Much Needed Electroshock

JWise Photo of the Day

Wired for a sleep study

Tired of thoughts, thinking, decisions, and responsibility I snuck away this afternoon for some electroshock therapy to wash my brain of myself so I could be a more likable, non-aggressive, and a know-nothing allowing me to enjoy TV, professional sports, plastic chest enhancers, blonde highlights, white-framed sunglasses with gold trim, tramp stamps, pierced lips, McDonald’s, George Bush, war, blind consumption, bass from other peoples cars, and two or three other things that I can’t remember now because of fried neural connections no longer working – I think, well I don’t but I guess, maybe, probably.

A sleep study is the reason for the wiring, you hopeful, wishful John haters. I will still be a know-it-all, aggressive, unlikeable curmudgeon, just a well-rested one after this I hope.

Half a Halo of Rays

JWise Photo of the Day

The sun is behind a dark narrow but tall cloud with dramatic sun rays extending out from the edges of the cloud

Today’s sky is dedicated to Chinese filmmaker, actor, and producer Wei Lo, hence the reference in my title to his film titled Half a Loaf of Kung Fu. Suppose it could have been dedicated to Jackie Chan as Half a Loaf was his first comedic film role. Lo Wei was maybe most famous for his film Fists of Fury with Bruce Lee. Anyway, how I made the connection to Half a Loaf of Kung fu is because I titled the photo Halo of Rays but then thought, it isn’t really a halo as a halo should be round and this is a little more than half, so, Half a Halo of Rays. Then, when looking for something to tie into that inspiration I read that Lo Wei had passed away in 1996 and so it felt like a nice moment to remember the famous man and his work.

Zzzzz…

JWise Photo of the Day

The inside of an empty elevator at a doctors office. The elevator is bland, beige in color with flourescent lighting.

Today I visited a doctor specializing in sleep disorders. The elevator I had to take to his floor nearly put me to sleep. For years I have snored, so loudly as to have people beating on hotel room walls trying to have me turn down the decibels. Somehow, Caroline has grown relatively used to it, all but the interruptions in breathing. I suppose  hearing someone next to you stop breathing without knowing and you lie there waiting for the breathing to resume until it comes with a gasp, that might be a bit disconcerting. So after years of torturing my wife and explaining the problems to my primary care doctor, he recommended I visit Dr. Hooper at Arizona Lung and Sleep Disorder, we’ll see what comes out of it – yawn.

North Rim Grand Canyon

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

North Rim of the Grand Canyon looking into a hazy bluish corner of the canyon from Cape Royal under little fluffy white clouds on a perfect summer day

While yesterday I voiced lament that we don’t do enough local travels these days, this moment at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is a peek of what’s to come. Our room is reserved for early October, and our first hike of the North Rim down into the canyon is planned. We will explore the North Kaibab trail, and weather, gumption, and endurance allow; we will hike from the rim to Roaring Springs. The hike is 9.4 miles (15km) round trip, not a huge obstacle, but the hike out is intimidating as we face 3,400 feet (1037m) of elevation gain.

Zion

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Standing in the middle of the road in Zion National Park in Utah looking at the red and white rock against the blue sky

Coming back to Zion National Park is a reminder that Caroline and I haven’t done enough local traveling in the past year and a half. The last time we were in the area was in July when we drove by Zion on our way to and from Yellowstone National Park. Just north of Zion is Bryce Canyon National Park, and just the same, it too beckons for a return visit. Short weekend trips to monuments of the Southwest have been made more difficult with Caroline studying for her degree, and the fact is we have been to all National Parks and Monuments within a 500-mile radius, so it’s not like we are deprived of anything. But when you pay a return visit to these natural beauties, you ask yourself, why did I stay away for so long?