learning to breathe

I must have jinxed myself the last entry I wrote, because I don't agree with my statement saying that I was adjusting to the altitude. That same day, I went for a hike with my sister up 1,000 feet (or something like that. Again, I like the drama of how that sounds) and on the way up I felt claustrophobic in my own breath - like I couldn't breathe at some points. Not that I was necessarily gasping for air, but more like I couldn't do a full breath. Which was really scary. And since then, after I went for a bike ride yesterday, I've felt like my lungs are smaller and that I'm incapable of breathing like I normally do (or like I do at normal altitude, I should say). But anyways, it's not as bad as I'm making it sound, it's just a really strange and sometimes scary thing I'm having to get used to. Living at 8,750 feet isn't easy, I'll tell ya. Charlotte's feeling it too. She barely could move last night to even lift her head. We're both taking the day off today.

Speaking of the hike the other day, I brought with me a toy camera that my dad had found that takes 3D photos. You have to get them specially developed to make them 3D but you can leave it be and get it processed normally which results in a neat effect where you get four duplicate scenes (a cool example here). So I took this on the hike with me and finished my roll - a 36 roll only gives you 18 photos so it didn't take long - and brought it down to the pharmacy to have it processed. However, the girl behind the counter informed me that they don't develop film in town at all - that the closest place to do it would be Montrose. Which is about an hour away. Hmm. Really. BUT. An update on this, I just went to the same pharmacy to get a few shower necessities, and when I was paying I saw they had film developed behind the counter! What? Was she lying to me? I didn't ask this time because it was the same girl who had told me that they didn't process film. So I'm thoroughly confused. I'll have to secretly have someone go in and ask again. Luckily, I found some mail order labs, if necessary. But how annoying. But I guess it's worth it to live in such a beautiful place. Really, it is. That bike ride (where I may have caused my lungs to shrink) was amazing - I went through the valley floor and it was just me in the middle of who knows how many acres (1,000 perhaps? my favorite number) with yellow flowers blooming and mountains everywhere around me. Unbelievable. Please visit!

Oh yes - and I saw Lars and the Real Girl the other night and loved it. Had to share. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. That's it!