The Summer Suck it. . .not near a Bucket. . .LIST!!! 1

I have a friend or three that seems to be screaming the same message. . .Find more joy in life.

They speak of art classes, and learning conversational Italian, and vineyard tours.

They speak in some days, and ifs, and maybes. . .

They speak a language I understand far too well. I speak the language of someday fluently.

Let's find more joy in the long lazy summer days! Let's seize the moment. Let's get to living. Life is precious and fleeting. Seize it. Love it.

Offer your best self. Someday is unforgiving in its swiftness.

I'm developing my own Summer Suck It . . .Not Near A Bucket list. . .Please share yours.

C's Grand Canyon Trip #10

Here's a good shot that gives an overview of our hike. The trees in the middle are Indian Garden, where we camped braving the elements (38 degrees and 40 mph winds at night!). The trail veering left is towards Plateau Point. The valley to the right is where Bright Angel Trail heads down towards the Colorado.

Once I took this photo we all jumped in the rental Prius, speed to the hotel, got hot showers and real food.

Did you feel like you were in a cathedral? Yeah, until I stepped off the trail to take a photo of some flowers and looked over and saw a big pile of doody and toilet paper by a rock.

Isn't that against the park rules? Yeah but what are you gonna do?

C's Grand Canyon Trip #9

I'm not sure if it's easier to hike down yourself or ride a donkey on the edge of a seventy foot drop. I think I'll stick to the hiking. I did appreciate one of the mules was hauling 30 packs of Budweiser.

C's Grand Canyon Trip #8

We saw tons of cool little waterfalls throughout the entire hike. Most of the major falls are on the other side of the canyon. The hike to those falls are a lot longer in distance and a little more varied in elevation.

C's Grand Canyon Trip #7

What's this? I did the hike to Phantom Ranch Overlook. If you go about half a mile past, you can see beautiful views of the Colorado. Learned later, that one of the park rangers was married close to this point. Neither the Bride or Groom's parents attended.

What did she wear? I didn't ask. From the sounds of it, none of the parents attending was how they planned it.

Anything else? It was windy as anything. And there were some pretty steep drop offs along the edge of this trail. The trekking poles were a big help for this sort of hiking.

Once I was done with this hike, I met up with my Dad before we crossed the Colorado again. He pointed out a branch about 10 feet away that has just snapped off and fallen to the ground. Dad was laying on a park bench and he heard something that sounded like gunshots and this huge 150 pound limb fell to the ground close to him. Apparently a bunch of park rangers came running out of their ranger station.

So a limb almost fell on your Father? Yes. Did he tell your Mother? I'm sure she's heard that story about 3 times by now.

C's Grand Canyon Trip #6

Flowering Prickly Pear Cactus

C's Grand Canyon Trip #5

C's Grand Canyon Trip #4

The second day my Father and I hiked down to the Colorado River and a mile beside it.

Is that a bridge? This is the bridge we use to cross the Colorado River. On the way back, we encountered a 40 mph gust of wind and had to stagger and cling to the sides of the bridge to make it back across. This was all made worth it by the bagel and cream cheese we got from the snack post at Phantom Ranch. The extremes you'll go to for food that isn't dehydrated. . . Probably would have crossed a glacier for a veggie wrap at that point.

The point at which we crossed the Colorado is close to Clear Water Creek - which has another campsite.

C's Grand Canyon Trip #3

Ah hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

C's Grand Canyon Trip #2

This is a view of the Colorado River as seen from Plateau Point. This was taken in the early evening.

Plateau Point is a popular spot where many guides take tourists to watch the sunset. C said they were about an hour too early for the sunset but that was nice because they had the spot all to themselves. He could see folks riding the rapids and setting up camp for the evening along the river.

Towards the right in this photo is Bright Angel Trail, which is the trial they hiked the following day to the Colorado.

C's Grand Canyon Trip #1

So C and I are sitting here going through his photos. He's selected a few to share and he's going to narrate as we go.

What's this pic? This was taken on the hike to Plateau Point. This is a yucca plant.

Is there more? It was really windy. Don't add that. . .This was a smaller hike we took after we hiked down five miles and set up camp. Later that evening we decided to hike to an overlook of the Colorado River.


How long did the hike down take? 5 miles in 3 hours. The hike to Plateau Point was a lot shorter. Only about a mile and a half out and back.

Can you tell me something about yucca? There are different varieties. Some are used to make soap, which we seemed to be in short supply of on this trip. Soap not yucca.

Happy Memorial Day #14

The Eastern Kingbird. . .As best as I can tell. :)

Happy Memorial Day #13

Happy Memorial Day #12

Happy Memorial Day #11

The fishing pier at Downes Park is really nice. A little ways beyond the pier is a beach dedicated to off leash dog swimming. On a clear day, I would imagine the views of the Bay Bridge would be wonderful from the fishing pier. A little too hazy and humid this morning.

Happy Memorial Day #10

Happy Memorial Day #9

Flora that very much resembles honeysuckle. Although it looks more like a bush and less like a vine.

Happy Memorial Day #8

Berries ripen at Downes Park. C said these are Mulberries. I contend they are raspberries/blackberries. I think mulberries grow on bushes. This appeared to be growing on a vine covering a bush.

Despite continued warnings "not to eat berries in the woods!" I did eat berries in the woods when I was a kid. I seem to recall raspberries/blackberries looking exactly like this.

Plus, I'm fatter and should just inherently know more about foraging.

Happy Memorial Day #7

Another Eastern Kingbird. . .This one at Downes Park. I like that these birds belong to the family of "Tyrant Flycatchers." They aren't the biggest birds yet they are "tyrant."

Happy Memorial Day #6

Crab fishermen working their pots off the shore at Downes Park in North Anne Arundel County.

Happy Memorial Day #5

An osprey tended the nest the entire time we visited Downes Park. Downes Park is located almost to the end of Mountain Road, close to Gibson Island in North Anne Arundel County. It's very well maintained and would be an excellent picnic spot. They also have wooded trails which is a nice respite from a lot of sunny shoreline. The Bay Bridge was just barely visible today through the haze.

Happy Memorial Day #4

Doggie Dips at Fort Smallwood Park. The hazy outline of Bethlehem Steel is barely visible on the horizon.

Happy Memorial Day #3

An Eastern Kingbird at Fort Smallwood Park. This particular bird seemed pretty combative and tangled with several other species in the air over the water. I would think this could be related to mating or nesting although I haven't researched further.

I saw in several flyovers, something that resembled a flycatcher but appeared to have more yellow beneath. Perhaps an Eastern Phoebe?? Although I didn't notice their name saying call "fee-bee, fee-bee." That doesn't mean they weren't calling. There was a lot to take in at that moment.

A lady I imagine to be Susan Riccardi based on the fact that she looked as if she was prepared to spend the day and I know from the MDOsprey posts, Susan Riccardi does official counts at Ft. Smallwood Park nearly every day, was sure to point out where the mocking bird next was. We didn't want to get too close or disturb. Maybe we'll see them in a few weeks when they are older.

Happy Memorial Day #2

A little Killdeer hops along the shore at Fort Smallwood Park. Killdeer are easily identified by their double lower neck/breast bands. They also happen to be a "name sayer" frequently calling kill-dee or kill-dee-dee. It's a rather piercing call. A very distinctive bird. Frequently seen along shores and riverbanks, they also seem to like meadows and airports - yes airports.

Happy Memorial Day #1

Thank you to all the brave men and women -past and present - that sacrifice so much to keep our Country safe. Your work and its significance is appreciated and revered.

A picture of the flag flying at the USS Constellation earlier this month.

Happy Birthday Half an Orphan 34

When you lose one parent you're halfway to being an orphan. I'm feeling it.

It's Memorial Day. This means I should be at the ready with flowers in my Father's honor.

But what do you do when your Father's remains currently reside with your Stepmother who for reasons unknown to the rest of the free world hasn't spoken to you for nearly 4 months?

I wasn't sure either.

So I picked an arrangement - all sunflowers. I picked this because he was always happy when I took him the heads of the sunflowers I grew in the backyard. He or Stepmom offered them to their parrot.

So I sent the flowers to where his remains reside. I didn't know what to put on the card.

Cause in my mind the card went something like this: I was prepared to lose my Father. I wasn't prepared to lose a friend and confidant. Pound sand. Put these flowers beside his urn. Be sure to continue to blame him, me, and others and/or feel sorry for yourself.

That's pretty bitchy. That's hurt talking.

And if I've learned anything in the 34 short years I've had the pleasure of spending in this world, I've learned unconditional love counts. It's a challenge. Don't allow yourself to speak maliciously from hurt.

Life is too short to be looking back, second guessing, holding a grudge, creating stupid drama. . .

So the card read: Thinking of you on Memorial Day, Love, dL and C

And I sat outside today filling my finch socks full of nyjer seed. . .and I was quiet. . .And the sun felt wonderful. And I felt fulfilled and beautiful.

And I knew my heart had no room for hurt, or bitterness, or malice, or snarkiness.

And I especially realized my Father's memory would best be honored by offering my best self - always.

I'm a work in progress.

So I resolve to work harder, love bigger, give more, pray harder. . .I've been so blessed. . . .

Happy early 34 to me.

As Pop's would proclaim, "I'm still alive!! I'm alive!!" And don't dare ever settle. . .