Giving thanks.

As Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, I decided it was about time that I started remembering why I am so lucky to be alive, especially as I am living here in Utah. 

The ability that we have to reason and think is astounding. Because we can think we have created music, literature, politics, economics, art and a number of other methods for making sense of the world. What I wish I understood is why we feel the need to know everything, inundating our lives with current events, school, jobs, research, technology. Breathing? Resting? These seem to be forgotten and looked down upon needs of the human psyche. 

One day, a few of my roommates and I decided to rest. And breath. (Luckily the horrendous Utah Valley inversion was not yet a problem at this point.) And take photos.

I cherish these moments. 

And these, too.

 Addison and I hiked Bald Peak in the beginning of the fall. It was a stormy day and we froze at the top.
However, Addison still managed to take an ad-worthy shot for Tolberone.

We also built a cairn, helping people traverse this exceptionally bald peak.

We passed so many signs warning us of the upcoming dam outlook, we just had to stop. Ha ha. It was worth it though- there was quite a view at the dam outlook.

Our house is not your typical BYU establishment. In lue of a Halloween party, we hosted a communist themed party. I opted to be Rosie the Riveter, because she was a feminist. And feminists were accused of being communists. But I think I really just like her style. David [who is naturally blonde, mind you-he has a shocking amount of makeup on], played a very convincing Chinese communist party member.

Karl Marx, in the 1970's. Good one, Bryce [he's the head editor of the Political Review].

Kurt was Joseph Smith, another historical figure that was accused of being a communist. Here he is giving us a sermon. Convincing, no?

Camping in Slate Canyon. We were too tired to hike very far, and opted for a lookout over the valley. 

Tea and Grace Notes (by Brian Doyle) while camping makes for an ideal moment.

Why is water so beautiful? So transient, so powerful. It really terrifies me, but I love it as art, drawing me in. Temple Square is quite incredible.

Crackers, cheese, apples and a good friend at conference. 

Life is good. 

Moab.

Places of solitude are hard to come by. While many people fear solitude, I find the peace it brings to be invaluable. In the words of Edward Abbey:

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself."

Moab is a place of beauty. I used to despise the desert, with its harsh, dry landscape. In recent times, however, I've found a desolate grace, a calmness, in this landscape.

Autumn Leaves.

"But while we are confined to books, though the most select and classic, and read only particular written languages, which are themselves but dialects and provincial, we are in danger of forgetting the language which all things and events speak without metaphor, which alone is copious and standard. [In that language] much is published, but little printed."

Henry David Thoreau

There's no stressful day that can't be solved by leaves, mountains, canyons, sweaters [especially when they have North and South America on them], cats [more specifically, Leo], wonderful friends and a camera.

The hills are alive, with the sound of music.

I know I shouldn't be singing this song when I think of Switzerland, since it was technically set in Austria, but I just can't stop myself. 

I have been busy. I have been doing a lot of things besides updating my blog. Studying. Reading. Hiking. Camping. Yogaing. Running. Attending lectures. And poetry readings. Working. 

Sometimes I forget how much I have done. Maybe that's why I'm blogging instead of working on my ORCA Grant application. 

Before I give you a rather watered down version of my wonderful time in Switzerland, read this excerpt from Brian Doyle's short story called Cool Things. 

"Look, I know very well that brooding misshapen evil is everywhere, in the brightest houses and the most cheerful denials, in what we do and what we have failed to do, and I know all too well that the story of the world is entropy, things fly apart, we sicken, we fail, we grow weary, we divorce, we are hammered and hounded by loss and accidents and tragedies. But I also know, with all my hoary muddled heart, that we are carved of immense confusing holiness; that the whole point for us is grace under duress; and that you either take a flying leap at nonsensical illogical unreasonable ideas like marriage and marathons and democracy and divinity, or you huddle behind the wall. I believe that the coolest things there are cannot be measured, calibrated, calculated, gauged, weighed, or understood except sometimes by having a child patiently explain it to you, which is another thing that should happen far more often to us all.

            In short I believe in believing, which doesn’t make sense, which gives me hope."

Switzerland is a place of true beauty.

Welcome to Bern. 

You can drink any of the water in the city. 

Or swim down the Aare River. [It's pretty darn cold.]

Or engage in a life-size game of chess.

And to the little town next to Bern where Kayli lives. 

Kayli and I climbed the face of a mountain. 

It really wasn't for the faint of heart. 

There's a restaurant at the top. That's for all the hungry climbers. And the less ambitious souls who take the cable car/tram to the top. 

One mustn't forget the friendly goats. 

All they really wanted was my apple. 

I found my new home. Isn't it lovely?

This was what the climb looked like. Pretty fantastic.

I spent almost five days in Switzerland, and I loved every second. I loved climbing. I loved swimming in the Aare river. I loved hearing the cowbells, all day. I loved exploring Bern. I loved being surrounding by mountains. And it was all thanks to these lovely people: