Life On A B-I7

The Remainder of Our Trip

I got back onto the snow today so the trip was not a complete bust. I don’t like sounding like a ski snob, but the skiing in Andorra is not all that impressive. Lots of blue trails and very few black runs. The blacks are short pitches with thin cover and they can’t hold a candle to the likes of Alta and Snowbird. It seems like the blues are what the locals prefer so that’s what the resort caters to. Like everywhere else around the world this year, the snow cover is thin. The greens and blues are well covered because they make a ton of snow so that’s where the only real action is. Skiing in Europe for age 75 and up is free everywhere, so it might make sense to come back in three years to some place like Les Trois Valles, if they are still granting visas to Americans.

After we used up our six-day pass, we made our way back to Barcelona for two days of sight-seeing. Barcelona is beautiful. It’s a very livable city, pedestrian friendly. The food is excellent and the people don’t hate Americans yet. My only real critique as far as this trip is involved is that the travel time is disproportionate to our length of stay in-country. It would be better next time to plan a minimum two week stay.

Andorra Day 3

I’m still recovering from last night’s trauma. I slept all day today until almost 5 pm.

Andorra Day 2

Our ski trip to Andorra in the Pyrenees took an unexpected turn last night. Shortly after falling asleep I had a seizure. It was significant. I didn’t know the people around me or where I was for twenty minutes afterwards. I was taken to the hospital for treatment and observation. Fortunately I made a complete recovery and all tests were clear. I say the following somewhat tongue-in-cheek, although every word is true. Shortly after my arrival in the hospital the attending physician asked me if I know who the president of the United States was? I replied “Donald Trump and he is destroying democracy in America.” The doctor looked at my sweetheart in the room with me and said, “he’s okay.”

Happy Birthday!

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 101

Deal with the choices that you actually have control over. Do not dally over matters that are outside of your control. What we can change and what we cannot change becomes the criteria for all decision making. Every moment you spend fretting over events outside your control is a moment not spent doing something worthwhile.

Andorra Day 1

After a long day of travel; Seattle to Munich, Munich to Barcelona, a four hour bus ride to the resort, we arrived in Andorra at the Sports Hotel at 11 pm. To be precise, it’s a 28 hour day. The hotel kept their kitchen open to serve our little group a late dinner. I was a bit overwhelmed by this show of kindness. After a delicious late dinner, we were happy to get tucked into bed for about six hours of sleep before starting our first day on the snow.

We traveled with our boots but rented skis and poles. The ski shop had Black Crows, my favorite ski, but I had to take a pair that were a bit shorter than I prefer. I purchased a six day pass for 150 Eu. That’s a deal. That is more than half the going rate for a six day pass because I’m considered a Senior (over 70). In three years the pass will be free, that will make a return trip here worth considering.

It was finally time to go skiing! This was my first day on the snow this winter! That is a very late start to the season due to the limited snowfall on Mt Bachelor, our home mountain. The surface was good, the temp hovered just below freezing. Lots of cloud cover which hindered visibility but that’s good for snow conditions. I got in some good runs and felt good even though the skis were too short. A good first day. We took our time exploring runs and getting familiar with the mountain, it’s big. There is a lot to explore here.

We stopped into the rental shop after we came off the hill and they had a pair of Black Crows in my preferred length so I swapped out. The fellow that helped me was awesome. I’m looking forward to getting on the snow again tomorrow!

Our hotel is amazing. This shot of the lobby gives you a small taste of what we are enjoying here.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 100

Happy Birthday

Once a year this day arrives. I like to look back and appreciate all the good things that I have been blessed with. There are many. Too many to recount here and anyway, that’s not the purpose of this post. The message I want to share in this moment is that I feel fortunate to have been allowed to spend another year with the ones I love. I’m grateful for the knowledge I have gained. I’m also grateful for the growth I feel in my soul. Difficult concepts to describe, but it’s easier to become aware of them when you take the time to reflect.

I am looking forward to the coming year. My plan is to treat everyone with respect and graciousness. I’m planning to continue as best I can to improve my mind and body. I want to continue to grow in understanding of myself, of others, and of the God force that is in all of us and in all things.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 99

Education means freedom. It also brings peace of mind. Pick up a book and read. It will set you free. More and more people are reading less. Studies have verified that. The more we read the better educated we are. The less we read the more susceptible we become to persuasion by people that do not have our best interests in mind. Stop listening and start reading.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 98

Are you studying philosophy or are you watching TV? That may seem like a silly question, who has time for philosophy? Maybe not philosophy per se, but the big questions in life deserve at least as much attention from us as we give to mindless pursuits like television. We should give time and energy each day to expand our understanding. The result will be growth and satisfaction.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 97

Were we born to be bad or were we born to be good. That is an age old question. Believe you were born to be good and you will find good works worth performing.

Let’s go Skiing!

Joe

I’m headed to Joshua Tree in a couple of weeks. That is the home of the California Desert Tortoise. I remember when I was a kid, probably elementary age, my Grandmother brought me a tortoise she picked up in the desert. She thought it would be a good idea for me to have one because at that age I was allergic to dogs and cats, almost everything in fact. Of course, it is illegal to remove a tortoise from the desert, they are protected, but that didn’t stop my Grandmother.

I named the tortoise Joe. I have no idea if he was male or female. That dian’t make a huge difference since the tortoise was 1,000 miles from home with very little chance of meeting another of his species living in my dad’s closet. Occasionally I would take Joe out of the closet and admire him, I discovered very soon that Joe was not like a dog at all, he didn’t want to play with me. I would give him some lettuce occasionally. He liked berries as I recall, but that was pretty much the extent of our play.

One summer day, not too many months after Joe came to live with us, I took him into the back yard to let him wander around in the grass and forage a bit. I set him down and left him alone for 30 minutes or so, when I came back he was gone. I remember being upset. I looked high and low but no Joe. We had painted our phone number on his shell, for just such an event. A few days later we got a call from a neighbor three blocks away enquiring if we were the owners of a “turtle.” Well, that was the end of Joe’s foraging days. Phone number or no, It was time to find him a better home. We did our best to remove the phone number from his shell and donated him to the Woodland Park Zoo.

I will never forget how thoughtful my Grandmother was, if not a tad bit misguided.

Writing

I want to write beautifully. I’m not talking about the words or the meaning, although that would be nice. I’m talking about how the writing looks when I put pen to paper. I want the writing to be fluid. I want each character to express itself as beautifully as it can. When I look at the page after I set the pen down, I want to be proud of what I see — even before I read it. That means taking it slowly and focusing on each moment of the experience. Sometimes the words in my head will get ahead of the letters that are coming out on the paper. That’s okay. I can hit rewind and retrieve them, but once the ink is on the page, I can’t go back. The essence of writing by hand is engaging the brain on multiple levels, physical and mental, simultaneously.

I want to ski the same way that I want to write.

RBG

“Fight for the things you believe in, but do it in a way that will cause others to join you.” —RBG

I prefer to say “make others want to join you for the right reason.” Good lesson to remember in these troubled times.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 96

“Character is fate.” —Heraclitus

Considered in the long run, character will carry you further than luck or associations. Always strive to build character rather than rely on your association with others.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 95

We need each other and we must be there for each other. We must also allow others to take care of us. This is as much a key to living as the law of gravity is a key to physics.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 94

“Crimes often return to their teacher.” —Seneca

When considering your course of action, remember there is a balance in all things.

I copied this right from the website Every Day Dutch Oven Cooking. I think this is going to be a good one.

Forget the grill this weekend, for your Memorial Day cook out why not try these Baked Hot Dogs in your dutch oven? I was so intrigued by this recipe when I saw it, one of my favorite ways to eat a hot dog is with a soft, steamed roll. By baking the hot dogs with all the toppings together, everything is wonderfully heated through and piping hot at the same time. I thought maybe the rolls would burn in spots but they were perfectly baked, warm inside and a little crispy on the outside.

Ingredients

• 8 hot dogs
• 8 hot dog buns
• 1 14 oz can chili with beans
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1-2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Sweet Relish

Directions

1. Lightly oil or spray Dutch Oven
2. Spread the inside of each hot dog bun with mayo, mustard, and sweet relish
3. Fill the hot dogs and place side by side in the oven
4. Top each dog with chili, cheese and onion
5. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes
6. Remove with large spoon or and spatula

Queso in the afternoon with chips is a real treat in the campground. You don’t just open a package and throw it into a pot. This one takes a fair amount of skill and care in the preparation. This is a real treat. Dip the chips directly in the Dutch Oven.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup finely diced white onion
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 4 oz can fire roasted diced green chilis drained
• 1/4 cup canned diced tomatoes (drained)
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/3 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ancho chili powder
• 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
• Dash of cayenne pepper for a spicier queso, optional
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/3 tsp table salt plus additional to taste as needed
• 12 oz can full-fat evaporated milk
• 8 oz freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese see note
• Corn chips for serving

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large pot or skillet
2. Add onion and cook until softened and translucent
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant then add tomatoes and chilis and cook until well-combined
4. Add minced garlic, diced Roma tomato (or canned), fire roasted diced green chilis
5. Sprinkle cornstarch over the ingredients and use a spatula to stir and cook until absorbed and no lumps remain
6. Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, pepper, and salt
7. Gradually drizzle evaporated milk into the pot while whisking. Cook, stirring or whisking, until milk is completely combined, warmed, and slightly thickened
8. Turn heat to low (remove most of the coals) and add shredded cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and completely combined. Taste-test and add additional spices as needed.

Dutch Oven Cooking

I’m cooking for eight guys in Joshua Tree National Park for three days. I’m assuming you are one of the many that sets an alarm every day to read each new post that I put up… Oops, I just realized that last bit I wrote after accidentally taking a second recreational gummy. I suppose demential has benefits. I’ll give myself a bit of time before continuing this entry.

Now that the gummy is beginning to wear off I can continue my rambling on Dutch Oven cooking. If you want good food in a campground, I don’t think you can do much better than to haul an assortment of cast iron ovens around in the back of your truck. There’s also the steel cook stand and all the accessories that go along with this sort of cooking. The benefit is you have available a wide range of menu choices from which to choose. Main dishes, side dishes, deserts, and everything in-between. You can do some of that with a stove, but not all. That’s what makes Dutch Ovens such a great choice, You can also use them at home in the back yard when you’re not in the campground.

For this trip, I tested all the recipes at home and fed my neighbors with leftovers for a week prior to heading out to Joshua Tree. The good news is I got good reviews from all the neighbors. The bad news is they are going to be expecting more of the same.

All of the recipes for this upcoming trip I found more or less at random. Some from the internet, some from the Lodge Dutch Oven Cookbook. Here’s the menu for the trip.

(1) Not in a Dutch Oven

I’m going to throw in a few surprises in addition to what’s above. I plan on a hot Queso dip with chips one afternoon, and maybe a baked hot dog lunch as well. I’m also going to be preparing breakfast on my bad-ass Camp Chef 3-burner stove top.

After I put this menu together I found the ultimate Dutch Oven cooking website. I can’t believe the recipes there. It’s going to be a blast making all of these!

Every Day Dutch Oven Cooking

Cheers!

1846

Wake up America.

“If you remove a dictator and put yourself in charge without an election you are a dictator.”

That is the best statement I have seen yet that summarizes Trump’s illegal and immoral action in Venezuela.

The second co-equal branch of government is asleep. The primary role of Congress is oversight. They are also the sole authority to approve an act of war. Their abrogation is appalling.

The third co-equal branch of government has completely lost any moral authority they might have once possessed. What could they possibly be thinking, weakening voting rights and raising the office of President above the law. And that’s is just for starters.

Welcome to 1846. How did that go?

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 93

Live a good life ruled by reason. Consider carefully at all times, are my actions in accordance with nature? Do my actions benefit humanity? Are my actions in accordance with truth?

We are Lucky

We don’t understand how lucky we are. As a country and as a world community. And yet there seems to be an abundant willingness to throw it all away. I heard someone that lives near me say recently, “I don’t do anything the government tells me to do.” I have no idea what that person could possibly mean. I can’t help but think that person needs to leave America and go live in Iran, or Russia, or China in order to fully appreciate how lucky we are.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 92

Find work that is satisfying and then bring something to that work that only you can provide.

Every event, no matter how small, is an opportunity to practice the principle of always doing the right thing.

Use either 10” or 12” Dutch Oven. This recipe bakes up very nicely but it should be allowed to cool before serving.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Melt butter in melting pot add sugar to incorporate
2. Mix dry ingredients
3. Best eggs
4. Fold butter/sugar mixture and eggs into dry mixture
5. Spread into parchment lined Dutch Oven
6. Dab bits of peanut butter here and there on the top
7. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top (optional)

Bake 15 to 25 minutes. For 10” oven use 7 coals on the bottom, 14 coals on the top. For 12” oven use 8 on the bottom, 17 on the top. Cool before cutting.

I lean toward non-fiction and poetry, contemporary novels don’t do much for me, but I haven’t completely ruled out fiction. There is some fiction on my Lifetime Reading Plan, so tackling a work of fiction is bound to happen sooner or later. Reading is a great way to keep your mind flexible and engaged.

January

Gitanjali
A Collection of Indian Poems by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore

Nine Lives
In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple

Rumi’s Little Book of Life
The Garden of the Soul, the Heart, and the Spirit translated by Maryam Mafi and Azima Melita Kolin