This tree was there on the hillside.
[daily log: walking, 3km; retailing, 6hr]
Month: March 2021
Caveat: Poem #1689 “The smooth and the striated”
ㅁ On the path I meet: day-old snow and piles of slush, the end of the world.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #788
This tree was by the water, amid the snow.
I am increasingly convinced that my “covid vaccine hangover” has overlapped with the onset of some other issue. I’m past the fever and chills problem but I still experience periodic bouts of nausea and upset stomach. I wonder if maybe I’ve just reverted to old gut-related stress-reactions (gastroenteritis) such as I suffered so much in my 20’s and 30’s. I’ve been feeling overwhelmingly stressed with Arthur lately, too. At this point, no single utterance of mine is understood on the first attempt. Yet he basically seems to take the stance that “problem belong you” (in his adaptation of PNG pidgin – meaning his not understanding me is my problem, not his), and mostly finds it amusing when he misconstrues what I’m trying to say and decides that that thing that he’s understood is more meaningful or important than what I was actually trying to say. It’s like instead of having a conversation with him, I’m just providing some loosely-structured, improvisational prompts for a neverending conversation he’s having with himself.
[daily log: walking, 1km]
Caveat: Poem #1688 “The apparatus of capture”
ㅁ On the path I meet: a jaunty doppelganger, and my own shadow.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #787
This tree (maybe technically a bush) is covered in fluffy snow.
[daily log: walking, 1.5km]
Caveat: Poem #1687 “On several regimes of signs”
ㅁ On the path I meet: some random, ego-bound souls, and a bit of wood.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #786
This tree witnessed the trackless fresh snow.
I was a layabout, all day. But I’m feeling somewhat more back-to-normal.
[daily log: walking, 1km]
Caveat: Poem #1686 “The war machine”
ㅁ On the path I meet: small birds, narcissistic slugs, and militant ferns.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #785
This tree is a guest tree from my past. I saw this tree in September, 2013, at a temple called 흥국사 (Heungguksa) in eastern Goyang City (which was my home in Korea). The mountain in the background is Bukhansan, which separates Goyang and other northwest suburbs from Seoul proper – it’s the same mountain which, seen from the other side, is found in many iconic photos of the city.
I decided to include this tree because I took that trip to that temple while I was undergoing radiation therapy (x-ray tomography) for my cancer treatment at that time. And frankly, I felt so bad today that I said to Arthur: “I haven’t felt this awful since I was getting radiation therapy.”
I suspect it’s what you might call the Covid vaccine “hangover.” Arthur didn’t have any such symptoms, but then, despite his various health problems, I suspect he has a very healthy immune system. I don’t think mine is so strong – the cancer is (was) proof of that. Anyway, there are others who have had such a strong reaction to the Moderna vaccine’s second dose. I experience fever, chills, nausea, and even some delirium today. I didn’t do anything except lie in bed and drink water.
[daily log: walking, no]
Caveat: Poem #1685 “That’s your job”
ㅁ I dreamed of falling amid dull catastrophe broken picture frames
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #784
This tree didn’t know that it would snow. Again.
[daily log: walking, 2.5km]
Caveat: Double-shot
I got my second Covid vaccine shot this morning. I am experiencing some flu-like symptoms but I think I’ll be fine.
Caveat: Poem #1684 “Takeoff”
ㅁ The morning was chilled. A raven stood in the road. It jumped and then flew.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #783
This tree was challenged by an uncommon meteorological phenomenon.
[daily log: walking, 3.5km; retailing, 6hr]
Caveat: Poem #1683 “Hunger”
ㅁ The bird hopped along through the tree's outstretched branches, too busy to sing.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #782
This tree awaited the coming sun.
[daily log: walking, 3km; retailing, 6hr]
Caveat: Poem #1682 “Schadenfreude”
ㅁ The dull sky stole it: it took my schadenfreude, and melted it down.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #781
This tree tried to prevent the sun’s appearance over the ridge to the south.
[daily log: walking, 2km]
Caveat: Poem #1681 “Unspeaking forest”
ㅁ The tree thrust its branches out, awaiting fate and feeling late, feeling doubt, unwilling to give a shout.
– an englyn penfyr.
Caveat: Tree #780
This tree was up early.
[daily log: walking, 4.5km]
Caveat: Poem #1680 “The tide”
ㅁ Down by the water I watched the tide eat some stones while a raven laughed.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #779
This tree oversaw construction efforts.
[daily log: walking, 3.5km]
Caveat: Storage Tent Revival
Feeling fed up with my server reconstruction efforts, I decided to work outside all day today. I have made good progress on my storage tent reconstruction. Arthur helped me for one step – pulling the roof tarp over the frame. Other than that, I just plod along, fastening things and such, putting it together. “Starting at the top and working my way down.”
Caveat: Poem #1679 “The witness”
ㅁ The raven sits there. On the wire, it's a good view: the cars and people.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #778
This tree saw early light.
[daily log: walking, 3km]
Caveat: Frame Shop Journal #3
I didn’t complete that many frames this week. There weren’t that many orders.
This first one is quite cool, though. It’s a 16th century map of Bucarelli Bay, as mapped by the Spaniards exploring the region at that time.
This map shows all the names they gave to the islands, capes and inlets. Some of those names have stuck – e.g. San Juan Island, San Ignacio Island, Madre de Dios Island. Other names were later changed. The town of Craig was place on what the Spaniards named Cabo Suspiro (Cape of Sighs). I think Cabo Suspiro would be a much better name for the town, than Craig.
And here is a hobbled mule.
Caveat: Poem #1678 “Cabo Suspiro”
ㅁ Here at Cape of Sighs, our sighs are uttered daily; and each night we sigh.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #777
This tree is alongside a stream.
[daily log: walking, 2.5km]
Caveat: Poem #1677 “Not your average mindfulness”
ㅁ My monotony makes maps, manifests, morose, moody mindfulness.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #776
This tree is along a street in Klawock, where I went because of work today.
[daily log: walking, 3.5km; retailing, 7hr]
Caveat: Poem #1676 “Slushland”
ㅁ Through the night it snows. Then during the day it rains. Net result: damp slush.
– a pseudo-haiku.
Caveat: Tree #775
This tree was ensconced in snow.
[daily log: walking, 3km; retailing, 6hr]
Caveat: Poem #1675 “Stupa”
ㅁ To stack a stone on another stone, first you must survey your options, then you must select the stone, casually lift it, surprise the other, finding balance, placing it with care: plonk.
– a nonnet.