I am still having storage issues which is why there are not climbing picture updates. But, hopefully now that I’m not working (and officially abandoned my ethnographic efforts for the time being) I might be able to make more time to do more of this.

Most people I know are on Facebook, of course, everyone seems to be.  Finally I joined.  Yesterday.  What everyone said would happen did indeed happen - I have been reacquainted with a couple of long lost friends that I am truly very happy to touch base with.  As well, I am enjoying looking at some of their pictures to see what they’ve been up to (without having to make an effort to get together – sounds sad – but it’s true).  There are some cool features that I have not tried out yet – like joining the VIRG climbing network, and I’m a little bit shy about requesting to be “friends” with certain people – because we aren’t really friends – but I am curious.

So, yeah, I’m not entirely sold on Facebook as a replacement for a blog.  For now, it is nice to see people and chat with people – and for that it is brilliant. 

(sunrise today)

Skaha Bluffs, Penticton, BC.

Something you don’t hear every day: Janet asking, “Steve are you taking my camera with you to the bathroom?” The view from inside of the outhouse with no door:

Me and Janet

Sha, Stu, Steven, and Janet from above at Redtail Crag:

Me – bucket hunting:

Me and Sha having some backcracking fun:

The Jetta problem:

Team Jetta:

Sha – end of the day, Day 4.

There are more that I will add in a post..when I get them…if I ever get them…

Pictures by Moops

 Skaha was beautiful and sunny, plus 20.  Awesome climbing group, tons of fun, lots of laughing, a plethora of debriefing, and no injuries… more to come when I get pictures…

The trip is organized: people, cars, accomodations, gear – I think we’re ready to go.  We’ll hostel it this time around, which makes me feel a little less hard core than I’d like, but it sure makes the planning part of it easier; the packing challenge less of a challenge, we can have hot showers at the end of a long day, and enjoy an actual bed each night.  I suspect it will be the only trip we take all summer that involves the luxury of having a real roof over our heads.  So, we can be hard core next time.

 Our climbing group is an excellent group, too.  There are a couple of new additions.  We are:  (steve)Finn, (steven)Hoose, (janet)Interplanet Janet, (stu)Moops, (shaheen)Sha, and me, jen. (I will add pictures soon).

 We have 7 days left to train* before the drive to Penticton.  At this time next week, we’ll have been on the road for hours.

 Penticton Weather

*Our training is going very well, everyone is climbing regularly, everyone is climbing hard, everyone is working on projects above their climbing grade.  Last night we all climbed hard, finished projects and set new ones.  

It has happened slowly enough to not notice it happening, but the whole world is captured by it.

I remember the first time my cell phone rang in public – at Ikea, I was horrified. I lowered my head and whispered “I’ll call you back” into my bulky hand-phone.

I used to take notice of people talking on their phones in public, I have no idea when that stopped.

Traveling and living in Asia – I suppose so many things were different – I didn’t take specific notice of the hand phone. Local or foreign, young or old – Everyone has one. Everyone is on one. Nobody is quiet.

Maybe it’s rude? I am aware of my behavior. Among certain friends I know I can stop mid-conversation and check my phone because I got a text. With other friends I wouldn’t. Sometimes I’ll wait to check it. Sometimes I can’t stop myself from checking it.

Back to sitting at the bar talking among friends – at a glance I perceived it as anti-social. But, sometimes two people stare into their phones together, side-by-side. Sometimes one person will show the other person their screen, presumably a text message or picture, they laugh. It’s instant. Instead of discussing a call they had with so-and-so earlier, it’s happening now. I don’t text to be anti-social, it is a social thing to me, I make plans, I joke, I lol, I can send a quick hello to my friend in Canada while I’m at a crag on Railay, all in real time.

I do agree that much is lost in the translation between face-face/voice-voice v. text. So you learn to communicate with other signifiers. My vocabulary now consists of numerous acronyms and instead of clenching my fists in rage and raising my voice, I write in BOLD ALL CAPS, add a few !!! and my point is clear. I can even imagine the person on the other end of the phone/computer saying what they are writing. It has the same rules as email (only more informal) – and who can imagine life without email?

I suppose some people think it’s rude, but whatever, they just don’t do it – yet. It could be a cohort thing – age, social group – but I don’t think so. I wonder if it’s just some people are ‘old school?’ A relatively new technology, a new medium for instant person-person communication, some people are opposed to change? One friend pointed out that everything is so instant…now this…but, what’s wrong with instant?

First, there was some truely sad news. Then, there was some news that I thought was equally as sad, but it turns out it is more disappointing than sad. This sad and disappointing news led to a couple of dark days. Thankfully, that’s all done

So, on the bright side:

The long term weather forecast for Edmonton has RAIN not snow.

This morning the sun was blinding me as I walked to work.

I learned my very first card trick last night.

I now have a favorite kind of wine: Pierre Sparr, Alsace One.

I do have fantastic & supportive friends.

Our trad class is booked – I will be a trad climber – this year!!

I’m going to TO this spring to visit my new home.

Summer plans are sounding even more exciting than last year…which I didn’t think could be possible.