the only one

Alrighty, I've finally found time to blog about this weekend. I had a FABULOUS weekend. I would highly recommend that anyone (except maybe small children for whom it would be dangerous to raft or fly alone) have a weekend like the one I just had. Besides the thrill of seeing a new place and being carried by strong currents and floating under gorgeous skies, there is something I noticed...I was the only one to do a lot of things on this trip. Let's explore.

I was the only one to arrive in Denver at 7:35.
Everyone else got there at around 10:30. So, that gave me a blissful 3 hours of solitude in the lovely, almost new, Denver airport. What would you do with 3 hours of alone time? I chose to listen to Brian Regan (people don't sleep on their own fold out couches), finish my reading of The Alchemist (a very good recommendation by my fabulous little sister), and that brings me to the next one...

I was the only one to exercise in the airport.
I mean, come on, 3 hours? I got a little antsy, and it turns out that Denver airport has quite the perfect little alcove to work off the lethargy should you so need it. So, down at the end of baggage, behind the elevators, I did lunges, push-ups and dips against the empty chairs, squats, and a modified version of V-ups. I loved it! And it got me to thinking...maybe the next time I am waiting in an airport for a while and I want to get moving I will, and will invite others to join me. I wonder if I could get anyone else to do push-ups with me...I'm pretty sure others get as bored as I do.

I was the only one to get an already wet wetsuit.
The river guide outfit provided black wetsuits, blue kayaking jackets, and yellow helmets and life vests so that as we boarded the buses we looked like a family of wasps escaping the elements to the safety of their hive. My wetsuit, had evidently been on the river earlier since it was sopping wet and so gave me some misgivings about putting it on. Don't worry, though, once I got it on it was quite bearable and I was very grateful for it for the rest of the trip. Especially given the next "I was the only one."

I was THE ONLY ONE TO FALL IN THE RIVER!
Can you believe it? I totally fell in. Funny thing, balance, you think you've got it, you're pretty sure, you're holding on, and then, "Whoops!", out of the boat and into the river. Gratefully I knew exactly what to do since they'd given us a safety schpeal on our way there. I immediately turned around, grabbed the boat and did my best to keep my feet off the bottom of the river. It was pretty funny, I'll admit, but I sure wished the guy next to me would stop laughing long enough to get me back into the boat. He did eventually gain composure enough to pull me into the boat...then everyone laughed...all at me. Ok, fine, I laughed too, as I well should have knowing that I'd have laughed if anyone else had fallen in. However, in my defense I was in the front, a very bouncy position on a raft. And I guess that's all the defense I have.:)

At least we didn't totally tip over.

I'd say I was the only one to get in the river at all, only it isn't true. My dear friend who planned this outing acted like she'd like to swim the last little bit of our trip and since I'd already been in, what's once more? I told her I'd go too and we both swam in. We were very very cold on the way back, but hey, no toes lost, and we swam in the river. What can I say: Pain is Temporary, Glory is Forever.

I was the only one to tour Budweiser.
I stayed a day longer than most my comrades to see some cousins in Fort Collins who happen to live within minutes of this huge Budweiser factory. So we took a tour and it was kind of interesting, smelly but interesting. And we got to see some of the Clydesdale horses. They are HUGE. Their hooves are like dinner plates, it's amazing. And don't worry, we didn't partake of the free samples at the end.

I was the only one to go kayaking.
So, have I mentioned yet that I love Colorado and want to live there? Well I do, and one huge reason is the easy accessibility to small lakes on which it is heaven to kayak around. I just love that. Even if my traps did get really sore.

Like I said, it was a great weekend. Here's to Colorado.

beat box, french style

This is full on amazing. After watching it I wanted to walk around trying to make those sounds all day...or at least dance to them.

bring it on

So, this weekend I attended my new ward where I am living now. I'll admit that I hadn't committed myself to switching wards as of Sunday, but I went to their orientation and meetings, enjoyed myself, and filled out a transfer records form. Then, before you know it, I had met with the bishop, they had my picture, and I was on my way home with a pleasant sense of incredulity bouncing around inside somewhere between my shoulders and my bellybutton.

Hm, crazy, I'm really changing wards.

Then I started to get kind of excited about the idea. Especially the idea of living within 5 minutes of all my meetings and activities. Hallelujah! What have I been missing all these years? So, in celebration of my new found convenience, I went to my first ward activity Monday night. It was a barbecue (yes, and it was cold for the first day in like three weeks...oh the irony, but I won't vamp on that just now) and I had a very nice time. Mostly, I think, because I am determined to jump in with both feet, make friends, meet boys, and get into it like I've already been there for years. It took me a long time last time, but I am a new person now. This is gonna be so much fun! So I talk to people I'd never met and one whom I had, and even got invited to a social not-ward activity! Woah! I'm sure my cute younger sister is used to experiences like that, but it is a new one for me. So there you have it. I had a great time and am fully excited for this new chapter in my singles wards experience. Bring it on, baby, bring it on. :)

sometimes dayplanners fail you

Yeah, so this weekend I moved. Woo hoo, that is basically done. Through the course of that Saturday we took a bunch of my stuff to a storage unit and I went in to rent it and the man asked to see my drivers license. Ok, no prob, I am a vigilant law abider, I have my license right here...he takes my license and starts recording things. "Oh," he says, "it looks like your license is expired." "Really?" I say. I think that's a little odd given that I am a vigilant law abider. Hm, I must have just recently missed my mail in which is the notice that I need to renew. Hm, well, let's look at the date on which my vigilantly legal drivers license has expired...probably a day or two ago...APRIL 3, 2007! ACK! I've been driving on an expired license for OVER A MONTH?! (Little mini freak out session)

Yeah, so evidently they had my wrong address because I received no notice of my soon-to-be delinquent document in the mail. And I obviously never wrote such an event as this expiring in my dayplanner...hm...and I'm usually so diligent about that. So anyway, I followed all traffic laws for the past few days and went this morning to renew my license. Turns out I didn't even have to retest or anything. That was a relief. So, here I am 23 bucks lighter (the license is only $20, but I made a couple donations), and a lot more aware of how nice it is to operate automobiles on a legal footing.

...and with a picture that's not quite as flattering as the last, but who really looks at those anyway?

restroom signs should really be bigger

So, I had a somewhat interesting experience this Saturday. I went Latin dancing with a Mexican in my ward who is totally cool and nice and with whom I've talked about going dancing for a while. Incidentally, I have decided, once again, that Latin dancing is not for me. But that's beside the point.

There was a point in the evening that I, as a water drinking female who also happened to want to go home yet wanted to hold out for the sake of my date who was obviously enjoying having a partner who could actually dance, took an opportunity to go take a small trip to the restroom. Therefore, in a somewhat dazed and tired state I entered the restroom, focused on the first stall, made it in and leisurely went about my business. Toward the end of my visit I seemed to hear what seemed to be male voices...hm...maybe I heard wrong. Then, upon glancing at the floor just outside my stall I saw a shoe (a guy's shoe) facing the opposite direction of how my feet were placed...hm...how odd...ha! poor guy, he totally came in the woman's restroom! Ha ha, little chuckle to myself (I obviously did not eat enough that day since I was clearly not thinking right).

So, laughing at that poor guy's expense, I left my stall and approached the sink, soaped my hands, and looked up at the mirror where I saw two men standing with their backs toward me at two of three urinals mounted on the opposite wall...right next to the stall I had just exited. How I didn't see those urinals on my way into the restroom we will never know. What could I do? I rinsed my hands, chuckled to myself again, and left as speedily as possible...wiping my hands on my pants (there were no paper towels and I was not going to stand around and dry them under one of those stupid air-dry things).

I said to my date when I got out, "Why didn't you come get me?" Evidently he had but I was already about my business. So we laughed and kept dancing. Eventually he did let me go home, and I was no worse for wear from my little humorous episode, though I do wonder if those guys noticed my gaucherie. Guess I'll never know.

Now I just have to figure out how to avoid ever going Latin dancing again for the rest of my life (unless I have an absolutely amazing partner whom I happen to be in love with too, of course). :)

My advise, look VERY carefully at any restroom signs before entering...some of them are a little androgynous.

i love bean burritos

So, I work almost everyday of my life. Coincidentally, I eat lunch almost everyday of my life. Admittedly I sometimes wish I didn't have to eat. I mean, I spend so much time planning, preparing and eating meals that I would love to commit to hiking, writing, shopping, or just getting my workday over with sooner. Alas, that is not to be, so I continue my daily struggle to nourish myself sufficiently at the lunch hour.

Which brings me to Albertson's, or rather the yummy little mini bean burritos they sell in their deli section. They are delicious. So, every other week or so I will trot (ok, maybe I don't quite trot, but I definitely walk in a sprightly manner) over to Albertson's to purchase some mini bean burritos and various sides. I might get some cheese and a Bolthouse smoothie or carrot juice. Just lately I got some sugar snap peas and red grapes. Then I take it all to work, leave it in the fridge and have it all for lunch for about 4 days. It's a delicious little combination and I highly recommend it. Tell you what, those little burritos make lunch almost worth having.