Here are a couple more pictures from our day at Eldorado. You may have noticed that in many of the earlier ones (or at least a few, I don't entirely remember which ones I put on here and looking would take way too much time) you saw the backs of everyone's heads as they walked ahead of me. This one on the left is also while everyone else was ahead of me. There is actually a series of these hold-the-camera-and-photograph-yourself pictures, but they are far to embarrassing to include here. The reason I was in the back is two-fold. I was sick and I could be in better aerobic shape (translation: I'm not really in great shape). More on the shape part later. As we began to ascend the mountain, really as we drove toward the mountain if I'm honest, my head began to protest. It was experiencing some sinus issues, and my lungs quickly started to protest in the form of quick outbursts of hacking. Once the hike began, things did not exactly clear up. I did not want to be a pansy, however, so I silently (if you don't count the hacking) pushed on. During the first fifteen minutes, or so, I seriously considered the odds that I was in fact having a brain anurism (my computer informs me that that is the incorrect spelling, but I can't seem to care enough to find the correct spelling). By the time we got to our turn-around point at the river, my aneurism (aha! I got it!), had let up and I privately mentioned to Gabe that I'd had one earlier in the hike. Since Nate just took the oath to be a real live doctor days before arriving in Denver, Gabe asked him what the difference between a stroke and an aneurism is and in true doctor fashion, he explained it to us. So it seems I probably did have an aneurism, and not in fact a stroke. As far as the not being in the best shape comment, I bought a "rebounder" (ie: small trampoline) at Wal-Mart yesterday, so that will all be behind me soon. I read (while G, Jenn, and Nate climbed the incline in the Springs) that bouncing on a trampoline is actually very good for your lymph system, immune system, skeletal and musculature systems, and aerobically. So I'm a sucker and I went out and bought one. It came with an exercise DVD and resistance straps to hold and pull with my arms, as well as a little sensor that tells me how many times I've bounced and calories burned. It should be easy on my knees, too.
Gabe needs the computer to do some actual work now. Not me. I'm on vacation in case anyone forgot. It's the best invention I know of, by the way.
Really quick, here are some recommendations to watch/read:
Bella (movie)
Once (movie)
Dan in Real Life (movie)
The Shack (I finished it yesterday, Vickie. It was great.) (book)
Toodles.
