Tamkaliks

 

History

“In 1989, Taz Conner, a descendant of Old Chief Joseph, Tuekakas, was invited by the City of Wallowa to help them plan some kind of Native American festival in Wallowa. It was decided that a friendship potluck and powwow would be the most appropriate event. Since that time, a group of ten to fifteen local volunteers have met, planned, and worked nearly year-round to conduct the event. During the powwow and potluck, about forty to fifty local people and ten to twelve Native Americans help in putting it on. - Terry Crenshaw, Teacher at Wallowa High School

 

I first attended in 2012 when Mrs. Beulah Wynans was the Interpretive Center Office Manager. In July of 2022 I made it again. 

Today, 30.Dec.23, the Wallowa Band of Nez Perce's newsletter arrived. Here's the link. I've been reluctant to post about the event...it's an intimate gathering of about 300, a large crowd by my standards, with an unusually Wilkommen vibe that could easily become too big.

I think the few folks who find their way here would appreciate it. It's a family get-together open to the public, in an exceptionally beautiful part of the world. 

There's free on-site camping and it's only a few miles to the National Forest. 

The main website.

Link to virtual tour includes sheep-horn bow with owl feather fletching.

Aneurysm Clips

The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly by Matt McCarthy had me messaging my cardiologist. It was the description of "flashing" wherein the heart suddenly, as with a flash flood, can't pump enough. The lungs fill with blood and the patient feels as if they're drowning. If not treated, they do.

Having brought a morbid curiosity to boiling, I eagerly embarqued into Do No Harm by Henry Marsh.

Both books portray the psychological & physical endurance courses that are the daily fare of practicing medicine. And both do a great job of giving credence to the term "practicing' where though confidence may be accrued, it can quickly evaporate.

Whats interesting is how both Marsh & McCarthy wrangle the anguish of telling people they're going to die. Marsh, angry at "the gods," feels shame at losing his professional distance, whereas McCarthy, almost gagging from anxiety, works steadily at embracing the emotional pain. 

I'm combining them withThe Grace in Dying by Kathleen Singh for a bit of metaphorical jumping up & down on the end of the diving board.

The internet, in all its magical glory, was by my side when I queried "aneurysm clips."

Smallest of the small roach clips, this German company touts itself as "the most trusted name....."

But, of course!

On p. 321, McCarthy has just been voted best in Cardiac Arrest. The other finalist was his fav teacher, Dr. Baio. He'd admired Baio's calm as he, Baio, supervised cardiac arrest procedures and now thought maybe... Could it be possible he'd surpassed him?

As these thoughts flooded up he realized, once again, how much he owed to many of the others. And as he stood there feeling grateful, he sensed someone come come up behind him and as a hand gently squeezed his neck, Baio whispered, "You're welcome."

                --------------------------------

Helping each other is what we're meant to do. It's true we can't help everyone, but every little bit helps. 

It's not always obvious what another person needs, but one of the easiest ways to know is by listening to their complaints. Though we're taught not to (complain), it's the first order of a patient's duty.

We're all patients in one way or another, and we all have the ability to, if nothing else, offer sympathy. 

Full Moon

Yesterday isn't even a distant memory, but it took its toll and today I only had energy to bake the last of the fish from Ta Lin Market and make her a burrito when she came home from her rounds.

Now, at 5:34 p.m., she's gearing up for the one evening sit; I'm gonna go too, so we have some time together. Her schedule is full for the next week or so.

I took some garbage out to the dumpster. It's cold, clear and the full moon is at about 10 o'clock.

I was about to mention the quiet - the one day in the year - but a car just went by with music blasting; it's "the burbs" donchyaknow?

Lights & Firebags!

After the visit we went to Altura Park west of Washington. There was a group clustered around a fire singing. We walked for a bit until I got cold then drove through the neighborhood south of Constitution. She had an early-morning sit so we didn't stay out long.

Yule Goat - 71st Birthday

Born this day in 1952 in Nürnberg at approximately 6 a.m., the doctor was called away from a Christmas party. Mom said he was quite drunk and hilarious. They had a wonderful time!

As a Capricorn, I took note when Kristen sent this link to the Yule Goat. With roots in German Paganism, it is rumored to still influence holiday decorations and music in some places.

Illustration by Robert Seymour

from The Book of Christmas

Julbocken - Stockholms Musikgymnasium

The fate of the Swedish goat.

Through the Window by Jenny Nystrom

LSD

I'm not coping well.

It's amazing how in the space of an hour or two, the time it takes for it to take effect, the world shifts from noisy and obnoxious to screened out and smiling.

After three days of being bed-ridden, I was able to get up & going.

Conversation w Pres of Board of Conserve SW Utah about highway through Red Cliffs NCA

Library - pick up HOLDs

Pen & Pad - Xmas card for friend

Walmart - shoes (slipon $15)

Glitter paper for Solstice cards

Acne treatment stuff (not covered by formulary)

(You'd think it would've relented by now but I haven't ever stopped masturbating.)

Low-fat mozzarella

Bike store - CO² cartridge regulator for Rebreather (found one online)

Golden Pride - lunch

Inez Park - walk

Lowe's - interlocking foam for sound-deadening.

Library - pick up I.L.L.

Family Thrift - t-shirts & sweater

Solstice Card Work-table

The Money Flow

On 19.Dec.23, Senator Heinrich sent an email that included the statements below...

"There’s been a major development with the SunZia Wind and Transmission Project, the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history:  

Thanks to a major labor agreement reached last week, the SunZia transmission line will be constructed by union members."

Curious about the money flow, I learned (from) that:

"The 580-mile, $1.3 billion transmission line is one part of the SunZia Transmission and Wind Projects, under development by San Francisco-based Pattern Energy. The projects broke ground outside of Corona, New Mexico, in early September after receiving a series of regulatory approvals in November 2022."

From Pattern Energy's website:

"Pattern operates a global portfolio of high-performing renewable energy facilities."

Their portfolio page offers a map view (below) and a List View. The blue circles are wind farms. The orange are solar arrays.

Delving further, Pattern Energy is a member of the American Clean Power Association. From their website, it's not clear what they do, but they list the number of "Clean Energy" jobs and manufacturing facilities in operation.

They claim to be "Powering America's growth"

The clean energy industry powers more of the United States every day and contributes more to the economy than any other source of energy.  From across the country and clean power technologies, ACP unites the most prominent policy leaders, industry experts, and companies to grow the industry. 

The Canada Investmemt Pension Plan has a finger in the pie somewhere.

Solstice!

Mein Gott! It slipped right past me. I'm writing on the 24th but will backdate to the 21st. 

I'm at Michelle's in Albuquerque. The cat-sitting at this time of year is so intense all else gets forgotten. The moon is waxing gibbous.

The tree was Michelle's Grandmother's