On Saturday, June 13, we hiked to Berlin Mountain with our hiking group. It was a great day and quite a workout. The beginning of the loop was a pretty steep incline up a very rocky trail. Several hikers had trekking poles; I think I’ll bring mine from now on just in case. They would have come in handy.

The view of Mt. Greylock from the summit of Berlin Mt.

This little friend hung out with us at the summit.

Reesee is quite the hiker!

Howard enjoyed the summit, too!

Yesterday, we hiked near Glastenbury Mountain. The weather was perfect as we headed out on the trail at 10 am. There is a lot of history, as well as folklore, about this area that is now called a ghost town. In the past 100 years, nature reclaimed what was rightfully hers. We were grateful for this as we enjoyed a late-spring hike.

What's life without risk?

A view well worth the effort

Tired but happy

We hiked two fairly short trails here on Sunday, 5/31. The weather started out beautiful, but by the end of our second trail, we had our ponchos on while the rain beat down. Fortunately, we had sunlight for both destinations.

We will be working up to a hike to the summit of Mt. Greylock. First, we need to get our strength and endurance built up more.

The waterfall on the March Cataract Trail

The view from Stony Ledge

We went hiking here on May 20. The weather was perfect, but most of the trails were obscured by fallen branches and trees (damage from the December storm). We still had a great time.

The quarry was in operation from the 1860s to the 1960s, then seemed to shut down with no prior warning. The equipment and vehicles were abandoned and many of them still stand at attention as if waiting for the workers to come back. The quarry itself filled with water and now is a beautiful little “pond” with the biggest tadpoles I’ve ever seen.

One of the trucks left behind

Former quarry site. Now a scenic "pond."

Machinery long abandoned

I’m really getting into hiking this year. I love it. My Merrell boots are finally getting broken in nicely. I’m learning all kinds of new vocabulary, too. For instance: wicking, bug dope, GORP, moleskin, etc.

My goal is to post an entry for each hike. Since I’ve been on a few already, I’ll post them together here.

There’s a beautiful state forest not far from me. It’s great for short hikes and helps me prepare for bigger ones.

Trail marker

Tibbitts 2/14/09

Tibbits 3/28/09

My first real hike of the year was to Sleeping Beauty in the Adirondacks. Gorgeous views from the summit!

At the summit 4/11/09

Yes, I made it! 4/11/09

Next was the Taconic Crest Trail where our destination was the Snow Hole. The temperature that day was 70 and the Snow Hole was hovering around 30. After a sweaty hike to our goal, the snow sure felt great.

The view about halfway on our hike 4/25/09

The Snow Hole 4/25/09. I actually slipped on a patch of ice while I climbed down into the hole. But, the cold air was worth it after hiking uphill in slightly humid 70 air.

I’ve decided to go back to school part-time to earn a MSIS (Master of Science in Information Science). Am I a glutton for punishment or what?! Seriously, I am very excited about it. I am going to be a librarian after all.

For some strange reason, B thinks this is my idea of heaven. I must say, I DO love all of these fuzzy little faces.

B and I welcomed 2009 with a midnight snowshoe trek around our property. It was 0 degrees with a windchill of -6. We didn't stay outside too long, but we were so excited to kick off the New Year in a fun way.

One day, not long ago, while looking up information on how to create a Vision Board, I came across a wonderful blog that is now part of my daily reading. Christine Kane’s blog has been a consistent source of inspiration for me, and I look forward to trying something new for 2009: choosing a word for the year.

My Word for 2009 is RELEASE.

While thinking about my word, I can think of several parts of my life where RELEASE is necessary: excess weight, pain from the past, low self-esteem and stuff/clutter.

Excess weight has always plagued me, but over the past three years it has slowly started coming off. I still have a significant amount to lose and I know exactly what I need to do: eat right and be active. However, knowing what to do and actually doing it are two entirely different animals. I also need to look at the reasons why I overeat. I know that I am an emotional eater, so being honest with myself about these reasons is a major part of letting go of the weight.

Low self-esteem is directly tied to my excess weight. I am confident that as the weight comes off, the self-esteem will rise in proportion.

Releasing clutter is not new for me. Fortunately, over the past two years, I’ve been getting rid of a lot of stuff. Clothes, dishes, cds and dvds, knickknacks and books. It has been cathartic and a great relief. Cleaning the house is much easier with less stuff around. I’ve grown used to the calming effects of simplicity. Continuing to release stuff will be pretty easy. Plus, it helps to know that when I donate these items that are still usable, their life can continue on and perhaps benefit someone else. Besides, getting rid of unneeded stuff is a must. Our house is on the market and I am confident that it will sell early in 2009. Downsizing from this 2,000 square foot house to a two-bedroom apartment requires paring down.

Releasing pain from the past will be my biggest challenge. As Joan Didion said, “I’ve learned that you don’t actually get over things. You incorporate them. They become part of everything you are.” When I first read this quote, I felt dismay at the thought of not being able to get over the pain. But, the more I think about it, the more her quote makes sense. For me, “getting over” something would mean essentially forgetting as if the something never happened. Unless I have my memory erased ala Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind memory cleanse, I will never truly forget the pain. This is reality. In time, the pain will lessen and will not be in the forefront of my mind. I guess this is how it is incorporated into my life. So, yes, Didion’s quote seems about right.

To validate my acquiescence, I came across another quote. This one, from Byron Katie, says, “Whatever suffering we feel over things that have already happened is nothing more than an argument with the past.” Wow. An argument with the past. Talk about a lightbulb going on over my head! For me, “arguing with the past” is exactly how the pain feels. The present and the past are confronting each other in my head and heart. Unfortunately, I’ve been allowing the past to win the battle too many times. It’s time to let the present celebrate victory.

It begins today, January 1, 2009.

Release.

© Liz Rotundo

I started my first 101 Things in 1001 Days list on 9/1/07 and actually finished a lot of it (although my list consisted of 55 things). Still, I got stuff done. That’s the point!

Today, I start a new/updated list. And I am posting it here with the intention of keeping it more in view of not only my eyes, but the eyes of the one or two readers I have. ;-0   So, I am holding myself accountable.

I will update weekly.

101 Things in 1001 Days (12/1/08 – 8/29/11)

(updated 6/28/09)

1.    Clear credit card debt (2/5)
2.    Lose 40 pounds (1.5/40)
3.    Get rid of clothes I no longer wear/fit into/like
4.    Get a full-body massage
5.    Update will
6.    Attend a murder mystery dinner theater production
7.    Get a 2nd tattoo
8.    Learn to play chess
9.    Replace remaining bulbs with CFLs or even LEDs
10.  Visit Gettysburg, PA
11.    Take two volunteer vacations (0/2)
12.    Learn to play guitar
13.    Attend a film festival
14.    Participate in NaNoWriMo
15.    Drink only water for two weeks (0/14)
16.    Sell one of my photographs
17.    Write a travel article
18.    Sell a travel article
19.    Write a personal/self-help article
20.    Sell a personal/self-help article
21.    Ride in a hot air balloon
22.    Go parasailing
23.    Photograph the Merello Volta grave
24.    Walk a labyrinth
25.    Donate books to ERCCW (done 1/24/09)
26.    Sell unwanted items on eBay (done 12/08)
27.    Visit Montreal again
28.    Visit Saco, Maine again
29.    Sell house and move into an awesome apartment
30.    Visit the Lizzie Borden house
31.    Organize craft supplies
32.    Join a local social group (done 12/08)
33.    Switch all HBA products to animal- and eco-friendly ones

34.    Switch all cleaning products to animal- and eco-friendly ones

35.    Learn Spanish

36.    Finish Walden (in progress!)
37.    Try snowshoeing (done 12/21/08)
38.    Try cross-country skiing
39.    Try Ethiopian food
40.    Try Vietnamese food
41.    See all of Alfred Hitchcock’s films
42.    Visit the New York Public Library (and photograph the lions Patience and
Fortitude) (done 2/7/09)
43.    Try matcha green tea
44.    Write five letters (on paper with a pen in longhand!) (0/5)
45.    Finish my MA thesis
46.    Join a book club (4/09)
47.    Visit a hookah lounge
48.    Help build a house with Habitat for Humanity
49.    List at least one thing I am grateful for every day for one month (0/30)
50.    Take Calcium & Multi-V every day consecutively for 90 days (91/90)
51.    Take a photography class
52.    Participate in Photo Friday every week for two months (0/8)
53.    Track down Trish and call her (working on it!)
54.    Go through in-basket (at least) once a week for three months (5/12)
55.    Read entire camera manual
56.    Buy bookshelves that are all the same for apartment
57.    Go one month without calling in to work (0/20)
58.    Wash my face and brush my teeth every night for one month (0/30)
59.    Meditate every day for one month (28/30)
60.    Go on a ghost hunt
61.    Take a yoga class
62.    Try one new juice recipe every week for two months (0/8)
63.    Buy only fair trade coffee (have stayed with this so far!)
64.    Go vegan for two weeks (0/2)
65.    Read one book a week for three months (0/12)
66.    Shop at a Trader Joe’s
67.    Volunteer at a food pantry
68.    Update my blog once a week for one year (24/52)
69.    Complete and submit grad school app by 8/1/09
70.    Compile family histories into one location
71.    Go through my (home) office and declutter
72.    Clean out cabinets over washer and dryer (done 12/12/08)
73.    Go through kitchen cabinets and declutter
74.    Hike to the summit of Mt. Greylock
75.    Load songs into iTunes and get rid of cds
76.    Take B on a surprise adventure
77.    Draw/paint one image a week for two months (0/8)
78.    Create and order a set of Moo cards for a change of address
79.    Take a stained-glass class
80.    Take a bookbinding class
81.    Save $1 each day and use the money to celebrate on Day 1001 (210/1001)
82.    Keep a food journal for one month (0/30)
83.    Complete a diet detox (finished 1/10/09)
84.    Visit Savannah
85.    Visit Quebec City
86.    Rent an RV for a week and travel
87.    Have Lasik surgery
88.    Learn how to work with tarot cards
89.    Donate 100,000 grains of rice on Free Rice (10,690/100,000)
90.    {Private}
91.    Move Parnassus IRA into a CD (done 12/23/08)
92.    Visit New Orleans
93.    Get up the minute that the alarm goes off every day for a month (0/30)
94.    Carry notebook with me at all times to make notes for self-betterment
95.    Pay for the person behind me at a coffee shop
96.    Take a zipline tour
97.    Go one month without picking my fingers (0/30)
98.    Participate in Earth Hour 2009 and 2010 (1/2)
99.    Send a loved one a card for no particular reason every month for a year (1/12)
100. Do something different on New Year’s Eve (1/1/09 midnight snowshoe trek!)
101. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list!