veinte tres

We all get old, but twenty-three is far from it.  Birthday's come and go but there is no reason to run.  I don't have anything inspiration, just a few pictures and a few birthday quotes to think about.

No wise man
                          ever wished to be younger. - Jonathan Swift


The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune. English Proverb

Age is
          strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't
          matter. -- Jack Benny

And if it's not your birthday...

Statistics prove, prove that you've one birthday,
one birthday ev'ry year.
But there are three hundred and sixty four
unbirthdays.
That is why we're gathered here to cheer.

A very merry unbirthday to you, to you.
A very merry unbirthday to you,
It's great to drink to someone and I guess that you will do.
A very merry unbirthday to you

Climb. Fish. Roll in dead fish.

The past few days I took some pictures of the climbing class I teach and some of Jeff fly fishing on Spring Creek.   Jeff did well catching 5, but Crazy our dog managed to find a dead sucker someone threw on the bank and promptly rolled in it.  He had dead fish (the consistency of soft wax) all over his body.  He smelled so bad it caused involuntary gaging once with in a few feet of him.  We threw him in the stream before he got to ride home in the trunk of the Jeep with all windows down.  The smell was still obnoxious.  Well, here the Click Here to see the photos. 

Mocanaqua - Main Wall

Last friday I got out to Mocanaqua's Main Wall to do some climbing with my boss and the staff from psu
adventure recreation staff.  We scouted 2 climbs that we thought students would be able to do well,
and put up a 3rd route over another unnamed part.

The rock was nice and dry with the sun hitting the wall during the entire day with the leaves still off the tree.  The setup above Pizza Crack needed 2 placed anchors with the tree slung.  The tree had some scary looking gear wrapped around it, that looked like it was put there in the early 70's. 

It's days like this that make realize that having an office job just isn't for me.  Getting paid to scout climbing locations with good people on a beautiful day.  The temperture hoovering in the low 60's and a slight breeze gave the perfect setting for an
afternoon nap on picnic table rock at the end of the day. 

The next day would be a long one...Another early morning, this time to take students to Reading Rocks climbing gym.  It's tough work, but someone has to do it.

On-On

It's called "hashing" and it began in the UK in 1938 by a few friends looking for some physical activity to help get rid of their weekend hangovers, while including some beer drinking fun and running.  I participated in my first hash yesterday as a "new boot" with the Nittany Valley Hash House Harriers the local kennel here in State College. 


The run is a spectacle in itself with 20 some people running through the woods, over streams, and hiking up mountains.  You follow a trail of flour dots left by the hare the day before, to "checks" where possible false trails and dead ends are waiting for you.  The non-competitive atmosphere lends itself to calling those winning F.R.B.'s (front running bastards), beer checks and a log that must be worn by the winner the following week to discourage maximum effort. 

The weekly hash is followed with an On-After that is filled with singing and festivities from those whose names are BBC, Salty, Glassterbator, Echo, Sux2Blow, and many more.

Thanks to BBC for inviting me to the NVHHH run #990.  I encourage you all to search google for your local hash and give it a try. You got nothing to lose, and as they say "If you get it shape, it's your own damn fault!"

[Nittany Valley Hashing House Harriers - Website]