A flock of birders descended on Grimm’s Deli, Tuesday, December seventeenth to participate in Pemberton’s nineteenth Christmas Bird Count. This tally of all species seen for the day provides valuable information for conservation biologists and citizen scientists; population distribution and trends for various species can be tracked over the years. The participants in these counts … Continue reading Pemberton Christmas Bird Count
"Meanwhile, in the community garden," posted Connie Sobchak, "there was a lot of pollination going on." This was a month ago, and I was so enamoured of the album, I asked permission to share it here. This is the life force at play. It's vaguely erotic, really. Can I say that out loud? All photos by Connie … Continue reading Portraits of a garden in bloom
The Canada Day Spud Run is ten kilometres long but in my mind I covered several hundred. Our course marshal led us across the highway to the start and already my thoughts began roaming as they took me back to a few early mornings running various trails behind this same woman. As we rounded the corner at … Continue reading Spud Run Rambles
Eventually, ultimately, sooner or later, I can be quite specific. Usually, customarily, more often than not, this seldom occurs when I am speaking. I’m not fast on the draw, on the uptake or on my feet for that matter. Also, if there’s a way to interpret a phrase figuratively, that’s the way my mind will construe it. So, when my … Continue reading Opening Doors
Location, location, location: In running, as in real estate, it’s all about location -- well, that and a few other details but as I started my most recent trail race, I thought, “If I go far enough, long enough and big enough, I just might win my age category.” This idea occurred to me when I … Continue reading Choose Your Trophies
What if your nose was blue? Whenever I look at a ruddy duck, so named for its body colour, of all things, and not its bright blue nose, this is the phrase that comes to mind. Takes me back to my classroom days when it was popular to call out randomly, “you’re a ________” when … Continue reading Blue Nosed Twitchers
I’ve been meeting quite a few new folk around town lately, since joining a couple of clubs that have me socializing somewhat more than usual. My running group affords me up to an hour and a half, sometimes more of visiting time and one of the questions many newcomers have for me is “so, how … Continue reading Changes
In a contemplative mood after my workout this morning, I ambled along the sidewalk enjoying the rain on my face and the hint of cottonwood sap in the air and then I looked down to discover that I was squashing worms with every step. This was not the first time I’d unwittingly destroyed the already … Continue reading Worms etc.
Back in the day, when I was still teaching, there were exam sessions held in the gymnasium. Before the session, some unlucky class would schlepp about one hundred and fifty desks to the gym where they would be lined up in rows and adequately spaced apart to prevent cheating. Students would file in at the … Continue reading Short Observations-Exams 2013
Way to go/looking good/running strong/you got this/you rock/keep up the good work: so many phrases meant to boost the spirits of runners have often had a disheartening effect on me. It has become part of my training routine to learn to accept the boost that others might offer through their well meaning comments. No doubt … Continue reading Words of Encouragement
The Wellness Almanac 