This past weekend, we went to the University of Wyoming's Homecoming weekend.
We
flew to Denver, where a friend of mine who is dating Rasila's sister,
picked us up. We packed up his motorhome and when Rasila's sister
got home, we drove up to Laramie, WY
while my buddy and Rasila's sister rode a motorcycle up that Jeff was
selling to another UW alumnus. We arrived about 6:30 PM, met up
with my brother and his girlfriend and all went to dinner at Sweet Melissa's.
They were re-enacting an 1860's revolt of the townspeople against the
mayor, the sheriff, and a judge where they shot them all and hung
theeir dead bodies from the front of the building. It added some
"spark" to the meal, which was outstanding, by the way. We spent
some time at the Buckhorn and Cowboy, where they were preparing for a
live band out on the street for Saturday night.
Saturday
morning, Rasila and I got up and went the the espresso shop next door
to the Travelodge that we were staying at and then waited for others to
awaken to walk the 2 blocks to watch the Homecoming parade. The
parade was amusing as always; I wish I'd take pictures of the dog in a
grass skirt and the shark pulled behind a float on a little red wagon,
but I didn't. It turns out my uncle was driving the Governor in
the parade, but I didn't notice (Mom told me later).
After the
parade, Rasila and I volunteered to go to the Student Union to buy game
tickets while all were arising. When we got back, we gathered
everyone and headed to the game via The Library. The day was beautiful and the game was a good game, but we came out on the losing side, 27-24.
We
went to a BBQ at one of my buddy's friend's house after the game.
It was good food and good fun and we then walked back to the hotel to
"drop off some stuff." I made the mistake of tuning in the
Angels-White Sox game and seeing the Sox go from up 6-2 to up
8-2. We then tuned into football highlights and all fell
asleep. Didn't make it out at all.
Trip back was only
eventful in that we went from spectacular weather in the rockies to
rain in the SoCal. At least we dont't have to worry about
watering the garden!
Monday, October 17, 2005
A wedding and the "Just Us" Tournament
On the weekend of the 8th and 9th, we went to a wedding of one of
Rasila's Boston College friends, who also happened to move to LA after
graduation. It was held in Pasadena, CA on the Cal Tech campus at The Athenauem.
It was a great location and a lot of fun. Only 4 or 5 of Rasila's
friends in LA were common friends, but we enjoyed seeing them and did a
lot of dancing!
On Sunday, we got up and drove down to Mission Beach in San Diego for the semi-annual "Just Us" tournament that a friend of mine organizes. It is generally the group of people I used to play with every Sunday when we were all younger and childless. The format always changes and this time we were separated into 3 groups: The Women, The Hammers, and The Hackers. I guess I did too well last fall and they put me in The Hammers. I have not played since then, and even though I have lost 15 pounds or so in the last 6 months, playing 5 games of 2 on 2, sideout scoring beach volleyball was not easy. I was the common loser in all games, causing the other 3 Hammers to all be 2-1 and I was 0-3. I played another game co-ed and salvaged a victory, but lost a last game I played. I was sore until Tuesday :-D
On Sunday, we got up and drove down to Mission Beach in San Diego for the semi-annual "Just Us" tournament that a friend of mine organizes. It is generally the group of people I used to play with every Sunday when we were all younger and childless. The format always changes and this time we were separated into 3 groups: The Women, The Hammers, and The Hackers. I guess I did too well last fall and they put me in The Hammers. I have not played since then, and even though I have lost 15 pounds or so in the last 6 months, playing 5 games of 2 on 2, sideout scoring beach volleyball was not easy. I was the common loser in all games, causing the other 3 Hammers to all be 2-1 and I was 0-3. I played another game co-ed and salvaged a victory, but lost a last game I played. I was sore until Tuesday :-D
Monday, October 3, 2005
Catching up
I've added some pictures that Roger sent me from the trip to Whitney and Mammoth.
We spent the middle weekend of this month driving to Laguna Beach (only 10 miles) to attend "Bad Dates" at the Laguna Playhouse on Friday. On Saturday, we drove up to Los Angeles to visit some of Rasila's friends and go out to dinner at 26 Beach in Venice and then hit a dive blues bar for some live music. Sunday was our last Broadway show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, "Little Women."
On the weekend of the 24th, we went to San Diego again to see San Diego State play San Jose State in a football game that was followed by the KGB Sky Show XXX. SDSU won 52-10, which was better than expected, but only making the Aztecs 1-3 with losses to Ohio State and Air Force Academy in the 2 previous weeks.
However, it was actually a preview as we went to San Diego this last Saturday and watch SDSU beat BYU 31-10.
We spent the middle weekend of this month driving to Laguna Beach (only 10 miles) to attend "Bad Dates" at the Laguna Playhouse on Friday. On Saturday, we drove up to Los Angeles to visit some of Rasila's friends and go out to dinner at 26 Beach in Venice and then hit a dive blues bar for some live music. Sunday was our last Broadway show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, "Little Women."
On the weekend of the 24th, we went to San Diego again to see San Diego State play San Jose State in a football game that was followed by the KGB Sky Show XXX. SDSU won 52-10, which was better than expected, but only making the Aztecs 1-3 with losses to Ohio State and Air Force Academy in the 2 previous weeks.
However, it was actually a preview as we went to San Diego this last Saturday and watch SDSU beat BYU 31-10.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Mammoth Lakes, CA last weekend
Rasila and I drove to Mammoth Lakes, CA. My brother and his girlfriend were climbing Mt. Whitney on Friday, so we decided we could spend time with them.
We left about 3:00 PM from Irvine, and encountered the usual slowing on CA-91, but otherwise had a pretty easy trip. We arrived in Lone Pine about 7:15, after stopping at Starbucks in Fontana and the rest stop at Coso Junction. They had ordered Pizza already, so when we arrived at the Pizza Factory, they were just starting. We made Mammoth by 9:30, stopped by Mammoth Reservations, and went to our condo at Mammoth Green. Normally this would be more money than I'd like to spend, but since school has started and skiing is not started, this is the off-off season, and it was very reasonable.
It was windy and chilly the next day, so we drove to the 3 lodges, Eagle Base, Canyon Lodge, and the Main Lodge, and described the ski mountain. We didn't take the gondola to the top as the temp was 33F/0.5C at the top with winds of > 30 mph/26knots. We then drove back down to the Mammoth Scenic Loop, but stopped at the Earthquake Fault for a look. We then drove to the Mono Craters for a short hike. A forest service geologist named Bobby was there and recognized us, courtesy my dog, and invited us to join his guided hike. This was a big plus as he told us how to identify the 4 types of conifers (Jeffrey Pine, Lodgepole Pine, White Fir and Red Fir), some basic lightning safety and wildlife safety as well as the geology of the craters themselves.
That night we had an early birthday dinner at Whiskey Creek, since Cervino's is closed until later this fall. We watched "Spaceballs", which Rasila had bought for my brother for our birthday, and went to sleep.
The next day we went to Blondie's Kitchen for breakfast, then my brother and his girlfriend left to drive back to Salt Lake City, and we started home. We stopped at Manzanar and then drove up to Whitney Portal Picnic Area for lunch. From there, we pretty much just drove home, so we could pick and water the vegetable garden before dark.
We left about 3:00 PM from Irvine, and encountered the usual slowing on CA-91, but otherwise had a pretty easy trip. We arrived in Lone Pine about 7:15, after stopping at Starbucks in Fontana and the rest stop at Coso Junction. They had ordered Pizza already, so when we arrived at the Pizza Factory, they were just starting. We made Mammoth by 9:30, stopped by Mammoth Reservations, and went to our condo at Mammoth Green. Normally this would be more money than I'd like to spend, but since school has started and skiing is not started, this is the off-off season, and it was very reasonable.
It was windy and chilly the next day, so we drove to the 3 lodges, Eagle Base, Canyon Lodge, and the Main Lodge, and described the ski mountain. We didn't take the gondola to the top as the temp was 33F/0.5C at the top with winds of > 30 mph/26knots. We then drove back down to the Mammoth Scenic Loop, but stopped at the Earthquake Fault for a look. We then drove to the Mono Craters for a short hike. A forest service geologist named Bobby was there and recognized us, courtesy my dog, and invited us to join his guided hike. This was a big plus as he told us how to identify the 4 types of conifers (Jeffrey Pine, Lodgepole Pine, White Fir and Red Fir), some basic lightning safety and wildlife safety as well as the geology of the craters themselves.
That night we had an early birthday dinner at Whiskey Creek, since Cervino's is closed until later this fall. We watched "Spaceballs", which Rasila had bought for my brother for our birthday, and went to sleep.
The next day we went to Blondie's Kitchen for breakfast, then my brother and his girlfriend left to drive back to Salt Lake City, and we started home. We stopped at Manzanar and then drove up to Whitney Portal Picnic Area for lunch. From there, we pretty much just drove home, so we could pick and water the vegetable garden before dark.
Friday, September 2, 2005
San Diego this weekend
Rasila made it back safe last Sunday.
This week, we're off to San Diego to see the SDSU Aztecs play UCLA Bruins. SDSU is 0-19-1 (the tie being in 1924) against UCLA, so needless to say it would be a big victory. Nonetheless, I have hopes, since my Alma Mater, the Wyoming Cowboys, beat UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl.
This week, we're off to San Diego to see the SDSU Aztecs play UCLA Bruins. SDSU is 0-19-1 (the tie being in 1924) against UCLA, so needless to say it would be a big victory. Nonetheless, I have hopes, since my Alma Mater, the Wyoming Cowboys, beat UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Rasila's off to Seattle
Rasila headed off today to visit her parents in the greater Seattle
area. She will be back Sunday. In the meantime, it's just
me and the dogs (I'm dog sitting a neighbor's dog).
Spring Mountains, August 19, 2005
On Friday, we got up and drove to the Spring Mountains, only 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas. We drove up NV 156 from US 95 to the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort.
We then drove back to NV 158 and drove over the summit with the desert overlook to NV 157. We stopped at the Visitor's Center to get some trail maps and then headed out for a hike. Unfortunately, the Mary Jane Falls road was closed, so we ended up at the Cathdral Rock trail. The free lot was full, so we paid to park and eat at the picnic area.
The hike takes you up an avalanche chute, which had seen record snow this past winter. It took out an extra wide swath that must have been a real chore to clear the trail. It also goes by Mazie Falls, up to 3 waterfalls just off the trail before climbing up the back of the rock for a great view (see pictures).
We stopped at the Mount Charleston Hotel for a drink before driving back down for our only night of gambling (we ended up $17.25).
We then drove back to NV 158 and drove over the summit with the desert overlook to NV 157. We stopped at the Visitor's Center to get some trail maps and then headed out for a hike. Unfortunately, the Mary Jane Falls road was closed, so we ended up at the Cathdral Rock trail. The free lot was full, so we paid to park and eat at the picnic area.
The hike takes you up an avalanche chute, which had seen record snow this past winter. It took out an extra wide swath that must have been a real chore to clear the trail. It also goes by Mazie Falls, up to 3 waterfalls just off the trail before climbing up the back of the rock for a great view (see pictures).
We stopped at the Mount Charleston Hotel for a drink before driving back down for our only night of gambling (we ended up $17.25).
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