Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Utah, Colorado, Texas

After jumping into a fellow tryout's car to ride to Boulder, CO, I began a mini grand friend visiting tour! 

1st Stop-
Estes, CO; Rocky Mount National Park
I was reunited with one of my bike trip sisters Annie Long at her place of work nestled right next to Rocky Mountain National Park. Not a day after the end of my tryout the side effects of it kicked in: an addiction to trail mix, a snow spurred snot filled sickness, rancid smelling camp clothes and an overwhelming tired stress over all of stuff I needed to figure out. Annie was my life saver. As per usual!
While slamming myself with home remedies, we ventured around the national park, hit up the local scene, made a late night visit to the hot tub on a cool night, took a day trip with her awesome work friends Abby and Jamie to Breckinridge and talked endlessly.  

2nd Stop-
Fort Collins, CO
Then off to see my good friend Allison where she is going to Grad School at Colorado State in Fort Collins. After one awesome day of warm sun, the weather turned cold once again. We hibernated together sharing a bitter disdain towards the cold. But that didn't stop us from having a good time! In a few short days, we basically became regulars at a taco place, ventured into the drunken abyss of downtown, witnessed the red moon and biked in full layers. 

3rd stop-Texas
Last but not least, I caught a flight to jump into a Del Castillo family visiting frenzy to see Natalie. First her parwnts were there ans then her siblings Margie+Jacob and Ricky joined the following weekend. As per usual, Mr. D was a Party Animal, Natalie knows everyone in Austin, and we ATE A LOT of food. Things I discovered:  Texas Rocks. Austin has a fun laid back personality- the Lone Star and strung up christmas lights are debuted everywhere. Texas BBQ cannot be matched. And while I was there, I found Housing! phew. It was a somber departure when I got on another greyhound to return to Salt Lake, but I took with me the warmth of all of my good friends and the promise of a new beginning. 

Dallas, TX- Botanical Gardins!


Fort Worth, TX

Austin, TX


The Salt Lick (BBQ in Driftwood, TX)





Wednesday, April 9, 2014

One Crazy Week

I am still alive! And, to reassure you cousin Tracey and any other concerned ones, I have yet to join the mormon religion. I had the honor of meeting 12 awesome individuals piling in from all over the country during my week-long tryout--which consisted of snow, learning to embrace backpacking food (that's for you dad), shelter building, smelly clothes, shivering, laughing, yoga, hiking, water treating and so many things to introduce me to the world of wilderness therapy. I have A LOT to learn. Note: best camp meal=polenta and rice noodles. Who knew?  

What sparked me the most is the shared love and passion of the people in the field for one another and for the students they are working with. Let me also just say that showering after eight days of being in the woods and desert is basically an encounter with God. 

And I got the job! My second success is that I almost peed my pants only once- key word ALMOST. 

Now ensues the scramble of pulling my life together in Salt Lake City and prepping for an insane amount of learning.  Upon completing my paperwork, I currently transported with my tryout buddy to Boulder, CO to make some visits in the state before buckling down.  

Wish me luck and prayers. 



Mt. Pleasant, Utah