I Suck at Grocery Shopping

Since I got out of school for the summer, I have been trying to grocery shop "right." To me, that means always remembering to bring my own cloth bags, using coupons, and using the grocery store sales flyers to make the most of our money. I have gotten really good about making a menu and a grocery list using the sales flyers and my coupon organizer (yes, I have a coupon organizer. Shut up.). But it seems like every time I go (I take Noah with me), I either forget the coupons or I forget the cloth bags. So I finally put the bags in the trunk of my car. I was all happy today because I remembered the coupons, but when I got to the register, I realized the bags were still in the trunk. It was too busy for my to say, "Just a sec" and run out and get them. Oh well, wish me luck next week!

Strength Training is Boring

As part of my training plan for Pikes (and because I am getting old and I know I need to do this anyway to stay healthy and strong), I have added strength training to my exercise routine. I am shooting for 30 minutes 3 times per week, but let's be honest, I am lucky to get in 2 of the workouts. If I get in today's workout, it will be the first time that I've actually done all three in one week. It is just so boring, even though I do the exercises right in front of the TV. I would really rather be sitting on the couch. I can see the difference though, especially in my arms. And underneath the layer of fat on my belly, there is definitely the hint of a six-pack. Wow, someday if I lay off the cheetos and candy, I could actually have a six-pack (yeah, right, like that's going to happen).

Pikes Peak Ascent Training Update

16 miles today. I am leaving as soon as I am done with this post so I can get them in before it gets too hot. I can't wait for next week. I only have to do 12 for my long run and that is going to feel great. I've been getting a little bored with my routes so I am trying a new loop today. I'm doing a 2 loop deal so I can come home and refill the water bottle so I don't have the same problems I had on my 15 miler last week. I woke up with a horrid headache, but some Advil should take care of that. OK, better get going!

Pictures from the Camping Trip

Looking up at the sky:

Dan getting ready to fish: Noah, all done fishing for the day:

Dan and Noah fishing on the shore of Turquoise Lake: Turquoise Lake with the sunset shining on the mountains above:

Dinner at camp:

Work? In the Summer?

Yes, I had to work today. It's ok though because it is extra money. And Noah is in school on Tuesdays so it worked out great. The only part that sucked was that I had to go be part of a pre-due process meeting. Basically that means that parents are threatening to sue the district and I was one of the service providers for the kid. I think all my bases are covered, but some other people are kinda hanging out there. Scary! Two hours in a room full of lawyers, special education directors, and coordinators! I don't recommend it.

Turquoise Lake Camping Trip

So we finally got our act together and made it out of Denver at about 1:00 on Friday. Noah slept almost all the way to Leadville, so it was a nice peaceful trip. After a stop at the Leadville Safeway for some essentials (you know, marshmallows and stuff), we went straight to the lake and to our campsite. Father Dyer Campground is beautiful! All forested with lodgepole pine and a short walk to the lake. I highly recommend it if you want to camp at Turquoise Lake, but all the campgrounds there were gorgeous.

We got our camp set up, Noah met the neighbors, and we had dinner. While Dan was cooking the brats, I met our campground hosts who recommended that I run the Turquoise Lake Trail for my 8 miler in the morning. They were from central Louisiana and I think they thought I must have rocks in my head when I asked them if they had a trail recommendation for my run that gained some elevation. The lady was very worried and kept saying, "Don't you need to take at least a day to acclimate?" and "Don't forget to take water and energy bars." Very sweet!

After dinner, Dan and I took Noah to fish down by the lake. We didn't catch anything, but we had a great time and took tons of pictures. I am too lazy to download them right now, so I will post them later.

Two hours later, we were making s'mores and then it was bedtime. Noah slept the whole night and didn't even need to pee until about 8:00 a.m. That's the most he's slept in for ages! The morning was great because Dan got up and made coffee, pancakes, and bacon. I stumbled out of bed to a fully cooked breakfast and hot coffee. Heaven!

The weather on Saturday was not so heavenly though. I did my run around the lake trail and it was cloudy, windy, and not too warm (although it really was pretty good running temperature). While I was running, I saw 2 families hiking, one other runner who looked like some kind of mountain man with his long hair and no shirt in spite of the cold, and 3 mountain bikers. It was a great trail, a little elevation gain, and nice and rugged.

I got back to camp just before noon and Dan and Noah were just setting up for lunch. Dan's plan was to have lunch and then ride his new road bike up over Fremont Pass. It started sprinkling just as he was leaving. By the time Noah and I went into the tent for nap less than an hour later, it was pouring. I was getting a little worried about Dan, but my cell reception was good so I figured he would call if he needed us. Noah and I both fell asleep and slept for about 2 hours. Maybe 10 minutes after we woke up, Dan called from the Safeway in Leadville asking, "Can you come get me?" He sounded horrible, like he was shivering uncontrollably, so Noah, Japhy, and I hopped in the car as quickly as we could and went to get him.

He was still shivering when we got there. He was already drinking coffee and that wasn't helping much, so we took him to the laundromat where he could get a hot shower. He also changed into the dry clothes Noah and I brought for him and that helped. By the time he finished the shower, he was doing much better. He said it was hailing on him as he was riding and getting colder and colder as he went up the pass, but he just kept thinking that it would stop raining any minute now....

It kept raining for most of the rest of the night, so instead of making turkey burgers in the rain at the campsite, we decided to eat dinner at this Mexican restaurant in Leadville called Casa Blanca. It was pretty good and their margaritas are crazy strong.

After another fairly decent night's sleep, Noah and I got up early on Father's Day and made coffee and breakfast for Dan: bacon, cheesy eggs, and whatever pancakes were leftover from the day before. Then we packed up camp, went fishing one more time (still didn't catch anything), and headed back to Denver. It was really nice to get away from the city and felt like a great mini-vacation. I came back very relaxed and very grateful that I live in Colorado.

Packing Up

We are packing up to go camping in the mountains this weekend. We're going to Turquoise Lake up by Leadville. Dan is going to do this huge bike ride up over Fremont Pass and I am going to do an 8 mile trail run that starts at 10,000 feet. I just hope there's not still snow up there on the trail.