Playing with my camera...

So, I just signed up for a class to learn to use PSE 8.. I am excited. I know I can do better with my picture taking.. but also know that PSE can help me fix some of my problems I do have.. :)

Here are some pics I have been taking playing with my new lens and polarized lens cap. ;)

Cascade Lakes Relay. Check.

Cascade Lakes Relay. Done. Check Check. The hardest thing I have ever done physically. Hands down. Give me childbirth any day. Well, atleast I prefer childbirth over the 3rd leg. That one hurt. Every step.

A few months back I joined a team from Kyle's work doing this relay. 216.2 miles, 12 people, over 36 hours. Each person runs 3 legs. I signed on. Legs 4, 16, and 28.

So, we arrived at Diamond Lake Lodge the night before (after a bit of a delay, but I won't dwell on that..) and instantly I was amazed at how BEEAUUUTiful it was there. I mean, wowza. I was ready to set up camp and stay there. Instead, my friend and I used some sweet talking to get us a free boat for an hour and we cruised the lake with another team member.





The next morning, it was rise and shine and head to the start line....


The course covered over 200 miles in the cascades and was amazing. It was fun, exhausting, frustrating and exhilarating. Here is my friend getting ready to run her leg.. I run right after her... :)


I ran my first leg, which was 7.1 miles on soft gravel, completely unassisted (no vans following or meeting with water) at about noon on day one. Hot and dry. The race guide stated there would be several water stations since it was unassisted and in the heat of day. They meant one. not several. ugh. Anyway, the leg got off to a rocky start when we did not get to the start line and ready before our runner arrive.... which means instead of getting to use the bathroom and get ready, i had to RACE to the start line and then run with a full bladder. I guess this was ok since there was not enough water on the leg, and my body needed to reabsorb the liquid. :) hahaha.
Either way, i finished.

In between legs we "rested" on the grass at Silver Lake.....

We couldn't sleep, so I taught a friend how to play Flux.

Then my next leg was at 1am. 6.7 miles in the dark in the middle of no where. i cannot tell you want the scenery was, as I could not see it. At first, the idea of running in the dark scared me.. but in truth, it was amazing. AND, there was a sign.... the moon was barely visible, so provided no light, but the stars were bright, huge, and amazing. it seemed we were so high we could almost touch them. And, right in my running path was the big dipper. it seemed I was running towards it my whole leg. (for those of you who do not know why this is important to me, go check out the Alaska state flag).

Ok, so finally we finish our night legs and about 5 am finds us trying to get 2 hours sleep in the La Pine high School gym..... then it was up and time for our last leg. uh. really?

Exhausted but determined, I began my 3rd leg at about noon on Saturday (yes, my birthday...). Much to my delight, Kyle and the girls had showed up to cheer me on.... this leg, was 6.1 miles and 500 foot elevation gain. argh. Every step was an effort. I must say, it was the worst 6 miles I have ever run. I could not find a good stride that did not hurt... and I could not get into a rhythm. Instead, I just kept going. it was not fast, was not pretty... but I did cross that finish line.

..then we had to wait for all our legs to finish so we could cross the final finish line as a team... I have to say, for me, this was bittersweet as we did not really finish as a team. In order to finish on time, we had to cut out 3 legs of the run. Whats done is done, but in the end, it sorta leaves me a bit sad. I have my medal and shirt, and know I finished my legs.. but as a team, we did not finish.



Hmm... will i have to repeat to fix this????

36 years later...

Happy Birthday to Me!! 36 years. You know, it is funny, after my 21st Birthday, it seems I have not really paid much attention to the number. Often, when I am asked my age, I have to think about it, because it really does not matter much. I was not the person who stressed about turning 30 or 35.. (will 40 cause me to pause??)..... and each year seems to bring such new adventures that I do not dwell on the number, rather the journey.

36. That is a lot of years and days and minutes, and where has it all gone??? I can start to list all the "standout" memories if you will.... but it seems boring and unnecessary... Rather, I am going to spend some time thinking about what I am thankful for and what areas of my life I am not living in the way I would like. For example, patience. Ahh.. that sweet word. In this year, I plan to work on demonstrating more patience..... God. I also plan to talk to God more, and let Him continue to give me the strength and guidance as I approach each new day. Family. I love my family. I want to show them each day that they are important.

I do not know what this year will bring.. but I know with my family, God and friends at my side, it will be filled with laughter, love and blessings....

Happy Anniversary

So, my hubby and I celebrated 10 years of marriage this past month.. and to surprise me, he made reservations for us to go on a 3 day sea kayak tour out of the the San Juan Islands...

I have always wanted to go sea kayaking with the orcas... but Kyle has always said he thought it was a bad idea (he compared it to dressing up like their dinner...)

None the less... we are going. without the girls. (This will be our first time that we will have left them without either of us).

Here is where we will be staying at night...


here is what we will be doing during the day...


This is what I am dreaming of...


or this.. (minus the little human in the middle)


Are you jealous yet? I am so excited. i will take pictures for you.

Triathlon... FINISHER

I did it.. :) (well I did it two months ago, but just getting to the post..) it may not have been as pretty as I would have liked.. but I did it... I have to be honest, I was out of sorts with the swim, but loved the bike ride, and then took a whole mile of the run before my feet did not feel like they were stuck in cement..



My goal was 2 hours, and I came in way under that.. but learned a few valuable lessons..
1. your transition times can kill you.
2. no kids in the transition area. slows you down.
3. do not get in swim lane with crazy man who cannot swim straight.
3b. oh, and practice circle swimming.. lots.
4. it does matter what kind of bike you have.. i ended up using Kyle's because he was sick and what a difference.. his bike rocked!!
5. I need to figure out the the trick to making your legs work when you start the run. :)
Yep, i am planning to do it again next year... :)

my cheerleaders.. :)

Farewell Oprah

So, I will admit that this year I did record Oprah's farewell Season.. now, many of the days I did not watch, or only watched parts. (I love DVRs.. fast forward, rewind, delete...)...

And, as the time drew near for the big finale, I was excited to see what would happen. Now, the final three days were interesting... and the two "shows" leading up to the last show were certainly a party filled with Who's who in Oprah's life.... but then the final show... what did you think? Oprah's Love Letter to Us? I actually liked it. I liked the simplicity. I liked that it was just her. Ok,it seems silly to write about it, but there were a few points that really made me stop and think... or reaffirmed what I have felt and said all my life.

One of the main points that I focused on was that we need to find our purpose in life and get busy doing it. This is so true.... Now, not all of us will be blessed to do get paid for our passion or purpose, but we all have a choice to still pursue it. If everyone did this to some degree, we would all be a much more content, productive and passionate people...

Worthiness. Another topic that she mentioned that I found interesting given my background and my counseling degree was the concept that much of hurt and anger comes from a feeling of unworthiness. I do think that there are a lot of people out there who do not know their worth, who do not feel special, loved, or needed. They may not even know it. When someone is hurting, and you get to the root of the problem, it likely is because whatever happened resulted in them not feeling of worth. Wow. Now, how to address this as a society so folks can get on with living and spend less time doing self destructive behaviors...

God. It was the first time I had ever really heard Oprah talk so openly about God and it was very touching. God has a hand in all we do, and the sooner we recognize this, and allow Him to guide us, protect us, and love us... the sooner we can help Him by guiding, protecting and loving others. What a different world we would live in if all of us truly felt the love of God and His love for us....

Hmmm... For some reason, I have been thinking a lot about these things and thought that perhaps by writing down the thoughts I can begin using them to help strengthen me.

new toys..

I recently got a new lens for my camera.. and want to play with it, but my subjects have not been cooperative and life has gotten very hectic.. a few times I have been able to enjoy...

but soon, my friend. very soon.