kestrel

Bits n' Bobs: mid-July 2022

Personal entry follows.
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Quick hits, and probably too much information.

Over two months at the eco-institute, and life is good. I've been stepping in as a co-instructor for a few of the current event's activities, and while the material isn't so familiar, being a facilitator is. Today in particular we were felling trees, peeling the logs, and stacking firewood. Found a lot of elk bones today.
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This is likely something with which only men can relate. While sawing with a two-handed, long-handle crosscut saw today, I couldn't help but notice that the motion provided plentiful, soothing stimulation to my scrotum as it brushed inside my boxers. I can see it now...

SOME GUY: "So kestrel, what are you up to today?"
ME: "Oh, just going out to cut some more firewood. I'll be gone for a few hours."
SOME GUY: "We already have over 40 cords stored up...! It's the middle of July, for cryin' out loud. You can stop now."
ME: "I have a feeling it'll be a cold winter. Gotta go...!"

Well, at least it encourages me to start work, eh?
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After overhearing a brief conversation about music today, I decided to join in and identify my top three bands at the moment: Sonic Youth, The Dead Milkmen, The MC5. Honorable mentions would be The OC Rippers, Led Zeppelin, Pixies (pretty close to the top 3, now that I consider it), Slayer, Refused, Johnny Cash. This is just off the top of my head.

I also think the documentary film "Grizzly Man" is approaching my top 5 favourite films. Were I to assemble a top 10 list, it would very likely be in there.
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I think I've laughed more this summer (to the point that I was gasping for breath, tears streaming from my eyes) than I have in any full year of my life. I think I'm at that age that when I laugh to such a gut-busting degree, I force all the air from my lungs and it's like the opposite of a smoker's cough.

This is not a bad time in my life for me right now.
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I'd written letters to old friends and coworkers over the past few months, as well as another letter to my Czechen penpal. I also re-activated my penpal account and edited my description to indicate my current life situation (it still mentioned stuff about my 9-to-5 non-profit job and the fact I lived and worked in a big city). It's been nice to reach out to people, even if I've yet to receive many letters back. When I go into town early Saturday mornings, I usually pick up a few donuts and a coffee, then dash off a letter while I eat my breakfast. Then drop off the letter when I visit the post office and check the PO Box.
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Not sure what my point was in recording these thoughts. Maybe I just wanted to be vulgar and uncouth, revealing to someone - anyone - that part about my clothes rubbing my balls while doing completely-unrelated work tasks. It's the little things, you know.