Jen's World

December 21, 2008 - 101 Things in 1001 Days

I haven't made New Year's Resolutions in a decade. But I find myself at a crossroads of sorts this holiday season. There are many things I want to do. Garments to finish, patterns to write and publish, house trimmings to create.

Many places I want to see - admittedly, many of these places are in Alaska. I never quite got over the 2007 summer in the North Country. Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks hold a fascination for me, and I want to find a way to get myself to some of their remote backcountry.

Friends and family to keep in touch with and bless in ways that might show appreciation for blessings that I have received.

A week or so ago, I came across this program - more than just resolutions made to be broken. A plan to accomplish specific things in the next 1001 days (roughly 2.75 years). So I have organized my goals into a list. I'm not planning on posting formally to the blog that started this (Day Zero), but I will keep posting on my blog about working towards these goals.

My list: 101 Things In 1001 Days

January 7, 2008 -- Back to the Real World

The new year has started. True to form, I have not made any resolutions. But I have taken action. I'm in the middle of making scarves for several women I know that are currently fighting breast cancer. You can look at the details of this project through my fibers page...

Another thing that I worked on over the weekend involved adding a few more charts and details to our BLM report for the Alaska project. The document is now 15.1 MBS. It's huge. And still not complete. Ha. I'm missing two key components that will make the document even bigger: JPEG versions of each highway map, and a set of tables & charts showing Importance vs. Performance ratings on experiences and management issues. The first shouldn't be too hard to track down; the latter is something that one of Pete's undergrads is supposed to be helping with (or so I was told). No clue about it, really, though.

I talked to my friend Whitney the other day, about life and our potential trips back to Alaska this coming summer. Neither of us have solid committments yet, which (for me) is a little unnerving. I am NOT a procrastinator. I'd like to be able to say yes or no, and start making my plans accordingly. If I'm going back, I'll be in the market for a new laptop computer. I need to schedule in the knitting classes for which I'm responsible at work, knowing when my availability will end. I will have to deal with my apartment in the Fort. Perhaps my furniture will go back in storage once again.

Meanwhile, later this week, I'd love to take a day to go snowshoeing up in Rocky Mountain NP and try out my new snowshoes. Haven't been there since about Thanksgiving. Shame on me.

November 6, 2007

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to southwestern Colorado. It's a land of mesas, chaparral, high deserts and mountain peaks standing guard on the distant horizons. The picture to the left is looking towards part of the San Juan mountain range, with Mt. Sneffels as the tallest peak (in the center). The views were amazing!

Going down on Friday night, I drove through ski country in central Colorado, and then hit the mesas right about sunset. The desert reflected the colors you see in typical pictures - oranges, purples and pinks. I wish I had a bigger camera - the fine details are sort of lost on my little Canon.

Saturday, I assisted with a survey effort in the Uncompahgre National Forest. This project was taken on by one of my professors, but he couldn't be on site this weekend, so I went in his place. I learned a lot about the area, its users and its management challenges. The experience was well worth the seven-hour drive.

On Sunday morning, I left Montrose and drove east to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which was breathtaking. Sunrise over a canyon like that is always amazing. The colors, lights and shadows gave a great show. The birds and wind made a great soundtrack. I'd love to go back!

November 1, 2007

A new month. It's been almost two months since I left Alaska. Sad! Every time I eat a spoonful of my blueberry preserves, I think about the foothills of the Brooks Mountains. But I digress.

Tomorrow I'm driving down to Montrose and working for one of my professors. He has to be elsewhere in the state for another academic committment, so I am taking his place and helping to administer a survey to campers and hunters in the Uncompahgre National Forest. I'm looking forward to a fun weekend, a break from my usual routine, and some stunning scenery.

The picture to the left is of a resevoir just west of Fort Collins, as you head up towards Horsetooth Resevoir. I took the picture yesterday, as I got out to enjoy the fall colors and fresh dusting of snow in the foothills. Colorado is just amazing.

Read my past thoughts:

Blog entries from September & October, 2007