Barbara Chepaitis's Blog: http://aliterarylunch.blogspot.com/2015/07/frying-mad.html - Posts Tagged "altitude-adjustment"
SHIFT TO HIGH ATTITUDE
No, it’s not a typo. I wrote high attitude, and I meant it.
However, the title does grow from the fact that I’m currently about 8,000 feet above sea level in Gunnison, CO, where I’m faculty in a low residency graduate program in creative writing. In fact, I’m the boss of the fiction department.
Though our fall and spring semesters are on-line, for two weeks in the summer our students come out to to Western State College, and we eat, breathe, dream, and probably belch writing.
Those of us who come up from sea level also spend time adjusting to the altitude difference, and as I go through that process, I realize that every step up in attitude has about the same effects as shifts in altitude, emotionally and psychologically speaking.
When I first arrive in Gunnison I spend about three days being clumsy, stupid, tired but unable to sleep, struggling for breath when I climb stairs, and in general rather out of it. Rocky Mountain High indeed.
And every time I’ve stepped up a notch in my life – my first publications, my first teaching job, my current status as boss lady, and every time I’ve laid claim to my own power internally – I started out feeling clumsy, stupid, tired but unable to sleep, and disoriented.
You know what I mean, I’m sure. Ascent brings new vision and possibilities, and the confusion of uncertainty, as you ask yourself if you really know what the hell you’re doing.
No surprise there, really. Climbing a mountain has long been associated with touching the greatness of the celestial sphere, a broadening of the mind and heart. When I wanted Jaguar and Alex to discover each other for real in The Green Memory of Fear, I sent them up the mesa, “where the immensity of stars overhead was a reeling of all time imaginable.”
At the same time, Jaguar had to face her nemesis - not a walk in the park by any means. Going up the mountain asks you to bear with risk and difficulty before you get the perks. Vision plus difficulty breathing. An opening of the sky toward heaven, plus maybe falling off the mountain, which will hurt when you land.
This also holds true for times of personal evolution, which can be as, um, breathtaking as 8,000 feet up. I’ve watched my students struggle with discomfort, disorientation, as they climb from seeing themselves as wannabe writers to professionals, capable of managing the weirdness of the industry. Skilled enough to finish a novel, beginning to end. Also, I watched myself go through it, right here at 8,000 feet up.
Cattlewomen with High Attitude
During my first year here a strange set of circumstances got me involved with helping a Navy SEAL and Army Ranger who were stationed in Afghanistan bring an eagle they’d rescued back to the US. The entire story of that is a book of its own, forthcoming next May, but what’s important here is that the job grew much bigger than I anticipated, and I had to grow with it. I’d always been an outspoken woman, but I had to be her at a much higher level, cajoling Senators, news folk, and even the White House.
Often I was so afraid I felt like throwing up. Frequently my moves felt unnatural, wrong. A lot of times I woke in the night gasping for breath. But I stuck with it, and in a little while, I recognized my new self. She fit in my skin. I was comfortable with her, and trusted her to get me to the top of the mountain.
This year, as our first set of graduates go out into the world, I’m hoping they feel the same about their new selves. And you, dear readers, if you happen to be going through shift to High Atttitude, anticipate a time of adjustment. Don’t let it throw you off your mountain. Eat well and drink lots of water. Take good care of yourself, and let others care for you as well. Never be afraid to ask for help.
And when you feel comfortable in your skin again, enjoy the new view. You’ve earned it.
Below is some of what I eat for breakfast while I’m in Gunnison, where my cooking facilities and my time are severely limited.
You can find me at wildreads.com, and Jaguar at Wildside Books
GRAZING BREAKFAST IN GUNNISON
This one’s easy, and more about shopping than cooking.
About half a cup of marinated artichokes, store bought because I DON’T HAVE TIME TO PLAY WITH MY FOOD!
Two slices of really good bread, also store bought because I DON”T HAVE TIME TO PLAY WITH MY FOOD!
A hard boiled egg
A spoonful of bee pollen or honey
A few slices of Asiago cheese
Maybe some chopped up olives and/or tomatoes, if I can find good ones
Take the slices of bread and slather one with olives and marinated artichokes. Add slices of hard-boiled egg and, if they’re not whiny and flavorless, tomatoe slices.
Put the other slice of bread on top and press it down, even if it protests. If it continues to protest, you may want to check in with your doctor. Remember, not all highs are good highs.
Slice your slices in half and enjoy, with a lot of water, or maybe some juice. Munch on the cheese in between bits of the sandwich.
When you’re done, take the spoonful of honey or bee pollen with more water. I don’t know if it helps, but it tastes good.
BREAKFAST OUT IN GUNNISON
The WCafe, on Main Street, has some of the best Huevos going. Here’s how they do it:
A soft taco, with refried beans spread on it.
Two eggs – scrambled or over easy, as you like it – on top of the beans.
A generous portion of pork green chili on the eggs.
An equally generous portion of cheddar cheese on the chili.
Stick a fork in it and call it me happy.
The Green Memory of Fear
However, the title does grow from the fact that I’m currently about 8,000 feet above sea level in Gunnison, CO, where I’m faculty in a low residency graduate program in creative writing. In fact, I’m the boss of the fiction department.
Though our fall and spring semesters are on-line, for two weeks in the summer our students come out to to Western State College, and we eat, breathe, dream, and probably belch writing.
Those of us who come up from sea level also spend time adjusting to the altitude difference, and as I go through that process, I realize that every step up in attitude has about the same effects as shifts in altitude, emotionally and psychologically speaking.
When I first arrive in Gunnison I spend about three days being clumsy, stupid, tired but unable to sleep, struggling for breath when I climb stairs, and in general rather out of it. Rocky Mountain High indeed.
And every time I’ve stepped up a notch in my life – my first publications, my first teaching job, my current status as boss lady, and every time I’ve laid claim to my own power internally – I started out feeling clumsy, stupid, tired but unable to sleep, and disoriented.
You know what I mean, I’m sure. Ascent brings new vision and possibilities, and the confusion of uncertainty, as you ask yourself if you really know what the hell you’re doing.
No surprise there, really. Climbing a mountain has long been associated with touching the greatness of the celestial sphere, a broadening of the mind and heart. When I wanted Jaguar and Alex to discover each other for real in The Green Memory of Fear, I sent them up the mesa, “where the immensity of stars overhead was a reeling of all time imaginable.”
At the same time, Jaguar had to face her nemesis - not a walk in the park by any means. Going up the mountain asks you to bear with risk and difficulty before you get the perks. Vision plus difficulty breathing. An opening of the sky toward heaven, plus maybe falling off the mountain, which will hurt when you land.
This also holds true for times of personal evolution, which can be as, um, breathtaking as 8,000 feet up. I’ve watched my students struggle with discomfort, disorientation, as they climb from seeing themselves as wannabe writers to professionals, capable of managing the weirdness of the industry. Skilled enough to finish a novel, beginning to end. Also, I watched myself go through it, right here at 8,000 feet up.
Cattlewomen with High Attitude
During my first year here a strange set of circumstances got me involved with helping a Navy SEAL and Army Ranger who were stationed in Afghanistan bring an eagle they’d rescued back to the US. The entire story of that is a book of its own, forthcoming next May, but what’s important here is that the job grew much bigger than I anticipated, and I had to grow with it. I’d always been an outspoken woman, but I had to be her at a much higher level, cajoling Senators, news folk, and even the White House.
Often I was so afraid I felt like throwing up. Frequently my moves felt unnatural, wrong. A lot of times I woke in the night gasping for breath. But I stuck with it, and in a little while, I recognized my new self. She fit in my skin. I was comfortable with her, and trusted her to get me to the top of the mountain.
This year, as our first set of graduates go out into the world, I’m hoping they feel the same about their new selves. And you, dear readers, if you happen to be going through shift to High Atttitude, anticipate a time of adjustment. Don’t let it throw you off your mountain. Eat well and drink lots of water. Take good care of yourself, and let others care for you as well. Never be afraid to ask for help.
And when you feel comfortable in your skin again, enjoy the new view. You’ve earned it.
Below is some of what I eat for breakfast while I’m in Gunnison, where my cooking facilities and my time are severely limited.
You can find me at wildreads.com, and Jaguar at Wildside Books
GRAZING BREAKFAST IN GUNNISON
This one’s easy, and more about shopping than cooking.
About half a cup of marinated artichokes, store bought because I DON’T HAVE TIME TO PLAY WITH MY FOOD!
Two slices of really good bread, also store bought because I DON”T HAVE TIME TO PLAY WITH MY FOOD!
A hard boiled egg
A spoonful of bee pollen or honey
A few slices of Asiago cheese
Maybe some chopped up olives and/or tomatoes, if I can find good ones
Take the slices of bread and slather one with olives and marinated artichokes. Add slices of hard-boiled egg and, if they’re not whiny and flavorless, tomatoe slices.
Put the other slice of bread on top and press it down, even if it protests. If it continues to protest, you may want to check in with your doctor. Remember, not all highs are good highs.
Slice your slices in half and enjoy, with a lot of water, or maybe some juice. Munch on the cheese in between bits of the sandwich.
When you’re done, take the spoonful of honey or bee pollen with more water. I don’t know if it helps, but it tastes good.
BREAKFAST OUT IN GUNNISON
The WCafe, on Main Street, has some of the best Huevos going. Here’s how they do it:
A soft taco, with refried beans spread on it.
Two eggs – scrambled or over easy, as you like it – on top of the beans.
A generous portion of pork green chili on the eggs.
An equally generous portion of cheddar cheese on the chili.
Stick a fork in it and call it me happy.
The Green Memory of Fear
