patrick.net

Never know. It seems to me that we're due for another Maunder Minimum in the next 30 - 40 years -- a natural cycle of solar cooling.

(I read that Nine Mile Bridge by Hamlin, by the way. Excellent suggestion!)

The Sun is trolling us.

What're you gonna do about it?

(Answer: Nothing.)

Hamlin had a clean-shaven, prosaic style. It was a handsome kind of writing. A little like Charles Portis' work. I'd kill ten good men to find one single woman like her to spend the rest of my stupid life with. That is why it bummed me out to discover that she and the old man split-up shortly after their first child was born.

The scene where they're stuffing their faces and listening to some slow swing tunes on the radio with the fire going and the snow falling...you could tell she understood the treasure that the right kind of isolation affords one (as anyone who's made camp in Joshua Tree for even a few nights can surely attest).

The tub sequences?? You mean where they're trying to dismember that drifter?

I want to see Al Gore stumbling drunkenly outside of one his mansions, waving a quart of vodka and screaming, "Fuck You, Sun, jush Fuck You, for not doing what I predicted! Now, I have a warehouse full of videos I can't sell, and Michael Moore is threatening to sit on my face!"

JodyChunder says

Cold Sun

Heck, why bitch about it.. enjoy a Cold Corona

If these San Jose and Bay Area types would stop patting themselves on the back over their Berkeley or Stanford diplomas, maybe they could put their heads together and solve the main goal mankind has striven toward since the paleolithic: putting out the sun.

I am so tired of sitting around each day, waiting for glorious night!

Cabron Del Hydro says

I am so tired of sitting around each day, waiting for glorious night!

Try closing your eyes:

BLAMO!

Instant night!

JodyChunder says

you could tell she understood the treasure that the right kind of isolation affords one (as anyone who's made camp in Joshua Tree for even a few nights can surely attest).

Try visiting Canyonlands in Utah. It looks like a real world Roadrunner cartoon.

http://www.nps.gov/cany/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm

Has about the same density of humans too.

Been all over Utah, but never been through there! I need to check that out. Thanks for that!

I like Sedona, Arizona, but it's less sleepy than it used to be. I've recently been thinking about selling out and settling down in Ouray, Colorado.

JodyChunder says

Been all over Utah, but never been through there! I need to check that out. Thanks for that!

Sure thing uncle J!

Be sure to visit Dead Horse State Park first:

http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/dead-horse-point-state-park

According to one legend, around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.

Still the view is breathtaking. The isolation is like being at sea.

You might also like Black Canyon Of The Gunnison:

http://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm

JodyChunder says

I've recently been thinking about selling out and settling down in Ouray, Colorado.

Been there too, nice place at least in the summer. Winter is a whole different ball game. Better stake your claim early though, John Galt and his horde of "creators" are a comin':

http://conservapedia.com/Galt%27s_Gulch

Given Ouray was (and is) a hard rock mining town you shouldn't have any problem finding a nice, deep abandoned mine to hole up in to get away from those assholes.

New Renter says

Been there too, nice place at least in the summer. Winter is a whole different ball game.

Ouray in winter is really nice. They set up a drip system up on the top of a small gorge and build up an ice face for ice climbers. I tried it with an instructor, very challenging, lots of fun. There's also a hot springs. Can be very hairy driving into town from Durango over red mountain pass in the winter.

Avoid Ridgeway at all possible costs. There was and probably still is the most asshole cop in the world working there. If you have out of state plates count on being stopped, waiting for an hour sitting in your car while he "checks your documentation", and then having your car searched.

bob2356 says

Ouray in winter is really nice. They set up a drip system up on the top of a small gorge and build up an ice face for ice climbers. I tried it with an instructor, very challenging, lots of fun. There's also a hot springs. Can be very hairy driving into town from Durango over red mountain pass in the winter.

I'm sure its great for those who are used to a real winter. Peronally I've only experienced "winter" a few times in my life. It takes a while to get used to.