Updates, etc.

It's all about conveying Geological (and other Science considerations) information for the sake of Education and Enjoyment.

As mentioned, almost all (99%+) of the videos belong to those that publish them on Youtube.  

As time permits, I include my own thoughts and photos.  In contrast to the videos, 99%+ of photos are mine or contributed by friends and family members.

Formative Itinerant Geologist Journeys - Part 1

"Just doing what 'old folks' do", i.e., re-examine our lives, what we did right, what we did wrong (I will turn 68 in a couple of days).  Decadal anniversaries and sometimes the passing of school friends can trigger these spells.  Last September was the 50th anniversary of my initiation into formal Geology education when I began my Senior year of high school (1971-1972).

During the latter part of my Junior year, I was given the choice of taking Physics or Geology during my Senior year.  From fellow classmates, I had heard that the Physics teacher was creepy, while the Geology teacher was merely eccentric (which is sort of normal).  Besides, after having been interested in being outdoors, panning gold, looking for rubies and sapphires near Franklin, NC, and reading all I could on volcanoes and dinosaurs - for years - I knew Geology had to be easier than Physics.

As luck would have it, I was unable to totally escape Physics once in college.  In order to earn my Bachelor of Science degree, I passed three Physics courses, despite struggling with Math components.  [BTW, I didn't struggle as much with Geophysics in grad school, as I understood the purpose of the Non-Seismic and Seismic "versions" of Geophysics.  And I had a good professor.]

Late this spring will mark the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation and the fall will mark the 50th anniversary of the beginning of my college experience and Physical Geology class.  (Where did the time go?)  

My undergrad years (1972 - 1976) included field trips to the five Georgia Geo-Provinces, Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Valley and Ridge, and Cumberland Plateau.  Also, there were field trips into South Carolina to visit the Carolina Slate Belt (at Lake Murray), into North Carolina to visit Pegmatites near Spruce Pine, and into Tennessee to visit the Ocoee Supergroup rocks along the Ocoee River Gorge.

Though the Georgia Southern Geology Department was small, that was an advantage, as only having four professors avoided ego-clashes that seem to happen with larger departments.  I chose Georgia Southern as it was "far enough away" (about 210 miles) from my parents for the sake of independence, but not too far away.  And once I started socializing with beer and "other things", it provided a safety margin, as my Dad was practical enough to not drive that far unless he knew I was there for the weekend.  Weekend Geology field trips also provided a measure of cover against surprise parental visits.

This was in contrast to the "girl next door", who went to the University of Georgia, only about 60 miles from home.  She made a habit of coming home virtually every weekend and some weekdays (while her parents were paying for a dorm room).  It finally became exasperating to her Dad, who told her that "she needed to stay some weekends in Athens for some of the college experience" and to develop that sense of independence.    

Another benefit was the "suggested subsidiary courses" to enhance the Geology experience.  For me, these included Technical Drafting (two courses), Black & White film photography (two courses), and Elementary Land Surveying (to help with our map-making skills).  

By the time I got a part-time job as a Land Survey Assistant (late-2014 to early-2015), all that I had learned was "old school", but those skills definitely helped me with my Geology fieldwork for classes and my Master's Thesis fieldwork.

Part 2 will follow in a day or two.

PHC Film: Soil is a living organism

Developing a working knowledge of Soil Science would be useful in gaining a better understanding of soil in the health of Ecosystems.  

From the minor "dabbling" in Soil Science terminologies and concepts, that I have done, Soil Scientists and Geologists should get together to clear up incongruities between our respective fields.  (I had noticed some of this while looking at local "soil maps" and trying to get a feel for how certain soil horizons/soil types correlated with particular Georgia Piedmont rock types.  Otherwise, we are not that "far apart", in my humble opinion.)

Years ago, when my son was in Boy Scouts, at a group campout, a Soil Scientist gave a lecture that was quite fascinating.  After a private conversation with him, I was under the impression that he might have a job opening, but I was mistaken.  He preferred to work alone and he rarely ever hired anyone for particular projects.  

It would have been an interesting "side experience" if at least a temporary job had arisen, sort of like the time I spent as a Land Survey Assistant in late-2014 and early-2015.  I like working outside and I like learning new things.  

Though I didn't quite fit in with the Surveyors, my supervisor liked me as - unlike the "young guys" - I showed up on time (7:00 AM) for work or more often early; When I had the choice, I only took 20 minutes for lunch instead of the allowed hour; and I didn't have to stop every 20 or 30 minutes for a smoke break as some of the others did.  (I had to bow out of that job after hurting my back at home.)  It was actually a job better suited for someone 25 - 30 rather than 60 - 61 (as I was at the time).  So it goes.

Other Things (Distractions) This Wild Year

A few musings, as the year draws to a close ...

Within the realm of personal responsibilities, most of my days of the last four years at home include "elder care", i.e., helping my wife take care of her 92-year-old Mom (with mild to moderate dementia).  (I do have a quarterly part-time job and I may have something else early next spring.)  

As we don't have the funds to put her in a quality nursing home, unless something drastic happens, such as a fall resulting in a broken hip, then we may have to make do with what we can (we are not "spring chickens" ourselves).

During the almost four years that we have been married, when my sister-in-law is between West Coast contract jobs, she can take care of their mom, while we get out for varying lengths of time.  During prior years, we made do with our Honda CR-V and motels, as we traveled.  Our last notable outing was June of 2019 when we went to Gettysburg National Battlefield Park (we are both history nerds).

The subject of the "Van Go! Project" (Figures 1 and 2) has been touched upon in other posts.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

A different endeavor ...

In January 2021, at my wife's suggestion out of concerns for my health, I began an outdoor walking program along local sidewalks and streets, for the sake of exercise.  My most recent dedicated walking program was in 2016 doing mall-walking around a one-mile-long "ring-shaped" mall near my hometown (about 30 miles from where I live now).  (That particular mall, Sugarloaf Mills, is popular for mall-walking.)

After beginning my 2016 program with four laps (4 miles), every other day I increased by a mile until I reached 12 miles per session.  (Good progress, but that "ate up" four hours of my day each time, so I switched to outdoor walking to get the benefits of walking up and down hills.)  If I went through my files, I might be able to find monthly records and a 2016 yearly total, but other current endeavors keep me occupied.  

I do recall that I did exceed the 100-mile cumulative mark with that indoor project.  This project, however, did come to an end when I met my 2nd wife on the last day of the year (during the day, at a local Dunkin' Donuts for coffee).  Thereafter, it seems that I was distracted during 2017 - 2020.

For 2021, while getting reacclimated to walking (with my doctor's approval), I only covered 13+ miles in January.  I decided to step-it-up to an ambitious 67 miles per month (equal to my age).

Progress:

January - 13.53 miles                                                            February - 74.96 miles                                                              March - 89.53 miles                                                                      April - 72.76 miles                                                                          May - 79.65 miles                                                                          June - 44.92 miles (foot problems helped by Podiatrist visit) July - 99.04 miles                                                                      August - 6.33 miles (Vacation prep and vacation)                  Sept. - 17.39 miles (Post-vacation chores and quarterly job)  October - 77.17 miles                                                          November - 124.48 miles                                                    December (thus far) - 73.78 miles, need 30.96 mi. (+/-) more

Cumulative distance - 773.04, with 2021 Goal of 804 miles.  Including the unfinished December walking, my monthly average is 64.42 miles.  December rain and quarterly job present some challenges, but it is certainly within reach.

My Reading Program ...

I usually read one book per month (I did 14 last year and 12 in 2019), but this year with van-preparation, traveling, and my walking program, I have only finished four books and have two more "in the hopper", though I don't know if I can finish both.

Common threads through these books are: 1.) They all have a "science connection" and 2.) Five of them were unfamiliar to me (I had heard of "A Sand County Almanac").

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

This next book I found in a local bookstore (they apparently do not have a website) after we returned from our 22-day adventure through the Northern Midwest and Great Plains.  (Talk about bad timing.)  (I also found the above two books at the "Corner Book Store" in Winder, GA, as well as "A Sand County Almanac".)

Figure 5.

This next book is a follow-up to "Buffalo for the Broken Heart".  The experiences described in Buffalo for the Broken Heart were the precursors for Wild Idea Buffalo Company.

 

Figure 6.

In reference to the "bad timing remark", from the Wild Idea Buffalo Company website, it looks like their Rapid City, SD office is about 1,000 feet from the Rapid City KOA campground!  

If I had found "Buffalo for the Broken Heart" and then ordered "Wild Idea" from Liberty Books in Lawrenceville, GA two months earlier, we would have dragged our campstove along and purchased a couple of fresh Buffalo steaks and cooked them right there.  (The campsite might have had a grill, I don't remember.  The campstove was one of the things we forgot in the final rush to leave on August 10th.)

I have had Buffalo burgers a couple of times at Ted's Montana Grill, but I am sure they were nothing like a fresh steak.

After reading these two Dan O'Brien books, I have to say that he is my second favorite contemporary American Non-fiction writer, after William Least Heat-Moon.  (They both do fiction, as well.)

"A Sand County Almanac" and "The Floor of Heaven" are the two in-progress books I need to finish in the fading days of the month (and year), along with the quarterly job and walking.

Figure 7.

I found "The Floor of Heaven" in a Goodwill store in greater Dacula, Georgia.

 

Figure 8.

Without addressing any undone tasks for 2021 ... (Perhaps another time.)

The Butterfly/Hummingbird Project ...

For the last two or three summers, my wife and I have talked about putting out some Butterfly/Hummingbird-friendly plants in both our front yard and our backyard.  We finally got something done about it this year.  (Details in another post.)

Touching On My Interests

It's seems that some of 2020 carried over into this new year.  After about 5 1/2 years of operation, Sunday morning greeted me with the failure of my laptop.  (Of course this happens on a weekend.)  Until I discover whether the laptop is fixable for a reasonable price, I will use my equally-old (or older?) desktop computer.  (Got it fixed.)

I will try to vary posts between Gold panning, Diamond hunting, and other subjects as I find them or the subject "strikes my fancy".

For Those Dropping By ...

Being somewhat "trapped indoors" this year by the pandemic - aside from normal routine responsibilities - I have had an inordinate amount of time to think about my geologic past and what I might want to do if future opportunities present themselves.  Perhaps an informal Bucket List (or Geo-Bucket List), if you will.  (I have blogged about this more-than-once.)

One of my major goals is to revisit The Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Arkansas one more time (hopefully during cool weather).  I found a 37-point (.37 carat) "white" (clear) diamond on my first visit in 1973 (but lost it during 2011 home renovations).  Subsequent visits were made in 1978, 1984, and 2015 with no such luck.  While there in spring 1978, a couple from Dallas, Texas screening gravel near us found a brown 4-carat diamond and I got to hold it.

For those unfamiliar with the place, it is the ONLY operating diamond mine open to the public worldwide.  (Think about that.)  After you pay your $10 entrance fee, you can keep anything you find.  Anything.  That being said, there are no guarantees about finding anything, but if you do some advance preparation, it might increase your chances.

Here is a partial list of short videos and my blatherings about Diamonds and how to find them, with additional videos being posted (usually one per day, except for October 14, 2020, when I posted a flurry of 11 videos) as I found them on YouTube.

Other repeat and random posts are on the subjects of Gold (as several ancestors were involved in the 19th century Georgia and California Gold Rushes), travels on U.S. Hwy 66 (aka Route 66), the Chihuahuan Desert (where I lived while in El Paso from 1977 - 1991), and the U.S. travel writer William Least Heat-Moon.  So my primary goals are to entertain and inform.

For Anyone Dropping in - Part 1

A revisitation of my plans and methods.  (Partially to stay motivated in this difficult year.)

One of the things I am currently doing is retiring my other Geology blog, which I began three years ago.  It was to be primarily dedicated to travel-related Geology (mainly based upon my past experiences and future travel hopes within the continental U.S.).  [I plan to move most, if not all, of the posts to this blog.]  

As I hope to someday traverse much of U.S. 66 in a systematic way - while looking at the local geology - there will be a plethora of U.S. 66 videos. [Over the years, I have traveled sporadically on parts of "old" U.S. 66 from California to Tulsa, Oklahoma on vacations and various road trips, without giving the highway the respect it deserved.]  Ditto with SW Colorado videos, as that is the corner of that state I am most familiar with.

I am trying to inspire people to keep a road log or travel diary, even as periodic blog posts.  I greatly regret not keeping notes on my 1974 Road Trip, which helped inspire me to move to El Paso two and a half years later, for grad school.

I boldly planned to post daily on both blogs, with the intention of becoming consistent enough to "monetize" one or both.  What I didn't recognize was that posting daily on even one of the blogs, with any sort of accompanying text, links, and references was "a lot of time and work".  

For several reasons, my employment situation has declined in the last three years to a status of "unwilling" semi-retirement.  Especially with the 2020 Pandemic screwing my two remaining employments (one worse than the other, but the "other" job has been scaled-back and seems facing uncertainty in the next few months).  

These things being the case, it would seem that I would have more time for blogging, addressing my writing projects, and other plans (perhaps a few of those "Bucket List" items, as well).  

I have managed to "check off" a few minor Bucket List items in the last couple of years, e.g., seeing and photographing "the Georgia Guidestones" 2 and 1/2 years ago and eating at a Newnan, Georgia branch of Duff's Famous Wings early this year (which soon after closed permanently due to the Pandemic).  Both of my adult children had eaten at the Buffalo, NY (reputed "original") location during church-related mission trips to Buffalo a few years ago and as I didn't foresee being in Buffalo anytime soon, thankfully I made the Georgia location before its regrettable closing.

Having "more time" would seem to be favorable to getting more outdoor projects done, but as life has its "twists and turns", in the household that includes me, my second wife, my 90-year-old mother-in-law, my wife's twin sister (who is still employed and lives in a furnished basement apartment), and four spoiled dogs, we have our own changing responsibilities and un-planned occurrences.  

A year ago, my second wife was injured in a car accident (not her fault, she was rear-ended - for the eighth time in the last 40 years along with a time she broadsided a car that ran a stop sign).  With this most recent accident, there appears to be a legal settlement coming that covers the medical expenses and a little more, but that doesn't fix the cumulative effect of this and the other accidents.  Those cumulative effects sometimes don't crop up until years later.  

The accident's aftermath, e.g., her recuperation from the neck and back injuries and a knee-replacement (maybe indirectly-related to the wreck, but couldn't be proven) interrupted the "writing mojo" for my slowly-progressing three nonfiction writing projects.  I just find trouble in "getting the proper mood" to isolate myself and write, even though I now have an office/study in a repurposed spare bedroom.     

As yard work projects are awaiting (before tomorrow's expected rain), I plan to write "Part 2" tomorrow.

One Would Think ...

... That self-quarantine during the Coronavirus outbreak would be a good time to blog and a good time for others to read blogs, to fight the "Coronavirus cabin fever".  True, but from my end, I am still getting used to the things that I "can't currently do".

[I am thankful for our household and that of close family members - thus far - being bypassed by the Coronavirus.]

Among those things I can't or shouldn't do include visiting my adult kids and grandkids, going to my adult Sunday School, having Mexican food (in a restaurant) at least once a week, regularly visiting beer stores in search of new Georgia craft beer cans, visiting new local breweries, sharing a craft beer (or two) with a nearby friend, visiting used book stores, substitute teaching, ...  I am still "wrapping my head around all of this", that it may be going on for weeks.  I am worried about the survival of some restaurants and newly-opened breweries, as well.

Theoretically, I could still go out and do "rockhounding" and nature photography, as that usually doesn't include personal contacts with other people and I may do that in a few weeks.  For the short-term, I need to remain at home while my wife recuperates from total knee-replacement surgery last week.

Add to that is the normal Spring allergy season and above-average late-Winter rainfall and the fatigue and disillusion that those events bring.  Any prayers and kind thoughts are appreciated.  

Changes Coming ...

After neglecting this blog for several years, as well as my other blog, the travel-related Itinerant Geologist, late last year I embarked upon a binge of postings, partially to force myself to keep busy.  

Due to some home- and family-related issues and responsibilities, those attempted daily posts were my attempt to stay in touch with Geology and related sciences, that have been part of my life for 50+ years.  I also have some personal narratives as writing projects about cross-roads events in my life.  And sporadic gardening, carpentry, and photography projects, when weather, time, circumstances, and inspirations allow. 

When I post videos - from other people - I intend to include some of my own comments and images, where pertinent.  But those additional comments (on both blogs) take time, energy, inspiration, and concentration to articulate, compose, and edit.  In other words, those "isolated" or "orphaned" videos are intended to have something else added.  As time permits, I hope to add comments and summaries, after-the-fact.

There are a few more of these orphaned videos "in the hopper" for the next few days, as my wife is undergoing knee-replacement surgery tomorrow and will be recuperating after that at home.  Thus she will need at-home assistance for a few days, at least.  Other than checking email, I may not have the time or the attention span to blog.

So please bear with me.  Additionally, I am considering merging the younger Itinerant Geologist blog posts into this one, as I am not sure of the efficacy of trying to maintain its separate-but-related goals as a geo-travel blog (as present circumstances don't allow much travel).  There is intended to be more text and notes presented along with the travel videos (as suggested above).

Route 66 Road Trip Stops in Oklahoma

Just a reminder that on my other blog, there are several "Through My Lens" YouTube videos on the historic U.S. Hwy 66.  (I will list them later.)

This particular one is close to my heart as my first wife, Marla, was from NW Oklahoma and over the years, we made several trips to and through the state, as well as other trips along I-40 between Georgia and Arizona (as it is usually cooler in the summer than I-10).  On my first 2015 Arizona trip, I left some of her ashes at the edge of an old family farm in Ellis County.

Well, Well, Well...

So much for New Year's Resolutions in regards to "blogging every day".  I haven't been idle.  During the school year, I substitute-teach in local elementary, middle, and high schools.  Quite the adventure, for the sake of "doing something" and earning a small paycheck.  Sometimes it is enjoyable and sometimes it's maddening.  (I have another part-time job, as well, though it is on a quarterly basis.)  And when time, spirit, and circumstances permit I have been involved in several writing projects (to be recounted below).  And writing projects, also recounted, below).

In its own way, 2019 is proving itself to be a momentous year, giving me much pause to reflect.  Some of the numerous considerations:

1) Turning 65 and outliving my Dad.  Almost three years ago, I posted on my Dad's 100th birthday and how he influenced my life, in so many ways.

2) Realizing that anniversaries just keep zipping by, especially decadal (and half-decadal) anniversaries, as we age).  Two important "crossroads events" happened in 1974 and 1977, both of which involved travel and new experiences, when I was 20 and 23.  And as each event approached its respective 40th anniversary, I felt the desire to write about it and at least produce a spiral-bound narrative, if only for my adult kids or nieces and nephews (if they someday care).  

[I am now in the 40th anniversary year of another "crossroads event" (more accurately a "crossroads year" (1979)), which is a mixture of good and bad.  That being the case, though it would be shorter, it is much more complex and must wait for one or the other of the 1974 and 1977 projects to reach some sort of fruition.]

While I am still working on writing projects I began in their respective 40th anniversary years, the rapidly-passing subsequent years have necessitated updating and somewhat changing the original goals.  My "1974 Project" and my "1977 Project" were both begun with the realization that those "crossroads" years were 40 years ago, in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

In that first 40th anniversary year (2014), to induce myself into a "writing mood", I reread the excellent "Blue Highways", by William Least Heat-Moon.  [Proclaimed by many to be the best American autobiographical travelogue, especially noteworthy as Heat-Moon was an unknown author - at the time.  As William Least Heat-Moon (the Osage penname for William Trogdon) was unknown as an author, editing and finding a publisher was a Herculean task, as recounted in the book "Writing Blue Highways"]

[To briefly recount the events leading to Heat-Moon's 1978 journey, having lost his teaching job as a college English teacher and being separated from his wife, in his "low point", he disposed of many of his possessions and outfitted his Ford Econoline van with a bed, a portable toilet, and other travel supplies, he set out to "find himself" on America's back roads on a solo 13,000 mile journey.]

After rereading "Blue Highways" in 2014, I did start an Introduction, roughed-out a Table of Contents, and started several chapters for the "1974 Project", but then "life events" intervened later in the year and into the following year, culminating in my first wife's (Marla) passing away on May 1, 2015, due to a stroke and other health problems.  In the wake of that event and following several job losses (one of which was an adjunct teaching position, after 12 and 1/2 years of part-time teaching, thinking I was "paying my dues" towards a full-time position that never happened).

So, by that point, I understood the melancholy that probably followed William Least Heat-Moon on his 1978 journey.

By the time the 40th anniversary of my 1977 moving from my Georgia hometown to El Paso for Geology grad school rolled about in 2017, I had met my second wife Mary Alice (and was thus occupied).    

When time, circumstances, health, and mood permit, the first goal is completion (for each) and at least getting it spiral bound for posterity, in case any descendants care about some of the events and how they influenced my life.  If I am satisfied with the final results, I might go the "e-book route", for one or both.

The 1974 narrative largely centers on a Western U.S. road trip with my college roommate, wherein we covered approximately 8,800 miles in about 4 weeks.  It was preceded by a 1973 family vacation to visit relatives and numerous Western U.S. National Parks and other points of interest.  [Note: college-age young men don't do "vacations", they do "road trips".]  During the 1973 family vacation (my first crossing of the Mississippi River), my sister (almost 17) and I (19) each got in some driving practice in the wide-open spaces.  

There was an "event" during the 1973 family vacation that largely inspired the 1974 road trip, but perhaps I will save that for a later blogpost or maybe the hoped-for "e-book".

Unknown to me at the time, the 1973 vacation was the last family vacation including Dad, Mom, my sister, and me.  After that, it was just a matter of my sister and me having both "left the nest" for college, 1972 for me and 1974 for her.  Without the influence of my parents during the 1974 road trip, it was a mixture of more new experiences and some youthful caution.

Other than passing through Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming, visiting Yellowstone National Park, crossing through a sliver of Montana, Idaho, and the SE corner of Oregon, most of the 1974 road trip revisited the National Parks my family visited in 1973, with some minor variations.  As it was latest-July through mid-August, my college-roommate Dave and I were somewhat constrained by time, needing to be back in Statesboro, GA in time to get settled and registered for our Junior year of college at Georgia Southern in early September.

In order to maintain a frugal budget, we generally camped at KOA Campgrounds and lived off of sandwiches, pizzas, fast food, and beer.  [We were both 20 and 1/2 years old and we not of "legal age" in all of the states we visited.] 

3) My first grandchild (a grandson) turning 10.  One of the ways I am blessed.  Two feisty grandsons (10 and 6).  I wish my Dad had gotten to meet his four grandkids (two boys and two girls), now all adults.  I think he would have been a good grandpa.  Hope my health holds out so maybe I can demonstrate gold panning and other neat things about being outdoors.

4) Other aspects of getting older.  As you proceed through your 40's and 50's (and beyond), you expect the passing of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, but when it starts including folks "your age" (classmates, friends, spouses,...) and younger, it becomes distressing and thought-provoking.  Aside from that, your own approaching mortality leads to thinking about "Bucket List" items (which is another subject).

[Editorial note:  After being relatively inactive for a few years, I am unfamiliar with any current Blogger quirks, such as random changes in font size.  I will endeavor to figure these out.]