arches national park! more photos!

Arches National Park is breathtaking! Utah's landscape is like none other in this country. I highly recommend a trip if you haven't been here already.

As you will see, Lulu looks bored in every picture. Dogs aren't allowed in the park, so I carry her in my backpack everywhere. I "wake her up" for photo ops and I don't think she's too thrilled. 

Only Lulu. Here she is yawning when we got to the Delicate Arche. Heck I'm the one carrying your chunky little ass a mile and half to the Arche in 87 degree heat, and you're yawning!?! Sorry to bore you, Lulu. Have some more water you chunky little bugger. 

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS HERE!

delicate arch | arches national park

The Delicate Arch is a 65-foot-tall freestanding natural arch located in Arches National Park. Lulu was not impressed

grand junction, colorado

I forgot how much I love camping, especially in the warm weather!! What a difference! Still can't believe I spent December camping in the cold subzero temperatures buried under 2 feet of snow. What was I thinking? And somehow I still loved it.

This PART TWO is going to be better than ever. I've learned a lot from my days on the road and I'm putting it all to practice now. First of all, I'm freakishly organized. Not that I wasn't before, but I really had way too much stuff. In my defense, how was I supposed to know what to pack?! I had no idea how long I'd be gone, where I was going, NO CLUE I'd be camping, never mind buying a camper. Not to mention the parka, sorels and all of the other winter gear that comes with camping in the cold. Thank you DAD for shipping me countless items to countless campgrounds across the country! I LOVE YOU!

I've purged some of my originally packed items to make room and be more efficient. I decided to ship some unneccessary items back east – deciding I didn't really need the red cocktail dress and high heels on the road after all. Watch, now I'm goign to need them!!!

After Labor Day, the camping landscape changes left deserted by families getting ready for back to school. I adapted and still enjoyed it, but it wasn't the same. I can't believe how much I missed the warm weather, crowded campgrounds and with it, fun, friendly neighbors. Don't worry, there will always be the weird, slightly creepy neighbor, but for the most part it's pure bliss. 

Speaking of weird and creepy. I figured out the #1 line the creepy use: "I really like your dog". Yesterday, I felt the stare of someone behind me. I turned around only to see a man staring at me like a big juicy cheeseburger. I looked straight back at him and said, "Hi, can I help you with something?" He replied, "Um, no, but I really like your dog." Really dude? Then proceeded to reappear minutes later asking me if I'd like some wine. I gave him a polite, icy no. I'd rather to be alone I told him. Usually the creepy are harmless, but if not, I have my taser ready to go, always. I reserve the .45 for grizzlies and very dangerous, insane people (like Steamboat Springs).

Packing up and heading to Moab today!! 

happy times in breck!

Here are a couple fun pictures that just got sent to me from my days volunteering! Happy times in Breck!

Amazing night in NYC with three incredible young men!!

My very first order of business upon returning to NYC was dinner with the boys! I missed them soooooo much!!!!

From Left: George Gallego and his wife, Jonathan, Me, Jermaine, Jenny, Blake!

Once again Prohibition UWS was the scene of another fantastic night with the boys. Ian, one of the owner's of Prohibition generously took care of the boys' portion of the bill -- AGAIN!! Thank you Ian and everyone at Prohibition! 

The evening was made even more special with the addition of Jonathan. Jonathan can't sign himself out of the nursing home and he rarely even leaves in fear of being stranded with a broken down chair -- but we got him out tonight!! 

INCREDIBLE NEWS!!!

Jonathan will be stranded no longer! Jonathan has been APPROVED for a new power wheelchair!!

To read Jonathan's story, click HERE!

My deepest, sincerest, heart felt thanks goes to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation -- AGAIN! Your incredible generosity is saving lives! We will be taking all three boys to two different wheelchair ceremony events  in early June!! (one for Jonathan and one for Jermaine -- Blake already got his!)

Jonathan's priceless response when I asked him if he WAS EXCITED about the new chair:

Hell Yeah Im excited! sorry pardon me, I mean Yes I'm excited!!! I really do not know How to thank you! I feel like shaking my groove thang! Heeeeyy! lol I think I'll go all around manhattan when I get it! OMG! I feel like I hit the lottery... Imma stop before I get emotional....

I told him it was OK to get emotional – I already did!!! :)

jack kerouac knows best!

My time in Breckenridge was great but it's time to move on. After my much needed visit here in CT & NYC, I'll head back to Colorado to pick up my camper and hit the road. With Lulu as my co-pilot, we'll marvel at Arches National Park, Fiery Furnace and all of the other fabulous rock formations in Utah – then we'll see what happens from there. I've never had a plan so why should I start now. Sooner than later I think my heart will lead me back East. I have such incredible deep close friendships and a lunatic family I cherish deeply. You don't realize how much you need them until you reach out and they're not right there next to you. I have learned so many valuable life lessons on this journey, and appreciate each breath and person in my life so much more. And, after a Winter in a very small town, I have a greater appreciation for my dear neurotic New York City. I can't wait to go back and get lost in the anonymous, stimulating energy of NYC. Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in New York (and so are the Boys of Beth Abe). --- At least for now. 

After dealing with much stress over the last six weeks, my friend sent me some much needed inspiration!

What is the feeling when you're driving away from people, and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? It's the too huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.  ~Kerouac

Love this one... (Jack knows best-- but I added the "woman" part) :)

No man (or woman) should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength. ~ Kerouac

Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long. ~Tom Cochrane

This is extremely fitting at the moment! (not the heinous chemicals and the ether part...)  

Every now and then when your life gets complicated and the weasels start closing in, the only cure is to load up on heinous chemicals and then drive like a bastard from Hollywood to Las Vegas ... with the music at top volume and at least a pint of ether. ~ Hunter S. Thompson

I've opened my heart, put myself out there and taken more chances and risks on this journey than I ever thought possible. I have no regrets. On the contrary, every move, no matter how it turns out, is a positive valuable life lesson. As long as you're constantly learning, growing and evolving as a person – all is good. I will never compromise my heart and always listen to my head and my gut. Life is too short to lead it any other way. 

now we wait. say a prayer jonathan gets his new chair !

Jonathan's paperwork has been completed (thanks Jenny!) Now we're just waiting for approval from the Darrel Gwynn Foundation! Pray he's accepted to receive his desperately needed new power wheelchair! 

When I told Jonathan I was crossing my fingers praying, he said "I'm crossing my imaginary fingers too"! Gotta love him! He might be a quadriplegic living in deplorable conditions, but he still has his sense of humor! 

Say a prayer! Will keep you posted! As you know, Jermaine has been approved. The wheelchair event will be in New Jersey on June 5! If Jonathan get's approved as well, both boys will get their chairs on the same day!!! Oh, that would be such a happy day!! 

Pray Pray Pray!

mike's scallop & clam chowder with sherry

Scallop & Clam Chowder with Sherry ~ courtesy of Mike from Breck Guest Services! 

Mike's chowder is so popular he decided to share his very easy recipe!!

1 lb Bay Scallops

5 – 6 ½ oz. Cans Chopped Clams (more for a more meaty chowder)

8 Slices Bacon

2-3 Large Potatoes Peeled & Diced

2 Cups Chopped Onions

2 Tsp Dried Dill Weed

1/2 Tsp Celery Salt

1/2 Tsp Pepper

2 Tsp Instant Chicken Bouillon Granules (or 4 cubes)

4 Cups Milk

2 Cups Heavy Cream

1/2 Cup Shredded Carrot

1/4 Cup Dry Sherry

In an UNCOVERED pot, combine milk and cream and heat slowly to almost boiling.

Cook bacon, reserving 2 tablespoons of warm grease (eat or discard bacon)

Strain clams reserving clam juice.  Set clams aside.

In a large pot, combine bacon grease, clam juice, potatoes, onion, dill weed, celery salt, pepper and chicken bouillon.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are slightly tender.

For remainder of recipe, DO NOT COVER POT.

Add hot milk / cream mixture and carrot to the clam juice and potatoes.  Heat until bubbly.  Stir in clams and scallops.  Return to a slow boil.  Cook 1-2 minutes until clams and scallops are opaque.  Remove pot from heat.  Stir in sherry.  Makes 8-10 servings.  If reheating, do so in an UNCOVERED pot.

thank you children mending hearts !

There aren't enough words in the english dictionary to properly articulate my appreciation to Lysa Heslov @ Children Mending Hearts Foundation. Touched by Jermaine's story, shared to her by Penny Marshall, she went above and beyond to make Jermaine this month's "Spotlight Child".  

I am blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people with selfless integrity. People that go out of their way to make a difference because they genuinely care, not because it's "cool" or great "exposure". These are the kind of people that make a real difference in this world. 

Check out the wonderful fundraising campaign HERE! 

Someone already donated an ipod for him! This was his response when I told him:

OMG OMG OMG I'm gonna go crazy! They really got an ipod 4me?????

thank you darrell gwynn foundation !!!

JERMAINE HAS BEEN APPROVED!

He's getting his new wheelchair!!!

 Thank you Darrell Gwynn, Erica Woods and EVERYONE at the Darrell Gwynn Foundation for granting Jermaine this life-changing gift! 

A very special THANK YOU goes out to Jenny Lieberman from Mount Sinai Hospital, who works countless hours to measure the boys and fill out the "ass load" of paper work involved with getting their new wheels! ("ass load" is her word not mine! lol Makes me laugh). Jenny is a rock star! None of this would get done without her!!

Thank you to Jermaine, for being such a positive role model and always looking at the bright side of every situation!

Here's a cute little note Jermaine posted on Facebook last night. This is why we do what we do...

I wanna take this time out to thank one of most inspirational, loving, caring, thoughtful, women I've ever came across in my life that's more than a friend to me and it is you diana. u make being in this situation feel like I'm not going thru nothing. between you, my sister, jenny and sum others, I love yall so much and thank you diana in helping me get a chair where insurance would refuse. luv 4ever
 

 

Please consider donating to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation so they can continue their life-saving work! 
 

Jermaine's story, click HERE