I bet the Toddler (my Pathfinder's name... referring to a small child, not to Sittig) could easily tote this guy along. 

 I'd camp my way around the U.S. :)

I want one.

Reasons I haven't been blogging this week:

(I have a list)

-I feel like I'm wasting part of who I am by not writing something bigger.
-I hate that I can't post pictures and I'm just loading you all up with heavy text.
-Last weekend feels like too much to capture, and I'd hate to do it without photos.
-I really like life right now, and I like living it more than describing it.
-I work at an office that provides very few opportunities in the day to blog.
-In the evenings, I have better things to do than blog.
-In the mornings, if I get out of bed in time, I know I should run rather than sit at a computer for any more  time than I already do all day long..

But I hope to get back to writing a bit more artistic work soon. 

Camping was fantastic.  It was so refreshing to be outdoors, and to be there with a group of people who are kind and funny and up for shenanigans.  It's what I needed. It was like dumping a bucket of cold water onto my life... made me feel my hands and fingers, made my toes tingle.  Made me taste a bit of adventure and remember what it's like to take a risk.  Be it running around a fort at night, climbing the face of a mountain, or opening my heart a bit more.  I'm grateful for those people.  I'm also grateful I got to check off one more of my 25 goals for the year.  I have a lot more to go!

Last night we baked and prepped food for the camping trip.  I fell asleep on the kitchen banquette around midnight and woke up to a plate full of cookies and a kitchen of clean dishes (after hearing tid bits of some interesting conversation - leave guys "alone" in the kitchen and it's bound to happen).  I switched my final load of laundry and went straight to bed.  I still have yet to check out the tents, grab chairs, or pack, but I kind of don't care.  lol.  More than preparing any of the meals last night, we made ridiculous amounts of treats (pumpkin bread, cookies and muddy buddies!), sipped wine, and laughed. And that was more than enough to "prepare" me for the weekend.  This is going to be a fantastic time.  And I think we'll be more than well fed. 

PS - This weekend I get to check off one of the 25 Goals. :)

I am going camping this weekend with a big ol' group of people.  I'm not even sure I know all of them, but the core is some Blueberries.  Erik and I volunteered to handle food for a few of us.  (Or, did I volunteer Erik and I to handle food?  :/  Sorry, Erik.)  Thanks to my amazing older sis, Kim, I am set.  She and Jason organize a camping trip for the community group each year and so I assumed she'd be a great resource camping food ideas.  (When is she not a good resource when it comes to cooking?!)  But my expectations were blown away when she emailed me her previous camping list, with a complete breakdown of meals, drinks, supplies and gear.  I don't really know what I'd be doing without her, since I also realized yesterday that I had left myself one evening to shop, prep food (with Erik, thankfully), do laundry, find my gear, and pack! That would be tonight, after work. 

I could not be more excited.  Okay. Yes, I could.  I would be more excited if Meg would email me back, "I am coming too!" But, besides that, I could not be more excited.  We have our menu all picked out - some from Kim, some of our own ideas.  We have our shopping list.  And our drink requests (what, did you thionk we were handling food for free?  Oh no, we're adapting to someone's Bartering life-style).  The two other guys we're covering food for arrived last year at the camping trip with a thing of peanut butter, a head of lettuce and two snuggies. So, we don't have much to live up to. ;)  But even if we did, I think we'd still surpass the expectations.  I hope. 

The real issue I've spent most of my time considering:  What book(s) should I bring?  I'm still halfway through HP5.  It is such a big book that I don't cart it around - I only read it at home.  I also began Everything Beautiful Began After, which is my smaller "bus book."  AND, I need to have read the first 500 pages of The Count of Monte Cristo by next Thursday.... which I haven't even picked up yet.

I'm going camping next weekend. :)

I'll be checking one more goal off the list.

2am craving... for camping.  

And earlier today I was thinking: I haven't been fishing since high school graduation.  

I'd like for that to change.  

Actually... that probably is related to these books.  Which is a very odd reaction. 

Home from Family Camp. I wouldn't say I'm refreshed or relaxed, but perhaps happily exhausted. :) One week of work to conquer and then it's off to Cali for rest and focus.

Elise & Me, again. Twenty-four and Twenty-five.

Aurelia

Jeff "toasting the buns"

Sprained ankles. Mine from soccer on Thursday, Richard's from Friday basketball. (ouch!)

Family Camp is almost here!

I have been craving some camping. It doesn't even have to be intense camping... just warm summer weather, sitting at night around a campfire, listening to a guitar, and talking and laughing with friends deep into the night. Bright canopy above, full of those stars too shy to come near the city.

I remember Kristin Rowles (then Hale) talking about her dream honeymoon having two parts. The second week, she wanted to go camping with her husband. I thought she was hilarious. But I get more and more like that. I don't want to camp on my HONEYMOON... but I sure can't wait to camp with my husband... that joy in complete simplicity and honesty (haha)! Camping sure shows what you are! Ay?

ROSE, I think you and your hubby, and me and my Mr. Hubby should probably go camping one day... for real. :) LB... dare to imagine! HAHAHAHAA!!!!