Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Holy purple bruise, Batman!
GOOO! This is what Molly's leg looks like after her sledding accident. You can see the whole event unfold online by looking at a previous blog post (two posts ago) where I have posted a video of Molly sledding. If you listen closely to the end of the video you can hear Molly going "Whhooo hooooo............ (pause) Ohwwwww..."
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Portland news - ARCTIC BLAST coverage!
This pretty much sums up the portland news coverage that we've been watching for the last 2 weeks...
http://mikevogel.com/?p=152
http://mikevogel.com/?p=152
Perfect, fitting end to a crappy year
Molly and I had purchased plane tickets in November to fly to Atlanta for the Holidays to visit her brother, Mom, Step-Mom, sister and grandparents for the holidays.
As you may know, we've had the worst snowstorm in 40 years. It started on Sunday evening (yeah, LAST Sunday evening, the 14th) and has snowed or frozen-rained nearly every day since then. We personally have about 14 inches of snow in our back-yard.
Saturday and Sunday we got the house all cleaned up (well, Molly did, I was working) and got our bags packed up. The roads, at this point, are impossible to drive on with several inches of ice and snow... (they don't plow here) so without chains, you can't leave the house. Luckily, Lindsey and Josh have chains for their cars, so they picked us up and brought us over to their house so we could be just that much closer to the airport. Our plane was scheduled to leave on Monday morning at 8:30 am. We closely watched the news and airport and airline websites all night long... and just kept seeing flight after flight after flight get canceled. All but maybe 10 flights were canceled on Sunday but they had not canceled anything for Monday and the snow was still coming down. Finally, at 10pm, they posted that our flight was canceled. We frantically attempted to get another flight booked... but because everyone had done the same thing ALL DAY SUNDAY, there was nothing left in our price range, and the earliest that we could get booked was Friday. It didn't make a ton of sense to fly for 24 hours for 48 hours of visit, and some of our family would have already left by then anyway. We opted to cancel the trip, so we could save the money to have for a more worthwhile visit later. Molly is really upset about the whole thing, because it is this time of year that we first found out about Max's cancer, and she really wanted to spend this time with her family.
On a brighter note, here is the good side:
1. It is very beautiful outside
2. As nice as it is to visit family, traveling to get there is always sucky
3. Lindsey and Josh invited us to spend Christmas with them and their family (if they can get here)
4. We've saved a ton of money
5. We now have purchased chains for my car... so that is a unique experience
6. We may go snowshoeing
7. We will probably go skiing
All of those things together, obviously do not come close to making up for not spending the Holdays with Brian, Andrea, Cherie and Ed, Norma and Katie, Ted and Sarah, of course. But we're trying to remain positive.
Here are some pictures that we have been taking through the week:
As you may know, we've had the worst snowstorm in 40 years. It started on Sunday evening (yeah, LAST Sunday evening, the 14th) and has snowed or frozen-rained nearly every day since then. We personally have about 14 inches of snow in our back-yard.
Saturday and Sunday we got the house all cleaned up (well, Molly did, I was working) and got our bags packed up. The roads, at this point, are impossible to drive on with several inches of ice and snow... (they don't plow here) so without chains, you can't leave the house. Luckily, Lindsey and Josh have chains for their cars, so they picked us up and brought us over to their house so we could be just that much closer to the airport. Our plane was scheduled to leave on Monday morning at 8:30 am. We closely watched the news and airport and airline websites all night long... and just kept seeing flight after flight after flight get canceled. All but maybe 10 flights were canceled on Sunday but they had not canceled anything for Monday and the snow was still coming down. Finally, at 10pm, they posted that our flight was canceled. We frantically attempted to get another flight booked... but because everyone had done the same thing ALL DAY SUNDAY, there was nothing left in our price range, and the earliest that we could get booked was Friday. It didn't make a ton of sense to fly for 24 hours for 48 hours of visit, and some of our family would have already left by then anyway. We opted to cancel the trip, so we could save the money to have for a more worthwhile visit later. Molly is really upset about the whole thing, because it is this time of year that we first found out about Max's cancer, and she really wanted to spend this time with her family.
On a brighter note, here is the good side:
1. It is very beautiful outside
2. As nice as it is to visit family, traveling to get there is always sucky
3. Lindsey and Josh invited us to spend Christmas with them and their family (if they can get here)
4. We've saved a ton of money
5. We now have purchased chains for my car... so that is a unique experience
6. We may go snowshoeing
7. We will probably go skiing
All of those things together, obviously do not come close to making up for not spending the Holdays with Brian, Andrea, Cherie and Ed, Norma and Katie, Ted and Sarah, of course. But we're trying to remain positive.
Here are some pictures that we have been taking through the week:
![]() |
| Snow, Dec. 2008 |
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
We're alive
So, yeah, its been SOOOO long since I've updated. I've got some excuses, of course, but its mostly that I just got out of habit. I'll try to fix that. But with the holidays coming up, that will be tough. Look for more in the new year, I think.
October:
1. I went to KC and Omaha for a software development conference
2. Got my family to start talking again to each other (this was quite a feat, but I really didn't do much)
3. Molly went on a hike, but I don't have the pictures readily available
4. Halloween was uninteresting... stayed at home and drank martinis, got in the hot tub
November:
1. Wes Stueve came to visit for the weekend, Molly went to Florida because her step-brother, Aubry, was getting deployed to the middle-east
2. My grandma passed away from a very quick bout of cancer. I went into KC for 7 days for the funeral and spent most of that time with family... so if I didn't see you, don't feel bad, I didn't really see anybody except family.
3. Beajolias Noveaux (sp?) party... only 5 people were there. Had a good time, though
4. Thanksgiving: had April (Molly's step-sister-in-law) drive in from Florida, Norma and Katie (step-mom & half-sister) flew out. Had a WONDERFUL dinner at Lindsey and Josh's place
5. Thanksgiving weekend we rented a mini-van and went wine tasting (2 full days of wine-fun!)
6. Josh Yoder turns 32!
December:
1. My step-nephew, Owen, passed away from heart complications. He was three weeks from his first birthday. For those who didn't know, he had lots of medical problems his whole life.
2. Molly's Birthday... molly turned 32! Didn't do anything too crazy. A nice dinner, and used some free hotel coupons in Lake Oswego's Crowne Plaza.
3. I caught a cold (still have it)
4. Portland Winter Ale Festival! SOOOO fun
5. Molly catches my cold
6. Molly and I celebrate our 11 year anniversary (of when we first started dating)
7. Portland gets "dumped" on by a ARCTIC STORM! School closes down for 3 days (possibly more... I'll let you know)
Well I have you up to speed now, I think! I'll try to do another post soon with details about the up-coming holiday events.
Cheers!
October:
1. I went to KC and Omaha for a software development conference
2. Got my family to start talking again to each other (this was quite a feat, but I really didn't do much)
3. Molly went on a hike, but I don't have the pictures readily available
4. Halloween was uninteresting... stayed at home and drank martinis, got in the hot tub
November:
1. Wes Stueve came to visit for the weekend, Molly went to Florida because her step-brother, Aubry, was getting deployed to the middle-east
2. My grandma passed away from a very quick bout of cancer. I went into KC for 7 days for the funeral and spent most of that time with family... so if I didn't see you, don't feel bad, I didn't really see anybody except family.
3. Beajolias Noveaux (sp?) party... only 5 people were there. Had a good time, though
4. Thanksgiving: had April (Molly's step-sister-in-law) drive in from Florida, Norma and Katie (step-mom & half-sister) flew out. Had a WONDERFUL dinner at Lindsey and Josh's place
5. Thanksgiving weekend we rented a mini-van and went wine tasting (2 full days of wine-fun!)
6. Josh Yoder turns 32!
December:
1. My step-nephew, Owen, passed away from heart complications. He was three weeks from his first birthday. For those who didn't know, he had lots of medical problems his whole life.
2. Molly's Birthday... molly turned 32! Didn't do anything too crazy. A nice dinner, and used some free hotel coupons in Lake Oswego's Crowne Plaza.
3. I caught a cold (still have it)
4. Portland Winter Ale Festival! SOOOO fun
5. Molly catches my cold
6. Molly and I celebrate our 11 year anniversary (of when we first started dating)
7. Portland gets "dumped" on by a ARCTIC STORM! School closes down for 3 days (possibly more... I'll let you know)
Well I have you up to speed now, I think! I'll try to do another post soon with details about the up-coming holiday events.
Cheers!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
VEGAS!
I am trying to watch the presidential debate while writing, but it is difficult to pay attention, and also not throw things at the T.V. Anyway, here's what I did this past weekend!
I had casually mentioned that the next girl's weekend could be in Las Vegas back in August, when Andrea (my sister in-law) immediately jumped into action! She arranged the nicest weekend for us girls (Andrea, me, Sunny-step sister in-law, Cherie-my mom, and Denise-Andrea's mom). Through Stewart (Andrea's dad) she was able to procure a five star, five diamond hotel room at the Wynn Hotel. They hooked us up with free tickets to La Reve (circ-du-soliet like show), free meals, and VIP status! It was simply unbelievable. We can never go to Vegas again after this star treatment.
Well, I arrived Saturday morning and waited about 2 hours at the airport for Sunny and mom to get there. We got a taxi cab (my first ride with a female driver!) and headed to the hotel. We met Andrea and Denise there and got right to the check-in to recieve our VIP room keys. We sat down to eat lunch at the hotel's deli (delicious). Then, it was off to shop and see the strip. We got new sunglasses and headed down the strip to look through shops.
At one store, we happened upon a famous celebrity signing autographs. (sorry I can't say who or it will spoil someone's surprise) We shopped until we almost dropped. Back to the hotel and get a drink by the pool. Sunny and I were dying for a $1 margarita, so we headed back down the strip for one, but decided on two each. (hardly any alcohol though) We got ready for dinner and went down to join Andrea and Denise. I wore a new dress thanks to my generous mother!
We ate a great dinner at an Asian restaurant at the hotel and I nipped a head cold/sinus problem in the bud with my famous red wine cure. It worked like a charm and my nose dried up. Mom even noticed the difference in the puffiness of my nose. (for more information about this wonderful cure, just email me) Then, it was off to La Reve. How do I begin about this??? If you have seen a circ-du-soliet show before, this blew that "out of the water." It was a show using water, swimming, diving, acrobatics from the ceiling, dancing (in and out of water), and crazy cool costumes. I guess the best description is to say it is just like a Clive Barker book come to life. The people in it were so strong and agile it was beyond imagination. Let's just say that it was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life. (and it was free!)
I was very tired/getting run down, so Sunny, mom and I went back to our room to go to bed. The hotel had turned down our beds with Belgian chocolate, put on classical music with a scenic background on the TV, turned the lights down, closed the drapes, put out slippers, and left us to slumber in perfect beds.
Sunday-we got up and ate breakfast (again free!) then it was off to go shopping again. We also went to see an art exhibit in Modernism at another hotel. I took lots of pictures of our hotel and also the strip. Not after too long, Sunny and I were jealous of people walking by with huge margaritas. So, in Paris we got gigantic Eiffel Tower shaped margaritas. Don't worry, there was virtually no liquor in them. I know this because both Sunny and I sucked them down pretty quickly and were able to walk/talk/think just fine. No problem what so ever.
We wanted to put in time at the hotel pool (this time in suits) so we headed there and only saw about 5 minutes of sun before the clouds took over and the sun went behind a building. However, the pool was heated, so we swam for a long while, and then went to the hot tub to really warm up.
Showers and dressing (black and white were aparently on the menu) before the best steak I have literally ever eaten in my life. I literally think if I died after that meal, it would be ok by me. The steak was melting in my mouth it was so perfectly rare and juicy, the egg plant was to die for, and the desert was rich and chocolately. I was in heaven when I added a glass of Pierre Joiet Champaign (which I have never had) and then a big deep dark Cabernet Sauvignon. :)
Then, off to the Orleans (Joshy would call it "the people's casino"). There was a huge difference here. It was off the strip, known for hosting the most locals, and was smoky, old, and very cool. We didn't feel poor there and felt that we could hang there and soak up the local culture. The cab driver insisted the slots were looser there too. We were there to see Dana Carvey (mom had found tickets!) and boy were we in for a treat. He was soooooooo funny. He blended current events while weaving in his old voices (church lady, bush, garth). His jokes kept us laughing the whole night. "Did you hear about the man with five penises? His pants fit like a glove." Now imagine that joke sung to an electric guitar while impersonating Bob Dylan. So funny!
Since the night was still somewhat young, we headed to Paris to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower to watch the Belagio's water show from above. Wow was that cool. Then, it was time to make our way back to the hotel. Whew.
Monday-we decided to take it easy on our last day. We leasurely got up and got breakfast near the pool and then sat by the pool for hours! Glorious sunshine. Andrea joined us for a while, then was the first to leave the pool. (Denise had actually left before breakfast even!) Sunny, mom and I lounged for a little while longer, went up and packed, and tried to hit the Beliagio one more time for the water show. But....stupid big city blocks and hot sun! We didn't get very far before we realized we would never make it in time, so we gave up and got some pizza and then headed to the airport.
sigh. I miss Vegas. I miss the star treatment. I miss all the girls. sigh....
I had casually mentioned that the next girl's weekend could be in Las Vegas back in August, when Andrea (my sister in-law) immediately jumped into action! She arranged the nicest weekend for us girls (Andrea, me, Sunny-step sister in-law, Cherie-my mom, and Denise-Andrea's mom). Through Stewart (Andrea's dad) she was able to procure a five star, five diamond hotel room at the Wynn Hotel. They hooked us up with free tickets to La Reve (circ-du-soliet like show), free meals, and VIP status! It was simply unbelievable. We can never go to Vegas again after this star treatment.
Well, I arrived Saturday morning and waited about 2 hours at the airport for Sunny and mom to get there. We got a taxi cab (my first ride with a female driver!) and headed to the hotel. We met Andrea and Denise there and got right to the check-in to recieve our VIP room keys. We sat down to eat lunch at the hotel's deli (delicious). Then, it was off to shop and see the strip. We got new sunglasses and headed down the strip to look through shops.
At one store, we happened upon a famous celebrity signing autographs. (sorry I can't say who or it will spoil someone's surprise) We shopped until we almost dropped. Back to the hotel and get a drink by the pool. Sunny and I were dying for a $1 margarita, so we headed back down the strip for one, but decided on two each. (hardly any alcohol though) We got ready for dinner and went down to join Andrea and Denise. I wore a new dress thanks to my generous mother!
We ate a great dinner at an Asian restaurant at the hotel and I nipped a head cold/sinus problem in the bud with my famous red wine cure. It worked like a charm and my nose dried up. Mom even noticed the difference in the puffiness of my nose. (for more information about this wonderful cure, just email me) Then, it was off to La Reve. How do I begin about this??? If you have seen a circ-du-soliet show before, this blew that "out of the water." It was a show using water, swimming, diving, acrobatics from the ceiling, dancing (in and out of water), and crazy cool costumes. I guess the best description is to say it is just like a Clive Barker book come to life. The people in it were so strong and agile it was beyond imagination. Let's just say that it was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life. (and it was free!)
I was very tired/getting run down, so Sunny, mom and I went back to our room to go to bed. The hotel had turned down our beds with Belgian chocolate, put on classical music with a scenic background on the TV, turned the lights down, closed the drapes, put out slippers, and left us to slumber in perfect beds.
Sunday-we got up and ate breakfast (again free!) then it was off to go shopping again. We also went to see an art exhibit in Modernism at another hotel. I took lots of pictures of our hotel and also the strip. Not after too long, Sunny and I were jealous of people walking by with huge margaritas. So, in Paris we got gigantic Eiffel Tower shaped margaritas. Don't worry, there was virtually no liquor in them. I know this because both Sunny and I sucked them down pretty quickly and were able to walk/talk/think just fine. No problem what so ever.
We wanted to put in time at the hotel pool (this time in suits) so we headed there and only saw about 5 minutes of sun before the clouds took over and the sun went behind a building. However, the pool was heated, so we swam for a long while, and then went to the hot tub to really warm up.
Showers and dressing (black and white were aparently on the menu) before the best steak I have literally ever eaten in my life. I literally think if I died after that meal, it would be ok by me. The steak was melting in my mouth it was so perfectly rare and juicy, the egg plant was to die for, and the desert was rich and chocolately. I was in heaven when I added a glass of Pierre Joiet Champaign (which I have never had) and then a big deep dark Cabernet Sauvignon. :)
Then, off to the Orleans (Joshy would call it "the people's casino"). There was a huge difference here. It was off the strip, known for hosting the most locals, and was smoky, old, and very cool. We didn't feel poor there and felt that we could hang there and soak up the local culture. The cab driver insisted the slots were looser there too. We were there to see Dana Carvey (mom had found tickets!) and boy were we in for a treat. He was soooooooo funny. He blended current events while weaving in his old voices (church lady, bush, garth). His jokes kept us laughing the whole night. "Did you hear about the man with five penises? His pants fit like a glove." Now imagine that joke sung to an electric guitar while impersonating Bob Dylan. So funny!
Since the night was still somewhat young, we headed to Paris to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower to watch the Belagio's water show from above. Wow was that cool. Then, it was time to make our way back to the hotel. Whew.
Monday-we decided to take it easy on our last day. We leasurely got up and got breakfast near the pool and then sat by the pool for hours! Glorious sunshine. Andrea joined us for a while, then was the first to leave the pool. (Denise had actually left before breakfast even!) Sunny, mom and I lounged for a little while longer, went up and packed, and tried to hit the Beliagio one more time for the water show. But....stupid big city blocks and hot sun! We didn't get very far before we realized we would never make it in time, so we gave up and got some pizza and then headed to the airport.
sigh. I miss Vegas. I miss the star treatment. I miss all the girls. sigh....
![]() |
| Las Vegas |
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Wine tasting at Montinore's winery!
Molly and I are members of 3 different wine clubs: Archery Summit (super high-end pinot noir), Phelp's Creek (inexpensive family-run wines near Hood River, OR near where we ski and hike) and Montinore (organic, biodynamc inexpensive wines that are wonderful, and close to our home in Hillsboro).
This weekend we were invited to a members-only event to pick up our October shipment. They were pouring all of their old favorites, including their Mueller, Riesling, Gewurztraminer (sp?), Pinot Gris, and of course their Pinot Noir (Pearson, Graham's block 7 and Reserve). In addition they have released some new wines that are also very tasty. One is Borealis (sp?) which is a blend of their whites. The other is a very nice Merlot for $19... obviously they grow the grapes elsewhere. The other wine in the shipment was a new, single barrel pinot. This is one-of a kind, and I think they were only able to produce 200+ bottles, so each member got a bottle.. and that's it. It's a 2007, so it won't be ready to drink until AT LEAST 2010... and probably should hold on until 2011. I hope I don't like it too much, because that's all there ever will be!
At the event they had a really nice selection of food.. including one that is a brownie with a brownie layer, with a pumpkin bread layer, followed by another brownie layer, then another pumpkin bread layer... Oh my god was it good.
It was just Lindsey and I there, because Josh Yoder was staying at home with his family in from out out town and Molly is in Vegas this weekend with her Mom, sister in law and step-sister. After sampling pretty much all of their wine, we decided to try the port and the pinot noir chocolate sauce... neither of which we had tried previously. The port was amazing... its made from 100% pinot noir, and not terribly sweet, but it is nice and strong the way you want a port to be. Probably the best port I've ever had. Will definately buy a bottle there someday. The chocolate sauce was also very good. I wanted to lick clean the plastic cup it was served it.
All in all, a very fun little event!
This weekend we were invited to a members-only event to pick up our October shipment. They were pouring all of their old favorites, including their Mueller, Riesling, Gewurztraminer (sp?), Pinot Gris, and of course their Pinot Noir (Pearson, Graham's block 7 and Reserve). In addition they have released some new wines that are also very tasty. One is Borealis (sp?) which is a blend of their whites. The other is a very nice Merlot for $19... obviously they grow the grapes elsewhere. The other wine in the shipment was a new, single barrel pinot. This is one-of a kind, and I think they were only able to produce 200+ bottles, so each member got a bottle.. and that's it. It's a 2007, so it won't be ready to drink until AT LEAST 2010... and probably should hold on until 2011. I hope I don't like it too much, because that's all there ever will be!
At the event they had a really nice selection of food.. including one that is a brownie with a brownie layer, with a pumpkin bread layer, followed by another brownie layer, then another pumpkin bread layer... Oh my god was it good.
It was just Lindsey and I there, because Josh Yoder was staying at home with his family in from out out town and Molly is in Vegas this weekend with her Mom, sister in law and step-sister. After sampling pretty much all of their wine, we decided to try the port and the pinot noir chocolate sauce... neither of which we had tried previously. The port was amazing... its made from 100% pinot noir, and not terribly sweet, but it is nice and strong the way you want a port to be. Probably the best port I've ever had. Will definately buy a bottle there someday. The chocolate sauce was also very good. I wanted to lick clean the plastic cup it was served it.
All in all, a very fun little event!
Friday, October 3, 2008
I don't want "Joe Six-Pack" running our Country
I guess this isn't as obvious as I had previously thought. I've met "Joe Six-Pack"... and you know what? I don't want that guy running our country. I want somebody SO much more intelligent than "Joe Six-Pack". I am absolutely no slouch when it comes to intelligence, but I can assure you, I want somebody MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT THAN ME running our country.
Do you think that the average person in America knows enough about the idiosyncrasies of trade sanctions, federal reserve lending and international warfare? I know for a fact that I don't. And I guarantee that "Joe Six-Pack" doesn't either.
The last thing that I want to say about this topic is the following: In 2000, and 2004 we voted a president into office because a lot of "Joe Six-Pack"s thought it would be great to have a guy in office that they could see themselves drinking a beer with. How well did that work out? I think every "Joe Six-Pack" that voted for Bush for this reason should punch themselves in the face repeatedly until until they realize that they are too dumb to vote. Now if you voted for Bush for any other reason... like, for instance, based upon republican principals... well, I feel sorry for you because you got duped.
Do you think that the average person in America knows enough about the idiosyncrasies of trade sanctions, federal reserve lending and international warfare? I know for a fact that I don't. And I guarantee that "Joe Six-Pack" doesn't either.
The last thing that I want to say about this topic is the following: In 2000, and 2004 we voted a president into office because a lot of "Joe Six-Pack"s thought it would be great to have a guy in office that they could see themselves drinking a beer with. How well did that work out? I think every "Joe Six-Pack" that voted for Bush for this reason should punch themselves in the face repeatedly until until they realize that they are too dumb to vote. Now if you voted for Bush for any other reason... like, for instance, based upon republican principals... well, I feel sorry for you because you got duped.
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