March for Science - Earth Day in DC [2017]

An estimated 150,000 people showed up in DC on April 22 for this event. It was very inspiring, even though it was cold and rainy!

Our experience:

And some favorite signs!!

House Changes

Before and After...

And one of YinYang enjoying the sunshine this morning and waving hello, for good measure!!

Yes, she is laying on my zip-up sleeping bag with arms from when I was a wee one!!

SF5 at Borrego Springs [2017]

Northstar-at-Tahoe [2017]

We had a wonderful trip to Lake Tahoe - tons of fresh powder, great mid-mountain lodging and wonderful company!

Womens March San Diego [2017]

I attended the Women's March in San Diego because I believe in government policies and action informed by compassion and empathy, balanced by realistic economic progress and scientific/studied basis. I do not see that being a motivating approach by current policy makers (and those going through the nominating process). Here are some of the signs from the march - the crowd was estimated at 40,000!

And some people shots

Canyons Park City [2016]

We headed back to Park City for skiing, since last time there was no snow (!). Once again, we started with a trip to the amazing Red Iguana in Salt Lake City! Yummy!! This time we had TONS of fresh powder, almost every day! Wheeee!!

And we explored the geothermal pool inside Homestead Crater - nice after a long day on the mountain.

Asbury Park [2016]

To follow up on actually meeting Springsteen, I arranged for our first family Girls Weekend to be in Asbury Park! We actually stayed in the neighboring town of Ocean Grove - absolutely beautiful! Saturday morning we did a self-defined Springsteen tour involving most of the places he lived in the area and other obvious spots (like E Street!).

Meeting Springsteen [2016]

Not exactly a trip, geographically, but it was quite trippy!! Reap of my red letter Bruce Springsteen day:

Got up at 2:30am, drove to LA, in line by 4:30
Had great line buddies, Brad and Bradley
Got initial wristband at 6:30, proving I was in the first 1100.
Paid for #BornToRunTheBook and got wristband at 10:00 guaranteeing I would get a pic with Bruce (scheduled to be there 12-2, but he started just before 11:30)
Got a pic and approximately 4 seconds with him (I used it to hem and haw and say 'thank you')... his jacket was soft as buttah and he called me Darlin... plus a signed copy of the book
home by 4pm

If you have known me a while, you know that I am a huge fan, and was borderline obsessed with him during my formative years... if I had a bucket list, this would be on it! yay!!!

Julie Visit & Stevens Volleyball [2016]

Sarah + Brian Jansen Wedding [2016]

And where we stayed, first at the Madonna Inn, then in a tree house by the Mystery Spot!

Kira + Charlie Cross Wedding [2016]

Beacon Ready to Sell!

Kristen Grad [2016]

Colorado Rockies [2016]

We had a great time meeting up with Carl & JoAnna at the Dillon Dam Brewery at the beginning of the trip, and stayed with them at their lovely flat in Denver on the last night. In between, there was lots of skiing and snowboarding with Larry & Jean at Keystone and Breckenridge! And on the last day we were able to hook up with Swede, a Sigma Nu frat brother of mine from CMU!

Brandywine Bandits in Vegas [2016]

Steve and I drove to Las Vegas to cheer on Kristen's Brandywine Bandits in SCVA's 30th Annual Las Vegas Classic. Some videos

and pics of the volleyball action

and other sights and adventures in Las Vegas

And on the way home, Steve and I detoured through Death Valley to witness the beginning of a Super Bloom!

Mom's Move [2016]

South Lake Tahoe [2015]

We booked this trip a few months ago, banking on El Niño giving us early snow! And the little guy delivered!! Monday We traveled all day, arriving in time to unload at our home for the week - the Stardust Lodge - and have a great Mexican dinner with Larry & Jean at a hole-in-the-wall nearby, Maya's.

Tuesday Started off the skiing portion of the trip with yummy breakfast at Red Hut of course! Went skiing/boarding for a few hours at Heavenly - the snow was not plentiful, but it was nice and there was good coverage on the groomed runs - exactly what you need on the first day of the season 🏂

Afterwards Jean and I had fun creating our first tie dye shirts! Steve and I stopped by the Tahoe Sports Ltd shop, always great, where I picked up elusive snowboard boots and Steve got new snowboard pants. Success! And then we all headed down to JJ's in Minden to have dinner with Butch and Michael.

Wednesday After a late breakfast at Red Hut, we found it was too windy and icy to hit the mountain today, so we hung out with Michael at McP's and had dinner at Base Camp Pizza. We should get a big storm tonight!

Thursday Lots of rain overnight, and at 9:30am it turned to snow! We had a great breakfast at the Driftwood Cafe, and toyed with heading on to the mountain but it would be cold and soggy and not many runs are open... so we hunkered down in town. We did a little shopping, and lunched at Azul Latin Kitchen. That night we took advantage of a free lasagne dinner at the Stardust and watched The Manchurian Candidate. What a great movie!

Friday Powder day!! Overnight we got 2+' and so after another great breakfast at the Driftwood Cafe, we jumped on Heavenly's Gondola and hit the slopes! It was snowy with limited visibility early in the day, but that eventually dissipated.

A few runs in, we decided to go down a run that ended up being tons of deep powder. Unfortunately I got stuck a bunch of times... exhausting. But it was a great day!

We topped it off with a marvelous dinner at Azul Latin Kitchen (with margaritas) after trying to go to the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival at Montebleu, but it was too smoky in there and my asthma told us to Get Out!

Saturday The crowds have certainly hit South Lake Tahoe! Breakfast at the Driftwood Cafe was very busy, which reinforced our decision to drive to Kirkwood for the day's snowboarding. Very fun day, the roads were good and the crowds were pretty light!

One odd little incident - there was a little mouse hopping around in the snow at the top of one of the chairlifts at one point. We think she might have had a baby gripping her back... couldn't figure out how to help her, and by the time we got back, she was gone.

It snowed a bit here and there, made for a gorgeous winter wonderland.

By the time we got back 'home' the crowds were crazy, so we picked up a pizza at Base Camp Pizza and watched Pan's Labyrinth. Odd movie, but good.

Sunday We got up early and headed down the to the valley so that we would miss the brunt of the new storm, and had brunch with Butch at Bodines. The weather was a bit gnarly so we headed to the airport early, played some cribbage and relaxed before heading home.

Great trip!

Cousins in Charleston [2015]

Great fun!

High School Reunion [2015]

... and visit with Mom, including my birthday with her for the first time in many years - I had a great 12 days!

Jaimi + Beau Jansen Wedding [2015]

We stayed in a lovely little house about a half mile from the ocean, and had a fabulous time with the Jansens during the wedding weekend celebrations, reconnecting with family. Such a beautiful couple!

Brigid Travels