Life and Random Thinking

Awoken to smoke today, glowing at night a few nights ago

Posted on September 8, 2020 by dfolstad58

Thank you for visiting my blog today, Life and Random Thinking, is a blog about happenings in my Okanagan region and other musings that I hope you will find interesting.

Today I watched the news of the fires in California

with additional empathy. Normally I can see the valley walls and miles down either of the lakes that are the head and feet of my city, Penticton.

This morning there is smoke akin to fog that has reduced visibility to two blocks here in Penticton, and a campfire taste to each outdoor breath.

Forest fires have sprung up in each direction and yet last night it was clear and fresh draughts of air when I went for a bike ride.

I am praying for a quick end to the smoke filled days

and a return to the fresh air I normally enjoy, and my heart reaches out to the uncountable number of people in California, many of whom are dealing with much worse.

So awful, and sad for these folks. In my thoughts.

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On a happier note,

For years I have wanted my dear wife to try stand-up paddleboarding at night! My wife, Susan, loves paddleboarding but until this year she has not tried paddleboarding at night.

Now she has, and she loved it, and so did I !

Four of us went together, I and my dear wife plus my daughter and her husband. Of course different paddleboards LOL, and my words are probably going to be unable to explain the experience.

Skaha Lake which is a short walk from home, has a business that does GLOW paddleboarding, which is led lighting which creates a beautiful glow illuminating the board.

We all had life jackets on, and multi-coloured glow sticks on our wrists, ankles, paddles etc so it was much like the Disney Electrical parade! –

Since it was dark, the boards seemed to float, and the lake was so calm – very relaxing as a cool breeze swept over us.

Unexpectedly I was able to spy 18 inch long fish lazing below me as I ghosted along in the changing red, green, blue and gold lights.

Thanks Gang at Skaha Lake’s Glow Sup Adventures !

Ten of us in silence on the lake, just cruising along in very companionable ambience.

I found a youtuber who has done this, so you can see what it was like, a video being worth a million words approximately, fortunately its a short video. Click here.

To learn more – Glow SUP Adventures

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Thanks so much for dropping by, and having an interest in my blog – I look forward to chatting with you in the comments. – David

Posted in okanagan related | Tagged 2020, California fires, experiences, glow paddleboarding, Okanagan | 39 Comments

Blue skies, no smoke and the rain is gone.

Posted on August 31, 2020 by dfolstad58

I walked today along the south end of Penticton, along beautiful Skaha Lake. The lake was calm, and the skies were silent, absent was the sights and sounds of helicopters water bombing Christie Mountain.

Peace reigned, and I was grateful for the small rain storm last night that put the final kabosh on the smouldering remains of the fire.

Welcome to “Life and Random Thinking” today on August 31, 2020. – David

Africa (the cat above) and I are glad you are visiting. 🙂

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As I walked along the beach walk

I was thinking about how so many families on the west side of the valley have lived with their minds on edge.

Hundreds of families given evacuation alerts, and an unknown amount actually packing up special items and living with friends for the duration.

Friends of mine who live on the valley’s westside, report the helicopters flying over their home, the vibrating air every six minutes as the copters flew overhead back on forth to protect their homes and families.

They said the copters flew a mere”chip shot with 5 iron” over their home!

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day - Johnny Nash "I can see Clearly Now"

We sometimes have heavy rain here,

the kind of storm where the rain bounces back up. Those storms are kind of my favourite, although intimidating, they tend to be shorter in length, and I know rainbows (sometimes more than one) are not far ahead.

Those heavy short-in-length storms are also easier to wait out, if caught out in one, I can even enjoy it under the canopy of a nice evergreen and the air smells so fresh.

I think I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day - Johnny Nash "I can see Clearly Now"

The hardest storms to endure are the ones that are unpredictable in length. Even though I know a storm will eventually pass, and the sun will shine again without a doubt, I wish I could control the storm.

Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies

- Johnny Nash "I can see Clearly Now"

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I read the blog of a 20 year old young woman today,

and she has had a tough journey healthwise since a young age. It was inspiring to read how she managed through it all, and now is sharing her journey.

I imagine that her storm felt like it would never end some days. Today for her the rain storms still come but she knows that the sun is still there, above the clouds.

At a young age, the pain seemed endless but now she knows the clouds will pass. She can ” look straight ahead and see the BLUE skies”.

Click here to visit her post called “Kiara is Growing”.

I am grateful she shared her story and visited my blog (so I found her) because it is a reminder for me, change is the only constant, and we can’t predict the weather, but we know it will change.

Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window. – Peter Drucker

Posted in health, Just being creative, music related, okanagan related | Tagged 2020, Christie mountain, fire, health, I can see clearly now, Kiara is growing, rain, storms of life, sun | 27 Comments

On Alert – An Update after the wind storm

Posted on August 22, 2020 by dfolstad58

Welcome back to “Life and Random Thinking,” I appreciate your visit.

In my previous post “On Alert” I shared the apprehension the whole city of Penticton was feeling as we faced the 70 kilometre winds blowing from the south on Friday. No one knew what to expect.

Friday was a blustery day, and the crews were working hard all day Thursday, overnight and on Friday hoping to contain the Christie Mountain Fire.

The fire was already 2000 hectares (10,000 square metres or 2.47 acres) Thursday night. Friday I rode my bike down to Skaha Lake, not far, and watched the Sikorsky helicopters hard at work. The fire was so close to the lake, the Sikorsky’s were like bees buzzing back and from the lake to the nearby fire. I was able to the Sikorsky’s close up, and from underneath. A hose and snorkel to pump water hangs below the huge helicopter; this hose fills the hold – up to 9,500 litres of water (or fire retardant).

Also smaller helicopters and air tankers were busy, I suspect all other air traffic at Penticton airport was cancelled.

At the beach the chopping of the heavy blades were right overhead, and I felt spray from the copter land on me as it flew overhead to its target. The wind was so heavy, sand was being blown off the beach and pelting my legs.

A day I won’t forget.

Saturday dawned, and I was anxious for an update. I felt relieved looking at Christie mountain not to see the heavy dark clouds of Tuesday, and the candling for trees as they burst into flame. Instead there is white smoke, and a sense of relief.

On Friday, here is the report I received.

The BC Wildfire Service said while wind gusts from the south did buffet the blaze, fire activity did not significantly increase.

On Saturday afternoon, BC Wildfire estimated the fire’s size to be at 2,035 hectares.

Further, BC Wildfire said approximately one millimeter of rain fell on the fire Friday.

“We were very fortunate yesterday with the wind event,” said Penticton fire chief Larry Watkinson. “Although it was quite vigorous, above Penticton and on the hillsides, it was very soft on the fire.

The factors that helped prevent the fire’s spread were:

The combined work of ground of air crews slowing the growth.
The fire was running into a former 1994 fire, so not as much forest fuel was available, which helped taking the “steam” out of it.

We didn’t see a lot of expansion. A lot of work was done to keep areas wet, and that crews didn’t see any ignitions from ember transplants or ash-fly, or “any real damage to structures at all.

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This post isn’t cooperating at all, WordPress is using a new editor, and I am having a hard time here. Arrgh ! 🙂

I will try to add some photos I took yesterday. – David

Posted in Just being creative, okanagan related, Uncategorized | Tagged 2020, alert, Christie mountain, fire, helicopters, update | 12 Comments

On Alert

Posted on August 21, 2020 by dfolstad58

As the summer of 2020 progressed

the hope that this would be a summer without forest fires grew, but our hopes were dashed in the last week.

Sadly, although the end of summer seemed in sight, forest fires are now happening in my region including one very close to home, the Christie Mountain fire.

Click here for more information from CBC

The dry climate lends itself to this risk and now the days and evenings are filled with smoke and niggling worry at the back of one’s mind for friends, and fellow Pentictonites.

In addition to our local concern, the fire can quickly spread if the wind picks up and move to other communities at speed. We worry also about that possibility.

Today, the risk is high.

Today as I write I look outside at the waving branches of a neighbour’s tree, a storm is brewing and with it comes the unpredictability of what will develop with the Christie Mountain fire.

Thousands of homes are on alert, families are poised to grab a few precious belongs and leave their homes in God’s hands. The last few nights have been ones that not been relaxing at all for many.

Many hundreds of families are on alert, and news of our fires have travelled – a dear family from Hamburg, Germany contacted me saying we were in the news there. It was wonderful to hear from them, and we have heard from many wonderful caring people, family and friends.

Kudos to the BC Wildfire Service for their planning and efforts to protect life and property. (More on how here )

Thanks for visiting “Life and Random Thinking” today. – David

Posted in okanagan related, Uncategorized | Tagged alert, Christie, fire, forest, June 2020, mountain climbing, Worry | 34 Comments

The Best Investments you will ever make

Posted on August 16, 2020 by dfolstad58

Hi, my name is David.

Welcome to “Life and Random Thinking“. Today’s blog post is another of my “Thinking Out Loud” category.

I appreciate you stopping by. ♥

Getting to the top is hard but it’s the challenges that make life the most rewarding!

Today I went for a walk early,

it will be 38 C degrees today (100.4 F) so I really should have been out earlier than I was as it was already 24 C when we were walking.

I had a wonderful and healthy time, it was a walk with my son, and another deposit in the bank of memories we share.

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Dave said he could feel the snake muscles

When I die, and I am optimistic that it is not soon,

all that will be left will be the stories.

The stories of time spent hiking, playing monopoly, teaching my kids to ride their bikes, holidays together, lessons learned through mistakes and more.

The best investment I can make is in that bank of stories, and experiences with the people in my life, especially my family. Those are the only investments that will survive.

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Chelan, friendly town

Deer 1 – – Chevrolet 0

posing at Tojo’s restaurant

Best Cake Toppers Ever

Christmas or anytime!

carving pumpkins; priceless

Looking back

safer here out of the waves

Checking my memories

bank account today, I evaluated my investments.

Many of my most valued investments weren’t expensive:

Carving pumpkins on the sundeck for Halloween,
and making snowmen in the front yard with my son and daughter,
watching a thunderstorm with my daughter,
riding a merry go round with my wife
learning to make a balsa wood kite with my Dad
playing crib with my Mom.

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Financial advisors will tell you don’t make the mistake of waiting for the “best time to invest“. They will say that by waiting you are missing out on “potential returns in the meantime.”

They are right about that.

Good news ! The best investments for stories don’t have to be expensive, water skiing, camp fires, roasting marshmallows – you know what I mean.

Simpler is easier and just as meaningful.

I know that at my stage of life I know what I want is to invest and keep investing in the memories bank, and regardless of how much money you have; you can invest also.

Invest in walks, talks, card games, bike rides, and please say the words you feel in your heart to the ones who will inherit your stories. – Hugs ! David

I would love to hear some of the simple and wonderful ways you have invested in your Memories Bank. – hint hint. ♥♥♥

Posted in family, Thinking Out loud | Tagged daughter, family, hike, lasting, Love, memories, monopoly, parents, pumpkin carving, son, stories, thinking out loud | 34 Comments

Got to make the Moments Last

Posted on August 12, 2020 by dfolstad58

Welcome to “Life and Random Thinking“, I’m glad you are visiting. 🙂 David

Sun delivers Africa a knockout nap

Yesterday I was in a familiar situation, walking slowly up Giant’s Head Mountain, looking forward and not saying much, just taking deep breaths so that I can keep moving.

I caught myself rounding a corner as I wound up the steep road and I was actually failing to appreciate the vista that was spread out around and below me.

It was a forehead slap moment.

I suppose I could have consoled myself that in an hour I would be walking back down, and I would be more relaxed then and could then appreciate the view. I suppose that would be fine but it made me think.

It made me realize something and so as I walked up yesterday I made sure to notice every view, going up and down.

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy

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Looking north from the top. Okanagan Lake down below, way down there! That is my son in the photo.

The fact is that I can get used to my surroundings, and as a result it can be that I fail to appreciate them sometimes.

I imagine that the same happens in beautiful spots worldwide, the Seattle Space Needle, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Canyon, the pyramids, a beautiful location in Hawaii, or Bali; how long before the appreciation dulls.

Yet it’s still there, fabulous and others are taking pictures and soaking it up moment by moment. It’s human nature and it makes sense.

But I never want to stop appreciating the people in my life.

I am watching little birds in the sunflower plants right now, and I love and appreciate them until they fly off and I do that a dozen times a day.

If I can do that with birds, I can do better at appreciating and noticing people in my life.

Hello, lamppost, what’cha knowin’?
I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’
Ain’t’cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in doo-doo, feelin’ groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy

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In 1986 I was hospitalized from April to September – when I finally was able to leave, I paused in the alley outside the windows before getting in the car. I just stood there motionless.

I am sure my wife expected me to jump in, and yell “Get me out of here” (or something similar).

She asked me what I was doing, and I told her I was feeling the wind. I was enjoying the movement of air, the freshness I had missed, the air in the hallways was so different than the freedom of the air outside.

Such a simple moment, 34 years ago but it sings out to me still;

enjoy the moments,
enjoy the small gifts all around.
Life is a gift, make sure to unwrap it daily.

I got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life, I love you
All is groovy

The 59th Street Bridge Song

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