tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42455818842421246492024-03-05T21:37:46.020-08:00iatric zealIatric Zeal means to be passionate for medicine, specifically physicians.
I started this blog as I was applying to medical school, it is now being transformed into a way to keep in touch with friends and family on my way to and through medical school at Des Moines University. My boyfriend, Jarrett, who is a part of my life, will be sharing his side of the stories here too. Check out the calendar for our schedule to see which part of the adventure we are currently in.Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-44217524284032144652011-08-07T08:35:00.000-07:002011-08-07T08:35:13.374-07:00Update: soybeans and corn fieldsI realize that I'm going out of order here, but I wanted to update everyone on things.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9p-vISvFCqU8pD4jEIuKAXUZUZrbzl9dgy7w11qmAuN2oMzFPskOBWgpiOKicyWClamKsAxDzjxeaYAMh0QoabnYO34yGkLNvUSpJiZm0i7ghK2PIYWKRg2O67m7SGGppFeNqZyQwyM/s1600/Hogback+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9p-vISvFCqU8pD4jEIuKAXUZUZrbzl9dgy7w11qmAuN2oMzFPskOBWgpiOKicyWClamKsAxDzjxeaYAMh0QoabnYO34yGkLNvUSpJiZm0i7ghK2PIYWKRg2O67m7SGGppFeNqZyQwyM/s200/Hogback+Bridge.jpg" width="200" /></a>We are settling into our place in Des Moines. Finally acquiring some furniture. It is weird how useful things like tables are. We get our couch (from Craigslist shopping) tomorrow and we should be mostly set. I love the area, yesterday we took a bike ride through a state park which is only a couple miles away. We also went to a winery in the country. We drove through soybean and corn fields to the city of Winterset Iowa. On our way out we stopped to check out a covered bridge. By the way, these are THE covered bridges of Madison County. Apparently the basis of a<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bridges-Madison-County-Robert-Waller/dp/0446364495/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1312730054&sr=8-3"> book</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_915109896">movie.</a> The winery, Covered Bridges Winery, they had a live jazz/blues band and wine tasting. It was a nice afternoon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GhKA5C7UZfAnG4stsXyCMXKHSyuj8nDWLWsMymVA2cV1JvtsrXgOpSQdDoDz__kJL74qFky7epkZ2ohdCrtaMOLlo0by966arDZIjt_6BJzoUTbPqIxTv03ccdO3ImDaMwI7shYrMtM/s1600/Hogback+structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GhKA5C7UZfAnG4stsXyCMXKHSyuj8nDWLWsMymVA2cV1JvtsrXgOpSQdDoDz__kJL74qFky7epkZ2ohdCrtaMOLlo0by966arDZIjt_6BJzoUTbPqIxTv03ccdO3ImDaMwI7shYrMtM/s200/Hogback+structure.jpg" width="200" /></a>School officially starts tomorrow. Last week was orientation, I met a few people out of my class of 224 students + more from other programs. I'm ready to get into the swing of things. I'm a bit nervous about the studying thing since I have been out of school for 5 years. <br />
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We are still planning to finish blogging the end of the road trip. We saw some great friends and had a wonderful time, but we just haven't had time to write about it. Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-64372210129953832342011-07-09T16:40:00.000-07:002011-07-09T17:28:16.473-07:00Lambeau to London (New)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySb7W3ZHnsAj_u8lCzviiWfbUWWaqZV2zvbtK0lNn0FyKkh1kbwnWlvpwndbmLsiyZjhGzCrtENQ1X2g5BCUw7vaBn4eiuOJzxvEcWzbZMFv7KtHQdjS_8saS32iBW6dLyAQ8dVkkOAW2/s1600/P6260308.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySb7W3ZHnsAj_u8lCzviiWfbUWWaqZV2zvbtK0lNn0FyKkh1kbwnWlvpwndbmLsiyZjhGzCrtENQ1X2g5BCUw7vaBn4eiuOJzxvEcWzbZMFv7KtHQdjS_8saS32iBW6dLyAQ8dVkkOAW2/s320/P6260308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627510183268408754" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I feel like a cartoon character; always the same shirt.</span></span><br /></div><br />Once we got back to the great state of Wisconsin (from the north this time), we didn't stop until we got to that shrine of football known as Lambeau Field. Home of the Green Bay Packers. A fortune teller told me to look in the basement, this is what I found:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmGKngmcAtUaz0Mrt4F3_pZBnEm07XHg8im2UCIl-fbdBhQ5kWJFAG4ABaoqZSNlSej1Vd2xrLpsiToxAhCI7JejArJSQQc4P6z47rWhAsl4vlzi73CEH-CoBhNAabAc0gJzjReVBmsoV/s1600/P6270317.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmGKngmcAtUaz0Mrt4F3_pZBnEm07XHg8im2UCIl-fbdBhQ5kWJFAG4ABaoqZSNlSej1Vd2xrLpsiToxAhCI7JejArJSQQc4P6z47rWhAsl4vlzi73CEH-CoBhNAabAc0gJzjReVBmsoV/s320/P6270317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627503057115752322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The one on the far right is new.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After gawking at memorabilia of Packer past, eating a couple of brats and being dragged out by Kristina we hit the road again. To the place of my upbringing, New London. I didn't take many pictures so here is another pick from Green Bay.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb6JiVFRZv90jQVurXxchuv65SmzG_wHdpfvWpEvaB45kXkwHzjHoltKDFGSluXtgEKnZJALrQA8pFj4_YhjmgZMp6xQGez0L2y7iTAsAA_8BOGMqeCwEQvq2PeIU60wpzZkVIUD8X9QD/s1600/P6260312.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb6JiVFRZv90jQVurXxchuv65SmzG_wHdpfvWpEvaB45kXkwHzjHoltKDFGSluXtgEKnZJALrQA8pFj4_YhjmgZMp6xQGez0L2y7iTAsAA_8BOGMqeCwEQvq2PeIU60wpzZkVIUD8X9QD/s320/P6260312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627504661981621602" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes we do.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">New London was fun, I got to hang out with my other two brothers. My dad and I shared a few drinks and pizzas. Most of all we mellowed out sleeping in late and reading often. We stayed for a week and were treated to many good meals, home-cooked and otherwise. Of course I played fetch with the black labs K.C. and Mariah (named after my cousin in the previous post). We even made it out to see a small-town Wisconsin parade:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH45i3it8B-7U-4YtdfpRrdNbyR1UETed5GgRnZrmEU2utV56VLBuNP6kE1VBrsM19xf9m_r1X3_V4Jswp54vMYgtebDI4tPOeP05odwqX-VjiQxhDTlTWwIDfni5P5rFuO46Xllw5zjl/s1600/P7010327.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH45i3it8B-7U-4YtdfpRrdNbyR1UETed5GgRnZrmEU2utV56VLBuNP6kE1VBrsM19xf9m_r1X3_V4Jswp54vMYgtebDI4tPOeP05odwqX-VjiQxhDTlTWwIDfni5P5rFuO46Xllw5zjl/s320/P7010327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627511127365314770" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A chicken on a horse... very parade worthy.</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Later, we went west to the Waupaca area</span> to visit relatives I haven't seen in a long time and Kristina got to meet them for the first time. We walked around on land owned by my brothers and I, taking some scratches and bug bites back with us. We got to see friends I haven't seen in years (too many to name), and they all loved Kristina too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkLQ58Jk2MHBHNx_Eklo93xVMWmXVEx2Yo6Y-3hvPb_x_86L5bGSPE5bpOX4UwjQzpX5yVkITmKxbu9AGt4QAGw8oTawp1DUAvR1FybyP2J4w5N6SzgflibsoyBaqPCKjf01Z82-BcDd5/s1600/P6290321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkLQ58Jk2MHBHNx_Eklo93xVMWmXVEx2Yo6Y-3hvPb_x_86L5bGSPE5bpOX4UwjQzpX5yVkITmKxbu9AGt4QAGw8oTawp1DUAvR1FybyP2J4w5N6SzgflibsoyBaqPCKjf01Z82-BcDd5/s320/P6290321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627507074020140274" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jared and Nurys in NL.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Thank you New London for always being there (and not changing too fast) to call home.</span> I've got friends and family there that are priceless in my life, and I wouldn't change them for anybody, except maybe those people on "That 70's Show" it just seems like they have a lot of fun.<br /></div></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqG45FOq9ZjqYAO-uaKLRGdhpYZ5neE5Wy462ZhpaemomoOVwSJrKXDTTsKQDxCGGglKVZz0XEXErs9MaJFO57GOyB0lGm_y8arLH7-jpqs_n17iJAusguqLHOBzdf_9ASWsBSAXdx_lz/s1600/P7030335.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqG45FOq9ZjqYAO-uaKLRGdhpYZ5neE5Wy462ZhpaemomoOVwSJrKXDTTsKQDxCGGglKVZz0XEXErs9MaJFO57GOyB0lGm_y8arLH7-jpqs_n17iJAusguqLHOBzdf_9ASWsBSAXdx_lz/s320/P7030335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627509253380746770" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">My two favorite girls.<br /></span></div><br /></div></div>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-49964801534751739692011-07-04T13:55:00.000-07:002011-07-04T13:55:18.196-07:00North from Canada<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Ma8On0Jv4lO3LOSRU0oR9FDXRWK0W325RbDB-fCkxRekJ4rxRZ-AKdEtOuuicCahu6nb9gJ8fn9x-OpwSyUMmVDWHQV31Ucycky8SEaJsHTbPrsvKDlVB843zzSScKoDJv2dkNIMnQ/s1600/P6220263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Ma8On0Jv4lO3LOSRU0oR9FDXRWK0W325RbDB-fCkxRekJ4rxRZ-AKdEtOuuicCahu6nb9gJ8fn9x-OpwSyUMmVDWHQV31Ucycky8SEaJsHTbPrsvKDlVB843zzSScKoDJv2dkNIMnQ/s320/P6220263.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Michigan Sky</em></td></tr>
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Michigan is a green state with lots of trees and rolling hills. It is snuggled in between 4 great lakes, and there are more smaller lakes all over. The cities are in financial trouble and some are trying to rebuild entire neighborhoods to block out crime and improve the areas. The worst roads we have experienced (outside of Des Moines) were in Michigan. What most people don't realize is Michigan is a great state to visit. We had a wonderful time! We visited Jarrett's cousin, Mariah and her family, as well as Jarrett's Uncle Russ and his girlfriend Dianna in the Northwest part of the state.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpcRizAaKxR526I3gadJgUNvIT55PGYr1ELCVU5f7ms1g9XG9FO1ZzzH2zLMt5RyA4VeSI2t3Rhbu6zjyy03OJAswqWmyPPm5OQ-u4mn2IWhsNefigu9gOS_gUvvmBWtvQYtFU0CvFOM/s1600/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpcRizAaKxR526I3gadJgUNvIT55PGYr1ELCVU5f7ms1g9XG9FO1ZzzH2zLMt5RyA4VeSI2t3Rhbu6zjyy03OJAswqWmyPPm5OQ-u4mn2IWhsNefigu9gOS_gUvvmBWtvQYtFU0CvFOM/s320/IMG_0713.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ervin, Mariah, Jarrett, Kristina, Dianna, and Russ</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mariah lives in a cute house in the country by Traverse City. We stayed a couple of nights, taking over her kitchen, reading, and watching too much Netflix (mostly "30 Rock"). We enjoyed the couple lazy days and catching up with Mariah and her family.<br />
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On Saturday, we went with Mariah and Ervin to canoe the Jordan River. We met up with Uncle Russ and Dianna who also canoed. With each couple to a canoe, the men sat in the rear to steer around the curves and fallen trees. The water was going faster than normal since the river was very high. The first two curves were the most difficult and we went about 10 miles down the river to our pick up spot.We ran into trees and the riverbank several times. I was a bit frustrated, thinking that the entire 10 miles would be tough. Happilly, the river evened out a bit and Jarrett and I got our sealegs back. By the end, we were skillfully maneuvering around some narrow and tough deadfall.<br />
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We had fun floating, being social with the family, and hanging out with Charlevoix's party crowd. Everyone would stop at a couple of pull off sites to have a beer and socialize. Someone would try to kayak upstream or swim in the cold water, which resulted in entertainment for everyone else. After we made it down the river, we headed up to Uncle Russ and Dianna's place for a yummy steak and potato dinner. Then we met up with the party crowd at a bar in Charlevoix. The bar had a one man band that got the crowd into dancing and singing with the music. It was a very good day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Kristina by a lighthouse on Lake Michigan</em></td></tr>
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The next two days we stayed with Uncle Russ and Dianna. We explored the town of Charlevoix, which had lots of amazing multimillion dollar yachts and even fancier boathouses. We checked out the beaches, a lighthouse, the mushroom houses built out of boulders, and watched the yachts go in and out of the channel. Jarrett found two more dogs to fall in love with, Sandy and Katie. Two labs that were more than eager to play fetch then jump into the lake. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ06CaAVnnyQA2cz22_7umL9tHvWZ26-T6wCALHhn5E7R52vdtf7_WvYDxlPZcXGMllMZNtfXM4rk_jUpFcmdXdSLxYXStpLTMgKiLu2QEAbdjaf9Cx_t6zybJwVjpYWY6oVkyXPB6c8Y/s1600/P6250293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ06CaAVnnyQA2cz22_7umL9tHvWZ26-T6wCALHhn5E7R52vdtf7_WvYDxlPZcXGMllMZNtfXM4rk_jUpFcmdXdSLxYXStpLTMgKiLu2QEAbdjaf9Cx_t6zybJwVjpYWY6oVkyXPB6c8Y/s320/P6250293.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Jarrett on Lake Michigan with his yacht in the background.</em></td></tr>
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After the good time we had staying with family, we drove North over the Mackinac Bridge and through the UP (Upper Peninsula). The Mackinac Bridge is 5 miles long, an amazing sight on its own, that connects the state over Lake Michigan. Originally, we planned to camp in the UP, but another thunderstorm was on the way, and we didn't want to deal with another night of rain and lightening in a tent, so we continued on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUGrQ6oss3F56VLsdy8CKGz6_GmLTbz8IwtsZyDzTQoaDabepzgnpMlt38o7hxl35qsWjzUC_P1FfsK6MhfozIQwBoBL9OITUb9GsA434SZPP8DYbMkdP-0avSicdWyRPvGuQLU-n9ss/s1600/P6260301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUGrQ6oss3F56VLsdy8CKGz6_GmLTbz8IwtsZyDzTQoaDabepzgnpMlt38o7hxl35qsWjzUC_P1FfsK6MhfozIQwBoBL9OITUb9GsA434SZPP8DYbMkdP-0avSicdWyRPvGuQLU-n9ss/s320/P6260301.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Mackinac Bridge</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-7592040952897655602011-07-04T10:08:00.000-07:002011-07-04T10:12:38.060-07:00Can You Turn Right on Red?My dream of the East Coast was this romantic get-away. It would be summer, warm and beautiful (I was dreaming of this during the rainy Portland winter). We would see lots of greenery around, deciduous tress, grasses, bushes and flowers all in bloom. Niagra Falls would be as beautiful and romantic as the picture I had on my computer backdrop for months and months.<br />
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Well, some of that was true... except that people on the East Coast are CRAZY drivers, Californians are mild compared to the Atlantic states (especially New York and New Jersey drivers). Leaving Atlantic City, we were passed by a black SUV going at least 100mph, weaving in and out of cars, even passing on the shoulder. We encountered lots of greenery on the drive through many rolling hills and the views of some cities were great. Niagra Falls is a total tourist trap - made less beautiful by all the man made money makers around it. <br />
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We stayed in Buffalo on our way through NY State, then crossed the border into Canada the next morning. We had a bit of confusion with the parking meters and exchanging some currency - but after an hour and a half (thing seemed a bit against us in Canada) we made our way to the Falls. There were quite a few tourists walking around the area, it was a warm muggy day with some sprinkles here and there, but not worth wearing a sweater for. We could see the falls along the road, and stopped at the first sidewalk to take pictures. The Falls themselves are beautiful and amazing! The roads, walkways, and boats put there to make money from the tourists aren't. From the Canada side, we did not have to pay, I'm not sure if the same is true of the US side. The US side had a walkway/trail built down the side of one of the falls that looked like an interesting adventures, but ruined the pristine view of the Falls. We walked around a little, looked at the gift shop, and tried to find something... anything gluten free for lunch. Apparently Hard Rock Cafe can NOT cook or serve ANYTHING gluten-free and several other casinos were not open during lunch. We did find a little restaurant, The Secret Garden Restaurant, that could make a safe chicken salad for me. Then we moved on, were were quite ready to get out of the area as soon as we filled our bellies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxyvvBKLWS8CiM5JwFt8He3ziIn8Enkx9rckDxhyphenhyphenEBk6vdtrURka6aPHJ4rsdIEe-dsymxsBSLyG9VFGQrTLUGRWnt8YqoD4TindrhrU3tddBK9oVFz7C6GjxNqRWeVWyKX-NOWmiQ3I/s1600/P6210251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxyvvBKLWS8CiM5JwFt8He3ziIn8Enkx9rckDxhyphenhyphenEBk6vdtrURka6aPHJ4rsdIEe-dsymxsBSLyG9VFGQrTLUGRWnt8YqoD4TindrhrU3tddBK9oVFz7C6GjxNqRWeVWyKX-NOWmiQ3I/s320/P6210251.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The far side of the falls. <br />
Note: the boats full of tourists.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DOVSlDH-6mdTn-WheaT8gzL1k6pcZ5S9REA24-G3d2xUxANBjrcAnlbjH94fNFr7kY9WdeE4usVnlgWyciMyRfAew9GcubRmgP9sYIMNBfRqBjkg0wLMjqOfb7OvZrbZGC8FZx9i-70/s1600/P6210255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DOVSlDH-6mdTn-WheaT8gzL1k6pcZ5S9REA24-G3d2xUxANBjrcAnlbjH94fNFr7kY9WdeE4usVnlgWyciMyRfAew9GcubRmgP9sYIMNBfRqBjkg0wLMjqOfb7OvZrbZGC8FZx9i-70/s320/P6210255.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the falls :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpCpPtuxKWQKSnTYVPvdzPUpqpwxrcuNLGkqcxWJL6UVAAW42snvZiLW3O0hee2sBCuYiTy1y2mzKwmI8WU54QiPpR0z_RchB0kCMNO2bhJuO9DY5uB8cvLcywEV__fv5qIYSnR6VjrE/s1600/P6210262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpCpPtuxKWQKSnTYVPvdzPUpqpwxrcuNLGkqcxWJL6UVAAW42snvZiLW3O0hee2sBCuYiTy1y2mzKwmI8WU54QiPpR0z_RchB0kCMNO2bhJuO9DY5uB8cvLcywEV__fv5qIYSnR6VjrE/s320/P6210262.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Secret Garden behind the Secret Garden Restaurant. <br />
It was a really neat place.</td></tr>
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After visiting the Falls, we drove through Ontario heading for Michigan. Driving through Canada was a little different from driving through the US. The speed limit is in kilometers, on the highway it was 100km/hr. It seemed a bit strange to be going 120km/hr and have a police car pass us. I felt like we had gone back in time 10 years. I can't pinpoint why, maybe the Niagra experiences and problems started it, but the country seemed a bit run down. When we got within 10km of the border, the traffic on the highway came to a complete stop. We ended up sitting in the car for an hour in completely stopped traffic waiting to pay the toll. Jarrett and I enjoyed the break with some Trivial Pursuit and yet another East Coast thunderstorm. It was really odd, but once the traffic started moving again, we made it to the toll both fairly quickly. After the toll both, we crossed through the border crossing into the Michigan without incident.Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-9770523378247839502011-07-01T09:52:00.000-07:002011-07-04T09:32:42.905-07:00Saratoga Springs Super Summer Sensation. Sup!?<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5Ln5KBqp9TjPP8rWOT77UjNNv3QraLj0RIeQiB0WUiT4GmDHTOlMya4Rzha6G2bpsE7nCl6n8zrspzwef06LzQeEwzsgudWavb4Nya2A4BNQVPiP_7pQ0Bp-VkWRIBIpo05AS3G7g3w0/s1600/P6190241.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624436830563786818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5Ln5KBqp9TjPP8rWOT77UjNNv3QraLj0RIeQiB0WUiT4GmDHTOlMya4Rzha6G2bpsE7nCl6n8zrspzwef06LzQeEwzsgudWavb4Nya2A4BNQVPiP_7pQ0Bp-VkWRIBIpo05AS3G7g3w0/s320/P6190241.JPG" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Kristina, Jesse, and Jen getting ready to laugh. </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGE5i8isqvfCYF-X5DnSeCUosFM5bxbfQrfz0Nck9jbURQ7J9bcP8Ee5eL8DumWp0-2KY_OvFpUiljGDxRfPWfv25HD6lsPDtaN7Jv7RXz_m0YgpqJ8sRT3lm16YrQCQAMEBJb8fVfq78/s1600/P6180238.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624436107951944866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGE5i8isqvfCYF-X5DnSeCUosFM5bxbfQrfz0Nck9jbURQ7J9bcP8Ee5eL8DumWp0-2KY_OvFpUiljGDxRfPWfv25HD6lsPDtaN7Jv7RXz_m0YgpqJ8sRT3lm16YrQCQAMEBJb8fVfq78/s320/P6180238.JPG" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The Comet, an oldie but a fastie.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">We were stuck on the top for about 10 minutes.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8nfo3L2FRNHpq1dgPpQxm2L97fYJXaIm47z-m01OoAy5duO314BQyRFX1u2shigJycOph9Qe98G4ub1L1M7xajreebJ5NJi3L378IgWKZZ_O6zez-8XAWMTEWz66TzWdEIng7E7JN3q8/s1600/P6180229.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624433508865345842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8nfo3L2FRNHpq1dgPpQxm2L97fYJXaIm47z-m01OoAy5duO314BQyRFX1u2shigJycOph9Qe98G4ub1L1M7xajreebJ5NJi3L378IgWKZZ_O6zez-8XAWMTEWz66TzWdEIng7E7JN3q8/s320/P6180229.JPG" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Me and Sasquatch have something in common. </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdFgCBoILXV0RU34zPR6zsiJn6FuS8keL3JRr2PTCJhPwFhAh5GQPwlclrgI75OFEHjdKn-VQD9P7tpG9Svf07TCr4PoPmN5tUrsPuueFzncb017md-N4_b_IpkDKcx4IvHj3LdmU6s03/s1600/P6170228.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624432487897306130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdFgCBoILXV0RU34zPR6zsiJn6FuS8keL3JRr2PTCJhPwFhAh5GQPwlclrgI75OFEHjdKn-VQD9P7tpG9Svf07TCr4PoPmN5tUrsPuueFzncb017md-N4_b_IpkDKcx4IvHj3LdmU6s03/s320/P6170228.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Kristina makes a new friend. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa0T4qqMyF5WifV_8WUqaGOFH7hWpqVUfdRRc41V1xjZUnzpw9QHnhQrKJx7o0Aa-3aF4Ce2Fl_rBTxJd2uG6ePm9DoGcAAqCc3swNfmBrkTH8Jsvglh-RXZxyE0Lm-4bO_pGiHpZqC6n/s1600/P6190243.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624430503533718290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa0T4qqMyF5WifV_8WUqaGOFH7hWpqVUfdRRc41V1xjZUnzpw9QHnhQrKJx7o0Aa-3aF4Ce2Fl_rBTxJd2uG6ePm9DoGcAAqCc3swNfmBrkTH8Jsvglh-RXZxyE0Lm-4bO_pGiHpZqC6n/s320/P6190243.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">A little different, but still brothers.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="left">One of our main destinations we had to hit up was Saratoga Springs, NY. My brother is living/working there, and I haven't seen him in 4+ years. He is still in the Navy and living with his girlfriend Jen, his dog Barron, and 4 cats Jasper, James, Pantera, and Rocky.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="left">We drove in late, but found a good sushi restaurant "Duo" that pleased us (especially Kristina). Try the basil mashed potatoes, apparently the Japanese have bested us on yet another front.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="left">We spent most of our time laying around and reading on the porch. I took some special interest playing fetch with Barron. He loved to chase the kong, but didn't like to give it back. Jesse and Jen took us out to see the horses and the horses were happy to see us too.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The next day, Father's Day, we hit up Six Flags Great Escape for some roller coaster action. Where we saw this guy:</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">What I found out that day is I can't take a roller coaster like I used too (dizzy, not worse). They really only had 5 coasters and they were pretty short and lacked thrill. It was still worth a lot of fun. We went out for some ice cream after which soothed the tummy.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">A day or two after that (days seem to flow together now) we hit up a drive in movie for a double-header. It was "Green Lantern" and "the Hangover Part 2". Green Lantern was alright, but "the Hangover Part 2" had some side-splitting comedy that I'm laughing at still as I type this over a week later. I know it was especially good by the number of times I looked at Kristina and she was shaking her head (for the record Kristina also thought it was hilarious).</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">That was mostly it, had a great time catching up with Jesse and Jen and we know next time we see them again will be too long.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="left">Oh yeah, this blog program is not being nice, I'll reformat this post later...</div></div></div><br /></div>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-77013628802265381812011-06-23T12:20:00.000-07:002011-06-23T12:20:54.043-07:00From State Capitols to the National Capitol<div class="MsoNormal">We drove into DC just before the DC all afternoon rush hour. We parked at my Rochelle’s house in Bethesda, but didn’t have much direction of what to do after that. Rochelle was still at work, and we were going to meet her downtown for a drink later, but not for a few hours. So, we wondered around a little, found the Metro station, got a map of the city from the Concierge desk at the Hyatt, and headed to the Capitol Building, naturally. What else are you to do with a free afternoon in Washington DC? The subway was fairly simple to navigate, and once we got off, metro information people were stationed to answer questions. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWCal7O_BUy8ye8GaiH8xa3spY7PMqT-YyIaMaEbLlOLjUfb12-6I3rBIRft1bxfR7I33JUDNaEKTdDuRv9NykYlDBo0eJZ74xyFoxpJyie8lv9wp2TNoXdlFJOdRI-JvuPchKb5SeCs/s1600/P6160189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWCal7O_BUy8ye8GaiH8xa3spY7PMqT-YyIaMaEbLlOLjUfb12-6I3rBIRft1bxfR7I33JUDNaEKTdDuRv9NykYlDBo0eJZ74xyFoxpJyie8lv9wp2TNoXdlFJOdRI-JvuPchKb5SeCs/s320/P6160189.JPG" width="320" /></a>The Capitol grounds looked a bit beat up, maybe is was the heat, maybe the recession; but the area looked dirty, there were quite a few dirt walkways leading to the capitol and the building looked tired. We did go up to the front and hang out for a bit. Found a random building that housed some drinking fountains that gave us a little relief from the heat and humidity. We watched a hippie in an Uncle Sam hat protesting circumcision laws. Then we met Rochelle and Jonathan at another metro station and walked to Church Key DC, a popular beer and cheese bar. We got to catch up with Rochelle and Jonathan and hear their stories of the big city. Then we went to another bar for a Vassar reunion. (Rochelle and Jonathan are Vassar alumni). This was an interesting event, free booze and food for the alumnus who had just returned from a formal alumni reunion at the school the previous weekend. It was fun for us to meet people and hear their stories. Lots of conversations were sadly about the (very tight) job market in DC.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Later, we met up with another of Rochelle’s friends, Charlene, who was interviewing for some overseas jobs that week for a quick dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery. (This is the same chain as the Rock Bottom in Portland). The day turned out to be much more of an awesome adventure than I had expected when we drove in. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY9mzgerbldRA_qOzCZ_QLipbOPA-PJNSl2thLM1unmqgK3WGHXiQ0F6QVNpOaFurIRhtYOBMTL7wNDXMY1FSAZ4Gp82H9_6OPMCnV1JEZ5ovhUzRa1tEHt-d1tBG0CKc657Na3DuRwA/s1600/P6150169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY9mzgerbldRA_qOzCZ_QLipbOPA-PJNSl2thLM1unmqgK3WGHXiQ0F6QVNpOaFurIRhtYOBMTL7wNDXMY1FSAZ4Gp82H9_6OPMCnV1JEZ5ovhUzRa1tEHt-d1tBG0CKc657Na3DuRwA/s320/P6150169.JPG" width="240" /></a>Armed with our map from the Hyatt, we headed to the other side of the capitol mall the next day. We walked up to the Washington monument. Went up the stairs to the Lincoln monument (and reveled about the beautiful white marble that originated in Marble, Colorado). Spent some time at the war memorials, the Vietnam memorial, in its simplicity, was the most powerful to Jarrett and me. We were hungry and hot, so we aimed to find a Smithsonian that would fulfill both of those needs. We found the Art Museum of the Americas, a small, and interesting museum just across from the mall. It didn’t have any food, so our search continued. We stumbled upon the Metro café to fulfill our hunger, which was more popular among the locals than the tourists. We decided to spend our afternoon at the National Portrait Gallery and the National Art Museum, a combined building. We made it through most of the first floor before we were completely exhausted. There are 3 floors plus of exhibitions and collections. We waited out a thunderstorm at the metro station back in Bethesda, where we met back up with Rochelle, Jonathan, and Charlene for a yummy dinner at Sweet Basil, a wonderful Thai place. (Congrats to Charlene for getting the position she wanted!).</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa3jueCeKquXd8R2ujtkRdsDt4lmV-rR-VO0OPgrw-OX01NDXQUARfeWjnv2bd2jyVYgWCfNJ06E5S45jb4JqyxgRJ0A-Jr_emX3SGRA7wCtwIkadOcMmGlCKidueARHK6FjNOYenCMw/s1600/P6150183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa3jueCeKquXd8R2ujtkRdsDt4lmV-rR-VO0OPgrw-OX01NDXQUARfeWjnv2bd2jyVYgWCfNJ06E5S45jb4JqyxgRJ0A-Jr_emX3SGRA7wCtwIkadOcMmGlCKidueARHK6FjNOYenCMw/s320/P6150183.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vietnam War Memorial with a crowds reflection.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Even though there is so much of DC to explore and hundreds more museums, Jarrett and I decided that we would leave the next day. We had a great time seeing what we did, and a wonderful time spent with friends. So, we headed up the road towards upstate New York the next day. Thank you Rochelle and Jonathan for being such great hosts in DC!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGLqLgLN2RCdDA5hdyfXyhbKR1Vkuv7mm83qTpCXssmKRBmAMSmpG3Twygrv2IPkoqyTd8TDSQIYijmjkddFlbJfJfwOjxReOkORcSzZcs-sq4wWshAnV4EdRjx3UVx9mxGBAOb1tuaU/s1600/P6150177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGLqLgLN2RCdDA5hdyfXyhbKR1Vkuv7mm83qTpCXssmKRBmAMSmpG3Twygrv2IPkoqyTd8TDSQIYijmjkddFlbJfJfwOjxReOkORcSzZcs-sq4wWshAnV4EdRjx3UVx9mxGBAOb1tuaU/s320/P6150177.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our favorite quote from the Korean War Memorial.</td></tr>
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</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-78731480200711527242011-06-23T12:16:00.000-07:002011-06-23T12:16:47.828-07:00One Night in MadtownAfter finding our new home in Des Moines we felt it best to visit my old home... state. Of course the famous New Glarus Brewery just happened to be on the way to our destination.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpFe92aJzjZ4tygFqCAiBGLExaRkYiM1UKmzwwIDrTJtTT7yjKKwr5D64C_iqzJ8Wloq6Fu39_LR1p73JH6B_mGb9upVOH0eKnBpNvPpHDYNy0zl0grKu6_465U7UR5vHDgaogbXqvj4/s1600/P6130096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpFe92aJzjZ4tygFqCAiBGLExaRkYiM1UKmzwwIDrTJtTT7yjKKwr5D64C_iqzJ8Wloq6Fu39_LR1p73JH6B_mGb9upVOH0eKnBpNvPpHDYNy0zl0grKu6_465U7UR5vHDgaogbXqvj4/s320/P6130096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Good stuff made here.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After some delicious nectar of the gods, I stocked up on some for the road (of course all was gone by the time we left D.C.). I recommend the Wisconsin Belgian Red. Kristina was less enthused, but she got through it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">From there we rocked straight north to Mad Town, USA. School was out, but driving through the beltway you wouldn't have noticed (Kristina took that one on too). We had another brand new friend to meet. Elijah "Louie" is a quiet wide-eyed little guy and he's already got good balance. Of course our old friends were there too, Gerald, Lindsay, and Juna welcomed us for the night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kb6BixpCmAYLdiZcBfX3ZdK4GF9B6hiAp5_FhNWGTUPw65VRSfFgImoZJtqWmeYd9liJ1qYVQCnwJpFaiFoGL5qKU7dNNOflIxcQKV9_fJMwyUtcRCk1d3gwkchMf9kKHhOmwk6qyqQ/s1600/P6130108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kb6BixpCmAYLdiZcBfX3ZdK4GF9B6hiAp5_FhNWGTUPw65VRSfFgImoZJtqWmeYd9liJ1qYVQCnwJpFaiFoGL5qKU7dNNOflIxcQKV9_fJMwyUtcRCk1d3gwkchMf9kKHhOmwk6qyqQ/s320/P6130108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Gerald</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht56M3DTU0Li5eaJdrAg62cdexJh-_8Hk3WKjY9nP5kkEoNkkkLCah15-pTxIDG9UqNWJFKB6uNml_Ty7FrpgThf_5dD5a_OyUQnsqcl6NVT6dbKKUnBdz_juM6WVEJwX_FUUlBCGuiZE/s1600/P6130110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht56M3DTU0Li5eaJdrAg62cdexJh-_8Hk3WKjY9nP5kkEoNkkkLCah15-pTxIDG9UqNWJFKB6uNml_Ty7FrpgThf_5dD5a_OyUQnsqcl6NVT6dbKKUnBdz_juM6WVEJwX_FUUlBCGuiZE/s320/P6130110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Juna</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOpiWDFAVec40lkfUjoTx803SEgEXNGjeGIw2d26nM3Ld6RkDFcJmDZF77utWTB3VObc8vsght-eDFHvkLt7M-d5McNbvK5Do5xUpJATK6dNPWgGGkVgRBE-Q_dne9gw2IgD-gSQBvh0/s1600/P6130157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOpiWDFAVec40lkfUjoTx803SEgEXNGjeGIw2d26nM3Ld6RkDFcJmDZF77utWTB3VObc8vsght-eDFHvkLt7M-d5McNbvK5Do5xUpJATK6dNPWgGGkVgRBE-Q_dne9gw2IgD-gSQBvh0/s320/P6130157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lindsay and Louie</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">They treated us right for a night. Caught up over some catfish, quinoa and drinks (we've been eating a lot of fish lately). What a wonderful family! And dinner was splendid! One of the best parts had to be playing with Juna, she got a hold of our camera and went to town on the shoot button. Here is one of her best pieces:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsamJOgzQWqvhUi-cHmncW8M8sck1Ou2n4SalxxrMZFk1yVkjO8l2_1e3_QK_aJZMNyTB_RrOAhTlgATU6y8V2Er9xH9JMX8vfouBvMSt7j0I-r13_CB1pt4koHmmdLWg5t-Hsva-VAs/s1600/P6130135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsamJOgzQWqvhUi-cHmncW8M8sck1Ou2n4SalxxrMZFk1yVkjO8l2_1e3_QK_aJZMNyTB_RrOAhTlgATU6y8V2Er9xH9JMX8vfouBvMSt7j0I-r13_CB1pt4koHmmdLWg5t-Hsva-VAs/s200/P6130135.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t_h1HSPXRvJ4qoQZZOmKKgMj4r3MWmanetYt-8oLO8EanGkR_PUy-WxWJhiXCeIC-hF7uFkpwAVR6igjHF9Wv11edjWSbGINAp1tUMuUF47Dw1ayyClRaGUILA0yD-dub3_pRT1aPss/s1600/P6130136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t_h1HSPXRvJ4qoQZZOmKKgMj4r3MWmanetYt-8oLO8EanGkR_PUy-WxWJhiXCeIC-hF7uFkpwAVR6igjHF9Wv11edjWSbGINAp1tUMuUF47Dw1ayyClRaGUILA0yD-dub3_pRT1aPss/s200/P6130136.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QF05VJqc31bwUTMhl8py_CfWpZBN3TtkGISCm82StX1IDyCePcN55bkrkaCbiV7cKWKD9nELOiWXGvZJKsBRgnTJgu-pRvMsNsFbdCCrzAAP4N0_nRQWlUyurU9tsTAFlaDzRQHYsC8/s1600/P6130137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QF05VJqc31bwUTMhl8py_CfWpZBN3TtkGISCm82StX1IDyCePcN55bkrkaCbiV7cKWKD9nELOiWXGvZJKsBRgnTJgu-pRvMsNsFbdCCrzAAP4N0_nRQWlUyurU9tsTAFlaDzRQHYsC8/s200/P6130137.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHzmS_aBVm3FdhUrDUxNtwQ9FYt50Xd7G1gADOzcecuLDRVGnDuwyHc7a3T88i9LhLoQcqRmbGZgh-HPeJv5RV7BlETldcVpltUsiqLOzFTVAGAuYQCfF5rjliToEXlFXWIVIS2olzuI/s1600/P6130138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHzmS_aBVm3FdhUrDUxNtwQ9FYt50Xd7G1gADOzcecuLDRVGnDuwyHc7a3T88i9LhLoQcqRmbGZgh-HPeJv5RV7BlETldcVpltUsiqLOzFTVAGAuYQCfF5rjliToEXlFXWIVIS2olzuI/s200/P6130138.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">A series I call: "Reverse Birth"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">We were on the road by 10am next morning! Wisconsin we will be back soon!</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-51514354222019368782011-06-21T08:00:00.000-07:002011-06-21T08:00:20.997-07:00Our new home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviho7b2s0_RDcedFFuII4DvUyWFoWREkWfdXRJXucyNG1ZBbtijwrIxhjmGHCGLop1Ee06j9qnXUqrYMPZMjukeBOgQJzQHCWmjLVvU19vv4rPeUnvE3XiMzfBERp664QHCezwJXt87g/s1600/P6090063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviho7b2s0_RDcedFFuII4DvUyWFoWREkWfdXRJXucyNG1ZBbtijwrIxhjmGHCGLop1Ee06j9qnXUqrYMPZMjukeBOgQJzQHCWmjLVvU19vv4rPeUnvE3XiMzfBERp664QHCezwJXt87g/s200/P6090063.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Our first night in Des Moines and there were thunderstorms continuously throughout the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to camp at a State Park just 7 miles out of the city to save money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there we were hunkered down in our tent hoping that nothing would happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are pretty experienced with camping in the rain, somehow every time we decide to camp, it pours on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we knew that the storms were coming when we arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We worked efficiently to set up camp, make dinner, start the fire (Jarrett had quite the time starting it in a puddle but was successful), and organize the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just in case, we put all boxes and items into the front seat of the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This cleared out the back in case we needed to sleep in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we should have, but we stayed in our tent that night.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqE-Ur4lPimvemcXRn_Rs4ECrOmmUHmKD4znBQvyf7Ny6dksirNpOviNESaG-Vgpod6kC6UiCGetv6fnHczzdtdEo2Cah2FmJT-vM0nS4_cl6mlz2s_nzOBi5aFc3hABmV5jcW084L5w/s1600/P6090069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqE-Ur4lPimvemcXRn_Rs4ECrOmmUHmKD4znBQvyf7Ny6dksirNpOviNESaG-Vgpod6kC6UiCGetv6fnHczzdtdEo2Cah2FmJT-vM0nS4_cl6mlz2s_nzOBi5aFc3hABmV5jcW084L5w/s200/P6090069.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty! This may not seem like much,<br />
but the Prius is normally packed tight. <br />
(We are, after all, living out of it for<br />
2 months).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Our second night was almost more exciting, we had dinner and went to a movie in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Found a great gluten free restaurant, Tally’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They used the best pasta we have ever had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an Italian brand, Schar gluten free penne pasta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jarrett had the mushroom pasta, rivaling our GF pasta place in Portland, and I had chicken and mashed potatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both were super yummy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we saw a late showing of Super 8, a cheesy movie in the theatre, to ride out yet another thunderstorm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point our evening almost got more exciting than night #1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove back to our campground at 12:30AM only to discover that the gates closed at 10:30PM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we pulled into the drive to think about what we were going to do next, a cop drove up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked if we were lost, we told him our predicament, and he moved on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looked like we were going to walk (only about ¼ of a mile) but in the dark and with no flashlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flashlights were all in the tent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Jarrett decided to try the gate, and it wasn’t locked even though a padlock was hanging from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We opened the gate and drove in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazy adventure adverted. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVkz_pk9nD7XK8LIAKneOuALOuJLqSTOWByEjptZnXze38WJXwZ5pD-KuMdDbb7hcIZJgq4scWY18rXNUbx15Y_OrN96J8GfC6-15tE8gsPnbKC22fyQHKAcSFsKlhjoC_wuc88izTZc/s1600/P6090077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVkz_pk9nD7XK8LIAKneOuALOuJLqSTOWByEjptZnXze38WJXwZ5pD-KuMdDbb7hcIZJgq4scWY18rXNUbx15Y_OrN96J8GfC6-15tE8gsPnbKC22fyQHKAcSFsKlhjoC_wuc88izTZc/s200/P6090077.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jarrett's successful fire <br />
(a puddle of water was at<br />
the bottom of the fire pit).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">The focus of our time in Des Moines was apartment hunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set up as many appointments a day as we could, and if we got stood up we checked out one of the complexes that allowed pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our 3<sup>rd</sup> day of appointments turned out to be the productive one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both places we looked at were super cute, decent price range and had different sets of perks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chose the less expensive place that was farther out of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, this place is just up the street from where we camped the first two nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am looking forward to getting our things moved and setting up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I have to wait until the last week of July for that… but that is coming very quickly. We welcome anyone passing through Des Moines to visit us, we will have a 2nd bedroom and would love to see friends during the school year!</div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9vv1Xe7Jw6XSR8ZkB7KR4g7DpNY7RNrjYuRHHE2jpl7fTjrk6ZW_l49ZohABfrK2BKzudzgxoZnj2w2BUZEwePnZUCWKpknWXyQl9mlCAlYhu-e_PzP-BiDRunikUsBQ-EV2AxuOX-Q/s1600/P6100087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9vv1Xe7Jw6XSR8ZkB7KR4g7DpNY7RNrjYuRHHE2jpl7fTjrk6ZW_l49ZohABfrK2BKzudzgxoZnj2w2BUZEwePnZUCWKpknWXyQl9mlCAlYhu-e_PzP-BiDRunikUsBQ-EV2AxuOX-Q/s200/P6100087.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in a sculpture at a Des Moines park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Des Moines is smaller than we thought; it has lots of hills and lots of trees making it very pretty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many buildings are made of brick which adds to the charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rivers were at capacity or slightly overflowing so some roads were closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with the closed roads we figured out the main ones to use to get around the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say that the West side of Des Moines is much simpler than Portland to drive in <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The East side, where our hotel was the third and fourth nights, is composed of knots of freeways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one connects large cities, Chicago, Kansas City, etc. and for some reason they all meet in Des Moines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is okay, we will be spending all of our time on the West Side between school and home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-78301130057952534012011-06-19T16:31:00.000-07:002011-06-19T16:31:29.074-07:00Some Really Big Rocks.<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Denver</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_OluGYZRAqi2iX7U6TPKzyzABNfAf6o_8iCP0Vr5P8LoWK0SUGQis2IIXw1qWJVYihCLhw_PkH8fZC6ISe8WE0qJvwd-wcdB397YKp83Eyl_Vihehh4MDWp1YLsbVcwxHUqB6Xg6_qo/s1600/P6060009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_OluGYZRAqi2iX7U6TPKzyzABNfAf6o_8iCP0Vr5P8LoWK0SUGQis2IIXw1qWJVYihCLhw_PkH8fZC6ISe8WE0qJvwd-wcdB397YKp83Eyl_Vihehh4MDWp1YLsbVcwxHUqB6Xg6_qo/s320/P6060009.JPG" width="320" /></a>Our first evening in Denver, we went to Red Rocks Amphitheater for music and a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw 2 local bands including Matt Morris and the original Footloose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt Morris has an amazing voice and he has been making a national name for himself lately by singing on talk shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Footloose was more fun than expected because the crowd really got into the movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They boo’ed the bad guys, cheered when something went right, and made jokes at the cheesey parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The star of the show, however, was the amphitheater itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are red rocks jutting out of the earth hundreds of feet into the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow they jutted up in just the right spots to make an amphitheater in the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you sit high enough, you can see the lights of Denver and amazing views of the entire valley.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvLdKAnTHgJrb5SDDHelddrgRhD86eCSkY5JgEHHXbWKXiftYfhs_3bYFg0Yi1B70x5pnOX2QzFkWtzVmMUImO1ohsfeA5j2zBBKTItVHXKp3Eq6ge4_fsFHUYzjlgoSQrpNGbcrPUOs/s1600/P6060004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvLdKAnTHgJrb5SDDHelddrgRhD86eCSkY5JgEHHXbWKXiftYfhs_3bYFg0Yi1B70x5pnOX2QzFkWtzVmMUImO1ohsfeA5j2zBBKTItVHXKp3Eq6ge4_fsFHUYzjlgoSQrpNGbcrPUOs/s320/P6060004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXd-ytsgSWFd8y1npWMDGtzUUtnGKFR3mc8IkGBUq2JQ0pYuWqYq4_uUZmMiqoOYtQsgjYg7ALioOvgKt8n9QIWdPSdHmg8qESuohodoFEbHRjbmCFX9Qk6HcHlnIf8vdymlC-xpOloY/s1600/P6060011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXd-ytsgSWFd8y1npWMDGtzUUtnGKFR3mc8IkGBUq2JQ0pYuWqYq4_uUZmMiqoOYtQsgjYg7ALioOvgKt8n9QIWdPSdHmg8qESuohodoFEbHRjbmCFX9Qk6HcHlnIf8vdymlC-xpOloY/s320/P6060011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had a lot of fun playing and walking Kelley and Tim’s poodle mixes, Patton and Monte.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another set of pets that we fell in love with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second day Kelley took us downtown to explore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The light rail in Denver is widely used and the best way to skip the constant Denver traffic and parking issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grabbed a quick, lunch at a café downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we checked out the pianos on the street mall, the capitol building and the federal minting building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the mint had no tours available until the following week, but we tried to get on one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite place was the independent 'Tattered Cover' Bookstore. (By the way, the blog background is a close up of a strange statue we saw in Denver. I think it is supposed to depict water balloons stacked into a tower, but I'm not sure.)</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv0exEx9nieuimbRaP8TWTkmKpPp-m5GkvHEqfH1oRv7Q-Bl2JbSeWA6drciI0gP14WiMNgx0jyEBELYLXAxkUa2x_zpGdsl02YDUSwquqBX6qGjTqIhDcx4eIl4GO9Kezkmf8OwBjA4/s1600/P6070046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv0exEx9nieuimbRaP8TWTkmKpPp-m5GkvHEqfH1oRv7Q-Bl2JbSeWA6drciI0gP14WiMNgx0jyEBELYLXAxkUa2x_zpGdsl02YDUSwquqBX6qGjTqIhDcx4eIl4GO9Kezkmf8OwBjA4/s200/P6070046.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelley and Tim, our great hosts in Denver.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">We spent lots of time relaxing on Kelley and Tim’s great patio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are in the process of landscaping their backyard, and it will be a masterpiece when it is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their yard is completed by a beautiful garden that makes us miss our community garden in Portland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The last night in Denver, Jarrett and I took the light rail to Lo Do (lower downtown) to have a drink with some more friends who live in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met Jarrett’s longtime friends Kelly and Trevor at Blake Street Tavern, a sports bar, for some wine and great conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we headed to another bar to play flip cup with Jarrett’s friend Clint and his kickball team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Playing flip cup in a bar felt the same as buying hard liquor from a grocery store, quite odd but convenient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we left the bars, we did get a bit lost trying to find the light rail again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually we did find a stop for the rail and made it home safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Boulder</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kelley and Trevor suggested that we hit up Boulder before we leave the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said it sounded a little like Portland, had a different flavor than Denver, and was worth checking out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, on our way out of Denver, we drove up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving into the city was magnificent; it was laid out with brick buildings, and set just below the grand Rocky Mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We (of course) stopped at REI to gather our senses and a couple items we were running low on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we went to Pearl St., the touristy street in Boulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Not to be confused with “the Pearl district” in Portland. This is upscale, but not to that degree.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first restaurant we came to served gluten free pasta and pizzas, (AWESOME!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we did a little walking around and ate a quick lunch at that restaurant, <a href="http://www.gondolieronpearl.com/">the Goldolier</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a lot to explore, but we decided to head out since it was nearly 3PM and we still had a lot of driving to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our next destination was Des Moines and we hoped to get about half way there that day.</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-50216707007363432852011-06-18T15:21:00.000-07:002011-06-18T16:09:12.806-07:00Not out of the mountains yet....Before we made our descent to the lowlands of Denver, CO, we had more mountains to climb. We made our way east to the resort city of Winter Park, CO. My friend Ryan is up there cooking for his daily bread (but probably doing more snowboarding, longboarding, biking and other great stuff). He's living it up in a natural paradise with his girl Valerie.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGB_QHjhyphenhyphenTX9VjUaScoS5YPz9fxUBQYvUwPFMoyouz62td5IjluusiMOPrv2uKu95WIW-y5WSeOKXTTLOnkHeCqYfjogAQtyNoauXaI3XCQL1WzYJeezYpBrZQ3WV-be5Z_GLl0Sy1xr2/s1600/P6050409.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGB_QHjhyphenhyphenTX9VjUaScoS5YPz9fxUBQYvUwPFMoyouz62td5IjluusiMOPrv2uKu95WIW-y5WSeOKXTTLOnkHeCqYfjogAQtyNoauXaI3XCQL1WzYJeezYpBrZQ3WV-be5Z_GLl0Sy1xr2/s320/P6050409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692790817928002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kristina and Ryan before we hit the trail.</span></span><br /></div><br />We did some walking to the resort, on the way we saw this little guy. He didn't seem to mind us at all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcz-_LF6r_Z0aDnXGeVVHah6CM4T_-SYCbopwrMjvcKmBn3zj4DLdmea6lStlgRgNvs-j5rnPOOM6UqfvlCwvSV0dpxOF1PcOE4GeuP5edxWijbRQQSRo615WzcQlBc2kXYgB0kuzSMUfg/s1600/P6050421.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcz-_LF6r_Z0aDnXGeVVHah6CM4T_-SYCbopwrMjvcKmBn3zj4DLdmea6lStlgRgNvs-j5rnPOOM6UqfvlCwvSV0dpxOF1PcOE4GeuP5edxWijbRQQSRo615WzcQlBc2kXYgB0kuzSMUfg/s320/P6050421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692822282606594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >moose.</span><br /></div><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >After exploring the resort and town, we mostly hung out and drank some beer. Ryan and Valerie then hooked it up with a three meat trio: elk, halibut, and pork. Put some veggies on the side and it rivaled any trio put on this earth (sorry Larry, Moe, and Curly). We crashed maybe earlier than usual, maybe our brains we</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >nt on vacation, maybe out stomachs weighed us like anchors to the mattress so soft. I don't know, but what I do know is call us satisfied and then some.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_dAuLfu5SQnxgWsjD48WlbDRbF4Asp_6fcJVHnXPj7V_tqvmKllMBpazcnFrVJmjUFxePf46TulDEc06ypBcC1sRaOO2a7uMzFx12GuKDnRqRqsEksUAZ9NCOwtg7aqtOIQEz5h5NSmt/s1600/P6050411.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_dAuLfu5SQnxgWsjD48WlbDRbF4Asp_6fcJVHnXPj7V_tqvmKllMBpazcnFrVJmjUFxePf46TulDEc06ypBcC1sRaOO2a7uMzFx12GuKDnRqRqsEksUAZ9NCOwtg7aqtOIQEz5h5NSmt/s320/P6050411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692805643882082" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Either the water goes East or the water goes West, but it can't stay here.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(except for that snow, that will be there for a bit)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Thanks again Ryan and Valerie, you proved to be wonderfully entertaining hosts for our stop over in Winter Park. We loved the fresh mountain air!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8hUWBpAgA6D1iSeH3y7fLkWoezAeDMryoYAuRn_TiWECtdEsSWWuA8skh1J04Fb1r7a9FyZ9GFmO-tjWCqk4LNFX_3SwDjMZix3EeSQdmXxvS7D1gy05aZBrugczkEJrfuGoV7sMRPsE/s1600/P6050424.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8hUWBpAgA6D1iSeH3y7fLkWoezAeDMryoYAuRn_TiWECtdEsSWWuA8skh1J04Fb1r7a9FyZ9GFmO-tjWCqk4LNFX_3SwDjMZix3EeSQdmXxvS7D1gy05aZBrugczkEJrfuGoV7sMRPsE/s320/P6050424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692828265423378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan and I.<br /></span></div></div></div></div></div>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-27675564636854735652011-06-14T18:24:00.000-07:002011-06-14T19:45:13.441-07:00Finding a Marble in the mountainsAfter the plural mountains of Utah, we had a revelation to return to Marble, CO for the 2nd time within a year. We visited our friends Hawkins & Chrissy. It was of course as glorious as we remembered. I had a testimony that this is a prophets' paradise.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_hN9siRRD8mpOxcYChTqayQ_AGjB5yX3Q47t3tkfkmUfsDth4hFkBZJRJXHpIDNHiImtcJt8Z7Oe4rBFxWJMRE7g7S4R8rYEU5Gw1Mo9qnAXP0iZYyNTiBZS0q0zm8mcGGORgqBJgJw/s1600/P6010342.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_hN9siRRD8mpOxcYChTqayQ_AGjB5yX3Q47t3tkfkmUfsDth4hFkBZJRJXHpIDNHiImtcJt8Z7Oe4rBFxWJMRE7g7S4R8rYEU5Gw1Mo9qnAXP0iZYyNTiBZS0q0zm8mcGGORgqBJgJw/s320/P6010342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618255414606645970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">View from the front deck</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This time we met our new friend, Ellamae, </span>only 7 weeks old. I got to hold her and everything, she is a bundle of joy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh3Qki54AbQ8XDn4aJ7Fq-e9HR802swQV7gdt_uXXIUnvRT3qAFG56iKLJjCPoo8mc31vQxJtT9CBkqzB8QYlDTMscFev-wbOf8Bn0f6VJHSDrxeG8gt-VlegM4mSpiBNi4qofyqbV1W1/s1600/P6030392.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh3Qki54AbQ8XDn4aJ7Fq-e9HR802swQV7gdt_uXXIUnvRT3qAFG56iKLJjCPoo8mc31vQxJtT9CBkqzB8QYlDTMscFev-wbOf8Bn0f6VJHSDrxeG8gt-VlegM4mSpiBNi4qofyqbV1W1/s320/P6030392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618256645167070674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ellamae and me.<br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The first night we jammed out on guitars and got into an impromptu free-styling session (thanks Spencer for awakening old demons). We also caught up with chit-chat and tipped back a few drinks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjw8tT862l1nGeckHRpXKtWI_iXmpujFQevXuU8ccmMvSevm0vjxuKF-6Z-V1WnL4DpCHh3iOrNsYMrsXIZ7ERZAC1_melkkIAQOtIMqnEAyy5YCjmUuCle4y5LXPTqxJbJ4p0vR-GNgZ/s1600/P6020346.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjw8tT862l1nGeckHRpXKtWI_iXmpujFQevXuU8ccmMvSevm0vjxuKF-6Z-V1WnL4DpCHh3iOrNsYMrsXIZ7ERZAC1_melkkIAQOtIMqnEAyy5YCjmUuCle4y5LXPTqxJbJ4p0vR-GNgZ/s320/P6020346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618257727095975442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Marble's own -- Deja Blue<br /><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next day we explored the bustling village of Marble, CO. We went up the road to the quarry, the only place that mines pure white marble. This marble was used to make the Lincoln Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (both located in D.C. which is tomorrow's destination). We tried a couple of hikes to waterfalls but we were blocked by flooded paths. We did see this guy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY5Jg4IlWMG9aZZQZB5uDamtEawK8iK3vt9PXIhJmol5WvqtFvGAmAZzC6DPD2XSCMqpBIHPt1JohBOOxVWKPbDT7WvUQ5COK0WAb336JAdBhqGzRIfezzPM59c9tvjM1PYvNWWacp5Ql/s1600/P6020352.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY5Jg4IlWMG9aZZQZB5uDamtEawK8iK3vt9PXIhJmol5WvqtFvGAmAZzC6DPD2XSCMqpBIHPt1JohBOOxVWKPbDT7WvUQ5COK0WAb336JAdBhqGzRIfezzPM59c9tvjM1PYvNWWacp5Ql/s320/P6020352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618259763687147058" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-V_-XfRLTpAKYGcDdJNNR4IGMO_4FGJhrvJsPWwXYAvyqr6ZcnjNu9CUdjhGwQGVzdZN1ZXTNkdwZyxpDljBPY5EcgSt5biUw-gzJpAq5uk-woltI3OB0XJ8dEpwjzqBzwXUnrK_OKDQ0/s1600/P6050423.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-V_-XfRLTpAKYGcDdJNNR4IGMO_4FGJhrvJsPWwXYAvyqr6ZcnjNu9CUdjhGwQGVzdZN1ZXTNkdwZyxpDljBPY5EcgSt5biUw-gzJpAq5uk-woltI3OB0XJ8dEpwjzqBzwXUnrK_OKDQ0/s320/P6050423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618260085556511282" border="0" /></a>Hawkins and Chrissy made us feel more than welcome, we stayed in the loft bedroom. We awoke to huge windows with views on all sides. They made us some great dinners, and we had ourselves a nice campfire the last night.<br /><br />Speaking of the last night, Tom and Marilyn flew out from Wisco and hung out too. The lot of us went down to the river, where yours truly mined for gold. Kristina showed me how to do it, showing me the Idaho method. I'm not filthy rich yet, but this blog is short. Check back for more of my millionaire scheme updates.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVAJgFwqaaWFrN7fG2eS5ERaWi3Y6LsdruBiN9CRiNASeZtMWjThH-vyogpgvd63q_G8i4du99geLag5gXUX-pxSnxADjmePnePMVj3_ai8fUb6FnAxMwOv9E4DsLoKr7KFzwzhnDbfAg/s1600/P6040396.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVAJgFwqaaWFrN7fG2eS5ERaWi3Y6LsdruBiN9CRiNASeZtMWjThH-vyogpgvd63q_G8i4du99geLag5gXUX-pxSnxADjmePnePMVj3_ai8fUb6FnAxMwOv9E4DsLoKr7KFzwzhnDbfAg/s320/P6040396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618263979121828866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dar's goald in dees mountins!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Check out this great bluegrass band at the local BBQ joint.</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQgT0_ZSiI4FWoTaZc-QTDxCEXExvxlLi1sKMaczwV_jCJ_XPOte4Biw0J7GbmG7RJQpXN80Rnjn6YdfhWJoXlwYzB5xrMQkSGGFAAtbhkeseVyZD0mkPImFLIMBGcxLz1KVSpWGjfJAd/s1600/P6040402.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 433px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQgT0_ZSiI4FWoTaZc-QTDxCEXExvxlLi1sKMaczwV_jCJ_XPOte4Biw0J7GbmG7RJQpXN80Rnjn6YdfhWJoXlwYzB5xrMQkSGGFAAtbhkeseVyZD0mkPImFLIMBGcxLz1KVSpWGjfJAd/s320/P6040402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618263999402091298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The "C" Band, or Carly's mom's band</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks again Hawkins & Chrissy, Ellamae, Sasha, Deja, Lucky, Clovis, and Jasper! Had another great time and we hope to make it to the Marble Symposium!<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi042NITdFNco5_FmaO-mk92htL1EXstyz48GTz_dwhfodr1Z_q9UXVvxUpALBCoMW-bBfJoNwbTmki5ZrjvAWiw4Dm1xXI6ZdmBL3dGpaDcbVX3BpUvJ8ZhN9GxAGv1aKUpPqpGLerqKWV/s1600/P6040404.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi042NITdFNco5_FmaO-mk92htL1EXstyz48GTz_dwhfodr1Z_q9UXVvxUpALBCoMW-bBfJoNwbTmki5ZrjvAWiw4Dm1xXI6ZdmBL3dGpaDcbVX3BpUvJ8ZhN9GxAGv1aKUpPqpGLerqKWV/s320/P6040404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618264008065681106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hawkins & Chrissy</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaCRvNwfLY2rYcyv1Wp1vNTRUoFo0TdBGzuuWq1TsYBXIubjUMSnVuGIEVLYmp_yxMQ5S9__yyr-qwpWbvqjmdayu6rcZGgUMumu5G_h43gZ7WZCnPpA0458SlUPa7FHvQVzUkJ-cZpby/s1600/P6040399.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaCRvNwfLY2rYcyv1Wp1vNTRUoFo0TdBGzuuWq1TsYBXIubjUMSnVuGIEVLYmp_yxMQ5S9__yyr-qwpWbvqjmdayu6rcZGgUMumu5G_h43gZ7WZCnPpA0458SlUPa7FHvQVzUkJ-cZpby/s320/P6040399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618263991570333346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hey everyone! Check out how good I look!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div></div></div></div>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-80794556249220095512011-06-12T09:35:00.000-07:002011-06-12T09:35:21.487-07:00Millsite State Park, UTWe are a bit behind on blogging. Lately the computer and internet have been used for one purpose only, apartment hunting. We still haven't found the right one, but we think that we are close.<div><br />
</div><div>Back to the trip: After Las Vegas, our next destination was Marble, Colorado. Since this was a long drive, we decided to camp in Utah. We wanted to see several parks like Zion, the Grand Canyon (AZ), or Bryce Canyon, but we didn't go to these because we were feeling short on time. We just picked a park on the map and headed in that direction to camp. It turned out to be a great choice. We ended up staying at Millsite State Park, just off the banks of the reservoir. This park is just West of Ferron, UT off highway 10. We were surrounded by huge beautiful rocks and mountains. The weather was a bit windy but still decently warm. It is a grand place!</div><div><br />
</div><div>The pictures tell the story best:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7aY5Es2gm2xRjQbcfjbKX1iltlT9J4Fep1QIK1Ky6NzZe4NdsvAB1xRIvY8IUycsytVkPMvpkpMA6M1A6oaOxiGH31tlRRuWS9APOeTtQfPKTE1S5SFL4e3sQZw1mBES578kWy65Xgg/s1600/P6010318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7aY5Es2gm2xRjQbcfjbKX1iltlT9J4Fep1QIK1Ky6NzZe4NdsvAB1xRIvY8IUycsytVkPMvpkpMA6M1A6oaOxiGH31tlRRuWS9APOeTtQfPKTE1S5SFL4e3sQZw1mBES578kWy65Xgg/s320/P6010318.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristina setting up the table to make dinner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsQuol3QPqIgRhYK3gRmQ9nWrAGoksCPPGeffbMPqfl4ZfjfkqL4aGNDnzLTB075DejEP7-z4UVg2I6KNCjrwMgiTBN9Hp-kaV9j1mlGpZnSZzzKLD918chrT_AiRG4_QpjuCvfrsCFY/s1600/P6010320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsQuol3QPqIgRhYK3gRmQ9nWrAGoksCPPGeffbMPqfl4ZfjfkqL4aGNDnzLTB075DejEP7-z4UVg2I6KNCjrwMgiTBN9Hp-kaV9j1mlGpZnSZzzKLD918chrT_AiRG4_QpjuCvfrsCFY/s320/P6010320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing rock structures. We have tons of pictures of more structures as we were driving through Utah. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yJgSazeoGyi500JBJlti5lnW5vTptREKYSr4pAISdC32PwdtJfwst0UiF3_m0gQLL06OmvY3UEGvxlEX8K80chWS5UkUq5sRCQ6bRBmd-BDpBHsYC6pRG7eHkgQe9ZHiClH4VQ4xwa0/s1600/P6010328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yJgSazeoGyi500JBJlti5lnW5vTptREKYSr4pAISdC32PwdtJfwst0UiF3_m0gQLL06OmvY3UEGvxlEX8K80chWS5UkUq5sRCQ6bRBmd-BDpBHsYC6pRG7eHkgQe9ZHiClH4VQ4xwa0/s320/P6010328.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jarrett found his perch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fCJhu4wF28jnv07B-CyrdB1Dp34B0pH6GtQW83rc1Dh6gS-A871ltFNt8Uwhz_P73BsDbiK8mRGAXXwfGyQB_2898ChARrJ3MjJf2uN3CKNxcRQYIQkroGHxOyN1L0ACpf4Bu9fcKzA/s1600/P6010332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fCJhu4wF28jnv07B-CyrdB1Dp34B0pH6GtQW83rc1Dh6gS-A871ltFNt8Uwhz_P73BsDbiK8mRGAXXwfGyQB_2898ChARrJ3MjJf2uN3CKNxcRQYIQkroGHxOyN1L0ACpf4Bu9fcKzA/s320/P6010332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE42AdjM3hIFtR9JqhRtuAy5eAfVqPNuqq2_pGyASKGklfyWNDuSmme3_X87SUAOGM1WAnHhTkHLerOP9AJKbu6H-j825C2o9GWl3hnswbFfFK_1RjYlKAVHU-WXqAZXarHrwd3Lw7FM/s1600/P6010319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE42AdjM3hIFtR9JqhRtuAy5eAfVqPNuqq2_pGyASKGklfyWNDuSmme3_X87SUAOGM1WAnHhTkHLerOP9AJKbu6H-j825C2o9GWl3hnswbFfFK_1RjYlKAVHU-WXqAZXarHrwd3Lw7FM/s320/P6010319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little set up, right on the reservoir.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-90301894182394984722011-06-11T20:22:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:05:15.244-07:00Who needs the Academy.<div>Sorry we haven't been keeping up with the blog. Not much internet on the road, and the little we have is spotty. This doesn't include our gracious hosts of course. We've been too busy catching up to bury our noses in the computer while visiting.<br />
<br />
So here's a quick shout out from Kristina's Android to the great friends that made this leg of the trip possible: (Please forgive any misspelled names)<br />
<br />
San Francisco, CA: Bob & Lindsey. Cats: Puma, Weezer, and Vale.<br />
Ventura, CA: Matt & Jess. Dog: Pepper. Mouse: Taco. Fish: Blackie and Whitey.<br />
Encinitas, CA: Jeramiah. Roomates: Nate and Matt. Dogs: Duke and Cali.<br />
Marble, CO: Hawkins & Chrissy & Ellamae. Dogs: Sasha, Deja, and Lucky. Cats: Clovis and Jasper. Special Guest appearances by Tom & Marilyn and Spencer too.<br />
Winterpark, CO: Ryan & Valerie.<br />
Denver, CO: Tim & Kelly. Dogs: Monty and Patton. Met up with: Trevor & Kelly. Clint.<br />
<br />
Let your mugs never be empty and may all your viruses be computer related.<br />
<br />
Jarrett & Kristina</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-2580495122903770132011-06-01T09:50:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:03:42.881-07:00We didn't forget San DiegoKristina jumped the gun on Vegas. Blogging while still in the city is against the blogging code. Just read Gates 6:2 in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Book of Binary</span>:<br />
<br />
'Though shall not bloggeth while in the midst of thy blogging subject. I sayeth unto thee.'<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
'1001010101110001001100001011011011010110110110111010100010111101101011011010110110110101101101011010111010110101101010101110101111101000'<br />
<br />
Anyway...<br />
<br />
We also went to San Diego! Well, Encinitas really. Visited my friend from college and beyond Jeramiah. As well as his 2 roommates Nate and Matt, and his dog Duke and Nate's dog Cali. DeMars, also from Stout, was also up for the weekend.<br />
<br />
Just chilled out for the first night. Then we checked out San Diego. First, we went to Balboa Park, they were having an International Food Fair. The food smelled great, but we didn't want to risk the gluten intake. After strolling through the whole San Diego Museum of Art and the Botanical Garden. We got hungry and ate at Urban in downtown. I was pushing for the Croce Bar & Grill, a tribute to Jim Croce, but alas it was not open yet.<br />
<br />
<br />
Later that night Jeramiah hooked us up with some amazing grilled halibut, asparagus, and some homemade salsa. Bomb. We chilled out and watched the movie 'The Rite', the wrong movie to watch if you want to watch a good movie.<br />
<br />
The next day we got up early (in unemployment time) and Jeramiah took me out surfing. It was choppy and big, but it wasn't a complete loss, got to swim in the Pacific and tanned on the hot beach. We finished off with some more In n' Out burgers and packed up the Prius (minor delay with the back getting wet from me leaving the cooler plug open).<br />
<br />
Thank you Jeramiah and company for putting us up for a couple of nights!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuheH84fh_Df08uOe8KIZ9GC8ZT71B_t5bGKiIE1MkyWXncReKehNkErXWhUI0jb9-d13cqmJWFfbirlBy0q6VTqqWYFS2tuwn3_KI4Yo5jVU8TwY8yySHP_Yo-tySCN3ik_s_vZtlWg/s1600/P5290218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuheH84fh_Df08uOe8KIZ9GC8ZT71B_t5bGKiIE1MkyWXncReKehNkErXWhUI0jb9-d13cqmJWFfbirlBy0q6VTqqWYFS2tuwn3_KI4Yo5jVU8TwY8yySHP_Yo-tySCN3ik_s_vZtlWg/s320/P5290218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Balboa Park</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rnAdmxHBjVEaX1IaaoVkr_67znRTr87feYp-riTvw8JHQ1YJNcm6-ivLozQB4fj6_MqNQldYHTSZSGKOB_l7TzVawWKOv8XR78QhdJlN8CyhvqLEyjPqE49V2hxoxrjRZsuYsQckBeA/s1600/P5290219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rnAdmxHBjVEaX1IaaoVkr_67znRTr87feYp-riTvw8JHQ1YJNcm6-ivLozQB4fj6_MqNQldYHTSZSGKOB_l7TzVawWKOv8XR78QhdJlN8CyhvqLEyjPqE49V2hxoxrjRZsuYsQckBeA/s320/P5290219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Balboa Park Botanical Building</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYuVmmXZLLGTNd87AZdVGEe-QqQXlaVeW22PaHS6bnwBciO1uVHpLV4NmdUja06UzOJL8vPh2Nl1vNOVYDCzuHhupLBvifAWWv_3na03X-ftCMdCbfohDILGQ9a9YVcQslzc0Mh95bos/s1600/P5290225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYuVmmXZLLGTNd87AZdVGEe-QqQXlaVeW22PaHS6bnwBciO1uVHpLV4NmdUja06UzOJL8vPh2Nl1vNOVYDCzuHhupLBvifAWWv_3na03X-ftCMdCbfohDILGQ9a9YVcQslzc0Mh95bos/s320/P5290225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Flower</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAc7iI3tQijUSgwb_F3eMdMH5ZRC087n5RnnvjrpQAEMGRqcmH_JNUuzYQgtv0VY7aPCecSI7Gko62s1nZyLEKAmdV4vk4HtcfWsqVm5p3lU758dn__ldYQo-xk1bzPEfVPsI_45WCuQ/s1600/P5290237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAc7iI3tQijUSgwb_F3eMdMH5ZRC087n5RnnvjrpQAEMGRqcmH_JNUuzYQgtv0VY7aPCecSI7Gko62s1nZyLEKAmdV4vk4HtcfWsqVm5p3lU758dn__ldYQo-xk1bzPEfVPsI_45WCuQ/s320/P5290237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Beauty</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPdcKsGPcxO4DbXpvOrOuIOVagf7s71xwTwZI3UDrwn03z9rDk_H62W-GGpTJd-9mi-u7iw0go-MDvm27MNKyd4i-Hs__GwXDeBVqTNEfsqsxJ3gYKjjjAuFLgruDd92JkVgF1BC9lXg/s1600/P5290238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPdcKsGPcxO4DbXpvOrOuIOVagf7s71xwTwZI3UDrwn03z9rDk_H62W-GGpTJd-9mi-u7iw0go-MDvm27MNKyd4i-Hs__GwXDeBVqTNEfsqsxJ3gYKjjjAuFLgruDd92JkVgF1BC9lXg/s320/P5290238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Me</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhWrxxUqMZSslIGTHBoV2bgOimNo9L-7aTStOFH-FNYffkwV8M3CytbCCfXFUhOAYdhWd_Y2-A2V7DUJFaaXKXeLWWUsyEb1bRG0jJNhcn5pvywbQ5TH0qjify8emdRFFaM2woQKCAtc/s1600/P5290240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhWrxxUqMZSslIGTHBoV2bgOimNo9L-7aTStOFH-FNYffkwV8M3CytbCCfXFUhOAYdhWd_Y2-A2V7DUJFaaXKXeLWWUsyEb1bRG0jJNhcn5pvywbQ5TH0qjify8emdRFFaM2woQKCAtc/s320/P5290240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">?</div>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-6548309463246863372011-06-01T09:44:00.000-07:002011-06-01T09:44:15.244-07:00VegasJust a quick note of our stay in Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Monday we ate a half a cow for dinner. Okay maybe not a half a cow, it was a Kings cut prime rib, about 8 inches tall and the size of a dinner plate. Still huge and really tasty, I'm still salivating over it.</li>
<li>Tuesday I ate a half a chicken for dinner. Who says you can't eat well on a gluten free diet? I'm wishing I had the leftovers for breakfast.</li>
<li>We haven't gone clubbing or partying here, but did walk most of the strip yesterday to see the amazing lobbies of the casinos. Below are some of the textures we found.</li>
<li>We also gambled for an hour. I spent $10 and left with $9 from the slot machines. Jarrett did a little better at the Black Jack table, and won enough to cover our meals here.</li>
<li>The drive in was a little crazy, cars (with Nevada and Arizona plates) were passing us going 90 to 100 mph. We stayed with the "slow traffic" going 80. Most of the California plates must have been on the freeway headed West, which had stop and go traffic from the California boarder to LA (over 150 miles!). </li>
<li>It is sunny and hot here (in contrast to Portland where I see it is still raining - sorry guys!) and we are having a great time but ready to get some camping in.</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNBoNehdGP0K4lT6pL3WmWtWaK45DG5GM47tQHuLqJeyBg6IwmgGO5X3IUQXPMyTikO9ErFSmzPaGdcScU6eRepE2NLMYamgINJ7j9Yv62dSEZH4UVoN3cLaVqGSOjbgiue46wARQZa4/s1600/P5310265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNBoNehdGP0K4lT6pL3WmWtWaK45DG5GM47tQHuLqJeyBg6IwmgGO5X3IUQXPMyTikO9ErFSmzPaGdcScU6eRepE2NLMYamgINJ7j9Yv62dSEZH4UVoN3cLaVqGSOjbgiue46wARQZa4/s200/P5310265.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP3l-GWzHOvuTuBV6RPvQ8HGDDTE9NtkMNMp8otZxondL-ClPq3rhrIAKLnSheLhra_0U7ersTepI1OSgPjlY40kVbd5XbRC9UV_Le7vAfYnFuPg27MiFL7yox-y4H89HocLPd6oFrw8/s1600/P5310268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP3l-GWzHOvuTuBV6RPvQ8HGDDTE9NtkMNMp8otZxondL-ClPq3rhrIAKLnSheLhra_0U7ersTepI1OSgPjlY40kVbd5XbRC9UV_Le7vAfYnFuPg27MiFL7yox-y4H89HocLPd6oFrw8/s200/P5310268.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqjsZA3KFk9hCLAqBrQPacZJe5pImUQpxxpSrcb4nb5EushBf17rYE5w8PVXTDQG7PAMH8dO81EcQW7zrog2aheHX3dX0iSqGGZhbmRCuUncL2xacfBZv1MZ0-043uKc-3T5wVxMfgfU/s1600/P5310275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqjsZA3KFk9hCLAqBrQPacZJe5pImUQpxxpSrcb4nb5EushBf17rYE5w8PVXTDQG7PAMH8dO81EcQW7zrog2aheHX3dX0iSqGGZhbmRCuUncL2xacfBZv1MZ0-043uKc-3T5wVxMfgfU/s200/P5310275.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXMkIj_c4ng4YO5r7ZzB8HC2hIuY9oprvDPWEzllvuiNYjqgque8HNh_uF79SynbMPd4C99fIfqAz6mD0JYCciqrVp3hYBOkqSjoTcMe8IdmXvR2a5dGU72dwa8Ub1EWgWcuLr8v5yjE/s1600/P5310267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXMkIj_c4ng4YO5r7ZzB8HC2hIuY9oprvDPWEzllvuiNYjqgque8HNh_uF79SynbMPd4C99fIfqAz6mD0JYCciqrVp3hYBOkqSjoTcMe8IdmXvR2a5dGU72dwa8Ub1EWgWcuLr8v5yjE/s200/P5310267.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-27337919666957242202011-05-31T21:21:00.000-07:002011-05-31T21:21:12.811-07:00Beaches and Puppies<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After San Francisco, we stayed with Jarrett’s friends Matt and Jess in Ventura, California.<span> </span>The city of Ventura felt a lot like Boise to me but with palm trees.<span> </span>The weather there is always fairly warm and windy from being so close to the ocean.<span> </span>The beaches were beautiful, we visited one by Oxnard and one up in Carpinteria.<span> </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjberVQDNZ3_dw20ePKkUBj2rAkHX3XcpskHWmvKJJJ9shyYrmac9NlrA3XexM2E5hAvUEd41n0cpTmgvj2vKj8stKgzVhVT8GTrw6E2EtJtlB7JaxwAKDONxwMJtNXuYKbwYjZFKAWLts/s1600/P5270197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjberVQDNZ3_dw20ePKkUBj2rAkHX3XcpskHWmvKJJJ9shyYrmac9NlrA3XexM2E5hAvUEd41n0cpTmgvj2vKj8stKgzVhVT8GTrw6E2EtJtlB7JaxwAKDONxwMJtNXuYKbwYjZFKAWLts/s320/P5270197.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountains close to the beach at Carpentaria.<br />
This town has beautiful views all around!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX_Rr_q1ycnrQ5AGLrJApKAn7abjtuWmbMrW5P3t4PIcVicqEDfHVAKQf8LP6cPODg3aiTYDchvLfrAC3gfc2-nHkYfeYGTzuS2tCqrtL073lAbo3WOZK6GY9eWFw_MBhI4F1khy9k8I/s1600/P5270182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX_Rr_q1ycnrQ5AGLrJApKAn7abjtuWmbMrW5P3t4PIcVicqEDfHVAKQf8LP6cPODg3aiTYDchvLfrAC3gfc2-nHkYfeYGTzuS2tCqrtL073lAbo3WOZK6GY9eWFw_MBhI4F1khy9k8I/s200/P5270182.JPG" width="150" /></a>While Matt and Jess were at work during the day, we had time to catch up on relaxing, blogging, walking Pepper (their energetic Boarder Collie mix), and organizing the car better.<span> </span>It was some much needed down time.<span> </span>During the evenings Matt and Jess entertained us by cooking up yummy dinners (some amazing garlic potatoes!) and showing us around the town.<span> </span>We spent one night bowling.<span> </span>If you have ever bowled with me, you know that I’m guaranteed to have the lowest score, sometimes so low it is embarrassing.<span> </span>The first two games we played were no exception, but the third game was different.<span> </span>After a spare and strike next to each other and another spare a couple rounds later, I won the game!<span> </span>My score wasn’t super high, but was my personal best <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span> Friday night, we met Jess and Matt, after their work days, at The Island Brewery in Carpinteria. This was a wonderful bar with great beers and became packed as the town got off work. <span> </span>It was also close to a beautiful beachfront, totally picturesque of California.<span> </span>Matt then took us to downtown Ventura, his old stomping grounds.<span> </span>We hit up a pretty nice beer bar with a live band then checked out the harbor.<span> </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaDs12_s8Q-211toPuexL5GKSPxA3UK3pUxX3clpCxowCF4giP75eLlsDrtlOEkxkBZoaN6fdr-hUuiQi_cW2ztVF1zrNNPkD8XbcH3u0Lhs-BqQdk_OGiFqePV4yt-mgpeP2xDqUl1k/s1600/P5260179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaDs12_s8Q-211toPuexL5GKSPxA3UK3pUxX3clpCxowCF4giP75eLlsDrtlOEkxkBZoaN6fdr-hUuiQi_cW2ztVF1zrNNPkD8XbcH3u0Lhs-BqQdk_OGiFqePV4yt-mgpeP2xDqUl1k/s320/P5260179.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt and Jess with Green Bay Packer bowling balls in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Saturday Matt drove with us down to Santa Monica Beach.<span> </span>After we found parking we walked along the beach, up the Pier, and back along the sidewalk.<span> </span>The beach was just beautiful we got our feet wet in the ocean and hot in the sand.<span> </span>Santa Monica Beach is very touristy and we got quite a taste of it on the Pier.<span> </span>Quite a few fishermen were catching and cleaning their fish on the pier.<span> </span>On the sidewalk we passed a guy who was singing “who’s your baby’s daddy, I’m your baby’s daddy” (change of hat to long blond wing) “who’s your baby’s mama, I’m your baby’s mama.”<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span>The Ventura area is the first time we ate at In N Out Burger on this trip. We are loving the chain, it makes good late night meals, as well as good late-lunches-that-it's-really-dinner-time lunches. The double double protein style hamburger got a few looks from the servers one night, but yum is it good, and perfect when I'm hungry. (Which is all the time, by the way!). </span></div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY84Xpws_1dMZqEqR1coj6o7tLisKC27DeHQQoiMmDaqNRV9TZGhjWzRLeFJ2qc_iNr9_4YTn4oLe1KPXTpLwT10oIPhpSb3ujMseCadv6ecjkYapldjk1iNIM7vZ3Oi1GzAZ9al-6So/s1600/P5280202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY84Xpws_1dMZqEqR1coj6o7tLisKC27DeHQQoiMmDaqNRV9TZGhjWzRLeFJ2qc_iNr9_4YTn4oLe1KPXTpLwT10oIPhpSb3ujMseCadv6ecjkYapldjk1iNIM7vZ3Oi1GzAZ9al-6So/s320/P5280202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Santa Monica beach looking toward the Pier.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7-9vceLlJw-NXBXG9uANqN3lC6F-WjpqYskL5CPVBBGdAtv3ff_VN08tAEdZPqVvNaxxVrfQqoCU2Z58bBpE6WUuQfvoxuYLpM2L6eGvCWN5aZ5H8aN2m0HI70BcPoddmsa-czFqSWM/s1600/P5280210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7-9vceLlJw-NXBXG9uANqN3lC6F-WjpqYskL5CPVBBGdAtv3ff_VN08tAEdZPqVvNaxxVrfQqoCU2Z58bBpE6WUuQfvoxuYLpM2L6eGvCWN5aZ5H8aN2m0HI70BcPoddmsa-czFqSWM/s320/P5280210.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Memorial Day tribute at Santa Monica beach for the soldiers lost<br />
in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We had a great time in Ventura.<span> </span>We got some much needed relaxation in, got lots of play time in with Pepper, and had fun checking out the area.<span> </span>Thanks to Matt and Jess for treating us so well in lovely central California!</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-61207563007768898062011-05-27T12:30:00.000-07:002011-05-27T13:43:23.736-07:00More than just Rice A Roni<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZywVDthvolI5YX3E4Vmt-VILla8jILXsB-3qmKCtCb8IU7o3GYwLlocCRSyU8zlE5R6u_-pQ_RmUHs5NyhCNZ3nAse1jqSVGnqKxDv0BBuNv7DQECo-DRe3GxkrG_IO_YQXmJHIwAlJBU/s1600/P5230124.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZywVDthvolI5YX3E4Vmt-VILla8jILXsB-3qmKCtCb8IU7o3GYwLlocCRSyU8zlE5R6u_-pQ_RmUHs5NyhCNZ3nAse1jqSVGnqKxDv0BBuNv7DQECo-DRe3GxkrG_IO_YQXmJHIwAlJBU/s1600/P5230124.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611483135305974450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZywVDthvolI5YX3E4Vmt-VILla8jILXsB-3qmKCtCb8IU7o3GYwLlocCRSyU8zlE5R6u_-pQ_RmUHs5NyhCNZ3nAse1jqSVGnqKxDv0BBuNv7DQECo-DRe3GxkrG_IO_YQXmJHIwAlJBU/s320/P5230124.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>Word up everybody! Just keeping ya in the loop. Kristina and I spent 2 nights and a day in San Fran. My good friend for life Bob and his girlfriend Lindsay put us up right in the heart of the city. Tuesday was the big day for seeing the city.<br />
<br />
We started by getting a feel for "The Haight", but there's a lot of love there too! This area in fact sponsored the Summer of Love back in 1967.<br />
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Here is a tribute to some of my favorite artists from my favorite era.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTgBHRTMvqKl76GEwD_xG44mxp_iYQ3cjnevSa5C4SfJ8W1xg_KWT3vCMnYXaVePte1trXVIGGYJMJ4a6utzx_laLcVnVzJV8IP8Fr9dDs_HPHtJTRun7TG_ibXqpQuQAUy6G77dHtDw/s1600/P5230126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTgBHRTMvqKl76GEwD_xG44mxp_iYQ3cjnevSa5C4SfJ8W1xg_KWT3vCMnYXaVePte1trXVIGGYJMJ4a6utzx_laLcVnVzJV8IP8Fr9dDs_HPHtJTRun7TG_ibXqpQuQAUy6G77dHtDw/s200/P5230126.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9GeLb3woSoyg_KfW6UArhKJUnzUsJNNU3l0mg1cHlHaO65Xant9scbIrRhY2gkKyLm5CRpov6FRFKflEfUrZoAbDekyWWAs7GPQMtg-MP56HwNa5TE-tlNyf7Crf_e7jsYJ17E7qbgc/s1600/P5230127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9GeLb3woSoyg_KfW6UArhKJUnzUsJNNU3l0mg1cHlHaO65Xant9scbIrRhY2gkKyLm5CRpov6FRFKflEfUrZoAbDekyWWAs7GPQMtg-MP56HwNa5TE-tlNyf7Crf_e7jsYJ17E7qbgc/s200/P5230127.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7LPdG9VW4and2s6zP-z8TP2ert2hUrGXGb2yPZ2CFlvfb4mvR9Uj66eLdY9SgIjxFoisd02YOPQ3Q5uslCmAknby6YdJf3uEcO709GKUlzeOWa57ocpCnvPqHO2ZpPB4I2PDIMxSQUU/s1600/P5230129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7LPdG9VW4and2s6zP-z8TP2ert2hUrGXGb2yPZ2CFlvfb4mvR9Uj66eLdY9SgIjxFoisd02YOPQ3Q5uslCmAknby6YdJf3uEcO709GKUlzeOWa57ocpCnvPqHO2ZpPB4I2PDIMxSQUU/s200/P5230129.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We weaved our way through the incense to find Golden Gate Park. After grabbing some eats @ the Haight Street Market, we huffed and then puffed up on Hippie Hill. Enjoyed some rays and then slunk out before the drum circle got too big.</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div><div><br />
</div><div>San Francisco is very walkable, so our feet eventually got us to the de Young Museum. From there we took in some views from the observatory, then walked around the majestic garden with a huge fountain and dozens of statues. This must be what Rome feels like.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP_BqH9D31kTfkZLXZJoYLDhWZLvUnT8waxCO6sJV9ZArY13cMzbs3DpzaPycocRIAM18jf8vjZgZUU2JQCyZl1x6b7hLS5if1k4seUJ0bjC4oUMRL8uTXBgogTCZQCX8Wee1Zj5QMlw/s1600/P5240134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP_BqH9D31kTfkZLXZJoYLDhWZLvUnT8waxCO6sJV9ZArY13cMzbs3DpzaPycocRIAM18jf8vjZgZUU2JQCyZl1x6b7hLS5if1k4seUJ0bjC4oUMRL8uTXBgogTCZQCX8Wee1Zj5QMlw/s320/P5240134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUPryaYMryXQP1tvAouRD_lwf2wahZaNaTWSrk4maZO9SiPt3_fLT3_mmxlDrAKnB-xJZLuv41ud4ZdvxV6nuMCAKhfK8Ohk-ylg6gChQP9jgRbda14XknBUSXw4WcmiZkNkBUpza7E0/s1600/P5240135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUPryaYMryXQP1tvAouRD_lwf2wahZaNaTWSrk4maZO9SiPt3_fLT3_mmxlDrAKnB-xJZLuv41ud4ZdvxV6nuMCAKhfK8Ohk-ylg6gChQP9jgRbda14XknBUSXw4WcmiZkNkBUpza7E0/s320/P5240135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Francis Scott Key gets the biggest statue.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAy0lcP5iHt0qB-wGYDBF7MUXjQw94oivMsMLo0noYO1ZVilsKJm4CdRAEUz4XHWQMYaoDL7Tq-nlWfVMN7ZxkpB8B_Sep_pjh7pe9-L_OeUe_q_EKvDAj7xSPwsUdJi9Bb1LbHkmkdQ/s1600/P5240137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAy0lcP5iHt0qB-wGYDBF7MUXjQw94oivMsMLo0noYO1ZVilsKJm4CdRAEUz4XHWQMYaoDL7Tq-nlWfVMN7ZxkpB8B_Sep_pjh7pe9-L_OeUe_q_EKvDAj7xSPwsUdJi9Bb1LbHkmkdQ/s320/P5240137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i> For the working man and his kin too (hidden behind wine press).</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JeD_-wkhsjTgevsKf7LP9l_NKHYGUj54ZJzdhcVC7A_H7yyEozf01GxmInXcTmok1ngvsMHSKLoeubUllqfxwjz-e3fVN4jw0OhZpKwkQNoXYwIfZW0vG5hAovDW2eTlFUhb7fQc72Q/s1600/P5240142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JeD_-wkhsjTgevsKf7LP9l_NKHYGUj54ZJzdhcVC7A_H7yyEozf01GxmInXcTmok1ngvsMHSKLoeubUllqfxwjz-e3fVN4jw0OhZpKwkQNoXYwIfZW0vG5hAovDW2eTlFUhb7fQc72Q/s320/P5240142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy-jatXmQOQUVvE32h46sr5xik-Nd5k-Lim30lbeAIPHpvIuMOG8RX_XTrXwOYczt0gUCwRVqsqneeK-zbyHtWxvGMxKLr7k6GzvSDbkhow2fmsNFhtckMuVYVrCqEUbjRiGysMil3Ac/s1600/P5240146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy-jatXmQOQUVvE32h46sr5xik-Nd5k-Lim30lbeAIPHpvIuMOG8RX_XTrXwOYczt0gUCwRVqsqneeK-zbyHtWxvGMxKLr7k6GzvSDbkhow2fmsNFhtckMuVYVrCqEUbjRiGysMil3Ac/s320/P5240146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB75BUdhwN3k0Wcxw6WV-yraKzxQy9XsGSvCeH7bPQyVNrXDlZ3flKbd6MOXp_4D99QPOdXxVJYMoUNy6qi3ED0udvLWqa-wTt9NClsUpZYWyr5Ai5Vc6bZPe6rEgQV3jwHZWZSeyGmQs/s1600/P5240147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB75BUdhwN3k0Wcxw6WV-yraKzxQy9XsGSvCeH7bPQyVNrXDlZ3flKbd6MOXp_4D99QPOdXxVJYMoUNy6qi3ED0udvLWqa-wTt9NClsUpZYWyr5Ai5Vc6bZPe6rEgQV3jwHZWZSeyGmQs/s320/P5240147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> de Young Museum from observatory tower.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ3QHK-7MfiaeMghuQNktDKWQa1AIWJ1npdj8xzUbYJk2-dghcnClMk7u6JHkFAz9ktBHcLrKSFcECw97Pa7FHTNRDT1-x1JHhcHYS70fQrn9F7PRnfcI6_sBkcmo_bM6rrp7l2q1f-Q/s1600/P5240162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ3QHK-7MfiaeMghuQNktDKWQa1AIWJ1npdj8xzUbYJk2-dghcnClMk7u6JHkFAz9ktBHcLrKSFcECw97Pa7FHTNRDT1-x1JHhcHYS70fQrn9F7PRnfcI6_sBkcmo_bM6rrp7l2q1f-Q/s320/P5240162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The de Young Museum Observatory in the background.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;">Of course paradise isn't paradise without a smooth drink. Parched, we shuffled our way over to a great pub with an equally great happy hour, the Toronado Pub. Many excellent beers on tap and white wine for Kristina. Something reminded me of Portland, OR.</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMn0-CU6DN8zG0Fvqk_2vjvzfnPCusBgl2XF2MksmxO9IWkiyMihcCkb39edQg5iJ-v95-gPF-Fq24moCGz_3J-BR1Rv7CFM0akpv3pVegjszdK0cMfAmSfNV4r8E0nb5Le2bJ_WpSqE/s1600/P5240167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMn0-CU6DN8zG0Fvqk_2vjvzfnPCusBgl2XF2MksmxO9IWkiyMihcCkb39edQg5iJ-v95-gPF-Fq24moCGz_3J-BR1Rv7CFM0akpv3pVegjszdK0cMfAmSfNV4r8E0nb5Le2bJ_WpSqE/s320/P5240167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Don Younger ~ Publican, Founder of the Horse Brass Pub</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a few pints and good conversation, we road a zero-emission electric bus to the Mission District and met up with Lindsay. Had an amazing meal at the Gratitude, 100% gluten-free, we ate grain-free, and it was all vegan to boot. And by the way one of the most amazingly unique and delicious meals I've ever ate in my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-2Dvn9TybeupfSc1OhwLxaswlXnWO64KEpGNSJO_ZfH-47hFSMZvj6YvmEnYI0THGbwBOFv0xYsI3k8Y4fl0bRk8SE7JLiOFB2LDhhNAR2mC6kwFFhw1ww5QBmX08BxGOzYulEBE8ow/s1600/P5240170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-2Dvn9TybeupfSc1OhwLxaswlXnWO64KEpGNSJO_ZfH-47hFSMZvj6YvmEnYI0THGbwBOFv0xYsI3k8Y4fl0bRk8SE7JLiOFB2LDhhNAR2mC6kwFFhw1ww5QBmX08BxGOzYulEBE8ow/s320/P5240170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Onion sunflower</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> crust pizza, with Brazil nut Parmesan.</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYVJejzid_W-rx2yOkvQ0XgokArMxvBAYfFjIY8BsT2dzajfJ82jM7fdCmknAUGTMjUFvrO_-yQ1lq7UJctTOp22MdhUI8bw1QTsmlhzSWHDodiYYtewXRbEWRqq-Mu3bnAIebt8eKKI/s1600/P5240171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYVJejzid_W-rx2yOkvQ0XgokArMxvBAYfFjIY8BsT2dzajfJ82jM7fdCmknAUGTMjUFvrO_-yQ1lq7UJctTOp22MdhUI8bw1QTsmlhzSWHDodiYYtewXRbEWRqq-Mu3bnAIebt8eKKI/s320/P5240171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Zucchini noodles, sun-dried tomatoes in a cashew cheese sauce.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgneUo-rhaDFmfy6kIPE3HEPRnOBC9D5TGUSpYKciqMcRAk1uAoYrE-Ry0I6_L8rzOxw7lxkcQBNxwA-Wwt9POSm4dwRrUHaF2U0moVlhuW0m0lj_fVNmKNSX3qNw9APLsoimzUOHiXBM/s1600/P5240168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgneUo-rhaDFmfy6kIPE3HEPRnOBC9D5TGUSpYKciqMcRAk1uAoYrE-Ry0I6_L8rzOxw7lxkcQBNxwA-Wwt9POSm4dwRrUHaF2U0moVlhuW0m0lj_fVNmKNSX3qNw9APLsoimzUOHiXBM/s320/P5240168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">So good, we had to get the book!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got very spoiled in SF and can't thank Bob and Lindsay enough! They were so good at treating us well we almost forgot to take a picture of them when we rolled out on Wednesday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd4A_iQtOmBLVC6vhWylQoVCRvK8yLehbkfrUMPzGTb0a_yXaioiQSqYTSw_DBTSJtZmvl3x3al8qdnymn5i-cFA8_zGxxU3QG7e0ug-0o6leEsdG9hqxnTc1Vz8stbDE1hVsPX26VkY/s1600/P5240174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd4A_iQtOmBLVC6vhWylQoVCRvK8yLehbkfrUMPzGTb0a_yXaioiQSqYTSw_DBTSJtZmvl3x3al8qdnymn5i-cFA8_zGxxU3QG7e0ug-0o6leEsdG9hqxnTc1Vz8stbDE1hVsPX26VkY/s320/P5240174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bob and Lindsay. (Sorry to catch ya 2 minutes out of bed Bob!)</span></i></div>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-6492255065439844542011-05-27T12:19:00.000-07:002011-05-27T12:19:49.272-07:00Big Trees and Big Coastline<div class="PadderBetweenControlandBody">The first leg of our trip was Portland to San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took the scenic route, and then the scenic route off the scenic route. Meaning that we drove on State Route 1 on the Pacific coast for a while.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRzC9OLDMZF33zN7rv9Lhj5w_pMIcWjpfYAcwi6QN61BBeziDVprHQNYxcG6q4AEATD6gJIcRLHWuPiuq8nwYc-A-3Y8mLTuzUDlVOGwtvmCKr-3wnjqQ9vahA6d174dRRcUDnbntYk8/s1600/P5220088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRzC9OLDMZF33zN7rv9Lhj5w_pMIcWjpfYAcwi6QN61BBeziDVprHQNYxcG6q4AEATD6gJIcRLHWuPiuq8nwYc-A-3Y8mLTuzUDlVOGwtvmCKr-3wnjqQ9vahA6d174dRRcUDnbntYk8/s320/P5220088.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first view of the Pacific Ocean at Crescent City, California.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> In Grants Pass, we parted ways with I-5 to make our way to 101 and to check out the Redwood National Forest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving through the redwoods was an amazing experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove through the forest with these gigantic species rising up above us and the road was curvy with switch backs and would get narrow to fit between the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we came around a curve and the trees opened up into a vast coastline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redwoods continued on our left side and the coast ran along our right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can not fully describe the feeling of this moment; it made me realize the grandness of this earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before sunset we drove through Elk country and saw two sets of Elk grazing in meadows next to the freeway.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq1ybhqTsyVUb73V9j2flob-rtCJbIz6-3lzhJHW3lmyWHIJWUmMQgRXuZ_Ba9AvLVNpDSD7RYBX0Ylw4ECAzO0m6CemqzhROP6gITgDgGLEsjfJ3ynI_uqKH5H9DLegX2gASKVCWTDI/s1600/P5220096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq1ybhqTsyVUb73V9j2flob-rtCJbIz6-3lzhJHW3lmyWHIJWUmMQgRXuZ_Ba9AvLVNpDSD7RYBX0Ylw4ECAzO0m6CemqzhROP6gITgDgGLEsjfJ3ynI_uqKH5H9DLegX2gASKVCWTDI/s320/P5220096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YkWBBRchKAu2sKtMHWQHZc4PK0gzYx1b1gZlZY4oBA_SfKYtpFQUZcTPICXHA9sQx2Nn5NCVI2-GusDktOsyLBtAyBPNgGMfFvvGm2OUjMFPNLiBj4mlSrQYf8-ooVkGvwdNpUtqCfw/s1600/P5230120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YkWBBRchKAu2sKtMHWQHZc4PK0gzYx1b1gZlZY4oBA_SfKYtpFQUZcTPICXHA9sQx2Nn5NCVI2-GusDktOsyLBtAyBPNgGMfFvvGm2OUjMFPNLiBj4mlSrQYf8-ooVkGvwdNpUtqCfw/s200/P5230120.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristina with the friendly kitty<br />
at Anderson Valley Brewery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">That night we stayed in a hotel in Eureka. We felt a little spoiled since we had originally planned to camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather was dry, but cool and very windy on the coast so camping would have been difficult. The hotel worked out nicely since we were able to get more driving time in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn91GsbPWhKHBFk2JpR5pqNLPqWAlq9MzzRhURGOZY77rVms9KCPqGtIAVgYVr9IFWjAYPKznaWESzH728KfrcM7vxO3EU5I7RjjUsxbtLo0Tynh17doF_R-glrha-adLwHoRUZG5Kaw/s1600/P5230122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn91GsbPWhKHBFk2JpR5pqNLPqWAlq9MzzRhURGOZY77rVms9KCPqGtIAVgYVr9IFWjAYPKznaWESzH728KfrcM7vxO3EU5I7RjjUsxbtLo0Tynh17doF_R-glrha-adLwHoRUZG5Kaw/s200/P5230122.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jarrett by the Anderson<br />
Valley Brewery hops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">After a ways on Highway 101, Jarrett and I decided to take State Route 1 to the 128 to drive through Anderson Valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Highway 101 had a few narrow moments, but was mostly a freeway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>State Route 1 was very narrow, with many switch-backs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got pretty nerve racking at times and we drove about 25 mph or less most of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say, with all of that I am very glad we took this route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The views of the coastline were spectacular!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to drive through more of the Redwood forest and see lots of wine country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 128 had so many wineries, names I recognized, and a couple of breweries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jarrett’s very favorite brewery is Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, the main reason we took this detour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked around the property and Jarrett got to try some great beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nice break from the crazy driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After the brewery, we continued on the 128, which met up with the 101 and took us across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did have 1 set-back on this part of the drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The driver’s window in the Prius decided to no longer roll up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This had been fixed last November, but decided to break on day 2 of our 2 month road trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we were in quite a pickle, we could not park the car (full of camping supplies) with a window down in San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After many calls, and a random stop at the Kendall Jackson winery (my favorite winery – but we didn’t stop with so much going on), we worked the window into the up position in time to park on a hilly street in San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried to take the Prius to a Toyota dealer in San Francisco, but they were too busy to look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now in Ventura, where a dealer replaced the window belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are back on track without a whistling window and ready to head further South tomorrow.</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-64843551488679758152011-05-21T23:50:00.000-07:002011-05-21T23:50:30.897-07:00Packin UpThe journey is finally about to begin. We haven't been working these last two weeks in the sense of getting paid, but we have done a lot of work organizing our stuff. We have also taken a trip to Boise to drop off some of that stuff for storage for the next couple months while we are on the road trip. This got us in the driving mode, and also gave us a taste of what will come when we move all the way to Des Moines (2,000 miles). Oh boy, do we have a lot ahead of us. I'm so excited!<br />
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I don't have a whole lot to say, packing up is the same for everyone. I did get a couple nice pics on the I-84 heading back to Portland that I wanted to share. Of course the camera did not do justice to the amazing scenery of Oregon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRkOOPEhobppB7AAHn-dbWOk3x1txU1GRHzy8iHN8BNLY-NiP3BGsnGkE6CIngbisYtg_LG5TqhDk1H_Q5kWIw6D_WECIBPPx1aJ5QsQBJ-WQn4U-gZ2FZwPmVpcGb65N5wtrGq9hyphenhyphen9U/s1600/P5170076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRkOOPEhobppB7AAHn-dbWOk3x1txU1GRHzy8iHN8BNLY-NiP3BGsnGkE6CIngbisYtg_LG5TqhDk1H_Q5kWIw6D_WECIBPPx1aJ5QsQBJ-WQn4U-gZ2FZwPmVpcGb65N5wtrGq9hyphenhyphen9U/s320/P5170076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken heading down the pass towards Pendleton. Eastern Oregon was a beautiful soft green instead of the normal brown. The sun was shining on the fields yet the clouds overhead were dramatic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjGANZXjHhYjAwWx6nQRmqgqN79MuQUBYp1eLf0jf9BfeIPKWUWhaKYElI0SrI8YHPL8w89YLFrm7aab4xDUbNtqnPsJu1nDwdn78eFcNT4hGGcYgUz8D9MclFqfJLi4CWx4Hn42b4Yc/s1600/P5170080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjGANZXjHhYjAwWx6nQRmqgqN79MuQUBYp1eLf0jf9BfeIPKWUWhaKYElI0SrI8YHPL8w89YLFrm7aab4xDUbNtqnPsJu1nDwdn78eFcNT4hGGcYgUz8D9MclFqfJLi4CWx4Hn42b4Yc/s320/P5170080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course the Gorge by The Dalles, shot while the car was moving. I wonder if we will see anything quite as amazing as this area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-6314570529924074942011-05-06T09:36:00.000-07:002011-05-06T09:36:00.600-07:00Closing a Chapter<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIYBnUxr1rlJy_xYLfxRZetd5rNaDKZqr8scNjkK4edWjWeVqywt9x1MzkQxHHOz3W7HqTbwh-UMPkzbL0TRi8qzrtmukcTF3fKg7X0pq9jCMYjNJGkNmlxAAdHK3jA4hsXE8sxnFjjk/s1600/jobquit-lifan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIYBnUxr1rlJy_xYLfxRZetd5rNaDKZqr8scNjkK4edWjWeVqywt9x1MzkQxHHOz3W7HqTbwh-UMPkzbL0TRi8qzrtmukcTF3fKg7X0pq9jCMYjNJGkNmlxAAdHK3jA4hsXE8sxnFjjk/s1600/jobquit-lifan.jpg" /></a>Today is our last day of work!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I want to say thank you to everyone for such a great 3 years. I'm going to miss all of my co-workers!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZTL6Gpmr3CrEY-FuLiyCT63lbvneFZc3nP6v6oZaAqor0kgbQtptVSeUspmTBGUl6Rwaf4b_x3KqcFwkSvqXmKNv-mvRHx6cADla5AZPwZ4U6v8HM9waxn3c1xigR1dbLqCgTgL7UtI/s1600/quit_job_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZTL6Gpmr3CrEY-FuLiyCT63lbvneFZc3nP6v6oZaAqor0kgbQtptVSeUspmTBGUl6Rwaf4b_x3KqcFwkSvqXmKNv-mvRHx6cADla5AZPwZ4U6v8HM9waxn3c1xigR1dbLqCgTgL7UtI/s200/quit_job_1.jpg" width="154" /></a>A couple events this weekend:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Come out Saturday (tomorrow) to the Gluten Free Food Fair! It is at All Saints Church on 39th and Glisan from 11 to 2. There will be 40+ vendors with tasty gltuen free goodies. The cost is $5 per person and $10 per family - and you are entered into a raffle. Jarrett and I will be volunteering, so you will likely see us somewhere.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Saturday night we are having a "quitting work party" at the <a href="http://www.barflymag.com/bar/green-dragon.html">Green Dragon on SE 9th</a>. We have reserved a couple tables starting at 8PM. Come out and celebrate with us!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next week the real work of packing and prepping for the road trip begins!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-91446275037564291112011-04-25T10:39:00.001-07:002011-04-25T10:39:22.589-07:002 Weeks!<div><p>Since I'm sitting here counting down the minutes to lunch and the days left of work... I thought I would share some pics of Des Moines that I took when I was there for my interview. </p>
<p>Yup, the capitol dome is gold plated! They have a river running through the middle of the city (like Portland). This is an art piece of a fallen leaf. Just to show that it isn't all cornfields where we are going. We will take those pics in June :)</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbern6YN4du8o7yigOlCGnOooc3aTi8Q_ZvSzQYfwGJhNCej-NIlYzM6No1cjopSHaY0cf_FQ8JZZdoS8EawLoTjjjecWRwR6fyQ3eYYnqw8s_vdEBHdiQZpf3uSKBGuaCu7h5BcqgDvw/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrRCP1liCf5HN9Ui6_LAWlREJxqLpnybWOW2BALbfx84mgjsywE5hDEGImpXlPt7WjdKW9eK0-ZnyZK5DyAQYMeGywn6QLgnHcCJbguYVrsD6inxmtRqIdnjNtfGxHLA8lWQ0mHtAWLY/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpyIVI3pq9jkjE1nlGnE-Fkv8Xu9i1JxZNUOyhIwj7zOMy7VwL8Hb3Sy_w3Slj5w9jqCt683HovyloHfcRfAB1lPRjkL2mUff2IPZ27P3CyVSauVjsDUExszkdYcnlbVW8NCIngu_8Vw/' /></div>Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-15406788872772524582011-04-12T16:47:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:08:51.007-07:00Jarrett welcomes Jarrett to the blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BhvdAbadHabTskGA68ud124D46KywNlJuuIQeuNgRhvfmDkEM1sUl7oGBkmSauLi0pUcQMdIl-RF1QRo62RoEOgFGx7iPlhuac09a8-fFGJ18dfYSRonhWutvK7RJFx5YhKUD501ceF3/s1600/P5070050.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BhvdAbadHabTskGA68ud124D46KywNlJuuIQeuNgRhvfmDkEM1sUl7oGBkmSauLi0pUcQMdIl-RF1QRo62RoEOgFGx7iPlhuac09a8-fFGJ18dfYSRonhWutvK7RJFx5YhKUD501ceF3/s320/P5070050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617195666687795298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>That's me on the left.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div>I would like to cordially invite myself to this blog, and I Corddry expect. This blog will be a way to air out our thoughts as Kristina and I cross the country and back. Maybe we'll find a dead body or my bike that Francis stole, or maybe we'll throw a ring into a lake of fire. This will be the blog to read about it... Ah yes, it will be good to hit the road again. Keep on truckin' my fellow golden flower children!<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbnLYROCj8"><br />Here We Go!</a>Jarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07528419993344343978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-25600622687905534502011-04-11T15:10:00.000-07:002011-04-11T15:10:17.325-07:00April UpdatesWhere to start? First, please notice my updated profile and blog description. Everything is and will continue to change very quickly these next few months. I have added a calendar app on the side so you can see where we are this summer!<br />
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Jarrett and I have officially put in our 1 month notices at work. Our last day will be May 6, 2011. It is kind of strange to have such a short time left here. It is also exciting to leave on good terms with such a wonderful adventure ahead of us! We are getting more and more busy as this trip gets closer. Spring brings everyone out of their hibernation. It also marks the beginning of gardening season (yes we are still planting a garden this year). That is another post, maybe I will leave it for Jarrett to write...We are also spending time with friends and getting our fill of our favorite restaurants. I am also winding down my volunteering with the Gluten Intolerance Group. The final event will be the Gluten Free Food Fair on May 7. Come down and visit us if you are around! The fair is at All Saints Catholic Church on 39th and Glisan. You can’t go wrong with the great vendors of gluten free goodies. I am so grateful for my experiences with GIG and work over the last few years. I can’t wait to share my knowledge of gluten-free and lab workings with my new cohort at DMU!<br />
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Another thing keeping Jarrett and I busy is packing. We will be travelling light to Des Moines, taking only what fits into our 2 cars. Luckily, we are taking some sentimental items to my parent’s house in Boise to store while in Iowa. My favorite recent purchase is a bike rack for my car. We will take as much of Portland with us to Iowa as we can. I have little piles all over the house, things for the road trip, things for Idaho and things for Iowa. (Yes, I know the names of the two states are very similar. I have been confusing myself of which “I” state the pair of shoes I’m holding are going). My current big project is to go paper-free. I am working on scanning all papers from my file cabinet into my computer. It is a larger project than I anticipated, but it feels so nice to be free of those messy boxes of paper!<br />
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With all these activities, the most important to me is to spend as much time with Portland friends as possible. All of the projects will work themselves out (yay for procrastination), but friends are the important part of my life. So, we will be planning several going away parties in May and July and are hoping to catch up individually with friends as well. Please help us with these if you have any ideas, we are currently in the brainstorming stages. Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-25508101110068215792011-02-18T14:31:00.000-08:002011-02-18T14:31:43.281-08:00Getting CloserThis week it hit me. I will be leaving Portland in a relatively short time. Actually 3 months, exactly! I don't know how time all of a sudden flew by, but it did. I can't sit idle an longer waiting for things to happen, I need to make them happen. I need to spend time with my friends while I can, because things will be different after May. Yeah, I plan to come back to Portland after med school, but things won't be the same. I will be working longer hours, my friends will be in different places, as will I. I really need to cherish the dwindling moments I have left here!<br />
I have an eventful weekend planned, which will include working on my scrap book - which I hope to start and finish in 3 months. My first one took 4 years to finish!<br />
I am also working on getting everything finalized for DMU. Another submission of transcripts to the school, a background check, and the FAFSA. The list is long, I am used to this kind of thing from the application process, so it is becoming second nature. <br />
Work is going fine. I am getting better at my phlebotomy skills, and more confident with patients. I had a first today - a patient fainted during the draw. It was exciting but not too dramatic nor very eventful (she fell on the arm of the chair and I kept pressure on her arm.) Every new event that I handle gets me more excited for what I will encounter in school and clincials. I can't wait to see where this will take me!Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245581884242124649.post-75175046672289162972010-12-31T09:37:00.000-08:002010-12-31T09:37:05.833-08:00Dangers of eating outLiving in Portland, there is an enormous list of gluten-friendly options. <a href="http://www.glutenfreeportland.org/restaurant-list/">Check out this site to prove it.</a> I have become a regular at some places and have had good dinners with no issues. It is easy to forget that I am so sensitive to gluten. So, the other night we went to one of my favorite Portland chains that was super busy due to the holidays. We had a couple issues with our plates, but nothing major and they seemed to be receptive to taking care of the gluten bun that came on my plate. So I ate the dinner staying in my pretend world that nothing can harm me, not even gluten. Of course later that night, I woke up with an attack of all the symptoms of gluten. For me, this reaction (though not as dramatic as the initial) will last 2 weeks to a month.<br />
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The dangerous word for me right now is complacent. I have been eating out so much, and had no issues that I forget how important and major this is. Celiac disease is not something to mess with, I do not want to be dealing with the "hangover" of gluten constantly. I want my body to be healthy so that I can fight off other bugs that I may be exposed to. Working in a hospital, that is a very large number of bugs.<br />
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Since I am working on saving money, moving back to home made food is relatively easy. In some ways it feels like defeat to me. I want to master this gluten and prove (I'm not sure to whom) that I don't have to take any special precautions. Of course this is wrong, I'm afraid gluten will be in my nightmares forever. And of course I have to take very special precautions and be very careful every time I order food - even if I am a regular at a place.Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04296254799517221997noreply@blogger.com0