And I do not mean the missile name. For some reason when that missile was launched and I started reading MOAB everywhere, I had no idea what was going on. I admit that I really try to avoid much of the news because it irritates me so much. But to me, Moab is my happy place. The place I love and feel so at home in. And to hear the name used so...callously? and with the destruction of a place, well, I was not thrilled. Then I discovered that the recent use of MOAB is an acronym.
And here you go, MOAB:
I understand now. And am no longer bothered by the use of MOAB except by people that do not know the difference between a bomb and a geographic location. *sigh*
I wrote up my trip report from the Green River, Labyrinth Canyon section. I posted it on Expedition Portal, just like my last trip. Here it is: http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/172357-Kayak-Trip-through-Labyrinth-Canyon-Green-River
I took a photo of a placard at Mineral Bottom that maps the Green River in the area, so I thought this may help:
We created a Facebook album that all of us can post pics in. That is located here: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.parson.186/media_set?set=a.10103909863065041.17002521&type=3 but in order for me to share/post many pics on my report write up, I uploaded my fav pics on photobucket:
It is always hard to come home from such a wonderful trip. Coming back to the drole of every day life. This is also a reason I try not to lead a dull and boring life. I get out and go do things. I see what some people post on FB and consider it fun and I am so glad I do not have those standards or lead that life. It may work for that person. But it does not work for me. I crave adventure. It is an integral part of me. To sit at home and do what? Surf the internet? Use my phone? Stay inside? Nope. Not for me. I can have a lazy day every now and then. And in fact, I should, considering how my permanently injured leg is currently throbbing and my strained pectoral muscle is crying in a dull ache. But nope. That's what work days are for- to be dull and typical and stay in for the most part. My days off are for me. And I cherish them greatly.
Edit 06/20/17
It apparently takes me about a month now to write a blog entry. On my days off I try hard to not be home and be out somewhere adventuring. I have really amped up this mindset after my heart-crushing hateful useless realisation of work. Being out in nature recharges me. It helps me cope with the depression and hate at work.
This past weekend was my Ride to Defeat ALS in the Silver Valley area of Idaho. The ride started in Kingston, ID and followed the rails to trails paved Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes westward. I rode 45mi. It was an out and back. I turned around at Medimont. I rode my Haro DoublePeak Trail 29er mountain bike. Which meant the skinny tire people definitely had an edge on me. There were three different distances: 27, 45, 63mi. People could turn around whenever they wanted. I was dubious to ride that far on my bike, having not truly practiced anywhere near that length. But I did it! I persevered!
Mom flew in to Spokane a few days prior and we stayed at an Air BnB in Coeur d'Alene.
I was glad to see a new part of Idaho and explore it with Mom. I took it easy on her and kept it to simple hikes. We did more scenic sorts of things than exertion types of things. We hiked Tubbs Hills on Lake Coeur d'Alene and ate at Seasons restaurant for lunch in Coeur d'Alene the first day. We ate home made nachos most nights and watched history/educational videos on my ipad on youtube. We took the Coeur d'Alene scenic byway (Hwy97) to Harrison, ID and then took Hwy 3 back up to I90 and back to Coeur d'Alene. It rained the whole time, so the mountains were mist covered. What a windy road!! Quite a few areas appeared to have been washed our earlier and had been repaired or were in the process of being repaired. We saw a moose in a marshy area on Hwy 3 in one of the coves of the Lake.
We drove to the Canadian border and explored Bonner's Ferry and drove across Moyie River Canyon bridge and along the unmaintained Moyie River Rd to Copper Falls.
We stopped at the NFS Ranger station before setting off for Copper Falls to check on road conditions. My convo with the rangers went something like this:
I followed the route outlined in the Backcountry Roads Idaho book I bought years ago. WE followed the Moyie River the whole time. At one point, we pulled into a picnic day area and there were wonderful rock and fish sculptures near the river. Beautiful and fascinating.
On the Copper Creek Rd, we met with this sign. I could not resist taking a photo.
Before returning to Couer d'Alene, Mom and I drove to the customs check point on US95 so that she could see it. My passport expired long ago, so we could not cross. About 200ys past the entry point, we had to stop and take pics of the welcome sign.
Mom and I were asked to speak at the opening ceremony for the Ride on Saturday. Mom spoke beautifully and multiple people came up to me after I finished the race to tell me how much they appreciated Mom's speech. I got to cut the ribbon to start the race and we were off!
After the race I took mom to historic Wallace, ID where the Gyro carnival was in town. We also stopped a the Old Historic Mission State Park in Cataldo, ID on the way back. My allergies were the worst they have ever been, so I was miserable and tired of nearly tinkling myself when I had sneezing fits, having itchy tired eyes and sniffling constantly. I felt terrible and even worse for mom since she put up with my misery wonderfully. We went back to the BnB and I took allergy meds and crashed.
The next day I dropped Mom at the airport and I drove back to Boise. It was Father's Day. I wrote this on my FB page when I got home:
"Wishing every father I know, a happy Father's Day.
Edit 06/20/17
It apparently takes me about a month now to write a blog entry. On my days off I try hard to not be home and be out somewhere adventuring. I have really amped up this mindset after my heart-crushing hateful useless realisation of work. Being out in nature recharges me. It helps me cope with the depression and hate at work.
This past weekend was my Ride to Defeat ALS in the Silver Valley area of Idaho. The ride started in Kingston, ID and followed the rails to trails paved Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes westward. I rode 45mi. It was an out and back. I turned around at Medimont. I rode my Haro DoublePeak Trail 29er mountain bike. Which meant the skinny tire people definitely had an edge on me. There were three different distances: 27, 45, 63mi. People could turn around whenever they wanted. I was dubious to ride that far on my bike, having not truly practiced anywhere near that length. But I did it! I persevered!
I was glad to see a new part of Idaho and explore it with Mom. I took it easy on her and kept it to simple hikes. We did more scenic sorts of things than exertion types of things. We hiked Tubbs Hills on Lake Coeur d'Alene and ate at Seasons restaurant for lunch in Coeur d'Alene the first day. We ate home made nachos most nights and watched history/educational videos on my ipad on youtube. We took the Coeur d'Alene scenic byway (Hwy97) to Harrison, ID and then took Hwy 3 back up to I90 and back to Coeur d'Alene. It rained the whole time, so the mountains were mist covered. What a windy road!! Quite a few areas appeared to have been washed our earlier and had been repaired or were in the process of being repaired. We saw a moose in a marshy area on Hwy 3 in one of the coves of the Lake.
We drove to the Canadian border and explored Bonner's Ferry and drove across Moyie River Canyon bridge and along the unmaintained Moyie River Rd to Copper Falls.
We stopped at the NFS Ranger station before setting off for Copper Falls to check on road conditions. My convo with the rangers went something like this:
Best lines today from NFS Rangers:
"Well....the road is pretty bad. Treacherous."
*looks out front door*
"Oh. You have a Jeep. You'll be fine!"
I followed the route outlined in the Backcountry Roads Idaho book I bought years ago. WE followed the Moyie River the whole time. At one point, we pulled into a picnic day area and there were wonderful rock and fish sculptures near the river. Beautiful and fascinating.
Before returning to Couer d'Alene, Mom and I drove to the customs check point on US95 so that she could see it. My passport expired long ago, so we could not cross. About 200ys past the entry point, we had to stop and take pics of the welcome sign.
Mom and I were asked to speak at the opening ceremony for the Ride on Saturday. Mom spoke beautifully and multiple people came up to me after I finished the race to tell me how much they appreciated Mom's speech. I got to cut the ribbon to start the race and we were off!
After the race I took mom to historic Wallace, ID where the Gyro carnival was in town. We also stopped a the Old Historic Mission State Park in Cataldo, ID on the way back. My allergies were the worst they have ever been, so I was miserable and tired of nearly tinkling myself when I had sneezing fits, having itchy tired eyes and sniffling constantly. I felt terrible and even worse for mom since she put up with my misery wonderfully. We went back to the BnB and I took allergy meds and crashed.
The next day I dropped Mom at the airport and I drove back to Boise. It was Father's Day. I wrote this on my FB page when I got home:
"Wishing every father I know, a happy Father's Day.
I admit envy to those that can speak to their fathers. To hug them. To see them. What I would not give to just hear my father's voice again. Get another (annoying, haha) phone call from him. Have him ask me how my day was. Just a year ago, those things happened. I was hoping my ALS bike ride would somehow magically make the pain less. But it has not. I miss my father just as much today as I did yesterday.
So even though my athletic feats for ALS do not lessen the pain, I will continue participating in them. Even though they will not make him come back, I can at least strive to feel closer to him. And through hard work, blood, sweat and tears, that is how I cope with my pain.
Wish your father's a merry day. Talk to your father figure. And feel blessed to have one in your life."
I created a Facebook fundraising page to help me reach out to a bigger audience to explain to them about my goals with addressing ALS and memorializing my father. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/990572258523/
Through a combo of daily Facebook updates and posting my event link, I managed to raise over $1,200 for the Silver Valley Ride. I clarified with the Evergreen Chapter ALS Association contact that my funds will be contributed under my father's Community of Hope page to help us achieve our main goal of $17,000 raised. So far, we only have about $6,000 total. I have faith. We will persevere. I have until 09/29/17 to continue raising funds for the Silver Valley Ride. I plan to continue reaching my $3,000 goal for endurance athletic ALS Association events. I am almost half way to my goal!
Currently I am creating a binder/packet to bring to businesses to explain to them what my goal is and how they can help me achieve it and by default, help others who have ALSO try to find more adequate treatment AND diagnosis, help support patients when ALS takes over their body and support family of those afflicted with ALS. I want to help people so that they do not suffer as terribly as my family did. I found a few links of interest regarding businesses and soliciting for donations and ALS:
- http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/marketing/2014/08/5-lessons-from-the-als-ice-bucket-challenge.html?page=all
- List of well known people with ALS --> some of which you all may have heard of: Lou Gehrig, Stephen Hawking (longest known person to have had it, 50+yrs), Steve Gleason, Jon Stone (creator of Sesame Street), and Mao Zedong
- http://www.griswoldhomecare.com/blog/famous-people-living-with-als-3-inspiring-stories/
- How Dutch Bros Coffee is involved
I recently joined the local Search and Rescue group here in town. They have weekly meetings and trainings. So far I have only been in it a month. But I find what I have learned to be utterly fascinating. I have become a certified Landing Zone Officer to help land helicopters. That's pretty cool! I am so excited to learn things with this group. And have new experiences. And share the knowledge I have with others, i.e. teach (since that is one of my true and favorite passions in life). I have the SAR Academy next week. EEeeeee! So exciting!!
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