August - Tour De Fat bike festival - Boise - "That's one large, intoxicated photo" Jen brought her parents over to Boise for the Fat Tire Bike Parade. After riding the circuit, the parade ended in the park with a variety of games and festivities; all bike and drinking related. After meeting up with a friend, Jen was introduced to Simon for the first time. The two hit it off and spent the day mingling with mutual friends and playing zany, beer-induced games. Needless to say, it was a great first introduction. Late August - Burgdorf Hot Springs - McCall - "Isn't that Simon?" You may have realized by now that Burgdorf is a special place for us (ahem, the wedding venue). Due to coincidence or gravity, the hot spring brought us together yet again. It was a chance encounter, Jen leaving to head back to Boise and Simon arriving to soak. Although our meeting allowed little time to chat, we both left the encounter with a brighter smile. Early September - Goldy's Corner - Boise "Sorry I'm Late" Simon was focused on the beginning sketches of a new game concept (You may have received a copy of this very game, Forlorn), paying little attention to the fact that Jen was heading toward his table. Jen was able to enjoy a confused look on his face while she slid into his booth, announcing her arrival with, "sorry I'm late." (You can imagine Jen's satisfaction here with a goofy grin plastered to her face) Jen had somewhere to be, marking another quick encounter, though continuing to fuel the curiosity of where their next meeting may take place.

September - Idaho Mountain Festival - City of Rocks - "Sorry I'm Late Boys" If you know Simon, you're no longer surprised when you run into him and his friends wearing skin-tight pants, rocking ("rocking") "gaper" outfits at a climbing festival. Yet, again, Jen had the advantage; repeating what's known now as a classic line....this time however, the "sorry I'm late boys" was able to gleam confused looks from three men, not just one. One of the three gentlemen present was no other than Jack Stransky, our best man. The climbing festival pulled us in different directions, though this was the longest opportunity thus far, for us to start getting to know each other and inspired Jen to also become a wilderness therapy guide. October - Blue Fire Wilderness Therapy Seminar - Gooding, Idaho - "Nice bow-drill set" The hot arid sun beat down on the desert known as the Bennett hills. An odd company with 1 client had hired several dirty mid-20 year olds to teach kids how to behave like adults. Simon was one of the the chosen few to be hired in the first wave of instructors, but a new seminar was spending some time out in the hills to see if they had the mettle to handle the heat. And there, in the dusty grove of birch trees, the two met yet again; dirty, disheveled, sweating through their underpants, they made dumb faces at each other. Simon had the opportunity to show off some of his machismo to Jen by teaching the group how to bow-drill. It totally worked... for one shining moment Simon suppressed the butterflies in his stomach and was transformed from grease ball to total stud as flames erupted from his board. Needless to say in that brief moment, he was smitten with the cute girl that was willing to give this crazy job a shot, and the two grew a little closer.

Late October - Black Cliffs - Boise - "Simon almost decks'" The Blue Fire Seminar was a success and Jen was deemed eligible to start as a wilderness guide as soon as the company had enough students. Jen made fast friends with many of the other candidates also starting work soon and decided to help show the others around Boise. To start, the crew decided to go climbing at Boise's local climbing crag and Simon managed to get an invitation. Jen and Simon drove out together, sharing ridiculous music and dancing the entirety of the drive to the crag. The day was filled with bad jokes, beer, and amazing weather. As the day winded to a close, Simon decided to climb one more route before heading to the car. Jen and Colin, future roommate, were busy sitting around with their feet up while Jesse belayed Simon through the third clip. Roughly 20-25 feet up the climb, Simon's grip cut loose, sending him plummeting towards the ground. Jen froze as she heard the rope whir wildly and simon fall quickly towards the ground. Cringing for the imminent impact and terrified to look up, she heard Simon laugh and say, "that was close." Flooding with relief, she looked up to see Simon nearly flat on the ground. With shaky legs (Simon was totally fine) Jen made her way to Simon and gave him a huge hug, realizing how much Simon really meant to her. November - The Benchmark - "What're You doing here?" After Simon had nearly frozen to death in the Bennett's, he needed to get a new sleeping bag. He went to the best outdoor shop in town only to find Jen downstairs staring at him with a big smile. "What are you doing here!?" she had exclaimed. In the months that would follow that encounter, as Jen waited to work at Bluefire, Simon would come back to the benchmark time and time again, sneaking Jen sandwiches and other snacks. Each time Jen would exclaim, "what are you doing!?" In surprise as the two grew closer and closer.