Musings of a Migrant Science Teacher

 
 
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I climbed a mountain last weekend. No really, I did. Without the aid of motorized vehicles or Sherpa. AND it was in the dead of winter. This isn't something I typically do. I'm a self proclaimed reptile when it comes to temperatures. I just don't do well in extreme conditions, so I was even more astounded to find that I could hike with only two layers - a fleece and a softshell jacket. Amazing.

This whole thing started when Sara Lingafelter (@theclimbergirl) was chosen to go to Nepal with the Hanes Brands Everest team. She took a mountaineering course to prepare and reported about it on her blog. Katie Levey (@adventuregrrl) announced her intention to take a similar class shortly thereafter. While the idea had been planted in the back of my mind by Sara, I hadn't seriously considered taking a class myself. My man mountaineers and ice climbs. Last year I tried ice climbing to see why he likes it so much, so I figured this year I should try mountaineering, or "walking slowly uphill while not feeling well."
 
 
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*Let me just preface this by saying this is the first time I’ve posted for the Space Tweeps, but I blog on my own and my style is a bit… rough. I’m hoping to sound smooth and polished in this entry but if I fail you can blame my blog and it’s encouraging readers.

I grew up in a house with liberal arts-type parents. Neither Mom nor Dad is very “nerdy.” They do, however, have two key elements that I inherited that when combined created a good science nerd: Order and Curiosity. I get my love of organization from my dad. We both obsess over “things to put things in” and would live at the container store if allowed. Both my parents bequeathed curiosity – but my mom pointed mine in a particular direction: Up. I remember listening to her tell me stories about the space race, listening to the first man on the moon, and playing with her big brothers who taught her all about the stars. I remember cold winter nights being dragged out of bed by my mom at 2am because there is some kind of celestial event and we needed to see it… only to get out there and sit in the freezing cold under the clouds, all alone in the dark. Meh, it can’t always be picturesque. I was sure I’d be an astronaut when I grew up. I’m still hoping I will be.
 
 
Welcome to my New Year's tradition. Every year since I can't remember when I've written resolutions and done my very best to keep them. Sometimes the resolutions are goals, sometimes they are milestones, and often they are just plain goofy. The point isn't the resolution it's self though, its the goal setting and the yearly reflection. I'm a big fan of reflecting (insert astronomer joke about telescope optics here.) I believe that taking a good hard look at where you've been helps you prepare for where you are going. On one occasion in particular, it completely changed my life. But I digress...
 
 
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Night Vision Goggles
*This whole once a week to better my writing skills thing only works if the day you want to post does not include a holiday. Therefore I'm posting on the 26th rather than on the 25th when I wrote it.

Merry Christmas all!
I woke up this morning sneezing. Not just any kind of sneeze, but the kind that affects one nostril and causes the corresponding eye to water, annoying the crap out of you and refusing to stop no matter how many times you sneeze or blow your nose..

This is how I opened presents this morning: "It's Aleya's turn!" "Ok, hand me - *ACHOO* that one will you?" "Here you go." "ACHOO! Thank you. *Sniff*" "Aww, you really like it don't you?" "*Sniff sniff* Yep!" Getting choked up about socks is not uncommon for me, but in this case it wasn't tears, just snot.
 
 
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*Note: So I'm going to try and do one post a week, due on Fridays. You should check back on Friday next and see if I did, and if I didn't, harass me.

This trip's adventure took me to Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes National Sea Shore, with a friend I made on my last visit to San Francisco. The trail is the farthest one north on the seashore, and runs right to the tip of the point along the San Andreas Fault! (#NerdGasm). I love earthquakes, so this was a big deal - Not that I'd ever want to be in one, I'm just saying that I love the idea of the earth shaking.

 
 
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Note: This post is a continuation of a discussion between someone I can’t quite remember and myself, started by a post that person (she) wrote on the same topic, inspired by personal experience. If it was you, please speak up.

This week I’m back in San Francisco on travel for work. I’m using my free time to wander the city and explore stuff. Today I walked from Pier 39 to the hotel via Chinatown and a few historical sites. On that trip I encountered some of the most foul places of “rest” I have ever seen. Ok that’s a lie, but they did rank up there with my worst encounters, one of which involved banana spiders.

As I passed though these establishments, I couldn’t help but think… “Man, I wish I could pee like a man. My thighs would be so much less sore and I wouldn’t have the urge to take a culture of everything I brought into the bathroom with me.” Then I remembered: There is help!
 
 
This is going to be a partly philosophical post.
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Last weekend I went to Disney World for the very first time. I have to say it was  amazing. I had lunch in China, dinner in France, went to Mars and saw my future, all on Friday. Saturday I visited Cinderella's castle, spun in tea cups, and relived my childhood on Brer Rabbit's splash mountain ride.

I was also a pirate.

At the Magic Kingdom Saturday afternoon we witnessed several parades and one stage show. The characters came out of the castle and began singing and dancing, babbling on about believing that dreams can come true, or something of that nature. Then all the Prince/Princess couples came out and danced, the children on the street danced, the honeymooning/engaged couples danced, and we all defeated Malificent with the power of our dreams. It was truly magical. I know this because there were fireworks.
 
 
I ADOPTED A CRAG!

This was a little while ago, but I just got the pics off my phone and figured they were worth posting. REI and the Access Fund along with MidAtlanticClimbers sponsored the 2009 Adopt -a- Crag event at Carder Rock back in September. I went all by my lonesome, figuring I'd be busy working and would prolly end up making friends by the end of the day. I was right! I spent almost three hours rolling a wheel-barrow (Which I affectionately named Wilhamina) up and down the wooded path to the cliff. 
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The goal was to cover the ground to prevent further soil erosion and damage to tree roots. The crag is a popular place and the traffic takes it's toll. After hauling the mulch to the top volunteers would dump it over the edge, making a "mulch-fall" of sorts. Then people at the bottom would haul it again and spread it out. Amazingly, my hands hurt more than my shoulders did (yay climber shoulders!). They fed us dinner and I ate dinner with my new friends. I almost didn't go. The morning came too early and it was cold and threatening rain. So glad I did though. Climbers are such a good group to throw yourself into, especially when you don't know anyone. Its easy to meet people and talk about your adventures. I just hope that next year's event is warmer! :-P
 
Fear 10/15/2009
 
Lookie! I got a guest post spot on theclimbergirl.com!! Here it is...
 
Seneca Rocks 10/07/2009
 
Ah, trad climbing. The ultimate, "real" climbing goal for some is to be able to lead it. To those of you (like my fam) who might not be too knowledgeable on what exactly "Trad" is, let me explain: Traditional (trad) climbing is where you bring your rope up with you, and set and clip into protection as you go along. There are different kinds of protection - cams, nuts, hexes, tricams, slings, your teeth, etc... You get the picture. The skill comes in choosing the right gear placement and the right gear to go in that placement. If you do a good job, it stays where you put it and holds you when you fall. If you didn't, you keep falling. The strength comes in holding on for a much longer time while you place your gear.

I don't lead trad.