Coal Creek Fire 2008

We found this really cool place to hike in early summer. In June a fire started from lightning strike. This year for the first time in a long time, the "authorities" allowed the fire crews to decide on whether or not to put it out. They opted to let this one burn as it was not endangering any human homes or human watershed. It burned for 3-4 weeks, working its way to the top of the Mesa, and because it was a very wet year, when it reached the top, it burned out. So now it looks really cool. The first time we hiked up after the fire, we hiked for 2 miles, and I was wondering when we would get there. I smelled it before I saw it. It is interesting how it burned, kind of random.

Bedrock lounge chair

A chair and ottoman constructed of surrounding materials (no I didn't make it, but someone quite creative did).

View from the chair.

Ahh! Really quite comfortable!

Buddy and Chubs

Tempted to put our dogs, Buddy and Chubs, on the dog blog all the time, oops! favoritism. They are great hiking companions and photogenic!

Chubs doing what he does best, resting. When we hike and take a break, Chubs usually makes a bed and rests. He makes it with his paws, getting to the soft dirt (or rocks) underneath. Chubs is part german shepherd and part hound dog.

Buddy doing spinal twist yoga pose. When we are hiking and take a break, Buddy is usually busy. He will find a stick to throw and retrieve. Buddy is part cocker spaniel and part border collie, or "cocker collie."

Buddy amid reflections of Lost Lake.

Lost Lake

Enchanted and enamored by Lost Lake on top of the Grand Mesa. Unlike most lakes on the Mesa, it is lined by volcanic rock, not much plant life. Very clear so one can see all the way in, colors and reflections multitudinously fantastic.

Across the Universe

As some of you may know, I am living with someone who loves movies. We usually watch a movie every evening while eating dinner. Since we have seen so many movies in the last 4 years, I don't remember most of them, but there are a few standouts.

Across the Universe is a love story made up from about 200 Beatles tunes. Before I saw it, I wondered if it would be good enough to do justice to the Beatles. I grew up with the Beatles. I was 5 years old when they first came to the US in 1963. I was singing their songs then. I remember jumping on our parents' bed with my older brother Kenneth singing "I want to hold your hand." They broke up when I was 12 years old, but they accomplished much and traveled far musically when they were together.

Loved the movie. It is one of my new favorite movies. I seem to have a penchant for musicals (taking after my parents!?!). The Beatles music is very well done. There are a lot of unknowns (to me) performing but a few knowns, such as Bono (singing I am the walrus) and Joe Cocker.

The 11th Hour

I was kind of afraid to watch this documentary, but I am glad I did. It has some beautiful pictures and some horrible pictures as well.

Some things I thought were very interesting:

Homosapiens as a genus has been around for what scientists estimate is about 150,000 years. If the earth began on January 1, then homosapiens came about at quarter to midnight on December 31. Since homosapiens, have been around, lots has happened to the earth.

In about 1880 the earth's population reached 1 billion. Before that time, humans lived on what they call current sun, what the sun produces currently, which can support about 1 billion humans. Since that time, humans have started to use what they call made by the old sun, fossil fuels and oils within the earth. Now humans have greater ability to make food and clothing and the human population has exploded. After the first 1 billion humans, it took 30 years to reach the next 1 billion humans. Since JFK was inaugurated, the human population has doubled because of our use of "old sun." In the meantime, the earth is being overused.

Another interesting thing: Some certain politicians say that climate change is a hoax and that they do not believe it. One scientist on the documentary said in essence this is not a religious idea that you believe or you do not believe, it is a consensus of scientists all over the world. So whether you believe it or not, climate change is happening (reminiscent of Galileo's heresay that the world was not flat?). It seems to me like those who say climate change is a hoax are the very same people who are making tons of money off of oil (greed).

Another issue: A lot of people (such as many of those who live in large cities with concrete and steel) believe that humans are above nature or that humans are not nature. There is a psychologist on the movie who called this a brain disorder (CBS or compartmental brain syndrome). As such if we humans are above nature, then why care about the environment?

With climate change is coming lots of crazy weather. We have all seen this happening, hurricanes, wild fires, droughts, floods, etc. Nature is telling us to pay attention.

I like to call it climate change rather than global warming. I have noticed on my utility bills here in Colorado, although I have only tracked it for one year, but our temperatures for the last year have been lower every month than last year.

The movie is not all about doomsday though. There is hope if everyone, including the huge corporations which own the world and our world leaders (double meaning intended), make a change by reusing, recycling, and moving to renewable resources, such as the god-given sun and wind power.

I attempt to do it my own little world in my own little way.

The earth nurtures us humans, we must nurture the earth.