days like today...

Days like today are awesome. Days when I ride my bike to work. Days when on that ride to work I spontaneously meet two friends who happen to work at the same cool place that I do. Days when we all ride together in the morning. I like days like today. Days when the air is full of the scent of my most favorite tree in bloom. That smell is so sweet. Lovely. Peaceful.  I like days like today when I'm walking my dog after work and my neighbor invites me to Sonora Grill for dinner...and Ogden's best pomegranate margaritas.  Hows that for spontaneity?  And then, when I'm backing out of my parking spot after dinner at Sonora Grill my friend Jenny pulls up and says, "Derek's on baby duty, let's have a beer and hang out with the Salomon sales reps!"  Of course I say yes.  This day is about fun and unplanned events.  I got to see most of my favorite Salomon people.  The ones that I miss working with.  I love days like today.

Days like yesterday are what make me lucky. Days when I have a moment of realization. Days when I take a moment to stop.  to think.  and to realize that I have some really great friends. Yesterday I was lucky to hear stories of a maiden mountain bike voyage of one of these friends. I am happy she liked it. Another adventure we can share. I like these days. Days when my best friend is mountain bike shopping. Sending me messages along the way. Days like yesterday remind me to appreciate what a great best friend I have. I like days like yesterday. Days when i didn’t have a dinner invite. Days when I stop to pick up my bike and end up playing Frisbee, having a beer, and staying for dinner. Days when I am lucky enough to share moments with people who are real. Sincere. Happy. I like days like yesterday.

Perhaps what I’m trying to say is that I love all the days. I am one lucky kid. I hope I always remember that. And I hope I always remember to appreciate all of the people I get to share my life with. “After all, life is about the people in it and what you create with them.”

you can't steal happiness

as usual, the weepies were right: you can't steal happiness.  and you can't force it either.  it has to happen.  and it will.  if you follow your path.  the one that the universe has for you.  i did.  it took me to iowa...never thought that would happen.  i also wouldn't trade that six months for anything.  then i followed it back to utah via minnesota.  it felt right.  it was.  this is the third in a series of posts chronicling the goodness that has been since my return to the mountains.  where my soul belongs.  where i belong.

since my return things have been a lot different than before i left.  that is good.  its what i needed.  perhaps its the reason i left in the first place.  since my return i've made a few new friends.  i needed that too.  i hate to use the word perfect...but it just seems to almost fit.

i have officially made the decision to purchase a mountain bike.  salsa, a la carte.  best. bike. ever.  i'll upgrade to a suspension fork.  but for now, riding it fully rigid makes me feel like i'm a little bit of a bad ass.  hopefully the dudes think so...  for now the pup and i are mountain biking 3 to 4 times  week.  he gets tired sometimes.  but he loves it.  and.  i make him wear his booties.  yes.  i know.  its nerdy.  but if  i don't his little feet are torn to shreds.

speaking of commited purchases...i've got something else up my sleeve too.  it's a little too soon to tell so i'll leave you in suspense on that one.

this past weekend was one of the best i've had in a while.  friday eve i picked up the klar clan.  just the kiddos.  we made posters, t-shirts and painted sidewalks.  we are, by far, the best cheer squad there is.  i've always been a marathon cheerleader but this year was a bit more fun with the kiddos to share it with.  they are good at it.

saturday morning we enjoyed jeremiah's for breakfast.  it was their first time.  we had so much fun.  pancakes as big as your head.  then we were off to the marathon.  we cheered our hearts out.  we love our runners.  it really was the best time i've had in a real long time.  thanks klar kiddos.  sunday there was a bbq.  i was honored to be invited.  i feel like i fit in there.  i like it.  thanks again klars.  life is about the people in it and you're some of the best.

"you're not gonna let a little rain stop you from makin' 100 hamburgers, are you?"

i've had borrowed possession of a mountain bike for a week now.  i have ridden the bike 6 of the last 8 days.  i like mountain biking.  perhaps more important, the pup loves mountain biking.  he gets great exercise and feels a sense of purpose in keeping the group together and safe.

i have barely scratched the surface of exploration of mountain bike trails.  there are so many to ride.  so many to see.  thanks to dyan, yesterday i got to see some of snowbasin's trails.  i had always wanted to see that place in the summer.  it's a lot different.  

but i still recognized most of it. 

 we rode until we hit the snow line.  even got first tracks on the upper part of the trail.  we were two happy girls and one happy dog.  he loved the snow too.  he'd lay in it on his belly with all four legs sprawled out.  it was funny.  we laughed and smiled a lot.  all day.

 the view from up high.  sometimes life really is perfect.  i won't fear perfection.

 after the most perfect ride in the most perfect weather i really didn't think there was a possibility of anything getting better.  but it did.  when we got to dyan's she had a cold 12 pack of ranger IPA!  my favorite.  you can't get it here.  perfection.

this is the next beast i'll be trying out on the trails.  with an upgrade of a suspension fork it could be the perfect bike for me.  we shall see.  so far, i think it has kenai's approval.