Gorgeous fall day in Umtanum Canyon!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Quick before fall is over!
I forgot to put up these photos before! Love, love, LOVE the pumpkin farm! Kristin and I are definitely doing this every year from now on. :-)
Monday, November 9, 2009
November 9. 1989
20 years ago today....
Maybe it wasn't big news here, but at the time I was in 9th grade and living in Eindhoven in southwest Holland.
It was the day the Berlin Wall came down. Or rather, the day people started climbing all over it and wacking it with hammers. For months before that, people had been pouring into West Germany from East Germany via Hungary, which had opened it's border. This was in the news daily. I remember people partying in the streets and neighbors crying with joy (if they had relatives or friends in Eastern Europe or were just happy about it) and fear (I remember there was some fear that Germany would now reunite and cause trouble again). I remember watching tv with my family for hours and watching people climbing on the wall from both sides. I was 14 but I'd already had a whole year in Holland of intense modern European history, and my parents (especially my Mom) talked a lot about the cold war and why we couldn't go visit places in Eastern Europe very easily. My Mom had gone on at least one road trip with her family through Eastern Europe in the 60s (an epic journey from Beirut to France in a Volkswagen Bug) so I remember her telling us about it. I definitely understood that what I was witnessing was a really big deal.
A few months later we went to visit Berlin and I got to whack on the west side of the wall and cut off my very own piece with a rock hammer, with the still present guards pointing their machine guns unenthusiastically towards the wall from the other side. Even though big changes started that night, change took time on the Eastside. When we crossed the border, I remember we went through a creepy set of metal doors that seemed to only be open going one way. Economically, things were clearly still pretty dire in East Berlin. We also went to the Checkpoint Charlie museum, which I remember loving because it was full of stories of people who did all kinds of wild things to try to cross to the west. I think that was the first time that I was consciously aware of being a privileged person, who had opportunity and freedom that many in the world didn't have. I became aware of what people were willing to risk for what I took for granted and never questioned. I knew this conceptually before, but I think this was my first real life exposure to this reality.
Maybe the best memory of that trip to Berlin was standing on the Wall on Easter morning, right where we saw people climbing on the wall on that November night a few months before. I haven't been to Berlin since then, but I understand that the wall and Checkpoint Charlie have been completely dismantled, which seems like a reasonable and healthy thing for Germany to do. I'm glad I got the chance to see it and experience all that change and excitement a little bit closer than I would have been able to here in the US.
Maybe it wasn't big news here, but at the time I was in 9th grade and living in Eindhoven in southwest Holland.
It was the day the Berlin Wall came down. Or rather, the day people started climbing all over it and wacking it with hammers. For months before that, people had been pouring into West Germany from East Germany via Hungary, which had opened it's border. This was in the news daily. I remember people partying in the streets and neighbors crying with joy (if they had relatives or friends in Eastern Europe or were just happy about it) and fear (I remember there was some fear that Germany would now reunite and cause trouble again). I remember watching tv with my family for hours and watching people climbing on the wall from both sides. I was 14 but I'd already had a whole year in Holland of intense modern European history, and my parents (especially my Mom) talked a lot about the cold war and why we couldn't go visit places in Eastern Europe very easily. My Mom had gone on at least one road trip with her family through Eastern Europe in the 60s (an epic journey from Beirut to France in a Volkswagen Bug) so I remember her telling us about it. I definitely understood that what I was witnessing was a really big deal.
A few months later we went to visit Berlin and I got to whack on the west side of the wall and cut off my very own piece with a rock hammer, with the still present guards pointing their machine guns unenthusiastically towards the wall from the other side. Even though big changes started that night, change took time on the Eastside. When we crossed the border, I remember we went through a creepy set of metal doors that seemed to only be open going one way. Economically, things were clearly still pretty dire in East Berlin. We also went to the Checkpoint Charlie museum, which I remember loving because it was full of stories of people who did all kinds of wild things to try to cross to the west. I think that was the first time that I was consciously aware of being a privileged person, who had opportunity and freedom that many in the world didn't have. I became aware of what people were willing to risk for what I took for granted and never questioned. I knew this conceptually before, but I think this was my first real life exposure to this reality.
Maybe the best memory of that trip to Berlin was standing on the Wall on Easter morning, right where we saw people climbing on the wall on that November night a few months before. I haven't been to Berlin since then, but I understand that the wall and Checkpoint Charlie have been completely dismantled, which seems like a reasonable and healthy thing for Germany to do. I'm glad I got the chance to see it and experience all that change and excitement a little bit closer than I would have been able to here in the US.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
This time I'm trying to change your mind if you disagree with me.
Next week in Washington we are voting on Referendum 71, which asks voters to approve the "Everything but Marriage Law". My thoughts:
I'm interested in politics and I like to discuss them. I like to discuss with people who agree with me and people who disagree with me. I learned a long time ago that different ideas are an important part of human relationship and freedom. In many parts of the world, people are ostracized, persecuted, tortured or killed for speaking their mind. I do not take this for granted.
While this is a note about an issue on our ballot for Tuesday's election, this is not a note about politics. This is a note about civil rights, and about love and being grateful for it: Referendum 71.
Please vote to approve this important Referendum.
Maybe you're already voting for this. If you are, it warms my heart and gives me hope. Please vote. This is really important. If you're not, please consider my plea.
I understand that their are many who believe it is wrong to be homosexual and that gay and lesbian couples should not be permitted to be married. To be clear, I do not agree. In fact, I very strongly disagree. I'm passionate about marriage equality. But I won't try to change any minds about that (not right now, anyway). That's not what is at issue here.
What is at issue are human rights, compassion and family. Marriage is a religious institution, shared by many faiths. People hold deep and personal views about marriage, as is appropriate. Churches (as well as Synagogues, Mosques, and all other houses of worship) should have the freedom to decide who they will and won't marry. This should not extend to limiting the rights of others when it comes to the eyes of civil law. This law deals with things like being able to take time off of work (with or without pay as dictated by employer) to care for a partner (as I would be able to for Jay, and I know he could for me), and a wide range of other benefits that we heterosexual people (as well as parents and children) take for granted.
I cannot imagine any good reason to not allow couples who already face so much discrimination and fear to have this security and comfort that at least their government won't condemn them for their commitment to each other.
Please vote to approve this referendum EVEN IF you believe that marriage must be between a man and a woman. I believe you can approve this referendum out of compassion and generosity towards others, without compromising your beliefs.
This isn't about politics, or being conservative or liberal, or gay or straight, or Christian or not Christian. This is about extending rights to all of our friends, family and neighbors.
Also, it doesn't cost anything. Well, it costs about $300,000 to change some forms and things. A small price to pay for changing people's lives and honoring human dignity.
Please.
I'm interested in politics and I like to discuss them. I like to discuss with people who agree with me and people who disagree with me. I learned a long time ago that different ideas are an important part of human relationship and freedom. In many parts of the world, people are ostracized, persecuted, tortured or killed for speaking their mind. I do not take this for granted.
While this is a note about an issue on our ballot for Tuesday's election, this is not a note about politics. This is a note about civil rights, and about love and being grateful for it: Referendum 71.
Please vote to approve this important Referendum.
Maybe you're already voting for this. If you are, it warms my heart and gives me hope. Please vote. This is really important. If you're not, please consider my plea.
I understand that their are many who believe it is wrong to be homosexual and that gay and lesbian couples should not be permitted to be married. To be clear, I do not agree. In fact, I very strongly disagree. I'm passionate about marriage equality. But I won't try to change any minds about that (not right now, anyway). That's not what is at issue here.
What is at issue are human rights, compassion and family. Marriage is a religious institution, shared by many faiths. People hold deep and personal views about marriage, as is appropriate. Churches (as well as Synagogues, Mosques, and all other houses of worship) should have the freedom to decide who they will and won't marry. This should not extend to limiting the rights of others when it comes to the eyes of civil law. This law deals with things like being able to take time off of work (with or without pay as dictated by employer) to care for a partner (as I would be able to for Jay, and I know he could for me), and a wide range of other benefits that we heterosexual people (as well as parents and children) take for granted.
I cannot imagine any good reason to not allow couples who already face so much discrimination and fear to have this security and comfort that at least their government won't condemn them for their commitment to each other.
Please vote to approve this referendum EVEN IF you believe that marriage must be between a man and a woman. I believe you can approve this referendum out of compassion and generosity towards others, without compromising your beliefs.
This isn't about politics, or being conservative or liberal, or gay or straight, or Christian or not Christian. This is about extending rights to all of our friends, family and neighbors.
Also, it doesn't cost anything. Well, it costs about $300,000 to change some forms and things. A small price to pay for changing people's lives and honoring human dignity.
Please.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Returning to "normal"
Just like every year, the last couple months have been crazy. At the beginning of the year, there are staff to train, programs to get going, administration to fight with over endless, endless logistical details, training and professional development for myself and evening events. I hate feeling like I don't have time for anything, am way behind on everything, and can barely keep it together. This week things will start improving and I am so ready for it! I am ready for the cozy and wonderful part of fall and being done with the miserably hectic part.
Phew...
Phew...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Lassen Volcanic National Park
We highly recommend a trip to this park! It was amazing and we absolutely loved it. We went for Labor Day weekend and we'll definitely be going again. It was beautiful, varied and not too crowded. And it had volcanism everywhere. We camped at Butte Lake (best campground we saw too if you don't mind not having a shower) in the NE corner, climbed the Cinder Cone, drove the park road and walked to Bumpass Hell, and enjoyed lots of relaxing time by the fire. Jay took some amazing night photos, I'll get those up here eventually too.Trail approaching the Cinder Cone:
Jay climbing the Cinder Cone
The view of the Cinder Cone Crater and mountains in the distance
View across the Lava Beds to Butte Lake, where we camped
Cinder Cone top with Lassen Peak in the background
Looking down on the painted dunes
On the way down!
Walking on the moon
Near where we camped
Another lake, closer to Lassen Peak
Jay on the trail to Bumpass Hell (small geyser basin)
Bumpass Hell
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Mt St Helens Climb
This was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I knew there would be a great view and I was excited for the challenge and the sense of accomplishment, but that was nothing compared to what it is actually like. I think I expected some element of what I call the "Mona Lisa Effect". The Mona Lisa is something that everyone in western society has seen many times. I found, at the age of 13 when I saw it, that it was a bit disappointing. The disappointment came from being told how exciting it would be to see it "in person" and not just a photo. The problem is, when you see it, it looks EXACTLY like a photo. There's crowds of people and it's in a dim room and it feels extremely anticlimatic. I've decided this is one reason I like hiking. You see amazing things, but it's different every time and never looks like a photo. Also, the photos never do it justice (even though you have to keep taking them) but there really is something about what you experienced that a photo never captures. I think it's the element of experience, it's not just seeing something with your eyes, like the difference between looking at the water and being in a boat. I thought this might be different, having seen SO many photos of the crater and seeing it from the other side (and obviously I was not going to go in it to have a better experience!).It wasn't just the ever changing view and landscape throughout the climb (and descent as the weather had changed), or just the incredible view of three cascade volcanoes (Hood, Adams and Rainier) that could be clearly seen (although that was amazing!), or the great people to climb with, or the ever increasing sense looking down of "seriously, did I really climb up that far??", it was the crater and experience of being on the volcano itself.
The edge of the crater rim (well, not the VERY edge, just CLOSE to the edge) was not just a great view of a volcano. It wasn't like being at the edge of a cliff, it was like being at the edge of a giant mouth. Although the volcano is not very active at the moment, it still felt very much alive. Multiple landslides sprung down the inside of the crater while we watched, and several new steam vents opened and closed in various places. In addition, the lava dome has a continuous vent of steam, a constant rumbling sound and a noticeable sulphur smell. Incredible.
Foggy forest on the way up
Getting onto the rocks
Fall colors starting to show at 5000'
Regular snacks are important
The accurately named Point 5994 according to my map, which came in and out of the fog on the way up
Korie, Frank and Annie coming up the rocks...rocks...rocks!
Getting closer to the top...snowfields alongside us
Getting above the clouds
Annie and Frank walk on the moon
The moon is at a pretty steep angle
Just a few more feet to the top!
Looking down at others making the last push (this part really, really sucked by the way!)
360 degree view at the top...starting with the South: Mt Hood
And East: Mt Adams
And Northeast: Mt Rainier (and Spirit Lake in the foreground)
And Northwest: towards Seattle
And West
Layers of exposed mountain in the crater (with landslides)
We made it!
Korie's magazine cover photo
Korie and I with the crater, Spirit Lake and Mt Rainier
Inside the crater...
By the time we headed down, the clouds on our side of the mountain had mostly cleared, giving us a great view (that we didn't see on the way up) as we made our way down.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
