What to Bring to Yosemite in the Fall

A couple of times per year I take my family and sometimes a larger group and head to Yosemite for the weekend. We usually go in the early spring or fall to avoid the crowds.

It's surprising how many adults don't know what to bring to stay warm so I am including a list here for KroBlog readers to refer to when packing for a weekend adventure of tent camping at Curry Village:

- sleeping bag - bring a warm one as it will be in the low 40's at night. the tents have beds, sheets, pillows, and wool blankets, but it's my experience that you will need the extra warmth at night. we will have 6 tents and only 3 will have heating.
- flash lights - bring one per person in your family
- clothes - it's only a two day trip, but i would bring 3 or 4 sets for the kids. there's lots of dirt and there's a river. so here's the list: socks, sneakers (two pair if you have em), sandals, shorts, thongs, swim suit, pants, tshirts, sweat shirts, warm jacket, gloves, stocking hat, baseball hat, pajamas
- gear - toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, towel, hand towel, day pack or two, sun block, water bottle, sunglasses (if you wear them)
- other optional stuff/ideas - bikes, jogger, snacks (I will have PLENTY, but if you have something you like, then bring it!), hiking boots, bandana, pocket knife, books, toys, balls, bats, shovel, bucket

There is a big communal shower (bring thongs if you like) for brushing teeth and showers, etc...If you forget anything, there's a little store there with lots of supplies.

I hope this is helpful this spring when heading to Yosemite to see the water falls.

Sometimes It’s OK to Cry

There are a whole host of movies out there that are real tear jerkers: Terms of Endearment, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Beaches just to name a few.

But, as a man, if you’re caught weeping, or even admit to crying during one of those movies, you’ll never live it down. Friendships have been lost over such confessions. Wives have sighted such disclosures as the beginning of the end when talking about the ultimate demise of marital bliss.

Nonetheless, there are movies that, as a man, it’s OK to shed a tear or two. I just got done watching Hoosiers for perhaps the 10th or 22nd time. Other than the “grossest-on-screen-kiss-ever” between Gene Hackman and Barbara Hershey, this movie is flawless, and offers up at least three separate occasions for even real men to well up.

1. The scene when Shooter’s (Dennis Hopper) son comes to visit him in the hospital while Shooter is trying to sober up and the son tells Shooter how proud he is of him and that he loves him. As a dad, you really do fight back the tears during this exchange.

2. During the pep-talk before the State Championships, is a real whopper and offers up at least two opportunities for the river to start flowing. The obvious times are when the Coach (Gene Hackman) tells the team that he loves them and then at the end of the prayer when the Preacher quotes the First Testament comparing the Hickory Huskers to David (as in David and Goliath).

3. The end of the State Finals when the Huskers win it with a last second shot by Jimmy Chitwood. I am almost welling-up just thinking about it.

The other movie that it’s OK for real men to cry is Saving Private Ryan. No real secret here. This is one the all time great movies. My friend Andy readily admits to blubbering at the end when the older Private James Patrick Ryan asks his wife if he’s been a good man, if he’s led a good life. That scene gets to me too.

Oh, but that’s not all with Saving Private Ryan: the scene when the Tom Hanks’ character gets shot, the scene when Vin Diesel’s character gets shot by the sniper and Vin is trying to give his bloodied goodbye letter written to his mom to Adam Goldberg's character, and then again when Adam Goldberg’s character is stabbed by that Nazi bastard on the second floor of that hotel towards the end of the movie. Hard to watch for certain, but there’s no shame in shedding a tear – don’t be ashamed to admit it to anyone.

There are other movies when it’s OK to cry, to be certain, but I can’t admit to too many in one entry in fear of losing my man-card privileges.

Find Chuck Norris

My friend, Bill from work, just showed me a fun thing to do on Google. Go to Google and type in "find chuck norris" in the search bar and then click on "I'm Feeling Lucky." It's worth the 12 - 15 seconds for a good chuckle.

For more on the stud, that is, Chuck Norris click here or here.