ready, set. . . .

Your dream’s in a suitcase…face to the wind
That moment is over…and so it begins
You’ve got a long way to go
Such a long way to go
-the rembrandts

Well, I’m just about packed. Tomorrow at around 4:30 am I’ll head out to the interstate and head south to Chicago for the Windy City Symposium. You know, I can never say “Windy city” without a giggle. I should grow up!!

So tomorrow I will be working with Bonnie Perry for a rolling class and then Saturday we have a traditional paddling class for the day. Bonnie is in charge. . . (big time) Sunday, it’s Wind and Waves, followed by a tour of the urban canyon LOL!

shaft

Who’s the black private dick
That’s a sex machine to all the chicks?
SHAFT!
Ya damn right!
-isaac hayes

Well I got my replacement Lendal shafts. Of course working at Rutabaga, they trust my story LOL! Yet I can see how hard it could be for someone to go into a shop and say, “they just broke” and have the shop understand and not think you sat on the thing. It does not help when there are dishonest people out there just trying to get a free replacment for their own silliness. But I know there are times when I think I should have documentation and witness statements!So today I was thinking, for all you honest types out there who have legitimate problems with gear. . . I feel for you. .

and then there is the eraser. . .

Summer! Yarg! Always somewhere to run too. Which means you get a short, unimportant post (usually they are just unimportant!!. . ) This one to remind you that the Windy City Symposium is this weekend. I just got my class assignments for the symposium, “rolling, rolling, rolling” Guess my Acuta’s going LOL!

So my son came out into the office to give me a drawing of Dad and Gryphon, and an eraser. I said, “Thanks buddie, now if I make a mistake on the computer I can just erase it on the screen”. He said, “Yep” and walked out of the office. . . hmmmmmmm

Wow dude, all the colors of the bow!

Sunshine, lolly pops ,and rainbows
everything thats wonderful is what i feel when were together
Brighter then a lucky penny
when ur near the rainbows disapear here and i feel so fine…
just to know that you are mine.
- brand new

Now before I go off on my daily mushroom induced voyage, I wanted to make sure to tell you that Hadas & Tomer have begun updates from their expedition around Newfoundland. Check out the Terra Santa Blog here. My best wishes go out to them on this great adventure!

So without further adieu, let’s think about rainbows shall we!?

A response

Ok guys. I know. I’ve received multiple emails from around the country, well, the world actually, telling me “Derrick, I know that this is not true.” To each person that has emailed me, I have responded personally. I have also explained why I just feel it is not right to get into a public argument. I’m deeply hurt and disappointed with what has been said. Especially given the time I have put into working to help Wendy promote her paddling career long before I knew her personally. Frankly I’ve never been attacked like this before, by anyone. Those who know me, know I am not a spiteful, mean or dishonest person. I’ve been just shocked by this.Yes, there certainly are more “facts” than are being told. But what would you have me do? Jump in the mud too? You all have read my writings for some time now and know that I am not a mean spirited person. It’s degrading. Of course being attacked is degrading too, but the thought of responding in kind makes me queasy. I can’t do it.

Wars & Memories

Well, take me back down where cool water flows, yeah.
Let me remember things I love,
Stoppin at the log where catfish bite,
Walkin along the river road at night,
Barefoot girls dancin in the moonlight.
-ccr

I am against war as a solution. But I’m not stupid either. Man will always wage war. Humans are funny that way. And as much as I hate to say it there are probably times when taking up arms is. . well, unavoidable. I mean I think we all agree that a person or society, or country attacked has every right to defend itself. When to defend, and when to be passive can certainly be debated. On the other hand of course we can also I think, agree that historically nations have also taken advantage of that right to gain more than just “defense”. One example I think is Russia at the end of world war 2 which was easily on the defensive, but used that position to annex neighbors in the end. Self-defense can be used as veiled aggression. Some of course see 9-11 in that light. For my part I’m not going to go into my personal politics. Most of the time I think the whole herd is crazy! LOL!

gray escapes

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
- paul simon

Paddlers all have their reasons. Fitness, fishing, exploring, floating, you name it. Some I’m sure, even seek fame. Really we’re often a bit of all of these things. For my part I really started kayaking as a form of escapism. At the time I started kayaking I was feeling really disillusioned. I was tired of jobs with closet Stalin managers, co-workers who sat at tables and judged, ridiculed, and told lies about other employees, politics that does not work, and so many other parts of our human experience. Back then I could stand on a beach and look out, but I couldn’t actually get to the middle of the lake. In my mind, the middle of the lake had to be the best place in the world.