Pondering Horse Poop and Ant Hills:
That Is How I spent my 45th birthday.
Pondering Horse poop, and Watching Ants was not exactly how
I had planned to spend my Birthday, But It turned out to be exactly what I
needed to make this Birthday a wonderful day!
I had thought I had The Perfect Birthday all planned:
I was going to go explore a new lake I had found. I was
gonna be naked most of the day, soak up the sun, swim, and relax. I was gonna
watch trains, play on the tracks, and Be Naked while I did. I was gonna take
lots of pictures, use a few silly props I brought along, and grin the entire
day. I was gonna be in the ultimate escape from the madness of the city I live
in. I live in Las Vegas. Any time I can find a nice little slice of nature
tucked away amid the concrete and neon, it can seem like I am miles from the
concrete jungle.
Vegas is notorious for eliminating any remnants of nature.
In just the two years I’ve been here, I’ve witnessed horrific destruction of
anything resembling nature. Any living plant is removed. Any natural place is
bulldozed and paved with concrete. The water-district actually paid everyone to
remove their lawns. Even places that have been years in the making to establish
trees, shrubs, and natural brush suddenly get bulldozed, and then replanted
with very sparse new trees and shrubs. That is The Vegas way. Everything old
must be made new. Nothing established remains for long. Every tree that looks
full and healthy gets pruned to the bare limbs, with only a few sprigs of green
remaining. Then within the next few months that tree dies, so they rip it out,
and plant a new one… smaller, more sparse, very tidy, minimal green. Vegas
likes to rip out real cactus, shrubs, and trees, and replace them with
metal-sculptures that are supposed to look real. Vegas likes to take even a
dirt-path, and scrape it clear of any actual rocks, or imperfections, and place
a layer of fine-packed gravel for a smooth surface. After just being here a
short while, it is evident Vegas is Not just looking for a concrete place, they
also are more Anti-nature than any other place I’ve explored.
Even one of my favorite escapes which when I discovered it
two years ago, was one of the most beautiful pieces of nature, with
well-established trees and shrubs. It Was the Wetlands. I say Was, because in
the past 9-months, they have gone and ripped it all up, and paved it with
concrete. The water that flowed used to flow free, a meandering river, with
trees, shrubs, and life. They bulldozed it all, and have made it a concrete
channel… But to make it “Natural” they have piled rock on top of the concrete.
Sometimes I think the people in charge of planning these “Nature” areas have
never been in nature, and to them, a sterile, constructed “nature” is as
realistic as it gets. It is sickening.
Last week, I was out in The City of Henderson exploring. I
was exploring The Pittman Wash. A small section of wash that is still natural.
It also has a train trestle I had heard about I wanted to explore. I found it
(turns out I was only half a mile from it the last time I explored here, and I
would have found it the next time I went out there, even if I had not heard
about it otherwise.) I had a wonderful day, and when I got home, I looked-up on
Google Maps where I had been, and to get a better idea of where that wash
meandered for future explorations. Imagine my surprise when I saw on the map,
just about another two-miles from where I was ANOTHER Purely natural Area. And
It Had a Lake, too!
I studied the map, and birds-eye-view, so I could go back
there again on my birthday. This is what I saw on Google:
It was perfect! I looked it up in other web-searches. It was
called Railroad Lake. It was an old
quarry-pit that was used ages ago by the Railroad. It has since filled-in with
water. That is why it is called Railroad Lake. According to the map, there is
still an active rail line alongside the lake. (Not shown in the pictures above, but it runs across the north side of the lake) It looks perfect! It looks like a
forgotten space in the mad-dash to pave everything. I searched many write-ups
and all the info I could find. I found that the park on one small corner,
called “Cornerstone Park” was actually in the process of adding a few features,
but from what the maps showed, it was still only a small portion of the wild
and natural Railroad Lake. Even the roads all around seemed to be minor roads,
and not terribly crowded. It did appear that the development had stayed
well-away from the lake. It made me wonder if the lake was toxic, or why it was
still so untouched. So I planned to go there for my birthday. I figured that
even if the water was not clean, or not safe to touch, I could still find
plenty of beauty in the natural remnants of a time long-gone in this region.
I had the perfect day planned. (Actually it started the
night before when a friend, Kara had me over for Tacos for dinner… don’t laugh.
If ya knew, you’d understand the importance. It was a perfect Start to my
Birthday!) As I began my morning, I was heading-out right around 8am. I was a
bit sad, because I was earlier than I had hoped. Kara was working the day-shift
and I had hoped to stop and say hi before heading out. But then, I realized
that I still needed to get some photos of The Ducks for Easter. The photos I
had in mind were needing to be done in the daylight, and I knew I’d get home
after dark, so I took a few minutes to gather, and go shoot the ducks.
Of
course, a few minutes turned into an hour, but that is ok, too, because I enjoy
getting lost in my creativity, and play. As I headed out, I was happy to see it
was just about 9. That made me smile, because I’d get to stop and visit with
Kara.
As I walked toward Fremont Street, I pondered Breakfast. I
was thinking of just grabbing McDonald’s, and heading out. Nice n simple. I was
even gonna ask Kara if she wanted anything… cuz she is always hungry, and often
cannot escape from work to grab a bite. But then, I remembered “It’s My
Birthday!” That triggered me to think about spoiling myself a wee-bit. I
remembered that I’d wanted to go to The New Denny’s On Fremont. (Yes, Denny’s…
It’s a new one, it’s On Fremont, AND it has an outdoor patio…. Yes, Denny’s
always is consistent, and a safe place to find food ya want at fair prices… But
This One is Different!) I decided I’d stop and see Kara, and see if she wanted
anything from there. She was not at Her kiosk, but I noticed her tip-jar was
empty. (It was just the beginning of the day) But a tip-jar does much better
with a little seed-money, So I put some in.
As I did, I
noticed one of the bills had a red-heart on it. That made me smile. Then she
returned. She was thrilled to have me bring something back… in fact she was
craving The Biscuits n Gravy. That made me smile, too!
I went to the new
Denny’s on Fremont for Breakfast, and ate out on the patio. Then took Kara her
Biscuits n Gravy. She was excited (and did not know I’d seeded the tip jar...yet)
that she already was getting lotsa tips!
Then I headed out, map in hand, on the buses to find this
lake. I knew roughly where I needed to go, and figured with an over 200-acre natural
area, it would be easy to find. As I went I knew from the map, I was getting
close to where the lake would be. But I was slightly dismayed to find that the
roads were a wee-bit more crowded, and the area around The lake was a Lot more
crammed with mega-apartments, mega-shopping centers, and More traffic than the
aerial views on Google portrayed. I was beginning to think the Google view may
have been many years outdated. As I neared where the lake should have been, I
was quite amazed to see the ten-lane roads, and endless strip-malls, and
mega-apartment complexes all over-filling this area. I saw that the area was
bursting-at-it’s seams with meg-everything… everything except anything
resembling nature. I began to suspect my “natural” lake would no longer be what
the picture showed. I am not extremely familiar with The Henderson Area, but I
am beginning to learn that it is just a Mega-Overflow of Vegas… without as much
neon…. And the only ‘natural’ to be found is pristine landscaping, and
manicured hedges. Ugh.
I got off the bus where I figured I was close to the lake.
From here, I should have been able to see the hills, trees, and area where the
lake was. But I could not. I was only half-a-mile from The Lake, but the amount
of traffic cramming the roads was incredible! This was a Saturday morning. I
could just imagine how horrible the traffic here was on a weekday! Even
standing there, I knew that I could still find something beautiful. I always
can. That is part of what makes my adventures so meaningful… I can find beauty
in ANY Situation. But I gotta look for it… and it was painfully clear that
today, I would have to search hard. The noise and pollution surrounding me at
the moment was enough to almost make me get outta that region as fast as
possible! But I was determined to go find this lake, and find something
beautiful to enjoy amid this Chaos of Concrete and Noise….
The same chaos that
so many who live here find to be what they want, and need… not knowing what a
bit of nature can do for their soul. Yup, I know I live in a land where people
do not understand peace, nor seek it… a land where anything natural is
obliterated, anything created by God, or showing the way natural beauty is
calming is forbidden.
I put my map away, because I knew from here where that hundreds
of acres escape from the city was supposed to exist…
Often, I find my escapes in many ways. One of those I find
to be extremely comforting is in what I listen to on my headphones. I still
listen to old-fashioned broadcast radio. To be more specific, I listen to NPR…
Yup Public Broadcasting. One of my all-time joys is the ability to actually
listen on a weekend. The weekend shows are different than the weekday shows.
With my work-schedule, I seldom get to listen on weekends anymore. But On my
Birthday, it was a Saturday… and I was able to listen. This is one of those
things that I can find peace, calm, and comfort in… especially in the chaos I
suddenly was immersed-in on my quest to find this lake.
As I walked, listened to the radio, and tuned out as much as
was possible the concrete jungle, I began to notice the area I was seeking. I
was correct… It was no longer a natural area at all…
heart sank. I pondered it a moment, then decided to
continue on, and at least explore what remained of the lake. As I approached, I saw a sign stating
“Progress Ahead”. It was a City-construction sign, intended to show what they call progress was under way, and those walking here may encounter construction. It made me hurt more. The reality
of where I live sinks in hard sometimes. The incessant need to eliminate
anything beautiful and natural, make it sterile, and then call it “natural” by
the humans here is absolutely disgusting. I still cannot grasp why so many
people here will not go where nature is, until they have re-created it in a
sterile way. Yes, I am aware that these places cater to the masses, and in this
world, the masses drive everywhere, park their vehicles, and then walk…with
frappucino in hand from the Starbucks only a block away. Then they go for “A
Walk in Nature”, wearing their perfectly-fitted yoga outfits, hair combed, and
makeup-unsmudged by any existence of real-life. They walk on paved paths, in
pre-determined routes with no appreciation of what nature really is.
To the masses, here, This is nature.
I cringed. I almost cried. BUT, I decided that I needed to
make the best of it, and find something to enjoy about my Birthday. That is
what I do. I find Beauty… somehow. I went on down to the edge of The Lake. I
could tell there was something not right about the water, but that would take
me a while to grasp. I saw some birds, and ducks. I knew I could find a spot to
just be still, and get lost in what was considered ‘nature’ by this standard. I
found the entire region was sterile. Not sterile as in “germ-free” but sterile
in the sense that nothing existed here, except what man had created. There was
not a single insect on the ground. There was not a pebble out of place. Yes,
there were ‘dirt’ paths… but those were even perfectly manicured, and so
smooth, I could have roller skated across them. I found there were places to
sit along the shore of the lake…
But even these
were almost-square rock chunks placed on concrete slabs. Very sterile, very tidy. Ugh. Oh well… I Decided to sit a
bit.
I was wearing my jeans and t-shirt, planning to either strip
completely naked once I found the lake, or to at least change into my shorts. Once I
saw the way the people here looked at me down their noses, and disapproved of
my comfy-torn-holey jeans, and tie-dye shirt, I decided to not change into
anything more comfy. This was not a safe place for me, and the last thing I
needed was to be “on display”. This was clearly not a world for me. (I could not help but miss Oregon, Washington, and Virginia... where a setting like this I could easily lay out naked, and nobody would even look twice... heck often people would come and join me...But this was not that kind of accepting environment.) But I was
determined to find something of beauty here. I sat. I watched.
Once I allowed myself to fully forget about those who
occupied this place, I was able to see many wonderful birds.
That was good. But
as I watched, I also noticed the birds were the only life-form here. My
suspicions about the toxic-lake were correct, and I was seeing it… or NOT
seeing it, as it may be. I noticed there was not a single insect on the ground,
flying or even on, or in the water. I noticed my lungs felt as if I had
suddenly inhaled some form of pesticide, or vapor of toxin, poison, or
something that was brewing deep in the waters of this old pit. I admired the
birds, but wondered how they suffered. Birds are always amazing in how they
manage to exist… even in the worst places. But as I sat there, I noticed more
and more how bad this area was. This is Insect season… The end of March is when
the ground begins to crawl with insects. The waters begin to have tadpoles,
insects, and fish eagerly consuming their snacks.
I DID Find much beauty in the birds, but I could tell this
was a bad place. I got some great shots of the birds… But even as I did, I was
painfully reminded of how this natural lake was no longer a place of
nature.
I decided I had inhaled enough (more than enough!) toxins,
and went for a walk around the lake to see if I could discover anything else.
As I walked, I could see how deep the waters were. The water was clear, and not
cloudy… which also was strange. That told me Nothing lived in it. On some of
the bridges, I marveled at how sterile this water was. So Strange. Not one
fish, frog, insect, or critter existed here. Only the birds, and ducks. There
was not even a single tadpole, lizard, or other type of critter. It was sterile
(and toxic) beyond the ability to sustain even the simplest of live-forms.
The water really did look inviting, and I wanted so badly to
go for a swim. I even touched it to see… it was warm enough! But it had a feel
to it that told me it was instant poison.
 |
| On a bridge, peering into the water... No Life here. |
I really had my heart set on playing
here for my birthday. It was hard to not get down about it, but I realized I
really was glad I came. I had come, and learned. I had gone where I had
previously not known. If I had not come, I always would have wondered. But I
came. For that, I was glad. This is what makes me who I am. I go, explore,
learn, discover, and add a wee-bit more to my understanding of this world in
which I live. It is not always easy, and not always positive, fun, and
pleasant… but It Always has a purpose, and Always takes me to the next step in
this journey of life. With that in mind, I headed on to The Next part of this
Birthday Journey.
I decided I would spend the rest of the day in a place where
I Knew I could at least get naked, get into the water, and lay comfortably in
the sun. A Place where I could see fish, critters, insects, and nature. A place
where others did not look down their noses at me. A place where even when others saw me naked, they did not care. A place where there was not a
Starbucks within six miles. That place was The Wetlands.
I walked to where I could catch a bus, and found I would be
waiting another 45-minutes. I pondered walking… but it was at least another
five or six miles to where I needed to connect with the bus that would take me
out near the wetlands, and figured if I walked that far, I would not also want
to go out and walk to, or through the wetlands. I waited. … and again was stuck
in the middle of the Urban Jungle. As I sat there, I laughed… Here, I live
right in the Middle of Downtown Las Vegas, and where I live is so peaceful, and
has more nature than a place miles from Vegas! The place I live has
two-lane-roads, is quiet, and comfortable…. In the middle of Downtown Vegas! Yet,
out here, it is far-more polluted, unbearably noisy, and has ten-lane roads.
The Irony is incredible.
Once I got to the bus-line that would take me out near The
Wetlands, I laughed. That bus does not run on Saturdays. Ugh. Oh well… more
adventure, right?
I decided to catch a bus that would take me about five miles
from The Wetlands. It was still early afternoon, so I figured I could still
have plenty of time to go explore, play, and enjoy that region. After I took
that bus, I began walking towards The Wetlands. I got a feeling that I was not
supposed to go there this day. I know better than to go where I feel I am not
supposed-to. Fair-enough, I thought. I clearly am meant to do something else
today. It was now well-above 80-degrees, and I was wanting to change into
shorts. But I decided not to. It just did not feel right, so I stayed in my
jeans. The irony is, I know I gotta trust my instincts… Every time I began to
ponder just changing right where I was, A Henderson police officer would cruise
by. That woulda been just perfect… get arrested on My Birthday for taking my
clothes off in a public place. Each time I pondered changing, within seconds,
another officer would come by, slow down, and watch me. I just laughed... And
decided I was meant to stay in jeans this day.
 |
| The Henderson Police Department |
Ironically, as I walked, still not sure where I was headed,
since I knew I was not going to The Wetlands, I pondered all the new sights I’d
never before seen out here. I discovered the New Henderson Police Station.
Ironically, It had more nature than any other place I’d been all day!
And even Lizards!
I smiled, and enjoyed the irony.
Then, as I walked some more, I remembered seeing pictures
from someone I knew online about a trip they took to Henderson, and very recent
pictures of The Henderson Bird-Viewing Sanctuary. I did look at the map of
where they took those photos, because two-years before, I had tried to find the
same place… And ironically, that was how I found a new section of The Wetlands.
That sanctuary did not exist where it was shown on the maps, and even on a
Google-earth map. At that time, I went where the maps showed, and the aerial
photos showed… and it could not be found. The roads did not exist. (That is
something I am learning about Vegas, Henderson, and this entire region… Because
of the mentality that exists to obliterate everything, and constantly change
what exists, No Road matches what is shown on the maps, or Aerial Views. I need
to stop trusting that a map is accurate here. I tend to go on life-long
lessons, and trust that maps are created to be accurate… as has been the case
in every other region I’ve ever explored…. But not here.
But I felt I was near the Bird Sanctuary, and kept walking.
Sure enough, I found this sign.
Oh, whoops... it seems it is a "Preserve" not a Sanctuary. Ha! :)
As I walked
down the long road, I was surprised to find that at each place where it seemed
to end, and where I hoped I would find The Sanctuary, there was yet another
sign:
This continued for well-over a mile, with
many new turns, and many more signs. I was beginning to wonder if This Place
Really Existed, or was it just like so many other things here… Long gone.
Finally, I found This sign: Yes!
Finally!...
….Then I turned the corner….
All I could do was laugh! I asked out loud, “Couldn’t you have
placed that sign a mile-back??” I had to pee, and since I did not for the past
hour because every time I turned around a police officer was watching me, I
decided This was the perfect spot! I knew no officers had come down that road,
and I could pee right here. I Pee’d On their Fence! Right there, right then. I
pondered peeing on the sign, but decided that would just be wrong.
I was hungry, and had plenty of food in my pack, but had not
previously found a place I wanted to sit and eat… But I needed to, so I went to
a concrete retaining wall, and ate. While I ate, I saw lots of insects, and
could smell Horse-poop. To me, this was good. It was nature… well, sorta. But I
watched the red ants, and wondered where the horse-poop smell was wafting from.
Anyone who has ever been around horses knows that horse-people are often
caring, outdoor-type people. They are not usually into eliminating nature,
paving everything, and fighting with others. Horse-people tend to be kind, and
want to be peaceful. So, the smell of Horse poop was a good thing.
I saw this insect, and got
down on the pavement at its level to watch it move. Nature is a wonderful
thing.
As I walked back, I was not sure where I’d head next. I
found some of the strangest things… Here is a shooting range that no longer
exists.
 |
| This sign had no reason. there was nothing facing it. |
I saw signs that made no sense… out in the middle of nothing.
As I walked, I could smell more horse-poop. That made me
smile. As the horse-poop smell got stronger, I noticed more red ants. I
wondered of the red ants somehow thrived on horse poop. When I began seeing not
just red ants, but massive ant-hills, and watching the ants, I realized why I
had come where I did on My Birthday. I realized how tiny I am on This Huge
Earth. I realized that while the earth goes on obliterating what is natural,
and I am seeking to find something I could enjoy, perhaps I was looking at too
big of a picture. I was seeking something different than the peaceful places I had already discovered. I already know all-too-well
how it’s the littlest things that make life worthwhile. As I watched the ants,
and noticed what they accomplished, I was happy, amazed, and a wee-bit humbled.
Ironically, IF There had been any living form at The Lake, I likely would have
appreciated it then, too… But since I traveled at least twenty miles on buses,
and so far had walked well-over twelve miles this day, and it was only once I
smelled the Horse poop, and saw the ants that I truly found happiness, it is an
interesting feeling. I watched those ants haul pieces of gravel which were
bigger than the ant, and marveled at their ability.
The anthills were perfectly
formed, with a perfect flow of ants in and out of the tiny openings. There was
not a single conflict, and each ant knew what it was supposed to do. As each
piece of gravel, wood, sand, or dirt was carried out, it was precisely placed
to help build the grand-mound surrounding their hole.
I walked further, and found where the Horse poop originated
from. I noticed the ants seemed to thrive in the actual piles of horse poop.
This, too made me smile, and appreciate nature. It only helped to prove what I
say is wrong with our Earth today. I noticed how life thrived in the poop-pile,
and also how the ants made their homes in what those who destroyed the lake and
its surrounding would find appalling. The ants did not live in a sterile
environment, but they seemed healthier and more adjusted than the humans I saw
this day.
 |
| A Mega-road with 6-lanes... right now it is empty... |
The ants had lots of traffic in their little paths they made into and
out of their homes, But they knew how to get along, and how to work with the
others they shared this home with. The ants had only one lane, and hundreds shared that one lane for all directions. The humans build mega-roads, and still can't seem to move anywhere.The humans seemed to thrive on being
angry, honking, and yelling at others who shared the crazy world they had
created. The ants appreciated what they had, and used it to their advantage.
The humans did not. The ants had a wonderful balance in how they went about
life. They used what nature gave them, and made it work quite well. The Humans felt they needed to change their world to make it fit their
lives… yet they are not happy.
Later that night, after I had gone home, I decided to go get
a pizza for my Birthday dinner. There are many pizza places near me. In fact in
the past month no less than 5 new pizza places have opened. I could have gone
to any one of those brand-new, shiny, glitzy, sparkling-clean, and not a
speck-of-grease having yet accumulated on the fixtures places. All these new
places have lines of people wishing to experience the newest, the brightest,
the fanciest, the still-unblemished, and the fancy uniformed-workers without a
spot of grease yet on their aprons.
I chose to go to The Oldest Pizza-joint in
Downtown. Uncle Joe’s Pizza is not bright, not sparkling, not fancy, and
definitely not boasting about its fancy uniforms. Uncle Joe’s is one of the
oldest, but most-wonderful pizza places I have discovered in Downtown Vegas. They
do not have a door-person to evaluate if you fit their criteria, match their
dress-codes, or are the look they want others to see in their pizzeria. There
is not a line to get in, and no fancy sings, lighting, or even menu-boards.
Their menu is on a piece of paper, taped to the window. The employees have t-shirts
as their uniform with years of wear-and-tear, grease-stains that a gallon of
bleach could not touch, and have no intention of trying to pretend to be
anything they are not. The counter is worn with the use that comes from years of providing service to the community. The restaurant feels like it is comfortable, and welcoming, because it has welcomed thousands over the years. It has forged a spot in this community, working with the community, not against it.When you place your order, they do not give you a
number. They remember each customer, and when your pizza is ready, they know
who you are, and which order is yours. You could say that Uncle Joe’s is
comparable to The Horse poop.
For those who know and appreciate real life,
Uncle Joe’s is thriving with life. Much like the ants do not find horse poop to
be offensive, this is the same with the humans who call Uncle Joe’s
comfortable, and will continue to eat there. We appreciate what is real, tried
and true, and know that without a doubt, we will always find what we need in
our lives among the poop. The people who go to those new pizza places look down
their noses at a place like Uncle Joe’s. Those are the same people who won't visit a natural place, until it has been bulldozed, sterilized, paved, and planted with perfectly manicured plants. Those are the people who will not visit the outdoors if the is life to be found in it. It is sad, because they are so afraid
to go where there might be life, they actually miss out on the most important
things… the little things....LIFE.
It only made me smile and realize how wonderful my life
is. I can appreciate some of the
seemingly most-simple things on Earth. Those simple things that are fast-being
obliterated by my fellow humans. All my life, I have tried to get others to
come along with me, to see life from my perspective… the perspective of an ant
in the horse-poop. I like my world to be a bit on the poopy-side. I like my
world a bit less-sterile. … Natural. Life thrives in the poop. Nothing lives in
a man-made setting. The visit to The Railroad Lake was exactly what I needed for My 45th
Birthday. I can appreciate that I found someplace I had not been, learned from
it, and because of this exploration, have yet a better understanding of The
World in which I live. Now, I just wonder what it will take to get the rest of The
Humans to understand that The Poop is where life really happens.
Sometimes, ya
gotta wear the jeans, when you’d rather be naked. Sometimes ya gotta find a
lake, only to realize this was not the day you were supposed to go swimming.
Sometimes, ya gotta walk for miles, just to discover an ant hill amid mounds of
horse poop. Sometimes, it takes many buses, many hours of your day, and Many
unpleasant sights to discover what is really important in life….
 |
| Vegas needs so much more than rain... |
As I walked to get my pizza, I saw this quote on a plaza.
Ironically this was next to one of the oldest buildings downtown… not near one
of the new places. This sums up quite well what I saw and experienced on my 45th
Birthday. Vegas thrives on removing all life-forms. Rain is such an important ingredient to life... yet Vegas and Henderson have worked to remove what would benefit from the rain, So this quote hits it right on the head... Rain would do no good to an environment that does not appreciate life. The Irony is lost on those who plan these cities. We live in a desert. Rain creates and sustains life. Now All forms of vegetation have been removed, so no water can remain, the air cannot be cleaned, the water that exists is toxic, and we have droughts, and flash-floods. It's not hard to grasp... but for those who have been here too long, it seems the heat has warped their brain. Water is life. Nature heals itself. Concrete, and lack of living forms destroys itself. I live in Vegas. I still seek life.
