Can’t Fool Me

Posted on January 17, 2012 by TheJessicaness

I love driving around new places and randomly hitting the brakes to not miss a photo opportunity and then realize that was a truck behind us – not our guardian alien. Then I wave apologetically as I drive to a turn around point or somewhere good to park. The people passing you think you are most weird for taking pictures of their stores, cars, and homes because they see them everyday, but to you it is another part of the world puzzle.

Having started a blog, I now read a lot more blogs. In one, it mentioned that European countries are closer together and that’s why people wear backpacks and ride the trains to visit some of them and that states like Utah or Oklahoma take up too much of their day. Well even if these states were turned into five countries each they would still contain the same landscape and lifestyle. I enjoy seeing the different ways people live when in the same environment but miles, states, or countries apart.

So, there I was walking around, minding my own business, taking pictures of leaves and dirt when I felt this pair of eyes attach themselves to the side of my face. I turned so quickly, and surprised him so much, that Chucky fell over – or his wife pushed him. They were not in that window a moment ago, and they were not going to fool me. I don’t like evil plans being made while I’m being stared at. I knew not to worry though as my dogs aren’t the friendly-towards-hitchhikers type.

As we got in the car to leave I noticed that truck that had supposedly passed us had a sleeping driver behind the wheel parked by the same building. Of course he was just taking a nap; I don’t care if he wasn’t. I’m not the hero type to battle with short dolls with fast feet, anyone in hard plastic that breathes weird, or any villain that can transform their body or someone else. I’m the type to hide behind a tree and film the whole thing.

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Peaceful Place

Posted on January 16, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Photo by: John Wise

Tiny bugs buzzing through the air
Small critters smashing through the leaves
An old man in an ancient house somewhere reading next to the window
A girl running through the trees with her hair following
behind her being carried in the breeze
A stream around the corner running down the mountain
Clouds metamorphosing as they float above
Little birds tweeting and chirping their love song

This is peaceful to me As I recall a poem in my head
As I scoot an inch closer and increase shutter speed
As I hide behind rocks and use them as tripods
As I think of the little boy chasing the girl
As I watch a raccoon wash his lunch in the stream
As I notice a bunny hopping along in the troposphere
And I start to sing along to the birdies love song

Posted in Animals, Art, Camping, Inspiration, Music, People, Places, Poetry, Water | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Easy Route

Posted on January 15, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Caleb had to work yesterday. He rode his bike home this morning by 7:30. We went to the store for more bananas and some superglue for his sunglasses. Last time out, the temperature was around 72 degrees. This morning we were looking at 52; I put on my compression pants, Capri pants, long sleeve compression shirt, sweater, and hat. My chin was the coldest part but luckily the wind took it easy on us; not that we needed it.

I easily made it past mile 23 and could have gone farther today, or so I think now because my legs aren’t tired. We rode slow, 9-mph, and still made it in three hours. We didn’t take as many pictures today and the cows thought it was cold too so we didn’t see much of them. We passed some people on roller blades and would’ve got passed twice by another cyclist but he got held up by just one of the many trains running the tracks today.

This ride puts me at 63 miles for my annual mileage, so far, and only 688 calories today. We agreed on pizza as today’s treat and forgot about football so we got our order to-go. I ate a slice while we caught up on some grocery shopping too. We only brought two bags and had lots of stuff but only one tomato got cut; it will be fine. Caleb said we might have company on our next ride; I hope they’re good at goofy bike poses too.

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Music is Noise

Posted on January 14, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Or is some noise music, some mother nature, and the rest an annoyance invented by people. All cultures have their own definition of music, but most will agree that instruments (sticks, stones, strings, pots & pans) be used with or without the accompaniment of voice in a pleasing manner.

As a baby I listened to Foetus Interruptus. When I got older I was gifted with a little white hand-held radio that I used to listen to the classical station every night in bed. Growing up we always listened to country music in the car – no matter what. As I started middle school I heard alternative music. As a high schooler I would find angry rappers to listen to. Some of the bands were Pink Floyd, Rob Zombie, Eminem, Ja-Rule. I took a classical pause.

My Dad introduced me to Hindi music and before I was 21 I heard German bands, metal, jazz, and hip-hop. Since, I’ve been introduced to medieval and dubstep – also by my Dad. I am back to listening to classical and don’t know how I did without. I also have a new-found love for Enya, Madonna, ABBA, and the song Mahna Mahna. My Dad also gifted me iTunes with Chinese, electronic, bluegrass, and Hawaiian. Thanks Dad!

My music collection started out with some tapes (you know, those little plastic rectangular things with two holes in them) that were mostly Disney. Then I started a CD collection to go with the Walkman I got for Christmas one year. CDs took a long time to acquire as a child; being they were $20 a piece. One day, I looked at my collection and had over 150 CDs. They consisted of Korn, Outkast, Disturbed, No Doubt, ICP, and Marilyn Manson.

Since high school I’ve been given The All-American Rejects, Shinedown, Modest Mouse, Rob Zombie, Ingrid Michaelson, No One, Five.Bolt.Main, A Perfect Circle, and a bunch of mixed CDs. I was fine with putting these on my laptop so I could reduce space and then my laptop got stolen. I was grateful to still have the music that has been through the stages of my life. I am putting all my CDs on my computer now and will be saying goodbye.

I no longer want to listen to angry music; I have no need for it and don’t want to be reminded of a time when I think I did. I am grateful that there is music out there that can reach every soul in every culture. I appreciate the music I have listened to, enjoy the music I hear today, and my ears are listening for what the future will bring. I like to sing along sometimes but mostly I like hearing how pretty languages I don’t know sound.

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Friday the Twenty-Six Divided by Two

Posted on January 13, 2012 by TheJessicaness

To some, me, a holiday where others refuse to go to work due to more or less car accidents and more spilled salt. I’ve always liked this day and number because 1) it’s the weekend and 2) so many people are scared of it; so much so that buildings and planes will skip the number 13 or rename it. A ride in the UK changed it’s Th13teen name temporarily to 14 for Friday the 13th. I would also have preferred that the movie in reference to the day had made only one or maybe a sequel but not tried to go for 13 versions of the same night.

The number 13 is popular in religious history, a fear for parents of the teenage years, and a fascinating mathematical prime number. Some other numbers for me today are: 858 blog views, 88 posts, 3 pages, 69 comments, 19 categories, 310 tags, and 20 followers. I think each number deserves its own amount of fun and 13 can be found in cards in a suit, in a baker’s dozen, the original American colonies, Apollo 13, and in many movies, music, sports, and the government.

My favorite meaning behind 13 is the making of the Gregorian Calendar. Most of the time there were only 12 full moons to deal with but at least every 14 months there would be an extra. This made it difficult to keep holidays in order until the leap year was invented. Within a century there will be about 37 years that have 13 full moons. I love that nature is so perfect, yet so inexact, as man tries to conquer chaos with numbers. May the peaceful hecticness continue to shine as bright as a full moon every night.

Posted in Education, Entertainment, Events, Government, Holidays, People | Tagged , , | 2 Comments