Dusty Nugget

Wow, so I guess it's been a year since I posted last. Lame!

Joel and I got married.
I think that is the biggest sentence of my life.

I really support marriage. For Joel and I, divorce isn't an option. We really meant it when we said until death do us part. And I couldn't imagine it any other way. My parents didn't have a great marriage for a long time. For like 20 years. So I know what it looks like to wish you could get out of a marriage. But what I'm blown away by is what marriage brings.
For us it means that we are committed to each other regardless. Scary. It's hard to make that kind of informed decision. Informed being - our eyes are wide open. People that we are very close to have had affairs, have gotten sick, have changed, have secrets, hearts have been ripped apart. We don't put our faith in each other, because lets face it, we will let each other down. But it's not like this is a relationship without trust though. Nah, we wouldn't have got this far if that was the case. We took vows, and lets take them for what they are; They don't call for perfection, in fact they basically spell out that it's not going to be there. (What do you think that "for worse" part is all about?) They don't really allow any loop holes for feelings or lack of them. Time doesn't run out. Better offers don't get to come along. You are binding yourself, your past, present, and future, your hearts, your thoughts, your families, your emotions, your secrets, your shames, your well-being, your hopes, your fears, your everything to another person. You say, here you go, you hope that they are careful, and on top of that, you've decided there is no way out. That you have chosen this and you will go along with it. Man oh man, if that isn't scary, I don't know what is.
But now the good part. We feel the same way - we've looked at the seriousness of the decision and we went for it. And now we both have a partner forever. I never have to move to a town and not know anyone again. He doesn't have to worry about getting hurt and me getting tired of playing nurse and leaving. We can speak our hopes and shames freely without ridicule. We don't have to fear changes or hardships, because we've sworn to be each others constant. Within this ridiculous vulnerability we are ridiculously free. And for that amazing freedom I have agreed to head down this road. *Here's* to for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.....

Aaaaand now for another post of an epic journey that lives among the ranks of Shakleton and the Endurance....

During the end of July Joel and I embarked on a trip. First we drove from the fine state of Wyoming to Colorado. We stayed with Joel's relatives and he went biking with Sam and Dan while I cleaned out the car. Then we went to Ricky's wedding. I think that it was the first outdoor wedding that I had ever been to where it rained, but it was still a blast. :)
Then we went from Littleton, CO to Wallowa Lake, OR. Driving we experienced a rainstorm while it was 101 degrees out. Neat-o! After spending a couple days at the lake we drove to good ol' Hood River, OR. Home sweet home. We had such a great time in Hood River. More than a couple of our friends from WY were in Hood River at the time so we went cliff jumping with Troy and his girlfriend, windsurfing with the Daltons, and floated the river with my brother and sister. The last night in town we went to Amanda and Tom's wedding. It was gorgeous and I am very happy for my life long friend! :)
After the 110 degree heat in OR (which cancelled all the bike races Joel had planned on) Joel dropped me off at the airport and he headed back to Wyoming.
I got on the plane and headed to Ethiopia. Woooo!
I had some free tickets from Southwest air, and got some flight credits on US air, so I had pieced together my own travel.... hmm... rethinking that one....
I went from Portland OR, to Phoenix, AZ to Washington DC, then to London, where I had a 24 hour lay over so I got a hostel and stayed there. I'd already seen the BIG London sights -- Big Ben, The Eye, The Bridge, Westminster, etc, so I headed for the Imperial War Museum. Entrance is donation based and it had a lot of awesome things to see. I would recommend checking it out.
After a few panicked e-mails and phone calls in the Heathrow airport about confused schedules, I boarded my plane for Addis and hoped someone would be there to pick me up on the other side. Fortunately it all worked out and I was reunited with Emily... on a different continent! yeah!
We immediately went and got messages and then I felt like falling asleep. The jet-lag lasted for a few days and it was rough. Emily has some wonderful friends there though and they made me some coffee and popcorn and life was good.
During the time that I was there we went a explored Addis, saw some animals in a national park, delivered blankets, food, books, etc to and orphanage and families, and pondered our perspective futures. I think that the second day I was there we didn't even leave the apartment.
It's hard to write about this trip because I feel like I'm still thinking about it. I can give you facts, what we ate (injera and wot and pasta and ox and fish and oranges!) and where we went (everywhere!) and what we saw (warthogs, dancers, traffic, lightning, kids!) but I don't feel like that is really the trip. How do you try and describe what another culture is? Or what a taste of it is like?
I don't feel like it does it justice to say, 'there was this... and there was that...' and, 'we saw this... and we saw that...' To understand what I mean, go there yourself. Buy some 1 burr bread, sleep with some fleas, shake a dozen kids hands every time you walk out the door, make food with Emerly and take a bath in a tub in the living room. You will love it and hopefully you will understand that there is more to life and an experience than words can offer.
:)Lisa

Hey there.
I quit my job. A little sooner than later, but I'm happy. I got another job, so I had to quit. I gave 2 weeks notice, and now this is the second week at my new job. wooo! I'm working in an orthopedics office. It's pretty great. I'm working at the front desk, but I really like the people that I'm working with and I like the environment as well. I get Fridays off, I get benefits, I get all the coffee and hot chocolate I want, I get lots of neat things!
But the end of the nanny job meant the end of the condo, the car, the computer, etc. I wouldn't say that it was the most pleasant end of the era, but I'm glad its over. I've been pretty busy though. With the packing and the moving and the learning the ropes of the new job.
Also on the line-up, bike races galore! Not for me, I'm just a spectator, but for Joel. And he is kicking butt and taking names. Wooo! He competed in the Teva Games this saturday in Vail, CO. With a cast on his wrist!! What a guy.
And Emily is going to come visit. She has been in Africa since November and I've been crazy lonely without her, but she'll be back! Wooo!!! Check out her blog --Africa Adventure-- the link is on the left side of the page.
Oh and then I bought a camper. ha ha ha. it's awesome. I'll post pictures soon!
Hope all is well. xoxoxox, lisa.

I'm in Boston. I left Arizona on the 5th and flew to New York. Wandered around New York City until the 11th, drove to Boston, and have been wandering around here since. And then tomorrow I will get on a plane and go to Wyoming. I will be there for Thursday and Friday night and then I'm driving to Utah. Then camping. then flying to utah. then flying to colorado. then back to wyoming. I like to travel, but I'm tired.  

Hey all,
Not much new. Still in Arizona. Getting ready to head for New York. Then soon soon soon back to Wyoming. Woo!
I went to a art show/ jazz concert at the Phoenix Botanical Garden.

It was neat. I had a good time. I love outdoor concerts, so it was right up my alley. Oh, also they had wine and little burgers with caramelized onions and gorgonzola cheese and garlic fries, which also happened to be right up my alley.
I also tried some country western free dance lessons. First off, I'm a terrible dancer. I mean I don't mind having fun and dancing with friends and such, but when I'm actually trying to learn particular moves, I'm pretty bad. I mean, I got the whole, 1-2-pause, 1-2-3, triple step, but then add the arms and the spins, I'm sunk. And unfortunately this was not a "lets have fun" sort of thing. (being held in a saloon called the 'Buffalo Chip' I thought it was going to be a little more relaxed. I was wrong). Anyway, so of course I show up alone since I don't know anyone around here and Thomas volunteers to be my partner. I'm guessing he's about 50, a little shorter than me, claims to be a great dancer and then tells me that country western dancing is a real sensual dance. Rut-Roh.
Ugggg. Let's fast forward to the part where I ended up dancing with Cecilia. She was a cross between Dolly Parton and Dog the Bounty Hunter's wife. She cracked me up and actually was a good dancer. We had a good time! :)
So other than those two outings I've been mostly laying low, sitting by the pool. Joel has taken to calling me Mrs. Bluth. ha ha, whatevs. It's too hot here to do much else.

After the Grand Canyon I decided to take another little hike around here. It's a hike up Pinnacle Peak down the other side and back. It's about a mile or so each way. There are a lot of cool views and things to look at. There are even some great established places to climb. Off of the right side of the trail as you are headed up is Y-Crack (you can see this rock from the trail) and Cactus Flower (once you leave the main trail and head down, turn left). Both have bolted routes.
Y-Crack

Backside of Y-Crack

Cactus Flower
Walking around though I am just amazed of how clearly nature screams, YOU SHOULD NOT LIVE HERE!