Talli Runs Strong In Third X-C Meet

Our high school sophomore granddaughter, Talli, ran a strong race on another tough course yesterday, coming in 4th overall in the varsity 5K Cross-Country race and missing third place by less than a second. Above, Talli (r) and her friend and teammate, Emily, round a corner and head toward the finish.

Emily, a senior, took third place at 21:22.2, while Talli was an eyelash behind her at 21:23.1. The two gals that finished ahead of them are considered by many to be in the top 10 in the State, so Talli and Emily were competing in very good company.

Yesterday’s meet was in Canby, Oregon and featured 6-A level competition among Lakeridge, Lake Oswego, Newberg and Canby high schools. The course was laid out at Molalla State Park, beginning and ending near the boat ramp. Our son Gregg said it was a “tough, hilly course and not fast,” but yet both gals took more than five minutes off their times in the extremely arduous season-opening run at Trask Mountain.

Nice run, Talli, (and Emily). We’re watching your season with great interest.

Whoever Wins Is OK – For This Game Only

Yesterday was a day when my two favorite football teams played each other, and I can live with whoever wins. Well almost.

The five years of watching the Seahawks players, organization and coaches make steady and appreciable progress, I must admit, has turned me into a Seahawks fan first. But right behind them are the SF 49ers, with whom I go way back to Kezar stadium, Y.A. Tittle and Hugh McElhenny.

Yesterday, but for two incredible long runs by 9er Frank Gore (one shown above), it was a pretty even, rock ‘em, sock ‘em game. In the end, primarily due to the two long jaunts, the Niners won, 23-10.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle’s recently acquired top WR, played pretty well yesterday (looking for room after a catch, above), but not well enough to overcome the two 79+ yard scampers by Gore.

Also yesterday, the 49er faithful enjoyed the enshrinement of Eddie De Bartolo Jr., into the 49er Hall of Fame at Candlestick Park. De Bartolo was the popular owner under whose tenure the team won five Super Bowls. Above Eddie D. is being welcomed back for the ceremonies by none other than former all-everything WR Jerry Rice.

The era of the five Super Bowls was one of those times in sports history that rarely occurs and may never again for the Niners. Now if the Hawks can get it together under Jim Mora….

Sparkling X-C Debut For Talli

Our High School Sophomore granddaughter Talli kicked off her second year of varsity cross country by coming in eighth out of nearly 150 runners in the “Assault on Trask Mountain” last Saturday.

In the photo above, taken by her dad, she’s trying not to smile too much as her teammate Emily had just fallen in the creek. Note the muddy, uphill grind they were running in.

Schools from all over northern Oregon participated, and her school, Newberg High, came in fifth, team wise. The 5K run included hills, rivers, rugged terrain and MUD. It was a true test of who’s in shape and who’s not.

Talli’s time was 26:49.34, pretty good for her first fall race. Her friend and teammate, Emily, a senior, finished about 30 seconds ahead of her. The two of them run well together, each helping to pace the other. Way to go, gals. It looks like a good year for both of you!

Where's the Cake?

We celebrated "NJ's" first birthday yesterday, and in the pic above, surrounded by cousins, he appears only interested in the cake. But appearances can be a bit deceiving.

Even though Aubrey, Talli and Hayley all eventually enjoyed a full share of delicious cake (along with the rest of us), "NJ" gave his first taste a "4 or 5" (right) on a 10-scale. Of course, that's to his credit. So far in his young life he's only eaten healthy, delicious fruits and vegetables, and he's apparently decided to go a little easy with the acceptance of cakes and like sweets. No problem there; he'll have plenty of time to get acquainted with sugar.

"NJ" received some really cool first birthday gifts. Among them (I shouldn't even attempt a list, 'cause for sure I forgot something:) were: a play work bench with all the bells & whistles (tools:), a "library" of extremely creative, incredulously interactive books, a puzzle where each piece has an appropriate "sound" (think fire engine siren and the like), a gorgeous, hand-made quilt-like blanket, a haberdashery of clothes (that included a really cute "Floyd R. Turbo"-type hat), and a talking, singing play truck with little characters.

Suffice it to say that "NJ" had a wonderful, fun party with family. He conked out really quickly at evening's end, and I haven't heard if he overslept this morning. "NJ" had a ball with his cousins and with his extended family, and last night seemed to pick out Aubrey on whom he practiced his "hair-analysis" antics (right).

Lake Sammamish Prize – A Nice Cutthroat Trout

Well, it didn’t take son Doug long, with new boat and all, to master wily cutthroat trout fishing at Lake Sammamish. Cutts are the prized fish in this beautiful lake, though there are several other species as well that swim in its waters.

Doug took the boat out very late this afternoon on Lake Sammi (for just the third time), and in an hour and a quarter of fishing landed the beautiful fish he’s holding in the above photo. The Cutt was 18-1/2 inches long and weighed at least 2 pounds, maybe more. (It’s always best not to actually weigh a fish, as that gives story-telling latitude later on. :-) That’s his great new boat, a Smokercraft Alaskan, he’s standing in front of.

Here’s the close-up with the tape. What a fine fish! Notice the red slash marks on the lower jaw that identify the species. You can click on the photos for a larger image. What he caught it on will remain a secret for the time being, as once a fisherman finds a system that works, it’s up to others to figure it out for themselves. Especially at this warm time of the year.

Truth is, buy him some gas for trolling, and he’ll be happy to show you how to fish. Can’t wait for the next time I get a chance to go fishing with him.