Weather the Whether or Whether the Weather

Weather

As defined by Collins Dictionary

whether : (1) used to introduce an indirect question

                (2) used to introduce a clause expressing doubt or choice

weather : (1) the day-to-day atmospheric conditions

                (2) to undergo or cause to undergo changes such as
                    discoloration, due to the action of the weather

                (3) to come safely through a storm

Wow. So many thoughts about these two words...in many ways they are similar – the WEATHER conditions in Melbourne and Torquay - maybe even all of Australia – can change moment by moment and therefore, in an atmospheric way, cause the greater part of the population here to think about WHETHER or not to bring the 'brelly (umbrella).

Hmmm...WEATHER is so changeable.....wait...I will not begin rambling on about time and change...that was the last blog!

I love that people tune into the Weather Channel or the news to get “the WEATHER”. When living in Florida, we watched the Weather Channel religiously at the first sign that the Tropics were conjuring up wicked WEATHER....we all wanted the same thing....to know EXACTLY where, when, and how strong....we wanted the Weatherperson to inform us of our fate.

But instead we got WHETHER.....we got IF...OR...ELSE...AND...words that hold great meaning to a computer programmer coding the next great application, but feel cold and distancing to Floridians, or for that matter, any person in the path of a great storm....these words brought doubt and endless possibilities....the unknown....ergo...WEATHER.

The thing about WEATHER is that, when spoken about in past tense; it can be quite soothing...we “WEATHER the storm” is an age old saying that will continue to be used because of its simple truth....it's meaning is clear to all that hear it...it conveys one's relief of surviving a bump in life....WHETHER it is WEATHER; or something else.

Once again, while mowing the lawn....probably one of the best times to let the mind wander...I thought about the WEATHER of Australia...

Torquay's June winter WEATHER played in the yard...Sun slipped in and out of clouds that were rolling across acres of sky...the wind orchestrated a magnificent opus using our chimes, trees, and leaves...the temperature inched down a degree. This started me thinking about the role WEATHER plays in my life and my connections with people...friends, family, and strangers....what better way to open a conversation...I realized I talk in terms of WEATHER (although I do sometimes talk in terms of WHETHER)...and I don't just limit myself to calamities....it could be June Gloom in California, or humidity choking everyone in Florida, or debilitating heat, wringing the energy from those in the Mid-West.

I think about my conversations with my family...how we look back on favorite trips by discussing the WEATHER... “Oh, do you remember how foggy and cold Maine was...and it was AUGUST!”...of course that is what I remember...my brother may have just remembered the small boat we took out each day!

We all tend towards WEATHER/WHETHER....looking at a broader perspective, the moon, sun, stars, and planets effect every aspect of life here on Earth...our own personal vibrations, our life essence, are encased in a human physiology made up of – well – predominantly water. So as the oceans move; so do we; as the oceans help create our WEATHER , it also may create WHETHER for us. And WEATHER/WHETHER impacts many, many aspects of our world...prices skyrocket when banana plantations are decimated by cyclones...oil goes up when hurricanes damage oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico...thunderstorms with their hail, lightning and rain, can bring transportation to a halt....heat waves burn up the crops....but then too...uncertainty in economies causes stock markets to roller coaster...the burden of repayment of debt creates country and global concerns...doubt about finding new pools of natural resources weighs on the minds of every generation.

There is a calmness to this uncertainty, this doubt...if one is able to accept the fact that we may be able to predict what MAY occur, but not EXPECT that it WILL occur...if one can cultivate a flexible mindset to the WEATHER/WHETHER in one's life....well then.....everyday can be a beautiful one.

Musings of the Nature of Change

One day, I caught myself pondering (as I do) about time, space and the different paths my life has taken. I found this quote by Albert Einstein:

“I sometimes ask myself how it came about that I was the one to develop the theory of relativity. The reason, I think, is that a normal adult never stops to think about problems of space and time. These are things which he has thought about as a child.”

This encouraged me to continue on the course of my musings.

What is change? A particular passage in time. And what is time? A relative measure of space. And what is space? Infinite.

And so we know that change is infinite. It is the constant behavior of nature itself. It is creation in all its subtly; maintenance in all its endeavors; dissolution in all its pandemonium. It is a waltz, a foxtrot, the dance of bedlam. Choreographed perfectly to match the level of ones consciousness. This is why, when many see one event, we get many different accounts of said event.

Unfortunately some of us may view chaos as an uncomfortable air sprinkling about us as a fog or morning mist...as the niggling of an older sibling...the additional workload so graciously given by a colleague...that uncontrollable driver in the car behind; following too close...oblivious to our safety or comfort. In addition to our self produced chaos, let us not forget nature's version....earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, blizzards, heat waves, twisters....the list goes on...

Where does this leave us? Huddled in our houses buying everything from groceries to refrigerators online? Planning and saving and creating contingencies for all possibilities? Filled with fear and anxiety knowing that nature is uncontrollable?

We know what happens when we try to control nature....species die out, people become complacent, CO2 emissions rise, pollution becomes part of the landscape.

Forgive me. Please. It is not my intention to paint a bleak picture. I just wanted to think. Think about change.

I watched a program on “Free to Air” TV – yes, television can be watched with a rooftop antenna, no cable or satellite here in OZ – called “GREAT MIGRATIONS”. Talk about pandemonium! Life giving, death defying migrations by butterflies, water buffalo, zebra, crabs....these animals, driven by instinct, by habit, by some internal knowing...driven by nature....this show showed us this bedlam (in slow motion)....and..............

It was beautiful...nature in the raw....following the path of change, in this case, evolution...a necessary path, for without it...to deny or ignore it, a species might perish. So I thought...are we the only species to strive to control that which cannot be controlled?

We must remind ourselves it is knowledge of change, of growth, that allows us an extraordinary opportunity to gather experiences...of events in life that rock our foundations, our core, our soul...and from them we learn...we grow...we evolve. To gather these experiences, to share them, to pass them on to other generations...this is how we connect...how we form common,loving bonds with other people...not only our family and friends, but strangers and acquaintances too.

Then, I came back to earth....I thought about the previous day....it was a blustery winter's day...the rain came in torrents at times....the wind howled, pushed, prodded everything in its path, even reaching around corners to find a stray leaf....it was a day to rent a DVD and make popcorn, all the time being thankful for a heater and wool blankets. Then....change. This morning brought back shadows cast by sunlight and clouds that race and run across the sky. Nature, change, life....hmmmm....time to get back to the laundry!

Here are pictures of natural Australia for my American friends and family.

Natural

Close to the Edge (of the World!)

Hello!

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the world...we are fine and still living in Australia! 

It's been a year since my last post.  Many, many things have come to pass, but I am not issuing any excuses.  I guess it wasn't time. Let's see....where to start.

If I was to start at the beginning, you would think me pedestrian...keeping you absorbed is a much better path to travel...so with that being said...let's start with the present!

Presently Yasmin and I are living in Torquay.  A coastal town, located a mere 100kms from Melbourne.  We are also a short 30 minute trip to Geelong, a thriving community located on the Southwestern portion of Port Philip Bay, so we have all the stores and theaters we need to survive close at hand!

The around and in Torquay is pristine....the water clear, the sky infinite, the air pure and fresh.  Everyday....and I mean this....everyday I am thankful for experiencing this place.

Torquay is at the Eastern start of the Great Ocean Road...this road was built by servicemen who had returned from WWI...it connected the small coastal communities along the rough coastline of Southern Victoria.  The road was opened in 1932, and is a tribute to all of Australia. If you would like to learn more about the Great Ocean Road, click on this link : Building the Great Ocean Road

Torquay is growing by leaps and bounds....many people come here in the summer months, and during school breaks for holiday.  Due to demand, many old homes are being torn down and replaced by Townhouses and Units.  It is interesting to be in a location that is currently involved in shaping new infrastructure...we will get involved in community actions and hope the growth is kept plausible.  I would be so disappointed if Torquay lost that freshness; the ease that a quaint town seem to exude.

Yasmin and I are adding to the growing community.  We are in the planning stages of a new house based on the ancient Indian principle of Sthapatya Veda.  We are incorporating sustainable options to every area we can....solar panels for conversion to electricity; rain water tanks to use for in our gardens, toilets, and laundry; no clothes dryer (Hills Hoist clothes line, thank you); wood stove for heat; double insulated windows, and ceiling and wall insulation to reduce heating and cooling.  The area we are building in requires all lots to be a minimum of 1 acre, and homes must keep to the "rural, coastal" look.  All homes must have a plan for trees and plants which must be native to this area.  

We designed our house, with the help of a Sthapatya Veda consultant, so it has taken us some time.  During this period we have dealt with health issues, selling Yasmin's home in Coburg, packing and moving, and all the things that go with living and growing.

Not to dwell on the past, but to move toward the future...this is my desire.  

One day we took a trip to our friends' cabin located in Barramunga, which is in the Ottways National Park.  Incredibly quiet, massive trees, king parrots...its all there.  I have included a link to some pictures of the area.  I hope you enjoy.

I also will start writing more....take more time to reflect on this beautiful place, wonderful life, and the bliss of living. 

To See some pictures from the Ottways, click on the photo.  This will open a new site called Picassa Web Albums. You can view the photos uploaded to this album.

The Ottways

Thank you all for your thoughts and love.  I will write more soon....promise.

Cheryl

Seasons and Circles

I missed last winter.

I should clarify. I didn't yearn, ache, or fill up with sorrow. I skipped it. On purpose. I left Iowa mid October 2009 when the temps were dipping into the 30's and 40's at night, 40's during the day. A tad early for my liking, and actually it was below normal for that time of the year. But that's nature for you....always keeping you on your toes...keeping you guessing...like that teacher (we all know) who taps a ruler in the palm of their hand as they pace through the rows of test taking students.

Anyway, I had weathered two winters in Iowa, 2007 and 2008. Two of the coldest winters in the last 25 years for Fairfield. This was after spending a majority of my life – my entire adult life, come to think of it – in the balmy arms of the state of Florida. I don't rue my decision. On the contrary, I have never made a better one. But those two winters were enough...it was time to move back to warm winters. So, it was a conscious decision to miss - forgo, skip, forfeit, abandon - the northern hemisphere winter in 2009/2010.

Little did I know that I was going to go on the adventure of my life. I was thinking of wintering in California or Florida, but after meeting Yasmin (in Fairfield, Iowa), Australia became the destination of choice. Off I went to summer in the southern hemisphere....it was a mild summer by Melbourne standards...the temperatures didn't spike too high for too long, and the rains came and eased the minds of many who had experienced the bush fires of February 2009....March produced some of the most beautiful days...a balance of warmth and coolness...April and May saw me traveling throughout the USA...the west, mid-west, and south...and then a return to Australia, and my first Oz autumn...and oh what an autumn it was...I say “was” because June 1^st is the start of winter in Oz....but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

It was the last day of autumn as I rode my bike down the Merri Creek Trail. I spied the subtle changes of the seasons in the air, the trees, the sun, and my fellow trail goers. It was the trees that caught my attention...many were losing their leaves, while others hung bravely onto their evergreen coats. Unlike the autumn of Iowa which BURSTS into fall, Melbourne seems to be strolling down a leaf littered path. The color change in Iowa is spectacular, and nearly every tree joins in. Here the cedar, pines, and gum (eucalyptus) trees have stubbornly clung to their leaves...but it is the willow trees that have caught my eye as they are turning from green to yellow gold and ocher.

Ah, the willow tree...according to Yasmin, my mentor on all things Australian, the willow is not native to Oz, and Victoria is working to eradicate these trees that line the waterways...on this day the willows are putting on such show I cannot ignore them....they litter the banks with their leaves, and tower over the reach of the creek itself...some dip down into the water, obliterating the line of demarcation between tree and creek...unlike summer, when the willow bends itself seemingly wanting to paint the creek water with its foliage, autumn leaves use the water as its path to leaf afterlife...a slow moving procession complete with dirges being sung by the magpies...

My thinking segues to other changes that autumn brings....temperatures have mellowed out...Australian Rules Football replaces Cricket...fleece is worn in place of tank tops...the sun sinks lower in the Northern sky and the days' light continues to shorten. It is the natural course of creation, maintenance, and dissolution. This is how we pass through our lives...whether or not we recognize this circular motion, it is how nature moves, how the world moves, how we move. 

I sometimes try to see this cyclical path in different and non-obvious aspects of my life...taking notice of this natural movement has, in a way, helped me relax...I have an easier time accepting the dips and drops my life takes, in fact, understanding that this is a natural movement, something that is real in every aspect of life, is comforting...I don't waste time wondering - “what if,” “if only”, “woe is me”...I try and learn what I can from the experience and move on...learn and grow. So once again I am reminded of my connection to nature...to its cycles, its movements...that my growth, my path in life, follows this pattern.

Pondering all of this in a positive way, my link to nature is reinstated. I pedal home.

The Ceres Path

It was just a thought. “Will you stop at the bike shop if there's a park space out in front?”, I asked Yasmin. We had just finished a wonderful lunch of veggie pie and chips at “The Veggie Bar” located in Fitzroy, a suburb south of Coburg North, a bit closer to the CBD (Central Business District or downtown Melbourne). Not only was there a park space, but EVERY park space was free in front! In we went, and after a few wheeling dealings, I became the new owner of a Cannondale hybrid bicycle.

I had wanted to get a bike since coming to Australia. I know that sharing the road is an unresolved conflict even here in friendly Oz. In fact, there was a recent news report of a cyclist being punched in the face by a driver after an exchange of temperaments. While this was disturbing, but did not squelch my enthusiasm. Many people use their bikes to commute to work, exercise, run errands, or just to enjoy the day here in Melbourne. I was looking forward to the same.

The weather has been supportive of my desire to cycle around the area. Even the temperatures have remained mild these past few mornings despite misty rains and gray, cloudy skies. Some mornings we wait for the sun to appear before venturing out on our bikes, but this morning we have been bound by a time constraint. We are going to Ceres, an environment park, south of Coburg North. At Ceres, one can purchase native plants at their nursery, a latte at their organic café, tune up your bike (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), buy fresh organic fruit and veggies (Wednesday and Saturday markets), and learn how to build more environmentally friendly buildings.

Today we wanted to peruse the Ceres market while getting in our daily bike ride. On Saturdays, the market closes at 1pm, so we ventured out before blue skies. We traveled via the Merri Creek Trail. I think of it like a commuter path for bikes. But if one takes a moment to look, really look, at what is going on around the path, one may be surprised.

Here's what I saw:

Winding paths running tandem with the Merri Creek...suspension bridges and high tension wires....backyards and high rise apartments....football ovals and velodromes...dog walkers and pram pushers...plastic bottles floating down the creek next to a perfect white lily...community gardens and mosques....sculptures and graffiti.

After a successful shopping trip, and a lovely and nourishing lunch at the Ceres café, we pedaled home, stopping momentarily to take photos of all the beauty. Thanks to my brother, Tom, I am now the proud owner of a new Panasonic Digital camera, with lots of mega pixels, and a fabulous lens. I trust my photos do Oz justice. I will let you be the judge. I hope you enjoy my musings on this gray, misty Saturday in Oz. It's good to be back.

The Creative Intelligence of Oatmeal and Granola

     I stood over my bowl of oatmeal and granola, cutting a banana to add to the mix, when images of my Dad popped into my head. I smiled as I thought, “I've become my Dad!”, then went back to my breakfast creation.

     But it did start me thinking. I like to read my email in the morning, first thing. That's from my Mom. A muffin and tea to start my day. Mom again. Futzing around; my Dad. Taking anything and everything apart and putting it together again...Mom and Dad.

     Many of my nuances, habits and traits have slowly marinated over the years to create my current persona, but it wasn't until today when I easily morphed into a comparison mindset. I began to unravel and then ravel back again those components of me that I have borrowed from my parents. Maybe borrowed is the wrong word. These aspects that have come from them have actually been betrothed to me. I wear them proudly now, but this hasn't always been true. This expands my thinking from the kitchen, to my parents, to myself, to life.

     I wonder about the river that is our life. How some changes are difficult; hard as a boulder strategically placed in a riverbed diverting water against its will. Other changes evolve; wandering into our lives gently, quietly, effortlessly. While still other changes make us feel we have stumbled into a whirlpool; unable to see a way out.

     We create dams to try and curb the flow of life, allowing only small waterfalls to be created, until a deluge of events causes the dam to be breached, cracked, overwhelmed. We attempt to navigate the river. We draw plans, create contingencies and safeguards, construct pathways, streets, and highways. We have savings and checking, trusts and wills, torts and laws, all to direct us, guide us down this river.

     Our parents teach us, give us guidance, help us navigate this river of life. They are strict, short, impatient, not to deter or blanket our enthusiasm, but because they see what litters the pathway, and they don't want our unbridled momentum to collide fatally with unseen boulders.

     We fight our parents, confuse our ego with our knowledge, determined to steer ourselves in our own way. We smirk with disbelief that our parents would dare to compare their experiences with our own. We know that our lives, our river, is more dangerous, more technical, and is strewn with whitewater rapids that they cannot even begin to fathom. Their War, their depression, their economy, their opinions fall at our feet where we squash their importance.

     And then one day, we stand in the kitchen, making breakfast. In the quiet, all the words, all the actions of our parents, stand with us. They only meant to give us the best of themselves. Only meant to point things out, to guide, not steer. Some may have accomplished this with greater dexterity. Some may have weathered the storms better. But, on this day, in this quiet, they are here. In me. As me.

     I am determined to remove my dams. One at a time. To allow life to flow. To follow my river. It may not be my parents river. In fact, it will not be my parents river. Nor anyone else's. Life is like that you know. Its unique. And the thought that in this world of 6 billion people no two lives are the same, is both wonderful and insane. I will take those traits that my parents have betrothed to me, and use them to float down the river of my life.

All that and a bowl of oatmeal and granola. Life is Good.

The Hot Summer

We are still in Melbourne, and this week has brought the heat of summer. Temperatures in the 30's (high 80's and 90's) and low humidity at the beginning of the week seemed to suck every available drop of moisture from the ground. Now, as we walk down the Merri Creek trail, the grasses are the color of golden wheat, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom...the creek itself is smaller and gentler, the banks are exposed, and it is easy to see that the creek bed is littered with stone and rock.

The ducks, geese, coots, swans, pigeons, and gulls still rejoice upon our arrival, but even they seem slower to take the swim over the lake from their shady retreat. We too, love the shaded areas on the trail...we tend to walk slower through those spots, heads up, looking around and at each other...once we hit the sun, our heads lower, our conversation pauses, and I think that unconsciously we are both looking for that next reprieve.

This morning we woke to warm temperatures...not too warm, somewhere in the mid 20's (seventies)...took time for our “breakkie”, swept the house some, readied the spinach for lunch, and sat for our morning meditation...silence was broken by wind...then rain began to tap out a staccato beat on the laser light porch roof...the wind continued, the rain stopped. Cooler temperatures are arriving...tomorrow's high is forecast to be 21 (69.8F). We have Maharishis Ghandarva Rain Melody playing...the rain started up again at the conclusion of the first hour...

We welcome the change for our own selfish reasons...while we want the rain for the grass and plants, the lower temperatures will aid us in our newest project. We are rebuilding a raised bed...old landscape timbers, new landscape timbers (sleepers, I am told, is the correct verbiage), digging, lots of digging, pavers, mulch, plants...the whole nine yards! More to come on that news....

I hope all my Fairfield friends are surviving the Iowa winter...I hope all my dome buddies are able to travel to and from meditation easily and safely...I hope everyone is feeling well and strong and vital....from Australia...this is me signing off!