Public speaking can be scary!  We had over 1350 attendees for Ignite Boulder 11, and speaking in front of that many people is a trip!  Watching the video of my presentation, barely a trace of nervousness shows through. I felt happy, and full of goofy fun and confidence. 
I had just spent the day teaching Swiftwater Rescue to Sheriff Deputies with Boulder Emergency Squad, and was already buzzing from that.  By the time I got on stage I was absolutely bouncing with energy.  Part of this comes from being the focus …

My 10th high school reunion is Saturday.  I’ve been thinking about it for awhile.  Go!  Not go… I’ll have to drive straight through from Boulder to make it, meaning I’ll be drained, but what’s that?  I live my life on not much sleep pretty often.  The body is used to it.  I’m traveling with August and Claire for close to a month, so it is more than just my input.  Some more discussion to happen.
I feel like high school was like running through a beautiful garden with my eyes closed.  …

 
I adjusted the angle of the light and it caught something reflective as Andy hauled himself across the untensioned highline back to the access tunnel. The smell of rust and the reverberating echoes of friends rigging the line filtered through my concentrating mind as I adjusted exposure settings on the camera. What a wild place!

The steel launch doors high above were painted red with sheets of rusted metal peeling off. Andrew sat on a stairway to nowhere surveying the operation; his shadow powerfully projected on the ceiling. Although no protection …

I peer up at the moonlit rocks and feel the wise presence of a multitude of beings, as if I have suddenly appeared on the dinner table of Gods.  They paused for a moment to look at the oddity, fork stopped half way to mouth, glass partially raised; they look at me curiously, unhurriedly, and wisely.  When I wave a friendly hello, they smile and go back to eating and talking. 
Whoosh! My energies from around the universe slam back into this present/here now/place filling me in one moment with all …

 Boulder Blind Cafe
All hints of light disappeared as the second curtain dropped behind us. We continued on, at what seemed like an unsafe pace for such conditions.
“Door! Put your left hand up.” was spoken ahead of me.
I put my hand up just in time to feel the side of a wooden door frame as we dodged right.
Through the doorway was a large space filled with the bustling noise of people. We were in a line, 9 of us, including our guide, each one with a hand on the shoulder of …