Get the Mouse Out of Here!

Adventure lured me to Wyoming. Fear built a wall between adventure's and my romance. Friends have helped bring adventure and me back together again.

Adventure #1: "Does anyone want to go on a hike," I walked out to the firepit after dinner and asked the group sitting there. Everyone just looked at me, their eyes lacking any form of expression other than confusion. Were they confused that I wanted to get out of the kitchen finally?  "Please," I begged.

"I'll go," Margo finally chipped in. "I won't be fast because of my boot, but I'll go." Margo got turf toe a little before camp started. She's been in a boot ever since.

"That's okay," I said, enthusiastically. "I just want to go on an adventure! I'll go fill my water and we can go!" I walked into the kitchen and chatted with Anne. "I'm going on an adventure, Anne!"

"Good for you! High five," she skidded across the kitchen to give me a powerful tiny hand high five. We chatted a little while and when I finally walked back out, Margo looked at me with a very guilty look.

"I'm not going to go," she informed me. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! "But," she continued. "I think anyone able to walk should go. Use those legs!"

"Alright, I'm in," said Katy.

"Okay, I'll go," Tyler said in his thick North Carolina accent.

Slowly but surely, Matt agreed to go as well. The boys went to their tent to get their things and Tucker was in there on the phone (I swear that thing is glued to his ear). They told him we were going hiking and good ol' Tucker was in for the adventure. Thank goodness there is someone here that is always willing and ready to adventure with me. I walked into my cabin and Tim was sitting on his bed. "Want to hike with us," I asked him.

"No, but I'll walk down to the office, which is on your way," he responded.

Let's do this. Down the hill we walked. Up the trail we climbed. Over the plains we looked. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Wish you were here. Wow. I live here. I really live here. Wow.

My view every day

Tim walking off into the sunset

Tim left us there, but the rest of us continued. I went ahead of the group for a bit (I have a hard time going slow when I hike. I try, I really try, but it's just not acceptable), but Tucker caught up soon and we chatted about Veggie Tales and miniature giraffes and how badly he wanted to see a bear. We did not see a bear; however, we did see a fox and deer. Of course we saw deer. They are everywhere. And these are not normal deer, they are like the deer on I am Legend, just uber creepy and gnarly looking! They almost look like they could eat you if they decided to become carnivores. I bet I would taste funny... like peanut butter, bananas and beet juice.

But speaking of miniature giraffes... I want one.

So, we continued our hike up up up and we looked for bears. With five people hiking around making a ton of noise, there was no way we were going to find bears, but I don't think I was ready to have my first encounter anyway. Being the leader, I kept taking us further into the woods... the path less traveled, right? When I have people around, I feel so much more comfortable exploring these woods. It's actually really funny because I never get nervous when I trail run in Oregon or California, but I am freaked out to be alone here. Especially running. I mean, I'm the cook at a camp, so I already smell like old bacon grease then add me running alone in the woods and what do you have? A feast for the bears! Come and get her, little cubs! Yummy yum yum. Bacon scent, peanut butter flesh, beet juice blood and banana meat. Is it bad that I eat a banana with peanut butter every day of the week? I'm really missing my Bob's Red Mill Organic Rolled Oats. Bob, if you ever stumble upon this, will you please sponsor me as an athlete so I can eat your organic rolled oats every day of the rest of my life? Thank you kindly.

Adventure #2: The days have truly started to blend together. I don't really know what day is what anymore, but I'm pretty positive the night after our hike we all went to town. Yes, that is correct. This was... two nights ago? Sophie, Tim and I climbed in her Subaru Edna and made our way down the hill. Remember those mangy deer? Well... Sophie imagines they are all mobsters. Yes, mobsters. She started speaking in her best mobster accent. "Ey, ey you! Whatcha lookin' at, eh?" (That might have read Canadian, but it did not sound Canadian. It was definitely an attempt at Italian mobster lingo.) Tim joined in. "Ey, mahn, who invited Blondie?" He was referring to me. He did not sound Italian. He sounded incredibly Jamaican. They continued exchanging deer remarks until I couldn't take it anymore. "You guys are terrible," I admitted. And into town we drove.

As Edna neared the huge Jackalope in town, I looked at Sophie. We exchanged a look that said, "We should make Tim ride the giant Jackalope." Yes, our looks say a lot. We rode the jackalopes on our date last Monday. It was time for Tim to give it a go. "Shoot," I told her. "I forgot my camera... Hey, Tim," I said in a louder voice. "May I see your iPhone?" Of course he wanted to know why. "So I can take a picture of something." Hey.. it wasn't a lie! But he wouldn't let me see it. So we drove past the ceramic giant. Sophie and I exchanged another look that read, "Aw man... we have to make him ride that thing... let's go back." So we drove to the end of town, passed the group of new people we were going to meet at the bar and drove back to the gas station with our rabbit-like friend. Tim refused to get out of the car. "Get out," Sophie and I both tried to use our army sergeant voices, but Tim was too manly to drop to the ground and obey our orders. I gave him puppy dog eyes. "Please," Sophie asked. "What is wrong with your face," Tim asked me. "Do people actually fall for that in California?" Uhhmmm... yeah.

We failed. Tim did not get out. Sophie and I were real men and rode the Jackalope last Monday. We have balls. Not real balls. But nerves. You know what I mean.

Loving the red white and blue!

Ride 'em, Cowgirl!

 To the bar we continued.  Once inside, we met up with Johan, Tyler, Matt, Zito, Katy, Maria and Tucker. We all went outside to watch the boys play horseshoes. I don't know what happened, but somehow I started laughing. Not laughing, squeaking. Oh mouse laugh, why must you haunt me so? As people teased me, Tucker's little Virginian accent came through the crowd of laughter, "Hey, I like her laugh. I hope she never changes it." Yeah, like I have a choice.

 We left the bar fairly early and went back to camp. Sophie started a fire and we sat outside talking until after midnight. It was freezing out, but it was so nice to be near the warm flames, exchanging stories with a new friend. Nicole joined us around eleven and we all went hunting for more wood. I just love those girls and how much they make me laugh.

Adventure #3: Hiking with Anne and the boys. Anne went to Walmart with me the day before and we totally bonded. Aw man, I just adore that little lady! We have so much in common and it's nice having someone who understands my need and desire to train. Walmart was so much better with her there, though it was still a quest. How much food can 14 people eat in one week?! And what will it be like when I'm shopping for more than double that?! Thank goodness for Anne's help and her amazing organizational skills.

On our way home, we decided to go on a hike together the next day since we both had time off. We were supposed to go in the afternoon, but somehow, it turned into a morning hike. She made an announcement at dinner for anyone to join if they so desired. The next morning, Tucker, Tyler and Matt met us at the covered dining hall. Off we went! Up to Lake Louise. Oh my goodness!  Amazing! It was gorgeous and the company was phenomenal. We all told jokes and riddles and took photos. I gave Tyler a new nickname because he is such a mountain man. His new name is.... drum roll, please... Grillz! Like Bear Grillz. And he responds to it when I call him. I love it. Dude, I love hanging out with Tyler. He is just a nut! And he has so many fun stories. And jokes. Great jokes.

Grillz

 

 

Anne and Me at Lake Louise

Tucker, Anne and Me at Lake Louise

Lake Louise

When we got back to camp, Grillz (from here on out, you will not read the name Tyler on my blog... that is no longer his name), Matt and Tucker climbed into Sweet Baby Sam and we drove to Jackson, passing buffalo and the Tetons along the way. "Ashlee," Tucker said. "You are the only girl I know who actually has good taste in music." "Is it meese," Grillz asked. "Or moosen?" Aw man... why is Grillz going to California?!?!  It was a long drive, but spending time in Jackson was so worth it. Grillz, Tucker and I walked all around Jackson, getting lunch at Betty Rock, coffee at Pearl Street Bagels and a brand new North Face jacket at Skinny Skis. Seriously, I was freezing. I needed the jacket.

The boys left to go back to Jackson in the van we picked up at the airport, but I wasn't ready to go home. I spent a little more time enjoying the scenery of Jackson before climbing in the car and driving back to Dubois. It was like open season on the road back home. I saw a moose, antelope, buffalo and deer all within ten minutes. They all looked incredibly mangy up close (side note: Sophie just read this and exclaimed, "Exactly! Mobsters!"... I guess she's right. But I hope they don't speak with that accent when they talk to each other). I'm very surprised none jumped in front of my car because they were all literally on the road or about to step on. It was crazy!

Tetons

I got back late as Tucker and Grillz were leaving to meet everyone else at the Outlaw Saloon. I decided to stay and prep breakfast since we were eating so early the next morning. Nicole came in the kitchen and for some reason, I just started crying. I had no reason to cry, but sometimes girls just need to cry. I felt ridiculous. Sophie must have heard me, because the next morning (that would be today), I walked in the kitchen to find that she had prepped everything for me. The kitchen was beautiful. The coffee was ready to be brewed. It was the most amazing gift anyone could have given me. I just love Nicole and Sophie. I don't want to describe their relationship with one another (just because I don't want to make you readers feel uncomfortable with stories of kisses on the forehead by the fire, quotes like, "She's the love of my life in a best friend sort of way" and that sort of thing), but they are the cutest best friends.

Adventure #4: Today, I took wilderness first aide training in town with all of the staff. It was super fun. I got a black eye, a bruised back, a bloody forehead, a red punk rock streak in my hair and a pale face. I learned a lot, but mostly, I enjoyed getting to know the new staff. Kasey with her great sense of sarcasm. Mackenzie- the west coast is for sure the best coast! Nani (pronounced Na-neye) who has done triathlons- yay! Seriously, everyone is so wonderful! There are more new staff than just those three, but those were the three I promised to mention. Oh hey girls, hey!

There was one point where we were supposed to beam Brock up from in between in a tree. There were seven of us, one of him. Easy, right? Or not... He positioned himself into a V-shape in the middle of two trees. It was so awkward trying to get him up. I put myself in the middle of the pack; on the count of three, we were all supposed to lift him without causing any movement of the spine. "One," Caroline counted. "Two, three!" We all lifted. My hand pushed up on his butt. Grrrrrrr! No movement. Well, this is awkward.

Adventure #5: Anne and Margo made dinner since I was in class all day. It gave me time to catch up with Weston. Oh, I have missed him so. We talked for a good chunk of time about Wyoming and his job and training. I hope he can come visit me this summer. He would love it here! So would Steven. Give them guns and things to shoot at and they'll be happy boys. My happy boys. I miss my happy boys. My best friends. Awww... I really miss my boys.

Fortunately, I have good friends here as well. Sophie and I forced Tucker to rush through his seconds at dinner so we could go on a hike. Within the first minute and a half, Sophie wanted to get a photo in front of the mountains. I handed Tucker my phone. He began squatting up and down, trying to get the perfect reflection of the mountain range in the background. But his squatting just left me squeaking. And the mouse is back. We finally gave up on getting a good photo and continued to hike. We found the spot where the mobster deer hang out. How do I know they hang out there? Because they left many presents all over the grass. How do I know about these presents? Because Tucker is a loserfish and threw the little bits of deer poop at me. I ran away screaming like a little girl. No, like a banchee. Banchees scream, right? A horrific, high-pitched scream? Yeah, that was me. I continued to run and when I turned around to see how far Tucker was from me, he and Sophie were kneeling on the ground, holding their sides, laughing hysterically. "Come back," Sophie yelled. "He's done!" She turned to Tucker, "Wait, are you really done? Because I don't want to lie to her if you're not." 

I came back hesitantly. Those two make me laugh harder than I've laughed in a long time. Every time I'm with them, my sides ache like there is no tomorrow. I am so grateful for the time I've been able to spend with the two of them. We have made so many amazing memories together and I know there are more to come.

We continued our trek down to camp. Tucker knelt down and picked up another piece of deer poop. Supposedly, I shoved Sophie into the line of fire and ran as fast as I could away from Tucker. I didn't even realized I had pushed Sophie. I think as soon as I saw what Tucker was picking up, I just knew I had to get out of there fast. Nothing I did was a conscious decision. It was fight or flight and there was no thought behind my actions. The only thing on my mind was RUN. So I ran. And I did not get hit.

We heard noises and realized we were back at camp. We had hiked maybe half a mile? Wow... that was productive. I have to admit though, it was one of the best hikes of my life.

Cheers to adventures in Wyoming.

I'll Huff and I'll Puff and I'll Blow Your House Down

After lunch today, Sophie and I decided to hit the town. Oh, the excitement! Laundry, Opp shop and coffee! Big day on the town. On our way down the snowy hill, Sophie commented about the fact that everyone is stoked on my blog at camp. She thinks I should make it like the camp newspaper. I think it's hysterical that everyone sat around the campfire reading it last night. To be honest, I really didn't expect anyone to read it there. I mean, it's not that exciting, it just keeps me entertained and allows my friends and family back on the west coast to know what's going on in my life. I've probably lost some of my triathlon following, but I have a brand spankin' new following. Hey, I'm being flexible, like I talked about on my weapon blog... just go with it.

The other night after the free dinner in town, a few of us went to the Outlaw Saloon (Go Outlaws! Sorry, that was my high school mascot. Gotta get excited about that one). This is where Tucker and I discovered we both loved Donatello. He also informed me of his passion for cupcakes. Since his birthday is in August while he is on an expedition, I told him I would make him cupcakes if he picked up the ingredients while he was in town yesterday. Last night, I didn't have to cook dinner, so we spent the evening decorating funfetti cupcakes to look like Donatello. Okay, so they didn't look as good as I had hoped, but it was a fun experience and people ate them, so I'm assuming they were turtle-rific. Yes, I just made up a word. Get stoked!

Jeremy and Becki made me laugh today. "Oh, you will love the running trails around here," commented Becki. I'll show you some forest service roads!"

"Why not take her to the Whiskey Basin road," Jeremy suggested.

"Well, she will probably feel more comfortable seeing cars every once in awhile," she responded. Thank you for sympathizing with my fear of big furry creatures, Becki.

However, Jeremy mentioned some other big furry creatures I might want to steer clear of: "She should be worried about the people, not the bears!"  Oh Jeremy. The cowboys can't be THAT goofy, can they?

I feel like a little fish in a big pond. Except Dubois is not big. Not at all. But it's bigger than me. I am such a little goon here, but I'm stoked to be learning more every day. Mostly, I'm excited to start getting outside and exploring! The snow is melting, which is actually kind of sad, but soon enough, I'll be lacing up my Brooks Cascadias and hitting the dirt. Thanks, Nash and Nick, for hooking me up with my new trail running shoes. Can't wait to get them dirty! Miss you guys, PS.

Yesterday, while moving mattresses, Nicole and I decided to do the 15K here in town. Good! Something to look forward to! I feel like a slug, especially when working out leaves me huffing and puffing here. Okay, you know that feeling when you take months off from working out then you go straight back into it and you push maybe a little too hard? You lean forward with your hands on your knees, sucking in the cold crisp air that seems to fill the sky, but not your lungs. "C'mon, lungs! Expand! Ahhh! Need air, need air!" Well, this is almost like that. Not really, I was just being weird, BUT hiking up the hill does leave me a little winded. Going from sea level to 8,000 feet is a challenge. I get to the top and I think, "Don't let anyone be around to see me, please! They would never believe I'm an athlete!" Like yesterday... Sophie, Johan and I walked down to the classrooms. That was fine because it was downhill and all we did was talk and throw snowballs. Then I walked back up with one of the dogs, Birch. I was just cruising along, filling my lungs with fresh Wyoming air (just for you, Heather), praying that no one would come driving up the road when... OH-HOH! There's Tucker and one of the new guys, Kyle (aka Zito). Great. "Oh, hey guys," I said, trying to pull myself together. They didn't seem to notice my unsteady breathing. Thank goodness. I mean, when I think of someone huffing and puffing, I think of that fat woman from Fried Green Tomatoes. I don't want to look like a fat woman! Haha. But now they know I was huffing and puffing; so much for being discrete.

Well, time to find those three little pigs...

God is Great, Beer is Good and Wyoming is Freezing

It has come to my attention that my last blog made it sound like I was miserable in Wyoming. Let me clarify: Wyoming is not horrible. I actually love it here. Like LUH-ove it here. Like the way that peanut butter loves French toast. Or the way that bones love calcium. Well, maybe not love in that way. Well, okay, maybe it is like that. Let me explain: Bones need calcium to survive, right? To build and maintain strength? In a sense, I need Wyoming to build and maintain my strength. Sure, I’m losing physical strength because I haven’t been exercising 8 hours a day like I do at home, but I am growing into a better woman because of my time in Wyoming. And my body needed the recovery break anyway. All y’all know I would never have taken a recovery break had I stayed at home!

“How in the world is Wyoming building you into a better woman,” you ask? Well, for starters, I haven’t had a real adventure in a few years. Sure, Sophia and I have gone on some fantastic hikes and Jameisha and I have done some great trail runs. Josh helped me become more comfortable swimming in the ocean. I can kick anyone’s butt hiking or holding a plank for a long time, but really, those are small adventures compared to the ones I used to thrive off of. Last night at the bar, I asked Tucker and John what the most adventurous thing they ever did was. When it was my turn to answer my own question, I realized the last time I had a near-death experience was the summer Jenna was living with me and I almost killed us both white-water kayaking. Ahhh… I should tell that story sometime soon. That was a fantastic adventure.

I am excited to be here and to learn new things and meet new people and maybe even come into close contact with death, but survive it, of course. No broken bones or permanent scars for this little lady. Nothing like having a big bear scratch down the right side of your face… or the left… or anywhere else on your body…

Honestly, folks, Wyoming is awesome. For starters, it is breath-taking-ly gorgeous. It reminds me a lot of Sisters. And I’m loving the snow, which just keeps falling down from the open sky. It would be nice if I had packed warmer clothing, but hearing the crunch of fresh snow beneath my feet, watching it cascade in waterfalls off of the rooftops, getting pounded in the ear by an enormous ball Sophie threw, feeling flakes of snow land on my nose as I make my way to my cabin… it makes me want to sing Bing Crosby Christmas carols. Soon enough, I’ll be roasting chestnuts on an open fire. Note to self: Buy chestnuts at Walmart on the next food run.

As most of you know, I am incredibly shy. I love new experiences, but at the same time, they make me nervous because I have a difficult time forcing myself to interact. I’ve met some phenomenal people at surf camps, YoungLife camps and through my jobs, but never have I met a group of people who made me feel instantly accepted and loved. Everyone here is so cheerful and trusting and genuinely interested in getting to know one another. Working at the health clubs that I teach at and living in California has morphed me a lot. Before college, I never cared what people thought. I mean, I wore sweat pants my first day of college. I wore vintage dresses and heels every day in high school, rain or shine. I still don’t wear make-up, nor do I even know how to apply it really. But I do care what people think now. The ladies at Killer B wear Lulu, so I wear Lulu to fit in and be accepted. The triathletes I train with ride nice bikes, so I always look for the best, most expensive gear. I have a ton of pride and too many clothes to fit in my closet. Here, no one cares what anyone thinks. Five, maybe six layers of clothing? Who cares that we look like miniature Pillsbury Dough Boys. Haven’t showered in five days? Eh, they could go two more before getting wet. Doing yoga on the bathroom floor? Okay, that’s disgusting, but they do it here! Dude, I haven’t shaved my legs in 5 days!!! Hahahahaha. I can just see it now: Jason in Santa Barbara reading my blog with a look of disgust smeared across his freshly shaved face, smelling of expensive cologne and wearing a sock to match his ties with his fancy suit. Cosy in Europe thinking Atta girl, Ashlee because she will sometimes go for weeks without bathing. But someone in Dubois reading this would think I’m prissy and girly. I’m still getting over the feeling of wanting to look at least a little presentable, but comfort and warmth trump pretty clothes and smooth legs any day.

I love the fact that people here are so down to earth. Never have I felt so comfortable and like I belonged more than I do here… and it’s only what? Day 3? 4? I just love it here! I have to tell you a little bit about each person because they are the most amazing people I have ever been around and I am genuinely stoked to have this opportunity to get to know them. I could write a novel on each of them, but I’ll paraphrase for your sake (and mine). Let’s go alphabetically down the list, shall we?

Anne: Anne is one of those tiny, adorable, athletic women who intimidates the hell out of me and who I wish I could be more like. She is this house of power and strength wrapped up in a tiny package. She is a no-nonsense type of girl. When I first met her, I thought she would be one of those individuals who keeps to herself and doesn’t have any desire to get to know me. Now, she is one of my favorite people. I don’t know if we bonded through her helping me grill antelope the other evening or if it was her reassuring me that the bears wouldn’t get me, but our love for early mornings, our conversations about running shoes and seeing her face first thing every morning just makes life exciting. She kind of dresses like me, too, which I like; she’s got the athletic pants, big boots and puffy jacket look going on and it reminds me of the days back in Oregon where I’d be wearing my Lulu pants and just slide on my monstrous boots and my NorthFace before driving to the market. I’m sad that she is leaving for the NorCal trip soon because I would really enjoy getting to know her more and going on some trail runs with her. However, I am positive that she is someone I will make an effort to stay in contact with.

Becki: I haven’t seen Becki too much because she has her baby (aka Critter) and it keeps her preoccupied, but the moment I first spoke to her on the phone, I liked her. The first time I met her, she greeted me with a big smile and cheerful eyes. She is always willing to answer my questions and she gave me a delicious recipe for pizza crust yesterday. When I see her, she is always so full of life and joy. I’m excited to spend more time with her throughout the summer.

Caroline: Caroline is one of those girls who looks gorgeous no matter what she is wearing. I’m not sure if she tries to look good, but she always does. She has this lovely red hair that is full of volume. We had this great conversation the other night while walking down to the office to get online. I really enjoyed hearing about her background. If you were to meet her in town, you wouldn’t think she would be into the outdoors because she is so well put together, but she is all about being outside and climbing Mt Hood and fishing and exploring new areas. She drives a Subaru, so there’s a sign of a great woman right there.

Cooke: Optimism. That is a fantastic word to describe Cooke. He finds the good in every moment. Every morning, he and his girlfriend Erica walk into the kitchen and fill their coffee mugs. Then, we stand in a circle and make a toast to the day. This morning his toast was to the first aid training and may the training scenarios be the only scenarios they encounter the rest of the season. Cheers, we all said as we clinked our mugs. I love that tradition. He and Erica do it every single day. He is so knowledgeable about the earth and farming and chickens. I feel like I learn something new from him every day. He is also very encouraging, always commenting about people‘s strengths and abilities.

Erica: Erica took a little while to open up, but I love our conversations in the kitchen. We talk about her family and her adventures with Cooke. I loved hearing about the names she gives her vehicles, such as Purple Passion and Velvedeer. She is very grateful for what she has and she is a strong woman physically and mentally. It is fun watching her interact with Cooke. I told her this morning that I love the way she calls him Bud. She laughed and said sometimes she calls him other names, such as DumbDumb. Erica just has this great sense of humor and a quick wit that I truly admire.

Jeremy: Jeremy and Becki are the camp directors. They are married and have Critter and another one on the way. No, Critter is not her real name, but I’m a big fan of the nickname. Jeremy was the one who first told me about the cook position. It’s amazing how much faith he and Becki had in me in order to hire me to do something I had never done before. He has been so patient with me this week and has given me a lot of guidance and suggestions for how to make the kitchen run smoothly over the summer. “Hey Ashlee,“ he asked over lunch. “Is this leftover meat?“ “No, why,” I asked, nervously. “It is sausage,” he informed me. Oops… so much for taco salad. Without his words of wisdom, the kitchen would not be a great place to come to. We all know I am not the most organized person around. He has helped me learn to take responsibility for the area and to own it. He has the same humor as my dad, so I am constantly smiling when he’s around because he’s funny yet serious and stern at the same time. It’s a good balance. Plus he likes Jimmy Eats World and the Foo Fighters, so he knows good music. Yesterday, he asked why I wasn’t eating the pizza I had just made. “I don’t like pizza,” I said. “Never trust a cook that doesn’t eat her own food. Also, never trust a skinny cook. That’s two strikes against you,” he commented. I’m skinny? Wow, Wyoming really is a new world. Haha.

John: Or as I like to call him Yo-Han in the best Swedish accent I can muster. John is a Canadian, eh. Every morning at 6AM, he walks into the kitchen to make coffee. He also helps me cook the meat. I don’t know how I am going to cook sausage by myself when he leaves! He may just be a nice guy, but he laughs at all of my corny jokes and even shares some of his own. Just you wait, cycle classes, you are going to hear some AWESOME corny jokes when I return. Such as: What did the mama lamb buy for her baby lamb when it turned 16? A lamb-orghini. John listens to every word you say and you know he is always listening. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I’m doing that I forget to look at people when they’re talking. John stops everything he is doing, stares straight at you and listens. It’s such an admirable quality. And he has this amazing desire to learn. Every morning, he is reading his lifeguard training book or creating meaningful conversations with people. He is constantly smiling and happy to be alive.

Margo: That girl has spunk! She has so much energy coursing through her veins and I have to give her props: she got turf toe so she is in a boot. Remember me talking about the snow in Dubois? Now imagine yourself in the snow. Add a boot with an open toe. So now you are hobbling through the foot-deep snow in a boot, snow on your toes. That is Margo. Add the fact that she lives in the teepee halfway down the hill and you have a girl with spunk. And muscles. Dang, that girl has muscles! Dude, I love Drea’s muscles, but Margo has guns. If a bear ever came her way, she’d just throw it a one, two and that thing would be on the ground. You don’t mess with the best and the best muscle award goes to Margo.

Nicole: I will always remember my first night when Nicole walked into the cabin and asked me if I was actually warm. “Here, let me help you,” she said, as she zipped my sleeping bag all the way to the top and threw my comforter over my face. She always has my back and is trying to help out in any way she can. Like the other girls here, Nicole is a natural beauty and you can’t help but to be a little bit envious of her. Confidence pours out of her with her every movement, but she is so humble and sincere. If I was ever stressed, I feel like she would make me feel at ease. We have created a secret eye/body language that I’m pretty stoked to use this summer. No, I can’t tell you about it! It’s a secret. C’mon. Go look up the meaning of the word “secret” in the dictionary!

Sophie: What can I say about Sophie? She was my very first friend here. I love our pillow talks before bedtime, our random strange glances at each other across the table, her sense of humor, her laugh. Everyone wants to be friends with Sophie and Sophie wants to be friends with everyone. Go get that dictionary again, will you? Open it up, look up the word friend, cross out the definition Webster or whoever put in there and scratch in the word Sophie. If I was ever sad, lonely, homesick, struggling… Sophie is the one I would confide in. She walks into a room and instantly it is ten times brighter; even if it was the brightest sunshiny day ever, she would help illuminate it’s warmth even more. God truly gifted Sophie and I am ecstatic to know her.

Tim: aka Back. Back? Back. Last night, we were getting into the car and Tim was in the middle of Caroline and me. He said he couldn’t find his buckle because his butt was too big. He could not stop talking about how big his butt is, so I started singing Baby Got Back. Then Tucker turned the song on his iPhone and there it was… Tim’s nickname. He calls me Chef-ee, I call him Back. Tim just makes me smile so big. He is always looking out for others and making sure people are safe, happy and content. He likes to tease me about carrying my bear spray everywhere I go. He also teases about my short hair, “Chef-ee, just let what hair you’ve got down and have a good time.” Then I wore pigtails, “What are those? That’s uhm… cute, but I said to let what little hair you have down!” He likes to tease me about my squeaky laugh and my prayer sneezes. Aw man, why is it so funny to hear him pick on me like he‘s my older brother or something? I don’t know, but I am excited for him, Nicole, Sophie and me to live in the cabin together this summer!

Tucker: I nicknamed Tucker The Help because he really is a staff member, not a course director, but he is here early so he does a lot of the general labor around the camp. He is from Virginia and has the coolest accent. I love just sitting and listening to him talk. He wants me to design his first tattoo, which I’m all about! Last night, we discovered we both LOVE Ninja Turtles and Donnatello is our favorite. It was like we were meant to be friends forever. He loves all the good music: country, hiphop, alternative rock… every type of music basically. At the bar yesterday, Tucker and I were talking next to the pool table when this man walked up and started talking to us with ridiculous speech. He repeated himself four or five times, telling us about how he grew up in Jackson, no wait, Dubois. Ohpe! He grew up in both places! And found a prehistoric dragonfly. He wants us to come to his village. Where is his village? In Dubois! Where he grew up! But he grew up in Jackson. And his great grandmother was the first white woman born in Dubois and his great grandpa arrested Butch Cassidy down the road from the saloon. And he loves each and every one of us. Oh wow. Tucker was so patient with the man. “I think I’m going to love it here,” he leaned down and whispered to me.

Honestly, this new family of mine is legit. I’m sorry if my last blog made it sound otherwise. This morning, as I was serving French toast and sausage, Jeremy walked up and stationed himself next to me. He stood tall, looking forward, not at me. “So I read your blog,” he remarked. Uhoh. “It wasn’t supposed to sound the way it came out!” I defended myself. “Just so you know,” he started, not missing a beat. “There hasn’t been a bear sighting at the camp in years. And we make too much noise here for them to come this close anyway.” “Okay, Jeremy,” if Jeremy says it, I’ll believe it.

Yeah, it’s awesome here! I can’t wait to start training again, but so far I love my life!

CYCLE (60 Minutes)

5:00 Warm-up
5:00 Alternating every :30 standing 70 RPM, :30 seated 100 RPM
5:00 95 RPM
2:00 Zone 2, build to zone 3
5:00 Zone 4 seated
3:00 Zone 1 seated
5:00 Zone 4 standing
3:00 Zone 1 standing
5:00 Zone 4 seated
3:00 Zone 1 seated
5:00 Zone 4 standing
3:00 Zone 1 standing
2:00 Zone 2, build to zone 3 seated
2:00 Zone 2, build to zone 3 standing
3:00 Cool down
4:00 Stretch

Happy Turtle

Living in the moment. That was what I wanted to do this year. Well, I'm doing it. I took this job as a cook at an outdoor expedition camp for boys with ADHD and other learning disabilities without even looking into it. The people that run the camp are really helping me live in the moment as well by not giving me any direction or instruction.

Day 1: I showed up later than the other staff members due to snow on the way from Jackson to Dubois and the fact that I had no idea how to get to camp. The people in charge had not given me directions, an address... anything. And there is absolutely no cell phone reception in Dubois. I drove into town with my family and was greeted by big buck horns, a drive-thru alcohol shop (they have drive-thru alcohol instead of drive-thru espresso, no joke) and big trucks lining the streets. It wasn't snowing yet, but the chillness of the air and the look of the clouds suggested a storm was on its way.

I found an address online and plugged it into Fiona, my GPS with the Scottish accent. After saying a quick goodbye to the family, I hopped in the car and Sweet Baby Sam, Fiona and I made our way to camp.

Jeremy greeted me on his 4-wheeler when I pulled up. He took me straight into the meeting where I met all of the course directors, including Ben's sister Sophie. I had debated making a new identity for myself when I got to camp; no one here knows me here so I could be anyone I wanted to be. Thoughts of an accent, dying my hair a random color, changing my name... those all crossed through my mind, but I decided I really like who I am and I wasn't going to let these people believe I was someone I wasn't.

We split into groups of four to come up with meal plans. I was in the breakfast group with Sophie, Nicole and Cooke. Immediately, I felt totally welcomed into the group. Cooke spent a lot of time working in Bend, Oregon, so we had a lot to talk about. Sophie, Nicole and I all know Ben, so mostly we exchanged stories about the kid (sorry, Benny Ben Ben!). Sophie is a nut. I absolutely adore her. She is just such a kook and has the most genuinely caring personality. She made me feel really welcomed and wanted, which is a big deal since I'm so shy. Her smile is contagious and I am so grateful that she is here.

When we finished making meal plans for the first week of camp, I was expected to make dinner right away. Sophie and Nicole hopped in my Subaru and we drove up up up the hill to the kitchen, aka my new home. The place was tiny, with a big oven and scattered food products. The girls helped me make the spaghetti and sauce, garlic bread and salad, though I think I failed on the meat sauce. You're supposed to drain the grease? Oops. So  much for meal #1. But everyone seemed to enjoy it.

I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do clean-up-wise, serving-wise, sleeping-wise. Not knowing if I was doing anything correctly, I stood around for a little while pretending to look busy. Afterwards, I went to my car and just sat there, not really sure what to do since it was dark outside and I was not given a designated sleeping area. My luggage was still in the back of my car. I had no idea where I was supposed to lay my head that night, a teepee, a cowboy tent, a cabin? Finally, I made my way to the group sitting outside around the campfire. After talking to Erica and Margo for a little while, Sophie invited me to sleep with her, Nicole and Anne. I grabbed one bag out of my car and went to set up camp. Dad had bought me a 15-40 degree sleeping bag and I brought a comforter, but Sophie suggested I use her extra 20 degree bag as well. So I bundled up and got into my bags. It was not warm at all. My whole body was frozen and I could not get comfortable. It was worse than being at Wildflower that night. Sophie asked if I was warm and I told her it was definitely cold, but I would be fine. She and Nicole scolded me, saying I should not be cold and if I was cold now, it was only going to get colder. They helped bundle me up, just like camp mothers. I slept from 12:30AM-2AM before waking up to a need to pee. There was no way I was going to walk in the dark to the restroom with all the bear sightings they've had at camp this year, so I fought the sensation and tried to sleep.

That morning, I went into the kitchen to cook breakfast. It was another day of learning. Johan and Margo helped me out, but I still felt totally worthless. This is all so new for me. I was starting to wonder why God had allowed me to come to Wyoming. Why was I stubbornly trying to prove Ben wrong and prove to him that I could do something adventurous? That was the real reason I chose to come here; how ridiculous am I?

We eat outdoors, so I quickly chowed down on the food then went inside to make sack lunches. From there, I was given a group of course directors to go to Walmart with, or Wally-world as they all call it. Sophie, Caroline, Margot, Tim and I piled into the car and made the hour-and-a-half-long drive to Riverton. I was excited to see Riverton; I thought it would be like Jackson with a lot of outdoorsy people and cool shops, but it was not what I expected at all. Since I am scared to run at camp due to all the bears and mountain lions, I thought I could run when I do my food buys in Riverton over the summer; unfortunately, it is nowhere near safe enough to be alone in that town. When I do my food buys, I will be running from my car into Walmart and sprinting back out. I probably won't even stop in town to get gas.

Riverton. We drove into the desolate town around 1PM and drove straight to the park to eat lunch. Sophie stayed with the food while the rest of us walked over to the restrooms. As we walked up, Tim knocked on the door and 6 people came out of the restroom, drunk and wreaking of pot. One woman told him she just cleaned the seat for him. We looked at them funny and they sat down on a bench outside of the bathroom, waiting for us to finish so they could resume their business. I ignored them, but Margo spoke with them when they started conversation. They wanted to touch us and hug us and be near us. I got out of there as soon as I could, but Tim stayed with Margo until she was finished. When we sat down to eat, a Native American man with his pants half down walked over to our table. He mumbled and slurred his speech so we didn't know what he was asking, but we were all wearing really nice gear and had lots of food out. Tim assumed he was asking for food, so he told the man we were going to eat first and we would see what was leftover. The man kept trying to converse, but finally gave up and walked away.

Tim said he didn't think we were safe, so we ate quickly, packed up the car and drove to the store. Five grocery carts. Over $700 in food for 13 people for one week. That's how much we spent. How am I going to push 5 carts around Walmart by myself? It was definitely a learning experience. There are some weird people at Walmart. Honestly, I don't think Wyoming is where I am going to find my future husband. Haha.

Tim needed new tires, so we strapped some new tires on the roof and made our way back to Dubois, only to be slowed down by a large snowfall. We decided to play games while we crept our way back to camp. I'm going to camp and I'm bringing caused a lot of laughs. It's a game where you alphabetically have to recite everything you are bringing camping. My squeak came out from hiding and gave everyone a shock. Caroline almost swerved off the road. We  made it though. Right in time for me to make dinner. I made a chicken pot pie that took three hours to bake. I started the oven at 6 and dinner wasn't ready until 9. I felt bad for the staff, but they were very patient with me and everyone was super helpful in the kitchen.

After dinner, Sophie and I decided to prep for breakfast, so we chopped up onions, mushrooms and bell peppers while goofing off. Somehow we ended up shoving each other around. I was trying to block her from getting to the trash can and it worked. "Dang it," she cried! "Cyclist's legs, cyclist's legs, cyclist's legs!" All she could do the rest of the night was talk about how strong my thighs are and how I'm going to be the champion of leg wrestling. Tim just shook his head at us. Later, he heard me sneeze. "Gosh," he exclaimed. "Everything about you is like a little mouse! You're squeaking, your tiny sneeze, it's insane!"

Snow layered the ground as Sophie and I tried to make our way back to our campground in the dark, only the light of the snow lighting out pathway. I crawled into bed and texted for a little while, despite the fact that I'm using extended service. It took me over three hours to finally fall asleep, probably because it was even colder than the previous night and the girls were chatting. Plus, I just wasn't tired.

5AM today: Woke up and showered. I got on breakfast immediately and it was the first time I felt confident in the kitchen. Johan came into help, but I already had everything covered, so he brewed coffee for me and we got to know each other a little. An hour later, Cooke came in to help with the food. He was disappointed to see I had everything under control because he had woken up early to surprise me and help out. Instead, he poured himself a cup of coffee, we made a toast to the day and clanked mugs then talked about Oregon, gardening, the outdoors and everything in between as we sipped on the gook in our cups.

Breakfast was on time and I was proud of that. I didn't eat any of it so I don't know if it was good. To be honest, yesterday was full of really unhealthy food and I can't eat that way every day, so I ate a zucchini muffin that Anne had made last week and a banana with peanut butter. After cleaning, I got my laptop together and walked down the hill by myself. I was terrified that I would see one of the bears that hangs out at our camp, but it was snowing so hard, I couldn't see anything. To keep the bears away, I sang to myself to let them know I was there, Richard's gift of bear spray in hand, just in case.

Here I am in the classroom at the bottom of the hill, looking out at the blanket of thick snow plummeting down from the heavens. This is going to be a long summer. This is going to be a huge challenge. So far I love the people, but when I have 60  plus people that I'm cooking for? Alone? Oh eff. I miss home. One thing I've learned from this trip though is how much I appreciate my jobs back at home. I'm excited to return and get back to work. I'm also very excited to get home and be active again since I cannot do that here easily.

So there is my update. No pictures due to the fact I forgot my cord at the top of the hill. Hopefully I can post some fun training things soon. I'll put up a workout now for those of you who I promised I would do so.

CYCLE 60:

5:00 Warm-up
6:00 Zone 2, 90 CAD, alternating 1:00 each leg
5:00 Start Zone 3, build to Zone 4 by the end
6:00 Alternating 1:00 sitting Zone 1, standing Zone 4 (x3)
2:00 Zone 1
5:00 Start Zone 3, build to Zone 4 by the end
6:00 Alternating 1:00 sitting Zone 1, standing Zone 4 (x3)
2:00 Zone 1
2:00 Alternating :10 Zone 5, :10 Zone 1
2:00 Alternating :20 Zone 4, :20 Zone 1
2:00 Alternating :30 Zone 3, :30 Zone 1
2:00 Zone 1
5:00 Zone 2
2:00 Zone 3
2:00 Alternating :10 Zone 5, :10 Zone 1
3:00 Zone 1 Cool-down
3:00 Stretch

CORE (1:00 each x3)

Deadbugs
Lion Kings
Balance Push-ups
Burpees
Hop knees to elbows in plank
Brazilian Butt Lifts on Steroids
Side Plank right
Side Plank left

Did You Get Tickets to the Gun Show?

"If the zombie Apocalypse was happening and you could only choose one weapon, what would you choose?" This is the question Benji asked me about a month ago at our church retreat.

"Uhhh... uhm... a car to get away? What did Will Smith use in I Am Legend again? I don't think I'm good at hands-on combat," I stuttered, hoping something clever would escape my lips, but the only real noises that came out were the words of someone who really knows nothing about zombies.

The following week, I asked Laura the same question. Before the words even left my mouth, she was answering with confidence. "Okay, so here's the deal: I would have a bat with a sharp blade at the end. This is where my hide out spot would be..." her idea continued for a good three minutes before I just shook my head and looked at the other three people with us.

"Where does she come up with this," I asked her husband, Cody. But seriously, where does one come up with these things? If the zombie Apocalypse were to happen tomorrow, on my very first day of camp, how would I defend myself?

I've been reading the Hunger Games series and just finished watching The Avengers, so I was given a few ideas on new weapons. Katniss, Gale and Hawk Eye all use a bow and arrows. Now, that's pretty rad. I mean, think about Lord of the Rings (aw man, did I just take myself to a whole new level of dork? Hey, it's okay. I'm not the LOTR fanatic, but my sister is. My little sister with her cloak of invisibility and her Gollum impersonations. So I know a little bit about Tolkien's imaginative story): The elves have their bows and arrows and they are the pretty ones in the film. It's not really hurting my case, is it? So, shooting a bow and arrow... that would be a pretty cool skill to have. In fact, my sister knows how to shoot a bow and arrow and she's freaking gorgeous, so maybe it is true that if you shoot a bow and arrow, you will be made more beautiful. Weapons can make a person beautiful? Maybe it's the finesse and grace these hunters have. Maybe it's the deadly curve of the bow. Maybe it's that maneuver Hawk Eye made as he threw his body passionately off the edge of the building, pulling the string of his black bow back and hitting his target with marvelous precision.

But then there's The Black Widow. Tight body, black leather suit, tiny gun to match her tiny stature. I watched her on the screen, facing off the aliens with only a gun the size of the palm of her hand. She loaded it as she looked at the oncoming mob of extra terrestrials. Girl, you're so not going to do any damage with that baby. I don't know if she shot too many beasts, but she did have something else going for her... Dang! That girl is flexible! Flexibility! That could be a weapon. Hmmm... I know how to shoot a gun, I am a Pilates instructor... okay, I'll keep working on those skills.

What other assassin can I learn something from? Well, let's go back to Hunger Games. Katniss was swift. She was quick like a bunny. Bunny. That was my nickname in high school and college. Well, mostly because my friends claimed I ate like a rabbit, but also because I prance when I run. So... swiftness. Run like Katniss, stretch like a spider, get guns like the Terminator. Oh, you've seen my Terminator picture, don't deny it!

Why am I talking about weapons? Well, I need to find my weapon, or my edge, if you will. I'm not an elite marathon runner like Drea. I'm not an eye-catching triathlete like Josh. I'm not a powerhouse like Austin. So what do I have? My insanity. Who uses insanity as a weapon? Only the bad guys come to mind: Heath Ledger's Joker in Dark Knight, President Snow of the Hunger Games, Hannible Lecter of Silence of the Lambs... I think I proved my point.

Wait, can we count Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean as a good guy? He helps the good guys, at least! Oh, it's on. I will add the insanity of Jack Sparrow to my list of things to improve.

I had my first workout in 7000 foot elevation today. Mom and I did a hike up the ski hill. It was beautiful, but the elevation definitely was present. How will I use this to my advantage? I will train in it all summer and come back for the Santa Barbara Triathlon in peak shape. Women ages 24-29, you had better watch your back. Here I come! Now all I need to do is come up with a great super hero name....

Sweet Baby Sam

Only God knows how many hours I spent in that little Subaru over the past few days. I guess I could add up the numbers if I really wanted to, but to be honest, I have no desire to relive the hours of my body sitting and sitting and sitting. A year ago, I couldn't understand how people complained that getting older made it more difficult to sit for long periods of time. Growing up, my parents took Kaylee and me on all types of trips in all sorts of transportation devices: planes, trains, automobiles... you name it. We never had any problems, except for maybe needing to use the restroom every hour on the hour. As my body has aged though, I begin to understand what they were talking about.

Shut up, Ashlee. Some of you are thinking. You're twenty-four-years-of-age, not ninety-four. Oh golly, I am twenty-four, but my butt could feel the numbness as it tingled it's way over the surface of my quite large derriere. Maybe that's from the rapid weight gain I've noticed since Wildflower? But still. Tingle, tingle, numb. My feet were swollen inside my running shoes, threatening to rip the seems holding them together. I felt like a fat old lady who carries a cushion with her to the bus station. I don't know if fat old ladies actually do this, but it makes sense to me.

Well, Sweet Baby Sam... ohpe! We now interrupt our regular programming for a special back story! Get excited!

My car's name is Sweet Baby Sam. My first car, a red cabriolet VW convertible with a Rabbit engine, was named Gidget. Then there was the Trooper. Oh, I can't remember his name. And the second trooper, the white one. What was his name? Shoot! I can't believe I'm forgetting these! Next was Moondoggie, the Mitsubishi Montero. That car was hard to say goodbye to when I left for school. He was soon replaced by the Jeep Cherokee, whose name is also slipping from the grasps of my tiny memory at the moment. We finish with Sweet Baby Sam though. I was given a choice: Moondoggie or my sister's Subaru. It was rough. I mean, I LOVED Moondoggie. So many good memories in that car: Road trips to Portland, driving through Bend with Holly and Heather, windows down blasting N*SYNC, off-roading with Michael, sharing our deepest fears and hopes. To let that go for this new car? How could I? But the threat of $4 per gallon of gas talked me into it.  

What? Four dollars? That's nothing! Well, it was something then. And in the Midwest, it's still too much money to be spending on a gallon of gasoline.

Now to name the new beauty. Jenna was living with me for the summer; she, Rebecca and I were working at the golf course, selling beer to drunk old geezers on the course. One day, after working a long shift at the pool snack shop, J and I were walking past the park back to my car. "Come here, Sweet Baby Sam," the mother's voice called out to her two-year-old son. And there it was. Sweet Baby Sam. "You should name him Sam," Jenna cried, elated. "No, I should name him Sweet Baby Sam." Nothing rings off the tongue better than a good ol' name like Sweet Baby Sam.

Back to the current story: Sweet Baby Sam has had his share of good and bad days. He's seen the inside of one too many mechanic shops. But, by george, he's a survivor. Past oceans he drove my mother and me. Through desert and mountain tops he stayed steady. He raced past Las Vegas, like only a boy with a name like Sweet Baby Sam would. Through St George, Utah, where the Ironman Triathlon had just concluded, and into Mormon country he lead. Into the nation's largest dinosaur museum and across the border of Wyoming, where signs met us, warning us to beware of the bears.  Good thing Richard gave me that can of bear spray. Oh, Richard, always looking out for me. I will miss him.

Speaking of Ironman, I went to Red Rock Bicycle Shop in St George and spoke with some of the men who competed. Dude, I didn't realize how gnarly the course is. It's a gorgeous course, but the winds were so strong this year, that 800 people less than usual actually finished this year. The waves in the lake were 3-4 foot high and the winds on the bike had people giving up early. Did you know this is the last year they are doing a full Ironman there? Supposedly, participation has dropped to a record low, so they are taking it down to a half-Ironman. With the heat though, I think that may be a good move.

 
Let's get back to my original story:

So here I am, in Wyoming. Grand old Wyoming. It's definitely beautiful here. The men are definitely gentlemen here. Why did they guy just run across the parking lot to open the door for my mom? Is he panting? Did he really need to dart across to get the door? That was strange. I'm not good at being a lady. I'm not good at letting a man be a gentleman. This will be a challenge.

Kaylee and Dad met us for dinner. Kaylee ordered the buffalo. She rambled on about how cute and cuddly buffalo are when the realization finally hit her. "He would be alive if it wasn't for me," the skin around her eyes became red and moist. I'm not joking all y'all. Real drops of liquid filled her tear ducts. "Kaylee," we reassured her. "He was dead before you ordered him." "I could have saved his life. He could still be alive, prancing in the fields," she mourned the loss of her new friend. "Uhhhhm, no, Kaylee... that's just not how things happen here. Welcome to Wyoming."