It's a wonder I turned out ok...

So my hilarious uncle sent my parents this picture with the caption, "It's a wonder this one turned out ok with a couple of druggie parents." My dad scanned the picture and sent it to me, and I must say that this explains why I'm such a freak...

Do they make a low sodium Grand Cherokee?

So there is at least one elk in Rocky Mountain National Park that just loves licking the salt off of cars in the wintertime. I know this because I saw him doing it, and because when I got back to my car, it was covered in tongue marks. Yesterday, I took the peak to peak highway up to Estes Park and then did a little Winter hiking. It was cold, but serene and beautiful. Here's the pictures of the Jeep:

Old pictures

So Brett sent me some links to some photo sets from some of our past trips, and I thought I'd post them in case anyone wanted to see.

Blackwater Falls, Spruce Knob summit, and hiking pics - West Virginia, Spring 2004
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/blackwaterfallsstatepark
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/spruceknob/
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/memorialday/

White Water Rafting - Colorado, Summer 2007
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/whitewaterrafting/

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Tennessee, Spring 2006
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/sets/72157603691244833/

Olympic National Park - Washington, Summer 2005
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/olympicnationalpark/

The Maroon Bells - Colorado, Summer 2007
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/maroonbells/

Huron Peak/Aspen - Colorado, Summer 2007
http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/sets/72157603340860082/

Enjoy!
Ryan

Last weekend

Last weekend was one of the best I've had in a long time! I really haven't been out and about all that much, since I twisted my knee, and with Brett skiing most weekends now, I had grown accustomed to just hanging out around the apartment.

So last week, Brett had told me that Spring Creek, one of the best local bluegrass bands around, was playing at the Fox Theater in Boulder on Friday night, so I asked a lady friend if she wanted to go to dinner and then go to the concert with Brett and I. She said yes... that's right... yes. So we got seafood at Landry's, and then we drove up to Boulder. The tickets were only $5, and for that, we got to see the Billy Pilgrims, The Boulder Acoustic Society, and Spring Creek. I really can't even begin to explain how talented these musicians are, and to only pay $5 to see them all is ridiculous. So I had a great time, and so did my friend, which was cool because she'd never heard live bluegrass before, and I wasn't sure how that was going to go.

Because Brett was heading to Winter Park on Saturday, and since it was sunny and 50 degrees out when I went to ride the exercise bike at 10AM, I decided it would be a good day to go play outside. I asked the same girl if she wanted to go to the Garden of the Gods (http://gardenofgods.com) down in Colorado Springs, and again she said yes. We got there around 1:30 and walked around on the trails for a few hours. It's an incredible place where giant slabs of sandstone stick vertically out of the ground. It's neat to walk around because they have names for all the rock formations like the Siamese Twins and the Kissing Camels, which is actually cool because it actually looks like the silhouette of two camels kissing. It got a little windy, but it was so much fun to get outside, walk around with her, and show her someplace she's never been. After we got back, I convinced her to join me for dinner at Qdoba with a buy one, get one free coupon. Then I dropped her off and went home to watch the Steelers lose... I really need to stop backing the teams I want to win!

So after church on Sunday, I was bored, and although it was only about 40 degrees, I just felt like doing something outside again. My friend had left her wallet in my car, so when I dropped it off, I asked her if she would want to shoot some baskets later (my knee is much, much better now). I felt like such a pest asking her to hang out again, but we were both bored, so why not? We walked to a nearby court, where she proceeded to beat me in 4 games of horse. I'd like to blame my knee or say that my hands were cold or say that I played awful, but she just shot really well and whooped me plain and simple. Hopefully, I'll get a rematch sometime!

Another championship loss for OSU

Well it's sad to say this, but I'm getting used to Ohio State losing title games. Maybe part of me should be happy that they even get there in the first place, but I'm not. I probably shouldn't get too upset though... I mean next year's team should be pretty great too, so cheer up Columbus!

Happy New Year!

Hey everybody!

I just wanted to say thank you to all those that helped me get around Columbus, provided me with lodging, and came out to have a good time. I had so much fun seeing everyone, and I am very grateful to have such good friends. If you ever come visit me, I hope I can make you all feel as welcome as I did this past weekend.

Happy New Year!
Ryan