Bear Went Over The Mountain

Day 7: As often as I have tried to photograph this carving of Bear, the Healer, I have never felt the results did him justice until now. He came to me from one of my heart's sisters, carved by her from hop hornbeam (a singularly hard wood) at a time when my spirit was in dire need of his energies. He worked his magic well, and therefore photographing him became a challenge. I wanted a representation which carried a sense of warmth and well-being, and of ancient power, and my captures were notoriously flat and uninspired. Today it occurred to me to place Bear in a tableau of craggy mountains where he could have a broad view of the world and those who struggle down below. Warmed in the light of sunrise, he rouses from his sleep and goes a-prowling, alert for those who need his healing energy.

Life, The Universe And Everything

Day 235: Happy International Towel Day to all you hoopy froods out there!

Probability...the odds were two to the power of 276,000 to one against that Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect would be picked up by Zaphod Beeblebrox in the Heart of Gold...somewhat greater than those the corner bookie would give you on a tree knocking over a utility pole, incidentally taking out my power, land line and internet concurrently with a failure of cell phone service in my area, but I think not too enormously greater. Factor in a traffic accident occurring at the same time, half a mile from the house going the opposite direction, and Arthur and Ford's odds start to look pretty good. Make it Memorial Day weekend (one of the busiest holidays) and put the emergency response vehicles on the wrong side of the fallen tree, and...well, Arthur and Ford were in the right place at the right time, and anybody on this one-mile stretch of road was not.

But as anyone who frequents the Restaurant at the End of the Universe knows, there will be more opportunities to screw it up again. Order was restored by 7 AM this morning and we're ready for the second round. Did somebody say "second round?" Make mine a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster, please...no, better make that a double. Don't Panic.

Distant Civilizations

Day 100: Forget mathematical formulae, recordings of whale voices and models of the hydrogen atom. Open the avenue for communication with a bar of chocolate! This scrumptious morsel (all 250 grams of it) came to me from the alien world of New Zealand in the hands of one of my Park colleagues. She brought back a selection and allowed members of the staff to take their pick. With a goodly supply of dark choccie in my larder, I went for macadamia over mint. You can bank on one thing: it'll be gone at warp speed!