she’s just so lovely
Archive for November, 2008
Here are a few of the photos from the Propositions 8 rally Joe and I attended in Lexington on Nov the 15th, which was the nation wide protest day. I was a little worried the protest might cease to exist not only because the temps felt like negative 20, but because I really didn’t know what to expect about the existence of a gay community in lil’ ole’ Lexington. This may be a “city” but it survives only miles away from the most poo-dunkest towns I’ve witnessed in America! The turn out was awesome and bigger than I thought. There were a lot of cars honking and waving as they rolled by. Of course there were a lot of blank stares too, but I really expected more of this and even some backlash. All in all it was a happy go lucky vibe and I felt great to be one more voice and body out there speaking up and being present against blatant injustice. Happily I heard news yesterday that the Proposition 8 in California has already been turned into the courts for review over its constitutionality. Hopefully California can get this thing thrown out and set an example for other states. I mean you can still marry your cousin for Christ sake, gay marriage is way less taboo than that.
Besides that the temps in Ky have dropped drastically in the past week. Joe and I decided to stick it out mainly because we have a lovely little cottage to stay warm in. I even managed to climb my super epic proj on one of the coldest days. By now whoever reads the blabber knows I epic regularly, but it should be understood that this areas usually doesn’t lend itself to such torture. The Red is obvious jug-hauling, enduro climbing, either you can do the moves or not. If it’s a pump issue you get the fitness and crush. Why I chose one lil’ route that even Joe fell on a few times at the top I’ll never know. (Mental note do not try any 13a Joe falls on ever, period.) Regardless, the route had reached lame territory and I wasn’t having fun anymore. I merely wanted to climb the route because of all the effort I had put into it. Nine times falling at the top move with three different sequences of beta. The last try I made that day was going to be my last, as I decided I needed a mental break. I succeeded gracefully but ended the send with a slew of swears and hate ranting. I suppose the good part is I did get in killer shape hiking the bottom of this rig numerous times. I just hope that shit translates and now I can crush some other climbs with vengeance.
Here’s a powerful video from the Iraq Veterans Against War, probably the most persuasive peace advocate in the US.
This past election day we made strides against discrimination by electing the first African American president. This same day Proposition 8 (HERE) passed in California state making gay marriage illegal. This is a blatant act against civil rights and shows how much work is yet to be done when it comes to “Every person being treated equally.” A couple if blogs I read keep up to date with the on going rallies going on in California and have information on what we all can do to fight this injustice. Join the Impact (HERE) is organizing a National Day of Protest on Sat. Nov 15th in cities across America. You can download a flyer (HERE) to spread the word around your city. Click (HERE) to see a list of cities where there will be protest in or near your city.
Here’s a photo Joe took of the protest while he was in Cali
Do what you can to take a stand for everyone’s rights!!
So I’m thinking of the most worthwhile events of the past few days. Two things that enter my mind are achievements I was unrightly awarded. The first is Misty’s Hottest Climbing Chickadey. There’s no way I’m hotter than these foxy ladies! Luckly I was drunk enough when Misty emailed me to fill out her questionaire, this lady just lights my fire!
The other laughable accomplishment I supposedly succeeded is in the current issue of Urban Climber. It’s says my best climbing accomplishment was my first 13d!! Yeah HUGE typo, maybe my biggest dream is 13d. The actual route is 13b, and it was hard, and it was my first, and that is my biggest climbing achievement.
My boy Andrew Bisharat gave into the blog syndrome and started his own website. www.eveningsends.com. I love Andrew’s writing, he’s freakin hysterical. He’s the guy responsible for TNB and that nutso armwrestling competition that jacked my arm. Needless to say he’s someone you want around you a few times a day at minimum.
Oh yeah, I found out I have a corneal ulcer and I could’ve gone blind. Yeah excellent.
I’m starting to think my blog timing is just about right. The weekly tabloids are still running their Halloween shots so why can’t I? Last week I headed to hometown Nashville to see NIN in concert on Halloween night! Amazingly this is the second time I’ve seen NIN on Halloween. During the concert Trent even mentioned that this date and venue was becoming ritual. Obviously the show was awesome, Trent never fails to put on a show and the light show on this tour is phenomenal. There were some stage mishaps with the light screens (i guess some idiot was pointing a lazer into the light screens hindering the visuals.) But these screw ups were kind of blessing in disguise because before the last set Trent talked to the crowd for like 5 mins. I’ve seen NIN enough to know this never happens and when it does you shut the hell up and listen! The concert was really memorable because it was my nephew Mikito’s first concert and a rightly chosen one at that! I’m sure his cool teenager status is going through the roof in lil’ ole’ Dickson! Also Sarah’s whole fringin’ family came making the night a riot on many levels.
That weekend was also little Gracie’s baptism, so I had plenty of time with my second family, the Richardson’s. Oh yeah I spent time with my first family too, doing a lot of chillin’, eatin’ and drinkin’. By the time I got back to the Red I sucked again, but it was all worth it.
Dear Red States: We’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware,that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss. We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we’re going to want all our citizensback from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they’re apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don’t care if you don’t show pictures of their children’s caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we’re not willing to spend our resources in Bush’s Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country’s fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95 percent of America’s quality wines, 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of alltelevangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacredunless we’re discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy *******s believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties. Finally, we’re taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico. Peace out, Blue States
The past week has produced a ton of emotions. The first being my ecstatic response to the election of Barack Obama! Funny enough I was in a room of Spaniards when the news broke and it was pretty interesting not being able to fully express myself, but instead trying to break the news down in my terrible broken Spanish. Yeah translating Barack’s acceptance speech after a few beers was pathetic to say the least.
The tragic twist of that night, was that I learned two climbers from the Red River Gorge, Ben and Laura, had been found dead only hours before. Though I didn’t know the climbers well the news is simply tragic, and the look on their friends faces still sticks with me. Here’s a short write up on the incident. In so many ways climbing is extremely safe, but unfortunately when things go wrong the consequences are severe. My thoughts go out to these two climber’s family and friends.
