Live

From: http://www.sutcliffeplay.co.uk

I was introduced to a song (thank you, Grooveshark, for putting new music in front of me) and while I didn't like the actual song, some of the words stalled the clicking of the "next" button. I removed certain parts that weren't relevant; what remains is here:

Not everybody lives, but everybody dies
So while I'm here, I’m shooting for the sky
Landing on the moon, walking on the sun
Taking over the game, give it back when I'm done

Work 9 to 5 or 5 to 9, do you ever dream
They in the red, but I'm out in the green
Feel the dreams,
Fears all gone and my peers all wrong
So keep your 2 cents
I don’t leap, I quantum it
Pinky, do you know what I’m pondering?

Overly optimistic, maybe a dreamchaser
Where the wild things are, where the kids wear crowns

...

Living life has been on my mind a lot.

Good Friday & Earth Day

Early Settlement Remains in Virginia Farm Field

"If only people cared for the planet as much as they care about who created it." 

- Jason Hong

This is the first message I saw as I checked Facebook this morning. It inspired some thoughts... some might think it a bit heretical to say we should value anything equally as God but think a little deeper. If you are a believer in God, should you not treasure something He created pretty darn highly? If it is indeed His work, shouldn't it be respected- perhaps even revered?

Jason's statement was made even more poignant as I contemplated how Good Friday and Earth Day came together this year.  I am somewhat of an environmentalist. I am also a Christian. I don't believe these two things are mutually exclusive. In fact, I wrote a personal wilderness ethic that explains my outlook on how these things come together in complete harmony.

What do these statements mean to you? What's your take on the environment and God? 

Spike Jonze, Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma

Be unconventional. You never know what might come together...

The Dialect Project

Say what?

This little project invites fellow bloggers to upload a recording of the way they speak, showcasing similarities and differences between our dialects worldwide.

Want to participate? I'd love to hear how you sound!
1. Get the list of questions here: Dialect Directions
2. Record yourself!
3. Post to your blog or site
4. Come back here and link to your recording!

From: http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/dialect.html

Utah is Beautiful

Tilt-Shift Trickery: A Tiny Tuesday Tour of Jackson Hole

From: http://www.junkietelevision.com

I believe I have said it before... I love tilt-shift photography. I also love skiing. (That was already apparent, right?) So when the two were added together to create one miniature movie of awesome in epic proportions, I knew it was a match made in heaven for me.

You'll like this, too.



This mountain is like nothing you have skied before. Spend a day riding the tiny tram and shredding miniature backcountry lines in Jackson Hole.

Be sure to let 'er load completely if watching in HD.

Different Strokes for Different Folks - A Climbing Analogy

That WOULD be a problem...

From: todoinstitute

I'm not that spectacular at bouldering... I've been climbing for a good amount of my life but my Superman of a boyfriend is the one who got me into bouldering more. He explained that it would help me cross-train and make me a better lead climber. I dutifully complied.

I quickly learned that my skier self wasn't as upper-body strong as required to be a proficient boulderer. I would attempt a problem (a boulder route), fall off and stand back, bewildered, while I watched someone else complete it. I did this time and time again, trying to pick up ideas and tips from other climbers.

The other day was no different. I stood with crossed arms watching Stephen and Rich climb a problem I had just attempted. One of the girls I boulder with, Breanne, was standing beside me, chatting about her technique on the same route. As we watched the guys on the wall it became apparent that there were two very different techniques being applied- Stephen was able to bypass certain holds because of his longer reach while Rich would turn his feet a different direction on a hold to reach the next point. After each successfully completed the same route, Breanne remarked, "Even though each person has their own style of climbing they still solve the same problem."

I'm not much for analogies- but this one was pretty darn good. Here I was, standing around doing something I love and along comes a life lesson. I contemplated the following questions for a bit before jumping back on the wall:

How many times have you tackled a problem from the same angle and then someone comes along  presenting an entirely new solution to the problem? Did you continue doing it the same way or did you take the opportunity to learn from it ?

Yes, Lionel Richie

Indeed. All my life.

PBJs

I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I didn't always.

The Necessary Materials
(from bernews.com)

My twin brother loves them. He eats them every day, still, as an adult (sidenote: even though we're twins, I'm only a semi-adult. Just wanted to make sure we are clear on this). He still dunks them, like a cookie, right into a glass of cold milk, just as we did as kids. He has perfected the art of applying the peanut butter (all natural, the kind you have to mix) with the jelly (I think he experiments in this area) to a specific type of bread. He knows the precise measurements of thickness to apply on the peanut butter side and how much should be contrasting it on the jelly side.

He even has a special peanut butter mixing and spreading spatula.

Now that I am far away from my brother, I find myself reaching for peanut butter in the grocery store, picking out a tasty looking fruit accompaniment and slathering both on some home-made bread. And yes, I still dunk mine in milk.

I take pbjs skiing, hiking and camping. My boyfriend even switched out his chunky peanut butter for my beloved creamy (a big move) when making me sandwiches for our Valentine's Day climbing date. I considered it one of the sweetest gestures ever.

This childhood lunch has managed to stay with me through the years. I believe it is because I tie it in with someone who I love so much; because of the memories associated with it when we were still under the same roof and not 2500 miles away from each other. I've come to realize it's not so much that I love the taste of Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches (I don't like anything else peanut butter related) but more because of where the first memories of this sandwhich lie.

What little things have you kept with you since childhood? What meaning do they have to you?

Life's Challenges: Pick One

Other than eating late last night at Dee's, I'm feeling pretty good about this day. Are you feeling it, too? If not, I want you to do something for me (you've got some options)- pick your challenge:

Do one thing you love.
Take one step forward on your dream.
Live something differently.
Love life around you.
Take something ordinary and make it beautiful.
Take a photograph of happiness.

Which are you doing?
Are you inspired enough to write about it, draw it, photograph it?
Will you share?