Backpacking Love

I love this place, I love this man,
The sun I love, and even the sand...
From atop the dunes we survey the beach,
The bald eagle flies just out of reach,
High we sit, and watch the sparkling lake,
Leaving only footprints, only pictures we take...
We own no land, nor the skies,
But today this is ours, fleeting moments, as the eagle flies.
We do have each others' love and trust,
For us, right now, that is enough.

Ryan and I at Manistee National Forest, Michigan... Pure Michigan.

 Breathe!

Aliens and Hexes

As a child, I always loved climbing stuff. Maybe humans have a natural inclination to climb. I climbed buildings, football goal posts, trees, walls, rocks/boulders etc.
Then somewhere the climbing stopped as it was inappropriate all of a sudden.
I wanted to start climbing again when I saw the rock wall at the University of Akron and wanted to get in shape to climb. I thought it was all arm strength. Little did I know it involved so so so much more.

So I wanted to have a strong upper body, but it was actually the whole body, mind and spirit. It all had to be in tune in sync with each other - this is what I learned much later.

I finally began climbing in 2009. I would do easy routes at the rock gym. I bought my own shoes and harness, but didn't learn to belay until 2011 summer. Therefore I really got into it in 2011. In 2009 I didn't push myself, mental conditioning was lacking a lot, technique lacked, and didn't handle the challenges enough.

As of 2011: I climbed outdoors, indoors and have see and experienced great heights. Mental conditioning - there is no end to that. Our minds are brilliant yet we have a lot of barriers to overcome. It is much like the matrix - you HAVE to "free you mind" so you have to get over the fact that "I can not" and just do it, because you can! (there are many proofs that one CAN do it, no matter what).

Seneca rocks - The beauty and intensity was mind numbing. I'm still reeling from the experience which I loved, but filled me with a 1000 different emotions, all as intense as the other... love, hate, anger, frustration, fear, self loathing, determination, exhaustion, warmth, cold, dread, fear, dread, love...

I was nervous the whole trip... irrational fears filled me: KKK, aliens, satanic worshipers... yes... I was "fear vomiting", cause I knew I would be stressed by the exposure of the cliff face we would be climbing. We were studying the book of the routes, self saving techniques, etc... funny thing was both aliens and hexes were mentioned on the same page (Seneca Rocks Climbing Guide). So the book makes it sound easy, but you know reality is different. Reality! Its just not a climb, its you, your mind, your body with the earth - doing together, getting to a higher place of consciousness and overcoming obstacles which include the above (your mind, body, spirit and the earth).

I also had a deep drunken conversation with Keith about eating animals, vegetarianism... which gave me a lot to think about and question, about respect, love, friendship, life and death. YES this is LIFE! We think about what nourishes us, where it comes from, it makes us do what we do, and we need to respect it (the food), ourselves, and our bodies.

So in tune with nature, body, mind and deep deep feelings, thoughts, beliefs... = Intense and beautiful.

The beauty and the intensity made me shed a tear or two, but I know its a catharsis I still need to face and let flow.





Breathe.

Birding

I must say running in the park has become an awesome way for me to unwind no matter how exhausted i am at the end of the day. There's nothing like rolling hills, wetlands, and open areas where birds flit about. Listening to and watching the birds.

I saw a Indigo Bunting the other day while running with Cricket! It was a fabulous sight. I had seen it in the picture in the book and it was "eh" like not too great. But when one sees these birds in real life in the wild. What a sight! Quoting Birds of Ohio author Stan Tekeila "Actually a black bird, as it doesnt have any blue pigment in its feathers. As with the Blue Jay, sunlight is refracted within the structure of the Bunting's feathers, making them appear blue. Appears iridescent in direct sunlight."

It was in direct sunlight and appeared utterly marvelous. "They are seen on woodland edges, feeding on insects. Males often sing from treetops to attract mates." and this is exactly how i saw it. edge of woods on a large tree by the wetlands, singing at intervals. Beautiful voice.

Birdwatching has so many perks and is such a lovely activity. combined with running, well there we have health, relaxation, enjoyment and excitement all in one!

(Location: Buckeye Woods Park, Medina Park District, Medina, Ohio)