• Sleep masters

    I find sleep to be a cruel mirage that taunts me while I search for its mystical powers. I go to bed out of a sense of responsibility and impatiently wait for another restless nite to begin. The process eventually ends when I awake in a coffee-resistant fog. It seems slightly less than ideal. All… Continue Reading

  • Wildlife Olympics Spawn Controversy

    The Wildlife Olympics have received little media attention given the unfortunate timing of the Summer Olympics. For the beleaguered wildlife representatives from western Canada, that’s probably just as well. The group started out with such promise, particularly in the synchronized swimming event. However, if the waterfowl team wins a medal, it will be without their… Continue Reading

  • A painful price for beauty

    A photo may be worth a lot of words but in one case that was not enough! Looking at my Hawaiian ocean photos during the last few days transported me back to a rather unpleasant experience. My memory may have seemed more vivid since I was nursing a face swollen beyond recognition from dental surgery.… Continue Reading

  • End of the road

    I find few things as satisfying as closure. On Hawaii’s Big Island we had the fun of following a road until it stopped at the edge of the uninhabited Polulu Valley. It was the end of the line. Our “pot of gold” was a spectacular view across the ocean with enormous cliffs carving into the oncoming waves. The… Continue Reading

  • Defying the odds

    I like the underdog. There’s something about beating the odds that makes a satisfying story. Today’s example is from an unusual place … but first a little background. My relationship with plants is complicated. Perhaps it’s because I’m constantly looking for maximum results with minimal effort. I like it when the plants I enjoy grow… Continue Reading

  • Chasing lava

    It’s hard to imagine watching lava flowing off a mountain. Even though we went to Volcano National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island it will likely have to remain part of my imagination. The smartly dressed park ranger bluntly told us it was extremely rare to see lava despite amazing photos of lava all over the… Continue Reading