More frugality

I used to marvel at my mother for the effort she expended to save coupons and buy Raisin Nut Bran cereal for 25 or 50 cents per box. She had so many boxes stored in her closet, and I recall eating a bowl while visiting once and sensing they might be a little stale. Indeed, the expiration date on the box was just about due. Still, that was my favorite cereal at the time, but was a rare treat since I had to pay upwards of $4 for a box in my store.

I evolved to liking Wheat Chex cereal the best, and was really proud of myself once when finding the Safeway brand clone of Wheat Chex on sale for $1 per box (I think Wheat Chex was about $4). We stocked up and bought 20 boxes, as I recall, and thought that was a huge haul.

But they were consumed quickly enough, then earlier this year we stumbled upon Wheat Chex on sale for about $1.80 at Winco. Then we discovered that some boxes included a coupon for $3 off when buying 3 boxes. Needless to say, I made two or three trips to Winco and sorted through the boxes to make sure I bought ones with the coupon attached. The net result was over 50 boxes purchased at 80 cents each, and 20 or so extra coupons for future use.

I thought this supply would last a year. But when you eat a bowl and a half each morning it is surprising how quickly you go through a box. A month ago we were running out, and our coupons were about to expire. Each trip to Winco we would check the Chex for sales, but no luck. Finally, we just used most of our coupons and bought a bunch more at $3.42 (net $2.42).

Then last week we saw them on sale for $2.38 so I rounded up about 10 coupons we hadn't used and hoped Winco wouldn't mind if they were a couple of weeks beyond expiration. And they accepted them!

But here is the real bonus--I hadn't noticed that a few of the new boxes had a new $3 coupon that expires a year from now! So, another trip back to Winco to buy more boxes with more coupons. What fun!! So now we have a stash of a dozen coupons for the next sale after we use up this supply.

Okay, so am I pathetic or what?

Climbing Mt. Hood

Sorry for the third hiking/climbing post in recent days, but I'm on a roll.

I already told about my inspiration to climb mountains in a previous post. Perhaps the most ambitious climbing adventure was ten years ago when my oldest son, Blair, and I decided to climb Mt. Hood, the highest peak in Oregon. While a number of people have perished on Mt. Hood in climbing accidents over the years, I figured that thousands climb it each year, and if we did our research and preparations, and were careful, we would be okay (even without a guide or going with an experienced group).

We rented ice axes, crampons, and boots from REI and headed to Timberline at around 4500 ft. elevation to start our climb to 11,249 ft. just after midnight. It is recommended to climb at night so you can summit soon after dawn while the snow is still firm and debris won't fall on you. I found the hardest thing about the climb was mental--specifically climbing all night in the dark. Even though it was July and pleasant weather, there was a breeze blowing down the mountain off the snow and it was quite cold. We rested perhaps an hour about half way up and we felt rather discouraged and tired. But we kept going.

It got steeper and more precarious towards the top, but once we started seeing light in the eastern sky our spirits rose and we were doing fine. Just below the summit is the Hogsback, and the Bergschrund (a deep crevasse you have to hike around and jump over).

We used the ice axe to plant with each step so we always had stable footing on the very steep final section. Just don't look down, keep moving, and don't think about it too much (I'm very afraid of heights!). Then, the exhilaration of reaching the summit!

We could see all the prominent NW Cascade peaks up and down the range. We could see Portland to the west. Then there was the long slog back down the mountain, and the tiredness from no sleep and hard climbing settled in.

Ever since I have not looked at Mt. Hood the same. I see the majestic peak towering in the eastern horizon and contemplate standing there on the top.

Obsessive behavior

I will admit to a character trait that can be both positive and negative in its consequences. I am prone to becoming almost totally consumed with something that I sink my teeth into. When this happens, I can tune out most other things and concentrate intensely. Let me give some examples.

At college I was working on a major computer lab project (designing and constructing an electronic calculator from discrete digital parts). I was so engaged that sleeping and eating became a nuisance and I worked all day and all through the night on it. I don't recall that there was a particular deadline driving the behavior. I was just consumed by it.

At college (and since) I tend to perform better when the heat is on and I immerse myself totally in an assignment (working like a madman the day and night before something is due, rather than sanely over multiple days).

I can be mulling something over in my head and become largely oblivious to conversations or events around me. This can come across as rude when I seemingly ignore or am unresponsive to those around me.

When I planted our grass lawns at our new house in Idaho I was obsessed with them. That's all I wanted to talk about at the dinner table. Each day I would observe how the grass blades were growing, how to water it, what the weeds were doing, etc.

I love troubleshooting problems. This has been a great plus in my engineering career, as various product development efforts have had significant bug finding and fixing activity. When I'm hot on the trail of troubleshooting it is hard to break free and go home to dinner. This has yielded significant job satisfaction for me, as well as contributions (and rewards).

Last week I did a bunch of research and decided to upgrade our computers at home to Windows 7. Once again, it was heads down doing research, installation, and troubleshooting, and all other life activities became a nuisance.

I think a downside is that I don't multitask very well. When multiple things enter my brain I tend to latch onto one and drive it hard.

I'm sure I'm not unique with these qualities. I see them in my father, and I'm sure I have passed them onto my children to some degree. I suspect males are more apt to be this way than females (Suzanne reminds me often she can't afford this behavior when there are kids around to watch over).

Half Dome -- Reprise

About ten years ago I read the gripping and harrowing account "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer, which chronicles the experience of a couple of climbing teams during their ill fated attempt to climb Mt. Everest. In some strange way, in spite of the descriptions of death, injury, and intense sufferings, this inspired me to climb some mountains, including Mt. St. Helens, South Sister, Mt. Hood, and, in a reprise of my teen experience, Half Dome.

We were having a family reunion of sorts at Yosemite, and each visit there we always planned some hiking excursion. I convinced my brothers, Glade and Kevin, to join me in a hike/climb of Half Dome. We knew it would be a long day, and we wanted to avoid the Saturday crowds, so we camped in Yosemite valley and were on the trail at dawn. Of course, in the fresh, cool morning with the excitement of adventure fueling our legs the early part of the climb was very enjoyable. To avoid the rubbery legs problems of a steep descent, we chose to climb the steep stairway of the Mist Trail, with plans to descend the regular trail down the waterfall area.

I thought I was prepared for the fearful view of the cables up the final side of the dome, but, as with my first climb of Half Dome, I was terrified looking up the steep route. But, I knew I could do it and pressed on. The trick is to keep moving and don't look down. (My palms are getting sweaty right now just thinking abou it!) Here is a picture of my brothers coming up the final section of the cables.

It is a dramatic view on top.

We were glad for our early start, as the cables were so crowded as we worked our way down.

It is such a long hike, and we were so tired coming down. But we made it, and all in one piece!

Be Still My Soul

Oh my goodness. Saturday morning I sat down at the computer to update my check register and pay some bills. I did a search on youtube and pulled up some BYU Men's Choir music to listen to in the background. It was like a thunderbolt had hit. I couldn't do anything on the computer and my attention was fully riveted to the choir singing this hymn. Chills ran up and down my spine.

Fasten your safety belts and enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1UtCbsg_Sk&NR=1

Half Dome

Growing up in Southern California our family would often vacation at Yosemite National Park, which has to be one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on earth. We particularly liked all the great trails and hikes to marvelous destinations, like Nevada Falls, Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan. And the most memorable of all--Half Dome.

When I was about 14 years old my older brother, Barry, and I decided to tackle the 15 mile (round trip) hike. It starts at the valley floor (about 4000 ft. elevation), climbs up past Vernal and Nevada Falls, around the back side of Half Dome, then up the far side to the top, at 8800 ft. As I recall, we took the regular trail up and did just fine all the way up to the far side of the dome, where there is a steep switchback trail up the side of a smaller dome. Once you get there, you encounter a small flat area with a full view of the final ascent up the steep slope.

I distinctly remember looking at the seemingly vertical slope and feeling such dismay, and thinking there was no way I could climb that. Even though there are cables to hold on to, and wood slats to stand on, it just looked terrifying. We stopped to rest, ate our lunch, and contemplated our situation. I guess we got our courage up because we took to the cables. Once there it didn't seem as bad, as long as you kept moving and didn't look down. Once on top it was a glorious sensation of accomplishment and a scenic view.

Traversing down the cables was a bit frightful, as was the switchback trail down the dome. As we worked our way further down the trail we were getting tired, of course, and worried that daylight was slipping away. So we took the shorter "Mist Trail", with steep steps down the waterfall area. What misery that was to our legs! We finally walked into our camp after sunset, exhausted but feeling so proud. The next day our legs were so tired and sore we could barely walk. But what a fantastic memory to reflect on all these years!

Stay tuned for Half Dome, Part II.

Grapes of Wrath

I recently finished reading The Grapes of Wrath, a powerful fictional account of a down on their luck Great Depression era family relocating from Oklahoma to California, and trying unsuccessfully to make a living there. It is powerful in the sense that it is an engaging story and well written by a talented author. And also because it is gut wrenching to contemplate the impossibly difficult living circumstances of the Joad family. It is strong social commentary, pitting the wealthy and established (which are very negatively portrayed) against the indigent (who are the "good guys"). Steinbeck surely has a political agenda writing the book, and is persuasive in his literary means.

I read this book many years ago, but was motivated to read it again as Steven will likely be reading it for his English class.

One measure of a good book is when it leaves you thinking about it for days afterwards, which this one does. Of course, it doesn't help that there is no resolution at the end of the book--it kind of just ends when things are about at their worst. While Steinbeck does provide some glimpses as to what motivated the Californians in their cruel treatment of the Okies, the portrayal is largely one-sided, with the Okies on higher moral ground. Things are rarely so black and white in real life, and of course there were helpful and magnanimous locals, as well as scoundrels among the real Okies. These were very hard times and the nation hadn't figured out how to solve the many tough economic problems. (In fact, we still haven't.)

Growing up mostly in California I also took an interest in the historical setting. My mother grew up in California during this time and I want to ask her what things were like during the Depression, and whether she was aware of the "Okies" pouring into the state. I also wonder how things ultimately turned out for all these newcomers--did they settle permanently? Are their descendants a significant portion of the population, and doing much better financially? (I guess I'm looking for closure to the book.)

I'm currently reading a non-fiction book on a related topic--"The Worst Hard Time", by Timothy Egan. This is an account of the Dust Bowl area, and the difficulties faced in the 1930's by those who settled the southern High Plains of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, especially those who stuck it out (as opposed to those who fled to California, for instance). A very interesting read so far.