Linda Rokos Watts

It's time for a change.  I've been wanting to switch blog platforms for quite sometime and just wasn't finding the right one but thanks to a dear friend of mine I was turned onto squarespace. It's taken a minute or two to figure out this new platform but I'm loving it. I've imported all the old content from this blog and am ready to roll. In short, I've moved to a new neighborhood!!! Woot!  I'm humbled that even one person reads my ramblings but when my numbers started hitting the 1000's on a monthly basis I was blown away. For those of you who read this with love, THANK YOU and for those who don't THANK YOU as well. My gratitude runs deep for all of you...... Hope to see you here: www.linda-rokos-watts.squarespace.com

We busted a move over to Vail this morning to check out the last day of the GoPro Games. I think this is year 15 Vail has been hosting this event which use to be the former Teva Games. Either was the Vail Valley Foundation sure knows how to put on an event.  Tons of booths, cool gear, awesome athletes and great events to check out!  The crowd gathering before the SUP semi-finals! Blue skies, cold walter, kick-ass athletes! Woot!  These guys get after it!  A whole new level of awesome!  Met these cool cats today. Love what their organization is about! A co-op of Colorado based outdoor companies working together! Check them out at www.cooriginalproducts.com Look who we found!! Addy!!!!! Love these two together!  Doggies really can fly!!!   All in all an AWESOME day!  Happy Sunday y'all!!  Love and Gratitude! 

With A-Basin still open and lots of snow still left to ski on there is no better way to ring in summer vacation then a few weeks of The Watts Family Ski Camp! Private two on one athlete to coach ratio, empty semi-private mountain, morning sessions on snow, afternoon dryland, private full time chef / cleaning lady, luxury accommodations......first class all the way! HA!!!  Troy, Jordan, Stella and I are making it a family affair and having a hoot!  Our two star athletes!!!  Seriously sick pic!!!  A morning on all mountain skis, some bumps, some soft snow and lots of fun!  Beautiful blue skies and some perfect warm spring weather! An afternoon dryland session on the frisbee golf course.  Super-stars!!!  We're all pretty stoked on this little adventure. The next couple days hold some more skiing, a few days' excursion to Moab and some more skiing! Woot!!! Love and Gratitude! 

This past weekend we got spend time in East Burke, Vermont. Although I've visited before, this time was different. We were there for Jordan's graduation from Burke Mountain Academy and as special as that was to be part of, there was some serious magic there last weekend. Vermont is beautiful in it's own right and maybe it was the right time of year or maybe it was the first time we got to spend time in the sun in a month, there was just something about it that made it extra special. The vibe, the people we got to spend time with, the milestone in life we got to witness, the intentions of the weekend, a mini vacation.....all magic!  I got to visit my first "gap". We climbed the tower at the top of Burke Mountain on Thursday from where you could see 360 degrees as far as the eye could see. Troy pointed out a geological "gap" and as silly as it sounds I had to ask him what that was. Once he pointed it out it was pretty obvious and I felt even more si...

Fun filled packed long weekend....I love those! This weekend was no different, with an extra day because of Memorial Day. We started off with a Friday boot fit (yes, those are a family event and are considered a good time) and the fun just continued from there! New boots, new fit. Thanks Diana and Harb!!!  www.harbskisystems.com Saturday, first day in the new boots. A semi-smile, not bad......smile through the pain.  Saturday afternoon, a nose piercing! OUCH!  Sunday fun-day! We made the trip up to Lyons to see my parents for my dad's 65th birthday party! Lots of food, great people, good beer, a little sunshine, some rain, and one awesome party!!  A little extra suprise came from mom and dad to Stella. Since she is going to be in South Africa for her birthday this summer they gave her an early present. A new speed suite. Talk about one happy girl that is going to be rocking this bad boy all summer!!  Beer and a fire pit! Does it g...

Have you ever had any one say that to you!?! I did the other day and after the but came a slew of complaints. I guess if you say that before you start complaining it makes it ok. So here is mine, I never complain but......IT'S SNOWING AGAIN!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!  Who says that?!? I complain all the time, it's like say "with all due respect"....and then saying what ever you'd like and thinking it's okay just because you said "with all due respect".  So, with all due respect, this weather f*#@ing SUCKS! HA!  MAKE IT STOP (please)!!!! With so much love and gratitude! 

Ok the last 10 days have been great but this freakin weather is a soul killer. I know this is normal and to be expected and come June we will emerge from winter straight into summer. We got about 4 inches of new snow last night and it just won't go away. We spent a little time at the Jolly Ranch this last weekend and it was nice to get out of the snow and into happy green pastures for some shoot offs and frisbee. I feel like I'm complaining more then usual and I honestly think it has to do with the weather. Oy! I think next year rather then taking a tropical vacation in April we will take it in May and just skip the whole month all together up here.   Bubbles make it all better!  I know....totally tacky but I had to do it. I planted fake flowers in the flower box and I love it. I couldn't take it anymore. We are suppose to get some more snow tomorrow so I definitely wont be planting anything real for a while so this is going to have to do! Yay for fake flowers!...

I love all this snow that's falling (1 1/2 feet today) but I am sooooooo ready  for some sunshine and green grass. I want to start working and playing in the yard, making a really great outdoor living space, planting flowers, building a fire pit and incorporating a crystal medicine wheel somewhere into the yard. Troy and Stella leave for South Africa (yes, South Africa) in 5 weeks. They are going for six weeks of on snow training. How cool, right?!?  I on the other hand will be here with the Gus projecting on the house like a cray lady. If you're in the area stop by and check on me I'll be all by my lonesome for 6 weeks! Ha!!  So many projects, such a short season to get it all done!  Meet Afri Ski. Check it out at  http://www.afriski.net/ It is in Lesotho, a small landlocked country in South Africa. We have been doing a lot of reading and internet exploring about this entire area. I can't wait to visit someday. Lots more to post on th...

I'm not big on celebrating "Hallmark Holidays" but I will say that any extra special love I can send my mom is always a good day. Not only am I super, extra grateful for my mama today but I am also grateful that I am a mama in addition to being a step-mom to two unbelievable step-daughters! Being a mom has been my single greatest accomplishment in my life. I only feel like the facilitator but what a an amazing role to have!  Grateful, thankful and blessed to share time and space with these two!  Life altering in the most spectacular way!  To all the amazing, inspiring, hardworking, never-giving-up mama's out there. I salute YOU!  Love and Gratitude.

It's Friday, it's snowing, cold, and super gusty. REALYY?!?!? I don't know why I'm so surprised, this happens every spring. We were suppose to go for a paddle this morning but that's not happening.  Maybe tomorrow when it's in the 70's again! Gosh, I love Colorado! Elton John - Tiny Dancer - Live at the Central park(1980) Kicking back with my one and only having a cup of coffee this morning and jamming on some oldies but goodies. Some of my favs from the 80's (has to be a live recording, not studio)....Elton John, Queen, Billy Joel, The Eurythmics, Blondie, Prince.....I could go on and on. Time to get up and shake it!!! Ha! HAPPY FRIDAY!!! Love and Gratitude!

Mandala (Sanskrit 'circle') is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. The basic forms of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Mandalas ofter exhibit radial balance. In common use the mandala has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosmos of the universe.  -Wikipedia We have mandalas all over the house, I can't seem to stop buying them.   The sand mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from sand. A sand mandala is ritualistically dismantled once it has been completed and its accompanying ceremonies and viewing are finished to symbolize the Buddhist doctrine belief in the transitory nature of material life.  Bucket list: I would love to see this up close and personal....trip to India!  Daydreaming!  ...

It's Tuesday and sometimes we need to send just a little more positive vibes to all of the un-positive people out there.  Troy had the below picture sent to him today and I had to share.   Sending some crazy, glittery, sparkly, unicorn, happy, super positive vibes to ALL!!  LOVE and GRATITUDE!!!

The snow is slowly melting away in the county but there is still sooooooo much left. The mountain (Breck) is closed but looks like it did in mid-January, fully covered and just screaming to be skied.  I totally dig this time of year. The bike paths are clear, the ice is melting in the lake so there is open water to paddle on and there is still enough snow on the mountain to ski!  I took my first road bike ride on Thursday. I think it's going to be a pretty amazing spring and summer, lots of riding to be done!! Woot!   We (Holly) and I did our first paddle of the season on Lake Dillon early Friday morning. Pure glass!  Today (Saturday) Troy, Stella, Noelle and I had a freakin awesome morning making some turns at A-Basin. There is still so much snow. From the top I got this picture looking down valley towards Lake Dillon where we will be paddling again tomorrow morning!!!

Troy packed up his bike on Sunday in anticipation of heading west for a few days on Monday but unfortunately there was a foot of fresh snow that stopped him. Come Tuesday it was still a little snowy but since Colorado is such an awesome state the clouds parted and the sun was shinning so he managed to get out and hit the open road to Moab. Pictures speak for themselves!  From our short little chats and a few texts, he sounds like one happy man, Makes my heart happy!  Love and Gratitude!

Every thought and action creates a vibration. What kind of vibrations are you creating?!? Make way for a positive day!   -Bob Marley Love and Gratitude! 

It just won't stop!!  We were kinda hoping it would just long enough for Troy to get out of Summit County and on the west side of GlenWood Springs before another big storm came in.  Nope. Didn't happen. It's mud season and nothing unusually or unexpected and I'm sure we will get one or two more storms but.....BOOOOOO!!! Our backyard is pretty beautiful right now!  Bike all packed and ready to go!  We had a few great dinner parties this weekend and I can't say that I'm too bummed Troy isn't on the road. Sunday's snuggled up together watching movies while it dumps outside isn't so awful! Hope you'll are having a fabulous weekend!  Love and Gratitude!