2:37am....

I woke up at 2:37am, and made the mistake of checking the time.

My body decided to stay awake from that point on; a decision that was in no way mutual.

By 3:17am I had given up on sleep and was texting friends on eastern time zone.

At 6am I left for a hike with two college pals here for a visit, April & Steve.

Please note I'm smiling:)

We did Thumb Butte...

...of course, and Granite Gardens.

21 years together...they met in college at Cedar Point.

The Grotto, because hiking in the west is AWESOME.

Today would have been George Phippen's 100th birthday; I served up over 100 pieces of cake on less than 4 hours of sleep and two hikes already taken

One was white, one was chocolate.

Tonight I was supposed to go to a birthday party...but with celebrating George's 100th two days in a row, I'm tired.

Although a night of dancing would be amazing.  I miss it.

It destresses me.

Hiking today, I was reminded how much I need to be on the trail.  I was so thankful for the fellowship of old friends and the joy of sharing the town I love (yes, they went to Nastee Dogs for lunch.)

Dinner tonight was ready right after I got home, courtesy of Lad and the King.

Scrumptious.

Now to stay awake until it's time to sleep, right?

Fitness Quest:  my feet are killing me, but heavy whipping cream can soothe the weary soul!

A Good Review

Today is my first "big" event at my new job.  I use quotes because a head count of 63 is actually small, but it's my first event I did the majority of work for.

This was a little tiny boxed lunch event promo pic.  Tonight is a sit down plated dinner.

I *love* my job.  As a collector of western art for 19 years who began collecting at the Phippen Western Art Show, and now is in charge of said show...yeah.  Absolutely LOVE it!  

The lower gallery events area, currently hung with the early works of George Phippen.

While starting to really feel at home at the Phippen, at home things are changing quickly.  Youngest daughter Parry, newly 13, is about to be minted the youngest solo flyer in the family.

She's headed to Washington state, then Idaho and Montana, followed by a completely on her own flight to Michigan with a plane change in Denver.

I am bursting with pride that she's a fly girl like her mama, and only slightly concerned about her changing planes by herself.  After all, it IS my baby.  That said, it's BECAUSE she's my baby she's flown through Denver before, and knows how to change planes.  Her number one concern is stopping to eat!  Lol!

One daughter sells her horse, and is in love for the first time.  My son is closing in on 6' 3".  My baby is changing planes by herself in Denver at age 13.

I love this age.

But then, I always love whatever ages they are, right now, at this very moment.

My two youngest, cooking together without fighting.  Will wonders ever cease?

Then there is this:

Heartbroken.

While enjoying so much, there's so much about the future that is up in the air.

I want to go to the Straits.

My refuge.

I never thought I'd need to go back to Michigan...of course, it's unlikely I'll get up to Mackinac. 

So one must try all the harder to get there, I suppose.

After all, by then-I should have full use of my hand.  Maybe I'll find my heart.

The Slide

I did hike this week.

Once.

Chris' picture; as always, his are better than mine.

We did Granite Gardens in the Dells; one of my favorite.

Staircase Loop

The sun had just come up.

And I still hadn't found my sunglasses.

That was a busy day; after the early morning hike and a full day of work, I grabbed my 6' 2 1/2" son for a little date.

Of course we went for wings. 

Because we were inverted.

Date night was Top Gun in the theater, quite possibly the coolest thing I've done in years.

I refrained from quoting the entire movie by heart, and was weepy when Goose died.

So a fantastic Tuesday, right?  The slide began right after we left.  Abbie sold her horse Sam.

Sam & Abbie.

While a wise, mature choice beyond her years, I got weepy.  As an unweepy person (in particularly as a mum, I very rarely cry) this was unexpected.

Had I only known.

Next morning, it's another early hike.  Butte Creek.

Predawn light.

Except...everyone cancels but me.

Now, these ARE legit excuses.  One cannot predict waking up to a sick child, or pulling an Achilles.

However, there are but two things in this world that make my blood boil:  hanging up on me, and ditching a hike.

My descent into madness soon followed.

By madness I mean weepy tears...the utter demise of my ego into a sloshing mess with nothing but old McDonald's napkins to mop it up.

Oh, I was initially pissed off at being stuck in town at 6:30am with nothing to do.  By the time I had confirmed the cancellation, simple frustration set in and I had limited solo hike options.

I ended up back in the Dells, alone.

My mind on the days of the horse, the many arguments about said horse, and the future reduced me to tears again.

It didn't help that my hand was throbbing from overuse the day before.

Can one just fast forward through the healing of a broken hand??

The day was thankfully busy, and I scored my first ask on behalf of the museum.  

It ended like this.

Independence Day

I'm not feeling very free as of late.

The bandage and tape on my right hand are constant reminders I am limited.

But patriotic, through and through.

Today was the parade...

...I lost my sunglasses.

A Nastee lunch...

...even the King enjoyed it.

Patriotic dessert at the neighborhood BBQ.

And lastly fireworks of different sorts out in Chino.

All of these things were nice, I enjoyed them...but my heart was elsewhere.

Where exactly, I'm not certain.  I just don't feel free.

I do think some melancholy has set in from the protracted and lengthy healing time of my hand.  It's not fun; I had to put the fitness quest on hold.

Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll get some cleaning done.  Straighten up some messes, and spend some time with friends.

I will make this work.  Right?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My Daddy is 76 today!

Me and my dad, 43 1/2 years ago.

It is from him I have my love of airplanes.

Age five-ish.  I loved to do touch and go's.

As the oldest daughter of a man with no sons, I inherited his love of the space race, sci-if and great stereo systems.

Flying in a B-17 with my late sister, Jenny.

With Lad on the same flight, eight years ago.  

We really love airplanes...

Dad was even with me when I fell instantly in love with this Lancaster.

Last year at Prescott's airport.

Thank you, Dad, for introducing me to the love of flight.  I thoroughly enjoyed my years as a road warrior and still love O'Hare just for the Admiral's Club views of the runways.

As for me, today I was apparently tired on our morning hike up thumb butte...

What's funny is all the way up it was the opposite...!

I've been a world-class pouter since I was three.

So how's the hand?

Mildly irritated from typing, thanks for asking.

We went over to my parents later tonight to  have blue cupcakes and sing happy birthday.  It was a good day.

So happy birthday, Daddy!  I love you!!

Wreckage makes everything better!

We had a super strong set of monsoon rainstorms, necessitating a change of hiking destination this morning at 4:50am.  

5am, Arizona.  No daylight savings time.

Originally, we were hiking Williamson Valley trailhead, but the mud there cakes on your shoes until you resemble an Eskimo wearing snowshoes.  We switched to Constellation, which has much sandier soil.

Of course, Chris cracked himself up by posting this before we started.  This is the easiest of the hikes we do.

The overnight rain meant we had lots of water, and a surprising number of downed dead trees.

I was tired, so I made a rock recliner.

My rock recliner view.

Chris took over the lead again, and once again I found myself 40 paces behind.  This, combined with little sleep and no food, made me whiny.  After all, I do have s broken hand...

And the he found it.

A piece of the 59 year old airplane wreckage.

Then I found more pieces.

My generous trove, right before I threw it in the pile.

A Constellation aircraft had crashed here 59 years before; the rain had brought pieces to the surface.  As plane fanatics, we were both pretty geeked about our finds.  As per tradition, we tossed them in the designated pile of wreckage, delighted we had added to the stash.

That set the tone for the day, and I smiled through the rest of it, with the exception of a moment of silence at 4:42pm.

Rest in peace, guys.

My day finished up with friends, and all is right with the world.

Hail!

Reduced to Nothing

No exercise.

For a month.

Apparently I "levered the bone."

Yes, it's re-broke.  Officially now, all tests complete.

Oops.

Yes, my fingers are taped.  No, I don't have on my wrap as I'm reading in bed.  Yes, I know I smacked it on the headboard last night.  I remember the pain well.

So the good news?  I still can hike.

I do love to hike.

I also love to eat really good food.  Nastee Dog love.

Look!  I cooked!!!

Just sayin'

Hiking.  Tomorrow.  6am.

I'll try to remember to blog about it.

After all, I'm banned from CrossFit (something about my luck running out with my hand.)

Maybe something exciting will happen while hiking??

You never know...

This was the big excitement in my life today.

Think I can top it tomorrow?