Backpacking and Climate Changes

Last weekend I went backpacking and I had a blast. Bad news was that we got a late start to the trail head. I went with the girl that works in the office next to me and both of us finished work and got out of Minneapolis at 4:30 pm. We got to the trail head at 11 pm (we could not find it in all of the fog). While we were driving we were contemplating what we were going to do...we decided to just go for it. We hiked in and found our site at 1 am. We had a lot of fun setting up camp in the dark. We slept until 9:30 am and then we hiked out taking a different route. We sat with our legs in the river until were were poured on my the rain. It was like taking a shower with your clothes on. It was a great weekend.

My ward here does a lot of missionary work. Since I moved into the ward we have had 5 baptisms. The last one on Sunday. They have them right before church and I went this week it was very good.

I has started to get muggy here and I have no air conditioning. I wake up from sleeping feeling like I am covered in sweat. I am learning to appreciate the dry dessert weather. I did purchase a fan yesterday which improved last nights sleep.

Another Busy Week

It started last week with going to Missouri with the Uptown YSA Ward. We left on Thursday at 7 pm to Missouri. The bus was full and it was a lot of fun to ride with everyone. We drove until about 2:30 am and got to Kansas City, MO. We stayed in a Sheraton Hotel. I was told that each room cost about $50 and we had 3-4 people per room. I had two roommates and we had a good time.

Over the next couple of days we went to Liberty Jail, Independence, Farr West, Adam-ondi-Ahman, the Fish River (Zion's Camp), and a multi-stake activity in Kansas City. We had a great time and I got to know a lot of new people.

Monday I got to fly kites at FHE. Tuesday I ate dinner at Hell's Kitchen. I assume it is the reason behind the t.v. show. All I can say is that it was good food and I enjoyed the Sea Bass. I am trying all kinds of new fish (I had Walleye in Duluth). Then I went and saw Phantom of the Opera. It was great! I had never seen Phantom before. The next night I was invited to a free Twins baseball game. We sat in the 13th row, which were fabulous seats I could definitely see all of the players. I was a very dull game against the Cleveland Indians which we lost 1-10, but it was all about the experience. I took Thursday off to rest because after I got home from the game I had to do laundry ( I did not get to bed until 1 am). Friday night I went with my ward to a St. Paul Saints baseball game. All I have to say is that minor league baseball games are much more fun to watch. Lots of activity going on everywhere.

Work is getting busier everyday. Each day I figure out more and more what my job entails. I had to write a proposal on Friday that went to all of the Cardiologist and the surgeon about exactly what my role will be on the pediatrics floor. It was actually pretty intimidating for me to write. I was told that they will rip it all to shreds. I will find out what they thought this week. The new residents start on the 24th of June so we are trying to make all of the new changes as they are starting so that they will not know anything different. I have lots to learn as a new nurse practitioner, but so far I love the job and like that I have so much to learn. It is never boring.

P.S. Thanks for the letter Dad...I always enjoy your writing even if it is all fluff.

Welcome to the Twin Cities...and the North Shore of Lake Superior

Since arriving in the Twin Cities I have been getting to know the area. The best part is that I have made a friend Melissa who is more than willing to join me for most of the endeavor. I have taken a few pictures, but sorry I am not in them (it is difficult to take a picture of myself with my large camera).

The pictures are all out of order, but I will captioned details for those who are interested.

The gate of a house down the street from me on 3rd Ave.
St.Paul's cathedral in St. Paul. It was beautiful and they were holding mass. I have a picture of the inside, but it is blurry. :(
Melissa my exploring buddy from my ward. Putting her feet in the Mississippi River. I told her it was a must. She was skeptical, but went along. We saw boats and the rowing team.

Below is the view down my street towards Minneapolis (north).
Lake Superior from the northwest corner. The water is very cold. I learned that if all of the water in Lake Superior were flooding the North and South Americas they would all be covered in 1 foot of water. That is a lot of water.

My feet in the Mississippi River.
Gooseberry Middle Falls. I went hiking this weekend on the North shore of Lake Superior and we went along Gooseberry River. The water looks like rootbeer.
On 3rd Ave looking right at Minneapolis, it was a Sunday walk.
St. Paul while sitting on the side of the Mississippi River...check out the rowing team.
A different fall at Gooseberry...not sure which one. Maybe upper falls.
Another view of St. Paul's cathedral.
Me on the side of the Mississippi River.

Sad Moment

My bed frame was dropped off and put together this afternoon. Yeah! Sad realization is that the pictures that mom and I spent a long time hanging...with lots of difficulty are too low.

The Wedge

Yesterday I had a discovery a Co-op grocery store, The Wedge. So today I decided to officially try it out. I had an unusual find, yellow raspberries. I decided that they were a must buy out of curiosity. They taste just like regular raspberries if anyone wants to know. Yummy!