The Bayou Classic Football Game

As luck would have it this was the year we were going to New Orleons for the Bayou Classic football game between Grambling and Southern. Truth be know we went to see the city and hear the bands play. Well Katrina kind put a curve into our plans, and we ended up in Houston where the whole affair was relocated to. I talked to a number of the spectators and they all said it wasn't anywhere near the same atmoshpere as in New Orleans.

But hey the bands were great fun to see and listen too and the game.....well Grambling won. Hip Hip Hooray for my Grambling alum friend Cathy at work.
Excuse the quality of the photos I only had a cell phone camera int he stadium.

Thanksgiving at Fort Hood Texas

Here we are enjoying a wonderful thanksgiving dinner with friends and family at Fort Hood, Texas. Traveling to Texas from Washington State, this time of year especially, is a radical change both in scenery and climate. We were there seven days in balmy 70 plus degree weather only to return home to snow.

We have many things to be thankful for this year, but what stood out the most was the fact that while most of us are enjoying our turkey dinners our military families are saying their goodbyes, as mom or dad again leave for the war in Iraq.

We hope an pray the God will protect Allen as he goes back to Iraq for his second tour in three years, again leaving behind his wife and two children. Even though Allen has served over 20 years in the military he was not allowed to retire after his last tour to Iraq but was forced to stay for another round of manning a machine gun on a humvee. He does so without a single complaint and the understanding that he is serving his country.

Its the men an women who are already in the military, who can't leave that are preventing a draft from being necessary. I find it incredibly sad that the media seems to only focus on the daily body count and not consider the extreme hardships our military families are facing. There is seemingly no discussion of who is fighting this war, its not the middle class.

My 87 year old father was in the Army for 32 years and is a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Our country now only provides him with minimal medical care through the Veterans Adminstration, his benifits have consitently been cut, and he is essentially being left to die.

The Bush administration while saying "Support our troops" has started a war which is being fought by those who now can't leave the military, or those who have little or no other alernatives, and funding for the long term care for the wounded which now exceed 30,000 has been consistently cut. Where is the presidents partiotism in this war strated under false pretext and outrages lies, which continue unabashaedly to this day.

Ok I'll get off my politcal soapbox!

The Mansion Architecture of Galvison Texas

Beth and I just returned from our thankgiving trip to Houston Texas, and I thought I would share some the wonderful archtiteture we discover in nearby Galviston. Galviston is located on an island that was hit by hurricane Rita in 2005 just recently. Many buildings still have plywood over the windows but the damage is minor compared to the devestation in New Orleans. The city if full of history as exemplified by these wonderful mansions which have this very organic and intricate cast iron work.

Mountaineering Oriented First Aid at Irish Cabin 2005

A photo of my friends Tom R. and Ed Gadberry at the 2005 MOFA class, these guys have helped out for three years now to provide logistical support to the Tacoma Mounatineers, Irish Cabin, Mountaineering First Aid Class. This is a four day first aid class I teach with my co-instructor, Chuck Celmer. We do it on an annual basis, usually in October. The four day class culminates with two days at the Mount Rainier Carbon River Entrance where we conduct class on Saturday and final practicals on Sunday. If you want more information just check out the Tacoma Mountaineers web site.

February 2004 Grand Park on Mount Rainier 5,400 Feet a Nice 4 Day Trip