You know what drives me crazy? When you ask someone how they've been and they answer you with "oh good, just busy." Or worse, just flat out "busy."
That's me these days. It's official, I annoy myself. If you ask me how I'm doing I'm either going to tell you "busy" or just not answer you because I'm that stupid busy.
Life has been flying by me so fast these past few weeks, I can't tell up from down. I'd love to stop and smell the roses.....but I can't. Plus they're all dead. What is this, day 84 of 100+ degree temps?
But seriously, it's been nonstop for weeks now. So if we haven't talked or I haven't responded to a phone call, email or text message...that's why.
Let's recap.
As you may or may not know, I started my new job at the end of June. I'm allowed to say this now because I'm happy and settled there, nor is it any big secret but I was really worried it wasn't going to work out. Things started off really rocky and I came home stressed and unhappy more days than not. But I'm proud to say I've worked really hard, stuck it out and have come to truly enjoy it and the future is looking bright.
I've started traveling here and there which has played a big role in my "busy" factor. I love the travel part, it's just been a matter of timing these past few weeks. I was gone for a few days, came home for a couple, left for a week of vacation (which we'll get to), went back to work a day early, worked that entire weekend and the beginning of the next week for an event we had here in Dallas, closed that out, then left again for another event in Orlando. But at last I'm home for a bit and the light at the end of the crazy-schedule-tunnel is in sight.
In other news, Brad has his bag packed up and his boots tied tight (if you don't know the quote...we can't be friends) and had his first day back to school on Thursday. He'll be spending the next two years studying his little heart out to get his MBA. I could not be more proud of him.
Now for the fun stuff...vacation.
Brad and I road-tripped it to southern Colorado with my sister and brother-in-law in one car (and hilarious cousin for part of the way) as well as my dad, stepmom, grandparents and other cousin in the other car. Not the most exciting adventure with it being west Texas for the majority of it but I'm not complaining. God Himself told me not to. No really, he did. The FM transmitter I had hooked up to the iPod occasionally would disconnect and during a rant about "God quitting after he finished Colorado because west Texas blows" the iPod became disconnected and the Christian talk radio station in the background gave us all an "HONOR GOD!" that had some of us choking on our gum.
But I digress. Colorado was fantastic. We spent five days at the ranch my family goes to every other year. This was our first time back since the summer of 2007...and it hasn't changed a bit. I kid you not, when I think about Heaven, I imagine this place.
Evening stroll a.k.a. Bear Hunt....didn't see any that night.
Our first full day at the ranch a few of us thought it'd be fun to pack lunches and go on a half day horseback ride through the mountains. Don't get me wrong, it was great...I just don't know that we'll ever walk the same again. Five and a half hours was a bit much for this gal.
The following morning we packed up the jeeps for our trek to Lost Lake. A tradition that I look forward to every year we go.
We spend about an hour or so driving up the mountain along a rocky path. And by up, I mean up. At one point we had to bust out the wench just to get moving again. This part of the journey had me wondering if my internal organs were all where they should be and at the very least, grateful I'd packed a sports bra.
See the snow? That's the general direction we were headed.
Once we arrived at the the clearing where the jeeps couldn't go any farther, we stopped for lunch and finished the rest of the journey on foot. It's a steep hike and while there are markers here and there, the goal is "head towards the top of the waterfall."
Then we get to the top and there's this incredible lake with nothing but gorgeous scenery everywhere we turn. And the greatest part about Lost Lake is the fishing.
T.K. and Cameron, my silly cousins
In the past we could throw a line out without any bait and fish would fight over it. That was my kind of fishing. This year was different. I didn't catch a single flippin' fish! Not a one! Zero. Zilch. Nada. Brad will tell you he caught 16...and if he wasn't pulling the hook out of one's mouth every time I'd look over, I'd tell you he was lying.
I pouted.
Yup, I pouted, lost interest, then started hiking up higher and got this view which made me less pouty about the fishing situation.
I also found several of these Columbine flowers growing out of the rocks which put the smile back on my face.
Another highlight of my trip was waking up extra early to watch the horses be brought in to the stables. My mom did this several years ago and said it was just incredible to be standing there as they ran past you. So I stood in between two big trees, camera in hand, praying the horses didn't run me over and this is what I caught...
It was a bit of a rush. Pretty awesome.One afternoon the boys drove into the closest town for a day of golf. I opted for another (shorter) horseback ride and was finally able to see a bear. My trip was complete.
While waiting for the group to return from golf I went for a long walk, mostly in search of another bear.
Caught this on my little "bear escapade"
I could have sworn I heard one which made me panic...then I realized it was just my jeans rubbing together. Still, I hightailed it back to the lodge. And did a few lunges in my room.
The week flew by and in no time we were loading up to head home. But not before our traditional family picture.
Lots of good memories. I'm sad it'll be at least another two years before we go back.
Love you, Granddad!
But now that we're home and work is slowing down and Brad has started school....the goal is to find a routine. Let the balancing act begin.
I refuse to let the "f" word creep back into my life which means making time after work for the gym. I still want to continue cooking most nights. I still want to see our family as often as we can. I still want time for happy hour every now and then with friends. AND it's time for college football which takes up our Saturdays. Not to mention, this house doesn't clean itself.
But if you ask me tomorrow how I'm doing, I promise not to answer you with....."busy."
