Author: Neil Hanson

Neil administers this site and manages content.

The Perfectionist Demon – Finding Good Enough

It’s approaching burning season in the Flint Hills of Kansas and elsewhere on the Great Plains, a time when gigantic prairie fires consume thousands of square miles. The fires are set intentionally, when conditions are perfect to allow controlled burning, usually at night.

Image compliments of Larry Schwarm

It’s a beautiful sight, if you can find a safe promontory from which to watch. Large swaths of flames washing across the plains, consuming everything in their path. Destructive, yet essential for the future of that sea of grass to survive and thrive.

There’s a lot in life that can be like the prairie fire. Things that consume wantonly, or cause great pain, but if controlled, can be a crucible from which new life springs. Continue reading “The Perfectionist Demon – Finding Good Enough”

Joel and the Giving Tree

We all like to think of ourselves as generous and giving – I know I do. And I suppose we are, each in our own way.

The old Shel Silverstein book – “The Giving Tree” – was a favorite of one of my children. We always read at least a couple books at bedtime each night, and I’ll bet more than half the nights for many years included “The Giving Tree”.

In many ways, the book never made sense to me. It talked about a tree that seemed to exist only to give. Even when the result of the giving was misused or misunderstood, or the gift was poorly used. The tree just kept giving.

I suppose it didn’t make sense to me because the act of giving, at it’s most extreme level, makes no sense. Continue reading “Joel and the Giving Tree”

The Acoustic Motorbike

Great Bicycle Song!

Lyrics to “The Acoustic Motorbike” in Middelburg

The day began with a rainbow in the sand
As I cycled into Kerry
Cattle grazing on a steep hillside
Looked well fed, well balanced
Close to the edge

Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on for miles
Pedal on
Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on for miles
Pedal on

I take a break, I close my eyes
And I’m happy as the dolphin
In a quiet spot talking to myself
Talking about the rain
Talking about the rain
All this rain

Pedal on
Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on for miles
Pedal on

You see whenever I’m alone
I tend to brood
But when I’m out on my bike
It’s a different mood
I leave my brain at home
Get up on the sattle
No hanging around
I don’t diddle-daddle Continue reading “The Acoustic Motorbike”

Too Old To Drive?

A friend recently shared her support of a piece of legislation folks here in Colorado would like to move through the process. The legislation would require that folks who are over 75 need to re-take a driving exam and an eye test every 5 years.

There’s a fair amount of resistance to the legislation – mostly from seniors as you’d expect.

My friend strongly supported the bill – for reasons both logical and personal. Continue reading “Too Old To Drive?”

Civility and the Hope of a New Generation

I had a discussion with my grandmother a few years back. She lived to be 101, so had a deep history to draw from in conversations. We talked about how people related to each other these days, and how disappointing it was to see the lack of civility. When you turned on the news, she said, you no longer saw reasonable and intelligent people reporting, you saw crazy people jabbering on about their own point of view. Discussions were hateful and personal, almost like nobody had the intelligence to think for themselves so they needed the news to tell them how to think. Nobody had the courage to express their views sensibly, and had to try and rely on intimidation in a discussion.

I certainly agreed with her, as we commiserated about the sorry state of discussion and dialogue in our culture. She commented about how much my dad had liked to argue, and how refreshing that was. I wrote about his love for argument in this post.

Image by Larry Schwarm

Continue reading “Civility and the Hope of a New Generation”

Bicycle Touring in West Virginia – Grafton to Romney

Day 14 – Grafton to Romney in West Virginia

Later in 2012, I’m planning a bicycle trip from Kansas to Annapolis. While I’m in the planning stages, I’d love to get input from folks familiar with individual portions of the route, with suggestions on changes I might want to make.

Below is a map of a day across West Virgina. Also, here’s a link to the map on Google if you’d like to drag the route around with suggested changes.

 Thanks a ton for any suggestions that will make the route safer or more enjoyable, or things along the way that I’d regret missing. Of course, I’d welcome participation along the route as well. If you’d like to ride a section of it together, let me know, and we’ll see if we can coordinate schedules.

Cycling in West Virginia – Parkersburg to Grafton

Day 13 – Parkersburg, WV to Grafton, WV – Cycling in West Virginia

Later in 2012, I’m planning a bicycle trip from Kansas to Annapolis. While I’m in the planning stages, I’d love to get input from folks familiar with individual portions of the route, with suggestions on changes I might want to make.

Below is a map of Day 13 of the trip. Also, here’s a link to the map on Google if you’d like to drag the route around with suggested changes.

Thanks a ton for any suggestions that will make the route safer or more enjoyable, or things along the way that I’d regret missing. Of course, I’d welcome participation along the route as well. If you’d like to ride a section of it together, let me know, and we’ll see if we can coordinate schedules.

Bicycle Touring in Ohio – Chillicothe to Parkerburg

Day 12 – Chillicothe, OH to Parkersburg, WV

Later in 2012, I’m planning a bicycle trip from Kansas to Annapolis. While I’m in the planning stages, I’d love to get input from folks familiar with individual portions of the route, with suggestions on changes I might want to make.

Below is a map of Day 11 of the trip. Also, here’s a link to the map on Google if you’d like to drag the route around with suggested changes.

Thanks a ton for any suggestions that will make the route safer or more enjoyable, or things along the way that I’d regret missing. Of course, I’d welcome participation along the route as well. If you’d like to ride a section of it together, let me know, and we’ll see if we can coordinate schedules.