July 2

In honor of my father, "Goob Luck".

And "THIMK!"

And "A place for everything and everything in its place."

And "Think ahe

ad."

Rabbit Rabbit

The helicopter from yesterday, commissioned to do water table survey work, is an Aerospatiale 350 (Eurocopter AS350) with a useful load of 1,847 pounds. It's thought that the equipment is something electromagnetic, but no one from the USGS has responded (yet). The woman at the airport had not talked to the Danish and Canadian crew about the equipment, so she could not add anything.

Meanwhile, July arrives with a new conditioning schedule for two more weeks and counting down to the high altitude hike. Lift that beer, tote that potato chip!

June 30

Last day of June!!

The US Geological Survey team is checking the water table in Western Nebraska. The equipment includes a helicopter and some odd contraption that is hauled along like a banner towed over a sports arena.

Except this looks really weird and it's difficult to figure out how it works. And it's huge like a pivot sprinkler. This is going to take some investigation.

And on closer view from right to left;

More to follow, I hope.

June 29

Old Blue.

A truck very similar to this one appeared in the novel, bearing three characters, just before a hand-carried missile launcher blew out the driver's side door.

This car was parked right outside the bank this morning, and carried a red 5-gallon container of gasoline in the front passenger's seat, a dirty rag stuffed in the spout. It reminds me of one of my old cars impounded for ugliness. No word if there was a bomb threat in front of the bank today.

Traveling again today. This time away from Denver, and the high plains.
Nothing so rare as a day in June.

June 28

There is a beaded doorway leading to a banquet.

It's a June wedding reception!

Preceded by a wedding kiss.

Followed by wedding cake, of course.

I'm not making this up!

June 27

Loons. I had a loon video. However, ...

This alien loony computer doesn't have video capability. Maybe this should be a words only entry. After all, the novel is not going to have videos or pictures or multimedia performance art. OMG. "Can this really be the end? To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again."

Sure enough, driving through Sterling, CO, the bank clock thermometer blinked 103. Hot and dry. Loons cannot survive here. But the wheat fields are turning from bright green to yellow. They are a beautiful chartreuse, the color of lies. That's just what the color wheel says.

So, no loons, just lunacy. Wheat the color of lies. And a novel that refuses to be written.

June 26

Fuel tank contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

The fuel valve must be open. "Open wide, thanks."

The fuel strainer must be operative to keep the gunk out of the fuel. Liver, spleen, intestines and kidneys in working order.

Carburetor, carburetor...

The carburetor is the reservoir that serves two purposes. First it increases the speed of airflow through a restriction (venturi) and second, it draws the fuel into the flowing airstream. The airplane needs an air to fuel ratio of 15 to 1. More than that, it's leaned. Less than that, it's rich.

Of course this means to get lean what is required is more breathing, less eating. Duh, brilliant.

Hikers need somehow to compress the air at altitude to better mix with the fuel and provide combustion. Forced compressed air. Turbo charge!! Hyperventilation and breath holding, or bottled oxygen and a positive pressure breathing system. That's it, I've exhausted my fuel.

.

June 25

How's your summer going for you? It's Christmas in June.

Traveling to Denver today, hot and dry by weather.com information.

Here's a Christmas tree and a video of ice chittering during ice-out at the lake.

Keep cool!

June 24

Every time I park in this lot under the tree for shade, the same sparrow perches on a side mirror of the car, sizes up his companion in the mirror world, and does his dance. Is he trying to chase Mirror Sparrow away? Maybe he's in love instead. Maybe he's singing "It had to be you".

I've seen people look in mirrors like this. Fluff fluff, peck peck. Classic obsessive behavior. It's why I always park under the same tree.

June 23

"Buk Buk"

my brother said, in reference to his buddy resting instead of climbing to 14,000 feet.

My flight instructor has named one of his chickens Barby Q.

This entry is scratching at the dirt in the bottom of the coop.

June 22

Mount Chocorua

Elevation 3,500 feet

Brook Trail up

Liberty Trail down
7.5 miles total

In honor of summer

Chocorua is an Indian word that, on this hike, means

"Clouds of ear-loving gnats"

Claymore Brook, 1.0 mile

Juncture of Brook and Liberty Trails, 3.4 miles


Viewing Pleasant Mountain from the summit, 3.7 miles


Descending via Liberty Trail, 3.9 miles

Summer

"Summer, a fat horse, tender against the spurs" Wm Kloefkorn

A recipe sent by a recluse who secretly wishes to be a warlock.

Although this will be made with all the true ingredients, it kinda makes one want to add tincture of ticks and ants in honor of the summer cauldron. Today promises hazy, hot and humid. And dreaming of what you don't have, like winter, won't help. Which brings me to cake. The reason it's been on my mind is just that; dreaming what I don't have.

This book contains no SUGAR!

Well, carrying the least amount of weight while hiking at altitude, got me to thinking about high protein, low carbohydrates to drop pounds. Hence the South Beach Diet. And, cake came up on Day 3. It is now Day 11. Climbing Pleasant Mountain is not easy without sugar. In fact, it's near impossible, and I'd like to discourage myself from trying it again. But it's summer, a fat horse, tender against the spurs. And muscles require fuel, and fuel most readily accessible is sugar. Get going, girl.

Knock Knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Knock Knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Knock Knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

This should be the last cake entry for those who tire of obsessive behavior.

Happy Summer. May you live happily in the fullness of the season.

Fathers Day and Anniversary

Every time we drive by this sign, I think we should express some over-the-top emotion. Instead, we both shout out "Gushee!" and say it like Gooshy. Of course it reminds me of cake. But Father's Day and Wedding Anniversary should be both gushy and gooshy. Flowers, poetry, paper cards, wrapped gifts, a candlelight dinner, Gushee!

Victoria's Secret is having the semiannual sale. Staples is having a sale, ending today. Hmmm pretty lingerie, or paper products. Gushee!

Golf will be on television for 18 hours. Pleasant Mountain is within 45 minutes drive time. There's an airplane floating right outside the lake house. Gushee!

All you Fathers out there, have a Gushee day. I'll choose the irises please, Gushee!

June 19

Cake Counter at Hannaford's

It's easy to dream of cake when you're hiking without it.

Also ice cream and pizza and fresh salad and bananas and anything in a bottle or can.

June 18

This is what I wrote on the napkin tucked into the windshield wiper:

"Woman in white, Q: 'How long does Love, with a capital L, last?'
Woman in purple jacket, A: 'Love, with a captial L, is outside of time. Love is not bounded by time. Love has always been and will always be.'"

I am very pleased with my answer. In lieu of the Cheshire Cat, Buddha appears, grinning: