Saturday, July 5, 2008
Off to the AT!
In less than 6 hours I'll be headed to Virginia to start my first hike on the Appalachian Trail. Of course I have to be up in about 5 hours, but cannot sleep. Go figure. My pack weighs 35 pounds, which is about average. I can handle that. I think I'm ready. I'll be back in 10 days or so.......
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Productive Day!
Today has been one of my more productive days lately. I am officially packed and ready to hike the Appalachian Trail. I'm done dehydrating my meals and they are all nicely packed in ziplock baggies so that all I have to do is add boiling water. God only knows what they are going to taste like, but I figure I'll be so tired and hungry I really won't care! My hiking companion for this trip stopped by today and we compared gear and what we are taking. We are both getting really excited!!
And my greatest accomplishment of the day......finding a home for the kitten! I posted an ad on Craig's list last night and got two bites for him today. Of course when I go out to the garage to get him, he is gone. Apparently he decided to go on a trip today and didn't make it back until 830. I think he knew something was up. But when he came home I trapped him in the garage and finally caught him for his first ride in the car. This cat is so screwed with its new owners. Of course he starts peeing when I take him out of his carrier, but the lady said it was okay and that she would just give him a bath when they got home. Umm.....most cats don't like water. She proceeded to ask me ridiculous questions such as what to feed him. Than she took the kitten to the car, where there was two screaming kids anxious to see him. He is in for quite the lifestyle change. Poor thing. Oh well, no longer my problem!
So only 3 more days of work and in 5 days I'll be off on a long walk!
And my greatest accomplishment of the day......finding a home for the kitten! I posted an ad on Craig's list last night and got two bites for him today. Of course when I go out to the garage to get him, he is gone. Apparently he decided to go on a trip today and didn't make it back until 830. I think he knew something was up. But when he came home I trapped him in the garage and finally caught him for his first ride in the car. This cat is so screwed with its new owners. Of course he starts peeing when I take him out of his carrier, but the lady said it was okay and that she would just give him a bath when they got home. Umm.....most cats don't like water. She proceeded to ask me ridiculous questions such as what to feed him. Than she took the kitten to the car, where there was two screaming kids anxious to see him. He is in for quite the lifestyle change. Poor thing. Oh well, no longer my problem!
So only 3 more days of work and in 5 days I'll be off on a long walk!
Friday, June 27, 2008
It Has Been Awhile....
So it has been quite some time since I've posted anything on my blog. Mostly I've been working, making some extra money for my vacation.
Yesterday I got back from my first big backpacking adventure of the year. I was able to talk a couple of friends into accompanying me to the Jordan River Valley. It is a nice eight mile downhill walk to the campground where we stayed the night this time. Than there was the dreadful 10 mile hike back up hill to the car. We had to leave one guy behind and come back with the car, since he said there would be no way his legs would take him up those hills. Which was much easier than having to find someway of rescuing him from the middle of the trail. (I think I know where you can find some cheap backpacking equipment for sale if anyone is interested!) The weather was a toasty 80 degrees and humid. So after that trip, I would say I am ready for the Appalachian Trail. Physically and mentally, I'm ready to go. All I have to do now is figure out the minimum I can bring that will fit in the pack. Because I have learned, weight is everything.
Yesterday I got back from my first big backpacking adventure of the year. I was able to talk a couple of friends into accompanying me to the Jordan River Valley. It is a nice eight mile downhill walk to the campground where we stayed the night this time. Than there was the dreadful 10 mile hike back up hill to the car. We had to leave one guy behind and come back with the car, since he said there would be no way his legs would take him up those hills. Which was much easier than having to find someway of rescuing him from the middle of the trail. (I think I know where you can find some cheap backpacking equipment for sale if anyone is interested!) The weather was a toasty 80 degrees and humid. So after that trip, I would say I am ready for the Appalachian Trail. Physically and mentally, I'm ready to go. All I have to do now is figure out the minimum I can bring that will fit in the pack. Because I have learned, weight is everything.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Go Wings!
The Detroit Red Wings are THE Stanley Cup Champions of 2008! Tonight they got some lucky bounces and finally shut down Pittsburgh and won the game 3-2...but barely. Now the cup is back in Hockeytown! What a spectacular run it has been!
After a last minute decision to cancel our overnight hike the other day due to poor weather conditions, today a friend and I decided we would hike the entire 18 mile loop of Deadman's Hill in the Jordan River Valley. I found out the hard way that 18 miles there, all at once, is way too long. That is definitely a 2 day trip and lesson has been learned. After hiking up and down those hills for 9 hours, and barely making it back before it got dark, my legs and feet are killing me. I will never do that again. I have a huge blister on my heel and any type of movement required by my legs almost brings tears to my eyes. Time to load up on both tylenol and motrin.
So after this hike, and another 14 mile hike two days ago, it is time for me to go back to work so that my body has a chance to recover. Which isn't saying a lot, considering I am on my feet almost all day, I do a ton of walking, and my shifts are 12 hours long. I guess the only good thing, is there are no hills in the ER.
Cheers!
After a last minute decision to cancel our overnight hike the other day due to poor weather conditions, today a friend and I decided we would hike the entire 18 mile loop of Deadman's Hill in the Jordan River Valley. I found out the hard way that 18 miles there, all at once, is way too long. That is definitely a 2 day trip and lesson has been learned. After hiking up and down those hills for 9 hours, and barely making it back before it got dark, my legs and feet are killing me. I will never do that again. I have a huge blister on my heel and any type of movement required by my legs almost brings tears to my eyes. Time to load up on both tylenol and motrin.
So after this hike, and another 14 mile hike two days ago, it is time for me to go back to work so that my body has a chance to recover. Which isn't saying a lot, considering I am on my feet almost all day, I do a ton of walking, and my shifts are 12 hours long. I guess the only good thing, is there are no hills in the ER.
Cheers!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A Hike
Since the weather was gorgeous the other day, I decided to pack up my stuff and go out for a hike in the Jorda
n River. It was a warm 72 degrees, with a nice cool breeze. Perfect for all the hills I had to climb up and down with 30 pounds of gear on my back. But little did I know that the 3 hours I spent hiking would set me up for a night of misery. The picture with all the white stuff on the ground, that isn't snow, it is all pollen. There was crap flying through the air the entire day. And the mosquitoes were extremely hungry and got quite the feast off of me. I am one lumpy and bumpy person right now. Makes me itch just thinking about it. Even though I jumped in the shower as soon as I got home, I sneezed and itched the entire night, even though I had benadryl and sudafed on board. No wonder why I couldn't get out of bed until noon......
Tuesday I'll be headed out for my first overnight hike of the year. Normally I have a hard time finding people to partake in activities like this, but I'll have 4 companions. Talking about backpacking at work enough has gotten some of my co-workers interested. I'm hoping that they have a good time so that they will go with me again. I'm looking forward to it!
Today I had my first outing with my "little sister." I was involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program when I was in high school, but it all seems so different now. It seems like too much responsibility and a huge commitment. Something that I fear. And the kid doesn't really talk. She'll answer all of my questions in as little words as possible, which is quite impressive. She showed me pictures of 6th grade camp when we met last week, and she also looks out of control. I think I might be in over my head. But I'll stick with it, and hopefully she'll start talking soon......
Well, I'm off to the grocery store. I bought a food dehydrator to make meals for my backpacking trips this summer. Time to get creative!!
n River. It was a warm 72 degrees, with a nice cool breeze. Perfect for all the hills I had to climb up and down with 30 pounds of gear on my back. But little did I know that the 3 hours I spent hiking would set me up for a night of misery. The picture with all the white stuff on the ground, that isn't snow, it is all pollen. There was crap flying through the air the entire day. And the mosquitoes were extremely hungry and got quite the feast off of me. I am one lumpy and bumpy person right now. Makes me itch just thinking about it. Even though I jumped in the shower as soon as I got home, I sneezed and itched the entire night, even though I had benadryl and sudafed on board. No wonder why I couldn't get out of bed until noon......
Tuesday I'll be headed out for my first overnight hike of the year. Normally I have a hard time finding people to partake in activities like this, but I'll have 4 companions. Talking about backpacking at work enough has gotten some of my co-workers interested. I'm hoping that they have a good time so that they will go with me again. I'm looking forward to it!
Today I had my first outing with my "little sister." I was involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program when I was in high school, but it all seems so different now. It seems like too much responsibility and a huge commitment. Something that I fear. And the kid doesn't really talk. She'll answer all of my questions in as little words as possible, which is quite impressive. She showed me pictures of 6th grade camp when we met last week, and she also looks out of control. I think I might be in over my head. But I'll stick with it, and hopefully she'll start talking soon......
Well, I'm off to the grocery store. I bought a food dehydrator to make meals for my backpacking trips this summer. Time to get creative!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A Quick Review!
So several small, yet significant, things going on lately.
The Wings have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals!! They will be playing Pittsburgh, and the series starts on Saturday.
Only 12 more days until my first backpacking trip of the year! And less than 7 weeks before my departure for the Appalachian Trail! I've purchased a food dehydrator, and am going to attempt to make some fancy schmancy meals for the woods. My dinner menu for home for the next few weeks will consist of rehydrated food. Yummy!
It seems that summer is never going to come. Tonight, May 21st, it is snowing. Yes, snowing. Big wet flakes. What the hell?
I was matched with a little sister, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program the other day. I am really only committed to seeing her 3 or 4 times a month, but with my huge problems with commitment, I've already got that feeling of regret and too much responsibility. What was I thinking? Of course I'll follow through with it, like I always do.
A really quick, funny nursing home story. The past two nights I moonlighted at the nursing home, and it just so happened to be a full moon! The residents were out of control. This one 90 year old lady with Alzheimer's, she was a rocking the one night. Very paranoid that her niece had taken her car out joy riding. I asked if she had any kids, she said no. I asked if she was ever married, she said no. Than she felt the need to toss in the fact that she was passionately in love with her first cousin when she was younger. I bet that is a secret that not many people, if any, know about! I didn't know what else to do but start laughing.....
Good times!
The Wings have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals!! They will be playing Pittsburgh, and the series starts on Saturday.
Only 12 more days until my first backpacking trip of the year! And less than 7 weeks before my departure for the Appalachian Trail! I've purchased a food dehydrator, and am going to attempt to make some fancy schmancy meals for the woods. My dinner menu for home for the next few weeks will consist of rehydrated food. Yummy!
It seems that summer is never going to come. Tonight, May 21st, it is snowing. Yes, snowing. Big wet flakes. What the hell?
I was matched with a little sister, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program the other day. I am really only committed to seeing her 3 or 4 times a month, but with my huge problems with commitment, I've already got that feeling of regret and too much responsibility. What was I thinking? Of course I'll follow through with it, like I always do.
A really quick, funny nursing home story. The past two nights I moonlighted at the nursing home, and it just so happened to be a full moon! The residents were out of control. This one 90 year old lady with Alzheimer's, she was a rocking the one night. Very paranoid that her niece had taken her car out joy riding. I asked if she had any kids, she said no. I asked if she was ever married, she said no. Than she felt the need to toss in the fact that she was passionately in love with her first cousin when she was younger. I bet that is a secret that not many people, if any, know about! I didn't know what else to do but start laughing.....
Good times!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
How Sweep It Is!
Yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings swept one of our best rivals the Colorado Avalanche, thus moving us on to the conference finals. We killed them in an 8-2 game, which from what I saw was pretty exciting. Now we are waiting to see who our opponent may be, San Jose or Dallas. I'm hoping for Dallas, solely to avoid the late 1030 games.
Update on the kitten situation, I'm down to two little kittens. They are just starting to open up there eyes. And I must say, the one is the ugliest little thing I've ever seen. It has this big gray/black blob right over its mouth, kind of like a mask. Poor thing. It sure won't help trying to find it a good home. Hopefully it has a good personality.
I continue to go out hiking on my days off. I went out and bought some insoles for my boots, and they seem to be working out fairly well. I've been going out on the mountain bike trail near town. It is a six mile loop, and close to home, so it is convenient. I've never done mountain biking to that extreme, but I think I might give it a whirl. I'm not big on helmets, but I would definitely purchase one prior to the event.
Off work for tomorrow, than I guess I got really money hungry a few weeks ago and volunteered to moon light over at the nursing home Sunday night. What was I thinking?
Update on the kitten situation, I'm down to two little kittens. They are just starting to open up there eyes. And I must say, the one is the ugliest little thing I've ever seen. It has this big gray/black blob right over its mouth, kind of like a mask. Poor thing. It sure won't help trying to find it a good home. Hopefully it has a good personality.
I continue to go out hiking on my days off. I went out and bought some insoles for my boots, and they seem to be working out fairly well. I've been going out on the mountain bike trail near town. It is a six mile loop, and close to home, so it is convenient. I've never done mountain biking to that extreme, but I think I might give it a whirl. I'm not big on helmets, but I would definitely purchase one prior to the event.
Off work for tomorrow, than I guess I got really money hungry a few weeks ago and volunteered to moon light over at the nursing home Sunday night. What was I thinking?
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