Back to the canyon!

So, Chris came to see me last sunday and stayed until Friday. Unfortunately I had to study most of the week because I had a practical on Wednesday and a test Friday. Yuck. Chris has just recently purchased a mountain bike too. When he got here on Sunday, he told me that he was gonna go out to the canyon by himself while I was studying/at school. I didn't think that was a good idea since he hadn't been mountain biking before and there are rattlesnakes and other scary critters out there. Ok so I'm a bit of a worrier.....what do you do? Anyway, Jake called that night and wanted to go out the next morning. Perfect timing. So Monday morning we headed out to the canyon. We rode the same trail that I was unable to complete on Friday. But I toughed it out this time and it was awesome! Once we got to the end of the trail we even hiked up to the lighthouse. We stopped and had some cheeseburgers (everyone raves about the cheeseburgers in the canyon) before we left so Chris get the whole effect of Palo Duro canyon. What a great day!

Me heading down a tricky area......

Good thing I know what I'm doing!

Chris' turn.......

Made it down like a champ!

Chris and I at the top taking a much needed break.

Lindsey and Jake

We hiked up to the lighthouse and saw this yucky centipede. Jake stepped right over it and I was behind him and saw it move. Needless to say I screamed and jumped back. Lindsey thought I had seen a snake.........a centipede is just as bad if you ask me!

Once at the top we enjoyed these beautiful views


Chris and I being goofy

Here we are in front of the lighthouse.......that was our little friend in the background.

Pumped to be finished.

Relieved to be finished.

Thumbs up to a good bike ride.

Weekend Fun!

Ok so I know it's been a while, but I have actually been a little busy with school stuff, ya know......tests and that sort of thing. I do manage to find time to squeeze in some fun on the weekends. Last Friday, after an 8am test, a big group from our class went out to the canyon to do a little biking. Josh was preparing for a race that weekend so him and Jeremy took a spin on the race course. Jake come along with us girls on the lighthouse trail which was a little more on our level. However, I wasn't feeling it that day and only made it about halfway before I had to stop, sit on the bench, and patiently wait for the others to return. I was pathetic that day, I admit it.

L to R: Me, Caroline, Becca, and Lindsey.....fixin to hit the trail.

We saw this lizard out on the trail, but I swear it was a baby dragon......it had wings (I think it was shedding).

Here I am finishing the trail.......after having a nice long break waiting for the others. Oh well.

These two random legs are on the way to the canyon. Some sculptor guy made them and apparently some other people painted the socks on them. Supposedly it makes him mad so he sandblasts the socks off but people just paint them back on. I'm not really sure why they're there. The landmark has some weird quote on it that I don't get.


On Saturday Kyle, Kat, Lindsey and I participated in the race......Race for the Cure that is. Don't worry we walked the entire 5K with no intention of running. Despite it being at like 8:30am, I was very happy to participate in that event considering my grandmother and great aunt are both breast cancer survivors!

Kat, Kyle, Lindsey, and Me........Lindsey didn't want to wear her shirt, LAME!

Me, Kat, and Lindsey ready to go!

And we're off!


Later that afternoon the Dean from our school had a get together for all three physical therapy classes and the faculty. We had a mexican pile on and a "bags" tournament (It's like washers but you play with bean bags). It was so hot that day that we resorted to squeezing together under the only shade tree in the backyard. That's a good way to get to know each other! That night, Lindsey and I joined some of the kids in the class below us for a few drinks. We had a lot of fun hanging out with them, we appreciate new people considering we don't know very many people out side of school.

Huddled under the shade tree!

Playin some bags. That's me fixin to high five Josh even though we were playing against each other!

Bein goofy with the second years.....fun times.


On Sunday, I had to get up and get some studying done because Chris was coming to see me.....YAY! It was a busy weekend but alot of fun!

Sunsets in the Flat Country

One of my classmates, Jodie, and her husband, Evan, just recently moved out in the country right outside of Amarillo. Their new house has a wonderful porch to sit out on complete with a wooden swing. Lindsey and I went to check out their new house this past week. While we were there we sat out on the porch just enjoying the evening and visiting, actually we were waiting on some paint so that we could help Jodie paint the bathroom but that's beside the point. Anyway, Lindsey was able to get some great pictures of the sun setting that I thought I would share. Aren't they beautiful?

Mountain Biking.....A New Hobby!

Since I have a new mountain bike, I decided I actually needed to take it out and break it in........in the canyon. A few of my classmates and I decided to go mountain biking at Palo Duro Canyon. They had all been before on numerous occasions. I was the only "rookie" so to speak. I was a little nervous because the trails were quite narrow and there were some steep spots. I did walk down a few of the steep areas because they were pretty rocky and I was afraid that I would flip over my handlebars. But, this wasn't the greatest idea since I then had to walk up the steep hill that followed. I am not in mountain biking shape to say the least. I was so out of breath it was not even funny. My classmates were all very patient with me and encouraging which was good because at one point I almost decided I wasn't cut out for this. They even made sure someone stayed behind me just in case I took a spill - which I did not thank goodness. We had a good time and are planning to go back out soon. Hopefully it will be a little easier the second time, they assure me it will........I hope they're not pulling my leg!

Here's a look at my new toy in the daylight.

Just getting started and a little nervous!

Here I come with Josh trailing behind me just in case.

Josh, Lindsey, and Jeremy

Rounding the corner, actually I'm just trying not to fall off the cliff here!


I have a video of me finishing the trail that is quite entertaining but apparently I'm computer illiterate and can't figure it out. I'll try to post it soon.

A little inspiration

Lately I have been trying to read more and not just my textbooks (who am I kidding, I rarely read those!) but real books. Those of you who know me know that I am kind of into the Harry Potter series. So I've been trying to read those, but it's coming along kind of slow. I started reading them about a year ago and am just now on the 5th book. Anyway, I have also decided to start buying the books that I see at Barnes and Noble that I think would be a good read. I used to pass them up thinking I would get them later, but I would forget the names of them. So I just go ahead and buy them now. Instead of just reading one book now, I am in the middle of three. Oops. One of the three books contains some quotes in it that I really like. I have been thinking about life alot lately and these have really put it in perspective for me. I thought I would share some of my favorites with those of you who actually read this. So here goes:

"The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed."
-Sebastien Chamfort

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
-Theodore Roosevelt

"Why cling to the pain and the wrongs of yesterday? Why hold on to the very things that keep you from hope and love?"
-Buddha

"One kind word can warm three winter months."

"Love-the more you share with others, the more you have."
-Mother Teresa

The Perfect Release!

So tonight was my first pottery class, and I'm not talking just a clay molding class. This was a real pottery class with the wheel and everything. I won't lie, I was a little scared going into it because I had never used a potter's wheel before. I mean I had taken art classes in high school and got to play with clay in there, but nothing to this extent. It was awesome! I absolutely loved it! The teacher was awesome and super laid back. There was only 3 of us in the class, Lindsey, Becca (one of our classmates wife), and myself. We had such a great time and decided that this was exactly what each of us needed right now. It is a great release for us.

Here are the results from my first class, pretty good if I do say so myself!

LA NUEVA BICICLETA.............

English Translation: THE NEW BIKE!!!

Heck yeah! That's right! I purchased myself a bright shiny new bike! I am super excited about it if you can't tell. I've been talking about buying one since........well probably since I moved to Amarillo and found out that my friends like to go to Palo Duro Canyon to ride. They have hounded me and hounded me to go. Even though I didn't have my own bike, they assured me that they had one I could ride. But guess what? "What?" Now I have my very own, that fits me very well. I'm pumped! We are going to the canyon on Wednesday, and don't worry I promise to take pics of my very first mountain biking experience. What an exciting week for me.......pottery class AND a new bike! Things better calm down because I don't know if I can handle this much excitement, let's just say it doesn't happen that often in Amarillo, TX.

Check it out!