Reconnection

The summer has passed and my seasonal environmental job also draws to a close.  It marks a closing point but also a reminder and renewal of my closeness with nature.  Though at times working outdoors caused us a great deal of stress as we had to cancel sites and be bumped off schedule, it was a big reminder that even in a city as big as New York, nature rules.

It was a pleasure to view the city from dozens of rooftops and speak to the residents that inhabit these neighborhoods.  It is too soon to know how these days will influence my artwork and life, but I feel that these days etched into me and when I move on to quieter places for reflection and creation, these moments will follow me.

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Sun Sun and More Sun

Right, so this was my ultimate survivor summer, but I wasn't any more remote than the urban jungles of the South Bronx.  What did I learn?  A lot of Spanish phrases and a fair bit about sunblock.  

Throughout the receint months, I have been in an unusual situation for a New York dweller.  I have been outdoors more than indoors.  I have experienced all kinds of weather, but rain and extreme heat seemed to compete for my attention. Just yesterday, a calm cloudy early autumn day registered163 degrees on the roof where I worked with my crew.  I felt relieved that we didn't bring the heat gun device in the midst of August, because some details you just don't want to know.

So what did I learn, well, I learned that after testing 8 types of sunblock, NO AD brand reigned supreme.  Yup, the cheap one that i first encountered as an eight year old while tearing up Wet-n-Wild in Orlando, Florida. My Mom dipped me in the stuff long ago, and now I can buy it in mass quantities at any corner shop in Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx. It is sold in nearly liter quantities that you can transfer to smaller reclaimed bottles so to save your back.

I had a horrible reaction to the fancy organic indulgence sunblock, an event that alarmed me of the possible reactions to mineral based sunblock.  I also spent two afternoons administering first aid to three crew members that had Coppertone Sport reactions when it got near their eyes. Not fun for any of us.

The biggest lesson I learned was to just cover up the exposed skin and alternate shorts with long pants, short sleeves with long.  Not exactly earth shattering news to report, but sometimes simple solutions are the best.


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Play a Good Hand While on the Road

When off the beaten path, a good card game will save the day.  Cards pack easily, they are small, and they usually have fairly simple rules that can be translated well enough to carry you through a monsoon season.  When you are far from all things...the smallest entertainment will make a big impact.

Today, I found a pack of environmental playing cards that would warm the hearts of even the most icebound of travellers to the far North and South seas.  Never before have I seen a card game based around the food chain, let alone my favorite underdogs of the sea, Krill...but today was my lucky day.  Not quite sure how to play it yet, but I know it will end up on the far stretches of the globe as a treasured conversation piece.

In all things, a small, meaningful gift will be worth it's weight in gold in the bottom of your pack.

Happy travels.

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