Pre Burn Madness!

The big burn is approaching and as I really start to pack up all my projects costumes and supplies I can't help but think I'm forgetting something. They say for both first timers as well as returning burners the packing anxiety is normal. Fortunately, I came across this fantastic article.

Everything has been super crazy at home and work. My parents are gone so I am house sitting. And with Aspenoni gone, my cat, Thai is driving me crazy.

Three days ago she brought in a mouse. This wouldn't be a problem except my cat tends to not harm them in anyway as she brings them inside. This leaves me having to chase all over the house after it. Because, Thai will bring it in, set in at my feet and then let it go. All the while looking at me expecting me to go do something about it. So in the last three days, I've almost caught it 3 times. Every time, the cat would swoop down at the last second and race it down into my bedroom before letting it go again. It's still at large somewhere in the house. I hope we can find it and take care of it before I leave.

The mouse hunting obviously has made packing a little difficult to take on right now. It's been more, laundry and pulling apart the heater vents trying to get at the little vermin. Tonight, I hope to make one final stab at my unfinished projects before packing everything away.

To my beloved Aspen...

A little over a week ago I had to go through probably one of the most difficult times in my life. For many of you who know me, you know that my dog Aspen was way more to me than just a dog. She was my companion, she was my joy and my happiness in my normal every day life.

On August 4th, 2010 we noticed that she wasn't doing so great. So I took her into the vet, got some more medication for her and was told to keep a close watch over her. They said if she wasn't better by Friday to bring her back in. Well Thursday morning she was looking rather ill so my mother took her in to the vet pronto. They called back saying they were going to keep her for the day. Completely in shock I waited anxiously to hear what the vet had to say. My nerves all over the map at this point.They called back and I was told that my sweet wiggle butt had Autoimmune Anemia. This was followed rather quickly by jaundice. They told me they were going to keep her over night.

The next couple of days were very way up and down. Friday after work I was able to go out to the vet with my parents and my brother Jake. My friends Ellie and Bobby went out there as well to pay Aspen a visit. And she perked up, wagging her tail, and enjoyed just getting a chance to see some of the people she loved so much. She even ate green beans and tomatoes as well as some Yummy Chummies. Which was a great sign, as well as her keeping down the puppy food they gave her earlier that day. That evening I got a call saying that she appeared to be making a turn in the right direction and my thoughts were put at ease.But by 7am the following morning she had taken a turn for the worse. The jaundice was too bad. Her gums were a bright florescent color. And her sweet little eyes were also very yellow, you could see it even in her ears. It broke my heart to see her have so little energy from the Autoimmune anemia that she couldn't even lift her head up when we got there Saturday morning. She was so happy to see us, but you could tell she was tired. Tired of fighting. She just wanted to be held.

That's all my sweet little girl ever wanted, to be held. She always just wanted to be right by your side. Doing everything that you were. Sitting there on the floor in the vets office, I held her. I stroked her soft fur and I told her that everything was going to be alright. She looked at me and took one deep last breath. Even before the vet was able to come in and see us, I knew that my sweet little girl was gone. There wasn't anything left that we could do, she'd lost her fight. She relaxed right there in my arms. Her body at rest. And me, heartbroken.Heartbroken, but non the less thankful for everything Aspenoni had brought into my life. She made every adventure all the greater for me. Don't get be wrong, there were plenty of times where Aspen was ill. But there is nothing more I could have asked for than to have her be remembered as the sweet, fun, happy go lucky little girl she was. Always ready to go on an adventure always willing to be right by my side. Smiling, singing and prancing along like she always did.

Another thing I know Aspen did was she spread her love far and wide. She touched so many peoples lives with her silly song singing or her crazy little butt wagging a mile a minute, or perhaps the fact that she always needed to have a pillow or a knee to rest her head on. Who knows, but one thing is for sure, she had so many friends. And to all those friends, I hope she enriched your life as much as she did mine.

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I'll be picking up her ashes and taking them (along with my first cat Chii's ashes) out the road to a spot I used to take both of them. My plan is to create some kind of meditation spot where I can go and be with them. Some people might think me a little nuts for that I suppose. But I don't care, they were my everything. They were both SO much more to me than a pet. They got me through some very difficult times and they deserve to be remembered like this.

Besides, I'd like to have a tranquil space where I can visit them at any time.

Just remember, memories, are all we have left when all is said and done.

Love you my sweet Aspen, you're such a good girl.

***

Aspen Kreuzenstein

(Aspenoni/WiggleButt/Smily/MountainGoat/FerociousBeast/Sleepy/CuddleBug)2.12.2007 - 8.7.2010

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Bali - Lonely Planet Travel Video

I know it has been awhile. And I really do need to post a few blogs soon. So much has happened in the last month that even looking back a week is bizarre to me. One thing is certain. It was one heck of a summer. So many memories, so many adventures, so many good times. I can't wait for the next.

***

A friend of mine is off to go and explore the world. I myself am thinking of taking that leap. He'll be traveling to so many places over the upcoming Fall and Winter months and said I was more than welcome to join him along the journey. I have to say, I might just take him up on his offer. What do you say? Bali for my birthday?... I don't know... it might just top every birthday prior. I say go for it.

Preperations...

So, I'm getting ready for upcoming trips. Which I am so excited for. Portland for a wedding and Andrew's birthday as well as meeting up with friend's & family I haven't seen in ages.
Then a month and a half more of work before I take off again for the Playa and the dust. I'm excited also to meet my fellow campers when I go down to Portland in July.
I have to find my passport. Because the weekend after burning man is the Klondike Road Relay and I have misplaced my passport. A couple more places to look and then I'll have to head out to the post office I think. Not so thrilled about that one...

So far in my preparations for Burning Man I have made 2 sets of furry leg warmers, obtained a bustle as well as a super cute mini hat, and I have made a furry collar too with beads. I am waiting on my EL Wire to arrive as well as my new boots, a vest, and a super cute dress.


Still on my list of things to make... another Furry collar and 2 sets of wrist cuffs. Haha, maybe when I'm all done I'll have a new skill and will be able to sell these crazy little items all the time.

I would still really like to get a belly dancing hip scarf. We'll just have to wait and see I guess. I've been spending lots of money trying to get everything I need/want.

horoscopes can be fairly intertaining...

"...You know this is the real deal, so why are you avoiding it?"

...how brutally honest... hah!

Answer?... I'm not sure. It is highly probable that I am just afraid of getting hurt again. In fact, I'm sure that's why I'm terrified to make the first move these days. But again, I'm going to live life, love it and try to share my adventure with as many people as possible. Pass the hug along and smile as you go, because in this life, you only have one chance to make an impression.

But thank you to all my wonderful friends. I love you all dearly. You make life oh so worth it and I wouldn't change anything for that. Alright... maybe a few things... you know, for your benefit.

Live life as though no one is watching and as if it were to be your last. Live, love and laugh. Enjoy.

Preparing for the Burn

This year I will be doing something I've been wanting to do for quite some time now (Even though many people might find it to be a shock). I am going to go to Burning Man this year with a friend. It is true, this form of camping will be completely different from what I'm used to and yes, I will be out of my element. In fact, this little fish is going to be going to a dried up lake bed for a week. Kind of crazy, me, someone who has to have water all around her all the time will be going somewhere where such a thing is more valuable then gold. Alright, maybe not. But still. It will be a life changing experience.

My friends Tom and Bret will be attending this year and I am stoked and excited more then you might know.
I got myself a camel pack for the event and I was thinking about packing along my snowboarding goggles for the dust storms. The only thing left to do is make sure I have a camp. My friend Bret told me I was more than welcome to join his Portland camp. Which I think I might just do. I'm just very excited. I want more than anything to enjoy myself, meet new people, experience the art and of course have fun.

My parents, my dad in particular is a tad worried about the whole ordeal because he knows it as nothing more than a place where crazy people go to party far to hard. And well, where ever one might go there is bound to be that around, there is no stopping it. However, if anyone knows me, they know that I am the type of person who doesn't need that and who really, just as I stated above, just wants to really experience something completely new from what I have already. I need a culture shock. I have lived my whole life in a little fish bowl of a town, just as happy as I can be. But in the back of my head, and in my heart I earn for more.
I earn to jump out and swim into the unknown. I'm hoping to meet a ton of new friends. I'll keep you posted as time gets closer to the heading out into the dust.

I found this blog to be very accurate for when it comes to heat... and me, coming form somewhere that I really don't have to worry about the heat, found it rather reassuring to know I wasn't forgetting too much or leaving anything out.

I'm so pumped for this I really think I'm starting to drive my friend's crazy... It seems to be one of the only things I can talk about. But then again... can you blame me? First year going, I know that I have a LOT to do, make and prepare for.

More info later on how my planning is coming along...

Dan Moller Camping Trip- 5.22.2010

Well, I was able to coordinate a camping trip with some friends and their families up to Dan Moller. I have been told that I am booking the cabins from now on as I apparently have an in with Mother Nature (went up on a day that was supposed to be raining but instead was nothing but blue sky and heat waves and then returning the next day on a very warm overcast day).

We took with us 4 dogs and 4 kids all ranging in ages between 3 and 15. Let me tell you, with a huge pack on your back, post holing through snow and carrying a toddler on your shoulders the last mile and a half or so up to the cabin is SO exhausting. It was such a relief when we finally arrived. That is until we saw the mess that was left for us to deal with. There was trash everywhere, broken glass all over the deck, beer bottles all over the underside of the cabin, random sleeping bags, mats, clothes and lots and lots of food both inside and outside the cabin in the cabinets. Most, moldy. The Broom was even burned. So all I had to sweep with was a hand broom ment to use with the stove and cleaning underneath it. We made the best of it and 2+ hours later we had a nice to relax and a safe place for the kids to play.

with the kids playing some of us passed out. I, seeing as how I can't really nap that easily took the opportunity for some meditation. This proved to be quite relaxing and revitalizing.
Now, you might now have guessed it but even with two men joining us on this camping trip I was the only one who was able to keep the fire lit. And around 8p I had it hot enough in the stove that we were able to boil water for filtering as well as cooking and get the skillet hot for turkey burgers. We didn't have enough wood for an outdoor fire and were more concerned with keeping the cabin warm enough that we just stuck with the stove.

With Dusk at 11pm Dawn came soon enough to wake me up at 4am. I woke up with Aspen on my back fast asleep and a my friends laughing at really how much of a priss my dog is. But I didn't mind, I was fairly sore from the hike up that it felt wonderful to have that little extra pressure there.

I was quite impressed with myself by morning when people were getting slightly agitated from lack of coffee I had the fire going and the water boiling that I was dubbed the fire lady. Coffee, turkey bacon, hash browns, eggs and muffins were all on the menu that day. And to our surprise, we were quite resourceful seeing as how the only clean thing left behind in the cabin was a small piece of tin foil.
*How I forgot some is beyond me, but I did.

We were able to cook two bisects at a time inside the stove making little breakfast sandwiches and burritos for everyone. After breakfast we realized we all went

We packed up pretty quick though and headed down the mountain. Some of us on blown up pool floaty mats down the hill. Which was 1) fairly productive and 2) VERY entertaining to watch.
Just as we were about a quarter of the way through the 4-6 foot snow. One of my friends realized they had misplaced and left some of there stuff back up at the cabin. So I took her three year old on my shoulders and hiked it down the mountain.
*let me tell you something. If you ever think that hiking/back packing is great exercise, try doing with with a huge pack plus a toddler on your shoulders while post holing down the mountain.

Over all, if you take away how poor the cabin was and how crappy the snow was, it was a pretty decent camping trip. But I will say that one day really is too short for camping.

Also, a week later, the cabin was closed down so Trail Mix Co. could go in and rebuild it. I told them they had there work cut out for them.


***pictures to be posted soon- stop back by later.***