How I've been...

Well, it's been a little while since a real update, so here I go with the mini, quick one - in list form (my favorite) of course...

1. May and June were awful, but they're over. After four work trips in a little over five weeks to San Antonio, Indianapolis, Arlington, and Rapid City, South Dakota, I came home exhausted, sore, dazed, and isolated. The travel killed my energy and my back. I fell behind in work. And, I had to spend waaay too much time away from my darling. The ONLY bonus of these trips was hooking up with my parents in D.C. for two memorable meals and some much-needed family time. I also got to see Mt. Rushmore, which should have been incredible, but was just crammed in to once of the worst work weeks I've ever experienced. Photos > Mt. Rushmore: June 2010
   
2. We began, and are still in the midst of, my 30th birthday extravaganza. Part I of the festivities started with an incredible surprise from Matt the day after I got back from the last of my work trips: an early-morning hot air balloon ride! We had to get up super early, but ended up taking an amazing hour long ride that ended with champagne and breakfast in the desert. Part II of the festivities was the extended holiday weekend camping trip to southern Utah. And, Part III will commence next weekend with a birthday bash at our house. My mom is flying down and we hope to see our favorite friends and family. Photos > Surprise Birthday Balloon Ride: 6.27.10
3. We took two more phenomenal camping trips. The first trip was over Memorial Day weekend to Alpine, Arizona, which is about 4.5 hours northeast of the city in the southern part of the White Mountains. It was gorgeous; however, I got the second worst sunburn of my life. It peeled twice over the following month. Nevertheless, Alpine is the lush, green, breathtaking part of Arizona that most people don't realize is here. The second trip was this past 4th of July weekend to southern Utah. We camped in the Dixie National Forest and spent time at Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park. Everyone should see Bryce once in their life. Photos > Southern Utah: July 2010
   
4. The only way to survive summer in Arizona is to not be here for it. The end of July will take me to the one place that will be more miserable than here: Houston. This is the last work trip of the summer conference season. It won't totally suck, as I will get to visit with Caleb and also Uncle Bill and Jan. We are hoping to go camping one or two more times, more locally this time, and with our AZ peeps and my good buddy from work. We also have plans to go to Ohio for Matt's birthday at the end of August. We are going to go to Cedar Point and the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame; burn stuff in his backyard and visit his favorite childhood places; and, visit Joe, meet his fiance and their new baby. It should be a blast!
5. Time to say goodbye. For those of you still wondering, we have all but given up hope on Dante coming home. Though my sanity requires that I just think of him as dead and gone, I will always wonder if that mysterious, hurt, elusive black cat in our neighborhood is perhaps Dante. Though our little Bengal kitten Mim will never replace the big guy, I hope she matures into a grown up girl kitty that would make him proud.

I think that's it - or, at least all I can think of that would be of interest. Big hugs to everyone, everywhere.

XO

--C