Pikes Peak - Laboring on Labor Day

I'm finally gonna do it. I've had a goal to do this since I moved to Colorado and this weekend I'm making it happen. I am taking on a 14er - Pikes Peak. A fourteener (or 14er) is a mountain with a summit above 14,000ft (4267m) MSL (mean sea level). The highest 14er in the contiguous United States is Mt. Whitney (14,491') in California. Colorado has over fifty 14ers, making it the highest state in the US. Some other famous 14ers include Pikes Peak, CO (14,110'); Mt. Rainier, WA (14,410'); and Mt. Elbert, CO (14,433'). Stay tuned for photos.

Difficulty:	Class 2
Exposure:
Summit Elevation:	14,110 feet
Trailhead Elevation:	10,100 feet
Elevation Gain:	4,200 feet
Round-trip Length:	11.50 miles

Life on the Farm - Cedaredge, CO

Last weekend I made the trek over to the other side of the Rockies to visit my friends Jane and Ron from AZ. They bought some property in Cedaredge, Colorado to start a tree farm - their retirement dream. They are living off their land, complete with a large garden, chickens and cows. The drive was beautiful and took me through an area called Grand Mesa which had spectacular views from windy roads climbing over the mountains. It was great to see old friends and they treated me like a princess - just what I needed. They sent me home with a cooler full of fresh picked fruit and veggies... mmmm - fresh picked tomatoes are my favorite!
Thanks Jane and Ron!

Another pin in the map - NYC

Work sent me to New Jersey ...about an hour bus ride from the Big Apple. I was only able to make it into the city in the evenings .. but was able to get a few pic's of what I saw.

Time Square

City Skyline from the bus window.

Tyson V. who I hadn't seen since January of '06! It's funny how I always seem to meet up with this guy all over the world.

maintaining positivity

For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness. ~Author Unknown

Today I'm just trying to learn from life's lessons and keep on marching with my head held high.

Simple things that bring a smile to my face: spending time with my girlfriends, finishing a hot yoga class, catching a Frisbee, wild flowers, sunsets, calls from old friends, wearing new clothes, hiking, beautiful views of the Rockies, playing my guitar, sittin' in a sun beam, roller blading in Wash Park, Happy Tree Friends, listening to new tunes on my I-Pod, puppies, thinking about the places I've been, thinking about the great life I've had, fantasizing about all of the good times to come.

Amazing things in my life today to be grateful for:

• finding my way home safely using public transportation in New York City last night
• friends who call me back when they know I need support
• having a huge hotel room to relax in w/ beers in the fridge
• payday
• coincidental timing that led me to see Tyson and Tanler and his wife Molly last night

Fake it till you make it!

Mohawk Lake - Spruce Creek Trail

Last week the girls (Sheila, Cindy, Kelly and Cass) and I - and a dog named Bowe - headed up to Breckenridge to hike the Spruce Creek Trail up to Mohawk lake. Cindy picked out the hike and let me just say - that girls got talent when it comes to finding beautiful places to hike! Days like these make me happy to be livin'.

Bowe (the best dog ever) and I - checkin' out the Falls.

Sheila collects heart rocks...this one was too big to carry home!

A swimmin' hole for Bowe - you'd think that boy was a fish the way he loves water!

She and Cass - happy smiles : )

View of lower Mohawk Lake
Colorado Rocky Mountain High