february 8th, 2010

with an amazing super bowl defeat from the lousianna saints, an intense few hours of rock band and a phone call from united airlines informing me the snowstorm back home wasn't going to allow me to get back till wednesday, i woke feeling well rested. the plan kate and i decided on for the day was to spend it exploring boulder.

the drive was as gorgeous and scenic as one would expect while driving through mountains in the winter time. in fact, i started telling kate i wouldn't mind those awful bitter-cold-below-zero-chicago days... if i were able to just see mountains in the skyline of chi- there's just something about the air out in CO that just makes everyone a wee-more relaxed. or maybe it's all the brewery's and higher altitude that allow for a longer buzz? whatever the case, i could get used to it.

the food in colorado is right up my alley. or should i say, kate knew exactly which spots to take me. as many of you who are reading this may or may not know, i'm a picky eater- a picky vegetarian eater at that. however you can't go wrong when you take me to a restaurant who is claiming they have the world's best grilled cheese smack dab on their menu and is connected to a brewery.... hello, perfection!

we spent most of the afternoon roaming around pearl street. although the sun was shining, there was a bit of a chill in the air, which made us wander from store to store a lot quicker. we decided that we had some extra time and would try to find the coors' brewery in golden, co to do some taste testing of the brew-has. our trusty co-pilot; the iphone got us as far as the parking lot. the bold lettered sign that was posted prior to entering clearly stated their winter hours being closed on tues/thursdays. awesome, today was conveniently a tuesday. not getting down on the fact we weren't going to get into the brewery, we turned to what had just failed us, but yet still felt it was trusty enough for another go at it---theiphone-- and within a google, we were on our way to golden's second largest brewery...   

--literally a mile away from the coors' factory, we arrived to what looked like a cottage...second largest brewery, really? we walked into a place that could seat mayyyybe a maximum of 10 people uncomfortably. luckily, we found a spot next to some friendly locals and began our taste-testing of the brews. i started with a coffee flavored beer- it started out tasting rather odd, half way through it began tasting better, and by the time i had finished the pint i was not only shaking from the amount of caffeine it contained, but also had began thinking out loud how delicious it was-- later i would read the sign saying it was 14% alcohol content.... 

we spent the remainder of daylight at the brewery that's apparent claim to fame is being the second largest-- i still think they messed up and meant smallest, but either way it was time to venture back into denver. sadly, it was time to end the remainder of the trip with one last night at some local water holes. 

yes. it may seem as if a lot of beverages are consumed on these trips that i take. (not to be alarmed, my next venture takes me to SanFran---hello wine country!) and yes, sometimes things don't go as planned, i.e flights delayed or in this past trip canceled, or even worse--- getting stuck next to snorey, mc-snore-ster who drooled. but, to be honest that's what makes the adventures so much more... memorable.

 so, as i end trip number two of 2010 with more great memories of kate&allie(plus the newest addition---ms.ophelia), my venture of trip number three---march has been booked.  

xoxo, 

simon

February 7, 2010

so as anticipated, the alarm went off way too early. we pryed ourselves out of bed, knowning there was fresh powder on the ground. we met with kelby and his girlfriend lizzie and they drove kate and i up to breckinridge through a complete snowstorm to hit the slopes. 

 

kelby and lizzie ski- in fact they are practically olympians in my eyes. kate is learning to snowboard, and doing a great job for her first season. i tried snowboarding once in my life for a weekend at ski brule- i came back with bruises in places i didn't know could bruise. so, do i ski? well, considering the last time i was sking was probably in middle school ski club, when i thought i was a pro-skier going down the black diamond mogules at nordic "mountain", then yes... however, let's fast forward 15 years, and well, breck is in no comparison to nordic---in fact, it's more like a bunny hill, if anything. the ride up to the mountain was an adventure in it's self- who knew you had gondola up, and THEN take another lift up. 

i was promised by all, that there would be no extreme runs, and we would take it easy- which i have to say, was obeyed ...up until our second to last run, when suddenly i found myself on top of one of the highest peaks, with a sign saying  'black diamond' --- that may have been the moment when i looked to kelby with complete horror that i was going to have a heart attack right then and there. that was also the moment i was thankful for the helmet that was lent to me by ash, for i pushed myself downwards to face my fear of ice, speed, and heights all in one rush  praying i'd have all limbs in tact by the end of it. somehow- the only damage that was done were the numerous bumps n' bruises that have since appeared from the day.

thankfully i had kelby and lizzie's patience and encouragement, because without that i would never have made it down, in fact i'd probably be a frozen eskimo stuck in an avalache. the best part of the whole run? kate at the end of the hill waiting with a blue moon in hand, while i came to a complete stop on my butt. great form.

after surviving my first ski trip on a real mountain, we were all in dire need of refueling our bodies. so, what better choice than some mexican eats? mi casa, for some guac and gritas. yes, what a perfect end to such a wonderful day. thank you all for the memories that i'll forever have of being at breckenridge, and surviving all the runs! 

xoxo, 

simon.

february 6th, 2010. (co. trip number two of '10.)

 my trip out to colorado began it's planning stages six months prior, when my travel-seeking, partner in crime, kate (aka emma), moved out there to start a new beginning with her life. she moved to denver in may of 09', and althought i still can't be happier for her, i have to be somewhat selfsih and say it has been hard not having her here in chicago. she was a best friend both inside and outside of our work enviroment...and that's where we will continue to keep that friendship no matter how many miles apart we may be.

so began my trip to denver. i hadn't seen kate since we said our last goodbyes in november from our australian adventure. even after working a nine hour saturday, getting on a four hour flight, eating a bag of free peanuts and a consuming a bloody mary... i was ready to go out denver style...

we headed to a bar in the capital hill area--park tavern, in hopes of meeting with another friend of mine from high school who lives in the denver area; kelby leuthold. after having a few cocktails, and coming to a finalization on our plans for the early AM to drive up to brekenridge it was definately past our bedtimes. to be awake and ready to ski mountains at 6am was going to come quickly.

xoxo, 

simon

january 5th, 2010.

with our stomachs full with all the food we could possibly consume, and our brains mushy with more alcohol than was thought humanly possible, and new friends from New York... it's our final day. the sun has finally managed to show it's face in full, bright, HOT form. it has now become our goal to soak up every possible inch of vitamin D until it is time to leave for cold, snowy chi-town. 

 we spent our last few hours on the beach in and out of sleep, as well as telling stories about the night's prior events out on the cancun strip--- which only made being in my mid twenties make me feel like a dinosaur ---since the typical age seen out at the clubs seemed to be 17. oh, high school how i forever miss you and all the 'breaks' you brought to my life

oh, cancun even though the sun wasn't out as much as we hoped, you still managed to give me a great first trip and jump of the year. with only four hour direct flight from o'hare, there could be a possible second trip back to visit in may? 

xoxo simon.

january 4th, 2010.

it was the day to swim with the dolphins. katie and i woke to more clouds, and a brisk chill in the air. somehow we convinced eachother to put on our suits and head to the ferry that was to take us to isla de mujeres- yes the island of women. i kept my optimism high, remidning her the sun would come out, yet the dark grey gloom wasn't adding to our prior postive thoughts. once on the boat, the wind continously smacked us in the face, and it wasn't helping that the water's spray was thrashing against our faces. so, we huddled together and tried to keep warm, i think this was just around the point when we realized we had to get into the water to ''swim with the dolphin's''...

now, if anyone knew me when i was a little girl growing up--- swimming with the dolphins would not have been high on my list- actually you probably never would have heard those words come out of my mouth. i was typically as far away from fresh or salt water, and near the beach or pool. yes, i have always had a fear of--- fish. more importatnly BITTING FISH. i can still remember being a young girl, and spedning the summers at our cabin in lake minequah, wi ---it was the thing to do to swim out in the middle of the lake to a dock. well, when i finally got the courage, i was bite by a rainbow trout, and forever will be tormented by it. (some may say biting fish don't exist, i will forever disagree.)

perhaps it's the scorpian  in me, that keeps me wanting more, but i've always been a water baby- but with the pool, not so much lake or ocean. i can honestly say that the fear of being in fresh or salt water with live fish...is almost gone. when finding nemo came out, i was on a conquest to see the 'life underwater'---and i think swimming in barrier reefs were a huge eye opener, understanding more about a completely different world that exists 1000 of feet below sea level. 

so, when our hour of swim time came, and there was still no sun, i sucked it up- knowing this could be the only chance to swim with pablo- the dolphin. the ocean was...freezing. but once pablo swam up and kissed me, and then hugged me, i instantly fell in love. it's so incredible to think a dolphin can be trained to interact with humans that way. the best part of the experience was swimming into the middle of the ocean and having pablo push me back to shore- so incredible. 

since we were given wrist bands for an all you can drink and eat package while on the island we took full advantage. but... what is with mexico and all you can consume deals? katie's natural instict was to start triyng all the fruity drinks they offered, i had one bob marley that tasted like liquid sugar and opted for tequilla and fresca...

it was definatley a day to remember, and we made sure to again get all we paid for by spending the remainder of time at the island bar, katie, trying all different types of concoctions that the bartender could come up with. 

xoxo, 
simon.

 

january 2nd/3rd 2010.

day two began with clouds, and a chill in the air. pedro, our bartender from the night before, who apparently also doubles as the poolside waiter told us not to fret. he explained in hand signals and spanglish that this is 'island' weather, and that it would be sunny and 80 again in just a few hours. 

yeah.... wellllllll let's just say days two and three kind of run together. the sun managed to stay hidden for both days however we made the best of it and took FULL advantage of the 'all-inclusive' alcohol portion of the package during the day so we could be in and out of our naps--or forget that it was cold and cloudy? katie made it her mission to try every fruity, sugar filled cocktail they were able to create- and by the night of day two, she struck victory.

i'd have to say the most memorable portion of those two days was the spa. being in the industry and having constant back pain, i've had my fare share of massages, and normally you can't dis-please me,i mean what could be better than a massage on the beach with waves crashing next to you? well, that's what i thought-- in fact that's what we BOTH pictured when we signed up to split a package of 4 massages within the next few days... however as soon as i layed on the masseurs' table i knew it was far from a deep tissue massage. in fact it was as if for the next hour the therapist was rubbing sun tan lotion on my body- there was no rhthym, absolutely no pressure and let's not forget the cracking of the knuckles on my back!? ehck. the positive to the massage- getting a full day's access to the spa area. they opened at 9am, and closed at 5pm. we were the only ones there that were using their hot tub, steam room, rain shower, and sauna on half hour increment- it was cloudy- what else were two twenty-something girls supposed to do?!

when we left the spa it was dark out, which also meant dinner. being an all-inclusive resort also meant...room service was included!! so we figured why not stay in and make it the laziest day of the year?  4 orders of guacamole, chips and salsa, quesadillas, french fries,some weird mac and cheese dish, a burger and tiliapia for katie and who could forget desert? not us, in fact we topped it off with ordering each desert they had to offer on the menu. my favorite part of the whole phone conversation was when i was asked, 'and how many people will this be for?" 

xoxo, 
simon.

day one of 2010.

january 1st, 2010. the first adventure of the new year has begun. it's five o'clock in the morning at o'hare. just 20 minutes prior there were air guitars on the dance floor followed by tequilla shots, somehow we made it through security and to our gate. with echos of 'glory days' ringing in my head along with numerous cocktails still in my blood stream, the airport is soon the last place on earth i want to be. i'm trying my absolute harderst not to blink for a second too long--since now it would just be tragic. it's been over 24 hours since i've slept and am now determined that the next place i will sleep will be on the beaches of cancun.

i don't even remember taking off, in fact i don't even recall boarding the plane. the next thing i do remember is katie telling me we had landed and it was only noon. the sun was out, it was 80 degrees, and i thought i was still dreaming. no, no... we were now on our way to 'dreams' all-inclusive resort in cancun, mexiiiiiiiiiico.

we arrived by 1pm to dreams cancun- our resort we would spend the next four nights at. we drank the the champagne that was offered to us upon arrival, as a 'nap enducer' and immediatley headed towards the ocean to soak in all the vitamin D we had been lacking since september 2009... and here begins five days of pure relaxation. 

xoxo, 
simon.

wednesday november 4th

november 4th. our last day in australia. we began and ended our trip in syndey. to say that this was a trip of a lifetime would be an understatement. the people who told me 10 days wasn't enough time to go to australia, well you were right. however i wouldn't take back any of those days to not have come here. sure i would have loved to stay for 3weeks, a month, hell i'd love to spend a year in this amazing country...and hopefully someday i will.

...however sometimes you have to face the real facts of life. you need money to spend money. so whatever time you have, use it to it's fullest, and even if you just have three days off, go somewhere with it, or find a way to make memories, and moments with it. you never know how much time you have left in your life, and to not have experienced something because there just wasn't enough of it, is just a waste in my mind. 

so, with that being said---

here's to going back in time....try and follow this itineray: 


leave syndey wednesday november 4th at at 4:15pm.

arrive in san francisco on november 4th at 10:45am. >yes we have now time traveled. so crazy. 

get on the final flight of the trip to chicago at 2pm and arrive safely at 8pm. 

home sweet home of 24 hours of traveling. kate, thanks for the memories, the laughs, and spending yet another year of birthday celebrations with me in a foreign country. until  our next adventure together....

xoxo,
 simon

tuesday november 3rd

i just love birthdays so much. i hate the people that despise them and try to not celebrate them.  

we really should always be celebrating your life, because that's why you exsit and when it's your birthday you should do something extra special to celebrate. and so today- being my birthday... i woke yet again with only a few hours of sleep. i managed to rock it till the wee hours of the night with some new friends we'd made to celebrate being another year older. today's birthday agenda- skydiving at 7am. everyone keeps asking me if i was absolutely scared out of my mind... and to be honest, the thrill and rush that comes over you when you are 14,000 feet above the world is more exilerating that anything i've ever experienced in my life.you would think that jumping out of an airplane you would need some instructions- if an 8 minute video with an austrlian accent too thick to comprehend along with a girl from holland who barley spoke english keept asking me questions about the waiver you're supposed to have filled out consists of an 'instrucstional video'- than yes, i guesss i felt informed?? 

after boarding the 8 seater plane, the realization of what we were about to do kicked in once we started going past the clouds, and the world looked like a grid. i would say at that point the nerves started kicking in. there was never regret, never doubts that my cute would not open, just a wave of wonder- and hope that we'd go through a cloud. cameron, my tandem jump mate was also celebrating his birthday- now i've only met one other person in my life that has the same birthday as me, so to me this was a really good sign that i was safe.

the doors to the plane opened, a COLD wind rushed past our faces, and at that moment i saw my life flash before my eyes. the only thing i kept telling myself was- don't look down. there was no countdown, just a slight push, and we were free falling 14,000ft above the coast of cairnes, sights of the great barrier reef, the lush rainforests, and mountains below... i think i'm safe to say that i felt like a bird. then reality set in- my ears were popping, and fast. i tried to equalize them, however when you're falling that fast you barely have control of breathing. i couldn't keep my mouth shut- drool was coming out, and wind was whipping past me... there was no way you could even scream if you tried. once the parachute was pulled the world stopped before my eyes. it could quite possibly be the most surreal moment of my life thus far. yet, another in-describable moment, one that if you've never sky-dived before you are missing out on something so powerful, and adrenaline rushing that i'll leave up to you as a choice to take. the landing of the whole process was  forgotten due to early morning drinks. needless to say i am blogging, so i have survived yet another crazy milestone in my life- here's to another year, and jumping 14,000ft with an amazing best friend- kate.

xoxo,

simon. 

monday november 2nd.

day three in cairnes. snorkeling the great barrier reef. let's begin this by saying you can't go to australia, or better yet cairnes and not go to the reefs to snorkel. okay, let me also state that i have tried snorkeling once in my life; the bahamas. the whole experience lasted maybe 10 minutes? my hope was to see fish like you would while watching finding nemo,  let's just say that didn't end well. my fear of fish started as a young girl- fear meaning every time i swam in water that wasn't a pool i would claim i had gotten bite by a flesh eating shark... in all reality the only fish i was swimming with were mini rainbow trout in the waters of lake minocqua, wi. so let's fast forward to our adventure of the attempt to snorkel yet again. 

it began by a bus picking kate and i up at 6:30am- the early morning thing isn't even a problem anymore, it's as if our clocks are so internally messed up that time isn't an issue. we met a new mate- chris, who's been traveling the world for over a year, and was going scuba diving on the same ship as us- the posideon. just our luck we arrived too late to take the anti-sea sick pills provided, and that it was one of the rockiest hour and half rides out to the reef they've had in months. fortunately for me i have never had a problem with motion sickness; kate however has. we managed to reach the reefs after a survival of not letting go of all of last night's drinks... however most people were green in the face and ready to jump off the boat at this point. it was surreal to look out and see storms near shore, yet sunshine and tourquise blue waters ahead- gorgeous and so breathtaking. after putting on my flippers and saying goodbye to the boat, i prayed i wouldn't come back with fish bites all over my body.

 

from the moment i dove into the water all my fears i've had previously somehow disappeared. it was as if everything around me stopped and i entered a surreal part of the world. the colors were unspeakable, the activity and life underwater was something i'd never been able to comprehend until that moment. my mind went to information overload for the next hour underwater. there was no question after being out in the open seas that i am meant to be near or within the water. all my fears of fish had disappeared! i even allowed them to swim near me, and at one point knocked my head on the coral while trying to take pictures... we had three dive sites we went to within the six hours out at sea and each one was more and more breathtaking than the next. i was definately re-inspired as a colorist. the great barrier reef truly is a place indescribable...

until  i write again...

xoxo, 
simon.