23 Jun, 2008
What is going on!? In the past month there have been ~10, maybe more, significant wild fires w/n 100 miles of where we live. We've had 2 major heat waves, 1 major wind event, and 1 unusual thunderstorm aid in the inferno. Maybe this is "normal" for Californians, but this is brand new to me. I don't like it. This fire started up right across the bay near Watsonville Friday afternoon. And this is a colleague's perspective of the same fire from his back porch. *shakes head*
What is going on!? In the past month there have been ~10, maybe more, significant wild fires w/n 100 miles of where we live. We've had 2 major heat waves, 1 major wind event, and 1 unusual thunderstorm aid in the inferno. Maybe this is "normal" for Californians, but this is brand new to me. I don't like it. This fire started up right across the bay near Watsonville Friday afternoon. And this is a colleague's perspective of the same fire from his back porch. *shakes head*
21 Jun, 2008
I took a trip to Ohio Father's Day weekend to see the family. Boy was it busy! I got to visit w/ 4 of my nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Catherine, Hannah, and Gregory. Mike managed to make it to Ohio b/t trips. Nothing major to report, other than it was great seeing everyone again. W/ us being so spread apart, family visits never happen often enough. Awwww.
I took a trip to Ohio Father's Day weekend to see the family. Boy was it busy! I got to visit w/ 4 of my nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Catherine, Hannah, and Gregory. Mike managed to make it to Ohio b/t trips. Nothing major to report, other than it was great seeing everyone again. W/ us being so spread apart, family visits never happen often enough. Awwww.
1 Jun, 2008
I took a long weekend to travel w/ Mike to MN to meet Kathy. She introduced us to geocaching and we dragged her to the Minnesota Science Museum. I also managed to visit the Mississippi Natl. River Rec. Area and get my passport book stamped. Thanks for the trip, Kathy!
When we returned I headed to the backyard to take care of some flower beds. We have some of the most god-awful "flowers" growing back there, Dragon Arums. I tried like hell last year to kill them all off for this season, but it was in vain. They popped back up this year. Mike and I picked them all this afternoon and I made the most fitting "flower" arrangement in the best "vase" ever, our yard waste garbage bin!!
I took a long weekend to travel w/ Mike to MN to meet Kathy. She introduced us to geocaching and we dragged her to the Minnesota Science Museum. I also managed to visit the Mississippi Natl. River Rec. Area and get my passport book stamped. Thanks for the trip, Kathy!
When we returned I headed to the backyard to take care of some flower beds. We have some of the most god-awful "flowers" growing back there, Dragon Arums. I tried like hell last year to kill them all off for this season, but it was in vain. They popped back up this year. Mike and I picked them all this afternoon and I made the most fitting "flower" arrangement in the best "vase" ever, our yard waste garbage bin!!
29 May, 2008
I finally got around to finishing room #3 of the curtains project! Now our living room has window treatments (window 1, windows 2 & 3)
In other news, Mike and I rode up Fremont Peak, the 3,169' peak that stands watch over the mouth of the Salinas Valley! In 11.5 miles you gain ~2,800'. That makes for an average grade of ~5%. Once a majority of the 11.5 miles are completed, you finally get the first glimpse of the peak. We finally made it to the top of the lower peak (where the antennas are) and emphatically marked where the road ends. We hoofed the final bit to the actual peak. We see this mountain every day so it was awesome to be on top of it looking down upon Salinas. We both thoroughly enjoyed this ride. It was never too ridiculously steep. But by no means was the ride easy. We both drained our 100oz bladders by the time we reached the summit! Here are a few more: me at the top, usgs marker
I finally got around to finishing room #3 of the curtains project! Now our living room has window treatments (window 1, windows 2 & 3)
In other news, Mike and I rode up Fremont Peak, the 3,169' peak that stands watch over the mouth of the Salinas Valley! In 11.5 miles you gain ~2,800'. That makes for an average grade of ~5%. Once a majority of the 11.5 miles are completed, you finally get the first glimpse of the peak. We finally made it to the top of the lower peak (where the antennas are) and emphatically marked where the road ends. We hoofed the final bit to the actual peak. We see this mountain every day so it was awesome to be on top of it looking down upon Salinas. We both thoroughly enjoyed this ride. It was never too ridiculously steep. But by no means was the ride easy. We both drained our 100oz bladders by the time we reached the summit! Here are a few more: me at the top, usgs marker
18 May, 2008
Holy heat wave, did it get HOT here the past few days. Since it rarely breaks 70 degrees here, I was pleased as punch to swelter in 90 degree heat for a few days. Mike and I headed down the Big Sur coast for camping. While our favorite campground was full, we found a different one that may become our new favorite. Mike was an excellent quarter master and supplied us well for some good eating while camping. He even brought along pancake mix complete w/ Hershey chocolate chunks! I've always been the pancake maker at home, but even w/ the challenges of camping, and the lack of a spatula, I still remain the official pancake cook!
Holy heat wave, did it get HOT here the past few days. Since it rarely breaks 70 degrees here, I was pleased as punch to swelter in 90 degree heat for a few days. Mike and I headed down the Big Sur coast for camping. While our favorite campground was full, we found a different one that may become our new favorite. Mike was an excellent quarter master and supplied us well for some good eating while camping. He even brought along pancake mix complete w/ Hershey chocolate chunks! I've always been the pancake maker at home, but even w/ the challenges of camping, and the lack of a spatula, I still remain the official pancake cook!
9 May, 2008
 | Oh my! My favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, Cherry Garcia, has just been dethroned! Their new flavor, Cinnamon Buns, reigns supreme. If you enjoy warm gooey cinnamon rolls, you will adore this ice cream. You know its gotta be good if I'm blogging about ice cream!!! |
5 May, 2008
Cinco de Mayo!
Over the weekend I flew out to MSP to see Mike for his uber short break b/t trips. We rushed up to northern MN and back in an effort to get my 30th highpoint, Eagle Mountain!
Cinco de Mayo!
Over the weekend I flew out to MSP to see Mike for his uber short break b/t trips. We rushed up to northern MN and back in an effort to get my 30th highpoint, Eagle Mountain!
25 Apr, 2008
| I just got back from a week long conference and boy, am I ever motivated! While some of the sessions didn't prove too fruitful for me, several others just really hit home. I am recharged and energized to really get crackin' on our latest software release at work! Gotta love that feeling. Outside of direct work applications, I learned that webby folks are way more interesting, entertaining, welcoming and much less condescending than is often the case at formal meteorological conferences. The change of pace was amazingly refreshing. |  |
16 Apr, 2008
Get your taxes done!?
This past weekend was unseasonably HOT! Wow. It felt really nice since this part of CA rarely sees temperatures warmer than 60s ANY time of the year. Mike and I headed up to Santa Cruz on Saturday for some mtbing at Wilder Ranch w/ Randy. The 11+ mile loop kicked our butts b/c of the heat (90s). Sunday we met up w/ Brenda, Robin, and Ann for some laps around the track. This time Brenda managed 2 miles! She walked all on her own (no cane, no walker), w/ just the aid of holding onto Ann's arm. Way to go!
Get your taxes done!?
This past weekend was unseasonably HOT! Wow. It felt really nice since this part of CA rarely sees temperatures warmer than 60s ANY time of the year. Mike and I headed up to Santa Cruz on Saturday for some mtbing at Wilder Ranch w/ Randy. The 11+ mile loop kicked our butts b/c of the heat (90s). Sunday we met up w/ Brenda, Robin, and Ann for some laps around the track. This time Brenda managed 2 miles! She walked all on her own (no cane, no walker), w/ just the aid of holding onto Ann's arm. Way to go!
6 Apr, 2008
Wearing a pilot uniform around has allowed Mike to have conversations w/ all sorts of interesting people. While waiting in MSP for his flight home he and Bruce MacInnes, professional race car driver and instructor at Skip Barber Racing School, began chatting. Before long, the fellow had extended an offer for Mike and I to get a ride around Laguna Seca!! We met up w/ Bruce Saturday afternoon and got to experience a lap (in a Dodge Charger :-/) around one of the world's most renowned race tracks! Very very cool!
Wearing a pilot uniform around has allowed Mike to have conversations w/ all sorts of interesting people. While waiting in MSP for his flight home he and Bruce MacInnes, professional race car driver and instructor at Skip Barber Racing School, began chatting. Before long, the fellow had extended an offer for Mike and I to get a ride around Laguna Seca!! We met up w/ Bruce Saturday afternoon and got to experience a lap (in a Dodge Charger :-/) around one of the world's most renowned race tracks! Very very cool!
