Mountain Climbing

Yesterday, two people died on Mt Rainier and several others were injured when they fell into a crevasse. Three people died on Mt. Hood last week. Three others died on Mt. Rainier last week as well.

Tomorrow morning I will be climbing with a group from the YMCA to Glacier Basin. Glacier Basin isn't much of a climb. This trip is mostly to get accustomed to using mountain climbing gear. We won't be climbing up Rainier, so this should be pretty safe. And I don't ever really become afraid of external things, like flying or falling (well, with some exceptions). Nevertheless, it's hard not to get a little spooked about these kinds of things.

I signed up for this class for a few reasons:

1. I was getting into a rut. This is different than anything I've ever done before.
2. It was a physical activity. I wanted to get in better shape and stop being so much of a couch potato.
3. I wanted something to talk about with friends and potential mates. It's somewhat the same idea as getting into a rut. I go to work weekdays. I go dancing on weekends. I talk to people at the club, mostly about work or what I did out at the club the previous week. I will be able to talk about climbing a mountain, looking out over the landscape, sleeping in a sleeping bag in the cold, pitching a tent, tying ropes, etc. etc. etc.

Mountain climbing will not be a walk in the park. I personally think that this will be the most difficult task I have undertaken in a long time. I may not be any good at it. I may not have the strength. I may not be able to deal with the cold. I may not have the skills. I may simply get altitude sickness. For the first time in a long time, I am not 100% confident that I can accomplish something that I have set out to do. Every other goal that I have set for myself in the last 10 years, I knew that I could perform if I focused. My best may not be enough this time.

Which will make this all the sweeter if, in fact, I take to this like a trout does to water.

Tix

My upcoming concert and event schedule:

• Mariners, Tue June 11th
• Mariners, Wed, June 12th
• Lyle Lovett, Sun, June 23rd (hmmm, still need a date, better get on it)
• Mariners, Sun, June 30th. Sadly, I cannot go. Deirdre gets these.
• Mariners, Mon, July 1st
• Billy Idol, Sat, July 27th

I haven't seen too much that is all that interesting yet though. I am waiting to see who is playing at Bumbershoot.

Keep the damn ball

If you catch a home run ball hit by the visiting team, you are allowed to keep the damn ball. Why these people throw the ball back on the field and why game attendees (they are not fans) urge them to do so baffles me. That's a piece of the game's history you hold in your hands. It's most likely a very infinitesimallu small portion of baseball history (unless you happen to be at a game when McGwire, Sosa, or Bonds is about to break or set a record). But dammit, keep a hold of that piece. It's much more valuable and sane than Jeff Nelson's bone chips or Luis Gonzalez' chewed gum.