Worship

This weekend I mostly stayed in town and was actually able to go to church. The pastor had what I think is an interesting view of worship. We should not worship because we feel like it, but because God is worthy of it. I agree with that idea.

The only aspect of the sermon I was hesitant about was when the pastor said if we don't show the right worshipful attitude, we should leave the sanctuary and pray, so as not to bring others down. I don't think people should be disrespectful, but sometimes all one can do is just be there. At one point in my life I remember being so low in my spiritual experience that I purposefully put myself in a worshipful environment (i.e. summer camp) to try to reconnect with God even though I did not have the gumption to be very worshipful. Perhaps it is in these sort of situations the tables are sort of turned, and the worship helps the downtrodden person again realize that God is worthy.

The Open Book is Closed

No Joke. Walking by the electronic clock on campus I have noticed several times in the past couple of weeks that it has been 92 degrees here in SoCal. I've never experienced such a hot November--ever. Darren and I had thought that we would not be able to go back to Tahquitz to climb until next spring, but with such hot weather, last Saturday we decided to take a chance and climb Tahquitz's most visually distinct route: Open Book.

I have never experienced such beautiful weather at that mountain. I had to climb sans my long-sleeved shirt and Darren went shirtless (lucky boys!). After the steep hike to the top, past the famous penny log, lunch rock, and various climbing routes, we were able to look over the landscape and appreciate the mixture of endless green and yellow leafed trees. Yes, fall has somewhat hit Tahquitz with leaf color changes. I was giddy.

Even more beautiful was the view of the sun starting to set. Somewhere during the climb Darren told me to look out at the scenery again. The sun was casting a bright reflection off...the OCEAN!!! Far off in the distance we could observe its shimmery waters, something I hadn't previously seen there. At the top we serenely watched a while until our thirst and appetite took over. The climb had been a bit more challenging then the dinky 5.6s and 5.7s I had been leading in recent trips and we were ready for replenishment.

The route being more challenging made it all the more interesting. It starts with a bouldery overhang. I had to restart to get the proper hand holds. Then it moves through some cracks, chimneys, flakes, and plenty of liebacks! In fact the last part of the second pitch was pretty much used all liebacks. Some people try to chicken-wing their way up it, but thankfully I had the advice to crank up in lieback style (lybacking--not sure of the spelling--as best I can describe it, is pulling on a flake or part of a crack with straight arms, pasting and pushing ones feet against the rock wall, and using those forces to propel oneself up a rock. It can be tiring, but I actually like doing it because sometimes one can cruise around difficult moves this way).

At the top of the 2nd or 3rd pitch I had to squeeze myself into a medium-sized crack and sit on a small chockstone in order to belay. I had the entire rope on my lap in this little cubby hole and couldn't see Darren climbing because a massive rock and flake blocked my view. Eventually I could tell he was finished because he gave me the mandatory 3 tugs on the rope, and I peeled my way out with a very asleep right foot.

The last two pitches were also super fun. Just after the chockstone, I had to do a delicate chimney and then traverse to a different crack. Near the top I pulled myself onto a rock face using lots of fun twisting moves that take awhile for one to notice. It was an engaging climb. I was stoked we'd come back one last time in order to conquer it.

PTs are a Little Athletic

We finally won a game. And boy were we stoked!

Papusas, Sand, and Dirt

Last weekend Darren and I kicked off our eleven monthserary by using our handy new GPS unit to find luscious food. I had rented a GPS this summer when we went to BC and we fell in love with it--probably because he and I both are accused somewhat rightfully of having no sense of direction. The GPS just makes things so much more relaxing.

Anyhoo, Darren spent a year in El Salvador a few years ago and wanted me to try papusas, patty like discs filled with beans, cheese, meat, zuccini, whatever! We found a restaurant on the GPS and followed the little Australian man that lives in the unit to a little hole in the wall place in Rialto. We had so much fun. The restaurant was small and filled at first with only guys. We immediately realized a karaoke fest was in full swing and the karaokers were GOOD! The friendly guy running the machine came up to us and invited us to sing. I was quite hesitant, but mid-eaten-papusa he spoke to us again and gave us the song book. I nonchalantly looked through it and found a few possibilities but I wasn't sure I really wanted to sing. Well, he put up "El dia que me quieras" and handed me the microphone. Then he loaded three Beatles songs and Darren and I attempted to sing them all before forcing him to take back the mics. I was somewhat embarrassed, but honestly it was really fun.

Later that night we watched some friends do an improv show, and then we drove to San Diego to visit Darren's sister and brother-in-law. On Saturday we went with them to church, Darren and I walked a pier and watched a surf competition at the beach, and then we all went to the church's fall fest. I was worried that it was going to be like the fall fest's we had in high school where everybody has booths with cheesy stuff to do like "Let's put all the hot guys in jail," or "Let's go outside and smash a car!" Either that or people sell a gazillion sugary substances. The church's fall fest was nothing like that. They performed funny medieval era skits, a man did magic, and there was a slide show of the church members during past events that even I found interesting. I was very impressed at how involved the church is. Although the members are of all ages, they seem to really enjoy doing things together. I hope I am lucky enough to be a part of something like that someday.

Sunday we went biking on Anderson Truck Trail with Darren's bro-in-law. I have never been on such a technical ride with huge ramps, drops, granite slabs, and massive rock gardens. I walked by almost all of those death traps, but I had fun watching the fellas kill it. Apparently the trail is a little controversial because the guy that owns the land isn't big into having mtn. bikers ride on it. Near the beginning of the trail, there is a massive steel wall attempting to block the path, but riders have cut it away enough in order to pass by it.

Darren and I had to leave soon after our ride so I could to get back to study, but it was nice to hang with the fam and play with Darren's nephew while they are living in the SoCal.

Camping, Climbing, Elton John: That's Vegas, Baby!

In celebration of Darren and I's first meeting, we went back to where we first met: Red Rocks, Nevada. And because Elton John songs often remind us of one another, we had to go to his concert in Vegas, just fifteen minutes away from our campsite. We had bought light up sunglasses at the Joshua Tree Folk Festival a few weekends ago, which Darren proudly sported. Over ten people commented on them, and two or three openly said they wanted to buy them from them. Two ladies said they wanted them for their kids, while a bratty teenage girl almost demanded them. He said they were not for sale, and we happily continued on our way.


The concert was weird, but for the most part wonderful. Elton John still has an amazing voice (although he didn't sing any falsetto parts), was quite funny, and some of the graphics and videos were really cool. Others were just strange. Somebody had created a lot of modern artish films for the concert that were, well, modern artish (let's just say there were a lot of boobs, men doing ballet, and a fake Elton John leaping around twirling a scarf). Hey, but I guess that is what one should expect at an EJ concert. All that aside, he sang he and Bernie's (his lyricist) most famous songs, and we loved it.

Camping was almost as incredible as the crazy concert. Our friend Ryan was finishing an AMGA test to become a mountain guide (he passed!!), and the AMGA folk were nice enough to let us stay at their group campsite for free. The last night it started to rain (we had thankfully put up a tent, something we rarely do), and we enjoyed listening to it splash against the tent. It had been a long time since I had heard rain.

The next morning we were fearful the night's rain would impede our climbing, so we chilled at the campground a little in hopes that the rock would dry a bit. I spoke with the AMGA coordinator, Tom, for a really long time. He was fascinating because he knew so much about history, literature, the environment, and politics. I LOVE talking to people like that. After an hour or two, we finally said goodbye to Tom and Ryan and did some climbing in Calico Basin. We had already done a multipitch on Saturday (Birdland 5.7+. For the first time, Darren and I switched leads every pitch. He graciously let me lead all of the best ones. Oh, and the climb is very fitting of its name. We continually heard birds squawking.), and we were still worried about the water, so I just led a 5.6 two pitch climb. Then we did some sport climbs at a rock we dubbed "Convenient Crag" because we did not have to do the typical 45 minute Red Rocks approach and decent to get to them.

As we returned home, I couldn't help thinking how just a year ago I first met Darren. I never knew we would be back in Vegas a year later together as a couple. And, just as EJ sings, "I can honestly say, things just keep getting better."