theo|digital

Oh man. Well, this was cool. We waited in line for 2+ hours, got mostly bad pictures (these are the best of a bunch, and I still had to include a lot that weren’t good, but still helped tell the story), and at 5’6″, the only parts of the rally I saw were on Andrew Gates‘ shoulders.

Still cool.

Dr. Jim Bruckner, Dr. Bob Hubbard, Dr. Klyne Snodgrass, and Dr. Stephen Chester.

In order.

 

via my Treo 700p

On Saturday, I finally made it out with the camera for a few shots. It only took a few minutes to realize I had waited too long. Lots of the bright reds had darkened, and the yellows had brown edges. Just two days prior it was better! Still got a few nice ones, though.

One of my best friends Nick just convinced this cute girl to spend the rest of her life with him.  Being trapped back here in Colorado, I had to follow the story long distance, but it was made easier by a couple other good friends with telephoto lenses.  Congratulations, Nick and Amy.  Love you guys.

The YMCA feels a lot like a small town, and Fourth of July carries holiday excitement that anonymous communities don’t seem to have.  Who dresses up for the 4th?  Everyone.  Plus the winners of the parade contest will dog the other departments for at least a week.  Here are my photos of our morning parade under the visage of Long’s Peak, featuring LT students in almost every department.

Hiking trip to Bridal Veil Falls. My friend Shalom took most of the photos, but she let me snap a few too.

Last Monday, I grabbed my first short “above-treeline” hike with both new and old friends here. Estes Cone is a small summit best used for a great view of Long’s Peak, which is right to its south.

One week since we arrived in Colorado (granted, our midnight arrival was probably technically Tuesday).

I’ve never seen it so rainy here, so dark. The surrounding landscape is hidden completely. Even Eagle Cliff has a cloud like a sheet partially draped over its top. And I’m trapped in it, the dampness in my lungs un-comforting to the dryness in my throat, and the aches elsewhere. I’m definitely sick. I spent the morning in my room before venturing to the Pondo for an early lunch (they had egg drop soup, but it had left-over peas in it from the night before) and then back home again exhausted from an hour out. I was able to get some e-mail done, but then let the sleep take me for two hours before five.

And now I’m feeling like I often feel when I’m on sick day: lazy. Like I should have gotten more done. Frustrated and guilty that daylight is almost ready to drop away, but my task list isn’t shorter.

I can convince myself that that this was an opportune time to have to take a break. And it was—I finally completed my full project leaders and coaches orientation late last night, and many of my initial major tasks for launching things seem to be complete. But to work in this kind of self-talk is to miss the point; staying within the confines of the assumption that if I am productive, I am valuable.

Year one of grad school complete! That was stunningly fast. Colorado here I come!

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Now playing: Andrew Osenga – New Beginning
via FoxyTunes

My brother-in-law and sister live in DC, and way back in February (emotional distance: 14 years), I took a visiting Saturday morning and walked around DC for some fresh air and photos. This staircase is just one block down from their place, in the historic Shaw neighborhood which they’ve started to adopt as their own.