Category: What’s New

A place to track links to new posts found in other areas of the site.

Fragment

“Somehow I think that I am not alone in dealing with these feelings; feelings of love, anxiety, fear, and even hope.”

(I wrote this post last Friday but didn’t publish, deciding to let it marinate for a while. I just reviewed it and decided to go ahead and post as is. Hope it finds you happy and well. Hope you find it interesting.)

I keep thinking I want to get back here and write, just write, about anything – about everything. So many events and changes take place in our lives every day. Nothing is stable, nothing dependable. Sometimes events and changes unfold by the hour, sometimes more or less often.

So many thoughts and feelings I’d like to share. But I cannot. I won’t compromise my loved ones, my family, my friends. I won’t risk opening rifts that might not be healed. It might be politics, it might be relationships. It might be very personal issues within myself, or with family or friends.

Somehow I think that I am not alone in dealing with these feelings; feelings of love, anxiety, fear, and even hope. That because we all harbor these feelings our lives, our families, our communities, and our worlds, are fragmented. No one person, politic, or community is able to put the pieces together, let alone keep them adhered.

And so I write. Writing that also is fragmented. But at least I’m back here. It’s good considering I’m paying for the space to do so. Hopefully, it hasn’t been too much of a waste of your time to read it. Feel free to let me know you don’t want me to waste your time like this. Otherwise, I might just ramble again. After all, this is just another fragment.

Happy Trails

I am happy to hold memberships in two organizations whose goals are to convert abandoned railways to and connect the country from coast to coast with multi-purpose trails. Rails to Trails Conservancy and American Discovery Trail (TM).

It has long been a goal of mine to complete at least part, maybe the Iowa section, of these trails. My focus has changed from cycling to hiking since I first became aware of these organizations. When weather conditions allow, I walk a few miles each day through local neighborhoods, not taking time to travel to area parks. My mind often wanders to the mountains where I’ve enjoyed distance from the same neighborhoods and where I am embedded in the awesome splendor and dominance of the peaks and valleys and their exposure (and mine) to the power of nature and the elements.

I haven’t been able to visit the mountains these past few years. Last summer I began escaping to a backpacking trip across Iowa in my mind. I don’t know whether I will ever make even a portion of this trek a reality, but it’s fun to contemplate and keeps my mind occupied while on the sidewalks I repeatedly travel.

Meanwhile, I enjoy knowing that there are organizations and people dedicated to making safe, scenic, trails available to all. But the mission is not complete. Visit the web sites linked above. You will find that the American Discovery Trail (TM) is far from complete and that sections include walking and riding county roads and are not yet effectively connected. Funding is also needed to purchase additional sections of rail. The railroads don’t just donate them, nor are the conversions cheap. Visit. And if so inclined, add your donations to their efforts – whether you ever get to use them personally or not.

Here is one of my favorite Iowa destinations :
High Trestle Trail near Madrid Iowa
It is part of the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail. It is converted from a rail bridge over the Des Moines River and is included in a segment of the ADT.

Gone But Not Forgotten – The Mill Restaurant

The first sentence of my “What is Wut Javia” page references The Mill Restaurant in Iowa City. The story goes on to explain how I arrived at the Wut Javia moniker. I found myself viewing this page again today due to a system notification from my web site provider.

I was reminded that, after 58 years in business, this Iowa City landmark closed forever in June. Apparently the COVID-19 impact was enough to move the owners into retirement. I am saddened to know that this venue which so affected my musical development many years ago and again more recently, is no longer available for friends, food and drink, and presentation of local and regional talent. Just had to get this posted.

So many elements of my life have changed, both because of COVID-19 and otherwise, that I have not been able to concentrate on developing travel and other stories so far this Winter. Hopefully, I’ll get going over the next few months.

Meanwhile, hope your holidays are bright and we all have a happier, healthy year in 2021!

Harvest

Today will be about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday, with highs around 60. I walked my Northern route again yesterday. The corn is gone, leaving only stubble. I hope the harvest was successful, with only minor loss from the Derecho damage.

Trees are turning here in Southern Iowa as temperatures drop and the cool wind blows. The sun is setting by about 6:30 and nights are lengthening. Pretty poetic don’t ‘ya think?

At any rate, winter is coming. Let’s all hope for no more sickness, no more pain. It’ll be cold enough without.

Happy Autumn to all.

Courage and Self-confidence

I began writing this post over a week ago and have read it and tweaked it many times since, trying to decide if I even have the courage and self-confidence to post it. As you can see, I decided to do just that; post the following:

Walking is my current hobby and form of exercise. Previously, I rode a bicycle, then a two-wheel recumbent, then a three-wheel (trike) recumbent. I loved riding for 20 to 40 miles on North Iowa county roads enjoying the views and contemplating life. Sometimes those rides turned into treks of 60 to 80 miles.

Moving to the Iowa City area brought significant riding challenges due to aging joints attempting to scale high rolling hills. So I gave that up. Now I walk, typically four to six miles almost every day. I can stand the heat better than the cold and don’t mind light rain. Walking pace is much slower than riding and somehow gives me more occasion to contemplate what’s going on in my life. Or maybe it’s just this time in life that prompts these contemplations.

Whether I have enough courage and self-confidence to write about subjects that affect family and friends, and how they affect me, is an overriding theme of my thoughts these days. Every time I broach a subject in my mind I think about sharing it here in the public domain, open to interpretation and condemnation. Of course I don’t worry about any praise I might garner from my musings, only about exposing something personal about myself, a loved one, or a friend.

I am reminded of one of my earliest songs, Chameleon, written about myself about 15 years ago. Its verses describe one who changes personality to fit one’s surrounding personal environment. The words are as true today as when I wrote them. Basically I view myself as trying to be all things to all people. I want to be liked. I want to belong. I know, these are common desires, but it took me many youthful and adult years to find myself because I was always trying to be someone I thought others would want me to be. I suppose almost everyone experiences similar struggles.

Even now I find myself testing my thoughts and actions attempting to not “ruffle any feathers.” Thus politics are not allowed. Nor can I share challenges I encounter with family, nor open up about some of my past, present, and probable future. I find it ironic that I started this blog just for those reasons but seem to be relegated to sharing benign experiences such as with corn and storms, afraid of any repercussions.

So for now, I am writing about struggling with what to write. Will I ever be able to share my deeper thoughts and fears? Will you want to read about them, possibly relating to them in your own life? Or should I continue slogging (blogging) along with the, albeit sometimes interesting, general day-to-day experiences that are ultimately of little value other than entertainment?

Not that entertainment writing is bad. It just does not meet my vision for sharing through this site. I do get to share my music and some of my experiences traveling . But I would like to stimulate my readers with deeper contemplations. Maybe I can still accomplish my goals through the music and other stories. If so, I’d better get to it!

And that’s what I’ll do; hopefully soon and hopefully often. Hopefully you will not only enjoy, but benefit from the experience.

Behold – Psalm 133

Though I am not religious (as I once was) and I have mixed thoughts and feelings about God and Faith, I still receive a bible reading every day from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Today’s verses are Psalm 133 from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the bible.

Many years ago I put music to the King James Version of the same psalm. I did change one word to be more inclusive and reflective of my perspective of the psalm’s true meaning. Though the words are a bit different, there is no mistaking the message. Unfortunately our country is living a much different reality. I’m guessing that just reading the words brings up contrasting euphemisms for the current state of our society in the USA. I’ll leave that to you.

Here is the NRSV version:

​

1How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
2It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
3It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.

Here is a link to my recording of “Behold – Psalm 133”

Regardless of your sociopolitical proclivities, I think we can agree that our lives would be better if we could recognize and accept our differences and live together united in our core humanity.

Corn and Derecho Updates

Growing Season is Over

Growing Season Is Over

Soy beans are yellowing, clearly their growing season is over. The corn is definitely drying. We had only 0.46″ of rain locally in August, leading me to wonder if the cobs are fully developed. They appear to be okay. We’ll have to wait to know the bushel yields. It will be interesting to find out how yields will be reported this year. Will there be separate categories for normal vs. storm-damaged corn?

My little sample section appears to have survived for the most part. It is difficult to see the extent of the damage deeper in the field. I have noticed, while touring the countryside, damaged sections of large fields that appear fine on the perimeter yet are broken down within.

  • Bean crops look good wherever I see them
  • Previous post-derecho pic
  • Most of my sample section is still standing
  • Combining will be challenging
Taken from the same location as all other corn pics.

Downed and Damaged Trees

I could see it in the distance. I could hear the sound of the machine. If I had started my walk a few minutes earlier or walked just a little bit faster I would have pictures of the crane, extended, carrying workers with chain saws cutting the torn and twisted branch of the awesome tree I reported on in a previous post. I did see a dump truck full of branches drive away as I approached. Another took its place with yet another waiting its turn. There is a Bobcat loader holding large branch sections ready to load.

  • Previously taken after the storm
  • A closer look
  • The clean up

Cleanup continues throughout our town. The first round of debris removal is almost complete. But many homeowners were not able to get their trees cut up and to the curb in time for pick up. Most neighborhoods have large piles of branches waiting in the verge between the sidewalks and streets. Another sweep is planned.

But clean up has also revealed other interesting storm outcomes. You might recognize the fence in the pictures below. It turns out that there were four trees involved in that downing, three of which were uprooted, all toppling into one another, breaking the last tree mid-trunk. This scene still amazes me every time I observe it.

  • Taken previously before the clean up
  • These trees were massive!
  • The root balls are huge!

We are planning a drive through Cedar Rapids and points north in a few days. I anticipate additional pics and pieces to share.

Derecho – a walk in the park

A view from just past the parking lot that I could not get to from Squire Point road. That makes five parks we’ve tried to enter that are closed with either gates or emergency tape. Included are a state park, two county parks, and two Department of Natural Resources or Corps of Engineers areas.

I thought to take a hike in one of my favorite forests for a Birthday treat today. I hadn’t been to Squire Point in well over a year, a place I used to go to train for upcoming backpacking trips. Trails meander up and down and around the reservoir along thick tree canopies and sheer cliff outcroppings that have contained flood waters along the Iowa river for thousands of years.

But the road to Squire Point was closed due to the derecho. So I took a drive to the other side of the area to an entrance near a campground (the campground is closed due to the storm). It wasn’t long before my expectations for storm debris were realized. Here are some examples of what I encountered.

  • Didn’t take long to start the fun. I went under this one
  • I didn’t count how many instances this pic exemplifies. I went around this one
  • Fortunately, many people use these trails, bushwhacking around the obstacles. Look to the right for the new path
  • From the other side
  • Look closely up the center of the pic. This tree lays down for 30′-40′ just off the trail
  • Hard to get the perspective of the domino effect of a fallen tree. The damage above is extensive. This is a section I had to bypass by about 25 yards to get around the debris
  • I finally made it about 3 miles to Squire Point parking lot. It looks like a wind storm went through here – ya think?

This was an interesting spot. The video below begins as I looked back to where a tree blocked a tricky, sloping spot on the trail. Then I pan to the next section that I’ll have to navigate to get to the Squire Point trail across the bridge.

I so enjoyed being out in nature today. It took longer than usual to make the circuit through Squire Point and Woodpecker trails. Change is inevitable. Natural change is amazing and awesome. I love the experience and continue to be amazed and in awe!

Pelicans – Remembering Delva Mae (Dee) Canady

Delva Mae (Dee) Canady – Christmas 2011

Soaring pelicans are amazing to see. They spiral up high on thermals, creating swirling columns that glimmer, then disappear as their wings catch the sun’s bright light. I think of Dee Canady whenever I see them. She loved them so and I remember watching them with her from her porch as they waded at the West end of Clear Lake. In more recent years I took her for rides to the Ventura Marsh where they gathered twice a year on their migratory path.

I have been watching them swarm over the distant reservoir these past several days when I walk my northern route. Yesterday there were four flocks, each with well over 100 birds. So today we took a ride to the North side of the reservoir to see if we could find them from the DNR lookout.

You can read a history of the American White Pelican if you can zoom in on this picture or by selecting the link. Their wingspans range from 8′ to 9-1/2′.

Those specks behind the sign are pelicans sitting on the water. The following pictures were taken with a Pentax DSLR 15.4 megapixel camera with a Tamron 18-200 mm Spherical DiII lens from a distance of between 200 – 300 yards.

  • A beautiful day, a beautiful place!
  • No pic of the swirling columns, but you can get an idea of the contrast between light and dark by looking at the two pelicans at the upper center
  • Two flocks, each numbering in the dozens of individual birds
  • Look to the upper left water’s edge. Those are hundreds of pelicans huddling together. Don’t know the impact, but that’s a South shore, and the breeze is from the North
  • Pelicans really are amazing birds

I love it when nature reminds me of good friends. Those of you who knew Dee and the love of her life Jack cannot keep from smiling when remembering them. They were amazing people and an amazing couple. They were wonderful friends that Pam and I will cherish as long as we live.

Amazing pelicans, amazing friends. It’s a good day!