Getting back on the horse

Good morning, afternoon, or evening,

I am sitting here writing this blog in the basement of our house in Fort Collins; 12 hours from starting my Colorado State college Carrier. Since that will prove to be the start to another one of lifes chapters I thought I owed it to my faithful blog readers (thanks mom) to close my last life chapter.

I said good bye to Berlin on the 29Th of April with surprisingly mixed emotions. I had grown used to my simple life in Berlin, made great friends, grown closer to my wife, realized just how much I love my Colorado life, and learned why Berlin is the most historically important city in the last 100 years.

2:25PM on the 29th of April I landed in New York City with a burning need to get out of the city. I jumped in a rental and high tailed it down to my Dads house in PA.

I spent the next couple days doing yard work, looking for a car for Erin, and enjoying being around my family.

My good friend Doug, from Idaho came out to the east coast so that he could join my friend Kurt and I on a tour of the classic East coast rivers. The stars aligned, the heavens rained, and I got to get back in a kayak after a 9 month sabbatical from the sport. For 5 straight days you could not have wiped a smile off my face. We ran 7 stretches of river in 6 days ranging from easy to pretty darn hard. Most if not all of this great trip was possible by this man here. He's a good guy just don't break into his house. I really owe him one for making this trip so great.

The kayaking trip had two major highlights. My friend Doug ran his first waterfall; a nice 20 footer nestled in the woods of West Virgina. The second had to be when we ran Red Creek; a stout run that rips its way threw the Dolly Sods wilderness also in W.V. Red Creek was a test of our groups ability because of its hike in with a kayak, snow on the ground, and difficult grade. It felt so good to paddle intelligently at my limit, run water falls, get a little scared, work hard, be tired, and paddle the river safely.

Upon arriving back in Colorado I kept busy with 10 months of life that has happened since I have been gone; mail, new kids(many of our friends had kids while we where gone), old friends, bills, cars, all helped to pass the time quickly.

Then today May 18th 2008 I went skiing for the first time this year; and the absolute best part was that I did not end up in the hospital (see old blog about my ski trip over Thanksgiving).

Rio took me to A-Basin so I can get back on the proverbial horse that bucked me off many months ago. The first few turns were a little tentative, but a few runs into the day I found a rock to go flying off of. I was back; and it feels great!!

I miss my wife immensely, but trust that the time will fly by with school, work, and visiting my friends in the mountains. It also helps that we are able to talk regularly because of SKYPE, and knowing that this weekend she gets to go to Italy.

I hope you are all doing well and please put my new phone number in your phone

970-691-3322.

Gotta go get ready for school now
Patrick