February 1st

It's so easy from above
You can really see it all
People who belong together
Lost and sad and small
But there's nothing to be done for them
It doesn't work that way
Sure we all have soulmates but we walk past them every day
Maybe that's how books get written
Maybe that's why songs get sung

Ben Folds

I love the English language. It is a lovely language full of nuances and words that are both beautiful and meaningful. Words can make you smile, they can make you laugh, string them together and they make you sing. Unfortunately, they can also make you quiver with fear. One word that makes makes me cower is blizzard. There are blizzard warnings here in Madison for tonight, not as scary as the 24 inches of snow and 70 mile per hour winds they are predicting 120 miles southeast from here in Chicago, but bad enough. But better this week, then say next week when a certain someone is flying west.

My concert viewing schedule has been really tame this winter. I did make a trip to Madison's very beautiful, very expensive arts and musical Sate St. showplace known....no... not Sunshine Daydream... the Overture Center. I saw Ben Folds. He is not a household name, unless you watch The Sing Off on NBC where he is a judge. He is an extraordinarily talented songwriter and piano player. He is clever, witty and while I knew of him, I didn't really know his music that well. Thanks to a crash course on his music and some cd's from a good friend, I discovered he is really fun and topical as well. I wouldn't call it a great show, or one of my favorite concerts ever but it was nice to see live music again.

Well it's Super Bowl time here in Wisconsin. I am always excited around Super Bowl time. It is very bittersweet as we celebrate the end of football season, because I don't get to spend my Saturdays and Sundays and Mondays and Thursdays watching football. But we will celebrate here like we always do. And this year the entire state will be celebrating as well. So Go Packers!!

As I mentioned, I leave next week heading west. As always I take a few days in Las Vegas to prepare myself, you know.... get used to warmer temperatures, the altitude change, the different time zone, etc.... And if you buy that I have a bridge for sale :) I look forward to my alone time in Vegas. I spend my time in the sportsbook, no shock there. But I do want to get a little sun, a little more time in the hotel workout room, and more time walking around on my feet. Time on a treadmill and time on a exercise bike do not get me ready to climb mountains.

I don't remember many specific dates on the calendar. I do remember February 1st, at least I remember February 1st, 2010. I was making my first trip up Snow Canyon of the year, my last first trip up the mountain with all the campers along for the fun. I was deathly afraid that my next trip up, which was going to be filmed for national TV viewing the following Monday, would be as painful as this one was. Thanks to a wonderful group of campers, many of whom I met on February 1st, I was pushed all week, motivated to work hard and inspired to give everything I had on the next Monday. People want to know why I keep going back to the Ridge? It's because of February 1st. Every time I go I find that I can do more, and the people make sure I do. Look forward to doing it all again... Peace, Love and Cheeseheads, Jim