Z update

Well everyone Z is doing GREAT!!!! The train took its toll on her. But things are looking up! She slowly walking up-stairs and going on 10 to 15min walks 3 times a day. She has lost alot of weight and gained so gray hairs but things are looking up!!! The Doc. said it doesn't look like she needs any opperations & the tissue damage looks like its heeling GREAT!!! So YA!!! We are keeping our fingure crossed still. Just to have luck on our side.. The next thing is I hope soon her and rich will be home. They are still living with his folks because it is much easier to get her in and out of their house. Its been alomst 2 mon. WOW!!!! Things have been nutzo but now finialy looking up!! But that is the update.. Hope all is well with you all!

smells like spring

Hey y'all (getting bob psyched up for NC)
Greetings from the mothership. Meadow was cranking this weekend, but a bit on the cold side. First Aid Update.... the class being offered by Venture Outdoors will not satisfy our trip leading requirement. i am working on pulling together a Wilderness Advanced First Aid for this spring, it will be 32 hours and cost approx $180. Class would be taught in Ohiopyle. There is a chance of an OEC class at Hidden Valley, dates, cost and details unknown at this point. The bottom line, if you can find a course that fits your schedule, grab it quick. I hope to blast out another staff email in about 2 weeks with details of classes and upcoming training weekends and boating for fun options. HEY WE STILL NEED BIOS AND PICTURES FOR WEBSITE< I will make good on my promise from the email. Very excited to see everyone staying in touch and stoked about the huge number of you we have heard from and are planning on coming back.

We are still in search of more trainees...

peace

eric

Todo Bien

What is up!?! All this conversation about Costa Rica made me(Drew)decide to make my first contribution to the WV blog. I also made a trip there this winter with a good friend named Big Dumb Dan. Just like Dave, I suffered a little weight loss while there, however, my weight loss was due to the endless flow of liqour and beer that I found upon my visit which provided for some rough mornings. I also spent a lot of time trying to hit on the ticas (costa rican women) which proved to be unsuccessful due to the language barrier. Unfortunately we did not hook up with Josh and/or Kaila while there (BTW, I'll be back so if you guys are still there we'll connect) but we did meet several of Eric and Scotts friends there which made our trip that much more enjoyable. We even saw a bumper sticker that said "Surf Ohiopyle"!

As for my internship here in Ohiopyle, as Lou mentioned, I have discovered that being a marketing intern doesn't have the same perks as being a raft guide. Lou is trying to charge me more for Gatorades out of the cooler and noone we'll let me demo the new splash fleet that has arrived. Oh well, I'll be a raft guide soon enough!

Well I just wanted to say what's up and let everyone know that I don't bring girls back to the white house all the time like Lou said; I go back to the chicks house (one of the rules of being a crasher).

Oh yeah, Todo Bien is Costa Rican spanish for "it's all good" in a nut shell.

Peace Out,

Drew

WORST CITY, EVER.

Hey All,

I'm just writing to send you a picture of my current state of affairs. Syracuse is a cold and miserable place (Ray, what the hell were you thinking coming to school here? You wacky bastard.). Although it is a whopping 21 degrees out (much warmer than the single digits in previous weeks), my car is still this covered with snow. Bitch-bitch-bitch, yes, I know. Really I suppose I'm just angry that the snowstorm coincided with an especially egregious selection of weekly readings for school and a horrific cold, and so I didn't get to play in it. If it's still here on Thursday, I'll try to do something cool and post pictures making me look like less of a whiner and more of a bad-ass. I will accept suggestions for what to do with ridiculous amounts of snow, because I don't really know what to do with myself here.

In other news, I'm wondering, specifically, where you (Bob and friends) were planning on heading for spring break (well, my spring break). Are you doing the TN side of NC (with like the French Broad and stuff)? Is there another side of NC to boat in? I'm an idiot when it comes to geography. I'm just trying to make travel plans. Any details would be much appreciated.

Yours Truly. All of yours, really.
Christine

Guides we have known

Mr. Clean Cut Used Car Guy:



Dave M

Worked my ass! I was entertaining the guests!

BTW, the rapid Kaila is talking about is called Lower Huacas (sounds like wok-us, which rhymes with womp-ass). Huacas means funeral, cemetery, place you gonna die, etc. The best way I can describe it is a cross between Bastard and National on the UY, but without the easy lines. The entire left canyon wall is undercut, and that's the sneak.

I'm glad you're both enjoying Costa Rica. I'm finally able to eat solid food again and gained back some of the weight from my gozinta/gozouta diet I was on for about a week. Imagine me not eating a meal in three days! I haven't boated in a month now, that's a record for me (sorry Bob). Spent a few weeks in NYC and wonderful Reading PA this year already, and had a trip to S Korea cancelled.

Congrats to Lindsay and Cas on their great news, I hope everyone is doing well.

SYOTR
Dave M

Feel the force Ray

I'll always be there Ray! Look over your shoulder right now and you might see me. I am very sneaky, like Emilio from Mr. Deeds, but I don't like feet. NC is so on baby, I have off the week of the 9th ish-17th ish. I am hoping to go boating this weekend, it is supposed to be in the 30s, so I am going to take advantage of the heat wave and start my on water rehab. Quit picking your nose Ray, yeah I see you! Start bloggin people, this is fun. Yeah that means you too Rich. By the way if anyone needs bowling lessons, I know Jen is open for business. I recently went bowling with her and Rich and let me tell you, you've never seen better style and form in your life.
take care all
bob

You are with me Bob....Everywhere I go.

When I woke up last Friday morning I checked all the levels and looked at the weather report. I realized that the conditions were just right......for washing my car. I drove the thing to my favorite place of all time, Clean Town USA, and got in line behind some hippie in a subaru...(no offence Rich). The salt content was high and the wait was long, so I turned up the Doctor Dre re-mix that was already blasting out of my speakers and took a glance at how cool I looked in my rear-view mirror with my hat on sideways. Just when my loud bass was about to win the affection of the hottie next to me, the guy in front of me decides to turn around and wave me down. All I see is Bob......everywhere I go. At the car wash.... Walking down Walnut street with the greatest of intentions (get drunk) I am unable to avoid Bob as he finds his way into my path. Christmas shopping as Dick's for those Carhartt overalls my brother will never wear and then give back to me, I cannot avoid you Bob, you are everywhere. Everywhere I go. By the way, NC is looking good. Really good. Casselman, not so good.

First aid class

Can someone tell me what is going on with the Wilderness First Aid class with Venture Outdoors! I hear that it is not a good enoug cert. That is fine with me because that way I will just work the lower and be able to go to the upper and such on my days off. I would like to tl and work other rivers but $150 is a little much especially for a class that I can't even use. If scott or eric or someone could call me asap to let me know what's going on I would greatly appreciate it. If anyone else is having the same problem then let me know. What happened to getting our resert right at WV for free, is that still an option these days. NC is right around the corner so if anyone interested then let me know. I can't wait!

take care everyone
bob

WV Blog Sees Action!

I knew you guys had it in you! It's really fun reading all your posts, and also enlightening to discover that perhaps some of you are in sarcasm withdrawal.

Might as well post some news from the 'Pyle. Seth has moved into the whitehouse, living with BenT in BenT's room from the summer. That makes 6 total winter residents, but it's more like 6 and a half, because marketing intern Drew nearly always has a girl over. Drew, by the way, is working at hidden valley and pulling shifts at the pub. And Nick is showing admirable resistance to the stir-craziness that I was sure he would suffer from his house arrest. Krash is, of course, working at Seven Springs and is still putting on make-up every morning (no, seriously) to cover his facial tats. Be sure to make fun of him for it when you see him.

A reminder that Gearfetch is live and operational. Alas, it still needs quite a bit of work, but we welcome visitors, and especially submissions of photos and reviews, as per the Staff Line newsletter.

I have to confess that I haven't been doing much lately besides reading Harry Potter. Thankfully, I am almost finished with the sixth book, and will be able to get back to my life once that's done.

Might as well also mention that I've become obsessed with a singer songwriter named Regina Spektor, who I would describe as being what Fiona Apple should be. It's all preggo Lindsay's fault. She had me track down a song she heard on Grey's Anatomy. Anyway, if you're curious, and you should be, go to reginaspektor.com, where you can listen to absolutely all of her published music (still trying to wrap my brain around that business model).

Peace from the river,

Lou

Baby News

Hey All! Cas and I have got some very fun and totally CRAZY news. We're pregnant! Well, to clarify a bit, I am pregnant and he got me in this prediciment!! :) Just kidding! We're both really excited. ETA: sept 2nd. But i am hoping the little thing grows mighty fast and ends up early so I don't have to sit through August fat and hot. Yikes! So far both baby and mommy are healthy. Thanks to Kas for all the fun support. Thanks to Lou for not throwing out the, "I wondered why you looked so fat!" comment the second he heard. (Although he did say he was saving it.) Also, thanks to Kara for the fun prego books!

I hope hope hope everyone else is wintering just great. Josh and Kayla I am so glad you are loving it down there. cas and I totally thought it was beautiful. We got married at Turrialto in Turrialba (its up on the hill). If you haven't already made it there, its a cute little place with great food. Ben and Laura, hope things are a blast in CO. Sweaty Petty, I may be getting fat but I might actually be up for a trip to NC. As long as you don't mind a slightly overactive bladder. For us it would have to be a weekend though. I am sure CAS is in also. He just got a new job in Kingwood so he'll be at the cheat all the time if anyone needs a boating partner. I think Fuscelli is also looking ot take a weekend trip soon.

Give us a ring!
Lindsay and Cas

nc trip

I wish that I could afford to go to costa rica this year but that is not possible for me. In regards to you Chrisine, your boating skills are more than up to par for this trip. I have not kayaked in years so I am going to take it very easy and you will probably be busy cleaning up my mess. Your presense is more than welcome. I talked to Rich R and he is definetely in for at least a couple of days. So who's comin with me! Good luck and be safe Josh and Kayla, I hope you are having a wonderful time and make sure you see the rooster show while in Costa Rica.
Take care everyone and hope to talk to you all soon!
Bob

Pura Vida!

Buenos mi amigos! Josh and Kaila here! Just wanted to fill everyone in on how AMAZING Costa Rica is and how you should ALL come down here and visit! The country is beautiful as are the rivers! We are currently working for Rios Tropicales out of a small town called Cairo. Here we are guiding on the Pacuare (class 4) and the Reventazon (class 2/3) Rivers. We also do jungle kayaking, mountain biking, and canopy tours - as well as overnight trips on the Rio Pacuare to the Rios´ lodge! It is all amazing! As for kayaking.. Josh has kayaked most of the class 5 runs on the Carribean side with our Argentinian friends and I just did my first run on the Pacuare. Which also included my first ¨window shading¨ experiance.. that ended in me swimming and being recirculated in a huge hole with my boat - it was great! (Note to Rich Jenn and Dave: this was the same whole Dave got worked in and made it out of!)

As for other news Josh and I are getting to travel alot too. We are picking up Spanish and figured out how to navigate ourselves to the Pacific side where we tried to learn to surf. (and i say TRIED because it ended in a lot of crashing and burning!) We have also been bird watching ALOT - and we have seen over 200 species! As well as Sloths, Monkey, Iguanas, Snakes, Cuoti, Armadillo, Anteaters and so much more!

Everything is an adventure here and we cant wait for whats next! I hope that this note gets some of you interested in coming down because you wont regret it! If you want to check out our pictures you can go to: www.flickr.com - go to ¨find photo of: enter my screen name: climbnkayak. After it takes you to a new page make sure you are searching under ¨people¨ - there are lots of pics with much more to come (including Josh, Jenn, Rich and I flipping in a huge hole called Semaronies!)

Hope everything is going well with the rest of you! See you all soon!

Pura Vida!! (it means pure life and you can hear this at least 10 times a day here)
Kaila and Josh

response to Lou's last post

so Lou... you were in pittsburgh and didn't hang out with us?!? what ever could you have been up to saturday night? ;) Hope everyone's doing well and hasn't been going too crazy with not being able to boat cause of all the cold weather.

Astrid

Admin Note: Lou has absolutely no idea what Astrid is talking about and would like to remind everyone that for people who are not wimps, it is never too cold to boat.

Greetings from California

Hello all,
Your furry, fat photog here. I have recently finished grad school so I am currently taking a little cross-country road trip to celebrate. I am in northern California at the moment. I have already visited Smitty and Scoville in Buena Vista, Co on the way out. I may go visit our good friend Barrett in Montana in a couple weeks, and I am most definitely visiting Pat, Junker, and Mike in Park City, Utah very soon. I have not gone skiing in many years, but I may try my luck there. Wish me the best Lou. I miss your sarcasm as the deserts miss the rain.
Anyway, I will most likely be back to the area in April with nothing to do. So, Eric and Kas, if you need photog this season, I'm in it for the long haul. I even have my own camera now! (Nikon D80) So, to all WV staff, I miss your antics and your individual smells. I may see you soon, do not despair. Remember above all to DO YOUR DISHES!!! ...or else. Give me a shout at jjohans@mix.wvu.edu

_Jason Johans

Redstone Rocks

Hey all-
Greetings from Redstone. E & I have been hanging at my folk's house south of Glenwood springs for the last 2 weeks. Skiing, working and loving the break from Ohiopyle (thanks Lou & Seth!). Ben and Laura came over for a couple of days and we dragged Laura out for her first back country ski and first colorado hot springs experience. No complaints. See ya soon. Love - Kas & Eric.

Hey!

Hi guys!

First of all, to Lou, you little beam of sarcastic sunlight. I think the WV newsletter didn't make it to my new place, do you think you could arrange for one to be sent to my new address? If you want to save a tree, you can email it to me... either way. Thanks.

Kind of in response to Bob... I have spring break that very week (including weekends, March 9-17). I was kind of hoping (if money permits) to actually do down to Costa Rica to visit Josh and Kaila (since it's pretty consistently like 11 degrees here in Syracuse). SO if anyone wants to do that, or if anyone who's gone down there thus far wants to share some Costa Rican travel knowledge, I'm down. You can email me at cshanaberger@gmail.com. I guess that, however, I'm not opposed to ANY sort of south-bound travel, so I could be talked in to NC - not sure if you want someone of my meager boating skills tagging along, but it's an option.

Hope everyone (who reads this?) is doing well, and if anyone wants to come visit Syracuse for some reason (the black? moose? skiing? - there's plenty of snow) I'd love visitors.

Christine

north carolina trip

Hello everyone,
I hope this blog finds you well. I was wondering if anybody would be interested in a boating trip to North Carolina during the week of March 12. Simply boating, camping and boozin. I haven't had much time in a boat in the past few years so I would like to treat myself with a trip down south. I am not going to be getting into anything to crazy seeming that I am still rehabing but nothing to mello either. I am just sending the invite out there and hope some of you will consider this trip before the busy summer gets its start. I hope everyone is doing great and am looking forward to seeing you all soon. You can call me at 412-728-2112
take care
bob
P.S. This trip is not going to revolve around not being able to boat somewhere because the shuttle road is to bad. Get the picture!

Admin Note: Congrats to Bob "Schweaty" Petty for the very first non-Lou Blog post. Thank God someone else figured it out. For all you would-be bloggers out there, it's as easy as clicking the Create a Post Link on the right. See it, just there? Then use the username and password provided and Blog away. No personal Google Account required (ahem, H Eric Martin).