ironladykati-blog

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Happy endings. I'll take it.

The last TV show you watched is now your life story for the next six weeks

What is it?

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One day someone is going to hug you so tight That all of your broken pieces Will stick back together

(via wltchcraft)

⚜

(via yesiamyourgoddess)

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Parwez (age 15)

“I come from Nangarhar in Afghanistan.

I’m travelling with my cousin - it’s just the two of us now. I’m 15 and my cousin is 16. My father was with us too, but we lost him on the way, in the forest on the border between Iran and Turkey. The police fired on us, and I don’t know where my father went. After that, we moved on to Bulgaria and to Serbia.

My father always told me: ‘You have to be strong because the way that we are going is very hard. Your life is in danger, you have to leave Afghanistan.’

We’ve been here in Belgrade for 12 days. We’re sleeping in an old train station, in a big hall. It’s not good at all, it’s too smoky. We don’t have clean water to drink. At 1PM, volunteers come and give us food, and sometimes we also eat eggs.

Before we left, my father said: ‘There’s no peace here, there’s only war, that’s why we have to go.’

My father had been to France before his job. When we left, I expected that we’d go to France and that there’d be no war.

I feel like I don’t have any chance. I told the authorities that I want to go to one of the camps [in Serbia]. They told me that I can go to a closed camp, but I don’t want to live like that. I’d like to go to an open camp.

The way we have been treated makes me feel really sad. I don’t like politicians – it’s because of politicians that we are stuck here.

It wasn’t a good situation in Bulgaria. The police came, and they beat me. Here in Serbia, a lot of organisations are helping us. But the weather is too cold.

My family are still in Afghanistan. Sometimes I talk to them on the phone.

I’m really sad now because my mother isn’t here, I don’t have my family, it’s not a good life. When I sleep at night, I always cry. I say to my cousin: ‘Where is my mother, where is my father, where is my family?’”

Serbia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCdm4ze_Oxs 

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To our elected officials and those who value America’s great outdoors:

This open letter expresses the view of more than 100 leaders of large and small businesses in the outdoor industry, which contributes more than $650 billion annually to the U.S. economy, generates $80 billion in tax revenue and employs more than 6 million people. Together, we represent a huge range of activities - from hiking to hunting and camping to conservation.

Our businesses make the lives of everyday Americans, from every corner of the political spectrum, healthier and happier. We do not often unite as an industry in the way we are today but we are compelled to make clear our collective view on a vitally important issue that affects the economic health of our industry, our local communities, and the lives of all Americans.

It is an American right to roam in our public lands. The people of the United States, today and tomorrow, share equally in the ownership of these majestic places. This powerful idea transcends party lines and sets our country apart from the rest of the world. That is why we strongly oppose any proposal, current or future, that devalues or compromises the integrity of our national public lands.

Yet as the 115th Congress begins, efforts are underway that threaten to undermine over one hundred years of public investment, stewardship and enjoyment of our national public lands. Stated simply, these efforts would be bad for the American people. They include the potential of national public lands being privatized or given to states who might sell them to the highest bidder. This would unravel courageous efforts by leaders from across the political spectrum up to the present day, including Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt.

This is not a red or blue issue. It is an issue that affects our shared freedoms. Public lands should remain in public hands.

We hold these views both as leaders of the outdoor industry — which creates significant economic value for this country — and as individuals who believe deeply that the next generation should be free to benefit from our national public lands as we and our families do today.

The undersigned companies are therefore working together to ensure that all Americans maintain their right to our iconic national public lands and that it is not taken away.

Outdoor Industry Association, Amy Roberts, Executive Director

Appalachian Outfitters, Mike & Karen Leffler, Owners Ascent Solar Technologies, Victor Lee, President & CEO Backbone Media, Penn Newhard, Founder & Managing Partner Backcountry, Jonathan Nielsen, CEO Backcountry North, Tracy Mayer, Owner Backwoods Retail, Inc., Jennifer Mull, Owner & CEO Benchmade Knife Company, David Fee, Vice President BioLite, Jonathan Cedar, Founder & CEO Black Creek Outfitters, Joe & Liz Butler, Owners Cascade Designs, David Burroughs, President Chaco, Seth Cobb, President Champaign Surplus, Dan & Shira Epstein, Owners Clif Bar & Company, Kevin Cleary, CEO Columbia Sportswear Company, Tim Boyle, President & CEO Combat Flip Flops, Matthew Griffin, CEO Confluence Watersports, Sue Rechner, President & CEO Dakine, Ken Meidell, CEO Darn Tough Vermont, Ric Cabot, President & CEO Denali, Chris Howe, Owner Diamond Brand Outdoors, Will Gay, Owner Eagle Creek, Roger Spatz, President Eastside Sports, Chris Iversen & Todd Vogel, Co-Owners Exxel Outdoors, LLC, Harry Kazazian, CEO Far Bank Enterprises, Travis Campbell, President & CEO First Lite, Kenton Carruth, Co-Founder and Owner Fishpond, John Land Le Coq, Founder & CEO Flowfold, James Morin, Owner & COO Goal Zero, William Harmon, General Manager Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, Rich Hill, President Great Outdoor Provision Co., Travis Zarins, Owner HipCamp, Alyssa Ravasio, Founder & CEO Ibex Outdoor Clothing, Ted Manning, CEO Idaho Mountain Touring, Chris & Jill Haunold, Owners JanSport, Steve Munn, President Kammok, Haley Robison, CEO Keen, Casey Sheahan, CEO Kuhl, Kevin Boyle, President La Sportiva N.A., Inc., Jonathan Lantz, President Light Speed Outdoors, Brian Cox, CEO Lucy, Laurie Etheridge, President Massey’s Outfitters, Mike Massey, President Mountain Hardwear, Dennis Randall, CMO Mountain Khakis, Ross Saldarini, President Mountain Safety Research (MSR), Chris Parkhurst, Vice President Mountain Works, Inc., Jim Smith, President My Outdoor Alphabet, Seth Neilson, CEO Nemo, Cam Brensinger, CEO New Balance, Rob DeMartini, President & CEO Oru Kayak, Roberto Gutierrez, Founder & CCO Orvis, Perk Perkins, CEO Osprey, Layne Rigney, President Outdoor Research, Dan Nordstrom, CEO Outside Brands / Outside Hilton Head, Mike Overton, CEO Pack & Paddle, John Williams, President Pack Rat Outdoor Center, Scott & Carolyn Crook, Founders & Owners Patagonia, Rose Marcario, President & CEO Peak Design, Peter Dering, Founder & CEO Piragis Northwoods Company, Steve Piragis, Owner Packtowl, Doug Jacot, Vice President Platypus, Doug Jacot, Vice President Point6, Peter Duke, CEO prAna Living, Scott Kerslake, CEO Ramsey Outdoor, Stuart and Michael Levine, Owners REI Co-op, Jerry Stritzke, President & CEO Redington, Travis Campbell, President & CEO Rio, Travis Campbell, President & CEO River Sports Outfitters, Ed McAlister, Owner Roads Rivers and Trails, Emily White, Co-Founder & Owner Rock Creek Outfitters, Dawson Wheeler, Founder Ruffwear, Patrick Kruse, R&D Director & Founder Rutabaga Paddlesports, Darren Bush, Owner & CEO Sage, Travis Campbell, President & CEO SealLine, Doug Jacot, Vice President Simms, K.C. Walsh, President & CEO Skinny Skis, Phil Leeds & Scott O’Brien, Owners Soar Communications, Chip Smith, President Sorel, Mark Nenow, President Stanley PMI, Kelly Kraus, Vice President, Stanley Brand Summit Hut, Dana Davis, President & Co-Owner Sunlight Sports, Wes Allen, Owner Superfeet Worldwide, John Rauvola, CEO Tahoe Mountain Sports, Dave Polivy, Co-Owner Tenkara USA, Daniel Galhardo, Founder The Base Camp, Scott Brown, Owner The Mountaineer, Vinny McClelland, President The North Face, Scott Baxter, Group President The Trail Head, Todd Frank, Owner The Toggery, Trek Stephens, President Therm-a-Rest Brands, Doug Jacot, Vice President Timberland, Jim Pisani, Global Brand President Toad&Co, Gordon Seabury, CEO (& OIA board chair) Trail Creek Outfitters, Ed Camelli & Brian Havertine, Owners Travel Country, Mike Plante, Owner Ute Mountaineer, Bob Wade & Maile Spung, Owners VF Corporation, Steve Rendle, President and CEO Weighmyrack, Allison Dennis, Founder & CEO Western Spirit Cycling, Ashley Korenblat, CEO Woolrich, Inc., Nick Brayton, President Zumiez, Inc., Tom Campion, Founder & Chairman

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Keep the one that can't fall asleep without you in bed, so they come back and fall asleep on your lap on the couch.

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Teaching Swimming Tips

I am going to try and teach the bf how to swim. I started swimming in high school and all I remember was goofing off with friends and somehow becoming trained, so I'm just about worthless in the "teach him how you learned" department. Anyone have any good tips/tricks for beginner swimmers you care to share?

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5 things to do before you get out of bed: 1. Express gratitude 2. Set your intentions for the day 3. Take five long deep breaths in & out 4. Smile for no reason just flex the muscle 5. Forgive yourself for yesterday’s mistakes

happyvibes-healthylives (via retr0philia)

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For the 75,000 displaced people caught on Jordan’s desert frontier with Syria, salvation is only yards away. Unlike many of their fellow citizens, they can be saved. So why have they been effectively abandoned?  Leaving people to suffer in the desert is unacceptable.

Jason Cone, Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders in the United States, writing in the New York Times opinion page

Save the Refugees on the Berm

(via doctorswithoutborders)

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Can everyone please stop moving to Denver so I can move back HOME to my friends and family? You are all seriously fucking up the cost of housing for us locals.

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Favorite new comeback

"GTFOH - you Snapchat your face as a piece of toast"

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- Pooja, Om Holistic Wellbeing - www.omholisticwellbeing.com

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I need solitude. I need space. I need air. I need the empty fields round me; and my legs pounding along roads; and sleep; and animal existence.

Virginia Woolf, The Diary of Virginia Woolf  (via weltenwellen)

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Some of the best things I’ve done in my life, I never, ever want to do again. Last week I added ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 4 days, unsupported, to that list. 

Dylan and I left SF, we got lost, got lost again, added 20 miles to the first day, we ordered pizzas before dinner, slept in a 90 degrees hotel room, I cracked in Big Sur and laughed at Elephant Seals, I was impressed by the purity and talent in watching Chris ride a bike, I was disappointed with my bodies ability to handle the miles, we rode 10 miles an hour outside of Camel and 35 in the flats in Malibu. We ate fish tacos in LA and felt the sun bright in our eyes, we spent hours talking and hours not talking, we rode on beautiful empty roads and on the side of the freeway. 

We rolled into LA as friends, brothers and survivors. We knew a secret nobody else did. We finished, and that was worth starting. 500 miles, 30 hours, 4 days.

We finished and I never want to do it again. 

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You’re under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.

Anonymous (via wnq-anonymous)

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Running with another person is an intimate activity. Run with someone for long enough at a time and you will be stripped bare. Modesty falls away with the miles. The body- its functions, its excretions, its wants- cannot be ignored. The heavy breathing, the sweating, the soft talk that comes after exertion, the hours spent together- running with another person is an intimate activity. It’s hard to keep the heart uninvolved.

“Personal Record” -Rachel Toor (via initforthe-longrun)

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ig: @ohhhlympia