Almost Gypsy Soul

Checking in again, halfway there on those 2016 goals. If you missed the story behind those goals, click here and here and here and here when I checked in at the end of each quarter. 1. GET A HOBBY - Let's be honest, I can't really afford many more hobbies. The upside of having a lot of hobbies, there is always room to devote more time and attention to said hobbies (especially since I have several "new" hobbies, less than 3 years old. In 2016 I will: take 3 mountain bike trips Memorial Day mountain biking in Fruita with Tyler, Jennie, Will and Melody Labor Day weekend at WYDAHO Mountain Bike Festival at Grand Targhee Fall mountain biking in Fruita with Tyler, Jennie, Dane, Kelley, Schwan, Stevie Jo, Brent, Jim and Cari  take 2 golf trips Birthday Golf with the Retired Guy at Rolling Green Country Club 3rd Annual Shank-o-poto-mus at Fossil Island  2. DO SOMETHING THAT SCARES YOU - I'm a hermit and I don't like change, yet I

Remember back when I introduced you to Wilson ? Well, now Wilson is Franklin. As in Benjamin Franklin As in   As in everything for Franklin costs $100. Do you see the resemblance now? If I ever have kids, I might just rename them too. Ya never know after I own ..... claim .... let them live with me for a few months. I'm a rebel like that.

My little family consists of myself, Tylie, my mountain bike (and coming soon skis) and a few other inanimate objects. I'm pleased to report that anything that was breathing.....is still breathing. In animate objects have not been so lucky around these parts. First, was the hot water heater. I was without a hot water heater for about a week. To be clear, I left the state for some of those days, so I didn't go to work and public for 7 days without showering. Second, was my laptop. As in black screen of death and its still sitting on my coffee table, waiting patiently to go to the computer doctor....where hopefully they can bring it back to life. Because I'm cheap and I don't want to buy a new tablet with a keyboard, that I will of course be forced to buy over a simple laptop. Anyway, the real reason I've shared all this with you. Blogging will be discontinued until the resurrection of the laptop or the birth of said new tablet with keyboard. Hang in there!

tub-shroom! Back in the day, you know circa 2000, I had blonde hair. Straight, blonde hair. I fought mother nature. Since then, I've grown up and I appreciate my parents and mother nature more than I did in high school. Now I have brown hair. Curly, brown hair. That I don't comb very often. And sometimes I don't wash it either. It curls better...honest!........ are you convinced yet that I know what I'm doing when it comes to hair?....yeah. me neither. But when you don't comb your hair that frequently, its gets tangly and you shed a lot because your comb isn't pulling out all that hippie free hair. You shed everywhere, almost as much as a blue heeler named Tylie. Exhibit A: Me: I shed a lot! Florida Boy: I'm aware, every time you come over I have to sweep my house. Me: um....sorry? Anyway....for those of you who choose not to fight mother nature and wear your hair curly and not comb it.....get a tub-shroom! You will never

November… already?! What happened to this year? Guess I’ll just eat my weight in turkey, stuffing, rolls and pie and watch football, screw it… Oh, and play some wicked awesome tunes, November style. November Rain, G&R Chill of an Early Fall, King George 8th of November, Big & Rich The Boys of Fall, Kenny Chesney Riding for a Fall, Chris LeDoux Enjoy! Happy Turkey Month!

I was driving home from Green River from the Thursday bike ride with my heat blaring on high fan and 80 degrees because I was so cold when I started thinking about what I've been loving lately. Since I couldn't find What I've Been Loving Wednesday link, I just thought I'd tell you what I'm loving Currently........ 1. Sirius XM radio ~ Specifically the Garth Channel and Prime Country channel. Wowzers! the 90s sure knew how to do country music. I could drive all day. 2. Shredly Mountain Bike Shorts ~ They are expensive and comfortable and I scored them on sale and I'm hooked. I super crashed because of some shorts that were too big that got caught on my seat while trying to keep up with the boys, so the fact that they fit...count me in! 3. If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM) dieting ~ Not having to eat chicken and egg whites for every meal everyday has made getting back on the wagon so much easier! Its amazing how when I watch what I eat, the weig

Checking in again, halfway there on those 2016 goals. If you missed the story behind those goals, click here and here when I checked in after the first quarter. 1. GET A HOBBY - Let's be honest, I can't really afford many more hobbies. The upside of having a lot of hobbies, there is always room to devote more time and attention to said hobbies (especially since I have several "new" hobbies, less than 3 years old. In 2016 I will: take 3 mountain bike trips Memorial Day mountain biking in Fruita with Tyler, Jennie, Will and Melody Labor Day weekend at WYDAHO Mountain Bike Festival at Grand Targhee  take 2 golf trips Birthday Golf with the Retired Guy at Rolling Green Country Club 3rd Annual Shank-o-poto-mus at Fossil Island  2. DO SOMETHING THAT SCARES YOU - I'm a hermit and I don't like change, yet I love to travel. Leaving the US of A and my understanding of the English language isn't an easy thing for me to do. In 2016 I wil

The current state of country music is in a state of (how shall I put this), let’s just say it’s more disappointing than not. Don’t get me wrong I listen to it and there is some good tunes coming out, but the majority is more pop than country. So, this month I’d like to remind everyone what country music was, through the decades, with what I like to call, The Defining Sound on the Decade. We’ll start with the 50’s and 60’s: this is when people were introduced to Rockabilly. When country music was being melded with rock and roll and one of the most influential singers of the time, Johnny Cash and his breakthrough hit Folsom Prison Blues . In the 1970’s, came the iconic sound of “The Outlaws”, and outlaw country was born. The most notable outlaw of all was Waylon Jennings and with the help of Willie Nelson, they put together some of the best collaborations I think of. A favorite of mine, Luckenbach, TX. The 1980’s was the decade that brought us “Honky Tonk” an

Driving a loader is empowering, even if you suck at it. I mean it looks easy.....just run around the field and scoop up 2 big square bales at a time, the scoot on over to the semi and drop them off on the trailer....give 'em a little bump and off to the next set. And the end result can be seen in less than 20 minutes. I'm here to tell you, its not as easy as it looks and people who make it easy have loaded ALOT of hay to make it look that way. Not everyone can load 12 bales on a 24 bale trailer all by themselves with help I, on the other hand, look like a 2 year old trying to color inside the lines when loading hay. I call success fitting 12 bales on a 24 bale trailer in no less than 1 hour. In my defense, I could have fit more on the trailer, but there was only 12 left in the field by the time I got turned loose with the loader. I think it might help if I could remember which lever went which direction, but whatever. Gypsy Friend was super patient, but I think my loader

On September 28, 2010 I made one of the easiest decisions of my life, even after I read how difficult donation can be. I signed up on the Be The Match Marrow Donor Registry . It wasn't too long after Assistant Pack Leader was in possible need of a marrow donor that I made my decision. While I haven't been a match yet, I still can't think of better commitment that I've made so far in my life. I could save someone's life, I could give someone the opportunity to experience life. Assistant Pack Leader has gotten clear scans for several years now, but it doesn't make the possibility of being a donor any less close to home for me.

I heard this song on the radio the other day and I just love it.

In May, Military Friend and I went on a really big trip to Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. We visited Cusco, Peru , hiked to Machu Picchu , explored Quito, Ecuador and snorkeled the Galapagos Islands . While I took tons of pictures, my favorite part of returning from this trip is the movie that Wyoming Hunter and I made of the South American adventure. Click here , here and here for my packing lists for Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands as well as what I would have packed differently.

If a large number of pictures is an indicator of how much fun a weekend was then no one should attend WYDAHO bike festival at Grand Targhee. ever. never.ever. But I'll let you in on a little secret, I was having too much fun and I failed to remember to take out my camera....except for that ONE time. Horseshoe Canyon Trail System WYDAHO bike festival is a 4 day festival over Labor Day weekend held at Grand Targhee Ski Area in Alta, WY. The festival is a fundraiser for Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, the organization responsible for building and upkeep of the super awesome trails in Teton Valley. The festival has group rides, skills clinics, raffles, music, drinks, food, giveaways, downhilling, tons of trails, shenanigans (keg pull, strider races, hill climbs, huffy toss) and a whole lotta fun! So get out there enjoy the outdoors and have so much fun that you forget to document it!

That one person that just shocks the shit out of you. Someone who it never crossed your mind that they gave a crap about you or what you are doing in life. An acquaintance that goes above and beyond and makes you realize there is hope for humanity. and.it.made.my.day. I think we all struggle with our own self worth at times and I'm no different. I struggle because my life looks nothing like I envisioned . (but what does an 18 year old kid who thinks they are ready to take on the world really know anyway) Just as this angel told me on a day that I needed to hear it most, I will tell you.....you make a difference, you are here for a reason, you are loved,  you are enough .....maybe not to everybody, but to someone you are inspiring and you can make your dreams come true. In a world where hatred and selfishness is running rampant, its a world that strives to tear others down to lift ourselves up a little higher on the pedestal. That is not where strength comes from, strengt

In 1907 the Manitou Incline was a 1 mile cable tram built to support the construction of a hydroelectric plant and waterline. Once it was done serving this purpose it was bought by Dr. Brumbach and turned into a tourist attraction. Visitors could take the 16 minute ride to the top for "scenic splendors", 10 miles of hiking trails in Mount Manitou Park and it claimed to be the "longest and highest incline on the globe". The Incline remained a tourist attraction for many years, but because of high maintenance costs eventually closed in 1990 as the attraction was overshadowed by the Cog Railway that takes visitors to the summit of Pikes Peak....if you are too weak smart to take the 12 mile hike . Ever since the closure of the incline railway, the route has become popular to runners, joggers, hikers, walkers and crawlers. Its short and steep and all of a Colorado workout. The Incline gains about 2,000 feet in just  under a mile....see what I mean short and stee

I finally met the love of my life at the ripe old age of 33.... Wilson, a 1972 27' Airstream Overlander. 1972 Airstream Overlander, Wilson Well, let me clarify, he WAS the love of my life....until we gutted him and found all his problems, which have me a little overwhelmed. I did one thing right before acquiring Wilson, I hired The Retired Guy to be my project manager. The pay is terrible, but when you get to be a part of something so great as Wilson apparently that becomes a minor detail. Music Man was also hired as the Assistant Project Manager. With their help, I'm sure I will love Wilson again! Here's what we had to work with when Wilson arrived to the 307. Living/Dining area from door Kitchen - door side Kitchen - opposite side Bedroom looking out back of trailer Bathroom View of living/dining/kitchen from bedroom  Where are we now? Gutted Anxiety. and Xanax. That is where we are. I shall call this one "gutted anxiety&

In my quest to expand my mountain biking destinations, I called up an old high school friend who lives in Fruita to see if he might be around and interested in biking over Memorial Day weekend. Lucky for me, not only was he interested, but his wife and their neighbors/friends were too. A couple days on the trails turned into a small camping trip and a whole lotta fun! We started the weekend out by visiting my friend at his place of employment....which just happens to be Peach Street Distillery in Palisade. My friend...well...he's a distiller. Now that is a cool job and he gave us a behind the scenes tour. Rode them all, but Joe's Ridge to Kessel Run was my favorite The next day we headed out to 18 Road for some camping and biking. I'm here to tell you this is how to bike. We would bike for an hour or so, come back to the camper and refresh with shade, snacks and beer .... gatorade ....beer. Then out we'd go for another ride. Jen, Tyler & Will on Joe&

It’s an all request, all Eric Church September (new and old)!! It is a great way to usher in Fall, and I can’t deny a music request from our host. So, turn on some football, put your sweatpants on, sit back and get lost in the lyrics… Wrecking Ball Sinners Like Me Mr. Misunderstood Over When It’s Over Record Year  Enjoy!

"Does everyone in Star Valley fly or do I just only know pilots in Star Valley because you are all friends?" "Well, it might be your circle of friends, but there are quite a few pilots in the Valley too" When I went up to visit some friends in Star Valley a couple of weekends ago, I was excited because my Wingman had, well....gotten his wings. I was so hoping I could talk him into going flying and it turns out that is an easy one! On the ground selfies Time got away from us and we were nearly late for our overnight horseback camping trip departure. Luckily our crew waited for us! Looking over into Grey's River Life at 10,000 feet