New and experienced climbers over 50 #30

Talked to the electrician for my construction yesterday, led lights throughout, including a spiffy mirror that has an led border set into the mirror. Looks really sharp.

Hey, is Jan off here now? Haven't seen sny construction updates for awhile now.

I just watched the women's bouldering comp live this morning, and the men's just now on replay. The men's coverage wasn't very dialed in, imo. The women's was way more fun to watch, also. The ladies were able to find lots more solutions for the problems then what the setters were pushing. Not so much for the men. 

H.

phylp phylpwrote:

I agree.  Here's another photo (my partner Skip near the summit crystal) which shows all five of the Mammoth Lakes.  Clockwise from left: Horseshoe, the two Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, and closest to us, Lake George. I'm headed to Mammoth for my annual 2 week trip in the middle of the month. If I have time, maybe I'll do it again.

This was my "climbing" adventure for the day, climbing in and out of the scissor lift:

After ten years in our house, almost all the 8 foot long fluorescents in the RV garage were burned out. We debated renting a couple of really tall step ladders but decided the safer option was renting an 18 foot scissor lift.  It was funny talking to the scheduler on the phone.  First she was concerned that it was a private home, not a construction site.  Then she was concerned that it was for indoor use. Then she wanted to know if we needed to rent the safety equipment we would need to operate it - harnesses and attachments.  I assured her we were climbers and had all the safety equipment we needed.

In the end the whole process of changing out the bulbs took 15 minutes (and we didn't use any safety gear).  We both felt oddly proud at accomplishing this little job. Home Depot was great to deal with, and the delivery guy was a doll.

I have spent many many hours in a scissor lift. Right now I am using a 60 foot boom lift on a house I am painting and use old climbing gear now and again.

Old lady Hwrote:

Talked to the electrician for my construction yesterday, led lights throughout, including a spiffy mirror that has an led border set into the mirror. Looks really sharp.

Hey, is Jan off here now? Haven't seen sny construction updates for awhile now.

I just watched the women's bouldering comp live this morning, and the men's just now on replay. The men's coverage wasn't very dialed in, imo. The women's was way more fun to watch, also. The ladies were able to find lots more solutions for the problems then what the setters were pushing. Not so much for the men. 

H.

It’s always fun watching people climbing more skilled than with just power.

That’s why women’s gymnastics is so much more popular as well. Grace with strength makes for a better show.

And speaking of amazing athleticism, grace, power, skill… check out some of the synchronized swimming teams. That type of performance is really, really HARD, but they make it look casual and beautiful. 

Old lady Hwrote:

I just watched the women's bouldering comp live this morning, and the men's just now on replay. The men's coverage wasn't very dialed in, imo. The women's was way more fun to watch, also. The ladies were able to find lots more solutions for the problems then what the setters were pushing. Not so much for the men. 

H.

Just watched some women's highlights,  definitely more fun to watch just because of their creativity,  especially Janja Garbret. Janja actually uses a combination of women's and men's techniques . Similar to the men's pole vaulting,  it's gotta be hard competing against someone you know is better.

Hey Helen. I don’t think it’s Jan who is doing Construction. It’s probably.Kris working on his new home. I don’t know what Jan‘s doing – – catching trout and tomatoes probably.  

well, I’m still in Northern California. Came here on business, but I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything.  So far I have been to the north Fork and the middle fork of the American river. Have spent some time at Folsom Lake. Went with the grandkids to Clementine Lake. Today I plan on sitting in the water at the south Fork of the American river, which is my favorite. I also thought I might drive through the foothills and visit some vineyards.   

This is the first time in my life that I have been stiff and sore for no good reason and it’s the first time I’m thinking “old”. It’s a new and kind of frightening experience for me. Suddenly, my previously injured knee is throbbing and painful for no good reason.  So I’m going to visit Rolf when I get home. It’s been well over a year since my last visit and it’s never a pleasant experience, but in a couple of hours, she gets the body to bend like a pretzel and rebalance. I genuinely hope this helps.

Right now, this is my exercise plan.  

Lori Milaswrote:

Hey Helen. I don’t think it’s Jan who is doing Construction. It’s probably.Kris working on his new home.

Guy Keesee is doing a big remodeling project too!

well, I’m still in Northern California.

Have a great time  - my car temp said 111 yesterday when I came out of the gym yesterday.

This is very funny.  

Walz, “ Not in Minnesota, Turkey’s special.”  
but I thought he said “Turkey’s a vegetable”   

Lori Milaswrote:

Hey Helen. I don’t think it’s Jan who is doing Construction. It’s probably.Kris working on his new home. I don’t know what Jan‘s doing – – catching trout and tomatoes probably.  

Yeah I'm the one with the construction project, along with Helen, of course. Barbara and I are shacked up in a rental in Gillette while the house goes up over near Hulett and Devi's Tower area. It was hectic here last night. Wyoming served up a real thunderstorm, the kind you see towering up to 35K feet from over the horizon an hour before it hits. I got a couple shots from the porch here before the building next door took a direct hit and caught fire. By the time it was over about a dozen tenants/families lost their apartments.

In the mean time things are going well with the build. Footers and crawl space floor are done, foundation walls going up now, main subfloor system next (the materials are made and on site), then backfill, and pour the slab on grade area (garage, shop, gym). The timber framers will raise the frame and set the exterior walls and roof (SIP's) over the first three weeks of September. Then on goes the steel roof, the wrap, and in go the Marvin triple pane windows. It looked like this last week:

Cal-Osha would shut down that job-site in a quick minute, no caps on all that rebar sticking up! Someone could get impaled...

I think Jan and Guy are fishing, or going soon. I'll be popping down to LA to take care of some biz after they get back. Be staying with Jan and Rachel for a few days.

It really is a different world up here. Kids are careening around on bikes and skateboards, parents nowhere to be seen. Teenage sweethearts walk around in the parks holding hands, the high school boys gather in the parking lot checking out the engines in each others pickups. Everyone goes out of their way to be friendly. It's almost weird.

Of course, winter is coming...

I’m supposed to be working but certain people and things have me totally distracted. So I’m sitting at one of my favorite places in the world – – the south Fork of the American river. You cut left onto the 49 from Placerville, which is a true wild West kind of town. Then it is an 8 mile drive down a winding road. I have seen this river raging many times. I’ve seen the North Fork rise up and over the bridge and parts of houses and whole farm animals floating on by. I think that was 1996 maybe? Most of Sacramento was flooded .

But today this is a slow lazy river and the water is perfect. It’s at least 100 degrees out but situated in the river who cares?  

speaking of Jan, I thought of Jan when I was at the sac co-op, trying to choose some Roma tomatoes to take home and make sauce. There were a dozen different heirloom tomatoes to choose from.

I didn’t grow any tomatoes this year, but I’ve gotten kind of intensely interested in whatever comes from Italy. I wonder what the difference is between Italian and American grown food? Even our local Hobo Greg when he vacation in Italy last summer was raving about the food, including I believe, a lung sandwich he bought from a vendor .  I have Italian friends who swear that they eat well and digest well in Italy, and even some gluten intolerant friends who do just fine with Italian semolina. I’m not willing to test that out just yet with my celiac. But I’m thinking it would be kind of cool to stock up on pasta and sauces and meats from our Italian deli down in Palm Springs. And maybe buy some Italian Chianti!  And with the proper advice, I’ll go back to the co-op and buy a case of something.

I’m feeling abnormally stiff and miserable and I’m honestly wondering if NOT Climbing for two months has sent me into decrepitude. I really thought I was doing a good thing giving my body a long rest.  I kind of didn’t see this coming.   

Li Hu… without causing disruption… This has been an incredibly joyful week for many of us. I didn’t realize how heavy the weight of so much negativity has been. I heard Tim Walz interview about a month ago and instantly I was “he’s our guy“. I hoped Kamala saw it that way too. 

Kristian Solemwrote:

Always good to have the Inspection Terrier on the job site.

Brandt Allenwrote:

Always good to have the Inspection Terrier on the job site.

100%!

"Hey Guys! I think you have a high spot over here..."

Hugi joined me out in the stream yesterday.

he is such a little athlete. 

Not comparable to Kris or Helen but a comfortable he shed has been the project since last summer 

Li Huwrote:

It’s always fun watching people climbing more skilled than with just power.

That’s why women’s gymnastics is so much more popular as well. Grace with strength makes for a better show.

Oh, let's be honestl their tits and asses are better to look at.  The men are just about as stylish and doing MUCH harder tricks but nobody wants to watch them.

Heading to Tuolumne for a week+ tomorrow.  Can't wait to get out of the heat and camp at 10,000 feet.  Will be fishing and hiking and maybe bouldering a bit.  No climbing for me anymore.

Lori Milaswrote:

I didn’t grow any tomatoes this year, but I’ve gotten kind of intensely interested in whatever comes from Italy. I wonder what the difference is between Italian and American grown food? Even our local Hobo Greg when he vacation in Italy last summer was raving about the food, including I believe, a lung sandwich he bought from a vendor .  I have Italian friends who swear that they eat well and digest well in Italy, and even some gluten intolerant friends who do just fine with Italian semolina. I’m not willing to test that out just yet with my celiac. But I’m thinking it would be kind of cool to stock up on pasta and sauces and meats from our Italian deli down in Palm Springs. And maybe buy some Italian Chianti!  And with the proper advice, I’ll go back to the co-op and buy a case of something.

We just ate at Tarantino’s in Pasadena last night. They make all the sauces from scratch and there was a similar pile of Tomatoes in the corner of their kitchen.

Chianti is good with Pasta, but get it from Costco. Cheaper.

I’m feeling abnormally stiff and miserable and I’m honestly wondering if NOT Climbing for two months has sent me into decrepitude. I really thought I was doing a good thing giving my body a long rest.  I kind of didn’t see this coming.   

My regular partner took off a month and a half, and now climbing at his best. Although, his memory of how well he climbed last month has declined.

The stiffness may be just “healing”. If I take off a few days from climbing, my fingers feel a little bit stiff, protein and stretching help. Once the stiffness subsides, get in some finger board training. That’s helped me and my other partners.

One of my long time partners is 74 now, and is complaining about having arthritis. He wiggles his fingers like a pianist playing a credenza, and I tell him if he’s got arthritis, he’d not be able to do that.

Protein, less alcohol and sugar, rest and stretching are helping him. 

Li Hu… without causing disruption… This has been an incredibly joyful week for many of us. I didn’t realize how heavy the weight of so much negativity has been. I heard Tim Walz interview about a month ago and instantly I was “he’s our guy“. I hoped Kamala saw it that way too. 

It’s the rapport between them and Walz has her back. We believe him cause he’s pretty believable. There’s hope for the world.

Worst case, SCOTUS just gave Biden complete immunity from prosecution whilst carrying out the duties of a President whatever that means?

Biden could fire existing and appoint 20,000 lower level Federal Employees strictly through loyalty to his party and remove all conservatives from the government.

If the conservatives were smarter,  they’d have done all this AFTER their party takes control.   

But I feel like Harris/Walz will likely win, …

Jan Mcwrote:

Oh, let's be honestl their tits and asses are better to look at.  The men are just about as stylish and doing MUCH harder tricks but nobody wants to watch them.

My daughter kicked me arse for noting that the running outfits are getting a bit “racy”. If I mentioned what you did, I think I’d have to sleep in the office.   

This is likely my last day in Northern California for this trip. I really came back up to visit my still-standing office and see whether I need to rejoin the work team in some capacity.  It’s Just plain weird.  I never had an official retirement… Only that more and more when I sat at my desk I was looking at pictures on Mountain Project and planning my next trip to Joshua Tree.  But also, I had allowed my business to dwindle to the point where I assumed the doors would close as soon as I left.

But doggone my little office manager Lourie kept the home fires burning and soothed over all of our clients and has just continued to work her butt off all this time. My daughter has continued to shoulder the other half of the work. I just haven’t had to give it a thought in five years. (nor have I received much income from it.)

The Airbnb I am staying at is kind of swanky. This is a mother-in-law‘s type quarters attached to a large home and with beautiful views. So I could hear the woman who takes care of the Airbnb and saw a couple of kids out front playing basketball. But this morning I saw the husband leaving in his starched white shirt and tie, saying goodbye to the family and getting into his new car and heading off to work

He had this look of quiet. desperation? maybe.  Of being completely domesticated and tied to the grind. Thinking about the amount of money he has to make to pay for all of this. And probably the futility of ever doing anything else.

It’s bringing back a lot of memories. I didn’t just sort of walk away from all that. I gave it all the middle finger and moved to Joshua Tree.  of course part of it is Guy’s fault. He was partially the instigator.   

It has felt good to reengage my brain these last few months and deal with business.  Perhaps it’s not an all or nothing thing. I will be having that last meeting with my office this morning and then head to the lake for one long last soak.  

Anyone wanna share their pre-and post retirement experiences?  

Lori Milaswrote:

Anyone wanna share their pre-and post retirement experiences?  

I was nearly “retired” during our last corporate reduction in force strategy, but now am back in my “worker bee must advance and learn new things” model.

Was mostly doing image processing and related scene understanding algorithms as I’d been doing for decades, but now have moved on to doing more “robot things”.

So, I’m effectively beginning a new career at the near end of it.  

I can’t stop doing this stuff either… but going to take a more background role to give way to the youngsters.

Keep the mind stimulated! It’s good for us!