Why, Oh Why... do I slack on something I love so much?

I'm not sure the purpose on slacking on something that brings me so much joy. I've neglected my delightful blog friend for no good reason. I think she's most angry with me because she knows about all of the great adventures I could have been sharing.

To make it up to myself (and lady blog), I'm posting some fun pictures of what happens when I drink saki!

God bless the saki gods for the serious mind's antidote!

(These pictures are compliments of Sarah Schachterle during one of our stops in MN with Fluid Dance Conventions.)

Food for Thought

Today (actually just a under an hour ago), I was sitting in a lunch meeting contemplating the power of the typical tree... in it's mystical form- a trunk, limbs and branches.

I've created my own little art piece from the remains of my fruit... I call it "wisdom trunk".

The idea is that the trunk takes all of the experiences and information provided by the outstretched limbs and branches and marinades it all. Ultimately, the trunk is the wisest part of the tree (similar to our brains) and can then help direct the limbs and branches as it grows.

...not much to it and yet such delightful art! :-)

Life is Good and Full of New Adventures

Well, it official... I'm really on my way to becoming a bad ass!

This is how I know...

1. I have mountain bike gear like a real professional... shoes, shorts, helmet, gloves, etc.

2. Even though I don't actually have professional skills... Kricket told me I look like a professional... seriously, not a lie!

3. The Deva girls (who just won several national titles last weekend) told me I was

4. They wrote it on my jersey (... and yes, I have a jersey)!

5. I'm learning to paddle board today (on a ice cold lake)

6. I had my first digger yesterday (I ate it while biking with the Deva girls and a World Champ, Ned)... and I was proud!

(This is the 1st big scratch/scab I've had in an extremely long time!)

7. My schedule this week has resulted in aching muscles and an addiction to moving! :-)

Tues AM: 27+ Mile Bike Ride

Tues PM: Sports Conditioning at Core Value

Weds AM: Ride along-side Nordic team during Rollerski training

Weds PM: Dance technique in early afternoon/ Went to short-track to watch the real peeps

Thurs AM: 1.5 hour jog/hike up the Animas (that seriously almost made my lungs explode)

Thurs PM: Hottie Pilates/ 10 mile ride and crash

Fri AM: Quick bike ride

Fri PM: Scheduled to learn how to paddle board at Trout Lake

Life is good and full of new adventures!!!

In my quest to be a little more bad ass...

In my quest to become a little more bad ass, I've talked up a big game!

For the last couple of years I've started to have a realization that I need to make the most of my young vibrant self. That's not to say that I won't entertain a world of new adventures as I age. However, I'm noticing a horrifying trend in the present... the older I get, the more of a sissy/wus/$!%?@ I become! This is not okay!

So, as a result, I'm on a quest to become a little more bad ass... and I'm pretty excited!

I have a handful of activities (yes, I realize their not truly bad ass because I'm not jumping out of airplanes or bungee jumping from the Royal Gorge... but it's all about progress- not perfection!). I'm planning to take up paddle boarding (b/c I can do that with my friend Kricket in Durango), nordic skiing, mountain biking, surfing (Kricket and I are planning a trip to CA in October maybe), etc. I may even buy a wet suit... with booties! The key is that I'm not really afraid of any of those activities. Preferred result of my theory... These things will ease me in to other terrifying things... fingers crossed!

Oh' and... I'm becoming a student of dance again... I don't know what's scarier than that!!!

In an effort to kick off the new ME... I did what any respectable girl would do... I purchased a drawer full of new bras (VS had a sale... and it was a little piece of heaven. Truly, there were models wearing angel wings)!

After I took care of the necessary, I made a plan to run 2 miles with my friend Lindsey. Lindsey is in a pretty intense and amazing dance training regiment that requires her lungs to run 2 miles without wanting to slam her face in the sidewalk... so I decided to join her... neither of us run... ever! (Once again, I realize that this is not a huge feat for many of my friends... but don't judge (again, progress- not perfection... thank you Ali)!

I'm happy to report that both Lindsey and her running mate (me) completed the entire distance without stopping, passing out or complaining (because we didn't talk)! That wasn't the plan but neither one of us wanted to admit to the other that we hated it... so we smiled at each other periodically and jammed out on our iphones!

After our victorious excursion along the Platt, we treated our selves to an iced chai tea (venti, of course) and fresh fruit/goodies (all before 7:30am)... oh yeah, bad ass!

I took work by storm all day yesterday... endorphins are the best "upper", seriously!

Later that night, I went to watch DC rock their softball game... yes, just watch! Yet another area that I need work on... but then again, I don't know if I care enough to have balls thrown at fast speeds towards my head... I'll save that challenge for another blog... (by the way, if you're an old school Clueless fan, I'm already married... my social life is a mute point).

Here are a few pics and videos of the fun...

Stevo.... Bryan... Others...

Above video: Bryan gettin' his hit on! (Sorry Stevo, I couldn't get your grand slam to upload... Bryan gets to be the star of my hardly touched blog!) :-)

Joyful,

KE...to the B

Jackalope Hunting Season

Hi friends!

I love road trips... seriously, I love them! They're even better when I'm all by myself because I can sing my little off-key heart out! I just drove up to Casper, WY this weekend to work with a vibrant group of dancers. During my (almost) 4 hour drive yesterday, I took note of some pretty spectacular sites and tried to document via photograph while driving/singing/eating/drinking (water only). I'm a multifaceted driver, what more should I say?

Here are pictures from my amazing drive through Wyoming!

At first glance, those pictures look pretty boring, however, in the top picture, there is a buffalo silhouette. I've heard that those incredible animal figures mark the land of a small named multi-zillionaire that resides in Omaha... regardless, I appreciate the eye candy!

The second picture, is, in my opinion... art or a new version of Where's Waldo! In the right-hand corner there is a jackalope. If you're into hunting for jackalobe (which I don't believe in because I'm a vegetarian), you can get your one day permit in Douglas, WY. It's only good for June 31st... that's in two days for the interested... hurry!

I return to WY in August, until then...

KE... now B

1st post... just for me!

Friends (at this point I'm only speaking to myself)!

I'm not sure who will see my rants and "special" thoughts but I'm pretty jazzed about having a platform to store my good times.

Posts to come!

In sincere joy,

KE (now KEB)