Weasel words

And just what's wrong with weasels? photo by Susan Alcorn

Recently a hiker by the trailname of "Steel-eye" sent us the following message about weather predictions. His "weather" message may not be of interest to you as writers, but his second message, about "weasel words," was a new one for me and I thought well worth passing on.

"Some prognosticators suggest that this winter could possibly be somewhat more mild than average in the Pacific Northwest region. Wow! I should be a politician. That first sentence contains nine “weasel-words”, i.e, non-specific equivocations."

Do you use "weasel words" when you write? If so, you are as Wikipedia puts it, "communicating a vague or ambiguous claim, create an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said." They continue, "Weasel words may also have the effect of softening the force of a potentially loaded or otherwise controversial statement through some form of understatement, for example using detensifiers such as "somewhat" or "in most respects". I also learned from Wikipedia why such words are labeled weasel words -- it's because when weasels eat eggs, they suck the contents out of the egg leaving the shell intact.

I doubt that I can escape using "weasel words" entirely -- being a person who usually tries to be tactful rather than blunt, but I am certain that the strongest writers are those who take a firm position rather than sit on the fence. Weasel words weaken your writing; take care to ferret them out!

Spas & Staycations, part 2

When I arrived in Calistoga mid-afternoon for my day of leisure (see part 1), I drove by EuroSpa, the motel where I would be staying, to check in. I wasn't too sure about it when I first saw it. It was "quaint" and probably built in the 1940s, but once I went in the room I was quite pleased. The decor was contemporary, the room was clean and comfortable, and all the conveniences--fridge, coffee maker, iron and so forth were there. The price, which was under $100, included a good continental breakfast--that's very reasonable for a Napa Valley stay.

But I didn't come to Calistoga just to stay overnight somewhere. I wanted a spa treatment--the mud bath, mineral water whirlpool, wet sauna, body wrap, and a massage were going to be my treats for the day. I walked the couple of blocks to the facility where I was going to get my treatments.

Have you ever been in a mudbath? If not, just visualize--you walk into an aseptic looking room, rather steamy, with a concrete floor, hard surfaced walls, and several bathtubs. Your bathtub, which is surrounded by ceramic tile, is filled with mud. But not just any mud; it's a combination of peat, volcanic ash, clay, and mineral water.

After you strip down, you climb into this mixture cautiously. Once you get into a prone position, you'll find yourself suspended, basically floating, on top of the mud. Getting to that position, however, is somewhat awkward and you'll find if your feet touch the bottom, that it's HOT down there. No matter, you'll soon be in the correct position and the attendant will pile some of the mud on your chest, bring you a cup of water with a straw, and set the timer for the start of your 10-15 minute session in the tub.

Why does anyone do it? Traditionally it is held to provide various therapeutic benefits: to aid in relaxation, smooth muscle soreness, exfoliate the skin, and remove toxins. The temperature is usually in the 102-104 degree level--about the temperature of the average hot tub dunk. On this visit, however, I think it was hotter than that. In any case, for me it turned into a "grit your teeth, you can make it" sort of thing.

Next time--I'll report on the rest of the spa session--which was well worth the trip.

My mini staycation and spa trip, part 1

Snow Canyon near Red Mountain, photo Susan Alcorn

It wasn't quite the equivalent of a week at Red Mountain Spa in St. George, Utah, but it had its good moments. I took off on Monday morning after the commute hour and headed for Calistoga. It's in the Napa Valley wine country and about 1-1/2 hour drive.

I went as far as Walnut Creek--half an hour from here--when I decided what the heck, I would pull off the freeway and go to Diva Nails and Spa for a manicure/pedicure. I like this place; like so many of these storefront places, it's staffed by Vietnamese women and it's inexpensive ($30). I particularly like this one because they talk to me, not just to each other in their first language.

After getting the services and being pounded, compressed and massaged in their amazing automated chair, I put on my 1/32" thick flip-flops and made my flatfooted way back to my car.

My next stop was for lunch at Burger King. I seldom (and Ralph never) stop at fast food restaurants, but since I had proclaimed it "My Week," I decided I could get away with it. I'd be embarrassed to admit it to most people I know, but I really am an omnivorous eater.

Next blog--on to Calistoga and the spa and mudbath treatments.

Handling the gift "exchange" at holiday time

Most years about this time — as Halloween is rapidly approaching and then Thanksgiving and religious holidays are just around the corner — I start thinking about Christmas gift giving and such (how to make it both more manageable and meaningful). I also think about the gift exchanges just after Christmas each year, but it always seems that any comments made then might make it seem like I am somehow ungrateful (I'm not!) for what I've just received. Too risky!

A few years back, Ralph and I were giving/exchanging gifts with more than 30 people (often multiple gifts). On top of that, my mom (now 98) was also expecting that I would do her shopping and wrapping for 9 family members! As you can imagine (or may have experienced), it was not only a big monetary expense, but also a tremendous expenditure of time doing all this gift-related stuff.

I actually love shopping and wrapping presents for friends and family, but it had just gotten out of hand. I was no longer enjoying it, so it had become a chore. I want to get back to the pleasures of giving and the feelings of gratitude.

Then things changed a bit on Ralph's side of the family. One relative gave us cards on Christmas Day indicating that they had given money to the charity of their choice. I know their hearts were in the right place, but I must admit that I felt disappointed. It didn't seem like a gift selected for me (I think it would have gone over better if they had told us in advance and if they had asked us what charity we wanted donations made to.)

The next year (or so), the adults decided (siblings, cousins, etc.) that they would draw names out of a hat and each person would bring a present for that person. We all gave to the kids as usual. I saw pros and cons with this project — namely that one was putting "all of one's eggs in one basket," so to speak.

The next year (or so), the adults decided that each would bring a theme gift (kitchen item) and those would be selected by lottery. It was a novel plan, and simplified the shopping a bit — only necessitated going to one department of a store, but it was supplanted by:

The next year (last), the adults each brought three new or used books, put them on a table, and they were selected by drawing numbers, etc. (We gave to the youngest kids as usual.) I actually liked this one a lot — most of the family members read a lot and the selection of books was quite varied.

That leaves my side of the family. I've already sent an email to my immediate family with our preferences and I'm still waiting for a response and hoping that I have not stepped on any toes. Meanwhile, here's my plan:
Since we already have a drawer full of gifts selected for various family members (I shop throughout the year), we plan to distribute those. We plan to add a few more, but we are going to cut back somewhat from previous years. We are going to make a larger set of charitable contributions, but we are not going to label it as a gift to family members.

Ralph feels strongly that giving a gift does not require reciprocity. We like giving gifts, but don't really need anything. He does, however, admit that he likes consumables and says that they don't need to be wrapped. My mom always says that she prefers no gifts, but she always enjoys See's chocolates. (See's has wrapped boxes.) I prefer time with family to gifts — an outing, eating out, etc., and photos. So, we are easy.

Clearly there are lots of possibilities and we have not exhausted them. What does your family do, and how does it work for you?

Spas & Staycations, part 2

California Sea Otter ©2009 Susan Alcorn

I know this isn't a California Sea Lion, but this substitution will have to do until I visit San Francisco's Pier 39 later this month. Stay tuned!

I've been continuing to plan my Staycation for later this month. After spending a day and a half at Calistoga soaking in the mudbath, mineral bath and being swaddled in cotton bunting, I'll have a massage. I'm still waiting to hear back from a friend about having lunch together.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking about the days later in "my" week. Rather than missing a visit with our four-year-old grandson, I'm going to enlist Ralph's help and we're going to Pier 39 of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf to see the current crop of sea lions.

Apparently the sea lions' numbers have grown tremendously up and down the California coast this year and the 12 floating platforms where the marine mammals hang out in San Francisco are filled to overflowing. While I know that this years' massive turnout of the (up to) 600-lb. sea lions has caused more than a little consternation to local fisherman and others, I can't wait to see these entertaining characters again.

In the meantime, here's a site I found online that offers an entertaining look at the current crop of sea lions at Pier 39. http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-342494

Happy trails,

Susan Alcorn

P.S. Check out my hiking-related articles at www.examiner.com/x-11423-Bay-Area-Hiking-Examiner

Spas & Staycations

Mt. St. Helena near Calistoga photo: Susan Alcorn
I've been playing with this idea for years, but this year I am going to actually do it -- create my own getaway, but nearby (the staycation concept). What is different about my plan, is that I'm not going to one place and staying, I'm creating a partial week of activities that will take me to a spa, to a museum, out to lunch with a friend, and provide free time to "veg" out. Considering all I have piled up on my desk, I'm going to primarily write in the mornings (except Days 1 & @ when I am going away overnight) and play in the afternoons.

I've given up on the plans I was trying to make to go further afield. Red Mountain Spa, near St. George, UT, has been sending me emails about their "specials" much of this year, but we've been backpacking so much that I haven't had enough days in a row to take advantage of their packages.

I'm not really much of a spa person, but I have really enjoyed going to Red Mountain the couple of times I've gone because the core of their offerings (at least to me) is the hikes they in the surrounding slickrock terrain. (From Red Mountain to Zion, or Grand Canyon (North rim), or Bryce, is only a few hours drive, so you can imagine the gorgeous scenery of the area!).

But, as I said, I've given up on going to Red Mountain because they won't give me the price I want during the one week I have available! And I've decided to set aside most of the days of my "free" week for some self-indulgence and relaxation nearby.

I've just booked Day #1 in Calistoga. That means that I drive an hour and a half into the heart of the California wine country -- beautiful this time of year with the leaves turning color -- to my lodgings.

After I check in, I'm either going to go for a couple of hours hike at nearby Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, or if I feel lazy I'll just poke around Calistoga, which has a cute downtown.

Then at 4 PM, I have an appointment to have some spa treatments. I'll be soaking in the mud bath, then a mineral bath, then wrapped in a lightweight blanket and allowed to relax for a few minutes. Soon after that, staff will be escorting me to a private room for my one-hour massage.

I expect after that I'll have no energy for anything except going out for dinner at one of the several good restaurants near by.

These are just my preliminary plans; stay tuned for Day #2.

I'm beginning to like this alternative plan: I won't have to spend two days traveling to and fro to Utah, I'll see the wine country during the height of fall color, and I'll be doing something great for myself (and it will definitely cost me a lot less!).

We're on track for practicing descents

There is some challenging terrain in Torres del Paine photo by Susan Alcorn

Last week I wrote about Ralph's latest brainstorm -- that we should regularly practice going down steep inclines so that when our planned trip to Torres del Paine (in Patagonia) comes up next year, I'll be more confident and experienced. We've gone twice in the last week, about what I think is reasonable at this point. My knees are still healing from earlier this year and I don't want to aggravate the situation.

Our first day of practice was on a "bunny slope" near our house (a little slope that couldn't have been more than twelve feet long). The lesson, however, was all about how I should trust my poles, put more weight on them and distribute my weight differently. I passed with flying colors -- or at least I made it down the slope without falling or slipping. I have to laugh, however, because Ralph has been complaining about his sore hips ever since! I guess we both used muscles that we don't ordinarily use.

Today we went out again. This time we did a much longer downhill stretch and it was on a trail that I normally would avoid. Once again I did well and this time Ralph said I earned an A+.

Even though it will be hard to find trails in the vicinity that rival the steepness of the ones that gave me grief in Patagonia, I think Ralph's plan to practice will increase my skills and my confidence.