We had our first TEAM TRACY meeting a couple of weeks ago and it has really inspired me to start training and ramp up my fund raising. A huge thanks to those of you who have already donated! I still need more donations to reach my pledge goal of $2300. Check out my 3-Day personal web page if you want to help. Only 3 months to go!
I also wanted to let you all know that the West Seattle Herald featured a story about Tracy. Check it out! It's easy to see why so many of us are walking with her in September!
7.06.2010
7.05.2010
maiden voyage
Mike and I took our new kayaks to Green Lake for their maiden voyage on July 4th. It was a lot of fun paddling around and getting a feel for our boats. Mike's boat is red and mine is the pretty blue one. No one tipped over so it was a successful trip!
6.27.2010
6.26.2010
holy cow!
We went to the Cubs/Mariners game on Wednesday night with Mandy and Dave. It was not such a good game for the Cubs - they lost 8-1. Even though we lost, the game was so much fun! There are so many Cubs fans here in Seattle! The series wasn't a total wash - the Cubs beat the Mariners Thursday afternoon in 13 innings. Now the Mariners are in Milwaukee playing the Brew Crew!
6.12.2010
Monthly Post
Over the last month:
Been trying to figure out which turntable to get. Thanks to Dave for him lending me vinyl, his record player, and his analog ear for demos; sorry the turntables we demo'd smoked yours. Listening to Harvest on CD and vinyl, it was immediately apparent a record player was necessary. Bought some select titles I knew I'd want to get for the last demo, but now I have records and no player. Dave is having fun record-sitting for me, though.
Emeline turned 1. There was a barbecue.
Went back to Holden for work, twice. Had some moments with my knee both times. Not sure it's ever coming back 100%. May just need to start buying those gallon jugs of ibuprofen.
Started shopping for sea kayaks. They are expensive.
May was bike to work month, which motivated me to get back to bike commuting. Rode everyday, except when I went to Holden.
Finally, bought a mitre saw, which makes things much much easier.
This snowboard rack project was put off since February, but was done the first day I tried the mitre saw.
Back to researching kayaks and turntables.
Been trying to figure out which turntable to get. Thanks to Dave for him lending me vinyl, his record player, and his analog ear for demos; sorry the turntables we demo'd smoked yours. Listening to Harvest on CD and vinyl, it was immediately apparent a record player was necessary. Bought some select titles I knew I'd want to get for the last demo, but now I have records and no player. Dave is having fun record-sitting for me, though.
Emeline turned 1. There was a barbecue.
Went back to Holden for work, twice. Had some moments with my knee both times. Not sure it's ever coming back 100%. May just need to start buying those gallon jugs of ibuprofen.
Started shopping for sea kayaks. They are expensive.
May was bike to work month, which motivated me to get back to bike commuting. Rode everyday, except when I went to Holden.
Finally, bought a mitre saw, which makes things much much easier.
This snowboard rack project was put off since February, but was done the first day I tried the mitre saw.
Back to researching kayaks and turntables.
5.02.2010
Guns and Knives
Well had I known Sarah posted yesterday, I wouldn't have dragged my ass up to the computer room (no longer known as the "receipt room" due my cleaning efforts over the past couple weekends) on this gray Sunday morning for a post, but I'm here now.
Got to talking to a guy at work this week about guns and knives. Apparently we both like Benchmade knives (and so do my groomsmen, right?). <---That just happened and is not intended to be any sort of emoticon. Don't you hate emoticons? I should qualify that with one exception: the emoticon m|w sent me a while back. It was an animated smiley face character that waves at you, but it was kind of small so you lean in to see what it was doing. Then, POW, it sticks its hand out at you flipping you the bird and filling most of you computer screen.
Anyway this guy knows a lot about knives and recommended the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker. This thing is awesome. I've tried many times over the years to sharpen dull blades on numerous knives but could never get anywhere close to even factory sharp. Now I have too many bald spots on my arm from testing my recently sharpened blades by shaving a patch on my arm. I have received no endorsements for this advertisement, I'm just trying to spread the knoweledge about a great way to sharpen you knives, if you need one.
On to guns. Somehow the conversation moved to guns; a conversation to which I can contribute little. I only own a Beeman P3, which I'd been meaning to shoot for awhile in the basement but had put off for my elaborate scheme to build a shooting range in the crawl space using old curtain rods. He reminded you have to shoot it to keep the seals in good condition. So I went home and did just that.
Well now it's back to listening to different speaker cables. You may think you're bored now, but just wait until after a post on speaker cables. Like Sarah said yesterday, it hasn't been too exciting around here lately. Still rehabbing the knee; then we'll get back to pretty pictures.
Got to talking to a guy at work this week about guns and knives. Apparently we both like Benchmade knives (and so do my groomsmen, right?). <---That just happened and is not intended to be any sort of emoticon. Don't you hate emoticons? I should qualify that with one exception: the emoticon m|w sent me a while back. It was an animated smiley face character that waves at you, but it was kind of small so you lean in to see what it was doing. Then, POW, it sticks its hand out at you flipping you the bird and filling most of you computer screen.
Anyway this guy knows a lot about knives and recommended the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker. This thing is awesome. I've tried many times over the years to sharpen dull blades on numerous knives but could never get anywhere close to even factory sharp. Now I have too many bald spots on my arm from testing my recently sharpened blades by shaving a patch on my arm. I have received no endorsements for this advertisement, I'm just trying to spread the knoweledge about a great way to sharpen you knives, if you need one.
On to guns. Somehow the conversation moved to guns; a conversation to which I can contribute little. I only own a Beeman P3, which I'd been meaning to shoot for awhile in the basement but had put off for my elaborate scheme to build a shooting range in the crawl space using old curtain rods. He reminded you have to shoot it to keep the seals in good condition. So I went home and did just that.
Well now it's back to listening to different speaker cables. You may think you're bored now, but just wait until after a post on speaker cables. Like Sarah said yesterday, it hasn't been too exciting around here lately. Still rehabbing the knee; then we'll get back to pretty pictures.
5.01.2010
I love beer.
Wow. It has been a long time since I last posted. Sorry for leaving you to only the postings of Mike, though he is not doing much better than I am at keeping you all informed on our doings. My absence is mostly due to nothing exciting happening or when something does happen not having a camera around to take pictures. But mostly, we have just been living life.
I have recently visited two brewery/brew pubs with my friend Jen. We stopped at the Issaquah Brewhouse (acquired by Rogue in 2000) on our way to a stamping class. I had the Contraband IPA and the Double Mocha Porter.
Last night we went to Two Beers Brewing Co. in SODO for happy hour after work. I had the Echo IPA and the SODO Brown. I like the fact that this place is hard to find, that you feel like they are brewing in a storage unit, that they are really small with good beers and that they serve SODO Pizza. I brought a growler of the brown home for the weekend (and for Mike to try since he missed out on happy hour). Jen and I both agreed that we will be back for happy hour again!
4.10.2010
Almost 2 Months...
Since my last post. Pathetic.
To catch you up. My knee is still screwed up. So the answer to my question is yes.
Our stereo started making some annoying high pitch noises. We also rearranged the living room and the towers of power (as Steve calls them) had to go. I knew this day was coming, and I brought it up a while ago on my own.
Luckily, after listening to some stuff at Magnolia/Best Buy I went down to Resolution Audio Video in Ballard (check these guys out if you can), a high-end store I went into once to pass the time while Sarah shopped. I assumed I could never get into high-end audio, even when "you want, I buy" was on the table. However, I talked to Larry, the owner, and he's taken good care of us ever since.
Our new system is 2 channel analog only at 122W down from 7.1 Dolby Digital THX whatever the hell at 770W and 2 bookshelf speakers down from the towers of power, a center, 4 bookshelf speakers, and a subwoofer. For music, which is about 90% of it for us, the new puny system absolutely smokes the old one in every way. Didn't know what we were missing before, but it was a lot.
Oh, and someone called Nollie old at the dog park yesterday.
To catch you up. My knee is still screwed up. So the answer to my question is yes.
Our stereo started making some annoying high pitch noises. We also rearranged the living room and the towers of power (as Steve calls them) had to go. I knew this day was coming, and I brought it up a while ago on my own.
Luckily, after listening to some stuff at Magnolia/Best Buy I went down to Resolution Audio Video in Ballard (check these guys out if you can), a high-end store I went into once to pass the time while Sarah shopped. I assumed I could never get into high-end audio, even when "you want, I buy" was on the table. However, I talked to Larry, the owner, and he's taken good care of us ever since.
Our new system is 2 channel analog only at 122W down from 7.1 Dolby Digital THX whatever the hell at 770W and 2 bookshelf speakers down from the towers of power, a center, 4 bookshelf speakers, and a subwoofer. For music, which is about 90% of it for us, the new puny system absolutely smokes the old one in every way. Didn't know what we were missing before, but it was a lot.
Oh, and someone called Nollie old at the dog park yesterday.
2.20.2010
Nothing's New
So how about something old.
Dang, was I ever cool? I seem to remember college differently.
Do you think they had '80's parties in the '70's, maybe just to guess how great flying cars were going to be? It seems there's been at least one every year since. Has any decade ever been more celebrated with the exception of when it was being lived (not inlcuding 1985, of course, which was awesome -- didn't the '80's give us the word awesome, too -- geez the '80's were so rad).
Dang, was I ever cool? I seem to remember college differently.
Do you think they had '80's parties in the '70's, maybe just to guess how great flying cars were going to be? It seems there's been at least one every year since. Has any decade ever been more celebrated with the exception of when it was being lived (not inlcuding 1985, of course, which was awesome -- didn't the '80's give us the word awesome, too -- geez the '80's were so rad).
2.19.2010
Rampant Spamments!
I noticed a recent comment to a post on our blog from a couple weeks ago, and I have to say I agree with Teri.
Though our blog has not been attacked to the degree of the BallardBoardBlog (someone should really take that prn magnet down), it's just great to see people and companies find ways to continue to annoy us (for example, I have this blog and a desire to use parentheticals).
At least they're saving trees, I guess. Just wanted to raise awareness about "spamments." The walkathon will be in April.
P.S. When you park on the left side of the street, be sure to check to street signs behind you, not in front of you.
Also, happy birthday, Steve.
Keep on rocking! Sorry for the funny looking arm Hellhound #1.
Though our blog has not been attacked to the degree of the BallardBoardBlog (someone should really take that prn magnet down), it's just great to see people and companies find ways to continue to annoy us (for example, I have this blog and a desire to use parentheticals).
At least they're saving trees, I guess. Just wanted to raise awareness about "spamments." The walkathon will be in April.
P.S. When you park on the left side of the street, be sure to check to street signs behind you, not in front of you.
Also, happy birthday, Steve.
Keep on rocking! Sorry for the funny looking arm Hellhound #1.
2.17.2010
Of All The Pants...
pooping moments for the Swensons In Seattle, most, if not all, have belonged to Sarah as you can see in from the following. For example... And who could forget... See also... Not to mention... Then there's the ever famous... Almost forgot... Finally, on an unrelated note...
Then this happened...
Shapow! From the makers of... Just about you know what when I saw these at the Shoreline Central Market today. That place just keeps surprising me.
Then this happened...
Shapow! From the makers of... Just about you know what when I saw these at the Shoreline Central Market today. That place just keeps surprising me.
2.13.2010
Degenerate
Well, people generally suspected since the early '90's that snowboarders were nothing but degenerates that sucked at skateboarding (which isn't saying much from the "mainstream" or "hardcore" angles). While the latter has been obvious from the days of attempting the ollie over plastic skateboard slide rails to prove to Jeff Somers that, yes, I actually was getting off the ground, the former can now be proven with a new technology called magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI for short.
I received the results of a recent MRI, prompted by a snowboarding incident. Leave it to the medical profession to freak-me-the-hell-out with phrases like "degenerative joint disease" which the internet clarifies to mean "arthritis." Well, duh. So MRIs have the magical capability to tell me that I'm old. While the next reference will do wonders for my street cred, it seems analogous to when on the Biggst Losr (intentionally spelled wrong for legal and Google reasons) they calculate peoples' internal age to be 59 when they're only 24 years old. Then people cry, get motivated, and go to the gym. So the internal age of my knee is somewhere around 86, though I have less than a month to claim I'm still in my 20's. So I cried, got drunk, sobered up, and did some upper body exercises in the basement, since my knee still hurts. More photographic evidence of internal age of my knee...
In the interest of full disclosure, this picture is from 10 years ago, and I suck at wakeboarding, too.
I received the results of a recent MRI, prompted by a snowboarding incident. Leave it to the medical profession to freak-me-the-hell-out with phrases like "degenerative joint disease" which the internet clarifies to mean "arthritis." Well, duh. So MRIs have the magical capability to tell me that I'm old. While the next reference will do wonders for my street cred, it seems analogous to when on the Biggst Losr (intentionally spelled wrong for legal and Google reasons) they calculate peoples' internal age to be 59 when they're only 24 years old. Then people cry, get motivated, and go to the gym. So the internal age of my knee is somewhere around 86, though I have less than a month to claim I'm still in my 20's. So I cried, got drunk, sobered up, and did some upper body exercises in the basement, since my knee still hurts. More photographic evidence of internal age of my knee...
In the interest of full disclosure, this picture is from 10 years ago, and I suck at wakeboarding, too.
2.07.2010
NW Camo
When I first moved out to the Pacific Northwest, and my brother still had ambitious snowboard filming aspirations, he would complain to me about not showing up very well in videos because of my NW camo. Seeing as how most of our riding is below the treeline, often within the trees, and under gray skies in the Evergreen State, his definition of northwest camouflage was any dark colored outerwear. So I showed him by later investing in a 3L Gore-Tex jacket that was actually camouflage. I know a large part of our readership contingent is in the midwest thinking "Well la tee da, fancy Gore-Tex for the fancy Pacific NW city boy!" Living in the Midwest, I used to think you would have to be stupid to pay the premium for Gore-Tex. Now that I ride the Pacific NW, I slowly learned to buy nothing but the best and never think twice about it (so long as it's 50% off -- hey, I'm still a Swenson). As a compromise to the straightup camo, I opted for a bright green head beacon.
You can see me just fine scoping it out against rare blue skies.
But this is more typical (note these photos were brightened significantly, too).
Dropping! Stevens Pass.
By some sordid twist of fate, my camouflage jacket needed warranty repairs, which ended up with me getting a bright orange jacket. Now I look like a pumpkin.
But I hope to look like a carrot by swimsuit season.
You can see me just fine scoping it out against rare blue skies.
But this is more typical (note these photos were brightened significantly, too).
Dropping! Stevens Pass.
By some sordid twist of fate, my camouflage jacket needed warranty repairs, which ended up with me getting a bright orange jacket. Now I look like a pumpkin.
But I hope to look like a carrot by swimsuit season.
2.06.2010
Brewcapades
Went to the Fremont Brewing Company on the way home from work yesterday. They don't have a bar or a restaurant, just a brewery. Apparently on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday they open their shipping/garage door and let people hang out inside the brewery and drink beer. It's pretty nice, as it is kid and dog friendly and you can order food to be delivered or bring you own. Nollie was there freaking out the shoeless kids running around on the concrete floor. The place was packed, too. Jolly Roger is still closed, but we didn't recognize any Jolly regulars there. I wonder where everyone else is going.
No pictures were taken, so here's some unrelated eye candy.
Me drinking beer at the Maui Brewing Company. Old hat (indirect beer reference).
Sometimes I like to dance while I hike.
No pictures were taken, so here's some unrelated eye candy.
Me drinking beer at the Maui Brewing Company. Old hat (indirect beer reference).
Sometimes I like to dance while I hike.
1.31.2010
Ride-Along
Strap in.
Lay some down on the cat track.
Launch said cat track.
Hang out in the back seat in the air because taking pictures.
Remember Peter's advice: "Don't forget the landing."
Landing successful. Proceed to slashing some pow.
Lay some down on the cat track.
Launch said cat track.
Hang out in the back seat in the air because taking pictures.
Remember Peter's advice: "Don't forget the landing."
Landing successful. Proceed to slashing some pow.
1.30.2010
1.10.2010
countdown to the 3-Day
Many of you already know that I have decided take on the incredibly huge challenge of participating in the 2010 Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day for the Cure. On September 24-26, I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days and camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking on this challenge with me. The net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research and community programs. Komen for the Cure® works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $2,300 to help bring us closer to that goal.
I will be walking with TEAM TRACY here in Seattle. Our team captain is a survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. Tracy has decided to make it her personal mission to raise as much money as she can to benefit breast cancer research and this will be her 4th 3-Day! I feel that a few blisters and sore muscles will be worth it in order to help find a cure for this disease. I hope you can help me!
Just follow the link to visit my personal fundraising web page and make a donation. You can also track my fundraising progress there.
Thank you for your support! I will keep you posted on my progress as we get closer to the big day. Only 258 days to go!
I will be walking with TEAM TRACY here in Seattle. Our team captain is a survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. Tracy has decided to make it her personal mission to raise as much money as she can to benefit breast cancer research and this will be her 4th 3-Day! I feel that a few blisters and sore muscles will be worth it in order to help find a cure for this disease. I hope you can help me!
Just follow the link to visit my personal fundraising web page and make a donation. You can also track my fundraising progress there.
Thank you for your support! I will keep you posted on my progress as we get closer to the big day. Only 258 days to go!
1.09.2010
Freezing Rain
Woke up to see freezing rain at Stevens this morning, so Phil and I (yes, that Phil) bagged plans for riding today, but weather should be nicer tomorrow. Freezing rain means there's time for blogging, so I guess I'll catch up on something that already happened.
We went to Maui in November by piggy-backing on my parents anniversary trip. I believe the e-mail from my dad read: "We have reserved a condo on the Hawaiian island of Maui (arrive 11/5, depart 11/11). You are invited to join us if you can find your way there."
Sarah thought it was a joke; I did not. Needless to say, we "found our way there."
Surf spots were either crowded or the surf was nonexistent. Since I've already been surfing to at least be able to say I've been surfing, I opted for the empty, beachside skatepark instead. Skateboarding in Maui is hot, even at 10a. The skatepark was fun, though. It had a decent mini-ramp and a kinked-ass pool with a shallow end that was about 2 to 2.5 feet tall and went to vert (that's a pretty tight transition).
Apparently that idiot from the car insurance commercials also vacations in Maui.
We did the uber-touristy road to Hana. Sarah's favorite part was the black sand beach on the way back.
I enjoyed swimming in some waterfall pools.
We also went to the uber-touristy Mt. Haleakala, but with a little effort you can lose about 99.9% of the crowds. Hiking down to a cindercone was a highlight.
We attended a luau on our last night in Maui. Sarah learned to do some sort of dance or something (I forget the name of it). Anyway, if you've never been to a luau, I've got two words for you: 1) butts and 2) coconuts.
Then the sun set on our vacation.
Look, Mom! New hat!
We went to Maui in November by piggy-backing on my parents anniversary trip. I believe the e-mail from my dad read: "We have reserved a condo on the Hawaiian island of Maui (arrive 11/5, depart 11/11). You are invited to join us if you can find your way there."
Sarah thought it was a joke; I did not. Needless to say, we "found our way there."
Surf spots were either crowded or the surf was nonexistent. Since I've already been surfing to at least be able to say I've been surfing, I opted for the empty, beachside skatepark instead. Skateboarding in Maui is hot, even at 10a. The skatepark was fun, though. It had a decent mini-ramp and a kinked-ass pool with a shallow end that was about 2 to 2.5 feet tall and went to vert (that's a pretty tight transition).
Apparently that idiot from the car insurance commercials also vacations in Maui.
We did the uber-touristy road to Hana. Sarah's favorite part was the black sand beach on the way back.
I enjoyed swimming in some waterfall pools.
We also went to the uber-touristy Mt. Haleakala, but with a little effort you can lose about 99.9% of the crowds. Hiking down to a cindercone was a highlight.
We attended a luau on our last night in Maui. Sarah learned to do some sort of dance or something (I forget the name of it). Anyway, if you've never been to a luau, I've got two words for you: 1) butts and 2) coconuts.
Then the sun set on our vacation.
Look, Mom! New hat!
1.06.2010
Swensons In Seattle
So my dad e-mailed me this picture.
Swensons in Snoose Junction Part Dieu.
I offer this rebuttal.
Swensons in Seattle.
See also.
Swensons in Snoose Junction Part Dieu.
I offer this rebuttal.
Swensons in Seattle.
See also.
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