lazyeye

It's a....

2012-02-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

new bike.

I figure it has been 3 years since I bought a new bike, so I'm overdue. My last bike was the first custom frame I've ever had and was really a revelation in that I finally feel comfortable on my bike. I've always made do with stock frames that really weren't large enough for me. I feel somewhat normal riding that frame. It is a road touring frame that I use for commuting, and hopefully for a short tour late this Spring. The bike above is obviously a hard tail mountain bike that better fits my style of XC trail riding than the full suspension frame I have now. I also suspect having the right size frame will make a difference in my comfort for longer rides. I have visions of bike packing and finally using the Revelate Designs seat bag and handlebar bag I have this Summer. The above drawing is just for the preliminary design and doesn't show the shaped tubing that will be used for the down tube and top tube or the tapered head tube. If all goes well I should have my hands on it by the end of March or early April. Congratulations to me!

New Years Day Ride

2012-01-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

A few years ago the Big Rock/Rocks of Sharon area was made a conservation area, abutting the Iler Creek conservation area. I'm not up on all the details, but there is supposed to be access to the area via Steven's Creek Rd, off Palouse Highway. I tried finding the access point a couple years ago and realized that it wasn't quite ready. A log was pulled across the last part of the road to the parking area on the south side of the mountain and I knew that while some trail work had been undertaken by the Mountaineers, the approaches were still basically erosion ruts.

We've hiked Iler Creek several times and have enjoyed the reward of the view of the Palouse at the top, but from where we live you have to drive all the way around Tower Mountain to access the trail, which is frustrating when you look at a map and see how close we are to the west and south approaches.

I've long wanted to ride up Steven's Creek Rd, bypass the log barrier, and find a rideable trail to the top. On New Years afternoon, perhaps a little too late in the afternoon, I decided it was time. Rather than head to Steven's Creek, however, I thought I'd save a little time and trespass up Tower Mountain Rd. I still feel guilty about ignoring the sign plastered all over the road, but I did it. And in a way, karma got me.

The route

I made it to the top just as the sun was setting. Exploring a new area in the dark didn't seem like a great idea and I thought about just bombing back down the road I came up, but then I'd have to trespass again. So with the hubris of the new year I found my way east along the ridge to Big Rock and beyond, picked a promising trail, and pointed my wheel down hill.

And it was nearly straight down, with a deeply cut erosion rut in the middle. My knuckles got tired, my brake pads were thin, and I was getting cold. I almost went over the handle bars more than once or twice. But I eventually made it down to the parking area, turned on my lights, and headed home. Even if not entirely successful, it was a good little adventure to get the year started off right. And perhaps next time I'll exit out the Iler Creek trail and find my way back via Dishman-Mica. Hmmm.

Early Winter So Far

2011-12-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

Vanessa and I skinned up Mt. Spokane twice. Once the week before Thanksgiving when it was cold, snowing, and powdery.

And once in early December when high pressure was sitting on top of us for weeks. Inversion provided blue bird conditions (although crap snow) on the mountain with freezing fog in town.

Vanessa has made me a fan of "jumping" photos. Humor us.

Obligatory panorama.

I took the kids to see a few movies over the holidays. This is from a prop in the lobby.

I gave a boring lecture to Nurse Practitioners at the Davenport. This was a foreboding decoration that served as distraction.

We forced our children to hike up to Big Rock via Iler Creek. They hated it.

I loved it.

Spokane trails always have car wrecks.

I noticed this sign on High Drive recently. I'm always riding the opposite direction on my commute so I've never noticed it before. I suspect it has been there for some time. I like it, though I'm uncertain what it really means.

Emmy turned 12. I feel old.

I finally made it up West Willow Peak. Funny story. I set out solo, got my car stuck, then met some nice guys who saved me and led me up the mountain. There is some nice powder out there.

North Idaho Winter Sunset on the way home. I never get tired of views like this.

I ventured solo up Mt. Spokane and yo yo-ed off the back side a few times last week. There was a surprising amount of powder to be had despite the weeks of high pressure and minimal snowfall.

The new AT setup is serving me well. Still getting used to my heel being locked down.

Beautiful sky and frosty trees.

Skin track.

Merry Christmas!!

South Africa 2011

2011-10-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

During the last week of September and the first week of November we made the long journey to South Africa. My parents are on a mission there so we went to visit and see some of the country. It was the furthest from home any of us had ever been and was truly an adventure and educational experience. Here are photos:

Ansel standing in Regina Mundi, Soweto--the church central to the 1976 protests

Nelson Mandela's house/museum in Soweto, Johannesburg

Walls in historical photo exhibit, Rengina Mundi

Street in the Hillbrow neighborhood, Joburg

Not a lot of bikes and limited public transportation

We left the city shortly after we arrived and headed to the northeastern part of the country where there is a large national park and many private game reserves. We enjoyed a 4 day safari--which means we rode around in the back of a modified truck looking for wild animals. We toured in at least two different private game reserves and Kruger national park.

One of the safari trucks

One of the safari vans

Waterfall to the right of center.

Roadside giraffe

White rhinos

Nonplussed lion

More rhinos

Emmy

Ansel

Tame/wild cheetah at a game lodge

More rhinos. Their horns were cut to discourage poachers

Cape buffalo

Red-billed horn bill

Wow, more rhinos

African sunset

Monkeys in the trees above our cottage

V and sleepy kids, driving in the safari truck

Photo safari in action

African elephant

African clouds at sunset

Green acacia

It was surprisingly fun. Seeing animals in a zoo will never be the same. On the way back to the city we drove over the Drakensburg mountains and stopped at Blyde River Canyon and the three Rondavels. I usually plan the details of our trips by poring over maps and reading books and searching the internet. This time I didn't do hardly any planning and our safari was a package deal where transportation was provided. It was nice not to have the stress of driving, but I didn't like not knowing exactly where I was. More and more I find that knowing place and geography is important to me. But wherever it was, it was a nice view.

The kids at a road side souvineer stand

My Dad snapping photos of the view

We made our way back to Johannesburg and stayed for a couple days before heading to Capetown.

Crazy police vehicle that is parked near my parents' building

We walked around Soweto a little bit on Sunday afternoon

We flew down to Capetown for a week. The country is surprisingly large, making driving impractical for the short amount of time we had. We arrived around noon and went straight to Table Mountain. Apparently it is on the short list for one of the new seven natural wonders of the world. Sounds like some sort of tourism scheme to me, but it is a beautiful place nonetheless. We rented a car and I did the driving, which was another adventure as they only like manual transmissions and they drive on the left. All in all I did pretty well save one or two instances.

Downtown Capetown from the Table Mountain hillside

I hiked one of the many trails to the top and met everyone else, who took to gondola, at the top.

Looking south to Camp's Bay from Table Mountain

Fun playing on the rocks

Ansel above Capetown

The Cable Mountain Gondola, takes you straight to the top

Clifton Bay

Camp's Bay beach with the Twelve Apostles behind

We stayed in Capetown proper for two nights before heading down the peninsula and the southern Cape.

The Castle, oldest building in South Africa

Capetown City Hall

St. George's Cathedral, where Desmond Tutu was Archbishop

Incidentally, Bono was in Capetown while we were there to celebrate Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu's birthday. Vanessa could feel his presence.

Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront

Sign on V&A Waterfront

Clifton Bay

Reading on Camp's Bay beach

We headed south and stopped in Hout Bay. We enjoyed a short boat ride to Duiker Island, which is a small island with a large colony of South African fur seals. We also had some really good seafood that was cooked in a shovelful of butter.

Hout Bay panorama

Noordhoek beach

We found a very cozy hotel in a small village called Noordhoek. We stayed there a couple days and made short trips to other beaches and the south Cape.

The Sentinel, at the mouth of Hout Bay

The boogie bus, Hout bay via New Mexico

African Penguins on Boulder beach

Sand lines, Noordhoek

Playing with grandpa, Noordhoek

Map of the Cape

Southern Cape

Cape of Good Hope

Elephant Eye cave

Vanessa and I hiked up to this cave one late afternoon.

Looking east from Elephant Eye Cave

The last night in Capetown we stayed at a bed and breakfast in Muizenberg, a nice beach town on the False Bay side of the peninsula.

Surfer's Corner, Muizenberg. Red flag means shark sighting

Ansel loved jumping from the railings of these bright dressing shacks

Emmy joined in

Fynbos

All in all it was time well spent visiting with my parents and seeing someplace completely new. We dabbled in the culture somewhat, learning more about the brutal history of the place and seeing firsthand some of the major problems still facing the rainbow nation. Ansel and I got turned on to rugby as the World Cup was taking place in New Zealand and the Springboks (the South African team mascot) were the defending champions--people everywhere were wearing their jerseys on game day. The food wasn't amazing, or even all that foreign, though we did have a few traditional African dishes and an authentic English breakfast. We did talk to a few locals, especially in Capetown, and Vanessa had a good time photographing interesting people. I would certainly go back as there are many beautiful places still to see, and possibly hike, along the southern coast/Eastern Cape.

Summer Picture Dump

2011-10-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

This summer I had more time off than I've had in a long time. We took advantage of the time and got outside. I selected just over 100 photos below to show what we've done:

Two weeks in Southern Utah--we hit the road literally right after the bell rang on the last day of school.

Lower Emerald Pool, Zion

Great bend from the trail to Hidden Canyon, Zion

Cable Mountain, Zion

Blooming cactus, East Rim, Zion

Towards Echo Canyon from the East Rim, Zion

Father's Day morning, awesome kids

The Subway, Left Fork of the Virgin River, Zion

On the way to the Subway

Shelf Canyon Narrows, Zion

Grafton, ghost town

At the entrance to an unnamed slot, Petroglyph Canyon, Zion

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon, from the west

Red Canyon single track, near Bryce

Bryce Canyon heat

More Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon panorama

Silent City, Bryce Canyon

Wall Street, Bryce Canyon

Bull Valley Gorge, Escalante Grand Staircase

Bull Valley Gorge Narrows

Old truck, wedged like a chokestone, Bull Valley Gorge

Bull Valley Gorge

Willis Creek, Escalante Grand Staircase

Calf Creek Falls

View from Boulder Mountain, looking south east to the Henry Mountains (Butch Cassidy country) and Escalante

Hanksville gas station-convenience store cave

Goblin Valley

Sunset in Goblin Valley, children and truck

Rafting break on the Colorado River, Moab

Slickrock at 99 degrees, Moab

Slickrock

Landscape Arch, Arches

Partition Arch, Arches

Ansel

Under double "O" Arch, Arches

Double "O" Arch panorama

Swimming, Moab

Alligator rock, from the Slickrock trail

Early morning Slickrock ride

Delicate Arch, Arches

Delicate Arch panorama

Briefly back home in Spokane:

Baby birds in our neighbor's orchard

Solo weekend hiking up to the Great White North. Lots of snow in mid July:

Kokanee Lake, Kokanee Glacier PP

On the hike to Lake Kaslo, Kokanee Glacier PP

Interesting snow and slush along the trail

Proof I was there

Kokanee Lake panorama

The streets of Nelson, BC

Breakfast at El Oso Negro, Nelson BC

The orange bridge, Nelson, BC

Signage on the road to Whitewater

Passing through Ymir, BC

View of the Selkirk crest to the east of Grassy Top Mountain

On the trail to Grassy Top, so I know I was there

Grassy Top Mountain panorama

Road side debris, south of Lake Sullivan WA

Clouds lining up over the Selkirk Crest

Back to Spokane:

Blooming hens and chicks in the backyard

Break during a family ride on the Centennial Trail

Savanna mid ride

Late July attempt on Mt. Rainier. Unfortunately the weather didn't allow us to get to the summit:

The climber's lodge at Paradise, Mt. Rainier

Near panorama point, Mt. Rainier

Looking down the Muir snowfield, Mt. Rainier

The public lodge, Camp Muir, Mt. Rainier

Climbing crew about to leave Camp Muir

Camp Muir panorama, northeast side

Camp Muir panorama, southwest side

Back to Spokane for a few days:

Ansel having fun with cell phone, downtown Spo'

V on the hillside at home

Off to Sandpoint:

Wolf People, on the way to Sandpoint

Savanna's turn

Wolf pup

Sandpoint

Freedom at City Beach, Sandpoint

Wearing Ansel's wet t-shirt for $3

Trouble riding, Schweitzer

Pend O'reille

Pend O'reille from Green Monarch

Ansel at City Beach, Sandpoint

Back home on the Palouse:

Second half of the Midnight Century course, pre-ride

Post Midnight Century

Celebrating 15 years together, with Josh Ritter as 3rd wheel

Local fun:

Mid August huckleberry picking, unusually late, Mt. Spokane

Camping near Trout Lake, Kettle Range WA

Emerald Lake, Kettle Range WA

Moss mustache

Scotchman Peak, ID

Obligatory solo hike documentation, Scotchman Peak, ID

Resident mountain goats, Scotchman Peak

Scotchman Peak panorama

Peak bagged

Late August Mt. Adams hike and ski:

Mt. Adams

Lunch Counter campsite, Mt. Adams

Mt. Adams

Evening mountain shadow, Mt. Adams

Sunrise on summit, Mt. Adams

Home for a day:

Stormy sunset from the backyard, Spokane

Back to Canada:

On the way to Lake Drummond, Valhallas BC

Emmy, Lake Drummond

On the trail, Valhalla PP

Campsite at Drummond Pass, Valhalla PP

Freeze dried dinner in the rain, Valhalla PP

Devil Range panorama, Valhalla PP

Gwillim Lakes basin panorama, Valhalla PP

On the way down, Valhalla PP

Back to school:

Mona Ansel

Mona Savanna (last day of the DaVinci exhibit, NW MAC)

Spokefest 2011 Crew

Duncan garden in full bloom, late summer Spokane

Duncan Garden

Savanna at back to school night

My excuse for not blogging more regularly this summer? See above.

The Midnight Century

2011-08-10T01:26:00.001-07:00

I finally took the plunge this year and rode, after watching past years come and go (as part of my 'participate in community events' initiative for 2011-see previous post about Bloomsday). Anyway, I had a great ride despite the sleepless, anxiety riddled day before. I don't know why I let the darkness and odd time of day worry me. After all I have plenty of experience riding in the dark and staying up overnight.

I teamed up with a friend from work and two of his friends who are avid cyclists. I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep up as they both had pretty good riding resumes and I had a little trouble with cramping up when I pre rode the second half of the course the week before in the heat of a summer afternoon.

The roll out through downtown was fun as the nearly 40 riders crowded the right lane, fracturing into smaller groups at red lights. Our team of four hit the centennial trail and quickly organised into an efficient paceline. I'm used to riding alone so drafting 3/4 of the time made for a nearly effortless 22mile ride to the Idaho state line.

As we headed south and began to climb it became clear that Joe, one of the stronger riders in our group, wasn't feeling too good. A sore throat and chills/fever were creeping up on him. By the time we got to the end of Linke Rd he was starting to fall back. Fortunately we had some ibuprofen which he took and started to recover a bit. I can only imagine how rotten he felt. At that hour I'm sure I would have been on the phone giving my wife directions where to pick me up.

We continued on and eventually regrouped at the top of Bruna. I led the descent with Joe right behind. I saw his light right behind me until the ascent on Excelsior so I stopped to regroup again. He quickly caught me and we waited and chatted for about 5 minutes until we realised the others weren't coming.

After a phone call we learned that Matt had taken a good hit on the initial descent off Bruna and had a characteristic lump on his shoulder--AC separation. It happened quickly but sounds like his front wheel got caught in a rut and sent him over the side and augered his shoulder into the gravel. We rode back and grouped at the side of the road, painfully watching group after group of riders pass as we waited for Matt's wife to come to the rescue. Matt was riding really strong and it was really sad to see him holding his arm in pain, done for the night. The guy had torn up the centennial trail on his mountain bike with three road bikes barely holding on to his wheel. At the time of his accident we were on a solid sub 7 hour pace--and I'm certain he could have gone even faster. But no matter, we were in to finish the ride and enjoy the group atmosphere and it was a bummer that he wasn't going to be able to continue.

After an hour and 15 minutes of shivering and watching the first light of the morning, Matt's wife found us, loaded his bike, and drove him to the ER. The official word is a grade III AC separation. He is in a sling for a while but will hopefully heal quickly. And it goes without saying (though I'm saying it) that he'll be there next year to finish the job (unless the early morning phone call has his wife thinking differently-which also goes without saying).

Anyway, we eventually continued in earnest, passing a few groups as we went. We refilled water at Dunn road with a stash of water I left the day before. I wouldn't have bothered if I knew someone was going to leave all those bottles of water further down the road--a really nice surprise. If I was a nicer person I would have done the same. I also left a bag of chips that tasted really really good when we made a stop in Spangle.

The rest of the ride went quickly as we weathered the gravel, washboard sections, and climb up Spangle Creek. I must admit that my legs felt surprisingly good and stomping along the gravel roads really started to grow on me--totally different than either a smooth and fast road ride or a rocky rutted technical trail ride. The gravel suits me since I tend to enjoy long, gradual climbs that require a moderate, sustained effort, be they asphalt or dirt.

We made it to the Fish Lake trailhead where Joe had his final dilemma--ride to his home in Cheney and get to his sick bed sooner, or finish what he started. Again, it goes without saying so I won't bother.

We made it back to the Elk without too much trouble and enjoyed a nice snack at Tully's before heading home.

What a unique ride. It was really a lot of fun and I really appreciate the rogue, grassroots nature of the event. A real no nonsense cyclists' challenge.

Solo bike and hike

2011-07-11T08:39:00.001-07:00

I finally took a solo trip up to Fault Lake, along the Selkirk Crest. 12 miles roundtrip. The first 4 miles in are on an old, overgrown logging road that is bikable. It's not the best quality single track, but it is a lot quicker--especially on the way out which is when my knees usually start hurting.

Some highlights below:

Crossing McCormick Creek.

Looking downstream.

Approaching the Selkirk crest.

Crossing Gunsight Creek.

Hunt Peak.

Hiking in subalpine snow.

Waterfall draining from Fault Lake.

Frozen Fault Lake with Hunt Peak looming above.

A nice snag.

Granite with veins.

Above the lake.

On the ridge above the lake for a closer look at Hunt Peak and fresh Spring avy debris on it's north slope.

Looking over the ridge into the next drainage, McCormick Lake.

Lunch spot on the ridge.

Abundant glacier lilies.

The ride out was nice and quick.

Ankle veins. I'm getting old.

Panorama.

Not bad for a weekend day when I have to work the evening shift.

Downtown

2011-07-07T22:08:00.001-07:00

I walked some errands downtown yesterday. One major use I've enjoyed with my iPhone is the nicer camera and infinite photo apps. When I'm not working, I tend to grab photos of things that look interesting. Here are some from yesterday.

Yes that last one is melting snow in front of an ice company warehouse.

I was also impressed with this woman.

I've seen another guy riding in town with a prosthetic leg. Impressive and inspiring.

In other matters, I've just returned from a 3 week vacation. I will post gratuitous photos soon.

Mountain Bike to Work Week

2011-05-25T01:56:00.001-07:00

In commemoration of bike-to-work week, and with the timely arrival of some downright decent Spring weather, I decided to start riding the bluff trails to work on my mountain bike when working downtown. Here is how it looked at 6:30 am the other morning:

I have no idea why I never did this before. I think my riding over the past year has become more and more utilitarian with longer and longer gaps between recreational rides. I've made a real effort to ride as many days as my schedule will allow, with the belief that regular 15 to 25 mile rides will get me in better shape than less frequent 30 to 40 mile rides. I don't know if this notion is true, but anecdotally I think I can tell a difference (of course I really haven't defined what "better shape" is, so who knows). Riding singletrack every morning and evening, however, has brought the joy of riding back front and center. I had so much fun last week that I've continued this week despite working overnight. Here is how the trails looked at 8 pm on the way to work:

Magical.

Here is a shot of the 4:30 am Spokane sunrise in May--something I enjoy almost as much as the exploding, native Balsamroot that is all over right now.

Staying up all night is good mental training for the Midnight Century, which I've convinced at least one friend to undertake with me this year.

A week ago I actually took a recreational ride and finally found the trail along the Spokane river between the cemetery on Government Way and the T.J. Meenach bridge. It had nearly reached "legendary" status in my mind since I had heard whisperings of its existence for years, but never had the fortitude to actually find it. I just happened to pass some bikers who boldly passed a "No Trespassing" sign just off the road, seconds after I paid heed to the same sign and stayed on the pavement. I reluctantly followed as I tend to respect such signs, and finally discovered the thread-like shoreline trail. I can't claim it was the most fun singletrack in the area, but it does get you from downtown to Riverside in a more interesting way. I doubt I'll ride it very often, but it's nice to know it's there. And I can't believe how many times I passed it's northern terminus without even thinking,"gee, what's over here?"

Bloomsday and Beyond

2011-05-06T17:20:00.001-07:00

Before:

After:

We had a surprisingly good time last weekend as rookie "bloomies". I think V was so high on endorphins at the end of the run that she was thinking about running home, getting the kids, and doing it again. I would have considered joining her if I thought it would have kept my quads from cinching down like a corset.

Instead we went home, got the kids, and headed out on a waterfall hunt. This time we went to the southeastern shore of Lake Roosevelt to see Hawk Creek Falls. This is a somewhat bashful waterfall, wedged in a tight corner of its namesake canyon. Hard to get a really stunning photo as a result.

The falls had plenty of water spilling over its top, running along it's creekbed and into the lake. The lake, however, was at it's annual low having been drawn down in anticipation of a generous Spring runoff.

It was nice to feel hot and dry as we wandered the sandy lakebed.

On the way back we stopped at Fort Spokane, something I've wanted to do for some time. It was interesting to think about life at the fort 115 years ago but sad to think about life there 104 years ago when it was a compulsory school for Native children. I always find it satisfying to experience more of our local history. This was a photo for Savanna's 7th grade social studies/geography/Washington State History class:

They are supposed to get photos of different places while holding a can of SPAM (maps spelled backward). We didn't have any on hand but will have to play with photoshop later.

We stopped at a small store/restaurant/gas station to get something to drink on the way home. I appreciated the exclusivity that comes from living in a small town.

If only my first name was Robert, I'd be golden.

Overall, it was a good day trip to start the season of family adventure.

When Man and Nature meet...

2011-04-28T11:17:00.001-07:00

nature always loses. I saw these flattened worms across miles of road on my run the other morning. I'd say they were suicidal if I believed they knew or were capable of understanding what their instinctive drive to surface in the moisture would have resulted in. It reminded me of seeing a young duckling folded under the front wheel of a car as I rode to work last Spring. I think it had lost it's mother in the very same road minutes earlier and was running in circles as I approached. Rather than run to the safety of the shoulder and river below, it headed out onto the highway just as a car came speeding from behind. I've seen my fair share of roadkill, but was involved with more than my fair share last year--the most significant being the elk I mortally wounded with my truck on the way to Mt. Rainier. I hope this year I see nothing more than flattened worms. I'm sure there is a life metaphor in here somewhere but I am inclined not to explore it (which may also be metaphorical, sheesh).

Anyway, the key bit of information here is that I was running, which is a rare event. However, in a bid to more fully enjoy our community I have decided to run Bloomsday this year and have been getting in a few miles of training (we have now lived here for 10 years and have never even watched the race). I have come to appreciate how much easier cycling is on your body. My calves are sore and my left hip hurts, causing me to hobble like the middle aged slob that I am. I'm hoping I'll heal a bit by this weekend and that I don't get lost amongst the 50,000 other "worms" running the race.

To further quell the gloomy mood at the beginning of this post, here is a photo of Ansel mid Easter egg safari last weekend and a photo of newly hung drywall in our basement.

There, that feels better.

Celebrating Spring

2011-04-20T15:18:00.001-07:00

Seems like this time of year, nearly every year, I hear complaints of Spring's late arrival. Of course, despite the abundance of rain and snow, Spring, like every other year, is, in fact, right on time. People just have short memories and start to confuse Spring with Summer.

Personally, I like how distinct Spring is at our northern latitude. It's unpredictable and exciting and builds anticipation for the easy warmth of Summer.

In celebration of Spring's arrival, and to reconnect with one another, we kidnapped our grumbling children, dragged them from their Winter hovels, and went for a walk. First we headed to my favorite place to walk in Riverside State Park, Deep Creek. The geology is fascinating, picturesque, and uniquely "Spokane" (and I'm not talking about the random pockets of garbage, which may not be unique to Spokane alone). Then we stopped downtown to admire the full force of Spokane Falls. I never tire of staring at the Spring runoff, hurtling down the falls, imagining what it must have looked like 100 years ago (and eons before that) as a wild river with salmon and nothing around but trees and grass.

I took some time to take photos and video, and even tried to do a little whizbang editing.

Ansel with indisputable evidence:

V taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. Photo-recluse Savanna is behind her.

Lazy afternoon, my favorite kind.

Emmy afloat in the waves of basalt near Deep Creek.

Looking up the Deep Creek Canyon. Good practice for Southern Utah this Summer.

The purple gondola.

A great and familiar landmark.

The base of the Monroe Street Bridge.

Mist and sunlight go well together.

Ansel climbing the "tooth" in Riverfront park. What a great kid.

City hall ivy.

Upriver with rainbow.

Back home on our hillside the glacier lilies are in full force.

Trying the calamari at the new Ciao Mambo.

Finally, a quick video. My attempt to capsulize the power of the river in the Spring so I can enjoy it the other 11 months.

Regrettably, many times the seasons pass without taking time to savor and appreciate them. This year at least, I can say I enjoyed Spring.

More Winter Adventure

2011-03-02T23:36:00.000-08:00

I finally got out into the backcountry with some friends last week. The weather was great and the snow was nearly perfect. A couple of us spent the night at a little cabin and skied the next day as well.

Zealots.

Looking west.

Lunch and map break.

The crew refueling.

Navigating.

The shelter.

Snow Peak from the shelter.

The south end of the ridge.

Getting beta on the east side.

Southeast view.

Drying hut.

Roasting.

Sundown.

Front door.

Sunrise.

On the trail to the peak.

Wind load on the eastern slope.

Looking north from the top.

Another look to the west.

Monday I skied at Lookout Pass in nearly 3 feet of new snow. First time I've skied in snow that deep--above my knees. The terrain at Lookout isn't too steep, which made getting down a bit more of a challenge. The trails on chair 3 were loads of fun, with heavy snow filling tracks before you could get around for another lap. I think I've officially caught the bug with the late season rally of snow we've been having.

3 Days of Snow

2011-01-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

I worked the night shift over the week between Christmas and New Years, finally finishing the morning of January 2nd. It was a hard week. I did not sleep well knowing there were piles of light new snow and sunshine outside that everyone else was enjoying while I was banished to the darkness of the long December night.

But Sunday afternoon, after finishing a deserved post work nap, there was still some blue sky left.

We took the kids to explore Hog Canyon which contains a lake and a nice step waterfall at its north end. The lake and waterfall are frozen right now making it an even more interesting trip.

We had never been there before, so it was a nice mini adventure reading about it and searching it out. The lake is south west of town about 30 miles, about the perfect distance for a bike camping destination in the warmer months.

Monday school began for the kids. V and I dropped them off and headed up to Mt. Spokane where we hit the cross country trails. It lightly snowed as we made our way around Quartz mountain. After stretching our legs and working up an appetite, we got reacquainted over Thai food downtown.

Then today we mixed things up a bit and, after dropping the kids at school, headed to the east end of Lake Couer d'Alene. Mineral Ridge is well known as a Winter nesting area for bald eagles, and it didn't disappoint as we took in a hike around the hill side.

We spotted at least 20 bald eagles, some perched in trees, some swooping graciously over the lake, and a few with catches of fish. V did a better job of documenting them with photos than I did.

Then we enjoyed another lunch at a bistro in Couer d'Alene I can't remember the name of as it seemed I was dreaming as I ate...

I'm sure we'll have another thawing rain soon, clearing the highway shoulders so tentative winter cyclists like myself can ride again.

Bringing in Winter on Mica Peak

2010-11-13T22:27:00.000-08:00

Harwood and I decided to finally make it to the top of Mica Peak, regardless of weather. I'm not sure if it was a bike ride or a hike. Either way, I'm calling it epic.

Harwood has lived off the western ridge of Mica for a year and attempted to find his way to the top once last summer but the maze of fire roads, deer trails, and no trespassing signs stopped him. We started up the road with the idea of finding a trail that would take us to the top. We made progress up the mountain through some brutal-at-times bushwhacking, but finally relented and found a spur road that led us back to the main summit road.

The route as tracked by the GPS that got us there and back:

<a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/spokane/678128970953058190">Micah Peak Slog</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/united-states/wa/spokane">Find more Bike Rides in Spokane, Washington</a>

We both embraced the cold and wet, deciding that the adventure was much better than being warm, dry, and bored at home.

Going up was the easy part.

Obligatory summit photos so that we can prove we made it:

We lamented that with all the clouds and snow we couldn't enjoy the view and headed down quickly. By the time we were below snow level we were shivering under a crust of ice with useless, block-like hands and feet. We stopped to try to warm up but only succeeded in getting soaked to the bone and tasted the grit in our teeth from the fenderless slog back to Harwood's house. All in all a morning well spent.

Warming up in the car, documenting the dirt on my face:

Looking all of my 38 years in this one.

The consensus is that next Spring/Summer we ride the road to the top and do recon on the way down to find an all dirt route back to Harwood's.

A parting shot of how my large mountain bike barely squeezes onto the rack:

Now onto my next "great idea".

Bicycle Photo Exhibit

2010-10-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd mention that the Adventure Cycling touring photo exhibit entitled "Bicycle Eclectic" is scheduled to come to Spokane. It will be at the Chase Gallery in City Hall, opening Nov. 5, and will be on display until sometime in December. Hopefully this post will remind me to get there and see it.

Manly projects

2010-10-07T22:43:00.001-07:00

Our garage recently got awesomer.

And we finally replaced our flimsy, post theft mailbox (the postal person left us a little hatemail note saying we had to).

Artsy tiltshift generator version.

And last weekend I burned a gallon of gas in my chainsaw cutting up downed wood--fuel for the coming winter.

All of these projects qualify for the "jabronie" manly seal of approval. Technically speaking, a task qualifies only if it involves a chainsaw, outdoor gear of some sort, or mixing cement. Job done, done, and done.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:E Hangman Ln,Spokane,United States

The Route of the Hiawatha

2010-09-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

The last in this series of videos, this is the third year in a row we've done this family ride. First time I have ridden the shuttle back to the top--I definitely prefer riding up, but being with the family is nice. This was on August 21st, 2010, the 100 year anniversary of "The Big Burn"--a huge fire in North Idaho and Montana that wiped out millions of acres of white pine and altered the U.S. forest service practices. Another fun trip.

Climbing Mt. Adams

2010-09-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

A day after the Mt. Timp hike I flew home and went on this trip (July 2010). This is mostly slideshow with only one video. This one was actually edited on my iphone with the same ReelDirector App. Amazing. All the photos and video were acquired with a cell phone, and then the video was edited and music imported on the same phone. I do like iMovie on my laptop better, however. Previewing and checking sound levels is much easier. You can get the timing of the edits down better--not that I need to do much of that with these family videos, but it is much faster on the laptop. Sigh, a great trip.

Mt. Timpanogos Hike

2010-09-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Another video from a hike this past July while visiting Utah. I started mixing photos and video on this one. I actually made this one on my iPad with a program called ReelDirector. Not too bad.

Weekend in the West Kootenay

2010-09-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd add a few videos that I edited recently. Gotta put them somewhere. I learn something new every time I make one. Hopefully they are getting better. Here is one from a trip this past May.

Spokane Cultural Diversity

2010-09-14T15:25:00.001-07:00

As seen at the taco truck on N. Division.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:E Nora Ave,Spokane Valley,United States

The Weekend

2010-09-13T10:09:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Portland, OR

CJ's Productive Day Off

2010-09-10T17:58:00.001-07:00

List of accomplishments:
1. Helped get kids off to school.
2. Took two cars in for scheduled maintenance.
3. Rode bikes home with V.
4. Arranged to have iPad fixed and put it in the mail.
5. Mowed the lawn.
6. Met the directTV guy at the house to fix our malfunctioning receivers.
6. Rode with V to pick up the two cars.
7. Dropped her bike off at the shop for a long overdue tune up.
8. Made some plans for our Costa Rica trip.
9. Got a ticket for Musicfest NW on Saturday night while in Portland.
10. Called administrators to reduce my workday load 20% for the 2011 calendar year--a major life change.

What I didn't get done:
1. Build panel for painting.
2. Put gesso on panel for S.

I'll get that done when I get home.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:W Flint Ln,Spokane,United States

Enchantments 2010

2010-09-09T21:21:00.000-07:00

Somehow everyone in the world has seen the video of the nature weirdo going crazy over a double rainbow, but I missed it. So when my brother-in-law Joal made this video during our day through-hike of the Enchantment Lakes last week, I was perplexed and more than a little uncomfortable. But now I get it. Now we just have to make a bunch of money with it and quit our jobs.

Testing, testing

2010-09-08T16:50:00.001-07:00

Mobile blogging. Why does this phone keep blowing my mind.

Speaking of consumerism, here are two items I've discovered recently that any red white and blue-blooded American doesn't want to live without:

1.

A cammo snuggie.

2.

Taco and cheeseburger Doritos--eaten together of course.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:W Rockwood Blvd,Spokane,United States

Why?

2010-06-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

I had a day off last week. Driving around running errands I saw a nice new Toyota Highlander with a "custom" sticker on the back.

From Drop Box

The fact that someone would put a sticker like this on any car, much less a new car, lends credence to my opinion that fallen soldiers are not appropriately memorialized by stickers on the backs of cars.

Run in with an Elk

2010-06-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

So last Friday I left work in my truck, headed for Mt. Ranier for crevasse rescue training, the last trip for the Mountain School class I had been taking all Spring. On the way I picked up Paul, an acquaintance from class who needed a lift. We drove for three hours across the Columbia basin, turned south at the hamlet of Ellensburg, passed through the Yakima valley, heading south of the great Washington volcano. About 50 miles east of Yakima on highway 12, just past picturesque Rim Rock Lake, I hit a large elk.

I distinctly remember the events in slow motion. It was 9:30 pm and dusk was just settling in. We were about 30 miles from our destination, enjoying a pleasant conversation when Paul suddenly exclaimed, "Look out!!" I saw the elk, barely recognizing what it was, but could see it starting to trot to the left, attempting to get beyond the driver's side of the truck's front end. I put my foot on the brake but can't remember how hard I was pushing. The world around me rocked back and forth ever so slightly and the truck started to slow, though I could still feel its weight and inertia. Then there was a whump, a hollow thump and the truck softly lurched forward, as if entering a bog. The pelvis of the elk hadn't cleared the bumper and headlight.

As things sped back into normal motion, there was the sound of glass raining on asphalt and the crunch of metal and the tearing of plastic. A few feet beyond the animal the truck came to a stop. Without even taking stock of what had just happened, I inched the car forward, pulling to the soft, sandy shoulder of the two lane highway. "I can't believe I just hit him. I think our trip is over."

I could see Paul trying to look back to my side of the truck. He wasn't hurt, I wasn't hurt. The impact really hadn't been that great. The airbags hadn't even blown. I went to open my door and immediately felt a strange resistance. Something was dented, tweaked to the point that the door was stuck. I forced it open a few inches and slid out. Just then a large pickup with a camper in its bed heading east, slowed as it approached the scene. I can't remember what was said, but the man recognized what had happened. From the corner of my eye I saw the elk attempt to stand, dragging its back legs to the opposite side of the road and over a guardrail. "Do you have a gun?" I asked. They didn't. It wasn't hunting season.

I checked my cell phone. No service. The couple in the truck asked if we needed help. I didn't know if we did or not. I wasn't processing clearly. We needed help. Looking at the damage to the truck, I decided it wasn't driveable. The battery was cracked, there was some unidentified fluid splashed everywhere, and the front wheel well liner was off. The check engine light was on on the dashboard.

The man retrieved a broom from his camper and swept the debris to the side of the road, cleared their large retriever from the double cab of the truck and got him into the back. I grabbed a coat, a map, and my ipad. Paul got a coat and bag of food. The couple drove us to a small resort area 3 miles east, back at Rim Rock Lake. The resort was all but shut down, no phone book could be found. A few Lion's Club members were having a leadership meeting at the resort. They didn't have much to offer. Paul had spotty service, but it was good enough. After a few attempts, we contacted a towing service that would send someone out. They'd be there in an hour. We waited in the couple's camper while I called my insurance and Vanessa.

The couple stayed far longer than they needed to or should have--they were on vacation after all. They left and Paul and I moved into the lobby of the resort to continue our wait. About 15 minutes later the tow truck showed up. The driver insisted on calling the state patrol, saying he legally had to and that my insurance would probably require a police report. He called and the state trooper was already at the truck. We quickly headed out. Without difficulty and despite the dark, the truck was loaded onto the tow truck platform. The state trooper was empathetic and gave me the necessary police report--no ticket. Paul and I got in the cab of the tow truck and enjoyed the 1 hour drive back to Yakima where the truck was deposited at the impound yard and I was dropped off at the Holiday Inn. It was about 2 am.

From Drop Box

Paul had called a friend earlier who just happened to be driving from Seattle to Spokane that night and convinced him to make a detour from I-90 and pick him up for an early morning drive home. I was glad he went. I felt guilty for ruining his weekend. This way, at least, he'd salvage his Saturday.

I had a hard time falling asleep. I was given a handicap friendly room just off the lobby of the hotel. I joked with myself that the guy behind the counter only gave it to me after finding out that I had hit a large, slow moving animal with my brand new truck earlier that evening. I was awakened by my cell phone ring. My mom called to make sure I was ok after seeing a picture of the damaged truck I had posted on Facebook the night before. I thought it was early, but it was already 8 am. I went to the lobby for the complementary breakfast then made a few calls before finding a rental car. I quickly showered and called a taxi that took me to the rental car office (they wouldn't come get me despite their sign that says they will--lazy employee).

From Drop Box

Then I drove straight home, not stopping for three hours. I was home by mid afternoon, got the lawn mowed, enjoyed my kids and wife and slept in my own bed feeling much better.

The positive in all this? It turns out that there is no deductible and my insurance will cover the cost of the emergency travel etc. Plus, we are planning a tip to the North Cascades in July and will just take a detour then to pick up the truck that is currently getting repaired in Yakima. Plus, I had almost driven my smaller blue car but at the last minute decided not to. I can only imagine the damage an elk would have done to that car and to me. The truck may have saved my life.

Cycling is for Dorks

2010-06-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

A co worker with a good sense of humor recently forwarded this to me in an email and highlighted number 30 for me:

Thought Provoking Statements
>
>    1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately
> clear your computer history if you die.
>
>    2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
> realize you're wrong.
>
>    3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I
> was younger.
>
>    4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
>
>    5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
>
>    6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
>
>    7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm
> pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
>
>    8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how
> the Person died.
>
>    9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
>
>    10. Bad decisions make good stories.
>
>    11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at
> work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything
> productive for the rest of the day.
>
>    12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I
> don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
>
>    13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it
> asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper
> that I swear I did not make any changes to.
>
>    14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this
> - ever.
>
>    15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?
> Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and
> goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the
> phone and run away?
>
>    16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not
> seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
>
>    17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know
> not to answer when they call.
>
>    18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
>
>    19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
>   Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
>
>    21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger
> and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I
> first saw it.
>
>    22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand
> than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
>
>    23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying
> to finish a text.
>
> 24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and
> hunger.
>
>    25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just
> nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they
> said?
>
>    26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team
> up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong,
> brothers and sisters!
>
>    27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get
> dirty, and you can wear them forever.
>
>    28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every
> year?
>
>    29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you
> are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
>
>    30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate
> drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate
> cyclists.
>
>    31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and
> still not know what time it is.
>
>    32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their
> car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail
> on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the
> snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed,
> first time, every time!
>
>    33. Even when opportunity knocks, you still have to get up
> and open the door.

I wish I could disagree with the sentiment of number 30, but I can't. I have recently come to realize that I am a self loathing bike commuter. As a group, cyclists are unpredictable and a challenge to walk around or drive near. I try to be predictable, but I'm sure there are times that I frustrate drivers. And I think I'm ok with that.

I participated in Bike to Work Week, which means I went to the Monday morning dorkfest--I mean kickoff breakfast.

From Drop Box

I wanted to participate in bike to work week last year, but was working in Seattle. My hotel was close enough to work that I walked. This year I was working the night shift so I had just gotten finished with an 11 hour overnight shift when I was trying to shove undercooked pancakes in my mouth at the breakfast. Overall I biked nearly every day during my week of night shifts. And it was actually rather pleasant.

As to the dorkitude of cyclists in general, why is it that we have to claim recumbent riders and weirdos like this:

From Drop Box

This was at Artfest in Couer d'Alene park in Brown's Addition a few weekends ago. There were a pair of these guys. I suppose technically speaking there are two wheels on this contraption, so it is indeed a bicycle. But c'mon, what's the point of this?

Incidentally at the same event I spotted this guy, whom I had seen a year or two ago at our local Hastings media store. This time there wasn't as much bird excrement on his shirt. It seemed a little more normal to have the bird perched there since we were outdoors instead of in a store.

From Drop Box

Come to think of it, bird fanciers are even dorkier than cyclists. I guess that makes me feel better.

Thoughts on a Sixth Grade Graduation

2010-06-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we enjoyed Savanna's 6th grade graduation. It was an experience seeing the two sixth grade classes celebrate 7 years of schooling, many of whom started kindergarten together. They had students from each class share memories from each of the seven years of school. For me it was kind of emotional to think about my daughter and her peers sharing so much time together over the years while I've been at work, seldom wondering exactly what she was up to. Time has passed and she is growing up too fast. The principal had requested photos from parents a few weeks earlier and made a nice slideshow. There were pictures from all the way back in kindergarten. I think we've been lucky to more or less be in the same place for so long and offer our kids such a level of stability. It seems to be more and more rare these days to go through elementary and beyond in one school district.

Savanna had a great teacher this year. He is the sort of guy who likes to have fun with the kids and understands their awkward stage of development sixth graders face. He gave all the kids nicknames at the beginning of the year and took time to talk about the special characteristics of each of the children as they handed out the diplomas. He was a good fit for Savanna and gave her artistic and writing abilities a lot of praise. I remember my sixth grade teacher as my favorite because she helped me see that I had the ability to do many things that I didn't realize I could do. She gave me confidence that helped me through the rest of my schooling and life in general. I think Savanna's teacher did much the same for her.

Savanna, like Vanessa and I, has always been pretty quiet at school with a small circle of friends. It was good to discover that there were many good kids in her class beyond the ones I had gotten to know. It gave me a glimmer of hope for the future of society.

A few awards were passed out, two of which Savanna was nominated for but didn't ultimately win. We were proud of her. We know she has the ability to learn quickly and is interested in drawing and art. But we've worried about her socially and physically. We would love to see her have more friends and find a sport she enjoyed. And I am hoping she will develop a better work ethic. I don't think her schooling has challenged her enough to require her to work hard. She is intelligent enough that what is required of her is too easy. She is our first and oldest and, as parents, we are rookies when it comes to teenagers. I think our worries with Savanna are merely the icing on the cake. I don't see us dealing with real teenager problems like drugs and crime or pregnancy that many other parents have to.

But despite our concerns, the friends she does have are good friends. And maybe the honors classes she is preparing for in 7th grade will give her the challenge she needs. In fact, she has required reading this summer, though it is only two books. And we are requiring her to join the orchestra and play the viola. Perhaps this will give her opportunities beyond class to make more friends. And perhaps we are rushing her. Again, we're new at this and I think we both want to know sooner than later that Savanna is going to be ok. We want to know that she is going to be happy and successful for the long run.

Am I the Only One...

2010-06-11T14:41:00.000-07:00

that can fall asleep at the computer with my hand carefully balanced on the mouse without clicking.

Project Update: Vegetable Garden

2010-06-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we finally planted all the starter vegetable plants in the garden. A few weeks ago I planted seeds in the raised beds. Last night we enjoyed the first leaves of baby spinach with dinner. Here is documentation of our garden in early June. By mid July I hope it is the same jungle it was last year.

So far we have carrots, spinach, mixed greens, green leaf lettuce, Romaine lettuce, beets, snow peas, bush beans, 4 types of tomatos, cucumbers, green and red peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. One of these years I'm going to start from seed indoors in March and learn how to cultivate a greater variety of vegetables.

Palouse Falls Video

2010-06-07T21:33:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to get on top of and stay on top of all the little videos I've been taking of our weekend trips. The evening after our trip to Palouse Falls I spent a couple hours putting this together while Vanessa spent a couple hours downloading and editing photos. It is a lot of work documenting this stuff. But not enough work to discourage us and get us to actually stay home.

In this video I did a better job with the sound, getting the background music volume to go up and down and normalizing the sound track of the actual clips. I don't entirely understand the normalize function on iMovie yet, but I'm getting there. So much to learn. Here it is:

Palouse Falls June 6, 2010 from Corey Judd on Vimeo.

The Palouse and Palouse Falls and Palouse

2010-06-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

This weeekend we finally made the trip to Palouse Falls. We have wanted to check this place out for at least a year. So we enjoyed a drive through the Palouse that is covered with a carpet of verdant green winter wheat. We trekked across some scablands along the southeastern fringe of the Columbia Basin to the small state park that houses the great horse tail falls of the Palouse River. I stole the below photos from Vanessa as she wears the camera straps in the family (though I'm currently making a bid for designated videographer).

It is impressive, but is even bigger than this earlier in the spring.

Here is a video of a guy kayaking off the falls, which was a world record at the time (186 ft.)

Below is a stiff family portrait. We were just getting geared up for the photo frenzy that is Vanessa.

Starting to loosen up:

Ansel is a little too loose, and leaky:

Of course he got a lot less loose after he saw this guy near the railroad tracks:

For the rest of the hike he stayed close to a parent and had a few episodes of panic when he "thought he heard something." I'll have to put that in my bag of bad parenting tips for when I want him to stay close by--"Ansel, I think there's a rattlesnake over there."

Upper Palouse Falls:

Castle Rock (No photos of Vanessa, no video of me. We have to make sure we switch jobs from time to time).

More Palouse Falls:

Palouse Falls Canyon from the top of the falls.

Cool bearded mountain guy in the parking lot:

Later, back on the Palouse, on our way to the town of Palouse:

Green brick wall in the town of Palouse, a nice little artsy community just north and east of Pullman:

Video to follow.

Helpful Hint of the Day

2010-06-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone gets a song stuck in their head from time to time and it can be a devil getting rid of it. I may have found a solution.

This morning as I vacuumed the detritus from the kids' movie and popcorn gorging last night in the TV room, I got the old Whitney Houston song "Greatest Love of All" (or whatever the proper title is) stuck in my head. I don't know why or where it came from. As I rhythmically pushed the vacuum back and forth it threatened to really nestle into the gyri and sulci of my brain. I had to do something.

Luckily, I didn't panic. Instead I started analyzing the lyrics and began dictating a sort of thesis of deconstruction in my head. I didn't even get past the first line--"I believe the children are our future." Of course children are the future. They're children and will most likely be here longer than those older than them. What's to believe about that? In fact, they have a bigger stake in the future and it is more in their interest than mine to prepare for it. Perhaps the elderly who, by extension, have less of a stake in the future, should be eyed with suspicion as they are typically the ones who wield power in government and business.

And I went on and on in this ridiculous way, trying to make Derrida proud until, POOF!, the song was gone. Success...until a half hour later when I heard Vanessa's voice echoing throughout the house, "Treat them well and let them know the way. Tell them all the beauty they possess insiiiiide."

I must have been whistling the tune earlier and didn't realize I infected her as well. I've got no cure for that.

Daily Opinion

2010-06-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Like most people, I am typically enthusiastic when something is new. This new space for my blog is no different. So within the space of only one day, I am posting a second time. Unprecedented and unlikely to happen again.

Today, as I went about my weekend activities, I generated a few unimportant opinions. They are as follows:

1. If you ride a loud, annoying motorcycle you shouldn't be allowed to wear ear plugs to mask the sound for yourself.

2. Local art festivals really only need to be attended once every couple years since much of the same stuff is there every time.

3. I think I have the discipline to be a vegetarian, but not the discipline to cook vegetarian food.

4. A good paid house cleaner is awesome and addicting.

5. Rogue advertising signs along rural roadways are tantamount to littering.

Playing Catch Up

2010-06-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a video I finished 99% of the way a few months back. Thought I should post it somewhere after all that work. Of course the music is a little off, but I don't have too much on my computer to choose from--Broken Social Scene with Leslie Feist singing and a banjo covering the rhythm.

Go Savanna!

Skiiing Lookout Pass, February 27 2010 from Corey Judd on Vimeo.