Life

Sorry to interrupt my road trip story... but I have to share this because I'm awesome:

It wasn't my fault this time. We weren't going to predict this one. But this knowledge didn't help the sting of disappointment we felt, and it certainly didn't help us figure out what to do now. I sat on the floor of the log cabin known as the Jenny Lake Ranger Station, and leaned up against the wall. I stared ahead, thinking. Occasionally my eyes would glance to the right and stare down the conditions board. "Owen-Spalding: Icy, crampons recommended for descent. Full alpine conditions". I wasn't in the mood to slip on verglas and fall off the Grand Teton. My crampons were more than 200 miles away. We were just not prepared.

Jason broke my trance: "Don't you really need to pee?"

I had forgotten. I stood up and we walked out of the ranger station. I intentionally left my backcountry permit on the desk.

I'm in pain. It's not what you think.

I will never own a Cadillac. It's just not worth it.

But I find myself attracted to the "creature comforts" of life. I'll eat slightly nicer food for more money, and I'll buy slightly nicer things just because they're slightly nicer.

My bed is incredible.

So when times are tough, and I start realizing I need to trim the fat off of my budget so I can perhaps build a surplus of money, I start wondering how many of these comforts I'll be able to continue. Today I canceled my membership to Momentum climbing gym which will add to my monthly budget. Just that will put me in a happier place. But I still have other things to worry about.

That's not what I'm writing about though. I'm writing about socks.

I'm weird when it comes to socks. I need comfortable socks. If there are holes in my socks, I'll lose my mind. Even thin patches are unacceptable. Fortunately, socks are cheap.

But here's the obsessive compulsive part of things: All of my socks have to be the same age. I can't add socks to my collection. I have to completely replace my stash of stockings every time I buy new ones.

So when I recently discovered that I am doing my laundry way more often than I should have to because I keep running out of socks, I decided that today was the day. Probably because I was wearing wool hiking socks all day. Anyway, as I did my laundry I counted off my 9.5 pairs of socks and went off to the magical world of Wal Mart where I was able to purchase 36 brand new socks for only $15. So I will bid adieu to my old socks which have comforted my little feet for so long. They aren't too thin, they don't have holes. But nice thick socks are my one true luxury, and the next few weeks will be very luxurious ones.

So, I'm watching the inaugural parade off and on waiting for the U marching band to go by. Mostly I'm ignoring it though. But I glance over and see these people marching:



And what was the first thing that popped into my head? "Hey, those look like candy. Is that marching candy? Why is there candy marching in the inaugural parade?!"



It is good candy though...