33 degrees. Marchers huddle around warmers.

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March day!

On the road heading to White Sands for this year's Bataan Memorial Death March. This year 22 survivors of the original March are here for year observance and there are 5700 marc:hers. Jake flew in from Oregon yesterday with at least 2 other marchers, one of whom was a wounded warrior.

Preparing for a marathon is largely mental regardless of whether you do it running or walking. I do them sleep deprived! Interesting to see all the folks from Talavera just now arriving home from a night out!
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Rosie goes hiking

Rosie went hiking us this weekend. Phillip documented the hike from her view. Next weekend is the last before the marathon, so we took the opportunity to climb the minor mountain (with the politically incorrect name of Squaw Mountain) behind the house. Time constraints prevented us from topping it, but we probably made it to about 6500 feet from a start of 5000. Peak is just over 6800 feet. Rosie slept very well the rest of the day.

The photographer was friend Phillip, who posted his photos on his flickr photostream.

Other news

• Windy season is here. Biking home was very easy today with a 20 mph tailwind.
  
• Jake is due home a week and a half from now. We couldn't get him a Friday flight so will not get here until Saturday.
• Quincy is interning at the Rio Grande Theatre. She loves learning about the care and feeding of a theatre and has already learned much about lighting.

Stu and I will be traveling to Missouri for the Munson Family Reunion in mid April. Stu will spend a day at the Anheuser Busch before we head to Hannibal.

Lots O Cats

According to the cat thermometer, it is not warm yet.

The top white cat is Stow, the old guy, who can't be bothered with much these days. He really likes his new food, but greatly protested the sub-cutaneous fluid that would have helped hydrate him. Old guy that he is, his kidneys are not what they once were. But his purr box still works well and he seems to enjoy being the lord of the manor. Widget and Nom are the other 2 cats.

Good Bataan hike yesterday. Not long, but we were out there in the cold and wind and rain. Erazmus hikers are tough! Only 2 more weekends before the Death March!

Other news: Stu and I plan to travel to St. Louis in April for the Munson Family Reunion. Stu will also tour some little brewery in town before we head to Hannibal for the weekend. Quincy just finished a run as stage manager for the LCHS production of Dracula (wow, are vampires popular with teens!!!). And the house is all paid off.

Gotta go. Monday...

Quincy visits another college...

...and likes it! Southern Oregon University in Ashland was a big hit with her. I think being just a couple hours from her brother might have influenced her, but she declares not. Anyway, she really got into the college thing, walking places, seeing shows each night she was there, learning about tuition, jobs, etc. They have a great theatre program and options for study abroad. And they are part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange.

Stu and Quincy flew into Portland, so they saw Jacob on their way in and out of Oregon. Meanwhile, I finished a round if Ursus and enjoyed the sunshine. They arrived home late Sunday evening, and Quincy still had a day to recover before heading back to school today.

Bataan prep hike to Dripping Springs

Ah, yes. Here we all are last Saturday at the weather station near Dripping Springs. Round trip hike was 12-ish miles in pretty rugged terrain. Not strenuous, but definite calf kickers. The fires from a couple summers ago cleared out a lot of the brushy junk and made hiking pleasant. Not sure how many of the lovely old hackberries survived, though.

Stu and Quincy are heading to Oregon right now for her visit to Southern Oregon University in Ashland. She has been accepted there and will tour campus tomorrow. They also will see 2 shows there and visit Jacob. (I get to stay home and house sit. Why exactly is that, again?)

Jake called yesterday to share that he spent time with Samson, a yellow lab that brightens up the day at Willamette. Yellow labs seem to be the universal language of tail-thumping affection and acceptance.

Family back east is digging out of more snow. News this morning said Philadelphia has had 70 inches for the year. Awesome (at least, awesome from a distance of 2000 miles!!!!)!

College here and there...

Quincy is nearing the end of her college search. She has been accepted at all her schools and has interviewed at University of Evansville. She will visit Southern Oregon soon, and will make her final decision after hearing about financial aid offers. Not much to expect there...

Jake's semester seems to be going well. His classes are interesting (economics and a rhetoric course are his non-science courses) and he is a teaching assistant again for a biology class. He is especially enjoying microbiology.

Weather is warming, making for good biking. We have been hiking on weekends getting ready for the 2010 Bataan and can be found on Facebook at Erasmus B. Dragon Hiking club.