Last Week

You just call out my name,
and you know wherever I am
I'll come running, oh yeah baby
to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
all you have to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend.

Carole King

My second week was really one of my favorite weeks here ever, great old friends, fabulous new friends, fun hikes, being pushed harder in classes, and doing things I haven't done since hurting my knee. I have only put ice on my knee once. I'm back :) and just in time for volleyball that starts
in one short month. Here is my new friend Cheryl from California who rocked it all week in my hiking group.



We did a hike called Santa Clara Riverbed. It was actually a fun, scenic, and arduous hike. As I made my way back I was happy to find a hill leading to the bluff where the vans were parked. It wasn't along the same path we came in on and we were supposed to go out on. I saw bulldozer tracks on this road and remembered there was a bulldozer next to the parking lot. Now Momma Trudeau didn't raise no dummy... And despite what the hiking guides may lead you to believe I know the shortest way back to the vans is really a straight line not a winding walking path. I was the first one back to the vans, and then got a phone call from the guide wondering where I was :)

It wouldn't be a Saturday night at the ridge without graduation and some fun activity. This week was my favorite...karaoke. And it wouldn't be karaoke without a duet with my best friend in Utah, Eric. After singing 'You're the one that I want' by ONJ and John Travolta we broke out the Sonny and Cher classic 'I Got You Babe.' I also sang 'Build Me Up Buttercup' and 'You've Got a Friend' I am really excited for March Madness and our Eric and I's annual trip to Vegas for four days of basketball bacchanalia.

Graduation on Saturday night is really interesting. People stand up and tell a little about their week and everyone looks so different, dressed up and not sweaty and in gym clothes. People are really happy and I think it is mostly due to the success most of them have had. Me, I'm damn happy that I can wake up the following morning and not have to hike or go to the gym. Working out 6 days a week is borderline too much, working out 7 days is not healthy and you are really encouraged to spend the day relaxing. I don't need any encouragement.

Grabbed a picture with the super friendly, super mom, and super wife of my great friend Eric. Amie who has been nice enough to include me in family dinners and birthday parties made a special guest appearance at Karaoke.

Betsey and Mark hanging out after Karaoke. One old friend and one new friend. Mark did something this week I have never seen before at the ridge. Fully clothed and following a bike ride he rode the bike right into the pool. One thing you don't expect before you arrive for the first time is all the fun you experience at the ridge. This place is hard work, painful, emotional, but it is really really fun.

And you want to know how it is easy to tell that it is fun and worthwhile. Here is a picture of 11 of us that were here these exact weeks last year.

Back to work for another week. Back to hiking, pool classes, 1200 calories, kick-boxing, running on the treadmill, and fun.

I needed to put another picture of Nancy on the blog. She is the queen of the reservation office. She works magic to get people in here. They are currently booking well into the summer here. And on the off chance you are booking here. Make sure you ask for her and make sure you tell her you like the blog :) As always... Peace, Love, and Fun, Jim