Climb On!

I recently joined Mission Cliffs Gym in the hope to get back in shape and actually have fun doing it. And, after a few weeks of going at least 4 times a week, I have to say that it is working quite nicely. I've not lost much weight, but I can feel myself getting stronger again. Hell, if nothing else, I've got my calloused and blistered hands to show for it...at least I'm out doing things!

The other benefit, is one I frankly wasn't expecting. Friendship, in more way than one. I've met some really nice people there and think that I may even get a few dates out of this place as well. Of course, I'm my typical charming self, but throw in my climbing ineptitude and I'm a real winner...endearing in that clumsy, fall on your butt sort of way. Fortunately, there are any number of cute girls who aren't much better climbers than I am and appreciate the fact that I don't (or can't) show off...

So we'll see how this all goes. If nothing else, it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun!

-climbing jonathon, or sir jonathon hillary

Memories

It's the little things that pop into your mind when you least expect it. The memories like the cell phone alarm that used to wake you when you stayed at her house, the text messages you sent at 6 in the morning and before bed, sending her on a scavenger hunts, or even the time you forgot your anniversary.

The good, the bad, the in-between, they are all there. I try not to think about them, but sometimes it can't be helped, sometimes you have no control over it. But, I cope the best you can and I move on. I don't think it's a problem, and I don't mind them - they are a part of my past.

But the more I think about it now they're becoming fewer and weaker, and I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing. Just because I've moved on with my life, can't I still miss those things that make up these memories? Is there anything there worth hanging onto?

Only time will tell, I suppose.

-memory lane jonathon

One Night vs. A Lifetime

"This is the moment that you know
That you told her that you loved her, but you don't
You touch her skin and then you think
That she is beautiful, but she don't mean a thing to me
Yeah, she is beautiful, but she don't mean a thing to me"

-Tiny Vessels, Death Cab for Cutie

This is the song that I woke to this weekend - it was an interesting soundtrack to a somewhat surreal moment in my life. Have you ever done something that you don't regret, but you aren't necessarily proud of either?

Things aren't different and yet somehow they are; after all, once you cross that line, there is no returning to the way things were before. I don't feel bad about anything, but it just leaves me wondering what kind of person have I become over the past months Have I changed or am I more of the same?

I'm too much of a traditionalist, too much of a romantic to do the other thing. It's tough to be the callous, uncaring, and one night stand kind of guy. I'm not really sure if that's the right thing for me to do; it isn't fair to myself or to anyone else. Frankly, I feel that I want back what I thought I had before.

Love.

-confused jonathon

Wedding Season

I can count at least four people I know who have or will be getting married before the summer is out. One of the most notable being my ex...a mere five months after our split. I guess that should be a sign that things weren't quite right, huh? It got me thinking though about marriage, about what it means to different people.

I've become a little jaded with the idea myself. This is not to say that I'm against marriages, but I don't think that they are the end-all and be-all of a relationship. Take that lesbian couple who got married after CA legalized same-sex marriages. They had been together for 55 years; at that point did they really need the government to tell them that it was ok to be together? Does that piece of paper really mean that much to their relationship, that it is somehow validated? I think it was a sham and a publicity stunt myself. You don't need Gavin Newsome to tell you that it's ok to be together... Hell, I don't think government should have anything to do with the institution of marriage, but that's an entirely different topic.

What does marriage really mean, anyway? Look at the staggering number of divorces each year - why go through the trouble? I am completely ok with the idea of love, I am excited at the prospect of feeling that way again, and I am very happy for people who feel it now because it is so wonderful. But what compells us to get married. Tradition? Being shamed by others for not being married? Pressure from parents? Frankly, I don't know, and I'm not 100% sure if it's necessary.

Now this is not to say that I'd poo poo anyone for going through with it. Quite opposite, frankly. I heartily congratulate my friends who have gotten married and wish them all the best of luck and a happy life - that's what we all deserve, after all. But do we need that little piece of paper to say that you love each other...isn't it good enough for each to simply know? Hell, the tax benefits aren't even that great.

Oh well...I'll revisit this idea when I'm thinking about making the leap myself. Until then, I'll stay a little bit cynical. After all, I've earned that right.

Cheers!

-down with marriage jonathon

Seattle

Yep, I'm back. Things at work have been a little busy lately, but I wanted to post up some pictures from my trip to Seattle last weekend. It was good to see friends - thanks to Henley and Whitney for letting me crash at your place - good to see a new place, and great to get out of town for a few days.

Seattle, if you haven't been is a fantastic place filled with a myriad of kinds of people, things to see and do, and apparently weather. Fortunately for me, though, the weather was fantastic. I stayed close to downtown, but was able to venture out a little. I equate Seattle to a cooler version of SF...at least for me - I fell in love with the place.

I know that some day I'll probably end up moving back east, but before I do, Seattle is on my short list of places I'd like to live. As usual, my words can't do justice in describing the pictures I've posted - if you want to see more, go here. Here is what you'll see:

• Pikes Place Market
• Snippits from Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
• A couple nice shots of Mt. Rainier
  
• Discovery Park and lighthouse
• Firemen at the Scott Firefigher Combat Challenge

In short, there's a lot to see and do in Seattle, and I've only scratched the surface. Enjoy.

-globe trotting jonathon

B/W Beach Day

It's been a busy couple weeks so I've been a little lax in updating the blog, but I did go out and do some shooting for a little while yesterday and I thought I'd share the highlights.

Enjoy!

-b/w jonathon