Updates

The Bivalve Bash results have been posted for this year's run. Cheryl was 24th, Ama was 51st, I was 24th, and Jonathan was 28th. See the pictures too. Cheryl is on page 8 of the photos and Ama is on page 9, Jonathan was in the mix too, I believe he was page 2. I'm in the crowd on page 4, the bald guy in the foreground with the glasses on.

Gabe just celebrated his 6th birthday at the Furrer Farm. Fake dad, aka Scott, presented him with his first motorcycle, a 50cc Yamaha JR. It looks and rides like a real racing dirt bike. Gabe took all of about 10 seconds to get the feel for it before heading out into the pasture to ride through pies and chase the horses and cows. He spent well over an hour dinking around the fields smiling through his full face helmet. Soon the jumping will begin.

We spent a few days camping last weekend on the Stilliguamish river with some friends, it was a great time until it rained, duh WASHINGTON. Here are the kids wit their very own fire pit. We enjoyed the company of a couple other families sharing cooking responsibilities.

Last Wednesday we competed in our last All Comers meet. This season we will miss the last two due to work and travel. Jonathan decided to run a fast mile clocking a 7:23 for a 21 second PR! He then backed it up with an amazing performance in the Jogger's Mile; a race where the idea is to finish closest to your predicted time without the aid of a timing device. Jon predicted an 8 minute mile and ran an 8:01, winning the entire competition. The prize was a $25 Starbucks gift card, which mom promptly offered him $15 for, no sale. I did my annual Firefighter's Mile in full bunker gear and SCBA clocking a pitiful 10:44, a full minute and 22 seconds slower than last year.

Today was the opener for black bear season. We hit the Wallace River at 4 am, walking into our spot in the DARK. Talk about senses on full alert. The only action we had was a few grunts from a bear behind some blackberry bushes; he could smell us but not see us, we could hear him but not seem him. He lost interest in investigating us and silently wandered off. The berries will be ready for eating in a few weeks and the local bear population will begin moving around a lot more as the sweet blackberries become edible.

Life gets really busy here in the next week as we prep for heading to Steamboat Springs CO for the annual Hirst Family trip. There will be an entire new batch of kiddos this year as we add 3 newborns. Jonathan and Gabe will no longer be the children of the trip. The dynamic will be interesting. Ama, Gabe and I are driving down and flying back. Out route down will take us through Vernal UT and Dinoland! Gabe with be in paleontologist heaven!!

AND...

The boys, Cheryl and Fake Mom (Vicki) are competing in the Western Gaming (horseback games) at the Stanwood Fair this Sunday.

I think that's about it,

Tony

Mud Run

I am constantly looking for new ways to enjoy running. Here is the latest discovery: http://www.bivalvebash.com/

Cheryl, Jonathan, Ama(Cheryl's mom) and I enjoyed the unique experience of running through tidal flat mud last Saturday. Gabe will have to wait another year to reach the age limit but he still had fun with the other activities of the Bivalve Bash. Here he is building a habitat for beach roaming critters. Now he is testing out the mud to make sure it is safe for us all to run in.

The kids run is a 100 yard dash, more like a slog, out, around and back. the adult course is and outer 250 yard course encircling the youth course. The mud is a fine silty stinky combination of decomposing bio-matter and finely eroded sand. Much like running in wet cement the mud takes hold of your feet and eagerly clutches your shoes attempting to relieve you of the protection. Experienced runners suggest using duct tape to secure your footwear, it is a must and it works. The mud sucks you in and creates a perfect air tight seal that must be broken with each step. The lifting force needed to break the seal zaps all energy from your body, you feel as if gravity has just increased ten-fold. Prior to the race I befriended the finish line director and he suggested quick small steps to keep my feet from sinking to deep. Oh yeah and don't fall. Cheryl enjoyed a comment made by a boy just completing the grueling ordeal, "If you fall, remember to close your mouth"

The pre-race duct taping of shoes seemed to be an accepted practice. So much so that the folks from a local running shop had a tent for the purpose of taping runners shoes for them. Jon asked if I would secure his shoes. "Not to tight dad, I want to be able to run my fastest."

Jon ran a great race smiling the entire time. The start was a mad dash out into the soupy mess with kids yelling, falling and laughing. Meanwhile on shore parents jokingly fretted about stuck and disappearing children. Several young competitors fell and a few took advantage of the opportunity completely covering their bodies, most just ran as hard as they could. I was an event fit to make a pig jealous. Jon started slow figuring out the shifting unstable mud surface. Once comfortable with the squishing and slopping he began to pick up the pace and move up in the field. As the collection of ever increasing mud caked youths rounded the final turn and entered the home stretch the pack maintained a slow and

increasingly fatigued pace. The effort to take each step was showing and yet the laughing never stopped. The finish was a celebration of mud spattered smiles as each finisher received a golden oyster shell hanging on a red white and blue ribbon.

The Adult race was a field of 200 mostly competitive runners drooling at the chance to get really dirty and see how fast they could cover the "short" course. The distance seems so innocuous, unchallenging until the reality of the surface sets in. Watching the kids race it was hard to imagine the true difficulty I was about to venture out into. Here is the trick, the kids do not weigh much, so they don't sink to far, adults have a different issue. Not only do we weigh more but we have more push off strength that can work against us. The push off can actually drive your feet deeper into the mud. I guess the finish line directors comments about short quick steps will hold true.

I decided to take a few minutes to warm up and be ready for the intensity of the short distance. I left the grounds of the Bash running up the road a bit to get blood pumping in my muscles. This is something I have done many times before without issue. running out to get the juices flowing is a standard part of pre-race preparations. This time was different. For some reason I read the sign that said low tide -1.7 at 12:23 and thought great 12:30 I'll be back ready to run. At 12:22 I edged my way back to the starting area in time to hear the horn blast signaling the start of the race. AAARRRGGGGG!!! I wove my way through the loosely packed crowd of spectators and entered the mud but a few seconds after the start knowing full well my chance at finishing in the top was shot. My first few steps in the gick were very difficult as I aimed for fresh undamaged surface to steady my footfalls. I eventually took the very inside edge of the course and began to pass the slower mudders. Finally I reached un-trampled mud and was able to actually increase my pace or at least increase my turnover with shorter quicker steps. As I reached the first turn my breathing was unusually fast and I could feel my legs burning and my heart pounding. This stuff is hard to run in, that's when I noticed the laughter. The entire field of 200 adults seemed to be having a ball and laughing. This is something I have never experienced. Don't these people know this is a race? This is serious stuff. I rounded the turn carefully avoiding the barnacle encrusted post focusing on the short straightaway that led to the final turn and then the finish. As I turned I was cutoff by a flailing slogger cutting the corner to save time. As he passed he kicked up a large portion of the stinky ooze forcing me to slow to avoid being covered by his black rooster tail. I then decided to stop pushing and have fun. I began to laugh and enjoy the gick. I tried stepping in other's footprints to test if the footing was more solid and stable, it wasn't. the Final turn was marked with another barnacle encrusted post. I didn't seem to avoid this one and brushed up against it lacerating my elbow. Okay, fine, a mear srape barly a scratch, but a war wound none the less. "It's just a flesh wound." The finish was a messy and oxygen starved mass of doubled-over runners all reeling in the "schloppity schlop" that coated our bodies. Jonathan got a glimpse of my finish and took the shot as best he could, that's me in the white shirt. All in all I stayed pretty clean. Due to my ill planned starting technique I missed starting with Cheryl and Ama. their races were pretty much the same experience without the barnacle encounter. Cheryl finished a few seconds after me with a bit more of the course adorning her body and Ama (481) rounded out our team.

This event is a race and party for the family. If you get a chance I would highly suggest putting it on you calendar for 2009. The focus is to educate folks about the need for clean water in Puget Sound.

Not only was the race fun but the food was wonderful. There were various preparations of oysters, burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, strawberry shortcake, and a beer garden. The music is great and local and the family, at least Mr. Taylor, assisted in the rescue of one stranded youth runner to the cheers of the fans.

We had a great time and I do believe we will be back.

Tony

General Updates and a Rebublishing

The fourth of July always marks the beginning of summer for me. The celebration of my country seems to be the mark of commencement for BBQ's, camping, sprinklers, playing outside until 9pm and thickening of lush green forests.

I love this time of year, especially when it is ushered in with the weather it "should" have. We here in the NW experienced a June for the record books. It was labeled "Juneuary" due to the foul conditions including snowfall, chilly nights and gloomy rain. Then July arrived and the real summer began.

Our garden, at least those plants that were not killed off by the late snowfall, is producing a large crop of strawberries and raspberries. We are forced to harvest daily or allow the fruit to go bad. The boys are constantly sneaking into the fenced area and departing with berry juice around their mouths.

For my 41st birthday we went cliff jumping. Still in Chelan for the 4th, we took a boat up lake and found a nice 25 foot tall rock outcropping that made for just enough excitement but not to much pain on splashdown. This of course was preceded by the boys and mom being drug about in a tube.

The boys loved it, until the tube developed a rip and quickly lost air forming a human taco.

The rest of the trip was a wonderful time of hanging out and enjoying the company of friends and family.

(I have been asked to republish the story of my 40th birthday adventure. I will try and see if I can embed it here somewhere without the entire text being added.)

The cabin in the woods is moving along quite well. The bunks are done and the roof is on. I will have to update those images soon.

Jonathan, Gabe and I spotted something in the road as we were driving home today. It looked like a small cat or animal in the middle of the road on the dirty gravel. I was afraid it had been run over and we were first on scene. But what we found bathing in the fine grey dust was an adult peregrine falcon. I slowly rolled the car to within 10 feet of the majestic bird. He turned his head and looked at us as if to say, "Hey I'm taking a bath here, do you mind?" Gabe was in awe of the beautiful bird, Jonathan just wanted to get closer. It was so cool! He finally got uncomfortable with our presence and with a very quick flap shot to a branch on a nearby cedar. We watched him for a moment until we ventured off into the woods. It was quite an experience.

Okay, so my less than tech savvy mind has not been able to figure out how to add the Word document of my Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass story without adding the entire body of the story. So I'm going to ask all of you who want to read it to request it as an email attachment and I'll get it to ya. Just leave a comment and I'll get it to ya.

Thanks, Tony

July 4th in Chelan Washington

Happy 4th of July!!!

We are out visiting some friends at Lake Chelan for a few days to celebrate the 4th and just take a deep breath. The drive over was uneventful but late at night. We arrived to a glass of red wine and wonderful light show in the sky that lasted 'til 2am.

Dean and Chris open their house to friends and family every 4th for water fun and hanging out. For them it is a ministry they labor at with wonderful results. I on the other hand struggle to hook the illusive small-mouth bass that inhabits the shadows of their dock. I can hear him laughing right now. I just bashed my thumb installing the ladder on the floating dock; best to do jobs like that when the water is calm thus reducing the frustration quotient.

My therapist has given the okay to run now that the five week mark has passed. We'll see how the inflamed patellar tendon holds up.

Tonight there is a huge fireworks display off Wapato Point and we will go out on the boat to view it from the water. Both the boys are jumping off the dock and swimming now. In past years they have barely ventured to the water to touch their toes.

More to come later....

How'bout now, Jon just caught the bass...

Tony

Religion at the dinner table

Have fun with this one. Just recently I read an article citing the results from a Pew Forum on religion and Public Life, basically a poll on religion and religious views. I found the article interesting and carefully written, citing facts and views of what they might mean. The challenge I found with the survey, or at least the one nugget of information pulled for source material in this article, was the wording of the question. “Can many religions lead to eternal life?” Here is the actual question from the Pew folks as asked, “Now as I read a pair of statements, tell me whether the FIRST statement or the SECOND statement comes closer to your own views even if neither is exactly right. First/next: My religion is the one, true faith leading to eternal life, OR: many religions can lead to eternal life. Whoa boy here we go. Religion: Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This re·li·gion Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ri-lij-uh n] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. 3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions. 4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion. 5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith. 6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice. 7. religions, Archaic. religious rites. 8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow. —Idiom According to this definition can conservatism, liberalism, environmentalism, and humanism be deemed religions? Kinda muddies the water a bit. I believe, though intimately involved in a faith defined above as a religion, that it is not the religious practices that get you anywhere, in the eternal sense. We are all created as eternal beings, sorry Charles, designed to inhabit, subdue and fill the earth. We are already in eternity we just happen to be on Earth at the time. The question is when our time here on earth is no more, then what? Will the rest of your/my eternity be spent in the presences of our creator or not? Pew says roughly 88% of the over 35k surveyed believe in “God or a Universal Spirit”. Whether you believe in God or not He believes in you. It is not about religion it is about relationship; relationship with our creator and each other. Entropy, or lets call it breaking of relationship, entered the story on earth early with the taking of a fruit and has since severed the close ties designed in the relationship, and everything has been downhill from there. Two more items to ponder: 1) Do you believe in absolute truth? Absolutely? 2) Is being intolerant of the intolerant true tolerance? New Pew Questions: Do you believe in eternity? Do you believe in heaven and hell? Where will your correct or incorrect adherence to your religion take you? The truth is exclusive but morally compassionate because it provides objective hope. “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6 See Ya, Tony

Updates and stuff

The Olympic trials for USA Track and Field start today, in Eugene OR. I can hardly wait for the TV coverage and on my birthday too. WooHoo! Gabe woke up early, around 3 am, the other day and decided to go snuggle with Sodhi, our golden doodle. We found Gabe at 8am zonked out on Sodhi’s cedar beg and Sodhi standing next to him staring at this human spread eagle taking all his space. They have a special bond. I have been collecting 12 foot long 4x4’s from an aerospace company near the church for the purpose of building a camping shelter in the woods for the boys…and me. The company receives parts and supplies on these pallets each made with three such 4x4’s. The pallets, when emptied, are tossed out, but not anymore. I have been hauling them home and with the help of my boys ripping off the cross pieces to get to the 4x4’s. The base of the shelter is a semi-level 12x9 platform of 30 4x4’s set up on cinder blocks. The walls are framed with the same recycled wood ripped lengthwise into 12 foot long 2x4’s. Right now I am designing bunks for the side walls and a table to go don the middle of the room. (I will have to post a photo soon.) The hardest part of the whole deal is getting the wood down into the wooded ravine. My goal is to have the structure completed by August 23rd, the day we are hosting a 3-D Archery shoot. Jonathan has been away at a summer camp in Bellingham for the week. Ama and Daco have loved having him and watching him make new friends. It has been great for us to have Gabe by him self, he is such an interesting little guy. We are heading up to get older brother tonight. Cool You tube BASE jumping vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttz5oPpF1Js Cheryl was the featured artist in the latest Monroe Arts Council Art Walk. Her photos are covering the walls of a local vintage and used clothing shop on Main St, she even booked a shoot from the exposure.

Edit: Here is the camping structure... That’s it for now, Tony

A lighter posting...

Wow, the last posting seems to have had increased the local gravitaional forces around its readers. And thus please read the following... http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199702/lamentations-father Enjoy, Tony