Ready for Summer...

After weeks of rain and having a blue tarp "pool" in the hole we dug for a patio...it is finished!  It looks amazing and it wouldn't have been possible with all of the help of family.  We are really going to enjoy this area of the yard this summer.  Now, we better start filling the promises to all of the neighbors about glasses of wine and margaritas on this thing...

Best camera is the one you have with you...

They say the best camera is the one you have with you when you need it. It appears to also be true now that more photos are captured each day with iPhone than any other camera. So, here is a mix of photos I made without lugging around my expensive and stress-inducing SLR kit. 

Portraits require a big camera?...

Portrait with Great Grandparents 2013

I like this shot.  What a cherished moment and overall visit.  From a photography standpoint, though, it a big camera necessary?  I am starting to think more and more that the answer is no...  Still, pictures are worth (or help re-live) a thousand memories!

Puerto Rico was amazing...

Waterfalls

Puerto Rico was an amazing place and we were so lucky to make it there with a bunch of friends.  Good food and friends always makes for a great vacation but the weather and sights, like this waterfall, topped the whole trip off as one of the best ever.  We can't wait to go back!

Toughest event I've ever done...

Holy cow! GORUCK is tough even with a great team. Thirteen hours starting at 1:00 am. 250 lb parking curb for 5 miles then 5-600 lb log for 3 miles. Oh yeah, "low crawl" through ice and goose turds to kick the whole thing off! Erik and I survived!! Good guys like Justin, the Joshes, Captain America and dude in orange are awesome!!
Pictures below show the readout of the pedometer I carried the whole challenge. 52k steps, 16.6 miles, 1.76 mph avg.

Gear and Grub...

Din Din

A few more shots from the overnight at Lake Maria.  It is essential to pack well when you are heading out solo.  Plenty of items to get and stay both warm and occupied are a must.  Cooking is essential, of course, but also a great form of entertainment.  I think this trip was my first true use of my backpacking chopsticks (titanium ends sticking out of the box).  

Planning and Packing

Another sweet treasure of an item that you can find for pennies these days is an old Coleman lantern.  Light from one of these augmenting the low light of a campfire is heavenly! 

Most Appreciated Item

Goruck Training Location Beta...

Solo Training Session

Somewhere in central MN last night, Goruck training commenced at location beta.  Forty pounds in the pack and 80-90 on the sled was enough to require a little break by the fire in the evening.

Location Beta

Valentines Day 2013...

It was another amazing Valentines Day this year! This one was all the better thanks to it being my first day off work between jobs. I had the whole day to get ready for this great surf and turf. I also brought Katina a homemade photo floral arrangement.

Vegas...!

Had a great time with Katina, mom, Craig and new step brother, Ryan in Las Vegas! It was all of our first time and it was very much as expected. Except the beautiful women and rich men in the casinos seemed to have turned into average Jane and Joe since the movies were shot there.

Dropped: Project Afton

Camped out we Byron on the coldest night of the year to date. The trek to camp was perfect weather and then after sundown the temp dropped 50 degrees! It was warm in the bag but bone-chilling at the morning coffee pot. I took a little of the weight off my back and accelerated the trip back to car in the most obvious way!