I'm picky.

I'm not what you would call high maintenance. I'd rather eat at home than go out to a nice dinner; I'd rather tromp around in the woods than spend a weekend shopping in the big city. My jewelry is limited to my lovely, traditional wedding ring and some simple, sentimental pieces.

But gosh, I'm picky.

When I get it into my head that I want something, it's usually a very specific something. I might have a hard time describing it but I can picture it perfectly in my head. Once it was a brown sweater, but it had to be a particular kind of brown sweater. Not bulky. Not too thick, not too thin. Not light brown, but a nice, dark brown. Not dressy, not a cardigan. Maybe with a hood or pockets. I looked all over and eventually found it - a year after I started searching.

I waited months for the perfect glass shelves. I scoured scores of stores for the perfect black fleece mittens (found in Macy's, by the way - I should have bought a few pairs). And, just today, I found the perfect Christmas decoration to accent my Precious Moments nativity scene and the manger my dad made to house the Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the lambs. I'm still looking for the right wall hanging for our dining room.

This is why, I think, I'm a terrible bargain hunter. I don't go shopping; I go buying. Because I'm so gosh-darn picky, I buy things when I see the right ones and generally give the price tag no more than a cursory glance. Yes, I try to make use of coupons and I do have my limits...we do not carry credit card debt so I always know I have the cash to pay for what I purchase. But I will drop some big bucks on that perfect sweater, even if it means that's the only one I buy all winter.

Opening Day Success

It looks like the hunting beard Mitch grew worked after all: at 8 am on opening day, he got an eight-point buck! He and his brother are processing it this week, so we'll have lots of venison soon.

For my part, I was not as productive as I would have liked to be over the weekend. I was still getting over my cold, and since strength training class didn't go so well on Friday afternoon, I didn't even attempt to get on the trainer. I did, however, bake a pie (homemade; apple raspoberry) and four dozen cookies (frozen dough; mint chocolate chip). I also completed what I think will be my last finance exam and got started on my final paper for communication. My first term of graduate school is almost done: only five more to go!

Goals for this week: strength training Monday and Friday; trainer Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday is a play-it-by-ear day, as I took the day off work. I plan to complete most of my paper, do some housework and take a quick shopping trip to start getting ready for the holidays.

UPDATE: My day got even better around 9:30 am when our Alma College cycling jerseys arrived. They look awesome - I'll probably post a photo later!

It's Just a Cold!

What I wish I could say to every coworker who has suggested I go home/take a day off:

It's just a cold. I'm not going to die. I'm drinking fluids (the Nalgene next to me is almost empty) and getting sleep. Yup, I'm tired and I don't feel all that great, but I don't stay home for colds. Taking sick days only when absolutely necessary is part of my work ethic, so you're just going to have to deal with me. I'll shut my door so you stop feeling obligated to say "Bless you" every time I sneeze.

Thanks. Now I need to blow my nose.

Ahead of Schedule

Those awesome Alma College jerseys were shipped out of Washington State yesterday and should be here next week! AW YEAH!

AND I got the dates for the 2009 CPS races. The appropriate weekends have been booked (excluding Pando, I think)...now if we can just get Mitch an Iceman entry, we'll be all set. And I have to conquer my newly-acquired cold so I actually feel like working out again!

Pretty Good Column

Some Positive Reactions from the Right

My favorite paragraph:

"The treatment of President George W. Bush by liberals has been despicable, undeserved and unprecedented. We who oppose Barack Obama's policies will, hopefully, act in accordance with conservative values of decency. Hence my simple announcement on the day after the election: I did not vote for him. I did not want him to be president. But as of January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be my president. "

I find it terribly disrespectful for people to refer to President Bush as Mr. Bush. Whether you agree with him or not, he earned the office of President of the United States and deserves to be addressed respectfully. Therefore, when Barack Obama is President of the United States, I will not disrespect him by referring to him as "Mr." For the next four years, he will be my president and I will refer to him appropriately, whether I support or disagree with his decisions.

Transitions

While the sun was shining and the balmy temperatures coaxed me outside, autumn was sneaking out. I didn't notice her departure, didn't see the breeze stripping the trees of their browning leaves. In the shortening days, I was mesmerized by the warmth and the sunshine, unaware of the inevitable but unfortunate transition from glorious autumn to a limbo of waiting.

When the transition was all but complete, rain stole in on the back of cold wind. The clouds blocked the sun and cast into sharp relief the skeleton trees. Now the damp chill permeates and rather than reveling in the beauty of autumn, I'm waiting. He teased me yesterday with a few fleeting flakes, but I'm waiting for him to arrive in full. Winter. Waiting.

Positive Pants

At work, we tease one of my coworkers about his somewhat negative attitude, encouraging him to put on his "positive pants." I want to write a post about grad school with my positive pants on, so I'll choke back my complaints. For what it's worth, I'm posting during class. That should tell you something about how valuable I perceive this session to be.

This morning was good, though. (Aside from getting a flat tire on my way into Flint and being an hour late.) In financial management, we did group presentations on assigned chapters and I think I learned quite a bit. I especially like it when my classmates illustrate their points with specific examples from their workplaces. Everyone has such a variety of experiences; it makes for a rich atmosphere.

And out comes the super-nerd: in communication, my group is doing a paper on communication breakdowns in crisis situations. We've chosen, at my encouragement, the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Time to revisit Spring Term 2002 - thanks, Dr. Payerhin!

Back to Biking

The lovely weather has made it easy to reach my workout goals for the week. Yesterday, I brought my bike to work and rode at lunch time. It was awesome! The robust crosswind didn't even bother me much, so happy was I to be cruising along. I returned to the office after an hour, sporting red cheeks and a helmet line on my forehead.

I think I did around 10 miles, but I'm not sure because I forgot my computer at home. I plan to ride the same route tomorrow so I can figure it out. I love the fall's cold weather but I will admit, this week's temperatures were a pleasant surprise!

Finally proud?

I understand if you're proud to be an American today. If you support Barack Obama, you should be proud.

I understand if you're especially proud to be an American today. If you don't like the direction in which America has been heading and believe Barack Obama will take this country in a better direction, should should be especially proud.

I understand if you're once again proud to be an American. The American people and her leaders have undoubtedly made decisions of which we were not proud at one point or another. If you see this as a positive, defining moment for a currently struggling nation, you should be once again proud.

But if you're finally proud to be an American, I pity you.

If you're finally proud, it means you have been blind to the good things about America. We are not an ignorant, arrogant, selfish nation. We are a generous nation, a nation where people from all walks of life come together in support of each other. Think of the outpouring of American support during disasters like the tsunami a couple years ago. Think of the masses of volunteers who helped (and continue to help) in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Think of the organizations we support in our communities. Think of the many, many American nonprofit groups dedicated to service in third world countries. Think of the soldiers who put their lives on the line for others. Think of your ancestors who scrimped and saved and sacrificed to get you to this land of opportunity.

Today, you can be proud. Be especially proud. Be once again proud. But don't insult the people of this country by being finally proud.

Get out and vote!

I prayed at the polls this morning. Not for a victory by any one candidate, but a prayer of thanks for the privilege of living in a democracy like the United States of America. My friend Bruce, who did two tours in Iraq with the Marines, once told me how people there ventured bravely to the polls even though their lives were threatened by doing so. We are so blessed to live here, friends. Let us not take the blessing for granted.

Sunday at the Toledo Zoo

My mom loves going to the zoo, so we took her down to the Toledo Zoo on Sunday to celebrate her birthday. It was a grand surprise: we packed a cooler with sandwiches and snacks, then six of us piled into Bobby's truck without telling her where we were going. She only guessed about 20 minutes before we actually arrived!

The Toledo Zoo is probably a bit smaller than the Detroit Zoo. Things are less spread out and I think the exhibits aren't quite as large, but I don't remember ever seeing more activity. The big cats were lazy (did you know lions sleep up to 20 hours per day?) but there was a young elephant playing with boxes, tires and five-gallon pails. The monkeys were chasing each other, and a baby monkey seemed to be learning how to be a bit independent. The seals swam all over in their aquarium and the orangutans (especially a father and baby) were really active with each other. I won't say I love the zoo like my mom or Mitch, but I enjoyed myself.

***

I can feel it: this is the week to hit all my goals. Riding the trainer will be torture, though, since the weather is so nice. I wonder if it may be worth it to ride at lunch on Tuesday and Thursday rather than doing homework...I can make up that study time at home in the evening, right? OK, let's add changing my tires and packing up my gear to the to-do list tonight!

Time to Brag

It's Friday at midnight. I'm not barhopping in a bumblebee costume with my friends. Foregoing the festivities, I just finished my most recent communication paper. I've also already taken my finance test for the week, so I'm ready for a weekend of quality time with my family rather than spending long afternoons glued to my computer. Yes! (And goodnight.)

Why I'm Voting for John McCain

Being a pretty staunch conservative, there is generally little doubt that I will vote Republican. I still do my homework, because I think it's irresponsible to just vote blindly down party lines, but 99 times out of 100 a Republican candidate is going to fall more in line with my political preferences. I've been trying to keep my blog nonpolitical lately because we all get enough debate everywhere else these days, but I really want to articulate why I'll be casting my vote for Senator McCain.

Let's get one thing out in the open, though: he was not my choice for the Republican nominee. I'd be much more enthusiastic if Mitt Romney were on the ticket (preferably as the presidential candidate, but he would have been an asset in the VP spot). Therefore, because it's hard for me to get truly passionate about the McCain campaign, one of the main reasons I'm voting for him is that I don't like the alternatives presented by Senator Obama.

One more thing I think is important: my personal faith does not dictate my vote. I want a president with a strong moral code and I happen to believe that Christianity holds people to a very high moral standard, but as long as I and others have the freedom to practice our faiths without prejudice or persecution, a candidate's religious preference is of little concern to me.

While our next president will have many issues facing him, I think the biggest one is the economy. I'm solidly ensconced in the "middle class" and I'm told that, regardless of who gets elected, I won't see my taxes increase. But if corporations and small businesses see the kinds of tax increases proposed by Senator Obama, it won't matter that my pay stub looks the same. Business don't pay taxes: they will do everything they can to keep their profits consistent, so they'll cut jobs or raise prices to cover increased tax burdens. Then I'll pay more for that home I want to build someday, or the clothes I need for my job, or the car I'll be picking up when I eventually leave my position at Alma. Other implications of raising taxes are better stated here.

That's the practical; here's the principle: I believe that if you want something, you have to earn it. And if you earn it, you should get to keep it. Yes, we all need to pay taxes to support infastructure like roads and other services Americans use every day. But for economy to flourish in stable, successful and creative ways, the government has to try to keep as much cash as possible in the hands of the individuals who have not only a personal stake in the success of the free enterprise system, but also the drive and desire to step out on a limb and make success happen. It's not selfish to want to reap the rewards of your hard work and then decide for yourself where your money goes.

While you or I might not agree with lavish lifestyles of the super-rich, most of them have made sacrifices to earn that wealth. When they choose to use their money to help those less fortunate (which is important, but the key word here is "they choose," instead of "they are mandated"), I would prefer they donate to organizations with a track record of success. Who did a better job after Hurricane Katrina: FEMA or the Red Cross and other organizations whose tangible relief efforts continue to this day? I don't think the government is nearly as successful with programs like welfare as local nonprofit organizations are with their various assistance programs, because local organizations are better able to gauge the specific needs of their community members and give them a hand up in effective, appropriate manners. If individual taxes rise, there's a good chance fundraising for these local nonprofits will be increasingly difficult. "The government is already spreading my wealth around to take care of those behind me; why do I need to give locally?" For some families, it may not even be a choice: they may simply be unable to give as freely if more of their money is going to the government.

I am blessed to have incredibly intelligent friends who are probably dying to point out holes in my arguments. That's fine: we'll agree to disagree on some of them. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I know raising taxes isn't the way to solve our nation's problems. Increasing taxes has far-reaching implications, none of which are likely to improve the communities in which we live.

(I hate posting things like this. But I'll draw strength from a wise friend who quoted Martin Luther on his blog: "To disobey one's conscious is neither wise nor just." In a post that I know was challenging for him to write, Marc made some good points but didn't change my mind. I don't expect my post will change anyone's mind, either; but, like Marc's post did for me, I hope it gives those who read it some things to think about as they cast their vote.)

Back in the Saddle

What a bittersweet night: I got back on my bike but instead of cruising along the cornfields or twisting through the woods, I was perched atop the trainer. Watching Chris Carmichael push a room full of sweating bikers through an interval workout was not nearly as fun as riding trails or even the road, but trying to keep up was effective. I did half of his Mountain Biking DVD, which included five-four-three-two minute intervals of 30 seconds of high intensity and 30 seconds of medium intensity, with a minute and a half recovery between each interval. I was supposed to keep a cadence of 90 throughout the whole thing, but I only managed to achieve close to that during the high intensity sessions. During medium intensity, I had to drop down to 75 to keep my legs from falling off.

A lot of things are going to be competing for my attention this winter: mainly, grad school work. I need to make a conscious effort to schedule training into my days, though it won't be as much as I probably need. So the goal is three strength training workouts and two sessions on the trainer each week. I can take strength training class at lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and then I can hit the trainer on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Weekends are always hit or miss, so I'll just work stuff in there when possible.

I also want to put more time and energy into my faith. We're starting a small group this Sunday with some other young couples from our church (I say "our church," but we haven't been to service since May) and I hope, with fewer out-of-town weekends planned over the next few months, that we can attend service more regularly.

Intellectual development, physical development and spiritual development...sounds like enough to keep my busy for awhile!

Halloween Party

On Saturday, Ray and Kristy hosted an awesome Halloween party! I think they were trying to knock me flat with their potent jungle juice, but I got some photos before it got too crazy. Enjoy!



I knew you'd want to see Mitch in his spandex American Gladiator costume! That Nerf gun was a mistake, though: he shot people with it all night long.



Andi and I are a bit easier on the eyes, don't you think?



Ray dressed up as a fighter pilot (a big improvement over last year!) and Kristy was a gypsy.



We've missed seeing Gabe and Andrea and were happy they made it to the party!



Poor bear...Little Red Riding Hood has stumbled upon something most disturbing!



I don't think this photo of the guys could have been any better!



And here's the whole group...the counter upon which the camera is sitting messed with the flash, but it's still decent. Happy Halloween!

Glad for a New Week

I don't know what it was (OK, I know what it was...) but I could not shake my foul mood last week! I stopped short of calling for blood but heatedly complained about Charter Communications to everyone I could find. I got snotty with a coworker, gave a few more a very noticeable "evil eye," and was almost unable to let the negative political rhetoric just roll off my back when they got rolling. Poor Mitch had to deal with my negativity the whole time, and I'm thankful he can be a saint of a husband. (I'm not just saying that because I know you're reading, baby!)

But a weekend with friends and family, particularly one that involves roller coasters, helped get me over the hump. We had an amazing time at Cedar Point, though I'm feeling the effects of our poor dietary choices even after my lunchtime workout. Pretzels, pizza, McDonald's, pop...it was a train wreck!

Main goal for this week: complete Mitch's Halloween costume. He's going to be an old-school American Gladiator, so we got a wrestling singlet and have to paint it up for the party this Saturday. I know you're all excited to see him in spandex (again), so I'll be sure to post some photos! I'm reprising my role as a mermaid. :)

And of course, there's always homework and housework. I'll get to strength training three times...will I make it out on the bike? Who knows...but I'm placing an order for custom Alma College jerseys tomorrow! Mitch and I will be representin' at next year's races - GO SCOTS!

Autumn Riding

I love cruising down singletrack so obscured by leaves that I have to pick my line by a combination of instinct and memory. I love the sound those leaves make under my tires, or when they get caught in my wheels and hum along with me. I love when the arc of a curve is just right and a leaf flies up, pressing itself to my shin and hitching a ride until another turn throws it off. I love the scent of autumn, the sweet sharpness, and the cool air drying my face.

(I do not love realizing Mitch's efforts to give me better components resulted in a bit of ghost-shifting on climbs...but I love that he wants to give me the best bike possible.)

A Pretty Perfect Day

An apple-raspberry pie and an apple upside-down cake are cooling on the stove.

The weather is warm enough for me let some fresh air in the apartment.

Next week's menu is made, the groceries are bought and laundry is going.

I'll tackle some finance homework then head out to the woods for the evening and enjoy a campfire.

Life is wonderful.

Random Thoughts from the Road

I'm just hanging out in my hotel room after a day of driving around, trying to find ways to avoid my finance book. This is probably my last out before tacking the chapter on risk and return...so here's what's on my mind, in no particular order:

The batteries on both my laptop and the office GPS unit are crap and can't hold a charge.

"Three Cups of Tea" is an awesome book to listen to while driving.

People are so amazingly friendly sometimes. Today, a lady at a local bookstore offered to email me some information I asked about; an elderly woman at an apple orchard gave me four apples for free when I asked if I could buy just a few rather than a whole bag; and another woman at a winery gave me a free tasting rather than making me pay, because she was so enthusiastic about a new wine that wasn't even out in local restaurants yet.

Central New York is gorgeous, and the colors are about a week ahead of those in Michigan. I wish Mitch were here to enjoy them with me.

It's hard for me to get in the swing of the "sales" part of my job; today, I essentially made cold calls to high schools and the first one was tough. But once I find my groove, I'm OK. Today, I feel it was much more worth Alma's money to send me out here than it was yesterday.

John McCain didn't completely disappoint me in the debate last night. And while we're on the subject of politics, I love this open letter to college students.

Tonight, I'm trying sushi for the first time with an Alma Trustee. Please, for the love of all that's holy, let me not hate it. Or at least let me be able to feign not hating it. And please let there be a McDonald's nearby in case I need it when this is all over.

Can you pray for safe travels as my college friend, Nate, comes home from Iraq on leave? Every time I want to complain about missing Mitch on my recruiting trips, I think about all the servicemen and women on deployment with wives and husbands at home, like Nate. God, I'm so blessed.

I'm hungry now...yes, another diversion! Finance, you'll have to wait until I quell the rumbling in my tummy!

New Yorkin' It

Yup, I'm on one of my few recruiting trips, now that I've been relieved of a major territory. It's been fine so far: met with a few students, got treated to dinner at Delmonico's by a very nice family and fly back home in a few days. I miss Mitch and I miss my bike but I was motivated enough to do an abbreviated strength training workout in my hotel room. I am also working up the motivation to finish outlining my current Communication reading assignment...Finance will wait until another day.

Tomorrow night, I'll be plopped down on a hotel bed, watching the debate. I have to do a paper on the candidates' communication styles, but I'd be watching even if I didn't have a grade resting on it. But I'll tell ya' I want to see some passion. Cut the B.S., boys: why are you right and why is he wrong? Call each other out, and you get extra points from me if you use the word "lunacy," especially if one of you brings up having bankruptcy courts reduce mortgage principals for homeowners in foreclosure. Admit that the federal government probably can't do crap for the economy right now and then cut our taxes so we can all get this country running again. (OK, I know it's not that simple, but guess what? I'd buy a house and do my part to help the housing market if I could put more cash in my savings account!)

Hey-yo McCain: break out some data on medical malpractice suits and give us an estimate of how much health care costs would decrease if you capped them! Palin, I like you, but quit telling me you can relate to me and just say things that show that. And for heaven's sake, WHY did you give up on Michigan? We've been run by a Democrat and we've been in trouble longer than the rest of the country: can't you do something with that? Many folks here support you (though we'd rather have had Romney) and we're going to vote for you, but you haven't given this conservative much to believe in.

Race Photos

Our race photos for the entire season are now up on Picasa Web - check them out!

One of my favorites:

impending autumn

the maturing fields of corn with proud stalks still standing tall, their only concession to the impending harvest a slight yellow curling of their edges

the lone scarlet leaf blazing on the emerald lawn, its sweet scent barely imagined beneath that of the freshly cut grass

the sun, snapping to attention after its lazy summer journeys across the sky, suddenly impatient to reach the western horizon

the mellow breeze, unhindered by oppressive humidity, still warm yet somehow sharper, refreshing, a promise

Final Race Results

Yesterday was the last mountain bike race the the MMBA Championship Points Series. It was at Pando, a little ski area in Rockford, and I won! There was only one other competitor in my age/skill level, but she and I had a very competitive race. We switched places about half a dozen times over the eight-mile course, and I only beat her by about 30 seconds. Mitch is trying to let his leg heal, so he didn't race.

Though official series results aren't officially posted yet, we know that I got first overall, as I was the only woman in my class who signed up for the whole series. Mitch ended up second overall; his perpetual competitor, Rick, won first. It was a good, close season up until Mitch's injury, and they'll continue to push each other next year when they both move up to the sport class.

I should have some cool photos to post in a couple of weeks, as Mitch was using his dad's good camera to take some pictures of my race. He says there's a series of me passing someone on a climb, though he promises you can't see the misery on my face.

Thanks for reading!

Back to School Musings

I've explained my grad program on here a couple times, but let me go through it briefly again: most of my coursework is done online. For this term, my Interpersonal Communication work involves reading chapters, posting responses to discussion questions on Blackboard discussion boards and writing a couple papers (some individual, some group). My Financial Management work involves teaching myself a chapter of finance per week then taking a test on that chapter, again via Blackboard. We also have one group project, which includes a case report and a presentation.

During each 12-week term, we have two residencies. A residency is a two-day on-campus experience where we spend eight hours per day in class. This term, Finance is in the morning and Comm is in the afternoon.

So, since I have a bit of time between my classes and my brain needs a break from all the Finance lecturing, here are some observations:

1. Prof. Lemmon was awesome. Our Finance prof is a nice guy with a neat, Mauritian accent, but he's nowhere near the teacher I had at Alma. Had I known this, I would have audited a finance class at Alma prior to this term. The material probably would have made more sense.

2. I know why I wrote so many notes to my friends during high school: I have to work harder to absorb information from a lecture than from simply reading, taking notes and attempting to answer problems or questions on my own. So why strain my brain on both? (No, I did not write love letters to Mitch during Finance...I just wanted to.)

3. Even though I may zone in and out during lecture, I'd never spend the entire four hours on eBay. Thank goodness that woman is not in my group!

Thanks for reading - see you next time!

Race Update

With grad school now cluttering up my schedule, and the deep muscle bruise on Mitch's quad that's hindering him a bit, neither one of us has spent much time in the saddle. Until this weekend, I hadn't been on the trail since the Maybury race three weeks ago. So, while we were registered for the Addison Oaks cross-country race last Sunday, we weren't even sure we'd race until Saturday afternoon.

Why did we decide to race? Mitch bought a new bike on Saturday afternoon and his leg felt relatively strong, so he couldn't resist the idea of showing off his Trek Fuel 98, which is one badass bike. It has an all-carbon frame, full suspension, amazing components...Mitch says it almost pedals itself!

But bad news: he had to give it back to the friend from whom he purchased it because it had a crack in the frame. It's fully waranteed and is currently getting fixed, but he had to ride the Haro instead. I had a good race - finishing second - but Mitch's leg wasn't up to the 14 miles and he got fourth. We're anxious to see whether that has impacted his series standings, but it doesn't matter at this point: he's in no shape to ride the final race this Sunday, so we'll just have to see where everything falls. I haven't decided whether I will race the last one or not...

Anyway, here are a couple of photos from the race. Thanks for reading!

Another Record Year!

The official count is in: 458 new Alma College students! That's six more than last year, resulting in a new first-year enrollment record.

Go Scots!

SNL Skit

To borrow a line from Larry the Cable Guy...

"I don't care who you are, that's funny!"

Testing

So, remember college? Or the latest standardized test you took? You're sitting there, methodically working through the exam questions, feeling pretty decent about your progress, when BAM! You hit a brick wall. You attack a problem from every possible angle, wracking your brain for reasons why you continuously get the wrong answer. You may grimace. You may sigh impatiently. You may gnaw the eraser off your pencil. But you do all this subtly, because you're crammed in a room with a host of other students who don't want to hear you do what you really want to do. Which is scream. Throw things. Maybe cry, just a little bit, out of sheer frustration.

Behold, the glory of online exams:

Today I took my first finance exam, which will be a weekly trial. On three separate questions, I was SURE I was doing everything right. I mean, this stuff is open book. The formulas are right there. My calculator does all the work. But my answers would NOT match up with any of the choices. So yes, I screamed. I almost threw things. I most definitely cried. Then I guessed, because there was nothing else to do.

By sheer luck, I got all three guesses correct and aced the exam. And then I cried again, out of relief.

Imagine those reactions in a real classroom. I'm sold on this online learning stuff!

Quickest Update Ever

Work: Busy as heck. New class is probably roughly the same size as last year's record-breaker. Final count will be official next week. Coworkers still annoy me but the actual work is fulfilling.

School: Grad school online classes started this week. Financial Management is no good. Interpersonal Communication feels like busy work and forced, unstructured forum conversations. Glad to be doing it, but hope it improves!

Fitness: Alma has free fitness classes at lunch. Kickboxing and strength training are my favorites. May try step aerobics. My body hurts. Still have two mountain bike races to go, but training efforts have been weak.

Faith: Went to church with a friend and realized I really like Northpointe. Looking forward to being home on the weekends and starting a small group. Trying to be a better Christian.

Music: Please tell me you've checked out Third Day's new album, Revelation. Love it. Want to marry Mitch for a second time and dance to Born Again for our first dance.

House: Offer rejected. Didn't dampen my spirits. The right one is out there. Don't have time to pack up the apartment right now, anyway.

Politics: Is the election over yet? Campaign ads are annoying. McCain/Palin 2008.

I love: Fall. My new sweaters from J. Crew. My strangely affectionate cat. Marching bands. Alma's new student section, the Cole Mine (it's named for Coach Cole). Fresh apples. Erwin's doughnuts. Hot apple cider. Cold nights. Cuddling with that guy I married. :)

Girls Day with New Friends

I am really looking forward to Saturday. Yeah, I have to work and attend part of the Alumni Board meeting, but after that I am getting together with some super-fun girls for an afternoon of shopping, an evening of dinner and a night of movies and drinks!

As an introvert masquerading as an extrovert, making friends - good friends - always feels more challenging to me. This year, however, I was blessed to make the acquaintance of Amanda, a fellow Alma employee. She is so friendly, outgoing and welcoming that she's made it easy for a friendship to grow and, in the process, I've met other women she's charmed and drawn together. So, while Mitch heads down to Matt's for a guys' day, we've planned our own girls day. I'll join Amanda, her twin sister and two other colleagues from Alma, and we'll shop for fall clothes, chow down at P.F. Chang's and eventually head back to my apartment to relax for the rest of the night. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Mitch just asked if I was writing about him and was disappointed when I said no. So now I'm writing about him. Today, he made me burrito casserole for dinner and then used the fajita shells to give himself giant elephant ears. He even made elephant sounds. Then he took me to the library but said I took too long picking out my books. I love the library, though; why would anyone want to rush through such a wonderful place? He says I don't need to write about him anymore, so I guess that means he wants to rub my feet now. :)

Welcome Back to the 21st Century!

After almost a year of watching no more than four fuzzy channels thought the rabbit ears, we finally have cable TV. And wahoo, we got it just in time for the season premiere of Bones!

Actually, it never really mattered whether we had TV or not. We still don't have any fun channels, like Discovery or History, but we got what we needed: a real Internet connection. Since grad school officially begins on Saturday, this was a must-have. Now we can return to buying songs on iTunes, too!

In other news, we put an offer in on a house last week. Yeah, I know I should have written about it earlier but the chance of us actually getting it is slim to none. It's a beautiful, amazingly priced home but our offer is most likely too low (as our realtor has felt the need to tell us multiple times). Still, we tossed it out there and expect to hear within a few days. I'll be sure to post if, by some miracle, the news is good.

The logistics of the house thing and my duties with the Orientation Committee took most of my attention last week. Yes, Preterm is over and the entire student body has returned. How are things looking? Well, we have virtually the same size incoming class as last year, which, if you remember, was a record-breaking event. The College is handling the numbers quite well - one of these days, I'll post about Dr. Tracy's vision for 2012...it's interesting.

OK, now I'm just typing for the sake of typing. I'll spare you any more rambling - good night!

Tech Toys and Tight Turns

Let's begin with the latter: last weekend's race at Maybury State Park was a smashing success! Well, there wasn't really that much smashing - just one crash when I was a bit heavy on my front brake and toppled sideways over my right handle. The damage was limited to a pretty, late-forming bruise on my lower leg and a chunk out of my new grips.

I got third place, but the big achievement of the day goes to Mitch who got first place by three seconds. Here he is with Rick...both got medals and cash prizes for having the two fastest times in the whole beginning class:



Rick started thirty seconds ahead of Mitch, per the time trial format. They each had only on respective thought for the entire eight and a half-mile course:

Summary of Rick's race: He's catching me!

Summary of Mitch's race: He's pulling away!

Now onto the "tech toys" part of the post: in preparation for all the online work I'll be doing for grad school, we bought a MacBook on Friday night! It's a very cool computer, and we've already managed to transfer all our iTunes songs over...PLUS sync up our TWO NEW iPods. That's right, we now own a ridiculous number of mp3 players (though our sleeping bag count is still higher). We got a free iPod Touch with the computer purchase - what an awesome back to school incentive - and I bought a Shuffle for working out, so I don't kill the good one. Plus we got a free photo printer.

Man, can that Touch do some sweet things! I know I haven't even scratched the surface of its capabilities, but I'm still amazed.

OK, work time. Then a quick lunch. Then a trip to the rec to try out my pretty blue Shuffle. Wheeee!

Concert and Orientation

The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind! Actually, the past week has been super busy, but the highlights really began last night around 9:00 pm when Third Day took the stage, and we were there to rock along with them!

We'd never seen Third Day in concert before, so we couldn't pass up the chance. Along with some friends from work, Mitch and I took half of Thursday off and drive out to DTE Energy Music Theatre for the show. Jars of Clay opened, and I'm sad to say it was a disappointing performance. I guess I'll give them a pass, though, since their other shows have always been awesome. Then this guy named Robert Randolph gets up and is completely awesome on the slide guitar. It was bluesy-gospel and I really liked it. After their set, Switchfoot performed, and while I never really thought I liked them all that much, they put on an amazing show. I was impressed.

Third Day was 100% the best part of the night, though. Wow. Period. If you don't have their new album, Revelation, I highly recommend it. On their website, there's a nice video with some of the songs and a discussion of the project.

I fell asleep in the car on the way home, but didn't get to snuggle into my bed until 12:30 am, which is way too late to stay up when one has grad school orientation in the morning. After my hour-long drive to lovely Flint, I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. But I got my ID, parking pass, books and all sorts of gifts - flash drive, calculator, fancy bag - so I guess I'm officially ready to get moving on my MBA. Wahoo!

Now I'm just waiting for Mitch to arrive at my parents' house so we can eat some dinner, ride the trails for a little bit and rest up in preparation for tomorrow's mountain bike race. The rest of the weekend will consist of a trip to the Mac store (it's new laptop time!) and lots of floating on the potoon boat. Ah, I will miss parts of the summer...

Ray and Kristy's Wedding!

The event we've been anticipating all summer was just as fun and exciting as we had built it up to be! Kristy was a beautiful bride, Ray was a handsome groom, and my own date wasn't too bad, either.

The photos really tell the story, but I'm too swamped right now to post the highlights directly on here. So, you can see them all at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/skibunny112882/RayAndKristySWedding

(Sorry, no ceremony photos. Both Mitch and I were standing up and, due to the downpour that resulted in the bridal party's late arrival, I didn't have time to pass off my camera to another attendee.)

Kristy's Bachelorette Party

This week's been so busy that I haven't had time to post about Kristy's bachelorette party 'til now! Well, it was a great time. She loved the decorations in her apartment, the champagne glasses with homemade stem charms, the gifts from all the girls (including the photo album I made her) and all our evening escapades:



Here's the blushing bride opening her gifts at the restaurant. She was initially reluctant to hold them up in front of everyone, but eventually complied.



All the girls at the bachelorette party, full and wine-happy from dinner.



Obligatory bridesmaid show - we can't wait for her wedding!



After our go-kart race; Kristy was bitter that some little girl bumped her and made her get stuck in a corner...



Member of the A.C. softball team get ready to show us how it's done at the batting cages.



Mim and Kristy sang "Friends in Low Places" at the bar...we laughed pretty hard!



The lady running the karaoke got us all to sing "I Touch Myself" for Kristy - again, hilarious!



And here's the whole group, one more time, right before we left the bar. More photos are up at http://picasaweb.google.com/skibunny112882/KristySBacheloretteParty.

Overdue, but still cool

I took this video of Mitch during his second lap at the Boyne Marathon race. He's already done over 20 miles at this point, so I didn't even get a smile as a cheered him on. The guy who was 30 seconds ahead of him is his main rival for first place in the overall standings. Shortly after this road crossing, he caught the guy and, after stopping to help him out of his pedals (Rick's calves were so cramped up that he was lying there, stuck in his clipless pedals), Mitch crossed the finish line several minutes ahead of him. (At Stony Creek, he beat Mitch by 50 seconds. They're good-natured competitors, chatting before and after the races and pushing each other hard on the trail.)

Completely Random

A family friend sent me this video as a suggestion for our next hiking trip. Can we say, insane?



Yes, Robin, this does look beautiful...but I am pretty terrified of heights and some of that would leave me quaking in my boots!

Can't find the words

Earlier this summer, I was a bridesmaid for my best friend from high school. I had mixed feelings about being in the wedding: she and I had definitely drifted apart during college and I even felt, often, that she and I didn't really know each other any more. Everything between us felt so automatic, from the semi-regular phone calls to the obligatory visits in our hometown. She's never the first person I think of spending time with when vacation or a free weekend rolls around; in fact, some of the time we'd spent together prior to the wedding left me feeling melancholy and misunderstood.

A few days before her bachelorette party, I sat down to wrap the gift I would cart to Chicago. Maybe this shouldn't come as a surprise, because writing has always played a role in our friendship - we published a newspaper together in elementary school, wrote poetry together and have presented each other with various writings at important times in our lives - but I had no trouble writing something really meaningful for her. I tied it into her gift, alluded to some marital advice and tried to make her think about the kind of marriage she wanted to have. I was rewarded with a hug and a few tears, and the uncanny feeling that maybe she and I still knew each other better than I thought.

Now I'm getting ready for a college friend's wedding and once again, I have the honor of being a bridesmaid. I've played a much more active role in this one, planning the bachelorette party and helping out the maid of honor with wedding day plans, as she is currently out of the country for school. Truthfully, I've been looking forward to this wedding more than the last one: after all, she's one of my favorite people to spend time with. We had some great memories in college and have become even closer since graduation. Her husband-to-be has become a good friend and we all do some of the most fun, crazy things together.

I've put a lot of time and energy into creative decorations for her party and thoughtful preparations for her wedding day. Ray's apartment will be covered with photos of him and the other gorgeous men whose hearts broke when Kristy announced her engagement. (Who knew Brad Pitt only hooked up with Angie because he couldn't have Kristy?) On her wedding night, she and Ray will return to their apartment to find it a romantic paradise, and when they open the big group wedding present I organized, they'll be blown away. (Seven of us went in on a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and cookware - it's the best gift ever!)

For her bachelorette party gift, I collected photos from the other ladies attending the bachelorette party to make a scrapbook of all Kristy's best times with "the girls." So tonight, as I neared the end of the album, I decided to take a break from the sticky gluestick and messy black stamp pad to write the accompaniment to this gift. I expected the perfect words to flow off my pen, just as they had for Adrienne...but nothing came. I started and stopped, stared off into space and puked out something that sounded like a trite explanation of her gift.

So what's the deal? Why is it that I had an easier time writing something heartfelt for the friend I, honestly, like less? Why is it so much harder for me to even come up with a concrete message for the woman I now consider to be my best friend? I've posed the question on here before, but what really makes a best friend? Is it the person I'd rather spend time with or the person who's weathered the most with me? Is it the person I most readily laugh with or the person I've often cried with (and sometimes about)?

Maybe it's just that I've been so wrapped up in the logistics of this wedding that I haven't sat down to really think about what I want to tell Kristy before she gets married. Maybe this one will be harder because I'm not practiced at writing for her, as I've written for Adrienne for over sixteen years. Maybe it has nothing to do with the depth of our friendship and more to do with its length. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow feeling inspired...

Another weekend, another race.

This weekend, we headed to Stony Creek Metropark in Rochester for a time trial. In a TT, everyone starts at separate times (or in this case, in pairs) and you're truly racing the clock, versus starting in a pack in a cross country race and battling the other racers for position. Anyway, we did a preride on Saturday and were not impressed by the fact that 2/3 of the course consisted of gravelly two-track. Both of us do our best on more technical single-track...plus, riding down a gravel road is BORING!

The race went well, despite all the two-track. We both got second place in our classes and while Mitch still had some gas in him at the end, I was completely dead. Laying in bed that night, my legs just ached! I guess that means I need to do a bit more conditioning before the next one. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure that one is mostly "real" mountain biking.

Not much else is going on. I didn't post last week because I was not having a good time in the office, and I suppose it's not fun for y'all to read constant complaints about my slacker co-workers. This week promises to be better, as I have adjusted my attitude. AND I have no appointments on my calendar, so I can be super-productive!

Chicago Accomplishments

While I'm in the Windy City for the Annapolis Institute (a conference for higher education professionals trying to develop/improve alumni, parent and student recruitment efforts), I'm stepping outside my comfort zone and doing some "big girl" things!

*I rode a taxi from the train station to the hotel all by myself. (I did, however, get scammed into paying someone $5 to hail one for me...dumb, but a lesson learned.)

*I rode the train back from one of the northern neighborhoods and found my way from the stop to the hotel all by myself.

*I found a good place for breakfast and joined the throngs of Chicago locals walking purposefully down the sidewalks in the morning.

It's neat to be in Chicago and I can understand how the amount of excitement and energy can draw people here. But for me, even the urban beauty of the city lights doesn't pull me in as much as do the fireflies that dot the yard outside our apartment complex. I head home tomorrow and couldn't be happier about it!

Boyne XC Marathon

Bike races are interesting events. You have a whole spectrum of riders there: there are recreational cyclists, on good-but-not-great bikes, with most of the basic gear but with a look of uncertainty on their faces, and friends of those recreational cyclists, encouraged by their buddies to participate but unsure of what they're getting themselves into and looking a bit awkward with athletic shoes, platform pedals sometimes even cotton t-shirts. There are more serious riders who have been around the circuit but are still a little rough around the edges and independent, having not yet established themselves as part of any specific corps of riders; the cycling teams, sporting matching jerseys and pedaling around in disciplined, deliberate lines as they warm up for the race; and the elite racers whose sponsors adorn their busy jerseys and shorts, intense and quick off the starting line with unparalleled confidence in their riding abilities.

Almost everyone wears spandex and bright colors. Men unashamedly reach down the front of their shorts to adjust equipment or apply ointment to ease the chafing. Women forget to obsess about the size of their rears and are comfortable in thighs built up by hill climbs. No one seems self-conscious about their physical flaws, making no apologies for the small pooch of a belly or the hint of a love-handle. Riders of all shapes and sizes squeeze into busy, loud jerseys proclaiming their team affiliations, their love for a brand of beer or their preferance for a gear manufacturer. Their shoes can be just as attention-getting, often clashing with the rest of the ensemble while the clickity-clack of metal cleats on the parking lot provides a soft, crunching rhythm.

The racers shoot from the starting line, jostling for position and streaking into the woods. The more experienced riders are aggressive enough to end up in front while those new to the sport hang back to see what happens. There will be passing and repassing throughout the course, though sometimes riders will be spread out enough to feel alone on the trail. There will be crashes and cursing, "pleases" and "thank yous" from passing riders, frustration because they can't get around an unfortunate topple and concern when a real injury necessitates stopping with a fellow rider. While everyone is striving to cross the finish line first, no one places the well-being of a competitor below the cheap plaques awarded after the race.

And when all is said and done, they sit in their dirty clothes, whose bright colors are streaked with dirt and sweat. They trade their bike shoes and soaking socks for sandals, letting the wind and the sun dry their sticky bodies while recapping the moments on the trail. They wait for results and compare pre-ride, ride and recovery strategies, some downing more electrolyte-laden formulas while other crack open cans of beer. Sometimes they bother to wash their mud-spotted faces, legs and arms or tend to bloody, oozing scapes; most times, they wear these badges of honor proudly, spinning tales of downhill spills and uphill battles. If they place, they pick up their awards to a smattering of applause, shake some hands with their competitors and head home to think about training for the next one.

(Mitch rode over 20 miles at Boyne Mountain and placed second in his third race of the season. We both look forward to the Stoney Creek XC race in two weeks.)

Life in St. Johns

I've been writing a lot about our weekend activities and kind of neglecting the day-to-day. So this morning, I'll write about living in St. Johns. First, it's a pretty small town, possibly the smallest in which we've yet lived. But it's safe and clean; we like our apartment complex and the neighborhood. There's an elementary school right behind our building and sometimes we go out on the playground and fly our kite. There's a tree line between us and the school, so we can sit on our balcony in relative privacy, while still hearing the excitement of Little League baseball games.

We live on the north edge of town, so it's easy to get to the back roads for bike and motorcycle rides. I'm learning to appreciate Mid-Michigan's own special beauty: the growing fields of corn, green and "knee-high by the Fourth of July," the fields of wheat waving in the wind, the old red barns leaning on the edge of the pastures. Granted, we sometimes long for the hills and forests of Cadillac, but this feels more like home than that ever did.

St. Johns is a bedroom community for us: we grocery shop, rent movies, get haircuts and go to church in DeWitt, the next town south. But we've made some friends and have been enjoying an actual social life. Amanda, the web content writer at Alma, and her husband, David, have been hanging out with us since early spring. They're tons of fun and Amanda is a talented cook, making dinner at their place a delight. And John Kruse, an old friend from college, just started working in my office and lives not five minutes from our place. Amanda, John and I carpool to Alma each morning and we all make a point to get together regularly outside of work. Mitch and John hang out quite a bit, too: watching sports, playing Guitar Hero and sampling scotch. In addition to eating and drinking, we've played mini-golf and gone line dancing! Oh, how wonderful to have local friends! Tonight is dinner at Johns: grilled salmon, rice pilaf and wine.

So that's life in St. Johns for a transplant. And now, because I can't resist, here are some photos from our Fourth of July weekend with Ray and Kristy:



We watched fireworks on the lake on Friday night - they were amazing! And it was just a person doing them, not a town or anything.





Who knew tubing behind a pontoon boat could be so brutal!





Launching waterballoons off the porch is a great time! SPLASH!

Adrienne's Wedding

I know those of you who read this blog don't know Adrienne, my friend from high school. Still, I'll post some photos from her wedding because it really was a beautiful affair. All the ones are took are posted on Picasa.



Here are all us girls with our hair styled for the wedding. The bridal party included two friends from high school (me and Amanda), a cousin (Erin) and a friend from college (Amber).



Adrienne got dressed at the Frog Pond, an outdoor wedding chapel. We had this nice little bridal suite for our preparations.



Isn't she such a beautiful bride?



When Adrienne was mostly ready, we sneaked out to decorate the car the would take from the ceremony to the reception.



Here's the ceremony. It was a perfect day, even though we got a couple of sprinkles at the end of the ceremony. No one was really worried about it, though!



The new Mr. and Mrs./Dr. Kyle and Adrienne Jones!



After the ceremony, we did some photos at a local garden then came to Crystal Mountain for the reception.



Before the reception began, we all had snacks and a champagne toast at the top of the mountain. We got to ride the chairlift up and everything!



Of course, Mitch and I were goofing around a bit. Would you expect anything less?

My camera ran out of battery before the reception actually started, but it was a great time. We danced quite a bit, mostly with Lindsay and Rich (a friend from high school and her husband). He and Mitch were the kings of the dance floor, at least in our eyes. It's a good thing we're not easily embarrassed!

Chicago!

Saturday, June 21: Let's Party!

6 am: The alarm sounds, dragging me out of bed. I'd spent the night before packing and deciding on party clothes with my friend, Lindsay, in preparation for Adrienne's bachelorette party. Dragging a suitcase jam-packed with a sleeping bag, a Thermarest, a fifth of Bacardi Razz, raspberry Jello and a few pieces of clothing, we loaded up the car and sped off to the train station.

8:15 am: Half an hour late, the train pulls out of the station. We settle in for a nice, long train ride to Union Station.

1:30 pm: Hampered by a few delays, we arrive in Chicago and manage to find the bus that runs past Amanda's apartment. Half an hour later, we're getting settled in and helping her set up for the party. We decorated glasses for mojitos, hung some lights and hit the streets to pick up flowers, cash and more rum.



8:00 pm: The bride-to-be arrives with the rest of the girls. We eat dinner on the roof and surprise Adrienne with a few gifts. Some nice guys take cool photos of us with Chicago in the background.







10:00 pm: We all hop into two taxis and head to the Hancock Building, where we have reservations at the Signature Room, a restaurant on the top floor. Unfortunately, we never got to eat because they require an entree per person and we had only planning to have dessert and drinks. So we relocated to the bar and watched fireworks from the women's bathroom.

12:00 am: Time to go dancing! We headed to Rush Street and found this club called The Level. After a round of lemon drops, we hit the dance floor and quickly found a small group of guys who attached themselves to our party. They bought Adrienne a shot, danced with her and congratulated her over and over again.



2:30 am: Adrienne's getting woozy...too many shots are taking their toll, so we head outside for some fresh air. Amanda makes some plans to meet up with the bachelor party at a bar nearer to the apartment, so we pile into cabs and make our way across the city. When our cab - the second to leave - arrives, we find that one of the guys had gotten sick, so the groom walked him back to the apartment. They lacked keys, however, so Amanda and her husband were heading back that way as well. They intended to let the other guys in and return to the bar, but I called shenanigans on a long night and said we would head back to the apartment, too. The walk was a mile long and most of the girls had their impossible heels off, trudging through the streets of Chicago barefoot. Another girl and I carried the bride over some rough roads to save her little toes!

4:00 am: We're back at the apartment and ready for bed. The birds' eye view of us must have been hilarious; thirteen people wrapped in blankets, scattered all over the apartment. A good time was had by all!

How did I miss this?

How has this been out for three weeks and this is the first I've seen it?!?!

"Joe, American"

I still miss her.

I find it fascinating how little things can bring back little, poignant memories.

Last night, I was cutting up a pair of Mitch's old underwear to use as a rag and as I was trimming the waistband off, I remembered how my Grandma Eccles used to sew old underwear bands to the bottom of the seat covers for the red wooden picnic table at the lake. That used to be my job as a girl: spreading out the old tablecloth, opening the umbrella and slipping on the seat covers while burgers sizzled on the charcoal grill.

Suing Chaperones?

I think this is completely ridiculous.

Wicked Weather

On Friday, my carpool buddies and I (look at us saving gas - three people riding in one car!) left work half an hour early to try to beat the approaching band of thunderstorms home. We ended up skirting the edge of the storm all the way down US 127, only to drive smack into a tornado warning. Here's the article (yes, we are in Bingham Township) and here are some pictures of the damage, only a few miles south of our apartment. Scary - I heard the tornado siren as I was running through the rain from my car to the apartment. I turned the news right on and was ready to toss my cat in his carrier and go down to the lower level of our building, but the siren stopped and nothing outside seemed to get any worse. We never lost power, but the wind snapped some power poles like toothpicks though a tornado touchdown was never reported. If I can, I'll get some photos tonight...though we're supposed to get more storms.

Adventures in Mammoth Cave

Preface

In the midst of a snowy Michigan winter, Mitch and I sat curled up with our favorite coffee table book, featuring America's national parks. We had just canceled plans to go skiing in Colorado and were looking for an exciting vacation spot. That one's too far...we don't have enough vacation time to do this one...that would probably cost a fortune. Then we found Mammoth Cave National Park - perfect!

Only one thing could make our potential vacation better: spending quality time with the Long-Slade family and meeting their newest addition. So, with a few phone calls and emails, we made the plans; and here's the story.

Chapter 1: Mammoth Cave Campground

Our home for the week, Mammoth Cave Campground (also known as Headquarters Campground) was pretty much perfect. While the camping was considered rustic, we did have flush toilets nearby and token-operated showers a short walk away. Hot water was at a premium for the first few days but once the weekend traffic subsided, we were blessed with ten minutes of hot-water glory...for $2 per shower, of course.

The campground connected to a network of short hiking trails, and we took a brisk stroll on Saturday afternoon. By trekking off the beaten path, we made our way down to the Green River, giving CJ the chance to dangle his little feet in the water.



And speaking of the little man, he was an absolute joy to have along. Good-natured, friendly and cuddly, we couldn't have asked for a better baby to have along. I don't think Anna slept much, but this kid was chillin' in serious style: he got his own mini-tent, complete with blow-up mattress and mosquito netting.



Chapter 2: The Backcountry

On Sunday, we decided to delay the park's main attraction and explore the backcountry before heading down to the cave. Rightly, we assumed the tours would be congested while the trails remained relatively empty.



Our route, a point-to-point six-mile hike along the First Creek Trail, was supposed to take us most of the day, as we planned to play along the river and enjoy a long, relaxing lunch. The prolific tick population, however, spoiled our plans; we coated ourselves in bug repellent, put our heads down and booked it out of there as quickly as possible! Despite our best efforts, poor Anna brought some back to camp with her and had to suffer through three rounds of tick extraction two days later.

Chapter 3: The Cave

We scheduled two cave tours: the Snowball Tour, a two-hour walking tour suitable for the young'un; and the Wild Cave Tour, an intense six-hour crawling, climbing and squeezing adventure. We were all impressed by the Snowball Tour - it was amazing just to walk through the cave. Even CJ did great! He slept a bit, but didn't even make a peep when our guide, Ranger Joe, killed all the lights and immersed us in the blackest black I've ever experienced.



Tim, Anna and CJ packed up after Tuesday's Snowball Tour and headed home. Their departure came at a fortunate time for them, because later that afternoon, the rain that had plagued us on Monday returned with a vengeance. It eventually flooded us out of our tent, forcing us to relocate to the big tent we brought for the Long-Slades. I can't believe that tent was large enough for us to share the space with the bikes, who had already staked their claim to the dry shelter!



Wednesday dawned grey and drizzly, so we rescheduled our Wild Cave Tour for that day and donned our oldest clothing, packed our pockets with PowerBars and a disposable camera, and pulled up the kneepads. As luck would have it, we were part of an amazingly small tour: five people plus our two guides, Ranger John and Ranger Taylor.



For the next five miles, we duck-walked, crawled, squeezed and climbed our way through some of the most challenging parts of the cave. I was one of very few who could make it down into the Mole Hole and out again.



Mitch crawled around in Sharon's Lost Sea, but I had no such inclination as I preferred to stay as dry as possible.



By the end, I was beaten up, sore and ready for that hot shower. The Wild Cave Tour was definitely the highlight of the week in terms of activities, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!



Epilogue: The Aftermath

Thursday was our final full day, and we took advantage of the only mountain bike trail in the area. The first five miles were fun, but then it got muddy and rough. I took a nice tumble into a creek, bashed my butt with the seat, and came home sporting a killer bruise.



Back in Michigan on Saturday, we hit another mountain bike trail with my dad and I took another spill, this time cracking my knee and giving myself a pool ball-sized goose-egg. Multiple other bruises currently adorn my thigh and calves - aren't vacations supposed to be relaxing?!?! Well, I don't think I'd enjoy it any other way!

(All our photos are available here. Tim and Anna, I've set it up so you can download any photos you'd like. Thanks for the amazing trip!)