Snow & Rain

I’ve spent the last two weekends in North Alabama (actually, about 15 miles apart).

Last weekend, I went to hang out with a few hundred hippies climbers; I attended Sloperfest as a spectator. I know, I don’t actually climb — but my sister and a lot of our mutual friends do, so a bunch of us drove up together. It was actually a very cool experience: there were literally dozens of world-class boulderers there, and even though I don’t actually stick to rocks myself I really enjoyed watching. The all-day concert ambiance made for an awesome vibe in general, plus I had fun photographing everything that moved. Really beautiful weekend, in more ways than one. It rained Friday night, though, and I’d planned to hammock all weekend, and didn’t pack a rainfly (d’oh). So that was interesting: I ended up hanging under a lean-to with three other guys. We had a better night than those in tents, I think.

As to this weekend, however: it snowed! A very little bit, that only stuck around for a few hours — but still. Snow! In Alabama. It made me happy. I love rain (except when hammocking), but snow is rain to the power of awesome. It was beautiful, made waking up at 6:30 all the more worthwhile. I spent the last two days with my mom at a church retreat. Not usually something I’d choose, but she specifically asked me to go with her. I enjoyed the retreat more than I expected, although the “sessions” (speakers heavy in ideology I take issue with) were, predictably, not actually a part of what I enjoyed. It was good to get away and have a stress-free weekend with my mom, though; while there it hit me, how much I really valued the time. Last night made that June departure date seem just a little bit more real.

I had to leave the room only once during all the retreat’s sessions — not because of anything negative, but because people were giving me looks. I don’t remember the context, but I remember the quote because I wrote it down.
Speaker: “…and what influence does a dead body have on its own resurrection?!”
My notepad: “Rez pls?”
People look at you funny when you give yourself the giggles.

…and that seems a fitting segue into linking the following comic. RIP Gygax.

Really, I’m just killing time until bureaucratic enigmas solve themselves

For the past few weeks I have, semi-successfully, combated the drudgery of existing in a 9-5 window with weekend (or longer) escapes. This last weekend I turned a trail on Mt. Cheaha into an overnight trip. It was my sister’s birthday, and for some reason she decided she wanted to go hiking too. And then my other sister decided the same. I’m still not sure why: this is not exactly within their realm of comfort & familiarity.

It was an… interesting… trip.

The drive was long…

…but the weather was perfect.

Mystical abilities to remain always fashionable extended even to the wilderness.

It was cold; we experimented with a new recipe. There was much rejoicing.

…and ultimately, I think they had a good time, but intuition led me to believe they were happy to make it out of the woods. Call it a hunch.