Stone Mountain

When I was a kid, growing up outside of Atlanta, I loved Stone Mountain. It's the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. Essentially, it's a big grey rock. There's now a theme park of sorts that surrounds the mountain. There's a train that circles the mountain, a gondola to the top, and plenty of old fiddlers hacking into spitoons.

Back in the early 1900's the Daughters of the Confederacy, namely June Plane, wanted to show their appreciation to the Confederate soldiers their husbands were riding with and so commissioned a carving on the mountain. It took over 60 years to complete with many starts and stops in between. It was finished in 1972 and depicts General Robert E. Lee riding horseback along with Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson.



Stone Mountain is where I experienced my first laser-light-show. That experience, with Pink Floyd in the background would grease the wheels for many a light-show in my day. I think back to those innocent times with longing. My biggest worry was whether or not my penny on the railroad track would get flattened by the little train. I haven't been back to Georgia since I was a Freshman in high school. That was 12 years ago. I wonder what things are like there now.

I'm not sure how many of you heard about this, but it snowed in Arizona. Crazy but true. I had the pleasure of hiking in the snow up the Peralta trail to the Freemont Saddle where there was at least 6-7 inches of the white stuff at the top. I have to say, I was a bit unprepared for this hike in the snow and ice. I pretty much scrappled my way up the canyon, taking out only a few tourists.

Here are a few pictures of the same hike just a few months ago. Sadly, Zack's camera busted right before we embarked on our winter expedition so I don't have any real proof of the snow. I'm sure you'll take my word for it though.

On to the photos...


The People Rocks


Duckhead. Can you imagine what this looks like covered in 7 inches of snow?


That is called the Weaver's Needle.
That lone little pine tree off to the right is one of the most photographed in the state.


Boulder vs. People Rocks

in the stars

I've been in the clouds the last few days so it's been slow on the blog front. Here, for your viewing pleasure, are a couple of old poems I wrote back in the dizazy of dizisco. Hopefully, they will keep you entertained until I regain my brain.

the summer sun
in New England
is tentative and shy
each warm day
and lazy afternoon
in June
is a blessing
respite from long winter
new life is responsive
and thrives
basking in light
and sky
days grow longer and
sun
feels at home
with warm breezes
from the West
and there is excitement
rebirth
release
and so far the water supply has been plentiful
and balanced
but the
sun
in all her glory
cannot
be contained
so soon she
shines
in the morning
relenting
only to desperate
stars eager
for their time
to shine
in this selfish fashion
the summer sun
commits to August
ever present
ever calling
each day
how quickly
disillusion sets in
Abruptly
altering moods
And so, she fades
to Autumn holding on
to summer romance
until at last
the sun remits
to winter

choices

I woke up this morning thinking about choices. I feel like my life has evolved into a long string of choices. Some of them have reprecussions and some seem to have none. There's no escaping choices though. Even when I feel like crawling under a rock I stop and decide whether or not I really will!

I choose when I will get out of bed in the morning. Today I happened to choose 10:30am and I feel like I've wasted half of my day. I have to choose what to eat during the course of a day. Do I want to eat bananas and yogurt or do I want In and Out Burger? I have to choose how much time to do work and how much time to dedicate to my personal life. Do I want to stretch myself thin or save up my energy for all things personal? I choose to smoke and drink. I choose whether or not to feed my turtle! I choose whether or not I should shave my armpits and brush my teeth.

Today it all feels a bit overwhelming for some reason.

lest we forget

crazy times, sigh.

oh the fennel

Last night I had the pleasure of cooking for a group of hungry men. I love how boys will eat anything. I mean I strive to cook well and last night, I have to say, was a true testament to my skillz. But, there have been times where the cooking hasn't been so good but has been consumed with zeal nonetheless.

I think one of the most horrific examples was the day that we moved from our house on Dennett Street to the Inn. Some good friends of the male persusasion were helping us out and to thank them I thought it would be a good idea to make lasagna. Don't ask me why I thought I would have time to make a lasagna from scratch on moving day, but I did. The result was a horrid casserole that had baked in the over for about 6 hours. The cheese was all brown and greasy and the noodles were complete mush. The boys ate it anyway. I mean they really ate it too in big heaping portions. Perhaps they were just humoring me but I still think back on that wretched lasagna with horror.

The meal last night was much, much better. We marinated pork chops and chicken in a hot paste of chili powder, garlic, oregano, sugar, and olive oil. It was really good and I got to use a shit-ton of chili powder which is always fun. Zack made this potato pie thing with thin slices of sweet and Idaho potato layered with onion and goat cheese. Awesome. The real piece de resistance was the salad. It started with a bed on endive on which slices of vinagretted pear and fennel were placed and was topped with toasted sweet walnuts. Yummers!

I was a little bit sketched about the fennel but it was awesome! I'd totally recommend this little salad to anyone who's looking for something new in that department. Goat cheese would have been good on top of that as well. But then again, goat cheese is good on everything.

this one's for jaclyn

I thought I'd write a post today about friends. Since I've moved to AZ making friends hasn't been at the top of my to-do list. As we get older our notion of self evolves. Our beliefs, morals, and interests become more well defined and definite. It seems too that we become more discerning about the people we allow into our lives.

There have been two periods in my life, in particular, where my blessings in the friendship department have been overflowing. The first was my freshman and sophomore year of college. It was an exploratory time for me. I immersed myself in philosophy, Phish, and partying. I fell into a group of friends there who were testing the limits of convention, of academics, of sobriety, of music, of love. My sisters there helped me to understand those things that make me who I am today. They are still a part of my everyday life, even though we are all separated geographically, and that I a wonderful thing.

The second time I felt totally safe and surrounded by my friends was during my time in Portsmouth. It was the first time in my adult life where I found balance between my social and professional life. I realized that it's possible to have dinner and barbecues and beers and beaches all in addition to a career. It was during this time where I formed many of the goals I'm still working towards. I also came to realize that friendship is something sacred and important and life-changing.

So I guess this has turned into a little thank you for all the brothers and sisters who have helped me figure out what I want and who continue to challenge and inspire me everyday.