Tom,
Forgot about Rose-Hulman. My daughters aren't engineer or scientist material. They're smart, but they don't like math or science. Can't imagine why, all they've ever heard from me is physiology or computers. Guess they saw the hours I worked and, being smart, decided that career path wasn't for them.

I liked most of my time in Texas, loved some of it. Texans have a freedom of thought that's admirable. I don't always agree with them, but I'll defend their right to their lunacy to the death. And laugh all the way with them. I guess if you have to tolerate the draought and now the snow, all you can do is laugh. We expect miserable winters here, as you know and Walleye Wally can attest (they got buried again, I hear). But North Texas never knows what's going to hit next. Guess it prevents boredom, but I neveer met a Texan who was bored or boring.

The check your guns concept derives (as you know) from the cattle drive days when the loser bought the beer. I never saw anybody packing or even being threatening, so I found the required placards most amusing.

My partners described miserable weather on their September trip as well. I'mm hoping they'll opt for the bugs in July/August rather than wind and unsettled weather of early September for next year's trip. I'll get to go this year, so I have a say in the matter - I vote for stable summer.

I also am readjusting my mind set. I was always the one pushing to go deeper, to see things I hadn't seen before. When I spent that weeekend on the Churchill, I finally realized that the Canadian Shield was the shield throughout the range, only thing missing up north was deciduous tress and I can see them here. My arm strength isn't what it used to be, and I just don't want to work that hard any more. I'll settle for a basecamp that relatively easy - but I don't want to park on the same campsite or lake just cause there aren't any portages. I can do that in my backyard. I'm not that old, yet, and it seems silly to drive (only) 16 hours to sit on my ample and attached back porch. Besides, it's even one portage is motivation to get some exercise so I can stay alive.

Selective retrieval is a database and operating system term meaning you only recall what you want. I am old enough to make that decision, and I cherish the right to do so as long as I'm not hurting anybody.

Don't get me started on politics.

Posted by Skip Guyer on January 04, 2001 at 19:43