Whales

Like most mornings, I awaken to the CBC news for my morning world and local Vancouver happenings, which I find far superior to anything I can listen to or watch (If I could receive a television signal on my archaic movie watching device) stateside.

One of the stories that had on today was the death of six migrating Grey Whales over the past month in Washington and British Columbia. Although this amount seems high, scientists report that it is not that alarming. Many of the whales were young and emaciated, and may not have fattened up enough for the long migration from the wintering grounds in Baja up to the Arctic.

What beautiful animals, although I do not think I've ever seen one. And it is heartening to hear that their numbers range from 20-25,000, considering these mammals were once endangered.

A sunny morning, followed hopefully by a warm afternoon. Warm, with daily sun and showers for the foreseeable future through June, and that sounds like a good and typical spring forecast.

The Path

It seems that always I see the same people in Bellingham when going from Point A to Point B on my biking in and around town on odd hours. Someone once told me that there are only a hundred people in Bellingham and the rest are mirrors. At any rate, it is always nice to remove yourself from the daily rigors of the world by meeting some warm people at the bank, library, post office,…

Today was one such day, and I share my above sentiments with one such person (whence this notion was spawned) and she said she felt the same way. Until she left her routine and tried something totally different, meeting entirely new friends that thought the same thing. Someone else referred to it as cross pollinating.

At any rate, an rigorous week, followed by a meeting at the coffee shop, leaving to go ride to Boulevard Park, and back again. Basking in the warmth emanating from the happy Bellinghamsters. A beautiful day.

The picture was taken on the bike path, just not today.

Tuesday

Here is another random picture of Sunnyland taken last week looking south towards the Chuckanuts, with the arboretum off to the right. It's nice to have views around you some that reach up over 10,000 feet. And yet the sea is a mere quarter mile from your door. (Okay, maybe a bit more than that.) But I forgot how cool it is to sleep with your windows and doors open so that the cries of the gulls waft in.

It seems that Bellingham is such a low crime city because people are generally pretty poor, never really aspire to acquire much material wealth, and consequently never need to be in fear of someone taking their valuable possessions. Oddly enough, I've never met people so rich in abstract and altruistic wealth. Since much of the violence of the country and world stems from the battling for resources and what other people have, it is not surprising that Bellingham (the part I see, at least) is full of giving and caring people. And that's alright.

Was was my life so less fulfilling when I made and owned so much more? There is beauty in simplicity, I guess.

Fowl

So fortunately the weather is changing and it is warm enough for the chicks to remain outside with the older hens. They still spend the evenings inside by the fire. The less time I am spending on this computer, the better I feel. My life is pretty full right now, and I've found that I can work much more efficiently and not get distracted and have my evenings to do some things that I find more pleasurable than chatting on Facebook or reading the deceiving news.

Maybe I am getting old, but why do I care what's going on around the world when there is so much happening in my little town of Bellingham? There is much community activism growing around this so-called transition movement, and although I am not fully involved in it, many of my activities out and about parallel this philosophy (of the depletion of resources causing a significant change in our lives and world as we know it). And the people that I meet doing this are just wonderful and warm, and help to make my little spot in the world a little cozier.

So there was a hige gathering of people at the high school this weekend (a block away) and I invited many friends. And the funny part was that they announced my pot luck in fron of five or six hundred people at the closing remarks. Fortunately less than ten percent of them showed up for what was a great evening - nights like this that will be remembered forever. A busy weekend but well worth it.

Early

When one falls asleep at 9:30pm, it usually means that morning will come sooner than desired. When I wake up at 5am, I usually have two options: Either listen to the CBC, or make some coffee and get a jump on the day. I chose the former.

So I sit here working away listening to a 1988 Spectrum show that I may have attended (but I do not think I was at this one - I saw the Friday show two nights before). And for what it's worth, I think Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again is the best Dylan cover that the Dead performs. Just my opinion.

And not feeling like leaving my desk, I figured that I would take a picture looking out the back window where I sit right now. On a good day, I can see Mt. Baker, but not today.

It looks like it may be a beautiful weekend, and I may dust off the road bike. But it's still chilly right now. Two more hens join the flock this week. And the eggs are starting to pile up in the fridge, so I realize that need to increase my egg consumption a bit. A fresh omelet is always nice.

Life

A friend of mine that I know passed away this week. It's always unfortunate when someone you've known for thirty years is no longer a phone call away. Oddly enough, I thought of him right about the time of his passing, and wanted to give him a call to see how he was doing. The fact that he lived 3,000 miles to the east required more of an effort to stay in touch.

But he died at 86 years of age after a full and robust life. By using him as a benchmark, I still have the second half of my life to live. I think too as I get older, I become more nostalgic, as time moves faster and faster in a world that never seems to slow down. My connection to the older generation was always my conduit to a more simple life.

But time marches on, and the warm sun shines through my window. Should be a nice weekend.

Pecking Order

So two pullets are being raised in a crate. They are establishing the hierarchy on their duo. The California White is domineering over the Silver-Laced Wyandotte. Hmmm. But some vinegar should resolve the problem, as I've heard that the chickens don't like the taste of it. We'll see.

I difficult ride up to the top of Lakeway by Oriental on my bulky one-speed cruiser was rewarded by a late-night coast back down into town.

A friend used to tell me, "I don't always like riding, but always love having ridden."

Casino

The extent of my Saturday fun was going to the Silver Reef casino out on the Lummi Nation. I am probably not their target patron, as I drank only a diet coke and spent nothing gambling. I don't even think many of the machines even take money anymore, but cards that probably are able to track every penny that you spend.

And although there were numerous forms of entertainment, my greatest experience was watching the two quite inebriated Lynden women sitting next to me get kicked out of the casino for their behavior. Geeze, what a way for Lynden residents to ba acting on Easter Saturday. And of course I didn't say anything to them to get them riled up. Not me.

But the casino was packed, and I am always amazed at the amount of money spent at any casino I go into. I've read that more money is spent on gambling than all other forms of entertainment. I have since found (on trusty Wikipedia) that "gambling makes thrice that of all other entertainment forms combined." Crazy world.

Mural

Here's the other half of the cool mural on the way down to Fairhaven on the bike. A windy day here and many people seem to be cutting out early for the holiday weekend. So I may too. Time to maybe go buy some paint and put a coat or two on the upstairs before I move my stuff in. I don't know why I never lived in the more spacious upstairs with views of Mt. Baker and the San Juans (well Lummi Island, at least) versus the cramped downstairs room. And it's brighter and quieter too.

Change is good. And the search for a housemate ensues. No rush though. Maybe I will live alone for a bit.

And I forgot how neat it is to hear the crying of gulls in the morning. I sometimes forget how cool it is to live on the Puget Sound. Fortunately, my daily journeying exposes me to its beauty, so my thoughts of saltwater detachment are usually short-lived.

Magilla

"I woke today...
And felt your side of bed
The covers were still warm where you'd been layin'.
You were gone...
My heart was filled with dread.
You might not be sleepin' here again"
- John Perry Barlow

Looks like last night is the last night that I am able to spend with the ugly dog Magilla. Is it odd that I grow closer attachements to the dogs in my life than people? At any rate, I think I may be acquiring another housemate soon enough - either a long-term or short-term living arrangement. And hopefully someone with few possessions. There is always an emptiness on many levels when artsy belongings that adorn one's house are suddenly removed. Another chapter ends in my life. But maybe I will become more active as I will no longer be emulating a lazy dog.

At any rate, back to work on an overcast and warming day. The picture above is one of the cool murals on the way out of town on the bike path. I took it a few days ago when biking down to Fairhaven.