"Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between reslessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jegged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow.

But of course, without the top you can't have any sides. It's the top that defines the sides. So on we go... we have a long way... no hurry... just one step after the next." - Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

I didn't blog yesterday because there really wasn't anything I could think of to blog about. However, I realized that that's not entirely true and I talk enough, so I should be able to put some words down. So here we go.

Every morning I wake up and change the countdown date for my trip to Philadelphia, to visit Nabil and see New York City. It's safe to say that I'm pretty excited to see a cute familiar face, and to tour the city that never sleeps. While sitting in art class, I was talking to the kid next to me, and found out today was his birthday. I then realized that my birthday is also coming up and I had completely forgotten. I had been so preoccupied focusing on my trip to even notice what was before me. It really isn't significant, but it reminded me of this passage from ZATAOMM, which I posted above. I don't even really know how I stumbled across the book, probably because I read too many classics and liked the title, but it is one of the most though provoking books I have read. Just like climbers solely focused on the top of the mountain, we all too often miss the sides, the part of the mountain that actually sustains life. That's all I really have, besides pictures. I hope your Monday isn't rainy, windy and ridiculously cold like it is here.

This picture is just adorable.

This picture reminds me of my mom and the time she had sushi with Dad when they were dating. Technically, we're never supposed to bring the story up again, but I'm in Colorado, so there's not much they can do. Hee hee :)