Street Fighter IV ... I might just cry

It is beautiful. It is not stupid like pretty much everything post-Street Fighter 2, it has all the good characters, and it seals my fate: I am going to have to buy an Xbox 360 one day. Bummer.

Life sucks...

And then you die. I am going to sleep now. I hope tomorrow is better. It needs to be.

Challah-Challah-Bo-Ballah

Vacations leave me with no desire to get back to work, so today I fed that desire by making challah bread. Flour, an eternity of kneading, braiding by magic, and one mysterious extra egg. This has been Chef Master Curtis.

Vicious Raccoon

Near midnight I tuned my new two-way radio to a local police precinct, one of the perks of a densely populated area. The dispatch call that night: investigate a report of a vicious raccoon. Apparently there is no 10-code for that scenario.

On-the-Mountain Entertainment

The plan was an iPod Touch loaded with movies for the long storm-bound days in a tent. Then Amazon released the Kindle 2 and complicated everything. Somehow this leads to fat pictures of William Shatner.

A Week of Ice Climbing

A full week of ice climbing, eight hours a day, and it is just as fun (and hard) as I remembered. Corey and I found our limits on some WI-5 climbs, each dropping into the harness when a desperate pick placement let go. A brutal hobby that does wonders for your forearms.

Ice Climbing

The day has come: crampons sized to new boots, a big pile of gear pulled from the trunks, ice tools strapped to the outside of the pack. I hope the subway people don't mind seeing me walk around with them.

Cabin Fever

I think something is wrong with me. I just set up my tent in the middle of my apartment, escaping the city by confining myself to an even smaller space. The countdown to ice, mountains, and McKinley is on.

Dear Ego, How Big You Are

I admit to having read this email several times. The paperwork is in order, confirmation coming soon, and the ranger notes that my experience will help the other two on their first Denali trip. It seems like a fitting picture.

May the Insanity Never End

This week's new insanity: HR414, requiring camera phones to make a sound when a photo is taken. For my hearing challenged friends I propose a 1,000 candle power flash, and for the Helen Keller would-be's, a phone that vibrates at a 4.2 on the richter scale. Problem solved.