Joshua Tree

Seann went down to Joshua Tree the first weekend in December for a two week long rock climbing trip. Snowy weather down there as well cut the trip a few days short, but it meant he wasn't trying to drive home in the snow we have outside right now (add about 6 inches to the pictures below). He had a fabulous time climbing with his buddies and took a few pictures.

Pretty

View from the opposite direction

Seann's new favorite route

Negotiating the crack

All done!

Again with the snow

Here are some pictures of the snow. It has pretty much been snowing all week, but getting lighter and lighter. Another storm system came in today and it has been snowing all day again. These pictures are from today but last Sunday looked pretty much the same.

View out my office window

Street view. I would have taken a picture of the front of our house had it not been so cold. I'm a wimp. And I didn't want to put on my coat just to take a picture.

Our front yard.

The basketball hoop.

Backyard.

It's snowing

It has been getting gradually colder over the last couple of weeks and it seemed winter had finally come to the Pacific Northwest. But this week, it's definitive. It started on Sunday. Snow began to fall by about 9:00 in the morning. I was glad I had Seann's truck but not so glad I was at work. I've never been happier about only working until 11:00. As I drove home in the lightly falling snow I was just thankful nothing had really stuck to the roads yet. The snow kept falling and falling and falling. Oscar absolutely loved it, burying his head and jumping around. He is definitely a snow dog. Charlie was not enjoying it nearly as much. I think it confused him. He barked at it. A lot. He would beg to go outside and then as soon as he was out, he would realize that snow is very cold and he has no fat or hair to keep him warm. Poor little guy. Both dogs needed a walk and so while the snow was still in the early stages, we tried. But Oscar wouldn't stop pulling, almost making me topple over, and Charlie wouldn't stop barking. So we didn't get far. The snow continued to fall all day long and into the evening. Our roommate came home without her car. She got caught in the snow and realized pretty quickly that Oregon freeways in the snow are not places you want to be. And she comes from Iowa so snow doesn't scare her. It was a long day but absolutely beautiful. Needless to say, school was canceled on Monday.

There was no snow on Monday but it was very, very cold (not reaching the 30's) and so the snow stayed, and turned into a dangerous icy mess. I tried to walk the dogs again, but the sidewalk was very slippery and again, we didn't get far. I stayed home in my nice warm house and baked cookies. Then I realized I was out of milk. There was no way I was driving in this mess. I am not from Iowa and have no experience driving in snow. It would not be pretty. Luckily, my roommate was going to attempt to pick up her car and it was in a grocery store parking lot. She said she'd get me some milk. Yay for roommates who aren't afraid of driving in the snow. Unfortunately, attempting to get out of the parking garage proved impossible as the outgoing ramp was a solid sheet of ice. She still brought me milk though. So very nice of her. Schools were closed again on Tuesday.

We didn't have snow on Tuesday either and it was a little warmer. Wind had blown much of the snow off rooftops and my front lawn had several patches that were green instead of white. The road outside my house was mostly clear. I needed eggs (for cookies) and dinner, so I decided this was my best shot. The roads to the grocery store were totally clear. As I walked into Safeway, I realized that everyone else in Beaverton had also decided now was their chance. The store was packed, but I got what I needed and made it home without incident. Schools were closed for Wednesday.

This morning, as I sit and type this, I am looking out my window as the snow begins to fall again. It is supposed to snow off and on today and tomorrow. I'm glad I got my eggs when I did. I think UPS is going to have to pick up my Christmas packages because there is no way I am driving to the post office. I am fearful that schools will be closed all week. While I'm sure the kids will be ecstatic, I'm also thinking of all the projects that were supposed to go home as gifts this week, the gingerbread houses that were supposed to get made, supplies already at school. I guess we'll just have to make New Year houses instead!

I had planned on getting a Christmas tree and decorating this week, but I guess that will have to wait. Hopefully it will be clear this weekend.

Apparently it is snowing down in Joshua Tree (where Seann has been since the 7th) too. Seann is going to leave a few days early (he's actually leaving this morning) and should be home tomorrow night. Unfortunately, he forgot to put the chains in the car and will likely have to buy some new ones. Oh well, as long as he get's home safely, I can handle an extra set of chains.

And the poor dogs are a bit stir crazy. Oscar is still loving the snow and runs around the backyard having a blast. But poor Charlie can't stay outside for long before he gets too cold. They will be glad when Seann gets home; they miss him. Every time Oscar comes in the house, he takes a tour just in case Seann came home while he was outside.

I wish I had some pictures to share, but Seann has the camera down in Joshua Tree. I'm sure it will still be snowing when he gets home tomorrow so I'll post some shots then. In the meantime, I'm going to bake some more cookies and pack up these boxes and stay in my nice, warm house and watch the snow fall.

Public Service Announcement

My friend Tracey posted this on Facebook and I thought it was a really important message this winter.

Doghouse Video

In N Out

Last night Seann and I went out Christmas shopping and decided to just eat out. Who wants to get home at 7:00 and cook? There was a Burgerville in the shopping center so we figured, why not?

Apparently Burgerville is some sort of Portland fixture. It's basically a fast food joint that isn't really as bad as fast food. I don't mean that the food is any healthier than McDonald's or Burger King, but that the atmosphere is nicer, the quality is better (way, way better) and they bring you your food. But sitting there, eating our burgers, we started discussing burger joints. And we both sighed as we talked about In N Out.

Living in Oregon, we don't have an In N Out. This greatly saddens me. In N Out is still just a fast food burger joint, but it is simple, no gimmicks and the fries are wonderful. Real, fresh and very yummy. The people of Oregon need to be introduced to yummy fries.

I think we should start a petition.