Book Review: The Four Agreements 04/04/2011
 Look! A book review! I think this means my blog is becoming one of substance… “deep” if you will. Next thing you know I’ll be interviewing people…
Lately I’ve found myself questioning just about every aspect of my life. From belief structures to habits – this new phase of boldness has empowered me to explore beyond my comfort zone. Lots of this exploration has happened through reading, something I used to take a lot of pleasure in, but lost the habit of when school and work pressures increased. It only makes sense that in this time of new beginnings and re-invention that I’d pick it up again. My latest (whole) book accomplishment is “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, recommended by Amy of Expand Outdoors (thank you Amy!). Here I will try my best to do it justice. What you really ought to do is just go buy a copy for yourself, but if you need convincing, here I go… 1 Comment Self Rescue with Earth Treks Part 1 03/17/2011
 Patrick Gensel escaping my belay. Back in October I took a four week self rescue seminar with Earth Treks Climbing Centers here in Maryland. Best decision ever. As a novice trad climber, I had always assumed that my leader would be awesome and I would be ok, no matter what happened. I would learn as I climbed and eventually become proficient and trustworthy myself. After taking this class I question the judgment of those leaders for ever allowing me to be their second. What were they thinking?? I knew NOTHING. Most of the course focused on rescuing a fallen leader. If my leader had fallen, I wouldn't have been able to do anything but stand there and yell, hoping someone smarter and more prepared than I would come along and rescue the both of us. I will never again underestimate the importance of being able to handle problems on lead as well as on second.
In the next few articles I will review what we covered, hopefully passing on some valuable tips and inspiring you to go take one of these classes on your own. No matter how good my article (or stolen pictures) are, they will never replace practicing with an instructor. Ready? How to escape a belay... OR How to leave an annoying child hanging safely so you can go get a snack. STS-133 Photo Contest Try #2 02/23/2011
 By the Thermal Vac Chamber at Goddard It's here! Again...
For those of you who survived STS-133 Tweetup 1.0, you may remember I ran a photo contest because I felt left out. I was stuck in sunny California, silently wishing I was caught up in the excitement and glory of the #NASATweetup. Due to the heartrending indefinite postponement of the launch, the contest was postponed as well... until now! Launch is scheduled for tomorrow, and as I read tweets of those heading to the Space Coast I'm happy to say I get to join in the fun this time as well! (READS: I'm blogging this from a mifi in the back of a car with 3 boys who drove from DC at 4am this morning.) So lets try this contest thing again... Boldness: The Purge 02/18/2011
 I think this Boldness thing is going to turn into a heading for the whole moving across the country project...
I'm sentimental. How sentimental I didn't realize until recently. I found a scrap book with ticket stubs and other paper treasures from 7 years ago, and a whole drawer of trinkets from events I've attended that I just can't seem to part with. I've been struggling for a while with a desire to live a minimalistic lifestyle, and the desire to preserve memories. There is something about an uncluttered life that really appeals to me. The ability to pack up and move whenever you want. Having few things to care for. Your space being cleaner, for the most part. I like all of that. I also like knowing that my kids will be able to see the NASA Tweetup badges I've collected, and the ticket stubs from my trips overseas. With my big cross country relocation happening rather soon, I need to figure out how to find a balance. Here is what I'm learning. Boldness 02/10/2011
 adj. bold·er, bold·est
1. Fearless and daring; courageous. 2. Requiring or exhibiting courage and bravery. 3. Unduly forward and brazen; impudent: a bold, sassy child. 4. Clear and distinct to the eye; conspicuous: a bold handwriting. 5. Steep or abrupt in grade or terrain: bold cliffs. A lot of people talk about being brave. Some things in life require bravery. Talking to that guy/girl, applying for that job, saving that baby from a grizzly bear. Bravery or courage is about doing what is right in spite of fear or opposition. Bravery is good. But I prefer boldness.  Badass in the boots. Two words: Electric boots.
Whaaaat?!? I got to field test these babies, courtesy of Columbia's new Omniheat product line. I'm sure you've all seen the commercials - hot girl in small clothes is rolling in the snow, and as soon as she puts the jacket on, she is warm. Thank goodness, I was so worried (*Sarcasm). Who knew they were making BOOTS too!! How to see Hawaii on $600 or Less 02/03/2011
Winter is conference season for us NASA education folk. So far I've been to AGU in San Francisco, and AAS and AMS in Seattle. (No I'm not going to spell out the acronyms for you.) The dual conference thing in Seattle landed me three weeks in that grey and beautiful city, five days of which I took and escaped to Hawaii with. I figured I'm half way there, I might as well go the rest of the way, right? I'd find a cheap ticket to paradise, spend 5 days on the Big Island seeing the sights. That should be easy, right? This post is about just that.  Somewhere on the east side of the Big Island Hello 2011! 12/31/2010
 Around the campfire at Jtree Every year I write and reflect. It's one of the few habits I have that I'm proud of.
I can go back to my first blog and read my resolutions from 2002, and I can go back on paper and find them from years earlier. I'm a firm believer that reflection is the only way to make progress. Unless you take the time to see where you've been, how can you know where you are going, much less control or change it? THE Top 10 Rock and Sky 2010 Gear Awards! 12/19/2010
 Time for what you've all been waiting for! The 2010 Rock and Sky Gear awards!
Since this is the first time I've done them, I doubt you've actually been waiting, but I had to make the intro sound exciting somehow. It's the time of year where everyone is posting their favorite gear reviews, awards, and gift suggestions. I feel left out, so I've decided to do my own gear award post. Unlike those big web sites where brands send them free products to review, I have to buy my own gear. That's why the awards are going to normal person gear, and not the newest stuff on the market. I purchased it myself after doing tons of research and thought it was worthy of mention. So without further excuse or explanation - THE 2010 ROCK AND SKY GEAR AWARDS!! Ps. If anyone wants to send me free gear to review, that'd be awesome too. :-D  Group Sponsor Photo This is going to sound gross, but tonight, three days after I got home, I put BACK ON the base layer I wore for THREE DAYS in a row at JTree and went running.
I found the leftover campfire smell soothing. Don't judge me. Last Wednesday I hopped a plane and flew to California. To clarify, there was a lot more thought and planning involved. Twenty-five climbers, linked by twitter, met in the desert for a long weekend of climbing and bonding. I now call "Face Collecting" my official hobby. In the past year and a half I've met more amazing people than in the previous five combined. My "know in real life" list is long and out of date and I love it. My life is richer, and I am braver than I was before. This week in Joshua Tree was epic, and I wouldn't have experienced it without these amazing people. | Aleya Littleton:
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