Colorado or BUST

well, we almost busted! what a freaking riot.

I planned to go out and visit my friend jenn this weekend in CO. As it turns out she decided to drive east with a friend right before my trip so that we could fly back together and spend more time chatting... well, Jenn showed up at my house early Thursday morning and we planned to make a stop in baltimore on the way to philadlephia to see our friend Tania's new baby Riley. (because you know, Baltimore is on the way to Philly....)



Leg one went fine. Riley is beautiful, Tania looks amazing (as always) and we moved on. We drove 2 hours to the airport and got there early. We decided to go in and just wait so we would not be rushed. It was 2:00. Our flight left at 5:45. We decided not to check my bag b/c it was a duffel and wasn't too big. But, the original plan was to check it so it had shampoo, perfume, mousse, toothpaste, contact solution and on and on (and all in large quantities). All of these items were confiscated and my bag was rummaged through. Great start.

So, we head in and I yell over to Jenn -- Gate A16. We head down the hall, grab some pineapple and water and open our books at the gate. Luxurious reading time. We alternate taking walks in the airport and just enjoy our very lowkey time together. After four hours of leisure and relaxation, I decide to go to the bathroom and Jenn comes running in and yells -- Steph, we're at the wrong gate. It's 6pm. We grab our stuff and sprint madly accross the airport (our gate was A12, in an entirely different wing) hoping the plane is late or something. We get there and the guy pretty much laughs at us. Nope, only one flight a day into Aspen. See you tomorrow.

We head to ticketing and end up getting rebooked on a flight to Denver (4 hour drive from Aspen) at 6AM and head home. As we drive back to Oxford we realize all of our mistakes (never really double checking the gate, never noticing that the sign in front of us never says Philadelphia, never noticing that every other flight around us is going to EUROPE, never notcing all the duty free shops in our wing, never noticing that everyone around us spoke different languages. Nope, not once did we hear the American twang of southerners or midwesterners.) So, we grab some sushi, play some Wii and head to bed, only to wake again at 3:45.

We make the drive to Philly, board our plane with toothpicks in our eyes and head to Denver via Cincinatti.

We rented a car (which turned out to be a ghetto blue Ford mustang -- completely unheard of in the hippie mountains of Colorado) and drive West. It was awesome to see the scenery and to stop at some cute places. Around 3pm Friday we arrive in Aspen (16 hours after the scheduled time).

My time, though short, was awesome. We totally catch up, do some low key hiking, listen to some music in the park, shop in the adorable town of Carbondale, and basically just exhange this moment in our life stories. After 14 years of being friends and half of that time at a distance there is a lot of catching up to do. I met the new guy, Cam Scott, who was awesome, saw her house, which was amazing (she owns real estate in/near ASPEN!), met her friends who were so nice and sweet... it was really fantastic.

(Jessi Scott and Cam Scott, Jenn's roommates)

I was inspiried to make some changes in my own life... before Noah we were so into the outdoors and there is no reason why we can't be anymore. I will camp with him (even if it is in the backyard). I will hike with him, even if it is on a park trail. I will bike with him (our neighbor just gave us a bike seat). I want him to love nature the way we once did and I have forgotten that. Jenn is also so enviornmentally responsible and I vowed to make changes in my life. Less gas, less electricity, less shopping, less consumption in general. While we were there she made an oven out of cardboard and aluminum foil and baked cookies on the front lawn (they were awesome!) I can do these things and I want to do them. I think after a while of living in suburbia you forget the possibilities.

So, last night I packed up my stuff and was ready to go. This morning I entered into Aspen Airport and checked in to find that I had been "picked on" and had to undergo a full body/full suitcase search. lovely. And, if that isn't bad enough, one of my bags showed traces of an item of concern (WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? i do no drugs, i carry nothing illegal, does that mean lotion spilled on my bag or what????). My items are double inspected then by a supervisor twice before I can get on my flight. But, after I board I have a fantastic trip home, mostly because of the book I am reading, but I'll save that for another post.

Thanks for the brief respite from the everyday. I missed my boys like crazy but as I stepped into the house today I felt refreshed and excited and energized to be a mother and a wife and a part of God's beautiful creation.