30 by 30/21 of 30/Be a Part of a Flash Mob

My friend Sarah found a flash mob to take part in for my 30 by 30.  The flash mob was totally worth it for the people watching alone.  I was having a hard time keeping up with the moves because I was having so much fun watching the people around me.  I should have had someone video us.  It would have been hysterical. Sadly, I did not. Instead, I leave you with the post-mob pictures of us.  Enjoy.

30 by 30/20 of 30/Paint

Tiffany and I went to Sip-n-doodle so that I could mark painting off my 30 by 30 list. Tiffany is a gifted painter. Sip-n-doodle is a place where you pick your painting and then a teacher comes around and helps/give pointers.  I picked something easy that I felt that I would be able to accomplish with my limited painting ability.  Tiffany picked some ridiculously hard painting because she wanted to work on some technique.  I cannot even remember what the technique was called.

We go, we paint, we chat.  It was fun. I even put my painting on display in my room beside the one that Tiffany painted me years ago.  I thought it was  only fitting. 

30 by 30/19 of 30/Go Hiking

Day 3: Charlie was released from the hospital early the next morning and we let him and Michelle sleep during the morning.  That afternoon Charlie was feeling "fine" and he wanted to do something.  We decided to go explore the Lava River Cave.

Outside the cave

Cave opening

We quickly decided that the cave was too treacherous for Tiffany (pregnant) and Charlie (post op).  David and I did some exploring but stayed where the others could see us.  And Charlie took some pictures. 

Jen: How far does this thing go?

Jen & David

Charlie & Michelle

The cave was pretty cool, but be warned, it was freezing in there.  If you go, dress warmly.  After the caves we went to the Lowell Observatory and looked at some stars/planets.  I always have the hardest time looking out of telescopes. It takes me a really long time to see whatever I am supposed to be looking at.  Sometimes, I don't ever see it.  I just see black.  Does that happen to anyone else?
 

  
Day 4: We spent our last day in Sedona before heading back to Phoenix.  Sedona is beautiful.  It is completely different than the Grand Canyon, so I cannot compare, but it is definitely worth seeing.  We explored Sedona for a few hours and then went on a hike.

Afterwards, David and I hiked Cathedral Rock while Charlie, Tiffany, and Michelle went exploring to find a place to take a sunset time lapse video.  Cathedral rock is 1.5 miles up and back and it is steep.  At parts it was flat out bouldering.  Thankfully I have known David for years and I did not feel self-conscious asking him to take it slow, otherwise my stupid pride might have gotten me killed.

The view was perfection.  Honestly one of the prettiest things I have ever seen.  The pictures do not do it justice. Having to exert physical effort in order to have the privilege of seeing something makes it all the more special to me.   

30 by 30/18 of 30/Sleep Under the Stars

While we were at the Grand Canyon we camped and slept under the stars.  It was breathtaking.  Getting away from the city makes a huge difference. I need to resolve to get away more often.  It is good for the soul.

Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:26

30 by 30/17 of 30/See the Grand Canyon

I went to the Grand Canyon with my friends Tiffany, David, Charlie, and Michelle.  Tiffany was pregnant at the time and decided she wanted her last trip with friends before the baby to be a camping trip to the Grand Canyon.  Partly because she really wanted to see the Grand Canyon and partly because she knew I wanted to see it... Yeah, I have some pretty awesome friends.

Let me start by saying, I have been on a couple adventures with Tiffany and David before, and it has never been dull or boring.  See: running from the cops (I didn't mention that I had to run from the cops in the original post... but I did have to; also, I was not technically with Tiffany, I was with her sister; but I was in Hawaii because of Tiffany and I attribute the adventure to her regardless).  As for the rest of our adventures, Tiffany is hysterical, just read her blog instead.

Back to preset day, the Grand Canyon is unbelievable, breathtakingly beautiful, impressively large, and aptly named.  We were supposed to have three days in the Canyon but our trip did not go according to plan.  Enough foreshadowing, just wait.

Day 1: We got to the Grand Canyon late in the afternoon and admired its majesty.  Then we went to our campsite, set up and made dinner. 

We made it!

Tiff & David

Charlie & Michelle

The girls

The Canyon

I have not camped in years and never in a place as impressive as the Grand Canyon, so I was pretty excited.  And I am happy to report, I slept pretty well that night.  Score one point for the sleeping mat and decent sleeping bag.  Thirty degree temperatures and I was warm and toasty.  

Day 2:  When we woke up, we made breakfast and I drank hot tea out of a bowl with Tiffany.  Yea for being semi-prepared!  We then saw a massive elk, which was impressive!  Y'all, I dig nature.

I should also mention that Charlie did not feel well that night and he and Michelle went on a 3:00AM adventure seeking medicine for him.  They did make it back by morning and Charlie was feeling a little better (or lying about feeling better because he didn't want to change our plans).

Prepared David with an all purpose mug.

Semi-prepared Tiff & Jen with bowl "cups"

Elk! (That is an elk, right?) if not, big animal!

Our Campsite

 After breakfast, we decided to bike several miles of the canyon.  We figured that would be a good way to see the largest amount of the canyon with the greatest efficiency.

About to head out

Charlie being Charlie

Pit stop

So biking was fun, but I realized yet again that I am out of shape.  I was starting to hurt a little by mile 8 or 9 and it felt like we were perpetually going up hill.  Needless to say, by mile 10 or what felt like 100, it was not as fun for me or for Tiffany.  David on the other hand, was fine.

Must... drink... water...

Pretty much sums it up

Turns out Charlie was not fine.  He said he wasn't feeling well and asked if we would take him to the clinic in the canyon.  We did and found out that he most likely had acute appendicitis.  The doctor said that we needed to get him to the hospital in Flagstaff. Stat. (He didn't say stat, but I have always wanted an opportunity to use that word.)  Needless to say, we tore down our campsite in 10 minutes flat and head to Flagstaff.

Charlie did have appendicitis and he had his appendix removed that night in Flagstaff.  The procedure went smoothly and he recovered well, but we didn't make it back to the Grand Canyon. To be fair to Charlie, he did ask us to go back when he got out of surgery, but we did not think him being that far from a hospital was a good idea.  We did continue our adventure (see next two posts), just not in the canyon.