weekend photos and misc thoughts

I've got a few things floating around my head that I keep forgetting to mention so I'm cramming a bunch of unrelated stuff into this post! If you'd like to skip ahead to the good part, go right ahead.. I've posted photos from our trip out to the coast at the end. :)


* First, the training update from today:
Monday: run
9.0 miles/1:17:42/8:38 average pace
Marine Drive
(I swear all of my runs lately have been at this exact pace!)


* I am super excited about the upcoming Race for the Roses Half Marathon on April 5th. I'm determined to set a PR and I know I can do it! Zach and I drove the course the other day and I was happy to see it's mostly flat. There's a gradual climb that lasts maybe 1-1.5 miles in the first part of the race but it's not that bad. The rest of the course is gently downhill or flat. There are two bridge crossings, one at the beginning and one at the end, but I'm just going to forget about them.


* Deana is running the 5k at Race for the Roses and I'm very happy to report that she has totally been training! She's been running about 2 miles twice a week even though I haven't been able to run with her at all. Hopefully we'll be able to get together this Wednesday. I'm very proud of her for sticking to it! She also bikes to work a few miles each day so she's in good shape and with the training I have no doubt she'll post a respectable time for the 5k.


* For Biggest Loser fans, I meant to mention the Half Marathon the contestants ran in the last episode. I was so excited and proud of the Losers for doing it. Almost all of them finished and Tara won the challenge by finishing it in an impressive 2:24. I love Tara!! (And hate Helen for choosing Tara to penalize with her Penalty Cookie!) I hope Tara wins the competition. I was sad to see Kathy go home. I can't wait to watch this week's episode. Such a great show!


* A couple of weeks ago, when Zach's parents were in town, we all went to see Brett Dennen at the Crystal Ballroom. I didn't really know who he was before but recognized some of the tunes and am now totally a fan. The opening act was Angus and Julia Stone who were amazing. I should go to more concerts.


* Not much else to report I guess. I'm still unemployed, in case you were wondering. Obviously I will make a huge deal about getting a job if it ever happens. The job market is horrible but I'm still looking and being patient and staying positive. We're fine financially (esp. with recent tax refunds) and I'm still getting unemployment checks so I'm not stressed out about that at all. It's more of a boredom issue... I go back and forth between desperately wanting something to fill the hours and thinking I could get used to this. Anyway, I am thinking of finding a new volunteer opportunity to add to the Library gig to keep me busy. If no one will pay me to work I'm going to find some deserving organization where I can work for free. To summarize, I'm very thankful we're not worse off and I am trying to make the most of the situation.

* Picture time! I love Oregon.

Spring working its way into Portland:

Crossed several bridges on our way to the coast:

Old cannery on the Columbia:

Some huge cargo ships dwarfed in the Columbia:

Lightship outside the Maritime Museum in Astoria:

The enormous and beautiful Astoria-Megler Bridge that spans the mouth of the Columbia:

Fort Stevens State Park, including wreckage from the Peter Iredale, a ship that ran aground here in 1906:

Blizzard on Hwy 26 in the Coast Range on our way home:

That is all. Thanks for reading! Until next time.