Controlled Falling

Today was a first, the first day since snowmageddon that we (the merry little band of Oly trail runners), and more importantly I,  got out for a run on the trails.  No one expected that they would be in very good condition and we were not let down.  We spent a little over two hours out there and covered five miles (maybe).  We spent a lot of time trying to clear the trail of the down debris that could be moved without the assistance of a chainsaw. 

There's a trail in there, somewhere...

Up and over
Photo credit: Dave Molenaar

Heave ho!

I love these kind of runs. The ones that are more adventure than run.  Sure, it is good to be able to run and not worry about anything else, but that isn't why I do it.  I do it because I like the adventure and I like the camaraderie of the people I am out on the trail with.  For a activity that is very much a loner sport, it is the people that really make it for me. 

Snowmageddon 2012

Five days later and I am happy to report that our power is back on! 

The snow started on Monday, as you can see we got a bit of it. From the front it doesn't look too bad, but the photo showing Jacks having to jump thought it may provide better perspective.  By Wednesday morning we had about 3' of the white stuff, that is unheard of around here.

 
Snow in the PNW  is wet and heavy, very heavy.  So, with our large amount of snow came widespread power outages.  Needless to say our power went out Wednesday and came back on this afternoon.  I'm not complaining though, it is much sooner than what was projected.  According to the PSE work schedule we were not slated to have power until Wednesday. 

You may wonder (probably not) what a person does when they have no power or heat, other than huddle under covers.  I needed to work so I spent Friday evening and all day Saturday sitting on the floor of a local Barns and Noble that had power.  While I usually love bookstores I quickly grew to hate my work local, leading to my being surlier that usual.  Hopefully my co-workers understood.  Matt had a slightly better time of it.  He had to go down to his trap a couple times to save things from sinking, once that was done he focused on home improvement projects.  Below you will see him scrapping the awful floral wallpaper from our bathroom. 

Now we are getting rain, let the flooding begin...

Miscarriage

There, I said it.  That nasty word it seems no one wants to talk about. The reason most people wait three months to even breath a word of a pregnancy.  I had a friend remind me when I told them of my pregnancy that 50% end in a miscarriage.  While that percentage isn't correct, the idea is.  Miscarriage is not uncommon.  In fact it is common, very common.  And I see no reason why people shouldn't talk about it.  Something that so many people experience should not be treated as a nasty little secret. In fact, I think if it were something that were more out in the open those experiencing it wouldn't feel so alone. 

The scientist in me wants to write a post backed-up with lots of citations.  But lets be honest, that isn't the kind of blog I have.  No need to start now.   Instead I will leave it with this: we are sad that this happen but understand  there is nothing we could have done differently.  What we  did learn from this pregnancy are two very important things 1) we can conceive, and 2) we are really excited to start a family. 

Not many people can claim to have a funny miscarriage story.  I do.  Or at least I can find the humor in it instead of being upset.  My situation (for lack of a better word) began Friday.  That evening when Matt got back from work we headed to the local sporting goods store to look at rifles.  Matt got me a rifle IOU as a Christmas present.  He wanted to make sure the gun I got fit my little t-rex arms (his words, not mine).  We picked-out my new gun and while we were waiting for the guy to run the background check one of the other workers came-up and started talking to me.  The conversation went something like this:

Guy: I don't have much free time for hunting since I have three kids under three at home.  Here let me show you pictures. (Matt walks away at this point)
Me: Beautiful kids
Guy: Yes.  Do you have any kids?
Me: Nope
Guy: Well, do you plan on having kids?
Me: Yes
Guy: Have you ever seen the movie Idiocracy?
Me: No
Guy: Well, let me tell you what it is about.  It follows two couples.  One is white trash and starts having kids early and often.  The other are responsible and wait until they are settled and older and finally decide to have kids, only to find out that they cannot.  That's what I like, the trailer folks like me got it right, start early, reproduce often, and in the end take over the world.  Waiting obviously doesn't work. 
Me: How long until the background check is done...

I couldn't make this up.  It really did happen. I leave you with with a quote from my friend Mary.

"This real life reproduction business is not exactly the stuff of Hollywood movies." 

A Real Man

Yesterday was my work holiday party at the Seattle Aquarium.  All in all it was a good time, but there is one thing that stands out the most for me.  Not that I ever questioned this, but last night I learned that Matt is a real man.  A go out and kill shit and wear jeans like you just don't give a f' what other people think of you, man.   I kid you not, this is exactly what one of my coworkers said to him.  I must admit, I am not exactly sure what to make of it...

I leave you with a picture of what a real man looks like