2: My Secret Crush Revealed

The events of Monday morning were still prominent in my mind as I headed into boot camp at 8am the next day.  Surprisingly, I was only mildly sore for being so out of shape; my hiking the weeks prior must have had some impact.  Not that I was engaged; while I enjoyed the camp, I was far from sold that exercise needed to be a part of my daily lifestyle.  Trudging into the gym, imagine my immediate delight to see my friend Kristen, ready to start the camp.

Kristen helpfully posing for me.

Having a friend to greet me was an unexpected bonus.  I immediately noted how much easier the day's activities seemed with her by my side; after all, I am used to hiking with a partner.  This was the dreaded cardio day, which I had already decided would likely kill me.

It didn't.

I have to admit to surprise - I could breathe the entire time.  Yes, it was hard.  Yes, it took me to places my muscles had never been.  But every time I thought I would need a drink due to my throat closing, Sgt. Steve would stop the set. 

I probably shouldn't start sentences with But.

Mrs. Bohs is probably rolling in her grave.

If she is dead.   I couldn't find her obituary.  So, Blair Bohs, if you are still alive out there, I apologize for starting a sentence with But.  I can see your red ink line prominently struck through it, really I can.  I can also remember sitting right behind Tony McCarthy, who wrote the most ghoulish things and was my antagonist until I developed a raging crush on him.  Not that I should mention that, right?  It was 29 years ago....(OH MY WORD WE ARE OLD, PEOPLE!!!)

This is our sophomore yearbook.  Can you find me?

This was during my "Alien Bond" phase of life.  I was determined to write a Star Trek novel.  Rarely was I seen without a pen in hand; rarely has there been such a struggle to write dialogue.  Now I know you just write and keep on writing; back then I just gave up.  I no longer wanted to write (even though I did.  This will make more sense after you read Friday's blog.  Really.)  Right, fitness.  Fitness Quest.  Not, "oh, look at how funny we all looked in high school" quest.

I'm off track because I really don't want to put up the next two pictures.  It was decided after class that I needed "before pictures" for my fitness quest (thank GOD Almighty Himself none existed of me in the skirt that started this all.  Horrifying.)

Yes, I see my left hip is higher than my right.

Yep.

What really sucks about these pictures is I'm trying to stand up straight and watch my posture.  As you can see, my husband has just reason to hate my thighs (but if there was a third picture featuring my backside, you'd see why he doesn't complain too much, and why I was voted "best butt" at my last job.  Seriously.  Precisely the reason I don't go to Company Christmas Parties is to avoid comments like that.)

After class, I headed to Starbucks to do the "working" part of my job as a media specialist.  I was pleased with my progress after a lackluster first week, and was excited to share my results with Becky, my hiking partner for the day.

Becks & I at the start of our hike.

We chose to hike in the Willow Lake Dells; a fantastic area in Prescott filled with "massive boulders of ancient rock have weathered into delicately balanced forms and fanciful shapes."  It cost $2 to park, so we ditched Becky's car at the grocery store across the street, because, let's be real, two dollars is two dollars.

It had been awhile since I had hiked the "Polka Dot Trail," so named as you are following white dots across the rocks, instead of a traditional path.  We quickly decided that a regular feature of our hikes had to be the "OH MY WORD WE LIVE HERE" picture - as we were so astounded by the beauty of the area.

Of course we have to be IN the picture to prove we were there.

We were about a half mile in the Dells when we came across a man in a trench coat with his dog.

I'm not kidding - a trench coat.

Becky, the proud Mama of four pooches, cooed at the sight of the pup.  The Trench Coat man kept his back to us.  We kept walking...at a much quicker pace than before.

"Are you carrying?" we almost asked the question to one another simultaneously.

This is my gun:

Just like James Bond.

No, I was not carrying it at the time, nor did Becky have her's on her.

Dang it.

We are so blessed to live in the United States, where we have the right to bear arms.  I know many women (and men) who say they never feel the need to protect themselves, and go hiking by themselves all the time.

Tell that to Cathy Sposito, who was killed while hiking Thumb Butte.  Other hikers heard her screaming, but could not get to her in time.  I'd like to think that I'm safe every time I hike, but that would be naive to do so.  Becky and I saw no one else during our hike, in a fairly remote area.  Being armed is just being smart; we vowed to carry our next time out.

Boulder Loving.  Hard to believe my before pictures were taken earlier in the day.

To say we loved our hike is an understatement; we made plans to hike again later in the week and to do a rim-to-rim in the Canyon in September.  Because we live in Arizona, and we can do that.

Plus we are going to make this our career!!I ended up doing two sales calls in my hiking clothes, but because this is Prescott, I actually made both sales.

I ran home and showered, made two sales calls while fairly exhausted and then I ate this:

Organic means no calories, right?

This is a Frau Buchler Nastee Dog.  Divine.

By the time I got home, the dogs had made a mess.  I started losing my battle to stay awake.

Oops!  Time to write.

Fitness Quest: Kickstart Boot Camp for Women