Tag: life

adventure

Yellowstone

2chicksandapen

It’s November and I am on the road for an adventure trip out west. Wyoming, Idaho and Montana to be specific. The vast open land of the United States was the destination to explore.

Snow had made a little presence in the area before I arrived and some was on the forecast horizon. However, not enough to say it’s time to ski and not enough to fuss about. With that in mind I assumed business would be as usual in the areas. Little did I know.

Yellstone National Park for instance closed all but its north gate from November through December 15th for vehicle traffic. On 12/15 the only vehicles allowed are snow-equipped vehicles that mostly do tours of the park. Oddly enough you need nature to provide the snow too. I am sure there are many reasons for the closure of the gates to the south and the west, etc. Safety. Limited resources for plowing and sanding miles of roadways. The list could go on.

The downside of this is mountain towns are ghost towns. Shops, eateries, service businesses, etc. are closed for the season. As in until spring of 2024. I had a million questions about how businesses survived, where the proprietors go during these shutdowns. Just overall crazy to me.

But I did meet some cool workers at the few places who stay open year round. The fishing store guy. He was a wealth of information. He stays open to take calls and reservations for the busy season. Smart! The coffee barista who is also the ski rental girl and the bike rental girl and the retail store attendant. A jack of all trades. A free spirit who willingly shared her adventurous spirit and knowledge of the area.

This led me to a remarkable quest. Bike riding into the west entrance of Yellowstone National park in chilly 30 degree temperatures. An amazing experience that I will cherish in my memory bank. Picturesque scenery. Desolated roads made it seem like the park was just mine for a day. The quiet of the day allowing me to hear all of the sounds of nature. The anticipation of seeing a bison cross my path. All of it.

Snow under my tires. Ice at times. Thicker in spots but then sunny and dry pavement in other areas. The fresh air was clean and crisp. A little cold at times but then warmth hit in the break of the trees when the sun shined through. Mile after mile of peace and tranquility. I pedaled and enjoyed the ambiance in the air.

About 8 miles from the bike shop to the 7 mile bridge. About 1.5 hours with pit stops for absolutely stunning photos. Rolling alongside a river for a few of those miles was another level of awesome. Hearing the current hit rocks or logs showed the power of the flow. Seeing the fresh and clear mountain water was a reminder of how precious our land is. Observing nature. Being present in the environment. It was a great way to exercise.

From paw prints in the snow to animal droppings on the road. Suspense was lurking around each bend. A wolf? A bear? A deer? A bison? An elk? The options of wildlife were abundant. An experience worth my time. Unplanned yet unprecedented. While many may shy away from a non-peak travel time, I actually enjoyed the emptiness. It felt like my own private playground for miles and miles.

This particular trek had me starting in Montana while working my way into Wyoming. Two more states added to my biking list. I enjoyed it so much I’m planning my next ride to Idaho in a few days on a rail trail should the weather permit my excursion.

So many views of the mountains. Just above the tall pines. Between breaks in trees the white caps of the mountains shined bright. Pictures don’t even come close to magnifying the beauty of the lived experience. However sharing these photos may spark an interest for you to travel or learn about Yellowstone: the national park not the television series.

Enjoy. 

fitness and nutrition, health, hustle

The Hamster Wheel

2chicksandapen

2024 is around the corner. I’ve been thinking. I’ve been looking for the right target. I’ve been thinking about how to hit the target. I put the pen to paper. The idea was hatched.

The hamster wheel. My idiotic quest. My target. My stretch goal. My to do list item on repeat. The few I’ve shared this goal with asked why? Well, I was motivated by a friend who chose run every day in 2023. She has just 40 days left. She ran with stitches in her foot. She ran on cold days. She ran when she didn’t want to. She ran on the treadmill. She ran races. She ran alone. She ran with friends. She overcame so much adversity.

I looked at that success in awe. I also knew I was not as dedicated to running daily. Thus I had to find a broader way to hit a similar milestone. 1 mile a day may last me a week. I can’t do the same thing so many times. I’m just not wired that way.

I will have to manage my miles my way. Adding a mile here and there at lunch. Running a 5k here and there to build the mileage. I’m looking for variety. Maybe a 10k, 15k or half marathon. Maybe some new destinations to entice me. Maybe become friends with the air runner at my gym. Who knows.

All I know is I have a goal. I bought a journal to track my progress. I wrote this blog to have a placeholder in time. Now it’s up to me to mentally prepare for January 1, 2024. For that is when I begin my hamster wheel activities. Round and round I will go.

How many pairs of shoes will I use?

How many states will I run in?

Will I run in another country?

Will I do my mileage alone or with friends?

How many races will I register for?

Will my time improve with consistency?

Will my body change any?

Will I motivate anyone to run/jog/walk?

Is it possible for me to end up liking running?

We shall see. Look for updates in 2024 or maybe it will be a memo of defeat? Anyone want to make a wager?

Until next time.

healthy hacks

Daylist

2chicksandapen

I am a creature of habit. As an elementary school teacher, my schedule is pretty rigid. My official work day is Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Unofficially, I go in early for meetings 3 days a week. These schedules dictate my workout routines. Gym on Monday and Wednesday, which usually means a WOD and a bonus endurance block. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I workout at home using Street Parking as my guidebook.

I listen to Spotify for hours each day. Music during all my own workouts. Podcasts on my drive. Music at work. Podcasts and music on the weekends. Lots of different flavors and blends, depending on my activity and mood.

I was intrigued when I saw “Daylist” in my Spotify favorites. I clicked the link and to my surprise, it’s a customizable playlist based on my habits and the time of day. The list refreshes every few hours. So I get instrumental jazz during work hours. Low key yacht rock in my early morning workouts on my home days. Upbeat 80s and 90s when I do my long cardio rides on the bike at the gym. It’s kind of uncanny how well it predicted what I would want to hear. I grabbed a few songs I had forgotten about and put them on my official playlists. It made me reflect on my patterns and habits.

And it made me a giggle a few times. When it classified some of my favorite songs as being from the 1900s (?!?!?) I laughed. When it gave me a melancholic playlist for Sunday afternoon, I knew too well that the “Sunday Scaries” has a soundtrack. A couple of times I’ve been surprised by what Spotify served up. Country on Monday afternoon? Why? Still trying to figure that one out. But it’s fun to wonder about.

Does all this make me predictable? Maybe. It’s one less button for me to push or thing to look up when I need to get out the door in the wee hours. Just a little technology that makes me smile and adds a little amusement to my life.

adventure, celebrations

Holidays Smolidays

2chicksandapen

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. I am so thankful for my life. The shortcomings. The high points. The people. My friends. My family. My pets. My coworkers. All of it.

I may reflect on my thankfulness differently than others. I don’t need to share my feelings through food nor see somebody in person to let them know they are valued. This year I reflected from a remote location. I was up early before the sunrise. Not to cook but to reflect. It was important to me. I opted for video or text messages to send reminders of value others play in my life. Non traditional, yes. Heartfelt, yes. Memorable, I think so.

My way of celebrating is my way. Family gatherings often end with stressful bickering or binge eating and food comas. No thanks. I’m carving out time for a hike this year. Some peaceful time in nature. Breathing fresh air. Listening to birds chirp. Avoiding chaos. I’m eating simple turkey breast and sides. Easy peasy. No rush. No fluff. No stress. Easy cleanup. I’m letting my adult kids choose how they celebrate. They appreciate this. They don’t want to be forced to attend a required gathering. Just keeping in simple.

When I look back over the past five Thanksgivings, I have traveled out of state for four out of five. There is a pattern. Avoid the conflict, chaos and disappointment. The latter being the worst. Not being able to go everywhere you are invited. Letting somebody down. It’s a tough cross to bear, but an invitation is just that. An invitation to join xyz. It’s not a requirement. If a host doesn’t feel comfortable in their own house, that’s added stress to host. That’s so puzzling to me. I just wouldn’t do it. Not worth it to me. 

I’ve read many articles online this year about Dear Abby, my son-in-law is a pig. Nobody wants him at the family functions. Dear Abby, my daughter-in-law has no manners. Her etiquette is not becoming of her. Dear Abby, my mother is not nice to my husband and it makes the meal table very stressful. So many variations of people being unhappy and losing sight of thankfulness.

I choose non-traditional. I don’t like to confirm to norms. I like to set new traditions and reinvent those experiences with a little flair thereafter. Is that wrong? Am I harming anyone? Am I choosing happy my way? How fun is it to go to a new destination and see how others celebrate? How about volunteering for the homeless and making their day? So many options. 

I prefer paper plates and easy cleanup. No fine china at my turkey day table or other major holiday. I prefer Friendsgiving or gatherings of such. The ones where everyone brings their favorite dish to share. The ones where people focus on what they liked about their standard traditions vs. all the must dos. 

I’m in shorts and slippers today. Nothing fancy. Just me. Comfortably dressed as I gorge myself. No uncomfortable dress up to be presentable to others. My holidays are full of options. The destination may differ. The food may be shaken up. The company may vary as well. That’s part of the fun.

However you celebrate Thanksgiving and other holidays, be thankful. Be thankful for your life, your health and your ability to be present. The latter being most important. Your presence can be virtually in some instances because you are a present to those receiving the message no matter how it’s delivered and really you can’t be everywhere at the same time. You have to improvise. 

I’m also okay with knowing that as I age I may chose solitude. I may choose to reflect alone. That’s my choice. I hope when and if that day comes, my kids understand. If I’m not able to travel or run a race on turkey day I may need to find my peace in my own way. Time will tell. Of course, I’ll probably write about it, too.

To all those who frown on this post, more power to you. I won’t hold it against you, rather it will be motivating for me. I will choose to enjoy my peace more to bank some peacefulness for you. 

Happy turkey day and smolidays to come from this finicky old gal with an independent mindset just tossing this rant out to the world. This post is also coming out after Thanksgiving as it may hit a little different after you had your actual Thanksgiving celebration or shit show.

Football

Parades 

Food

Shopping

Chaos

Embrace your celebration style as I do mine.

awareness, challenges

Dear Abigail

2chicksandapen

You will be okay.

You are merely experiencing a bump in the road of life. It’s not the end of the road today. It’s just a bump in the road. A discomfort of sorts. Your mind may want you to feel the end is near but you control those thoughts.

1 hour.

1 day.

1 week.

1 month.

Live each ounce of the day to the fullest. Tomorrow is never guaranteed but if you live in the moments of today you won’t regret what could have been. 

Today I am sitting in the sun. It’s a fall day which could be cold but it’s not. I’m making the most of the extra sunshine in my day. I could do other things but in the moment the warmth of the sun feels calming. The warmth seems ready to be soaked up. Why shouldn’t it be me who enjoys it?

Often we see life through a doom and gloom lens. However we all have the opportunity to look at life in a more positive manner. My life is like a ray of sunshine. Not every day in every moment but enough moments in a day to make my day a good one.

I hope you can surround yourself with people who help you see the sunshine in the forecast Abigail. You deserve to focus on the wide open road ahead instead of the bumps in your immediate path.

Keep shining.

Keep smiling.

Keep your faith.

Good things are on the horizon. 

You just have to look far enough into the distance to see them.

Maybe you know an Abigail. Struggling with life’s low points. Be a that positive Polly and make a difference. Send a card. Drop a quick text. Have coffee and conversations. Share a smile. Whatever it takes to make that one day better.

That’s what I’m doing for Abigail today. I’m making a difference the best way I know how.