Hiking: Thunderbird Park

This morning I was thinking the clouds looked unusual, then I spotted the sundog (parhelion).
[Click on photo for a larger image]



We had a couple days of light rain. But I decided enough with the lame excuses and Cierra and I went for an afternoon hike at Thunderbird Park.

Our tracks. We hiked 3 miles. Our highest elevation was 1,685 for an elevation gain of 388'. Thunderbird Park is a heavily used, mildly challenging area to hike.


Just past one of the picnic areas, up we go.


Views of the city. Too many people, too many houses.


Looking NW, towards home and Westwing Mountain.


Looking at 59th Ave.


On our way down.


More city views. The water is in the Arrowhead Lakes neighborhood.


Where we came from...


...and where we're going.


Looking up. On the top of the Palo Verde tree, using the cloud as a backdrop, there's a speck. It's a hummingbird.


Hummingbird.


As close as I could get, it's a bit grainy.

Lastly, some inspiration:


I have a lazy streak, and my lazy streak likes to eat chocolate cake and jalapeno chips (not at the same time). In honor of my mom's lifelong fight with kidney disease, I plan on being a living kidney donor in 2013. I want to use this time in 2012 to become more fit, and begin the screening process in the Fall of 2012.

New Years Resolutions

Photo credit: Bakerella

I don't normally make New Years resolutions. I can do something good for myself or my family and I don't need to wait until January to make it happen.

This week, I made a list of resolutions, about a half dozen of the usual things, blah, blah, blah, and who cares. I won't bore you with the details.

I want to share just one:

I will continue my journey to better health and wellness so that in the year 2013 I can become a living kidney donor.

I'm doing this in honor of my mom, and others like her.

My mom was born with kidney disease. She had one kidney removed in her late teens and is currently living with one kidney functioning at 30%. She believes she can live out the remainder of her life with what she has, and hopes to avoid dialysis if possible.

My mom is my hero.

Seriously.

My mom is strong, she can run circles around me and I'm supposed to be the young, healthy one.

She has dedicated more than 20 years to taking care of retired, ill or elderly horses. With her, they have a place to live their end days with love, comfort and dignity. Every day she works HARD taking care of her horses, she currently has four.

I may not be able to donate to my mom, but in her honor, I can still share. And, I will. That is my most important resolution for the new year.