Honorable mentions: Most popular non-travel posts (Unpublished #1)

Happy New Year!!  Family time, ministry, international traveling, hikes, and climbs in December have kept me too busy to compile my annual Top 10 lists of popular posts for 2014.  Apparently, the end of 2013 was no different!

This is a previously unreleased “Best Of” series from January 2014, based on page views for my 2013 posts.  I’m obviously stalling for time until my new blog content is ready for next month.  The page hits from 2014 will be tallied soon.  The actual Top 10 list is coming in a few weeks... and the all-travel companion post to this list is coming later this month!

Links to each of the original photo-filled posts are below, in this color.

Before we get to the Top 10 non-travel posts in a couple days, here are a few  honorable mentions which were very popular but just barely missed the list:

Post-skydiving! A birthday throwback, Pt. 2

For whatever reason, this throwback day-after skydiving post was more popular than the parachuting action photos from Skydiving! A Birthday Throwback, Pt. 1. 

Part. 2 featured photos from my birthday weekend festivities that didn't involve jumping out of a plane:  hiking, rock wall climbing, laser tag, go kart racing, and a Los Lobos concert.

Munra Point: Losing a climb, gaining a 14k frozen trail run

Ironically, this icy #HikingFail along our renamed Not Munra Point Trail was the result of me relying on trail directions from another hiking blogger.  It wouldn't have hurt for us to consult a map as well.

Spoiler alert:  Shaun and I did finally ascend past Munra Point proper in late 2014, when I led my “Munra Point morning scramble" hiking event for NW Wilderness.

Lena’s first zoo visit

 
The photos of Lena’s fascination with the animals are wonderful.  But the real highlight is an early video clip of Lena showing off her new walking skills!

Video: Twerking 9 to 5

A controversial YouTube video inspired this call to the ladies to keep it classy, and for the guys to respect the ladies.

A defiant birthday: Hiking Mount Defiance

Shaun, Seamus the dog, and I hiked up our favorite steep-y, the one and only Mount Defiance.  Yet again.  Since those skydiving posts were throwbacks to the previous year, this was my official birthday post of 2013. 

And finally...

Cleaning up after Typhoon Haiyan

The final post on this honorable mentions list was a simple plea for typhoon disaster relief, via either Church of God Ministries or Compassion International.  This may be old news to the western world, but the recovery and restoration efforts are still a reality for those living in those areas of the Philippines affected by this natural disaster.

Prayers and financial support for worldwide disaster and poverty relief efforts continue to be appreciated.

Coming later in January...

2014's unpublished post #2-

Top 10: Most popular recent non-travel posts!

Video: Twerking 9 to 5

Twerking for a living?

I've resisted clicking on this outspoken video response to Miley Cyrus' controversial performance at the VMA's all week, despite it's persistent badgering in my Facebook newsfeed.  Turns out it's well worth checking out, and the good stuff begins at 0:36.



I'm not really into the potential victim-blaming and "public shaming" aspects of Jae Tracie's rant, but it's encouraging to hear from a woman who doesn't confuse self-worth with cheap sexual provocation.  A woman who respects herself enough to call for class, restraint. and reasonable modesty certainly stands out among the masses.  Isn't that a good and noble thing?

And guys (I do have male readers, right?):  Are we letting women know that we value them as more than mere objects for our own gratification?  Are you single fellas choosing to be true gentleman by encouraging the ladies to respect their own bodies?

And do we married dudes make a conscious, daily effort to have eyes only for our wives?  Are we showing our precious wives that we value them for their whole being-- emotional, spiritual, physical, mental, AND sexual?


It's safe to assume that many of us (myself included) could use help adjusting our casual attitudes towards sexuality, both guys and gals.  So...  Ladies: Keep it classy.  Fellas: Let's work together to end the uncaring, misogynist objectification of women.



Oh, and in case you didn't read the BIG NEWS on my blog last week... Kathy and I are having a baby boy in January!!

Coming tomorrow night on Garth's Blog...

Never before seen action pics and stories from last year's birthday skydiving!!