~ to satiate curiosity ~

yes, with chocolate sprinkles

2011-02-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

Donuts. Simple pleasure. Just saying so. This stand in Pike Street Market never fails to satisfy. Who wouldn't enjoy sugar on fat on starch :)

snow man

2011-01-17T19:09:00.000-08:00

Thank you for humbling me dear brother. So, in summary, I believed (note the past tense) that having 5 years behind me of boarding, not being afraid to fall, experiencing a variety of conditions, etc. would make it easy to keep up with my bro who is relatively new to the sport. Not so, I was SCHOOLED....and was sore for several days...but happy! What else...good lunch...still want to post the picture, Sharad...why did I say I wouldn't? :) Again!

hippy spa

2011-01-02T18:30:00.000-08:00

Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat is quite a place to bring in the new year. A spa more than a few miles off the grid in a nearly self-sufficient community with it's own power plant, gardens, etc. Pure bountiful organic meals. No caffeine. Lots of time to read. No wifi. Best massage of a lifetime....no exaggeration. Lots of classes available for practices/exercise of the mind and body that I can't pronounce nor know if I they are compatible with my routine or convictions. Curious though!

What else...enjoying hot springs on a cold night with clear sky feels right. Though seeing a flashlight bobbing toward you while you're sitting in the hotsprings on a cold night with clear sky makes you feel a bit vulnerable.

So, this isn't a good picture, but is a recommendation if you find yourself near Portland to find The Grilled Cheese Grill. Ridiculously satisfying grilled sandwiches. Would appeal to anyone who is a foodie and has enough character to dine on a bus.

Overall an excellent time to catch up with my long lost friend, Amy. Excellent time.

a good day

2010-12-26T18:07:00.000-08:00

Missed Sharad in this pile-up...perhaps he was napping...or strumming....or skateboarding...or texting :)

presence

2010-12-17T22:53:00.000-08:00

If life is a box of chocolates, I should be enjoying the one I am eating.

Wondering what ordinary days would be like if more energy was consumed in experiencing the current moment? Not thinking about the next thing or the last thing, but the present thing. Does this make for a better person?

For a simple example: tonight when a hostess put two forks in my take-out, I wouldn't have wondered as I walked home if she thought the quantity I'd ordered was enough to share, if I looked like I wouldn't be eating alone, if she was absent-minded, if she wasn't concerned about wasting the restaurants supplies, if she thought I'd recycle them, or or or...but seriously the placement of 2 forks vs. 1. Preposterous. That deserved no investment of time. I would have moved on to enjoying the festive feel of downtown during the holiday season, the liberty of breathing the crisp night air on a free evening, feeling the base emotion I see in the street beggars eyes....I don't know.

Thinking about thinking....isn't there a word for that? I'll stop. But the goal of finding the present remains.

oh to yodel

2010-11-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

How did I forget in these short months the gratification that throwing necessities in a bag at the last minute with a camera, guidebook and my kindle brings?? Even though the purpose of the trip was work and I realize the benefits of living responsibly, the feeling is real!

Anyway....love Switzerland. And these pictures don't express it, but that is just the way it is. Oh I love Seattle too. And lest you think I use the word "love" lightly, I do not. And all of my expectations? Fulfilled.

Berne. A place I'd enjoy going back to. Cobbled streets. Low-key. Attractive. Quiet. Cafe-hopping. Came upon a theater late one night with people going in. Wandered in. Woman had an extra ticket. Turns out her husband sang the leading role of the King. Random!

Fresh pretzels in a train station can only be matched with a slab of chocolate! Curious fact: the Swiss eat a world-beating 11.6kg per person each year of chocolate, compared with 5.4kg in the US. Perhaps because their chocolate is so much better? Super-smooth.

So here's something I really enjoy: going to a train station, watching the names and times flip, looking at the map and choosing where to go. Delight. Could ride the rails and stare out the windows for several days easily. One day went to Lausanne...home of the IOC and Evian water factory and spa. Lausanne is in the French part of Switzerland on Lake Geneva. Very green. Energy-green too.

And so...swiftly on to Interlaken through the Bernard Oberland and a night in Lauterbrunnen,..a one-street town which seems idyllic sitting under sheer cliffs at the base of a valley with a waterfall. Picture-perfect. And then a 3 hour train ride up to Jungfrau (the top of Europe) and seeing the North Face (Eiger). Wow.

It is peculiar to me that the Swiss have cable cars, cogwheel trains, funiculars and gondolas to get to the top of hills and mountains. No longer does man have to labor to get to the top of glorious peaks. Makes getting up high a little less grand, but a bit more achievable. Hmm.

On to a single night in Luzern and meeting friends and coworkers. Luzern is on the edge of a lake and quite picturesque. Wooden bridges...one of which burned in recent years making tile #31 (William Tell) absent. Famous weeping Lion was another "sight"...in short summary of history, Switzerland got rich by sending mercenaries to fight for other nations and the lion weeps for it's lost.

Oh Schaffhausen. Cobbled streets. Considerable charm. Quiet during the week. But something happens on the weekends! Easy to imagine running by the river with a big dog here down to the Rhine Falls every morning. Some dare-devil must have kayaked these by now? Looks doable. Falls are creepy cool at night too. I digress. Here for work...don't understand why the town is un-congratulated among work-fellows.

Went to Konstantz, Germany on a day trip. LOVELY in the evenings...people sitting around by the water. I noticed repeatedly that the Germans and Swiss seem to be ok dining or sitting outside, even when the weather is inclement, they just add bundling. Not a weak folk. And if bicycles are any gauge of a nation's health, Germany and Switzerland are doing ok.

For my final day in Switzerland I spent time with friends in Frauberg. Lovely morning, hike to a castle at the top of a hill with special ladies and then down to dinner and a night on the river in Zurich.

Anyway, Switzerland...didn't milk a cow...didn't learn to yodel...didn't see the Matterhorn or snowboard at Zermat...didn't make it to Lugano...but did heartily enjoy. Must return! Must retire?

fall

2010-10-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

How I love Stevens Pass in the fall. Whoever raves about the leaves in the East should come here too....

Took this picture in the back seat...1 hour out of Oroville, the cake was consumed :)

ethiopian

2010-10-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

Yuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

minnes-Oh-ta

2010-10-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Quick trip, but very glad to be able to go...and to have gone! Just a few pics of these people I love....

Missed the rest of you family....

the least gratifying summit in washington

2010-09-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

Jolyn was game for a hike and so we tried one close to Seattle: Cougar Mountain Wilderness Peak Loop. This is us at the summit. No view. Hence, no sense of achievement. And then we read in the hiking book:

"The high point is where the trail dead-ends at a bench in a circular grove of tall trees. Lacking a view or even a single exposed rock, Wilderness Peak hardly passes for a summit, by most definitions of the word."

It's about the journey, Kateen...not the destination. Really???

a renuka weekend!

2010-09-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

Renuka came and the Mariners won :)

Tried an ionic cleanse...I think I'm ok with a certain level of toxicity. Not real sure what happened there, but it's a pretty cool science experiment if nothing else. The lady said as we were putting our feet in the water: "you may experience slight euphoria." Even at the suggestion of such, I did. What else...stellar acrobats! NANDA. Pictures here don't describe. Would love to see again...and personable too!

Come back soon, Renuka! And bring the fam too :)

enchantments

2010-08-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

The Upper Enchantments via Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass is a decent hike to glacier-polished rock and ice, sparkling lakes, and the jagged edge of the Stuarts range. Notably Aasgard Pass with 2,300 feet elevation gain in 2/3 of a mile is a bit challenging if one's hiking boots aren't fitting so superbly...but anyway.

GLORIOUS day!

Thanks Justin for the panoramas! I do need an iPhone 4.

If only these goats....mountain sheep...whatever they are...were just a little more friendly. Curious creatures. Hanging out up there rain or shine.

sweet land of liberty

2010-08-26T01:14:00.000-07:00

Having never been to Washington DC, never having people I knew well serve in our military, never experiencing a significant loss of freedom, and not having being alive during a conflict that affected ordinary days of citizens, I've felt that I lacked a quantity of patriotism. To my chagrin. Yes, I love America and yes, I feel respect for our flag. But truly, I do not understand the cost and my history is foggy. And so, on one of the hottest days on the East Coast, I walked all of the monuments. Felt good. By the way, a Dove ice cream bar CAN melt in a minute and a half.

Washington Monument and Roosevelt Memorial....well-photographed, so surreal to be there.

WWII Monument...one of the newer ones. Very sober for how open it was...and how good it felt to be in or near water on this hot day.

Oh and did I mention there were 150,000 Boy Scouts in DC the same week? They should actually be in more of my pictures. Quite the courteous fellows in line though.

The White House...and the protestors...24/7 protestors. Ug.

The Lincoln Memorial. Here is one place that was just as I expected. Though overridden with tourists.

The Korean War Memorial. And the memorable quotation.

My walking ended at dusk on the capital lawn...relief. On another evening, I took this picture of the ceiling of the Kennedy Center. I saw Mary Poppins Broadway show (great!) and had sufficient time before to contemplate why it is when I'm told I can't take a photo, all I really want to do IS take a photo. Happened in the Sistine Chapel too. Ridiculously juvenile.

Because DC does see a fair share of tourists, there is garbage. And so, the sign amused me.

I need to go back...and use all my maturity and patience on several days of museums....

cascade lakes relay

2010-08-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

Twelve of us ran the Cascade Lakes Relay: 216.6 miles from Diamond Lake Resort (almost Crater Lake) to Bend, Oregon. Quite a deal. 2 vans. 33 hours, 7 minutes, 9 seconds. Average time of 9:22. Not bad considering elevation and temperature and slower team members...me :) Most didn't get too much sleep on the gym floor...next time we're bringing WD-40 for the squeaky gym door :) Thanks to Callie and Justin for multiple emails which we all just skimmed believing that they had it under control. They did :)

This for me was testament to the power of peer pressure on adults. Peer pressure to join...well not too much...people are fairly optimistic 6 months out. Peer pressure when you see the van in the distance and you're slogging. Peer pressure when your team drops you off and says "See you in 2 miles. Run hard!"

Anyway, more pictures on other blogs/FB. I think I'd do it again :)

roche harbor on friday harbor in san juans

2010-07-07T02:06:00.000-07:00

Uncle Phil and Aunt Nancy have invited me over for years. Why-ever has it taken SO long. Very fun weekend with them and Doug & Jill (and her lovely parents!).

This was my longest jaunt in miles and most ferries in one day (3 on the way home). The combination of a scooter and ferry. A perfect solution for this punctuality-challenged lady. Always room. Load first or load last. Perfect.

Anyway...full weekend...lovely entertainment...lovely company...

A feast from right outside the door! Clams dug, mussels picked....oh oysters had to go to the other side of the bay for. Anyone want to go in on an oyster farm...well more than a few anyone's :) Delicious!

It's easy to think of the San Juans as a tourist destination, however when you see signs like this and deer in the walk between town and home, it is clear that it is rural and quiet. Reminds me of my roots.

Fireworks. An annual opportunity to measure photography skill. Until next year :)

Whale watching! Awesome. And not just saying so.

A lavendar farm! Beauteous. But only some things are meant to have lavendar in them. Not so sure about chocolate or vinegar. In honey? YES!

And now, I must go back. How do weekends get filled up...seems like there are never enough to spend with people I love.

rotting is beautiful

2010-06-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Traditional greens and browns...and then this to wake me from my slogging daze....beautiful red rotting wood. Giving me several miles to think about why that tree....why not the tree next to it....maybe I should go hiking with people more often :)

on my mind

2010-06-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,

A bit of fine-print or declaration feels necessary. There is something about posting to a blog or participating in Facebook that fills me with a slight bit of trepidation in this modern age. Trepidation because it could be used as a pedestal to brag about experiences or express opinions/thoughts that don't benefit your living. I would prefer it to be merely a means of sharing what I've been up to (or not) and participating in the data flow that I appreciate from you. It's not that any of this substitutes for hearty honest relationships! It doesn't.

I'll stop. Perhaps you understand.

Good day to you,
Kateen

Mt Rainier...the first attempt

2010-06-01T00:16:00.001-07:00

I see Mt. Rainier several times a week and think: "I'd love to stand on top of that." Training hikes have been gratifying, but only as a temporary appeasement.

Weather on the way up was unexpectedly warm, though forecasts and foreboding by the guides led us to believe it would be less than pleasant. As if coping with heavy packs, thin air, uncomfortable boots and the unknown wasn't enough? Smile. As eager and able as I felt, hourly breaks to acclimate, eat and drink became more and more welcome!

The next crest always looks so close. Foreshortening doesn't help this perpetual optimist. Just keeping eyes on the boots in front of me was easier. There is a lot to be said for just taking one step at a time and not stopping. No matter how cheesey or how repetitive that concept is, there is wisdom there.

One of our guides had a guitar. He'd play on a steep slope as we were trudging slowly up. The most notable time I recall was directly below Camp Muir. It was a bit foggy, but here he was, with some tune/lyric to cheer us. Reminds me of a verse: "Help us sing along the pathway when the deeper cost we meet." Or he'd play it in camp as something to bring the group together. Inspires me to work on getting some guitar skills!

This is the outhouse at Camp Muir. One of the guides got on a tangent about how Muir wasn't wilderness anymore...it is an urban civilization. Perhaps the outhouse complete with a toilet seat helps his point.

Meals were good and hot drinks were plentiful in camp. Simple pleasures. Alpine Ascents does a fine job. Breakfast on day 1 was on the way at a restaurant ran by sherpas. Day 1 dinner was chicken burritos complete with fresh guacamole. Day 2 breakfast was Blueberry pancakes, bacon and eggs and dinner was pasta. Day 3 breakfast was more pancakes, bars and oatmeal. The rest of the time, we had our fill of whatever we could make ourselves eat...sugar, nuts, jerky, bars, whatever...just something for calories and to get immediate fuel. Fascinating how the body works. Who would have known that a Snickers bar could be a preferred fuel...immediate sugar and slow burning protein. Hmmmm....about that sales tax on candy...

And so...attempting the summit, the guides were leery as we've had lots of precipitation...rain and snow (and nearly 2 feet of new snow at that). Avalanches were the concern, and so we'd go a ways and they'd dig a pit to test what it was doing. This process gives a climber time to analyze the desire to summit and evaluate the risk in such. Being goal-oriented (read summit-oriented) doesn't necessarily play to the survival-of-the-fittest concept...assuming the climber wants to be part of the "fittest" group :)

In any regard, learning about the rest step, the German step, the French step, to self-arrest, to walk with a rope, fear the crevasse, respect the power of nature, understand that success isn't gauged by reaching the summit...is good, but only makes me think about the next summit attempt. Soon, I hope.

Want to join?

6/7/2010 Since it's close to our climb, I was interested to read of an avalanche that 11 people were caught in and 1 died this weekend on Mount Rainier. Yikes. Here's the link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012041683_climbers06m.html

boise

2010-05-31T23:55:00.001-07:00

Boise, ID...what a charming berg. And only made better by good company.

To start with, I should confess, flying over Rainier made my heart beat...2 weeks to go! Anyway...speaking of heart beats, here is a picture of a Turkish coffee that several of us enjoyed (post race)...delish.

Boise again is quite cute. The downtown has multiple restaurants with outdoor seating and locals seem to prefer bicycles to get around. Feels good. Should have taken better/more pictures.

Secondarily, I post this picture as I believe it is the first time in my life that a photographer has happened upon me looking like I'm enjoying myself in a race. This picture lacks the traditional scowl and look of discomfort. Progress?

Sunday was also a highlight, for multiple reasons. Hanging out in a coffee shop was good...more coffee...there's a theme here. Oh, but one should note: 2 packages of oatmeal in hotel coffee consumed on the race bus en route to the start is a bad idea. Ah well.

Happy thoughts to you, fast runner friend.

indianapolis

2010-05-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

So...for the Seattle traveling running contingent's trek this year, we went to Indianapolis. Dave introduced us to Paul and Cheryl...an awesome couple...and a definite highlight. The Indi-Mini Marathon is the largest half in the country and the fifth largest running event.

The course for the Mini-Marathon is like a tour of downtown Indianapolis, beginning near Monument Circle. The route passes by the Indianapolis Zoo, White River State Park and IUPUI, and includes a full lap around the track of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...which is about where I was when the first finisher crossed the finish line...depressing?

We were also tourists and took in the historic sculptures, towers, museums...and even the public library. Actually fascinating. They had a room titled the "Think Tank" which had white board walls, good lighting and a table. I'm sure I could solve more problems if I had access to a room such as this. Right.

Good group. Good fellowship.

One of the later things we did was go to a Lincoln exhibit. This quote was interesting.

Anyway, I'd gladly go again...wonder where next year? And if you're reading this and you're a mellow traveller and female, Angela and I would enjoy your company :)

cherry blossoms

2010-04-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

Reminds me of Japan...almost....

ode to unemployment

2010-03-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have joked often over the last 11 months that retirement will suit me well. It will! And yet I crave the growth and challenge that comes from situations and people that I do not choose...namely "work".

The leisure, the geography, the food, the culture, the skill, etc...all just details. I have learned:

a certain quantity of uncertainty is beneficial;
to enjoy relaxing in cafes for indeterminate periods of time;
to be satisfied with whatever a day brings, as a "total waste" is simply not possible;
how to let myself off the hook;
the value of bring present;
that the projects I planned to do during my time off, but haven't done, will likely never be completed as they didn't ever pass the cost/benefit test (electronic recipe book, etc.);
how to make truffles and other calorific time-intensive recipes;
the benefits of prioritizing what matters most;
to see the futility of most routines;
what truly defines an individual is not their average day or experience;
that actually finishing books feels good (favorites of the year were: "The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World" and "What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self";
and finally that though independence and flightiness has their allure, quality interaction is priceless.

2010 winter olympics

2010-02-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I'll start out this post with how I felt walking to the train after multiple gratifying days. Evening was falling on the water, lights were coming up and the closing ceremonies were being amplified. I felt like I had witnessed history and that everything would be alright in the world. This photo hopes to capture that moment. I opt to post this picture instead of the red maple leaf madness stirring in downtown because of the Canadian victory over the US in hockey...though I was happy to feel some sense of inner possession of the red, white and blue!

Vancouver, BC at any given time is lovely, yet to witness it rise to the occasion for the Olympics will be memorable. The homeless were tucked away discreetly and kept busy collecting recyclable goods. Red mittens and Canadian flags appeared to be standard apparel, which is curious for a country of people I haven't known to show such patriotism. Lots of people everywhere though. Everywhere but the roads...ah the wonders of public transportation. And so, people-watching was gratifying. Several things were particularly fascinating: How photography impacts the dynamic of large crowds; Hhow long people think it is worth to stand in line for a free 30-second zip line ride...7 hours? Time value of money aside, let's talk about money value of time...smile; or street performers....

Street performers fascinate me. I wonder what they do on an average day. I wonder what type of person it takes to want to do such for a living. No matter...I admire their courage and audacity.

And now for short track! Just watching four to six shrink-wrapped people skate in a circle at high speed where everything can change in less than a second is exhilarating! Sure checking out the efficient security setup and the perfect job (Olympics Zamboni driver...been looking for one of those...smile) were interesting, but watching this event was assuredly a highlight of our time.

One of the things fans seem to understand about short track is the highly unpredictable nature of the sport. And so, when Apolo Ohno was DQ'd, you had to be paying attention to see the disqualification...much more to see the infraction. Above you see the moment that THE touch occurred and where the skaters started to fall. Avid fans to my left (Thornton family) have said multiple times that because Ohno and Hamelin are such good skaters are why they didn't wind up in the jumble as well...alas...it is what it is.

The short track relay was fascinating! You take the curiosity of short track and multiply the number of people and then wonder how this controlled chaos actually works. The coordination of the relay push off, the multiple skaters and all the possibilities for failure leaves someone who has never seen it before staring in wonderment forgetting to cheer for her country with the flag in her lap...

On the bus away from the Pacific Coliseum, this boy showed us his bouquet that he caught from one of the athletes. I'd listened to a short program on NPR about the choice of the florist and the design and was quite impressed with the approach...less with the product, but up close it was classy! Two florists joined together who have over 100 years of combined experience and are both over 65. They trained and used marginalized women recovering from addiction, prizon, violence, etc...anyway, just an example of positive news coming from the Games.

Another event we watched was the Womens Cross Country 30K. Great to see all the flags and people who are so into a sport I had no vantage into...outside of the occasional cross-country ski adventure. What I don't understand is that after 30K, it all comes down to a fraction of a second?? Anyway...VERY wet day at Whistler.

Well...what else, but this: Thank you Thornton's! Because of my inability to plan too far into the future, I remain especially grateful for your tolerance, care and including me...again! Very memorable trip!

yuma, az...land of retirees...

2010-02-09T13:28:00.000-08:00

One thing I enjoy about visiting Grandma, Doug and Carolyn in Welton/Yuma is that there is an exhilarating hike easy to get to in the early early a.m....Telegraph Hill.

These pictures seem classic...rocks and trains across the desert...makes me want to read Louis Lamour?

One evening we went to see Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. I was amused and delighted by one of the young actors with a mohawk and the greatest expressions...made me giggle...

And for other "classic scenes" in Arizona, I'd like to contribute good couch time and dominoes at the kitchen table...

While we didn't quite accomplish the task of having one date shake per day, we did enjoy the sickly sweet savor multiple days in a row. To the health of it....

This picture is included merely as an aside for anyone who believes that television is the bane of society because of the level of violence because we needn't go further than our hometown parade...I smile. This shootout was entertaining.

Nice trip! Good weather! Great company!

india...round two...

2010-01-07T00:14:00.000-08:00

I recall in conversation to a friend right after our last India trip commenting "the world is such a big place and of all the places I've been, India is the one place I don't NEED to return to." But what is it about this place, about this people that grip my heart? And so, having opportunity to go again, Deepa, Renuka and I set out with high expectations and the added bonus of seeing Uncle Lyle.

Again, I found that when I most wanted to pull out my camera, I felt the most peculiar doing so. These two women allowed me to...and smiled deeply upon seeingthe result! Cute. Deepa would/did say that this picture is missing the best part....the baby sleeping on the ground at their feet. As for the beggars, I wish I knew what was best. I struggle there. I struggle here, on the streets of Seattle, knowing when to give, what to give, if their need is genuine, if I'm really helping...

Just around the corner from where we stayed in Bangalore, there is an exquisite diner!! Give me an onion dosa and a coffee and I'll be happy...until lunch when I'd like to come back for the same...smile! As for the coffee...yes, Indian coffee is full of goodness...lots of sugar and lots of milk. Here, as an alternative to steaming the milk, they warmed it in a large pot and then stretched it by poring it from a height to produce the pleasant froth. And all done so fast that I had trouble not getting a blur in the photo. Mmmmmm!

Other things about this culture, amuse me. Or perhaps it is back to the reality that when we are out of our everyday routine, our surroundings tend toward more clarity and meaning? So, whether it was the excessive quantity of coconut juice in Renuka's coconut, cows in front of a bank billboard, a rickshaw driver reading a paper at a light in the middle of traffic's controlled chaos, signs warning of dire consequences, being accosted by sellers of Santa hats (20 ruppees and a photo later), flirting with a baby and mother in the back of a rickshaw, seeing hockey fans gathered outside a store with a glass front and a TV inside, or watching a skilled potter at a wheel..or whatever else...vibrance and perspective are the result. This may not be love I am describing to you, but more than sincere fascination!

As before, one of the things that we got good at was waiting. Whether it was waiting at the zoo for our safari (yes, the lions, tigers and bears appeared quite content...whew!), at the Mysore Palace for our ramble through a rich history (what grandeur and what a lesson in not talking to strangers...thanks for the guidance Vivek and Stephanie!), or for food, our American respect for "now" was easily pushed aside. However, I should note that even standing in line amongst our friends for food, is not just absence of movement, rather it is an active foward-looking phobia-free venture.

Maybe now's a good time to say something about my two dear Indian sisters. Would I embarass them too much if I told you here that I find them to be very very lovely...in a natural way with smooth beautifully brown skin and slight persons...and in a more meaningful way with more-than-pleasant dispositions, a depth of character and understanding that I may have discounted previously. Oh and not to forget, the ability to make me smile anywhere and anytime....whether it's laundry on the roof at 5 AM, giddiness journal-bartering at midnight or incredulously noting that the stuffed animal gift to our brother was cut open in six places by security!

Another notable thing that I have yet to speak of is how awesome...and that word not used lightly here...how awesome our friends are. Families and friends alike with a common purpose and understanding that transcends age and chaos and country. People that would do anything for you...and you for them. Melts my heart. And makes me want to return...sooner rather than later!! Truth.

So, if a trip and it's companions can be gauged by the quantity I missed them the day after (that is me...me, who tends toward not missing, but merely reconnecting at another venture), this trip was more than a success!

And so I try to return to reponsible-living, but find my mind floats back to these days.

Until again, dear sisters! And what of you brothers?? :)

thankfulness

2009-11-27T21:44:00.000-08:00

Our family must enjoy each other...Gerald & Angela's house is certainly spacious...though often this room was this crowded...curious :) Anyway...lots to be thankful for!

a good day

2009-11-21T21:28:00.000-08:00

A morning with the family and an afternoon enjoying instrumental music...what of the flying spaceship? A good, but random day.

mexico y belize

2009-11-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

Ah...warm weather and good company! Brian & Sandi provided the backbone for a splendid time in the Yucatan and Belize. I again have this clarity: the benefits of sunshine are best understood when leaving and returning to 45 degree rainy weather!

We flew into Cancun, headed to Playa del Carmen for the night and then onto a tiny town: Xcalak. The guide book's description of "rickety wooden houses, beached fishing launches and lazy gliding pelicans which make this tiny town plopped in the middle of nowhere a perfect escape" proved accurate. Nothing seemed to be going on, but fishing from the end of the dock and a daily soccer game.

Several words to the wise: If you overcook a whole fish in too moist a pan, the eyeballs will turn into firm white marbles. Additionally, what may look like the perfect job in the Carribean (reading a book alone in a hammock while guarding a rope fence on the edge of Laguna Baccalar which appears to have nothing to guard against) actually appears quite dull.

Good food: octopus, fresh tortillas and minimart iced coffee! How do you like the slogan "Everything is beautiful in it's own way, like starry summer nights and the Cafe Pub."

This is the view from the water of Hotel Paraiso in Laguna Baccalar. Good swim across, though Nessie's sister freaked me out in the middle :)

On to Belize! Belize (formerly British Honduras) is the only South American country with an official language of English. Kreol, Garinagu and Metizo are the largest ethnicities...not just another Spanish colony, rather a product of tumultuous Caribbean history. Again paying attention in World History could have paid off, as my expectations were that Belize was just another Mexico. Not so!

Most of our time was spent in Dangriga...very small town. Fellowship there was very sweet and both the children and the adults were endearing. Also...had the best banana cake of my life here...8 bananas in one cake...imagine the moisture! Very good days! Another time, visiting the Great Blue Hole could be nice, but wouldn't choose it over what we enjoyed!

On our way North after gladly maxing out the seating capacity on our rental minivan, we stopped for a day/night in Tulum. The tourist-ridden ruins preside over a ruggest coastline and are quite beautiful....but still just ruins! A sweet Swiss couple joined us here on our treck futher North to Puerto Morelos. One of my more giddy moments here were when we were trying to figure out how the eggs were cooked on a half-Spanish half-English menu. It seems that eventually everyone gets to the stage of whatever-they-think-I-ordered-they-will-bring-me-and-I-will-eat-it...smile!

Simple living! Happy days! Wandered by this hammock shop without noticing the baby in it...daycare...complete with a mosquito coil....smile! And how's this for a refined version of Les Schwab?! Excellent service! As for the boats on the grass, Hurricane Ida was expected to come close...missed...whew!

And now for a highlight...diving! An open water scuba certification later and I have the bug!

The instructor who liked the sound of his own voice, the pool time, the time bonding with the scuba book learning about buoyancy, thermoclines, etc., the conquering of innate low-level fear, the good company, the cenote, the seemingly clutzy intrusion into the underworld...all of it...glorious!

These last two pictures are from an evening excursion to Playa del Carmen. Nice place...but really our no-post-office town of Puerto Morelos served us quite well! How to wrap this up...hmmm....suffice it to say that at times I didn't know if I really wanted to come home...smile!

mmm...mmmm...mmmm

2009-10-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

A craving for Key Lime Pie sent me googling on "Best Key Lime Pie Recipe". I landed on one from Emeril Lagasse (you can see the full recipe here).

I opted to use the small pre-made graham cracker crusts and made only half the recipe. This made it quick...but oh so delicious. To create this culinary masterpiece ;) put the mixture of 1 14-ounce can condensed milk, 1/2 cup lime juice and one egg in the crusts and bake for 15 minutes at 375. Chill. Somehow put mixture of 1/2 cup sour cream with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar on chilled mini-pies and grate on some lime zest and voila!!

hartford

2009-10-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Hartford Marathon! Or half marathon, that is. Terrible time...had nothing to do with the great course! Nice chance to see Cousin Janna though!

A day in Boston on the front end gave us a chance to be tourists and walk the Freedom Trail. Here's a tedious job I wouldn't want...restoring the brick in the Quincy Market!

Before heading back to Boston for Sunday, we took a detour and spent a night in Cape Cod. Didn't quite feel like the Kennedy-quality-holiday-locale that I expected. Did try the full-bellied fried clams though....smile! And for the record...I'm not sure that New England in the fall has anything on Stevens Pass in the fall!

Aren't they adorable? And good tour guides for the Harvard campus!

Anyway, good trip, good company (but we missed you Angela!) and another medal down!

leavenworth

2009-10-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Octoberfest Half Marathon in Leavenworth again! These pictures amused me...seemingly overconcerned about the iPod, rather than the pace :)

boring, or

2009-09-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

After Dave & Angela's wedding, I spent a few good mellow days with Sarah...

It's fall! And Sauvee Island is cute! And Sarah, we miss you!

dave & angela

2009-09-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations!! I love the looks on their faces in the first picture...

Twas a beautiful day!

the before picture

2009-09-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

We took this picture right before Steve helped us cut down the trellis....the end of an era!! And a war...smile...

Oh dear...is my waist at Grandma's shoulders?

ephrata days

2009-09-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

First for the entertainment: brother Sharad! Oh and the team :)

And next for the cheerleaders! Rah! Rah! Or whatever you're supposed to say...smile! By the way....I have a very cool family, including two very cool cousins! Am I gushing? Perhaps.

For one evening's entertainment, we went and watched/helped bring up a hot air balloon. The event was the Quincy Valley Balloon & Wine Festival which features a night glow, where all the pilots and teams inflate their balloons...spooky beautiful. Aunt Beth's/Uncle Ray's connections gave us a chance to witness first hand the effort....and the glory!

All to culminate in the obvious conclusion that Ephrata is the center of the universe...smile!

oh can-a-da

2009-09-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

Bard with the Thornton's...will I ever tire of this annual outing? Don't think so!

mt st helens

2009-09-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Shari, Jan, Deepa and I made the treck this year...go women! A good day.

my family

2009-08-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

There's getting to be enough people in my dear family that getting a picture when all of us are looking at the camera and no silly faces is nearly impossible!

oh susanna...don't you cry for me...i've gone to louisiana....

2009-08-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

New Orleans may be another place where one goes to prove or disprove what they know of it...rather than to experience it in an unbiased fashion. For me, it seemed synonymous with Mardi Gras beads, steam wheelers on the Mississippi, porches, alligators, above-ground cemetaries, plantations, tragic news reporting and a plethora of less-than-healthy food. And in fact, that was what we found...with a lot more friendly people, fleur de lis and history than expected.

The first time we strolled the French Market, Becca and I were revolted at the alligator heads and hands being sold. "Are they real?" "Why....of course!" We were told later that the alligators sold were raised on farms where only 15% are released into the wild. The remainder are sold for various uses. Becca's Turkish-language skills made her a friend buying a hat. Now a video of him dancing with his yellow-coined scarf would be you-tube-able!

Martha and Joshua took us to the acquarium which experienced heavy losses of fish during Katrina. This picture of the jelly fish turned out well. Becca was particularly amused by "Gulf of Mexico Sponsored By" sign!

Richard and Charlene took us to several plantations (Nottaway and Oak Alley pictured here). Ah the splendor! Seeing them in their day would have actually been interesting. Sadly documentation or discussion of the slaves living was missing from our tours. I'd enjoy a propoganda-less knowledge of such. We did witness several curious things relics though: voodoo kit, diaries of capable women running the plantations while their husbands and sons were off fighting the Civil War, loan documentation naming certain slaves as collateral, vampire kit, opium jar with darts, etc. And what of the futile task of keeping all the silver from tarnishing in Louisiana's humidity?

Alligators! Would you believe they're interested in hot dogs and marshmallows? We were told that Louisiana is losing the equivalent of 1 football field of wetlands per hour, so we're certain to hear more about these creatures! Another cause.

And then for the wars. Calvin took us to the New Orleans battlefield of the War of 1812. Trying to imagine 2,000 British dying here because news of the peace treaty had not reached the front lines seemed tragic. And then the WWII Museum. Fascinating. Yes. Perhaps we'll see rationing again one of these days?

Food. Oh my. A gastronomic paradise? Perhaps a list is in order: muffuletta sandwich, jambalaya with rabbit meat and andouille, biscuits, grits, chilly-topped omelette, seafood gumbo, po'boys, collard greens, crawfish, corn bread, red beans and rice, oysters on the halfshell, e'toufee, pecan pie, snow cones (nectar is by consensus the best flavor), bread pudding, beignets, chicory coffee...fried catfish, fried oysters, fried chicken, fried alligator bits, fried shrimp....no wonder the statistics on diabetes and heart disease are astounding!

Whether or not there is bias in the rebuilding progress or news reports of such, this is clear...there's a ways to go. Even if Brad Pitt's houses are going up in the 9th ward and many are returning, empty lots grace all affected neighborhoods. The sobering effect of people sharing their stories is only matched by viewing FEMA graffiti and remains of people's lives. And then to see people rebuilding? Proof that people are both resilient and risk-takers.

Good trip! And a great friend to travel with!

freedom!?

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

"...There is something
Deep and pulling leaving everything behind
Something about having everthing
You think you'll ever need
Sitting in the seat next to you
And I watch
Another white dash
Another white dash..."

Tempting...smile! Alas, responsible living calls.

katie & michael

2009-07-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Beautiful beautiful day! Congratulations!

two-wheeled pleasure

2009-07-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

I've wasted years traveling in a car! The Sunday evening drive is assuredly more pleasurable on 2 wheels with good company...and of course followed up with a 3/4 lb. burger-barbecue at Glen & Hazel's. Good times!

craig & laura

2009-07-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

This is always curious to me...feeding each other cake...perhaps not the most becoming picture (but one of the few in my camera...smile!), but you can tell they're an attractive couple!

Beautiful day!Congratulations!

good women

2009-07-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

Kari, Becca and myself enjoyed a hike and solitary camp on Snow Lake for a few days. Alpine wilderness. Good fellowship. Funny food. Numerous switchbacks. Good times.

cruising 'the last frontier'

2009-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Envisioned as a perfect way to commemorate Grandma's 90th birthday, we decided on an Alaskan cruise. Sure it's commercialized, only allows for limited self-discovery and is geared toward the more mature amongst us...yet, I am glad to have had the time together with her!

The life-jacket drill was amusing! Perhaps you've seen it...yet everyone on the boat jamming in elevators trying to figure out where to go and how to put on this bright orange ill-fitting strappy accessory WAS fodder for simple entertainment! In regard to other entertainment...random sightings of humpback whales, killer whales, sea lions, seals, and sea otters, not to mention a variety of sea birds exceeded any roster of frivolous activities onboard. Alas, no puffins!

So it might not be fair to post this photo, as I too had just woken up. However, sleep is well within the expectated response to a 2:00 p.m. post-big-lunch Glaciology 101 lecture by a monotone professor! Or how about an art auction? Couldn't believe the prices. Yikes! Not ashamed to be a value shopper.

At Juneau, Val provided good adventures: Mendenhall Glacier, community gardens, delicious cobbler and frittatta on their sailboat (to which Grandma was amenable to delivery), convention grounds tour, and Auke Bay kayak rental.

Oh but then there was Skagway! A dogsledding camp and sled ride made me briefly consider the benefits of moving to the middle-of-nowhere with 50 dogs and training. Other women have! Mike King, a Yukon Quest musher, gave a good overview of the sport...1,000 miles of good luck to him next year! White Pass Railway was classic, yet exposed the base motivation of humankind. The efforts and sacrifice of miners just to get to the gold....that (for most) wasn't there when they got there...all based on hope (and rumor). I suppose the sacrifices wouldn't have been as great if thieving opportunists hadn't preyed on their gullibility. Have times really changed...amused smile!

Ketchikan...very cute...but doesn't something seem wrong with this? Here's the joke we were told: "What is 12 stories tall and keeps Ketchikan in the shade all summer?" Than answer is the picture to the left.

Glacier Bay! Incidentally, it is also the fastest documented glacial retreat in our time. Loud cracks followed by calving is actually a "must-see"! I know that term is over-used on all sorts of travel advertising, yet I say this seriously....type this seriously...

The finale was Victoria....Butchart Gardens and a city tour. Gardens atop an exhausted rock quarry. Great idea. Anyway, good week....though perhaps a hunting/fishing trip in the interior would deserve the description of "the last frontier"...or maybe that's Antarctica now? Next time!

when I am ninety....

2009-07-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

....what will I think about in my quiet moments? What will I have witnessed? Will I be wise? Will I be happy? Will I be bitter? What will my ordinary days be like? Will I have become the woman that I am driven to become now? Will I be content with whatever my lot is? We'll see!?

One life. Kind of sobering. Happy birthday, dear lady!

rock-n-roll

2009-06-27T23:31:00.000-07:00

50 by 50 here we come!

italia

2009-06-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Rome...how jarring!

Night walk....classic.

Sistine...finally.

Cinque Terra!

Best food in Italy...hands down.

Three American women in an Irish car in Italy in the rain navigating to an from an outdoor opera...a hoot!

Riva!

Venice! What to say....other than it being a grand finale to a grand trip.

greece

2009-06-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

One of the destinations that has always near the top of my list has been Greece. I wanted to stroll the streets, take in the sights, linger in the cafes, walk in the vineyards, swim in the oceans and otherwise enjoy the classical setting. It is beautiful! And easy to travel in! Now if there were a way to own a bed and breakfast here.....

Athens....where to start...touching the aging rock of the Parthenon...watching the Acropolis light up at sunset from the top of Mt. Likavitos...standing on Mars Hill thinking about Paul...having Greek Salad on a rooftop on Cape Sounion at dusk...watching folk dances then strolling back to the hotel through masses of people out late at night for their own stroll...oh my...not just another big city.

Were it not for the enticement of Santorini and other islands on the way, I may have stayed longer.

Ah....the oft-photographed calendar-perfect Santorini! Only better in person.

Samaria Gorge...11 mile hike ending on the seashore...

repentance

2009-05-30T23:14:00.000-07:00

After sixteen hours of motorcycle instruction, a scooter purchase and multiple jaunts around town, I have just cause for repenting of all of my previous driving misdeeds (if that's a word):

- Texting while driving (top-o-the-list)
- Checking my email at traffic lights
- Passing entire classes in college because of studying while driving
- Dipping, cutting, etc. awkward food while steering with my knee

With cause to be a better driver,
A repentant Seattle girl

singapore...a fine city....

2009-05-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

I think I could live here! Fairly expensive and seemingly regimented, but still! Riding the world's largest giant observation wheel was very touristy, but awesome. Not sure about the fish therapy on every other corner though...smile!

malaysia

2009-05-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

On to Malaysia! After a whirlwind excursion around Kuala Lampur (checking out Kapur trees - tree crowns follow contours but never touch, the central market and Bery'ls Chocolate Kingdom), I headed toward Khota Bahru on the Jungle Train. By the way, the benefits of packing light are noted when one walks by hundreds of carts loaded high with luggage and airport employees lounging and smoking leisurely....smile! On arrival in Khota Bahru, the extremist Islamic influence was evident...head scarves accompanied by men gawking...evidently, I stood out a bit. Anyway, fairly strict environment...for example, there are separate checkout counters in the supermarket for men and women. Curious.

But! If you are ever looking for modest apparel and women who are very helpful and seemingly know a bit about modesty, come here! I've never found longer skirts or women more giddy about a customer exiting the fitting room with the 10th item they've tried on.

There seemed to be two choices for food late in the evening...dried fish from a mobile stand or McDonalds. McDonalds offered delivery via scooter, catering, 24-hour service and WiFi! And yes, the fish tasted as bad as it smelled. Waiting 2 hours for the mini-bus to fill only lengthened the drumroll to one of the best diving spots in SE Asia...the Perhentians.

It is a crazy world when in one hour, one can be whisked out of filth and a lack of safety to a clear watered paradise? More water time (complete with an accidentally terrible 1/2 hour sunburn), scuba diving, hiking, mosquito-fighting, snorkeling, beach barbecuing (no I didn't have the shark-fin soup, but yes I did listen to the rants regarding eating all of the oceans predators) and pensive relaxation. Swimming with a turtle, scrunching a plastic bottle under water to make small sharks circle and enjoying more real juice not-from-concentrate were the notable pleasures. Yet, loneliness from solitary travel began to take hold! On to the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo...

These are only pictures of scenes in Khota Kinabalu. The most marvelous thing was the feeling of family and being met at the airport. Roslyn made my day...my days! Generosity from people that I don't know, but who love, blows me away...consistently. Our common bond is invaluable. These people living on the water use said water for both sewage and a fishing pond. Ug. Morning swims at the unpopulated beach were a highlight though! A different beach, that is :)

One of the reasons I came to KK was to climb Mt. Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in SE Asia (13,435 ft)....though our friends were assuredly the highlight. After searching KK for a travel agent to get lodging on the mountain and being directed from here to there to there and finally locating one at 5:30 pm the day before I wanted to climb, it seemed meant to be. Mt. Kinabalu took 2 days to climb with a hired guide. Splitting it between 3 people (with none of the ailments noted on the sign) looking for a guide at the same time was prudent...though my lack of a career in the Singapore military made me the odd one out :) Rising at 2 a.m. to summit and going out into the dark pounding rain and grabbing onto ropes attached to slippery wet boulders is only gratifying if you don't stop short of the summit...alas. It's not about the destination, right? The porters were curious to me. Everything on the mountain gets hauled up and down by these mountains (even your own backpack if you are willing to pay a menial fee...cheating). Some of their loads were impressive, but makes one feel slight guilt eating a beautiful meal at the lodge.

Anyway, made it back for Wednesday night in KK and enjoyed quite a variety of fruit (even the durian with it's unique odor) that the brothers brought on their 8-hour trek west. Roslyn and Kim Yau came along for my deal of a parasail ride. I suppose the sail says it all :) But alas, on to Singapore...

laos

2009-05-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

To start with, let's clear up the "s" in "Laos" quandry. When using it as an adjective, I formerly used "Lao", though when saying the country, I said "Laos". After asking anyone who seemed credible and had the time to pay heed to this tediousness, I learned that there is no final "s" sound in the Lao language. Hence the "s" if we are to sound authentic is never used. Anyway...moving on. Laos is both primitive and challenging to travel in, though very rewarding and culturally rich! And before I forget, the French influence, if nothing else, left the country with good bread (something I didn't expect).

The lifeline of Laos is the Mekong River, which runs the length of the landlocked country. For this reason, it seemed fitting spend several days taking the Slow Boat to Louang Phrabang.

The slow boat is a long narrow barge-like vessel sitting low in the water, with a loud rattling diesel motor, a very capable captain and very hard wooden benches. In time most decide to ride as the locals do...on the floor. Chickens on the roof amused me!

The benefit of the slow boat is what you see: miles and miles of untouched terrain, water buffalo, fisherman and other locals traveling up or down to market (seemingly eggs, Beer Lao and some kind of dragon/lizard thing appear high on the list).

A stop on the river for the night taught me that the word "cockroach" sounds quite like "moo-moo". To give context: The guesthouse owner responding to my accidental shreak after electricity was shut off and I found one well-fed cockroach under my pillow by flashlight said: "good bug, Lao bug...moo-moo" repeatedly. Because that's of course what you do when someone doesn't understand your language, say the same words over again. Louder helps too :) Maybe it was the adrenaline from the moo-moo discovery or the amusing situation or maybe you had to be there.

Water time, inexpensive markets with little anyone else but a tourist would want, funny food (for example: water buffalo lap (spicy finely chopped meat served with rice), surprisingly cheap meals and lodging (maybe I'll move there if I don't find a job...smile) and endless hours to contemplate why my bug bites were weeping, describe my early days in Laos.

Though Louang Phrabang was cute (but over-touristed), I flew on to Ventianne to find Muriel and Melissa. Notably, Lao Airlines is on the State Department's list of airlines to avoid...it was just fine. One of the places we went was COPE, which is an organization providing over 1,000 prosthesis per year and other assistance free to victims of cluster bombs. Rocked my world. Laos, per capita, is the most bombed country in history because the North Vietnamese ran supply routes through Laos (including the Ho Chi Minh Trail), which American planes bombed thoroughly. About 1/4 of the cluster bombs dropped didn't explode. They are found daily by people foraging for food in the forest, farmers plowing their fields after the rains, children who take them apart, etc. On average 300 people are killed or maimed per year. Makes you think...especially when you see homemade prosthesis and pictures and stories of loved ones.

Other excursions were lighter...the beautiful bubble fish or coffee and truffles. I'm not sure of the origins here of putting condensed milk in the [double-strong] coffee, but it is infinitely better than it sounds...delicious in fact! The next time I will savor and appreciate coffee so completely and passionately will be Italy.

Another venture was to Carol Cassidy's Lao Textiles Workshop. Carol came to Laos in 1989 with the UN and discovered a "weavers paradise". She has combined the country's rich history of weaving with her designs and employs 40 weavers who were taught by their own mothers to weave. The contemporary woven art is beautiful, but some wall hangings take 4 months to complete. On the most complex designs only 2 centimeters are woven per day. Diligence and hard work.

Dining in these huts on the river was nice, though one gets full really quick after realizing there are kids watching for leftovers. My heart aches though I sadly admit that I am a product of my experience and have empathy but lack the basis to truly understand.

And then the market! I love these! Always makes one reconsider their personal standards of what defines "edible".

And for the finale in Ventiane, we saw some Lao folk dances and ate traditional Lao food. Sweet ladies. Special days. Unforgettable country.

thailand

2009-05-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

This country was many things to me...provider of good thoughts, good food and adventure travel.......but most of all my time with "our big friends" is what sets it apart. The elephant camp gave me good cause to remember my younger, more naive days where my agendas included hanging a peace sign in my bedroom window (not for too long...the peace sign means different things to different generations...smile), send in my monthly contribution to Earth First, Greenpeace, adopt a whale...you get it. But no....my adult response was one of care and concern accompanied by the reality that I do not have enough time, resources or more genuinely, the priority to devote myself to every worthy cause on this planet.

These last two pictures are of Malai Tong, who stepped on a land mine while working in illegal logging and then was taken to beg illegally on the streets in Bangkok. Mae Mai is on the right who had her leg broken when a log broke loose from a load and crushed her from above. Oh I had my favorites, but all the counts of misfortune whether in logging (long long days and drug use common), trekking (prone to abuse),

traditional training (the details are not pretty but 40% +/- die during this) or from tuskers (yes, still), abusive handlers (whether from lack of knowledge or sheer disregard for their well-being) or time and chance. Anyway....feedings, communal washings...Asian elephants have course thin but wirey hair, by the way....and other menial tasks gave me high regard for Lak and her Elephant Nature Park. Notably, I've had a hard time believing that one life can truly make a difference (with one notable exception for which my hope and faith are rooted in)...but this experience gave me some hope that an individual (Lak...a tiny beautiful Thai daughter of a shaman) with courage, enthusiasm and complete devotion can effect change. Even the mahouts are Burmese refugees and the dogs rescued from various locals/menus and used to promote Rabies vaccinations...and the list goes on.

Then there is the contradiction of the Thai people who use the elephant in much of their worship, yet are content with rampant abuse of the same. Ah...that is how we humans are, I suppose?

Ever seen someone chew their dinner with their mouth open? Hah.

This evening shot of downtown Chang Mai was a good moment after some good food. At this time I was scheming of running around the 2K x 2K moat around the Old City. In fact I did twice the following morning, however the tuk tuks would honk and slow down when passing...wondering why I was running...I must need a ride if I was in such a hurry? Or maybe I just looked like a white woman dying in the heat...smile!

This was the moment of leaving Thailand to cross and get to Laos. Notably watching for the border guard stamp the passport is a good lesson for future travel. Incidentally, he didn't and so I had to cross back again....what is time and effort anyway...all an adventure on vacation...on to Laos!!

tulip tuesday

2009-04-29T12:19:00.001-07:00

How many tulips do you need to see before they start to blur and become less-appreciated? I do enjoy the varieties and wondering if the colors/leaves that result were intentional mutations. Anyway, Skagit Valley is quite nice this time of year...reminds me of my farm land roots!

tour de lopez....again!

2009-04-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

A 31 mile route, plus the distance to and from the ferry was as picturesque as last year...though making the return ferry seemed more rewarding....perhaps it was the relief...smile!

pike street market

2009-04-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

Seafood, fresh produce, crafts, flower bouquets, fish mongers, street musicians, hustling shopkeepers, mosey-ing tourists...and more...make this one of my favorits spots in Seattle. This is just to say so. And to say that in such dire economic times, I am pleased that somehow the market improvement is a priority for voters. Hmm!

curiosity perpetualized

2009-03-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

The Pacific Science Center...always a pleasure!

it's over?

2009-03-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Somehow I've escaped the snowboard/ski season without good photos or a post. Multiple good trips with friends and an increasing confidence on my board this season made this entertainment much more fulfilling!

passing of an era?

2009-02-28T21:54:00.000-08:00

Sure there is something odd about naming a book-reading device after a verb that has to do with beginning to burn something (kindle)...and sure it lacks some of the sensory delight of a paper book...and sure I shouldn't read it in the hot tub....and I can't use it during take-offs and landings....but oh the technological delight, efficient packing pleasure, immediate gratification after reading a book review, decreased urgency to retrieve my mail (newspaper and magazines subscriptions automatically update), and hours of quality entertainment this will provide!

What is happening to our world...today I even put together a jigsaw puzzle online at jigzone.com!

positively pensive quote for the commitment phobic

2009-02-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

I really don't feel this way about this beverage or this company...though after digesting the quote on my cup today, I experienced a brand of intravenous inspiration.

The Way I See It #76: "The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life."

– Anne Morriss Starbucks customer from New York City. She describes herself as an "organization builder, restless American citizen, optimist."

arizona air

2009-02-24T15:09:00.001-08:00

A trip to Arizona to spend a little time with Grandma B provided some respite from drizzly 45 degree Seattle days. No wonder "snow birds" flock to the state!

For a Sunday afternoon trip, we went out to Bard to see the date palms and in search of a date shake. Yes. A date shake. I must admit that the date is a personally underappreciated fruit. I've read of the health benefits online since returning home and believe that the benefits of the date might offset the detriments of the milk shake. Curious combo.

Seeing the fields of salad greens, cauliflower, etc. reminds me that I should actually wash my produce before consuming it...something my dear sister would certainly applaud me for...smile....

Another cause for thought was the acres of white fifth-wheel trailers of retirees. How curious that this could be the culmination of careers and life efforts. A friend pointed out that it could be the allure of the simple life that draws them. Perhaps. I suppose the previously-noted good weather, retired friends and plentiful golf courses don't hurt. Or maybe we all have a bit of wanderlust in us and a motorhome makes it comfortable. I do need a VW pop-top van!

There are few things better than rising early for a sunrise hike...this time Telegraph Pass. The adventure of going somewhere before the "common man" is awake is consistently gratifying.

Even though I was only here a short time, the Southwest did show it's colors...a decent sunset, a lizard on a wall and multiple cactus...cactuses...cacti...hmmm...anyway, a good trip!

mt. baker

2009-02-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

20 Seattle-ites and Portland-ers descended on (or "ascended" depending on how you see it) Mt. Baker for the weekend...snowboarding/skiing, cabin-bonding, snow-shoeing, laughter and fellowship is a consistent winner! Thanks to Gerald, Angela and family for making our Sunday wonderful!

Others took more pictures than I, so happy blog-surfing!

As a side note, I was very happy with this breakfast bar recipe by Nigella Lawson who is often featured on NPR. My days of making trail mix are over.

1 14-fl-oz can condensed milk (warmed)
2 1/2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup mixed pumpkin, sunflower, sesame seeds
1 cup natural unsalted peanuts

After pressing into oiled 9" x 13" pan, bake at 250 degrees for an hour. Cool. Consume.

sign of the times

2009-02-13T13:14:00.001-08:00

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

~ Alan Cohen

gum anyone?

2009-01-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

I accidentally came upon the Seattle Wall of Gum today in Post Alley. Does it smell in the summer? How many people visit each year? Is it really money that the City needs to attract tourists through art? This guestbook looks fairly full!

Curious practice anyway.

mt. bachelor vocab

2009-01-19T15:06:00.000-08:00

flocculate

\FLAH-kyuh-layt\
verb

1 : to aggregate or coalesce into small lumps or loose clusters

ode to a humbled traveler

2009-01-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

I've read that there are two types of travelers: those who set out to find their pre-conceived notions and those who set out to see whatever presents itself. I...at least for this trip...have proven (somewhat to my own disappointment) to be the earlier. My mind was filled with pictures of Paris and I wanted to be in them. I envisioned quaint neighborhoods, museums, picnics, strikes, artists by the water, a leisurely pace, overly-perfumed women and gourmet food. As a side note, perhaps my visions were based on Paris in the Spring and didn't include the sight of my own breath!

French cooking without butter or oil may be an unthinkable notion, so I was thankful for the small portions on large oval plates. Lobsters in vanilla bean sauce, escargot, croissants, crepes, Berthillon ice cream, creme brulee and other undercooked eggs and meat were a curious, yet sensory delight. Crepes however were the highlight!

Choosing was the issue: chocolate, sugar and lemon, ham and cheese, banana and nutella ... the list goes on.

Champs-Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe in the background felt classic. Because of the time of year, the historic boulevard was lined with little shops selling items that nobody needs but everyone buys.

I witnessed my first protest here, where riot police arrived with the forlorn politely insistent two-note bleating that I previously associated with European spy novels, and pushed pro-Israel students out of the honking mayhem.

Sainte Chappelle on Île de la Cité was stunning in the afternoon light with 1,000 scenes depicted in stained glass.

Less beautiful, yet more famous was Notre Dame. I sat through my first entire mass which was good both for perspective and for pensive introspection. Yet as experienced at other religious sites, the combination of consumerism and worship remains quite perverse to me.

A plethora of bicycle terminals provided a convenient mode of transportation, even if it did involve frozen nose hairs! Otherwise, bateau mouches, walking and the metro provided a decent expose on Paris-living. When the train stops, the lights go out and a French announcement comes over the system, you do think about the benefits of knowing the language of the land.

Another highlight was the Louvre. Who knew that the Mona Lisa was 31" x 21"? The tactic for placement in the largest art museum in the world seemed comparable
to the placement of milk at the rear of the supermarket! And then you arrive to discover that the room is crowded and you are competing with 100ish other cameras.
Nothing like a zoom lens! Other highlights included the Winged Victory of Somothrace and the Rodin Museum where The Thinker crouches in sober thought.

Versailles....what grandeur! Acres and acres of French gardens, statues and evidence of decadence. No wonder the excesses of the French royalty spurred the French Revolution!

Chateau Thierry was a chance to get out of town, to possibly connect with a long-lost heritage and to enjoy a small French village. For 45,000 Euro, I could buy a place...smile! Yet, it was just below freezing and so I spent much of my time lingering in a cafe sipping coffee, eating assorted pastries and writing in my journal.

Again, knowing French would have been quite an attribute! And does language net to promote communication and culture or to create tangible divisions? What is truly international is quite limited.

And last but not least...The Eiffel Tower! Whether sitting on a bench at sunset waiting for the lights to come on or catching a glimpse of it down a winding street, it did not fail to evoke wonder. Even though the tourist count is down this time of year, the lines were still patience-builders! As was the 704 steps to the second story in below zero weather. New Years Eve "Bonne Anne"s and bises were memorable though!

And so I left Paris well aware of the seeming superiority of French cuisine, French fashion, French language and richness of French history.

How can one place be so vast yet closed; impersonal yet welcoming; surrounded by abstract notions yet alarmingly raw; and classicly monumental yet able to provide an improvised experience? Anyway, in my humble opinion, it is. Or at least it was.

white roofs!

2008-12-18T17:04:00.000-08:00

a continuous plethora of turkey?

2008-11-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

Can someone tell me why America doesn't run out of turkeys? What other commodity enjoys such a spike in demand? I imagine a complex spreadsheet estimating number of households, average ounces per attendee, shelf life of frozen meat, gestation and time to mature to an average weight, probability of disease, variables of feed commodities, number and capacity of producers, shipping time, etc. Sure there are price differentials, but no news hurrah created by a shortage.

Perhaps this is our best example of accurate forecasting?

hopeful energy

2008-11-05T00:04:00.001-08:00

Change has come to America. Or at least to downtown! Never before have I been kept awake by such rucus past midnight. Chants of "Yes we can" and "O-ba-ma" and horns and screams and drums...reminds me that history is now.

she's taunting me

2008-10-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

I recall traveling to Japan and reading the guidebooks which noted how lucky one was if they caught a glimpse of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. Yet, how many times do I see Mt. Rainier during the average week in Seattle? Three to five? And so, I've been thinking...what if every time I looked at this mountain, I was reminded of the experience of climbing her? It would pay dividends! So, I'm looking for company early next August. Good intentions and a deposit are all that is required immediately. Here is a summary description of the climb on the RMI site:

The Four Day Summit Climb is our most popular program. This climb is ideal for first time mountaineers, as well as experienced climbers who are in great physical condition. Mountaineering skills learned during Days One and Two will prepare climbers to safely attempt an ascent of Mt. Rainier with a guide leading their rope. Our route ascends either the Ingraham Glacier or Disappointment Cleaver and utilizes Camp Muir, allowing us to climb with less group gear and lighter packs. The program consists of a Pre-Trip Orientation, Mountaineering Day School and a Summit Climb.

newspaper charity

2008-10-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

While I do tend to think the best of people, I am somewhat rocked by my neighbor's tendency to steal my Sunday paper. I watch people on my floor a little more and in my spare time contemplate the proper way to address such. So, while an item of a petty nature, I am curious how you would handle this.

If someone repeatedly stole your Sunday newspaper, what would you do? ( polls)

formula-based living

2008-10-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

This site, inclusive of the following excerpt is amusing! "Foolproof equations for a perfect life"...what could possibly be better?? And yes, I do wish.

Fine print: Thanks for dissasociating me from his less commendable commentary.

One post proposes this equation to answer the question: "How many cups of coffee do you need this morning in order to be functional?"

C= In shots of espresso, the amount of caffeine you consume in an average morning
St= The hours of sleep you got last night (subtract one for every time you woke up in a cold sweat, thinking about the things you need to do today)
Su= The hours of sleep you need to remain civil with telemarketers
K= How many kids do you have? Kids in diapers are worth two; kids over age 18 are worth half
Bt= How busy are you today? (1-15 with 1 being “easy like Saturday morning” and 15 being “presently birthing triplets”)
Bu= How many hours per day do you usually spend in non-recreational activities?
N= Hours of naptime you can squeeze in this afternoon
Cups is the number of cups of coffee you should consume before operating heavy machinery.

simple pleasures...new and improved?

2008-10-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

VS.

I formerly thought that I'd be 85-years-of-age before I became sentimental and "old-fashioned". Yet this application may have accelerated that state. Notably, I was wooed into paying the requisite $0.99 for the technological wonder. Simulating the movements of jumping rope with iPhone in hand while watching the jumps add up and calories be calculated is oddly gratifying! Are jump ropes a relic of the past? Will children years from now laugh at my tales of being the master at double-dutch in the school yard?

leavenworth half

2008-10-05T02:06:00.000-07:00

Is 50 medals by 50 a worthy endeavor? Sounds good to me now anyway.

We built our characters on a rainy day in Washington's Bavarian village...or at least the only one I know of with enough of a signature to influence large chains to modify their signage font to something more "authentic". Good times! Good people! 5 minutes faster from the week before too!

Oh...and what about that moment just before the start when trepidation, excitement and hope collide?

Thanks Melissa for organizing us all!

o-hi-o

2008-09-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

First off: yes, this picture is revolting, but evocative?! Never really visualized when looking at the commodities charts what a pork belly actually was, much less what a belly-less pork would look like. Still eating meat after our visit to West Side Market in Cleveland for some reason though. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was also on the short list of tourist destinations in Cleveland...though the cemetery was oddly a highlight...smile...

And for the purpose of the trip: yes, we did fly nearly 2,500 miles to run 13.1 with nearly 10,000 others...and our sporting friends above! Oh and of course to witness the game "corn hole" and eat a buckeye...who knew that was a nut? Or a chocolate-coated peanut butter delicacy? Too bad we didn't take time to find a corn maze...that would have been too classic...smile. Anyway, Dwayne and Ellen were excellent hosts...as well as inspiring! By the way, isn't that Ellen on the far left in the picture of the race start? Sadly post-race I wasn't sore, so I apparently failed to leave enough on the course. Race results are merely a product of the training though, yes? Good incentive to work those intervals!

Cedar Point, self-advertised as the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" on Lake Erie was both a reminder of age and dizzying fun! Apparently the time to go is on a fall evening after a cloudy morning. 10 rides in 3 1/2 hours! What are the odds!? Luck is flighty, yet gratifying when it lands. Oh and Dave by all accounts had more fun than this picture betrays...he was likely in mourning as this was our last ride on the best roller coaster of the park.

Just before departing for the airport, we toured the USS Cod submarine memorial. Very curious! Hadn't figured out the rifling on a gun concept either...neat. Heroism, chlostrophobia, hatches, practicality, stories of bonds built through closeness, vertical ladders...makes me want to read some old war stories...

All in all....a good trip!

time is fleeting, flowers are falling...

2008-09-24T22:02:00.000-07:00

Another summer has passed and so I mourn the fact that I didn't stare into more campfires thinking about everything, but nothing. Serenaded by light. Relaxed. Surreal. Wild. Safe.

Oh and I meant to use these instructions to make a disposable camp oven to bake something delectable over the fire....

Next year! Smile!

oh canada

2008-09-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Seeing the same Shakespeare play twice places us in a group of people that to date I've not admired....but it WAS better the second time!

Pets do make the best nurses.

Mornings and evenings are always better on the water.

Travel via train is ideal.

Being surprised positively by an individual is one of the more fulfilling things in life.

admiration

2008-09-14T23:35:00.001-07:00

What is it about tugs that is so ____________?

arrggghhhh

2008-09-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

A note to advertisers: I find your encouragement to say it with flowers or chocolate or whatever you want to sell the populous disheartening. Five Languages of Love aside, surely we can gather the courage to simply say it.

If pressed, I could compromise regarding the item being used as confirmation....after "it" was said. Yet in NO case should you market the belief that monetary sacrifice is necessary to express the intents of the heart.

I'll stop now.

a breath of fresh air

2008-09-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

The perfect weekend must include at least some of these components: wildflower-filled meadows; pristine lakes; clear streams; good fellowship; and physical exertion. The hike into Jefferson Park in the fine state of Oregon certainly provided such! Oh and mosquitos...perhaps trying Vitamin B12 would have minimized the self discipline required post-hecto-bite. Notably, none of the desirable items listed above are statistics based, yet this lack inexplicably frustrates me...14 miles roundtrip? 3,000 foot elevation gain? Do I need a GPS? Ah well...wherever you are is the place to be.

Oh and...credits go to Krindee for the group photos!

she slumbers

2008-08-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

4,565 feet elevation gain, 11.6 miles round-trip, great views and a fair bit of character-building later, my father and I claimed Mt. St. Helens as our own. The scramble is both doable and gratifying. It is awesome to stare into the crater and think about the tons of earth that were displaced...and then watch the steam ooze around glaciers being split by the rising dome in the middle. Oh and for the record: preparedness feels a bit foolish after being passed by someone in pajamas and tennis shoes while wearing wicking waterproof windproof clothing and gators with mountain climbing boots and having a first-aid kit, head lamp, map, emergency shelter, and extra food and water stowed in one's pack. Thereby proving that being responsible does not always look worthwhile!

a little boom boom

2008-08-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam was an eye opener. For one, Tony Hawk is a slender soft-spoken 40-year-old that comes across as quite ordinary and respectible...somewhat different from my biased picture of a skateboarding mentor for teenagers. The "Boom Boom" wasn't too loud and the "Huck Jam" featured the "best and brightest" in skateboarding and BMX bikes...and from the air they got, I believe it. Sadly the freestyle moto-x portion was cancelled because of the rain...must be Seattle! Terms such as "kickflip", "ollie", "grind", "slide" and "720" don't seem quite as foreign, yet do have my respect for the amount of time, determination and spacial intelligence required. Sharad's interest sparked the 4-pack deal, which provided a few more "oldies" to the audience...thank you Sarah and Justin for your support!

unexpected life lesson

2008-07-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

On a crowded street corner today, a short unshaven 55ish-year-old pleasantly-round Spanish cook (unicolor clothing, poofy hat and food stains) shook his finger and furrowed his bold brow at me. In the tone of a parent who doesn't know whether to respond with relief or anger, he scolded "Don't you EVER do that again!" I believed he was simply another oddity witnessed on the streets. I tried the usual tactic...not looking. Yet curiosity got the best of me. He then touched my arm and pretended to walk without looking up. In that moment, I realized that (1) I had walked across the street while texting using only my peripheral vision; (2) concern can easily be mistaken for crazed behavior; and (3) at some base level we are all quite alike. Perhaps it does take a village.

flighty behavior

2008-07-22T23:53:00.000-07:00

Relieved from my obligation to be available for work last weekend, I purchased a ticket for a flight that left in 1 1/2 hours. I spent the night in San Diego....California King high thread-count sheets are nice....and then headed for the border the next morning. Caesar and Teresa have a lovely place above the ocean between Rosarito & Tijuana, in which they show their generosity and hospitality unconditionally. Spanish was certainly the langage of choice, and again, I evaluate how good my follow-through actually is...and how much respect I have for peope who have the courage and devotion to know more than 1 language.

Several details from the weekend include:

Watching how overt people tended to be...while Sharad's skateboard was used like a bobsled by multiple girls or when young and old participated in a group jumprope game.
Being proud of mi madre.
Bartering for unnecessary goods....I still prefer a price tag.
Giggling about how I suspect a Nemo restaurant might play off in the States.
Observing how fast fingers can move while Renuka's hair was being braided.
Wondering if the American influence near the border nets to a positive.
Losing track of how many times we had to ask for directions to find our friends' home on Sunday morning.
Feeling more in the absence of understanding the language in simple fellowship.
Going on a $2 one-hour boat tour of the harbor in Ensenada...what a deal...
Crossing the border on foot and witnessing the fence going up.

Anyone with an idea on how to have more time in this short life, please write.

i wonder....

2008-07-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

...if I'll spend part of my 89th birthday picking cherries....

minnesota moments

2008-07-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

A trip to Minnesota for the family reunion left me with the better part of a day in Minneapolis for low-level adventuring. I rented a bicycle and toured around Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet....13.2 miles around... if you don't get lost and cycle around again....smile! These two squirrels also amused me. What makes them think that if they are not seen if they "be the tree"?

It is a source of perpetual amusement what art the public chooses to fund...though I do prefer art I can wrap my head around....for example: a 5,800 pound spoon and 1,200 pound misting cherry in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Family-time....activities...sleeping arrangements...food....ETC...no small feat for a family this size! And for my Minnesota moment....a lake (only one in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes"... or at least that...no one could give me the size of lake that was counted, but all guessed that the number was in truth much higher), mosquitos (the state bird), campfire (more smoke = less mosquitoes), smores (sugar and chocolate improves anyones outlook on life), family and even elk cutouts on the fire pit. And aren't Brad and Rochelle cute? I thought so too.

On my way to the plane, I concluded that a quick wander through the Mall of America was in order, based on its status as the #1 attraction....and also based on a slight feeling of loss after catching the light rail at the Metrodome when the score was 1-0 Twins. Anyway...who knew this mega mall lures more than 42 million visitors a year....more than the annual visitation of Disney World, the Grand Canyon, and Graceland combined!? Capitalism at its best.

i fell in word-love today

2008-06-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

nocebo • \noh-SEE-boh\ • noun

1: a harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient

Example sentence: Since drinking too much orange soda as a young child, tasting such as an adult produces a nocebo effect.

Word history: Coined in 1961 from the Latin "nocēre," meaning "to harm." The direct translation, "I will be harmful," contrasts with "placebo," meaning "I shall please."

going pink

2008-06-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

1 in 8 women will at some point in their life be diagnosed with breast cancer?? Oh my!

Anyway...we were 3 of 15,000 plus participants. Seemingly miniscule. Seemingly futile. In today's world is there actually power in three? In one? I suppose there is...Katie's participation looped us in. And then there was this woman named "Susan G. Komen"...

coming of age

2008-06-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Is there any correlation between comfort and dollars paid on a shoe? And does it matter if they're made in the mountains of Italy or an undisclosed location? Anyway...who knew that purchasing a stylish heeled sandal could make me feel like I had arrived at womanhood? Perhaps this is similar to the feeling of reaching biker status after steering a bike by the seat around tourists in the slender walkways across the Ballard Locks. Or amateur photographer status after taking a great night shot. Or poet status after scribbling several unintelligible lines on a napkin. Or tech-geek status after checking email twice at a stoplight. Ah well...I suppose self-definition ends up being fairly meaningless anyway...smile...

a seattle weekend

2008-06-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Laura coordinated a Seattle weekend which enabled all of us who had endeavored to act like tourists in our own city to do so, as well as to meet our friends who were willing to make the trek. The sunshine, good company, Space Needle (the new technology is gratifying), Sculpture Park (what is the purpose of the vivarium again? Impressive...yet how is it different from a dead tree zoo?), Underground Tour (our guide was a ghost hunter...does this increase or reduce his credibility?), Golden Gardens bonfire (yes, there was fire...not just smoke), and Sunday salmon burgers and fellowship made for a glorious weekend!

tri...again

2008-06-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Moses Lake Triathlon proved quality entertainment again this year. Even if the water seemed much more frigid and a 1/2 mile in it much farther! Smiles all around...what more could you ask for?! Oh yeah...warm water.

low-level rant

2008-06-06T13:36:00.001-07:00

Single supplement. I suppose the concept makes sense, in that it may take more than 1/2 of the time and effort to serve 1 person as it takes to serve 2...HOWEVER I tire of finding the perfect escape, noting the superscript star, and referencing the 5 point font to determine there is a $486 single supplement....repeatedly. Not that I prefer to go alone, it's just really good fortune to find someone to go on a last minute adventure. I'll stop. Seattle's clouds are growing on me...perhaps I'll just stay here...smile! In the meantime, please send help...or $486.

yeehaw!?

2008-05-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

How odd, yet comforting to be in a town that people recognize your family name! Thanks to the Walsh's for their generous hospitality on a weekend that included getting back to my roots (as exemplified by the deer in my aunt's front yard), the Cowpie Jog (yes, you read correctly...but the cowpies were only ceremonial), Memorial Day Parade (tractors and all) and Rodeo. Speaking of such...I used to feel the adrenaline and excitement for bronc and bull riders. Now when they fall off I cringe and fight the urge to look away. Testosterone is a drug. And wisdom does come with age. I hope. Or at least risk-aversion does.

the year of the penguin

2008-05-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who has a friend that says there are two types of runners: penguins and gazelles. I fit easily into the earlier category, so this song amuses me. Credit goes to John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting for "The Penguin's Lament".

And so, I'll try not to croon "....little legs cannot stride so we rock side to side, side to side, side to side, to move..." as I lengthen the stride, relax the shoulders and attempt gazelle-hood this year.

tour de lopez

2008-04-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

The combination of a sold out island ride, multiple sheep-sightings, good friends, sunshine and 38ish miles (depending on whose odometer you trust) of exertion proved an exquisite combination!

Word to the wise...er clumsy...taking a picture while on a bicycle of something/someone behind you is likely not the best idea.

for mothers....for women...

2008-04-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here is my ode to females who have done more with themselves in their lifetimes than curate a domestic museum.

confessions

2008-03-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

1. I feel impelled to taste-test new products...such as the item to the left. Ew.
2. On occasion, I enjoy meat...yet eating it off the bone disgusts me.
3. I have to read: cereal boxes, shampoo bottles, coffee cups...anything.
4. I am easily inspired. I find follow-through more admirable and difficult.
5. "Knowledge is power." resonates more with me than "Ignorance is bliss."
6. I believe in resilience of body & spirit, yet am not as tough as I may seem.
7. Product names cloud my purchasing-sense (more adjectives are better!).
8. I think far too much....and secretly envy people who can "space out."
9. I unintentionally and statistically end up talking to people on the bus.
10. I believe heartily in the placebo effect...yes, my multi-vitamin "works."