Trans Siberian Orchestra

Trans Siberian Orchestra can be described as a fusion between classical, orchestra, and rock & roll. They combine their music w/ a laser show as well as a pyrotechnics show. I was introduced to these guys by a friend when I was still in high school. They've been on my list ever since.

I was meeting a friend in Spokane for the weekend that these guys also happened to be there. So I told him we were  going to a concert & to pack some dress clothes (I love just about any reason to get all dressed up & wear a dress).

If you get the chance, please iTunes these guys or go see them for yourselves! You won't regret it!!

What Bosco Likes To Do In The Snow

My dogs are special. If you know them, you know I don't have to explain any further.

Bosco LOVES snow. This was his reaction to being able to frolic in the snow.

Thanksgiving

     I'm thankful for many things in my life & I hope that I spend more than one days a year appreciating all the wonderful things I have surrounding me. Since I was unable to make the trek back to the east coast to be w/ my family for Thanksgiving, I decided to make a trek of my own. So Bosco & I jumped in the Baja & headed into the mountains.
     While most of our snow has melted down in the valley, there are still several inches in the mountains.We were almost to the ending point in our hike (a couple of alpine lakes) when a storm started to roll in. Since we were all alone on the mountain I decided it would be best if we turned around w/out reaching our destination so we didn't risk our chances of getting off the trail.
     The entire hike I spent thinking about the things I am thankful for, where my life has been over the past year, and where it is going. While I could never sit down and list all the things I am grateful for in my life, I did want to send out a big "I LOVE YOU!!" to all the people in it. I'm never too far away if you ever need me. XOXO.

Weir Creek Hot Springs

 If there's one thing I never want to be, it's ungrateful. I hope that I am continually grateful for the life that I live and the amazing places & people that constantly fill it.

After a long, hard week at work, on of my co-workers, Becky, & I decided we wanted to go on a little adventure together this weekend. Something fun. Something we had never done before. Both being outdoorsy people, we chose to locate & hike to a hot spring in the panhandle of Idaho neither of us had ever visited before.

We awoke early this morning & drove 2 hours on the snow covered roads to a pullout on mile marker 143 on Hwy 12. A small pullout and an ambiguous trail awaited us. The trail winds along Weir Creek and takes you through a beautiful cedar forest before opening to a small clearing. A 30 ft scramble up a slick hillside leaves you standing beside the most beautiful hot spring pool my eyes have ever seen. This deep pool overlooks the clearing you were just standing in, and when everything is covered in a foot of snow, a sense of peace washed over me like I haven't felt in a long time. Like everything was right in the world, at least in my world, if only for those few hours... *smiles*

Karina

...and just like that, we're separated the majority of a country again. My best friend of almost 23 years flew out just for the weekend & just in time for both of our souls. When times get rough, I'm thankful that I have friends like her to help me pick up my pieces.

Karina & I get the opportunity to see each other maybe twice a year when we find ourselves on the same side of the country. This trip was a blitz one on her end for the weekend, but it had perfect timing in both our lives & I'm not sure we could of packed in more fun in one weekend.

After a day of eating and an all day girls trip to the mall, we relaxed in my hot tub before getting all girlie on my bathroom & heading downtown for some sushi. My favorite local band, Wartime Blues, was releasing their latest cd as well as playing their last show. It was bittersweet.

We woke early the next morning to enjoy a little hiking in the Missions, but alas, the sucky weather provided no beautiful views, so we drove around the National Bison Range for a bit before heading back home to throw on some suits and hike out the to hot springs.

I haven't been to the hot springs in the daylight since I was ten. It was a beautiful hike to the pools, where we watched the sun set, then trekked the 1.5 miles back in the car in the darkness. I'm typically afraid of being in the woods at night, even with other people around me, but this trek was calming. Peaceful.


All the while on this trip we were eating the best foods Missoula has to offer; Taco del Sol, Sushi Hana, Hob Nob, HuHot, and even finding a few little gems outside of Missoula, like the Red Light Cafe in Wallace, ID.
 
Thanks for coming out to visit me Karina! I can't wait to see you next! xoxo

El Dia Day Los Muertos

In many Latin American countries a happy celebration remembering the souls of those departed is celebrated on the 2nd of November ever year. While Missoula does not exactly have the largest Hispanic population, the tradition of celebrating the lives of those passed still spreads onto our streets every November 2nd.