Half Way Point: 6 Month Anniversary

As I approach March 19th, I want myself to keep this quote in mind:

Adventure is stepping through brand-new doors with your mouth shut and your eyes wide open. -Barbara Kingsolver

Good times, Good times

"In the end, wilderness is not defined by the absence of certain activities but rather by the presence of certain unique and invaluable characteristics. The answer to the often-asked question, “why do you want this area to be wilderness?” is, these areas already are wilderness, we simply want to preserve them as they are andas they have been for generations.”
– Subcommittee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), during his opening remarks at a February 26, 2008 Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest and Public Lands hearing on H.R. 5151, legislation introduced by Chairman Rahall that would add an additional 47,000 acres of wilderness within the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.

Over the past month or two, my life has been both adventuresome and calm, stressful and absolutely wonderful. Perhaps I will look back and see change? Who knows. But here is some documentation of the recent past:

1. Canyon de Chelly with Mom: I took a 3 day weekend and went on an adventure through Hopi and over to Canyon de Chelly (aka Tsegi Canyon, or Canyon Canyon). Momentous? Developing a strong desire to keep living in the Four Corners area.

2. Farewell to Arms: Friends/Coworkers M. and S. both went on their way to bigger and better places. In other words, promotions! Yay--never forget the wonder that is Wupatki. I swear we're not drinking in uniform in the office.....or are we?

3. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: A 24 hour adventure down to blooming poppies and encroaching heat led to seeing a dead bobcat in the road, meeting a nice SCA, and making a non-work friend in Flag (8 hours in a car is either awkward or, as in this case, leads to getting to know someone pretttty well). Momentous? Realizing Flag is a very, very small town....as everyone seems to know someone I know, despite my knowing (k)no one.

4. SNOW! It snowed, Allie didn't come to visit, I was restless, and Erica embarked on skiis again for the first time in forever and revved up to leave Flag. Oh, and I schmoozed with Peace Corps folks and Et. continues to be my confidant.

5. LAME! It never gets old. I went to visit Mw. and F. at their desolate yet beautiful homes, 106 miles apart. It was the most exhausting weekend in a long time because of the driving, mostly, but it was also really good. I spent a bunch of time with Mw which was super-fun, and we had a chance to meet up with F for lunch, who alas had to work. Lots of driving. Good stories, guns, some chilling out. The "lake" was beautiful, so were the flowers, so were the petroglyphs, and so was the homeyness that was Cottonwood. MB, Can I Get a Hug? The drive back involved multiple napping stops and a not-so-good subsequent week. But I'm so glad I went. We'll see if those guys ever come visit me like they promise....

6. Manny!!!!! That's right. and George!!!!! L. came to visit AZ from NYC. Holy moly, perfect timing, as we both really needed each other this week. It was stressful and tough this week and I needed something to distract me from my distraction. She came on my Discovery Hike, we explored some favorite places, found a perfect little place to recline at Wukoki (a depression for your butt and everything!), watched sunsets, went to bed early, got wasted as usual (aka joked about it and definitely didn't), and more. On Sunday we met up with one of my bestest friends from college and his friend, made them see Wupatki briefly, and then went to the Grand Canyon around 3 pm and for sunset. I hadn't been there for 3 years, and it was actually nice to be back. Remind me never to go during hunting season (aka tourist season). Laura and I stopped by Arcosanti on the way down to Phoenix, got spontaneous massages (what else do you do with an extra hour among the strip malls of the swealtering city?), found and sat on the same patch of grass along Peoria St. that we sat on together 3 years ago, and then I powered home at 9 pm to get away from the heat. See L's Flickr for more photos.