Christmas in Hudson

Well, this has been several weeks, but I thought I would add this anyways. I have added the few photos that I took when I was back in Ohio for Christmas to http://flickr.com/photos/brett_burch/tags/christmas for all to enjoy.

Aside from 5 days being way too short and it being terrific to see friends and family again, one thing of note I wanted to write down was my flight back to Cincinnati, which ultimately let Tacoma and I back to Boulder. It was a surprisingly clear day for Cleveland (especially Cleveland in December), and I had a window seat. I don't know what is was that caused this, but I seriously felt like I had a first class view through the foggy ruins of my past. Maybe I was already missing the friends and family I had just visited, or maybe just my usual sentimental and nostalgic self. Regardless, first off, as we took off I could see downtown Cleveland, including Jacob's Field (I refuse to call it Progressive Field... that's ridiculous) and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It was a green and snow-less view through the Cuyahoga Valley except the Boston Mills & Brandywine ski resorts, which actually looked open despite what could only be miserable conditions. The plane followed I-71 south, and it was fun to see the farms and rolling central Ohio hills from above. I always enjoyed this drive to and from Miami, and it was just as fun this time. Speaking of Miami, as we approached, Cincinnati, I began to recognize that we were following directly above 128 and 275. I can only guess that we flew over Dayton and headed directly south, but familiar sights such as Mount Rumpke and King's Island came into view exactly as my mind expected. As we landed and then took off again from CVG, the smokestacks on the Ohio River were memorable. The Florence Y'all water tower was also there for the viewing as we followed 71/75 to its split. Ironically, just after the 71/75 split, they sky clouded up right where my memory of the area would have been cloudy or blank. I continued to think about the past for at least 2 hours on the plane to Denver, and wondered if for me the grass always seems greener looking at the place I just came from... maybe I just have selective amnesia. As we approached DIA I got giddy to be back in Colorado, and know it's just a matter of time before I feel that way about here. It's true that it doesn't feel quite like home yet (still making friends, getting used to new surroundings, and getting adjusted with work, finding a dentist, etc) but I can't wait until it fully does. I think my nostalgia has something to do with how fondly I recall time spent with family and feeling home as far back as I can remember anything. When I don't feel like I'm home I miss it quite a bit. I've also realized that home is really a mix of location and people ("home is where the heart is" is just too goofy so I refuse to use that). I never really understood why people think highly of certain places but feel like I could do the same in just about anywhere (notice I didn't say everywhere) with the right people. I'm not suggesting in the least that I want to leave Boulder, but I guess the familiarity of place can help make it feel like much more than it seems to an outsider.

And speaking of looking back over my shoulder... 2007 is a wrap! I think its good to look back (in case you hadn't noticed from the past 5 minutes of reading), as long as it's not too often, so I'll do that now in order to assess and digest the events of 2007. If there's one thing 2007 showed me, it's that you really cannot predict the future, but nevertheless, I have some thoughts and some goals that I want to be able to look back on in 2008 and assess my progress towards.

1. God is good, and answers prayers... maybe when you least expect them too. I probably would never have believed you if you told me 12 months ago that I'd be living in Boulder, a teenage dream of mine. Speaking of, though, I need to dig into the Old Testament more this year since I've never read it in its entirety.
   
2. I've attended the info session about the CU MBA program, and am still unsure of where that stands. I'll keep you posted. I guess the next step would be the GMAT.
   
3. I can't believe the opportunities I've been given to ride my bike, climb/hike mountains, ski, snowshoe, bouldering, whitewater raft, hike, fish, etc. and want the hits to keep coming in this department. I think the Basic Snow class I'm taking in May will help me get comfortable enough to take on Skywalker Couloir in June '09. Here I come, snow climbing :) The class will be a reason for buying an ice axe but more importantly a stepping stone towards Mt. Rainier (2009?) and eventually Denali (before I'm 30)!!* I also want to continue to progress as a skier since I have become quite the downhill junkie, be it on two wheels or two skis. Hopefully I'll get some outdoor climbing in this summer and wake my climbing harness from hibernation. As far as 14ers go, here is a tentative list of 14ers I hope to summit.
1. Elbert (snow)
2. Massive &
   
3. Holy Cross (3 day weekend?)
4. Evans
5. Snowmass (probably long weekend)
6. LaPlata sw ridge &
   
7. Missouri (3 day weekend?)

I'll need a few more to get to 15 total from 6 at present, but I don't really care which :)

4. I am going to be the Best Man in my brother's wedding. That will surely be a wonderful time, and I'm looking forward to May. He'll be graduating college and getting married in the same month, so it'll be quite the year for him too.
5. Continuing to make a grow friendships to help Boulder feel like home will be very important this year.
   

So little time, so much to do... time to be looking forward I guess. Welcome 2008; be good to me.

* other multi-year goals:

1. summiting Grand Teton
2. more than a weekend in the Moab area, including riding hut to hut from Telluride
3. Hiking the John Muir Trail all the way from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney (meanwhile getting another state highpoint and the lower 48 highpoint) in one outing