In loving memory...

I don't think I can do Angie and James justice in any sense, but I felt I needed to put this out into the universe as a tribute to a beautiful man and wife. Angie, with the heaviest of hearts, informed us today that James passed away early Wednesday morning from complications related to a recent illness. Please hold your loved ones extra close today, tomorrow, and in the days to come - and send a prayer out there into the world for Angie and her family. Angie was a good friend from graduate school, and my only thanks are that she has a wonderful family, an incredible group of friends, and a cohort sending their love from all over the country (make that the world).

Love you, Angie.

Stahls, photo credit goes to you...

Royal Arch at Red Rocks!

So we're a little out of order, but I thought I would share. A few weekends back we hiked to the Royal Arch at Red Rocks, starting out right in Boulder. A beautiful trail, though a little too popular (and by that I mean populated!) for me. I like to look around and think quietly when hiking, not listen to the hikers in front me carry on a conversation about work, their model photo shoot, or divorce proceedings. Yes, we heard all three...Boulder, land of the busy, beautiful, and newly single? I don't know, I'm just making that last one up. Perhaps I'm a hiking snob, but it's akin to church for me on the weekends, so I'm a little particular. ;)

We reached the top along with a whole congregation of other people and took these shots. Enjoy!

One of these days I'll come see you...

I've said that to my brother so many times, it seemed I'd never make good on my promise. But I finally did last weekend with Drew - and we had a blast!

I had been checking out the GymHawks post-season run, and it just so happened that they were going to be attending the NCAA Regional in Corvallis, Oregon where Jason and his girlfriend, Jenn, live. :) I immediately sent Jenn a note (thinking Jason might still be struggling with gymnastics overkills from our youth) telling her she should go to the meet and convince Jason, too. I would even send along some Hawkeye gear if they wanted! And then it hit me...why couldn't Drew and I go make an appearance?

We booked tickets (relatively cheap, I might add!) and called it an early birthday present for me. I even managed to get in touch with my old coach and she put us on the pass list for the meet, which was awfully nice of her. Drew got a day or two off work, and off we went a week later! Thankfully Jason and Jenn 1) were in town that weekend, 2) don't mind surprise guests and 3) were sorta into the whole gymnastics thing and willing to indulge me.

Once out there, we even had great weather (which is quite a thing to say about Oregon in spring). Sun, green landscape, a quick peak of Mary's Peak, etc. We had a homemade dinner (Thanks, Jason!) went out for gelato and drinks, went to the farmer's market, played at the wavelab, made it out to the coast for a day, and even got in a run or two while we were there (or if your name is Jenn - you got in volunteering for a triathlon, a 13 mile bike ride, a 3.5 mile run, baking brownies, a trip to the coast, a quick stint at playing counselor, and who knows what else you busy girl!). And while the GymHawks didn't have a stellar night on Saturday, we still got to see some great gymnastics, and Jason and Jenn's OSU Beaver's won the night and earned a bid to Nationals.

All in all, a wonderful weekend. Thanks for playing host and hostess, Jason and Jenn! Let's do it again, soon! And now here's the weekend in pictures, as promised. I'm a little light on good ones and appear to have only taken pictures on Sunday - but a sunny weekend at the coast prompted me to investigate some camera filters...and more camera equipment is NEVER a bad thing. Enjoy!