Rost turned 19 months old while he and I were visiting my family & friends back in Pennsylvania. Don’t worry, you’ll only be getting these monthly updates until he turns two, then posts will resume back to life events.
19 Months Old
Category: Friends
Biking the Sun (part 2)
A second trip to bike the Going to the Sun Road had me turned around before reaching the end point yet again. My first trip out was rained out – something I now need to take into account when adventuring with Rost. This time, a grizzly bear decided the road was (rightfully) his (or hers). Another day, another adventure! Guess I’ll just have to try again.
Biking the Sun
Living only thirty minutes outside of Glacier National Park definitely has its benefits. One of those is quick and easy access to the Going to the Sun road.
Each year the road opens first to hikers and bikers. I’ve had the chance to bike the road during this time once before when I lived in Missoula. This particular trip biking the road was rained out but I plan on taking full advantage of the close proximity for years to come.
14 Months Old
The last month has definitely centered around spending time with family and friends.
Sadly, it also included Rost’s first trip (of what I’m sure will be many for this little mountain goat) to the ER. After exhibiting a fever of 102.8 and difficulty breathing we took him in one night. After 4 hours of waiting we got the diagnosis of an ear infection. Due to my history of ear infections as a child, which resulted in multiple sets of tubes, I hope this kid has his father’s ear canals.
1 Month
My dear, sweet boy. A month has already gone by and I cannot begin to describe what this month has been like. I hope that someday I will have the words to tell you all about this time, but for now, please accept this photo diary in their absence.
Cabo San Lucas
PLF’s goal trip for 2020 was moved back to late August this year due to Covid 19 travel restrictions. You won’t find me complaining about having to wait a few months longer for a room with a private pool…
Headshots
My neighbor, a wonderfully talented therapist, needed some headshots for a professional website. I hadn’t gotten my camera out in a bit, nor have I been out on the town in months, so I happily agreed to head to a few locations and take a shot at some headshots with her.
Little did my neighbor know my excitement about getting behind a camera, so I immediately searched for Albuquerque’s sunset (6:27 MST), hopped in my truck & headed to scout out a few locations to score the perfect photo. I wanted to share a few of my favorites here with you.
Thank you for being vulnerable with me.
Marlina McCall
And since we’re being vulnerable, can we just talk for a minute? As long as I’ve been behind a camera I’ve had two dreams. One, is a photography series entitled Behind the Lens, where I am able to travel with a well known photographer & capture the moment they capture The picture. You know, the one that captures us all. Whether it’s the Tom Mangelsen’s Catch of the Day, any number of Chris Burkard’s wild surfing shots, or a part of Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark (my D4 was bought second hand from this dude. Seriously, give him & his work a follow. Actually, give any or all of these photogs a follow. You will not be disappointed.) There’s so much more that goes into getting that so called perfect shot that you don’t witness. So much more to that story I’d love to be able to tell. That dream is for another time… My second dream however, is a photo series of the amazingly strong women in my life who have played such an integral part of who I am today as a woman. Up until this shoot, I didn’t think I had the skillset to pull off the images of Barb, June, Karen, Virginia, Lydia, Mallory, Debbie, Pam, Kristen, Michele, Becky, Karina, Beth, Roni, Paula, Cally, Amber, Leslie, Kayla, Lola, Sam, Kristin, Jenette, Heather & so many other women that have meant so, so much to me during my life. After completing this project, I know I have the skillset required to pull off the series I have envisioned in my head all these years. Fair warning ladies, me & my camera are coming for you. xoxo.
Dreaming in the Valley of Dreams
Brian gifted my the tripod I’ve been dreaming about for years so I thought it was only fitting to take it out for it’s maiden voyage to the Valley of Dreams for a my first night shoot. I drug Monica along & convinced Mallory to drive down as well for a bit of adventure too.
We only had one night of clear skies, but it was enough to play around with the stars for my first time.
In the morning we meandered around the desert for a while, enjoying the otherworldly sights that New Mexico has to offer.
Bike MS
One day at work, my coworker casually mentioned that she was considering starting a team for Bike MS. She’d recently begun biking more frequently and, as a person diagnosed with MS, thought this would be a great way to push herself and stay active at the same time. Having lost an aunt to MS, I immediately jumped on board. By the end of the day we had a registered team as well as a fundraising goal.
Now to the fun! I’ve started riding regularly – finding many nearby trails I didn’t know existed so close to my house.
My brother got on board and sold me his road bike he was no longer using. My prior road bike, which I let go of just before leaving Alaska, was named SpaceBat, after the creature discovered clinging to the external fuel tank of the Discovery. Everyone, say hello to Tremor, aptly named after the blue and pink stowaway on SpaceX’s flight to the ISS.
Once Tremor arrived I figured out how to work clip-ins without killing myself. Yay!
Since then I’ve spent most of my free time racking up miles on the pavement – still discovering new parade trails around Albuquerque. I’ve even begun biking to the office every Friday – a 13 mile trip one way – to squeeze in as many miles as I could in a day.
Sadly, the event itself was cancelled due to Covid-19, but I wanted to take the time to thank all my friends and family who pitched in to help me make my fundraising goal. Ya’ll kickcuss.
If you’d like to participate in a Bike MS near you, learn more about MS, or donate to a good cause, be sure to visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society‘s website. I urge you, before donating to ANY orgnanization or cause to do your research first. You work hard for your money and should know what it’s actually going towards when you donate.
New Mexican Kidnapping
It takes all kinds to make the world go round. Even so, it still amazes me that there are people out there who prefer to stay in their own little bubble over getting out and exploring the world around them.
My friend, Monica, is one of them. I’ve been threatening to kidnap her since just after I met her roughly 1 year ago. Today, I finally made good on my threat.
See you on the next adventure… xoxo.