7/15/2005
Top of the World
Last night we took another drive through the mountains. We entered a canyon somewhere near Rocky Flats and drove up into the sunset. As we ascended and I saw the far off peaks silhouetted against the burnished sky I realized that I was seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time in my life. The fact that they travel all they way to the north is astounding. Being among the upturned and exposed layers of rock made me see the violence the frozen violence that went into creating this stony spine.
We were listening to one of our favourite albums, Joni Mitchell's Hejra with the curving swooning bass lines of Jaco Pastorius perfectly weaving with the winding rolling road and the lyrics of wanderlust and open spaces and lost moments speaking to the scenery we saw around us. We didn't speak much. It was as though we were travelling outside of the normal world and words might have broken that spell evoked by our reeling passage towards the clouds that slumbered at the top of the world.
We were listening to one of our favourite albums, Joni Mitchell's Hejra with the curving swooning bass lines of Jaco Pastorius perfectly weaving with the winding rolling road and the lyrics of wanderlust and open spaces and lost moments speaking to the scenery we saw around us. We didn't speak much. It was as though we were travelling outside of the normal world and words might have broken that spell evoked by our reeling passage towards the clouds that slumbered at the top of the world.
7/14/2005
Sad News
last Saturday Leslie and I went to the stable and watched a horse show. There were a lot of young riders and over 90% of them were female. Apparently that is a North American social reality and in Europe men commonly ride too. We didn't stay for the entire show as it was extremely hot outside and there were a record number of participants. later in the week we went back to the stable and heard the sad news that a girl of 12 years had a terrible accident. Her horse fell while approaching a jump and landed on top of her. To make matters worse when the horse got up he stepped on her head pushing her jaw into her brain. When we heard about the accident she was in an induced coma at theChildren's Hospital in Denver. The injuries were too severe and sadly today we found out that she died.
7/13/2005
Night Ride
When I arrived over a week ago I was surprised to see how flat the geography is up until you arrive at the foothills. It seems like the sky is so much bigger than at home where we have buildings and tree lines and uneven terrain. The other night Leslie took me up into the mountains at sunset. We drove through a canyon and then took a turn up winding roads higher and higher. My acrophobia kicked in a bit and on some curves I found myself gripping the door hang so tightly my fist still aches today. The top plateaued and at one point silhouetted against the sky I saw a lonely peak like a pilgrims hat decorated with scraggly pines against a fading sky. The homes around it's base rested at strange angles accomodating the slopes and dips of the land. The entire scene had an eerieness to it that reminded me of the "blasted heath" from some Lovecraftian tale.
We came to a small area off a curve in the road where we could see the dim mountains and hills stretched out below us and ever so faintly the lights of Boulder and Longmont beyond that. Behind us a bright crescent moon was playing in the clouds.
There was a wonderful silence there even though I could hear all kinds of evening birds and insect songs. Standing there with Leslie a kind of peace fell upon me that I haven't felt for so long.
The sun vanished and we made our way through the dark curves of roads toward Netherland. We didn't speak as we careened through night making the long descent back to the canyon and the lights of Boulder. That night I dreamed I was standing on a windy peak at the top of the world with the moon glowing behind Leslie and I just as it was hours before confusing dream and reality into a strange and beautiful memory.
We came to a small area off a curve in the road where we could see the dim mountains and hills stretched out below us and ever so faintly the lights of Boulder and Longmont beyond that. Behind us a bright crescent moon was playing in the clouds.
There was a wonderful silence there even though I could hear all kinds of evening birds and insect songs. Standing there with Leslie a kind of peace fell upon me that I haven't felt for so long.
The sun vanished and we made our way through the dark curves of roads toward Netherland. We didn't speak as we careened through night making the long descent back to the canyon and the lights of Boulder. That night I dreamed I was standing on a windy peak at the top of the world with the moon glowing behind Leslie and I just as it was hours before confusing dream and reality into a strange and beautiful memory.
7/08/2005
Stable
Last month Leslie's horse Angel was spooked by a critter like this. Leslie was tossed to the ground and recieved a concussion from which she still hasn't fully recovered.
7/07/2005
Boulder
I left early Sunday morning for the Ottawa International Aiport. it wasn't very busy and I passed through customs quickly and was one of a handful of people taking the flight to Philadelphia. That old feeling of invigoration that comes with travelling came back to me and I wished that i had a job that required me to travel frequently. My love of the transitory life, living in hotels and passing from town to town goes back to when I was 13 and we lived in Saudi Arabia. From there we travelled all over the world and I continued this life on and off over the years with it really only coming to an end with my divorce in 2000.
it wasn't too long before I found myself landing in Denver. Leslie was waiting for me at the baggage terminal. We drove into Boulder and I saw the Flat Irons, the hills right behind her place. For supper we went to a local micro-brewery pub. I had forgotten about the change in altitude and after a few sips of beer on an empty stomach the room was spinning.
Leslie and I went out to the stable where she keeps her horse, Angel. It was really nice for me to see things for myself and how good she is with her horse. Here are a few pics. Many more to come:
it wasn't too long before I found myself landing in Denver. Leslie was waiting for me at the baggage terminal. We drove into Boulder and I saw the Flat Irons, the hills right behind her place. For supper we went to a local micro-brewery pub. I had forgotten about the change in altitude and after a few sips of beer on an empty stomach the room was spinning.
Leslie and I went out to the stable where she keeps her horse, Angel. It was really nice for me to see things for myself and how good she is with her horse. Here are a few pics. Many more to come:
7/02/2005
Back to the Country
I returned to the cottage on Thursday. It took me back to last year when I first moved in to this old place in Ottawa. It was a good summer. I spent a lot of time reaquainting myself with my natal town and got to spend a lot of time with my family at Pine Lodge.
It took a day to let the scat of urban life wash away but once it did I was as light as a cloud. Wind and water forest and sun. I always sleep like an angel there.
There was a parade in Shawville on Friday for Canada day. A fire engine, a petrol tanker topped off with a couple of blondes in lawnchairs, a 1957 Chevy a 1970's Corvette, 5 horses ridden by girls in medieval gowns and square dancing float driven to the sounds of Stompin' Tom Connors.
There was carrion on the road into town. A racoon with his gut busted open all rosey and noodley. A turkey vulture with a bloody pink head and wings spread as wide as a kite rode the stink in the wind.
Grandma's 91 this year. She fell down outside her home last week. Things are getting hard for her but she has her mind and she is still as stubborn as a mule. Despite all the platitudes getting old is cruel.
The deer ate all the cedars this winter and left their olive sized pellets in gratitude. I've never seen so many dragonflys either.
We set up the dock. I got a few splinters and sunburned shoulders and nose. There was a wicked storm yesterday late in the afternoon. The wind rushed throught the trees furiously. I'm leaving for Boulder tomorrow morning to see my love. Across the great lakes over the midwest and up into the western foothills. I can't wait.
It took a day to let the scat of urban life wash away but once it did I was as light as a cloud. Wind and water forest and sun. I always sleep like an angel there.
There was a parade in Shawville on Friday for Canada day. A fire engine, a petrol tanker topped off with a couple of blondes in lawnchairs, a 1957 Chevy a 1970's Corvette, 5 horses ridden by girls in medieval gowns and square dancing float driven to the sounds of Stompin' Tom Connors.
There was carrion on the road into town. A racoon with his gut busted open all rosey and noodley. A turkey vulture with a bloody pink head and wings spread as wide as a kite rode the stink in the wind.
Grandma's 91 this year. She fell down outside her home last week. Things are getting hard for her but she has her mind and she is still as stubborn as a mule. Despite all the platitudes getting old is cruel.
The deer ate all the cedars this winter and left their olive sized pellets in gratitude. I've never seen so many dragonflys either.
We set up the dock. I got a few splinters and sunburned shoulders and nose. There was a wicked storm yesterday late in the afternoon. The wind rushed throught the trees furiously. I'm leaving for Boulder tomorrow morning to see my love. Across the great lakes over the midwest and up into the western foothills. I can't wait.
Happy Birthday Valerie
It's that time of year again when we clebrate the birth of the brilliant and charming Valerie aka K-ob aka Karaab. I send her happy birthday wishes but even more I send her love and affection to last a lifetime.