oh we're goin' places

things i learned this weekend:

1) the size of a mouse is inversely related to the size of his balls

2) sleeping in a summer tent, in a crappy sleeping bag, in the middle of the desert with the overnight forecast < 28 degrees = not a fun nighttime experience

3) never say 'oh, that horse won't bother us' and actually believe it, especially when hiking in HIS yard

4) eggs that come in a bag taste just the way you think they would

5) secrets shared around a campfire mean so much more

6) shifting winds suck in triathlon, and campfires

7) a 44lb dog requires an 80% bigger tent

8) a former brownie and a former boyscout can't start a fire for shit

9) you can, indeed, melt a pair of uggs

10) everything tastes better when prepared over a campfire

i came home from work on thursday night knowing that i had a 3 day weekend ahead of me, as did dave. he pops up with idea 'let's go somewhere!'. we've been wanting to get out of town more often, and do things that we want to do unrelated to races or training, etc. thursday we went to dinner and made a list of places we could go. we decided camping was something we could do, and have a great time. dave sat down at the computer and figured out where we were going (dog friendly campsites with hiking aren't that easy to find).

off we went to borrego springs. we made it there in under 3 hours on saturday. we knew it was going to be chilly, so we made a couple stops before leaving town. we even snagged lucca some jackets. the pics tell the story of the weekend...

family shot

lucca showing momma how it's done

mr. ed, showing me some love

no, i wasn't high - this is what happens after one too many run-ins with campfire smoke

posing for daddy in his spiffy new duds

all-in-all we had a great weekend! the hike we did today was wonderful - lucca hasn't been hiking yet, and i'm supremely out-of-shape so a ~3.5mi jaunt was perfect for us. we went along the PCT in Warren Springs, which roams through countryside and along a creek. lucca acted like he's been doing this his whole life, leading me down the single-person track, swiping a mouthful of cow shit every chance he could. there was lots of mud, thanks to the friggin monsoon crap we've had lately, but even so, it was wonderful. the weather was a perfect 54 degrees, with some clouds but nothing ominous. when i think of the word 'picturesque', what i saw today springs to mind. sweeping hills with cows/horses grazing, spotted with trees, not too hot, not too cold, zero wind.

it's weekends like these that make me thankful. i came to LA exactly 2 years ago, with nothing but a uhaul full of shit and 2 cats and absolutely no idea what i wanted or what i was doing. today i have the love of my life, amazing 4-legged children, a wonderful home that we can afford, a challenging new job which i love, and a family who loves me to pieces. 2010 threw me probably some of the toughest challenges i've faced thus far in my life, but it also handed me the most special things that i would now die for. to dave: thank you for starting off 2011 in such a wonderful way. i can't wait to see what's in store for us.