Portland/Shasta Trip August 2008

A Hike Up Red Mountain

On Sunday, July 28, Roger and I headed up Red Mountain in the Washington Cascades. We followed the trail past Little Joe Lake.

It was a pretty quick scramble to the summit (5k feet or so). We were met at the top with a lot of clouds and the occasional squall. Forgot to bring my camera, otherwise I'd include a photo here.

After the Sun went down, the clouds parted and we had a beautiful starry sky to guide us back down.

Our Highlander Hybrid

We finally stopped talking about it, and went out and got a 2007 Limited on Craigslist for 31K

Uhh-mazing. It seats 7. And on our trip to Eugene? 30 average mpg. I love sitting in traffic now.

I Like to Walk

I like to walk. A lot. It is more than just going from A to B. It’s about tuning in to the environment around me, and tuning out all the random busy-ness that is going on in my head. Besides having the obvious physical benefits, walking clears my mind and gives me a chance—depending on what time it is—to either get ready for the day ahead or to de-compress in the evening.

Face it. In this modern era we spend a lot of time sitting. We sit at our desk all day, then we sit in traffic, to then sit in front of the TV. We tend to think about driving somewhere far more than walking somewhere. To save time (and steps) we always look for the closest parking stall.

About five years ago I came to the conclusion that if I did not start doing some sort of exercise on a regular basis, my health would suffer. I was not interested in buying a bunch of workout clothes or a subscription to a health club. Too much money and time. Instead, I realized I could simply add a bit of physical exertion to an otherwise boring commute.

I decided to park my car about a mile away and walk the rest. In the evening, I’d walk the mile back to my car. Regardless of the weather, this became my little daily ritual that in my opinion, has had a beneficial impact on my life.

Sage's Concert Recital 6/10/08

Mother's Day and John's 70th in Shasta

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Meet Nicholas Zoppas

My new little nephew, born to my sister-in-law Maria and her husband Manu. Isn't he a cute little thing?