9,028 Feet To Go

A little trip down memory lane. September 2006

Me at advanced base camp, 21,000 feet, Everest in the background.

I hope to get in some good climbing this year. I think it will be tons of fun.

Trials. VERY COOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCy9nrchqFI&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qod4yw24U5k&NR=1

http://www.dailymotion.com/related/4103441/video/x125dj_indoor-de-toulouse-toni-bou-adam-ra_sport

C and R

Cute!

This is after they won some piano competition thing.

Bike Being Picked Up

So I just talked to the shipping company. He's in Connecticut right now, he'll pick up the bike tomorrow.

7 Hills

I missed this last year. I'm doing it. AND, full century. http://www.7hillskirkland.com/index.htm

Climb Trip

Making plans for a localish climbing trip.

• Idaho - Sawtooth Wilderness - Alpine
• Wyoming - Teton Range - Alpine
• Idaho - City of Rocks - Near Twin Falls - Sport/Trad
• Utah - Moab - Sport/Trad
• Other Utah - Sport/Trad
• Wyoming - Lander area - Sport/Trad/Alpine

More details later

Moto Cool

I love motorcycles

OK, somebody built an enduro-ish Monster. Very cool
But this is super hawt.

So far, So Good

Kuri had surgery, it went well and a week later, she's only limping a little. Here is a pretty representative picture of what was removed. The doc said it was about half the size of a pea.




Hopefully she'll be back to somewhat normal in 4-6 weeks. Go Kur Dog Go.

Duke Did It

Very good friends of mine who live in San Fran have had a very sick dog. His kidneys aren't great and they don't function so well. He's been in poor health for quite a while and they weren't sure he was gonna make it through Xmas. Well son of a bitch, he did.

Duke essentially rallied back quite a bit. In fact he rallied, had a little bit of a relapse over the last few weeks, and has been better again since the end of last week. His levels are down, he eats, and he's put some of his weigh back on. So his quality of life is pretty good really, definitely worth continuing on.

Way to go Duke!!!

Nice

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Trouble

Trouble

Oh trouble set me free

I have seen your face

And it's too much too much for me

.

Trouble

Oh trouble can't you see

You're eating my heart away

And there's nothing much left of me

.

I've drunk your wine

You have made your world mine

So won't you be fair

So won't you be fair

.

I don't want no more of you

So won't you be kind to me

Just let me go where

I'll have to go there

.

Trouble

Oh trouble move away

I have seen your face

and it's too much for me today

.

Trouble

Oh trouble can't you see

You have made me a wreck

Now won't you leave me in my misery

.

I've seen your eyes

and I can see death's disguise

Hangin' on me

Hangin' on me

.

I'm beat, I'm torn

Shattered and tossed and worn

Too shocking to see

Too shocking to see

.

Trouble

Oh trouble move from me

I have paid my debt

Now won't you leave me in my misery

.

Trouble

Oh trouble please be kind

I don't want no fight

And I haven't got a lot of time
.
http://stumpjumpers.org/desert-100/

Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam

My friend Michelle is off her rocker once again...

(Adapted from Jimmy Cliff Tune)

Hey

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam.

Yesterday I got a letter

from my friend racing in Vietnam

and this is what she had to say:

'tell all my friends

that I'll be coming home soon

....

Good Luck Michelle. Race Hard. Have Fun. Don't Get Lost.

Happy Birthday Bob

You are the natural mystic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VRGANguGQE&feature=related

Give thanks and praises!

Chippy 'Bow

So everybody knows that Kuri's been limping for a while and we've been trying to figure out what's been going on. A year ago, we took her to the vet and he didn't/couldn't see anything via X-rays. Now, she really favors her left front leg. So we took her back to the Vet for another X-ray. He said he thought I saw a chip in her elbow, but wasn't sure. He suspected arthritis, so as an older dog, we just dealt with it. She started getting MSM and glucosamine.

Another visit to the same vet, a specialist. He took Xrays again, and found she's got a fracture in her left leg. He suggested the radiologist for a better look and to be sure of what he now suspected.

So we went to the radiologist yesterday, and Kur dog got a CT scan. Kinda interesting, the doc bought an older technology scanner and uses it on animals now. Pretty cool....So they let me sit there while they did the scan, and then to doc showed me the results and talked me through what he saw.

Basically, Kuri has a fracture running up the inside of her "arm" at the elbow joint. Now we go back to the surgeon. More details later.

What?

No winter climbing!

We've had such huge weather in the Cascades that it's downright dangerous. Snow, Rain, Snow, Rain. Mountain snow doesn't like huge variablity. Bummer....Oh well, I have other plans until the summer comes.

Found one

2007 Husqvarna in Vermont. Looks like this.

It's got only 800 miles on it. I will have to have it shipped from Vermont to here...I'm psyched.

ADV Rider Rulz

So there is a forum site http://www.advrider.com/ (adventure rider) that has all these bozo talking about their adventure motorcycles. Bimmers, Pumpkins, Jap Bikes, and everything in between. Well I've been toying with the idea of a dirt capable motorcycle. There are so many nice logging and forest and fire roads here. Sure would be fun.

I've been trying to decide what kind of motorcycle I want, but there is so much to choose from. I eventually came to the conclusion I want a Mcycle that is trail capable, but that I can ride on public roads to get to where I'm going.

I want something powerful, but not ridiculous. Plus, like the Ducati, it has to be unique and different. Lastly, it has to be a good deal. Not spending a fortune, certainly not on a motorcycle that is gonna get bounced off a tree or two.

Dogs Dogs Dogs

Dogs! KurDog, RedDog, Dixie Dog
Skeet

Pep

Mac

Another Moto?

I've been thinking about another motorcycle. This time, I want a dirt bike. Well I guess now they are called a "dual sport." In the olden days, we knew them as enduros.

Let's see what happens....