the simanek seven - i'm going to hell

wierd, i know this post had gone up a while ago and even have a comment from hawkins to prove it but for some reason, it's no longer there. thankfully i had it saved as a draft so in case any of you missed it, here it is again.


it occurred to me today that i'm going to hell. why? read on...

1. vanity - it's no secret that i like clothes. even before i had a cleaning lady and my house was in less than tip top shape, my closet was always neat and organized. i have also been guilty of the occasional pose in the mirror (especially with the shampoo mohawk...i love that thing).

2. envy - i have to admit that i'm jealous of my brothers. one has the Harvard PhD with a great family and job that i'm sure will one day make him famous. the other also has a great family, is very successful, and has the perfect work/life balance worked out.

3. gluttony - have you seen me eat? or run? i was talking to cindy, my quasi-roomate the other night, and it turns out that i binge in just about everything i do. when i eat, i eat enough to feed two or three people. when i read, i usually finish the book in a day or two, and not because i'm a fast reader. when i first started running, i decided i'd do a marathon.

4. lust - i'm a guy.

5. wrath - this one was the hardest for me to come up with. for the most part, i'm pretty laid back, and there's not a single time i can think of where i truly snapped off the hinges. there was, however, one time where i regret not snapping. in fact, if i could go back 6 years and relive that 30 seconds in time, i would have. so yea, i guess i do have some wrath in me.

6. greed - yup, i'm about as greedy as it gets. i will do almost anything ethical to become successful even if it means risking a stable career or a reasonable social life. between this and my incredible pickiness for women, it's a miracle i ever date. in my mind, greed and being competitive are one and the same. i want to win. during a race, when i go to my 'hunt and kill' mentality and start setting my sites on who i'm going to pass, it's the desire to beat them that makes me go faster. nothing more.

7. sloth - i like to sleep. i like to procrastinate. most of all, i like to sit and do nothing. when i'm not working or working out, i like nothing more that to be sitting in front of the tv while digging through a bowl of pasta and drinking myself stupid. i really don't think it gets any better.

badlands gear check

Probably the three most important things that you can buy to avoid a nightmarish journey are good boots, good socks, and a good pack. So far, I've determined that I'm going with the following if/when money permits. If it doesn't, then i'll rework to cheaper options.

Pack - Kelty Shadow 4500. Super lightweight with a very stiff frame. Hydration system compatible and plenty of adjustable straps for load management (with 35 lbs. of water, i'm going to need all the load management i can get). Although I've not had it on fully loaded, it seems like it will stay on my hips even though i lack any semblance of an ass. Alternate - two hefty bags and some bungees.
Boots - Vasque Sundowner Summit GTX. According to my hiking companion the Sundowners are the "ish" of hiking boots. Anecdotal evidence and web reviews all agree. Solidly built, waterproof, and good support make these the last boots i'll probably ever buy...i hope. Alternate - barefoot, as nature intended. Maybe i'll even streak my way across the badlands to truly get in touch with nature.
Socks - Wigwam Gobi Polypro liners (outer socks are tbd). Pretty much anything that is super thing and wicking will work. The only reason I chose these is that I know people who have them and love them. Alternate - duct tape and moleskin.

Next up - sleeping bag, hydration, and tent.