The Rocky Mountains are beautiful.

Rocky Mountain National Park

We visited Estes Park, CO as a (very) belated anniversary trip.  We stayed at a great place - Taharra Lodge - which caters to adults (mostly of the geriatric variety), so it was quiet, clean and served up scrumptious breakfasts and hugs upon departure.  We slept with our windows open every night and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful weather.

We decided to explore the mountains (yep, all of them) via a route to Flattop Mountain.  So, as i tried to explain to Hubbie, mountains are typically up high, so you've got to climb to get there.

"Alright, let's take the route to the lake.  That will be easier," he says.

Really. *lip curls up* i'm reading the "easier for you" at the end of that statement.  Implied or not, the challenge is on. (i should just give in and take the easy route... my trick knee and hip and elbow and head are still suffering.)

Fine.  Up the mountain it is.

Note that the mileage to the lake is 2.0.  The mileage to Flattop is 4.4 (and it's all up).

And seriously... it's all up.  i'm coaching myself all the way up. "Steady Endicott. Breathe in through the mouth, out through the nose. You are agile.  You are strong.  Do not be a wuss."

 All the while folks (geris included) are passing us, equipped with all the hiking accoutrement that we, of course, do not have (hiking boots, those cool sweat wicking pants, huge packs of who knows what kind of important gear, and really cool poles that help you climb the big rocks.)

We come to a beautiful lake overlook and i'm praying we've passed the half-way mark.  A young Forest Ranger with a pack the size of a dead body jaunts up the trail (i'm wondering if it holds the bodies that don't make it up to Flattop.  Will i see the inside of that pack?).

"Are we half-way, yet?" I huff at the guy.
"Sure," he responds.  "Just a few switch backs to go and you're above the treeline." (i hate switchbacks.)
Treeline?  That ends?  Oh right, very little oxygen.

Note the "up" direction.

"Uh, Sweetie, you know that trees can't grow where there's not much oxygen." i share.  "That's where we're headed."
He nods encouragingly.  "Huh, hadn't thought of that."

We trudge up, up, up until we are above the tree line and some snowy patches.  Did you catch that?  *eyebrows raised* i was higher than the snow on the mountain.

That my Friends, is a snowy patch.

We meet the Forest Ranger guy headed back down.  "See that lightening?" he asks.
"Uh sure.  Oh - is that what was booming from that big black cloud, too?"
"It's not looking good, and I'm headed back," he informs us.  "Now, I can't tell you what to do, but it can be dangerous."

By this time, we're close to the top (well, relatively close) and it's depressing to not have achieved our goal (it's all about the achievements). But i'm worn out and i really don't want to get soaked (at this point death by lightening might be a relief).  And while the Forest Ranger isn't gonna tell us what to do (whatever), the guilt trip works (which by the way, i am frustrated with myself that just about anyone can send me on a guilt trip. Therapy.)

So, the executive decision is made to head down.  And did you know that while it might take 3 hours to go 3.5 miles up a mountain, you can make it down in half an hour flat.

Eat your heart out Rocky!  I survived.

That evening at dinner (Poppy's Pizza & Cafe -- who retweeted me the next day, i might add), the host asks about our day.  "Hiking? How great. Which trail? Flattop? Wow, you didn't take it easy did you?"

Hmmm... even locals find this trail difficult.  

When i look it up afterwards, i notice that Flattop Trail is listed as a difficult one.  i am both impressed and tired thinking about it.

Adventures in Baltimore

   "They need training in Baltimore," my manager said. "Their Station Leader called me--a MIT Buddy, you know--she's a great leader, and we definitely need to support her," she says with that twinkle, waggle, eye thing that is all my manager.  "And she wants training in January, February and March on these topics..."
   "Uh, well, ok." i respond very professionally.  This was back in early December when i was still trying to close out the year, and hadn't hurled myself into serious thoughts about 2011, much less training on Microsoft Office at the end of January.

--> Fast forward several weeks and conversations <--

   "We can only have classes of 12 people, but we've only got 90 leaders who need training," one of the reps from the Baltimore Station tells me via phone.
   "Ah, right, 90 people, 12 per class." Now i'm no mathematician, but even i can figure out that there's no way to get 90 folks through six 4-hour classes in batches of 12.  That's definitely more than six batches of tasty vegan peanut butter cookies.
   "It'll be no problem," i report with confidence. "We'll just come out the following week as well."
   "Great!  I'll have someone meet you at your gate when you arrive."
   Click. *minor panic ensues as i try to figure out how i'm going to stretch my one part-time Microsoft Office Facilitator into two full-time Trainers.*

So it's determined that we'll send the most junior of our Facilitators out into station territory to train a class she's only trained a part of last summer.  And... she'll train 6 of those classes over the course of three days.  My conscience is pricked and just won't let me send her out into the great unknown by her lonesome.  So i decide to join her on this venture.  i've not seen the station training facilities, and i want to see what folks are dealing with when they head out to a station to deliver a class.  And, i'll support my Peep while she sharpens her training teeth.  Boo-yah!

Well, this Peep happens to be one i've been coaching since i joined Southwest.  We've got a great relationship and have fun traveling.  And of course, we have grand adventures.  So, here are a few interesting bits of advice from our Adventure in Baltimore, January 24-26, 2011:

• When someone, even if they are elderly with kind, genuine eyes, offers you her rail ticket because she's done with it for the day, take it and offer many thanks, but buy your own rail pass.  The Rail Cop knows that you're a dumb tourist and will take much delight in questioning you on whether you are elderly or disabled (hey - i am not that old!) then give you threatening eyes.  In this case, calmly indicate that you will exit at the next stop and buy another ticket.
• Even if someone looks hungry and says they need money to buy a cheesecake while you're waiting at the rail station for the next train, don't pull out your wallet to give him a few cents.  Pop-tart carrying young men with no teeth may still be vicious.
• Enjoy the sites on the rail, such as graffiti and overgrown parking lots and the Orioles stadium.  But do not exit the train, until you get to your exit at the Convention Center.  Then be prepared to hike!
• Wear many layers if you go traipsing around the Inner Harbor to Little Italy in January.  It's really, really, really cold.  Bring a really warm scarf, hat and gloves and walk quickly to the restaurant.  Fingers will freeze if you try to pop out your camera for a picture.

In front of the USS Constellation at the Inner Harbor

• Eat a lot of the really great food in Baltimore.  It's worth the 5 pounds!  Little Italy is fab (we loved Amiccis), and Vaccaro's Pastry Shop was also fab (not vegan, but worth the cheat!).

The tempting pastry counter at Vaccaro's

• Definitely call the cab company recommended by G&M Restaurant (another tasty restaurant) to take you first to a grocery store to load up on candy (sugar highs in class are not over-rated! in fact, it's imperative to get those just off their work shifts interested in the charting function of Excel) then to the hotel.  You won't drive over 40 (even on the freeway), you'll enjoy random lane changes, get interesting history lessons and be endeared to the residents of good 'ol Baltimore.
• Be charming to some of the Participants so they'll help you make the last flight home before a big storm system moves in to halt traffic for the evening.

Wishing you a good trip to Baltimore when you have the opportunity!

24 hours ago i was standing on a beach with my BFF and 34,948 other pushy women and 50 guys watching the age-defying band Bon Jovi perform on the lovely beach in Gulf Shores, AL. Jealous? *hee hee*

It was a marvelous adventure initiated by BFF, Tara.

"Hey Bon, have you read your email?

"Um, no. Haven't opened it yet. What's up?"

Well, i sent you something about an adventure to Gulf Shores, AL to see Bon Jovi in concert. I know we just went, but i got free tickets?"

"Sure, i would," i reply. The mention of an adventure sounds great, and who can turn down free tickets to see a hair band fav?

She speeds up, "They are offering free tickets and I thought you might like to take an adventure to Gulf Shores. Now if you don't want to go, it's fine, but I need to let the fan club know so that they can offer the tickets to someone else."

*cough* "Fan club?" i respond. i'm less curious about a trip to Gulf Shores or how we'll get there than i am about Tara's membership in a JBJ fan club. A fan club. Really? So, much as i don't want to be insensitive, i can't pass up this opportunity to mock her just a little. i mean really, a Bon Jovi fan club. Too much fun!

The adventure was awesome and we met some very, very "interesting" individuals. Personal space meant nothing at this Bon Jovi free-for-all. Women jockeyed for position as close to the stage as possible, because gosh, maybe JBJ will pick them out of the crowd, invite them on stage and propose his undying love. Talk about die hards. After running (huffing) across a football field-length of sand, we staked out maybe 4 feet of space with two old beach towels. That space became smaller and smaller as the Alabama Women's Representative took over our space. This was the one who had hair larger than our standing space, and told all of her new friends how she had been waiting in line since 4:45am and even though a fan club member didn't get her due ticket and waited in line with the commoners. So, she invited her entourage, including her twin sister, to fight their way through the crowd to our space. Hey - we were the VIPs (well, not really, the VIP tent informed me. We just got first right to the cattle run to get the primo spots.), they should have stayed back with the slightly less die hard fans.

Soooo much fun and so many good laughs. More pics coming soon.

About to wrap up a fantastical vacation in Jacksonville Beach. Saw some sites, spent some dough, ate a lot, spent time on the beach and on the porch overlooking the beach. Fantastical. Couldn't find a shot that shows the beauty of it all, but here's one of the beach at least. Uh, yes, i did don a bathing suit and get into the water... ok, so it was waist high... but i did get into it! Pictures, you ask? Indeed, but none of me in my suit. "Oh wait, secksy, naked man, before i dive headfirst into these stormy waves, would you mind snapping a quick shot of me in my tankini? Oh, you'd like to be in the picture too? Well, i guess that would be ok. It's really all about the tankini, you know." *smirk* Right...


Really, can i just relate how much comic relief my Sis brings to just about any situation. Here's a favorite one of her as we toured an old Spanish fort in St. Augustine.

Imagine: we're hot, sweaty and learning about the poor, hot, sweaty Spanish soldiers who manned the fort against the naughty French and English. "Oh, and here's the chapel. How quaint." Pious Mel makes the most of the opportunity -- and ironically after a serious debate with Dad on religion in the car ride to St. Augustine. *lol*

And one final note that resonates today. We toured a fairly well preserved cotton plantation today, Kingsley Plantation, with slave quarters mostly intact.

What in the world gave white folks the right to think that owning another human being was in any way acceptable? Sometimes i feel deeply ashamed of my race and our history of prideful pretentiousness. Why would we be so special of all God's creations? And really, this was not so long ago. So much history, so many emotions, so much hurt squished into a few hundred years. So glad i was born today!

And one final, final note, thank you, JC, for air conditioning!

Correction to my last post:
BFF was in St. Lucia... my bad! St. Croix - St. Lucia - whatever, both beautiful, both lush, both with spa treatements and pineapple hats. Nonetheless, very glad to have her home, but so glad she had a marvy time!

i *heart* my family... we've decided on a family vacation to Jacksonville in a couple of weeks. So i'm thinking, work stuff going on, out of town this weekend - hey! i'll ask Mom to help with accommodations research. Brilliant, if i do say so myself. Must have learned those delegation skills from the Chief, cuz Mel called me to let me know she's now researching accommodation options *snicker* - effective delegation, Mom!

And to all my dear Friends who think i'm a kooky vegan, check out this recipe on a fab blog for vegan brethren who are always on a diet, like myself: Fat Free Vegan
Looks divine! eat your heart out egg eaters!

And one last bit of random to tickle your neurons. i've been on this must learn more about Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo da Vinci kick lately (yeah, i don't know why i get on these kicks - think of it as "interesting"). The idea of being a Renaissance-type person is fascinating. The official term is "polymath." Yes, sounds all math-y and intimidating. Don't be lazy - look it up. Want to be one, but really, don't have such mad skillz and can i express how much i abhor math and the periodic table. Love oxygen, but don't want to calculate it! Maybe i should start those piano lessons... hmm....