The things we do for love...

It is a well-known fact that when you're married, you happily (not begrudgingly) participate in activities that your loved one enjoys, which you couldn't care less about. At the end of August, I (Liz) collected some "credits" by attending a Colorado Rockies baseball game with Bill.


I hate baseball. It was stifling hot and sunny that day in the stadium. We spent the majority of the game standing in the concourse to get out of the heat, while observing play between the shoulders and heads of the other fans standing in front of us.


I found happiness and consolation in flavored ice and roasted nuts. The Rockies won over the Giants that day, and despite the overall environment, I enjoyed spending that time with Bill doing something he enjoys.

I decided to cash in my "credits" by dragging Bill to Colorado Springs for the 2009 Balloon Classic. It is the largest hot air balloon festival in Colorado, held every Labor Day weekend.

We had to rise, shine, and get on the road by 4a.m. to arrive in Colorado Springs in time for the launch, just after sunrise. This is Bill's "grin and bear it" face.




It was a beautiful morning - perfect sky, clear and cool. There were 73 balloons launched that morning, all different colors and designs. The excitement mounted as the field of color began to rise - rolling hills of rainbows.


As the balloons filled with air, there was a slow building of anticipation. Then finally, in a sudden energetic lift, the fabric of the balloon would pop up off the ground and stretch toward the sky. Only the strength of the ground crew was keeping the balloon from going airborne at that moment.

At the right time, the balloon was freed to silently and gracefully ascend into the clear blue morning. I coveted the few people who were allowed to be carried along under the balloons - their view of the mountains and Colorado landscape must have been glorious.

I think Bill enjoyed the balloon classic, but the early rise was a bit much for both of us. We drove home and immediately hit the sack again.

More pictures of the balloons are here. Maybe next time we'll be lucky enough to be carried along in a balloon basket!

At Summer's End

First things first - I passed my final licensing exam! After weeks of painful waiting, nightly nightmares, withheld scores due to the "cheating fiasco", and many prayers for peace and a passing score - it has finally come to an end. I can officially practice medicine for the rest of my life without ever taking another licensing examination. [deep breath of relief] HOORAY!!

Summer is drawing to a close and we are back to a quiet home empty of visitors. It's a little sad, in a way, when your visitors leave; however, we are keeping busy and looking forward to the new changes facing us in the fall.

My mom was here for a few days in August, and we had a great time hiking and exploring. I'm pretty sure she fell in love with Colorado all over again (it's not hard to do!).


I took her hiking in Garden Of The Gods, which is always a treat. Mom is afraid of heights, so getting this picture took some convincing!


We had fun being silly together. Mom made my hat fold that way because she's short and the brim was hitting her in the head. :)


Then I took her Rocky Mountain National Park (a must-see for any visitor!) and we hiked Deer Mountain. It looks a bit like a hill compared to the surrounding peaks, but the summit is just over 10,000 feet. It turned out to be the perfect challenge for a sea-level dweller like my mom! After several stops for altitude adjustment, mom made it all the way to the summit - at 10,000 feet for the first time in her life!


I introduced mom to one of our natural wonders - the butterscotch tree. Really! It smells like butterscotch when you stick your nose deep into the cracks of the bark. I wouldn't lie to you.


Our last hike was in Eldorado Canyon State Park, up the Rattlesnake Gulch trail. We finally got Bill to take some time off work to join us!

All good things must come to an end, as is life, but we had a great time with mom. I know she'll be back again soon. If you'd like to see more pictures of our adventures, click here!

As we make our way into our first fall in Colorado, Bill and I are preparing for a great football season (both NFL and college), a REAL job for me, the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Colorado Springs, and the Great American Beer Festival! You gotta love Colorado!

Edit: I am an idiot. I forgot to mention one of our most-important visitors this summer! Unca Dave and Chris - I beg for your forgiveness. Just as I begged for forgiveness after spilling good beer all over Bill's lap while exuberantly recounting a veterinary tale. I grovel. I weep. I am scum.

Okay, enough of that.


We ate, we drank, we laughed until we couldn't breathe or walk. It was the most wonderful time to have after the most stressful test of my entire life. I am so grateful to you guys.

Please come back!!

Fun in the sun...and rain?

Goose and Beaner would like to let you know that summer has officially arrived here in Colorado! The kitties spend most of their afternoons sitting in front of the sliding glass doors entranced by the song birds that are resting in the shade of our deck. We've had plenty of sunshine and heat (which Bill just LOVES while he's outside in a suit knocking on people's doors...). And just like my Florida summers, we have afternoon rain showers. The only thing that is missing (but certainly not missed) is the awful humidity!

I mentioned in one of my last posts that I would tell you later why I was wearing my glasses during Steven and Chrissy's visit. Thanks to my amazing family, The Boulder Eye Center, and Uncle Sam, I was able to have a surgery that I have wanted for many years - Laser Eye surgery to repair my vision. It was a graduation gift to myself, and well worth the wait! I had to wear my glasses for two weeks to prepare my corneas for the surgery.

I once was blind...


But now I see!!


What a difference it has made in my life to be able to roll over in the morning and see my husband's scruffy face clearly! To be able to fully appreciate the beauty of my surroundings without having to struggle with dry contact lenses! I will never have to say the words "Nobody move! I lost a contact lens!" I am so grateful.

I recently purchased another trail book titled "A Hiking Guide To Rocky Mountain National Park: 109 Classic Lunch Spots". The guide chronicles several hikes in the park that culminate in a breathtaking spot to have lunch, and is written with a great sense of humor. Bill and I decided to embark on a 7 mile out-and-back trail that links several mountain lakes together and promised to be spectacular.


Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived at the park the rain started dumping on us. For the next 2 hours we hiked and scrambled in pouring rain through the alpine woods to reach the first lake. We were soaked through and pretty miserable! I was determined to see at least one of these "beautiful lunch spots" since we had driven all that way, and Bill was a good sport (maybe he's starting to realize just how determined I can be...).


Just as we were about to give up and go back to the car, the rain subsided (praise God!) and we were able to hike on. We were rewarded with some amazing views along the way, and finally made it to Mill's Lake, the first body of water on our route.


Although it was still a little gray, the lake, surrounded by great mountain peaks, was pristine and lovely. We hiked on a little further looking for a few more "lunch spots", but eventually pooped out and turned around. Overall, our day of hiking wasn't one of the best we have experienced, but it was certainly an adventure!

Last weekend I convinced Bill to take Saturday AND Sunday off, and we got to go camping! We headed southwest by about three hours to the Arkansas River Headwaters State Park and found ourselves in another gorgeous spot.


Our campsite at Hecla Junction Campground was up on a small hill overlooking a bend in the river where white water rafters enter and exit.


Check out the view of our campsite home!


Bill wanted to make sure that everyone knows we fully enjoyed our camping snacks and "beverages"...


We attempted some river and fly fishing throughout the weekend, but unfortunately didn't catch anything. Our campground did not have running water, so we tried to rinse off in the river but it was freezing! I couldn't go in above my calves! We were pretty odorific by the end of the weekend, but "roughing it" is half the fun!





On our way back north on Sunday, we stopped at Spinney Reservoir State Park to try our hands at fishing again. This spot is rumored to be one of the best fishing spots in Colorado. Unfortunately again, we did not catch a thing! But it was a very peaceful spot with lovely scenery.



On our way into the park, we made some very special friends...



Those girls were extremely friendly and curious. We hung out with them for a good 5 minutes, scratching their noses and shooting pictures. The experience took me back to my island time and reminded me of my dear Donkeyshein (my surgery donkey in 7th semester). Now I want a donkey! (and my husband rolls his eyes...)

We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend away from the busy-ness of our lives; spending a few days away from the comforts of home in the serenity of God's creation was so refreshing.


In just a few days I am flying to Las Vegas to take my third and final licensing examination, and when I return we will have more visitors in our home! We love visitors!

Stay tuned for more Bliz adventures!

The Month Of June: Part Deux

In this installment, we lived through, I mean, thoroughly enjoyed 10 days with my brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and niece. We squashed 6 bodies (plus 2 cats) into our 1-bedroom apartment and had a blast!

We went to the zoo...


While we were at the zoo the tornado sirens went off and we had to hunker down in the basement of one of the buildings for about 15 minutes. That was certainly an interesting experience! The tornado was actually a few miles from the zoo and never got very close, but it got our blood pressure to rise!

Augustine and I loved the elephants the most...


We had fun relaxing at home...




Chrissy and I went on an awesome 7.2-mile loop hike together - girls' day out!


...And then we rewarded ourselves with some of the best fries in town.


We visited Hammond's Candy Factory in Denver...


...And bit off more than we could chew.


Next stop, a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park!



The kids decided to brave the freezing mountain water...

...And try their hands (and feet) at bouldering!


We were all exhausted by the end of 10 days...


...but it was worth every second. We miss them so much! Come back soon you guys!

Look here for a more in depth picture tour of our adventures!

The Month Of June: Part One

We're back! Man, June has been a crazy month! Bill and I had so many exciting things going on this month and we want to share them all with you. However, in the interest of saving time, my sanity, and your attention span, I have decided to split this month into three consecutive posts.

Part One: Graduation Weekend in New York

Even though my official date of graduation was January 31, 2009, Ross University has a ceremony once a year in June. All my classmates came from around North America and descended upon Madison Square Garden for graduation. It was great to see everyone again and catch up on what they're all up to. It was encouraging for me to hear that many of my classmates are going through the same thing I am (taking multiple tests to gain licensure), and are still waiting for the official "go-ahead" to practice.


I had forgotten just how much fun it is to hang out with my fellow Rossies! After graduation, we all got together at a local bar and took over the place. Bill and I were able to reconnect with my old crew and had a great time sharing new stories and old.


The other great part about going out to NY was that we got to see my family in New Jersey. Bill had never met my maternal grandparents or many of my aunts and uncles. I tried to warn him that my northern family is crazy, but he fits right in! As always during a visit to NJ, there was a lot of wine, beer, teasing, and laughing. I only wish we could have spent more time!


We did get a little extra time with Uncle Scott, Aunt Linda, and mom; we spent the day as a group just tooling around Manhattan and Central Park. Thanks to the willingness of the rest of the group, I was finally able to experience something I've wanted to do for a long time - have a drink at Tavern On The Green in Central Park!! This restaurant is one of the most famous places in NY; celebrities frequent this establishment and many movies have filmed here.

Overall, we had such a wonderful time visiting with family and celebrating my accomplishment. Graduation felt like closure on a very long chapter of my life. In the surreal moment when we recited our Hippocratic Oath, I sent a prayer of gratitude up to heaven for the gifts that God has given me, and I felt that He was proud of me.

There were so many pictures taken in NY that I couldn't put them all in the blog, but if you go here, you will see the album from our trip. Enjoy, and look for the second installment soon!