Happy Monday! I hope that everyone in the US had a good long weekend and Happy very belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends! Today, the US plays Croatia in Seattle for the World Cup and although I will not be there, my friend K will be there, cheering on our guys! Go USA! Actually, I have not had a chance to watch many of the recent games, as I have been in the mountains and out of service, and as you are reading this, I will likely be riding again...
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| I'll be doing this... |
However, I am making progress!! Currently Cristof and I am in Segment 5 in Utah and we are over halfway done! However, I have been dodging fires, struggling up hills and eating way too much fried food!
I'd love to hear what you're up to! Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix!
Where was I? Arizona, California, Washington, Utah
What country related books or documentaries did I watch?
Read: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (Mexico) (5 stars)
Watched: n/a
Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list?
✅New food <-- I tried several AZ beers including Tower and Dark Sky Brewery
✅ Book about country <-- The Lacuna (Mexico)
✅ Family time!
✅ World Cup!
✅ Ride my bike in two new states <-- Arizona, Utah - 2/2
✅ New thing <-- Went to the World Cup (live)
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1. What is the name of last month's chapter?
January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove
March: Serenity Before the Storm
April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
May: The Ring of Fire and Ice
June: On The Road Again
June brought several road rides, which are NOT my favorite. Some of them were a bit dicey, aka small shoulder, fast traffic, but I lived!
2. What did I learn last month?
I learned about Piccadilly, a highly popular, sweet-and-sour Arizona treat that pairs shaved ice, cherry or Kool-Aid syrup, chamoy, and diced dill pickles. I did not get a chance to try it but I wanted to! Maybe next time?
3. What was the weather like?
It is all over the place. From about 110 F in Phoenix, it was a lot nicer in the northern part of AZ for the most part, maybe in the 80s at most. A break in CA and WA brought WONDERFUL 50s, 60s and 70s, then the Grand Canyon area was back in the 90s. Utah for the most part has been nice, with highs in the 80s and lows in the high 30s or low 40s at times. I will take lows in the 30s over highs in the 110+ any day.
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| It's cold in them thar hills! (~10,200 ft) |
4. What event last month was my favorite?
I can't really pick. There have been so many wonderful views and places I have never seen or been to and have been pleasantly surprised by. There have been so many people asking if I am okay, or need help, or offering me rides or drinks or buying me breakfast, or who are just curious about what I am doing. The World Cup was an experience of a lifetime. I also spent time with family and friends, both old and new (including one HS friend who I have not seen in about 15 years!) And of course, seeing my Dad fit eight days worth of camping food into a bear cannister which really is meant for four or five days worth. Some things never cease to amaze me, nor do they get old. Tetris for the win, Dad.
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| Dad helps me get ready for a future hiking trip |
5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month?
Book: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi. I would not say this is my favorite book of all times, but it really made me think a lot! There are some things I did agree with and some I did not, but all in all it was quite thought provoking. One of the parts that resonated was about the separation of tasks and the premise is that we suffer because we choose to—not consciously, but out of fear of change. By letting go of the need for outside validation and mastering this issue, it offers significant relief from burnout and the pressure to please everyone. If you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Movie/Show: n/a
Podcast: The Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast is an interview format where the host interviews all sorts of people who have had "wild" ideas, be it entrepreneurship, long sailing trips, or this one about a girl who became a paraplegic at age 17 but then went on to win several Olympic medals (in several different sports!) I am getting lots of inspiration and ideas for future endeavors!
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
I took K's daughter A driving for the first time. She was super cute about it and was very nervous. She did a great job, as I knew she would, as she is very responsible and thoughtful. However, when we went to swap back to drive home, she left a very big butt shaped sweat pool on the driver's seat!
7. What am I looking forward to this month?
Seeing more places that I have don't even know about yet!
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| My first glimpse of Mary's Nipple, Skyline Dr. UT (also smoke in the background 😔) |
Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.
JUNE:
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
JULY:
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Bonus question! Do you remember who took you driving for the first time? How did it go?
Correction - the US is playing Belgium! Look at me knowing what is going on with soccer. I've watched a lot of WC games, though. I even stayed up past my bedtime last night to watch the Mexico game with Phil. It was a wild game! We were both bummed that Mexico lost. We're in a WC pool at Phil's work and so far 2 of our teams made it to the round of 8 (Norway and Morocco). Our other 2 teams are USA and Argentina.
ReplyDeleteJune was a weird month. The boys were in school up until the 10th. It seems like they've been out of school for way longer! I spent a long weekend up at my parents since we had a childcare gap after school ended on Wednesday. The weather was really cool but things turned around in time for our 4th of July trip. I was supposed to be deposed on the 29th but it's been postponed until a TBA date. Sigh. I just want that step to be done with!
The first person to take me driving was my older brother Kevin. He is not a calm person typically but he was very calm with me! I can see you being a very good person to take A driving as you have an unflappable vibe!
That is true! Belgium. I don't know what my fingers were thinking because in my brain, I typed Belgium! Hah! Too bad that we did not win, but I am proud of our guys for getting as far as they did. I have not been watching due to being on the road, so have just been checking the highlights when I have a chance, which is not that often!
DeleteI am sorry that the lake was not as warm as you wanted it to be, but it looks like you had a lot of fun there regardless! I think that time spent with family can be fun, especially when its an annual tradition. I have many fold memories of summers with family and friends, even when it wasn't hot. As kids, we did not really care; we were in the water regardless!
I actually can't remember who I drove with first, as we did drive on the property long before I was 16, but I know it was my friend Adam who showed me how to drive stick and let me drive his car around town!
Ha, I love that your new foods were beer!
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? Out of Africa and back home.
2. What did you learn last month? I learned that hyenas are matriarchies, and also that they have a high degree of testosterone.
3. What was the weather like where you are? Where I am right now? Beautiful! High 20s.
4. What event last month was your favorite? Safaris!
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? I started watching The Pitt on the plane, and then restarted the series to watch with Rob. Love! For books, Whistler, The Land and Its People, and Hamnet were five star reads for me.
6. Tell us one funny recent story. I saw a very clean cut, white, 60ish man wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt and for some reason that just makes me smile.
Safaris! They are magical, aren't they? I loved seeing all of your photos and can't believe you saw some of the extra special ones, like cheetahs! I forgot that I actually watched the first season of the Pitt too (on the plane!) but I don't have HBO so will have to wait on the second season... I have Whistler on hold! I read Hamnet a while back and I think for me it was just so-so, but I know you are much more into character driven novels than I am, so I am not surprised that you loved it! I love your story about the Che shirt! My Dad is a clean cut 60 something, and it cracked me up that the shirt he is wearing (in the photo above) is a chicken-pot-pie shirt.
Delete
ReplyDeleteEating too much fried food can be a wonderful thing when you're putting in the miles to earn it. And beer is a wonderful food!
Chapter title: Meet Me in St. Louis
What I learned: I don't have a great answer for this. I did a lot of travel and saw a lot of cool things, so I'm sure that I learned something.
Weather: oof! We had a solid week of very pleasant temps, and the rest was hotter than hot. When it's too hot to walk the dog, it's too hot.
Fav Events: it's always the travel: day trip to Put in Bay, long weekend to Red River Gorge, and a week long road trip to STL/Jefferson City/Bentonville/Indianapolis.
Best reads/watches: my Show Boat binge, which was all three movies, the Broadway soundtrack, and the book. The TV version of Margo's Got Money Troubles, and of course the Best Book of All Time, which is Whistler.
Funny story - I'm drawing a blank
July looking forward: I've got a lot of in town stuff, so I'm not sure if I'll end up traveling much. Notice I did not say that I would not travel at all! Hubs and I are doing a long weekend trip, and I might be able to squeeze in a solo trip toward the end of the month.
I have had Whistler on hold for forever! I am glad to hear that you liked it though, and am looking forward to reading it. I have been reading sometimes 1-2 books per day (audio) while riding, if I am in the mood, and so I am always looking for more reads!
DeleteWhere is your hubs trip this time? I am sure it is nice to have company, and I am guessing he just does what you plan(?) I am always a bit hit and miss re having company, as sometimes it is nice to have someone to drink beer (food!) with, but sometimes when I don't feel like it, I have to rally to be sociable. You know what I am talking about! :)
I would 100% rather it be in the 30s/40s at night than 110 during the day. ESPECIALLY if you have to do something physical. Those are some crazy temperature swings.
ReplyDeleteYeah 110 is just crazy no matter what, but it definitely is a challenge when you are outside, and is even worse when you are outside without much water!
DeleteJUNE:
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
Midsommer heat month
2. What did you learn last month?
There are very many tendons and muscles in a single foot, all of which need to be reawakened after two months in a cast.
3. What was the weather like where you are?
Hot. Hot. Hot.
4. What event last month was your favorite?
Getting back on my bicycle (cycling works better than walking after an ankle fracture.)
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
Hamnet (movie), London Falling (audiobook), Legends (series, Netflix)
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
Travelling back from NZ (where I had fractured my ankle at the end of a lengthy family visit) I was treated like royalty on the flights to Europe and when I mentioned this to yet another smiling person wheeling me into yet another lounge for refreshments during stop-over, the reply was, we only do this once, try to be more careful in future. (Deadpan serious.)
And in July I hope to regain the power of walking properly on two feet again.
I am glad that you got the cast off, but the PT and recovery process can be challenging! I actually went to college to become a PT so I know a lot about the muscles in the foot! However, one thing I could not relate to when I was younger is how hard it is to recover and how the baby steps really can make a difference. I hope that your recovery goes well and you are walking properly before you know it! I am glad that you are able to ride a bike though and at least can get the satisfaction of a good work out.
DeleteI did not realize that they made a movie out of Hamnet, and I have not heard of your book or Netflix series! I will have to check them out for sure! Did you enjoy the book Hamnet a lot? I found it to be okay but not a *love* so I wonder if I would enjoy the movie more.
Count me in with those who do NOT want to be riding a bike without much water in 110 temps. UGH. We had some hot weather here for a bit, but KARL is back and it’s better, at least for a few days.
ReplyDeleteI love Karl! I mean, when it's August and you go to Ocean Beach expecting a swim and he is there, its not great but I do miss that lovely always 50 degree weather!
DeleteOh, you're out with your bike again...those are some crazy temperature swings.
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool that you got to go to a World Cup game... but I can imagine it was harder to catch games on the road. How long will you be traveling still?
I was lucky to get one set of lottery tickets and one set of tickets through my credit card. However, I had already planned the bike trip and I definitely wasted some time/backtracked in order to get to the games. However, it is a once in a lifetime thing for me, so I am glad I did it! I will be riding for another month and then have some other US plans before heading back out again to international destinations!
DeleteJUNE:
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? video victory (I managed to make an epic movie with clips and photos and music for Curly's grad party. Desktop is old and cranky and I was uncertain if it would agree to burn it to a DVD.
2. What did you learn last month? I learned (already knew) that Mini is worthless in the kitchen. Who puts 17 cups of milk into a recipe and doesn't pause to think THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT
3. What was the weather like where you are? June was pleasant and then the day after our grad party a crazy heat wave hit that lasted over a month. Bullet dodged
4. What event last month was your favorite? Curly's grad party - so much fun
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? Mini and I stumbled on Always Sunny in Philadelphia - very funny
6. Tell us one funny recent story. I think Mini's mac and milk in the crock pot tops the list. It was frustrating but a few days later, after the video was done and I had a moment to think about it, I was like WAIT, YOU DIDN'T EVER STOP TO THINK THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT? Tears were streaming down my face. Also, parts of the video that I unearthed - video clips I'd forgotten about were laugh out loud funny.
JULY:
7. What are you looking forward to this month? relaxing and writing. I wrote for over 4 hours yesterday and it was amazing.
Bonus question! Do you remember who took you driving for the first time? How did it go? My mom was too nervous for let us drive with her. I'm sure it was my dad, but when I had my permit my older friends let me drive their car, even though they weren't old enough to let me. Hee hee.
I can only imagine a mac cheese soup basically! Well, this is how you learn, I suppose? I am sure she will think twice about so much milk next time. But seriously, 17 cups is over a gallon, so did she open several containers of milk in order to do this? Curious minds want to know. I also had older friends who let me drive their cars even when it was probably not technically allowed. BUT due to this, I took my drivers test in a stick and got 100%, so they must have done something right.
DeleteI haven't been too tuned into the WC games, but I was like "wait, when did the US play Croatia?" LOLOL.
ReplyDeleteI think my dad took me driving for the first time, but it might have been my mom. I can't remember! I think it was my dad, though, and he was not very patient with me.
That is the worst, if the person teaching you is nervous, because I am sure we were all nervous enough on our own! I don't even like it when I am fixing my bike and someone who is nervous or overly helpful is hanging around or staring at me like they want to jump in or something! I once had to ask a guy in Peru to leave me alone when I was trying to fix my tent in a windstorm!
DeleteThe road rides make me nervous and I'm not even the one on the bike!
ReplyDeleteI love that your dad fit double the amount of food into your canister. Way to go!
My dad is the first person who took me driving. He taught me everything I know about driving a car and, I think, I am a very careful and aware driver because of it.