1st 14er of the year!

And it was a pretty easy one. We had such a snowy winter, and since Mike and I aren't super hard core about drudging up a 14,000 foot mountain in snow shoes, this was our first. We started with Mt. Quandry in Breckinridge and had a lovely time. It was a nice way to break in this new season of 14ers. (Last year we did 7.) Brian and Sarah joined us. We love love love hiking with Brian and Sarah! (though this was probably our last 14er together this season as Mrs. Sarah is el-pregnito! (congrats girl! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)
Anyway, We started out at the South Park Music Festival, which ended up looking like this due to the pretty much non-stop rain. But we did get this...(You know I always wondered if South Park, CO recognized the fact that South Park the cartoon was centered on this town. When I saw this
I realized that they did.)

Anyway, thanks to my friend Martin for letting us stay at his gorgeous house at the base of Quandry.
We of course drank wine and jammed out(Brian plays, too!)

and had a great day of hiking.
r

The only bummer was poor Jackie. She's really been limping lately so it wasn't a good idea for her to do a 14er. This was the sad face we saw before we left for our hike.

But besides our Jackie Brown being injured (but still having a grand time in the mnts), all in all, a great weekend. I think this will be a fabulous summer! Summer in Colorado seems to always end up that way!

Weed Trees

The weeds that pop up in our yard, persistent little seedlings.
We call them “weed trees” because that’s what they become.
Trees.
And I sat under one today, my back pressed against it’s flesh,
relishing in its protection from the heat.
It impressed me, this weed tree,
how tall it had become,
and the strength of its sturdy trunk.
We spend hours digging weed tree roots out of our yards,
wrestling with their strong root systems.
But some manage to avoid plucking fingers,
and make their way into the air,
forming arches, towers, protection
and homes to small creatures.
So much energy is spent to clear the path for the lavender,
the pansies, the rosemary, the lilacs.
But looking up at the sky, there are the weed trees
that look down upon us,
like elders,
telling the story of trying to make their way
through the adversity of
being unwanted.

-Summer Richards, 6/28/08

how sweet...

Many of you don't know this about me because I don't talk about it much, but I'm not a bad little musician. I've put it on the back burner so much during nursing school, and since I've moved to Denver I really don't have anyone to play with, so I haven't really, except for the occasional campfire singalong and the one open mic I did (in which I found the local denverites to be a bit elitist). But I've been playing the guitar for 11 years now, I've written a bunch of stuff and used to have gigs. If I could figure out a way put a freaking song on this blogger then I would! (I've tried, it's a total hassle).

In any case, with nursing school behind me I've never felt more inclined to play. So last night I was singing and playing in my house, and it's hot so the windows were open, and look what I got in my mailbox this morning. It's from my neighbor's little niece. How incredibly sweet is this!?

I did it!

I passed my boards!!!
I passed my boards!!!
I passed my boards!!!

Halle-freakin-luluah! What a sigh of relief. I actually cried when I got my test results back (um, yeah, no stress here).

I'm officially a Registered Nurse now.

tick. tock.

tick. tock.
tick. tock.
one minute. two minute.
tick. tock.

I'm waiting for my results.
I've logged in at least 100 times at this point.
No one has ever called me patient before,
and they won't do it today.
tick. tock.
i'm waiting.
i've called the testing center.
is everything okay?
where are these results?
I must wait.
tick. tock.
2 business days.
that's friday.
that's not today.
tick. tock.
tick. tock.
log in. nope.
tick. tock.

bday present to myself

From etsy seller Bay Moon Studios. She makes the cutest little scrabble pendants that are uber cheap! (And two for one! And the shipping for everything was only two dollars! )

Then she threw in this beautiful hand soldered pendant for free. What a treat! Thanks Sue!

a classic even the manliest of men would love

Right now I'm sitting in a frontage road Days Inn in Pueblo, CO. I've got books scattered all over this king sized bed, my laptop at my side. I'm cramming in whatever I can before tomorrow's nursing boards. So I'm sitting here, with my luke warm LifeWaters, and mozzarella salad I picked up at the Safeway when I turn on the TV and start watching Little Women. I only meant to keep it on for a moment or two but I got sucked in.

Little Women is one of the most classic, heartfelt, tearjerking, joymaking movies (book) ever. Beth's dying scene had me in absolute sobbing tears. And Jo's reunion with Frederick in the end...oh Louisa May Alcott, thank you for bringing this into the world. Man it felt good to watch that, to have a cry, to have a laugh. To take my mind off of this test which has pretty much put me in a total tizzy. If you have not seen this movie or read this book, then you must. It's character development and heart warming messages meant so much to me as a little girl, and still do as an adult. It's a classic.

Birthdays + Parallel 17 = Yumtastic!

Yesterday's birthday dinner at Parallel 17 was terrific. We started with a cocktail and cebiche at Limon (yum) and then walked over to Parallel 17 for one kick ass meal.

Now I love Mike, but there is one thing about this relationship that is continuously lacking.
Mike hates mushrooms. (**I know!?!)
So bring on the mushroom bread pudding! (Mmm, hmmm it was a savory little treat. )

The watercress salad was delicious, too.

If you live in Denver, check out Parallel 17. It's a feastin good time!

31 and having some fun!

Oh I'm sorry, perhaps (there is a small chance) that you are not familiar with these two lovely ladies. Allow me to introduce you to Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, aka the Indigo Girls, aka my favorite band EVER.

Last night was the perfect night. I enjoyed these two fine musicians while sitting just nearly in the front row in the beautiful botanical gardens, on a beautiful summer night. I was with my good friend Erika and we brought in an assortment of food, wine, and had such a wonderful evening.
Thanks Mike for the tickets.
Thanks Erika for coming along.
And thanks Amy and Emily for continually rocking on with your bad selves. You are the best.

Oh and did I mention that today I am officially thirty-something?
Not that this is a big deal. 31 is about as non-celebratory a birthday as you get. But it does mark the first big step through your thirties, the road that takes you further along to your forties, fifties, and eventually old old age. (or death, whichever comes first).

Today Mike and I are celebrating with a low key dinner at Parallel 17. But in the meantime, I musn't forget my nursing boards which are exactly in one week. (Oh. My. God.) So here I sit, drinking tea, still unable to use my voice, relishing in last nights festivities, and giving myself a small moment on the blog to say happy birthday. To me. 31 shall be one bitchin year.

Lator gators!
Summer

Bring on the folk remedies please!

Today I am mute. Quite literally. This whole strange bug that I've had has completely taken over my vocal cords. I've experienced laryngitis before, but never to this extent. Usually you can power through through inflammed cords if you make your voice louder. But nuh-uh for me. And the more I try, the more it hurts and the worst it gets. Plus I believe I have completely overdone it. Yesterday's 30mile bike ride, trip to a local festival, and then friends bday party, yelling "on your left" as I passed bikers and generally trying to pretend I was not sick all day has humbled me. I'm literally muted today. And it certainly puts a strange twist on how you communicate out in the world.

Anyway, I'm just crossing my fingers that all of this gets worked out by monday as Mike got me the best birthday present: tickets for me and a friend to go see my favorite band of all time...the Indigo Girls. Man I love those girls so much; I see them nearly every summer, know every word to every song, and usually leave with a sore throat. So I got some healing to do in the next 48 hours. So if you call me on the phone, I can't answer. I'm under voice lockdown.

So besides from the salt water snorting I posted about earlier (which did work for my sinuses, they just migrated south), does anyone else have any secret remedies that they could share? Symptoms are sore throat and laryngitis. I don't do cough syrup but I'm certainly down with trying most anything else. Suggestions?

today: colorful objects (and neti pots) (and secret sinus remedies)

Thank you neighbors for neglecting to put away this ever so lovely green watering can. And little red bucket, thank you for making our alley much more classy. Keep rocking your bad selves.

In other news,

I am feeling ever so much better except that now my mystery sickness has migrated its way into my sinuses and head. Ibuprofen, my always trusted friend, is quite helpful, but today I wish I had a neti pot. Nothing will clean you out like the neti. In one nostril, and out the other, those little germies can take a big fat swim down stream.
(Incidentally, in lieu of a neti pot, the cheaper, and actually more effective way to get rid of sinus germs is to snort mildly salty water. (the saltier the more it stings) It sounds wierd I know, but the germs can not survive in the hypertonic environment (as opposed to the body's isotonic environment). In short, they die. So snort the salt my sea-faring friends. Your loved ones may not understand, and you may have to have a secret snort-fest over the bathroom sink with the doors closed, but you can say sayonara to your unwelcome sinus guests.)

secrets

There are secrets.

They are not meant to be hoarded or esoteric.
But they must be found,
before they are unlocked.

The birds outside, their musical communication,
the wind on the trees, the sun through her green leaves,
And the yellow of these walls, shadows dancing from the light of the window,
reminding me of the view that continues further down the road.

Mystery,
she will call to you and there will be a choice:
eyes open, or eyes closed.

-Summer Richards, 6/11/08

i'm sick. And Happy Birthday Jackie.

I know this from my newly stuffed up nose, my swollen lymph glands, and my general malaise.

How did this happen, to a girl who rarely gets sick?

I want to crawl into bed and wait for the day to go by.

Maybe I have salmonella...

maybe I got it from rubbing Mike's feet last night....

maybe Jackie gave it to me.

Today is Jackie's birthday.

Happy birthday little 6 year old doggy.

Sorry mommy's sick, but I promise I'll take you out later, when it's not so hot. You don't want to go out when it's like this anyway. You may think you do, but you don't.

She is my favorite poet.

Mary Oliver,
You understand me like none other. As I read your sentences and word combinations, I feel myself open, slowly, humbly, full of gratitude. I feel the simple elegance of your message, like a reminder of things I always knew, but perhaps forgot. Thank you for digging inside our souls and painting the most perfect of paintings with your words. Your gift lives on, through me I know.

Love,
Summer


http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/oliver/online_poems.htm

why not

Today,
I will go to the most ordinary of situations,
and I will listen and not speak.
I will notice how my feet move underneath me,
the smell in the air,
the voices around me,
the message being conveyed,
the darkness, the lightness,
the complexity
the simplicity.

And I think that will make it pretty cool.

- Summer Richards, 6/5/08

a pretty fun little time waster...try it!

The concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favourite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favourite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name


1. Something wonderful happens in Summer, 2. Sushi, 3. Moose is Loose!, 4. Sky Blue, 5. Ryan Reynolds, 6. Pepper Bloody Mary, 7. Cinque Terre beauty, 8. sticky situation, 9. The Singer Songwriter, 10. Creativity, 11. gemini's, 12. queen birdie journal

Jun 3

Today is a very special day.

Today is the day that this little kid

turns 33.

(What a freaking cute little jean jacket, and I'm sorry, but those two thumbs up are way too adorable.)

So who is this mystery boy? This cute little child of the 70s?

Oh you know, it's my guy of course. All grown up but still with plenty of kid in him.

Mwwah baby! Happy Birthday!

Girls night!!!

And no better way to celebrate than to watch Sex and the City, the MOVIE. I tell you what, I rarely go to the movies, and I'm easily distracted when I watch them at home. But there was not a single second in that movie that I wasn't completely engaged. I realize those four fabulous women are a hollywood version of lives that many may envy, but when you walk into a theater that is completely crowded with all women, and you're there with your sisters, then welcome my friends to girl power! This movie rocks!

I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

My secret little Ebay find...little miss Strawberry Shortcake circa 1977. GAWD I love that big 'ol forehead of hers!

if you want to go to heaven,