Dreadlocks

Here I stand Flesh, Bone, and Dreadlocks. I had to include another shot of my dreads...along with some other dope ones out there. The HR Giger one is wicked. I'm on my second set of dreads right now. The first ones were back in highschool and they didn't come out so well. But I missed them so much after I cut them off that I wanted them until I started my second set, which was 5 years later. Now I've had this current set for 5 years.

This town has a growing popularity for the hairstyle, so I get a lot of attention and love about them. The only problem that comes along with them is the stigma that I'm a hippie stoner. Well I am a stoner...so what? I'm here to change the impressions of dreads. They ain't just for the dirty.

Dreadlocks are the natural state of hair.

The first known examples of dreadlocks date back to ancient dynastic Egypt. Examples of Egyptians wearing locked hairstyles and wigs have appeared on bas-reliefs, statuary and other artifacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with locks, as well as locked wigs, also have been recovered from archaeological sites.
The Hindu deity Shiva and his followers were described in the scriptures as wearing "jaTaa", meaning "twisted locks of hair", probably derived from the Dravidian word "caTai", which means to twist or to wrap. The Greeks, the Pacific Ocean peoples, the Naga people and several ascetic groups within various major religions have at times worn their hair in locks, including the monks of the Ethiopian Coptic Church, the Nazirites of Judaism, the Sadhus of Hinduism, and the Dervishes of Islam among others. The very earliest Christians also may have worn this hairstyle. Particularly noteworthy are descriptions of James the Just, first Bishop of Jerusalem, who wore them to his ankles.
Locks may have also been part of Mesoamerican culture before the 16th century Spanish conquest.
In Senegal, the Baye Fall, followers of the Mouride movement, a sect of Islam indigenous to the country which was founded in 1887 by Shaykh Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke, are famous for growing locks and wearing multi-colored gowns. Cheikh Ibra Fall, founder of the Baye Fall school of the Mouride Brotherhood, claims that he was "the first dread in West Africa".

In Jamaica the term dreadlocks was first recorded in the 1950s as a term for the "Young Black Faith", an early sect of the Rastafari which began among the marginalized poor of Jamaica in the 1930s, when they ceased to copy the particular hair style of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and began to wear dreadlocks instead. It was said that the wearer lived a "dread" life or a life in which he feared God, which gave birth to the modern name 'dreadlocks' for this ancient style.
Most Rastafari still attribute their dreadlocks to Selassie as well as the three Nazarite vows, in the Book of Numbers, the fourth of the books of the Pentateuch[citation needed].
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. (Numbers 6:5, KJV)
Nazarites for life who wore locks and were mentioned in the Bible include the Nazarites Samuel, John the Baptist, and probably the most famous biblical figure with locked hair, Samson, who, according to scripture, had seven locks and lost his great strength when they were cut

Dread
1.
to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of: to dread death.
2.
to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience: I dread going to big parties.
3.
Archaic. to hold in respectful awe.–verb (used without object)
4.
to be in great fear.–noun
5.
terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.
6.
a person or thing dreaded.
7.
dreads, Informal. dreadlocks.
8.
Informal. a person who wears dreadlocks.
9.
Archaic. deep awe or reverence.–adjective
10.
greatly feared; frightful; terrible.
11.
held in awe or reverential fear.

Lock

1.
a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.
2.
a contrivance for fastening or securing something.
3.
(in a firearm)
a.
the mechanism that explodes the charge; gunlock.
b.
safety (def. 4).
4.
any device or part for stopping temporarily the motion of a mechanism.
5.
an enclosed chamber in a canal, dam, etc., with gates at each end, for raising or lowering vessels from one level to another by admitting or releasing water.
6.
an air lock or decompression chamber.
7.
complete and unchallenged control; an unbreakable hold: The congresswoman has a lock on the senatorial nomination.
8.
Slang. someone or something certain of success; sure thing: He's a lock to win the championship.
9.
Wrestling. any of various holds, esp. a hold secured on the arm, leg, or head: leg lock.
10.
Horology. (in an escapement) the overlap between a tooth of an escape wheel and the surface of the pallet locking it.
11.
Metalworking. a projection or recession in the mating face of a forging die.–verb (used with object)
12.
to fasten or secure (a door, window, building, etc.) by the operation of a lock or locks.
13.
to shut in a place fastened by a lock or locks, as for security or restraint.
14.
to make fast or immovable by or as if by a lock: He locked the steering wheel on his car.
15.
to make fast or immovable, as by engaging parts: to lock the wheels of a wagon.
16.
to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining: to lock arms.
17.
to hold fast in an embrace: She was locked in his arms.
18.
to move (a ship) by means of a lock or locks, as in a canal (often fol. by through, in, out, down, or up).
19.
to furnish with locks, as a canal.–verb (used without object)
20.
to become locked: This door locks with a key.
21.
to become fastened, fixed, or interlocked: gears that lock into place.
22.
to go or pass by means of a lock or locks, as a vessel.
23.
to construct locks in waterways.—Verb phrases
24.
lock in,
a.
to commit unalterably: to lock in the nomination of the party's candidates.
b.
(of an investor) to be unable or unwilling to sell or shift securities.
25.
lock off, to enclose (a waterway) with a lock.
26.
lock on, to track or follow a target or object automatically by radar or other electronic means.
27.
lock out,
a.
to keep out by or as if by a lock.
b.
to subject (employees) to a lockout.
28.
lock up,
a.
to imprison for a crime.
b.
Printing. to make (type) immovable in a chase by securing the quoins.
c.
to fasten or secure with a lock or locks.
d.
to lock the doors of a house, automobile, etc.
e.
to fasten or fix firmly, as by engaging parts.—Idioms
29.
lock horns, to come into conflict; clash: to lock horns with a political opponent.
30.
lock, stock, and barrel, completely; entirely; including every part, item, or facet, no matter how small or insignificant: We bought the whole business, lock, stock, and barrel.
31.
under lock and key, securely locked up: The documents were under lock and key.

Bone

On to the second word that cohabitates the title of my blog. Bone...when I think of this word two things come to mind. The first is a skeletal deal, like a femur or something. Then secondly I think of boning. Yeah I know...dirty mind. Does anyone else ever think like that? I think its funny to use it as a verb..."Do you wanna go bone?" Then there's Bone Thugs...cuz its tha First of tha Month. That Bone Bike is fucking sick, though it could use a skull on tha front.

I studied bones a bit in the anatomy and morphology classes I took at the University. The design that went into them is amazing. Parts of the skeleton form during the first few weeks after conception. By the end of the eighth week after conception, the skeletal pattern is formed in cartilage and connective tissue membranes and ossification begins. This is when the bones are hardening.

Here are there main functions:

Protection — Bones can serve to protect internal organs, such as the skull protecting the brain or the ribs protecting the heart and lungs.

Shape — Bones provide a frame to keep the body supported.

Blood production — The marrow, located within the medullary cavity of long bones and interstices of cancellous bone, produces blood cells in a process called haematopoiesis.

Mineral storage — Bones act as reserves of minerals important for the body, most notably calcium and phosphorus.

Fat Storage — The yellow bone marrow acts as a storage reserve of fatty acids

Movement — Bones, skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints function together to generate and transfer forces so that individual body parts or the whole body can be manipulated in three-dimensional space. The interaction between bone and muscle is studied in biomechanics.

Acid-base balance — Bone buffers the blood against excessive pH changes by absorbing or releasing alkaline salts.

Detoxification — Bone tissues can also store heavy metals and other foreign elements, removing them from the blood and reducing their effects on other tissues. These can later be gradually released for excretion.[citation needed]

Sound transduction — Bones are important in the mechanical aspect of hearing.

Here are the types of bone:

Long bones are characterized by a shaft, the diaphysis, that is much greater in length than width. They are comprised mostly of compact bone and lesser amounts of marrow, which is located within the medullary cavity, and spongy bone. Most bones of the limbs, including those of the fingers and toes, are long bones. The exceptions are those of the wrist, ankle and kneecap.

Short bones are roughly cube-shaped, and have only a thin layer of compact bone surrounding a spongy interior. The bones of the wrist and ankle are short bones, as are the sesamoid bones.

Flat bones are thin and generally curved, with two parallel layers of compact bones sandwiching a layer of spongy bone. Most of the bones of the skull are flat bones, as is the sternum.

Irregular bones do not fit into the above categories. They consist of thin layers of compact bone surrounding a spongy interior. As implied by the name, their shapes are irregular and complicated. The bones of the spine and hips are irregular bones.

Sesamoid bones are bones embedded in tendons. Since they act to hold the tendon further away from the joint, the angle of the tendon is increased and thus the force of the muscle is increased. Examples of sesamoid bones are the patella and the pisiform.

Here's Webster's definition:

1.
Anatomy, Zoology.
a.
one of the structures composing the skeleton of a vertebrate.
b.
the hard connective tissue forming the substance of the skeleton of most vertebrates, composed of a collagen-rich organic matrix impregnated with calcium, phosphate, and other minerals.
2.
such a structure from an edible animal, usually with meat adhering to it, as an article of food: Pea soup should be made with a ham bone.
3.
any of various similarly hard or structural animal substances, as ivory or whalebone.
4.
something made of or resembling such a substance.
5.
a small concession, intended to pacify or quiet; a conciliatory bribe or gift: The administration threw the student protesters a couple of bones, but refused to make any basic changes in the curriculum or requirements.
6.
bones,
a.
the skeleton.
b.
a body: Let his bones rest in peace.
c.
Games Slang. dice.
d.
(initial capital letter) Mr. Bones.
e.
a simple rhythm instrument consisting of two sometimes curved bars or short strips of bone, ivory, wood, or the like, held between the fingers of one hand and clacked together.
7.
the color of bone; ivory or off-white.
8.
a flat strip of whalebone or other material for stiffening corsets, petticoats, etc.; stay.
9.
Games Slang. a domino.–verb (used with object)
10.
to remove the bones from: to bone a turkey.
11.
to put whalebone or another stiffener into (clothing).
12.
Agriculture. to put bone meal into (feed, fertilizer, etc.).–adverb
13.
completely; absolutely: bone tired. —Idioms
14.
bone up, Informal. to study intensely; cram: We're going to have to bone up for the exam.
15.
feel in one's bones, to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.
16.
have a bone to pick with someone, to have cause to disagree or argue with someone: The teacher had a bone to pick with him because his homework paper was identical with his neighbor's.
17.
make no bones about,
a.
to deal with in a direct manner; act or speak openly: He makes no bones about his dislike of modern music.
b.
to have no fear of or objection to.
18.
to the bone,
a.
to the essentials; to the minimum: The government cut social service programs to the bone.
b.
to an extreme degree; thoroughly: chilled to the bone

Flesh

I wanted to devote some time to writing about the three words that collaborate to make the title of my blog.

Flesh...When I first say the word, I begin thinking about something naughty. Naked or nude women. Then, I begin thinking about injuries to it for some reason.

Flesh is such an interesting thing. Skin, the integument system, is the largest of the organ systems that humans have. It breathes, its waterproof, it protects, it damages, its amazing. And the flesh is what's underneathe that, before you get to the bones. It mainly refers to skeletal muscle and associated fat, though it includes all other internal soft tissue. When flesh becomes food, its usually called meat.

I often fall victim to the temptations of the flesh...but really? who doesn't?

Below I listed the definitions that the Webster dictionary would like you to define the word by.

1.
the soft substance of a human or other animal body, consisting of muscle and fat.
2.
muscular and fatty tissue.
3.
this substance or tissue in animals, viewed as an article of food, usually excluding fish and sometimes fowl; meat.
4.
fatness; weight.
5.
the body, esp. as distinguished from the spirit or soul: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
6.
the physical or animal nature of humankind as distinguished from its moral or spiritual nature: the needs of the flesh.
7.
humankind.
8.
living creatures generally.
9.
a person's family or relatives.
10.
Botany. the soft, pulpy portion of a fruit, vegetable, etc., as distinguished from the core, skin, shell, etc.
11.
the surface of the human body; skin: A person with tender flesh should not expose it to direct sunlight.
12.
flesh color. –verb (used with object)
13.
to plunge (a weapon) into the flesh.
14.
Hunting. to feed (a hound or hawk) with flesh in order to make it more eager for the chase. Compare blood (def. 16).
15.
to incite and accustom (persons) to bloodshed or battle by an initial experience.
16.
to inflame the ardor or passions of by a foretaste.
17.
to overlay or cover (a skeleton or skeletal frame) with flesh or with a fleshlike substance.
18.
to give dimension, substance, or reality to (often fol. by out): The playwright fleshed out the characters.
19.
to remove adhering flesh from (hides), in leather manufacture.
20.
Archaic. to satiate with flesh or fleshly enjoyments; surfeit; glut.—Idioms
21.
in the flesh, present and alive before one's eyes; in person: The movie star looked quite different in the flesh.
22.
pound of flesh, something that strict justice demands is due, but can only be paid with great loss or suffering to the payer.
23.
press the flesh, Informal. to shake hands, as with voters while campaigning: The senator is busy as ever pressing the flesh on the campaign trail.

Give me my daily coffee

I just wanted to write a quick few lines about my morning coffee. I love this sweet awakening that I am allowed to savor. The dark brown liquid is kept at its natual color and flavor. See that stein of it up there? That's sugarless, creamless, and oh so delicious. Along with that I must chill the coffee to well below room temperature. A common practice is to place the stein or mug into the freezer for 1.5 hours. This will freeze the top layer, and deep chill the rest. Most of the time I will place a mug filled to the brim in the freezer, and then take a mug with ice cubes and coffee to my desk whilst the other one freezes. Though this results in a watered down first cup, that really just gets me ready for the next. Recently, I lost that stein, and had to move to the nice red mug...it lacks the capacity of the stein, but it adds more control to my sipping. Now this morning ritual isn't required...or to say, I'm not an addict. I just love the way the bitterness fills my blood with stimulation...I could drink a Super Big Gulp of this stuff. So share me your thoughts and stories about you morning rituals. I won't judge you.

And she becomes revealed

So the latest ultrasound has revealed that we are having a little girl!!! Which means all of our feelings and hunches were correct. Interestingly, it also makes the Chinese Conception calendar correct...so go Chinese Emperor dudes! She is so freaking adorable, and I think she got her mom's nose, so thank Jah or whoever...um genetics...yeah them :).

The ultrasound lady put her due date as April 30th, making Rachel 19 weeks deep.

I was really hoping that it would be a little girl, so I am so fucking excited its ridiculous.

This is such a great thing...this baby was made with intention and real love. And though we only knew each other a few weeks before we found out, I knew she was the one on the first day I met her. It was so obvious to my sub-conscious. Consiously, I had a harder time convincing myself, just based on people usually thinking we're crazy when they find out how we went about our relationship. But I knew, after the first hug, that she was not the average girl I've met before. Rachel has an endless potential for greatness that radiates from her eyes and body. This baby will have a wonderful mother and a wonderful family to join. Tobin, Rachel, Davynn, and Mattis.

I'm pretty sure we've decided on Mattis Marley

I will write more as the baby grows...

Winter bouldering at the Cabage Patch in Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT

I've always wanted to do have a winter bouldering photo shoot. Now, thanks to Julie Harman of Juliz Photography, I was able to make this happen. Julie was willing an ready to anything it took to get a great shot, including sitting on a snowy wet boulder. There's just something about bouldering being a three season sport, that when you throw snow and cold into the mix, it makes for a great ambiance. The spot we chose was the Cabage Patch up in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Home of the Dean Problem, Fat Albert, the Double Dyno, and more classic granite problems. None of these shots show anything difficult or crazy, but I like they way they turned out. Especialy the one where my hand is close and there's snow right by it. It was a great time hanging with Julie and Aaron Fox (my co-worker and fellow blogist). Also, we were joined by my family, my lovely future wife Rachel and son Davynn, who added to the laughter and enjoyment. I hope to have Aaron and Julie from Juliz around for more climbing adventures. I respect the camera, and hope to apply myself into a hobby of sorts for myself...as soon as I can afford a nice camera.

Connection to the world through my unborn child

My girlfriend was standing in the closet and I was sitting down in there at eye level with her bulging 4 month pregnant belly. I reached out to kiss the side of her abdomen, and continued kissing all over the home of our fetus. At that moment, it was like I was staring at the most beautiful sunset or natural scene. Like a forest at night, with fog, a full moon, and shooting stars filling the sky. Just the most beautiful thing ever. I connected with the planet, and myself, and my girl, and the baby. We are all part of an amazing transition. The transitition of love and lust into flesh and bone. I felt the energy that the baby was giving out through my eyelids and lips. Similar feelings were had when I began having sex to make babies for the first time a few months ago. The sex that led to this unborn child, whom is due in late April or early May of '09. It is a sense of purpose and understanding. As a biologist I tend to feel that procreation is the meaning of life. Each life, from Zea mays (corn) to Panthera leo (lion) to Homo sapiens (man), is here to make babies and pass on their genetic link to the future and past. We are all derived from couples making babies...hundreds of thousands of millions of these couplings must happen to make a current life form. And so on for our future generations. The reason I am here is to ensure my genetics are passed along. I found the perfect genetic match for me. She is a goddess. I have so much respect for her abilities to create. As her body molds into a motherly shape, my awe increases exponentialy. Her curves are unmatched and worshipped. I await the arrival of our little one with great passion and excitement and I will keep this blog posted on how things are going for my pregnant goddess. We get to find out the sex in a few weeks!!!