Brothers, Bricks, and Summits

I check my watch as we reach the first real lookout. Our pace is good and this rocky ledge beckons for a break. I don't fight it.

As I ease the ruck off my shoulders, I begin to wonder if bringing bricks on this trip was worth it. When I checked the weight of my loaded ruck back at the house, the scale read 35 pounds exactly. With four bricks, water, food, first aid... it felt heavy.

This was my third time on Old Rag Mountain and I knew what to expect but the weight was proving to be a game changer.

These bricks have come to mean something special to me. Too many times do we take the easy way. That doesn't mean it's wrong but there is almost always more reward when you choose the hard way.

Summiting Old Rag Mountain that day was difficult but rewarding. I discovered that if you find yourself moving too fast, grab a few bricks. And a friend. Enjoy the adventure.

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Staying Productive After Your Day Job Ends

It's 5 o'clock and you're just beginning your commute home from the office. Most people are headed to happy hour or a movie but you have work to do. The night is just getting started because you believe you should never stop learning and building even if you love your current job.

My commute most recently consisted of a bus to a train with a transfer. I really enjoy public transportation, even if it can be crowded or late sometimes.

You have a few options to choose from to make the most out of your commute:

Relax -- Read a book/magazine or watch a movie on your phone.

Work -- Collect your thoughts; jotting down ideas in a notebook or iPad.

Sleep -- To keep you going strong through the evening, get your nap time in now.

But if you don't take the bus or subway and you drive to-and-from work, you're at a disadvantage. I would recommend listening to podcasts and maybe keeping a small notebook and pen nearby in case you get stuck in traffic or at a light and can take some notes. Don't play on your phone and pretend to drive at the same time. It doesn't work.

I seem to always get good ideas when I absolutely can't write them down so keeping a pen and notebook handy is key.

You've braved the commute home one way or another and you're ready to get to work. Almost. I recommend getting comfortable. It might mean that you ditch the tie or untuck your shirt but I wouldn't go so far as to get into your pajamas because it may make you too relaxed. Next thing you know, you're on the couch sound asleep.

This next part is something you have to really budget the time for yourself. If you're married with kids, you probably have to cook dinner and help with homework. If you're single you may just be heating up a hot pocket (my favorite meal for working late into the night) and be done. Either way, spend time with family but when the coast is clear and everyone is tucked in, get to work.

What you do from this point on is up to you. Write a blog post, code a website, woodworking in the shed… it's your call. Get out there and create something.

Ethiopian Harrar Roasted by Kustom Coffee

I'm not usually a fan of dark roasts. I feel the beans' natural flavors get masked which will in turn rob me of joy. Not cool.

But this Harrar is different, or at least the way that Arka over at Kustom Coffee has roasted it. What I'm about to share are my notes on the coffee. Just a collection of feelings. Almost like a memory of a past event.

Smelling the coffee pre grind and even post grind, my nose is instantly working hard. Some crazy things are going on. I can't yet pinpoint it but my interest is piqued.

Steeping seems to take hours as the intriguing aroma has my senses firing overtime. This coffee is going to be interesting to say the least.

The coffee is finally poured into my cup.

As I bring the cup in close for a smell, I get feelings of old, dark wood. Kind of like the hard wood floor in an old cabin. On the surface and to the uninterested, it's old and rough looking. But if you take even a moment to inspect closer and appreciate the craftsmanship, it's warm, inviting and smooth.

I take my first sip.

[This is what my minds eye is seeing.]

Photo by Mackeson

I'm in the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver perhaps. It's early morning and light is starting to penetrate the thick wood. Last nights rain still clings to the leaves and bark of the trees, glistening in the morning sun.

I'm sitting on the porch of my cabin which much like this coffee is old and rough to outsiders but to me, it's a well weathered refuge. I just got done an early mountain bike ride or a run through the trails. Something to get the limbs warmed up. I'm sweaty but not tired.

I realize that as I hold this cup of coffee, watching the steam rise into the crisp cool air and I'm completely relaxed.

This coffee enhances my senses.

The darkness of the trail compliments the moss more than ever before. I can almost hear earthworms moving, as if they have a morning routine of their own. I realize I'm over thinking things and laugh.

This is good livin'.

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I wrote this review for my friend Arka over at Kustom Coffee. See the original post on his blog.

The Sun

What is it about a sunrise that gives you the feeling anything is possible? That the day ahead is full of opportunity? That adventure is waiting to be found?

I don't know but I enjoy it. See, I'm not really a morning person. Actually that's not entirely true because once I'm up, I do fairly well. It's the getting up part that's difficult some days.

Something I wish I did more often is watch the sun rise over the horizon. Not even so much the actual sun showing itself but the short period before; where first light begins to push away all darkness.

There have been a few moments where I've felt something because of the sunrise. One of them was during the GORUCK Challenge. After doing endless pushups and flutter kicks throughout the night in the crashing surf, we carried an 800 pound log along the shoreline. Feeling the sun rise up from the Atlantic, I felt renewed.

I especially love the mornings I get to watch the sun rise before it becomes hidden by clouds the rest of the day. It's like a reward that you'll only receive if you make the sacrifice of escaping the soft clutches of your sheets and comforter.

The sun provides light, warmth, and direction. Don't those equate to hope? I believe it does.

We are all guilty of wasting time but we should at least try and make something unique out of each day. Make that day stand out in your memory. Don't be discouraged when some days are just ho-hum, that's expected but look forward to the next day.

Some quick ideas on what you can do to make each day special:

• Write a short blog post or entry in a private journal.
• Take a photo during your morning commute.
• Explore a new place on your lunch break.

We don't know how many days we have left and should cherish each one. Although I understand if some days you just want to wear sweat pants and watch TV, you're allowed a few of those.

How do you feel about all this? Maybe you are more of a night person… I wonder if the moon has the same effect…

Thanks for reading and I hope I inspired you to find something special about each day.


[Image courtesy of GORUCK]

Perspective

The two photos below were taken just seconds apart but the second one [in my opinion] looks much better. I took both of these with my iPhone 4S and neither have been altered in any way.

I was walking my dog through some trails just outside of Mount Vernon and saw this cool looking hairy moss. Well I wanted to snap a picture and share it on Instagram.

The problem was that my first photo didn't capture the moss the way that I saw it with my eyes. So I shifted my position and took another shot. And honestly, it turned out better than I thought it would.

Why am I making such a big deal over all of this?

The situation and scene remained the same but I was able to alter my view of it by just changing my perspective. It's your choice on how you view things. Take time and find the good.

[Disclaimer: I don't claim to be a photographer but I do enjoy taking photos.]

Always Be A Tourist

For the past few years, I've spent just about every weekday in Washington, DC. 

Each morning I would ride the Metro and pass the Pentagon, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument... some of the best sights The District has to offer.

It was easy to feel like a part of the rat race that is the commute. But whenever I felt that I was taking it for granted, taking advantage of the place that I live and work, I would step back. 

History was all around me. Adventure. Exploration was to be had and I was acting like it was mundane but it wasn't. It isn't. 

I could see the Capitol to my left as I exited Union Station on the short walk to my office building. I miss that walk.

I urge you to find out what makes your city special. Don't become a commuter. Always be a tourist.