Marching on through it all

This winter I've been slacking- partly due to my blogging over at Think Outside the Breadbox, partly due to two dogs and knitting nights and in large part due to a lot of stress. I've been going over past blog posts and remembering  good times with good people, adventures of the travel dog, cross country drives, festivals, turtles and Tomas, and lots of laughter, it's been good to have these memories in one spot and I've been appreciating the online journal of campchaos.

This year we've had a tough winter with not nearly enough powder and sadness that could fill the box canyon. We've had some good bright spots but this March will be remembered as a very sad time here at campchaos.

A year ago we drove through a snowstorm and found a bit of Mayhem waiting for us. This year we flew to Boston in near perfect weather to the biggest storm we've ever had to face as we said our goodbye's to Dave's mother.

It was hell and there's nothing to say fix this- although the cards, emails, text messages and good vibes have helped. Crashing trucks, slicing tendons and sick dogs can't prepare a person with how to deal or cope through times like these. It's not just a tough day but a long process that has no cure, no remedy, no guidebook to help steer us through what we're suppose to do or how we should deal with life. The world didn't stop and we returned to Telluride and went back to the routines of everyday life but with the knowledge that life will never be the same. 

The whole experience was hard on everyone... we all cope in very different ways and hit the stages of grief at our own pace. Comfort can be found in many forms and I really wished the dogs could have been with us.

Chaos knew something was wrong. He behaved well at his friends house while we were back east but on the day his Granny passed, he got sick. Chaos is a very in touch monster and knew life at campchaos was not right. When Jess and Jared told us about it over dinner after our return, Chaos laid quietly with his sad face melting into the floor. He knows. Mayhem- maybe not so much. He's still begging for attention and ball time but then again these things have proven to be good for us too. Long walks on the bike path on a sunny day, fresh air and mountain views- these are good things for sad people. Maybe the little guy has his own way of helping too.

We just wake up each day after to happy dogs with wagging tails and find a way to laugh again, to find pleasure in the simple things and raise a glass of red wine and toast good memories.

hitting the (rock) wall....

We took advantage of the warmer weather and hit the wall this past weekend with friends. It was a gray day but relatively warm in the high 40's and some gusty but manageable winds. We haven't been out there in a long time... we scouted another place in the area last year but hadn't roped up there since late April, 2008. I have no idea why we waited so long to go back (oh wait the photos reminded me... it's too hot in the summers). It's less then 40 minutes from our house and just a short, steep hike to a bolted wall that has a number of routes rated 5.8 and up. We've only been to the gym once this season back in October so my paws were very tender and I only did two routes as I eased myself back into the game.
 
We had an equal number of four legged monsters as two legged people with Sam & Kaya, Conrad and Kiera and us with our two monsters. Sam hasn't climbed much before but took to the rock like spider pig- even in  his LL Bean hiking boots. Conrad's worn out more then one pair of climbing shoes in his career and lead the climbs for the day. 
The dogs were very well behaved and Mayhem had the only bit of trouble as he managed to get 4 small cactus plants stuck in his paws during the day...which meant that I got stuck a few times while removing them. He's very stoic and doesn't flinch in pain which is unlike Chaos who would have whined if he had been that unlucky.Back at the car we enjoyed a late lunch before heading back to Telluride and the winter weather.

An Ipswich ale

Turtle is trying to enjoy the trip and taking a break for a brew.

My little travel buddy...

Go turtle! The first of 3 flights today, good times in the land of stale air and grumpy travelers as we wait.