Barack Obama

So tomorrow is the day. Our favorite president elect will become our 44th president. He will also be the first African American president. I don't usually write about politics (unless of course you believe all writing and/or expression is political) and want to apologize in advance if this is annoying.

There is something so emotionally overwhelming about Barack. I don't know but I am taken aback by it. In the January 19th New Yorker, there is this amazing photo and interview exerts from 1996 of and with Michelle and Barack. It is incredibly intimate and honest and real. And that is what gets me. I can't believe he is going to be at the helm of our great nation.

I recently had been sort of over him. Like when he chose all those experienced, ivy-leaugers to fill his cabinate and realizing that the kind of change I am imagining in no way could come from within our system. And I was thinking the problems he is inherting are so large that anything he does is will be judged as failure. And that he was too well marketed. (Naomi Klien...) And being annoyed at the emails I still get asking for money.

This morning I talked to both of my grandpas. And the republican one started a conversation about tomorrow. And he said, "Well at least we all know he is smart." Yeah. He is smart. And he is fucked and our country is fucked.

I am remembering back now to November 4. I did not think he could win. And when he did. When they called the election at just after 8pm pacific time, not only did he win, he dominated. Totally killed it. I was surprised. I was setting myself up for disappointment. And here I am now doing the same thing. So, I am taking an active of role in no expectations. Nothing. Just Bush leaving is amazing. Anything President Obama does on top will be even better. So I guess I will end it with god bless america. Here we go, another moment we will test this thing called democracy.

And also I love how the US is pulling a 3rd world by having Obama heads all over tshirts, posters, buildings, buttons, flags...

2k9 To Do List

Umm. Well its that time of year again. A time to reflect and make New Year Resolutions. I don't really like the idea of huge changes when the year changes. And it makes sense the older I get and the shorter the years feel. Anyway, here is my to-do list for 2009. Organized by category and in no particular order. And please note I made this list on my journey in Nicaragua.

Education

• expand spanish vocabulary, improve spanish accent
• design, run, present Tanzania Community Asset Mapping Project
• apply, be accepted, begin mba school
• keep perspective on school, value the passing time
• at least one day a week = no school
  

Recreation

• fish rivers in and around Eugene
• go on fishing trip with George Collins
• camp on Steens Mountain
• Ski. Ski. Ski. 5 days lift serve, 3 days backcountry (weak compared to 31 days last season)
  

Yellow Dog (At breakfast club this morning I was accused that all Diesel related tasks were actually things I want to do myself but cannot verbalize it. You decide.)

• help yellow dog drop 10 lbs
• train yellow dog
  

Personal Development

• go to dentist
• get health insurance
• start therapy
• sit down while eating at least 80% of the time
• fix computer, fix car
• run .5 marathon, seriously, i've bailed 2 times now. I am fucking serious.

Yeah. That is it for 2009. Some specific, some general. A good to do list. And I am also working on being patient, understanding, less mean, more responsible, kinder, understanding, and forgiving.

Huge year kids, huge year. Happy 2009.

I still cannot believe Barack Obama is president. I never thought I would see this day and I just read something he wrote and was, again, brought to tears. Keep up the good fight.

Ski Season Ends

I spent the last two days skiing at Mt. Bachelor in central Oregon. It was incredible. I was granted two days off work after requesting time off for "Spiritual Renewal." One of the perks of having a born-again Christian as your boss. Total bummer but I have to spend time in the office today and tomorrow to work. Now, I am just a volunteer, but I do actually have work. So much that I can't work (sort of like college except I am not binge drinking) so I choose to online journal instead of working. Classic.

It has been an unreal ski season. 31 days. I've skied VT, CA, and OR. All three states have experienced record snow fall this year. Definitely best thing about climate change. After a 10 year hiatus that included college in southern New England and traveling abroad I am back. This year I think I've come into my own as a tele skier and must admit I am nervous about attending grad school with the closest skiing 80 miles away.

I used to think that skiing was sort of a lame, rich person way to "get into the out of doors." I think this continues to be true but it is so good and peaceful that I rarely think about that any more except when I talk to people who don't ski.

My favorite parts of skiing:

1. It scares the shit out of me. It is one of the few times during my days that I get a huge rush. Standing on the top of a steep, long run and knowing that if I fall I could be done toast. And then just pointing my tips and letting go. And being absolutely in the moment. And yelping because that is the only thing to do. And getting to the end and seeing the wall of snow and sweet line. And knowing that I made it without killing myself. I mean wtf.
2. Being outside. Embracing winter. Unreal landscapes. The quiet peacefulness that only snow and low temperatures can bring.
3. It is a social sport. This year I skied alone a bunch. Sometimes I made new friends sometimes I just smiled and took it all in by myself. And other times I skied with folks I know and love.

The past two day I spent at Mt. Bachelor with an old man (68) I met here at Warner Canyon. Old Man lives in town and is a real treat. He is a child and loves to play. We get along quite well and he invited me up for a few days of skiing with his buddies.

He has this group of people he skies with 4 days a week at Bachelor. They are all 70+. Old Man is the youngest. There is a revolving group of about 15 and they've been skiing for between 45 and 65 years. They have seen it all. And it all change over time. From rope tows to 6 person high speed lifts, real seal skins to synthetics, wool to synthetic to wool, straight long skis to fat shaped... and it goes on and on and on. And they are all out there killing it. Pure inspiration.

Over the past two years I have thought a bunch about skiing when I am 70 because it is free at a bunch of resorts... no way. I want to ski when I am 70 because it will keep me alive and well. Some of these 70+ers were smoking me. Not kidding. I mean fast and beautiful.

So right now as I am beginning to to stop my roaming, I am searching for a group of folks to ski with until we are dead. If any readers know anyone who skis (they can live anywhere really) please send them to me. I need to get this going like ASAP.