Hosting 50 Women For Hamlin Robinson School Auction Item

Our son goes to Hamlin Robinson, a school targeted for those who have dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.  We have donated a variety items for the school auction like a dinner party at our house.  This year my wives friends decided to donate an evening for mom’s to get together.  I figured a dozen people when someone bids for the item and invites her friends.  The auctioneer read the description and auctioned individual attendance to get as many people as she could to bid $75/each for an evening with other mom’s for cocktails.  Well 50 people bid.

We have lots of help including our kids and some of their friends.

The weather wasn’t that bad, a bit of rain, a bit chilly which is why we have a tent and fire pit.

We had plenty of food and I cooked 7 pizzas.

Here are the hosts.

End of Winter Ski Season, transitioning to Summer Ski Season

It’s Spring and kids just had their last winter season ski race.  Our kids did the best they have all season and finished with improved times, better technique, and a lot more friends.  

My little boy got close to last in the fun nordic race because he was helping up kids who fell.  He doesn’t relate to the hyper competitive spirit some parents encourage.  The nice thing is one of the parents came up right when we were leaving the mountain on the last day, two days after the nordic race and thanked my son on his good sportsmanship helping her son get up when the two of them got tangled in the race.  Her son ended up getting 3rd, but his parent used my son’s act of kindness to teach him a lesson of good sportsmanship.  My son got close to last because he continue to help others kids up who fell which means he was going further back. :-)

After all that, he went for the classic I am so exhausted, collapse at the finish line.

The intensity is high which you can see by these girls expression on the face and flying hair.

The nordic is a lot of fun for the kids who spend their time downhill skiing.

It’s the end of winter ski season and in June Summer Ski Season starts at Mt Hood.

Skiing, Beer, Software - three of my favorite things to do

I am at Mt Bachelor ski area in Bend, OR for the kids ski race.

First stop was Boneyard Beer to fill the growlers.

Talking software is kind of easy with a bunch of other skiers who are Microsoft working in Xbox, Office, and Windows.  This trip I went to see a software company HQ in Bend, OR that does some cool 3D graphics.

Kids will have three days of skiing and part of my job is take pictures.

Took me 24 hrs SEA->SJC, and was a Great Trip

I take the trip from SEA -> SJC -> SEA often sometimes twice a month.  Last week I took the trip from SEA to SJC and it took me 24 hours to get there.  Why?  Because I took the Amtrak Train with son for spring break to see his Grandma, Aunts, and Uncles.  My little boy had so much fun he wants to take the ride every year.

The Seattle Amtrak terminal is newly remodeled.

The Coast Starlight is a ride I have wanted to take for a while and I convinced my son, well didn’t convince him, gave him no choice that we were going to ride the train the SJC.

The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unsurpassed. The dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline provide a stunning backdrop for your journey.

Travel in Comfort

This legendary train features bi-level Superliner coaches and sleeping cars, along with exclusive amenities. The Dining Car offers fresh cuisine served on real china and table linens. Coach passengers enjoy big, comfortable seats, plenty of legroom and new, larger pillows, plus available at-seat meal service.

Sleeping car passengers can experience a full range of exclusive services and amenities on the Coast Starlight, including complimentary onboard internet access via AmtrakConnect and an exciting alternative meal service, both available in the Parlour Car. Each sleeping car passenger will receive complimentary meals (with the exception of alcohol) in the Dining Car or the Pacific Parlour Car and a special welcome gift. This "living room on rails" is the perfect place for sleeping car passengers to relax, celebrate or socialize. With an onboard theater and alternative dining venue, the Pacific Parlour Car will make your Coast Starlight experience unforgettable.

I thought my son would like to hang out in the parlor car.

But that’s where i had it wrong.  He was happiest in the roomette sleeper room we had, watching videos on his iPad and looking out the window.

Couldn’t resist wandering around and seeing where the 480V power systems were in the car.

Images to Provide Feedback on Performance

Video is assumed to be the way to provide feedback on the performance of athletes.  I find that many times though a good photo can work to freeze a point of time.

Here are a bunch of pictures from this year’s Buddy Werner 2014 U14 Girl’s championship GS race at Crystal Mountain.  https://www.facebook.com/BWC2014

There are a bunch of little details the coaches and parents can point out to how their kids race tuck looks.

FYI - the fastest girl out of the group was the 1st picture.