I have noticed in my life that all men have a liking for some special animal, tree, plant, or spot of earth. If men would pay more attention to these preferences they might have dreams that would purify their lives. Let a man decide upon his favorite and make a study of it.

- Frances Densmore
Teton Sioux Music, 1918

What is age
but additional knowledge?

What is time
but an infinite measurement?

What is work
but exerted effort?

What is today
but a day without you?

Non-ignorant thought

Staying focused,
feeling strong,
working towards that-
which we don't belong.

Efforts and stress,
exerted with pain
for a greater good
with little fame.

For the health of the earth
and the health of its beings
each day's endured
and work is done.

Is it in vanity
or work in vain?
As the earth slowly creeps
and is more dismal each day.

Inanimate beauty

Silence and snow

Last night the temperature was expected to drop below freezing and the residents around here were full of excitement with the thought of snow. Being a native Floridian, it's hard to look past the fact it's just too cold to anticipate snow, especially since I have yet to see it.

Last Sunday, there were snow flurries that stayed intact but did not collect in bulk on the ground. It was beautiful to watch them move. There was this silence, peculiar to one who is accustomed to the variety of music that rain plays as it dances from the sky to the ground. The snow however, had no sound. It was a bit hard to accept... seeing these white clods of frozen water and other particulate matter moving about, but creating no noise.... silence. It made me realize how much I enjoyed and took for granted the wonderful sounds of rain.

I have always enjoyed the rains and love to watch the water flow. I get a kick out of watching it move and flow, how it interacts with barriers and carries material. Sometimes, I wish I could do it all day. Perhaps that is why I love the ocean so and can watch and listen to the waves rise and fall. Imagine the ocean without sound. That would be a cruel joke to play on someone. It also makes me feel for those who are not capable of enjoying the symphony of sounds. I like to hone in on one particular sound and then slowly bring myself into the grand concert by noticing adjoining sounds, slowly adding them, until a blissful symphony engulfs me.

However, I originally started this blog entry to say that when I awoke this morning the residents anticipation had been met. There was snow sitting and waiting to be noticed. Unfortunately, I was late rising this morning and did not witness the falling of the snow. As of now, it disappearing... quickly. It was just a preview of what is to come. In joining the others, I anxiously await its return. Perhaps I'll be able to touch it and make a snowball this year!

Rant for the semester... to be repeated

Over the course of time I have dedicated and wasted to the most ridiculous class of the semester, I have learned about Glacier Bay National Park, a lot of government agencies that manage public lands, and Glen Canyon Dam. However, I have yet to learn anything useful about writing. Oh, I take that back I did learn one thing. Last night I learned that you do not hyphenate 'like' words unless there are 3 Ls in a row. However, I have spent a multitude of days working on these papers and have yet to learn anything about how to properly edit them, go about composing them, or effectively deliver the information.

It is just a crude reminder of useless ineffective hurdles one is required to fulfill. For some reason, I thought I was beyond that...not above it, just beyond it!

During a seminar course this morning I found myself asking question after question. Not that this is something new, however after the class, I asked the professor, also being one of my advisors , if I had been asking too many questions and diverting the conversation. Posed with this question, he gallantly answered "no, you are a skeptic... and I should be able to inform you..." Hearing the word skeptic somewhat offended me, but I tried to think about it more logically, replying "I see myself more as simply trying to rationalize the the use of the topic."

As I proceeded onto my next course, in which I am one of the few students voicing my 'skepticism', I recalled how at a young age I continuously inquired, trying to understand the world around me and posing question after question to my peers. Although this was often not welcomed and eventually conditioned me to limit my inquiries, it was also the main reason I entered into the field of science. It is here that questions spur research and they are the foundation of the scientific community.

Therefore, as the second course ended and I had asked many more questions, I realized.... I am a scientist, perhaps not a geologist, but one who is looking for answers. Answers to understand the world around me and ultimately to be used to help decrease the strain and negative impacts on the earth we are all apart of.... and I will not stop until they have all been answered!

The St. Augustine News

And what does a concerned children's story book author do to protest child pornography????

Why he dresses up in a tiger suite, breaks into the St. Augustine Lighthouse, but leaves a note, and responsibly climbs to the top with a flag blazing Myduke (the name of the tiger in his children's story).

What does pornography have to do with any of it?

Ah...and it makes so much sense....

According to ever wise myspace postings, the day of my birth designates my tree to be a lime tree.

meaning....

Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life
dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into
good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

If only I knew this long ago, life would have made been so much easier....

Film frenzy

Lately, I have been escaping into films. Though this is not uncommon for me, it was how I chose to spend my free time, visiting the Hippodrome weekly in Gainesville, before moving up here to North Carolina. However, after relocating and sadly finding there was no art house or local theatre playing foreign and or non-mainstream films, I turned my attentions elsewhere when free of work and class obligations.

Recently, even though I have not had the luxury of free time, I have been escaping to the theatre on campus that shows two movies changing them each week. Generally, the films include one blockbuster and one less mainstream. This is where I saw the film 'Junebug' that I reviewed on the movie blog I contribute to, which is listed under my blogworthiness links. Even if it was not a movie I had been wanting to see but was unable to afford a tix at the local cash only, no student discount theatre here in town, it is a nice break that I would otherwise waste on non-efficient activities.

The recent films have been well chosen; I must give props to whomever is picking them out. The film 'Junebug' was thought provoking. It was very well done. I had not seen anything the director had done before but I was impressed with his representation of the story. It was an interesting storyline as well and the acting was well performed. Though it seemed so simple, it was a very intricate lending to a variety of unspoken topics and perspectives that could be expanded upon.

This past weekend, 'Stay' was showing at the theatre, in addition to the blockbuster 'Saw II'. I saw 'Saw' and thought it was good, plot wise, but too gory and the director did not expand represent it as well as it could have been shown. Needless to say, I was not interested in seeing 'Saw II,' but decided to check out 'Stay'. After looking it up on IMDB, I was excited to see that Ryan Gosling was in it. I have only seen him in 'The United States of Leland,' which was a good film; so good that I had to buy it. I enjoyed his acting in that film and was interested to see how well of an actor he was and have been looking to see him in something new. Additionally, Ewan McGregor, who I first saw in 'Moulin Rouge' and have enjoyed his later performances, including the young Ed Blum in 'Big Fish,' is also in the film. Naomi Watts is also in the film, but she seems to play similar characters or she seems to play her characters similarly, in my opinion; however, I have not been following her career.

Getting back to the movie 'Stay'; my overall opinion was that it was good. I would give it a 4 out of 5. The film was well acted, the cinematography was good with some interesting shots, and the story was interesting.. leaving one something to ponder as they left the theatre; however, there seemed to be something missing... something more that didn't have to be there but could have been. What is it that I am speaking of? I'm not sure at the moment, I'm still trying to figure it out. The film was well done and effective, but I guess the message it was trying to get across didn't seem as heavy or significant as it could of been. I did feel the film tried something new and was not a trite story or reliance of one, which always a pleasure.

I would not say it is a must see, but it is an enjoyable watch. Something nice to watch to get one's mind thinking about something different for a change.

With Arms Outstretched

Its 16 miles, to the promise land
and I promise you, I'm doing the best I can
now don't fool yourself
in thinking you're more than a man
cause you'll probably end up dead

i visit these
mountains with frequency
and i stand here with my arms out
now somedays they'll last longer than others
but this day by the lake went too fast

and if you want me
you better speak up i won't wait
so you better, move fast

don't fool yourself
in thinking you're more than you are
with your arms outstretched to me

now its 16 miles to the promised land
and i promise you i'm doing the best i can
now somedays they last longer than others
but this day by the lake went to fast

and if you want me, you better speak up i won't wait
so you better move fast

and somedays they last longer than others
but this day by the lake went to fast
and if you want me, you better speak up i wont wait
so you better move fast

- Rilo Kiley

Simple saturdays

Yet another day is coming to a close.

The wind roars outside, mimicking the sound of the ocean as I can't quite recall the last time I was within its vast greatness.

Darkness has come, outside the small apartment window and the light inside does not allow me to witness the trees bashed by the roaring wind, disguised as ocean waves to my wishful ears.

The sweet melody of Rilo Kiley plays on the stereo accompanied by her cynical lyrics, delivered with a soft light voice slightly jaded by life.

Partial satisfaction of work accomplished while ignoring all that is still to be done. A few more hours will lend to greater satisfaction....

and a life less lived, by one's perception.

It's only temporary... the words run through my head. Perhaps if I keep hearing it I will one day listen, and accept that more is yet to come.

Though more is not necessary, we look forward... yearning for it... effortlessly working harder to achieve it, though what it is, we do not know.... exactly.

Now is nice. More experiences would be nice, but less things. Less hoops to jump through and less busy work. Additional experiences to broaden my thirsty perspective, anxiously waiting to be pushed, pulled, and expanded.

Will tomorrow be the same? Hopefully not....

Rilo Kiley
The Execution of All Things

soldiers come quickly, i feel the earth beneath my feet.
i’m feeling badly, it’s not an attempt at decency.
and if you’re well off, well then i’m happy some for you.
but i’d rather not celebrate my defeat and humiliation here with you.

someone come quickly, this place was built for moving out.
leave behind buildings, the city planners got mapped out.
bring with you history, and make your hard earned feast.
then we’ll go to omaha to work and exploit the booming music scene and humility.
and we’ve been talking all night….

oh god come quickly, the execution of all things.
let’s start with the bears and the air and mountains, rivers, and streams.
then we’ll murder what matters to you and move on to your neighbors and kids.
crush all hopes of happiness with disease ‘cause of what you did.
and lastly, you’re all alone with nothing left but sleep.

but sleep never comes to you, it’s just the guilt and forever wakefulness of the weak.
it’s just you and me….

the execution of all things.
the execution of all things.
the execution of all things.