Dinner in Draper

   "Live underwater"?! Of course I'd find the scuba cart at the grocery store on a snowboarding trip to Utah!

   Extensive beer selection at the condo. Thinking of Trish!

   Putting Brett to work. Shopping & cooking for 5 is harder than for 1, it turns out.

Longboarding Longshot

   Longboarding was a huge success--much easier than I anticipated. #howisthatpossible #didntbreakanything

   I swear, learning something new, especially something that previously scared you, is the greatest feeling in the world. My parents bought me a skateboard for my birthday when I was a kid. I wanted one because a friend who I looked up to had one. Did I ever learn the ride? No. Was I scared? Yes. I don't remember having the right protective gear to help quell the fear, nor the proper instruction. Amazing how those two critical pieces can help make these seemingly-impossible, possible. It was so nice of my parents to buy the board for me, I just didn't have the confidence to figure it out by myself. I was too afraid of falling and hurting myself. Every time I got on the board, it shot out from under my feet, like I was on ice. I didn't know how to change that.

   Today the four of us just spent an hour and a half and the school parking lot riding around. (No falling--though I was prepared with wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, and my Terminator shorts.) What fun! And what good exercise for my legs which were still a little jelly-like since snowboarding yesterday.

   I hope this will become the sport I can practice in the off-season to keep my snowboarding skills up. Thanks for teaching me, Brett! Yay!!!!!!   :)

My new ride

   Do I need a new hobby? No. In fact... Hell no. But, I've been thinking about this board ever since I saw it as we walked past the windows of the shop in Portland on Christmas Day. And I figure if I am still thinking about it three weeks later, perhaps I should consider it.  The artwork is just THAT good, and I wanted it in my home.

   I have absolutely no reason to think I will be even slightly competent at longboarding, but if it turns out that I am, it can only help my snowboarding too. At least that's how I'm rationalizing it. Brett said he would teach me. Soon there will be a new fox in the henhouse. Game on! If nothing else, there's something to be said for a foxy chick on a foxy longboard, right? ;)

   We spent a couple hours watching the X-Games and selecting trucks, wheels, bearings, hardware, bushings, and protective gear. Now I have a new reason to look forward to Spring, though I'm in no hurry to see the snow go.

Sunset at Clinton Lake

I finally posted photos from my Clinton Lake hike on 3/25...

A Hiking We Will Go

   Rafael unexpectedly came in to town from Rochester and had Sunday free, and the weather was GORGEOUS ( spring arrived about a month ahead of schedule due to "the winter that never was", but I don't hear anyone complaining!).  We figured those were all the excuses we needed for a hike, so we piled into my Rav and drove out to Clinton Lake.
   It's amazing how everything has greened up and blossomed in the last couple of weeks. It really is miraculous how quickly it happens. Between that, and the fact that I haven't been hiking since my surgery over seven weeks ago, this outing was particularly appreciated. The dogs could barely contain themselves—and didn't! We pulled into the parking lot, and Rafael opened the back gate, and the dogs flew out and into the woods in the blink of an eye. Leash-less, of course. It was impossible to tell which way they went—the trail split off shortly upon entering the woods, and the tall, impossibly green grasses concealed them.
   Apparently it was a day of miracles, because Aki answered my calls and was back with me just  a few minutes later. And Tay—the one I was really concerned about—obediently returned a few minutes after her. I guess if everything has to be on his terms, but he returns safely, that may be the best I can hope for. But I could tell our training sessions over the last few weeks are WORKING.

brilliant green

Taylor spontaneously posed for Brett

(and for me)

   There were lots of firsts: the dogs found a snake & millipede, &amp Taylor repeatedly jumped for joy (actually, he was jumping because he wanted to EAT the snake!)

   Aki swam for the very first time... by accident. A guy in a boat came somewhat close to the shore, & she took off to try to catch him. It was just like the old Looney Tunes cartoons, where Wile E. Coyote runs straight off a cliff, and hangs midair until he realizes he ran off the cliff, then reacts. Aki leapt into the water valiantly, got up to her ears & you could see the look on her face: "Oh no! This water is WET!! I have to get OUT!!!" She hurried back to shore. It was very funny. (And now, just imagine observing the 3 of us idiots trying to get into & out of a kayak!)

We also found a new lil' friend... (click to see more)

    Afterward, we drove through Lawrence to have dinner at Free State. The traffic was slightly insane as we neared town. Suddenly Rafael said, I think KU might be playing tonight. Yep, it was the Sweet 16 game, which fortunately was live in St. Louis. Campus was mobbed with celebrating students. But through some stroke of luck, we easily found a parking spot past Mass St., walked right into Free State (pass a mob of kids drinking beer out of plastic cups), and got a table with NO wait. Amazing! The end to a perfect afternoon: a Cyclist (beer + lemonade) and a bison burger.

Lucky Find

   I have to credit Taylor for this one... We were walking on the rocks along the shore, trying to make our way back to the trail, when Taylor suddenly lurched—he had found a ribbon snake! It was slender and quick, and did NOT want to be eaten by a portly Shiba, so it took off. I struggled to keep up with it. It finally circled the trunk of a small tree and turned to stare us down. While Taylor held it there, I went behind the tree and nabbed it!

   I've always loved snakes, ever since I was a young child. I think they're beautiful and fascinating. I don't think I'd handle the poisonous variety, but I don't see many snakes, so I can resist handling the harmless ones. (The worst part is that they spray musk all over your hands in an attempt to scare you away... Gross! But these lil' guys are too small to bite you.)

This snake is a little feistier than I thought—watch your nose!!!

A snake bracelet. A snakelet.

Rafael takes his turn, with Taylor supervising closely:

By the time Brett got it, the snake was more docile:

Dog Park Fun with Friends

   Brett met me at Stoll Park tonight, to give my pups a good, long romp before I leave for San Francisco for a few days. He brought his pup, Sam, and his kids, Shane & Jenna. My pups had never met the kids before, but they were pretty much enthralled by all the extra attention.

Shane worked on getting Aki to jump...

And, WOW! What a jump!

Jenna sweet-talked Aki into a high-five:

Shane caught it on camera:

And then Mr. Tay moved in...

Tell me this isn't the happiest dog you've ever seen:

Mobbed for treats:

Run, Shibas, Run!

But watch out for that spiky tree!!! (A honey locust...?)

And watch out for that wild boxer!

And even wilder Wheatie!

   Okay. We all know kids and poodles and Shibas are cute—but ALL of us were upstaged by a lil' man named Porter. He's an 8-week-old Bernese Mountain Dog: ten pounds of adorableness.

He was a little hard to photograph: always moving!

All the dogs were jealous.

Off into the sunset...

And again I have to ask, this is March?! Are we sure? 'Cause it's almost 70 degrees. Where is the proverbial lion?