There is a lot to catch up on!

I wrote my last post at the end of October, following the wedding. And, despite my intentions to write about every week, I have not in over a month! Part of my excuse is that not much has changed. I went back to work, worked and that is about it. . . but, stuff has happened --- and that's the other part of my excuse, there has been a lot to write about and it seemed all a bit overwhelming. Anyway, I will fill you in (briefly). Oh, and I will preface this by saying that I have no pictures in this post (although they would have been nice) because a certain someone has all my pictures on his camera. I'll do a picture post next time.

First, after a few weeks home (after the wedding and honeymoon) I got H1N1. That's what the nurse I spoke to said anyway. I, of course, couldn't afford a test. Better safe than sorry I guess. I was unconscious for about 3 days with a mild fever and a cough. Today, about four weeks after the fact, I still have respiratory symptoms that are improving. . .slowly. Last week, Rick developed it.

Second, a little over a week after I returned to work (after being sick), Rick's grandmother (on Mom's side) passed away. We had plans to visit her when we visit Utah for the New Year. Unfortunately, she couldn't make it. I never met her, but at the funeral in Salt Lake I learned a lot about her and know that I would have found her interesting. The visit for the funeral was also the first time I had returned to Utah (my place of birth, if any of you have forgotten), in over 12 years. I was excited to return. And, as I anticipated, I felt a surge of sentimentality well up in me as the plane landed. Being in the city wasn't anything too spectacular or nostalgic (though I remember some sites). However, when Rick and I took a hike to Grandeur Peak in Mill Creek (?) Canyon, I was brought to tears, remembering all the wonderful and surprisingly vivid memories of my childhood. It was strange to have a place feel like home, without anyone who represents my home having been there with me. (Rick doesn't count in this instance, though he helped make the moment feel complete).

Third, I have been simultaneously preparing for our move to Ukraine AND for going home for Christmas. I am inexplicably happy about both. Moving to Ukraine is an exciting opportunity -- an adventure. Having a healthy chunk of time (though not as much as I initially hoped for) at home with my parents and sister will be wonderful. Especially because I do not know when I will see them next after leaving. There is some hope that my sister will study abroad in Italy next year and in this case I would go visit her and have her visit me. I am also hopeful that, somehow, my parents will be able to visit me. I have wanted to share all of my experiences abroad with my family, none of whom have been farther than Canada. To have them experience even a small taste of traveling, I think they will understand me better. Heck, I would be willing to meet them in Ireland or Scotland (a place I know both my parents would love to visit).

Anyway, there is a lot to do before we leave for Ukraine. Drew might be interested to know how the Russian is coming. More poorly than anticipated, I must admit. I have not been a diligent student. That said, however, I feel like I am learning it quickly and understand a lot despite my lack of discipline. I just need practice and to memorize about 500-1000 more verbs. . . no big deal!

That is all for now. My baking (trying to make Saffron Bread) beckons me.

I miss you all and will post a bunch of pictures soon.

Пока! (Paka, Russian for informal "bye")

Boundary Waters Hike 2009

Snowbank Lake, Boundary Waters
Minnesota, September 2009

Hello all. . .:D

Sorry for the extended absence -- I have been picking up a lot of extra hours at work and focusing a lot of time on the wedding (which is happening 13 days from now! egad.) I have, however, found some time to go out exploring with my lover. Last weekend we went up to the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota with a hiking group we met on MeetUp.com. It was a refreshing break from the mundane life I have monotonously maintained over the last 3 months (i.e. bus, work, bus, waste time, sleep; repeat).

Rick and I with our ultralight backpacks. Woohoo! There is no hiking like hiking light!

We hiked with four other guys and a dog, Seti (who was literally neurotic about sticks -- something that got old real fast). I was the only gal, but it rarely was an issue (save the incident when all the men spent 90+ minutes discussing the most effective way to hang a bear bag. . .a total man thing). We hiked the Snowbank Lake trail, which we think amounted to something like 25 miles or a bit more over the course of three days. Being the only ultralight hikers there, the hike was extremely leisurely for Rick and I (low daily mileage, slow pace, and few walking hours). This, despite, a ill-maintained trail that we were told was a big improvement.

The first day of the hike, Friday, we spent a lot of time in a young forest without much of a view of the lake. It was a slightly hilly area with many steep rocks and roots across the trail. I was warned that I should have brought boots for ankle support. However, I quickly fell in even deeper love with my ankle-support-free trail runners. The grip on the bottom of these suckers is PHENOMENAL and it is so flexible and light that my entire foot can bend and be in contact with the surface of the ground -- ya know, like nature designed our feet to do? -- Anyway, because of this grip, flexibility, and breath-ability, I was in feet heaven not only the first and most rocky of days, but during the whole trip. . .I think I could climb walls with these things!

My sweet Inov-8 F-Lite 230's!!!

The first night we camped at a great outlook over the lake. It was beautiful, with a nice swimming area. After building a fire, Rick and I stayed up late talking with the others about all sorts of interesting topics, most notably spirituality.

We woke up relatively late and hiked the second day through a prescribed burn area. It was interesting to see all those trees charred and the ground lifeless. It looked like something out of Middle Earth. . .Mordor. By midday, one of our companions who was carrying a conventional pack and wearing hiking boots (with ankle support) rolled his ankle and could not walk very well. We camped early at a nice site, but lacking the vistas of the day before. Just the same we were surrounded by placid water, loon calls, and the wind through the trees. That evening Rick gave a little tutorial on ultralight backpacking (another guy moment). I sat by the water. It was peaceful and fresh.

On Sunday, we got out slightly earlier and hiked the morning through a bit of old growth pine forest and through a LOT of clear cut aspen groves. Rick and I, having the lightest packs volunteered to take the injured man's pack --he carried mine. Rick and I alternated carrying the 35-40 lb load, while our new friend experienced how wonderful a 5 lb pack feels (Both these weights are after food and with water).
We made it back to the cars around noon and headed home. We made some new friends and explored a new area. It was fun and much needed, but on the whole I was a little disappointed.

That area of Boundary Waters did not seem very pristine or secluded (there were motor boats on the lake) the prescribed burning and the clear cutting made it obvious that a lot of what we saw was being heavily regulated by man -- not nature. That said, there were some spectacular moments. For me, they often included the lake (which we rarely saw enough of) or a related swimming hole, the sounds of wild birds or trying to distinguish and identify the varieties of trees with Rick. It was a good weekend, but the location was not as I had imagined. I would not hike there again, but am interested in hiking through other areas of the Boundary Waters.

Seti swimming in a beaver pond.

The group, hiking :D

A sign saying the trail is closed due to burning (we went forward with permission from the DNR). Here, we're trying to look tough!

Rick and I in the morning. Nice and cozy. . .mmmm.

The group. (Rick, Kim, Ken, Andy, Rod, David)