Make it Stop

As I sit at my desk surrounded by "more electronics than I kiss concert" I wax romantic about my jobs I held as a teenager. For those who haven't heard stories or didn't grow up with me I was fortunate to have a real job, not just a high school burger flipping summer job. I used to work construction, both as laborer and as an equipment operator. Both were fun and back breaking in their own special ways and both taught me some things. I'm not talking work hard stay in school life lessons either, I am talking I dropped the ball and got my ass handed to me lessons.

So why would I wax romantic, I enjoyed working with my hands and I enjoyed working outside under the hot sun. It was never cold and it was rarely wet, it was heaven in a weird way. If you've seen the end of Office Space, it was kind of like that "Fuck'n A". I can see how a High School graduate could justify skipping college and going straight to the work force.

So am I glad I didn't go that route, absolutely, the following picture explains why.


The rain this spring has been out of control, this is the first time since I have started living in Oregon full time (2002) that I have heard the lifers complaining about the copious rain. Last night I sat at my desk reading through some of my old blog posts from this time last year, it quickly dawned on me how nice we had it last spring. This time last year I was posting about tan lines and my numerous training rides out the gorge, how much I love Oregon.

Right now, I am ready to move back to AZ, hell, I even applied for job in San Antonio Texas. I hate Texas, I hate it even more than I hate New Mexico! So, if someone could turn off the rain before I do something stupid like move to TX or NM, I'd really appreciate it.

Tomorrow I head to Smith Rock for the day, it better be dry!

Incredible "Rock" with a Generic Name.

It's a shame the Sheriff or the Soldier that Smith is named after (historians are unsure) didn't have a more inspiring name. For those who have never seen Smith Rock from in person up close, pictures do not do it justice. Furthermore, the view from the Hwy-97 does it even less justice. Smith rock is a place of incredible grandeur, similar to that of Crater Lake. If you haven't been, go, hike, savor it.

So why was I there, because Smith Rock is one of the premier sport climbing areas in the country and maybe even the world, I don't really know enough to make that call. The other reason I was there, was it was sunny outside of Portland and Brian had the day off.

Being mid-week I was able to climb all of the routes I wanted or could handle with minimal wait if any.


Morning Glory Wall, featuring 5-Gallon Buckets (the vertical line of holes to the left-center). The large huecos (naturally occurring holes in the rock, similar to acid pops in tile) made for an interesting climb unlike anything I've climbed before. Guide books tell you that if you get to climb without waiting, you should buy a lottery ticket that day, I guess I should have bought a lottery ticket. Brian tells me that in the hundred visits he has made to Smith, he has never been able to do that, I guess I am just lucky.


Brian rappels down to the belay ledge where I paitently wait for the rope to get to the bottom "Ginger Snap" a fun climb that provided a route to a more difficult climb with an incredibly freaky view ("Cry Baby").

All in all an incredible trip, I've already scheduled my return, this time with Ky.