There she goes...

Sadly, today is the day I bid farewell to my best friend in Boise!

It's a sad day for me, but an exciting day for Tana, who is moving to the big city of Minneapolis to be with her fiance' who got a great gig as a morning reporter for WCCO radio.

Tana is the only person in the City of Trees who I can count on to go skiing with me every weekend... who likes to have girl/wine/movie nights, play beer league softball, and who I can count on to just be there when I need her.

The good news about her move, is the fact that she is going to Minneapolis, where a lot of my friends from back home are now living. It makes it easy to visit them all in one trip, rather than trying to budget time and money to travel all across the country... I'll be there in no time to visit! And soon after that, I'll be in Ohio when she marries the man of her dreams!

So here's to Tana, and to Edgar! Good luck in the move, and I know you'll do great things in the Twin Cities! Until I see you again...

I'm sorry... as I was looking for a picture of Tana and I 'cheersing' with our beers on the ski mountain, I found this and had to post it. She's going to be SO mad at me! LOVE YOU TANA!!!!

Kels

Fail.

I failed you all... I didn't even post before 2011 like I said I would back in... oh... May.

Anyway, I've kind of started up a new kind of blog called a 'Tumblr' ... it's just easier for me to keep updated because I can do it from my phone, and I don't feel like I always have to write paragraphs. =)

I'm still going to TRY this blog thing again... but what I've found with it, is that it's really hard for me to feel like I can be open and honest. I feel like almost everything I say or do online reflects my place of employment, my profession, ... I just feel very censored. I know I'm not alone... but I apologize. That's not what a blog is supposed to be about.

Either way, I'm going to do my best in 2011 to keep writing, and we'll just see where it goes.

Hopefully this year, I'll have a lot less venting to do... giving me a lot less to worry about as I write. =)

Happy new year!

Kels

I suck at this...

I will post soon... this I can promise you. Before 2011, I will write another blog post.

Cabin fever

In between seasons is not a place I like to be. These least favorite months of mine include November, beginning of December, April and May.

These are the times when it's too cold to waterski, camp comfortably, drive my car through the mountains or go rafting... and despite that cold, it's not quite time to ski, sled, or shovel my patio (as much fun as that is).

I'm not writing this blog to complain, I'm just making note that this is my last week of "in between" and this weekend, I am kicking my cabin fever!

In fact, the end of December could be one of the best times of the year -- because resorts are having deals all over the place, luring skiiers and snowboarders with cheap passes and hotel discounts because their snow isn't quite up to par yet. I will take it!

Sun Valley, here we come!

I leave you with some of my favorite snow day pictures from last season.

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Drinking wine on the mountainside is what the cool kids are doing.



Beau & the infamous tailgate, plus a little homemade wine we like to call "Beauvine"



I have no comment for the next three pictures.







Breaking in new boots is no easy feat.



Don't ask.



Our secret snow cave!





Tailgating in a blizzard-- not so glamorous.

Long time no blog!

Since I haven't blogged for months-- five to be exact, I decided it might be easier (and more fun)to catch you all up on my shenanigans with pictures rather than words. Enjoy!



Rainy week in Glacier Nat'l Park





Skydiving







Loving life & Seattle




RIP Rocky Canyon hot spring





Celebrating new lifts in Sun Valley





"Here's to loving life and new adventures"

Celebrating the big 2-5 in Las Vegas

Love life.

I don't send out forwards -- ever... but in the rare instance that one touches me... I will post it on my blog.  =)

This is one of those...  I love messages, songs, poems and quotes that are all about loving life-- because unfortunately, most of us need a reminder every once in a while that life is never as bad as it seems... and that we wouldn't know "good" -- without ever knowing "bad."

So here we go -- read it, and live it!

*Please note that I might have reworded a few things to make it more my own, but hey-- it's my blog... I do what I want.

(I'm even leaving the cute jumping fish in... because it probably took someone a really long time to figure out how to do that.)

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"I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I age, I'm becoming kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.  I've become my own friend.  I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed... I'm entitled to a treat, and to be messy.  I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM... and sleep until noon?  I will dance with Brandy to Kellie Pickler until all hours of the night, laugh out loud by myself until I cry and at the same time, if I wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and I will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite pitying glances from the jet set.  They too, will get old...

I know I'm sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.  And I will eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken.  How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one.  But broken hearts give us strength, understanding, and compassion.  A heart never broken is pristine and sterile-- and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I should only be so lucky to live long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed-- and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As I get older, it's easier to be positive.  You care less about what other people think.  I don't question myself anymore.  I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like getting older.  It has set me free.  I love the person I'm becoming.

I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here-- I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be...  I will live life, love life-- and know that I'm lucky for every thing -good and bad- that happens in it."

P.S.

Don't forget to send this to 7 people otherwise you will die.

><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.·´¯`·.¸.,.·´¯`·..><((((º>

I hope you all enjoy this little reminder as much as I did!

Mom's forwards do come in handy every once in a while.  =)

Grandma Nini loving life -- & Bingo.

Always,

I'd like to introduce you...

To the most inspirational and beautiful woman I've ever known...

Grandma Nini, 96th birthday.

My Grandma Nini (Virginia "Ginny" Pittelkow) would be turning 97 on July 16, of next month.

I just spent a week in Tallahassee, FL, with my family while we laid her to rest -- and every story shared, reminded me of what an amazing person she was. 

My grandma loved her family, loved her friends, and most of all-- loved life.

Bingo jackpot, April 2005.

Among some of the stories shared had to do with my 96 year old grandmother sitting on the back of a buff biker man's Harley Davidson...

...and her choosing a hip (Mohawk, pink hair) type of salon over the "little old lady salon" when getting a haircut.

Hawaiian day at Blackjack.

I didn't know my grandma very well until she moved to Boise in May of 2009.  I can't thank God enough for bringing her here to Idaho -- I have never felt so lucky in my entire life to get to know such a woman.  Her attitude and smile changed my life.

Just a few of my favorite memories -- watching, singing and dancing in our chairs to "Singing in the Rain", watching David Cook win American Idol, and learning to play Cribbage... and at 96 years old, she kicked my butt every time.  =)

Grandma Nini, I love you SO much and miss you terribly.  I think of you every day. 

Christmas, Dec. 2008.

Grandma's bingo monkey.

On her cruise, April 2005.

And only she would understand this but... 32!!!!!!!!

Grandma, I will see you again someday!!!

Always,