I took down the winner :-)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Microsoft Tech-Ed 2011
Every year, Microsoft hosts an educational event where technology professionals gather to listen, learn and network. This year Tech-Ed was in Atlanta and I got to go! It was an intense, non-stop week. Days were spent with over 10,000 other participants (of only which less than 1000 were women) listening to guest speakers, taking part in interactive discussions and meeting vendors and other technology professionals. Nights were spent at dinner and attending parties. Not surprisingly, I slept the whole plane ride home!
The scene for opening day's keynote speech
Sunset on the Atlanta skyline
My colleagues from Denmark boxing it out on Microsoft's Kinect
I took down the winner :-)
The closing party was at Atlanta's aquarium and this guy was all arms
Giant Manta Rays!
Big fish
I took down the winner :-)
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
3rd Annual Mt. St. Helens Mothers Day Climb
For the 3rd year in a row, my climbing friends and I headed up to Mt. St. Helens on Mother's Day weekend to attempt to summit. This year, however, was much different. Instead of the bright sunshine we've had in years past, we were greeted with rain. Instead of summiting, we made a group decision to turn around when visibility was lost after climbing 2-3000'. It was a hard, emotional choice to turn back but probably for the best. Safety first, right? No matter what, I'm proud of the 20 hardy souls that woke up at 4:30 a.m., donned dresses over gear (as per mountain Mother's Day tradition), and gave it a go despite the poor, slightly miserable and possibly hypothermic conditions.
This is the 1 photo I have from the summit attempt courtesy of JL
I was too cold and wet to get out my own camera
For previous Mother's Day climbs and to see how it could have looked, click below:
2010
2009
I was too cold and wet to get out my own camera
For previous Mother's Day climbs and to see how it could have looked, click below:
2010
2009
Monday, May 2, 2011
Portland Timbers and Their Army
As of this year, Portland's long-standing soccer team is now in the major leagues, has a newly renovated stadium specifically designed for soccer and a continually growing fan base. They also have their army. The Timbers Army. Started in 2001, this independent group of fans began congregating in section 107 ("The Woodshed") to create a European-style rooting club complete with drums, flags, scarves and constant singing and chanting. Now, years later, the club has grown to comprise multiple sections. This is where my friends and I sit. RCTID!! (Rose City 'Til I Die)
The Timbers Army (and some friends)
"No Pity"
JL bearing his flag
K and Liz celebrating after our most recent win
The best and most effective cheerleader I've ever seen
Video of a Portland Timbers goal - good timing to have the camera on!
The Timbers Army celebrating a recent victory
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Mt. Defiance
Last weekend, to continue with training for the upcoming Mt. St. Helens climb and undeterred by the forecast for rain, 6 hardy souls (meaning myself and 5 awesome friends) took it upon themselves to hike Mt. Defiance. Mt. Defiance is just as hard as the name implies with, count them, 5000 feet of elevation gain! Luckily, the rain held out and after 9 hours on the trail, 6 happy hikers were successfully back at the trailhead with sore legs and good memories. Too bad the alleged Sasquatch sighting ended up being a tree stump.
The mystical forest trail before hitting snow at 3000 feet
A tier of friends
Happy at the summit of Mt. Defiance
Not a great view and lame man-made objects but we had great cell phone reception
A rainbow to greet us as we came out of the woods on our descent
Not a great view and lame man-made objects but we had great cell phone reception
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Box Knockers are Back
Monday, April 18, 2011
Gleneden Beach
Craving a recharge after the long winter, I decided to take a solo sojourn to the Oregon coast last weekend. As my little, old CRV took me on roads west, I realized the coast is a place I don't visit nearly enough as I'm usually drawn to Mt. Hood in the east. While visiting Gleneden Beach, I took a run along the shoreline, watched an amazing sunset, ate crab, killed a bottle of Ken Wright wine (thank you Sis) and thought about all the facets of life. It was just what this little soul needed.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Playin' Hooky
Last Friday, I quite coincidentally took the day off from work on what happened to be the best spring day of the year so far. The sun was shining, warm on our faces and the air had the crispness of winter's end.
My awesome friend, C-lin, joined me on a training hike to help prepare for the upcoming Mt. St. Helens Mother's day climb in May. Hoping to reach over 3000' of elevation gain, we stopped and turned around about 2000' up after running into tracks in the snow that put an image of a big cat ambling along the trail in front of us in my mind.
So what are two girls with extra time on their hands to do? Why, we stopped at our favorite watering hole, Edgefield, for a post-hike drink in the sun. Just lovely.
The trail leading up to Nesmith Point taking us past mossy rocks and vibrant trees...eventually it was covered with snow
Cute as a button
A sea of daffodils at Edgefield
My awesome friend, C-lin, joined me on a training hike to help prepare for the upcoming Mt. St. Helens Mother's day climb in May. Hoping to reach over 3000' of elevation gain, we stopped and turned around about 2000' up after running into tracks in the snow that put an image of a big cat ambling along the trail in front of us in my mind.
So what are two girls with extra time on their hands to do? Why, we stopped at our favorite watering hole, Edgefield, for a post-hike drink in the sun. Just lovely.
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