found on a dogwalk. the snake makes me look fat.
why are snakes are so slithery?
how many bones are in the length of your finger, on the spine of the snake?
Month: July 2013
mis
I tried to watch Les Mis. It hurt so bad.
I wanted to have a rewarding cultural experience. I read the book years ago and found it deep, one you want to reread some time but never got a chance. I reread Moby Dick in 2002 and it blew my mind. How could 4o years on Broadway be wrong?
Scenery was cool, it felt rich and spectaculish, and for about 8 minutes i was into it, til Beckie said “what the hell are you watching, Disney Channel“?
True.
Maybe I shoulda know it was more opera than musical…i can barely stand musicals. The only one I ever liked was Rock of Ages, and that’s only cause i grew up in the 80’s and can’t fight my formative hairband years. Somehow i was singling along with the Les Mis soundtrack, and i’ve no idea where i’d heard all those songs i’d heard them a million times before. Still, the effects of the big screen can’t suspend the disbelief provided by the intimacy of the theater.
I bet I would really enjoy this on Broadway. I lost all focus when Maximus and Wolverine had a scene that went like this:
Wolverine: Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
Maximus: Bismillah! No, we will not let you go, we will not let you go.
Wolverine: Let me go
Maximus: Will not let you go.
Wolverine: Never, never, never let me go. Oh, mama mia, mama mia let me go.
From there I flew through it at 6x speed, which showed depth of plot about as much as an episode of Jessie. The original was 3000 pages long.
But I am now resolved to put the Victor Hugo version on my kindle – abridged edition.
Semi Speechless
Here is an snip from a local journal about hiking to the Lookout, along Tom’s Thumb and East End trails.
“Consider your journey to be an opportunity for solitude and contemplation. If you are not one to hike by yourself, this might be the time to do it and focus on your inner communication. If hiking is always a group activity for you , consider setting some ground rules. No conversation outside of what the hike inspires. No long drive necessary. No high clearance vehicles required. Enjoy the opportunity for solitude right in your own back yard. If you choose to take this journey, do not hurry. This is a hike to linger upon. Go to the Lookout to enjoy the jourey as well as the destination. Linger at the top. Contemplate. Go there to sit and think. Be peaceful with yourself. Revel in knowing that among millions in our urban sprawl, you are in a place that belongs to the milleniums [sic]. You are in a place that, because of the forethought of local residents, will have a future shaped by the eternal forces of nature.”
This article cracked me up, in light of recent posts about some over-zealous folks and their exclusive view of how one should enjoy nature. Its not a holy pilgrimage where i must make burnt offerings; solitude is shared with hundreds of others coming up the trail behind me or before me. Maybe my generation expects to be outside, at least compared to some older people or transplants who didn’t grow up with the outdoors as part of their culture. Or are lifetime indoor-jobbers. I don’t know if I should be charitable or thankful or pitying people so surprised what they’ve missed all along they think they must wrap it up in a museum.
Riding is part of my life several times a week, being outdoors every day is part of my biorhythm and i can’t imagine it not being so, just as i can’t imagine not having my girls and my wife. Like parenthood or marriage, so much of the beauty is deconstructing the parts to grow closer to the greater whole. How do erosion and weather patterns require changes in balance and power to meet the results of runoffs down 20% grades? If I flow like water, how will i react to golfball and baseball size rocks filling the ruts? Keeping time plots our subjugation to nature’s changes, and its so much more fun with music and friends and screaming relief after a hard switchback, tinkling at the summit, and stopping at the tequila tree before I’m done. I rolled the Firebird up Tom’s Thumb at 5am, so I could have a tool to live alive in meat space. I suffered, it was fun, i hit the dh better than i’ve ever done and it had me grinning all day.
The Later Rainbow Phase
Snowbowl Road Hill Climb
Me and our friend Amy talked Beckie into this 7 miles and 2200 vf bit of flagstafickry. Bonus that Noel and Amy again had us as guests for a weekend out of Hell.
Look! Riding at noon! Sunset TH to the AZT->Dogfood->Schultz. tinyShredder wants to lead, tinyShredder doesn’t stop, tinyShredder hit the double at the bottom of Schultz, tinyShredder snapped her first derailleur…I’m so proud!
this transpired while Noel and I hammered back up Schultz to get the cars. but really, with these kids I’m no longer impressed.
up early the next morning for the ladies to run up a big hill.
Amy joined by Aran and Gianna
see those dots up the hill? neither can i. I am a responsible parent, i let my wife go up with them.
Having shuttled up to the base of a ski resort, with two tired potential drivers, Noel and I did the only sensible thing and bombed back down.
18 miles, 3000 vf, with a welcome 45 minute climb in the middle. Aspen and pines and singletrack and hero-dirt.
E-Vulture Corporate Retreat
First bikepack!
Thanks James for the loaner gear.
Kickoff at Mother Road. Gnome, Gordon, Yuri, Flo.
First night camping outside Walnut Canyon, with all the beer we could carry. Thanks Yuri for the pics, many more on his site.
3 hrs on the AZT
several pitchers at the Mormon Lake Lodge
camping night#2
Must.go.gearshopping.