As I was chopping wood earlier...

As I was out in the woods chopping wood earlier...

I know what youre thinking. Two questions. 1) dont you live in the city? what wood are you chopping? 2) Why were you chopping wood?

Well, I do live in a "city," but there is some land around her that hasnt been turned into strip malls yet. Admittedly, it is very little, but there is some. There happens to be a strip between where I live and where my friend Chris moved to. So, as I was walking over to his apartment to get my shovel (I had left it there on accident...I need it for my stream research), I was in a wooded area with trees. He has made a trail, but there are many downed or almost downed trees near the trail that would function much better chopped up and used as trail borders. So, I was chopping some of them up.

Why I was wanting to and thus going through with the chopping of the miscelanous trees in the first place is pretty simple. Men's Health said that few activities are more beneficial and demanding than chopping wood. It takes coordination and strength in almost all parts of the body. The arms, shoulders, abs, and back are particularly used alot. So, yes, I am advocating that all of you go out and by axes and chop wood.

So, as I was saying, while I was chopping the wood, I thought to myself that few things in life make me feel more manly than cutting wood with such a low-tech method as an ax. I feel connected with my frontier forefathers. I feel like I could say hello if I ever walked past a real lumberjack. I feel like a small part of me becomes cleansed, as I bleed out of my left hand (puncture wound from moving a tree). I feel confident that should a woman ever decide to date me in the future, I can uphold my gender role in the relationship. Me and my ax.

As I walked back to my apartment carrying my ax (and now shovel), it occurred to me that I was quite the interesitng site. Its not often you see a guy carrying these two items in our limits. It occurred to me that I must look like someone out of a tv crime drama, coming out of the woods with an ax and a shovel.

I wondered if the people I passed on the greenway and in the apartment complex saw me as maybe some serial killer. I doubted that any of them saw me as just a guy, a guy who maybe likes to chop wood and dig holes. I wonder if this is just in my head, or has society really made it so that a simple man doing simple things is too bizarre, and thus must have something wrong with him (in everyone else's eyes).

No matter really. For to me, using a shovel, or an ax, or a hammer, reminds me of my childhood. A strange peace comes over me. I feel at home.

In less abstract/ emotional/ metaphysical news, I also did some orienteering today. Picture a timed event where you are given a map and told to find as many points as you can as quick as you can....in the woods. Its basically treasure hunting for adults...and its awesome. Google a local club and try it out. Tons of fun.

Be Great
DAlen