Last Day Of Ski Season (For Us)

Above the clouds and the fray of it all.

Spring skiing has its moment -- which is, of course, the spring.

A fine day of catching some morning runs before enjoying the spectacle of a Pond Skim.

Skamania Zip Line Excellent Adventure

The kid does a Sasquatch impersonation as he prepares for zipping.

The other kid is doing something, just not sure what.

We had a great time at the Skamania Zip Line, in Stevenson, Washington. There was just enough of a fear factor for the kids to really enjoy themselves.

All the equipment was in top shape, the experience made more excellent by the good spirits of Shane and Jonathan, who challenged us with innovative zipping techniques.

Next time you are in the Gorge stop by for a beautiful forest zip. 

The video:

Father/Daughter Inadvertently Dress Alike

Red is a fine color and caps are always appreciated.

Life With A Teenager

Instructions by the teenager not to mess with her leftovers.

Always something.

Kids Doing Stuff On A Saturday Night

These are the kids that did the stuff on Saturday night.

The following video is a representation of the stuff the kids did Saturday night.

Kids Rock "Hamilton"

Both kids have been deeply enjoying the soundtrack to "Hamilton."

Today the 11-year-old gave a stellar performance in tribute.

Emphatic Handwriting Gets Good Grade On Science Test

The fourteen-year-old daughter used expressive handwriting to get a good grade on a science test. It helped that she knew the correct answer. Still, the heart and all-caps made for more lively reading.

I salute creativity and science!

Unfortunately/fortunately the above example was the extent of her artistic endeavor on this test. I'm glad she scored well and actually knows this stuff.

I wish assignments from Art class were sent home for parental signatures.

What's Going On Here -- X Files

FBI Agents Scully and Mulder of the iconic conspiracy TV show.

The 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son are now both heavily into "The X Files," a show that owes a serious debt to Black Ops of the Vietnam Era as well as general Soviet mythology.

I'm thrilled this show can relate to a generation that has only known the internet and "democratic" Russia.

The daughter views Agent Scully as a serious, rational, strong role model, well versed in scientific inquiry. Agent Mulder fairs less well in her eyes, being dismissive of Scully's ideas and often overbearing.

The daughter's goal is to view all seasons in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the show. She has already achieved the title "serious amateur", and depending on her eventual dissertation, she may well earn the distinction of "X File academic."

Part of the fun of the show is that many episodes are set in the soggy Northwest. One segment even dealing with the animosity between loggers and environmentalists in Washington State. The resolution of this episode was that prehistoric vociferous insects ate both groups, having no taste for FBI agents.

I, too, have been sucked back into an episode or two. Despite the dated eyewear, the show has stood the test of time.

You Can Cook A Burger Naked But You Should Never Cook A Naked Burger

The family received the above burger book and we are all excited about raising our boring hamburgers to a new level.

Those familiar with the show know that the daily burger specials at the famous Bob's Burgers restaurant are weird puns.

In the book such fanciful names are actual recipes. For example:

• The Final Kraut Down Burger
• Bruschetta Bout It Burger
• I've Created A Muenster Burger

We will report back to this space how we fare when we try one of these recipes out.

Epic Gorge Day - Stoke Proclaimed

A snap of a sailor from the Hatch.

What does stoke proclamation mean to me? It means a session of windsurfing in 30 mph average wind. Then when out of the water wanting to do it all over again.

Every year I imagine how the first day of the season might be. My mind conjures a stiff breeze (20 mph) and not-so-frigid water . But when the Gorge turns on, I will not be sitting on the sidelines.

Below is the wind graph. I was sailing at the peak of the day, something that usually only occurs in my fevered imagination.



I am thankful for such an excellent day!

Spring Photo Essay

Thanks to beautiful blooms like these, I can be sneezing most all waking hours.

Perhaps this is what passes as caustic social commentary in our neighborhood.

The mild weather means the kid can do schtick outside.

 

This Is What An Eighth-grade Locker Looks Like

No real surprises except lack of adornment.

This could be the same lock I used in the 1980s. Technology has yet to impact this aspect of school.

 

Stoke Proclamation For All The Blessings

I love to ski.

Kids Flagrantly Occupy Bed With Haughty Style

A surly child blatantly occupies the parental bed without any explanation.

When the kids were really young they would get in the parental bed without a second thought. Then came the phase when subterfuge was attempted to remain.

Now it is I who must use subterfuge to get into my own bed.

Anthem Buddy

"I'm your number-one fan!" kid says in a kind of scary way.

My kid was an anthem buddy at the Trailblazers game last week. This meant he got to out on the court, be near NBA players, and help sing the national anthem. A very nice experience.

As luck would have it, Storm Large sang the anthem.

 

Shameless Weekend Promotion