End of Summer, it was 27 degrees on my way to work today

We've tried to pack quite a bit into this last summer. I climbed the Grand this year, I wrestled a pig, went to the figure 8 races, went to Arizona and played on the river with the family, hiked the Thorofare in Yellowstone, fished in Montana, camped and backpacked in Glacier, did the Salt Lake City thing (Mormon tabernacle and whatnot), wondered in Yellowstone a few times, had an 1800 mile road trip, mountain biked a lot, and am still leading our youth group at church.

Through it all Laura and I have had it hanging over our heads that this get-a-way to Jackson, like all beautiful things, cannot last forever. We haven't made any major decision to leave yet, but it's constantly known we'll have to leave sooner or later. The truth is that we are on borrowed time, and that I am somewhat concerned about where we go in life next. I wouldn't say I'm stressed, but I literally have no idea what's next. I'm not sure any of us do though.

Below: me and Laura fishing the Blackfoot in Montana; on the trail in Glacier; Laura celebrating reaching our camp in Glacier

refocus

My blog has been way too inactive lately.

Thoughts:

* Garth Brooks, ropin the wind, its a classic CD!

* Teaching or leading a bunch of high school kids is a serious challenge, especially for a wretch like me... I need God to move.

* I'm really thankful for our friends we've made up here in Jackson. We have younger friends, older friends, christains, non-christians, and people whose life we are interested in and who are interested in us. Sometimes I forget how valuable relationships are. (On that note, I hope all my blog friends are well and I'm going to pray for all of you after I finish typing this, even if you're not on my "list" which I never update.)

* Laura and I are seriously wanting to move forward with some things, but without getting into too much boring detail..... we are just another set of victims of the California economic freefall and we aren't certain we want to go back just to be unemployeed. It's somewhat disconcerting.

* Teton County, where we live, is the wealthiest county in america right now. So I'm a relatively lower class person living in the richest county in the richest country on earth. I'm seriously pondering and examing myself to make sure I'm thankful for what I have, and that I become a good steward of my life and my resources, limited as they may be.

* 10 years after high school, I'm happy with where I'm at....... 10 years after high school I'm also not happy with where I'm at.

Big Summer Plans:

Clam bake on 4th of July

Hiking the Thorofare in Yellowstone in August

Youth group backpacking trip in August???

Family and friends visiting, happy faces

10 days in Glacier and Montana

Wind River 3 day trip

Some favorite pictures:

80's music with my friend

Sadly, my friend Jeff (who I of course nick-named Heff) went to be with Jesus a few weeks ago. I'll miss trying to stump each other with 80's music trivia, plus he knew almost the entire Vanilla Ice video dance moves. I'll miss the enthusiasm he had for Christ, he played the air drums when he worshipped. I'll miss his leadership in the youth ministry. But most of all, I'll miss seeing him with his family and kids. They'll be living their lives without him. Jeff is now present with my Lord, but I wish we had had more time with him.

We haven't frozen to death yet...

Its been a while since I posted. My computer contracted a virus, most likely an STD or West Nile, that killed it. So we had to buy and setup a new machine (thanks to Senior Pool who never changes and never should). So instead of posting some nugget of profound truth, I figured I'd recap our last month or so of activities.

We snowmobiled up the river in Granite Canyon and hung out at the hot springs. Sadly Laura and I lost our chicken fight death match to Joel and Lisa. It was snowing like mad the whole time and was one of my highlights of the whole winter, so far.

On this outing we went up to the park and snowshoed to Huckleberry Hot Springs. Its a bit more natural than Granite. I heard a Bison died in hot spring a little while after we were there.

The Pedigree dog sled race that started in Jackson was actually really fun. The dogs were crazy into it. Any time the sled stops, they freak out, they freaking live to mush.



I'm hoping the below pictures give some idea how cold it can be.

Its actually been a pretty mild winter so far, but one day on the way to work the temperature was -38F. It was not good. 70 degrees below freezing is not okay. We mainly look forward to it snowing because its in the 20's when it snows. When its blue skies it can get crazy cold.

This is Laura and our friend Kristy up in the park cross country

skiing.

Laura is getting into this cross country thing. I'm not. But it beautiful where some of the trails are.

It's obvious but the ongoing theme in all these pictures is snow and snow based activities. I've got a few other things that are on the schedule that I'm really looking forward too: Ice Fishing, building and using a snow cave, and finally some temperatures above 30 in the spring. I've had some awesome days snowboarding. We had one day with powder about 60 inches deep. It was amazing. Laura and I are really enjoying our church and friends from the church up here. Its hard to imagine us leaving now... but we're pretty sure we'll have to since its so expensive to buy a house. But that's life. I'm just happy God has given us the time here that we've had already. In the summer we've got a trip planned to Glacier in Montana, another hike on the Teton Crest, and a multi-day kayak trip in the Wind River Range. Friends welcome.

Listening... listening..... what?

Something that bothers me about myself is that, sometimes and all too often, someone will be talking and I will start to zone out. Its happening more and more often. It's not so bad when I'm having small talk, but the other day someone was sharing something very personal and important, and for some reason I lost it. I stopped looking at the person, instead I was just looking at nothing with my head pointed in their direction. My eyes went blank and I was thinking about literally nothing. I didn't know it was possible to not think until it happened. For a minute I thought I had fallen asleep but no, I had just blanked out.

What bothers me even more is when I think I've got some great comment to say, and while someone else is talking, all I can think about is saying my stupid, witty comment. When it does happen I feel super self-absorbed.

Another thing I was reminded of this week is that you never really know whats going on with other people. Usually, and regularly, a person who is really arrogant or is an expert on every subject just pisses me off. They always have to one up you. Have a better story, or know more than you about everything. Well that's what I always think. But I'm convinced that people who act like that are really just reaching out and telling you that they are super troubled. They are compensating for some problem they're having, they just won't tell you about it. Sadly it sometimes comes out tragically later. It reminds me of when Jesus said its easy to love your friends, but loving your enemy (mainly in my world that's more like people I just don't like) is whats important for a Christian. I'm always amazed when Jesus' words hit me in a different light like that. I wish I was better at doing the simple stuff Jesus wants me to do. It reminds me a lot of this song, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OihvG607W-c which I've been singing and making my prayer a lot lately.

Vitiolic

The other day Laura and I went to dinner and then to see A Midsummer's Night Dream with some people from her work, who all happen to be Democrats. Now you may have noticed that the election is coming up, which isn't obvious since they've been campaigning for like 3 years, so of course the conversation went to politics. Now its known at Laura's office that she is a Christian, and believes in conservative values, and apparently that means we both must be rabid Mccain/Palin supporting, card carrying Republicans. Granted that this isn't true, and we're both Libertarians and no candidate I've ever voted for has had more than 1% of the vote, but still we apparently represent McCain to the Democrats we run into.

So, over some Pad Thai this one individual went on to say that Laura and I "seem so smart, except when it comes to politics." Then this person went on to explain that Palin is the 'End of Days', that 'America is too racist to vote for Obama', and McCain and the Republicans are running ads using racist terms about Obama (need I use the terms?). In between being insulted for being a McCain supporter (which I'm not) and eating my Pad See Eiw, it suddenly struck me that politics is this guys religion, and he's militantly serious about it.

One thing that struck me about this, and a few other incidents I've had lately, is that if you don't fit into one person's party then you are a total buffoon to that person. For instance, if you're talking to a Republican and you say you aren't a Republican, then that person automatically thinks you're an unemployed hippy with no moral values. If you tell a Democrat that you aren't a Democrat, then you must me a war mongering torture loving oil tycoon. I guess it's easier to stereotype and demonize someone you disagree with rather than have honest and real dialogue.

Another thing I noticed is that if a person supports "Candidate A", then "Candidate A" can do NO wrong, they're the Messiah; and thus "Candidate B" is the Devil and is going to ruin this country on purpose. As a matter of fact, that's they're campaign platform: "I'm Candidate B and I'm going to ruin this country because that's what I think is best. I'm Candidate B and I support this message. By the way Candidate A hates sick kids." I don't understand this simplistic viewpoint. I don't even agree with myself all the time, why would I always agree with someone else? Why would I subjugate myself, my experience, and opinions to some politician?

So after you vote or don't vote, and I don't give a crap who you vote for, don't be an A-hole to someone who doesn't vote exactly like you.

Fish Stories