Old words with Beckham

I was with Beckham briefly today when I stopped by the farm to drop off some more feed. We hung out for ten, maybe twenty minutes... Not really doing anything, just sitting in the sun and cuddling. He is the love of my life. It's hard to believe he's already three years old... I remember the first day I saw him like it was yesterday. Being with him today reminded me of a passage I wrote in my Moleskine in January, 2008:

"Walking next to him amongst the trees, I feel as if i am walking beside a god. His red body vibrant against the grays of the winter landscape, he is bigger, grander than his baby form could be. His serenity belies his scant nine months; his eyes hold the wisdom of generations. I am truly blessed to harbor such company.

"Together, we partake of the wilderness, relishing this reprieve from the real world. We are part of this natural existence, this god and I, and all else ceases to exist. The shuffle of the fallen leaves, the crackling branches, the wind in the boughs of the trees... The birds flitting overhead and deer bounding aside to let us pass... This is our existence now.

"An interminable span of time passes... An eon. And then, as the human world is all but erased from our minds, the trees thin and present us a stark reminder...

"A sandy desert cuts through the woods. Hills that by no rights should exist rise up around tracks laid by no animal foot. My god stops dead, as if shaken from a reverie. Ears pricked, eyes wide, nostrils flared... The human world overwhelms his senses once more. He is still grand, but we are both shaken, both unnerved.

"We step out into this desert, unsettled but ever curious. I notice power lines to our right, he sees houses far off to the left. At once my thoughts turn to the ever-pressing advance of 'civilization.' I sigh, place a hand on my god's shoulder, and we continue to explore further.

"What we find could not have been expected by the infant at my side, but even I am shocked.

"And somewhat amused.

"Two behemoths lie behind a hill, in a valley of their own construction. At first I take them as further proof that human habitation demands this space, but then I see... Rust. Broken metal. Scraps and mechanical parts littering the area. Spray paint. These monsters are dead, their bodies defiled by the local youth. Two metal monsters in a grave they dug themselves. The poetic justice makes me smile.

"My god and I do not stay long in this place. We are satisfied now, curiosity sated. His great form leads me back to our reverie, our dreamed escape to a world more our own."

Moleskine

What is it about a Moleskine that is so inviting, so tempting, that makes you want to write so desperately? And yet at the same time, so intimidating, with that cool black visage and history of intimacy with so many great creators... So many tough acts to follow. How can I possibly measure up? This little book who has known grandiose thoughts and words, what will it think of my meager meanderings? Nonetheless I feel enticed to try, in hope, such hope, that I might produce something worthy.

New Jersey

I don't watch much television. I tend to stick with my favorite few: House, NCIS, Top Gear, and a few Discovery Network shows. So I really don't know much about other series there are on TV. But I think I can safely assume that the shows out there about my state (namely Jerseylicious, the Jersey Shore, and Real Housewives of New Jersey) tend to paint the Garden State in a very ugly light.

Let me assure you, we don't all have big hair and Italian ancestries. (Well, I do, but that's beside the point.) There is a lot more to this gorgeous state than fashion-obsessed drunk club rats and Botox bimbos. We're not just odorous Elizabeth and begrimed boardwalks. This is a rich, intelligent, beautiful, and diverse place.

For such a small state, we have a lot to offer. There are six distinct tourism regions: the Skylands to the northwest, Gateway in the northeast, the Shore and Delaware River regions in Central Jersey, and to the south there is Atlantic City and the South Shore. Philadelphia and Manhattan are within easy reach. No matter what your hobbies may be, there is fun to be had here. History, outdoors adventures, shopping, sight-seeing, and so many other types of entertainment... It's difficult to know where to begin!

Plus we have some of the richest farmland in the country. Our Jersey Fresh program supports our farmers in cultivating some of the most delicious produce you'll find. New Jersey is also the home of the horse; we are not only the most densely populated state with people, but also with horses! Our farmlands provide beautiful scenery and opportunities for pleasure and business.

I could go on and on ad nauseum about the joys of New Jersey. It is a pleasure to live here. There is so much opportunity, and the people here are generally easy to get along with. Whatever you want to do, you can do it here. Want to go rafting? Try the Delaware or Hudson Rivers. Feel like seeing a baseball game? Check out the Trenton Thunder for an afternoon with a hot dog and a cold one. After the game, head down the road a bit and see where George Washington crossed the Delaware with his troops. How about a little gambling? There is Atlantic City, of course, or you could put some money on the ponies at one of our racetracks. Oh, and don't forget your sunscreen when you hit the beach; it's easy to lose track of time relaxing on our beaches.

You name it, you got it in New Jersey.

Please come visit us. Get up off the couch, turn off the boob tube, and see for yourselves how awesome the Garden State is.

Welcome

Much as I am no great technophile, and much as the word "blog" bugs the crap outta me, I've decided to go ahead and jump on the bandwagon. I figure this will be an opportunity to share some of my remarkable (and some ordinary) experiences. I like to write and I like to share, and this seems to be a good medium to do both of those things.

Perhaps a brief biography is in order. I am a 1984 cusp Scorpio on the East Coast of the United States. I consider myself a jack of all trades, master of none, though I've come to realize that I need to at least master one enough to make a career of it. Thus I am back at school, working on a second Bachelor's degree; the first was in animal science, this one was biological sciences but has changed to ecology. You may correctly deduce from this that I am a great lover of animals, the environment, and nature in general. I'm an outdoorsy individual, and adore a good adventure. I love to find the science and art in all things, and have a soft spot for dichotomy.

I am plagued by introversion, and have a far easier time interacting with others through the written word than the spoken. I have an old love for writing that I had forgone for a while, but now want to revive. Hopefully my readers, if I am lucky enough to garner any, will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.