Save on airfare…

And just swim to France.

If google says you can do it, it must be true!

Rocks and Trails

Oh man, I hope I think of a better title before the night ends….
The past few days have been pure fitness bliss.  Yesterday I went over to the climbing gym to get a few hours of climbing in; I haven’t been able to go much more than once a week lately, so I was really eager to get to it.  And get to it I did!  There is definitely something to be said for losing weight and no sore muscles – I was having a blast doing some bouldering routes and finding that I could manage things easier than usual.  I prefer roped climbing over bouldering, though, so it was great when some people showed up and we could take turns belaying each other.  I did a few routes in the 5.8-5.9 range without even trying, and then we decided to tackle a 5.10a that was set by one of the more “difficult” route setters at the gym.  His routes are always very reachy (which is ironic, since they are reachy for me and he is like 5′8″) and in general technically demanding.  I stalled for a very short time in the middle, but I finished the route with no trouble staying up and without coming close to falling.  Very satisfying.
Today I went for a trail run up into the hills on the eastern Napa “mountains”.  I haven’t been trail running in *years*, and remembering the contentment of being in a natural setting and the challenges of uneven trails really made me smile as I went along.  As I climbed, I had some really great views of Napa that took my breath away (like I had any to spare).  I would say I made it the whole way without stopping, but that would be wrong.  I had to stop and let a mother turkey guide her little… turklings?…. down the path and out of my way before I could continue.  The last thing I wanted to do was risk her wrath!  But overall, it was spectacular.  I am going back for more on that trail, you can count on it.
Damn, no new title ideas.  Oh well……
Mood – pleased
Listening – James Taylor “The Secret O’ Life”

Something has changed within me…

Thanks, Elphaba, I’ll take it from here
I was out running this evening, and as I was walking back to my apartment to cool down, I realized something that stunned me – something was different tonight.
Ever since I started periodically running again, I have enjoyed it immensely.  However, it’s never been quite the same as I experienced it when I loved running most: high school.  How to explain?  Hmm.  Running is always a physical and mental challenge for the runner, and the specifics of the personal challenges was always what I most enjoyed.  I reveled in the challenge of hitting the wall and pushing myself past it.  Not necessarily to win (although that was often part of it), but to prove I could overcome what was in front of me.  This was why I loved running hills so much – they presented the greatest obstacles we had to overcome.  Did I always succeed?  Of course not.  But circumstances aside, I always confronted the challenges and obstacles with the determination to come out on top.  What I think I am most proud of is that rarely did I fail mentally – I was always ready to push myself past that boundary – if the flesh was willing.
Flash forward to my post-college running experience.  By and large, I have always enjoyed each run’s exertion.  But I always found myself backing off when the “going got tough.”  Even the times when I pushed my boundaries, I not only had to push myself physically, but also convince myself mentally to make the effort.  I avoid hills because they look like insurmountable mountains; if the pace feels like it might wipe me out, I slow down.  What was most disconcerting was that I never even recognized this behavior as not me.
And then today happened.  I was running along and fast approaching in my vision was the wall.  And instead of slowing down, or backing off, or playing safe – and without even recognizing it till after! – I focused on that wall and busted it down.
Hello Chris, it’s good to see you again.  Let’s go find some hills together.

Goals and a sore bicep

My friend Frozz (or, if you wish to exist in the real world, Matt) made an interesting post in his blog regarding striving for goals. In summation, he pointed out that in today’s world, too many of us strive for goals that are easily attainable; rarely do we reach for the stars. Reading his post, I felt inclined to agree with him.
Then I went climbing today.
I knew when I went that perhaps I should not have gone today. We loaded in a significant amount of heavy power cable for a job Wednesday, and besides the mere fact that carrying hundreds of pounds of copper can be tiring, we rigged it in the frame of a tent – increasing the strain on our bodies by lifting it high in the air while balancing on ladders. After doing some touch up work there today, I definitely had some aching arms, but nothing overtly painful or troubling. However, after climbing 3-4 routes, the ache in my left bicep became very painful and very convincing that I was doing myself a disservice.
Where am I going with this? I guess what I am trying to say is that setting lofty goals in your life is important to becoming the best person you can be. However, what is less talked about in a purpose driven life is pursuing your goals with temperance. Few people that I know can passionately pursue their goals without having negative consequences in other (and equally important) aspects of their lives.
In short, don’t be an Icarus.

Thanksgiving and things of that nature…

I suppose if they are going to re-elect Arnold, I might as well use his phrases, right?
Once again, it’s been a loooong time. I just seem to lack the ability to remember that this blog would be a fantastic place to talk about what’s going on and muse about life, as opposed to the normal internalized monologue I always run instead. Talking to yourself can get dreadfully boring, daahling.
For those of you that don’t know all ready, during Thanksgiving Sarah Geneser was kind enough to invite me to spend it with herself and Rob. So I drove up Wednesday and left Sunday, and in the time between I had one of the best Thanksgivings in a while. Sarah and Rob were perfect hosts Sarah cooked an amazing meal, and combined with the additions of her friends, we had quite an amazing feast on our hands.
Saturday we attempted to go outside and rock climb. Having never been, I figured why not and tagged along to see what I could make of this sport for the insane. Despite the cold, the small time we spent out there was a blast! Sarah and her friend even convinced me to give it a go, and I think I made it halfway up before my hands were too frozen to consider going further. Not to be deterred, though, we all went to an indoor gym, and it’s there that I really had a blast. It was enough fun that I think I might see about trying to go to a gym and getting into it. My coworker, Cullen, and I are going to try and make a trip in a week or two.
Last Friday was my birthday I turned the ripe old age of 28, and have moved one step closer to the big 3-0. Say it ain’t so! Even so, this was also the best birthday in a long time, for I was able to spend it with some friends. Gillian and her husband Ryan were gracious enough to help me celebrate. And by celebrate I mean stuff me full of margaritas . I am not complaining, though – having some good friends in the area is awesome, and they are two great people.
That’s all for now (at least that I am going to post here!).

bloghopper

I dunno… I want to get into this blogging thing as a way to keep track of my thoughts, but I have to really find a blog site that I truly like. LJ, typepad, blogspot, and now this. Will I like it? Who knows. But it's new and different and that's always fun.

FCCSong.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

Eric Idle sticks it to the FCC.

Apparently he got fined for the f-word on a clear channel station. So he wrote a song that would cost a radio station a quarter million dollars to play.

It never rains when you want it to…

Eesh, what is up in the Bay Area the past few days? It’s practically June, it’s not supposed to rain!

Well, in less than a week I’ll be moved into my new place and eagerly waiting to start the new job. Moving has me frustrated; starting a new job has me nervous. Then again, who wouldn’t be?

Amazon.com: palm Treo 700w Smartphone (Verizon Wireless): Cell Phones & Service

I want

But not with Verizon. Those 45 dollar a month data plans are ridiculous.

2 weeks and counting….

tick tock, tick tock….