I’m back. Maybe.

It’s been a long time since my last post. I debated whether to even keep this blog, and I let the paid account expire. I just haven’t been in the proper mindset to regularly update.

But I’m here now. So let me see if I can catch you up.

Shortly after my last post, I became an ambassador for Hikerbabes. I’ve been leading group hikes since then, and I love it.

In late September, I traveled to PA/NY/NJ to attend a co-worker’s wedding (near Philadelphia) and then spend a few days in New York City. It was actually my first time in the Big Apple, not counting layovers at Newark and JFK.

I initially booked an Airbnb in Midtown, which was a far cheaper option than a hotel, but my boss went with me to check in (the company I work for is based in NYC so most of my co-workers live there), decided that the Airbnb looked sketchy, and took me next door to the Hyatt to get a room instead.

I was able to do a walking tour that covered a lot of the main tourist attractions. I added on a visit to the top of One World Trade Center. I attended a Broadway show (Six — it was a lot of fun!), and I spent a day exploring Central Park. That was really all I had time for.

In November, my parents were in a serious car crash. Both were injured and taken to the hospital. Mom had 2 broken ribs. Rob had a broken rib, several lumbar fractures, and a cracked sternum, I think? Mom was released the same night. Rob had to be transported to OSU Medical Center, where he stayed for several days. There was a lot of back and forth for me between my house, the hospital, and their house (an hour away) to take care of their needs. They were not at fault, so we also had to initiate a personal injury suit, which is still ongoing. Rob is not yet fully healed and wearing a back brace — he may need surgery. And we don’t know if he will ever fully recover.

Due to quite a bit of red tape, they couldn’t even get a replacement vehicle until last month. But they’re in an SUV now (the totaled car was a sedan) and they like it much better. So at least that part of this ordeal is resolved.

I leave for Guatemala a week from today. I will be making my second School the World trip to help build classrooms near Santa Cruz del Quiché.

After I get back from that trip, I need to start focusing on training for my two upcoming endurance events. I’m registered for the Twin Valley Trail Challenge in June. It’s a choose your own adventure event, so I selected the 18 miler (I did 16.5 last year). I am also signed up for MammothMarch at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in September.

So that covers the major highs and lows of my life in recent months.

As for Randi: We were doing basic obedience training with her but it wasn’t going well. It’s hard to do obedience training on a dog that is highly reactive. That issue needs to be fixed first. She was supposed to repeat obedience training, but we pulled her out instead and enrolled her in behavioral training. Our trainer has been great. Randi is getting the tough love she needs instead of the positive reinforcement we got in the other training, which absolutely was not working for her. Turns out, her bad behavior actually needs correction and not redirection.

We still have a long way to go, but she is making some progress. She really is so sweet and tries so hard to be good, but she’s very protective of me and gets aggressive toward Lance because of it.

That’s it from my little corner of the world for now.