good thing I pack light......

my sister's gonna kill me when I show up with all of this in the morning.
I'm not done yet....... this is only 3 nights......all my suitcases are at my parents.....LOL

Angela just sent this pic to me! This is the first time I saw this picture since my hospital stay.

This was taken at around 3 am as I was FINALLY getting my room. When the nurse was about to transfer me from the ER to my room, Ang asked if she could just hop on the bed and ride up with me. The guy was mad cool and allowed her to hop on with me. If you only knew the looks we got. I'm still wondering if that poor guy got in trouble because the other nurses were NOT happy. Then we asked him to take our picture. People were so confused when they saw us both on there.

We also took videos the whole ride up. (umm where are they anyway?)

Hey I was on Dilaudid and Morphine and I still remember this....that's good!!

LOOK WHAT I JUST FOUND!!!

Yes.

Yes, they do.

This is a book by the way...

I'm outta here.......

I'll be planted right here, on an Adirondack chair. That's Whiteface Mountain by the way. #5 out of the 46 high peaks. The one I wanted to climb this weekend.
This is the golf course that my sister's house is on, this is the view out the window. Hey, almost exactly a year ago I was there. FUN!
The golf course again....

Leaving tomorrow morning for my sister's house in Lake Placid until Monday!

What's going to kill me....is that:

1. I have no hiking boots. I went to return mine yesterday at LL Bean and tried the size up and they didn't fit right. So I went to EMS and got a pair of Vasque's. They are supposedly a better boot, more expensive, better quality. Well my LL Bean pair was made in Italy and real leather. These are made in China and all man made material. I'm wearing them around the house for the night, but I'm thinking they aren't happening. Comfort wise....LOTS less comfy then my other ones.

2. When I was coming down Cascade mountain....I heard a POP in my right knee. I kinda figured that couldn't be a good thing. Well it's almost a week later and the pain is still severe and I couldn't even walk a mile at lunch today on FLAT ground.

So what SUCKS is that I'm going to be sitting overlooking Lake Placid and starring straight at Whiteface Mountain, and I CAN'T CLIMB IT!!!!! Matter of fact, I'm going to be surrounded by a lot of the 46 high peaks, and I can't climb any of them.

I'm really upset about this. I'm believing for healing, and I'm believing that whatever I did isn't permanent and it's just gonna go away.

And for all of those who know me, you know I'm going to probably suck it up, take a bunch of ibuprofen, and go anyway.........then deal with not being able to walk later.

Seeing how I'm going to be gone for three nights, I need to start packing now........
:)

Cascade and Porter

That really IS the ledge...and yes, Cate yelled at me and told me not to go any farther.
The final hike up to the summit of Cascade! FUN!!!!
Yeah....that's me after falling into a mud pit.
View from Porter Mountain, that's Cascade Mountain, the first peak we were on.

Cascade Mountain: 4098 feet

Porter Mountain: 4068 feet

Time: 7 hours

Accomplished: 2 of the 46 high peaks

Saturday morning got off to a great start. Cate got here at 7, and we were on the road by 7:30. We went to the Circle diner for some breakfast then had to make a stop at Hannaford's to get some Smart Water and snacks. Then we hit the north way en route to exit 31, Elizabethville. The ride was gorgeous, the weather was beautiful, and this time I was really annoying with radio channel scanning and wouldn't leave one thing on for more then 5 seconds. (Cate, sorry about that) We tried to prevent dehydration by drinking a butt load of water on the way, leaving us needing to stop off at every single rest stop on the way.

Finally, we reached the "High Peaks Area". I've been to Lake Placid before, but only for vacation, never to hike. I've seen these peaks before, but never did I really SEE them in this light, with this respect. The first brilliant thing out of my mouth was, "Whoa! They don't call these the high peaks for nothin'?!"

I guess the only thing that was going through my mind was, "OMG I'M GONNA WALK UP THAT?????" Like you mean, I'm gonna leave my car at the bottom, and walk up it??

We drove through Keene Valley and found tons of trail heads, which is awesome because now we are prepared for the next few hikes. We found the trail head to Cascade Mountain, and so did tons of other people. Cars were lined up all down the road. As we walked up to the trail head there was an ambulance waiting there. We signed in the register and began the ascend. About 15 minutes in we heard a chopper and I knew it had to be a rescue one because it was circling for a long time. After we heard it leave a few paramedics came down. Cate asked them what happened and they told us that someone had a heart attack. That was really sad and scary because every second counts in that situation and who knows how long it took before help got there.

Anyway....the hike up was AWESOME. We had to make a few stops, but we really are learning how to pace ourselves. It was during this hike, that I finally realized that I would probably benefit if I brought my inhaler. See, I try to make pretend that I don't have asthma. However in doing that, it still doesn't make you stop wheezing. LOL See, I perceived my being 'out of breathe', as being out of shape and being fat. Cate however snapped me into reality and told me HELLO YOU'RE FAR FROM OUT OF SHAPE AND YOU'RE NOT FAT. hahah Apparently she can hear me wheezing and said that it's a huge difference between that and being out of breathe. So yeah, albuterol for the next hike. Way to go Cate!

About two and a half hours later, we reached the summit. It was AMAZING with a 360 view, total bald rock on top. There was also a ton of people up there. To reach the top there was lots of rock climbing, which was pretty challenging and fun at the same time. The view was breathtaking, there was nothing like it. I was hooked right from the first moment, it's incomparable. I've never seen so many peaks in my life. There were people from the University of Vermont up there doing a survey that Cate so graciously agreed to taking a half hour of her time and filled out. I'm glad they were up there though because they knew which peak was which and also took our pics for us. We stayed at the summit for about an hour or so, then decided that since we were so close to hiking up Porter Mountain that we might as well get the two out of the way.

It was a nice hike between the two, but rather muddy. All of you who know me well know that that's one of the things I've yet to get used to, the mud. I hate mud. I hate being dirty. I will go well out of my way to avoid getting my boots in mud. Well, what a better way to get used to it, then dive in nearly face first. Yup..totally slipped on a wet tree branch that I was trying to walk on to avoid the mud...and in doing so fell IN the mud. I was covered!! Praise God I wasn't hurt. I actually couldn't stop laughing. My arm and hands were covered. We walked a little ways and then realized we had to use the remainder of my water to clean off my arm and hands. And a nice couple came by and gave up wet naps. (which are now on our ever growing list of things we need) So as we were just getting done washing off my arm, I turned around, not realizing my backpack was open...and my camera came flying out and smashed all the way down a rock face. We both just stood there with "OMG" looks on our faces. Believe it or not, after putting it all back together, it started right up and everything was on there. Again, that was a God thing!! All of this could have deterred us from getting to the summit of Porter...but we were so close we were NOT giving up.

Finally, summit of Porter Mountain. We were the only people up there, it was amazing. We looked over and saw where we were just sitting, on Cascade Mountain. Again, another 360 view but just not as high.

Around 5 pm, we started the hike back over to Cascade, to go back down. The hike down was characterized by me saying "OUCH MY FEET, MY TOES, OUCH, OMG THIS KILLS".....yeah, finally after all these hikes, I realized in the worst way EVER that my boots are the wrong size. Thankfully LL Bean's return policy rocks, because these babies are going back covered in mud and all. I obviously wasn't fitted properly. In the course of the way down, I hurt my knee, twisted my ankle, got blisters on my toes, and walked into a tree head first.

We reached the car by 7 pm. The MINI was the last one left on the road that was once littered with vehicles. The ride home took FOREVER, it was an inexcusable long time. See, we tried to follow route 9 down in hopes to find some back road diner or somewhere to eat that we could go in smelling and looking homeless, and me covered in dirt. No such luck though. Even the most remote places looked too dressy. We finally got back on 87 and stopped at the High Peaks rest area. Here I decided it was necessary to get my face wash and scrub my face in the sink in the bathrooms. A woman walked in with her children. I believe she was frightened at this sight because she did the, "Come here kids there's a crazy homeless woman in the rest stop area washing herself" kind of thing and like herded the kids over to her. This is why I came up with my shower idea. I think there needs to be a shower area right in Keene Valley. $20 for a shower. It will be nice, heated, very clean. Cate thinks it's a flop. I think it has potential. I HATE that feeling at the end when you've been sweating for the past 7 hours, you're sticky, smelly, and just nasty. I don't want to get in my car like that and drive for 3 hours. I wanna stop and take a shower.

Anyway, so Cate drove most the way home and we decided to go to Bob's diner, right across from my apartment. By the time we got there, I was so overtired and in so much pain from my knee, ankle, and head, that I was delirious. It was like 10:30 and it was all drunk college kids in there being obnoxious. I finally, walked in my door at 11 pm, took my shower that I was craving, called Angela (sorry Ang, I do not even remember that conversation, but I do know I think I just randomly said OK BYE hahah) then I passed out.

I missed church because I could not get up. And I couldn't walk. My ribs and back are bruised too. I don't get it? No idea how that happened. My mom asked if any of this stuff happens to Cate. Of course NO, just me. And best part is.....it's SOOOOO WORTH IT!!!!! I'd go back today, pain, bruises and all.

I told Cate I was a moron, she insisted no way, I'm a trooper!!

So there you have it my friends.

Two of the 46 high peaks down!!! We can now officially join the Adirondack 46r's!

Can I classify myself as rugged yet? Or do I have a ways to go?

I still did wear my diamonds........sigh...........

If you never hear from me again....

...it's cause I sold everything and moved to the mountains.......

and have begun my business idea for a shower area for dirty hikers that come off the mountains. Cate thinks it's a dead end business and I'd be the only customer....

I'm gonna make millions....MILLIONS!!!

Seven hours......2 of the 46 high peaks down!!!!

ADK 46r!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Details later......

Oh yes....I did......

I did indeed wear this to work today. Well, minus the towel that's still on my head because I just got out of the shower.
This is in preparation for tomorrow.
Cascade and Porter BABY!!!!!!!

Awww....I spent 3 hours cleaning the MINI inside and out last night. I'm gonna miss her, lots. :(

I'm confused. No wait....maybe not

This was one of the funnest t-shirts EVER to wear out. (yeah, I know, FUNNEST isn't a word. But I made it one so deal...)

Special thanks goes to Angela, who gave me this shirt (and every other fun t-shirt that I now own). She said she immediately thought of me when she saw it. haha

I wore it for the first time last Saturday out to dinner. And best part was, everyone kept asking me what it said, and I couldn't remember exactly, so I'd have to keep looking down trying to read it......which made it even more fitting.



First time I met this dude (Tray)....he was sitting next to me, his shirt said

I'M BIG

YOU'RE SMALL

Any questions?

So yeah, I HAD to get a picture with him, seeing how we were both rocking out some pretty hot shirts.

My Caters and I...and Tray

Deb, Caters, Me....

OK there was actually 12 of us out, I just have these pictures.

Yeah, apparently I didn't get around the table much did I??

Time to go wash the MINI inside and out, to get her ready for KEENE VALLEY...HIGH PEAKS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

The history of Satey

A few weeks ago Cate and I went to a healing/prayer/worship service in South Bethlehem. It was our first time there, we sat towards the back. One of the men there turned around and introduced himself . We said hi, I think Cate actually introduced us and said, 'I'm Cate, this is Tara".
He joyfully responded with,

"Welcome Katey and Sara!"

I was now sitting there with laughter tears about to roll down my cheek because this was HYSTERICAL. What's the chance he got BOTH names wrong??
He turned back around and I now had my chance to uncontrollably laugh out loud for a moment. We figured that it was no big deal, this guy would quickly forget our names and and he'd soon be asking us again what our names were and we could clear it all up.
Was only a matter of seconds before he turned back around then yelled over to some other people there, "Hey everyone, meet Katey and Sara!"
Then he preceded to tell us, how he won't forget our names because those are his daughter's names.
So now, the entire congregation is greeting Katey and Sara and welcoming us there.
And not knowing what to do, we just awkwardly smiled, and rolled with it.
After all, what can you do at that point? I was enjoying every single moment of this, it really doesn't get any better.
One of the woman there said, "Hey you guys can be known as Satey!"
Eventually the conversation stopped, everyone turned around and I was still laughing.

Cate and I then tried to figure out what name we could appropriately go by.
She quickly suggested, "TATE!"
I sorta choked a lil bit, and politely suggested, "Satey. Let's stick with Satey...that works better for me."

Adventures of Satey

"I don't think it's coincidence that this bench happens to be RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!"
-Cate, Saturday @ Thatcher Park.

This was before we took a wrong turn, did some trail blazing, and came emerging, RUNNING out of a field with high grass. To make it worse?
I screamed like the sissy girl that I AM NOT.
Take hold of the scene:
Across the street is a look-out area with tons of cars parked and people standing there. Cate and Tara come running out of the field, with hiking boots, dressed like a bunch of woodchucks. Cate yells, "OMG I JUST SAW A HEAD OF SOMETHING". Tara screams......

Bears, snakes, and frogs...........

My usual hiking partner was not available this weekend, she was at Enchanted Forest Water Safari: where the fun never stops! OK I hope everyone is now singing that stupid commercial in their heads. Christi-anna and I had planned on hanging out yesterday, so I suggested we go to Dyken Pond to do the Long Trail. It's only a 4 mile loop, and just flat terrain. Basically I would consider it a nature trail walk, a local trail that I've been wanting to accomplish that's been on my list.

Let me set the scene. She hates the outdoors, her idea of hiking is going to a bike trail. So I was super proud of her when she agreed to go. I was actually surprised she had said yes. The ride there was beautiful, the weather was perfect. I had on shorts, my high socks, and my hiking boots. She had on pants and a long sleeved shirt. The trail really wasn't that well maintained, but the trail markers were kept up nicely, minus a few spots where you'd come to a clearing and you really had to walk a couple directions before you figured out which way was really the trail.

Seeing how she was out of her element, I took over and lead the way. In doing so, every five feet I came face first into a spider web. I was continually covered in web. LOL I kept bringing to her attention every trail marker as we passed, just to reassure her that we were going the right way. Straight up from the beginning, she flat out HATED it. She was praying not even three minutes into the hike, before we even got into the deep woods. I kept trying to get her to talk to take her mind off of it. Meanwhile I was loving it. There were some pretty rocky areas so instead of walking on the ground in between, I like to test out the rocks to see which ones move and which ones are safe to walk on. Just adds some excitement.

We probably got about two miles in, I'd say about half way around. I heard this sound. It was not a normal sound. It was something BIG. Christi-anna said, "Oh is that a squirrel?". I immediately froze......this was NOT a squirrel....nor a chipmunk.....nor another human. I stopped dead in my tracks, motioned the SHUT UP AND STAND STILL hand movement....and next thing Christi-anna says, BEAR!! IT'S A BEAR!!! I didn't believe her, I couldn't see it. She took off going back the way we just came and just started praying. I really didn't know what to do, I wanted to stay and see the bear. So I had to decide if I wanted to stand there alone and take pictures or follow her. Umm...I followed her.

Now I know you're NOT supposed to turn your back and run from a bear. I do not know much about deep woods survival skills, but this I DO know. (I can teach you how to hold your own on the streets, however. LOL) Odd thing was, I wasn't scared. Not even a little bit. It was an adrenaline rush, and I loved every second of it. I was actually furious that she got to see it and I didn't. Even today, I'm still mad that I didn't see the bear. She thinks it's probably God that I didn't see it, because I'd be trying to take my camera out and take pictures.

Apparently it was climbing a tree and that was the noise I had heard. It was a clawing sound. A very LOUD clawing sound. I guess it saw us and stopped, and was intently starring at us, as she was starring at it. It wasn't full grown, it was about the size of me she said. Ironic thing was, about a half an hour before this she had asked me if there were any bears there. I couldn't lie, I had to be honest and tell her yes. I also didn't inform her that there are rattlesnakes there either. Some things are just better left unsaid.

So we got back to the parking lot and we ran into the guy who works there on the weekends so we started telling him about what had just happened. Then Christi-anna looked at me with this dead serious look on her face and said, "Girl you have a huge bug on your shirt"......I believe this is when my sissy girly side came out full force, I shut my eyes and screamed, "GET IT OFF OF ME NOW"....meanwhile flailing my arms and running in place. Umm I'm a little embarrassed about this.

You can't go to Dyken Pond without walking the stone road down to the lake and she's never been there so I assured her this was a safe and short walk that we had to do before leaving. We got down to the water and she immediately saw a snake. She just calmly said, "SNAKE!". Yup, this is when Tara freaks out. Not even one step further, a frog hops in front of us. I've pretty much had it at this point, and hopped up on to the bench for safety. She didn't quite understand how a snake, bug, and frog scared the crap out of me, but a bear didn't.

I know I've never go to post up my full story on the Black Mountain expedition. I started telling it but just never had time to write it out in it's entirety. I'm just wondering if something is trying to deter me from hiking. Let me tell you, it's not working. Only makes me want to go more. I think I've mentioned this before. I totally thrive off of fight or flight situations, I'm an adrenaline rush junky. I think this is why I like hiking. Yeah it's pretty and the summit views are amazing, yada yada. But for me, I think it's more so the thrill of knowing that anything can happen at any moment and you have no idea if you're going to be ready for it or not. Is that sick? Am I not normal? I also love the challenge of it. You have to be alert in every way, balance, coordination, physically exerting yourself, and when you become exhausted, you get slammed emotionally. It's a mental, physical, and emotional work-out for me.
Am I that abnormal?

OK...let the comments roll in.........

Revelation!

I just wanted to share this with all of you, because it was so huge to me this morning.

As the alarm went off at 5 am, as usual I start the morning out proclaiming, "THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!" I try to make that my very first thought before I even open my eyes, before any junky thoughts get a chance to try to weasel their way in. However, sometimes that comes second to, "ARE YOU SERIOUS IT'S TIME TO GET UP ALREADY?" lol

Every morning I read Our Daily Bread daily devotional and the short scripture passage that accompanies it, and then spend the rest of my allotted time in prayer. A lot of mornings I fall in and out of sleep, and usually have no idea what it was that I read. Yes, I'll admit that.

But this morning was different. Today is Wednesday (duh), and that's my Bible study and Youth Group night at my church. As you all know this is something that I've been doing for a few months now. OK before I go any farther, here's this morning's devotional and accompanying scripture:


August 6, 2008
Joshua 1:1-7
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

The Apprentice

When some employers were asked what makes a good apprentice, they responded that they seek to hire "someone who wants to learn."
In the Bible, a good example of an apprentice is Joshua. We remember Joshua for marching around the wall of Jericho. He also had some important responsibilities as a spy (Num. 13:16) and as a warrior (Ex. 17:10). But he was often in the shadow of someone else—Moses. For 40 years, Joshua served as Moses’ assistant, aide, and apprentice (Ex. 24:13).
God takes His own time to prepare us for service. Sometimes that period of waiting is as valuable as learning all the needed strategies and goals. Joshua observed Moses’ faith in God. He learned what it meant to be humble (Num. 12:3), how to take instruction (Ex. 17:10), and how to be a true servant of God (Josh. 1:1; 24:29). Even a display of Moses’ temper (Num. 20:7-12) was an opportunity to watch and learn. By spending time with Moses, Joshua learned things that couldn’t be learned from a book.
Joshua’s own time to lead was coming. And when it came, he was able to trust God’s promise to him: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you" (Josh. 1:5). — Cindy Hess Kasper

People who become great leaders
Sometimes need to learn
How to serve and follow others—
Then they’ll get their turn. —Sper
A person who is not willing to follow is not prepared to lead.

OK this was a HUGE revelation to me. I go weekly to youth group, whether I want to or not. Most of

the time I end up MAKING myself go, forcing myself out of my apartment. Not that I don't enjoy it, because that's not the case at all. I always come home afterwards feeling fulfilled and blessed. It's

more so the fact that I don't quite know what I'm doing there. I don't understand my role or my purpose there. Sometimes I feel like I'm just one of the teens attending.

I know this is the area I'm called to work in. I know that on Wednesday nights from 7-9 this is where God wants me to be. I love teens, I feel I'm able to connect best with this age group. They invigorate me, they're always switching from topic to topic, and they're all over the place. It's great! I do feel as if I'm forming relationships with a lot of them, which I believe is important because you need that foundation there. They need to know they can trust you, they need to know you're real. I'm also building awesome friendships with the youth leaders. So I do know that I'm meant to be there. Another confirmation of that again, is how I always come home feeling fulfilled and better then when i went.

But again, my struggle is with wondering what the heck my role is there. This devotional was very eye opening. Right now He's preparing me. I'm sitting, observing, learning, and meanwhile, that IS humbling to me. I feel God has provided me with a strong gift of leadership. So it's just natural for me to want to step in, take control, and be in charge and lead things. But His plan is different then mine. Just like Joshua had learned things by spending time under Moses' leadership, I guess this is my time to sit and learn in preparation for the ministry that He has ahead for me.

Thank you Father for revealing this to me this morning!

90 Days...

Just got an email from BMW that my lease is up in 90 days.

And I know we're not to panic....but I'm pretty sure I just did....and I am currently right now.

And speaking of which, I'm going to wash the Coopster right now, she's filthy.

ps...this is my next car. If you're not familiar with the Bugatti Veyron, I highly suggest that it's time for you to become well aquainted. http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron-16.4.html

Just another A-typical Friday night......

Fridays for me consist of work at the canker...then come home and chill for an hour then go to Angie B's to work the register with my favoritest from 5:30-close. Last night the crew was at the plaza playing manhunt. I was tired, but I missed everyone so I decided to stop by quickly to say hi. Ang and Mark came too.

I love the plaza! It's where Freddie and I go to walk every single day at lunch time. It was awesome to see it at night, I haven't been there in forever at night. Mark parked his tiny truck on the same street I did, and the three of us walked over to everyone at the steps.

Half way to the steps, almost echoing each other, Ang and I both said, "I gotta pee". So we greeted everyone, then went down into the concourse to find the bathroom. We were the only ones down there and of course the first bathrooms were closed, so we had to walk all the way down to the other end. All you could hear were my flip flops slapping against my feet and echoing through the corridor. It was so annoying.

Upon our walk there, there were two random shower stalls in the middle. It was Bath Fitters advertisement. Well, you can't walk past something like that without taking advantage of awesome photo opportunities! I really hope that their actual shower stalls are a little larger then this, because unless you're about five foot or under, you're NOT going to fit under that shower head. Bath Fitters...you might want to rethink your advertising strategies, because now I'm convinced I could never fit in your showers.

Then in the middle of the plaza, there was a Navy tractor trailer. They were probably going to set up for the next day for whatever event was happening today. Well, again, great photo op's. And there was even a ladder going up the side of the truck, to the top. I don't know about you, but my rule is:
If I see a ladder, I must climb.

So there you have it.

We shall see what tonight brings, my friends......

I don't know if anything can compare to going down the wrong side of a mountain, being soaked from a thunder storm, having to get a boat ride to an unknown town by people we don't know, with hopes to get a ride from someone to our car at the trail head by more people that we don't know....

hmmm....I wonder if anything like this has ever happened???

HWS

If you're wondering what that stands for, it's "Hiking Withdrawal Syndrome".
It's a rainy and stormy Saturday, meaning no hiking for today. Today I wanted to start bagging the high peaks too. I was all set for Cascade and Porter! That would have been two out of forty six accomplished.

Now what am I supposed to do today????
Honestly, this is the first time I've been home in two weeks, and it feels kinda good. I woke up this morning and laid in bed. And I actually got eight hours of sleep! Usually I get like five or six on the weekend and am flying out of the door trying to get to 90 places. But I slept eight hours, and actually got to lay there! I almost felt guilty.
Now I'm sitting here...I'm totally not used to this. I don't know what to do with myself. OK so I have a ton of things that I need to get done but I'm going to sit here for a little while. Because I can!

OOoooh maybe I'll write a post about last night.....yup that's what I'll do.
Hey, I just realized I never finished my Black Mountain story!! hmm....someday.