off-kilter

I am the opposite of acrophobic, so hiking Angel’s Landing in Zion this weekend was a real treat. Everything about it was great: the sweeping views of Zion Canyon, the amazingly temperate weather (this was the first day in over a week in Utah that didn’t heat up well past 80 º ), the satisfaction of a substantial climb, and--best of all--the absurdity of walking along a narrow trail with more-than-1,000-foot drop-offs on both sides. I absolutely love climbing up to high places and looking over the edge for a thrill, and the last half mile of this hike is nothing but that! I absolutely could not contain my enthusiasm and basically skipped while laughing all the way to the top. A+

It’s nice to know that there are people out there who are doing meaningful shit (like exercising their ability to create new life) while I drink myself to the brink of brain damage.

Here is a photo of an excellent beach, accessible only by a half mile hike from our lodging on Kauai. It was secluded and amazing: immediately off shore is a coral reef swarming with a zillion tropical fishes. We hiked over and snorkeled and lazed around and watched sand crabs dig their holes and damn, I wanna go back there!!

I feel fortunate to have made it back barely in time to say goodbye to my backyard buddy. Thanks for sharing the yard with me, Memphis. You will be missed!

you & me & five bucks

Tom and I went on a camping trip to Big Sur this weekend. It was perpetually foggy at sea level, so we did what any resourceful sun seeking person would do: we hiked up and over the fog! I'm sure the view of the ocean from this point would have been spectacular on a clearer day, but achieving that in-a-plane-above-the-clouds perspective using nothing but my own two feet wasn't half bad, either!

I love a lot of things about Cruel Intentions, but Ryan Phillippe struttin’ down the street in a duster really takes the cake.

File under: mistakes

hey, freshman--gimme that shirt

Hey man, you got a joint? Uhhhh, no. Not on me, man. It'd be a lot cooler if you did.

Tom, February 2014