Three seemingly unrelated tales of environmental misunderstanding…

When I was playing disc golf at Furman Sunday afternoon I noticed something unusual. There were weeds everywhere and the place looked badly overgrown. This was most noticeable around several of the park benches and picnic tables around the lake.

Furman usually keeps immaculate grounds. Not a blade of grass is left too long, nor leaf left to clutter the green grass. With students returning and so many families on campus, I couldn’t understand why things were left like this. I figured cut-backs on maintenance were much greater than I had thought.

When I got home and mentioned this to Laura, she set me straight. This is part of Furman’s sustainability program, and the intent is to let portions of the lake shoreline return to a more “natural state.” Of course, one of my fellow alumni and Facebook friends pointed out that this is a man-made lake, so how could it be natural. My reply was that it probably focuses on saving fuel by not cutting down the weeds.

I was only partially correct. What looks like weeds to me are actually carefully selected natural plants, following an extensive landscaping plan. The plan is to create a wildflower meadow along the banks. While the flowers aren’t in bloom, they do look like weeds.

(more…)

Been a crazy, crazy week, both at work and at home. There hasn’t been much time to paddle, take photos, or chase down fire towers or old schools. Here’s a brief rundown…

Work

Our computer shipments have started to arrive. We’ve ordered far less than we usually do, but there were still pains. Our normally wonderful system integrators, CSI Technology Outfitters, let me down this year. Because we couldn’t get the deployment sorted out in time, I had to cancel my SCETV workshops for this summer. That prompted a very painful phone call to my friend Debbie Jarrett to let her know I wouldn’t be there to do the Google Earth workshops this time.  Disappointments all around.

Between Friday’s off and furlough days, the summer has been quieter around the office, now the mad rush toward the start of school begins.

Home

We got new carpet.  That meant moving everything except the furniture (the installers do that) and getting the rooms ready.   When the installers removed the carpet in the den we uncovered gorgeous hardwood floors.  We almost sent the installers home.  However, there was some damage in the dining room that would have required quite a bit of work, so we had them go ahead and install in a manner that wouldn’t damage the floors, should we change our minds.

Moving everything meant disassembling our television and entertainment system.  It was a great chance to evaluate our system and make some changes.  We replaced our aging CRT television with a new flat LCD TV, and upgraded to Charter DVR.  The whole system looks a bit cleaner now.  The big old TV has been lugged down to the basement so we can play Wii.

Play

Saturday evening we saw Inception.  Absolutely fantastic movie!  There are lots of Matrix-like elements to the movie, but the concept is original, and pulled off brilliantly.  The weird dream-state physics actually hold together and make sense.  The acting is excellent, especially young Ellen Page, who to me is the real star of the film.  There’s lots of action violence and gun play, but no gore.  I’m not sure I heard a single word of profanity the entire film.  I think this one will wind up in our DVD collection.

I stopped by our local sandwich shop for a quick lunch yesterday.  The lady behind the counter is of Islamic descent, and wears a head scarf.  She is always pleasant, if not a bit shy and deferential.

As I sat with my lunch, I thought about her attire.  I’ll be up front and admit that my initial reaction is always one of cultural xenophobia.  It brings to mind the treatment of women in general in Middle Eastern countries, and the lack of rights for so many of them.

About the time I’m ready to let loose with a round of mental condemnation, I pull up short.  What really motivates someone in their choice of attire.  Is it really a choice?  I am concerned for this woman if she were forced to wear this by her husband, but it could just as easily have been a cultural choice of her own.  She may simply feel more comfortable wearing that with which she is familiar. (more…)

Even though most of my recent outings have involved kayaking, I haven’t abandoned my search for South Carolina’s lookout towers. I have the locations plotted on the GPS on my car, and as we have driven past I’ve made note of condition, and have stopped to check them out and photograph them, where possible.

This past trip took us by several towers, so I decided to document all of my findings over the last few months. Here they are.. (more…)

Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to Arlington Avenue?

The question was presented to me as I was getting gas for my truck at a little quick shop near Furman.  I pride myself on knowing how to get around Greenville, one of the most confusing cities for driving in the whole of the United States. So normally a question like this doesn’t bother me, and I can quickly give directions and the best route.  This time, though, I was stumped.

“I’m sorry, I think there is an Arlington Street in Greer, but I can’t think of an Arlington Avenue in Greenville right off.”  The next series of questions really baffled me…

“This is North Carolina, right?”

“No, ma’am, this is South Carolina”

“Do you mean this isn’t Greenville, North Carolina?”

“That’s right.  Greenville, North Carolina is quite a ways from here.”

“Well, how far away would that be?”

“At least two or three hundred miles, maybe a bit more.  I normally keep a map in the car and could show you, but I don’t have one with me right now.”

At this point the woman looked completely exasperated.  Her husband (I assume) was in the passenger’s seat zonked out this entire time and hadn’t said a word.  She got out and went into the shop to find a map and I continued filling my truck.

I pondered how someone could get into such a fix.  Laura had an instrument repairman fly into Greenville, NC by booking a flight to the wrong city.  He had to rent a car to drive to Furman.  This didn’t appear to be the case.  The car looked like their personal vehicle, and they looked like they had been driving a long time already.

I guess it depends on where they were coming from.  If they had started somewhere to the southwest, such as southern Alabama, etc., then they might have taken I-85.  In that case they weren’t too far out of the way.  They just hadn’t driven far enough, and thought they had arrived when they saw the signs for Greenville.  If they came from Florida, or from somewhere up north, then Greenville, SC would have been quite a detour.

Regardless, I hope they get to their destination safely.  I felt a little like one of those local yokels that tells everyone, “You can’t get there from here.”  I did resolve right then and there to make sure that I had maps for South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia always in my car.