Answer: It's the coolist shit in the world.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
My Bear and I
How she grows! Molly is now 12 weeks old, and growing quickly. She slept in her crib in her own room the last two nights. The first night was a bit rough, although mostly for Trina, and last night she slept from 11:00 to 5:00 without waking, had some baby chow (breast milk) and went back to sleep until some time after 7:00 when I headed out the door for a short ride. That makes for riding my bike two days in a row! Haven't done that in a while.
Trina is currently giving her the first diaper change of the day, which is incredibly one of the best parts of the day. She is super happy, smiling and cooing all the way through it. As long as the diapers are filled with dijon-like excrement, diaper changing will be no big deal.
Next up for the day is pastries at aunt Jeanne's and a Mariners game against the San Fran Giants.
Trina is currently giving her the first diaper change of the day, which is incredibly one of the best parts of the day. She is super happy, smiling and cooing all the way through it. As long as the diapers are filled with dijon-like excrement, diaper changing will be no big deal.
Next up for the day is pastries at aunt Jeanne's and a Mariners game against the San Fran Giants.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Home Again
I am writing this with a new found freedom. It is 9:15 p.m. I am not on a balance ball bouncing Molly until she falls asleep. In the last couple of nights she has started falling asleep a whole lot easier and has even slept through the night with out even feeding once. There have been a few developments in the last few weeks: she has discovered her hands and is playing with them, she's falling asleep on her own, and can actually be set down for 15-20 minutes. These things may sound small...
She is becoming all the more aware and responsive, which makes the experience all the greater. It is wonderful when she smiles back at me, which is guaranteed at the first diaper change of the day - she is extra happy then.
We had a great trip down part of the Oregon Coast. We spent two nights in Seaside, two nights in Lincoln City, and Portland book-ending the trip. We enjoyed our time when ever we were at our destination for the moment - Molly hates riding in the car. She screamed for 3/4 or our driving. That was the main thing we would have changed for the trip. We would have selected one place and hung out there, or at least quite close. For example, the 30-mile drive from Lincoln City felt like 2 hours each way since she was wailing at the top of her lungs the whole way, and there was nothing we could do about it. She would be fine in her car seat being pushed around in the stroller, would be fine when we set her in the car, but within minutes of the car moving, she screamed. Wow.
This is one of my favorite sites - looking over at Trina feeding molly and all I see is little feet sticking out from under a blanket. So sweet.
Although I've lived near saltwater for 7.5 years now, this was the first time I've spent any significant time at the ocean. It is very interesting for the in-lander raised Idahoan that I am. There were many beautiful spots along the way, but everything was in a glimpse. I'd like to go back at various times of year and see it in all its shades of the season - waves crashing in the winter storms, surfers enjoying the summer warmth (still in wetsuits of course), the tide pools at low tide, autumn colors and the fog.
One could sit an watch the waves crash for hours and see all the patterns and currents that are formed. Maybe next time.
She is becoming all the more aware and responsive, which makes the experience all the greater. It is wonderful when she smiles back at me, which is guaranteed at the first diaper change of the day - she is extra happy then.
We had a great trip down part of the Oregon Coast. We spent two nights in Seaside, two nights in Lincoln City, and Portland book-ending the trip. We enjoyed our time when ever we were at our destination for the moment - Molly hates riding in the car. She screamed for 3/4 or our driving. That was the main thing we would have changed for the trip. We would have selected one place and hung out there, or at least quite close. For example, the 30-mile drive from Lincoln City felt like 2 hours each way since she was wailing at the top of her lungs the whole way, and there was nothing we could do about it. She would be fine in her car seat being pushed around in the stroller, would be fine when we set her in the car, but within minutes of the car moving, she screamed. Wow.
This is one of my favorite sites - looking over at Trina feeding molly and all I see is little feet sticking out from under a blanket. So sweet.
Although I've lived near saltwater for 7.5 years now, this was the first time I've spent any significant time at the ocean. It is very interesting for the in-lander raised Idahoan that I am. There were many beautiful spots along the way, but everything was in a glimpse. I'd like to go back at various times of year and see it in all its shades of the season - waves crashing in the winter storms, surfers enjoying the summer warmth (still in wetsuits of course), the tide pools at low tide, autumn colors and the fog.
One could sit an watch the waves crash for hours and see all the patterns and currents that are formed. Maybe next time.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Damn you arm!!!
We're on the Oregon Coast for the week.
Molly has discovered her hands and is regularly playing with them, although she hasn't quite figured them out yet.
Molly has discovered her hands and is regularly playing with them, although she hasn't quite figured them out yet.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Muir
Backtracking a bit here. Saturday I ceased the opportunity of a sunny spring day to go to Mount Rainier and introduce the legs to the mountains. The day started with a scheduled semi-early 6 a.m meet-up at the parking lot with Robert. At 6:08 I figured I'd better call him and see if he was late, still in bed (has happened several times), or what.
He wasn't coming. Reason: lack of fitness from committing the last 3 years of his life to building his house and the fact that the only aerobic exercise he's had is walking up and down the stairs. Oh well. It's not like I'll be alone on the trail from Paradise (5400 feet) to Camp Muir (10,200 feet). For a moment I thought of quickly returning to the house to grab the skis for a faster and more entertaining decent, but did not. It would just take more time. I'll just walk down.
At 6:35 Robert calls. He just went for a run. He didn't like the fact that he couldn't go in the mountains due to complete lack of fitness rather than 'the house'. His legs are cramping and he's caughing up things with fur on them. The process has begun... By the time I am available to go in the mountains again at the end of June, he should be able to at least handle it. About this time I make the turn off of I-405 to HWY 167. The Mountain is out in it's full spring glory - snow top to bottom, clear smog-free skies, and the soft early morning light. This was the right decision.
The trip down remained uneventful except for a little a stop in Puyallup (the land of never ending stoplights) for another cup of coffee, to peal the paint off the coffee shop bathroom walls, and some petroleum. A few miles east of Ashford I noticed the figure of a person walking along the road with a backpack on. Was this one of the local meth-heads (saw some very spooky people out in that area doing kokanee spawner surveys for Tacoma Power) or some other homeless type, or a climber headed up the mountain in need of a ride. The latter it was, indicated by the helmet and ice axe, so I pulled over and offered him a ride just like I would do for a skier at the bottom of the ski hill.
Daniel hopped right in. He was headed for Paradise (ain't we all) with plans to poach (sans permit) a solo summit attempt on the Gibralter Ledges route. Daniel owned to vehicle. So he caught a bus from Auburn to Eatonville, then had caught a couple of rides to where I picked him up. This all started the night before. We chatted a bit about routes, perspectives on life (kids (Molly), his moving to WA two years ago because of Mt. Rainier, etc.) and had a nice ride up the hill. I had planned on hiking up to Muir with Daniel as long as we were at a similar pace and it worked out, until running into a co-worker, Pete, in the parking lot. Pete was one of a few trip leaders for One Step At a Time (http://www.osat.org), which organizes climbs up Mt. Rainier and other NW Mountains in conjunction with 12-step programs. Although likely slower than my usual pace, I thought it would be fun to hike up with them. Afterall, I wasn't there to light the boot track on fire, just to enjoy the day in the mountains.
Up the hill we went at a leisurely pace. There was a nice boot track already set up from the previous day, making the travel very easy.
Views of the Tatoosh Range, Mount Adams (below), Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood were incredible with the clear skies.
Althought I enjoyed the mellow pace with OSAT, they were making up for the slower pace with frequent stops. I had hoped to be at Camp Muir by 1:00 and had set a turn around time for then so that I could be home at an early enough hour that Trina didn't have Molly all day. I stayed with Pete and his group until 8,000 feet where the were taking another break. I stopped as well, long enougth to eat a super soft Powerbar, some water, and take a few more photos. It was 11:45 and 2,200 feet remaining to get to Muir. Not enough time, but I'll see where I end up.
I set a steady firm pace and quickly found myself at the Moon Rocks (9,000 feet) 25 minutes later. Although I still had 45 minutes until my 1:00 turn around time. I decided to just stop there, enjoy the views, eat a sandwhich, and let a little altitude headache set in.
The early spring conditions were beautiful. I wish I could return next week with skis and cruise over to the less populated Tatoosh Range to ride the slopes.
The decent was fun. Good plunge stepping, but still to firm to be able to run down the mountain. It was entertaining to see all the different people and their "styles" for ascending the route. Many skiers were skinning up; snowshoers where snowshoeing, despite all the people walking faster than them with out snowshoes; a group if Indians (Asia) wearing full Gore-tex and CRAMPONS; some without shirts looking to be lobsterized in then intense UV; and many other arangements that make the trip on the Muir Snowfield always entertaining.
There was some evidence of the 100+ mph winds that came through with storm earlier in the week.
More Tatoosh Range teasing.
A wonderful day that really recharged the batteries.
He wasn't coming. Reason: lack of fitness from committing the last 3 years of his life to building his house and the fact that the only aerobic exercise he's had is walking up and down the stairs. Oh well. It's not like I'll be alone on the trail from Paradise (5400 feet) to Camp Muir (10,200 feet). For a moment I thought of quickly returning to the house to grab the skis for a faster and more entertaining decent, but did not. It would just take more time. I'll just walk down.
At 6:35 Robert calls. He just went for a run. He didn't like the fact that he couldn't go in the mountains due to complete lack of fitness rather than 'the house'. His legs are cramping and he's caughing up things with fur on them. The process has begun... By the time I am available to go in the mountains again at the end of June, he should be able to at least handle it. About this time I make the turn off of I-405 to HWY 167. The Mountain is out in it's full spring glory - snow top to bottom, clear smog-free skies, and the soft early morning light. This was the right decision.
The trip down remained uneventful except for a little a stop in Puyallup (the land of never ending stoplights) for another cup of coffee, to peal the paint off the coffee shop bathroom walls, and some petroleum. A few miles east of Ashford I noticed the figure of a person walking along the road with a backpack on. Was this one of the local meth-heads (saw some very spooky people out in that area doing kokanee spawner surveys for Tacoma Power) or some other homeless type, or a climber headed up the mountain in need of a ride. The latter it was, indicated by the helmet and ice axe, so I pulled over and offered him a ride just like I would do for a skier at the bottom of the ski hill.
Daniel hopped right in. He was headed for Paradise (ain't we all) with plans to poach (sans permit) a solo summit attempt on the Gibralter Ledges route. Daniel owned to vehicle. So he caught a bus from Auburn to Eatonville, then had caught a couple of rides to where I picked him up. This all started the night before. We chatted a bit about routes, perspectives on life (kids (Molly), his moving to WA two years ago because of Mt. Rainier, etc.) and had a nice ride up the hill. I had planned on hiking up to Muir with Daniel as long as we were at a similar pace and it worked out, until running into a co-worker, Pete, in the parking lot. Pete was one of a few trip leaders for One Step At a Time (http://www.osat.org), which organizes climbs up Mt. Rainier and other NW Mountains in conjunction with 12-step programs. Although likely slower than my usual pace, I thought it would be fun to hike up with them. Afterall, I wasn't there to light the boot track on fire, just to enjoy the day in the mountains.
Up the hill we went at a leisurely pace. There was a nice boot track already set up from the previous day, making the travel very easy.
Views of the Tatoosh Range, Mount Adams (below), Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood were incredible with the clear skies.
Althought I enjoyed the mellow pace with OSAT, they were making up for the slower pace with frequent stops. I had hoped to be at Camp Muir by 1:00 and had set a turn around time for then so that I could be home at an early enough hour that Trina didn't have Molly all day. I stayed with Pete and his group until 8,000 feet where the were taking another break. I stopped as well, long enougth to eat a super soft Powerbar, some water, and take a few more photos. It was 11:45 and 2,200 feet remaining to get to Muir. Not enough time, but I'll see where I end up.
I set a steady firm pace and quickly found myself at the Moon Rocks (9,000 feet) 25 minutes later. Although I still had 45 minutes until my 1:00 turn around time. I decided to just stop there, enjoy the views, eat a sandwhich, and let a little altitude headache set in.
The early spring conditions were beautiful. I wish I could return next week with skis and cruise over to the less populated Tatoosh Range to ride the slopes.
The decent was fun. Good plunge stepping, but still to firm to be able to run down the mountain. It was entertaining to see all the different people and their "styles" for ascending the route. Many skiers were skinning up; snowshoers where snowshoeing, despite all the people walking faster than them with out snowshoes; a group if Indians (Asia) wearing full Gore-tex and CRAMPONS; some without shirts looking to be lobsterized in then intense UV; and many other arangements that make the trip on the Muir Snowfield always entertaining.
There was some evidence of the 100+ mph winds that came through with storm earlier in the week.
More Tatoosh Range teasing.
A wonderful day that really recharged the batteries.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
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