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I had a blast in Colorado. Climbing and playing all weekend was pretty much awesome (although I recently attributed the challenges on climbing at the canyon in part to the change in altitude + the lack of sleep/hydration/food). In any case, the week led to more awesomeness. The hotel was quite fun, the group of people I was with was brilliant (and I'm so saturated on United Way) and all of the extra curricular fun that went on outside of work was great. I visited the REI Flagship store twice and it was just fantastic...the building is gorgeous, the inventory was ridiculous, the location was perfect. I also visited the Patagonia store - I could completely outfit myself at Patagonia.

I spent the entire week mostly indoors so I took advantage of free time as much as possible. I walked almost every day to offset the insane eating we did all week. I noticed a serious sluggishness to myself when I put myself in a situation that's very different from my normal weeks.

For the social side of things: Monday I walked to REI with a friend and then we had overpriced drinks at the hotel bar. Tuesday we went to trivia night at a local bar, and Wednesday we went to dinner with all the early childhood team and then karaoke! I had so much fun. Karaoke was just plain silly and it was embarrassing to realize that other people were actually singing because they were talented - I, of course, am not a talented singer.

Tomorrow, I'm heading to the gym after work to try to work through some of this serious climbing craving I am having (a combination between being in CO, not climbing all week and getting Rock & Ice in the mail). I wanted to go camping this weekend and finally use my new tent, but it seems like everyone has too much other shit going on. I briefly considered going alone, since the weather is supposed to be good and I am still dying for sun light, but I don't know if I'm up for something like that. I've never camped alone...is there a reason not to? I dunno.

Sunday we'll hopefully get outside, maybe to Seneca if we have enough leaders amongst us, or to Great Falls.

I may go for a short run on Monday. My knees have been bothering me all week, for no apparent reason.

Being out in Colorado confirmed that skiing is too much a part of what makes me happy to not be doing it all the time. I would have hopes to be living out there in two years. I love DC alot and the notion of leaving sort of bums me out, but maybe in two years? I would be skiing, climbing and riding...I am already fantasizing about working at one of the mountains and being a hippie. Denver and Boulder hippie-dom so very appealed to me. We'll see.