seeking higher ground

seeking higher ground
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Sometimes the only way out of the fog is to ride above it.

one in kind

one in kind
Originally uploaded by rfin.

But thou and I are one in kind,
As moulded like in Nature's mint;
And hill and wood and field did print
The same sweet forms in either mind.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

the shadow of your bike

Originally uploaded by rfin.

the shadow of your Schwinn
from the Jeep's rack
will brighten all your work
until you ride

turner's verdant playground

Turner Macgregor works all winter at keeping our backyard green and at this time of year starts to enjoy the reward. We're often an opinionated group, but no one is more candid than Turner. He either likes you or he doesn't, and like most older beings, he's more mellow in some ways and more strident in others as the years bring more silver to his coat.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

dry creek ride and a swim

"You up for a ride or a swim today?"
"I'd like to do both."

So first we headed up Dry Creek Canyon. There's still some mud and just a hint of spring, but it's my first time up there in 2005, and it felt great to hit the trail again. Then back to the Natatorium for a quick swim. With the Hunstman World Senior Games in October, I've got just a little more than half a year to get ready.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

Originally uploaded by rfin.

good morning Brian, Kelly, Ken

Olympus Cove from I-215
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Thanks for checking in here and encouraging my efforts at blogging. Last week's conferences really helped charge my batteries. It's great to see so many educators striving to improve student learning (and themselves) through effective integration of technology in classrooms and libraries. Between UCET and UELMA I just couldn't ask for any two better groups of professionals who are determined to make the world a better place.

less isn't always more

foothill_puddle Originally uploaded by rfin.

"Dad, you should write more in your blog," advised my son.

My excuse, "Well I write in my journal. That's where the quantity is. When it comes to blogging I try to keep it short."

"But your stuff's too short. Why don't you try for at least 150 words?"

I didn't agree to anything, but I did listen. I do appreciate his point of view, and funny thing, here I am writing more, but only about half of the quantity he'd like to see, at least to this point. But what else can I say?

Ok, I'll tell you this. Short entries are not always reflective of how much time you have. I thought quite a bit about the "run, ride, swim" entry, and I will tell you what I told my son about the process I went through. "I was trying to create an original quotation, but I borrowed the form, first from Confucius and then Ben Franklin. The Confucius quote is, 'I hear, I forget. I see, I remember. I do, and I understand.' Franklin's variation is just as elegant, 'Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.' Then I thought about triathlon competitors and came up with my March 3rd entry."

I can hear the old censor, the editor, the critic in me saying, "You're no Confucious, you're no Franklin." True enough, but hey I know some of my opponent's game. It's to tie me up in second, third and fourth thoughts, hoping I'll give up and not write at all. "Not this time, my old companion, not today."

So that's the backstory, Joe. It certainly creates more text. More story. I'm not sure if it's really more interesting. My old broadcast training still says, "Cut to the action, make it lean, eliminate the clutter." But sometimes, I suppose, writing should be more like an easy conversation, not just headlines. Thanks for challenging me to stretch. (336 words, yahoo!)