This is a reanimation of the Vicaribus blog as lived by Miro Kazakoff and Ehren Foss in 2004 and 2005. The photos may be spotty.

Goldenrod rollin' by

Posted by Miro

Roadsides on the Olympic Peninsula alternate clear cut areas and Evergreen forests. Goldenrod blooms thickly through the clear cut areas. The forests are marked by signs that say when they were planted, thinned, and sometimes when the expected harvest date is.

Sean explained that forest fires aren’t much of a worry for timber companies. Clear cut sections act as buffers for the older growth tress and prevent the spread of fire effectively. The biggest danger comes from public lands loggers would describe as mismanaged. Lack of thinning and the thickness of underbrush makes them more susceptible to widespread forest fires when one starts.

In classic Bain fashion, Sean has what we’d call “deep knowledge” of this particular industry because he worked on a Bain case about it. More disturbingly, Sean claims Ehren has picked up certain Bain vocal patterns and cadences from me. This horrifies both me and Ehren. Bain speak doesn’t bother me too much, but I have this distasteful feeling that I’ve infected him with something.

Apparently, Ehren has picked up the nasty habit of the Bain half question: a statement ended with a slight uptick in vocal pitch to almost make it a question. It qualifies a suggestion by making it part question so as not to come off as too aggressive to the person you are talking to. Example: “We’re going to store to pick up supplies after this(?)”.

This weekend, Las Vegas plays host to Jim DiLiberto’s bachelor party. Since I’ve been camping most of this week, I’ve only gotten intermittent peaks at the email traffic about planning. Matt North has taken over party planning like a frat-brother version of Martha Stewart. I should say he’s doing a great job. Corralling any group is tough work and he’s planning things right. I won’t say too much because I don’t know how much Jim is in on the plans.

It’s no secret, though, that the itinerary features a trip to a strip club. Cheetah’s is the intended destination. Said North in his email, “I’ve been there. It’s nice.” This is exactly the same way, Sean described the same club.

I’ve never been to a strip club. I’m curious to go in that sense that I’m eager to try most new things on this trip, but I feel some trepidation. Not sure why. I suspect I’ll be unable submit to the fantasy and as a result will find the whole thing creepy. Or maybe I’m worried that I will get absorbed in the fantasy, and that idea creeps me out even more. No, I think it’s the former.

Either way, going from wilderness to Vegas should be a culture shock.