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I never knew about this…

So I knew I was going to be an Uncle again…but I did not know that I was going to be an Uncle to…twins! How cool is that. This grown-up stuff isn’t so bad. Congrats, bro!

I recently moved from hosting this website on a Debian server to one running Gentoo, which I’ve been running personally for just over a year now. The main reason was webapp-config - I manage a couple other blogs and galleries besides this one on my server, and manually upgrading those each time a new version of software came out was really beginning to make my life difficult. Webapp-config appeared to be able to make that somewhat easier. ...

By the way, ChiSec 6 is tomorrow night. I’ll be there…will you?

Yes, I know I flew back to Seattle last weekend for one last hurrah and the Arthur Murray summer showcase. I had an awesome time both at the showcase and just being in the Seattle area again. Even after being away for only a week, I had already missed the mountains. And then of course there was the showcase: Sunday begins with choreographed & costumed Student Solo Exhibitions, Freestyle demonstrations, and Open Level demonstrations. Cocktail Party, Dinner and Awards presentation will be followed with a Formal Social Dance Evening. Again - an awesome time. But I'm back now, and also have a new webhost with some space to put up my pictures from the past couple months like Blackhat, My trip home to help install windows, and my Mt. Rainier Summit! Since I am also working some odd hours this week (off-hours testing), I hope to have to some extra time during the day to post a log of my Rainier Summit Climb. It was truly awesome and I want to thank everybody that donated - I ended up raising almost $3,000 that will be matched by Microsoft and donated to the Washington's National Park Fund.

I was standing at my washing machine this morning doing some last-minute laundry when I thought to myself... I wonder if it should be hot or cold? To most of you, that means nothing. But for those of you that have seen or talked to me recently, you know "hot or cold" means something else and I laughed to myself while I stood in front of the washer thinking that. I'm still debating whether to post about that or put up some pictures of the gnarly results, but if you have no clue what I'm talking about and want to know, just shoot me an instant message. I'll fill you in on all the gory details.

I got back into Chicago yesterday afternoon and was welcomed back in good fashion by a few friends last night. It’s good to be back - I missed the comforts of my own apartment after living in corporate housing for 4 months. I woke up early this morning and got my hair cut at my usual place, then just kind of meandered back to my place enjoying the good weather. For lunch, I ran out to a great sandwich shop and sat down in some Adirondack chairs in a park across from the Sears Tower to enjoy my sandwich. As the Chicago Air and Water show is this coming weekend, I was treated to some fly-by’s by the Blue Angels as they were practicing for the show. I walked back to my place again with them criss-crossing in the sky above me and one flew by so close at one point that it set some car alarms off. A man next to me, his head craned to the sky, looked over at me with the excitement of a child in his eyes and said “Isn’t that so cool!". He was right, though, it was. I declined to mention that the Blue Angels also did a fly-by for me when I was hiking up the Muir Snowfield on Mt. Rainier just one week prior… ...

If you notice anything “wacky” in the next couple days, let me know. I just put dcortesi.com through a big upgrade in many areas. This is also why I haven’t posted much about Rainier or the closing of my summer lately - that’s coming soon, though, once I get back to my speedy Internet in Chicago.

Well, the rumors are true - I successfully summitted Mt. Rainier and made it back down to tell about it! I’m still in Seattle and really busy right now, so I’ll write more soon but it was an awesome trip. I must say there’s nothing like waking up at 1am and climbing 4,500ft up to the summit in mostly pitch dark conditions where it’s just you, your ice axe, and the rest of your rope team that you’re tied to. You don’t really notice them, though. Once you get in your groove all you know is each step that you take and your breaths in and out. It was definitely a challenge and although I was not as physically prepared as I could have been, I was pretty strong all the way up - but more on that later. I got some work to get on. ...

For those of you keeping track at home, I’ll be attempting my summit of Mt. Rainer this week. Here’s what it’s looking like. Saturday, Day 1: The Climbing School. On this day, you will be introduced to a number of skills, from the basic techniques of efficient mountain travel (rest-stepping and pressure breathing) through cramponing, roped travel, and ice axe arrest practices. Sunday/Monday, Days 2 & 3: The Summit Climb Beginning at 9:25am, the summit climb begins. It takes place over the course of two days. On the first day we hike to the hut at Camp Muir (10,060'), and on the second day we make the ascent of Mount Rainier (14,410'). The hike from Paradise to Camp Muir is nearly 4.5 miles and takes most of the day. The hike travels through alpine meadows and onto the Muir Snowfield, named after John Muir who climbed the peak in 1888. The Snowfield is climbed for some 3,000 vertical feet. Accomodations at Muir consist of a small mountain hut with bunks and sleeping pads. Early the following morning we don ropes, crampons, helmets, and grab our ice axes. Our route beings with a rising traverse across the Cowlitz Glacier, and ascends the steepening switchbacks of Cathedral Gap. This allows us to gain the Ingraham Glacier; one of the mountain's largest and longest glacers. We then climb onto the steep ridge known as Disappointment Cleaver, the namesake and physical crux of our route. The remaining slopes and hours are whittled away as we zig and zag through the many crevasses of the upper mountain. Thanks to all who have donated - I finally reached my goal yesterday and will be making a nice ~$5000 donation, with the help of Microsoft, to the Washington National Parks. ...