September Sunshine

It has been sunny and in the 80s for quite some time now, and it will continue for at least another week.  Week Two of our mountain hiking training program has begun.  We have some warm walks ahead of us.  I am preparing for a major climb in the New Mexico Rocky Mountains.  It will be my 2nd attempt at Jicarita Peak, and at just over 12,700 it will be my 2nd highest hike.  Years ago our attempt was foiled by a mismatched water bottle, though it was a splendid hike and overnight stay in the high wilderness.  The roar of the evergreen trees as the wind rushed down off the mountain overnight will never be forgotten!  High altitude hikes are also planned for the Manzano Mountains southeast of Albuquerque, and in Texas.  I am attempting to climb to the highest point in Texas, located in Guadalupe National Park.  Lesser hikes (but still good for training) are planned at Palo Duro Canyon south of Amarillo, and in the Wichita Mtns in west Oklahoma.  Urban walks are planned along the way in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Springfield Missouri.  Those last four mentioned hikes will constitute Week 6 of our training program.  If the knees hold up, then the three big climbs will go ahead.  If not, we will find some breweries in Albuquerque and cry in our beer.  

 

Deb is not planning any big hikes, as she has had some breathing issues lately.  She went for lung tests Wednesday, and we are awaiting results.  Most places we will visit have a complete range of hiking difficulty, so she can choose less challenging ones for now.  Today she had a routine eye check up, and everything was good.  Wednesday we both went for routine blood work, and again all results were okay.

 

When I was in the throes of passing a kidney stone (or perhaps three of them), I was unable to sleep on my bed or on the couch.  Deb sleeps on a recliner chair, and I found it worked for me.  She took the couch.  So even though now I was back to my bed, I went ahead and purchased a recliner for night use, too.  With the right chair nights are very comfortable.  Mine was on sale and we got a very good deal.  It meant taking out the old queen bed (purchased years ago when we had three cats sleeping with us), which was a major undertaking.  The mattress was foam, but there was a lot of wood on the frame.  We put out a huge load of trash last night, and it was picked up today by the regular guys.  There is suddenly a lot of room in the upstairs bedroom!

 

Also this past week, a Purolater delivery truck pulled down and destroyed our internet wire.  We were without service for 24 hours, but it is now fixed and sitting a lot higher than before.

 

In other news, my uncle's obituary appeared in the Sudbury Star recently....

 

William Robert Whitehead (Bill)

April 14, 1932 - September 4, 2024

William "Bill" Whitehead, age 92. He passed away the same way he lived his life, on his own terms. He is survived by his sons Bill (Debbie), John (Marie), Jim(Taylor), as well as his daughter Lori. He is also survived by his two older sisters, Geraldine Ethier and Pauline Miller. Bill was a proud grandfather to his grandchildren and a great-grandfather to his four great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him immense joy.
Bill was always there for his grandkids, supporting them at the hockey rink, basketball games, or dance recitals. If there was a project to do, Bill was ready with his hammer, always eager to lend a hand. He played a pivotal role in helping his family build and operate the Penage Bay Marina for many years before moving on to construct the family cottage, which remains a cherished gathering place for the entire family.
He loved his many years hunting and fishing at Welcome Lake. Bill enjoyed snowmobiling with his family and even learned to ski at age 50. Known for his toughness, Bill also had a soft side, especially when it came to his grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his brothers, Jack and Jim Whitehead, and his sisters, Jacqueline Munavish and Evelyn Whitehead. He had many friends and Bill will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
Donations to ABCs & Rice at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/ or the Terryamescarefund.com would be appreciated.

Published online September 9, 2024 in the Sudbury Star 

 

In film news there are two to report.  In addition, we have finished watching Season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery.  I had watched the first two episodes on our flights to New Orleans and back to Detroit in March and got interested.  Though we will probably get around to Season Two, we will first go back to watch the final season of Next Generation (unseen by us), and then back to the 2nd season of Picard.  We are also 3 episodes into Season Two of Rings of Power, and are continuing to enjoy Peripheral, a story with 8 episodes.  More of that one tonight.  We are also viewing two Great Courses, one on detective fiction and one on Gravity.

 

Deb's film choices were from Criterion (leaving this month) and Mubi.  The leaving film was called The Taking, a documentary from 2021 about Monument Valley and how it is perceived today, following the influence of western movies, especially those of John Ford.  Though it is now Navajo land, and they have control of it, the movies filmed there were mostly pro white and against the native population.  It is unfortunate when iconic landscapes such as this are usurped by untruthful and less meaningful ideals, which then become fixed in the minds of people.  It's a good film overall, and does give more than one perspective.  However, it's point is that the Valley is so ensconced in the public's mind with the conquering of the untamed west that it may never escape that tedious label.

 

Leaving Criterion Sept. 30th. 

 

Next came a very poor example of Guy Maddin's unique storytelling methods.  His second feature is from 1990 and is called Archangel.  Taking place in 1919 Russia, a small village does not know that the war against Germany has ended, and so the fighting continues.  A soldier missing a leg is billeted by a small family.  He thinks he sees his deceased girlfriend in a village girl's face, and this sets off a long and tedious account of him trying to woo and win her.  The film goes in circles, and though only 77 minutes long, it seems much longer.  The look of the film is pure Maddin, with silent film techniques mixed in with avant garde use of camera, unique sets, and lighting.  However, the storytelling is pure rubbish.  There are much better Maddin films out there.  This one reminds me of the flip side of a 45 rpm record, with the big hit on side one, and some other musical trash on side two.

Now showing on Mubi.  

 

Mapman Mike