Off_White

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.

And I've got a brushcutter to put to use. I'm thinking middle of October, after the road is open again.

That Sir, is an inappropriate manner in which to refer to Archenemy's fun bags.

JT, stellar route too.

No, definitely not, sticking with the old road line is the way to go, just clear up the track. Chainsaws, brushcutters, and a little brute force. Sounds like the DNR is okay with volunteer maintenance, and it's not a wilderness area so we're not limited to handsaws & pruners. I'm thinking sometime in October might be good. My schedule is s little tight, but it'd be great to join forces and reclaim that approach. Road will be open after Oct 15th.

And what was Don Serl's reply?

Because its your parents who will sue us.

I believe Mr Noggin is ranting against the practice of leaving FA information out of guidebooks. This was a fashion developed awhile back to supposedly take the ego out of the first ascent game because you wouldn't get any fame out of it. Personally, I find FA information useful because it tells you things about what to expect: protection spacing, quality of cleaning, character of the line; all these things are affected by an individual's approach to climbing. Some folks routes, you know you've got to be feeling dialed in, others, you know you could skip the route and not miss much.

I'm recently back after bailing on a vacation so I could go help my oldest friend get into rehab for a second time after relapsing. He was back up to a fifth of Scotch a day and probably just weeks away from hospitalization. He could tell you on which day in 1993 that he discovered single malt Scotch. I'm not saying everyone goes down that path or anything, I've just had an aversion induced to something I used to like. Do be careful, its best not to love it too much. As far as a recommendation, try an 12 YO Macallan aged in the Sherry casks. You could go 18 YO at a substantial upcharge, but the 12 is pretty good. Glenlivet is sort of a gateway drug.

Mark, I was going to join in and give you some grief for being a clueless dolt, and I don't mean just for the anniversary thing, but then I realized that this was in The Gear Critic and I don't know a damned thing about treadmills. Best of luck.

Perhaps you mean he was using a hip belay? Dulfersitz is a rappel set up, not a particularly great way to belay, but I suppose you could work it that way. Personally, I've always wanted to engage in a little living theater along the dihedrals at Smith: knickers, little white cap, tricouni nailed boots, gold line, and a rack of pins, perhaps a new fangled machine nut on a piece of hemp rope. I think I'd have to work on an impenetrable quasiSscottish brogue.

40% chance of rain tonight, we'll see how it shakes out. I'll be up in Seattle until 4pm, so I'll be a late arrival and ya'll will have to make your own call on the weather. Here's hoping for a little Indian Summer goodness to support a late season.

I was always partial to this performance of that song... [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUbnOFPud3M

Probably an old Keith Gunnar photo. Photo likely is flipped, isn't that Goat Rocks on the far right of the poster?

Kevbone, keep the spray out of this thread.

Yeah, that would be Squamish.

Uh, yeah, I'm really concerned about what my choice in vehicles says about my sexual orientation.

I've seen those tent-on-top Element conversions, its a pretty slick ride. Pity the Element doesn't get better mileage though.