The thugged out ballerinas of ice and snow glide gracefully through their frozen playground like packs of wild dogs, feeding off each others' energy, going bigger, faster, pushing their limits, all the while howling with delight.
Baggy jerseys, oversized pants and bandannas ruffle as the frigid air rips across the mountain; all that is seen is the surgical focus in their eyes as rails are hit and landings stomped. Rare is the sight of anger or frustration, for free riding is just that...free--free from judgment and constraints of life off the mountain; life melts away as the growling wind rushes past their ears as they sail, weightless through the air in graceful arcs, spinning and tweaking their bodies. The combination of power and raw athleticism that produces something so fluid and smooth seems extraordinary, until you strap in yourself and immediately understand that it could be no other way.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
and now for something completely different...
Early this morning I finally had "the talk" with Ken, my Peace Corps recruiter; I say finally because this man travels more then most salespeople do, and getting him on the phone was a tad more difficult then I had anticipated. So we talked.
Long story short, it doesn't look like Jeremey will be off to join the Peace Corps anytime soon and to be honest I'm a little relieved. I know that sounds weird but the further I got in "the process" the more I realized (and forgive the jargon about to be used) it was like jamming a round peg into a square hole...it ain't gonna work. What I'm looking to do and the types of programs and opportunities they offer didn't really synch...I mean, the computer literacy teacher position in E. Mungambo was tempting but somehow I wasn't drawn to it...weird. Or the vague "community service" positions in Asia and Europe didn't entice me either. I'm starting to think my heart wasn't in it at all...
Seriously though....wtf? I know that the types of positions offered are based on the needs of the individual countries, but it's Africa...you're telling me that a continent ravaged by decades of civil and political unrest, where genocide is an unfortunate fact of daily life and many go without for months at a time and they're telling me, that what they need most is an f'ing Computer Literacy teacher? Really? Now call me negative Nancy if you want but I'm pretty sure access to food and water on a consistent basis and not living in constant fear for their lives ranks a little higher then being taught how to network their computers (oh yeah, all those computers and laptops that are lying around that people are im'ing on as they're fleeing their homes--right). Call me bitter but I find it frustrating, as it completely destroys my tentative plan...which blows because for me to have a plan in the first place is pretty incredible.
so yeah...the Peace Corps, it didn't work out and now like a bitter ex-lover I spout my pain to the masses and grieve publicly...I haven't hit the ben & jerry's yet but it's day-to-day...then after that messy break-up conversation I went to Buttermilk and hit the park like a champion until I destroyed myself a couple times...
I'm going to bed.
Long story short, it doesn't look like Jeremey will be off to join the Peace Corps anytime soon and to be honest I'm a little relieved. I know that sounds weird but the further I got in "the process" the more I realized (and forgive the jargon about to be used) it was like jamming a round peg into a square hole...it ain't gonna work. What I'm looking to do and the types of programs and opportunities they offer didn't really synch...I mean, the computer literacy teacher position in E. Mungambo was tempting but somehow I wasn't drawn to it...weird. Or the vague "community service" positions in Asia and Europe didn't entice me either. I'm starting to think my heart wasn't in it at all...
Seriously though....wtf? I know that the types of positions offered are based on the needs of the individual countries, but it's Africa...you're telling me that a continent ravaged by decades of civil and political unrest, where genocide is an unfortunate fact of daily life and many go without for months at a time and they're telling me, that what they need most is an f'ing Computer Literacy teacher? Really? Now call me negative Nancy if you want but I'm pretty sure access to food and water on a consistent basis and not living in constant fear for their lives ranks a little higher then being taught how to network their computers (oh yeah, all those computers and laptops that are lying around that people are im'ing on as they're fleeing their homes--right). Call me bitter but I find it frustrating, as it completely destroys my tentative plan...which blows because for me to have a plan in the first place is pretty incredible.
so yeah...the Peace Corps, it didn't work out and now like a bitter ex-lover I spout my pain to the masses and grieve publicly...I haven't hit the ben & jerry's yet but it's day-to-day...then after that messy break-up conversation I went to Buttermilk and hit the park like a champion until I destroyed myself a couple times...
I'm going to bed.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Update
Greetings and Salutations,
I hope this update finds you in good spirits with plenty of whatever you need close at hand. It's been a minute since my last update and to buck my trend of creative writing entries, I thought I would go crazy and try a going a little expository on that ass....aw, word.
Anyway, it's now day 5 in my latest saga...yes that's right; for the past 5 days I have been without heat or hot water and it pretty much sucks as bad as it sounds. Winter is cold. A house without heat, situated on a mountain in the middle of winter in the rocky mountains is cold. To relieve the bone-chilling temperature that the house has plummeted to most would turn to the shower...the refuge of the perpetually cold....ah, but that's right--no hot water. boo.
so my hair is greasy, my dirty clothes are piling up and shaving without the use of hot water is ripping my face apart...yea!
It's surprised me how much this has affected my general demeanor...I've been dirty before; in fact, I've gone days without bathing under conditions far smellier then this and been regular ol'me...this though, has definitely put me off my game a bit and it's annoying because the woman who owns the house hasn't been staying here while this ordeal has been going on...come rent time I believe I have what is commonly referred to as a "trump card."
so yeah, I'm cold and dirty but on the lighter side of things, one of my favorite people is coming to town in a couple of days and then two weeks from now I'm going to see some friends from NYC who're going to be in Breck. Man, my life in NYC seems like another lifetime...now that is truly crazy.
I hope this update finds you in good spirits with plenty of whatever you need close at hand. It's been a minute since my last update and to buck my trend of creative writing entries, I thought I would go crazy and try a going a little expository on that ass....aw, word.
Anyway, it's now day 5 in my latest saga...yes that's right; for the past 5 days I have been without heat or hot water and it pretty much sucks as bad as it sounds. Winter is cold. A house without heat, situated on a mountain in the middle of winter in the rocky mountains is cold. To relieve the bone-chilling temperature that the house has plummeted to most would turn to the shower...the refuge of the perpetually cold....ah, but that's right--no hot water. boo.
so my hair is greasy, my dirty clothes are piling up and shaving without the use of hot water is ripping my face apart...yea!
It's surprised me how much this has affected my general demeanor...I've been dirty before; in fact, I've gone days without bathing under conditions far smellier then this and been regular ol'me...this though, has definitely put me off my game a bit and it's annoying because the woman who owns the house hasn't been staying here while this ordeal has been going on...come rent time I believe I have what is commonly referred to as a "trump card."
so yeah, I'm cold and dirty but on the lighter side of things, one of my favorite people is coming to town in a couple of days and then two weeks from now I'm going to see some friends from NYC who're going to be in Breck. Man, my life in NYC seems like another lifetime...now that is truly crazy.
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