Last day of what I believe I can officially and affectionately refer to as the
Wild Animal Month of May!
Arrived home to the welcome a new wild-animal-surprise. This being a far more cute, and welcomed newcomer!
Trudy, a wild, cheeky-devil-of-a-skinny, earthy, perky-eared rabbit, with bona fide white cotton tail, greeted my return home this evening.
Trudy happily sat, unflustered, watching me arrive, and didn't even bother to *go* anywhere upon my arrival, but did sit up on haunches and watched me make a few trips in an out without offering any help.
My final trip meant I was now going to let the dog out!
Trudy the bold, and clearly happy, & uber-confident rabbit didn't bother to budge until my guy was almost on top of her, which gave my big guy some much needed exercise...and lucky for Trudy, he wasn't conditioned of late, or else he would've actually caught her!
I can honestly say, I've seen many things, but I've never seen a loose or wild rabbit in these uninhabitable parts.
So I was doubly stunned when I saw Trudy hop back to where she was when I arrived home from. ((cheeky!!))
From my kitchen window, Trudy went right back, happily sitting in her butt-warmed-spot, facing me with a look of expression: 'so, what's for dinner?'
Hey!?!?!!
Thus - Trudy has earned a formal mention this evening. What a star. What a Diva!
Incredibly - despite my being vegetarian...I didn't even have a leaf of lettuce or carrot or anything for the star!
I felt bad but, jeezo surely she's living off something?! How could I not have anything to put out for her!? Needless, to say I will stop by the grocery store tomorrow and pick a few items up for my new special-needs tenant.
As for why I've named the rabbit Trudy?
Trudy is in a couple of subtle stolen scenes from the old Scottish movie Local Hero.
(assuming you see the unedited version of the movie ; )
Perhaps this Trudy could detect a vegetarian's house when she saw one? ; )
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Spoils Of Ruin
Needless to say the news of the "untouched tribe" along the border of Peru and Brazil is captivating.
I had lost faith that any such pockets-of-life-and-time could exist in this kind of world.
I had thought the ravaging-marketplace, space sweeping satellite images had scoured, seeped into and stained every nook, cranny and crevasse on earth by now - fuelled by an insatiable hunger for money.
Without glorifying these existing, now exposed, people - the way I see it is:
They are us. We are them.
Will they be allowed to remain 'untouched', unaffected unspoiled? Not so much as one generation from now.
No.
Our [debatable] 'civilised, evolved, modern sapien-selves' are incapable of leaving anything alone for long.
Historically, we have only "learned" and discovered through destruction....even then....
...we really don't appear to truly learn. Which predominantly leaves just destruction as being our path.
It is this 'civilized, evolved, modern' aspect within our world, and selves that we have created, and live within that ruins the majority of things we encounter, and that had existed naturally for eons, prior to our contact.
We only have to look at how we even came to see this 'untouched tribe' for an example of what I mean...the very encroaching illegal logging part took a quick and quiet backseat to the ready exposure of primitive people.
Our unethical, uncivilized, unconscionable, uncouth, unthinking, unquestioning, un-empathetic 'society' is, in my view, far more primitive than authentic primitive.
But who am I to say anything? ....living in this civilized ravaged 'world without'.
The only distinction that I would like to try and make is: any 'extinction of a primitive people' would be, to my mind, evidence of the manifestation of man's own annihilation of itself.
What will happen to them - in time, will happen to us.
By us.
I'm beginning to believe we are, as a species, hard wired to destroy, far more and faster than we can create.
I'm reminded of an old quote I heard - Do not destroy that which you cannot create.
I don't know who said it, but all life, along with our planet,
would do well if more of us lived by that adage.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Dedicated to the Fearless, Witty, Thoughtful Canadians I know
The one thing that is all too easy to forget as we busily run around in life...
enroute somewhere, forever coming and going,
arriving and departing, our surroundings always temporary, and ever changing.
It's far too easy to forget how special the group of people are, who surround us.
I happen to work with a very special group of people.
As vastly different we may be, there is an inherent decency. A goodness
that makes this particular bunch of people an honour to have the privilege of coming to know, and working with.
I hadn't really noticed the level of true uniqueness that make up this particular group until this evening's BBQ.
of course being deliriously tired might have something to do with my perspective, but as tired as I may be...
What a lovely group of people that is currently assembled doing wonderful things in this world.
It is to them, whom I wish to dedicate my 100th post - of which, had one of those good people not sat down and create this corner, I would not have the forum in which to post such a dedication.
To them.
Thank you for enlightening, engaging and entertaining me.
enroute somewhere, forever coming and going,
arriving and departing, our surroundings always temporary, and ever changing.
It's far too easy to forget how special the group of people are, who surround us.
I happen to work with a very special group of people.
As vastly different we may be, there is an inherent decency. A goodness
that makes this particular bunch of people an honour to have the privilege of coming to know, and working with.
I hadn't really noticed the level of true uniqueness that make up this particular group until this evening's BBQ.
of course being deliriously tired might have something to do with my perspective, but as tired as I may be...
What a lovely group of people that is currently assembled doing wonderful things in this world.
It is to them, whom I wish to dedicate my 100th post - of which, had one of those good people not sat down and create this corner, I would not have the forum in which to post such a dedication.
To them.
Thank you for enlightening, engaging and entertaining me.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Profiteering From Prehistoric Paranoia
Enroute to work this morning, I caught a bit of an interview on Jazz 91.1 FM, for those wondering what radio station I was listening to...there was a first time newly published author, speaking about his brand spanking new book:
RISK: The Science and Politics of Fear By: Dan Gardner.
And here's me, a first time, brand newly unnerved listener, catching this interview about irrational fears and the psychological hard-wiring that exists in our minds, left over from the pre-press, cro-magnon days of survival. A perfect audience.
How anyone survived those early Neanderthal pre-promotional, pre-press days, without books, music, art, architecture and vast sea travel is beyond my imaginative speculation, let alone comprehension.
But, evidently by being hard-wired by fear, humans persisted.
Regardless of logic, our "irrational" fears are what have served us, and enabled far more of us to survive. It has been our irrational over-precaution, our ah-ah-ah-ing from generation to generation - compounded ~ that has taught off-spring the very real likelihood of pain, thereby circumnavigating actual, and potential, fatal causes and consequences.
Our self-inflicted limiting, of our own lives, have paradoxically served to extend our lives.
Isn't life interesting? ...in an uninteresting-kind-of-un-lived way.
So have we, in essence, lived this long by not living.
We've come to "know things" by NOT experiencing.
We have however, insisted in persisting and surviving thus far by recounting the worst of the worst 'bedtime stories' night after night to generation after generation.
The author mentioned we are - at our very core - a species that loves telling stories, and loves to be told a story.
Fact or fiction - regardless - the point is to take us away somewhere, show us things, teach us things, have us imagine, visualize, learn, conceptualize, comprehend if not condone, other things, new things, things we wouldn't have thought to imagine on our own.
Damn Dan, for capitalizing on some of our basic hard-wiring to sell his book, and catapult his career in conjecture.
But he is onto something.
...cause I inherently responded to hearing what we all intrinsically know for reasons prehistorical, and hard-wired, unknown.....we like to be told things - entertained - taught - informed - educated.
Whatever it takes to increase our predictive comprehension....if not collective comprehension
and decrease our premature fatality. Why - who knows?
Clearly, irrationality is about quantity, NOT about quality.
So, here's to another day enjoyed by all.
Thank your paranoid prehistoric people for all our existing highly lucrative fears.
Many have made a lot of money from people hard-wired as us.
But, now we can induct you Dan, to that growing list of prehistoric-paranoia-profiteers.
RISK: The Science and Politics of Fear By: Dan Gardner.
And here's me, a first time, brand newly unnerved listener, catching this interview about irrational fears and the psychological hard-wiring that exists in our minds, left over from the pre-press, cro-magnon days of survival. A perfect audience.
How anyone survived those early Neanderthal pre-promotional, pre-press days, without books, music, art, architecture and vast sea travel is beyond my imaginative speculation, let alone comprehension.
But, evidently by being hard-wired by fear, humans persisted.
Regardless of logic, our "irrational" fears are what have served us, and enabled far more of us to survive. It has been our irrational over-precaution, our ah-ah-ah-ing from generation to generation - compounded ~ that has taught off-spring the very real likelihood of pain, thereby circumnavigating actual, and potential, fatal causes and consequences.
Our self-inflicted limiting, of our own lives, have paradoxically served to extend our lives.
Isn't life interesting? ...in an uninteresting-kind-of-un-lived way.
So have we, in essence, lived this long by not living.
We've come to "know things" by NOT experiencing.
We have however, insisted in persisting and surviving thus far by recounting the worst of the worst 'bedtime stories' night after night to generation after generation.
The author mentioned we are - at our very core - a species that loves telling stories, and loves to be told a story.
Fact or fiction - regardless - the point is to take us away somewhere, show us things, teach us things, have us imagine, visualize, learn, conceptualize, comprehend if not condone, other things, new things, things we wouldn't have thought to imagine on our own.
Damn Dan, for capitalizing on some of our basic hard-wiring to sell his book, and catapult his career in conjecture.
But he is onto something.
...cause I inherently responded to hearing what we all intrinsically know for reasons prehistorical, and hard-wired, unknown.....we like to be told things - entertained - taught - informed - educated.
Whatever it takes to increase our predictive comprehension....if not collective comprehension
and decrease our premature fatality. Why - who knows?
Clearly, irrationality is about quantity, NOT about quality.
So, here's to another day enjoyed by all.
Thank your paranoid prehistoric people for all our existing highly lucrative fears.
Many have made a lot of money from people hard-wired as us.
But, now we can induct you Dan, to that growing list of prehistoric-paranoia-profiteers.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Lichen Life
I have this plant.
Common variety white, green fleck, house plant in a earthen ware pot, with some great wood bark to keep it straight.
Love it.
Saw it. Bought it a few of months ago...to cheer me from that unrelenting winter, and remind me there's still life to be taken care of....
Have it in my office, on a book shelf, with a killum backdrop for full dramatic effect of earthy life.
The reason I mention any of this is...
....in the few short months I've had this otherwise lovely, rich, full, luscious plant - it's now entirely lopsided, striving, clamouring in silence for real sun, actual warmth...something to keep it alive, anything that will nourish it.
That plant, in a few short weeks, has been affected.
It's amazing how much we endure. How much we hardly even notice what we endure because we're too busy 'taking care', continuing to plod on, too busy to notice the subtle change, a lack of light, nourishment, warmth, water, air, life, activity will have on life.
On another note....
I tried (again) this evening after work, to go back to the forest and walk with my dog as I have done for years.
I really tried.
But there was not a soul around. No signs of life.
...which I normally love...
....just not yet....
....I needed to know it was ok there, and that people were happily wandering about - safely.
Not a sign of that anywhere.
Just the wind. My dog. The trees - full with leaves. And me.
Had to cut the walk short. I just couldn't go anywhere.
The dog showed clear signs of wondering what-the-!&%$#-was-wrong-with-me-we're-here!-let's-go!?!
....wish I could explain it to him...wished I had nothing to explain.
Just as we were about to reach the car.....
....we met a great down-to-earth couple, and their great big blond dog Caesar.
This was my second foray back to where the "wild animal encounter" happened. It's ridiculous, but this whatever-it-is is real!
This was also that couple's new foray back to their same backyard haunt ! What are the chances of that?!
As we all needed to slowly, try and reconnect with all we know and love, all that is familiar? How crazy is that?!
Caesar, their huge big beautiful blond dog, was attacked by a dog a week ago.
I stood there looking at his punctured shoulder and couldn't visualize the 'dog' that inflicted such a wound !!
And with a slight touch by the owner, stuff seeped out and ran down, his shoulder, along with fresh blood.
This was some seriously deep puncture wound!!!!!
Long story short. I was given a clear description of 'who and who's dog(s) to look for should my dog and I encounter them'. All was well noted!!
I explained - I was just newly returning, trying to regain my own confidence, due to a predator 'threatening'....the response was "fer sure, fer sure '~they~' are in there".
Is it just me who wouldn't think some predators to be so far south in a park-like setting?!
Bottomline: Perfect we each should meet as we all were literally and figuratively 'healing our wounds'.
But their poor dog was sincerely ravaged by a wildness that ought to be leashed at all times, if not formally removed ( and I don't say that lightly ).
It was an horrendously vicious attack that Caesar is not even 'out of the proverbially woods' on!
As for why I'm rambling on about any of this....
I so needed to reclaim and recapture some ground this evening, but was unexpectedly, albeit in a more helpful way, reminded others have also experienced some trauma, some direct and physical threat, and that sometimes, some people have to work through that which they have experienced.
We're all slowly healing in our own way.
Another reason for mentioning any of this is...I so need all that I love, all that is familiar, all that I know, all that means anything to me - to be accessible.
But it eludes me.
I am as my plant, striving, clamouring for real sun, more warmth, something to keep it alive, anything that will nourish it.
I am in such a need of a break, a chance to walk my life, live my thoughts and conjour a new.
I need to flourish.
Common variety white, green fleck, house plant in a earthen ware pot, with some great wood bark to keep it straight.
Love it.
Saw it. Bought it a few of months ago...to cheer me from that unrelenting winter, and remind me there's still life to be taken care of....
Have it in my office, on a book shelf, with a killum backdrop for full dramatic effect of earthy life.
The reason I mention any of this is...
....in the few short months I've had this otherwise lovely, rich, full, luscious plant - it's now entirely lopsided, striving, clamouring in silence for real sun, actual warmth...something to keep it alive, anything that will nourish it.
That plant, in a few short weeks, has been affected.
It's amazing how much we endure. How much we hardly even notice what we endure because we're too busy 'taking care', continuing to plod on, too busy to notice the subtle change, a lack of light, nourishment, warmth, water, air, life, activity will have on life.
On another note....
I tried (again) this evening after work, to go back to the forest and walk with my dog as I have done for years.
I really tried.
But there was not a soul around. No signs of life.
...which I normally love...
....just not yet....
....I needed to know it was ok there, and that people were happily wandering about - safely.
Not a sign of that anywhere.
Just the wind. My dog. The trees - full with leaves. And me.
Had to cut the walk short. I just couldn't go anywhere.
The dog showed clear signs of wondering what-the-!&%$#-was-wrong-with-me-we're-here!-let's-go!?!
....wish I could explain it to him...wished I had nothing to explain.
Just as we were about to reach the car.....
....we met a great down-to-earth couple, and their great big blond dog Caesar.
This was my second foray back to where the "wild animal encounter" happened. It's ridiculous, but this whatever-it-is is real!
This was also that couple's new foray back to their same backyard haunt ! What are the chances of that?!
As we all needed to slowly, try and reconnect with all we know and love, all that is familiar? How crazy is that?!
Caesar, their huge big beautiful blond dog, was attacked by a dog a week ago.
I stood there looking at his punctured shoulder and couldn't visualize the 'dog' that inflicted such a wound !!
And with a slight touch by the owner, stuff seeped out and ran down, his shoulder, along with fresh blood.
This was some seriously deep puncture wound!!!!!
Long story short. I was given a clear description of 'who and who's dog(s) to look for should my dog and I encounter them'. All was well noted!!
I explained - I was just newly returning, trying to regain my own confidence, due to a predator 'threatening'....the response was "fer sure, fer sure '~they~' are in there".
Is it just me who wouldn't think some predators to be so far south in a park-like setting?!
Bottomline: Perfect we each should meet as we all were literally and figuratively 'healing our wounds'.
But their poor dog was sincerely ravaged by a wildness that ought to be leashed at all times, if not formally removed ( and I don't say that lightly ).
It was an horrendously vicious attack that Caesar is not even 'out of the proverbially woods' on!
As for why I'm rambling on about any of this....
I so needed to reclaim and recapture some ground this evening, but was unexpectedly, albeit in a more helpful way, reminded others have also experienced some trauma, some direct and physical threat, and that sometimes, some people have to work through that which they have experienced.
We're all slowly healing in our own way.
Another reason for mentioning any of this is...I so need all that I love, all that is familiar, all that I know, all that means anything to me - to be accessible.
But it eludes me.
I am as my plant, striving, clamouring for real sun, more warmth, something to keep it alive, anything that will nourish it.
I am in such a need of a break, a chance to walk my life, live my thoughts and conjour a new.
I need to flourish.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Robert Louis Stevenson
There is a fellowship more quiet even than solitude,
and which, rightly understood,
is solitude made perfect.
Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson 1850 - 1894
Scottish novelist, poet, travel writer
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Hame Sweet Hame
"...down off the backside of the mountain to the discover the awe-inspiring nature of this landscape.
A loch nestled inside of a vast canyon created from the surrounding mountain runoff.
These mountains poured out vast amounts of freshwater springs that came down the sides of the mountain into this loch, to eventually run into the sea. This whole area was owned by an individual family. It's amazing to think that someone could own this, when it seemed it owned itself, and nothing could contain it.
One of the guides said these mountains were good at absorbing demons, and that if we had any, we should leave them here, and leave without them. A faithful command that seemed in sync with the mindset of the country. Very proud, very honest, and for some people, that's something that runs through their very nature. We will not leave Scotland, unless it leaves us.
The water that ran off the mountains required no treatment to drink, it was better than bottled - it tasted clear but not sweet. The ground was wet and soggy, with a certain softness to it that aided the trek. It was sharp with rocks, but smoothed with time. This whole area was under one big glacier about 10,000 years ago, a "time before time" as it was referred to. The rocks here were as old as creation, and oddly set anew each summer when the snow melted. We're very fortunate to have been here.
------------------------------------------------
In having visited other cultures this weekend....I felt a need to reconnect with my own. I long for all I know.
So I present to you: Scotland / Scotia / Caledonia / Alba
Through someone else's view.....but after a double dram or two.....it's all I've time for just now.
Slange va !!
Alba / Caledonia / Scotia / auld Scotland the brave ; )
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Doors Open Toronto
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, and Canadian Museum of Cultural Heritage of Indo-Canadians is a must-see.
The Mandir is truly a work of astonishing artisans, and an architectural jig-saw puzzle that will defy time.
The intricately carved exterior greets you with the beauty, complexity, depth and richness of its 10,000 year culture.
The stunning teak wood, from Burma, is equally mesmerizing in intricate carving throughout.
But words cannot describe the interior the very temple itself - it has to be seen.
Step humbly into history, culture, and architecture in the company of warm people.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is one of the most stunning creations Toronto has the privilege of presenting.
The Mandir is truly a work of astonishing artisans, and an architectural jig-saw puzzle that will defy time.
The intricately carved exterior greets you with the beauty, complexity, depth and richness of its 10,000 year culture.
The stunning teak wood, from Burma, is equally mesmerizing in intricate carving throughout.
But words cannot describe the interior the very temple itself - it has to be seen.
Step humbly into history, culture, and architecture in the company of warm people.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is one of the most stunning creations Toronto has the privilege of presenting.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Jeezie Creezie
Ever have one of those days where you're about as productive as a turnip?
That was me today.
Which translates into being a great, though not productive, day. But what a day it was...
While listening to all the mosquito-esque details buzzing round my brain, combined with being in critical need of a break, or time-off, solidified the sheer state, length and breadth of my unproductive immobile incapacitated self today.
The biggest things I had to grappled and wrestle with was (a) arriving to work - always a HUGE act of unselfish kindness considering the sheer inconvenience that is to what would otherwise be a pristine day (b) Sitting there either listening to, or thinking of, all the little things I had to do NOW NOW! YESTERDAY! NOW!! (c) should I get up and rinse out my mug?
I wanted to rinse out my mug....I even contemplated using dish soap this time but......
it never happened.
So - like the song says....2 out of 3 ain't bad. Although in this case it is bad. Deadlines are looming and I'm flat-lining and acting dead.
I did however get to do something today not everyone can say they've done.
I held Jesus in my arms.
There was a visiting tea-cup-sized Yorkie weighing in at 2 pounds (with a jacket on and hardware on), whom I was told doesn't like to be held, but for reasons unknown, Jesus seemed to like me...Jesus can obviously spot an soul needing saved. And there was me....searching for things to prevent me from even touching work.
It was devine intervention.
And yes, Jesus is a she in this minature K9 case....who'da thunk it?
Instantly, without any words from Jesus - we just *got* each other right away.
Jesus even kissed me.
How many can say that?
Jesus also had a pulled shoulder muscle from some sort of over-Jesus-exertion only God knows on the weekend.
But I gave Jesus a muscle manipulating massage and Jesus became a groggy doggy in my arms.
So despite my complete unprofessionalism regarding other-what-not-nonsensical irritating work things...*.....
I know today I left Jesus feeling a little bit better from a wee cuddle received by me.
My work is done.
That was me today.
Which translates into being a great, though not productive, day. But what a day it was...
While listening to all the mosquito-esque details buzzing round my brain, combined with being in critical need of a break, or time-off, solidified the sheer state, length and breadth of my unproductive immobile incapacitated self today.
The biggest things I had to grappled and wrestle with was (a) arriving to work - always a HUGE act of unselfish kindness considering the sheer inconvenience that is to what would otherwise be a pristine day (b) Sitting there either listening to, or thinking of, all the little things I had to do NOW NOW! YESTERDAY! NOW!! (c) should I get up and rinse out my mug?
I wanted to rinse out my mug....I even contemplated using dish soap this time but......
it never happened.
So - like the song says....2 out of 3 ain't bad. Although in this case it is bad. Deadlines are looming and I'm flat-lining and acting dead.
I did however get to do something today not everyone can say they've done.
I held Jesus in my arms.
There was a visiting tea-cup-sized Yorkie weighing in at 2 pounds (with a jacket on and hardware on), whom I was told doesn't like to be held, but for reasons unknown, Jesus seemed to like me...Jesus can obviously spot an soul needing saved. And there was me....searching for things to prevent me from even touching work.
It was devine intervention.
And yes, Jesus is a she in this minature K9 case....who'da thunk it?
Instantly, without any words from Jesus - we just *got* each other right away.
Jesus even kissed me.
How many can say that?
Jesus also had a pulled shoulder muscle from some sort of over-Jesus-exertion only God knows on the weekend.
But I gave Jesus a muscle manipulating massage and Jesus became a groggy doggy in my arms.
So despite my complete unprofessionalism regarding other-what-not-nonsensical irritating work things...*.....
I know today I left Jesus feeling a little bit better from a wee cuddle received by me.
My work is done.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Cryin' Woof
Alright, I *may* have cried ~CENSOR~
(I said I wouldn't say that word again, and I haven't)
It's like this...
I got a bit of an unexpected fright the other week while walking with
the dog,
But as opposed to looking at the bright side of things...
I appear to have gotten caught in an eddy of What-ifs....
What of it?
Well, this What-if kind of thinking indeed leads to a non-kind-of-living.
I may just walk-it-off this evening, cause my dog is beginning to whimper & cry,and wonder what he has done wrong, and why we don't head out and walk anymore.
So, this evening I'll give unlimited thought to these limiting What-if scenarios.
(I said I wouldn't say that word again, and I haven't)
It's like this...
I got a bit of an unexpected fright the other week while walking with
the dog,
But as opposed to looking at the bright side of things...
I appear to have gotten caught in an eddy of What-ifs....
What of it?
Well, this What-if kind of thinking indeed leads to a non-kind-of-living.
I may just walk-it-off this evening, cause my dog is beginning to whimper & cry,and wonder what he has done wrong, and why we don't head out and walk anymore.
So, this evening I'll give unlimited thought to these limiting What-if scenarios.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Plush More Wildlife
I know I said I would never mention the ~CENSOR~ again, and I won't!
But I have it on very good authority that another large, jugular and/or spine threatening *thing* also exists where I walked my dog....Mother-of-Nature will you please cease with these lurking surprises? I don't like surprises.
This camouflaged wild beastie [not taxidermied] is reputed to lurk about where ever deer cavort and frolic.
I'm sure my efforts to feign maturity regarding this latest bit of information is as transparent as Saran WrapTM, but this image of yon wild beastie will have to do unless or until a real photo is taken, until then, this is only speculation - not wild speculation, but speculation and lacking hard [taxidermied & mounted] evidence.
Truth be told, I'm not exactly embracing and cuddling up to the fluffy idea that wild cats (what a redundant term) - that out size, out weigh, out run, out move, out jump, out fight and out maul me, are out there.
And not everyone would take my position which, by the way, is fixed safely within the constructed confines of my cozy wee corner other wise known as indoors.
Who needs fresh air, sunshine, light breezes and gorgeous scenery? Especially where there's central heating and or air conditioning (as I expect to be indoors for many consecutive seasons now), a refrigerator, High Def TV, more hours of music than there is lifespan in the oldest human being, movies and the Internet?
And, should one require somuchasanything....it can be ordered safely online
... and delivered ! ((glee))
I know I know all that transport wastes fossil fuels but have we not evolved to be the latest greatest subspecies known to man, and the epitome of arrived at technical perfection - have our ancestors not earned us our right to sit back and do as little as humanly possible for far longer than was thought possible?
This is what evolution was all for ....was it not?!!
I don't know about you, but whew! sheesh !! I'm exhausted having come so far in evolution.
Like a metamorphosis chrysalis of catapiller to butterfly ....I'm just beginning to feel like I've arrived.
How many butterflies get to type out their thoughts using all this technology?! The message is the silk..ooooh
no wait! The medium is the silk....no, wait, the medium is the fibre optic cables we just can't optically see
ah, I'm not a Marshal McLuhan species Butterfly.
Now, where was I ?!! oh yeah, so let me make one big honking correction...
I DO embrace yon wild fluffy beasties both seen, and camouflaged-but-known-to-be, for shoving me over that ridge and sending me back to where I came from...indoors.
What on earrrrrrrrrrrrth was I thinking ?!
But I have it on very good authority that another large, jugular and/or spine threatening *thing* also exists where I walked my dog....Mother-of-Nature will you please cease with these lurking surprises? I don't like surprises.
This camouflaged wild beastie [not taxidermied] is reputed to lurk about where ever deer cavort and frolic.
I'm sure my efforts to feign maturity regarding this latest bit of information is as transparent as Saran WrapTM, but this image of yon wild beastie will have to do unless or until a real photo is taken, until then, this is only speculation - not wild speculation, but speculation and lacking hard [taxidermied & mounted] evidence.
Truth be told, I'm not exactly embracing and cuddling up to the fluffy idea that wild cats (what a redundant term) - that out size, out weigh, out run, out move, out jump, out fight and out maul me, are out there.
And not everyone would take my position which, by the way, is fixed safely within the constructed confines of my cozy wee corner other wise known as indoors.
Who needs fresh air, sunshine, light breezes and gorgeous scenery? Especially where there's central heating and or air conditioning (as I expect to be indoors for many consecutive seasons now), a refrigerator, High Def TV, more hours of music than there is lifespan in the oldest human being, movies and the Internet?
And, should one require somuchasanything....it can be ordered safely online
... and delivered ! ((glee))
I know I know all that transport wastes fossil fuels but have we not evolved to be the latest greatest subspecies known to man, and the epitome of arrived at technical perfection - have our ancestors not earned us our right to sit back and do as little as humanly possible for far longer than was thought possible?
This is what evolution was all for ....was it not?!!
I don't know about you, but whew! sheesh !! I'm exhausted having come so far in evolution.
Like a metamorphosis chrysalis of catapiller to butterfly ....I'm just beginning to feel like I've arrived.
How many butterflies get to type out their thoughts using all this technology?! The message is the silk..ooooh
no wait! The medium is the silk....no, wait, the medium is the fibre optic cables we just can't optically see
ah, I'm not a Marshal McLuhan species Butterfly.
Now, where was I ?!! oh yeah, so let me make one big honking correction...
I DO embrace yon wild fluffy beasties both seen, and camouflaged-but-known-to-be, for shoving me over that ridge and sending me back to where I came from...indoors.
What on earrrrrrrrrrrrth was I thinking ?!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Victoria Day
The Sovereign's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).
May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, was declared a holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845.
After Confederation, the Queen's birthday was celebrated every year on May 24 unless that date was a Sunday, in which case a proclamation was issued providing for the celebration on May 25.
After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24 in each year (or May 25 if May 24 fell on a Sunday) under the name Victoria Day.
So why are we celebrating it today?
May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, was declared a holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845.
After Confederation, the Queen's birthday was celebrated every year on May 24 unless that date was a Sunday, in which case a proclamation was issued providing for the celebration on May 25.
After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24 in each year (or May 25 if May 24 fell on a Sunday) under the name Victoria Day.
So why are we celebrating it today?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Red Wolf & Little Red Riding Hood
Origins
The Red Wolf line is set with a branching from a common ancestor of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), the eastern North Americn wolves, and the Coyote (Canis latrans). One branch remained in North America. The other branch migrated to Eurasia and there gave rise to the Gray Wolf.
Once part of the same continuum of wolves, land-clearing and direct exploitation by people following European colonization resulted in a large gap between the few remaining Red Wolves in the southeastern United States and the larger population in central Ontario and southern Quebec.
Red Wolves are shy and wary creatures - a possible explanation for their 'rare' reputation. They prefer to hunt alone, or in small family groups; pack sizes are smaller than those of their gray cousins, consisting often of one adult pair and their offspring. Red wolves also are known to breed with coyotes, and their special features are being lost.
Wolf attacks
Europe
In Scotland, during the reign of James VI, wolves were considered such a threat to travellers that special houses called "spittals" were erected on the highways for protection. The people of the Scottish Highlands used to bury their dead on offshore islands to avoid having the bodies eaten by wolves.
During the First World War, starving wolves had amassed in great numbers in Kovno and began attacking Imperial Russian and Imperial German fighting forces, causing the two fighting armies to form a temporary truce to fight off the animals.
Attack patterns
A recent study on historical wolf attacks occurring in the 18th-19th centuries indicated that victims were almost entirely children under the age of 12, with 85% of the attacks occurring when an adult was not present.
In the few cases when an adult was killed, it was almost always a woman. In nearly all cases, only a single victim was injured in each attack, although the victim was with 2–3 other people in a few cases.
Close contact with humans likely caused them to lose their fear of man. In contrast, to attacks by rabid wolves, purely predatory attacks are carried out by a lone wolf or by a pack. While a rabid wolf will bite it's vitim and run, a predatory attack is persisted. While a rabid wolf never eats its victim, if the victim is killed in a predatory attack, the corpse may be consumed on the spot or removed to be consumed elsewhere.
Afrikaans: Rooikappie, meaning Little Red Cap
Albanian: Kesulkuqja, meaning 'Red Cap'
Arabic: ليلى و الذئب, meaning 'Layla and the Wolf'
Basque: Txano Gorritxo
Bulgarian: Червената шапчица (Chervenata shapchitsa), meaning 'The Red Hat'
Catalan: La Caputxeta Vermella
Czech: Červená karkulka
Chinese: 小紅帽, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Croatian and Bosnian: Crvenkapica, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Danish: Den lille Rødhætte, meaning 'the Little Redhood'
Dutch: Roodkapje, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Estonian: Punamütsike, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Finnish: Punahilkka, meaning 'Red Hood'
French: Le Petit Chaperon rouge, meaning 'the Little Red Hood'
Galician: Carapuchiña Vermella
Georgian: წითელქუდა (tsitel quda), meaning 'Little Red Hat'
German: Rotkäppchen, meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Greek: Κοκκινοσκουφίτσα (Kokkinoskoufitsa), meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Hebrew: כיפה אדומה (Kippah Addumah), meaning 'Red Cap'
Hungarian: Piroska, meaning 'Little Red' also a proper feminine first name
Icelandic: Rauðhetta, meaning 'Red Hood'
Indonesian: Gadis Berkerudung Merah, meaning 'Red Hooded Girl'
Italian: Cappuccetto Rosso, meaning 'Little Red Hood'
Japanese: 赤頭巾 (Akazukin), meaning 'Red Hood'
Korean: 빨간 모자 (Ppalgan moja), meaning 'Red Hat'
Latin: Lacernella Rubra, meaning 'Little Red Hood'
Latvian: Sarkangalvīte, meaning 'Little Red Head'
Lithuanian: Raudonkepuraitė, meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Norwegian: Rødhette, meaning 'Red Hood'
Persian: شنل قرمزی, meaning 'Red-caped'
Polish: Czerwony kapturek
Portuguese: Capuchinho Vermelho, meaning 'Little Red Hood'.
Portuguese (Brazilian): Chapeuzinho Vermelho, meaning 'Little Red Hat'.
Romanian: Scufiţa Roşie meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Russian: Красная шапочка (Krasnaya shapochka), meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Serbian and Macedonian: Црвенкапа (Crvenkapa), meaning 'Red Hat'
Slovak: Červená čiapočka
Slovenian: Rdeča kapica, meaning 'Red (little) Cap'
Spanish: Caperucita Roja, meaning 'Little Red Hood'
Swedish: Rödluvan, meaning '(The) Red Hood'
Thai: หนูน้อยหมวกแดง, meaning 'little girl with red cap'
Turkish: Kırmızı Başlıklı Kız, meaning 'girl with red cap'
Vietnamese: Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ
Welsh: Hugan Fach Goch
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Wolf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_wolf_attacks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Red_Riding_Hood
I now promise to put this behind me, and never mention this again.
The Red Wolf line is set with a branching from a common ancestor of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), the eastern North Americn wolves, and the Coyote (Canis latrans). One branch remained in North America. The other branch migrated to Eurasia and there gave rise to the Gray Wolf.
Once part of the same continuum of wolves, land-clearing and direct exploitation by people following European colonization resulted in a large gap between the few remaining Red Wolves in the southeastern United States and the larger population in central Ontario and southern Quebec.
Red Wolves are shy and wary creatures - a possible explanation for their 'rare' reputation. They prefer to hunt alone, or in small family groups; pack sizes are smaller than those of their gray cousins, consisting often of one adult pair and their offspring. Red wolves also are known to breed with coyotes, and their special features are being lost.
Wolf attacks
Europe
In Scotland, during the reign of James VI, wolves were considered such a threat to travellers that special houses called "spittals" were erected on the highways for protection. The people of the Scottish Highlands used to bury their dead on offshore islands to avoid having the bodies eaten by wolves.
During the First World War, starving wolves had amassed in great numbers in Kovno and began attacking Imperial Russian and Imperial German fighting forces, causing the two fighting armies to form a temporary truce to fight off the animals.
Attack patterns
A recent study on historical wolf attacks occurring in the 18th-19th centuries indicated that victims were almost entirely children under the age of 12, with 85% of the attacks occurring when an adult was not present.
In the few cases when an adult was killed, it was almost always a woman. In nearly all cases, only a single victim was injured in each attack, although the victim was with 2–3 other people in a few cases.
Close contact with humans likely caused them to lose their fear of man. In contrast, to attacks by rabid wolves, purely predatory attacks are carried out by a lone wolf or by a pack. While a rabid wolf will bite it's vitim and run, a predatory attack is persisted. While a rabid wolf never eats its victim, if the victim is killed in a predatory attack, the corpse may be consumed on the spot or removed to be consumed elsewhere.
North America
Woodland Indians were usually the most at risk, as they would often encounter wolves suddenly and at close quarters. An old Nunamiut hunter once said in an interview with author Barry Lopez that wolves used to attack his people, until the introduction of firearms, at which point the attacks ceased
In Modern TimesAs humans begin to encroach on wolf habitat more contacts are being noted. Often the contact is because the person is walking their pet dog and the wolf pack considers the dog a prey item, inciting an attack
Precautionary Measures
"Firecrackers should be used at irregular intervals to scare off the predating wolf".
Little Red Riding Hood is a famous fairy tale about a young girl's encounter with a wolf.
Other cultures' names for Little Red Riding HoodAfrikaans: Rooikappie, meaning Little Red Cap
Albanian: Kesulkuqja, meaning 'Red Cap'
Arabic: ليلى و الذئب, meaning 'Layla and the Wolf'
Basque: Txano Gorritxo
Bulgarian: Червената шапчица (Chervenata shapchitsa), meaning 'The Red Hat'
Catalan: La Caputxeta Vermella
Czech: Červená karkulka
Chinese: 小紅帽, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Croatian and Bosnian: Crvenkapica, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Danish: Den lille Rødhætte, meaning 'the Little Redhood'
Dutch: Roodkapje, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Estonian: Punamütsike, meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Finnish: Punahilkka, meaning 'Red Hood'
French: Le Petit Chaperon rouge, meaning 'the Little Red Hood'
Galician: Carapuchiña Vermella
Georgian: წითელქუდა (tsitel quda), meaning 'Little Red Hat'
German: Rotkäppchen, meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Greek: Κοκκινοσκουφίτσα (Kokkinoskoufitsa), meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Hebrew: כיפה אדומה (Kippah Addumah), meaning 'Red Cap'
Hungarian: Piroska, meaning 'Little Red' also a proper feminine first name
Icelandic: Rauðhetta, meaning 'Red Hood'
Indonesian: Gadis Berkerudung Merah, meaning 'Red Hooded Girl'
Italian: Cappuccetto Rosso, meaning 'Little Red Hood'
Japanese: 赤頭巾 (Akazukin), meaning 'Red Hood'
Korean: 빨간 모자 (Ppalgan moja), meaning 'Red Hat'
Latin: Lacernella Rubra, meaning 'Little Red Hood'
Latvian: Sarkangalvīte, meaning 'Little Red Head'
Lithuanian: Raudonkepuraitė, meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Norwegian: Rødhette, meaning 'Red Hood'
Persian: شنل قرمزی, meaning 'Red-caped'
Polish: Czerwony kapturek
Portuguese: Capuchinho Vermelho, meaning 'Little Red Hood'.
Portuguese (Brazilian): Chapeuzinho Vermelho, meaning 'Little Red Hat'.
Romanian: Scufiţa Roşie meaning 'Little Red Cap'
Russian: Красная шапочка (Krasnaya shapochka), meaning 'Little Red Hat'
Serbian and Macedonian: Црвенкапа (Crvenkapa), meaning 'Red Hat'
Slovak: Červená čiapočka
Slovenian: Rdeča kapica, meaning 'Red (little) Cap'
Spanish: Caperucita Roja, meaning 'Little Red Hood'
Swedish: Rödluvan, meaning '(The) Red Hood'
Thai: หนูน้อยหมวกแดง, meaning 'little girl with red cap'
Turkish: Kırmızı Başlıklı Kız, meaning 'girl with red cap'
Vietnamese: Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ
Welsh: Hugan Fach Goch
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Wolf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_wolf_attacks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Red_Riding_Hood
I now promise to put this behind me, and never mention this again.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
My fluffy Imagination Personified
Here is one culprit. Photographed Friday May 16th, by Horia Bradau.
Found in the general area my dog and I were approached, surrounded,
growled at, and followed.
Photograph by: Horia Bradau
Found in the general area my dog and I were approached, surrounded,
growled at, and followed.
Photograph by: Horia Bradau
Local resident, mountaineer / hiker, deep respecter of woods and master of wolves.
Friday, May 16, 2008
m-seven: Stimulus
A gorgeous reprieve from this week was granted, when I arrived home to find a CD waiting patiently for me to tune-in and unwind.
The brand new disc Stimulus by M-SEVEN does indeed awake.
It awakes possibilities and potential in life, and in one....
It reminds one of all that is going unknown and unseen.
...if one's open to it
...if one's able to hear when one listens.
To tangibly describe the intangible of M's music;
It is like traversing a rhythmic topography of tambre and landscapes.
It's electronic, while being soulfully organic.
It, and ultimately you - transcend cultures and time.
This is a Tao Renaissance.
And it is world class.
To attempt to sum up the talent that resides within M-Seven....
This is an authentic artist, a secret agent 007, 008 & 009 combined, and the sublime attention to detail reveals;
one who painstakingly creates audible depth to resonate with one's soul. It is an act of love and generosity on M's part.
...take a deep breath...
The brand new disc Stimulus by M-SEVEN does indeed awake.
It awakes possibilities and potential in life, and in one....
It reminds one of all that is going unknown and unseen.
...if one's open to it
...if one's able to hear when one listens.
To tangibly describe the intangible of M's music;
It is like traversing a rhythmic topography of tambre and landscapes.
It's electronic, while being soulfully organic.
It, and ultimately you - transcend cultures and time.
This is a Tao Renaissance.
And it is world class.
To attempt to sum up the talent that resides within M-Seven....
This is an authentic artist, a secret agent 007, 008 & 009 combined, and the sublime attention to detail reveals;
one who painstakingly creates audible depth to resonate with one's soul. It is an act of love and generosity on M's part.
This is M's 2nd CD. The first CD: Activate, is as astonishingly breath taking. Both transport you while you're working, thinking, drifting or dreaming and floating off into space.
Should you wish to step into new realms....http://cdbaby.com/cd/mseven2...take a deep breath...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Radiant Twighlight
For anyone out and about at 9 o'clock this perfect May evening...
There was an extraordinarily spectacular sunset, signifying
the close of a splendid day.
Kindling thoughts of just how ..planetary....all this brilliance is.
Breath taking luminance was ours for the viewing this evening,
...for those who notice these things.
There was an extraordinarily spectacular sunset, signifying
the close of a splendid day.
Kindling thoughts of just how ..planetary....all this brilliance is.
Breath taking luminance was ours for the viewing this evening,
...for those who notice these things.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Grappling
Fear is a potent persuader.
I don't mean to harp on about the wolf thing but....
Monday has had an undeniable and indeliable impact
that I appear to be having trouble with.
A few quick corrections first.
The wolves I saw were not huge big bulky wolves. They were tall, thin and wiry, with tuffs and patches of fur that looked like they've been in fights. Probably with each other, but they weren't the fattened healthy regal Rex's National Geographic find.
The other thing I need to correct is - they were clearly not out for sport.
If that were the case, my dog and [possibly] myself, would have been shredded and "not known what hit us".
(although I'm so hyper-consciously-aware I would've known what hit us, and how excruciating it all would have been...but that's me)
So, although they were completely fixated on my dog, and because they never did anything other than follow along with us, albeit truly very close, with one directly behind me at all times for a ridiculous distance...they were likely "just" curious.
But I ask you....
Would you be able to go back and walk that great big open park path having experienced that?
Or would you not be able to unclench your butt to walk that route, as I am undergoing?
I cannot bring myself to go on our old familiar walk I've been going on for years!
Would you?
Is this fear just a me-thing ? Or is this fear an over reaction?
How would you deal, had this been you?
And what do you think the chances are of re-experiencing the same are again?
Does wild lightening strike twice?
Would you not chance it?
Or would you reclaim your land and space, and what used to be your calmness back?
Those landscapes, vistas and topography have served to center, and sustain me over the years.
How can one calm disturbed water?
Or is time the only answer to most things?
I don't mean to harp on about the wolf thing but....
Monday has had an undeniable and indeliable impact
that I appear to be having trouble with.
A few quick corrections first.
The wolves I saw were not huge big bulky wolves. They were tall, thin and wiry, with tuffs and patches of fur that looked like they've been in fights. Probably with each other, but they weren't the fattened healthy regal Rex's National Geographic find.
The other thing I need to correct is - they were clearly not out for sport.
If that were the case, my dog and [possibly] myself, would have been shredded and "not known what hit us".
(although I'm so hyper-consciously-aware I would've known what hit us, and how excruciating it all would have been...but that's me)
So, although they were completely fixated on my dog, and because they never did anything other than follow along with us, albeit truly very close, with one directly behind me at all times for a ridiculous distance...they were likely "just" curious.
But I ask you....
Would you be able to go back and walk that great big open park path having experienced that?
Or would you not be able to unclench your butt to walk that route, as I am undergoing?
I cannot bring myself to go on our old familiar walk I've been going on for years!
Would you?
Is this fear just a me-thing ? Or is this fear an over reaction?
How would you deal, had this been you?
And what do you think the chances are of re-experiencing the same are again?
Does wild lightening strike twice?
Would you not chance it?
Or would you reclaim your land and space, and what used to be your calmness back?
Those landscapes, vistas and topography have served to center, and sustain me over the years.
How can one calm disturbed water?
Or is time the only answer to most things?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Post Traumatic Walk Disorder
Some information about the Canadian Provincial wolf population.
The Ministry of Natural Resources estimates that there are between 8,000 and 10,000 wolves in the province. This estimation was made over 40 years ago and has remained unchanged. However no reliable survey method has been employed. (!)
There are two wolf species in Ontario: the Gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the Eastern wolf (Canis lycaon) which is also known as the Algonquin wolf because of its declining yet popular presence in Algonquin Provincial Park. The Ministry of Natural Resources implemented a permanent ban on hunting and trapping wolves and coyotes in 40 townships surrounding the park last spring in an attempt to curb the park's population decline. The Eastern wolf has been added to both the National and Provincial Species at Risk lists as a species of “Special Concern”.
Although wolves are Canadian animals, according to the Ontario authorities, "there are no Wolves in Ontario, south of the city of Barrie".(!!)
However, I wouldn't be surprised if a few individuals or small packs of Wolves have made their way into this area recently.
According to the site Wolves-Ontario.com, there has only been one documented case of healthy wild wolves killing a human in North America.
It is believed that these animals had lost their fear of humans and were accustomized to them.
By comparison, domestic dogs attack 3 million and kill 20 people each year.
Wild, non-socialized, wolves fear humans and are rarely seen.
More Wolf Facts
Wolves are intelligent and social animals.
They have complex social families; they play, teach, and hunt with each other.
Radio collared wolves have been tracked ranging more than 700 kilometres.
A wolf’s sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than a human’s.
R.D. Lawrence wrote that a "five month old [wolf pup] was able to pick up the smell of a porcupine eating grass in a meadow a mile [1.6 kilometres] from the pup."
Noted wolf biologist, L.D. Mech stated that "wolves can hear as far as 6 miles [9.6 kilometres] away in the forest and ten miles [16 kilometres] away on the open tundra.
Wolves have been known to respond to human imitations of wolf howls from 4 kilometres away.
Wolves in Ontario tend to be between sixty pounds (27 kg) and one hundred pounds (45 kg) with the heavier wolves ranging in the north of the province.
The heaviest wolf on record in Canada was found in 1945 in Jasper National Park. He weighed 175 pounds (80kg).
Wolves’ fur ranges in colour from gray brown to white to black.
The tip of a wolf’s tail is often coloured black.
The Ministry of Natural Resources estimates that there are between 8,000 and 10,000 wolves in the province. This estimation was made over 40 years ago and has remained unchanged. However no reliable survey method has been employed. (!)
There are two wolf species in Ontario: the Gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the Eastern wolf (Canis lycaon) which is also known as the Algonquin wolf because of its declining yet popular presence in Algonquin Provincial Park. The Ministry of Natural Resources implemented a permanent ban on hunting and trapping wolves and coyotes in 40 townships surrounding the park last spring in an attempt to curb the park's population decline. The Eastern wolf has been added to both the National and Provincial Species at Risk lists as a species of “Special Concern”.
Although wolves are Canadian animals, according to the Ontario authorities, "there are no Wolves in Ontario, south of the city of Barrie".(!!)
However, I wouldn't be surprised if a few individuals or small packs of Wolves have made their way into this area recently.
According to the site Wolves-Ontario.com, there has only been one documented case of healthy wild wolves killing a human in North America.
It is believed that these animals had lost their fear of humans and were accustomized to them.
By comparison, domestic dogs attack 3 million and kill 20 people each year.
Wild, non-socialized, wolves fear humans and are rarely seen.
More Wolf Facts
Wolves are intelligent and social animals.
They have complex social families; they play, teach, and hunt with each other.
Radio collared wolves have been tracked ranging more than 700 kilometres.
A wolf’s sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than a human’s.
R.D. Lawrence wrote that a "five month old [wolf pup] was able to pick up the smell of a porcupine eating grass in a meadow a mile [1.6 kilometres] from the pup."
Noted wolf biologist, L.D. Mech stated that "wolves can hear as far as 6 miles [9.6 kilometres] away in the forest and ten miles [16 kilometres] away on the open tundra.
Wolves have been known to respond to human imitations of wolf howls from 4 kilometres away.
Wolves in Ontario tend to be between sixty pounds (27 kg) and one hundred pounds (45 kg) with the heavier wolves ranging in the north of the province.
The heaviest wolf on record in Canada was found in 1945 in Jasper National Park. He weighed 175 pounds (80kg).
Wolves’ fur ranges in colour from gray brown to white to black.
The tip of a wolf’s tail is often coloured black.
"You never see them. I work out in the bush all the time and normally your first glance is your last glance," he says.
How my dog and I encounterd 4 of the above, and walked out of there, is beyond me 24 hours after our experience.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Nature - not always the gentlest
I post this with the utmost relief to be back home. I survived the Crow Road.
Monday - being quite wrong from the start - needed to be walked off. I wanted to get centered, and perspective.
So the dog and I hopped in the car and headed for the tranquillity and peace of the woods.
And we had it all to ourselves for an entrancing, luring, and pacifying full hour.
The only natural sighting of any life was a murder of crows. No less than 40 of them - cawing up a storm.
Van Gogh would've loved the scene!
Crow Road is a Scottish phrase. To 'go the way the Crow road' is to die, or be killed.
I thought, nah...it's too gorgeous a scene to be a warning. Anyway, how could they possibly signal a threat,
when there were so many of them freely congregating like that...but, I stopped all the same, and told the dog to start heading back.
The dog and I got about 10 minutes on our way back along the wide gravel path, before I heard a low guttural growl on the gravel path behind me.
BOLD !
My first reaction, I naively thought it was just a fox. (a bold fox)
But no.
It trotted to within a much closer, intimidating distance, to give me a better look at him.
It was a wolf. Not a coyote. Not a Husky or Shepard dog.
A wolf.
And it was not backing down.
Never been in this situation before.
An instant look around for ideas, direction, what to do, where to go options, and I spotted 3 more trotting along to the east of it, in the the pines.
~Oh~my~God~
Now, my dog is a goofball who thinks everyone is good and kind, and everything loves him.
Add to that situation, and my having to *casually* get him to me, without getting the wolves to come to me, get-him-on-leash, and all without stopping our now equally determined stride - though all the while genuinely visualising the pounce - hit & feel - 4 wolves shoring my dog and myself wide open would be like - sometimes a visual mind is not an advantage).
I've experienced many rattle snakes encounters growing up, but not pack wolves out for sport.
They weren't hungry. Nor were they curious. They were just out for sport, and my dog and I were *it*.
I bought some distance by doing what I didn't think I would.
I hollered "NO" in a voice I have never heard from me. Then GO, when it continued.
I know from reading....pack animal mentality does not listen to, or follow an angry leader. And I know I sounded angry. And I know I instantly gave away my pecking-order for not being truly calm, but they now were within a 90 feet and closing in, and I was and hour away from help and people, and my dog was naively wanting to play, thus keeping them on our tails
The following sonic commands of FUCK! slowed them, made them growl, but it also got my dog's focus and attention!
I needed both of those things to happen. Just as much as I needed everything the wolves were visualizing, NOT to happen. ....could've done without the intimidating low resonant growls though!! That was unnerving.
Difficult keeping that at bay, when you're visualizing the very same thing!
Despite my yells they kept on trotting, following, and growling for many a winding turn.
When I saw they were off the gravel trail and dropped back into the forest....I got worried, cause now I couldn't see them, and fully expected to have them pop up along side or in front - barring our way - to show us this is their domain, and they know it far better than I.
It's interesting the things that go through one's mind when something so inherently wild - eyes, surrounds and out numbers you.
It's so beyond any one's control.
This day was going from bad, to inconceivably worse.
By sheer luck.
Sheer unadulterated luck - the dog and I are home. Gratefully home. Safely home. Home Home Home.
All the aggravation of society I needed to walk off - I embraced all the way home.
I was given perspective I didn't think I had asked for.
One of the strange thoughts that came to me was as silly as now knowing why man build their homes in close clusters, in tight rows together....man did that waaaaay back when, for safety.
To guard against things beyond ones control. Where help might be at hand.
Despite the fright, I will continue to walk. But not for a while.
That was partially my fault. Partially the nature of the day.
But entirely a sincere case of: being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Somehow, we survived the Crow Road.
The rest of the week is welcomed. If I needed to change my perspective and look at things a new...I now do.
As I type this - the fright of the reality is still there...I need soothing civilized music...a sense of enveloped safety.
Had they decided to do what they wanted....
....we'd still be out there as you read this.
....puts everything in perspective.
...but I didn't think I needed that sharp a lesson.
Thoughts also with the earthquake victims and survivors in China.
Nature is not always the gentlest.
The above is, horrifically, no exaggeration. This evening, a pardon was granted for trespassing on Wolf territory & domain.
Monday - being quite wrong from the start - needed to be walked off. I wanted to get centered, and perspective.
So the dog and I hopped in the car and headed for the tranquillity and peace of the woods.
And we had it all to ourselves for an entrancing, luring, and pacifying full hour.
The only natural sighting of any life was a murder of crows. No less than 40 of them - cawing up a storm.
Van Gogh would've loved the scene!
Crow Road is a Scottish phrase. To 'go the way the Crow road' is to die, or be killed.
I thought, nah...it's too gorgeous a scene to be a warning. Anyway, how could they possibly signal a threat,
when there were so many of them freely congregating like that...but, I stopped all the same, and told the dog to start heading back.
The dog and I got about 10 minutes on our way back along the wide gravel path, before I heard a low guttural growl on the gravel path behind me.
BOLD !
My first reaction, I naively thought it was just a fox. (a bold fox)
But no.
It trotted to within a much closer, intimidating distance, to give me a better look at him.
It was a wolf. Not a coyote. Not a Husky or Shepard dog.
A wolf.
And it was not backing down.
Never been in this situation before.
An instant look around for ideas, direction, what to do, where to go options, and I spotted 3 more trotting along to the east of it, in the the pines.
~Oh~my~God~
Now, my dog is a goofball who thinks everyone is good and kind, and everything loves him.
Add to that situation, and my having to *casually* get him to me, without getting the wolves to come to me, get-him-on-leash, and all without stopping our now equally determined stride - though all the while genuinely visualising the pounce - hit & feel - 4 wolves shoring my dog and myself wide open would be like - sometimes a visual mind is not an advantage).
I've experienced many rattle snakes encounters growing up, but not pack wolves out for sport.
They weren't hungry. Nor were they curious. They were just out for sport, and my dog and I were *it*.
I bought some distance by doing what I didn't think I would.
I hollered "NO" in a voice I have never heard from me. Then GO, when it continued.
I know from reading....pack animal mentality does not listen to, or follow an angry leader. And I know I sounded angry. And I know I instantly gave away my pecking-order for not being truly calm, but they now were within a 90 feet and closing in, and I was and hour away from help and people, and my dog was naively wanting to play, thus keeping them on our tails
The following sonic commands of FUCK! slowed them, made them growl, but it also got my dog's focus and attention!
I needed both of those things to happen. Just as much as I needed everything the wolves were visualizing, NOT to happen. ....could've done without the intimidating low resonant growls though!! That was unnerving.
Difficult keeping that at bay, when you're visualizing the very same thing!
Despite my yells they kept on trotting, following, and growling for many a winding turn.
When I saw they were off the gravel trail and dropped back into the forest....I got worried, cause now I couldn't see them, and fully expected to have them pop up along side or in front - barring our way - to show us this is their domain, and they know it far better than I.
It's interesting the things that go through one's mind when something so inherently wild - eyes, surrounds and out numbers you.
It's so beyond any one's control.
This day was going from bad, to inconceivably worse.
By sheer luck.
Sheer unadulterated luck - the dog and I are home. Gratefully home. Safely home. Home Home Home.
All the aggravation of society I needed to walk off - I embraced all the way home.
I was given perspective I didn't think I had asked for.
One of the strange thoughts that came to me was as silly as now knowing why man build their homes in close clusters, in tight rows together....man did that waaaaay back when, for safety.
To guard against things beyond ones control. Where help might be at hand.
Despite the fright, I will continue to walk. But not for a while.
That was partially my fault. Partially the nature of the day.
But entirely a sincere case of: being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Somehow, we survived the Crow Road.
The rest of the week is welcomed. If I needed to change my perspective and look at things a new...I now do.
As I type this - the fright of the reality is still there...I need soothing civilized music...a sense of enveloped safety.
Had they decided to do what they wanted....
....we'd still be out there as you read this.
....puts everything in perspective.
...but I didn't think I needed that sharp a lesson.
Thoughts also with the earthquake victims and survivors in China.
Nature is not always the gentlest.
The above is, horrifically, no exaggeration. This evening, a pardon was granted for trespassing on Wolf territory & domain.
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