The craziness never ends in the Harper household. Just as the dust is settling from one trip, we up and decide to go on another. In truth, going to Liberia will be much more than a vacation, and will gobble up the majority of our time off for 2010, but I think it will be worth it. I think it will be good for me, it's been 4 years since I went to Gulfport to help with hurricane relief, and that trip was inspiring and humbling at the same time. This will be Gulfport multiplied by 1000 since I have probably never seen anything like what we'll see in Monrovia. The trip will be great for Chris because he'll be able to use his talents at videography to help this project get off the ground and continue. And, I am very happy that we are both going, because I think it will be good for us as a couple.
Here is a news story about Plumpy Nut, which is basically peanut butter with some extra nutrients to help feed malnourished kids. According to what I've learned so far, this simple food can save lives, and is easily produced in countries like Liberia where peanuts are easily grown. So it is also a self-sustaining business. I'm sure I'll have more to say later.
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
3 reasons to be happy
1. This morning on the way to work I had a tailwind (yipee) and one of my favorite songs came on my shuffle, "These are the days" by Keith Urban (the song at the end of the 'be here' CD). I love the words so I thought I'd share. (I also love the guitar and his voice too ;)
My grandmama was a wise old soul
took me by the hand not long ago
Said, son what's your hurry, boy slow it down
taste the wild honey, listen to the sound
of the wind that's blowing through the trees
rivers flowing to the sea
yeah they're all heading home just like you and me
life's for living, child can't you see
that these are the days we will remember
these are the times that won't come again
the highest of flames becomes an ember
and you've gotta live it while you can ...
2. I went to an interesting event last night called Ignite Fort Collins. There were quick 5 minute presentations from everything from building your own bike, to being a tomboy, to chasing your dreams. Somewhere in there was a quote I've always liked from Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right!" I think this is true & a good reason to have a positive attitude.
3. The Dawgs play Auburn this weekend! This is always a fun game, especially if you are there. It's the Souths oldest rivalry but also a great excuse for friends from both schools to get together and live it up for the weekend. I have several great memories of traveling to this game and hosting friends in Athens. :) Go Dawgs!
(This is an infamous picture of Uga attacking an Auburn player during the 97 game.)
My grandmama was a wise old soul
took me by the hand not long ago
Said, son what's your hurry, boy slow it down
taste the wild honey, listen to the sound
of the wind that's blowing through the trees
rivers flowing to the sea
yeah they're all heading home just like you and me
life's for living, child can't you see
that these are the days we will remember
these are the times that won't come again
the highest of flames becomes an ember
and you've gotta live it while you can ...
2. I went to an interesting event last night called Ignite Fort Collins. There were quick 5 minute presentations from everything from building your own bike, to being a tomboy, to chasing your dreams. Somewhere in there was a quote I've always liked from Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right!" I think this is true & a good reason to have a positive attitude.
3. The Dawgs play Auburn this weekend! This is always a fun game, especially if you are there. It's the Souths oldest rivalry but also a great excuse for friends from both schools to get together and live it up for the weekend. I have several great memories of traveling to this game and hosting friends in Athens. :) Go Dawgs!
(This is an infamous picture of Uga attacking an Auburn player during the 97 game.)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Brain Overload
Today has been admittedly unproductive. But seriously, you try getting some work done when all you can think about is ...
- Planning a logical and safe way to drive back to Georgia by yourself.
- Also planning how you will get enough work done while driving and visiting friends to justify taking time off (here kicks in grad student guilt complex).
- Wondering if it's worth thousands of dollars to travel to Liberia to help construct a facility that will manufacture and distribute peanut butter to malnourished kids.
- Feeling guilty for just thinking about taking another 2 weeks off for this trip!
- Missing a best friend who you haven't seen in 2 years and probably won't see or talk to again for who knows how long (another year, 3 years??)
- Wondering what else God has up his sleeves for you in the next 6 months ...
I guess it's not much unusual - just life - but I've been in one of those moods today when I just would rather sit and think and talk about all this than do any work. Hence my blogging at 10 PM when I am supposed to be working on a paper revision!
- Planning a logical and safe way to drive back to Georgia by yourself.
- Also planning how you will get enough work done while driving and visiting friends to justify taking time off (here kicks in grad student guilt complex).
- Wondering if it's worth thousands of dollars to travel to Liberia to help construct a facility that will manufacture and distribute peanut butter to malnourished kids.
- Feeling guilty for just thinking about taking another 2 weeks off for this trip!
- Missing a best friend who you haven't seen in 2 years and probably won't see or talk to again for who knows how long (another year, 3 years??)
- Wondering what else God has up his sleeves for you in the next 6 months ...
I guess it's not much unusual - just life - but I've been in one of those moods today when I just would rather sit and think and talk about all this than do any work. Hence my blogging at 10 PM when I am supposed to be working on a paper revision!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Off-season Goals
Technically you could say my off-season began as soon as I finished my half ironman Aug. 9. I am a big fan of taking some serious time off during the year. I know it means I lose some fitness but it's worth it for the mental break. Anyway, I slacked off for a couple of months and now I'm ready to get back into a semi-regular routine. But I still won't consider myself back in "training" mode until January - for now I'm happy just to stay active and do what I enjoy!
That being said, I have a couple of goals. These are flexible though and I try to give myself extra wiggle-room this time of year. Chris and I have decided to run together 2-3 days a week, although I'd like to go 3 times and I want to work on speed. I'm not a fast runner but I think with some work that can change. Last year I worked on endurance, so I think this year I'll focus more on faster, shorter runs.
I also want to ride my road bike 2 times a week, just to keep my legs used to it - I hate getting on the bike for the first time in weeks and feeling like crap. Plus I LOVE riding my bike, so this will keep me happy too.
This time of year is also a good time to work on all that boring stuff, like strength and flexibility. I'm trying to go to yoga once a week, which I really enjoy. Rachel and I are talking about lifting weights together - we started today by meeting at the gym at 6:30 AM - way to go us! :)
So, that's it! Oh yeah, I'm also trying to not give in every time I want something unhealthy. I am not very good at things like "self control" and "just say no". I figure if I say no 4 out of 5 times, then I'm on a roll and deserve to splurge 20% of the time. The bad thing is I'm realizing I want something unhealthy most waking moment, so 20% of the time is still a lot. Something else to work on I guess!
That being said, I have a couple of goals. These are flexible though and I try to give myself extra wiggle-room this time of year. Chris and I have decided to run together 2-3 days a week, although I'd like to go 3 times and I want to work on speed. I'm not a fast runner but I think with some work that can change. Last year I worked on endurance, so I think this year I'll focus more on faster, shorter runs.
I also want to ride my road bike 2 times a week, just to keep my legs used to it - I hate getting on the bike for the first time in weeks and feeling like crap. Plus I LOVE riding my bike, so this will keep me happy too.
This time of year is also a good time to work on all that boring stuff, like strength and flexibility. I'm trying to go to yoga once a week, which I really enjoy. Rachel and I are talking about lifting weights together - we started today by meeting at the gym at 6:30 AM - way to go us! :)
So, that's it! Oh yeah, I'm also trying to not give in every time I want something unhealthy. I am not very good at things like "self control" and "just say no". I figure if I say no 4 out of 5 times, then I'm on a roll and deserve to splurge 20% of the time. The bad thing is I'm realizing I want something unhealthy most waking moment, so 20% of the time is still a lot. Something else to work on I guess!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Amazing snow!
How is it that after living here for 5 years I am still so excited by the first big snow of the year? It helps that this is the second biggest storm since we've moved here! I went to work today and just kept looking out the window in wonderment. CSU shut down at 2:00 but I unfortunately have a lot to do, so I was at work till 4. When I got home, Chris and I suited up in our longjohns and snowboarding jackets and walked to Safeway, about a mile away. Along the way, we jumped around in snowdrifts and took pictures of the flaky, powdery stuff clinging to trees in such a beautiful way. You couldn't design a better scene if you had your whole lifetime to do it in!
We picked up some essentials at Safeway - like a baguette, donut, and coffee. Then we called our friends and new neighbors, Matt and Beth, to see if we could stop by and see their new house. Well they were so nice and said they'd cook dinner for us and they had a keg that needed emptying. We're not the kind to refuse help to friends, so we took them up on the offer.
Now we're home and warm. It is still supposed to snow all night and maybe even tomorrow! What fun!
We've been having fun so far in October. My mom came out last weekend to visit. We had a great time on Friday at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and on Saturday hiking up to Arthur's Rock and watching college football. It was really nice to spend some quality time with her!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Haute Route - Day 1, Chamonix to Argentiere
I kept a log while Chris and I hiked in Switzerland ... I'll be posting 1 or 2 days at a time over the next week or so. Enjoy!
Our trip so far has been great. Reto and his wife treated us to fabulous hospitality in Bern, Switzerland our first night in Europe. Reto cooked fondue, with gruyere and some other local cheeses, wine, garlic, and maybe something else. It was so good! We ate it with bread and cooked carrots and mushrooms.
I am in love (already) with the European lifestyle. The trains are so easy to take and so far have all gone through gorgeous countryside. It seems there is very little untouched land, and yet the towns are very picturesque and the hillsides are covered in fruit trees and vineyards and some pine forests, and the lowlands are usually filled with corn (at least in S. Germany). Bikes are everywhere, and though I noticed that when I went to Europe the first time with my friend Kristi, I appreciate it so much more now that I am a cyclist.
Reto and Saskia’s apartment was not much smaller than our house and very nicely laid out with an open living room and nice balcony. People walk to the grocery store, where processed foods are far less common than in your average American supermarket. Most stores in Bern were closed this morning (Sunday), and despite being a national capital, the city felt very peaceful. Anyway, I think after 3 weeks on this continent, I will be strongly resolved to find a European post-doc!
Today we left Bern at noon. Our train approached the imposing-looking Alps, then went under them and arrived in Visp. We also transferred in Martigny and Vallercine. The ride between those towns was very scenic and actually went up the mountains.
We started our hike at about 4:00. We wandered around Chamonix before finding our route. It was very crowded because of a 100-mile ultramarathon ending in town today! Just when Chris and I begin to think we are doing something crazy, a few thousand people outdo us! Chamonix has a nice setting, especially because of snow-clad Mont Blanc above it and the Drews (spire-like mountains) lining the valley. Mont Blanc just seems like one humongous glacier that was broadly lifted from the valley.
The hike was confusing – we walked through a golf course and along roads, and when we tried to go our own way on the Petite Balcon Sud, we just ended up back on the original trail. But once we were actually on a trail and away from the road, it was much better. Every now and then we’d get views of the amazing mountains, but mostly we were in a forest. After a bit (around 7:00), we arrived in Argentiere.
The hotel/hostel we are in is nice and has cheap food down the street. Best part is, it’s only 14.50 euros per person (we’re sharing a room with 2 other Americans).Of course, the food has been great. The trip is amazing so far!
P.S. Blogger's not uploading my pictures but check back later to see some of them.
Our trip so far has been great. Reto and his wife treated us to fabulous hospitality in Bern, Switzerland our first night in Europe. Reto cooked fondue, with gruyere and some other local cheeses, wine, garlic, and maybe something else. It was so good! We ate it with bread and cooked carrots and mushrooms.
I am in love (already) with the European lifestyle. The trains are so easy to take and so far have all gone through gorgeous countryside. It seems there is very little untouched land, and yet the towns are very picturesque and the hillsides are covered in fruit trees and vineyards and some pine forests, and the lowlands are usually filled with corn (at least in S. Germany). Bikes are everywhere, and though I noticed that when I went to Europe the first time with my friend Kristi, I appreciate it so much more now that I am a cyclist.
Reto and Saskia’s apartment was not much smaller than our house and very nicely laid out with an open living room and nice balcony. People walk to the grocery store, where processed foods are far less common than in your average American supermarket. Most stores in Bern were closed this morning (Sunday), and despite being a national capital, the city felt very peaceful. Anyway, I think after 3 weeks on this continent, I will be strongly resolved to find a European post-doc!
Today we left Bern at noon. Our train approached the imposing-looking Alps, then went under them and arrived in Visp. We also transferred in Martigny and Vallercine. The ride between those towns was very scenic and actually went up the mountains.
We started our hike at about 4:00. We wandered around Chamonix before finding our route. It was very crowded because of a 100-mile ultramarathon ending in town today! Just when Chris and I begin to think we are doing something crazy, a few thousand people outdo us! Chamonix has a nice setting, especially because of snow-clad Mont Blanc above it and the Drews (spire-like mountains) lining the valley. Mont Blanc just seems like one humongous glacier that was broadly lifted from the valley.
The hike was confusing – we walked through a golf course and along roads, and when we tried to go our own way on the Petite Balcon Sud, we just ended up back on the original trail. But once we were actually on a trail and away from the road, it was much better. Every now and then we’d get views of the amazing mountains, but mostly we were in a forest. After a bit (around 7:00), we arrived in Argentiere.
The hotel/hostel we are in is nice and has cheap food down the street. Best part is, it’s only 14.50 euros per person (we’re sharing a room with 2 other Americans).Of course, the food has been great. The trip is amazing so far!
P.S. Blogger's not uploading my pictures but check back later to see some of them.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Proof
Here is proof of the snow. I think we got about 5 inches at my house! To make things even more crazy, I ran in the CSU Homecoming 5K Saturday morning. It was freezing cold but kind of fun. It was a good chance to see where I'm at fitness-wise. I ran it in 27:30, although my last mile was in 8:00. So one of my goals for the winter is to get faster! I can't believe how cold it's been. It hasn't been over 30 since Friday afternoon and yesterday's high was in the low 20's! Yikes. Alright, pictures.
And, happy birthday to my husband who is 30 today! I guess we are entering a new era in our lives, who knows what kind of adventures our 30's will bring us.
And, happy birthday to my husband who is 30 today! I guess we are entering a new era in our lives, who knows what kind of adventures our 30's will bring us.
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