My new phone is a Droid.  Since my current service is with AT&T, that means changing to Verizon--and now I have signal at the cabin!  Unfortunately, the signal is not so great at home.  We bought a proprietary little device called a "femtocell" that boosts the signal.  It hooks up to your broadband and costs $250.  Steep!  It also needs to be near a window so it can lock into a GPS signal.  We bought one to try it; it works, but very shortly, they are coming out with one that boosts the 3G network as well.  So I will return it and wait for the better model.  I really don't understand why Verizon doesn't offer this device for free, since the reason we need it is their signal sucks.

While I'm on this hedonic treadmill, let me tell you more about my new phone.  It's a little larger than most phones--a plus for me since I have fat fingers and can't see the screen anyway.  The top slides back to reveal a full-sized keyboard; otheI downloaded tetrisrwise, a keyboard appears on the screen as needed.  A voice recognition feature works like a charm--to dial numbers, to find restaurants, and to get voice turn-by-turn navigation.  All at no extra charge!  And the internet is the fastest on the phone I've ever seen.  It came with a 16 GB memory card already installed.  Zane downloaded the first free app.  It's a barcode scanner.  Scan in the bar code of an item, and compare prices anywhere! I downloaded some games:  a tetris-like game, solitaire, and WordUp (addicting).  Everyone has used my phone more than I have so far--not a problem, they've taught me how to use it!  Every day I learn something new.  Today I just synced the calendar with my work calendar...apparently, I set up mail, too. 

People are always comparing this phone with the iPhone. I think they are comparable phones--this one has the cool touch screen, the music features, browser, contacts, GPS, camera, facebook, and calendar.  What I like about this phone is that I am not commited to it the way Apple requires; most apps are free, and it uses all the google features I'm already using.  Cons:  it is a little hefty, the battery life isn't great, camera is sluggish.  Sometimes the screen doesn't respond to my touch.  Pros:  This is the greatest phone ever!

 

 

My oldest turns....OLD today!  I left him voice mail--I told him the good news is, it just keeps better and better!  

Speaking of the good life, last weekend we were (surprise) at the cabin.  We didn't go Labor Day weekend; we've found the holiday weekends a bit too crowded and I never have liked being on the roads then anyway.  After Labor Day, things get very quiet in the Lake Tahoe area until the snow falls.  We are hearing it should be getting more moisture this winter with an "El Nino" weather pattern, but whether that manifests as snow is the big question.  The last few years have been disappointing.  But it will be nice to get rain.  When we left the valley it was about 103; but what a surprise the weather was up there!  Cloudy and cool; nice enough to leave the windows open all night, but didn't get into the 70s on Sunday.  Perfect!  It did rain a bit there but more in valley I heard.  Todd and I went on a mountain bike ride on Saturday.  I wanted to show him an aspen grove I saw on a horseback ride a couple weeks earlier.  We headed to the trails near the equestrian center and stumbled on a "Trails and Vistas" performance in the woods.  About 30 people were stopped to watch.  We couldn't help but stop and watch, too.

Trails and Vistas Fuses Art and Nature

Trails & Vistas is an art-hike where the audience experiences eight performing venues and beautiful art installations along a 2 to 3 mile, single-track dirt trail. Each group consists of 30 hikers and is guided by a Trail Leader and will take approximately 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Trails & Vistas blends walking in nature with artistic expression.

We saw an American Indian performance; two men played instruments while four women danced to the story narrated, about the myth of a black raven that created mountains and valleys.  Interesting.  As we rode past the second group of hikers, one woman seemed annoyed at our presence.  "How in the world did THEY get in here?"  Obviously clueless to the massive network of trails that would be impossible to close off!  Shortly after that we did find the aspen grove, but some "artists" had set up their performance in there, so we rode on by.  We came upon a beautiful long scarf across the trail, and a woman came streaking across the meadow asking us to "Go around!"  I barely stopped in time, but wondered what that was all about.  It was a great ride and every time we go out I am in awe of my new mountain bike.  What a difference having the right bike makes! 

The next day Todd and I tried to play tennis, but my tennis elbow has me sidelined for awhile.  Later, Todd found us a hike near Alpine Meadows ski resort.  It was an almost straight up climb to 7500', to Five Lakes.  Todd had packed sandwiches, cookies, and chocolate covered almonds.  I never had a sandwich taste so good! 

We had dinner at the cabin and got home around 10 pm Sunday.  Only three days of work and Thursday I'm scheduled for oral surgery.  I'll probably stay home this weekend, while Todd invited his brother to the cabin to play with him in a golf tournament.  I'm sad to miss the Art, Bark, and Wine festival going on a Squaw Valley ski resort.  Maybe, if I feel better Saturday, I'll go up for the day. 

Yup things are just the way I like them at home!

The birds wake me up every day.  Not necessarily my own.  Mine do their share of wake up calling, but not 'til they hear the din from the birds outside.  I've convinced Sunny and Jake to stay quiet until at least nearly 6 am.  The dogs are another story.  There is no sleeping in here.  Forget about it.  It's OK; I love these long bright days, and that it is light before 5 am.  It's already waning and I can sense it.  I love waking up early.  Even more when I actually get up.  Early mornings doing something I don't usually do gives me the feeling of "free" time.  As in 25 hours a day. 

My muscles are sore from the incredible weekend.  Tennis on Friday.  A mountain bike ride on Saturday. 


"Snowflake" is in the back.  What an awesome bike she is--I couldn't have done it without her!!

I didn't go with Todd and our guests Friday or Sunday--those were the challenging rides!  I was still recovering from a hike on my birthday weekend.  We were trying to retrace our route on a snowshoe hike we took last year, over two frozen lakes.  In our effort to find them, we went about twice as far.  Still, it was nice.  I'm just complaining for no good reason. 



Hiking with my husband is serious business.  We go PREPARED.  He filled my camel bak with ice cold water, snacks, and made sure we had proper attire.  One thing we were missing but have since added to our packs is mosquito repellent. 


The still-remaining snow patches are surprisingly a breeding ground for those blood suckers. 


Surprise--a picture of me!


We thought this was one of the frozen lakes we hiked over in snowshoes, but we later found it was only a pond.



It was really quite beautiful.  I'm lucky that my guy thinks of all these great things to do and see. 



Todd and I played tennis last night.  We had a fan base.  I had to bribe them with wine, crackers and cheese, but it worked.  We picked up Taqueria afterward.  Good times.  Seriously good times.


My fan club, riding our tandem home from the exciting tennis match. 

Dropped off Harvey at the shop tonight.  His power steering seems to be going out intermittently.  Good excuse to make me ride my new bike.  I'm excited.  I've wanted to every day but there is always a reason I need to drive.  I'm sure there will be one tomorrow, too.  But I will ride my bike anyway! I love my new bike.  It has all the "forbidden" features my guys don't like:  a fat comfy seat, upright handlebars, and (gasp) a KICKSTAND!  I was going to retrofit my old bike with those features, and Todd called me on my way to the bike shop.  "Don't wreck a perfectly good mountain bike--just buy one that already has those things.  It will probably cost the same!"  Happy birthday to me--it became my birthday present.

 
She needs a name...

I still have one present I haven't tried yet--Wii fit.  I can't wait to try it!  I just needed a couple more hours a day to go along with it.

After my VO2 MAX test Thursday, I should find out if I am in the control group or exercise group for the Exercise Study I signed up to be in.  I really really don't want to be in the control group but the bright side is they give me a 6-month gym membership at the end.  As well as the $350 bucks for participating.

It's about two hours past my bedtime but I found out I have a fan!  Someone misses my posts.  And I've missed you, too.

Thank you.  <3