Happy New Years!!!

Ah to think of what a year can bring and HOW different year to year can be.

How would I have known what 2005 would bring me. It has been a fun year, just finding a bit more definition in my life. I think people were starting to doubt me, or take me seriously (and I still think there are a few out there that still don't), but that is what makes life fun.

I truly believe it is not what other people think, but making the most of what you have, and doing what you can for others and yourself.

Anyway, I hope that 2006 proves to be an eventful and fun year and a lot more memories and friends to be made. And of course Travel and exploration and still defining the life.

Ski Trip #4

So Jennifer and I went to Arapahoe (A)Basin, and well I have to say it was the most challenging mountain yet! But I had a blast, I loved it, and I am always up for a challenge. We managed to make it back unharmed.

Crazy to think less than a week ago, I was surfing! Thank God for planes!!!!

Christmas in Hawaii!!

I feel like I am slacking here on the blogs... but I had a wonderful time in Hawaii visiting Travis for Christmas.

First night we watched the sunset on Waikiki ---
My favorite photo -


Then Friday we visited Pearl Harbor -

It was an interesting expirience, knowing that it was so far before my time but has impacted my life so much. I pictured the movie (and thought I ought to rewatch it). It was amazing to be in a place with such a history.


We did the audio tour, which I always recommend people to do when they visit places, it is always worth the $5. And you learn so much.

We visted the USS Arizona memorial. Definately interesting. I remember as a child seeing artifacts in the Phoenix Capital Building from the USS Arizona and learing about it at such a young age, but taking so many years to understand what really happened. If you want to do a bit more research visit http://www.nps.gov/usar/


What was even more crazy was when you stand on that memorial, and see this ship that has been underwater for 60 years, still leaking oil and to know that there are 900 men still in the ship is heartwrenching.



Then after we visted Pearl Harbor, Travis showed us his Boat (submarine), and all I have to say is WOW. It is a three story sub, but with barely enough room to breath. It was crowded and there wasn't anyone on the boat, I can't imagine being on there with 150 people.

Hula Santa Had to share my Hula Santa. Travis and I grabbed a few drinks... at Lu Lu's, a very Hawaiian bar, and there he was - Hula Santa! He certainly knows how to adjust to the climate.


Saturday, was Christmas Eve, and Travis and I went for a hike and went for a swim under a waterfall. Absolutly spectacular, just tucked away a few miles from a suburban area.

Travis is doing a back flip here.


Then well, Travis and I decided to go surfing in Waikiki. I had so many thoughts go threw my head while I was surfing.. to ... I hate this sport.. to it's not too bad. I did stand up a few times, which gives me hope. Maybe next time I will be a surfing fool.

As Traivs and I were sitting on our boards, he says to me, so what did you do on Christmas... I laughed and replied, Well glad you asked.. went surfin on Waikiki.

Anyway, it is rather a gross photo, but it is my battle wound from the rocks where we were surfing. We were just glad a tiger shark didn't come by and bite my toe off.

So, then we move on to our last day in Hawaii, and we went to a Luau in Paradise Cove. Cheesy in some ways but awesome in others. We all had a blast and the food was fantastic.
Here we just walked in and got the touristy photo of course!!!

Then we moved on an made braclets, and threw spears, Travis got a tatoo, ha ha. Then we watched them pull the pig from the ground. This is just one of those things that you have to do if you go to Hawaii! It was our Chritmas present from Travis.

I even tried to hula a bit! Again, something you just have to do!

So all in all, we had a great time and packed in as much as you can, when you have such a short period of time! I hope everyone had a wonderful Chritmas, Traditional OR NOT!

Flight to Phoenix

I love Amber and Sasha! They picked me up at the airport and we hung out in my LITTLE time in Phoenix!!!

And Sasha and John Walker!!


Ah the good times and the memories made!!!!

Ski Trip #3

Dec. 18th to Breckenridge again!!! With Jonny Wall!! Got to love Myspace, reconnecting with the old friends!!!


Jennifer and I waiting in line...

In the lodge for lunch


Ryan on his racin skiis!!

I love the season of giving!

Today I woke up and it was snowing. I love the snow. It's just exciting to be able to look out the window and see snow.
This morning, I went with the Denver Rotaract to volunteer sorting toys for the families for Christmas. As I was driving there, in the snow, I saw homeless people walking with blankets just wrapped around them. I am not sure the temperature this morning, but I know it was cold, and once again, snowing.
People were standing on the corners (near the homeless shelters) handing out food, blankets and other things. It was a warm feeling as I saw this. I cannot imagine not having a home to stay warm in at this time.

So, as we got to the Salvation Army, they had so many people there. The boy scouts were all making the food boxes for the families, and we found ourselves sorting toys by age to go to the families. Matt stated it is difficult picking out stuff for people he knows, but truly even more difficult picking out stuff for people we don't know. Anyway, every time I got a toy for a kid, I wasn’t sure if it was good enough or not. Thank for a 14 year old boy there that gave us advice on the cool stuff. Seriously, I think this is another sign of me getting old.

Ok, so, it was awesome to really feel the holiday spirit today. Tonight I decided to just hang out and not really do anything. I went to the Civic building to look at the lights, and they were awesome. Honestly, the best part of my night was when a woman walks up to a homeless man and gives him gloves. She tells him to put them on to keep his hands warm.


What really made me smile is when her three kids came running up to her after and
yelled, did he like them. She was like, I don't really know. Anyway, it was very heartwarming.

So then I made my way to downtown, with a goal of sitting in a Starbucks and finishing my Christmas Cards. It was still snowing outside and families were out. The lights are very festive and the horse and buggies were doing their rounds. The horses had a light layer of snow on their backs and you could see their breath. The people in the back riding were bundled up in blankets. And for a little bit of time there was a choir practicing their carols in the Starbucks. Honestly, I am not sure that I could have asked for a better day!

Happy Holidays!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!!!

Aspen Canyon Ranch

I just spend the best weekend in the mountains with my coworkers. We ventured west into the mountains and stayed at the Aspen Canyon Ranch!!

Just in case you feel like visiting their website
http://www.aspencanyon.com/



But I don't feel their website does anything for the actual experience you have. We all stayed a very cozy little cabin nestled in the woods that over looked the aspen pines and a little frozen river at the bottom of the hill. They even had a jar of fresh baked cookies waiting for us!!!


Friday night we just played games and had a lot of fun. Then Sat. morning I got to snow shoe for the first time, and I am sure there will be more of that!!! Not to mention the very yummy eggs benedict that Debbie made!!!


In the afternoon, I got to go snowmobiling for the first time, absolutely phenomenal. I did get stuck twice and I stalled once (apparently I am good at that) - anyway, the views were spectacular and the snow was amazing. Snowmobiling has to be one of the most fun sports (although my lower back is a bit sore today).



Getting stuck really is no fun, first it is embarrassing because the guys have to dig you out and it is really not that easy. Although, Debbie decided to go off and play on her own and got stuck once there while all the rest of us waited, then the guides finally get her out and on her way up she gets stuck again and does a face plant into the snow. Fortunately, no one got hurt and we all had a blast!!!

Anyway, the pictures are only a mere fraction of the fun we had.
This is a self portrait of Debbie, Aimee and I.

Here is another of the whole group just before we all attempted to sled down the hill behind us!!!

It's amazing how many fun things you can do in the snow!!! Someday, I may just have the find the perfect job somewhere in the mountains!!

brrrrrrrrrrr

Ok, I haven't yet blogged on how cold it is here.

I love it, but it is cold.

Ok, so this past week, starting like Tuesday it snowed, and well the temperatures dropped down to the lowest I heard was -13 degrees.

Then I also heard a bum froze to death. Seriously. Then the news reported how it was actually dangerously cold outside.

And all this time I have managed to walk to and from work! brrr, but thank God for layers.

I will write more soon.

Breckenridge

Ski Trip #2!!!

Denver Light Parade

You can't help but sometimes feel like a kid and get excited when you see Santa at the end of the Electrical Light Parade!!!!

Holiday Decorating Party

The lights and the stockings are hung!!! My appartment is festive and Christmasy!!! The hot chocolate and the holiday cookies were yummy!!!

Success!

Thanksgiving come and gone!

Well, it was hard for me to beleive that Thanksgiving was already here, and well now. It's over, almost a week over. I flew home Wed night with not glitch at all. I managed to get to the airport a mere 4 hours early, trying to beat the holiday rush and well (cause Emily gave me a lift :)) - But I did get my favorite thing in the whole world.... ice cream, while I watched people and listened the live music in the Denver airport. Yep there was live music in the Denver airport while all those people had to wait in line to get through security.

So I did, I got into Phoenix just fine, Mom picked me up and I was home sweet home. Thanksgiving was great. Lots to be Thankful for! This past year has been a wonderful year for me. And of course being Thankful I found my passport! (You know that was two scares in the last year and both times were very interesting findings).

Friday I made it early to tailgate for the ASU vs. UA football game. And i am proud to say ASU WON!!!! We are going to the insight bowl! Here are a few photos from the game.

Now as for Sat and Sun, I can't say much. I managed to catch a cold and a fever and it was just no fun. Sunday I barely left the couch all day. Not the best idea when you only have four days in Phoenix. But at least I had TV!!!!!

First Skiing of the Season!!

YAH!! I got to go Skiing yesterday!! Keystone!

I am so excited for this whole ski season thing!!! I already got to go skiing yesterday, and plan to go a whole lot more before April, that is 5 months of skiing!

Have I mentioned I love CO!!

Here is Ryan and Tara, both from AZ!! Met Ryan at an ASU football game (via TV at the Sports Column)

The quesiton is, what is Mahnamahna

Seriously, my friend Marc just sent these to me, and I have to say, I am the most happy person ever. The simple things in life. But come on...

What is Mahnamahna??? really.... as one of the muppets says, who cares!?

for your recollection/fun

dr. pepper -
http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=20898/
http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=20898
Very Strange, when you click trhough from here it doesn't give you the comercial, so try cutting and pasting! da da daaa da da

muppets -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7088397160073378270&q=mahna+mahn
/


lol..

Tid Bits

First, for those of you who know me (for more than 5 years I'd say) know Stephanie.
She was on the news last week. Check it out, and watch the video.

Stephanie Ray in the News
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/aaostephanie11102005-CR.html

I think I am going to Hawaii for Christmas, and I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week and I will be back on a plane.

Anyone on Myspace? -> it's like a high school reunion, or a life reunion for that matter. Is it scary that you are out with friends having a great night and the subject of myspace comes up often?

Travel Pod? That is my other one, I have been figuring out where in the world I have been, and thus far according to Travel Pod, I have traveled 6% of the world. Ah, and I have lots more to do, hmmm, where will I be in 40 years?

Snow on Sunday? Jennifer and I went to Frisco to the snow on Sunday, it was awesome.

ASU??? Um what happened?? Ok we lost to UCLA on Sat, surprise, surprise. I am going to be tailgating the ASU vs UA game! Can't wait!

Broncos Win! I didn't watch the game, but it is great to have a winning team!

I am a terrible blogger. Infact, nothing exciting is going on and I really have nothing to blog. Work is just flying by, Thanksgiving is in less than two weeks. I am waitin on photos before I can offically e-mail everyone and tell them I have my photos up from Costa Rica. I did go to a Nuggets game this week, although, it wasn't as exciting as I would have hoped. Made me miss the purple palace (if we even still call it that) in Phoenix and wish I was at a Suns game not the Kings vs. Nuggets, but all is well.

I am trying to figure out if I should go to Hawaii for Christmas or not, and well, just trying to figure out what I am going to do with my day today.

I will get back on the blog thing here soon. Myspace is the cool new thing, everyone is doing it! ha ha!

Catcha later.

Southwest is flying to Denver

I have a feeling as soon as Southwest puts their promotions out of like $39 each way from Phoenix to Denver, I either will have a lot of visitors, or I will beg for visitors!!

Now, it is not going to get any cheaper than that! How exciting! And perfect time for Ski season! I am waiting to get my skiis back as I write this, any day now, and soon the mountains will be open!

But back to Southwest, keep me up to date on what Southwest promotes in Phoenix!

Melanie

Costa Rica Blogs!!

I have decided to post all my e-mails from the Costa Rica Trip here

http://melaniecostaricatrip.blogspot.com/

Needless To Say....

I didn't win the lottery, you would have heard from me by now.

Such is life.

Well 24 hours and I am on my way to Costa Rica. I just found out my coworker from Ireland, Bridie and her husband will be there as well! I am soooooo excited.

I'm In!

Ok, I know the powerball was drawn an hour and 45 min ago, but before I check the numbers to see if I win, I thought I would blog it.

I stood in line at 711 behind every other Amerian wanting to win $340 million. I mean, who wouldn't want to win $340million, even if you are taxed HALF, I mean that is still $170million. Before I want to spend too much time thinking about what I would do with that ungodly amount of money, I figure, I will continue with my rather simplistic life that has everything I need.

Ok, so I did it, I invested my $5, and I will let you know momentarily if I win. However, I figured, worst case, it does go back into the state right!? The lottary really figured out a great deal for you to pay for the ticket and if you win, you get half of it taken away. Who is coming out ahead on this one.

I figured the last time I bought, if I have ever actually bought a powerball ticket, would have been over 6 or 7 years ago, and really... I maybe gave a $1 to a coworker to put the moneies in a pool, to better the chances of winning. Didn't happen then either.

Ok, write later, but for now, I am going to check those numbers.

Costa Rica!

In 3 days! I will be on a plane to Phoenix! Breakfast plans with mom and 10:30 - I will be the Rotaract pancake Breakfast!

Then ON TO COSTA RICA!! CAN"T Wait!!! Keep you all posted!

Mel

From Snow to Sea!

From Snow to Sea!

Well, Saturday night we had a girls “weekend” we headed to Steamboat for the night, and had a blast. 7 girls in a condo in Steamboat! We made use of the Jacuzzi and the pool, and then Sunday we got up early for a wonderful breakfast and then on to Strawberry Park. It was awesome. I spoiled myself with a ½ hour massage, mainly because I could afford an hour, and the got to sit in the hot springs while it was misty and rainy and cozy out.

On our drive down we drove through a major snow storm. It was crazy. I was rather excited about it, but the other girls in the car weren’t so much. I do have photos. CRAZY snow, Oct. 10th.

Well I had to catch a 7:15am flight to Los Angeles for Work, so when I woke up on Monday morning, there was snow covering my car. I finally parked, and dragged my stuff in the snow, checked in (barely) but we ended up sitting on the runway for an hour and a half while waiting for the people to defrost us. No one really knew what they were doing since it was the first snow of the year. We didn’t leave until an hour and a half later.

Then, well I got in the LA, drove to Santa Barbara for the University fair, and when it was over, I was so hot and sweaty, I ripped off my boots, and park by the beach (which the University of Santa Barbara is on the beach) and I put my feet in the water for a little while! SO I call it, from Snow to Sea! Hahah

Steamboat

Lots of fun stuff!! This is a picture of Strawberry Springs!

Thank Yous

First, I want to thank
Mom
Sister Christine
Jason Konzak
AND
Eric Gentz for sponsoring me in the Race for the CURE!
I raised $150!! Blew my goal out of the water!

I appriciate it!!! truly!!

Melanie

Aron Rolston

You have all heard his story, but it was definately amazing to hear the story from Aron himself. To get himself into that situation may not have been the smartest, but the story that got him out of that situation is amazing, deep and emotional.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5956900/
In case you want to brush up on the story.

I may go into a bit more detail at a later time.

Melanie