Oh, so close

So, last Saturday our indoor soccer team was playing for the "championship" of our league. It was a great games, close-fought the whole time, tied 3-3 with 2 minutes left when I struck a perfectly placed shot that clipped the upper-left post and rattled in for the 'game-winner.' The keeper never had a chance. Prior to that goal I had perhaps my best assist of a goal all season with a nifty spin move and pass to go with a second assist I had. So, I was looking good with '4 points' in the game as our team took a 5-4 lead. Then, horror.

I subbed myself out of the game thinking with 1 minute and 30 seconds left, it would be better for us to have defensive players on the field. Alas, we gave up two goals in 90 seconds and lost 5-4. It was oh so close!

Maui Quote Board

These are the quotes that made it back...did we miss any? I think we should vote on the best one...

"We can do that between first and second breakfast" (Mike)
"You know it's a good day when you don't put on your underwear until 4:00 PM" (Julie)
"Oh bloody sun, oh bloody sun" (Biz)
"If you mix your breakfast in a blender, you can go swimming sooner" (Derrick)
"Nose grease is good for just about everything" (Julie)
"He's got 'Brazil' on his butt" (Julie)
"Having to put on socks again is going to be a serious problem" (Mike)
"Adri reprogrammed the TV clicker" (Julie)

Latest snow-shoe

So, my brother comes up to see the beauty of Bellingham...and? We get dumped on! Yes, great snow, lots of powder, but no views. Here's a few pictures...

The first picture of the car was taken on Monday and shows the conditions...very deep powder, snowing hard the whole time.

Today, Wednesday we went to the "Salmon Park Sno-Park" and did some snow-shoeing. The trails here are great except for one thing: no views. Yes, there are views of trees and the river, but our day started with an aborted trip to Artist Point. We got as far as those two red-signs warning of our imminent death should we continue. Yes, we could have gone on, but the conditions were bad, and avalanches were forecast. It was windy, snowy, and the trail up was un-groomed meaning we would have been sinking about 2 feet with each step. Surprising, since everywhere else around Whatcom County, the sun was shining. At any rate, that's the latest up here in the north!

My Budding Soccer Career...

So, for those of you who are following my blog, I managed another hat-trick in our indoor soccer game last week. Yeah, I know, it's small-potato's, but it's fun.

Me with the camp robber

Here's a couple more cool pics...

More Fun in the Mountains...

Again, Mt. Shuksan was in full glory...however, since I have so many pictures of Shuksan, I thought I'd put some other pictures from today on this blog.

For some great pictures of Mt. Shuksan, click here or here.

Well, OK, I have to put this picture of Shuksan up too and yes, technically speaking the picture right above is a part of Shuksan.

Padden - "Hoar Frost?"

While walking around Lake Padden, we came upon these beautiful ice-creations; what we thought was called "Hoar-Frost" but after reading a little about it, I'm not sure? Unfortunately, the only camera lens I had with me was a 70mm-300mm zoom lens...not exactly designed for close-ups from 4 feet away!

And yes, the ducks were out...and yes, that is Lake Padden partially frozen over.

I gave in...

If they're good enough for a baby...

I finally wised up and am trading in my trusty dell laptop for a macbook.

A Day at Mount Baker

Went snow-shoeing today up at Mt. Baker. We went part way up to Artist Point, then cut down into the valley around the Lake (below Heather Meadows Visitor Center), and came back up to the parking lot. Additionally, on the way down, we did another couple of miles (round trip) on the Salmon Creek trail, a popular cross-country ski trail often used by snow-shoers.

The first picture was taken on our first snow-shoe; to the left is Table Mountain, below is the Lake we went down to. We then traversed over to the right of this picture.

Another picture of some peaks. The picture does NOT do it justice...it was beautiful. Also, the smaller picture below this one is the bathroom at Heather Meadows Visitor Center...I'd say it's probably closed!

One very interesting thing was some of the snow we saw on the hike. It was crystallized, and very dry, and when you walked it sounded like millions of tiny ice crystals. The pictures don't do it justice...it was so cool...the last picture of this 'snow' is after I photo-shopped it. Click on the images to see them larger.

And of course, what's a day at the mountain without a great shot of a mountain...

More Snow Pictures II

Top: Whatcom Falls. Below left: a non-native bird of some kind. Anyone know? Below Center: Some ice crystals. Below Right: More Ice Crystals. Below Center: Upper Falls (above Whatcom Falls).