HIKING : DIVERSITY

          On several recent hikes I found myself concentrating on the diversity of plants, animals, and environments.  While it seems animals for the most part are to fast for me to photograph while actively hiking, plants and environments are easy.  I see myriads of birds (Robin, Wren, Crow, etc),  small mammals (Chipmunk, Squirrel, Rabbit, etc.), a few larger mammals (Fox, Deer, Ground Hogs, etc.)  99% of the time they run away too fast for me to snap a shot.

          Plant diversity along my hikes is of course exciting to me.  I am not just interested in rare plants, but all plants.  Finding a colony of thousands of Trillium grandiflorum (Great White Trillium) is just as exciting as finding an extremely rare orchid.  On my most recent hike I found "rare" (aka. different) color forms of usually common plants.

          I found the white variety of the normally red Trillium erectum variety erectum (Red Wake Robin).  This is the 3rd colony of T. erectum I have discovered with the white Trillium erectum variety album intermixed.

          I also found solid green forms of the normally purple marked Arisaema trifoliata (Jack - in the Pulpit)

ONLINE CRAZIES (AGAIN)

          I guess in the end I am a magnet for every unsettled, unhappy, bipolar, nut ball.  Makes me very happy to have a group of very close true friends.

          This started with the reemergence of a couple I used to chat with years ago.  After a week or so we went out to dinner.  I had a great time.  Next the one partner started becoming all clingy and showing quite a bit of dissatisfaction and self-loathing. After about 3 weeks of this and him asking me if certain people on line hated him etc., he became increasingly paranoid.  Then he became passive - aggressive.  I do not deal with passive - aggressive.  I am not passive - aggressive and everyone knows that if anything I am aggressive - aggressive when pushed wayyyyy too far.

          After blasting me publicly with a few quips, I just asked publicly "Passive - aggressive much?"  At this point I was finished with the potential friendship(s).  This continued on gay.com with an attempted smear campaign, with him privating people about me.  Bad choice.  My rep as a nice guy is known by most.  Then he was stupid enough to try to get one of my close friends involved.  I was proud when my friend said "That is between the two of you, don't get me involved".  Soon after he posted publicly on gay.com that he was deleting "certain people" from his facebook friends list.  ROFL!!!  

          How second grade is this?  Grow the fuck up!!!   I only wanted to be a friend, not your therapist.  As I've told others before, I could have been the best friend you ever had, but I am now done.  Now I know why we didn't talk for 3 years.  I need to learn that when I walk away from people and cut the cord there is a reason, even if I don't remember why.  I know the previous stalking / harassment deal left me jaded and mistrusting.  Shit like this just reinforces my feelings that trying to get close to people online is just a losing proposition.  I am getting better at weeding out the nut jobs.  This one only took about a month.

HIKING : WATER

          Been a while since I posted.  Just been overworked and bored with the computer.  I've been on several hikes and have found my connection with nature even stronger.

          When I hike I find myself imagining that I am just part of the web of life.  That I am connected to every living thing around.  When I hike I look at everything...  trees, plants, birds, mammals, insects, everything.  I look for streams and water since water = life.

          As a botanist I also try to make observations about the plants I encounter.  Which sides of the hills they grow... north facing, south facing, east facing, or west facing.  Whether they are found on the faces of hills, or on steep embankments, or on the flats at the tops.  Whether they are found in deep shade, dappled light, or in full sun.

          I love water features and often take my clothes off and wash the water over me.  If it is warm enough and clean enough I will just sit in it and let it flow over me.  I really need to carry my camera tripod with me so I can get some better pictures of me when I am on my hikes.  But for me pictures of myself are really not necessary.  I take in everything and it becomes a part of me.