
It may be silly to miss something as mundane as a computer, but I did miss my laptop. I'm glad it is back home.
When we got home from this last trip, we got my computer back into the shop. Even though Henry rigged me up a substitute computer with a mac mini, an additional hard drive, big keyboard and my new large monitor, it just was not the same. The larger more traditional keyboard did not have the same feel as my laptop. Trying to use the mouse to clone out the dust spots on images did not work very well (picture me moving the mouse on my leg in front of the desk, keyboard in my lap. And it was not a one hand project to clone either. Left hand had to be on the keyboard (option key) while the right hand was trying to get the cursor positioned. Not ideal, not at all.
Whether this is good or bad, I can't tell, but I spend a lot of time at my computer every day. I get the news from MyYahoo. I check several photo discussion boards to learn new things and to keep up with my online photography friends. I do my blog and I read several other blogs. Plus I work on my photos. And let's don't forget email. Not only do I get email from friends and family, I'm now on three list serves that send email all day long. But it is fun email. Texbirds tells me where I could go to sight birds (actually had me wanting to be back in Texas during this fall migration!). The stock photography emails give me information about the stock photography world (as well as the politics of it-arghhh!). And, of course, when one is bored, there is always "Solitaire til Dawn." With my laptop, I can be in my office, in the living room, or at Starbucks. With the substitute, I was stuck in my office.
Today MY computer came back. Henry had "cloned" it so that I did have a computer. They pretty much replaced everything but the external case this time, so Henry had to take everything we had backed up and reload it to my repaired computer.(Thank you God that we HAD backed everything up!)
It may be silly to miss something as mundane as a computer, but I did miss my laptop. I'm glad it is back home.
Computer Cable Chaos
Now that we are back home, (briefly), I need to get my hard drives set back up on my desk. I've been unconsciously avoiding this task.
Why? You innocently ask.
I have 6 hard drives. Each hard drive has a power cable that comes in two parts. You must match both pieces not only to each other but also to the appropriate hard drive. That's 12 pieces of cable. Some hard drives it is easy to see which cable goes with which drive. But two different brands have slightly different stem length and identical power converter boxes on the cables. Each piece actually fits into each brand hard drive, but one size looks like it fits better than the other one. Does it matter if I don't get exactly the right one in????? Perhaps it does, perhaps it does not. Remind me some day to look at the power numbers, watts, etc. But we're not done counting cables yet.
We've got 12 power cables. Now we've got to connect these hard drives to the computer. Each hard driive must have at least one cable - now we're up to 18 pieces of cable. The computer really only has one place to plug the cable into, so each hard drive must connect to another hard drive or a multi plug device. The multiplug thing is new. The old system required each drive to "piggy back" to the matching one and then over to the next pair. So now we're up to 24 pieces of wire. The computer must attach to a printer, add another pice of wire.
I've added an external monitor that also has to connect. We're up to 26 pieces of wire cable. The new firewire multiplug came in two pieces-a box and a power cord.
My normal laptop is in the shop. Henry has rigged me up a temporary computer set up. Add another computer box, another hard drive - MORE wires. Add at least 6 more cables. Now we've got 33 pieces of wire. The longest lines are several feet, the shortest one less than a foot.
Are you getting the picture of a desk top filled with cables??????? And of course you've got to have power strips, multiple power strips to power all this stuff.
Now, let's add to the confusion. I have a talent . . . . a real talent . . . . what is this talent you may ask. Give me a wire, any wire, organized wire or not organized wire, it does not matter. After it has been in my hands for any length of time, it will join forces with any other wires around to create endless knots. So now, . . . . . 33 pieces of wire, all near each other . . . .
Ok, let's think about the other power things in the office, shredder, TV, pencil sharpener, extra printer. It is a feng shui nightmare.
Can you guess? I don't like cables!
Why? You innocently ask.
I have 6 hard drives. Each hard drive has a power cable that comes in two parts. You must match both pieces not only to each other but also to the appropriate hard drive. That's 12 pieces of cable. Some hard drives it is easy to see which cable goes with which drive. But two different brands have slightly different stem length and identical power converter boxes on the cables. Each piece actually fits into each brand hard drive, but one size looks like it fits better than the other one. Does it matter if I don't get exactly the right one in????? Perhaps it does, perhaps it does not. Remind me some day to look at the power numbers, watts, etc. But we're not done counting cables yet.
We've got 12 power cables. Now we've got to connect these hard drives to the computer. Each hard driive must have at least one cable - now we're up to 18 pieces of cable. The computer really only has one place to plug the cable into, so each hard drive must connect to another hard drive or a multi plug device. The multiplug thing is new. The old system required each drive to "piggy back" to the matching one and then over to the next pair. So now we're up to 24 pieces of wire. The computer must attach to a printer, add another pice of wire.
I've added an external monitor that also has to connect. We're up to 26 pieces of wire cable. The new firewire multiplug came in two pieces-a box and a power cord.
My normal laptop is in the shop. Henry has rigged me up a temporary computer set up. Add another computer box, another hard drive - MORE wires. Add at least 6 more cables. Now we've got 33 pieces of wire. The longest lines are several feet, the shortest one less than a foot.
Are you getting the picture of a desk top filled with cables??????? And of course you've got to have power strips, multiple power strips to power all this stuff.
Now, let's add to the confusion. I have a talent . . . . a real talent . . . . what is this talent you may ask. Give me a wire, any wire, organized wire or not organized wire, it does not matter. After it has been in my hands for any length of time, it will join forces with any other wires around to create endless knots. So now, . . . . . 33 pieces of wire, all near each other . . . .
Ok, let's think about the other power things in the office, shredder, TV, pencil sharpener, extra printer. It is a feng shui nightmare.
Can you guess? I don't like cables!
Music Mysteries
Music plays a big part in human culture. I've been involved in music all of my life. As a small child it was singing Bible school songs. I learned to play the violin, viola and oboe as I went through school. While I was placed as an alto in the school chorus in elementary school (it was based upon your grade, not your vocal range if I remember correctly), I really did not learn to sing alto until junior high. I originally learned alto by moving to the alto line when the soprano and alto shared a note.
For the last 15 or so years, I've been singing on Wednesday with our church's chorus. I am amazed at how many ways people learn to sing. Back in my elementary school years I went to a song workshop at one of the area churches. One of the sessions was learning to sing with shaped notes. Each shape represents a different part of a scale.
For more information about this system and its history (and it has been around since 1847) check out James Tackett's page. While I went to that class, it did not "take", I don't use the shapes. I can tell you which note (the name -C, B flat, etc), but that is also not how my mind converts the notes on paper into the music that comes from my lips.
Even though I read music, I have been discovering that each of us has a unique approach to how we sing. I've known a long time that it is easier for me to sing my alto part when the sopranos are singing along. I seem to sing "relationally." Somehow, instinctively, I know where my note fits in with the rest of the chord. Likewise, even though each song is written in a different key, without conscious thought, I automatically read the music and don't have to think about whether this shoud be a C natural or a C sharp. I don't know how I do it, it just happens. I'm always surprised when I talk to a strong singer (especially one who sings a part besides soprano) who does not read music. The melody is easy to learn - our minds just do it. Parts are harder. And while some harmony just follows the melody a couple of steps down, other harmonies do not. So when I hear someone next to me "sightread" a new piece of music accurately without being able to read music, I am impressed. Some people need to hear someone else sing their part before it becomes natural. Some people find it easier to learn their part after they've heard the soprano or melody. I find it fascinating how each person's brain works differently to produce the same music.
Most of the time I can sight read new music, but I do it better when all the other parts are singing, because some part of my brain "knows" where my note should be in relation to the other notes. It is not conscious. While I can sightread a part by myself, it is often harder. There are times though that this automatic sense of where my note should be vanishes into thin air. Usually it is when a composer throws in some naturals and sharps that create a strange chord. Sometimes it is during a key change in the middle of a song. And sometimes when this happens, it becomes much more difficult to learn those measures of music in a song.
This happened at chorus last night. We are learning new music for the annual Christmas program. Since I"ve been out of town, they had already been working on the song. I was sight reading. It went well until the key change. It was a song written in a key with 5 flats (yes, my music theory should help me know which key that is . . . . but remember, there is that mystery, I just sing it, I don't have to know the key to be able to make the music) . The trouble started with a low B that was flat in the key signature, but was made a natural as part of a coming key change. The next two notes were also changed to lead into the new key. My brain just could not figure it out. I could not "hear" it. It took a number of times with Dan playing the notes on the keyboard and then another few times trying to sing it with the sopranos, another couple of times with the keyboard. Ahhhhh, finally it worked with the rest of the parts.
We worked on another song last night. I remember it well from some years back. The men start, and the women come in. The first time we sang this, Dan would try to give the altos their note. But for reasons I can't explain, I could never hold onto the pitch while the men sang their three notes. I spent a lot of time that year with my keyboard at home singing the men's entrance and placing my notes in relation to those. And the night of the performance, I was still worried. That year, Cindy Dodsen had the note nailed - if I stood next to her I could either get it, or at least get the next notes and then make it on into the song. She's not here this year. As we were having problems getting the note last night, I mentioned that the only way I "got it" last time was to find it as part of the run with the men's part. That may have helped some other altos this year. We'll see. It is a great song, if you can get through the first few measures and the ending which repeats the beginning.
I need to bring home a copy of the music to practice, because I worry that my brain may not remember that funny key change next week. Because of our travel schedule, I won't get to practice as many times. But hopefully, by the time of the program, I'll have it down.
For the last 15 or so years, I've been singing on Wednesday with our church's chorus. I am amazed at how many ways people learn to sing. Back in my elementary school years I went to a song workshop at one of the area churches. One of the sessions was learning to sing with shaped notes. Each shape represents a different part of a scale.
For more information about this system and its history (and it has been around since 1847) check out James Tackett's page. While I went to that class, it did not "take", I don't use the shapes. I can tell you which note (the name -C, B flat, etc), but that is also not how my mind converts the notes on paper into the music that comes from my lips.
Even though I read music, I have been discovering that each of us has a unique approach to how we sing. I've known a long time that it is easier for me to sing my alto part when the sopranos are singing along. I seem to sing "relationally." Somehow, instinctively, I know where my note fits in with the rest of the chord. Likewise, even though each song is written in a different key, without conscious thought, I automatically read the music and don't have to think about whether this shoud be a C natural or a C sharp. I don't know how I do it, it just happens. I'm always surprised when I talk to a strong singer (especially one who sings a part besides soprano) who does not read music. The melody is easy to learn - our minds just do it. Parts are harder. And while some harmony just follows the melody a couple of steps down, other harmonies do not. So when I hear someone next to me "sightread" a new piece of music accurately without being able to read music, I am impressed. Some people need to hear someone else sing their part before it becomes natural. Some people find it easier to learn their part after they've heard the soprano or melody. I find it fascinating how each person's brain works differently to produce the same music.
Most of the time I can sight read new music, but I do it better when all the other parts are singing, because some part of my brain "knows" where my note should be in relation to the other notes. It is not conscious. While I can sightread a part by myself, it is often harder. There are times though that this automatic sense of where my note should be vanishes into thin air. Usually it is when a composer throws in some naturals and sharps that create a strange chord. Sometimes it is during a key change in the middle of a song. And sometimes when this happens, it becomes much more difficult to learn those measures of music in a song.
This happened at chorus last night. We are learning new music for the annual Christmas program. Since I"ve been out of town, they had already been working on the song. I was sight reading. It went well until the key change. It was a song written in a key with 5 flats (yes, my music theory should help me know which key that is . . . . but remember, there is that mystery, I just sing it, I don't have to know the key to be able to make the music) . The trouble started with a low B that was flat in the key signature, but was made a natural as part of a coming key change. The next two notes were also changed to lead into the new key. My brain just could not figure it out. I could not "hear" it. It took a number of times with Dan playing the notes on the keyboard and then another few times trying to sing it with the sopranos, another couple of times with the keyboard. Ahhhhh, finally it worked with the rest of the parts.
We worked on another song last night. I remember it well from some years back. The men start, and the women come in. The first time we sang this, Dan would try to give the altos their note. But for reasons I can't explain, I could never hold onto the pitch while the men sang their three notes. I spent a lot of time that year with my keyboard at home singing the men's entrance and placing my notes in relation to those. And the night of the performance, I was still worried. That year, Cindy Dodsen had the note nailed - if I stood next to her I could either get it, or at least get the next notes and then make it on into the song. She's not here this year. As we were having problems getting the note last night, I mentioned that the only way I "got it" last time was to find it as part of the run with the men's part. That may have helped some other altos this year. We'll see. It is a great song, if you can get through the first few measures and the ending which repeats the beginning.
I need to bring home a copy of the music to practice, because I worry that my brain may not remember that funny key change next week. Because of our travel schedule, I won't get to practice as many times. But hopefully, by the time of the program, I'll have it down.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Living with Cancer
One of my very good friends has been fighting cancer now for 3 1/2 years. Two surgeries, two rounds of chemo, regulary testing, life with cancer has many realities. New labels - cancer patient. At first you think that label is temporary. And for some it is, you have been a cancer patient and you become a cancer survivor. But being a cancer patient moves you into a whole different realm of reality. Reality is regular doctor visits, sitting under big intimidating equipment, having toxins poured into your system to "kill" part of your body. My friend has been lucky, major pain has not been one of her symptoms. But most of the cancer treatments have "side effects." Nausea, hair loss, physical deterioration, and added stress on the body to fight off those cancerous cells. And once you've been through chemo, knowing that you have to do it again, it is no longer an unknown quantity, you KNOW what discomfort is coming next.
There is a group of women who meet regularly to pray for my friend. It has been a privilege to me to be part of this group. While I do not know what the end of this story will be, I DO know that God is faithful. Our time together is spent both in a special fellowship with her - sharing our lives with her and in a time of intense prayer. Each one of us adds something unique to the prayer. We pray for her physical strength, we pray for miraculous healing, we pray for emotional support, we pray for the doctors. I doubt that there is any aspect of dealing with cancer that we have not brought before God on her behalf.
And we know that God has answered some of our prayers. Two years ago we almost lost her - complications from the second surgery, lung problems, she was very weak, frail, and even the doctors thought they were going to lose her. But through God's intervention, she not only survived but has thrived these last two years, regaining the strength she lost from a long hospital stay. She has been active, vigorous, and joyful these past two years. She has acknowledged how God has cared for her and guided her. She has been a continuous witness for him. She has inspired all of us.
I have had an almost liturgical prayer for my friend. Her mom laughed when I told her about it, commenting on how I had her life all planned out. I would ask you to join me in this prayer for my friend: Father, I ask complete healing for my friend. Father, I ask that she live to see her childen married, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren. I ask that she have a long and healthy life and that she die of old age in her own bed.
There is a group of women who meet regularly to pray for my friend. It has been a privilege to me to be part of this group. While I do not know what the end of this story will be, I DO know that God is faithful. Our time together is spent both in a special fellowship with her - sharing our lives with her and in a time of intense prayer. Each one of us adds something unique to the prayer. We pray for her physical strength, we pray for miraculous healing, we pray for emotional support, we pray for the doctors. I doubt that there is any aspect of dealing with cancer that we have not brought before God on her behalf.
And we know that God has answered some of our prayers. Two years ago we almost lost her - complications from the second surgery, lung problems, she was very weak, frail, and even the doctors thought they were going to lose her. But through God's intervention, she not only survived but has thrived these last two years, regaining the strength she lost from a long hospital stay. She has been active, vigorous, and joyful these past two years. She has acknowledged how God has cared for her and guided her. She has been a continuous witness for him. She has inspired all of us.
I have had an almost liturgical prayer for my friend. Her mom laughed when I told her about it, commenting on how I had her life all planned out. I would ask you to join me in this prayer for my friend: Father, I ask complete healing for my friend. Father, I ask that she live to see her childen married, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren. I ask that she have a long and healthy life and that she die of old age in her own bed.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Boundaries
This is my first full day at home. I made my breakfast and went out to sit on my porch to eat, watch birds, and do my "quiet" time. Our neighbors have around 5 dogs, 4 of them are great pyrenees, 2 of these are "puppies." These dogs are such escape artists that they spend a lot of time outside their own yard. They've been known to bark at me when I am feeding our horse on the opposite side of the property from them. Pyrenees are flock guard dogs - their job is to protect the livestock of their owners.
Because we've been gone, they've added my front pasture to their "territory." Perhaps my whole yard. They were in the middle of the pasture, challenging me for sitting on my own porch. I continued eating hoping they would get tired and go home. I finished breakfast to the music of constant barking. I finally stood up off the porch and used my stern, angry voice and told the alpha dog to go home. When we've been home awhile that is usually enough to get them to go on back home. But we've been gone and the barking continued. We have a new collection of birds, the migrants. I was listening to a mockingbird. I realized that the mockingbird and the alpha dog seemed to be having a "shouting" match. The dog barked, the mocking bird answered, bird, dog, bird, dog. While I tried to find my morning serenity, this was not working.
I got mad. I went to the fence line, challenging the dog. Nope, dog continued holding her ground and barking. Not to be detered from having peace in my own yard, I decided which pasture entry I would use. As I entered the side pasture, I decided to be sure I had some protection in case the coming confrontation got ugly. I picked up a small fireplace log, one heavy enough to deter a dog attack should one happen. When I finally entered the big pasture where the 4 dogs were, they finally realized that I did mean business. While I was worried that I was coming up on the wrong side to herd them back to their side, I need not have worred, they made haste to the opening where they usually come and go from my property, up by the road. They continued running up the road, passing their own yard. I had about 20 minutes of quiet. They chose to return. Henry chased them off once, and I chased them off again. The last time, the alpha dog continued to bark at me from the relative safety of the road in front of their property behind a line of trees.
We've all heard about how good fences make good neighbors. I had to lay a boundary with these dogs this morning.I had to let them know that I was higher in the pecking order than they and that they must heed me. It looks like I will be doing that for awhile until they decide they can't hold my yard as theirs. Had I gone out there with a soft voice, saying, "please go home." I don't think they would have left. But I went out with a strong pace and presence, no nonsense approach. The final barking from behind the line of trees was also a challenge from the alpha. I probably should have gone over to the road and pursued, but that was a long walk, and they were out of my territory.
Sometimes when we deal with people, we have to set boundaries. And we usually have to be angry before we set them.
Many times we fear setting a boundary, fearing we may lose a friendship or cause hard feelings. But boundaries are a necessary part of life. Unconsciously we set boundaries as to what we are willing to do, or what we are willing to accept from someone else. Sometimes we have loose boundaries. Loose boundaries help us make new friends easily. But loose boundaries can also make us easy prey for those people who like to take advantage of people. Boundaries that are too strong can make people leary of becoming our friend.
Life is full of conflicts, some minor, some major. We need boundaries as we deal with people. Not setting the boundaries can cause resentment. I'm not always good with boundaries. I need to talk to my neigbhor again about their dogs. I don't dislike the dogs, but in the country when you get 4 or 5 dogs running together, they become a pack. It changes their behavior.
I don't see a happy ending to this story for many reasons.
To read more about human boundaries, Boundaries: When to say Yes, when to Say No, To take control of your life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.
Because we've been gone, they've added my front pasture to their "territory." Perhaps my whole yard. They were in the middle of the pasture, challenging me for sitting on my own porch. I continued eating hoping they would get tired and go home. I finished breakfast to the music of constant barking. I finally stood up off the porch and used my stern, angry voice and told the alpha dog to go home. When we've been home awhile that is usually enough to get them to go on back home. But we've been gone and the barking continued. We have a new collection of birds, the migrants. I was listening to a mockingbird. I realized that the mockingbird and the alpha dog seemed to be having a "shouting" match. The dog barked, the mocking bird answered, bird, dog, bird, dog. While I tried to find my morning serenity, this was not working.
I got mad. I went to the fence line, challenging the dog. Nope, dog continued holding her ground and barking. Not to be detered from having peace in my own yard, I decided which pasture entry I would use. As I entered the side pasture, I decided to be sure I had some protection in case the coming confrontation got ugly. I picked up a small fireplace log, one heavy enough to deter a dog attack should one happen. When I finally entered the big pasture where the 4 dogs were, they finally realized that I did mean business. While I was worried that I was coming up on the wrong side to herd them back to their side, I need not have worred, they made haste to the opening where they usually come and go from my property, up by the road. They continued running up the road, passing their own yard. I had about 20 minutes of quiet. They chose to return. Henry chased them off once, and I chased them off again. The last time, the alpha dog continued to bark at me from the relative safety of the road in front of their property behind a line of trees.
We've all heard about how good fences make good neighbors. I had to lay a boundary with these dogs this morning.I had to let them know that I was higher in the pecking order than they and that they must heed me. It looks like I will be doing that for awhile until they decide they can't hold my yard as theirs. Had I gone out there with a soft voice, saying, "please go home." I don't think they would have left. But I went out with a strong pace and presence, no nonsense approach. The final barking from behind the line of trees was also a challenge from the alpha. I probably should have gone over to the road and pursued, but that was a long walk, and they were out of my territory.
Sometimes when we deal with people, we have to set boundaries. And we usually have to be angry before we set them.
Many times we fear setting a boundary, fearing we may lose a friendship or cause hard feelings. But boundaries are a necessary part of life. Unconsciously we set boundaries as to what we are willing to do, or what we are willing to accept from someone else. Sometimes we have loose boundaries. Loose boundaries help us make new friends easily. But loose boundaries can also make us easy prey for those people who like to take advantage of people. Boundaries that are too strong can make people leary of becoming our friend.
Life is full of conflicts, some minor, some major. We need boundaries as we deal with people. Not setting the boundaries can cause resentment. I'm not always good with boundaries. I need to talk to my neigbhor again about their dogs. I don't dislike the dogs, but in the country when you get 4 or 5 dogs running together, they become a pack. It changes their behavior.
I don't see a happy ending to this story for many reasons.
To read more about human boundaries, Boundaries: When to say Yes, when to Say No, To take control of your life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Baby Sarah
Since I started my blog last year, I have gotten in the habit of reading several blogs. The Gregersen blog got me started as I wanted to keep up with their work in Africa. At the end of September, they started blogging about "baby Sarah." Baby Sarah was born to an HIV positive 16 year old girl who died during childbirth. Her short life is a testimony to how God shows his love even through human tragedy. No one in Sarah's family wanted her, so she was dropped off at the Haven in Namwianga by her grandmother when she was 2 weeks old. She was a month premature and sickly all her life. Several things about her story have touched me. At the Haven, while babies are cared for by several people THEY choose one to be their "mother." How and why a baby makes such a choice is amazing to me. Baby Sarah did not immediately choose a mom, but when she did she chose well. A young woman named Lauren became her "mom" and nutured her. Just a day or so ago, I read about Sarah's first laugh. At 5 months old, what a victory after so much struggle to live! This morning when I was checking my blogs that I normally read, I came across the news that baby Sarah had died. This comes on the heels of the news I got yesterday that one of my good friends who has been fighting cancer for three years will be starting the next round of chemo because the last PET scan shows a new hot spot in the lymph node near her pancreas. Sometimes life is uncertain, a struggle, and full of grief. But baby Sarah died with a special smile on her face. That smile gives me a lot of hope. Her story is worth reading at Lauren Beth in Africa.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The Art of Blogging
One of the things I struggle with in blogging is the discipline of making entries every day. Over the last two weeks, I've had adventures in New York CIty,Vermont, , St. Louis, and Chicago. I've also gotten accepted at another stock photography agency, Acclaim Images. I've been trying to get images uploaded there as quickly with as much quality control as possible. Plus, I'm working on a computer keyboard that needs to go to the shop making typing much more difficult. I spent most of my time at that tranquil Mississippi campground working on images. But the weather was cloudy and I probably got more done there than I would have at home, because of all the other things that demand attention when I am at home. And with the cloudy rainy weather, it was not good sightseeing or photography conditions.
We've moved south, spending tonight at a city park campground in Herman, Missouri. Good thing we came in tonight. Tomorrow night the campground will be full because they are having a German Octoberfest weekend. The weather forecast looks good tomorrow, some sunshine. We are heading home, but going the scenic route through the Ozarks. The foliage is looking lovely, so maybe, I'll get some photo opportunities.
We've moved south, spending tonight at a city park campground in Herman, Missouri. Good thing we came in tonight. Tomorrow night the campground will be full because they are having a German Octoberfest weekend. The weather forecast looks good tomorrow, some sunshine. We are heading home, but going the scenic route through the Ozarks. The foliage is looking lovely, so maybe, I'll get some photo opportunities.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Life along the river
Up until last night we were the only ones staying at the campground. People would drive in, sit and enjoy the water for awhile, or make use of the "facilities," and then go on. With the exception of the few passing boats and barges we've been pretty much on our own.
Most of the time, the RV sits here just like any other stationary object, so the birds and animals don't notice us for the most part. We do have to run the generator some which adds noise to the environment. With our big picture window in the front we have a great view of the wildlife around us.
I've enjoyed watching the blue herons and their antics. We've watched them fish on the river's edge just 30 or 40 feet from us. As that fish wiggled (struggled is probably the better word) in the heron's mouth, we wondered if the heron would lose his catch. But no, he deftly worked the fish around in its mouth until he swallowed it whole. We could watch the fish continue its flapping all the way down the heron's throat.
We've also seen some interaction. Once one heron got too close to another's fishing territory. The first bird drove the other one off. We've seen them do almost a dance in the water. They walk around circling each other with their heads held high (almost like little snobs). They don't get more than three or four feet from each other. They are not looking at each other, but you sense they are very aware of the other one's presence. We've seen two fly in and out together. And we saw one almost land on another one, pushing its head underwater after they were both startled by a riverboat. An accident . . . . or sibling rivalry . . . . hum . . . I'll never know. When we exit the RV, they startle giving a series of warning squawks. Sometimes just our moving in the RV or picking up our binoculars to look at them more closely causes them to take wing and move a little further away.
My animal list:
Blue Herons
Snowy Egrets
White pelicans
Doves
Cormorants
flocks of geese
terns (don't know which one)
beaver
seagulls
jumping fish (both small and some larger ones)
Owl calls
I took time this morning to listen to some owl calls.
My best uneducated guess is that we have been hearing a great horned owl.
Most of the time, the RV sits here just like any other stationary object, so the birds and animals don't notice us for the most part. We do have to run the generator some which adds noise to the environment. With our big picture window in the front we have a great view of the wildlife around us.
I've enjoyed watching the blue herons and their antics. We've watched them fish on the river's edge just 30 or 40 feet from us. As that fish wiggled (struggled is probably the better word) in the heron's mouth, we wondered if the heron would lose his catch. But no, he deftly worked the fish around in its mouth until he swallowed it whole. We could watch the fish continue its flapping all the way down the heron's throat.
We've also seen some interaction. Once one heron got too close to another's fishing territory. The first bird drove the other one off. We've seen them do almost a dance in the water. They walk around circling each other with their heads held high (almost like little snobs). They don't get more than three or four feet from each other. They are not looking at each other, but you sense they are very aware of the other one's presence. We've seen two fly in and out together. And we saw one almost land on another one, pushing its head underwater after they were both startled by a riverboat. An accident . . . . or sibling rivalry . . . . hum . . . I'll never know. When we exit the RV, they startle giving a series of warning squawks. Sometimes just our moving in the RV or picking up our binoculars to look at them more closely causes them to take wing and move a little further away.
My animal list:
Blue Herons
Snowy Egrets
White pelicans
Doves
Cormorants
flocks of geese
terns (don't know which one)
beaver
seagulls
jumping fish (both small and some larger ones)
Owl calls
I took time this morning to listen to some owl calls.
My best uneducated guess is that we have been hearing a great horned owl.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Life Lessons from a Riverboat
I like to spend time outside in contemplation or meditation. At home, my time is usually in the mornings on my front porch. On this trip, there has not been much time to feed that inner spirit. While we've been at a wonderfully quiet spot on the Mississippi River, the weather has been damp, cold, and sometimes rainy. Plus, I had a major project going on. Once we got settled in at the campground, I started getting 20 photos ready to be uploaded at a new stock agency for me. Everything had to be resized, uploaded via ftp and then keyworded and described on the site. Upsizing is easy, but you have "wait" time while the program does its thing. Entering titles, descriptions, keywords, etc is time consuming. They had requested a first submission of 20 images, so that is what I've spent the last two days doing. To complicate matters, my keyboard has a glitch. It started before the trip. We put it in the shop, got it back . . . . just a few days later it is not fixed. Sometimes all the keys work and sometimes they don't. I've gotten really good at typing using a Keyboard viewer and my touch pad. But it is slow. And then at other times, my keyboard works normally (like right now.)
So . . . I've been at this lovely, peaceful, tranquil, riverside campground, working like crazy. We've seen a few riverboats go by and I stopped and enjoyed each one. We've heard owls in the woods every night. We've watched the antics of the great blue herons that fish the river. We've even seen a beaver. But I felt like I had not had time to "enjoy" these things. I was enjoying them, yes, but I had not had time to savor it . . .so to speak.
So this evening, I had my photos uploaded, my email from the website with approval wordings on it (and I really like that I have someone who gives me feedback and information directly - with Alamy I usually feel like I am working in the dark.) So tonight I can relax.
I was planning to go outside and sit at the picnic table by the river and hope for owl calls. I took Henry's night vision binoculars to see if I could see anything (well, I was not good at focusing them . . . figured that out, but did not really see much with them) Then I looked downstream and realized that I was seeing the sweeping lights of a river boat heading upstream. Oh Boy!!!!!! I could sit and watch this one with my undivided attention. (Needless to say, small things sometimes please me greatly!) So I sat down to enjoy the experience and give it my full attention.
Now when I first saw the lights, they were very dim and in the distance, around the curve of the island . . . . . . . I'm thinking now that riverboat was probably 10 miles away when I first realized it was coming. Earlier today, we did some calculations . . . . riverboats travel less than 7 miles per hour . . . . This one was not going 7 miles per hour in the dark.
I sat at the picnic table and listened to the night sounds. I was soaking up that serenity I had been missing. I could hear the frogs and crickets in the forest behind me. I could hear the small fish splashing as they lept out of the water. I could hear the squaks of the herons as the noise in the distance and the lights in the distance disturbed their sleep. (The riverboat is still a long way away . . . . )
I could hear the owls . . . I was hoping I would get to hear the owl calls tonight. Sometimes they are loud and nearby, other times they are soft and far away. I think we've heard two species . . . I need to go online and listen to owl calls. One sounds like a barred owl. We heard those on the Owl Prowl and Froggy Frolic I went on during the summer. So I think one was a barred owl. The call we heard last night was very different. It was much more of a howl. I'm thinking either screech owl or perhaps even a bobcat. Yes, I need to listen to bird calls while the sounds are fresh in my memory.
While enjoying the night sounds around me, I keep watching downstream as the boat makes its way up the river. This is a SLOW boat. I'm sure the daytime boats went faster. (7 miles an hour is faster?????) The boat has made it past the curve around the island. I can see the spotlight. Sometimes it sweeps the area where I am sitting and the trees on the bank of the slough by the campground. At first the light is faint as it illuminated the trees. As time passes, the light gets brighter. I can see the spotlights well . . . . I don't see barges in front of the spot lights . . . .hum . . . . this is taking a LONG time . . . .maybe it is not barges, maybe it is a dredge . . . . hum . . . . it is slow . . . . . .
The night barges have two big spot lights. Have I mentioned they are BRIGHT spot lights. Your eyes have gotten used to the dark, you are looking toward the boat as it shines the light on the far bank . . . . the light swings in your direction . . . .your eyes don't move fast enough . . . . you can actually see your iris close to block out that painfully bright light. After a couple of times, I tried to avoid this experience. Hands work well as a shade.
Did I mention that the boat is still not here yet?????
I am truly enjoying sitting at the picnic enjoying this evening and waiting for the boat. I am NOT going in until the boat passes. But I am gettng chilly, so I went in and got my coat.
The nice thing about contemplation time is that your mind has time to process things. As I wait for this VERY slow boat, I think about what the captain of this boat is dealing with. It is dark out here. While there are some very small, dim flashing lights (miniature light houses-not bright) along the shore every couple of miles, there is virtually no light to guide him along the river. Nothing like the street lights on metropolitan interstates. Only the big spotlights on the top of the boat. The barges are very long in front of him (5 barges long, 3 barges wide-that is probably 250 feet of barge in front of him in the dark). . . at night he only has a very small flashing red light to tell him where the front of the boat is. There are buoys in the river to mark the channel. They are not lit. The captain must find them with his spotlight. He also must trust that whoever placed the buoys knew what they were doing. He must also trust that there are no new sand bars. It is dark, he can't see any new sandbars.
There is a pattern to the movement of the lights. Sometimes the lights swing from side to side checking where the river bank and landmarks may be. Sometimes, the lights are aimed dead straight ahead where the channel buoys are illuminated. Sometimes the captain keeps the lights in one position for a long time. If you think it is safe to look at the boat . . . . oops that light got you in the eyes again, yes, I AM seeing my iris close in a amazing flash of yellow and black, yes, that hurts. Yes, let's not do that again!
The boat is actually much closer now. Yes, there really are barges in front of it. Yes, it really is the same size as the ones during the day. With the boat this close, the spotlights are truly blinding. The captain may see Henry and me, he certainly leaves the spotlight on us for several moments. It is very bright, indescribably bright, MUCH brighter than the streetlights on the highways, almost like the worklights they use in highway construction at night, or Hollywood production night lights. And there are only two of them.
It is only after the boat has passed you that you can see the spotlight on the nested covers to the barges. When the barge is even with you, it appears to be going faster. It is an illusion. You can hear the engine noises a longer distance when the boat is downstream - some acoustic thing-perhaps the island and trees channel the sound better in that direction. But when the boat is near you, the engine is loud. A very rhythmic loud. Rum, rum, rum, rum, rum, deep tones,
As the boat passes, I appreciate the beauty of the side lights and their reflection on the water. Since the covers are folded up, and the barges seem to be riding low in the water, I wonder if this is carrying coal. I can't see the cargo or even the barges well enough to really know how they are riding in the water. But my mind wants to make sense of this. The barges going upstream this morning were coal barges. Grain barges would be covered.
When I was waiting for the barge to make its way tediously up the river, my contemplation headed in spiritual realms. The night is dark, sometimes our lives are lived in darkness, away from God's light. God's light is bright, it can be seen from far away, much as the riverboat's bright light could be seen coming even when it was 10 or more miles away. If we look for that light, we can see it coming. I was looking in the night and saw the distant light because I was outside taking in my surroundings. As the boat captain must trust the buoys for guidance, I also must trust the markers God puts in my path to guide me through life, as the riverboat captain trusts the buoys and lights. The riverboat captain has a detailed map of the river. As a Christian, I have the Bible as a written guide to help me navigate through the challenges of life.
Patience. When we travel around the country in our RV, we usually go 55-70 miles an hour. This riverboat is going less than 7 miles per hour. Folks, this is slow. A riverboat captain must have patience. He really will get to his destination. But it won't be fast. What does he do to keep his mind occupied? How does he keep his concentration on the dimly lit buoy's, especially in the dead of night. Sometimes as we journey through our lives,it feels like we are going painfully slow, just like these riverboats. But the riverboats must go slow. They are pushing many tons of cargo in these long barges-usually 15 lashed together. Each barge would hold the contents of perhaps 10-15 tractor trailer rigs. The riverboat captain knows he will get to his destination eventually. When my life is going painfully slow toward my goal, I must remember that with God as my captain, I will get to his goal for me.
Sometimes, I wonder if the time I spend enjoying, contemplating, meditating on my surroundings is wasted. From the time I first saw the distant dim light until the riverboat finally passed by was probably 1 1/2 hours. I experienced the mystery and wonder of the life around the river, I felt the cool gentle air, and I gained another object lesson for Christian living.
Wasted time . . . . . . I don't think so.
So . . . I've been at this lovely, peaceful, tranquil, riverside campground, working like crazy. We've seen a few riverboats go by and I stopped and enjoyed each one. We've heard owls in the woods every night. We've watched the antics of the great blue herons that fish the river. We've even seen a beaver. But I felt like I had not had time to "enjoy" these things. I was enjoying them, yes, but I had not had time to savor it . . .so to speak.
So this evening, I had my photos uploaded, my email from the website with approval wordings on it (and I really like that I have someone who gives me feedback and information directly - with Alamy I usually feel like I am working in the dark.) So tonight I can relax.
I was planning to go outside and sit at the picnic table by the river and hope for owl calls. I took Henry's night vision binoculars to see if I could see anything (well, I was not good at focusing them . . . figured that out, but did not really see much with them) Then I looked downstream and realized that I was seeing the sweeping lights of a river boat heading upstream. Oh Boy!!!!!! I could sit and watch this one with my undivided attention. (Needless to say, small things sometimes please me greatly!) So I sat down to enjoy the experience and give it my full attention.
Now when I first saw the lights, they were very dim and in the distance, around the curve of the island . . . . . . . I'm thinking now that riverboat was probably 10 miles away when I first realized it was coming. Earlier today, we did some calculations . . . . riverboats travel less than 7 miles per hour . . . . This one was not going 7 miles per hour in the dark.
I sat at the picnic table and listened to the night sounds. I was soaking up that serenity I had been missing. I could hear the frogs and crickets in the forest behind me. I could hear the small fish splashing as they lept out of the water. I could hear the squaks of the herons as the noise in the distance and the lights in the distance disturbed their sleep. (The riverboat is still a long way away . . . . )
I could hear the owls . . . I was hoping I would get to hear the owl calls tonight. Sometimes they are loud and nearby, other times they are soft and far away. I think we've heard two species . . . I need to go online and listen to owl calls. One sounds like a barred owl. We heard those on the Owl Prowl and Froggy Frolic I went on during the summer. So I think one was a barred owl. The call we heard last night was very different. It was much more of a howl. I'm thinking either screech owl or perhaps even a bobcat. Yes, I need to listen to bird calls while the sounds are fresh in my memory.
While enjoying the night sounds around me, I keep watching downstream as the boat makes its way up the river. This is a SLOW boat. I'm sure the daytime boats went faster. (7 miles an hour is faster?????) The boat has made it past the curve around the island. I can see the spotlight. Sometimes it sweeps the area where I am sitting and the trees on the bank of the slough by the campground. At first the light is faint as it illuminated the trees. As time passes, the light gets brighter. I can see the spotlights well . . . . I don't see barges in front of the spot lights . . . .hum . . . . this is taking a LONG time . . . .maybe it is not barges, maybe it is a dredge . . . . hum . . . . it is slow . . . . . .
The night barges have two big spot lights. Have I mentioned they are BRIGHT spot lights. Your eyes have gotten used to the dark, you are looking toward the boat as it shines the light on the far bank . . . . the light swings in your direction . . . .your eyes don't move fast enough . . . . you can actually see your iris close to block out that painfully bright light. After a couple of times, I tried to avoid this experience. Hands work well as a shade.
Did I mention that the boat is still not here yet?????
I am truly enjoying sitting at the picnic enjoying this evening and waiting for the boat. I am NOT going in until the boat passes. But I am gettng chilly, so I went in and got my coat.
The nice thing about contemplation time is that your mind has time to process things. As I wait for this VERY slow boat, I think about what the captain of this boat is dealing with. It is dark out here. While there are some very small, dim flashing lights (miniature light houses-not bright) along the shore every couple of miles, there is virtually no light to guide him along the river. Nothing like the street lights on metropolitan interstates. Only the big spotlights on the top of the boat. The barges are very long in front of him (5 barges long, 3 barges wide-that is probably 250 feet of barge in front of him in the dark). . . at night he only has a very small flashing red light to tell him where the front of the boat is. There are buoys in the river to mark the channel. They are not lit. The captain must find them with his spotlight. He also must trust that whoever placed the buoys knew what they were doing. He must also trust that there are no new sand bars. It is dark, he can't see any new sandbars.
There is a pattern to the movement of the lights. Sometimes the lights swing from side to side checking where the river bank and landmarks may be. Sometimes, the lights are aimed dead straight ahead where the channel buoys are illuminated. Sometimes the captain keeps the lights in one position for a long time. If you think it is safe to look at the boat . . . . oops that light got you in the eyes again, yes, I AM seeing my iris close in a amazing flash of yellow and black, yes, that hurts. Yes, let's not do that again!
The boat is actually much closer now. Yes, there really are barges in front of it. Yes, it really is the same size as the ones during the day. With the boat this close, the spotlights are truly blinding. The captain may see Henry and me, he certainly leaves the spotlight on us for several moments. It is very bright, indescribably bright, MUCH brighter than the streetlights on the highways, almost like the worklights they use in highway construction at night, or Hollywood production night lights. And there are only two of them.
It is only after the boat has passed you that you can see the spotlight on the nested covers to the barges. When the barge is even with you, it appears to be going faster. It is an illusion. You can hear the engine noises a longer distance when the boat is downstream - some acoustic thing-perhaps the island and trees channel the sound better in that direction. But when the boat is near you, the engine is loud. A very rhythmic loud. Rum, rum, rum, rum, rum, deep tones,
As the boat passes, I appreciate the beauty of the side lights and their reflection on the water. Since the covers are folded up, and the barges seem to be riding low in the water, I wonder if this is carrying coal. I can't see the cargo or even the barges well enough to really know how they are riding in the water. But my mind wants to make sense of this. The barges going upstream this morning were coal barges. Grain barges would be covered.
When I was waiting for the barge to make its way tediously up the river, my contemplation headed in spiritual realms. The night is dark, sometimes our lives are lived in darkness, away from God's light. God's light is bright, it can be seen from far away, much as the riverboat's bright light could be seen coming even when it was 10 or more miles away. If we look for that light, we can see it coming. I was looking in the night and saw the distant light because I was outside taking in my surroundings. As the boat captain must trust the buoys for guidance, I also must trust the markers God puts in my path to guide me through life, as the riverboat captain trusts the buoys and lights. The riverboat captain has a detailed map of the river. As a Christian, I have the Bible as a written guide to help me navigate through the challenges of life.
Patience. When we travel around the country in our RV, we usually go 55-70 miles an hour. This riverboat is going less than 7 miles per hour. Folks, this is slow. A riverboat captain must have patience. He really will get to his destination. But it won't be fast. What does he do to keep his mind occupied? How does he keep his concentration on the dimly lit buoy's, especially in the dead of night. Sometimes as we journey through our lives,it feels like we are going painfully slow, just like these riverboats. But the riverboats must go slow. They are pushing many tons of cargo in these long barges-usually 15 lashed together. Each barge would hold the contents of perhaps 10-15 tractor trailer rigs. The riverboat captain knows he will get to his destination eventually. When my life is going painfully slow toward my goal, I must remember that with God as my captain, I will get to his goal for me.
Sometimes, I wonder if the time I spend enjoying, contemplating, meditating on my surroundings is wasted. From the time I first saw the distant dim light until the riverboat finally passed by was probably 1 1/2 hours. I experienced the mystery and wonder of the life around the river, I felt the cool gentle air, and I gained another object lesson for Christian living.
Wasted time . . . . . . I don't think so.
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