Moab is a Wonderland

We went to Moab this weekend. No buggy, no scamper; just the car, a tent, and us. There wasn't supposed to be a blizzard during our drive down, or freezing temps and 30 mph winds once we got there. So the tent idea was out. The town was packed and the hotels were practically sold out. After calling about a million places, we got one of the last rooms available at the Super 8 at a ridiculous rate. Saturday we went to Arches National Park. The sun came out and as long as the wind wasn't blowing, it was a perfect day for a hike. We hiked to the Double Arch; it was about 5 miles roundtrip and pretty strenuous in some parts. I got shin splints. It took us about an hour and a half to get to the double arch, and then we found a cool spot and had a picnic with Munch Mix and Dr. Pepper (I found a pube in the Munch Mix, but Chad said it was probably just one of his arm hairs. It wasn't. I got it out and we ate it anyway). Later that day we went back into town to get lunch at the Moab Brewery (one of my favorite new places) and find me a "Moab" hoodie. Both successes!

Our friends were out climbing the rocks in their jeeps all day, and as soon as they got back we met up with Calvin and Bre later at the famous Zax restaurant for a pizza buffet. They got engaged earlier out on one of the trails, so we celebrated at dinner with mardi gras beads and screaming. Sunday morning we had brunch at La Hacienda and hit the road for home. Car rides with Chad are always amusing...I must have reached a new comfort level with him because I don't sensor my terrible singing voice anymore, even though bursting into song only happens as a last resort for boredom...after we have talked about every random, absurd thing we can think of. Or if we are exhausted from disputing some meaningless debate, like "thaw vs. un-thaw", "tornadoes vs. hurricanes", and "where babies come from". (Don't even get me started.) I was reading an article in Psychology Today at the beginning of the ride home (Chad tells me to read because I get car-anxiety sometimes)...it was a really good article called Clues to Character, so I was highlighting the things I liked with a red pen.

Chad looks over at me and said, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah..."

"Why are you underlining?" He laughed... "You're never going to read that again."

"I LIKE underlining." I said back. "And I am going to read this again."

So now I'm going to blog about it so I can show him the importance of UNDERLINING.

Clues to Character Article:

(This is some really good stuff, especially if relationships interest you.)

Intelligence.

It is the most stable quality over time, and primarily a product of genetic endowment - although stimulating environments allow it to blossom. More than any other trait, it is the great declarer of possibility, an indicator of the likelihood of doing well in life. Intelligence also allows for a deeper understanding of life, experiences, and other people. It underlies the ability to deal with complexity. The ability to generate humor is a robust sign of intelligence – it reflects language skills and abstract thinking.

Drive.

It is the engine of accomplishment. It allows a person to achieve whatever goals they set in life. And yet, persistence also begets passion. Further, both of them are made possible only by a sense of optimism.

Happiness.

It isn’t something you can pursue directly. It’s a byproduct of other things most notably working toward meaningful goals. There is no happiness without challenge, risk, and growth. It may be a feeling but in large measure it is a reflection of how we think. A tendency to attribute all setbacks to fate can cripple will. Believing everything is under one’s control likewise distorts reality and is a setup for misery.

Goodness.

How you do things is more important than whether you succeed.

Friendship.

What people like in others is kindness and assertiveness- the sense that someone will be available to help in a time of need and has the ability to stand up for oneself. An adult who has few peer relationships may be unkind, unable to relate to others, or too self-involved. Endurance is an important measure of friendship quality. The ability to build a history with someone tells about the value they place on loyalty, and how sustainable they are through the ups and downs of experience. A person who comes from a family where everyone was heard and each child had some say, is likely to be attuned to what others are thinking, while knowing how to assert his own needs.

Intimacy.

Consider this an important source of balance, the ultimate leavening in life, the deepest source of comfort. And because it is the root of psychic security, it is a firm foundation for approaching the new and a wellspring of willingness to engage in exploration of life. Gauge someone’s capacity for intimacy and you will understand something about their ability to trust another human being, reveal vulnerability, make a commitment of any kind, and regulate distress as well. The first relationship is the basis for all others- this is talking about one’s emotional attachment in the origin of the family. This is where one will develop a sense of connection and also a degree of security in later relationships. Sometimes the most essential need in a close relationship is the desire and ability to listen to another particularly during times of distress. It is equally important to communicate that one’s partner is being heard. The better the communication, the more satisfaction people feel. No human enterprise can operate soundly in the absence of trust; the alternative of constant wariness creates an atmosphere of unceasing suspicion.