More HI in '09

In the past two weeks I have: ran around the western most tip of Oahu, hashed around UH, filmed and took photos for the first 1 man outrigger race of the season, stand up paddle boarded, watched 7 Pounds, survived another Bikram Yoga class, ran the first peak on Olomana, kiteboarded in Hawaii Kai, ran Coco Head, kiteboarded in Waikiki twice, lost my kiteboard at sea and had to body drag across an exposed reef, had a hawaiian kid take a swing at me at a karaoke bar, watch the Steelers beat the Ravens, and flew back to PDX today.  Besides all that and spending time with Julie I haven't done much:)

Life has honestly been hectic.  There is nothing new to report on the job or Julie front, although there have been great efforts made in both cases to change the current situation.  I'm healing up from my run in with the reef in Waikiki while kiteboarding, as my left foot got pretty banged up.  I'm hoping to get back on the running band wagon in the next few days, as I feel like I've neglected the mileage a bit in favor of time out on the water.  I'm back in Oregon and trying to get things organized and a quality future started.  Please keep in touch and thanks for reading about my crazy life.  Peace......

(Julie and Rob at the start of the Kamanu composites sponsored one man outrigger canoe race.  Julie loved seeing here "art projects" out in the water.  I was out in a power boat filming and taking photos for the race organizers.)

(This is Zsolt Szadovski WAY out in front of the entire field in his Epic V10 surf ski just outside of the Mokes.  He let me paddle one at the finish line and might have hooked me on yet another water sport!)

(This is the finish are of the race and one of the coolest boats on the water.  Julie painted this one.)

(Some hikers took this shot when I ran up Olomana.  My calves are still burning!)

(This is the Coco Head crater hike that I ran up and down.  The hike is straight up the side along some old railroad ties.  The trail is next to the telephone poles in the upper left of the photo.)

(This is me kiteboarding in Waikiki just in front of the Hilton.  You can see Diamond Head in the background.)

(Julie loved taking tons of photos of me on the beach.)

(The kite rigging area in front of the Hilton in Waikiki.)

(More of me kiting in Waikiki.)

(This shot is again in Waikiki.  You can see the boat channel markers on the right of the photo.  This is one of the only deep spots along the reef.  I made it out threw the channel and was surfing overhead + size waves when some whitewash ripped my board off my feet.  The wind and waves pushed me in and a rip current took my board out to sea.  I couldn't make it back threw the channel body dragging and ended up having to body drag across exposed reef in the surf.)

(Julie surfing some fun small surf in Cockroach bay.)

(Julie took all kiteboard shots of me in this post.)

Hawaiian Holidays

(I love kiteboarding in Kailua Bay.)

I've been in HI since Christmas Eve.  The crazy weather in Portland made the airport experience interesting.  Since arriving in HI I've been kiteboarding nearly every day.  The kiting has been amazing and I'm really learning how to control the kite and launch some big jumps.  I've also really gotten into surfing the waves with my kiteboard.  I got one long run in, surfed some big waves on the North Shore, and did a bikram yoga class.  My lower back has been giving me major troubles and I've been beating my legs up bad with all these crazy sports.  New Year's was tons of fun with a big party at Julie's place.  Julie's old theater friend from MD Lynne came into town last Friday and has been enjoying the HI weather and craziness.

I missed my family for yet another holiday season in HI.  I had them all in my thoughts and reminisced about my late Grandma Devol.  I'm still trying to find a job, figure out the future for Julie and I, and get into shape.  I'm headed back to PDX on Thursday.  I'm really hoping to get some things figured out this month and start the new year off right.

(This is the scene at the PDX airport.  16 inches of fresh snow, and counting, in the previous few days.)

(I took this shot of Julie windsurfing in Kailua while following her on my kiteboard.)

(Julie and I enjoying some time out of the wind under my kite on Christmas.)

(This is a cool little tree on the beach with Chinamans Hat in the background.  I took this shot while Julie and I went for a little run along the coast.)

(Fried turkey is soooo good, especially on New Year's Eve at a party with lots of drinks!)

(Fireworks were good fun and made the ravaged turkey carcass look interesting.)

(Julie, Rob, Shannon, ?, and Jimmy on the roof just after midnight on New Years Eve.)

(I did a little hike along the old Pali road and took this shot that shows the new and old Pali.)

(Lynne, Julie's old theater friend that is in town visiting, and Julie at Pinkey's.)

(Lynne negotiating the bamboo forest on the Hash designed by our friend Rob.)

(The Hash "virgins" at the end of the Hash.)

(Julie out enjoying the high winds.)

(This is what Julie wears when it is 75+ degrees and she is inside out of the wind!!!)

(Devin took this shot of me surfing a wave next to Flat Island.)

(I also used the waves to catch some air.)

(I took the following shots of Devin.)

(Devin is getting real good at launching himself into the air!)

(Devin flying high again.)

(Devin surfing some ocean swell headed towards world famous Lanikai beach.)

Winter Has Arrived

(This is the front of my Apartment in OR on Sat. 12/21/08.  4-6" of snow and .25" of ice on top.)

(This is my car before cleaning it off Monday morning 12/22/08, another few inches of snow!)

Everyone out here seems to think this weather is weird, but this is the weather I expected to get living in the Pacific NW.  Apparently this is usually rain and not snow and ice.  I'm enjoying the snow after not being around it since the Salomon Ski Tour in '07.  The roads have been nuts, as apparently they also don't know what a plow is out here???  I bought myself some chains this morning so that I could get mobile again.

There is nothing new to report.  I'm applying for jobs left and right and not hearing much back.  I'm trying to put in hours at Google, but there doesn't seem to be work to be had.  I'm putting in my hours with Skagen, but it is a very part time job.  I'm talking to Julie everyday and trying to work out the logistics to build a life together.  I'm also running a ton and trying to stay on target for running a few ultras and marathons in '09.

I think about and miss my Grandma Devol on a regular basis and will miss not being with family for yet another Christmas.  This year I will be again spending the holidays in HI with Julie.

Stay well, keep in touch, and have a happy holiday.

I Love to Travel!

(Sorry for the crazy photo sizes lately.  I can't seem to fix the problem, as I have no clue what the problem is!  Click on the photo to see the whole thing.)

(I grew a beard during the 3 weeks between Iowa and Maryland, shaved it off before my high school reunion.)

I'm sorry about not posting the past few weeks, but there has been little to report and no photos to go with the reports.  Over the past two weeks I have been back in MD.  The week before I was just hanging out in Portland and working for Skagen.  I did get to hang out with some new Portland friends for a quality Halloween party as well.  The MD trip was a lot of fun and I was able to collect some photos to hopefully make this post interesting:)

I flew back to MD on Friday the 21st and got to see the new Bond movie that evening with my parents, Jacklyn, Julie, & Rae.  The movie was entertaining, but not nearly as good as Casino Royal, the only post Ian Fleming Bond movie worth much.  On Saturday I attended my 10 yr high school reunion with Jacklyn.  It was held at the Red Star in Baltimore and was good fun.  It was good to see what people are up too, that you knew 10 yrs ago and haven't kept in touch with.  Lots of drinks and many years of catching up kept the conversations flowing.  I got the prize for traveling the furthest for the reunion as well.  On Sunday Julie left with her family for a three day trip to a time share in southern VA.  I managed to catch a cold and went out to my parents place to help move my sister into here new apartment, which was quite a job!  The first half of the week I spent with my parents fighting off my cold and cleaning out my old room.  Thursday was Thanksgiving and was a great to enjoy a feast with my family.  The senior Dorr's, John, Linda, & Jason Spence, my Mom, Dad, Sister, & Victoria all got to spend the day enjoying good food and playing cards.  My Grandma Devol was greatly missed by all:(  On Saturday I got up early and ran the NCR Trail marathon.  I probably shouldn't have, since I hadn't run all week due to being quite sick.  The weather turned out to be quite nice and I felt relatively good during the run.  I was shooting for under 4 hrs and managed a 4:00:13.  Those 13 seconds get to me every time I look at that result!  Saturday night was a big party at Julie's house that went quite well.  My family came and met Julie's for the first time, the UWS crew showed up in force, and many of Julie's old high school/college/& theater friends showed up as well.  Julie's Mom made some amazing food and everyone ate and drank quite well.  I woke up the next day feeling quite rough from the marathon.

The second week in MD was a bit more mellow, but still quite busy.  For the first part of the week I worked on cleaning up my Grandma Devol's house, as there is a lot of work to be done on that place before it can be sold.  On Wednesday Julie and I took a trip down to DC to check out some of the Museums.  We went to the Natural History Museum, Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery, and enjoyed some shopping and dining at Union Station.  Friday night Justin & Sarah threw a party out at their place.  It was good to catch up with the UWS crew again and many of Sarah's Park Ranger friends came out as well.  Julie caught a cold earlier in the week and was feeling quite rough and my allergies were killing me from all the animals, so we only stayed out until about 11.  On Saturday I got to take my parents out for a nice B-Day dinner, as they both have B-Day's this week.  Sunday Julie and I both flew back to our places, Julie back to HI and me back to OR.

I have to say that life is a bit rough at the moment as Julie and I have tried so hard to find a way to be together again.  In the end I need to find a job and a location for us to be.  Julie is very interested in becoming an art teacher and will probably be pursing that path sometime soon.  For now I have most of Dec. planned out with work for Google and Skagen.  I'm also searching for jobs and running everyday.  Hopefully things will come together soon.

(This is one of the aid stations along the NCR Trail marathon that I ran back in MD.)

(My sisters new kid is getting big!  Victoria at 2 months.)

(Julie threw a great party on the 29th at her parents place.  Much of the UWS crew were in attendance.)

(Sarah was nice enough to bring her chocolate fountain for Julie's party.  Julie's Dad was in the party spirit with his HI shirt and cacua nuts.)

(This is Julie in any moving vehicle.  This happens to be on the DC metro headed down to the museums.)

(Julie enjoying all the animals at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.)

(This was one of the many amazing photos in a temporary exhibit at the Natural History Museum.)

(This is a very cool natural sculpture formed by sand and crystal that can be found in the Hope Dimond room at the Natural History Museum.)

(Julie and I really liked this plate in the Sackler Gallery.)

(The arcitectue and sculptues go hand in hand at the Sackler Gallery.)

(Party photos by Rae Borsetti)

Portland Life

Sadly there really isn't much to report.  I'm still in the Portland, OR area working to find a job and doing some odd jobs to make ends meet.  I finally started the Google quality rater position and now need to put in 10-30 hrs a week in front of the computer.  For the most part a really boring job, but the money is okay and I have rent to pay.  Julie and I talk everyday and are still trying to make plans for the future.  Basically she is looking at a number of paths and I'm still looking for a job to settle into.  I did get out kayaking both days this weekend and had a great time.  I love steep creeks!  I have also been running a ton trying to gear up for yet another marathon.  I figure if I'm going to be unemployed than I should at least be in good shape and happy about that.  I will be running the NCR Trail marathon back in MD the Sat. after Thanksgiving.  Well, that is about it.  I'm looking forward to another couple of weeks back east with family and friends.

(Sorry for no photos again, but it has been rainy and cloudy here all week!)

Iowa

This past week was a rough one as I had to bury my Grandma Devol.  She was an amazing lady and someone that cared about others deeply.  She was an integral part of my close family and someone who will be missed greatly.  Her memorial and burial was held in Des Moines, Iowa, her hometown.  My parents did an amazing job of organizing everything, following my Grandmothers wishes, and making it possible for the entire extended family and friends to spend time together.  It was really good to meet many extended family members that I had heard about over the years and reconnect with family that I hadn't seen for years.

I'm back in Portland now trying to organize my life.  I'm still working to find a new career, create a future for Julie and I, and make ends meet now.  I'm also still working to increase my fitness, mostly through running.  I'm looking forward to spending some more time with the family and Julie back in Maryland around Thanksgiving.

Julie in OR!

(Julie and I enjoying a little hike at Indian Beach)

This past week Julie came for a visit in OR.  We had a great week exploring Northwestern Oregon.  We got a chance to check out the coast, Portland, and the Hood River area.  It was really great to have Julie back on the mainland and enjoying the amazing fall weather in Oregon.  We are still working out the details to again combine our lives on an everyday level, but we both have a number of decisions to make.  For now Julie is enjoying her life in HI and I'm still working on finding a new career on the mainland.  I'm now in Iowa attending my Grandmothers Memorial/Funeral, more on that next week.

(Indian Beach on an amazing Fall day in Oregon, 60 degrees and sunny!)

(The lighthouse off Tillimook Head, OR.)

(Julie and I enjoying the sunset on the "Prom" in Seaside, OR.)

(Sea lions taking a nap in Astoria, OR.)

(Julie staying warm while enjoying the sea lions in Astoria.)

(It has been awhile since Julie has seen leaves!  This is a great overlook in the Columbia River Gorge.)

(One of the many waterfalls we got to check out in the "gorge".)

(Julie and I enjoying Bridal Veil Falls.)

(Julie at Multnomah Falls, the second largest waterfall in the US.)

(Julie feeding the alpaca on the "Fruit Loop" drive outside Hood River, OR.)

(Julie enjoying a beautiful fall day at a local Hood River fruit stand with Mt. Hood in the background.)

(Julie in a really cool ravine on the Southeast side of Mt. Hood.)