Adri...our niece

And you think what the Sonics are asking is bad...

For those of you "The Seattle Sonics, take them or leave them" fans out there, I give you this (click here). If you think what the Sonics are asking is bad, be glad you don't live in Texas.

All I have to say is "wow." I wonder what 1 billion dollars could do to help the poor and homeless in our country?

Artist Point

Another trip up to Artist Point, with my brother and sister! It was a great day and a fun trip for sure! The only down side? Baker was hidden in the clouds. Click here if you want to see more pictures from this trip!

More Travel Fun...

So I made it home from San Diego, but not before more fun. Sometimes I wonder if the airlines really know what they're doing...???
- I was assigned seat 14F
- I asked to move to an aisle: they gave me seat 11D, an exit row aisle seat.
- They scan my new boarding pass and all these alarms go off. Apparently, somebody else has seat 11D.
- They issue me a new boarding pass, seat 13F, an non-exit row window seat. Ugh
- They scan that boarding pass and again, alarms go off. They look it up on the computer and say that the 'second person' assigned to that seat is ME.
- I board the plane only to find someone already sitting in seat 13F, and it's not me.
- There are no flight attendants around so I have to go "against traffic" back to the front of the plane and notify the flight attendant.
- After she makes 2 phone calls, the "gate people" (2 of them), come running down, onto the plane. They go to seat 13F and take that poor guy's boarding pass and disappear back up the ramp.
- They return and tell me to go to seat 12B, an exit row 'center' seat.

Finally, I make it home.

Travel - yuck

So, presently I'm in San Diego at a Conference. Yesterday, was yet another example of why travel can sometimes be tough. Just the facts...

- woke up at 5:15 AM to catch my flight
- itinerary: supposed to leave at 7:54 AM to San Fran, catch a second flight at 10:50, arrive in San Diego by about 12:15.
- actual itinerary as follows
- 7:54 flight was on the runway, full speed ready for takeoff: pilot slams on his brakes. Apparently, an indicator light says the engine was overheating.
- We return to the terminal and after about 15 minutes, are instructed to "de-board." We are welcome to leave our bags on the plane though (yeah, right - I took mine which proved to be good).
- Went to the ticket counter to re-book - there are about 7 people in front of me, and about 60 people behind me (time is 8:45).
- Get to the front of the line (10:15 - do the math).
- Am re-booked on the 2nd flight: 8:15 PM arriving in San Diego at 9:30 - but I'm put on the stand by list for earlier flights.
- The next flight, 11:28 is delayed, but I make it (barely) - I'm actually one of the last 2 people they call on the list.
- Our connecting flight is supposed to leave at 2:08. Upon arriving in San Fran, fortunately, that flight is also delayed, meaning we can make it.
- the 2:08 flight leaves at 3:45, with me safely on it.

Am happy to have arrived when I did! Can't wait for the return trip (ugh).

Simple Beauty

I am always captivated by how much beauty there is all around us. Julie and I were just gardening in our yard and this image stood out to me as more examples of the beautiful world we live in.

Back up to the mountains

My wife and I made it back up into the mountains today. The views were spectacular! As you can see, there is still plenty of snow up there...although we were both surprised at how much has melted about 3000' and lower. Still, I'd be that there is no place more scenic and spectacular in WA state that you can literally drive to. It was warm and sunny: sunny enough to give me a little burn, and warm enough that we could have been in shorts and t-shirts if we had them. If you live anywhere within 150 miles of Mt. Baker, you owe it to yourself to get out! Hwy 542 west until it ends!

Longing to get back out...

Looking for some new snow pictures or Mt. Baker pictures? Alas, I have not been out photographing for quite awhile and yes, I’m dying to get back out there. Rest assured, this picture, taken on my last trip out, will not be the last this year. My wife and I are hoping to get back out the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned...

March Madness

My Bracket: (click on it to see it full size)

It was the best of times...it was the worst of times. March Madness, perhaps the best sporting event in the U.S. period. 64 teams, well, 65 technically, playing a 'loser out tournament.' Why 'the worst of times?' Because, I 'get' to go to work. Oh how I wish I was sick right now. Just sick enough to take a couple of days off and 'glue myself' to the TV. My favorite year was 2002, when I ruptured my Achilles tendon. Why good? Because I had surgery the week of the opening round and got to watch all the basketball I could handle!

So, who do you like? I like Florida to repeat, beating Ohio State. Kansas and Georgetown will be the other two Final Four teams.

Interesting: with my UW Huskies out of the tournament, and by the way, how in the WORLD do they not make it into the NIT...but as I was saying, as much as I hate WSU, I somehow find my emotions pulling for them to do well.

More to come...

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!