Epic Again?

YOU BET!

An old friend Tony came back to the Pacific NW for New Years. As gracious hosts, we provided a soft fluffy welcome.

3 hours of sleep and wondering if you board will arrive is forgotten in this. That's his helmet.

This last ski day of 2007 (for us) at Stevens will be hard to top. That's now two of the best ski days I can remember.....and within a week. Makes me giddy like a kid again.

Christmas 2007

Stanwood to Vancouver BC

An awesome meal and Troy and Lisa's new home

Photogenic #1

Photogenic #2

#1 redux. Aka, the Dancing Queen.

Christmas breakfast at Janae and Kelly's. Shortly before heading to Christmas dinner with extended family in Abbottsford. Dude, don't show the remote like that!

Then came a ski day right out of a postcard at Cypress, BC!

I understand snow this light and fresh just doesn't normally fall a stone's throw from Vancouver. But it did this day.

The most beautiful ski day I can recall.

I wanted to keep taking pictures...it was gorgeous.

Okay enough fluff........we ripped it up!!! Here is Kelly.

Here is me. This move will not likely get me any sponsorships.

Here we come New Years 2008!

A week of snow in the mountains required sending an APB for any skiers willing to give up work for a day. Had a few interested parties.....but in the end it was Laura and I heading to Crystal Mt.

First chair up we saw mt Rainier for 20 seconds......that was it for the day! It was worth it.

4 feet of snow in a week looks like this.

A smiling skier at the top. This was shortly before somersaulting ski-less down a steep incline. Maybe she will write about that! It also involved yours truly inadvertantly sliding down the same face at approximately the same time, only to look up and see skiis 40 feet up a face that in steepness was just a little short of a cliff. Warren Miller here we come.....not!

Me jumping over this tree. Never mind, I guess the above description cleary indicates this can't be true.

Not skiiable by anyone I know!

Not a bad start to the season, fresh snow, no wind, no injuries, and only one broken pole.

Thanks for all your votes over there in the poll, it is apparent that lots of links are just fine!  

This holiday a cappella video was great....had to post.

Leaving Seattle in December (and associated cold, snow and floods) was a nice change! Went to visit Gretchen in Hawaii. The land of always warm! Primary goal was time with Gretch, secondary goal was see the Dawgs beat Hawaii. I guess 1 for 2 isn't bad.

Island lifestyle even infiltrates the zoo

Our home for a week.....Waikiki; enjoyed being a tourist just like the rest of them.

Waikiki and Honolulu from Diamond Head

Gretchen's head from Diamond head

Ventured to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling

The highlight was snorkeling with two sea turtles.

Rough ambiance.....but we ate okay :)

December football in a T-shirt is the way to go! The Dawgs lost in the last minute though. It meant a lot to the locals; I tried to be a gracious loser. Most fans were nice to the purple clad.

After renting a board and languishing in Waikiki's little waves
I was impressed with these guys just getting out TO the "big waves" of the north shore

Wiamea Bay was the only place calm enough for surfing

They don't always make it out; who do you think will get swallowed in this photo? Answer is shown below

Mr. left side got sucked into the washing machine!

Harder than it looks.

A "little" wave near shore

Lunch with Pam (Gretchen's co-worker) and her parents

Culture hint: Those with Lei's are either coming or going. In this case Harold and Greg were heading to Guam.

Had a great time! Did I mention it is always warm? Yeah, enjoyed every minute of it. A special thanks to J&T for fedexing me my lost ID so I could come home. This seasoned traveler lost that among other things in the not-so-violent surf of Waikiki :)

Next post will be shorter! I promise.

Thanksgiving 2007 with family.

"Parker....your truck is behind you"

Mike was a great host and took Dave and yours truly hunting in Oroville. Thanks to Tawn for putting up with us! Quail was our main objective, but Mike did get one pheasant.

Yes, I went through the class, I am a legal hunter, even if the pose does not strike fear.

Cover your eyes if you are vegan.

I won't advertise this too loud....but thank goodness they don't always fly away! That is how I got my two.

Mike, Dave and puppy Buck were the more natural hunters. I was a rookie. Well Dave too technically except he was in the Army so that must count for something.

Where's Waldo 1 and 2?

Then Mike took us on a scenic tour, that post will be for a later rainy day.