Bridget Graduated from Highschool! Yay! She will be attending Gonzaga in the fall - Go Bulldogs! Here are some photos from her ceremony and BBQ also celebrating: Caitlin, who graduated with Bridget and will also be attending Ganzaga in the fall; Brad who graduated with his Bachelors Degree from CWU (Wildcats), and Kyle who achieved his Associates Degree from YVCC (Yaks). Congratulations guys!

Beautiful Blue Baby

Well She's finally here! My 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250 arrived in Yakima on Wednesday, and I drove her home on Thursday. My buddy Sam from work gave me a ride to the dealership, and rode beside me all the way home. He said I did pretty good!


Later in the evening I took her out, fueled her up, and drove her to meet my friends Jeff, Laura, Helen & Curt. They all agreed that she is very attractive!

I drove her to work Friday for my co-workers to meet, and on Saturday I did a little bit of driving in town. Our top speed so far has been 40mph. I know - we're wild! Actually, I have yet to take her out of town where I can get her up to speed. Maybe I'll do that tonight....



PS Now I just have to decide what to name her. Any suggestions?

MSC & Soccer!

I just finished the motorcycle safety course. Wow I learned a lot! I missed my practical by 10 points; considering it was my first time driving a motorcycle, I did alright. I even drug a peg! Apparently, its worth some street cred - or that's what I'm told. I went wide in the turn and leaned the bike trying to bring it back on course. It was pretty neat though. Some of my classmates were impressed...
This was me all geared up and my partner for the class! I just adore being on a motorcycle. I can't wait for mine.



Bonus - My buddy Mikey and I got to watch the Brazil/Canada soccer game at Quest field! It amazes me how much more fun sports are to watch live. We had a great time - and it was a supprisingly close game, but Brazil pulled it out in the end!

Crazy Cowiche Cruise

So Kelsey & I decided to take her muttlets and go on a moutain bike ride in the Cowiche Canyon. Today was one of the hottest days of the year, and after applying liberal amounts of sunscreen we hit the trails. Please note that up unitl this point I had been a trail ride virgin. That's right folks, this was my first EVER real terrain ride. Kelsey's husband Derek, my buddy Taylor, his neighbors Jeff, Curt, and Kirby all ride a LOT, and are familiar with these trails (however none of them were with us...) So, I'm up for a challenge, and my friends seem to think its great fun, so sure! Why not! Well, it was definately challenging. But I think I took it like a champ. At one point I decided to be adventurous, and took one of the mini parralell trails that take off and return to the main trail. I'm cruising up a small hill when I see a rather thick, oddly colored stick in my path. I'm about 2 feet away when my brain clicks on and I realize its not a stick. I scream, lift my knees to my ears, and run right over the middle of the rattlesnake with both my tires. As if the snakes day isn't crummy enough, the two dogs come running up behind me. Kelsey was yelling at them, trying to distract them from the snake, and thankfully neither of them were bitten. I was a little shaky from adrenaline and stopped a few yards down the trail. Kelsey was impressed that I didn't wreck from shock or fear. Honestly, by the time I realized the snake was there, I was already on top of it and there was nothing else I could do but run right over it! I felt bad too... poor thing, minding its own business, taking in the first real rays of sun after a long cold winter and several teases of spring, only to be run over by me and then harassed by the dogs. Needless to say it was long gone when we returned to the scene of the crime, and we continued on back to the truck. I wanted an adventure, I got one!

Andrea's Easter Weekend Graduation

This weekend my sister Andrea graduated from Western Washington University with her bachelors degree in psychology. This is an exceptional achievement considering she is only 23, and takes care of her 2 1/2 year old son single handedly when her husband Michael (in the Navy) deploys for six monthes at a time, plus she lives an hour from campus - which is almost a two hour bus ride from campus (she's pretty sustainable and environmentaly conscious!). So my amazing sister has achieved a milestone, and I am SO PROUD OF HER! My other sisters, little brother, dad, and his wife Patricia, Andrea's husband Michael and thier son Logan went to her gradation ceremony with me. Afterwards, my sister Michale and I stayed in Oak Horbor, for Easter. Andrea gave all her sisters tennis rackets for Easter, so Drea, Shelly, Michael and I played tennis this weekend. We played lots of other board-games and card games as well. We all went to Easter Mass Sunday morning, and enjoyed a brunch at Drea's house afterwards. It's been a pretty great weekend!

PS We saw a sea otter! Check it out!

Inaugural Blog

So one of my good friends posts to this blog site to keep in contact with his friends and family. I think he sets a wonderful example. (Thanks Taylor!) So, to all who care to read, here is my 'blog' and an update on my life!



Last year I started playing hockey, and fell in love. What an awesomly exhilerating sport - and I don't even go that fast yet! I started slowly, and am now playing 3 nights a week - I practice with the little kids (ages 3-13ish), with the ladies team, and play co-ed pick-up when I can. The ladies team recurited me for next year, so wish me luck! I should be able to afford some new gear by then... but I was able to purchase a new pair of ice hockey skates, a helmet, some gloves, and shingards (Thanks Barr family!)


In January, for my birthday, Taylor & I did the polar bear plunge. That's right. We voluntarily jumped into a lake that was frozen the night before to raise money for special olympics. We even won costume contests - I had the best polar climate costume (I was dressed as a french maid) and he had zaniest costume(in his hockey gear). After we warmed up, we headed to tri-cities where I took in my first 'real' hockey games - the tri-city americans won against the giants (I think thats who they played).


I February I interviewed for and was offered a position with Ecology's Solid Waste program as the Grant Officer and Sustainability Coordinator for the central region. I'm very excited about the position, which I start later this month! So now you are more or less caught up. I'll try to update monthly. Love, Maureen