LADDventure

Thankful Thursday

 

1.  Another birthday celebrated together with this guy

2.  Lots of big changes this year, including the incredible opportunity I have been given to pursue a new dream of writing full time.  It is not at all lost on me how lucky I am to spend much of my day doing something I love, often in pajamas.

3.  Friends who still welcome me to come get my teach on by volunteering at school

4.  Some lifetime memories made this month on this big city trip and this crazy ride

5.  Talking to many of my family this week and being grateful for so much to go home to 

Wordless Wednesday

Caption Anyone?

Happy Birthday Mr. Ladd

It is my husband's birthday today, and I think birthdays are a good excuse to tell everyone about the person you love.  It's a good time to let him know how glad you are that he was born because your world is a better place with him in it.

No one has had a bigger impact on my life than Jeremiah, obviously.  I've spent more of my life with him than without him.  We have been together since I was 15, and he was 17.  We halfway broke up a couple of times, but it just didn't stick.  We were high school sweethearts, and I was in love from the time he took me home after a football game. A group of us had stopped at Burger King, and he told stories with a sparkle in his eye and a contagious laugh, and I was smitten and home after curfew.  I made a conscious decision that night that he was worth the grounding I would get.  I remember closing my bedroom door on a good reaming from my parents and literally sliding down the back of the door in a grinning puddle like they do in the movies.

He brought me roses on my 16th birthday, and I threw up a couple of times before our dates because I was so nervous around him.  I had it bad, and it was more than puppy love.  There was something about the way he carried himself.  Sure he dressed nice, smelled good, and had a car.  But more than that he had a calm deep intelligence, truly listened to my stories, and smiled with his eyes.

Time went on, and we took pictures in caps and gowns, and made college memories together.  We made it through roommates and moving.  We survived first jobs and a couple of long distance stretches.   We got married in 2005, almost 10 years after we met, and finally shared a last name and a tiny hobbit hole apartment.  Now a few moves, some tough times, and lots of beautiful moments later - here we are. 

Jeremiah is the responsible one, and I admire this about him.  He keeps us ticking by paying the bills and getting the oil changed.  He is incredibly organized and consistent, but more importantly he just makes it a priority to follow through and show up for people.  He works hard and puts in the extra effort.  He takes his roles as husband, employee, brother, son, friend very seriously; always wondering what others are thinking or what they might need.

His intelligence astounds me.  He writes and even thinks sometimes in computer code for a living.  When he is on the phone for work, it's like he's speaking another language, and I am fascinated by this world his mind can operate in.  Outside of work even, he is always calculating something, reading manuals, or looking at a map.  And although I tease him about being a nerd, I love his relentless thirst for knowledge of any sort, which he stores up for a thoughtful debate or a quick-witted response.  

Besides being very logical and practical, there is also an easiness about Jeremiah.  He doesn't need to be the center of attention, but goes with the flow, never demanding much of the people around him.  He thinks before he speaks, quietly considering other viewpoints.  He gives people the benefit of the doubt and second chances.

He has this sensitive, gentle spirit that has the ability to defuse a situation and nerves.  He loves very selflessly, quietly loading the dishwasher and washing my car.  He makes me breakfast and cleans up after dinner.  He is a big softy when it comes to dogs and those down on their luck, and I just know he'd make the best dad.  He has literally made so many of my dreams come true, and I feel unfairly blessed to have grown up with him and to continue to share this life together. 

Happy Birthday Love. 

Jeep Journal - Rubicon Trail Part 2

Now for the second half of the journey (Read all about the first half here if you missed it.)...

Camp at Rubicon Springs


Friday we were super impressed with the hospitality of the Jeep Jamboree staff as we rolled in to camp.  They gave us helpful directions about good spots to set up camp and told us when dinner was served.  It was lovely not to have to worry about packing and preparing food at the end of a long day on the trail.  It is quite the operation up at camp. While on the trail Friday, supplies and staff were being helicoptered in overhead throughout the day.  The camp is so remote, and it's the easiest way to get everything there.  It also provides quite a bit of comfort knowing if you had a real emergency, you could always be helicoptered out quickly.

Three plentiful, tasty meals a day were served up with lots of options.  There was even a bar and bartender serving up delicious bloody marys from a homemade mix.  No one went hungry, and water and Gatorade were available all weekend.

After a huge camp breakfast and of course another blood mary, Saturday was a day for relaxing, hiking, and swimming, and it was much needed.  We could just cool off and take it easy.  Going for a chilly dip in the Springs was refreshing and rinsed off at least the first layer of trail dust from the day before.

The Bear

As you may know I am fairly new to this whole outdoorsy thing.  I was proud of myself for peeing in the woods. I was hot and dirty, but didn't whine or freak out about anything...well until Saturday night that is, when I had a complete meltdown after being sniffed by a bear.

Let me give you a little context to this story.  There was a mama bear and her two small cubs who lived very close, and had been active in camp.  The night before we had actually seen her from a distance just meandering down the trail and up and over some rocks near the campsites.  She had gotten into a couple of jeeps and done some minor damage looking for food , which really wasn't that plentiful at the campsites because the food was all provided and locked up.  However she had apparently learned that campers + coolers = food, and was still going to try.

Note the bear bite marks on a fellow Jeeper's cooler.

This of course made me fairly uneasy Friday night as I triple checked that we had no food anywhere near our tent, and was startled awake by every little sound.  But this was nothing compared to the lack of sleep I got on Saturday night!

I had fallen exhausted into my cot that night and was hoping for more sleep than the night before.  I tossed and turned and snuggled into my new sleeping bag as Mr. Ladd promptly passed out in the cot next to mine.  I cursed him in my head for his ability to instantly fall asleep anywhere under any circumstances as I tried to get to sleep.  What I'm guessing was about an hour or so later, I heard crunching footsteps approaching the tent.  At first I thought it was just a fellow camper up to go to the bathroom.  The lumbering footsteps came right along my side of the tent, and I quickly realized this was no human as I heard '''PHoooouh (snort)...sniff, sniff, sniff, (fur brushing against tent)."

Now, I don't know if you've ever had your face sniffed by a bear through a millimeter of nylon, but there is #1 no mistaking that it is indeed a bear, and  #2 nothing you can do except pray to Jesus that she doesn't claw her way through your tent with one swipe and proceed to eat your face off!  I have never been so terrified or paralyzed with fear in my life.  I thought I would pass out from holding my breath.  I then decided that might not be a bad idea,  because at least I wouldn't feel anything when she mauled me to death.   I thought I heard her go away, but I was sure as hell not peeking my head out to look, and I still could not move or speak to wake up Jeremiah, who had of course slept through the entire ordeal. 

Allow me to illustrate.

So I just laid in the same position I had been in pre-face sniffing, until I thought my hand would fall off from lack of circulation, and that I might actually pee the cot.  Jeremiah finally stirred, so I thought it safe to tell him what had happened through whispering, hysterical tears with my headlamp on like I was in the Blaire Witch Project.  His loving response to my panic over almost being eaten was, "It was probably just a squirrel or a lizard (roll over)."  See #1 above if you would like to know how satisfied I was with that feeble reassurance.

I begged him to walk to the bathroom with me, and get the knife out of the Jeep.  When we got back to the tent I scooted my cot as close to him as possible, dug my fingernails into his arm and prayed for daylight.  I shivered for the rest of the night, wide awake and listening as dogs barked and people tried to scare the bear out of their own campsites.  The dawn did finally find me alive and vindicated as the people in the tent right next to ours had also been paid a visit by said bear, and there were paw prints bigger than any squirrel or lizard to prove it. 

On the Way Out

Needless to say, I was excited to pack up and hit the trail again that next morning.  We loaded up on some breakfast and took some snacks for the road.  Jeremiah had even more confidence in his driving skills this time around, and this section of the trail was greener and shadier, feeling a lot less punishing.

However, as promised, the entire Rubicon Trail is relentless.  It makes you work for every mile, and the last 5 hour leg of the journey on the way out of camp and back to civilization is still no Sunday drive.  Cadillac Hill can actually be quite dangerous.  It's very steep with lots of tight turns, and someone had a very bad rollover accident on that part of the trail the week before.  But the trail guides were a huge help with exact tire placement and spotting every step of the way.

Taken from the actual angle I was on inside the jeep next to the edge!

After a few more hours and boulders later, we saw some pavement finally as we came to the end of the trail.

High fives and some more stories were exchanged as we aired back up and swapped contact info with some new Jeepin' buddies.  We had made it, and it truly was exhilarating!

A Shower and a Toilet

We headed back home toward Phoenix, but planned an overnight stop at The Spalding House, this small historic bed and breakfast in the heart of Visalia, CA.

I have never been more excited to see running water.  After 3 days, and lots of dirt, I think Jeremiah even took 2 showers.  I slept hard and sound knowing there was no possibility of a bear encounter in this four poster bed.

But I would do it all over again!

Jeep Journal - Rubicon Trail Part 1

Earlier this month, we joined up with Jeep Jamboree USA for their most difficult guided trip, the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California.  This trail is rated a 10 in difficulty, and is famous as one of the most challenging off-road experiences in the United States, and it definitely lived up to that reputation.

I have written here before about my new found passion for wheeling, but this trip took it to a whole new level.  

The Roadtrip

We embarked from Phoenix way early Wednesday morning, grumpy with each other and feeling rushed. But after a little apologizing, a bit of a late start, and a lot of Starbucks we were off!  We had a 13 hour road trip over 2 days, which included a lovely stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Fresno, CA  ( Let me digress for a minute, but I'm not kidding, as far as right off the highway road trip hotels go, the good folks at Holiday Inn Express have it figured out.  No, I am not getting paid to say that, I just really appreciate super clean sheets and a free breakfast.  Highly recommend.) 

After a good night's sleep, the Thursday leg of the roadtrip started out with some more of this...                                         

Have I expressed my love for a coconut iced soy latte? Try it.  You won't be sorry.

Followed by a stop here....

Cue some more arguing.  Someone (me) was glad we had bought a tent heater despite spousal protest, and someone else (Mr. Ladd) was wishing he would have bought water shoes as I suggested, so I guess we know who was right on both counts.

We finally made it to the hospitable mountain town of Georgetown, CA where we promptly lined up to register for the next morning and get our vehicle inspected.

After that, we checked in to the friendly little Rock Creek Inn down the road and went with the innkeeper's recommendation for dinner at Camp Virner, where homemade Italian and German food was served up with a charming German accent behind cozy gingham curtains.

We headed back to our inn for the night and turned in early, because 5:00 a.m. would come awfully early.  Let me tell you what, this waking up early thing is still a part of Jeeping that I need to get used to. 


The Trail - Friday:

This is what it looks like at 6:00 a.m. when 70+ Jeeps are lined up to head off for a grueling adventure.

Ready to go!

 It was a chilly, gorgeous morning and we had some breakfast, lined up according to our color group, and hit the road.  It's about a 40 minute drive to the beginning of the trail, and early rising paid off big time in the form of a Loon Lake sunrise.

We aired down our tires (which you do to get better traction and conform to uneven surfaces) at the beginning of the trail, aptly named Gatekeeper.  This trail is no joke from start to finish, and the Gatekeeper section seems to smirk while asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?"  I use the term trail loosely, because while it is an official 4x4 trail, it does not look like a place you are supposed to drive.  There is really no evident path, and without trail guides it would be easy to get lost.  Multiple boulders, fallen logs and river crossings are generally things you go around with your vehicle not over or through.  Ah, but that is the beauty of the Jeep, especially with some tough tires, and heavy duty rock rails, bumpers and skid plates you would be amazed at what these things can do!

Tire before the trail

Tire about 3 or 4 hours into the trail.  A little worse for the wear, but still climbing rocks like a champ!

Lunch break

Then there was the hardest section of the trail Big Sluice.  Again, less of a trail and more of a downhill boulder field with huge trees sprinkled in for good measure.  Lot's of landing on rock rails, and sliding down on skid plates.  Eventually you get used to the bone jarring sound of granite on steel.

Notice the mirror tucked in so as to get through.

We made it through the toughest parts and got into camp at Rubicon Springs Friday night with plenty of time to settle in to our cozy spot and explore a bit.  We were all tired and dirty in the best of both ways as we pointed out battle scars on our Jeeps, and traded stories from the trail like old war veterans around the campfire. 

Join me tomorrow for Part 2 of the Rubicon Trail where I almost get eaten by a bear, we conquer Cadillac Hill, and finally get a shower. 

WAIST Management 1.12

Current Weight: 180.4
Weight Lost This Week:  Who knows exactly, but that's where it's at. 
Total Weight Lost: 5.6 pounds

Ok, so the Waist Managment campaign has been ignored lately, and I need to get back to it.  My weight loss has obviously stalled, and I have lost sight of the some of the goals I started off to reach when I began.  I've been traveling a lot this month, and busy on weekends thus neglecting my Sunday blog post, which I've realized has been closely tied to success, so I'm back on the wagon and wanted to give you an update.  I have not paid much attention to my food choices or tracked my Weight Watchers points and it shows on the scale and on my face.

 My travels consisted of some sleep deprivation, a lot of fast food (my nemesis where I confirmed that I am still incapable at this point of NOT ordering fries), and not enough water.  My skin is rebelling in the form of major breakouts.  I looked in the mirror and thought, "What the hell?  What has changed?  Why is my skin freaking out?" and then I realized that was it.  I am noticing a major correlation (duh) between the amount of veggies, fruit, and water I consume and the appearance of my skin. 

Also working from home now has been great in that I have much more time to plan meals and actually have the energy to cook those meals and try new recipes.  However, the healthy recipes are not the ones that are calling my name lately. I am on a big baking kick   It must be the Midwesterner in me craving fall, and apple pie, and banana bread.  So I've been making them, and eating them, and it's been adding up.  When I saw this recipe for blueberry crisp on Shauna Niequist's blog, I knew it might help me turn the corner and strive for cozy homemade goodies that are also healthy.  It's pictured above and as you can see it's pretty, vegan, and gluten and guilt free!  Well, as long as you don't eat half the pan in one sitting, which I'm warning you may actually happen. It's that good. 

So I have started off this week with a weigh-in, some blueberry crisp, and a blog post and will be back with an update next week on the worthwhile struggle to get healthy.  One day at a time, right?

 Thanks for checking in, and I'd love to hear what you are doing to lose weight/get healthy in the comments section below.  Every week I will post a question and would love for you to answer it, and share your wealth of knowledge!  
This week we are wondering ...

What healthy baked goodies are you making as fall approaches?  Share some of your favorites in the comments section!

Wordless Wednesday

Came across this picture today.  Can you guess who these two creepers are?

BlogHer '12 Conference in NYC

"Write what you know so they say.  All I know is I don't know what to write or the right way to write it." 

While I was in New York City for my first blogging conference, I also saw Newsies on Broadway.  The above lyric is from the song "Watch What Happens" sung by the female lead, Katherine.  This song was like the soundtrack to my whole experience.  She was a journalist singing about writing the big story, the daunting task that writing can be, and how her words might have the power to really impact a situation. 

I have been back from New York for a while now, and I have felt much like Katherine from Newsies, unsure of where to even begin to put my experience into words.  But, here is my post-BlogHer post finally...

I made it to the BlogHer '12 Conference on Thursday night about two weeks ago, at 8:00 New York time.  After I finished sweating profusely (man I don't miss humidity), I picked up my badge and tried to get some rest.  Of course, I could not fall asleep despite getting less than 2 hours of shut-eye the night before due to nervous energy and a super early flight out of Phoenix that morning.  I laid in bed and tried to avoid a panic attack, which I've never actually had but was certain that exhaustion combined with extreme nerves about the next day could brew up.

When the alarm buzzed at 6:30 the next morning, I followed the advice of this wise sage and gave myself permission to sleep in and miss out on the newbie breakfast favoring sleep instead of my own incoherent rambling when it came time to network with other bloggers. I know myself well enough to be sure that I need sleep and downtime to be a functional human being.  I love meeting new people, hearing and telling stories, and experiencing new places, but I also need time to myself.  I actually am re-energized when I am alone and can process everything, and I think I struck up the perfect mix of the two during this hectic weekend in New York.  It was important, because this conference was consuming.....in a good way... which could become a bad way if you let it.

I tried to keep focused on what I was there for, to submerge myself into the blogosphere and soak up whatever it had for me like a sponge.  I wanted to see myself as a writer and meet other writers.  I wanted to talk about, learn about, and get excited about blogging .  I was not necessarily there to sell myself to brands, although there was plenty of opportunity for that in the expo hall, which I just completely avoided.  Talk about sensory overload and free crap that I did not want to drag home in my suitcase.  Another year in the future I may feel differently, but this was my starting point, an intentional step in the direction of taking my blog more seriously and writing as a career. 

It wasn't just the conference, it was the entire experience that affected me.  I was in New York for the first time, by myself, hailing cabs and walking in Central Park.  I was meeting people and handing out blog business cards and mingling.  The panels were enlightening and the keynotes were interesting and inspiring.  But, it was the overall reality humming in the back of my mind the whole time that was the most valuable.  "You are here, you are doing it, you are following another dream," and I don't know if I've been that proud of myself in a long time.

"Give life's little guy some ink, and when it dries just watch what happens!"  

sang the feisty Katherine onstage at Newsies, as I sat middle, 3rd row, mezzanine in the cozy Nederlander Theatre on freaking Broadway! I could hardly believe it.  I had purposely bought tickets for Newsies on the Saturday night of the BlogHer conference, knowing I might need a break from the chaos, and that I couldn't leave New York City without seeing a Broadway show.  I drank in every second as I inhaled the smells of the theater; varnish and chalky sawdust mingled with the cologne and breath mints of the audience into thick velvet curtains. But, the ironic reality of that line in the song brought hot, expectant tears to my eyes.  I was in New York, in a Broadway theater, taking a break from a blogging conference, because I was a writer now.   I had quit my teaching job and decided to pursue writing.  So, I was sitting there to hear that line at the very moment I would have normally been going back to school because I had made a decision to see what else might happen.  I am a little guy with some ink, and I have no idea what will happen when it dries.

New  York has a way of making you feel small.  The pace is frenetic, and the windows and steel go on forever in a sea of city.  Every crack in the sidewalk is full of people and productivity.  If you let it, it will dwarf you and you will feel lost and insignificant.  There were plenty of "big guys" like Martha Stewart (surprisingly sassy and clever), Katie Couric (brilliant and adorable) sharing their thoughts at the conference. Even President Obama had a message for this group of women bloggers.  But, hearing The Voices of the Year Keynote at BlogHer showed me how the words of a "little guy" can impact a whole room, a whole community.  And that one line in that one song reminded me.  Writing is powerful because it puts this life we are all living in a frame.  It fosters conversation and better understanding of ourselves and others. It is a chance for us to tell our stories,  and we don't always know how the story will end or the impact our writing will have on others, but the important part is to just sit down and begin.

So after the show, as I was whirled in between honking taxis on the back of a pedicab, I was exhilarated from the warm night air and bright lights of Times Square,  and I beamed at the possibilities as I was reminded of the last line of the song...

"So whatever happens....let's begin!"

 

My view from the back of the bike cab.  It's blurry cause I've never been on a faster or more recklessly driven bike.  That's New York for ya!

My Favorite Fonte (Sharkey)

Disclaimer:  I did not take this photo, I stole it from her facebook page because it fit so perfectly, and her makeup looks fantastic.  We look out for each other like that.   So credit for the pic goes to Nancy, Cousin Betty, Mama Fonte, or whoever else was having lunch with her on that birthday.

Today's post was going to be about New York and the BlogHer conference finally, and I still may post about that today.  But first I want to talk about one of my favorite people, Vicki instead, because I just talked to her, it's her birthday, and I just heart her. 

I met Vicki my first year teaching in Wisconsin.  She transferred from another school around Octoberish because we were adding another classroom of kindergarteners.  We immediately bonded over being lost in the sauce.  She was a little lost at a new school with a totally different curriculum, and I was just well...lost in general.  We would flop into each other's rooms after the kids had left, leaving the lights off so as to be left alone, where we could admit that we hadn't a clue what we were doing.

Our mutual confusion turned into true friendship, and the conversations with lights off and doors locked turned into a time to vent, gossip, and share life over lots of laughs, quite a few tears, and even more tootsie rolls.  My phone would eventually ring way past the time I should've been home.  It was usually Mr. Ladd wondering if I was still alive.  I would text him back, "talking to Fonte" (her last name at the time), and he immediately knew he was on his own for dinner. 

Vicki, short for Vittoria (how fabulously Italian is that?), is one of those people that is liked by everyone.  She has an unmistakable cackle that can be heard for miles around, which is the most genuine expression of fun on the planet.  I tease her about her Catholic guilt, and depression era spending habits, but those things are bundled up in humility, her genuine interest in others, and her selfless giving to those she loves.  She and I joke that she is "the nice one," and it's true.  She is constantly giving the benefit of the doubt, and makes me want to be a better friend, better family member, better teacher, and quite frankly Italian.

She has since married a fantastic guy, and her last name is Sharkey now, but she is still Fonte in my phone.  We are Fonte and Ladd.  We even look alike.  And although we no longer teach together or even live in the same state, we always pick up right where we left off.  She is the one I call from New York when I am too excited to sleep after seeing a Broadway show.  She's the one I sneak an early morning breakfast in with when I'm back home visiting, because I know she wakes up early and we must hang out.  She's the one I purposely wait to call until I have lots of laundry to fold so we have adequate time to catch up.

So, Happy Birthday Fonte!  You are a gem, and I am privileged to call you friend.  Now go splurge on a pedicure for crying out loud!

Wordless Wednesday