The mirror settled into place gently and the crane was silent for a moment while we torque the restraining plates into place.  I removed the pin from the lifting plate and it moved up and out of sight gently revealing the gold coated JWST Primary Mirror Segment we were loading into the environment shipping container. 
It was the last one.

JWST is a scientific inspiration.  It is the most incredible and complex, optical instrument we can feasibly put into space with the technology we have today.   It will capture the most detailed …

It hit me I’m here, working on JWST, helping to build the greatest space-based observatory ever created. I know this already, but sometimes among all the test procedures, quality assurance signoffs, spreadsheets, backwards progress, long  days, security lines, I forget.  It is good to remember that I am helping the human race look into the darkness, find inspiration. 
It is one of the grandest quests we have, to understand, inspire, and keep opening up the universe of possibilities.  It keeps our inner wonder alive and thriving, as well as clearly shows …

I like to do things that scare me. 
Highlining, Public Speaking, Kitboarding, Free Soloing, Crazy Rope Swings, and last year I submitted and adventure idea to Teva with my friend Andrew.
 I feel that doing scary things puts us in a place of Satori meditation, slams our awareness into the present moment, and creates an environment for extreme growth.  It is what happens when we travel, learn something new, ask someone to dance, or do something that scares us.   We live!
So,  what now?
I’m embarking on an amazing (and a bit scary) journey.  …

BAM!  I woke up to an explosion near my feet, and the delicate sound of flying ice.  I was too cold to figure out what had burst.  It was long past saving now; I’d look in the morning.
My Redbull can!  It had lived through -25F in Crested Butte a month before, so whatever I was experiencing now was colder than that.  I scraped the ice off the inside of my windshield and peered out at the day.  The sun was shining and the wind had stopped.  Ahhh.
Everything had frozen: my …

The last sliver of moon disappeared as I lay on the blanket watching the stars grow bright and the mountains grow dim. We lit candles and stoked the fire, welcoming the darkness. Friends whirled to the soul-caressing music while others gathered around the huge fire and the reassuring pillar of stone.
We were in the mountains above Boulder celebrating the winter solstice and a full lunar eclipse. It was a secret time after darkness ended, but before the lightness began to return, we gathered, shared, and played. Here is a great …