Aspen: Visiting

I arrived in Aspen late Thursday night after circling the airport for nearly an hour, heading back to Denver, and then luckily getting on a later flight as a stand-by passenger. You can only imagine the raging affluent families where every child is in Ugg boots ...even the ones who aren't old enough to walk yet. I was glad I was a solo passenger. My friend Lisa was not so lucky. She got on a flight that took off an hour after mine did, circled and alas she did not make it. After renting a car with two middle-aged republicans from the East coast, Lisa finally arrived in Aspen a little after 4am.

Friday brought blue skies and beautiful snowy streets.



After picking up some of the guys in our party, we headed over to the Sky hotel - where the Jeremy Piven/Kevin Connelly sighting happened last year. Tyson works there as a bellman in the winter and Lisa knew most of the waitresses as she was one herself last year = hookups on nearly all of our drinks.




Tyson had been working and therefore turned into our sober driver. To the Ryan house we headed. It was so good to see Tim! We spent the weekend making and eating meals together, consuming Keystone, white russians, and microbrews and lots of riding. Thanks to the Ryan's for their amazing hospitality and for opening their home to us. It was an incredible weekend, with great company and an pretty cool space for sleeping too.





Love that Lisa was in Aspen too!

Final Recap.Thailand::Bangkok

Chinatown flower market


Dinner at Cabbages and Condoms. A restaurant dedicated to the prevention and support of the AIDS virus. Proceeds go to the cause.



Street art for my friend Lisa


Cruising in our longboat down the Chao Phraya River


The reclining Buddha + other temples + a monk in traditional robing.






I had an incredible trip. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to travel and hope my life continues to be full of culture and learning experiences abroad.

Thailand::Ko Phi Phi

We arrived on the island, docking here.


The coffee shop we sat at each day.


We rented a boat the second day to get out and see the neighboring islands, spend some time on the water and go snorkeling. The views were spectacular.





I went rockclimbing one day. The island is known for some of the best climbing. It was both exhilarating and terrifying and I'm very happy I pushed myself to do it. I met some interesting people like this gal belaying -Simon. She was from Germany.



My first climb!




Monkeys were running around trying to get our food.


Storm brewing. I was a bit paranoid another tsunami would hit. The island had an eerie feeling after looking through pictures and reading about the tsunami of 2004.

Thailand::the village trek

Karen tribe villager



The gals on the trek


Dak, our guide, and another villager cooking us dinner


We ate here. Delicious. Yellow curry and a vegetable dish.


We slept here.


Mom and baby.


Riding.

Thailand::Chiang Mai

Vicky. The most fabulous British gal. We ate bugs together.





The night market.


Our Tuk Tuk driver.

Miss Thing.

Those of you who know me know how much I love my grandmother, Peg. She is sparkly, smart and an incredibly insightful woman. I'm so grateful she waved goodbye to the convent many years ago to marry and join the ranks of the Franzen clan. Her step then, into the unknown, inspires me to do the same and she has always been there to support me with every step I take. Thanks for reading all the books I give you (Barack! and Into the Wild) and watching the Dixie Chicks documentary...which for the record, she loved. Strong women, Gram! And thanks for always trying to step into my world just as I try to see all that you've seen and learn from it. Our connection means so much to me. I'm so glad you're in my life. Happy Birthday, my dear. Love you. (Feb. 5)

Its Super Bowl Sunday

For as long as I can remember I've been slightly (okay, really) competitive. I love sports and the adrenaline rush associated with playing, watching or coaching them. The desire to win and the process your body and mind goes through to accomplish it. Appropriately for today, I'm reading Vince Lombardi's biography, When Pride Still Mattered, by David Maraniss. I picked it up in Thailand for no real reason except that I recognized the author as being the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the book, First in His Class (about Bill Clinton). I didn't even know who Vince Lombardi was. Halfway through the 500 page story of football, history and a man whose passion for winning is contagious, I'm in love with the book.


"Repetition, confidence and passion. The trinity of Lombardi's football success was established that Sunday afternoon. In the locker room beforehand, the players were overtaken by a sensation they had not felt in a long time. Something was transforming in them; as they put on their Packers uniforms Lombardi worked the room. Moving from locker to locker, he looked into their eyes making sure they were ready. Then he gathered them around him for a pregame speech and his will to win took on a physical manifestation. His body seemed to pulsate as he spoke, his words closing a circle of pride and emotion. Now go through that door and bring back a victory! Lombardi told his Packers, and with those words Bill "Bubba" Forester, a veteran linebacker, jumped up in a frenzied roar and banged his arm on metal locker, his worst injury of the year, but not enough to stop him from leading his band of brothers, consumed by their mission, on a rampage out of the dressing room and into the darkening gloom and mist of the City Stadium"

Watching the U13 volleyball girls play yesterday I couldn't help myself from screaming. "Snap your wrist!" "Use your approach!" "Shake it off, don't react on the court!" "You are the libero. You are the leader. You either take the ball, or tell someone else to." Adrenaline. They are 13! But its still fun to win. More fun than losing.