Bike Ride Photography

Today I did an 11.3 mile bike ride. Here are some photo's from my route.

sleeping babies and their mommies.

slightly flooded creek, it's usually about half this size.

piggies!!!

horse with a boner. i know it's gross, but the horse was pretty.

Happy Memorial Day

[via davidyuweb on Flickr]

Happy Memorial day. Today is more than the unofficial start of summer, more than an extra day off work. Today we remember the heros that gave all for our freedom.

Shit I Hate Sunday!

Go Link Up:

Shit I Hate..... Cold Weather in May! It's May 29th and I am in a sweater and long pants. It's like 40 something and I am sick of this shit.

Shit I Hate..... when I smudge my top coat of nail polish, I'm too impatient to not do anything for 5 min, so this always happens.

Shit I Hate..... showering, but i do it anyway.

Shit I Hate..... that french onion soup gives me gas. I love it so I make it all the time anyway, just steer clear of me the next day.

Shit I Hate..... Recruiting Duty. It's really sucking the life out of my life.

Shit I Hate..... fucking dieting, but I've already lost 5 pounds, so I shouldn't complain. 10 more (or more) to go.

Shit I Hate..... how expensive eating healthy is, I spent more money for a weeks of groceries last week than I have in a really really long time.

Grrrrr

How do I center my header image? I cannot for the life of me figure it out!

Getting to know you.

1. would you rather go on a picnic or to a bbq?

I love bbq's.

I love the smell of a bbq, and they seem so much fun, and so easy.

I miss bbqing with our friends in Okinawa.

):

2. would you rather go bra-less or panty-less?

panty-less.

the girls are way, way, way too big to be unrestrained.

3. would you rather go on a $5000 shopping spree at your favorite store or go on a $5000 vacation?

vacation, i love travel way more than clothes.

Plus I don't need $5,000 of more stuff, I have too much stuff as it is.

4. would you rather eat escargot or sauteed crickets?
I've had escargot, it wasn't bad.

salty. but not bad.

crickets are nasty, i would never even touch one let alone eat it.

5. would you rather go on survivor or the amazing race?

Amazing race.

again, i love to travel.

6. would you rather be hot or cold?

Funny you ask.

If you had asked me last year I would have said 'cold'. But I didn't yet know what cold really was. My reasoning was it's easier to warm up when you are cold than it is to cool down when you are hot. I have now changed my mind. I have been cold since November, and I can't seem to warm up. Today it's 48*, 41* with the wind chill. I am in the house with a sweater on and the heater set at 68*. I can't get warm. I am so effing sick of being cold.

7. would you rather go to the beach or lake?

beach. I heart the beach.

8. would you rather not shave your legs for a month in the summer or your armpits?

I hate to shave. so I would say legs.

Mt Helena Ridge Trail hike.

[trail map via A Falcon Guide, Hiking Montana]

This is an awesome hike. Mt. Helena can be hiked many different ways but I believe this is the longest. It's a shuttle hike, that means you start in one place and end in a different. The start of the hike is at the Park City trail head back in the mountains, end is a 7.4 mile hike away to the base of Mt. Helena in Downtown Helena. So we drove in, dropped Paul's Jeep at the base of Mt. Helena where we found lots of other cars, many people doing quick hikes up the mountain and back down, but we were going all out. Then we drove my Jeep back into the mountains, about 5 miles back (after we got lost and found our way again). We dumped my Jeep at the Park city trailhead where there was substantially fewer cars. Then we started our hike to the top of the mountain.

[need a break from the hiking? stop and take some pictures]

It was tough but we eventually made it to the first summit. I am a wuss, so I had to stop and take lots of [photo] breaks

[spider tree]

[just a few more yards]

once we got to the ridge we were in the trees, and since we were in the trees there was less breeze and it was much warmer, also the sun finally peeked out of the clouds. I had a chance to set up the camera and auto timer onto Paul's pack for a picture.

[BTW this was the best of 3.]

[Pine beetles have caused a lot of destruction in Montana. There are huge patches of dead trees everywhere you look, it's really quite sad. ]

Once you are at the ridge, the hike is very easy, just trucking along, up and down little hills, to and fro. We were passed by several other hikers, bikers and runners, going both directions. At one point a runner snuck up on us and I nearly peed my pants when he passed us. I spook easily.

[lots of spectacular views]

[elk poop]

[nothing but trail behind us]

[and trail in front]

[we've gone 6 miles since Park City, and there sure is a storm a brewing behind us!]

Then we start the uphill to the summit of Mt. Helena.

[about here I was done, tired, worn out and ready to just be left for the wolves]

[Paul is silly with the curved tree]

but we made it to the top, and i was ready for a nap.

[i was am so proud of myself for not giving up and being eaten by the wolves]

but you see, we aren't done yet.

Paul's Jeep is parked down there at the bottom of this mountain, down at city level...

we are tired and pooped, we ask some kids the quickest way down, they say it's steep but if we can make it, it'll only take about 15 min. So we go. mistake. So steep my knees and calves are on fire 5 min down. it took us about 25 min of pure hell. we got to the bottom and my knees gave out. I stumbled and nearly fell. We hobbled to the car, just as the rain began to pour, we were done. 3 1/2 hours from when we started. We think it was about 8 miles considering the path up to the summit and down we took.

We drove back into the mountains, picked up my Jeep, then went and got pizza and beer. We earned it.

Weight.

I have been working all week during the day so posts have been few and far between, I apologize for that. Posts from the hike will be coming soon, maybe later if I can pull it together and get my chores done. But first I wanted to talk about weight, and weight loss.

[2 weeks ago]

I weigh 163, I am 5'5''. technically I am overweight. I don't think really look as bad as I am because I am large chested (38 DD-DDD) I carry about 100 pounds in my boobies. But I am still chubby, and as I have gotten older I carry the weight differently. I've always had a pooch, but I also had thick thighs. Now I carry most of my weight in my spare tire and in back fat. I hate back fat. I loathe back fat. I am more embarrassed about my back fat than I am my belly that makes me look 5 months pregnant.

I try to work out but I seriously lack motivation, I do things for like a week then I quit. I am a quitter. That is why my weight has mostly been fat my whole adult life, the lowest I have been since being married (5 years) is 149 and that was in the months after P deployed and I think I just wasn't eating, and I was in school, like double full time. Outside that, the highest I have been was 175 and that was in Mass.

[me at about 149, September 2009, wearing same shirt as the first picture]

Well now my sister is getting married. I don't want to be the fat bridesmaid. I am sure I'll be the bigger of the two but I have 6 months to not be the fat bridesmaid. I also want to be healthy. Paul and I have been talking more and more about starting a family and I don't want to be a fat preggo, or a fat mom. I want to be fit and healthy.

I am also hella insecure about my body, it affects me daily, constantly, it affects my social life, my sex life, what I eat, where I go. I am sick of my fat ruling my life, and I know the only way to deal with that is to loose it.

So I joined Weight Watchers Online last week. Today is technically one week, but my weigh in date is sunday. I can tell you as of right now I have lost 4 pounds, but I think that is mostly {or all} PMS weight. Also wednesday I ate half the contents of my fridge, at least it felt like it. I have decided I need to earn things I don't need, you get extra points for exercise, so if i want a desert bar (4 points) I need to do about an hour of exercise, Or a beer (5 points), big glass of wine (7 points), the way I think it works out is 10 min of moderate exercise earns about 3/4 of a point.

Paul and I have also start hiking, we plan to do it every day off we have together that the wether permits. I need to keep up with the bike riding, so far i've been doing roughly 10 miles a trip 2 trips a week. I am determined to loose at least 15 total pounds, if not more, by the wedding. I am using it as my destination, the date that I want to succeed by.

I hope others can relate to the trials and tribulations of weight loss. trying to loose has been such a huge part of my life, and failing to loose always seems to be the result. But I am paying for WW advice so I hope that I can stick to it this time around.

I am so embarrassed.

They look so sweet and innocent.

wrong! they are highly [un]trained killing machines.

Shortly after braining another toy [braining=destuffing through the head, the way my dogs seem to kill their stuffed animals]. My monsters had to potty.

They have been extremely good about staying in the grassy part of the yard or the gravel driveway, and not running off.

That was until today.

I open the front door and they run out into the grass and start their business, I slip my shoes on and step out to hear Renji barking and running off, followed by Aiko. I look to the direction they are headed and see my neighbors dogs running to greet them. Now I know Aiko just wants to play and meet her neighbors, Renji, well I don't know his intentions, he hasn't had much time to play with other dogs since we brought him home. Also my dogs weigh a combined 30 pounds, My neighbor has a full grown black lab and a basset hound, not little dogs. I yell and run, the dogs run the neighbor is yelling at his dogs and running, there was lots of running and yelling, the lab listened very well and got right into his truck, I caught Renji, but Aiko kept getting into the bassets face. I know she wants to play but I don't know the intentions of the neighbor dog, I don't know if he will bite if she keeps jumping in his face.

Then the neighbors little girl gets into the mix and sort of grabs Aiko, she thinks she is getting loved by the girl so she starts to nuzzle her. I grab her (Aiko), now with one bad dog under each arm I hang my head in shame and apologize over and over for my rotten dogs being so damn rotten as I trek back to my house, wiggly bad dogs and all.

Now I will have a glass of wine.

I guess this means I need to get serious about dog training, because we can't have this happening all summer. I know everyone and their dogs will be out more often, so I need to know mine will at least pretend listen to me off the leash.

Hiking Adventure, Mount Helena.

Paul and I hiked Mt. Helena Sunday. I've been busy since, and tomorrow I'll try to post a real post with all the cool pictures and fun stories. But for now I'll leave you with this:

[the first summit at the back of the range, the beginning]

[summit of Mt. Helena, overlooking the city]

[click for larger]

panorama picture using Windows iPhone app Photosynth

Fill In the Blank Friday!

link up here

1. People always tell me I look like i am about 5 years younger than i really am, especially with short hair, and my round face, people think I look in my way early 20s .

2. Friends don't let friends make asses of themselves alone in public, Your friend sucks at karaoke? well then you sing with her, embarrass your selves together .

3. A sunny day is perfect for going for a long bike ride, then playing with the dogs in the grass all afternoon .

4. My favorite accessory is my elephant necklace that is currently out of commission .

5. If I could afford it I would go to school and learn everything, then travel the world, Paris, Rome, Singapore, Tokyo, ride an elephant in India, dive the great barrier reef, then settle down in a big home on the outskirts of a big city with pigs and goats .

6. The cure for boredom is a nap? or a bike ride? depends on the weather .

7. I am currently "in like" with Harvest Moon Belgian White I love the subtle herby flavors .

I Love Food.

I have a great love for all things food. Sadly my waist (and thighs, arms, chest, calves and belly) show that fact quite well.

I really love food blogs.

closet cooking

for the love of cooking

bitter sweet

smitten kitchen

everybody like sandwiches

mommy's kitchen

The Cooking Photographer

just to name a few.

But I am making an effort to be healthier. I am looking for healthy, diet, weight watchers, food blogs. I joined weight watchers online today, hoping that this works, I want to loose some weight by my sisters wedding and I am hoping a few months of weight watchers will help me with that.

So share me your healthy food blog links!

History class has ruined my day.

** final update 6pm: My teacher got back to me, she hadn't gotten my test, the testing centre had to email it directly to her. she got it put in the system and I now have an A. Hells Yeah!

my day just went from awful to fabulous.

******

I am so terribly upset, anxious, angry, sad, furious. I can't even think of enough words to describe the train wreck of emotions I am feeling right now.

On April 29th I took my proctored final exam, I had some problems with submitting it and they had to exit out completely and I had to finalize it on another computer. I had this overwhelming fear that all my work had been lost.

The day I went in to take my exam I had a 68% in the class, I could have not taken the final at all and left with a D. Today (yeah a whole 3 weeks later) I finally got my grade. It was a D. Panic, anxiety, fear, anger. Something must have happened to my final exam. I am so upset, mostly because I e-mailed the teacher 3 weeks ago and told her what happened and asked her to notify me if my exam was blank. That is the only thing I can think of, because there is no way, none whatsoever, that I completely failed the exam. I would have had to get a zero, and that's not possible.

I have put in a call to my advisor because my teacher doesn't reply to e-mails (i did send her one anyway, but don't expect a response) They have contacted the testing centre and the history department. I hopefully will have an answer by early next week. I just hope the answer isn't "re-take the final."

This single class had made me re-think my working on my Bachelors with UMUC. I am going to go to Carroll and see if I can transfer in the fall, if they will take my credits. I only have 3-6 credit hours towards my Major and the rest are gen. ed. which I am pretty sure will transfer. But I am totally sick of the shit I have gone through this semester. It's been a huge stressful pain in the ass. The teacher was inattentive and didn't seem to give a shit about even us learning. She also couldn't spell to save her life.

I admit I slacked off a little in this class, I don't think I earned an A, but I certainly did not earn a D.

Hopefully I'll have a followup Monday or Tuesday.

*update 5pm friday*

I just got an e-mail back from my History teacher, she is looking into my grade. I hope it's just an oversight on her part and not anything more.

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

as previously mentioned, today has been epic long, and soon I will be lovin this

[bed]

but first dinner, then another glass of wine, then sleep.

BTW, it's 9pm and the sun is just now setting.

wee bit of me Wednesday.

{one} do you watch the history channel? if so, what’s your favorite program? I love history, i like the histories mysteries and documentaries on history
{two} what is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? curl up with a blanket and nap the day away.
{three} what does your dream house look like? big wrap around porch, covered deck, huge grassy yard with big trees, lots of plants, maybe a pool. Inside? Big rooms with huge windows. Very open floor plan
{four} what state were you born in? Arizona
{five} do you have a change jar? if so, what do you use it for when it gets full? I have my 'run away' jar. It's sort of a joke and I don't even know where it is now. But if I found it, and it were full I'd probably take it to the bank and deposit it in our joint account.
{six} what’s the first website you look at when you get on the computer? Facebook.
{seven} what is your favorite breakfast? Rice, Egg and Sriracha. maybe a side of hashbrowns.
{eight} what’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken? Living in Japan for 3 years. Best trip ever!
{nine} do you prefer your coffee black or with cream/milk/sugar? I like my coffee with french vanilla creamer.
{ten} have you ever done a professional photo shoot? Nope.

Long Wednesday

Today has been a very long day. I was up at 0530 for work, worked until after 1pm, when I was supposed to be done at 11. I found out that something happened at work Monday that I was sort of responsible for, it wasn't a huge deal but it wasn't my fault and It made me all anxious, then I once I realized I wasn't in trouble (mostly because it wasn't entirely my fault) I was mad at the person who didn't do what I asked them to do, resulting in this whole situation. Now I am mostly over it.

I ran tons of errands today and planted a few more plants. Hung my upside down tomoato grower and my humming bird feeder. Now I need to make dinner and sleep it off. I have another really early day tomorrow. Hopefully with much less anxiety and pissedoff-ness.

Here is a pretty little strawberry that I have growing on the back-patio.

Tail Wagging Tuesday!

This weeks Tail Waggin Tuesday is: Post a video!

Farmers Market

I was very hopeful upon arriving at the farmers market this morning. We walked up and there was a big truck from the Mennonite colony that is in Wolf Creek, several booths of potted flowers and starter plants, even a few herbs. But beyond the plants and herbs it was almost all hippy dippy shit, pottery, tye dye, hand made baby clothes, crotched hats and booties, and wood carvings. There was some neat stuff, hand made soap, local honey, kettle corn, and one neat knitting booth, with yarn and raw fiber.

I was overall unimpressed. I really wanted more fruits, veggies, you know the stuff you expect from a farmers market. I think because it's still cold here, things are just starting to grow. It's just now started to warm up this week, this is the first week since we got here temperatures haven't dipped below freezing during the day. I have faith that when spring progresses there will be more fruits and veggies available.