Mountains and Marriages

As you probably already know, hiking is one of my favorite things to do, especially when I don't fall and break my body...

This picture is of Fifes Ridge in the South Cascades. We also had lots of fun being 5 year olds once we got to the top of this rocky point and threw rocks off the cliff. It is hard to describe how much fun it is to throw a rock and then count 5 seconds before you hear it hit the bottom. Or to throw rocks at other pieces of rock to break them. 

Two weeks ago, I climbed my first peak of the season, and encouraged my 2 hiking partners to the top of their first mountain! Mountain peaks are amazing because you have an unobstructed 360 degree view of mountains for miles on end. The fun thing about hiking in Washington is you can always see Mt. Rainier in the distance too, oh I love Rainier. There were so many ladybugs on top of the mountain. And a summit log! They are usually inside a waterproof capsule and are little booklets of people who logged when they climbed the peak, along with a little message. I enjoy reading other entries, and it is fun to write your name and short message. 

On top of Earl Peak, 7036 feet.

This past Saturday, my sister got married! I flew back to the good old Midwest, she got married in Madison, WI, and discovered that there is a huge drought going on. I live in the desert, but our grass is greener than Madison's. The ceremony was beautiful, and it was great seeing all my family. Some of you may have met my sister, Katie, she was a clarinet in the band. Although she married a Michigan Tech grad, she invited many of her Notre Dame friends to the wedding, and you would be proud to know the trumpets held the greatest contingent among her friends. Naturally, I requested the Fight Song, and we had a good time singing along (one emphatic trumpet, Spiderman, shouted Thunder quite loudly at certain parts, but thankfully he kept it PG).

Alex and Abby (on the right) were both ND trumpets, that means there two little kids (bottom) are destined to join the legacy! 

I was also reminiscient of the Backer when the DJ played classics like Sweet Caroline and Don't Stop Believing and seeing drunk relatives dancing. They even had a Kegerator at the reception! Good to know we have weddings to relive our college days.  So, someone get married in a year or so, it will make for a good reunion...