We had a phenomenal weekend in Sunriver with Thompsons and Jaggers. I acutally used the word "phenomenal" after a sun-bathed day on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor. I also found time to take some pictures. I'm realizing more and more how vital lighting is to photography...seems pretty elementary when you actually think about it.

But nonetheless, I'm always pleasantly surprised at how much better my shots turn out when I seek out the right light. All of these were taken before 7:30...I got up each day before sunrise to practice.

Here are the results. As you can see in the last one...Lily and Becky got up too!

Enjoy!!

PB

Here's Trent making like a woodland elf...gliding across the meadow.

Jen...ripping it up.

It was a good day on the hill! Eric skied like champ.

[on the way up to SkiBowl] Eric: "I'm not going to be going on any black diamonds or anything..."

[on the way down like 15 black diamond runs] Eric; "Yeeeeeehaaaaaaw!"

PB

ERIC IS GOING SKIING!

I put this in bold and caps because I am really excited about it. Tomorrow, Eric and I are going to leave work a little early and go night-skiing at Mt. Hood SkiBowl.

Yeehaw!!!

What's the blogger etiquette? I feel the need to apologize for my derilict blogging. But...I won't.

Anyway. I'm sitting in the E terminal of Portland International Airport at 6 am on Wednesday morning. My morning is an exact contradiction to my current life situation. Last night, as I set my alarm, I calculated the timing of my morning preparation and travel. I figured I would get up at 4:30, take a half-hour to get ready (I'd already laid out my clothes for today), and leave the house at 5. This would give me 45 minutes to drive to the airport and arrive at 5:45, leaving 1 hour to check in at the counter, send my belongings through the Xray shoot (including this computer...I was a little worried it would get fried, but as you can see...it works), and get to the gate at 6:45, when the flight begins boarding. Good plan...considered traffic, first time business flying, end arrival 30 minutes prior to take-off. Total time from wake up to gate? 2:15:07.

Well, apparently, I was a little tired this morning and slept through my alarm. I woke up at 5:15, showered (good thing), and jumped into my laid out clothes. I kissed Becky good-bye, hopped in the car and drove to the airport. Parked my car, checked through security, and now I'm here. Total time from wakeup to sitting on the concourse typing my blog? 43 minutes. Sometimes things go more quickly than you plan.

And sometimes they take longer. I finally broke down the door at Nike after 2 years of applying...and that came about 3 years later than I would have hoped. Then I worked in an entry level job (which was great at the time) for about 1.5 years too long. After applying for anything that seemed right for that time...I'm finally doing something that requires the use of my brain, my personality, and sometimes my creativity. I'm very happy. But its funny...because all along the way, there were jobs that I applied for...and interviewed for...and got rejected for. Each time, I was intensely excited and SURE that I wanted that job. Then I would get that phone call. Each time I was disappointed. I couldn't understand why they didn't hire me. And now that I'm sitting here in the airport...about to fly to Santa Barbara...feeling secure in my job, my marriage, my family...I know why I had to wait.

Sometimes, God has us wait. Even if, at the time, we don't know why.

PB

This weekend we had a great trip to the Posenjaks in Wenatchee. Becky was still on Christmas Break, and I took Friday off, so we had a 4 day weekend!! We had fun playing foosball, eating, watching a movie, playing with the boys, playing in the snow outside, playing legos, shopping (the girls only), cruising downtown Leavenworth, eating fancy dinners, and all around having a great time.

On Sunday, Brad and I got to ski at Mission Ridge, something I've been wanting to do for a year now. It was great! The snow was quite different than Mt. Hood snow. It was dry and fluffy in the deep spots and even though it was tracked out in spots, it was still really soft. We spent a lot of time in the trees cruising down little paths and hitting natural jumps here and there. No injuries, a big burger at lunch, and 7 hours of skiing made for a great day on the hill. Here are a few pictures of Brad and me on the mountain, I'll try to post some pictures of the rest of the weekend soon.

A weekend with the boys.

PB



 

A couple weeks ago, we had a painting party at the Bunches' Salem house. It was a great day, and we got a lot done. Then we got to have a slumber party!




 

Even Carson helped by keeping Lily out of the paint trays!

In about four hours, this is where Becky and I will be. I can't wait! The first skiing of the season. I love night skiing. Partly because it's how I first learned, I'm sure. I'll always remember my first time up the mountain. I asked Jim if I could spend some time on the rope-tow hill (yes I was a little scared). After one time down the little slope, Jim said, "You're ready...come on!" and we boarded the chair lift. Believe me...I was not feeling ready. Many falls later, that first ride seems like a breeze.

One of my favorite parts about night skiing is gliding through an area where the lights fail to illuminate. For a few dark seconds, you have no idea what's in front of you and the little bumps and dips in the terrain throw you off balance. Just enough out of control to still be having fun. When there is no wind, I love the quiet swish of snow carved off the edge of the skis.

Becky started skiing last year, and she picked it up like a champ. I can't wait to be up on the chair lift with my wife...my arm wrapped around her (cause it'll be cold tonight) with the bitter breeze on our noses. I love being able to do little tricks to try to impress her. I'll most likely fall and embarass myself, but it's a good excuse to laugh together. And I love being able to encourage her and watch her confidence grow and see her make progress. It's a joy all around!

Woohoo!! Can't wait to be up there!

Just you wait, Carson!

Today, Jim and I planned a lunch outing that included a trip to REI (for new trekking poles) and a visit to the brand new POPEYE's restaurant that opened near work. We've actually been counting down the days till it opened, and in fact, we thought yesterday was the day (due to some erroneous info from someone...coughstephanie). So I guess the story starts yesterday. We were ready for some chicken y'all. As we drove up to the restaurant, we read the sign that said, "Opens Nov 16th!" We quickly realized that it was only the 15th and we would have to come back tomorrow...today.

So we drove into the parking lot (which was noticeably full). I saw some reverse lights and in a cat-like move hit the clutch with my left foot, hit the brake with my right, rocked my right foot over to the gas to keep my beater from dying, and flipped my blinker on to claim the spot before the van circling the lot could see it...all in about 0.45 seconds. It was impressive...Jim said so. After that unprecedented move, I realized that the van contained an elderly woman, and I felt that I had an unfair advantage due to my youthful and skilled driving. So...Hesitantly, I turned off my blinker and waved her into the spot. I am a nice guy. Fortunately, there was a miscommunication and she thought I was just waving at her to get out of the way. So when she drove by without turning into the spot, I counted it as good fortune (or parking lot karma) and pulled in.

As soon as we cleared the first row of cars and could see the door to the restaurant, we were met with a horrendous sight. The line was out the door, and there were approximately 329 cars in the drive-through line. Our stomachs would have to wait another day (or a week if it stays like this) to be rewarded with fried chicken and biscuits.

We gave up the dream and headed to REI. As we pulled into the parking lot, I spotted a new restaurant called "Buffalo Wing something or other". Jim had mentioned this place a couple days ago, so I pointed at it excitedly as if to say (because for some reason my mouth didn't work), "Look Jim! There's that place you talked about the other day. I'm glad you hyped it up, because now we get to have lunch there!" But mostly I just went, "ah...uh....hmm." So we made a quick trip into REI, and I decided on a nice set of Black Diamond flick-lock poles.

The wing place was good. I commented to Jim, "So basically Hooters without the tight shirts." (I actually said "boobies," but sometimes my mom reads this blog.) He concurred...Although neither of us have been to Hooters! (we saw it on The Office). When the non-tight shirtted waitress asked us what kind of sauce we wanted on the wings, we said, "What are our options." Bad question...there are 14 different kinds...so we chose Honey BBQ and Caribbean Jerk. Not bad...the latter was a little spicy, but it was good nonetheless.

Aaaaaanyway. Just thought I would share a little of my day with you.

PB

Learning is fun!

I had forgotten how rewarding it is to apply your mind to a new concept, and then see yourself putting the pieces together.

I've been on auto-pilot for a while now, and today I'm thankful for some new challenges.

That's all! Never stop challenging yourself!

-PB Robbins

:-)

PB

Wha happen'd?!?! That's right, it was time to overhaul my digital facade. I'm actually surprised it took me this long. Today we had a marvelous lunch at the Olive Garden with the Jaggers and Thompsons. Nothing like a bowl of soup and several (or seven) breadsticks on a rainy Portland Saturday afternoon. Yum! Prior to that, however, Becky and I realized that it's possible to accumulate bags and bags and bags full of junk in 5 years of marriage. We need to take another visit to Wenatchee so we can be inspired anew by the Posenjaks' organizational skills. We've been in our new apartment for about 2 weeks now. In the first couple days, we brought over all of the things we needed. Since then, we've happily inhabited our unit without even thinking about all the stuff we left over there. Kinda makes me think we don't need most of it. So this morning, Becky and I spent about 3 hours dumping old papers and school notebooks (not the education ones, Dad...I know your heart started beating a little faster), ridiculous souvenirs, CD cases, dried up aquarium salt, etc...etc...etc...

Anyway...so, sometimes I think about what you all look like when you are blogging away in your respective domiciles. In case you're anything like me, this is for you:



PB

We had a wonderfully full weekend! Enjoy a few of the pictures.

PB

This is my friend Kristen's baby, Amelia. Kristen took the pic, but I was proud of the treatment I gave it, so I thought I'd post it.

PB

Foolin around with Illustrator and Photoshop...

For some reason...when I started forming my bloggage in my head, I did so in the voice-over voice of JD from Scrubs. So if you can imagine his voice is reading this to you (inside your head), you and I will get along just fine.

Sometimes you have to be creative. In a hospital...scuze me...in an apartment that seems to be constantly under construction, certain things get overlooked, pushed aside, ignored in the name of sodding, siding, and...got nothing, sorry!

For the past few weeks, we've ignored the laundry. Not becuase we are pigs and like to live in filth, but because we've been holding out for our new washer and dryer to be installed. We didn't want to go get a roll of quarters because as soon as we did...you see where I'm going. They've been sitting there...all stacked and front-loadable for weeks now, but have not been hooked up. If you've been following my saga--which I know you have, since I've complained to all of you about it--I've been crossing my fingers each day that when I returned home, the job would be finished and we could wash my stinky gym clothes. But alas, this has not been the case.

Well, we've finally got a "target" date to get the new vent installed...MONDAY! That's a while from now, and I'm running out of underwear. Okay...honesty time, I'm wearing my last clean pair. (by the way, why is it a pair??) So we can't wait any longer. We could haul another basket to la casa de familia, but that's getting old. So here it comes...JERRY RIGGIN time. Tonight I plan to get a dryer vent from the Depot and run it straight out the back door.

That's all folks. I hope it's not too anti-climatic.

PB

(mike-u)

anticipation

is filling my soul today

myriad joys threaten

to break

PB

Season 3 is almost upon us. LOST has been a recurring theme through the life of this blog, and I feel it is important to comment upon it again. Last season, as a whole, was a bit of a disappointment. Sure there were highlights - Sun/Jin reunion, Anna Lucia getting a bullet to the gut, Locke's glo-map, Eko staring down the black cloud, the Pearl...etc. But as a rooster once crooned, "Sometimes ups outnumber the downs...but not it Knottingham" [or in this case...Lostaway Island]. For every good moment, there were myriad boring/absurd/contrived/annoying ones that almost cost ABC a Wednesday night viewer. If I never hear Harold Perineau screaming "WAAAALT" again in my life, it'll be too soon. (scuze the cliche).

So...its with reserved enthusiasm that I welcome the season 3 premier. Do I dare hope for a marvelous, satisfying, intriguing, plot-developing season? Or will I, 5 months from now, be saying, "whatever happened to that show LOST?"

Would anyone else like to express their hopes, dreams, or they-better-not-go-there's for LOST Season 3?