Friday, August 31, 2018

Finally!


If you're a regular reader, you know that I've been on a weight loss quest since August 1, 2016.  On my own, just by counting calories and eating sensibly, I dropped 38 lbs.  No programs, no gimmicks, just good old fashioned calorie counting and eating sensibly.  But, in April 2017 everything came to a screeching halt as I hit the dreaded plateau.  For 516 days I've been stuck, completely unable to break through the 210 lb. mark (the lowest weight I was able to reach since starting this quest) regardless of what I did, what I ate, or how much I exercised.

Earlier this month, instead of marking my two year weight loss quest anniversary with a blog post, I opted to gloss over it in my monthly currently post.  Truth is, I was frustrated and embarrassed.  I know that I have nothing to be embarrassed about for I've lost weight and have been able to keep it off for a year and a half, which is a BIG victory for me.  But, I had really hoped by time my two-year anniversary rolled around that I'd be well into the 190s or 180s.  I think most of all, I was disappointed.

Anyway, on August 1 I decided to try something new (I'll explain more about what I've been doing next week) and I'm happy to announce that as of yesterday I weighed in at 209.6 lbs. - FINALLY breaking through my plateau and FINALLY getting under 210 lbs.!

When I saw the number on the scale yesterday morning, I  admit that I got a little teary eyed.  I swear, that moment had been a long time coming.  Typically, I don't get too hung up on the number on the scale, but that number - 210 - has plagued me for 17 months!  For the first time in a looonnnggg time, I feel a renewed sense of hope and believe that my ultimate goal of getting out of the 200s is actually attainable again.

Thanks for joining me in my little celebration of this significant moment.  May you have a great Friday and a wonderful holiday weekend.

Ericka

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Four Corners Monument - See or Skip?


Out in the middle of the desert in the American Southwest is the Four Corners Monument - the only place in the United States where four states meet.  And, according to several online sources, there aren't many other places in the world where this happens.  Given this geographical oddity, that probably explains why so many visitors to the region drive themselves way out into the middle of nowhere to see and stand on a flat, bronze and granite, circular shaped plaque that designates where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet at a single point.

Earlier this summer, I visited the Four Corners Monument, which is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Cortez, CO, while en route from Mesa Verde National Park to Monument Valley.  The drive to Four Corners Monument from Cortez along US 160 traverses some extremely remote and desolate areas of the Southwest.  Believe me when I say that  it's truly in the middle of nowhere.  



The Four Corners Monument is owned and operated by the Navajo Nation.  In order to get into the park to capture a Kodak moment, visitors must stop at the gate and pay a $5.00 per person entrance fee.  After those in my group forked over our money and parked the car, we set out across the red, sandy earth towards the monument. 

As I explained in my road trip recap, I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting to see, but I do think it was something...  bigger, something monumental, or at the very least, something that looked more like a monument rather than just a survey marker.



But, I when it's all said and done, that's exactly what it is - a fancy survey marker.

So, this leads me back to the question at hand - is the Four Corners Monument something you must see or skip?

If you're in the vicinity, like en route to somewhere, then I would suggest stopping to enjoy this kitschy piece of Americana tourist trap.  My family and I had a good time taking photos of each other in various states and the visit also allowed us to get out of the car for a bit and stretch our legs.  Visiting the Four Corners Monument also helped me cross New Mexico off my "states to visit list."  Win-win!  Keep in mind that there's a $5 per person entry fee (not per car) and that you'll probably only be there for 15-20 minutes tops. While not terribly expensive, if you are traveling with a large family, this could be a budget buster. 


If you are nowhere near the Four Corners area, I wouldn't recommend driving out of your way to see this. There are so many other worthwhile sights in the area that I would recommend instead, such as Monument Valley and Mesa Verde National Park.  

Have you ever visited the Four Corner Monument?  If you have, what are your thoughts - see or skip?



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Wednesday Around the World

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Back to School Freebie



A Book I Read Before I Started School


I Have a Turtle by Kathy Bing
Legend has it that I could read this book before I started kindergarten.  Truth is, my grandmother had read this book to me so many times that I probably had it memorized.

~~~

A Book I Read in Elementary School


The House on the Cliff by Franklin W. Dixon
Forget Nancy Drew!  I was a Hardy Boys fan all the way!

~~~

A Book I Read in Junior High


Years by LaVyrel Spencer
Yeah, I know what you're thinking...  I agree, this book probably was little too mature for me at the time.  LOL!

~~~

A Book I Read in High School


The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I usually didn't care for books that I was assigned to read in school, but I really liked this one.

~~~

A Book I Read in College


The Pelican Brief by John Grisham 
I was an avid Grisham reader when I was in college.  His books provided a much needed escape from required reading.

~~~

A Book I Should've Read in School, But Didn't


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I'm not sure why this book wasn't mandatory at my high school, but it wasn't.  I did finally read it about a year ago.

~~~

A Book I Read in High School But Don't Remember


Hiroshima by John Hersey
This was an assigned reading for a history class.  I know what happened at Hiroshima, but I have no recollection of the details of this book.

~~~

A Book That Took Me Back to High School


Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
One of the things that made this book so stinking addictive was how it transported me back to my high school years.  When I read this book, so many memories of that time period, including my first boyfriend, came flooding back. 
  
~~~
  
A Book That Took Me Back to College 



Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
I pictured the setting for this book, which takes place on a college campus, as the campus of Marshall University.  This book also conjured up many college memories that I had long forgotten.


~~~

A Book That I Use A Lot in Speech Therapy (in an elementary school)


The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
I've listened to the passage about the "cheese touch" dozens of times and I still crack up! 


What book(s) do you associate with school?


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    Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

    Wednesday, August 22, 2018

    Escargot Going - Wordless Wednesday (Vol. 36)


    What happens when two snails get into a fight?  
    - They slug it out.

    Why doesn't McDonald's in France serve escargot?
    - Because it's not fast food.

    What was the snail doing on the highway?
    - About half a mile a day.


    Linking up with Wordless Wednesday


    Monday, August 20, 2018

    Aboard the Nina and Pinta


    As I stepped aboard, the planks of Brazilian ironwood creaked beneath my feet.  Above me, the masts reached for the sky and the sails, although not raised, moved ever so slightly in the breeze.  The vessel gently bobbed and swayed in the water's current. 



    Feeling as if I had stepped back into time to a completely different era, I momentarily forgot where I was. Only when the sound of a jet flying overhead broke me from my spell did I remember that I wasn't in the fifteenth or sixteenth century crossing the Atlantic on an epic voyage to discover new worlds.  Instead, I was on a ship that was moored on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Louisville, KY in the year 2018.  

    Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I'd stand on a replica of one of the most famous and historically significant ships of all time and stand on it in Louisville - which is, after all, in a land-locked state. But, thanks to the Ohio River, I did.



    Last week, the Niña and the Pinta, replicas of the caravels that brought Christopher Columbus to the new world in 1492, arrived in the Derby City.  These floating museums will be on exhibit until August 28.  

    The Niña is a full size replica of Columbus' original ship and is said to be the most historically accurate Columbus ship ever built.  It is 65 feet long, 18 feet wide at it's widest point, and has a displacement of 80 tons.


    The Niña
    The Pinta is larger than the original as it was designed to accommodate more passengers so it can be used for chartered events and such.  It is 85 feet long, 24 feet wide at its widest point, and has a displacement of 101 tons.


    The Pinta

    Both ships were built in Brazil using native hardwoods and were constructed by eighth generation Portuguese shipwrights.  The Niña was built using only adzes, axes, hand saws, and chisels, in addition to naturally shaped timbers from the local forest.  It took 20 men 32 months to build.  The Pinta took 36 months.

    As a kid, when I learned about Columbus in school, I remember wondering what life was like as an early explorer.  More specifically, I wondered how Columbus and members of his crew felt as they sailed into uncharted waters, were at sea for months at a time, lived in cramped quarters, and had no idea of what awaited them when they reached their destination, if they reached their destination at all.




    Although I can never know how those early explorers felt, after touring the replica caravels, I think I have a better idea of what life was like on board.  One of the staff members explained that most of the time, the members of Columbus' crew slept on deck, which I can't imagine at all, especially as the boat rocked and rolled.  Even Columbus, the main man himself, didn't have much in terms of accommodations (see placard above).  

    After seeing how small the ships were and the limited space available on the ships, I have a new found appreciation and respect for what those early explorers endured in the name of discovery and exploration.



    A windlass.  This provides the mechanical advantage needed to hoist the anchor aboard.
    A wooden handle is inserted into the square holes to provide leverage and are moved as the drum turns.



    If you go, remember that the ships will only be in Louisville until August 28.  They are open daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm.  Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors (60 years and older), and $6.50 for children ages 5-16.  Children 4 and under are free.



    If you can't visit these floating museums while they're in the Derby City, don't dismay.  For the next 3 months the Niña and Pinta will make port in various towns and cities up and down the Ohio Valley.  Here are the ports they will visit on their "Ohio Valley Tour":

    • Cincinatti, OH/Newport, KY: August 30 - September 16, 2018
    • Parkersburg, WV: September 20 - 25, 2018
    • Wheeling, WV: September 28 - October 2, 2018
    • Pittsburgh, PA: October 4 - 16, 2018
    • Marietta, OH: October 19 - 23, 2018
    • Charleston, WV: October 26 - 31, 2018
    • Gallipolis, OH: November 2 - 7, 2018
    • Ashland, KY: November 9 - 18, 2018
    • Maysville, KY: November 20 - 22, 2018

    For more information, please check out their website.



    Overall, I thought the experience was very cool.  I honestly had no idea that the ships were that small and that the crew had no real quarters.  Although the ships are replicas, they provided a great glimpse into the past.



    Linking up with:


    Wednesday Around the World


    Tuesday, August 14, 2018

    Recently Read - Vol. 30 (July '18)


    It's Tuesday and it's the second Tuesday of the month, so you know what that means - it's time to talk books with Steph, Jana, and a slew of other book nerds like myself.  Here's what I read (listened to) last month:


    Read July 11-19 | Format: Audiobook | My rating: 3.5/5

    Think:  A former college football star turned repo man starts hearing a voice in his head.  The voice turns out to be that of a homicide victim who needs Ruddy's help.

    This book partially reminded me of books in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, but it wasn't as funny.  It was clever and entertaining and had some laugh out loud moments, but it wasn't monumental or earth shattering.  The main character was quite likable as were the list of supporting, nutty townsfolk who made the book feel more complete.

    FINAL VERDICT:  Passed the time just fine.


    Tampa by Alissa Nutting
    Read July 23 - August 8 | Format: Audiobook | My rating: 4/5

    Think: Celeste, an attractive, but sociopathic middle school teacher with a singular sexual obsession, preys on young male students.

    I'll be honest, this was a hard book for me.  I found myself, due to the explicit nature of the story, only being able to stomach it for short periods of time.  That's why it took me so long to finish.  Also, I want to say that I liked the book, but whenever I hear myself say that, I start to cringe because this is not the kind of book I'm supposed to like.  But, I did.  It was well written and painted some very vivid images in my head, maybe too vivid considering the content.  Celeste is a quite possibly one of the most vile characters I've ever read and she evoked very strong emotions in me.  I really just wanted to punch her in the throat!  Kudos to the author, for she kept me wondering what was going to happen next, because in my opinion, the story could have gone in several directions.

    FINAL VERDICT:  I would cautiously recommend.  Just keep in mind the explicit and unsettling content.


    Have you read either of these books?  Where were your thoughts?

    Until next month, happy reading!


    Linking up with Steph and Jana


    Thursday, August 9, 2018

    Lessons Learned While Hiking to Delicate Arch


    One afternoon earlier this summer, I, along with my aunt, uncle, and my uncle's brother, set out to hike to the most iconic formation in Arches National Park - Delicate Arch.  

    After leaving our rental at the parking lot at the mouth of the trailhead, we gathered our gear and set out on the dusty path. It was 4:30pm, 100℉, and Delicate Arch was 1.5 miles away.  The first sign we passed stated, 
    "Heat Kills!  Avoid the heat - hike early or late.  Drink water - 2 liters per person."  
    We had enough water, but unfortunately, due to time constraints, we couldn't hike early or late.  We only had a certain window of time to hike to Delicate Arch and it was basically then or not at all.  So we hiked.


    The trek to Delicate Arch is mostly uphill with a 480 ft. change in elevation.  The fact that the trail is in direct sunlight and offers very little shade made the hike more difficult.   Much of the trail is on a steep slickrock, which at that time of day, felt like a stovetop beneath our shoes.  With the sun beating down on our backs and the slickrock radiating the sun's heat back up at us, we were basically being cooked from above and below.   






    I kid you not when I say that by the time I rounded the bend and my eyes finally fell upon Delicate Arch that I might've been a bit delirious.  I'm pretty certain by the time we finished our descent and made it back to the car that I was suffering from heat exhaustion.  But, despite the heat exhaustion, the dehydration, and how miserable the first half of the hike was, I'm so very glad I did it.  


    You see, Delicate Arch was not only the one thing that I wanted to see most in Arches NP, but it was also the one thing I wanted to see most during our entire trip out to the Four Corner region.  We ended up nicknaming these things, the things each one of us wanted to see/do most, as our "THE."  My uncle's THE was Angel's Landing in Zion National Park; my aunt's THE were the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park.  My THE was Delicate Arch.  To gaze upon that majestic sandstone formation and to actually see how big it was in person was such an incredible experience and one that I will never forget. 

    Ok, I kind of lied when I created the title, because the hike to Delicate Arch didn't really teach me any new lessons.  It did, however, reinforce four lessons that are very important and applicable to many aspects of life.

    1) Don't Settle

    Here's the thing - there are easier ways to see Delicate Arch than the 3 mile roundtrip hike that I took.  It can be viewed from two different viewpoints.  All you have to do is park your car and walk about the length of a football field to view the arch from the Lower Viewpoint, which allows visitors to see the arch from approximately one mile away.  A closer option, relatively speaking, is to see it from Upper Viewpoint, which requires a half mile walk that includes some stairs and gets visitors within a half mile of the arch.  But, both views from these viewpoints are from across a canyon and neither one gives you an up close and personal experience with Delicate Arch.

    Bottom line - Some people are happy seeing Delicate Arch from the observation points, but if you're not one of those people don't settle - do the hike.

    2) Don't Pass Up Opportunities

    Nature is a funny thing - it gives and it takes away.  Delicate Arch was formed over countless years through the power of erosion.  The same forces that created this breathtaking formation will continue to weather it until one day it finally collapses.  It's easy to overlook the fact that Delicate Arch, as well as the 2000+ other arches in the park, are not permanent.  We just take it for granted that they will always be there.  

    Bottom line - There's no guarantee that Delicate Arch will be there during a "next visit," be it in five years, one year, or even the next day.  If you want to see it and you get the chance, take it.

    3) Hike Your Hike/Go at Your Pace

    That afternoon, as my group and I trekked onward to Delicate Arch, we were passed by numerous people. It was very discouraging and on several occasions I was tempted to try to match the other hikers' pace. But, I knew that if I tried to walk faster than I was already going, that I would be absolutely miserable. Alright, for the record, I admit that I was already pretty miserable given the heat.  But, had I attempted to match the pace of those people, I would've been even more miserable.

    Bottom line - It's not a race and there are no medals or trophies at the end for the people who get there first.  Hike in a manner that best suits you so that you can enjoy the experience the best you can. 

    4) Preparation is Key

    Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail' and we saw a lot of people hiking out to Delicate Arch who looked really unprepared.  Many were wearing flip flops and carried little to no water with them.  I can't help but wonder if those people made it all the way to Delicate Arch or if they had to stop somewhere along the and head back to the trailhead.  While hiking boots/shoes are not mandatory, for most sensible shoes would suffice,  water, especially during the summer months when the temperate skyrockets above 100, is absolutely, 100% necessary.  The park service puts out signs that use the word kill for a reason and that advice needs to be heeded.

    Bottom line - Heed warnings, heed advice, and practice some common sense.  You may only get one chance to see this magnificent sight, be sure you're prepared.



    The trek to Delicate Arch was incredible, exhausting, challenging, emotional (I kind of teared up when I first saw it), and awesome.  I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity to see it up close and personal and I strongly encourage anyone who has the desire to see Delicate Arch to be like NIKE and JUST DO IT!  

    Have you ever hiked to Delicate Arch?  What was your experience like?  Did the hike provided you with any lessons?

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