State park trail entry point.

Journey Home

Tales from the pilgrimage.

Living in Society

Politics mostly social commentary.

  • Reaction to the 2016 Election

    Having inoculated myself early on to the possibility of Donald Trump winning Iowa’s six electoral votes, my reaction to his Nov. 8 victory in a close national election was more recoil than shock. “Expect Iowa to award its six electoral votes to Donald Trump this cycle, contrary to the claims of prominent Iowa Democrats,” I… Read more

  • After the Election

    On election day co-workers at the home farm and auto supply store asked me about the Clinton – Kaine bumper sticker on my 19 year-old car. I said it was still a contest and you should vote if you haven’t. Trump could win. By this morning’s unofficial tally, Trump won both the popular vote and… Read more

  • Closed Until After the Election

    Take a look then contact your friends and family to make sure they don’t sit this election out. Read more

  • Living in the United States

    All at once the United States is coming together and the convergence is upsetting. While members of the white privileged class engaged in the seventh game of baseball’s World Series, a black church was burned in Greenville, Mississippi. While members of Sioux tribes stand in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline crossing land theirs by… Read more

  • Hay Feeder Rings

    Something is wrong when the garden produces tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in Iowa the fourth week in October. I’ll dice tomatoes for breakfast tacos later this week, Bangkok peppers are in the dehydrator, and cucumbers and jalapeno peppers in the icebox waiting to be used. There is chard and kale, oregano and chives. Those leafy… Read more

  • Full Ballot Box, Coming Frost

    I drove to the county seat to vote after my shift at the home, farm and auto supply store. There were six or seven poll workers — plenty of staff to handle the day’s last half hour of early voting at the auditor’s office. The orange ballot box was so full the poll worker had… Read more

  • Toward Election Day

    People are weary of the 2016 presidential campaign. Voting began Sept. 29 in Iowa and we can’t get to Nov. 8 quickly enough. For the most part, decisions about who to support are made. While there have been many surprises this cycle, and might be more, not much can change minds as we move toward… Read more

  • Into the Hurricane and Presidential Politics

    Millions of people began evacuating Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in advance of hurricane Matthew. Hundreds are reported dead in Haiti. Downgraded to Category 3, Matthew began hitting Florida Thursday. It’s expected to pick up velocity. During the most recent communication with our child in Orlando, she was soaking wet. After determining she had a… Read more

  • Can Hipsters Live With Congolese Cobalt?

    The lithium ion battery is becoming ubiquitous. These rechargeable, portable batteries power our mobile phones, tablets, laptops and cars, providing longer battery life, low self-discharge, better recharge life and comparatively low weight. Many of us take these benefits for granted, not thinking much beyond the brand of our phone, computer or car — other than… Read more

  • Last Bits of Work

    Two hours before my shift at the orchard I was feeling punk. I went to work anyway. While ringing up a dozen customers I felt light headed and a bit nauseous so my supervisor sent me home. She didn’t want whatever I had to infect other workers. Good call on her part. After two four-hour… Read more