dear friend...

I went on a hike this past Saturday to an open space that is not currently open as the "master plan" has not been created. So I went with 14 others on a guided hike. The guide was pleasant and informative. My fellow hikers on the other hand need to learn first that "bushwacking" means NO TRAIL. 2nd that it means lots of untamed weeds.

The pre-request was that NO SHORTS OR CAPRIS only LONG PANTS are acceptable. What does someone do but show up in capris. REALLY??? and then what does CAPRI PANTS do? They want to be first in line during the hike.

Remember the word bushwack??? what do you think this means?

Well, I'll tell ya, since there are no trails there are A LOT OF SPIKEY WEEDS!!! and CAPRI PANTS is dancing around and stomping down weeds so they don't hurt the legs. SERIOUSLY????

GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE!!!

but no, CAPRI PANTS insisted on staying up front. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
the audacity of some people just makes my teeth grind.

I was able to get by CAPRI PANTS and another fellow slow hiker as we were not keeping up with the guide and "show" them how you are supposed to bushwack, which is just walking through the weeds.

The guide's pace was not that fast and I was happy watching the others teeth grind while waiting for the rest after the guide and I hiked for a bit. Even the guide made a quiet side comment regarding CAPRI PANTS. I did get to speak with the guide more as the others had to deal with the slow pace.

And then enter the fellow SHORT TERM MEMORY hiker. OH GOD!
I kid you not the following conversation truly existed (insert more teeth grinding here):

"this is a juniper tree."... "what tree is that?"

"juniper"..."what tree is that?"

"juniper"..."what tree is that?" "juniper"

"Is that a juniper tree?"..."yes."


and then there was...


"this bush is called rabbit brush.".... "what bush is that?"

"rabbit brush."..."really? what bush is that?"

"rabbit brush."

"what bush is that?"..."rabbit brush."

"oh, boy, I tell ya, my memory just isn't what it used to be..."


OH BOY, NO KIDDING!!!! We all know that!


Anyhow, the hike was in Corral Bluffs Open Space, and that is corral not coral because the natural arroyos were used to corral 10 million Texas long horns over the years and this was the over night stopping area for the cattle. It has a 400 foot gain in elevation in just a matter of feet which is a lot, so it made natural areas to keep the cattle and not lose them and having a natural spring right there was also a plus.

This area is one of the best areas for petrified animals and plants. We of course were not allowed to pick up or take anything---and what does CAPRI PANTS do but PICK SOMETHING UP!!! REALLY???? DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO DO THAT???
Seriously, unless you have a license to pick things up you must LEAVE IT WHERE IT LAY. I kid you not.

It will be sad when others start coming and taking things they shouldn't but until that time it is a spectacular area!

As for existing next to my fellow hikers (insert teeth grinding) I don't think its a surprise to anyone that I felt they were unpleasant to be around and my own company is preferable. sigh. Does this mean I'm still a loser???

Can't say I didn't make an effort. Send me all the news.
Love always,
L

dear friend...

As mentioned before I've been taking an art class. Specifically, drawing. It was a good review as I also mentioned previously I had some really good art instructors while attending public school. This child was not left behind in that subject. Thank you Principals for hiring and keeping the right teachers.

And now to tell the tell...of my "favorite" student...

-said student would always show up 20 minutes late.

-said student would always be in their pajamas (pajama pants should be illegal in public--especially pink ones), and looking like they had just gotten up 10 minutes ago.

-said student refused to acquire any of the drawing items listed on the class supplies list, to include but not limited to: pencils, erasers, and even drawing paper!!! Say What???

Yep, I kid you not, even the drawing paper!!!

What did said student use you might ask? I premise this beforehand with "I kid you not!!!"

Said student recycled copy paper that had typing on the other side. Damn, I give said student one hell-uva lot of innovation on that one!

I would never have thought of that nor had the balls to do that.

Let me describe it: Said student took about 20 used pages and stapled them together and drew on the un-used side. and then probably found the pencil on the grounds of a school they were walking by....kidding, I'm the one that did the pencil thing.

-any way I had the fortune to be the one said student chose to sit by for EACH CLASS! SHIII-IT!!

I swear I tried to take up the whole table each class to discourage any contact with anyone!
Let alone SAID STUDENT!

-said student would slink in and curl up real small and sit and quietly draw with the already used paper. Causing sympathy and sadness wherever they went (in class----except for me). Turns out said student is not broke - just cheap (I knew it!).

Ok so this goes on for two classes and my teeth are on edge and grinding.

The third class is up and coming.

Said Student is obviously invincible and fearless. As the one thing I am told that I do inspire is FEAR, and lots of it! Yay me!!! (oops- I didn't mean that). I don't do it on purpose (ok maybe sometimes but not on a lot of times--I swears it!). Really, I'm just drawn that way.

All right back to the teeth grinding... I am all day thinking, thinking, thinking.
Cool aloof is not working with said student. This is the 3rd class. Just make it through I tell myself. Besides said student is one of the best artists in class. Their drawings just hop with life! I kid you not!

I know... I need to "kill it with kindness" so to speak. Yep, there's my answer.

But I'm old now, in the winter of my life, and don't even know if I remember how to be kind. Sheesh, this is more difficult than I thought. All that thinking and my head hurts now.

I really do admire how this person draws. Their drawings have life and look alive and I want my drawings to look alive too. Not like theirs, just alive. I'll concentrate on this one positive aspect and if there is an opportunity to do so I'll mention the one thing I admire most about said student to said student.

Ok enter stage right - 3rd class.

-said student is ironically on time and actually wearing street clothing and not the PJs as before and said student also looks like they've been up all day too. WOW! what a change.

-I get the opportunity to inform said student how I admire their drawing and how everything they draw looks alive!

Turns out this "opportunity" turned into what I label a "love fest" where everyone started telling everyone else what they admire in the other persons artwork. It became a little much over time (and caused more teeth grinding for me after awhile).

But the opportunity taken did turn things around and the 4th class went well. Said student is awake and dressed again for this class too. And talkative wherein I learned much more about said student than I ever wanted or needed. No more teeth grinding (at least not much anyway). Said student became so talkative after the positive 3rd class the instructor had to remind said student this class that talking interferes with the right side of the brain, which is what we were trying to access while drawing. ie: BE QUIET!

All in all a good class. Mostly review for me, which was a huge surprise.
Learned to be somewhat kind and not kill it.
My drawing are a little more alive and not so sterile.

Anyway, send me all the news.
Love Always,
L