Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Telling Prompt
  School lunches are unbelievably bad.


Showing
  I handed my tray to the lunch lady. She had to tug it from my hand as I gave it a hesitant squeeze as if I rather would've kept it. I peeked over the barrier wall, the stench of greasy heat-lamp food punching me in the face. 'Clink!' She slapped the first green concoction on the plate, sparse pieces of meat floating here and there.  
  "Whoops," She mumbled. "forgot the gloves," she turned around to grab them, her back revealing her free hand picking a wedgie. "You want chicken, or...that stuff?"
  "I'll take the chicken." 



Monday, February 13, 2012

Have You Ever Jumped off of a Cliff?

(freewrite 3)

  Have you ever? Well I have indeed, maybe some of you even? If i specify more you may agree, my particular form is more popularly referred to as cliff-diving.  As it sounds is exactly what is done. The Diver jumps from a cliff, any height of his choosing, with the landing being a water source (hopefully a deep one). Cliff-jumping is one of the many ways to experience free-falling. Moments, many times seconds, when the body feels no gravitational pull as there is nothing to resist it. It is quiet with the exception of the rushing air surrounding you.  A perk offered by cliff-jumping that is unique to the sport (as compared to other free-falling sports) is the water landing. The outbreak of adrenaline and rush of air instantly interrupted by a missile-like entrance into the water. The underwater descent lasting for maybe 40 feet depending on the jump height. This is when the excitement of accomplishment hits you.  It is pure silence accompanied by the muffled underwater movement.  Heart still pounding.
I enjoy cliff jumping as a hobby and is one of the many ways I take advantage of the beautiful place we live in. The Falthead offers many lakes to partake in cliff-jumping such as Tally Lake (a pristine spot and a beautiful lake as well). Tally Lake holds my record, at 90 feet. The 90 footer is the tallest offered by Tally. That is unless you have a boat, then a 125 footer can be accessed across the lake. Always trying to outdo myself, I have the 125 footer in my sights for this upcoming summer. Many people call me crazy, but it is how I make the most of my life. Whether it be hitting eye-watering speeds on Whitefish Mtn, rocketing out of a berm on my motorbike, or free-falling into a lake, it is was drives me. I am an adrenaline junky. I live for crazy. I live for exciting. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Have you ever escaped all civilization, and been glad to be there?

Escaping from all civilization and being in complete solitude, depending completely on the items within your pack, can be among the most relaxing and rewarding things a human can do. I have been a big fan of enjoying this escape for many years of my life. I have many friends that enjoy this same hobby with me, whom also enjoy anything outdoors. We take this Hobby seriously, especially wilderness hikes, Surviving off of the back tens of miles from all civilization. Now don't think this is some primitive mountain-man stuff. We use very specialized hardware for the hikes that are engineered for hiking-style camping. Lightweight packs that contain freeze-dried food, ultra-lightweight stoves and one-pound football sized sleeping bags.  The lists goes on, every item is designed to be used in light-weight, more serious back-packing. We pack all these items into packs and use them to enjoy civilization-free wilderness and it really brings utter relaxation. It is a change of pace from the rushed modern world and that change brings a peace found nowhere else. The other half of the experience include seeing breathtaking sites no road will ever take you. Standing atop natures greatest creations among one of the most beautiful states in the nation. Each night brings us to a new beautiful location; waterfalls, crystal clear lakes resting in enormous valleys, cliff sides overlooking entire mountain ranges. Not including the beautiful trails hiked from site to site. Now the outdoors are not exciting to many people, some prefer the modern life. As I enjoy the city as well(don't get me wrong) I enjoy the occasional release found in nature.  Many of the most enjoyable moments of my life have occurred with friends and I whom are hundreds of miles from civilization. The outdoors are the thing I will always love most and hiking is one my favorite routes of getting my dose. Hiking has brought me to the most beautiful places I have ever seen, places that can only be accessed by hiking many many miles into wilderness, and that is something I will always be grateful to have. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Have You Ever Been Caught in an Under-current? (freewrite 1)

I was only in elementary school. The age when fear was very simple and easily provoked. When fear was the most common emotion and the decision maker behind my schemes and all those decisions of my peers.  I can't do it, what if it hurts? Don't do that, what if this happens? It was the most powerful of emotions my simple mind was capable of. As a child, life was so full of unkowns and inexperience. The multitude of question marks created by the unknown, and all things bigger than myself, were filled with fear as a default action taken by myself and all children. When I try to remember situations in my childhood that invoked fear, one particular experience remains vivid. Not a playful fear but a deep, gut-wrenching fear that gives me the chills to this day. It happened when my best friend Des and I decided to float the Stillwater River, as we did every other hot summer day. The float was just as any other until we came into a faster section of the river that included many obstacles as well. One of the obstacles was a log stretching across the river. the log created a special current as water was pushed above and below, creating an undercurrent in the stream beyond the log. Fear was already setting in as we came into the section, but it was a playful fear. the current funneled me towards the log, a direction i did not want to go. The playful fear became a little more real as I looked towards the unknown. An unknown that was translated by my young mind into fear. Fear not because I knew of the danger, but because i didnt know. Colliding with river debris was nothing outside the norm but the river was acting funny. it was moving unnaturally, oddly twisting and turning around the log before moving on. My tube hit the log, vibrating for an instant. I expected to be pushed aside, the outcome of colliding with all things previous. Instead, the tube and I were sucked underneath. It was startling, but handleable (made that word up i think, but its a freewrite!). Once I had time to think I realized the water was moving very awkwardly. I tried to correct my orientation and stabilize my submerged body, then hitting the full under-current. I was tugged back the direction whence i came and was forced into an underwater barrel-roll. Now I was terrified. As I panicked, I kicked and swung every limb, trying to move anywhere but the position I was in.  I didn't know what was up or what was down. I needed air and was making no progress. Now fear completely took hold of me, "I need to get out, I'm not going to die." My lungs were convulsing, with no more energy to use adrenaline blasted through my body, my twists and kicks became more powerful as I felt this was life or death. Then, somehow, someway, the current moved in my favor, or I made the correct motion, but I hit the surface. My mouth split open, gasping for air. I pulled myself as far out of the water as possible and clung to the log. Heart racing, I breathed slowly, embracing the now so cherished air. I heard Des laughing, oblivious to the fact that I was close to death moments before. He shouted "let's go dude!" and floated around the bend. I laid on the log, motionless for probably 15 minutes before I began to do anything but savor every breath. I pulled myself atop the log and looked for a way out.  Terror sunk in again, I had to swim to shore to get out, the log was mid-river. I trembled and lied my head on the log. "no, no! I can't do this. I can't get back in." Sprawled across the log, I sulked in dread and started to get cold. "I have to do this." I decided I needed to spring off the log and as far downriver as possible. My heart picked up pace again as i positioned my legs beneath me. "Ok, I've got this, I'm going to be fine." I lengthened my body and sprung from the log with all power I could manage. I hit the water and began swimming as strong as I was capable, continuing until my hands hit the gravely shore. I crawled out of the water and looked into something I was unaware could be so powerful. I became anxious as i wondered if i was ever going to get in the water again, for it was something I loved so much. I walked the rest of the way to the floats end, still feeling uneasy. The years have passed and yes I have gotten back in the water.  Although my love for the hobby trumped the fear, I always remember that day and to respect the potential power of the water.  The experience forged a vivid memory in my mind, One that reminds me to respect what is unknown.

(ya I know, boring ending)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Have You Ever...


Heaven
  •  Hiked 50 miles through wilderness, surviving with what is in your backpack?
  • Jumped from a hundred-foot cliff into water? (cliff-diving)
  • Skied across fresh powder? More like floating...
  • Visited a third-world country?
  • Been scuba-diving?
  • Had lunch upon the Bob Marshall Wilderness's Chinese Wall? (not the one in China)
  • Been trapped in an under-current (a rolling water current that occurs beneath the surface)?
  • Rode a horse bareback, into the ocean, upon the Jamaican beach? (ya they can swim)
  • Been on a cruise-ship vacation?
  • Walked on volcanic remains in Hawaii? 
Chinese Wall

Monday, February 6, 2012

Google Docs Response

          Google Docs is a very practical tool that will provide flawless and efficient communication of any document, carrying with it rights to make adjustments by viewers.  In a nutshell, The program allows me to take any document and place it in a digital cloud, which is accessible through internet. I also may chose multiple editors, all of whom are invited to the file via G-mail. The invite e-mail provides the receiver with the keys to view and edit the document while seeing all peer edits as well. Copies are avoided as Docs does not send multiple documents to multiple contacts. Instead, it sends permission to access one single file within the e-cloud. Revisions, comments, or suggestions may be written by all editors as if it were a word document all their own.  Any changes made are applied to the same document that remains universal to all editors 
          Why does this help me? For one, hassling with multiple copies and drafts is created obsolete.  All revisions made by each editor are instantly accumulated and saved, rather than reproduced.  Therefore, no editor never need even be present to one another nor does a hard copy ever exist. The amount of document copies will always remain single and ultra-mobile.  No matter how many editors there are nor how many revisions have been made, the document remains universal to all editors and myself.  Most essentially, Google Docs will simplify the process by which i communicate assignments with you, Conrad! As we rarely see face to face, Docs creates a way for you to view and edit every written assignment within the confines of your own home, and i can watch and contribute from my home as well!  Through the process of completing all assignments, i now am granted advise and guidance from anyone whom i chose without any personal confrontation.  The refreshing organization and mobility offered by Google Docs will ease the task of completing any written assignment. With Docs, I can share any document and give the ability to alter that document. All of it occurring immediately and from home, Thus, smoothing all tasks written...