Yeah, I know. I've been bad.  Well, I've been worse but yes let's all nod and admit I've been bad.  For those of you who are so close, it IS official. After twenty years, I am leaving my job. It is for the best and has been a long time coming.  It has been very hard and I am very scared of the new life ahead of me. I am grateful for the support and encouragement my dearest friends have given me. I will get there. I will survive and be strong, happy and satisfied again; in due time.  For now, I am stumbling through the day to day on baby giraffe legs; trying to figure out what I want to be, who I want to be; when I grow up (although I heard if you reach forty and haven't that you really don't have to ~ that would be MY choice). As you can imagine, I haven't felt much like writing nor have I been able to get things down on paper that I like or can manipulate.  It will come, I just need a little time, space and understanding.  Change is scary; the scariest monster I can think of right now.

So we will change gears a little because blog etiquette is "thou shalt not aire dirty laundry or complain" oops.

Great. Now I've blinned ( blog-sinned)

How about a little levity? I came up to Promises after a seminar and have spent a wonderful couple of weeks here.  I even got the courage to branch out to some new trails not too far away.

 Today I got up early, kissed the hubby and zoomed off in Gizmo.  I arrived there just fine after only two wrong turns (remember ~ GPS only works if you have a signal....) and set out.  The trails were well groomed and tight. They had just enough shade and woods mixed with meadows and flowering thickets.  Gorgeous.  Only one thing was missing: trail markers.  So I got to prove to myself how awesome I am with a compass.  Holy Hannah! I hiked my butt off and wandered around in the woods Blair Witch style.  In fact, I came to an old house; a creepy ugly stone gargoyle that loomed in the woods; not one road around; just an old out building with old machinery inside as a sidekick. I confess here that I  snooped. Not only that, but I also came across countless ideas for stories.  Alas, I was so busy playing Magellan that I couldn't write them all down.  So as I was twisting this way and that wondering if I was still in the US, I heard the thumping; low and steady.

As you can imagine, my imagination began to work overtime as to what it was.  It was only natural that since I was afraid of the noise, I would hike toward it right? Riiiiiight. And so now you know that I would be the first one offed in a slasher film. But back to the woods; shady, quiet and stiff as if waiting for me to discover at last the ancient secrets it has had to hide for oh so long. I held my breath and rounded a huge rock formation (I was certain it would have been used for Myan sacrifice if they were "lake lovers". I think they were more beach goers though...) and smiled to myself; then guffawed at my stupidity.  I had hiked parallel to the trail I wanted all along (Very good) but had managed to hoof it all the way down to the main road and the local high school marching band practice. (Very silly but hilarious) adding about four or five miles to my trip. I turned and headed back in stumbling upon my desired trail and getting back on track.

AFter returning I headed down to the southwest system of trails which were only about three miles complete. I am looking for a new system so I can take my little shadow, Birdie.  She was actually to accompany me but after discovering that she and her brother had broken in to Nag (my pack) and eaten all my "hiking candy" (which is nothing more than oats, agave nectar, cinnamon and almond butter) I was ticked and punished her by making her watch me pack up and leave...Yeah I know. How many times can you sadly say "Childish Tess. Childish." sigh. BUT I did find some awesome new trails that she could handle. She will have a great time and I'm excited to take her out. Winston? Uh... no. He would take two steps, snot on everything, whiz on some bushes and want to go home.  I think he would consider his new territory marked and want a cookie ... or some friggin hiking candy. Lil stinker.

I know it's not heehaw funny but it's cute and I wanted to share it with you.  Sorry the draft popped up early for those of you who were here for Sunday's post.  Oops mah bad.

But I thank you for coming, sitting with me a little bit and hopefully smiling. I have missed you all. It's nice to see some of you after so long; welcome back.  For those of you who are new, welcome friends. Until next time, be good to yourself. You're the best friend you have.