Distance: 0, Home Yoga
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
where its at --- Day 5/336
Walk: Marin Driving Day & Hood errands
Distance: 2.5 miles and Home Yoga
Certainly a genius and seminal. Absolutely Nothing against the man or the poetry of his songs, but former bookstore owner/operator, Ciwt, wonders about that prize for literature. There are so many worthy authors all over the world.
Distance: 2.5 miles and Home Yoga
Certainly a genius and seminal. Absolutely Nothing against the man or the poetry of his songs, but former bookstore owner/operator, Ciwt, wonders about that prize for literature. There are so many worthy authors all over the world.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Take it to City Hall --- Day 5/335
Walk: Union Square, City Hall, Presidio
Distance: 2 miles
California has early voting now. So, after spending hours over the last few days making her decisions on our 8! page ballot, Ciwt took herself right down to City Hall and cast her vote. The experience brought back images of many diverse polling places she's gone to over the decades. Always a privilege.
Feels good to have this particular one over - and to see our beautiful City Hall filled with brides in their white gowns. Good luck to all...
Distance: 2 miles
California has early voting now. So, after spending hours over the last few days making her decisions on our 8! page ballot, Ciwt took herself right down to City Hall and cast her vote. The experience brought back images of many diverse polling places she's gone to over the decades. Always a privilege.
Feels good to have this particular one over - and to see our beautiful City Hall filled with brides in their white gowns. Good luck to all...
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Necessary Vanes --- Day 234
Walk: No
Distance: 0, Home Yoga
Photo by Louis Raphael
Where are we?
Actually, in foggy Sutro Heights, San Francisco, captured last weekend by photographer Louis Raphael.
There are two functioning windmills on the western edge of Golden Gate Park: the northern Dutch Windmill (completed 1903) and the southern Murphy Windmill (completed 1908). While both are now restored Designated Landmarks visited by locals and tourists, they were built for a necessary utilitarian purpose: irrigation.
In the 1870's and 80's, all the trees in Golden Gate Park were planted on barren sand dunes and required substantial irrigation. Initially the only recourse for the necessary water was purchasing it at exorbitant costs from the Spring Valley Water Company. But in 1902 the Park Commission authorized construction of two windmills to pump groundwater throughout the park. Until they were replaced by electric water pumps in 1913, it is thanks to these two structures with occasional assistance from San Francisco's seasonal rains and fog that we have the magnificent greenery of Golden Gate Park.
Distance: 0, Home Yoga
Photo by Louis Raphael
Where are we?
Actually, in foggy Sutro Heights, San Francisco, captured last weekend by photographer Louis Raphael.
There are two functioning windmills on the western edge of Golden Gate Park: the northern Dutch Windmill (completed 1903) and the southern Murphy Windmill (completed 1908). While both are now restored Designated Landmarks visited by locals and tourists, they were built for a necessary utilitarian purpose: irrigation.
In the 1870's and 80's, all the trees in Golden Gate Park were planted on barren sand dunes and required substantial irrigation. Initially the only recourse for the necessary water was purchasing it at exorbitant costs from the Spring Valley Water Company. But in 1902 the Park Commission authorized construction of two windmills to pump groundwater throughout the park. Until they were replaced by electric water pumps in 1913, it is thanks to these two structures with occasional assistance from San Francisco's seasonal rains and fog that we have the magnificent greenery of Golden Gate Park.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Couch Thoughts --- Day 5/233
Walk: Monday Errands
Distance: 2.5 miles, Home yoga
The couch in Ciwt's back room measures 7 feet across. That is 3" shorter than the average wing span of female Eurasian golden eagles, with individual birds often measuring many inches more.
For some reason Ciwt couldn't stop thinking of Ashol-Pan, the Mongolian eagle hunter from yesterday's CIWT and movie. Her golden eagle is female, and, from the looks of it, the petite young huntress couldn't be over 4' 10" feet tall.
When diving for prey, the golden eagle reaches spectacular speeds of 150 to 200 mph placing it, along with the peregrine, among the two fastest animals on earth. Its massive, sharp talons can easily snatch up hares and rabbits and take down wolves and larger prey.
The Eurasian females weigh 15 pounds.
Now, in order to compete for for a trophy in eagle hunting competitions, the bird is placed at a great and high distance while its rider is below on horseback carrying a large slab of fresh carrion in its right hand. At the start signal, the rider brings its horse to a full, lunging gallop while extending its right arm out where the eagle can spy the carrion.
Now the eagle is released and makes a full body, headlong dive at the carrion, landing with talons fully extended on the rider's outstretched arm and seizing the meat in its powerful beak. 
(Ciwt gets anxious sticking out her finger toward a caged parakeet).
Imagine being Ashol-Pan. Maybe 90 pounds, at full gallop in sub-freezing weather, arm straight out, with a huge predatory, scavaging bird traveling over 150 miles an hour straight at her, talons extended. Ashol-Pan's bird made her half mile stoop (dive) and landing in 5! seconds.
Imagine the courage, trust, horsemanship, falconry skill. Even watching the movie, seeing the events, Ciwt couldn't actually process the full extent of the feats - human and bird. Ashol-Pan smiled the whole time, which is also probably part of the art. As they say, true masters make it look easy.
Distance: 2.5 miles, Home yoga
The couch in Ciwt's back room measures 7 feet across. That is 3" shorter than the average wing span of female Eurasian golden eagles, with individual birds often measuring many inches more.
For some reason Ciwt couldn't stop thinking of Ashol-Pan, the Mongolian eagle hunter from yesterday's CIWT and movie. Her golden eagle is female, and, from the looks of it, the petite young huntress couldn't be over 4' 10" feet tall.
When diving for prey, the golden eagle reaches spectacular speeds of 150 to 200 mph placing it, along with the peregrine, among the two fastest animals on earth. Its massive, sharp talons can easily snatch up hares and rabbits and take down wolves and larger prey.
The Eurasian females weigh 15 pounds.
Now, in order to compete for for a trophy in eagle hunting competitions, the bird is placed at a great and high distance while its rider is below on horseback carrying a large slab of fresh carrion in its right hand. At the start signal, the rider brings its horse to a full, lunging gallop while extending its right arm out where the eagle can spy the carrion.
Now the eagle is released and makes a full body, headlong dive at the carrion, landing with talons fully extended on the rider's outstretched arm and seizing the meat in its powerful beak. (Ciwt gets anxious sticking out her finger toward a caged parakeet).
Imagine being Ashol-Pan. Maybe 90 pounds, at full gallop in sub-freezing weather, arm straight out, with a huge predatory, scavaging bird traveling over 150 miles an hour straight at her, talons extended. Ashol-Pan's bird made her half mile stoop (dive) and landing in 5! seconds.
Imagine the courage, trust, horsemanship, falconry skill. Even watching the movie, seeing the events, Ciwt couldn't actually process the full extent of the feats - human and bird. Ashol-Pan smiled the whole time, which is also probably part of the art. As they say, true masters make it look easy.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Aquila Gold --- Day 5/232
Walk: Cinema Club (The Eagle Huntress), Japantown
Distance: 2.5 miles, home yoga
Aisholpan* and her Golden Eagle on Mongolian Steppes. (This is a real picture)
Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian steppe and dating back to at least the 1st or 2nd millenium BC. Entire civilizations have rested on and been preserved by the strength of this nomadic tradition. It is passed on through certain nomad tribes from master to master - men who have acquired the art and have it in their blood, often father to son. It is done far from civilization on unforgiving terrain in unfathomably severe weather. It takes courage, strength, stamina, resourcefulness, patience, endurance - and then a sort of special ken that transcends even those things.
For thousands of years no woman has attempted national mastery in eagle hunting - until last year when a 13 year old girl rode with her father into the annual eagle hunting competition in Mongolia. The competition is world renowned, many had already gathered. She was completely unannounced and a spectacle no man, woman or child had ever seen. Remarkably, possibly because her father was a repeat champion, she was allowed to register and compete. This was Step One for her and her bird; there was much more ahead.
It is all captured in real time in a stunning, stirring, gorgeous new documentary Citw's Cinema Club screened today: The Eagle Huntress. It's a marvelous true story; if nothing else, go for the scenery and to witness as dignified and respectful father-daughter relationship as you will ever see.
PS - Looking at the weather in the movie Ciwt remembered childhood cold and also reconsidered becoming a Presidio docent with the (hopefully) rainy, Pacific storm season just ahead.
* Also spelled Ashol-Pan
Distance: 2.5 miles, home yoga
Aisholpan* and her Golden Eagle on Mongolian Steppes. (This is a real picture)
Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian steppe and dating back to at least the 1st or 2nd millenium BC. Entire civilizations have rested on and been preserved by the strength of this nomadic tradition. It is passed on through certain nomad tribes from master to master - men who have acquired the art and have it in their blood, often father to son. It is done far from civilization on unforgiving terrain in unfathomably severe weather. It takes courage, strength, stamina, resourcefulness, patience, endurance - and then a sort of special ken that transcends even those things.
For thousands of years no woman has attempted national mastery in eagle hunting - until last year when a 13 year old girl rode with her father into the annual eagle hunting competition in Mongolia. The competition is world renowned, many had already gathered. She was completely unannounced and a spectacle no man, woman or child had ever seen. Remarkably, possibly because her father was a repeat champion, she was allowed to register and compete. This was Step One for her and her bird; there was much more ahead.
It is all captured in real time in a stunning, stirring, gorgeous new documentary Citw's Cinema Club screened today: The Eagle Huntress. It's a marvelous true story; if nothing else, go for the scenery and to witness as dignified and respectful father-daughter relationship as you will ever see.
PS - Looking at the weather in the movie Ciwt remembered childhood cold and also reconsidered becoming a Presidio docent with the (hopefully) rainy, Pacific storm season just ahead.
* Also spelled Ashol-Pan
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