Takh Lakh Lake anniversary trip

Twelve years ago, we stood in a meadow at the foot of Mt. Adams and made vows to each other and to our children to be a family from that day forward. Every year, we make the trek back to the meadow to remember. This year was another beautiful trip of memory and remembrance.

(this was a Picasa slide show, also lost)


For those who were at our wedding, you might also remember the mosquitoes. I believe that this year was in special memory of those mosquitoes. In fact, we cut our trip short by a day. In all our years of camping, fishing and visiting Takh Lakh, the bugs have never been so thick. This year, they win.

Score:
Hoffman Clan - 12
Mosquitoes and biting flies - 1

Wait until next year...

Sherri and Rick

Powell's Books

Love that place.

Sherri and I had a little time to kill this afternoon, and we wandered in. I had no money and no intention of buying anything...and bought two brand new books (a rarity, I prefer used usually), spending over $30.

Getting in line at the cash register, guy on cellphone:
"This place is worse than cocaine, I have to put this phone down and get out of here now."

Ayup.

to utah

So we went to Utah and spent some time with the recently expanded Wangsgard family. Which was very fun. We made some food, changed some diapers, celebrated Papa's birthday, went to an ABBA concert. How great is that?






The Momgoose

"Living it up in Flagstaff"

Uh-huh. Yeah, right. Sitting in the motel room. Sure, it's The Embassy Suites, a $200 per night room, comped...San Francisco Peaks out the window and clouds drifting by, with what looks like a possibility of an afternoon thunderstorm brewing...and I do love Arizona thunderstorms...

But I was supposed to be home a week ago. And virtually nothing else has gone as planned on this project. Didn't work yesterday, not today, not likely tomorrow...although if we don't I think I can commandeer the car and get over to Sedona for a bit in the afternoon, which would be cool. We drove through there yesterday on the way back from a run down to Phoenix to do a site survey on the next project, which I have begged off from being part of. YAY!!! I miss my wife, and I want to go home.

I've been to The Grand Canyon for a day on both previous weekends. It remains one of my most favorite places on earth....even though they've paved over the path I walked 30 years ago, from Canyon Village to Hermit's Rest...and I know that because I walked it again that Sunday, re-connecting to something so big that even paved paths can't diminish it...and I'm not talking about what the natives around here refer to as "the hole in the ground".

The second trip was with two guys from the crew, one of which had never been there. It was fun watching him experience it. Along the way, we were approached by a Park Ranger who was no doubt aware of some of our forays to exposed heights along the edge. She counseled caution, informing us that she'd just received radio advisement that someone had fallen back up the trail a little ways, where we had been. She wasn't sure of how far or serious a fall it had been. Then she said,"I don't get what everyone's fascination with the edge is."

It's the Grand Canyon, duh...


Back here and now, the rumble of thunder in the distance has begun...

it's a wild night at the hoffman house

Trying to contain all the craziness here. Chinese takeout and popcorn for dinner. The dishwasher is running. Nothing on TV. Too sleepy to start a movie and too tired to go over to my friend Mary's for Movies on the Wall tonight. Kids are all out for the evening doing their kid thing. Rick is living it up in Flagstaff, AZ. What a life.

Becca started her first job this week as a part-time staff photographer at my school. Now all my little ducklings are employed. Even though Missy is trying to get a new job, she is technically still employed.

Rick is still in AZ doing the carpentry thing. It's a slow job, so he's been to the Grand Canyon twice, Phoenix and a drive-by of Sedona today.

I am still liking my job, working the 9-to-5, doing the mom thing and holding down the fort in Rick's absence. Last week I went to see my doctor, and she cut my blood pressure meds in half since I am doing so well. It has been the goal to be more healthy since last November when she first put me on them, so this is a good milestone. One of the side-effects is that none of my clothes fit (too big), so at some point I will have to break down and buy some new ones. The consequences to the contrary seemed far worse, so it's not so bad.

Looking forward to seeing Lori and Jeremiah and troops next week. Papa's birthday is next Sunday. We are all excited to meet the twins. Lor says Caleb broke the 6 lb mark this week: 6 lbs 1 oz. Peter is close behind. Look at 'em grow.

So my wild evening ends with tea and maybe a chapter in my latest book - re-reading Hiroshima Diary. I first read it when I was about 11 from Papa's library. Even though I was young, it touched me deeply. I found a first edition at Powell's a while ago. Just reading it again now. Still deeply moving.

Life is good. Definitely good.

Sherri

missing my best friend

( youtube video no longer available)

Come home soon, love.

<3

Sherri