I have been remiss in posting...I apologize. I do have crazy stories to tell, including one where I help castrate several male calves by pulling their balls down so that a rubber band can be placed on them like a tourniquet so they fall off. No joke.
However, I must inform all those that know TM that at approximately 11:30pm on this day, TM cut all his hair off. Again...no joke. He just got sick of it and so his mother put his hair in a 10-inch long braid and cut it off. Now his hair is right below his ears. We're donating the braid to Locks of Love.
None of us really know how to cut hair, so on our way to start our cross-country trip back to the East Coast, TM and I will stop at a barber's to help shape it.
Can you believe it?
UPDATE: TM went to a mall hair salon in Santa Fe, NM and he got a $20 haircut to shape up the girl bob that emerged after his mother cut his ponytail off. I was worried, but it turned out fantastic. He's always been handsome to me, but now he looks even more so. He looks the same as well. It's weird. It's him...only handsomer.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Hikes
Being right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains means that you a lot of hiking. I have already been on three hikes at least an hour long since I've been. Here is what you see during them:
Hike #1: A waterfall in Conejos Canyon.
I actually didn't get any pictures during my second hike. It wasn't that high. But there was beautiful valley filled with light green plants.
Hike #3: At Mesa Verde.
I think I'm all done with hikes for a while, which means I have to back to running. Ah well.
Hike #1: A waterfall in Conejos Canyon.
I actually didn't get any pictures during my second hike. It wasn't that high. But there was beautiful valley filled with light green plants.
Hike #3: At Mesa Verde.
I think I'm all done with hikes for a while, which means I have to back to running. Ah well.
My First Cattle Drive
The Ranch is a cattle ranch. They raise cows naturally for healthier beef. TM's family has been doing it for generations...like since America was created out here.
So as part of my "initiation" into TM's family, I had to do some work on the farm. The mission of TM, his mom, and I was to move at least 100 cows and calves from a very huge field into a pen a half a mile away.
It started out great. The cows were really funny. They would stare at me all tough, but as soon as I walked toward them and said, "HAH!" they went running. I saw a calf one day old, with its umbilical cord still attached.
When the cows were moving, everything was all good. We all had to spread out to keep them moving in the right direction, so there were times when I was handling a whole side of the herd by myself...which was fine when they were moving. But there was one time when the herd wasn't being pushed. Then they started to get rowdy and I started to get nervous. I actually started freaking out and was screaming across the mooing cows for help. You have to scream because the sound of 100 mooing cows is VERY loud. It also didn't help that some of the bulls were trying to hump the ladies and would break out of the herd. This is normal, apparently, but no one told me that, so I kept yelling at them to stop and break it up. This didn't help my freaking-outness.
I am still a bit shaken up by the whole experience, but I don't think it would benefit me to share how scared I was. In fact, that I tried to break up some cow loving will probably become a funny tale to tell around the dinner table. You have to have a thick skin to live on a ranch, that's for sure.
We aren't done with our work with the cows, so I'll have another chance with them.
So as part of my "initiation" into TM's family, I had to do some work on the farm. The mission of TM, his mom, and I was to move at least 100 cows and calves from a very huge field into a pen a half a mile away.
It started out great. The cows were really funny. They would stare at me all tough, but as soon as I walked toward them and said, "HAH!" they went running. I saw a calf one day old, with its umbilical cord still attached.
When the cows were moving, everything was all good. We all had to spread out to keep them moving in the right direction, so there were times when I was handling a whole side of the herd by myself...which was fine when they were moving. But there was one time when the herd wasn't being pushed. Then they started to get rowdy and I started to get nervous. I actually started freaking out and was screaming across the mooing cows for help. You have to scream because the sound of 100 mooing cows is VERY loud. It also didn't help that some of the bulls were trying to hump the ladies and would break out of the herd. This is normal, apparently, but no one told me that, so I kept yelling at them to stop and break it up. This didn't help my freaking-outness.
I am still a bit shaken up by the whole experience, but I don't think it would benefit me to share how scared I was. In fact, that I tried to break up some cow loving will probably become a funny tale to tell around the dinner table. You have to have a thick skin to live on a ranch, that's for sure.
We aren't done with our work with the cows, so I'll have another chance with them.
Sorting It Out
There has been so much I've seen during this vacation...and I have a week left! I'm still sorting through a plethora of emotions and thoughts about TM, family, race, friendship, education, cows, the non-East Coast part of America, dogs that live outside all the time, altitude adjustments, driving everywhere, Native American reservations...the list goes on.
However, based on a comment by tuckergurl, I realize I may not have been completely clear on my itinerary thus far. Probably because TM has been the cruise director for this entire trip. I just ask him should I bring a bathing suit and get in the car.
So, here's a blow-by-blow of the places I've been in the past seven days.
Day 1: Denver; Fort Collins, CO
Day 2: Fort Collins, CO; Taos, NM
Day 3: Taos; Albuquerque; Santa Fe; the ranch TM grew up on, aka The Ranch
Day 4: The Ranch; Manassa, CO (it was here that I ran the 5K); a cabin 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains
Day 5: The cabin; The Ranch; Alamosa, CO
Day 6: The Ranch; Albuquerque, NM; Durango, CO
Day 7 (today): Durango, CO; Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona at the same time*; Mesa Verde, CO; Pagosa Springs, CO; The Ranch.
*I was able to be in all those states at the same time because I went to Four Corners. It's the only place in America where you can do this.
As you can see, it's been a whirlwind of a trip. I am thrilled that we are spending the second half of this trip at The Ranch. Tomorrow night will be the first night that I get to sleep in the same bed two nights in a row. I am also thrilled that I've loved every second of it. I'm having a blast.
Now that I've sorted through the places I've been, perhaps I'll be better able to sort through the things I've seen. I'll keep you posted...or at the very least I'll post pictures.
However, based on a comment by tuckergurl, I realize I may not have been completely clear on my itinerary thus far. Probably because TM has been the cruise director for this entire trip. I just ask him should I bring a bathing suit and get in the car.
So, here's a blow-by-blow of the places I've been in the past seven days.
Day 1: Denver; Fort Collins, CO
Day 2: Fort Collins, CO; Taos, NM
Day 3: Taos; Albuquerque; Santa Fe; the ranch TM grew up on, aka The Ranch
Day 4: The Ranch; Manassa, CO (it was here that I ran the 5K); a cabin 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains
Day 5: The cabin; The Ranch; Alamosa, CO
Day 6: The Ranch; Albuquerque, NM; Durango, CO
Day 7 (today): Durango, CO; Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona at the same time*; Mesa Verde, CO; Pagosa Springs, CO; The Ranch.
*I was able to be in all those states at the same time because I went to Four Corners. It's the only place in America where you can do this.
As you can see, it's been a whirlwind of a trip. I am thrilled that we are spending the second half of this trip at The Ranch. Tomorrow night will be the first night that I get to sleep in the same bed two nights in a row. I am also thrilled that I've loved every second of it. I'm having a blast.
Now that I've sorted through the places I've been, perhaps I'll be better able to sort through the things I've seen. I'll keep you posted...or at the very least I'll post pictures.
Monday, July 23, 2007
5K at 7,000 Feet
I am so glad I'd been running more consistently in the weeks before this trip. I am even more grateful for the run I made myself do in Taos. Since I've been on the ranch that TM grew up on, I have been do a LOT of walking uphill at high altitudes.
The ultimate occurred yesterday morning when TM's sister and I ran a 5K race. It was part of an annual festival in the local town. Everyone knew I was a runner...because everyone in this family knows everything about me! But that's for another post. So when his sister asked, I thought why not? I wanted to put in another run and this would be a great way for me to bond with his sister.
So I ran a little over three miles yesterday morning at an altitude of about 7,000 feet. It was hard as hell! My 28-minute run felt like 58 minutes. But I accomplished something I never would have in New York...I placed! I came in fifth in my age bracket! The medal is now in my luggage. I'm wicked proud I finished the race with a pace faster than a 10-minute mile. I am also very wicked proud that I placed.
Of course, the country was beautiful and there were even more picturesque views of the Rockies.
The rest of the day was spent hiking and camping at an altitude of 11,000 feet. Good times!
The ultimate occurred yesterday morning when TM's sister and I ran a 5K race. It was part of an annual festival in the local town. Everyone knew I was a runner...because everyone in this family knows everything about me! But that's for another post. So when his sister asked, I thought why not? I wanted to put in another run and this would be a great way for me to bond with his sister.
So I ran a little over three miles yesterday morning at an altitude of about 7,000 feet. It was hard as hell! My 28-minute run felt like 58 minutes. But I accomplished something I never would have in New York...I placed! I came in fifth in my age bracket! The medal is now in my luggage. I'm wicked proud I finished the race with a pace faster than a 10-minute mile. I am also very wicked proud that I placed.
Of course, the country was beautiful and there were even more picturesque views of the Rockies.
The rest of the day was spent hiking and camping at an altitude of 11,000 feet. Good times!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Recipe for Loving This Country
I've discovered the secret for loving America without bitterness or cynicism. The key is to see it. I know, I know...duh! I always considered myself a well-traveled person, but I recently discovered that I had barely seen the country I was born in. Two days in a different time zone has made me appreciate the diversity of landscape that is this country.
I am currently in Taos, NM. But I have also been in Denver and Ft. Collins, CO in the last two days. I am on vacation with TM where we'll be spending a couple of weeks with his friends and family. I have to say, I was/am a bit nervous about meeting his clan...because he has a very big family...but so far, we are having a marvelous time. Lots of laughing, good food and great views. The Rocky Mountains are astounding and it is very loopy to be dealing with a two-hour time difference while adjusting to being higher than a mile above sea level. My 20-minute-run yesterday felt like I ran for an hour.
I will try to post some pictures when I can; this is going to be whirlwind trip. Did I also mention that we're driving back to the East Coast? I'll keep you posted.
I am currently in Taos, NM. But I have also been in Denver and Ft. Collins, CO in the last two days. I am on vacation with TM where we'll be spending a couple of weeks with his friends and family. I have to say, I was/am a bit nervous about meeting his clan...because he has a very big family...but so far, we are having a marvelous time. Lots of laughing, good food and great views. The Rocky Mountains are astounding and it is very loopy to be dealing with a two-hour time difference while adjusting to being higher than a mile above sea level. My 20-minute-run yesterday felt like I ran for an hour.
I will try to post some pictures when I can; this is going to be whirlwind trip. Did I also mention that we're driving back to the East Coast? I'll keep you posted.
The Toast I Should Have Given
You have overcome so much. Yet you continue to improve yourself, to want to learn about yourself, to be better at everything you do. In your journey of learning, you end up teaching everyone around you. That is why so many people want to know you...that is why I am thrilled that I do.
Every time you say "my friend" and refer to me...it is one of the proudest moments of my life. Thank you for loving me for all these years.
Every time you say "my friend" and refer to me...it is one of the proudest moments of my life. Thank you for loving me for all these years.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Saying Goodbye
So...I've begun the process of saying goodbye.
I have one week left as a New Yorker. Next week, TM and I head to Colorado for a vacation and then we're driving back to the East Coast and via a roundabout cross-country trip. Though we'll be back in Brooklyn to load up the truck, I doubt we'll even spend the night. That's why I consider these to be my last days in the city.
I know I'm not going to live in this city again. If TM and I stay together, we'll go West after I graduate. If we don't, I'll go where my career takes me...just not here. I wasn't kidding when I said I'm done with New York. I mean, I'll visit and all that...but that's about it.
TM and I had a really fun going away party a couple of weeks ago. It was there that I was able to have private moments with some wonderful people and say farewell. I also haven't had those opportunities through the actions of others. I've thought about it and, to me, those missed chances are the same as goodbye, just in a different way. Clearly, if connection can't be made at this point, then it's not going to happen in the midst of a doctorate program hundreds of miles away.
Perhaps I'm being dramatic...as I have been wont to do...but I've realized there are certain people in my life I don't expect to ever see again. This saddens and angers me a little bit. But I am reflecting on how I contributed to this expectation and choosing to focus on all the friends that have braved long film shoots, sinus infections, and last minutes changes in venue to show their love. It is Quite Appreciated.
I have one week left as a New Yorker. Next week, TM and I head to Colorado for a vacation and then we're driving back to the East Coast and via a roundabout cross-country trip. Though we'll be back in Brooklyn to load up the truck, I doubt we'll even spend the night. That's why I consider these to be my last days in the city.
I know I'm not going to live in this city again. If TM and I stay together, we'll go West after I graduate. If we don't, I'll go where my career takes me...just not here. I wasn't kidding when I said I'm done with New York. I mean, I'll visit and all that...but that's about it.
TM and I had a really fun going away party a couple of weeks ago. It was there that I was able to have private moments with some wonderful people and say farewell. I also haven't had those opportunities through the actions of others. I've thought about it and, to me, those missed chances are the same as goodbye, just in a different way. Clearly, if connection can't be made at this point, then it's not going to happen in the midst of a doctorate program hundreds of miles away.
Perhaps I'm being dramatic...as I have been wont to do...but I've realized there are certain people in my life I don't expect to ever see again. This saddens and angers me a little bit. But I am reflecting on how I contributed to this expectation and choosing to focus on all the friends that have braved long film shoots, sinus infections, and last minutes changes in venue to show their love. It is Quite Appreciated.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Public Opinion Survey
Below are two versions of the same dance by Gwen Verdon, a famous Broadway star, performed on "The Ed Sullivan Show." This dance was choreographed by Bob Fosse, one of the most famous choreographers ever. One of these videos is one of the most HILARIOUS things I have ever seen. But I want to withhold my opinion until you see both and comment.
Which one do you prefer?
Gwen Verdon #2
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