.....and we're back!

3 days
20+ mi hiking
(11 w/ pack!)

we're back and walking funny.

we had a really great trip. the only thing i really messed up was the sunscreen-bug spray - wipe it all off - rotation as i think i forgot sunscreen one day. but hey, when you have views like below a little sun won't hurt, right?

would i do it again?
OF COURSE

and i'm thinking i must be sick in the head. my favorite part was hiking our packs (mine 37 lbs) in. yes, WEIRD

scenery driving inbackpacking up
dallas, me, and billy, our mountain goat friend (in extreme background)
not a bad view waking up in the morning
although i didn't get to summit the needle this trip i'll go back and do it someday. this is on the way up to humbolt, another 14'er
dallas and i on top of humbolt.
we were analyzing how we could climb the ridges of the mountains (in background).
end of day
end of day view

its been a pretty crazy week. although i do notice other bloggers are slower in the summer so i don't feel quite so bad. please don't check in until next thurs (if yo'ure lucky, otherwise fri).

somehow i got talked hauling this up 4 mi at altitude. not in it: apples, helmet to climb, water bladder.

we've been getting our gear together for our next adventure which is a hiking trip this time.

i should have maybe got a double sleeping bag--- there is no way ez and i are both going to fit

and.....we're back

we tried going home for harvest again this year and sadly missed it by a day.

i love this picture. it's the holste's version of revenge of the nerds. adam, who is not a nerd (right) is watching beezer, dallas and my dad in battle of the brains

we got the PYRO PACK of fireworks this year.
according to beezer our 3' fountains were pretty bright
and dallas is wondering what a firework even is
and next time we go back the corn will be twice as tall

oopsie!

last night while mtn biking we had a small mishap.

dallas somehow double flatted and had to walk from high up on the trail to the parking lot. i decided to go on ahead. minutes later i hit a rock funny, my front tire burped all the air out and i lost control.

30 min later dallas and i are walking our bikes down together.
45 minutes later we are on our way to boulder.

i seriously work for the nicest man on earth and he was able to save my poor knee in the comforts of our own clinic instead of ER somewhere. 11 stitches later we're on our way home.

good one, andi
what you don't see with this is how deep it was.
i'll resist the gross details

i know, i know, this is COMPLETELY unlike me but i still think i should post it

this cap and trade bill is taxing you because you use energy and are putting a carbon footprint on the planet. your energy costs will significantly go up and yes, obama is going to control one more thing. you think your budget is tight now? it's going to be drastically worse after this (we will be investing in candles if this passes)! it is not too late to write your senator.

As many of you are aware of, our government is in the process of voting on a “Cap & Trade Bill”. The House has passed the bill and it now goes on to the Senate. If you have anything to say to your Senators concerning the bill , here is an opportunity to do so.

Climate Change Legislation (H.R.2454)
Roger D Baars Sr, lawmakers in the House expect to vote Friday on landmark climate change legislation. If approved, the bill would move to the Senate for consideration. The measure aims to cap greenhouse-gas emissions at 17 percent of 2005 levels by 2020 and by about 80 percent by 2050, creating a market for companies to buy and sell the right to emit carbon dioxide and other gases (a “cap-and-trade” system). The measure would also create a new renewable electricity standard and establish new national building codes. (H.R.2454)

Supporters say the bill would create jobs, reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gases – which some argue is the leading compound linked to global warming. Opponents are calling the bill an energy tax that could slow the economy. Many lawmakers representing farm states are also concerned that the measure would put a disproportionate burden on farmers.

Do you support H.R.2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act?

Time is short. Voice your opinion now!

If the above link to the ballot does not work copy and paste the following text in your address bar:

Climate Change Legislation (H.R.2454): http://capwiz.com/nwyc/issues/alert/?alertid=13619646

while you are at it, please mention that you think socialized health care is a joke (because it is) and you would prefer not to wait in line for 5 months when you need an operation. 64% of people are currently ok with their health care options. media is trying to make it look worse than it is so that this passes.

failed summit

i had the bright idea this week that i needed to hike torry's (a 14er) this weekend. i've done greys 3 times, so that's old news, but have never make it up the big T since we've always had annoying storms rain on our parade.

today we didnt' make it because:
route a: too much snow in the saddle between G & T
route b: dogs don't do well on cat 2+

so, we'll try again next month.
right now i get to....you guessed it, write 4 pages of hw while the boys recover from their "super hard" trip

study buddy

ezra does his best to help make sure that i'm awake while studying at night. actually his butt makes a really great book rest
i really like this next pic.
andi: THIS IS REDICULOUS!
ezra: what?

no, william, we are not even close to the dog days of summer.

nice pathetic try little guy, and next time we may use red eye reduction for you

yes, we're pretty exciting people....

the only new thing around here is we decided to tackle the lilac bush problem. with all the rain they kind of got out of hand so, as my family knows..... when i get to clean up the yard with a pair of trimmers bad things can happen

bad things like taking 2 feet off the lilac bushes..... and finding---

TA DA! a driveway! who knew?

happy father's day dad and randy!!!
love you!

for the many of you that know me, you have most likely already placed me in the "special person" category. this is why you should not be surprised that i some how accumulated road rash while running.
not pictured: hip hematoma

what else would i do with my old microbiology stuff?

sorry for the non-blogging. my personal geek squad has had a hard time figuring out why our internet is not working (NOT convenient for things like, oh, an on-line class).....

my dad came out for RTC surgery today. out of our used car lot my mom has picked out what jeep she wants

we're back!

after being gone a week for adam and chelsie's wedding (my brother) we're back

here's a picture recap:

congrats you two!
here is their wedding present

with 2 bikes, a cello, guitar, ezra's bag, our luggage and presents it was a tight squeeze for ez and beezer on the way thereholste bond time after the wedding
getting ready to tear into the groom's cake
chelsie made it clear the fondant was hers

ez enjoyed the fresh air

only to come home to a flooded garage
and jungle (mushooms included for free) in the yard

ezra has created a new yoga pose:

the frog dog

State TT

today dallas is racing the co state tt. he started pulling out his aero equipment yesterday and well, we had a little argument over his helmet. there are removable ferrings.

which is a better (tt helmets look ridiculous anyway....) look?

with?
or without?

packman competition!

dear virtual readers,

i'm sure that you need a break from the work week. for a fun friday blog i've decided to have a packman tournament (see right). play your game, once, twice, or until you get caught, and post your name and score under comments.

the winner? well if you live close i suppose we could work out some cookies for you. :)
note: it is much easier if you click the "pop out into bigger window"

good luck!
(i'm horrible at this!!!)

finding william around the house is kind of like the choices you get at the eye doctor-- there are only limited options

A
or B;Cor D;or maybe E

yip.... this semester is starting off at lightening speeds

looks like i just kissed my care-free summer away.
now i can be a hypocondriac (no, not a national spelling bee champ; actually only made it to the local one my 4th grade year and got buzzed out on sentry) all summer. just what i needed!

also, my fabulous friend bobbi is running a marathon this weekend and needs songs for her ipod. if you have a suggestion she'll take it!

this past weekend i had the awesome opportunity to surprise my good friend teri for her birthday. her husband flew me into kc for the weekend and it was a pretty good time!

out of all the time i was there we got 1 whole picture in.

TA DA!
also, because TSA has such a GREAT sense of humor and are just so fun to work with i decided to have fun with them too. i painted my bag just in case i had to check it.

of course i only did this so it would be easier to identify it when it got off the carousel :)

hey everyone! it's my last super free weekend for a long time and so do'nt check back here till sunday-- i'm doing non computer things!

tonight during dinner we watched the national spelling bee. dallas really liked this since compared to some of the brilliant nerd children he looks "normal."

i think this could possibly be the best puppy eyes look ez has ever given me...

as in will you play.... please!?!?

nerds 'r us

here's our conversation tonight

*flash*
dallas: did you take my picture?
andi: yes
dallas: why?
andi: yo'ure so nerdy with your time machine
dallas: this is nerdy?

yes, dallas, i do believe the bazillion random cords connecting the time machine looking thing-a-ma-jig to the whatcha-ma-call-it completed with EARPHONES is considered uuber nerdy

*andi leaves to go blog picture*
dallas: let me see the picture
andi: you have to leave the nerd station and interact with another human, me, in order to see it. why do you want to see it? it's only of you...
dallas: becasue i want to make sure i don't look dorky

HA!
apparenlty it is better to be a nerd instead of a dork

it's rained a whole bunch lately. dallas told me not to complain.... but ez and i got cabin fever real bad and we both complained. there were others not enjoying the downpour as well.

the dalphemiums (i'm 105% sure the spelling isn't right on this) would have much preferred a nice garden hose sprinkle. poor things

boring blog

yes yes beezer, i've had a boring blog.
i have got some stuff done despits my procrastinating spells.
first we organized the closet downstairs. this used to be a gross white color and everything you see here was piled up on the floor.
congratulations dallas and andi!
also we smoked some pork loin yesterday. it was an all day effort and EVERYTHING (even william) smells like smoke.
if you wern't here you missed out

we also got a new furniture addition. we have purchased a futon (with down cover that is comfy) for those of you who would like to stay here we don't have to blow the air mattress up anymore! please note that william has adopted this as his own bed and there is an ugly green sheet on it for now. it really does look better in person.
william spends about 8-11 hours a day sleeping here
when it hasn't been raining ez has been playing ball
and since i got an A in my micro class i have a microscope for sale now.
any takers?

back in the day when i really didn't have a lot to do with my time i helped william create a profile on facebook. surprisingly he has a bunch of friends but i've since forgotton his user name and password.

apparently he remembered because when i signed in to let dallas take the "what's your geek level" quiz i surpsingly had an IQ challenge from william, and may i note my cat is most astonishing--- he's leading my other friends in the IQ quiz!

way to go william!