Gifts

I'm still trying to finish making 500 pvc fifes.

I cut them in the summer in hopes of taking them to Burning Man as "gifting" gifts.
The term "gifting" bothers me somehow, though.
Anyway, after over 20 hours I wasn't near finishing them, so I didn't take them.

I guess i could say I "gifted" my time there, spending more than 60% of my waking hours either setting up, lamplighitng, working the cafe, greeting, or helping the rangers.

So, Ive been at it another 10 hours, trying to finish these fifes for a chapel program next week. I may work on the talk for the program on this blog, I don't know.

Mucus

We are all sick, siiiiiiick.
Various stages of the common cold infecting heads, throats and lungs.

Iv'e been reading "The mission of Art" by Alex Grey. A little new-agey, but I agree with it for the most part.
I don't agree with the use of hallucinogens though.

Cooler

A chilly weekend was warmer thanks to sunny seniors who hiked and camped near Foster Falls.

Friday was the Parents Association fundraiser, and the 12 pints of honey made $3k thanks to their generosity and silliness.

Now a sore throat starts to send signals of impending body shivers.

Stranger Days

Autumn brings shorter days, especially when daylight savings ends.

The past couple of weeks have been eventful:

A Halloween night camping trip in the woods next to a cemetery, complete with a dead owl and creeping cat.

A 20 hour road trip and two days in Ohio with a great group of rowdy kids to help bring in a new area of leadership, again, but in a new skin.

A cranky dear veteran instructor friend is distanced in the middle of settling dust from spinning and competing narratives.

A choke sleeper hold from a leader who fears and hears more than listens and leads.

A lovely walk in golden woods with ambling dogs and loving wife and handfuls of lucky buckeyes.

A realization of a need to be a more effective teacher, especially for advanced students.

And an ever present realization that keeping a journal up to date just isn't my thing.