ECOjournal

Eng 380 Pictures 06.04.07

2007-06-04T11:25:00.001-07:00

Random Pictures From Over The Quarter

Mary Oliver 05.31.07

2007-06-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

The Sun
~Mary Oliver

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled seas,
and is gone-
and how it slides again

out of the blackness
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance
and have you ever felt for anything

such a wild love
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

as you stand there,
empty-handed
or have you too
turned from this world

or have you too
gone crazy
for power
for things?

This poem by Mary Oliver is by far my favorite that we have read the entire quarter.

The way she describes the rising and setting of the sun creates such a beautiful and vivid image. Words such as "floats" and "slides" describes the "relaxed and easy" movement of the sun every night and every morning.

In the fourth stanza, she plays with the colors of the sun rise comparing the sun to a red flower. This red flower is set against the blackness of every morning. This contrast of red and black again gave me such a vivid description of the sun rising.

In the sixth stanza Mary Oliver describes this love that she has for the sun. She asks if there is a word anywhere "billowing enough" to describe the pleasure you get from watching the sun. The use of the word billowing gives you the impression of a word not being able to contain the
amount of pleasure the sun seems to fill you with.

At the end of the poem, she almost poses a question to the reader, asking if you are able to sit there and enjoy the beauty and majesty of the sun without being able to hold it in your hand? She asks "have you too gone crazy for power, for things?"

Surfing 05.28.07

2007-06-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Laying on my surfboard, I paddle out against the current. I seem to glide across the water easily. The first wave rolls toward me, I duck under it. I can feel the ice cold water stream down the back of my wetsuit. I surface on the backside of the wave, the taste of salt water in my mouth.
I don't have time to catch my breath before the next wave is upon me. It's a constant battle to make it out past the break. Once out far enough I relax and gaze back at the shore. It's a different point of view looking from the ocean. I think maybe this is what it looks like from a sea otter's perspective.

As a new set comes in, I get ready to catch my first wave. I wait patiently for one I feel is right. I see it gently rolling in and I start to paddle towards the shore. As it catches up to me I paddle harder, putting all my energy into digging my arms into the water. I can feel the power of the wave start to pull me as I jump up onto my feet and ride out the wave.
The power of the ocean amazes me. One misstep on my board and I become part of the tumultuous crashing of the water; when up and down blend together and you are unable to determine which is which.

Pond 05.22.07

2007-06-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

The fish slip, slide and glide through the murky water of the pond.
It seems as though they do it effortlessly. They are weightless.
It's a constant game in this pond. Fish of all sizes chase each other in a never ending game of tag.
Dodging in and out of the slimey moss, tall reeds and floating debri.
Each rapid movement sends ripples across the surface of the water.

The bigger fish fall back into the mazelike structure of the reeds. Lurking, almost hiding as not to be caught up in the chaos.

Pirates Cove 5.21.07

2007-06-01T12:32:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite places in San Luis County are the isolated shores of Pirates Cove beach. Protected from the chill of the wind and the gaze of others, it is a great place to lay out and enjoy the beautiful weather the central coast offers. As I lay out on the soft sand I close my eyes and listen to the water gently lapping up onto the shore and the rocks nearby. Seagulls soar above and every so often they let out a soft "caw" as to keep others aware of their presence.

Down the beach, a few regulars have started a pick up game of volleyball. Sometimes you can catch the Naked Volleyball league out here on the beach.

The sun glared down from its perch in the heavens, its blaze not letting up for a second. The only relief from the persistent heat was an occasional breeze which offered a few moments of comfort.

Driving Through the Desert 05.15.07

2007-05-17T17:47:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, seven of my friends and I made the 432 mile drive to Las Vegas, Nevada to celebrate all of our 21st birthdays. As I watched the thermometer in my car flirt with three digit temperatures, I thought back to the readings in "Land of Little Rain." Before this weekend I had had little experience in the desert. The only images I had where those I had seen on T.V. on the Discovery channel.
The landscape laid out before me was much different than I had pictured. There was much more plant life than I had expected. Deserts to me were supposed to look like the vast sand dunes like those in the movie Aladin. I suppose Disney movies are not the best resource to base my impressions on.
As we drove on the two lane highway through the heat, I imagined what it must have looked like to those traveling across the country in their covered wagons; no highway, no telephone lines and no reststops. With just the tiny, ankle-high shrubs there was no excape from the blazing heat radiating down from the sky. (At that moment I was thankful for the air conditioning technology pumping refreshingly cool air into my car.)
My mind then wandered to the kinds of wildlife that resides in these conditions and how well adapted they must be to the extreme lack of moisture in their surroundings. (Again I am thankful for the last gas station we stopped at where I purchased a liter of cold, bottled Aquafina water.) Part of me desired to pull off to the side of the road just to get a better look at what surrounded me, but I felt others in my car may not appreciate the stop as much as I would.

Wendell Berry Quote II 05.14.07

2007-05-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

"I love the water of wells and springs and the taste of roofs in the water of the cisterns."
Water
~Wendell Berry

Everything tastes better when you know where it came from, especially if it came from something that you worked hard for. Cookies always taste better when made from scratch instead of the frozen dough you buy at the store.
Or the fresh vegetables you buy at Farmer's Market. Those are always better than what you can buy at Albertson's.

Wendell Berry Quote I 05.11.07

2007-05-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

"My sweetness is to wake in the night after days of dry heat, hearing the rain."
Water
~ Wendell Berry

I grew up in South San Jose up in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's not a farming community and it does not get especially hot or dry, but this quote still made me think about those nights when you wake up in the middle of the night to hear the rain pounding on the roof.
I love the constant rattling of the rain in the gutter and the sound of the raindrops hitting my window. Sometimes I would sneak downstairs into the screenroom in our backyard. The metal roof would intensify the sound and I would feel as if I was right in the middle of the storm (without getting wet.)

One of the best things about a rain storm is the fresh, crisp smell in the air after it rains. The air quality up in the Bay is not great, so breathing in the clean air is like being able to eat dessert before dinner.

Morro Bay 05.09.07

2007-05-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

In front of me I can see where the sky meets the ocean. The vast body of water stretches further than I can see. The sun dances on the water illuminating the peak of each wave that rolls in onto the shore. The sound of the waves lapping up onto the sand is calming enough to lull one to sleep. The waves rhythmically breaking into white water is a haven for the surfers who have paddled out into the chilling ocean. Looming out in the distance is the great Morro Rock, sticking out of the horizon as if begging for attention. It seems so out of place, but at the same time completes the skyline of Morro Bay.

Clouds 05.04.07

2007-05-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

I babysit for a family here in SLO. Since the weather has been so nice lately, we stayed outside most of the day. It's amazing how interested kids are about their surroundings. The little girl spent a lot of the time searching the bushes for the lizard that was sunning itself before scurrying away. Meanwhile, the little boy and I laid on the grass looking up at the clouds. After answering numerous questions about what clouds are made of and why we can't jump from cloud to cloud the little boy began telling me what shapes he saw up in the sky. A fire-breathing dragon, teddy bear and killer whale where just a few of the things this little kid's imagination picked out of the mess of white up in the sky.

It's not often you get a chance to take a break from the day-t0-day stresses, but today was one of them. As I laid there looking up the clouds looked especially white today as if someone had bleached them out. The clean white of the clouds intensified the blue sky that served as their background.

Rockslide Ridge 04.29.07

2007-05-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Situated right on the edge of the cliff, I looked down the rocky ridge. I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to witness the side of the massive rock slide down. The huge boulders at the bottom would have crushed anything that stood in its way. The noise of the rocks violently rolling down the hill must have echoed around the canyon.

The constant chirping of the crickets interrupted my thoughts. They seemed to be calling out to each other, warning of danger near by. The noise was deafening. The chirps were sharp and full of worry. As I walked toward the noise it stopped. They sat silent and still as if to hide, beginning again after I walk away.

Summer Memories 04.27.07

2007-05-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about California is the weather. I am not a fan of the cold. Some of my favorite childhood memories are those when my brother and I would stay outside until our parents would force us back into the house.
Today is like that. Even though we are shy of the summer seasons, April seems to be hinting at what is still to come.
On days like this my brother and I would race down the streets on our bikes trying to go faster than the other. Our street was not busy, but we knew not to go further than the white fence of the blue house. Screeching to a hault, obeying our limits, we would turn our bikes around and race back to the driveway. Sometimes we could convince my dad to bring out his baseball mit and we would throw the ball around until the sun dipped down and we could no longer see. The warm summer breeze and sweet fragrent flowers would almost make you forget that the day was close to its end.

Muir Quote 04.26.07

2007-04-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop like autumn leaves."
~John Muir
"Our National Parks"

This quote perfectly describes how I feel when I am able to steal away on a hike or hidden path. When the wind blows I can feel it tinglie throughout my entire body like the blood in my veins is bubbling with excitement. Getting caught up in the moment and movement around you makes your thoughts, cares and worries drift away in the breeze, or as beautifully put by Muir, "drop like autumn leaves."
And nothing comes close to the excitement I get from being outside in a thunderstorm. I have been fortunate enough to have spent some time in Italy when I was younger. I lived for a month in a little town just below the Italian Alps called Udine. Over the month I got to watch numerous thunderstorms creeping slowly over the looming mountains towards our house. With just wooden shutters covering the windows I had no screen to hinder the view from my second story bedroom.

Two Seeds 04.20.07

2007-04-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

"Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.
The first seed said: 'I want to grow!
I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and
thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me..
I want to unfurl my tenders buds like banners
to announce the arrival or spring...
I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and
the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!'

AND SO THE FIRST SEED GREW...

The second seed said: 'I am afraid.
If I sned my roots into the ground below,
I don't know what I will encounter in the dark.
If I push my way through the hard soil above me
I may damage my delicate sprouts...
What if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them?
And if I were to open my blossoms,
a small child may pull me from the ground.
No; It is much better for me to wait until it is safe."

AND SO THE SECOND SEED WAITED...

A yard hen happened by one day and
started scratching around in the early spring ground for food...
found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.
Moral of this story:
Those of us who refuse to risk and grow,
could get swallowed up in life."
~Original Source Unknown

I happened upon this quote in my weekly Ripples Newsletter. I receive the e-mail once a week and it contains inspiring quotes to get you through the week.
One thing that I find really interesting about nature writing is how you can connect its concepts and put them to use in your own life, such as the seeds in this story or in the fables of Aesop. This story has a great moral. So many people get caught up in a monotonous routine or stuck in a rut and do nothing to help themselves find a way out. They wind up letting life pass by because they were too scared of failing. I am more scared about missing out on opportunties than I am of failing.

I would recommend checking out the Ripples website and subscribing to the newsletter.
http://TheRipplesProject.org

Thoreau Quotes & Responses 04.17.07

2007-04-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

"-even these forms of penance are hardly more incredible and astonishing than the scenes which I daily witness. The twelve labors of Hercules were trifling in comparison with those my neighbors have undertaken; for they were only twelve, and had an end; but I could never see that these men slew or captured any monster or finished any labor. They have no friend Iolas to burn with a hot iron the root of the hydra's head, but as soon as one head is crushed, two spring up."
~ Henry David Thoreau
"Economy"
Walden

I really enjoy the reference to mythology and I feel that this reference is especially helpful in getting Thoreau's point across. In this passage he is comparing the trials of his neighbor to the twelve labors of Hercules. He says that even though his neighbors may be battling labors harder than those of Hercules, they have nothing to show for it. No monster to show off as their prize and nothing to show for their work. Their labors are never ending while Hercules was done after twelve.

"I trust that nothing can make life a burden to me. The gentle rain which waters my beans and keeps me in the house to-day is not drear and melancholy, but good for me too. Though it prevents my hoeing them, it is of far more worthy than my hoeing. If it should continue so long as to cause the seeds to rot in the ground and destroy the potatoes in the low lands, it would still be good for the grass on the uplands, and, being good for the grass, it would be good for me."
~Henry David Thoreau
"Solitude"
Walden

I really enjoyed this passage. Thoreau manages to see the brighter side of the rain, even though it keeps him locked up inside of his house he knows that in the long run it is going to help him out by helping his beans grow. Or if it rains too much and kills his beans, it is still good for his surrounding environment and for him that is still good. While most people would focus on their loss of food, Thoreau does not see it as a burden or doesn't allow himself to see it as a burden.

Running 04.11.07

2007-04-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

I LOVE to run... Not only is it great exercise, but it's time that I get to myself. Even if just for a half hour it's my time away from school, work and friends. There is nothing like the thrill of the wind against my face and the earth under my feet. Usually I run to the beat of the tunes jamming through my Ipod, but on this particular day I decided to ditch the Ipod and let the sounds around me be the soundtrack to my jog.
The sounds surrounding me were unusually loud. Each one amplified without my music drowning it out. A pair of charcoal black birds chirped excitedly above my head chasing each other like two little kids playing tag.
My feet hitting the ground seemed to echo through my body. The dirt gave into the pounding of my feet. Every so often a leaf would crunch or a twig would snap under my weight.
Out of the corner of my eye I caught a lizard laying out basking in the sunlight that poured down from the sky. I found myself a becoming slightly jealous that this little creature had nothing better to do than lay out and tan.
Because it was such a gorgeous day, I had to share the trail with other joggers. I noticed that most of them were sucked into the tunes flowing through the headphones of their own Ipods. I almost felt bad that they were missing out on nature's own music that was far more harmonious than anything they could have been listening to.

Purple Needle Grass 04.10.07

2007-04-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

The tall thin stalks bend under the force of the wind. Even the lightest touch pushes them towards the ground. In the constant battle of heat, rain, cold and gusts the plant holds its own. It's delicate nature in the wind is deceiving of the strenght of the roots which hold fast to the ground. I try to pull it out, but the roots refuse to give in. Stuck in a cat's game of tug-a-war, I give in before the plant does. The plant stands its ground, undisrupted.

Reflection 04.07.07

2007-04-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's incredible that with the billions of people sharing this planet you are still able to find a hideaway to enjoy in solitude. A place where to the left and right, in front and behind of you there is no one. Away from the hustle of city streets, the glow of neon lights and the obnoxious beeping of electronic devices, I heard nothing.
Perched on a rock I watched as the sun set, lighting up the sky with many hues of red and orange and yellow as if the heavens were just set on fire. And I had to share it with no one.
In this moment I was able to be completely selfish as if I was keeping the sunset a secret from the rest of the world. A private light show that was being put on just for myself.

Poly Canyon 04.05.07

2007-04-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

Sycamores
Gnarly and entwined, a result of unsure paths taken
as the branches reach out and retreat back,
only to grow in another direction.
As one would retreat to plan B when A does not succeed.
The enormous tree offers shade to the stream in exchange for the cool drink of water.
An example of mutualism as both the stream and tree benefit from each others presence.

The Canyon
The canyon streches out in a rolling sea of green just momentarily before the summer sun steals back the rain spring so graciously dealt.
The tiny snow white blooms seam to enjoy the moderate temperatures before the heavy heat lays them down.