Dez's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

POST 118 (DAY 125, Sunday, 2020.12.13)
[Morning Entry]

.. got up around 6am because i was "done sleeping".. first time i thought that in a few weeks.. everyone else was asleep.. the house to myself.. cleared the dish rack as i tended the morning's fire.. read a small section of the RMH guidebook while feeding the RMH.. nothing like learning on-the-go..
.. when i arrived, i knew nothing about stone floor patios or roundwood timber framing or cob-work or moving a huge log with an excavator arm or a tractor.. that was in august 2020.. so four months in, looking back, i've learned how to do enough of these things to build my own liveable structure.. i've even learned how to harvest, winnow and plant seeds.. exciting.. and that not even including my own personal development and becoming a contributing member of a permaculture/homestead community.. to live in cooperation and collaboration with others while regarding the harmony and peace or social dynamics.. definitely a lot more to learn in this area.. i'm in awesome company, so keeping up will be a worthy challenge.. i feel safe and supported.. what will the next 3-4 months teach?!

enjoy the pics~!

POST 119 (DAY 126, Monday, 2020.12.14)
[Morning Entry]

.. woke up feeling tired/fatigued.. slept okay.. perhaps just out of phase.. im used to thinking that i need 8 hours of sleep per night.. maybe thats changing?.. hmm..
.. remembering fondly of a neighborhood called Capitol Hill.. its where everyone knew of the best hang out spots.. i never really understood what made them the best.. still dont really get it.. i like hanging out at home the best.. in my pyjamas.. with the occasional visit outside to see the kittens and look up at the stars or the silver moon..
.. we recorded a podcast yesterday.. i voiced in a few times.. it was a movie/documentary review on "whole systems pdc".. something in me lit up when i was on the mic.. strange, yet somewhat familiar.. there was a communications class i took in college that did something similar to me.. it was during an oral presentation about social dynamics.. i was nervous to walk up to the front of the class, but once i started, everyone seemed to be having a good time.. including myself.. by the time i sat back down, the whole class was smiling at me with approval.. or something.. the nerves melted and i had fun.. a similar feeling to the podcast thing..

enjoy the pics~!

POST 120 (DAY 127, Tuesday, 2020.12.15)
[Morning Entry]

.. Taco Tuesday.. food..its all about food isn't it?.. we eat to live, and live to eat.. maybe thats why consumerism is such a big deal.. people are just looking for real food.. ways to enjoy life in the best way they know how.. and knowledge begins with awareness.. the marketing targeted for consumers is designed to spread awareness.. permies.com is spreading awareness too.. the survival podcast.. podcasts in general, books, youtube clips.. spreading awareness.. cultivating awareness.. taco tuesday has a timeslot dedicated to "community business"--which in my opinion is also spreading awareness of things going on in the community..

yesterday, we put more roof poles in~!

enjoy the pics~!

POST 121 (DAY 128, Wednesday, 2020.12.16)
[Morning Entry]

.. fiscal Q2 (second 90 days of my time in WL) definitely feels different.. i feel somewhat "seasoned".. a bit more able to relax into the routine and flow of the lifestyle here.. maybe "relax" isnt the right word.. relaxing conjures ideas of comfort or laziness--and i do indeed experience temptations to be comfortable or lazy every single day--but i guess what i mean by "relax into" is that I'm understanding my role and fitment.. more about this another time.. right now, i must load the RMH with new fuel.. =D

enjoy the pics~!

POST 122 (DAY 129, Thursday, 2020.12.17)
[Morning Entry]

.. the difference between a 30 year-old person who seems to have a fire under their butt at any given moment, and a 30 year-old person who seems to have a sofa under their butt at any given moment, is perhaps the pain they've experienced along those 30 years.. looking back at my own experiences and existence thus far, i recall the most painful times as my most learning times.. times where i established a piece of the puzzle to making my life worthwhile.. example..
.. when i was 28, i moved from orange county, southern california to seattle, washington.. i knew none of my coworkers, had no social network, had no apartment to call my own.. my college roommate's parents generously let me stay with them for a couple weeks.. i had put myself into this situation because i felt that i wanted a shift in my life's trajectory.. the routine in california had become ordinary.. painlessly ordinary.. a new place with a new start seemed exciting and way more preferable than status quo.. the pain of leaving familiarity into the unknown might be called "anxiety", because i didnt know if i could make it happen out there [in the world].. it was sort of a leap to freefall out of mother's nest.. there's nothing like jumping into the water that proves one's determination to remain afloat.. the biggest lesson i learned was that i CAN do it.. i was not stuck.. i was not stuck in ordinary, or anywhere, for that matter.. and pain is sometimes healthy..

enjoy the pics~!

POST 123 (DAY 130, Friday, 2020.12.18)
[Morning Entry]

.. 7:33am.. 30 degrees.. no sunrise yet.. the orchid blooms still.. Friday..

THE WORK: roundwood timber framing.. when I first arrived (about 4 months ago), I had zero knowledge and skillset for roundwood work.. i barely had the physical ability to lift a round log.. there are no edges to hold (like dimensional lumber), so gripping the mass is a new set of muscles.. now, I can grip and lift logs that were previously difficult.. amazing.. and i love it.. chainsawing, chiseling, notching--its so fun.. happy holidays, and BUENOS NOTCHES~!

enjoy the pics~!

Dez! I've just been catching up and finally got to read your birthday shoutout. You are the best! That message was so insightful and got me right in the heart. I can't wait to see you again and continue our fun conversations, build things together, learn together, be a part of the same little community. Thank you for writing your posts so determinedly. It makes me feel like I'm there already. I'm in Virginia now and it hasn't been the easiest. Family drama! And COVID in the real world is scary. But I'm paring down my belongings and setting things aside that will make the journey west with me yet again. Be well and warm! Happy Holidays :)