Tahoe Rim Trail
Immediately after completing the JMT, we hightailed it to Tahoe to circumnavigate the blue waters. Ok, kidding. We stayed in Reno to “recover” for a few days and eat real food. And plan our l’il loopty lou.
books books books
Come set awhile. Let’s enjoy a l’il chitty chat about how we read and why.
A Southern Tribute
There’s beauty in the traditions of the South that cannot be described but merely felt. The ways of honoring the deceased and the respect shown to the family is unparalleled elsewhere in the States. And the ways in which we share in our grief, us Southerners I mean, is comforting, caring, and uplifting in way I did not recall or notice as a child. The silver lining of funerals and the passing of our loved ones is that it brings family and friends together.
Fall Frolics
Hellooooo Spooky Season! Spider webs remind us about creativity and finding patterns in the world. The changing leaves display vibrancy that awes and inspires us. When we feel the wind swirl the leaves we sense the tug of the season demonstrating to us that letting go is the healthy path forward. This particular week in Autumn offered us glimpses of magic—a comet burning brightly, a Full Hunters Moon as the biggest full moon all year, and you learning to be content with it all.
The Female Thru-Hike Experience
Katy Perry’s Roar vibrates in my right ear while I settle my left boot up onto the snowpack of the next kick-in boot track along the South facing section of Forester Pass (13,160’). As I heave myself and my pack with 7 days’ worth of provisions nestled in a heavy bear cannister, I roar aloud simultaneously to my melodious inspiration. “It’s not that bad,” flies by my ear that is sans earbud. Surprised by my partners proximity, I turn and gruffly nod. Here is where I describe my waifishness – a long and lithe 5’2” former ballerina who obviously learned that the term “can’t” does not exist (still taught today in studios worldwide). Alternatively, my partner exudes averageness. Height, weight, male, and yes, titled Joey.
Every time I recall this memory I double over with laughter. Why? How is this scene not hilarious? Imagine, if you will indulge me, a small figure with a pack larger rising along the side of a rockface one boot up to her chest and pushing on trekking poles to reach the next step and her Average Joe on her heels waiting patiently for each step as if the stairs were made for him. Because they were. This scene encompasses my female narrative in all my adventures. Maybe it’s part of what draws me into the wilds though.
I grew up with older brothers and was expected to be stronger, better, faster if I wanted to participate. I outsmarted the other capture the flag teams, I was all-time QB for four hand touch, and I never shed a tear no matter how many soccer balls nailed my face when forced to be goalie (always). Is it this way for all the other female thru hikers? I don’t know. I wonder. I wonder a lot because their stories are never shared. So, sit back, turn down Roar and let me tell you mine…
Spotlight: Ashley Thomson
Immediately impressed with Ashley’s work, I knew our relationship wouldn’t end at the U. The University of Utah, that is. Specifically the dance department. Ashley created a music video for the seniors—yes, edited too!—that was fun, spunky, catchy, and irresistibly charming. Due to Ashley’s talent, hard work, and creative brain, the dance department wisely invited her back for teaching, choreographing, and as an RA during the summer program (and later to set choreography for shows), which is how I got to know Ashley more deeply on a personal level.
Spotlight: Sarah Edson
You never know what kinda quirky you will find at Book Group but most likely you will find a perfect match to your own. That setting leaned towards apropos for Sarah and I to meet and immediately plan adventurous outings together! We gravitated towards each other by great conversation and similar experiences then bonded over Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune with steaming mugs of hot chocolate in hand, laughter in our throats.
WILD Spaces
Do you feel the winds of change yet? It’s been a whirlwind of a week for most of us, right? October weather variances always brought the worst hurricanes according to my youthful experiences in the South aaaand here we are again. Also, the dry wind out West seems to spur more and more fires. Poor Wyoming. Apparently, it’s your year to burn.
Although I have always preferred the windy dance between Spring conquering Winter, I am beginning to appreciate the loss of Summer to Autumn’s dragon breath. Wind signifies the impending change of seasons and my life generally echoes these natural rhythms as I age.
What’s next? What burdens do I leave in my wake? What fresh ideas are blowing in on the breeze for me to grasp at? Will they blow on by or will I be lucky enough for them to smack me in the face like a red maple leaf blown free in a sudden gust?
I currently have too many creative ideas swirling around. My hopes and dreams collect like the backlit clouds gathering into the Big Dipper as I sip whiskey rockin’ on my front porch only to be dumped back into my eyes in the morn after the Earth has spun and the dipper upended. What does that even mean? That my dreams are recycled?
Functional Mobility: Lesson II
When it feels impossible to pry your bones away from the mattress on dark winter mornings, there are a few exercises you can roll through to wake up those petrified limbs of yours. A habit I employ on week day morns throughout hibernation season is lifting the edge of the bedsheets and slowly sliding to the floor to roll my joints and back out. I perform a full 20 minute floor ritual that leads to being able to open my eyeballs. I’m not suggesting this could work for you but maybe it’s an alternative to consider when the thought of standing overwhelms you.
Spotlight: Susan Maddrey
When living in Teton Valley, Idaho I was in the process of a healing journey. Stress performs shady inestimable damage on a body, a mind, a human as a whole being. Even at the cellular level, you become altered. Leaving you feeling diminished. At least, that was my experience. I thought I could be completely healed after some down, or resting time, and finding a new rhythm but my symptoms persisted. Symptoms I couldn’t ignore. I knew my hormones had to be out of balance. I knew I needed to seek guidance.
Enter Susan Maddrey, who is always ready and excited to share her knowledge on nutrition and promote healing through proper nutritional support. I immediately employed Susan to help. Beginning with a questionnaire and a thorough report, I followed Susan’s three month plan that included very few changes to my diet along with a supplement regimen.
Full Tilt
Life Lessons With LK
When I teach, I aim to set students up for success in life. I attempt to do this with cute, clever phrases, analogies, and wisdoms I’ve stumbled across throughout my teaching career and in life at large. Impart life's subtleties in a quiet manner. Although sometimes quite overtly. If you missed these from your own dance teacher or missed out on dance altogether, I may be bias but I do advise checking out a class sometime. While you search for one near you, here are a few notable reasons for taking that risk to walk into a studio and learn more about what your body and mind can do.
Synchronicity
What I’m alluding to, more than my trite experience, is the times in our lives we have found meaning from happenstance. The correlation feels spot on and all the feels hit just right or illuminate something previously hidden in the psyche. That time a song came on the radio that answered the question in your head. When you turned around at the right time to not be mauled. The stranger you shared a laugh with that saved your day. All of the minuscule moments that draw meaning down into the core of us. Synchronicity.
the ultimate road trip - Part I
When in Utah, you find winding roads and trails to meander along. Stunning scenery that mesmerizes you into getting lost with gusto. Summers are irresistible with the Mighty Five easily accessible and willing to lure you into their realm. In between each you’ll also discover state parks, national monuments, geological features, ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) cliff dwellings and ruins, museums, and more. Today, as we wrap up road trip season and possibly finalize a final trek for Labor Day weekend, I share with you the most incredible itinerary I’ve ever created. So impressive that I deemed it a “Grandiose Tour” and still consider it the most epic road trip I have EVER experienced.
You’ll find my basic outline of the month long itinerary and a few specifics of our grand tour. If it inspires you, please reach out with any questions or let me help you plan your next venture. It’s one of my favorite pastimes!
the ultimate road trip - Part II
Last week I ran out of time and my hasty post lacked the detail I imagined offering you. Oh, how this mighty mouse has fallen. Or slid backwards into a life without work life balance and am a mere mortal like most. No sleep. Very little pay. Lots of work. I don’t even have kids or pets. So HOW. DO. Y’ALL. DO. IT?!?
But don’t you worry your pretty little head about any of that or pity me because my hubby knows how to properly bribe me so I don’t quit and continue to pay our bills. As you read this we are traveling the backcountry and happy little chappies.
Back to the lengthy story at hand, I would have overwhelmed you anyway! And am even beginning to feel like breaking this adventure on the open road into thirds now that I’m delving into all the roadside attractions we stopped to enjoy. Well, as Anne LaMotte wisely informs us, “bird by bird.” I suppose I left out the pertinent info that this road trip occurred during the 2018 summer season between my two grad school years at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The timing is what afforded me an entire month of playtime dancing across the desert with TAJ and access to the Mighty Five couldn’t be ignored. I consider it a Honeymoon of sorts since we eloped the winter just beforehand.
ode to summer
This week I held Grand & Glorious ideas of sharing one of my epic road trips with you as a parting gift along with summer farewells. Yet, here I am emotionally unprepared for Fall and feeling it acutely. Every year the onset of crisp mornings cool evenings shocks me into a stupor. It’s not that I don’t adore Autumn. Of course, I do! The colors, the festivities, that slight sensation in the breeze…it’s sigh. It’s just that summer sliding out from under me feels like a heavy loss, the death of a best friend.
Instead of leaning into the excitement of what Fall brings, I grip tightly to summer vibes like a cat with claws out dragged into a bath. I mourn the loss of comfort (heat), the easy existence (life outdoors), the adventure (I know there are winter sports but they are secondary to me. Don’t you recall my Southern upbringing? Snow is a newish thing and we’ll cover that later.) Let’s drop this sad turn of events and find an updraft that isn’t quite so chilly.
As I sit at my laptop with wine loosening my brain and pretty damn proud of myself for the all local veggie and flank steak stir fry I cooked for dinner, I’m pivoting with jazz hands high to the sky and lighthearted humor at my throat. Hold on tight! Since I need a deep belly laugh to help me recover from the cool blow of Fall swooshing through my mountain town life, we are going to cover a topic I have been itching to share and discuss. You’re welcome…
MY FAVORITE WAYS TO ANNOY MY PARTNER IN ALL THINGS LIFE
Tenacious Tanya
Tanya teaches me so much about life and how to relish the small moments that matter while shaking off the ones that don’t. As a way of thanking her and hopefully paying tribute, I want to share her wonderfulness with you! Below I share Tanya’s bio from my Inspirations page where you can find a plethora of humans that offer the world their amazing talents and knowledge. A newsletter per month will spotlight one of these incredible souls that I’m lucky to call friend.
Coffee as a travel destination
Does life begin with coffee for you? Yup. Me too. And not due to a decade of PacNorthwest livin’ either. Also, not necessarily as an artist, although there does seem to be a gravitational pull to comfy coffee-induced spaces for creative types. Coffeeshops are life-affirming communal alcoves for you, your friends, your family, and your chosen family. A place to be wrapped in love and warmth, filled with caffeine and confection, to share love, joy, hope, dreams, and the rich undercurrents of life, which connect us to each other.
What is functional mobility?
LK’s terms:
Functional mobility training is movement that encourages the ability to perform your daily tasks at optimal levels. Easily and without pain or threat of soreness. Also, the ability to enjoy life to the fullest no matter your age or circumstance.
Purpose:
To become confident and sturdy as you age; aging gracefully.
Benefits:
Better posture
Improves strength, endurance, and energy
Enhances balance, improves stability
Enhances range of motion, improves flexibility
Improves joint health
My year of healing in the tetons
According to Garth Brooks’ lyrics, “heartache is healed by the sea.” What if it’s caused by the sea though? Well, by the people of the Sea…ttle. After three harrowing post grad years spent doom scrolling, errr doom applying?, for a “career position” while my industry imploded and the world shut down, I finally achieved a dream—to live in Teton Valley, Idaho.
I rolled into Idaho December 2021 with a battered, bruised, and skeptical soul. Unsure of possessing a loving heart any longer. The night I arrived in Driggs, I hastily began unloading belongings from the back of my RAV4. Nerves are probably responsible for my sleeve catching the corner of an open box and spilling its contents. A sky-blue hand spun pottery mug shattered on the pavement. My favorite mug. A relic acquired from a local artist on Cape Cod during my performance life dancing on stages with my dance partner across the United States. Thoughts of “good luck, a mazel tov moment,” swirled through my road weary brain.
In practice over the following year, the jagged edges of those pottery pieces scattered at my feet revealed themselves back to me each day as the people of the valley generously applied a salve of love and appreciation along the rough edges of my soul. At the time, I did not foresee how the shattering of the mug moment would unfurl as an allegory, an awakening, for my year of healing in the Tetons.