Joe and I had dinner together last night and then watched three episodes of Red Dwarf. It's hard to believe, but that show is now 20 years old! Last night we watched the first three episodes, which I hadn't seen. When I was visiting Jaemon I remember seeing one or two episodes. It's such a creative show, not unusual for science fiction, but unusual in how well done it was.

 

Today is a Quaker Meetign all day, which I'm not looking forward to, then a jam session in Santa Monica, which I am looking forward to. I'll bring my banjo, but I'm not sure I'll jam. We'll see...

 

Also am going to do an experiment. On the school web site I put a link to my Yahoo Messinger profile so that students and friends would know when I'm on-line and students might ask me questions when I'm on line. It's a new way to connect, but we'll have to see how it goes!

 

 

 This morning at about 5:10 am I was out walking Monster and the sky was spectacular. In the west was an almost full, bright orange, setting moon. In the east was a very, very bright Venus and just below her Saturn. A wonderful morning to observe with binoculars, though difficult to use the telescope because of the wind, Gusty winds here this morning, which I suppose means that our hot days are back again!

 When I got up to Mt Wilson yesterday at 2pm, the summit was foggy and windy. I was supposed to remove the course marking ribbons ofr the AC100...about 7 miles of ribbons and glow sticks. When I saw the weather I had two choices. Take the truck down the dirt road, with the possibility of getting stuck down the road, or coming back another day. COming back another day would have put the race in jeapordy, since course markings needed to be removed within 3 days of a race. On the other hand, if the fog got worse and settled into the canyons I could be stuck with no way to get the truck out until the fog lifted. Since I had my day pack with me, and two flashlights, I decided to leave the truck at the summit and hike on down.

 

What a wonderful hike it was, especially after it got dark and I was hiking back up out of the canyon. The fog rolled up the mountains at the portion of the road that was exposed along the cliffs. As I watched it, it rolled over me and form a canopy about 4 feet above my head. It was like hiking in a tunnel, with the ceilig constantly changing.

 

In the sections of the road surrounded by trees, it was like being in an enchanted forest, the mist and the rain swirling around the trees, with drops of water falling from each limb. Because I was working hard hiking up the 3000 feet to the summit, I wasn't cold at all, though I wore just a tee-shirt and pants. The forest was quiet, except for an occasional bird whistle and the drops of rain falling around me. I stopped several times, turned my flashlight off, and just stood there listening and sensing the forest.

 

Do I love these mountains? For the longest time I didn't go to Yosemite because I didn't believe anything could be as beautiful as my Angeles National Forest. Shar had to force me to meet her the first time I went to Yosemite. So here I was, back in my beloved forest, alone, in the fog with a slight rain, surrounded by the mystery and the night.

 

Today I'm sore. The 14 mile roundtrip hike took its toll, physically. Spiritually, though, I am filled with thoughts of mountains and forests, fog and rain, ready for the first day of fall and cool mountain hikes...

 Well, another year is almost done. Last weekend I captained the Idlehour Aid Station at mile 83 again. Probably the most remote aid station of the race. First runners came through about 8 pm on Saturday and the last runners came through at 8:45 am Sunday. We had a really good crew of volunteers, with three folks repeating from previous years. This year Terry, our ham radio operator, made an archway of lights as an entrance to the station. We also added miso soup this year for those runners who are vegetarian and didn't care for the chicken noodle soup. It was a great hit. Don't know how many times I heard, "What?! You have miso soup!" Another addition was body sponges so folks could sponge off the dirt. Next year we'll add mileage signs to the  finish.

 

The road down to the aid station, though, never gets any easier. It's a dangerous, narrow, and difficult dirt road along the side of the mountain. No guard rails and filled with rocks and pot holes. This year the road was in better shape than it's ever been, but it's still makes me clench the steering wheel with tight fists. Terry, who's been doing this now for twenty years, says he gets the same reaction, so I don't feel so bad. I would still rather run it than drive it. I have to go down it one more time today to collect the course marking ribbons that are still up. I'm not looking forward to it.

 

This is the first year we didn't have a single drop and everyone who made it to our aid station finished. I'm really pleased. For more information, go to:

 

Okay, I couldn't resist. I know I said I'd wait until Monday to play with the new iPhone, but I got up at 4 am yesterday and decided to play. I have to say that the reason I've held off getting one is because of ATT's well known problems (dropped calls, static, slow 2.5G instead of 3G downloads, poor customer service, etc.). In fact, Consumer reports rated them near the bottom of the list, with AllTell and Verizon rated at the top. Another problem was the hassle of switching carriers. Sprint, my present carrier, also rated near the bottom and I thought that as long as I already had a bottom rater I might as well stick, especially since the only problem I've had with Sprint was their Hawai'i coverage. Thankfully I've had the Sprint phone and coverage long enough so that there was no termination fee.

 

In any event, since Jaemon and Tana bought me an iPhone for my birthday I decided to go ahead and give it a try. If it's terrible I'll pay the penalty and switch or just wait it out. So I decided to activate my iPhone. The good news? It couldn't have been more effortless. ATT had activated my phone all over iTunes within minutes and ten minutes later my Sprint phone number had been switched also. The synching with my iTunes was also effortless, letting me make choices about what to synch. My Outlook contacts and appointments were painlessly downloaded to the iPhone. No need to program in numbers! All told, it took about an hour to set up everything, including a new internet ATT account, and checking it all out. It couldn't have been easier.

 

Also good news, the iPhone is basically intuitive to operate. I did download the manual this morning, but mostly I was using the iPhone without needing to consult the manual. My son, who never consults manuals unless he's forced to, would be proud. And it's slick. Totally sexy interface, easy to use. An iPod and an phone in one! Way cool.

 

The bad news is that after using a clamshell cell phone for years, it's going to take some getting used to using the iPhone as a phone. I'm reminded of my first ancient cell phone that looked and felt like a brick. There's something strange about talking into what is essential a beefed up iPod! Now I think it's just a matter of getting used to things, but it is very strange and WILL take some getting used to. The other thing is that since the iPhone is using ATT Edge for its broadband service, it is slower than my Sprint Broadband card. I'm going to keep the Broadband card for awhile, so only the cell phone line was dropped. I still have Sprint Broadband, which I have really loved. I can now, though, leave the lap top home when I want and still have email and internet service.

 

An additional piece of good news is that if you discount the new activation fee from ATT, and factor in keeping the Sprint Broadband, I will actually be paying less every month now for both the Sprint Boradband and the ATT iPhone, since applications I was paying additional for on Sprint cellular are included in the iPhone (map, weather, etc.).

 

So on the whole, I'm a happy camper and grateful as hell for the birthday present from Jaemon and Tana. Thanks guys!

WOW, what a birthday. My birthday began and ended with my son and his wife. First thing in the morning I made myself some coffee and opened the birthday present my son had sent, via FedEx, the night before. I almost fell off my chair. It was a new iPhone! It is not often I am speechless, but there I was. I still haven't opened the iPhone box. I know myself. Once I start to play with it I'll be hours at it, and with work and the AC100 this weekend I thought it best to put away. I'll play with it on Monday. Needless to say I went around all day saying I have the best son and daughter in the world! Later, after a date with Joe, I called and spoke with Jaemon, Tana, and Jennalise. There just weren't words to thank them.

 

Then there's Joe. This was a second date! For the second time now we've gotten together and had coffee and dinner and both times our conversation seemed effortless and easy. I have no idea where this will go, but I really like him and at the very least have made a new friend. I suspect Joe will be moving to Japan, but for the moment I'm enjoying the conversation and the flirting. It's been a long time since I've flirted with anyone! We ended the date with a hug and a kiss, and it's been a long time since I've done that, too.

 

I also had a good time teaching yesterday and it occured to me how lucky I am to be doing what I love, meeting new students, trying my best to teach them how to think logically and to take responsibility for their learning. If they can begin to take responsibility for their own learning, then I will indeed have taught them something important.

 How can it be that I'm beginning to teach the third week of school? Hard to believe. I'm really enjoying it this semester so far.

 

This weekend is the Angeles Crest 100 mile Race up in the Angeles National Forest. I'm again doing the Idle Hour Aid Station. This is my 4th year, and my 3rd as Captain of the Aid Station. I always forget how much work it is. I hope I have enough volunteers this year. We need folks to set up the glow sticks and mark the trail, to sweep after the last runner, and lots of folks to fill water bottles, etc. The ham radio operators will be there and it's always fun for me to talk with them.

 

I have to start shopping today for it. Haven't heard yet how many runners will take part, but by the time they get to us at 83 miles there will probably be about 100 and they will be very, very tired, unless they're in front. I'll pick up supplies from Ken on Wednesday and the runner's drop bags on Friday night. Last year there was a lot of asking for Gu, so I'' go to REI and pick up another butane stove and lots of Gu.

 

This aid station is the most remote station. I went up on Saturday and discovered the USFS had changed the locks on the gate, so it might be a problem this weekend. At least I've given the race director plenty of warning, but just to make sure I'll go on up Friday afternoon to make sure I can get in. The dirt road down to the aid station is treacherous and I must be getting old because it's harder to do every year!

 

It'll be a long weekend!

 Growing up Italian, it's hard not to be exposed to opera and to develop a love of it. And what would opera be without Pavarotti? I guess we'll find out. He was everything an Italian opera tenor should be: ebulliant, excessive, passionate, sweet, and a big bear of a man. I was not a great fan of his voice, but I loved his passion and his zest for life and music. Of the Three Tenors, Carreras had the best voice, but it was Pavarotti who made opera a mass market phenomenon. He was a consummate showman, linked to the soul of opera, the grand gestures and sweet music.There was a time when opera was popular music and Pavarotti again brought it to the people.

 

Rest in peace, sweet prince. I will never again be able to hear Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" from "Turandot" without thinking of you and the Olympics.

 

Ciao mi amico...

I just finished Armistead Maupin's Michael Toliver Lives, the seventh Tales of the City novel. Maupin has lost none of his wit or his underlying compassion for the characters he writes about.  I particularly chuckled at the point toward the end of the book when he is describing the fact that chicken tetrazzini oringinated in San Francisco, though his mother "used to make a version of this herself, using Velveeta cheese and Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup." Now anyone who's lived in the midwest or south knows about their ersatz versions of all kinds of great dishes that are made bland and uninteresting through the lens of midwestern cookery! In the midwest it's not a salad if it's not made with mayo or marshmellows. In the south they can take any recipe and fry it! In the midwest they can make any recipe bland as hell. And almost anyone who doesn't enjoy cooking can turn any recipe into a five-minute-why-bother recipe!

 

I suppose I shouldn't talk. My friends still remind me of my version of duck l'orange, made with orange Koolade. It was so orange in taste and color it was inedible! Ah, those recipes of things I'll never, ever, make again! I also remember the german chocolate cake, which I quickly made into brownies because the damn thing wouldn't set up! Top Chef is one of my favorite shows on television. I Tivo it so I don't miss an episode, partly because it is so good to see that even great cooks have bad days.

 

The other day I saw a Biography Channel bio of Julia Child. It was interesting to remember how far ahead of her time she always was. In a time when most American's were treking to the store to bring home television dinners, she was teaching folks that with just a little more love of food you could cook wonderful French recipes. What a great teacher she was! She used humor and a down-to-earth sense of style to teach folks great cuisine. I will never forget her quick-frying something on the stove and having a piece drop to the counter. She quickly picked it up and tossed it back into the pan and said, "No one sees what happens in the privacy of your kitchen!" Ah, for the days of live television!

 Well, for a poor kid from New York City, this was my first camping experience, though not the first time I've "done camp" (grin). It was an interesting experience and I'll attach some pictures below. Can't say I'd do it again. Learned the technique of clawhammer banjo, which was worth my time and this was a good place to try out other instruments for a week. I did harp and harmonica besides the banjo, but not very seriously. Just an introduction. It was good, though, to have a week to practice nothing but the banjo. I also learned lots of new chords and spent time jamming everyday, which is great practice for a closet musician.

 

The first week of school is done and today I gein the second week. Nice group of students this semester and I'm looking forward to the semester. Always nice to make new friends.

 

Monster is having a difficult time in the heat and he seems to have a cold. Sniffles, sneezing, and generally down on his feed. He's definitely getting older, poor guy. It's been over 105 for 5 straight days now. They say it's supposed to break today. I hope that's true!

 

Time to get ready for school...