Hike Naked...it adds color to your cheeks!

So, I got back last Thursday from my backpacking trip. Yes, I wore clothes most of the time. It was so fun. I camped at a campground in the Unitas on Tuesday and on Wednesday I hiked up to Amethyst lake. It was about a 5 miles trip, the last 3 of which were uphill. Yes, I was packing all of my gear- and you know what? I made it. It was a beautiful hike- the wildflowers were in bloom and the trail crossed several beautiful streams. Actually, there wasn't much of a trail past a certain point, but that's okay.

I camped in a meadow about 1/2 mile from the lake (there were boy scouts with horses at the lake) and did some exploring. I hiked over to Ostler Lake (really no trail this time- found it with a compass) and that was great. I was the only one there- no commotion. I camped in the meadow and had some great beef stew for dinner (dehydrated and then rehydrated using hot water). I spent some time at the lake the next morning and then headed back down the mountain.

Going up took more energy than going down, but I was more sore from going down- weird calf muscles in use I guess. Overall though, I suprised myself at how well I handled it physically. The mosquitos were out in full force and despite an entire can of OFF (travel size mind you) I still have quite a few souvenirs. Oh, and no pictures because I forgot to put the batteries into the camera.

...Polo!

Remember playing Marco Polo in the swimming pool when we were kids? That's a little bit like what this post is. Me shouting Polo! to those who are curious about where I am. Picture me as a groundhog, or better yet, a MOLE (get it chem wizzes?) that pops her head up every once in a while just so you know she's there, but as soon as try to catch her, she's gone again.

I am actually back in SLC for now. I had an awesome trip(s) to the following: Richland, Seattle, Orlando, Cozumel, Roaton (Honduras), Belize City, Freeport Bahamas, Cedar City, St. George, and Zion National Park. I'll write more about my adventures later when I have a longer attention span. (Will that ever happen??)

I am feeling much better about life these days. Being away from students and chemistry has enabled me to try out some new things and begin to find talents and interests I've never known I had because I've always been so engrossed in school. One of my new interests is hiking/backpacking. I did a lot of hiking in Zion and I am thinking of going backpacking near Flaming Gorge this week. I know backpacking alone isn't a great idea, but I can't let my lack of friends with time on their hands stop me because if I stay in one place and am left to my own devices, I am not safe. Anyhow, I thought I'd post a few pictures of me and my adventures just for those of you who are curious :)

Grand Bahama Island-I went parasailing! Yay!


Jillian and I in Honduras


Temple of the moon, Mayan ruins at Tulum, Mexico. You can't tell from the picture, but it is very very very hot!!!
Hidden Canyon at Zion national park. Good thing I'm there to hold up the mountain!

Okay, so this is funny

The Fugitive

I've disappeared. I've gone into hiding. No one actually knows where I am. I've spent 1 night at home since June 24. Now, I am sure that if someone was desperate to find me, they could, but as it stands now, I have disappeared.

It feels great to be in hiding. It feels as if my life is completely inconsequential and that if I slipped off the face of the earth, nothing would be the worse. Why am I so attracted to this feeling? Dunno. Maybe this is what I'm going for when I reach for the Tylenol. I realize that I might be unique here. I am not secretly wishing for someone to find me. I am much more at ease- I've been able to meet people and talk easily with people I have just met. I feel like a different person. And, tomorrow, I might just get up and be someone else. No rules, no responsibilities, no strings attached.

Why am I hiding in the first place? It's July. I am afraid to go home.

Better than the book

I'm spending part of this week in Cedar City at the Shakespeare festival. Today, I saw Cyrano de Bergyrac and Two Gentlemen of Verona.

I've decided that Shakespeare plays are much better on stage than on paper. I am realizing that I don't get the humor as well when I am simply reading a play. Shakespeare's humor is so different from modern humor that it's hard for me to pick up on. The director and actors did an amazing job interpreting the play. Two Gentlemen is a comedy- it pits the friendship story against the love story. If you really want to know, I am sure wikipedia or something can tell you all about it. Suffice to say, I hated the way it ended! Julia is a sweet, beautiful, innocent young woman but loses her head to her heart and takes back a total bum for a husband. This play has a plot that resembles the drama my students are constantly embroiled in. He likes her and she likes him who hates the other him but secretly likes her best friend and meanwhile the parents...you know.

Cyrano de Bergyrac isn't a Shakespeare play but was amazing. I had a basic idea of the plot, but I didn't know the detail or the pathos that makes up so much of the play. The play explores Cyrano's insecurity about his exceptionally large nose and the loneliness and shame that results. Cyrano's character resonated with me- he felt like no one could ever love him. Never mind that he was exceptionally witty, courageous, charismatic, gentle, an exceptionally brilliant poet- he pushed everyone away from him because of the shame he felt. The beautiful Roxanne falls in love with his soul without knowing his true identity. Long story short (again, see wikipedia) the story is deeply tragic and only in his dying hour does Roxanne find out his true identity. Beautiful love story, amazingly tragic, deep pathos.

This is a great change from the world of high school chemistry and all the associated drama!