Jimmy Fest 2009

My cousin Jimmy owns Third Knight Farm between Monmouth and Corvallis. For the past 2 years he has put together "Jimmy Fest" where he events friends and family for a pig roasting and beer party. The first time I heard of it wasn't from my family but a friend whose husband works with my cousin. For the past year I kept bringing up Jimmy Fest around Jimmy so he wouldn't forget to add me to the list. Well it worked I was finally invited to the 3rd annual Jimmy Fest. Corey and I showed up towards the end of family time but that was okay we were looking forward to the after hours craziness. What we saw was a whole bunch of farmers having a good time. Besides the roasted pig there was 2-4 kegs and a huge bonfire. I got to here my cousin and friend "Tiny" (who isn't tiny) sing Karaoke together on a flat bed truck. I watched Corey play four rounds of beer pong and finally lose to sisters. I too played beer pong with a guy who told me I was cool since I was 28 years old and knew how to text message. That really made me laugh but I guess when I was 21 years old I probably thought 28 was old. Another funny thing was one older gentlemen said he was Jimmy's dad and I said no your not because Jimmy's dad is my uncle. One of Jimmy's friends even tried to hook me up with Jimmy. Jimmy and I both laughed and said "We are cousins, GROSS!!!!" I also got myself my very own bottle of Red Neck wine that my other cousin Jeff makes.  Corey and I both had a good time and I am looking forward to next years Jimmy Fest.

Summer Biking had me a blast, Summer Biking going so fast!!!

We've been without a second car for over a year and things are still going really well. Biking has become a new hobby and being without a car has, in a roundabout way, been a boon for my health. Assuming I ride to work daily, I go about 60 miles on the weekdays and gain over 3,000' in elevation. I also frequently go on rides with friends, Dan and Brett, on the weekends. Most often, going nearly 50 miles. In early summer, Dan and I rode up bald peak. I had to stop a few times in the middle of climbs, they were too long and our pace earlier had been too hard. The views from the ridge road on top are stunning. You can look down into the valley and there is a great view of Hood. Carol and I need to drive up there for a picnic when the weather is nice. Coming down was a little harrowing. Dan was flying around a corner, but when I got there I braked hard because I missed the apex and lost my nerve. Shortly after, there was a long downhill, where I remember hitting 50 without pedaling. After those long weekend rides, I get home feeling like mush. I move slowly and on Monday while riding to work again, it is a little more painful.

I had a great time riding the rim of Crater Lake, with our friend Tyler, when we went to camp at Diamond lake earlier this month. The ride is approximately 32 miles and the elevation gain is 3,800 feet, very challenging. We both made it, but it took about 4.5 hours. The ride around the rim is never flat. The uphills are long, but the downhills are exhilarating. During one downhill coasting, I managed to hit 40.8 mph. The views while going around the lake are amazing and I feel like I got more out of the trip having ridden the rim than if I had just driven to the visitor's center. We were going to meet up with the others for a hike, but if we had gone hiking, they would have had to drag us most of the way. Carol went on a great hike above the visitor's center for an amazing view.

For the future, I plan to continue my bike commute, but hope to get involved in more organized rides. I had considered doing the Portland century, but that was the weekend of our camping trip. FYI - a century is a ride where you do 100 miles in a day. There is always next year, and I look forward to sometime doing the Seattle to Portland, the bridge pedal, some centuries and maybe put together a trip with a group of friends and bike the Oregon coast south of Lincoln City. Hope to see you on on the roads soon.

Finally Done

I have had scan old slides on my to do list forever. I got them from my sister shortly after my niece Bailey was born 18mos ago. They are slides my parents took when my sister was born 30 years ago. I got put in charge of scanning them so both sets of parents could have copies. Sort of a peace treaty. I ran into a few problems regarding our computer and the scanner. And then of course there was the sheer laziness on my part to do it. But this week I made the decision it was going to get done. I wanted it off my to do list and out of our office. It took me a good couple hours but I finally finished scanning four slide boxes today. Here are a few pictures that haven't been seen in nearly 30 years. One thing I notice is I am totally the second child since I have few pictures of myself and I must of spent the first 20 years of my life looking in the wrong direction during picture time. The first two are of me, the rest my sister Lora. 

Bailey Sitting

No that isn't a typo I went down to Corvallis yesterday to watch my niece Bailey. She has to be one of the happiest little ones out there. Except when you tell her no she holds her breath and then lets a whale of a cry. Luckily she only did it once today. Our day started off with sharing a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast. Then a quick change into our clothes and a walk to the park. We went down a few wet slides getting both our bottoms wet. Baileys favorite thing was the swings. She had to have a turn on each one before she was ready to go. I was very impressed that she walked all the way home. On our way home we saw baby sunflowers growing in someones yard and said thank you to the bees for pollinating. We made it home in time for her favorite show Sesame Street. No one gets between Bailey and her Sesame Street. She was supper glued to it. Another thing Bailey does really well is entertains her self. I sat with her and read my book and jumped in to play along now and again. She spent a good 2hrs playing with her dolls, reading books and making food in her kitchen. Then it was lunch time and she went crazy for her cheese and applesauce. Wasn't to big of a fan for the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Once lunch was over she asked where mom and dad were. I said work and she kept repeating "mom and dad at work." Bailey walked her self up stairs and after a short burst of "no I don't want a nap" she went down. I decided to join her and we both took an afternoon nap before mommy came home. Thanks Bailey for letting Auntie Carol come and watch you and for being such a good girl. XOXO

HilHi 10 year reunion

I can't believe that I am old enough to have a 10 year high school reunion. The only comfort is if I am older that means you are all older with me. I was in the class of 1999 at Hillsboro High School. I remember we were the last class to graduate in the twentieth century in Oregon. 10 years ago I felt ready to set out on my own and start a new chapter in my life. The world was mine to seize and anything was possible. Now 10 years later I don't feel I have changed completely or captured the world the way I once wanted. What has happened is I have grown to feel more confident in my own skin and know my self more. Our reunion was at Kell's downtown on Friday night and then a free picnic in Hillsboro on Saturday. My class wasn't the most involved or motivated class at Hilhi. I think that in a combination with the cost of the reunion kept some people from attending (lame). I did enjoy seeing those who came and their families. Some people hadn't changed in appearance or personality while others were almost unrecognizable. Some where rocking the single life while others had little ones. One even had four kids! Some lived in the same neighborhood they grew up in while others have lived in other countries. One thing that is still true today as it was 10 years ago the class of 1999 has the capabilities to do great things and change to world for the better. GO SPARTANS!!!!!

Summer Time Memories

Sort of stopped blogging for many reasons but recently everyone has been asking us why we haven't updated. Here we were thinking no one was reading it since we rarely got comments posted on the blog. Since our last post in February a lot has happen. But at this moment I don't feel like regurgitating it all, maybe later. What I wanted to share were some past summer memories. I have been feeling pretty nostalgic lately, could be the fact my 10 year high school reunion was this weekend. I have also been thinking a lot about my "Chicky" grandma. Almost every couple days I think I need to call her and then I get busy and remember as I am going to bed. A combination of feeling nostalgic and thinking of my "Chicky" grandma this post is dedicated to my McIlroy family. First I must preference my story with this, these are a little child's memories and so might be slightly inaccurate. As a young girl I spent most summers, a few winters and even a Thanksgiving at the Hanson (McIlroy) Walport beach house. I am not sure the year the beach house was built but it has been in my Grandpa Dick's family for a very, very long time. It is two stories with a green roof and green shutters. Sometimes there are red potted geraniums on the front porch. The house has no phones or television except the one on wheels I have never seen used. There are two bedrooms down stairs usually where my grandparents and my great grandmother slept. The rest of the main floor housed a living room, kitchen and added bathroom. In the living room there was green velvet couch that above it had a painting of naked men and women laying around a pool. I would try to sneak peaks at the picture and giggle that my grandparents owned something so "scandalous." Near the fire place was a large well worn leather chair that I would cuddle with my mom or dad in. Upstairs where two large bedrooms and a bathroom. My sister and I slept upstairs with our parents. Often times we argued over who slept next to the scary closet door. We both believed it was haunted. The next upstairs room my aunt stayed in or my grandfather would use it as his fly fishing room. The house was right on the beach a few yards away from the Walport bay. My summers where filled with sandcastles, sea shells and walks on the beach. We often went crabbing. My sister Lora and I chasing each other with crabs on the dock. I only remember one time catching enough crabs to actually eat. The first time I had shrimp cocktail was at the beach house. I felt so grown up and refined eating the pretty cup of shrimp and red sauce. I believe it was the summers I spent at the beach house that ignited my love for games. There was always a mean game of Gin Rummy going on or someone playing solitaire. The beach house was a place to get away from everyday life and reconnect with loved ones. Where multi-tasking meant soaking up the sun, while listening to soft jazz and reading a good book in the back yard. Where the concept of family meals meant shopping, cooking, eating and cleaning up together. Where my imagination was fueled and allowed to be free. Sadly I haven't been to the beach house since my Junior year in college. I would love for Corey to see the place sometime. I feel so fortunate to have had a childhood that has so many amazing and wonderful memories of the beach and the special beach house with its green shutters. Thank you McIlroy family.