ready to run

You never start a conversation with Ross Beane thinking you'll make some profound discovery about yourself.  But it's happened more than once now, and I think I'll be more careful in the future about discounting the possibility.  Overall, a wonderful weekend with some good GMC friends.  Hopefully it won't be as long before we see each other again.  Although I've realized I'm not as good as I once was at late nights and getting little to no sleep, then attempting to function like a normal human on Monday morning.

I had my first phone interview this morning, with U.S. PIRG.  It went well, and I've been invited back for a second in person interview over Spring Break.  I'm looking forward to it, as well as the very real possibility of being cast into an unfamiliar state with a list of things to accomplish.  The salary leaves something to be desired- but I'm not thinking about it so much at this stage.

Has anyone seen my watch?  I lost it a while back and I'd really like to find it... I have an old one that I could just get a battery for, but I liked the new one.  It had a light, and I find myself in the dark more and more lately.

The spring was here for a moment or two this weekend, but it fled with a sudden snowstorm while I was sleeping last night.  Probably a good thing, since I've yet to learn how to ski this winter and I'd really like to give it a shot.  It's also barely March, so if Spring showed up right now we'd be in trouble.

Overall a lackluster entry.  Hopefully the next one will be more of a show stealer!  Until then, you stay classy.

"Strangers are exciting, their mystery never ends...

...but there's nothing like looking at your own history in the faces of your friends." -Ani DiFranco

In the wake of last weeks unfortunate departure of Kellen Sams, I was able to witness one of the most moving demonstrations of camaraderie I've ever seen. While I knew there was bound to be quite a few alumni, I wasn't prepared to see as many faces as I did.  We weren't together for long, but it was still enough to remind me just how much I miss them all.

Craig's words in the beginning of the night have been ringing in my ears since.  I developed so many relationships throughout my time at Green Mountain College, and it really pains me to think of how few of them have been maintained. This is not meant to sound hokey or overly sentimental- I merely wish to make the point that we've been reminded (albeit in a really crappy way) of how short life can be.  I know I'll make more of an effort from now on to keep my friends close, no matter how much time or distance has come between us.  You can't justify the loss of a friend or loved one, but you can make sure to hang on and care for the ones you still have.

There's more to write about, but I'll have to catch up later.

of men and mountains

My first meaningful interaction with Kellen Sams was when I nearly poisoned him as a freshman. Not realizing the "seasoning" packets in the Mountain House meal I had just prepared for his dinner was actually silica gel, I almost let him eat it. He may have taken a bite before I slapped it out of his hand. After that, my interactions with Kellen involved nudity, building aid routes in the hallway, red wine, smelly paddling gear, tractor pulls, and a lot of other really fond memories. I'll always have those, and the knowledge that Kellen more than anything appreciated a good adventure. It's only appropriate that he went out doing what he loved so much- relishing in the beauty of the great outdoors. You taught me how to properly portage a canoe (by making someone else do it), that all of the maps and books misspelled the name of "Mount Kellenmanjaro," and how to use a Whisperlite without burning my face off. Thanks man.

"Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are naught without prudence, and that a momentary negligence could destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste, look well to each step, and from the beginning think what may be the end." -Edward Whymper

Montani Semper Liberi- mountaineers are always free men. Rest in peace Kellen- I'll see you later.

brake lines and axes and ringworm- oh my!

What a month. If having your heart smashed into a thousand pieces wasn't enough, losing a brake line in your car while you're driving it and then getting ringworm from the fitness center should do it.

Needless to say, the semester was off to a rocky start. I haven't been enjoying my classes as much as I'd hoped to, but I've made my best attempt at keeping things in perspective with the internship I'm doing. The whole thing was based around the idea that I'd be able to stay in Poultney with Elliott a couple of days a week, but he made sure to nix that plan the day he got back from Australia. It hasn't been bad though. I've had a lot more time to spend with friends, and I've also had a lot more time to appreciate the strange little things that happen every day.

This week was no exception.

Sunday I went to get breakfast with Meg. On our way back, I went to hit my brakes and noticed they were depressing way further than usual. "Don't panic," I thought to myself. "Meg is going to go into cardiac arrest if she knows you can't stop." Luckily for both of us, this happened to me just recently and so I knew how to get the vehicle home without any major catastrophe. Stellar. I'm going to have to pay for that.

Monday started out like any other day- woke up around 7, made breakfast, listened to VPR while I ate and cleaned up. Brian was coming by to follow me to the mechanic- who wasn't answering the phone. When I showed up, there was a hand-written note on the door that simply said "Skiing till the 15th- no drop offs please." Oh yeah... I'm definitely bringing the car to that guy.

Got home, went to classes, and headed back to change for the gym. When I got to the railroad tracks though, I heard a familiar beeping sound... the same beeping that had been coming from Laurie and Megan's dumpster... the same beeping that ended with Brian and I drinking too much at Crossroad's and jumping into the dumspter (Brian wearing Cole Haan loafers) to retrieve and destroy the fire alarm making all the racket. (And really, who throws away a smoke detector when it goes off? What ever happened to taking the battery out?)

Anyway- I hear this beeping and I know what it is... then I see my neighbor pacing around outside. I can smell smoke, so I tell her to call 911. I go to change, and come back outside to a patrol car, an ambulance, and a fire truck all parked in the small dirt road in front of my house. When I get down there, I overhear one of the firemen saying he needs to go in... and that's when he goes for the ax. Now I don't know about you, but seeing the thorough destruction of something like a door really gets me going. I was like a little kid on Christmas. It was the best day I'd had in a while.

The week couldn't get better... until it did. As I was getting dressed for the gym yesterday I noticed a red patch above my belly button. When I got a better look I knew immediately what it was... the same thing that plagued so many of my friends on the wrestling team in high school... RINGWORM. wtf.

So, on my way to work this morning I had to stop and get some anti-fungal cream. Of course all the name brand stuff is over 10$, so I wanted to get some Wal-brand alternative. The only thing there with the proper active ingredient I sought was jock itch cream. Not only was it jock itch cream, but it said JOCK ITCH CREAM in HUGE yellow letters. When I got to the counter, I assured the Walgreen's employee that I suffered from no such ailment, to which she replied "Okay hun." Good grief.

I promise future posts won't be quite so long- but there was a lot to update this time around.

Listen to "New Soul" by Yael Naim & David Donatien