News Flash: When Ski signs say dangerous terrain ahead-it's accurate

I realize this is late- but the story is good...So the story starts on a beautiful powdery dry snowy day where Justin and I had just finished lunch on a logdge near the top of the bowl on Crystal Mountain. Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle new terrain, I looked up and decided I could take what looked like the easier side of the mountain (not the bowl part). So Justin and I head to the lift to go up to the top of the mountain. Justin does read the sign that says (Terrain and skiing unlike anything you have skiied before- dangerous) as we sit down on the lift and are swept upwards towards said terrain. Getting off the lift- I realize, "Yup" definetely out of my league...but Justin- bravely leads the way and I willingly follow since the only way out is down and following Justin was definetely the safest route. A while later after passing by numerous cliffs with large trees- Justin sees an opening...I look ahead and see an easier path beyond some trees. I tell Justin to go ahead and I'm going to head to the open area because it's easier- Right? :)
I never made it...my path took me to the edge of a cliff like slope mostly covered with rocks,a drifting of snow and bushes poking out all over..Justin wisely unsure if I was going to make it followed me and also ended up at the beginning of said cliff. I decide that I could either take off my skiis and walk up or down past the trees and justin also at the same time comes to the same conclusion. So we take off our skis- I sit down and said out loud- maybe I could slide down...now I didn't mean to the bottom of the cliff..but famous last words. I slide a bit and then way way out of control. My thoughts came in pieces and kinda panicky ---"Sliding" "Rocks" "This could be bad" "Now I'm sumersaulting" "Not good", "Ouch- rock" "Still tumbling" "Bushes" Oh, good snow" "Still not stopping" Still not stopping" "Still not Stopping" I finally stop and look up. I'm at the bottom of the cliff- thankfully still able to walk and Justin is halfway down the cliff as well.- He also slid- but totally by accident. He skillfully and scarely braved the cliff to get both of our skis- pretty much the hero for the day and went on to conquer the bowl- both impressive feats..I limped back to base and enjoyed a hot cup of hot chocolate while sitting outside in the snow. So it ended well for both of us. So moral for the day: If unsure- trust the signs:)

Rainy Day in Seattle

A little more rain then we are used to. This is by third place books on Lake City Way.



Tiana and I walked in the rain down to third place books and on the way witnessed our own city's staircase waterfall.



A stream diverted into their backyard.


On the Burke- Gilman Trail-Streets/Yards flooding

Day After Thanksgiving

We initially headed out to Realto Beach and then realized that with the clear day- Hurricane Ridge would look beautiful. So to quote Sarah "I love the northwest...you can head out to the beach and end up in the mountains". Hopefully she was referring to the amazing geography of the northwest and not my ability to get lost.





Joe and Jasmine



No- we are totally not posing.



Heading Home

Thanksgiving Fun

The best turkey ever!- Handcrafted Original by Jasmine Brazill



After lunch, Sarah, Joe, Jasmine and I headed to Volunteer Park to see the 360 degree view of the city from the water tower.



Sarah looking out at the city.



Silhouette Fun



Joe and Jasmine- Endless Fun- Need I say more

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Aquire Night

A call to all who enjoy aquire. Our first of I hope many Aquire nights. Currently enjoying the game above is Robert, Tiana, Jace, Satish, Justin (not pictured) and I. If you would like to join in the Aquire night fun. Please email me and I'll add you to our list.

Flying

Satish, a fellow friend, recently moved here from Michigan. He is an accomplished pilot and on Sunday, we went flying. Picture of Mt Baker admist the clouds.


I was actually flying the plane for this picture and very briefly looked up for the picture. I think we were both a little terrified of my flying.


Landing at Langley field on Whidbey Island.


Turning around to head back to Boeing and land.

All in all a very fun and smooth ride. Compliments to the pilot.

Texas Frog

A Late Excerpt from the Texas Trip:

Late one night in texas, Tiana and I were driving home to Gina's by following Gina's car. It was dark and extremely rainy, which made viewing things on the road difficult. At one point a flying object came at the car and we heard a thump as it hit the grill. I assumed it was a rock and was simply glad that it didn't hit the window. The next morning, however, we discoverd that this poor frog had head first jumped into our grill.

I'm amused

In the event that no one was hurt- I'm amused. This occured this week in Washington to some of the friends visiting from michigan. Talk about unexpected!


Charles and Linda Everson were driving back to their hotel when their minivan was struck by a falling object -- a 600-pound cow. The Eversons were unhurt but the cow, which had fallen off a cliff, had to be euthanized. The year-old cow fell about 200 feet from the cliff and landed on the hood of the couple's minivan, causing heavy damage. A Chelan County fire chief, Arnold Baker, said the couple missed being killed by a matter of inches in the accident Sunday on a highway near Manson. The Eversons, visiting the area from their home in Westland, Mich., to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, were checked at Lake Chelan Community Hospital as a precaution. Everson, 49, said he didn't see the cow falling and didn't know what happened until afterward. He said he kept repeating: "I don't believe this. I don't believe this."

Texas

FAMILY FUN

Me with their pet rat


Cousins Morgan and Candace


Tiana and Uncle John discussing something


BRAZO's SWAMP




Tiana and I toured the Brazo's park where wildlife is abundant. It is an "enter at your own risk" park because you causually walk around the park where large alligators are within a few feet of you. It was beautiful and we did see our fair share of the large reptiles.


This one was hiding

CLIFF's RANCH


Eating barbaque on the ranch as Cliff kept the bull away


My infamous cousin, Cliff

Riverwalk

Birthday Fun

Happy 29th to me! Sarah makes an awesome cake!

Thanks Sarah, Justin and Anna for eating ethnic eithiopian food with me for my birthday.

San Juan Island Trip

Mount Baker View


Mom on the lookout for Orca's


This orca was extremely cooperative in posing directly in front of Mount Baker


Orca's off of Lime Kiln State Park


Roche Harbor


Lime Kiln at Lime Kiln State Park


Baby Orca followed by its Mom


Catching the sunset on our last night there