QuickPost - July 28, 2010

The bear saga continues.

One week after the first visit by a local juvenile black bear, we have had a total of 4 visits. Last night, he levered off park of a rickety board on the door of the trash shed. Tomorrow, our local color Frank E. (whose lack of accent I love--I am the one with the accent, he says) may have found us someone with dogs to chase away the bear.

B&G shift, which usually does Buildings and Grounds, will now be called B&G, meaning Bear and Grounds.

QuickPost-July 27, 2010

I might as well stop hiking right now.

There is no way I will ever go on a hike better than today's. Future good hikes will just be different. Any thing to complain about lasted no more than 15 minutes, the worst of which was bugs at the end on the Bicknell Ridge trail descent as the wind died down. Wind gusts while ascending the Ledges of the Baldface Circle Trail were temporary and cooling. Ascending these rocks was challenging, but full of beauty and not impossible. Hot rocks on the way to North Baldface included a sampling of shade. Solitude was occasionally interspersed with conversation. Good conversation included silences that were not awkward. All uphill climbs up ledges were gently interspersed with the most delicious vegetation.

Today's 6-word poem: "Step, Step, Blueberry; Step, Step, Blueberry."

QuickPost-July 15, 2010

I wait at camp all day. But waiting is not right.
I accomplish.
I relax.
I gain confidence with the bosses gone.
I finally converse with a coworker,
as we blend sweet fruit, tangy juice, delicious dairy, and nuttiness and toast to the many qualities of each other and camp.
I am called an artist, as I paint the crevices in the wood that spell language.
I explain wilderness, tell part of my story, and then am asked "my goal for the future."
I tell them I can only give a philosophical answer at this time.
"To have fun," I say, quoting a friend.
I dance under the clouds as they make way for stars,
for a whole song with no one watching.
The rain teased us. Tension settled from yesterday.
Tonight's evening activity?
Poetry Night.

QuickPost-July 14, 2010

7/14/10: Yesterday was a learning day. My first day "alone" while the bosses went on their days off together, instead of split up. However, it was also our first day completely down one staff member, and I still have only worked here for two weeks. It is difficult to manage for efficiency when you don't have a good scope on the process. However, my bosses didn't actually leave for their days off, so after a few slightly hurt feelings and small consultations later, and a little less heat in the air (finally), everyone felt better and things were running more smoothly. Luckily, I watched Sarah have to repeat multiple parts of her job but persevere through it with a relaxed attitude. And thus I am kindly reminded that challenges are blessings in the form of reminders.

QuickPost-July 11, 2010

Do we have this in the west?
As I bicycle along the road, I can feel microclimates that I would never notice otherwise. I remember this feeling from Hanover. As I biked out to forestry practice, over the bridge with the brook, I would feel the change of temperature. And today as I biked out to The Brickett Place, I felt the warmth, the chill, the changes in humidity, and so many micro-changes that I don't remember from my previous homeplace out west.
Feeling the air change in minute ways, not from the wind, but from your own body passing through an area with a vague boundary, is an emotional experience when one is used to consistency in climate.

QuickPost-July 8, 2010

Fifty guests, six routed signs, two singalongs, two barbecues, two ice cream cones, two excessively hot and humid days, two river soaks, two days off, one fallen ladder, one bike ride, one swimming hole, one fired employee, and one fireworks show all in one week--what more could you ask for??

QuickPost-July 7, 2010

Feeling the heat. Escape to the cold river. The kid needs help but we must draw the line and fire him for his actions. In contrast to the humidity, my emotions go cold.

QuickPost-July 6, 2010

I drove in to camp this afternoon accompanied by OMC's "How Bizarre." Despite their not being from New Hampshire, they pronounce bih-zah as if true New Hampsha Yankees. It seemed so appropriate as I returned from Moosilauke calmed by the Lodge and slow-moving because of the heat-wave. I found this ironic, knowing that tomorrow there will be a metaphorical storm at work.

QuickPost-July 6, 2010

I can drive across a state in 2.5 hours! I always feel so relaxed at Moosilauke, listening to the Asquamchumake stream through the mountains and the wind stream through the trees.