Today in the United States is National Adopt a Shelter Pet day. A little over a year ago, I lost my best friend who came from the Denver Animal Shelter. When I decided to get a dog back in 2009, there was never any question that it would come from a shelter. I would never … Continue reading My Best Boy
Tag: Trotsky Bear
My Nomad Year
As this year wraps up and I find myself living in a foreign country, something I haven't been able to do since 2006, I can't help but marvel at how fortunate I am. I've been giddy since the second the plane wheels touched down at the Quito airport, and as this post hits my blog, … Continue reading My Nomad Year
The Next 100, In Record Time
I had originally titled this post to be more about running, but running wasn't a thing for me most of the summer. And then I just started to get back into in North Carolina when - bam! - major injury number three for the year that has me grounded yet again. I'd give up permanently … Continue reading The Next 100, In Record Time
Trotsky Bear
To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and when the time comes to let it go, let it go. -Mary Oliver To the world's best bear, Trotsky Bear (birth date unknown … Continue reading Trotsky Bear
And I Would Hike 500 More
When I started tracking my unique hikes a few years ago, Trotsky and I took 107 weeks to do 100 of them. This time, we really put ourselves to the task and crushed the goal in 91 weeks. And that's despite a six-month period when we did almost none. I reached a kind of hiking … Continue reading And I Would Hike 500 More
Time to Move On
For more than a decade, I tried to leave Colorado. When I arrived in August 2008, I planned to get my graduate degree and immediately head back overseas to work in international development. Yet somehow, that never happened. Jobs, romantic relationships, friends, the writing community, athletic aspirations, and financial goals all conspired against my inner … Continue reading Time to Move On
The Final Days
Yes, I know that summer technically ends September 22, but considering that it already snowed in Boulder yesterday, I'm going to say we're well into the final days. And that wasn't even the first time I got snowed on during this summer. This obscenely early snowstorm, coupled with the record-setting storm we had in April … Continue reading The Final Days
The 14,000 Foot Summits of 2019
Despite the late start to 14er season this year, due to the massive amounts of snow over the winter, my friends and I managed to get in just as many peaks as in other years. Dedication to the cause! Not that I ever plan to hike them all—Class 4s with full climbing gear are definitely … Continue reading The 14,000 Foot Summits of 2019
What I Did On My End of Summer Vacation
Saturday: Spent seven hours in the car Sunday: Went grocery shopping Monday: Called into an all-hands at my full time job Tuesday: Did half an hour of work for a freelance client Wednesday: Got my oil changed Thursday: Groomed the dog Friday: Woke up to a 6:30 AM alarm Saturday: Cleaned up the house Sunday: … Continue reading What I Did On My End of Summer Vacation
Where Have I Been?
It's been awfully quiet here on Jen Seriously for the last two months. What gives? The simple answer is that I’ve been trying to prioritize my time better. Without any real responsibilities or obligations outside my full time job, I have plenty of free time, but I do a lot with that time and have … Continue reading Where Have I Been?
Jennifer A Swallow 