Sherpa anyone?

I had my first portering job today. Portering is Sherpa-esque in the fact that you hike up a mountain and carry other people's stuff for them. Christian asked me if I would do it for his clients camped up at the base of Mount Owen. And me, being the expert on that mountain in particular, agreed.

Which meant...getting up at 3 in the morning, driving and hour to the park to start hiking at 4:45 - alone, in the dark, alone, dark...alone. Mind you this was also the very trail that Daisy, Sarah and I encountered a bear a couple days back. So I set on my jolly way freezing cold, guided by the moon because it was so bright. I would walk a ways, then stop to see if I heard any movement in the bushes. Then keep on going, then stop. But it was actually one of the coolest things I've done. I've never heard silence so (I'm going to use the adjective silent here - I think it only appropriate) silent. And I got to watch the sun rise. And all the birds wake up. So I stayed on the trail for 5 miles, then veered off the trail into a boulder field. This is where it became tricky.

I tried to take the path of least resistance. That is, the path were I wouldn't get stuck in between two boulders or get stuck on top of a boulder with no where to go but to jump off, or step on the little boudlers and go sliding down hill. Unfortunately the path of least resistance was sort of down hill. So I proceeded down until I looked up, and realized what I had done. And with Tom Petty's "Oh my my, oh hell yes" song in my head (don't ask me why this song came to me this morning. I haven't listened to it in years, years I tell you) I had to remind myself to go up. I did the by saying out loud. Go up. And when I came to a cross roads of which way to go in the field, I said "up", and up I went. So I picked my way through the boulder field until I reached camp and the 3 merry men eating their breakfast.

We packed up camp, I put most of their stuff in my pack, and we headed back down the boulder field. It was much easier this way because Christian was picking the path, all I had to do was follow. So now I know exactly how the Sherpas feel when carrying people stuff up Mount Everst. I know all the emtions they go through, their physical exursion, and their devotion to the job. I know what it's like....

cupa joe...

I spent this morning on a coffee kick. After three cups of coffee I was totally worthless. I kept on bumping into things, not being able to hold anything still, dropping things. I tried to eat a lot to soak up some of the coffee in my body. It didn't help. So then I went to go do ceramics. Not the best decision, but I think the coffee was affecting my decision making abilities.

I had to glaze all the pots that I made. This was a process. With over 60 combinations of glazes to choose from, the scene played out as such - crazy shaky girl, splashing glazes all over the floor, murmuring to herself and standing and staring at one spot on the floor while trying to remember the exact combination of glazes that she just did to recreate it again with another bowl.

I'm in the library now on the home stretch of grant writing - I hope. I just tried to hold in a sneeze. It ended up making a really weird loud noise that didn't sound like a sneeze at all. I think I scared the girl next to me.

This last week...

Over the past week I've learned...

buffalos burp.





Baby bears are scarier than grown bears when you don't see the mother around. It's a bear, I promise...






Nothing can replace good friends - not even the latest issue of US Weekly. I've already gotten it, and it's not helping.


Remember who your audience is, especially when you're telling your friend that you "just want to burp" her while patting her back. This scene didn't go over well in front of people we didn't really know. They thought it was weird - I don't know why.

It's hard to name all 50 states.

It's hard to remember if there are 50 or 52 states.

It's possible to remember every line in Waiting for Guffman and work them in to everyday conversation. But refer back to the lesson of "remember who your audience is"... This one could be tricky.

My feet are fascinating. Especially because everyday they shed more and more layers. Disgusting, but fascinating. Daisy described me as "over there like a true debutant picking at her feet".

Counter Balance - We don't know what it is, but we have it

Sarah G and I went backpacking in the Tetons the other day. We went to a glacier lake right under the Grand. Right when we arrived at our little lake it started raining, but with the sun out. So we stood under a tree and waited for it to stop. Then we set up camp. It took 45 minutes to hang the bear bag. It was a lot of granny throws, rocks being flung in all directions, rocks flying out of the rope that we tied around them, rope getting tangled - but perserverance pays off and we finally hung the perfect bear bag - with counter balance. Then we sat down for a nice dinner for burnt pita pizzas.


I almost hit a moose the other day that ran into the road right in front of me.

I told a hot guy that I didn't need to eat any more fiberous food because I was regular.

Sarah and I have figured out the perfect way to find our way around Jackson. Go into a hotel and ask for directions. They automatically pull out a map and highlighter and highlight the path for you. It's wonderful. Now we have a collection of maps with little paths layed out for us.

Mini golf pros...

I was a participant in the first and last annual Jackson Hole minigolf tournament. My team, the only all girls team, dominated. Well, that is to say our score card was pretty stellar. And our style points were not to be rivaled. Do-overs were abundant. Obstacles on the course were easily avoided. Strategic standing (for blocking purposes) was in high demand. Random cheers so we were to give the illusion of a great play, happened often. And hot pink lipstick was applied by all.

If anyone has an opinion on whether or not I should move to Chile for 6 months, I would love to hear it. This topic is up for debate from August 11th to the 14th. I will take your points into consideration, but make no promises on the final decision.

Also, if you are an adult (that is, not a teenager - funny how adult is defined), and are interested in going to Chile yourself for 2 weeks to do service projects in Torres del Paine National Park, let me know. Apparently I'm in charge of putting a trip together. The trip would happen sometime in April.

Do America? Stop saying that Mr. Knopfler...

Likes and dislikes...
I strongly dislike Mark Knopfler right now, especially his song "Do America" which my computer seems to favor. But I do like Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" song, which I just bought off itunes. And of course Justin's "Bringing Sexy Back".
Photoshop. Why is it so expensive and why can't I get it for free?
My Chacos. They are making my feet smell really bad. I mean REALLY bad. I can smell them just sitting down. But I do like the smell of Tide, which is on the table right next to me.
I do like Dennis Haskin's new billboard campaign for veggie's in Tennessee. "Ocra rings my bell" I believe he is saying while holding ocra. And I do like the fact that Dennis Haskin's yelled at me when I was leaving his talk that I had to photograph for Furman a year ago. I got all the pictures I needed so I left the front row with my huge camera and he didn't like it. So he stopped his talk and yelled at me for leaving. So everying Mr. Belding is a like.

I found a friend yesterday. Literally, I found him. I lost him three years ago when I left Yosemite, but I found him in Jackson yesterday. In the ceramics studio. That's right my friends, last night I had dinner with 3 other people my own age.

not a girl, not yet a woman...but definitely not a man

Well it happened again. I was confused for a man. I walked over to Christian and Sue's to say hello and they were outside talking to one of their friends who had just dropped Mariela off. The man looks and me then looks at Christian and says, "Is this a daughter or a son?" To that, I just raised my eyebrows and didn't say anything. I don't think Christian heard the "or a son" part and answered that I was a cousin. Sue heard and rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath. Stupid man. He had to deal with me throwing daggers with my eyes for the rest of the conversation.

I went on a bike ride yesterday. My chain fell off my bike in the middle of no where. So I had to sit there and fix it as all these cars zoomed by. And right when I broke down a little rain cloud came and rained on me. Then when I got it fixed, the rain went away. I think it was a representative metaphor for my mood. When I finally got going again dogs started chasing me - uphill. Then once I shook the dogs a huge wind storm came that was blowing all my facial features to the side and trying to push my bike into traffic. Interesting ride. I think I'll go on another one today.

That mountain ain't got nothin' on me...

Today I bounded up the Snow King Mountain. This was a hike that I did two weeks ago. On that hike by the 134th switchback I was drenched in sweat, bent over with my hands on my knees, and used the expression "Holy shit". This time I was feeling good. I even passed a mountain biker while he was struggling to keep his uphill momentum going. The only thing that put a damper on my hike was a little kid coming down the trail asked me if I had been running. "Why do you ask, you little twerp? No, I just sweat like a man in all situations, thank you very much." But after that unfortunate encounter, it was smooth sailing. Well, until I had to pull the dollar (to ride the gondola down) out of my sports bra and it was soaking wet. I had to wait a minute and let it flap in the wind before I felt comfortable giving it to the attendant.

I researched grants today for the non-profit I now find myself in charge of. It's hard because in the grant database these grants are so specific, and they all sound like worthy causes. So by the end of my search, I had changed the mission of the Global Community Project (youth leadership, environmental, international exchange) to a woman's studies, disabilities, health care, AIDS research, homeless, Jewish, economically disadvantaged program. I think I can really make an impact with the new mission of the Global Community Project.

My left arm is numb. Is that weird?

interaction

I have made a big transition. I have gone from a city of 8 million people to a town of about 800. I have gone from having Bill Murray as a neighbor, to having horses and cows as neighbors. From seeing hundreds of people a day, to just a couple a day - if I'm lucky. I have to be careful of this one. If it gets to be late in the day and I haven't had any social interaction, I have to go to the grocery store, stand in front of the peaches and try to have a conversation. "Ummm... gotta love those Washington peaches, eh?" If that doesn't work, I have to buy a peach so I can have a conversation with the cashier. "Yep, just one peach please. Gotta love those Washington peaches, eh?"

My social interaction yesterday was yoga class. It was taught by Janet, who sounded like Martha Stewart. Which is actually quite nice for a yoga teacher to sound like. If this job Martha has ever falls through, she could always market a yoga tape. I think I did really well because of my yoga pants. It made it look like I knew what I was doing. Well, until the end when we were having our nap time. Everyone was sitting up, while I was still in my fetal position.

random thoughts today...

Never buy a stack of cheese without the paper separators again.
Who was the main singer in the backstreet boys?
Zack Braff is just doing what every other single male in new york is. He's not a player or a man whore.
Where the hell is my computer? - Oh Salt Lake City. Only 5 hours away. Come on USP delivery man. I'll be sitting on the front porch waiting for it tomorrow.
What sandwich did Elvis like? BLT? No it had something to do with peanut butter. Peanut butter and banana? Did he die from that? No, that was Mama Cass. He died on the crapper.

and the quote of the day.
"I'm taking the intern to clean the toilet.... Consider yourself on latrine duty."
And believe you me, it was disgusting. He took the hose sprayed everything down. Took an old broom, cleaned the INSIDE of the latrine first scraped all the crap off the side, then cleaned the toilet seat. He was flinging that thing all around. From now on, you will find me using the bathroom outside of the latrine.

Volume 29 Issue 183

I have taken to reading the Jackson Hole Daily. Only volume 29 issue 183. I haven't remembered to pick the new one up when I am in town. But because of that I have become very well versed in this issue 183. Need a job? I know where you can find one. If you speak perfect English I can tell you who to call for light house keeping duties. I know, I know. I got excited too at first. I had my finger on the button to call. But it's light housekeeping duties, not lighthouse keeping duties. Darn it. I know, I thought it was crazy that Idaho had a lighthouse too, but I wasn't going to argue.

I also think I'm going to go to the Hoback firefighters picnic. This guy last year saw a girl there that he hopes is there again (and it was a year ago, so I'm sure he doesn't even remember what she looks like.) He says in the "personals" section, "sure there were lots of other beautiful women with sticky fingers and rib sauce smiles. But, during the auction you seemed to shine surrounded by voluptuous desserts. Maybe I'll see you again this year Aug. 18th. I'm going to buy a raffle ticket....I hope I'll get lucky." I can smear bbq sauce on my face and act voluptuous around desserts. Oh wait, well I can shine around voluptuous desserts too. I can do both at the same time.

And I might even be able to earn $800 a day on my own candy route! Who knew that Jackson had so many opportunities?