♣ Love Thee, Notre Dame ♣

This day, dedicated to St. Patrick, is one of my favorites of the year (after Christmas of course, and maybe my birthday ...) I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be the case had I not attended the most Irish university in our country. They know how to celebrate anything Irish at Notre Dame, and I miss the place more than ever on this day. But, each year, I feel my connection to the university so strongly. I think of tailgating and green beer, the Victory March and bagpipes, but I also remember my friends, the Notre Dame family, and the meaning of loyalty, faith, and love. Above all else, it brings a sense of belonging as well as a feeling of contentment and comfort. Today, everyone wishes they were Irish. I get to be Irish everyday!

Notre Dame, Our Mother

Notre Dame, our Mother


Tender, strong and true


Proudly in the heavens,


Gleams thy gold and blue.


Glory's mantle cloaks thee


Golden is thy fame,


And our hearts forever,


Praise thee, Notre Dame.


And our hearts forever,


Love thee, Notre Dame.

Comanche Grasslands {Photos}

The Comanche National Grassland is a unique place to visit, especially when you're used to vacationing in the mountains and foothills. This time of year, there's not much to look at in terms of beauty per se, but come summer, the brown landscape will transform to a lush green. At that time, I'll be back for another visit (and to hike the 10.5 mile round-trip trail to the dinosaur tracks ... I know, nerd).

Despite the arid environment, you can't beat the serenity and stillness of a highly unvisited area where sky meets horizon every way you turn, or the satisfaction of enjoying a sunny spring weekend outside.

Welcome to Comanche

Purgatoire River

Picketwire Canyon (and cacti)

Picketwire Canyon

Sunset from our campsite

Happy 64th, Daddy

Schönbrunn Palace, Austria, October 2010

There are some things besides Italy that are good in my life at the moment ... my dad being one of the most important. He's showed me unconditional love; he's made incredible sacrifices to ensure I have the best of everything; he's offered words of wisdom, sprititual guidance and boundless encouragement throughout all stages and transitions of my growth; and he's acted as one of the most deserving and respected role models I've ever come across. In all honesty, I am a daddy's girl. But, it's hard not to be when you're the only child of a protective and loving father.

Happy Birthday Dad, I'm so sorry the ND Irish couldn't win it for you tonight!

Italy: the consolation

Casa Simona, Tuscany

The above link will take you to a lovely description (complete with photo gallery) of this charming restored barn in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. This shall be my home for a time in September; it will also be a celebratory location for my 25th birthday on the 16th.

So it wasn't in the cards for me this year ... medical school, I mean. The interviews went well - I'm a decent judge of these things, and I've learned to trust my instincts. As for a short-term solution, I've requested to speak with Dr. Winn, the Dean of Admissions at the University of Colorado. He's a Notre Dame alum, and he's an amiable, though painfully realistic, guy. I believe it to be my MCAT score that's preventing me from receiving that acceptance letter ... perhaps my low-ish science GPA, maybe both? I don't know anymore. Three years is just crazy, and I am mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. I need someone to tell me bluntly what the hell is wrong with me. 

This really is not the end of the world (despite how I felt yesterday afternoon in the car, stopping for a split second to give partial credence to the thought that I almost wouldn't have minded being in a car accident on that particular day). Either way, I suppose I'll find the answers and fix what I can for next year. I've always believed things work out the way they're meant to .... and there is always a positive side to every misfortune. 

I must admit, Italy is a pretty fantastic consolation prize!

Comanche Grasslands

Located in southeastern Colorado near La Junta, Comanche National Grassland extends across 443,764 acres and is divided into two units, Timpas (in the northwest) and Carrizo (in the southeast along the Oklahoma border). Vegetation is primarily Shortgrass prairie, but juniper and pinyon trees grow in rocky canyons and cottonwoods are abundant along streams. The area contains ancient petroglyphs carved into canyon walls and rock faces, and Picketwire Canyon boasts the Purgatoire River track site (the largest documented dinosaur trackway in North America) in the Morrison Formation. More than 1,300 Allosaurs and Brontosaurs tracks are visibly preserved in the rock - footprints that were left behind in the muddy shoreline 150 million years ago!


Aside from these obvious attractions, the grasslands offer a unique sense of isolation that people like me crave when hiking, camping, and enjoying the Colorado outdoors. With a promising weekend forecast of high-60's and sunny, I know where I'll be spending my Saturday and Sunday!

Inspiration for The North Face

While I own a substantial collection of North Face clothing and gear, I have never given much thought to the logo (which conists of three thick half-U shaped lines somewhat resembling a mountain).

Never Stop Exploring

I was surprised to learn that the image is an interpretation of Yosemite's Half Dome viewed from the west. The sheer North Face of Half Dome is on the left. Below is a photograph of the granite monolith taken by the one and only Ansel Adams. See the similarity?

I am very excited about this new-found knowledge!

Half Dome Cables

Permit reservation day: 8 am Mountain Time, March 1st 

From Recreation.gov



Beginning in 2011, each person who ascends Half Dome via the Cable Route is required to have a permit every day of the week that the cables are in place (mid-May/early June through Columbus Day weekend in October, depending on snow conditions). Although wilderness permits can be secured up to six months in advance, a day-hike permit cannot be reserved until a specified date - in our case, March 1st.

You can only reserve a day-hike permit online through Recreation.gov as early as 7 am Pacific Time (8 am Mountain Time). Out of a 400 per-day permit quota, there were none remaining at 8:05 am for June 21st, the day we'd planned our climb. Within minutes of becoming available, every single day in both May and June was sold out {July hikes can't be reserved until April 1st, otherwise I can guarantee that the month would be sold out as well}. Thankfully, Justin and I were among the lucky 400 ... we had ours reserved and confirmed by 8:01!

Apparently I've underestimated the popularity of this hike (despite the craziness of day-hike permit demand). We'd been unable to obtain a wilderness permit allowing us to camp at Little Yosemite Valley on the night of the 20th (thus dividing our 17-mile round trip - & 4,800 feet of elevation gain - climb into two parts); every day through mid-August was completely reserved. However, the park service allows only 60% of these permits for any particular trailhead to be reserved ahead of time; the other 40% is held for hikers the day of travel, or up to 24 hours in advance. So, if we can make it to the wilderness office long before they open on the 19th, we should be good to go. If not, at least we've ensured a day-hike permit and the opportunity of a lifetime to climb this famous granite rock formation.