July 31, 2005
another ride.

I gota little sun burnt today while hanging out with some horses. I rode a little bit again. This time more on my own that last time. I hardly know what I'm doing but I can start moving, turn, and backup. It's a little scany to ride a horse but it'll get better I'm sure.

Tomorrow is back to work day. Perhaps there will be an update on the training and vacation conflict.

Posted by Ben at 09:45 PM
July 30, 2005
more scheduling difficultys.

Apprently the 3rd Season of Sealab 2021 became aviable mid month. It's too bad I don't have the money to get it right now I'm hoping in septermber after the ski trip to shasta in late August.

So the wedding that I went to in febuary is coming to Oregon. At least a slightly delayed reception. But it happens to fall on the same weekend as the trip mentioned above. Go figure. I'm gonna have to make a call or 2 and see if I can meet up with newisly weds on another weekend. It disapoints me I can't be in at least 2 places at once.

So I helped build a deck and fence today. Deck is nowhere near done. The Fence is done. We also moved a lotta boards. I'm gonna feel it tomorrow. It felt quite good to take a cool shower after the manual labor.

Posted by Ben at 04:14 PM
July 29, 2005
In the Wake

I attempted to wake board last night. I didn't quite get up but was close. I decided to stop when I started to get cold because the area in which I was beeing um taught in was compeletly in the shade also I was wearing no wet suit. But the water was a nice 70something degrees. I'm a little bit sore from it. Hopefuly next time I will get it.

So work is attempting to screw me out of my training yet again. Last time they wanted to train me 1 day of the training was one I had schedulded off long in advance. Now they same thing has happened. Just I had is schhedulded off even futher in advance.... I talked to my supervisor she is gonna she what she can do.

Posted by Ben at 06:11 PM
July 28, 2005
progress update status

I made a very small list of things to do a couple months back.

The list looke something like this. Ok exactly like this.


  • Start and Finish a new book.
  • Learn new things.
  • Confront a fear.
  • Get physical.

The book well I havent found time for it yet. But it is still on the list

Learn new things. I've been climbing, Rode a horse and learned some horse stuff, I'm getting training in other products soon at work. I've learned a little about setting up DNS with webmin, Learned to do laundry, I can almmost do mac and cheese.

Confront a fear. Ya done that. Gonna do it more. Today or later in August I'm gonna ski. As a kid I had a lot of chances to ski at Detroit lake but never did cause I was scared.

Get Phyiscal. yep, camped 3 times, rafted, climbing, work out in the gym from time to time. Gonna ski at least once, been hiking.

Once of these or these
would be fun.

Posted by Ben at 10:04 AM
July 27, 2005
Boating

Tommorow I go on a boat. I'm not sure if there will be swiming, skiing, or what happens on the boat exactly but I'm goin damnit.

Posted by Ben at 09:11 PM
July 26, 2005
1st Steak

Just grilled my 1st steak of the summer. It was tastey.

I may end this pay-period with a bit of a surplus for a change. Then again I may not.

I just looked over the pictures I took while rafting. I'm not too impressed with them. there was potential of a couple really good pictures in the full moonlight streaming through the trees. But I was tired, sore and wanting to get back to sleep as I only got up because nature called.

I'm gonna pull my GPS data now.

Posted by Ben at 09:50 PM
July 25, 2005
I rafted.

I spent the bulk of the weekend rafting. What wasn't spent rafting was spent camping or preparing or unpacking from rafting. My knee hurts for some reason, I am sore I am tired and my back is all stiff.

Photos from the trip have yet to be reviewed. Once reviewed if any are worth they will be posted in the usual place.

Nina seems to have another coolant leak. Which would be another financial burden I'm going to have to shoulder. Also it's nearly time for an oil change. I may take a day, maybe 2, off work here to take her to where she needs to go to get things fixed up.

Posted by Ben at 09:46 AM
July 22, 2005
Stormy Weathers

It was loud last night. Thunder right on top of us. Shaking my place, setting off stage one of my car alarm so my keychain started beeping and buzzing when a particualry close/loud roll of thunder rolled by.

Intersesting Fact. Thunder is the shockwave created by rapid expansion of the air from the lighting strike it self.

Posted by Ben at 10:22 AM
July 21, 2005
Raftin this weekend.

Going rafting this weekend. Gonna be an over nighter I'm getting excited. I still have to get all my crap together for the trip. Perhaps figure out how to get my camera down the river safely with me.

Climbing tonight. As long as it's not too hot. If its too hot our shoes turn to butter on the rock.

Anyone else notice all the crazys lately?

Posted by Ben at 02:04 PM
July 19, 2005
find a way to keep cool

I'm gonna have to find a way to keep my place cooler. But one that doesn't involve much money. Which rules out AC. I thought about just leaving the fridge open but that would ruin my food. Closing doors and windows durring day helps some but not much. I think I maybe screwed.

Work was sucky today.

Posted by Ben at 09:50 PM
July 18, 2005
Today was hot hot hot

It got to 96 here today. Now Dusty in San Dumbass may not think much of that but its plenty warm for Eugene and Oregon.

I wanna get out one of these days and use my new monopod. Maybe one of the evenings this weekend. Perhaps while rafting.

Today went quick enough. Hopefuly the rest of the week keep pace.

Posted by Ben at 06:32 PM
July 17, 2005
purchases.

Yesterday at the REI strach and dent sale I got my self a data cable for my GPS. Chris got an attachment for his roof rack to hold his kayak that he has yet to purchase he also got some snow boarding gloves.

I also went to Salem visted with Stephanie like planned then to Portland and hung out with Chris more.

Today I got my self a monopod and head for it, for those hiking and camping, and other outdoor events that a tripod would be too much extra work.

Posted by Ben at 04:22 PM
July 16, 2005
Fat Murray Cat

I doesed murray with Advantage last weekend I think on the 9th. Iam still finding fleas on him today. I wonder if he is just to much cat for Advantage. I'm going to does him again next month. Maybe they are new fleas who haven't bitten?

REI has a scratch and dent sale today. I'm gonna check that out maybe get a backpack.

Posted by Ben at 09:16 AM
July 14, 2005
On Belay

Tonight is Climbing. Which will be good for me in a few ways.

Tomorrow is Paid. Which means I can put gas in my car cause I'm on E wait it's an R on my car R is for reserve.

This check should be decent sized too. All the OT from the past several weeks. So hopefuly I can get my self a Cookbook of the DNS type. Also I've got other debts to pay.

Posted by Ben at 06:17 PM
July 13, 2005
keeping up

Today was too long.

The good news is: that it's over, my stock went up, I haven't overdrawn, I washed my car, I get paid friday, I have all my fingers and toes, someone who hardly knows me called me brilliant, I have a hotplate (Thanks Tiffany), I'm going to climb tomorrow, I'm going to see Stephanie soonish, Going to see Chris later this week.

I don't have any legitimate complaints. BRING IT!

Posted by Ben at 07:20 PM
July 12, 2005
Insurance Rape

So I tell my insurance company I moved (again, apprently they didnt get the last memo/update). So now between my tickets which only took my rates up around $35 and because of moving I now pay closer to $50 (total) more. Which blows ass. Now I pay $202 which is more than my damn car payment. It's Bullshit I tell you. BULLSHIT!

Stephanie is in town it's been like forever since I last saw her. I am gonna make an effort to go see her this weekend...

Posted by Ben at 08:48 PM
July 11, 2005
yesterday I

I rode a Horse and ate Sushi. I also stayed up too late watching Aliens.

I also noticed it's almost time for an inspection for my car. I will have to come up with a wad of cash and part with my car for a day or so to be sure she is in good shape and to have important fluids changed and checked, filters changed. Hopefuly the news will all be good.

Work slowed down a couple times today. That was welcome after the 2or3 months of being just slammed.

Posted by Ben at 06:46 PM
July 10, 2005
My Place.

I cleaned my place up a bit last night. Put my laundry away this morning. Mostly so I could put my dirty laundry in my hamper. I still need a lot of things. Like a vacume cleaner, dust pan and hand sweeper for the bathroom floor. And to put some stuff away in the "Kitchen Area". Oh yes and some wall hangings. Perhaps I should find some more Bond or Some BMW posters for my walls.

It's coming together.

Posted by Ben at 11:29 AM
July 09, 2005
Rugged Little Thumb Drive

My thumb drive went through the washing machine and dryer. It came out a little warm and looks like it melted a little bit around the screws. But it still works. The SanDisk Mini Cruzer is a solid little thumb drive. I wonder if the new ones are as rugged as my 2 year old thumbdrive. What is funny is some comapany has recentyl have started marketing ruggized drives. I'm not sure it is nessary considering what mine went through. I may just get my self a bigger one once I can afford one, which will be a while as I got a lot of other things I'd like to have like a frame pack.

Posted by Ben at 08:50 PM
July 08, 2005
Stuff of new

Pictures from camping are uploading as I type this.

No soild plans this weekend. Which is kinda nice for a change. Most likely gonna play games with sean and Nathan.

I've got a new laser printer from Chris plus 3 toner cartridges for it. I have yet to hook it up or anything but it's pretty cool.

Posted by Ben at 10:47 PM
I have climbed

I climbed last night. I beat a crack I had problems with in the past. Then I got my ass handed to me by a much harder crack. I prefer face climbing to crack climbing. My little toes hurt when I walk, not the good kind of muscle hurt/sore.

It is a damn good thing it's Friday.

Hopefuly tonight I can get the pictures up from camping. As long as I don't end up too distracted.

I need a nap.

Posted by Ben at 07:23 AM
July 06, 2005
I have camped

My weekend was pretty cool. Went on a hike, saw a waterfall, saw a firedancer, explored some old mines, checked out another lookout to maybe rent, had a great camp spot, had some beer, had some smores, took some pictures. I will post some soonish.

I also determined I want a mono-pod and a toploading camera case from lowepro so I can get a chest harness for it so I can access my camera and accesorys/lenses with out needing to take off my backpack or deal with the gadget bag (which kills your shoulder after a mile or so.)

Posted by Ben at 09:29 AM
July 01, 2005
camp cookin

I bought a backpacking stove lastnight. It's not the lightest or the smallest one but it was one of the cheaper ones. It has a couple other nice features like the attached fuel canister and that it can run on unleaded gas in a pinch.

It's gonna be nice to have semi-lazy3 day weekend.

Posted by Ben at 01:32 PM