Blue Light…

…red face. Dermatological treatment in which an ointment is scrubbed into your face where it sits and ferments for 90 minutes and then your head is encased in a high intensity UV unit (someting like a helmet) where you are seriously seared for 16 minutes. (Rather like sticking your face into the core of a nuclear reactor.) The nurses are considerate, though, in that they give you a little hand held fan.

But that’s what you get for spending decades in the sun, without sunscreen. A week from now there will be nary a blotch on the old visage.

Class In The Basement

About ten minutes after beginning my Environmental Lit class, a dozen phone alarms wet off and then city sirens. So we packed up our papers, trekked down to the library basement, cleared away boxes, set up folding chairs, and continued our discussion (part of which touched on climate change). Tornados on February 8? Best class ever.

And earlier, sharp shinned hawk stalking all the little brown jobs sheltering in the big yew outside the front door. Lots of what I would call delighted vocalization from inside the yew when I encouraged the hawk to move along.

Big Fish In a Small Pond

One of our mini off-season excursions. To Rotary Botanic Gardens in J’ville.

Now is not the best time to visit the Gardens. Over the holiday season, tens of thousands of lights and many thousands of visitors for the light show. Takes months to string the lights and then months to remove them. Likely a very nice place to visit when everything is growing and blooming—most plants, shrubs, and trees are labeled. Today, we strolled with only fish and geese for company.

Class Went Well

Amazing group of (10) participants. Mostly retired professionals with PhDs or years working with the DNR. But also one high school sophomore. Not as smooth and polished as I used to be, but still pretty effective, and leading a group like this is a lot of fun. Anyway, how can you go wrong with the worlds’s best environmental literature.

Below (due to lack of pertinent photos), a shot of the little Ford truck which recently replaced the 9 year-old Chevy truck. A downsize, but a safer and more comfortable ride—plus it’s a hybrid with incredible mileage.

DEI Bread…

…Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Completely off-the-rails experimentation.
In addition to King Arthur all-purpose flour, Bob’s Red Mill whole wheat, rolled oats, flaxmeal, chia seeds—along with sourdough starter, a little yeast, and a touch of honey and olive oil and salt.
The baker was thoughtless and careless, but the loaves turned out; and while heavy and dense, not only edible but tasty, with each slice pretty close to a meal in itself.
If the process is refined and controlled, this could be the start of something good.