Nothing in Particular

It has been colder this week in Santa Fe. Frosty mornings. Not much more than 50F/10C during the warmest part of the day. So what's that got to do with the photos of Glacier Park, Montana, above? Just thinking warm thoughts, I guess! Actually, I haven't had a chance to take many photos recently. Found these two taken on a hike to Iceberg Lake in July '06. Beautiful hike. (I almost wrote bear-tiful!) Often during the height of summer the trail gets closed due to bear activity. Bears are almost always seen from or near the trail!

In the NMAHA massage school world, our class is doing well for the most part. We just finished Week #8 (we are still breathing!) and our brains are *brimming* with a plethora of information about client comfort, massage techniques, communication, anatomy & physiology!

All this information is beginning to synthesize into something -- I can't describe it in words just yet. Maybe one of my classmates can? We have sessions with the public every weekend -- most of us are working Student Clinic on Saturdays. Some on Sundays. This is how it works: People from the community book 55 minute massage sessions with students (in advance). It's affordable -- $30. Before we go to our booths, we meet with our client to discuss their treatment options, current health, etc. After the massage, we query for feedback: what they liked, disliked; what was effective, etc. Now that I've gotten through the first few clinics, I feel like I'm having mini-breakthroughs. However, the more I learn, the more I feel there is to learn! Isn't that true with most everything, though?

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. :-)

Fall Back

It's a beautiful fall day out there! I just got back from a nice run up on some of the Dale Ball Trails here in Santa Fe. Thought I would get a little fresh air & exercise before hitting the books. Anatomy quiz tomorrow!! :-)

Nice to have that "extra" hour today as Steve & I drove down to Albuquerque this morning for his departure to the Australian Outback. He's going to be bike touring until February! Whoo! We had lunch at Flying Star before heading to the airport. He got out with his bike box, duffle bag, and two panniers ("that's all I need...") and I took his car back to Santa Fe with me. Coincidental that I started my cross-country biking tour in '05 from the same airport? Hmmm! Good luck out there, Steve! (I've posted a link to his bike tour blog on the sidebar, if anyone is interested.)

October Update

I'm still pretty busy with Massage Therapy school but I thought I would post just a couple of things.

First of all, Steve's got a new blog! It's called Hot Wheels Down Under. If that title doesn't make sense to you, let me explain that he is taking off next weekend for an extended bike tour through and around the Australian Outback. In summer, yikes!! Check it out.

Above is a photo from one of the trails in the Dale Ball trail system above Santa Fe. There are some wonderful places to go hiking, mt. biking, and running. This trail went up Mt. Picacho.

I started this drawing the last day of my break last week (why does it take me the whole week to get inspired?). It might be awhile before I can get around to finish it -- unless I neglect my homework! :)

We are now getting cold nights & frosty mornings here in town, but the days have been relatively warm here at 7000'. Hope everyone is enjoying the last week of Daylight Savings Time!

Better Late than Never!

Wow, it's fall already! In some ways, I feel like I'm so far behind that I think I'm first. I must apologize for being away so long & explain why...

This summer was spent guiding -- bike tours in KY & NC, then a hiking tour out in Yosemite, another hike back in southwestern Colorado, then out to Oregon for a few more bike tours.

My mom fell very ill in the early to middle part of the summer then sadly, passed away -- I was on tour then back "home" a few times. Had to spend a little time grounding as well.

The Good News (and there *is* Good News) is that I'm in Santa Fe, NM, for six months of massage therapy training. I've only been here for less than a month and still in the getting-used-to-it/shock-of-having-to-be-in-school again, but it's going well so far. And, I'm learning Lots, with a capital L! Not sure how much I'll be able to post from here, but hopefully at least periodically. So far the workload has been plenty, but old high school habits are returning (like, I keep my head in the books full-time! Haha!). Not sure if that is a "good thing" but am trying to adapt to be focused but not "too" focused... and not "too" perfect. I like to think of myself as a "recovering" perfectionist. Hmmmm! :-) Our class is a great group of people, too! Yay!

This is the time of year for comfort food, like apple pie and chili! So I hope everyone is doing well out there & enjoying whatever fall weather / colors you have in your neck of the woods!

Images of Summer -- Colorado

Here are some pictures from late July in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. We saw the most amazing field of blue columbines in the Ice Lake Basin near Silverton!!! Cool!

Images of Summer -- Yosemite

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back online! It's been a very busy summer. Here are a few shots from the 2008 July Yosemite hike. From the top: group shot at Mariposa Grove; Half Dome from Clouds Rest; Gull at Mono Lake; view east from Mono Pass; view of Tuolomne Meadows from Glen Aulin trail.

Hope all of you have been enjoying your summer! :-)

Kentucky Bluegrass Bike Tour

Here's a quick couple of pics from a recent bike tour in Kentucky around the Lexington area. (From top: Horses training at Keeneland Racetrack; Terry & Kim at Keeneland; Kay & Gunter and friends posing for a picture out in horse country)

Kentucky was a really fun tour this year, especially with the people that were on the tour. I was too busy visiting all week to take many pictures! :-)