When All Else Fails

This posting has been in my Live Writer since last week and I never got around to actually finishing it and posting it. 

Just thought I would share a tidbit of hope with everyone.  This morning, as I did some things around the apartment, I listened to some General Conference talks.  And I stumbled upon one that was really an awesome message.  Since the moment that he was sustained, Pres. Uchtdorf has been a very special General Authority to me.  His words, his demeanor, even the way in which he speaks cuts right through me down to places in my heart that I really thought were inaccessible to most everyone.  (I’ve been trying to work on that.  I’ve never been very good at wearing my heart on  my sleeve.)  In fact, I’ve been known to listen to his talks 2 or 3 times in a row just because his voice is so soothing and comforting to me.  And every time he speaks, he seems to be speaking directly to me.  His Saturday morning session talk was no different so if anyone hasn’t heard or read it, I would recommend it.  What I liked most of all is the way he separated the things we hope for from what we hope in.  And I realized that it is difficult to remain hopeful when you focus on the things you hope for but forget the other part, which is the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  I’m sure this is a no-brainer for everyone else but something that I need to be reminded of constantly.  I also was  reminded that having hope isn’t just a nice thing to have – it’s actually a commandment.  When we do not remain hopeful, we stop caring for others and for ourselves and may not be in a position to receive blessings that would otherwise be ours.  I know it is a simple message but it was just what I needed to hear.  I’m sure most of you know that what I want more than anything in the world is a family and since I don’t have it, I sometimes get to feeling behind in life.  But lately, his thoughts have helped me to put things into perspective.  I also  can’t  say enough about my parents, brothers, and sister, and my sisters-in-law who are just like sisters to me.  You are all so supportive and it means the world to me! 

I won’t even try to paraphrase him any further because I’ll surely butcher his words.  But that’s my thought for the month.  Enjoy it because I’m sort of thick headed and it just about takes a sledge hammer to get these things to click with me.  And chances are, even then, I’ll forget in a week.  So when I’m acting like a spoiled brat because I’m not getting my way, someone remind me there is still reason to hope! 

A few words from Pres. Uchtdorf:

“The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.

Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.”

                                                                                                                                            President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

                                                                                                                                               General Conference, 2008

Yosemite Part III

 

 Day 3

We got up in the morning and packed up camp as usual.  By the second night  on the hard ground with only a very thin pad, I was having a pretty rough time sleeping.  So I tended to wake up pretty early in the morning.  So I just enjoyed the peace and quiet for quite a while until I was ready to stand on my feet again.  Then we pumped water and left for Clouds Rest.  I thought that the first day was steep but it turns out that was just a teaser.  I even saw Erin breathing slightly harder during a few portions of this hike.  Erin hiked circles around me so I felt better to see her finally having to work a little.  The first part of the day was steep but pretty even terrain.  At about halfway, we stopped and rested for a while by a really cool spot where we could view this gigantic wall of granite.  I couldn’t get a picture of it but as we stood on the ledge and looked out, we couldn’t see anything but granite all the way up and all the way up.  We couldn’t actually see the whole thing from where we stood but it just appeared to go forever.  The even more amazing part was the amount of trees and foliage that can grow right out of the rock.  (Guess Grandad has been right all along- you can grow just about anything in California.) 

While we were there resting and enjoying the view, we met the other group that kept on the same trail as we were on.  We lost pretty much everyone else by day 2 but we saw each other several times as we both persevered till the top of Clouds Rest.

	The last portion of the trek to the top of Clouds Rest was sort of scary for me.  Having a pack on threw off my weight distribution quite a bit so between that and the wind at the higher altitude, I was a bit nervous.  I made Erin lead the way because she made it look effortless.  Once at the top, we could see Little Yosemite Valley  and Half Dome (see map on previous post).  The top of Clouds Rest was about 9926 ft and within minutes, I went from sweating in our short sleeved shirts to being downright cold.  We made it to the top just after our friends so we stayed at the top and chatted before moving on.
We finally got close enough to Half Dome to just barely see the poles and cables going up the side and all the way to the top.  We really wanted to do Half Dome but because of where we needed to camp, we would have needed another day.  Supposedly, Half Dome is a little nerve wrecking and pretty physically demanding.  But once you get to the top, you can sit and hang your feet over the edge at the point of it.  That is not for the faint-hearted though.

 

Getting back down from Clouds Rest was the most painful part.  Unfortunately, I think this was what pretty much did my knee in for the rest of the trip.  After this I was in a lot of pain pretty much all the time.  It was like going down about 12 flights of stairs twice the height of normal steps.  They just kept going and going and going and going…  Well, you get the point.  Then once we were done with that, we though life would get easier.  But after we got down from Clouds Rest, we continued around it and joined up with the John Muir Trail (green trail on the map of the previous posting).  To our dismay, we ended up on almost 4 straight miles of very steep, flat switchbacks that also never seemed to end.  This is where I got all the blisters on my feet, including some underneath a couple of toenails.  I ended up losing those nails and they still haven’t grown back.  Needless to say, we decided not to take this same trail on the way back.  Instead, we took a little bit longer way around but it was a little less steep.  After hiking almost 7 miles that day, our feet felt like someone had repeatedly hammered on them for about 3 hours straight.  So we once again, found the stream and got our water so we could get off our feet.  For the first time, tried to clean up a little bit at the stream.  We were shocked at how dirty we had gotten.  Even though we were all wearing pants, our legs were caked with dirt all the way up to our thighs.  Erin wasn’t wearing hiking boots and  even after going home and scrubbing her feet, she still had brown toes.  Even after washing as much of our bodies as possible, we were dirty again in 5 minutes or less.  But it felt good for a minute. 

 

Purely by coincidence, everywhere we camped, we always had a nice big sitting rock.  At first it was pretty convenient.  But then we found ourselves just staying in bed later because we neither wanted to stand on our aching feet nor did we want to sit on the hard rock anymore. 

 

I’ve Been Tagged

I should be packing and charting my course to leave for Atlanta tomorrow but this is much more interesting to do so thanks Erin for giving me reasons to procrastinate!  I’ll warn you though, there isn’t a lot of variation in my life at this point.  So I can’t make any promises as to how interesting it will be.

I am: Rachel
I think: this exercise will make me think too much.
I know: someday I will have a paying job again.
I want: to have a paying job again.  (seeing a pattern yet?)
I have: wonderful parents and siblings that I couldn’t live without.
I wish: I could work in the temple again.
I hate: Greenville drivers.
I miss: family and friends out west - Mom, Amy, and my friends.  Can’t wait to visit again! 
I fear: not being good enough at a new career.
I feel:  a bit of reprieve.  The weekend is almost here!
I hear: strange voices in my head!  Just kidding.  I hear a lot of appliances running.  Doing laundry, washing dishes, and the refrigerator is cycling on and is very loud.

I smell: old apartment smell.  I’m out of candles :(
I crave: candy.  I’ve craved candy big time for 2 weeks now.  I finally gave in and went and got some but ate it way too fast and now I still crave it.
I search: for my phone almost daily since I replaced my ancient monstrosity with Mark’s old one that is really tiny.
I wonder: if I’ll ever love people as much as I should.
I regret: not doing more hiking and camping when I lived out west.
I love: sitting listening to the rain and thunder while reading a book or falling asleep.
I care: about how I look (most of the time), especially my hair.  Aren’t you glad I’m not vain at all?
I always: think of the right thing to say two days later.
I am not: a very good cook but I sure try hard.
I believe: chivalry is still alive somewhere in the world.
I dance:  when I’m gluttin for punishment and then my old hips hurt!!
I sing: the most at Christmas time because I love Christmas carols.
I don't always: take my own advice.
I fight: to keep from comparing myself with others.
I write: on my weblog now that Jamie taught me how to make it look good.  BTW, I must give credit where credit is due  for my last posting.  She and Mark coached me through it.  I love you guys!
I lose: my my focus easily a lot lately.  The last semester of classes has got me a bit antsy.
I win: when I play just about everyone at Nerts (don’t know how to spell that).
I never: block an intersection.  That’s my pet peeve!!
I listen: to the Mamma Mia soundtrack a lot.
I can usually be found: on campus – working, studying or in the lab.
I am scared: of the economy.  Erin took the words right out of my mouth on this one.  A month or so ago, I had a nightmare that as I began searching for a job, the economy crashed and it was just like the depression all over again.
I need: to see the silver lining more often.
I am happy about: being able to pursue an education.  I know I don’t act like it most of the time but I really am happy that I was given the opportunity to do what I am doing and feel pretty certain that I will always have a means to support myself.  I know there are many that would like to but are not able to do anything past a high school education.

Since I don’t know who’s already been tagged, I tag anyone in the family who hasn’t been tagged OR anyone in the family who needs to be retagged! 

Yosemite Part II

Day 2

We left the backpackers’ campground in Tuolume Meadows (top right) and drove over to the Sunrise trailhead near Tanaya Lake.  Since we had to camp near a water source, we could only hike 5 miles the first day so we slept in and got a leisurely start to the day.  The first day of hiking was pretty strenuous – not very steep but rough terrain and stepping up and down onto about 10 inch rocks.  I was very glad that I had packed really light.  My pack was probably only around 40 lbs or less and even that tested my stamina.  And I felt pretty bad because Erin refused to give us some of the items that she was carrying like the stove, the pump, and some other things.  After the first day, I finally talked her into letting me carry some so I felt like I was carrying my weight!  I didn’t want to be the weak link, that’s for sure.  I had to stop and rest pretty frequently because I’m really not that in shape but I was surprised at how well I actually held out throughout the trip.  So our first day, we got in and set up camp pretty early.  I think we camped along the trial right about where Sunrise Lakes is on the map.  Then we went through the daily ritual of pumping water.  The streams all were pretty dried up so we had to work a little to find a good spot but the stream water was so worth it.  It was cold and so tasty!  I had never drank stream water before so I looked forward every day to getting into camp and pumping fresh water.

The bear locker at the backpackers’ campground.   Anything that had a scent had to be kept in bear lockers or in bear canisters when we were hiking, including lotion, toothpaste, and ibprofen.  Then each night, we had to empty out our packs and put the bear cans off to the side of  the camp.	I don’t know who the turkey is that took this picture but since it was taken the first day before I was covered with a layer of dirt and looking pretty rough, I figure I better highlight it.

 

These are some pictures of hiking the first day.  I tried to capture what the terrain was really like but I’m not sure it really worked all that well.  We started at about 8140 ft and hiked for about 2.5 hours, ending up at about 9000 ft.  We played leapfrog with quite a few other hikers, a few of which kept on the same trail that we did.  Since we were headed to Clouds Rest, we lost everybody but one other group after the first day at about where the trails fork.  It was nice to stop and talk to others as we rested periodically and find out where they had been and where they were going. 

 

Once we got to our destination, we set up camp and got off our aching feet.  Then it was time for the most exciting thing of the day – our dinner.  Erin had planned out the menu for the whole trip and her and Nancy had put together gourmet hiking meals for dinner.  Most of them were different  kinds of pastas or couscous.  At home they probably wouldn’t have been appetizing at all.  But there is something about the outdoors that makes everything taste better.  She even had dessert planned for every evening.  She was so clever.  The best one was the banana pie - graham crackers with nutella and banana pudding on them.  We just added water to a baggie of pudding and mashed it with out hands.  But since we had to pack out everything we packed in, we really tried not to have left over food so Erin made the sacrifice and finished off the banana pudding. 

 

 

 

For lunch and breakfast, she also had really neat things planned.  She did lots of fun things with tortillas like cream cheese and dried fruit or peanut butter & jelly (which is surprisingly tasty on tortillas, or nutella and dried fruit.  We also had some really good gourmet crackers with salami.  I had no idea that I actually liked salami.  Although, that it probably one of those things that is only good in the outdoors.  I thought I would lose weight but thanks to Erin’s amazing planning, I may have even gained a little bit of weight. 

 

After we ate dinner, we still had a little bit of daylight left so we went exploring a bit.  We couldn’t go too far before running into quite a drop.  But we could see across the valley and thought we spotted Tanaya Lake where we started.

The neatest thing was the deer that started coming around at dusk.  There were a ton of them and they weren’t really afraid of us at all.  They watched us go about our nightly routines to get ready for bed.  And as long as we stayed about 50 feet from them, they didn’t run off.  We heard their dainty little footsteps all night long and into the morning.  There were tons of them!  

Return of the Hawk

Alright, I’m posting the picture of the hawk again and some more that were taken today.  He finally learned to hold on tight to his lunch this time it appears.  Don’t worry, there’s no Carrie blood in these pictures.  By the way, thanks for the visual, Scott. 

I was at work all day so I didn’t get to watch him but we’re all sort of hoping he sticks around to eat all the critters that we’d rather not run up against.  So for all you wildlife lovers, here they are.  I’ve had trouble being able to download them the way they were sent to me via email but hopefully, this time they will work.

Watched like a hawk

Today, I went into the lab to start some cells and Dr. Jones ran into the cell culture room to show me the coolest thing. Apparently, a great big hawk had taken up residence on the ledge just outside her office window. He sat there and watched her for quite some time. By the time, I got there he had been there for probably an hour or so, flying back and forth from that ledge to the one across the way and from the tops of the lightpoles. He was fascinating to watch, mostly because we couldn’t wait to see him spread his gigantic wings and go from ledge to ledge. Several times, he even got brave enough to fly down to the ground surprisingly close to people walking on the sidewalk. We think this was only because he was searching for the lunch he had left there. Dr. Jones said that he had at some point killed a pigeon and it was sitting in the grass right next to the sidewalk. But he left it for a minute and the maintenance crew disposed of his lunch. The funny thing was he stuck around for another half hour or so and he kept flying back down to that spot on the ground looking for the pigeon, looking very confused when it was no longer there. I really thought hawks were smarter than that. Eventually, Dr. Jones ran down to the department office and grabbed the camera and got him staring right at her. He was gorgeous as he swooped down to the ground and back to his light post. So we decided that he was a birthday gift for me! It’s amazing how long you can sit and be entertained by a simple thing like a bird!

Picasa Web Albums - Rachel - Yosemite2008

Picasa Web Albums - Rachel - Yosemite2008

Some of you may have already looked at these photos from the invitation that I sent out. But I think I found a way to put it on my blog so you don't have to go elsewhere to view them. Until I have time to post again, here are more Yosemite pictures. Enjoy!