tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68557804400239784242023-11-16T11:27:12.503-05:00In The ProcessSometimes the Purpose is in the ProcessChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-71856132267401252772011-06-03T09:19:00.001-04:002011-06-03T09:19:51.313-04:00On Hold But Not Over Yet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The first half of this year is nearly gone. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I have (obviously) severely neglected this blog over the past few months as I've been devoting so much of my time to other endeavors. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">However, I'm not ready to close it down completely. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">So, for now, In The Process is on hold. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">If anyone is still reading, let me invite you to see where I've been and to join me at that address...</span></span> <a href="http://connectingcoordinates.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://connectingcoordinates.com/</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">See you there!</span>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-28876335390846807452011-04-13T06:03:00.001-04:002011-04-13T06:03:00.925-04:00I Want That Job - Or Do I?<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a trip to Nashville, TN, I went with my sister, Kari, to her workplace.</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">She works as a tour guide at The Hermitage, homestead of Andrew Jackson, the 7</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> U.S. President. During the busiest season, 400 to 1,200 people per day visit this historical landmark. I was intrigued by her job and wished I had one like it. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">How fun it must be to bring stories of history to life</span></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, I thought. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">School kids come to get an experience of U.S. history they can’t get from reading a textbook. Families create vacation memories while gaining a new understanding of early America. And people from all over the world visit on the recommendation of friends and family who have shared their ventures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I thought to myself, </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is the job I want</span></span></i></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Unlike the confines of a grey cubicle, a day’s work wouldn’t get boring. Meeting new people each day, from so many different places, must be an interesting and even exciting way to make a living. Where meetings, office politics and meaningless projects sucked the life out of my soul, I saw this occupation as freedom from all that. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">“I had 110 guests take the wagon ride yesterday,” said Mitzi, Kari’s colleague, while waiting to start the first tour of the day. One by one, patrons surrendered their tickets and climbed into the wagon. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">“There’s 8 of us, we’re part of ‘The Vacation Club’. We came down here from Michigan,” said one man from the group of retired folks with matching maroon shirts. A mom and her two young kids sat near the front, the best spot to hear the narration and a man carrying a camera around his neck with a lens to rival the paparazzi took the last seat. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">As Mitzi began the tour, “The Vacation Club” kept talking. Mitzi spoke louder and tried to engage them in the story she was telling but the group kept chatting with little consideration for the other guests trying to pay attention. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">It was then that I saw how</span> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">working as a</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tour guide might </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not</span></span></i></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> be the job for me</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">If I had to give the same spiel 8 times a day, everyday, I’m pretty sure it would get boring. Although meeting a variety of people would be fascinating, for an introvert like me, expending that much energy interacting with the public everyday would leave me drained and just as exhausted as my days in a corporate cube. It looked glamorous from a distance but up close, it was still work. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">So, at the end of my own visit to The Hermitage, it’s clear, I’m a better tourist than I would as a tour guide. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Is there a job you thought you wanted until you took a closer look?</span></span></b><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-26334537723869853242011-04-06T20:50:00.000-04:002011-04-06T20:50:53.081-04:00In Search of Coffee: Nashville<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I’m afraid I’ve become an addict</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> but I don’t think I’m the only one. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Without coffee I crash by 1pm and only a nap will get me through the day. Not to mention the raging headache that reminds me when I haven’t tended to my caffeine fix. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">When it comes to coffee, I wouldn’t say I’m a snob but I do have certain tastes that I prefer. Although I like Starbucks’ sugar-laden drinks, the price keeps me away and when it comes to their straight up coffee, I find it too strong. If we’re talking about franchise coffee, I will choose Dunkin’ Donuts over Starbucks any day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">That said, it’s more satisfying when I can forgo the corporate chain altogether and, in Goldilocks fashion, find a cup of java that’s not too weak, not too bitter, but just right. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I found the following local java huts on a recent trip to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Nashville, TN</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">. I might add that my favorite was </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Bongo Java East</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">CREMA</span></u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> – Hermitage Ave. (downtown Nash)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Price:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Average – med. hot coffee $1.80 w/ tax. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Taste: </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Strong flavor but not bitter. I needed an extra Splenda. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Service: </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">As you would expect – got the job done, nothing spectacular. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Atmosphere: </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Cozy, warm décor – no free tables on a Sat. am. – free wifi. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Parking:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> There is a small parking lot on the side however, on a Saturday morning, it’s not enough. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Overall: Thumbs Up<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> ********<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">PORTLAND BREW</span></u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> – Eastland Ave. (East Nash)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Price:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> More than Average – med. iced coffee $2.00+</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Taste:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Strong and bitter – couldn’t doctor it up enough to finish it</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Service: </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Not helpful – bad customer service</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Atmosphere:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Open space including a loft but has a cold feel to it – free wifi</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Parking:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> On the street</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Overall: Thumbs Down<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">*********</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">FROTHY MONKEY</span></u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> – 12</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Ave. South </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Price:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> More than Average – med iced coffee $2.59</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Taste:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Great full flavor – but not bitter </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Service:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Friendly and fast</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Atmosphere:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Lots of space including booths, tables and couches – free wifi</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Parking:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Street parking in front and a small lot behind the building</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Overall: Thumbs Up<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">********</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">UGLY MUGS</span></u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> – Eastland Ave. (East Nash)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Price:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Average – 16 oz. hot coffee $1.64 w/ tax</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Taste:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Strong and bitter</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Service:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Very friendly and helpful</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Atmosphere:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Large open space – kids play area – free wifi</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Parking:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Plenty of parking in lot </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Overall: Thumbs to the side<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">******** <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">BONGO JAVA EAST</span></u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> – South 11</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> St. (East Nash)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Price:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Less than Average – 20 oz iced coffee $1.86 w/ tax</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Taste:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Great flavor – the perfect blend</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Service:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Friendly, fast and engaging</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Atmosphere:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Café setting – good amount of seating - free wifi</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">·</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Parking:</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> Street and small parking lot</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Overall: Thumbs Up <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Where have you found good coffee while traveling?</span></span></u></i></b></span><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-61651621247867624372011-03-04T14:08:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:08:21.210-05:00Measuring The American Dream<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">40 degrees and windy</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, the air coming off the water makes it seem colder than it is; it’s too chilly to get out of my car. I come to the beach when I need to think. The water slaps the shore; so vast and strong, it extends beyond my view and yet it stays contained within its boundary, coming and going by the timing of the moon. It reminds me that I am a small piece of a much larger picture.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I was 13 when I left the United States</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> for the first time. My parents took my sisters and I to Belize by way of Mexico. Looking back, it seems strange. I didn’t know anyone else whose parents had taken them on an international fieldtrip.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn’t get on a plane and fly across country lines; we crossed borders in our tan 1983 Chevy Suburban; driving from Colorado to Belmopan. We didn’t stay in hotels either. My brave parents, 3 sisters and I slept in the truck under the flickering streetlights of any gas station or market we found when it was time to stop for the night. One night in a parking lot, as we lay on top of the folded down seats, quietly tucked under blankets, a hostile drug deal took place outside the window. Wide-eyed and on edge, I don’t think my dad slept at all that night. However, I don’t remember ever being scared in this foreign land. We played in black sand and azure water as we made our way down Mexico’s gulf coast and found an RV campground on a lush piece of land at the water’s edge in Chetumal; a town on the Mexico-Belize border.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">In Belize</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, we stayed with family friends who were living there at the time. They took us to a wildlife refuge and the Mayan ruins. We crossed the Mopan River on a wooden, hand-cranked ferry. We ate creole food, fresh pineapples, mangos and bananas, drove through the humid jungles and waded through the panhandlers in Belize City. We went to an indigenous church in a primitive cinder block structure and listened to the native music, largely influenced by Bob Marley. I was immersed in this unfamiliar society and I was intrigued. This was the first time I saw another culture first hand.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s an awareness that comes from seeing how people live in nations that aren’t as developed as our own. It sparks a seed of compassion for those who struggle to survive under the thumb of poverty. It calls for gratefulness and an outlook that shifts away from excessive reaching to consume. That fieldtrip was the gateway to my worldview being expanded beyond the typical American dream. I came back to the states one month later having experienced more than just a family vacation. 20 years later, it’s still with me; maybe more so now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Staring at the receding tide</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, I ponder the years between here and there. A lone barge is making its way up the Long Island Sound. With lights on, it turns and appears to be moving head-on toward land. The course correction I’ve recently made to my own life looks to some like I might run aground as well.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Chasing corporate success and the applause of those who ask what I do for a living squelched the life I truly wanted. It left a hole on the inside that kept leaking from the bottom. Trading in padding my net worth for the less tangible ‘fulfillment’ and ‘meaning’ appears irresponsible. It’s illogical.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">If the American Dream means gaining prosperity, success and a richer, fuller life, whose measuring stick do we get to use?</span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-28931820741326395822011-02-24T13:14:00.000-05:002011-02-24T13:14:56.606-05:003 Ways To Reignite Creativity<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Winter is my least favorite season. Its shorter days, colder weather and extra layers of clothing tend to constrict my creativity as much as my blood vessels. If I’m not careful, winter will put me in a funk. Here are some ways that have helped me stay creative:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">1. Do something spontaneous<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I am a creature of routine. I get a method in place and if it works for me, I stick with it. The problem is that routine also bores me. One summer, I got an idea to take a road trip. The next day I put a few things in a bag, grabbed a friend and drove to Florida. For a venture closer to home, I have been known to get in my car and drive just to see where I end up in two hours time. Doing something spontaneous is great way to break the same ol’ - same ol’ grind.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">2. Find a challenge<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I enjoy things that provoke my mind but when I’m stuck, my mind doesn’t fire on all cylinders. Since being unemployed, I have done more cooking. I’m the girl that does quick and easy meals like spaghetti or tacos and brownies from a box. Recently, I added chicken parmesan to my collection. When I feel bogged down, doing something new or finding a new solution gets my brain revving again.</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">3. Clean out the clutter</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When I get in a rut, I start to feel suffocated like a butterfly in a mason jar. I can see the blue sky but I keep bumping into constraints. A few weeks ago, I went through every box in my storage closet and filled 3 garbage bags with junk that I’ve been holding onto; some of it for 20 years. Interestingly, the space I created in my closet helped clear out space in my mind as well. New ideas formed and I found motivation for following new possibilities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Whether it’s a season, a job or some other thing that makes you feel stalled out, you can get your stride back just by doing something off the beaten path. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">How do you restart creativity?</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-83891726255801109832011-02-19T19:24:00.002-05:002011-02-19T22:36:35.783-05:00Savin Rock And A Soggy Sock<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>Splash! </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Looking at my phone to see what time it was became a puddle-skip fail. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first day of 50 degree temps in the northeast brought a full parking lot at the Savin Rock boardwalk. The cement path stretches alongside 1.6 miles of West Haven, CT beach that was once the home of New England’s Largest Amusement Park.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melting piles of dirty snow dripped into the Long Island Sound signaling spring to stay for a while. The grassy park that saw 50,000 people each weekend in the late 1800s, now displays picnic tables waiting for visitors to share a lunch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Excuse Me,” I said as I sped past two ladies walking their sweater-wearing lap dogs. They kindly stepped aside.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My view caught the movement of a mom with three young kids sitting in a beach chair while her little ones shoveled sand into their buckets. They played at the edge of Liberty Pier where 10 cents would buy you a ferry ride to the east side of New Haven in 1870.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A grandfatherly old man with a tree-branch cane took two startled steps to the right as I went around him. He was shuffling past the swing set. It sits on the spot where The Thunderbolt, an 85-foot high roller coaster screamed over the water in the 1920’s. Children of his generation would have been found on the carousel or ferris wheel; in a funhouse or an arcade. Now, those men gather for a game of bocce ball or horseshoes. The Great Hurricane of 1938 destroyed the theme park attractions of their youth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a steady pace, I nodded to the Latino man on a bench. He didn’t move or divert his gaze. Mesmerized by the Spanish sounds coming from the radio next to him, he stayed fixed on the slapping surf.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The warmth of a mid-winter day reminds those with cabin fever that summer dances will soon return to the center square at Savin Rock. The rides and hotdog stands are gone; the magic shows and cockfights have disappeared. West Haven’s landscape has been transformed but the spirit of recreation continues to be handed down, steadfast as the incoming tide.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On this pleasant day at the Savin Rock boardwalk I got more than a jog in time... I also got a soggy sock.</span></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-76678690495424478402011-02-16T13:36:00.000-05:002011-02-16T13:36:47.989-05:00Rejection Is God's Protection<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I’ve been unemployed for several months. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to this stint of joblessness, there were few things that stirred up anxiety like being out of work. Of course I like being able to go to the beach in the middle of the day or take a two hour walk without worrying about getting to the office on time but financial strain and looking for the right position and going on interviews are things I could do without. In my world, looking for a new job ranks up there with falling from the sky in a crashing plane. The fear grips me in irrational proportions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much of my anxiety surrounding the process of finding a new job has been based in aversion to rejection and lack of confidence. The antidote for those things can often be found by simply doing more of that which one feels unconfident about. In my case, send out more resumes, do more interviewing and embrace the process so that fear is dispelled by the reality that it isn’t as scary as it seems. In turn, that builds confidence. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you turn on the lights, you find there is no boogie-man in the closet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After months of being asked about my strengths and weaknesses and how I handle difficult coworkers I don’t get sweaty anymore. The heart palpitations and dry mouth have all but disappeared. Although the job search is still not something I love, the nervousness has been greatly reduced and the fear of rejection virtually doesn’t exist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still don’t have a job but maybe that’s an air horn in my face trying to tell me it’s time to change direction.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it’s a gift when things don’t happen the way we think they should.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes the career path we end up on is as complicated as our relationships and like relationships, sometimes we stay in a job or a field of work that is just okay because it’s comfortable and we’ve invested so much time into it even though we know it’s sucking the life out of us. We are afraid to let go of something that pays the bills but causes despair and talk ourselves out of reaching for what we love because we might go broke.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe a closed door to a fulltime corporate gig that would offer financial security but would squash my soul is really an open door to keep plugging away at a dream I’ve been putting aside for years. Maybe I will go broke and lose everything but maybe that’s the path that will open to the meadow of a more meaningful life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When all our efforts don’t add up maybe it’s because, as I heard Katy Perry say recently, rejection is God’s protection.</span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-83263537488889177582011-02-10T05:37:00.001-05:002011-02-10T05:37:00.206-05:00Hope Unashamed<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">It knocks unexpectedly and whispers into raging silence. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hope offers subtle surprises.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Paralyzed by all that isn’t right in the world; when I don’t know what the next step is. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hope sets the frozen in motion. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Bubbling up when every day has been the same for months and time is not my friend. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hope changes the overflow. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">There’s a seed on the inside that sprouts joy in the face of impossible odds. There’s an intuitive knowing that something good, right and true is coming even though it isn’t yet revealed. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hope reverses doubt. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I don’t know what to do with it or how to manage it but instead I let it sit beside me; a companion that gives me strength. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hope lights a dark night. </span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-1349990590925347702011-02-07T05:54:00.002-05:002011-02-07T05:54:00.556-05:00Forbidden Flames<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Sometimes we choose someone or something even though all we know and every piece of sound advice goes against it. A decision made in the face of good judgment is the equivalent of a raging forest fire that can’t be contained. It’s not a birthday candle confined to a one-inch wick or a sparkler that fizzles after a minute or two. Once it starts, it’s rarely stopped before it runs its course. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The consequences are known in advance but it’s the fraction of a percent that this time will be different that sets the pursuit ablaze.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the fuel has run out and icy water has doused the embers, it’s black. The heart is charred like Yellowstone Park in 1988. It takes time and seasons filled with sunshine and raindrops to grow back but it will. Just as fire in nature scatters seed and has a strange way of planting new life at the same time it is delivering death so also the heart will find new strength from the bowels of a complicated situation. All is not lost. It looks that way. It feels that way. The eye sees only filthy soot but underneath, there is a channel of redemption stirring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The blemish becomes a beauty mark. </span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-67888024858153588602011-02-05T10:13:00.000-05:002011-02-05T10:13:06.761-05:00Bring Me Your Love<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">In celebration of “love month”, Elisa Doucette over at </span></span><a href="http://www.opheliaswebb.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ophelia’s Webb</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> is hosting a series about love from all kinds of angles. This is her second year doing a love anthology and I.love.it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The series is called Pas de Deux, a ballet term which means “a dance for two”. Each day of February features a different writer’s perspective on love. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I'm over there today so click over to </span></span><a href="http://www.opheliaswebb.com/2011/02/bring-me-your-love/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"Bring Me Your Love"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. </span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-68714788323209920332011-02-02T05:52:00.036-05:002011-02-02T05:52:01.113-05:00What Happens When You Put Away The Bottle<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I drank one last beer on New Year’s Eve.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day was the start of my hiatus from booze for an undetermined period of time. I did this one other time and it lasted until my birthday in mid April. It’s a challenge (I love a good challenge) and it’s healthy (I need to be more healthy) but my determination was about to be tested in a big way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Jan 2</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">nd</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> I was in a car accident.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I went to meet a friend for lunch and noticed that the interstate was a parking lot. The traffic wasn’t even crawling; it was at a dead stop. I rerouted to back roads but everyone else had the same idea. The 6-mile trip took 1 hour and 15 minutes. Finally, just one block from my friend’s house, a car ran a stop sign, through the intersection smack in front of me. There was no time to stop and I T-boned them in the passenger side. Clearly at fault, they fled the scene before I could speak with them. I jumped out of my car to get the license plate number as they drove away. I called the police. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somehow, my front license plate came up missing in the commotion. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TWO HOURS later, an officer showed up for my statement. Happy New Year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was more of a hassle than anything. I called my insurance, set up a time to take my car in and began the process of dealing with one of life’s annoying misfortunes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning, I had a bonafide pain in my neck. I picked up a rental car, braved the DMV for new plates (which is a tribulation in itself) and saw a chiropractor for my neck pain. Then, the news came that the repairs to my car were extensive and would take 2 weeks to complete. Lovely.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days later, my cell phone committed suicide. It jumped from my pocket, head first into the toilet. I grabbed it out as fast as I could but it was lifeless. I did my best to revive it with rice to dehydrate and a space heater to warm it but it was gone. A comical finale. Even so, a new one would be sent overnight.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But overnight it snowed. A lot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20 inches closed down every airport in the northeast and I was without a phone or text messages for the next 4 days. I have no landline so during that time, email was my only mode of communication with anyone until…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My email went down.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 11 years of having the same email address there’s been two or three times that I haven’t been able to access my account. The downtime has never lasted more than an hour or two. This time, my email was completely down for 36 hours. What are the chances?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 2 weeks, the car still wasn’t fixed. It was going to be another week. Still driving a gas-guzzling Ford Taurus courtesy of Enterprise, I tried not to get worked up. At least I had wheels in the mean time. At least I was ok. Things could be worse. The police report from the accident was released. The PD traced the plate number of the car at fault but the plates were fake. There was no way to find them or hold them accountable for the damages. Awesome.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it kept snowing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 snowstorms hit the northeast in rapid succession like leap frogs. In the month of January it snowed 16 of 31 days and blasted the state with a total of five feet. The last one dumped 16 inches on my sidewalk in 8 hours. The piles of snow on yards and street corners and parking lots are well over my head… and right now; it’s snowing yet again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the middle of the last big bad snowstorm, the insurance man called to say my car was finally done. After 3 weeks, I was so happy to finally get my car back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold on, not so fast. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A once over revealed two gouges on my car that weren’t there when I took it in to be fixed. My car wasn’t done after all. Thoroughly frustrated, I wasted a trip to the dealership and left with an approximate timeframe of another day or two before they would be able to repaint those two spots. Did they think I wouldn’t notice??</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not to be outdone by the external forces of stress, my body took in a raging sinus infection causing my head to wish for decapitation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Finally, on January 31</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, my car was returned to my possession but not before it failed the emissions test. It’s a 4 year old vehicle for heaven’s sake, how is that possible? As it turns out, not driving it for 4 weeks is the culprit of one more hurdle. Just add it to the list.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, 2011 has been a bad time to scale back the drinking because right now, that’s all I want to do.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, the dry endeavor continues because after all, what is perseverance without opposition? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, a little less opposition would be nice. </span></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-25298402282337989752011-01-20T13:33:00.000-05:002011-01-20T13:33:32.875-05:00Just A Reminder<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hey you! Yeah you!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I see you trying to hide. I see you trying to do it all by yourself. Your shoulders are tight with knots from pulling those heavy pieces of your past. You don’t want to be an imposition. You don’t deserve the help. That’s what you tell yourself. You want to prove that you are good enough to hold up your end of the bargain. You don’t want any favors. You don’t want to owe anything to anyone. You could never pay them back. They say the borrower is a slave to the lender. You don’t want to be anyone’s slave. You’ve been taken advantage of. You fear taking advantage of someone else. You stay out of sight. You do what you can but it’s never enough, not in your eyes. You’re lost inside. Spinning in circles, looking for something that will make you satisfied with yourself. You should be farther along. You should have a plan and be able to figure out the next step. It floods you day and night. The more you try to find the answer, the next step or the strength you have lost, the more overwhelmed you become. “I’m not worth it”, you say. “I’ve spent my life wrongly and anything right in me that others see is a sham”. I know how you feel. You wonder how anyone could love you. You don’t love yourself. It’s written on your face. You run when things become more than you can handle. You hide when the answers are hard too face. You hate that about yourself but you’ve never dealt with hard things head-on. You find the quickest way to dodge a bullet. You side step the truth as if avoiding it will make it go away. You haven’t done the right thing. You know it. You’ve hurt the ones you love. You don’t know how to fix it so you don’t acknowledge it. You pretend it isn’t there. Still, on the inside you roll in disappointment and wade in regret. You cuddle up to inadequacy and bed down with self-hatred. Shame is the blanket you that keeps you down.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">But…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Don’t you know that you </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">are</span></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> enough? It’s all an illusion; those things in your head. You can fight back. You must throw off shame. Believe that your mistakes are meant for learning and growing but you are not a mistake. All the stuff that others think, it doesn’t matter. You won’t be lost without your pride. Your walls, I know they provide a place to hide but it’s a false sense of security. You are the strongest when you trust and are open. Stop looking around at others for validation and stop trying to stuff yourself into the box in which they live. Who says that you should have already reached that line in the sand? “They” are not you and you are not “they”. That is ok. Believe it. Believe that you are loved exactly as you are; with all your flaws and all your failings. Believe that what you have to offer is unique and no one is more qualified than you. Believe that some days others need you and other days, you need them. It’s not a slave-master thing. It’s a give-and-take-friendship thing. Let go of the past. Let go of disappointment and regret. Their comfort is like a boa constrictor. They are squeezing the life out of you but you have the strength to cut them loose. Stop punishing yourself for all the ways you think you don’t measure up. Open your eyes and see the value of who you are. You deserve to live. You are worthy of love. </span></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-88411552885331375702011-01-12T19:05:00.000-05:002011-01-12T19:05:23.641-05:00The Blizzard<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I’m not talking about the comforting ice cream treat known for its gravity defying deliciousness.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Unfortunately, this is not that kind of blizzard.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiFjYIYnJmuq1-CwWnZ5jcmwB8LM69eqQvu8felpWZAcUvaEmynvodXE4JkmdTvgzkVu6q6dFsyioyp0zfAkdGdz0oIVWO9LVr9LiKe8U-Z7DAUCf1Rf7r2yKaIolehKEJwK2FIDFRDF8/s1600/IMG_2533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiFjYIYnJmuq1-CwWnZ5jcmwB8LM69eqQvu8felpWZAcUvaEmynvodXE4JkmdTvgzkVu6q6dFsyioyp0zfAkdGdz0oIVWO9LVr9LiKe8U-Z7DAUCf1Rf7r2yKaIolehKEJwK2FIDFRDF8/s320/IMG_2533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbBPEU31vBmKxQ5DJCONnJsRlSCTom_UzMhax53D-tP0mtBHX90KqXMaGyVzonKXZAMW5AV8riQPcUb7TionG5bhr1mdMO0ODXNfTf-D0KxzVbgg3V2rop4bIINPKqes-W8Y4LxAxRNCb/s1600/IMG_2537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbBPEU31vBmKxQ5DJCONnJsRlSCTom_UzMhax53D-tP0mtBHX90KqXMaGyVzonKXZAMW5AV8riQPcUb7TionG5bhr1mdMO0ODXNfTf-D0KxzVbgg3V2rop4bIINPKqes-W8Y4LxAxRNCb/s320/IMG_2537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> Connecticut</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8R00ozRLugX7rP4s9ieAcN9blgeGgXtDpsoq2laKIMJLajkpR_fSlr4U6ib5OEUH8Coj8zrbIWkaaFTsZiw-mAJuV9t4xnolLC6kMt8axtNq_gHNbDgSPCq9-n8yVka497mvHWQllZjR/s1600/IMG_2538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8R00ozRLugX7rP4s9ieAcN9blgeGgXtDpsoq2laKIMJLajkpR_fSlr4U6ib5OEUH8Coj8zrbIWkaaFTsZiw-mAJuV9t4xnolLC6kMt8axtNq_gHNbDgSPCq9-n8yVka497mvHWQllZjR/s320/IMG_2538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMU-teyto_JrHBx3vXfbwIgbh5xZZH-RRDayJlUUa1BCRJc77efYqUYMXfSvy9g3QnMOEb9il8mlynm20KmbaL8aHNSRg5s2pP05iRUj-vsa3Zjn1Z59bHAZriLbnhyA8Kgj7HIsXl8PM/s1600/IMG_2539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMU-teyto_JrHBx3vXfbwIgbh5xZZH-RRDayJlUUa1BCRJc77efYqUYMXfSvy9g3QnMOEb9il8mlynm20KmbaL8aHNSRg5s2pP05iRUj-vsa3Zjn1Z59bHAZriLbnhyA8Kgj7HIsXl8PM/s320/IMG_2539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxr0ErDUT-wZutRJvyG64gzfXcGvajbHZOwWV_mOfE24mYdH0uautM2VHpQTapoW88yN0kqlAGtoC-dh2AE9usLEnIOWUHJkz-E-Wx1uAPFsy2XGi46_txjgDpe5iXjfg1C1CZkdxJDcM/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxr0ErDUT-wZutRJvyG64gzfXcGvajbHZOwWV_mOfE24mYdH0uautM2VHpQTapoW88yN0kqlAGtoC-dh2AE9usLEnIOWUHJkz-E-Wx1uAPFsy2XGi46_txjgDpe5iXjfg1C1CZkdxJDcM/s320/IMG_2540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When there's two feet of snowflakes, whipping wind and nose-numbing temps that's when I wish I was on the equator with 'The Blizzard' in a cup. </span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-51529227481546182192011-01-01T06:10:00.009-05:002011-01-01T06:10:01.436-05:00The Year of Miracles<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mir·a·cle</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mir</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">uh</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-k</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">uh</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">l]</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">–noun</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a wonder; marvel.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDSBQtHk-RSRi-kH_yoZRRFw8GfWC6OMM1VRUmaNPPyFae1jFF4voC4WA8bewxoAaG3hUELVvbTgWpp8HVqon-cWJ9mwpYgeAag184Mi-fInMEC7LnOQ41BDZPf2TwPX9XelHgiHf2CNR/s1600/Miracles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDSBQtHk-RSRi-kH_yoZRRFw8GfWC6OMM1VRUmaNPPyFae1jFF4voC4WA8bewxoAaG3hUELVvbTgWpp8HVqon-cWJ9mwpYgeAag184Mi-fInMEC7LnOQ41BDZPf2TwPX9XelHgiHf2CNR/s320/Miracles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t know about you but I need a miracle; more than one, actually. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things in my world that keep blinding me with a flashing sign that says, “impossible”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things that keep telling me, “Give up. It doesn’t matter. Things will never change.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things that haven’t changed in all my adult years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things that I’ve come to accept and things I have stopped fighting for. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things that I have lost hope for and there are things that have grated my faith into a pile of dust. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, this year I need miracles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to find hope and faith again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need a work of God that is beyond my human powers and in 2011 that’s what I’m asking for and that’s what I’ll be looking for because in the words of Reepicheep, "All's not as lost as it seems". </span></span></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-78965859815229152032010-12-31T06:28:00.017-05:002010-12-31T06:28:00.354-05:00The Last Chapter of 2010<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the start of this year, I felt like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://christinafields.blogspot.com/2010/01/story-of-2010.html">“story”</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was to be the theme.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">2009 was the year of <a href="http://christinafields.blogspot.com/2009/01/whew.html">“unexpected surprises”</a>. All of 2009 echoed that motif and when it was time to flip the calendar, I was excited about the </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> that would be told in 2010. I should have known that the </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> would read far different than I anticipated and would be filled with twists that I didn’t see coming. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">There were unpredicted turns in all areas of my life. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I spent two-thirds of the year unemployed and survived on my savings. I writhed in uncertainty and floundered with little direction. There were speed bumps and U-turns and detours that kept my head spinning and my heart mangled. There are many pages that could have been written differently and many days that could have been lived better. My goals went M.I.A as my decisions were paralyzed. I waited, as if some unidentified shooting star would give me a clue. What I “should” do wrestled with what I really want for my life. Desire vs. Reality smack-down. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I traveled more this year than I have in any 12 months, ever. From the beaches of Key West to the shores of Whidbey Island, I saw the beauty of this great land from coast to coast. There’s something about experiencing the diversity of values and lifestyles and accents of different regions that filled me with a new sense of pride in my country and appreciation for life. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqS19NK7y_HhRglbQoeY_ZmKQlGbi4fZFD5KhxwiY0-TASnO9hca-4ab2e73sHdi_TghhPmnpUnG45SEFxqtW026zYneNAuh6FmS0KaplnxpYZ0d5Fknb-iclDX9CNiqjpAXe_aJK0VZ3h/s1600/P2040296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqS19NK7y_HhRglbQoeY_ZmKQlGbi4fZFD5KhxwiY0-TASnO9hca-4ab2e73sHdi_TghhPmnpUnG45SEFxqtW026zYneNAuh6FmS0KaplnxpYZ0d5Fknb-iclDX9CNiqjpAXe_aJK0VZ3h/s320/P2040296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmysyvaxRo6zO_n6w_8xOe-B49tWrc4_bt3S80zQBViTQ6j_77818NHDbXQwG-AEzKJKwOyhFCCXYYfQCm9zkF5Zn4bkVtcaMQwL-aQbXwA0EbBJ3KcKgQYRjrM0Qp5S1f3BumJpuWbjod/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmysyvaxRo6zO_n6w_8xOe-B49tWrc4_bt3S80zQBViTQ6j_77818NHDbXQwG-AEzKJKwOyhFCCXYYfQCm9zkF5Zn4bkVtcaMQwL-aQbXwA0EbBJ3KcKgQYRjrM0Qp5S1f3BumJpuWbjod/s320/IMG_1989.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> of 2010 wasn’t a best selling thriller but never the less, I learned that when my expectation does not get the desired result, it is what I choose that creates the turning point which allows the </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> to take off in a new way. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I uncovered new dimensions in my own character and polarizing people and even a triangle of love. After all, a good </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> involves love being pulled in multiple directions. </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> is about choices. In 2010 I made some good ones and some not so good ones. </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> is fraught with crisis. There was plenty of inner conflict and interpersonal conflict and conflict of physical and financial limitations. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">But the magic of </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> that gripped me in 2010 is the contrast of what happens outwardly, on the surface, the seen parts of life verses what is happening on the inside, the feelings, thoughts and truth that lie underneath what is seen. There is always something else going on. Nothing is as it seems.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Knowing there is more than what I can see in any given situation is the hope that pushes me into 2011. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">story</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> isn’t over but the next act sure is in need of a <b>miracle</b>. </span></span></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-45684529490137732082010-12-25T05:30:00.007-05:002010-12-25T05:30:01.211-05:00Christmas Cheer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YYoOPTk7neRQLAA0G8ZO2GdDHgFw22-o44QAUb_x4EpJ2MGMnuooMvBz_UzO_kl9H7MF8iXAjUBb7CLr8oRTIvYqhrMuhjG1I7z9hJ82t2ZVb39of-hjyVBmt_axFJ_JjJ_veUduaCWC/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YYoOPTk7neRQLAA0G8ZO2GdDHgFw22-o44QAUb_x4EpJ2MGMnuooMvBz_UzO_kl9H7MF8iXAjUBb7CLr8oRTIvYqhrMuhjG1I7z9hJ82t2ZVb39of-hjyVBmt_axFJ_JjJ_veUduaCWC/s400/IMG_2369.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4-1HgQbjpp1UGKPSUIcDncZBrcgYd16CShmrohSIof4R3NnRLY5MIxq9c6lbtyzlkRAfbm6N8K63MY3e8TvLaFrScEWdGA1Y8B9Ps2kW1x8JqSmkftW6MdgVMccVgggqtaISXPfP8xAF/s1600/xmas07191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4-1HgQbjpp1UGKPSUIcDncZBrcgYd16CShmrohSIof4R3NnRLY5MIxq9c6lbtyzlkRAfbm6N8K63MY3e8TvLaFrScEWdGA1Y8B9Ps2kW1x8JqSmkftW6MdgVMccVgggqtaISXPfP8xAF/s400/xmas07191.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-33023537103624468082010-11-17T23:01:00.000-05:002010-11-17T23:01:02.516-05:00Love Rewards The Brave<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcb4Hh0IzxcLK9gWl0jq8mV_4MO9CO_SpS2VTu_deO5VZ1hbE24eqV7U28xSwl-yFMUrmMrOAPKzFXBNYN3NCquL72f2oHdadW99me4J6ng8H-E0gbjIEx3FobY4UYEEs7OELd-5Bio75w/s1600/truisms-jan-09_0002-600x384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcb4Hh0IzxcLK9gWl0jq8mV_4MO9CO_SpS2VTu_deO5VZ1hbE24eqV7U28xSwl-yFMUrmMrOAPKzFXBNYN3NCquL72f2oHdadW99me4J6ng8H-E0gbjIEx3FobY4UYEEs7OELd-5Bio75w/s320/truisms-jan-09_0002-600x384.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whitehottruth.com/">Truism courtesy of Danielle Laporte</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="http://whitehottruth.com/category/truisms-from-danielle/page/3/">Love rewards the brave.</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I love that thought.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What does it really mean to be brave? </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It means sending an email or a text message when I’m uncertain of how it will be received. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It means asking an uncomfortable question that might be returned with a flippant response. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It means openly responding from a fragile place when I want to protect my heart. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It means taking a risk when the past tries to make me believe the future will be no different. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It means offering kindness when my trust has been betrayed. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It means not giving up when that would be the easiest and logical thing to do. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The rewards of love often are not as we expect. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Silence may be the only response to a brave text or email. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ridicule may punctuate the response to an uncomfortable question. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Disconnection may close the open conversation. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The future may, in fact, repeat the past. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another wound may crush the gesture of kindness. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Loneliness may be the only companion of sticking with it.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Being brave does not guarantee benefits on our terms. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The prize may indeed be gained by getting what we want </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The riches of love may lie in the strength of character that courage has created.</span></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-19743319170795607232010-11-05T18:32:00.001-04:002010-11-05T18:32:40.582-04:00The Epic Expedition: The Home Stretch<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The 4Runner wagon train pointed westward once again as the sun came up over Colorado on Day 14. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW1kfi8yZ-ZKJDsbX2QB3Jt8VrnrGyyeCsnEC_VRe6pEsFYHM8UlQXoWeKK3Z460zzJX2m6OHvGGO6aOO_dPkteIS-TkRaekGs5Zx8jXLDoIDpruxUEjVZ3qsgjnh7s-Pp-q2alqFuqJL/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW1kfi8yZ-ZKJDsbX2QB3Jt8VrnrGyyeCsnEC_VRe6pEsFYHM8UlQXoWeKK3Z460zzJX2m6OHvGGO6aOO_dPkteIS-TkRaekGs5Zx8jXLDoIDpruxUEjVZ3qsgjnh7s-Pp-q2alqFuqJL/s320/IMG_1725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A pit stop at The Great Salt Lake marked halfway for that day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo2166nQkacd8VpaXoCTsPzFfwp7m7d1tgmll0UfBnX1kO4RcoWpPGGogOBrLl_6kSgtoukr_rUAWtGuw4TVr8breD0gWsxH9RVSvZnM3EldgjlfNI2Um8OQMkSGk0U4xKhhdp_8T0T_y/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo2166nQkacd8VpaXoCTsPzFfwp7m7d1tgmll0UfBnX1kO4RcoWpPGGogOBrLl_6kSgtoukr_rUAWtGuw4TVr8breD0gWsxH9RVSvZnM3EldgjlfNI2Um8OQMkSGk0U4xKhhdp_8T0T_y/s320/IMG_1754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWsAVPx4ofpny8ZwG9NbQuH32tCin0b439YPOZgyTupOhXG1RUGNLAdgCze-AW301g762YVlGXna-q5HfHNJK_KruQOF979Ql6slTxWgyWmx9O7g6PFlbeL5VE11hQC6yTUvxSP2k8xMA/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWsAVPx4ofpny8ZwG9NbQuH32tCin0b439YPOZgyTupOhXG1RUGNLAdgCze-AW301g762YVlGXna-q5HfHNJK_KruQOF979Ql6slTxWgyWmx9O7g6PFlbeL5VE11hQC6yTUvxSP2k8xMA/s320/IMG_1755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Driving west from Salt Lake City, we traversed 100 miles of desolation. It was flat and literally possessed no life. Not one animal, tree, town, tumbleweed, bird, or bush could be seen for miles. Interestingly, mountains in the distance bordered the desert but leading up to those mountains was nothing. It was the most intriguing terrain that we had driven through so far. In west Texas, New Mexico, parts of Colorado and even east Utah, the desolate spots still had sage brush and prairie grass, birds and prairie dogs, but this was a different kind of desert; completely lifeless. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wG8taDRP8wgtLccLZWJETCDeghASqudPNss1fDEmkf2-yu2RGnKJeGVxAHiDRwHLdkWDP9wftjE-EfIOqT0wTaj_NKIvlPaDGFvRmxzl1g78hZaskncrG1gaxDgG1lIiO9suWboNm7JY/s1600/IMG_1760_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wG8taDRP8wgtLccLZWJETCDeghASqudPNss1fDEmkf2-yu2RGnKJeGVxAHiDRwHLdkWDP9wftjE-EfIOqT0wTaj_NKIvlPaDGFvRmxzl1g78hZaskncrG1gaxDgG1lIiO9suWboNm7JY/s320/IMG_1760_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXHDgDjXkP7rULJ9oRQV1Gg3BVS2fi5GDj3e30Ho7CwN73sWw7kztag13pKAslZeGlhPaTtq1WsXj68v556F58JlJ1t767lMpEAriR0qC9Uv79LRkFBQoo4Ue3QIvs4qZdeOK_JqTuHAC/s1600/IMG_1761_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXHDgDjXkP7rULJ9oRQV1Gg3BVS2fi5GDj3e30Ho7CwN73sWw7kztag13pKAslZeGlhPaTtq1WsXj68v556F58JlJ1t767lMpEAriR0qC9Uv79LRkFBQoo4Ue3QIvs4qZdeOK_JqTuHAC/s320/IMG_1761_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Every town in Nevada that's big enough to have a gas station and hotel was dotted with casinos, some of which were sun bleached and had seen better days. In Nevada, the sun beats down on all who take a risk whether big or small; but it sets with a spectacle to rival blinking lights and ringing slot machines. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJIOa2mAzyM4pzuR-YEZIDySigy6eBXZUz1X3jhCYXYIWQ5LKN8CEt6WBvv7lR-VWt5i7A15ImkbAaTYNDvh1yXndZXCVfwQBdVSheYoBt841ItG65HFx5qSN4A96jDK_fI62NOny0vTw/s1600/IMG_1773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJIOa2mAzyM4pzuR-YEZIDySigy6eBXZUz1X3jhCYXYIWQ5LKN8CEt6WBvv7lR-VWt5i7A15ImkbAaTYNDvh1yXndZXCVfwQBdVSheYoBt841ItG65HFx5qSN4A96jDK_fI62NOny0vTw/s320/IMG_1773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcQnw1aSEjsDjFktN2KMhjyt3Zo6fkMacNQzLzsSg25b3Fla3CXM0YFbAx1p20r7a-PQXkrIvoidqjcXK6GAiEMm9zo_HMK3dLrkR_RXQKVjg4MCM6hJ6Qu-MPM05J92T84pt4ifyyiXL/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcQnw1aSEjsDjFktN2KMhjyt3Zo6fkMacNQzLzsSg25b3Fla3CXM0YFbAx1p20r7a-PQXkrIvoidqjcXK6GAiEMm9zo_HMK3dLrkR_RXQKVjg4MCM6hJ6Qu-MPM05J92T84pt4ifyyiXL/s320/IMG_1776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2SNyi4919KKGJVz-pFLNycFT4hy2GLJQIjcpP2MFEnzLCHQF6AYmMEJfdoAJWhpBZNXz8qLQuPg3H4vDP5ODYfgrccT-Y0XAAk4Nzbmm-sNyGIO-FQoobmBZtsI6SSGL6EdaAWPwVy0q/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2SNyi4919KKGJVz-pFLNycFT4hy2GLJQIjcpP2MFEnzLCHQF6AYmMEJfdoAJWhpBZNXz8qLQuPg3H4vDP5ODYfgrccT-Y0XAAk4Nzbmm-sNyGIO-FQoobmBZtsI6SSGL6EdaAWPwVy0q/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Crossing into California, we took another lakeside detour. Lake Tahoe was well worth roving 45 minutes off course.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWlhxy62vFLXHkjfBks97sMuGOW4Rh9lUNMsTnldmcl8ubLVwRIjrz9CJ54MqP5-Yx7kyLil_FHvZY6nEgEuZPhRN5cfA5XBUPDNi-1a7_tuurL2EglKpCgzUm4zY9ezm_4xSAkzJjFCt/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWlhxy62vFLXHkjfBks97sMuGOW4Rh9lUNMsTnldmcl8ubLVwRIjrz9CJ54MqP5-Yx7kyLil_FHvZY6nEgEuZPhRN5cfA5XBUPDNi-1a7_tuurL2EglKpCgzUm4zY9ezm_4xSAkzJjFCt/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghViOxzJvaC_sBaYB2J1_3_eIfdo32_jw2WE12oE7bDwzBBJRhzuUpeSRg9d4rvxs6lklqgtUK9-DKf_SX3NVXmW2SJWmPa6SeToiWjo9krHTa0AcL39sZWIMnw5PJ-4u1X8SBSbME887w/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghViOxzJvaC_sBaYB2J1_3_eIfdo32_jw2WE12oE7bDwzBBJRhzuUpeSRg9d4rvxs6lklqgtUK9-DKf_SX3NVXmW2SJWmPa6SeToiWjo9krHTa0AcL39sZWIMnw5PJ-4u1X8SBSbME887w/s320/IMG_1794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsNq6Z-cVpfbAUnjdiM97z-atmfALTHEHuUJCFuRE82Ej3iD_F-vxKkyk3fwrAho6dQywLrW4iRId3OhWUkqYNoQh7jdZtCp-Mzy-P9qEMDmZmryXUhjB6e6JeT0iIiQQMFRfJfHRutfz/s1600/IMG_1795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsNq6Z-cVpfbAUnjdiM97z-atmfALTHEHuUJCFuRE82Ej3iD_F-vxKkyk3fwrAho6dQywLrW4iRId3OhWUkqYNoQh7jdZtCp-Mzy-P9qEMDmZmryXUhjB6e6JeT0iIiQQMFRfJfHRutfz/s320/IMG_1795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8g6U6aIR-AtsR7LMmVjjeMDNx67SJuwgXsq4kAubm6_nh5M7CrnEEQHoiotJC4UiY7QIVYpr56K32QQYsMeiF4cUlAAamYybWirHvbTo1FLTFHoX6O_rHKwr0bvnm8ePo-lQqc7W2PSS/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8g6U6aIR-AtsR7LMmVjjeMDNx67SJuwgXsq4kAubm6_nh5M7CrnEEQHoiotJC4UiY7QIVYpr56K32QQYsMeiF4cUlAAamYybWirHvbTo1FLTFHoX6O_rHKwr0bvnm8ePo-lQqc7W2PSS/s320/IMG_1797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The skies were filled with sunshine for 2 weeks and 2/3 of the states we passed through. Then, northern California spoke up and reminded us that we were nearing the Pacific Northwest. It rained for the next five days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Lxbhq3MDQqGI2XObxPqoZt7sYIRAyqMZp8xA_-XUjCADBzW_CjtuFAlaW0gTSHvpa_GkNN43BtdFeoH-kq8DPZNlAVb_QkL6K-Rlx8FzCgtPewokTBae6whxB-M5AwLo44sPdXDFLOX/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Lxbhq3MDQqGI2XObxPqoZt7sYIRAyqMZp8xA_-XUjCADBzW_CjtuFAlaW0gTSHvpa_GkNN43BtdFeoH-kq8DPZNlAVb_QkL6K-Rlx8FzCgtPewokTBae6whxB-M5AwLo44sPdXDFLOX/s320/IMG_1846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_IUjQOHBJBOQD5k9M0pliC2007NP4di5Pj7A3t7XOSPTc6rNeD72o56KLIIG6XEJq_1eKjOat84AQi6TafXCvYK74jr9cs6Vh-UwflcVKA4vxUSkmGfLcnluSmdomISc5hfgAfCOa2E0/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_IUjQOHBJBOQD5k9M0pliC2007NP4di5Pj7A3t7XOSPTc6rNeD72o56KLIIG6XEJq_1eKjOat84AQi6TafXCvYK74jr9cs6Vh-UwflcVKA4vxUSkmGfLcnluSmdomISc5hfgAfCOa2E0/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Redding, California is home to the sundial bridge. A unique sight to see but slippery when wet. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07MvLV-r5FTWxilV-Q02Snu-uku6_J-9ZRGqGUFGQaFyVWgLJRmJwu6m6XUI3UBUX15bFPdsNrol2COViKhrXfOARne3bxf9w6PzU0ZJX-U3yUgu9_BjooKe_UZC_jjkc-5crHrRAIO55/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07MvLV-r5FTWxilV-Q02Snu-uku6_J-9ZRGqGUFGQaFyVWgLJRmJwu6m6XUI3UBUX15bFPdsNrol2COViKhrXfOARne3bxf9w6PzU0ZJX-U3yUgu9_BjooKe_UZC_jjkc-5crHrRAIO55/s320/IMG_1829.JPG" width="234" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjiO2Y7X6qTvGRSDI5nPrJoQWWF0Xq4sj5abKPULHLil10grXca4NCx9mBK8l2EDmvq23G4y60qfJnYniN4hX_9P5hSv879P6p5W6SGn6Y8IuVAJQEDirFXbt-EUvFYjBrsbEt1nnm439/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjiO2Y7X6qTvGRSDI5nPrJoQWWF0Xq4sj5abKPULHLil10grXca4NCx9mBK8l2EDmvq23G4y60qfJnYniN4hX_9P5hSv879P6p5W6SGn6Y8IuVAJQEDirFXbt-EUvFYjBrsbEt1nnm439/s320/IMG_1834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Up, over Mt. Shasta, we dropped into Oregon, driving from south to north. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6Z1SJPegvsIAikdQH0r4y4A2b5-A6bU8GgZSegBRZWJLgzL0zgAbpTvxgitgRi9QaOR6BJgEMfVXv7SG8RpuKthOc3ak6jJjyM5LqIJd2LWsp-1JCNakQPGJB4KzbniGWo1djYKW91do/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6Z1SJPegvsIAikdQH0r4y4A2b5-A6bU8GgZSegBRZWJLgzL0zgAbpTvxgitgRi9QaOR6BJgEMfVXv7SG8RpuKthOc3ak6jJjyM5LqIJd2LWsp-1JCNakQPGJB4KzbniGWo1djYKW91do/s320/IMG_1862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRHkuXzF3wmHz4Qzra7zPcvw3yy5PofqjyTZ8CFx-zmBz5iaspQ1pGTFx1vZxPh6R4oWwJjEAobAO79V4_Wg_9_Kqc5tzghQcl_lR1tcfVMOm1Va7F4_ZIr_nAnihMdMnbTE_aJm0PjVZ/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRHkuXzF3wmHz4Qzra7zPcvw3yy5PofqjyTZ8CFx-zmBz5iaspQ1pGTFx1vZxPh6R4oWwJjEAobAO79V4_Wg_9_Kqc5tzghQcl_lR1tcfVMOm1Va7F4_ZIr_nAnihMdMnbTE_aJm0PjVZ/s320/IMG_1874.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhYK-CCTCWJR0GEnCs0vOtj_sDeZzEqFgj9R084T1_nP81-faccL8zk9BGnCBnqONyFsPGJN_sebsKM38fe7T7mstB2eJdWwc7Fi4MWWW_QzibQ_zNTMEEI3wF_1inPpvntFFNwdln0e7/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhYK-CCTCWJR0GEnCs0vOtj_sDeZzEqFgj9R084T1_nP81-faccL8zk9BGnCBnqONyFsPGJN_sebsKM38fe7T7mstB2eJdWwc7Fi4MWWW_QzibQ_zNTMEEI3wF_1inPpvntFFNwdln0e7/s320/IMG_1877.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Then, Portland and on to Seattle.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pxSeHSfcyFUVdOW0JnZV1LatrNDvYLqk3IQzg9-dgmaE95_Mz9g26ZN-Q_gvd0xz5gqC2J5XgE7l7fI6V5r84wvmofq3-yvCwEQjO2t7lPXptpmvUWL8VYedfyWllSBtAe1FScDPIp2E/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pxSeHSfcyFUVdOW0JnZV1LatrNDvYLqk3IQzg9-dgmaE95_Mz9g26ZN-Q_gvd0xz5gqC2J5XgE7l7fI6V5r84wvmofq3-yvCwEQjO2t7lPXptpmvUWL8VYedfyWllSBtAe1FScDPIp2E/s320/IMG_1893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYn0lGTprwMRp_OpoFL_o43tTO940DFOvsDAyFzNHApZ7Uk708rWx3Mkb4_vt9Sf8NQQkTwMMfgA4hPswj5uk4Q2_WXgEL9yLdtF0Fa_K0yyLAQ1TqGjKdx_zR0aO72tW0QGN-sVXD2Rl/s1600/IMG_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYn0lGTprwMRp_OpoFL_o43tTO940DFOvsDAyFzNHApZ7Uk708rWx3Mkb4_vt9Sf8NQQkTwMMfgA4hPswj5uk4Q2_WXgEL9yLdtF0Fa_K0yyLAQ1TqGjKdx_zR0aO72tW0QGN-sVXD2Rl/s320/IMG_1895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjQvqms9dBKLwbDXHojlBOZc_PvAwFo6jOR6ateYuBF077bF16OU1lBl8r40BIye24zIjLJ-N4FLJaZO_xBl_cYaZBPdJK564XX7xvQlLaIL9h8DWIJK0bjF0SZleq-YVCX2gosrShW1_/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjQvqms9dBKLwbDXHojlBOZc_PvAwFo6jOR6ateYuBF077bF16OU1lBl8r40BIye24zIjLJ-N4FLJaZO_xBl_cYaZBPdJK564XX7xvQlLaIL9h8DWIJK0bjF0SZleq-YVCX2gosrShW1_/s320/IMG_1900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfp52SbAzGUW5HazbWi3yFB8_o3bhKMXCWbRLBy6qlUiGh4iTl_EQqQqi2Nr9e5ICg_VVb0zXliv29pseRS6fcPRZwDu76VnrLdHALU5gmGWI9p8nRSK5xGVLh859lZsIcLvG9OevqQuj/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfp52SbAzGUW5HazbWi3yFB8_o3bhKMXCWbRLBy6qlUiGh4iTl_EQqQqi2Nr9e5ICg_VVb0zXliv29pseRS6fcPRZwDu76VnrLdHALU5gmGWI9p8nRSK5xGVLh859lZsIcLvG9OevqQuj/s320/IMG_2106.JPG" width="306" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Finally, to Whidbey Island.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Q3Lbmcu0p5JBlQxS__YJ23TBGja-ksEDCYAr7GVIGIZfIo76Mp_CNcsepcNTQSjU1F5v-PkaXuVLeuM4mQj2JRC6wOrTxLIv_mG1AWDHiDj0aUZvejN2vknOP3LUr8gEUlYHlD6EOsV/s1600/IMG_1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Q3Lbmcu0p5JBlQxS__YJ23TBGja-ksEDCYAr7GVIGIZfIo76Mp_CNcsepcNTQSjU1F5v-PkaXuVLeuM4mQj2JRC6wOrTxLIv_mG1AWDHiDj0aUZvejN2vknOP3LUr8gEUlYHlD6EOsV/s320/IMG_1913.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8n5ZkWHrMBHLz6UPLx5_16pEYmISimn9FNc1JR3BJIG-1Zs1VXNjafK66pjmy4PVOuCEkh24M-Etckk4Xsf3uhTkj1XVO3tWbpEtIgSjtggj4YWzPqkeBDg_j9WXBLl2rBRk8v0RY5LB/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8n5ZkWHrMBHLz6UPLx5_16pEYmISimn9FNc1JR3BJIG-1Zs1VXNjafK66pjmy4PVOuCEkh24M-Etckk4Xsf3uhTkj1XVO3tWbpEtIgSjtggj4YWzPqkeBDg_j9WXBLl2rBRk8v0RY5LB/s320/IMG_1932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HnUfRMyafzxzZhEA0iuBXwgVWWcfzlIFBNRrZTZZXTX3KIn40b0ITbxezTAtoR0JUsQoSeKQFo7hFYmoTLLDLCngEl9R84A5LSLpwyPdzv5OZWAu0AjLnfHhVKoS8Mcn0rn3aenCRacv/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HnUfRMyafzxzZhEA0iuBXwgVWWcfzlIFBNRrZTZZXTX3KIn40b0ITbxezTAtoR0JUsQoSeKQFo7hFYmoTLLDLCngEl9R84A5LSLpwyPdzv5OZWAu0AjLnfHhVKoS8Mcn0rn3aenCRacv/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VOcElzgxpq-vaEYOG48ZsYZ822tj7WRrZwF4De9trphLVT_GVTzWzMTWresg8jlBEQw9PAH-qJ6VJTJJ1GtRmn2j9Q4L5l7UuXp8nEXXJyDCxGXd0MOKrs4Oufx9bj-8OD1svAbFpcsc/s1600/IMG_1943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VOcElzgxpq-vaEYOG48ZsYZ822tj7WRrZwF4De9trphLVT_GVTzWzMTWresg8jlBEQw9PAH-qJ6VJTJJ1GtRmn2j9Q4L5l7UuXp8nEXXJyDCxGXd0MOKrs4Oufx9bj-8OD1svAbFpcsc/s320/IMG_1943.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Of all the diversity that is offered by these United States, the final destination of this trip brought the pay-off. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z7Z5W0QINKFIMQ9gXGBd9agNKh1n5_E8NcAQsgOdZ3nIO75epz81wC0Db7uiwaSEuvs78i2CJppElpH3KtNnppLnUswud1RqXPCyrwdIwqBamA-Ul_Ket0wCeXT-1e1Utl7o5CdWdiXs/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z7Z5W0QINKFIMQ9gXGBd9agNKh1n5_E8NcAQsgOdZ3nIO75epz81wC0Db7uiwaSEuvs78i2CJppElpH3KtNnppLnUswud1RqXPCyrwdIwqBamA-Ul_Ket0wCeXT-1e1Utl7o5CdWdiXs/s320/IMG_2025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdrpb1UZpHvOl2RBKoj9biLH6OT70FgKvmu7uO41bRHosnnYESm_IBEl4XBfdJEJWehrxhhrixAIFaZG04DpoEjV9YG6VPVoQxZchvkMGRY_mlhQ60eq1lyGG-mVle3VuntRIruIwVYxB/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdrpb1UZpHvOl2RBKoj9biLH6OT70FgKvmu7uO41bRHosnnYESm_IBEl4XBfdJEJWehrxhhrixAIFaZG04DpoEjV9YG6VPVoQxZchvkMGRY_mlhQ60eq1lyGG-mVle3VuntRIruIwVYxB/s320/IMG_2076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qqXHP9lUp6OdOug02NR_3pnX0W5b2IKuXLBHpBWIvH6RCKWADN0XlPyywcS7U4ouoRi_6x0TOZ2F2dO4OmpvqvlWuyLVPUggoTR1qHIcLgyiVOCqJHzpRWFpQ-IaE88Z1Kq3aPHdfm0s/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qqXHP9lUp6OdOug02NR_3pnX0W5b2IKuXLBHpBWIvH6RCKWADN0XlPyywcS7U4ouoRi_6x0TOZ2F2dO4OmpvqvlWuyLVPUggoTR1qHIcLgyiVOCqJHzpRWFpQ-IaE88Z1Kq3aPHdfm0s/s320/IMG_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The grandeur of jagged peaks rising from sea level is breathtaking. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5-Sj3W_TBT0gh8fRt2Q2iNVJBdbihwvWsbT9s-7LtMgw2EI9798O8HJXJZUsXjRxbHbe2rElqx1Ex91EUFMKW4ZaJKLLqpIJCPppbwNc-gn3vPO6vDAF5NxbgY1BcYGuh0wCYUdDhBJw/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5-Sj3W_TBT0gh8fRt2Q2iNVJBdbihwvWsbT9s-7LtMgw2EI9798O8HJXJZUsXjRxbHbe2rElqx1Ex91EUFMKW4ZaJKLLqpIJCPppbwNc-gn3vPO6vDAF5NxbgY1BcYGuh0wCYUdDhBJw/s320/IMG_1973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNJJiMcBTjx311TJgKCY7dUiNNWzWuib86wiJzMsesPFAUncophewGoMWASveZ6ESx9l2n5SLkMGnXfTiHxUrsHvcCSBt0LTy60BvyhyqHEf-JvhRw3yh2BnnhQZCNZR_S7La5YomX9EL/s1600/IMG_2095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNJJiMcBTjx311TJgKCY7dUiNNWzWuib86wiJzMsesPFAUncophewGoMWASveZ6ESx9l2n5SLkMGnXfTiHxUrsHvcCSBt0LTy60BvyhyqHEf-JvhRw3yh2BnnhQZCNZR_S7La5YomX9EL/s320/IMG_2095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sitting on the peaceful shores of this island, I could let time pass without a care. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The beauty is that enchanting. </span></span></span></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-80523572152614171292010-10-21T01:13:00.000-04:002010-10-21T01:13:24.184-04:00The Epic Expedition: In The Middle<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">They say everything is bigger in Texas. I’m not sure if that’s true but I can tell you that we covered some serious mileage in that state. After spending a day and a half in the Dallas – Fort Worth area it was time to brave the desolation of west Texas. There’s not much to look at but miles of dry open space with a few cotton and hay fields for good measure. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRhL9eKQzh59R_CaOfXxvsUTIv-nsCClwzLuUnXDUgp-M_K6BiZyAytbF1M6jpTrj4jJdi5YeNOZi0fP6dsT0JCPgUChzSafx13E2J2jzEULPGEtXX0seXbqgWsHjqQtrJq4pX71wT0l0/s1600/IMG_1509_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRhL9eKQzh59R_CaOfXxvsUTIv-nsCClwzLuUnXDUgp-M_K6BiZyAytbF1M6jpTrj4jJdi5YeNOZi0fP6dsT0JCPgUChzSafx13E2J2jzEULPGEtXX0seXbqgWsHjqQtrJq4pX71wT0l0/s320/IMG_1509_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfWUO_nfUAbQCVPXywdo5FOMwPPcqgg59nic6qW50Qd8IVN2nX1V8GaNq5Mdf0CPDPF6HEyPoMApIyN3I9BiDTOdl5KIj9E3Xkg3BxQoLZ9xZiRaNGkfjsJZRO1hnByoh_wwtdZgeEl36/s1600/IMG_1508_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfWUO_nfUAbQCVPXywdo5FOMwPPcqgg59nic6qW50Qd8IVN2nX1V8GaNq5Mdf0CPDPF6HEyPoMApIyN3I9BiDTOdl5KIj9E3Xkg3BxQoLZ9xZiRaNGkfjsJZRO1hnByoh_wwtdZgeEl36/s320/IMG_1508_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Amarillo was nice enough to welcome us by late afternoon. The famed </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bigtexan.com/">Big Texan Steak Ranch</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> was on our list of roadside stops. If you can eat the 72 oz. steak dinner in one hour, it’s free. As much as I like a free meal, that one just wasn’t worth the digestive cost.</span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilX_u21xY4Y93X32qqQQwTpL0t9ZJXxLZCocbsNLv7sBISSaDb93hoA3faOb6l5wznpbTyqrld_hh_ZbrhpNdyXyHhwof5f_HOgYSR-ImmqnDAjpgHijFCuMzRawy4L3l9JRbq5LL9PYHZ/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilX_u21xY4Y93X32qqQQwTpL0t9ZJXxLZCocbsNLv7sBISSaDb93hoA3faOb6l5wznpbTyqrld_hh_ZbrhpNdyXyHhwof5f_HOgYSR-ImmqnDAjpgHijFCuMzRawy4L3l9JRbq5LL9PYHZ/s320/IMG_1482.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvvqe0maORgtBT-nFfx53wHrFysLCGeYPc8K1F1ZMr3E5dk3-8Nb951BQ1mwfih3QH3Kj9I-HM5MzKJ4xUqw4JICEfwtvjsr1HQWRt65Nn2n87Fsei29YV1y4pheJNhJcAe4Q41dC6JUd/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvvqe0maORgtBT-nFfx53wHrFysLCGeYPc8K1F1ZMr3E5dk3-8Nb951BQ1mwfih3QH3Kj9I-HM5MzKJ4xUqw4JICEfwtvjsr1HQWRt65Nn2n87Fsei29YV1y4pheJNhJcAe4Q41dC6JUd/s320/IMG_1489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">After driving 712 miles through the state of Texas alone, we crossed into The Land of Enchantment as the sun was sinking. I do believe those are bullet holes in the welcome sign. New Mexico isn’t very enchanting to me but what do I know? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXwQgY6HvKerIfHIFu5y5rOYNfwam96gdaSNAIWHYvzmdATMc4F1Hwz-eR-5Rapa9eghzMk_f3RGJhRFBMWdgO8PvzmmSwBNWr4DtD1jkegJdPfWl2lDFDzm0my4dMHkBgRndi_fsY0ha/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXwQgY6HvKerIfHIFu5y5rOYNfwam96gdaSNAIWHYvzmdATMc4F1Hwz-eR-5Rapa9eghzMk_f3RGJhRFBMWdgO8PvzmmSwBNWr4DtD1jkegJdPfWl2lDFDzm0my4dMHkBgRndi_fsY0ha/s320/IMG_1510.JPG" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bXYHSZapP6mLqmuoMJRDSc_ovW53fND9sTt6PpXxD8pCB_jYmHQWw2BkED-_ispD15TO6D2vNl6KTteY0leMf8GZQxQIFZ0F1zkyyZmwHQMK7Ps0BJMclzqN6_FETJ_U1GgOfmS0y78w/s1600/IMG_1528_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bXYHSZapP6mLqmuoMJRDSc_ovW53fND9sTt6PpXxD8pCB_jYmHQWw2BkED-_ispD15TO6D2vNl6KTteY0leMf8GZQxQIFZ0F1zkyyZmwHQMK7Ps0BJMclzqN6_FETJ_U1GgOfmS0y78w/s320/IMG_1528_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Next up, Colorado - and a weeklong pause. Taking the southern route from Raton, NM, we stopped at the Great Sand Dunes National Park.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebffldAGDiiZIfUzOK4S2HGhI6PWSOtRRUiDoiE4Er-DfYk7MwUvnRP-2O3-Qht_StBHSkjzdMYekQ5DkK-YSgT45hSG6Ss4PScNE5KkWdxyJGNSAAoq1-DQTEu9yJ783zPXlKHwCPwJI/s1600/IMG_1552_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebffldAGDiiZIfUzOK4S2HGhI6PWSOtRRUiDoiE4Er-DfYk7MwUvnRP-2O3-Qht_StBHSkjzdMYekQ5DkK-YSgT45hSG6Ss4PScNE5KkWdxyJGNSAAoq1-DQTEu9yJ783zPXlKHwCPwJI/s320/IMG_1552_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_zfz3djmt6F_nLFsFQ8hu3tcLdsRmkjWAD2rQ1URY4ZKLZvVtW422SbDrlayJ2RtjkbMZF-uk0HHMw_sWzY_ZCFlAESO6XSqqu5m9wvcMXqIOhG4NVy0Ci3MgwFR8Fqcu0JfL2GTYr0f/s1600/IMG_1556_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_zfz3djmt6F_nLFsFQ8hu3tcLdsRmkjWAD2rQ1URY4ZKLZvVtW422SbDrlayJ2RtjkbMZF-uk0HHMw_sWzY_ZCFlAESO6XSqqu5m9wvcMXqIOhG4NVy0Ci3MgwFR8Fqcu0JfL2GTYr0f/s320/IMG_1556_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The wheels stopped rolling while we stayed at Leah’s parents home. The Parker ranch sits at the base of Grand Mesa, in Cedaredge Colorado. This sleepy town holds the paradox of being so far from my current life and yet it’s still so much a part of who I am. This valley and the surrounding mountains are branded on me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3JoBUZR0EctMgI8q1d8xEAKP5f9hmlHBTEb4-dd_0Bog8qNExU3HeuDK_t9JqF-z5MuXWqKbPsVFF6nkBfI6KzWYz-0gVtN_0MfdCyVdm9NFrGqbcefwA_A3Z86a59Z-zRFqQvBFJAut/s1600/IMG_1606_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3JoBUZR0EctMgI8q1d8xEAKP5f9hmlHBTEb4-dd_0Bog8qNExU3HeuDK_t9JqF-z5MuXWqKbPsVFF6nkBfI6KzWYz-0gVtN_0MfdCyVdm9NFrGqbcefwA_A3Z86a59Z-zRFqQvBFJAut/s320/IMG_1606_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1miy3i9Xm2RTdNW8PvxSBigFMSGqj9ySkvX3AGveJWwGaxH_XgpLPrDz0rfjCjQqqxwozbsP6gHeBOVpx_4Iwnthfko1JqsJsqNWLn2cvNTvgKYPOqfx3AAx7sbJd6nJ-pO2uYofYZTdu/s1600/IMG_1662_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1miy3i9Xm2RTdNW8PvxSBigFMSGqj9ySkvX3AGveJWwGaxH_XgpLPrDz0rfjCjQqqxwozbsP6gHeBOVpx_4Iwnthfko1JqsJsqNWLn2cvNTvgKYPOqfx3AAx7sbJd6nJ-pO2uYofYZTdu/s320/IMG_1662_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Autumn in the Rockies is like the grand finale of fireworks on the 4</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">th</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> of July. The month of October is when the hills explode in 3-D color. The rugged peaks slide into winter with a dazzling display. Gold, red, orange, and brown are woven like ribbons among the evergreens. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq6-fK75O4YtPeWKjGQsZH_mkNfjeLGGU8whkRUSrZen2GXlFuh_eMAMNXpMjiidoeB4Pei28ZEZIXD8Lv1zrjYzkAv90li0gIhCYxSrGuCx1PAn679XpRDbFQYTlN9WRScr_vpLOZ6O7/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq6-fK75O4YtPeWKjGQsZH_mkNfjeLGGU8whkRUSrZen2GXlFuh_eMAMNXpMjiidoeB4Pei28ZEZIXD8Lv1zrjYzkAv90li0gIhCYxSrGuCx1PAn679XpRDbFQYTlN9WRScr_vpLOZ6O7/s320/IMG_1664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszQ-MAkI2Xc18Njc1E9vQIn-BJor86O2Zj78yy1U5SAfHDVECQEN6zeE2k_FMLh4STz45PT8y80FFyab4QqsMc6AIeUrKYKuaIOyKIgjK_urJe_ZwDQXztt3mxX74Y-IW6OO_XQdgUyNn/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszQ-MAkI2Xc18Njc1E9vQIn-BJor86O2Zj78yy1U5SAfHDVECQEN6zeE2k_FMLh4STz45PT8y80FFyab4QqsMc6AIeUrKYKuaIOyKIgjK_urJe_ZwDQXztt3mxX74Y-IW6OO_XQdgUyNn/s320/IMG_1672.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hiking the largest flat-topped mountain in the world was an afternoon delight.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyzwGT0ee9RtFCpNcFHLgz7Tvql3n2M6pRMm8vsQwcnEmnlkV8BiLC113b5QAItSQdNcFLybFGvpijrl8kWNnLdQem9S7cm4YrYl5Nmk40MbTX_Vt0x36NILlca4XfTuMk7iBHIsVIPji/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyzwGT0ee9RtFCpNcFHLgz7Tvql3n2M6pRMm8vsQwcnEmnlkV8BiLC113b5QAItSQdNcFLybFGvpijrl8kWNnLdQem9S7cm4YrYl5Nmk40MbTX_Vt0x36NILlca4XfTuMk7iBHIsVIPji/s320/IMG_1619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3H2QqXB6ht5qyXpuav9oStg8Ow2VQbIhW-MW4qWXg0ANViW-JXV7rG8Rb18d41JRcGAB2_lvFNbxDb_grGykj2mu71BLcCoeFj3eTvGsJDqEhuSTMV2JDj2GCOiMmqqvszfu553qdhCS/s1600/IMG_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3H2QqXB6ht5qyXpuav9oStg8Ow2VQbIhW-MW4qWXg0ANViW-JXV7rG8Rb18d41JRcGAB2_lvFNbxDb_grGykj2mu71BLcCoeFj3eTvGsJDqEhuSTMV2JDj2GCOiMmqqvszfu553qdhCS/s320/IMG_1635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkldKcxxka5r4FIIlcwBPExk-6YHz4yTQJbwlqjzKNcvrM1ChxxJUilzfzBMwk6GtJ4Ohn_5Q-7pIiCIkRWcDHviQ2wdjYFh6GBr070X1ns1McUFlgiU5oQ4InWNq-ckQJpUYKADx4nA5/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkldKcxxka5r4FIIlcwBPExk-6YHz4yTQJbwlqjzKNcvrM1ChxxJUilzfzBMwk6GtJ4Ohn_5Q-7pIiCIkRWcDHviQ2wdjYFh6GBr070X1ns1McUFlgiU5oQ4InWNq-ckQJpUYKADx4nA5/s320/IMG_1647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">360 degrees of breathtaking views filled each morning and evening.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs4s1qIqB2jG-FEd4nvKewRuVjGpAGlP19-3BOmbwQzx59PLXQVQVwZdcouR-tDfS9r0nVq5ZbXPPsP3kyNrChOU3RM5m9o9m9En1eUwnQQqCoK_LbKQhssAwvXUWKg1Y1670awlrPOmm/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs4s1qIqB2jG-FEd4nvKewRuVjGpAGlP19-3BOmbwQzx59PLXQVQVwZdcouR-tDfS9r0nVq5ZbXPPsP3kyNrChOU3RM5m9o9m9En1eUwnQQqCoK_LbKQhssAwvXUWKg1Y1670awlrPOmm/s320/IMG_1663.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FudLWN3sspA4psQ8lAMHdFUCIlZvsw6UuxILhz7FHZ9YoxCAr7Yy-Iky5IIJyUDFdyay3Ps1PqYjIyh5XQI3LSV41MPRJk9NEphc__SNSQxnU9SD0yxPoKh4M48X90IV7lglgd_XR6X8/s1600/IMG_1712_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FudLWN3sspA4psQ8lAMHdFUCIlZvsw6UuxILhz7FHZ9YoxCAr7Yy-Iky5IIJyUDFdyay3Ps1PqYjIyh5XQI3LSV41MPRJk9NEphc__SNSQxnU9SD0yxPoKh4M48X90IV7lglgd_XR6X8/s320/IMG_1712_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">With that, our stay in colorful Colorado has come to an end. The last leg of this journey is straight ahead.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div></div></div></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-82054839908488891272010-10-14T23:33:00.000-04:002010-10-14T23:33:31.052-04:00The Epic Expedition: Week One<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When a great adventure is offered, you don't refuse it. -Amelia Earhart</span></span></span></span></h3><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b></b></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Day 1:</b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Virginia Beach waved farewell and the mid-Atlantic disappeared in the rearview mirror by late afternoon. A solid 8 hours later we rolled into Asheville, North Carolina. The one mission for the first day of this trip was to eat at “Salsa” in downtown Asheville. When we realized that our arrival was going to be past the restaurant’s closing time, we needed to act fast to make certain that this mission was a success. Leah called ahead and begged them to have our order ready, then we promised to be “just a few minutes past 10:00pm” to pick it up. The Mexican-Caribbean cuisine was well worth the effort. Grilled tortilla pockets filled with adobe steak, brie, grilled onions, roasted veggies, and annatto-coconut sauce created a flavor experience that hit the spot at the end of a long but successful opening day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfbVFV6Sqt3rCnYE_Ob8XPhDL84JpipWjhlTQiXCXPeb4nQ01OEuQCvrdbYjaDwiO8ZBRunQ1zQqP9O6OvlJz8ofMxniks_PJn4w73k9Ly3IBhg5s1jZLolDkWRnZd-MMNKtsu__JyL16/s1600/IMG_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfbVFV6Sqt3rCnYE_Ob8XPhDL84JpipWjhlTQiXCXPeb4nQ01OEuQCvrdbYjaDwiO8ZBRunQ1zQqP9O6OvlJz8ofMxniks_PJn4w73k9Ly3IBhg5s1jZLolDkWRnZd-MMNKtsu__JyL16/s320/IMG_1305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Day 2:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Back on the road. The morning sun sparkled like a gold coin in the cloudless sky… until smoke billowed up from a ravine on the left side of the road. A few miles later it wafted across the highway and a bit further it enveloped the whole of the landscape. Without any flames there was no need for alarm. Coming out of the fog it was clear, there’s a reason why they’re called The Smoky Mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Have you ever daydreamed about petting pink elephants and wished that a genie would come through on this one request? I thought so. I am here to tell you that wishes do come true so never give up on dreaming the impossible. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_I3SlUy1gUlt9vwd4oohp3S6NjDWY3wwkjqp-S9u2pCVX5Taju3fK6Nl4jC5o2ca12BHEFO-Fvfh55XNhwndtMiM-iYqSr3v1UrEpSFMY7I8wckxQNKZNrhdEXFmfPeN8lSW2TLCqu34/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_I3SlUy1gUlt9vwd4oohp3S6NjDWY3wwkjqp-S9u2pCVX5Taju3fK6Nl4jC5o2ca12BHEFO-Fvfh55XNhwndtMiM-iYqSr3v1UrEpSFMY7I8wckxQNKZNrhdEXFmfPeN8lSW2TLCqu34/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The mission for day two was to sneak into Nashville, Tennessee. With the help of my brother in law, Sean, my sister, Kari was surprised and excited when she came home from the gym to see us sitting in her living room. I heart surprises. Spanning the diversity that is NashVegas, the early evening saw us at a luau in a horse pasture complete with a carriage ride on the historical property of The Hermitage. Then, the late night took us to the Coyote Ugly Saloon to make our own bit of history. I cannot confirm or deny that dancing on the bar occurred. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzwtWJyl-lR97UtIgNVjWowv50pkX9UHSFLgUplbcV64jQFFHnjpimcBpD8MN_QyqLf04CftKJz4o8iIyiB2QpSyE20GnAMpct9y-GxA9attnNGlfXOLMoqzXb1t-kK-WwtqZ4G5WLDN9/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzwtWJyl-lR97UtIgNVjWowv50pkX9UHSFLgUplbcV64jQFFHnjpimcBpD8MN_QyqLf04CftKJz4o8iIyiB2QpSyE20GnAMpct9y-GxA9attnNGlfXOLMoqzXb1t-kK-WwtqZ4G5WLDN9/s320/IMG_1337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9XyC1TANAR0bBTIlhmOmLoupOLSVXR2eTwZZjkXag2vXYROLrNOma6t31shLtWGuoaSwbXmgXFkLMFTNjSJE5SrIkl2LeWTTWhc-1O-__KR2R5q0wX4jJoB3NHbvjEFY1B9A4CrwNQV4/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9XyC1TANAR0bBTIlhmOmLoupOLSVXR2eTwZZjkXag2vXYROLrNOma6t31shLtWGuoaSwbXmgXFkLMFTNjSJE5SrIkl2LeWTTWhc-1O-__KR2R5q0wX4jJoB3NHbvjEFY1B9A4CrwNQV4/s320/IMG_1361.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Day 3:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">If you find yourself in Nashville, let me recommend that you pump iron at the downtown YMCA. Three levels of state of the art workout equipment, including a cardio cinema, a rooftop pool as well as an indoor pool, and a spotless locker-room / lounge. If sweating is not your thing, you can still be a part of the action by gettin’ your groove on in the rocking chairs provided in the main workout area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">No visit to Nash would be complete without getting a dose of live music. Music City didn’t disappoint. We stopped by 3</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">rd</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> and Lindsley, a local dive bar, for an evening with Andy Hackbarth and Jessica Campbell. Live music is soothing to the soul. And with that, we wrapped up our stay in middle Tennessee. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Day 4:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crossing over the Mighty Mississippi River, Arkansas greeted us with cotton fields and sparse patches of changing leaves. Little Rock was the stop of the day. Leah’s aunt and uncle extended their hospitality to us in their beautiful home overlooking the Arkansas River. </span><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF19sfo6C6MLTHdwRQoBkA6tKsgEOG_KNMZO3Vj-gBXW_dKgFKNRk65V8QQUhlkn9Y0ZJOqY5mQl5eyZilWtWT72CgHpEZ6o40phj93pNLQFmJDuszcFU8q8Zzxf2WFaYh9THlw4TBfrn_/s1600/IMG_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF19sfo6C6MLTHdwRQoBkA6tKsgEOG_KNMZO3Vj-gBXW_dKgFKNRk65V8QQUhlkn9Y0ZJOqY5mQl5eyZilWtWT72CgHpEZ6o40phj93pNLQFmJDuszcFU8q8Zzxf2WFaYh9THlw4TBfrn_/s320/IMG_1392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Ch3DKzhS0bzs0gcKBoCU-q3IDxe77kKdJbkFsWK4Y9sztGjEYO_xBZ2SGyJLl_l18Opt5aLbJ90SS4wzRxfOrbw22E9qmPqt1aZ5JkJLnrD0NlobbW7TinZTmhsE0y-QcygS-lTOCSZ/s1600/IMG_1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Ch3DKzhS0bzs0gcKBoCU-q3IDxe77kKdJbkFsWK4Y9sztGjEYO_xBZ2SGyJLl_l18Opt5aLbJ90SS4wzRxfOrbw22E9qmPqt1aZ5JkJLnrD0NlobbW7TinZTmhsE0y-QcygS-lTOCSZ/s320/IMG_1402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Day 5:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Downtown Little Rock may be known for the Clinton Presidential Library but Leah and I were there for something far more exciting. The Peabody Hotel duck parade. At precisely 11am, five Mallards came down the elevator to the lobby from their penthouse duck palace. The Duck Master directed them as they marched to John Phillips Sousa. They waddled down the red carpet to take their place in the fountain where they swim from 11a to 5p each day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrgmhdJ3m4xZdebUCA_bnisO2aE7F5CN8WjK0N3RvKJgVnm9P7RgAXvLTrRxR91Px6ZkRcnF2YxxDd_GBV7u-Eilq35qQP55dMBbbycJsR69M9pcg8aebkk11rAiaTWPbOgFLrnU397pY/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrgmhdJ3m4xZdebUCA_bnisO2aE7F5CN8WjK0N3RvKJgVnm9P7RgAXvLTrRxR91Px6ZkRcnF2YxxDd_GBV7u-Eilq35qQP55dMBbbycJsR69M9pcg8aebkk11rAiaTWPbOgFLrnU397pY/s320/IMG_1412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGJySfh90ePjVujossIM75weGxCCtcLHscoRXi170cKKx_TSLoWwcO476tUCZUppxqUWyEN9vEIyN9cXTSYZ4gqTtdg0iJC4sQDTE3XVC2R-HIjqYBcQcGKBZEImqPafxHbvLKbJ5zPAN/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGJySfh90ePjVujossIM75weGxCCtcLHscoRXi170cKKx_TSLoWwcO476tUCZUppxqUWyEN9vEIyN9cXTSYZ4gqTtdg0iJC4sQDTE3XVC2R-HIjqYBcQcGKBZEImqPafxHbvLKbJ5zPAN/s320/IMG_1414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS8dbpKgxFEdcFiSqle5dlLfNGSnaVl1_eFryFnCrWdvtLJcIVtaT9iagqg3YAhreCv35t1SrlJMEtDpAcRE9beCpB1hiOmOyYRgLyZk9HpW_bAJuRW1yycnq2C8wzvi-j0N6Bmcyi7KV/s1600/IMG_1419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS8dbpKgxFEdcFiSqle5dlLfNGSnaVl1_eFryFnCrWdvtLJcIVtaT9iagqg3YAhreCv35t1SrlJMEtDpAcRE9beCpB1hiOmOyYRgLyZk9HpW_bAJuRW1yycnq2C8wzvi-j0N6Bmcyi7KV/s320/IMG_1419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Day 6:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Day of R & R in Arlington, Texas</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-57774332108771228312010-10-07T07:11:00.002-04:002010-10-07T07:11:00.523-04:00The Epic Expedition<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built." - Eleanor Roosevelt<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Today is the start of what has been termed The Epic Expedition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">For the next 3 weeks I will be joining a dear friend on the road as we traverse from sea to shining sea of these United States. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">To set this up, I must tell you about the pioneer of this journey. Back when I was a youngin’ of 10 years old, my family moved from Florida to Colorado. Soon after, my parents put my 2 younger sisters and I in AWANA at the local Baptist church. It was there that we met Jenine and Leah, our first friends in the new town. My sister Kari and I became best friends with this pair of sisters. There was 4-H, camping, milking cows, irrigating pastures, riding horses, raising sheep, and of course the discovery of boys. All of these things led to outlandish shenanigans for which the stories are endless. Western Colorado was (and still is) the country way of life and we extracted all that we could from it as we grew up together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Now we are all grown up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Leah is a helicopter pilot in the Navy and has been based in Virginia Beach, VA for several years. She has new orders in the Seattle, WA area and has asked me to join her as she moves her life from coast to coast. Leah is one of the most amazing people in my life and it is my pleasure to share this time of transition with her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">So, with 4,120 miles in front of us, we are setting out on the Epic Expedition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Stay tuned for tales from the road…</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-61531850063523742182010-10-06T11:50:00.000-04:002010-10-06T11:50:13.455-04:00Anxiety Alighted<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">At 4:08am the switch in my brain flipped to the “on” position. Wide-awake. The last time I looked at the clock it was 1:32am, a few brief hours ago. Turning on my left side, I fluffed the pillow, pulled the covers up and folded my hands underneath my chin. After 4 minutes of lying there with my eyes closed but my head deep in the ocean of thoughts, I turned to the opposite side. Once again, I tried all the same things to get my brain to fall back asleep. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Like the white noise of the box fan in my window, anxiety has been filling the background lately. Some days I don’t want to eat anything. Other days I make up for it by eating everything. At times I don’t want to see or talk to anyone. Other times I can’t stand to be alone. I am tired during the day and can’t sleep at night. There are no tears, just a lot of nerves. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">What is the next step? Will I move? How will I pay the bills? Who will be in my life? How will the landscape of my relationships change? What do I really want to be pursuing right now? What is my direction? WHERE IS MY PLAN? The reasons to be anxious flood me. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I am learning that the unanswered questions aren’t the end of the world. The lack of direction, though completely unnerving, makes room for new possibilities and lends the place for a change of course. The uncertainty that my head wants to control and my heart wants to dispel is teaching me to trust. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Be still my anxious heart… and let my brain go back to sleep. </span></span></span><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-48340832979981855142010-09-25T17:25:00.000-04:002010-09-25T17:25:16.945-04:00Healing Is Taking So Long<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Sometimes we miss a dip in the road and life rips us open without notice. Then, we set out in search of healing…</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">A few months back, while out for a jog, I tripped on uneven pavement. It was a beautifully executed wipe out. I went down on one knee as both palms ate tiny gravel beads as if they were candy nerds. I picked the small rocks out of my hands and immediately my left knee burned. Looking down, I had just become the recipient of a classic ‘strawberry’. Blood and plasma made the wound glossy. All the skin was shaved off the surface of my kneecap as if it was a smoothly peeled mango. I quickly scanned the park to see how many people saw my little spill because let’s face it; no one wants to fall down in front of other people. No one seemed to notice or if they did, they didn’t stare or come running so I limped back to the house, 33 years old with the embarrassing injury of a 5 year old. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Over the following 2 weeks, the sharp sting of raw flesh subsided and the color turned from bright red to black. Slowly, a crusty scab formed a protective layer over the ‘strawberry’ on my knee. Every effort was made to keep it lathered with antibiotic ointment and bandaged so no infection would set in. Whenever I walked or sat down or stood up or moved at all, I was reminded that it was still there. The pain, though dull by now, was still present. Finally, the day came when the bandage and the ointment needed to step aside and let the open-air aid in the healing process. Each bend of the knee made me wince as walking and moving normally caused the scab to crack open. Still, I couldn’t stop because the movement was creating elasticity in the new skin that was forming under the scab. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Eventually, after a while longer (longer than I imagined a scraped knee should take) the scab finished falling off and it appeared to be healed. That is, until I was sitting on the floor one afternoon and put all my weight on the left knee as I got up on my feet. The pang of discomfort caught me off guard. My hands instinctively reached out to take the pressure off the knee. It was then I realized that although the open wound had healed, beneath the skin, the bruise was taking longer. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">After 5 weeks, the skinned knee finally returned to full working order. However, it still doesn’t look the same as the other knee. The scar has a darker shade of flesh and serves as a reminder of a single misstep. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Healing hurts. It’s a process, not an overnight fix. Sometimes when we think we are ok, we find out that we need more time. </span></span></span><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-75053969834685925512010-08-04T19:21:00.000-04:002010-08-04T19:21:09.800-04:00Rodeos and Gunfights<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">For those who have always known the hustle and bustle of the east coast or any metropolitan area for that matter, you may think that the Wild Wild West doesn’t exist any longer. I am here to tell you that it does in fact exist. Where, you ask? In the small towns nestled between mountain peaks and high altitude passes. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The local rodeo and the town gunfight are proof that the Wild West still lives. I experienced both on my recent visit to Colorado. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5e14ZM7wWRlkU6OCPtlv_JrrHsUm70TTqta0nl5LmXbw31PFEFGoA3CPhzSiU76CpncJzMENLs9m6amweFApG6OtLc49M0ckFWzBP-98J1W145OenhZTlRb1zch9VMEE5sO9aAaX6rDX/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5e14ZM7wWRlkU6OCPtlv_JrrHsUm70TTqta0nl5LmXbw31PFEFGoA3CPhzSiU76CpncJzMENLs9m6amweFApG6OtLc49M0ckFWzBP-98J1W145OenhZTlRb1zch9VMEE5sO9aAaX6rDX/s320/IMG_0548.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclYqRtWbuXMj-mnnoOkrupkXv9WPexpt7EU67opbiWfCjwxViU0YOmGgWZYM6Ohnbq-Qr4v57v0ReNmJAN4h-g_WSnM7FLgdmxPwk78pBl_96RHsy0azicwmKugc-R0GwU-bB1AWHRqfN/s1600/IMG_5231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclYqRtWbuXMj-mnnoOkrupkXv9WPexpt7EU67opbiWfCjwxViU0YOmGgWZYM6Ohnbq-Qr4v57v0ReNmJAN4h-g_WSnM7FLgdmxPwk78pBl_96RHsy0azicwmKugc-R0GwU-bB1AWHRqfN/s320/IMG_5231.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Silverton, Colorado is a two-horse town. The names of those horses are Sony and Cher. They pull the stagecoach up Main Street and down “Notorious” Blair Street, which also happens to be where the gunfight took place. The sheriff drew his six-shooter on a band of outlaws with names like Phoenix, Okie Joe and The Kid right there in the middle of the street. Passersby and those in the Shady Lady Saloon poured into the street to witness the shootout. Not something you see everyday in the rest of the country but there, in that quaint old mining town, history lives on even in the 21</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">st</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> century. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HfugANwwmo_r7Zy4bhEmz7MCZwJeUPr7WehW4kR713dZWcJbk4Yk9z63M8PJYc1_A6y0Oi_s_1hXOu7qL3X3jNsaRYhHrUhHNYDpECEIOP_jUrDZoj2dDj8IDXLjR47OXTHh4zO2asfb/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HfugANwwmo_r7Zy4bhEmz7MCZwJeUPr7WehW4kR713dZWcJbk4Yk9z63M8PJYc1_A6y0Oi_s_1hXOu7qL3X3jNsaRYhHrUhHNYDpECEIOP_jUrDZoj2dDj8IDXLjR47OXTHh4zO2asfb/s320/IMG_0530.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KbBE_SvkhI5zVhjYB_T6-cz1JtgDFXywXbQnS34wSgZ5RhX3vb3URmSbuF8eSJrh7Kn1IErxOy5nD0Ah8GRJpIYk0767cBjshiUBGQZWmz0kG2v21BQL0S-kxe9MdMgUyiazzPQBmN3x/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KbBE_SvkhI5zVhjYB_T6-cz1JtgDFXywXbQnS34wSgZ5RhX3vb3URmSbuF8eSJrh7Kn1IErxOy5nD0Ah8GRJpIYk0767cBjshiUBGQZWmz0kG2v21BQL0S-kxe9MdMgUyiazzPQBmN3x/s320/IMG_0549.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> Sony and Cher<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Durango, Colorado on the other hand, is a full-fledged town. The way I know that Durango is full on is because they have a Walmart. I mean, when Walmart comes to town, it’s a big deal. Even so, Durango hasn’t lost its Wild West status because they still have a rodeo. These cowboys and cowgirls aren’t going to be in Vegas for the championships anytime soon but they still lace up their ropers and strap on their spurs each week and give it a go. Once again, not something that I have seen many other places in my travels across this land but out in the west, it’s still for real. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc11RyhIvworEqNDEm9uC3zuhckXZh9vn04P9wceaOT9aGmmIFXbnbq4UgwIEqra2Hyu8DFMz8_qN4yRdoRYHIsTCqcHhbvF31SpKyTQg2ehKdMRSuNy4r9M5Ru83WgYLbbtQEdWaa284/s1600/IMG_5340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc11RyhIvworEqNDEm9uC3zuhckXZh9vn04P9wceaOT9aGmmIFXbnbq4UgwIEqra2Hyu8DFMz8_qN4yRdoRYHIsTCqcHhbvF31SpKyTQg2ehKdMRSuNy4r9M5Ru83WgYLbbtQEdWaa284/s320/IMG_5340.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The littlest cowboys ride sheep.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYv0u79gHcC-Hyj-lt4Msm1cYQaiwCzQxsRHVooXz4eTAR_8s0VUBvrRmDjKi2RpoNgv38YjQ31g4Dj1v6TqkPuTAIdRcGQd35j_qu6beE1il3wdOQJ-I__vjQC9S2VdkeBZMlb8cgZZf/s1600/IMG_5348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYv0u79gHcC-Hyj-lt4Msm1cYQaiwCzQxsRHVooXz4eTAR_8s0VUBvrRmDjKi2RpoNgv38YjQ31g4Dj1v6TqkPuTAIdRcGQd35j_qu6beE1il3wdOQJ-I__vjQC9S2VdkeBZMlb8cgZZf/s320/IMG_5348.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The mid-sized cowboys ride steers.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqrHdx4AurpByFdydAytyFHILQPl_kisYyCES5Rd7o1Ttats0DOL2bmF9SQ3eHMf3__7hTDq1Yh-rRF8RTGicD7hFAKT_OOu2J9oE2VW2-tzMh7P6HGlidbAjla9KBmLoHRBkP8BT6xBi/s1600/IMG_5377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqrHdx4AurpByFdydAytyFHILQPl_kisYyCES5Rd7o1Ttats0DOL2bmF9SQ3eHMf3__7hTDq1Yh-rRF8RTGicD7hFAKT_OOu2J9oE2VW2-tzMh7P6HGlidbAjla9KBmLoHRBkP8BT6xBi/s320/IMG_5377.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The big boys do a little roping.</span></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6855780440023978424.post-52428702324694855452010-08-03T04:51:00.023-04:002010-08-03T04:51:00.250-04:00Chasing Waterfalls<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Unexpectedly, the waterfall theme emerged while on vacay in Colorado.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> I heart waterfalls and the unique beauty that each one has. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Let me introduce you to some of them. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMwDN7Mn2eTAdu8BLi7OWkisHu1du8NEI6xUI6dGobTGv9txNTsx7M5xq-R9gLwZHz-ZH3Nuv_VWzu_UDEIeoHI4fZh1aUmLil4RHp1EqWP4pudgqu384wCJsgM_ce90Ny0g-bHPcgsJe/s1600/IMG_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMwDN7Mn2eTAdu8BLi7OWkisHu1du8NEI6xUI6dGobTGv9txNTsx7M5xq-R9gLwZHz-ZH3Nuv_VWzu_UDEIeoHI4fZh1aUmLil4RHp1EqWP4pudgqu384wCJsgM_ce90Ny0g-bHPcgsJe/s320/IMG_0453.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Cascade Falls - Ouray, CO</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6pxoKj889VEwC8oSfSsXagWVPRDGAoc-kCmkkRY3ks4RVmf9Fr9DzcPClGoghMvaGJT_rog9dPoWKNhumigzJXgfmb-_hhhpTAkFFhXIcMG6ZFXfLYCA_mK9fg3hr5Jb2FtNtLqFJzqN/s1600/IMG_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6pxoKj889VEwC8oSfSsXagWVPRDGAoc-kCmkkRY3ks4RVmf9Fr9DzcPClGoghMvaGJT_rog9dPoWKNhumigzJXgfmb-_hhhpTAkFFhXIcMG6ZFXfLYCA_mK9fg3hr5Jb2FtNtLqFJzqN/s320/IMG_0476.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Although difficult to photograph because it is nestled in a canyon, the roar of this waterfall is deafening.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWYZ5lRJi7xb5u7gpuwxj_RnDElBRbRRp-M-01_uH0Z0Usm8V_aAejeZIU273y2DEvJijJGuRQlu5KlDM8WYDudmZcah-7ViUKaByH8EQ81WXcEWT_nUEkcv7NoHlxs8fbpcXX1fPbK7o/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWYZ5lRJi7xb5u7gpuwxj_RnDElBRbRRp-M-01_uH0Z0Usm8V_aAejeZIU273y2DEvJijJGuRQlu5KlDM8WYDudmZcah-7ViUKaByH8EQ81WXcEWT_nUEkcv7NoHlxs8fbpcXX1fPbK7o/s320/IMG_0498.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Box Canyon Falls - Ouray, CO</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzxKXU-N25toI4s6zJ-dg8BTo8HDrobVV5D1xpkfWNi6E6dKC-k6PIfS-HhnMrvZM6WlpWANHshgWCoknbbQ537WCraaR2gKIRuOcWnNcfV4EgTAczcGb7qSRfuJXpiMxoIG3PaxkGcPf/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzxKXU-N25toI4s6zJ-dg8BTo8HDrobVV5D1xpkfWNi6E6dKC-k6PIfS-HhnMrvZM6WlpWANHshgWCoknbbQ537WCraaR2gKIRuOcWnNcfV4EgTAczcGb7qSRfuJXpiMxoIG3PaxkGcPf/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">This one was at 11,160 feet above sea level</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Animas Forks, CO</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rjrCeeca2bEzU6C2oJuZ9EBQaNoe9eGrJ-wDWBQhqKl63Y2krCAFr7Gd7QDYQLkPofGUxjGTziDfKWsMrFIop1_WLuHf8PYLaTBoZmfCEUgN9yA9GuMm-yTRMuA6UTjRq5ekj2m5UUbg/s1600/IMG_5313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rjrCeeca2bEzU6C2oJuZ9EBQaNoe9eGrJ-wDWBQhqKl63Y2krCAFr7Gd7QDYQLkPofGUxjGTziDfKWsMrFIop1_WLuHf8PYLaTBoZmfCEUgN9yA9GuMm-yTRMuA6UTjRq5ekj2m5UUbg/s320/IMG_5313.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was raining the day we searched for this one. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The vertical drop fell in symmetrical tiers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Silverton, CO</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ukxhICsyPNLjTouJdJ6qNQJAQVXaXMasMrr_vshkRJ4xvC9Ggcu5OLxf7E08iXmWx1sBLdpcxjvpmn4A6Z_GRs29KzjpD5DrWHbM3BC2efRkvugEp3aKEy-wKVXC8Q6Q9JOS8qG9RNPN/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ukxhICsyPNLjTouJdJ6qNQJAQVXaXMasMrr_vshkRJ4xvC9Ggcu5OLxf7E08iXmWx1sBLdpcxjvpmn4A6Z_GRs29KzjpD5DrWHbM3BC2efRkvugEp3aKEy-wKVXC8Q6Q9JOS8qG9RNPN/s320/IMG_0693.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This one we came across while hiking but we had no idea what else we would find on this hike.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cascade Creek - Between Durango and Silverton, CO</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd0oK1fw2Q0pZWRhC9u10TpI6brKaxlJhh0fzbbXqJpmWv9x7imDOKVXL1j4CxdJFtjLC4CDDPJ3SH117P3DY1M_psmgvP6SdJpuRJqF9RBpJUpPXoxMl9e2TMV5MhiJOI5bwt44CVT9v/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd0oK1fw2Q0pZWRhC9u10TpI6brKaxlJhh0fzbbXqJpmWv9x7imDOKVXL1j4CxdJFtjLC4CDDPJ3SH117P3DY1M_psmgvP6SdJpuRJqF9RBpJUpPXoxMl9e2TMV5MhiJOI5bwt44CVT9v/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is what we found. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">W</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">e had to literally walk up the creek to get to it because although we could hear it, there was no trail that let us get close to it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRAY6VEAo9Es80bZskJ-Ub5vTDBlBlX0T-F-TVXTPeg-9EY7tmlGENC_FFBaELZ4fpedvgHcLn07H_5Q9w2odMyR8nyKVYOaLvu1qH3bZ7G-TP0geX8CKPkoEiU8e20S6z82Jx-JxFMeR/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRAY6VEAo9Es80bZskJ-Ub5vTDBlBlX0T-F-TVXTPeg-9EY7tmlGENC_FFBaELZ4fpedvgHcLn07H_5Q9w2odMyR8nyKVYOaLvu1qH3bZ7G-TP0geX8CKPkoEiU8e20S6z82Jx-JxFMeR/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's worth seeing from a few different angles</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_3aZzT6EmwmGYk15KeyY0n-bA12nVlVlLPAj7DhljxhT6u6cc-kzMylgSmnBIavn68Yr4d9VQnC6-LVKIHXFvWuowH4ghxLom-0E0VdqdCNJZ1lwyXe04RvxxvW6kP8_cAZT8fzxx51W/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_3aZzT6EmwmGYk15KeyY0n-bA12nVlVlLPAj7DhljxhT6u6cc-kzMylgSmnBIavn68Yr4d9VQnC6-LVKIHXFvWuowH4ghxLom-0E0VdqdCNJZ1lwyXe04RvxxvW6kP8_cAZT8fzxx51W/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It took the most struggle to get to, but was by far, the best waterfall.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cascade Creek - Between Durango and Silverton, CO</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5qlQknxSWfEBQ2qE-HSyXiVFnrpSok8uFNmHlmbeQOo1ElMtan0AKQgMsMu51_gyEdcelnDMh4Lnvn4YGMdy_qUK_Ci-6x83AWkhve34aV4nBkfSf9MK8DhxoYgTSkMZxcVfoij2Xa-M/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5qlQknxSWfEBQ2qE-HSyXiVFnrpSok8uFNmHlmbeQOo1ElMtan0AKQgMsMu51_gyEdcelnDMh4Lnvn4YGMdy_qUK_Ci-6x83AWkhve34aV4nBkfSf9MK8DhxoYgTSkMZxcVfoij2Xa-M/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuDi07YQfxaHv7pRnR-VTJqTTVDAeNaSUQiw7wrdjTUFz3ZYRH-_bXlhbVCnY4y9kjuq2bPUh3_qeFShNR_pM6aUlnpTMPuS_N7dLfBAZ4SQ6TfmjaXku-R0sNERlMPUrNRyWl5Fc-u1Y/s1600/IMG_0557_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuDi07YQfxaHv7pRnR-VTJqTTVDAeNaSUQiw7wrdjTUFz3ZYRH-_bXlhbVCnY4y9kjuq2bPUh3_qeFShNR_pM6aUlnpTMPuS_N7dLfBAZ4SQ6TfmjaXku-R0sNERlMPUrNRyWl5Fc-u1Y/s320/IMG_0557_2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Imogene Pass - Between Telluride and Ouray, CO</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342043706889457577noreply@blogger.com0