Presents

“ Then there is the other kind of Christmas with present piled high, the gifts of guilty parents as bribes because they have nothing else to give. The wrappings are ripped off and the presents thrown down and at the end the child says—”Is that all?” Well, it seems to me that America now is like that second kind of Christmas. Having too many THINGS they spend their hours and money on the couch searching for a soul. A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much and would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy and sick. ”
- John Steinbeck 1959, Letters of Note

1959 hey? Hasn't improved at all. Anyhow, i'm feeling guilt for having neglected the blog of late, too many things i just don't want to say. Anyhow, part of my distraction lately has been adventure riding, a guy, a bike, and a thousand square miles of playground. It's where i want to get to ... that's my goal now.

No chance of it happening soon, except in my own head, but i'm fortunate to have people like Sibirsky Extreme Riders for insiraton.

ADVrider.com

ADVrider.com

ADVrider.com

peace and love

By Toutatis!!!

While Asteroid 4179 Toutatis was never a threat to hit Earth during its quite-distant pass on Dec. 11-12, astronomers were keeping their instruments and eyes on this space rock to learn more about it, as well as learning more about the early solar system. Even at closest approach, 4179 Toutatis was 7 million km away or 18 times farther than the Moon. But that is close enough for radar imaging by NASA's Goldstone Observatory, which has recently upgraded to a new digital imaging system, as well as optical imaging by other astronomers. Already, there are some preliminary findings from this 4.5-kilometer- long (3-mile-long) asteroid's flyby.

 http://phys.org/news/2012-12-asteroid-toutatis-earth.html

Flying

An entirely irrational narrative of ridiculous joy

Date: December 10, 2012

Author: Sarah

Over the moon

Date: December 11, 2012

Author: Sarah

Around and around

I watched dawn the other morning, first time in a long while and it was well worth it. Just that miracle of light returning, birds waking, nature flowing forth like a stream downhill.

This is the evening of the year already, that quiet time before sunset. I like to sit out in the garden at this time of the day, feet or hands draped in the pool, feeling the coolness and quiet of the water as opposed to the heat and buzz of the air. 

From the Toyrun wrap up meeting to Nollie Faith to more teddy bear deliveries ... nothing is as satisfying as this. Success and reward, Toyrun has been widely praised as the most organised ever, and giving the toys out to kids is the most rewarding feeling imaginable.

Thoughts drift to next year, improve increase streamline ... but the now is still fresh and invigorating and satisfying. This moment of clarity amongst the chaos of the year is startling, unexpected, and i know won't last long, but you have to appreciate the highs as much as the lows.

I'm feeling the end of an era ... not sure how, but a circle has turned, and we're in for another multiyear cycle of ... something. Who knows? Let's hope that it's better than the last?

peace and love and faith and hope and charity

Truth goodness and beauty, beauty will save us all.