New Peaks (Nos. 63 and 64) and Nano Panorama

Today Margie, Maka and I climbed Black Pine Peak and Black Peak out of the Black Pine Mountains in southeast Idaho. More precisely...out of the Malta, Idaho, area. It was really, really windy and sunny. Probably 45-55 with chill. I was very close to digging out my winter hat and gloves. Had three light layers on top for the last 1/4 of the mountain, which i wasn't expecting. Nice workout though. The views weren't crystal clear with the wind and haze and particles about, but i got to try the video function on my new nano. It was soooooooo windy i thought it would fly outta my hand so I didn't fuss with it too much. This is the best video of the bunch. I'm sure the next generations will have even better functioning...that will be a quandry...i just got this one. If they can nail video AND have photo capability and still stay this small, it could replace a lot of cameras. Talk about ultralight.

I'm behind posting my summer summits. But i don't have the discipline to write the ones i am behind on first...I want to see how well the ipod video works because i'm just fascinated with the upgrades since my first generation ipod. By the way, between the gps, the camera, and the ipod, post-trip analysis/activities are begining to take longer than my pre-trip activities.

The Importance of Project Lists

My girlfriend makes copious lists. Everytime i go over to her house there is at least one on the counter. She likes seeing how many things she can cross off. Not surprisingly, her house is immaculate, her lawn never gets out of hand, her life is ordered and nothing seems to get away from her. I used to do that. My house used to be immaculate, lawn manicured and lovely flowers, and my life neatly ordered. I was even told I was perfect.

So, on top of those lists, I started making other lists...what peaks i wanted to climb in the summer, how many bike rides i would do in a week, how many knitted projects i'd do in a year, how many new recipes i would try in a quarter, etc. So now i have 64 mountain summits under my feet, more knitted scarves both owned and given away than anyone should have, outlived at least 3 bike computers, a lawn full of quack grass and now baby weeds, clutter that I know I just took care of yesterday, and a missed doctor's appointment.

I appreciate the concept of balance, but I think it's a total myth. The best you can do is juggle, because something will always be in the air.

Unexpected Things, Part II.

...and sometimes unexpected things are bittersweet, touching but painful. A very different type of special moment.

Unexpected Things

I really struggle with the idea that God ever responds to my prayers. Too often he seemingly blatantly ignores my most burning of "Whys," "Why Nots," "What should I do," "Why didn't that work out?" or "What was I supposed to learn?" But sometimes the most unexpected of things happen...I mean really unexpected, and it makes me wonder if that wasn't, maybe, a part of one of one of the answers I was looking for. An unexpected thing happened to me yesterday and the day before...and they both truly made my day(s), made me smile, and made me think. Have you ever really thought about the unexpected things that have happened to you? No matter how small? Have you ever done something unexpected for someone else...you'd be surprised how little it takes to make someone's day, make them smile, and make them think...and remind them that life has some really special moments.

What's the Reason?

What is the real reason to have a blog? To say you do? To prove to others you can? To impress others with your writing or thinking skills? To prove to yourself that you have purpose? To see how many people will like you and follow you? To be a part of something bigger than you...the world wide web? To show people that you've got a great life that they can only wish they have? To share your life's lessons learned to help others? To contribute to society? All of the above? None of the above? Some of the above? If you have a blog...what IS your purpose? If you don't have a blog, should you? Everyone has a story. Everyone has something to share. Everyone knows something that could help someone out. I think that's my purpose. But I admit, at anytime, i could fall into one of the aforementioned reasons. But hopefully not too often.