Developing Magic

Posted on September 18, 2011 by TheJessicaness

Dories on the Colorado River - Photo by John Wise

I started this blog with a little motivation from my Dad and my love of photography and writing; here I can combine the two. I love that I can write about where I’ve been and share it with others in hopes they too may enjoy the trip in a similar way. I last saw my Dad on my Spring Break from school in March. He wanted me to be able to read his super-rough-draft of a book while visiting but still be able to get out of the house.

In the process, we made a book together, in just one week; I was impressed. I tried reading his story from a reader’s point of view, but with school still fresh on the mind and all the common grammar mistakes found in the English language, it was hard not to stop and mention words or question the meaning of things. Then there was the getting lost in the descriptions and the emotions. The book is called Stay In The Magic and it felt like I was reading from long-time friends turned educators who had been on a spectacular journey of exploration that  overwhelmed them emotionally and spiritually.

Photo by John Wise

Every day was colored in a special way, just for their eyes. There was fresh food even after two weeks on the wet, wild, scenic river. There were life stories, poems, jokes, and song. At times there were helmets worn for safety and bailing the water out of the dory to keep it afloat while getting soaked to the bone in chilly water. There was hiking on steep cliffs using only the inches thick trail to maneuver on. All guests on this trip would poop in a bucket and then that bucket was tightly sealed and brought along in keeping with the, Leave No Trace, policy.

My Dad took this trip in October 2010 and was on the river for 18 days. When I went to see him in mid-March, I could have easily believed that he had returned from the trip that day, so strong was his enthusiasm. Here it is almost a year later and he is almost done editing the book. He has had about eight other pairs of eyes on it including mine as a first-time proofreader. I was more than intrigued but a little rushed the first time through. With the rereading of this past week, I have all the time I need, with this new version having seen almost 2,000 changes to grammar and explanations, along with many additions and deletions.

Photo by John Wise

I am still overcome with so much beauty and emotion expressed by my Dad who I’ve only recently had the chance to form a stronger bond with and kind of get to know. I have also benefited from reading some of what Jeffe Aronson had to write about the Canyon and its greatness that has held his interest and attachment to being a Grand Canyon boatman. My Dad wrote so much of his experiences from his mere 18 days on the Colorado. Jeffe was on his 117th trip when he helped guide my Dad through such an amazing experience, Jeffe tells of those experienced or newbies who after taking this rafting journey come to believe that the Colorado is the greatest river adventure in the world.

I am ready to read Day 15 and I feel like it has been months experienced in this Canyon; this is how much time it seems one would need to say that they have seen a tiny fraction of what the canyon has to offer at any given time of day in its varying seasons. My Dad’s motivation for a blog started out with a love of photography and a desire to write. I feel sometimes that the nature vs nurture ideal is stronger than some realize. As I come to know more of myself through exploring new regions of the mind, I learn more about my Dad than I think most people contemplate or wonder about.

Photo by John Wise

My Dad could have simply shared his handwritten scribbles and I would have been proud of him, but the determination and perseverance it has taken to write such word-beauty is astounding and makes me strive to experience this planet in such a manner and then have the decency to at least share a sliver of the joy I felt that many will never get the opportunity to do when bound by their inner demons and cultured reasons.

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Graduating with Honors

Posted on September 13, 2011 by TheJessicaness

About two years ago my husband got stationed at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, FL and seven years ago I didn’t have the money to afford college. As a navy wife with no job and volunteering to fill my time I woke up one morning and decided to use the money the government would give me for being married to go to school. I chose the nearest college and campus, Florida State College at Jacksonville – South Campus.

Colleges have about the same schedule as grade school, but I had never had to register. I was a day late for the fall and had some issues getting MyCAA, Military Spouse Career Advancement Account, to coöperate with the school schedule and a hard time accessing their website. I would get everything, mostly, figured out and paid for and would take five classes in the spring. Things were going great; I advanced through math quickly, advanced in my writing skills, and was riding my bike 10 miles a day.

Summer came and I didn’t want to lose momentum so I kept on going. I would continue to keep this attitude, even after Obama cut my allowance by $2,000 and forced me to find another way to finish the last two semesters. Less travel, less $8 cheese (8 oz), no savings, and a loan from Dad would have me on the road to success. I suffered through a 14-page paper, that was supposed to be a group project, but learned a lot and appreciate the challenge.

Most days I chose to remain face-deep in books ignoring temptations heavy knock to do anything else instead. I learned a lot from my classmates and obviously the professors. I had a night Biology class with Caleb and we learned about the different Australopithecus species. I worked hard and studied and stressed a lot sometimes. Most of the time I was proud of myself and other times I realize I just wasn’t grasping the information to the exact point that the professor was looking for (some are real picky, but so are future employers) and that I could still be proud of my perseverance.

I finished my AA Degree in Business Administration after 20 months. I could have finished sooner and I also could have taken summers off and still be going. I graduated with a 3.73 (honors) GPA; 0.02 points away from graduating with high honors. A minor disappointment but overall a major achievement and hopefully one of many stepping-stones I take to continue enriching my life. The graduating feeling didn’t set in until today when I received my diploma in the mail.

I have the opportunity to walk in cap-n-gown next May; of course I will do it for me, but I will also be able to watch Caleb walk when he graduates next year. All that time and money for a piece of paper, but that paper recognizes my hard-work and dedication and I would gladly do it again for all the extra learning opportunities it gave me; and for all the free books the library was constantly giving away. I have learned more than just about bugs, and Picasso, and grammar, and calculus, and how to please a professor; I have learned how to teach myself, how to navigate new programs, and how to stay interested in a life time of learning.

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The Daily Sojourn

Posted on September 10, 2011 by TheJessicaness

sample video editing in Adobe After Effects CS5

Two days into working four different tutorials on Lynda.com and I am just as anxious as I am nervous about continuing. I enjoy learning more about photography and am becoming more aware of how using Adobe programs can help expand my abilities into the digital arts. Some of the introduction materials seem basic but for the person who is just starting out, they are really helpful. This is especially true with After Effects. As I get past the basic introductory stuff and get comfortable with the tutors voices, the scope of what is being explained becomes more interesting and the more I find myself anticipating the next steps.

At first sight upon opening programs such as After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Lightroom, the options can appear overwhelming. After watching the introduction to one tutorial, and then the next, I begin to realize that they are merely stepping-stones towards creating something that I am feeling inspired to work harder with to better learn this stuff called digital arts. I am learning the basics and some shortcuts now but I am starting to see that with practice, I might have a chance that these tools become as familiar as the one I use for brushing my teeth in the morning before leaving the house.

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Digital Diving

Posted on September 8, 2011 by TheJessicaness

A year ago my Dad gifted me an old Canon XSi DSLR after watching my growing interest to take half-decent photos. After a solid year of shooting, I still consider myself a novice. After some months of practice with the camera, that same Dad sent over a new-to-me computer to help me fancy-up my photos with the idea I might begin to post them online; I still have not started using Flickr, but here I am blogging them! A month ago the fairy gift giver of things digital surprised me with the second monitor pictured here on the left. This will allow me to work more efficiently and watch tutorials on one monitor while working the lesson on the other.

As a birthday present from my husband, Caleb, a brand new Canon T2i arrived via UPS – at the last possible moment for delivery. I can only swoon in love that he loves me that much to help my dreams come true. As if that wasn’t enough my Dad overwhelms me with a download and difficult installation of Magic Lantern on my new camera; this software promises to make me an instant professional, or so frustrated at my ineptitude that I give up photography and stick with knitting. Tomorrow begins my next big learning venture; I embark on a free 30-day trial of Lynda.com with a load of tutorials to help me learn more about Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere, and After Effects. Look out world, I might find out that I have something to say.

Here it is 30 days later and I have learned a lot. I have taken pages of notes, re-watched videos, practiced with their files and mine, and just completed the last of the four tutorials I set out to watch a month ago.  At first, I thought eight hours seemed like something I could finish in one day kind of like going to work. After reaching parts of the video that I hadn’t yet experienced or wanted to know more about, I would pause to attempt (what the video make look like a couple of clicks and maybe a drag) a simple photo edit, and then realize that two hours had passed.

I would recommend these videos for any beginner, but there are also a lot more options out there as well for those trying to increase their skills on a cheaper budget. These videos give you a base understanding of the major buttons so that when you are struggling to make that special photo ‘stand out’ and you click on YouTube you will have an idea of all the weird-named buttons the videos are referring to.  I look forward to taking some time to integrate my training into my work for a while and then perhaps I will jump back on the watching and writing part of the bandwagon; for now, it is time for more action.

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Camping in Congaree

Posted on September 4, 2011 by TheJessicaness

Caleb readied the itinerary, printed out MapQuest directions, and updated Tom Tom in preparation for this trip. The morning of leaving I am going through our packing list but we are not yet awake enough because after dropping some books off at the library we will have to return home for a few items. Soon we are on I-95 heading north but MapQuest knows a better way and I agree. This detour has us surrounded by John Deere tractors and combine harvesters, new and old houses, and a variety of wildlife that call these woods home.

At our first stop, Congaree National Park, we are greeted by a squirrel at the entrance. The Mosquito Meter measures between All Clear and Mild and we are excited as we set up in Campsite Seven and spray the tent with some anti-bug for our return that evening. We will encounter a variety of multiple-legged critters along the many paths while we meander through the Bald Cypress and Loblolly pines of this floodplain in the largest tract of old growth forest left in the United States.

Caleb setting up the tent

This forest gets flooded about ten times a year giving it the appearance of a swamp but actual swamps retain a certain amount of water throughout the seasons. This forest teaches us so much about the life cycle; the thick Bald Cypress, with surrounding knees that may act as anchors or snorkels, stained up to four feet with moss as evidence of the last flood and fallen trees that continue to grow and give food and shelter to insects and birds. Where the canopies are thick the vegetation is not and other areas are dense with life and color.

Some of the insects we saw were arthropods such as the silkworm species Bombyx mori, the black ground beetle, black and blue butterflies, wasps, and the velvet ant family Mutillidae nicknamed – Cow Killer. Other arthropods were the arachnid golden-silk orb-weaver and the spined micrathena and the millipede species Narceus americanus with over 160 legs. The second most diverse phylum, Mollusca, was somewhat scarce visually but we did manage to see some of the Gastropoda class and take a snail photo. The popular Chordata in today’s woods would be the reptiles that go by the common names of lizards and turtles and the only mammal – the squirrel.

Orb Weaver

The next morning we were up before the sun. We took everything but the tent with us to reserve our camping spot for the night’s return. Our first stop was the Andrew Johnson homestead grounds that are open for tours but we were the only ones there. We found the visitor center near Johnson’s old tailor shop and smaller home. There, volunteer Daniel was able to fascinate us with the history of the 17th president’s life and some of the people involved with his career and his impeachment.

After a trip to the Andrew Johnson Cemetery we were backtracking a bit and interested in what was drying in these big, brown sheds on the roadside. We found the one we had passed earlier and as we went to pullover, we noticed a man on a lawnmower. His name is Tracy and he kindly invited us to use the driveway and get out for a tour.  We have now seen our first tobacco leaves. They were hanging three-stories high, about four-feet long, and eight-inches at the widest part. Most were brown now but some still had green and yellow on them.

drying tobacco leaves

Tracy went on to tell us some of the family history in the business and, that now that they are no longer supported by the government, how profits have fallen by 75%. I don’t know what the fresh plant smells like but, after hanging for a few weeks, walking amongst these dry leaves, it can feel as if you have just smoked a pack of cigarettes yourself. I was interested in the story and anxious to take more pictures, but Tracy the tobacco farmer is also a smoker; a good reason to get us back on the road.

The next stop on our list was the Carl Sandburg Home. It was interesting to see the seniors, over 70 years old, amazed at the orange Smart Car parked in the lot; to be alive when their parents might have had the opportunity to own the Ford Model T and now, in an age where most everyone owns a car, see where America has let automobile technology advance. We would find ourselves at the info center and attempt to drive to the home that is only accessible via paths on foot from the center and carts taking people up a small lane.

We walked the relaxing loop around the lake before heading along the tree-lined path to the house with a flower-garden out front. Further up the hill, there is another garden with flowers, herbs, and veggies guarded by a scarecrow that also watches over the Connemara Farm goats. In the visitor center there is milk, cheese, and fudge from goat-milk available for sale. There were a few bugs pollinating the colorful blooms. If I owned property with a diverse landscape, I would find great inspiration to write too.

Driving down another winding road I glimpse, from my peripheral vision, a furry critter alive on the roadside. We drive about a mile down until there is a point to turn around. After letting other vehicles pass, we get turned around in hopes of the animal allowing us one picture. I pull up on the opposite side of the road and get one picture before a dually truck (four wheels on the rear axle) drives by and the animal dives into the bushes. Caleb was able to identify the animal, seen on another roadside by us, as a beaver.

Soon after the beaver siting we arrive at Cowpens National Battlefield. In the visitor center we were able to see a model of the USS Cowpens (CG-63)  ship that is stationed in Japan and that Caleb’s brother, Kris, was stationed on for two years. Outside offers some wild turkeys, monuments, and Robert Scruggs’ House with some herbs growing nearby. To finish the day, we would make a trip to Kings Mountain NMP and be just in time for the shooting of the musket and rifle.

goat at Connemara Farm

We will arrive back to Congaree after dark and passing by the visitor center are offered flashlights with red plastic over them making it better to see owls that we might hear while on the trail. This tour is only offered when there is enough staff available and enough reservations; we happened to get lucky with some cancellations. The late night meal in the tent of hard-boiled eggs and bell peppers with ranch dressing will help put us to sleep until the park ranger comes around to check on things and wakes Sparky.

In the morning we would drive through Wateree, Elloree, and Santee passing many cotton fields and one beautiful wooded path. We stopped at a gas station to get some cold medicine for Caleb and he napped along with the dogs for the ride home on the highway passing the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum where we will have to make plans to visit on another trip. I would have enjoyed another day camping, but this gave Caleb some time to rest before the boating adventure planned for tomorrow.

Posted in Animals, Camping, Education, Holidays, Plants, Travel | Tagged | 2 Comments