Saturday, April 23, 2011

April 17, 2011, Lakewood, CO
10:45:07, hours MDT
...continued hiker’s journal…



I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in.


-- George Washington Carver

Hello kids. New news from way over here.

Some things do change and just when things become interesting the Practice becomes the vehicle.
1st) ― the job at the medical clinic has for me- worn out its usefulness. I will be looking for another useful job in the near future. Have I learned any more in this area of counseling expertise?

Yes― the methadone maintenance field is interesting. ORT as it is called. Opiate Replacement Therapy. I was informed last month by both the director and clinical supervisor that they were issued either a Letter of Admonition or Formal Complaint with Stipulations from DORA.

As a result, I’ve dragged my foot until now, in considering a leaving date from this place of employment. I believe the agency will go on and my determination to leave their employ while in good graces is a good move.

2nd) ― the normal hours the clinic is open to the Patients― 05:30 to 2PM- has worn its course upon my metabolism and social life. Getting to bed at 7PM has slowly worked its way into my subconscious. I fully understand how tied I am to this schedule. Do not get me wrong friends, I love getting up at 4 AM and driving through downtown Denver without traffic at 5 AM. The money is survival money- $2500. a month and lack there of a so- called normal life after or before work and this revelation concerning the director who hired me and the supervisor who is guilty as well, has pushed my hand. Combined with this is the fact that I have been approved for the first nine days of May, 2011 for a leave… partially comp time and a week’s vacation. Upon my return I anticipate giving notice.
I’ve been mulling over my association with compromised counselors and having my professional reputation associated with these two, for awhile. I have a really good- in my opinion- working professional relationship with the director and an adequate supervisee relationship with the clinical supervisor and my leaving will not put them in any bind. Both the director and the clinical supervisor are dual- credentialed in the nursing field and CAC lll. I’ve learned some more about this field and believe I have brought a clear dimension of my expertise to this agency. I think they will give a decent reference for me as well.

3rd) - what I am after, is a decent position in the field― with counselors and medical staff that are not soiled. I need/ require upper 40’s in salary compensation to start and responsibilities commensurate to the position. The alternative is to pick another vocation and give it a go; i.e. trail- builder, guide, or masonry work. WAL*MART greeter is out of the question as well as barista-ing [or is that barista- ering?] over at your local Starbucks.

I suppose that what is in store for me is in store for me, however the God’s do smile, albeit with a spiritual bent and tilt. Practicing the practice with people that get- it is hopefully what the next job will present― not unlike a menu. Remember reading the menu is not eating the meal. After a while we all sense the truth, Right? I sensed the truth about my superiors last fall. It took awhile for both to shed light on their violations. Tony Blair has said that loyalty to the truth always brings retribution. I make no bones about wanting to work where I am, however this circumstance along with $16. an hour now makes it an untenable affair- in view of the recent multi- year retirement and my need for dollars.

I find it interesting- the White House Office of Drug Control Policy is currently talking about funding the various aspects of the oxycodone dilemma with the prescribers, the addicted and the substance abusers. Hopefully, my timing will bring me recompense commensurate with my credential and proportionate to my experience in the system.

The bigger news however is large― I am going to walk off some hiker miles in SE Utah during this period partially as a means to reflect and in some measure to think about what the next step will be in the employment arena.

Do you know where Tug Wilson- related to me where he- photographed Druid Arch in the early 50’s? He mentioned to me one spring afternoon sitting with him at his campsite in Canyonlands Park that instead of taking the NPS Elephant Canyon trail all the way to Druid― to back track instead to a draw before this last route and climb this draw and it is there that the longer range shot of Druid is available. I am going to locate his spot and foresee waiting for the light to be just right to shoot it properly.

Additionally, I think likely that a trip to the cow- camp in Chesler Park will be in the works. Regarding another portion of the Needles is Salt Canyon and south to Angel Arch. Have you been to Angel Arch?

One spring-break day around 20 years ago I went with some others to the head of Lavender Canyon and found the way up to the granary there. There were finger prints in the mortar between the stones and some rather small corn cobs and covers for the granaries. At the time it appeared very few others had trespassed that way. In my opinion Angel Arch is on the west side of the headwall separating Lavender from Salt.
It has been many months since I took a week to walk and reflect and ‘remember’ as some
perceptive and wise folks talk about. My inkling is to immerse albeit a short while in the natural world and rejuvenate the spirit inside my body/ mind. Canyonlands has been partially listed as a night- sky program site.

http://www.nps.gov/cany/naturescience/nightskyteam.htm

The parks of southern Utah were some of the first to be visited by the Night Sky Team. While most people realize that fewer stars are visible in a city, few probably realize that even remote parks like Canyonlands face the problem of light pollution. Preliminary data has shed light on many facts. Canyonlands has one of the darkest night skies in this ever-brightening country. However, several sources of light pollution can be detected. Casual observers can see lights of Moab, Blanding and Monticello, and the camera detects other light sources which reach high into the sky, eroding the view of the Milky Way and thousands of stars.


Somehow, being away from the Consumer Society’s ever- brightening skies at night helps the soul, you may agree. The lack of animals in Canyonlands is concerning. Birds, rodents, bats and little else in the normal sense inhabit the place.
However the land forms seem to envelop the reasonableness of our collective experience and tickle the imagination if you will. I do so much long for the naturalist’s life.




So― more regarding this in future writings, my friends.

Sunday, April 3, 2011


April 3, 2011, Lakewood, CO

13:53:21, hours MDT

...continued hiker’s journal…


A snowy day here in Lakewood. The warm before the storm was yesterday and the day before. Was mid- 80’s yesterday― decent short and no tee- shirt weather. Could feel the intensity of the sun’s radiation. Was 63° F overnight. Walked Ellie over by Bear Creek this morning― she gets to walk in the field grass there and then swim. So you may say I took her swimming. Speaking on swimming― let’s delve into a conversation about hiking into a place to not swim but SOAK. Picture Phantom Creek next month; you know- the easy part to get to? Take a turn west right through Bright Angel Creek and then 75 yds. or so to the pool and lower waterfall. The small fish there last time I spent any time, were having a time nipping at the skin wherever they could get in a nip. What a wonderful feeling. The best part about soaking there (remember- not swimming) is that the optimal time occurs at around the noon hour on acc’t of the narrow high walled canyon from which this creek pours its water. In May, the water should be tepid, and the daylight temperatures warm.

Phantom Creek, GRCA © mposinoff images May, 2006 Nice Place.