It’s my last day at Aspen. For some reason I was very tired yesterday (perhaps from driving) and attended only Richard Dawkins’s presentation, after having discovered that Paul Bloom’s evening talk required a ticket, which I didn’t have. But Richard did a great job in his discussion; more information follows soon. Today I’m speaking (or rather discussing my book with Elliot Gerson) at noon, but I doubt it will be livestreamed (you can see the videos that will be here). Tomorrow I leave for the Big Drive to Idaho; Stephen Barnard’s place is about a 14-hour drive from here, so I may have to break it up into two segments and—God forbid—get a motel in northern Utah. Meanwhile in Dobrzyn, Hili and Andrzej discuss the thorny subject of love:
Hili: What is love?
A: Love is friendship and desire.
Hili: My love for mice is just desire.
Hili: Co to jest miłość?
Ja: Miłość, to przyjaźń i pożądanie.
Hili: Moja miłość do myszek to tylko pożądanie.
Its likely to be the altitude…you can easily get winded walking up a set of steps in Aspen.
And many hours behind the wheel and not much sleep. Traveling always means tired.
I noticed driving seems pretty relaxing while your at it. But later you begin to see – its a lot of work. I have great empathy/sympathy for professional drivers.
I concur with the above. You’re up at 8,000 feet now. I know you have had much experience at high altitudes (e.g. the Himalayas) DrProf. CC, but sometimes it just doesn’t matter, even to the acclimated. As your pretend-doctor and part-time epidemiologist, I re-advise you to keep plenty hydrated. And eat as many goddamned egg yolks as you want. 😉
And not enough calories from the freebie breakfast!!
Too bad they couldn’t sell you a ticket at the door for Bloom’s talk, Dr. C, if only for standing/squatting room. Tsk tsk.
Get some rest and do say hello and thanks to Stephen (and Deets!) for us for all his wonderful photos!
Another d*g!? Turning into a d*g tour of the Wild West! 😉
Ahem! Edit needed – Ceiling Cat Forbid!
I understand the comment about being tired from driving. The drive over Independence Pass can be nerve racking, especially for flatlanders. Last September when my wife and I were visiting our daughter in Denver, she wanted us to see the aspen trees in their fall glory. Although our real destination was Glenwood Springs, she drove us over Independence Pass on the way to lunch in Aspen. I’d driven over the pass on an earlier trip, but I think riding in the shotgun seat was worse than driving. That position provided a too-close look at what waited for us over the unguarded edge.
The aspens were as promised: glorious.
Northern Utah – that’s my neck of the woods! Enjoy the drive. I assume you’re coming by I70. There’s some pretty country (and some pretty god forsaken country too) along that road. And if you take highway 6 (shorter than following I70 all the way to I15, keep an eye out for antelope along the side of the road.
I agree with the others–it’s probably the altitude. (Must be nice to have your own personal crew of analysts following your every step.) 😉
I’m probably alone in this, but I rather like driving without a schedule and putting in at night with whatever’s available. An old-fashioned, inexpensive country motel suits my anonymity craving–as long as it has WiFi. 😀
Looking forward eagerly to the Barnard installment! No pressure, Stephen…
Speaking of tiring drives… I still remember my first long(ish) drive. I was either still in high school or it was the summer after I graduated. We were living in Santa Rosa and my parents and I had been in San Francisco for some reason or other. As we walked up to the ’68 VW Camper I still drive to this day, Dad handed me the keys. I drove all the way home in rush hour traffic. When we got home, as Dad made dinner, I laid down for a moment. and then I didn’t wake up until the next morning.
b&