MV 2012... M & D 50th...

Hiking was PHENOMENAL at La Plata!  The Pig party ended up having TONS of Vegan food which was DELICIOUS and a pleasant surprise.  Then got to spend a glorious day and night with Patti.  I am so incredibly lucky to have her in my life I can't even express it appropriately.  Finally flew to MV and hung with my family Mom, Dad, Jeff, Greg and James.  There was roller blading, biking, swimming, hiking, being in the ocean, canoeing, getting lost in the woods etc etc etc.

Another busy crazy awesome week... work was insane and we are still in on-season.  We were 200 more patients last month than the year before and are heading towards the same kind of numbers this month.  In between work i did plenty of meetings at the hospital and saw Ladysmith Black Mambazo which was awesome.  Needless to say I was tired before going camping with a friend and hiking part of a 14er (La Plata).  It was beautiful and close and wonderful.  Tomorrow is a CRAZY busy day with lots of fun things including the opening of Whole Foods, a Pig party at a friends house (they are from New Orleans so I am thinking I won't be eating much but it will be fun), a volleyball party and then packing to fly to Denver to see Patti Durr during her layover there and then on to Martha's Vineyard.  WOW, I am looking forward (for the first time) to getting on a plane so I can rest and relax!!!

meeting Harry Bram

What a busy and fun week... Met with Harry Bram the CPA for AMC who has worked for us for the last 15 years and we finally get to meet... Really fun evening and an interesting person.  Then saw Love, Loss and What I Wore acted by 4 locals (2 friends of mine) and that was really fun.  Was on call Fri night and it was busy... OF COURSE this was all on top of working a full week in on-season.  Then Sat went to meet a friend at Mount Massive to hike part of the Colorado trail and come back over the pass to see Pat Benatar Sat night.  This am hiked Buckskin Pass with Clifford which was so unbelievably awesome that it was amazing.  Came home and crashed.  It feels great to have so much fun here and I am discovering some more amazing environment close to where I live.  I am so lucky!!!
Hope you all are having a fantastic summer.

Shinta had a baby!!!!!!!

After coming home from camping I went into another busy week.  Work was good and Wed 7/25/12 I attended Shinta's c-section and was the baby doc for Elang.  He was HUGE and healthy and everyone is thrilled.  It was great to be in the OR again and awesome to be there with Shinta.  What a wonderful event!!!  Then more work, dinner with Sally, Derek and her 2 kids whom I had delivered MANY YEARS AGO.  Then Fri morning while at work I started to feel bad. Nausea and diarrhea were my friend for the next 24 hours and that was quite unpleasant.  Sat recovered a bit and missed an old Aspenite party I wanted to go to but managed to go to the disco party for the Animal Shelter Sat night.  I didn't last long but while I was there it was fun.  Then Sun early am drove to Lyons and met many of my friends there ie Ting and the sisters, lots of the Rocky Grass gang and then got to hike with Mahlon.  That was awesome.  Then drove to Keystone to hang with Kay and Daryl.  Did a long hike with them today and had quality time with them.  Then back here to get ready for the week.  Am exhausted but happy... LIFE IS GOOD.

I have been remiss...

2 weeks have come and gone so gotta start writing...
So 2 weeks ago I finished my weekend with a hike with a friend and then volleyball at another friends house.  Then work with after work meetings, call and on-season pace of non-stop from 7am til 7pm ish at work.  Actually, now I remember why I didn't write 2 weeks ago.  IT WAS AN EXHAUSTING WEEK.  Then got some rest on Sat and could think again.  During the insanity I almost bought a house but decided it wasn't the right thing to do since I was being pressured due to time constraints.  Tis sad cuz it was a cool house but if it had been meant to be it would have happened.  Anyway, Sat night after a day of recovery I went out to a Saving the Wilderness fundraiser in the back country of this area... it was very nice although rained most of the time (since we need the rain SO badly that is ok).
This past week was more intense work, a great lecture on lung cancer screening, watching Avenue Q (SO MUCH FUN... a Sesame St kind of play for adults that was superb) AND then camping this weekend with an old renter of mine I had originally met in the ICU (he is a critical care nurse who moved away).  We went to Lost Lake in Gunnison and it was FANTASTIC... found a great site right next to the lake, hiked a ton, kept dry despite the hail, torrential downpours etc, had great food and just enjoyed being in nature.  I got back this afternoon, unpacked, slept for a little and then went to a friends house for a volley ball party/bbq.  It was very fun even when the torrential downpour started.
Now I have to get ready for the week but am just thankful for a great weekend before another intense on-season week starts!
OH yeah... also made an interesting discovery and hopefully will change my attitude about it (recognition is the first step).... no more victim mentality for me... on to a much more positive attitude and move forward vibe :))))))

July 4th 2012

Another fun week in paradise... this week we have had MUCH NEEDED RAIN and this was the cool view from my bedroom this am... 

So work was work... actually really busy and my staff is kicking butt in this hard on-season so I am proud and happy.

Since there were no fireworks this July 4 due to the fire risk and due to my non-desire to go to the parade I entertained Shinta here and fed her for a change... she was really appreciative.  Then Fri night went to dinner after work with friends, Sat worked, had lunch with Dan (the guy who lives in my old car who was in town for a few days, went to a BBQ at a friend's house, was supposed to go to another BBQ at another friend's house but got invited by our new neighbors to Zocolito (Mom's favorite restaurant that she has never been to) and had a FANTASTIC/AWESOME time there... Had 2 people call me that night saying they had talked to the owner of the place I want in Aspen and she wanted to talk to me... Then Sun went hiking with a friend, talked to the owner who is willing to work with me and then went to volleyball at another friend's house (she has an outdoor beech volleyball court in her front yard... then came home to get ready for the week.

Another wonderful week in paradise... 

Love and hope for wonderful things for you all from Aspen...

Shinta's Baby Shower...

Ok so the pictures are from a hike today (flowers), a bonus picture from a lightning storm in Aspen this week... we needed the rain but worried about the lightning starting a fire... luckily it didn't :)   AND the rest are of Shinta's baby shower... it has been a busy week and weekend (again :))... There were meetings and work during the week while also doing some house hunting.  I found a place I would buy in the West End if I could sell my house but not getting any bites on the house so that is unlikely... ahhh well... Then the weekend... Yesterday was spent hiking, having lunch with the man who sold us our house who would buy it back in a second if he could afford it, and then setting up for and enjoying Shinta's baby shower... it was an AWESOME event with about 30+ people (and many kids) with great food and just a lot of fun.  Then today I hiked for a long time (got a little lost), went to the block party in town for the Idea's Fest which was very fun and then a re-dedication of the John Denver Sanctuary which has been upgraded and is FANTASTIC and then to a friend's house for a party including beach volleyball and a bbq with tons of other nice folks and dogs and food and and... then home and getting ready for the week!  Fun filled and very filled weekend... I need a day of rest before starting the week but that isn't happening :)...

Jazz Aspen 2012... solo-ish ;)

Another busy week at work... been hitting it hard but Fri after work took off and went to my secret spot with Clifford and camped by a river.  Got there late (after work, then coming home to get stuff ready etc) but pitched tent in the light, took a nice little walk in the dark and then sleep by 10.  Got up for an early hike in the Collegets and enjoyed that immensely for about an hour and a half then headed to my friend's Ken and Holly's house in Summit County.  Did a 3 hour hike with the boys (Clifford and Dizzy- Ken and Holly's dog) up to some beautiful waterfalls.  Then back to Ken and Holly's for a nap.  Had already set up my tent in their back yard (LOVE MY TENT) and spent the evening with Ken, Holly, Holly's parents, Holly's niece, Ken's mom and 3 sisters and their 2 children.  Twas very enjoyable and I love that adopted family.  This morning got up and hiked with a few of them then got on the road, came home, got ready for the week and am about to get changed into hippie gear to go out to dinner with a friend and to watch kd lang at Jazz Aspen.  Will be exhausted starting my exhausting week but all of this was well worth it!  Twas AWESOME getting away as I have been working non-stop for the last 3 weeks including weekends and this mini-vacation was so needed.

Love and hope you had a good weekend too!  Me

Food and Wine... hangin in Salida (pix added)

What a great week and weekend so far!  Work is work and busy but love my colleagues and so that makes it nice... then did ACLS on Thurs (got 100 on the test after a grueling day) and drove to Salida to see Nikki, her new dog, Ken, Holly, Satori and Bodhi... A FRIGGEN LONG DAY but what a blast... came home to get a few hours of sleep before work the next day then on call this weekend.  Likely I will jinx myself but some busy-ness this am and so far so good since.  AND what a great weekend of Food and Wine.  Fri during work got a pass for 1/2 hour for a Grand Tasting and zoomed through picking up food for my office staff... then today TWO Grand Tastings!! Awesome.  Also Fri a patient brought me a gift of a dress and head piece his girlfriend made for me for an upcoming Gatsby party.  It looks fantastic on me and I can't wait... Really made me feel great!!!  AND the weather remains spectacular.  Life is good... hope it is for all of you!!!

Love and Peace and Happiness!!!

The Indigo Girls and another week of...

So... more pix of Claire and Niall's visit.   What a great time and memory... survived my week after gum surgery... first discovery was talking at work on Monday hurt and I did a lot of talking, second discovery is when the packing came out (with the stitches) my exposed teeth were very sensitive.  But the bleeding has stopped and all is improving overall.  The week was busy with work and meetings galore... too many... then call Thurs night, work Fri, The Indigo Girls Fri night and then work Sat... some interesting and hard cases so life is not boring.  In fact I am TIRED (since hiked up Aspen with Clifford this am)... NAP TIME... Good night, :)

survived the gum surgery...

Claire and Niall left... Brad brought me to Grand Junction and back and I survived my gum/dental surgery... only gagged on the surgeon once.  The ice packs and I have become quite intimate together.  Brad has had guests for the weekend for an Aikido seminar and I found out that we were having a bbq here when they all arrived.  Had 3 people stay over and the seminar went well.  Got bills done today, some walking in and then went to Owl Farm (Hunter S Thompson's place) for a party.  I stayed much longer than I expected and really enjoyed myself.  Brad was playing with a band for a friends birthday and it was very relaxed and cool.  Talked to Anita (Hunter's widow) about some work she is planning to do to start schools in Nepal and counter human trafficking.  And hung out with her dogs, chickens and peacocks.
Now rest to get ready for the week.
Hope everyone is well... lots o love

Claire and Niall visiting!

What an awesome time with my friends... we have done some SPECTACULAR hikes in the area and I have shown them a good time.  Brad even skipped work yesterday and took us out on the Colorado river which was so nice.  In fact Claire, Niall and I had hiked up to Buckskin pass in the morning (per the books a 7 hour hike but they did it in 4 hours... I did all but the last 20 min because I am 20 years older then them and was pooped)... we have also been to Cathedral lake and up Buttermilk and Mushroom Rock and and and... Clifford has been having a blast.Tomorrow tis back to reality with getting the car done, then dental surgery and then back to work... ahh but it has been a good time for the last few days!

Moving to town...

Yup, the lazy F ranch is on the market... we will see if it sells... hopefully, and then I will get something in town... Unfortunately it will be hard to find something that will give me the pleasure this house has given but it will be better to not have to use my car everyday :)
I have been working my BUTTUX off... had a 60 hour week, a 90 hour week and now a 70 hour week.  had a 7-9am meeting yesterday morning, then work til 6, then LUCKILY my 6-8pm meeting was cancelled so I came home and was out by 8:30... now I am awake but just a few more days left in my week!  Fri work all day, call all night then back up Sat morning... As soon as Sat afternoon hits I am going camping!!!!!  Also my friends from England are coming so able to take a rest!!!  I can't wait.
Hope you are all well... LOTS OF LOVE... Kim

5/7/12

So, this is the week Brad and I decided to split up... 5/7/12.  We worked on it for a long time but are going in different directions.  We are working hard to part friends and are going to put the house on the market.  I met with the realtor yesterday but have no idea how long it will take the house to sell.

In the meantime we have done some rearranging of the house and I have a new "office" space I really love (pix next week) and besides being busy at work, I have had some time to enjoy our beautiful scenery.  This is along a walk I took recently with Clifford.  Also I have had good friends and family who have been very supportive so I am VERY LUCKY and HAPPY OVERALL.  I still am on my nutritarian kick (eating nutritious foods) and feel and look quite good.  I have had a couple of offers already to move forward with others but that is not quite where I am yet.  Need to untangle myself first and then just enjoy my freedom before getting hooked up again (unless something spectacular comes along which has not been the case).

Hope you are all well and LOVE LOVE LOVE you all!

Happy Mom's day Mom TOOOOOOOO....

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2012

some burning man folks at Jazz Fest... fun to hang with

 What a great week and weekend!!!  Had a mini stay-cation and just enjoyed catching up and being in Aspen.  What a relaxing pleasure for the beginning of the week.  Was on call and went to meetings but had a break from the clinic.  THEN on Thurs went to New Orleans and it was surprisingly PHENOMENAL.   You all know I don't really like cities but I had a BLAST here.  Great people, culture, music, food etc etc etc... Even tolerated the heat.  The music festival was awesome and so was the city.  But now back for intense work for the next 2 weeks so just enjoy the pix and more anon :)

great art

music all night long inside and outside

Brad in his element (see below)

an unbelievable artist (see above too)... with the history of Katrina and after

gotta love the EAGLES (here and below)

so much fun and energy!!!

I know it is wrong but I really liked this one...