Sunday, December 31, 2017

Christmas in CA!

 I would not trade the many holidays I spent with just G or Slugs, or with my transplant family in Texas. But THIS year was extra special.

Dad and I were invited to my brother's for Christmas Eve but didn't really know what we were doing for Christmas day. I had planned a birthday/Christmas party for 12/30 to which I had invited some friends and my brother and SIL. Dad was in charge of seeing what was happening with the rest of the family.

On the Wednesday afternoon before Christmas (4.5 days) it was decided that my aunt and uncle and their three grown children would come to MY house for Christmas day! I was SO excited!!!! I immediately started making lists 😀 (also totally just learned how to put emojis in here!). Luckily school was out early on Thursday and we had Friday off. BUT Dad and I had plans in Big Bear on Saturday night, plus Christmas Eve (Sunday) with Dave and Loni. The decision was made that I, at least, would return to the desert after tamales at Dave's Sunday night.

Anyway, I thrive in busy-ness so it was great fun for me. I had several lists going and every minute was planned out. My favorite! No sarcasm there - I love doing nothing but I also love being busy and having a tight schedule, every once in a while. I already had the table ready (or planned) for the party on Dad's birthday so that part was easy. I have made a traditional Christmas dinner several times, so the food wasn't difficult. And I had it all scheduled out so it was a matter of just doing it.

Saturday night, Dad and I and two of his neighbors went to a fun Christmas "play" - A Christmas Carol Askew or something like that. Very very funny. Audience participation and singing and lots of laughs. Dad even got singled out in the crowd. He played along very well!! Sunday morning I went for a trail run. That evening we went off to Dave's. Yummy tamales and good company. Then we went and picked up the dogs and made our way to the desert.

Dad and I had a quiet but fun Christmas morning with the pooches while I periodically did something in the kitchen. Charlie, Patty, Steven, Tyler, and Samantha showed up right on time and the party began. The turkey was moist, the potatoes mushy, and the yams (a new dish for me) were quite yummy. I made the stuffing in the crockpot. I thought it was kinda dry but somebody (don't remember who) said it was just right. I don't like stuffing so whatever! I had made a cream cheese pie, a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie. Why all the pie?

Over the weekend, I had invited Joanna and her mom and brother to come over for pie on Christmas Day evening. With 7 people at dinner, plus 3 coming just for pie, it seemed I need a 3rd pie. Right? Eh. Could've done without the pumpkin cuz it wasn't very good. BUT I FINALLY got the cream cheese pie right!!!

Once Christmas was over, I could concentrate on the birthday party. I had decided on a Mexican fiesta. I made enchiladas, sopapillas, "refried" beans, etc. There were supposed to be 9 of us, but Dave and Loni came down sick so they didn't come. The 7 of us left enjoyed the meal and then we had a gift exchange (I ended up with a new fuzzy blanket!) and played some games. It was a good evening. I think Dad felt celebrated. Oh, there was a birthday cake (which has a story but I'll keep it to myself for now).Seventy-five never looked so good!!

All in all, it was an EXCELLENT Christmas week in California!! I was ready for a low-key first week of January, which I got 😄
Opening Gifts from Santa 
Grandpa was trying to help with the packaging 
The first hiding spot 
Downtime between parties!

I really should take more pics of stuff. I guess I was having too much fun!!!

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Thanksgiving 2017


I moved to CA for weeks just like this one! First, Dad and I worked Chimera. Then Slugs and I lounged at home for a couple days before heading to Big Bear for the holiday. Yay for being 75 minutes from Dad!!

One of the most exciting parts of being able to be in Big Bear for Thanksgiving is that we have a new member of our family!! My niece Alexis gave me a grand-nephew in September. They were going to BB for Thanksgiving!! 

Not sure I've ever mentioned this here but my big brother and sister-n law are VERY active in the Fawnskin Moose Lodge. It is just down the street from their home. Loni is a regular bartender and Dave is some sort of officer at all times, as far as I know. He's been Governor several times I believe. Anyway, he serves Thanksgiving dinner (and Christmas apparently) to members. He cooked 5 turkeys and a turducken in addition to lots of other yummy sides. This is where Dad and I had our Thanksgiving meal :)  It was so much fun! I met lots of people who I look forward to seeing more regularly now that I'm "local". And I held the baby!! 

Oh and the Cowboys lost and the Redskins won. Added bonus. Overall, it was great to spend the holiday amongst family and friends eating good food and watching football. Dream come true. Here are pictures. 

I bored him!!

William Nicholas Brown
Making faces

The happy family
Apparently once there's a baby, pictures of other people stop happening. Oops. Promise we were all there ;) Also it's very dark inside thus the horribly dark pictures! Sorry!

The NEXT day was almost as exciting. I had very much been looking forward to the annual Christmas tree lighting in The Village since last year when I knew I'd be there for this year. Dad got to work Search and Rescue for it but I was able to hang with him and his buddies until they had to go make room for the fire engine carrying Santa Claus to drive down the road. 

There were carols being sung, people everywhere, and not a chill in the air. No really. It was warm. I wore a sweater and coat anyway cuz it's winter darn it!! They lit the tree, Santa arrived, and we all left. I was starving! It was so worth it though to ring in the Christmas season. Now we're home in the desert and will start decorating as soon as I stop writing :)

the crowd before it got crowded

Merry Christmas from Big Bear!!

Here Comes Santa Claus!!


Thursday, November 23, 2017

Big Bear Turkey Trot 2017

(I've decided to split up the last week into several posts. Cuz a lot happened in just a few days!! YAY!!)

For some reason, I decided that running in the Big Bear Turkey Trot was a great idea. It was!! Might not have seemed so in the middle, but in hindsight, I'm so glad I participated!

The course was a 3-mile loop. I opted to do two laps to make 6 miles. It was about time to run a 10k, in my training, so this worked.  The website said it was a flat course. I forgot that flat is a relevant term in Big Bear. It was just a tad hillier than my normal routes here in the desert. I am happy to say I finished both laps and had fun.

The absolute BEST part was that Dad went with me. Not on the run part, but to the event. I had my own cheering squad and "crew"! Which was nice. It was quite warm. Especially for Big Bear on Thanksgiving. I was told that last year (or maybe year before) it was 18*. Yay for 65*!! But it meant I'd be hot. So I asked Dad to have my bandana wet for me when I came in after the first lap. He did and I was so glad!

And THEN, when I came in to the finish, he was there waiting for me AND RAN IN TO THE FINISH WITH ME!!! Life came full circle and I teared up a bit. It was AWESOME! Of course, I was dead last and they'd just started the awards ceremony so no one was paying attention, let alone taking a picture of it. Oh well, I'm sure it won't be the last time :)

Instead, here's a pic of me running in with him many, many years ago!

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Chimera 100 2017 - AKA Don't Mess with Ultrarunners

A friend from work agreed to stay at my house with the dogs while we worked radio at the Chimera 100 in Orange County. So Dad and I left Saturday morning from the desert. I was nervous about Slugger being nice until Jacob sent me this picture.
Traitor
Anyway, Dad and I were working at the Bear Springs aid station. Runners came in at about 60 miles, went out and back about 18 more miles and came back to us a second time. This was my first time seeing runners twice at the same spot. It could have been chaotic but it wasn't really too bad.  For the most part, all the runners had shown up the first time before the majority started coming back the second time.

We had 6 runners drop at our spot all together. The first four dropped on their first visit. The fifth was sometime in the middle of the night and I honestly don't remember. The sixth did not make it by cutoff the second time. Actually, he got there the second time in a "transport" vehicle. We, of course, knew who we were waiting for and he was taking quite a long time to arrive. So the nice transport driver drove up the course to find him. So glad he did. Even by car, it was at least 30 minutes, if not an hour before they got back!! We were completely packed up and ready to go, helping the aid station folks do the same.

Some memorable runner moments before I get to the excitement of the night:

- I actually missed two runners! One going up (the first time through) and one coming down (the second time). What?! It's not like we had oodles of runners at one time. Oh well, I was tired, and we were able to figure out where they were. As in, they weren't lost.

- #132 was the last one to go through the aid station before us before coming back to us the second time. He is memorable because he came FLYING in to Bear Springs, stayed a moment or two and flew out again. He knew he was very close to cut off and didn't want to get stopped. Happy to report he finished. Also, I believe he had the fastest split before us and after us!

- I don't remember her number but I am still giggling at the woman who came running in for her second visit. She said her pacer had stopped to pee so she sprinted in so she'd have time to sit down before he got there! I did note that her pacer let her sit a few minutes even after he got there. But he did seem like a slave driver. Which reminds me of another pacer who was very very perky. I told Dad I totally would've slapped her within the first mile or two. Pacers are supposed to be perky. That's their job but I'm not sure I could handle it at that point.

- #166 is memorable because he truly did not seem as though he should be roaming the woods alone at night. And that was on his FIRST visit. He actually appeared to be kinda loopy. He was a bit worse when he came through the second time. We then happened to see him at about 82 miles and he looked even worse. But he finished! We decided that perhaps he always looks like that - the out of it part, not the tired, sweaty part. I do know people (mostly teenagers, and this guy was 23) who look loopy as a way of life. Loopy is SO not the right word but the right one isn't coming to me. I don't mean it derogatorily (is THAT a word? yeah, I'm gonna move on now).

- We knew no names. We didn't have an entrant list or anything so unless there was a reason to "introduce" themselves, runners were just bib numbers to us. When we got home and were looking at results and such, we realized that we actually knew one of the guys who dropped AT our aid station!! Well, I sort of know him - he graduated a couple years before me and his brother graduated with me I think - and Dad has interacted with him in the running world of Big Bear. Small world. Bummer we didn't know it was him at the time!

I think that's about it for runner stories worth noting. On to the EXCITEMENT of the night. Not like getting gifts exciting but like I'm never gonna sleep now kind of excitement.

At some point mid-evening (never thought to keep track of the time on our end but I'm sure someone did somewhere), the aid station after us (2.5 miles down the dirt road) reported a drunk driver zooming about their location. To make this story as short as I can while making sure you, the reader, get the gist, I'll sum up some parts.

This gentleman in the green jeep left and came back to the ITT aid station a couple times, the last time running into a fence post and one of the station's canopy tents. Luckily no one was hurt. Unlucky for us, he left there and headed toward us. I want to say it was about midnight. Who knows. All sense of time goes away once it gets dark. Anyway, thanks to our radios we knew he was coming. We started preparing ourselves...

Exactly what Dad thought he would do with the hammer, I'm not sure, but I'm glad he was willing to protect us. I am not sure when I have been quite so scared. This maniac (we had LOTS of names for him, most not suitable to print) had a jeep, was mad and drunk and possibly high (the first report over the radio stated this was true), and we were parked on the side of a mountain, literally. There was nothing but a steep mountainside behind our tents!! We heard him coming and all kind of scattered so that if he missed the turn (on purpose or not) we might be spared. I'll post pics of our set up at the end. Just know that my chair would've been the first over the cliff. Thank God, he went zooming around the corner, only sliding a tad, and went on up the road. Dad guessed he was going 30 mph. Dad would've taken it at no more than 5 mph, I am sure. Yes, the guy was a lunatic. I hate drunk people.

Anyway, we calmed our hearts and called in the sighting to warn the others. He didn't get to the next aid station for quite some time. Dad guessed (probably correctly) that he got lost in the "antenna farm" on the top of the mountain. He did eventually get to the aid station, circled and basically tormented them for a few minutes before moving on. He eventually got to the final aid station before the runners turned around. Thank God he kept going.

This was all even more scary because the road this idiot was traveling on - oh did I mention that at times he turned off his lights? - was covered with runners!! Runners who were tired, etc. I spent a good hour or more sitting in my chair praying for their safety. We had ended all radio traffic except about this guy. So for the most part I had nothing to do but listen and pray. I am VERY happy to say that the prayers worked. All runners stayed safe. All stations had been warning runners about the moron so they knew to get off the road, turn off their lights and such. Seriously scariest night I've spent in a very long time.

Think I'm done? Nope. The next morning as the two aid stations above us were driving out, guess who they saw stuck in some trees?! YUP!! Now, we at Bear Springs were mostly voting for leaving the "poor guy" there. They didn't. They pulled him out and then followed him to the highway until CHP caught up with him. They pulled him over, ruined his morning, gave him a sobriety test and HE FAILED!! Now, it'd been a while since we'd seen him so not sure how he hadn't sobered up but I'm okay with it!!

When asked why they bothered helping this guy out of the trees, we were told "Karma goes both ways". Quote of the weekend for me!!

Now, let me tell you something. I LOVE ultra runners and their community. You know that and you know how awesome they are if you've read any of my posts about them. So all I can say now is:

DON'T MESS WITH ULTRARUNNERS!!!! :) 


the view behind us - the ocean is out there!

down the hill - they ran up to us the first time, down the second time

our set up

doing my thing

our tents at the bend in the road

the new addition which is AWESOME

the view from my chair (see what I mean about being first impact?)

sunrise




Sunday, October 29, 2017

Bonk!

I really don't mean to only write about running. But I'm on a mission to get better at it so it's what I do these days. Well, that and watch baseball.

Today's lesson learned: EAT DINNER! I was busy watching my boys last night and never actually ate dinner. I had the thought at one point but wasn't really hungry and couldn't decide what to eat and then it just never happened. MISTAKE!!

I didn't change up anything else that I did to prepare for this morning's "long" run so I'm pretty sure that was the difference maker. That and I didn't really have a plan of a route. But I don't think that was a factor. Where I ended up would've been just the distance I was aiming for (4ish miles).

The first mile was hard. My legs were tired. But I kept going. I was all in my head about how hot it was. I was trying a new system to deal with that. I got an extra, light-weight, collapsible water bottle that I could easily use to wet the bandana and/or my head. Turns out it wasn't all that easy. I actually stopped in order to wet the bandana. I wasn't even that hot. But I wanted to get ahead of the hot. Again, all in my head.

Anyway, I kept going. About 2 miles in, I just couldn't run anymore. I could've, I guess, but I wasn't having fun. So I walked. The entire last mile basically. And cut my route short. I think it was when I realized that I COULD cut it short that my mind won the battle. By then my legs were okay. It was just an overall, "not happening" kinda day.

Not sure any of this makes sense. But well, that's running!! Right?!

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Training Update - Founders Day 5k

I actually had two nice runs while I was in SD. I was hoping that I'd be able to get back in to the habit and get inspired and all that. Worked!! This morning I set out for a "long run". But I decided to do something different. I had a goal of TIME instead of distance. I sort of had a route thought out but wasn't sure how long it take me. The plan was to run 30 minutes out, turn around and come home making an hour long run. I figured this should be 3-4 miles or so.

I started out heading toward the aqueduct on roads. Actually I basically ran as if I was going to work. Once I could see the aqueduct, I realized I'd be there before 30 minutes but not by too much. I really wanted to explore running on the path along the aqueduct but I had no idea where I'd be able to get back off the path besides WAY up at Main street which I knew was beyond my distance level. But I started that direction anyway.

This kind of led to some mental issues. I was tired and hot and had no idea if I'd end up going miles out of my way (okay a mile or two). I kept telling myself if I ended up having to go all that way, I'd just walk. I had plenty of water; I'd survive. There was a dirt path that more or less wandered parallel to the asphalt path I was on. I kept wondering if I was over there, I'd find an out. But then I wouldn't get in my whole hour cuz it'd put me closer to home. So, yeah, I was all up in my head.

I finally got to a point where I knew where I was, just on the wrong side of the fence. There are gigantic power lines inside the fence, which is why it's fenced off. Those power lines were between the aqueduct and my house, basically. I chose to transfer over to the dirt road/trail that went along the fence line in hopes of finding an opening in the fence. I passed one said opening because I couldn't see anyplace to get through the fence on the other side of the power lines. At the second opening, I took it as a sign (I could now see Main St and I REALLY didn't wanna go that far!!). I was directly across from another fence and I knew that road. I figured if I couldn't get through, I could follow THAT fence back toward home until I could get through. Sure enough, there WAS an opening. So then I ran home. I had actually walked quite a bit (3 minute intervals with a 2 minute run) trying to figure out where to go next.

Turned out I was out about 55 minutes and ran 3.7 miles. Not bad! And now I know I can get through there so the mental part won't be a factor next time.

I'm calling this my Founders Day 5k for the Stars Hollow running club. Go me :)

Forgot to wear the bib!

And I think I'm back into the running habit. I enjoy it and the feeling afterward (well, not the tired/hot but the satisfaction, etc.). My weekday runs were longer than normal cuz of being in SD and exploring there. I think that left me a little more tired today. So a little lighter week and perhaps the same long run next weekend. I don't have a new race registration yet but maybe soon. Maybe a thanksgiving 10k? or Christmas?? And finally a half by mid spring?

Friday, October 13, 2017

HTH San Diego trip

I was fortunate to be selected to attend an event at High Tech High (HTH) in San Diego. It was a 3 day workshop on Project Based Learning (PBL). HTH is entirely PBL and has grown to include schools K-12 in several locations in the San Diego area. It's an interesting concept. We were basically walked through the process of how to create a good project. We toured the campus; we met teachers and students; and we produced ideas of our own. I didn't get quite to the point of having a project to go home and implement but I at least started the idea process. It is hard to come up with good PBL in math. This was actually confirmed for me by a student. It's not impossible though!!

In addition to enjoying and learning at the conference, I had time to experience a little of San Diego! My first thought was that I wanted to run on the water. I found a park that had a nice path along San Diego Bay. I didn't even know there was a bay! So see I also learned things about SD, not just PBL! Wednesday afternoon after the conference I set out for Harbor Island for an afternoon jog. I tend to not run in the afternoon due to heat but also because when I do, I tend to get shin splints.  On this particular run, it was beautiful weather  but I did experience shin pain. I ran through it :) Here are some shots from before and during the run...


After my run, I decided to drive around a bit. I had run further than I thought I was going to (cuz math) and was pretty hot and tired but I wanted to explore. I drove toward downtown on Harbor Rd. I basically stayed on that road for several miles. I came to the USS Midway. It's a museum and has a little park. There were a lot of people but I found a parking spot and decided to walk around a bit. I had cooled off a little so I don't think I stuck out amongst the crowd. Here's what I saw...




USS Midway



statues of Bob Hope performing for military


I kept driving and eventually passed the Convention Center and Petco Park. Hope to see the Padres play there eventually.
PetCo Park, taken out my car window...

I eventually made my way to the bridge to Coronado. For some reason I remember it being a toll bridge. It's not anymore - even had signs that said that. Coronado was beautiful. I'd love to go back and spend a day exploring! 






Then I drove back via interstate. It was faster :) Also, I was pretty darn hungry and had put in an order at Native Foods Cafe. This is a vegan place I've heard about but never been to. It was good but not the best. I ordered nachos, 2 cupcakes and a peanut butter parfait thing (I actually ate that the next afternoon). I took it back to my hotel and enjoyed it in front of the TV. Cuz cable! I also figured out how I wanted to spend the next afternoon. I planned to go the other direction and explore Point Loma and Cabrillo Natl Monument and lighthouse. The only issue was that I'd have to leave the conference as quickly as possibly and dart over there cuz they close the gates at 5pm. Conference was scheduled until 3:30!

The conference actually ended the day's session by giving us time to work with the group we'd come with from our own schools (we'd been separated for the most part for the rest of the time). We all walked back to the hotel, talking about our ideas as we went, much earlier than we'd expected to be let loose. One of the group had the project idea to incorporate an Escape Room as a final product. So we chatted about that and several of us admitted to never doing one cuz we were were nervous for various reasons. As a group, we decided we should go do one together. So we did. This meant I didn't get to visit the lighthouse though. This was a HUGE escape from my comfort zone - to go against my plan, to socialize with strangers, and to do an escape room. But I did it!!! We failed to escape but I had a lot more fun than I thought I would!! I actually think it was good doing it with a group I didn't really know well. And now I want to try again so I can escape successfully!! 

After that, we went our separate ways. They were going "out" and well, I'd had enough socialization time! I still drove out to Point Loma toward the light house even though I knew it was too late to get into the park. I thought maybe I'd go back on my way home the next day. Along the road is a military cemetery. I had known this but wasn't expecting the long rows of white headstones, similar to Arlington in DC. I drove through the cemetery a little, stopped and wandered through some memorials. I hadn't heard of any of the incidents  I read about on those memorials. But said some prayers for the lost and their families. I then enjoyed the sunset from my car, within the cemetery. 

Memorial

looking back to SD bay





helicopter flew by


The sun basically just sank in to the water. It was fascinating and mesmerizing. And quick. Here's a video of it disappearing.


I drove back to the hotel via vegan fast food place (that's what they called themselves). I got a burger and chili cheese fries and cheesecake. I took them to the hotel and watched TV while devouring. Still prefer the Beyond Burger from Veggie Grill but this one was yummy. The cheesecake was okay. Didn't taste like cheesecake at all. I decided to just go home on Friday and not try to take in the lighthouse. I was worried about traffic and I missed my pooch incredibly! 

I very much enjoyed my visit to SD. I learned stuff at the conference and had fun exploring various parts of the city. I definitely want to go back and do more sightseeing!! Of course, I won't be staying at the same hotel. It was much nicer than I could afford!! 

Monday, August 28, 2017

Kodiak 100 2017

For the last several years, as Dad gears up for the Kodiak 100, I have had horrible homesickness because I so wanted to be able to help. THIS was one of the events that I moved here for!! 

Dad is in charge of ALL the radio communications for this race. It has multiple races within, with the 100 miler being the longest, with 36 hours allowed to complete. It basically makes a very large circle in the mountains around Big Bear Valley. There are a LOT of aid stations, MANY of them running for VERY long hours, through the night and/or all day. It is very hard to get enough communicators to adequately cover the stations with shifts. Mostly, communicators just stay at the station for hours upon hours. These are some dedicated folks. 

This year, the race started at 9am on Friday morning. I worked but as soon as I could get out, I picked up Slugger and we drove to Big Bear. Slugger got to stay at Dad's house with Cousin Tuck and I went on to Net Control. This is who all the other communicators talk to throughout the entire event. Some stations were hooked up with the computer system we use at AC100 but only if they could get internet access. There were many too far into the boonies for that and so they called every runner's time through the station into our Net Control. We then recorded it into the computer system for them. 

By the time I got there, the runners had been on course about 9 hours. Everyone in Net Control was tired. Of course, so was I since I'd taught all day! Several took naps throughout the night. Some came and went. I spent a lot of time on the radio. That's my favorite thing so I was happy and it kept me awake. 

Saturday dawned. Things got slow. Things picked up. I finally gave up trying to stay awake and un-grumpy at about 6pm. I went and got some food and went to pick up Slugger. I know it only makes sense to me, but I needed to go home to get any real sleep. I'd forgotten my charger at Net Control so Slugs and I drove back over there to get it. Slugs was so excited to see Dad. They actually hadn't seen each other yet. I love that Slugs loves Dad so much! We got home, and I went to bed and slept WELL!!

This was my first time working in Net Control. Usually we're off in the field somewhere doing the calling. This weekend was a very interesting experience for me! I had all these runner numbers in my head, could tell you a few names even. I know some stories about their race experience. But I never saw a runner. That's so weird!! It definitely gave me a new appreciation for Net Control. It is a BUSY place!! All sorts of crazy things are happening in person, on the radio, on the cell phone, etc. I think it made me even more tired, besides just not sleeping, because I had to THINK a lot! Answer questions, deal with emergencies, etc. 

I would be in Net Control again, but I'd MUCH rather be in the middle of nowhere!! 

Oh, Net Control was located in a cabin on the lake. It is usually in a location away from all the actual action. Here's the sunrise (before I left to go feed the dogs). From our porch.




Sunday, August 20, 2017

Slugger Turns 8!!!

Life's been a little odd the last few months with the moving and such. I wanted to make sure today was special and memorable (do dogs really remember?). And I thought it'd be nice to take advantage of our new location.

We woke up at a decent hour and had breakfast. Well, he didn't eat. He was too excited!! Ha. I tried to explain, but I don't know that he really understood. I mean, telling him we were going to Wrightwood meant nothing to him - he'd never been there! Oh, but I had!! 

Once I put on my hiking boots, THEN he REALLY got excited!! We set off. I didn't turn when I was supposed to, but we got there. Wrightwood is as beautiful and small and quaint as I remember. I am pretty sure it's been 25 years since I've been there! LOTS and LOTS of memories came flooding back as I drove up Elm to see the camp I counseled and camped at many times as a teen.


But this trip was about Slugger, not me!! We hurried on to hike. We didn't end up where we'd intended because I didn't want to walk UP a road just to get to trail! So we went out of Wrightwood a few miles to Inspiration Point (an aid station on the AC100!!). We ended up on the PCT.



It was SO beautiful and quiet and absolutely perfect. We both needed to be out there, ya know?! We turned around just before we got to one mile and ended up taking the road back near the end so our total was 1.6 miles. Not bad since we'd walked 2+ in the neighborhood yesterday. His knee seems to be doing okay. My toe on the other hand is definitely not right. That'll be a story for September though!

view of the desert

This picture does not do this view justice at all. it was STUNNING! Every time I looked that direction, all I could think was "God, thank You". Definition of "awe-inspiring". It's looking down toward LA. I swear if it were a clear day you could see the ocean but I think that'd be way too far.

would've been better without the power pole. not sure where the power was headed. 

we thought about turning around here but went a little further

this tree reminds me of something - Dad, get it?!

looking toward the desert and our new home
We stopped at the ranger station but it was closed. We want to explore all the trails!!!

When we got home, Slugger got his birthday gifts...

A crunchy, squeaky Raccoon...

A "beef strap" which he carried around, hid a couple times, and then ate.

Now we're both recuperating from all the excitement. I think he's enjoying his day! Too bad every day can't be our birthday!!!


NOTE: If you're paying attention, yes, Slugger just skipped a year. Last year, we celebrated his 6th birthday. When he had his knee surgery in November, the surgeon suggested he was a bit older than that. So, we skipped 7 and are going straight to 8! It's all made up anyway :)