01/27/2012- Finally a sunny day! It has been quite a while since the sun has been out, especially over the last two weeks. The first day of snow was fun but after that it was just stressful. I know that sounds crazy from a guy who used to climb frozen waterfalls in Canada and such, but that is what it has come down to. I'm ready for us to have a real long hot summer.

1/16/2012- It is now day two in the snow at my house. So far we have got eight inches of the white stuff with more on the way. At least I got out and did some errands today and that felt good. It is nice to be able to just get in my Xterra and drive out of the snow drifts without having to worry about getting stuck. I am also thankful for my little gas stove that keeps my house toasty.

 12/19/2011 - It was a normal day just like every other day. I was at the Shell station in Gold Bar pumping gas in my Xterra. As I  stood there watching the numbers click away on the gas pump something strange happened. Like most Sundays there was the normal traffic jam which had virtually came to a halt. As I stood there I noticed a tiny bird five feet from me on a strip of grass pecking away at the earth looking for food. Just then one of the irate motorist on the highway blared on their horn, obviously frustrated by the traffic. I looked down at the bird which didn't even flinch but continued to look for it's meal. About 30 seconds later and a couple hundred feet away a train was zooming by and gave it's usual three horn blasts. The train's horn was ear piercing and the ground was even shaking as it passed. Once again I looked down at the little bird which didn't even look up but was still focused on breakfast. Just then I had very powerful and overwhelming feeling rush over me, a feeling that I have rarely had in my life. That bird wasn't worried, that bird didn't get rattled by all the commotion around him, that bird seemed to believe he was safe. Then I remembered the verse in the Bible about God taking care of his own. I came away from that experience with the intense feeling that my life was going to be okay because God is taking care of me.

12/18/2011 - It is hard to believe that there are only seven days until Christmas. Wow, I am getting that feeling that as grow older time goes by faster. Can't wait to see my kids on Christmas. I've got the presents all wrapped, the little tree put up and freezer is full of cookies.

10/09/2011- There are two climbing route names in Yosemite that perfectly describe my last two days, Bulging Puke and Vomit Launch! Have had the flu for the last couple days and have been feeling like crud. This has been one laid back vacation that is for sure. Spent the first few days just doing local stuff with Connie and spending some time with my folks. It pretty much rained all week and Fall has definitely moved in. At least I think I am all done being sick and can be ready to go back to work.

09/12/2011- Just got back from the dentist and am waiting for the Novocain to wear off. It took the dentist an hour and four tries of numbing me up before he could even start yanking. I swear I spend half my life in a dentist chair, at least it feels like it. The only thing good about it is the laughing gas. The assistant said "is the gas ok ?" to which I replied " have I ever in my life told you to turn down the gas?"

09/11/2011- Had a fun day with my sister Barb yesterday. We went to visit my folks at Merrill Gardens, bummed around shopping at Alderwood Mall, then out to lunch at Red Robin. It's just too bad she lives so far away because when she comes to visit we have such a good time.

08/15/2011- Days like today I am reminded why I moved to Gold Bar. It is nice and sunny and about 70 degrees outside. I’ve been feeling better since going to the doctor. All my antibiotics have kicked in and my lungs feel clearer. One of my places to go hang out is the "Big Eddy" just a couple minutes from my house. There are always a lot of rafting companies using the river access and for being so nearby it feels like I am getting away, if only for a few minutes.

08/18/2011- So I finally broke down and bought one of those new Discovery Passes. I realized on my last vacation that every little place I wanted to stop at had "Discovery Pass Required" signs. Although so far it seems like there is not much enforcement going on, I bet soon there will be. Guess I don't really mind the $30 a year for this but it just makes me long for the not so distant past. I remember when you could just throw you tent out just about anywhere as long as there weren’t any "No Trespassing" signs.

08/22/2011- Man, it's hard to believe that it is already time for the Evergreen State Fair! Seems like we haven't even had a summer yet. Every year at the Red Apple we sell tickets to the fair and I kept waiting for the lady to bring them in. Finally I checked out their website and realized that we are not on their short list of distributors and that the prices of admission and parking had gone way up. I guess I can't blame them because in this economy prices of everything has risen. Hopefully the food prices have not skyrocketed because I still plan on going there and scarfing some food.