Almost Gypsy Soul

You know I'm headed south on this one. Even though this has been over a year ago, I enjoyed this trip so much that I'd be ashamed if I didn't share this destination with you. Sister Sara earner her ARA accreditation for her general appraiser license, which is a really big deal! I mean she got to go all the way to Savannah, Georgia to accept her award! Congratulations Sister Sara! Our hotel was on the east side of the Savannah River, just across from historic River Street. We would take the ferry across the river each day to see and learn about Savannah. Savannah River Ferry Dinner with General Oglethorpe, founder of Savannah I was able to attend some of the meeting activities with Sara, but I also spent some time on my own while she went to continuing education sessions. I always scoped out the best things and then planned them with her. Hands down our favorite thing was the food, some of the best food that I've ever had. I loved going to breakfast...

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.

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...

We've all seen the iconic windmills of the eastern plains providing water for livestock and families alike. I grew up in a house which water was provided by a windmill. Luckily the wind blew enough that we were not frequently without water, but it did happen. Not a good way to start off the day....needing a shower and no water because the wind hadn't blown enough. Boo. Last summer Assistant Pack Leader and I went to a farm sale (and we didn't tell Mike). We were the proud owners of a 6 foot windmill and a 8 foot windmill.....driving a Ford Danger. Let me tell you, that just doesn't work. So with little regard to our pride, we called Mike to come rescue us...with a 1 ton flatbed pickup. This is what we envisioned   And thanks to John and Mom visiting and being agreeable to home improvement projects, I ended up with this Nailed it!

I admire those who can work in professions where they are charged with saving lives every single day because they can't save every single life, every single day. Its something I'm just not sure I'd be able to handle well enough to call it my profession. But, to save a life. wow, what an awesome opportunity. Even if we are not called to be take on saving lives every single day, we can be called to save a life someday....which is why I re-upped my commitment to the Be a Match Registry.   Its free, donors never pay and you could save someone's life. Easy, go to the website, browse around and see what good you could do if call upon as a match and signup. They send you emails each year to renew your commitment. easy peasy. I was first called to join the registry when Assistant Pack Leader was in the situation of needing a possible donor. The doctors were able to use her own bone marrow, so she didn't have to find a matching donor, but not everyone is that lu...

When we planned our girls wine weekend , it only seemed right that we have matching shirts. So I designed some....that were a hit and even got me orders that had to be sent back down to Palisade. Like any good t-shirt there was a map of our route on the back and a fun reminder of what we hoped to accomplish on our trip. Check 'em out! Last  year at our Golf Bonanza...which has now been re-named. I decided that we really did need shirts commemorating the annual event. I wanted to put the golf course on the back, but had a terrible time finding a picture suitable for screen printing. But my dream came to life this year when Assistant Pack Leader was able to doctor the photo from the scorecard to make it useable. So this year I present to you.....Annual Shank-o-potamus all day golf shirts. I really see a bright future for me in t-shirt designs! Place your order now before my designs become a hot commodity!

 Fourth of July is my favorite holiday in the whole wide world. I just love, love it! Its all good things, all in one weekend! Good friends, good reason for celebrating, good booze, good food, good activities.   The trip started off a bit shaky after a storm rolled in, bringing with it the infamous Wyoming wind which of course ripped my tent right off the stakes, leaving behind shreds of tent staked to the ground while the rest of it took flight. My trashcan is now overflowing with tent remains....but the weekend wasn't ruined. Thanks to Mike and his over zealous packing, we had a roof over everyone's head. We have made an annual trip to the Flaming Gorge Reservoir our July 4th plans. Music Man brings his boat, my family comes from Colorado, Utah and Texas. And we camp on the lake, we fish, we boat, we build campfires, we play cornhole. Its exhausting having that much fun! I have decided that I can maybe get this wakeboarding thing down, but slalom skiin...

Since I'm from Wyoming I bet you think this post will be about Cheyenne Frontier Days, but its not. I haven't been to CFD for ages. This post is about big ole' huge mountains and crazy folks who think they should hike up them. No, I did not take this picture Yes boys and girls, we hiked up that big ole' mountain and I crossed off a Dirty 30 bucket list item. We started at 6600 feet at 4:00 am, gaining 7300 vertical feet over 12.6 miles and in just 9 hours we were standing at the top. We managed to muster up one last smile for the victory shot! It was a brutal hike, but I had some good hiking buddies. Military Friend and her brother-in-law, Assistant Pack Leader and Spin Class Stephen and I set out on this great adventure. Check out our route! And while I may hike another 14'er, it sure won't be this one. It was a once in a lifetime experience for me, plus I don't think my ego can handle being passed by an 80 year old man who is runnin...

Spring skiing snowboarding is pretty awesome! Its warm, the snow is soft and everyone is a generally awesome mood. Ready to party and cut loose. Although work has been crazy lately since I've taken over another county office....making it three counties and several million acres, still just the two of us. I snuck away for a weekend in Winter Park/Granby. After all, one had to seal the deal on paying for the Monarch season pass, which was with a window price of $119 bucks at Winter Park....OUCH! We met up with Assistant Pack Leader and some of her friends for a day on the mountain. We met some new friends at our hotel. We signed up for half marathons, we planned trips to hike Pikes Peak, watch Stretch's fight and bike the wineries in Palisade. I'd say it was a pretty productive weekend!   I do believe this will be the final snowboarding post for a while seems how its nearly 60 degrees today (as in the day this was written, not today-today) and its not noon ...

Boy, oh, boy! I bet you guys have missed me! Music Man preceded to tell me what an awful blogger I was because I had disappeared off the face of the earth. He said that he wasn't going to give me anymore playlists if I wasn't going to blog anymore. So for you guys' sake, I'm back to blogging so you can enjoy his super awesome playlists. Hope you are enjoying March! So what exactly have I been up to since I went MIA in early February? Well alot. We married off the baby sister I got my picture taken with an NFL superstar, Dallas Cowboy to be exact. And yes, also was photo bombed. I sold my house - which of course means I packed it all up, stuffed it in an enclosed trailer, an open trailer, a storage unit and friends garages. I'll be having a garage sale in the spring. save the date.   I bought a new house ok so that doesn't seem like so much when I write it down and post pictures, but trust me, it feels like a lot. I was super tired!