So with the impending apocalyptic doom a mere 10 days away according to the ancient Mayans, my mind can't help but wander...
What if? What if you had 10 days left on this earth? This is the only life I am certain of, so if the sands of the glass were falling I'd do my best to make the best of those days. For numbers sake, this is my list of 10 things...my end of the world bucket list. If nothing else, it's fun to think about and help you realize what's important to you, ya feel me?
1) Quit my job - If you've been following I actually did this last week and I'm moving to Crystal Mountain, WA this weekend...which brings me to my next...
2) Head to the Mountains and RIDE - I can honestly say that snurfing powder on my board is the greatest feeling I've ever felt. As fresh as the pow, that feeling would need to be fresh in my mind.
3) Joga Bonito - My first and enduring love would have to be played out in its final act. A full match of my 21 closest ballers. My fellow huskies, my fellow patriots, JPSC Fire crew, fens pick-up crew...you're all invited! Tikki Takki, let's keep it beautiful.
4) Get pitted - I would channel my inner Bodhi (R.I.P.) and go to La Push. And I would stay out in the chilly Pacific until I caught a wave. It's something I've always yearned to do one day...this would be the day.
"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I'm fine." - Jeff Spicoli. I have a feeling the dude's right...
5) Bungeeeeeeeeeee - Skydiving the summer after I turned 18 was a liberating experience. Free-falling for minutes from an airplane thousands upon thousands of feet in the air was an amazing feeling. It is a true leap of faith, though, and that is why I gravitated towards doing it. I trusted my life, my one and only, in the hands of a complete stranger. I had faith in my fellow human and being able to let go on that level was extremely liberating. That's what was extreme about it. With 10 days left, I think a bungee jump would be in order to implore similar feelings. 1-2-3 Jump!
6) PaRRty - We'd have to get weird one last time. Big paRRty...yes with two Rs..Jared Allen style. You're all invited!
7) Give, give and give - I try to do this pretty regularly, but with limited time the effort would be put forth that much more. There are so many out there less fortunate than ourselves. No matter how bad your situation may be, there will always be another's who's worse. Seattle has a large homeless contigent and I'd make a point to get out there and make sure some of them were fed well before
$h!7 hit the fan. Spread it.
8) No holding back - Being blunt and open eludes many of us at times, myself included. Why though? If you feel something, say something. There have been too many situations where I've found myself withholding things I've wanted to say or do for the sake of...well I don't even know. Fear? Nerves? With 10 days left I would let it all out. It may come out as verbal diarrhea and stink for a bit, but that smell will soon subside and everything will be all good. It all comes out in the wash, right? Stay true.
9) Say 'I love you' - I would tell anyone and everyone I loved that I did. Love is a beautiful thing that is inexplicable via words but it's expressed in so many ways. I would be blunt and transparent with this one and let my loved one's know that I love them - they have and always will mean more to me than I could ever let them know.
10) They reminisce, they reminisce - Me, my dudes, some 40s and a stoop. As our surroundings were crumbling before us that is where I'd want to be - sittin' and sippin.' That's what it is all about...these experiences, this life...doing it up with my brajs.
(Side note, I am convinced there was some dude who got stuck with the shizzy job of carving and painting out this calendar into a tablet. This dude was no superhuman and he got tired...hung up the ol' hammer and chisel...'No one's gonna read this thing anyway right?'
Happy Wednesday brothers and sisters. Think about the most important things in your life. Think about what you've always wanted to do. Think, think, think. Then...
NIKE!!!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Oh s@#$ what was I saying?
Friend of mine posted this video and it's too funny not to share. I also found it fitting given this historical day in Washington.
'I'm really f&*^ing frosty right now...'
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlxkcewBEe0&NR=1&feature=endscreen
'I'm really f&*^ing frosty right now...'
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlxkcewBEe0&NR=1&feature=endscreen
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
YOLO?
Day 2, 3, 4 Shred 12/1-12/3
"There are moments when one has to choose between living one's own life, fully, entirely, completely - or dragging out some false, shallow, degrading existence that the world in its hypocrosy demands" - Oscar Wilde
Two weeks ago after a Friday at work I snapped. My boss was untrusting, I was sitting at a desk for much of the day, and quickly learning that larger Rehabiliation companies were too money driven. The Medicare system in place lends itself to making decisions that hover that line of morality. I did not like the direction my superiors were pressing to be taken. My only motivation to stay involved in the Health Care world at this point was for my ambitions to go back to Physical Therapy School next year. All my applications were stamped, sealed and delivered, though, so I was more than ready to get out. At this point I was continually self-evaluating and beating myself up for not doing some of the things I have been yearning to do. So on that day I reached my threshold, the one we are all familiar with, and I made a call. A friend's mom had worked at Crystal Mountain, so I asked him to see if she could help me out in any way. It has been a dream of mine for some time to be working in the Mountains for a winter and this was the time to give it a full-pledged try. She gave me her friend Alec's contact information and told me to call him ASAP. I called just in time as Alec informed me that Instructor Training College (ITC) was one week away. We had never met before, but Alec knew me as the commentator for the soccer games the fall before and found me to be pretty entertaining (Nice to hear I'm not just humoring myself all the time...) Good first impression, ha! He then gave me the names and contacts I needed to get in touch with. After much pestering on my part, I finally got an e-mail I never would have thought I'd receive.
"Hello ITC Snowboard Candidates, We are really excited to meet all of you this weekend. Training to become a Snowboard Instructor at Crystal Mountain Snowsports School starts...
BUT!!
"Unfortunately, our Snowboard sign ups are lower than average. As a result we will not be able to hire all of you. We are going to make a selection who will carry on with the rest of the training on Saturday afternoon after the riding portion of the day..."
12/1/12 YES! The excitement was laced with anxiety as the pressure was on. I needed to shred and just be as transparent as I could. Driving into the lot, snow was falling and I went into the day thinking 'Hey, no matter what I get to ride for free today and that's SWEET!' I eventually found out they were to take only 8-10 of us 25 to work. We all rode, shared good stories, and quickly bonded as a group. Even though we were all 'interviewing' for these jobs we all were like minded - we were there to rip over the snow. That common ground was more than enough for us all to get along and have an awesome day out on the hill. After a day of good shredding, laughs and warm-hearted brajing out I sipped a well-deserved beer with a new friend Nick. We guzzled down some of Yakima Valley's finest, then went to the Yurt to see the list posted for those who would be instructors of Snurfin' 101. Scan...Scan...Scan...NICK LANGELOTTI...the creases of my mouth reached their respective lobes and I was CHEEZing hard. Nick made it too! Needless to say we were both stoked!!! We went to meet our instructors afterward and figure out the details for tomorrow. It was then that I got some of the best news of my life...
'Hey dude, so the reason we asked you what you do for work is we were wondering if you'd be interested in full time?'
'Heck yea dude! I came here looking to put myself in a position to make a decision like that.."
"Well...you're hired! We can get you all set up in the dorms on the mountain here and make it happen"
I couldn't believe it. This is was literally a dream sneaking its way into my reality. I called my friends and had to let them know. They knew what it meant and any experience shared is that much better. Stoke was high! It was dark now, but I was still glowing as I walked to my lodging for the weekend - Hotel de Subby (back of my Subaru). Sure enough there was some paRRtyin' going on in the parking lot and next thing I know I was a part of it. My instructor Curtis was there and tossed me a beer and opened the circle right up. The nights progression then went as such..
Parking lot sesh --> chili dogs, beer, whiskey passings (to celebrate my coming on full-time), shhhmokkaaa de boooollll (Washington...the everGREEN state), shenanigans, non-stop laughing, magic mike, channing tattum, Cheeeezzzzz bar, andddd TUT on the floor. With all this, we still managed a good nights sleep!
12/2/12 Next day -- it was basically a continuation of yesterday but with smaller group. Freezing levels had dropped below the base and it was snowing again pulling into the lot. Welp, I knew this morning I was going to get my bowl of white wheaties for sure! For the first few hours we all just rode hard. There was some training to be done so we went over the basic progressions for teaching others. I am psyched to take the basic template and make it my own and hopefully spark the passion in some other young'ns!
The day eventually came to a close and it was another great one. Before leaving Curtis and Justin tried to convince me to stay...
"Dude, you ridin' tomorrow, you can just crash here again? We're gonna get shit donnnnneeee"
I thought it over very briefly...'HECK YEA'
I needed to get back to Seattle though to get a jump start on the quick transition that was going to happen in the next couple weeks. I sent a teaser text to my boss saying I wasn't feeling well and that tomorrow wasn't looking to good. Feeling bad, though, I still got on my computer and made sure staffing and scheduling was OK and the clinic would run smoothly the next day. Then I called my friend because I knew she had off on Mondays and would be up for a midweek day on her planks. As expected she was all for it and we were sent to leave early in the AM for what was to be an EPIC day.
12/3/12
Andddddd it was snowing again entering the parking lot. The snow levels looked like they had dropped even lower as the trees heading up the access road were peppered with white goodness lower down then the day before! We got on the 10th-ish chair and the mountain was pretty empty. Today was gonna be a good day. We took our first lap in the steep trees right under the lift and it was nothing short of liberating. This is why I called in 'sick!' I never thought Sunday River's corny line 'when a sick day becomes a SICK day' would happen but it had! Every slashing turn I found myself temporarily blinded by a wave of white and powerfully floating through each one was the most sublime feeling I can imagine. Welcome to the white room! Many, many, many, many pow pounds followed on the lift ride up...I couldn't get over it. This was it...
Curtis and Justin finally gave me a buzz at 10, even though they had assured me they'd be up and get first chair. 'Dude, you thought Saturday night was rough...we went a little too hard last night...meet us at the bottom of Chinook!...you ready to get shit done?"
It had to start now...bottoms up!
They took us on some gnarly terrain - steeps, drops, cliffs, chutes, spines...
'Justin, that's the gnarliest line I'd ever ridden...damn that felt good!'
'Haha sweet man! You just wait...I'm gonna make you piss yourself...just remember if nothing else just point it down hill and hold on for a bit...you're all good!"
This was the day.
One of the last laps was as memorable as the others and it was well deserved. Off-loading from chair 6, it took us 30-45 min of traversing and bootpacking to get to the Southback backcountry. It was worth it. Coming in and dropping off the cornice the landing was soft as ever and I was surfing. Charging down the mountain with big wide open turns I felt free. Then we popped into the trees a bit..some were avoided...others ravaged in my path of destruction. AHHHH!!! The lap came to a close and we headed up one last time (making sure not to call it). We gave each other a look and used our respective telepathy to communicate that this would be the last one. I was spent. She was too.
And that was that. The period at the end of the day...actually the exclamation point because well...it was that kinda day!
12/5/12
Reflecting on the past weekend, I am so excited for the future. I realize I am still going to have to work. Being an instructor isn't going to be easy or glorified babysitting...but anything you want to do is worth putting in the time for. So here I go...into a new bit of unknown...a new challenge...and I cannot wait to CHARGE through it. Let's get shit done. YEAH!
"There are moments when one has to choose between living one's own life, fully, entirely, completely - or dragging out some false, shallow, degrading existence that the world in its hypocrosy demands" - Oscar Wilde
Two weeks ago after a Friday at work I snapped. My boss was untrusting, I was sitting at a desk for much of the day, and quickly learning that larger Rehabiliation companies were too money driven. The Medicare system in place lends itself to making decisions that hover that line of morality. I did not like the direction my superiors were pressing to be taken. My only motivation to stay involved in the Health Care world at this point was for my ambitions to go back to Physical Therapy School next year. All my applications were stamped, sealed and delivered, though, so I was more than ready to get out. At this point I was continually self-evaluating and beating myself up for not doing some of the things I have been yearning to do. So on that day I reached my threshold, the one we are all familiar with, and I made a call. A friend's mom had worked at Crystal Mountain, so I asked him to see if she could help me out in any way. It has been a dream of mine for some time to be working in the Mountains for a winter and this was the time to give it a full-pledged try. She gave me her friend Alec's contact information and told me to call him ASAP. I called just in time as Alec informed me that Instructor Training College (ITC) was one week away. We had never met before, but Alec knew me as the commentator for the soccer games the fall before and found me to be pretty entertaining (Nice to hear I'm not just humoring myself all the time...) Good first impression, ha! He then gave me the names and contacts I needed to get in touch with. After much pestering on my part, I finally got an e-mail I never would have thought I'd receive.
"Hello ITC Snowboard Candidates, We are really excited to meet all of you this weekend. Training to become a Snowboard Instructor at Crystal Mountain Snowsports School starts...
BUT!!
"Unfortunately, our Snowboard sign ups are lower than average. As a result we will not be able to hire all of you. We are going to make a selection who will carry on with the rest of the training on Saturday afternoon after the riding portion of the day..."
12/1/12 YES! The excitement was laced with anxiety as the pressure was on. I needed to shred and just be as transparent as I could. Driving into the lot, snow was falling and I went into the day thinking 'Hey, no matter what I get to ride for free today and that's SWEET!' I eventually found out they were to take only 8-10 of us 25 to work. We all rode, shared good stories, and quickly bonded as a group. Even though we were all 'interviewing' for these jobs we all were like minded - we were there to rip over the snow. That common ground was more than enough for us all to get along and have an awesome day out on the hill. After a day of good shredding, laughs and warm-hearted brajing out I sipped a well-deserved beer with a new friend Nick. We guzzled down some of Yakima Valley's finest, then went to the Yurt to see the list posted for those who would be instructors of Snurfin' 101. Scan...Scan...Scan...NICK LANGELOTTI...the creases of my mouth reached their respective lobes and I was CHEEZing hard. Nick made it too! Needless to say we were both stoked!!! We went to meet our instructors afterward and figure out the details for tomorrow. It was then that I got some of the best news of my life...
'Hey dude, so the reason we asked you what you do for work is we were wondering if you'd be interested in full time?'
'Heck yea dude! I came here looking to put myself in a position to make a decision like that.."
"Well...you're hired! We can get you all set up in the dorms on the mountain here and make it happen"
I couldn't believe it. This is was literally a dream sneaking its way into my reality. I called my friends and had to let them know. They knew what it meant and any experience shared is that much better. Stoke was high! It was dark now, but I was still glowing as I walked to my lodging for the weekend - Hotel de Subby (back of my Subaru). Sure enough there was some paRRtyin' going on in the parking lot and next thing I know I was a part of it. My instructor Curtis was there and tossed me a beer and opened the circle right up. The nights progression then went as such..
Parking lot sesh --> chili dogs, beer, whiskey passings (to celebrate my coming on full-time), shhhmokkaaa de boooollll (Washington...the everGREEN state), shenanigans, non-stop laughing, magic mike, channing tattum, Cheeeezzzzz bar, andddd TUT on the floor. With all this, we still managed a good nights sleep!
12/2/12 Next day -- it was basically a continuation of yesterday but with smaller group. Freezing levels had dropped below the base and it was snowing again pulling into the lot. Welp, I knew this morning I was going to get my bowl of white wheaties for sure! For the first few hours we all just rode hard. There was some training to be done so we went over the basic progressions for teaching others. I am psyched to take the basic template and make it my own and hopefully spark the passion in some other young'ns!
The day eventually came to a close and it was another great one. Before leaving Curtis and Justin tried to convince me to stay...
"Dude, you ridin' tomorrow, you can just crash here again? We're gonna get shit donnnnneeee"
I thought it over very briefly...'HECK YEA'
I needed to get back to Seattle though to get a jump start on the quick transition that was going to happen in the next couple weeks. I sent a teaser text to my boss saying I wasn't feeling well and that tomorrow wasn't looking to good. Feeling bad, though, I still got on my computer and made sure staffing and scheduling was OK and the clinic would run smoothly the next day. Then I called my friend because I knew she had off on Mondays and would be up for a midweek day on her planks. As expected she was all for it and we were sent to leave early in the AM for what was to be an EPIC day.
12/3/12
Andddddd it was snowing again entering the parking lot. The snow levels looked like they had dropped even lower as the trees heading up the access road were peppered with white goodness lower down then the day before! We got on the 10th-ish chair and the mountain was pretty empty. Today was gonna be a good day. We took our first lap in the steep trees right under the lift and it was nothing short of liberating. This is why I called in 'sick!' I never thought Sunday River's corny line 'when a sick day becomes a SICK day' would happen but it had! Every slashing turn I found myself temporarily blinded by a wave of white and powerfully floating through each one was the most sublime feeling I can imagine. Welcome to the white room! Many, many, many, many pow pounds followed on the lift ride up...I couldn't get over it. This was it...
Curtis and Justin finally gave me a buzz at 10, even though they had assured me they'd be up and get first chair. 'Dude, you thought Saturday night was rough...we went a little too hard last night...meet us at the bottom of Chinook!...you ready to get shit done?"
It had to start now...bottoms up!
They took us on some gnarly terrain - steeps, drops, cliffs, chutes, spines...
'Justin, that's the gnarliest line I'd ever ridden...damn that felt good!'
'Haha sweet man! You just wait...I'm gonna make you piss yourself...just remember if nothing else just point it down hill and hold on for a bit...you're all good!"
This was the day.
One of the last laps was as memorable as the others and it was well deserved. Off-loading from chair 6, it took us 30-45 min of traversing and bootpacking to get to the Southback backcountry. It was worth it. Coming in and dropping off the cornice the landing was soft as ever and I was surfing. Charging down the mountain with big wide open turns I felt free. Then we popped into the trees a bit..some were avoided...others ravaged in my path of destruction. AHHHH!!! The lap came to a close and we headed up one last time (making sure not to call it). We gave each other a look and used our respective telepathy to communicate that this would be the last one. I was spent. She was too.
And that was that. The period at the end of the day...actually the exclamation point because well...it was that kinda day!
12/5/12
Reflecting on the past weekend, I am so excited for the future. I realize I am still going to have to work. Being an instructor isn't going to be easy or glorified babysitting...but anything you want to do is worth putting in the time for. So here I go...into a new bit of unknown...a new challenge...and I cannot wait to CHARGE through it. Let's get shit done. YEAH!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Day 1 Shred
“I stopped in the middle of that building and I saw — the sky. I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!” - Arthur Miller
I read the quote from Sir Arthur and it rang very true with how I've felt over the last 6-8 weeks I'd say. The grind of work, applications, volunteering, climbing deprivation (heal finger, heal!) and trying to be as stingy as possible for living's sake was wearing away at me. My outlets were more limited as summer had come to a close and my weekend adventures were no more. The weekly refreshers provided by our big Momma were no longer. I was finding joys in my life, as there always will be when looked at with the right set of spectacles...but it was a little harder than it had been. In the back of my mind I tried daily to remember the moment of reprieve would come. And Sunday, it came.
November 25, 2012
My body clock was buzzing away nice and early, as the weekday wake-ups creeped into the weekends. This time, though, I think my body new of the excitement that I had within for this day. I read the snow reports for my three choices - Baker, Stevens and Crystal. Snow? Distance? Terrain? Indecisive per usual, I gave myself a swift slap and remembered that this is an awesome choice to have. Any which way I headed would be amazing. To Crystal it was, my rationale being with the most open I could get the serenity I was seeking. This was to be a solo trip as most my buddies were down in Portlandia for Thanksgiving weekend. My friend Laura was up for coming, but she needed to be back in Seatown for her broski's concert by 3 and we would've had leave the hill at 1...I didn't respond to her text. She knew I wouldn't want to leave so early, and I am sure she understood. So there I was packed and ready to hit the open road. It was super foggy but I was hopeful for the bunches of moisture to burn off in the hot Seattle sun and be granted with a blue bird...
I-5 south ---> 164 E ---> HWY 410 ---> CRYSTAL MTN! (Drive time 1h35m)
Along the way, my excitement was taking form in singing and dancing to any word or song I knew being spit from the FM jukebox that was my radio. This is what I needed...to be out there. Out there became visible soon after I got off the highway and it was a rejuvenating wave of relief. The clouds were clearing rapidly and behind the curtain were some of my best friends...the Cascades. All lined up North to South, the mountains stood still and were a dazzling show just frozen in the distance. Behind them all, Big Mamma had a huge bonfire blazing the early sky, leaving me just to see the Mountains' outlines. The long stretch of irregularity that is the ridge-line never grows old. I just smiled, and didn't stop smiling.
Pulling into the parking lot, I had plenty of time to spare before that first chair got spinning. I was not alone, though. The first lot was nearly full already and my fellow snowsport enthusiasts seemed to be just as eager as me. 'Yee haw!! Shah-reddddd time' and similar sentiments were yelled. Maybe it did rain friday and maybe it did make for some crusty snow, but everyone was sharing in the stoke of it being the first weekend open.
The sun was shining and I was smitten on that first chair ride up. It was 2 chairs to the summit and on the second chair I got to chit-chatting with the patroller sitting next to me. We shared concurrent salivary secretions as we discussed Cluck'n Russians and all their deliciousnesss (Cams 24/7!!!). I also shared with him my aspirations to be an instructor at the mountain. (Still waiting to hear back, fingers crossed!) Before we went off to enjoy our resepctive cosmic rays, he gave me the heads up that Powder Bowl might be worth checking out later in the day after people had broken up the chucks. "Thanks dude, have a good one!" To which he replied.."Yea you too man, hopefully I'll be seeing ya soon!" I hope so too...
I took a second before heading down the hill to take it all in. Maybe the snow wasn't great, but that is the benefit of being an Ice-Coaster...I'm no snow snob. The visibility, though, was as far as the eyes allowed. Mine are luckily pretty good so white-capped mountain peaks are all I saw in every direction. I felt small and it was comforting. There was one in particular that grabs everyone's attention. There she was. The shy giant was an arm's length away. A monstrosity who often hides behind her cloudy garb, when Mt. Rainier says hello she beckons all. The smiles continued. Many laps ensued and I was having mucho de fun. The same feelings of comfort and minisculity were conjured every chair lift ride up.
The sun was getting low and my legs definitely were realizing it had been half a year since they'd ridden all day (no lunch either!)...I was good with the day. The next lift, though, I rode with a kid whose answer to standard lift protocol was a first...
"How's your day been dude?"
"Pretty shitty actually..."
List of things that made Chase's day shitty:
-His girlfriend just had broken up w/ him the day before (not a good one I gathered)
-He came all the way from Port Townsend to ride for the day as a release (4 hrs of travel including a ferry ride)
-His buddy he came w/ 'sucked and he's just sitting in the lodge'
-This same 'buddy' spent all their gas money on booze the night before so Chase was sure they didn't have enough to get home
I felt bad for Chase, and for him to feel this way towards the end of the day still..he must've been bumming real bad. So we lapped together. Lap after Lap we pointed them down the hill and went. I think just having a partner in crime alone made him feel better somewhat. We opened up to eachother on the lifts. Eventually I assured him...
'Listen dude, I know right now things seem super shitty...and they are. BUT, they will get better. As someone who is a little older than you and been through some things I promise you a day will come when you look back and make that realization.'
'Thanks dude, that means alot...I really appreciate it'
'Of course, now lets shred agian...
Off we went just trying to keep up with eachother, meeting at the bottom. Flying over the hard packed ice crystals...ZOOOMMM
'You good?'
'I'm good'
I told Chase to wait before we parted ways...I went inside to the ATM, took our $20 and gave it to him
'Here dude, get home...things will get better'
He was very grateful and asked repeatedly how he could repay me..
'Don't worry about it, just pay it forward..'
Over the years I've definitely heightened my awareness of what I've been given from others...it's been so much. I feel the only true way to put action to that appreciation is through the idea of 'paying it forward' and expressing your gratitude of course. Eventually I compile a little list of mantras I strive to live by...this will be one of them for sure. Thanks Haley Joel Osment!
'Til next time amigos!
I read the quote from Sir Arthur and it rang very true with how I've felt over the last 6-8 weeks I'd say. The grind of work, applications, volunteering, climbing deprivation (heal finger, heal!) and trying to be as stingy as possible for living's sake was wearing away at me. My outlets were more limited as summer had come to a close and my weekend adventures were no more. The weekly refreshers provided by our big Momma were no longer. I was finding joys in my life, as there always will be when looked at with the right set of spectacles...but it was a little harder than it had been. In the back of my mind I tried daily to remember the moment of reprieve would come. And Sunday, it came.
November 25, 2012
My body clock was buzzing away nice and early, as the weekday wake-ups creeped into the weekends. This time, though, I think my body new of the excitement that I had within for this day. I read the snow reports for my three choices - Baker, Stevens and Crystal. Snow? Distance? Terrain? Indecisive per usual, I gave myself a swift slap and remembered that this is an awesome choice to have. Any which way I headed would be amazing. To Crystal it was, my rationale being with the most open I could get the serenity I was seeking. This was to be a solo trip as most my buddies were down in Portlandia for Thanksgiving weekend. My friend Laura was up for coming, but she needed to be back in Seatown for her broski's concert by 3 and we would've had leave the hill at 1...I didn't respond to her text. She knew I wouldn't want to leave so early, and I am sure she understood. So there I was packed and ready to hit the open road. It was super foggy but I was hopeful for the bunches of moisture to burn off in the hot Seattle sun and be granted with a blue bird...
I-5 south ---> 164 E ---> HWY 410 ---> CRYSTAL MTN! (Drive time 1h35m)
Along the way, my excitement was taking form in singing and dancing to any word or song I knew being spit from the FM jukebox that was my radio. This is what I needed...to be out there. Out there became visible soon after I got off the highway and it was a rejuvenating wave of relief. The clouds were clearing rapidly and behind the curtain were some of my best friends...the Cascades. All lined up North to South, the mountains stood still and were a dazzling show just frozen in the distance. Behind them all, Big Mamma had a huge bonfire blazing the early sky, leaving me just to see the Mountains' outlines. The long stretch of irregularity that is the ridge-line never grows old. I just smiled, and didn't stop smiling.
Pulling into the parking lot, I had plenty of time to spare before that first chair got spinning. I was not alone, though. The first lot was nearly full already and my fellow snowsport enthusiasts seemed to be just as eager as me. 'Yee haw!! Shah-reddddd time' and similar sentiments were yelled. Maybe it did rain friday and maybe it did make for some crusty snow, but everyone was sharing in the stoke of it being the first weekend open.
The sun was shining and I was smitten on that first chair ride up. It was 2 chairs to the summit and on the second chair I got to chit-chatting with the patroller sitting next to me. We shared concurrent salivary secretions as we discussed Cluck'n Russians and all their deliciousnesss (Cams 24/7!!!). I also shared with him my aspirations to be an instructor at the mountain. (Still waiting to hear back, fingers crossed!) Before we went off to enjoy our resepctive cosmic rays, he gave me the heads up that Powder Bowl might be worth checking out later in the day after people had broken up the chucks. "Thanks dude, have a good one!" To which he replied.."Yea you too man, hopefully I'll be seeing ya soon!" I hope so too...
I took a second before heading down the hill to take it all in. Maybe the snow wasn't great, but that is the benefit of being an Ice-Coaster...I'm no snow snob. The visibility, though, was as far as the eyes allowed. Mine are luckily pretty good so white-capped mountain peaks are all I saw in every direction. I felt small and it was comforting. There was one in particular that grabs everyone's attention. There she was. The shy giant was an arm's length away. A monstrosity who often hides behind her cloudy garb, when Mt. Rainier says hello she beckons all. The smiles continued. Many laps ensued and I was having mucho de fun. The same feelings of comfort and minisculity were conjured every chair lift ride up.
The sun was getting low and my legs definitely were realizing it had been half a year since they'd ridden all day (no lunch either!)...I was good with the day. The next lift, though, I rode with a kid whose answer to standard lift protocol was a first...
"How's your day been dude?"
"Pretty shitty actually..."
List of things that made Chase's day shitty:
-His girlfriend just had broken up w/ him the day before (not a good one I gathered)
-He came all the way from Port Townsend to ride for the day as a release (4 hrs of travel including a ferry ride)
-His buddy he came w/ 'sucked and he's just sitting in the lodge'
-This same 'buddy' spent all their gas money on booze the night before so Chase was sure they didn't have enough to get home
I felt bad for Chase, and for him to feel this way towards the end of the day still..he must've been bumming real bad. So we lapped together. Lap after Lap we pointed them down the hill and went. I think just having a partner in crime alone made him feel better somewhat. We opened up to eachother on the lifts. Eventually I assured him...
'Listen dude, I know right now things seem super shitty...and they are. BUT, they will get better. As someone who is a little older than you and been through some things I promise you a day will come when you look back and make that realization.'
'Thanks dude, that means alot...I really appreciate it'
'Of course, now lets shred agian...
Off we went just trying to keep up with eachother, meeting at the bottom. Flying over the hard packed ice crystals...ZOOOMMM
'You good?'
'I'm good'
I told Chase to wait before we parted ways...I went inside to the ATM, took our $20 and gave it to him
'Here dude, get home...things will get better'
He was very grateful and asked repeatedly how he could repay me..
'Don't worry about it, just pay it forward..'
Over the years I've definitely heightened my awareness of what I've been given from others...it's been so much. I feel the only true way to put action to that appreciation is through the idea of 'paying it forward' and expressing your gratitude of course. Eventually I compile a little list of mantras I strive to live by...this will be one of them for sure. Thanks Haley Joel Osment!
'Til next time amigos!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Lightning Creek Campsite, Ross Lake, North Cascades Nat'l Park
'What I see is something everyone should see...
Sloping shades of blue with low lying puffs of intermittent white line the horizon beyond the lake's infinite ripples. Above it all are jagged sawtooth ridge lines cutting into the sky!'
But...I can
Tuesday July 17, 2012
An uncomfortable seat aboard the plane, but I can feel it
A crying baby piercing my eyes, but I can hear it
An unpleasant bitterness from airplane cuisine, but I can taste it
A dirty diaper from my neighboring newborn, but I can smell it.
A dull grey blankets the sky, but I can see it...
Beautiful it is that I can.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Consider me Miles Davis
Thanksgiving 2012
So there I was, the lone blanco among a sea of Persians or brown people as they'd call themselves. The minority who only knew one tongue and felt out of place as they spit farsi back and forth. So what did I do? I took to the Kirkland Signature bottle of tequila, mixed it w/ some fresca and made due as a start. Beers followed. The ethanol loosened the nerves and I was having an awesome time. Everyone was super nice and welcoming, I did seem like some sort of specimen though, answering question after question.
"Why'd you move here? Where'd you go to school? How'd you get such a full head of hear (was seriously asked)? How do you know Nika? Did you go to Western?"
Combating the bombardment of inquiries, I suddenly felt the urge...oooo that urge that I forever will link to a torturous car ride from hell. My bladder was full and I had to go. So, rather than sit and squeeze my shib like a little kid (like I normally do) I located the lavatory and jetted. 'Uhhh one sec, I gotta go to the bathroom..."
As with anytime you get closer to the pot, your body subconsciously knows somehow and loosens your control of the bladder...unbutton, unzip, HURRY, pull pants dowwww...PISSSSSSSS...shiiiiiiii. I didn't get it out in time, but I think the lag time from start to in bowl was short. I finished. Relief...ahhhhh. Now to examine the damage, did I just pee on the edge of my pants a little? Not on my hand. Hmm? I look down one last time. FUCK. There it was...
As if a waterfull had thrown itself down the inseam of my leg, a dark trail on my slate gray chinos ran from top to bottom. How the? What?....FUCK.
O.K....dont panic, dont panic. FUCK THAT, how can I not panic!?
I frantically unravelled the toilet paper and blotted away...c'mon, c'monnnnnnn. Nothin. Shiz.
Tick, tock the time passed and the crew was waiting right outside the bathroom door for me before we headed upstairs to chowtown. Think! Think! (Lightbulb over head!) 'I have another pair of khakis in the car...same color too!' What greater diety planted the seed in my head to bring an extra pair of pants and the same color no less? Thanks for the divine intervention. Actually, I'll chalk it up to my being prepared for any party problem that could've arisen.
Now, onto my escape route...how am I going to....SHUT THE FRONT DOOR...there's a door in this bathroom directly to the outside? CHINGGGG CHINGGGGGGG
OK, I just need to bolt past this slide glass door and hope they dont see me. Open, close, SPRINT..'no way they saw me...I think?...they probably saw me...oh well.'
HURRY HURRY, pants off, pants on...fist pump to self. *Pound it* Yeeeee!
Back to the screen door, BOLT..'did they see...whatever...'
I took a deep breathe and entered the party again. Did they know? Maybe they thought I was weird for sprinting back and forth past the door, but they definitely didn't know why.
If only peeing your pants really was cool...
So there I was, the lone blanco among a sea of Persians or brown people as they'd call themselves. The minority who only knew one tongue and felt out of place as they spit farsi back and forth. So what did I do? I took to the Kirkland Signature bottle of tequila, mixed it w/ some fresca and made due as a start. Beers followed. The ethanol loosened the nerves and I was having an awesome time. Everyone was super nice and welcoming, I did seem like some sort of specimen though, answering question after question.
"Why'd you move here? Where'd you go to school? How'd you get such a full head of hear (was seriously asked)? How do you know Nika? Did you go to Western?"
Combating the bombardment of inquiries, I suddenly felt the urge...oooo that urge that I forever will link to a torturous car ride from hell. My bladder was full and I had to go. So, rather than sit and squeeze my shib like a little kid (like I normally do) I located the lavatory and jetted. 'Uhhh one sec, I gotta go to the bathroom..."
As with anytime you get closer to the pot, your body subconsciously knows somehow and loosens your control of the bladder...unbutton, unzip, HURRY, pull pants dowwww...PISSSSSSSS...shiiiiiiii. I didn't get it out in time, but I think the lag time from start to in bowl was short. I finished. Relief...ahhhhh. Now to examine the damage, did I just pee on the edge of my pants a little? Not on my hand. Hmm? I look down one last time. FUCK. There it was...
As if a waterfull had thrown itself down the inseam of my leg, a dark trail on my slate gray chinos ran from top to bottom. How the? What?....FUCK.
O.K....dont panic, dont panic. FUCK THAT, how can I not panic!?
I frantically unravelled the toilet paper and blotted away...c'mon, c'monnnnnnn. Nothin. Shiz.
Tick, tock the time passed and the crew was waiting right outside the bathroom door for me before we headed upstairs to chowtown. Think! Think! (Lightbulb over head!) 'I have another pair of khakis in the car...same color too!' What greater diety planted the seed in my head to bring an extra pair of pants and the same color no less? Thanks for the divine intervention. Actually, I'll chalk it up to my being prepared for any party problem that could've arisen.
Now, onto my escape route...how am I going to....SHUT THE FRONT DOOR...there's a door in this bathroom directly to the outside? CHINGGGG CHINGGGGGGG
OK, I just need to bolt past this slide glass door and hope they dont see me. Open, close, SPRINT..'no way they saw me...I think?...they probably saw me...oh well.'
HURRY HURRY, pants off, pants on...fist pump to self. *Pound it* Yeeeee!
Back to the screen door, BOLT..'did they see...whatever...'
I took a deep breathe and entered the party again. Did they know? Maybe they thought I was weird for sprinting back and forth past the door, but they definitely didn't know why.
If only peeing your pants really was cool...
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Gobble Gobble
Happy Thankgiving y'all !
I've said this before and I'll say it again, I think with these holidays we often lose sight of what they actually signify and where their origins lie. However, what they do do is ground us all and put our head on a swivel. It forces us to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for...which undoubtedly is many. As I sit here at work I could easily let my mind remind myself over and over how much it sucks to be 'working' right meow, but that's just silly. On my drive here Mama Nature provided me with a quick reminder in case my thoughts went southward...a beautiful sunrise over the Cascade Mountains to the East. Swirls of clouds were overhead with an underglow of warm pinks, oranges and reds painting their bottoms. Underneath the lit sky was the seemingly endless ridgeline of the cascades marking a clear yet rugged line drawn between earth and that above. Thank you Mama. There is so much beauty around us that takes so many forms, make sure you slow down and take a gander. So look up and around...I am sure you'll find yourself surrounded with love and beauty abound. Now let's eat and trip on some tryptophan, NOM NOM !!!
I've said this before and I'll say it again, I think with these holidays we often lose sight of what they actually signify and where their origins lie. However, what they do do is ground us all and put our head on a swivel. It forces us to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for...which undoubtedly is many. As I sit here at work I could easily let my mind remind myself over and over how much it sucks to be 'working' right meow, but that's just silly. On my drive here Mama Nature provided me with a quick reminder in case my thoughts went southward...a beautiful sunrise over the Cascade Mountains to the East. Swirls of clouds were overhead with an underglow of warm pinks, oranges and reds painting their bottoms. Underneath the lit sky was the seemingly endless ridgeline of the cascades marking a clear yet rugged line drawn between earth and that above. Thank you Mama. There is so much beauty around us that takes so many forms, make sure you slow down and take a gander. So look up and around...I am sure you'll find yourself surrounded with love and beauty abound. Now let's eat and trip on some tryptophan, NOM NOM !!!
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