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| This summer is flying by. Since I last wrote there has been a bunch of stuff happen. Where to begin...
Working out was going really well. I lost over 20 lbs. and was really showing improvement in the weights I lifted. Then it happened -- injury. I suddenly developed Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome which is commonly known as "Runner's Knee" which made me quit working out suddenly. I had run 4 miles non-stop the day before and was progressing quite well. I did my leg routine and suddenly my knee started popping when doing leg lifts. Yeah, not cool. I'm starting back into it this week, but I've learned my lesson. I need to stretch before working out or I'll pay the price and I need to take it easier.
As my profile states, I'm from Iowa. If you turned on the TV, went online or read the paper this past month you've seen the devastation from the floods. I recall the floods back in 1993 and that was bad; the floods this year dwarf that flooding. My home town was hit hard. Looking at pictures of the downtown under water was sickening. I almost left work to drive back home to help, but by that time I probably couldn't have helped out too much. The last thing they need are bystanders. Here's a picture from The Gazette.
 I've also been more active outdoors. I went backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park with a friend two weekends ago. It was amazing. The second camp site was secluded and NOT full of mosquitoes. We hiked up to Estes Cone which gave a beautiful view of the Continental Divide and Long's Peak. The last morning I woke up and left my camping partner in the tent to take some dawn pictures. As required, we hung our foodstuffs and "smellable" items in bags up trees -- 10' up from the ground and 4' out from any tree trunk. I think we did the best job hanging them the last night so I took some pictures. I walked back to the camp site, which was 15 yards or so away, sat down my camera atop my pack and started walking back to the bags to take them down and start breakfast. I was about 10 yards away when I saw there was something underneith -- a BEAR!!! It heard me walking its way and stood up on it's hind legs to get a better look. My legs froze to the ground as my mind began to whirl thinking of what to do. The bear returned to all fours and began walking my way. CRAP! I walked casually back to my pack as to not set off the prey instinct within the bear. I opened an outward pocket and grabbed my bear-strength pepper spray. Luckily, my backpack came equipped with a whistle since my Fox 40 Drum Major whistle was in the tent still. I blew that small whistle with all my might trying to be annoying as possible to the bear which was approaching my former frozen leg location. I also needed to wake up my camping buddy. He awake and looked out of the tent to me with a terrified look holding the bear spray. It took me telling him a couple of times that there was a bear just 5 yards away until he look and saw for himself. The bear paused for a bit looking our way until it decided we weren't food or worth the energy. It growled a little to let us know to leave it alone and slowly walked further into the forest. I was more concerned with the bear than taking a picture and my friend's camera's batteries just died on him. So... no picture, but oh the stories to tell.
For the 4th of July fireworks celebration I hiked up Mt. Senitas partially and got to see the fireworks from almost all the Denver metropolitan communities in the horizion. While up there we saw a fox (and smelled it too -- they smell like skunk), several deer and fawns running around on the slpe underneith us. Pretty sweet.
I'm also trying to find a church with a friend. It's interesting seeing different communities and churches.
I'll update hopefully sooner with pictures of the trip and just more info.
P.S. Blue Like Jazz is a great book... I highly recomend it!
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| Progress???Since I'm going to be rather sarcastic for the remainder of this post, I'm putting the real and somewhat successful results first. As mentioned before, I let myself get off-track with my goals. The greatest success is my diet; I've been able to keep my daily intake to 1500 or less calories per day. The next success is exercising going to the gym on average 5 days a week. It's not quite the 6 days each week I want to go, but it's a running start. The best part is exercising hasn't been exclusively in the gym. I've been up to the mountains a few times boarding and hiking. All together, I've lost 10 lbs. in 3 weeks. I've started to take advantage of the amazing outdoor opportunities Colorado has to offer. REI is my my favorite outdoor store (you can buy, try equipment out for a while and ever return it used if it doesn't work). I'm planning on purchasing a bunch of outdoor equipment and a bike this spring/summer. Before I know it, it'll be snowboarding time again! I love living in Colorado!
Enter sarcasm... (hi!)
Xcel Energy included an insert with my latest bill. I was relieved to read how "green" they're going with producing energy from renewable sources, "... we are significantly increasing the generation and purchase of electricity from renewable resources." Oh, and it's such a relief to see they are "nearly tripling our wind capacity" and "will continue to add new wind capacity." Let's take a look at the numbers:
Xcel Energy's Supply Mix| Fuel Type | Percentage |
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| Bio-mas and waste | 0.00% |
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| Geothermal | 0.00% |
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| Solar | 0.02% |
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| Hydroelectric | 0.98% |
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| Wind | 4.60% |
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| Renewable Sources Total | 5.60% |
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| Nuclear | 0.00% |
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| Natural
Gas | 37.15% |
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| Coal | 57.25% |
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| NON-Renewable Sources Total | 94.40% |
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I'm so relieved Xcel cares so much to diversify its energy sources. It's not like Colorado has an ample wind supply and more sunlight than San Diego, California. It's not like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is in Golden, Colorado. I absolutely don't have any degrees which would qualify me to work on research or even production of solar cells. The Bush administration cares SO much about renewable energy that they cut funding to NREL after giving funding back to make a public relations visit after cutting funding. I'm so relieved Xcel... <sniff, sniff> cares...
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| Your Moment of ZenI usually go to the grocery store around 7 PM and a few nights ago I came out, cloth bags in hand (gotta be environmentally friendly ya know) and had to put them down to take this picture. There's not a day that I don't love living by the mountains.
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| Progress report (and other things): So after writing the last blog I kicked myself in the butt and got on my goals. There aren't very many resources to look up information about GLBT friendly churches, but there are a couple I'm going to visit (though I really miss the church I attended in Iowa City). Thanks to a talkative mom, there's been no troubles keeping in touch with family. I've been to the gym every night this week so far and this weekend is booked with Colorado things like hiking and boarding (I'm really excited). To help with getting a better diet I've been counting calories this week and done well. I've even cooked every night this week, though I have yet to reach out and make a long-distance cook-off call (I'd lose if it were Gumbo). The only thing I've not worked on is studying or looking for something more rewarding for a job. It'll come in time... I hope. Thanks to everyone for their comments and words of encouragement! I guess all that's left is needing people to come work out, hike or board with me. (puppy dog face to anyone who doesn't want to get out and do something with me)
Since I'm in such a great mood tonight I thought I'd mention a great movie I just bought. "August Rush" really touches me since it's about a boy and music (among other things). Growing up revolved around music for me. My oldest brother is a composer and middle brother was extremely talented and gifted on guitar -- so much so he won an international contest. My mom, grandma and other relatives were musicians. I have had music running in my blood since I can remember, be it piano lessons or playing my sax in jazz band. On bad advice from my high school band teacher I didn't pursue anything my first year in college. Life kinda sucked. When I was about to drop out I joined band and it took me back in like a prodigal son. Now that I'm in Colorado I'm missing that again. I could join a municipal band, but I need to drop several $k on a new sax. Like in the movie, I can feel the music calling to me and I really miss it. Watching "August Rush" really moved me and I wish I could do something about it.
"It's like.. I just woke up and I should start playing again. I should play"
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| Where to begin? Ah, yes... concerning life. (if you get this reference, you're a dork just like me)
Things have been up and down the past few months. Generally, life is treating me well and has been changing as it always does. Last December my boss was fired because he did his job and insisted those above him do theirs. I couldn't stand to stay in a company with inept management so I found another job. One of the best feelings was submitting my resignation to the person that fired my boss. Why should my work go to benefit people that don't do their own nor deserve their salaries? The new job is the same role as the old one, but in a much better company with a great outlook. I don't really like the work generally, but it's something to pay the bills in the meantime. I really need to go back to school and need to work towards that goal, but it's been tough which leads to my next subject.
Recently I've been in a bit of a funk. Though the environment at work is new and not what it was like before, I'm still doing the same type of work and it bothers me. My idea job would be working for something that benefits humanity and uses my degrees. Ideally, alternative energies like solar cells and such would be a great job. Too bad the current administration cuts funding to such things and invests in oil... but I digress. I've also not been very active aside from the occasional snowboarding, run or workout. Yesterday I went out and bought a Camelbak and new binding for my board (one broke the last run up so I just bought all new ones) in hopes that having stuff around would encourage me to get out more. I called around asking friends to go out with me, but no one -- not even my bf -- would go out. Instead of motivating myself to get up and out, I stayed in this weekend and moped. I used to be quite motivated and got out and exercised/hiked/roller bladed/ran, but not recently... not in a while. I've even not been cooking either, which I find relaxing. Today I called around trying to get friends to hang out and no one was available or didn't want to do anything with me. I think I need to expand my friends, but how? Trying to find people with similar interests, morals and values is difficult. Maybe I'm too picky though I believe experience has taught me I am not.
My goals have been lacking as well. I'm lacking focus and don't know how to get it back. Ugh... life is complex. Any suggestions?
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