Hiking Report - The Big Catch Up

Yeah, so, fall is here and that's hiking weather to me. Brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you that I kicked the holy crap out of September hiking-wise. 78 miles, yes indeed. Not my record, which was set also in September of 03 in Ireland and, was I do believe, 110 miles, but 78 is not bad and I am happy. Puts me up to 511 for the year and 650 is looking easy. I just might go for 700. Don't dare me...

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I was a Reluctant Sadist

Way back in the 20th Century, in the eighth decade, I used to publish an underground comic called "Reluctant Sadist". It ran from 1986-1989 and was "digest-size" which is a regular piece of paper folded in half, so you get four pages per sheet. I did everything, write it, draw it, occasionally invited other artist to contribute. I had a blast. Recently, an old friend from that scene, Ralk Schulze of Aardvark Farms, hipped me to a "social network" devoted to the underground/self-publishing/micro-comix realm called The Poopsheet Foundation. I was amazed to see so many artists from back in the day, still doing their thing. I had recently begun to scan all he original artwork from RS, to be used for a future, to-be-disclosed-at-a-later-date project, so have been tripping down memory lane and enjoying seeing my old art. Poopsheet is the perfect venue to share that stuff, so I uploaded the covers of the first five issues. Check it out:

Here's the link to the gallery. Find more photos like this on Poopsheet

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Mystery Music from the Mind of Neil Spencer Bruce

My good friend Neil Spencer Bruce, composing maestro behind the ZANK soundtrack, has posted a curious Promo video for his next music CD called "11:53". Check it out:

Very intriguing stuff. Can't wait to hear it Neil.

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Before you know it...

It's been too long since the last post. I'll spare you the usual groveling. There has been plenty to write about, lots to catch up on.

Found this poor fellow (Pelicans always look like males to me) on the beach last week while I was hiking one particularly blustery day. I love the sad, curving shape of this bird; like a ballet move frozen in time. I didn't have the camera with me when I found him and had to backtrack to the house to get it. Looking at this image again makes me glad that I made the effort.

I upped my hiking goal this year by 50 miles to 650. So far, I'm running a few miles behind, but I'm on track this month to catch up. Fall is my favorite time of year to hike. The weather is cooling down and the beach clears out. The first splash of orange blaze starts to show in the trees and Sunday's are football days again (Go Packers!).

2008 Wrap-up

2008 was a weird, tough year for a lot of folks. Not for me. Despite all the universal craziness going on, things on Planet Weaver were pretty decent. Got my good health and sweet wife and solid job and safe, cool home. All these gifts make me humble.

Onward.

My hiking goal for 2008 was 600 miles. Not quite 2 miles a day. Did I make it? You bet. 604 was the final total. 604 miles on the beach and on the roads and on the trails. The high point (literally) of the hiking year was reaching the top of Mt Rogers in western Virginia with my good friends Jeff Maisey and Mike Wingfield. Mt. Rogers is 5,729 feet above sea level, little over a mile and is the highest place in Virginia. The weather was perfect the day of the hike. The trail is a spur off of the Appalachian Trail and we were fortunate to meet some wonderful thru hikers that day.

Our adventure ended with a few well-earned beers at our secret mountain liar.

That was a good day it was.

Onto to 2009.

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Merry Xmas

Here's our Christmas card for 2008. My idea brought to life by my wife's lovely hand. About the only things I enjoy about the season anymore are working on the card, decorating the tree and Xmas Eve itself. The screwheads have pretty well squeezed all the fun out of the rest of it with their desperate greedy suck machines that were switched on before Halloween this year (I was in a Walgreens that was playing Xmas music before Oct. 31).  We talked to some friends in Scotland last night and they are "on holiday" until January 5 along with most of the rest of the country. I think we should do the same and at least close it all down for the week between Xmas and New Year's. Let people rest and have some time with their families. Step off the crazy hamster wheel and recharge for a bit.

Hope you have a restful, safe and fun holiday season whatever you do.

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