Can't you see I have a sword?!?

Halloween, one of, if not my favorite holiday.  Saturday morning started with the Capitol Forest Scary Ass, a 15 miles "race" in costume.  As it turned out it was mostly our regular running group that showed-up, but it was still a great time!  FYI - I am Sam from Lord of the Rings, while in the parking lot a mtn. biker comment on my Hermione Granger outfit. 

Group (minus Herb) in costume

Saturday evening Matt and I went to a friends house for a Halloween Party.  I wore the same thing as earlier in the day, Matt went as a cowboy.  Honestly, both of our costumes were not super inventive. We waited until the last minute to come-up with ideas.  There is always next year.  Anyhow, after the party Matt and I headed to downtown Oly to check out a haunted house and the Thriller Dancers (as in Michael Jackson).   As we were leaving the haunted house a creepy guy in gas mask followed us and asked if I was headed back to Hogwarts.  Dammit, that is the second time I was confused with Hermione.  Can these people not see that I am carrying a sword?  Last I checked, Hermione did NOT carry a sword.  Instead of meekly walking away I should have pulled it out and chased him back to the haunted house.  Hindsight...

See the sword?

Sunday night we carved our seven, yes, SEVEN pumpkins.  As I sit here it is 7:04 and we have yet to see a single trick-or-treater.  Sad...

Cider Mill and Shrooming

This past weekend our friends Pat and Jen came up on Saturday for a trip to the cider mill and to watch the sparty game.

First, we took a trip to our local cupcake shop, where Jen and Matt had us move the tables around so they could bust out the hula hoops. 

Enlarge to see Matt's expression

Next up, the cider mill/pumpkin patch.  It was a zoo, both literally and figuratively.  We walked away with 6 pumpkins (we have a long driveway).

The booty

I want a goat

The HOA says no

Donuts and cider

Sunday we headed out to search for chanterelle mushrooms.  We had limited success, Matt found a handful of the target species and I got one large lobster mushroom. 

Our take.  Lobster on the right, the rest are chanterelle's

Outlander Series

Books, I love them!  I love it even more when I find books containing characters that I can lose myself in.  Notable books on my favorite list include Lonesome Dove, The Thorn Birds, and The Dark Tower Series; they all made the short list because they share a common theme - well developed characters and a great plot.  Well, it looks like it is time to introduce another series to my list of favorites, please welcome Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 

This comes as both as a welcome and unwelcome distraction.  I have for years wanted to be part of a book club and I finally am, however, this month I haven't been able to tear myself away from these books to focus on the assigned one...  Thankfully the lovely ladies of our book club will not turn me away at the meeting, but I certainly feel like I dropped the ball by not reading the assigned book.  For those of you curious I am supposed to be reading  Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Back to the books at hand.  Since my taste in literature tends to be a bit eclectic I should explain what this series is about so someone doesn't end-up with a doorstop because they hate it.  The quick explanation of Outlander - love story.  Please, don't let that turn you away though because it is much, MUCH more.  It also revolves around time travel, historic occurrences, and bloody battles.  Suffice to say it has something for everyone.  Pick-up a copy, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Speed Goat'n'

Two weeks ago Matt, Brian, and I headed south of Casper, WY to go antelope hunting.  All three of us filled our tags.  It was a great trip!

Wide open country.  Can you see the badger?

Matt got his goat first.

A few days later I got mine.

I don't want you to think he cleaned it for me...

I did it myself.

Then packed it out.

Lander, WY

Our marriage spot!

Running Wonderland

I have done a terrible job of updating the blog lately.  After finishing the Wonderland trail I started to write an entry...and never finished.  Since it seems so long ago I will just post some pictures of the adventure.

First, some background.  Myself and two running friends (Dave and Rob) ran the Wonderland trail the weekend after labor day.  The Wonderland is a 93ish mile loop around Mt. Rainier.  To describe the run in one word is easy - amazing.  Below are some pictures I took along the way.

Suspension bridge

Our happy group

We have how far left?!?

Headed up panhandle gap

DONE!

Icing the legs