My Daily Stroll - And The Ubiquity of Man-Made Objects

Trying to Get Creative?

Usually, while on my daily walks through the forest I don't really pay close attention to the obvious clues that I'm in the middle of a human designed environment. It's easy to forget that your in the middle of a purpose built botanic garden sometimes.

However, today something was making me hyper focus on all of the man-made objects that were hiding in plain sight all through the trails and wooded areas. I walk by this stuff all the time, but sort of ignore it. We've been watching the show 'Outlander' recently which is set back in the 1700s. I was thinking to myself how bizarre it would be to someone of that time to see things like plastic tubing and sprinkler systems back then.

There is a massive dry lake bed in the middle of the property that has been that way for quite a few years now. Over the past few months that we've been taking walks there, they have been doing construction work to send pipes that will eventually refill the lake.

We are really looking forward to the lake being refilled. There is also a really nice stream and a rocky waterfall that we can only imagine what it will be like once filled with water. We've heard people talk about how nice it was back when it was running, but it has been years since that was the case.

Apparently, the man-made lake bed sprung a leak some years back and drained completely dry in no time. Didn't surprise me in the least. I don't think Los Angeles is meant to have streams and lakes. Although I enjoy having them, it does give a bit of a guilty feeling.

I've heard lots of stories about how tons of water was diverted to LA in the early days, killing lots of towns up north. All to feed the insatiable needs of this insane town. It's funny for me to sit here and complain about how there are too many people here, yet here I am.

The truth is, if my wife didn't have to work here; we would have moved a long time ago. It just really isn't worth the cost. We have made a lot of great friends here though, which would now make it a bit difficult to move away.

Sometimes I wish someone would invent instantaneous travel technology so that one could live anywhere they want and go wherever they need to go in an instant. But I suppose if that tech existed, it would make 'expensive areas' irrelevant. You could live anywhere, and at the push of a button be at the beach. Keep dreaming!

I was wondering just how much water they have to use to keep all of the plants alive at the gardens. It must be an insane amount! It makes me think of that silly indoor snowboarding course in the desert over in Dubai. I can't remember how much they said it cost to keep that thing running.

So yeah, this was a pretty weird post. The truth is, I haven't been doing much of anything other than sitting on the couch and watching my newborn eat and poop for the last 3 weeks. And now he has discovered the whole crying thing which is fun! Luckily we got some of that 'gripe water' which has worked some small miracles. These little monsters can really get gassy and fussy!

Anyhow - thanks for stopping in and reading my random potpourri of musings. I'm looking forward to being able to get out there and do some new and exciting things with the little one - once he can do more than poop, eat and sleep of course!