Roof Ecology

                    I look out on a surface was re-laid around 12 years ago, all black rubber and tar seams. It was pristine, replacing the mess that had bushes growing out of the surface. Over the years, though, things are bound to change. A reverie unfolds.

From somewhere comes gravel. First, just a pebble here and there. Then, larger accumulations collect near the drains. I suppose rain washes them into piles, but where do they come from in the first place?

My theory is that high winds pick them up off of fields and riverbeds, watersheds etc. Particularly tornadic-speed winds, which can throw a semitrailer like a toy. These must be carried aloft, and then eventually fall down with rain to collect on rooftops.

Anyway, the pebbles slowly accumulate. Pigeons make this particular roof their way-station and meeting-place – I'm sure they do with most other downtown roofs as well. So their droppings sprinkle the roof surface along with the pebbles. Sometimes there are larger droppings, since the crows like to roost there every winter. It would seem to me that all of these materials, along with a bit of silt carried in from the wind, could easily create topsoil on the roof surface, eventually. (If no maintenance were done, and if water was perhaps allowed to accumulate a bit more instead of being drained off.)

Do not know if roof maintenance includes spraying off bird droppings and gravel. But in any case, there is a substantial accumulation of debris on even a high roof over time. The birds pay a visit, the gravel and raindrops patter away, and the roof slowly wears over time. On this particular roof, the company has satellite dishes located, and such things. So undoubtedly there is some kind of cleaning routine that goes on. Despite the birds best efforts, the roof gets maintained, and any nests located too close to some kind of critical infrastructure get unceremoniously dumped.

But I like to play out a fantasy in my mind. The building, and the downtown area, gets vacated, by some major event. No more human occupation, it is left to nature. The 10-story building interior has no more air movement or ventilation of any kind. After a decade or two, the interior walls are covered in mildew and mold. Insects run amok in the basements. Perhaps some mice have made it inside. And the roof surfaces begin to get more coated with bird droppings, silt and eventually, seeds in the droppings. Some grass seeds sprout in the “topsoil” and grow. Soon, the roofs have a sparse carpet. More birds make their home – crows in the winter, perhaps sparrows, pidgeons and songbirds in the summer. Windows that were once tightly sealed develop tiny chinks as the building settles over time. Moisture that penetrates the building, along with any animal droppings and windblown silt, provide the new 'carpeting' on which more flora grow.

     The basement and interior floors might be populated by forests of fungi several feet tall, on the walls and floors. Bugs and rodents would make their way around in here. As our imaginary clock moves forward, to say over a hundred years, to two hundred, more windows get cracked by storms, or chinks develop. Minor building damage that would have been repaired is left to the wind and elements. More cracks and holes develop, and many more creatures get in.

     Small trees on the roof send their roots deep into crumbling masonry, speeding the process. Floors become caves full of detritus. Small critters battle it out, and some become food for larger prey. Birds populate the roof greenery, and the ground floors are crawling with rodents. Every few years, with enough wind and weather events, the building settles or crumples a bit further.

  

     At the 500-year mark, the building is hardly recognizable as a building any more. It is a tall mound of greenery. Interior spaces are largely populated with decomposed materials, soil, roots and the like. Where the roof once sat exposed to the elements, now there is a foot of topsoil with many growing plants on top. 

      At the 1,000 year mark, the building is a large mound, with very few intact elements.

Some of the plastics may survive in a browned-degraded state. Otherwise it is all streaked, discolored dirt and clay. And future civilizations returning to the area can only speculate and wonder what function this barely hinted-at structure performed. If they even detected that a structure existed.

Then I shake my head, awakening from this daydream. There is work to be done here, while I am around and alive and the building is intact! Onward, ho.

The adventure continues

     The great piano learning experiment continues. I try to forget the fact that I'm in my late 50's, and perhaps my dexterity is not as good as it was earlier in life. I practice playing some songs, and go through some built-in tutorials on my Casio Keyboard. (Unhappily, I find that trying to change the tones to a different sound I.E. to a synthesizer or guitar sound, will no longer work properly. Damn cheap defective keyboards.)   But as long as the grand piano sound works, I can use that to practice. Some songs are coming easier as I gain familiarity with the keyboard. It is a real pleasure to sit down and play some song running in my head, or at least the melody of it.

As for reading notes off of a songbook and playing them – or playing a bass line with one hand and the treble with the other -these skills are still far off. It seems enough for now to just get the feel of the keyboard and make the “correct” sounds. This musical adventure is gaining some tedium, some difficulty as I find the need to practice a whole lot. Sometimes my fingers go their own way, not the way I want them to. Sometimes I bang out a whole melody near-perfect one time, and can hardly do it the next. But it seems worthwhile to keep at it. After all, two months ago I didn't know playing a piano from teaching astrophysics. In a years time, who knows.  What fun  :-) 

Balancing

Visiting a place I attempted to move to 30 years ago.    Deep regret felt at first.  then the memories came of the people I met during my brief, 5-month stay there.   My roommates trying to set me up with someone.   Another buddy met, good times had, that Vietnamese restaurant he turned me on to in dinkytown, The Brie and crackers he served up in his tiny high-rise apt back then.  Several fine, kind people doing me good turns.  How could that be a waste?   That was a real boon, a benefit I would not have enjoyed had I not moved up there and gone through all the difficulties.

There is good and bad is everything.   Got to keep counting those blessings.  Like now I am so much older, yet still healthy and spry enough to go back and enjoy a tourism visit.   Thank goodness.

All Keyed up About Notes

Taking note of finger positions,

I launch into a tutorial.

Musical dreams come to fruition

only occasionally among all the

mis-pressed piano keys.

Videos are watched and easy guides read,

more practice is undertaken.

Slow progress,

fits and starts,

flashes of brilliant melody

punctuated by key misses

and some loud cussing.

I wonder if it was this hard

for the children starting out

in elementary grades,

Visualize teachers hovering over,

guiding and chiding and helping.

Those kids think they are miserable,

yet do not realize

how lucky they are.

I was the same,

which was why I avoided

music study in the first place.

Now I chat with folks who

learned five instruments by the

time they were thirty or so.

My eyes are opened anew,

even as my ears study the tunes

that correspond to this fresh

language of sound I am learning.

The wonder of discovery,

thrill of new achievements

just barely

make it all worthwhile,

even now.

Going to spin myself dizzy

on the Circle of Fifths,

so may you all

have a happy, musical evening.

Ciao.

Bars, meter, rhythm tempo

So, I've been jiving and jumping, swaying and humming to beats and tunes all my life.  Somehow I got bitten by the bug even worse in my  "older days" and want to learn how to make my own music.   Well, have been making poetic "music" of a sort.  But now am in it for real.  It is so exciting to learn this mysterious new language of notes, beats, bars and so forth.   Just hope I have the persistence  (and brain cells) to pull it off enough to play some tunes on a piano keyboard.   And then, perhaps, just maybe if I am ambitious enough, to write a poem about it all.  wish me luck  :-)

Endless water on July 19th

Rain, rain, rain

It was supposed to be sunny.

Rain, rain, rain

What will happen to a camp-out?

Rain, rain, rain

So much for the drought.

Rain, rain, rain

Now farmers can't complain

rain, rain, rain

but they will anyway...

Rain, rain, rain

gonna need a rowboat to get home

Rain, rain, rain

driving us all insane.

Three and a half inches later,

sunshine! And then,

Heat, heat, heat,

bow sweaty head in defeat

Heat, heat, heat

Need an ice cold drink

and a good air conditioner too

Heat, heat, heat

Swimming pool makes life complete.

Heat, heat, heat

Will fall ever get here?

Of course it will,

and we know what comes after that.

Snow, Snow, Snow.

Bitter, frigid cold

Snow, snow, snow

Wind cuts you to the bone

Snow, snow, snow

Slipping on icy sidewalks

snow, snow, snow

Heating bills shoot up.

Snow, snow, snow

(We never seem to get a break.)

A few days during the year,

the weather is near-perfect.

Mild temps, lots of sunshine, low humidity, soft breeze;

Time to kiss the ground in thanks, cause we all know

it will not last.

It is fun to share

Here is a picture of me,

it is me, plain to see.

If you want or if you care,

you may certainly share.

Share it high, share it low,

share it with a friend or foe.

Share it during the day, share it at night,

share it with kids who want a fright.

Share it with brown, black, white or gray,

Share it with transgender, lesbian or gay.

As you can see I really don't care;

Share it as much as you would ever dare!

If you even give a hoot, share, share share!

Then secret agencies can share it here and there.

Equilibrium

Asiatic lilies are blooming profusely,

adding color and splendor to the yard.

Wildflowers and tomatoes grow larger,

soak up rain and heat, transform into

waves of color and fragrance.

Inside, a thorny computer problem

gets confronted and eventually solved.

Websites reconnect, and happiness reigns.

A friend is phoned and plans are laid,

optimism surges for next month.

Things seem to be looking up.

The markets tend to echo these things;

today they move up in various categories.

A delicious counter to the downer times,

Gradual upbeat movements give a thrill.

We orbited a piece of Iowa around Jupiter

yesterday, and it sent back a good result.

From deep in space to here on Earth,

life provides some sparkling rewards

for putting up with all of the bullsh*t.

Sometimes, the days are bright,

And events proceed well and good.

So glad that all is not “gloom and doom”

Things set in balance as they should.

New collection just out

My new writing spree just came out on amazon.com - thanks for taking a look-see:

https://www.createspace.com/6393678

It amazes me

I move into a house in a lower-income neighborhood. People around me move, and new ones eventually move in. They act like it is their own corner of the earth. And when I try and talk to them, they are hostile, cool. As though I was not here first, as though I were some interloper threat. When it is they who are new compared to my time here. But they want to put up their fence and have their own little corner of suburbia, here in the 'hood. Fine and dandy. But show a little consideration for those who have been here far longer than you. Or at least talk to us in a civil manner, and not make nasty cracks and remarks behind your fence.

     On that score, some of the comments I hear from younger people are so irritating. As though my knee brace were some prop – they don't realize the knee pain I must battle daily to keep functioning. It is so easy when you are young, to judge those older and to expect perfection from them. One has to age and go through more of life to experience the loss and pain that helps transform one into an older person, as much as time alone does.

     Many times it requires an effort of will to simply go out and tend my yard anymore. I can remember in my 20s and 30's, gardening for others, and pining away for my own piece of property. But in the two times I have owned my own yard, both times have been less than ideal. There is always some neighbor unhappy about whether I cut something down, or not cut something down, or put in a new garden plot, or somesuch. There are always sarcastic or downbeat comments. It seems as though I am being mentally prepared to like life in some apartment or condo now- just as I perhaps was prepared to have a yard earlier in life. But I am never prepared for treachery, or baseless cruelty or bullying. Truly, I now understand why people go off the deep end, and open up with weapons. Nothing I do is ever enough for some critics. If only I could silence them, everything would be so much nicer, or easier to endure.

     As a disclaimer, I never go out into the yard nude, or shouting anything, or any other provocation. I simply go out to maintain my property. And someone just feels like they have to comment in some fashion. Once in a great while, people are gone, and that is a blessed comfort. I can go out and mow, weed, or whatever in the absence of criticism. That is once in a great while. If only the people with families would understand that I am no threat to them or their children. Rather, I could be a valuable friend, sharing my experiences as a gardener and homeowner. But people seem to have this black-and-white viewpoint and see me as the black hat for some reason. (If only I were exactly like them then they might approve???) But people are all different. I have no answer – but it feels good to complain about it. Some things never change.

Trip to International Falls

       I set out very early Wednesday morning, anticipating a long drive. Since traffic was light, luck was with me, and I made good time. Actually made it to International Falls at 3:05 P.M. (Time zone did not change.) Got checked in, rested, then had an early dinner at the Chocolate Moose, a local establishment right next to my hotel (Day's Inn). Good food and service, prices comparable to Des Moines. It was raining steadily from when I arrived until later that evening. But I was excited, wanting to tour.

     So I visited the downtown a bit, found a museum (closed), and then located Voyageurs Park headquarters. Took some pics there, then drove down 11 East to explore some public areas. Glad I did, for when I went out Wednesday morning, I knew where some good spots were to take pictures, dip my feet in the water, and even fish a bit. My line-tying skills were rusty, but improved with practice. Figured if you're gonna fish, you might as well fish in an excellent area like the one I was in.

Later Wednesday, I drove around, taking pictures. I Hiked the Overholzer trail at Rainy Lake area, and took lots of pictures. Then drove on out to Dove island, dipped feet in at a public area, and then (on my way back) waded at City Beach in Ranier. Ranier is a touristy area just 2 miles East of Int'l Falls, full of local charm. Took more pics, then got stuck by a train there. Finally, back to the hotel for a rest.

     Wed afternoon, got the MN state map out, and noticed the proximity of Lake of the Woods, just west. So it was back in the car, and off to points west. After an hours' drive, I was near a state park. I saw lots of lovely coves and docks, and many streams that Hwy 11 crossed over, and some pretty waysides by the Rainy River (that is its name.) All the while, I was skirting the border with Canada, just across the river. Decided to go in the State Park at the bottom of LOTW. After another long drive down a narrow gravel road, I finally found the beach. But was handsomely rewarded with spectacular views of the Lake of the Woods. Fortunately, before I set off, I had put on swim trunks under my clothing.

     I parked, found a good spot near the beach, and shucked the clothes. Waded into the cool water. It was shallow, and I had to wade out quite a ways to submerge. It felt great, to swim in the Lake of the Woods. (Only 45 years after my father brought us here to fish on a houseboat.) But when I got out, I discovered a lot of biting flies and bugs wanted to dine on me for dinner. Still, that is the price of being out in the wilds of the far northern US. Got more great pics, and a couple of videos. After an hour of that, I decided it was time to go. The biting insects hastened my decision somewhat.

On the drive back, I snapped a few more pics of Rainy River. There were several pullover stops I skipped, including one where there are rapids flowing into the river. Lots of places to go see on a return visit!

      I returned to the hotel, feeling satisfied that I had seen and done quite a bit, on a budget too, no less.

I celebrated with a pizza in my room, then turned in early. Friday was going to be a full day of driving back.

Friday, I returned via a different route, taking 53 south around Duluth, enjoying views of Lake Superior. Then it was down thru Wisconsin to Eau Claire and 94. Then a jog west off HWY 10, 25, finally crossed the Mississippi at Wabash. Saw more scenic views of Upper Miss bluffs area. (Note to self, another drive there). Then 61 to 90, 90 to 35, and 35 home. 

       A whirlwind trip, lots of things seen along the way. And 385 pictures taken, give or take a few. I was again amazed at all of the natural beauty up in our northern states, and recommend the trip to anyone reading this.

Thanks for reading.

Appearances

Back when I was 25,

wealth seemed quantified in donuts and coffee.

Perhaps wood-grain, leather chairs and silver service while

opening a new account.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Sure” – even though the

“right” thing to do was decline.

Today I cling to those last tendrils of youth,

letting hair grow and longing for Young.

Memories multiply and divide,

and I forget where I put things.

Life never changes,

all I know or can do is to be human.

Might as well be the best human I can,

while I still have time.

Hey, I still like donuts and coffee,

quite often now, they are nearly free.

- end

Some Summer Reading Ideas

Follow these links to some speculative fiction books.  Thanks.

Experimental Tales www.createspace.com/4973862

The Osmotics www.createspace.com/4661301

Mirror Worlds www.createspace.com/3633147

A Strange Enterprise www.createspace.com/4281639

Future Property www.createspace.com/3859469

Shadow Intersection www.createspace.com/4113022 

              *        *       *       *        

Kindle Editions                               

Shadow Intersection – Poetry:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWZNGYA

Future Property – Sci-fi short stories: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008HHEWVQ

A Strange Enterprise – Short Stories and Alternate History - www.amazon.com/dp/B00MXP9D7Q

Epic Prime Collection –   www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8107K0

Experimental Tales – www.amazon.com/dp/B01AWJSRBC

The Osmotics – www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDW1OFM

New Venture – First Contact in the Kuiper Belt – www.amazon.com/dp/B00U9URST2

- end

 

Loss

The loss of our mother was very tough;

Uncle Curly was sad, but not unexpected.

Grandpa went next – he had a good run, 102 years.

When Dad died it was horrible. A tough time.

So many relatives taken for granted, now gone.

Perhaps disliked or resented back then-

A younger person, trying to get his start,

envying those who had made it with seeming ease.

But later on the youngster is older, realizes

that nothing is easy, they couldn't have had it

that easy, nothing is guaranteed in life.

They made it through warfare and depression,

disease and unease and upheavals.

They made it to be able to sit around

a dinner table, share a drink and a laugh.

Many would be so lucky just to survive

what they did, and thrive and prosper.

As I sit here staring at old age coming,

I hope that I face it with the same grace.

Their memories will lead the way,

I'll trudge down the well-worn path

they traveled and see what it is like.

Somehow I'm not expecting a picnic.

- end

The rage in me, the rage in you

A driver stops, swears at and then runs over a motorcycle, injuring two riders.

Another frustrated driver losing control of themselves, and popping with rage.

It is easy to laugh at them, and wag a mental finger. Until it is me.

My case was special. I ran over something metal, and punctured my tire.

Had to get back home before the thing went flat. But – naturally – some slow,

lumbering truck pulls in front of me and drives about 10 MPH.

It doesn't take me long to lose it, drive around him, floor the accelerator.

Of course, I get pulled over, and chewed out. But fortunately for me,

the cop is not city police, but a private security officer.

After a lecture, he sees the tire, and says, “OK, go. You have enough air to make it home. Go.”

Once I cooled down and apologized, he was satisfied, and heard my explanations of

“I have a tire losing air and just want to get back to my driveway.”

I think on this later, not only that it was good I didn't just try and run from that guy, which would have prompted a call to the city police, but also how easy it was for me to lose my cool and speed around a vehicle in the first place.

Everyone has a limit. Some reach it sooner than others. But with traffic getting heavier, vehicles of all kinds on the roads, and the roads themselves deteriorating in some cases (what kind of metal sticks out of a pothole, and is sturdy enough to puncture my tire?), incidents of road rage will only increase.

I also blame the computer revolution somewhat. With gratification a mouse-click or finger-swipe away, it is easy to demand the same speed in all aspects of our living – including driving.

But driving is the very definition of an intricate, complex, often frustrating concert of actions and reactions. We must look all around, control a moving vehicle, watch out for what all the other drivers are doing. Often times there will be a distraction – music, a cellphone, or a passenger chatting. My normal mode of operation is to “let the hothead have their way.” Let any impatient driver pass, or change lanes cutting me off, etc. Believe me, my language at times could melt a nun's ear, but I still let the incident go. The mantra is to “Drive defensively.” It is a struggle to get around sometimes. Seems like so many are willing to take risks these days. And I'm not guilt-free in that regard.

Frequently I hate cars and driving, yet can't get by without either. So the show goes on. And I pray to the cosmic forces or whatever that I can make it downtown and back another day without an accident. The biggest danger is not the steel-and-plastic vehicles loaded with computers. It is the wet-ware behind the wheel we must all watch out for – including our own wetware. Thanks for reading.

Memorial Honors

They fought the good fight,

suffered privations, injuries,

Some made the highest sacrifice.

So we could enjoy a peaceful life

in civilized, well-fed comfort.

This is the day we give our thanks,

honor their sacrifices and memory.

Our salute to their bravery in battle,

their unceasing dedication in peacetime.

Thank You to our veterans, here and gone.

Thanks and Honors to all those

departed loved ones.

We shall never forget you,

on this day or any other.

- end

Iowa Greenery Today

Was taking a drive today, and had to snap some late may scenes of Iowa greenery, etc.  Enjoy.

Did Not See It Coming

No majestic spaceships landed,

no grand announcement over the airwaves.

Our TV signal didn't even change;

The Internet seemed its usual kind of crazy.

Only breezes wafted over us,

spring fragrances pungent,

perhaps a bit too much so,

then again, that is also normal.

But tiny atoms and molecules

spun and re-oriented as per instruction;

Hardly any of us felt a thing.

And when our bodies began to bud

and sprout new appendages,

it didn't really seem that unusual.

There are always those few resistant:

some got oozing, painful sores and howled.

Postings and stories began to circulate.

But the recalcitrant soon began to drop.

Automatic culling was highly effective.

When we all gained wings, tentacles and

350% more brainpower,

it somehow made sense.

This was the next step in evolution,

and the world was looking just fine.

What did it matter if it was not our idea?

- end

Cannot ride a bike in the wintertime

So nice to see the plans form

for splendid new skyscrapers downtown.

Gleaming exteriors of glass and steel,

they offer central city living at its finest.

Yet driving to downtown gets more

interesting day by day.

Fleur drive is flower-bejeweled yet bumpy,

a jolting, jostling ride to the inner core.

University is little better,

East 30^th gets patched regularly,

yet falls apart rapidly again.

The litany of bad streets could go on...

We should get these ambitious developers

to build new city streets.

Instead of bumpy asphalt lanes,

perhaps a smooth concrete road?

Instead of some pathetic excuse for a bypass,

one lane each way, and one sidewalk, with lots

of cheap little lightpoles – a parody of a new road;

we might get a four-lane divided road with two sidewalks.

Maybe they could charge tolls on them.

That would be worthy of the moniker “bypass.”

Or maybe someone could allocate a bit more money

to infrastructure, and a bit less to flowerpots

and corporate giveaways for low-paying jobs.

Perhaps it is time to learn Spanish, since

we are looking more like

Mexico around here every day.

• end

Solar Energy Dreaming today

I look out over the Iowa landscape, and see all of these immense wind turbines. Sometimes they are even turning, producing 'free' energy. I've never seen one that isn't painted white. But a thought occurred to me. They do have available flexible, thin-film solar cells. Since we are already using the vertical 'real estate' with these, why not coat at least part of each one with the flexible solar cells. This could provide a complement to the wind power, or even a replacement when the wind stops or slows. It would increase the power produced by each turbine assembly, and possibly greatly reduce the need for backup generators. 

I would recommend coating the lower sections of them, for ease of maintenance access and so forth.

See links:

http://solopower.com/

http://energyinformative.org/best-thin-film-solar-panels-amorphous-cadmium-telluride-cigs/

http://www.dunmore.com/products/thin-film-photovoltaic.html

Certainly something to consider – as long as they are spending huge amounts of money on these turbines, spend a bit more to coat them with solar cells. Thanks for indulging this thought experiment.

Shine on.