When Christmas trees grow up

Back in February of 1997 I asked Darian to find a good home for my little Norwegian pine that had fulfilled its duty as our holiday centerpiece. She planted it near the edge of the field bounding the south and west flanks (respectively) of Kresge and Porter colleges at UCSC (University of California at Santa Cruz). I didn’t half-think the little thing would survive but the bugger has flourished — so much so that it’s now visible from space! Check it out:

Latitude: 36°59′44.82″N
Longitude: 122° 4′2.26″W

Over the past decade I’ve stopped by the field during the several occasions I’ve found myself back in the area. You know, to pay a visit. The biggest shock came in 2003 after I’d just come back from Japan; I hadn’t seen the tree in years and when I went to where I knew it should be I couldn’t find it. That’s because I was looking for a sapling that had since grown several meters in height.

I’ve heard rumors that UCSC’s unbridled expansion will eventually spill over into the field, gobbling up Darian’s garden and possibly my tree, as well. Hold tight, friend, and if that dark day does come, make them curse it as they struggle to rip your deep roots free of the earth!

On safari

While cycling up and around the Tantalus-Round Top loop I always see the same groups of wild chickens that inhabit the mountain, plus the occasional mongoose. Once I came across a rather majestic (and large) lizard taking up residence on the side of the road. He didn’t move when I turned back to check him out, leading me to believe he must have been sick or injured. Still, he was something to see.

Then there was the time about a year ago when I kept spying the same pair of domesticated rabbits. Someone had obviously abandoned them after cleaning the cage had become a nuisance. It was tough passing them by because they’d just pop out of the grass and look at you with those eyes, seeking food, or attention, or help. During the several weeks they’d make their roadside appearances, they were never more than several hundred yards from the location where I’d first spotted them. Because of this, I sent a map to the humane society instructing them where to look. It wasn’t much later that I stopped seeing the bunnies. I like to think that someone picked them up and gave them a home (the alternative being the aforementioned ‘occasional mongoose’).

But, yesterday I saw something new: a peacock! I’ve heard that O’ahu has wild peacocks but I’ve never seen one before. His tail feathers were looking a little worse for wear but the neck plumage was radiant. I stopped for a moment, we stared at each other, and then I continued on my merry way. As I coasted downhill I began to wonder if I shouldn’t take this bird’s appearance more seriously. (This is a story for another day, but I’ve had several experiences with animals showing up under curious circumstances right after a death.) Before the encounter someone had called me twice so I decided to put on the brakes and check my messages — something I don’t normally bother with when riding. I made an exception in this case, though, because the peacock had got me thinking about Grandma (whose own peacock showed up after she’d had an “intervention” with the ghost in their Plano house — again, another story). This, in turn, had me wondering about my phone ringing.

I had to wait about 5 minutes to get through all my back-logged voice messages, but in the end it was only Adam wanting to know if I was down for a little darts and beer at Anna’s.

Beyond blending in

I’ve seen photos of people wearing experimental, electro-flexible plasma “clothing” that projects the scene directly to the rear, giving the (near) illusion of looking right through the wearer, but the technology has yet to be perfected. While an interesting proof-of-concept, I’m more impressed by the trompe-l’œil work of artist Desiree Palman. You really have to look two or three times at some of her photos to find the human hidden within. (And there really is one, too!)

Who doesn’t have days when this ability would be welcome relief?

Leviathans in love

Before I forget, I want to mention the short trip Yumi and I recently took to Maui with Yumi’s mother. (It was my first time to visit one of the outer islands in the four years that I’ve lived here, if you can believe that.) I wasn’t expecting much — I mean, Hawaii is Hawaii, right? — but a short 25-minute plane ride away and it really did feel like we were off on vacation. Or at the very least, off O’ahu.

The weather was fantastic and Haleakala even more spectacular. But what I want to comment upon is the crazy amount of whales we saw there. The humpbacks have returned in droves to their winter mating grounds and, by all appearances, are having a ball. I didn’t realize that whale watching could be done — satisfyingly so, at that — from the beach! Even while driving (though I don’t advised it) you can see whales breaching, slapping, and leaping right out of the ocean. I’ve never seen anything like it.

The topper came when Yumi and I went snorkeling maybe 75-100 meters off the Kaanapali coast. (The water is so clear and scenery so inviting that you find yourself pretty far offshore before you know it.) Yumi’s mother chose to stay on the beach but I had both room keys/cards in my suit. I was thinking she might want to go back to the room so Yumi and I swam in to shore to give her one of the cards. As we pulled ourselves out of the surf several enthusiastic onlookers dashed over to ask about the whale.

“What?”

“Look.” They pointed out to sea.

We turned and caught sight of — I kid you not — a massive whale gracefully arching back down into the water right about where we must have been swimming. Yumi’s mother said it looked like the whale was right on top of us.

I couldn’t believe it. After an entire day of mounting giddiness brought on by glimpses of whales cavorting on the horizon, something that large swims right by us and we don’t even notice? How the hell did that happen? We saw sea turtles, sure, but no whale. I was brimming with excitement and frustration at the same time.

The next day we went swimming again but were not able to recreate our near-encounter. (No matter: the snorkeling alone is out of this world.) What we did discover, however, is that you can actually hear whales singing, popping, laughing, and communicating with each other! Yumi picked up on this first as she wasn’t using a snorkel. (I couldn’t hear much as the sound of my own breathing blocked most external sound.) But sure enough, when I held my breath under water, the eerie yet playful sonic traffic of whale pods scattered offshore was clearly discernible. I can’t even begin to describe how cool it was to eavesdrop on this other world where we were but distant witnesses.

I’m now determined to return to Maui each and every winter and bob on the surface until that whale glides past me once more.

Unless I get eaten by a shark first

(photos from the trip)

Pimp my rice paddy

There’s a small town in northern Japan that creates some pretty spectacular crop-art imagery each year, utilizing different rice varietals as their color palette for turning local rice paddies into giant canvases. (link)

12-0 baby!

What a magical, nail-biting ride it’s been. Going from “worst to first”, the University of Hawaii Warriors football team has completely electrified the state, capping a perfect season in a 21-0 come-from-behind win over the Washington Huskies. In addition to being the sole undefeated team in the nation, the Warriors clinched the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) title by defeating long-time rivals Boise State and are now bound for the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, where they’ll face powerhouse Georgia in their first ever BSC bowl invitation. With its heart, talent, faith, and fan-base of support, this team has shown that it takes more than big budgets and recruiting muscle to win football games. We believe! Go ‘Bows! (Honolulu Advertiser special section)

Giving new meaning to “go sit in the corner”

I’m sure this elementary school situated in a cave in southwest China has it’s drawbacks — winter, for one, comes to mind — but as a kid I couldn’t have imagined any cooler place to attend class.