Posts Tagged ‘cold camping’
isolationist paradise »
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Some of you (being the crispiest bits of societal upper crusts) are probably looking for a weekend away from everything and everyone. Cruises, private islands and losing the rest of your Boy Scout troop do the trick but (with your 401Ks resembling your depleted soul) you’re likely looking cheaper and most of you aren’t in the Scouts. Look no further than a late-November weekend in the St. Croix Valley.
Why would I voluntarily go to Taylors Falls for anything, much less a weekend in the cold before there’s snow, you ask? You’re not paying attention. That very question puts it on the must-visit list for anyone looking to avoid anyone.
I was just there with four others this past weekend. It’s a ghost town. We were the only ones in two different bars and had Guitar Hero to ourselves at a third on Friday night. Saturday, we were the only ones in the campground (for good reason) and in the Red Brick Grill (for dinner) for the first half hour.
There’s no riffraff, no differently-minded conversation and no conjestion. The service is great and the pace is lax. If you have appropriate gear (which, sadly and uncomfortably, I did not), relaxation abounds. It’s easy living on a pinched wallet.
Also, two servers mentioned Dalles House as the shiz, with live music, a chill scene and general entertainment. Obviously, you should avoid it like a Smallpox blanket. I can only imagine local drunks, high-energy and fun had by all.
All those defeat the purpose of hiding from stock holders, fleeing an assault charge or never going back to that hospital with all the pills, ever, because the voices hate the pills. Which is the only real reason for holing up in such a place.
Snaps are in the usual places, video too.
friday free for all »
Friday, November 21st, 2008
Only one today because (you’ll probably agree) it’s long in itself. That and I’m cold camping Saturday night and need to reserve energy so I don’t pull a Doogie Howser from “Snowbound.” (Tough reference but seriously, just knowing the low is twenty-four sent my balls AWOL.)
… Yesterday, after a tweet from @garrickvanburen I “typealyzed” my posts and tweets. Chasm is a “socializer,” which means (typos aside):
The social and opiniated [sic] type. They are especially attuned to the feelings of themselves and others. They tend to be very aware of the values of their peer-group and tend to see things as either right or wrong, good or bad. They tend to be traditional and value their friends and family the most.
The Socializers are down-to-earth, practical people and very keen on making sure everyone is alright. This quality makes them enjoy social work places. Since they enjoy beeing [sic] and keeping things neat and tidy, they often also enjoy working in such environments.
My tweets come up as a “mechanic:”
The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generelly [sic] prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.
The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.
I don’t know the algorithm that goes into something like this but I can agree with a few things: “social,” “attuned to the feelings of themselves,” “see things as… wrong,” “independent,” “masters,” and “working as… firefighters.”
Also, to prove (read: without proof) I don’t think much while writing (really should be obvious by now), here’s a graph (or something) of the parts of my brain that are active while typing to Chasm:
active parts of brain