Thank You and Thank You!

I would like to personally thank a couple of people...

1st the a$s hole that plowed in the end of my driveway while I was gone for Christmas. I loved coming home from vacation only to discover there was no way I could get in my driveway. Leaving a place for me to park by my mailbox was a nice touch. (Who does that???).

2nd P's husband for being so kind as to drive his 4-wheeler over and plow me out.

Snow!

Sigh of Relief

Well, Christmas is finally over. This was my families first Christmas since my grandma passed away and it is nice to have it behind us. We decided to not do the big family get together because my grandpa wanted to have a small deal with the republican side of the family, of course, he bowed out at the last minute and didn't even go. Anyways...we had a great time at my brother's mother in law's place. My niece was so excited about her presents it was so cute. She definitely took note of who gave her what because when she came up to me to give me a hug she made a remark about me only giving her one gift. Little stinker.

Late Saturday C made it home from visiting his family in Wisconsin. It was so good to see him. We exchanged our gifts, he gave me an all inclusive weekend get away, and sipped Chai. I am finding it harder and harder to leave him at the end of the weekends. We were going to go away for New Years, but I don't think the weather is going to cooperate. Bummer...oh well, I know/hope we will have many other opportunities to go away together.

It's Here

This is the view from my office window this morning










This is the snow drift on window ledge, the ledge is tiny

This is a before shot from office window take about a week ago.

Boyfriend

You brought me flowers, no one has ever given me flowers "just because" before. I had so much fun hiking with you, cooking with you, and introducing you to a few of my friends. Thank you for showing me how to run my snow blower, and then doing my driveway. Thank you for plunging, gross!!! I picture us doing stuff 6 months from now too!

This one goes out to:

"A" from work who once hit a moose with his Geo.

Thank you C for passing this along.

Survived

We just laid off 3 people from our department. The good news is I wasn't one of them, the bad news is that my good friend J was.

Big hugs to J.

:o(

Meet the Fockers

Thank you C (from this point forward C3 will be knows as C), for an amazing weekend. I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment I spent with you. It was so nice getting to meet your friends and co-workers. Thank you for going shoe shopping with me (promise I won't make you do that again).

Perhaps meeting my family so early in our relationship was not my smartest move. Thank you for being such a great sport. Hopefully I didn't scare you away!

Can't believe I have to wait five days to see you.

6 times (or was it 8)
lasagna
shoe shopping
Jenga
meeting A&A
holiday party
auction
prime rib
orange rolls
sitting cross legged
mint martini
patriot candles
b-day cake (and pie)

Crazy Wonderful Weekend

I left work early on Wednesday and met C3 at his place for Sushi and some cuddle time by the fire. You would be proud to know that I ate real Sushi, not just the cooked kind. I spent the night with him for the first time, and let me tell you my lumberjack flannel PJ's were a big hit (what was I thinking???).

On Thursday my parents hosted Thanksgiving. We had 22 people over for dinner. It was a mad house. The best part....when Kona pooped in the basement and my Dad discovered it while giving a "tour of the house" to my cousins that were visiting from out of town. AWESOME!! Kona felt a little under the weather because she ate large amounts of green Kong. I beat Jacob at arm wrestling, but know in about a year he will be able to beat me.

Found out that Grandpa asked some lady that my grandma was friends with back in junior high to live with him. Luckily, she doesn't appear to be crazy and said no.

On Saturday I went to a cookie party and then met up with C3 for a lovely dinner at the Down River Grill. The next day we took the dogs for a walk by Bowl and Pitcher and then had lunch at the Elk. Oh, and he called me his "girlfriend" which I liked very much!

All in all it was a great weekend.

Doggy Door

Wine Tasting- Arbor Crest and Townshend
Twigs
Erin the Interrogator (loved her!)
Smart People (not so smart character development)
Light kisses
Deep Head (trail that is)
Homemade Breakfast
Kitchen Counter
Dog Walking
Deep playful kisses
Destroying 2 Couches
Destroying Dog Toys (sorry! who knew Kongs were destructible)
Getting Pulled into the Street and meeting Duncan

C

Sometimes I wonder if you regret calling things off between us.

Dead Meat

Driving past my neighbors garage last night
Dead deer hanging by its back legs
Two men gutting it

Things you just don't see in garages when you live in a big city.

Dead Zone

Fall is my favorite season (leaves turning, the smell of smoke in the air), but it gets dark so early that I can't go out and play after work and it is typically cold or rainy on the weekend so hiking isn't that much fun. I feel like we are all just sitting around waiting for the snow to fly so that we can hit the slopes.

I did get a nice hike in last weekend with C3. We took the dogs up to Moose Lake, it was so peaceful and beautiful. It would have been a perfect night to camp out and cuddle by a roaring fire. Instead we settled in by the fire at the wine bar and got to know each other a little better.

Green

My eyes are green, dark green, forest green; the kind of green that pops when I wear blue. Your eyes are light green, bright green; the kind of green that would pop when you wear yellow. You know when you meet someone with bright blue eyes that are absolutely stunning, yours are like that...but green. Never seen that before.

Whirl Wind

What a crazy weekend, I am not sure if I even sat down this weekend except when I was driving and when I was eating. Both of which I did a lot of. On Saturday I met C3 for coffee and then we took the dogs for a hike. What a nice guy, I think I would like to hang out and get to know him more. On Saturday night I went to the Mountaineers potluck. It was nice to finally get the first event over with. Thank you so much to TJ for letting me be a cling on. If you hadn't been there I would have felt like a complete loser. Oh..and the wine was a nice touch!

On Sunday I met C3 for breakfast which was nice. Wish I would have had more time so that we could have gone and done something more active. Then I ran downtown, did an errand for a friend, ate lunch, and then headed back North.

When I got home around 5 I started working on a workbook I had to have completed and printed for today. I finished printing the books at 1:00 am. I would have been done a lot sooner if my original document hadn't become "corrupted", what ever that means.

Anyways...all in all a great weekend. Now I need a few days off to recover.

Guess What!

IT'S SNOWING, IT'S SNOWING, IT'S SNOWING!!!

How much snow do you need to use a snow blower? Can't wait to try out my new toy!!!

Hmmm...guess I should have mowed the lawn last weekend. Maybe all the leaves will turn into compost under the snow! Oh well!!!!

Time to start the "Official Ski Count" again.

What a Loser

My friend P in SF broke up with her boyfriend of two years (they were living together). She went on a business trip and while she was gone he told her he didn't want to be together. What a weak piece of Sh!t!!! Who does that? And get this...his reason for breaking up with her.... "she is too strong". Give me a break. She is definitely better off without that weakling.

Cheers to strong women!!!

Matt Nathanson

I had a great time at the Matt Nathanson concert. I went with K and A, two girls from work. I haven't hung out with them much, but it was a lot of fun. Definitely two cool chicks. First we went to dinner at Scratch in Spokane. Their bread sticks are to die for!!! Warm flaky bread smothered in pesto and garlic in a vinegar oil reduction. Yum Yum Yum!!!

We missed the first act and part of the second. Wish we would have missed the entire second act. The lead singer was incredibly boring. A weak voice and no stage presence. Snoozer!!!

Matt Nathanson was almost as good as last time I saw him. However, a fan pissed him off in the middle of the show when she flipped him off and after that he was a little off his game. But overall, still a very good concert.

Warren Miller Weekend.

This weekend I went and saw Warren Miller with TJ. He was a pretty good sport to take me to Warren Miller considering he is a rock climber and not a skiier. We had dinner at Steelhead (fish taco's for me) and chatted a little over Starbuck Chai Tea. Al in all it was a fun night.

I also got to spend a lot of time with my Mom and Dad this weekend which was very nice because they were gone all of October doing light house tours in Oregon. Mom and I did our usual shopping trips and dad and I ran around looking at snowthrowers. Mom and dad are going to buy me a snowthrower this year. I am so excited!!!! Hope this doesn't mean there won't be any snow this year.

Tomorrow I am off to see Matt Nathanson in concert again. Can't wait!

Halloween Baby!

Well..he came a little early, but what a cute baby. My cousin had her little boy on Halloween. What a lucky kid; can you imagine his birthday parties? He can have all the candy he wants. Anyways, he is so sweet and cute. I held him for about 30 minutes and he slept the whole time.

Warning: holding babies can be dangerous, kind of makes you want one. Note to self: First husband, then baby!!!

Not from Idaho...but Definitely Could be...

More moose signs to come! Promise!

Meatballs!!!

This weekend I went hiking up by Priest Lake with A and K. K is a girl from work that I haven't hung out with before, but she is a lot of fun. After our hike we went to A's house for a dinner party. A- your meatballs rock! And...brownies are just as good with pancake batter.

Giddy Up!

Oh the joys of online dating. Lately I have been experiencing a serious of coincidences which honestly are quite funny. First, a guy emails me that sounds wonderful...one problem, I know him we have met before, and no way is that going to happen. He actually worked with my mom and best friend. Then I am casually chatting with another guy and find out he is sort of friends with C. That won't work for obvious reasons. Finally, C has been dating a girl that is an ex of a guy I am hoping to meet. Could things possibly get more twisted? Can you imagine that double date!!! I think I need to do something nice for someone so that I can improve my dating karma. Oh well... I see dating as more of an adventure, so I am getting some great stories. Here's to more great adventures and getting back in the saddle again!

Signs your in Idaho!

Online Dating

Many of you know that I have been trying the online dating thing. So..I keep getting matched with C and D in the emails they automatically send out, two guys I have already gone out with and am now friends with. Well, today I did a search, put in all the criteria I was looking for and who pops up? In first position C, in second position D. Geesh, what's a girl got to do to get a little variety around here, something new would be good. Stupid Match!

Ahhh...weekends.

This was another great weekend. I went to my cousin's baby shower, chowed down pizza with my friend S and even got a little hike in. Here are a couple pictures from the hike.

The Results Are In

The top 3 reasons I am always the "friend" and never the "lover" are:

1) I haven't found the right guy yet
2) Guys don't recognize a good thing when they see one
and lastly....my personal favorite...
3) I am too nice, I should be more of a bitch! (Thank you S for your vote here!!!)

Okay...so I might have rigged the survey a little by sending it to my girlfriends, but...I feel better, so I don't care.

Thanks Ladies!!!

My House is Possessed

There are some very strange electrical issues going on with my house. Last night I noticed that my bathroom light switch was turning the fan on and off that is over my washer and dryer. This morning if I turned one light on another would go dim. I tried to use my hair dryer and that really drained the system, don't even ask about my straightener. I ended up blow drying my hair in the kitchen. I also noticed that the fan timer in my bathroom is running even though the timer is off (tick, tick, tick). As I was about to leave the house I hear a dripping noise and realized it was my freezer. I think there isn't enough juice to run my refrigerator. Watch, I will get home tonight and my freezer will have defrosted and spilled out all over my floors. I did go and reset breakers (which didn't seem to help). There is definitely something else going on. I will have my electrician look at it on Monday.

3rd Opinion

Today I saw one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in town to get a 3rd opinion on my ankle. Luckily the 3rd opinion matched my 2nd, so now I feel more confident in my decision to have surgury. I guess the next step is to actually get the surgury scheduled. Ughh!!! The good news is he see's no reason why I won't be skiing this winter!!!

Stupid Girl

On Sunday I decided to go for a hike. I picked a trail suggested by my "Best Hikes with Dogs" book. I didn't end up hiking that trail because the directions in the book were so poor I never did find the trail head. Instead, I saw a trail called Wylie Knob Trail and decided to give it a try, not knowing anything about the trail. The trail was nice and wide and there was only one other car at the trail head so I felt comfortable letting Kona run off leash.

The problem with hiking a trail you know nothing about is:

1) you have no idea what the destination is if there even is one. Is it a view, lake, more trail...

2) you have no idea how long the trail is

3) you have no idea how much elevation the trail gains

4) etc...

So here I am hiking along a beautiful trail with no idea where I am going and how long it will take me to get there. I kept telling myself "if I quite now I might miss the big finale", not that I would know what the "finale" is if I saw it. After following the trail for 2.5 hours uphill (there was literally no downhill sections), I reached an area that I decided was a good place to turn around. I can only hope it was Wylie Knob, or something close to it. The views from the top were amazing. Along the way I saw elk, huckleberries, bear poop (luckily it was cold, yes, I felt it to make sure) and amazing fall colors. Kona had a blast and stayed close.

By the time I turned around I was pretty anxious to get back to my car. The weather looked pretty iffy and the light seemed to be fading fast. I still had a 1.5 hour descent to do. Instantly I knew it was not going to be fun. My IT bands and hip flexors were so tight. Anyways...lets just say I haven't been so happy to see my car in a really really long time. It was all I could do to lift my legs into the car. (Today I can hardly move!!!)

All in all I am happy I did the hike. But I still ask myself..."Am I being a stupid girl to go out there by myself?" Then again...what alternative do I have...sitting on the couch...NO THANK YOU!

If You Forget Me

If You Forget Me

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Pablo Neruda

Puppy Poo and Spider Goo!

***Warning- this post is not for individuals with a weak stomach. ***

Last night I got home with every intention of cleaning up my house. However, I did not expect to start with Kona's kennel. Poor Kona, I let her have a rawhide chew and apparently it blocked her up. There was puppy puke and poo everywhere!!! And I do mean everywhere, poo was dripping down the wall onto the carpet. LOVELY!!! After cleaning up that whole debacle I did get around to the rest of the house.

As we start to move into the cooler weather all the little outside creepy crawlies try to weasel their way inside. What this means is that my house has been invaded by hobo spiders. Last year I sprayed around my house so that they wouldn't come in, but I haven't gotten around to it this year (guess what I will be doing this weekend!). Anyways.....I smashed a few yesterday thinking I would just come back around and vacuum them up. Unfortunately, hobo spiders are so big that they ooze sticky guts all over the place when you squash them with a Puma. Maybe I was a little zealous with my squashing technique. Let's just say the whole "sucking them up with a vacuum" idea didn't work so well. Must spray soon!!!

Vote Vote Vote

Okay...so there is a double meaning in that title. I hope that everyone I know (esp. the dems) will get out and vote this election season. But I also hope you will take a minute to vote on the little survey question I have posted to the left. I think is a question we have all asked ourselves at some point in time. Maybe I am grasping for a little ego boost!

What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up

Ever so often I go through a stage when I wonder "what do I want to be when I grow up". For the last eight years or so my answer has been a college professor. So....why am I not going for it? If that is really what I want to be, why am I not taking steps to make that happen. Sure there is the fear of leaving a nice cushy corporate job and taking a pay cut, but really, it isn't like I couldn't rejoin the corporate world if I wanted to. I could always do a few consulting jobs on the side if I wanted to make a little extra cash. So...I have requested some information from schools that offer a PH.D in marketing. Let's see where this leads....

Bigger Connection

Today I had to write one of those emails. The "there are no sparks", "let's just be friends", "there isn't that bigger connection" kind of email. Usually I am on the receiving end of these emails, so it was strange writing one to someone else. After going out with this guy 2 times, I realized two things; 1) I already have found that person that I want to "connect" with at this particular time, 2) I need a break from this whole crazy dating thing.

Even though I know C is not ready for any kind of a commitment and is not in a good place right now, he is still the one that I want to hang out with. The whole time I was out with this other guy I kept thinking "I wish I was doing this with C". I can't change how I feel. So...what's a girl to do? I think I will just chill out and hang out casually with C. Even no commitment, hanging out as "friends" with C is better than faking it with any other guy.

I fear that I will one day get the "bigger connection" email from C. Has this maverick truly ruined all other men for me? I guess time will tell.

Last Night

Last night I had such a great time with C. We took the dogs for a walk and then went sailing. We laughed, joked around, and had a nice relaxing time.

Concerts I Have Seen

Nelson (After the Rain)
Everclear (Sparkle and Fade)
Soul Coughing
Redman
DJ Spooky
Matchbox Twenty (Yourself or Someone Like You) and some horrible act that opened for them, I think I blocked it out.
HoneyHoney
Matt Nathanson
Lifehouse
Leroy Bell
Johnny Lang
Los Lonely Boys
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Jackie Greene
David Gray
Little River Band
Emmy Lou Harris
REO Speedwagon
STYX
Def Leppard
Smokey Robinson with Chic Gamine
Brett Dennen
Donavon Frankenreiter
Richie Furay
Marshall Tucker Band
Pure Prairie League
Chic Gamine
Tracy Lawrence
Chris Cagle
Cheap Trick (3rd row seats)
Heart (3rd row seats)
Journey (3rd row seats)
Shows:
South Pacific
Phantom of the Opera (On Broadway)
Rent (On Broadway)
The Producers (On Broadway)
Varekai (In NYC)

To Mike,

To Mike,

Why can't they both just get over their hang up and realize how amazing we are (you know it's true), fall madly in love, and we could all live happily ever after.

Hugs,
Your ex-roomie

Nice Guys....

What is it about women that makes us want that "bad boy" so desperately. I met a very nice man* the other night, he has followed up with texts, phone calls, and has asked me out on another date (I said yes). So why is it when I get off the phone from having a great conversation with this fellow that I just want to be wrapped up in the arms of C. (Ladies you know the kind of snuggle I am talking about. The one where his arm in the pillow in the crook of your neck and he other arm wraps around so you are in a full spoon/hug cuddle.

I am not saying that C is a "bad boy", actually he is one of the good guys but has the daring edge that is exciting, addictive and oh so hot...(fanning self now). Why am I drawn to the guy with major issues? I know I can't "fix" him. I know he may never develop that "chemistry" with me, but that doesn't stop the desire for a miracle to happen. Are we, as women, somehow wired to try to take care of the bird with the wounded wing?

Geesh, why can't the heart and head be on the same page?

*nice man's name also starts with a C, hmmmm...this could make blogging difficult.

3 Doors Down

Funny how you can listen to songs and sometimes they seem to fit your life perfectly. Here are some quotes from 3 Doors Down that really seem to fit me right now.

"I'm tired and I'm sick of waiting maybe I'll die alone, cause I can't take another damn day of waiting here for you to come."

"You hide behind your walls of maybes and nevers, forgetting that there's something more that just knowing better. Your mistakes do not define you know they tell you who your not. Got to live this life your given like it's the only one you got."

"I think I walked to close to love and now I'm falling in."

"You say, I think I'm better off alone these days."

Kona Lounging

Doesn't she just look like trouble!

Meeting Someone New

Tonight I am meeting someone new. I don't really want to, but EVERYONE keeps telling me it is what I need to do. Last time I didn't listen to what "everyone" was saying I ended up staying in a relationship about 5 years longer than I should have. So, I will go out to dinner, smile, laugh, and try to give him a chance.

I am sure he won't ski like you, kayak like you, hike like you, have a dog like you, make stir fry like you, sail like you, have crab toes like you, make whoopee like you, cuddle up like you, sing like you...but I will try to give him a chance.

Red Shoes

I can't find my little red shoes. I looked all over this morning and couldn't find them. Mom gave me these shoes for being supportive when her mother died. They have a special place in my heart, I hope I find them soon.

Heart Rant

I was looking forward to this last weekend with great anticipation. After being told that I can't hang out at your place because my dog is "too crazy", I wanted to spend some time with you. Last week I traveled to Denver and back to do focus groups and I was so exhausted from the prep work and the travel that I just wanted to kick back, relax, and enjoy your company. We were planning on taking the boat out on the lake for the weekend. I was hoping you were excited for the weekend too, but...you showed up almost two hours late. I guess laundry and lesson plans took precedence. I understand that we all have stuff that we need to get done, but let me know ahead of time instead of making me wait.

And when I asked if I should bring my bike along, I was asking to see if you were going to bring yours. When you said yes, I loaded my bike on my car by myself which is not an easy task. It involves a step stool and very careful balancing and straining. (I even had between boob sweat) I lift weights for exercises, I don't need to practice loading and unloading my bike. Plus, it always seems like one of my nosey neighbors is out watching me when I try to do these sort of things. Did I mention I am not a graceful person.

What a way to start off the weekend:
I was grumpy
You were grumpy
The dogs were nuts
The dingy line was wrapped in the propeller (somehow my fault)
We lost the dingy
We didn't get to go where we wanted to go (had my heart set on Whiskey Rock)
The waves were crazy
We didn't sleep
I shared my pillow with Monte
We sailed a little
You were more interested in talking to the other boaters than to me
I felt distant and like a third wheel
I practically begged for some action and got totally shut down
We wanted to go for a hike...the dogs rolled in poo so we had to turn back
I finally realized that we have no future together...yes, I know I was a little slow on the up take
For you it is good news because you can always hook up with "someone 10 years younger 5 years from now"...ten years from now I could be a dried up old maid that no man wants (why would he when he can find a girl ten years his junior?)

And then...you say.... "want to hang out Thursday?"

I know this is pessimistic, but I am usually little miss sunshine all the time, so I am entitled to feel this type of bull ever so often. Maybe I want to wallow in a little self pity for a while too. Chances are that I will get over it sooner rather than later. Maybe I am a little nuts, maybe it is the full moon.

The part that hurts the most is that I still want to hang out with you and be with you, but I can see you are drifting farther away.

I know I deserve something...better

What am I doing? I feel like I am chasing the end of the rainbow but we all know there is nothing there. I am so tired of always being the supportive one, the good listener, the good "friend". Where is the romance, the excitement, the love? What looks like a good match on paper is not always a match with the heart.

I really feel like I missed the boat, that I am too old now and it is never going to happen. Am I destined to be an old maid? I wish I could look ahead and just know if that was going to be the path for my life. Then I could just accept my fate and deal with it, instead of always hoping something/someone will come along.

I hate obsessing about this... Why does it seem that everyone around me has someone and I have no one.

3rd Opinion

I got a second opinion on my ankle and received a totally different diagnosis from the first doctor...so....now I am going to get a 3rd opinion. Since I seem to have a bone issue I have decided to go see an orthopedic surgeon. Novel idea, I know. I should have more news on October 8th. I can slowly see my ski season melting away.

I am so sorry

Dear Kona,

I am so sorry for any permanent damage I have done to your self esteem. At the time it seemed like a good idea when I told the groomer to just clip you like a poodle. I promise I will never do it again.

Love,
Mom

Pooped Pup

Yesterday I went hiking with C. It was a great hike; we found huckleberries and an amazing view. The trail had lots of ups and downs which gave me quite a workout (I have been slacking lately). We took our dogs along for the hike. Kona has been giving me a run for my money (I think she is a rebellious teenager) so I decided to make her wear her backpack and carry our snacks and her water. I definitely had one pooped pup on my hands. After we got back from the hike she nestled into the end of the couch and slept for hours. Actually she stayed there all night. This morning when I got up she was still on the couch. She is all curled up and looks really pathetic. Don't worry she did get up and eat and poop. I am thinking maybe she might have overdone it just a bit.

High and Low

He likes me, he says (does he mean it)
Let's be together!
He is empty and hollow inside
He is not ready
Am I really this stupid?

Cow Girl

Okay, I will admit it. I have sort of had a crush on Chris Cagle for years. He has been on my list of "artist to see in concert" for years. Those of you that know me know that it is very strange for me to have a celbrity crush. After all, celebrities are famous because of regular old people like you and me. Anyways.... Chris had that typical stocky body type that I like and an amazing voice...so...what is not to like?

On Wednesday I went to Walla Walla with my parents (yes I am 30, but I still have fun with Mom and Dad) to see Chris Cagle and Tracy Lawrence in concert. Both artists sounded exactly like their albums, had great stage presence, and overall gave an amazing show. Even Mom and Dad liked the concert. I sang along to every song (careful not to be too loud so that the people in front of me didn't have to listen to my stellar singing voice) and even danced in my seat.

The only downer was the guy and gall in a rhinestone cowboy hat a few rows in front of us that refused to sit down. Let's just say the guy made a better door than a window. Finally we got so annoyed we had security ask them to sit down. They finally did sit down after standing through one more song just to prove that they had free will (or some other lame @ss point they were trying to prove- maybe their lack of intelligence).

So...one more goal check off my list of things to see in my life.

Rocky Mountian High

Crested Butte
Yule Pass
Almost running out of gas
Meeting your sis
A sunny place for shady people- Eldo
Cranberry Vodka (3 or 4)
Shower Time
Moab
Big Dipper
Full Moon
Kayaking (laughing through the rapids)
Spending time with you!

Doh! I didn't see this coming.

So...I went to the podiatrist yesterday because my ankle has been bothering me for about 5 months. I know, I know...I should have gone in sooner. After being poked, prodded, and x-rayed. The doc drops a bomb. I need surgery. Suddenly they are coming at me with a gigantic black walking cast. Whoa!!!

"I am going hiking in Colorado next week."

The doc looks at me sympathetically. I am downgraded to an ankle brace. (Which by the way seems to make my ankle hurt more).

Apparently I have some extra bone in my ankle and at some point I injured it and now I have bone rubbing on bone. (Don't worry Mom, I didn't mention that it is a birth defect/genetic defect). For some reason it hurts more now that I know what is wrong, I am sure it is all in my head. I have a CAT scan on the 22nd and I am getting a second opinion on the 25th.

:o( I want to be running, playing, hiking, working out, doing my footwork during pilates. Super Sad. My only hope is that I will be put back together in time for ski season.

Perfectly Framed

The big dipper
My bedroom window
Last night.

The Ultimate Sin

I did it, twice, and I am not proud..... I went to Wally World. The first time was out of necessity. My cat was completely out of cat food and Wal-Mart was the only place in town that carried her specific type of cat food. Normally I would have just switched foods, but my can has very specific digestive concerns (see some earlier blogs about my constipated cat). I considered driving to CDA to pick up some food, but thought the price of driving there and back just wouldn't make sense.

The second time I went to buy an atlas. You just can't get an altas cheaper. Plus....and here is the kicker...they have a Wal-Mart/Sam's Club directory in them. Doesn't that make you want it more.

OMG...I have sunk so low.

Lace Undies

I keep bragging about how good my puppy is. She turned one last month and has really been making some huge behavioral strides. I often let her sleep at night outside of her kennel and she doesn't even destroy anything. In the mornings when I call her in from the yard she goes right into her kennel (I am so proud). And, she is becoming quite the little swimmer. But, ever so often she reminds me that she is still a puppy. Last night I look out in the yard and she is prancing around with a pair of my lace thongs hanging out of her mouth. As soon as I step out of the door she takes off, so pleased that she has evoked a game of "catch me if you can". As I am stomping around the yard shouting "bad dog, drop", "sit", "come" and other not so nice phrases I won't repeat in this blog, I realize that one of my sandals is laying in the middle of the yard. Hmmmm, wonder how that got there?

Weight

I have been really trying to get in shape. I always thought I would do it before I turned 30, but it seems that instead I am doing it while I am 30. This last week I made it down to the weight I was in college. I am still 15 lbs heavier than I want to be, but it was a little milestone. Plus, I feel like I am actually getting strong again. I bench pressed 90 lbs for 8 reps. I think I can definitely do more next time.

Lawn Mower Update

So my dad told me to tap on the carburetor with a screw driver so that maybe something would break loose and my lawn mower would start. So.....I got my hammer (bigger is always better, right?) and tapped on every piece of my lawn mower. I have no idea what the carburetor looks like, but by hitting everything I figured I covered my bases...... and....... drum roll please............................It started right up! Am I handy or what?

Beautiful!!!

If you have ever been to Banff you know how amazing it is. If you haven't been, you should go as soon as possible. I had such an amazing weekend up there. I can't wait to go back. There is so much to do and see.... I would even like to go skiing up there this winter!

Broken Rant

Sometimes things can get a little overwhelming as a single gal that owns a home. This has especially been the case lately. Why is it when funds are low that everything seems to break and they are never small ticket items either. Not to mention the list of things to get done never seems to get any shorter.

Broken things:

• my computer died- good thing I just moved all my itunes to an external hard drive
• my lawn mower won't start- I just spend $70 to have it fixed (the guy said there was nothing wrong so I am not sure why that cost $70). I am sure it has something to do with the little red button I am suppose to push 5 to 10 times to get it started. No doubt I flooded the damn thing. How am I suppose to get it un-flooded.
• my light on my living room fan won't turn on anymore
• the secondary soap dispenser in my dish washer won't close anymore- probably has something to do with the piece of plastic that broke off. I still fill it up thought, more soap can't be a bad thing, right?
• the ice maker connection for my freezer that taps into my guest bathroom cold water line leaks, so I have had the cold water turned off on that sink for 8 months of so
• the maintenance light is on in my car, but it seems to be okay (I just drove it to Banff and back) so I am going to act like nothing is wrong. I am hoping it is a 50,000 mile maintenance reminder.

Things to get done:

• create a patio- I have all the pavers, just need to order sand, gravel and rent compactor. $$$
• redo my bathroom shower- it isn't actually connected to the drain, right now it is a great storage area for my lotions and jewelry. $$$
• gravel driveway- right now it is a mess of weeds. $$$
• have my kitchen lights installed that have been sitting in my garage
• take ugly sheds to the dump- the wind tore off the door on one of the sheds last night so now I have a little less demoing to do
• weed and feed lawn
• put mulch on flowerbeds. $
• create paver pathway around house (see first bullet)
• spray for spiders
• shampoo carpets
• figure out how to put the kayak rack on my car so that I can use my kayak
• CLEAN HOUSE!!!

So...with all these things to do and get done. I think I will take Kona down to dog beach tonight and let her go for a swim. Nothing sounds better than getting out of the house and avoiding the whole horrid situation!

Watch Out Banff, Here I Come!!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Even though I know, I didn't want to see it

You have to love the power of Internet. You can keep in touch with your friends and also checkout who they are friends with.... It is the perfect voyeur tool. For example, let's say you are quasi dating someone, there isn't a commitment and you are able to see other people, but you do like the person. Which means in turn they are able to see other people too...now with the power of the Internet you can come face to face with "the other people". Isn't that fun!!! NOT!!!

Lost Swamp Hike

Last weekend was a lot of fun.

On Saturday I went to A's house to plan our 4th of July trip to Banff. I am so excited, can't wait.

On Sunday I decided to go for a hike at Lost Lake and Mineral Pt. On the way up there I saw a brand new baby fawn, such a cutie. I fear that it may not be the best example of "survival of the fittest" since it was meandering down the middle of the road.

Both hikes were lovely, but the mosquitoes were vicious at Lost Lake. It is not surprising that the mosquitoes were bad because Lost Lake is more like a swamp. The wild flowers were in full bloom and were quite picturesque

Mineral Pt. was a lot of fun. The trail has great views of the lake and dumps you out at a campground on the shore. Kona went swimming for real for the first time and I was such a proud puppy parent. She couldn't get enough and of course was so cute while she was swimming.

On the way home I got stuck behind a car that was parked right in the middle of the road. I couldn't go right or left to pass the car. I had my windows rolled down because it was stinking hot, and so did the couple in the car in front of me. Apparently they were having a really good time...let's just say that girl has a set of lungs on her. So...what do you do? I waited until I didn't hear the girl anymore and then gave a friendly beep beep. After all, a little frolicking in the woods is something we all enjoy.

Thanks for an Amazing Weekend!

Thank you for:

1. putting up with a first mate that knows nothing about sailing (yikes!)

2. putting up with my crazy dog

3. hiking

4. laughing

5. relaxing

6. listening to the sounds of the evening, laying by the fire under the stars...

7. s'mores

8. cooking breakfast and dinner

9. not getting too mad when I dumped rice in the dingy (personally I would use this one against me for a long time)

10. listening to car talk

11. being you and letting me be me

12. trying to teach me cribbage

13. being honest with me

I wish you luck in everything you do. Secretly I hope that you will not be moving next year, but I know it would probably be the best thing for you. And as a friend, I want what is best for you. If only you could leave a clone behind...

Loss

Mom,

Happy Mother's Day. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that this holiday will cause you. I don't blame you for getting away and wanting to be out of town. I wish that you could talk to your Mom one last time. I wish I could take away your pain.

Your loss reminds me how thankful I am for everyday that I have with you.

I love you!

Love,
Me

Right Now

Leave it to me to find a great guy that likes to do the same activities I do, that is funny, attractive, and a real sweetie...only one problem, he is going through one of the toughest times in his life.

How can he deal with the death of a life vision and still want to hang out with a new girl? Am I doing more harm to him than good? What happens when he wakes up and realizes that he was not being true to himself, but just trying to fill a space? I know that day will come.

Oh well...life is about the journey, not the end destination. So I choose to live in the "right now". Right now I like spending time with him; I like hiking, sailing, playing with the dogs, talking, watching movies, etc... Right now I am not disillusioned that "right now" might end in the very next moment. I will understand 100% when that next moment comes. I will send him on his way with a friendly smile and try to think about what to do in my next moment.

It isn't me

Thank you to "S" for reassuring me that:
I make stuff up
I am 100% normal
It is you, not me
And other things I should have printed on tee-shirts.

Also, thank you to her hubby for providing a male perspective that supported our sentiments.

Just Call Me Grace. Klutzy Moments

Lately I have been having a lot of Klutzy Moment and Injuries so I thought I would document them.
1. Hit myself in the face with my car door
2. Dog jumped off couch and hit my face with her head
3. Threw up and broke all the capillaries in my face
4. Almost got tripped my a waiter
5. Almost had my chair leg fall off a stage
6. The normal graceful moments at the gym that involve me losing my balance
7. Dog smashed her head into my nose.
8. Put a french fry right out of the oven in my mouth and got it stuck between my gum and cheek and made a narly blister on both! AWESOME!

More to come!

Glasses

Yesterday I went to the eye doctor and decided that it was time for me to get glasses to help me when I am reading, sewing, working on the computer, etc... so basically 50% of my daily life. It is official; I am 30 and need glasses! I never thought this day would come.

To my cousin J....I am joining you in the over 30 naughty librarian club!

It came down to two frames, tortoise shell or something totally different. I chose totally different.

In My Mind

In my mind I am on a tropical vacation with a frothy iced drink in my hand and a hot guy by my side.

In my mind it isn't snowing it is just really cold rain.

In my mind my shoulders aren't sore from shoveling.

I need some fun in the sun!!!!

Enough already!

Lusting after...

This Weekend.

This weekend I will conquer the mountain! I will make it up to the slopes and get my ski legs back. Can't wait. This is so long overdue. Wish me luck.

Aren't we cute? 30 and 7 months

It is time

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3 days left!

Until I am 30! Where does the time go? I am so thankful for everything in my life. I have been so lucky. Here's to the next 30!

May I leap with out looking
Take the road less traveled
Take chances
Make memories
Keep my family and friends close
Be happy
(Age gracefully!!!)