Wait for It

Fall approaching on the Ocoee

Mary Leatherbury Mills and I on the Ocoee, with a lesson from 
our instructor Juliet Jacobsen Kastorff from Endless River Adventures.
09/13/20.  Photo by Juliet.

Thinking of Jeff West.

Remembering you Jeff West, champion of the Ocoee.  You inspired and continue to inspire us.  I wish I had taken the opportunity to take more lessons from you.

https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/remembering-jeff-west/

What Makes This Song Great?™ Ep.96 The Who

2020

2020 has been such an amazing year.

I think the word 'amazing' can have negative connotations, don't you?

I've had to work from home, which at first was kind of cool but has become isolating on a level that even I, a consummate lover of solitude, am finding depressing.

I've lost my sister.  Now both are gone.

I've had major car repairs, and a broken washing machine. I fixed the washing machine (I replaced the pump, youtube shows how, is easy)  but shall see if it has no other issues pop up.  It is an ancient artifact.

I've had to take my piano lessons via Zoom.  We make it work, but it's not the same.

Every event I had planned for the year after early March was cancelled, including a trip to Yellowstone.  I'm also not going to WV for the New and for the Gauley releases.

I've missed months of Crossfit, and now my crossfit box is closing, not due to the virus, but still. I feel like the Stay-Puft marshmallow man.  

After years of no cavities, I had to get a filling in a molar.

There are some positives too.

I've practiced kayak rolling more in the past 6 months than in the past 6 years.

I've put purple highlights in my hair, it looks awesome.

I learned to walk in birkenstock flip-flops.  Usually flip-flops annoy the piss outta me.

I've hit the river every chance I could get.  We walk shuttles and/or wear masks. 

I first learned about what it means to be non-neurotypical.

My fretboard geometry practice has paid off and I am playing very well. I've started taking guitar lessons.

I made a successful sticker design for the cahaba rolling group, my first ever after years of designing for television.

I am learning how to play pickleball.

My paddling crew has expanded.

Beginners in my rolling group are now getting off-side, back-deck, and hand rolls.  Interested? Check out the link above.