Back to Spring

Spring is back. The snow is brown and soft and the sun is out... Clifford and I have been on many hikes and he does well for about 2 hours but if you hike him for 3 hours he gets VERY stiff and limps. Not bad for just about 4 months after surgery. I am on day 19 of my no chocolate, eating healthy and working out routine and am feeling SIGNIFICANTLY better and down over 5# while building good muscle! I could likely stop now but want to keep it up for a month and then lighten up a little. It is amazing how quickly I felt healthier and looked better.

Brad is still having a hard time adjusting to the time change and only sleeping about 3 hours at a time at night. It is frustrating for him but will work itself out this week (likely).

This next week at work will be busy since Dewayne is on vacation and that is a bummer since I really like working with him. But I will go into it rested which is good. We are still trying to hire someone else to come work with us but having a hard time with recruiting. I hear that is the case everywhere and soon the national shortage will be in full swing. Oh well.

Went to a party at the Silver Lining Ranch for a friend's 40th bday this weekend. It was odd to be back there and it looks unchanged. I am still sad about the fact that it is not being used for it's original intent. It appears it is under contract to be sold as a single family home with SLR being able to use it for the next 5 years and then they are gone... however, the city has to agree on changing the zoning and they are not sure that will happen. I still think it should go to a non-profit that works with kids like Challange Aspen but it is not likely. It was however nice to be there and think of the good things that happened there in the past. I also was at the Deaf Camp working on their stuff this weekend... They now have a new director who is really wonderful so we will see how this summer goes!

Hope you are all well...

Lots of love, Kim

Enough Already!

OK, this picture says it all! I had to shovel 2x yesterday and all I want is to go hiking... in shorts and good weather! Instead I am trekking through tons of snow in my one-piece! At least I had my home; 2 friends of mine were back country and had to stay in the blizzard in a snow cave for 2 nights! They are fine and warming up. Work has been busy. I have been doing well on my yearly food/exercise diary and feel in much better shape and lost some weight already. Brad has sent information on the internet and he is having a spectacular time in Japan. Here is some of what he had to say... "Very full days starting with morning classes at 6:30am. Staying at this great hot springs hotlel about 20 min. away from the dojo. Visited Nachi Water fall today. Honhgu shrine yesterday. Seminar with Doshu begins tomorrow. Exhausted but having a great time.... We are back in Shingu. Japanese shyugyu (hard practice) continues. Last few days the beds (HAH!) were very hard but we could sleep in. Now we are back on very comfortable beds but must get up at 5:15 for morning class. Have had an amazing past few days. Hongu is really beautiful and very magical. The air is thick with Kami (spirits)!... Dinner with Anno Sensie tonight. Very big deal. Very few are afforded this kind of close contact with him. We are going to a 500 year old eel restaurant - one of his favorites. Those who know me know this will be a special challenge for me! Now off to another great bath! ... "Oh WOW!" moments - we wind up staying at this 400 year old Buddist temple. So freakin' cool! We're in the big city now (Kyoto) but it's all "outside" of the temple walls.

Meanwhile we're safe and peaceful inside.... " He is back Monday night and I am sure I will hear more. Hope you are all well and enjoying your adventures! Love and Peace, Kim

good and bad...

This week has had some good and bad in it. Work is unchanged and still hard. Looking forward to off-season. A friend/teacher/good person died and that was hard. It has hit Brad very hard as he was an Aikidoist and that has put a damper on his otherwise phenominal trip to Japan (and it is hard for me to not be there to not help him get through the saddness associated with a friends death). Things going on for my family on the East coast are concerning but getting better! Decided what to do for my 50th birthday (even though it is still 4 years away... yes I am an over-achiever). Plan to spend it with some close friends building a house for Habitat for Humanity. Not sure where but I have plenty of time to decide :)... Went to The Crystal Palace Review tonight at the Wheeler and was entertained and laughed for over 2 hours. Was spectacular. Meed Medcalf who started The Crystal Palace was back in town and they convinced him to come on stage and sing a few songs so got to hear some new stuff and some old stuff. Twas great! My cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much. I hope next week has all good (or at least more good than bad) for me and for anyone reading this. Love and Peace and sore cheeks to all :)

an "ah ha" moment!

Long time no write with LOTS going on since I last wrote.
First my parents and middle brother Jeff came to visit (along with Uncle Tom) for a week. They had GREAT weather and it was phenomenal to see them. Jeff got a sunburn the first day and had delays getting home which weren't fun for him but otherwise the trip for him was good. Dad and Tom had some fabulous ski days after a slow start and no injuries so not bad for some old men (one an octogenarian and one close).
Then we got Brad out for his pilgrimage to Japan. He will be gone for 2 weeks and I am sure is having an adventure of a lifetime. I can't wait til he is back to report on that.
Finally, the reason for the title; made a FASCINATING discovery... was feelin sluggish, paunchy and not so hot about my body so decided to restart my food and exercise diary which ALWAYS does me good, gets me in shape and keeps me honest... pulled out my old one and realized that starting the SAME DAY every year since 2008 I have had to do this! An "ah ha" moment!!!!
Hope you are all happy and healthy... Peace and Love, Kim

recovery....

Well... this week has been a rough one but today was an incredible day of recovery and catching up. We made it back and went straight into the insanity of our lives. This week has been full on "on-season" with very busy days and nights! I worked all week including call Fri night and working Saturday (in fact I had seen 17 patients before noon on Saturday when normally I see that number in a whole day). My pager has not stopped all weekend and there is no parking. Brad has been busy too working AND he played the Wheeler Opera house Thursday night and both Sat and Sun so we have not seen a lot of each other. I saw him play Thursday and today and then came home to our awesome new re-done steam shower (thanks Mom and Dad as my xmas/bday gift $ went to this and it is awesome). We love it and since I have been sick all week with the Aspen cruds that everyone has it has been even more AWESOME! Have I mentioned that it is AWESOME?!? Hope your weeks have been good!

Belize... we made it and made it back:)

We made it... after getting delayed a day and having to take the cme to denver then fly out the following day we got there and it was good. We stayed at Ramon's Village on Ambergris Caye which was awesome. Dove and snorkeled Tues, dove Wed and Thurs and explored the island on bike Tues morning and on golf cart Friday. Sat was a LONG 4 plane trip home but we made it and it is so good to be here. Diving with Turiano a MASTER master diver was awesome and we saw lots of shark, eal, great coral, eagle rays/spotted rays, dolphin etc etc... Had some good meals and met some very nice people. It was an island of very nice people, easy to navigate with lots o English. Very relaxing and fun!

the vacation that might not be

despite a trial of a praise to ullr (the god of snow) by brad to give us a break and let us go to Belize that didn't work out yesterday and may not today... will keep all informed