Full Trail Work Song

I went ahead and finished my spoof song for trail work. The song on which it's based, Wishin' and Hopin' by Dusty Springfield, turned out to be constructed a little bit differently than what I had remembered while out on the trail, so I needed to rework some portions. The song also repeats several sections; I chose to use some of those repeats, but not all. I'm happy with it. 

Loppin' and choppin' and treadin' and gradin'
Limbin' and drainin' all over the trail
With some hard work we just can't fail
So if you're looking to care for trails you love
All you gotta do is lop 'em and chop 'em and cut 'em
And make it clear above

You have got to clear blown down trees
From the trail so we can hike through
Trim the branches that stick out
We will clear it
Loppin' and a-choppin', limbin' and a-trimmin'

Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' the trail gets fun
That won't get a lick of work done

So if you're thinkin' of how great clear trails are

All you gotta do is lop 'em and chop 'em and tread 'em and grade 'em 
Yeah, just do it
And after you you do, the trail is clear

You know you've got to saw with technique
Let the blade do most of the work
There's just no need to use much force
You will get through
Working in a rhythm, drawin' and a-pullin'

Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' the trail gets fun
That won't get a lick of work done

So if you're thinkin' of how great clear trails are

All you gotta do is saw 'em and limb 'em and drain 'em and cut 'em
Yeah, just do it
And after you you do, the trail is clear
The trail is clear
The trail is clear

Trouble in the Trees

Over the Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I went backpacking in the Sawtooths. Usually, when we hike out this way, we'll see wolf sign, or even wolves, but this time we only saw very old scat and not much of that. 

This led me to mention that I'd read that Idaho would be culling its wolf population from 1500 to 200, and we proceeded to speculate that the wolves must have fled deep into the wilderness to avoid the cull. I was thinking about a dramatized story from the wolves' point of view, about how the packs needed to retreat, but Ambrose took it another direction. He started making a song about it to the tune of Rush's "The Trees" - one of his favorite songs. 

He made some line suggestions, but I will admit I did not consciously retain them in memory. Instead, I let the concept simmer in my brain for a couple days before coming up with this: 

There is unrest in the forest
Stirring deep in Idaho
They say the wolves have grown too many
And so the wolves must go

The trouble to the people

(And they're quite convinced they're right)
Is that the wolves are just too vicious
And have ranchlands in their sight

But the wolves can't help their nature
And they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the ranchers
Can't just build a better stockade

There is trouble in the forest
Since the wolves are marked to die
No creatures can scream oppression
When good folk turns a blind eye

There will be no union
To protect the rights of wolf
We cannot change their nature
And the ranchers have had enough

Now we'll see wolf suppression
All due to human flaw
And the wolves, they will be slaughtered
By poison, gun and law

Saturday's Are for Sing-a-longs

Usually, in our apartment, Ambrose is in charge of the media. I get to make suggestions or pick the show, but only when he decides to give up the remote. Most Saturday mornings, we get a selection of electronic music from YouTube, because that's what he prefers to listen to.

But a few Saturdays ago, I managed to do a little takeover.

I had heard about the whole Tool vs Taylor Swift thing, and I decided I wanted to listen to some Tool. Rather than using YouTube, which would have required me to sign in, potentially wasting enough time to allow Ambrose to usurp the controls, I went to the Vevo app on the Roku player.  But for some reason, every time I tried to select a Tool video, the app crashed me back to the Roku homescreen.

So I listened to some other music, rock mostly, mostly from the late 90's. And then, when the groceries were all put up and it was clear that Ambrose was not going to steal the remote back, I did sign onto YouTube and finally listened to some Tool.

But I also listened to a bunch of other songs, and sang along. It was relaxing for me, and I'm thinking of making Saturday morning sing-a-longs a thing.

All I need to do is distract Ambrose while he's bringing in the groceries...

Ditty to "The Sound of Silence"

Hello dark roast my old friend
It's time to brew you up again
I sure wish that I was sleeping
Instead the faithful grounds are steeping
And the aroma
That is floating through the air
Both bitter and fair
That's the smell
Of coffee

In all the dreams I left behind
Nothing like this could I find
The only recompense for waking
I can't believe how long it's taking
Then I heard my name from the office across the hall
I could not stall
Not yet time
For coffee

And oh my co-worker did speak
For what seemed to be a week
Babbling on about the weather
Acting as if she'd end never
Talking well past the point that I could care
But I did not dare
Follow the smell
Of coffee


"Look" said I "I've got to go–
A little pit stop if you must know"
And so to complete my clever ruse
To the bathroom I did go and use
But on my way to get my cup I heard my name
And detoured
From the claims of coffee

To my boss I spoke yet more
Although coffee did implore
But at last we finished talking
And I silenced my cup's mocking
At last I filled the cup and then sat down with a sigh in my own chair
With no one there
And breathed the smell
Of coffee