Last weekend, I went flying with my brother in a Cherokee. He passed his pilot’s test last month. We flew out to Cedar Creek Lake to see if we could find our Aunt and Uncle’s lake property. A lot of people have asked me if I found it scary. . While I had never been in a plane that small, I have flown in some very small commercial peddle jumpers and it wasn't really different. We had a great day and almost zero turbulence. I’ve heard my brother talk about it for 2 years. And it was my brother flying...
The unknown is always uncomfortable. The cockpit is really small, and because I was unfamiliar with it I was constantly worried that I was touching something I shouldn't be. You have to wear earphones, I was never sure if the traffic controllers could hear me talk. It did seem like my ears popped much longer than they do on a regular flight. I couldn't rub my ears, which sometimes help with the pressure. And I was yawning all the time to relieve the pressure, which was confusing because I was really excited not bored.
If any of those conditions had been different, it might have been scary. But like so many things, it comes down to trust. As I share with everyone how much working with my chiropractor has helped make me healthy and relax, I always have to admit that I trust her before she was my doctor for so many reasons. I am not sure if that wasn't true, I would have ever considered it.
Recently I’ve been noticing how many references to flying there is in music. One of my favorites is by Richard Marx, Ready to Fly, the chorus goes
And I’m ready to fly
Over the sun
Like a rocket to heaven
And I’m ready to soar
Right through the sky
Never dreamed I’d find something to lift me so high
I’ve always had wings
But I wasn’t ready to fly
I’ve always had wings
Now I’m finally ready to fly
and it turns out I am...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Rain and sunshine
.jpg)
Rain and sunshine
North Texas is known for crazy weather, but this year has been unbelievable. I took these photos one afternoon last week when we had a quick shower, but the afternoon sun was still shining. If you look hard enough you can barely see the traces of rain. Rain and sunshine, the combination illustrates how I am feeling about my life. This week, I have discovered 2 more of that life shifting paradigms. Both of fill me with grief and pain of what life has been and hope of what life might be. The first one was finding that underneath my inability of to open mail, to go want to go to work, to want to be involved with people is the fear or dread that they want something from me. There was a time in my life when I thrived on people wanting something from me. The more demands the better. It fed my ego that I was able to provide something no one else could, that I didn’t need what other people need. Most importantly, it kept me busy enough to not deal with the fact that I have needs that weren’t being met. The second thing I learned today is that I want to meet your needs so that I do not cause you to suffer. This wasn’t a new concept, I have heard it before. But today, it was different for me. This goes deep inside of me. What I need to learn is that I am not responsible for.jpg)
the needs of everyone else. Listen, I can type those words as a sentence. I can give a definition of the words, but I don’t have a clue what really believing it would mean for me. My doctor suggested that I watch for being drawn to that response in my relationships. Of course, that is what frightens me the most. I don’t know how to approach people if I am not trying to meet their needs. And even more frightening is that I have to know and express what my needs are. The other advice my doctor had for me was to rest in the confidence and peace of knowing God within me, and knowing that everyone else has that same resource, God within them, to meet their needs. This photo fills me with peace, a peace that only God can bring. I hope it fills you with peace too.
North Texas is known for crazy weather, but this year has been unbelievable. I took these photos one afternoon last week when we had a quick shower, but the afternoon sun was still shining. If you look hard enough you can barely see the traces of rain. Rain and sunshine, the combination illustrates how I am feeling about my life. This week, I have discovered 2 more of that life shifting paradigms. Both of fill me with grief and pain of what life has been and hope of what life might be. The first one was finding that underneath my inability of to open mail, to go want to go to work, to want to be involved with people is the fear or dread that they want something from me. There was a time in my life when I thrived on people wanting something from me. The more demands the better. It fed my ego that I was able to provide something no one else could, that I didn’t need what other people need. Most importantly, it kept me busy enough to not deal with the fact that I have needs that weren’t being met. The second thing I learned today is that I want to meet your needs so that I do not cause you to suffer. This wasn’t a new concept, I have heard it before. But today, it was different for me. This goes deep inside of me. What I need to learn is that I am not responsible for
.jpg)
the needs of everyone else. Listen, I can type those words as a sentence. I can give a definition of the words, but I don’t have a clue what really believing it would mean for me. My doctor suggested that I watch for being drawn to that response in my relationships. Of course, that is what frightens me the most. I don’t know how to approach people if I am not trying to meet their needs. And even more frightening is that I have to know and express what my needs are. The other advice my doctor had for me was to rest in the confidence and peace of knowing God within me, and knowing that everyone else has that same resource, God within them, to meet their needs. This photo fills me with peace, a peace that only God can bring. I hope it fills you with peace too. Monday, July 23, 2007
Maybe I was in the heat too long…
Maybe I was in the heat too long…
As a part of my efforts to increase my physical activity, about 6 weeks ago I started walking at lunch. This isn’t a casual walk. I change into my work out clothes and really walk. We have an outdoor track that is across the street from our building, but enclosed by a fence that you use your building badge to enter. Everything I have read indicates that you get a lot more benefit from exercising outside, so as long as I can I am going to walk outside. So, far the heat has been okay, (it’s the afternoon when it is getting too hot.) It is a lot more pleasant to watch the clouds and birds and hear them sing than to guess the Jeopardy answers while toiling on the treadmill. And I know that I am using my arms more than I would on the treadmill. I bought a small MP3 player and loaded it with as much Pathways music as I could. It really makes a difference. Since the tree hit my head, I have been wearing a baseball cap to protect the scar.
This is our second track. They had to rework the first track a couple of years ago when they put in a parking lot. The first track was about a quarter mile long. I had been working on the assumption that it would take 4 laps to go a mile. I have been pushing myself to do the 4 laps every day. This week I was talking with a friend who also walks and he told me the track was a ½ mile. I could hardly believe my ears! I have been walking 2 miles for weeks.
Thursday, when I came in from walking, still in shock that I had walked 2 laps, sweat was pouring off my head. I was able to really look at my scar while I blowing my hair dry. After I changed, I went to the store to buy my lunch. In the checkout line, I saw the kid that plays Harry Potter on the cover of a magazine. Maybe I was in the heat too long, but I realized that my scar is just like Harry Potter’s
As a part of my efforts to increase my physical activity, about 6 weeks ago I started walking at lunch. This isn’t a casual walk. I change into my work out clothes and really walk. We have an outdoor track that is across the street from our building, but enclosed by a fence that you use your building badge to enter. Everything I have read indicates that you get a lot more benefit from exercising outside, so as long as I can I am going to walk outside. So, far the heat has been okay, (it’s the afternoon when it is getting too hot.) It is a lot more pleasant to watch the clouds and birds and hear them sing than to guess the Jeopardy answers while toiling on the treadmill. And I know that I am using my arms more than I would on the treadmill. I bought a small MP3 player and loaded it with as much Pathways music as I could. It really makes a difference. Since the tree hit my head, I have been wearing a baseball cap to protect the scar.
This is our second track. They had to rework the first track a couple of years ago when they put in a parking lot. The first track was about a quarter mile long. I had been working on the assumption that it would take 4 laps to go a mile. I have been pushing myself to do the 4 laps every day. This week I was talking with a friend who also walks and he told me the track was a ½ mile. I could hardly believe my ears! I have been walking 2 miles for weeks.
Thursday, when I came in from walking, still in shock that I had walked 2 laps, sweat was pouring off my head. I was able to really look at my scar while I blowing my hair dry. After I changed, I went to the store to buy my lunch. In the checkout line, I saw the kid that plays Harry Potter on the cover of a magazine. Maybe I was in the heat too long, but I realized that my scar is just like Harry Potter’s
Monday, July 16, 2007
It has been a slow week.
It has been a slow week. My head healed nicely, but I had to tell the story again and again. Tuesday, I had my cable switched from the local cable company to AT&T. It is a risk for me, their technology looks good. It took almost 15 hours, but some of that is because it is new for the phone company. I should have faster internet access as well. But, a day without TV was what I needed, especially after the accident. It allowed me to get my journal caught up. I would write a few lines and close my eyes for a few minutes. I also took pictures of the downed tree and took some general measurements. The tree was probably 25 feet in its hayday. Most of the time, I am too worn out after work and working in the yard to mess with the computer. It has taken about 3 days to get the journal typed into the computer.
I have a huge bruise on my left arm. I think I must have fallen on the arm.
This weekend I felt up to working in the yard. The first thing I had to do was to face the tree. I cut it onto pieces. It is funny how things looked different to everyone. With all the rain we have had, and the trunk of the tree never exposed to light, it gave me the feel that the dry wood was totally water logged and a lot heavier than it would have been dry. My brother, who was not struck by the tree, thought it would be lighter than a live tree because it would not contain the water that the live tree would have. After being in the sun, the tree has dried out. It is the consistency of compacted saw dust. I put the pieces out at the street as trash, not even giving it the dignity to be fire wood.
More neighbors stopped by for minutes this weekend to comment on the work I was doing. One couple, whom I didn’t know, asked about my overall health indicating that they knew about my cancer. Evidently they were part of the countless number of people unknown to me who were praying for me.
It took me a couple of days to get my nerve up to wash my hair. The stitches came out today; I didn’t feel a thing. One of the nurses told me to use Neosporin a couple of times a day on the stitches. She told me it would help them come out. The PA told me the injury looked healed and I shouldn’t have any problems with it. I went straight to my regular therapy session. I was exhausted by the time I got home. Once, the trauma was over, I allowed myself to be overwhelmed by the strain of the event. How is that a mirror to my life?
July 16, 2007
I have a huge bruise on my left arm. I think I must have fallen on the arm.
This weekend I felt up to working in the yard. The first thing I had to do was to face the tree. I cut it onto pieces. It is funny how things looked different to everyone. With all the rain we have had, and the trunk of the tree never exposed to light, it gave me the feel that the dry wood was totally water logged and a lot heavier than it would have been dry. My brother, who was not struck by the tree, thought it would be lighter than a live tree because it would not contain the water that the live tree would have. After being in the sun, the tree has dried out. It is the consistency of compacted saw dust. I put the pieces out at the street as trash, not even giving it the dignity to be fire wood.
More neighbors stopped by for minutes this weekend to comment on the work I was doing. One couple, whom I didn’t know, asked about my overall health indicating that they knew about my cancer. Evidently they were part of the countless number of people unknown to me who were praying for me.
It took me a couple of days to get my nerve up to wash my hair. The stitches came out today; I didn’t feel a thing. One of the nurses told me to use Neosporin a couple of times a day on the stitches. She told me it would help them come out. The PA told me the injury looked healed and I shouldn’t have any problems with it. I went straight to my regular therapy session. I was exhausted by the time I got home. Once, the trauma was over, I allowed myself to be overwhelmed by the strain of the event. How is that a mirror to my life?
July 16, 2007
I got a tetanus shot Sunday
I got a tetanus shot Sunday. It was something I have been meaning to do for a while, an action item on my life plan. It just wasn’t scheduled for Sunday. I was feeling pretty good about what I had gotten done on Saturday. Today I have a daunting task. There is a fairly narrow access area next to the road about 3 feet from between the street and my property. A couple of weeks ago I got the access strip cleaned up. Now I am working down the property line. Clearing the undergrowth on the street had revealed a dead cedar tree that has been encumbered by a grouping of privet hedge stalks. 
At some time the tree broke about 3 feet off the ground. The base of the tree fell against the incline and the trunk of the tree had rested on top of it. The trunk appeared to be reaching as tall as the electrical lines and the top of the tree was intertwined with other tree branches and hedge stalks. There 8 or 9 privet hedge stalks that had grown around it, some of them were actually wrapped around the trunk. It was hard to tell which cut would be the one to break the tree free. If the tree fell in the direction it was leaning, it would have fallen into the electrical lines. As long as the undergrowth was there it was held fairly securely, but now that I had cleared most of the undergrowth, the tree was trouble waiting to happen. My plan was to influence the tree and shrubs to come straight down to the ground. Then, my plan was to push the tree in the direction I wanted it to fall.
I carefully cut each stalk around the tree. Each time trying to stay on the side opposite of the direction I thought the tree would fall. None of them were the magic stalk holding the tree in place. And none of them were coming out by themselves. They were a unit, all intertwined up at the top. I put the power tools aside. It was just me and the tree. I started by pulling the trunk of the tree as far as it would come down. I pulled each stalk as far as would it come, always staying out of the path of the tree. I couldn’t believe it, the plan was working; each pull brought the entire unit - the tree and the privet stalks – a little father down. To reach the next stalk, I had to stand on an angle on the incline, at the side of the tree. I wish I could explain what happened next, but since I was in the middle of it and not just a spectator. As I pulled, I heard and felt the tree break free. Then I heard a sound that I had heard once in a movie, Z, back in the 70’s. During a demonstration the police went into the crowd with bully clubs. The sound of wood against bone was one I never wanted to hear again. And bang, I was on the ground. Between that sound and my hitting the ground, I thought the same thing the Travelocity Nome says when he plugs the American electric device into the European socket, ‘Am I going to die now?’
I didn’t die, I didn’t pass out, I didn’t even close my eyes, but I know I am bleeding. I get up from the ground and manage to move around the fallen brush and tree, which has evidently broken into a couple of pieces, probably from hitting my head. If there had been someone around, I would have yelled out call ‘911’. But there was only me. My goal was to let someone know I was hurt and get the bleeding stopped. Amazingly, I was still conscious when I got to my garden cart where my cell phone and wash rag I use to wipe the sweat off my face are. I am able to sit down in my lawn chair and apply pressure to my wound. It’s amazing, even at my age; my first inclination was to call my parents. There I was with my head leaned back applying pressure with one hand and trying to get the address book open on my phone to speed dial my parents. They are listed under ‘p’. Then I thought, ‘You silly thing, Bill (my brother) lives down the street. And he is a ‘B’, so you don’t have to mess with the address book.’ Actually the phone was new. I hadn’t stored Bill’s home number on my SIM card, so I had to manually dial the number. I had to calm down enough to hold the phone over my head and dial the 9 digits with one hand. Luckily, he was there and could help me.
Okay, I didn’t die. I let someone know I need help. I haven’t passed out. Although the bleeding seems to be under control, the wash rag on my head is soaked with blood. I calm down a little. I drink some water. I am sure that I was quite a sight setting in my chair, with the bloody rag, calmly drinking water when a neighbor drove by. In just a second, they drove back to check on me.
My Mom has been worried about me working with the chain saw by myself. But when I got hurt, the power tools were on the ground. This was just me and the tree and gravity. If someone else had been there, they probably would have been hit by some part of the tree.
Twelve stitches later, I was waiting for the results of the head x-rays. I remembered that I had my cell phone in my pants pocket. I was worried that Bill was going to miss his flying lesson. So I called him in the waiting room. He was more concerned about what was happening with me than the flying lesson, so he was glad I called. When he answered, the absurdity of me calling him on a cell phone when he was less than 15 feet from me, but not knowing what was going on made me giggle. But giggling made my forehead hurt, so I had to stop that.
The x-ray was negative, which is a evidently a good thing. They wrapped my head in gauze to secure a small pad over the incision. Once again, I was quite a sight with my bandage and hair going in all directions. When I was checking out, the receptionist gave me a paper bag for my bloody rag. She said when I saw the blood I knew we had to get you into a room. We had to stop at a pharmacy on the way home. We were back in the car in less than 10 minutes. Evidently bloody rags and bandage heads get you great customer service.
The tree is in 4 pieces on the ground. It had once been around 25 feet tall. I am standing, so I figure I won. Probably, though there are better ways to get a tetanus shot.
I carefully cut each stalk around the tree. Each time trying to stay on the side opposite of the direction I thought the tree would fall. None of them were the magic stalk holding the tree in place. And none of them were coming out by themselves. They were a unit, all intertwined up at the top. I put the power tools aside. It was just me and the tree. I started by pulling the trunk of the tree as far as it would come down. I pulled each stalk as far as would it come, always staying out of the path of the tree. I couldn’t believe it, the plan was working; each pull brought the entire unit - the tree and the privet stalks – a little father down. To reach the next stalk, I had to stand on an angle on the incline, at the side of the tree. I wish I could explain what happened next, but since I was in the middle of it and not just a spectator. As I pulled, I heard and felt the tree break free. Then I heard a sound that I had heard once in a movie, Z, back in the 70’s. During a demonstration the police went into the crowd with bully clubs. The sound of wood against bone was one I never wanted to hear again. And bang, I was on the ground. Between that sound and my hitting the ground, I thought the same thing the Travelocity Nome says when he plugs the American electric device into the European socket, ‘Am I going to die now?’
I didn’t die, I didn’t pass out, I didn’t even close my eyes, but I know I am bleeding. I get up from the ground and manage to move around the fallen brush and tree, which has evidently broken into a couple of pieces, probably from hitting my head. If there had been someone around, I would have yelled out call ‘911’. But there was only me. My goal was to let someone know I was hurt and get the bleeding stopped. Amazingly, I was still conscious when I got to my garden cart where my cell phone and wash rag I use to wipe the sweat off my face are. I am able to sit down in my lawn chair and apply pressure to my wound. It’s amazing, even at my age; my first inclination was to call my parents. There I was with my head leaned back applying pressure with one hand and trying to get the address book open on my phone to speed dial my parents. They are listed under ‘p’. Then I thought, ‘You silly thing, Bill (my brother) lives down the street. And he is a ‘B’, so you don’t have to mess with the address book.’ Actually the phone was new. I hadn’t stored Bill’s home number on my SIM card, so I had to manually dial the number. I had to calm down enough to hold the phone over my head and dial the 9 digits with one hand. Luckily, he was there and could help me.
Okay, I didn’t die. I let someone know I need help. I haven’t passed out. Although the bleeding seems to be under control, the wash rag on my head is soaked with blood. I calm down a little. I drink some water. I am sure that I was quite a sight setting in my chair, with the bloody rag, calmly drinking water when a neighbor drove by. In just a second, they drove back to check on me.
My Mom has been worried about me working with the chain saw by myself. But when I got hurt, the power tools were on the ground. This was just me and the tree and gravity. If someone else had been there, they probably would have been hit by some part of the tree.
Twelve stitches later, I was waiting for the results of the head x-rays. I remembered that I had my cell phone in my pants pocket. I was worried that Bill was going to miss his flying lesson. So I called him in the waiting room. He was more concerned about what was happening with me than the flying lesson, so he was glad I called. When he answered, the absurdity of me calling him on a cell phone when he was less than 15 feet from me, but not knowing what was going on made me giggle. But giggling made my forehead hurt, so I had to stop that.
The x-ray was negative, which is a evidently a good thing. They wrapped my head in gauze to secure a small pad over the incision. Once again, I was quite a sight with my bandage and hair going in all directions. When I was checking out, the receptionist gave me a paper bag for my bloody rag. She said when I saw the blood I knew we had to get you into a room. We had to stop at a pharmacy on the way home. We were back in the car in less than 10 minutes. Evidently bloody rags and bandage heads get you great customer service.
The tree is in 4 pieces on the ground. It had once been around 25 feet tall. I am standing, so I figure I won. Probably, though there are better ways to get a tetanus shot.
Overgrown hedges need to be cut out
Last week, I read that overgrown shrubs and hedges need to be cut to the ground and dug up. It is best to start with young, new plants. This was sad news to me. I had trimmed the row of hedges at the street to waist high, but I stopped there. It was safe; I thought it would give me more options. Now, I know that I have to cut them down and take them out. I don’t want to do it. It was much more comfortable knowing no one could see in. The moment I cut them down, I’ll have to admit that the hedges I have grown around my heart can’t just be trimmed down to a decent height either. I am going to have to cut them down and dig them out the root.
I don’t know exactly what that means, I just know it scares me. Deep inside, I want to be openly in the light. I don’t just want the light to bask the tip top of my life, I want my whole body to see and feel the warmth, the love. I want the light to penetrate my heart.
All morning, I’ve tried to keep my gaze off the hedges, but my eyes keep going to them. I am trying to get my courage up to cut them down. I keep hearing in my head all the reasons for not doing it. Finally, I know it is time. If I don’t do it now, I will have to live with a whole bunch of should haves. I grab the chain saw and head up the hill. I start intentionally cutting each stalk as close to the ground as I can. It is hard. At times, I think I am going to be sick, but maybe it is the heat. And then, it is done.
I step across the street to look at my trimmed property. I know that the glass is half full folks would say it looks clean now. To tell you the truth, it looks barren and vulnerable to me. My heart sinks a little. I know that’s how I will feel. I am also glad. I can take a photo of it with the 4th of July flag. The boy scouts will be along any time to collect it. It makes it not so barren.
Later in the evening, I run an errand. When I return to the house, I am amazed at how open and inviting my land looked, almost like a park. More than anything, it looks normal. I think this is what I intended to do all along; cut the front hedge so everyone could enjoy my property. My plan was to leave it in place until everything behind it was perfect. I am afraid that is what I am doing in my life. I am existing in a comfortable place until I was strong enough, bright enough to blossom into the world. My property has taught me to live in a ‘safe’, ‘comfortable’ world, you don’t have the resources to really grow, your roots can’t take hold to keep you steady and you become worthless as you stretch yourself so thin to reach the light. And only the top catches the light. To really grow, to really blossom, I need all parts of me to bask in the light.
Even more, I would have never seen the landscaping possibilities for my land if I hadn’t taken the hedge down first.
Now I have the courage to clear at the street to the property line. I don’t know how long it will take or what I will be facing to complete the task.
I don’t know exactly what that means, I just know it scares me. Deep inside, I want to be openly in the light. I don’t just want the light to bask the tip top of my life, I want my whole body to see and feel the warmth, the love. I want the light to penetrate my heart.
All morning, I’ve tried to keep my gaze off the hedges, but my eyes keep going to them. I am trying to get my courage up to cut them down. I keep hearing in my head all the reasons for not doing it. Finally, I know it is time. If I don’t do it now, I will have to live with a whole bunch of should haves. I grab the chain saw and head up the hill. I start intentionally cutting each stalk as close to the ground as I can. It is hard. At times, I think I am going to be sick, but maybe it is the heat. And then, it is done.
I step across the street to look at my trimmed property. I know that the glass is half full folks would say it looks clean now. To tell you the truth, it looks barren and vulnerable to me. My heart sinks a little. I know that’s how I will feel. I am also glad. I can take a photo of it with the 4th of July flag. The boy scouts will be along any time to collect it. It makes it not so barren.
Later in the evening, I run an errand. When I return to the house, I am amazed at how open and inviting my land looked, almost like a park. More than anything, it looks normal. I think this is what I intended to do all along; cut the front hedge so everyone could enjoy my property. My plan was to leave it in place until everything behind it was perfect. I am afraid that is what I am doing in my life. I am existing in a comfortable place until I was strong enough, bright enough to blossom into the world. My property has taught me to live in a ‘safe’, ‘comfortable’ world, you don’t have the resources to really grow, your roots can’t take hold to keep you steady and you become worthless as you stretch yourself so thin to reach the light. And only the top catches the light. To really grow, to really blossom, I need all parts of me to bask in the light.
Even more, I would have never seen the landscaping possibilities for my land if I hadn’t taken the hedge down first.
Now I have the courage to clear at the street to the property line. I don’t know how long it will take or what I will be facing to complete the task.
It is not just that the work is hard
It is not just that the work is hard, it is also frustrating. First there is the problem of getting the tools from the garage the 200 feet out to the street. Driving the tools and using the Astek as a work station is not an option. The parking at the street is the same place the cut brush is left for pickup. I have a great garden cart that I load up with chain saws, hedge cutters, water, gloves, insect repellant, sun block, camera and chair. By the time I get the cart down and up the driveway, I am usually out of breath.(This gets better everyday.) The driveway is steep in both directions and when it is wet (like it has been all spring) it slippery.
The work seems to have 4 parts, plan, cut down, cut up, and haul to the street. The hauling to the street is the hardest part, with the bending over to pick the limbs up and carry them up and down the landscape. Sometimes I can not face the hauling. I have decided that it is definitely a morning activity. I have noticed that I generally carry the brush like you would carry a massive arrangement of flowers. As I head toward the street, I often step into a fantasy of being named Queen of the Forest (it is my forest) and I am walking down the runway with my bouquet to the admiring forest animals. I wonder if guys carry bundles of limbs in a different way and invoke different fantasies.
I would be able to do this if I had not been doing strength training the last couple of years. The first time I would have gotten winded, I would have thought, that’s it, I have exerted myself, I am done for the day. Strength training has taught me that you exert yourself, get out of breath, recover and exert yourself again. I wouldn’t have gotten very far with this project without this information.
While hauling to the street is hard, the cut down and cut up phases are even more frustrating. I take frequent small breaks in my chair to recover. During these breaks I am planning my next move. From the chairs the hedge stalks look thinner and lower to the ground than they really are. It always looks like it will take only 2 swipes with the hedge hog to clear a 3 foot section, one at about waist level and one at ground level. When you get to the work area, at least half of the stalks are thick enough to require the chain saw. There is no broad sweeping of the clutter here. Each stalk has to be intentionally cut. I can’t see the tops of the stalks. They are intertwined with other trees and other stalks.
(time frame June)
The work seems to have 4 parts, plan, cut down, cut up, and haul to the street. The hauling to the street is the hardest part, with the bending over to pick the limbs up and carry them up and down the landscape. Sometimes I can not face the hauling. I have decided that it is definitely a morning activity. I have noticed that I generally carry the brush like you would carry a massive arrangement of flowers. As I head toward the street, I often step into a fantasy of being named Queen of the Forest (it is my forest) and I am walking down the runway with my bouquet to the admiring forest animals. I wonder if guys carry bundles of limbs in a different way and invoke different fantasies.
I would be able to do this if I had not been doing strength training the last couple of years. The first time I would have gotten winded, I would have thought, that’s it, I have exerted myself, I am done for the day. Strength training has taught me that you exert yourself, get out of breath, recover and exert yourself again. I wouldn’t have gotten very far with this project without this information.
While hauling to the street is hard, the cut down and cut up phases are even more frustrating. I take frequent small breaks in my chair to recover. During these breaks I am planning my next move. From the chairs the hedge stalks look thinner and lower to the ground than they really are. It always looks like it will take only 2 swipes with the hedge hog to clear a 3 foot section, one at about waist level and one at ground level. When you get to the work area, at least half of the stalks are thick enough to require the chain saw. There is no broad sweeping of the clutter here. Each stalk has to be intentionally cut. I can’t see the tops of the stalks. They are intertwined with other trees and other stalks.
(time frame June)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)