tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post4304517113261103651..comments2024-03-07T12:57:35.296-05:00Comments on Varieties of Unreligious Experience: Comedy of ErrorsConrad H. Rothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916542057749474124noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-33797799612841326852007-04-02T09:20:00.000-04:002007-04-02T09:20:00.000-04:00Conrad: The factor-40 had long been sweated off, a...Conrad: <I>The factor-40 had long been sweated off, and my sunburn was gathering pace nicely.</I><BR/><BR/>From this adventure on, have you frequently been mistaken for an <A HREF="http://www.languagehat.com/archives/002486.php" REL="nofollow">Ethiopian</A>? Not a long-distance runner — shepherd or hunter — from the Abyssinian plateau, obviously, but an urban Ethiopian maybe...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-42160228064077837952007-03-31T16:10:00.000-04:002007-03-31T16:10:00.000-04:00Unfortunately my photoshop skills aren't up to the...Unfortunately my photoshop skills aren't up to the job. On the other hand, when you're half-dead with thirst and exhaustion, a bug the size of your hand--which by British standards is <EM>pretty</EM> big--is sinister enough.Conrad H. Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01916542057749474124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-8643565591785602902007-03-31T08:06:00.000-04:002007-03-31T08:06:00.000-04:00"mad dogs and Englishmen . . . "Very funny story ...."mad dogs and Englishmen . . . "<BR/><BR/>Very funny story . . . the only things missing are the scorpions and snakes . . . perhaps you could photoshop that grasshopper into something a little more sinister?Malonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04345790207108760002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-72306627698927192712007-03-28T22:14:00.000-04:002007-03-28T22:14:00.000-04:00Nothing's better than a good outdoor adventure gon...Nothing's better than a good outdoor adventure gone terribly, terribly wrong (given, of course, that you're still alive to tell the story)chris millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575033275184403015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-37436525418474956912007-03-28T20:45:00.000-04:002007-03-28T20:45:00.000-04:00"I'd mentally redact all of the exasperpation and ..."I'd mentally redact all of the exasperpation and frame (reframe) it as the time nature tried to kick your ass, but failed."<BR/><BR/>I like it! Nature sure did fail.<BR/><BR/>Thanks to all for sharing their experiences; just think, where would the world be without a little foolhardiness now and then?Conrad H. Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01916542057749474124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-38556930734848629912007-03-28T12:02:00.000-04:002007-03-28T12:02:00.000-04:00Too funny.An adventure.Unpleasant at the time mayb...Too funny.<BR/><BR/>An adventure.<BR/><BR/>Unpleasant at the time maybe, but now it all comes down to how you choose to remember it. If it were me, I'd mentally redact all of the exasperpation and frame (reframe) it as the time nature tried to kick your ass, but failed.<BR/><BR/>And then never do such a thing again.<BR/><BR/>Years ago I journeyed to the thick of the Amazon basin (for several weeks) in BASICALLY silk and linen shorts and sailing sandals no socks... because I'm an idiot. My guide took one look at the beginning of the journey and nodded.<BR/><BR/>I found out later that the guide (in steel/rubber boots and heavy canvas pants carrying a sidearm) approved of my approach. We having some beers in Quito and he was quite impressed with me. HUH?<BR/><BR/>I just let him talk and so he continued: "As you OBVIOUSLY know, if something happens, there is nothing to be done anyway... there is NO POSSIBLE help. A snake, a broken bone, it is ALL death... and so I think you had the right idea."<BR/><BR/>Of course, my motivations were not so brave. Merely stupid. But EVERYONE doesn't have to know it. (Had I even cared to THINK of such things, I would have dressed like my guide.)<BR/><BR/>Ha!<BR/><BR/>(And of course, the clothes were destroyed.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-47773798258591182242007-03-28T11:46:00.000-04:002007-03-28T11:46:00.000-04:00"I think I'll stick to books from now on." Highly..."I think I'll stick to books from now on." Highly recommended, though a loss for those of us who prefer your adventure writing to that of the Fodor's guides. <BR/><BR/>May I suggest, in the event this madness overcomes you again, a <A HREF="http://www.napga.org/" REL="nofollow">pack goat</A>? You really need one to haul enough rations to survive in these situations. Toss a book or two into the saddlebag, just in case.<BR/><BR/>Great post. I felt your pain. All too deeply.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-89206029130175007072007-03-27T08:05:00.000-04:002007-03-27T08:05:00.000-04:00Dang -- having been camping and hiking in the dese...Dang -- having been camping and hiking in the desert, you really did get off lightly. It's not that hard to die in similar situations. <BR/><BR/>Given how dry the air is, one can dehydrate much more quickly than you'd expect. And all it takes is a little dehydration to kick off a cascade of slight confusion then bad choices that lead to further dehydration and more bad choices, etc.<BR/><BR/>I heard a local in Moab once refer to poorly planned desert hikes as a form of natural selection. Pleeeeeze be careful!Lori Witzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04744273435691506484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20433842.post-35621896205113104332007-03-27T04:55:00.000-04:002007-03-27T04:55:00.000-04:00Great stuff Conrad. I hope at least is was followe...Great stuff Conrad. I hope at least is was followed by a good night's sleep?<BR/><BR/>Presumably you never reached the settlement. <BR/><BR/>We had a nice weekend too looking at Camellias which we can't afford. Not so challenging as the cactus though.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00533678970029159873noreply@blogger.com