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Monday, August 04, 2008
Falls, Friend, and Fire
Today, I visited Otowi down in Colorado Springs. When I got there, we drove to Helen Hunt Falls, (Not THAT Helen Hunt - this one!) which seems to draw a lot of people from all over the world, even though the falls are not very big at all.
After exploring the area around the falls, we took a nice hike up the Columbine Trail. We spent some time studying and theorizing about the sap that fell like falls and collected at the bottom of a pine tree.
When I got into Denver, I could see, off against the foothills, a wildfire with its smoke trailing northward. I soon found out that the fire was on Green Mountain near my home- in an open space park where I like to hike. Many of the photos of spring wildflowers that I have posted on my blog have come from that park, but not from the area that burned.
The fire came close to very expensive homes, but between the homeowners with their garden hoses and the firefighters doing an amazing job with backfires, not one home burned.
And now, the Buddha dog is tapping his foot, because it's past time for a jaunt around the lake...
After exploring the area around the falls, we took a nice hike up the Columbine Trail. We spent some time studying and theorizing about the sap that fell like falls and collected at the bottom of a pine tree.
This is Otowi. She took pity on the fact that all of my tomato plants are still covered in beautiful green tomatoes and gave me some of her ripe ones. Those red, juicy tomatoes are now history - sliced up and devoured at dinner tonight. Thank you, Otowi, for reminding me of the flavor of home-grown tomatoes. There is nothing better! (Drooling as I remember the taste...)
When I got into Denver, I could see, off against the foothills, a wildfire with its smoke trailing northward. I soon found out that the fire was on Green Mountain near my home- in an open space park where I like to hike. Many of the photos of spring wildflowers that I have posted on my blog have come from that park, but not from the area that burned.
The fire came close to very expensive homes, but between the homeowners with their garden hoses and the firefighters doing an amazing job with backfires, not one home burned.
And now, the Buddha dog is tapping his foot, because it's past time for a jaunt around the lake...
Labels: Colorado Springs, Otowi
posted by Carol at 7:12 PM
13 comments
Friday, August 03, 2007
Twenty-first Century Scavenger Hunt
Today I lost my geocaching virginity. I drove down to Colorado Springs and found THREE geocaches with Otowi. It was really fun! A wonderful and convenient excuse to bushwack in the beautiful outdoors.
Our first find.
A "virtual" geocache up top of Gnarly Dude.
Our first find.
A "virtual" geocache up top of Gnarly Dude.Labels: geocaching, Otowi
posted by Carol at 9:21 PM
1 comments
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Otowi and Me
(If I could only erase my hair here! This photo was taken as I was on my way to get my hair cut. Now, post-new-do, I am a new woman! ha!)Today I got to meet Otowi for the first time. She is my #1 commenter on this blog. And, even though I had never met her, throughout the past few months, she has been a great emotional support for me as I've traveled through my interesting shoulder adventures.
Otowi lives a little over an hour away from here and happened to be in Denver for the day. You can visit her blogger digs at her Masooma blog.
Labels: Otowi
posted by Carol at 6:16 PM
4 comments
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Maybe Denmark?
After seeing Michael Moore's Sicko, I thought I might just move to France where everyone has health-care, a minimum of five weeks vacation, and not only free daycare for their kids, but also free college. But as Otowi reminded me, the French aren't hijab-friendly. I'm not Muslim and I don't wear hijab (but you can see me in one, by clicking here). Since I have a problem with a country that has a problem with hijabs, I decided to check out the Scandinavian countries by emailing my friend who has been there for the last month. I haven't yet heard of any issues with scarves in that part of the world. Here are some of my friend's observations:
All of Scandinavia is very expensive as the dollar is not worth much. The taxes are very high in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I know the most about Denmark where taxes are 40 to 50% and with all the other taxes is about 83%. However people are taking care of from cradle to grave - health care, education, 5 weeks vacation, both parents get generous time off when a child is born - 48 weeks for an adoption and day care is paid for beginning at 6 months. However if people have money they pay for maybe better health care. It's hard to make much money but very few fall thru the cracks. There is just no homelessness in Denmark - as they say no reason for it. Very clean country. These countries belong to the EU but have their own currency and it is different in each country. In Denmark one sees many people all ages esp. females riding their bikes as they have great bike paths everywhere. Gas is about $5 a gallon - there are cars, all small, but not lots of traffic. In Norway and Sweden any liquor is very highly taxed - so much is bought in Denmark and brought over. Drunk driving is NOT tolerated .
The first night in Sweden we each had a hamburger and fries - $25 apiece. A beer in a small glass is $10.
In Stockholm most of the elderly are taken care of in their own homes - not nursing homes- food, cleaning, dressing them etc is provided - sounds good - don't know how it works in reality. Gays are very accepted and Denmark was the first country to recognize same sex marriages.
What do you think? Time to form a hamburger/french fry-free hippy commune in Denmark???
All of Scandinavia is very expensive as the dollar is not worth much. The taxes are very high in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I know the most about Denmark where taxes are 40 to 50% and with all the other taxes is about 83%. However people are taking care of from cradle to grave - health care, education, 5 weeks vacation, both parents get generous time off when a child is born - 48 weeks for an adoption and day care is paid for beginning at 6 months. However if people have money they pay for maybe better health care. It's hard to make much money but very few fall thru the cracks. There is just no homelessness in Denmark - as they say no reason for it. Very clean country. These countries belong to the EU but have their own currency and it is different in each country. In Denmark one sees many people all ages esp. females riding their bikes as they have great bike paths everywhere. Gas is about $5 a gallon - there are cars, all small, but not lots of traffic. In Norway and Sweden any liquor is very highly taxed - so much is bought in Denmark and brought over. Drunk driving is NOT tolerated .
The first night in Sweden we each had a hamburger and fries - $25 apiece. A beer in a small glass is $10.
In Stockholm most of the elderly are taken care of in their own homes - not nursing homes- food, cleaning, dressing them etc is provided - sounds good - don't know how it works in reality. Gays are very accepted and Denmark was the first country to recognize same sex marriages.
What do you think? Time to form a hamburger/french fry-free hippy commune in Denmark???
posted by Carol at 3:21 PM
5 comments
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Life and Death
In Italy, some prisoners that are serving life sentences have asked for a change in their sentences. They are asking for the death penalty.
According to the BBC, the letter asking for this change was written by a "mobster" who has served 17 years of his life term. He has changed a lot during those years, passing his high school exams and earning a degree in law. He said that he is tired of "dying every day" and would like to be executed. Over 300 of his fellow lifers signed on to the letter.
Here I sit. A person who does not believe in the death sentence. And there, in prison, are over 300 people who would rather have a death sentence than live in a place where life is not worth living.
Befuddlement.
Except not really. The way we have our punitive system set-up, I would probably choose death over spending my remaining years in prison.
According to a report released by the Sentencing Project, states are changing their policies so that more people are receiving life without parole.
AND there has been an increase in laws that allow for life without parole sentences for juveniles. Over at Otowi's, you can find the link to a Frontline show - When Kids Get Life. I would call it cruel and unusual punishment to put someone away to rot for decades.
If we can send spacecraft all over outer space, I am sure that we can think outside the box, become more humane, and figure out another way to make our society a safe place.
According to the BBC, the letter asking for this change was written by a "mobster" who has served 17 years of his life term. He has changed a lot during those years, passing his high school exams and earning a degree in law. He said that he is tired of "dying every day" and would like to be executed. Over 300 of his fellow lifers signed on to the letter.
Here I sit. A person who does not believe in the death sentence. And there, in prison, are over 300 people who would rather have a death sentence than live in a place where life is not worth living.
Befuddlement.
Except not really. The way we have our punitive system set-up, I would probably choose death over spending my remaining years in prison.
According to a report released by the Sentencing Project, states are changing their policies so that more people are receiving life without parole.
AND there has been an increase in laws that allow for life without parole sentences for juveniles. Over at Otowi's, you can find the link to a Frontline show - When Kids Get Life. I would call it cruel and unusual punishment to put someone away to rot for decades.
If we can send spacecraft all over outer space, I am sure that we can think outside the box, become more humane, and figure out another way to make our society a safe place.
Labels: Otowi, Prison, Sentencing Project
posted by Carol at 11:36 AM
1 comments