selkirk

Barring those who have physological issues, are receiving mental health care etc.... For a reasonably normal healthy person, is being unhappy is a choice? For many it would likely be made unconsciously, but is it still a choice?

Cutting bamboo and getting itchy arms. Oh, and pulling Nightshade Nasty stuff! Picking lots of raspberries. Oh, and getting a nice round of golf in For not having played in a year, I still managed not to suck too bad

The zoo will actually take them? Hmmm, might have to give them a call. Unluckily no pieces quite large/long enough for serious fencing type use, but could probably make some killer bean poles now that I think about it. And of course wands....

I'm impressed, it only took 15 posts, and it wasn't even Archie of Muffie!

I just cut a whole shit load of bamboo that was growing through my fence and haven't tossed it yet. Some seemingly good pieces up to 7+ ft of all diameters. Seems like there should be some use for it beside going into the yard waste bin, so let's here the ideas

I think he might be half goat.

As a small sidebar... How do people interpret "Protect often" ? For me, it means primarily protecting for anything more than about a 5 or 6 ft ground fall. (Basically to protect primarily to prevent injury) On a hard (for me) crag climb, even after I'm likely out of ground fall, I usually shoot for placements that are about a body length apart. Possibly closer if a piece is marginal and I want it backed up or there is a ledge to consider, possibly further if there is little gear or if I know I'm going into a crux where I won't be able to protect, or I can see a better stance a move or two higher. I have heard of other leaders who did the Zig-Zag thing on R&D and ended up having a mini-epic, but no injuries to speak of. Rope drag is always something to be aware of when placing gear, as is the zipper effect when you start to zig-zag the rope. I think this is more that the climber wasn't ready to lead that climb than anything else. IMHO your first leads on gear should be with someone who has some extensive experience, is constantly evaluating your placements and offering advice, and most importantly, well well below your climbing limit. Those first gear leads are all about the gear, not at all about the climbing. I did mine on 4th class ground I think

I really wouldn't recommend the Arch for one of your first trad leads though. Haven't tried Forking Crack so I can't speak to it though. The Arch (while a great climb at 5.8) is a bit tenous, requires primarily small cam's, and due to the traversing nature they tend to get pulled sideways and can walk a bit. I'm a big fan of protect early, protect often, and always protect any potential ground fall (or ledge fall mid-pitch). That said, I often look like I'm carrying a freakin aid rack, but have managed not to injure myself yet, and have never been in a situation where I had to run it out to the anchors due to lack of gear. (knocking on nearest wood).

shhh, she doesn't know it yet but I inserted some syntax error's into her data

I have the same thing Only used them a handful of times, but my feet stayed plenty dry. Were comfortable, and reasonable for hiking/approaching. That said, I'd only use them in winter, or maybe on Rainier. I have a pair of La Sportiva Glaciers that I pull out for moderate summer snow stuff and backpacking (baker, shuksan, sahale, that kind of stuff). Have been very pleased with those to.

Do post pictures

ah, the joy's of hives. Something like 90% go unexplained. Take Benadryl and get some Calamine lotion, and whatever you do, don't itch. Could easily be poison ivy, we were just east of Castle Rock at Clem's Holler/Retardant Rock, and the guidebook warned (and we visually verified) poison ivy in some gullies and wash's there. I don't remember any up near Liberty Bell, and haven't been to Peshastin, but any creek bed could potentially have it. That said, I've broken out in hives sitting after sitting at my desk for 4 hours. Sucks to be you but you don't get to brag til you scare a pharmacist and he tries to send you to the emergency room.

Me too! Be careful, I have a feeling she hit's back

I might be wrong but I believe she was a Black Widow for a while

...yes! Some muscle is nice, too, but I'd settle for two out of the three. Well put :tup: Heroin Chic is nasty

Sounds like she's a fan of offwidth's

How can no one have mentioned Yellowbeard!!

"A lot of people go to college for six years." "Yeah, they're called doctors." 6 phhhht, freakin lightweights. Break 10 and we'll talk

Psychological problems are aid. Truer words may never have been spoken.

You had better hope your cell phone number isn't public knowledge or your about to be one very distracted girl!

of course the stick wicket is that there seem to be alot of people who survive their miserable parents and turn out to be wonderful, reasonably happy, well adjusted climbers (well some of those things are oxymoron's but you get the point ) Of course far be it from me to make that decision for anyone else.

Nothing like ropes, pins, and hammers

It would have been less controversial had they brought in a completely new batch of US attorneys. While it's true the the USA's serve at the pleasure of the president, once they become members of the USDOJ, they are not supposed to represent the interests of the party or the president, they are supposed to represent the interests of the people and of justice. While they do take direction from the president, they must be allowed to operate independently in order to remain credible in the eyes of the court. And the Federal judges, while appointed by an administration, pretty much answer to no one. Bush Co. and Gonzales were within their rights to fire the USA's, for whatever reasons they saw fit. The reasons being completely partisan BS however stinks to high heaven, and potentially throws a bad light on every election fraud trial in the near future. Bill Clinton was within his rights to as he pleases with consenting interns. Lying in front of Congress while under oath is different story altogether. So either he didn't know what was going on in his own department, in which case his ability to manage the USDOJ is in serious question and he should still step down, or knowingly lied to Congress and should be prosecuted for perjury. Not to mention his inability to remember his own conversations, and orders has been successfully used as a defense, as to why a criminal on trial shouldn't have to remember his own actions. Gonzales is as sleazy as they come, and party line, partisan stooge. :tdown: And since he's a partisan stooge, all he cares about is making Bush and company happy and doing their bidding, so he has no incentive to step down. Regardless of whether or not he has a shred of credibility left anywhere. P.S. Sometimes having inside connections at the USDOJ can be interesting

It's a love/hate relationship, of course it's also a pleasure/pain relationship.

There was a story from about 4 years ago at Priest Lake in North Idaho, where a momma bear and cubs wondered into a campsite with a mother and her too kids. Momma bear, quickly found the ice chest and ripped open for a nice little feast. The whole bear family decided the tent looked like a comfortable place to sit, so the sat down with the family inside, and enjoyed their new picnic lunch, and then calmly wandered off. Mom then of course not so calmly bundled everyone into the car and got the hell out of there. No one was hurt but the ice chest