Archive for August 2008
Abi posted this photo on Facebook and it was so awesome I felt inclined to share it here – capturing a true transient state.
The pic neatly encompasses the sort boat mayhem that was one of the unexplainable running themes of sabbatical. This was when the guide surprised us by intentionally flipping the boat; I like how gravity yet to figure out that I’m not supposed to still be sitting in the raft.
I’m suffering from a big case of sabbatical hangover brought on to this thing called going to work everyday. The treatment: Cynthia and I are heading to Paul and Rachael’s wedding this weekend. It’s going to be good times.
This is what I found when I returned to my cube this morning:
The plaques around the edge are various “degrees”, apparently to go with my other three (which are at home, not in my cube) in with such impressive sounding names as “Master of Gaseous Expulsion” and “Master of Smug Superiority”. There was even a “Bachelor of Freak Dancing” from Brigham Young (they know their dancing in Utah). Besides the all the boxes and other junk placed inside, there were also tiny Ohio State insignia leaflets scattered about (thanks Jeff).
My first day back was not especially surreal or depressing, just another day at the sawmill. I have a lot to catch up on . . . and get right back in the saddle with a trip to Oregon this week.
Some have asked about the future of this “blog”. This site has historically carried the tagline “free of blog-like substance”, though it was on hiatus of late in lieu of 37 sabbatical related entries in 8 weeks. This was by design – I don’t have the passion for writing necessary to really make this work on an continous basis, (especially in the face of a peer like Dave). There are two fundamental issues – the first is one of ideas. Despite my extroverted nature, I just don’t have that much I need to share with the world each day. I had inspiration for this travel journal, but sabbatical is over. The second issue is one of motivation, especially over the long term – it took me at least an hour or so to do each of these entries, and even then I didn’t find the passion and energy to make them as well written and engaging as I really wanted to (Cynthia is a better writer and it comes much easier to her). So, the frequency will go down as my life returns to mundane normalcy, but if I come up with something else feel inspired to share, I will. Certainly, this will not be the last travel journal, and I’ll continue to post pictures as I always have.
So, some final words about sabbatical. I didn’t describe absolutely everything that’s been going on, but feel like I made the most of the time. I went the all places and wanted to go and had enough downtime to recover and hang out. It’s an addictive but ultimately unrealistic lifestyle. That’s what made going back into work today bearable – no regrets.
So, as I write here at 5:09pm, sabbatical has officially ended. I just have a weekend, and then I’m back at work on Monday. I closed things off the way I wanted to – laying low.
Wednesday, I got up early and Charll and I went fishin’ on Lake Natoma. I’d found some recommendations on the internet, and after putting in his canoe at Negro Bar, fished among the rocks at the rainbow bridge. Charll was on spin tackle and I used my freshly resurrected fly rod. We had no bites.
Upon further reading of the recommendations, we realize a more desirable spot would be closer to Nimbus Dam. So, after a stop at Wild Sports for more lures and the splitting of a Subway $5 footlong, we put in at the Nimbus ramp. We eventually found the recommended spot, a hidden bayou that stretched on an on. We saw a couple of huge fish, but by then we were in the heat of the day and they weren’t interested in eating. We also spotted a couple mule deer on different occasions – one of which took a swim across a narrow channel. We enjoyed the Lewis and Clark exploration aspect of the trip, and vowed to return again when fishing conditions were more favorable.
Yesterday, Jeff invited Cynthia and I to float down the lower American River with his old group for his job change celebration- a classic trip we’d taken many times before, and as usual the drinks guaranteed that we’d have a good time. The river was lower than I’d ever seen it – there were 10 or so small rapids instead of the usual 1.
Today, I mowed the lawn, and met Charll for lunch at Mongolian BBQ, and tonight we head to Dave’s for dinner. I’ll post something on Sunday with some final sabbatical thoughts.
