This weekend I had a lovely Easter picnic with my cousins in Walnut Creek. Watching my niece Aria and little cousin Malia playing just fills my heart with happiness. While the moment can’t last forever, at least the gif can keep playing on and on and on.
Tacos, Civil Discourse, and the Need for a More Human Communications Protocol
The other night I was was having dinner with a new friend in a dingy but comfortable Mexican restaurant in Oakland. Over veggie tacos, she was telling me about a project she was working on, one that she moved to the Bay Area specifically for. She recounted how much work had already gone into it,…
Scending a Tall V2 Today
Finally scended this kinda scary v2 problem after getting stuck at the crux in the middle forever. Felt really great to top it! At Planet Granite SF.
Finally Back to Climbing after A2 Pulley Strain!
This week, after a few weeks off recuperating from a mild A2 pulley strain, I finally got back on the rock. My first session back was definitely a struggle bus on even the easiest problems. I was just really paranoid about re-injuring myself. But this morning I felt almost normal and really enjoyed climbing again….
On the Importance of Multiple Passions
An older figure I know has devoted his entire life to his profession. He’s excellent at it. It’s also the only thing he has practiced with any kind of dedication or passion for the last 40 or so years of his life. So now that he is in retirement age, he doesn’t have much else…
Rock Climbing Chronicles: A2 Pulley Strains Suck!
At the beginning of the month I got the most common injury that rock climbers get. It isn't a leg, arm or head injury. It's to the tiniest muscles that have to bear all of your weight: your fingers. Specifically, I have what's called an A2 Pulley Strain. Your fingers are composed of tendons, sheaths…
Designing Your Life: Applying a Designer’s Mindset to Your Career
I just finished Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. A present from a good friend (Thanks, Barry!), it comes at a perfect time in my life, as I contemplate a career shift. Designing Your Life is essentially a guide to applying a design-thinking process to career planning. As someone who has done…
Freestyle Session: “Keep Up” by Slakah the Beat Child
Finally got around to doing another freestyle dance session at Ocean Beach. This time the track was "Keep Up" by Slakah the Beat Child, suggested by my friend Morgan. Such a dope song! It was a beautiful sunny morning to be dancing by the sea.
“Everything Remains Raw”: An Unfinished Video Essay on the Black Roots of Urban Dance
Finally got around to watching all of "Everything Remains Raw" Moncell Durden's ambitious documentary on the Black roots of urban dance. Like the title, the film is very raw and unfinished, at times painfully so. There are parts of the work that have issues with. It diminishes the important role of Latinx dancers and culture…
Health Update: Feeling Stronger, Energetic
I'm entering 2018 feeling pretty great. This month I relaxed my paleo-focused diet to introduce more carbs during one of my meals, which so far has not had much of any impact on anything, other than reintroducing me to the joys of sandwiches and burritos. Mmm, sandwiches. Activity-wise, I'm climbing about three times a week,…