Saturday night – Parade

Better day here at Copper.

The day began with a cake we’d made last night.. For some reason.. the boys felt like making a cake..  Kinda out of the easter spirit.. but we desperately needed the sugar.

Here are the little darlings.. I think they’re feeling a little rebellious

The boys were able to get out and ride the mountain on their own. Gabe

really liked the big spaces here. I spent the morning working.. then

went on a 4 mile run.. not that far.. but with the altitude it felt like it. Actually.. I feel pretty well acclimated.

The guys had a few hours to try out the courses.. they were big and tough.. but I guess it was fun .

This afternoon was the opening cermony for the USASA finals.. more than 1500 kids.. each tema had created a uniform of some sort.. it was really cool

Here’s our motley crewe

At 5:30 they started the parade. took an hour to get them through.. very cute though .

Here are our guys.. looking good  and backwoodsey !

Afterwords we came home to rest up.. The boys pointed out these fall lines on an adjacent moutnain.. The snow  spells out ‘SKY”.    Can you see it ?

Just about to dive into some nachos.. with the kids..

Oh.. we heard from Diane.. This morning she left Liberia .. and now she’s in a hotel in Liberia awaiting her early morning plane .. She’s basking in the AC right now.   Here’s what she said !

Hi Everyone…

I am sitting here at the airport Hilton in AC and it feels good.  The hotel is stranded on in no man’s land near the airport….a bit isolated.  I have sat briefly by the pool…took a short boring hot walk and ate popcorn in my room channel surfing.  I have to get up at 4:00 AM or a 5:00 shuttle to the airport so it is best to be here for the night.  I get into Vermont about 10:30 at night.  Long travel day.

Yesterday was wonderful.  We had great sessions to tie up any loose ends.  Last night was graduation and it was perfect.  I have some pictures.  I am not as handy getting them off the camera like John however I will share some.  For graduation we give each other the diplomas and then there is love passed all around.  Nice…very nice.

We ended the night with our usual watermelon talk session…in yoga it’s called satsung.  Yesterday Sister Cecelia, Lori and I make a dessert replica of a scorpion to thank Gary and Sho for being the scorpion removers.  It was fun and they so appreciated it.  We must have gone to bed after midnight.

Oh…in addition to all the sweet things John did for my birthday he also got someone to pick me a bouquet and made a card.  I think he is nicer than I am.

This morning we went to the last 6-8 yoga class.  I was perfect to start my travels with.  Then I had to be at the end of a trail for Danielle (from LA) to give me a ride to the hotel as she made her way to the airport.  Her family built a house about 7 years ago in Nosara.  Her husband enjoys surfing and they both love the beach.  They also wanted to give their kids exposure to a different culture.  They live in LA and make their way here for summers (really it is a nice time to be here…green) and holidays.  Nice…huh?

Anyways we have all been alerted about potential crimes with the influx of Easter week vacationers.  They put everything in her room because it is the safest…however it was broken in while we were at graduation.  Her guests lost most….ipods…iphones…cameras.  The computers were in a safe and that was tampered with yet not opened.  Bummer.  She didn’t care about that stuff only the cute necklaces she had picked out for her girls.  Those things mattered…the rest was just stuff.  A pain none the less.

We were suppose to meet a driver in Nosara however he was delayed due to the holiday weekend traffic.  So we pushed on and got here in plenty of time.  It was good to talk since I didn’t get to know her very well at the training.  It also was fun to see all the sites in the daylight.

I must say this hotel makes me think about the end of the Colony.  I will have hot water for a bath tonight.  And I will get room service and watch junky TV.  I know all this will help with my re-entry into the real world.  I have left the jungle!

Love to all.  I am looking forward to Vermont and hugging my boys and doggies.  love…diane           

OK.. time to pass out. more tomorrow..
Nite everyone.. nite sam
-me

Friday night – Copper

Greetings from Copper Mountain..   this was our first full day here. It’s really nice hanging out with Gabe and his friends.. It was a late night last night after a looooong travel day.. so we let the guys sleep in. They actually only got about 4 hours up on the mountain today. I think they liked it.. 

The place is a pretty little village surrounded by high mountains.. kinda story book looking.

Here’s our condo building. The apartment is really nice.. we can see the half pipe from our window. We have a full kitchen which is lucky.. we’re eating in most/all nights.

I managed to get soem work in while the guys were up on the mountain. then I went for a run.. It’s amazing what 9000 feet feels like the first time you run. I used the run to go visit our friends Mike, Kaitlin and Forrest who live here. They have a great house about a mile and a half from here. Tonight I’m going to go see Mike play in a bar..

I had some good hang out time with Gabe htis afternoon. It’s fun just having him here. He’s such a good kid..

Tonight the guys and I snuck out for sushi appetizers.. which was fun..

Our little village has everything.. The suns just gone down..

I gotta go here mike play.. more later !
nite folks, nite sam
-me

Thursday night late – Happy Birthday sweet Diane !

Folks,
   Happy birthday sweet Diane.. I know that you had a good one.

April 1st, .. an April fools baby (like my grandmother Madalyn. )

I’m writing form Copper mountain.. where Gabe is competing in  his first USA Snowboard Association finals . It was aan eventful ride down here.. nothing much.. but by the time we got here around 11 we were all pretty tired of travel
   One tret thoguh is that Diane called . I; ve been thinking about her all day. As you’ll see in her note below, she’s had a wonderful set of birthday celibrations down in Costa Rica.. I’m so glad that she got to do somethign so meaningful for herself.
   I just want to say to the world, that I’m so grateful to have found such a wonderful person with whom to share my life. I could not have found a more strong, calm, loving, sweet centered or fun mate.. 

Here’s the note that I just got from Diane that tells about her day (not ethe scorpians !)

Hi Everyone!

It’s my birthday!  I had a great day…and it would have been complete with my family.  John, Gabe & Max we will celebrate together soon.

Thank you for all of those great birthday notes.  Max…glad to meet Jacqueline (sp ?) through email and you said such meaningful words to me.  Thanks.  Gabe…you should be at Copper Mountain now.  Glad to have talked to you today and thanks for the email.  Mom & Dad..I tried to call you at around 7:00 tonight.  Sorry I did not through to you.  I love you!  Thanks to all who have sent their love.  Kathy..you will be happy to know I did tell people it was  my birthday and it was good.

John…you are the sweetest love.  The chocolate cake was amazing and the scarf was so special.  I will always wear it and think of how you reached out to me from so far away.  Everyone here has been so kind.  It started with a birthday song this morning…then ice cream after 2:00 session…then tonight I was honored by being picked up on cushions and lifted up and down…then a great cake also up at Don & Amba’s house.  Devarshi’s (Don’s very good friend from the ashram of the past)  birthday is Monday and he too had a cake.  It was a special day and evening.  I will celebrate with all of you soon.

The training is coming to a close.  We have all presented our classes and the sessions have been profound….fun and intense.  This has been a special time for an inner quest.  Much to integrate. 

One last note…two nights ago I was blessed with the largest size yet scorpion in my room.  Gary was kind enough to get up and remove it.  Makes you want to shake your sheets a bit more.  We shake all clothes and sheets!

Well…must go now.  Love you all!   love..diane

OK.. that’s it for now.. it’s very late here.. time to sleep. nite all
nite sam
-me

Wednesday night – Packing

OMG.. !  Gabe and I are leaving tomorrow for Colorado and the house is a WRECK !.. I am going to be up all night cleaning so Diane doesn’t come home to a messy house.

Gabe and I are currently trying to stuff all of our clothes into two bags and it just isn’t happening.   I may need to call in friends to help us zip up our suitcases… !

Gosh.. I’m so discombobulated from thinking about packign that I don’t really have anythign to talk about tonight…    I do want to remind folks that tomorrow is Diane’s Birthday !  She’ll be celebrating it down in the steamy jungles of Costa Rica.. she just called me and told me that it was 93 inside her house (eeeek !)

Well.. gotta finish packing.. More tomorrow !

nite all, nite Sam
-me