the dwfma blog.

(As a preface, this post draft was older than dirt, and so “last night” translates to some point around December 1, 2008.  And yes, “NIC card” is as redundant as “ATM machine”, but this is my fucking blog.)

My NIC card stopped working last night.  Feels like I have skirted by on charm and effervescence … two things I pretty much hate in other people … and so here I am, five years after the start of something new and exciting, four years after the start of something even newer, perhaps less exciting, but altogether much scarier, real, and adult. What has changed in the more recent five years? Much has changed. I met Jill and the dust was upended again, and has settled in those places that no one bothers to look. I moved again, finally leaving the clutches of my two tax havens, Ocean County and Baltimore City.

Endless lists, self-pep talks, inspirational lyrics, tear-inducing concerts, face-choking commercials … I often ask myself, “Where does it stop?”  But perhaps the better question is, “Where does it begin?”  Because this lolly-gagging window-dressing face-melting status quo has got do be broken, crushed, destroyed.  Turned to rubble and a new, fresher self put into place.  It won’t be perfect the first time, or the hundredth time, or ever, but it can always be better, and at the very least must be different, than the rubble under its feet.

So keep with your lists, knowing that they’ll always be replaced, augmented, massaged, whited-out, ripped in half, abandoned.  But always look, act, and be busy.

Stop tripping over wires.  Where does it end?  Hell, this is where it begins.  Start with that fucking NIC card.

On our way to see the Hershey Bears, we made quick jaunt to Wildwood Park within Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Lenny would be proud.

[gallery 1]  [gallery 2]

[50/eastern pa]

What better way to celebrate the anniversary of the historic opening of the Thomas Viaduct, than an obscure hike to and around the stones themselves?

L&R: Started at the Avalon parking area, near the intersection of Gun Road and Glen Artney Road, and headed east to the visitors center.  In an effort to reach the famed Thomas Viaduct,  I decided to forgo common sense, and took to the rails themselves.  Soon after reaching the Y-track which houses the obelisk, I became especially freaked out.  After a few hurried shots, I risked life and limb and poison ivy to put boots onto River Road.  Heading west, I crossed over Gun Road into some dense vegetation, passing some nice water before eventually emerging near another parking lot.  After grabbing a few pictures of water and tunnels, I then took to the park road (seemingly unlabeled at present) and headed east back toward Gun Road.  I took Gun Road north briefly, taking a few decent shots of the railroad crossing before hightailing it back to the Falcon.

[pedometer: a mere 2.5mi]
[gallery]
[park website]

Today, I put boots to Little Bennett Regional Park out in Montgomery County.

This being a retro post, my notes are askew, but using the accompanying photo gallery, I gathered that I parked at the Kingsley Parking Area along Clarksburg Road/MD-121, and headed east along the titular Kingsley Trail.  After fording a small creek, I made a wrong turn, eventually continuing east on the Froggy Hollow Trail before realizing my mistake when the trail ended at Burnt Hill Road.  Doubling back, I passed the site of successful fording and continued west on the Froggy Hollow Trail until its intersection with Stoney Brook Trail. Turning left, and now heading south, I found myself in the vicinity of the Hawk’s Reach Activity Center (shown above). The flat ground and comfortable benches made for a good lunch spot.

Properly satiated, I took some of the paved park roads to the Bennett Ridge Trail and headed north.  Passing the Owl Ridge spur, I headed east on the Pine Grove Trail, crossing Little Bennett Creek via a small but fun bridge (shown at left).  This trail took me to the horse parking near Prescott Road, after which I headed back into the park along the Timber Ridge Trail.  Eventually, the Tobacco Barn Trail snaked in from the left, after which, I took to the Browning Run Trail heading east, then headed south along the Pine Knob Trail, then hung a sharp right onto the Logger’s Trail back toward the parking area.

Putting together a crude map with rough estimates, this foot travel covered 6 or 7 miles.  Great fun was had.

A nice retroactive hiking.  GPS is fun, and the Internet is great.

[gmap] [flickr]

Testament / The Haunted.
Birch Hill, Old Bridge, NJ.
August 13, 1999.

I think I remember Bill Zebub being at this show, handing out fresh copies of The Grimoire.