Off_White

And kicks your ass in the push up contest! Sorry to miss rope up this year, it was terribly inconsiderate of my Massachusetts dwelling mother-in-law to have a 90th birthday party on the same weekend, and my attendance there was less optional than I once thought.

He'd make a good moderator.

I don't think it would be considered A "Tramp Stamp", because it is located on my hip, not lower back. I hate the term "tramp stamp". It is belittling that this word gets applied to women who decide to get a tattoo. For many of us, a tattoo is an important, personal thing that carries meaning. And then to have other women defend their tattoo just because the location isn't the back is pussified bullshit. I prefer the term that folks out in Maine use: Ass Antlers.

I could always burn you a copy if you promise to send David Whitelaw some money, though perhaps that offer alone will perk up his ears and get you a response.

I don't think anyone is giving any of the folks involved grief over this, most folks here have been involved in some similar situation, on one side or the other. I'm glad this worked out just fine, as it has for most of us. I got benighted out with my son, which really amped up the homefront concern level. Fortunately it was the Stuart Range and the county sheriff had a lot of experience and counseled my wife that it was a long route and not uncommon for people to be overdue. Arch, sorry to hear about your event, was this recent? Hope you're doing alright.

That's great, I've always thought those Hawaiian ridges looked amazing.

Are we talking about that wide layback that starts from the ledge after the first undercling on NW Corner of NEWS? Takes you up to the smaller undercling-layback section before the belay? Does a #4 even fit in that thing? I recall it being really wide and the only thing to do was suck it up and climb. Oh, and thanks for the TR on this route, its on my list for the next outing into that cirque. I love how you guys went from too cold to wearing shorts, the late alpine season is so schizophrenic.

I like how Chris is giving you the "Come sit by me, little cupcake" sign, patting the open spot next to him.

Since there's been no news since Cathi posted at 5am yesterday, and we haven't heard anything on the news, I think its likely just a routine benightment. If anything happened there would be some follow up or news.

Careful Arch, if they find out you're saving seeds, Monsanto's strike force is likely to come visit you.

We have secret ballots, and signing a petition for referendum is a lower level of voting, people should be able to vote their conscience without repercussions. Funding information should be public though,following the money is an essential part of honest government.

The Nodder? OMG!

Funny Rudy, I could have sworn you said "Beacon" but I guess its just a different iteration of the same disorder...

I nominate Steve House for the Shirtless Kirk award!

Jay, I believe just a little exposure to amethyst crystals will provide the correct vibrational frequencies to open up your third eye to the truth you are denying.

Vanity Fair is not Cosmo, and any mag that publishes bitter contrarian Christopher Hitchens is worth checking out.

Does your oldest climb in Olympia at the Warehouse Rock Gym? There's a bunch of good folks and great kids down there, she'd probably like it. You could try it too, 44 is not that old and taking up new things is a great thing to do. As a nearby trip, you could check out the Black Hills/Capitol Forest. There's a good trail that goes up from Falls Creek to the top of Capitol Peak. (road goes there too). Thanks to the various installations on top the trees have been cleared and there are some fabulous regional views. That one has some elevation gain though, so you might want to start small. McLane Creek Nature Trail in the Delphi Valley is entertaining, Watershed Park near downtown would be a fine daily loop for you, and you might check out the rails-to-trails things like segments of the Chehalis Western Trail and the Yelm-to-Tenino trails. Put that 14 year old on roller blades so she can scoot back and forth like a golden retriever while you slog along as fast as you can. The loop around Tumwater Falls State Park is a little short (do a few laps maybe) but is big fun during extreme weather: deep freeze or flood season. Olympia has a lot of walking you can do, both recreational and just urban function.

My daughter started violin at 9, and talking it over with her, I realized we rented to start with, which makes a particular sense if you're using a half or 3/4 sized violin. You could still purchase and resell, but I'd probably wait until you move up to a full size instrument, and by then you'll know whether you should spend the money on a nice one. Its pretty darn cool when your kids find something they really love:

I went looking for a lame pirate and this is what I found for you! [img:left]http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/cute-puppy-pictures-peg-leg-pirate.jpg[/img] *snicker*

It could all be fixed if the government would only convert those expensive and greedy private military contractors to government run non-profits. They might even be able to help out with the death panels for the health care plan.

Nice issue, I liked your forward. Its funny how online info has changed the game, I found myself looking for the Short Reports on Gorillas In The Mist, The Scoop, and the FFA of Dragons of Eden before I realized the reports in the journal were all from 2008 and these routes are this year! I honestly think another game changer for Northwest Mountaineering has been John Scurlock's photography, turning hidden and unknown gems into big screen drool fests. Thanks to all the crew for another year's fabulous journal, great to have all that stuff under one cover. First rate.

You're aware that all those guide jokes (like: What do you do when an alpine guide knocks at your front door? Pay him for the Pizza) all originally started as drummer jokes, right? Can't help with the snare kit, but I'd guess you'd be able to find something decent on Craigslist and be able to recoup your investment reselling it if doesn't take or when he's ready to move up. If he really wants it, you can't go wrong owning the instrument. My kids went with sax & violin, and purchasing was the way to go.

From the decision: "Unlike in Alice in Wonderland, simply saying something is so does not make it so." That's a great smackdown of a court decision.

As always, a lovely TR, but did you break this into a three parter just for the sake of trumping Ivan's TR count?

I think contact strength, flexibility, and footwork all matter more than raw pull up power. Seems like knowing how little you can use to hang on is much better than pulling as much as possible. Then again, I've always sucked at pullups, and mostly don't climb any harder than 5.10, so the above opinion might just be so much old fart sour grapes.