Here in Vermont, if a lake or reservoir or other collection of water freezes over, you can actually stand on it, walk, or even (what!) drive across...

... but when to tell if it has been cold enough to actually do this safely is somewhat of an arguable issue. The above photo shows a slab of ice that seems pretty solid, but in a reservoir like this, the city actually lets the water level drop, resulting in about 12 feet of free air from the ice slab over the water, down to the remaining water level, so if that ice breaks, even if you survive the fall and drowning, it's still a 12ft jump to safety.

In the big lake (Champlain), they discourage driving one's Jeep on the Lake because if it falls in, one has only 24 hours to retrieve the vehicle or else you get fined a (questionably) exorbitant amount of money. And the recovery is at one's own expense. But some people are still nuts enough.

Now I do acknowledge that I may be psychologically compromised from earlier experiences, but not that crazy. And if I was deluded enough to think I could make it across safely, I would not try it with this Jeep. Maybe at another time with another car.


Over on the right of the above photo, you can see the soft covering of the Marshfield Reservoire. It actually reaches all the way across, but their is no launch on the otherside to drive up the bank when your done gambling your $30,000 collateral for mere bragging rights. Maybe you could attach a long cable to a side post and hook it to your chassis like a leash of sorts. Though you would still need your brain checked. So, Mom, if you're reading this, rest assured, I'll take all the safety precautions (Personal Flotation Device, grappling hook, and 50ft static rope) before I actually do something like this.

But for this Christmas, I parked the Jeep in the traditional lot. Here it is, with the Reservoir to the right, and what looks like Owl's Head Peak (as far as I can calculate with the map and the drive the other day.) in the background. Maybe I'll find someone crazy enough to drive THEIR car across the pond.


As always, you can click on each photo to display a larger version (usually 900x600). don't forget to drop a line.

The day before Christmas found a short hike with a long road....




.... from the trailhead, it was a short jaunt to the peak for a great view (better when the clouds weren't surrounding) of Lake Groton. It was the mile hike in the knee deep snow from the main road to the trail head that was a bit more work. The peaks are note very high in Vermont, but the view is grand, and the snow is pristine. It has been cold enough here that the snow squeaks. Where I work, the town is small enough that each snow falls provides a peaceful blanket freshness, like a good clean scrub of the state. Maybe it's like that all over New England, but I happen to be living in Vermont currently.

What may look to you all like normal cold winter day is the coldest temperature I have every experienced. On my way to work, my Jeep's sensors measured a blazing -5°F which warmed up to a toasty -3°F by the time I got to work. It was actually quite sunny, but the seasonal earth tilt made sure the sun rays were dispersed over a greater surface area than was helpful to warm a human body.

Across from the entrance to work was this beautiful pile of gravel from the local quarry. The piles are symmetrical and kind of aesthetic in the summer time, but in the winter time they look like this, even more gorgeous. The snow keeps people from going too fast or driving too dangerously, but every once in a while some urban hero decides he wants to test the edges of common sense and see how good his hakkapeliita's really grip icy asphalt. Glad I'm not an ER doctor, but generally speaking New Englanders have good common sense. After all, they've lived here for generations.

Next adventure: Brunswick, Maine (Just for a short weekend).

More photos of the up-coming winter later on.

Warm Vermont Afternoon

So Vermont is having an Indian summer, as a newbie in New England, I was told that we should be having snow about now, and this has been warm weather. I cringe at the thought because I've already donned my gloves and beanie for warmth (and comfort). Especially Sabbath afternoon, we took a quick hike after lunch to a local waterfall and ravine just outside of Stowe just before one arrives at Smuggler's Notch.
The weather was actually warm (at about 42F), and we put our packs and jackets down on one of the rocks. It was a matter of scampering around to rocks carefully, skittering across fallen logs, and stepping down the human-assisted staircase on the way down to the main falls.

No Peer Pressure

My Grandfather, whom we affectionately call Lolo as a term of endearment, turned 100 on November 2 this year.

I flew back to California to see him on the weekend of his birth and he is still as spry and active as before. The grandkids, coming from as far away as New England (yes, that would be me) and Tennessee (Eileen and her family), each gave a short blurb about the wonderful memories we have of growing up here with him after he came over in the early 80's.

We recalled countless memories of generosity and, little known to him, his environmental awareness (he collected and recycled aluminum can's like crazy, then divvied up the money amongst us. His excitement and encouragement for our adventures growing up and his persistent concern for how we are doing. Though he has difficuly hearing, he still enjoys when any one of us come over, and especially when we share scripture with him. He has his own Bible in Tagolog (the official filipino language) and we can easily match it with the KJV text because of the book, chapter, and verse.

It was a busy weekend jaunt to California, and then back again early that week to prepare for winter. That's another post.

Don't Take Your Work Home with You.

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Upon arrival this is what I saw at 10:30pm at night, after driving through the Colorado Rockies and across the plain that makes up the San Luis Valley.

Quite comfortable and spacious with plenty of amenities, this wood-paneled apartment comes with everything except internet access, which I have found to be quite a serendipitous omission. It reminded me of the days when internet wasn't necessary, and the best ways to connect with friends and colleagues is to actually make your way over to them in person and talk with them, shake their hand, and see how they are doing.

But there is room for the clothes and even the bike and weights, and all the collective camera equipment used to make the photographs of this blog. The refrigerator is large enough and small enough at the same time, as well as the sink and overall kitchen. The bathroom is big enough and the water is hot enough, but this single room apartment can't be beat for its space, its view and seclusion. It is wonderful to come out here where there is no driving car, because its address says it all: Country Road 108. That means that it still takes about 3/4 mile to make it to the main road, which is still almost 3 miles out of town. No street lights, no stop signs, only a small sign that reminds us that this location is a private reserve.

It actually helps me put work where it's supposed to be: at work.

Road to Colorado

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Didn't really stop anywhere, I guess I just wanted to get to my destination. A couple of these shots were from my remote camera, but there wasn't really any great view to capture from the highway, you had to step out to the frontage road if you wanted to get anything.

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This house was the only one around for miles. Someone actually lives here, gets their mail here and and everything. He was gracious enough to let me sit in his front yard and snap a shot.

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This is right before you hit the Arizona-New Mexico Border heading east. I had to drive off the road to be able to shoot this guy. The clouds were perfect, so the extra drive was worth it.

Click for Larger Image. This shot actually required a 3Stop Hard Neutral Gradient Filter.

Just dry deserts and occasional mesa until you get to Colorado, where the landscape is a striking difference. Right near Durango, CO, is this vista of the Colorado River and the sun setting. In the distance, slightly to the right of center in photograph is the Colorado Rockies.

Traveling to Colorado

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Late Saturday night, packed and ready, I pulled out of Loma Linda and made my way up Barstow to the I-40 headed to Flagstaff.

Traveling at night is the best time because in the Southwest there is a lot of desert, until you get the to lower Rockies in Arizon's Flagstaff. I had my backseat free thanks to my cargobox


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So I set up the tripod and my camera with newly acquired PocketWizards and transmitter so that I could drive and when I see something pretty, I can roll down the window and press the transmitter to click a picture without me. The good news is that I don't have to stop, the bad news is that I can't see exactly what I'm shooting and also that I'm not in the picture.

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This is one of the shots taken with the remote camera set up, from the back seat of my Jeep.

Parting Shot at Mormon Rocks

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The night I left for Colorado, we closed out the Sabbath with some of the guys from Bible Study, they each are doing their separate thing, but we all came together to have a devotional thought as the sun set.

The Mormon Rocks are a collection of limestone that have a distinct enough formation that an official state park was fashioned around it, right of the Hwy-138 exit from the I-15 near Silverwood.

This evening we climbed and talked and shot this parting shot. I told these guys that it would be the last night for a while, although in truth, the study has been quite erratic and limited to the few times I was able to come down from the Central Coast, where my last assignment had been. But if there was anything I tried to teach anyone that came to the study was to make each of the lessons and things we had learned one's own, not just a collection of texts that link concepts together, but living and vital promises that practically affect each of their lives a deeper and meaningful sense.

But since it was the last time until October, I'll leave with a common phrase found at Bible Study: "Another Topic for another study later on..."

What You Really Can't Live Without

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So when I came home from Central California Coast, I regrouped and unloaded, and as I packed once again, this time for Colorado and Maine and Vermont, there was a difference in that I knew that not only would I be gone until mid-October, I would not be able to come to my personal storage space (aka my parent's house) and just pick up stuff and leave stuff back.

No, this time I had to decide what was important and what I was really going to use and what I could leave at home. This time, bike is going, and of course camera gear and computer, but I realized that a lot of conveniences could really be left at home, like a full file folder, and some books, and all I really needed was my laptop and camera, and a mouse. A few books I did reference, like Spirit of Prophecy, History of Redemption and the Nine Volumes, and my Bible goes without saying.

But what really helped change my life was the Yakima cargo box up on top that you see me unpacking. So many shoes (cycling and hiking and even dress shoes) and golf clubs, and extra jackets could go in there and not clutter up my back which would be reserved for definite items that were required to be kept safe like unsorted mail or important documents that have to go with me to each assignment, or luggage, or computer equipment or camera gear. But this allowed me to pack essential items and leave the BACK SEAT empty!! Which means I could pack the comforter and pillow and take a quick (or long) nap at any rest stop I come to. Colorado after all is a 16 hour drive from Loma Linda. And Maine is another 36 hour drive. Yes that Cargo box really made travel a lot different. I'm even considering bringing a desktop computer :-D

House and Home

One of the disadvantages of moving around is not really having a place for all your stuff. Yes, you can organize things and put them in order, but each item doesn't really have its home. Here I am preparing my cargo box and gear to load up for the trip down south and then to Colorado.

I never thought I'd stay this long in such a tiny town with a mostly foreign speaking population, but the staff is great and the C-section opportunities are plentiful enough, and the drive is superb, the traffic is virtually non-existent, and I can run and bike all I want. But the stent is over and now on to other pastures. Not that I won't miss it, on the contrary, I will, but now it's time for something else.

I was looking at all my gear as I readied the box, and planned out the essentials for the last two days here, I thought to myself as I prepared to be on the road, that it will be awhile until I can plant a flower garden or a vegetable garden, or be able to rack up my bike or the Yakima, put my lights up without having to take them down and plant my tripod someplace permanent. I'm not sure where the sense of permanence comes from, and I'm not sure if it's merely a way of expanding my selfishness or need for possessions. I think of Abraham and his family, without any home per se, except the tent they had. But the sense of belonging is something innate in us, even if it's not something tangible, it is some king of emotional sense. What supplies this? My initial reaction is loyalty, trustworthiness, dependability. All that with only an initial reaction, and not much introspection. How it builds security, I am not sure just yet, maybe for another post.

But the next two days will go by fast, as I wrap up my charts, and get the final paperwork together for my next assignment, and find a place to hand my hat, and rack my bike.

Home is more than where you get your mail

The drive down to visit my parents and siblings takes approximately 4 hrs and 30 min. depending on if you drive straight or take a break in one of the rest stops. In the past 3 weeks, I've been every weekend. But it's different. I'm no longer coming home any more, just coming to visit.

The good thing is there are reasons to visit. Jenny and Audree are there, and when I'm home they have reason to visit. It's like we're more of a family when I'm gone and come to visit. And I get to see Byron and Monledy, who got engaged last weekend. Daniel when he's in the country. Drew, and Genesis, Anthony, and Nick. Sometimes Ned. Some times my other cousins. Or Perrin and Joe. The usual Bible Study crowd.

What I find really interesting is how friendships work. What they are built off of and what promotes intimacy in a relationship. The disclosure, and conversation, and enjoyment, although fun and bonding, they don't take the place of confiding and trusting and growth and fidelity. Solidarity of sorts.

It's odd to think that if I didn't have a Bible Study and my brother and sisters were working that weekend, and I didn't have my stuff down there like my car or my books, would I go visit? I'm not sure. I like to think, it would be an enjoyable experience to reminisce. But it would seem like I would be visiting a place without any purpose, like a significant geographical landmark or performance of service, but in all honesty, I don't think I would have reason. And unfortunately I need a reason. I recall vaguely that a friend is someone with whom you don't need a reason to drop by. I don't know if I have any people like that. There are many people that I get along with. Many. There are many people at work that I get along with. There are also people whose company I would choose over others.

What started me thinking about all this is Byron's invitation to the Engagement Party at his (now) fiancée's house. Most of the people I see down south are simply those I know by Bible Study. Outside of that we don't just hang out. We're not really friends of sorts. Except for Byron.

The reason for this is an interesting one. It's actually a rebuke to me. Byron and I are friends outside of Bible Study because he has taken the principles we speak of and makes them his in his life. It's not just stuff we talk about. He has taken the talk of purpose and forgiveness and eschatology and has applied them to his life. And consequently as we have talked about Bible Study we have talking about applying those principles to our relationships, our jobs, our finances, our church, our community service. Byron has made his christianity practical. And that is why we seem to talk about the rest of our lives in addition to Bible Studies. And Solidarity is formed. It's as if we somehow share a similar heart.

And you know what they say about where home is.

Scout Assignment: Vermont

Photo courtesy of Charlie Padgett from flickr.com.

So what I do before I accept an assignment is to look it up on Google, and check out its logistics on maps.google.com and finally check flickr.com to see what it looks like from everyday people's point of view. What I find can be somewhat interesting.

Barre is just outside of the capital of Vermont, Montpelier. Barre is a small enough suburb as to get eclipsed by the obvious point of interest in Vermont. What I found in the Montpelier region doesn't look as unfamiliar as one might think. My very first locums assignment was in New Hampshire, maybe it's time to close up my travels landing in New England, too.

2173 miles from Alamosa to Montpelier. The drive will be fun, and maybe it's time for a Yakima and bike rack. The route isn't one I'm familiar with and it brings me up instead of down, unless I swing by Dallas. Google claims it takes about 2 days to drive straight. I'm assuming they're calculating 60 mph. I don't know if I can drive that slow the whole time. I calculated 2 days of 15 hrs at 70 mph. That's a lot of books to listen to.

Montpelier has several towns all around it, all a quick drive. The hills are beautiful and there numerous State parks around and of course Lake Champlain just to the West. Boston is only 2.5 hrs south. There seems to be a lot of photo ops, so that should be fun!

Now all this has to be considered in light of my call schedule and available daylight time before and after work. We'll just have to see when we get there.

Road Trip

So how many days would it take to drive cross country .... comfortably?

As an update to my summer / fall schedule, here's the add-on:

May: Alamosa, Colorado

Then, I'm driving across country to Barre, Vermont. It's a town just outside of Monpelier, the capital of Vermont.

June, July, August, September: Barre, Vermont.

Then we have to see. If I have enough money saved ... man, the temptation to go out of the country is just itching. Now that I have my passport again! Wait till you hear that story!

Where I'm going to be

Occasionally I'll be posting titles called: Where I'm going to be. It outlines where I'm going to be in the foreseeable future. Just because people ask me what my long term plans are.

April: King City, CA
May: Alamosa, CO [Pending Confirmation]
May10-16: Loma Linda, Speaking
June: Negotiating
July: Negotiating
August: Negotiating
Aug26 to Sept6: San Diego Campmeeting (Speaking)
September: Negotiating, Board Review Course
October: Negotiating, Board Exam
November: Taking a Break!

Somewhere soon, I'd like to visit a friend in Texas. Maybe June.

Gourmet Dinner

Some of you would be proud, I actually ate something tonight. And I didn't buy it from a place that offers supersizing or upsizing or dollar menus. I put it together myself (can't you tell?)

So usually, I have some Veggie Chicken patties from Morning Star Farms. But it's late, and I get these severe abdominal pain if I eat heavy before bedtime. Which might not be smart in case a little baby decides he can't wait to join the current world, and I have to catch him and make sure he's breathing ok, and help him if he needs it.

But back to my dinner. It's easy, and everyone makes fun of bachelors for cooking funny things or not at all, eating soup out of a can, or Top Ramen, but I paint with colors. I guess the yellow acrylic is missing but what could you do, I didn't want the the Veggie Chicken stuff. The tomatoes and spinach are tasty and fresh, and easy to eat.

Ok, so I don't have my menus planned for the week, so if any my current readers would mind making one for me (remember, I'm vegan in terms of diet, not philosophy), I'd really appreciate it if you put it in the comments. For now, all I do is try to get all the colors onto the plate.

It's kind of like a workout for the next six weeks, you plan it and then do it. I'll leave that for a later post.

But for all of you who worry about simple things like this, I do eat, and I do eat healthy. Some times it's elaborate like in the photo, sometimes it's just water and raisin bread. Truth be told, I'm almost up to my High School weight, but my goal is 165 lbs. And still no beer belly ;-)

Long drive to Pinnacles East

I decided to take a ride this afternoon. Around the corner is a National Park, but even with that there, the drive is really pretty. (See the slide show for all the photos.)

So I called the Emergency Room (ER) and Labor & Delivery (L&D) and asked them if there was anything that might get me called in. After they reassured me everything was quiet, I let them know I was going to take a drive out to the Pinnacles, about 30 minutes east of King City. It's a National Park, with unusual rock formations in the middle of Salinas Valley.

It was the drive that I wanted. I have a friend who is a Health Evangelist, and when he gets his website up and running, I'll add a jump to it. But he sent some Audio CDs for me to review his content. It was about the Book of Revelation, it's power and purpose. He's quite a good speaker, and more of a friend. We occasionally speak on the phone, and just put thoughts out on the table, so it was unusual for me to listen to him give a formal presentation. In any case, this was what was in my CD changer.

The drive included some straight and winding roads through the hills and the weather reminded you why real estate is so much in demand in California. The sunroof was open, and I stopped occasionally to talk to the local goats, and a couple of friendly horses. The horses were nice enough to come by and talk to me when walked up to the fence. They seemed friendlier than most, and I reached over and touched their heads and necks as they leaned over the fence. Animals have this revitalizing energy. All of nature does really.

The hills were green, and the cows were out, though they left their usually odor behind. The trees spotted on the green hills and it looked like there was no city for miles, and definitely no traffic. One of the best ways to spend a Sabbath afternoon, if you're on-call and there are no friends around.

At the Pinnacles East entrance, I took my mandatory picture to give my family and friends proof that I was there, and looked at my watch and turned around again. I didn't have a National Parks pass, introduced to me by a good friend of mine, so maybe another time.

The Pinnacles didn't interest me (this time) as much as the drive to clear my head, and lungs.

I'm on my 3rd day of Zithromax (it's cheap at Rite-Aid if you have no health insurance like me), which I caved in to after 2 weeks of hacking up phlegm, and having a stridorous cough. I'm little by little acknowledging the fact that I may have some kind of atopic process going on in my lungs.

But the drive was good, and the air, and the sun.

Here's a Pano of the drive:

That 1000 mile journey begins...

...with a single step. I didn't think I'd ever be putting up a blog about my own life. It's just life. That first step starts right here.

When you're used to sharing your thoughts and dreams with someone and now they've decided to share their life with someone else, it leaves you feeling a little empty handed, or left out to dry. Or better yet holding a bag of groceries and no where to put it down.

I tried really hard for a long time, to keep to myself. I was used to coming and going, touching bases with old friends, and then off again on my travels. It was good at the time, and I thought it would always be that way. Until something happens, and despite your very best efforts, someone special convinces you to open up to them. Vulnerability is displayed when disclosure happens, and a sort of freedom comes albeit little by little. But what occurs then is not dissimilar to expanding one's mind. Never again will my mind shrink bank to the small proportions it once was some time ago. Like learning to read, initially those angular markings become familiar letters, which group together to form words, and ideas, and meaning. And once this happens, you'll never be able to look at certain markings without automatically formulating a words, such as cat, and seeing a thought come into your head. It's not something you forget like a fact. It is a formulation of familiarity that gives meaning.

Disclosure and vulnerability become, not a fact of memory, but a familiar pattern of habit that brings comfort and order out of situations that aren't comfortable or familiar. That's why we like to talk things out, or talk with someone about things going on in our lives.

But since the repository has now moved on, being vulnerable can no longer be safe. For why would I open up to someone who is emotionally with someone else?

"But I want to know how you are doing?"

So now the reason for this blog, and consequently the web address: How I am doing. If you want to know how I am doing, come to see: HowIamdoing.blogspot.com - if you want more, drop me a comment.