There are new Silhouette posts up.

You may even recognize at least one of the contributors.

I don’t remember where I got this from (if it rings a bell, please comment), but it seems as profound now as when I heard it the first time. I absolutely believe this:

A true friend is someone with whom you can comfortably occupy the same room without having to speak.

That is, silence is comfortable and not awkward. Speaking is not necessary; speech might even be unwelcome.

One of my favorite memories is the time a few of us met over at a friends’ house for a evening of reading books. By the time I arrived, the kids were in bed, and readers were already sprawled about on comfy chairs with books in their laps. We didn’t talk much, but that was part of the point. Simply being together was enough.

I am not perfect. Duh. But I’m not the cause of all your problems, either. Do not blame me for your ignorance.

I am not perfect. If I haven’t already, I may yet hurt you, cause you to stumble, and/or generally annoy you. When this happens, the situation will not likely be fixed unless you tell me about it. Sharing with someone else before I get a chance to make it right will only stand to 1) embarrass us both and 2) alienate me from you.

Let’s be friends. I respect and love you. Please respect and love me back.

Munchies: $7
Bottle of Port: $15
Cigars: $20
MP3 player with portable speakers: $400
Bee-ess-ing with the roommates on the back deck on a cool, calm evening: priceless.

For everything else, there’s tomorrow.

Jim Carrey v. Adam Sandler: Carrey wins.

In Living Color v. Saturday Night Live: SNL wins.

Kate Winslet v. Drew Barrymore: Push.

New York v. Hawaii: N/A.

Elijah Wood's Patrick v. Sean Astin's Doug: Doug.

Tom Wilkinson (link) v. Dan Akroyd: Wilkinson.

Kirsten Dunst.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs 50 First Dates. ESSM by a mile.

One of the funniest lines I remember from M*A*S*H:

Father Mulcahy: Klinger, I thought you were an atheist.
Klinger: Gave it up for Lent.

It was Ben’s idea for the hike at Boulder River (Forest Service, Green Trails #77 (Oso) and/or #109 (Granite Falls)), and he couldn’t have picked a better day. The weather on Saturday was mostly calm, and there was no rain until the evening when we returned to Bellingham.

I’m convinced the best way to do a day hike is to leave early. The earlier, the better. For me, fewer other hikers equals a better trail experience. We left at 7:30 am and arrived at the Boulder River Trail trailhead around 9:00.

The trail follows Boulder River for 4.5 miles until it ends at a smallish campground next to the river. Some maps show the trail going over the river and up the hill on the other side, but since we all left our hip waders in our other pants, we figured this was a decent place as any to call our final destination.

Even if you don’t want to do the full 4.5 miles, you’re in luck. There are two tall unnamed falls 1 mile and 2 miles in, giving you a decent destination without all the work. Boulder Falls itself is not visible from the main trail (we didn’t know this at the time, or else we would have looked for it).

This is a low altitude hike that is available all year (from what I’ve heard). We got an early start, and we only encountered 2 people on our way in; on the way out, we passed 25+ people and 5 dogs.

Directions from I-5: Get off I-5 at the Arlington/Darrington/SR-530 exit, and follow the signs to Darrington. Somewhere before mile marker 40 on SR-530, turn right (south) on French Creek Road/Forest Road 2010. Follow it 4.5-ish miles to its end. Forest Service Pass required.

The water falls gave me a chance to play with shutter speed on a borrowed fancy-pants camera.

From river level:

There were also some great moments with the sun shining through the mist as the air warmed up.

More pics are available here.

If you click this link, you'll read a brief story about a man who was dead at least one whole year before anyone noticed. And the kicker: the finding of his body was coincidental/accidental.

Maybe I'm affected by the exertion from the day... or the season... or a sudden jolt of humanity... but I can't take this story for anything other than how sad it is.

1. Apparently, Mr. Ricardo was unloved. If you love someone, you care. You check up. It's what you do. (Note to Mom and Dad: I'm calling tomorrow.)
2. He was alone. 'Nuff said.

What scares you? Car accidents? Earthquakes? A bald Britney? I'll betcha that for most people, being unloved and being alone are right on the top of their list of fears, whether they realize it not.

My advice: Hope in Christ.

1. He went to prepare a place for us. Jn 14 is marriage language. We are loved.
2. We have a promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and we have the Holy Spirit. We are never alone.