Jeff’s Blog

Last Friday, my family and I left for a 4-day vacation to Moab, Utah. We visited Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. While I was there, I wrote down some things in a hotel notepad so that I could then post them here - it's like a blog entry each day.

March 25th at 7:30pm
Yesterday at about 5:00 pm, we left home after packing for about an hour and eating everything in the fridge. It was pretty dark for the whole drive to Glenwood Springs, where we spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express. On the way there, we stopped at Beau Jo's for a dinner of taco and Southwestern pizza.

This morning, we got up moderately early to eat breakfast in the Holiday Inn Express free breakfast room. We had donuts, cereal, and coffee mixed with hot chocolate. After that, we loaded up the forerunner and set off for Moab, Utah.

On the way there we saw red rocks, sheer cliffs, and the snowy LaSal Mountains in the distance. Then, we turned off onto a side road, barely missing running over a prairie dog. The views got better on this scenic road, and after a while, we finally got to Moab. After a quick lunch of chicken delectable wing pizza at Zax Wood-Fired Pizza, we went out to Arches National Park.

We started out with driving to see things, and then went on a three-mile round trip walk to Delicate Arch with a 480-foot altitude increase. We originally thought it was the 100 yard walk that we went on later, but we realized that it wasn't after the first 400 yards.

Now we're back in out Best Western Canyonlands Inn hotel room after a dinner at the Slickrock Cafe. Shortly before dinner we checked in and ate fresh cookies that are still being made now in the lobby.

March 26th at 7:10pm
This morning, I got up, took a shower, and ate a breakfast that was sorely lacking compared to yesterday morning's. After that, we got into the car and headed off to Island in the Sky. It was quite literally an island in the sky - It was surrounded by steep, deep cliffs. We got out on some turn-offs and took short walks to the edge of the land. It was really windy, but we weren't too worried about being blown off. After some short walks, we went on a longer hike on a sort of peninsula. We didn't take the whole trail because it was extremely long and we were all tired and getting hungry, but we still saw some great open views into unimaginable distances.

For lunch, we sat down in a parking lot, because there really wasn't any other place. I had an awesome turkey sandwich, pretzels, and Coca-Cola. We picked it up at the grocery before we left. Right after lunch, we stopped at the visitor's center to see some interesting displays on the cliffs themselves as well as the animals that inhabit them, and we watched a short video which we had also seen the previous night on TV. When we were done there, we went on an awesome four-wheel drive road that took us to the bottom of a canyon, and we could see just how high up we had been a half hour before. There were steep switchbacks with incredibly sharp turns, but it was very enjoyable. And when we were on level ground, we saw a pond that was bright blue because of chemicals and minerals released by a nearby potash-collecting facility, sort of a mine.

March 27th at 6:10pm
We're now in the Slickrock Cafe after a long day of four and a half miles worth of strenuous hiking. Before lunch, we went on a hike up to Cave Spring, which was where water seeped out of the rock under an overhang. There was also an old camp used by the Anasazi Indians, and, later, cowboys. They both survived from the Cave Spring water. Also before lunch, we went to the Roadside Ruin, which was a moderately long hike to a Native American granary. After those outings, we went to the Canyonlands Visitor's Center. There were three picnic tables under small shelters, and we ate at the one farthest away from the visitor's center.

After lunch, we took a somewhat long hike at Pothole Point. Obviously, there were many potholes. However, because it's a desert, they aren't full of water very often. For that reason, there are small shrimp living in there, and in the few days that they have to live, they must lay drought-proof eggs so their species can survive. Then, when it rains again, the eggs hatch and they repeat the process. We saw some snails and minnows in the few potholes that did have water in them.

The final thing we did for the day was also the hardest. It was a three mile long hike with four viewpoints as the main attraction. The last was the best - a breathtaking view into a canyon. It got hot and we got tired, but it was very enjoyable overall.

We ate at the Slickrock Cafe again, and my meal, a pulled pork sandwich with pineapple chunks, was better than what I ordered before, a hamburger.

March 28th at 1:45 pm
We're on the road right now; the vacation's over. However, this morning, we went on one last hike. We walked about 2 miles round-trip to see Landscape Arch. It was supposedly the length of a football field or two, but it didn't look that big. Of course, we couldn't get very close, either. On September 1st, 1991, a huge chunk broke off of the arch and fell to the ground. Unbelievably, someone was there and videotaped it. Ever since then, the trail that goes up close to the arch has been closed.

On the way back from the walk, it started to rain, but heavily. We got back in the car and drove to the visitor's center barely inside Arches National Park. We ate in the car because, strangely enough, there were no picnic tables. The whole place was pretty new, so maybe they'll have built picnic tables by the next time we go there.

March 28th at 5:50
Now, we're at Beau Jo's again, eating dinner. After driving all day, it will certainly be nice to get back home.

My brother and I will be sharing a Beau Taco (without scallions or mushrooms), which is basically a pizza with tortilla chips and other things commonly found on a taco. My parents will be sharing a Skier Mike's, which is a pizza with some stuff on it. After dinner, we'll be going home, and probably watching TV.

Several hours ago, I had the last CCJA practice for two weeks. This time, one of Brad's college students wanted to sit in. She ended up playing bass, and because the drummer was gone and didn't get a sub, Brad played the drums. We did pretty well in my opinion. We worked on switching between 2/4 and 4/4 time and how you would play differently, and also playing in 3/4 and 6/8 time. We got out about 20 minutes early, and surprisingly enough it was snowing! It wasn't fun to wait until our rides came, but it was nice to see the snow. It's not snowing anymore, though.

The reason we won't have practice next week is because it's spring break! Brad and I will both be out of town, and I'll be in Utah! We're leaving this Saturday morning and coming back late on Tuesday. It's going to be great - we'll see lots of awesome things, and go hiking. Last time we went we brought our pop-up camper, but it's going to be cold, so we'll be sticking with a hotel.

And then the second Sunday of spring break (April 2nd) is my fourteenth birthday (More Info)! It's going to be awesome. And the day after that is the opening game for the Colorado Rockies, which we have tickets to! I'll post a detailed entry on all of those things after they happen.

…but not quite. Today we started the science CSAPs, and finished 1 out of 3 sessions. Literally everybody in the class was done within 15-20 minutes, and we were given 65 to complete it in. Because it's standardized, we had to wait the entire time out just sitting there. To prevent incentive to finish the tests early (not that it's needed), the only option once you're done is to sit there. No reading, drawing, no anything.

Also today, we finished the last of the reading sessions. It took everyone, including me, much longer because there were short written responses and you actually had to read little anecdotes and stories and excerpts.

Yesterday, to finish writing, we had to write two accordian paragraphs and lots of short answers. And last week we finished math, which was easy except that I don't know how to long divide.

Tomorrow is the last day of CSAPs this year, with two science sessions. And tomorrow morning, we get a pancake breakfast, courtesy of who knows who.

Again today, I went snowboarding! I got up at 7:45 am, and my friends (who all ski) picked me up. Before today, I've never gone with them. When we got up there, we had to park near the green lifts so we walked over to the lifts we like. They bought lift tickets but I had my handy season pass with me so I didn't have to.

The first run was a little shaky, but after that I was warmed up and going better. The last run was my best. We stopped around noon because the fog was rolling in and it was starting to snow. On the last lift ride, we were in the last clear patch of air left. Fog was coming from both sides, and it was going to meet right where we were. When we got to the top of the mountain, my goggles were fogged, but I didn't care because all it was blocking was more fog. The visibility was getting lower by the second, literally, so we decided to call it quits after that.

In the line for lunch, we realized that conditions weren't getting any better, and we weren't going to be able to board/ski afterwards. We got into the car, and ate at McDonald's instead. That way we avoided a ridiculously long lunch line, huge crowds, and we got out of there before the fog affected driving conditions.

Today during lunch, my U.S. Society class had a pizza party. And unlike what they sell in my cafeteria, it was real pizza! We all had to bring in $2 to pay for 6 pizzas. There are 14 people in my class, so we all got as much as we wanted, and there was still some left. We also got to drink soda, which was great because we don't normally get to do that in our school.

In other news, I've been sick the past like week so that's why there haven't been any blog entries. But I'm well now so I'll be making blog entries like normal again.

My brother played the first game in his league's basketball tournament earlier this evening. They lost 22-26, but they're still not eliminated. It's a double-elimination tournament. However, even if they lose, it's still a great experience. And hopefully, there are some friendly games if they are eliminated. It was a pretty close game, actually.

Afterwards, we went to Turley's to eat. It was good. I had a Hickory burger. I put some Dijon mustard on it. I didn't know it was Dijon at first though! It was a big surprise at the first bite.

Now we're watching American Idol, and Bucky is still in! He's definitely the best contestant! I'm sure he'll win the whole thing.

Today was officially the last day of the second trimester. All of the per-trimester classes are wrapping up.

In food fun this whole week we've been doing after-school snacks. As previously mentioned in the entry about food fun after school snacks, my friend and I went on Monday. The rest of the week we've just been sitting and eating. It's been great. Today there was a "Sunshine Salad" (Cottage cheese, mandarin oranges and orange Jell-o mix), chocolate cake, chicken & cheese quesadillas and BLTs. It was all really good.

In gym this week we've just been playing games. Not real sports in particular, but games like dodgeball (yesterday). Today we played siege, which was very fun. I just stood in front of people and easily caught balls. For some people, they don't have gym again this year. They'll be going to health. Me? I had health first trimester, so I'm in PE until the end of the year.

The only new class I'll be taking on Monday will be Computer Power with the food fun teacher. It's things like learning how to use Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. It's going to be easier than easy.