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Snowy Range – Brooklyn Lake
It’s looking like a hot day, so we’re happy to head up to the Snowy Range for hike in the cooler altitudes. Indeed we find a nice cool breeze at Brooklyn Lake – so nice that I make a rare blunder and forget to wear a hat. We soon find out that the price for…
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Birthday Camp
This overnight outing is partially to celebrate my upcoming birthday – #34. Once again Dad showers me with wrapped gifts that he calls “mere trifles”, but include many things from REI that will help support my outdoor habits for years to come. We drink a toast, eat some cake, and crawl gratefully into our sleeping…
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Vedauwoo – Valley Massif
At last, a sunny day at Vedauwoo! Ann, Sean, and I figure it’s been six weeks since our last route – yow. Dad and Sarah join us for the familiar hike into Valley Massif. We do a route called Soft Touch, 5.5. The rating is easy, but true to Vedauwoo, it’s only “easy” if your…
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Movie: Madagascar (2005)
It’s been a while since I made through a whole Disney film without getting disgusted, but this one stuck it out. The basic idea of New Yorkers trying to survive in “the wild” is good, supplies some funny moments, and should have been explored more. But the formula comes first, and the freshness eventually gives…
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Movie: The Squid and the Whale (2005)
A character study of a family going through a divorce in Brooklyn in the early 80’s. The film takes on the challenge of treating all four characters fairly while still conveying the pain caused by the others. There is a little unevenness, but it’s still impressive how well it does. Referred by Sean
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Wet at Vedauwoo
It seems like months since we’ve done any climbing and we’re itching to get on some rock at Vedauwoo, but alas, the weather does not comply. Instead we explore some of the territory east of the main area on foot, and despite the drizzle Vedauwoo supplies us with soul-nourishing experiences, as it always seems to.…
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Movie: Brokeback Mountain (2005)
I’ll admit, I just wanted to see what all the fuss is about. Ang Lee does get some mileage out of the gay cowboy taboo, and the movie conveys some appreciation for what the experience of it might be like. As a love story I only halfway bought it, I’m not sure why. As a…
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Movie: Thumbsucker (2005)
The great thing about this coming-of-age flick is how it sets up the same cliché plot structures you might expect for the genre, then just leaves them uncompleted when the next twist comes along. On the way it also hits many modern issues with spot-on satire. Feel the pain of characters attempting to change themselves,…
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Tobico Marsh Trail
Today’s outing is a lovely 2.5-mile loop in the Tobico Marsh State Game Area north of Bay City. Mom hikes this trail frequently, and we can see why. It’s thick with life – we see a few varieties of mushrooms despite the dryness and Ann spots a snake snacking on a frog. The only downside…
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d & e get hitched
This is the third wedding Ann and I have attended since our own, all quite different. The common thing is that we always feel like we’re saying our own vows to each other again, along with the bride and groom. It’s refreshing. It was also an honor to be present at Doug & Elizabeth’s ceremony.…