Helicopters, Cliffs, and Ankles

Hi all. Michael here. So I've never written a blog before, but yesterday evening's adventures are worth a first attempt. Sorry it's so long and there are no pictures...

The afternoon begins well. After work I head over to the Blodgett Peak open space for some trail running and hiking with our dogs, Shobi and Samson. This is a great trail system a few miles from our house that ends at some rocky peaks with great views of the city. A nice rain shower cools us off on the way up, and after about 2 miles and 3000 vertical feet, I decide it is time to head back. The retreating storm leaves a bright rainbow over the city... wish I had brought a camera. Sadly, the rainbow was not an omen of good things to come.

I choose a slightly different route down the mountain, heading toward a ravine carved by a small creek, because I know after about half a mile I'll hit the trail that runs along this creek. There is technically no trail where I am now, but I know where I am going. (As I would soon learn, there is no trail here for a reason, and I did NOT know where I was going.) I start my jog down. After a few minutes of descending, I heard a loud "SNAP" and simultaneously realized that this noise came from my ankle as it rolled all the way over to the right, far past any natural angle for an ankle to bend. I fall to the ground, where I get over the initial pain/shock, then slowly try to put weight on the leg. The nerves in my foot tell me at once they are in no mood to be walked on. So I'm 2 miles up a very steep trail, have not seen another soul all day, am tending to two dogs, and have sprained my ankle so badly that I can't walk. Awesome. I call Shelah and tell her I'll be late for dinner. She offers to hike up and help me, but being such a rugged masculine specimen, I could never entertain such a preposterous idea. "It seems okay", I lie, "I'll be fine once I start walking."

I slide over to the nearest pile of tree branches and find one that can support my weight. I gingerly stand, using the branch as a crutch, and start slowing hobbling down the mountain. It's actually not too bad after I start going. Turns out the whole "walk it off" advice is pretty solid. I'm concentrating intently on each step and trying to find the easiest route down into the ravine. The way to the left looks promising, but pushing aside a few trees reveals a massive vertical drop in that direction. No luck there, I'll turn more right, into the brush, where my dogs are heading... Wait, where are........

Then I hear the sounds that are replaying relentlessly in my head as I write this. The small splash and the sliding of rock. The yelp of a dog. The silent pause, and the thundering crash of what sounds like boulders slamming against rocks and trees somewhere far away. "COME!", I scream in panic. Out of the bushes appears Samson... alone. "SHOBI!" ... Silence. "SHOBI!" ... Nothing. "No, no, no, no..." repeats in my head, probably out loud too. I tear through the bushes to see the same massive drop off in this direction. "No, no, no, no..." I can't get much closer to the edge of this cliff with Samson beside me, but I glance at the slippery edge long enough to know for sure that Shobi went over, and there is absolutely no way I can go down there. I frantically, hysterically begin running up a ridge that later slopes down around the side of this valley, looking for any way to the floor below. I have no need for the make-shift crutch now; the pain in my ankle is gone, or is dwarfed by other pain. I try turning down off the ridge, only to find another sheer cliff drop... so back up and around, panicking, screaming my dog's name, looking below, seeing nothing.

This moment was terror for me. I'm not too proud to admit that I was crying. My dogs are my kids right now, and there was no way Shobi could be okay. I was looking DOWN at the TOPS of pine trees growing below. This was a huge fall. Best I could hope for was a badly broken dog, whimpering but still alive. But my mind only filled with the darker images, and those I won't describe here. There was still no way down. The entire valley was a canyon... steep, sheer and deep. At this point, I knew I would need help when I found Shobi, one way or the other. So I took a deep breath and called Shelah. "I need you to come up to Blodgett Peak right now. Shobi fell, and I can't find her." I think it came out as calmly as I wanted, but Shelah told me later she had never heard me so freaked out. (By the way, if you know Shelah, you know that making this phone call is equally as stessful as the thought of what I would find in that canyon....She loves our kids as much as I do.) Anyway, Shelah was on her way.

Finally, I come to a slope down into the ravine! Sampson and I pick an angle down into the valley, sliding as we hustle down the steep slope. We reach the creek at the bottom, and sure enough, there is the trail I was hoping for. (Only I wasn't hoping for the 50 foot cliff faces that preceded it.) I scream for my dog and look up the creek toward the rock wall. "SHOBI!". Still nothing. I begin scrambling up the stream bed, when behind me Sampson lets out a loud bark. I turn and follow his eyes down the trail to.... Shobi. In the middle of the trail, just standing, almost waiting for us. She is completely covered in mud and shaking, but ALIVE! I cannot tell you the wave of relief that sweeps over my body. Unreal. I run my hands and eyes quickly over her legs, back, and stomach to check for blood and breakage. Nothing! Are you kidding??? So we again start our descent. She is limping badly, but she isn't crying or keeping weight off any legs; this is 1000 times better than I imagined. I call Shelah right away to tell her Shobi is okay, but having trouble walking.

By this time, Shelah has made it to the parking lot at the trailhead 1.5 miles below. A dirt service road follows the trail up about 1 mile, and Shelah wants to drive up this road to pick us up. Only problem... a locked gate prevents her from doing so. So she calls the park services, but they are closed. She calls 911 and explains the situation, something like: "My husband sprained his ankle hiking Blodgett Peak, and he's trying to get our two dogs down, one of which is hurt too. Can someone come open this gate so I can drive up the trail to meet him." Apparently it was a slow emergency night in Colorado Springs, because this call resulted in 1 ambulance, 1 police car, 2 fire trucks, 1 fire engine with an alpine rescue crew, and 1 HELICOPTER. No kidding, they were looking for me with a helicopter! I'm quite special. A fire truck comes up the road and carries Shobi and me down to the parking lot, while a nice EMT lady walks Samson down the rest of the way. At the base, they check my vitals, give me an ice pack, and tell me how to take care of the sprain. These people are honestly outstanding... they treated me with a smile, asking if there is anything else they could do, even offering to drive my car home for me. All this for a sprained ankle?! I know we are in GREAT hands if a serious emergency ever arises.

Of course, concerned parents Shelah and I hurry Shobi right to the 24 hr vet clinic. After 2 hours of exams, x-rays, and blood work the final diagnosis is: a broken tooth, a sprained/bruised shoulder or knee, a small cut, many sore muscles. No broken bones, no internal bleeding, nothing! This dog is something else. It makes me wonder what really happened after she went over that cliff. Did she hit a ledge after 10 feet then scramble down? Did it slope down more gently than I could see and she rolled? Did she fall vertically, but land in a big pool of mud, absorbing the impact? When my foot heals, I'm heading back up there to see for myself (without the dogs, this time!)

So, boys and girls, what have we learned from our adventure today?

Lesson #1: Do not let your dogs off-leash if you are not familiar with an area

Lesson #2: Do not let your dogs out of your sight when they are off-leash

Lesson #3: Dogs can fly

Lesson #4: Colorado Springs emergency response is the real deal

Lesson #5: Don't use the side of your foot like the bottom of your foot. That hurts.

Texas Our Texas

So, I just spent the last 12 days back in the Lone Star State and I must say that I love, love, love Colorado...but I do miss so much about my home in the south. I'm going to do a series of blogs documenting our time out there (Michael joined me half way through the trip). This first one will be my "lists". These are in no particular order.

FIRST: Things I miss about Texas

1. This picture has 2 things in it...my sister, and laying out by the pool...there is just something fabulous about laying out in 100 degree weather next to a great pool-I've yet to find such pool here in Colorado (yes, there are pools, but in TX my sister had an awesome one & we would lay out together or the 3 of us -mom, Terah, and myself- would lay out in my parents backyard next to their pool.)



2. People who drive fast. Here in the great state of CO nobody seems to be in a hurry and since I learned to drive in H-town where if you're not in a hurry you're not getting out of a parking lot, or you get run over on the freeway you could see how I would miss people who do drive fast. I never realized how impatient I was until I moved here...I find myself cursing at most people here begging them to go faster. In this pic on the SH Toll I was going 85 and you can see how far ahead the guy is in front of me-beautiful!

3. FREEBIRDS! I like Chipotle and I love Qdoba, but NOTHING beats a good 'ol Freebirds burrito. (and yes that's my head in the bottom, it was a horrible picture of me!)

4. The Hill Country. Now, you'd think that this would be so insignificant compared to the mountains of Colorado but there is something special about the Texas Hill Country and I thought that coming back I wouldn't appreciate it as much (seeing as how I can see Pikes Peak out my back windows) but I still loved it and thought it was just as beautiful as ever.

5. No, I do not miss myself in Texas...but look how CURLY my hair is!!! My hair gets so amazingly curly so dang fast out there (I know this is due to the humidity) but I just could not get over how pretty it was and it made me actually miss humidity...but only until I went outside again.

6. I've yet to find Kolaches in Colorado...anyone here who reads this can point me in their direction in the Springs and I'm there! I had not had a Kolache in over a year and so the Kolache Factory was like heaven :)

7. That's right folks- College Station, and more specifically Aggie football. I don't care how much A&M's team sucks, or how much they piss me off during the season, or how dang hot it is those first few games and you think you're going to cook up in the top of the zone...there is something amazing and special about being in Kyle Field...whether you're an Aggie fan or not if you've experienced a game there you know what I'm talking about and I missed it so much last fall.

8. SHAVED ICE!!! Why people out here haven't picked up on the wonder of Shaved Ice I will never know and those of you in Texas not taking advantage of those little Shaved Ice Huts, I promise you are missing out on a great wonder of that state. Stop in one hot day (pick one of the hundreds) and drop the $3 on a lime/vanilla flavored shaved ice and you will not be sorry (ANY flavor but for the love of God enjoy it for those of us who can't!!) way better for you than ice cream :)!

9. Storms. These clouds don't look as ominous as they were (this storm produced at least 4 tornadoes that night in the surrounding Austin/Hill Country area). But storms just don't roll in here like they do in Texas and I miss the giant swirling clouds that turn the entire scenery different colors.

Alright, now I know family and friends aren't on here but they're a given right? If not, #10. Family & Friends :).

Okay, now things I do NOT miss about Texas...I bet you can guess most of them.

1. Need I say more?? No folks, that's not a radio station, it's the exterior temp...factor in the fact that it feels like a sauna and it's mis

2. Mosquitoes (this is me sadly pointing to my first mosquito bite in a year), and really giant bugs in general. There are bugs here but they're not super-sized like they are in TX, and they're not everywhere you look/step/sit, etc.

3. The Traffic, there are too many damn people in Houston and the surrounding area...cars, cars, everywhere

4. The lack of terrain...I've gotten used to seeing some hills :)

summer vacay (finally!!)

So last Friday was my last official day of school and I'm now enjoying summer in Colorado. This summer I really want to take advantage of all the amazing things this area has to offer-local hikes, biking, camping, etc. Last summer I was so consumed with fixing the house that I didn't get out as much as I wanted. Anyway, I got this website from a friend that lists a bunch of really cool local hikes and my goal is to try and do at least half of them this summer :).

This past weekend Michael and I went on a hike in the Air Force Academy. It was a 9.5 mile loop that went up to a reservoir, and then back down to our car. Unfortunately, our camera crapped out about half way there so we didn't get to take many pictures...which I was bummed about. You do a 9.5 mile hike and you want to take pictures to commemorate (or at least I do!). Anyway-it was a great day, we stopped and ate lunch, and then let the dogs swim for a bit in the reservoir (shhh, don't tell, I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to let them do that but there were lots of other dogs doing the same thing).

I should be MUCH better about updating our blog now that it's summer-be on the lookout for pictures of more local happenings and hikes very soon!

finally...an update :)

yes, I know it's been a while since I've last posted but honestly it's been pretty normal around here. We don't have anything super fascinating or wonderful to report (and still don't really but I figured it was time for an update :) ). We did just get back from a trip to Cancun which was amazing!! Although, you would be dreadfully bored if I went through our trip because every day would go something like this "got up, pigged out at the buffet breakfast (I've decided Mimosa's should be served DAILY at breakfast, work or not), laid on the beach (drank a little), pigged out at the buffet lunch, laid on the beach (drank a little), worked out at the hotel fitness center, showered, pigged out at dinner (drank a little), watched ESPN March Madness in Spanish, went to bed". Literally, that was every day...we didn't do anything but move from the beach to the pool during the day, although, Michael did swim with dolphins which was pretty cool...I got to do that in Playa a couple years back so it was his turn. While we were gone though we missed one of the few big snows that the Springs has had (I say big but it really wasn't a TON, just more than we'd seen most of the season)...while it was nice to be soaking up sun and booze during the blizzard we were a bit disappointed to have missed out on one since this winter has been so mild and we're still newbies, therefore still very excited, about the snow. Anyway, that's really about it...our dogs haven't done much of anything super exciting to report (although they are starting to shed but I figured that didn't deserve a whole blog :) ) and our house is still as nice as ever...except we did come home from Mexico to discover a leak in our roof, which we think we fixed...with it being so dry here I guess we won't know for a while, haha, supposed to rain later this week so we'll see-I'm sure you'll all be waiting on the edge of your seats to discover whether or not we did in fact fix the leak. So, until then...

doggy heaven

The past few days in the Springs have been amazing! It's so nice outside (after sub-zero temps a few weeks ago, and steady highs in the low 30's we are loving the 'warmer' weather). It's been in the high 40's/50's-which I know to most people who read this is still cold-but here, when the sun is out and the sky is blue temps in the high 40's don't feel as cold. ANYWAY, we decided to take the dogs to one of the local dog parks that I'd heard was amazing. Colorado Springs was voted one of the most "dog-friendly" cities a while back and after visiting this park I can understand how this little city of ours could be considered dog heaven. (not to mention the fact that everywhere you go dogs are out...I've seen several dogs shopping with their owners in Home Depot...not "helping" dogs, just regular dogs and perfectly healthy owners strolling the isles at Home Depot).

I'd heard this park was the park to take your dogs to but in my mind I was imagining the dog parks that I was used to back home. In The Woodlands there is a dog park that is basically a fenced in field...not basically, exactly...in fact, it would be better termed a dog "field" not park. It's just an open space that is fenced in...and that is what most of the dog parks that I've seen consist of. This PARK is like hiking heaven for dogs...it's HUGE, fenced in, has a creek, and trails that go up and down hills and through fields, mountains as a backdrop, and is about 5-10 minutes from the house...the closest dog "field" to us in Tomball was at least 20 minutes away. This park is one of several in Colorado Springs. Anyway, I don't know that I've ever seen the dogs have so much fun in one spot. The great thing is that there are dogs ALL over the place but it's so spread out that you never feel totally overwhelmed by all the dogs running around (when we'd go to the dog field in The Woodlands you could easily become overwhelmed with the amount of dogs in that space). The dogs had a blast playing down by the creek and spent a good 20 minutes running back and forth through the water from one bank to the other, slipping on the ice left over on the sides. It's so cute to see them have such a good time, and it makes me so proud when we go places like that and they stay with us despite all the wonderful things to wander off to...and that they come when we call them-they're becoming very good off leash doggies!

*a little disclaimer to my H-Town friends...I believe there is a park that is somewhat like this in Katy somewhere so I know these places exist outside of Colorado, but having the mountains staring at you I think puts a one up on any park that may be elsewhere :)...wow, 6 months in CO and I'm a total Mountain Snob ;)

Christmas in Colorado

Well, our first Christmas in Colorado has come and gone and while it has been pretty uneventful it has been very nice. My break started off with a visit from my sister which was probably the best Christmas present. We had a blast hanging out, shopping and skiing (people in Colorado think we're twins too...I guess we DO look alike). I was so sad to see her go, but can't wait for another visit!

Once it came time for Christmas, our very first Christmas away from family, Michael and I celebrated in a way very true to "us" we stayed in our pajamas and drank coffee all morning, and even played a little Guitar Hero...I've realized he and I are very low key, which is soooo wonderful. It's weird to say that Christmas morning wasn't that exciting but it really wasn't, it was much like any other day off from work, except with presents :). We decided that we wanted to make breakfast before we called my family to open presents on speakerphone, which at first I thought was kind of silly but it was actually really nice to share that time together, even if it was just via speakerphone. We did end up spending Christmas evening with some friends of Michael's from work, eating the most amazing Christmas meal ever (roast & crab legs), playing Wii and drinking expensive tequila.

Now, what kind of 'parents' would we be if we didn't get our kiddos anything?? It's kind of ridiculous but Michael and I both bought things for the dogs (not even shopping with each other) and were so excited to give them their presents on Christmas morning...I'm sure just a tiny taste of the joy parents get giving their children gifts. Michael got the dogs some fancy Salmon treats and as you can see the dogs were very excited about them. I got them these cute little turtles, their bodies were tennis balls but their little limbs were soft. Samson went crazy chasing it around the living room bc it rolled and bounced and he could grab on to the little arms & head and shake it around...here he is guarding it from his thieving sister :). My parents sent the dogs some little treats and some little hedgehog stuffed toys that were quickly beheaded and shredded to fluff, which is a huge testament to how much they LOVED them...here, Shobi has tuckered herself out with all the excitement and Samson has fallen asleep amidst the hedgehog massacre.

The night before we opened presents from each other, and from Michael's family. I got the cutest CHI and was very excited about it (and it's cute little case!) and Michael got a TomTom which he has not stopped playing with. The other day we went skiing and we KNOW how to get there but he insisted on mounting it in my car "just so we knew where to turn". There are like 3 turns total on the trip to Breckenridge from the Springs...but "just in case" we had TomTom telling us where to go.

The next few days of our break we plan on taking advantage of the fact that we've got 3 ski resorts about 2 hours away and we'll head to the slopes again later this week...maybe give Keystone a try :).

picture tag...

I've been tagged by Janette and when you are tagged, you are supposed to post the fourth picture from the fourth album on your computer...I cheated bc I only have ONE folder on this computer but it figures this would be the 4th picture in that folder. This is my dear friend Lauren and I at a Karaoke Bar in Houston a few years back...revealing our true selves obviously :).


I don't have many "blog" friends so here goes...Ashley, Julie, Liz & Emily

winter wonderland...

So, our first Thanksgiving has come and gone and now I think we're officially into Winter...at least that's what it has felt like ever since Thursday night. Our first Thanksgiving together was pretty uneventful, I cooked the traditional Thanksgiving dinner and it was pretty darn good. I of course followed my mother's recipes as precisely as I could which I'm sure helped, as I'm not the most natural of cooks. Anyway, here's our cute little spread (and Michael carving our turkey on the left). I must say, we missed being around our family during this traditionally family filled time, but it was nice to celebrate just the two of us (well, 4 of us if you count our two furry children). It was very special to sit down and give thanks for OUR family, and the family that the two of us will create as we continue on our marital journey...anyway, there was something very intimate and special about it and for those of you married folks who have not yet had that experience I strongly suggest that you put aside extended family for one year and try it, I don't think you'll regret it.

Well, it has been snowing off and on here since Thanksgiving, although most of it typically melts throughout the day. Our poor dogs have been pretty couped up with it being so cold out so Michael and I decided that today we'd take them out for a walk, cold/snow aside (although, with it melting off and being fairly sunny we knew it'd probably be okay). Well, leave it to Mother Nature to call our bluff and dump some snow. It hadn't snowed all day yesterday and then this morning when we woke up it was like our own winter wonderland outside. I've been like a little kid the last couple mornings checking out the window right when I wake up to see if it had snowed over night (I still get so excited about it!!) and this morning, out of habit, I went straight to the window and about thought I was dreaming when I saw how white it was outside (I know there will be days when it will be much "snowier" but to this Texan it was already pretty snowy). It wasn't the typical light dusting of snow, there are inches on the ground, houses, cars, mailboxes, everything was completely covered! My immediate thought was "we're going to freeze on our walk today".

Anyway, true to our word we both bundled up, got the dogs harnessed and went out. Our destination was the Starbucks about 1.5 miles away, something about the warmth and beauty of coffee was supposed to make the walk more enjoyable...supposed to. The way there we were pretty much walking into the wind and snow which wasn't much fun, but the way home was much nicer with the wind on our backs (having our coffee probably made the walk home nicer too). We let the dogs off their leashes and they pranced around through the snow the whole way home just having a good 'ol time. Then 'dad' ran around and played with them in our backyard once we got home. It's so cute how the dogs just run around in it, it's like immediate excitement and they just run laps. Even our little Miss Priss Shobi (who hates to get her feet wet) didn't want to come inside this morning.

You know, I LOVE summer in Colorado, but I think that winter is going to give it some competition.

Finished Living Room

So this room has been finished for a while but since we had to get everything cleaned after the mess of installing new floors I knew if I didn't take pictures now I'd forget (it's been finished for months and I am just now getting pictures of it :) ).

I posted it originally kind of "bare bones" with the new white and greenish/gray paint now everything is set with decor/pictures, etc.
Our house is kind of different than the houses in TX so let me explain the layout. This door is our garage door and it leads right into our living room/den (partial basement).

When you walk in the door to your right is a small staircase that leads to the kitchen/breakfast area. I am standing on the stairs looking into the living room in the 2nd picture.

Since the room is basically a rectangle we had to orient the TV angled in the corner. If we mounted it on the left wall the sun from the window across would constantly be on it bc we've got full sun exposure until the sun gets behind the mountains. It's different but it works for us.

The 3rd picture I'm standing at the fireplace and looking toward the kitchen (haha, obviously). So from here the garage door is on the right. We're still thinking about painting that railing around the breakfast table, but think white would be too much white...any suggestions??