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Hike to Table Rock in Boise

Today, Eric, Timo, and myself hiked up to Table Rock in Boise. I've done this hike a few times before with relative ease. In the past few months I've eaten too many twinkies and jumbo shrimp (not together) and consequently gained a lot of unhealthy weight. I was reminded of this when I was gassed halfway up the trail. So much for "relative ease." Before we started I was a slightly concerned about little Timo having the stamina for the entire hike. I quickly realized I was the weak one while both boys probably could have ran the whole way. Anyway, I kept hydrating, caught my second wind, and had a blast as usual. Here's some pictures.

Here's where our trail begins. You can see table rock at the top of the hill in the distance. At 3,700 feet, table rock is only about 1,000 feet higher in elevation then downtown Boise. With the winding, zigzag trails, you can safely assume it's at least a mile hike.

On the way up, you walk right by the Old Idaho State Penitentiary. The prison was open for slightly more than 100 years until it closed in 1973. Also, the prison is rumored to be haunted. Reality TV show, "Ghost Adventures" aired an episode they did at the prison a few months ago. In my opinion these ghost shows are bogus. Despite that, the rumored hauntings at the prison are well known in the Boise area.

After sweating out 55 gallons of water, we reach the top. When this huge cross is lit up at night, you can see it from several miles away.

Eric and Timo, with the greater Boise area in the background.

This lizard was hanging around at the top too. Look at the mosquito next to it!

Check out those scales!!

Eric and Timo inside on of the small caves at the top.

On our way back down now. How about these two picture posers?

More Nature Shots

Here I am, taking pictures as usual. It turns out I really enjoy taking pictures of nature, especially during spring. I'm easily entertained by bright colors.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm proud of some of these. I strongly encourage you to click on the pictures and view them enlarged.

I walked down the street to take a look at a house for sale. No specific reason, I was just bored. As I'm studying the outside of this empty house I notice a lot of bees and wasps buzzing around. Here's a close-up of a wasp building a home of his own. In the original picture the wasp is upside down. I flipped the picture around just for kicks. I think the wasp looks cooler this way.



I took this picture at the same house. It's a dandelion showing it's "seed-baring parachutes."



A simple focus of a tree that's still going through the budding process. I don't know the name of the tree but while the leaves look like little flowers they give off a distinct smell. I'm still trying to figure out if the smell is good or bad.



This is my personal favorite. It's the same tree but with the bright blue sky as the background. This bright blue is my favorite color. Also, this picture makes a stellar background for your computer.

This post has been approved by Timo.

Awkward

Eric is setting new trends when it comes to uncomfortable positions on the couch.

After Hours Water Slide

This is why you don't go down water slides after hours.

More Funny Videos

Boise State Football scrimmage number two

Yesterday we went to Boise State's second scrimmage of spring ball. It was fun even in the rain. In football, rain is just part of the experience.



Here's head coach Chris Petersen. Petersen is a coveted coach all around the country. In Boise, he's a big celebrity. When Eric and I went to the NCAA basketball games last month we seen "Coach Pete" walking in the narrow corridor of Taco Bell Arena. It was halftime so it was very crowded. China train station type crowded. Anyway, he we was about two feet away from me when I noticed him and I blurted out, "Eric it's Chris Petersen!!!" Someone else already had his attention, but I felt slightly embarrassed since I squealed like a teenager at a Elvis Presley concert.



DJ Harper spins out of a tackle during drills. Harper had a great scrimmage.



Back-up quarterback Drew Hawkins (son of Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins) takes a snap from the shotgun.



On the same play, Hawkins uses his running ability to scramble for a 27 yard touchdown.



There were a couple thousand people who attended the scrimmage. Everyone sat on the west side of Bronco Stadium except these few loners on the east side.



Now we're headed home. As the scrimmage ends, rush hour conveniently begins.

Beavis and...

When I was a teenager I watched a lot of Beavis and Butthead. My friends and I imitated them all the time. I'm pretty sure my addiction to these two headbangers resulted in a loss of brain cells.

Although I'm slightly more grown-up now, if I need a good laugh I occasionally still turn to Beavis and Butthead.

Spring Pictures

Leaves are growing, grass is turning green, and and dandelions are popping up like...well, dandelions. Spring is here and I love taking spring pictures. Here's a few pictures I took today:

Here I am sneaking up on a dandelion.

I spent a lot of time chasing bees around while they were pollinating, just waiting to get a good picture of one. I had many failed attempts including this one where I was having focus problems. The picture is still so bright and colorful, I thought it looked cool anyway.



Finally, I got the picture I wanted. I didn't know I got it that well when I took it though. Sometimes it's hard to tell how good or bad a picture might be when looking through the view finder on the camera. I uploaded it on the computer and was very delighted to see it. To gain full appreciation for the pic it should be enlarged. Plus, it makes a wicked awesome wallpaper!

Bright Blue Eyes

Now these are some bright blue eyes. Can anyone guess which baby this is??

If your guess is correct, Ed McMahon will present you with a check on your doorstep!!

Double Post Saturday with Springtime Sprinklers

It's a nice day today. It's about 55 degrees with blue skies. A nice relief after the steady dose of rain we've been getting lately. It's not just 55 degrees though. The sun feels extra radiant today. You know, when you can actually feel the warmth against your body when you're in the sunlight.

With todays extra radiant sunshine, Eric and Timo were convinced it's plenty warm enough to play in the sprinkler. Swimming trunks and all. Of course I explain to them that even though it's warm, it's not warm enough to play in the sprinkler. Of course they look at me like I'm an idiot. I mean, what do I know, I'm just the parent right? And they are 7 and 5, so they must be baby genuises or something.

Finally, I oblige. Not because they begged. There was no other way they were going to believe me. I took a video after they had already ran through the sprinkler one time. Take a look:

Bonehead comment of the day

A smile and some dope

Today I was browsing through some pictures from our Tacoma days. I found a couple pictures I've deemed as blogworthy.


First, we have a goofy picture of Noah. He's about 7 months old here. This picture still makes me chuckle but it also scares me a little if I look at it for too long.




Next, is your neighborhood drug bust. I couldn't help but notice the DEA swarming around a house a couple doors down from our own back door. Then I noticed the DEA members walking out of the house with several pots of reefer. Yeah, I prefer the name reefer. If you enlarge the picture and look behind the van you'll notice these fine citizens had quite the operation growing inside their home. Those aren't potted ferns you're looking at.