+5 Intellect

I've decided to start a separate gaming blog to save those non-gamers who may view my personal blog from my past times. It's a double whammy, because I no longer feel I have to hold back regarding games now that these two worlds are separated. In the nerdiest spirit I can muster I present +5 Intellect.

Poetry

I've been wondering if I should have a separate blog for my poetry, or if it should remain contained here. While this blog doesn't really have any particular focus other than whatever my mind fancies, I could see where the poetry is out of place and deserves it's own venue. However, I don't really want to spread myself too thin either, as I don't exactly update the two blogs I currently have as often as I should. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Looking for feedback.

Conquering the Lighthouse Trail

On a whim, I decided to go hiking in the Canyon today. Been spending far too much time inside lately. I also noticed that it had been generally overcast with almost no rain, just a few thunderclaps. And given that today was generally cooler than the weather the preceding couple of weeks, I figured I ought to seize the day!

A gorgeous picture of the clouds starting to roll in:



The entire time I was afraid these clouds would pour on me, particularly since I didn't have a ziploc baggy for my new[ish] camera. I got lucky though, and just enjoyed the shade and the beauty.



I don't remember the exact distance, but I think I was a good mile and a half or more in before I could even see the lighthouse on the horizon:



On the final approach:



A good (long and wide) shot of the trail leading up to the lighthouse. Notice the lack of civilization anywhere in sight - gorgeous!:



A path leading up to the tip top of the lighthouse. Given how narrow and unsteady it is, and how much I don't like heights, I have yet to bring myself to tackle it:



In context, bottom right. The path leads to the very tip top left pinnacle of the formation. Only seen people up there once:



A gorgeous view of the storm front off in the distance. Never reached Canyon, but it was amazing watching the clouds swirl in the wind streams high up:



After spending some time up on the formation, had to eventually come back down. This unfortunately is easier said than done. The very steep and relatively smooth climbs associated with the last quarter mile of the hike, like the one pictured below are what make it challenging. Not physically, necessarily. There's simply nothing to hold onto in order to brace yourself, and nothing but rocks to catch yourself on if you fall.



I feel obligated to end the photos with one of Sneaky Snake. I walked by him (quite literally) on the way back from the lighthouse formation. I probably got within 1.5' or 2' before I realized he was there, did a funny little jump as if it would somehow outsmart the snake, then ran about 8' away. When I realized he hadn't moved at all, I decided to sneak back up a bit and snap a picture. I can't say for sure what type he is, but it has a strong resemblance to this guy. Especially if you look at the second picture. Maybe I got lucky today.



Definitely fun, second time I've done this by myself. Notes for next time: Bug spray and a walking stick of some sort. The bug spray is absolutely necessary because the horse flies are pretty horrendous out there. They bite. It hurts.

And a walking stick primarily for the descent from the formation. Difficult not having something to stabilize yourself on very smooth, sandy, 45% grades, heh.

Hopefully I'll have a chance to actually hike one of the other trails in the Canyon in the next week or two. (After my knees recover! About six miles round trip.) Only ever done the lighthouse in Canyon, and I'd like to experience more of it while I'm still here.

My Experiment in Blogging Thus Far

So its been, from the start, mostly for me and my personal though processes, organizing them and the like, that I started this. Some place to get my thoughts on [digital] paper, out of my head, a place to straighten things out. But of course if, somehow along the way, a couple... hundred thousand people decided to start caring about when I scratch my nose and eagerly visited my blog daily so that I could spread my wisdom around the world and monetize for a nice check here and there, well, it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

But the more I poke my head around the blogging world, the more I see certain trends:

• Blog only tend to get notice if you self-advertise. A lot. In other people's blogs, facebook, twitter, ad nauseum. That's decidedly not me, and I'll have a hard time ever doing it.
• Apparently, somewhere a long the lines, the invisible internet majority decided that blogs must have a ridiculously narrow focus. For example, see this blog about Jeopardy, with a hugely higher number of blogger followers than I'll ever have. Or this blog that seems to cater to all those with oil/electric energy concerns who also have a fancy for trains. It's not a recipe to success, but all the cool kids are doing it.
• Apparently all the cool kids are also into wordpress. Which, I admit, after internet research does seem more powerful, it also seems not worth the money for the full edition while blogger does everything that I need.
• Apparently having pictures in your blog posts helps make people more interested. You know, since people have such a strong aversion to reading on the internet.
• Did I mention self advertising?

It was difficult enough for me to insert a link to my blog into my forum signatures in those forums that I frequently peruse. (I know, lots of nerd in my blog in general.)

Camera!

Yes, I went out and splurged a bit. I've never owned a digital camera to call my own, and I did my budget and realized I could work the cost of one in this month. So, I went out to Wal Mart, surveyed my options, and picked up this Kodak EasyShare C190.

Well, not that one specifically. It's a stock photo I dug up on google image search.

But anyway, I purchased and spent some time fiddling around with it at the KKPsi BBQ at one of our brother's homes. I have to say, I'm pleased with the picture quality and the quality of the camera. Battery life isn't shabby, and a simple 4 Gig SD card can hold over 1,000 pictures. Hopefully this will open up the possibility for a new dimension to my burgeoning blogging and actually allow me to have picture albums, easily, for the first time ever.

I'm excited. :)