Elders' Wedding

My buddy Nick Elders got married in his hometown on Lake Quinault in the Olympic National Forest/Park. It was an amazing, amazing setting. In between the ceremony and the reception, Lauren, Brandon and I went for a little stroll. This is Lauren inside of a huge ancient cedar.

Drinks, yummy food, and good friends. It was really good to see everyone. Nearly 10 years after college, everyone is still pretty much the same - which is really comforting. Everyone is definitely in different phases, situations, and circumstances....yet the same personality shines through.
Brandon and Mollie - still wish I could convince these two to move out to the Northwest!

Taking a dip in Lake Quinault - very cold and refreshing. Lets all stay for a month - instead of 48 hours. And no I'm not wearing a white t-shirt, that is just my fish-belly untanned skin.
I left the wedding really missing my Minnesota/Macalester friends. In a way, I am really jealous that they all get to hangout together and frequent my favorite haunts in MPLS. Yet it is mixed, as I wouldn't have met any of the great friends I've made here in Oregon. I spent a good deal of my backpacking trip with this thought rattling around in my head.

Doodle-sitting

Here is a picture of Barlow and his sister Sophie. They are from the same litter, yet completely different fur, size, shape, and personalities. I took care of Sophie for 3 nights and Barlow was totally exhausted by the end of it.

MURP

Last day of school:
Yep, finished up my degree. Now, I have a few more letters behind my name - not necessarily a few more zeros behind my income. I'm thinking that I might start blogging again now that I will get my life back. However, grad school has instilled a strong dislike for computers.

Light at the Top of the Waterfall

Three weeks left of my first year in Grad School.

I had an epiphany at the base of this waterfall, but I can't quite fit it into words.

Falls Creek Falls, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington


There is a quote a remember from somewhere "Sometimes the ticking of clocks is the only thing to evoke the melancholy of everyday existence." Waterfalls are the opposite. The solid rock being shaped by the crashing water stand testament to the power of time.

Columbia River Sunset

I'm considering making this a "pictures of sunsets only" blog, as I don't seem to have anything to add to cyberspace lately. Which is kind of sad? Perhaps, I will redirect my efforts to Second Life.
On a field trip this weekend, I sat in a late Holocene sedentary living site, called Carlon Village. It was a blustery day (by Oregon standards) and a group of a dozen of us huddled within what is left of an ancient human settlement. Now, only large boulders and flakes of obsidian remain. For some reason, I can't shake the image.

-We are all ancestors-

Eugene Blizzard

It hardly ever snows here, so I was pretty surprised to wake up to 8 inches of snow this weekend.

Sun River

7 feet of snow in 7 days.
I threw up on a chalet.
What more can I say?

Snake the Rossi