A Sense of Doubt blog post #4162 - SoD Reprint from 2023 - A Nature Hike That Nearly Killed Me

Yes, that's my finger in the upper right.

A Sense of Doubt blog post #4162 - SoD Reprint from 2023 - A Nature Hike That Nearly Killed Me

Another reprint.

I am yearning for time in nature.

LOW POWER MODE: I sometimes put the blog in what I call LOW POWER MODE. If you see this note, the blog is operating like a sleeping computer, maintaining static memory, but making no new computations. If I am in low power mode, it's because I do not have time to do much that's inventive, original, or even substantive on the blog. This means I am posting straight shares, limited content posts, reprints, often something qualifying for the THAT ONE THING category and other easy to make posts to keep me daily. That's the deal. Thanks for reading.

BLOG VACATION #1 - 2026 - Taking a blog vacation for a couple of weeks, until at least June 26th, 2026. But now that it's past June 26, I am not sure when I am resuming normal operations. Mostly reprints. A few simple shares (not that simple shares are out of the norm) and THAT ONE THING. Need time for other things.

Link to the original post I am reprinting below:

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3060 - Last Week: A Road Trip and a Hike

old growth forest

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3060 - Last Week: A Road Trip and a Hike

Since I was on break, I took two days completely away from work because even during break, there is prep to do, and I do teach for another school.

Friday June 30th, I drove up the Washington Coast from Longview to Aberdeen and then over to Olympia for lunch with a friend and then home.

I did not take pictures.

I am considering setting a great deal of my current novel in Aberdeen, WA.

Then, on Saturday July 1st, with my friend Paul, we drove up past the Lewis River Falls (Lower, Middle, and Upper) to the Quartz Creek Trail for a hike.

The Quartz Creek Trail is an eight mile hike -- four miles out and four miles back -- but we did not know it would be up and up and up and UP!! The trail followed switch backs hundreds of feet above the creek. After about two miles, we were whipped and turned around.

QUARTZ CREEK TRAILHEAD

Here's a bunch of pictures in this entry.

It was good self-care. I feel closest to my Mom in nature. As I wrote yesterday, it has been eight years since her death.

Thanks for tuning in.

Hike Quartz Creek Gif Pinchot 2307 01 1

Chris Tower

coral mushroom

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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2307.05 - 10:10

- Days ago = 2924 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.

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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2607.10 - 10:10

- Days ago: MOM = 4026 days ago & DAD = 680 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.

A Sense of Doubt blog post #4147 - Fischersund, Reykjavik, Iceland - SoD Reprint of 3413 from 2024

A Sense of Doubt blog post #4147 - Fischersund, Reykjavik, Iceland - SoD Reprint of 3413 from 2024

This day was a great day from two years ago.

I hope to go back some day.

LOW POWER MODE: I sometimes put the blog in what I call LOW POWER MODE. If you see this note, the blog is operating like a sleeping computer, maintaining static memory, but making no new computations. If I am in low power mode, it's because I do not have time to do much that's inventive, original, or even substantive on the blog. This means I am posting straight shares, limited content posts, reprints, often something qualifying for the THAT ONE THING category and other easy to make posts to keep me daily. That's the deal. Thanks for reading.

BLOG VACATION #1 - 2026 - Taking a blog vacation for a couple of weeks, until at least June 26th, 2026. Mostly reprints. A few simple shares (not that simple shares are out of the norm) and THAT ONE THING. Need time for other things.

Link to the original post I am reprinting below:

Saturday, June 22, 2024

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3413 - Fischersund, Reykjavik, Iceland

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3413 - Fischersund, Reykjavik, Iceland

During my recent travels, the best part was perfume shopping, and of all the places I was perfume shopping, the Fischersund boutique in Reykjavik was the best, mainly just because its owned and operated by Jonsi of Sigur Rós and his sisters. I even saw one of these sisters stopping by the shop.

We were told that the building, which used to house a recording studio for Sigur Rós, had been re-built from an ocean ship in the 19th century.

The rough hewn stone stairs in the pictures below descend to a cellar where they have art installations, the current one a recreation of an artist's Parisian studio with scents of tobacco, whiskey, and leather office furniture captured in bottles on the desk.

The center table with the decanter housed spirits that they distill at Fischersund and share only with guests to the boutique.

Other pictures show the interior of the building and the scents for sale.

Jöklalykt is the scent I bought. It's a limited edition perfume, only 100 made. And when it's gone, it's gone.

We did not go upstairs.

Yet another photo dump.

Thanks for tuning in.

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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2406.22 - 10:10
- Days ago = 3277 days ago
- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.

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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2606.25 - 10:10

- Days ago: MOM = 4011 days ago & DAD = 665 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3588 - SoD Reprint of #891 - Return to Michigan 2017

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3588 - SoD Reprint of #891 - Return to Michigan 2017

This original post reprinted below is kind of lame, but it is significant as in two days I will once again probably walk through this light tunnel in Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

Going to Michigan for my son's wedding.

First time that I am going back, and I am not going to see my Dad.

Reprint mode will probably continue until I get back, just before Christmas.

Thanks for tuning in.


LOW POWER MODE: I sometimes put the blog in what I call LOW POWER MODE. If you see this note, the blog is operating like a sleeping computer, maintaining static memory, but making no new computations. If I am in low power mode, it's because I do not have time to do much that's inventive, original, or even substantive on the blog. This means I am posting straight shares, limited content posts, reprints, often something qualifying for the THAT ONE THING category and other easy to make posts to keep me daily. That's the deal. Thanks for reading.


LINK TO THE ORIGINAL POST REPRINTED BELOW

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #891 - Michigan Visit Day One

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #891 - Michigan Visit Day One

Hi Mom,

I am putting the blog in a low power mode for the trip. Today is the flight to Chicago and getting picked up by my brother-in-law. Getting in a little late, but not too bad. The drive went well. Noel is an excellent driver.

Of course, there's always the fun of walking through O'Hare Airport's light show.

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Reflect and connect.
Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you.
I miss you so very much, Mom.
Talk to you tomorrow, Mom.
- Days ago = 893 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1712.13 - 10:10
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2412.14 - 10:10

- Days ago: MOM = 3452 days ago & DAD = 108 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3565 - Air Travel Abuse Likely to Return Next Year Under Trump

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3565 - Air Travel Abuse Likely to Return Next Year Under Trump

As someone about to fly back to Michigan to see my step-son get married, this news item caught my eye.

Luckily, we are flying out far ahead of Christmas and not over Thanksgiving.

Still, this all sucks.


https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/11/enjoy-your-air-travel-this-thanksgiving-next-year-will-be-much-much-worse/

• Politics

4 hours ago

Enjoy Your Air Travel This Thanksgiving. Next Year Will Likely Be Much, Much Worse.

Under the next Trump administration, airlines will once again be free to abuse you.

• 
  

  Stephanie Mencimer

  Senior Reporter

Flying during the Thanksgiving holiday is likely to be terrible—as usual. The lobbying group Airlines for America anticipates a record 31 million people will take to the air to visit family and friends for the holiday. But no matter how terrible the flying experience might be this season, it will probably be as good as it gets for a long time to come, as the second Trump administration plans to take a wrecking ball to commercial airline regulation.

Under Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the federal Department of Transportation has made a priority of tackling some of the biggest gripes Americans have had about air travel. To that end, the DOT has extracted nearly $4 billion in reimbursements and refunds owed to passengers since President Joe Biden took office, including forcing Southwest Airlines to refund more than $600 million to more than 2 million passengers who were stranded after it canceled 60 percent of its flights over two days during the December holidays in 2022. The DOT also fined the airline $140 million for a host of operational failures and consumer protection violations.

Under Biden, the DOT has forced most of the major airlines to guarantee free rebooking, meals, and even hotel accommodations when they cause a major delay. And it’s issued at least $225 million in penalties against airlines for violating consumer protection laws—a record. For example, in October, the DOT fined American Airlines $50 million for mistreating passengers with disabilities, including by breaking or losing thousands of wheelchairs.

Airlines destroying or breaking wheelchairs has been a chronic issue. In 2016, the Obama administration tried to remedy the problem with new regulations that would force airlines to track how often they broke or lost wheelchairs and mobility scooters. But as Mother Jones’ Russ Choma reported, the previous Trump administration, larded up with lobbyists from the industry, delayed the rule implementation almost immediately upon taking office. It finally took effect nearly two years later, and only after Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a combat veteran and double amputee whose wheelchair had been lost by an airline, secured an amendment in Congress that forced the DOT’s hand.

The Biden DOT has also proposed rules to mandate disclosure of airline junk fees. This past spring, it issued a final rule requiring airlines to grant automatic cash refunds to people when the airlines cancel or cause significant delays to flights. The rule, which went into effect last month, spares travelers endless fights with airline bureaucracy to get their money back. And in August, the DOT proposed a rule to ban airlines from charging families extra fees to sit next to their children, a proposal that could save a family of four $200 on a round trip.

Unsurprisingly, the airlines hate all of this and long to return to the days when they could cancel your flight, keep your money, and force you to pay $50 so your toddler doesn’t have to sit next to a stranger on the plane. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said this month that President-elect Donald Trump promised “to take a fresh look at the regulatory environment, the bureaucracy that exists in government, the level of overreach that we have seen over the last four years within our industry. I think that will be a breath of fresh air.” Trump promises to usher in that fresh air, as the authors of Project 2025 made clear in their blueprint for the new administration, writing, “Another problematic area is aviation consumer protection.”

Trump has signaled his intention to prioritize airline profits over passengers with his selection of former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy as his transportation secretary. A former reality TV star and Fox News host, Duffy previously was a lobbyist for the airline industry, which has ferociously fought Biden’s consumer measures with both lawsuits and gobs of lobbying money.

Duffy will be charged with following through on all the plans laid out in Project 2025, which include moving parts of the air traffic control system out of Washington in the hopes that much of the staff would quit—the 21st-century version of the Reagan administration firing striking air traffic controllers. Project 2025 envisions a world with far fewer controllers and even fewer control towers, and it advocates axing funding for research and development, as well as subsidies for essential air service to small, rural airports. People who live in Altoona, Pennsylvania, or Beckley, West Virginia, can probably kiss their airports goodbye—but air taxis for rich people will be a high priority in the Trump DOT.

So enjoy your miserable airport journey to see grandma for Thanksgiving this year. Next year’s trip promises to be much, much worse.



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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2411.21  - 10:10

- Days ago: MOM = 3429 days ago & DAD = 085 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.