COTOPAXI
TUNGURAHUA
TUNGURAHUA
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
BETTER LEARN IT NOW
Learn all you can in as many fields as possible while you are still young!!!
When you get to my age you will remember a great deal of what you learned up until about 55, but you won't remember what you read yesterday. I used to see a fact in a book and it immediately became a part of me, sticking like slime for years. But now, I see something, hear something, read something, even do something and it is gone the next day. It makes perfectly good sense and I understand it at the moment, but later?
The other day a journalist told me that another anthropologist told her I am a walking encyclopedia on Waorani. If she only knew that the print in the encyclopedia is getting blurred and some of the pages are even falling out! All that is really intact is the title on the well-worn cover that others see.
Then there is motivation. Everybody I talk to who is my age complains about not being motivated to do much. Hence, the rocking chair image of old folks. I ain't there too severely yet, but it is creeping in. I really noticed this in a friend the other day . He used to be sharp as a razor, challenging everything. Now he just sort of floats along. Of course, mellowing with age has a lot to do with it. You realize that being right all the time isn't that important and that it is ok for others to be dead wrong. No point in letting them know it. (except, of course, your wife...)
Motivation is one reason I don't want to retire for awhile; I need the challenge mentally and emotionally to keep me from becoming too old too soon. Friends my age or older say if they don't work, they just want to sit in a chair and read or watch TV, even sleep. Glad I hate TV. I keep forcing myself to learn new things for this very reason. Every winter I try to take on a new project that will push me to my limits intellectually. Last winter it was the archaeology of Peru. (Great, I immersed myself in it and today couldn't even tell you where Peru is.) Two winters ago it was learning to make furniture (the desk), but can't seem to finish Kathie's section even though the wood has been setting in the basement 6 months. (I'm letting it cure?) Forcing myself to learn is a big part of learning Photoshop, which is a big challenge mentally, but also has a payoff for the ranch and our advertising. Best part of this project - at my age I will probably get to learn it two or three times.
Damn, I hate this gettin' old part. Everything is harder.
When you get to my age you will remember a great deal of what you learned up until about 55, but you won't remember what you read yesterday. I used to see a fact in a book and it immediately became a part of me, sticking like slime for years. But now, I see something, hear something, read something, even do something and it is gone the next day. It makes perfectly good sense and I understand it at the moment, but later?
The other day a journalist told me that another anthropologist told her I am a walking encyclopedia on Waorani. If she only knew that the print in the encyclopedia is getting blurred and some of the pages are even falling out! All that is really intact is the title on the well-worn cover that others see.
Then there is motivation. Everybody I talk to who is my age complains about not being motivated to do much. Hence, the rocking chair image of old folks. I ain't there too severely yet, but it is creeping in. I really noticed this in a friend the other day . He used to be sharp as a razor, challenging everything. Now he just sort of floats along. Of course, mellowing with age has a lot to do with it. You realize that being right all the time isn't that important and that it is ok for others to be dead wrong. No point in letting them know it. (except, of course, your wife...)
Motivation is one reason I don't want to retire for awhile; I need the challenge mentally and emotionally to keep me from becoming too old too soon. Friends my age or older say if they don't work, they just want to sit in a chair and read or watch TV, even sleep. Glad I hate TV. I keep forcing myself to learn new things for this very reason. Every winter I try to take on a new project that will push me to my limits intellectually. Last winter it was the archaeology of Peru. (Great, I immersed myself in it and today couldn't even tell you where Peru is.) Two winters ago it was learning to make furniture (the desk), but can't seem to finish Kathie's section even though the wood has been setting in the basement 6 months. (I'm letting it cure?) Forcing myself to learn is a big part of learning Photoshop, which is a big challenge mentally, but also has a payoff for the ranch and our advertising. Best part of this project - at my age I will probably get to learn it two or three times.
Damn, I hate this gettin' old part. Everything is harder.
Monday, January 3, 2011
HOLIDAYS ARE OVER; NOW WE CAN REST
Fortunately, this season was a very busy one for us at Latigo. It was great to host the Bakers, friends from years ago who have moved to the Durango area. But now everyone has departed and we are trying to catch our breaths. The snow seems to have no inclination to rest though. We have a 2 week break before the next round of guests.
Having family here is always the highlight of the year for me, although I suspect they get very bored when Kathie and I are working most of the day. Natasha helped Kathie with housekeeping cabins daily during her "vacation", which was a real lift for Kathie. Next year I hope all the kids can make it.
One of our British guests asked if she could do some shooting, so we ended up with .22 pistols and rifles, 9mm, 45 cal., .22-250, 30.06, .300 win magnum at our "range", with every guest (mostly women) wanting to be a part of it. I am often surprised at how many people really get into it. BTW, my 300 was spot-on at 250 yards, but 2 rounds with that were enough to make the shoulder sore for a day.
Next project (in addition to getting cabins fixed), is getting the old, but new for us, snowblower to function the way we think it should.
It's hard to think about summer, but now I need to start interviewing applicants for summer work. As usual, I have a stack of potentials, but nothing from any men yet. Do men always procrastinate? Or are women always just uptight?
JIM
Having family here is always the highlight of the year for me, although I suspect they get very bored when Kathie and I are working most of the day. Natasha helped Kathie with housekeeping cabins daily during her "vacation", which was a real lift for Kathie. Next year I hope all the kids can make it.
One of our British guests asked if she could do some shooting, so we ended up with .22 pistols and rifles, 9mm, 45 cal., .22-250, 30.06, .300 win magnum at our "range", with every guest (mostly women) wanting to be a part of it. I am often surprised at how many people really get into it. BTW, my 300 was spot-on at 250 yards, but 2 rounds with that were enough to make the shoulder sore for a day.
Next project (in addition to getting cabins fixed), is getting the old, but new for us, snowblower to function the way we think it should.
It's hard to think about summer, but now I need to start interviewing applicants for summer work. As usual, I have a stack of potentials, but nothing from any men yet. Do men always procrastinate? Or are women always just uptight?
JIM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)