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!