Took a vacation day, so Olive and I (and Jerome) went up to Annette Lake to do a simple hike. April and I (and Olive - on her first hike actually!) tried making it to the lake last year, but had to turn back because of snow. No snow today, so we actually made it to the lake.

Didn't take too many pictures - mostly of Olive - I tried to get her looking all official. As you can see by the big picture here - she's a hiking dog! :)






( A few more pictures under here . . . )

Since Mexico isn't a go - thinking that I should go to Hawaii instead. Hiking and diving!

Last night's dive was one of those late night dives at Day Island that Jerome and I seem to do as often as can. Splash time was about 10:00 pm.

Visibility wasn't as good as it has been, but it wasn't nearly as bad as other sites around town. As usual, it was just the two of us underwater.

Saw a total of five wolf eels and one octopus. Also can't forget the giant flying flounder that I saw too. It was unusual seeing that big of a flounder swimming in the water column and not on the bottom. I didn't get a picture of course.

Pictures are as usual, a mixed bag. I"m still trying to play with my automatic focus by aiming my small light at the object I'm shooting in the hopes that the camera will focus better. For the most part it worked, but I still need more practice.

Some sample pictures:

There is NOBODY here at the dog park. At all. Olive is too hot to play - she'd rather lounge in the mud puddle.

Today was a quiet day at work - everyone seems to think that today is a holiday (even though it isn't technically - nor is it an observed holiday.) We were about half-staffed at work today. I did get quite a bit accomplished - or at least I think I did. At least I wasn't overwhelmed or stressed.

Planning on doing a late night Day Island dive with Jerome in a few hours. I just decided that I will bring my camera with me - I was just undecided about it. It's been nice the last few dives to not have my camera, but this is Day Island after all - you can't let a dive go by without a camera.

Almost forgot to visit the dive shop after work - but fortunately I remembered. The best part is that I got my Nitrox fill for free which was awesome. Chris said it was because my tank wasn't ready when it was promised to me (I dropped it off early on Sunday and was told I'd have them both filled by Monday which didn't happen.)

Been thinking about buying a new dive camera set up. It'll happen in phases though because of the pricing - I'll buy the camera first, then eventually get the housing and strobe set-up. The camera will more than likely be a birthday present for myself. Jerome has been helping me understand some of the more complicated camera features that I'm just not all that familiar with.

Olive will celebrate her third birthday next month (yes, she is only two years old, but it is her third birthday. I'll let you think about that one for a second or two.) I can't believe she's going to be two soon. I was looking back just the other day at the pictures I got when she was just born. Her older sister (different litter) shares quite a few traits with Olive so it gave me an idea of what Olive will look like when she gets older (but I'm still not sure since Olive doesn't look exactly like Holly did.)

Thinking about vacations - or at least time off - Joy wants me to visit San Diego - that might happen eventually. There's also this new idea of going to Hawaii to hike and dive. I wonder if I could swing that.

I am off this coming Tuesday and will be hiking somewhere with Olive. Jerome might accompany us. It was funny when I told him I couldn't dive on Tuesday - Jerome asked what her name was, so I told him "Olive." I don't think he was expecting that response.

I think that this is one of my best running pictures ever!



And they updated the times - I finished in 5000th place, with an updated time of 2:08:44.

What does it say about me that the only celebrity's death as of late that had any sort of reaction from me was Billy Mays?

There was discussion of going hiking today, but that isn't going to happen. I do have some random days off during the week next month that I'm going to go hiking on, so I don't feel too bad about not going today. (Plus weekdays should be less crowded - at least that's the theory I have.)

So instead, I'm thinking about seeing a movie, going to the dog park, and I need to get air for my dive tanks (since they are empty.) And by air, I mean Nitrox in one, and just regular air in the other.

I suppose I should shower first and then figure out what I want to do.

I am VERY pleased with this. Especially since I didn't train for the most part for this race. Too much slacking off after Tacoma City Half Marathon in May.

Finish time:

2:08:47


(And uhm, 4976th place overall? WTF?)

This ends up being my second best Half time ever - and only three minutes slower than Tacoma's blistering pace (for me that is.)

You know that guy who rides the bus and just smells BAD? Yeah, he was me today.

But I'm all showered and soaped and smelling a whole lot better. But I do have some uhm, chafing issues that I haven't experienced before - not fun at all. Maybe hiking won't happen tomorrow . . .

I need pizza! I take that back - I want deep fried cheese!

I was beginning to think that the number 3 bus was never going to show up. Would have been easier if I realized that the Seattle Express shared the same stop before I started to wander aimlessly around downtown Tacoma.

All is well now.

I finished. While I don't know my time I know that it wasn't as fast as Tacoma.

I also know that I smell. Bad. Like really bad.

I'm also wearing Mylar skirt. Ladies I'm single!

Tomorrow - the inaugural running of the Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon.

I'll be there - will definitely be an interesting experience. Twenty-five thousand runners - never ran in a race this big before.

To show some sort of Seattle pride - I'm going to run in my Seattle Sounders FC jersey.

Bed time.

Yes!

I finally have my cool iPhone hacks back. Yay!

Lara made a comment about how amazing it is that I have kept up with this journal for as long as I have - but lately I have been thinking that I have been neglecting it.

Excluding the entries about running and diving, there hasn't been much of anything significant here.

It's not like I don't have time to add something more interesting, because believe me, I have tons of time.

Today's big accomplishment was going to Target to buy toothpaste, shaving cream and a new toothbrush. I made a comment to Josh about this - and I'll repeat myself here - but what is with all the scary looking toothbrushes that are out there? Some of them are downright frightening! Should a toothbrush need all those "accessories" on its head? I did manage to find one that looked like it would get the job done and not give me nightmares.

I also bought a big giant bowl for soup and cereal.

There was plans to go running this morning - but like yesterday morning, I didn't feel like it. For someone who has a half-marathon race in six days, I sure haven't been taking my training seriously these last few weeks.

Unlike yesterday, there wasn't even a visit to the dog park. Olive spent about two hours running and walking and playing yesterday - then we stopped off at the other house to do a movie swap, so she played some more with April. It was raining a little like ago - complete with lightening and thunder - so I think going to the dog park wouldn't be very wise.

Been seeing hiking pictures from various places and I'm feeling antsy that I haven't gone hiking yet this year. Thinking of going on Sunday of next week - unless I am hurting from the race (which I don't think I will be.) I need to get strap by pack and boots on and get out into nature. Summer will be over with before I know it and then I'll be horrible disappointed. Maybe I should look into taking some random weekdays off from work so I can do some mid-week hiking? That's an idea that needs to be explored.

Work is the same - no challenge so I'm beginning be more bored with each passing day. At least I have a job that's pretty safe. For the most part I'm pretty content - tired of all the double-standards that are present with some situations. Actually, it's more of a frustration with certain people I work with, but I can only be responsible for myself and I can't get worked up about others and the lack of work ethic that they have. Can't let myself be brought down to their level.

OOOH - The Trews will be in Seattle in August. Must NOT forget about that!

Finally created my 2009 Race Bibs icon. Yay! Of course, I will have to update it next weekend . . .

And of course - public shout out to neko_katt for letting me steal the icon idea.