December 11, 2007
Travel is Travel...
Words cannot begin to describe my experiences in Nepal. It was amazing. Incredible. Awesome. And yet, all those words don't do it justice, because the pendulum swung in all directions, so many emotions experienced. My world was made bigger. Life lessons came to light. I know I can do anything. Fear is bad. I wound up traveling alone, learning the hard way who my friends really are, and it was magical to be granted that buried treasure. Travel is travel, indeed.
September 27, 2007
So close.
Tomorrow's my last day of work before I leave on Monday. Wow. It still seems so unreal. This pack I've been loading and unloading, these guidebooks I've been reading, the thinking, it all has been busywork. It won't be for real until I'm off that plane in Bangkok and the adventure starts.
I can't wait. I feel incredibly lucky. My head will be pried open a thousand ways. Life will be shaken to its core. I'll be clear on the other side of the planet.
I can't wait. I feel incredibly lucky. My head will be pried open a thousand ways. Life will be shaken to its core. I'll be clear on the other side of the planet.
September 21, 2007
Already...
Today is the Autumnal Equinox. The first day of fall.
Here in the Bay Area, we've seen an unseasonably early touch of rain, a wave of cold. Two inches of snow fell in the Sierras. May this not be a fluke but rather a prediction of an early and hard long winter filled with an abundance of fresh powder. For two months now, I've had the snowboarding jones.
I leave in nine days. I have finally finished the oral typhoid vaccine pills. They gave me vertigo and conflicted with my morning coffee.
Here in the Bay Area, we've seen an unseasonably early touch of rain, a wave of cold. Two inches of snow fell in the Sierras. May this not be a fluke but rather a prediction of an early and hard long winter filled with an abundance of fresh powder. For two months now, I've had the snowboarding jones.
I leave in nine days. I have finally finished the oral typhoid vaccine pills. They gave me vertigo and conflicted with my morning coffee.
September 15, 2007
Saturday slips away....
Saturday flew by in a flurry of errands. I had planned to go to yoga at 8am. I don't use an alarm clock and by sleeping until 7:45, yoga was not to happen. Bummer about that, as I love Barbara and her class, and was hoping to make a few more of her classes before I leave.
I did have a massively productive day, taking advantage of the fact that P was out of town. I had a scrawly list, and knocked the following off said list:
met Luna's dad at Pet Club and we gave the dirty girl a bath. She's fluffy clean now!
berkeley farmer's market for this week's fruit and veggies
went to thrift store for cheap backpack for flight to Thailand (plan to pass it on and not take it on the trek. just need it to hold reading material, snacks and stuff for the flight)
got a hair cut
got a pedicure --way girlie pink toes!
went to travel store for eyemask, TSA-approved lock, etc.
bought the books i'm going to read on the plane (Three Cups of Tea, and Against The Stream)
went to Elephant Pharmacy for more chick supplies
got new batteries for Steripen and headlamp
Safeway for snack sized ziplock bags
got my wad of cash for the trip
made a pot of lentils
filled up the trial size containers with stuff i'm taking
un-packed, re-assessed, and put things into stuff sacks in a sensible order
forgot: to buy cat food for while i'm gone (duh!)
still to do: REI pro-deal pick-up and get cable lock then
decide what clothes i'm bringing.
i'm trying to keep the clothes to: one down jacket, thermal leggings, 2 pairs of pants (one on me at all times, well most of the time.) spare bra, two long sleeve shirst, one fleece top, three pairs of socks, thee pairs of underwear. maybe one t-shirt? but that's it for 7 weeks. i'll buy a skirt, hat and gloves, and trekking poles in Kathmandu.
i feel like i'm bringing a crapload of stuff, a lot just to take good care of jen. enough ibuprofin, electrolytes, moisturizer, first aid stuff and stuff to care for my feet. my seekrit stash has two chocolate bars. i know those will be gold to me at some point. i'm bringing 30 postcards of the Golden Gate Bridge to give out along the trail; I read in the guidebooks that people appreciate small gifts when appropriate. I feel like I'm bringing a fair amount of electronics/camera stuff, which is laughable compared to what Michelle will end up bringing. She's a pro, I'm a wanna-be.
and now I want to go cuddle my clean dog, since she's with me for the weekend. I'm going to miss Luna a bunch while I'm gone. (I hope she stays healthy. That's a request to the universe, please...)
now I'm going to clean up around here and continue sorting. how do i always find so much to do?
I did have a massively productive day, taking advantage of the fact that P was out of town. I had a scrawly list, and knocked the following off said list:
met Luna's dad at Pet Club and we gave the dirty girl a bath. She's fluffy clean now!
berkeley farmer's market for this week's fruit and veggies
went to thrift store for cheap backpack for flight to Thailand (plan to pass it on and not take it on the trek. just need it to hold reading material, snacks and stuff for the flight)
got a hair cut
got a pedicure --way girlie pink toes!
went to travel store for eyemask, TSA-approved lock, etc.
bought the books i'm going to read on the plane (Three Cups of Tea, and Against The Stream)
went to Elephant Pharmacy for more chick supplies
got new batteries for Steripen and headlamp
Safeway for snack sized ziplock bags
got my wad of cash for the trip
made a pot of lentils
filled up the trial size containers with stuff i'm taking
un-packed, re-assessed, and put things into stuff sacks in a sensible order
forgot: to buy cat food for while i'm gone (duh!)
still to do: REI pro-deal pick-up and get cable lock then
decide what clothes i'm bringing.
i'm trying to keep the clothes to: one down jacket, thermal leggings, 2 pairs of pants (one on me at all times, well most of the time.) spare bra, two long sleeve shirst, one fleece top, three pairs of socks, thee pairs of underwear. maybe one t-shirt? but that's it for 7 weeks. i'll buy a skirt, hat and gloves, and trekking poles in Kathmandu.
i feel like i'm bringing a crapload of stuff, a lot just to take good care of jen. enough ibuprofin, electrolytes, moisturizer, first aid stuff and stuff to care for my feet. my seekrit stash has two chocolate bars. i know those will be gold to me at some point. i'm bringing 30 postcards of the Golden Gate Bridge to give out along the trail; I read in the guidebooks that people appreciate small gifts when appropriate. I feel like I'm bringing a fair amount of electronics/camera stuff, which is laughable compared to what Michelle will end up bringing. She's a pro, I'm a wanna-be.
and now I want to go cuddle my clean dog, since she's with me for the weekend. I'm going to miss Luna a bunch while I'm gone. (I hope she stays healthy. That's a request to the universe, please...)
now I'm going to clean up around here and continue sorting. how do i always find so much to do?
September 13, 2007
It's Thursday
A very scattered, random update from a sleepy girl who's squinting because she doesn't have her glasses on...
A blind couple has been coming to the past couple spin classes I teach. I love this! I give them so much credit, and admire the heck out of them. They bought cycling shoes and have jumped right in. It makes me teach differently, being very explicit in my instructions and calling things out with more warning. But I'm thrilled they're coming to class.
Paul, the lucky bastard, left for a backpacking trip with the guys. I'm super envious, mostly because with this staff job picking up for long weekends here and there is not an option. I also miss starry nights in chilly night skies. I hope he has fun!
Meanwhile, someone in our building stole our plastic laundry basket from the laundry room. WTF? Our laundry room is up three flights of stairs by the roof, unlike most buildings where laundry is in the basement. So I really need that laundry basket. I left a note, but suspect no one will return it. Because if you're lame enough to "borrow" or steal someone's laundry basket, are you really planning to return it?
Oh, and I finally got that friggin' lip stud removed and replaced with the hoop I'd wanted. I like it! Todd did a great placing on the piercing and got it exactly how I wanted it. I've got a little scar tissue on the inside of my lip from the stud's post being long and slamming around, but I'm slowly dissolving it by putting aspirin crushed into a paste onto the scar tissue each night; crazy, but it dissolves the tissue. You imagine what that feels like, okay?
My trip is just over two weeks away. After tomorrow, I have exactly two weeks of work. Thankfully I'm not very busy right now. There's one large project looming, but it's going to be someone else's work soon enough. It's sort of unbelievable that I will leave and return right before Thanksgiving. I'm back three days, and then we fly to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with Paul's large family. No doubt I'll be culture-shocked.
I have gotten both my Nepalese and Indian visas, all my travel vaccinations, restocked my first aid kit, and gotten travel meds. I've given up on breaking in a new pair of boots. I'll go with my old ones, even though their tread is very nearly gone. At least they won't shred my feet. I have a new backpack, and have done a hike to get it dialed in. Hopefully more hiking in the next couple weeks will happen, too. I have to admit I'm at the worst level of physical fitness in a couple years. Working so much, living with someone I love who is an amazing cook and shares a sweet tooth-chocolate habit, all contribute to this.
Such is life. I had plans to be in mega-great shape, but plans don't always go as planned, do they?
Speaking of plans, at this point I'm going to go to India with Michelle. Although I'm considering spending a couple days at the Kopan Monastery north of Kathmandu, and then perhaps flying down to Varanasi and meeting her there. I also have an interest in going to Dharamsala, and she does not. Perhaps I'll go there on my own while Michelle goes on to Delhi to the Irish consulate; she's got to meet them about showing her work there, which is awesome. She wants to rejuvenate in Rishikesh, which sounds pretty great to me, so maybe we can meet up there after she goes to Delhi. Who knows? We have no set dates or reservations anywhere. I am not so keen on spending days upon days riding trains in India. I'd rather fly, and get to experience a place more deeply than to meditate past the "joys" of train travel. Like I said, who knows? I'm speculating at this point, and reality will be whatever it becomes.
I'm excited. Scared. Hopeful. This trip is going to be one of the biggest things I've done. Bigger, in some ways, than moving to Yosemite three years back.
I've started a blog for my friends to read about my trip. I'll post there from the road, so that people can be kept updated about my adventure. Drop me an email if you want to get the URL. If I like you, I'll tell you about it. It's entirely separate from this one, and you stalkery types can't just get there from here.
A blind couple has been coming to the past couple spin classes I teach. I love this! I give them so much credit, and admire the heck out of them. They bought cycling shoes and have jumped right in. It makes me teach differently, being very explicit in my instructions and calling things out with more warning. But I'm thrilled they're coming to class.
Paul, the lucky bastard, left for a backpacking trip with the guys. I'm super envious, mostly because with this staff job picking up for long weekends here and there is not an option. I also miss starry nights in chilly night skies. I hope he has fun!
Meanwhile, someone in our building stole our plastic laundry basket from the laundry room. WTF? Our laundry room is up three flights of stairs by the roof, unlike most buildings where laundry is in the basement. So I really need that laundry basket. I left a note, but suspect no one will return it. Because if you're lame enough to "borrow" or steal someone's laundry basket, are you really planning to return it?
Oh, and I finally got that friggin' lip stud removed and replaced with the hoop I'd wanted. I like it! Todd did a great placing on the piercing and got it exactly how I wanted it. I've got a little scar tissue on the inside of my lip from the stud's post being long and slamming around, but I'm slowly dissolving it by putting aspirin crushed into a paste onto the scar tissue each night; crazy, but it dissolves the tissue. You imagine what that feels like, okay?
My trip is just over two weeks away. After tomorrow, I have exactly two weeks of work. Thankfully I'm not very busy right now. There's one large project looming, but it's going to be someone else's work soon enough. It's sort of unbelievable that I will leave and return right before Thanksgiving. I'm back three days, and then we fly to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with Paul's large family. No doubt I'll be culture-shocked.
I have gotten both my Nepalese and Indian visas, all my travel vaccinations, restocked my first aid kit, and gotten travel meds. I've given up on breaking in a new pair of boots. I'll go with my old ones, even though their tread is very nearly gone. At least they won't shred my feet. I have a new backpack, and have done a hike to get it dialed in. Hopefully more hiking in the next couple weeks will happen, too. I have to admit I'm at the worst level of physical fitness in a couple years. Working so much, living with someone I love who is an amazing cook and shares a sweet tooth-chocolate habit, all contribute to this.
Such is life. I had plans to be in mega-great shape, but plans don't always go as planned, do they?
Speaking of plans, at this point I'm going to go to India with Michelle. Although I'm considering spending a couple days at the Kopan Monastery north of Kathmandu, and then perhaps flying down to Varanasi and meeting her there. I also have an interest in going to Dharamsala, and she does not. Perhaps I'll go there on my own while Michelle goes on to Delhi to the Irish consulate; she's got to meet them about showing her work there, which is awesome. She wants to rejuvenate in Rishikesh, which sounds pretty great to me, so maybe we can meet up there after she goes to Delhi. Who knows? We have no set dates or reservations anywhere. I am not so keen on spending days upon days riding trains in India. I'd rather fly, and get to experience a place more deeply than to meditate past the "joys" of train travel. Like I said, who knows? I'm speculating at this point, and reality will be whatever it becomes.
I'm excited. Scared. Hopeful. This trip is going to be one of the biggest things I've done. Bigger, in some ways, than moving to Yosemite three years back.
I've started a blog for my friends to read about my trip. I'll post there from the road, so that people can be kept updated about my adventure. Drop me an email if you want to get the URL. If I like you, I'll tell you about it. It's entirely separate from this one, and you stalkery types can't just get there from here.
September 2, 2007
An understanding.
In four weeks, I leave on my trip. The bombings that occured today are an all-too-real reminder that I'm leaving the "secure" and the familiar.
Michelle and I talked and agreed we didn't want to spend unncessary time in Kathmandu. We're probably safe on the Annapurna Circuit. Crowds, public transit, urban streets all may not be the safest places leading up to Nepal's upcoming elections on November 22nd.
Michelle has elected to go to India instead of Tibet after we do the Circuit. She needs to go to the Irish Embassy in Delhi to meet with them about having a photo show at the Embassy of her Himalaya photographs. She'll be going to Agra, and perhaps Varanasi. I'll get my Indian visa for the possibility of joining her, but will not be making any decisions, rather leaving open the possibility for staying in Nepal.
Given the political climate in Nepal, it could be safer to boogie down to India. India will be overwhelming, more intense than Nepal. We'll see.
I have been looking at September in a way that may seem morbid. I am making the effort to get together with people. I have this deep seated understanding that with this kind of travel the chance exists, however small, that I may not return. I could die. I don't want to, but I am at peace with the remote possibility. I say that undramatically. I am going to be smart, but I'm also a believer in living the life you want, and if you expire living fully, that sucks, but it sure beats living safely by the dim glow of your widescreen television.
Michelle and I talked and agreed we didn't want to spend unncessary time in Kathmandu. We're probably safe on the Annapurna Circuit. Crowds, public transit, urban streets all may not be the safest places leading up to Nepal's upcoming elections on November 22nd.
Michelle has elected to go to India instead of Tibet after we do the Circuit. She needs to go to the Irish Embassy in Delhi to meet with them about having a photo show at the Embassy of her Himalaya photographs. She'll be going to Agra, and perhaps Varanasi. I'll get my Indian visa for the possibility of joining her, but will not be making any decisions, rather leaving open the possibility for staying in Nepal.
Given the political climate in Nepal, it could be safer to boogie down to India. India will be overwhelming, more intense than Nepal. We'll see.
I have been looking at September in a way that may seem morbid. I am making the effort to get together with people. I have this deep seated understanding that with this kind of travel the chance exists, however small, that I may not return. I could die. I don't want to, but I am at peace with the remote possibility. I say that undramatically. I am going to be smart, but I'm also a believer in living the life you want, and if you expire living fully, that sucks, but it sure beats living safely by the dim glow of your widescreen television.
Four. Days. Off.
Four days off over labor day weekend seems downright decadent. Like a mini-vacation. Such is the thinking of a staffer. Grateful for several days off, because I can't just take as much time off as I'd like because I only get so much vacation time a year. Sillyness!
I want to go on the annual women's yoga retreat at the end of the month. It would involve taking two days off. No big deal, right? Except I'd be taking two days off right before my much-planned seven week leave of absence from work, and I don't think they'd take too kindly to me extending it, since it was a bit of sticking point to get everyone to agree to hire me and let me leave two months later. So I ponder, do I push the issue? It would also involve returning home from the retreat fifteen hours before I must be at the airport.
Anyway, I'm enjoying the time now. Friday P needed to borrow my car before the Bay Bridge closure, so I did many Nepal related errands on my beater bike. The Bank. REI. Walgreen's. AAA (they don't sell traveller's cheques anymore? who knew?). Good Vibes. Industrial Strength. The bank again, this time for traveller's cheques. Fun doing errands on the bike!
Been very sluggy these past two days. More errands today: REI again (exchanged the heel-ripping boots), Bed-Bath-Beyond (who knew knives were so expensive?) and other puttery things.
And after all this, I still have tomorrow off! Amazing!
Work is soooooooo overrated.
I want to go on the annual women's yoga retreat at the end of the month. It would involve taking two days off. No big deal, right? Except I'd be taking two days off right before my much-planned seven week leave of absence from work, and I don't think they'd take too kindly to me extending it, since it was a bit of sticking point to get everyone to agree to hire me and let me leave two months later. So I ponder, do I push the issue? It would also involve returning home from the retreat fifteen hours before I must be at the airport.
Anyway, I'm enjoying the time now. Friday P needed to borrow my car before the Bay Bridge closure, so I did many Nepal related errands on my beater bike. The Bank. REI. Walgreen's. AAA (they don't sell traveller's cheques anymore? who knew?). Good Vibes. Industrial Strength. The bank again, this time for traveller's cheques. Fun doing errands on the bike!
Been very sluggy these past two days. More errands today: REI again (exchanged the heel-ripping boots), Bed-Bath-Beyond (who knew knives were so expensive?) and other puttery things.
And after all this, I still have tomorrow off! Amazing!
Work is soooooooo overrated.
August 29, 2007
Needles
The three day needle-o-rama is over, thankfully. Sunday's needle-fun was finishing up the my chest piece tattoo. (It looked done to me, but Marcus found another hour's worth of perfection to ink into me. It looks even better now!) Monday was less needly fun, but necessary. I got Supartz shots in both knees in preparation for my upcoming trip. Arthritis sucks, and that's all I'll say about that. Yesterday was travel vaccine day: tetanus shot, polio booster, and Hep A vaccine. I nicely declined Rabies vaccines and Japanese Encephalitis (!?!). All set for India and Nepal now.
Speaking of needles, it occured to me that if Amy Winehouse hooked up with Pete Doherty we could watch a modern day Sid and Nancy implosion. You heard it here first. They're a match waiting to happen.
Speaking of needles, it occured to me that if Amy Winehouse hooked up with Pete Doherty we could watch a modern day Sid and Nancy implosion. You heard it here first. They're a match waiting to happen.
August 26, 2007
Five Weeks
Yep, I leave for Nepal in five weeks. It's starting to seem real. I get my shots this week. I have my Nepalese visa. I got my new pack, a Granite Gear. I also bought a new pair of hiking boots since mine are not up to the challenge.
This morning I decided to take said new pair of hiking boots for a break-in hike. Nothing too crazy, just a couple miles in Redwood Regional. New boots, new socks. (No first aid kit, either, see where this is going....?) I'm out there for a while and I'm feeling some burning on my heels that lets me know a blister is wanting to happen. I undo my shoes, rearrange my socks and hope for the best while heading off on another loop. (Note to self: this would have been a good time to head for the car!) I have my ipod and am hiking along. The friction is getting worse.
"Don't add suffering to your pain." This Buddhist inspired thought ran through my had. Scratch that, it became my friggin' mantra. The friction turned into fire. Just Breathe, Jen. Except that only works for so long. When the fire turned into a stabbing knife, I stopped and took my boots and socks off again. Well, that explains the pain, I thought. There was open, exposed raw skin about the size of two quarters on each foot. One still had a bit of protective skin flap on it, so it hurt less. The exposed one was the massive "sensation".
Did I mention I didn't have a first aid kit? Did I mention that I'm a Wilderness First Responder so I know how dumb it is to not have one? Right. I looked in my bag for something to help get me out of this mess. Score! I had a banana! I carefully wrapped strips of the banana peel around each heel. It was comfortingly cool. It also provided just enough buffer that I could get back to the car, maybe another mile or so. I took off, wincing, and moved (hobbly hiked?) as quickly as I could.
I am pleased at my resourcefulness in the face of my own stupidity.
These boots have some issues to work out if they're going to Nepal.
This morning I decided to take said new pair of hiking boots for a break-in hike. Nothing too crazy, just a couple miles in Redwood Regional. New boots, new socks. (No first aid kit, either, see where this is going....?) I'm out there for a while and I'm feeling some burning on my heels that lets me know a blister is wanting to happen. I undo my shoes, rearrange my socks and hope for the best while heading off on another loop. (Note to self: this would have been a good time to head for the car!) I have my ipod and am hiking along. The friction is getting worse.
"Don't add suffering to your pain." This Buddhist inspired thought ran through my had. Scratch that, it became my friggin' mantra. The friction turned into fire. Just Breathe, Jen. Except that only works for so long. When the fire turned into a stabbing knife, I stopped and took my boots and socks off again. Well, that explains the pain, I thought. There was open, exposed raw skin about the size of two quarters on each foot. One still had a bit of protective skin flap on it, so it hurt less. The exposed one was the massive "sensation".
Did I mention I didn't have a first aid kit? Did I mention that I'm a Wilderness First Responder so I know how dumb it is to not have one? Right. I looked in my bag for something to help get me out of this mess. Score! I had a banana! I carefully wrapped strips of the banana peel around each heel. It was comfortingly cool. It also provided just enough buffer that I could get back to the car, maybe another mile or so. I took off, wincing, and moved (hobbly hiked?) as quickly as I could.
I am pleased at my resourcefulness in the face of my own stupidity.
These boots have some issues to work out if they're going to Nepal.
August 4, 2007
Body Mod
I am sportin' two new body mods. One fairly temporary, one fairly permanent.
I spent my birthday on an airplane, making it kind of anti-birthday to someone like me. Birthdays are a big day in my book. August 1st commenced the start of staffdom. Bothing things were taken into consideration when I....pierced my lip! I've wanted to do it for years. After the swelling goes down and healing is progressing, I'll swap out this post for a snug little hoop that will sit prettily on my lower lip, right corner. It didn't even hurt! I am learning to talk and eat with this thing. Wee bit tricky.
Also got hennaed today. Darcy from the Henna Lounge was over at Namaste Yoga in Rockridge, so I called to get adorned. My birthday present to myself! Darcy is so sweet, and so talented. It was fun! Before Nepal, Darcy will henna my knees for their luck, and also do a belly henna for preggo Justine.
I figured with a staff gig, they can't do anything about it. I had to look a little more pro as a freelancer, not now! Paul's out of town, and the body mod bug has been biting. Also bought two boxes of semi-perm hair dye, so I can still have more fun!
I spent my birthday on an airplane, making it kind of anti-birthday to someone like me. Birthdays are a big day in my book. August 1st commenced the start of staffdom. Bothing things were taken into consideration when I....pierced my lip! I've wanted to do it for years. After the swelling goes down and healing is progressing, I'll swap out this post for a snug little hoop that will sit prettily on my lower lip, right corner. It didn't even hurt! I am learning to talk and eat with this thing. Wee bit tricky.
Also got hennaed today. Darcy from the Henna Lounge was over at Namaste Yoga in Rockridge, so I called to get adorned. My birthday present to myself! Darcy is so sweet, and so talented. It was fun! Before Nepal, Darcy will henna my knees for their luck, and also do a belly henna for preggo Justine.
I figured with a staff gig, they can't do anything about it. I had to look a little more pro as a freelancer, not now! Paul's out of town, and the body mod bug has been biting. Also bought two boxes of semi-perm hair dye, so I can still have more fun!
August 3, 2007
In a (visual) nutshell
Want to see photos from our backpacking trip of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne? Michelle, friend and professional shutterbabe, took these photos of our trip. Take a look.
August 1, 2007
July 20, 2007
hello!
nothing like being woken by an earthquake. a quake is like shoving a giant to-do list into one's head. for future "real" quake preparedness. then with bizzybrain, the immediate to-do list floods in. guess that put an end to my sleeping! why o why can't i be a deep sleeper like the person i share the bed with?
July 19, 2007
tease
i don't mean to tease, but very soon. i cannot jinx. news has to be rolled out carefully, in measured doses. small town, and all.
for those who have speculated: i'm neither pregnant nor getting married, though i'd saythere's equal probability of either happening.
i'm still not quite sure what to make of it all.
in other news: i leave for the east coast on saturday's red eye. one day with mom in NJ, then three days in NYC, a quick flight to Boston en route to Cape Cod, and there for two days. (I will be going to my 20th Class Reunion. Who woulda thunk it? I still wonder why I'm going.) Back to Boston to see P's sis, then on my birthday, we spend the day flying. Complete with a change of planes in...Texas. Wouldn't it only be right to join the mile high club on my birthday?
for those who have speculated: i'm neither pregnant nor getting married, though i'd saythere's equal probability of either happening.
i'm still not quite sure what to make of it all.
in other news: i leave for the east coast on saturday's red eye. one day with mom in NJ, then three days in NYC, a quick flight to Boston en route to Cape Cod, and there for two days. (I will be going to my 20th Class Reunion. Who woulda thunk it? I still wonder why I'm going.) Back to Boston to see P's sis, then on my birthday, we spend the day flying. Complete with a change of planes in...Texas. Wouldn't it only be right to join the mile high club on my birthday?
July 17, 2007
July 6, 2007
Yosemite: Part 1, The Valley
Hot morning heading out of town. Peet's stop, extra shot. Target in Livermore? Ooops, missed our exit on 99. Massive traffic jam at Park entrance. Valley closed? Craziness at Crane Flat. Overpriced gas. More traffic en route to Valley. Caffeine jitters - still! Jumped out of 4Runner and into river. Twice. Took over the driving with soggy pants. Found Jenny. Schlepped to her place. Snagged a bike and rode to the Village. Easy permit obtaining. Yelled at dumb tourists on bike path. Back to Boystown. Rafting! Last day on the river. DNC discount on raft. Took backpacks of beer onto river. Drinking. Smoking. Sun. Splashing. Paddling. Still feeling the caffeine. River was loooooow, and five in a raft. One submerged digital camera, assumed dead. Bailed on raft to slackline. Hugged Zara. Sun going below valley walls. Chilly in wet clothes. Walked back to Curry.
Drinking continued. Not me; lightweight. DNC discounted pizza. Saw lots of peeps from '04. Sleepy Michelle. Drinky Paul. Back to Boystown. Both crash. Sitting on Jenny's porch. Talking. Happy being back. Full moon tonight. Crashed before it climbed the valley walls. Slept in Jenny's bed. Twin bed for two! Little sleep for Jen. Long walk for midnight pee. Looking forward to High Country.
Drinking continued. Not me; lightweight. DNC discounted pizza. Saw lots of peeps from '04. Sleepy Michelle. Drinky Paul. Back to Boystown. Both crash. Sitting on Jenny's porch. Talking. Happy being back. Full moon tonight. Crashed before it climbed the valley walls. Slept in Jenny's bed. Twin bed for two! Little sleep for Jen. Long walk for midnight pee. Looking forward to High Country.
June 28, 2007
going home
i just finished packing. it's been a long while since i've loaded my backpack with gear. i had it down to such a science when i went backpacking every single weekend.
soon, i will be backpacking again. in a place i consider "home". it may be a bit odd to consider a national park one's home, but to me, yosemite will always feel like going home. it's been three summers since i lived there. that summer i lived there was life altering in so many ways. to me, yosemite represents freedom, simplicity, exploration and adventure. i long for all of those things, so it is with much glee that i pack to go home.
i will see dear friends i've missed. jenny. zara. who knows who else? secret crushes. the people who live there look out for one another; it's an odd community, but a tightly knit one. though i've been gone for three years, in some ways it will be like i never left. the yosemite hook-up of friends taking care of one another is still going strong.
there are places i've never been, even in the valley. hidden falls. can you believe it? i have less than 24 hours in the valley before we depart on the hiker's bus for our backpacking trip of the grand canyon of the tuolumne, but i plan to wring every last drop out of those precious minutes. jenny promises to take me to hidden falls. i want to see the indian caves again, a place very dear to me because of some special time there with paul. i'd like to go to devil's bathtub, but probably won't. i want to hang on the pizza deck on a saturday night. the river is low this year, and i want to grab the last day of rafting on the merced with beer and friends while lazily meandering the last of the trickle.
my hands smell like the mosquito repellent i packed an hour ago. the smell may be noxious to some, but for me, it's a reminder of home.
soon, i will be backpacking again. in a place i consider "home". it may be a bit odd to consider a national park one's home, but to me, yosemite will always feel like going home. it's been three summers since i lived there. that summer i lived there was life altering in so many ways. to me, yosemite represents freedom, simplicity, exploration and adventure. i long for all of those things, so it is with much glee that i pack to go home.
i will see dear friends i've missed. jenny. zara. who knows who else? secret crushes. the people who live there look out for one another; it's an odd community, but a tightly knit one. though i've been gone for three years, in some ways it will be like i never left. the yosemite hook-up of friends taking care of one another is still going strong.
there are places i've never been, even in the valley. hidden falls. can you believe it? i have less than 24 hours in the valley before we depart on the hiker's bus for our backpacking trip of the grand canyon of the tuolumne, but i plan to wring every last drop out of those precious minutes. jenny promises to take me to hidden falls. i want to see the indian caves again, a place very dear to me because of some special time there with paul. i'd like to go to devil's bathtub, but probably won't. i want to hang on the pizza deck on a saturday night. the river is low this year, and i want to grab the last day of rafting on the merced with beer and friends while lazily meandering the last of the trickle.
my hands smell like the mosquito repellent i packed an hour ago. the smell may be noxious to some, but for me, it's a reminder of home.
June 12, 2007
What would you name your traffic school?
Not to spill Paul's business, but he got a speeding ticket a while back. By paying a fine and going to traffic school he can avoid points on his license. Traffic school. Sounds dull and awful, doesn't it? Apparently whoever came up with "Comedy Traffic School" was on to something. It addressed the notion of sitting through some boring class. Looking through the Yellow Pages, Paul read off to me a long list of traffic school names that made "Comedy Traffic School" sound mundane. There was "Fun! Fun! Fun! and PIZZA!" traffic school, the was just ho-hum "Fun Fun Fun! Traffic School" and various permutations that guaranteed FUN!!!
Thinking about the marketing of traffic school made me think they're focusing too narrowly on their creative ideas for traffic school.
I want to start the "Bitches with Whips" traffic school, staff it with a few dommes. I'm certain it would be a hit in San Francisco.
Thinking about the marketing of traffic school made me think they're focusing too narrowly on their creative ideas for traffic school.
I want to start the "Bitches with Whips" traffic school, staff it with a few dommes. I'm certain it would be a hit in San Francisco.
June 11, 2007
Why are Mondays So Rough?
They just are. Today was a Big Brain day at work. Had to think a lot, juggle too much, and negotiate many large and small details. i blasted out of work around 6, hell bent on making it to a spin class. Traffic was unusually cooperative and I made it. It felt good, necessary, and right to be breaking a sweat. I was/am getting cranky. There was a palpable tension in the air today at work. That's not right for a Monday.
I'm on a crazy endless Pixies kick right now. Have listened to nothing else for two days. It won't leave my brain. Music I hear while getting tattooed etches itself in deeply. Pixies rule. How did I overlook all this goodness in my itunes?
My bike frame is built! It's been shipped off to get painted now, where it will be made uniquely mine. It's getting a purple paint job with lotus flowers and skull 'n crossbones airbrushed on. If that isn't rad, I don't know what is.
P i x i e s r u l e m y b r a i n . . . .
I'm on a crazy endless Pixies kick right now. Have listened to nothing else for two days. It won't leave my brain. Music I hear while getting tattooed etches itself in deeply. Pixies rule. How did I overlook all this goodness in my itunes?
My bike frame is built! It's been shipped off to get painted now, where it will be made uniquely mine. It's getting a purple paint job with lotus flowers and skull 'n crossbones airbrushed on. If that isn't rad, I don't know what is.
P i x i e s r u l e m y b r a i n . . . .
June 9, 2007
This week
More tattoo fun! I wasn't supposed to get inked until next weekend. I'd emailed Marcus asking him if he thought two weeks was enough time to heal before heading out on my backpacking trip over the July 4th weekend. He called me and squeezed me in, saying another week healing would be best. It's essentially done; I might need a half hour to touch some stuff up. I'm pretty happy with it. It fits much better than my old tattoo. But damn Marcus, he keeps leaving things open to the possibilites of extending my tattoos.
No more ink until after Nepal!
This week was rough. Paul found out on Wednesday that he needed surgery the next day. I'm in the middle of a big production, but I was fortunate enough to juggle my schedule so I could pick him up from the hospital Good thing I did, too. When he was leaving, he nearly passed out. I returned upstairs to find his nurse running, saying "He felt a little dizzy." I follow her to find him on a bed, shirt off and absolutely pouring sweat, mumbling incoherently about his hands going into claw-hand. Low oxygen, I noted. He was pale. Blood pressure was way down (down around where my normal BP is!, but I have almost concerningly low BP). He was experiencing symptoms of shock. I could go on an on, but it was a long evening spent reacting to Demerol. Demerol is satan. Don't take it!
Work was crazy this week, but crazy is the norm. I'm seeing a decent amount of overtime, that's for sure. Time and a half isn't such a bad thing.
Berkeley Farmer's Market this morning. Blueberries! No yoga, due to to inkage. Luna dog is lying asleep at my feet. Massage tomorrow. All in all, I can't complain.
No more ink until after Nepal!
This week was rough. Paul found out on Wednesday that he needed surgery the next day. I'm in the middle of a big production, but I was fortunate enough to juggle my schedule so I could pick him up from the hospital Good thing I did, too. When he was leaving, he nearly passed out. I returned upstairs to find his nurse running, saying "He felt a little dizzy." I follow her to find him on a bed, shirt off and absolutely pouring sweat, mumbling incoherently about his hands going into claw-hand. Low oxygen, I noted. He was pale. Blood pressure was way down (down around where my normal BP is!, but I have almost concerningly low BP). He was experiencing symptoms of shock. I could go on an on, but it was a long evening spent reacting to Demerol. Demerol is satan. Don't take it!
Work was crazy this week, but crazy is the norm. I'm seeing a decent amount of overtime, that's for sure. Time and a half isn't such a bad thing.
Berkeley Farmer's Market this morning. Blueberries! No yoga, due to to inkage. Luna dog is lying asleep at my feet. Massage tomorrow. All in all, I can't complain.
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