in the woods

When you walk into the woods with a group of people, and all the static of daily life is left behind, I think you begin to see the essence of each individual. You interact with each other on a simpler level.

This is the way I like to get to know people.

One Saturday in September, we went on a leisurely hike up King Creek in Kananaskis with a handful of friends and aquaintances.

After walking for 3 hours with someone I have met twice before, I can feel more kinship than with many people that I have worked beside or gone to church with for years.

Whether this kinship is real and mutual, or just a product of my mind, I can't say. But it definitely affects the way I interact with that person.

So how can we get more people to hang out in the woods together? A monthly lottery to send groups of strangers for a picnic together? Make it part of the school curriculum? We could arrange for the next G8 summit in Kananaskis to be in tents. However we do it, I think it's essential to build more solitude together into our lives.

(Half way up the trail we stepped into the Goider Forrest. It felt like a very special place. All the trees were covered in huge knots.

I recommend this hike if you need a quick shot of wilderness in your life. It's not far from Calgary, right across from the entrance to Peter Lougheed Park. You don't need advanced skills or anything, but you might want to bring an extra pair of shoes. We did fall in the creek a few times.)

new opiate for the masses

Guitar Hero is the only video game I have ever "rushed out and bought."

After playing it once I was fully supportive of Matthew buying a video game.

First time.

If you've never played it before, I will caution you that it's just a little bit all-consuming. You'll dream it. You'll catch yourself air-guitar-hero-ing. When you're out with friends who've played it you'll keep saying to each other,

"hey, this would make an awesome guitar hero song!"

I play it when I get home from work to unwind. I play it while I'm waiting for the rice to boil when I'm making supper. I play it while I'm waiting for Matt to get out of the bathroom, and instead of watching TV right before bed.

Next month we're going to buy Guitar Hero 3 so that we can have 2 player battles. I have no concern about the cost. I must own the entire Guitar Hero Set. It's an investment.

Well, I should wrap this up. Maybe I can practice that tough solo a bit before I have to go to class.

Sigh

My schedule has been so disrupted since I started school this fall. I just can't seem to get back into the swing of things, into a rhythm.

In the last 2 weeks I have made several attempts to blog again, but they have all been thwarted. First Blogger wouldn't let me upload photos, then I kept sleeping in, and now Matt is building a new computer and I am cut off from all my great photos and important files.

I have a backlog of things I want to tell you all about: video games and hiking trips and Mexican food and...they'll all have to wait until next week.

Sorry.

I appreciate the patience of everyone who is still bothering to check back here for new posts.

I'll be back.