Dolphins

Whale watching - saw some dolphins and some flying fish cruise about 300 yards, but no whales.

40 foot catamaran was a nice ride.

Check out the Cove if you haven't already: http://www.thecovemovie.com/  
about dolphin slaughter in Japan - funded by organizations like Sea World - using dolphins and other Cetaceans for entertainment.

David Rastovich - Surfer for Cetaceans/professional surfer: http://www.s4cglobal.org/

Artists for the Triple Crown '09...

There is some really nice work from the artists this year - almost makes me want to buy a t-shirt.

Mike Losness

Climb on

Been climbing every few days - amazing

Lots of stemming because it's all Basalt - breaking off in the jagged tooth like formations leaving lots of multi pitch climbs - inverts - and dihedrials.

There are a few places to go from the North Shore. That said I have only made it to one - Mokeleia which is beautiful. Parking on the road across for a deserted beach there is a 1/2 hour assent up this jungled/bouldered trail - a workout on it's own. The wall itself has about 25 pre-anchored and top roped (thanks to Mike from Climb Aloha) climbs that are all mapped out and rated.

I have found myself obsessed with the 5-10 to 5-11 c's because they are so dynamic. Sometimes pulling through, sometimes making it. I find that if I have to pull through the first few times that by the 3rd time I will get it from start to finish. That feels good, for now.

Love it enough that I get so sucked in being up there that 5 hours pass, it gets dark and I am forced to go home - thinking - I'll come tomorrow and crush that problem. Then I wake up the next day having envisioned massages to relive the self inflicted pain.
I'll climb the next day!

Why Climb On...smart company, smart product, for the smart consumer.
This amazing product - better for the environment. It is a sunscreen that is all natural so it doesn't have the detrimental effects on the oceans reef. www.climbonproducts.com

Paint Your Stuff

Can't recall the last time I painted - and with spray paint none the less.

Painted my surfboard last night - abstractly.

I like it - despite being called a "dork."

As I see it - everyone looks the same in the water, and it sure is nice to be able to tell people apart out there - so a little paint does the trick, and why not make it looks nice.

Besides - I need to practice. Hone my skills.

North Shore

(above - the fam, the homegrown coconuts, the view from the front yard - glorious)

I find myself on the North Shore of Oahu - in the midst of the Triple Crown. Surf contest of the year - location of a lifetime.

Morning rock climbing

afternoon surf

and a little work here and there

Today - the waves were too big for me (anticipating 48 footers on Monday) So I went for a jog. Not a frequent jogger - i returned with blisters on my arches - yikes! I wouldn't recommend it.

Honey...

Bear!

That eats meat and will chase you up a tree if he is hungry.

Last moment of adolescent glory...Rockin' A Moose-Hawk!

It was not more than a couple days after this photo that mama moose kicked the little yearling (pictured) out of the "house." They have one precious year to spend with mama before she births again and yearling is left to fend for himself.

After that moment - and let me tell you - it is not nice - there is yelling and chasing, the whole nine yards - they may never see each other again.

It is not like children of the average American homosapien, that's for certain. A species that clings to their children for reason to live, and the children cling to parents for means to live. End as means, and means to an end. Seriously - the amount of mid-twenties living at home is unreal - and I know many of them off hand (I won't mention any names).

We could learn a thing or two from our resident moose population.

Gucci Throwback - What a phrase!

That was the term my father used to describe my interest in hunting.

He said, and I quote...

"Hunting - a Gucci Throwback to the paleo period."

need I say more?

Well, no, but as we know, I can't stop. So, I passed hunters ed...was the best shot in the class, mind you it was a 22 rifle at 25 yards, and if I wasn't the best shot I would have lost it! I grew up hunting rodents and cans in my backyard! (older brother in the fam obviously) Thus, a good shot is mandatory...and 25 yards is not worth the numbers used to type it.

Now, I have the same coach as the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in skeet and trap. I am going to be amazing!

As much as I would love to hook you up in this post with some sick deal on camo gear in honor of hunting glory...I got nuthin for ya : (

But back to Gucci...Since when did that become the word to describe "luxury" ???? My boyfriend even calls his Sorrel boots his Gucci boots...as a nod to the humor that he wouldn't be caught dead in Gucci - the real thing.

I must have missed something.

Clothes for a Cause

Fashion over function is not a concept considered in the likes of Alaskan extremities. Fine, really, it is just fine. I am getting quite comfortable...and I have found alternate means of making statements.

Toms...see image...I have them with red polka-dots. Totally comfy. Actually wore them to a Red, White, and Blue, or Die! BBQ this weekend. I understandably struggled with the title of this blog today because - well, commenting on undying Alaskan Patriotism in bold titles is almost too much fun to resist.

I resisted.

The shoes are branching out from their original. But they were designed with a few things trumping high-fashion, like say, consideration for others and planet. What a concept!

Shoes with soul/sole - Toms donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. They are also made with recycled rubber soles.

MS is hooking you up with discounts online

http://www.mobilespinach.com/pages/cats/1/

through Azelea SF

http://www.azaleasf.com/

All good for you and good for the environment.

Love Azelea...sweet store!

-ciao