600 miles

Tonight, I reached my hiking goal of six hundred miles for the year. Seven miles was all it took, the last of one hundred and forty nine miles since the beginning of November. It's a good kinda tired.

OK HW

Take Him to the Bridge...

Merry Christmas, James Brown is dead. I'm a big fan of JB and will sorely miss him. I'll spare you the cliche's of legend, myth and "true American original". Love him or not, you got to recognize the huge cultural impact that he has had in this country and the world, if anything as a sample source for a million rappers and Eddie Murphy's career. I saw him once in concert, back in 1984 at the Scope arena in downtown Norfolk, Va. I got front row seats and it is one of my favorite concerts of all time. JB did it all that night, the camel walk, the splits, shrugged off the cape a few times and sweated gallons. At the end of the show, the audience rushed the stage and I was right there with them, one of the few white faces in a sea of middle-aged black folks. I got to shake his hand. So, here's a great clip of the man. Enjoy.

   

  JB, thanks' for getting up and doin' your thang. You will be missed brother. zahdah, OK HW

Happy Holidays

My wife, Janet Shaughnessy did our card this year.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

OK HW

November Hiking Report

Things were looking tough for me going into November on the hiking front. My laziness had left me with 149 miles to hike in the last 61 days of the year, so it was time to crank it up a notch or three and pound some sand. Despite all the turkey and football on the tube, I managed to drag myself out and knock down 77 miles to put me at 528 for the year. As of December 1, I had a mere 72 miles to go to hit the goal, I say "had" as I've been chewing hard on that number and it is a good bit smaller now. Some people think it's weird that I do this, that I set a hiking goal and that's o.k. they think what they want. Setting a hard number keeps me honest and motivates my butt to get out and do this thing that keeps my body, mind and soul right. Hiking, art, film, creativity, all of it is connected. If you are an artist or writer and find you're blocked, burned out or just plain disgusted, then lace up your boots and get out into the world. You'll be glad you did.

OK HW

P.S. Hello Claire!