Whiteoak Canyon/Cedar Run hike

The Whiteoak Canyon/Cedar Run hike is an 8.2 mile loop. Whiteoak Canyon is a steep climb but it's all waterfalls. I think officially it's 3 falls but there's little cascades all the way up. Then there's a horrible fireroad which is boring and somewhat uphill and you just want to be finished going up. Cedar Run is a steep climb down but again it's all falls. Of course at the 6.5 mile point your muscles are burning and having to watch rocks to keep from twisting your ankle kind of sucks. And by mile 7.5 you forget there's beautiful scenery everywhere and just want to rest. Add a few stream crossings and you've got one hell of a hike. Can't wait to do it in reverse so I can enjoy the Cedar Run falls more. Also, will do at least part of the hike in summer because there are so many great little swimming holes.

Easter Weekend

Although today is Easter and I am sitting at home by myself I'm happy with the way the last few days have turned out. John and I went out to dinner on Friday and the whole evening was rather uneventful. But as is the case lately, some good conversations occurred. But FYI if you 1) Do not want me to be with John or 2) Think John is terrified of children and should therefore be congratulated every time he is in their presence, you should probably not talk to us. Really, it's quite annoying that people are constantly shocked when John even looks at a baby. John is great with kids. He simply was not sure he wanted one of his own. So him holding a baby is not some miracle that needs to be praised. Getting on both of our nerves. As is the general commentary on our relationship. Good times!

Anyway, Sat we took Joey for a walk (dog sitting while Gabe was away for the holiday) then went to have pizza...and mimosas/bloody marys. Mainly to kill time before the Capitals game! I haven't been to a pro-hockey game before, unless I went to a Blues game when I was a baby. Doesn't count if I did since I can't remember. Well I won tickets from work and got to spend the afternoon in the KCO box. The game was pretty awesome. We missed the first few minutes (and the first goal) due to a delayed metro, but still got to see 2 awesome goals and a long list of really great saves by our goalie. In the end the Rangers scored 1 goal that made it 3-1 but it was kind of a throw-away from our goalie. I was ready to become a hockey fan after that.

Today John had to leave to see his family, which sucked. But I ended up repotting some plants so they have more room now that they're getting bigger. Then I made granola and cinnamon raisin bread. So it was not a wasted day.

In other news: we're in the middle of planning a trip to Yosemite. June cannot come soon enough. But I feel like I need to work out a bit more to get in shape for some of these climbs.

Also, I'm trying to figure out if my boss will flip out if I ask for another day or 2 off for my birthday as John has asked me to go somewhere with him. I am thinking she will, but I will ask the super boss her feelings (she's more laid back) first. July is our busiest month so I feel a little guilty even asking, but ya know, it's my freakin birthday. I could still go on the trip for just the 3 day weekend, but that means flying home on my birthday which does not sound fun. Stuff to ponder.

In even more random news: John's grandfather is in the hospital. He's likely not going to live much longer. This has made me kind of depressed. Mainly because I know that John is being a tough guy "We all die sometime" but he's always been close to his grandfather and will be quite upset when he dies.

Yesterday was my grandparent's 51st wedding anniversary. I'll leave you to ponder what that meant for dinner conversations.

And that's enough random topics.

Oh, one more. ST. Louis, specially the area right by my mom's house, got hit by a tornado. All my fam is fine but the place does not look good based on pics. It makes me sad. And glad tornadoes are rare here. But I would like a good thunderstorm.

So many babies!

So today is Cameron's first birthday, which means the weekend was his party. A party with a lot of babies. I love babies but even I was overwhelmed. There were like 6 kids under the age of 2 plus another kid or two, or three. Luckily the ratio of kids to adults was good. Still, whoa. Never. Opening. A daycare.

These events as well as the general status of our relationship led to many discussions with John about babies. All good, though we sometimes end up talking about the weirdest things. Key takaways:

Seeing babies makes me happy but does not yet make me want to go out and have them any time soon. Seeing John with a 1 yr old holding onto his fingers walking around the house? That's just trouble. I love babies learning to walk!

I am not capable of birthing a buffalo. (you had to be there, we're kind of nutty!)

If we have a daughter John will be that Dad with a shotgun and she will not be allowed to date until she's 30. Unless the guy is rich, then he's ok with an early marriage.

George Washington National Forest

Highlights:
~Spent 45 minutes driving up and down one road, fairly certain I was around where I needed to be but not quite sure I wasn't lost. Almost went home when I couldn't find my friend in the middle of the forest.
~Ran over an opossum. I can still hear the squish.
~Drove to the West Virginia state line...we hope
~Got yelled at for throwing plastic in the campfire cause it's bad for the environment, from a woman who drives an SUV
~John stayed home so my tent was lonely but I survived
~Went mudding
~Had an epic bonfire.

More pics to come when Winny sends them. She has a very nice camera!

Westmoreland State Park

Sorry for neglecting to put this on the blog sooner...

John and I decided to do a last minute camping trip (meaning on Sun we decided to go the next weekend) to kick off the season. At that time the forecast called for sun and highs around 55. Still would be chilly at night but tolerable. And although it's early and many parks around here are not yet open for camping, those that were seemed available. Well by Weds Shenandoah was full and the forecast was calling for rain. So we picked a small park with less trails and still decided to go. By Friday they were predicting snow but no way were we canceling.

Friday night we headed out, and weirdness, the random park I choose means we have to drive right by his parent's house. We stopped and wandered around the cemetery looking for Big Gran's gravestone-since I hadn't been. We never did find it. Dear John, it's cool to remember more than "it's by a bench, I swear". Anyway, got to the campsite and started to set up while there was still a little light. Then we went and broke on of the polls on my tent. Some duct tape and a splinter later we were setting up in the dark, but that's why we have headlamps! Then it was time for a nice fire to keep us warm.

Saturday was actually beautiful. Cold in the morning but it warmed up. We hiked almost every trail in the park. This isn't that impressive, as I said Shenandoah, land of many mountainous hikes, was full so we just went to a tiny place off the Potomac. 6 miles of trails total. So many of them had freakin stairs so it was a workout at times. Not what we had hoped for a week before, but it was still fun.

We got back to the campsite and started a huge fire that we burned for hours and hours. And we just ate, and talked, and burnt stuff, and ate some more, until it was bed time. Sat evening was much colder than Friday and yes, we did wake up to snow. Poor John was pretty chilly in his crappy sleeping bag, but luckily mine is pretty good. I was still chilly at times but much better than my old bag would have been. We packed quickly and left.

On the way home we stopped by his to see the parents. Caroline dropped snow in "Pop-pop's SHOE!" and ran away screaming when she saw me in the kitchen, standing between her and mommy.

Then we were home and had the best, warmest shower ever.

Ugg roommate search...

Kelli is moving out at the end of our lease because she's ready to be a big girl and live on her own. If I could afford to do so in this area I would too, so I can't blame her. But that means Gabe and I have to find someone else to live here. Otherwise the house is too expensive. And it's not fun.

We've had people who ask to have cats even though the ad clearly says NO cats since we have allergies. One person had a kid. One person wanted to move in with her boyfriend. We had people cancel the "interview" at the last minute. One who claims she had an experience over the weekend that made her realize she couldn't live with dogs. A very sweet girl came by who may have worked. Except she doesn't have a job.

Then today! I scheduled someone to come last minute, she just emailed last night. We're waiting on her when Gabe's outside smoking and I'm taking out the recycling. A car pulls up-I assume it's her. I think how nice it is that her friend came with her to make sure we weren't murderers. Then after sitting here a minute or two the car pulls away. Assume it's not the girl. 10 minutes later, she's 5 minutes late so I check my phone and email so see if she's lost. Email saying she's not coming. Apparently the place is too far from her office. Which is in Old Town. Which is where I work. My commute is 15-20 mins, in traffic. I think it was her who came to the place and she decided Gabe and I were way too awesome for her.

I have been getting desperate. Hopefully the two people who are supposed to come see the place on Weds actually show up. And are normal. With jobs. And no spouses.

Kearney Casino Night

Every year, my company has a big "All Hands" meeting where we talk about boring things like how much money we made in the previous year and stuff like that. It's really boring if you have to edit the powerpoint so you know a lot of stuff already. But they try to make it fun. And there are awards. Apparently I'm cool because I won the Presidential Award! Anyways, afterwards there is Casino Night, were we loose fake money at the craps table. Still, an awesome time.

We're too adorable sometimes.

Erica may be more excited about the award than I am...at least at this moment, I was pretty overwhelmed.

Josh also won an award!

Group fun!

It says I have ethics...and some other things. Haha

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Big Devils Stairs

I wanted to write something a little more "formal" about this hike, to practice for possible travel writing submissions. But I am just not feeling it at the moment. So maybe I will update this later. For now:

I joined a bunch of hiking groups when I first moved to Virginia but have either been too busy or too scared to actually go on any events. Well I finally made myself go since John was busy and I needed a hike so very much. Even though most of the people were older than me and will likely not become friends I see outside of this group, I am glad I went and stepped out of my comfort zone.

Big Devils Stairs is only a 5 mile moderate hike. It was a good way to get back into the swing of things. I could have done more and pushed myself but this was a good workout. And the view at the half-way point was awesome.

I almost kidnapped Cheyenne the Sheltie who was far too adorable. We had to cross a lot of water since it was early in the Spring and there was so much snow melt. Little Cheyenne was ok with most of the water but one part looked a little too deep and she would not cross. I wanted to give her a big hug.

Best part of the day that was not on the actual hike: We're about 10 miles from the park entrance and we see a guy jogging alongside the highway, towards us. As we get closer we see he is wearing a neon orange ski mask. And carrying a stick/spear pointed out as if he were jousting. Hilarious!

Outside!

It was nice outside yesterday so I actually had the chance to go out and enjoy the woods. John and I went to a park we've been to before but started on a new trail. It wasn't anything special but being out was refreshing. I am glad the weather is warming so I can get back to doing things I love. I am so not a winter person.

I also became disgruntled because I would like to join John on a trip to Yosemite in June but my job will probably not grant me vacation, since it's summer. I was told when I took the job that I could not vacation in summer because it was our busiest season. But after reviewing some numbers, it turns out that's not entirely true. July was our busiest month by far in 2010. Feb and Nov the least. But all other months were just about equal. So it's ok to vacation in January but not June, even though we had the same number of proposals in those months. In reality any week I choose throughout the year has the potential to be busy or slow. There's no way of really knowing until the week prior. So I think I should be able to take vacation any time I want.

I guess it will be good to save my vacation days until October and do something great, but I need someone to go with and somewhere to go. Alaska will be too cold by then!

My little seedlings are doing well so I will soon have a lot of herbs and salad greens. I wish I had my garden still so I could plant more.

I made pretty awesome ribs last night. Used a recipe from Top Chef. I also made honey rolls, which are delicious with strawberry rhubarb jam. I'm going to make cinnamon raisin bread next weekend. My new found bread making desire probably means I should get a bread machine. John may still one from his mom.