Redwoods in NGM

This is one of the coolest things I have seen in a while:

High Fidelity

"L.A.... proved too much for the man." definitely gets in the all time top 5 best lines in a song. "There's nothing wrong with me loving you..." is all I need to hear from Marvin Gaye. And one of the best lines in a song... ever. "You ain't a beauty but hey you're all right...and that's all right with me." Bruuuuuuuuce. I'm working on #'s 4 and 5.

South Sisters

Another Summer '09 event - climbing South Sisters with Mary, Janice, Peter, Michael and Luke. This was a lot more painful than eating crab and drinking beer though. But of course well worth it - the mountaintop view and the pasta from Peter as our celebratory "we climbed a 10,600 foot mountain" meal.

Thistle Weekend

Great summers always have to come to an end. Unless you have a camera. And then they can live forever. A walk on a beach, a great crab dinner, a lot of laughs, a few bottles of wine, maybe a bottle of something exotic and if you are not too careful - dangerous. And then a morning of golf and more time to talk and share and smell the salty air.

A Race for the Ages

Kayla Smith, left, will be running for the Fighting Illini this year and Kellie will be running her last year of HS track.

Great Runners I Have Seen

I was just telling a friend about this race and it made me want to look at this picture again. Kellie Scheuler and Kayla Smith - probably two of the best HS athletes Oregon will ever see. I think Kayla is back east in college and Kellie will be chasing down Margaret Johnson-Bailes' 41 year old 100 meter record. Kellie ran a wind aided 11.68 on this day here - which ties the record - on a calm day that is. In a sec I will post a picture of them mid-race.

No reason for this post except I like this picture of Christian. It was a 90 degree day and behind Christian is Pier Park in North Portland - a place I had never been. I need to get out more.

Great Runners and Slow Runners

Got to see Christian run for Gonzaga this last Friday. He ran really well - came in 4th for the team and 12th overall - very good for his 2nd collegiate meet. And had a nice dinner with Jim, Janice and Peter at Pause which I thank Colleen and John for introducing me to... not only good food but firemen too.

And had the pleasure of running 22.5 (yes that last 1/2 mile means something when you are on mile 21 1/2!) miles this Saturday with Janice. I'd love to say that it was a barrel of fun but it wasn't - it was hard. And you know what - you really are in pain after you run that long - and then you can't eat for about 24 hours. So you'd think after doing all that you would just go home - lounge around in your pajamas and just eat ice cream all day. But you know what? You don't.

The running with Janice and Mary part was great.

Weekend in NY

Long overdue report - had a great time - can't wait to go back. Bagels are just better in NY. End of report.

Keystone Light

Some people can make magic with a few spices, some rice, a half a chicken and an oven. Or there are others that can take a few colors and create an image that takes our breath away. But there is no end to the creativity that teenagers can make when they wish to outwit their parents and enjoy libations with a few hundred of their closest friends.

It was a rainy camping weekend - which we cut short but all was not lost. A 30 case of Keystone Light and there was no end to the fun!

2nd Generation Thistle

2nd Generation Thistle
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

History has been made! Our first mother daughter Thistle game happened last Thursday - June 11 when Emily Thompson played in her first of hopefully many Thistle games. She even helped create our one goal. She played terrific and it was a great night for all Thistles.

Christian & Mom

Christian & Mom
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Congratulations Mom too!

Christian, Mom & Dad - JHS

Christian, Mom & Dad - JHS
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Congratulations Christian!

Jesuit Twilight Relays

If you are a HS track fan this is a great meet featuring some of our best athletes in Oregon. At this level the access for amateur photographers is really great. Stay tuned for some great pics of the girl's 100 m run. Great race - great athletes.

Christ Church

Hawksmoor Church
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

This is Christ Church in Spitalfields - A Nicholas Hawksmoor church. I was here at the wrong time of day and this is the best shot of the bunch and think it is a little better as a B & W picture.

Screech Owl in Lithia Park

Nope a Screech Owl
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Just returned from a nice weekend in Ashland. While taking a long leisurely walk through Lithia Park - we saw the rare breed of bespeckled Ornithologist. Complete with Nikon D2 and 400 mm lens - said species eyed this oak tree. Thankfully I can communicate with this rare breed and said Ornithologist was kind enough to give us a look.

If left to my own two eyes I would never have seen this cute little guy who blends in so well with this oak tree. This is a screech owl. He is sleeping so soundly about 30 feet above a very noisy kids playground. Amazing how wildlife can adapt to our strange environment.

Isn't he/she adorable?

What happened?

Daisy or Dinner?
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Where did everyone go? Well we had a snow storm and then that thing called Christmas and New Years and darn if they didn't make us all go back to work.

The best news is that for Christmas I got a new lens! If I want I can get really close to cows... and not just in the hamburger and steak way that makes me most happy.

A really incredibly nice person in my life did this for me and I will not be able to repay them - except they will get a lot more pictures of their sons now. Thank you so much.

Athens in Turmoil

Byzantine Church Athens
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

There have been riots in Athens for the past week after the police shooting and death of a 15 year old from northern Greece. I always hate to see Greece in the news this way - as there is so much about Greece and the people there that is so wonderful. But the political situation there has always been volatile - pretty much since they gained independence from Turkey in 1821.

Although Greece and Athens was the birthplace of democracy - it has had a hard time regaining that glory in modern times. It is something Greeks are always in conflict over and is reflected in their modern poetry and art.

It's a fascinating and beautiful place - and I hope they find political peace soon - it likely means that the current Prime Minister Karamanlis will be deposed.

So this picture is absolutely no reflection of what I'm talking about - but it is a beautiful Byzantine church.

It was a good day

Nike Cross Nationals - The Hills

If you take enough pictures of this hill - Christian does appear. This is harder than it looks.