Weekend Walking/Hiking

Saturday I walked around Indian Hills. I found some interesting streets up there. I'm actually looking for my house's twin up there. I think I came close, the homes in one area were very similar. I did find Redford Road and Osmond Lane. One of these days I'll see if I can actually find the Osmond properties.

Today, my grandson and I went hiking. We did Indian Road Trail (again up in Indian Hills). We did about five miles. Nick is getting to be a very good hiker. His listening skills are improving. We heard some clopping and were able to see a herd of deer before they toook off in the opposite direction.

Another nice weekend of wandering around.

Timpanogos Trip Pictures

Here's a quick update with pictures from the hike :)

Timponogas 2006

Aug 19, 2006 - 12 Photos

I put captions on the photos - so cruise away!

Trader Joes

One of the gals at work had a Trader Joes bag. My eyes lit up. Trader Joes, Trader Joes, Trader Joes. Turns out, I have been about 3 miles away most of my stays here. Now I just have to figure out how to get all my goodies home. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy!

Mystere

I went to my very first Cirque de Soleil show tonight - Mystere. (Pronounced Miss Stair). I had a good seat - 2nd row on the rise - essentially in the center. I could see everything very well. It was a beautiful, beautiful performance - a circus ballet.

The costumes were as opulent as they could be for being spandex and the characters took on both strong and submissive roles creating artistic visual stories. The performances varied from conveying innocence and primal passion to intimacies that sometimes made me feel like a voyeur intruding on a passionate affair.

But folks.....it's really just a circus act!

How's that Mr. Wiggles?

LVII

Las Vegas again!

I've had the most wonderful time this week.

I'm working, doing what I used to do this and having fun! Seeing my LV favorite places - Metropolitan Antiques and Chad (HI CHAD!), India Oven, Sephora. (I haven't made it to Desert Passage this trip...yet.) I don't gamble here - I shop.

And walking the Strip, I can happily say I've shaken all the ghosts I mentioned in my last Las Vegas blog. It's my town now with my own happy memories and haunts.

And it is only hovering in the high 90's or low 100's this trip - what's better than that!

Timpanogos!

We made it to the top of Timpanogos via Timpanooke Trail on Saturday.

Stats:
Altitude @ trailhead: 7260 ft., altitude @ top 11,750 ft! Total miles 18. Total time 13 hours. (A little while on the saddle and a little while at the top!)

Timponogas 2006

Aug 19, 2006 - 12 Photos

This was the longest hike I've ever done. I can't say it is the toughest as last year (even though we didn't make it to the top) and Mt. St. Helens seemed tougher. I trained harder this year - hiking (not walking) every weekend since the end of April.

I'd like to do Mt. St. Helens again just to see if my intimidation factor has been lowered. And if it has I want to see the top. With it coughing around - that isn't likely for awhile.

Timpanogos is the 2nd highest peak in Utah, only outdone by Mt. Nebo to the South.

A grateful and heartfelt "thank you" to Pat for all the hikes we've done this year and the nearly two decade friendship. I was (not really) perfectly contented to stay on the Saddle and call it good. The top, after so many hours of hiking, such a barren landscape, and all those teeny tiny stick figures appearing to be scaling straight up the side of the mountain, made me want to call "uncle". His "well I'm going up without you then" got me going.

So at 46 years old, I've done something more and harder and better than I've ever done before....once again. I'm so very very blessed.

Missy Missy Moo Moo

Michief died this morning.

My daughter came out to the car as I was leaving saying she was howling and heaving. Two heaves later the light left her eyes. Aparently she had suffered a heart attack.

Missy was the "daughter" of (very old) LapTop who still graces our household. Her "son", Destiny, a 22 lb yellow cat, lives with us too. Missy had the softest fur, like silk. She was a thief - nightly taking shoes, soft toys, my wallet, and who knows what and patiently carrying them up the stairs howling all the while. She wasn't stealthy - we always knew what she was up to. All of my grandson's soft toys have teeth marks from her nightly ventures.

I have never cried so hard over a pet. You see, Missy took my happy scratches on the head when things were good, shared many a movie with me and many, many times allowed me to bury my head in her fur in sorrow. She'd just nestle closer and let my heart empty onto her. She took on tears no one else knew I'd shed. She was as gentle as she was soft.

At 7:15 this morning I had to start calling vets. It's amazing how cold and impersonal the messages are in these places - most gave emergency services references and stated they opened at 9:00. I found one that opened at 7:30. When I called the technician was very kind and explained the various services available. When I went in she looked sad too. She asked me all about Missy and her eyes welled up. She handed me tissues and didn't try to rush me. I spent a lot of time holding Missy and felt I left her in good, loving arms.

All that and I was still the first one into the office - go figure.

Travel Story

This isn't my story, but it is one that one of my team members told me today. It's too funny to pass up. This last week, during code orange, a woman dressed to the nines, big sunglasses and teensy heels, clip -clops up to the gate on a final boarding call with her newly purchased Caribou (translated for those outside of Minnesota - Starbucks) coffee. Ask she continues towards the gate, Mr. TSA says "ma'am I'm sorry but you can't take that on board". She responds "why not? It's decaf." She steps aside and sips on it some more. (Remember final call?) Mr. TSA politely reminds her that the flight is ready to leave and she needs to board the plane. Another stip or two and she finally throws away the brew.

And would you like a butt-crack with that?

Seriously kids - if you want to show your boxers and buy your pants too big and least consider how big your tookus is before you plop it in an open back chair.

Imagine if you will, a lovely Sunday morning, outdoors. at Starbucks, me sipping my latte and reading a magazine, when suddenly I glance up to ying/yang patterns in front of me. Wearing his pajamas? No.....I can see the pants under his rear end on the chair. But there it is, in all it's glory is his BUTT CRACK.

And he wasn't in a hurry to leave. *sigh*

Ridge Trail

We hiked the Ridge Trail to the Mill Canyon turn today. Very nice, overcast day. This hike teases you with a lot of ridge lines (just when you thought you'd topped out). We saw hawks flying over the valley. Their screech was magnificent to hear.

We chatted with several bikers who seemed to come in "herds" and many times we hit the cross-roads at the same time.

The neatest thing was seeing the Timpanogos trails that we'll be doing very soon. This piecture is the muntain we'll be hiking. Square in the center, at the top, is our destination. Today was 10 miles round trip. Timp will be about 18. We promise to wave at you from up there. :)

Thank you MI-5, Scotland Yard and our HSA

Thank you for your due diligence and thwarting of a potential travesty. I know there were probably a lot of grumbly dehydrated passengers who most likely did not express themselves in the most positive appreciative manner. But know as a frequent traveler and American Citizen, I am grateful for your efforts. (And so were the grumblers.)

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's on the Trail We Go!

Sunday my daughter and I took my 6 year old grandson on his first official hike. We did the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (see my earlier blog about the trail itself). He did great! We went about a mile in and back out. I refused to haul his water for him (the only whine we got).

Timp Cave Trail

I did the Timpanogos Cave Trail again today. I went earlier this year and toured the caves themselves. Today was merely an endurance run for The Big Timp Hike coming up in a few weeks. This trail is paved, a mile long and boasts a 1000+ elevation gain. The picture is looking down on several segments of the trail. I drew lines to show how many switchbacks just this little segment has and the grade this hike offers. The first time I did this trail it took me 90 minutes just to get to the top.

Today I was up and back down in 90. Just a walk in the park - yup yup.

Teri Who?

For those of you stopping by because of the family reunion post - I'm Lucille's daughter :-) Remember the precocious one? Yup - that's me! That hasn't changed either. See you in 2008!