Spring was in the air this morning. Motivating this morning was not hard to do at all with the blue skies and shinning sun. I guess that is why everybody and their dog was out for a walk or a jog. Dogs and people all over this morning--great times!
So nice in fact that one of the many dogs I met this morning decided to go for a little jog with me. He was lagging behind his owner a bit and when I caught up to him, he (the dog) ran with me for a little while until he realized that I wasn't his owner. Made me laugh.
Hope the weather holds and spring makes a permanent apperance.
Happy Running!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Fishbowl: Sort of....
What exactly do I mean? Well let me explain. This weekend while taking a snowy break at Diamond Peak ($40 for an all day college pass isn't bad when there is 2 feet of powder!) in the upper lodge (looks sort of like a fishbowl,) I over heard the conversation between two 10-12 year olds and one of their dads. Here's how it all went down:
Son: "Dad, what is Oregon's thing? You know like California has CA..."
Dad: "OR, that is Oregon's state abbreviation." Goes back to drinking his beer.
Son's Friend: "Is there a Portland, Oregon?"
Dad: "Yes, Port-land."
Son's Friend: "See I told you. P-o-i-r-t-l-u-n-d."
What did I learn?
A. To not laugh while the people are still in the room.
B. There are serious flaws in the youth's geographic education these days. Not to mention their spelling abilities.
I clearly remember being that same age and know the abbreviations for the states and their capitals. We learned this in the 5th grade and again from the lovely cartoon, Animaniacs:
Here is the video: (note the line and where Wakko places it? Delineation of the East and West?)
And for yet another interesting bit here are the countries of the world:
Who says you can't learn anything from television?
Warner Brothers I think has to be one of the most geographic cartoon networks. Consistently they have presented geography as an element in all of their productions from Bug Bunny to Tiny Toons. Music, culture (remember Bugs and Elmer cross dressing--culture), languages, religion? If I ever become a teacher you can be sure that I will be using this kind of material to make simple and complex points!
Son: "Dad, what is Oregon's thing? You know like California has CA..."
Dad: "OR, that is Oregon's state abbreviation." Goes back to drinking his beer.
Son's Friend: "Is there a Portland, Oregon?"
Dad: "Yes, Port-land."
Son's Friend: "See I told you. P-o-i-r-t-l-u-n-d."
What did I learn?
A. To not laugh while the people are still in the room.
B. There are serious flaws in the youth's geographic education these days. Not to mention their spelling abilities.
I clearly remember being that same age and know the abbreviations for the states and their capitals. We learned this in the 5th grade and again from the lovely cartoon, Animaniacs:
Here is the video: (note the line and where Wakko places it? Delineation of the East and West?)
And for yet another interesting bit here are the countries of the world:
Who says you can't learn anything from television?
Warner Brothers I think has to be one of the most geographic cartoon networks. Consistently they have presented geography as an element in all of their productions from Bug Bunny to Tiny Toons. Music, culture (remember Bugs and Elmer cross dressing--culture), languages, religion? If I ever become a teacher you can be sure that I will be using this kind of material to make simple and complex points!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
My Morning Run-Birds and Knots
This morning was a great day to get up out the of bed and lace up the running shoes. Crisp clean air that smelled like rain greeted me as I walked out the door. Off for a 30 minute run, I opted to head up stream this time. Passing early morning dog walkers and other joggers, I eased into the run, slow going as it was the first time in four days that I had done much of anything.
Knees quietly groaning as they warmed up, but by the time I reached the big tree in the trail they were fine. In part due to the awesome avian distraction: a Brown Creeper or a Northern Flicker, I am not too sure.
Northen Flicker
Part of my enjoyment of early morning running is that there a tons of birds out singing and dancing in the trees. If the foot falls are quite enough, you can catch a glimpse of the numerous and varied birds that live in the area. This bird is the first up close encounter that I have had. It was sitting about head high on a dead tree, motionless, but staring me down. We looked at each other for what felt like a minute but was only seconds before I realized I had to keep moving.
Brown Creeper
I have developed a habit of stopping dead in my tracks when I see birds, especially ones that I can't name. This time, it came back to bite me. That brief pause may be the reason I have a knot in my leg. Not bad, but big enough to be bothersome when trying to cross my legs.
Stretching is key! Happy running!
Knees quietly groaning as they warmed up, but by the time I reached the big tree in the trail they were fine. In part due to the awesome avian distraction: a Brown Creeper or a Northern Flicker, I am not too sure.
Northen FlickerPart of my enjoyment of early morning running is that there a tons of birds out singing and dancing in the trees. If the foot falls are quite enough, you can catch a glimpse of the numerous and varied birds that live in the area. This bird is the first up close encounter that I have had. It was sitting about head high on a dead tree, motionless, but staring me down. We looked at each other for what felt like a minute but was only seconds before I realized I had to keep moving.
Brown CreeperI have developed a habit of stopping dead in my tracks when I see birds, especially ones that I can't name. This time, it came back to bite me. That brief pause may be the reason I have a knot in my leg. Not bad, but big enough to be bothersome when trying to cross my legs.
Stretching is key! Happy running!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Life Viewed from Inside the Fish Bowl
Let me explain:
In my living room there is a large front window, what I like to call the fish bowl. It is one of those windows that puts its occupants on display for the neighborhood. It is the sort of window that has to be opened to let light in, but also big enough to be cost prohibitive, for a renter to "redress."
This being said it does provide the opportunity for fascinating observations to be made. With this in mind, this section of the blog is going to be devoted to what this fish sees outside her bowl.
Recent sighting:
Yesterday afternoon after arriving home from a brief but excellent bike ride to the grocery store, I came into the living room to turn on the radio when I spied this older woman (think of your G-ma) walking down the street pushing what looked like one of those walkers with a seat. Upon closer examination, all while trying not to look like I was staring out at her, I saw that the walker was in fact a dog stroller.
Hmmm, perhaps her dog is as old as she is. Maybe she just likes taking the dog for a walk. Oh the fun stuff you see when looking out from the inside.
In my living room there is a large front window, what I like to call the fish bowl. It is one of those windows that puts its occupants on display for the neighborhood. It is the sort of window that has to be opened to let light in, but also big enough to be cost prohibitive, for a renter to "redress."
This being said it does provide the opportunity for fascinating observations to be made. With this in mind, this section of the blog is going to be devoted to what this fish sees outside her bowl.
Recent sighting:
Yesterday afternoon after arriving home from a brief but excellent bike ride to the grocery store, I came into the living room to turn on the radio when I spied this older woman (think of your G-ma) walking down the street pushing what looked like one of those walkers with a seat. Upon closer examination, all while trying not to look like I was staring out at her, I saw that the walker was in fact a dog stroller.
Hmmm, perhaps her dog is as old as she is. Maybe she just likes taking the dog for a walk. Oh the fun stuff you see when looking out from the inside.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
My Morning Run: Week 4 = Pain
The saga continues....
Running this week and last has perhaps been one of the toughest, yet most enjoyable things I have done in a long time.
Last Friday started with a 70 min run down to the river and back. A good start for sure, but half way there, the knees began to groan and complain, the hips began to rebel, and my ears began to close in on themselves, due to the incessant talking of another slow runner (did I mention I am again back of the pack?) Then something amazing happened, I hit that endorphin high that puts you in to a perm-a-grin state and everything melts away. It is just you and the foot beats of your pace taking you back up the hill and to the stopping point. Yep 70 minutes of running down.
Wednesday on the other hand was a bit tougher. Only a 50 minute jaunt, but with a speed work out thrown in. Legs of lead is all I can say.
Keep running.
Running this week and last has perhaps been one of the toughest, yet most enjoyable things I have done in a long time.
Last Friday started with a 70 min run down to the river and back. A good start for sure, but half way there, the knees began to groan and complain, the hips began to rebel, and my ears began to close in on themselves, due to the incessant talking of another slow runner (did I mention I am again back of the pack?) Then something amazing happened, I hit that endorphin high that puts you in to a perm-a-grin state and everything melts away. It is just you and the foot beats of your pace taking you back up the hill and to the stopping point. Yep 70 minutes of running down.
Wednesday on the other hand was a bit tougher. Only a 50 minute jaunt, but with a speed work out thrown in. Legs of lead is all I can say.
Keep running.
Themes This Week
After mulling over the readings this week, two themes presented themselves: 1-Get out there and 2-Make geography accessible to everyone.
Specifically these readings are a variety of Peirce Lewis' works that range from regional studies to commentary on notable geographers. Lewis' work hits home for me and actually inspired me to approach the professor that I TA for and suggest that we use one of the Lewis articles as an introduction to geography for 100 level course students (Lewis, Peirce. 1985. Presidential Address: Beyond Description. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 75(4). 465-478.) It is a brief overview of the variety of professions and works that geographers do, but also a call to students to get out there, explore, read good writing (of which this blog may or may not be) and to then produce good descriptive writing about what they have experienced. Not hard to do right?
Right, now get out there and get to it. The general public, who is largely ignorant of geography, both its breadth and depth, wants to know more about the place that they live and wants to better understand what exactly it is that they are experiencing. As a geographer you, we, can do this.
I should really take my own advice and get back to writing this thing called a thesis.
Specifically these readings are a variety of Peirce Lewis' works that range from regional studies to commentary on notable geographers. Lewis' work hits home for me and actually inspired me to approach the professor that I TA for and suggest that we use one of the Lewis articles as an introduction to geography for 100 level course students (Lewis, Peirce. 1985. Presidential Address: Beyond Description. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 75(4). 465-478.) It is a brief overview of the variety of professions and works that geographers do, but also a call to students to get out there, explore, read good writing (of which this blog may or may not be) and to then produce good descriptive writing about what they have experienced. Not hard to do right?
Right, now get out there and get to it. The general public, who is largely ignorant of geography, both its breadth and depth, wants to know more about the place that they live and wants to better understand what exactly it is that they are experiencing. As a geographer you, we, can do this.
I should really take my own advice and get back to writing this thing called a thesis.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Geography is everything--or at least everywhere
This is a recent article that I was asked to read for class. It raises interesting questions about the environment and how humans are interacting and changing it. As I read this I noticed two things, Germany and India are doing some amazing things to make their respective places green and sustainable. Germany on the one hand it tackling consumer/consumption issues specifically energy/solar energy. They are combining the forces of science, market demand and controls, business, and regulation to create an arena that fosters alternative energies rather than stifles them. India on the other hand it taking a more Ghandian approach and returning to traditional methods of agriculture, water management, and information sharing.
The common thread of geography in this article is both a physical and cultural connection. Trying to change how humans interact with the environment takes the understanding of the various subfields in science along with the ability to understand how human culture works and then how it can change = Geography.
If you haven't read the article flip through it and see what you will find to inspire you.
The common thread of geography in this article is both a physical and cultural connection. Trying to change how humans interact with the environment takes the understanding of the various subfields in science along with the ability to understand how human culture works and then how it can change = Geography.
If you haven't read the article flip through it and see what you will find to inspire you.
Monday, February 4, 2008
My Morning Run: Marathon Class Begins
Friday morning began as most do for me: laying in bed listening to the fourth alarm going off and me contemplating if I should get up and go run. I finally decided to get up and throw on my smelly running close because this Friday morning was the first group run with the marathon class. 60 whole minutes of sucking wind and trail pounding. What fun!!! No really what fun.
What fun it was, because for the first time (or at least the last few years) I was not the slowest person in the pack. I found four other ladies who suck wind as bad as I do and move just as slow. 30 minutes in to the run as I made my way back down Evans Canyon, it was brought to my attention that there was a coyote running along side us on the opposite hill side. What could be better than a brisk morning run up a local trail and seeing one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth--not a whole lot.
It is moments like this that keep me lacing up my shoes every morning.
What fun it was, because for the first time (or at least the last few years) I was not the slowest person in the pack. I found four other ladies who suck wind as bad as I do and move just as slow. 30 minutes in to the run as I made my way back down Evans Canyon, it was brought to my attention that there was a coyote running along side us on the opposite hill side. What could be better than a brisk morning run up a local trail and seeing one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth--not a whole lot.
It is moments like this that keep me lacing up my shoes every morning.
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