"Whan That Aprile...."

With all apologies to Geoffrey, the April showers are leaving me a bit bummed out.  Pilgrimage?  The only place I want to go to is a warm beach, a sun bathed stretch of sand. That, my friends, is where I long to go on pilgrimage.  But anyway, lit references aside, how has YOUR April been?  Ours has been gray with a few sunny days sprinkled in just to keep our chins up.

Sunny days that make it all worth it

Mae had a birthday at the beginning of the month.  She's 2!  That seems like a milestone because when I got her, the rancher who gave her to me said that she would really settle down and be a much easier dog by the time she's 2.  Let's all laugh at THAT!  Sure, she's a bit easier and she's really filled out and is a SUPER athlete.  But Mae, my beautiful Mae, will never be an easy dog.  She is a damned cute girl though hey?

Birthday girl

Have a lovely spring!  Entertain, experience, accomplish, be deliberate, ENJOY.

Altra Mid

In case you missed it, I finally found a great shoe!  I am just so happy that I tried these because they are exactly what I've been hoping to find.  They are the Altra Lone Peak 3.0 mid height, neoprene/polartec trail runner.  My goodness, that's a mouthful!  

What do I like about this shoe?  well, everything!  Pretty much anyway... the fit is just like the Lone Peak 2.5 which I also have.  Most guidelines will say go up half a size in Altras and I have tried both the 9 and 9.5 and did go up to the 9.5.  I LOVE the extra toe box room.  If you aren't used to that it may seem sloppy at first but believe me, it's the best thing ever!  The rest of the shoe fits great as well.  I was concerned that the mid height may be annoying but it is fantastic!  Well cushioned so no uncomfortable parts.  The lacing system is great, nice and even and the metal grommets at the ankle make it super easy to snug up.  Yes, I know, I will actually have to tie and untie these shoes!  But the extra couple of minutes for that is well worth it!

Cushioning is fantastic.  it's my favorite thing about Altras. It's like a cloud for your feet. 

Tread is fantastic.  No slipping on anything, wet, dry, gravel, mud, it was all good.

Zero drop....I'm a fan!  I know some people can't stand it but I love it.  

And here is the big, most fantastic thing about these, as a Pacific Northwest runner.....THEY ARE REALLY WATERPROOF! I intentionally ran through puddles and my feet stayed dry!!  The polartec lining also is a big bonus because I will be able to wear these through the winter and still be cozy.  Plus the Gaiter Trap will be uesful for snow.  The mid height also means less debris getting into my shoe and driving me nuts.  Where they debris free?  No.  But oddly, the only time I got little pebbles in the shoe were running on the paved road that connects to my trails.   But I got nowhere near the amount of dirt and plant bits that you would in a regular height shoe.

What I don't like?  Well, let's be honest....the price is staggering.  At $168 retail they are clearly the most expensive running shoe I've purchased to date.  That price makes it prohibitive to stock up with a second pair too.  But, considering what I spend on other types of footwear, winter boots, snowboard boots etc., and the fact that I LOVE them, I just have to go with that.  

Happy Fall!  Have a great weekend~

Summer Flies By...

We managed to pack a lot of stuff into the last month.  A college graduation, cleaning out and selling our mountain condo, a trip to Pacific City, celebrating our anniversary and lots of little outings around home.

A few photos....

Graduation day was sunny but windy.  SO exciting for our son completing this part of his life!

Mae was right at home at the ocean in Pacific City

Mae even met another Mcnab at the beach!

When things slow down (Ha, dream on) I will post more often , hopefully.  Until then, I hope your summer has been terrific!! 

On The Coast With Mae

Our trip to the Oregon coast was so much fun!  We stay in Pacific City and have been there 4 or 5 times, but this was Mae's first trip to the beach. She loved it!  We were able to stay in a pet friendly house and the beach was loaded with happy people and happy dogs of all sizes.  It was only 58 degrees when we arrived on Sunday.  A 40 degree temperature difference from home, and boy did it feel great!!  Monday it was nice enough to actually sit out in the sun on the beach, though the water temp there is only 58 as well.  We may have to go again in late summer.  It has become one of our favorite places~

Nothing like a run on the beach

Digging is serious business

Dune at Cape Kiwanda

beach at Pacific City

Hope your summer travel treats you well!  Do you have a favorite destination?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Hiking With Mae

We have a new hiking partner in our family!  Her name is Mae.

Late Spring Snow

Here's a little proof that if you are patient you can still get in some good days even in a lousy snow year.  Our neighbor took this over the weekend up on Silver Peak .  Pretty good looking snow with decent coverage!

In other mountain news….the same neighbor spotted what he believed to be a wolf on the side of the highway, I 90, on his way down to town Sunday morning.  He contacted fish and wildlife and unfortunately, the wolf was hit a bit later .  Fish and Wildlife confirmed (well, it’s been sent for DNA testing) that it was a female wolf, weighing in at 185 lbs, all black and most likely from a known pack to the Northeast of us.  The wildlife officers on approach thought it was a young bear because of it’s size and dark color.    This spot on the highway is a regular “road kill” area as Elk like to feed on the side of the road there.  Last year a cougar was hit in the same area.  Anyway, I wish I had seen the wolf!  It’s interesting to know that they are around us….Though I’m not sure I’d want to see one while out running or hiking.  Would you?  Have you run into any large wildlife while out in the forests?

Awhile Ago We Went Surfing

My husband surfs.  He's been surfing for decades.  Me, well, I'm trying to learn but several things put me off....the other surfers, the cold water, the thought of sharks, the cold water.  Possibly, I won't learn because you can't learn if you don't get in the water.  But learning in say, Washington state, is quite a bit different than learning in California or Hawaii.  Possibly it's just an "old dog, new tricks" thing for me.  I'm going to keep working on it but in the mean time, I really enjoy our trips out to the coast.  On this particular day there were at least 75 surfers out in the water off Westport, but a quick drive around the corner yielded solitary surfing and some decent waves if you were patient.  

When I showed my husband this photo, he was struck by how small he looked out there.  Um....yeah.. The next day there was a story in the news about an 18' Great White shark being spotted off of Ocean Shores, right across the way. They estimated it's size by examining the bite mark on a seal that had been bitten in half. I'm sure the shark wouldn't look very big either if I took it's photo.

While we were there, I hung out with my best dog friend Scout and we spotted these boxes built along the jetty.

We had seen several cats that darted quickly into the rocks when we approached.  There was a fish processing plant of some sort across the street. It seems like there's a great animated cat movie here?  This guy could be the star I think.

The beach, ocean waves, sunshine , being with my beloved man and pup, and cats....a very complete day. Right?

SNOW TODAY

A LITTLE LATE TO THE PARTY, DON'T YOU THINK??

Snow Rain Sleet, Repeat

For color, part of our vintage snowboard collection

And don't forget the fog.....I think that is the recipe for November.  We always remark every year that November is the worst month on the mountain.  There is not enough snow to go full out in winter activities, but just enough to make running, cycling, dirt biking, hiking, even walking the dog just a miserable or impossible task.  Though this week twice now I have risen to the occasion and gone out for two adventures.

You've seen this before?  Ya, I think I need new running clothes!

The first was a hike up my usual route to the beer can and then along the road and eventually just going straight up the ski slope through the area that slid a few years ago.  By then it was foggy .  The footing was about two inches of crusty snow which honestly, provided some traction.  Except for the spot that looked good but turned out to be a snow covered, ice covered boulder!  I fell down, like a clown....But it was fun! I made my way back through the slide , bushwhacking for a bit to the access road and managed to have some sort of workout for over an hour.

Yesterday, I kept waiting for the rain to end or change over but finally just went out.  I headed down the rail trail, which in winter is a groomed xc ski trail.  Once I got past the section where the local kids had been driving their lifted trucks the night before, it evened out and wasn't too bad.  No, I wasn't on skis.  I was running, like I was wearing army boots in sand....It was a blast!  So tiring though that I had to only run part of every minute, counting off the steps, lifting my legs high and then stepping where the snow crust was smooth.  I saw Bobcat tracks.  LOVE to see animal tracks....as long as they are small.

Anyway, that's November.  You have to either fly to Hawaii and forget the month or go out and make the best of it.

Linger a Little

We needed to run into Seattle on Tuesday and it was an overcast, blurry day.  Perfect for some Ivar's fish and chips and chowder.  It was a good break in our day, a chance to linger over a local favorite and slow things down a bit.

That was Tuesday and here it is, already Friday.  I've been asked a few times today if I have plans for the weekend?  Well, no, no I don't.  I seem to be caught in a limbo between wanting to plan every day and make sure I get "things" done and absolutely wanting a completely free calendar, every day open, no plans, just time to linger.  

Tomorrow is the first day of summer and I am excited that it's finally here!  But summer feels completely different to me at 50 something , than it did at 20 something, or even 30 or 40 something.  It's lost that spark, that spontaneity that makes it so fabulous.  It also has become incredibly short!!  In decades past it used to stretch out before me like a dream, warm days, road trips, the kids playing in the yard and swimming in the river.  Now it feels like summer lasts about a week or two, 3 days maybe.  How do you slow it down?  How do you make it last?  I'm going to try to wave a magic wand over it and weave some sort of dreamlike glitter into July and August.  If I find the magic mix to slow down the season and linger a little I will let you know!  Do you have anything planned for the weekend summer?  

Monday, June 9

Awesome little run today.  I have this workout I call "up/down".  Basically it's leaving the house, hiking up past the beer can on the ski slope, then running down on the dirt access roads.  It's short and sweet, about 30 minutes.  Today I cut back on another dirt road to loop around to the house and added  10 mins.  Perfect!  Best thing about it, besides the view?  After the first 15- 20 minutes it's all downhill!

 

Subie Lovers

We just bought our 5th Subaru (this one for our daughter) and I feel the need to profess my Subie love and pay homage to these great cars!  A photo tour....

My husband's last XT

The latest addition, '07 Impreza RS

What?  you need a snow car? 

the current daily driver, '04 wrx

Seriously, we love these cars!  Have a great weekend.  Take a drive in the sun, and may all your miles be safe and happy!

June 3, 2014

It's JUNE!  Isn't that exciting?  I am making summer plans, the weather has been gorgeous!! And I am very happy to be enjoying sunshine in the mountains.  Some scenes from last summer....

Hubby and Me 

My usual summer gym

My boy Scout

Lake Keechelus from the back of Hyak

Coffee Lover Part Two

Back in 2007, I gave up drinking coffee.  My daughter, 12 at the time and brutally honest, kept complaining that I had coffee breath. She would scream at me to open a window every time we got in the truck.   My cold turkey quit had more to do with a Starbucks visit though.  I went in , ordered a tall Americano and took a big gulp as I got back behind the wheel.  I felt something foreign in my mouth that jabbed at my throat as I swallowed. In a panic I tried to spit the coffee back in the cup thru that little drinking hole and ended up instead, spewing coffee all over myself, all over the dashboard.  It was pretty disgusting and a great big mess!  So, I quit.  The culprit was a  bristle from the brushes they use to clean the machines....nasty?  Yup.

I gave up coffee for about three months.  I don't remember many side effects, just a few headaches from the caffeine withdrawal.  This time?  This time?  oh man!  I felt so miserable.  Here's a list: Body aches, stiffness, moodiness, irritability, IRRITABILITY, inability to focus, sleeplessness, (yes, ridiculous) and of course the headaches.  This time the headaches were minor, but at the height of  symptoms I felt like I was getting the flu.  I was so out of it that at one point I was trying to unlock my car by pointing my phone at it.  I looked up symptoms on line and of course all of the above were listed.  Interestingly, caffeine withdrawal now has it's own diagnosis code in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  Seriously.  At least that's that the internet tells me.  I could see how you could go to a doctor with the symptoms because really, I felt pretty awful.

It's been about three weeks. No cold turkey this time.  This time I had to  wean and cajole, talk myself through it, sit on the couch and stare into space. But I am over most of the symptoms and feel a bit normal (that's a stretch for me always).   Here's why I decided to give it up:

1) Nutritionally, coffee was messing me up.  

    My normal routine would be to get up have coffee and a banana and go for a run.  Bananas started to bother me, made my mouth itch ,upset my stomach.  I tried to find a substitute but nothing else feels right.  So coffee took over.  One cup became two, more coffee at 10 when my daughter got up, then of course more or a big mocha/latte/flavored thing for that afternoon slump. and hey, it's the Pacific Northwest, so why not have MORE?  We do love our coffee here....In fact we survive the rain with coffee, it's a KEY ingredient in NW life!  But all this coffee was not helping me nutritionally. My stomach was not enjoying the ride either.  Food seemed to pass though my system on a coffee flume, few nutrients staying behind to fuel me.

2) I never sleep well.

     I tell people i have't had a good night's sleep since the 80's and I mean it. With age and stress and hormones (?) it's gotten worse.  Caffeine is a known sleep enemy so, why not eliminate it?  it's good to eliminate enemies right?

3) I am sick of bladder irritation and having to pee on runs. Or actually just         peeing while running.

     Have you ever peed your pants running?  Some of us have worse experiences I know.  Even famous runners! But it is a problem that can be made worse with coffee, a known bladder enemy too. And of course age and hormones (dang).   I've had it happen more than once and it's not very comfortable!!  It has to end.

4) The coffee habit was taking up too much of my budget.

     It's simple math.  A monthly massage may be a better way to spend?

I will give you an update soon.  I am already sleeping a bit better.  I wake during the night but can fall back to sleep and last week, twice, I spent over 11 hrs in bed!  I'm hoping eventually to reach an agreement with caffeine, moderate amounts, good coffee, good friends.  

Coffee Lover

I realized when I started to write about caffeine withdrawal that I needed to back up a bit and talk about my life with coffee.  What's your earliest coffee memory?   When I was about 4 or 5 my mom shopped at the local A&P supermarket.  In those days, there was a coffee grinder at the end of the checkout counter.  I loved watching the machine noisily grind the beans and even then loved the aroma! I don't remember my folks being big coffee drinkers, but my Aunt Anna?  I can not picture her without the ever present cup of coffee in one hand, a cigarette burning in the other. My Aunt Margie is permanently connected in my memory to her aluminum coffee pot. I  can still see it percolating on the stove, boiling over, the liquid turning a dark brown in the glass bulb.  It was the strongest and best coffee on the planet!

I'm not sure when I started drinking coffee.  I know I drank it at 19 because I remember an older guy I dated telling me I shouldn't put sugar in my coffee, it wasn't very "grown-up".  (ya, really..er DOUCHE)  Anyway, I laugh at that now, but I take my coffee with cream, no sugar.

College and coffee go hand and hand.  Another vivid coffee memory I have is of a professor leading me by the arm to a large silver buffet urn as he said, "Kelly have you had coffee? Come and get some wake up juice!"   This probably would not have stuck with me all these years had he not also been a Catholic priest!   It wasn't prayer he was offering or to take my confession, it was a cup of joe and it was very much a "come to the dark side Luke" offer, said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

For every friend, I have a corresponding coffee memory.  My buddy in grad school took his coffee "light and sweet".  Our morning ritual coffee run brightened up so many days.  Richie?  Richie is waiting in line on a hot summer day for cups of cappuccino and drinking them in the sun.  Mike is a crisp white cup of espresso. Anne, my bff, is pots of coffee, lipstick stains on the cup and sugar all over my kitchen counter.  Kathy, Starbucks and Tevas in the Seattle rain.  And my climbing partner?  He's a tall skinny mocha, no whip. He has a gorgeous home espresso maker and ....an at home roaster. 

My husband and I have so many coffee memories that they probably deserve their own scrap book!  In the 80's we knew where all the gourmet shops were. Remember the flavored coffee trend?  We were hooked on hazelnut.  We have ground, pressed and brewed our way around the country.  Coffee has fueled us at bike races, warmed us up camping and climbing.  It has kept us awake through 30+ years together.  I remember our first coffee as husband and wife, our first cups as parents. Sometimes on Sundays , he brings me coffee in bed.

So why am I giving it up?  Am I a coffee lover or a caffeine addict?  Am I a coffee achiever or just someone who has a bad habit?  What is your relationship with the bean?  Are you passionate about coffee?  Is it just another beverage?   I'll be sure to fill you in on the caffeine withdrawal soon.  Until then, enjoy your weekend!  Run fast, play hard, have coffee with friends~

Monday Things, Mid May

Last week I was a bit under the weather and only got out running ONCE.  Great big frown on that!  But today, I felt much better and got out for a short trail run.  The weather was perfect, 68, sunny with a light breeze.  The  recent rains have made everything so LUSH!  The wildflowers are in bloom and the trails are really pretty!  

Ken's garden is also looking fairly lush, with lots of good things starting to grow. (see April post for more on Ken's garden)

Caffeine withdrawal....ever try to give up your coffee habit?  It is NOT FUN.  More on that soon....

And last thing, Bachelorette starts tonight! That's right it's my little tv pleasure.  Though more often I watch in horror and fear for that entire generation.  But hey, the Bruins aren't in the playoffs, Dallas is done for now and I need something to watch while I kick back on the sofa this Monday evening.  Go Andi!  

Have a great week~ 

Day at the Beach

Our trip to the coast (Westport WA) Wednesday was wonderful.  It's about a 3 hr, no traffic, drive and when we arrived it was sunny!  Sun on the Washington coast?  Score!  Water temp was 54 and air temp about the same at 53.  My husband has been surfing for decades, but I am a beginner beginner beginner.  While the waves weren't big, they were close together and ended up being choppy and chaotic.  The alternative activity?  A run on the beach of course!

what it usually looks like, gray and foggy

Monday Things

Monday Things, Parting Shots...

My daughter and her boyfriend having a little snowbank fun

Old blower in my favorite shade of orangey red 

My husband, looking rather bug like

                                                                   It's spring, the ski and snowboard season has wound down and only two weekends of lift accessible riding remain at our local area.  I thought it was a good time to share a few parting shots and say so long to winter.....Good bye winter! See you next time around!

The neighborhood, mid=season