Snow

The pictures that I wanted to post were of stuff that most of you guys could probably look out your windows and see. Snow!!! Isn't it incredible! I went for a walk the other day and the snowflakes were so big that they would blind you if they fell into your eyes.
Weather is phenomenal. It can hold all of society in the palm of its hand. Because of the snow, schools were shut down, business couldn't function properly, electricity was cut off, and the roads were chaotic. But who cares! If you watch people they have slowed down, are more understanding to one another, and will quickly lend a helping hand. This happened to us. We got stuck going up a small hill and began to hold up traffic. Trying as hard as we might, we could not coax our small VW golf up the icy slope. The cars began to line up behind us and the pressure began to mount that we needed to get our vehicle out of the way. Luckily someone walking by quickly helped push us up the hill. This is something that would not normally occur. Usually the people waiting in line would have been swearing and honking (granted they probably were swearing, but at least had the courtesy to so in their heads) and the guy walking by would have thought to himself "wow, sucks to be them".
Enough ramblings. What are you doing in front of the computer reading this? You should be outside playing in the snow!

Oregon Caves

This picture was taken inside large caves down in Oregon. Take notice how everyone has either a headlamp or flashlight except of course me! Leave it to me to forget a source of light. It definetly was interesting to fumble my way through the tunnels. In the end it was a good time had by all... well except for Julia's minor head injury. Now take notice of how none of us are wearing helmets!! Safety first boys and girls.

A few thoughts

I recently received an email that had some pretty amazing quotes in it. What I love about quotes is that every time I read them I seem to take something else from them. It can be the same thought; but read a year later can have a slightly different meaning. I figured I would share one with you. Maybe it will say something, maybe it won't...but here it is:

Light

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
It is our light,
Not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of the Earth.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest
The glory that is within us.
It's not in some of us:
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people
Permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear;
Our presence automaticaly liberates others.

-- Marianne Willeamsom

A blog...ahh, what am i thinking???

Well, after some time I have finally caved under peer pressure to begin my own blog. As many of you know, I am a complete disaster when it comes to keeping in touch with people. So I figured a blog might be the way to go. Lets be honest, this might just be a spure of the moment, whimsical idea that seems fabulous at 2am, but who knows maybe it will turn out to be something more...

So, how do I begin writing about myself? Let's start with the 2am senario shall we?

"can't sleep..."
This has become a common occurance on Tues. nights. I try to fall asleep but my mind is continually awakend by thoughts of the climbing sess that just ended a few hours ago. My mind begins to process all the routes and problems that I'm working on.

A little side note, I have been involved in a training program that is designed to develop climbing skills through effective movement of the body. It is a unique program, because it challenges the idea that being stronger = better climbing. It would argue that better movement = better climbing.

I completely agree with Nate and Graham. My mind is the biggest thing holding me back. My body is strong, and I apparently have good movement skills, so what the hell is my problem? I have tried coming up with answers, and to some success, I have began to realize that I lack intrinsic motivation. I have always been content with what I can do (sports, school, work etc.) And it has always been enough that I can get by. Why try for an "A", "B" sounds good enough to me, and I only have to do half the amount of work!! This doesn't seem like rocket science.

However, now i'm realizing that I want to do more than just "get by", I actually want to being to improve; to excell in something. Is this where the intrinsic motivation begins? Just simply with the desire?