Refreshing the feet, Cataract Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness

I went up camping for the first time in a couple of years over this past weekend. Granted, I’ve been up in the mountains hiking around and skiing uncountable times. I just haven’t spent the night. So I loaded up the car with my brother, Pandy, and a bunch of her friends from school. We headed up to the Gore Range.

Elliot Creek Campground, Green Mountain Reservoir

We all had a little trouble finding a camping spot that we liked but we finally settled on a campground near Green Mountain Reservoir. It was a decent site with a few trees for shade, plenty of room for all our tents, a fire ring, and wasn’t crowded.

Masterbate & Tackle, Green Mountain Reservoir

Bro Fishing, Cataract Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness

Grilled Cheese & Franks Dinner, Elliot Creek Campground

When camp was a set up we headed up the road to get some worms and do some fishing. After a very unsuccessful evening of fishing, we gathered up some wood (most of wich was purchased at the bait shop back in town) and started the fire. The reminder of the night we preceded to drink many beers, eat way too many fire hot franks and spin planty o’ yarn bullshit. Late in the night we did a little more fishing of the full moon type, again unsucessfully.

Nightscape, Elliot Creek Campground

When did I become so irresponsible? Oh yeah, last night, that’s when. These two had it in for me I think. So I’m just going to go ahead and blame it all on them. I don’t know if I’ve ever been two hours late for work in the seven years that I’ve been here. Ouch. In so many ways, Ouch.

Seriously. I’m tired of talking about myself. How are you?

Rules to the golf tournament I played in this weekend:

1. Format is 4 man scramble – everyone tees off, picks the best ball, everyone hits from that same spot, continue this until the little white ball is in the little hole on the green. (That’s the flat place with the flag Caesar!) Team Records one score for each hole.

2. Teams will be picked from a blind draw before the round. Yes I’ll preside, and yes a couple pairs will be predetermined because some guys don’t know or trust the rest of you drunks like I do (besides, they helped us out big time by coming in late, the least we can do os let them play with a buddy. If it looks like we were taken and they intentionally brought in a ringer we’ll blanket party them in the parking lot. Or Julio can take on all 4 of them!)

3. Potter will be running the closest to the pin and the longest drive contests as usual. See Phil about getting into them and the specifics. (He’s not so trustworthy so count your cash at the end – he’s been known to tip the cart girls a little heavy after a few.) Hole 8 will be closest to the pin, and hole 16 will be the longest drive (BTW if you wanna compete here I recommend breaking Timmys arm before he gets there).

4. Each player is allowed 1 mulligan for the round; use it wisely. Ah screw it, use it on the closest to the pin or the longest drive like I know you will. “There ain’t no we in team either!”

5. Drink lots of beer and support your local cart girl – the economy needs the boost.

6. Try not to break anything, and if you do – RUN!

7. No carp killing.

8. Trash talking is not only allowed, it’s encouraged.

9. Get the side wagers rolling, it keeps things interesting when you’re 15 down – shot and/or beers whatever happens first.

10. If you don’t hit it past the ladies tee – you know what to do, and I accept no responsibility for indecent exposure tickets – you hit the damn thing.

11. No cheating, foot wedges, throwing the ball, point shaving, etc. Beer drinking is first and foremost, the golf and tourney are just an excuse to do it. Mostly, Have Fun – Golf is FUN God Damnit!!

12. And for those teams that are lucky enough to qualify for the prizes – 1st Place is $40/player, 2nd is $20/player and 3rd is $10/player.

Some of my favorite Googlisms when searching hubs

hubs is an innovative project
hubs is an enabling technology
hubs is fail or power off
hubs is organised into five departments
hubs is very expensive
hubs is to utilize state
hubs is a powerful tool for eliminating waste and cutting costs
hubs is just a bigger concentrator
hubs is only as fast as the speed of your network cards
hubs is only 5 meters
hubs is the information technology initiative that is transforming the mind
hubs is considered an unpopulated segment
hubs is that they are practically brainless
hubs is not extinct either
hubs is useful
hubs is nominated once a day to transcanada
hubs is hollow
hubs is a variation on the 501 hubs described above
hubs is that
hubs is a very similar process to that of the headset and bottom bracket
hubs is limited to five in order to place a limit on the round
hubs is driven by a number of factors
hubs is completed
hubs is limited to less then 5 meters
hubs is blinking
hubs is that it is hard to evaluate the quality of a suggestion
hubs is on display in the smithsonian institute
hubs is a misunderstanding
hubs is to bring together the best
hubs is a simple and cost
hubs is that low
hubs is easier than programming a vcr
hubs is 52mm
hubs is 500 pcs
hubs is treated as a single manageable entity
hubs is reported to work well; maybe a tad expensive for home use but good if you need lots
hubs is legendary
hubs is designed to accommodate larger
hubs is limited growth potential
hubs is $30 per month for the entire building
hubs is specifically designed
hubs is available for immediate shipment
hubs is another serious issue
hubs is available on our website
hubs is upset at joe for stealing his chick
hubs is crucial in building buzz
hubs is determined by long term reliability and for this we will always recommend shimano freehubs
hubs is by their level of complexity

I took one of those much needed mental health days off from work yesterday. You know what I’m talking about, the one where you call in sick with the stomach flu but it’s really just your soul that is aching cause you’ve spent so much time in the salt mines. Yeah, one of those.

It started out way too early, with a frantic trip out to the airport. After that, it was immediately off to bed with a brand new box of cigarettes, a bottle of champagne and a jug full of orange juice. I do my shit up right yo. Well, it wasn’t cristal, or even korbel, but the OJ was fresh from the milk man. That little stint of indulgence lasted well into the afternoon when I finally crawled out to get some lunch and run around town (in a car of course).

For great gifts you should definitely check out Side Effects down on Broadway. Owner Terry is a wonderful woman who fed me beer while I shopped around her cute little shop. She has a great sense of style and you’re bound to find a great gift there. Seriously, there something about people who own flower shops that automatically notches them up on the cool scale. /end plug

The kicker came while I was sitting on the porch finishing a bottle of the good drops. I got a call from a reformed gothic hipster inviting G and I to join her in her VIP booth for the Cure show. Now, I like the cure but I’m not the hugest fan. They’re appreciated by me for their nostalgic value. I wouldn’t turn them off, but I also wouldn’t spend much money on them. Which is good because the tickets were free. Did I mention they were in the VIP section too. Booyah! But because it was the Cure I just ended up crying the whole time and asking Gideon for her lacy silk hanky with skulls printed on it so I could wipe up my mascara.

Today is an important day for me and a small portion of the worlds population. A time to celebrate our handicap and our ability to persevere despite the challenges that are put in front of us on a daily basis. Because of our disability, every day we have to cope with both intrinsic and socio-cultural biases. And although it’s not often discussed my condition causes a large amount of injuries and occasionally death resulting from our inability to adapt correctly. The British Medical Journal has determined that those suffering our situation are significantly more likely to have premature, unnatural deaths*. People afflicted with my disorder are more likely to develop stuttering problems, dyslexia, and migraine headaches. We also often reach puberty 4 to 5 months later than normal, and have uncommon brain lateralization. Though not fully understood, my disability is thought to be genetic, and is probably passed on only by those with the gene in place. There is currently no known cure or remedy. Those not understanding our affliction often refer to us as awkward, clumsy, maimed or weak. Historically, people with my condition have been branded evil, crooked, and unclean. Things were so bad in the 1600’s we were burnt at the stake. And despite great leaps in the way we are now treated, society still needs to be better educated on what living with this particular condition is like. So today is set aside for to create awareness of our challenges. A chance for us, who are suffering under these conditions, to show our pride in who we are. A day set aside to take time and dispel of the many superstitions and prejudices concerning our condition. A time for us to celebrate the strengths and advantages inherent in our diversity.

Then it was another very eventful weekend. Then it started out with consoling my brother about his recent lay-off. Then I was off to Pearl Street Grill for dinner and drinks. Then I went to the Gothic Theatre to see The Stockholm Syndrome who sucked at first but got sort of decent further into the night. Then it was off to G’s for nightcappers and watched the sun come up, again (this is becoming a problem). Then I went swimming in order to wash off my sleep and hangover. Then It didn’t work. Then I took a nap. Then I got up and fixed flat tires on a bike. Then I biked over to the Freedoms. Then I ate hamburgers and drank old fashioned’s. Then I walked the Rod home. Then I rode the bike back to G’s. Then I had an embarrassing encounter meeting G’s mom. Then we all went to have crepes for breakfast at the farmers market. Then I went swimming again. Then I met more important people, and played with their kids, and drank an ice cream float. Then I went on a bike ride. Then I went to the free jazz show (Convergence played) at city park for a picnic. Then there was a shoot out. Then I went to sleep.

To whom it may concern,

      In addition to this letter and the claim report, I have included some other useful information. The circumstances of my injury are as follows: While in Australia, on the date of July 17, 1996, I fell down a flight of stairs and fractured my wrist. On July 18, I went to the Cairns Base Hospital and had my injury taken care of and returned on July 25 to get a cast. I was not charged by the hospital for any of these services other than the $8.00 to make copies of the x-rays to bring back to my doctor in the U.S. I arrived back in the United States on August 4. On August 19 I went to Dr. Philip A. Stull to get my cast removed and was charged for his services.

      Charges incurred during the injury include $8.00 for the x-ray copies (copy of receipt enclosed), $2.95 for a cast cover in order to shower (copy of receipt enclosed), $25.00 for a non-refundable deposit on a scuba diving trip with Reef Encounters that had to be canceled due to the injury (copy of receipt enclosed), and $125.00 for the cast removal and x-rays (copy of receipt enclosed). The photocopies that I included can be explained as follows:
      page 1 - passport, drivers license, and ISIC card
      page 2 - Australian visa
      page 3 - boarding pass for leaving the U.S.
      page 4 - boarding pass for arriving back in the U.S., receipt for x-ray copies, and
      receipts for the shower bag.
      page 5 - receipt for deposit on diving trip
      page 6 - receipt for x-rays and cast removal
      page 7 - photocopy of x-ray taken at Cairns Base Hospital

If there is any other information that you require in order to process my claim please let me know.

Thanks,
Hubs

Beer at work
Lounging on the patio with new friends (more beer)
BBQ at a new house (too much food and more beer)
Shutting down a real old haunt that is gaining back it’s spirit.
Garage sales
Getting my spidey sense back
Sushi at the den
London Pub
The snug
Downtown mansions
Crashing parties/reunions
Hot-tubbing till the sun comes up
Guilty feelings
Swimming
Naps in the park
Naps on the couch
Asleep.