On summer:

A great ski season never ends. It just hibernates in your mind until the lifts reopen.

Morning stroll

*I laugh as I type this post....

This morning I woke early, excited to be alive and happy. I followed my normal 15 minute ritual of putting my bike clothes on and went upstairs and packed my lunch in my commuting bag. "Time to hit the pavement", I thought with a smile as I walked out of the front door and closed it behind me. "SHIT!" I thought, my hand still clutching the door I had just closed..."My keys are in the basement." Directly translated that meant I couldn't drive my car, the key is in the basement AND I couldn't get my bike out of the locked garage, the key is in the basement. With no time to waste and a beautiful, sunny, warm morning in front of me I decided to walk to work. A small feat I suggested to myself. After all, I can ride my bike there in 10 minutes, how horrible of a walk could it possibly be? About a block from my house I realized that cycling shoes posses no "walking" qualities at all. 4 blocks later I took them off and resolved to walk barefoot the rest of the way to the office, 3.5 miles is not that far. 3 miles later I could feel blisters the size of quarters forming on the ball of my foot but I was almost to the office. Alas, I arrived at the office only 10 minutes late for work, with no less than 10 brand new blisters on my feet. It was still an adventure, a fun experience and definitely something to laugh about.

If I hadn't walked to work this morning the following would not have been experienced:
-I wouldn't have spent an entire hour outside in the quiet hours of the morning just enjoying the feeling of being.
-I wouldn't have breathed so much fresh air.
-I would still have all those calories I burned.
-The people of East Ogden would not have had the pleasure of seeing some lady in bare feet and tights walking down the street at 7am.
-I wouldn't have had the opportunity to have my own personal dance party while walking down 20th while I waited for Gracie to answer her phone.
- I wouldn't know how long it takes to walk to work from the Eastest part of Ogden.
-I wouldn't have had so many deep belly laughs so early in the morning.
-I wouldn't have this story to tell.

Winter homes and summer homes

I fear I may be a person of Summer homes and Winter homes. In the winter I'm happy only in Ogden and skiing at Snowbasin. It's always been that way. I rarely miss a day on the mountain...of the days I'm not working, that is. I enjoy the people I get to ski with and associate with, those that for some reason I only see on the mountain each year. It's a blast knowing all the fun places, where the big jumps are, the deep powder, the fast groomers. It's comforting and peaceful to reflect on memories of past ski seasons there, making wonderful friends, improving my skiing, drinking good beer....yes, I will want to be there next winter. But in the summer something comes over me....I miss Salt Lake. I long for the culture there. I miss the eclectic style of Sugarhouse. I miss the coffee shops and their atmosphere, the people you meet there. I miss the HUGE bicycle commuting cult that exists there, Ogden has a few but it's just different. And sure there are coffee shops in Ogden, but they're different too.

Maybe someday I'll have Salt Lake in the summer and Ogden in the winter, but for now I'll stay in Ogden.

Into the Wild-in cinema

I was struck by the book, couldn't shake it from my mind, and kept thinking of the story and the boy. I suggested to Jaymee and Bryce as we tried to decide on a movie that we rent "Into the Wild". The movie was entertaining, accurate, and didn't embellish the story with fiction. The actor portrayed Chris McCandless very well. I am happy I had read the book before watching the movie, it filled in holes that I may not have otherwise known were "holes". Another recommendation although I will stick to it, I recommend first reading the book.

Into the Wild

This weekend I read "Into the Wild" by: John Krakauer. Wow...I fail to find adequate words to describe this book, the story of Chris McCandless. If you have read it you probably understand. Chris was only 24 years old when he died of starvation on a dilapidated bus in the Alaska bush. I can relate to many of his desires and thirsts for adventure, although I hope when I set out on my adventures I am better prepared than he. There are mixed reviews on McCandless's "Alaskan Odyssey" (as he referred to it). Some consider him a hero others believe he died needlessly and carelessly by his ill preparation. Regardless of his fatal demise I admire his sense of adventure and his will to abandon an abundant wealth in search of that adventure and nature-given peace. It needs a little more thought but I am considering adding the trek to bus 142 to my Alaska Adventure. From what I understand it is near Mount McKinley which is a certainty on the "Alaska to-do list".

I highly recommend this read, it is very good and interesting regardless of how you view Chris's adventure. I read the 224 page book in 24 hours, unable to put it down.

"It's not a letter song"....and other things kids say:

Today while visiting a friend I got quite the giggle out of her two children, ages 4 and 2. The 4 year old in preparation for a concert was looking for someone to play the horn while she played the piano (the horn was plastic albeit a horn nonetheless). When her father volunteered to play the horn he asked, "In what key are we playing? B, C, D?" "Tell him A." Her mother lamented. At that point the toddler yelled at all of us in deep frustration, "THIS IS NOT A LETTER SONG, YOU GUYS!!!" Very funny.

Shortly after the concert experience the 2 year old was demonstrating his funny habit of spontaneous prayer. As he prayed we all crossed our arms while listening to his prayer, when he paused I peeked open one eye, just in time to see the dog making love to a human leg....naturally I giggled...the prayer was still in a pause. At my giggle their mother opened her eyes to see the same sight and appalled said aloud, "oh my gosh." The child, who I think may have been seeking a prompt from his mother to continue the prayer repeated his mothers words with his eyes still closed and arms still crossed, "Oh my gosh. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Kids are funny, really funny.

Fire and Rain

It's Friday night and as I sit in the dining room I reflect. Reflect on last weekend, on the past week, on my life. I'm listening to the fire as I'm encircled by its warmth while outside I hear the rain fall on the concrete through the open door. These are the finer moments in life. The times when I can sit back, draw on wonderful memories and enjoy the peace inside my home, the feeling of warmth and goodness that fill these walls. I am happy to be here. I'm happy to be right here in this chair inside this house, but I'm also happy to be "here", to be at this particular point in my life, my journey, my adventure.

Today was good. I was sleepy, had a hard time keeping my eyelids up and focusing on work, but I made it. I made it because I took small detours throughout my work. Small detours to dream, dream of many things I will accomplish in my lifetime. I thought about Alaska and read the blog of a PA who had worked in Bethel, where Dawn was last August. She had amazing adventures there, I will go one day. I hope to see a bear in Alaska. Another detour was my shopping quest for a flight to Ohio in the summer months. I think I found a winner, good price, dates, and times. I'm very much looking forward to that trip. I detoured to the weather channel's website. Upon inspection of the weekend weather conditions I was expectantly disappointed. Rain, clouds, and cold all weekend. I got used to the summer conditions we were privledged with this week, they are gone now, for but a moment I am sure. I will still ride my bike this weekend. I want to and I should. Round trip to Layton, that is a good distance. And a small rest after last weekend's 57 miles. I also detoured to much loved blogs, the always enjoyed daily health updates, giggled at the Mexico adventures of my BFF, and others.

There are good things in my life and I am surrounded by positive beauty no matter which direction I look. For that I am happy. I'm glad this is mine. My life, my adventure, my dream, my world. Good night for now, I must go...an Alaska documentary is waiting.

Marvelous Moab

Today was Moab and it was spectacular. I rose before the sun with frozen feet. Instead of lay around and waste precious time here while waiting for the others to rise I took a spin into town. Surprising amounts of activity at 6:30am. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the feeling, the people, their pets, and watching sun's good morning greeting.

After a few games of life-size chess and checkers and eating breakfast I set out on the "big ride". Today's goal was 50 miles.

First I rode the scenic byway that runs along the Colorado River. Beautiful road, rocks, river, beautiful everything. After 30 miles of that I headed out to Arches National Park...the part I had anxiously been waiting for. In Arches I rode 26 more miles, talked with a fellow biker as we rode, pondered the goodness of people and the purity of souls, met a really cool guy named Lee (he is currently living my dream), hiked Delicate Arch,

had a couple shots of Fireball at the top, and I swear Ansel Adams was up there (that is in no way related to the Fireball).

*Ansel Adams?

Tomorrow will bring more hikes in Arches and I very much look forward to that. For now my legs are screaming, hips are aching, and hands are cold...Marmot Eco-Lite and I are gonna get cozy! Good night Moab.

Random Friday Thoughts

Today there are several things on my mind. First is the excitement for my weekend trip to Moab and Arches National Park...leaving in 4 hours and 33 minutes...but who's counting? I'm looking forward to a weekend with nature, sleeping under the stars and cycling in the midst of redrock beauty. I'm looking forward to hiking to Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch...I'm eager to experience that feeling you have when you first step around the rock wall to see Delicate, to feel it. That place is alive. I'm eager to take Edna, to experience it all from the saddle of a bike, slowly, quitely, peacefully, happily.

Today I'm thinking a lot of a loved one, a cherished one who is en route to Nigeria today. For two weeks she will give selflessly to the people there and I greatly admire her for that. In my thoughts of her I have realized how much love there is in my life. There is more now than possibly ever before. I believe the root of it is that I am truly learning to love myself and that is where it has to start; there is not shortcut, no way around that. In loving myself and clearing my heart and mind of "junk" there is more room for others. My soul is rich.

Today I am filled to the brim with love. Love for life and love for the people in my life. Today I will bask in the joy of what I have, of who I am and who I am becoming. I have a lot and as I said before, my soul is truly rich. Because I am full today I feel the need to "say what I need to say".

"Say"

By: John Mayer

Have no fear for giving in

Have no fear for giving over

You better know that in the end

It's better to say too much

Than never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking

And you faith is broken

Even as the eyes are closing

Do it with a heart wide open

A wide heart

Say what you need to say

Tonight I must choose....

Tonight I have been challenged by emotions. Shaken once again by the reality that I am human and feelings other than joy and happiness do exist in my world.

Words from a song by Waking Ashland have been in my head all evening:

"I see two roads ahead of you,
One is wide, the other is narrow and long,
Which is the one you'll choose?"

Morning thought...

I love words. On my 45 minute commute to work today as I watched the sun rise I looked at the mountains and pondered words that describe their majesty, their beauty, their splendor. I came up with some very powerful and beautiful words. I absolutely love words.

On the contrary I believe that in our culture there are a great many words that are overused and have lost their power because we tend to be dramatic in our conversations with one another. Here are a few that come to mind:

Crisis (who isn't in a crisis these days?)
Love (we throw this very important word at anything we like or enjoy)
Epic (Dude! I had the most "epic" day on the mountain.)

These are all that come to mind at the moment. There are more, many more. This is a bit of a random thought, but it's what I have been pondering this morning...it's the writer in me, and maybe a little bit of the "be betterer" in me too.

One ski season older...

Today...Sunday, April 12, 2009 was the last day of my 2008-2009 ski season. Today there have been bittersweet emotions.


Bitter because:
My skis will rest peacefully for the next seven months, I have no valid reason to wake up every Saturday and Sunday morning at 6:30, I will miss my ski friends whom I only get to see on the mountain, I will miss the cleansing power of the cold winter air and the purifying gift of the white fluffies that fall by the foot in the winter months.


Sweet because:
Spring is in the air, I will trade my bright pink ski pants for padded cycling spandex, my goggle tan will fade but my cycling tan will be dark and attractive (please insert sarcasm *here*), this summer is chock full of amazing adventures: my first century (100 mile bike ride), Ohio, Landmark, Colorado Springs, Moab, Lagbrau, my birthday week...truly the summer adventures are ENDLESS!

Jaymee sent the year out with this kick ass grab off of the Strawberry Traverse cat track. Lookin' stellar Morgano.

A Hugh Prather Quote for today:

"There is a place within us where we can touch the changeless and beautiful, a place where our real self is experienced in peace. This self does not have to be periodically vented, defragmented, or even defined. In gentleness and ease it is clearly seen, and everything about it is familiar-because this self is consistently whole."

-Hugh Prather

Back to goals...

Several weeks ago I wrote about achieving my goals. The first goal I wrote about was Alaska. Today I have spent many moments in thought about another of my dreams....New Zealand.

My love for New Zealand was born while working at Backcountry.com. In a gear clinic I learned about Merino Sheep and the sustainability mindset in the Merino Wool industry (which is very prominent in New Zealand). In interest of this subject I studied more of New Zealand...it's culture, agriculture, government, landscape and perhaps my favorite the people of New Zealand. My dream for New Zealand is to backpack and climb while there. I very much look forward to going there.

Much accomplished

Today has been a great day with much accomplished. Sleeping in and being fully rested. Distance cycling to train and prepare for the century which also cleared my head and mind. Taking my first spill on Edna for the year. Taking a nap (just in case sleeping in until 10 wasn't rest enough). Cleaning the house to prepare for the return of its owners. Washing loads of laundry. Hearing the voices and travel adventures of those that I love....and missing them a lot. Spending long enough in the hot tub to wrinkle and read 100 pages of "Letting Go". Eventually showering. Grocery shopping, cooking dinner, blogging, watching Planet Earth, talking to Bryce on the phone and hearing about today's race. Eating frozen pizza. It's been a really good day.

Lastest choice in reading material...

Sunday night I finished Dave Pelzer's book titled "Help Yourself". It was wonderful and inspiring. Just after I began reading Dave's book I received Hugh Prather's book titled "The Little Book of Letting Go". I have been very anxious to finish Dave's book in order to start reading this Hugh Prather book. I started "Letting Go" on Monday and it was deserving of the anticipation upon which I waited for it. This book is more than fantastic. Already I have read about and learned principles to help attain a clear head and mind. I can't say enough of the many tools that are in this book.

It talks much about worry in the first few chapters. How useless and pointless worry is, how it doesn't change the outcome of any situation yet we all (every one of us) waste our precious time and lose positive energy on worry. We'll worry about anything, even other people's problems. Worry is a waste.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, anyone who has an interest in being clear, at peace, and rested. This book is good. Check it out at the library. I bought my copy at Amazon.com for $4.31 including shipping. Worth every penny.

Much to smile about and tunes for today...

Today I am happy, content, full of joy. I am pleased with my surroundings, my situation, my job, the work I have done, my life. Today I am motivated, I am encouraged, I am driven. Today I feel peace, I feel healthy, I feel harmony, I feel serenity. Simply put: I love everything about my world.

While cycling to work today in the very warm air at a very early hour I realized that cycling gives a lot to me. I give my energy, effort and sweat but it gives me far more in return. It gives me joy; while cycling I can rarely help but to be happy. It gives me peace; I can listen to my music, mellow or hard core, and I can be at peace with myself and who I am. It gives me excercise; I feel and I am healthy when I cycle regularly. It gives me accomplishment; whether 4 miles or 40 miles I rode from here to there with only my legs as power, I can claim victory daily. It gives me an intimate relationship with nature and the earth; while riding this morning from west to east I had a view of the majesty of the mountains that I don't normally see in the morning. Exquisite, striking, and picturesque. Cycling gives me more than I could ever give in return, luckily I don't think Edna minds.

Today I'm listening to music by Joshua Radin. Jaymee introduced me to his music and in our jovial state last night we listened to several of his songs, all of which I realized were awesome songs. I highly recommend him. With Josh you just have to feel good.

Today I hope that you have a good day. That you find what you've been looking for. That you feel the tranquility of nature. That you know peace and happiness. That you see beauty all around you. Today I hope that you live life and love it.

My World Today in Song and Photo

Brand New Day-By: Joshua Radin

Some kind of magic
Happens late at night
When the moon smiles down on me
And bathes me in its light

I fell asleep beneath you
In the tall blades of grass
When I woke the world was new
I never had to ask

It's a brand new day
The sun is shining
It's a brand new day
For the first time
In such a long time
I know
I'll be okay

Most kind of stories
Save the best part for last
Most stories have a hero who finds
You make your past your past
Yeah, you make you past your past

It's a brand new day
The sun is shining
It's a brand new day
For the first time
In such a long time
I know
I'll be okay

This cycle never ends
Gotta fall in order to mend

And it's a brand new day
It's a brand new day
For the first time
In such a long time
I know
I'll be okay

Book Report

Read it!

Today I'm dreaming about...

Alaska in the summer. Big mountains, majestic wildlife, serene wilderness.

The Andes and Argentina. Lush green mountains that tower overhead...until you're in them.

Skiing...tomorrow I will ski and love every minute of it. I love the peace of only fiberglass between my feet and the snow at speeds of up to 56 miles per hour.

Moab. The beautiful red rocks speak to the soul, they nurture a sense of calm and joy. I'll go there in two weeks. It will be Edna's first Moab experience, she's going to love it.


Today I dream of these things while I work to make them happen for tomorrow.

I'd like to be there...

wherever "there" is.