Some days (and weeks and months) you can work non-stop on big, endless projects and still not feel as productive as when you check a few insignificant items off your Do list.

Today was something between those two extremes.

I began teaching again at Utah Valley University. I’ve missed the classroom atmosphere and it feels good to be back! Just being on campus is refreshing. All the activity, all the learning, all made even better by the cool late-summer breezes that are my favorite weather in the world.

I was excited just to read a bulletin board in the English office yesterday when I noticed how much energy is put toward pure creativity without necessarily needing an immediate financial reward to justify it. The poster that did the trick showed Shakespeare’s head on Superman’s body and asked some question about graphic novels.

Ah, just to think and explore as an end unto itself! There’s nothing wrong with making money, but, at least for me, existence feels more meaningful and complete when reflection is as highly valued as the nuts and bolts that put meat on the table.

After class, I put up two new web pages. One for my English 2010 courses and another to facilitate socializing and adventures among local singles. Then my brother Antone posted changes I had programmed for our Utah Real Estate advertising website, FreeHomeUtah.com. I’ll work on improving our Google ranking and getting people to list their properties on it over the coming weeks. It’s free, by the way, or you can upgrade cheap.

Next, I finished writing a document that my old employer, ZYTO Corp, hired me to do.

Then I dropped by the office and turned in my paperwork to become an independent sales rep for them. I’ll soon launch yet another web page for users of their technology designed partly to bring me referrals and provide all the information to close deals quickly.

I got home and planted grapes in my back yard. I wish I could expect vines full of thick, juicy fruit this year, but I’ll probably have to wait at least till next year before I get much from them.

Finally, I finished reading a book loaned by a friend.

So I guess it has been a pretty satisfying day. All I’d add to make it perfect would be a run in the canyon, a hot date, and maybe winning the lottery.

Here are a pair of videos shot by a Channel 2 cameraman following a “rescue” of a weather balloon that “crashed” on Baldy, not far from my home on August 14.

Someone saw the long silver thing and mistook it for a crashed glider. We opted to bring the thing down anyway to avoid more 911 phone calls reporting it.

I was just happy to have a chance to ride the excellent trails that are usually closed to motor vehicles. I enjoy them on my mountain bike, but the motorcycle is even more fun.

First, here’s a photo of of the blimp following me through the trees where CJ met up with me on his bike:
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Tonight I rode my motorcycle up to Sagebrush Flats – it’s along the northwest flank of Mount Timpanogos and it’s a LOT more green and beautiful than the name makes it sound! We had a little rescue and Life Flight landed to carry our victim out, but the gusty wind triggered some sensor and the helicopter wouldn’t start back up.

Anyway, while we were sticking around just in case they needed anything from us (another Life Flight helicopter came up to try to fix the first one), I went for a drive to the far end of the road and explored the little spurs leading to more gorgeous meadow campsites, most of which had a car or two parked in them.

While driving past one such meadow, a doe and its fawn ran through the meadow, then continued hopping along just inside the aspens bordering the clearing. I slowed down to stay just behind the deer, whose golden fur shone in the dusk light.

It was one of those experiences that sticks in your mind and plays again and again. It was one of those moments where you want to be completely present – no thoughts of anything or anywhere else playing and distracting you.

Later, after loading the bike on its trailer, as I drove over the Alpine Loop on the way home, I rolled down the windows and opened the sunroof. I drove slowly and watched the tall, white aspen trunks flash by and fade into shadow and darkness. I focused on how I felt to be completely present, noticing my arms as I steered, the breeze across my face, and the crackling of gravel and twigs that crunched in my ears.

I need to practice that more. I think far too much. I’m always monitoring so many ideas. Suddenly it all seems like a waste, like a recipe for letting days slip by without even noticing them.

Maybe that’s why time seems to slip by so much faster as we grow up.