For the past two years I have been reporting on my commute on 9-11. This year, on Thursday, I intended to take a long ride from work to the occupational physician for my annual respirator physical, but they were full for appointments. I had ridden to work, and intended an all-afternoon ride. Instead, I walked over to the local ice cream outlet (Baskin & Robins) for an ice cream treat at noon. In the evening, I took the long way home, then spent time raking my yard until my wife arrived home from her job at 8:00 PM. I listened to the National Public Radio reports during the time I spent raking. This year seemed less meaningful to me than the last two. However, I've decided that at least on 9-11 each year, it will be a time without use of fossel-fuel internal combustion engines for anything.

Today, Saturday, I participated in a local group's clean-up of a local river (Tualatin Riverkeeper's) in my canoe. It seemed fitting to spend a few hours in this way right now.

John