Write Handed II

Drift into the darkness, flee from the hateful hearts that are 

eager to destroy laughter and joy. Nights marvelous mist 

soaks the soul with all that is good and drowns 

 unwarranted judgment. Caged creativity plots its 

escape from the powerful prisons of work 

that cloud imagination and fuel hatred. 

Izzy Schurr

Beeware

In 2016, Bees were placed on the endangered species list, a first in the U.S., bees pollinate fruits, nuts and vegetables, about 80 percent of our food supply.

Bees, the champion pollinators of the world also feed the ecosystem, which nourishes the plants and all the other animals of the world. Some people claim that Albert Einstein said the human race would be extinct in four or five years once all the bees are gone. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/01/us/hawaii-bee-species-endangered/index.html

The above Web page also states that in the U.S., a University of California study discovered that more than a 150 different chemical residues were found in bee pollen and habitats across the nation. Pesticides not only effect bees physically, but mentally as well. Pesticides harm a bees reproductive system and also disorients their minds to the point where they can't find their hives or colonies.

It's so easy to create a bee habitat, even have your own hives in your yard to the point where it would be wise to wear a bee keepers outfit. In my case, I went the much simpler route. I purchased flowers that where bee friendly, any local gardening center makes it easy to find out which types of flowers bees are attracted to.

Flowers that bloom successively over the spring, summer, and fall seasons such as coreopsis, Russian sage, or germander provide pollen and nectar for native bees of all seasons according to a March, 2011 article, "How Can You Help The Bees? http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/silence-of-the-bees-how-can-you-help-the-bees/36/Bee

Providing fresh water daily for bees abundant with rocks and twigs lets the bees know the water is for them. Since I started my small bee endeavor last year, I am seeing more and more bees in my yard, so appease the bees. Bees don’t discriminate between weeds and cultivated flowers, so let those dandelions grow. And of course keep your bee garden free of pesticides.

Write Handed

The judgeless currents of liquid night transport my 

soul into the regions of understanding and 

acceptance. The dark foliage that decorates 

the night trails shrouds chaos and confusion. 

Lady nights black embrace satisfies 

the solitude. 

Izzy Schurr

Beautiful Bears

Just recently in May, I was at a state park about 30 minutes south of Placerville. While driving on a one lane road surrounded by woods, I saw my first real life big bear. I stopped the car, grabbed my camera and ran after the bear trying to get a picture. The adult bear had its back to me the whole time. The bear dusted me in seconds as it speeded off the road and into the woods. An adult bear can weigh more then 2000 pounds and run up to 40 mile an hour, and it was afraid of me.

While reading the article "How Do I Become A Big Bear?" in the July issue of Ideas & Discoveries magazine, I leaned that if a bear is facing you, it's best not to look it in the eye, and to also to raise your arms in an attempt to make yourself look a big as possible. The article states, that if it's a full grown bear, it's most likely not going to be intimated by you at all, in such a case, the article advises you not to run, and back away slowly, avoiding eye contact.

When your out in the wilderness of a state park, or any hiking trail for that matter, it's best not to be alone, and if you have a small child with you, keep them close by, mountain lions especially like to prey on the very young.

Alone or not, while hiking, make lots of noise. In the distance trails of civilization when I'm alone, I sing Rush songs loud, my horrible singing voice is enough to scare away any beast!

Rattle snakes, lions and even bears are afraid of humans, if they hear you, they run (slither) off or stay out of your site. (In theory)

Female bears are awesome, it's the sole reason bears are smart and live on. Baby bears are born blind and about the size of an adult squirrel. At first, cubs live off their mothers milk, then as they grow older, the mother teaches them how to catch fish with their paws or mouth, and which fruits in the forest are edible and which ones are poisonous. The female also teaches the cubs how to climb trees and swim.

Polar bears have got to be the swimming champions of the world, an adult polar bear can swim for up to 200 miles without a break, but it's Michael Phelps who gets most of the credit for being a great swimmer.    

Crevasses of Creativity

Vivid colorful dreams of sheer delight make it more difficult to awake.  

My minds 126,000 light years away from Earth. Andromeda, the only galaxy moving toward Earth's solar system may contain what I'm seeking. Andromeda beckons me in deep rapid eye slumber, she's an inviting universe where I fit in and belong, a universe void of lies, wars, poverty and everything else evil and corrupt that pollutes the Earth.

The habitable planet in Andromeda's Galaxy breeds no evil, leaders, followers or shallow minds eager to destroy all that is beautiful and soulful. Love, laughter and creativity are currency amidst Earth's neighboring galaxy. Deep dreams drive a dweebs desires...   Izzy Schurr, aka, me

The corridors of chaos are leading my mind into the unknown realms of a fantasy world. A world where combat soldiers drink and dine with their enemies on the combat field, world leaders and their money have no say, nor do they rule, world leaders in the 5th dimension are merely dust on the bottom of our shoes.

Driving myself insane trying to explore the countless craters of creativity that harbor in my mind. The distributor of death, aka, The Grim Reaper is nothing to fear, its dark luminous eyes meet mine in the speckled dark streets of sleeping suburbia and ignores me again...  Izzy Schurr

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Nor Cal

My work, Graton Resort and Casino for the fourth year in a row had their annual Six Flags Discovery Kingdom deal, and it was a bargain.

Wild life at Six Flags

Yesterday was my first time taking advantage of  my employers Six Flags package deal. For $29.00 which comes out of our pay checks in two installments, employees got their daily pass to the theme park, and for two hours, the casino had a picnic area reserved for us workers complete with free food and beverages.

Butterfly habitat in Six Flags

All the rides are inclusive, the main reason I liked it. I signed up too late to get a free bus ride, but that was OK, people who drove, also received a free parking permit and the park is only an hour away from where I live.

I haven't been on a roller coaster since the 90s, so I was curious to see if my stomach could still handle them, and it did with aplomb!

The Joker was the first roller coaster I tried yesterday and it was awesome, if your into fast cork screw laden rides, I highly recommend the Joker. I had a blast yesterday, I even paid an additional $60.00 for the Flash Pass.  Before I purchased the Flash Pass, I waited more then an hour in line to ride The Joker, the next three times I rode The Joker with the Flash Pass, the wait was less then ten minutes.

Superman Ultimate Flight, was another great  adrenaline ride, too bad, the Flash Pass was only good for a one time use on the Superman roller coaster, I could have paid $90.00 for the platinum Flash Pass, but the gold was fine.

Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth,  was the only other ride that was only allowed a one time use for the non-platinum Flash Pass.  The Wonder Woman ride is not a roller coaster, but it was a rush! I waited about five minutes because of my Flash Pass, it would have been way too long of a wait without the Flash Pass.

The Wonder Woman ride only exists at Six Flags in Vallejo, and this exclusive ride is a 70 mile an hour wake fest. The slight spinning of the ride twanged my stomach a tad, but it was worth it. Kong and Medusa were also great rides that I rode many times. My tip of the day, if your into roller coasters, Six Flags in Vallejo is a great place to go, and the Flash Pass is worth the money.

I didn't check out the dolphin show or the many other shows available at the park, but I do believe you can swim with the dolphins and there is an entire huge area at the park for children, and many rides geared for the very young. I will do this every year from now on.