January 2018

January 2018

Monday 01- Clear 71° | 37°

I run down the hill into 2018 and uploaded the video to YouTube and also posted it on FaceBook.

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a two and a half mile jog, core trainer, and sit-ups punched the heavybag. I went and took the electric bike out for a ride.

I took the dogs for a walk over to visit my neighbor Kjtel and checkout the work she has done on her new trailer.

Tuesday 02- Clear 73° | 48°

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a mile and a half jog, core trainer, sit-ups, punched the heavybag and took the electric bike out for a ride.

Rode my scooter to the mailbox on Border Ave. to send out signed papers from my doctor.

I did my studies: history and drew something.

Wednesday 03- Clear 67° | 45°

I did my stretches, exercised with the 10 and 20lbs weights, went for a mile jog, core trainer, sit-ups, punched the heavybag and took the electric bike out for a ride. I also took Cassie and Barney separately on a bike ride up the hill and back.

I did my studies: history, geology, meteorology, and drew something.

Took the dogs for a walk.

Thursday 04- 71° | 43°

I did my stretches and went for a two and a half mile jog.

I did my studies: history, geology, meteorology, played guitar and drew something.

Took the dogs for a little jog.

Friday 05- 72° | 44°

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a good mile jog, core trainer, sit-ups, punched the heavybag, and took the dogs out on the bike for a ride.

I did the laundry and sweeped all the room inside my house. 

Saturday 06- Scattered Clouds 71° | 48°

I did my stretches.

I began to instal a sundome on my roof over the living room. Only got the roof part done. I will finish cutting in from the inside tomorrow. Spent most of my time hunting down tools and such to complete the job on the roof.

Sunday 07- 69° | 50°

I did my stretches.

I finished the cutting the hole for the inside of the dome and it really brings in the light into the living room. I am so glad I finally did it. When I get the time I will get to work on the trim and make it look real nice.

Monday 08- 66° | 53° cloudy with light evening sprinkles.
I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a good mile jog, core trainer, sit-ups, punched the heavybag, and took the dogs out for a run with my bike.

I started moving boxes of books, clothes and old computers out of the old trailer out back. I am going to make it into a guest room for friends who come to visit. I was using it for storage and threw a whole lot of stuff I don’t need anymore into the trash.
Went to Linda Harter’s house to say our goodbyes. I helped her burn a whole bunch of papers and documents one gathers through one’s life... it was kinda like a parting of old memories and starting life anew for her- the 50 gallon barrel smoldered for hours turning what was once official and meaningful, but now only years of accumulated useless and unwanted baggage into puffs of smoke drifting through the brisk high desert winter air. I will miss her.

Tuesday 09- 57° | 48° rain!

I did my stretches.

Went shopping and then to doctor’s appointment at 3:15pm. Of course it rains when I’m going to town. Winters is flooded and I just made it out before Lake Lucille formed at the bottom of my hill. I came back home on via Lear and Winters which hopefully wasn’t too bad.

Wednesday 10- Scattered Clouds 64° | 45°

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a mile jog with the dogs, core trainer, sit-ups, punched the heavybag, and took Cassie out for a run with my bike.

Thursday 11- 64° | 46° the wind picked up in the evening

I did my stretches.

Friday 12- Scattered Clouds 68° | 42° really windy!

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a mile jog with the dogs, core trainer, sit-ups, punched the heavybag.

Saturday 13- Scattered Clouds 69° | 48°

I did my stretches, situps, punched heavybag and worked out with the 20lb dumbbells.

Sunday 14- Scattered Clouds 68° | 46°

I did my stretches and yoga.

I went to a reading at Cowboy Space Books and read my poem:
Swift are the clouds that lick the skies above, quick are the birds who fly through their tapestry, brilliant are their colors as the Sun sinks into the sea, lovely are the stars as they deflect darkness from our lives, beauty is the warmth I feel with my beloved sitting very closely by my side. ~RD

Monday 15- Scattered Clouds 71° | 44°

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a mile, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

I took the old paneling and fiberglass to the trash after separating anything I can use for the new insides. The dumpster is now full and trash pick up is tomorrow.

Tuesday 16- Scattered Clouds 68° | 48°

I did my stretches, situps, and punched the heavybag..

Wednesday 17- Scattered Clouds 69° | 43°

I did my stretches, yoga, went for a mile jog, situps, and punched the heavybag.

I worked on the trailer

Thursday 18- 70° | 44°

I did my stretches, lifted weights, went for a mile, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

Worked on the trailer continuing to gut the insides.

I did my studies: history, geology, astronomy, meteorology, played guitar and drew something.
I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, sit-ups punched the heavybag, and went night jog.

Friday 19- Scattered Clouds 73° | 43°

I did my stretches, lifted weights, went for a mile, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

I had to use a dull hacksaw on the pipe connecting the water tank in the trailer to the outside water inlet. I’ll remove the whole tank tomorrow.

Saturday 20- Scattered Clouds 55° | 42°

I did my stretches.

I removed the tank from the trailer. I took more of the old paneling to the trash after separating the 2x2 wood strips; I’ll keep those for framing the new insides.

Sunday 21- Scattered Clouds 55° | 36°

I did my stretches, went for a mile, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag, and rode my bike.

Trailer is now pretty muched gutted and I spent some time pulling nails and staples sticking out of the framework.

Visited Kjtel my neighbor for a spell.

Went for a night run with Cassie.

Found out that my classmate in 5th and 6th grade and longtime friend Arlos had passed away last August. I just went to check on him on FaceBook to see what he was up to.

Monday 22- 60° | 34°

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a mile, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

I took the day off from working on the trailer.

Kjtel dropped by for a visit. We agreed to take our dogs for a walk at 3:30. She was a little late getting here, but we went on a very long walk with the dogs.

Tuesday 23- 64° | 41°

I did my stretches, yoga, core trainer, exercised with the 10 and 20 pound dumbbells.

Walked my laundry over to Kjtel’s. We chatted for a spell.

Took the dogs on a nice long walk.

Walked back over to Kjtel’s to pick up my damp laundry she had hung out but didn’t dry. I hung them on my clothesline at home.

Wednesday 24- Scattered Clouds 63° | 34°

I did my stretches.

I went to Yucca for the Phlebotomy (where they took blood out of me), but before I did I went to Home Depot to get some insulation for the trailer and stopped at Stater Bros for supplies.

While I was in town I met a woman who had the same kinda situation as a child as I.

Thursday 25- Scattered Clouds 66° | 37°

I did my stretches, lifted weights, jogged a good mile, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

I started the process of insulating the guest house (old trailer)...

I took the dogs for a walk and did my situps and punched the heavybag.

I went on poop patrol after sunset.

I messed around with computers for a spell.

I did my stretches and worked out with 20lb dumbbells.

I did my studies: history, geology, astronomy, meteorology and drew something.

Friday 26- 60° | 39°

I did my stretches, yoga, lifted weights, went for a mile jog, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

I went to work on the Guest House and tore out all the AC electrical wires and connections. I did a good sweep up of the whole place.

I did my stretches, situps, heavybag, exercised with the 10lb dumbells, and took the dogs a mile jog.

I did my studies: history, geology, astronomy, meteorology and drew something.
I did some stretches, 20lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for a night jog up our hill and back. It’s something Cassie and I can do together without the other dogs.

Saturday 27- 63° | 36°

I did my stretches.

I drove to our community potluck with my small offering of rice. There were only ten desert denizens showing up, but we always like to say when attendance is small, “it’s not the quantity but quality of the folks who come and share.” I should also add it’s the quantity and quality of the food we serve.
Dorothy Jacobsen and her daughter Dyan Carroll really cooked up a storm of mighty yummy foods; fried chicken, country gravy, mashed potatoes and a wide assortment of other dishes and desserts. Patty brought a cheese casserole and a mouth watering lemon cake. Bruce smeared cheesecake icing over a chocolate bundt cake. Yvonne cooked up a tasty Chicken Alfredo and a delicious caramel cake that took her 15 minutes to cut up into small squares. Also in attendance were Gil, Charles Lange, and Jeff who brought their big appetites and generous donations.
Chris VanNortrick has taken over the responsibilities of organizing and setting up our potluck since her mother Mary Koval started convalescing last year. Chris is doing a wonderful job of carrying on our potluck tradition, now in its 20th year. Us desert folk really appreciate Chris’s efforts.
Our potluck takes place on the last Saturday of every month at 4pm and everyone is welcome to attend.

Sunday 28-  Scattered Clouds 71° | 48°

I did my stretches.

Monday 29- Scattered Clouds 73° | 51°

I did my stretches, lifted weights, went for a good mile jog, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

I found out I am expected to write six pages of poems; challenge accepted.
I took the dogs for a nice long evening walk and did situps, punched the heavybag, and exercised with the 10lb dumbbells.

Tuesday 30- Scattered Clouds 72° | 46°

I did my stretches, yoga, went for a good mile jog, core trainer, sit-ups, and punched the heavybag.

Played with my computers for a spell trying to update a couple of really old ones with a new OS to make them operational.

I took the dogs for an evening walk, did situps, punched the heavybag.

I did my studies: history, geology, astronomy, meteorology and drew something.
I did some stretches, 20lb dumbbells, and took Cassie for a night jog up our hill and back.

Wednesday 31- 75° | 42°

I did my stretches.

I went to the outpatient clinic 

**************** Stuff I wrote this month ****************

I was left a message to call the local healthcare center in Yucca. I had no idea what it was about... I called and the receptionist said I need to make an appointment there because the my doctor ordered a Phlebotomy for me. I misunderstood her to say lobotomy... kinda scared me! 

In a field of darken shadows, hidden by a winter’s haze of rain, sleet and snow, a lonely tree stands its ground in frosted meadow bare. All its leaves have fallen, not a trace of life remains. The tree is waiting to embrace the warmth of sun again and not another cold winter’s dawn; there's a poem here to be written, words to be gathered up and found, with some soul searching and fingers typing, the process has begun. Only when all these words are put together, and all is well and true, the story of this tree’s life, its many sunny days of spring, with buzzing bees and chipping birds, will its story come out to you.
~RD

I went to a friend’s house she recently sold to say our goodbyes. I helped her burn a whole bunch of papers and documents one gathers through one’s life... it was kinda like a parting of old memories and starting life anew for her- the 55 gallon barrel smoldered for hours turning what was once official and meaningful, but now only years of accumulated useless and unwanted baggage into puffs of smoke drifting through the brisk high desert winter air. It's hard to let go, but it’s the only way to move forward.
 I will miss her.
~RD

BEFORE
Suspended in eternal darkness, part of a greater whole, without body or thought, just the presence of being... floating... alone... Ephemeral are the eons, millenniums past without notice, time has no meaning... floating... drifting in currents neither cold nor warm... alone... until drawn from these binding shadows to a pool of radiant light... among others I felt but could not see, beings such as I. Talons clutched on obscurity’s crumbling edge, to gaze into inviting ripples of pure luminescence and of what may lie beyond. A veil of fear and hesitation suddenly washes over me, feelings I have never felt, but somehow always knew. I wrestled with those arms of darkness grabbing madly at my soul. Disturbed were the other beings now fluttering above the ledge, like vultures hopping and dancing over a carcass while I waded into the shallow waters of the pool of life to drop down into the realm of man.
~RD

**************** Stuff I wrote this month ****************