a zip-line adventure report

Good Morning,

I went zip-lining at Camp Prairie Schooner this weekend!

I can't quite decide where this falls on the "Adventure Scale." After the completion of my run, as I hiked to the head of the treacherous trail and made my way into the clearing I overheard the conversation between some young Girl Scouts.

My guide a 7th grader with two years zipping experience walked ahead. An earnest and impassioned leader she still wore her white safety helmet and zipping harness. In addition to my trail sherpa, she had self-assigned two additional duties--leading the littlest girls on a hike to the restroom and greeting all new adult arrivals in the gravel parking lot.

It was dark and I was tired but I distinctly heard the car pull up and an adult voice say "Did Amanda do the zip-line?"

...to which my guide replied, "uh-huh. she went once and Merriam (the 5 year-old birthday girl) went twice!!!"

at this point the conversation went to pot as a 6 year-old wearing flashing flip flops told everyone that my ride had been a "ladder ride."

A "ladder ride" is a scaled down version of the adult ride for those not quite ready for X-treme thrills and excitement!!! It is also an alternative for those unable to climb up a free hanging rope ladder to the tree-top launch platform.

I, with accomplished Adventure resume (...see death defying water ski crashing and fearless open water kayaking) could not climb the dang rope ladder up to the platform...before dark...or losing bored and wandering children in the woods.

Instead, I clipped in at the bottom of the zip-line run after climbing a few rungs on a sturdy workman's ladder.

Here is now where the official rules and definition of zip-lining must come out.

"A zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from top to bottom of the incline cable."

Please note there is nothing in here stating a zip-liner must start at the TOP of the line. My "ladder ride" Miss sparkle flip flops was technically what happened next.

A very nice sinewy young course instructor attached a long thin "retrieval rope" to my harness and walked me like a tug-a-war captain toward the launch platform.

"Okay" he said, "say stop when you feel high enough!"

I am at Camp Prairie Schooner… I thought. This babies going to the T-O-P!!!!!

Unfortunately, the nice young man's legs gave way about 5ft. from the highest point. Thus, I dangled in the air for a moment like a Muppet and then Ziiiiip the ride began...

I went fast enough to elicit a full SMILE but not quite fast enough for a whoop! or hoooot!!!

The ride ended uneventfully as I stopped several feet from the approaching tree and slowly bobbed toward the rescue ladder.

Would I zip-line again? Most definitely. I am even hoping to work my way toward my Athlete merit badge as a GS Cadette!!!

So far it's looking doubtful. You must march double time and maintain good posture sitting and standing...

Happy Monday everyone, and Adventure on!

Amanda

p.s. would anyone be interested in buying some cookies? : ) I got Thin Mints...Samoas...

Paddlin'

Good Morning,

I had the good fortune of taking my maiden voyage in a kayak this weekend on Lone Star Lake. Regardless of ability, I think this is an activity anyone can enjoy. So, I'd like to encourage ALL to try...

5 Reasons to Try Paddling

1. You can adopt an ease to the language not typical of the urban Midwest.

In the West people get stoked...
ya’ll, honeys in the South
you sit and tawk in New Yawk
go "out and aboot" up North

now Midwesterners have somethin’ to do too. Go paddlin! : )

2. With cell phones, we are tuned into each other greater than ever before, physically though it has come at a cost as we so often miss the opportunity to interact with those around us. By choosing to go out in a kayak for a couple hours you are choosing to support friendly face-to-face communication with strangers.

3. People with houses on the lake may come out to great you and on some mornings have even opened up a window and turned up the stereo for all to enjoy (feels very different than when your apartment neighbor decides to do this).

4. If you travel in a pack and someone brings enough snacks, you are basically a party that floats! And...if you like to talk, you have a captive audience! Remember though that the corollary is also true. You are a captive audience! This might not be the best time to share your stories of Sacagawea and goals for Eskimo rolls...



5. The Polynesian navigational system...


In double-hauled canoes, "Papa Mau" and his crew made their way from Hawaii to Tahiti, reading only subtle changes in wind direction, waves, the flight of birds, the course of dolphins, the color of the water...



In no time whatsoever a new kayaker can determine that this unfortunate situation means log jam. : )

Happy Monday,

Amanda

zip-line adventure on!

Good Morning,

Strap on your helmets! It's time for another "Alo" Adventure! In about two weeks, I will be zip-lining!!! Given the opportunity to dangle from a wire and hurl down an incline at break-neck speed, I thought oh yes, this is me!...

Actually, the truth of the matter is, is that I was invited by a young Girl Scout with a birthday and a very impassioned troop leader with ropes course training. This I found is much harder to say no to than a box of cookies (Thin Mints or otherwise...).

I've attached a link to a video clip of what I think I will be doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvOh0qLDTQs&feature=related

And here is the reasoning I will be using to show up for the celebration.

A zip-line repel with a bunch of Girl Scouts...chances are good that someone’s going to be able to get me down if I get stuck.

Should I get stuck, someone’s going to be earning a merit badge.

If I enjoy it, I will have something, albeit a lightly used something to expand my social circle...

Would you like to join our zip-line league? Every Thursday we go and see who has the fastest combined time!

I was always told "kids...DO NOT hang on the clothes line!" So, I have now basically decided to dangle from one clipped in at the navel. I AM rebellious!

I will get to wear a harness and a helmet. The sure sign of the cool adventurer. : )

And last...I'm going to be on step closer to achieving my life-long goal of being a super hero! I've learned the zip-line has been used in some instances for delivering food, cigarettes or tools to people working on the other side of an obstacle such as a gully or river...Excellent!

Happy Monday everyone,

Amanda

out on vacation...

Good Morning,

I had a "come to Jesus" moment this weekend. Sunday when I went to church I realized even pastors take vacations. Pastor Holly was away and instead the teen youth group ran the service.

A startling noise kept making its way from the strings section of the youth choir's accompaniment (I think it was a violin), the words "like, you know" completed the take home message from the sermon and the hostess of communion welcomed all to come forward and try a taster platter of different sampler breads.

So...Monday Morning News will be out of the office this week. Should you need to reach me please call my assistant...



Happy Monday,

Amanda

an adventure of the mind...

Good Morning,

Last week I realized while I've been building up my physical adventure muscle, my mind has been getting flabby. I have it relatively easy here over-indulging in Audio Dharma talks with nothing to challenge my own understanding but the occasional poke in the nose from Miss Mitty (the poopy-pawed anti-meditator) kitty. : )

So, WWBTGD? (What Would Buddha Teacher Gil Do?)

I went on-line and found a Vipassana meditation and discussion group that meets once a week. I'd like to share a new adventure...the search for Sangha!!!, which basically means Buddhist community.

As you might imagine, Kansas is noooo Red Woods City, CA (home of Buddha teacher Gil). Instead of practicing within one's own building (such as the Insight Meditation Center), this Vipassana meditation is held in a room in a friendly church (see photo above).

It was a typical Buddhist meeting. 30 min. meditation, then 1hr. for a reading and peer-lead discussion.

My hopes of microphone audiences and floor with knee to knee zafus quickly vanished as soon as I entered the room.

Two middle-aged couples, "the regulars" sat quietly in hard backed chairs and said hello. A small but dedicated group I learned they've been meeting for 15 years. "Sometimes the group is larger" the woman said, “there are two others that come.”

That makes six. And plenty of available seating.

Instruction I received included to watch the breath wherever it enters the body. As soon as the mind wanders (which will be frequent and often) keep coming back to the breath. “Let thoughts come and go like passing train cars,” she said “notice them but don’t hop on…”

A bearded man with very flexible ankles sitting in full lotus nodded in agreement. He shifted and adjusted his zafu cushion striking a pose that suggested a bad back and closed his eyes.

I chose a seat hoping to help balance out the room (the moment seemed very Feng shui) and closed my eyes too.

Here’s my first thought…

I don’t understand exactly why people do this…I can achieve pain and deeper levels of concentration while running and it at least seems productive…

Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!! Gary assigned "the bell of mindfulness" struck it three times…I dropped the thought and settled into the breath.

Wow that clock is loud. I wonder why they have a tick tock clock in a meditation room.

What the heck am I going to say about “my meditation” after the bell rings?...

Man I shouldn’t have eaten that bean dip.

What was the deal with those machine sculptures at the museum anyway?


How long was that? Are we done yet?

After 30 minutes I’d achieved a different kind of success. I made it 30 minutes on the cushion without falling asleep, checking my watch or leaving the room to use the restroom.

When I opened my eyes it became clear to me that I had also come seeking a greater purpose.

I chose this group for its goal: How to take the practice off the cushion and implement it in daily life. In other words, as Melanie the night’s appointed leader described it--How can we experience what we know of deep peace while in the messiness of living?

I love life. I love its complexities. I loved this question.

Unfortunately, the problem I learned in my Sangha discussion group is that there’s no pause button. No paper and pencil handy to jot down a thought to come back to…

I sat and listened as Melanie, a seemingly nice, intelligent middle-aged woman recounted her latest visit up to Minnesota to see her mother in a nursing home. Visibly reflective, she struggled through what to do about the latest problem...

“What can I say to a 300lbs. woman with Alzheimer’s who panics when she's in the Hoyer lift?”



This is an assistive device that allows patients in hospitals and nursing homes to be transferred between a bed and a chair using hydraulic power.

"What images can I give her?"

She looked directly into my eyes and our hearts connected. After a quick in breath I raised my eyebrows until my forehead puckered, put my hand a top my head and nervously pushed my ball cap down a little lower. “Oh, wow” I wanted something wise to say. Somehow it became lost in a minor detail given at the beginning of her mother’s story… “we went down to the dining hall with her…the only thing the ONLY thing she will eat now is bacon.”

Wise speech. I wanted so badly to practice wise speech but it had left me. What images might she use with a 300lbs. woman with dementia who only responds to bacon… to help diffuse the situation...that is kind?

When one sits with a Sangha you can’t help but ask what’s my role? What can I contribute to this group? I racked my counselor brain and the only suggestion I could come up with...

Use the flight of fancy to your advantage. Seize this brief window of opportunity to connect with the crazy.

Here are a few images she could work with...

Mom you are at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day and you are leading the parade help us land this thing!

Look mom the umpa lumpa's are here (nurse assistants) and they’re gonna help us get back home. Your job is to click your heals 3 times! Our job it to sit back and do what you say!

Her mother still thinks we are fighting WWII. Frame it as a military surveillance mission!...

General MacArthur just called…once we get you up there he wants to hear your thoughts on what you can see. You’re helping us win this war!

And, this one I’m saving for my mom (who will never tip the scale quite that heavy...)

Mom when the sling starts to feel snug around you pretend you’re a pretty mermaid. You’re going to be free in a moment floating back out to sea.

WWBTGD? As many of you know, when I find myself stuck in a tough spot I like to ask the question...What Would Buddha Teacher Gil Do? I smiled a gentle "wow that's tough" and let the moment go.

What did I learn from my first Vipassana meditation and discussion group adventure? In short, Buddhism isn't a religion of faith it’s an invitation to try it out for yourself and I did! Meditation can produce surprising results...when practiced among Sangha and provides the tools to develop the mind muscle. I'm going back in there tomorrow to adventure on!

Weed it out Wednesday,

Amanda

p.s. sorry Monday Morning News took a long weekend : )