By Steve

not that i needed permission

MANY THINGS ARE NOT DEFINED BY RIGHT OR WRONG. THINGS CAN BE ANNOYING (BLOGS IN ALL CAPS?). THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS, FOOLISH OR INSENSITIVE. THINGS CAN BE INSPIRING (THE COASTAL VIEW FROM MT. SOLEDAD?). THEY CAN BE ADVENTEROUS, WISE OR THOUGHTFUL. NOT ALL THINGS ARE NECESSARILY RIGHT OR WRONG. SOME THINGS ARE JUST OKAY.

DO YOU EVER FEEL HINDERED OR RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF WHAT OTHERS MIGHT THINK OF YOU? HAVE YOU EVER FELT PRESSURED "TO DO" BECAUSE OF WHAT SOMEONE SUGGESTED? I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. MANY OF US ARE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS IMPRESSION OF US...I TOO AM GUILTY.

ON A CAMPING TRIP THIS LAST WEEKEND, I DID A FEW THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO, THINGS I THINK ARE JUST OKAY...EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE. I PLAYED WITH THE FIRE WITH A LONG STICK. I ENJOY PUSHING AROUND THE HOT COALS, WAVING MY OLYMPIC TORCH AND CREATING ASH ART. CHILDISH? MAYBE. BUT OKAY. WE TOOK A HIKE ALONG A MINING TRAIL. AT ONE POINT WE CAME UPON A LARGE, RUSTED MINING STRUCTURE. IT WAS INTERESTING TO LOOK AT, BUT FAR MORE FASCINATING TO CLIMB. I LIKE TO EXPLORE, CHALLENGE MYSELF AND FINDING WAYS TO THE TOP. DANGEROUS? MAYBE. BUT OKAY. WE DROVE INTO THE SMALL, QUAINT (did i just use the word "quaint"?) TOWN OF JULIAN SATURDAY NIGHT. JULIAN IS AN OLD MINING TOWN NOW FAMOUS FOR DELICIOUS HOME MADE APPLE PIE. WE PURCHASED TWO PIES, APPLE AND BOYSENBERRY APPLE AND BROUGHT THEM BACK TO CAMP. AFTER DINNER, THE DILEMMA WAS BEFORE ME, WHICH PIE DID I WANT. WITHOUT GIVING IT ANY THOUGHT, I DECIDED TO HAVE A PIECE OF EACH. I LOVE DESSERT. EXCESSIVE CALORIE INTAKE? MAYBE. BUT OKAY. WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND.

I AM GOING TO HAVE A GREAT WEEK; UNRESTRICTED, FREE. I PROBABLY WON'T PLAY WITH FIRE OR CLIMB A MINING STRUCTURE...BUT I MAY JUST FINISH THE TWO PIECES OF LEFT OVER PIE. IT'LL BE OKAY.