Summer is just humming along

Wow! This this summer is clearly one of the busiest summers I have experienced in recent years and I've been a terrible blogger. It should go without saying that if I'm blogging in order to share my experiences, there should be way more stuff on this page...ok- so this will be the catch up edition and I'll make renewed effort to keep up on this thing...Since Rose Festival there has been Pride...amazing, Familial visits...lovely, my son jumped out of a plane over Long Island...vicariously thrilling, and my daughter's graduation from OSU...go Beavs! I've also engaged in (minimal) training for my Mt. St. Helens climb and a (not so minimal) bit of celebration with friends and family.

Let's start with Pride- Good times had by all. We were in the best company- including the gayest dog in all the land, Macho. I was interviewed by Willamette Week due to my rabid cheering for Mayor Sam Adams. I'm so thankful that my clip in WW was brief and didn't make me sound like an idiot. Pride itself was extremely crowded and I have a few ideas about how to make it a bit better (of course I do). First of all, OPEN TWO GATES. The line to get in was tremendous and it really did move quickly but there has to be a better way. Especially for the people that get into the festival and then immediately need to get into the tremendous port-o-potty line that intersected the entrance gate..



Familial visits- I have to admit, I approach these ventures with a fair amount of trepidation. Hemming and hawing included, I start out not even wanting to go to these things. Why not? Certainly there is a subtle (or not so) amount of passive/aggressive behavior in the clan. Idealism, judgement passing, ignorance ( I am most certainly guilty of these as well). They always turn out fine. Good food, good drink, good company. I love these people, why they tolerate me is still up for debate. I especially adore my nieces and nephews, they rock as young adults.

3:09am: Text from Kevin: "I'm going skydiving right now! My phone is dieing. If I die I love you and dad very much!"
OK, I'm up for this text, don't ask why and so the frantic phone calling begins met by, of course, a dead phone. I leave a message and then text one just to be sure: "Call me as soon as you get this text. I love you too, xoxo" Kevin calls back at 3:30am- Yes he is going skydiving over Long Island with some friends, he'll call back when he's done. He loves us. Muah...grrrrrrrrrr mixed with AAAAAAAAGh! mixed with pride, wonder and awe.

Beavers!!!! I can not explain the nature of my children if I tried. They thrill me to no end. I sit every day and am blown away by the things they say, the things they accomplish, the people that they are becoming...yes, I'm tearing up right now. OSU graduation and the ensuing celebration at Murphy's Pub in Corvallis were wonderful, beautiful events I will cherish forever. Shannon is so amazingly beautiful and brilliant.

And so...How's that training for Mt. St. Helens going? Kieran, Katie and I are slotted (ha!) to climb to the rim on August 10th. *heavy sigh* Have a couple of workouts in and a sweet Forest Park walk with Jen under my belt along with a giant beer gut. I've been working on the beer gut and the mountain training simultaneously this summer. :) Time to get serious. or not.