So close.......

A few weeks ago (maybe a month) I posted that sometime early this coming year I wanted to climb 4 5.11+ routes straight. No falls, only clean takes to work past a problem section, and only the time to move from one route to another and tie in. Alan and I were working out this morning and I'd gotten three .11's with him climbing in between and we were winding down for the day. I decided to climb one last route, a new .11c on the first column. I can't explain it, but I completely flew up the route. I felt as though I had taken my time and had wasted little energy. Alan even comment about how I made it look really easy. He asked if I wanted another route, I hesitate, he said, you know you want another. I selected an .11b also on the front column and proceeded to make short work it as well. On the way down I decided that I would make an attempt at the getting the 4 today. I asked Alan if he didn't mind being my belay bitch for two more routes, no problem. I picked an .11a/b on the back side of the third column. I had done this one a few times before and wanted something easier to rest up for the fourth. About 1/3 of the way up, I really started to feel myself getting a bit pumped. I found a good rest position, only feet no hands, and shook out for a few seconds. I forged up the last 10 feet. The debate now became, what route for the last. I wanted to do an "easier" .11b, but couldn't find any, so I chose an .11c on the wall opposite the lead cave. I got about 1/3 of the way up when I realized I had made a mistake and didn't have the hand stregnth the switch my hands back the way they needed to be, so I called for a take. Alan took. He asked if I wanted to be lowered, no I replied, I'll finish it. I limped my way up the rest of the route and fell of the second to last move. Throwing my hands back on the wall, I made a last effort for the finish. I slapped it as I fell away. Good enough for today, but so close.......

Yes, I'm trying to cut down on these,

But this one is awesome. Not the greatest display of skill but certainly a great metaphor for how futball is truly the only international game.

But I thought that........

We needed to have a smaller, more flexible force?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061220/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/growing_the_military_1

Increase the size of the military takes it from one that can combat an enemy uses an undefined battle field and creates one that is an occupying force. Isn't that we arn't doing in Iraq? Occupying? We needed a large military for the cold war in case we had to overrun eastern Europe and OCCUPY the land. That's one reason we had a large military. Now in the modern era of conflict we won't be OCCUPYING land, we'll fighting small, shorter, less personel intense conflicts. But that doesn't make Bush or Dick feel safe. They need a large military. Currently we would be stretched to capacity to fight a two front war (Iraq/N.Korea), by increasing the size of the military, we also increase the chances of this happening. Why train and equip a military if you don't use. Isn't THAT why we're in Iraq?

To you, yes you......

You. The person who borrowed two lug nuts off my front right wheel. You've got my nuts in your hand. Or your pocket. Both of them. I can only imagine what it's like to have another man's nuts in your hand. Did you enjoy it? I hope so. I didn't. Didn't enjoy it at all. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I was left feeling violated. You came without a word, took my nuts and left. Really? Is this how you treat people who's nuts you take? No please, thank you, can I, may I, would you like it if.... No respect. Not just for me, but for the other's. Yes, the nuts on the highway. Especially those on 101N, 92E, 880N, 238N or 580E. Fortunately for those past 92E, I realized I was missing my nuts, and could have left my loaded front tire on the sheets. That would have made a real mess, something doing laundry at 3am doesn't clean up. I found a place to pick up a few extra nuts. Took awhile to find the right size. These are bigger. Makes me feel more like a man with my bigger nuts. I hope you see them. See them and realize that I traded up from, person with my other two nuts. Don't worry though, those big nuts won't be there long. I'm going to get some locking ones. Then you have to ask permission to borrow my nuts. And won't be left feeling violated again.

My present to myself.

My friend, Mike Eastman (http://eastmanfineart.com/index.html) from Berkeley Iron Works took this picture at the Richmond Shipyard. I saw it at the exhibit he did at the gym last year. I didn't know that he was selling them until I talked with him a few months ago.
It's signed and framed, 4 of 10. I really like supporting my friends in their art endvors. Especially when it's something I like.

This past weekend was really busy. A&B set up a Winter Beer pub crawl. Joe, Alexia, Chris, Siam, Steve-0, Greg along with Alan, Becky and myself all particapated. We started at Pyramid with their Snow Cap. Pretty good brew, but I preferred the Reindeer from Triple Rock on Shattuck. Now this place rocks. Great beer and they only sell on site. Now that's a bit of a bummer, but it motivates for going out there for beer. We wound up at A&B place and polished off a magnum of Anchor Steam's Christmas Brew.

Saturday was the annual E.L. X-Mas party. We did a White Elephant this year as opposed to the usual secret santa. We had a full on christmas dinner. It was damn good. Great wine, good company, fantasic peeps. I brought a Santa Nutcracker and ended up leaving with a pair of gloves.

Sunday morning footie was awesome. We played for two hours. Had a great cross from Ricky that I caught with my thigh and put into the goal. Alex decided to point out that I only use my right foot to dribble past people, I used it twice to get past him. We discussed this. I love this sport.

a child is born......

With ten toes
ten fingers
two eyes
and one nose.

Perfect.

Cole Lucas Trimble

Don't worry, when you grow up, I'll buy you your first beer. You'll probably be 15. I'll take you on first motorcycle ride, too. Don't tell your parents.

.......damn it..........

I'm not a big coffee drinker. I like espresso. They are not the same thing. I'm a bit particular about where I get my espresso. And Starbucks is NOT one of those places. I don't like their inundation of the coffee market place. A friend who used to work in Seattle said there were THREE of them IN her building. Three. In one building. There's one two blocks away and I feel weird (it's right next to a Noah's bagels, where you used to be able to get good bagels.). Apparently you can goto a Starbucks in France and they taste the same. Why would anyone in Europe goto a Starbucks? WTF? Suffice to say, it falls under the catagory of chain shopping which I do my best to avoid. About a month ago a coworker brought me a coffee drink for there. It was an iced mocha something or other. I don't know what it was, but it was tasty. I had a hard time denying this. Since then I have caught myself saying that I don't like Starbucks on more than one occasion. Do I or don't I? If I consume from a place does that mean I like it? Or can I disagree with it's existance and still consume from it? That seems a bit hypocritical. The delima persists. And how far do I feel the anti-chain shopping must go? I like the Philly Cheese Steak Shop on Lake Shore and there are several of them. They actually have franchises. Are they a chain? I like to think not, but they have more than a few. It is a conundrum. In the mean time I'll drink to that with my frozen mocha thingy. No need to rush to a conclusion on this one.
In other news, I'm off to bed. I have to be at work at 4 tomorrow. Have I mentioned that? Yes. That's right 4. AM. I'll be up while my friend's in Hawaii are still awake and before my friend's on the East Coast are still sleeping. Oh, except E&J B. They'll be up with their monstrous child. And I'm still not an uncle. K&K are still baking. Their child will be HUGENORMOUS.

Current playing: 50Cent vs. The Bee Gees
Started watching tonight: Arsenal vs. Chelsea

White and Nerdy.......

HELL YEA!!!!

Uh-oh.....

Feeling a bit of a sore throat. No time to be sick.

Oh and if you get a chance, check out the Scissor Sisters "I don't feel like dancing". I love this song, so much fun.




Okay, so the lead singer looks like he might kill and the woman has a deeper voice than him, but it's a really fun song. This song rocks. I would totally get down to this. ROCK ON SUPER STAR!

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!!

This past Sunday I got busy. BUSY. Woke up at 7:45, picked up F at 8:15, went down to get his moving van, back to his place, load said moving van from his 3rd floor apartment till 10:45, rush home, change into soccer stuff, rush to Caldicot for an 11am game (started late), play a full game, we were three people short but still managed to win, I did my usual run people down, and managed to get off the best shot I've had in a legitimate game in a long time (just tipped over the cross bar by the keeper, bastid), came home showered, grabbed lunch, headed over to C&N to paint the molding which took ALOT longer than I had thought. Three hours of that. I could barely walk from soccer, my arms were sore from painting. My left hamstring was still bothering me yesterday. When I made it to my bedroom, I slept like a dead person. Just gone. 4:15 came especially early on Monday.
Other than Sunday, life has been pretty mellow. Ha. I did all my x-mas shopping the day after Thanksgiving in less than five minutes. One website, one order of the same thing. For everyone. The gift sits in a box on my floor (in my CLEAN bedroom!!!, see I did stuff, kept it up since then, mostly.)
End of the day. Off to bed now. 4:15 is already knocking.

It's right under your feet.

What is?

What you're looking for.