delays

Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. -- Herman Melville, Moby Dick 

trainspotting from the DSM river in Ottumwa

lingering on the computer has prevented me from swift appointment of my paddling rounds... but now to the water i go...

renewal

 “The cure for anything is salt water - tears, sweat, or the sea.”
― Isak Dinesen, Seven Gothic Tales

it has been a long time since i posted or accounted for my activities, but being unemployed has left me a bit disorganized and aimless.  our project to start a clinic in a VA bldg. fell through after 4 months and now we are looking at another place.  hopefully in the week we will come to terms.  in the meantime i have been repurposing myself through swimming, spinning, paddling and watching HGTV and the Food Channel.  it's hard to avoid the feeling of worthlessness in not being gainful and productive but at least the yard gets mowed and my tomatoes look great.  this weekend is my 45th class reunion from HS and the crusty old grads will be rolling in from around the country.  many are now retired and enjoying the fruits of their labors.  there weren't many "old football jocks" still playing this year so at least even if i didn't cut a record or write a book i can say i'm not totally "over the hill".  i still say i'd give my football career to be able to play the piano.  if only we would have known what is truly important back when sports seemed so great.  well, i guess it's time to head to the lake to find some solace.

out standing in the field

nature's artistry

back waters of flooded whitebreast creek

one closes - another opens?

three score and three

we are met on a great battlefield of that war.  we have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those that here gave their lives that that nation might live.  memorizing the gettysburg address was a challenge for my idle mind but a diversion from daily routine.

loch red rock monster

robert's creek and red rock on even terms - running the tunnel

newbie joining the armada

“A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.” ― William Wordsworth

rec boaters on a spring afternoon on whitebreast

lake monster lurking in whitebreast bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

new beginnings

“One can begin so many things with a new person! - even begin to be a better man.” ― George Eliot, Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life

granddaughter Mia Elisabeth - 3 weeks old

 

second generations

it's always great to see father/son paddlers.  mike and kenny keefer on red rock.

“They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.” ― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

patching leaks

“In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” -Warren Buffett

since moving home i've accumulated experiences without accountability.  for the past month i've been transitioning out of hospital clinic, massage clinic downtown and filling storage and garage with tons of books and equipment.  i've kept busy with spinning, swimming and paddling but lack motivation to move ahead quickly with return to work.  the new clinic awaits a lease signing and progress to construction, but is taking shape.  for now the days are filled with organization, CSI, NCIS, and the Walking Dead...  i feel a bit of a zombie now myself..

nature's artwork on the back deck by morning light, ready for the 106F swimspa

lost in the woods on a snowy morning, with miles to go..

elk rock journey last weekend, the ice is almost gone..

hopefully our soon to be new clinic: "heritage wellness center at knoxville historic village"