The Guide. . . . . . . .

Just recently we finished watching the Guide, a bollywood movie based on the novel by R.K. Narayan.  As usual in my perspective the movie failed to present the book properly.  Which is not uncommon in movies anymore.  The book I thought was very intriguing, and very. . . . . philosophical, in its own way.  The movie on the other hand was rather bland and lacked in the detail that the book displayed without going to in-depth.  And the traditional musical-bollywood film type really detracted from the plot and story line of the book.  The ending didn't real bother me, and really gave the movie the finality that the book really needed.  However the rest of the movie was rather lacking in the real point of the book.  And it focused more on the part of Nalini (Rosie) instead of the perspective of Raju, which is really what the book is all about.  And which also really displays the morals and teaches the lesson of the plot.  The book as I said earlier was excellent, however, I felt that the movie was a very poor representation of a fine novel.

Resolutions......

Well, after a much needed break for Thanksgiving its back at it with the resolutions.  I had some opportunity to work out, and did a little climbing over break, but the majority of it was spent moving my fork from the plate to my mouth, and sleeping.
But since returning to campus I have returned to my regular workout routine, and now at practice we have been adding in additional exercises.  Tuesday we did Ab Ripper X, a section lasting 15 minutes from the P90X series. Can you say killer?  I was beat, and glad that I wasn't doing much climbing after that.  I hope to get the movie off my coach so I can keep doing them over Christmas break and also on my own time in my room.  I also created my own pull-up bar, using some steel pipe and my jobs metal shop's pipe bender I was able to create something very similar to this, but without the cost.
Sleeping has been fairing well enough, but the other night I was up late and thus, my attentiveness in class the following morning was rather.... lacking.  But I have been able to get more sleep now that I have been back and settled now for a couple days.  Hopefully I will be able to get enough sleep to remain attentive and intelligent during finals.
Well I haven't been around to leverage my money at school.  But now that I am back I have been able to start up my candy selling business along with sodas.  I have also returned with some of my mothers product, slumped glass bottles.  Made into dishes and cheese trays.  They are pretty cool, I have absolute, absolute citron, smirnoff, svedka, rolling rock beer, and a grey goose bottle left.  They make great Christmas presents, and are very appealing to students since most of them are alcohol bottles, with the label still on.  They are about $10 each, and they really don't cost us anything to make them but time, and electricity, since we get all the bottles for free from local recycling centers and bars.

Poetry Reading.. . . . . .

Just recently our campus had the pleasure of hosting three rather well talented poets, from the great old city of New York.  They provided a very introspective view on life from their standpoints and from their lives.
This showed me some of the problems of the world as seen through the eyes of another person, a person with a different outlook on life, and other experience.
This brought some new perspective to some of the other students in my class, as they had either never left this region, a rather well sheltered area, or had never been to the same places as the poets.  It brought into perspective the views of other religions, sexual orientations, and races.  Something that this area doesn't see a lot of.
This gave me a new outlook on the local community and how more diversified it could be.  It is a well sheltered region and besides the tourists, doesn't see much of otherworldly problems affecting it.  It would do with a more diversified community.

Small Farm Rising . . . . . . . . . .

The other night a friend from across the hall and I decided to go and take advantage of some free cheese (Which we both love) and the screening of a movie about some local farms.  The movie really showed what it takes to establish a small farm in a world filled with one stop shops.  It showed the hardships and difficulty in establishing a business in this economy as well.
I am glad to know that some of the food that we eat in the cafeteria comes from local farmers, so that some of my money for a meal plan is being pushed into the local economy. It also gave me a new outlook on some of the sustainability courses and majors from other students.  I really felt that this course gave us a standard as students to live up to, one of hard work and determination.  My friend and I both thought of this as a very informative and entertaining film, packed with what it really takes to start out on your own in that kind of business.

Team Everest. . . . .

Tonight myself and a neighbor from down the hall decided to go and watch the newest film being shown by the school office of student activities.  The movie was Team Everest: A Himilayan Expedition. This film was about a team of disabled Americans traveling to the base camp of Everest.  Which is a challenge in and of itself for a person of normal capabilities.
This event really showed to me what it is that challenges people, and what it takes for them to do things.  I also came to understand their personal determination towards achieving a goal under their own personal strength.
During the program I was able to sit and discuss with other students what it was like to undergo such a challenging task, as even a fully capable person.  We also were able to just see and understand together what it is to have determination and an understanding of needing to fulfill your personal goals.
I realized how inaccesable the surrounding high peaks region is to those who are handicapped, limiting on the sights they can see.  They will never be able to see what it is that brings the true beauty to this region.

welllllll. . . . . . . . .

So this blog post is supposed to be about whatever we want, so this one is about a current project of my own that I have started.  I found recently on the backpacker web site a competition for anyone out there that would like to go as a gear tester to the Salt Lake City Outdoor Retailer Trade Show.  You would get an all expense paid trip to go and hang out with all of the outdoor gear manufacturers and retailers.
The only thing is that you have to be able to go around and ask retailers about new products for the upcoming year, and blog about interviews along with posting videos.
The only requirements are to pitch why you should be selected in a 3 minute long video and a 100 word essay (blog style) about your favorite piece of gear and what makes it your favorite.
They are only taking two men and two women.  Over break I will be taking some time to get this done before the December 15th deadline.
The great thing is that I would only be missing two days of classes for it, and it would be a great experience for opening my outdoor retail store.  This is the largest outdoor industry trade show in the world. This would be one of the funnest and informative thing I could do for my future career.  It would be an awesome experience for me in so as to improve my public relations and public speaking.  Plus, who wouldn't want to spend a weekend playing with the newest in outdoor gear, and the people designing them?

Goal Log. . . . . .

Well my resolutions are more than well on their way.  I have found a new way to get my workout.  I found a company that makes a portable hang board, a tool used to workout and strengthen forearm and grip strength.  I plan on taking my current pull up bar, similar to the design they use, and modify it so as to be similar to this one. Then I will be able to continue working out after break and at an even more climbing specific manner.

I have since last update been changing my sleeping patterns into a more effective way, especially since my hair has grown over an inch since I buzzed it off.  I have been going to bed at no later than 11 pm during the week.  And waking up at roughly 7, 715 in the mornings after at least 8 hours of sleep. I then shower (hence the hair) dress and eat a bagel before heading to class early.  Its very regimented and perfect for maintaining a good nights rest for me to maintain alertness in classes throughout the day.  

I have come upon my next and better resolution.  With an assignment given to me in Introduction to Entrepreneurship I have decided that I will find the simplest ways to gain income.  We were given a no interest loan of $1 and told to leverage our dollar to achieve as much money as we could.  So far I have been able to make over $60 and have inventory of roughly $40.  I hope to continue this business and leverage and invest as much of my money to a positive outcome.