tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37718986966994597512024-03-05T21:42:17.002-05:00Never Grow Up"People never really grow up. They just learn how to act in public."Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-44812984883928308842012-12-16T11:50:00.000-05:002012-12-17T09:27:40.076-05:00In Memory of TobyI realize I've been absent here - I'm not even sure who may be checking in on this any more. But, because Toby was such an ever present fixture on this blog, this post felt necessary. And this post may mainly be for me to sort out my thoughts and help me to cope.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, December 13th, we lost our beloved Toby. He was four and a half years old.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO6zxMSf681wPhIoUg0sJlobklavKGyD8KAiwmeipVaPNCti7J-ZqABWJ0BSqHzHUBkf3N2k8SjcluF7qaq2gkC8BEUDiQJ1kSH3JDN04rcYbEb-huKC91AMrIF1BBRGaLfaOD08YlLc/s1600/189744_10100536937844074_2329484_71160939_6001419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO6zxMSf681wPhIoUg0sJlobklavKGyD8KAiwmeipVaPNCti7J-ZqABWJ0BSqHzHUBkf3N2k8SjcluF7qaq2gkC8BEUDiQJ1kSH3JDN04rcYbEb-huKC91AMrIF1BBRGaLfaOD08YlLc/s400/189744_10100536937844074_2329484_71160939_6001419_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
He had been acting lethargic and losing weight for a few weeks. It seemed to get worse, and I was pretty worried so we brought him to the vet for some blood work. That was Monday, December 10th. <br />
<br />
A CBC - Complete Blood Count test at the vet immediately revealed that he was extremely anemic. His red blood cell percentage was 13%. A healthy dog is between 40% and 60% and 9% is considered deadly without a transfusion. He also only had 5000 platelets when a healthy dog should have half of a million. The cause of the anemia was still to be determined, but coupled with the weight loss (down to 87 pounds from 104 in about 2 months) and his breed, cancer was suspected. We had to leave him at the vet that night, because he was so sick.<br />
<br />
The next day at noon, we received the diagnosis. Cancer. Malignant Histiocytosis. Most likely in his spleen and bone marrow. The vet estimated he had about two weeks left. He did not suspect Toby was in any pain yet, but that pain would come soon because he was so progressed in the disease.<br />
<br />
Toby would have never wanted anyone to be in pain or sad. He lived his life to make us happy. And to eat treats of course. Toby knew the command for "kisses" and would lick you if you gave the command. There was also another way Toby would give kisses. All you had to do was whimper, almost like a sad dog. He would look concerned and then trot over and lick your face if he heard you whimper. He never wanted us to feel pain, and so we wanted to treat him with the same respect. It was actually an easy decision to let him rest before any pain set in. <br />
<br />
I was thankful Toby was able to come home for a couple of days so we could spoil him first. When Andy first came through the door to deliver the news, I thought he had passed at the vet on Monday night. We were able to bring him home and I never left him once over those three days. We were told the signs of pain to watch for, and thankfully those didn't appear.<br />
<br />
We treated him to all of the foods he was never allowed before, and he loved it. Pizza, ice cream, donuts, loads of cheese, bread, sandwiches, cookies, wet dog food, etc. We gave him constant belly rubs, rump scratches and stroked the world's softest doggie ears. We let him lay in the cold outdoors, one of his favorite things to do. He still wanted to guard the house and us even though he was weak. He loved to sit on your lap and sit at your feet, and those habits remained. The minute I would sit on the ground to be with him, he would come put his rump right in my lap.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj9L-wo3WBajoMFCo2UoVrvsRMFoxuDkvDFHCETvol_WM7CQ_5YAiDZTtT0m0K6BJNAcbHl_joeQnVGJyxuKoH18rieJGdGabgZC7mU2Z5BTTcNjEyUeD9FORe_Bp4GzHNHotdZXp57I/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj9L-wo3WBajoMFCo2UoVrvsRMFoxuDkvDFHCETvol_WM7CQ_5YAiDZTtT0m0K6BJNAcbHl_joeQnVGJyxuKoH18rieJGdGabgZC7mU2Z5BTTcNjEyUeD9FORe_Bp4GzHNHotdZXp57I/s400/IMG_0993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We weren't allowed to cry around him, so as not to cause him concern. Somehow we were able to do this, only allowing our tears to flow when he was outdoors or in another room. We believe he knew he was weak and possibly saddened that he couldn't do the things he normally would. He loved to jump on the front porch without using the steps, but now he had to slowly walk the two steps up and sometimes needed our help to do so. He couldn't jump on the loveseat like he used to, so we'd help lift him up there. So while we think he knew he didn't feel well, we don't think he was in pain and don't think he knew we were in pain for him. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmAaIAOH_IaIWehvIpYn92mVHCVJ-zxMrhUDffIflJ_IsT-U_VFjbFB3N2AkBCkgK7NO8hXy6hyphenhyphenltEMPgXOG4zy-k9f8Dlup2KOXcvJNVY3TNA5kJgZcUl8QZxdY0rngI_dCfDTHF2Jc/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmAaIAOH_IaIWehvIpYn92mVHCVJ-zxMrhUDffIflJ_IsT-U_VFjbFB3N2AkBCkgK7NO8hXy6hyphenhyphenltEMPgXOG4zy-k9f8Dlup2KOXcvJNVY3TNA5kJgZcUl8QZxdY0rngI_dCfDTHF2Jc/s400/IMG_1030.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I am also thankful that our vet was able to come to our home. Our vet owns Berners as well and understands what a special breed they are and personality they have. They are loyal to a fault. They are persistently cheerful. They live to please their owners and are so eager to do right. They are goofy and playful, almost like a puppy for life. They are gentle and loving. We tried to pinpoint what made Toby so special, but it's difficult. Andy had many dogs growing up and we have our Gordie who we also love, but we both agreed there was always a different connection with Toby. While many dogs still carry an independent, wild dog spirit, Toby had none of that. He had no desire to roam, no desire to be dominant, no hunter's instinct, no jealousy, no desire to do anything but be with the people he loved - and eat food. He was fully connected with his humans, and we to him.<br />
<br />
So Thursday evening, Toby lay peacefully at our home. Our vet came and performed the procedure while I fed him cheese, cradled his head in my arms and scratched his ears while Andy lay at his face and stroked his soft eyebrows. He quickly and quietly went to sleep forever.<br />
<br />
It hurts. We miss him greatly. We struggle with the fact that his life was too short. While the cancer is common in Berners, it is usually not seen until about 8 years of age. We struggle with the fact that he was so good, so gentle and so loving. It seems such an unfair fate for a dog who had done nothing but love every person and every animal he met. But we know life isn't fair and we know this is a part of life. And we know we will get through this and life will go on.<br />
<br />
We are greatly saddened our baby missed meeting his or her loving big brudder by less than 3 months. Toby was wonderful with children and we know they would have been best friends.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr1iHPi-1iy69GkzpVCpIY0rNBrwpgKuC6bjo69nHoE3aTZycS53EL-CpGro6HAFMcWpUFGOBfFs8H-c3lQ4Rno5RUznEVdFo4iNk8l9P0e42dRXSyvwOGkCKN8BLJO431dESTXzd-10/s1600/261847_10100905749477604_2329484_73547173_5384550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr1iHPi-1iy69GkzpVCpIY0rNBrwpgKuC6bjo69nHoE3aTZycS53EL-CpGro6HAFMcWpUFGOBfFs8H-c3lQ4Rno5RUznEVdFo4iNk8l9P0e42dRXSyvwOGkCKN8BLJO431dESTXzd-10/s400/261847_10100905749477604_2329484_73547173_5384550_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We are thankful we had him in our lives while we did. He brought smiles to the faces of everyone he met - even strangers on the street. His happiness was contagious. I believe that besides Andy, Toby brought me the most happiness of anything over the past four and half years - mainly because I saw him almost every day. I know for a fact that he made me smile every day - even the days Andy and I were away we would talk about him and laugh and smile thinking about his goofy quirks. If I was having a bad day at work, Andy would e-mail me Toby photos and they would always cheer me up. I would come home from a bad day or if I was feeling sad, and I would snuggle with my big, sweet bear and feel better. He would push the top of his head into my chest as I knelt in front of him and hugged him, and then I would put my head in his fluffy, white chest and hug him while he proudly smiled above. I miss these hugs.<br />
<br />
I hope to do another post with some of our favorite memories and photos of Toby. We are currently putting together a children's book about him to share with our little one as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1grBLjHDqD3rBosY7GrBIYwMiVbelgFes3T3BRsxAkdaqx1L-5RP8JBs-YCTLPZbVrdmMkwQx7tN9Sj3Ypk_kYCsEFYkZvYChaxdxOJKzo2L1LCQn1GLQj6vXuZByUm7po83rPtRqVf8/s1600/PA240121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1grBLjHDqD3rBosY7GrBIYwMiVbelgFes3T3BRsxAkdaqx1L-5RP8JBs-YCTLPZbVrdmMkwQx7tN9Sj3Ypk_kYCsEFYkZvYChaxdxOJKzo2L1LCQn1GLQj6vXuZByUm7po83rPtRqVf8/s400/PA240121.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
So while he has gone, his memory and spirit will remain in our lives. While those memories bring some pain now, I know eventually they will cheer me and we will again love sharing the stories of our silly, sweet, lovable Toby.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-51591183407860836502012-06-12T09:10:00.000-04:002012-06-12T09:10:02.039-04:00Engamorial Day Weekend 2012Although a bit belated, I felt it necessary to memorialize Engamorial Day Weekend like I have in <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2010/06/engamorial-day-weekend-2010.html">previous years</a>.<br />
<br />
Andy wanted to take the Midas again.<br />
<br />
Then I reminded him about how it cost us $500 in gas, hours in additional driving and breakdown time and my mental health last year.<br />
<br />
And thankfully this convinced him to take the Jeep. It was a tight fit, but we use the roof cargo carrier to ensure the dogs had space to stretch out for the ride. Of course they decided to occupy only a sliver of space by laying on top of each other, even though there was plenty of room for two.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn71b2gpFYs6DRRtGgBvYBknN5QrrDMO2nnuHleAnJu-sKvGDMIoBhrQrLmjz0_vKheao8NzY5iPSZmKlwUIjj-rlqLZEqrSQonNE_T0LLCV_pfzI8WpyQmL89zlvEeUaDVLU4SLlEsZk/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn71b2gpFYs6DRRtGgBvYBknN5QrrDMO2nnuHleAnJu-sKvGDMIoBhrQrLmjz0_vKheao8NzY5iPSZmKlwUIjj-rlqLZEqrSQonNE_T0LLCV_pfzI8WpyQmL89zlvEeUaDVLU4SLlEsZk/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We stopped at the bridge to meet up with the others, have a drink and a bite while taking in the view of Mighty Mac.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Hvm0J7NY76y7k8zoSHkktMTIekylUQSIqHO5hqRw6Q6dD13Es7y9S1_F_Rs3-BuYFOUSygtcg25-FnNGO9PF4Wz5i5SuLehYEWS-hSk_r0fba4x22FxL8K2al_DoYdMKKXtrfTZSEks/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Hvm0J7NY76y7k8zoSHkktMTIekylUQSIqHO5hqRw6Q6dD13Es7y9S1_F_Rs3-BuYFOUSygtcg25-FnNGO9PF4Wz5i5SuLehYEWS-hSk_r0fba4x22FxL8K2al_DoYdMKKXtrfTZSEks/s400/IMG_0342.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once we arrived, the usual shenanigans and games ensued.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfAEzdcurW4PlZFGcdK-pSgRWPXvAg6fHK_Te1JuR7jkUINbiq6Za9y1OZEdEtqjDLucaxsve-poUCFsbSr6SIC42cI2HE_EvU8xB9FovlUJinuGQWS9XAJvCkY5_pU0fSuQd_4AuYWI/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfAEzdcurW4PlZFGcdK-pSgRWPXvAg6fHK_Te1JuR7jkUINbiq6Za9y1OZEdEtqjDLucaxsve-poUCFsbSr6SIC42cI2HE_EvU8xB9FovlUJinuGQWS9XAJvCkY5_pU0fSuQd_4AuYWI/s400/IMG_0357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk73WyVlyJ8eDK7GYvF_Vxb4Yy9M7gIRpIxql-DiLOjW9UQrddwt0LlL68f33kfY9vZh-ODjEWh7wUwxIav-42eNGYMLkwFYiC1RSrBgqrAW_TVze9dQPS-8iB82rSUdnsWJX1slTzsHE/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk73WyVlyJ8eDK7GYvF_Vxb4Yy9M7gIRpIxql-DiLOjW9UQrddwt0LlL68f33kfY9vZh-ODjEWh7wUwxIav-42eNGYMLkwFYiC1RSrBgqrAW_TVze9dQPS-8iB82rSUdnsWJX1slTzsHE/s400/IMG_0362.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qkPt3laO_-i5onpVMw3HsH9wtC1DS7VjIjsLbCzWnVYe7AfjE0muJkIQ90sXVikg8E8-OWQ8R_wiQaALb_rrypOXU5M25K6PzoBZghTkQA71WgZUHBx1QxBjl10Ggshehj9xXfq318I/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qkPt3laO_-i5onpVMw3HsH9wtC1DS7VjIjsLbCzWnVYe7AfjE0muJkIQ90sXVikg8E8-OWQ8R_wiQaALb_rrypOXU5M25K6PzoBZghTkQA71WgZUHBx1QxBjl10Ggshehj9xXfq318I/s400/IMG_0365.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That last photo showcases the brackets for the random team cornhole tournaments that took place. For one tournament Andy and I randomly drew each others names but our team (Barefoot Wizard Sleeves) lost in the finals.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The main event of the weekend was the engagment of Terpichelle which was celebrated with fireworks and champagne. Thanks to Kara for the photos below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfmuVaWZ5qVUCqK2kLAPERQykRPSu6IPWwErYWEfa0hTT_9qGRh6Lq8JujljbDjkadREUqBye7DIk7S7NpqvglajsFXfoF4cgk9Wz09ApPvmnogF51QIYa5LSXshR_I4V84glWqsKndE/s1600/JDEngaday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfmuVaWZ5qVUCqK2kLAPERQykRPSu6IPWwErYWEfa0hTT_9qGRh6Lq8JujljbDjkadREUqBye7DIk7S7NpqvglajsFXfoF4cgk9Wz09ApPvmnogF51QIYa5LSXshR_I4V84glWqsKndE/s640/JDEngaday2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At some point Toby wandered over bleeding from his paw. He managed to secretly tear his paw pad doing dog stuff. We cleaned the wound and bandaged him up using the top notch medical supplies of duct tape and one of Andy's socks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvhMGG6oXeYRXoGqRvNCHqOPh4u7fvOvPqwFd4QkqeRVEW5Zve1LbANDNcMwYGuMGDoS88KA3Rj8_wneqjOwXkVlNeHNbqe_KJF3xVLAvA_jxQ6i1hxMRY9ReAklpNCekS-kSyxUrLp0/s1600/JDEngaday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvhMGG6oXeYRXoGqRvNCHqOPh4u7fvOvPqwFd4QkqeRVEW5Zve1LbANDNcMwYGuMGDoS88KA3Rj8_wneqjOwXkVlNeHNbqe_KJF3xVLAvA_jxQ6i1hxMRY9ReAklpNCekS-kSyxUrLp0/s400/JDEngaday3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other than that, it was a typical weekend of indulgence and relaxation in da UP.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_flWNW-1MSmeN6-al_9xQHWcV-lqt-Sx_Q06lGzBS1RjAAAVZvtqTMns7CpM90ehNn_JedjlyhLSfi8dovA-VRYT3tjMadHu-mW4vyP-gcsHaHm1ysUdQwFB9D1NCmRcflAIOJGhUcmQ/s1600/551114_10102218019193574_128902539_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_flWNW-1MSmeN6-al_9xQHWcV-lqt-Sx_Q06lGzBS1RjAAAVZvtqTMns7CpM90ehNn_JedjlyhLSfi8dovA-VRYT3tjMadHu-mW4vyP-gcsHaHm1ysUdQwFB9D1NCmRcflAIOJGhUcmQ/s1600/551114_10102218019193574_128902539_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_flWNW-1MSmeN6-al_9xQHWcV-lqt-Sx_Q06lGzBS1RjAAAVZvtqTMns7CpM90ehNn_JedjlyhLSfi8dovA-VRYT3tjMadHu-mW4vyP-gcsHaHm1ysUdQwFB9D1NCmRcflAIOJGhUcmQ/s400/551114_10102218019193574_128902539_n.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRZ49SCOrWSEtoSBf356oEvKLakiE7uIfUWnZ_P2t8HOZcaWo6U1c3gdSHzM0IJn2wrgdUVt1ddeCw2anKG8EpfsTtCcmkzhq36237A7B55eEfJna9jT4YgomuWbsP6m4RF1I9Ww3TSk/s1600/JDEngaday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRZ49SCOrWSEtoSBf356oEvKLakiE7uIfUWnZ_P2t8HOZcaWo6U1c3gdSHzM0IJn2wrgdUVt1ddeCw2anKG8EpfsTtCcmkzhq36237A7B55eEfJna9jT4YgomuWbsP6m4RF1I9Ww3TSk/s400/JDEngaday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And we were able to drive there and back without breaking down. It's amazing what you can do when driving a vehicle made in the past 30 years.</div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-8005721048222250422012-05-31T09:06:00.000-04:002012-05-31T09:07:34.986-04:00A Perfect Weekend<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The week before our anniversary, I emailed Andy and suggested we randomly go up North.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
He replied in less than a minute: "YES."</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
We quickly found a rental that allowed pups and one week later we were off for a weekend away in Sutton's Bay.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xFS1jxFqMR_sjcObfG_YvzNR_bLblFgebk1icAEhkZeRl4pB4Xl3CCyh089Nor_dAYteFPRtOl15cC8ea0aSgziO6Lp1cudrf4esFkU6YYu5prki6-7Z6DblghKqfT5H_8us4TzIjkA/s1600/leelanau-county-map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xFS1jxFqMR_sjcObfG_YvzNR_bLblFgebk1icAEhkZeRl4pB4Xl3CCyh089Nor_dAYteFPRtOl15cC8ea0aSgziO6Lp1cudrf4esFkU6YYu5prki6-7Z6DblghKqfT5H_8us4TzIjkA/s320/leelanau-county-map.gif" width="260" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.leelanau.com/map_old/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div>
<br />
As soon as we arrived, we headed to the Sleeping Bear Dunes to watch the sunset.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJnuz429glGp8ny5YhLcPwoyVFaiP76I4OLffIMAdttmVqG0XSpBkkMZeJeOJMzVoxQxGVRYAlPErd1znJsMIV49a7fhPFZQmZ3nYLxBGq5jGL2SbRc5evYQ8eeOm0bs-GypN832U808/s1600/JDIMG_2771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJnuz429glGp8ny5YhLcPwoyVFaiP76I4OLffIMAdttmVqG0XSpBkkMZeJeOJMzVoxQxGVRYAlPErd1znJsMIV49a7fhPFZQmZ3nYLxBGq5jGL2SbRc5evYQ8eeOm0bs-GypN832U808/s400/JDIMG_2771.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOFHgqJu6sLIgLBb3LDbuPfIFufeJt0uhP5u9QaqaZZWam2427NJ5kCafK9jJ7qefziN4aPmwe7nyxoGuGMlIZbeGgfZWcjn8tXcPY0hePwInT4ukS8lxq7T74f-zw6lmT1xcMxBN9Dk/s1600/0e8e2ae8a15311e192e91231381b3d7a_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOFHgqJu6sLIgLBb3LDbuPfIFufeJt0uhP5u9QaqaZZWam2427NJ5kCafK9jJ7qefziN4aPmwe7nyxoGuGMlIZbeGgfZWcjn8tXcPY0hePwInT4ukS8lxq7T74f-zw6lmT1xcMxBN9Dk/s320/0e8e2ae8a15311e192e91231381b3d7a_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About five years ago, we were in nearly the same spot doing the same thing. Except at that time Andy pulled a pretty piece of jewelry out of his hiking pants.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueHn3Csd97lR4rbm1jQ-t2_ioZYbUZ8pTve6h0gZpCJWj4iotH8sfVxVYDbhCJ5QVuZE_KxDf830qU04baCZ_VYF3qk5AN6tDLHJst-73g-59KjhFSicHGLvYlLheAzQie7t_kG72_Xk/s1600/JDIMG_2750words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueHn3Csd97lR4rbm1jQ-t2_ioZYbUZ8pTve6h0gZpCJWj4iotH8sfVxVYDbhCJ5QVuZE_KxDf830qU04baCZ_VYF3qk5AN6tDLHJst-73g-59KjhFSicHGLvYlLheAzQie7t_kG72_Xk/s400/JDIMG_2750words.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next morning we arose and took off on a 36 mile round trip bike ride to Traverse City.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJLfEG0s-xDxDjlbEtof2rK3WzmZE0On9bzswVYLQmsSCWCwxxYcjeQYQijIulGHkl7ASezqr4JZBGSMxv4QKko97BrbEnlGeTo4F7FMv5S9hYmSsRjevcRh3m7zlPL-Rz1FICMn-uL0/s1600/836d30eca1c711e1abb01231382049c1_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJLfEG0s-xDxDjlbEtof2rK3WzmZE0On9bzswVYLQmsSCWCwxxYcjeQYQijIulGHkl7ASezqr4JZBGSMxv4QKko97BrbEnlGeTo4F7FMv5S9hYmSsRjevcRh3m7zlPL-Rz1FICMn-uL0/s320/836d30eca1c711e1abb01231382049c1_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngnLX9yBpQ8AiVUfxlq5AaEDAGzrAF0lqYHVYpbuJ1QJe4Gaa5_VMWyb5uCDOznQ2OYlcRDaeCrped4brsEIRuW6ienYJVK9cMtlSjsEN8f0N4QpMKfStVy03P2P3VffRwTBrVLGUNnk/s1600/98d6fba6a1cd11e1a8761231381b4856_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngnLX9yBpQ8AiVUfxlq5AaEDAGzrAF0lqYHVYpbuJ1QJe4Gaa5_VMWyb5uCDOznQ2OYlcRDaeCrped4brsEIRuW6ienYJVK9cMtlSjsEN8f0N4QpMKfStVy03P2P3VffRwTBrVLGUNnk/s320/98d6fba6a1cd11e1a8761231381b4856_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We made sure to properly refuel once we reached town.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JWpnCRruXzTcQZIUcYoTFzegN0-ky7o7lrGIV1yvltMaa4txwIoAMDBmPSB2_RJ_KU23goo5kSrqjBIY0gkUNcCXWcESsQHNGIxANgSRFF6NDxwadRR-V454aEsWaIScQaFfCTnbtt0/s1600/138ffeaea1da11e18bb812313804a181_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JWpnCRruXzTcQZIUcYoTFzegN0-ky7o7lrGIV1yvltMaa4txwIoAMDBmPSB2_RJ_KU23goo5kSrqjBIY0gkUNcCXWcESsQHNGIxANgSRFF6NDxwadRR-V454aEsWaIScQaFfCTnbtt0/s320/138ffeaea1da11e18bb812313804a181_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
And on the ride back to Sutton's Bay we stopped at a winery to continue to fuel our journey.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG4jVfApXRQRW_I97XM4UPLVGjVX6M27ekQFgxlbt0ztiaNS0riu7P8IL87ucNr31a5ng8HZ1js7K-l79DTaklGYwSm5PTo30xwtSIkF3wrFcYFmXuNDCjfyQECBg7AuBCtQ5UBo2YVQ/s1600/356c1e2aa26811e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG4jVfApXRQRW_I97XM4UPLVGjVX6M27ekQFgxlbt0ztiaNS0riu7P8IL87ucNr31a5ng8HZ1js7K-l79DTaklGYwSm5PTo30xwtSIkF3wrFcYFmXuNDCjfyQECBg7AuBCtQ5UBo2YVQ/s320/356c1e2aa26811e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The next morning I got up with sun and then we drove along the penninsula, visiting lighthouses and towns that time forgot.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3BrSeFHeEOOU3IrFmh2D06e3fW3Lxzt2-Afd_iDIdXtiIykVzecJjjTDaveSQfTbGCqVbpP8ZyG6-JOiBrq6pKYRqEylASfzMEU4bpW9LWTCmvcA5l54DZjAwlCwflHqqMuxDzaU29Y/s1600/JDIMG_2787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3BrSeFHeEOOU3IrFmh2D06e3fW3Lxzt2-Afd_iDIdXtiIykVzecJjjTDaveSQfTbGCqVbpP8ZyG6-JOiBrq6pKYRqEylASfzMEU4bpW9LWTCmvcA5l54DZjAwlCwflHqqMuxDzaU29Y/s400/JDIMG_2787.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O4FHNfo3fyBMUmnFVmJlRGNVOX46elGNsba5DiZzRs0qAhAPYitSNNjxsq8bnly8Q9XEb4ALSqsqtsnS3s1WiKqFpQw9cGU4PZFqbobyttaKvJO37jfi9GDKmgHR_01irN-gHH-_8cI/s1600/JDIMG_2814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O4FHNfo3fyBMUmnFVmJlRGNVOX46elGNsba5DiZzRs0qAhAPYitSNNjxsq8bnly8Q9XEb4ALSqsqtsnS3s1WiKqFpQw9cGU4PZFqbobyttaKvJO37jfi9GDKmgHR_01irN-gHH-_8cI/s400/JDIMG_2814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwktwr53gfVpyicYRTIaw0VvN4rKC7utntytCAmiXwSWEDyTwqZrG1wmqCpbeL0V-ptCDBsJVWLmXuP2Ezcxu7PSs0dKLpcZos7-9pqC4I3G4Imsu9EzIZoK0ZXE40vK5bpmJSvxftk4Y/s1600/JDIMG_2827+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwktwr53gfVpyicYRTIaw0VvN4rKC7utntytCAmiXwSWEDyTwqZrG1wmqCpbeL0V-ptCDBsJVWLmXuP2Ezcxu7PSs0dKLpcZos7-9pqC4I3G4Imsu9EzIZoK0ZXE40vK5bpmJSvxftk4Y/s400/JDIMG_2827+copy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SK4qJT4NkIE6w0ZdYnBBRixLsMDThxcu1jqrLIaVwFEigCwYBfmPh9JfwpfM3iDuvgvAM7QcUdWAHcBtHr3Dd7Cc7kpgMmnE7OuZc8l4UYiGZhYVtpME2JRoD9eXUXU6VsxhaIShEhI/s1600/JDIMG_2829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SK4qJT4NkIE6w0ZdYnBBRixLsMDThxcu1jqrLIaVwFEigCwYBfmPh9JfwpfM3iDuvgvAM7QcUdWAHcBtHr3Dd7Cc7kpgMmnE7OuZc8l4UYiGZhYVtpME2JRoD9eXUXU6VsxhaIShEhI/s400/JDIMG_2829.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq2ru91OM1rF_IabD2Fz5EQLAP_R7Jf8st7WnVIK3rL54w4iJqB-VmjBY8dMfFimHUBm8XrEFUVpNhLq8Ac5VFtnKiVeCrfDpVxY-GEtEFJGMCbmP2snPfa7r36sbjgO5C4st9WjjEE8/s1600/JDIMG_2833+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq2ru91OM1rF_IabD2Fz5EQLAP_R7Jf8st7WnVIK3rL54w4iJqB-VmjBY8dMfFimHUBm8XrEFUVpNhLq8Ac5VFtnKiVeCrfDpVxY-GEtEFJGMCbmP2snPfa7r36sbjgO5C4st9WjjEE8/s400/JDIMG_2833+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpRm9Mz_CBvVrS6HU_R-f1CmZMKv8gaQk747p3JYk5WwP5negc0MZQIi4L59JQT-XaEge9hcgIjNLwYWj-zRq1negzDN2bMpEz18ryQvDsm3MpEmjAFHawTMd_jqMC-ZqGqDzBdQT7XE/s1600/JDIMG_2837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpRm9Mz_CBvVrS6HU_R-f1CmZMKv8gaQk747p3JYk5WwP5negc0MZQIi4L59JQT-XaEge9hcgIjNLwYWj-zRq1negzDN2bMpEz18ryQvDsm3MpEmjAFHawTMd_jqMC-ZqGqDzBdQT7XE/s400/JDIMG_2837.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE5fZiKRX8uc1lFtnzHTpOojPsCKHe0nzvj9jG35-bUTPnywFtL-XWytDZi-H9pfV4kvhMMXiniYHV08Vxm_KrZnQhqpOAJyxUjLLMWmMlZdso9BOYNJTqsxTjxLd6f8HsB578z7tpA8/s1600/JDIMG_2842+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE5fZiKRX8uc1lFtnzHTpOojPsCKHe0nzvj9jG35-bUTPnywFtL-XWytDZi-H9pfV4kvhMMXiniYHV08Vxm_KrZnQhqpOAJyxUjLLMWmMlZdso9BOYNJTqsxTjxLd6f8HsB578z7tpA8/s400/JDIMG_2842+copy.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We then began the drive back home but of course made sure to again properly refuel along the way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_qWghgdubFnmRxfI37QiLDH6L_Wpc1VXaTd7-Y7ZD5szNzZirO2S6sh-6PmYBv6r1p3ccc06L7dOkRmb8yL9eMAIWu4aHX4BciKfKDCUuVadArta-mXJyBBFHnBIZtMb5w1Hvgzh6Hk/s1600/26711eb4a2a611e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_qWghgdubFnmRxfI37QiLDH6L_Wpc1VXaTd7-Y7ZD5szNzZirO2S6sh-6PmYBv6r1p3ccc06L7dOkRmb8yL9eMAIWu4aHX4BciKfKDCUuVadArta-mXJyBBFHnBIZtMb5w1Hvgzh6Hk/s400/26711eb4a2a611e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We managed to hit up two new breweries on the trip which brought us to 71/108 (and counting) Michigan breweries visited. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We enjoyed our beers and said our cheers to a perfect weekend getaway.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-37592753892760803312012-05-17T11:06:00.000-04:002012-05-17T11:06:12.869-04:00The Opposite of My Last PostWell an hour after I hit publish on <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2012/05/shtty-anniversary.html">this post</a>, these were delivered to my desk:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoJWsAnTBdtXsZulpd_wgern_axmuB7A81lauHd0xwvCo2hCdZB5Vfer7WqtobQLkEW0jbb815EzAQE5A7674uBBiQhYcZIjKtnhOAChNVBn5q89tEN6mLtlmOfeV7WOr7Wtu8onuWlQ/s1600/anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoJWsAnTBdtXsZulpd_wgern_axmuB7A81lauHd0xwvCo2hCdZB5Vfer7WqtobQLkEW0jbb815EzAQE5A7674uBBiQhYcZIjKtnhOAChNVBn5q89tEN6mLtlmOfeV7WOr7Wtu8onuWlQ/s400/anniversary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm one lucky lady.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-52642470058082567162012-05-17T09:46:00.000-04:002012-05-17T09:49:48.711-04:00A Sh*tty AnniversaryDon't worry, I mean that literally, not figuratively.<br />
<br />
Wait, that might actually sound way worse.<br />
<br />
Let me explain.<br />
<br />
At 1 A.M. this morning, I was sound asleep. Suddenly, Toby appeared in my dream. And in my dream Toby was pooping. And then I woke up.<br />
<br />
And I smelled why my dream had evolved in such a fashion.<br />
<br />
Earlier in the day, Toby had gotten into the trash and ate human food. Toby doesn't eat human food because it gives him the big D. We were worried this was coming, but thought we were in the clear when we went to bed that night.<br />
<br />
So one hour into our anniversary, I went downstairs, made my big, sad, eye-contact avoiding dog come out of the corner and go outside and cleaned up the mess. Don't be too jealous of my glamorous life. I sure hope when they cast the Real Housewives of West Michigan they find me so I can share my stunningly opulent lifestyle with the world.<br />
<br />
When I came back upstairs, Andy looked at me and said, "Happy Anniversary baby! Are you showering before you bike to work?"<br />
<br />
"It's not time for work. It's one in the morning."<br />
<br />
"Oh, why are you up?" *nose twitches* "OH NO!!!"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2009/05/lucky.html">Happy</a> <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2010/05/2-years-and-counting.html">Anniversary</a> <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2011/05/sweeter-than-ever.html">indeed</a>.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-499518794520355322012-05-09T16:40:00.000-04:002012-05-09T16:41:48.919-04:00Smiles for MilesIt's nearing the end of the workday on Wednesday, and I find myself dragging.<br />
<br />
And then this photo rotates it's way to the background of my computer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniSRVrr0C1ggm6BTccdspaHfAaKzNKCkLlltJw15Qmox-BfdEnyH5YD-kypNU7ChB4b79bxOoXYlchPtEkDwey-j5fJoADEVLXqjz9LR4aR4wKvy0hcPS7nD9pNhIQ-pQhKy2NkZLbVk/s1600/IMG00290-20120424-1728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniSRVrr0C1ggm6BTccdspaHfAaKzNKCkLlltJw15Qmox-BfdEnyH5YD-kypNU7ChB4b79bxOoXYlchPtEkDwey-j5fJoADEVLXqjz9LR4aR4wKvy0hcPS7nD9pNhIQ-pQhKy2NkZLbVk/s640/IMG00290-20120424-1728.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
That would be the dogs at the dog park. <br />
<br />
Now, Toby almost always has a smile on his face, because he's oblivious to life. "Ignorance is bliss" has never more perfectly defined something than it does Toby. <br />
<br />
Gordie on the other hand, is much more serious about life. He's constantly contemplating life's biggest questions like "Where are my humans?" or "Have I peed on all the things yet?"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag4Rtt8Idrx4UPuxJVqs0XiU7ymniNgKTSjWWSoqvqAcsPr-tHfZF321cQ20V7XViRQa_GJcdz7CqoqoR6Yume6IG07MnEFMMjTjvSUhKrggq_MeVWA70LnnP_OirIYn52UAUv9oH4tk/s1600/JDIMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag4Rtt8Idrx4UPuxJVqs0XiU7ymniNgKTSjWWSoqvqAcsPr-tHfZF321cQ20V7XViRQa_GJcdz7CqoqoR6Yume6IG07MnEFMMjTjvSUhKrggq_MeVWA70LnnP_OirIYn52UAUv9oH4tk/s640/JDIMG_0724.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
So to get a smile out of the more serious dog is a more special occasion. Fortunately, we have discovered the two places where you will be guaranteed a G smile. The first location is the inside of any vehicle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMob57RlTvcmmVCdnVyAeRTnfEXuZpYY9i6TlaJuK4aQ8RUTWdBywxfOs1qUxv3xRk1RANwDzoTKjt_Kb-evKhz_3stJWr-skJTac6uvb027gX55QtnggqTbVB7GzVNfsNLfN0aSFRyo/s1600/Gbear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMob57RlTvcmmVCdnVyAeRTnfEXuZpYY9i6TlaJuK4aQ8RUTWdBywxfOs1qUxv3xRk1RANwDzoTKjt_Kb-evKhz_3stJWr-skJTac6uvb027gX55QtnggqTbVB7GzVNfsNLfN0aSFRyo/s400/Gbear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And, yes, as seen earlier, the second location is the dog park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDQTNKcGuQr3KcN5RjOx2D-R7GH4u1KWWxgkd4CyoK9EROASsAnVy3SRbu-1orLmPhyphenhyphenSiCE8WYvgZihUB7IbPvSWkHrNQFVjAyFr-kCUOJdjgTsVPEgaU1xhAnqY6fc8i2VpqyKhlAu0/s1600/Gface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDQTNKcGuQr3KcN5RjOx2D-R7GH4u1KWWxgkd4CyoK9EROASsAnVy3SRbu-1orLmPhyphenhyphenSiCE8WYvgZihUB7IbPvSWkHrNQFVjAyFr-kCUOJdjgTsVPEgaU1xhAnqY6fc8i2VpqyKhlAu0/s400/Gface.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If dogs could get drunk, that is what they would look like.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And now my Wednesday has been cheered, because dog smiles are contagious.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-38651785683803775272012-04-27T09:27:00.000-04:002012-04-27T09:27:37.117-04:00When Healthy Living Isn't So HealthyWell, first there was the Schmohz 5K. Although the running portion of this event is healthy, the part where you drink beer each lap and then celebrate your run by drinking more beers is slightly unhealthy.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I was going for a three-peat win, but I have not been running much these days and knew that would be a lofty goal. All it takes is one fast lady to show up and dash my dreams. And show up she did. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtwl3Ufrc6MmRhBi1ARfaoJHZNw7shucbFEikHu_Z0HYMfm-lIhm-01vqviSh-BAGJ3kJhDgsLSIME0cJ6JQMZlsp6nB_5WzItO1Z1LJUlNKZ0WWVuJ-NPtEFZSWIiB1rV-32Ir1GINE/s1600/schmohz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtwl3Ufrc6MmRhBi1ARfaoJHZNw7shucbFEikHu_Z0HYMfm-lIhm-01vqviSh-BAGJ3kJhDgsLSIME0cJ6JQMZlsp6nB_5WzItO1Z1LJUlNKZ0WWVuJ-NPtEFZSWIiB1rV-32Ir1GINE/s640/schmohz2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
I clocked in with my worst 5K time of the past 3 years. Somehow this still earned me 2nd place female and a free growler of beer, so it all works out.</div>
<br />
<br />
The next day brought broomball. I managed to pull off some magnificent feat of clumsiness that is difficult to describe in a way that makes sense to anyone who wasn't there. Basically I tripped for what felt like 100 miles, thought I caught myself on the bench ledge only to find the open door, fell through the door and landed on my ass. Aside from that butt bruise, the real pain came when I stopped a shot with my right quadricep. It hurt. A lot.<br />
<br />
Lucky for me I had tennis the next night. A nice, easy non-contact sport. Unless you get slammed with an overhead smash in the exact spot you got hit with a broomball the day before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqC2F49D_reneiRn0lMS2oFyPG8GXzgFdbVGI7roTd1Am44F1VvK-UeoUajiNQEbbtYZGLXU0NlaiwkUB6KSjgmXCWsW_ckyeqP6AYtXn6Pjx9smp4CSfS09ZpbF4lU2f4LEAmmieiak/s1600/bruised+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqC2F49D_reneiRn0lMS2oFyPG8GXzgFdbVGI7roTd1Am44F1VvK-UeoUajiNQEbbtYZGLXU0NlaiwkUB6KSjgmXCWsW_ckyeqP6AYtXn6Pjx9smp4CSfS09ZpbF4lU2f4LEAmmieiak/s400/bruised+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Then I went to Crossfit the next day couple of days. I just started this class because there was a deal on Living Social and I have zero upper body strength. I would guess that most kindergarteners could beat me in an arm wrestling match. So the introduction of strength training to my arms made me almost cry during the second workout. And then I got in the car to leave class and found myself UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL because I had just murdered my arm muscles. I managed to figure out a a way to grab the wheel at the bottom without lifting my arms and somehow managed to get home without wrecking my vehicle or further wrecking my body.<br />
<br />
So yesterday I did nothing but sit and drink beers. <br />
<br />
My muscles feel great and no part of my body is bruised or in pain.<br />
<br />
Which therefore must make drinking the healthiest thing I did last week.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-70176919572058380022012-04-23T09:23:00.001-04:002012-04-23T13:02:56.750-04:00Charlotta Fun<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last weekend I traveled south to the lovely city of Charlotte, North Carolina for some quality time with my friends. Initially it was just to visit one BFF, but when I mentioned my trip to another friend who lives 5 hours away, she drove the whole family down for the weekend. Fun times ensued.</div><br />
The first huge, climactic moment of the trip came when I went to Trader Joe's and found these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwOIvuWLVeMJnWlycQPXJx9OC-6vpfKfyfsLLr-GJcpUK1TJWYI_IV4JPpTvgwKGZ_oGsR6juqpovQ0lveymat_4JOHKOaIygojeh874cwfiKgbLQjVxGhHJUWApptWhmoNIfEASA__Q/s1600/JDCHIPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwOIvuWLVeMJnWlycQPXJx9OC-6vpfKfyfsLLr-GJcpUK1TJWYI_IV4JPpTvgwKGZ_oGsR6juqpovQ0lveymat_4JOHKOaIygojeh874cwfiKgbLQjVxGhHJUWApptWhmoNIfEASA__Q/s400/JDCHIPS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Obviously the world's most healthiest food ever. Salty, greasy potato chips covered in chocolate. Amazing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then we ventured to the drive-thru zoo. You pay a fee for buckets of food, roll down the windows and drive through the zoo while animals stick their faces in your vehicle and gulp down the goodies. We thought Junior would be scared, but he was fascinated.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHF4UlW6kqH5afwGsM6uUYl4kBnJL8okZBFW1ZWmYzHLtWZmMz-ShyphenhyphenkzJXRePucVe8IP31ln_Lxyxp8-6WBZ8JoOPyxkRasDMgHccFiwXPWf2bE9KbtJoIJml-S4Eyd3hg0tPfxY_CWo/s1600/JDIMG_2555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHF4UlW6kqH5afwGsM6uUYl4kBnJL8okZBFW1ZWmYzHLtWZmMz-ShyphenhyphenkzJXRePucVe8IP31ln_Lxyxp8-6WBZ8JoOPyxkRasDMgHccFiwXPWf2bE9KbtJoIJml-S4Eyd3hg0tPfxY_CWo/s400/JDIMG_2555.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I, however, was only terrified of one awful bird. The emu.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WSXsRhe4kBK1Niepel8L9Tm3q81wW7rGtEswkK_zqa5HYEUdAs7st-lUJSEiZy-WngXSvr2fSJofiLE01lAz8BhpUDmQoXRyVEYtXXtytMwvRCRS3iJbICtHt60GBNtBs-EY9890mKc/s1600/JDEMU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WSXsRhe4kBK1Niepel8L9Tm3q81wW7rGtEswkK_zqa5HYEUdAs7st-lUJSEiZy-WngXSvr2fSJofiLE01lAz8BhpUDmQoXRyVEYtXXtytMwvRCRS3iJbICtHt60GBNtBs-EY9890mKc/s400/JDEMU.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If the bird world elected a Satan, the emu would win. I much prefered the llamas and giraffes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHz39tFnB3n0xERzqvZ8ydHVogfnC0gtWSK3ptHfMtaBELHaVbK2Nd_hgh2zf6tVjtNZ02X8MBV1gVjOcAUHalVet5WrrRf6FuFar7ljsy7w8Tu1IXseGkC3YjuRthLUxO2KbL0JfE6I/s1600/JDIMG_2557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHz39tFnB3n0xERzqvZ8ydHVogfnC0gtWSK3ptHfMtaBELHaVbK2Nd_hgh2zf6tVjtNZ02X8MBV1gVjOcAUHalVet5WrrRf6FuFar7ljsy7w8Tu1IXseGkC3YjuRthLUxO2KbL0JfE6I/s400/JDIMG_2557.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZJLB6M_SDg7d_XTQjPQqaxTvpHpcCOQgtRAFZ6QwdNhKDvkXyoT_eEismYjyIAUH4VtkNJMUFg5hzC7bczj7f1Sc_F09mknmaPOTMrMpPdtxQ3LPYgP-xukx5np-I_kcRyzl7jJLDBI/s1600/JDphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZJLB6M_SDg7d_XTQjPQqaxTvpHpcCOQgtRAFZ6QwdNhKDvkXyoT_eEismYjyIAUH4VtkNJMUFg5hzC7bczj7f1Sc_F09mknmaPOTMrMpPdtxQ3LPYgP-xukx5np-I_kcRyzl7jJLDBI/s400/JDphoto.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Ok, I lied. I was also terrified of this guy:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KeXMB6tL8cU-jVvQkA5pqacu9XctS0TJx4WH33mgcQewkKIx67nJ2LZvJfUB8xf5P2VUX73J8RQ9m5v5_uY7grHY3-3gcXWltc1NLD3U2ozUelO3j6S1475BP8DiEUy-oeUypvKbe3o/s1600/scary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KeXMB6tL8cU-jVvQkA5pqacu9XctS0TJx4WH33mgcQewkKIx67nJ2LZvJfUB8xf5P2VUX73J8RQ9m5v5_uY7grHY3-3gcXWltc1NLD3U2ozUelO3j6S1475BP8DiEUy-oeUypvKbe3o/s400/scary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">His tongue was as long as his horns and it was disgusting.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next day we went on a Segway tour of the city. If you ever have the opportunity to ride a Segway DO IT IMMEDIATELY. It was the most fun I have ever had on a tour. And shockingly booze wasn't even involved.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkjFvQiahnjF2s31cU3fPdtEfKpGg3bP42BFCwiGqKdXEOyvN5T1pgHH9coHM3CiU3td2L3R4VxZLgCCmX7MugOoJqbOcLs6Xw13Gy3zgVJwjBwtpkbqCgZtq2omCoZVIo74qMcAnLF8/s1600/JDIMG_2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkjFvQiahnjF2s31cU3fPdtEfKpGg3bP42BFCwiGqKdXEOyvN5T1pgHH9coHM3CiU3td2L3R4VxZLgCCmX7MugOoJqbOcLs6Xw13Gy3zgVJwjBwtpkbqCgZtq2omCoZVIo74qMcAnLF8/s400/JDIMG_2586.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk8yWud-qP-D7o2V8LEm1QHHKz1C6XEEY-wP39An3SZkBXb1ugk1AjxSwJEEsWJRBMhgQpOa_CKWW6lOn_C8AlTdj6shpHwo4M9cD1tJpVJYduNoSyZCEaY79BatDhM5TdBEFCI5NbCI/s1600/jdsegwaytour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk8yWud-qP-D7o2V8LEm1QHHKz1C6XEEY-wP39An3SZkBXb1ugk1AjxSwJEEsWJRBMhgQpOa_CKWW6lOn_C8AlTdj6shpHwo4M9cD1tJpVJYduNoSyZCEaY79BatDhM5TdBEFCI5NbCI/s400/jdsegwaytour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was fairly certain I would fall at some point, but the Segways were very easy to get a handle on after a few minutes. So if my clumsy face can handle it, anyone can.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNzCGwn6Z-en8r5TkQOmIeLaRyWpDF1FP-6LeZq98HXtyQ6_JkOwm2uQnZtjX-L26nLpY3thgkZ-c-V2MYoVeoIg8lOPTDeO_JD3elecfdgwBG4Z5pW4W2EX3OTKMlU-gi3k2LBqDI_Y/s1600/NCsegway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNzCGwn6Z-en8r5TkQOmIeLaRyWpDF1FP-6LeZq98HXtyQ6_JkOwm2uQnZtjX-L26nLpY3thgkZ-c-V2MYoVeoIg8lOPTDeO_JD3elecfdgwBG4Z5pW4W2EX3OTKMlU-gi3k2LBqDI_Y/s400/NCsegway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Team Flourescent Helmets for the win.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So, in conclusion:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">If you ever find chocolate covered potato chips, BUY THEM.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">If you ever find a drive-thru zoo, DRIVE THROUGH IT.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">If you ever find a Segway, RIDE IT.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-34243682497133163612012-04-04T09:34:00.001-04:002012-04-04T09:34:36.829-04:00Still Here.When work and life get busy, this blog seems to take the backseat. Things seem to have slowed down a bit as of recent, so here's a quick recap of what I've been up to these past few weeks.<br />
<br />
In the end of February we went to Michigan Winter BeerFest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy2Kna9nAZb5YjPYnUqcXMkVsODjTQdwTJvfEp4h3c_VcnmPSyABuU40QgJE2spyLtxaJkFDgC8SQa_GG9UEgGdQsOYPuNDrOKCxZM7udO5ft7e0X21SgabH9PMZDYgCIdHPQV4Jj-M8/s1600/beerfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy2Kna9nAZb5YjPYnUqcXMkVsODjTQdwTJvfEp4h3c_VcnmPSyABuU40QgJE2spyLtxaJkFDgC8SQa_GG9UEgGdQsOYPuNDrOKCxZM7udO5ft7e0X21SgabH9PMZDYgCIdHPQV4Jj-M8/s320/beerfest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Why yes, my necklace is four times the size of Rachel's. I get munchy when I get drunky.<br />
<br />
A couple weeks later I went down to visit some Meese in Virginia. We were going to run an official race, but the darn thing filled up before we could register. So we made up our own race and t-shirts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQ5RkegRKNHBLvtJYw9X_tMycZU2xfiY6jJ_FFRqj30tIDgoJ4AZeeOO066-KYDzXcXn1yzg3SsALo0NF10DnjOdfs1TElJaPUjrR9yDqoioF4jGDwNwCkhmw-mfYFVGwWGOXwjDLM1w/s1600/run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQ5RkegRKNHBLvtJYw9X_tMycZU2xfiY6jJ_FFRqj30tIDgoJ4AZeeOO066-KYDzXcXn1yzg3SsALo0NF10DnjOdfs1TElJaPUjrR9yDqoioF4jGDwNwCkhmw-mfYFVGwWGOXwjDLM1w/s320/run.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The good thing about making your own race is that you're in charge of post race beverages.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYpWN-3tk-giH6YI5YiuU3JibMnYpItcM7frj3TWFRCkjrbBw7QEDiFlCetPt0RCM8sBanfmjfWUzUlh5ll-0DJ6KHrgMNBTlOPOZwDUl56fi33UQvNQa5RSvwVRqgkFtTqnlTw5cEPE/s1600/rundrink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYpWN-3tk-giH6YI5YiuU3JibMnYpItcM7frj3TWFRCkjrbBw7QEDiFlCetPt0RCM8sBanfmjfWUzUlh5ll-0DJ6KHrgMNBTlOPOZwDUl56fi33UQvNQa5RSvwVRqgkFtTqnlTw5cEPE/s320/rundrink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was normal to start boozing at 10 am because it was St. Patrick's Day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we weren't running we were hanging with this adorable dude:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiIfBCtGSO_OSPdb18DMHijPufcEPyRgeFec0yE8J4eBD4vpJjpt0xdiOQFQvYydI7aeyT6RRMIOKxAhsWVge-fLWbJMOXjsEZz351enolv2ayyE9NCZ8jAgcvMWZW6gOu_Es280UXos/s1600/junior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiIfBCtGSO_OSPdb18DMHijPufcEPyRgeFec0yE8J4eBD4vpJjpt0xdiOQFQvYydI7aeyT6RRMIOKxAhsWVge-fLWbJMOXjsEZz351enolv2ayyE9NCZ8jAgcvMWZW6gOu_Es280UXos/s320/junior.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
By the end of the weekend, he saw a carton of ice cream and without prompting said, 'That's Aunt Jewey's!" Yes, child, all the ice cream in the world is mine. Now spread the word.<br />
<br />
Since we flew in and out of DC, we also remembered to stop and smell the cherry blossoms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPHFUmRd8_Ky6auq-sSQDu7dbahPcHPUisEDZmh7ZMBQLrB2pH4-s-heM0S-ax1YOOuz9vV7OHPvpM5ZrKWGquDMHskFc7A1zvclk7ArQQMSpROQmCVJLh_hjXHjw4B74rRdOGwSvb28/s1600/JDIMG_2477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPHFUmRd8_Ky6auq-sSQDu7dbahPcHPUisEDZmh7ZMBQLrB2pH4-s-heM0S-ax1YOOuz9vV7OHPvpM5ZrKWGquDMHskFc7A1zvclk7ArQQMSpROQmCVJLh_hjXHjw4B74rRdOGwSvb28/s320/JDIMG_2477.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIJJMDASIEiuJNOZOIpTLTKf43aNhkA-Ry02l3pp8VS6d-ytDEN03cVVdNzxrN7Iz32POEz9x1YNI_xwY0-hRvuieR38CAp2_EuNt0_S2uP4B4Aws2-oPz1SQ6_8AaYJtb1Nh8Hb3Lmg/s1600/JDIMG_2488+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIJJMDASIEiuJNOZOIpTLTKf43aNhkA-Ry02l3pp8VS6d-ytDEN03cVVdNzxrN7Iz32POEz9x1YNI_xwY0-hRvuieR38CAp2_EuNt0_S2uP4B4Aws2-oPz1SQ6_8AaYJtb1Nh8Hb3Lmg/s320/JDIMG_2488+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The next weekend I drove off to Chicago to celebrate the birthday of my very pregnant friend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45mTVP2QTidw_b885SYO38WwhUzfbH7IGBrwvbfFkdr0SD18lKgB1djrPZNYmHC_GO2AzcgZc2ZpC_YvcTE1xrnn5I8xPh_bDYT1B6oWlPF_SA2UDcVakZq1IgyVG2NxiiymjxTZOAEI/s1600/meandd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45mTVP2QTidw_b885SYO38WwhUzfbH7IGBrwvbfFkdr0SD18lKgB1djrPZNYmHC_GO2AzcgZc2ZpC_YvcTE1xrnn5I8xPh_bDYT1B6oWlPF_SA2UDcVakZq1IgyVG2NxiiymjxTZOAEI/s320/meandd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since she was 8 months preggo, we celebrated her B-day by eating instead of drinking ourselves silly. It almost felt like we were growing up. Until we went to Babies 'R' Us to pick up her glider - we took it out of the large box and loaded it into our Jeep. So naturally I then hid in the large box in the middle of the parking lot and they told me when a car was driving by so I could jump out and surprise some random stranger. Yup, definitely still not grown up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I of course also spent some time with these dudes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7lggbCzzU33QhMAFbVWzZNIbnIvr7sGEDMYOmx3mteAJ9tpzjzfuKwWtAolpCZWxaezOr7YK9gDWg4dajQupjcoiGZ13s1TXYsQ7XzxNjxt9jBjQv4ywvhzIyMBKzUIVUVjR8CkuZhI/s1600/Guys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7lggbCzzU33QhMAFbVWzZNIbnIvr7sGEDMYOmx3mteAJ9tpzjzfuKwWtAolpCZWxaezOr7YK9gDWg4dajQupjcoiGZ13s1TXYsQ7XzxNjxt9jBjQv4ywvhzIyMBKzUIVUVjR8CkuZhI/s400/Guys.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG7I2FMwdUo0_B1xV6KJh0HnMHRGldtkDxtBTufWjf2WKWKf8TC4X6b000WXcjRAEyEPaamG8luwgmXlJ-acTqLjqAQyXbUhXR2PEQylpS5GGxbzNv2B2n3ENoPbEtUkRhsyeXgL5Xic/s1600/bruddres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG7I2FMwdUo0_B1xV6KJh0HnMHRGldtkDxtBTufWjf2WKWKf8TC4X6b000WXcjRAEyEPaamG8luwgmXlJ-acTqLjqAQyXbUhXR2PEQylpS5GGxbzNv2B2n3ENoPbEtUkRhsyeXgL5Xic/s400/bruddres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Toby actually began training to be a West Michigan Therapy Dog. We're about halfway through classes and he seems to be doing well. That might be because "doing well" in this class requires a dog to be oblivious and non-reactive to everything around him. So our bear is a natural.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I started this post with Michigan beer it only seems fit to end it with Michigan beer. Last weekend we enjoyed the much sought after <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/19960">Founders KBS</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbroarkNoFcMTF7MTkleMqJ4kZK4lIE4ek-6lmvlCNxfUTj60nsVYedxlWp6_y2_FtGVQeFCg4Y5B2CWFE3EA5E6npPg4ICtRAqRaWaKNEev4_G70GXy-u9kNwmq6XycclDO4hL3KAbCo/s1600/KBS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbroarkNoFcMTF7MTkleMqJ4kZK4lIE4ek-6lmvlCNxfUTj60nsVYedxlWp6_y2_FtGVQeFCg4Y5B2CWFE3EA5E6npPg4ICtRAqRaWaKNEev4_G70GXy-u9kNwmq6XycclDO4hL3KAbCo/s320/KBS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A local bar happened to score a keg - which was tapped out in about 15 minutes. It is often listed as one of the top three beers in the world and bottles on<a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/Breweriana-Beer-/562/i.html?_nkw=kbs"> Ebay</a> can sell for ridiculous amounts of money. We sat next to a gentleman who had driven all the way from Chicago just to have a glass. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll try to do a better job of keeping all of my seven readers updated on my <s>drinking</s> life in posts to come.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-89894708020238957662012-02-23T15:49:00.000-05:002012-02-23T15:49:08.943-05:00A Marketer's DreamYou often hear about marketing for children.<br />
<br />
Bright colors, favorite characters and celebrities adorning boxes and fun names all made so children beg their parents to buy them something.<br />
<br />
Children and husbands that is.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.mlive.com/business_impact/photo/10592069-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" lda="true" src="http://media.mlive.com/business_impact/photo/10592069-large.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br />
The following conversation took place last night:<br />
<br />
Andy: OOO, honey, when you go to Meijer, can you get me <a href="http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/meijers_cereal_aisle_adds_just.html">Fastball Flakes</a>?<br />
<br />
Me: Are you serious?<br />
<br />
Andy: YES! I need them.<br />
<br />
Me: Ok, I'll get you Fastball Flakes.<br />
<br />
Andy: Oh! There's a t-shirt too! Buy me that too.<br />
<br />
Me: Seriously? There's a t-shirt?<br />
<br />
Andy: Yes. At Meijer. I need it. Buy it for me. Loooooove you.<br />
<br />
You win, Marketing Machine. You win.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-25238667030640995502012-02-05T08:43:00.004-05:002012-02-05T08:55:30.889-05:00The Kepler TrackAfter we finished the <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2012/01/routeburn-track.html">Routeburn Track</a>, we spent a night in civilization then immediately set out for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler_track">Kepler Track</a>.<br />
<br />
As we awoke in Te Anau and walked to the bus stop to catch our shuttle, we saw a rainbow over the lake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1Kte0jqba8kricBseQl3ifaYwcgYQwesSNAvGshpvpy_VMzv4RFupl0Ofh7O6FCP909C5CHFhY6sQcFB_jjcGSo0tCtX4CODy919sO-VXgxPKw3EV5HiPQzFuYbXSTUnFOuu9Ss2X-w/s1600/JDIMG_1120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1Kte0jqba8kricBseQl3ifaYwcgYQwesSNAvGshpvpy_VMzv4RFupl0Ofh7O6FCP909C5CHFhY6sQcFB_jjcGSo0tCtX4CODy919sO-VXgxPKw3EV5HiPQzFuYbXSTUnFOuu9Ss2X-w/s640/JDIMG_1120.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Funny enough, the rainbow basically shows our hiking route. It's a loop that begins near the left edge of the rainbow, continues out to about the right edge of the rainbow and then loops back to the start.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSkCBxhTZpNQis-6zWZ3TKz0cxgrFlAM5t-wklR4YH-_jccFkCQgVi1rzWzm45o9p7kokYCSCYPqiGEXNVH1ER7pQni2oSdtkh9P7Cf-PkO8C_RYBoc-MOJqVXnY353U7W_MKF8zYrU8/s1600/JDIMG_1122+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSkCBxhTZpNQis-6zWZ3TKz0cxgrFlAM5t-wklR4YH-_jccFkCQgVi1rzWzm45o9p7kokYCSCYPqiGEXNVH1ER7pQni2oSdtkh9P7Cf-PkO8C_RYBoc-MOJqVXnY353U7W_MKF8zYrU8/s640/JDIMG_1122+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We actually did the track in reverse from what most people choose. There is a steep portion of the track and we decided it would be easier on Andy's knee to go up rather than down the more treacherous part. This meant we had a longer first day of about 14 miles, but with an early start and a gradual incline, it wasn't difficult.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv6X-KNEH1ocMINVQf3yhqNZbh-WcEUAfVVPb3T5RNfM7Pqr7iESxJEpS2-l7NbdFi2TsAXBmthNyZqDrIeeT5QvuMPPrE-ya5UW2b75RbWCmWysx3PEkDFysS_tidJGG_BJwNJGmAvE/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv6X-KNEH1ocMINVQf3yhqNZbh-WcEUAfVVPb3T5RNfM7Pqr7iESxJEpS2-l7NbdFi2TsAXBmthNyZqDrIeeT5QvuMPPrE-ya5UW2b75RbWCmWysx3PEkDFysS_tidJGG_BJwNJGmAvE/s640/IMG_1125.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crossing the swing bridge at Rainbow Reach</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianUM8zX0OWIctFnXcGahCXmjw6PtXAVRerv_dsrfUagGN96XCh4Ubx9pPp7shmJRF5iAOr0yqwtrOcNueb-9gZBtNUr4FDNX0ygq2vMYurhyVjymy36hIiVPRY5vYyoFkiEvVG3VM100/s1600/JDIMG_1131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianUM8zX0OWIctFnXcGahCXmjw6PtXAVRerv_dsrfUagGN96XCh4Ubx9pPp7shmJRF5iAOr0yqwtrOcNueb-9gZBtNUr4FDNX0ygq2vMYurhyVjymy36hIiVPRY5vYyoFkiEvVG3VM100/s640/JDIMG_1131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMB_C7tEeSGs_YTfO10ar7KRTOuC1Xfn6YZ2OGgVvtM9vSx_9a-K64mKCcIEFB9rhxUciu6dw63_yrOpAh9dGBs8hBAVnq7mZmiBX2Xp1NiVJdHGEn6YmSPK7ExvB92d9rP654cvfwTw/s1600/JDIMG_1159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMB_C7tEeSGs_YTfO10ar7KRTOuC1Xfn6YZ2OGgVvtM9vSx_9a-K64mKCcIEFB9rhxUciu6dw63_yrOpAh9dGBs8hBAVnq7mZmiBX2Xp1NiVJdHGEn6YmSPK7ExvB92d9rP654cvfwTw/s640/JDIMG_1159.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Big Slip </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We planned to take our hike slow and make a few stops for lunch and snacks. We attempted to do this, but the sand flies were out in full force. So we made great time getting to the Iris Burn hut, where we promptly took refuge from the bugs.<br />
<br />
If I have one regret, it's that we went to bed and didn't try to see a Kiwi. They are in the area, and another man in our hut went out at night and was able to see one. They are shy nocturnal birds, but if you stand still they will come over, sniff your shoes and hang out for a bit. Instead, we got a good night's sleep in preparation for a steep climb the next day.<br />
<br />
How steep?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsYE6wD3e4QH0MUy29zqQFPjNp7EC4taex_04lLz6TzBII5Y46C4D_vuyUVloitfO3tXh6sumRnDlbYoAkGbtK7rAc2FmhHNiQflnwh-JTIwQFkN8eWWkq2Grr3hTcRItEGQCMIO15GU/s1600/JDIMG_1169labeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsYE6wD3e4QH0MUy29zqQFPjNp7EC4taex_04lLz6TzBII5Y46C4D_vuyUVloitfO3tXh6sumRnDlbYoAkGbtK7rAc2FmhHNiQflnwh-JTIwQFkN8eWWkq2Grr3hTcRItEGQCMIO15GU/s640/JDIMG_1169labeled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
97 switchbacks steep.<br />
<br />
It was probably the most difficult part of our entire hiking experience in New Zealand, but handsome rewards in the form of incredible views awaited us at the top.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhrC1ID12yiGnqc38I3j1ZyrsPt4nVJc-XYFKqWdiues0BJfXR_NZvnBanrdYX82RM8mDgI7cfRHOlmFf1WKswsuYocB1iIx1s_ERyuKkUs42nlmYk0dWAfxwS6mT7rE5ynZCpcIDlpI/s1600/JDIMG_1172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhrC1ID12yiGnqc38I3j1ZyrsPt4nVJc-XYFKqWdiues0BJfXR_NZvnBanrdYX82RM8mDgI7cfRHOlmFf1WKswsuYocB1iIx1s_ERyuKkUs42nlmYk0dWAfxwS6mT7rE5ynZCpcIDlpI/s640/JDIMG_1172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A view of the trail ahead.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi9hfTiGn8_hl1gQdpH8PSw_IyFZGlqz0r6GhFy-YZCXPXfzkyQ6Jl8XUwpFwTadfzSKa58L7XunBJXJhHJlrwZrKhyqul-B9edNeWK5HO0teFtPGka7-O-yeW3K_b_Qsf-_da0xGNmY/s1600/JDBWIMG_1191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi9hfTiGn8_hl1gQdpH8PSw_IyFZGlqz0r6GhFy-YZCXPXfzkyQ6Jl8XUwpFwTadfzSKa58L7XunBJXJhHJlrwZrKhyqul-B9edNeWK5HO0teFtPGka7-O-yeW3K_b_Qsf-_da0xGNmY/s640/JDBWIMG_1191.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andy leads the way</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UlgHhhlE5QZBvsRyamlz6bfE1oltsxDhDYIU_7PCdWWr9Kl8SnzD5WNme2ypyyJvPMfKIT02dhBBCMi3KdIrWTTEtMcjLv1c588aVBxC3zNa0yvmiSsG74fyJrSBr6PkYXUjo4buydY/s1600/JDIMG_1212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UlgHhhlE5QZBvsRyamlz6bfE1oltsxDhDYIU_7PCdWWr9Kl8SnzD5WNme2ypyyJvPMfKIT02dhBBCMi3KdIrWTTEtMcjLv1c588aVBxC3zNa0yvmiSsG74fyJrSBr6PkYXUjo4buydY/s640/JDIMG_1212.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That hut on the ridge in the distance is our first resting point</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2NegRMRlV_98o9uozdbwWJ1ccHfrbrUtMVwwA5Lb4WgB1j3CJwzCy5SjTDSsWxn9w0XO1bBk6lossuiZ9RFeDzcxACQNPCXTfjHQ2QdemTWP-NzIHLaiZ5KK9N4dDLrDqy_hOH2-7JM/s1600/JDIMG_1199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2NegRMRlV_98o9uozdbwWJ1ccHfrbrUtMVwwA5Lb4WgB1j3CJwzCy5SjTDSsWxn9w0XO1bBk6lossuiZ9RFeDzcxACQNPCXTfjHQ2QdemTWP-NzIHLaiZ5KK9N4dDLrDqy_hOH2-7JM/s640/JDIMG_1199.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stairway to Heaven</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those stairs were like torture to my legs after tackling all those switchbacks. When we finally reached the hut to rest, my thighs were shaking. Here's the <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/fiordland/fiordland/kepler-track/track-description/track-profile/">elevation chart</a> for more of an insight into our morning:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS_zxfJ2XwQmbedRKYVeWjFl0-NIQqOOrT_7idyzqIO2ZSA0-fRsE6aNdMQ9bTNmFsRotGnmWQGfykJCoj5VCSXLgQOThAcUt26SQ7LIN501I2Qbwu-mtrCimkyF69QwdXRmArnQb43o/s1600/ElevationKepler+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS_zxfJ2XwQmbedRKYVeWjFl0-NIQqOOrT_7idyzqIO2ZSA0-fRsE6aNdMQ9bTNmFsRotGnmWQGfykJCoj5VCSXLgQOThAcUt26SQ7LIN501I2Qbwu-mtrCimkyF69QwdXRmArnQb43o/s640/ElevationKepler+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
That was a 3000 foot elevation gain to start our day. After a rest at the Hanging Valley shelter, we continued onward towards Luxmore.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqaMjKcMMfhLLMgrtdBIuC8eM-3QRr4tpoW6VHqYdojYSiYHShGV4rP24JWP8yfF3pXsojRa1uKiyxyrjCfMjE_4MpVajJk8lv_LB0bDwhxQwSGl070MGc_frdTBznM2_KxJC8p1DXeE/s1600/JDIMG_1217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqaMjKcMMfhLLMgrtdBIuC8eM-3QRr4tpoW6VHqYdojYSiYHShGV4rP24JWP8yfF3pXsojRa1uKiyxyrjCfMjE_4MpVajJk8lv_LB0bDwhxQwSGl070MGc_frdTBznM2_KxJC8p1DXeE/s640/JDIMG_1217.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trail along the ridge line.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnarz4GZsz-9i-3HiI1_8NyNETTLNIBCuU9Y6LzX5t7fjV3z3ZmamqC123YIRIATIgHwN-UvvGsJGZehow7xgGBSHYNme6EMvxfFz_dX7XhGvOG6FPxAqx9plSgT8UXI_ABbZXuHaHyo/s1600/JDIMG_1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnarz4GZsz-9i-3HiI1_8NyNETTLNIBCuU9Y6LzX5t7fjV3z3ZmamqC123YIRIATIgHwN-UvvGsJGZehow7xgGBSHYNme6EMvxfFz_dX7XhGvOG6FPxAqx9plSgT8UXI_ABbZXuHaHyo/s640/JDIMG_1216.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two other hikers the size of ants hiking on the ridge line</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVtGs2JfVAvqyhCy3feJR8NfysaJtoKiUupylvNwawfNDenRtexZraJS4peCSTgA77zAYZIdHTnRekUWp3hWVsYn08pk7OJI9m_HTcoqj6Lw7703on52HathWOHtAPw4mgvXHXpXO-Zc/s1600/JDIMG_1228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVtGs2JfVAvqyhCy3feJR8NfysaJtoKiUupylvNwawfNDenRtexZraJS4peCSTgA77zAYZIdHTnRekUWp3hWVsYn08pk7OJI9m_HTcoqj6Lw7703on52HathWOHtAPw4mgvXHXpXO-Zc/s640/JDIMG_1228.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FeHwqU4uXq-_vOCkKUjNI6Um8wHrZJ4F0G4JC-B-3BnSdcuJMrINATAE3DY70ReZODbHSEoY8XMzEYrgV_o_n05aml1uMg46p2h1cbeRVX6jEdHDJL5leEXwcOAyQD0ZDgjuWTv3fSc/s1600/JDIMG_1247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FeHwqU4uXq-_vOCkKUjNI6Um8wHrZJ4F0G4JC-B-3BnSdcuJMrINATAE3DY70ReZODbHSEoY8XMzEYrgV_o_n05aml1uMg46p2h1cbeRVX6jEdHDJL5leEXwcOAyQD0ZDgjuWTv3fSc/s640/JDIMG_1247.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andy discovers New Zealand</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSQoGBIelYro2mzCOhR0u3M8hWsfkPhfkD2i5WqmYKyrWVe-c7E43KC8-yB9V_7g-Dxv5AdIEsqIQf7B2CnEK2d87Ws5DV2yjlMMFUNVWIsU5OeOIUylVVtKjyhfRcMtKcEkmZj6Thms/s1600/JDIMG_1258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSQoGBIelYro2mzCOhR0u3M8hWsfkPhfkD2i5WqmYKyrWVe-c7E43KC8-yB9V_7g-Dxv5AdIEsqIQf7B2CnEK2d87Ws5DV2yjlMMFUNVWIsU5OeOIUylVVtKjyhfRcMtKcEkmZj6Thms/s640/JDIMG_1258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The hike went pretty quickly thanks to the views. Finally, we had Luxmore in sight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oI9R7ecMQ44kZiSi2Up3ucLRSXqsLkYN2Tpgd1FKh_7COggGVgKOCWwOzplLNRFnIYEXMuEY54aeVf6TyNQAZupRICIjI8wNcdSLjp9RWD_xy6SgD-y3VGTRAqaMDvFW_L11aNWLIuo/s1600/JDIMG_1270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oI9R7ecMQ44kZiSi2Up3ucLRSXqsLkYN2Tpgd1FKh_7COggGVgKOCWwOzplLNRFnIYEXMuEY54aeVf6TyNQAZupRICIjI8wNcdSLjp9RWD_xy6SgD-y3VGTRAqaMDvFW_L11aNWLIuo/s640/JDIMG_1270.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We planned to wake up early the next morning, so we quickly explored the Luxmore caves and then settled in for the night. We arose with the sun the next morning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lkxuStuwbtLw7PPCPIzIdpraLcSrqBd2fwWnRlf2t7VTtJLlZU4WHZ6iyyPdeA3KS62SzxK20yQ_GIzgcVTwtXqe6ur7fruaM06vG7tnw6PHPtrr2XUjp7h3CeS_y3BbVV3Pqy8PaSg/s1600/JDIMG_1287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lkxuStuwbtLw7PPCPIzIdpraLcSrqBd2fwWnRlf2t7VTtJLlZU4WHZ6iyyPdeA3KS62SzxK20yQ_GIzgcVTwtXqe6ur7fruaM06vG7tnw6PHPtrr2XUjp7h3CeS_y3BbVV3Pqy8PaSg/s640/JDIMG_1287.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunrise out the window of Luxmore Hut</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_0VVnLVMjlcWpNRrW-3C3Gp4QWT5G3GFU8Poxs6k-Precf0sCQw5foTrr4vWbHdwdfIybLFb39-uY96mPik6NYNMbx02rPJbSJVj3iauc6kHszQcU46RL-9191p6e6iC_0u6sKzSqs/s1600/JDIMG_1293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_0VVnLVMjlcWpNRrW-3C3Gp4QWT5G3GFU8Poxs6k-Precf0sCQw5foTrr4vWbHdwdfIybLFb39-uY96mPik6NYNMbx02rPJbSJVj3iauc6kHszQcU46RL-9191p6e6iC_0u6sKzSqs/s640/JDIMG_1293.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hitting the old dusty trail</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YAxF6jz8t1wLsxUnrdhw5-jH3QiwHTHVlsS9mlPMPQpNr4opyDEzBDsh4pNzRg0TZSXHuCk9KZpKDZotb40haPvACXphBvu84mXq9AqYeG-m2G72iHhBPUQzNGG2tq_sij6XHzg6DC8/s1600/JDIMG_1296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YAxF6jz8t1wLsxUnrdhw5-jH3QiwHTHVlsS9mlPMPQpNr4opyDEzBDsh4pNzRg0TZSXHuCk9KZpKDZotb40haPvACXphBvu84mXq9AqYeG-m2G72iHhBPUQzNGG2tq_sij6XHzg6DC8/s640/JDIMG_1296.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clouds filling the valley</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSTsD9qOAZ35g0eUPT2yi3KwP29p7epCDZw5V8_SEk610vfp0p8pBQirEY0goPBO5ME5HFamEJPkutUnnzUQPAhoUb2yzyFjqsz_r62dL-56K3P4atMAX_hKkXpIOqMi36C2XTrvyqpE/s1600/JDIMG_1302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSTsD9qOAZ35g0eUPT2yi3KwP29p7epCDZw5V8_SEk610vfp0p8pBQirEY0goPBO5ME5HFamEJPkutUnnzUQPAhoUb2yzyFjqsz_r62dL-56K3P4atMAX_hKkXpIOqMi36C2XTrvyqpE/s640/JDIMG_1302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
After a few short hours, we reached the shoreline and our end was in sight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGloEoDBQFf9aQVHIAkmXaPZk4kyp4-boik8ge8vrNrX3DRhwf5gSET6rT35FoglpA_KULDRGuvmTnXiRNQjOHqrug9rdNGSvTLzjQnhlcq_PzOMXKqxM6kjnJNI0-wYH-o_jbRBvKn4E/s1600/JDIMG_1321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGloEoDBQFf9aQVHIAkmXaPZk4kyp4-boik8ge8vrNrX3DRhwf5gSET6rT35FoglpA_KULDRGuvmTnXiRNQjOHqrug9rdNGSvTLzjQnhlcq_PzOMXKqxM6kjnJNI0-wYH-o_jbRBvKn4E/s640/JDIMG_1321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On that day's descent, Andy had developed a few blisters and decided to give his 5 year old hiking shoes the boot (pun intended).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnrb6c5vG6thtUfoAOplOdSpwoPj4Y0gtnkroARGMznxn1IaJeuazXCMWIYKDuGV7N0yrjVsdLyF-lShULV5WPjW3PooV-M3ZV2vyxbxuUZyXCFjA5q2cde7ddLk1W9dJqnxwGiPWrXg/s1600/JDIMG_1329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnrb6c5vG6thtUfoAOplOdSpwoPj4Y0gtnkroARGMznxn1IaJeuazXCMWIYKDuGV7N0yrjVsdLyF-lShULV5WPjW3PooV-M3ZV2vyxbxuUZyXCFjA5q2cde7ddLk1W9dJqnxwGiPWrXg/s640/JDIMG_1329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We then boarded the bus for Queenstown.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr2KVxhv_920MdNL0Eolhunt3qBa3lsW9X6WKiVw_8REViabg6BL27rzJoAsS6GzTLynFqi_fQNlwNlJ9_QAa36XyoaHPlPx9vmgv_jxrdFlHx9bh_k8Q8P7mJQyCR6P1ww6jhNOc7Fw/s1600/JDIMG_1337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr2KVxhv_920MdNL0Eolhunt3qBa3lsW9X6WKiVw_8REViabg6BL27rzJoAsS6GzTLynFqi_fQNlwNlJ9_QAa36XyoaHPlPx9vmgv_jxrdFlHx9bh_k8Q8P7mJQyCR6P1ww6jhNOc7Fw/s640/JDIMG_1337.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Where they promptly set off fireworks to congratulate us on our hiking success.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83kKMDMXdwAseXjDXiJvH1hOx9zP0lraVHawHUlzzY9-Fq-Z66x-gONtA_VSsz9oRu2gkYAAadsz-CprWhnFvYOjkyILscr2TZMGQVzztJ8WfV3MFw2IXyHNqXE2Fbrw30fu4DN00T7M/s1600/JDIMG_1367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83kKMDMXdwAseXjDXiJvH1hOx9zP0lraVHawHUlzzY9-Fq-Z66x-gONtA_VSsz9oRu2gkYAAadsz-CprWhnFvYOjkyILscr2TZMGQVzztJ8WfV3MFw2IXyHNqXE2Fbrw30fu4DN00T7M/s640/JDIMG_1367.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Or perhaps it had something to do with it being New Year's Eve.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hiVDFIVzYKamnbuVfI_AFzv0GC8LbMBPuAkvGZMoSCEotcYASzAepjclllayMkbIwRVpcDdmcJxPoS3Cy2wMhhCpA2USRKNsQEm_nItU9Za2F0hB1sL9VZMYE4w_kFM6KVNwBIVIZfc/s1600/JDIMG_1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hiVDFIVzYKamnbuVfI_AFzv0GC8LbMBPuAkvGZMoSCEotcYASzAepjclllayMkbIwRVpcDdmcJxPoS3Cy2wMhhCpA2USRKNsQEm_nItU9Za2F0hB1sL9VZMYE4w_kFM6KVNwBIVIZfc/s640/JDIMG_1348.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
The fireworks brought a perfect end to our hike and our year. <br />
<br />
Hoping for many more memorable hikes, views and good times in 2012.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-79470940192379066872012-01-29T12:00:00.002-05:002012-01-29T12:02:14.012-05:00At Long LastWinter finally appears to be coming to Michigan.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's been a strange season so far. Temperatures in the 40's instead of 20's, rain instead of snow and sadness instead of happiness for one member of our family.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Until today.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhyts_i0xgZMepMpC8NNjEnsruwa2816C0_EQBlXsUHxSrCd_jrivpmni3nNbnwsvKoBfyQiLRabb-7xNNQxM1ScxKWync-EYF1WyiNA7FPj-FRsyr9DB6xpLahlJP2IQn69lr2jkAGg/s1600/jdIMG_2100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhyts_i0xgZMepMpC8NNjEnsruwa2816C0_EQBlXsUHxSrCd_jrivpmni3nNbnwsvKoBfyQiLRabb-7xNNQxM1ScxKWync-EYF1WyiNA7FPj-FRsyr9DB6xpLahlJP2IQn69lr2jkAGg/s640/jdIMG_2100.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>When I woke up this morning, the snow was coming down. Toby eagerly went outside to enjoy it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEY3AvBoBExeZsZFaCZjzlH9J5cyMdVIQAXVegT90-f2EOiYcA3WiuxMm-NjDB5u8k7G19rZ7636Lx5LODiu7f2Fr3ZAHAEgZSxEP0NLH29B-3K_usa5olH5Feje7UqDeaU4WcBICO7A/s1600/JDIMG_2077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEY3AvBoBExeZsZFaCZjzlH9J5cyMdVIQAXVegT90-f2EOiYcA3WiuxMm-NjDB5u8k7G19rZ7636Lx5LODiu7f2Fr3ZAHAEgZSxEP0NLH29B-3K_usa5olH5Feje7UqDeaU4WcBICO7A/s640/JDIMG_2077.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">That was about 5 hours ago.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb_3lipCoYgkCrRsL3vkCgS007NukOiMFAFrgMI-kq74Z4klCKxLW1ERpXbFPclJQ3ebPJj6S5dnaOxRntuaSBApu_c2RcprguGlpYJPnPbs0Ju3Ltxl33b1dAkOE-1QUP1eQr0N-c3M/s1600/JDIMG_2080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb_3lipCoYgkCrRsL3vkCgS007NukOiMFAFrgMI-kq74Z4klCKxLW1ERpXbFPclJQ3ebPJj6S5dnaOxRntuaSBApu_c2RcprguGlpYJPnPbs0Ju3Ltxl33b1dAkOE-1QUP1eQr0N-c3M/s640/JDIMG_2080.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He went from the yard to the dog park to the back deck.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K1gqvH9SGMl7stn38N-5ULKNc4VDwTowwETWC-eTOL9vdSxfi2skuvzAyV02vpZEoQ5WyWQ_QKPluFUCeccJHhqcnktzF_eb0b4Sq5G9xxLefYNyqGJwxTn-lQvwKrcC3NEiz2sEv8M/s1600/JDIMG_2079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K1gqvH9SGMl7stn38N-5ULKNc4VDwTowwETWC-eTOL9vdSxfi2skuvzAyV02vpZEoQ5WyWQ_QKPluFUCeccJHhqcnktzF_eb0b4Sq5G9xxLefYNyqGJwxTn-lQvwKrcC3NEiz2sEv8M/s640/JDIMG_2079.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And he'll probably be there until I call him inside. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthOC36Wn-_R1ATsuAvICGgT129oaJbgyYEhG0QkxDgOsXSUdPIG1f6MHSSaoxbB1L1XPPDA4hYQwpd7FD7P9CxWvhUwe35qCuQsJj0NxFX0Vkb_KcTrDKvpqKihMe9d5Jd3OteTSPRjY/s1600/JDIMG_2085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthOC36Wn-_R1ATsuAvICGgT129oaJbgyYEhG0QkxDgOsXSUdPIG1f6MHSSaoxbB1L1XPPDA4hYQwpd7FD7P9CxWvhUwe35qCuQsJj0NxFX0Vkb_KcTrDKvpqKihMe9d5Jd3OteTSPRjY/s640/JDIMG_2085.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">If I can find him under all that snow, that is.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-65078572502948854742012-01-25T20:37:00.000-05:002012-01-25T20:37:43.782-05:00The Routeburn TrackWe somehow made it to the shuttle on time despite Andy's best efforts to <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-zealand-beginning.html">cause a disaster</a> only a couple of hours into our vacation.<br />
<br />
We stopped along the way to get a view of where we'd be hiking the next few days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XVCqZLKyF5OKplCubNmx7UToJYvp54RWhUxT76iPsb_4H4p2Nld2eGYZgnzzdmxu5Rb1TCFK5YZQ5V48Ou27fw2chp2C9O7oM08j8El_ivSp1TARsLDM2_nlJRLVaePurkcN2voz4SE/s1600/JDIMG_0921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XVCqZLKyF5OKplCubNmx7UToJYvp54RWhUxT76iPsb_4H4p2Nld2eGYZgnzzdmxu5Rb1TCFK5YZQ5V48Ou27fw2chp2C9O7oM08j8El_ivSp1TARsLDM2_nlJRLVaePurkcN2voz4SE/s640/JDIMG_0921.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And then we were dropped at the trailhead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtonXgOBxTKK-LRWOnzm2aP6mPAwB69SmydfND2aAbgkyslxA4FgXaJIOgW4SbM_Z2fPlveEoiW1awk50h0wMDEHP9b34wuvbKOg53HcL8M3eCTG9rSRuGGEMlQaE866FcFlnAKnujng/s1600/JDIMG_0924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtonXgOBxTKK-LRWOnzm2aP6mPAwB69SmydfND2aAbgkyslxA4FgXaJIOgW4SbM_Z2fPlveEoiW1awk50h0wMDEHP9b34wuvbKOg53HcL8M3eCTG9rSRuGGEMlQaE866FcFlnAKnujng/s640/JDIMG_0924.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Routeburn_Track">The Routeburn Track</a> is 32 kilometers long and we decided to tackle the distance in 3 days. Our first day was about 9 K long and began through the woods and along a river. Many a swing bridge was encountered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNLE5wkkGvjAUjpwLWP3AJxsMALIST0MeeMiVedLCUh-62Eu75wQTQizA8qprpK4OO8kAFw-hHKuog-YNPq3ExqQjjfNlmdIv_I6ulsTZB3Ij2WobXrg6PzCjV11ZRn6FhOWQFxHsB1E/s1600/JDIMG_0925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNLE5wkkGvjAUjpwLWP3AJxsMALIST0MeeMiVedLCUh-62Eu75wQTQizA8qprpK4OO8kAFw-hHKuog-YNPq3ExqQjjfNlmdIv_I6ulsTZB3Ij2WobXrg6PzCjV11ZRn6FhOWQFxHsB1E/s640/JDIMG_0925.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr7UFJ5hXeCK1VuD5-6vqc2xf6CfKfAlqWEDVsabqmVqFFTf2Awc8pgr-w_77VnIndxRyV1e1ytKxBtxAxOWsameLulgqn2_mWSIUe1i3qVcOYIikDF4Pcng3wX8072PKlR44KrI4PGU/s1600/JDIMG_0935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr7UFJ5hXeCK1VuD5-6vqc2xf6CfKfAlqWEDVsabqmVqFFTf2Awc8pgr-w_77VnIndxRyV1e1ytKxBtxAxOWsameLulgqn2_mWSIUe1i3qVcOYIikDF4Pcng3wX8072PKlR44KrI4PGU/s640/JDIMG_0935.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
After an hour, we found a lovely clearing in which to enjoy our afternoon snack.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TI2UHX12cSqqVvfKkde_iA_y59dab_CM27p5tc18xKj1AlyHnnmzrdaNz9g_0aV1uvRhqcbGz3lmmuC1GXy-HkzJ8Q-6RlSnHEHQDatb-sAINE02Qd2MVysaQqLao8QUQbtasbP9a1M/s1600/JDIMG_0945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TI2UHX12cSqqVvfKkde_iA_y59dab_CM27p5tc18xKj1AlyHnnmzrdaNz9g_0aV1uvRhqcbGz3lmmuC1GXy-HkzJ8Q-6RlSnHEHQDatb-sAINE02Qd2MVysaQqLao8QUQbtasbP9a1M/s640/JDIMG_0945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We then continued the climb upwards to the Routeburn Falls Shelter, our first experience with a New Zealand Great Walks Hut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EPgCS1B7pqTHC8G-9wPZLrmC0LDwW3hDejmXLqu9wdtzvbw3grkozRVtq_l2QjUlNNBCdn3doqoz7fGioxBU-2VdurJoqMfgsyl7TlRwYtGJONeYfkgEeiK_1rrIi8CxDPm4E3Bapjo/s1600/JDIMG_0964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EPgCS1B7pqTHC8G-9wPZLrmC0LDwW3hDejmXLqu9wdtzvbw3grkozRVtq_l2QjUlNNBCdn3doqoz7fGioxBU-2VdurJoqMfgsyl7TlRwYtGJONeYfkgEeiK_1rrIi8CxDPm4E3Bapjo/s640/JDIMG_0964.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInZ3K7lth4e4TFIDRXuA7cT01lf0b2nxvWIYFuIcJWTaSiyLYuw6smvcV9ZMVdNeRETXdfhtlqGcLI7HLMaebQ-zfuy90qEWUCC9hR5N2nVLrybkbU-V2MeHnisWmJQYWPMSZ4bzhw_0/s1600/JDIMG_0968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInZ3K7lth4e4TFIDRXuA7cT01lf0b2nxvWIYFuIcJWTaSiyLYuw6smvcV9ZMVdNeRETXdfhtlqGcLI7HLMaebQ-zfuy90qEWUCC9hR5N2nVLrybkbU-V2MeHnisWmJQYWPMSZ4bzhw_0/s640/JDIMG_0968.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The huts were amazing. Running water, flushing toilets, stoves, seating - it almost felt like we were cheating.<br />
<br />
The next morning we had an 11 K hike ahead of us through the alpine area of the track. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixPpKX_6jcT7s-xoQp50EadI544dKe3JzGAbW7OcUGMsND65G4b1P1EgPRGPZqXulcnR2bLsQgWV3KCej3diUJTghPR9Hr1mJCEZLA_0ZUPAcXp7BXNyNBV4qIxly-NTFp-PTM0xe9aw/s1600/JDIMG_1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixPpKX_6jcT7s-xoQp50EadI544dKe3JzGAbW7OcUGMsND65G4b1P1EgPRGPZqXulcnR2bLsQgWV3KCej3diUJTghPR9Hr1mJCEZLA_0ZUPAcXp7BXNyNBV4qIxly-NTFp-PTM0xe9aw/s640/JDIMG_1006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3X5Wa7ulMi_GVLWh7YZ3LNmG3mIDr5zjYyXiryEYeuyjFVWtE7x4DyT_T9jXCn4SdlR5vy1-es_iVSptoBlV9yPgwJKDx27HRq5N6ybHz7d_W7uJPCI41qUlb_tcnXiPhbV0pVGM_cxY/s1600/JDIMG_1007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3X5Wa7ulMi_GVLWh7YZ3LNmG3mIDr5zjYyXiryEYeuyjFVWtE7x4DyT_T9jXCn4SdlR5vy1-es_iVSptoBlV9yPgwJKDx27HRq5N6ybHz7d_W7uJPCI41qUlb_tcnXiPhbV0pVGM_cxY/s640/JDIMG_1007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
A few K in, we decided to do the spur trail up Conical Hill. This was a steep, rocky and difficult climb but worth it for the views.<br />
<br />
And then there was Andy. Andy who had this conversation with his doctor before leaving:<br />
<br />
A: So you think I'll be okay to hike?<br />
Doc: You should be fine. Just wear the brace and make sure the trails are solid. <strong> No rock scrambles or anything.</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHHn53fzkwPzKUwbaREazV4FiHOvdJaSSOfDc4mBuA9dYr82ozOG7yniWKKaKr16jh36A_Wr83nWBnMQ8ZofmbdvAol25SMLyCSV0Ei3AE44c-7BnUfoHe-D492p4BN5DI7lH6Rkfq4M/s1600/JDIMG_1023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHHn53fzkwPzKUwbaREazV4FiHOvdJaSSOfDc4mBuA9dYr82ozOG7yniWKKaKr16jh36A_Wr83nWBnMQ8ZofmbdvAol25SMLyCSV0Ei3AE44c-7BnUfoHe-D492p4BN5DI7lH6Rkfq4M/s640/JDIMG_1023.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
As Andy struggled down the hill he remarked, "My doctor would hate me right now."<br />
<br />
Somehow he made it down and we continued our hike. As we rounded the bend in the mountain, we could see our finish line for the day below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQOof3m7s00KisbZSYzLuS0G9MNtbauL03_VAQAinCmkekWKF2wsgy-Bx98qHiLbhs1j94rWy6sgOik5s_OXu5HxX2RVw_OYWNHqM4bIkFlWuCDw0fAEeP0XQbuv2pq0EJuuDOPdLsHc/s1600/JDIMG_1057labeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQOof3m7s00KisbZSYzLuS0G9MNtbauL03_VAQAinCmkekWKF2wsgy-Bx98qHiLbhs1j94rWy6sgOik5s_OXu5HxX2RVw_OYWNHqM4bIkFlWuCDw0fAEeP0XQbuv2pq0EJuuDOPdLsHc/s640/JDIMG_1057labeled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
As we closed in on the hut, the trail wound it's way through the forest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidItULjCSvchdTTgv9UJozwpZBPs74ZnecYODSU7mYgMy9XwkLNogYAEujs3x1X4NYn5bu6DDRnYa_e_dTEGVo7krsmvsSPT1vk4jJ9gDAf2mSywTqI6__PSkd7LXNWbVA2-PBuBET5mU/s1600/JDIMG_1064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidItULjCSvchdTTgv9UJozwpZBPs74ZnecYODSU7mYgMy9XwkLNogYAEujs3x1X4NYn5bu6DDRnYa_e_dTEGVo7krsmvsSPT1vk4jJ9gDAf2mSywTqI6__PSkd7LXNWbVA2-PBuBET5mU/s640/JDIMG_1064.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyJO04d9J-BFMYUmim9taumIFJ_S_bL1NWCC8z7OL5ilfDgfIRd3IoVFd_EVUkzOc1iuVR_pGmrYen3_l3eUVa4mQzKQiQFAnG13EQ5Df3FHYS5SC12IHqXL2fvHw_50dLZDxK7CcdZ0/s1600/JDIMG_1065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyJO04d9J-BFMYUmim9taumIFJ_S_bL1NWCC8z7OL5ilfDgfIRd3IoVFd_EVUkzOc1iuVR_pGmrYen3_l3eUVa4mQzKQiQFAnG13EQ5Df3FHYS5SC12IHqXL2fvHw_50dLZDxK7CcdZ0/s640/JDIMG_1065.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
When we reached the hut, Andy was tired so he took a nap in "God's Chair."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pGadOVSda8yzKX4LJeh3cz7Y2gKa2yfPlq34DKBzXCIjAQnte5Djk56LIgBfUCrLnTdWA1qJTizP77TcX5PURTToCkpUshkE52FhsHdFzXVNK3mTIP-z-7Fb5dQAIMyqpPXHVaGEqco/s1600/JDIMG_1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pGadOVSda8yzKX4LJeh3cz7Y2gKa2yfPlq34DKBzXCIjAQnte5Djk56LIgBfUCrLnTdWA1qJTizP77TcX5PURTToCkpUshkE52FhsHdFzXVNK3mTIP-z-7Fb5dQAIMyqpPXHVaGEqco/s640/JDIMG_1083.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Meanwhile, I watched the trail rangers compete in the <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/features/3194239/Hut-serves-mince-pies-ndash-and-highland-games">Highland Games</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvxGxZJ-18Y4KusoeKFz3kaBXxovlH2_4vKFAaPldPF2mfiAcEG0qJV0Qp3bT82R9GbndbxM9ZzLouH7OMTIR_ieLHvhTTnXG6sGZrTbZnbxE5_k2L-zD8QGSnhTkVH6a0tVwLAkaIFs/s1600/JDIMG_1085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvxGxZJ-18Y4KusoeKFz3kaBXxovlH2_4vKFAaPldPF2mfiAcEG0qJV0Qp3bT82R9GbndbxM9ZzLouH7OMTIR_ieLHvhTTnXG6sGZrTbZnbxE5_k2L-zD8QGSnhTkVH6a0tVwLAkaIFs/s640/JDIMG_1085.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
As we had hiked to the hut, a ranger passed us and filled us in on the games. The Routeburn track actually crosses through two different National Parks. On the 3rd day after Christmas, the rangers from each park meet at Mackenzie Hut and compete in various events like shot put, hammer toss and golf. It was entertaining to view after a day of hiking.<br />
<br />
The next morning brought our first bout of clouds and mist as we descended the 12 K to the end of the trail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9WAHiH6D4dkbt-0JvIVDED0vjGQbq5W4kEoOf1tmt-BpEwp49WIcItXmO7vzx7B154dfz2CxrqNeivD_S7Sf3EfUaVCdvytus08tAH1UJMMwdh44QCGxam1n2McUlefumPF44w7BQ3Y/s1600/JDIMG_1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9WAHiH6D4dkbt-0JvIVDED0vjGQbq5W4kEoOf1tmt-BpEwp49WIcItXmO7vzx7B154dfz2CxrqNeivD_S7Sf3EfUaVCdvytus08tAH1UJMMwdh44QCGxam1n2McUlefumPF44w7BQ3Y/s640/JDIMG_1093.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>We had one night of rest before we would begin our next Great Walk and decided to relax in our favorite way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydWC23_0EqXKacki-BIGyt0pzgH-9e-afvPMrMgkBZVaYRwrU5M91EGTeBfWbyklIBUhFkob8KeVIBCMB4qmdoyghIP5qjs7Kl6xhZJGpxYIU6uI9O9blCSkbqlHJmnKn1cD_t9n2lEE/s1600/JDIMG_1106+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydWC23_0EqXKacki-BIGyt0pzgH-9e-afvPMrMgkBZVaYRwrU5M91EGTeBfWbyklIBUhFkob8KeVIBCMB4qmdoyghIP5qjs7Kl6xhZJGpxYIU6uI9O9blCSkbqlHJmnKn1cD_t9n2lEE/s640/JDIMG_1106+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-17531891784595885812012-01-20T10:31:00.003-05:002012-01-20T11:24:58.078-05:00On the Road to RecoveryAndy had his <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2011/12/like-son-like-father.html">ACL surgery</a> yesterday. <br />
<br />
They shaved his knee and made him initial the correct one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yoOXXoJ5rAqxa5PM0uYA1L35dl8ENidLP7xmJUksLrERhcc8S97qnieDC0SGkywKsgqkC6u9YsaFs41wjGWwd9Q8f_Vo3UgCvRUttOyU0Yrp5KfQvY96yRf5feiytMc83OoxH0fc_gI/s1600/AntiTroyLeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yoOXXoJ5rAqxa5PM0uYA1L35dl8ENidLP7xmJUksLrERhcc8S97qnieDC0SGkywKsgqkC6u9YsaFs41wjGWwd9Q8f_Vo3UgCvRUttOyU0Yrp5KfQvY96yRf5feiytMc83OoxH0fc_gI/s400/AntiTroyLeg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And then the surgeon came in and initialed the correct knee.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And then the nurse came in and made him state the correct knee.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Basically it was confirmed about 700 times that the left knee was the one to operate on. Apparently it only takes one doctor somewhere to operate on the wrong appendage to put a few additional protocols in place.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon enough I got him home and comfortable. And then the dogs decided to help make him more comfortable too.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoAoC3b3-WXUovwO_POqdDW1BWPV5GQ5LC6e8iFkCUudb-s6L3mITo6hneCZ9mIAQRqSh523Ts9YO4YcMghN4OfVSer8Gw10sJLOvYoA1rImO1j3bjpVDB_GkiElXmwCVdbsEcVa5BnI/s1600/IMG_1992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoAoC3b3-WXUovwO_POqdDW1BWPV5GQ5LC6e8iFkCUudb-s6L3mITo6hneCZ9mIAQRqSh523Ts9YO4YcMghN4OfVSer8Gw10sJLOvYoA1rImO1j3bjpVDB_GkiElXmwCVdbsEcVa5BnI/s640/IMG_1992.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJso3Sdn4lISduHXPVNkd8mH9uG6glLxU_WlZdN3VLcFjFheDilZgHztpt4rpIK9E6pqCQqEu4Rlc39asUCs4bWzRL9pz7O_sX2vzSfAbKdHBPSX1x23gRrrGiI_fuoZmT-E5lLXo8uM/s1600/IMG_2014+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJso3Sdn4lISduHXPVNkd8mH9uG6glLxU_WlZdN3VLcFjFheDilZgHztpt4rpIK9E6pqCQqEu4Rlc39asUCs4bWzRL9pz7O_sX2vzSfAbKdHBPSX1x23gRrrGiI_fuoZmT-E5lLXo8uM/s640/IMG_2014+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKzEHlB3bWBBbuM_tirqooXjFBLp7sQR9T1f2BzuFHVQ6Dm0e8jw_nsBwa3Jrm8j4csFcuX7EBhLuEiazDI33DqrnadYOUPLlGG25TfmMKx-nTRtUeZNLD2y6FF-_NCwdkCptkM2Yl6E/s1600/IMG_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKzEHlB3bWBBbuM_tirqooXjFBLp7sQR9T1f2BzuFHVQ6Dm0e8jw_nsBwa3Jrm8j4csFcuX7EBhLuEiazDI33DqrnadYOUPLlGG25TfmMKx-nTRtUeZNLD2y6FF-_NCwdkCptkM2Yl6E/s640/IMG_2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div align="left"><br />
Although "Dog Hugs" weren't formally laid out in his recovery packet, I think we'll allow the additional therapy.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-74411593092051474052012-01-19T14:34:00.003-05:002012-01-19T14:37:43.076-05:00New Zealand - A Sprint for the StartGetting to New Zealand from Michigan is not easy.<br />
<br />
It is long.<br />
<br />
Ambien is necessary.<br />
<br />
Planes with personal TV screens and free movies to choose from is also necessary.<br />
<br />
Here's a quick breakdown of our journey:<br />
<br />
Step 1: Drive 3 hours to Chicago.<br />
Step 2: 3 and a half hour flight to LA - 6 hour layover<br />
Step 3: 14 hour flight to Brisbane, Australia - 12 hour layover <br />
Step 4: 3 hour flight to Christchuch, NZ - 8 hour layover<br />
Step 5: 1 hour flight to Queenstown, NZ - 6 hours until shuttle departure<br />
Step 6: 2 hour shuttle ride<br />
Step 7: Begin hike!<br />
<br />
My jet lag just came back from typing that. <br />
<br />
I should note that our Brisbane layover on Christmas Day was awesome. We left the airport and went to the "beach" - it's on a river but I'll call it a beach anyways - had some beers and relaxed. I'd show you pictures because I brought my camera - I just forgot to put a memory card in it. Whoops. <br />
<br />
For our midnight to 8 am layover in Christchurch, we hauled out our sleep pads and bags and slept on the floor of the airport. Because we're classy like that.<br />
<br />
Somehow, we finally arrived in Queenstown, got some grub, stored our suitcases and went to the lake:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XPVa8sexbzWSv4KOWW3IqCGpKX1nwcFaTCGQpUCKoCERZ8Zukf3clnQvgeVdl-edL5mPilaUpJMPzsPogcb5XCvs-vt7yYpnMu3AWL4iXZ1BOpfbE3Mvt6cgq1Jc-Rqyxhs01XzMYAk/s1600/JDIMG_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XPVa8sexbzWSv4KOWW3IqCGpKX1nwcFaTCGQpUCKoCERZ8Zukf3clnQvgeVdl-edL5mPilaUpJMPzsPogcb5XCvs-vt7yYpnMu3AWL4iXZ1BOpfbE3Mvt6cgq1Jc-Rqyxhs01XzMYAk/s640/JDIMG_0918.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
That's not us in the above photo, just 2 random tourists who decided to sit down and get all up in my picture.<br />
<br />
As we sat on the beach waiting for our 3 pm shuttle to depart, Andy perused our documents. Then this happened:<br />
<br />
Andy: Uh, we should probably head to the shuttle stop.<br />
Me: Why? We've got like 2 hours right?<br />
Andy: I guess I kind of remembered wrong. It leaves at one.<br />
Me: You mean now?<br />
Andy: Yeah.<br />
<br />
And with that, we began our relaxing vacation with a less than relaxing sprint for the shuttle.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-46696813091604174462012-01-10T15:16:00.000-05:002012-01-10T15:16:52.490-05:00You'll Never Believe What Washed AshoreAndy and I had a first in our hiking history at our campsite yesterday.<br />
<br />
The day started out fairly normally. The night before we had read that our intended campsite, Mutton's Cove, was closed because of the flooding and landslides that hit that area of New Zealand in the previous weeks. We were bummed because it was supposed to be one of the most remote and beautiful beaches, but we figured we'd find somewhere else to hike.<br />
<br />
We decided to go on a guided kayak trip that morning. When we mentioned our situation to the owner of kayak rental, he told us he thought the campsite had just opened and would check into things while we were out on the water kayaking.<br />
<br />
So off we went kayaking, which was pretty amazing. I was nervous at first but calmed down as we paddled around and hung out with the birds, jellyfish and seals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3tHkDRgUMWT8mdSOXsiB8djW7iI8xxvU8B4ZMmI4jLg7tTe0_XSwgbMKHXI1f0R30_Siyq7I56lOkd1cTbbcjSadZf7e8BvYZuUIsN7sD6MtFA2ppYL7VQnP0W0EH0eTR_XJajWhm04/s1600/JDIMG_1831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3tHkDRgUMWT8mdSOXsiB8djW7iI8xxvU8B4ZMmI4jLg7tTe0_XSwgbMKHXI1f0R30_Siyq7I56lOkd1cTbbcjSadZf7e8BvYZuUIsN7sD6MtFA2ppYL7VQnP0W0EH0eTR_XJajWhm04/s640/JDIMG_1831.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjn0Xtzf9ypejGDNd5m9z3jG0gw5yBLLLFToAGXxJprxsyL0hrDNn9DhPfEgAi7g89N_P9847nayrij7fauP7UfMAKZ95W3Ri9zn6TttPt4Kf-n4gppxi1YWJ6q_HyYjO4WBFTt5pXLZE/s1600/JDIMG_1836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjn0Xtzf9ypejGDNd5m9z3jG0gw5yBLLLFToAGXxJprxsyL0hrDNn9DhPfEgAi7g89N_P9847nayrij7fauP7UfMAKZ95W3Ri9zn6TttPt4Kf-n4gppxi1YWJ6q_HyYjO4WBFTt5pXLZE/s640/JDIMG_1836.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmuaqcMR2aJ2277wKNoXfrXL-Mte3lUrbqcMyAi5PbcelTp6dm4TIzsBnQrqOFNDMgG7CmjfgElOBBadd-4fzhlcubmrxVeZ0qhUNPRIJFAPzG4Wdqm0rU7FoWj-FvBj5hkM8fcdaHHk/s1600/JDIMG_1832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmuaqcMR2aJ2277wKNoXfrXL-Mte3lUrbqcMyAi5PbcelTp6dm4TIzsBnQrqOFNDMgG7CmjfgElOBBadd-4fzhlcubmrxVeZ0qhUNPRIJFAPzG4Wdqm0rU7FoWj-FvBj5hkM8fcdaHHk/s640/JDIMG_1832.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After we disembarked from the kayaks, the owner told us our campsite was open, but the water taxi to it left in 15 minutes. He had called the boat operator for us and he'd wait an extra 5 minutes for us - so we flew to the car, threw some things in our hiking bags, raced to the boat launch and boarded the water taxi just in time. We then began to trek to our remote beach campsite and set up our tent.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMGclaMyIHWn0ntphcqLnnwQt1TFgnwpUFjG85b-PQXZJlaGIHhTelGV7I2fku62CJgnyzgDb_Xy_jgmnIrt_gvW1geHBZhB5-qRhHUBU2epF_x79tvWEEc_TtCfYQUeRhW2bmmLrENo/s1600/jdIMG_1854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMGclaMyIHWn0ntphcqLnnwQt1TFgnwpUFjG85b-PQXZJlaGIHhTelGV7I2fku62CJgnyzgDb_Xy_jgmnIrt_gvW1geHBZhB5-qRhHUBU2epF_x79tvWEEc_TtCfYQUeRhW2bmmLrENo/s640/jdIMG_1854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_o2ld3rNyxoZUyccQIsDpA2pV6lW4uZrTLn3kr4G9W3JvKjZlsQR_qvaKPunQoo4H9O3MzuurQ4YCObxoBFe7VOz3zx71WYxGSk6juNBW-iatj-ioaRxW_yDUivM_s5ALwyvzagoydwc/s1600/JDIMG_1868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_o2ld3rNyxoZUyccQIsDpA2pV6lW4uZrTLn3kr4G9W3JvKjZlsQR_qvaKPunQoo4H9O3MzuurQ4YCObxoBFe7VOz3zx71WYxGSk6juNBW-iatj-ioaRxW_yDUivM_s5ALwyvzagoydwc/s640/JDIMG_1868.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> And then this washed ashore:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-H468YDHtzrm2QQqkVWwGe9tAlqYkZB0QqoA7xbduJW-1exUPZdzDTXk-CmuCgyZ825Q0chMQmfLhLA-1f78IP-seklOptwQLze0gqcy2m1VcREkeuAAptM9FwxIY-5GzdjM3f533gA/s1600/JDIMG_1875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-H468YDHtzrm2QQqkVWwGe9tAlqYkZB0QqoA7xbduJW-1exUPZdzDTXk-CmuCgyZ825Q0chMQmfLhLA-1f78IP-seklOptwQLze0gqcy2m1VcREkeuAAptM9FwxIY-5GzdjM3f533gA/s640/JDIMG_1875.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And then we thought we it was a mirage and we were hallucinating, but truly, a Bernese Mountain Dog named Cash had come ashore. His owner, Ken from Wellington, had brought his kids and the dogs out boating, and they had randomly chose to stop at our beach. Ken had put Cash on the dingy and put a life jacket on him, but Cash doesn't swim. So he was surprised when Cash suddenly jumped out of the dingy. One of the kids had to get him and bring him to shore, luckily his life jacket kept him afloat.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sgjFsiYsRjR6iI9bvFsCTO2vnlIOAfLQbZpzNK4HB3zBObMy_v9KdWEjD095VjLl5KH_Sx90rC9KzJIUqpKtBUKcCwml-0TSnddPaYkdyXyZvvBZbJHSj8tonaNkUzKZy4vOm-S61ow/s1600/JDIMG_1874+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sgjFsiYsRjR6iI9bvFsCTO2vnlIOAfLQbZpzNK4HB3zBObMy_v9KdWEjD095VjLl5KH_Sx90rC9KzJIUqpKtBUKcCwml-0TSnddPaYkdyXyZvvBZbJHSj8tonaNkUzKZy4vOm-S61ow/s640/JDIMG_1874+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Ken informed us that Berners aren't too common in the North Island or the Northern part of the South Island where we were camping. We couldn't believe the luck that our remote campsite opened for use, that we barely made the boat to bring us here, that Ken - one of the few Berner owners on the island - chose this beach to stop at and that Cash oddly decided to jump in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So we gave Cash some pets, Ken gave us some beers and we enjoyed the random events of the day that led a Bernese Mountain Dog to our campsite.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKbQW38OvK2TtySbM2Ts6K4qog45Pzzrpj-Lx27sjzIk2BCDnbn3tnt9kQeqRfOuWD24PXXEi_5AjA-4QmGpiR_vZpCIZpC2R3UfF1adVSyVGmR8dsModRK8obPnm0LJ-VMp_lOuxlSs/s1600/JDIMG_1876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKbQW38OvK2TtySbM2Ts6K4qog45Pzzrpj-Lx27sjzIk2BCDnbn3tnt9kQeqRfOuWD24PXXEi_5AjA-4QmGpiR_vZpCIZpC2R3UfF1adVSyVGmR8dsModRK8obPnm0LJ-VMp_lOuxlSs/s640/JDIMG_1876.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-29383744351449241082012-01-08T01:57:00.001-05:002012-01-08T01:57:25.004-05:00New Zealand Log Crawl 2012Yesterday I went on my first Log Crawl.<br />
<br />
It was kind of like a Bar Crawl, only New Zealand beach style. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8wAqIsnQfW-PTg79qIkY5vO0NThNN287PZG3NBJgwho0ZINiFPy28I6COFy2v7yTCNjU1nZFz2LyjOc6HXKuH2eg97yqgkmHOK_eec2nYpusx0R_zLH-JV_D-vcoAhwfD0geKkyKtd4/s1600/JDIMG_1769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8wAqIsnQfW-PTg79qIkY5vO0NThNN287PZG3NBJgwho0ZINiFPy28I6COFy2v7yTCNjU1nZFz2LyjOc6HXKuH2eg97yqgkmHOK_eec2nYpusx0R_zLH-JV_D-vcoAhwfD0geKkyKtd4/s640/JDIMG_1769.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>We arrived in Westport and promptly made our way to West Coast Brewing Co. There we engaged in a beer “tasting.” This consisted of the brewing assistant giving us some glasses and pretty much leaving the taps open for our choosing for the next two hours. We chatted with some locals and travelers and enjoyed our brew. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq84na9UrOrmesIrt_K65CnVNhL6JB1-1ubg1W4ZKS6bqE8UlNSB3jRmZG0wlMFYmpn_XM1fwWl-_fOIRS2ZvNRCYZ1EfcPNqCqpK8_003-tsavIQjmCTVIkM0mhkVCNnMaLayMaVRPc/s1600/JDIMG_1762+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq84na9UrOrmesIrt_K65CnVNhL6JB1-1ubg1W4ZKS6bqE8UlNSB3jRmZG0wlMFYmpn_XM1fwWl-_fOIRS2ZvNRCYZ1EfcPNqCqpK8_003-tsavIQjmCTVIkM0mhkVCNnMaLayMaVRPc/s640/JDIMG_1762+copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />
When we left, we took a “rigger,” which is basically an empty 2 liter pop bottle filled with beer to go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKULqnrGGauxXvDCVSfZFwfGYPNntupfUYDRkPFNoodiIpc3yTsKJ0ibHyuWiv4FsgYzKRBvU6sd3DsjgBidRGNQcR7KpgMELTiTDYhmUvXz9OIMSgQLGYVg0im-9ZrFDWJKbhF_GJ2g8/s1600/JDIMG_1761+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKULqnrGGauxXvDCVSfZFwfGYPNntupfUYDRkPFNoodiIpc3yTsKJ0ibHyuWiv4FsgYzKRBvU6sd3DsjgBidRGNQcR7KpgMELTiTDYhmUvXz9OIMSgQLGYVg0im-9ZrFDWJKbhF_GJ2g8/s640/JDIMG_1761+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Westport is a beach town, so we made our way to the beach with our rigger in tow. We decided we wanted to walk the beach, but we didn’t want the rigger of beer to get warm in the car, so it came with us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmt7fq4Y6K_E77WCNq4BobGotXB8pm4jPHFK5Yid60OPxA8xzbrRnO-UmozxG2VisdvwHZMepqoQganFqcPZM0o1JEMBshI2YjGZ9JkSaZ-dYvtoc1zhOmIajbPRbNkEiR1BqaYf-TPo/s1600/JDIMG_1774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmt7fq4Y6K_E77WCNq4BobGotXB8pm4jPHFK5Yid60OPxA8xzbrRnO-UmozxG2VisdvwHZMepqoQganFqcPZM0o1JEMBshI2YjGZ9JkSaZ-dYvtoc1zhOmIajbPRbNkEiR1BqaYf-TPo/s640/JDIMG_1774.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From that point on, we stopped at each comfortable log along our walk, sat down and sipped some beer and then moved on to the next cozy looking log. When our rigger was half way gone, we turned around and headed back.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDZBV1_Rl8fKVJF7KOa_hrLwvM8cu-4VutiyUSBK7SPnsHaJifXR80VGetMLlRMlWCjlV0e4vYWc28y4H_FLqk0K8HVeBn4KTiu97ZDXX0wHsTL_G7F1Eg-frKMhjeaOVrBuhdcNxKXQ/s1600/JDIMG_1770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDZBV1_Rl8fKVJF7KOa_hrLwvM8cu-4VutiyUSBK7SPnsHaJifXR80VGetMLlRMlWCjlV0e4vYWc28y4H_FLqk0K8HVeBn4KTiu97ZDXX0wHsTL_G7F1Eg-frKMhjeaOVrBuhdcNxKXQ/s640/JDIMG_1770.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqne0sRs9VJjsrU0zTB5HMTyejEXGtD7qpzfXiXzIoD5zPc1AUNfXdVo2jwz3FkcnUBuUAOy3K2qdr6GNJ9OejPLdNaRapN8np6jmfKIHXKQEW3J3rf3bE0j4ObCy64t07DbzCLop4alE/s1600/JDIMG_1766+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqne0sRs9VJjsrU0zTB5HMTyejEXGtD7qpzfXiXzIoD5zPc1AUNfXdVo2jwz3FkcnUBuUAOy3K2qdr6GNJ9OejPLdNaRapN8np6jmfKIHXKQEW3J3rf3bE0j4ObCy64t07DbzCLop4alE/s640/JDIMG_1766+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thus two litters of beer and two miles of beach led to my first unofficial log crawl.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-32292989706240390612012-01-01T02:00:00.000-05:002012-01-01T02:00:44.540-05:00Kiwi State of MindGreetings from New Zealand!<br />
We have to pay for the internet here – so I’m just posting quickly to say by some crazy miracle Andy’s knee has been no problem for him hiking. He’s actually still faster than me on the trail half the time, which kind of makes me want to break his other ACL.<br />
<br />
He did develop some blisters on our final day coming off of one of the trails. He was angry at his hiking shoes for betraying him after five years and hundreds of miles. So he threw them away less than a minute after getting off the trail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuYnsPSy9zpFtMS2VAQHg5VIMQdl7wgDQYUiNRtvR7olyKuTSdPQon4pmtyX4uDaY2h7nbFP4fxpW6JAhzO0CsClZu-MvFbPElGGa6yye5P79JEea_QSv9pNkhapMDtvjoI26x5ZQ-7k/s1600/JDIMG_1329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuYnsPSy9zpFtMS2VAQHg5VIMQdl7wgDQYUiNRtvR7olyKuTSdPQon4pmtyX4uDaY2h7nbFP4fxpW6JAhzO0CsClZu-MvFbPElGGa6yye5P79JEea_QSv9pNkhapMDtvjoI26x5ZQ-7k/s640/JDIMG_1329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And now just a few pictures/highlights from our adventure thus far:<br />
Lunch spot on our first day in New Zealand:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pn7RY2u_l-raIpkolzVKxGWrAxtzOpW15prXJqBoNzKLH6MtPYZHsBgzbZ9vKGkIHMZcJtbJeV6au4_KXIaorGudpAR0FcHcwTwm9hh3s82N6qd_YrzLCbIzdggZQUYp9HaPj1Fji3c/s1600/JDIMG_0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pn7RY2u_l-raIpkolzVKxGWrAxtzOpW15prXJqBoNzKLH6MtPYZHsBgzbZ9vKGkIHMZcJtbJeV6au4_KXIaorGudpAR0FcHcwTwm9hh3s82N6qd_YrzLCbIzdggZQUYp9HaPj1Fji3c/s640/JDIMG_0946.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
A rainbow over Te Anau:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEf_YHNnDyjo2q1mQwRaI0taeBfq8b5YEHFfccXyBVFw8fDAmhVERXQMQ4OSwNiS57ca6kDhEYMxIM551sMVzhvIBUFAN7ysOtw3WVo7H0EjIm0QGga0w8xHNG8cFtCCESrcX470hxFk/s1600/JDIMG_1118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEf_YHNnDyjo2q1mQwRaI0taeBfq8b5YEHFfccXyBVFw8fDAmhVERXQMQ4OSwNiS57ca6kDhEYMxIM551sMVzhvIBUFAN7ysOtw3WVo7H0EjIm0QGga0w8xHNG8cFtCCESrcX470hxFk/s640/JDIMG_1118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Andy discovering New Zealand:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghY1ShHOad_Iex-m-lNeXJz-z4ol07LRbmZBiu4g9LHmsR_e0tW_7425uBcdyrsYG7giRNsI74JiVGAabg3tq8Vheik0oXhdL1ixhdARypGXM2EWf1w1zTJiDMTLUIV6eK9n4V89tF1E/s1600/JDIMG_1247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghY1ShHOad_Iex-m-lNeXJz-z4ol07LRbmZBiu4g9LHmsR_e0tW_7425uBcdyrsYG7giRNsI74JiVGAabg3tq8Vheik0oXhdL1ixhdARypGXM2EWf1w1zTJiDMTLUIV6eK9n4V89tF1E/s640/JDIMG_1247.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Kepler Trail complete:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfPUOlngYRwPeb6NSoBGB4giOyKL6HNHyyeL3_5Lwc1496kCTCAVdIszfa7VOvXgPzvL6h9PpTNo6RY-eO_NfgPFehaIbvk9aeXMkYxdTFs9TBOKq52qPlA2zOJ_r67Ng7InGiErFPnM/s1600/JDIMG_1321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfPUOlngYRwPeb6NSoBGB4giOyKL6HNHyyeL3_5Lwc1496kCTCAVdIszfa7VOvXgPzvL6h9PpTNo6RY-eO_NfgPFehaIbvk9aeXMkYxdTFs9TBOKq52qPlA2zOJ_r67Ng7InGiErFPnM/s640/JDIMG_1321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
New Year’s Day Picnic:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7n74rxw6Rji5jmyMAJW_OXvg0dqMytYpm3slwC0bWr6iKTmri8nFIwKFtPWF6d1pWVp3unBRLZw9Cg97ypDoIIgf3NFYvaLJnTZ2HDWUWE96ujNrHVTq0l44sUdTLfArhSbte2qQxwI/s1600/JDIMG_1370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7n74rxw6Rji5jmyMAJW_OXvg0dqMytYpm3slwC0bWr6iKTmri8nFIwKFtPWF6d1pWVp3unBRLZw9Cg97ypDoIIgf3NFYvaLJnTZ2HDWUWE96ujNrHVTq0l44sUdTLfArhSbte2qQxwI/s640/JDIMG_1370.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Crossing my fingers that our good luck and sunny days continue.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-15259073140483813202011-12-09T15:56:00.001-05:002011-12-09T15:57:03.325-05:00Like Son, Like FatherThe memory of Toby's <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-has-4-paws.html">3 ACL surgeries</a> is still fresh as the snowfall we received in Michigan last night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYpiJFUIkpj8mdme9qEe-6uJJhq_gsS6sOJPuYEc89UwUTJc3pblm2KU_eytXX_tR5kQent8_CLVYIoCXBga4cEMt-kZ70xelX2zIt2S-IGk89Fe5AS-UWIhKGxjcHZ9UDSmzUSYC0wQ/s1600/SnowyToby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYpiJFUIkpj8mdme9qEe-6uJJhq_gsS6sOJPuYEc89UwUTJc3pblm2KU_eytXX_tR5kQent8_CLVYIoCXBga4cEMt-kZ70xelX2zIt2S-IGk89Fe5AS-UWIhKGxjcHZ9UDSmzUSYC0wQ/s400/SnowyToby.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
That's actually an old snowy Toby photo, but you get the idea.<br />
<br />
His injury occurred 2 weeks before we left for Ireland. My Mama helped nurse him back to heatlh while we were away.<br />
<br />
So, here we sit, 2 weeks before we leave for New Zealand, for the hiking trip of a lifetime.<br />
<br />
Toby's ACL is still in tact.<br />
<br />
Andy's ACL? Not so much.<br />
<br />
He injured it at soccer and got the MRI results today. <br />
<br />
Fortunately the doctor thinks he can fit Andy for a brace that will keep him stable enough for hiking. It might mean a little less than we'd planned, but we'll do what we can. It might just mean we'll hike less and visit wineries more. And more wine is never a bad thing.<br />
<br />
So we'll delay surgery until our return. <br />
<br />
At which point I should probably schedule a vacation and have my Mama nurse him back to health. <br />
<br />
Whaddaya think Ma? At least you wouldn't have to fight to keep a cone on Andy's head.<br />
<br />
So until we leave, Andy will be commiserating with the one furry guy who can best relate to his pain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NRUEWuBpwcKVgx1hC-dT_trag7Ik-pm40BZdWzOcJ4R3ziwF8Th-tB16ZOCg26U9hx8iX3xVnhsot4wdOtX2emRc91OUSDmfHzEmkQE4leLjJqmSRgQ7z7iM7sw90RUjLAhnX1dzd1k/s1600/IMG_7884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NRUEWuBpwcKVgx1hC-dT_trag7Ik-pm40BZdWzOcJ4R3ziwF8Th-tB16ZOCg26U9hx8iX3xVnhsot4wdOtX2emRc91OUSDmfHzEmkQE4leLjJqmSRgQ7z7iM7sw90RUjLAhnX1dzd1k/s400/IMG_7884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-60869119616964004802011-12-06T08:45:00.001-05:002011-12-06T08:46:46.140-05:00O CanadaAfter Andy completely outdid himself <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2011/09/surprise-of-lifetime.html">surprising me for my 30th birthday</a>, I knew I wanted to do at least a little something fun for him when he turned 30.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_dovtpMCi38" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
For some reason we passed on Chuck E Cheese and decided on a joint birthday road trip with friends to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGbSq-tOnLMt0fnupBY-QoRM-8nOCk27xotHxzYqufavK3_OEyBHbty4NO4Jv8hIMF-ER-Mwh1PtxKKE_2YPaBebuPtE4Fyegol8c7DFWuJ5422gz0YjUoY_8ZXKKg56c_jGCdxLqn4s/s1600/canada-america-s-hat-t-shirt-bustedtees-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGbSq-tOnLMt0fnupBY-QoRM-8nOCk27xotHxzYqufavK3_OEyBHbty4NO4Jv8hIMF-ER-Mwh1PtxKKE_2YPaBebuPtE4Fyegol8c7DFWuJ5422gz0YjUoY_8ZXKKg56c_jGCdxLqn4s/s400/canada-america-s-hat-t-shirt-bustedtees-2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div>He was excited about the destination, but he screamed like a kid on Christmas when I told him our hotel was at the casino. I also told him I would give him the gift of not standing over his shoulder and nagging his face off while he gambled. I'm generous like that.<br />
<br />
Soon after crossing the border, I began my love affair with Tim Horton's and proceeded to be fueled by TimBits for the rest of the weekend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9w_sb55l53i60BMkiwvJmFQ51aPhGHQtISFuX_OCodnwtS4zlkZET5x4dR-2hrj33SM08kAVn-u-sNXOrs2UcRlWe3SsHnQG1rlIvMl7fLSF861FbWQxCTa_RyMS5Gh1HJPBc-7aVlU/s1600/TimHortons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9w_sb55l53i60BMkiwvJmFQ51aPhGHQtISFuX_OCodnwtS4zlkZET5x4dR-2hrj33SM08kAVn-u-sNXOrs2UcRlWe3SsHnQG1rlIvMl7fLSF861FbWQxCTa_RyMS5Gh1HJPBc-7aVlU/s320/TimHortons.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our friend had a slight issue with his passport. It was expired. And it was 10 years old. And he went bald. And he grew a beard. Thankfully some border agent took pity on him and let him pass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UOPBsYdEIlMaD26Chf7ZsmfOi4f2cQcBZvqeYYT1cvWbti2lrbe5gzqykHx-xNrgSH49klh1m32n13snGZQ7lvCgXQtRS8PB-0hYWkaYO1cJyupU4VgDaMRnYxR-BQK0OIvibr33ecY/s1600/JDIMG_0393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UOPBsYdEIlMaD26Chf7ZsmfOi4f2cQcBZvqeYYT1cvWbti2lrbe5gzqykHx-xNrgSH49klh1m32n13snGZQ7lvCgXQtRS8PB-0hYWkaYO1cJyupU4VgDaMRnYxR-BQK0OIvibr33ecY/s320/JDIMG_0393.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slight difference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Andy borrowed another friends blazer to complete his "I'm an engineer" outfit. Please note the too short jeans and white tennis shoes:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSqESdrZAgMzNjL9YwDD8-64jikNbxT9zdI_1IUzyyuyPAy4SWbtEXwCdKD5PKhoQPg5XuBHD_pvPZXiTFiRumADVwH48gXt_9Hj4ZZzzwEwh0839YAHahf-M247A6BdS8oS8BqH11DI/s1600/JDIMG_0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSqESdrZAgMzNjL9YwDD8-64jikNbxT9zdI_1IUzyyuyPAy4SWbtEXwCdKD5PKhoQPg5XuBHD_pvPZXiTFiRumADVwH48gXt_9Hj4ZZzzwEwh0839YAHahf-M247A6BdS8oS8BqH11DI/s400/JDIMG_0395.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trendsetter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day we slowly made our way to the falls. Do you know how difficult it is to keep a group of 11 individuals who are easily distracted by shiny lights and beer together? It's a lot like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8">herding cats</a>. We almost managed one group photo:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1V9Ywc071LiF2q6MBOgaV-DuM1FTj4mYxPl1nt5sAnFM8EYwSC1I8msEMMZP4n0diGwlVFIHbc_0KOOghZ-0MHtrpWZev38kheAC9Mu9fLdDN-eeqpGe-yl8cn2CkwfBT51uKCGpQm8/s1600/JDIMG_0413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1V9Ywc071LiF2q6MBOgaV-DuM1FTj4mYxPl1nt5sAnFM8EYwSC1I8msEMMZP4n0diGwlVFIHbc_0KOOghZ-0MHtrpWZev38kheAC9Mu9fLdDN-eeqpGe-yl8cn2CkwfBT51uKCGpQm8/s400/JDIMG_0413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Team America minus one.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKOEYqm8OI85GeBR_jDBeHvKBlAk0iW1_A1g310rU4lfyioZNVcdXUaXaTRU5e88HaxiPhduWrAbnRYFTaAs1Y3_wBWWgD1WXbgEVsH1mh2UkL9NTTkll_HrREjg8pXLyuWLiLoocEIo/s1600/JDIMG_0403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKOEYqm8OI85GeBR_jDBeHvKBlAk0iW1_A1g310rU4lfyioZNVcdXUaXaTRU5e88HaxiPhduWrAbnRYFTaAs1Y3_wBWWgD1WXbgEVsH1mh2UkL9NTTkll_HrREjg8pXLyuWLiLoocEIo/s400/JDIMG_0403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We visited a brewery afterwards. Although the beer was good, the poutine was even better.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKis1rzlcFwYVSj7zovhJHObUl7zgMvWRvaQ4uR2x2KxqETB8i6a2B8qj6EKEwn2OgvfUILjhSYCcRhHDxo0OljlxAjeKpzhaKobAIPg_dgYQ7ZBE9LM_CBM5WZIfP6XmjLZWr2wnSww/s1600/JDIMG_0452+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKis1rzlcFwYVSj7zovhJHObUl7zgMvWRvaQ4uR2x2KxqETB8i6a2B8qj6EKEwn2OgvfUILjhSYCcRhHDxo0OljlxAjeKpzhaKobAIPg_dgYQ7ZBE9LM_CBM5WZIfP6XmjLZWr2wnSww/s400/JDIMG_0452+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">More majestic than the Falls.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued indulging at a Brazilian Steakhouse for dinner. That's two hours of unlimited meat delivered to your table every few minutes. Although it left me with a stomach ache and gave me the meat sweats, it was still amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">After a little more drinking and gamling, our Canadian Dream came to an end and we made our way back home. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LOmGQavTLXrYUsj-pInvieuQg3QJxy3MTANEvSki3SlXgnHLJ4J2Ds0kEHYGBw41H5yf6cm8hrA7IvXnZJj-oiu8ZiRnbGo3U7Uw5zYbbe7HmkQPLCwLaeuqLTNgoiQuqrpfjHaTNvQ/s1600/JDIMG_0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LOmGQavTLXrYUsj-pInvieuQg3QJxy3MTANEvSki3SlXgnHLJ4J2Ds0kEHYGBw41H5yf6cm8hrA7IvXnZJj-oiu8ZiRnbGo3U7Uw5zYbbe7HmkQPLCwLaeuqLTNgoiQuqrpfjHaTNvQ/s640/JDIMG_0415.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">O Canada.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for the memories, America Jr.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-84810832468225706282011-11-24T10:23:00.000-05:002011-11-24T10:23:54.042-05:00This Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This morning I woke up and started to prepare my share for the family Thanksgiving meal. As I started to prepare my stuffed mushrooms, I set out a container of cream cheese on the counter to soften:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwvML-9PvuUdH162bEyTv3Hhv1XDFVPfQjk-ZfPRm-q1Z9bQoqbDgi4FrivNjJ0e_xC2xSG_UOX_WI4jvTDpicnViO-P2V2iBWRnHKnMrb8V-o5VYoLCNYc-9XSwTBvYPYe_w8eC2XSc/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwvML-9PvuUdH162bEyTv3Hhv1XDFVPfQjk-ZfPRm-q1Z9bQoqbDgi4FrivNjJ0e_xC2xSG_UOX_WI4jvTDpicnViO-P2V2iBWRnHKnMrb8V-o5VYoLCNYc-9XSwTBvYPYe_w8eC2XSc/s400/IMG_0355.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At some point I went upstairs. When I returned, this is all that was left of the box, cream cheese, and tin foil encapsulating the cream cheese:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNVtEWEcCJzBYm3DrWVK7TKrKqzZhRb1Nw0ANr4mF4WQN7NzYQ3WAw7s8wqaYJ-t9ZPZiB_W28jPWvuJJls5waZvtnMH-yOBE_ND7bEhUH3RdxD5CXFsyhac7G9aF8uKc2oV08lIX8Dw/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNVtEWEcCJzBYm3DrWVK7TKrKqzZhRb1Nw0ANr4mF4WQN7NzYQ3WAw7s8wqaYJ-t9ZPZiB_W28jPWvuJJls5waZvtnMH-yOBE_ND7bEhUH3RdxD5CXFsyhac7G9aF8uKc2oV08lIX8Dw/s400/IMG_0353.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somebody feasted early today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDech3Uu8DnonFq-QmeQOpXottiGfE7nP0iqrnWARn5bmYjRo-0UvePr-vDIUkm4hQiyiMV2NB1Cgqi94dWRBQ7ULAw3yVieXg8nIgwz93FpOgs1zAut0pG5PCER44BSwyODbKLOzLho8/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDech3Uu8DnonFq-QmeQOpXottiGfE7nP0iqrnWARn5bmYjRo-0UvePr-vDIUkm4hQiyiMV2NB1Cgqi94dWRBQ7ULAw3yVieXg8nIgwz93FpOgs1zAut0pG5PCER44BSwyODbKLOzLho8/s640/IMG_0360.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I'm thankful I had the foresight to buy two blocks of cream cheese.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Thanksgiving All.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/filestorage/eat-drink-occupy-wall-street-thanksgiving-ecards-someecards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/filestorage/eat-drink-occupy-wall-street-thanksgiving-ecards-someecards.png" width="400" /></a></div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-44350262547050813712011-11-20T14:55:00.000-05:002011-11-20T14:55:49.479-05:00The FurminatorOn Sunday morning, many people 'round these parts brush up on their Bible at church.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreYQ8WKPlsTiqnXZO0OtWss9pLCf3Ue566O41culigxSkq6OT9_6cVivBL_30jSaIvd5jaUzL-kxSE_Uq5TM4N52lW1ZdPiHeTYPHD1tkRvmnAstwQ5sVl5FN_phsiunSZF5izTnZYlE/s1600/Groomed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreYQ8WKPlsTiqnXZO0OtWss9pLCf3Ue566O41culigxSkq6OT9_6cVivBL_30jSaIvd5jaUzL-kxSE_Uq5TM4N52lW1ZdPiHeTYPHD1tkRvmnAstwQ5sVl5FN_phsiunSZF5izTnZYlE/s400/Groomed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I brush up on my dog instead.<br />
<br />
Fur ever and ever, amen.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-973337983798240952011-11-18T08:51:00.002-05:002011-11-18T08:52:38.693-05:00It's Alive!Work + Life = Busy These Days<br />
<br />
This means I've neglected this blog for the past few weeks. Here's a quick run down of what's been going on the past month of my life.<br />
<br />
We tailgated with good friends:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllXaGBp-urtB6HBrollbEu5e4b1L-cYxd103hPFs79kmxMgvR5qnBMrSt7MlJ1gqmZAIi9Ngqu1hjBf1dp5KTYGPRxWCx26EHSScgHcpjtXJeCBdcn1IJ7gZESOMIACGJ8791EskMBYk/s1600/294890_10101276311243854_2329484_76617107_1523577439_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllXaGBp-urtB6HBrollbEu5e4b1L-cYxd103hPFs79kmxMgvR5qnBMrSt7MlJ1gqmZAIi9Ngqu1hjBf1dp5KTYGPRxWCx26EHSScgHcpjtXJeCBdcn1IJ7gZESOMIACGJ8791EskMBYk/s400/294890_10101276311243854_2329484_76617107_1523577439_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Halloween happened:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3u_yBZs18Z3o-o_Va8AR5K5NJs2zWO0XhUwyUv-4RrCOXZtqFvBHAuCOLhyphenhyphens1BgjqsGaJb5tfGQbuhblbiIXt_V42Q3JmcVen-MiImfFnU6KNVqcaxbPkH_YpgY4N5p5XHrUeZwIfWI/s1600/393674_10101298645346134_2329484_76844444_623960583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3u_yBZs18Z3o-o_Va8AR5K5NJs2zWO0XhUwyUv-4RrCOXZtqFvBHAuCOLhyphenhyphens1BgjqsGaJb5tfGQbuhblbiIXt_V42Q3JmcVen-MiImfFnU6KNVqcaxbPkH_YpgY4N5p5XHrUeZwIfWI/s640/393674_10101298645346134_2329484_76844444_623960583_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fireman Jackson was very excited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFINp2qZ-5yCsdIjQpDzfyYuZTcSXLycBig18CmhG2_Hsuoc_uxSENw1zDo1eGjISZSfuD77RwUK4phqFHBnS7Pu9_tFvAU71X4UWeFuH6azCImefmTl7ydRdHkWVcMYU4LRnHpSu5HU/s1600/378403_10101303839971064_2329484_76904460_1124920079_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFINp2qZ-5yCsdIjQpDzfyYuZTcSXLycBig18CmhG2_Hsuoc_uxSENw1zDo1eGjISZSfuD77RwUK4phqFHBnS7Pu9_tFvAU71X4UWeFuH6azCImefmTl7ydRdHkWVcMYU4LRnHpSu5HU/s640/378403_10101303839971064_2329484_76904460_1124920079_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also went bananas for the holiday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhycemBAluB7Grxt5RCfNL1wKCUIu-7G8tCSQTNIfXCzB2ot8a_oPnZxGeMjFECUFSa7bXc0UEK-bDzRfO1xtDMFwLH7_yUPkbCe36OgY_LbvwP6kjX3t_bUksDEBPHtg5makPZ5PcWY/s1600/IMG_20111028_113233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhycemBAluB7Grxt5RCfNL1wKCUIu-7G8tCSQTNIfXCzB2ot8a_oPnZxGeMjFECUFSa7bXc0UEK-bDzRfO1xtDMFwLH7_yUPkbCe36OgY_LbvwP6kjX3t_bUksDEBPHtg5makPZ5PcWY/s640/IMG_20111028_113233.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While one brudder was clueless about the fact he was wearing a costume, another brudder was less than amused.</div><br />
We went to Chicago and I got to snuggle this little sweetie:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyxeu6DXKG-Jev4kbCPnmGyvzwbKkuaTVn5s_OyWXCSoSoCFjqwkCHdWzxU5pmd6V4Mlw06m0C6-prBqkUEvaF3AtmOW7mkdjlg1bckNNN-13k1nt_E6xDt1F2CSJqxtEAPHfCy6AAU8/s1600/JDIMG_0301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyxeu6DXKG-Jev4kbCPnmGyvzwbKkuaTVn5s_OyWXCSoSoCFjqwkCHdWzxU5pmd6V4Mlw06m0C6-prBqkUEvaF3AtmOW7mkdjlg1bckNNN-13k1nt_E6xDt1F2CSJqxtEAPHfCy6AAU8/s400/JDIMG_0301.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continue to plan our upcoming 3 week adventure in this place:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mapsof.net/uploads/static-maps/new_zealand_south_island_satellite_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="http://mapsof.net/uploads/static-maps/new_zealand_south_island_satellite_image.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mapsof.net/map/new-zealand-south-island-satellite-image"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's the South Island of New Zealand kids, and it looks like one of the most beautiful places on Earth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/DANPOD/AU02DWA1882-FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/DANPOD/AU02DWA1882-FB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.new-zealand-vacations.info/photos/fjordland-national-park-south-island-4063236.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source </span></a></div><br />
Andy finally caught up to the rest of us and turned 30. <br />
<br />
On his birthday he declared, "Yeah, so I'm pretty mature now. I no longer find fart jokes funny."<br />
<br />
And then he farted and giggled like a 5 year old.<br />
<br />
He also brewed about 25 gallons of beer in the past month.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFok7kvRhKFGWY_5ydMwZERvYezszJ_SQBKc9a3TpY_GBZEd1guUi1eA3H4PyOUoEhEHRJ3Koe3HWrg9SZAPvw7BSPKqADxxeTfNLso9G2Nr5X0iqvsSwiy1zPycjTSfXSjattR4byAg/s1600/332829_10101331591087604_2329484_77071464_302810686_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFok7kvRhKFGWY_5ydMwZERvYezszJ_SQBKc9a3TpY_GBZEd1guUi1eA3H4PyOUoEhEHRJ3Koe3HWrg9SZAPvw7BSPKqADxxeTfNLso9G2Nr5X0iqvsSwiy1zPycjTSfXSjattR4byAg/s400/332829_10101331591087604_2329484_77071464_302810686_o.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doesn't everyone come home from work to find a 5,000 mL flask full of yeast on thie stove?</div><br />
Finally, because I want to make your Friday a little better, here's a video of a cat that sounds like an old woman saying "No, no, no."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oKI-tD0L18A" width="420"></iframe></div><br />
You're welcome.Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-53795235297296069092011-10-26T10:03:00.001-04:002011-10-26T12:36:29.679-04:00Happy Hump DayFirst, I kind of hate that people call Wednesday "Hump Day." <br />
<br />
Second, I'm now going to talk about dog humping for the rest of this post.<br />
<br />
Yes, that's right,<a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5320234/snl_celebrity_jeopardy/"> the show has reached a new low</a>.<br />
<br />
If that kind of thing skeeves you out, you should probably stop reading now.<br />
<br />
So, that dog Toby of ours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQelw1MPJhp2z8g2RX1jRTLRAiaLe20qUJgMBJuYxpyyxe_PnI89lvPwIeZtyEvDgVKii43ZOuSPOq60gM5tm-j3Y8QymCFO7Silic95lVXNIqqdij8lhA-XkBSgBsYzey8MgIuTU_uYo/s1600/PA240121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQelw1MPJhp2z8g2RX1jRTLRAiaLe20qUJgMBJuYxpyyxe_PnI89lvPwIeZtyEvDgVKii43ZOuSPOq60gM5tm-j3Y8QymCFO7Silic95lVXNIqqdij8lhA-XkBSgBsYzey8MgIuTU_uYo/s640/PA240121.JPG" width="480px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He's kind of . . . <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2011/06/special-in-special-way.html">special</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Actually, we connected the dots about why he might be so special a year or so ago. In the memory of talking to Toby's breeder in the days after he was born, I recalled a certain bit of information. I remembered her noting that "We lost one during the birth, but we were able to get him breathing again and now he's doing well."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're fairly certain the puppy that lost oxygen during his birth grew up to be our lazy-eyed Tobias Guy Head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2KsY5V7YI4XK3vxZv8m7yl7WN2K6jOUb10Sx0mvVuLVFJ6LZD2Hg3t_TsIEVmY_-5gtGYBUL1sryDdpMlgy8SnAPyyAIdM-ivADN4uUUBIlVhyphenhyphenJXg31JjpI8hZDVKCPmWPIeOdPqenE/s1600/PA280142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2KsY5V7YI4XK3vxZv8m7yl7WN2K6jOUb10Sx0mvVuLVFJ6LZD2Hg3t_TsIEVmY_-5gtGYBUL1sryDdpMlgy8SnAPyyAIdM-ivADN4uUUBIlVhyphenhyphenJXg31JjpI8hZDVKCPmWPIeOdPqenE/s640/PA280142.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Toby is pretty clueless about life in general. This makes him blissfully happy most of the time, but also confused on a regular basis.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing he has never figured out: his own body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before he got <a href="http://mrsjulid.blogspot.com/2008/12/just-like-bob-barker-says.html">fixed</a>, I think he tried to hump something once. He has never been a dominant dog and has never understood why other dogs at the dog park regularly try to hump him. He just stands around and looks confused when this happens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Occasionally his body appears to be going through some sort of confused adolescence and he will start randomly humping. Since he's asexual and doesn't know what to do, he will just walk around humping, acting confused and looking at Andy or I for help. He'll sometimes try to sit or lay down, but will find himself unable to. So he'll just be bewildered while he waits for his body to return to normal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Andy and I find this amusing, and one morning Andy decided to record the event.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So for your viewing pleasure, here's a video of Toby stuck in a hump.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1wtRV3hTKo" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Hump Day, friends and family.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771898696699459751.post-58251532181597072082011-10-20T09:13:00.005-04:002011-10-20T09:20:26.008-04:00Urban Adventure RacingA couple of weeks ago, Andy and I took part in the <a href="http://grurbanadventurerace.com/">Grand Rapids Urban Adventure Race</a>. <br />
<br />
And it was the most fun I've ever had at a race. <br />
<br />
I think that was due to the fact it wasn't like you're typical running race - where you're trying to beat a specific time goal or set a new PR. Instead, we just had fun and left our competitive spirits behind.<br />
<br />
Thirty minutes before the start, we were given our maps to plan our routes. There was a running portion and a biking portion, but you couldn't mix the two. We decided to run first and then bike and plotted our routes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIG4YVIEwKFgaxilBnXBK6ZLXs4Tl8VkJSKApOadw14VkmvRq2oah5JaT3gQ7OPqCZjYVxGMdVNJiCq9vGFdS43zEL0shoiIMOHKM8CvBvqbPxpyRuytIIQ7AWgx_UnIfBMUbqVvuO9A/s1600/307855_300672629950000_114949308522334_1435056_1470950550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIG4YVIEwKFgaxilBnXBK6ZLXs4Tl8VkJSKApOadw14VkmvRq2oah5JaT3gQ7OPqCZjYVxGMdVNJiCq9vGFdS43zEL0shoiIMOHKM8CvBvqbPxpyRuytIIQ7AWgx_UnIfBMUbqVvuO9A/s400/307855_300672629950000_114949308522334_1435056_1470950550_n.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Please note that the photos in this post are from <a href="http://www.stellaflydesign.com/">Stellafly</a> and <a href="http://terryjohnstonphoto.com/">Terry Johnston Photography</a> and feature strangers, as I chose not to carry a camera during the race. I've never carried my camera during a race because that would be a disaster.</div><br />
At each checkpoint you hole punch your passport with a unique hole puncher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGZahuIQNPwOzS_0Zrj_ngBzWsKh5vmqnPvldz61BdAD3-JjAY_GrfhmJ-6jgud2cHn0nL3GBY963D6J1n9b8MCQOBkTtM5_nd_Z6mX7gq5AJ77dB4VHO4BxCHA3f3bVYRlcnbaj3CAk/s1600/288762_287269754625003_178373955514584_1198259_288569677_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGZahuIQNPwOzS_0Zrj_ngBzWsKh5vmqnPvldz61BdAD3-JjAY_GrfhmJ-6jgud2cHn0nL3GBY963D6J1n9b8MCQOBkTtM5_nd_Z6mX7gq5AJ77dB4VHO4BxCHA3f3bVYRlcnbaj3CAk/s400/288762_287269754625003_178373955514584_1198259_288569677_o.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm7Nju7DRO0Vshp6fPoxtF2oeG498c2qokJqasuXcmfAsKO6Y9eJA0wOW8FU6Bvo6St5nWjw6SGrG8o-ek9PdGSTno_EKYQgV1gSzJ9EIYUYXu2WhWt6Vh40byf7E9ZnQSgPNX_QK_jI/s1600/314014_300676466616283_114949308522334_1435163_856337609_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm7Nju7DRO0Vshp6fPoxtF2oeG498c2qokJqasuXcmfAsKO6Y9eJA0wOW8FU6Bvo6St5nWjw6SGrG8o-ek9PdGSTno_EKYQgV1gSzJ9EIYUYXu2WhWt6Vh40byf7E9ZnQSgPNX_QK_jI/s640/314014_300676466616283_114949308522334_1435163_856337609_n.jpg" width="424px" /></a></div><br />
Some of the checkpoints have challenges you can complete for an extra hole punch. The goal is to get as many hole punches in the 4 hour time frame as possible.<br />
<br />
Since this was our first race, we weren't sure what to expect or how to best attack the course. We ended up getting all but one of the running checkpoints, but spent about 2 and a half hours running, a little over 7 miles. After transitioning to the bike, we only had a little over an hour to bike and missed a lot of checkpoints. Good thing we didn't care.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1vN-ghaR5fJoptbUB2eJHfSyBgDNsBjvx-zgNp8gFNXw07Dmmn6QwPVG32MUVWjqNjTLwBIzUuThiCsHoIC_VHzPX1c6gHQ1HLNzTPFh4xsxXx7mBHXVmg3NCF3nBsBxiu4WorYdpDU/s1600/307137_300675163283080_114949308522334_1435125_77804883_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1vN-ghaR5fJoptbUB2eJHfSyBgDNsBjvx-zgNp8gFNXw07Dmmn6QwPVG32MUVWjqNjTLwBIzUuThiCsHoIC_VHzPX1c6gHQ1HLNzTPFh4xsxXx7mBHXVmg3NCF3nBsBxiu4WorYdpDU/s400/307137_300675163283080_114949308522334_1435125_77804883_n.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Since this was themed around Grand Rapids' annual <a href="http://artprize.org/">Art Prize</a> event, many of the challenges dealt with the art. For one challenge, we were given a question and had to search for the answer in the artists' description of their work.<br />
<br />
On another challenge, we were given a picture of an eye and had to find the art work that eye was located within.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycBo69EvHdzW3I9i8TBZgihvfSlgqgua_N_KePYy4errrLzQFlgb-cEgfyfHO696N6d1jmny-GY8_aEjCY-lWj96QINHhi0a6Hanx5r3z74Z27ICCZd_0lGlkI0OBBBFclUtDG4UTF5g/s1600/314470_300677726616157_114949308522334_1435206_528254303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycBo69EvHdzW3I9i8TBZgihvfSlgqgua_N_KePYy4errrLzQFlgb-cEgfyfHO696N6d1jmny-GY8_aEjCY-lWj96QINHhi0a6Hanx5r3z74Z27ICCZd_0lGlkI0OBBBFclUtDG4UTF5g/s400/314470_300677726616157_114949308522334_1435206_528254303_n.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
The next challenge required us to count how many wooden monkeys were hanging right-side up on the blue bridge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD02E1NZdzwDddjLTuIc5m-eldoKdGxOsAjTKqyi8aPzHAwKG5auAAkdFEaEUf01LwvCbz-owCGDXHHTWwpwPwza1X-N6ymvdNWTWNeYHmXw_9THvkzvYh8fOn-dM40XfMUXx8g3CKuQ/s1600/313160_300677033282893_114949308522334_1435181_1864473046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD02E1NZdzwDddjLTuIc5m-eldoKdGxOsAjTKqyi8aPzHAwKG5auAAkdFEaEUf01LwvCbz-owCGDXHHTWwpwPwza1X-N6ymvdNWTWNeYHmXw_9THvkzvYh8fOn-dM40XfMUXx8g3CKuQ/s640/313160_300677033282893_114949308522334_1435181_1864473046_n.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One messy challenge involved a sheet where our team number was written 3 times. In "paint by number" style, we had to locate all of our numbers and paint in the squares.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9gutCa7ZWx-YYOJtKowvFwnRiiBBJsxSbmr0aNDyr8PPVB03M8YyRIngZ0xeJAqxkackpHcn-9CDcgovdP8JpPe46_b1vY9HbEDTxAuqNiCn30H5mGOoif1kG3VB0xe6rGIepZUlKEU/s1600/314000_300674593283137_114949308522334_1435107_52228424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9gutCa7ZWx-YYOJtKowvFwnRiiBBJsxSbmr0aNDyr8PPVB03M8YyRIngZ0xeJAqxkackpHcn-9CDcgovdP8JpPe46_b1vY9HbEDTxAuqNiCn30H5mGOoif1kG3VB0xe6rGIepZUlKEU/s400/314000_300674593283137_114949308522334_1435107_52228424_n.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another challenge was tied to a charity, and we purchased art supplies for <a href="http://www.wmcat.org/">WMCAT</a> and then made get well cards for the kids at the Helen Devos Children's Hospital.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the more difficult challenges was a grid puzzle. Basically we were given a blank grid and had to fill in the scrambled grid pieces that were on a wall. When put together, it made a map that led us to the checkpoint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoJtypmvrDtBpPVKzlPamarsTf25vCoz_Xk-umWrhwhCwQ-M0X1SHHq7_Kt3l0E9Tr1_AYnXn6qV3fNNtoBhGJfLqU_g5pEBCmhnoKADdwIKmke4HpqGV4_Utdju6fuwjgFaC9clHeCA/s1600/297297_300675743283022_114949308522334_1435141_1547335221_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoJtypmvrDtBpPVKzlPamarsTf25vCoz_Xk-umWrhwhCwQ-M0X1SHHq7_Kt3l0E9Tr1_AYnXn6qV3fNNtoBhGJfLqU_g5pEBCmhnoKADdwIKmke4HpqGV4_Utdju6fuwjgFaC9clHeCA/s400/297297_300675743283022_114949308522334_1435141_1547335221_n.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fUDD4vflpTJW855PI1-mgM3xlRa6335WDZ8PPFmzgx-vZP6yWp2VCQ7LjGt3TKdHcRQUSSaBAc1qJDHDVpDkFPzPXDFhVkhiA9MmdKj5nogqP2ifB_vsFVlVzxnGTXF36JvYvCk1C-I/s1600/317161_300675656616364_114949308522334_1435139_351534524_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fUDD4vflpTJW855PI1-mgM3xlRa6335WDZ8PPFmzgx-vZP6yWp2VCQ7LjGt3TKdHcRQUSSaBAc1qJDHDVpDkFPzPXDFhVkhiA9MmdKj5nogqP2ifB_vsFVlVzxnGTXF36JvYvCk1C-I/s640/317161_300675656616364_114949308522334_1435139_351534524_n.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
That's actually a photo of Andy and I and my coworker and her friend. We worked together when possible, which is another fun aspect of the race. Overall, everyone is helpful and gave other teams tips or pointed them in the right direction if they were turned around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my favorite challenges featured a hollow wooden tower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn3kpqSyR6Op8K6kcWjLFrOrC7mOz9Cl-xg-IPdhTCLW9ifnB5HaPNYpMWla9-o6f6bY390M2DKsyMAOCO_gLFWcBd-e3I_CSxhe7QmYEi4_xa1aDqfi-mF5bgtSCa-V3MGsJu0VzunQ/s1600/305725_300679433282653_114949308522334_1435263_437034678_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn3kpqSyR6Op8K6kcWjLFrOrC7mOz9Cl-xg-IPdhTCLW9ifnB5HaPNYpMWla9-o6f6bY390M2DKsyMAOCO_gLFWcBd-e3I_CSxhe7QmYEi4_xa1aDqfi-mF5bgtSCa-V3MGsJu0VzunQ/s640/305725_300679433282653_114949308522334_1435263_437034678_n.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The hole puncher was at the bottom, and you and your partner could only have one finger in the tower at a time. You had to work together to schooch the puncher up to the top and out so you could punch your passport. I of course found a way to injure myself and hole punched my finger when trying to get it up the tower. </div><br />
Then came the most messy challenge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XIII9o8BYNydbDcGpI-3mUQ0DXoyf5kFGZDXg_mkhkpGMeLfWXHyRfXVsy0IbXqyWYELCkSXfs_Z6SrBUCoRphp7cGpiGmR0N4uJrykRR8sXJ5anj7yhOhER9jVbhKY4_QmNSiEi7Jo/s1600/297042_300680909949172_114949308522334_1435306_1779032725_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XIII9o8BYNydbDcGpI-3mUQ0DXoyf5kFGZDXg_mkhkpGMeLfWXHyRfXVsy0IbXqyWYELCkSXfs_Z6SrBUCoRphp7cGpiGmR0N4uJrykRR8sXJ5anj7yhOhER9jVbhKY4_QmNSiEi7Jo/s640/297042_300680909949172_114949308522334_1435306_1779032725_n.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a tube with many little holes in it. We had to fill it to a fill line using a bucket, which also had a bunch of larger holes in it. So I held onto the tube and tried to plug up the little holes while Andy ran back and forth to Reed's Lake to fill up the bucket and then pour the water into the tube. It took maybe 5 or 6 bucket loads until we filled up, and I had received a significant shower by the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Around that time, we saw we only had a half hour or so left and decided to call it a day. Did I mention that the race began and ended at our <a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/">favorite brewery</a>? That may have influenced us in deciding to end our journey and go drink some beer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Others did a better job of reporting the race <a href="http://therapidian.org/urban-adventure-race-real-deal">here</a>, <a href="http://www.awesomemitten.com/miscellaneous/day-127-urban-adventure-race">here</a> and <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/10/urban_adventure_race_sends_tea.html">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next race on the agenda is a Winter Adventure Race at the local ski hill, and Team You Booze, You Win will be signing up for that as soon as registration opens.</div>Juli Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02963780835569200878noreply@blogger.com1