Monday, September 07, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
RIP Stim
When I started climbing at Vertical World upon arrival in Seattle some eight years ago, I remember watching an old dude picking his way along the bouldering traverse. He was spidery, with white hair and a gentle voice. Later, he gave my girlfriend and me tips on an overhanging route. We muttered that the old dude could stick a dyno better than we could!
He was a regular at the climbing gym and drove a beater, a Saab, was it? Eventually I joined the gym staff and got to know Stim better. I ran into him at the local crags a few times. He was soloing with a stick clip, something I'm not likely to do. Photos of him climbing also appeared in a few local climbing guides. I admired him for being active into his 80s.
Not being from Seattle, it was a long time before I figured out he was from one of those old Seattle families, with wealth and posterity. I happened to catch The Bullitt Foundation name on our local NPR station one day when the lightbulb went off.
I read this morning in the local paper that Stim died this weekend at age 89. I haven't been climbing at the gym or the crags for a few years, so I'm not sure if Stim was still out there on the sharp end. There will probably be some shindig to remember him to which I won't be invited. That's OK. I'll savor my memory of Stim: that awesome old dude with a gentle voice who climbed into old age like a rock star.
He was a regular at the climbing gym and drove a beater, a Saab, was it? Eventually I joined the gym staff and got to know Stim better. I ran into him at the local crags a few times. He was soloing with a stick clip, something I'm not likely to do. Photos of him climbing also appeared in a few local climbing guides. I admired him for being active into his 80s.
Not being from Seattle, it was a long time before I figured out he was from one of those old Seattle families, with wealth and posterity. I happened to catch The Bullitt Foundation name on our local NPR station one day when the lightbulb went off.
I read this morning in the local paper that Stim died this weekend at age 89. I haven't been climbing at the gym or the crags for a few years, so I'm not sure if Stim was still out there on the sharp end. There will probably be some shindig to remember him to which I won't be invited. That's OK. I'll savor my memory of Stim: that awesome old dude with a gentle voice who climbed into old age like a rock star.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Talent
When I first heard the Susan Boyle buzz, I was all Yeah, yeah, another 'Idol' singer. Whatever.
Then, it hit the New York Times, which I just got around to reading. Wow. Just wow.
Watching Susan, and Paul Potts performing Nessun Dorma (one of the most beautiful arias I know), is a reminder that beauty and the extra-ordinary are around us, overshadowed, overlooked and unappreciated in our processed, plastic world. What a lovely reminder to slow down and take a second look.
>> Susan Boyle's video
>> Paul Potts' video
Then, it hit the New York Times, which I just got around to reading. Wow. Just wow.
Watching Susan, and Paul Potts performing Nessun Dorma (one of the most beautiful arias I know), is a reminder that beauty and the extra-ordinary are around us, overshadowed, overlooked and unappreciated in our processed, plastic world. What a lovely reminder to slow down and take a second look.
>> Susan Boyle's video
>> Paul Potts' video
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Don't you twitterstand?
I debated the best place to post this: blog, twitter or #fb. Then I remembered the blog and #fb are synched!
Dammit Molly, you are a young, hip, tech-savvy thirty-something, and I will not let you turn into my mother! xoxoxoxo.
Dammit Molly, you are a young, hip, tech-savvy thirty-something, and I will not let you turn into my mother! xoxoxoxo.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Same old same old
Wowza, it's been a while. I wish thoughts could become blog posts, you know, like mental dictation with a built-in thesaurus for extra brilliant word choices. They'll probably have that figured out by the time Sprout and Coco are my age.
Sprout turns the big oh-four next week. He's becoming such an amazing little boy. Daily we have such fascinating, mature conversations that I can't fathom what he'll be like at seven or 17. He also recently joined Little Kickers and is now Mr. Soccer. Which makes me now, uh, I guess, a soccer mom.
[Note to self: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED AROUND HERE?]
Meanwhile, I joined an early morning running group. It's a bunch of moms from the neighborhood, and we do about 3 miles on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:15. OK, I'm making this sound like it's a well-established gig when tomorrow is actually my second time, provided I wrap this up soon and hit the hay. Pre-dawn is no small feat for me, so this is a big deal. I signed me and TJ up for Seattle's Rock n' Roll Marathon in June, so it's time to get back on the ball!
Coco is thriving in full-on toddlerhood complete with steep ups and downs. He has also been babbling like crazy. It's cute as can be, but also frustrating for all parties as we often fail to communicate effectively. Tonight Coco was pointing to the dinner table and insisting vociferously on something. We held everything before him, one by one to no avail, then finally Peter resorted to holding him over the table like that claw arcade game. He never did reach for anything specific. I wish we had made more signing progress, but he'll be talking sooner than later, I think.
Last week the grande dame of the family, Peter's grandmother, died. She was 97 years old. That's a very long time for anyone to live, though we were sad to hear of her passing. Peter made the trip to Iowa to be with family, and I'm glad he did. We three were there in spirit if not in person. Throughout the weekend, Sprout and I spent some time discussing death and family. Kids are surprisingly matter-of-fact about these things, but he was still mildly sad.
To lighten the mood, we watched Pete's flight on google earth for a while before cruising around the globe to familiar locales. We caught this street view from his school. Pretty funny as we recognize this group walking to the play yard, though Sprout isn't in the photo.
Other than being crushed by work and looking forward to a trip to Maui in April, life's been the usual daily busy. How about you?
Sprout turns the big oh-four next week. He's becoming such an amazing little boy. Daily we have such fascinating, mature conversations that I can't fathom what he'll be like at seven or 17. He also recently joined Little Kickers and is now Mr. Soccer. Which makes me now, uh, I guess, a soccer mom.
[Note to self: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED AROUND HERE?]
Meanwhile, I joined an early morning running group. It's a bunch of moms from the neighborhood, and we do about 3 miles on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:15. OK, I'm making this sound like it's a well-established gig when tomorrow is actually my second time, provided I wrap this up soon and hit the hay. Pre-dawn is no small feat for me, so this is a big deal. I signed me and TJ up for Seattle's Rock n' Roll Marathon in June, so it's time to get back on the ball!
Coco is thriving in full-on toddlerhood complete with steep ups and downs. He has also been babbling like crazy. It's cute as can be, but also frustrating for all parties as we often fail to communicate effectively. Tonight Coco was pointing to the dinner table and insisting vociferously on something. We held everything before him, one by one to no avail, then finally Peter resorted to holding him over the table like that claw arcade game. He never did reach for anything specific. I wish we had made more signing progress, but he'll be talking sooner than later, I think.
Last week the grande dame of the family, Peter's grandmother, died. She was 97 years old. That's a very long time for anyone to live, though we were sad to hear of her passing. Peter made the trip to Iowa to be with family, and I'm glad he did. We three were there in spirit if not in person. Throughout the weekend, Sprout and I spent some time discussing death and family. Kids are surprisingly matter-of-fact about these things, but he was still mildly sad.
To lighten the mood, we watched Pete's flight on google earth for a while before cruising around the globe to familiar locales. We caught this street view from his school. Pretty funny as we recognize this group walking to the play yard, though Sprout isn't in the photo.
Other than being crushed by work and looking forward to a trip to Maui in April, life's been the usual daily busy. How about you?
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Homemade Valentines: Easy-to-Make Valentine's Day Cards and Crafts for Kids - Kaboose.com
"What to do with a sick 4yo on a Sunday afternoon in early February."
Friday, February 06, 2009
From my inbox
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.
-Upanishads
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.
-Upanishads
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