Cedar Mountain Trail

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."  ~John Muir, 1913

I am seriously out of shape and its over 100 degrees.  So what did I decide to do on my day off?

HIKING.

I've actually been hiking several times in the area, but that was in winter when it was much cooler.  God, I hate the heat.

So.  Out of shape.  Way too hot.  And I realized once I got there, I forgot my hat.  Oh well.  The trail is mostly in the woods. 

Three quarters of the way down the balloon shaped trail, sweat running nonstop down my face and back, I realize the balloon portion of the trail takes me out of the woods and into open sunshine.  Great in winter.  Today...not going to happen. 

  

The many signs warning me to stay on the trail and beware of snakes didn't help either. 

I was perfectly happy to head back to my car and check this hike off my list.  Done (enough).

Now, I'm back in my air conditioning, slightly sunburnt, feeling healthy and quite happy to wait until fall for my next adventure in nature.

The Fruits of Higher Education

"This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put."  ~Attributed to Winston Churchill (but probably not)

I was on my way to my photography class last night (more on that in a future post) when I saw a sight which made me glad I was toting my camera around.

Now, I know that a small community college is not considered anywhere near on par with, say, an Ivy League University, but it is still considered "higher education" and I have had some wonderful classes with top notch instructors at several different community colleges throughout my life.

Last night, however, I entered through the main doorways, through which most everyone must pass, when what did my eyes behold?  Directly to my right, where no one could possibly miss...a sign on the campus bookstore door:

Sigh.  I guess a modern education doesn't include proper grammar.

Dreams

"Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him."  ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

At 40, I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I've had a series of jobs that I usually liked when I started and hated by the time I left.  I allowed the winds and other people to dictate the turns of my life.  Time to take the rudder.

I had a psychology professor who encouraged his students to always be learning and experiencing new things.  His suggestion was to choose five things every year you want to learn or do.  (Thanks, Dr. Taulbee)

My list this year is:
  1. Write a blog
  2. Digital photography
  3. Cooking
  4. Hiking
  5. Cisco advanced routing certification

Usually, I manage to change one or two by the end of the year.  But this is good.  I've started two (write a blog being an obvious one!). 

First on the list is start a blog.  Obviously, I've accomplished this!  One down, four things and 6 1/2 months to go.  Of course, I doesn't count if I don't keep it up!  Hopefully, this blog will keep me honest and on track for actually accomplishing my entire list this year!

Small steps to taking control of my life.

Now What?

"The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions." - Ellen Glasgow

I created this blog several months ago, but I have been avoiding actually writing in it.  I read some websites on successful blogging and they all say you should have a goal, a theme.  Somethng specific you want to accomplish or a specific topic you want to write about.  Well...


I don't have one.  So...I've created this blog...now what?


I'm still trying to answer that question.  But I think I just have to get over it and start writing.  As the title says, this is my Soapbox.  I'm going to just get up and write about whatever I feel like.  I'm trying to make some changes in my life, try new things, re-visit old thing.  Photography, cooking, writing, getting my butt off the couch and living my life.


A whole world is out there and I want to experience it.