Layers

I don't think my Father knew it but,
He taught me how to draw in pencil
With just one single word,"layers"
Layers give a pencil drawing depth and texture
Layers give it a sense of age
Layers are sort of like years
The more years you have under your belt
The more knowledge and or character you may have
Layers are just years
And years are just layers
So don't have any fear boy
Move forward through all the years
Move forward through all the layers
Let them build upon yourself knowledge
Let them instill into yourself character
Drawing is a good thing
Much like the years I have yet to see
I hope he knows he taught me much
I hope he knows he gave me his artistic touch
I shall continue to draw in layers
Right through all the rest of my years
And when I draw that Old Home
Into memories of my Father I shall roam
Thanks for being there in my younger days
You made a world of difference
7/1/2004

Window - Dream

If I did not have a window with a view in my office what would I do?
Maybe stare at my pc screen and scream or drift off into sleep and dream?
As I sit here all day I do day dream of being out on the trails amongst the trees
Because when I am hiking I feel so free
Away from the everything mundane
Like green money greed and the cement cities
Ah, but on me don't have any pity
I know how to get away from the silly city
Out there in the woods if only I could
Right now, right now and here
I can see the trails
I can feel it under foot
I can feel the bitter cold winter air
This sounds like heaven to my ear
Ah, darn, it is only a dream
Why did I have to wake up?

2/29/2008

Amun-Ra, Amun, Moonie-Loonie, Moonie, Moon, Moo

Amun-Ra, Amun, Moonie-Loonie, Moonie, Moon, Moo
(You pick a name!)
""General Appearance is one of grace, power and speed. The Pharaoh Hound is medium sized, of noble bearing with hard clean-cut lines-graceful, well balanced, very fast with free easy movement and alert expression.""
He is a Pharaoh Hound
He is now just about 6 years old
G and I raised him from a pup
He is extremely active
and a very keen hunter
He is a good boy
We acquired him from
Marilyn Smith
at Kamaraj Pharaoh Hounds
in Hudson, NH
http://www.kamarajpharaohhounds.com/index.html
We visit Marilyn at least once a year
Then Moo stays with her for a few days or so on vacation
while we take a vacation
Marilyn has around 12 Pharaoh Hounds
What a cool site to see all the Pharaoh Hounds as a pack
Moo always comes back from there a bit more wild
The pack reinstates his "dog-ness" if you will

By some he is also considered a Kelb tal-Fenek

which in Maltese means "The Dog of the Rabbit"

http://www.kelb-tal-fenek.de/indexeng.htm

I like the name Kelb tal-Fenek a lot

since when you say it to people

they have no idea what you are talking about

To me Moo is just Moo

I wish my work place was dog friendly

so Moo could hang out with me all day!

Rrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnng and it don't stop.

Tinnitus!
Today the ears are a ringin' quite bad

Even though it seems quite bad I am still use to it

This has been happening now for almost 20 years

My ears ring constantly

When you hear peace and complete quiet I hear a high pitched ringing

The only time it really bothers my soul is when I am out hiking

I will stop to rest and take it all in

It is so beautiful, green and serene

Except that ringing

Would ya stop already, ah ha

I guess in some people it drives them really nuts

I am lucky, hopefully it doesn't get any worse?

Tinnitus!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

http://www.ata.org/

Three Ring Circus 2/27/08

Sometimes life is like a three ring circus

You go crazy searching through all the rings

Then you find the one that is just right for you

One of these rings was just right for G

(which is it?)

I gave it to her one day as a surprise

We went for a hike in the woods with Moo

It put a smile on her face I will never forget

That was one of my favorite days

G is home today resting here back

She pulled her lower back when walking Moo yesterday

I hope her back feels better

She is a Mailman, no I mean Mailwoman

Door to door everyday delivering your mail

Here is to you G

This is your get better post!

Painted Flowers 2/26/08

I painted you some flowers
It did not take me hours
But mere minutes and seconds
It was my heart that beckoned
Beckoned for your lovin' attention
No no no not rejection
I know the flowers are not great
But today it was my 'simple' fate
To paint you some modest flowers
It did not take me hours
But mere minutes and seconds
On a day I will never forget
It was me you did lovingly get
I painted you some flowers
Love me

2/26/08

Rant 12/19/1999

In a tight place with the beats of a Paul Weller
Im remembering you by my side
close as close can be
Did I?
Yes I did!
Realize you were gonna be there by my side for ever
Paul crackin out the beats
As we swilled beers
Im remembering how I began to love you
Love you Love you
I do
and those Weller beats
Remembering how it began

Deer Island Boston Ma 2/24/08

From one rat race to another. Yes those are actual rat tracks down on Deer Island in Boston MA. Just as long as the rats stay away from Moo the hunter they will be ok. A dead give away is the track of the tail right down the middle....

What a nice clear day. Not too cold. Quite a few people went around the 2.6 miles in either snowshoes or cross-country skis. The footing was bit rutted but we took our time. You can see for miles and miles and miles and.....

High-five what a good day!

G + D we just could not resist. Simple things in life make it great!

For you Prisonbreak fans....."Link I need more time"......to write in my blog...

The Ridge Trail Breakheart Saugus Ma 2/23/08

Moo and I head back to the woods today as well. About 8 inches of fresh powder. Maybe this is our chance to track a Fisher-cat. We headed right up the ridge trail. The going was not that bad at all. With regular ski poles, goretex Montrail trail running sneakers and gaiters we made our way as quick as usual. For the first 15 minutes Moo would only be a bit ahead of me. He would turn around and look at me with hie eyebrows up as to say,"What are we doing". But after that he warmed up to it all as if there was no snow at all. In snow like this I will check his feet, ears, etc. often just to make sure. It is not often that he feels cold at all. With his warm custom made Polartec jacket he stays just about as warm as summer. We swear by his new jacket. It was a bit more than usual but great quality. Check out http://www.dogcoats.com/...

The snow was stuck to everything. We broke the entire Ridge Trail. I just plowed right on through it all. Poles help greatly to keep the slipping to a minimum. The archways arch is usually down but since it was only one day later it was still up. It looks great with all the snow on it. This is pretty much a transition place from the Ridge Trail down to the lakes.

After doing about 3/4 of the loop we were at the Big Pines area. There was where we first saw any good tracks. I looked close and decided it has to be a Fisher-cat's tracks. When Moo came upon the tracks he took immediate attention and followed them. Here and there he went looking, searching for something. Then on a decent I saw Moo book it to this distant boulder area. From the distance you could see a dark cave like opening. An surely when I got down there I could see the same tracks lead into it. Moo was all over it. I know Fisher-cats are quite mean and have brutal claws. So I did not want anything to happen. I called to Moo,"Out, Out, lets go". It took him a few calls from me but he did come. We never did see one and probably will never see a Fisher-cat. They are quite the secretive animals.....

About a month prior to this day my wife, Moo and I were hiking the horseshoe shaped Ash path in Breakheart. At one point Moo was just about up this small tree. He was very very interested in something. When we got closer and looked it was the remains of a deer leg. A good guess would be a Fisher-cat took it up the tree with it since they are quite the carnivore. How else would a deer leg be hanging up in a tree like this? I know I wouldn't pick it up and hurl it.

The Ridge Trail Breakheart Saugus Ma 2/22/08

Today Moo and I headed for the Ridge Trail in Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Ma. If you have never been to Breakheart before it is one of those places near Boston Ma you need to see at least once. I have been coming here at least once a week now for years with my wife and dog Moo. It is quite the get away from the crowded city life that I know of. The snow just started to fall today after having bare grounds for a while. So far now we got about 5 inches in Winthrop about eight hours later. Today was a good day in the woods. No one around at all, we had the place to ourselves. I guess the people around here had to work or they are weaker than winter. Sometimes I lose myself in these woods. I either think of nothing at all or maybe a loved one that may be in need at the time or maybe just take in the landscape or maybe just watch Moo be a dog. Today I thought of my wife quite often as I was missing here on the trail with me.....















In the snow I scribed a heart with D + G in it at one point. Then I took a picture of it on my cell phone and sent it to her. She sent me back a picture of her USPS LLV truck because she was working. She comes in here on the trails of Breakheart with us often. We have a pair of mini baby pine trees near the big pines area of Breakheart we always stop and check out. They have been growing here for sometime now. We are like their adopted parents or something. But really we do nothing at all but admire their growth etc.. We call them D and G, LOL.....















They look the same today young, kinda weak, but I think they will do OK. Unless of course someone or something messes with them. Please don't mess with them. They are not bothering anyone at all. Thanks they say...















Today Moo was sooo Good! I guess almost 6 years later helps a lot. Not once did I call him but yet he was right by my side when I was looking for him. Not that he didn't go out far on his own. Of course he did. I have no idea what he was up to...




















I am never very quick at all to donate money. But I do strongly believe in "action". Action to me speaks louder then money and louder than voice. So today as I have done in the past I cleaned the trails in Breakheart that I so avidly use in all 4 seasons. I filled maybe a good half of a bag of trash. I used one of those white kitchen bags. I always carry a few trash bags with me just in case the trash is bad. And Yes I do pick up after Moo even in the woods. It kinda stinks when you go to a beautiful place and see trash etc.. I guess some people just do not get it. Anyhow take a look left over there to see how long trash sticks around. Imagine if we all left trash around.....?














Early on the trail Moo reacted a little different than normal. I could tell he was being cautious but very interested in something. He tended to look up in the trees. He was down in a col and I was headed up the trail onto a small hill. I watched him closely. Then I heard this odd odd noise. Only twice. At that time Moo was at extreme attention looking right up. I called Moo to come with me and he did. I had no idea what it could be and dismissed it. I didn't find out till the next day when I did some research what it was. The noise described by some as a "child screaming". It was a Fisher - cat. http://home.mcn.net/~wtu/fisher.html
Very interesting animal. I have never seen one in person but have heard many stories about them. Maybe tomorrow we will come back after the snow stops to try to track one of the Fisher - cats.