Rog is Back (and clingy)

 VB is getting good and idk if it's because I'm getting more hops or just improving my timing. This week was a chill deload week where I really do no load and just cardio. I ran and did some sprints and slept in because I could. 

In celebration of talk like a pirate day. 

Roger got back on Tuesday and was so excited for me to get home and tell me all about his trip and we immediately went shopping at Ross and Walmart and DQ (obv) to get a few things we needed. 

For YW this week, we had the Primary Program practice and then made mocktails and chilled. We were gonna make bathbombs too but one of the leaders in charge forgot a crucial ingredient. Oh well. 

Roger living his best life and forgetting how to drive. 

Rog and I went on another date to check out Brown Bag Burger - subpar compared to Mama Burger and wayy over priced. Disappointing. Then we went to Sportsman's for fun and found some water shoes we were both wanting eventually, but at 50% off. We were going to get them, but a worker said they'd be 75% off the next day. So obviously we had to wait there until closing time (90min away). But then Rog got tired and so plan B was to hide them, which was going well until the clothing manager caught us and said that she'd hold them in the back for us AND with our membership, we'd get an additional 50% off per item tomorrow. So that's how I got $130 shoes for $15. 

Roger did some hunting and scouting in between plumbing and finishing up government time cards and such. He also came to my work for a midday "tailgate" party lunch and I went home after doing a few training visits because all the rest of my people cancelled. 

Saturday, Rog went out hunting while I was running (late because it rained all morning) and got ANOTHER flat tire. That's 5 in the last few months, including 2 new sets of tires. I'm getting tired of this and there is no pun intended. 

Little snakey from my run. 

We had our primary program with brunch on Sunday and I was sad my friend couldn't come watch with us because it's always fun. But Mike did steal all my homemade bread I brought to contribute to the potluck which turned into not a potluck because they forgot to announce it and then went and bought all the food themselves. Then I had a YW meeting which was a lot. 

After a brief respite/recovery, Rog and I went out to look for a felled elk. We did not find it, but I did test out my new camera harness and we saw a porcupine! 

There he is, in all his glory.

Still No Rog

 While Rog was still on the river, I was living my best life. I played volleyball and did my gym sessions and went on a long run. 

Last minute, I asked my old YW gang if they wanted to meet up and they said yes - for the next day. So I made some churros and we hung ate white bean soup and hung out way passed our bedtimes. 

We had a game night with my actual YW and I convinced them to try and sneak treats from another ward's activity. They did not do a good job, but we had fun. 

I did watch P&P wayy too many times in the background, but it's a classic. And I needed some mental distraction while baking a couple pies and making homemade whipped cream with extra ingredients from girl's night. 

Somebody had an accident on my street. 

Rachel & I hung out again on Friday for a movie night while her husband was working overnight. I kept at my leather project during the movie "Date Night" and we chatted until way too late, but it was fun. 

After my run Saturday, I had the best (and second) massage of my life and had zero neck tension or irritation for the first time in living memory. My girl Veronica knows how to work. 

Then I finished my leather carving and stained it and antiqued it and buffed it and waxed it - not in that order. But it turned out pretty good for me watching a YT video and a half. 

bb squirrels

If I'm being real, time is flying by here. People aren't kidding when they say that wives have extra labor added on just by getting married. The house is clean and stayed clean. And there's just not enough time for me to do all the stuff I want to - and now have energy to actually do. 

I didn't get back in time (or with enough energy) to play volleyball on Monday night after the CO trip, but I did find time to watch the rest of the Jurassic Park franchise in the background of everything else. Work has been a little insane, but we're getting a new guy trained up so hopefully that will help. Also, did manage to fit in all my workouts AND go for a 6 mile run. 

I meal prepped Joy's green chili - this time with chicken - and that was my dinner all week. I didn't have to go to YW because it was a stake deal, so I worked on some projects and did a little shopping for stuff in our house that we've needed for a while.

One of my patients needed a walker to borrow, so I got to see Joe Carter for a few minutes, which is always a delight. I need to hang out with him more. 

The most exciting part of the week was probably finding a nest behind our futon as I was cleaning off the deck. At first, it looked like a bird's nest, but upon closer investigation, it had some pink, wriggling, mouse-like babies in there. So naturally, I called up mama sama and asked what I was supposed to do with it, and per her advice, bagged them up, threw them in the dumpster, and set some mouse traps. Only, I later went onto the deck to find mama squirrel looking around for her chillins. My bad, but honestly, I'm not sure it would've ended differently. 

squeaker squeak squeak squeaken

Otherwise, I made some laundry detergent, started leather carving, read a book, worked on my Etsy shop notes, took a load to Goodwill and put some boards in Rog's truck, went to an eye appt, and just vibed. Honestly, it's been a really nice mental break. 

Durango

It was another low energy week (after taking into account doing a little extra to help Rog prep for his trip and working over time at work). Which meant the gym was often skipped. What can you do. I did make it a few times, went on a run, and go hot tubbing/swimming with our YW. 

The sauce.

Rog left for his 21-day rafting trip in the Colorado River to sample fish and be paid & fed by the government. The Dream. I was invited, but also I have a day job, so the timing is off. (For now...) Hopefully he has fun, but we won't know until he comes back. 

Gettin buff.

Which left me canning 10 gallons of apples alone. Complete with all the machinery malfunctions - the worst of which was that the machine was missing a screw. I had unfortunately already started and didn't want to take the machine apart, so I guessed, and at least one screw was correct. A few other mishaps probably could've been avoided if I had the ability to read instructions. BUT you learn by doing and there was a lot of learning. 

One of the waterfalls en route to Ice Lake.

This weekend was my planned trip to Durango - the purpose of which was to convince Roger to move there. He, unfortunately, was gone, and so Kelly, Rich, MGH, Kevin, and Courtney came down. MGH and I went to the gym and looked at areas of land I've been eyeing while the rest of the crew hit up Mesa Verde. 

Butter?

Then we had burgers, shopped downtown (MGH's real favorite part), and then had a Chuckwagon dinner with live cowboy singing entertainment with a really nice bass singer and a really funny cello player. We did miss the train ride and wagon ride, so we'll have to go earlier next time, but it was fun. The steak was pretty good and the entertainment was solid. Best line: "she looked like an English bulldog drinking lemon out a thistle" (describing his woman).

Good views.

Sunday the Chin had the scariest ride of his life and the rest of us hike part way to Ice Lake near Silverton. It was beautiful despite some chilling rain. Kev & Courtney left after the hike - to brainstorm ideas for the homestead, rethink moving to Maine, and get back home so they could work on Monday. 

Surprisingly not too scared. 

The rest of us enjoyed God's creations with Jurassic Park. Moriah said she wanted the movie to end with the dinosaurs 'living & surviving' and didn't care about the people. Her new favorite movie series right here. We hung out until we had to send dad to bed. 

Everyone caught a fish - the definition of a good trip.

In place of Roger, I agreed to lead the fishing expedition on the Animas river. Good thing I only know how to stream fish. We both caught fish and Moriah touched it, so that's a win for all. We came home hungry, ate some pancakes, and packed up to go home. (And made it).