The Chronicles of John Trammell

     2014 is coming to an end.  For the most part, it was a good year, but it had its challenges.  Many aspects of 2014 were the same as always: Still in college, still living at home, still single, and same 4-H duties as the past few years.  What made 2014 special were new and unique experiences that I shall never forget.  It started with attending the 4-H Camping Conference in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where I got to spend a weekend at a camp in the Redwood Forests discussing 4-H camps in California.  Speaking of camp, I was able to return as an Adult Director this past summer.  Had it miss camp in 2013.  That week reminded me how much of a family 4-H is to me, and how many people truly appreciate my work within the program.  For that week, I considered myself to be home.  The very best adventure of the year was the trip to Alaska.  I got to explore the last frontier from the coast to the Arctic Circle, with the generosity of my parents.  It is an experience I shall never forget, and

Pacific Crest Trail, Whitewater Canyon, Sonoran Desert, California       Yesterday I turned 27.  I wanted to celebrate my birthday by doing things that I enjoy to do.  One of those things is hiking and exploring familiar and new natural environments.  Since I was hired as a Naturalist for The Wildlands Conservancy, Oak Glen Preserve, I have been wanting to check out other preserves.  I talked to my fellow naturalists, and we set a plan to visit the three desert concervancy preserves: Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, Mission Creek Preserve, and Whitewater Preserve.  As the day came around, only three of us went on this amazing adventure.  Julia, Ari, and myself.  We met at Julia's house in Oak Glen, and carpooled out to the Sonoran Desert.  We began our tour at the farthest preserve, Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, which is the largest non-profit nature preserve in California and the birthplace of The Wildlands Conservancy.   Olson Ruins, Pioneertown Mountains Preserve Pi

     For the past ten days, I have been living at my aunt's farm in Yucaipa.  Watching over it while my aunt and uncle visit my cousin Amanda in Washington.  For the most part, I enjoy being here.  It gets me to break away from living under my parents roof.  It gives me a small taste of how it would be to live on my own.  It serves as a form of reflection.  To give a different glimps of who I am, and what parts of me need to change.        There seem to be many pros to living on my own.  The main pro si that I am in charge.  There is noone here to tell me what to do (except for when my aunt calls to tell me something I need to do).  What I do falls into my hands.  When I eat.  When I clean.  When I do homework.  Its quite.  There is no constent bitching from my parents (mostly my dad).  I don't have to worry about doing certain things in specific ways.  I can be myself.  I don't have to wear clothes if I don't feel like it.  I can play any music at any volume.  The TV