not much

I don't know why everything is typing as a blue underlined link that doesn't link to anything, and I don't know how to fix it.  My only advice is to go buy a mini trampoline from Wal-Mart.  The one that comes with resistance straps and a work-out DVD.  It's fun and it's a good work-out.  And also, this is one last picture from our Eldorado hike.  I promise to put new and different themed pictures on here from now on.

aneurisms and trampolines

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.

the week in partial review

Here are a few pictures from the past week with Nate and Jenn.  They've got some more on their camera that we'll hopefully get soon on our computer.  I've been dealing with a stinky cold the whole time they've been here, so because of that, today they are hiking up the incline in Manitou while I'm waiting at home coughing and sneezing.  I feel guilty for not being a tougher sick person, but I don't want to push it and be sick for another week, so bowing out was the best I could do, as lame as it seems to me.

This was from our hike in Eldorado Canyon.  The water was GUSHING, we were surprised to see so much of it.  You can't really tell from this photo, but Gabe thought it looked like a class 5 rapid.

Here is a lil snake we saw on the path:

This was right at the trailhead: 

Melissa mentioned something in her last post about how rarely her husband takes a serious picture.  I know how that goes:

We ran into Collin and a couple of his friends at the New Belgium Brewery tour we took in Ft. Collins.  It was kind of funny because the place where they do the free tastings was packed so Jenn took the initiative and went in search of some empty chairs.  The three of us just stood and talked for a minute, then Jenn motioned to us from across the room that she'd found some empty spots.  We crossed the room and the four empty seats just happened to be at the same table as Collin and his two friends.  So we joined up with them and had an even better time.
Nate and Jenn:

Gabe and I (note the serious face again):

Once again...
Here is the bottling part of the tour. All of the red is the bottle-tops:

Hand-blown glass bottle chandelier on the tour:

One of the tanks (?) where they brew with mosaic tile around the bottom:

And again...
If you like beer and live in one of the 18 states that sells New Belium (Fat Tire) beer, I encourage you to drink it.  They are a green brewery that does all sorts of admirable things, such as: 85% wind powered, the rest being powered from methane that they create and utilize on site; all sorts of other energy-efficient things throughout the whole brewery like sun tubes in the ceiling, and a bunch of stuff I don't really remember; they donate $1 for every barrel of beer they sell during the year (last year that ended up being almost a half a million dollars donated to non-profits and maybe charities); they were voted the number one place to work, beating out even Google;  on the first day of work, every employee is given a key to the entire place;  every employee is allowed one free case of beer per week, on the honor system--it can be picked up at any time on their own; everyone who works there for 5 years is taken to Belgium on an all-expenses paid trip with the founder and his wife; each year employees are given more stock in the company, so that after 7 years they are officially employee owners.  I'm sure there is more, but the point is, they are a good company that makes good beer (if you like beer, and I don't typically---but I do like a few of their brews).

I hope everyone's weekend gets off to a great start today!

our internet is healed, and pretty views

Well, I said I was going to post these yesterday, but it seems our area's internet was not internetting so well yesterday.  It's been fixed and now we all have our internet back.  A small part of me wants to hug the computer, but that seems a little foolish, maybe if it had been two days, not just one.

Anyhoo, here are a couple of pictures from the reservoir last weekend with Gathering friends. It was a fun day of bocce, grilling, taking turns walking in the water with Naomi, and Ultimate Frisbee.

My camera doesn't quite capture the mtns in the distance, 

but in real life, it was a very pretty view:

Actually, just one picture from the reservoir, I couldn't get anymore to load.

Moving on.

Here are a few from the Springs, hiking with the Knipps:

On our way down the mtn Gabe and Janae decided we were going to slow, and the best remedy was for Gabe to give Janae a piggy back ride down the trail as fast as he could go.  They disappeared from sight for quite awhile (I couldn't get the picture of them galloping away to load either), and this is where we found them when we finally caught up:

Trying our best to look awkward around each other:

Were you listening for something, Vickie?

So, that was our weekend.  This weekend we're getting ready for Nate and Jen's visit.  They arrive Monday.  I think we'll take them camping or hiking, and go on the Coor's tour (which I've still never done after living here for seven years).  Two and a half more days of school!!!!!  That thought keeps barging in on any and all other thoughts I have.  

Enjoy your Friday, everyone!

boulder pics

This picture of an old motel is from the end of our outing, once back in Denver.  To the left of the partial word "AFFORDA" it says "Heaven on Earth Inn."  Not so much...

Here are some shots from our day in Boulder:

Gabe burns easily, so he was sure to cover up beforehand.




Me in a (not very) scary cave.

The weather was PERFECT for hiking, not too hot, not too cold.  We saw 8 deer. We saw a bazillion crazy people riding their bikes UP the mountain (typical Boulder behavior).  No bears. No mountain lions.  Saw one pair of boxers (?).  Also saw a pair of abandoned climbing shoes. Lots of pretty views.  Now Gabe is asleep :)