Ah, Campus Life...Again

Okay, so it has been over ten years since I went to school, and thirty since my last university math class, but I still tested out in the 34-52% range in algebra and trigonometry...good enough to skip a semester of pre-calculus. I started out this morning just planning on testing and then starting class next week. I ended up spending the entire day at the college; testing, counseling, registering, buying books *ugh*, paying tuition (NOT...being a state employee;-) and finally attending my first pre-calculus class tonight *PHEW* What a day it was, and what a blast I had...even I could not believe the effect just being back on campus had on my enthusiasm and energy level...I was so excited that I was told that I was acting just like a little kid on Christmas morning...and that is exactly how I felt:D I just hope that the enthusiasm lasts for the next 10 years or so, for this, that is...I know it will last a lifetime for her;-)...but, until it wears off...JAHUUUU!!!! (on both sides;-)

Erin Gruwell!

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to and meeting this famous author of "The Freedom Writers Diary", which is a compilation of writings by an amazing group of disadvantaged, inner-city students of hers. As amazing as her students and their stories are, they are nothing in comparison to her...charming, eloquent, dynamic and inspirational...AND a fellow revolutionary, fighting the good fight against bureaucracy and the sterile, stereotypical treatment of human beings. The experience of hearing her speak in person and getting to actually meet her touched and absolutely enchanted me. If y'all have not had the chance to read this book, I would encourage you to do so...I am about to read it again for the third time...and watch for the movie, due out towards the beginning of next year...I'll be at the screening, too cool!:D

Bumbershoot Rocks...and So Do The Veronicas!!!

I spent the day yesterday in Seattle at the Bumbershoot music festival. The music was fantastic, with the Steve Miller Band, Copeland, and Sparta among the groups that I took in while there. I ended the day with The Veronicas and Jess and Lisa did not disappoint me...they were every bit as beautiful, charming and rocking as I imagined them to be...especially Lisa *sigh* (I caught her eye early on in the concert and I have been smitten every since;-) Their music was even more awesome in person and I will catch them every time they are playiing anywhere even close to me. Of course, there were quite a few local artisits occupying the street corners and they were every bit as entertaining as the big name bands. Being Seattle, it was at least as much fun watching the people as it was the bands. Folks of every size, shape, description and mental state were out in profusion. The day was picture perfect, sunny, blue skies, warm, just made for laying out in a sunny spot in the grass and listening to a rock band bang it out on stage in front of you. I cannot think of a much more enjoyable way to spend Labor Day and I will be back next year, once again!

Back to School!!!

After a 10 year hiatus from furthering my education, Friday I enrolled as a student at Columbia Basin College with the intent of beginning my life-long goal, that of acquiring a PhD in Astrophysics. Okay, I know that it sounds like a fairly lofty goal and I must admit that it does seem daunting, even to me, but you know, if I never get started at it I will most certainly never complete it. Besides, I estimate that it will take 10-15 years for me to achieve my goal, given that I shall have to continue working full time during that period. But what an amazingly satisfying achievment it shall be when I complete it...I just can't wait for the first class to start:D I shall be taking my mathematics pre-requisiites at CBC and then transferring over to WSU to continue on toward my doctorate. All that it took to get me started is for me and my best friend to agree to nag each other until we both started on our goals...she started working on her MBA this fall at WSU and now I am off and running towards my PhD. It shall be interesting to see which of us gets the furthest and how fast we get there, though in the end the most important thing is that we accomplish something...and, of course, it is always more fun to do it together;-) See y'all around campus, dudes:D

Back From Paradise

Our trip to Glacier was absolutely spectacular. We hiked over 75 miles across the Continental Divide, walked through some magnificent country, saw grizzly bears, were chased by a forest fire and soaked up as much of the high-alpine country of this beautiful place that we could. Check out the pictures at the usual place, I promise to caption them soon. I can best sum it all up by saying that we are planning on returning next year to explore some more (especially the places the fire kept us away from this year;-) Vertu svalur, y'all:D

The View From Above

Off To Glacier

Well, I am off to Galcier National Park for a much-needed 10-day holiday of hiking and climbing. I have been trying to get here all of my adult life and it looks as if I will finally succeed. From all that I have heard, it is backpacking's Mecca and I might just have so much fun that I won't come back;-) Watch for the pics in a couple of weeks...vertu svalur, vini minn;-)

A Fire In The Sky

I took advantage of a brief respite in the sultry summer nights of late and once more took to the hills at midnight, enjoying the first cool evening in over a fortnight. I eventually outran civilization, escaping the glow of the city and passing beyond the desert hills that normally hide the southern sky from my view. I found myself standing in awe at the vast expanse of starry sky that lay spread out before me, resplendant in a beauty usually reserved for the dark, cold nights of winter. There, center stage, lay Scorpio, menacingly poised in its eternal pursuit of the mighty hunter Orion, preceded in its traverse of the heavens by the brilliantly illuminated planet Jupiter, who seemed to pause momentarily before slipping out of view below the western horizon. The archer Sagittarius followed behind Scorpio, completing the procession of the prominent summer constellations that marched across the sky before me. As I stood there, I was enveloped in a cool breeze that momentarily caused me to forget the blistering heat of the day. But ere that memory was washed from my conciousness, my gaze was drawn to the center of Scorpio's wide expanse by an intense red glow in the heavens...Antares, a distant, yet massive red super-giant star, a red-hot ember that seemed to smolder in the darkness of the night, reminding all who viewed it that despite the refreshing coolness of the evening, the morrow would indeed witness the return to dominance of summer's province. It was under the baleful glare of that siren of summer that I turned homeward, knowing that when sleep finally o'ertook me, I would once again dream longingly of Father Frost's coming and welcome the passing of the season of the sun.

The Way To The Top

John and I spent our last day together climbing the snowfields up to Camp Muir. John has tried this exhausting hike before but has never been able to make it. The day broke out clear and calm, with those all-too-rare beautiful deep-blue skies that you only see in the mountains. The snow was perfect for climbing and we made record time in traversing the snowfields. As you might have suspected by now, we did indeed make it to Camp Muir and basked in the warmth of the sunlight as we lay on the rock slopes overlooking the encampment. The, it was off at a dead run back down, plunge-stepping and skating at breakneck speed until our legs were so exhausted that they threatened to fail us and send us out of control into the rocks bordering the snowfields. Then, too soon, it was over, we were back down on the civilized trials and heading back to camp. John left the next day, headed back to Texas, but carrying with him the satisfaction of having bested his own expectations for himself and standing in triumph at the pinnacle of one of the many personal acheivements that he will undoubtedly attain during his long life to come.

Camp Muir

John hjá Camp Muir

Friends of Ohanapecosh

We spent a delightful 4th of July holiday weekend at Mt. Rainier. The weather was perect, the snow pack still sufficient to offer some late season snowfield trekking and I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my son John as we took advantage of the opportunity to get out and spend some time together. We got to renew acquaintances with some old friends at the park and make some new friends in the process. So, we bid a hearty "Welcome back!" to Barret, Mimi, Sandy, and Renee and a warm "Welcome!" to our new friends, Lauren and Beth.

On the down-side of the trip, I finally started piecing together something that has been nagging me for some time now. The magnificent old-growth lowland forest in which the Ohanapecosh Campground resides is DYING!!!...and dying as a result of the human activity that has been prevalent there since it became a part of the Mt. Rainier National Park. More on this later, but I am determined that politics and bureaucratic stupidity will not be the reason that this unique natural resource ceases to exist. So, keep an eye out for a new website focused on bringing national, if not international, attention to this tragedy. But until then...vertu svalur, y'all:D

My Daughter's Big Day

Here I sit in Fort Worth, Texas waiting for my daughter Victoria's graduation. It hardly seems possible that here is the girl who it only seems like yesterday that I was brushing her hair before school and trying to get her to decide whether it was to be a pony tail, pig tails, or braids (which I never did fully master) today, often all three, one after the other, as she changed her mind, with Daddy dutifully obliging; now standing almost eye-to-eye with me, fully looking the confident, intelligent, responsible (and, of course, most beautiful;-) young woman that she has grown to become. I have often heard that it makes one feel old to realize that your children have reached adulthood, but seeing Victoria now; full of enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder at every day, naive and innocent, yet fearlessly ready to face the world, full of exhuberance towards being a woman, yet still every bit that little girl whose hair I brushed every day; instead makes me feel young and full of life, even a little rejuvenated at experiencing once again, this time through her, that wide-eyed wonder at the small miracles that occur every day, yet that we tend to become blind to as life's pace accelerates to adulthood. Yes, a young woman has indeed blossomed before my eyes, but she has only just begun to flower, with many amazing years to come before she fully blooms...I could not be prouder of her, nor more excited for her at the wonders and miracles she will experience in the years to come. Life on!!!

A View To Forever

While flying from Seattle to Texas yesterday, we happened to fly at eye level through what I have to assume was a contrail from another plane that crossed our path some time before. It's passing was evidenced by twin sets of wispy segments of tubes of condensed moisture that trailed off towards the setting sun...an almost-transparent, undulating series of of dis-jointed, etheral conduits forming a myriad of mystical portals through which one could almost imagine catching a glimpse of one's tomorrow. Then in a blink of an eye, the moment was past and they were gone. Were they indeed as I perceived them to be? Were they even there at all? The only certainty that I am left with is that my tomorrow will be, whether or not I am offered a glimpse at what it may bring.

Aldur Af Dagur Minn

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Og Þeir Ert

Your Eyes Should Be Blue

Your eyes reflect: Innocence and sweetness What's hidden behind your eyes: A calculating mind

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

They Can't See It Coming

I just returned from ACPE 2006, an IT conference, and one of the main topics concerning the network security experts is nothing other than MySpace.com. They spent quite a while discussing how to block, control, police, etc., this site. I have to give credit to one of the presenters, he did finally offer the possibility that this was the wrong approach...go figure! Of course, any of us who embrace the "growing up digital" philosophy believe that there is nothing intrinsically "wrong" with MySpace, or any other blog site. These sites, as well as instant messaging, chat rooms, text messaging, e-mail, are all simply means by which the digital generation (as well as us "digital immigrants") communicate and are a part of their culture. Assuming that to be true, then there is no point in further discussion on blocking and controlling these things, but instead how to better educate folks in using them responsibly. It is a fact that throughout history, the emerging generation has set the standards and mores of their culture and by doing so have defined the new reality for all of us as they assume stewardship of our world. We as an IT community had better be prepared to support that reality or we shall most certainly become irrelevant.

Geek Fest 2006

Well, that's what Dalton Bly from ESD 101 calls ACPE...but then Dalton does not get out much (sorry, Dude;-) Seriously, I just returned from 4 days with the IT guys and gals at the Association for Computer Professionals in Education annual conference at Mt. Hood and it was as great as always. The weather was perfect, they even had a hiking session (with some good company I might add, but nowhere near as scintillating as that back at home;-) and the sessions were first-rate. The vendors were fantastic and I even spent 3 hours manning two grills for Ron Kaiser over at the HP hospitality house (of course, I had a BLAST doing it;-) The closing keynote spoke on leadership, communication and change...all on my favorite-subject list for the past year, so it really resonated with me and I enjoyed the conversaton immensly. It was a fantastic time and I am already looking forward to next year when we will put on a shin-dig at the Dell house that will put them all to shame, O já...vertu svalur, y'all.

Pennsylvannia Pictures

I finally have them up at my pictures site:-)...enjoy

Sandwich Heaven

The Original Primanti Brother's Diner
I finished the day by driving down by the river to the old blue-collar district, now called The Strip, and hunted down the original Primanti Brothers diner. The ambience was fantastic...definitely classic, industrial, working-class digs. The diner is pretty much original, the food definitely a heart attack on a bun, the natives friendly and the whole experience smacked of a scene out of any old steel mill movie that you have ever seen. The marquee sandwich is your choice of meat (I agreed with the recommended capicola), a handful of greasy fries, big dollop of cole slaw (not sweet), cheese, grilled onions if you want; all piled between two large slabs of fresh-sliced Italian bread and served up on a sheet of butcher paper. There are well-used bottles of Red Devil hot sauce all up and down the diner’s bar, so just add a real Coke to cool things off and there you are! OMG, I think that it was the best sandwich that I have ever had! Add to all that being soaking wet from walking through a driving thunderstorm, the comforting warmth of the diner, enjoying the company of regular, working-class folks and sharing the bar with a couple of Pittsburgh plain-clothes cops (real shaved-head, uni-brow gorillas, straight out of "The Shield"...Sorry, guys...luv ya;-)...it was pretty much Heaven! You know, I instantly felt at home and actually considered not leaving...truly good times, O já!!!

The View From Above

The Confluence

The hills above the Duquesne Incline offered a magnificent view of the city below, it being located right above where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River...even on a rainy day!

The Ride To The Top

Duquesne Incline
Inclines are rail-mounted trams that were built in the 19th century to carry passengers up and down the hills and encourage the development of the heights around the city. Some even were reported to ferry cars up and down the hills!

Open & Honest Communication...Not!

Okay, I now believe that my right brain has totally take over. I travel completely across the state only to find myself embarking on yet another crusade on this topic. I mean, as a guy, aren't I supposed to present as the antithesis of this philosophy? And yet, here I am trying to coax my colleagues out of their xenophobic shells and engage them in open, honest and passionate debate on topics that I know should be making their blood boil! Has everyone forgotten that passionate debate is the crucible in which great ideas are formed? Worse yet than the silence, are the poisonous, whispered, behind-closed-doors conversations that sabotage any honest efforts at reaching consenus; and these lively little shadow conversations are enjoying the active participation of very folks that sit dumb and apathetic in the open forums! It does make one wonder what it is that they fear so much that they would rather let themselves go unheard rather than risk(?) taking a public stand on something for which they possess strong convictions. I do not know, but I am determined to find out...and drag them out into debate, kicking and screaming if necessary;-)

Eða Jafnvel Betra...Reykjavík

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

Er Þessi Ég?

You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt. And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting. Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt. And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

It's A Small World, After All

After getting to talk more and know Gary and George from the hospital in Englewood, NJ; as well as Dan (my Lab partner) from Landers, Inc. (NJ, also) and Ryan from Virgin Records in L.A., I have been reminded that no matter from where we hail, or whom we serve, all IT guys share concerns and challeges that are more similar, perhaps, than we would like to admit. It is this honest networking amongst such a diverse group of passionate professionals that is perhaps the most valuable part of events such as this Microsoft Vista TAP-RD. I know that my experiences of the first day and a half have more than made this trip worthwhile...and there is another day and a half yet to come!...vertu svalur, ya'll

Geek Bowl

Microsoft hosted an all-you can eat, drink and play event at Acme Bowl at Southcenter this evening. What a great idea and an even better time! We got to play together, enjoy some good, old-fashioned conraderie and network on a level that wouuld never have ben possible otherwise. I even met a Microsoft rep and some partners from Pittsburgh and Philly who were able to steer me towards the best local eateries in the neighboroods of both towns...too cool! Great idea and kudos to you, Astrid...you are the BOMB!

Vista TAP Airlift at Microsoft

Here I am, with half a state seperating me from the one who holds my heart in her hands, in Redmond attending the kick-off event for the rapid deployment team for the new Windows operating system, Vista. The social last night was fun, though fairly low-key since it was attended by a bunch guys and gals;-) I did meet Gary and George, IT guys from the hospital in Englewood, NJ; and we spent most of the evening talking shop and drinking beer. Not too bad a way to start the event, but I suppose that we might actually have to produce some real work today. At least the weather is gloomy and cool, which really compliments my melancholy mood over missing being with her...Oh well, c'est amor;-)

IV Rocks!

Saturday night I dropped by The Pub and caught Bill Burke pounding away on the drums playing with his band IV. The three of them are actually pretty good and can really rock out. The crowd was lively and an interesting mix of young and old alike. I ended up staying for the whole night and enjoyed the music and the people. I might even start hanging out here a little more often.

Pennsylvannia Here I Come

It's official, I shall be travelling across the country to attend three days of training on meeting organization. Not that the training itself is all that astounding, but my having the opportunity to visit the East Coast is one that I am looking forward to. I plan on staying over the weekend and touring Philadelphia, the birthplace of our country's freedom, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' House, etc. The chance to see my good friend Forrest after all of these years is also too good to pass up and I have already called him to plan the weekend. April will be a busy month, but this trip will also be some fun!

Upward and Skyward

I am in Portland for the 2nd annual Washington State WESPaC User Group (WASWUG...gotta love THAT acronym, eh;-) I mainly go for the networking opportunities, but I must say that I have come to enjoy the positive energy of these conferences. I also attended the first one last year, when there was a lot of residual negativity about our student information system still floating around, and the unabashed enthusiasm and energy of the attendees was a much-needed shot in the arm for all of us that support this system. And, as was proved out, the optimisitic ones had the correct perspective, as we have completed the deployment of the student product with overwhelming success and yesterday began the protoype deployment of the fiscal product. The sessions this year have been well attended and the atmosphere familial and almost festive. You would have to look far and wide to find a better group of folks to spend time with, and I am having a blast!...vertu svalur, y'all

Perhaps There Is Some Hope For Me After All

The Art Director at the college paid us a huge compliment when she said that she had never seen the regional art show presented as well as it was this year. Since Suzie and I played the major part in the display and layout, I took that as a distinct compliment to our collaborative artistic efffort. What with me being a left-brain IT guy, my more creative right-brain self took that as incredible and welcome praise. Who knows, perhaps there is a new career in the making here...or perhaps it was just the product of my recent emotional pain and anguish that sparked a creative fire in me...who knows;-)

A Worthy Effort...and Fun at That

I volunteered to help Trish (my ex-assistant) with the setup for our annual regional art show at Columbia Basin College, where we showcase, judge and send on to the state competition, the best of our region's high school students' art. It was two days of hard work, but one that was just what the doctor ordered for me...a cause in which to expend all of my nervous energy, an opportunity to make new friends and a worthy effort on top of all of that. The quality of the product of our students' creativity never ceases to amaze me and, in sheer quantity, our show is always the largest in the state, therefore we have the privelege of sending more entrants on to the state competition. This year we are showing over 530 pieces of art, and that means that we had to check in, provide space for, hang and display all of that in two days! We did have a good team, most of the teachers pitched in, and we were fortunate to receive the assistance of an art student from the college. I had the pleasure of spending most of those two days working with Suzie, who was bright, creative and an effective compliment to my more analytical side. We made a good team, worked hard, had fun and collaborated on some very creative displays; accounting for well over 25% of the total pieces displayed. We worked well together and had fun getting it all done, even if it was a long couple of days. For me, it was the first time in over a week that I have been able to put other matters out of my mind and devote my energy into something truly productive.

They Just Don't Get It...

and probably never will. After many discussions with the boss about our leadership's level of "emotional intelligence" or empathy for their employees, I am afraid that I may be fighting a losing battle. The question goes back to all of the current philosophy on leadership and corporate culture...if leaders do not possess the quality of empathy then they can never "develop" it, as it is an inborn trait, not a learned skill, and before a good organization can achieve greatness, the leaders must possess a great degree of empathy for those that they lead. So it would appear that if my perceptions are accurate, we are destined to remain mired in mediocrity, lead by a group that does not possess the skills necessary to pull us up out of the muck of average-ness, nor are they able to be sufficiently introspective to see their failing, or honest enough to admit it. I have to confess though, that it may be unrealistic to expect them, or any human being with any sense of ego or pride, to be able to admit to such a foundational shortcoming in their leadership abilities. It does make one wonder though, if that was the case, why they would continue to promote our exploration of these philosophies which, if we whole-heartedly embrace and understand them, will lead us to recognize these shortcomings in the very leaders that are encouraging us to delve into them. Perhaps they are so lacking in empathy that they don't know that they don't have it, because they truly have no concept of what it feels like to have it! If so, then I am most likely fighting a battle that I can never win and the one question that I have to ask myself is whether or not I will ever achieve anything other than keeping things constantly stirred up in a vain attempt to fix something when I have no chance of first convincing them that anything is broken? So maybe, in the final analysis, I am the one that doesn't get it!!!

[Listening to: Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers - Hot Fuss (03:54)]

Truer Words Were Never Spoken

"Everyone in love is something of an idiot"...O, Já!
(Alan Shore from Boston Legal)

[Listening to: What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady (02:54)]

It Never Rains, But That It Pours

Great, now in the most appropriate commentary of all on my present mood...it rains! It appears as if God does indeed have a sense of humor after all;-) Maybe one day, I will get mine back...nótt, nótt

[Listening to: Ruby Soho - Rancid - And Out Come the Wolves (02:38)]

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

Sometimes it is a red-hot dagger driven right through the center of your heart, in other words...it just plain hurts!

[Listening to: Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (03:19)]

Michael Fullan

I had yet another occassion to partake of this visionary's always-inspirational insight on educational reform, change, and leadership. We have hosted three of his conferences and I make it a point to work every one of them. First and foremost, out of respect to the man, I would not risk to chance the quality of the technical support. Not that I am perfect, but I am, quite frankly, as good as they come in my realm of expertise and a speaker of his stature deserves no less than to be supported by a technologist of the same caliber. Secondly, and the most personally gratifying, is that I always come away from listening to him speak, with at least one epiphany. This one was no exception and revolved around the concept that great leaders possess a high degree of "emotional intelligence" or empathy for people. No sooner did he get the words out then I realized that this was the missing attribute of our leadership that has caused me so much angst and frustration, their general lack of empathy for those that they lead. More later on the far-reaching implications of this realization...vertu svalur, y'all

[Listening to: Leave Me Alone (Album Version) - The Veronicas - The Secret Life Of... (03:29)]

Pretty, But Mentally Challenging

A more accurate description for her I could not have come up with if I had tried, O já!...vertu svalur og glaður allan tímann líka

[Listening to: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams (03:04)]

Er Þessi Ég?

Hmm...I don't know, what do you think?

How You Are In Love

You take a while to fall in love with someone. Trust takes time. You give completely and unconditionally in relationships. You tend to get very attached when you're with someone. You want to see your love all the time. You love your partner unconditionally and don't try to make them change. You stay in love for a long time, even if you aren't loved back. When you fall, you fall hard.

How Are You In Love?

A Brief Return to Winter

My midnight run tonight reminded me that Old Man Winter has not yet relinquished his icy grip on the season. The temperature is in the mid-twenties, heading for the single digits (farenheit, that is), with a stiff north wind blowing. Personally, I am glad to see that there is a wee bit of the frost left to be enjoyed before Spring begins it's awakening...vertu svalur (literally, even;-)

[Listening to: Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (03:19)]

NCCE 2006

Well, the conference has ended, everyone has packed up and I am home again. I would have to say that this year's conference was one of the more enjoyable ones for me. The discussions were engaging and visionary, my nomination of Alan Walker for the Technology Leader of the Year was successful, I made some new contacts in the industry and participated more with the leadership of the tech community. Glenn's management of the technology of the conference was successful, at least partially because he has a good team with which to work. On the downside, I have to admit that bidding David Walddon a heartfelt farewell from OSPI as he heads off to Microsoft was one of the most bittersweet moments that I have experienced in quite a while. I shall miss his leadership, humor and friendship while wishing him and his family all of the best that life has to offer.

Of course, being apart from the one that I wish most to be with always drives my desire to return home almost as soon as I depart. I know that the term "sweet misery" may seem contradictory, but not to anyone who has experienced the intense longing for another that I feel for her...and I hope that the misery never ends;-)

[Listening to: You Were Meant For Me (LP Version) - Jewel - Pieces Of You (04:14)]

Dive Karaoke

One of the Microsoft gals expressed a desire for some "dive karaoke" and so last night the Microsoft, Dell, and HP gang and myself and some tech ladies from Puyallup went out to the Alibi Bar. It was easy to find, even for someone unfamiliar with the dark streets of the Swan Lake district of Portland, all we had to do was look for the garish neon sign and throwback 60's Tiki bar decor. Once inside, the retro look continued, but the staff was accomodating, the crowd lively, and the singing about as bad as one would expect...especially ours;-) We did have a heck of a good time, the locals contributed greatly to the atmosphere, and our gang did themselves proud. For myself, I drank about 8 margaritas, sang very little, but danced back-up to the gals whenever the opportunity presented itself. We finally gave it up about midnight so that we could grab a little sleep before the morning conference sessions began and I found myself giving the Puyallup trio a ride back to their hotel. I would say that the company was enjoyable, a GREAT time was had by all and we definitely drowned some demons that night...Jáhúú

[Listening to: Thank You - Dido - No Angel (03:38)]

...With Liberal Applications of Chocolate...Auðvitað!

I have to admit that I am proud of my baby girl. She took her first broken heart in stride and seems to bouncing back quite well, after a little bout of feeling sorry for herself. She went to school the next day, head held up and proud, and has never looked back. Of course, she does admit that chocolate, Cheetos and Cherry Coke were her constant companions for a couple of days;-) But, between that and good friends, she seems not too much worse for the wear. I did pass along all of y'alls best wishes and good advice and she has asked me to give y'all a huge, virtual group hug and tell you how much she appreciated the support. I personally liked the Ben and Jerry's therapy idea myself...New York Super Fudge Crunch, of course!!!

[Listening to: Everything to Me - Liz Phair - Everything To Me/Clean (03:18)]

Superbowl Ads...and the Winners Are:

"Best Soundtrack"


"Most Awwww-ful"

Of course, I mean didn't y'all just say "Awwww" when you first watched it...I know I did!

"A Friend's Favorite"


"Overall Best Commercial for 2006":


Bonus!!! From Super Bowl XXXVII and Still One of My Favorites:

How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?

It finally happened...my "little girl" has suffered her first real break-up. It actually happened while I was talking to her on the telephone and Cecil (aka the jerk that broke my baby's heart) actually broke up with her by texting Victoria on her cell phone! I mean, c'mon guy, at least have the nerve to tell her to her face, or at least let her hear it with your own voice! A sign of the times perhaps, but still a bit cold and unfeeling I think. So, here is the girl who it only seems like yesterday that I was brushing her hair before school and trying to get her to decide whether it was to be a pony tail, pig tails, or braids (which I never did fully master) today, often all three, one after the other, as she changed her mind, with Daddy dutifully obliging; now 18 years old and crying because some guy dumps her because he "doesn't feel the same about her any more." About the only advice that I could give her was to go ahead and get her crying done, have a good old-fashioned pity party, complete with chocolate and ice cream, get what sleep she could, get up tomorrow and go to school, walking tall and proud and letting everyone see who the REAL loser was! I mean, after all, she IS the most beautiful, intelligent and charming girl that God has put on this earth, so who is she to back down from anyone who treats her as anything less. Anyway, she seemed to feel a bit better after we commiserated and schemed a bit, even had a laugh or to before we had to end the call. Of course, I am certain that she will bounce back quickly and be on to future loves and heartbreaks...WAIT, what the hell am I saying, this is still Daddy's little angel;-) Ahh, to return to the simpler times of our lives, and wonderful ones at that. But then, that might make life too easy and what would be the challenge in that, eh?...vertu svalur og glaður allan tímann líka

By The Light of the Silvery Moon...or is it?

I hope that y'all had the chance to view the slim crescent moon as it set in the clear early-evening sky tonight, though you had to look quick, as it set about an hour after sunset. If not, then you might have another chance tomorrow, assuming that the skies stay clear. If they do, then look to the southwest about 6:00 pm tomorrow and you might be treated to a glimpse of one of my favorite sky-watching phenomena. The moon should still appear to the casual observer to be a slim, silvery crescent in the darkening sky. However, if you look closely at the so-called "dark" portion of the moon, you will see that it is actually very dimly lit. This soft, almost eerie, glow is very aptly named "earthshine" and results from sunlight reflecting off of the earth, back to the moon, and then back yet again to our planet, and your eyes. While most of the time I successfully ignore the science of the heavens and just enjoy the splendor that nature puts before me for its own intrinsic beauty, in this case I find that the science actually lends a bit of mystique and intrigue to the event and is therefore allowed to intrude upon the moment. In fact, next to a brilliant full moon on a sultry summer's night, I find the silvery crescent moon and its ghostly aura to be one of the more beautiful and romantic sights in the evening sky; see it with someone you love!

Dancing The Night Away

Last night we had our company "Employee Dinner" or "Holiday Celebration" or what EVER we are calling it this year. Though I rale against all of the political correctness that seems to be pervading our agency of late and resulting in stupidity such as that prevents us from having a CHRISTMAS PARTY, it WAS fun. We had a DJ this year, but our group seem to be quite a bit more laid back and prefers to watch folks singing karaoke instead of dancing. Of course, I could not let this travesty of partydom continue for long and ended up having to dance while others were singing to get the real party started. We ended up dancing the last half of the evening, at least the young and the females amongst us...oh, that includes me too;-) It was a blast, though the crowd thinned out pretty quick, but I noticed that attendance was way down and hope that getting the word out that the entertainment is a bit more lively now will help get more folks to show up next year. Who knows, with a larger crowd, perhaps certain others will get up and dance, I mean is it too much to ask to have just one dance together?...okay, maybe two;-) Now I have to work on reversing the PC trend and get our CHRISTMAS PARTY back! Oh well, I do so love a challenge.

[Listening to: Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams (04:22)]

What goes up, must...

Snowshoeing...Way Cool!!!

We went up to Snoqualamie Pass today for a REI snowshoeing clinic. They had representatives there from all of the major snowshoe companies set up in tents. Once you signed in you could make the rounds of the tents and try out any or all of the different models available on the mountain. The Mountaineers Lodge is an old ski lodge and had some nice slopes and great trails through the pine trees. I tried out all of the available snowshoes and spent the day having a blast running up and down the mountain, weaving through the trees, and learning the pitfalls of jumping creeks with snowshoes on (something that DEFINITELY requires some practice;-), and climbing out of creeks after you miss the jump. It was great fun and something that I have been wanting to do for some time. After all, it extends the hiking season into the winter months and with all of the trips that I make through the mountains, I will be carrying a set of snowshoes with me from now on, O já!

[Listening to: Precious (U.S. Radio Version) - Depeche Mode - Precious (04:08)]

Gleðilegt Nýár

I can only hope that the new year is kinder and more gentle than the old,
That all men, everywhere, look to each other as brothers,
And to all women as their equals.
That hunger, poverty and war are as foreign to us as is the Dodo,
And that tsunamis, genocide and sexual predators are just a bad dream.
I hope that the new year finds my distant friends a bit closer to me in the heart,
That all who know me always think fondly of me,
And that no one, anywhere, considers life to be so hopeless as to end it prematurely.
I hope that everyone, everywhere, always find the time to stop and smell the roses,
That they take the time to tell their loved ones "I love you",
And to hug their children and tell them that they are the reason that God smiles!
I can only hope that y'all have the opportunity to love life as much as it deserves to be,
That life is as kind to you as you deserve it to be,
And that you pass the love along to all those who deserve it.
Happy New Year and all my best wishes and love go out to y'all,
For life would not be worth the living if it were it not for the love!

[Listening to: Where Does the Good Go - Tegan and Sara - So Jealous (03:37)]

...Not A Creature Was Stirring

May this night find all men brothers,
And on equal with their sisters.
May the lion lie down with the lamb,
And wake to challenge the day as one.
May love hold sway in the world,
And death be on a holiday.
May we greet the dawn together,
And rejoice being all children of God.
Merry Christmas and Peace to All!

Twas The Night Before...

Christmas is the time that we traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but it seems that this holiday is now serving a more secular, but equally important, need in our hectic, chaotic lives. At least for my family, the one aspect of this time of year that we treasure above all else is the closeness of family and being together for just a few precious moments during the year where we focus on nothing else but each other. Yes, I well know the traditional comment about Christmas being "all about the family", but for the majority I believe that this has taken a back seat to the more ritualistic and materialistic aspects of the holiday, at least in recent years. Perhaps it took my failed marriage and new life that physically seperates me from most of my family and, most importantly, my children, to make me realize just how much I took for granted having my family close about me. I could very easily write this whole "phenomenon" off to nostalgia and a resultant melancholic attitude if I did not see and hear of increasing numbers of people expressing the same sentiments. Could it be that we have finally so dis-comboobalated our everyday lives and allowed the more mundane facets of it to so occupy all of our available time that we are now stuck in a self-contrived existance that only allows us the time to pay attention to family and close friends once a year? I will concede that this is taking an extremely pessimistic view on our current reality, but perhaps it is closer than any of us realize, or perhaps it is our being aware of just how close we are to that reality that drives the recent appreciation for the really important things in our lives.

All that I really know is that I happily find myself this holiday with my children close about me and those whom I love, but cannot be with, held even closer in my heart. To those dear and distant, my thoughts and love are with you always, no matter the distance that seperates us or the length of time that we must endure being apart, for it is the love that we share that will endure beyond all else...and you know, it REALLY is a wonderful life, after all!

Merry Christmas and may God bless us, every one!

Three Days and Counting

It is just a little less than three days before Victoria and John are here for Christmas. Perhaps it is because this is Victoria's last Christmas before she becomes an adult and has her own life to live, or maybe it is just that the more that time passes, the more I realize just how precious each passing day is. Regardless, I find myself eagerly anticipating their arrival and am certain that we shall enjoy a most joyous Christmas this year. Gleðileg Jól, y'all!

[Listening to: My Immortal - Evanescence - Fallen (04:24)]

Fur-Free For Life...Now!!!

OMG...watch this ONLY if you have a strong stomach! I have seen hundreds of dead and dying people in my life, and have been literally covered in blood and gore, but this is one of the most shocking things that I have ever seen. My heartfelt thanks to Tegan and Sara (via PETA) for making me aware of these horrific practices. I have never been much of a supporter of the anti-fur movement, until now. May God have mercy on these scumbags' souls...because I have none for them!




Get free stickers at peta2.com

Snjór!!!

I can not imagine time more enjoyably spent than that on a night time walk through a countryside blanketed with the first snow of the season. The lights of the city reflecting off of the white mantle of snow suffuse the hills with a soft, chill glow that lights my way as I wander the peaceful solitude of the night. The world at once seems to take pause, slowing in its hectic pace just a bit, preparing perhaps for its approaching long, cold slumber that will only end with the distant, warmth breath of spring. Indeed, Father Frost is upon the threshold and the fire in the hearth is smoldering low...Yule draws nigh...winter is come.

Another Culinary Gem in Seattle

The Belltown District is fast becoming my favorite area of Seattle. I have discovered a pleasurable past time in wandering the sidewalks of this district in search of a restaurant that appeals to me. My tastes in food are varied and and my nature had proven to be both spontaneous and unpredictable when exposed to the many inviting and eclectic dining opportunities that Belltown has to offer. Tonight I was drawn to Shallot's Asian Bistro, a cozy and inviting corner dining establishment, but admittedly first walked by, only to be enticed back by the delightful aromas emanating from the kitchen as I strolled past. The interior decor was intimate and pleasant with some nondescript and barley audible background music, all-in-all a nice ambiance. The staff's friendliness, excellent service and the delightfully flavorful food was a delightful compliment to the warm atmosphere. I was served by Dustin, a pleasant young man orignally from Sunnyside, on our side of the mountains. He offered some excellent suggestions for an appetizer and entree and readily complied with my off-menu drink selection. I enjoyed an appetizer of light and delicious Vietnamese shrimp and vegetable rolls, followed by a main course of Mongolian Beef with Ginger. This being my mainstay entree in oriental cuisine, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to find that the addition of ginger to the recipe may have resulted in the best plate of Mongolian Beef that I have ever been served! All of this being accompanied by my now-trademark Margarita, also excellently prepared, I have to say that I am fast becoming a Belltown culinary fanatic. I had been considering changing to a more conveniently located hotel for future meetings at PSESD in Renton, but I now realize that I do so enjoy the opportunity to explore downtown Seattle that I am not yet ready to move, so here I shall stay. Indeed, I look foward with eager anticipation at uncovering many more as-yet-undiscovered culinary gems in the Seattle downtown. Too much fun!

Dashing Through The Snow...Laughing All The Way!

Driving head-long over Snoqualmie pass through a blinding snowstorm in a 4WD with an open sunroof and a CD banging out Bon Jovi at 125 decibels on a dark & stormy night, all the while playing tag with 239 semi’s, 112 SUV’s, 5 snow plows and one very confused and misguided elk…PRICELESS! Jáhúú!!!

...But The Most Wonderful Thing About Tiggers Is I'm The Only One!

It was suggested the other day that perhaps I might be compared to "Tigger" due to my exuberance and high energy level. It is true that I have an almost inexhaustible amount of energy and am thoroughly enjoying my life, and this, combined with my already persistent nature, almost certainly is what led to the posing of this assumedly-rhetorical question. The real revealing question would be what the underlying cause might be, but then no one is asking that. Well, according to Dr. Jennifer James, the cultural anthropologist, there are only two things that create such high levels of energy in human beings; fervently fighting for a just cause, or being in love. Hmm, she might actually be on to something there;-) Need I say any more about which one applies in this case? And how ironic was the source of that comment? Woo Hoo Hoo Hoo!!!

[Listening to: You Were Meant For Me (LP Version) - Jewel - Pieces Of You (04:14)]

A Fall Midnight's Run

Once again I ran through the cold, foggy night to take the final edge off so that sleep might finally find me. Life is just so perfect and the days so full of late that I find it difficult to allow them to end by simply going to sleep. I do not know how long this will last, but I do know that I shall cherish it while it does, and then hold the memories of these times close in my heart when they have past...if they ever do...I suppose that maybe, just maybe, life could just get better and better from here on out...dare I dream? I do, indeed I do..vertu svalur

The Fruits of Conceit

"Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make proud!"

[Listening to: Time Running - Tegan and Sara - If It Was You (02:09)]

The Cold, The Dark, And The Beautiful

I just returned from a run through the hills and orchards here on the south side of town, following a frosty path brilliantly lit by the light of the full moon. Once clear of the haze of the city lights, the full splendor of the winter heavens suffused the cold, clear night sky that surrounded me. In the last hours preceding midnight, the full moon shone directly overhead, closely accompanied by the glowing red planet Mars. Just above the eastern horizon, the mighty hunter Orion had begun his long stalk across the winter firmament in pursuit of his eternally raging nemesis, Taurus the bull. Close at his heel were his faithful hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, their presence marked by the blazing splendor of Sirius, brightest of all the stars in the night sky. Just as I crested the hills and began my descent back to civilization my gaze was drawn to the west, where I was treated to a glimpse of the brilliantly luminescent Venus, the goddess of love, before she slipped behind a thin veil of clouds at the skys edge and was lost to the night. Now, as I reluctantly neared the end of my journey, still awe-struck by the stellar magnificence being paraded before me, not wanting the moment to pass, I found comfort in knowing that this was merely the beginning of a series of long, clear, cold, and dark nights that would provide many more such opportunities to revel in the heavenly beauty of the night sky. I invite you to venture out as you are able and join me in seeing first-hand the spectacular display with which nature rewards those who brave the cold and dark of the winter nights...vertu svalur

Denny Crane, Revisited

To quote the inimitable Denny, "You know...it's fun being me!" O já, how I can identify with that! I can only wonder what it would be like to not so thoroughly enjoy being one self, and only hope that I never have to find out. So, until then, c'est moi, c'est moi...Jáhúú!!!

[Listening to: Wake Up - Hilary Duff - Most Wanted (03:40)]

There and Back Again...and Again...And Yet Again

Talk about feeling disconnected! I have spent most of the last three weeks driving back and forth across the state attending meetings. It is not that the work has not been important, at least one of the committees that I am sitting on is one that I caused to come into being, but OMG am I tired of being on the road! It all started with the trip over that I preceded with the Williwakas Glacier climb (see my previous post) and I have not slowed down since. I am sure glad that I made that climb, as it was indeed the last of the season's good-weather days. The snows so absent last year have hit the Cascade Mountains early and in abundance. Most of the ski areas are open by now, so maybe when things slow down a bit I will grab a board and hit the slopes...after all of this, I deserve some fun;-)...cy'all

[Listening to: With or Without You - U2 - The Joshua Tree (04:57)]

Soon To Be Extinct

The last of the glacial ice bridges on the Williwakas Glacier :-(

A Window To The World

Mt. Adams from inside the Williwakas Glacier...actually the ice water dripping down my back was exhilirating;-)

Hmm...en ég líka köttir

YELLOW

Yellows are the most fun-loving, free-spirited, energetic, and childlike personalities in the aura spectrum. Yellows are wonderful, sensitive, optimistic beings, whose life purpose is to bring joy to people, to have fun, and to help heal the planet.

Yellows can either be very shy and sensitive, or they can be the life of the party. These playful characters have a great sense of humor. They love to laugh and to make others laugh. Yellows believe life is to be enjoyed. They like to live life freely and spontaneously. With a perpetual smile on their face, they remind people to not take themselves or their problems too seriously.

Yellows would prefer not to work at all, unless their work was fun, playful, or creative. They love nature, and often have concerns for the survival of wildlife and the environment. Dogs are very drawn to Yellows and often become their best friends.

Hvað ert þú aðallega ?

Coyotes By Moonlight

I went on what is quickly becoming a routine midnight run through the orchards and countryside outside of town. There was a thin veil of clouds partially obscuring an almost-full moon, cool, but without much wind. About halfway into the orchards, suddenly off to my right just beyond the edge of the trees, a coyote broke into a loud mournful howl, almost right on top of me! Then off to my left another replied and I realized that I was in the middle of a pack hunting out of the hills and enjoying the increased mobility afforded them by the canals being drained. I could feel the instincive urge to challenge them begin to fire in my blood, but I managed to control that and ran on through the night. They went on about their way and continued the hunt as I continued on my run, but the whole encounter did leave me with a little feeeling of exhiliration at the brush with my more primal side...interesting indeed!

[Listening to: All About Us/Single Version - t.A.T.u. - All About Us (03:05)]

Hmm, Nú Hver Er Þessi?

"...she runs on 100-proof attitude power"...O, Já!!!

[Listening to: Just The Girl (Album Version) - The Click Five - Just The Girl (03:52)]

Ljós af Líferni Min

Life is measured not by the moments that you breathe, but rather by the moments that take your breath away...and she always leaves me breathless...so my life is measured by how much time I spend with her...*le sigh*

[Listening to: Just The Girl (Album Version) - The Click Five - Just The Girl (03:52)]

Williwakas Jökull...Eintómur

My Ranger friends Barrett and Michelle shared with me a picture and a challenge before they departed to Colorado for the winter season. They had taken the most beautiful pictures of some fragile ice bridges from within the ice caves of the Williwakas Glacier and Barrett encouraged me to visit them quickly, as the weather is deteriorating and these fragile structures may be lost forever after this season. I, of course, am planning on climbing up there as soon as I can. I thought that we would be going this weekend, but that predictably fell apart and now it looks like I shall be going it alone in another week. Of course, I shall not be there alone as the one I hold closest to my heart will be there with me, as she always is...with me there and with me in my dreams...so now to sleep, perchance to dream:-)

[Listening to: Boyfriend - Ashlee Simpson - Boyfriend (03:02)]

A Week To Remember

It was hectic, frantic at times, dismaying, but in the end, it was one hell of a great week! In the past 5 days my emotions swung completely from one end of the spectrum to the other, I gained a new friend, lost my treasured assistant Trish, and regained the interest of my love. I made impassioned pleas, ranted a bit, schemed, and dreamed with my love. Quite frankly, I am emotionally exhausted, but I have not felt so jazzed in a long, long time. Life can not get any better unless my wildest dreams should come true, but then let's kep a firm grasp on reality, shall we? Of course, ya never know;-)...vertu svalur

Like Brilliant Diamonds in the Cold Winter Sky

I know that I wax a bit poetic on the stars every year about this time, and this year will be no exception! With the arrival of the first crisp, cool fall evenings, I cannot wait to go out after midnight, when the night is the darkest and the world slumbers the deepest, to view the heavens in all of their splendor. It is one of my favorite times of year and I can only wait impatiently for the winter to deepen and my nocturnal wanderings with my stellar brethern to become a nightly ritual...I do love it so!

Dreams Last For So Long…

Soon you will see, you were meant for me and I was meant for you…

[Listening to: You Were Meant For Me (LP Version) - Jewel - Pieces Of You (04:14)]

Dans, Dans, Dans...O, Já

It was a dark and stormy night…
And all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a…aw heck, you know what I mean, it was raining all day and I was BORED!!! So, I talked Jeremy into hooking up the Dance, Dance Revolution dance pads up to the X-Box and we got un-lazy in a hurry. What a great game, even though he absolutely beat me silly for the first half-hour. I did manage to get close towards the end, but by that time both of us had had enough. That’s okay though, I will get him back tomorrow and show him that his “old man” is not so old after all…yubb

OVAM...Steinunn had better watch out, I may even give her a run for her money on the dance floor before it is over with;-)

A Quaint But Delightful Seattle Bistro

I wandered the downtown of Seattle this evening, searching for a restaurant to capture my fancy. After enjoying a beautiful evening stroll into the Belltown district, I was drawn to the Cyclops, a quaint establishment whose stylish, yet unassuming, exterior proved to belie a delightful ambiance and some surprisingly remarkable cuisine. The Cyclops is best decribed as an eclectic cafe with decidedly eastern Mediterranean and spanish influences. The crowd was thin on a Wednesday evening and I made my way over to the bar area of the cafe to better immerse myself in the "feel" of the place. The music was canned, typical of the nouveau chicque Seattle sound, lighter than grunge, but more visceral than folk...an excellent mix that was well suited to casual dining in a Seattle cafe. The waitress was accommodating and I engaged her in assisting me in choosing my meal. She recommended the "special" and it proved to be an excellent choice, though more due to the skill and proficiency of the chef than her ability to discern my tastes in food. The special was a light dish comprised of salmon and halibut cakes covered with a sweet chile sauce, on a bed of baby greens with a wasabi vinegarette dressing. This was sprinkled liberally with shards of crystallized ginger and the flavor combinations played together in a remarkable fashion. Though admittedly rather pedestrian fare, I truly enjoyed the experience and it went well with the margarita that I had chosen to accompany the meal. This most excellent entree, combined with the pleasant, colloquial atmosphere resulted in a dining experience that I will treasure for some time to come. I encouraged the chef to make this a regular offering, but regardless of their response to my request, I will visit the Cyclops again and would recommend it to my friends without reservation. Vertu svalur, muy compadres!

Back To School!!!

After a hiatus of over seven years I think that it is time to return to school.  This time though I am going just for me, not to improve my job skills or to acquire some certification, but purely for my enjoyment in exploring my interest in astrophysics.  My lofty goal is to earn a PhD in that discipline, but one step at a time.  Since the state pays my tuition as an employee, all I have to do is buy the books and dedicate the time.  I must admit that I miss campus life and the intellectual stimulation that comes from pursuing a course of study and networking with your fellow students.  So, sometime in the next week or so I am off to the WSU Tri-Cities campus to do some course of study planning.  I may have to wait until the spring to start, but that gives me to the winter to anticipate it…too cool!!!

A Day In The Sun

Our annual staff golf tournament and barbeque was today and everyone had a good time. The weather was perfect; I golfed acceptably, managed the barbeque grill with my usual flair and even managed to get in some Frisbee between flipping burgers and turning the sausages. In fact, the only thing that kept the day from being perfect was the absence of those who could not be with us. It was a smaller group, what with the leaving of our Safe Schools folks, most of who were the younger, more energetic and out-going crowd...I miss them terribly! Still, it was about as good a day as one could ask for, even if I was a bit subdued at missing...

Back From The Mountains

It was indeed a grand weekend and the weather was beautiful, just a bit cooler as fall settles into the mountains. I spent the time hiking some old favorites one more time for nostalgia sake and talking to my Ranger Barrett about the old architecture of the park that I had observed in my many visits. We talked about wooden water mains, fire plugs and other turn of the century infrastructure. At his suggestion I met and enjoyed a conversation with Ranger Michelle Hart, Barrett's girl friend, and she was as bright and charming as I would have expected for her to be my friend's friend;-) She also possessed a wealth of knowledge about the Paradise-area history and architecture and I enjoyed a long conversation with her, going over many old pictures of the park. That topped off a day where I dashed, literally, up to Panorama Point and back after hitting several lowland hikes. I met some interesting young folks from Europe and Asia along the way and chatted with them a bit about their American experiences and reveled in their different accents and colloquial sayings...what fun! I ended up the day quite exhausted, but pleasantly so, and ready for a cold one by the campfire, looking up at the stars and thinking of loved ones far away, especially the one held the closest to my heart and yet seemingly the farthest away. What a perfectly lovely day, followed by a perfectly melancholy evening!...Life just does not get much better than this...l8r

Back to the Mountains

I am heading over to Seattle for a meeting on Monday, which means that I simply must spend this weekend in the mountains. It promises to be cool and wet, perhaps with snow yet again and I cannot imagine a better place to be. I plan on hiking up on the sub-alpine ridges above Paradise and it should be a magnificent trip. I only wish that I had someone to share the moment with, but then I know that I am never truly alone and that special someone is always in my heart wherever I may go. Life (and love) is truly grand! See y’all when I return:-)

Aldur Eftir Aldur

Nei, að eilífu er ekki svo langur að biða handa það ákveðinn einhver...en eilífð er aldur langt!

Snjór, Snjór, Snjór!!!

I spent a wonderfully exhausting day hiking 15 miles up to the Three Lakes area and back on Friday. I marveled at the old-growth lowland forest and the size of the trees, which rivaled anything outside of the 1000-year giants of the Grove of the Patriarchs, and was truly enchanted by the discovery of a sub-alpine old-growth forest. The day was perfect for hiking, cold and damp, with a promise of more rain to come. Sure enough, I woke up this morning to rain pounding on the tent and a more typical Mt. Rainier day of low clouds and steady rain. On a hunch, I packed up and made my way up to Paradise (5400’) and was overjoyed to end up in the first snowfall of the year! What a perfect day, even though I had to leave and return to the more mundane world of my normal existence. But for a brief moment, I was in heaven, O já!

Bumbershoot Rocks, O Ja!!!

I spent yesterday at the Seattle Folk Arts Festival and it was totally cool. It goes on for 4 days every Labor Day weekend, but I only went for the last day and it could not have been more perfect. The weather was great, the crowds huge (but fun), the mood festive, and the music fantastic. I started with The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, then on to Post Stardom Depression, The Decemberists, Dashboard Confessional, Aqueduct, Earlimart, Streb (a dance troupe), and closing out with Tegan and Sara (wayyy cool;-). Wow, 12 hours of running from one side of Seattle Center to the other, rocking with the bands, 4 hours of driving on each side of that, and having to go to work this morning! I will definitely be back next year, and for all 4 days. But for now I need just a little sleep so that tomorrow I can drive back over to the west side for a meeting Thursday and then spend a couple of days in the mountains. Well, sleep is for the dead, and I am not dead...yet;-)...vertu svalur y'all

Heim Aftur!!!

The retreat was a blast, the mountains beautiful and the comraderie was good, but it is nice to be home. Every night found me walking in the dark solitude of the mountains after midnight, while the rest of humanity slumbered. Have you ever spent an evening looking up at the heavens full of a million bright and beautiful stars and wondering if that special someone was looking up at the same sky, at the same time and thinking of you? I know that it is wistful thinking, but it is nice to dream that it might be possible, it does soothe an aching heart just a little and I found myself doing just that, each and every night. Ahh, the affairs of the heart are indeed those that form the milestones of our lives and the memory of these times shall keep my heart warm for an eternity...vertu svalur, y'all.

Mig Haldur Til Hið Fjöll

It is time for our annual retreat at Wallowa, Oregon with our school Superintendents. It is a long trip and the time away from our work this close to the start of school imposes a bit of a burden, but the fellowship and relationship-building makes it more than worth it for me. I also find it hard to compalin about spending a couple of days in the mountains, the scenery is beautiful, the weather quite a bit cooler and I do enjoy spending the time both with my fellow administrators as well as the administrative staff from our small schools...so, I will miss y'all until I return, but will enjoy the moment that I am in...vertu svalur
[Listening to: Scar - Missy Higgins - The Sound of White (03:32)]

Lance is Number One in His Seventh Win

(picture copywrited by and courtesy of Associated Press)

Jáhúú...Lance Armstrong has won his seventh Tour de France! I think that he is one of the most admirable and prominent people in the world today. His achievements, both as an athlete as well as a person, are nothing short of remarkable. I only hope that he really will retire this time and leave the sport as a true undefeated champion who is universally revered as the best cyclist of all time...vertu svalur, y'all!

Off to the Mountains...Jáhúú!!!

Well, it is time to get out of the heat down here in the flatlands and head for Mt. Rainier for the weekend. It promises to be an absolutley gorgeous weekend and I just might not come back;-)...vertu svalur

Everything that a material girl needs for her first driving lesson;-)

Look, Victoria is finally driving!

A Grand Day On The Mountain

John and I had a fantastic several days hiking and climbing on and around Mt. Rainier. Though it rained almost the entire time, we did manage to take advantage of a half-day window of good weather to climb up into the sunshine on the slopes. When we weren't on the slopes, we hiked the old-growth forests and enjoyed the spectacular scenery. I can not think of a much better way to spend a few days of one's life...vertu svalur, y'all

[Listening to: Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow - The Very Best of Sheryl Crow (04:53)]

On The Way Up to Muir

O já, nei leggja betri að vera á,fallegur dagur!

The Sun Is Always Shining Up Above The Clouds

...og John er á einu máli!
(OVAM, það er Mt. Adams að baki)

The Cookie Monster

On the way back from Mt. Rainier we were listening to some of my son's tunes and I heard Hate Breed for the first time, singing "I Will Be Heard" and I swear that he sounds just like the Cookie Monster! Listen to it and imagine, if you can, the CM singing that song...I know that we had a lot of fun plugging in cookie-words to the song;-) Now I know what Sesame Street characters do in their retirement...lol

[Listening to: 99 Red Balloons - Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons (03:53)]

Once Again to the Mountain

Well, we are off again to make the first climb of the season up Mt. Rainier, though probably only up to Camp Muir at 10,000 feet. The snowfields look to be great, though the weather might be a bit of a bother. No worries, we shall not let a little cold, wind and rain/snow deter us. Cya back at the bottom.

[Listening to: Number One - Skye Sweetnam - Noise from the Basement (02:44)]

Handtakur hinn Vindur...

...að færa ljós í dimma

Ajá af Botn...

...upp og upp (50 m)!

Söngur af Hugskot Minn

How deep runs the lonesome longing in my heart
Felt for someone barely known and now apart
In a far away land of fire and ice
Upon a warm and beautiful spirit I did happen
A goddess, green-eyed and tan, wrapped only in orange
Willing to share a bit of her life with this wayward voyager
The voice of her people, tempting images of her world
Cold and ruggedly beautiful, inviting and full of life
Strangely familiar, tugging at my soul
Worlds apart, still agonizingly near
A romantic walk along the streets of her home
In the depths of winter did warm my heart
Together in spirit though many leagues apart
O'er the ether her voice did to my ears then come
A lyrical and beckoning song that like spring
Breathed life and sunshine into my world
Touching the very depths of my soul
Then, like the spring, too soon departed
Taking her beauty and brightness
Yet leaving the sunshine and warmth
Of lasting friendship and memories
Comfort in the meeting of kindred spirits
Wonderfully alike, excitingly different
Their destiny written in the stars
Woven into the tapestry of the cosmos
No matter the morrow that the Fates decree
In my heart shall she forever dwell
This she-...

[Listening to: I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan - Mirrorball (03:44)]

Þökk að Hjartagóður Íslenzka Vinni Minn

I see where Bobby Fischer has finally arrived in Iceland to be greeted and embraced by his new countrymen. I want to thank my Icelandic friends for their compassionate gesture towards a great and deserving champion. I offer my best wishes to Mr. Fischer for a long, happy and peaceful life in this land of great beauty and warm people. I also hope that we can all put the bitterness and harsh words of the past behind us and perhaps better spend our energies looking more towards a bright and promising future. It is sad that too often we take ourselves so seriously that we deprive ourselves, and others, of the ability to enjoy a life that is all too short as it is. May we all find peace, love, and good health wherever life’s road takes us...vertu svalur

[Listening to: The Scientist - Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (05:09)]

Where Have All of the Flowers Gone?

What a waste it is,
That which we call work,
Who robs us of our lives,
Deluding us into believing,
That it is our life.
What a shame it is,
That we spend so much time,
Embracing such a thing,
While allowing our lives,
Through our fingers to slip,
Precious moments lost to time,
Never to return.
A curse upon civilized man,
A jealous and seductive mistress,
Green-eyed,
Controlling,
Enchanting,
Til we too late in life wake,
To find that too much is gone,
Too little left.
No peace in our souls,
No love in our hearts,
No flowers in our lives.
Only despair,
Loneliness,
and finally,
Mercifully,
Nothing...

[Listening to: Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (03:09)]

The State of the State

I find myself in our state's capitol preparing for the first annual user's conference for our student information system. I took advantage of having a free evening by walking around the lake that lies in the middle of the city of Olympia and in the shadow of the Capitol Building. The evening is cool, with the promise of frost by morning and I took note of the other citizens that were walking around the lake. There are the young couples, obviously in love and enjoying the anonymity of darkness and the solitude of the park at this late hour; there are the other fitness fanatics, running or walking in the cool night air, perhaps even taking a moment from their workout to enjoy the stars sparkling in the clear night sky or the inspiring view of the Capitol dome, incadescently lit and glowing in domination of the city skyline; then there are the all too many homeless individuals, carrying their belongings and searching in vain for some warmth in the gathering chill of night. It is this last group that I found the most striking, in that they did not consist of the stereotypical old, withered and socially outcast persons, but instead, young, bright, conversational adults in the prime of their years. I had the occasion to talk with two of them in the darker corners of the park and they were obviously intelligent and amiable individuals, seemingly eager for casual conversation with a passing stranger. I did not risk asking them about their circumstances for fear of dampening their ebullient mood, but I must confess my curiosity as to by what twist of fate or by what design that these promising young men should find themselves adrift from society. I do find it ironic that with all of our concern for the destiny of our youth, there are these young adults who obviously find themselves haven fallen through the cracks of our concern and yet no one is championing their return to society's mainstream...or perhaps they have no desire to rejoin our modern society...and, considering the current state of our society and its mores, can we really blame them? It does make one wonder, perhaps, which are the lost and which are the more fortunate...vertu svalur

Umptanum Canyon

We hiked six miles up Umptanum Canyon and back down on Sunday. It was a perfect day for hiking...cool and cloudy with no wind. The upper half of the canyon had snow on the ground and though it made for slippery footing at times, the snow made the trip a ot more fun. We had intended to hike out of the top and then the long way back along the Skyline trail on the ridge, but ran out of daylight in the short winter day, so we hiked back down the canyon. The hike began with us seeing a bald eagle soaring in the mouth of the canyon and it ended with us watching bighorn sheep grazing on the slopes above us. It was a great day and well worth driving a couple of hours for the hike, though next time it will be to the mountains...vertu svalur

[Listening to: Come on Eileen - Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ay [US Bonus Tracks] (04:48)]

"Catching" Andi Minn...Loksins

Við vinna ég finnast sem eg hafa been að eilífu! En, nú ég ert aftur...ég hugsa;-)

[Listening to: Green Eyes - Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (03:43)]

What A Heavenly Sight

The seemingly never ending fog of winter has given us a momentary respite from its white shroud and we are enjoying one of those too-rare days of deep, crystal-blue winter skies. The day transitioned to a beautifully calm evening, followed by a clear, dark, moonless night sky, like dark blue velvet sprinkled with a brilliant display of diamonds. Mighty Orion hangs overhead with his shield raised to the rampaging Taurus, his faithful canine companions at his heels, and regal Leo majestically padding along in their wake. O já, on nights such as this I could easily lose myself in the dark, cold depths of the winter heavens and let spring be held eternally in abeyance...vertu svalur

[Listening to: Standing Still - Jewel - This Way (04:31)]