Saturday, February 6, 2010

Saturday nights allright for......Bowling


How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

Are you so upright you can't be bent?
If it comes to blows are you so sure you won't be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?

If everything you think you know,
Makes your life unbearable,
Would you change?
Would you change?
Tracy Chapman
I am going to start with the Friday food because it was a really good day of food and I needed every single calorie they served , plus a few extra from the soup the lady across the table didn't finish. I was ravenous at lunch after a very difficult and trying hike.





Breakfast was the frittata with a big scoop of Guacamole on it. A huge monster shout out to one of my all time favorite ridgers and The Queen of the avocado Linda M. One thing about having 65 campers is the kitchen struggles to keep every meal hot. But there is a microwave available all the time. Although popcorn and that delightful smell is not advised.














The Lunch was the chicken soup/stew with a small roll, and some red water. All right that is the calorie free Hawaiian punch add in. I have never needed a meal more than I needed this one. It's really good, the roll is awesome to get and it warmed me right up.





























One of my favorite ridge meals is the meatball sandwich. So good , so filling. I not going to lie it used to be better with a ciabatta bun but I am not going to complain. 3 nice sized turkey meatballs













The Pudding Parfait Dessert, certainly the most beautiful dessert they serve us. Damn tasty as well. Like the last time I posted this picture. I don't really want to know whats in it but I sure scrape the glass with my spoon


















A really very cool camper this week was NFL player Ephraim Salaam, offensive left tackle for the Houston Texas. He finishing up his last of two weeks with his wife. He made a point to hang out a be part of all the activities and was so friendly and fun with all the guests. I can't really remember how our last conversation went but one of was either begging for tickets to see the other play sand volleyball or NFL football but I'm sure it will come to me.









A special thank you to Lisa from Medford the amazing mother of three girls including one nicknamed Gracie Goo that she dropped on us in Scattegories. Lisa was responsible for Friday game night and we all know how competitive Jim likes a challenge. Not sure who won (me) but we all had a great time and stayed up well into the 9pm hour.


The game night crew, just like any other game night except no booze and no food, but shockingly you can have fun without them. Especially when bible toting Ida tells us a joke about Eskimo's.


Saved the best for last. 12 of us along with three guides made the drive out to slot canyon where we tackled what is a very challenging hike. This hike is up and down, into slot canyons, across the sand, and up and down some more. There is a serious immediate decline into the path and one giant climb up the rocks as well. No snow on this trip but it was there in the distance.






Here is our happy band of misfits on the van on the ride over. This is always a very calm and fun time. I was fairly subdued thinking please do not let any of these women, that I have convinced to do this get hurt or break down out on this trail.







The happy group of ten. We also got Nancy the super extraordinaire reservations guru. It was awfully hard for her to hike because she was toting her 3 week paycheck in her back pocket and that thing was heavy from all the commissions.









The hike is just amazingly beautiful and I was so proud of all the hikers. They all did fabulously, with maybe the exception of the guy in the ridiculously sweaty sunshine daydream sweatshirt. The last 30 minutes of this hike I really felt the lack of calories in my stomach which was aching. I was spent and struggled to make it in. I shivered for an hour and finally felt normal again when I got the soup in me. Again, I could not have been prouder of my fellow hikers. So many were doing this for the first time, and many consider this to be one of the toughest hikes offered. And it warmed my heart that many of them thanked me for pushing them to do this. That's what the Ridge is all about.
So another Saturday in Utah. I am not doing the stop sign hike today. My body is a five day a week body. I am hoping that the rain they are calling for is not around so that I can get on the bike today. A really huge thank you to Tiffany who brought me a bike from her home to train on. I can not thank her enough and look forward to her help in getting ready for this event. She is such a wonderful trainer and asset to this program. Thanks to the wonderful Jaime from Mesquite, Texas for today's blog song. Peace Love and Turtles to you. Saturday night we will be going en masse to the local bowling alley for some well needed fun. The blog is on vacation for a couple days. CNBC filming tomorrow and Monday along with a little football game. WHO DAT, GEAUX Saints I'm rooting with Marla, Jen D, and uber real estate seller Suzanne and virtually every one else here at the ridge. Have a great weekend, Lots of Love, Jim




1 comment:

McKinney, Mesquite same thing :) said...

Sounds like you're having too much fun! That one picture will keep me busy for quite a while, I know you took it just for me :) Mesquite!? I know where your head is, haha! Will there be another Little Turtle to bet on?