Reality, it's a?

Having to re-evaluate my plan again. My health has become a bigger problem over the last month. I am dealing with a particularly bad flair up of my IBS. In addition there have been some changes in the landscape that make for some problems with the original plan. The state of California is closing a third of the state parks. This seems to be a national trend as budgets get cut in the recession. Long story short bike camping on a large scale is not going to work out for a while. The level of medication I am taking makes me too fuzzy to write much. That and when I feel crappy I am not at my most creative. I find that becoming a bitter old man has failed to improve my mediocre talents. I have stabilized my living situation but now I need a new idea as "Unky Herb" would say. In the interim here are some local folks enjoying life to a samba beat.

A Little Zombie Jazz From The Not So Grimm Reaper

There is an art to helping a person to die well. I think it is one of my few actual skills. I liken it to composing jazz. One takes the underlying structures,
instruments and the tones they create with the music, medicines for the person and
then blend an escape. Today I am weaving a tapestry of morphine and Ondansetron with Gabapentin and Oxycodone to enable Don to be pain free yet still converse with his visitors.
Trying to find the right smells and textures for a person to eat when they have no appetite or when the yeasts and fungi have clouded the palette is another challenge. Tonight I am going to make a roast with potatoes and English peas but I suspect that Don will probably go for another cup’o noodles. Lots of sodium and msg but it is something he can taste and still swallow comfortably.
The texture of food is another aspect of the composition that matters more as taste buds fail and the sense of smell fades. The other measure, the minor counter balance is to know when not to force food. You are not going to build up their strength that way and you may do more harm both by guilt and by too much gas.
We are fighting the swelling of ankles today striking a balance between elevating feet and sitting up to be alert. Trying to walk a bit each day to keep the joints supple and knowing when that walk causes more distress than relief.
It is an arrangement I have rewritten many times but it never seems to get any easier to hear the tune played or to pay the piper.

Compromise is not always a good thing

The much anticipated Senate “Gang of Six” bill was put forth today by Montana Senator Max Baucus. Follow the Link to the PDF . I took most of the day to read it and I must say I am not happy. This is not the plan we were promised during the election. If this is what passes for reform than we are pretty much boned.
There is no public option in the bill, there is a provision for cooperatives but no public option. We were promised in writing.
“Specifically, the Obama plan will: (1) establish a new public
insurance program, available to Americans who neither qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP
nor have access to insurance through their employers, as well as to small businesses that
want to offer insurance to their employees; “ from the Obama plan PDF page2
There is a tax placed on the reciprocation of drugs.
The Chairman‘s Mark would increase the rebate for non-innovator, multiple source drugs to 13 percent of AMP. Page 53
The Chairman‘s Mark would impose a fee on any person that manufactures or imports prescription drugs for sale in the United States. Page 217
What we were promised during the campaign.
Drug reimportation. The second-fastest growing type of health expenses is
prescription drugs.46 Pharmaceutical companies should profit when their research
and development results in a groundbreaking new drug. But some companies are
exploiting Americans by dramatically overcharging U.S. consumers. These
companies are selling the exact same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging
Americans a 67 percent premium.47 Obama will allow Americans to buy their
medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are
lower outside the U.S. from page 10.
Looks like the drug dealers made a pretty good compromise. Protectionist policies continue and now they will have a captive audience.
The worst part of the bill in my opinion.
Beginning in 2013, all U.S. citizens and legal residents would be required to purchase coverage …. “ page 31
The mandate with a fine. $750 per year. For the poor, 100 to 300% of the poverty level. However, the maximum penalty amount a family above 300 percent of FPL would pay is $3,800.
The mandate was supposed to come later and only after lower premiums failed to get everyone to purchase coverage. The trigger was supposed to be for the mandate not the public option.
The details are still sorely lacking but the general tenor of the bill is full of loopholes and grandfathering. The fees tend to kick in in 2010 and any benefits tend to begin in 2013.
Hospitals that have physician ownership and a provider agreement in operation on November 1, 2009 and that met other specified requirements would be exempt from this self-referral ban. Page 177 for example.
And the big one Pre existing conditions. This for many the point of reform. What we were promised :
“Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away FROM ANY
INSURANCE PLAN because of illness or pre-existing conditions. “
What we get under Baucus:
Within a year of enactment, any uninsured individual who has been denied health care coverage due to a pre-existing condition can enroll in a high-risk pool. Page 5
If you have cancer or other progressive type disease you might be dead in 6 months or bankrupt.
The rules for the small group market would be the same as those for the individual market, except that they would be phased in over a period of up to five years beginning January 1, 2013, as determined by each state with approval from the Secretary. Page 6 so the pre existing thing may not go away until 2018?
The ambiguities in the bill are going to lead to more government takeover nonsense but I am not going to be specific as the lunatic fringe on the right doesn’t need my help.
We are being sold out to the corporate masters in this bill. Will The President make good on his promises? We await his response. Bear in mind that the Missouri compromise preserved slavery for 40 odd years.

Close encounters ofthe Radmul kind

A trip that began with watching Roy Neary play with his mashed potatoes and ended on a wind blown plain in Wyoming was 25 years in the making and with the help of three little birds it is one I will spend a lifetime remembering.
I am by no means ancient but today’s Sci-Fi fans have no Idea how lucky they are that they live in the age of computer-generated effects. Lets face facts the original Star Trek was pretty lame but it was all that we had. That was Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The space ship on the Devils Tower scenes were cool enough to make up for the corn, in addition I did develop a crush on Teri Garr. As with everything Spielbergian it is too schmaltzy for me, he ruined Jurassic Park by not getting the book but that is a separate matter.
The lingering image of the Devils Tower stayed with me as it stayed with Roy and when the chance came I took a day and watched the clouds race across the face of one very unique landmark.
The geologists call this type of formation an igneous intrusion. Magma crystallizes underground forming a Pluton, (named for the god of the underworld) and when the softer sediments erode around it you are left with one ancient hard on. The oldest rocks date to the Triassic period. While the details of its formation are still being debated it is undeniably cool.
The landscape approaching the Tower is straight out of a western film. It sits in the northeast corner of Wyoming near Sturgis S.D. and in the days of the cattle drives
This area was one of the largest shipping points for livestock in the country. Lots of grasslands and Ponderosa Pines the Black Hills are the homeland of the Lakota Sioux. They have some legends about the forming but for me sitting there watching the shadows of clouds drift across the face imagining the millions of years it took to emerge from the earth is much more awe-inspiring. For me the truth of nature is more wonderful than superstitions and legends.
I approached from the south about midday stopping in a large turnaround approximately 10 miles from the base. Had the place to ourselves as in November the tourists are nowhere to be found. The wind blows all the time or so it seems, wind power should do well there and cold. man it was cold.
After fixing a beverage I stepped out to stretch my legs in the sun and take the measure of the place. It was loud; I am talking hard to stand up to rushing past your ears driving rational thought out of your brain loud. The long grass was rippling and the tree branches swayed as a few isolated clouds cast fast moving patches of blackness against the green and grey. Writers throw the term azure blue sky around but that is the only phrase that fits that day. Eventually the wind drove me back inside and the silence was a relief but it was also a disconnect cutting the line to ET so to speak.
No army helicopters with sleeping gas flew over, not a single saucer with flashing lights and sounds like a Simon game landed on top and the few cows and sheep in the fields were immune to the nerve gas if it was around. These were the thoughts running through my mind as my wind chapped face warmed in the gentle rocking of the RV.
A movement caught my eye off to the west as a large majestic bird drew my attention away from the tower. I was expecting a hawk or crow but the white crest and dark brown body screamed eagle at me. I followed his path westward a second bird came into view and then I spotted a third much higher in the sky.
The two lower birds began to circle alternately flaring their wing and tail feathers to catch the wind. They rose 100’s of feet with barely a flap of those graceful wings over several minutes. I thought they were going to join the third and drift off into the heavens but that was not the case. The two stayed about the same level as each other as they rose but always kept a respectable distance from each other. All at once they both folded their wings ducked their white heads and dove at the central point created by their circling. It was so sudden and utterly unexpected that I let out an audible gasp.
After passing within what appeared to be an inch of each other at breakneck speed they spread their wings into the wind and began to climb once again. As the dance continued for pass after pass eventually one bird emerged higher than the other after each run and the two were gaining altitude over time.
As I watched in awe at the power and majesty of their ritual it ended as abruptly as it began. One of the two finally came level with the third and those two flew off together as the laggard turned west and sailed away alone.
I felt a twinge of sadness for that lone bird and wonder how the other two faired. Were they going to mate? Did they nest and start the next generation? I like to think so just as I like to think Roy found happiness on that alien world.
While writing this I learned that Teri Garr has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This is the same horrible disease that claimed my wife Cary. They have a few treatments for it now but still no cure. If you are so inclined drop by here to learn more or possibly help out with a donation.
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Another wierd Wednesday

Spent the day in a funk from the foggy morning to a spacey night. I had a good ride but the new bottom bracket for the machine has still not arrived. The slop is getting a bit worse leading to occasional shifting problems. When your knees are sore missing a shift hurts like a bear. I feel better after this long ride than I did after the last so that is an improvement but I need to figure out a way to keep from getting as dehydrated as.I have been. I am going to sweat and I am drinking lots of water but at the end of the day I am still low on fluids leading to cramps and constipation. Tried the electrolyte drink they were handing out samples of at the tour but it was not the tastiest of beverages. Gator aid and the like tend to have more sodium than I want but at least it tastes good.

Did find an interesting new website from Microsoft called the World Wide Telescope. Killer space shots and talks on astronomy and cosmology but as with all things from the Micro softies it is a pain in the ass to install and get working. Another in a long line of mixed outcomes today. Anna's cam show was the same thing. Enjoyed the chance to chat with my friend but tech problems screwed it up half way through so I was frustrated waiting around for a tech fix that never came.

Want to ride north again this weekend after laundry tomorrow. The Kinetic sculpture race is coming and I plan to hang out and shoot some footage as I ride along. Rocky the porch cat says "hey."

Radmul rides south

Headed south for the day put in a long ride close to 40miles in 5 hours. focused on the ride and did not get a lot of pics. A few of the steep hills stopped me for a short break but other than those gasping for air moments I rode continuously. The terminus of my ride was at hwy 36. Wanted to see how it was riding toward Fortuna for the tour of The Unknown Coast in May
I need to do this about every other day when I am not camping if I am serious about getting in shape. Hope to head south for 4 days on Tuesday morning weather dependent.

Arcata Square and beyond

Don't know if they ever had enough drive-in theaters in the east but they might make an interesting theme. When I was in high school the drive-in was out by the cemetery. We would score a six-pack of whatever was cheap I got Old Milwaukee at the pizza place I delivered for at 90 cents a sixer and hang out on the graves and watch horrible films. Linda Lovelace for President, Enter the Dragon and the Gone in 60 seconds with Ron Howard. I am sure others of my age and a bit older have those same types of memories. Might make a good theme. Did a long ride to Arcata and back with some major detours that added up to close to 50 miles. I am dog tired while I get this ready for the web. The youtube Radmul channel has the new vid if the imbed fails. As always there are more photos at flickr page.
On the charity front I am shocked, shocked I say to find that there are a lot of scumwad types on the net. Since the first couple of groups I started to interact with turned out to be crooks I am going to include links to well established charities like. SPCA international. In the posts at appropriate points and perhaps some of you will donate to the cause.

Part One of, “My night at the top of the world.”

Blog nonsense.
Went out and found a water purifier today so next trip we can avoid the crypto and whatever. A good day for a ride and I got a few more pics of the local merchants I have been finding supplies at.
I have as of yet not been able to get back into the state of mind I found yesterday. The creative process being what I am interested in exploring I thought I would share a little on the subject before I post the first part of that story. I am enjoying blogging and the linking thing is very interesting. Something audaciaray said on twitter got me to thinking, “working with video is interesting in a different way than working with text.” Working in Blog is a subset of text that is unique from standard prose. I think about the telling differently in some ways. I think it has the potential to be very creative but it also has a tendency to break my focus. Looking for the link I have lost the train of the story but that can be part of the fun. The synthesis of original and sampled material can work well but I think it will take a great deal of practice for me to do it well.
I find that I am a bit verbose in some of these posts and I think in this case size is important. Too long can work against readership in an ADHD world 700 or 800 words should be a max I am thinking. On that note here is Part One of, “My night at the top of the world.”
It was a bad time for me. I was heading to Newport News to stay with my dad. He had colon cancer and needed more help than my sister or his wife were willing to provide. I had flown out to see them and hung out for 3 wks and they talked me into moving in with them for the duration. I needed to store the motor home and if I was going to deal with my family for any length of time I needed to get some Green. It was a stressful time as I was also giving up tobacco. The quitting smoking stuck after about 6 months of off and on with the help of nasty skin patches and gum. At least as far as tobacco anyway. There were no storage spaces that I could find in a hurry so I took the rig east and stored it in Hampton roads. I will get to my eastern adventures in the future but I felt it important to set the tone a bit before I take you to the top of spine of the dragon.
In Le Morte d’Arthur Merlin refers to a rocky mountain range in Britain as the spine of the dragon. The men that built the transcontinental railway thru from the west, mostly recruited in southern China brought their legends of dragons to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the valley before it. As a teller of tales I feel free to blend those legends into my own as I tell the story of a cold dark night of the sole spent on spine of America’s dragon.
Vail pass on I 70 is 10,666ft and near its top there is a rest area that I had all to myself on this particular night. The contrast from my day was profound. I had driven thru Arches National Park or as I like to call it Wiley Coyote National Park after the roadrunner cartoons. Out of Utah and up the Rockies it gets greener and fresher and the sky becomes a deeper purple blue as the sun sets in the backup cam. I like driving at night when I am trying to make time and because I didn’t want to get were I was going I had stalled as long as I could without sticking it to my sister. That and when you stop in highway rest areas in a motor home the freakin trucks run their engines all night but they leave early so I like to pull in late.
I will post part two in a few days in which our hero comes to a decision. No mean feat for a world champion procrastinator

swollen joint blues

I have been trying to maintain the training but I have been feeling like crap since the Camel rock trip. The glands in my neck have swollen as have my knees and the painfull burning in my finers has returned from a few hour long rides. I shaved my beard to get a look at my glands so I have an odd look for me sort of Fester with freckles. LOL I hve been monitoring my bp and it has remained high so I am not sure what is going on. The glands do not feel hard or encapsulated so I may have picked up a virus somewhere. I will wait a few days but if I don't improve I may have to go back to the doctor.