As everyone does at the beginning of every year, Roby and I made our New Year’s Resolutions for 2008. We chose a slogan and devised our plan around it. 2008 was to be a character building year for us so our motto was "Elevate in 08".
The year did not disappoint. Roby started immediately by turning 45 in January. We realized we were not getting any younger so our goal was to challenge ourselves both physically and mentally. So, at 5:30 am on his birthday he was surprised that he was not going directly to work. I planned a sunrise sky-dive for the two of us. We jumped from 10,000 feet and soared over the island. What an adrenaline rush-too bad we can’t wake up every morning like that. We probably would be more productive. (See Roby’s video on our website)
February arrived and we headed to Colorado for our annual ski trip with MaryKay and Kelly. This trip had many surprises. Beside the incredible snow conditions; probably the best ever at Steamboat (at least 30 inches of fresh powder), Roby pulled a "Van Gogh". We still do not know how it happened but while skiing in the trees at Steamboat, Roby had his ear nearly severed off, but thankfully some good plastic surgeons reside in town and sewed him up like new. He was a trooper and we headed to Jackson Hole for a week of skiing with our friends Brian and Julie. We wrapped his head and put on a hat and he was good to go.
We figured since we jumped from 10,000 feet our next adventure was to climb up to 14,000 feet. Our goal was to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier in Washington State - No wimpy goals for us. We spent the first 9 months of 2008 training every weekend on a different trail on Kauai. We hiked for at least 4 hours with 50 pound packs on our back. Every trail on the island was conquered and several many times. In fact we did the Kukui Trail at least 10 times. I forbid us from ever climbing it again!
We were serious about our training so we took a trip to both the Big Island and Maui to get some elevation training. The Big Island has a 13,800 foot mountain called Mauna Kea and it is actually the tallest mountain in the world if you measure it from its base under the water. The weather was fantastic and the climb was incredible. We were on the mountain climbing for over 9 hours and actually finished the climb by moonlight. The whole trip was not devoted to climbing. We also snuck in a night dive with the Mana Rays. The Maui hike was on Haleakala which is a 10,000 foot mountain and it was similar to hiking on the moon, a complete lunar-scape with very little vegetation. It was quite a change from the jungles on Kauai. (Pictures are located on our website of all our hikes)
September came sooner than we expected but we were ready for our adventure. It was our first glacier climb requiring us to hike in crampons and use an ice axe so we were excited. We could not have asked for a better weekend for our climb. We got to experience a complete white-out with 40 mph winds and sleet and snow on our ascent to Camp Muir. The summit climb was a perfectly calm clear day with a beautiful sunrise. Both Roby and I "kicked butt" up the mountain. No worries! In fact we were two of the last three people standing from our eight man group.
November came and reality set in. I was going to be celebrating my twentieth reunion from college-not high school but college. We headed back to Phoenix and met up with MaryKay to celebrate and have a "party-party weekend". ASU campus has changed and life is rough for them. I don’t know how we ever lived without a Starbucks in the business building while we were in school. Thankfully ASU won their football game which was not an easy task for them this year. It was an incredible week with all our friends and we will cherish it forever.
We thought we would be gluttons for punishment and travel after our week in Phoenix directly to Florida for a family reunion. We were going to see all eleven nieces and nephews for the first time in 4 years, some of them for the first time. Thanksgiving was held for all twenty-two of us in a small condo unit. Talk about getting cozy but thankfully no food fights! The kids loved playing with Roby whether it was in the pool or on the football field. He won Uncle of the Year! At least now they all know our names.
2008 is also bringing an end to our 3 ½ year adventure on Kauai. Roby’s projects have been completed so his position is no longer needed at Kukui’ula. We are going to spend two months enjoying the island and head back to the mainland near the end of February, to begin our next journey. It is time for our long planned Radical Sabbatical-a necessity to keep our life in balance. "When the market is down, experience tells us, it is time to get going-So screw the Dow, the S&P and the Federal Reserve-if our broker needs us he can reach us on our SAT phone!" We are going surfing in Bali, trekking in Australia, biking in France, eating in Italy, drinking in Spain, shopping in Hong Kong and exploring undiscovered areas in the US. Our own EAT, PRAY, LOVE adventure.
Everyone join us in our motto for next year- RE-DEFINE IN 09.
We love you all
Patti and Roby
The year did not disappoint. Roby started immediately by turning 45 in January. We realized we were not getting any younger so our goal was to challenge ourselves both physically and mentally. So, at 5:30 am on his birthday he was surprised that he was not going directly to work. I planned a sunrise sky-dive for the two of us. We jumped from 10,000 feet and soared over the island. What an adrenaline rush-too bad we can’t wake up every morning like that. We probably would be more productive. (See Roby’s video on our website)
February arrived and we headed to Colorado for our annual ski trip with MaryKay and Kelly. This trip had many surprises. Beside the incredible snow conditions; probably the best ever at Steamboat (at least 30 inches of fresh powder), Roby pulled a "Van Gogh". We still do not know how it happened but while skiing in the trees at Steamboat, Roby had his ear nearly severed off, but thankfully some good plastic surgeons reside in town and sewed him up like new. He was a trooper and we headed to Jackson Hole for a week of skiing with our friends Brian and Julie. We wrapped his head and put on a hat and he was good to go.
We figured since we jumped from 10,000 feet our next adventure was to climb up to 14,000 feet. Our goal was to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier in Washington State - No wimpy goals for us. We spent the first 9 months of 2008 training every weekend on a different trail on Kauai. We hiked for at least 4 hours with 50 pound packs on our back. Every trail on the island was conquered and several many times. In fact we did the Kukui Trail at least 10 times. I forbid us from ever climbing it again!
We were serious about our training so we took a trip to both the Big Island and Maui to get some elevation training. The Big Island has a 13,800 foot mountain called Mauna Kea and it is actually the tallest mountain in the world if you measure it from its base under the water. The weather was fantastic and the climb was incredible. We were on the mountain climbing for over 9 hours and actually finished the climb by moonlight. The whole trip was not devoted to climbing. We also snuck in a night dive with the Mana Rays. The Maui hike was on Haleakala which is a 10,000 foot mountain and it was similar to hiking on the moon, a complete lunar-scape with very little vegetation. It was quite a change from the jungles on Kauai. (Pictures are located on our website of all our hikes)
September came sooner than we expected but we were ready for our adventure. It was our first glacier climb requiring us to hike in crampons and use an ice axe so we were excited. We could not have asked for a better weekend for our climb. We got to experience a complete white-out with 40 mph winds and sleet and snow on our ascent to Camp Muir. The summit climb was a perfectly calm clear day with a beautiful sunrise. Both Roby and I "kicked butt" up the mountain. No worries! In fact we were two of the last three people standing from our eight man group.
November came and reality set in. I was going to be celebrating my twentieth reunion from college-not high school but college. We headed back to Phoenix and met up with MaryKay to celebrate and have a "party-party weekend". ASU campus has changed and life is rough for them. I don’t know how we ever lived without a Starbucks in the business building while we were in school. Thankfully ASU won their football game which was not an easy task for them this year. It was an incredible week with all our friends and we will cherish it forever.
We thought we would be gluttons for punishment and travel after our week in Phoenix directly to Florida for a family reunion. We were going to see all eleven nieces and nephews for the first time in 4 years, some of them for the first time. Thanksgiving was held for all twenty-two of us in a small condo unit. Talk about getting cozy but thankfully no food fights! The kids loved playing with Roby whether it was in the pool or on the football field. He won Uncle of the Year! At least now they all know our names.
2008 is also bringing an end to our 3 ½ year adventure on Kauai. Roby’s projects have been completed so his position is no longer needed at Kukui’ula. We are going to spend two months enjoying the island and head back to the mainland near the end of February, to begin our next journey. It is time for our long planned Radical Sabbatical-a necessity to keep our life in balance. "When the market is down, experience tells us, it is time to get going-So screw the Dow, the S&P and the Federal Reserve-if our broker needs us he can reach us on our SAT phone!" We are going surfing in Bali, trekking in Australia, biking in France, eating in Italy, drinking in Spain, shopping in Hong Kong and exploring undiscovered areas in the US. Our own EAT, PRAY, LOVE adventure.
Everyone join us in our motto for next year- RE-DEFINE IN 09.
We love you all
Patti and Roby
