Highlines are Hazardous (part II Pictures)

Scott Sending


Taylor Sending


The Anchors


Jeff Taking a Whipper


Contemplating my Future


Living the good life


Scott making the Leap of Faith

Highlines are Hazardous

You may ask, Said, what the begeezus is a highline. And I would retort, Living!

Scott, Jeff, and I went up to Castlewood Canyon and set up a high line on some cliffs out there. We didn't scope out the spot before cruising up there, aside from hasty looks on google earth, so there could have def been some improvements on the line. But we are chock full of adventure, and nothing was going to get us down on this day. It took 4 hours to set up the line. We set up 7 anchors to each side, so that if one broke, we'd have 6 others to rely on. After much watching, waiting, and rigging we finally got the line set up.

On to the walking...or lack thereof. Scott was able to send on his second try, which is amazing considering he has never had highline experience before. In addition, our friend Taylor joined us after we set up the line, and quickly sent as well. He's got some skills. Of course success does not come with out a little bit of failure. We took whippers. Big ones.

Overall, the day was amazing. This experience is like nothing else in life, I can't even begin to explain it to you. Its like every fear within in you wells up inside your chest and tightens its grip on you until you are unable to move even one muscle. Rationalization is not an option. But when you are able to seize that moment, and move past your fear and attempt to function. That feeling is ridiculously amazing, and can not be replaced, or redirected with out placing yourself in a situation which draws the fear out of you. Ultimately it is a new experience, and I could ask nothing more of life on this day.

Cover Letter For Graduate Assistant at Tennessee

Dear Mr. Adams:

I am inquiring regarding both the Assistant Hall Director position as well as the Assistant Resident Manager position. I have recently been admitted into the graduate program at University of Tennessee where I will be studying mathematics. After a careful review of these positions, I can see where my background and skill set would be a good fit for the department of housing.

As an undergraduate, I immediately had access to the inner workings of the housing department at the University of Colorado at Boulder. I began as a Community Assistant for the front desk at Farrand Residence Hall, and I was exposed to not only the clerical side of the front desk, but also to the inter-university judicial process for undergraduate residents. As I moved out of the residence halls into off-campus housing, I adjusted my professional position to that of a student assistant for Off-Campus Student Services, where I stayed for the majority of my tenure at CU. Although our focus was on the rights and responsibilities of student-tenants off campus, we heavily corresponded with the Residence Halls including joint presentations to undergraduate students living in the dormitories. Through this experience I learned quite a bit about the overall attitude and growth of students as they moved through their undergraduate occupancy at the university. My interest in the judicial process did not wane, and it led me to become a student member of the Judicial Affairs Hearing Board for the inter-judicial process at the University of Colorado. I was exposed to cases both on and off-campus, and we evaluated with respect to the Student Code of Conduct, and the notion of building community not only with the university community, but the greater Boulder community as well. As an Iranian-American, this point was especially important because we strive to welcome folks of all races, colors, and creeds. I feel these positions and experiences make me a well qualified, diverse candidate who can deal with students in not only an efficient, professional, non-confrontational manner, but also my enhanced perspective of the university experience as a whole will allow me to connect, coordinate, and improve the lives of tenants in the Residence Halls.

Enclosed is a copy of my resume for your review. I would like the opportunity to discuss my interests and qualifications with you. You can most easily correspond with me at 303-918-8187 or at my email address listed above. I will contact you soon to confirm you have received my credentials.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,



Said Parirokh

My Quarter Life Crisis

Why is it so incredibly hard to write the closing lines of a chapter in life, and move onto the uncomfortable first steps of a new chapter? I hate transitions, despite the fact I know it forces me to grow as a person. Life was much easier as a five year old, when the only worries I had was where I would place the Police HQ in my Lego Town. Now my major worry is how do I not end up in the real Police HQ.
For the first time in my life, I am losing friends to the real world. The responsibility monster is corroding my friends personalities, and I feel I'm the only one who wants to kick it with Geoffrey the Giraffe.

In a Jam, No I'm in a pickle

Game night last night. It was a blast. Emilia, Aldo, and his 2 Bloomer buddies, Becky and Caroline, came over and we played this great new game called In A Pickle. It is a good time because the more messed up you are, the better the game becomes. The object of the game is to win a stack of cards, and the way you do this is by putting down the last card. To stack the cards, they must have a certain relationship. That is it must fit inside the description of the next card. For example, juice is in a pickle, which is in the supermarket, which is in the parking lot. Don't play this game with people who love to argue, you will get nowhere. After 5 Tequila shots this game got extremely interesting.

Trans(disfunct)ions

I found this photo on my mom's computer the other day. Its from my departmental graduation ceremony at CU. I received a grey diploma cover sans diploma. It was not a very rewarding day. I got to thinking--a very dangerous activity if you are not fully prepared for its ramifications-- what do I do now? For the past 19 years the only institution I've known well is school. You are told what to do, and when to do it by, and although stressful sometimes, extremely comfortable. Naturally I find myself compelled to drift back towards that environment. (i.e. the decision to apply and go to graduate school). So maybe this post is addressing that concern in my own life. Am I too scared to enter the "real" world, or is the pursuit of knowledge and truth enough of a justification to continue living the comfortable life. I guess my debt and myself have some growing to do.

On another note last night I sent my first indoor v7. It was all slopers, my climbing mitts are finally coming in handy. This weekend plans seem to be shaping up nicely with respect to the climbing trips. I met some new folks at the gym close to my mom's house, and we will be crushing rocks at Carter Lake on Saturday. I love Spring time Colorado.

The Introspection Connection

Why do we choose the paths we choose? Do Humans move as electric currents through the path of least resistance, or do we deliberately make it hard on ourselves? I understand few things, but one I do know is the fact we tend to do what we are good at. It is fun to be great at anything. A sense of accomplishment. General productive behaviour. From this moment on, it is time to live with excellence. To perfect every action and inaction in daily living. To journey down my path with mindful movement.