I managed to acquire my summer cold on a plane ride back from New York. I often get sick when I travel so I was excited when I spent a whole 6 days in New York symptom free and full of life.  Sadly, not but fifteen hours after landing at SFO was I sniffling and headachey and ready for bed.

Today was probably the worst day.  Nose, not quite stuffed but runny, mouth dry and with the terrible taste of tin and burning eyeballs to mimic the hot sun. Eh…it sucks stinks. But I’m a trooper and with disinfectant in hand, I trudged through my day.

Tonight I dine on free range chicken and organic root veggies. Hopefully the warm nutritious goodness will knock the cold right out of me.  I’ve also got six years of studying herbal medicine on my side.  And some trusty garlic and basil to boot.

Wish me well!

Not what the Boy Scouts had in mind

Well thanks to our backwards economy and greedy corporations (yes I said it!), The All-Star and I will be, get ready for it, SHARING A SUITCASE on our trip to New York.  Ahhh!  The horror!!  Thank goodness it’s summer is all I have to say.  Flip flops and sundresses weigh a whole lot less than sweaters and snow boots.  But really… in an attempt to save a buck, I am finally being forced to pack a little lighter and make due with what I’ve got.

Sounds like a good moto for life doesn’t it?

I’ve been reminded a lot lately that, contrary to popular belief,  it really doesn’t take much to get along in this world. Minimal food, shelter, a few layers of clothing, that’s all I really need.  Yet I’m drawn to the idea of filling my apartment with chachkies that express my longings and throw pillows to express my style. And why?  Stuff is just another thing to pack up and haul the next time we move and probably, eventually throw away anyway.  And whether it be a sore back or a bigger moving truck, it always comes with a price. Just like the extra bag at the airport. I’m not saying I’d rather be living in a dirt floor shack somewhere hunting squirrel and wearing burlap. No, that would be extreme. But maybe, just maybe, I can make due with a little less than society says I need.

I had a friend who used to come camping with me and all he would bring along is a backpack and a sleeping bag.  Meanwhile I’d be lugging all sorts of ridiculous items into the woods. (Remember the Boy Scouts?) I was always jealous of the way he could get-up-and-go with just a few choice belongings and knew he’d survive.  Whenever I pack I’m reminded of him. He didn’t lead by many other examples but that was a good one.

I think my brain has the tendency to bring along a little too much luggage as well. I’m always multi-tasking and worrying, trying to figure things out and answer life’s riddles.  It’s exhausting! And carrying the extra weight of the past and the future can sometimes leave me with little energy left to invest in the present.  But luckily there’s still a little room left for change!

So I say, enough with the extras! It’s time to pack a little lighter, both mentally and physically.  I’m tired of the baggage, there’s no more room for it.  It may take a bit of effort to purge but no need to heave more onto the load. And as far as my trip to NY goes, all I really need are a few positive thoughts, a good pair of shoes and a hat and I’m good.

Okay and maybe one summer scarf!

We left a little behind schedule Friday night so we were unable to caravan with the rest of our group. Fortunately we didn’t hit any traffic and made it up there only a short time after them and we didn’t miss a beat of fun.

On Saturday we took a short drive to Angora Lake.  Our timing was perfect and we got there just as the morning crowd was leaving and avoided a mile long walk with a parking spot right up front. We also managed to snag a perfect spot on the beach and a picnic table near by!

Angora Lake was amazing. Half of the lake is surrounded by steep rock. Normally there are folks jumping off the cliffs into the water. There still were a few brave souls but not us because the water was freezing!! There was snow fall earlier in the week which was melting into the glacier-made lake but it created the most beautiful waterfalls everywhere you looked.

We rafted around and bathed in the warm sun. Our friends informed us that this was quite an unusual sight to see this time of year. What a treat!

Even though the day was warm and sunny, snow still surrounded the lake in some parts.  If there is one thing we love more than summer, it’s snow, and here they both were, wrapped up in one perfect place.

Sunday we rode bikes to Lake Tahoe and walked along to Camp Richardson. The backdrop of snow capped mountains while people barbequed and splashed in the lake was another sight to see.

We stayed for a bit and then biked back to home base where we enjoyed another restful evening.

Monday was the holiday but also our time to leave. I was sad to be heading home and felt anxious that the holiday would be spent in the car. I love the 4th of July. Not just because it’s a fun national holiday but it also marks the official start of my relationship with The All-Star. (Six years ago, can you believe it?)

As we drove along the windy road down the mountain we saw a sign for tourist info. We followed the road for quite a while and were led to Sly Park Recreation Area. We rented a paddle boat and swam in the lake. It was an awesome find and we talked about  going back to camp some day. Don’t you just loved unplanned adventures?!

But wait, it wasn’t over yet! On our way home I messaged a friend to see if there would be any fireworks that evening. She said there was one at a nearby high school but traffic was always ridiculous. We arrived home with just enough time to freshen up and bike our way over instead. The fireworks were awesome, “well choreographed,” the All-Star said, and the high school marching band who played along were fabulous. When it was over we rushed to beat the crowd and enjoyed a nice, but slightly tiring, bike ride home.

What better way to celebrate our independence than by enjoying all the things that we love…nature, friends, fireworks and each other!!

I hope everyone had as great a weekend as we did!!

Here’s what I brought for tonight’s long night red-eye trek…

• To avoid in-flight packaged snacks filled with sugar and salt…

…walnuts, raw almonds and dried cranberries.

• To avoid the layover quick-stop pit-stop…

…a bunch of asparagus sauteed in creamy butternut squash soup (just enough to coat it with delicious flavor). Seasoned with crushed red pepper.

• To avoid a greasy egg sandwich or bagel upon our early arrival at JFK…

…Cut up apples, oranges and pears.

…with some peanut butter for dipping. Yum!      

Prep time for this travel meal was about 20 minutes. Can’t beat that! And it all fit perfectly in my carry-on luggage.

Also to save a buck, because I really dislike buying over priced water, I brought along my Klean Kanteen and my new travel filter stick which alkalizes water, making the fountain, or the faucet, an easy option for quenching my thirst.

So that’s it from my travel log. I’ll try to blog from my destination, though it should be a pretty fast and busy 48 hours. Hopefully they’ll be a fridge of provisions I can raid for the long trip back on Monday. Happy weekend! And Happy Birthday to The All-Star!