tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362613480894131032024-03-14T03:06:13.037-05:00This is REALErinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-44542005167481176762013-08-21T23:36:00.001-05:002013-08-21T23:36:40.502-05:002 months.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is life really moving THIS fast that our little Etta is already 2 months old?! I mean, look at that picture. She already looks like a little adult. Had her shots today. I had to pin down her arms. It was awful...for me. Etta did a scream I have never heard before, cried for 10 minutes and then slept for 4 hours. She's a champ.<br />
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This month has been not better... (ok, yes better) but different. She is down to usually only one feeding a night - thanks to the intense "baby boot camp" program she is on to sleep 12 hours in 12 weeks. So mom is getting just a little bit more sleep. She is making progress, but we still have many hours to go. She is growing like crazy - and her moods reflect it. Etta eats a lot more and sleeps more when she is in a spurt.<br />
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The most exciting things?! She started smiling!! Not gas or facial reflexes smiling - like we can totally get her to smile!! And with that, some of my anti-motheries have had to subside. Because she really does like high-pitch noises. What else? Oh, she "coos" now. And she will actually converse back with you. If you say it to her, she will say it right back. It is pretty much the cutest thing ever. She still likes to sleep with her arms above her head. I tried not swaddling her at night, but she still doesn't have full control over her arms and ends up hitting herself in the face and waking up. So we are still swaddling. She tracks things all over the place with her eyes. The play mat has actually been a play space, she is enamored by the chime-noise making toy hanging from her car seat, and I already have her watching the Peek-a-Boo Barn app on my iphone to learn animals and the sounds they make. She loves it. She moves her arms and legs in an excited motion. A lot.<br />
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Part of our baby boot camp is establishing a bed time routine. I started reading to her. I read her the classic "Love You Forever" and cried the whole way through. When Warren put her to bed one night I overheard him reading her his anesthesiology study material. Equally as emotional - not sure why he didn't cry.<br />
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I am really liking this stage, and I can only imagine it is going to get better and better!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-67916404548211800652013-07-19T17:11:00.001-05:002013-07-19T17:11:35.124-05:00One Month.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have made it one month with Etta - round of applause?! I think since I was expecting it to be (kinda) terrible, with no sleep, screaming baby, poop explosions and covered in spit-up, in reality it wasn't all that bad. In fact, it has gone pretty smoothly. Dont get me wrong - it is still hard, and all of those things I expected are definitely present....but for the most part I feel pretty in control. </div>
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Etta is a really good baby. She is growing sooo fast too! Right now she loves to be propped up more than lying flat on her back. I think because she likes to see what is going on - or likes the attention of uninterrupted eye contact with whoever is sitting next to her. She sleeps with both arms above her head. And can get out of whatever swaddle we put her in to do so. I remember her fingertips tickling me in the womb, now I know why. Her hands are ALWAYS by her head. She makes funny faces. Mostly grumpy old man faces, which are still pretty cute. She has a taradactle-like scream, but Warren says she's singing. She will only take a pacifier sometimes. She sleeps on her own terms. And when she wants to sleep, there is NO waking her up. It starts with her rolling her eyes back, and then she is done for. Ironically we do the same things to try to make her sleep as we do to wake her up. Sometimes I swear she smiles at me, and it is not just a facial muscle reflex. She is lackadaisical during "tummy time". I dont think she quite gets the concept just yet, she mostly falls asleep. She makes a "kchh" sound every time she yawns. When she is hungry she starts to eat at her hands. And when she actually eats, she eats almost double what the pediatrician recommends for her weight. She is a total daddy's girl and will fall asleep for him in pretty much any position imaginable. I hear him talk to her and say, "now be a good girl for mommy tonight and sleep." She tries, because she loves her daddy. But she must really love me too, because she cant seem to go a couple hours in the night without needing to see me :-)</div>
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Overall, this month has flown. I have had a lot of help. From Warren, my mom (and dad), my mother-in-law, Lisa, Cynda and Tori - cooking meals, cleaning and helping with the night shift. I am grateful for people in my life that love Etta like we do. My in-laws have said, "it takes more than just parents to raise a child". And I agree. Etta is going to be blessed with many people in her life that love her and want the best for her. She will learn from so many that she interacts with. She has great examples in her extended family to look up to.</div>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-52984473301818216172013-06-29T15:46:00.002-05:002013-06-29T15:46:28.696-05:00The Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Etta Ruth Davis<br />
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Born on June 19th, 2013 at 4:55 am at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach<br />
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Weight: 8 pounds 11 ounces</div>
Height: 19 inches<br />
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Doctor: Jeff Illeck, MD</div>
Nurse: Denise<br /></div>
Etta's
birth story begins a few days before she was actually delivered.
Tuesday, June 11th, Dr. Illeck stripped my membranes. I was praying
this would work, as I was getting super uncomfortable in the pregnancy.
Hard to sleep, to walk, to sit down and stand up. It didn't hurt as
much as I thought it would, and by Wednesday morning, I lost my mucous
plug. Everything I read said that it was most common to go into labor
withing 48 hours of losing the plug, so I was ready! <br />
<br />On Thursday, June 13th, I began having contractions around 10:30pm.
Since Warren was working early the next day, I called my other resident
husband - Lisa Ward. Lisa and I walked around the neighborhood while
she timed my contractions - about 5 mins apart. I kept telling her they
were uncomfortable, but not excruciating. She spent the night on our
couch just in case since Warren had to leave early.<br />
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The next day I felt much better, but began contracting again
late in the evening, Warren did his best to make me feel comfortable,
and again we walked the neighborhood. This was the same story on
Saturday night. By Sunday night (Father's Day), I was having
contractions earlier in the day - starting by 4pm, about 5 mins apart.
The difference now was the excruciating nerve pain I felt in the front
part of my hips and legs. So much pain, that I could not walk, sit,
stand or get comfortable. By this time I was crying, so Warren gathered
all our hospital bags and we headed to the hospital. <br />
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Hoag is in my opinion, the nicest hospital in OC - ocean view
rooms, state of the art equipment and physicians trained at top
universities. Although they did not have valet parking at 9pm on Sunday
night....so Warren dropped me off in front with the bags, parked the
car, ran to meet up with me and we both made our way to the 5th floor.
We checked into the unit and I told the nurse of my nerve pain. We were
escorted to an ocean view room by the nurse and she hooked the baby up
to be monitored and track my contractions. I was only dilated to a 2. I
sat on a birthing ball, they continuously checked my blood pressure and
2 hours later the nurse checked me again to see if I had progressed in
my dilation. Still a 2. I was so disappointed - we were turned away.<br />
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I was able to get some sleep that night with the help of a
Unisom. Warren had the whole week off (lucky vacation scheduled), and I
was feeling much better that we actually went to the beach and read
while enjoying the ocean (and getting a little bit more sun). We stayed
at the beach until about 4, and I started feeling the pain again - it
took 45 mins to walk home...which was only 3 blocks. By 6pm the
excruciating pain was back, but I didnt want to be the pregnant girl who
cried labor wolf, so I stuck it out at home with a bouncing on a
birthing ball and our good friend Andy Richardson came over to assist
Warren in giving me a priesthood blessing. I made it through the night.<br />
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The next morning, Warren came with me to my appointment
with Dr. Illeck. I was still a 2. He stripped my membranes again...and
this time, it hurt. I was still having contractions about every 15
mins with the nerve pain and it was difficult to walk. After leaving
the office the contractions intensified - stripping the membranes was
working! We got home in time for me to eat some food, then the pain
became intolerable again. At one point, I was laying on the couch,
shaking, crying and yelling from the pain. By this time, contractions
were 4 mins apart. Warren had seen enough. He told me he was taking me
in.<br />
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He loaded up the car and helped me to my seat. Warren
drove down 14th street to make a left on PCH. In the process of this
unprotected left-hand turn, we were almost hit....by two cars. Nervous
father-to-be? Later we were told by some friends in our ward that they
witnessed the whole scary episode. The Lord was definitely with us in
this moment.<br />
<br />We arrived to the hospital minutes later, this time valet was
there. They pulled up a wheel chair and Warren grabbed ALL of our stuff
- we were there to stay this time! He wheeled me up to the 5th floor,
as I was yelling, whim-icing and crying in pain. It was the most
excruciating pain I have ever experienced. <br />
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We were guided to the unit to be monitored, and Warren
saw Brother Braithwaite, a member of our ward who also happened to be
the OB on call. He dropped his name to the nurse as they put me in a
room and got the monitor hooked up. Still a 2. The nurse called Dr.
Illeck to tell him of my pain, Brother Braithwaite came in to say hello -
and with that....I was admitted. Finally!! We were going to have a
baby!<br />
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I had been told that the IV was painful, but I did really
notice because the contractions and nerve pain were taking up most of
my attention. They put me back in the wheel chair and wheeled me across
the hall. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Perry arrived shortly after to
give me my epidural. Heaven. He had me sit sideways on the bed, with
my legs dangling off. It was a beautiful view of the harbor and ocean,
not a cloud in the sky. It felt a little cold and weird on my back, but
I didnt care. It started working within minutes. It was amazing! I
dont know how (or why) anyone would do it any other way.<br />
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After I was not in pain, is when Warren started to get
just giddy. I could tell he was soooo excited in the anticipation of
his little girl. He got out his camera and new lens and started
snapping pictures. I loved seeing the excitement in his eyes. As his
mother would say, "his eyes dance."<br />
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We loved our nurse, Denise. She hooked baby
up to the monitor once again for us to watch the contractions and
checked me for dilation. She also helped Warren flip me every couple
hours to make sure the epidural was being evenly distributed. Dr.
Braithwaite came into break my water and I didnt feel a thing. After
two hours I was checked again - still a 2. So, Denise started me on
pitocin. <br />
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After that, things progressed much faster. Lisa stopped
by to bring Warren Cafe Rio for dinner and I drank a lot of ice water.
Later into the night Warren was able to get a couple hours of sleep in
between me waking him up to hold the water cup for me or to page Denise
to flip me. He brought speakers to hook up my phone and played Nick
Drake station on Pandora. He also sprayed some of my Chakra #5 spray in
the room, which has lavender - a natural calming agent. I was still
pretty anxious though - anticipating the actual delivery. I didnt sleep
at all through labor. <br />
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By the time I was dilated to a 7.5, I could feel pressure
during the contractions and in my rectum. Still not an urge to push,
but I could feel her coming down. By 3:45am, Denise said I was ready to
push. She got the room set up and told me she would call Dr. Illeck
when she thought I was about 20 mins out from delivering. I asked her
the average length of pushing for first time moms and she said 1-3
hours. I had an even longer night ahead, or so I thought. She got me
into position, coached me how to breath, where to hold my legs, etc.
Warren stood to my left and held my hand. We waited until the next
contraction, I tucked my chin to my chest, pulled at my legs and
pushed....for about 2 seconds when Denise said stop! Warren said he
could already see her head. Denise called Dr. Illeck right then. <br />
<br />I waited for about 15 minutes with my legs in the stirrups,
resisting the urge to push through contractions, waiting for Dr. Illeck
to arrive to the hospital. He came in around 4:30am and asked how long I
had been pushing, to which Denise responded I hadnt. He gave her a
"then why did you call me look", and she said, "just wait until you see
it." They got some final things ready, we waited for the next
contraction and I started to push. Three pushes with three breaths per
contraction. During the second contraction I started to tear, so Dr.
Illeck performed an episiotme. I dont know how hard I was gripping
Warren's hand, he didnt say much, but was watching the birth intently.
Denise and the baby's nurse were the ones vocally cheering me on. On
the last push of the third contraction, she was out!<br />
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The nurses kind of wiped her down as they were putting
her on my chest. My first thought was, "I cant believe that just
happened. I cant believe I just did that." And then I thought, "omg,
she is mine! And she is HUGE! This is crazy." Warren cut the cord and
I only gave one small push to birth the placenta. I think they do that
while she is on your chest to distract you.<br />
<br />In that one moment, our lives have changed forever. We are now
forever parents. She was absolutely beautiful. And she even smelled
good. The baby nurse took her over to be weighed, measured and
cleaned. I told Warren to go with her. He said she looked perfect.
Dr. Illeck was stitching me up while the nurse announced 8 pounds 11
ounces, 19 inches - a healthy baby girl. They brought her back over to
me for some skin to skin time, and this is when I shed a tear or two.
Warren had a perma-grin.<br /></div>
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She layed on my chest for a
while, then Denise brought me the infamous "Hoag Spritzer", cranberry
juice mixed with lemon-lime soda. Nothing had ever tasted so good. I
really wanted Warren to bond with her, so I asked him to take her in
exchange for a granola bar. For the next two hours I had my eyes
closed, but couldnt sleep. I could hear Warren talking and singing to
our baby girl.<br /></div>
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At about 7am, the nurse came in to wake
us up and bring us breakfast - french toast, cereal and a banana. We
split it. I was then transferred to a wheel chair, handed my baby girl,
and sent up to the mommy baby unit. Here is where the real recovery
began. The epidural wore off, but I still couldnt walk and had to use
the funniest contraption to be wheeled to the bathroom.<br /></div>
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Warren
and I didnt sleep much (at all) the next two days. We were so excited
that she was finally here. It was in the mother baby unit where we
finalized her name - Etta Ruth Davis.<br /></div>
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The rest of our
hospital stay seems forever ago. We had countless visitors of friends
and family come to see is. Beautiful flowers delivered. Met with Dr.
Illeck and our new pediatrician, and were DC'd on Friday morning. Our
first day home Brad and Ruth came to visit. By Saturday morning, John
and Shelly were here to help and Shelly stayed the entire week; making
meals, cleaning and helping with the night shifts. Etta is such a good
baby. She eats well, she sleeps a lot (hopefully more at night soon),
and I could stare at her funny faces all day.<br /></div>
To sum
up my feelings overall in this whole experience would be impossible.
It's crazy to think we created this beautiful person. And crazy that we
were able to name a human. And we are responsible for her. I always
knew I wanted to be a mom, but had a hard time picturing myself doing
it. But it has come a lot more naturally than I thought. Just in the
past week, I find myself being able to recognize her cry, her
patterns....if she is hungry. I love when she falls asleep on my chest
and I love how it seems that she looks right at me and says thank you. I love watching Warren with her. I
love her. And I love our little growing family. Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-9359885687337919112012-12-03T01:52:00.000-05:002012-12-03T02:44:27.772-05:00san gorgonioResident retreat this weekend in big bear. It was raining in orange county so I was hoping for snow in the mountains, not so.<br />
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Didn't
sleep much in our giant cabin of fun on friday but still managed to get
up a little bit before 4 to get ready for a run up mount san gorgonio.
I've been up there twice before but via the Vivian Creek trail, the
cabin was closer to the South Fork trail, which is another popular
route, so I decided to head up that way. It's a little farther in
distance but less altitude gain so maybe more runable.<br />
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Head
lamp on it was go time a little after four. The first three miles were
relatively flat then it picked up. I just went at a controlled pace. By
six the sun was coming up and trail opened up at the same time.<br />
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I
ran into a short section where the trail was icy and then dropped off. I
considered stopping but after a quarter mile it became manageable and
then the ice disappeared all together. Approaching the saddle the wind
picked up but the frost trees and views were too spectacular to pass up,
even if my fingers couldn't feel the camera buttons kept trying to get
decent shots.<br />
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I had a designated turn around time
in my mind and before I left I had pretty much conceded that I probably
wouldn't be able to make the top. Before I knew it I saw a sign where
the Vivian Creek trail merged with my current trail and I knew I was
only a quarter mile or so from the top, just before my previous wrong
turn. This time I wouldn't make the same mistake.<br />
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I
felt like a put my hand in the cookie jar and would get away with it as I
sprinted (relatively) to the summit. I'd make it to the top and still
make it back in time! I let out a primal scream for good measure and then took a few more pictures without getting blown over before heading down to warmer ground.<br />
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Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-8974809343720376682012-09-03T22:51:00.000-05:002012-09-03T22:51:38.525-05:00mt baldy fkt fail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had labor day off so decided to head to the mountains. A few weeks ago I was talking with a coworker and realized Mt Baldy is only a little over an hour away. With the peak just over 10k ft, this makes for a very tempting training run.<br />
<br />
I've been looking at <a href="http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=pacific&action=display&thread=50">fkt</a>'s for california. Just because I want to see where I'm at and maybe because I have some friends who seem to always try and <a href="http://www.jasondorais.blogspot.com/2012/07/pfeifferhron-speed-record.html">accomplish</a> speed attempts that I figured I'd at least see how I stack up.<br />
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The route is a little different from the one I took when completing "Los Tres Santos" but it was the route that seemed to have the fkt on it. I figured I'd do some reconaisance work, and just give a solid steady effort.<br />
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The Baldy Lodge was closed, but there were people inside and they were nice enough to let me use their facilities. They wished me good luck on the run - I guess there's a race every memorial day, but luckily it was going up a different route (the same one I did last year).<br />
<br />
After a five minute warmup walk up the hill and back down to my car I was off. Maybe a little too fast, it took me a minute to catch my breath. After the first half mile or so the paved road turns to single track hard packed dirt great for running. Immediately I liked the single track trail much more than the moker flats fire road. As the switch backs kept coming I just kept pushing at a steady workout pace. 22.17 where you cross the creek, which I believe was right on time. Encouraging.<br />
<br />
Then it got steeper and I hiked at a steady pace. When I got to "The Narrows" I figured I was at least thirty minutes off the fkt. The steady hard push is still a thing that takes training, it's easy to get comfortable, which is what I did and figured under 2 hours for my first go would be all right.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpGuNCbUItQ/UEVxitgcgDI/AAAAAAAACBY/SRjZ-Y5cel4/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpGuNCbUItQ/UEVxitgcgDI/AAAAAAAACBY/SRjZ-Y5cel4/s400/IMG_0836.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
Heavy smoke settled in about 2/3 of the way up. I heard about the Angeles Forrest fires on the radio on the way up and now I was experiencing them. I used my shirt as a smoke filter and figured my training on the beach running past all the campfires was good training (or just further lung insult?). After ten or fifteen minutes or so I was above the smoke, glad I didn't turn around prematurely.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTtof9k-eEg/UEVxayC-YwI/AAAAAAAACBQ/SmiymVFU6lA/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTtof9k-eEg/UEVxayC-YwI/AAAAAAAACBQ/SmiymVFU6lA/s400/IMG_0835.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">smoke to the east</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVleaugaY90/UEVxU5rJTjI/AAAAAAAACBI/oWjK5oKgzao/s1600/IMG_0831.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVleaugaY90/UEVxU5rJTjI/AAAAAAAACBI/oWjK5oKgzao/s400/IMG_0831.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
At the top I was met by a handful of aiders and spectators for the race. I walked around and took some pictures. I even bummed a couple cups of water seeing as how I went through my 1L on the way up and waited around long enough to see the first two guys come in before heading down. I wish I brought more than one cliff bar, the extra weight wouldn't have killed me, but oh well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVDmGEAHtxQ/UEVw5AxxwPI/AAAAAAAACAs/oX3L_VZ3zkE/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVDmGEAHtxQ/UEVw5AxxwPI/AAAAAAAACAs/oX3L_VZ3zkE/s400/IMG_0820.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for the racer's to finish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuTrU1dBFwA/UEVw_aV-uXI/AAAAAAAACA0/3alLnWtzRTM/s1600/IMG_0821.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuTrU1dBFwA/UEVw_aV-uXI/AAAAAAAACA0/3alLnWtzRTM/s400/IMG_0821.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">smoke filled air looking east from top of baldy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jPH5-v9PoI/UEVxJLldYUI/AAAAAAAACA8/ZJOm3jg2r-s/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jPH5-v9PoI/UEVxJLldYUI/AAAAAAAACA8/ZJOm3jg2r-s/s400/IMG_0829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The way down was uneventful, the smoke had blown to the east, although it was a lot more steep than I remembered. I was never able to get into a good stride, just found myself on the brakes the whole time taking too short of steps. Again, downhill stuff seems to be one of my weaker points. I came down in around 70min, which was almost 20min slower than even some of the "casual" downhill attempts I saw posted.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOUguVdr0_A/UEVxrFDzi5I/AAAAAAAACBk/NbQbXnSUnYM/s1600/IMG_0840.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOUguVdr0_A/UEVxrFDzi5I/AAAAAAAACBk/NbQbXnSUnYM/s400/IMG_0840.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
About one hundred feet from the end of the trail I fell. Just got lazy I suppose. It was pretty frustrating, it wasn't like I was bombing the hill and making really good time. Probably lucky to walk away with a scraped forearm and knees.<br />
<br />
<u>Stats</u><br />
starting elevation: 4300'<br />
top of baldy: 10058'<br />
elevation gain: 5879'<br />
distance: 12.3 miles round trip<br />
<br />
time up: 1:59<br />
down: 70<br />
<br />
fuel: 1L fluids (finished on way up), 1 cliff bar<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_63R-qAitz4/UEVx36CYhXI/AAAAAAAACBs/wB5zv_CeI9s/s1600/IMG_0844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_63R-qAitz4/UEVx36CYhXI/AAAAAAAACBs/wB5zv_CeI9s/s320/IMG_0844.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Old Glory" oldest and largest big cone douglas fir in existence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-89765430491443195232012-07-19T01:55:00.001-05:002012-07-19T02:07:55.486-05:00mt whitney and russel (6/27/12)<style>
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Warning: long post. It’s more for my sake than yours, so
read at your own risk. Still trying to find the balance between too much and
too little detail (too much time on my hands I suppose). Just read the title
and look at the pics for the short version…
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<u>The Plan </u></div>
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I found out on Saturday that I didn’t have to work this
week. Which is nice, not working is better than working but on such short
notice it’s hard to take advantage of the time. I’ve been meaning to make a
“to-do” list for times like this when I have to plan on a pinch but I just haven’t done that yet. We had
plans for Friday through the weekend which put me in even more of a time
crunch.</div>
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I’ve been thinking about some local projects but with the
extra time thought I should take advantage and do something a little farther away.
My thoughts turned to the Sierra’s and Yosemite. I stumbled across a blog a few
months ago which has opened my eyes to many possibilities. his knowledge of the
geography and frequency and speed of his excursions are inspiring. I also went
to the library, searching for maps of trails without any luck but did find a backpacking
book with twenty promising routes. I would love to reproduce many of Leor’s
trip reports but my unfamiliarity of the terrain, likely solo effort and a few
more hours travel each way led me to “settle” on something in the southern
Sierra’s. </div>
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Although not as imaginative as some of Leor’s routes I
figured Mt Whitney would be a good excursion. It’s in the Southern Sierra’s,
only four hours away, I’ve never been there and the highest point in the
continental 48 – reason enough for me. I didn’t decide this until two am
Tuesday morning. Maybe I’m indecisive. Maybe I just wanted to find the perfect
adventure.</div>
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I left my place at 11am on Tue in order to get to the
Visitor Center in time to pick up my permit for the following day. The permit
ended up being free because I was only going to be there the same day, which
was contradictory to everything I read online but a pleasant surprise
nonetheless. I spent about an hour in the bookshop, looking at different maps,
routes and possibilities. I knew that Mt Russell was nearby and from talking
with friends and reading climbing TR’s it seemed like a consensus that Russell
was more appealing than Whitney in terms of exposure, popularity (less crowds),
and other subjective measures. How could I be so close and not do them both. I
also started thinking more about the Northern Fork Route, which is an
unmaintained though relatively well traveled backpacker’s route that splits
from the main Whitney trail about a half mile up and then travels past mountain
lakes on gorgeous terrain. It definitely seemed appealing because it would
allow me to summit Russell and
Whitney, and would steer me away from comparatively mundane, maintained and
very popular main trail . I worried about the route finding, and if the
Mountaineer’s Route (the route I would have to take up Whitney should I decide
on the North Fork trail) would be a wise choice without an ice axe or other
gear should I encounter snow. Immediately after exiting the visitor center I
made some phone calls to Kevin and Andy and asked their opinions. My mind still
wasn’t made up on the best plan but at least I would be in the Sierra’s, it
would be ok.</div>
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<u>Acclimation</u> </div>
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I drove up to the Whitney trailhead with still several hours
of sun to go and decided to check out the trails. It would help me make a
decision on routes, be a good workout and hopefully help with acclimation (the
trailhead is at 8360 ft, just a little higher than where I live). In the my
trunk I found some old racing flats and decided to throw them on, just to save
my trainers for the long day <b>ensuing.</b>
Once I got on the trail I loved the feel of the flats, not just obviously
noticeably lighter but much less beefy than I thought I would appreciate
without any noticeable difference in comfort or cushion. I ran up the main
trail for about thirty minutes before heading back down and then venturing up
the North fork trail. Within thirty seconds of being on this new route I was
grinning from ear to ear, at least internally. Although definitely not runnable
besides the first 400m it wound through overhanging trees, crossed the creek
several times and involved some bushwhacking. Definitely more fun/adventurous
than the main route – which agreed with my thoughts and consensus from
backpacking and Sierra guru, KR. Once out of the shrubbery you ascend up a
somewhat exposed slanted rock bands that eventually put you out to Lower Boy
Scout Lake, which is more of a pond but beautifully serene and housed by the
soaring surrounding mountains. I scrambled up the loose rocks on the north side
of the lake trying to get a view of the route, but headed back down as I only
had about a little over an hour left of sunlight. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8peiDSEPOU/UAemIHmcsqI/AAAAAAAAB90/7TokFOm277M/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8peiDSEPOU/UAemIHmcsqI/AAAAAAAAB90/7TokFOm277M/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trail split for northfork</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jW67bWhG__k/UAemNo9HxYI/AAAAAAAAB98/YO9LiyxeRQs/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jW67bWhG__k/UAemNo9HxYI/AAAAAAAAB98/YO9LiyxeRQs/s400/IMG_0264.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking towards bishop from LBSL</td></tr>
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On the way back down I lost the route as it descended the
rock bands down near the creek. I did find some bail wraps but determined I had
gone too far. Briefly I had flashes of biveying for the night and trying to
bushwhack my way down in the dark. I said a prayer and found the route back to
the creek but did considerable more bushwhacking than my way up.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8AJTmYQ9Ps/UAemTiH4P_I/AAAAAAAAB-I/dVL47lnZh8o/s1600/IMG_0275.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8AJTmYQ9Ps/UAemTiH4P_I/AAAAAAAAB-I/dVL47lnZh8o/s400/IMG_0275.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lower boy scout lake</td></tr>
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When I got back to the parking lot I had a little bit of
headache and just wanted to get some sleep. Luckily there were still camp spots
available at the trailhead so I snagged one. As I was looking at the sky full
of stars, my head pounding but soothed to be sleeping in the open, surrounded
by pine trees and cool alpine air,
I thought maybe my three hour little trek was enough adventure, but I
knew there was much more to be had. </div>
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My recon work had lead me to decide on the North Fork trail.
It would be different from my intention of an “adventure run” as it most likely
would not be runnable. However, my reason for training and adventure running at
all is for the adventure and to get out and see and experience some amazing
places. The heavily traveled main route, although more runnable, would be less
adventurous if at all, more peoples and less scenic. Therefore the NFT was in
perfect harmony with my real goals. Also, I passed two couples and asked about
the Mountaineers route and it seemed passable without ice ax or other
accessories so my fear of not being able to gain the summit by this alternate
route was mostly assuaged. As far as Russell I would give it shot, although
there were two different approaches (head over to Russell via the East route
after arriving at Upper Boy Scout Lake or continuing on to Iceberg Lake and
then the Whitney-Russell col to attempt the south face) that I had read about I
wasn’t sure which option would be best.</div>
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<u>Russell/Whitney </u></div>
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I woke up at 4:30, an hour before sunrise, feeling better
and surprised at how much sleep it felt like I received. By a little after 5:30
I was charging up the trail, knowing that I would only be able to run the first
half mile or so. 10 min in, I realized I’d forgot my poles. I froze and weighed
the decision. After prob too much time I headed back down, only to stop and
reconsider. The part of the trail I was on the day prior did not lend itself to
poles, who knew what the rest would be like. After way too much time in
indecision I again started to ascend and realized it was a good thing I had
turned around initially because in my excitement and had run past the turnoff
for the NFT.</div>
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Up to boy scout lake was enjoyable and obtained in about an
hour. Although somehow I managed to take a different route through the
bushwhacking and creek crossing. It just felt so good to be out and the unkown
only adds to, if not <b>defines</b>, the
adventure. </div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lgkFoffKFA/UAemZ1o8GNI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/AxIsWul7V88/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lgkFoffKFA/UAemZ1o8GNI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/AxIsWul7V88/s400/IMG_0285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lower boy scout lake</td></tr>
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Once at LBS lake I crossed over the south side and hopped
across the boulder field to eventually arrive at upper boy scout lake (UBSL).
There were several camps there and I was lucky to find some people waking up
and who knew the area well enough to give some tips. The man I talked with
suggested I could head up the eastern ridge of Russell, then down the south
face to the whitney-Russell col then down to iceberg lake and finally up the
mountaineers route. He made it seem like all this route finding was easy
enough, I had my doubts but thought the line was the best and wanted to give it
a shot.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vGHw5quako/UAemfbSxYbI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/S0gTJhMj5lA/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vGHw5quako/UAemfbSxYbI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/S0gTJhMj5lA/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">whiney (left), russell (right), east ridge of russell on right</td></tr>
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Heading up to Russell from UBSL there’s a scree field that I fought for about an hour until
I was on runnable soft terrain for about ¼ mile until the scrambling began. The
scree field was frustrating at times, sometimes I was four-pointing, but I just
kept moving. The was a couple whom I spoke with in the middle of the scree
field and one of the guys confirmed my thoughts that the southern decent off
Russell could be difficult and it may be in my best interest just to head back
down the eastern ridge. As I was solo, without rope and had plenty of
daylight I figured this was a
better option than finding myself downclimbing an exposed 5.9 or harder route
in racing flats.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fJncSduhlns/UAemnteDdUI/AAAAAAAAB-g/KcWBQADlsJs/s1600/IMG_0310.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fJncSduhlns/UAemnteDdUI/AAAAAAAAB-g/KcWBQADlsJs/s640/IMG_0310.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ridgeline traverse of russell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The class 3 ridgeline traverse of Russell was perhaps my
favorite part of the day. I stayed mostly on the south side with views of Tulainyo Lake but there was a lot of
exposure, especially on the ridgeline. The moves weren’t difficult but moving
confidently and efficiently over such terrain with incredible views just feels
nice. My pictures don’t come close to doing this section justice. Once at the
top I took an obligatory awkward pic and headed down the same way.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0QnYTl7vRA/UAemubIZN-I/AAAAAAAAB-o/85GVtixuxF0/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0QnYTl7vRA/UAemubIZN-I/AAAAAAAAB-o/85GVtixuxF0/s400/IMG_0311.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from top of russell looking towards whitney/russell col, whitney is prominent peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYHCO4eVFAg/UAem0pUV1lI/AAAAAAAAB-0/8e9D0josmEA/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYHCO4eVFAg/UAem0pUV1lI/AAAAAAAAB-0/8e9D0josmEA/s400/IMG_0316.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more ridgeline traverse of russell, tulainyo lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baY1FyhDOok/UAem6Y3c3aI/AAAAAAAAB-8/Fb8PjccElsM/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baY1FyhDOok/UAem6Y3c3aI/AAAAAAAAB-8/Fb8PjccElsM/s400/IMG_0320.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">top of russell, whitney in background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTFb3VazuDk/UAenJJqYHdI/AAAAAAAAB_M/lVWxA_6wqEA/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTFb3VazuDk/UAenJJqYHdI/AAAAAAAAB_M/lVWxA_6wqEA/s400/IMG_0322.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more from russell descent, both north (left) and south faces (right) appreciated, lake tulainyo without snow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming down through the scree field was much quicker than
going up. Although I did acquire a lot of rocks and one of my shoes ended up
tearing along the side of the heel (glad they weren’t new).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once back at UBSL I pumped some water (the guys that I
passed offered their filter outside their tent after I asked if they were just
drinking the lake water). I still had a liter left, but it turns out I would
use the full 3L over the final part of the journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found what looked like could have been a trail over the
ridge then down to Iceberg Lake. Again there were some parties camped here and
I was able to get some info on the mountaineer’s route – I guess when the guide
book describes something as the “obvious” route it isn’t so obvious to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ESghm1p5aoM/UAenRRM3A9I/AAAAAAAAB_Y/vR2RVzZcZLQ/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ESghm1p5aoM/UAenRRM3A9I/AAAAAAAAB_Y/vR2RVzZcZLQ/s400/IMG_0327.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">east face of whitney from iceberg lake, mountaineer's route heads left of vertical snow line </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started heading up the mountaineer’s route around 12:15,
just short of 7 hours had elapsed since I started and I felt pretty confident I
would make it back before dark. The MR headed up a short steep scree field that
then turns to scree/boulders balanced on scree. I moved steadily but gingerly
so as not to pull down any large boulders on myself. Once you gain the notch my readings and fellow travelers
said that you come around then bend then take the obvious class 3 path to the
top. The ascent looked doable at any point, I just wanted to make sure I took
the right one. I dropped down below and past some small snow fields to a point
that looked like I could start heading up. Again, like on Russell, the class 3
climbing was fun, especially with the exposure, and the patches of ice added to
the experience.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OtLaxU65H4/UAenZ8idYuI/AAAAAAAAB_g/-GLMduv1WQU/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OtLaxU65H4/UAenZ8idYuI/AAAAAAAAB_g/-GLMduv1WQU/s400/IMG_0331.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">take "obvious" route to top of whitney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once on Whitney I leisurely walked around, enjoying the
expansive view and snapped a couple pictures. I then headed down the main
Whitney trail where I encountered far more travelers, most whom looked at me
like I was crazy for trying to run down. I found the trail very runnable
although the switchbacks and various rocks made finding a steady groove
difficult but to be expected in mountain travel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3haw2YPeJ4/UAenfIbgEPI/AAAAAAAAB_o/0Fmn2bUe77I/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3haw2YPeJ4/UAenfIbgEPI/AAAAAAAAB_o/0Fmn2bUe77I/s320/IMG_0333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did have one misstep on the descent. There is a short
section of maybe ten or so switchabcks that are only 10-15 feet long, all on
fist sized rocks that made running pretty difficult. As I was descending I must
have stumbled and flipped hiney over teakettle as I found myself face up on the
switchback below, perfectly positioned in the middle of the trail. I really
don’t know how this happened but I didn’t loose consciousness or have the wind
knocked out of me. I also avoided any head trauma. I quickly jumped to my feet
so as not to give all those “this guys is crazy for trying to run because he
will surely fall” looks any credence. I felt a little wobbly, probably just
shook up and decided to walk for a couple minutes and have another gu before
continuing to run again. All I could see was some scrapes on my leg and my left
thenar eminence was a bit bruised. Pretty lucky I suppose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S6D2aDkNYrA/UAen0YfK5aI/AAAAAAAACAE/fQluKpxcBko/s1600/IMG_0346.jpg"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S6D2aDkNYrA/UAen0YfK5aI/AAAAAAAACAE/fQluKpxcBko/s640/IMG_0346.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of the decent was without complication. I’m glad I
chose only to descend this way as there were much more hikers and the scenery,
although great, just wasn’t the same. The last couple miles especially once
past the stream, the switchbacks lengthened and the rocks became less frequent
that I was able to open it up a bit. I’m still working on my downhill running
and this was a perfect chance and the reason why I wanted to descend the main
trail. I tried to work on lengthening my stride over obstacles rather than
always stutter stepping (some advice I received during the rtrtr.) This seemed
to work well and I enjoyed the speedy travel until arriving at the trailhead.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-amKZPVyJ1Lg/UAen7iVc9OI/AAAAAAAACAM/rDPBbB9PE3Q/s1600/IMG_0349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-amKZPVyJ1Lg/UAen7iVc9OI/AAAAAAAACAM/rDPBbB9PE3Q/s320/IMG_0349.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just a scratch. lucky.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thoughts:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>I really liked the racing flats more than I
thought, without any noticeable setbacks in terms of cushioning. Lightweight
trail shoes would be ideal, just really expensive…</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>This route could go much faster. I tried to move
steadily but wasn’t trying to set any speed record. I stopped several times to
talk with people and took pics for a group. Route knowledge would also aid the
speed.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Figuring out the Southern decent of Russell
would avoid backtracking.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>With plenty of time left in the long summer days
it wouldn’t be difficult to bag several other peaks Mount Muir and Mount
Clarrion</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>I will return to the Sierras, they are
relatively close and unbound adventure awaits.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stats:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- total time 11:27</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- mileage: 20+</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- elevation gain 9600’ +</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- TH elevation: 8360; Mt Russell elevation: 14088’; Mt Whitney elevation: 14491’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- nutrition: 3
gus, 1 pack gu chomps, 1 power
bar, 5L dialvyte</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-86376533274440679492012-04-20T01:16:00.001-05:002012-04-20T01:17:45.826-05:00certified.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii7C12E07Jg/T5D-r8qLubI/AAAAAAAAB9I/6SlQbTF3aIY/s1600/DSC_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii7C12E07Jg/T5D-r8qLubI/AAAAAAAAB9I/6SlQbTF3aIY/s320/DSC_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's official. i am officially certified in hot power fusion yoga. wont stop here. more certifications to come. this is a love for a lifetime.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit to wardav</span> </div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-79682515264889606772012-02-11T17:17:00.003-05:002012-02-11T17:33:13.024-05:00done.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-gIlXb2zUg/TzbpWnldDoI/AAAAAAAAB8o/i_qpSOtkWDk/s1600/kris%2Bjenner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708006152531152514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-gIlXb2zUg/TzbpWnldDoI/AAAAAAAAB8o/i_qpSOtkWDk/s400/kris%2Bjenner.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>for all you haters out there - yes i love all things kardashian. and this book was no exception. i couldnt put it down. i think what captivated me the most, was all the oj simpson stuff. anyone who knows me, knows that i love a good "true story" murder/mystery. and this book had the best of both worlds - murder/mystery and kardashians. what else could a girl ask for?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>while reading AND finishing the book late last night, i found myself youtubing/google-ing everything i could about the nicole brown-simpson and ron goldman murders. it facsinates me. i was only in 4th grade in 1994 when the murders occurred, but i do remember watching stuff on tv, but was too young to really comprehend any of it. and although kris in her book is very frank that she knows oj did it (as i believed too), i now think his verdict was accurate. after my youtube and google research i think i have pin-pointed the killer: jason, oj's oldest son from his first marriage. i think oj discovered what jason had done when he returned home that night, and took the fall for his kid, so his civil suit results i think are just.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>anyone want to hire me as a private detective? i am real good at it :-)</div><br /><div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-53742874971871702802012-01-06T01:16:00.001-05:002012-01-06T01:19:36.040-05:00back from me-hi-co.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QX04Ov_-DE/TwaSWv7gPBI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/Xsq4gZm3Do4/s1600/Picture%2B024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QX04Ov_-DE/TwaSWv7gPBI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/Xsq4gZm3Do4/s400/Picture%2B024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694399698377391122" border="0" /></a><br />and it was a real good time. more pics to come :-)<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-30753523820656535742011-12-14T02:57:00.002-05:002011-12-14T03:01:21.015-05:00just ordered....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CfKH2t21rs/TuhXIka3zVI/AAAAAAAAB78/CMDTKKobfto/s1600/violent_lips.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CfKH2t21rs/TuhXIka3zVI/AAAAAAAAB78/CMDTKKobfto/s400/violent_lips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685890334282206546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">my first pair of <a href="http://www.violentlips.com/">violent lips</a>! (as seen worn by kimK, gaga and many others). i thought i would start slow and try the red glitteratti. pics to come....if it's cute.<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-65845747595477122222011-12-08T22:22:00.001-05:002011-12-08T22:24:28.069-05:00tis the season.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETLVnpNeKHg/TuF_FNgjfZI/AAAAAAAAB7w/tOuzaFCFW3o/s1600/-7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETLVnpNeKHg/TuF_FNgjfZI/AAAAAAAAB7w/tOuzaFCFW3o/s400/-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683963932220554642" border="0" /></a><br />check out our 4ft tree. quaint, eh? i think it's pretty good considering we werent planning for a tree until we had a kid old enough to ask for it :-)<br /><br />merry christmas.<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-73722872396457371272011-11-26T00:58:00.003-05:002011-11-26T01:11:51.183-05:00giving thanks<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmfCs7SKbdo/TtCCV2xcgHI/AAAAAAAAB7k/tVQK05rnypo/s1600/-6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmfCs7SKbdo/TtCCV2xcgHI/AAAAAAAAB7k/tVQK05rnypo/s400/-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679182442105962610" border="0" /></a>for my two favorite people in life AND who i had the pleasure of spending thankgiving with this year.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-LE4L-y-Gw/TtCCVcLJI-I/AAAAAAAAB7Y/lFGJdW9Je-w/s1600/-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-LE4L-y-Gw/TtCCVcLJI-I/AAAAAAAAB7Y/lFGJdW9Je-w/s400/-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679182434965988322" border="0" /></a><br />and a close-up of the mustache in honor of <a href="http://us.movember.com/">movember</a>.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CO8wZyXc1w/TtCCU_mioJI/AAAAAAAAB7M/LOzE6rppkdU/s1600/-4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CO8wZyXc1w/TtCCU_mioJI/AAAAAAAAB7M/LOzE6rppkdU/s400/-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679182427296276626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">thanks lisa for letting us be a part of the ward family!! hope you all had a wonderful holiday. :-)<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-71173036872817465542011-10-29T23:22:00.002-05:002011-10-29T23:34:08.074-05:00trunk or treat.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g25_d5xOGxs/TqzRhsq6dvI/AAAAAAAAB7A/Cm2VJLmJAvQ/s1600/IMG_0663.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g25_d5xOGxs/TqzRhsq6dvI/AAAAAAAAB7A/Cm2VJLmJAvQ/s400/IMG_0663.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669136407809652466" border="0" /></a><br />the yw auxillary was in charge of this year's trunk or treat. i told warren i thought we needed to fully commit (me being in yw's and all). so we did. kind of. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NSd9nyIMk_s/TqzRhMeSPhI/AAAAAAAAB60/WJDXx_jHHtI/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NSd9nyIMk_s/TqzRhMeSPhI/AAAAAAAAB60/WJDXx_jHHtI/s400/IMG_0664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669136399166750226" border="0" /></a><br />we were clowns. not full-blown clowns, but there was some effort involved. we painted our noses...and i taped puffy balls to our shoes.<br /><br />hb7 goes big with this event. it is held at one of the bishopric member's warehouse (wet suit business, go figure hb, right?). there was a chili cook-off, carnival games, haunted house, cake walk, more food, pumpkin carving contest, prizes and more! it was a lot of work and set-up, but looked awesome when it all came together.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfd1eDqOReE/TqzRg47cQrI/AAAAAAAAB6o/-d5vrkndMK0/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfd1eDqOReE/TqzRg47cQrI/AAAAAAAAB6o/-d5vrkndMK0/s400/IMG_0671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669136393920332466" border="0" /></a><br />and here is our trunk. as committed as you can be without having children of our own yet. we felt that 2 door hangings taped to the top of our trunk were more than appropriate. and my candy bowl is empty. it was empty after 5 mins.<br /><br />happy halloween<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-49312186513931338922011-10-25T22:47:00.000-05:002011-10-29T23:21:44.835-05:00where my girls at...<div style="text-align: center;"><br />from the front to back.<br /><br />my trip to utah was a success. for many reasons....<br />1. warren did not die on his 3 mountain in a day adventure while i was away.<br />2. i was able to see both my prego friends (about to pop)<br />3. squeezed in a day trip to richfield and saw grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins<br />4. had a delicious all-you-can-eat breakfast with the bro-in-law<br />5. met a couple little humans for the first time<br />6. caught up with many other friends along the way!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOXost_ZBew/TqzJPzoWMzI/AAAAAAAAB6g/FkrSomcOTrA/s1600/IMG_20111023_161754.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOXost_ZBew/TqzJPzoWMzI/AAAAAAAAB6g/FkrSomcOTrA/s400/IMG_20111023_161754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669127304347267890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">sunday dinner. larisa's baby bump.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4HF8yC5BU4/TqzJPuw8M-I/AAAAAAAAB6M/2UZM1Obu-1Y/s1600/IMG_20111022_220205.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4HF8yC5BU4/TqzJPuw8M-I/AAAAAAAAB6M/2UZM1Obu-1Y/s400/IMG_20111022_220205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669127303041135586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">thriller show! our yearly tradition (kind of).</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ts5InSbdcMI/TqzJPa0JdlI/AAAAAAAAB6E/MbJ96_ACXm4/s1600/IMG_20111021_164038.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ts5InSbdcMI/TqzJPa0JdlI/AAAAAAAAB6E/MbJ96_ACXm4/s400/IMG_20111021_164038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669127297685878354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">my gma hawley.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">thanks to all my g's who made it such a fab fun-filled girls weekend. i wasnt able to get a lot of pics (warren had the camera for his grand adventure), but we had a spa day, nice dinner and trip to the hospital to see katie and her unborn.</span> all in all - success!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOXost_ZBew/TqzJPzoWMzI/AAAAAAAAB6g/FkrSomcOTrA/s1600/IMG_20111023_161754.jpg"><br /></a>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-34950419087242068582011-10-25T00:18:00.013-05:002011-10-25T01:53:29.479-05:00warren's blog takeover: los tres santos<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >warning - long post... here’s the short version: ran San Jacinto, San Gorgonio and San Antonio the other day. Good for a long run. Glad to cross it off the list. As in all longish treks everything seems like a blur but here’s a little of what I remember and feel like writing down. Also big thanks to Erin for all her support - she was out of town so I had to do something to stay out of trouble...</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >I’ve been wanting to do this link up for a while. The three highest peaks in southern california. Three saints in a day. Los tres Santos. Whatever you want to call it they’re close to home, close to each other, and linking the three of them is very reasonable. I had some buddies do it three or so years ago and I guess some of the employees at REI do it every year. A few months ago, AMc, GR and myself attempted hiking the three of them but due to some nagging chronic injuries and fatigue, we had to head for home after the first two (Jacinto and Gorgonio), still a respectable effort. Being spurred on by <a href="http://jasondorais.blogspot.com/2011/09/9-10-2011-mid-mountain-marathon.html">accomplishments</a> and <a href="http://jasondorais.blogspot.com/2011/10/10-3-2011-rim-to-rim-to-rim-grand.html">efforts</a> of friends (also <a href="http://jasondorais.blogspot.com/2011/10/10-21-2011-rim-to-rim-speed-attempt.html">this</a>, and notable solo efforts <a href="http://slcsherpa.blogspot.com/2011/10/running-grand-canyon-rim-to-rim-to-rim.html">here</a> and <a href="http://slcsherpa.blogspot.com/2011/08/gannett-peak-solo-run-iad.html">here</a>... just follow their blogs for inspiration... and big up to <a href="http://slcsherpa.blogspot.com/">Andy</a> for helping me stay motivated with doing my best to solo train and be a distant SHTC member) I felt like something more than a 5 mile jog was in store, even though my training the past few weeks had been pretty dismal: ran more on Mon and Tue of this week than previous two weeks combined, last long run about a month ago...</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >I decided to do the same order of the peaks as our previous attempt: San Jacinto, San Gorgonio then San Antonio (Mt Baldy). I also spent a bit of time looking at the different options of getting up each one, I wanted to find routes that were the most “runnable” sacrificing a little longer distance for less elevation gain per mile. The goal was to just go out and have a long run, not trying to break any speed records but still trying to get them done in a reasonable amount of time.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >The plan was to start in the evening and do Jacinto completely in the dark, I figured I was familiar with it and that I wanted to be at least up Baldy before dark because I’d yet to scout that one yet. I was so amped thinking that this was finally going to happen that I wouldn’t have been able to sleep even if I tried. I finally hit the road a little before 10pm and got to the base of Jacinto just before midnight. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >San Jacinto (elev 1034) via Devil’s Slide route</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >There were a lot of cars in the parking lot, not really sure what was going on but I didn’t see anyone. In my head I figured Jacinto would be the toughest - just thinking about what was ahead, questioning if i really wanted to do this, alone, in the middle of the night, as always running off little sleep... But as in everyday training, the hardest step is the first. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDLcIcA1cUk/TqZJivhKEZI/AAAAAAAAB2A/eWdOU2JoKCE/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDLcIcA1cUk/TqZJivhKEZI/AAAAAAAAB2A/eWdOU2JoKCE/s400/IMG_0539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667298042312266130" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >I loaded up my new Nathan pack (not exactly new, got it at the REI gear sale for $14 but it had only been used once and when I saw it held a 3L camelback I was pretty stoked. That. pack. is. sick!) turned on my headlamp, threw in the headphones and I was off. I thought about forgoing the headphones, I like running with nothing but the natural sounds but thought they could be a good to get me moving. I just wanted to get out and get it done and move on. Right away I was glad Jason recommended treking poles (rented some telescoping BD’s, not the z-pole but they worked). It was relatively steep on and off (too steep for me to run) for the first half mile or so with largish rocks here and there. The first marker was two miles in and I felt like I was making decent time. It was nice to have markers every couple miles. I just kept moving, following the headlamp, listening to music peripherally in the background, listening to my feet and breath, thinking what I would if my headlight caught a glimpse of a hungry mountain lion... Full disclosure: I was scared a few times about mountain lions or I thought I heard peoples voices but I knew Erin and other’s were praying for me so I’d be all right. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >After the first fork two miles, the trail gets a little less steep and I tried to take advantage of this as best I could.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OwreXGtBE6w/TqZK8nnsdbI/AAAAAAAAB2M/wTDSB2jgXjE/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OwreXGtBE6w/TqZK8nnsdbI/AAAAAAAAB2M/wTDSB2jgXjE/s400/IMG_0549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667299586380428722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">on the way up Jacinto<br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Last time we hiked Jacinto I noted how runnable it all seemed and for the most part it this analysis was accurate. The last marker is 0.2 miles from the top and I sure was glad when I saw it, it seemed like it took too long to get there and I kept thinking I was careless and made the wrong turn. Running in the dark has a way to make things seem slow because you can only see a few feet ahead. It can also be nice becasue you can only see a few feet aheard and that’s all you worry about... The last 0.2 miles is a scramble to the top. The view on top is pretty spectacular, feels like you're on top of a real mountain. John Muir even said of it "</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The view is the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth"... but what does he know about mountain views.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" > It was pretty windy and I was anxious to get down so only spent a couple minutes to try and take some pics then get down as quick as I could. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtoxaFLo5Sc/TqZK8zlhYOI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/-iNGXUxPkow/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtoxaFLo5Sc/TqZK8zlhYOI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/-iNGXUxPkow/s400/IMG_0563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667299589592539362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">top of Jacinto</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >On the way down I collapsed the poles and didn’t use them, not sure if you’re supposed to, but that felt the most comfortable to me (need to get the pack modification so I don’t have to hold them but it wasn’t terrible having them in my hands.) I fell into even more of trance with the headlight on the way down. It’s rather hypnotizing even though you’re moving quick and dodging rocks and twigs and tight turns it still seems methodical and easy to stop paying full attention for a little while. Anyhow, I ended up falling three times. No major injuries, just shook off, got up and kept going. The last two miles seemed like they took forever, in my head I think I’m moving a lot faster because it’s downhill and I don’t give adequate respect for the terrain and low light conditions. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Got back to the car around 4am and it felt good to be back. 3:56.56 (2:19 up, 1:31 down), 15.3 miles, 4500 ft of climbing. I didn’t waste much time and just started driving to Gorgonio, tallest mountain in southern California...</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >San Gorgonio (elev 11502) via Vivian Creek</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >I had about a two hour drive ahead of me and I was already fighting tiredness that even coke zero couldn’t cure. After an hour of driving on a windy mountain road I decided I should pull off for a minute and sleep - easy to justify considering I’d been up for 24 hours at that time and still had a pretty full day ahead of me. I was able to halfway sleep for about thirty min and feeling a little more refreshed was on my way again. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >There was a different route up Gorgonio that i wanted to try, the Fish Creek trail. It’s about a mile longer one way than the Vivian Creek trail we did previously, but it has over 1000 less feet of vertical climb. Also on the reconnaissance hike I considered the Vivian Creek trail to be less runnable than Jacinto even though it had less elevation gain per mile. When I got to where I thought the Fish Creek trail was supposed to start I consulted the map again and realized I still had at least 20 more min on the road and then 7 miles on dirt road “not suitable for low slung vehicles”. Having driven on such roads before and knowing how long that takes I decided to just go for Vivian Creek again, I only lost about an hour... and maybe it was more runnable than I previously thought if the elevation gain per mile was a good indication.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWeSqJJuou8/TqZK9cMPSTI/AAAAAAAAB2k/b9Xo2BgaALw/s1600/IMG_0570.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWeSqJJuou8/TqZK9cMPSTI/AAAAAAAAB2k/b9Xo2BgaALw/s400/IMG_0570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667299600492349746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yixyX4aD38/TqZK-EdPm1I/AAAAAAAAB28/FizK7HPZcXE/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yixyX4aD38/TqZK-EdPm1I/AAAAAAAAB28/FizK7HPZcXE/s400/IMG_0605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667299611301092178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">fateful wrong turn<br /></span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" ><br />I got off and running about 8am. It was sunny but a touch chilly so I decided to stay with the tights and long sleeve top, which worked out fine until the very end. It felt so good just to be in the sun and be able to see, it was a whole new day. The first half mile is just slightly uphill, then you cross the dry creek bed and head up steep switch backs for a mile, too steep to run. After that the trail was very runnable besides the last two and half miles, which turned out to be more brutal than I thought they would be. Last time AMc and I made it up the last bit in 75min or so and that was at dusk and through some snow, we were pushing it pretty steady but I figured I could go at least that fast. Not sure what my split was but maybe I was just anxious to get to the top. About a half mile from the summit the trail splits and I happened to take the wrong turn. I was eager to get to the top and the trail was slightly downhill in the beginning so I started moving again, but in the wrong direction. When the trail didn’t head to where I thought it should go I realized my error and started looking around. I saw another hiker and he seemed to have made the same mistake. We started looking around and made our own trail to what we thought was the summit. There were two heaps of rocks roughly equidistant from us and we couldn’t tell which was higher. At this point I was a bit demoralized and a little frustrated I made the wrong turn, I really didn’t want to hike to the wrong point and find out I was wrong again. Luckily my friend’s hiking buddy emerged from the true summit and after confirming with each other that we really did see a person we made our way over. I spent about thirty minutes on top, enjoying the view, chatting, then started heading down. One of the guys was from Australia originally, now living in Pasedena he asked me what me “call-sign” was or something like that, I didn’t understand him and he said “No, your hiking name. What do you go by.” “I just go by Warren.” </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhkCRKoM_qY/TqZN8MK01xI/AAAAAAAAB3I/h22vvshcLqQ/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhkCRKoM_qY/TqZN8MK01xI/AAAAAAAAB3I/h22vvshcLqQ/s400/IMG_0613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667302877546469138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">top of Gorgonio<br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >The trip down was essentially uneventful. Fun to run down. The first two miles was pretty loose fist shaped rock so hard to move too fast on but I just kept moving. Maybe it was the daylight but the terrain seemed to go by a lot faster. No falls this time. Ok, just one about a mile from the end. Gotta be more vigilant next time...</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >At the car about 6 hours after I started. 20.3 miles, 5:34 running time (exluding 30 min on top; 3:33 up, 2h down), 5422’ gain. It was warm at the car and I got those tights off as quick as I could. I also had some new blisters that I only had a plastic fork to relieve pressure with but it got the job done. I was a little surprised the lady in the car next to me commented on my feet as I was tending to them, I wouldn’t even want to look at them.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >San Antonio (elev 1068’) via service road to Devil’s Backbone</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Back in the car and driving by around 2pm. I felt like the timing was pretty decent and the easiest peak was saved for last. This was the only mountain that was unknown though. I thought the route I had decided on would be pretty easy to locate, again looking for the most “runnable.” As I got close to the parking spot I saw a couple on the side of the road and asked them about my route on the map, they helped a little. I then stopped at a shop where “adventure passes” were sold - I hadn’t purchased the 5 dollar pass all day and figured I could do so now and get some beta for my route as well. Well the lady said don’t bother with the pass because the rangers were gone and she wasn’t much help on the route. I thought the route would be pretty well known because the one I wanted to do was the one they have a race on every year. Finally I found the spot I thought was right, asked another group of people coming down - again they had no clue. I switched into shorts and a t-shirt considering it was 80 degrees and even though it would prob be dark on the way down I figured I’d be just fine. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >I got my stuff packed and ready and started heading up the fire road. It was 5pm and I figured I had about 2 hours till sunset, I was hoping to summit by then. The road was runnable but definitely uphill. About a mile in a single track breaks off and some people were coming down. I again asked about my intended route. The guy said the single-track route they were decending was the “route everyone takes”. I remember reading about it and it didn’t seem very runnable, which the man confirmed. So I just kept heading up, hoping the map was right. I had some hesitations and almost turned back because the route I was doing was a bit more miles... maybe it would be better/faster to take the steeper shorter one and summit quicker. Oh well, at least I’ll get a run in. It was nice to be able to just run on the dirt service road and not worry about dodging rocks and what not. I also enjoy the dodging and hopping but it’s good to mix it up. Two miles up you get to the ski lift lodge where they have a restaurant and then the trail meets up with the “devil’s spine trail.” Again I saw some people coming down. Again I asked them about my route. Again they were nice but didn’t know. There was some chalk on the ground that looked like it may have been from the race so I headed that way. The sunset was quite nice and took a few minutes to get some shots. Antonio had some nice views but it was a little bit of a mixed bag for me just because all the signs of human activity and all the trees that had obviously been cleared for the ski resort made the mountain look rather bare. I really like running up the Devils Spine Trail. It was pretty windy and the exposure on both sides was exciting (for lack of a better word). </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SppK_DgKjNM/TqZN89sXRZI/AAAAAAAAB3g/9qf9pBeq9JU/s1600/IMG_0638.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SppK_DgKjNM/TqZN89sXRZI/AAAAAAAAB3g/9qf9pBeq9JU/s400/IMG_0638.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667302890840475026" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rOk3KCnCtKk/TqZN9UAUz4I/AAAAAAAAB38/EInVqgC8HWE/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rOk3KCnCtKk/TqZN9UAUz4I/AAAAAAAAB38/EInVqgC8HWE/s400/IMG_0632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667302896829779842" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsDIXVmq9bI/TqZN8UpHIWI/AAAAAAAAB3U/IZoEa-_Qht8/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsDIXVmq9bI/TqZN8UpHIWI/AAAAAAAAB3U/IZoEa-_Qht8/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667302879820980578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">devil's backbone</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >As I was heading up the spine it looked like the top was right in front of me. But I was wrong. The trail dipped back down and across over to the true summit. It was now getting dark and there was a series of poorly marked switch backs, it looked more like a free for all the last half mile, without any path. I threw on the headlamp and managed to find some sort of trail through the washed out gray. It was pretty windy and my running shorts really don’t offer too much protection. I took some quick photos on top, enjoyed the panoramic view and headed down, needing to get down about a mile or so to get out of the wind. Once in some protected area I was glad I was in shorts. I made my way back down the fire trail and fell into a little bit of a rhythm. Felt nice. I tried to not get too casual... no falls on this one. Made it back to the car about 8:30pm. 13.6 miles, 3:35 (2:14 up, 1:20 down), 3800’ gain.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnbWKoOfLCI/TqZN9A13wyI/AAAAAAAAB3o/xf4qsOpLdtM/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnbWKoOfLCI/TqZN9A13wyI/AAAAAAAAB3o/xf4qsOpLdtM/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667302891685659426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">top of baldy. looking bleary eyed.<br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Now all that was left was the drive home...</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br />Totals:<br />+/- 49.2 mi running<br />+/- 13700' gain<br />13.32 cumulative time (including all time at top of peaks)<br />308+ miles of driving<br /><br />miles driving<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Nutrition:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >11 gu packs</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Vialyte for running hydration, drank just about all 3L for Jacinto and Gorgonio, 2L on Baldy </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Plenty of snacks in the car but didn’t eat more than a few handfuls of trail mix</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >Gear:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >shoes by Mizuno, waverunner13 (on sale!)</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >rented BD treking poles</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >pack by Nathan, 3L camelback bladder</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:white;" >3 changes of socks</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Video is in the process of being made. i need to find a song - i'd like to use a little wait what juicy xoxo mashup but it's been used... check back. photos of feet s/p run available upon request.<br /></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-74862435838422135802011-10-18T01:44:00.004-05:002011-10-18T02:12:29.751-05:00meet the allens.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1q1bC6QOKJc/Tp0jrJf4_II/AAAAAAAAB1w/T6Y_bJEkTCc/s1600/27761_10150185786740534_737295533_12492835_8270003_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1q1bC6QOKJc/Tp0jrJf4_II/AAAAAAAAB1w/T6Y_bJEkTCc/s400/27761_10150185786740534_737295533_12492835_8270003_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664723130492976258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wa4Lo-eqWlI/Tp0jq8_aHzI/AAAAAAAAB1o/_NYIWqEECfw/s1600/37402_10150226493140534_737295533_13622721_8308779_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wa4Lo-eqWlI/Tp0jq8_aHzI/AAAAAAAAB1o/_NYIWqEECfw/s400/37402_10150226493140534_737295533_13622721_8308779_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664723127135510322" border="0" /></a><br />maybe at first glance, you wouldnt think warren and i would be good friends with nicole and jeremy. but, we are. we actually have a lot in common and love hanging out with them. nicole has been a good friend of mine since i moved to orange county in 2008. she is one of the kindest people you will ever meet, so of course i loved jeremy when i met him! they got married shortly after warren and i in 2010.<br /><br />they sent us an invite to a "pumpkin party", and guess what?! warren was going to be getting off early, so we planned to go and i made my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. although, i thought they still lived in irvine. and when in route punched in their address to see canyon lake showed up! what?! i totally forgot they had bought a house in the desert. we had a bit of a commute.<br /><br />the <a href="http://www.cityofcanyonlake.com/">community</a> they live in is so different! it is completely gated, with several man-made lakes on the property that people wake-board, paddle board and ski on. there were also horse corrals, tracks, tennis courts and a school. it is almost like a community resort - i have never seen anything like it.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lX9HFl0b5E/Tp0jGFSG1kI/AAAAAAAAB1c/9xIC8kXvkuE/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iax9rqRZuo/Tp0ifPCYUTI/AAAAAAAAB0g/FqtdbfwqJ6Q/s1600/DSC_0240.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iax9rqRZuo/Tp0ifPCYUTI/AAAAAAAAB0g/FqtdbfwqJ6Q/s400/DSC_0240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664721826309755186" border="0" /></a><br />i actually bought stencils for our pumpkins. but warren is uber creative and decided to design his own. he was a little skeptical of how long i would last with this craft...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e61hynkUP-M/Tp0ifqMl6_I/AAAAAAAAB0s/vsXg-h2rxI0/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e61hynkUP-M/Tp0ifqMl6_I/AAAAAAAAB0s/vsXg-h2rxI0/s400/DSC_0245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664721833600347122" border="0" /></a><br />see the concentration?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1tXmEuP6qA/Tp0jE6Oqd4I/AAAAAAAAB04/SMSLudLuuqo/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1tXmEuP6qA/Tp0jE6Oqd4I/AAAAAAAAB04/SMSLudLuuqo/s400/DSC_0273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664722473559160706" border="0" /></a><br />these were the finished products!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TISCFbOKI0/Tp0jFa0-KJI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/22Z6B9Qh4_Y/s1600/DSC_0259.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TISCFbOKI0/Tp0jFa0-KJI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/22Z6B9Qh4_Y/s400/DSC_0259.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664722482309769362" border="0" /></a><br />of course nicole had a carving competition with a trophy and all. my kitty-bat did not win :-( neither did warren's.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lX9HFl0b5E/Tp0jGFSG1kI/AAAAAAAAB1c/9xIC8kXvkuE/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lX9HFl0b5E/Tp0jGFSG1kI/AAAAAAAAB1c/9xIC8kXvkuE/s400/DSC_0264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664722493706262082" border="0" /></a>nicole and i. (bad pic, but the only one that was even half-way decent)<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxUlFcf1x7M/Tp0jFDT9fOI/AAAAAAAAB1E/-5bxSHlC5jg/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxUlFcf1x7M/Tp0jFDT9fOI/AAAAAAAAB1E/-5bxSHlC5jg/s400/DSC_0278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664722475997297890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iax9rqRZuo/Tp0ifPCYUTI/AAAAAAAAB0g/FqtdbfwqJ6Q/s1600/DSC_0240.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and look whats hanging up in their house....<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JbqxMgRWYc/Tp0ieyTHscI/AAAAAAAAB0U/IbfG-mmprYI/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JbqxMgRWYc/Tp0ieyTHscI/AAAAAAAAB0U/IbfG-mmprYI/s400/DSC_0265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664721818595340738" border="0" /></a><br />love them.<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-13257714691787957442011-10-18T01:07:00.007-05:002011-10-18T01:42:35.085-05:00we dont normally do this...<div style="text-align: center;">and by "this", i mean go to LA. for all those out-of-towners who read my blog, orange county is NOT LA. so, when you come to visit and say, "i will be in LA, we should meet up!" - it's not that close. and traffic is always bad.<br /><br />BUT, this past saturday we decided to brave the journey and head up to the getty for concert.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-egvVZqgpMBo/Tp0YPGJwqUI/AAAAAAAABzM/b36Q6reTNPk/s1600/DSC_0166.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-egvVZqgpMBo/Tp0YPGJwqUI/AAAAAAAABzM/b36Q6reTNPk/s400/DSC_0166.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664710553930606914" border="0" /></a>getty at sunset.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccpRiYgawtI/Tp0YPjL3dTI/AAAAAAAABzk/mUTwCXgk3M4/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccpRiYgawtI/Tp0YPjL3dTI/AAAAAAAABzk/mUTwCXgk3M4/s400/DSC_0195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664710561724069170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13p7bq1KM0A/Tp0YPbQMYYI/AAAAAAAABzU/XtojlsZwUJo/s1600/DSC_0172.jpg"><br /></a>we wanted to take more pics, but our battery died. so thats pretty much it. but if you havent ever been, you should go! the views are beautiful and the architecture is a-mazing. it had been a year or two since we had been last.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eK-zlJYLen4/Tp0Y5MSnw2I/AAAAAAAABzw/YZfM0X0yfDE/s1600/IMG_20111015_192903.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eK-zlJYLen4/Tp0Y5MSnw2I/AAAAAAAABzw/YZfM0X0yfDE/s400/IMG_20111015_192903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664711277132890978" border="0" /></a>the concert was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvfUzSJRL6I">daddy kev</a> and the thunder cats. daddy kev was awesome. thunder cats were super weird (that is who is pictured, yes he has feathers coming out of his hat). but we kind of knew this going into it. the crowd was mostly 20-something hipsters and a few weird older people doing an old person version of grinding.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVxEBIGNepw/Tp0Y5YVqWDI/AAAAAAAAB0A/NUm9m4-Q4cU/s1600/DSC_0222_2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVxEBIGNepw/Tp0Y5YVqWDI/AAAAAAAAB0A/NUm9m4-Q4cU/s400/DSC_0222_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664711280366868530" border="0" /></a>we walked along abbot kinney, a cute little downtown street in venice. we felt soooo un-hip with all these LA peeps. they all looked like they could be friends with johnny depp.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myQCEq_00M4/Tp0Y6C-iVkI/AAAAAAAAB0I/rbpuz4JvBjU/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myQCEq_00M4/Tp0Y6C-iVkI/AAAAAAAAB0I/rbpuz4JvBjU/s400/DSC_0231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664711291812599362" border="0" /></a><br />we finished the night by eating at <a href="http://www.gjelina.com/">gjelina</a> (recommended by <a href="http://shaunaclewis.blogspot.com/">shauna</a> - thank you!). it was sooo incredible, even though we had to wait an hour and were seated at 10:30pm. by the time we sat down, we were so hungry that warren said, "order whatever you want" - love those words. so we asked our most-likely-johnny-depp's-friend waiter his favs and pretty much ordered all of it. quail, pork belly, sweet bread, carrots w/ greek yogurt and cilantro, stone fire pizza and the flourless chocolate cake. yep, ate it all - no left overs.<br /><br />maybe we should do this LA thing more often....<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-19452020363932263242011-10-09T18:27:00.005-05:002011-10-09T22:39:01.933-05:00date night.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IVtDrhBferw/TpJonEWSsgI/AAAAAAAABzE/ljEawFGlymg/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHODMVOWjPE/TpIuvyjIa6I/AAAAAAAABxs/2frSqvhYF4E/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHODMVOWjPE/TpIuvyjIa6I/AAAAAAAABxs/2frSqvhYF4E/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639080115989410" border="0" /></a><br />this home-style <a href="http://www.hillstone.com/#/restaurants/bandera/">restaurant</a> with a twist was recommended by our friend <a href="http://caseyandlexi.blogspot.com/">lexi</a> - the corn bread was a-mazing! there were jalapenos in it, enough said.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IVtDrhBferw/TpJonEWSsgI/AAAAAAAABzE/ljEawFGlymg/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IVtDrhBferw/TpJonEWSsgI/AAAAAAAABzE/ljEawFGlymg/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661702701949563394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ux5CMFqeLvY/TpIuwcA9AaI/AAAAAAAABx0/xwAOU_55JQ8/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG"><br /></a><br />then we took a little stroll down memory lane. we took the balboa ferry over to the harborside for a boat rental.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j4xkaI7z-jA/TpIuwbE1Q6I/AAAAAAAABx8/I7cfMUkCLIM/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j4xkaI7z-jA/TpIuwbE1Q6I/AAAAAAAABx8/I7cfMUkCLIM/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639090994758562" border="0" /></a><br />the harborside grand ballroom is where we had our reception :-) we still love its quaint quality and that it is right on the water. you can witness the most beautiful sunsets from the ballroom, which is on the second floor with all glass windows.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iT9FGz73uh8/TpIuwm50qrI/AAAAAAAAByE/n1bswTTFmXA/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iT9FGz73uh8/TpIuwm50qrI/AAAAAAAAByE/n1bswTTFmXA/s400/DSC_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639094169807538" border="0" /></a><br />the boat was a little ghetto - not gonna lie. but it was a groupon purchase, so what were we expecting, really?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcdVji4X0g8/TpIvkqqtyMI/AAAAAAAAByU/4KAaTwLeGuA/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcdVji4X0g8/TpIvkqqtyMI/AAAAAAAAByU/4KAaTwLeGuA/s400/DSC_0090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639988533381314" border="0" /></a>i didnt like driving it too much. turning radius is no civic.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jn5jSLfewu0/TpIvkS9N4BI/AAAAAAAAByM/hnZAjw0Yjc0/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jn5jSLfewu0/TpIvkS9N4BI/AAAAAAAAByM/hnZAjw0Yjc0/s400/DSC_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639982168530962" border="0" /></a><br />we only saw one seal the whole time (which is rare). i think i would be so mad if i owned one of these boats in the harbor and a fat seal was always sitting on the back of my boat. (no seal is pictured, just the sunset).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhXoZeG5dPI/TpIvkxFjh-I/AAAAAAAAByk/_oUdL1l4Y5M/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhXoZeG5dPI/TpIvkxFjh-I/AAAAAAAAByk/_oUdL1l4Y5M/s400/DSC_0115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639990256568290" border="0" /></a>i brought some martinellis (the romantic in me), but forgot a bottle opener, so no luck getting warren liquored up for the night.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gcqc0SQLnIQ/TpIwZARy4HI/AAAAAAAABy8/DBSZGpNkCWE/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gcqc0SQLnIQ/TpIwZARy4HI/AAAAAAAABy8/DBSZGpNkCWE/s400/DSC_0145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661640887687635058" border="0" /></a>warren took some model pics of me.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXBWxLWZxOI/TpIvkrria-I/AAAAAAAAByc/NY5kZ7rPNgY/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXBWxLWZxOI/TpIvkrria-I/AAAAAAAAByc/NY5kZ7rPNgY/s400/DSC_0104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661639988805266402" border="0" /></a>we loved the silhouettes the sunset created.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzpjXZnnnkE/TpIwYLjFHqI/AAAAAAAABy0/aSZgkZeI9-Y/s1600/DSC_0147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzpjXZnnnkE/TpIwYLjFHqI/AAAAAAAABy0/aSZgkZeI9-Y/s400/DSC_0147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661640873533054626" border="0" /></a><br />it was a beautiful night!!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mQfv8zypdwg/TpIwX3ASGJI/AAAAAAAABys/uYsMkXv9T_E/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mQfv8zypdwg/TpIwX3ASGJI/AAAAAAAABys/uYsMkXv9T_E/s400/DSC_0159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661640868018395282" border="0" /></a><br />such a great date (ended with a movie). i love spending time with my boo. our time is limited these days and i cherish each moment we get to spend with each other.<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-44469278503704028322011-10-06T00:07:00.002-05:002011-10-06T00:12:21.303-05:00this deserves its own post.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVrbhmIXzsY/To03yPovj5I/AAAAAAAABxk/sWmJ6iwJ0qU/s1600/yoga_pants_1-400x300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVrbhmIXzsY/To03yPovj5I/AAAAAAAABxk/sWmJ6iwJ0qU/s400/yoga_pants_1-400x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660241643004989330" border="0" /></a><a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-crops/Wunder-Under-Crop-31425?cc=0001&skuId=3413697&catId=women-crops">these</a> are my favorite things to wear - ever. i am pretty much obsessed with lulu lemon and whenever i come home with a shopping bag from them, warren says, "that comes out of our bedroom set fund, right?" they are so worth it. they make everyone's booties look nice. so splurge! you will work-out even harder in them bc they make you just feel good :-)<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">disclaimer: not my bootie pictured</span><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-2424158202596149852011-10-01T19:56:00.003-05:002011-10-01T20:00:09.246-05:00yum.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IzPNexTSMns/Toe3RNnMD-I/AAAAAAAABw8/EWwKkP8hSvI/s1600/l.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IzPNexTSMns/Toe3RNnMD-I/AAAAAAAABw8/EWwKkP8hSvI/s400/l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658692963154005986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">rhymes with <a href="http://www.plumscafe.com/">plum</a>, which is where me and my gf richelle ate brunch today. and yum it was. i havent really taken advantage of brunch places here in oc - when i should. i loved saturdays in nyc, brunch ALL day long. this HAS to happen again! and soon.<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-16982774675047119372011-09-29T01:13:00.003-05:002011-09-29T01:23:07.071-05:00when / if....<div style="text-align: center;">warren gets home early, meaning before the sun goes down (which is a rare occurrence in our house these days) we like to get outside together. and this gem of a man showed up with a little surprise the other night....<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPUV-2b5Zlg/ToQNO88OMiI/AAAAAAAABwc/zpqlHbxBlqU/s1600/IMG_0507.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPUV-2b5Zlg/ToQNO88OMiI/AAAAAAAABwc/zpqlHbxBlqU/s400/IMG_0507.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657661582412231202" border="0" /></a><br /> check it - he stopped off at the local market by the VA in long beach and bought ALL this fruit for 11 dollars!! so we planned to make smoothies later.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5DS26CAcV0/ToQNPgUvtRI/AAAAAAAABw0/NWZ64mJKeAs/s1600/IMG_0526.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5DS26CAcV0/ToQNPgUvtRI/AAAAAAAABw0/NWZ64mJKeAs/s400/IMG_0526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657661591910331666" border="0" /></a><br />did i ever mention that he ordered me flashing lights for my bike? ya, true story. it makes me feel a little bit more safe riding at night, and i look like a grandma with them, so that's cool too.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhFaz80afLc/ToQNPIae-sI/AAAAAAAABwk/zEzzWKGA75E/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhFaz80afLc/ToQNPIae-sI/AAAAAAAABwk/zEzzWKGA75E/s400/IMG_0514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657661585491950274" border="0" /></a><br />so i ride my bike and he runs along side me. if you live in hb, you've seen us. warren looking like a giselle, and me....panting on my bike trying to keep up.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HS_D7rwycs/ToQNPmj8P4I/AAAAAAAABws/CVmj73XYQtg/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HS_D7rwycs/ToQNPmj8P4I/AAAAAAAABws/CVmj73XYQtg/s400/IMG_0516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657661593584680834" border="0" /></a><br />just another sunset night in the place we call home :-)<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-22458414053869839592011-08-22T19:56:00.004-05:002011-08-22T20:04:18.876-05:00proof.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIJLkVfbTew/TlL7DlXMqFI/AAAAAAAABwU/wGpPol6jI-U/s1600/IMG_3075_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIJLkVfbTew/TlL7DlXMqFI/AAAAAAAABwU/wGpPol6jI-U/s400/IMG_3075_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643849322036242514" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">still havent had time to go through thailand pics. but here is some evidence that we were actually there, maya bay...off the coast of ko phi phi.
<br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-53295101533008093872011-08-14T20:39:00.005-05:002011-08-14T21:16:09.961-05:00garage sale!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7HqVoczCuA/Tkh9cBKuG_I/AAAAAAAABwM/pvYahICQjes/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7HqVoczCuA/Tkh9cBKuG_I/AAAAAAAABwM/pvYahICQjes/s400/DSC_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640896453584755698" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGJBZBfrRzk/Tkh9b9Z_J6I/AAAAAAAABwE/UEoFXRMe04Q/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGJBZBfrRzk/Tkh9b9Z_J6I/AAAAAAAABwE/UEoFXRMe04Q/s400/DSC_0016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640896452575045538" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CTauoQJRj90/Tkh9bvdWMLI/AAAAAAAABv8/T9lLuLCgK7c/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CTauoQJRj90/Tkh9bvdWMLI/AAAAAAAABv8/T9lLuLCgK7c/s400/DSC_0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640896448831041714" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Warren and I had our first garage sale as a family yesterday. it was great! we have been cleaning and reorganizing and decided it was time to purge. we put an add on craigslist and I updated my fb profile. We had a pretty good gathering of people at 7am - right at the start time and it stayed pretty sustained for about two hours. After that we had a steady stream of people till noon when people came less frequently and we decided it was about good for the day. It was great spending the day together, meeting some neighbors and others out and about during the morning.
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<br />things were priced to sell. biggest surprise of what didn't sell... all my shoes?! hardly anybody even looked at them. idk if it's bc they weren't the right size (several asian ladies commented on how "long" and "big" they looked).
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<br />most surprising thing that did sell... warren's footed pajamas. he didn't have them out originally but I told him they would sell. and. they did. for a whopping 50 cents. holler!
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<br />definitely well worth it. although we didnt have big ticket items we made much more than expected. baller status. we celebrated by dinner at wing stop. classy. :-)
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-65062086232973967122011-08-10T00:10:00.002-05:002011-08-10T00:17:47.776-05:00tor tor gets hitched<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCar8DHye8I/TkITwKKb2CI/AAAAAAAABvo/I6DizSYzszU/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG">
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">tori and joe hagg. his toast was the BEST thing i have ever heard. absolutely darling.
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0bRRdIB7UM/TkITvxdSsoI/AAAAAAAABvg/6axif56jaHM/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0bRRdIB7UM/TkITvxdSsoI/AAAAAAAABvg/6axif56jaHM/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639091394872259202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">double mint twins reunited.
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sTv82C-GVlg/TkITvh1v16I/AAAAAAAABvY/BqxSZLzN_0o/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sTv82C-GVlg/TkITvh1v16I/AAAAAAAABvY/BqxSZLzN_0o/s400/IMG_0478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639091390679865250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">the girls</span>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCar8DHye8I/TkITwKKb2CI/AAAAAAAABvo/I6DizSYzszU/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCar8DHye8I/TkITwKKb2CI/AAAAAAAABvo/I6DizSYzszU/s400/IMG_0498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639091401504053282" border="0" /></a>it was an amazing day in sd! tori looked beautiful and the dance party was stellar! congrats mrs. bryant!!
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<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336261348089413103.post-76409051173652490812011-07-19T19:01:00.014-05:002011-07-19T20:01:49.181-05:00barcelona, spain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptb-btzmkTI/TiYi_4g0vWI/AAAAAAAABvI/SaFhrLeSGwM/s1600/DSC_0801.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-628RuMmcXFQ/TiYbgX3e76I/AAAAAAAABsQ/_A8lHVtzLFY/s1600/DSC_0760.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-628RuMmcXFQ/TiYbgX3e76I/AAAAAAAABsQ/_A8lHVtzLFY/s400/DSC_0760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631218627049877410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">placa espanya and the museum of national art of catalunya</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdu_Y92mc6k/TiYbg_YMN3I/AAAAAAAABsY/wAo2U3UwpPE/s1600/DSC_0784.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdu_Y92mc6k/TiYbg_YMN3I/AAAAAAAABsY/wAo2U3UwpPE/s400/DSC_0784.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631218637656045426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">venetian towers</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFi_3h6eIsw/TiYbhBu58-I/AAAAAAAABsg/_MAfNU77N7s/s1600/DSC_0794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFi_3h6eIsw/TiYbhBu58-I/AAAAAAAABsg/_MAfNU77N7s/s400/DSC_0794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631218638288188386" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twbo_80hSoY/TiYb5vahgjI/AAAAAAAABsw/RBJFO3O6U4w/s1600/DSC_0810.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twbo_80hSoY/TiYb5vahgjI/AAAAAAAABsw/RBJFO3O6U4w/s400/DSC_0810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631219062867591730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">olymic torch monument</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iB4cBq4Ot8/TiYb5WtnhfI/AAAAAAAABso/opZUyexQIOM/s1600/DSC_0821.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iB4cBq4Ot8/TiYb5WtnhfI/AAAAAAAABso/opZUyexQIOM/s400/DSC_0821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631219056236791282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">track and field for modern day 1992 olympic games.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptb-btzmkTI/TiYi_4g0vWI/AAAAAAAABvI/SaFhrLeSGwM/s1600/DSC_0801.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptb-btzmkTI/TiYi_4g0vWI/AAAAAAAABvI/SaFhrLeSGwM/s400/DSC_0801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631226864970546530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Sagrada Familia (by Gaudi) in the far distance. by far the coolest piece of architecture i have EVER seen.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">La Pedra (by Gaudi)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DM94eXrVKi4/TiYiNsp9unI/AAAAAAAABu4/ce00LieLWAc/s1600/IMG_0096.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DM94eXrVKi4/TiYiNsp9unI/AAAAAAAABu4/ce00LieLWAc/s400/IMG_0096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631226002794199666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Casa Batllo (restored by Gaudi)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHsgvqbMOZ0/TiYiNVayOiI/AAAAAAAABuw/PrNvCZhqDME/s1600/IMG_0091.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHsgvqbMOZ0/TiYiNVayOiI/AAAAAAAABuw/PrNvCZhqDME/s400/IMG_0091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225996556515874" border="0" /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:Cambria;font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:Cambria;font-size:12pt;" >park guell (by gaudi)<br /></span></span></div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ScrqGMyPeh8/TiYiNGGcdkI/AAAAAAAABuo/cWuGoi0XLho/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ScrqGMyPeh8/TiYiNGGcdkI/AAAAAAAABuo/cWuGoi0XLho/s400/IMG_0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225992444671554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RT5of4oPAa8/TiYhmhXmi7I/AAAAAAAABug/-wP_p4H7DRw/s1600/IMG_0084.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RT5of4oPAa8/TiYhmhXmi7I/AAAAAAAABug/-wP_p4H7DRw/s400/IMG_0084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225329749494706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbFhSN2Np1k/TiYhmey78dI/AAAAAAAABuY/Sb4KOAlYCPk/s1600/IMG_0079.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbFhSN2Np1k/TiYhmey78dI/AAAAAAAABuY/Sb4KOAlYCPk/s400/IMG_0079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225329058836946" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RycMTiSblM0/TiYhmNmUizI/AAAAAAAABuQ/DHvI56Y4d9c/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RycMTiSblM0/TiYhmNmUizI/AAAAAAAABuQ/DHvI56Y4d9c/s400/IMG_0072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225324442520370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Magic Fountain!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1HJVp_mLW8/TiYfv69xqaI/AAAAAAAABuI/uObsDRMWwsI/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1HJVp_mLW8/TiYfv69xqaI/AAAAAAAABuI/uObsDRMWwsI/s400/DSC_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631223292216060322" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUFNAXdpINc/TiYfvcz-b2I/AAAAAAAABuA/DCAIFU0AWkk/s1600/DSC_0021.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUFNAXdpINc/TiYfvcz-b2I/AAAAAAAABuA/DCAIFU0AWkk/s400/DSC_0021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631223284121890658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">crazy riot/protest thing in the placa de catalunya</span><span style=";font-family:Cambria;font-size:12pt;" > </span> <span style="font-size:85%;">. it was wild.<br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YVadZQ6V5M/TiYfVbeQeyI/AAAAAAAABt4/qE41FE1Z8Uc/s1600/DSC_0990.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YVadZQ6V5M/TiYfVbeQeyI/AAAAAAAABt4/qE41FE1Z8Uc/s400/DSC_0990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631222837085764386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOqLHP72Qi0/TiYfVJPdfLI/AAAAAAAABtw/iqRrPpfvPfI/s1600/DSC_0989.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOqLHP72Qi0/TiYfVJPdfLI/AAAAAAAABtw/iqRrPpfvPfI/s400/DSC_0989.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631222832191863986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLI1OaMzcxg/TiYfU2RSgyI/AAAAAAAABto/MLa2Qo1mdXg/s1600/DSC_0986.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLI1OaMzcxg/TiYfU2RSgyI/AAAAAAAABto/MLa2Qo1mdXg/s400/DSC_0986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631222827099259682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />arc de triomf</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbQm6VpvyD8/TiYedAvkidI/AAAAAAAABtg/qVjNLVKeFRA/s1600/DSC_0972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbQm6VpvyD8/TiYedAvkidI/AAAAAAAABtg/qVjNLVKeFRA/s400/DSC_0972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631221867837950418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTaaAbWStSg/TiYec1SZXMI/AAAAAAAABtY/Sq6pnodt7Wo/s1600/DSC_0937.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTaaAbWStSg/TiYec1SZXMI/AAAAAAAABtY/Sq6pnodt7Wo/s400/DSC_0937.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631221864762793154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">gothic area</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9Lxhs3hKgo/TiYdoIHl5yI/AAAAAAAABtI/g6TCpYPaRd8/s1600/DSC_0889.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9Lxhs3hKgo/TiYdoIHl5yI/AAAAAAAABtI/g6TCpYPaRd8/s400/DSC_0889.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631220959284684578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Las Rambles<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqwKDUSkuJY/TiYcwwtKPEI/AAAAAAAABtA/CD87ZBEwoOY/s1600/DSC_0851.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqwKDUSkuJY/TiYcwwtKPEI/AAAAAAAABtA/CD87ZBEwoOY/s400/DSC_0851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631220008106998850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />awesome bike rentals for residents of barcelona.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53DrgAahSFY/TiYcwilxX-I/AAAAAAAABs4/Hz2h8_JpvYY/s1600/DSC_0833.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53DrgAahSFY/TiYcwilxX-I/AAAAAAAABs4/Hz2h8_JpvYY/s400/DSC_0833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631220004317913058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">agbar tower</span><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_kBZs66PZjg/TiYi_lBvXaI/AAAAAAAABvA/IolMVfhoXSI/s1600/IMG_0121.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_kBZs66PZjg/TiYi_lBvXaI/AAAAAAAABvA/IolMVfhoXSI/s400/IMG_0121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631226859739897250" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-628RuMmcXFQ/TiYbgX3e76I/AAAAAAAABsQ/_A8lHVtzLFY/s1600/DSC_0760.JPG"><br /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Thursday & Friday, June 9<sup>th</sup> – 10<sup>th</sup>:<span style=""> </span>Barcelona, Spain</b></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Espana!<span style=""> </span>This was the definitely the most livable city we visited.<span style=""> </span>When we arrived early Thursday morning we signed up for the “express walk off”, meaning we carried our own bags off the ship.<span style=""> </span>The cruise line really advised against this (probably bc everyone is so old and cant handle luggage) but also that taxis are scarce.<span style=""> </span>We walked out of the port to about 50 cabs.<span style=""> </span>Again – happy with our choice.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Our taxi took us straight to our Novotel Hotel, in the business district of Barcelona (right next to the Agbar Tower, which is a newly constructed circular tower that lights up with many colors at night).<span style=""> </span>We dropped off our luggage, then just started walking.<span style=""> </span>We walked to the Sagrada Familia, one of the archetect, turned artist, Gaudi’s work still in progress.<span style=""> </span>It is a cathedral and basicilia, where Gaudi is also buried.<span style=""> </span>They anticipate it to be completed in the next 30 years.<span style=""> </span>All his work looks like something out of a dream.<span style=""> </span>He was inspired by nature and he combines nature and religion on the Sagrada Familia.<span style=""> </span>From far away it looks like a melting candy wonderland – I have never seen anything like it.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We bought a hop-on, hop-off bus pass at the square and began our days journey.<span style=""> </span>First stop – Placa Espanya with the Venetian Towers, which hosts many outdoor concerts and events in front of the Magic Fountain (or Font Magica) with the Museum of National Art of Catalunya as a grandier backdrop.<span style=""> </span>It was beautiful.<span style=""> </span>We didn’t enter the museum, but made plans to come back in the evening for the Magic Fountain show.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We then bussed on over to the arenas that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games!<span style=""> </span>We saw the Olympic Torch Monument, the stadium that hosted the track and field events, and all the outdoor squares.<span style=""> </span>It is quite the facility.<span style=""> </span>Warren’s coach from BYU ran at these Olympics on this track, so it was pretty cool for him to see.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">By this time I was starving (of course), so we skipped a few stops to get to Las Rambles, the main shopping and eating district.<span style=""> </span>It is a long street lined with cafes and street performers.<span style=""> </span>Our lunch was nothing to write home about.<span style=""> </span>So after our meal, Warren was on a serious hunt for some street food his friend Ernesto recommended called shwarma.<span style=""> </span>We asked a couple locals who looked very confused and then a couple guys seemed to know what it may be.<span style=""> </span>They referred us to a Turkish eatery with pigs and chicken roasting.<span style=""> </span>They would razor off some meat and basically make a burrito.<span style=""> </span>It wasn’t called shwarma, I think it was what Ernesto was talking about, but Warren is still not convinced.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We wandered through the narrow streets to find the Gothic area, which had a cool bridge, a church, cathedral and tons of museums.<span style=""> </span>We saw signs for “tapas” everywhere.<span style=""> </span>We then strolled to the public park to see the Arc de Triomf.<span style=""> </span>There were a bunch of guys in the park practicing their bartending tricks with bottles and shakers - throwing and juggling them everywhere.<span style=""> </span>None of them were very good, but it was interesting to watch.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">The coolest thing about Barcelona is that they have a public bike rental for the local residents.<span style=""> </span>There are many different stations, so you can pick one up, ride it around town, then drop it off where it is convenient for you.<span style=""> </span>Each bike has a GPS tracker, so if someone tries to get tricky, they can locate it.<span style=""> </span>Everyone uses them.<span style=""> </span>We wished they offered them to tourists.<span style=""> </span>There is even a designated bike line on all the streets, separated from the sidewalks and driving streets by its own curb lined with trees.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We walked through the Placa de Catalunya to find some sort of strike or movement going on.<span style=""> </span>There was a ton of hippies camped out in the square, even some had made tree houses.<span style=""> </span>Who knows what it was all about.<span style=""> </span>Warren tried to listen to the guy preaching to everyone, but they speak so fast.<span style=""> </span>Our Spanish is very limited.<span style=""> </span>But I have to say I was more than impressed with how much Warren could speak and understand, or he just fakes it really well.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">:-)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We grabbed one of the last buses leaving from the Placa to get back over to the Magic Fountain area.<span style=""> </span>We asked a local late 20-something guy on a scooter a good place to eat.<span style=""> </span>He told us Sylvester’s down the street with “jamon, jamon, jamon” hanging in the windows.<span style=""> </span>And he wasn’t exaggerating.<span style=""> </span>There was so much pork hanging from the ceiling.<span style=""> </span>I ordered a sausage with potatoes and veggies (safe) and Warren ordered some arroz negro (black rice with fish).<span style=""> </span>When our food arrived, I couldn’t even look at Warren’s.<span style=""> </span>We should have taken a picture.<span style=""> </span>It looked like black tar with scary shelled creepy crawlers on top.<span style=""> </span>He felt obligated to eat it, since we were paying for it, but it was a lot of work.<span style=""> </span>He had to de-shell the creatures.<span style=""> </span>It was so gross to watch – the color was the worst part.<span style=""> </span>And that the black would get stuck in his teeth – haha.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Thousands of people were gathered at the Magic Fountain for the late night water and light show coordinated with music.<span style=""> </span>It reminded me of the Bellagio water show in Vegas, but not as cheesy.<span style=""> </span>The music was from all over the map.<span style=""> </span>We retired home by taking the metro (best decision).<span style=""> </span>We were able to purchase 10 trips for around 8 euro.<span style=""> </span>It went right back to our hotel in just a few stops.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">The next morning we woke up early to meet up with a Gaudi tour we signed up with.<span style=""> </span>We met at the Placa de Catalunya when is started raining!<span style=""> </span>Luckily we were prepared this time.<span style=""> </span>There were lots of old people on the tour (the norm) and we had a nice airport bus to guide us around town.<span style=""> </span>We journeyed by the Casa Batllo and also one of his most famous works, La Pedra.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We then drove up to Park Guell, which was a community Gaudi had helped with the irrigation and city planning, that never really took off.<span style=""> </span>All his architecture is beautiful and dream-like.<span style=""> </span>There were two gingerbread-like houses, a market 80-something columns and a decorated roof and walk-ways that fit into nature.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">The tour ended at the Sagrada Familia, where we were able to skip the line to go inside.<span style=""> </span>The inside reminded me of a light-colored Tim Burton movie style.<span style=""> </span>The pictures just do not do it justice.<span style=""> </span>The tour was well worth the price we paid.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We stopped for lunch back at the Placa at a side street cafeteria type café.<span style=""> </span>The food was actually very good.<span style=""> </span>Warren tried some traditional pizzas on a flat baguette and I had a ham and cheese sandwich with a fried egg atop and Italian pasta salad.<span style=""> </span>Muy bueno.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">We had planned on renting bikes in the afternoon and relaxing on the topless beaches, but the rain was relentless.<span style=""> </span>We retired to our hotel for an afternoon nap.<span style=""> </span>We were able to connect with Eugene and Andy and planned to meet them for a very late dinner.<span style=""> </span>In Barcelona, people start eating dinner around 8:30pm and restaurants serve dinner until 2am.<span style=""> </span>We planned to meet them at 9pm.<span style=""> </span>I found a restaurant online that was listed in many guidebooks.<span style=""> </span>The main reason we chose it was because on the review sites the management of the restaurant had actually taken the time to rebuttal against the bad comments made.<span style=""> </span>And their rebuts were hilarious.<span style=""> </span>We decided it was a must.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">It was called Taller de Tapas, located on the windy back streets of the Gothic area.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think I gave Andy and Eugene great directions (granted it was a little difficult to find) bc they never showed.<span style=""> </span>Unless we totally just got stood up by our new bff’s. <span style=""> </span>Lame.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Maybe we wont be visiting them in Miami after all.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Warren and I ordered the following traditional Spanish style tapas (which is basically a small plate or appetizer size):<span style=""> </span>pebrots de padron (hot and spicy green fried peppers), brocheta de pollo marinado con finas hierbas y vino blanco (grilled chicken kebabs marinated with white wine and herbs), patates braves (fried potatoes with garlic mayonnaise and spicy smoked paprika sauce), xoricets de Pamplona a la sidra (sizzling chorizos braised in asturian cider), and of course the traditional bread with a light tomato sauce.<span style=""> </span>It was delicious.<span style=""> </span>Best food in Barcelona we had during our stay.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">And that’s it!!<span style=""> </span>That was our trip, the abridged version (believe it or not).<span style=""> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">:-)</span></span><span style=""> </span></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09173070855749795992noreply@blogger.com2