Hiatus of madness!

Hello happy readers!  Looks like I've adapted a 3-month blog cycle, New Years intention #1: record more, communicate better.  I've added a few pictures to encapsulate my semester.  Each photo should have been a blog in itself.  Here's the run down:

Since we last met, I attended Net Impact 2011 in Portland, Oregon.  It was a fantastic conference, focused on innovation across all fields.  Some key highlights involved hearing executive officers from REI and Nike speak as well as every day people who truly make a difference doing what they love.  Click on the link above to get a run down.  One of the most important take-aways came from interacting with several of the hundreds of other MBA students who also attended.  While many were taking a class or two on sustainability, we in the GSSE program are totally immersed in it.  It was nice to feel validated by every single speaker I saw.  We are, in fact, setting ourselves up to compete in the world of innovation and change.  The morning we flew out, a group of us made the trip over to Multnomah falls and though it was a rainy day, it was great to see some sites outside the city.

At Net Impact, Portland.  Breakfast of champions!

Multnomah Falls after our weekend conference.

Just as we all hit our mental capacity, Thanksgiving break arrived and I had 10 sweet days to sleep, marinate in what we had learned so far and head up to Leadville for some friends and home cooked food.  Check out those rolls by Rocky!

Thanksgiving in Leadville, great friends and food!

In the few weeks between fall break and winter break ( I forgot how much I love the academic schedule), classes kicked into high gear and we wrapped up presentations, projects, and finals.  The work paid off and I'm sincerely looking forward to building on what we learned, next semester.  Sidenote, one of my spring textbooks is "Statistics in Excel for Dummies".  Good thing we're all realistic enough to avoid being insulted...

Our very last final of the semester...40 hours and many pizzas later.

After some post-finals celebration, I headed up to Leadville and realized altitude + exhaustion = extreme sloth.  Recovered nicely in clear view of the Rockies and flew home for some family time.  Hadn't seen them in a year so it was great to eat mom's food, see friends (Shout out to Keith Chervenak & Co!), and pet my dog (who keeps fighting the good fight and never loses that puppy glow amidst the tumors).

Coming home always tastes so good!

I'll just re-start working out in January...

 Colorado State has a fantastic winter break, a complete 30-days!  Classes start on the 17th and in the mean time, I'll be searching for just a wee bit of snow to board on (it's a low year in Co), prepping for classes and grant seeking for a projected summer trip to Brazil to research sustainable housing solutions in the greater Sao Paulo area...but that's a whole different blog post. 

On continuous watch for dropped food.

Happy New Year everyone, may your good intentions be fruitful and communication channels be open!

The man, the myth, the legend!

Now where to begin?  In true form, it's been almost a month since posting but the good news is we're halfway through the semester, WOOT!  Instead of the usual whirlwind recap, I'll focus on a particularly exciting event we were able to partake in last Friday.  The MBA program I'm in is called Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise (GSSE).  It evokes many of the same reactions I got when explaining to people I was going into the Peace Corps.  "You're doing what? ...Why?" or "I hope you make as much money as that degree title sounds like."  I've gotten over the pitying looks.  As IF I could do anything to save this world caught in a downward spiral, right?  Well, turns out, some of us can.

The happy GSSE crew and speakers

The GSSE community had the opportunity to hear some pretty inspiring folks speak a few days ago. Paul Polak, founder of International Development Enterprises (IDE) and author of Out of Poverty along with the current CEO, Al Doerkson came to share some perspectives about development and IDE's place in that world.  While Paul holds to some steadfast rules (the "Don't Bother Trilogy") I don't necessarily agree with, such as "If what you design can't pay for itself in a year, don't bother" he makes some of the most logical connections between business and the developing world I've every heard.  The way Paul and Al rattled off market numbers was astonishing.  As a wise not-so-old professor once said, "Paul is 78 and could kick all our asses".

Evolving as a professional and engaged individual, this program is pushing me to see the things I agree with and highlights some that I don't.  I think it was Obama's mom who said something to the effect of "Sooner or later you have to be for something rather than against everything".  

Giving potential venture feedback

The day started with some background on IDE and where the idea came from (Paul's head).  He's a psychiatrist by training, spent some time investing in real estate, and realized after traveling through many developing countries that a good chunk of the world has some serious needs BUT they had some disposable income to address them.  The rest is history, peppered by Somali donkey carts, drip irrigation systems, water purifiers and more.  IDE sells products to make people's lives easier in a manner that is affordable and less intrusive than traditional products.  Seriously, leave this blog now and go the sites I linked above!  They don't apply blanket answers but adapt their market strategy to each country, city, and village situation.  

Lettin' us have it!

The most exciting part of the day for me was when we were able to let fly questions we had about the projects we will be presenting at the end of this month.  Our class goal is to pick the most viable projects from a crop of ventures and carry those forward over the next 18-months and maybe beyond.  Paul and Al asked us real questions about the nitty gritty details.  What an opportunity to ask these men, who have been in the field for decades, about our ideas.  It was humbling and energizing all at once.  These were questions investors or really anyone would ask.  Our ideas are solidifying but we're still in the research phase for the most part... This is the irrigation project in India I keep mentioning.

It was a fantastic day.  Paul signed all our copies of his book, many contacts were exchanged and, I think, a good time was had by all.  I'm sure this is not the last I'll blog about these guys and IDE, their ideas and practices resonate with me in a very big way.  As Paul says, "There is much to be done."

Mountains and Valleys

Hey all!  I think we've hit what the previous Cohort was referring to when they said it would be a "busy" semester.  This program has been true to its marketing and shaping up to be a very intense 18-months.  This is the first time I haven't work since I was 12 and it's totally necessary...and shocking.  As per usual, the highs are high and the lows are quickly becoming normal and less panicky...so that's good.  And really the lows are not lows. They're just patches of having to focus HARD on the coolest stuff out there on sustainable business, boo-hoo, I know.

There has been some fun as well, last weekend was the Fort Collins Sustainability Fair.  The GSSE program has a booth and it was a great time!  Much larger than last year was the word on the street.  They even had free bike valet parking!  Good thing I wore my pearls. Kudos to the Sustainable Living Association for putting this on.

One of the many rows of booths

Kat and Greg selling knowledge!

We needed to compete for love with our neighbor's dog so we borrowed a puppy for a bit.  5 months and 50 pounds...

In other news, we've had two students drop from the program for different reasons.  22 of us remain and we're a pretty cohesive bunch.  Ranging from former corporates to sci-fi actors, it's an eclectic mix.  Looking forward to being assigned a venture to work towards in November.   For now, it's researching small plot irrigation for rural farmers in India.  Smells of a former Peace Corps project...

My Happy Place

Water skiing on Horsetooth Reservoir

Well, I think it's safe to say I've landed for a spell.  After three weeks of non-stop "settling" Fort Collins is certainly treating me well.  I feel like I've landed in a foreign village for the first time and with no expectations, the surprises have been pleasant to say the least.

Those who know me well...or really anyone whom I've talk with for 5 minutes knows that "settle" is a 4-letter word in my book.  So much to do and so many places to go always meant perpetual motion.  After the purchases of a chest freezer and folding end table,  I must say, this whole moving-in thing is great!  Coffee in the morning hasn't been this great since french-pressing in Benin...well AND porch coffee in Alaska.  But this time my bathroom is INSIDE!!!!

Since Lizzy, Tara and myself hadn't been in the same room for two years (!) we got together on Labor day to celebrate friendships and a new addition to our group of ladies, Olivia!  The little nugget was great and Daddy was even better, giving us girls some talk time.

The real reason for a gathering was to start working on emptying the chest freezer.  Master chef Tara concocted something with cilantro and cardamon for the salmon.  Super tasty and she followed with a homemade blueberry pie. I swear, I am the best-fed grad student in history.

School is moving along swimmingly.  Every day brings new thoughts and twists on some pre-conceived notion I had about working in the developing world.  If this program is doing anything for me, it's certainly broadening my employment search awareness and making me more confused than ever...in a very good way.  Interesting that accounting is quickly becoming a favorite as it's the only class with REAL objective answers.  If assets don't equal liabilities and stock. equity then you're wrong!  Every other class is extremely subjective and I'm finding comfort in concrete solutions.

In other news, I've joined the Fort Collins women's rugby team. A great group of women who show up to have a good time.  Felt nice to tackle again and found I even missed wearing a mouthguard.  More to come on game updates but seems as though we'll have a "building" season.

Hope everyone has finally cooled off, it's 70 degrees and sunny here, always.

Three Months Later...

And my brain is exploding!  Since our last meeting readers, there have been some serious changes.  So here's the run down; the sad, the happy and the mind-melting future...

I had big, huge even, intentions of hiking every trail I've missed in the last two years.  Knowing it would be my last summer for a bit, I had some ground to cover!  Then the sockeye run came in.  Fishing started great for me this year, caught a 122 lb. halibut and finally acquired a fly rod and reel.  A few knot lessons later and my little 5ft chest freezer is FULL to the brim for the winter.

Slaying the mighty sockeye 

Rocky and I even bought our season licenses ($145 for outta-staters such as ourselves) and they paid for themselves a million times over.  I'm pretty sure that he was just ecstatic not to be dragged on every trail on the Kenai.  Friends Tara and Jason came up and we fished the heck out of the middle part of the river, 5 fish per person, at a conservative 4 lbs of meat per fish...that's an 80 lb haul in one day.  Now make no mistake, it was an extra large run this year so I didn't feel quite so bad about hauling them out and we certainly thanked every fish for its life and flesh.  It's tasty, tasty flesh...

Surprise Glacier 

With one weekend to spare, we were awarded extra days off for good behavior and it was off to the magical land of the Kenai Fjords National Park and our very own Glacier Lodge.  We had absolutely     a-maz-ing weather, and if I was feeling spiritual, I'd even say we were blessed a little.  Heard they were having a great summer and getting to see friends made it the perfect finale to my stint in our northern frontier.

Getting a tan in the Kenai Fjords National Park!

 I took many photos, made more great friends, and hope to continue my love affair with Alaska long into the future. It has certainly wrapped itself around my heart and brain with a fierce grip!

Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, doesn't get much better than this.

I said farewell to some of the greatest people I've ever met and hopped a red eye to Denver.  Bittersweet but it sure did feel good to hit Fort Collins and know I'd be unpacking the majority of my stuff for an extended stay.  While I'm pretty sure a backpack lifestyle will always be my mantra, I wrote a rent check and bought a crock pot.  For the next 18 months I'll be MBA-ing at Colorado State, riding my bike, and drinking a plethora of microbrews.  More to come on that but it feels good to be connected again, eating fresh produce, and working towards goals that have been floating around my head for quite some time.  Onward and upward friends!

Safari Rides Again!

view from the beach at Kenai Backcountry Lodge

For the first time in my three years at Alaska Wildland Adventures, I was able to participate in a full guide training.  If our guests thought they were exhausted at the end of a journey, we put that to shame.  Running all over the state and trying to absorb as much natural history as possible, we hit all three AWA lodges and then some. It began with a 6-hour raft down the Kenai to our backcountry lodge, a three mile hike to the tundra the next day and back to camp for a dance party.  

saw-whet owl, 2nd smallest and CUTE!

Pausing only briefly between the Kenai and north training, we danced our safari hats off and headed to Anchorage the next day, seeing the Portage Visitor's Center, Girdwood, and pointing out the all-important R.E.I.  On the way to Talkeetna, we were treated to a visit from the Alaska Wild Bird Rehab Center.   They give great talks to our guests about the rescue and rehabilitation of the raptors and other winged friends that are brought in.

7 sisters flying around Denali

Made it North and flew up to the Ruth Glacier, what a GREAT day!

one of the best Dall sheep pictures I've taken

Denali Park stole my heart as usual. We were able to fly around the mountain, land on the Ruth glacier, enjoy the nightlife of Talkeetna, and share delicious food and priceless stories with friend while camping in the park.  The weather was glorious, the mountain was out the entire time, (that must put us in the .001% club) and animals were all over.  As a fellow guide put it, "It was just pissing nature!"

Just an update

And the ball has stopped rolling…for another few months anyways.  Made it to Alaska and breathed a sigh of content as we landed on a fabulously sunny day in Anchorage.  Another season, my third, and I’m still psyched to be here!  The landing marked the end of living 3 weeks on the road and out of my backpack.  While I’m definitely not done with being transient, it’s always nice to be able to stand still.

view from Sunset Point

After the state park post, Rocky and I headed to Bryce Canyon National Park for some sunshine and hiking.  Found lots of both and picked up some giant blisters at the bottom of the hoo-doos.  Loved the park, mostly because it was such a different landscape than I’d gotten used to over the winter.  Wish we’d have made it to Zion but sometimes it’s nice not to squeeze too much in.

Natural Windows

After Bryce, we marathon-ed for a few days, bless the red bandit, and made it to Three Island Crossing State Park, in Glenn’s Ferry, Idaho… to stay for a total of 9-hours.  Great showers and tons of cushy grass, highly recommended for an overnight.

Onward to the Oregon coast to see Minto, a fellow guide from Alaska.  We split that stay with a trip into Portland to see one of Rocky’s friends from his city days.  Yakuza is where he works and we ate.  A-MAZING!  Best sushi I’ve ever put in my face and certainly the best sake.  It was a seriously incredible dinner with some insight from the chef himself, with duck wontons in a consommé as a grande finale.  Good thing the sushi was healthy.

Rocky wasn't too stoked to be on Vertigo Point

Returning to our weekend at Minto’s, we received a tour de coast with more stellar weather.  Minimal hiking due to the time crunch, which was fine with my still-raw blisters.  Also during this time, I found out I got into grad school at Colorado State in Fort Collins for the MBA-Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise program, starting this fall.  Felt the load of anxiety I’d been schlepping around all winter dissipate instantly.  This was quickly replaced by the concern of finances for a master’s program, but it’s a nice thing to have to worry about.

As a final stop, we parted ways in Seattle so Rocky could head home and I could get some time in for "favorite cousin of the year" with two of the best little nuggets under 5, Nora and Lucille.  It's nice to have family stretched across the country.  One sunny afternoon we went to the Japanese Garden, part of the Botanical Gardens in the city.  Exactly what I'd seen back in Japan, so peaceful!

watched these guys for awhile

playing with shutter speed

 This summer is looking busier than ever, which means it will go even faster than the last few.  Cheers to endless daylight, campfires, and one more season in a tent…for a while anyways.