Don't worry- I'm not actually doing a new post and in so doing disregarding the title message of my blog - I just got so cold looking at the last post and thought I would put up some warmer pics from Hawaii in AprilAhh... the waves were so warm, the sand so fine...
Believe it or not, it was poring rain so hard right now, we got drenched the second we stepped off the covered patio.
Kimo, Felicia and Dad enjoying paradise!
Felicia is so fun on vacation- glad she was able to come!Sorry Rebekah- the only shots I could find of you were either you chauffeuring us around or a close up swim suit shot!Yum! Nothing's better than shave ice on a hot day!
Can you guess who's feet are who's?
Okay, after posting these I think it is time to plan the next trip-- Hawaii 2010? Or maybe Hawaii Fall 2009? Hmm.....

Gotta love that Seattle weather!

Yes, I am a true Seattlite in that I savor my dark, rainy days. During the few years that I lived in Utah I would find myself strangely exhilarated and happy on the rare rainy day. It touched something in me that reminded me that home was somewhere else. However, the last month or so has pushed the weather extremes, even for a born and raised Seattle girl.

First, THE SNOW

Generally speaking I do not like the snow- long gone is the potential of a snow day and spending the day sledding and making snowmen. No, now snow means the stress of wondering how long it will take to get to work, will I actually get there, will I slide into someone in my car, will someone slide into me, etc... This time around I do have to admit that it really was a magical, just before Christmas experience. Yes, my car got snowed in at work but there is nothing so pretty as real snow that falls for days and isn't a sloshy mess a few hours after it falls (the typical Seattle snow.)

Next: THE RAIN

I love my Seattle rain so I can't complain, but that led to.....

THE FLOODING

It was amazing how a little rainfall can cause so much damage and devastation. I was working the during the flooding and had the chance to fly in the helicopter over some of the flood areas. I could see house after house literally surrounded by a lake.

Next, MORE RAIN

Then of course THE FOG

I truly love this weather. There is something very comforting about a dark, misty day! I want to curl up with a good book and enjoy some hot soup..... Good thing I have months of this yet to come to enjoy!

All this said, I've found myself more that once thinking back to last June......

THE SUN:

Aah... the bright sun, the warm sand, the surf, the sandals, the lazy days....

Oahu April 2009, Here I come!!

Just to Clarify

Lest anyone think for a moment from my last post that my ultimate loyalty lies anywhere in the rocky mountain region...... Here I am on the worst day in Washington Football history- still in my purple, donning my W necklace (you can't really see it in this pic but I am wearing it) It was such a dark day that I was getting condolences from strangers as I walked the isles of Fred Meyers.

That's okay though- when we're back in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl I won't just be on the band wagon- Please Steve S.-help us!! (even if you do hail from my old Alma Matter)

I was just there yesterday, wasn't I?

Aah!! I'm feeling a bit nostalgic and a bit old right now! Over Thanksgiving weekend my niece Felicia came home from college- that's right, my sweet little niece who used to visit me as a little girl when I was at school. Not only is she a freshman but she is attending my first college too- BYU-Idaho. (Okay, I have to admit that when I went there it was called Rick's College- yet another reminder that I have aged.)

It brought back a lot of great memories- roommates (esp. Kate and Audrey), football games, dances, lip-sync contests (yes, me- I can't believe it either), rock-climbing (or pretending in my case), scrounging for quarters to do laundry, all nighters to get homework done, all nighters getting nothing productive done, Taco Time runs when Audrey was working.... I would have posted a few pics but I am too lazy to figure out how to scan them in- yes, it was that long ago- long before digital cameras!

It was so much fun seeing Felicia though! She came back with great college stories and truly she has become such a great person!

Felicia and Jack reading books- future colleagues?

Leisure time in college now involves far more technology than it did in my day- in fact, when I was at Rick's College only 200 lucky students could sign up and get an email account.

Even on Thanksgiving break the homework still comes- there was always a professor who seemed to get joy from that-welcome to college!
This is just a little addition for Heath- the homemade rolls you missed out on by messing with Thanksgiving- maybe if you are real nice we could be persuaded.....

A Patriotic Turkey??

I don't know how he did it but my brother Heath has managed to orchestrate a full on insurrection from nearly 5000 miles away. (He must be so pleased with himself!) The family was perfectly happy (even excited) about our Thanksgiving dinner consisting of going out for Ethiopian food then returning home for our favorite part- homemade pies- something we tried last year and really enjoyed (Heath too!)

It was all set until Dad came home after talking to Heath. Somehow Heath had managed to fill his mind with words like "tradition", "patriotism", "secular society", and "liberal left-wing media" I don't really know how any of these terms specifically relate to a turkey but suddenly Dad now felt it his civic duty to cook a turkey. (I wish I had pointed out that even George W. pardoned the turkeys.)

I almost had him back on the Ethiopian track with talk of the "melting pot" and such but I pushed it too far and he got stubborn and dug his heels in (I know, where do his kids get it from!) So plans changed and a traditional Thanksgiving meal it was- and I have to admit, it was pretty good!

The joke, however, is on Heath. We were actually planning on saving the traditional meal for when he got back in town but it is already done. Hope Ethiopian sounds good for Christmas Heath! Yummmm....

Happy Veteran's Day!!

I can't really let today go by without saying Thank-you to all those veterans who have served and fought for our country and our freedoms. Because of you our lives are amazingly blessed. Let us all remember those past and present who have served us by defending our country.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy





But fame is theirs - and future days; On pillar'd brass shall tell their praise; Shall tell - when cold neglect is dead - "These for their country fought and bled." Philip Freneau


"When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?" George Canning

Back on the Wagon

I am very excited as I think I am finally back on the wagon. For those who know me, I can really be a bit obsessive about running- once I'm on a kick I hate even missing a day (even if I am working a 24 hr shift) and I am OCD about how far I go, how hard I run, etc... I even wore a calorie counter for several months- I know it sounds strange but I love numbers and it is really fun to see how well I've done and compare each day! It even made me more diligent with housework as I discovered that constant cleaning, like dishes, laundry, or scrubbing the floor are nearly effective as running. To add to my delight there is truly no more beautiful place to run than here in Seattle- if you haven't tried it you really should try the Magnolia Bluff- start with Discovery Park, run along the bluff looking out over the Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and finally the City- absolutely breathtaking! (I know, I sound like a commercial encouraging Seattle tourism)

Unfortunately, the last few months have been a bit lax (okay extremely lax!) I don't feel great when I am like that, physically or mentally.

Thankfully, my wonderful Airlift sister Nicole (people who don't know us well get us confused and think we are sisters- I'm complimented but really neither of us can see it), has helped me get back on track with a jog at Green Lake on Tuesday- It felt great!! I can feel my obsession returning (this better stick!) Yeah!!