12 in 6...

Something hit me the other day, within a 6 hour drive or less, I can be in 12 different National Parks!

How incredibly lucky am I?

National Parks are my favorite places to vacation to.  You have peace and quiet, nature, different ecosystems from where you live, amazing rangers who share information in an entertaining way and so many other benefits.

Why would you go anywhere else?

So, here are the 12, I can get to within 6 hours from Salt Lake City...

the 5 in Utah:  Arches
                        Bryce Canyon
                        Canyonlands
                        Capitol Reef
                        Zion

the 4 in Colorado:  Black Canyon of the Gunnison
                               Great Sand Dunes
                               Mesa Verde
                               Rocky Mountain

Nevada has one:  Great Basin

Idaho/Wyoming/Montana's:  Yellowstone

Wyoming's:    Grand Teton

Ok, and I just google mapped it, as a bonus, in 6 1/2 hours, I can be at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from my house, so I thought I should mention it.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I created a Bucket List a while ago, and one of the top items is to visit all 59 of the National Parks.  I recently took a trip to Colorado to visit 3 of their parks, and with those visits, I have passed over the half way point!  :)

I really need to get to Alaska and visit its 9 parks, but I am very happy with my number at this point.

The reason of this post is this, as I have been visiting parks in the past year or so, people have been telling me that they have not gone to a park ever!  This just hurts my soul.  For one thing, visiting a park, for the most part, is a relatively cheap vacation, especially if you camp, and another, your tax dollars help support the parks, so take advantage of a wonderful use of your money.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now,
but leave you with an impassioned plea,
GO VISIT YOUR NATIONAL PARKS!!!!

Just home from another amazing National Park Adventure,
Melissa
                          

Mom....

It's my Mom's birthday today....
and I don't think she is getting any older, she's actually getting younger.

She roller skates, on skates she got for Christmas....
She's always up for anything....
She's willing to try new things...
She got introduced to Sephora and now is an addict like me....
She volunteers...
She knits hats for preemies and cancer patients....
She reads children's books...
She has fun and laughs a lot..

All of this information I've just given you should not give you the impression that she has had a life of ease or without complications, she has dealt with a lot....

But her greatest gift and lesson to me has been this...
Always keep moving forward.

So,
Mom,
I love you more than words....
Thankful for all that you have given me...
Beyond grateful for you always being there...

Happy Birthday!
Love
Melissa

Infinite Love....

On Monday night, while taking pictures of the 'SuperMoon', I was astounded and upset when my camera, which was on a tripod, was knocked over and the parents of the kid who did it said very bluntly and rudely...

"It's your problem, not mine."

It destroyed my lens and camera.

And for a moment, my optimism.........

Why are people so mean?  Why do people not care?  When did it become acceptable to be cruel?

Then, it began....

the kindness,
the words of comfort,
the care.

I realized something very, very important,

what we focus on is what we see.

There is good in the world and in life, and when the random moments where meanness, lack of care, or cruelty come into our lives,

focus on the good...

because it is still there and it will help heal the wounds from those that are not.

Believe in Infinite Love...
Melissa

Sounds of Summer.....

I have decided that I do not like to travel in Summer.....
the crowds, the heat, and the pressure for a perfect summer make it not so much fun, and since my schedule is flexible enough that I can travel in the Fall, Winter, or Spring,  I spend my Summer money on other things.....like concerts.

I  love concerts in the Summer, especially outdoor ones.

Red Butte Gardens is my favorite venue here in Salt Lake City for Summertime concerts.  It is not too big, so no matter where you sit, you've got great seats and the sound is amazing.

In the Spring, when the lineups were announced, I FREAKED out!!!!!  Four of my all time favorite bands/musicians were heading to Red Butte:

Sarah McLaughlin.

The Avett Brothers.

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band.

Chris Isaak.

The irony of it all, I have introduced multiple people to Chris Isaak and they had proceeded to see him live, but I NEVER EVER had, til this Summer.

Red Butte's Amphitheater is general admission, so the earlier you arrive, the better your spot on the lawn.   Since I was aiming to see my fav's this summer, I got there early.....for all of them.

Gates opened at 6:30 pm, I was there by 3:30.....
Dedication is required, people, and a full battery on your phone.

So, without further ado, here is a sampling of my Summer love...

Sarah McLaughlin.
Here's one of her more well know songs, World on Fire

Love, Love, Love her voice......

The Avett Brothers.  A North Carolina group that defies categorization.  Folk, Rock, Country, Bluegrass, and Rockbilly can all be used to describe them.  I got introduced to their music a couple of years ago and have rapidly become a HUGE fan.

This is a beautiful song, don't worry about the title, and just listen...
Murder in the City

This is my current favorite song by the Avett Brothers...
Head Full of Doubt

Next in my Summertime adventure was Lyle Lovett and His Large Band...
His voice just slays me....and this was the first song of his that I ever heard.

Church

Now, I come to the end of my concert series with a confession....
I might be a stalker.
Not a scary one, mind you, but a I LOVE YOU and think you are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING one...
for Chris Isaak.

His voice, his looks, and his personality... drooling.

So here is Somebody's Crying.

and I can't end this without my favorite Chris song..

Life will go on.

If you ever have a chance to see any of the concerts I had the amazing opportunity to see this summer..
GOOOO!!

With my iPod playing my favorites,
Melissa

A Change in Elevation...

In my ongoing quest to visit all of the National Parks and to escape the heat that has hit Salt Lake, I recently took off to Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

First, a little information about the park, it was made into a National Park in 1986.  It is one of the younger ones, and it distresses me a bit to know that I am older than a National Park.  The kicker, there are younger ones........

Lehman Cave, a major feature of the park, has been a National Monument since the 1930's and got the upgrade into the National Park category.  The park is one of the least visited of the park system and it is understandable due to its location.  To access the park, you drive at least part of the Loneliest Road in America, the section of Highway 50 from Ely, Nevada and Delta, Utah.  The closest town to the park is Baker, Nevada and it is a blink and you'll miss it kind of town...

Now, onto the fun stuff, this was a camping trip!  Vault toilets, no sinks, tent camping and bliss.....
We stayed at the Upper Lehman Campground, campsite #10, and my only beef with it was the fact they do not accept reservations, so it is first come, first serve.  Arrive early and get your campsite first, because every night, the campground filled up.  Exploring the park, I found a campground, that if you don't mind be at 9800 ft elevation, would be stunning--Wheeler Campground.  Just an idea....
Upper Lehman Campground is at 7500 ft and the difference in elevation made a difference to some.

A visitor to our campsite.

We had marmots, chipmunks, squirrels, and 2 mule deer in our site.  The rodent contingent was brazen and is now armed due to a theft from our supplies.....they stole a KNIFE!!!  A knife!  I was flabbergasted!

it should also include a theft warning.....

There are a lot of hikes to do in the park, and we chose the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail and ended up hooking up with the Bristlecone Grove Trail for a 6 mile or so adventure for our main hiking adventure.  Just a note about the hikes, most trailheads are near 9800 ft. elevation, so take that into your planning, as the elevation can cause some trouble.  Our hike ended up at almost 11000 ft, with the last .7 mile a doozy on loose rocks.  Take breaks and go slow and you'll make it.

The Pinnacle of our hike, an ancient Bristlecone Pine in the grove

A wildflower near Lake Teresa

High Turkeys....I've never seen them at 10000 ft.

Wheeler Peak, the 2nd highest peak in Nevada

Another point of interest in Great Basin National Park is Lehman Cave.  As I stated above, it was a National Monument before being included in the Park.  There are tours, either 60 or 90 minutes, that sell out, especially during the summer months, so make a reservation at least a couple of days in advance.  I made Friday reservations on Wednesday and got the tour I wanted, the 90 minute Grand Palace tour.  The Rangers are well informed and very entertaining, but also allow you time just to explore in silence.

as you enter...

You do not have to take an elevator down into the cave, just a tunnel, that makes the cave very accessible.  There is a concrete walkway thru out the cave that was made by hauling the supplies in by 5 gallon buckets (can you imagine????).  They have lights on timers so it is illuminated, but not so bright that you lose the adventure of being in the cave.

see that light in the distance?  it's the original entrance

Back in the day, before the trails and the tunnel, you would have to drop 30 vertical feet to access the cave.  It was found by Absalom Lehman in approximately 1886, and if you were brave enough, for a dollar (quite expensive back in the day), you were given a candle and permission to access the cave.  If you were not back out in 24 hours, he would come and search for you.  During our tour, they turned off the lights and lit the candle in the replica of the candle holder....it gave off a pretty good light, but it was very focused.  Then they blew out the candle and we were left in total darkness--I actually hit my nose with my hand while trying to see it.  Can you imagine, you are in a cave with no trails exploring with only a candle and you trip over something your candle did not illuminate and your candle now falls and goes out.  You are not going to find that candle....  Now you wait, 24 HOURS, for help in a darkness that you can not see your hand 2 inches in front of your eyes.  I don't mind being in a cave with lighting and the exploration already done, but that would FREAK ME OUT!!

Before regulations, a movie was actually filmed at the point of the cave

Another amazing formation in the cave

The drive from Salt Lake was not too long and including part of the Loneliest Road in America.

a stretch of Highway 50

 It was a Great adventure in Great Basin National Park!!!

My list of parks now visited is growing, and I have loved all of them, and if it was not for the fact that my list remains incomplete, I would go back to each and every one of them.......

No longer smelling of Campfire Smoke after a Long Shower,
Melissa

Lessons Learned and other Weird Items

This bathroom remodel of mine has turned into a blogging goldmine.  Who knew?
With the previous posts of this, and this, and finally this..., it has kept my blog flowing.

This post is a list of all of the weird things and thoughts that have occurred to me during this adventure.

1.  At some point, I have had paint brushes and rollers wrapped in plastic wrap in my fridge.  FYI, it is a great way to keep your paint from drying while waiting for your coat to dry or you are done for the day.

2.  I designated an older t-shirt and yoga pants as my remodel outfit.  They have specks of paint on them and a little streak on the shoulder......Really?  If I had done something for just a second in a nice shirt, you know darn well that it would of been covered in paint, but because I didn't care, clean as a whistle.

3.  I really, really, really missed my bathroom door while it was off it hinges.

4.  My dogs would not go under the blanket I had hung in lieu of a door but will push a half closed door open to visit you in the bathroom.

5.  The painting area of my local Home Depot now asks me what the idiots have done now whenever I am in there.....

6.  It turns out I am a really clean painter.  All of the preventative covering had only a few drops of paint on them.

7.  Prep work really is the devil.  Forget the idea of flames and burning for Hell...it is prep work.

8.  Put some quick to heat dinners in the freezer ahead of time.  I can not tell you how many days at 8:30 pm, I realized that not only had I not started to prepare dinner, I did not even have an idea what to cook.

9.  Be prepared for sore muscles.  You are going to use your body in weird ways.  Even if you workout, you are going to do something that is out of the ordinary that leaves you sore.

10.  Have a plan on how long the project is going to take, but if you are like me and fitting this in on the weekend and after or before work, be flexible and do not freak out if it takes longer.

11.  During the wallpaper take down, I got ridiculously excited when a piece about 2 inches by 8 inches came off at once....both layers.  (I need help..)

12.  If you live in the Salt Lake area and need a mirror or glass cut, Sugarhouse Glass on 21st South will cut it for you for $5 per cut.  WAY cheaper than any other place I called.

13.  I ended up with the door off the hinges longer than I intended due to the fact that it was easier to work in the relatively small space and I got better ventilation with it off.  Shy people need not visit during remodeling......

14.  Whatever your budget, add $50 to it.  I forgot to add in new towel racks and such..  Give yourself a cushion.

15.  I have gotten absurdly good at applying spackling.

16.  Painting a ceiling is not fun....get the extension rod and still be prepared for a sore neck.

17.  When painting a ceiling, even with my extension rod, apparently the only way I can get an even coverage is backwards behind my head.  Backbends R Us...

18.  I know I am being a tease, but photos are coming....

19.  There has been an unexpected surprise that has ended the project before I thought it would.

Finally cleaning up...
Melissa

One Size Fits All?

If you have been following this blog, you know that I have been leaning off the edge of the health and fitness wagon and am working on getting back in the saddle.  One of the benefits of getting a little older is that you know your body a bit better, so you hopefully know what works for you....

For me,
Diet Cokes have to be gone.  When I drink them, my lower abdomen gets immediately puffy.  When I eliminate them from my diet, it goes away.  I have noticed this time on Diet Cokes, the sugar rush and resulting crash.  The puffiness, alone is worth getting off Diet Coke, but the rush/crash cycle is what has me motivated to get off them this time.  I think my body is realizing this is (FINGERS CROSSED) the last time Diet Cokes are around, so it is RESISTING big time.  I will make it, but it is taking some time.

Next for me, the more natural and less processed the better.  I have found that I can even have desserts in moderation, if they are homemade.  My body does not react well to the preservatives and chemicals.

And finally for me, movement....  A mixture of high and low impact cardio and yoga seems to work the best.

Now, you will notice that at the beginning I said for me...
there is a reason behind this.

My friends and I have been having conversations about diet and exercise lately and we have noticed a common theme,
One size (or diet or exercise plan) does not fit all...

but there are a few common ideas that do.  We call them the 4 M's.

1. Moderation.  No matter what you eat moderation is the key.

2. Movement.  Find what works for you and have some fun.

3. Mindfulness.  Be aware of your diet, movement and your thoughts.

4. Mind your Own Business.  What works wonders for you may be a nightmare for someone else.  For example, a vegan diet is a nightmare for me, due to the fact that a lot of the protein sources come from nuts and I have a massive issue with most nuts. (They trigger massive Migraine headaches)  However, if it works for you, I am happy and pleased for you.  Please do not judge or condemn a person for the diet and workout regiment they have chosen.  This also applies for exercise--Running is a favorite of mine for cardio and I toned up and got in shape faster with it than with any other exercise program.  One of my good friends would rather face her worst nightmare than go for a run, and that's fine by me.....

Notice that the Mind Your Own Business is the one with the most info on it.  My friends and I got into an almost fight before we realized this one was the most important one.  Losing weight is hard enough as it is and if a person has recognized that they need to lose weight, and trust me on this one, they know they are not looking their best, so any condemnation or criticism is going to hit deep and hard.  If they ask for help that is one thing and even then, be kind.  But for the most part, just encourage and celebrate their new choices and changes in their life.

I saw a quote the other day that sums up how I am approaching life lately...

Be firm on your goals,
But flexible on how you get there.

Making progress,
Melissa