happy mountains

mountains make me happy and keep me sane. the 2+ hour drive to and from skiing (in traffic) isn't always ideal, but the view is stunning and the skiing is great. 

the 2+ hour drive to and from skiing (in traffic) isn't always ideal, but the view is stunning and the skiing is great.

nonetheless, the colorado sky, its light, and its landscape are a reminder of why i adore this place. here's to many more days on the mountain!

sometimes i make happy mistakes, but i can't possibly call this amazing place a happy mistake. 

crazy afternoon storms

sun shower much? when i say that we have crazy afternoon storms, i mean that we have crazy afternoon storms.
exhibit a:

also....there was TOTALLY a double rainbow, but i unfortunately was driving and couldn't grab a picture. however, if there's a rainbow every day after a storm like yesterday's, i can definitely handle the storms.

spring has sprung

happy spring! since mikey didn't any time off from school this weekend, we decided that my mom, dad, and i would drive up to blacksburg to spend the weekend with him at VT. we got to be outside most of today with a big walk around campus and a little bit of hiking. i didn't take my camera on the hike because i just didn't want to carry it--i was legit into the hike for the exercise part. however, i did get a few fun shots on campus. this one was my favorite. the flowers were in bloom all over campus, and it was one of those days where the sky just seemed extraordinarily blue and the grass ever-so green. it was perfect. 

bike is the theme...

bikes, apparently, seem to be the theme of my life these days. i haven't had any time to blog lately, let alone take any pictures. so, today when i finally downloaded all the pictures i took on spring break (2 weeks ago), i realized that the majority of my pictures have been of bikes these days. funny since a. the last time i was on a bike was in denmark, and b. our class gift (an event i am co-chairing) is two bicycle racks, so the logo is a bike.
anyway, in taking a break (read: procrastinating) from my thesis a little longer, i'll share with you a few images from march.

bike at Meredith - this was what i'd like to call March coming in like a lion. the beginning of the month was miserable, but it's ended up beautifully! 

one of my favorite things in copenhagen last summer was seeing so many raleigh bikes around the city. this raleigh bike was spotted in old town fort collins over spring break, so it's likely that i'll always have a little reminder of my roots around town.

in case you don't know, the new belgium brewery - known especially for fat tire beer is located in fort collins, so this bike rack is extra fun!

now i just need to finish my thesis so that i can get a little time to take more pictures & get out on my own bike in raleigh! long story short...the wheels keep turning and life goes on!

lost february...

okay, so i pretty much failed at my blog. and using this outlet for my psychological sanity. but the second half of february got pretty insane with work...although a LOT happened.

i attended one of my first (and last) sporting events at MC. the meredith and peace rivalry is pretty huge, so it was a fun game.

i also went to colorado. it was kind of a big deal. the faculty and students at CSU were outstanding and SO nice and i can't wait to begin in the fall. there'll be more on that after my trip with dad in 2 weeks, since i'll actually have an opportunity to walk around campus and get some pictures. but aside from the visit to CSU, i had a little bit of time with my cousin Bryan and his wife and daughter. isn't this one just precious???

oh, and i also got a pretty awesome mountain view from the top of Flagstaff in Boulder. it was reeeeally sunny, so i'm a little squinty, but the view was spectacular. unfortunately Bry was in the car with a sleeping baby, so i had to go for some self-portrait action...

more life coming soon...i promise!

the sun is up, the sky is blue

as on every snow day, my first goal when i wake up is to look out the window. so this morning when i awoke, i was beyond excited to see the peaceful blanket of snow still on the ground outside my window, a frozen pond, and a beautiful blue sky. it was all my photographer-self could've wished for! so...i bundled up, grabbed my camera, and went along my way. all i could think about was how beautiful and peaceful our campus is. and if i were a crier, i would totally have been crying as i took that walk all over the most picturesque parts of meredith's campus.

johnson

amphitheatre

amp + geese

so then this afternoon i got back from a cabin fever errand only to see how stunning the sunlight was on campus. i ran inside, grabbed my camera, and went out for another round. i also sacrificed all feeling in my fingers because i didn't grab gloves in the process...but i think it was completely worth it.

as much as i love meredith, though, i'm getting so excited about living in colorado with beautiful snowy winters. the last few days have been a real test of my ability to withstand the cold and snow...and i think i've succeeded. i love it. and i'm ready.

meredith college: snow edition

i'm pretty sure that all i can say is that i go to a gorgeous school. thanks to jesse for snapping most of these shots while i drove (very safely...don't worry). i was so excited to get out in the snow and test out the all wheel drive on my subaru, too!

the oaks saw their first snow

jones chapel

johnson hall

my trusty subaru did not fail me in this weather...which means it'll be great for some colorado snow!

before the snow

this was yesterday. this was before the millions of snowflakes put a beautiful blanket of snow over raleigh...but the clouds were a definite sign that they were coming.

once i get the nerve up to step outside (i'm still snuggled up in my own much warmer white blanket in bed), i'll be certain to get some pictures of the gorgeous snow outside!

10 for '10

one thing i've always struggled with is making short-term realistic goals. i've decided that it would be to my advantage to determine 10 things i'd legitimately like to accomplish in 2010 and to really work on accomplishing them (really in no particular order). so, as the door opens to 2010, here are some things i'd like to do in order to help myself be the best possible marie--not just at the start of this year, but at the start of this decade..

1. to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends who mean the most to me.

2. to apply to graduate school. at least at colorado state. and hopefully get in.

3. to decide whether or not to be a vegetarian again...and stick with it.

4. to continue creating new, delicious dishes. and eating delicious things.

5. to participate in some sort of physical activity at least twice a week, preferably more.

6. to laugh as much as possible.

7. to move to colorado (or definitely out of raleigh...but preferably to somewhere in colorado).

8. to take as many pictures of everything as much as possible.

9. to continue working on finding a balance between my type A and type B personalities.

10. to be as positive and happy as i wish others would be. and to surround myself with the things and people who will help me to be positive and happy.

happy 2010!

my special place

the greenway at meredith college is my solace. i am totally a nature girl, and a good walk outside is one of my absolute favorite things in the world. this particular trail goes all the way to cary, actually, but i usually spend about 45 minutes walking and go across the pedestrian bridge to the art museum park.  

sometimes there are many other things i should be doing, but i'm one who nees to take care of myself before i can do anything for anyone else. so, with a weekend with close to zero free time ahead of me, i needed that hour outside today. it gave me a moment to forget all the things i have to do this weekend and even where i was. 

today's was probably one of the most beautiful greenway walks i've had yet--the trees were SO green, the sky was SO blue, the 70ish degree temperature was ideal, and everything was truly fluorishing. i also forgot my ipod since i went straight from class, and i think it made the walk better, because i was not distracted from the beauty of the day. it was incredible. a piece of raleigh that is often forgotten, and it really shouldn't be. for all the times i say i want out of raleigh, this one piece will be missed because of its true beauty any day of the year.

so, if anyone has even 30 minutes to spare this weekend, i'd definitely encourage you to take a little walk. it'll be worth it.

recap...and does it really have to end?

So, my last two posts have been all about me and my introspections and nothing about my time spent here in Colorado, and I think there are some updates I need to do regarding how the time was spent. Thus as a forewarning, this is a ridiculously long post.

My second weekend, Bryan, Jo, & I drove down to Boulder to spend the weekend with Kevin & Beth in their brand new house there. They actually live in a neighborhood in a small town called Lafayette, but they’re only about 10 minutes away from Boulder. On Saturday, we got down a little later than we had anticipated so instead of exploring Boulder, we spent the whole afternoon preparing for the barbeque we were having that night. It was so good to spend time just with Kevin & Beth, though. My relationship with Kev & Beth is so different from my relationship with Bry & Jo because we don’t have the opportunity to spend as much time together. I feel like I have real, deep, and meaningful conversations with Kev & Beth much more often than I do with Bry & Jo. It’s not a bad thing, but there is definitely a difference in the relationships. So anyway, we spent that afternoon together getting ready for the barbeque which was really a party. And what a party it was…we could just leave it at that probably. We had a bunch of their friends over, all of whom were associated with the deli, so I knew everyone there. We had a really good time, and it was very fun to catch up with all the people.

That next morning, we hung around and had breakfast and the boys decided to go back to bed because they weren’t feeling so hot while Jo, Beth, & I went up to Chautauqua to do a little hike. Chautauqua is a trail right in Boulder that goes up past the “flat irons” which are some of the most recognizable peaks in view from Boulder. It was beautiful hiking up because we could look down and see the majority of Boulder, including the university campus. The buildings are all red brick, but they’re much for tastefully designed than the red brick buildings at NC State (no offense…). It’s just such a beautiful town, well really a city, and I love the fact that a small metropolis can still be within 5 minutes of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. For me, Boulder is the best of both worlds.

After our little hike, we went down to Pearl Street where we did a little shopping and met up with the boys for lunch. Pearl Street is crazy—there was a lady wearing a Chiquita Banana outfit and leading a Congo line, some pirates and fairies, all kinds of musicians—none of whom were playing any type of typical music, and then there were plenty of hippies eating up all the festivities on the street. As critical as I sound, I cannot say that I disliked any of the free expressionism taking place in Boulder, but I certainly was not eager to participate in the Congo line! Altogether it was fun walking around Pearl Street. P.S. it is home to a Patagonia store—I bought an adorable dress, because I couldn’t help myself, but I’ve already worn it and I plan on wearing it again to the Tom Petty concert this Saturday!

So after spending some time in Boulder, we went back to Kev & Beth’s house, cleaned up, and the 5 of us headed over to another friends’ baby shower/barbeque in Denver. I’d met the honorees a couple times last summer, so it wasn’t totally awkward, but we all felt a little out of place as the hosts did not do a very good job of hosting and honoring Brook & Ana at their baby shower! After the long day, Jo & I went back to Kevin & Beth’s one more time to get all our things together and grab Salty before we headed back up the mountain to Edwards. It was a nice weekend and it was really good to spend time with everyone.

So then last week I worked every day except for Wednesday, on which Oshi & I spent the day together. Oshi & I worked together last summer in the Edwards deli, and we’re basically the same age, so it’s really nice having a friend my own age in town. We had a really good hike at Booth Falls in Vail, and then we went and got our nails done. Yeah, sounds a little silly, but at least we had our nails done AFTER the hike! Then that night the band America was playing a free concert in Beaver Creek, so Bryan, Jo, & I went up there to hear them. They sing “Horse with No Name” and “Ventura Highway”, and I’m definitely not a fan of the band by any means, but for a free concert, it was pretty good!

Thursday we celebrated the 4^th of July (on the 3^rd) with another party at Bump & Jillian’s house. All the family members and extended family members were there (including Jillian’s 19-year-old sister who is in town for the month of July), so it was nice to spend time with just the family. We had a great time and even caught some of the fire works from afar.

Friday after work I went ROCK CLIMBING! There are boulders in Wolcott (about 10 miles west of Edwards) that are supposed to be pretty awesome in comparison to other boulders, so Kraig, his friend Chris, Bump’s friend Andrew, and I went down to the boulders and did a little climbing. I didn’t exactly have the best apparel so I couldn’t do anything too hardcore, but I climbed up the side of one boulder that was probably 15 feet tall and then in the “chimney” of another two boulders that were probably about 9 or 10 feet tall. It was fun to do something completely different and outside of my usual realm of outdoor activities. Doing things like that really makes me wish that I had people who I could go backpacking or climbing with back in NC. I just love the outdoors and I can’t stand the idea of losing my touch with the outdoors when I get back home.

Saturday, Jo, Jillian, Leslie, & I went into Minturn for the Minturn Market which is like a cross between a craft fair and a farmers market that takes place there every Saturday. We had a fun time shopping around and I bought a gorgeous handmade silver metal worked necklace from a young designer who had a booth there. Then that evening Kevin & Beth came up, and 13 of us went bowling in Eagle at a really nice bowling lane/restaurant they have there. We had a good time, although I did horribly! We all came back and crashed, and the next day Kev & Beth left early and Jo & I spent the majority of the day sleeping and hanging out around the house. It had been a busy week so it felt awesome to simply relax the day away. Since then I’ve spent the last two days working and hanging out at the place I’ve called home for the last 3 weeks.

It’s getting hard to believe that I only have 2 days left here in Colorado. It is going to be terribly heartbreaking for me to get on that plane on Friday morning, and I’ve already cried once but I know there will be several more tear-fests in the coming days. I think it’s important for me to look at why I love being here for being IN COLORADO rather than being ANYWHERE BUT NC. Of course, it’s very hard for me to look at it that way, but I think it’ll help my leaving a little more.

It’s so difficult saying goodbye to the people I’ve been working with & the customers I’ve gotten to know a little bit over the past two summers. It really hurts knowing that the next time I come to Colorado things will really not be the same at all. There will be a baby—which will be WONDERFUL, but will make for many changes. Also, Bryan & Jo will no longer live in Edwards or the mountains—they’re moving to Boulder so Bryan can work at the Moose’s corporate office. It’s not going to be the same small-town experience, but I know it’ll still be great.

Tonight at work Danny & I rocked out to the Allman Brothers—something I haven’t done in quite some time, and he explained to me the meaning behind one of the songs. I thought the lyrics were perfect for the emotions I’m experiencing in these last few days in Edwards.

"With the help of God and true friends
I come to realize
I still had two strong legs
And even wings to fly
And oh I, ain't wastin time no more
'Cause time goes by like hurricanes
And faster things"
-- The Allman Brothers

Babies, Maroons, and Aspen

So I haven’t updated in a few days, primarily because the internet access I seemed to have at the beginning of my stay in Colorado has been really sketchy over the last two days. I finally was able to check my email today for the first time since Wednesday. It’s been driving me absolutely CRAZY.

Anyway…I’ve been working hard at the deli. I’ve been so exhausted over the last couple of days because I’ve been working so much and then waking up early to either work or do some other kind of activity. Yesterday evening we spent time with Bryan & Jo’s friends Amy & Ian, their 14 month old son Sam, and Ian’s niece Alanda who, like Ian, is from Australia. It was a great night and good company, but we didn’t get back home until late so I was pretty exhausted. Every discussion seems to be about babies lately, which doesn’t really bother me, but it usually ends up being pretty funny. Jo is pregnant and due September 4^th, Amy just had Sam last august and is due again in early January, and it seems like all of Jo’s other friends are either pregnant or have just had babies. We’re having fun trying to come up with potential baby names for “Steve-o” (Bryan & Jo’s baby who is currently an it).

Today we went to Aspen since I had never been there before. With all the time I’ve spent in the state of Colorado, I really haven’t covered much territory. So we started the day by driving all the way there—which probably took about an hour and a half. We drove over Cottonwood Pass, which is a back dirt road up and down a mountain. It’s amazing how much the terrain changes throughout the state. Here in Edwards it’s very green and forest-y with a lot of taller trees, but then only 15 minutes west it becomes much more desert-y with redder dirt, then 30 minutes later it’s a meadow, and another 15 minutes later its back to the aspen and pine trees like we have here in Edwards. The views in Colorado are absolutely spectacular, and its guaranteed that some of the mountaintops will always have snow—especially the 14ers, which have an elevation of at least 14000 feet.

So, after we got across Cottonwood Pass, we eventually made our way into Aspen where we hiked around Maroon Bells. The Maroon Bells are two 14000’ peaks which are right next to each other. Because Jo is pregnant and we had their dog Salty, we didn’t hike as much as I would have liked, but it was still a really nice day. The weather was a little sketchy too, which made us all a little nervous. Despite the short hike, I took lots of beautiful pictures of the “most photographed peaks in Colorado” and the land around it. (There's also an Ansel Adams photograph of the Maroon Bluffs that's supposedly really famous!)

This is Bryan & Me with Salty at the beginning of the hike.

Here you can see how the weather was a little sketchy for our likings...it's so beautiful though, still.

So just a little tidbit extra, this year, all of Colorado had a HUGE snow season (about 600’’ reported in Aspen), so all the rivers and rapids are HUGE as a result with the snow melting. Rafting is really rough and dangerous this year, and a woman died horseback riding on Friday as a result of falling into Beaver Creek when the horse tripped and both fell into the rapids. Last I heard, the woman’s body has yet to be recovered. It almost goes without saying that I will be avoiding the rapids like the plague this summer.

After hiking around the Bells, we went into Aspen. As Bryan explained to me earlier today, Aspen began as a silver mining town around the 1870s. So, unlike Vail which was initially built to be a resort area, Aspen has many older buildings which are evidence of the town’s much longer history and the ski resort came much later. Aspen is also known for being stomping ground for the rich and famous, which is evidenced by the shops that can be found in town such as Versace and little boutiques that sell simple cotton dresses ON SALE for $398 dollars. Obviously, I didn’t buy anything in town except for some ice cream—which was to die for and definitely worth the $4 cone, especially after the afternoon of hiking. Altogether, today was a gorgeous day and I thoroughly enjoyed extending my travels in Colorado.

With respect to the Maroon Bells and the snow peaks, I’ll quote Coldplay with the minor league version of the Maroon Bells—Violet Hill.

"I took my love down to Violet Hill
There we sat in snow
All that time she was silent still"
--Coldplay