A few books linger on my office bookshelves. I’ve tossed many of my business books into the recycling bin, including unread 1980’s editions of In Search of Excellence. Managers passed out copies, and it would have been impolite to decline. In the absence of competent leadership, it seemed futile to spend time reading a book… Continue reading Seeking Order in a Chaotic World
Category: Life Changes
Living History
Attended a lecture on Nordeast (Minneapolis) history in a Catholic church. Most attendees had lived the history.
Mirepoix
I like to cook from scratch, but some days I simply want to assemble previously cooked ingredients. The solution is to have a selection of “subassembly” ingredients in the freezer. I’ve written about one of these ingredients: stock. Another is mirepoix. Mirepoix is the “holy trinity” of two parts onion and one part each of… Continue reading Mirepoix
My Kagoshima: Kirishima Volcanic Group Practicalities
From Karakunidake. There’s nothing like a decent hike after a long series of flights. I previously posted how to get from Kagoshima Airport to a hotel on the edge of the Kirishima Volcanic Group of Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park. The hourly bus from the airport takes you to the Kirishima Iwasaki Hotel in 47 minutes. If you arrive… Continue reading My Kagoshima: Kirishima Volcanic Group Practicalities
The End of a 500-Mile Walk
September 2010, I felt sad as Bamburgh Castle loomed in front of us. For three weeks my partner and I got up each morning, enjoyed a hearty breakfast, then walked. I wanted to walk forever, but this Northumberland castle on the North Sea marked the end of our walk. We had started down the coast at… Continue reading The End of a 500-Mile Walk
Heavy Rain
A good day to be indoors planning October hikes.
Plotting Trails
Prepared for October hikes: plotted trails, created GPS track files, printed 1:25,000 paper maps (as backup).
Wabi-Sabi Lessons for Imperfect Journeys
“Wabi-sabi represents the exact opposite of the Western ideal of great beauty as something monumental, spectacular, and enduring. Wabi-sabi is not found in nature at moments of bloom and lushness, but at moments of inception or subsiding. Wabi-sabi is not about gorgeous flowers, majestic trees, or bold landscapes. Wabi-sabi is about the minor and the… Continue reading Wabi-Sabi Lessons for Imperfect Journeys
Travel Gear: Clean Clothes
For me, freedom is traveling light with just one change of clothes. That still translates into wearing clean clothes every day. The downside is doing a bit of laundry each day. The upside is traveling with just a carry-on: I walk past the check-in lines and straight to Security. My 35 liter backpack easily fits… Continue reading Travel Gear: Clean Clothes
Flights to the UK with Family
Booked flights for an adventure with our nephews (they’ll be 7 and 8) and their parents.