Welcome To My Bubble

Over Due... Egypt & Greece

2009-10-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

** Before I begin, i must say this... Our Group Started out with 4 Camera's. By the end we didn't have any left. The second day of the trip Adam's broke in the sand storm. On the 5th day, John's broke scuba diving. On the 8th day Charlotte's was stolen out of her bag at the airport. On the 22nd day my camera was dropped in the sand. So the only pictures we have from the trip are what i took with mine. It is an older camera and didn't take very good pictures. We were all kinda relying on everyone else (bad idea) and now this is all we have.**

Here are some of my pictures from Egypt and Greece. I didn't end up going to Israel, another time... another adventure that will be. I am going to start Egypt.

(please be kind... i'd been awake for 36 hours at this point)

My flight in was very long. We spent our time in Egypt during Ramadan. I got in a day after my group and they were supposed to pick me up at the Airport. After waiting in the Ciaro airport for 45 minutes, i knew something was wrong. I have an international phone, but for some reason it wasn't working. Because it was Ramadan, everything was shut down. I ended up talking some very kind man into letting me use his computer. I was able to find out my group had sent me a driver and was waiting for me. Straight from the airport he took me to the Pyramids, where i met my group!

(a picture of the drive over to Giza)

We rode horses around them, then went off and ate dinner in the desert during a sand storm. Fun Fun! I'll post something new every couple of days. I feel like if i do it all at once, it could be a bit overwhelming.

Up Next... Egypt, Greece, & Israel!

2009-08-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

I know it has been quite some time since my last post, but not much has been going on. Just been haning out in California, Utah, and back to rafting in Montana. Now, i am getting ready for another epic adventure! I leave Sept. 16 for Egypt, Greece, & Israel! So excited!!!! I'll be going with a bunch of friends from Utah and can't wait. I'll try and keep a better update on this trip and let you know how it goes!

A Little More Chile

2009-04-27T22:22:00.003-07:00

Just a few more pictures to show you all the beauty of Chile. I wish I was this good at taking pictures, but these were taken by my own professional photographer- Todd. Thanks love!

Todd & I on Easter

A traditional Asada

(basically a BBQ... but loads better)

To finish up this post here is one of many stories to come of Chile. Evey day was an adventure. My first day in Chile i arrive at 8 in the morning. Took a taxi from the airport (and yes my cab driver stole $200 dollars from me) to the bus station. After playing charades with many people i got onto a bus to Pucon at 11 am. Around 11 pm that night i pulled into Pucon thinking Todd would be at the station waiting for me.... and he wasn't. Come to find out, Pucon has 3 different bus terminals. Good for Pucon/Bad for me. I didn't really know where to go, so i found a Hostel run by two old Chilean women. These women were incredibly sweet, kinda, and spoke no english. Through song and dance they were able to figure out how to help me. They fed me, gave me the internet, and showered me with hugs and kisses. By 11:30 pm Todd had found me.

All my experiences with the Chileans (except that no good, dirty, foul, man of a taxi driver) was great. What a kind hearted people. Willing to give you the shirt off their backs and all the food they have. I look forward to going back this fall.

A Little Chile and More To Come

2009-04-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Chile and it was AMAZING! This picture is in Pucon. I don't really know which pictures i should put up, there are SO many! But i loved my time in Chile. i was able to raft down two different rivers, hike, bike, and camp! I was even offered a job as a raft guide on one of the rivers. They food was great, the people were so kind and friendly, and the country itself was beyond beautiful! I am lucky to have had the time i did down there. One last thing, i made Todd and all our friends have an easter egg hunt! It was awesome!

Let The Adventures Begin!

2009-04-09T01:10:00.001-07:00

It is the night before the big show! I have been anticipating (not so quietly) this day for the last two months! Yes that is me with my pack on. Darn thing weighs 25lbs! Have I been wearing it around my hotel room for the past two nights?... um yes... :)

I'll be in Chile for 12 days. I am meeting up with some friends down there. We have no real plans....other than rafting!!!!! It has been 5 months since i was on a river. I am dying to get back on a boat! :) Other than that, we are going to try an hike through the Andes, go climbing in Argentina, and tour through The Lake District (that is if that Volcano stops erupting).

All I need to do now, is hop two planes, one train, and a bus. Final destination after 26 hours of travel: Pucon.

**please excuse the crappy picture. I took it with my laptop camera**

Weekend In George

2009-04-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was able to make it to Saint George! It was my mom's birthday weekend and wish that i make it home before i leave for Chile. It was a good weekend. I was able to have good quality sister/family time & friend time (thanks for going to get Pedi's with me Jess).

After far too long a time apart, I was reunited with one of my besties Joni Morris Adams at Twenty Five Main. Let me introduce you all to her... Joni, this is everyone... Everyone this is Joni (my roommate from Italy).

From there we were able to go hiking with our friend Brooke. Where we proceeded to take pictures of us doing all sorts of interesting things... which included the one below. I wish you all could have seen Brooke's first attempt to get on my shoulders. Ahh... good times...

Joni and I at the top of our hike/run.

I am leaving for Chile this Thursday! Time has flown by and I can't wait to go down the Futa, hike in the Andes, and tour the Lake District. This is going to be perfect! If anyone has any tips for Chile, feel free to leave a comment!

'Cause Getting Old Is Hard To Do

2009-03-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

This year marks a very sad year for me... I'll be 25!!! EWWWW!!! The scary part about this is i feel like i am starting to look 25! NO BUENO! I feel like i am starting to get wrinkles and everything... :( For those of you who know me, know i don't wash my face, i never use lotion, zit cream, or use anti-age anything. I didn't even start wearing make-up until i was a Junior in High School and only mascara, eyeliner, and blush at that (sadly enough, that is still all i wear)... Maybe some one out there can help me?! I feel like i need some one to help me put on make-up! Sheesh i am a sad case....

Soooo sometimes i like to watch trash TV... who doesn't? :) I had on E News and they were talking about spa treatments at home. Of course i perked up, because i don't know the first thing about anything like this. Once it was over, i promptly left my hotel room (because that is where i live these days), drove straight to Target and bought this:

Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Rejuvenator. I got back to my room, read the instructions, and went to work. Now it claims you'll:

INSTANTLY have smoother, more luminous skin
1 Week have visible improvement in fine lines
4 weeks have significantly reduced appearance of wrinkles or age spots
8 weeks have substantial improvement in firmness

My results? The second i got done i honestly said out loud "wow my face really does feel smoother." Cheesy? Yes, but honest. I would recommend this. I'll keep you posted in what happens in 1, 4, & 8 weeks!

Next Up..

2009-03-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to go to Chile for 12 days! I'll be back packing through the Patagonia region and going down the Futa! Super excited for this trip! If anyone has any packing tips... please let me know!

Updating My Blog... Long Time Coming

2009-02-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

Ran a 1/2 Marathon

Spent some time at home over the holidays and ran a 1/2 marathon in January.

Flagstaff & The Grand Canyon

Spent a few days in Flagstaff, AZ. Did some hiking around the town and hiked the Grand Canyon while i was there. One of the days i hiked in the Grand Canyon it was sunny and clear and then next it was so stormy i you couldn't even see the canyon.

San Diego

Erin and the girls came down for a visit. Here is our day at the beach.

The Holidays & New Hair

2008-12-10T18:18:00.001-08:00

I went to Temple Square over Thanksgiving with my Brother Brandon & his family. My Neices and Nephew are getting so big! Kael is ALL BOY! That kid is like ninty miles an hour but at the same time, he is the sweetest boy ever! Emeline is just so sweet and funny.

We also watched the Nativity "Play" they had going on there too! They loved the Donkey more than anything. Which as many of you know, is what Christmas is all about.

My Friend Ashton came with us.

New Hair

For some reason lately I keep changing my hair up! So over Thanksgiving i chopped my hair off. But since then i have gone even shorter and darker. I like it alot, but i am still trying to figure out if it looks good on me.

Cutting My Own Hair/ New Friends/ & Halloween!

2008-11-01T11:24:00.001-07:00

So many of you don't know that i am traveling around the country with the new job i have, but due to the fact i travel so much, i don't ever get my hair cut. Therefore i decided to go ahead and do it myself.... and this is how it turned out! :) I am actually pretty proud of myself!!

Pullman Friends & Halloween

During the last two weeks i've been back and forth between Moscow Idaho & Pullman Washington. Along the way i've found Lindsey, Stephanie, Stacy, Grace, Trisha, Timmy, Rash, & Marty! I am So SO SO Happy to have found these friends! I have instantly become close to all these girls. They are people that I will forever stay in contact with! I love you all. I also spent Halloween with these girls. They were a bar and I was a Pirate Hooker... My sister will get that one....

Grace, Stephanie, Me

Lindsey, Me, Grace

Lindsay & I

Timmy & I

Lindsey & I

Rash & I

Me & Linds

Stephanie, Linds, Me

The Marathon I Almost Didn't Run

2008-10-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

My little brother (Adam) and i posing with our medals!

Around April this year i thought it would be a great idea to run the STG marathon with my little brother. Unbenounced to him i signed both us up for it. He was still on his mission at the time so i conveniently waited until he got home and announced, "good news, i signed you up for the marathon, so start training."

Training wasn't easy, especially while living in Montana and not having a training buddy. Then one not so good day i hurt my knee. After that I took time off and completely stopped training. Next thing i knew, the big day was upon us. The night before, i still wasn't sure i was going to run. The next morning I decided not to run it, so Bob and i dropped my little brother off alone. As we drove around the block i said a few choice words (which Bob did not like) and asked her to take me back... I was going to run!

Running without an ipod, in the pouring rain, with a head wind the whole 26.2 miles was one of the funnest things i have done in a long time!... Seriously! I know that sounds crazy but i enjoyed ever step of the way! I ran with a smile on my face the entire time. I didn't once think

I didn't have any goal other than to just finish the race. HOWEVER, once i started to run (and found out how easy it was for me). I ran 8 1/2 minute miles for the first 21 miles. It wasn't until mile 22 that my hips started to hurt at that point i ran 10 minute miles. But, around mile 3 my ankles felt like they had an itch. But it wasn't until mile 21 that i realized my ankles were sliced open and bleeding everywhere...thankfully they were numb from the cold and didn't bother me. In the end i finished at 4:09:36! It was all worth it in the end to hug my brother at the finish line. I just want to thank my family for coming and supporting me and for my little brother for giving me the strength to do it.

Next year i plan i running it again (with Jessica). This time i will train and want to finish in under 3:30!

I Love My Life

2008-09-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

This last week i went to one of the biggest whitewater festivals in the world! Not only that, i got to guide and raft a class 5 river 4 different times!!! I feel VERY blessed to have come out of it only small amounts of bruising too! Here are some pictures and video of what i got to do and see!

There were hundreds and hundreds of people and boaters there! this picture doesn't do it justice. The good news is, it was only this crowded for two of the four days we were there

This my good friend Kristen Baunsgard (sorry if i spelt your last name wrong!). Basically Kristen is bomb! We are just getting ready for the day!

This is the car ride out!

Out on postage doom watching the carnage!

So this picture doesn't do this rapid justice. This is sweets falls. The last class 5 rapid of the day and it is 16 feet tall. It feels a lot different than it looks when you are in the raft.

This is a video of pillow rock. This video doesn't do it justice. But gives you a good idea of what it kinda looks like.

This video is of some people getting launched off postage doom. Don't try this at home...seriously Kristen and I tried it. We launched her brother in law off the back of one a week before this and he kinda got hurt...

Right after you get done running Sweets Falls you can either run The Box, or just go around Postage Doom. These people ran The Box and didn't make it. The same thing happened to us the second time we ran it. Our boat high sided and flipped.

A NEW POST!

2008-05-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

I know i haven't blogged in a while... but that's not my fault! :) i got to looking at my blog after i made it, and it was looking like mine and Todd's blog. I didn't like that. So i had to wait until i did something without the kid! :)

Two weeks ago i went home for the first time since Christmas. My little brother Adam had just got home from his mission. He's addorable! If any of you girls out there know any single ladies... send them his way!

AND i cut like ten inches off my hair! not that any of you knew that my hair was the long... but now it is short!

It was was good to see the rest of the family. Here are a few pictures of my nieces playing dress up.

This is my nephew (Brandon's son) everytime i'd ask him to say "cheese" this is the face he'd pull. It was awesome!

We need some help!

2008-03-21T12:45:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don't know, my parents do alot of humanitarian work in Mexico City. They have recently come across a project we are trying to raise money for. Here is more information:

We have come across a very worthy project which was brought to our attention by Mr. Palacios' sister (Mr. Palacios is our attorney in Mexico). She introduced us to the man you will see in the attached pictures. Quite some time ago, he was working as a painter on a large building. One day he was up on a high ladder and it started to fall. Instinctively, he reached out and grabbed a hold of the first thing he could - live electrical wires. He was electrocuted and hung for several minutes by this wire until he fell to the floor. His arms had 3rd degree burns but because he was very poor, he went home without even going to the hospital. Because of the lack of medical care, his arms literally died and had to be amputated below the shoulder. His wife said that she didn't want to be with a man who had no arms and so she left him and their two small children. With no means of support for his children, he rented a bike with a small tram on the back. He now makes his living giving people rides from place to place. He makes approx. $4.00 a day - $8.00 on a good day. From this, he has to pay the owner of the bike/tram rent. The man currently lives in a small one-room apartment that has very little space and no comforts.

We have decided to raise enough money to get this man prosthetic arms. We would also like to raise enough to buy him his own bike and tram (approx. $400) so that he does not have to pay someone else rent from his daily earnings. We would even like to go so far as to buy him an extra tram that he can rent out to someone else to bring in even more income.

We decided to go ahead with this project for several reasons. Of course, his need for help was tremendous. But we were impressed with his desire to do whatever he could to keep his children with him and to provide for their needs. He could have so easily placed them in an orphanage or abandoned them, as his wife did. Somehow, he makes enough to feed them and he takes care of their needs - even doing their laundry on the front porch using his stumps. After interviewing him and spending time with him, we decided that this was a man who would not take anything given him for granted and would use his life in a good way.

Two prosthetic arms cost $4800 dollars. We have currently raised $2815 dollars. Any donation is tax deductible and 100% of the donations will go to this project - not to our overhead or administrative costs. Plus, we see the project through from beginning to end ourselves. We do not deligate it to others and hope it gets done.

If anyone wants to help us out in raising money, or would like to donate themselves, or knows someone they can refer to me to talk to them about it, i would really appreciate it. Thanks guys for all your help! Just email me if you at megdeltoro@hotmail.com if you would like to donate or know someone that does. Thanks again for everyone's help!

Cross Country Skiing Junkies

2008-03-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

Todd an I have discovered Cross Country Skiing! It is so much fun and good exercise too! These pictures were taken in Lolo National Forest: Patte Canyon. We took Bodie with us (Todd's Dog). It was a beautiful day. We ended up getting so hot that i stripped down to a tank & he just had shorts on. I ended up getting a bit of a tan! We are planning on a couple of times next week. The only bad think is we got into it so late in the season! But better late than never! The good news is it only costs us $6.00 to go out for an entire day! Cheap way to date! YEAH!

First Time

2008-02-20T15:14:00.000-08:00

I just go onto Jessica's Blog and thought to myself, "hey i wanna start blogging too!" So here it is, my first one. To all of you who don't know, I am currently living in Missoula Montana. Yeah that's right i live in Montana. I originally moved up here just to be a white water raft guide for the summer, but then i fell in love with this place and moved! I am currently going to school at the University of Montana and will graduate December 2008!!!