no dice on the suggestion tip, eh? guess i wasn't expecting to get blasted and 50% of my readers are in hiroshima, but damn. hopefully i've thought of everything.
anyone know any good mnemonics for katakana?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
lil' mikey, 27.5
i've come to a startling period of personal improvement in my life. at the tail end of my mid-twenties, i figure it's about damn time for some serious renaissance action. i think i've got things pretty well figured out, but i'll open this forum for any suggestions* on what i can do to better please you as individuals, or even help humanity as a whole. mostly attitude-wise, there are some things i've always wanted to do a little differently, and i do believe that people can change. i'm pretty excited for what lies ahead! among the changes, i'm trying not to half-ass things anymore. therefore, i'll not be posting any trip updates until i find a way to upload some of these sweet photies. however, know this: it's fucking amazing!
as for helping out ol' humanity, i'd like to share with all'y'all's'un's this gem of an internet offering:
http://www.billyjoel.com/
seriously, you have unbridled access to all of the master's great lyrics/audio. i've been mostly singing to myself real loud while on the road, so it's quite nice to have a little BeeJ, no mp3 player necessary. i've been drawing strange looks for about twenty minutes now, bouncing up and down shaking my head here in the walla walla public library. i should probably mosey on!
*please refrain from bringin attention to my crooked skull structure or the fact that i don't live in landenberg. these things i'm well aware of, but all else is fair game.
as for helping out ol' humanity, i'd like to share with all'y'all's'un's this gem of an internet offering:
http://www.billyjoel.com/
seriously, you have unbridled access to all of the master's great lyrics/audio. i've been mostly singing to myself real loud while on the road, so it's quite nice to have a little BeeJ, no mp3 player necessary. i've been drawing strange looks for about twenty minutes now, bouncing up and down shaking my head here in the walla walla public library. i should probably mosey on!
*please refrain from bringin attention to my crooked skull structure or the fact that i don't live in landenberg. these things i'm well aware of, but all else is fair game.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
garbage patch kids
first, i'd like ask you to check out some of this action.
pretty incredible, yes? makes it quite easy to toss things when you don't ever have to see them again. i read a stat a few minutes ago about how the bay area discards 100 plastic bags per second. not to single y'all's out, i'm sure it's worse in other spots. that's pretty gross, but then i think about all the crap that comes in said bags, and how most of that is more than likely packaged all to hell and soon to be wasted up. it doesn't have to be that way. anne just made it a whole month without producing garbage. it just takes a little foresight and determination to make some simple methodological changes.
my recent ventures into a lower income bracket have thankfully forced me out of the old "buying stuff makes me feel good" mindset. i was never over the top with consumption, but i always had my eye on some fancy new electronic gadget or ruggedized equipment. don't get me wrong, i still enjoy a trip to agro garden now and then, but save for a few lavish gifts here and there, i'll not soon go back to the days of rampant spending.
now i'd like to give a quick shout to my main slice the internet real quick. the availability of information combined with an increasing desire for knowledge and environmental awareness gives people now more life changing ideas than ever. each time i read an article about garbage islands or temperate ape habitat destruction my disgust quickly turns to excitement, as i realize that people understand the problems we face. a real american hero once said, "now you know, and knowing is half the battle." now we just put that thang in action.
pretty incredible, yes? makes it quite easy to toss things when you don't ever have to see them again. i read a stat a few minutes ago about how the bay area discards 100 plastic bags per second. not to single y'all's out, i'm sure it's worse in other spots. that's pretty gross, but then i think about all the crap that comes in said bags, and how most of that is more than likely packaged all to hell and soon to be wasted up. it doesn't have to be that way. anne just made it a whole month without producing garbage. it just takes a little foresight and determination to make some simple methodological changes.
my recent ventures into a lower income bracket have thankfully forced me out of the old "buying stuff makes me feel good" mindset. i was never over the top with consumption, but i always had my eye on some fancy new electronic gadget or ruggedized equipment. don't get me wrong, i still enjoy a trip to agro garden now and then, but save for a few lavish gifts here and there, i'll not soon go back to the days of rampant spending.
now i'd like to give a quick shout to my main slice the internet real quick. the availability of information combined with an increasing desire for knowledge and environmental awareness gives people now more life changing ideas than ever. each time i read an article about garbage islands or temperate ape habitat destruction my disgust quickly turns to excitement, as i realize that people understand the problems we face. a real american hero once said, "now you know, and knowing is half the battle." now we just put that thang in action.
Monday, July 27, 2009
aquatic adventures
fall in mawntanner means hunting. during the winter months it's generally skiing and ice fishing. come spring and summer, it's basically all out water sports.
me and the papa catchin the breeze.
netting a keeper. the trout on this lake are some sort of rainbow-salmon hybrid. they live pretty short lives and grow incredibly fast. erik's been steadily taking these fish to school (get it?) all year. the wedding appies included smoked fish that he caught and sliders of an elk he shot. coupled with the sizable garden they have going, there isn't a whole lot that they don't produce.
start of the whitewater trip. since there were 14 of us, we hired guides to float down the middle fork of the flathead river. much fun indeed.
after the smoke cleared and the planes took off, the three of us headed for the hills. fished a bit saturday, camped out, then absolutely killed it yesterday. the fishing was incredible the first half of the day. sara boated the first fish.
about the average size of the trout i pulled, most on the caddis.
me "slapping a fatty" (broseph is a great source of unique lingo). we anchored up at this hole and threw everything we had at this guy until he took a small stimulator.
cutthroat, post-landing. this is easily the biggest trout i've ever caught, at least on a fly rod.
this rainbow was the biggest fish of the trip. erik was slayin' all day with the wooly bugger.
alas, the time for fucking around is now long gone, and the trip to p-town is in full preparatory swing. i have this huge list of things to accomplish before setting off. i need to knock up some quick maps of the trip, get a phone, get some food, and hit the bike shop for starters. then i need to organize my shit and figure out what stays and what goes. hoping to set out tomorrow morning. if that slips a day, no big deal. mostly i'll be camping, but i have a few couches to surf and a hotel to stay in one night. i think everybody's flexible with my schedule given the nature of the travel.
here is a link to the decided route. if anyone has friends or family within, say, 200 meters of any of these roads, let me know. i'll now stop blogging and get to work.
update:
this article has some really good resources for buying environmentally friendly products. i needed to stock up on bug spray and sunscreen for the trip, but i'm tired of rubbing down with chemicals. i used the green guide to read about some more natural options. it has a pretty cool section where you can click to a room in your house, then click objects in a picture to learn about them.
me and the papa catchin the breeze.
netting a keeper. the trout on this lake are some sort of rainbow-salmon hybrid. they live pretty short lives and grow incredibly fast. erik's been steadily taking these fish to school (get it?) all year. the wedding appies included smoked fish that he caught and sliders of an elk he shot. coupled with the sizable garden they have going, there isn't a whole lot that they don't produce.
start of the whitewater trip. since there were 14 of us, we hired guides to float down the middle fork of the flathead river. much fun indeed.
after the smoke cleared and the planes took off, the three of us headed for the hills. fished a bit saturday, camped out, then absolutely killed it yesterday. the fishing was incredible the first half of the day. sara boated the first fish.
about the average size of the trout i pulled, most on the caddis.
me "slapping a fatty" (broseph is a great source of unique lingo). we anchored up at this hole and threw everything we had at this guy until he took a small stimulator.
cutthroat, post-landing. this is easily the biggest trout i've ever caught, at least on a fly rod.
this rainbow was the biggest fish of the trip. erik was slayin' all day with the wooly bugger.alas, the time for fucking around is now long gone, and the trip to p-town is in full preparatory swing. i have this huge list of things to accomplish before setting off. i need to knock up some quick maps of the trip, get a phone, get some food, and hit the bike shop for starters. then i need to organize my shit and figure out what stays and what goes. hoping to set out tomorrow morning. if that slips a day, no big deal. mostly i'll be camping, but i have a few couches to surf and a hotel to stay in one night. i think everybody's flexible with my schedule given the nature of the travel.
here is a link to the decided route. if anyone has friends or family within, say, 200 meters of any of these roads, let me know. i'll now stop blogging and get to work.
update:
this article has some really good resources for buying environmentally friendly products. i needed to stock up on bug spray and sunscreen for the trip, but i'm tired of rubbing down with chemicals. i used the green guide to read about some more natural options. it has a pretty cool section where you can click to a room in your house, then click objects in a picture to learn about them.
Friday, July 24, 2009
action packtion
been glaciating all week up in northern 'tanner. although i've been to the park several times now, it's beauty never ceases inspiring awe. aside from general QT with the folkses, we engaged in activities ranging from yard games to bear attacks, then mixed in a bit o' high adventure. hangin with the freshly extended clan was a friggin blast. never many dull moments, thoroughly represented by a solid lack of restful hours.
ladder golfin at the sweet rental spot. don't be deceived by the glare coming off my belly, i caught plenty of rays every day. the goal is basically not to apply sunscreen whilst bikin around the countryside. we'll see.
badass falls coming straight outta the rock face. this was two medicine creek, connecting upper and lower two medicine lakes. fishing wasn't so good, but when you're in a place like this, it doesn't much mattter.
me and my good buddy bolivar rockin it on the early morning WP*. niether of our best angles, but it's the only shot i got. she can pronounce duo-syllabic phrases and is fascinated when i eat grapes.
the marmot in it's natural setting. interesting how this little bastard inspired an entire line of expensive outdoor apparel.
widely known as "the ghost of glacier", the mountain goat is rarely viewed with such grace, seen here defensively rooting through the muddy grass. psyche, nah. they're all over the place up there.
THE GRIZ!!! double-psyche. 'tis but a black bear. still a great sight. we saw another one a couple days prior, but it was sprinting across the road about 200 yards ahead of us.
headwaters. this meltage forms the start of reynold's creek as it strives for the mexican gulf. quite nice, no? i wonder if maybe 10% will make it, with the rest watering lawns in desert cities.
yesterday a group of us decided to summit mt. henkel, roughly towering 8500' above the salty blue. it was easily the most challenging hike/scramble/climb i've ever attempted. in a word, i'd say incredible. this is the view from roughly the bottom. the peak we're headed for it out of sight, hidden behind the ridge in the foreground.
began as but a mildly strenuous hike through a flowery meadow.
soon we entered scramble mode, trying not to 'lanche the talus.
reaching the first ledge, figured we must have been damn close. clearly not so much. this is what they call the great red basin. we hiked up to the strata and began our traverse.
still an honorary member of team askew, big sis takin the lead. we were headed for the ridge line here.
sara again, scopin the coast.
lookin back across the traverse. peak is at high left.
glamour shot. one of the best views i've ever seen up there!
steady fifth wheelin' it at the pseudo-summit. we stopped here en route to the top, pretty much unsure of how to proceed. the 5 of us that made it this far collectively decided to not spend another three hours wandering lost at the top of a mountain. instead rocked a quick photo shoot, then descended to shotgun a beer in the parking lot.
ladder golfin at the sweet rental spot. don't be deceived by the glare coming off my belly, i caught plenty of rays every day. the goal is basically not to apply sunscreen whilst bikin around the countryside. we'll see.
badass falls coming straight outta the rock face. this was two medicine creek, connecting upper and lower two medicine lakes. fishing wasn't so good, but when you're in a place like this, it doesn't much mattter.
me and my good buddy bolivar rockin it on the early morning WP*. niether of our best angles, but it's the only shot i got. she can pronounce duo-syllabic phrases and is fascinated when i eat grapes.
the marmot in it's natural setting. interesting how this little bastard inspired an entire line of expensive outdoor apparel.
widely known as "the ghost of glacier", the mountain goat is rarely viewed with such grace, seen here defensively rooting through the muddy grass. psyche, nah. they're all over the place up there.
THE GRIZ!!! double-psyche. 'tis but a black bear. still a great sight. we saw another one a couple days prior, but it was sprinting across the road about 200 yards ahead of us.
headwaters. this meltage forms the start of reynold's creek as it strives for the mexican gulf. quite nice, no? i wonder if maybe 10% will make it, with the rest watering lawns in desert cities.
yesterday a group of us decided to summit mt. henkel, roughly towering 8500' above the salty blue. it was easily the most challenging hike/scramble/climb i've ever attempted. in a word, i'd say incredible. this is the view from roughly the bottom. the peak we're headed for it out of sight, hidden behind the ridge in the foreground.
began as but a mildly strenuous hike through a flowery meadow.
soon we entered scramble mode, trying not to 'lanche the talus.
reaching the first ledge, figured we must have been damn close. clearly not so much. this is what they call the great red basin. we hiked up to the strata and began our traverse.
still an honorary member of team askew, big sis takin the lead. we were headed for the ridge line here.
sara again, scopin the coast.
lookin back across the traverse. peak is at high left.
glamour shot. one of the best views i've ever seen up there!
steady fifth wheelin' it at the pseudo-summit. we stopped here en route to the top, pretty much unsure of how to proceed. the 5 of us that made it this far collectively decided to not spend another three hours wandering lost at the top of a mountain. instead rocked a quick photo shoot, then descended to shotgun a beer in the parking lot.*wildlife patrol
Monday, July 20, 2009
memories = captured
quickly going down in history as one of the greatest parties ever, big sis branched out into the next exciting realm of her life last night. it's the only wedding i've ever been in, and i think it went mightily smoothly. set on an absolutely beautiful property (fitting for such a beautiful pair) outside of helena, the weather couldn't have been better. the company was fantastic, consisting of friends and family from across the country. good beer, better playlists, and a ton of friggin cheesecake. pretty much it was a total blast. i've almost fully recovered.
phote-ooooohhhhhhh time.
grubbin' at the rehearsal dinner at a park in helena. really a lot more yard games, a lot less rehearsing.
enjoying the weather (burning up crispy) with pops and the bride. good thing i moisturized.
PA represent!
me and momma cuttin loose.
the party formerly known as the askews (and cuz jacki).
phote-ooooohhhhhhh time.
grubbin' at the rehearsal dinner at a park in helena. really a lot more yard games, a lot less rehearsing.
enjoying the weather (burning up crispy) with pops and the bride. good thing i moisturized.
PA represent!
me and momma cuttin loose.
the party formerly known as the askews (and cuz jacki).now relaxing right on the step of glacier park with the freshly extended fam. should be a relatively high adventure week!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
regular helena satur-day-o
after a pretty exhausting night partying down in east helena (when the rodeo comes to town, the street party follows), we decided to stick around regular helena for most of the day. hit the farmer's market in the morning to sample some local wares and such.
i'm almost positive "i don't need a bag" was what came out of my mouth. thought pretty hard for a while to make sure i hadn't inadvertently said it in japanese. maybe dude didn't notice the thing on my back. either way, i cleaned up in the baked goods section.
to my dismay, no adults allowed.
wedding prep continued for most of the day, mostly including weeding and radiator fin straightening. afterward, we briefly shopped it up at this sweet little hand-made goods store in "reeder's alley". it's sort of a preserved old town, complete with one-room flats originally used to house miners.
shady back alley
after the day's hard work, it was about damn time to fish it up. hooked into one small walleye, solidified the skin tone, and stabbed big sis with a fishing hook. altogether a pretty nice day in the 'tanner.
the marina. there is a hell of a lot more going on around this place these days than in january.
sporting the sweet new hat
sun down across the helena valley
http://www.hautetrash.org/
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html
i'm almost positive "i don't need a bag" was what came out of my mouth. thought pretty hard for a while to make sure i hadn't inadvertently said it in japanese. maybe dude didn't notice the thing on my back. either way, i cleaned up in the baked goods section.
to my dismay, no adults allowed.wedding prep continued for most of the day, mostly including weeding and radiator fin straightening. afterward, we briefly shopped it up at this sweet little hand-made goods store in "reeder's alley". it's sort of a preserved old town, complete with one-room flats originally used to house miners.
shady back alleyafter the day's hard work, it was about damn time to fish it up. hooked into one small walleye, solidified the skin tone, and stabbed big sis with a fishing hook. altogether a pretty nice day in the 'tanner.
the marina. there is a hell of a lot more going on around this place these days than in january.
sporting the sweet new hat
sun down across the helena valleyecolinkers:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)