Theeners....

An English Wedding...

2011-02-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it, but Jonathan and I got to sneak in a little quick trip to London for a wedding early this month. This is unheard of in the middle of ski season, but SO MUCH FUN!!
We left Aspen at around 10am, drove to Denver. Boarded a plane for Heathrow at 5pm. Normal annoying flying over the pond experience. Bad food, bad flight attendant perfume, but the movies were good. I watched many in a row that I haven't had time to watch. Perfect way to kill the flight time. I was impressed by "The Social Network" and "Inception." I still have a lot of movie watching to catch up on.
After arriving in the am, we took the Tube into London. We dropped out bags at a left luggage and explored.
Jonathan skeptical of the "learner" motorcyclist in the foreground. I suppose the big red "L" is a warning for other drivers.
Me under the famous horse's ass. I think everyone who has visited London has this shot.

Jonathan having some bangers and mash in a pub that we sought refuge from the winds in. Gale force winds that took the words right out of your mouth. I felt I had London street dirt forced into my sinuses. Ewe. The pub was old as the City and had great beer.
We sat in on a rehearsal for the St. Augustine orchestra. I think that was the name. Hmmm...
I love the glass work in the windows. Why don't we make things like this anymore?
Then it was off to Cambridge. Taking the train was about an hour and we arrived after dark, along with those freakishly strong WINDS!!
We opted to take a cab to Pembroke College. We stayed in a dorm room and this was the view from our room. It was a hoot! I think the room is intended for visiting parents and such.
This is St John's College. The picture on the header of my blog is an illegal shot of the interior of St. John's chapel. This is where Jonathan's sister got married. So pretty!
The wedding was beautiful and very elegant. So nice to hang out with this particular bunch of folks. We took the train back to London and danced at Annabelle's until 2 in the morning. The champagne flowed and my feet hurt from dancing in heels all night. This is Jonathan in the cab on the way back to our hotel at I would say 3am, a little worse for wear.... or perhaps for champagne? It was time to catch a few hours sleep and hop back on a plane home in the morning. It was a fast trip, but I feel like it cured me of my claustrophobia.
Missed the pups. They were super happy we were back, but I think they got spoiled by our friend Will. Thanks for the help Will!
Aspen is home but it is small and I am finding it is so important to get out of town once in a while. I still love visiting cities and London is one I would like to get to know more of. Thanks everyone for such a great time. Can't wait to see you all again soon....

Our First Amatuer Bathroom Remodel... DONE!!!

2010-02-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

After many delays and drama with scheduling friends to do work, funding issues and lack of experience in remodeling anything, we have a new bathroom!

I have absolutely no experience with picking out tile and sinks, but I think we did a fairly good job! Ever since we moved into our house we have had the smaller original bathroom torn up and standing idle. Just a shut door with creepy things inside. We have scraped together enough money to do the vital essentials to the whole house,but we stalled with the bathroom, waiting for funds to become available. (Or earned, more accurately.)

This is a shot of the OLD bathroom, which I made Jonathan rip out before we moved in. It had been carpeted over tile and we won't even mention the condition of the OLD toilet. The gem of a vanity, circa 1971, had to be removed as well. I didn't mind so much the yellow old fashioned shower tile, however, it had to go as well for some tiles we starting to cave in around the facet and handle knobs.
The window had to be replaced as well. Lots of mildew and rotten tiles in the floor, under the carpet. Now really, who the fricky frack carpets a bathroom!?!???! So dumb....

Even the bathtub had to go. It had a lot of rusting around the drain base and was the texture of sandblasted enamel. I love this shot! You can see the dark, gross, creepy corners growing all sorts of science experiments! Delish!
And.... TaDAHHH! New tub, white tile, Coke bottle green glass tile on the floor and A NEW TOILET!! There just really is no other feeling like a new toilet. Enough said...
We were gifted (by Jonathan's old boss) super cool fixtures for the towels and TP. Brushed nickel. This also shows you the wood wall. We sanded and sealed it. I love the natural contrasted with all the modern stuff.
And this is (sort of) a shot of the vanity and of course the NEW TOILET!! These toilets were also gifted to us and are one piece bodies with a soft closing seat. SO COOL!!

Dog butt was unintentional. Wyatt had very little to do with the remodel other than keeping the guys company while they worked. Our friend Marcus who did the tile work (amongst a million other things) said that Wyatt would watch him with such intent that he felt as if he was trying to learn how to do what he was doing. LOL!! Wyatt is a crack up!

So, in all honesty I suppose I shouldn't call it an amateur job as we did have professionals working on it. They just happen to be ski instructors as well. Its a lot of work, but worth it in the end. Sorry for the awkward pics. It is a SUPER small space. Not so easy to photograph.

Now, planning the kitchen remodel. Here we go again!

New Snow...

2009-11-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

It seems the past few weeks have been filled with grief, so many deaths, too many. So, I found it refreshing that we received a nice dumping of fresh new winter snow. I love it when it snows and it is still early enough in the season so it is not TOTALLY COLD yet. You can enjoy the white pristine blanket that drapes across the now brown and bleak scenery. The grass is barely green underneath almost dormant for the season and the trees have lost all their last brown leaves. The dogs are loving the complete reversal of scenery to these icy white snow flakes.
It is super fluffy and they can run with exuberance in an attempt to ... what? I don't know quite why they are in such a hurry? To find where the snow came from? Picking up the track scents in the snow of other animals? They get super tired super fast in the first snow falls. They are not yet used to the cold and get so excited that my short walk through the park (they run at top speed) will render them exhausted and sleeping the rest of the day. Perfect for when I am without Jonathan and working 8 hour days everyday. They seem content to run their energy off and then sleep all day. I will be home just in time for them to get around to thinking about dinner. Perfect.
So, as Jonathan headed off early for fall training this morning, I found myself awake, suddenly. I couldn't get back to sleep. Perhaps this was partly due to the fact I was dreaming of watering a garden, but there were slugs in my way, but they were half pigs. Yes, pig slugs and, yes, I know they don't exist. As I tried to wash them away they just kept growing bigger and bigger. I have no idea what that dream means and I am not sure if I want to know at that. It was a bit scary.
But, alas I was awake and thinking way too much again. I have been on a mission to harness in my financial life and to take it seriously, so finances were on my mind. I suppose a welcome relief from the recent deaths that preoccupying my head. I have been reading Suze Orman's book, Women and Money. It has truly been a life changing read. I am now so ready to take on all the financial, banking and saving shite I have been putting off for years now. She gives you a practical plan to do so! I want to get rid of all my debt as soon as possible!
I suppose this is the right attitude to have, but I find myself at the same time frustrated and immobilized to make any real changes. It just seems that my income keeps shrinking (the company pays nothing and keeps cutting our hours), the house needs more and more things bought for it and job opportunities are not picking up in this usual "employee's market" of a town. It seemed just a year ago there were so many job opportunities to chose from. Now it is slaving away for peanuts an hour! It seems you need to be a brain surgeon or a OBGYN to find a decent paying job now. I need more income and I need it now. I am trying to brain storm for ideas for home based businesses, but I have no capital. I have never felt so skill-less and unemployable in my life. And, I can't help to think that my attempt to change this fact, by returning to school, had to be left in the dust, unfinished, AGAIN!, with little hope of returning to it anytime soon due to the costs of school today. I am at a loss as to what to do. On the one hand, I am so happy to be in a situation that is teaching me that the job I was in before was not making me happy, and neither really is the whole field. I would like to move away from selling things and towards helping people. (I wish we had a massage therapy school in town, because I might be ready for it.)
So, I keep my mind focused on the good things, the things that make me happy; my husband, my puppies, our funny little half done house. I guess the rest will work itself out eventually. I have to find patience in the reaching for goals right now. I have to remember that I have not been defeated, but only delayed. Delayed I can deal with. Deep breath and .... now wait. Perhaps the wait will bring me to a new career, I hope I hope I hope.
At least we will be skiing soon!!! That will be a happy distraction.

Another Cycle of Death....

2009-11-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

In the past two weeks we have lost two very great souls. Shelia Chaney was the mother of a friend who was taken suddenly last Saturday. She had a stroke in her garden and passed away. She was the most self-less person I think I have ever met. She gave her entire life to her kids and, later, to her grandchildren. She loved gardens. She was a avid gardener and organized garden tours in Britain and Europe in the Springtime. I always wanted to go on one of her trips, but never made it. I also feel sad for I have had a sort of falling out with my friend, her son. It was not 3 weeks ago that I noticed she was appearing on my suggested friends on Facebook, but I figured she wouldn't want to hear from me for my spat with her son. I also saw her this summer walking in Aspen with her grandchildren, my friends' kids. I had a thought to cross the street and say hello, but I didn't. I lost my only opportunity to talk to her again and I feel sad about that. I figure that the only thing I can do now is not make that mistake again and try to reconcile with my friend, her son. I have to remember to follow my gut instincts and forget the voice in my head. This voice tells me silly things, made up thoughts about others I have because I ashamed I have let down a long time friend. Thoughts like everyone hates me know because of our fight. Petty issues are so not important in lui of life changing events like losing a parent. You just never know when it might be your last chance to connect with someone. It shows me the importance of living in the now and not letting past or projected thoughts hold you back.
The other soul that was lost this weekwas the most amazing dog Mingus. He was my sister and Gary's dog for over 14 years. I grew very close to him as I was the default dog sitter when they were out of town and lived with him and my sister and Gary for a spell as well. He was a mutt, some combination of Malamute, German Shephard and god only knows what else. He was Gary's faithful companion and the house guard for so long it is hard to imagine their house without him.
Mingus was hurting for quite a while. He had a tumor in his spine and one in his neck. He lived over 2 and a half years longer than anyone thought he would, having been diagnosed with the first tumor, the vet told them to prepare for him to not last much longer. That was 2 and a half years ago. He struggled to walk, but was quite the happy dog when my sister quit her job and found herself home everyday. He perked up and seemed to almost looked relieved that he was not in charge of the house all by himself anymore.
So, it was not a surprise that a few weeks ago my sister told me he started peeing blood. Even in the last day when my sister called in a visit with the vet to euthanize him, he still seemed reluctant to go. His poor body was just failing him and couldn't follow through with his strong will to live. He had the will of an ox, but in the last week he was either sleeping or gently whining at my sister's feet. That was his sign that it was time. He was just in too much pain to carry on any longer. It is just so hard with the death of such a loyal dog. They never have stupid petty fights with you like humans do and are always there to support you, keep you company when you are down. It is just so hard to take that they do not live as long as we do.
So, it is a sad post today, but I must pay homage to two great souls that have been taken this month. Shelia; will always be remembered in our hearts as a wonderful, beautiful mother. And Mingus; will never be forgotten for all his loyal days at my sister and Gary's side. Both these events I think have made us think of living in the now and not delaying the important things in life, for you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring us only a sense of accomplishment because we have taken these events of passing as our personal opportunities to seek fulfillment in our lives. Carpe Diem. RIP lovelies.

Small Changes...

2009-08-24T20:43:00.001-07:00

I cleaned up the deck of the random pine cones and pine needles. We have these two ancient planter boxes that I nailed back together and tried to plant some grass seed to have some greenery before the fall and the first frost. Unfortunately, I believe the million of little birds, that dwell in the park next door, have stolen all the seeds in the boxes as well as the ones I threw all over the lawn. Ho hum.
This is an update of the living room. I put up my favorite painting (that SHAMA gave me years ago for my Santa Monica apartment). Brings me a little bit of Paris to our Aspen cabin. Unfortunately, the throw rug in the shot befell a super hyper Jack Russell wrestling moment involving a full glass pf red wine. I watched it all happen in slow motion and had to laugh out loud because I thought of the tragic moment just seconds before it happened. My fault for leaving my wine unattended in the war zone that the living room has become at times for the dogs. Oh well, never a favorite rug of mine. It now sits on the deck drying from a quick save attempt, involving the garden hose and Wine Away. Not sure if I pulled it off yet.... hmmmm.
These walls were, yes you guessed it, dark wood like the rest of the house. I treated them with a white wash treatment as well....
It is funny too me that I took real wood and made it look fake! In the other spaces it enhanced the wood, but because this is a vertical panel wood it made it look like a fake white wood paneling. Not to worry. I still like it better than the dark, depressing wood color it was before. It is sealed now with polyurethane as well, so it smells less like wood. Always a bonus.
I also got a few pictures up... our favorites from the wedding near the front door to see last thing when leaving. I love that.
So that is the latest house update. I am anticipating Jonathan's return from New Zealand around mid September, so until then I am trying to lay low and not spend too much money. The economy is still slow here in town and all I want to do is pend a load of cash on new stuff for the house! But, alas I must pay old bills and suffice for new window treatments for the bedrooms. That is about my economic speed at the moment. I guess it is better to be able to slowly figure out what style and look you want to have and not make mistakes and waste money. God knows we can't waste anything right now. I will post window pics once the shades arrive
Ohhhh wait! Just one more pic! This just cracked me up. It might look weird at first, but look closely. It is a perfect dog nose print on our couch. Not sure which dog it was, but I got it on film before it dried! Hilarious.
So, here's to hoping I am not boring to death the two people in the world who still read my blog. Ciao for now!

New House... finally

2009-08-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

Some have asked for pictures of the new house, so I have a few.
The most laborious project we did was by far the white washing of the wood walls we have. Here is a before picture.

This is after.
...After sanding down all the cedar planks, painting and a coat polyurethane. We were worried about the look after the first painting. At first it looked sloppy. Then I went over the area with a sander again and took off the white paint from knots and cracks (all which were filled in with wood filler. That took FOREVER!). After the clear top coat went on I fell in love with the look. Still looks like wood, but is bright as having a taupe shade of paint on the wall.
The place was awful dark before.
And notice the lovely wall to wall GREEN carpet throughout the space. Wall to wall... even in the BATHROOM! Who does that? Now really!
And after... That is my white washed living room wall and a wall we dry walled on the left. A lot brighter now. We replaced the carpet with these carbonized medium dark bamboo floors. NICE! Sorry it is still a mess.
This is our view from the deck. That is Ajax ... above the house next door that is.
There is a similar view from the bay window inside... this is the dogs' favorite place to hang out now. Look, they are in the same bed! They haven't done that in a long time. And that is the left over floor pile that we will use for the kitchen when we remodel. Maybe in a few YEARS we will have the money to remodel the kitchen. Great house... makes me feel good, but also a little poor.
So I am back to the house projects and promise more pics soon...

Ann Arbor

2009-05-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Ann Arbor is a place I thought I would never visit. Jonathan grew up there so we just took a trip to take advantage of our off season free time. I have noticed lately that most of my travels have centered around either the two coasts or the Southwest, not taking into consideration Europe here. This was my first true mid-Western experience. Landing in Detroit was much as I had expected, city like, and saw little of the landscape besides the airport and freeway. It was well after ten at night when we arrived, so first impressions were of the nocturnal variety and were limited mostly to the interior of Jonathan's father's house. I was pleasantly surprised at the familiar architecture, post modern and truly 70's. There was a whole neighborhood of this type of housing in Mar Vista (Venice adjacent) where I grew up: odd shaped windows, exposed wood beams, all at the heart of the individualism and extremism. I had a few friends who grew up in houses like these and I always envied their alternative shape and nature. They now seem a bit haphazard in their construction meaning that now they need to be upgraded for the sake of warmth and modern convenience.

Keeping in this theme, Jonathan's Dad told us of when they had a new roof installed and how they added a layer of insulation that makes the house quieter. Then on our last night in town we were hit by a rain storm and I could not imagine how loud it must have been before the new roof. I barely slept more than a hour at a time for the noise was thundering in a rhythmic pattern. I suppose now living in Aspen in a basement I am much more used to snow fall than rain and the two stories above us insult most weather noise. Unfortunately it does little for insulating us against the midnight jam sessions our musician neighbors seem to think are appropriate. Ho hum. One day we will have our own place... hopefully soon. Seeing Jonathan's dad house made me even more longing for such a time.
Ann Arbor made me think about college towns. It is very liberal, revolving around the University of Michigan. It is truly a quaint little college town full of athletic types, intellectual types and artistic types. I kept thinking of how I have once again quit school and will not get that degree for yet another few years. I always loved school and have let the financial barriers keep from completing each time that I set out to return. Perhaps this year I can make that different. Going to a town that centers around scholastic life makes that even more apparent than ever. There is a part of me that longs to live in such a place in which you are completely immersed in the school culture and have little else to deter you from your goals. Not to mention it is a place in which property is still affordable. Now that is a dream... buying a big house! Even back in LA that was a dream. Makes me wonder about the psychological meanings we place on land, neighborhoods or geographical areas. I used to think of places in LA as unlivable because of one thing or another; crime, freeway proximity or distance from the beach. That has been put in to perspective each time I return to where I grew up and see the changes that come with gentrification and also from trips like the one we just took.
I had preconceived notions and opinions about the mid-west without ever having seen what it is really like. I kind of like it. It is simple, normal, refreshing. More thoughts as they come....

Debating the Dog Aggression

2009-04-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have been rising early this week, due to the lingering effects of jet lag, so I figured I would take the dogs off leash in the park this morning... before anyone else. They generally do well, just chase each other around and burn off some Jack Russell energy. Wyatt has been a little changed since the addition of Lila to the pack. He tends to be more aggressive when on leash towards other dogs. I am not sure if it is a protective reflex because of Lila, but it never used to happen before. There has been a couple of incidents off leash as well in the park... usually over toys. I try to avoid people if they are playing catch with their dogs in the park because it will become Wyatt's mission in life to steal the toy, run away and destroy it as fast as he can.
So, this morning in which I thought we were alone, I saw another dog owner coming in to the park with her usually submissive girl Golden Retriever. All three of them played nicely for the most part, but then I heard that aggressive bark come from Wyatt and all of a sudden him and the Golden are battling. The Goldnens' owner was taken aback and obviously had little control over her dog either. Somehow it always seems to turn out to be Wyatt's fault, in others eyes. The dumb thing was they were fighting over a little blue piece of paper, about the size of a half dollar. No toy, just the shred of the reminents of some sort of food wrapper. How dumb is that?

Soooo, I think, after much contemplation post fight, I am going to try the shock collar. I just need a way to communicate with him when he is out of my reach. He is so fast anyway that even when he is within reach he bolts away. I have had mixed feelings about this device as some think it is inhumane. So, I took out my Cesar Millan book and searched his indexed pages on aggression. Then I saw he has a section for the E-Collar. This is the more polite word for a shock collar. He explains that it is not electric shock therapy, but merely a mild electric current, for a split second, that is used. He describes it much like the TENS that many chiropractors use to relax muscles before an adjustment. Everytime I see my chiropractor he uses this treatment on me. It is not a split second however. He usually has me lay there for at least tens minutes while the machine twicthes my muscle. It does not hurt and can be described as mildly uncomfortable because it tickles so much.... for ten minutes keep in mind. Makes me want to ich.
So this brings me back to the E-Collar for Wyatt. I know he is a good dog and is only following an instinct to protect and fight for his position in the world, but there are a lot of dog owners who do not understand that. Especially here in Aspen where most dogs are taken care of by the maid or house manager. I am just afraid that Wyatt is going to build a reputation in the town as a trouble maker and only make the energy worse. Take for instance the woman and her Golden this morning. She was trying to get her back on her leash and the dog wouldn't even come when called repeatedly. This is obviously someone who has not taken time to train their dog. And in the end, post fight, she is asking me if Wyatt does that regularly, like it was all his fault. It takes two to fight, right?
I suppose if I want her to take responsibility for her dog I must do the same. Perhaps I am not stern enough with him and he sees himself as above me in the pack order and therefore overly protective. I do tend to lose my temper and that is never a way to get a dog to respond to you. They are so primal and do not have a full grasp of the English language... as much as we would like them too.
I was surprised to read Cesar Millan's story about using an E-Collar for a dog that couldn't stop chasing vehicles, one vehicle being a tractor! This therapy was much more about saving the dogs life for he had already had accidents because of this desire to chase, one of them in which he lost an eye. The story seemed to point to the effectiveness of the device and the positive results one can acheive with it if used properly. So, I might have to put this on our wish list for when I am employed again. This is the other aspect of the E-Collar... they are not cheap. The least expensive one I have found is still $80! Oh well. Better to invest in another dog accessory and make everyone's life easier.
That's enough dog contemplating for me today....

More Views from Switzerland.... and LA

2009-04-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

Lila getting her "dig on."

Wyatt looks vaguely interested...

It is nice to be home. Aspen is rapidly warming and the snow melting. The dogs are happy to be back in their familiar surroundings, but I think they miss the room they had at my sister's. (See pictures above..) They have very little room to wrestle indoors here which I think they became accustomed to in LA. Hopefully, soon we can find a place to live where they can have their own yard. Obviously, Lila likes dirt! I am glad that Jess put her to work doing some landscaping in the back yard.

Front door of Ben's Chalet

I wanted to share some photos from Switzerland that I was unable to upload while there.
View of the valley from Verbier. You can see the switch back roads that take you from the green valley town of Le Chable to Verbier, which is directly above. These are not roads for the queasy at heart.
This is the living room view from Ben's chalet. Every night, when the skies were clear, the mist would rise slowly up from the valley floor. Something to do with the warmer weather in the lower altitude below? This also shows the other chalets surrounding us in the "hood." Beautiful natural wood buildings capped with this impressive snowfall that graced the Verbier area this season.
This is a shot of the village of Verbier from the gondola ride up to the ski fields. Very steep and very small. There are only like 3 main streets and one round-a-bout. Lots of pubs and bars though. And, as usual, Ben found all the best food in the area. Strangely enough, there is an Italian place called Al Capone which had the best lasagna. An unfortunate name for a great restaurant.
This was across from the Verbier ski area where there were perfect tracts in the newly fallen overnight snow. I am not sure which of the 4 Vallees which encompass Mt Fort area this is, but it was quite imppressive. Great for first tracks, not so great for avalanche danger. I am no where near this level of skiing, but I am working on it.
So, many thanks to Ben for including me on this wonderful trip, full of yet more European surprises and discoveries. I am determined to improve my skiing so I can enjoy the incredibly tiring spring slush snow and adventure into more of the off-piste areas which look like so much more fun than what I was skiing. It is just too good to be able to ski when it is warm outside!

Still in Verbier

2009-04-08T01:43:00.000-07:00

So this is our last full day in Verbier....

And yes, this is a picture of the JUMBO cable cars here. I had to include a pic for reference, this one stolen from the internet. They are very effective people movers, but they are scary as S**T! The cable seems to disappear into the cobalt blue skies, with only small orange balls to warn aircraft of their location. It was great skiing on the other side, but HOLY MERD! This is not my idea of a relaxing ski lift, packed in like sardines, with 50 other smelly, euro spring skiers. I suppose I should be reassured that here operators are highly experienced and professional. It is not your average teenager from Argentina running these things. Thank GOD!
This is a trail map of the ski area. Its HUGE. It has been warmer each day so I struggle with the skiing. Yesterday I felt as if I was trying to move down a hill of wet cement. I have practically no wax left on my skis so the combination makes my legs a bit like jelly. Needless to say I did not last long. I have opted to take today off and do some laundry. Everything is dirty after 3 weeks traveling and I don't think my lower back can handle another day on the slopes. It seems to be staying overcast, which makes it icy and I don't like that condition either. I hit icy parts and fluffy parts and I feel like it is not only tweaking my back, but pulling my knees apart as well. I have a new found appreciation for how spoiled we are in Aspen with our snow. And the tame people on the slopes. Here people can get a little aggressive and just knock you over. Happened to me. Lost both skies and the guy never even stoped to see if I was okay. It made me want to either burst into tears or go find him and hit him in the face. There is definitely a different ski etiquette here.

Then there are avalanches. Every day when you climb the stairs to the gondola there is a big sign showing the level of avalanche danger, 1 to 5. First day I skied alone was after a spring storm which usually raises the danger level. It was a level 3. Something to think about because the Swiss put up vague signs of warning in certain areas, but lots of people ignore them. Of course Jonathan, on a day to himself skiing, goes to the steepest and most crazy shoot area and follows a couple of people who hiked up. He was fine and so was everyone else on the mountain that day, but it made me think.

Then came the obligatory first hand story. Our new Scottish ski instructor friend Greggor told us his tale in the pub. He hiked up to this area with a couple of buddies. They do this only with an avalanche pack which includes a GPS beacon. He was settling himself mentally to launch into a really steep shoot when these two guys cut him off and set off a large slide. (You never go two close together, too much weight can set loose a slab of snow.) He was buried over his head. He was smart and as he fell continued to push his body up as far as he could, but he was still under the snow for over five minutes. (The statistic I read is that after 15 minutes you have a drastically reduced chance of survival and only about half of people fully buried in snow survive.) His buddies immediately started digging him out using the beacon and found him. They broke a couple of his ribs with the shovel, but he said it was the BEST pain he had ever felt and the LONGEST 5 minutes of his life. This is the reason part of the ski instructor certification here includes mountain guide training. The two guys who set off the slide were just hot shot amateur skiers and had no avalanche gear at all. They were in tears until he emerged, thinking they had killed Greggor.

This is a pic I stole from the internet that shows the view from the gondola ride up. This mountain is very steep. The geography is amazing however. You can see all the way to the valley floor on clear days where it is fully spring and very green. A bit like looking down from a snowy mountain into the Napa Valley as there are many vineyards throughout the area. Swiss wine is very unique and light.

When we flew here we landed in Geneva and took a train to Martigny. This took us around Lake Geneva which I can only imagine to be like living around one of the Great Lakes in the states. I have always been a West Coast dweller, so it does not compute to live around a large body of FRESH water.

And as I always do in Europe, I am in love with the food. Ben, our host for this trip, is quite a foodie and always finds the best places to eat. I was telling my sister I wish I could fill my suitcase with cheese and products from the pharmacy. That is the other wonderful thing. I found the best face cream and body lotion for a fraction of the price. Fragrance free and they actually keep you hydrated all day. They are a French brand, but the Swiss make the best shampoos! You can get them in the states, but only at Fred Segal prices. Damn it!

So, a few things I have learned on this trip:

...I need to get in shape, not only for my skiing, but also for my back. Somehow in the last six months I have developed a little jello belly which is not supporting my lower back properly. Ab work here I come.... kicking and screaming. Also, my legs turn to mush in the slush and I lose control of my skies. (And then I see Jonathan and Ben come back after not only skiing ALL DAY, but doing ski drills for Ben's training. Yeah, they are tired, but they do it.) I am lucky to get to the bottom without collapsing!

...I would really like to learn French.... finally. I have travelled to France and now a French speaking country (they also speak German, but mainly French) and I want to know more. Jonathan is toying with the idea of a season either here or in France, but he would need to speak French. I am trying to talk him into Rosetta Stone!! HEHEHE!

...I really miss my dogs. I have to figure out how to fly with them if we spend a lengthy period of time aboard. They are my little buddies and I miss them terribly when they are back in the States terrorizing my sister and her pets. Sorry Jess for all the animal grief. Hopefully they will mellow with age.

Ciao for now. We have a couple of long travel days coming up, so I might not return for a few....

Trip to Verbier Switzerland

2009-04-02T03:57:00.000-07:00

View from the village Verbier, Switzerland.

View from the slopes Verbier, Switzerland

As ridiculous as it may seem for an unemployed person to do, I am on a trip to Verbier. It is a business trip for Jonathan and he insisted that I come. I guess that is a perk of being unemployed, lots of free time, especially since I have opted to post pone the school endeavor due to financial limitations.

I am not so happy that I will not be finishing my degree soon, but the state of our economy cannot be denied. I have to either find a less expensive school or quit. Seeing as there are few to none less expensive online options, I think the degree will have to wait. I really don't want to study court reporting or criminal investigation, know what I mean?

So, Verbier is a very steep little ski village. Both the town and the slopes are pretty steep. The first day of skiing I could hardly see 10 feet in front of me. A little nerve racking to say the least. The mountain is huge so it is easy to not know where you are. They also have those jumbo cable cars in the sky. Yes, these are the ones that you hear about airplanes severing cables and people plunging to their deaths. I try not to think about that when we are packed like sardines (they hold like 50 people) traveling to the other side of the valley. The first time I was standing so close to a family that smelled a lot like mildew. Was not so pleasant and I couldn't get the smell out of my nose for like an hour. Tip to skiers: WASH YOUR SKI CLOTHES AND OFTEN! Letting your boots dry out is wise as well. They can get pretty nasty after many days on snow.

So, we have traveled from Apsen to Taos New Mexico, by car with two dogs. Then from Taos to LA, by car with two dogs and then Jonathan and I flew to Geneva. We took a train to Martigny and a taxi to Verbier. Planes, trains, and automobiles anyone? I am just so indebted to my sister who is dealing with the ordeal of her two dogs and my two dogs in the same house. She was kind enough to dog sit, hence the car trip to LA. It was great to spend at least one evening with two of my sisters, Jessica and Marina. Hermanas rule!! Hopefully the dogs are not giving Jess too much grief anymore. They have been through a lot the last few weeks, a couple of long car trips, a strange (at least to them) kennel in Taos and now having to "blend" in with Jessica's dogs. I was hoping that would have gone a little easier.

They do get better and better the more we travel with them. Travel seems to calm their personalities in general. But we miss them so much and wish it was easier to travel abroad with them. Although, I am sure it would be such a nuisance to have all that white hair in this beautiful chalet. And the couch is this lovely charcoal grey wool felt. It would be so good for attracting both little bastards and their shedding coats.

So, since I have no job or school, I have vowed to get back into my blog (and yoga). This is my first attempt in quite a while and I took the morning to do some "blog maintenance." I changed colors and fonts and had a really nice afternoon not skiing. Sometimes you have to take a few days off.

I am off to town to find some appropriate gift for my sister for putting up with Wyatt and Lila. I have found the most amazing face cream here in the pharmacy and I think she might like it as well. We have both been trying to find an appropriate La Mer replacement since our employee discount days at Fred Segal. It is too expensive even with our former discount. I think I might have found one for a fraction of the price! Gotta love the Swiss pharmacies! Bonjour!

More fall scenes...

2008-10-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

I took the dogs on our hike the other day and it was still super cold. The snow fall we had is hanging on, but today I think it will get up to 56 degrees again and it will be gone for sure.
I snapped a few pictures and thought I would share.
The dogs love this hike. I let them off lease and they (usually) don't get into too much trouble. I can let them run as fast as they can and we end up in a blue ski run, so the incline is great exercise for them.
I usually stop on this run and let them chase each other and I sit on my rock and look out over town.
I am still a bit sad that everyone has gone home. It was so nice to have everyone here for the wedding, I just wish it could have lasted longer. All the leaves are falling. The Aspen trees are turning that familiar shade of stone gray that lets us know that winter is on the way. Soon we will be blanketed in the silence of white and skiing down Ajax instead of hiking. I kind of want to hang on to fall for a little longer. It makes me want to bake and make soups. I guess we still have Halloween! What to be for Halloween? Hmmmm...

A few photos from the wedding....

2008-10-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

A lot of you were just here visiting for our wedding ceremony October 3rd and I learned that there are a few who actually read this blog.... So, I will try my best to post more often.
We had a lovely weekend with old friends and made a few life long new ones as well. We were usually a group of 12 to 13 people roaming around town, creating havoc.
I had my best girls at my side and they were looking particularly hot, if I do say so myself...
And Jonathan, who has the best friends in the world, had his dudes all cleaned up and in tuxes no less. (Ian is missing from this picture, but he was his third groomsman.)
Everyone was quite well behaved and composed... that is until the champagne came out! We all had such a great time and it was hard for Jonathan and I to see everyone leave. We are planning a twice annual meeting of the minds (hehehe) with all who live out of town. The first might have to be in Mexico for David's 40th Birthday. I think we all might be recovered by then and ready for another party.
We followed up the Friday wedding with a trip up to the top of Ajax via the Gondola. We had a slight mid air delay and were hanging for a good 15 minutes which made some a little nervous. My sister and Aida had some white knuckles .... (Gabe was not really scared here, just making the girls feel better by making a funny face.)
On another note, it has snowed twice since! (These pictures are from Saturday night's snowfall, but last night we had even more! Maybe we will have an early ski season!) I am so glad we picked the very last weekend, my Birthday weekend, to have the wedding ceremony.
Just one day later it would have been raining on us and far too cold. It's funny how some things just work out. It was that kind of wedding, thank god.
I will post more pictures of the wedding events as they come in. Thanks to my sister and Gable for sharing theirs already! Love and kisses to everyone, and we can't wait for stretchy pants Mexico!

Lila and Wyatt....

2008-09-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sleeping together.
Lila loves to sunbathe.
Dog pile.
I have been super busy with school, work and planning wedding stuff that I have once again neglected my blog. Here's a quick post. Lots of dogs in this one. This last one was taken at a friend's house whom we were dog sitting for. No, we did not get ANOTHER huge dog. Although Luka, the blond lab thinks he is tiny. He is the world's biggest lap dog. Very cool guy.

TOO MUCH CUTENESS!

2008-07-18T10:43:00.001-07:00

Yes, call us crazy. We got a new puppy. This is Lila. She is Wyatt's new pal.
She is so small compared to Wyatt. He looks like a dinosaur compared to her little daintiness.
He kind of wants to eat her most of the time, but he is getting more gentle and used to the idea of her being around.
He still wasn't so sure in this shot, but had a feeling she might be cool.
Jonathan is totally digging it. He just gushes over her cuteness.
In other news here in the mountains....
We are super busy at work, better than being bored. We got rid of the guy who was not so great at his job, which is kind of important if you are the manager of a store... to be good at your job that is. Bob and I have been making so much money it is ridiculous.... or I should say we have been making so much money for the company.
I just started a new semester at school after a lovely 2 and a half weeks summer break. I have a sales and event promotion class ( not too sure about that one..??) and a textiles class. I kind of love my textile class already! Fiber nerds rule!
We are scrabbling to get everything arranged for the wedding in October. Anyone who can;t make it we totally understand it is a trek to Aspen, but so worth it! This summer is turning out to be spectacular and, hopefully, in October we will get some changing of the colors. We are praying that it doesn't snow because we want it to be an outdoor ceremony in the park. We promise to have more details set soon. Thanks to all who have RSVP'd already and are coming from so far away! I am so touched.
Ciao for now. Back to playing with the little herd of puppies! I am in heaven!

Another Quick Spring View

2008-06-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

I have been checking out some photo blogs that are quite inspiring and are making me want to get beck into the photo game. I have been so busy with school that I haven't touched my film camera in over a year, and I would love to start making some prints for the apartment walls. I have a few shots from New Zealand that I will get blown up... someday, but for now I will share some more scenes from spring here in the Rockies.
Morning dew drops.
And the Aspens are finally green! I love it when the Aspens have green leaves and make a great sound as the wind blows through them. I can't get enough of spring... Although I guess it is Summer now! Spring is always too short.....

Busy Town Again

2008-06-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

Time to bike again! And look at those trees blooming! My favorite.

So, the slow and easy spring off season is coming to a screeching halt this weekend with the big Food and Wine event. There are lots of busy volunteers working around the clock to set up everything. The Wagner park, which is usually a Rugby field or a meeting place for dog owners, now looks like a mini Denver Airport because of the white tents set up that have the peaked roof shape. (I will try later to snap a photo.)

1A Lift on Ajax next to our place. More construction!

Jonathan is still in New Zealand until next week, I am in my last few days of my school term and we are having a complete overhaul of the Zegna store, operations wise that is. The manager I was not getting along with finally quit, and actually beat me to the punch for I have been exploring other employment options lately. But now I find myself cleaning up all the messes he left for me and Bob. It is nice to have a chance to do it right now, but I am so sick of cleaning up other people's messes. And of, course the lovely girl corporate sent out to help us straighten things was only able to visit for 3 days and I am dizzy from all the information I have had to retain. From reports and procedures to filing systems and ordering the supplies that we needed from the beginning. There is part of me that wants to drop my store keys and run, but them there is another that is getting a little satisfaction from finally "doing it right." We shall see what comes in the next two weeks. I might have a new job or I might stay and have a new boss. Jonathan will be back next week and we might have a new house! (That's a little scary financially, but would be so nice to leave the constant construction that seems to surround our neighborhood this spring.) I couldn't believe that our first attempt at the employee housing lottery we can up number four! That's kind of great and, who knows, perhaps the first three couple ahead of us will back out. It happens a lot here I guess.

Just a little doggy torture. He loves this green scarf!

Well, I am off to dress for work and continue with my re-organization. Ah jeez. At least I guess I won't get bored today! Happen Thursday to everyone!

Brave New Spring

2008-06-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

I took a quick trip to LA and saw my family! So great hang with my hermana Jessica R and see my Mom. It really has been too long. And to see our furry and scalely old friends!
Mingus : AKA Mingy Pingee!Jaco the insane Russell!

My old fish, Fifi and Jacques
Just wish I could have brought my furry little friend along as well. Just a little too crazy though. He looks so handsome in his new green handkerchief, huh?

Air travel these days is quite interesting. Why do I always find myself looking at the gross things (people) around me.... like this...
How can people let themselves get like this? I will never understand it. This man looked like he was 12 months pregnant. No joke.
This is the Western Colorado as seem through my plane window.... Kind of cool.
It is finally REALLY spring here in Aspen. We had so many early spring storms that some thought that they would re-open the mountain for skiing, but they haven't yet.
We still have hope because it keeps raining, which means that it is snowing on top! We'll see.
And even better news... Jonathan is staying in the states for the spring summer this year! It has been four years for him following the winter to New Zealand to teach skiing. However, with a last minute job interview came a great opportunity in the wine world for him. He has been hired to be a beverage director for a restaurant development group who is opening a number of restaurants & clubs here this fall/winter. He still had his ticket to NZ (non-refundable), so he opted to go down under for a couple of weeks to do his examiner training so he can at least stay current with his teaching credentials in that country. He will return June 2o and start his new position sometime in July. I am so stoked not to spend another season here by myself. Wyatt is great and all, but it still gets lonely.
And another brave new move, I am seeking alternative employment as well. I have been speaking with an old friend from my traveling days with Jeannine at Flair, Max. He has a boutique here and contacted me a while ago about working for him. We are still negotiating, but it looks promising. And if that doesn't work out, I have a couple of lines on other stores looking for help. I am so ready to work with women's clothes again. I just so not have the passion for men's clothing.
Jonathan and I, I believe I have mentioned before, have entered into the employee housing lottery here in Aspen. Hopefully this will mean we can own a place of our own soon. We are so cramped in our little run down basement apartment and it would be exciting to have our own property! I have never done that before. Cross your fingers for us. We know people that had to wait, no joke, 9 years to win the lottery. That is a little on the extreme side because single bedroom units are in high demand. We have a better chance looking at 2 plus bedrooms.
Off to do more homework! Happy happy joy joy!

Too busy and Too poor

2008-05-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted anything in so long, I was wondering if I would still have my sight when I logged in! (I think they cancel you after your inactive for a certain amount of time.)

I have been so busy with school and work that I haven't had the time or the desire to be online one more second! Because I am attending the Art Institutes online division, I find myself working on my computer for hours and hours sometimes. It can be quite exhausting. I am truly jazzed to be in a creative "sudo" classroom again, but let me tell you it has been more than a stressful experience. Its only now that I find out that there are work at your own pace programs! I have such strick deadlines, its hard to keep up and it really affects your grade if you don't.

At first I was challenged by the course content... I haven't taken a math or english class for literaly years! It is a real mental workout to find those brain cells again. (Hopefully I have enough left up there, after all the tequilla I have consummed in my life!) I guess the key is to be patient and make enough time for ALL the things you need to do in class, as well as life.

So, I guess the thing that has been on my mind the most of all lately, this morning in particular, is money. Jonathan and I are trying to plan a wedding in October (a real ceremony for friends and family), bid on employee housing units here in town, and pay off all our debt. (I was so close a few months ago!) All these things are made so much more difficult because of my monthly tuition payments. (The Art Institute is a private school and has "private school" prices.) There has been a few times in the last 6 months that I have questioned the practicality of the program I am doing.

Today I had to face my pile of laundry and realize I can't afford to do any of it until next week's pay check. That may should absurd, but going to the laundromat here is a fortune! I can only dream of a day where I have my own washer dryer! (Hopefully, I won't be in the old folks home by then.)

As I mentioned above, we have entered into the employee housing lottery here and if we are picked, we have to come up with $2000 to hold a unit. It is so worth it to own our own place, but it makes me panick to think about more financial responsibility! AHH!

We really do need to get out of our "hole" of an apartment though and I know we will make it work somehow. I am also thinking of switching jobs and that's always scary when the financial compensation at a new place is a little vauge. It feels a little like jumping off a cliff, but I guess I survived moving here, right?

I am not quite sure why I am writing about all of this. Perhaps it is to purge all the worries from my mind. Or maybe it is so others can know why I have been a little cranky or upset lately about financial things that would normally not bother me. I honestly haven't felt this poor since ... well, the first time I tried to go to college. I know that everything somehow works out in the end and the my education is a really good thing to invest in. Thanks for letting me vent! Love and kisses!

Quick note, its late...

2008-04-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

I just finished a whole hell of a lot of homework and decided to look up my friend Tifanie's blog and see what's up. It made me notice that I haven't posted a long time. So here's a quick observation:

Wyatt is so huge!

This was a photo of him this fall...
This one was taken the other day...
I am afraid I might have to get another little hairy one to keep the first one occupied! Wyatt already gets mad when I am doing school work.
Anyway, I know he isn't a child, but sometimes you just can't help to think that they are special. He is my little buddy and I will soooo appreciate all his craziness when Jonathan is back in New Zealand. Yes, its that time of year again and we only have a few weeks together until he goes back down under. I am looking into taking the month of July off (perhaps between jobs with any luck!) to go and visit him. I have my sister lines up to take care of the hairy little guy pictured above, but I would love someone to travel with (and ski with!) July is high ski season in New Zealand! Any takers?

So it was supposed to be spring and it snowed again today. The closing day of the mountain here in town was on Sunday, which was a blast because we still have so much snow, but it was warm like summer!
It was great! Skied with Jonathan and his client/friend Ben. We had a lovely lunch with a band playing music at the base until the end. Sad to not be able to ski for a while. I guess now I will get some laundry done! (That's no fun though.)

Hello.... It's Spring Now... Amazing

2008-03-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

So it has been too long since I posted last, but school this term was quite demanding. In fact, I had to figure out how to attend in France. Jonathan has a client who will hire him to ski in Europe. I got to go along for the ride. We spent a week in France and Skied Megeve, Chamonix and Val D'isere. Northern France is so beautiful, I was blown away. Here are a few pictures.
French trail crossroads. I really need to learn French one of these days!Jonathan in his new Egyptian print ski pants. I can always spot him on the hill!
These are all from Chamonix. I had quite an anxiety attack when I thought I was going to have to ski this area by myself. Jonathan and his client were to ski the Mont Blanc side, but weather wouldn't permit. It has an international reputation as a ski field, but to my delight there was a lot of intermediate runs perfect for me. Nice to get over your fears and come to the other side, having a delightful day on the hill. (If you can call it a hill. These are the French Alps and those are glaciers on the top. Very impressive.)
I had a request to show some of my drawings that I was required to do for a Fashion Illustration class last term. I struggled in the beginning, having drawn nothing for years, but in the end I had fun with it. I got quite high compliments for my instructor as well.
These were a couple I actually liked myself. I still struggle with feet and hands however. They are so tough!
Anyway, it is the very start of spring around here. The snow is melting rapidly for the last few weeks. Temperatures have stayed pretty warm for this time of year, dipping into the low 50's some days. I guess it makes for better spring skiing as the ice that forms over night has a better chance of softening up. Jonathan and I went to Steamboat Springs for a wedding this Saturday and got to ski a bit there. I wish we hadn't indulged in the wine so much the night before with his notorious friend Gabe. (Notorious because I always end up with the hang over from hell the next day.) At least I got out for a few runs though. Steamboat is a great ski field and I would like to go back and explore some more.
The wedding was delightful. Mostly ski people, all dressed up for the first time in months and the whole thing was in a friend's barn. They call it an artist studio, but really it is a barn. Very simple and fun event. I found it a challenge to not ruin my purple suede pumps, for it started dumping snow like crazy. Jonathan was kind enough to carry me from the car to the barn. So nice of him and probably not such an easy task at the end of the whole event, after a few glasses of wine.... Sorry Jonathan. I only wished someone had got a picture.
I start a new term at school tomorrow. Wish me luck. If time permits I will try to post more often.

Happy Sunday Snow Storm

2008-03-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

It has been so long since I posted last, but school has been quite demanding. Good but demanding.
We had a great Valentine's Day. Jonathan bought me new skis, can you believe it! I love them and they are loads better than my last pair.
We have been staying at the cabin for a few days, Cheryl is so kind to let us invade her property from time to time. It is nice to get above ground and walk around the Roaring Fork River. There is something so soothing about the sound of the rushing water. The boulders are copped in about four feet of snow in the middle and the water sneaks under the shelfs of ice and snow. So beautiful.
We woke up to a snow storm this morning. We have gotten about 10 inches over night and it's still coming down. I took a walk with Wyatt and the snowflakes are so demonstrative, you can see the shapes with your bare eyes. I need to figure out a way to take photos of them up close, but I think it has to be film. My digital will not get that close up. Sometime soon, after I finish paying for school (UHHGG!), I think I will need to invest in a professional digital camera.
Wyatt loves to run like the wind in the drifts. It is more like flying leaps than running I suppose. He is quite graceful in motion. He loves when we get a storm.
This is him sneaking a rest after his leaping and barking at the snow plows outside. He gets so involved in whats going on outside here. At home we are in a basement so he is quite isolated from outside activities, besides our loud upstairs neighbors. Hopefully soon we can find a better apartment.
We are going to France for a week with one of Jonathan's clients, Ben. He has hired him to ski with him. I am going along for the trip. I could use a vacation to get some head space from work. Things are less than great and I am trying to plan my next move. I might have to talk to our human resources department about some undesirable behavior of my manager and I am not really looking forward to it. I never like to be the tattler, but it has gone too far. I truly loathe liars and the worst part is that they seldom recognize that they are lying. They do it so much they believe their own lies.
Good news is that I have been in contact with a friend Max who has a store here and would like me to work for him. It would be women's clothing again and much better fit for me I am thinking. Hopefully.
Anyway, I am off to shower for work. I hope that most of you are not working today and can enjoy you Sunday in peace. Ciao for now... Love and kisses!
Oh yeah, happy be-lated birthday Tifanie! I wish I could have spent the day with you. And, by the way, the ski pants you ordered are super cute and I am really jealous! Marley is going to want a pair as well now.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T07:41:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone gets to spend some time today with their sweeties. I was just checking my email and saw this picture of the Eiffel Tower. If this doesn't say Valentine's Day, I don't know what does.

Hugs and kisses to everyone!

P.S. To those of you coming to town tomorrow.... it's snowing again. Should be great skiing Friday. Tifanie, it's warm too!

Life with Wyatt.. UGG!

2008-02-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

So it is a shame how long it's been since I posted last. Life is busy in the Rockies. We had a crazy holiday season here, lot's of people shopping. January was super cold and hard to find time to get the dog exercised. (He's getting so big!) I am talking a high in town of 7 degrees. He gets cold at those temperatures and so do I. He gets a little crazy when he can't go outside for very long. I try to walk him on my lunch break at the warmest time of the day and he gets to play with other dogs. Usually this is great. Today he went crazy over this poor man and his two daughters. Little girls. He made the littlest one cry. He doesn't bite, but his face jumping up at yours, when you are only 3 years old, is terrifying. The dad was cool, until Wyatt knocked his lunch out of his bag onto the snow. Fortunately it didn't spill, but he also dropped saltine crackers on the ground. Wyatt spend the rest of the time sniffing for crackers on the snow! (I wouldn't let him have the saltines because it would only encourage the behavior.) I still love and adore him. He just needs more attention. I guess like most dogs. "Sorry Wyatt for being so busy lately. Maybe we can go visit Matt's little girls, so you can get used to being "nice" to little people. You can be terrifying, little bastard." God, if I am this bad with a dog, I surely shouldn't have children!..... ..Jonathan should have some though. Did you ever see suck a happy dog face? "Scratch a belly!"
My dear friends Chris and Tifanie Chaney were just here visiting. So nice to have LA friends visit....HINT HINT! (You guys have no idea what you are missing! We have so much snow!)
Tifanie knows. We had fun. Sorry I was so sick Tif & Chris! I am still blowing my nose.
Ciao for now.

Typical Aspen Day Off...

2007-12-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

I went skiing today. I had the day off. This is what the Sundeck looked like at lunch time. I love dramatic Icicles. I had a little bite to eat and saw the clouds rolling in over the Highlands you can see from the top of Ajax.
So nice to be able to ski on a day off. Lot's of stuff to keep track of however. I just now realized I left my helmet at the ticket office... I can't believe I did that! There is almost no crime here, so I am guessing it is still in the office and I can pick it up tomorrow.
I had to quite around 2:30 because the clouds did roll in and we had no visibility. Sometimes it makes me ski better if I have limited view, but this time was just annoying. Good news is we are getting a bunch more snow right now!
With the snow comes other hazards though. I Had a fall down our stairs the other night and smacked my right back hip real good. I have a bruise that is now a strange shade of purple green. I also had my car plowed in. We always hear about this happening, but this time it was my Jeep. We had a real sloppy, wet storm and the plow ran by and wedged a drift of snow under and around my entire car. I tried to dig it out a couple of days ago, but the wheels kept spinning, and I have a 4 wheel drive Jeep! I finally tried again today and, with the kindness of a fellow Aspen resident waiting for his child's school bus, we finally freed my car. It was sitting on top of a block of ice. It took us digging, putting it in low gear, and him pushing at the same time. It was sort of unreal and I couldn't imagine what that would be like if I had a sedan. Unfortunately I have no photos. too busy digging.
I leave you guys with this shot of Wyatt. He is kind of HUGE now. His favorite is to get his belly scratched. I fear he is just spoiled rotten. He has a tendency to break into the guys apartment upstairs. They love him too, so it's not all that bad. At the moment he is curled up in a blanket, sleeping on the couch. A rare quiet moment! He's a freak, but we love him!

Deep Thoughts... in the snow drifts

2007-12-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

If anyone has been following the weather lately you would know that we just got hit by a huge snow storm this week. Not enough to shut much down, besides the schools. It is truly fascinating to me, being fron SoCal. The snow makes the dead looking trees and shrubs alive again, the dirt of the mountains look like a gingerbread house, with a frosting of snow. The trees are naturally flocked. I never got the flocked Christmas tree as a kid, but now I finally get it. And then there's the icicles. All the tress have been flocked and decorated with icicles! So bitching!
I have been in awe of the snow. The Hollywood looking glittery snow. Today at work we watched giant snowflakes the size of dimes and quarters falling, continuously, all day! It is still warm in town, so it turns to slush when it hits the streets. It is like a little city made at the 7 Eleven, coconut favor, with a little root beer. (Doesn't smell like coconut though. Smells like the mountains and snow.)
I have had exasperating moments, looking at a trash can like this (ours) and having a dog poop in a bag to throw out. The lid is heavy to begin with, but that's about 20 lbs. of snow on top. So suck! I guess we can be thankful that the bear locks are no longer mandatory. Most of them are hibernating now. I did hear of a "relocated" bear family that were making their way back up valley to Aspen and they were foregoing hibernation. Can't believe everything you hear though.
Wyatt got to play with this amazing looking 4 month old puppy mix today, along with 2 chocolate labs, a German Shepard and a Jack Russell mix. They had a great time diving into the drifts of fresh powder in Wagner park. Wyatt is the hit in the dog community around here, that's for sure. He is the line-backer of Jack Russells.
This was my walk home tonight. The Holidays are here and they will stay until like March. (They leaves the lights up forever here. Looks too cool to take down.) If this doesn't make everyone want to come and visit... I just don't know what to do. Then there's something wrong with you, period.

Winter Wonderland... again

2007-12-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

So I haven't posted in a while. I have been busy with things like school, figuring out how a small dog is going to go poo in 25 inches of snow, trying not to slip on ice and, finally, skiing. Yes, the snow has returned and it is so beautiful.
The first day I got out on the mountain was not great. I wasn't feeling all that well and the snow was a little icy for my taste. There was not much of a base and it got really hard pack in the afternoon. So today was my second day back on skis and the different was extreme. We were hit by a snow, or a couple of storms, that dumped all day Saturday and into Sunday morning. In town we got 20 inches of snow and on the hill they estimated 30 inches. The weather has been warm so it was a big slop pot when the first storm hit, the entire town was reduced to the consistency of a 7Eleven slurpy. Not so easy to walk in. The second storm hit and it just kept dumping.
The snow today was like corn starch and even made that noise that corn starch makes when you are baking. The more obscure runs that are open right now had powder well into the day. Powder can be so fun, but it is completely different kind of skiing. I kept popping skis on the powder runs. It is a lot more sloppy skiing in powder, or at least it is fun me. I love watching the little kids go head on into a powder drift and almost disappear. They can't stop giggling. Or, the teenagers going twice as fast as you are and woooing all the way down.
We had a holiday since I last posted. This is a picture from Matt and Lisa's house. Nice view. Thanksgiving has always been such a great pig out session in our family's house. I missed the traditional dinner my Mom makes in Lancaster, California. Jonathan works almost every holiday if there's snow on the ground, so we stayed here in Aspen. Jonathan prepared an amazing dinner at Matt and Lisa's house. We didn't have turkey because the store had none that were not frozen, so we made lamb. It was delightful and I always love it when he cooks and I think Matt and Lisa appreciated the effort after working all day and chasing their little girls around all day.
Earlier in the day, Jonathan and I took the gondola up to the top of Aspen Mountain and met Matt and his girl's for lunch. This is a shot of Emma and her dad (Matt). She informed me before dinner that she had crocodiles in her tummy. I keep using that one this week. I also felt like I had crocodiles in my tummy on Wednesday. Bad Chinese perhaps? Still not sure.

That's about it. I forgot my camera skiing today, but I will try to remember tomorrow.
Come and visit, everyone! Ciao!

More dog news...

2007-11-10T08:00:00.001-08:00

Yes I bought Wyatt a dog sweater. I had to go to Target for other things and found they have a cute animal section. I got him a little f aux fur owl, the sweater and the gigantic bone he's chewing on. The sweater is almost too small, I can't believe how big he has gotten the last few weeks. We had him fixed a week and a half ago and I couldn't help but to feel sad. I know all the reasons behind why we have to fix our pets, but it it still makes me sad, like we are mutilating them or something. He seems fine with it though. He was jumping up and down off the bed like he didn't just have surgery. Terriers are crazy.
I haven't been writing much because I had a school term end and another begin. I have been a little swamped. I have been surprised by reuniting with a couple of friends from Junior High and College lately. I have been e-mailing my friend Kiesha, who I haven't seen since 9th grade and my friend Dawn, who was a friend/room mate back in LA in our early twenties. So great to hear from people I have been thinking about for all these years. And I just received an e-mail from Chelsea, another friend from Junior High and beyond! She has the most beautiful baby daughter! Kiesha even has a 14 year old daughter named Athena and I think Athena K. is a little intrigued that we have the same name. We have chatted a little on line, talking about who we are and what we like. It's super cute.
So I need some advice. I got a haircut and I am not sure if I like the bangs. This is a strange mirror in the bathroom picture, but it shows the cut well. Jonathan likes it but I am just not sure. I feel like I am 14, probably the last time I had bangs. What do you all think?
Here's another picture of Wyatt. He is so tall it's funny. I love the maniacal little smile. He's our constant entertainment. Jonathan left this morning to do fall training in Breckenridge and I thought Wyatt was going to cry. He is quite attached to Jonathan. We were finally able to bathe him after tens days the vet told us to wait after his surgery. He smells a lot better now and it white again! He was taking on a yellow tint.
So this was the snow line last week. It has been unseasonably warm and the snow line that you can see here is now a lot farther up the hill. They have started making snow, but we could really use a big snow storm. Apparently there's one coming Monday, but they keep saying that. It's still beautiful, but we are all itching to ski again.
So its Sunday and I should clean a few things today, (or everything. ) Or I might just ditch my chores and get some knitting in. I haven't been able to knit in so long it's a shame.
XOXOX

Another Storm..!

2007-10-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

It snowed again last night and continues to this morning. Our friend Matt told me if he sees me walking Wyatt in the pimp daddy vest that he will pretend to not know me. He was the one who told me I had to get him a sweater in the first place by the way. I still think Wyatt looks cute and he digs it. That's all that matters.
It is funny seeing what the Christmas tree lots in Southern California try to replicate with their phony flocking chemicals. We are still at Cheryl's cabin and got into the hot tub last night while it was snowing. That is one of my favorite things in the world.
Wyatt likes to look out the window at the snow and make monkey noises until he gets a walk. He loves the snow. My sister's Jack Russell doesn't even like going out to "do his business" when it's raining. Colorado makes us all a little tougher. For me it's been tough on the skin. I have never used to much lotion in my life. Thanks for the Le Mer creme for my birthday by the way Jess... saved my life or at least my face from turning into leather.
He has gotten so big! 14 pounds now.
Snow covered bike path... not many biking days left here. Have to take biking and running indoors soon. That's okay with me. I would rather ski anyway.
This was taken between the storms so it looks like there isn't snow. It had melted in town but the Independence pass in the middle is covered nicely. This is a place around Cheryl's house where I will walk Wyatt. You can take a deer (or bear) trail down to the little still lake. He loves to sniff around at all the animal tracks. There's a nice view of the pass from there. It made me think of my friend Tifanie and how if she lived here we could collect the sticks and twigs and make our own holiday wreaths. There's lots of wood to crave to Tif! You could make a real big spoon out of a log I saw in the woods. You might have to get a chainsaw though...
I am really touched that Jonathan said he still wants to get me an engagement ring. I said that that was a little backwards, but oh well. I e-mailed my friend Ann Marie, who has a antique and estate jewelry business. I always LOVED the pieces she would show me for her clients and now she is going to find me a ring! We got simple rose gold bands and I told her I would love something in rose gold. Apparently it was a popular metal to use in Russia in the 19th Century. I am so excited that it will be coming from her. She has the best taste and connections around. I highly recommend her if anyone is in need of jewelry type gifts.
Her name is Anne Marie Stanton and her e-mail address is amstant@aol.com
We just discovered that we have no eggs for breakfast so I think we are off to the Hickery House for breakfast. Yeah, it is exactly like it sounds. A trashy little bar and restaurant that has slamming cheapish breakfast. Very old school Colorado. Probably a building from the mining days. Ta ta for now. Pray for more snow.

Fall Snow Storm

2007-10-14T09:26:00.001-07:00

We woke up this morning to this beautiful winter scene at Cheryl's house. The Roaring Fork River is now capped with snow covered rocks.
Jonathan and I have been painting our apartment to brighten things up a bit and Cheryl has allowed us, and Wyatt, to stay in her cabin. This is the trees surrounding the beautiful A-frame building. It is a loft/mini-mansion. It has been so nice to have a fireplace, washer/dryer, and a GAS STOVE! I think I miss that most of all the things in my old apartment. For some reason it's a luxury here.
Cheryl, I was preparing to do a series of photos of your place with all the fall colors, but now it's a little frosted over. Your patio is quite beautiful and you can still see a few colors peeking through. I think we might have to hit up the hot tub tonight. I love being in the hot tub when it's snowing! Wish you guys were here!
This was Wyatt's first walk in the snow. Yes, we had to get him the gay little doggy parka. Short haired dogs are too vulnerable here. At least we found a 70's pimp daddy puffer vest.
I think he might be a snow dog. He was begging to go out for a walk after doing his "business" this morning. He jumped and darted in and out of the bushes and ate lots of snow. He really didn't want to come back inside. I had to go back in because I forgot my gloves. Who would believe it was like 65 degrees yesterday until 2pm?
Back inside he didn't want to take his parka off! I put it on the counter and he would bark at it. He is a proud little snow dog. Jonathan is trying to devise a way to teach him how to ski.
Jonathan slept in this morning. He's has been bearing the load of most of the painting. (Yes we are painting ourselves!) Wyatt jumped right back into bed to warm up and I caught this picture that is very telling of the cuteness involved.
Hopefully this post will entice all of you folk back in Cali to come and visit (or move.... and you know who you are.)
Back to finishing up the trim on the apartment. More to come....

A Special Birthday.... Wedding

2007-10-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

I turned 35 this October 3rd. A strange number. I never thought about it being a hard age, but as the day approached it became apparent to me how old I am getting. Not that that is a bad thing, but you do miss little things from youth, but mostly I am glad to be older and wiser.
Jonathan made this Birthday a very special one. We went to the courthouse and got married. We presented a affidavit for a common law marriage. The only stipulation was that I can't hate my Birthday anymore because it is now our anniversary.
We were not really going to tell anyone because of the backlash of angry friends and family who would be insulted for not being involved. Honestly, I have never been one of those girls who has wanted the whole theatrical presentation of a traditional wedding.
My parents got married at the courthouse in Northern California, so I suppose in a way I am following family tradition. I kind of dig the fact that it was just about us. No drama, just signing a piece of paper, then having Montagna martinis at the Little Nell (A very romantic hotel here in town that is Gondola adjacent.)
It was the perfect October day here, which by the way, the fall is my favorite even though there is no snow. (Picture of Wyatt's park across the street.)
I also have to point out one perk of getting married to Jonathan besides the obvious being totally in love and all. As a spouse I an eligible for a dependent ski pass for the season. It is a all mountain, unlimited use pass that costs around $1800 normally. Jonathan really wants me to ski as much as possible this next winter and the two day a week pass that my company offers is a bit limiting. It's only good for two days a week and, even if you ski in the morning for a hour or two, it stills counts as one day of use for the week. Jonathan and I had already had a declaration of domestic partnership for insurance purposes and we thought that that was sufficient to be eligible for the season pass, but we had to officially register with the courthouse.
I thought it was an amazing romantic day, but I had no idea that everyone we know would be over the moon about us getting married. (Technically the domestic partnership is a marriage in the state of Colorado. I have learned so many new official things here!) I received a flood of phone calls, of which I have not returned yet. Sorry, I have been a bit sick and neglectful. My dear friend Cheryl Saban sent us the most beautiful white roses and a very expensive bottle of champagne. Jonathan's family is already asking what kind of gifts we want.... it's all a little over whelming. And I haven't even spoken to my Mother about any of this! Sorry Mom.
Anyway, it has started us thinking that perhaps it was a bit selfish not to include everyone. We are tentatively planning to have a real ceremony on my Birthday next year, probably here in Aspen. The fall colors would be the perfect backdrop for a ceremony and it would give everyone an excuse to come to this beautiful, quirky little mountain town. We are still planning it to be small, but would love to share the day with friends and family and I couldn't ever have an excuse to hate my Birthday again.

Puppy Love

2007-09-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

Jonathan's home! Finally, after 30 hours of travel, from New Zealand to LA to Salt Lake City, he arrived back in Aspen around 10:30pm on September 24th. He is rapidly bonding with Wyatt and I think Wyatt might like Jonathan more than me now. Boys can be so fickle! Anyway, here are a few shots of sleeping puppy along with Jet Lag recovery. So sweet!
Perhaps I might be able to get in some yoga now that Wyatt has a distraction.
Jonathan has some sort of cold or flu bug. He is right now sleeping in and it's almost 11:45AM! He never does that. I am the one who does that. Better to sleep it off. Great to have him home again!

By the way, I am so jealous Tifanie! My friend Tifanie keeps posting recipes on her blog. I have the smallest kitchen known to man and long for the day I can cook and bake again with ease. I have to save all her recipes for when I have a real kitchen again! Her blog is great and you should check it out. Noddyboom.typepad.com
Just a brief note for now. More to follow soon.

Impatience...

2007-09-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Patience has never been one of my personality traits. I keep trying to consciously focus on the here and now. I have this puppy that changes daily. I have school that is fast paved and therefore I am learning something new each day. Even with all this in mind I still find myself impatient. I want the work day to hurry by so I can go home and hang out with Wyatt. I want this month to go by faster so Jonathan will finally be home. It has been a long summer in his absence.

This is the still gorgeous view of the skies from our store front window. I never get sick of the clouds.

So I fill time with trivial but fun things. I bought Mui Mui boots on Yoox, my new favorite shopping website. If you check it out beware. It can get addictive, but I realize what has killed the retail business, or at least certain retail businesses. They ship for free over a certain amount and return for free for 20 days! It offers me a little "girlie" in the sea of older men I find myself helping these days. The sales tax here in Aspen is so high that it makes it worth while to shop on line.

The weather has all of a sudden changed to fall. The trees are starting to turn and I will be sure to take lots of photos. The grass is frosting over at night and Wyatt isn't too sure what to think about that. He will look at me like I am crazy for wanting him to potty outside when it is so warm and cozy inside and the carpet feels so much better on his feet. I might have to get him a little doggy parka for the snow that is on it's way. I can't wait personally. I have a ski pass from work already and really want to get back out on the mountain. It seems like ages ago that we were able to ski.
It is still hot mid day so it poses quite a dressing challenge. Now I understand the whole winter and summer wardrobe thing. It never made sense in Cali.
School has been very fun so far. I have a computer class that is kicking my ass a little, but it is good to learn all these things properly. I had no idea how much of these programs; MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, Adobe Photoshop, etc..., that I didn't know....

Flowers still not giving up! These are in our yard and that is Wyatt's rump in the background.

....Hopefully I will retain the information long term. We make our way through material at a rapid speed.
More of Wyatt. Sleeping dog balancing on throw pillow.

Anyway, I must shower and walk to work, even with my knees aching. This is something new. There are a lot of body aches lately. I am not sure if it is the climate here or because I am getting so old. Anyhow, can't let that slow me down.

Eye of the destructor! So far he only "kills newspaper and his hot water bottle, which is his favorite thing in the world besides my lap. Dogs are strange but extremely cute.

Neglecting my blog...

2007-09-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

First off, I must apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, but things have been super time consuming around this mountain town for me. Not only do I have Wyatt now, who is utterly insane, I have also started an online school program with the Art Institute to finish my Bachelor's degree, FINALLY! Oh yeah, there's also work, but that's easy comparatively.
School is "so far so good." It took some adjusting to the format and how to work with the technology involved, but I am really fired up to be back in the classroom, especially a virtual one.

Wyatt is such a charmer and pimp for people's attention that I find myself laughing out loud. He is making progress with the potty training, which is great! We have a very small apartment so this is vital to get done quickly.
We actually had an encounter with a black bear the other morning. He has been waking up between 4 and 4:30 am to go "potty" and we had a near head on collision with a black bear trying to raid our trash. In fact, all week there was a Momma and her two cubs hanging out during the day in the shopping area of downtown. One cub broke into a open back door of the thrift store and took a look through their trash before heading off to a crab apple tree for a snack. It can be quite a problem because they shouldn't be comfortable around us humans, but apparently there is a lack of their natural foods on the mountain this year; hence, there has been an unusually high number of bear encounters in town this summer. Even though they can be scary, they are SO CUTE! However, I will stick to Wyatt as a pet for now however.

I am sorry this is such a graphic photo, but I just had too! This is a HUGE progress for the little guy and I happened to have my camera. (Could you imagine how hard it is to potty train a bear cub? No thanks.) We have been working on words like "potty,""sit," and "no bite."

This is an example of "no bite." He is learning SLOWLY. He has to taste you.
Jonathan is back on the 24th and has vowed to help with the training, but so far so good.
He stops people in their tracks because he is so cute. He loves people, kids and other dogs so far. He will be 12 weeks old on September 12. Maybe I should make a birthday cake...? I can't believe how much he has already grown. He get his next set of shots tomorrow. Scary.

I promise more soon. Nighty night.

Dog Days of Summer

2007-08-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

So I know it's a clique, but why not? I can't quite believe it yet and I think I had an anxiety attack the second day, but I got a puppy. He is probably the cutest thing I have ever seen. His name is Wyatt. I found him on a web site called puppyfinder.com If you want to be tortured my cutest I recommend checking it out. I have had my hands full the last few days, starting school online and new pup, but thought I should share the photos to you all. Wish me luck. he's already a hand full but Jonathan will be back in early September to help. He's met him on the internet and is now dying to come home. I'm ready for snow again. Sick of Summer, a little. Glad to be potty training now and not when it goes below freezing. I miss you all.

Solo Routine

2007-08-12T16:43:00.001-07:00

Shadow Mountain and some wispy clouds against the setting sun.
These skies have been routine walking home in the evening.
This was a particularly pink sunset the other night. So pretty.
Same sunset looking at the volleyball park across the street from our apartment. I have decided to get a dog.... now not only am I anticipating Jonathan's return, i have new puppy impatience. I am picking him up (a jack russell) next Sunday. Can't wait! I am taking name suggestions please.

Cheryl and Joy, pictured here with Matt, came into town late July. Nice to see familiar faces and eat good food. We had a visit from a bear this night. We ate outside and Matt had a plate of raw salmon near the BBQ and it brought around a HUGE black bear. Very impressive surprise dinner guest if you ask me.

I have taken great pleasure in making dinner for myself sans Jonathan. He makes it all look so easy and I feel much better if I have a lot of home cooking. This has been my favorite...lemon butter chicken breasts with Brocolini or Asparation?.....of course with brown rice.

Not too shabby! It is super easy and clean. Next time I will make a sauce out of the left over juices like Jonathan would. He's a sauce king.

This is the WHOLE kitchen. It's a wonder I don't get lost for all the space we have! All joking a side I have to say we do pretty well with limited space. Makes you buy fresh because our fridge is so small. I still miss my old kitchen. Oh well.
So I wish I had photos of our new puppy but I haven't met him yet. If you want to torture yourself, go to puppfinder.com
More to come.

Summer Rains

2007-07-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

Today I drove down valley to Glenwood Springs. It is the closest town to us with a Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowes Hardware...etc. It is a 40 minute drive so it is rare for me to get motivated to make the trip. I went today because I needed some vitamins, amongst other things that just cost more in Aspen. It was about 90 degrees down valley but a beautiful drive. This is a shot of Mount Sopris. It is very high in altitude, so even now in high summer there is still a little bit of snow on the very top of the saddle ridge in the middle. You can kind of see it here. Today there was a very dark cloud covering the top when I drove back. I caught a few huge bolts of lightening from the highway. A little too hard to catch on camera however.
Then, as quickly as the storms here form, they clear up in a flash. This was a little behind the storm cloud above. Summer is so different here. It still gets really hot, but then by the afternoon the clouds roll in and we have buckets of rain. I came home to Aspen this evening to the most lightening I have seen yet, probably in my whole life. I was on the phone with my sister Jessica and went up to our front porch to watch a little. The thunder was so loud it was deafening. She was impressed even 900 miles away, over the phone. A couple of bolts looked as if they hit the part of Aspen Mountain I hike a lot. Makes you think next time you are caught in the rain hiking.
This was not today. I felt a little weary about biking in a thunder storm today, but I did take my bike out the other day on the Rio Grande Trail. It is a path you can take all the way to Glenwood Springs. It would be a days trip, but maybe one day. I found this shear rock face cliff that as you pass around turns into this waterfall & pool. Kind of gorgeous. Had to take a pic.
This part of the trail turned into gravel, I turned around and went back. It is well outside of town near the Airport, but it got a little too hard to ride with my street bike. I need a mountain bike! Soon.
I went across another narrow path and found this great old bridge.
This is the view of the water from the bridge. I wanted to jump in, but it is a little more "rapid" then I care to deal with, especially since I was biking solo. Not so safe.
On a completely different note, I have decided to go back to school (on-line) and get my bachelor's degree. I found that the Art Institute has an on-line program for fashion retail management & merchandising. I can use all my old credits and life experiences to receive credit and FINALLY get my BS. I can't believe it's a Bachelor's of Science, but I will take it. It is the only on-line school I have found that offers art related courses! I don't start until August 16, but I am already excited, if for only the opportunity to increase my earning potential. Always a good thing for people (corporates) to take you more seriously.
Wish me luck...thats all for now.

Progress?

2007-07-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

This posting began as a thought to talk about the summer rain we get. Summer rains come pretty much every afternoon. So cool.! You can see the dark thunder clouds hanging over this shot of Shadow Mountain. I was trying to photograph the weather when I noticed that I couldn't take a picture of the mountains without getting the construction sites in the frame. Then I realized that that is because there really are no shots right now without construction in them.
With all the great spring activities here, there has also come a huge construction boom. I guess "they" have to scramble before the snow comes, but it is kind of ridiculous lately...the construction.
This is a condo project they are working on just off the rugby field in the middle of town. I didn't think much of it at the beginning of the season, but as the buildings have gotten taller, the view of the mountains has disappeared. It seems all the houses are being replaced by the corporate condominium development projects. It makes Aspen less of a town, where people live and raise children. Instead it is promoting a temporary resident population that I suppose is important to the overall commerce of the town, but is not a homey environment at all. Instead of families in the park playing frizbee with their kids, you have vacationers looking for status, a story to take back home and impress their friends," Yes, we were in Aspen and I picked up this fabulous (overpriced) handbag. Aren't I fabulous because of it?" Sad really. Good stuff is great, don't get me wrong. I love to shop, but that handbag doesn't make you a better person. Consciousness does, not material objects. I never understood why so many have a desire to be envied.
Back to us locals who live here year round. Now we have this obstructed view of our beautiful mountains. This shot is a building that is going to be yet another story higher. See the mountain behind it? We used to be able to see the whole thing from the middle of town. Not for long. This should be mostly completed by late fall. So sad. Multi level condos. One of MANY projects under construction around my apartment. Great city planning. Can we build some affordable single family houses perhaps? Oh no, that doesn't bring enough revenue and taxes. We all thrive off the tourists I suppose, but it is getting a little ridiculous.
This site is across the street from the previous one and shows a "see through" version of the future view of Ajax Mountain. The green patches are the ski runs we all love so dearly. It will be a great view from the top, but to bad for the little white Victorian house next door. They soon can look forward to the loud vacationers disrupting their calm sleep with their hot tub escapades. At least the Victorian survives! They are a small reprieve that Aspen offers. You can not tear down the historical Victorians. So far it's against the law. They are truly beautiful here!
Too bad this crane looms dangerously above the white Victorian. Hopefully it will stay in the air. Cranes, I have heard, are notorious for falling down...sometimes on people!
This has to be my favorite Victorian in town as of today. I found it while walking on an errand for the store. It is great what you encounter walking. So different from Los Angeles where you see EVERYTHING from your car. I love this house and, guess what? It's up for sale! Not that Jonathan & I can afford it but I guess you always have dreams! Even the same houses here are millions of dollars.
This is another favorite, however I prefer the untouched, rainbow version above. This house has been renovated but the owners put the whole thing on blocks and made it structurally sound. I love the preservation ideal! So rare these days. Even the add ons are aesthetically appropriate for the style. I have to meet this family one day. I believe they are one of the rare ones who live here mostly year round.
A lot of these Victorians become a happy compromise. This one is a block up from our apartment and has been converted into a bed & breakfast. Love this building.
Now on to a more personally creative endeavor. This is the finished teddy bear I blogged about earlier. It is a completely different animal, as my projects usually become. I have plans, but they inevitably change as I go along.
Back view of the pillow that was supposed to be a crocheted bag for the bear, but turned into a "Tooth Fairy Pillow." A pocket for the safe keeping of lost tooth, to be replaced by cold hard cash from the tooth fairy. I thought this a much better idea than the carrying bag and have thoughts to make more. I have to improve on my tooth embroidery though. I hope Katie (Jonathan's friend who gave birth to a premature baby girl this late June) won't mind. I still like it.
Another kind of bear entirely! This is poor representation of an actual bear I saw the other day. Yeah, I saw a bear! That's a first for me. I love how wild life can break you free of the self-absorbed, ego-centric thoughts we have all the time. It happened to me also the other day hiking when I saw a deer. You are just toting along thinking, resenting things that you need to get done, when all of a sudden you are faced with wild nature. The bear blew my mind. They are smallish, cute black bears here who patrol the alleyways, looking for open trash cans. (There is an Aspen mandate that says you have to lock the "bear locks" on the trash. It was 10 in the morning when I saw my bear. It looked disappointed that we all remembered to lock our cans. So amazing.
I'll leave this posting on a "wow" note here. I was certainly wowed and next time I will try to have it together to grab my camera for proof.

P.S. By the way, the moment I got home today it started puring rain (originally what I was going to write about) and made the whole town smell wonderful, not to mention wash the dust from our cars I never seem to drive anymore. Also...the bear in the shot above is actually a beeswax candle I got at the health food store and I can pick one up for any who desires....let me know!

Happiness...& Summer Changes

2007-07-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how the traffic of people in this town changes over night. The Fourth of July brought such a influx of tourists that the traffic was backed up on the highway for hours in the afternoon. Luckily, like most days, my need to drive was minimal. So, I avoided the usually annoying inconveniences that usually come with the holiday. It was also lucky I could see the fireworks show from the park across the street from our apartment. Somehow I kept thinking about fireworks being in bad taste because of all the chaos going on in the middle east. Are fireworks not a recreation of "bombs bursting in air?" Not sure about that.
The store has been quite busy all of a sudden. Nice to know that you can still sell things. Our clientèle can be interesting at times. There is a whole population of men in this town who are really wealthy but don't really work at much of anything, besides their turns on the hill or their tennis strokes in the summertime. It is like a continued adolescence that is interesting to observe. My co-worker Bob likes to refer to them as members of the "lucky sperm club." They have toys like expensive cars and expensive Barbie doll-like women who they think make them look happy or successful. It is a constant lesson I see, time and time again, money, and all the things that go along with money, do not necessarily make you happy. Don't get me wrong, I understand how it can make things easier, but not necessarily happier.
I have never had much money and had to work hard for the few pennies I have managed to gather together. For a long time I had an illusion that that is what you need to become a happy person, but it is so not true. I have lost count of the number of wealthy people I have encountered who are absolutely miserable. It is sad when you think about it. These people have figured out how to achieve what we all dream of, financial independence and still it isn't enough to find happiness. Instead, I see a certain retardation when they lose their need to be productive. I find great comfort in routine and productivity. It can be mundane but it keeps me sane.
Happiness to me is finding love, finding health and eating good food! (Being creative and drinking good wine is somewhere in the mix also.) Happiness to me is being able to take a walk in the mountains and smell the nature that we are all surrounded by, even in the city you can find it.
To appreciate life is the most important thing. It is such a fleeting, unique thing that most people take for granted. I guess I learned that when my Father passed away. It is sad to think it takes such a horrible event to find that kind of appreciation.
I have noticed not only unhappy people, but angry people. It is such an amazing insight into the human animal working with the public on a daily basis. Retail is not the most fulfilling of occupations most of the time. Let's face it, we are not curing cancer, but there are such lessons to be learned through simple observation. I don't know how people can walk around their own lives so angry all the time....and at what? I don't know. I used to think that is was a LA phenomenon due to the necessity of driving, working, living, amongst so many people. It is not just in LA. I live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, truly...and still people are angry and impatient and fucked up. They have an inability to just be in the moment and appreciate their environment. I have seen it in every city and town I have ever visited. No wonder there are so many health related problems that are running rampant in our population. I have a theory that if you walk around your life feeling angry and pissed off most of the time, all you are doing internally is growing "cancer balls." (That's my term, not technically medical, but very descriptive.) I truly believe that we have total control over our own happiness and if you are unhappy, you are the only one who can change it. Life is too short not to drop it all and change everything. What do you have to loose?
I have a few things that have been keeping me sane in the absence of my love.
I have found great solace in yoga and biking. I think that exercising is a key to keeping sane. As I have moved closer to middle America, the weight problem that our country is experiencing becomes even more apparent. Not necessarily the locals, because everyone who lives here is sooo active, they make me look lazy. But the tourists you see coming into town are so unhealthy. Their giant guts hanging over their hips....no wonder they are angry. They have eaten themselves into an uncomfortable body. They have pounds of (forgive my straight forwardness)... rotting meat in their guts that are making them toxic. One of the most important things we can do for our own happiness is to take care of our bodies. If your body feels good you feel good. I have never been a gym person, but I love to get outside and absorb the environment. We genetically are built to be out finding food and digging up the earth to survive. It is funny to me that we now have reached a comfort level in our civilization that we have to find time to exercise. It is the most important time to find simply to maintain our sanity. Our minds have so much control over our bodies' state of health, truly.
So, enough preaching for now. Since it has just starting pouring rain, I guess I am not biking today, but here are some pictures from my exploring via bike and foot. So many mountain flowers I still in shock.
This is a field I stumbled upon on my bike up by the Aspen Highlands.
This what the Highlands looks like sans snow.

These are mountain roses that all of sudden are blowing all over Ajax Mountain next to our apartment.

Still missing Jonathan. Can't wait for September! That's all for now...

Keeping Busy

2007-06-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

So I think in theory Jonathan and I were okay with this summer separation, but as time goes by it seems to get harder. It is tough for me because I don't know too many people in town and to tell the truth, missing him makes me a little anti-social. Soooo...I have been trying to keep myself busy. Hiking and now biking again (I shipped my bike from LA!) have been a godsend. I also amused myself watching the summer kids games....Here are some more summer views from town...by the way, she was not posing for me. It was a chance snapshot.
This water fountain is literally in the middle of downtown. It is amazing this town has such public participation. People hang out in town and watch their kids play with glee. (There's that red Jeep Wrangler in the background again! They are everywhere here in the summer time.)
This little guy was one of my favorites.
Goosebumps! If I hadn't been dressed for work I might have joined in the fun and games.
I got an e-mail today and received some photos of Jonathan & myself that were taken in LA when we were visiting. Here are a couple. (God I miss him!)
He was choking on some sort of English chips that Jeannine had at her photo party. The pictures were fab! Black and white shots of punk rockers from their heyday. If I had any money I would have purchased at least two. There were lots of great ones.
This shot was taken from far away, so I played around with it in Photoshop and came up with a photocopy looking thing. A great idea for tee shirt prints. (Hint hint hermana Jessica. One day we will do all of our tee shirt ideas!)
So I guess I should make dinner now. It is a quarter to nine already! When did that happen. I always lose track of time when I play around with Photoshop. That's all for today. Hope everyone is healthy and happy!

And it gets even more beautiful....

2007-06-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from my hike on Ajax Trail. SOooo green it is ridiculous. I can only offer mediocre photos that could never really do it justice.
Colorado has the best wildflowers! So many different colors, shapes and heights. Little lacy ground cover white flowers to these violet bell shaped clusters. This grouping is directly in front of an outcropping of rocks where I know lots of chipmunks live.
If fairies live here, they would for sure live here with the chipmunks. Fairies pick the very best spots...(This one was for Marley & Griffin.) I grew up knowing that fairies were real. My friends and I would find their houses in the school playground. One friend would even leave little pieces of carrot or cookie outside the entrances as a gift.
This little guy actually was still long enough to get him with the camera, but had at least 6 buddies that I spotted. Unfortunately the deer I saw five minutes later was quicker than I. He alluded my camera entirely.

This the first time I have seen the Aspen trees with leaves.They make a great soothing sound when the wind blows. It reminds me of the Eucalyptus trees I grew up with in Santa Barbara.
They started running the gondola for the summer. Jonathan's friend Matt says that you always choose the red car. (They alternate 2 black cars for one red car.) The red one is supposed to be good luck...?
We spent a week at my sister's house in Woodland Hills earlier this month and we stayed in the room that has all my father's paintings. Well not all of them, but most of them. I forget sometimes about his art and I thought I would post photos so everyone can take a peek....
This one I used to love as a little girl. I had a great fascination with fairies and this one made me think it would be great to have butterfly wings. I think I would have gotten a butterfly tattoo if it wasn't so clique. My dad painted beautiful ones. Maybe I should have one of his made into a tattoo! Tifanie would be so proud...
This I believe was some sort of political statement (or personal)...Jess, do you remember?
Lots of celestial themes and images in his work.
This, I have been told, was an LSD induced clown. I have very vivid memories of this clown as a kid. I love it now but it used to scare me a little, when I was little. Our grandfather had a huge collection of clown and circus related stuff. Some of the clowns were definitely on the creepy side.

This is a classic painting of Jess that really doesn't need explanation. I think it speaks for itself.
This image sums up the summer feeling around here and one of my favorite sites here in town. There is a fountain that shots water in a series of rows through an iron grate. The kids will run in and out....try to get balloons to float on top of the streams. I would have loved this as a kid!

The skies have been so blue......lots of thunder clouds drift in and out.

I can't forget to congratulate my little sister who graduated from Cal State Long Beach this spring. Major in Journalism and minor in Comparative Literature. I am so proud and who would of thought she would inspire me to want to go back to school and finish? Good going hermanita!

Jonathan has been playing around with his new photo booth program on the Mac. He e-mailed me this lovely image today.
Scary ugly. We spoke on Skype for almost 2 1/2 hours tonight. Skype is a great way to talk for free (or really cheap to land lines) long distance over the internet. You can avoid giving up your first born child to the phone company. It's free. Check it out...
Well its getting late and this post is getting long. Goodnight....thanks for coming by.

Smelling Summer...June 12, 2007

2007-06-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not posted for a while. I went to LA with Jonathan for a week. We both got on planes on Sunday. His to New Zealand and mine back to Aspen. I thought it was hard watching him pack. The goodbye at the airport was much tougher. It is always bad form to cry at LAX, but I guess we have all done it.
LA was interesting. I was prepared for missing all the good things it has to offer, but really, I missed Aspen. I came back to the greenery of the mountains and the new addition of flowers everywhere. Most people and businesses have gone full force into planting flowers and plants around town. Beautiful hanging pots of lavender and purple bell shaped flowers are in front of our store right now.
The Food & Wine festival is this weekend, so the town is a little more busy this week. Very strange types show up for this event. A lot of cool people too, don't get me wrong. Jonathan was bummed he missed it this summer, being a sommelier he loves it! But there are those who show up purely for the free stuff. I had a guy walk into the store today and ask me,"Do you have any free samples?" I truly was baffled. We sell mens clothes. "Here's some free...what?" Cashmere?" (I suppose we could give away cologne samples...I guess that would have been a smart PR move.)
Strange things you see in this town. I saw a Jeep Wrangler with a baby seat in the back. Isn't that a little irresponsible? Don't you all think?
This red one was parked in front of my store all day a few weeks back and I started really wanting a Wrangler too. (Not red though.) I guess they are not that great in the snow however. A lot of folks have them as a second, fun, spring car here. I test drove one in Steamboat and I have to say they are fun!
Today it rained, all day long. It kind of went a long with my mood just because I already miss Jonathan. It is strange being here without him. Not bad, just different. I am fine if I keep myself busy. At least we have things to do at work again. Boredom is such a mind numbing thing.
The rain made the Food & Wine people setting up a bit uneasy. They are setting up tents and planting flowers....in the rain. Some had giant yellow fisherman rain slickers on. Quite a fashion statement.
I kept seeing out our front window a mist that was just hanging on the mountain, let it was steaming or something. When I finally thought to get my camera it was gone.
I did manage a few shots on our hike the other day. This one is of some sort of low growing, golden flower that is everywhere on the hill right now. Just one of the many wild flowers that are going crazy right now. I love it!

This next picture has a story. I went to yoga one afternoon and had a great class. Some classes here are very easy and I find them not challenging enough. This particular class was fabulous. I finally found a great teacher who pushes you enough. I walked out of the studio, which is,by the way, inside a historic Victorian house. So cute! I made for my car and was taken off guard by this HUGE double rainbow. I have only ever seen a rainbow like that in Hawaii. (Sorry the picture isn't so great, but I took it on my cell phone.)
The sun was just about to set behind Shadow Mountain, but still there was enough light to make that champagne color. It almost feels like you are behind thick panes of window glass. I wanted to grab a shot with my real camera but, by the time I got home it was gone. Too bad since this one doesn't do it justice at all.
So, most of you know now that Jonathan works nights as a sommelier. Some days we will barely catch each other as I come home from the store and he jets off to L'Hosteria. (Great Italian food.) This cracked me up the other day because I came home to this...
He's going to kill me for including this but I had too. It's too cute not to share! He looks so good on a towel!
The yellow orb in the back ground is this funny exercise ball I found at Wal-Mart. (Yes, I shop at Wal-Mart sometimes.) The ball is covered in these "massage nipples," for lack of a better word. It sounds strange but, it is actually kind of cool. Great for balancing and massaging feet. Perhaps at the same time if you are so talented in exercise ball feats. Jonathan didn't like it at first but he seems to have come around. We named it the virus ball because it looks like a electron microscope picture of a virus. It is the best thing to do abdominal work on. Very low impact but great for lower back support. I highly recommend one to those who are still not in the know.
Jonathan's friend Katey is having a baby in August, so I decided to attempt another crochet teddy bear. It has been forever since I made a bear and it is a good thing I have so much time. I can't remember how I did it before. This is my progress so far. I was stalled because of our LA trip, but it's coming a long. I am trying to write down a crochet pattern so I can remember for the next time.
I noticed the other day that my shoes are all torn up on the bottom. Now that it is spring, I am no longer wearing boots on my walk to work and changing shoes. Perhaps it has something to do with what I walk on? I think I will start wearing my sneakers instead. I got cute new Velcro closure Vans in chocolate brown. They are my new favorite sneaker. They are called Prison Issue if you want to check them out. So reminds me of elementary school. I was the first girl in my second grade class to wear the Vans slip on style.
Very controversial in those days, to dress like a boy. They come in cute camouflage and prints too!

I also picked up these shorts for Jonathan in a couple of colors. Not too expensive and cute for the gym. Lacrosse is big here. All the little kids grow up playing it in school.
I have also rediscovered Kiehl's products here. It is so dry here that face washing routines had to be changed. Jonathan has even gotten into a couple of their men's products. Good stuff!

I have had a moment back in Aspen to reflect on things I miss about LA. Mostly it's the people. I wish I could bring all my peeps here!
Hopefully some of you will some and visit me here. This is Aida (aka Shama) and my sister Jess. They are very good at making funny faces. They have had a lot of practice. I miss them both very much.

Okay, so this is an old picture from my 30th Birthday party, but it's a great shot of more people I miss. Tifanie, Jessica P and Robin Huntley. All amazing girls that I took for granted lived so close. It takes years to find girls like these, especially in LA. Move here now guys, okay?

Perhaps I will check if our TV is running again. It crashed earlier. (Dish Network.) So I am hoping that unplugging it and letting it rest itself will fix the problem. I am not so confident but we shall see. At least sans TV I had a little focus to finish a posting.!I will try to post more often. I have started carrying my camera everywhere to document things. Thanks to everyone who posted a comment. It is nice to hear that the blog is being read and enjoyed.

New Life's Things

2007-05-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 30
So, this is my blog story.....
A friend of mine has a blog site, which I visit frequently to get updates/photos of her busy family. When I moved to Aspen in January she suggested I start my own blog to keep everyone informed of my unusual adjustments to my new life in the mountains. So here I go....

It is very different here from Southern California. It is not the life I was used to. Instead of dull views of inland Santa Monica, I am blown away daily by the amazing display of natural beauty Colorado has to offer.
We got out to Arapahoe Basin quite a bit this spring. This shot is of the East Wall. It is a semi-out of bounds area, mostly double black diamond skiing. A friend Tony took me out there and says he lead me through an intermediate section, but it was scary fun! It would have been better if it hadn't been hailing on us. Couldn't see what you were doing at all. I skied it badly, but I did it!
It is so high that they have snow into June. It was some of the most beautiful skiing I have done. The Rockies are awe inspiring to say the very least.
This winter I finally got my own skis, thanks mostly to Jonathan's connections. I now have boots that fit, skis that rock and enough apparel to get me through all the changing weather you experience. I still am working on how to dress in everyday life here, as I have never before lived in such a cold climate, nor in such a high altitude where the temperature can turn on a dime. Very challenging for us fashionistas!
This is a picture of Jonathan & me. He is the main reason for moving and worth every strange adjustment. This picture was actually taken back in New Zealand last summer. The only recent photos of both of us are on Jonathan's computer, which I just killed....to death. Not joking. I spilled a glass of wine into his poor little defenseless Mac. I felt, and continue to feel, like a complete idiot. He is not worried and has already purchased a new one. He wanted to update anyway, but I still feel like a four year old.
Jonathan is wonderful. I would have been a little mad if it had been my computer, but he is great. Totally understanding. He's going to New Zealand next week (:<), so I will miss him terribly. I thought this blog would be a good project to keep me from quitting my job and taking off to New Zealand too! It is such a beautiful place, I highly recommend going if you have a chance. This is New Zealand. I think this is from the top of Coronet Peak near Queenstown. Watch the Lord of The Rings and you'll see a lot of the area we stayed in last summer. They have great a great wine country too! I would love to do more wine tasting/drinking when I make it back. Perhaps this fall.
Back to Aspen...Our apartment here is across the street from a volleyball park which has a trail head for Ajax Mountain. I have been loving the trails. The spring here is full of wild flowers. Most of which I have never seen before. I am so used to Cali foliage, everything here is so new! Beautiful and new. It makes me want to press flowers! (Haven't yet, ever. Anyone know how?)

This is a picture taken from my hike on Ajax Trail. Our place is in the middle of the two green trees in the middle.
It all looks so different in spring here. It's so green it strains your eyes. The snow is still melting, so you have running creeks everywhere. It has gone from mud season to dandelion season as Jonathan says. Lots of allergies to keep the nose running, as if it hadn't run enough in the winter time. I especially liked skiing with frozen nose hairs! Not to be gross, but they do freeze up. (At least it doesn't drip when it's frozen.)
Everyone is hiking and biking right now. There are more people on town now. The past couple of weeks have been a ghost town. I kind of like it. You have the feeling that it is a town just for you. No traffic in the streets. Feels like a small town.
Went went up to the Maroon Bells trail on Memorial Day. We both got our shoulders burnt. Sunscreen is key here. You burn so much faster at altitude. Everyone has a skin cancer story here. A bit scary when they talk about skin grafts and such. Eew!
This picture is at Crator Lake at the bottom of Maroon Bells. (Mountains in the picture.) The water is so clear you just can't quite believe it. It looks unreal somehow. Lot's of ducks and bear I hear. I haven't seen one yet, but they have rummaged through our dumpster upon occasion. They just knock them right over. I am assured they are little Black Bears. "Their cute, they probably won't kill you."
Anyhoo.... I find myself overwhelmed by nature and love and life. Life is good in the Rockies. I miss everyone terribly back in Cali, but I so happy here. A great, different life. Just take a look at my back yard.....

That's Jonathan. I have only ever seen this part of Ajax Mountain under 10 feet of snow and I am skiing down it.
That's it for now. This blog experiment has been fun. Thanks for the suggestion Tifanie! Hopefully you are reading this.
Bye for now. Much more to come....