Planning ahead

Oh i am so close to being done with this semester...hallelujah (is that how you spell that?)

Very very exciting. And my upcoming plans are sweet...if they happen. Ya never know with weather, married to a pilot and life in general. But here is my wish list:

• Climbing at red rocks in Vegas over Turkey week
• Fun in the sun in LA with family...maybe surf!!??
• Hawaii after school is out....surf surf surf
• Ski/hut trip here
• Mexico surf trip in January
• Skiing in Jackson
• Ultimate in Hawaii - again
  
• Alaska glacier trip this spring
• Skiing and more in South America
• Surfing Costa Rica?

Pretty good...eh. You ask when will i work? Mhmm....in between. Work is just something that interrupts life. I'd like to believe my life is a vacation sporadically stopped by workations. Haha!

Bought my ski pass today - yikes - i better go skiing now! Perfect for yet another snowy colorado day! Woke tow a foot of snow. Pretty!

Wish i was rich and could quit work. One can always dream!

A weekend in Paradise

Oh i am so so so happy and feel so revived after my weekend with my friends and ohana and ultimate and sunshine and love!

I was going to fly for free but the flights ended up filling up and so i purchased a last minute flight there. I did get a free flight back, first class, non-stop from HNL to DEN. So stoked!


I had to leave right after teaching. It was hectic but i made it to the airport and took my red eye to HNL. I met this awesome girl on the flight and we spent our 4 hour layover in vegas together. She is cool and we hope to hang out soon. She is from Denver. I arrived in HNL at 6 am and got picked up by good friends and the awesomeness began.


I met with Becky and we went surfing at Cliffs (diamon head) right away. Oh my GOD! To be in the water, the ocean, the waves, the sun, being on the board, i cant even begin to tell you how amazing it was. I was in heaven!

After out sick surf session, we ran a few errands and headed to the fields. I was getting soooo tired not having slept in forever! At the fields i set up my tent and passed out. The sound of waves, the wind, knowing i would see more of my friends soon. And i woke to the sound of their voices. Timber, Bhama, Dave, Joel, Amy, Julia, Brian...it was soo sweet!

We got ready to head to the fields for dinner and to begin the partying that was not going to stop until monday night!

It was sososososo sweet seeing all my friends...oahu, big island, and everyone else!!! I was so in love. The thick air, the heat, the beer, the hugs...ahhhhhh. Every team had their opening cheer and Swing of fire brought it home with Keoki jumping out of a volcano in a thong and JP playing ukelele. Needless to say we won best cheer!

We boat raced, laughed, played games, and then i crashed for a windy, loud rainy night in my tent. But we woke to sunshine which was perfect.

A quick breakfast and we were off to a day of 5 games of ultimate. Swing of fire played well, rocked the house with costumes and spirit. It was a long day but so sweet. By the end i was wasted from boatracing and shots and who knows what!

After showers and a swim in the ocean it was time to get dressed for our formal sit down dinner. I wore this long red velvety gown...so fun! Nice to see all us dirty ulti players all dressed up. Hehe! After a nice indian dinner the dance party began. With fog machine and everything! We danced until midnight and this may have been my fav dance session EVER! It was sweaty, hot and wild, and fun! YAY!

I slept like a baby that night!

The next day: another 3 games and my feet were shot. Blisters and everything. I was so tired and sore! It was a bitter sweet day because i knew most of my peops would be leaving. It felt way too short and i didn't want the weekend to end.

After our good byes and moving tents it was time for dinner and awards. Swing tied for spirit with south of border and won it via a boat race. YAY! We then entered the boat race championships and made it all the way to semi finals!!! Even though we didn't have our main seven....well in the end we did! Because we crushed! So happy!
I did 5 boat races in one hour....and then went to bed and never even got drunk!
HAHA!

I woke a bit sad...i knew it was my last day and i had had such an amazing time!!! BUT it was beach ultimate day which meant a day in the sand under the sun! So so fun!
I got soooo sandy. The ocean was awesome....oh the joy!

At about 4pm we headed to the airport and spend the next few hours at the bar. YAY!

And then it was time for my flight back, another red eye and off to class an hour after i landed. Yikes. As sad as i am that its over, i also feel so elated that i got to go, so grateful and so happy! I know that i will always be part of that family and that in only 2 months i get to join Kaimana Klassik! So so stoked!

So that's it for now. Happily being lazy this weekend and doing absolutely NOTHING!
YAY!

Off to the islands...

oh my...i am so antsy and excited. I can barely sit still. I am leaving tonight for Oahu and the worlds best frisbee tourney. But best of all, i get to see my friends, my ohana!!! And maybe some surf too. Oh my...giddy...pure.

I got a massage this morning and then a chiro adjustment so that my body is ready for some torture. I am all packed. Now i just have to teach a couple of classes and i am off.

YAY!!!!

Happy happy me!

Cross Country Trails

After our two days of snow storm and no work, it was time to go out and enjoy all that ridiculous October snow!!!

A few feet in the mountains and a blue bird Saturday provided the perfect conditions to go play. We decided to hit one of our favorite cross country trails from last year. Its in the Indian peaks, called Coney Flats. And wow...it was perfect!
PS: check out that sexy car!!!

The snow was deep and lush, the weather warm and sunny. Only a few folks ahead of us breaking trail!! We ended up having to break trail the last mile or so, since those peops didnt go all the way but it was so worth it.

All in all an 8 mile round trip that ends at Coney Flats with a stunning view of Sawtooth mountain. The trail is up and down with a lot more up then down on the way in, but that makes the way out so so so fun as you are gently sliding all the way to the car. The trees kept out the wind but let enough sun in to blush our cheeks.




A great Halloween that ended with an awesome dinner at Matt & Nora's house. I dressed up in Nate's XL pilot clothes with was nothing short of hilarious. Nate dressed up as a math teacher :)
Sadly we forgot to take pictures. Lame!

Probably my very first snow filled Halloween ever...pretty cool!

Next up: HOPU....a weekend in Hawaii with friends....oh my god...how friggin' exciting is THAT!!!!!


PS: of course the snow has all melted and its now 60 degrees again...HAHA!!!

All i see is white...

It started last night...huge fat white flakes falling from the sky...silent and steady all through the night. We woke to 3 inches and no end in sight.

I drove to work with my awesome subaru, a lil nervous and very slowly, and made it there safely 10 minutes before they announced school would be canceled for the day. Haha! Oh well. I stayed for a meeting and then drove home, slowly and carefully.

It was so pretty. I realized i have never lived anywhere where it snows like this. Where this is just part of winter. And it is beautiful. Especially since i know that next week sometime it will be sunny again and warm. Chances are...

Every place i have lived was ruled by nearby waters and rain: Berlin, Portland, Vancouver, Hilo. The snow makes everything so serene and silent and calm. The town looks amazing. And when have i ever had a SNOW day! YAY! All i wanted to do was make a fire and read a book in front of it while the snow kept on falling. It hasn't stopped. We are now at over a foot of snow. Our lanai is full!

Everybody keeps asking me how i feel about this, how its like being from hawaii and seeing all this snow. Would i rather be on a beach than this...sadly yes. But i can still appreciate the beauty of a snowy winter white day!

Just another week ...

October is flying by...holy cow.

Nothing spectacular this week, just a nice happy not too stressful week of work. Which was actually quite nice. I love my work here, its just that it gets to be a bit much some days, but my colleagues are so nice and everyone loves to talk about teaching and ways to get better and how to make students learn and you know stuff like that. Its nice.

I also had book club this week, which wasn't that great. I dont know why. Maybe because i got there late since i had to teach, or maybe because people hadn't read the book, or because i just felt like an outsider. It was a bit disappointing as i had been looking forward to it all week. But i am not giving up. Next month will be better :)

Nate and i got to spend Saturday at Shelf Road climbing which was perrrrfect. 80 degrees and sunny and just so fun! Sadly it snowed again today with 30 degree weather and so we headed home last night knowing the forecast.

But we slept in, went for a late breakfast, and then walked pearl street, shopped, drank hot chocolate and had a super snowy afternoon stroll in our town. The snow flakes were HUGE. It was so beautiful! The snow, sun, snow, sun mania is totally crazy! But at least there is sun! HA...

Now its time for a movie and sleep. Another week of work awaits!

HOPU countdown: 10 days :)

Ski Climb Play

This was a activity filled weekend and i am beat!

After our ski excursion on Friday, we went climbing at the Golden Cliffs yesterday. The weather is hot-tastic...it could be hawaii. Hot sunny sunshine all day every day...bliss. We had a nice time climbing together and just enjoying another day outside.

And today was league day, so two games of ultimate this morning. Lots of running in the hot sun. What cracks me up is when my teammates tell me that its humid...haha...humid. They think thus dry arid air is humid...they dont know humid!!!

I am actually getting tan again, in october...yay! And i am tired. I hurt my back laying out and its spasming a bit. May have to hit up Dr. Pete, the magic chiro doc i been seeing. So yes i am beat. That was a lot of stuff and i am out of shape and gaining weight and i need more of this. All that was missig was a solid surf session and i'd be in heaven!

And i wish i didnt have to work tomorrow. I need a day of rest after this weekend. Ha!

HOPU in 3 weeks...sooo stoked!

I love that i can do these things with my husband...ski and climb...and just spend an awesome weekend together sharing the things we love. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)

Blue Bird Ski Day

After much debate, where to go and what to do on this gorgeous 70 degree day we opted for making our first turns on the ski hill!!!

So fun, so warm, so pleasant. We went to Loveland, a ski area about an hour and a half from us. Not too bad. We got about two hours in and man was that PLENTY. We were both so tired afterwards. HAHA! need to get in ski season shape.

I was practicing my tele turns and lovin' the sunshine. YAY!

We got to go out to a yummy dinner with a friend tonight and now we are in bed ready for a movie and a good night sleep!

Tomorrow we'll go climbing and enjoy more of this amazing blue bird weather!!!!

Date Night

After a busy and sleep deprived week, Nate and i decided that quality time was needed.
We both been so busy with work, visitors, and me leaving town on weekends that we hardly get a day to ourselves!

So friday night was date night :) ...dinner and movie, what else!

We wnet to an excellent sushi place and ate our hearts out and talked and just really connected. Sharing stories about work, friends, talking about the past, present and future. Laughing together and just being happy. It was incredibly nice!
Then we went to see Couples Retreat, a hilarious movie with Vince Vaughn.

It was such a sweet evening, i am still smiling. Only downside, now that he is back at work for 4 days i miss him even more...sigh!

But the good news is that he is getting his Denver base back, which means shorter trips and less time away, less stress, no commuting, happy husband, happy wife! He will have to go to training at the end of this month which means 4 weeks apart, but hopefully we get some more quality time together before that! And Thanksgiving and Xmas break aint that far away!

In the spirit of love...we also went to a wedding this weekend. Our friends Derek and Gretchen tied the knot down in Colorado Springs. What was supposed to be a sweet outside wedding at the Garden of the Gods turned into a freezing ice fest. Luckily they moved it inside at the last minutes. Made me all weepy being at a wedding and brought up sweet memories of ours. In the end, even though theirs was only 40 people, i am beyond happy we were just 4. I dont think i missed out at all. But theirs was also very very fun!

So off to another busy week: conferences and exams...yikes. But this weekend is my first full 3 day weekend with my man...YAY!

And then there was snow...

Unbelievable, i want to move back.

We have snow...in october...the beginning of october...snow that sticks...to the ground...5 inches of it...and its freezing cold...in october...2 weeks after summer ended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If i haven't said it yet: i am NOT ready.

This weather is schizo...plain crazy. We go from snow to sunshine, from 70 degrees to 20 degrees, from hot to cold, from AC to heater in 24 hours flat! Its crazy. I never know what to wear.

And have i mentioned the SNOW...that has collected in big piles on my lanai?????

Sigh...yes the foliage was beautiful and the leaves so pretty and it so so so strange to see snow mixed in with pretty leaves! To see sprinkler systems still going on top of the snow! To feel like its christmas even though Halloween hasn't even happened yet.

And my plants must live inside now...i am not sure they will make it..sigh!

Taking deep breath!!!