John & Kristie

John & Kristie http://www.johnandkristie.com/ John http://www.johnandkristie.com john@johnandkristie.com Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Movable Type http://www.johnandkristie.com/favicon.ico http://www.niallkennedy.com/alive.gif 2008-07-01T16:57:51Z Wenatchee River Whitewater

WENATCHEE RIVER, CASHMERE, WA :: Kristie rounded up thirteen friends and family (including her mom!) for an incredibly fun whitewater rafting ride on the Wenatchee River. The river was flowing high and fast, and we got plenty soaked bumping through the Class III waves.

When we weren't getting splashed by the river, we'd engage other rafts in fierce water battles, drenching friends and strangers with pails of water. We attempted a sneak attack by slowly rowing up behind our next target, but we were foiled when Kristie, apparently not aware of Sun-Tzu's virtue of stealth, released her uncontainable excitement just as we were short of firing range by shouting out, "WE'RE GONNA TO GET YOU!", giving our opponent plenty of time to turn around and arm themselves.

Oh well. It was just as fun to be on the receiving end of a water assault, and certainly refreshing on this perfectly sunny and warm day! Both weekends before and after our trip were cloudy and rainy, so we considered ourselves very lucky.

I used the Elph on this trip, enclosed in its waterproof case. I think it worked pretty well - the photos are much better than the water-proof disposables we used on our Sauk River ride. Some photos were provided by Snow Dragon Adventure Shots.
]]>24 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/06/wenatchee_river_whitewater.html 2008-06-14T20:07:03Z 2008-07-01T16:57:51Z 200th Post

EDMONDS, WA :: To celebrate the 200th entry on johnandkristie.com, I treated the website to a minor facelift. There is a little less clutter than before, allowing the photos to stand out stronger against the darker background. I also got rid of all the serifs on the fonts and logo to give the site a more modern appearance. We hope you like it!

As with the 100th Post milestone, I'd like to share a few statistics: The website is now composed of over 2200 photos and more than 58,000 words. We continue to log about 120 visits per day, but will spike at times to over 500 per day, particularly around the holidays when people are searching for "vegan sugar cookie" recipes.

The "Perfect Vegan Sugar Cookies" entry has received over 50,000 visits, eclipsing every other post on the website. Who knew the world had such a strong need for a good vegan cookie? The "Projects" are definitely the most popular category on the website. I was even interviewed by a Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition reporter for my entry on the "Mini-Pendant Chandelier", but I don't think her story about "IKEA Hackers" has yet to be published. The attention and number of comments are inspiring, and I wish I had more time to work on additional projects.

Here's a summary of the top 15 posts and referrers to the website:

Most Popular Posts	Visits	Top Referrals (since Jan '07)	Visits

Perfect Vegan Sugar Cookies	50291	stumbleupon.com	3908
The Centipede	5665	elise.com	2380
Mini Pendant Chandelier	4854	google.com	2153
Panda Cake	3379	instructables.com	790
XBOX Mod	2831	nwhikers.net	727
Commonwealth Basin	2647	ikeainstructables.blogspot.com	623
Halloween Sugar Cookies	2607	unplggd.com	326
Free iPod	2375	postpunkkitchen.com	275
Kristie's 30th Birthday	2221	seattlecasbah.com	259
Cirque du Soleil: Mystere	2049	community.livejournal.com	228
Rattlesnake Ledge	1889	blog.vegcooking.com	223
Green Mountain	1707	zotsandboo.com	199
Dragonfly Mosaic	1677	wideangle.ca	175
Bamboo Fountain	1667	brookethevegan.blogspot.com	167
Fireplace Renovation	1578	photoblogs.org	159

We recently discovered a funny group on MySpace dedicated to our website: "The Disciples of John and Kristie". We have no idea who these people are, but we think we might like to. They seem pretty cool!

Kristie and I continue to receive a lot of joy from this website. We love to review the highlights of our life together and share those moments with our family and friends. Thanks again for all the visits and wonderful comments!
]]>0 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/06/200th_post.html 2008-06-14T19:42:41Z 2008-06-30T02:09:17Z Campbell's Resort

CHELAN, WA :: Chelan has always been one of Kristie's favorite spots in Eastern Washington. Through high school and college, she would frequently join her friends here to enjoy the small shops, the large lake, and the reliably warm weather - it is sunny 300 days per year in Chelan.

Kristie was in town this week to attend a conference for young, independent insurance agents - basically a 72 hour party. The conference was at Campbell's Resort. We stayed in a newly remodeled room facing the lake, directly across from the main pool. It was nice!

I used the resort as a base for my hike to Stehekin and for our whitewater rafting trip on the Wenatchee River. We were with David and Heather, joining them during the evening for dinner and drinks. We also met up with some of the other agents at a club. At this point, I must have been feeling pretty good, because Kristie was able to drag me on to the dance floor without any protest.

The lake was still too cold for waterskiing or jetskiing. We saw a few people on the water, but they were in wetsuits. We had just gone rafting, so we decided to save skiing on Lake Chelan as an excuse to return again on a warmer weekend.
]]>4 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/06/campbells_resort.html 2008-06-13T19:50:25Z 2008-06-29T04:08:19Z Chelan Lakeshore Trail

WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST, WA :: The Lakeshore Trail is an incredible hike that is well worth the extra effort to reach it. After a three hour car ride to Chelan from the Seattle area, backpackers...

WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST, WA :: The Lakeshore Trail is an incredible hike that is well worth the extra effort to reach it. After a three hour car ride to Chelan from the Seattle area, backpackers must board a passenger ferry that takes another three hours to arrive at the trailhead near Prince Creek. Fortunately, Kristie and I were staying at nearby Campbell's Resort for a conference, so my journey to the trail was divided into a more leisurely two days.

Aboard the ferry, I met a trio of seasoned backpackers who were taking three days to hike the 18 miles to Stehekin. I had planned to do it in two, camping at Flick Creek, 14 miles in. That would leave just the last four miles for the following day, ensuring an early arrival at the Stehekin Lodge and plenty of time to catch the express ferry back to Chelan.

At Prince Creek, the four of us deboarded as a group of about 20 other backpackers, who had just finished the reverse route, climbed on. They warned us of rattlesnakes and ticks, which I fortunately did not find. Nor did I see another person on the entire trail.

I did spot dozens of lizards, chipmunks, birds, deer and a lone mountain goat. Of course, I also enjoyed the amazing views of Lake Chelan, the third deepest lake in the United States. The weather was perfect. Sunny and warm, but refreshingly breezy. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of ponderosas and purple lupine. At times, the sunlight filtered through the lake, producing an amazing turquoise color. I think I wore a smile during the entire hike.

At Flick Creek, my jaw dropped in awe, and then I laughed giddily in disbelief. Here lies the most beautiful campsite on the trail, and perhaps one of the best I've ever seen. The site is located alongside a bouldered shore, with views of snow-capped peaks over the gem-like lake. A floating dock, log shelter, picnic table, fire pit, bear locker, and fancy toilet are some of the other amenities. I was surprised it wasn't already claimed by another backpacker or boating party. There's really only room here for one group. Lucky me!

It was great! At Flick Creek, I soaked it all in, enjoying a most excellent evening, relaxing amidst nature in my own private paradise, thinking, "THIS is what backpacking is all about!"

The next day I walked into Stehekin, the most isolated community in the contiguous United States, where everyone waves and says, "Hello!" I washed up and changed into a fresh shirt, making it to the cozy little restaurant just in time for breakfast (9:30 AM is when they stop serving). Here I enjoyed the most tasty omelet, sausage, fried potatoes and sliced apples that I think I've ever had... It was certainly a fine way to top off a wonderful hike.

Trip report posted with additional discussion at nwhikers.net.
]]>34 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/06/chelan_lakeshore_trail.html 2008-06-12T19:11:58Z 2008-06-28T19:30:01Z Cirque du Soleil: Corteo

MARYMOOR PARK, REDMOND, WA :: To celebrate Mother's Day, we invited our moms to see Corteo, a Cirque du Soleil show traveling the world and making a brief stop in Redmond's Marymoor Park. Altogether, ten members from the Brown and English clans gathered together to enjoy dinner and an evening of world-class, acrobatic theater. This was the fifth Cirque performance that Kristie and I have seen, but a first time experience for half of the group.

Corteo is different than the other Cirque shows. The performers actually speak English throughout and there is a clear storyline concerning the death of a clown. Amazing acrobatic performances and a few theatrical interludes reenacted the clown's life, until he finally ascends among angels to the bright white light at the top of the tent.

Of the shows we've seen, Mystere is still the best, followed by Alegria, Varekai, Delirium and Corteo. Mystere was so incredible, we'll likely see it again, along with La Nouba during our trip through the Caribbean later this year.
]]>3 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/05/corteo_redmond.html 2008-05-10T19:30:30Z 2008-06-03T05:31:14Z Palouse Falls

PALOUSE FALLS STATE PARK, JOSO, WA :: Despite having once lived in the Palouse region for five years, I had never been to Palouse Falls. On my way to Hell's Canyon, I noticed signs for...

PALOUSE FALLS STATE PARK, JOSO, WA :: Despite having once lived in the Palouse region for five years, I had never been to Palouse Falls. On my way to Hell's Canyon, I noticed signs for the park along SR261, a curvy and scenic road between the towns of Washtucna and Starbuck. I tagged the location on my TomTom, intending to finally check it out on my way back home.

Without the signs, most people would drive right on by, never suspecting such a unique and massive waterfall hiding just on the other side of the hills. From 261, a short dirt road leads to a parking lot, picnic area and a circuit of trails to various lookouts. I noticed additional trails along the canyon floor that might be fun to explore and spotted some hikers near the hoodoos above the waterfall's edge. I suspect there might be some interesting dayhike opportunities here if I ever return, but today I only pulled over for a quick pit stop.

The falls drop nearly 200 feet into a stepped wall canyon. It's a very impressive landscape to behold, definitely worth a detour and visit on your way through Eastern Washington.
]]>3 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/04/palouse_falls.html 2008-04-12T19:40:10Z 2008-06-01T22:39:38Z The Snake River Trail

HELLS CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, ID :: I drove across the state to backpack along Idaho's bank of the Snake River. The roadtrip was long, but enjoyable. I appreciate any opportunity to cruise through the beautiful, rolling landscape of the Palouse and the small, farm towns of Eastern Washington. After a night in Grangeville, I woke up to falling snow and carefully proceeded along icy roads to White Bird, the town nearest to the trailhead.

I intended to hike from Pittsburg Landing to Bernard Creek, which is 42 miles out and back. To cut down on some mileage, I arranged for a jet boat ride with Beamers to take me 15 miles upriver to Sheep Creek. The outfitter also serves as a US mail boat, delivering parcels once a week to ranches alongside the river. I met up with five other backpackers at Pittsburg Landing, who were friendly enough to invite me into their group, but their trip would be shorter in distance and longer in duration.

The jet boat roared through the canyon, hopping over white water rapids that will be enjoyed by rafters in late-Spring and Summer. We made a couple stops to deliver mail and I noted landmarks I would pass on the way back. It was raining and cold, so we were given paper towels to wipe the fog off the boat's windows. The ride was about an hour to Sheep Creek, where we said goodbyes and wished each other a safe and drier trip. I was heading further upriver, they were heading back down.

Hells Canyon is the deepest in North America. Deeper than the Grand Canyon. Although the walls of the canyon are more V-shaped, if the highest points are measured across the Snake, it is narrower and higher than at any point on the Colorado. I quickly gained a sense of this as the trail climbed and dropped considerably to negotiate the rugged hillsides, at times hugging along dynamite-blasted rock walls and at other times opening up to vast grasslands, high above the river. The variety was thrilling, and the sun battled with the rain all day, creating a moody atmosphere that contributed to the sense of the Wild. Fresh carcasses of deer and elk were seen, victims to cougars or wolves. We spotted a couple canine forms high along the hills on the boat ride, although they may have been coyotes.

I made my way to Bernard Creek, about six miles from Sheep Creek, where I originally intended to camp in a century-old cabin. But the shack was littered with the obvious occupation of rats and bats, so I decided to head back after taking shelter from the rain for a while and reading through the interesting articles and old Saturday Evening Post ads plastered on the walls. By the time I was done exploring the cabin, the sun had proven it's victory over the rain and I headed back towards Sheep Creek.

Just 600 yards upriver from Sheep Creek is Johnson Bar, perhaps the best campsite along the entire trail: a nice beach, easy access to the river, sandy tent sites, plenty of flat-topped rocks for benches and tables, a fire pit, and great canyon views. As the sun set behind snow-capped peaks on the Oregon side, I setup camp and got a good fire going using some dead branches that had washed up on shore. I had a chance to try out a couple new toys, including a light-weight solo tent, the MSR Hubba, and my Spot Messenger, a GPS and Globalstar communicator (endorsed by Survivor Man!) that can be used to broadcast my location in an emergency, but also lets me send an "I'm okay!" signal to Kristie to ease her mind. I sent her an OK message every morning, afternoon and night. It worked great, and her email notifications included a link to Google Maps to show my precise location. As expected, there is absolutely no cell phone reception in the canyon.

From Johnson Bar, it's 15 miles to the trailhead. I decided I could do it and reduce my three-day trip to just two. I woke up to a chilly morning, but the sky was clear and deep blue. It would be very sunny and about 75 degrees today. A welcome change.

I hadn't seen anyone most of the first day, except for the people on the mail boat and a couple other jet boats on the river. On the second day, I passed the mail boat group again and met about a dozen other people on my way back, mostly at Kirkwood Ranch, a popular day-hike and camping spot just six miles from the trailhead.

Unfortunately, this stretch of trail has many more ups and downs. My legs were pretty tired after climbing several hills leading to Suicide Point, a prominent outcropping of rock 400 feet above a horseshoe bend in the river. The steepest climb is right after Kirkwood Ranch, a relentless switchback that I cursed with every obscenity I know - I think I even created a few new ones. It probably didn't climb more than 500 feet, but after 27 miles with 35 pounds on my back, I was ready to just be done.

Several more climbs through much greener hills finally restored my good spirits and brought me back to my car. It was a unique and gorgeous hike, offering plenty of peaceful solitude this time of year. Spring or Fall are the best times to enjoy this area, when the temperatures are still mild. During the summer, Hells Canyon rightfully earns its name with 100+ degree days.

Trip report posted with additional discussion at nwhikers.net.
]]>26 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/04/the_snake_river.html 2008-04-10T19:32:08Z 2008-04-22T19:07:57Z Duelin' Ivoryz Saloon

LONGHORN BARBECUE, AUBURN, WA :: We joined a bunch of friends at the Longhorn Barbecue last night to celebrate Shannon's birthday. This Longhorn features a large, well-stocked bar and a pair of baby grand pianos facing each other on a central stage. This was a first for Kristie and me. I've seen several dueling piano bars in Seattle and other cities, but I was never tempted to check them out. I guess I always imagined it being a somewhat uppish experience, reserved for musical intellectuals who arrive in tuxedos and top hats. I thought dueling pianos only appealed to people who have "Gone Chopin. Bach in a minuet." on their coffee mug or bumper sticker.

I have no idea why I had that impression. At Longhorn's Dueling Ivoryz Saloon, it couldn't be further from the truth!

We had a lot of fun singing along with a trio of very talented improv comedian/pianists. They basically take requests throughout the night. The more money you attach to your request, the greater your chances of hearing your song - often a much naughtier version of the song. At any time, you can pay more money to stop the song. Unfortunately, this happened to Shannon twice. Despite the prevalent honky tonk ambience of the place, the crowd did not receive her two country song requests too well, much preferring to sing along to the likes of Journey, Def Leppard, James Brown, or "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes." Shannon's first request initiated an escalating bidding war, that finally reached a counterbid of $131 to successfully shut down the song. Fortunately, she was able to outbid the protest of her second request, although I think the audience was being merciful - it was her birthday after all!

Happy Birthday, Shannon!
]]>9 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/03/duelin_ivoryz_s.html 2008-03-15T19:17:17Z 2008-03-17T04:48:32Z PLAY!

BENAROYA HALL, SEATTLE, WA :: Master Chief rocked Benaroya Hall tonight! For my birthday, Kristie surprised me with tickets to PLAY!, a symphony performance of popular video game music that is touring orchestras around the world. The concert celebrated a wide range of gaming genres, from the classic 8-bit days of Super Mario Brothers and The Legend of Zelda, to more recent favorites such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy. Reminiscent scenes from the games were projected on large screens above the performers, producing cheers, laughs and a few tears from the audience.

No doubt, the Seattle area is a gaming mecca, with companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, Valve, Bungie, Square Enix, Sierra, ArenaNet, Humongous, Gas Powered Games, Wizards of the Coast, Cranium and Penny Arcade having a major presence here. The composers for Halo and Morrowind were in the audience, as well as many local game designers and developers. About half of the audience was wearing jeans and many were seen playing with a DS or PSP during the intermission.

We were not your typical symphony crowd, but we were just as passionate about the music and appreciative of the performance. Kudos to PLAY! for recognizing the often-overlooked creative talent of video game producers and allowing us to enjoy an aspect of their art in the venue it deserves. And many thanks again to my Kristie for a perfect birthday gift!
]]>7 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/01/play_video_game_symphony.html 2008-01-24T19:10:10Z 2008-02-05T20:16:40Z Skyline Lake

ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS AREA, WA :: Today we planned to meet Tatiana, Greg and Dana for a winter wonderland adventure near Stevens Pass. Unfortunately, we started a bit late in the day and had a...

ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS AREA, WA :: Today we planned to meet Tatiana, Greg and Dana for a winter wonderland adventure near Stevens Pass. Unfortunately, we started a bit late in the day and had a few issues finding a parking space and the trailhead. The main parking areas were closed, so I proceeded to the Nordic Center where my truck got stuck in deep snow. I learned the hard way that four-wheel drive isn't worth a darn if your tires are nearly bald. A lot of help from some kind strangers and a tow from a bulldozer eventually freed us... I'll be getting a new set of wheels this weekend.

When we finally met and were ready to put on our snowshoes, it was only then that I found out that Tatiana and Greg had never snowshoed before! I had assumed they were seasoned veterans. Not that snowshoeing is technically difficult, but had I known they were newbies, I definitely would have chosen a much less severe trail.

The route up to Skyline Lake climbs steeply along a wide snowcat trail, gaining 1300' in 1.5 miles. The winds were whipping along the exposed switchbacks about halfway up, stinging our faces with powdery snow. But everyone was a good sport about the trudge, especially Dana, who kept step with me for much of the way. We took frequent breaks and found it hard to complain amidst the beautiful scenery. We saw many other snowshoers, skiers, snowboarders and dogs sharing the trail.

It was a great day to be out and we had a lot of fun, but we'll probably pick a flatter hike if we go snowshoeing again.
]]>14 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2008/01/skyline_lake_snowshoe.html 2008-01-20T19:38:40Z 2008-02-05T23:09:01Z Fireplace Renovation

EDMONDS, WA :: I used part of my holiday vacation to finally update our fireplace, a year and a half after moving in. During that time, the edges of our new carpet and laminate flooring...

EDMONDS, WA :: I used part of my holiday vacation to finally update our fireplace, a year and a half after moving in. During that time, the edges of our new carpet and laminate flooring remained unfinished where they met with the original brown tile surrounding our bronze fireplace insert, circa 1979. In addition, an alcove adjacent to the fireplace was being underutilized.

I was a little nervous about this project, as I had never worked with fireplaces or tile before, and I didn't want to botch up such an important, central feature in our house. However, I knew most cosmetic home renovations do not require any technical expertise, just patience, planning and attention to detail. Anyone can do them. It turns out I learned everything I ever needed to know from watching years of "This Old House" and "Hometime" on PBS.

The insert doors and firebox were repainted with several coats of high-heat enamel. The existing wall tiles were chiseled out and I scored lines into the floor tiles with a RotoZip to give the mortar more texture to adhere to. We chose a natural stone, travertine, to replace the old porcelain tiles. Since architecture school, I've had a fondness for travertine. It has been used extensively in both ancient and modern architecture, including the Coliseum in Rome, and the Getty Center and the Salk Institute in Southern California.

I wanted the new shelves to be thick to match the mass of the surrounding structural elements and the large volume of the alcove. They are 2.5" x 4' x 2' (HWD) boxes constructed with sheets of birch plywood, faced with a strip of oak, painted with several coats of white and hung with concealed angle brackets to appear floating in the space.

I just barely met the goal of having the project completed by New Year's Eve, allowing us to return from dinner and snuggle up to a blazing fire in our nice, new fireplace for the first couple of hours of 2008.

Happy New Year!
]]>11 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/12/fireplace_renovation.html 2007-12-31T19:14:48Z 2008-01-02T23:22:36Z Christmas

EDMONDS, WA :: For this holiday season, we decorated the house with a row of lights along the roof and hung a wreath above the garage. We think it looks nice and cheery, particularly within...

EDMONDS, WA :: For this holiday season, we decorated the house with a row of lights along the roof and hung a wreath above the garage. We think it looks nice and cheery, particularly within a landscape of freshly fallen snow. I took this photo during a storm that left four inches of fluffy powder on the ground. Unfortunately, it all melted away the next day.

You may have noticed that we removed the large pine tree from our front yard. I hate to cut down a tree, but this guy was a nuisance, clogging up the gutters every week and killing everything underneath. We'll be busy relandscaping the clean slate next Spring. I already received a few gardening books as helpful gifts.

We had a really great time with our families this Christmas. Amongst the festive decorations and abundant meals, we cozied up with the people and animals we love, reminiscing on joyful memories and looking forward to a bright future. We wish you and yours a warm and merry holiday, and hope for greater peace and happiness next year.
]]>0 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/12/christmas_3.html 2007-12-25T19:35:40Z 2007-12-25T18:47:23Z 2007 Photo Album

EDMONDS, WA :: Another eventful year deserves another photo album! As with 2005 and 2006, 2007 will be remembered and shared with a photo book produced by MyPublisher. We had four copies printed this year. One to keep and the others to give to family. They make great gifts.

Our parents greatly appreciate and anticipate receiving these albums. I think it's funny that they have the most interest in our lives, but ironically, they have the least ability to use our website. Throughout the year, I often have to recreate the photos from the site into slideshows or prints to share with our tech-unsavvy parents.

We love our website as a chronicle of our lives, but we think our parents have a valid point as well. It's nice to have a tangible book we can flip through with our hands. I imagine it would be awkward and uncomfortable to reminisce with a laptop computer while curling up together on the sofa.

Once again, we're pleased with the quality and quick turn-around time of MyPublisher. This year, they upgraded the leather cover option with padding and stitching. The books I created are 100 pages and contain 670 photos each. These would normally cost $140 a book, but a 20% Costco discount (download the software from the Costco website) and a two-for-one coupon code (that can be found on various websites) makes them much more affordable.
]]>24 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/12/2007_mypublisher_photo_album.html 2007-12-19T19:10:10Z 2007-12-25T08:27:42Z Narae 2007 Korean Festival

MEANY HALL, SEATTLE, WA :: We'd like to thank Hye Ran and Rob for inviting us to this concert. When they first told us about it, Kristie and I were not sure what to expect....

MEANY HALL, SEATTLE, WA :: We'd like to thank Hye Ran and Rob for inviting us to this concert. When they first told us about it, Kristie and I were not sure what to expect. I really thought we were just going to see a couple of Hye Ran's nieces and other kids dancing and singing a few songs in cute Korean outfits. We were anticipating an audience of perhaps a hundred people and didn't think the show would be longer than 45 minutes. Upon arriving at Meany Hall, we were surprised to receive a 20 page program and to see most of the seats taken.

The Morning Star Korean Cultural Center puts on the show, which is run by Hye Ran's very accomplished and talented aunt, Jiyeon Cheh. In addition to the annual performance at Meany Hall, they have performed throughout the United States, Europe and Korea, and locally in schools and fairs, including the Winter Olympics in Utah and in Qwest Field during a Seahawk's halftime show.

While we did see a few of Hye Ran's nieces dancing in cute Korean outfits, we were entertained by much, much more. There were 13 performances, including a variety of drums, zithers, flutes and cymbals. I even recognized a catchy Korean folk anthem that my mom used to play and I haven't been able to get the tune out of my head since the concert. It was an impressive and beautiful show - very colorful and cheery. I hope Hye Ran will remind us again next year!
]]>22 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/12/narae_2007_korean_art_festival.html 2007-12-09T19:29:47Z 2007-12-16T23:25:12Z Goat Lake & Elliot Creek

HENRY M. JACKSON WILDERNESS, WA :: I have been waiting to return to Goat Lake for a long time. Although it had been more than six years since I first hiked this trail, the picturesque...

HENRY M. JACKSON WILDERNESS, WA :: I have been waiting to return to Goat Lake for a long time. Although it had been more than six years since I first hiked this trail, the picturesque image of snow-laden Cadet Peak reflecting off Goat Lake has never faded from my mind. The Mountain Loop Scenic Highway was closed in 2003 just North of Barlow Pass. A major rock slide shifted a section of the road into the Stillaguamish River, blocking access to the trailhead. Four years and $10 million later, the road has been rebuilt and reopened.

Ice and snow covered much of the road beyond Barlow Pass, and it was 26 degrees at the trailhead at 8:30 AM. I started my hike shivering and bundled under several layers, hats and gloves, but after about twenty minutes, I was comfortable in just a t-shirt. The trail had a light dusting of fresh snow, and it was easy going for most of the way. I started on the Upper Trail and took the connection to the Lower Trail at the 0.8 mile mark. There were just a couple blowdowns which were easy to get around. The trail was in surprisingly remarkable shape, despite being mostly unbothered for four years and the recent storms.

The trail became hard to follow just before the lake. As I did on my first hike six years ago, I got lost and needed to scramble alongside the falls to find the lake. On my way back, I found where I took a wrong turn. But if I had stayed on the trail, I would have missed an impressive set of waterfalls. There are several US Forest Service signs marking some type of boundary in this area, but they were turned in every direction and really unclear about indicating the area I was not supposed to be in.

Goat Lake was completely glazed over when I finally reached it. I had just caught the last beams of sunlight disappearing behind Cadet Peak. My memory of a rippling lake bathed in warm, golden light would need to persist for at least another few seasons. I'll add to my memory the contrasting, yet still beautiful, scene I saw today: a glittering, snowy plain, weakly lit by impending winter's cold, blue light.

It's about 10 miles to Goat Lake and back. The trail gains about 1300 feet, mostly at the switchbacks (or scramble) right before the lake.
]]>5 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/12/goat_lake_elliot_creek.html 2007-12-08T19:11:50Z 2007-12-12T19:54:03Z Chapel of Thanksgiving

DALLAS, TX :: Our last stop in Dallas was a visit to Thanks-Giving Square, a multifaith center for giving thanks. Philip Johnson designed the small park and chapel, which features a unique and beautiful stained glass ceiling. It's a nice reminder and celebration of gratitude, but the Foundation's emphasis is clearly on giving thanks to a divine power. Kristie and I are grateful for many things, but we choose to acknowledge and thank people for their kindness, respecting their help and our own efforts that make life purposeful and enjoyable, not anything supernatural.

At that moment, we were most thankful to be returning home! Dallas wasn't as bad as we thought it would be, but I doubt we'll ever have the desire to return.
]]>2 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/11/chapel_of_thanksgiving.html 2007-11-04T20:39:28Z 2007-12-10T04:57:33Z Dallas Arboretum

DALLAS, TX :: Yes, there is greenery in Dallas! Just a few miles from downtown is White Rock Lake, Dallas's own version of Seattle's beloved Green Lake park, complete with athletic fields, playgrounds, fishing docks, a performing arts theater and a paved trail packed with runners and rollerbladers. However, as with most things in Texas, White Rock Lake is much larger than Green Lake. The trail around the lake is 9.5 miles.

White Rock Lake also hosts the very lovely Dallas Arboretum. We spent a couple hours there, enjoying the well-maintained grounds and colorful plants. It really was a nice park and probably the highlight of our trip.

In one section, much to Kristie's delight, Dove® was presenting "The Amazing Chocolate Tree," featuring interactive stations that described the cultivation, harvest and manufacturing process of chocolate. Free Dove bars and ice cream were provided, and the entire area smelled like chocolate, due to the generous amount of roasted cocoa bean hulls that were used as mulch in many of the areas. I wonder if anyone sells that stuff around here?
]]>9 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/11/dallas_arboretum.html 2007-11-04T19:26:25Z 2007-12-01T05:33:01Z Fort Worth Stockyards

FORT WORTH, TX :: Fort Worth was once a major railroad town and shipping point for millions of livestock. The Stockyards district preserves this history and celebrates the spirit of the American West. Cobblestone streets, wooden sidewalks, rickity old saloons, and costumed cowboy characters are elements contributing to the theme. There's even a cattle drive that runs up the main street twice a day. Heck, you'll also find a rodeo and the world's largest honky tonk, Billy Bob's Texas.

In case you didn't know, a "honky tonk" was a cheap, noisy bar, dance hall and/or theater - a place where a cowboy could afford a drink, enjoy some entertainment, and participate in some general rowdiness. Today, I think it generally refers to any club that plays country music.

I stayed a while in the Stockyards to watch the herd, browse through the gift shops, and take some photos. Afterwards, I stopped by a few other attractions in Fort Worth, including the Water Gardens, the Marty Leonard Chapel and the Modern Art Museum.
]]>7 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/11/fort_worth_stockyards.html 2007-11-03T19:43:50Z 2007-11-15T15:41:03Z Fogo de Chão

DALLAS, TX :: If you like to dine out, Dallas has got you covered. The city boasts the highest number of restaurants per capita in the nation. As we searched for places to eat dinner,...

DALLAS, TX :: If you like to dine out, Dallas has got you covered. The city boasts the highest number of restaurants per capita in the nation. As we searched for places to eat dinner, it seemed nearly half of the options were steakhouses, which certainly drew no complaints from me.

I had read a lot of good reviews for Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse (or churrascaria), where fire-roasted meat is skewered onto swords and served at your table. In addition, a 40-item premium salad bar awaited Kristie. It looked like fun, so we decided to treat ourselves - as you can imagine, all-you-can eat steak is not cheap.

We arrived early and were the first couple seated for dinner. Both of our chairs were pulled out for us, and we were immediately impressed with the amazing service. The maitre d' stopped by our table and provided a history of the restaurant and the gaúcho style of eating. He pointed out that nearly everyone in the kitchen and on the waitstaff were from Brazil. They dressed in billowy pants, tall boots, and wide belts, with a red bandana around their neck, tucked into their light blue shirts. Every time we left our table, our napkins were refolded, our table cleaned, and our plates replaced.

The salad bar was impressive, but much of it was fancy, fatty or meaty stuff that Kristie doesn't care for: prosciuttos, salamis, olives and fine cheeses. I took a look at the salad bar, but I did not touch. I was saving my appetite for the meat and wine. When the maitre d' noticed Kristie had just veggies on her plates, without asking, he suprised her with a serving of vegetable fried rice and grilled peppers from the kitchen.

Also on our table was an endless supply of yummy fried bananas, cheese bread, crispy fried polenta, mashed potatoes and a compote or chutney as a topping for the meat, which I'll speak of now.

Every diner has a disc, green on one side to signal, "Hey, bring me some meat!" and red on the other side to say, "Whoa, give me a chance to loosen my belt!" The team of gaúchos immediately responded to the green, coming one after another, cycling through 15 different cuts of meat. I wasn't able to taste each option, but I found a few mouth-watering, delectable favorites, including the top sirloin, rib eye, picanha, bacon-wrapped filet and leg of lamb. They also had sausages, chicken, beef ribs, pork ribs, and on and on, my-oh-my. Each bite was so delicious. Chewing softly and slowly, I savored each and every perfectly prepared and seasoned morsel.

Throughout my business travels, I've had the opportunity to eat at many fine restaurants. Our dinner at Fogo de Chão was a cut above the best of these. The service was unbelievable - they truly made us feel like visiting royalty - and the food was the best tasting I've ever had. It's a good thing "Fogo" is not yet in Seattle, otherwise the temptation to eat there every night might be too great to resist!
]]>5 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/11/fogo_de_chao_review.html 2007-11-02T19:26:06Z 2007-11-14T15:45:28Z Dallas

DALLAS, TX :: Dallas is a vastly sprawled, desolate and dirty city. It's not the kind of place you would want to spend a vacation, although that's exactly what I did. Kristie was attending a...

DALLAS, TX :: Dallas is a vastly sprawled, desolate and dirty city. It's not the kind of place you would want to spend a vacation, although that's exactly what I did. Kristie was attending a week-long conference, and I tagged along to support her. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex hosts the highest concentration of corporate headquarters in the United States, but not much else. Because of this, I was able to visit a couple clients and do some work to fill my time.

Dallas isn't completely void of attractions. We did find a few places and activities to keep us entertained. There are no geological features or interesting landscapes nearby to hike, but the city has a few museums worth exploring. I visited the Sixth Floor Museum and saw artifacts from the JFK assassination. I later stood atop the grassy knoll and then walked over to the exact spot where Kennedy was shot, designated with a simple white X in the middle of the road. The Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center are also worth visiting.

We had not been through a haunted house in decades, so on Halloween, Kristie and I went to the Scaregrounds, an old warehouse converted into an assembly of four haunted houses, each with a different theme. It was expensive and mostly lame, so it will probably be a couple more decades before we visit one again.

The next evening we went to Speedzone, a go-kart center for adults. They had four different racetracks with various styles of karts, including dragsters that did 0-70 mph in 3.5 seconds! The Slick Track was the most fun, even though I wasn't very good at it. It's a polished raceway with karts that have smooth tires - a drifter's dream! I watched Kristie lap me several times as I spun out again and again. A couple NASCAR drivers and their crew were racing amongst us, in town for the Dickies 500 that weekend. That entire night was a lot of fun. They really need one of these in the Seattle area.

We visited several other sites, including the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Thanksgiving Chapel, the Dallas Arboretum, and the *best* dining experience ever, Fogo de Chão. I'll be posting photos and entries for these soon.
]]>15 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/11/dallas_texas.html 2007-11-01T19:00:02Z 2007-12-17T18:54:26Z Kristie's Birthday

STIX BILLIARDS & BREWERY, SEATTLE, WA :: Kristie celebrated her birthday with family and friends at Stix, a new pool hall on the south shore of Lake Union. We booked the private room and had...

STIX BILLIARDS & BREWERY, SEATTLE, WA :: Kristie celebrated her birthday with family and friends at Stix, a new pool hall on the south shore of Lake Union. We booked the private room and had access to our own patio overlooking the lake, along with a premium pool table, comfy leather seats, and an XBOX 360 - a little something for everyone. It was nice, and we had a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who joined us!
]]>3 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/10/kristies_birthday.html 2007-10-13T19:57:55Z 2007-10-30T19:18:03Z San Jose Taiko

EDMONDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, EDMONDS, WA :: Kristie and I invited my parents to see San Jose Taiko perform in downtown Edmonds to celebrate my dad's birthday. The show began with a single, large...

EDMONDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, EDMONDS, WA :: Kristie and I invited my parents to see San Jose Taiko perform in downtown Edmonds to celebrate my dad's birthday. The show began with a single, large drum that was carefully rolled onto the center of the dark stage. A spotlight beamed onto the drummer and the audience was completely silent. The drummer then suddenly struck the drum once. The surprisingly loud boom frightened my poor, little mother to death, causing her to loudly exclaim, "Gamjigiya!" which I believe is Korean for, "OMG!" After she settled down, we all enjoyed the concert.

If the photos seem familiar, it's because you may have seen the entry earlier this year for TAIKOPROJECT. I brought my SLR with me this time and was able to get some better shots.
]]>10 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/san_jose_taiko.html 2007-09-29T19:56:30Z 2007-10-18T10:33:07Z Sunset on Haleakala

MAUI VACATION DAY 5 :: HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, HI :: Our vacation in Maui has finally reached its end. The last item on our itinerary was a dazzling sunset from the top of Haleakala, which...

MAUI VACATION DAY 5 :: HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, HI :: Our vacation in Maui has finally reached its end. The last item on our itinerary was a dazzling sunset from the top of Haleakala, which means "House of the Sun" in Hawaiian. Most visitors to the volcano will wake up early to see the sunrise. The sunset is just as spectacular and far less crowded.

It's perhaps a little warmer as well, although we were still shivering, despite extra clothes and a blanket we borrowed from the hotel. At 10,023 feet, the atmosphere is only half of what we normally experience at sea level and the temperature about 30 degrees cooler. It was probably about 55 degrees at the summit, but a combination of wind chill and wator vapor from the passing clouds made it feel like it was freezing.

Occasionally, the clouds parted and we could see most of the areas of the island we explored and enjoyed over the past five days. Mostly, the clouds were a thick blanket below and around us. This made the skies more dramatic at times, and completely obscured and cold at others. The winds were blowing fast, so we only needed to wait a few minutes for a new view.

We had a great time on Maui! It would have been perfect if we were more careful with our time in the sun. As it was, however, we were aching from sunburns and eager to get back to our Northwest home and climate.
]]>8 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/sunset_on_haleakala.html 2007-09-10T21:17:00Z 2008-03-10T22:43:56Z Haleakala

MAUI VACATION DAY 5 :: HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, HI :: Haleakala is the world's largest dormant volcano, with a summit 10,023 feet above sea level, and an additional 30,000 feet extending beneath to the ocean floor. Although it dominates East Maui Island, the visible part of the mountain represents only 3% of it's total volume. Maui is the youngest of the Hawaiian islands, and Haleakala could erupt at anytime again to add to it's size. Lava last flowed to the sea from Haleakala in 1790.

It only took us about 90 minutes to drive from Kihului Airport at sea level to the summit. We passed through seven micro climates as we ascended along the many curves. The road felt much safer than the Road to Hana - it was recently paved and there were only a few one-lane bridges to cross. At around 7000 feet, we entered the clouds. I was hoping we would be on top of them by the time we reached the top...

We just barely made it through the clouds at the summit, where the sky was mostly clear. From the lookout, there was an amazing view into Haleakala's massive crater, formed by a combination of erosion and volcanic activity. The steep walls drop nearly 3000 feet to the crater floor, covering an area equal to the entire island of Manhattan - approximately 25 square miles. Within the bowl, clouds were churning in swirls and circles. Beyond, we could see glimpses of the surrounding island and ocean between the breaks in the cloud deck.

We had driven up here to see the sunset, but we arrived early and I realized I might have enough time for a quick hike. The crater floor contains massive cinder cones, and I really wanted to walk along the rim of one. The closest cone, named Ka Lu'u o ka O'o, was only 2.5 miles away via the Sliding Sands Trail. I had just under three hours until sunset, so with a bottle of water and some extra clothes, off I went. It felt chilly, probably about 50 degrees, and the wind was whipping around pretty fierce. Kristie, with her aching, sunburned legs, unfortunately couldn't walk very far. She stayed warm in the visitor center and in the car, where she enjoyed a quick nap.

I hiked through alternating periods of sunshine and thick cloud cover. I saw several rare Silverswords along the way, and some strange birds, but there was little else to see in the desolate landscape - it was an otherworldly and awesome experience. However, at one point it began to rain and my hopes of seeing the crater floor were dashed, but just as I arrived at the rim of the cinder cone, the clouds started to part and glorious sunshine lit up the entire crater. I think I might have wept a few tears... It was really quite a sight.

I snapped a couple hundred photos and then hurried back up 1400 feet (slipping through the pumice and sand), just in time for the sunset show to begin (photos coming soon!).
]]>14 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/haleakala_hike.html 2007-09-10T20:19:52Z 2008-04-22T18:53:03Z Big Beach & Little Beach

MAUI VACATION DAY 5 :: WAILEA-MAKENA, HI :: On our last full day in Maui, we headed south and visited several beaches before heading up to Haleakala. Each of the beaches were very nice, but...

MAUI VACATION DAY 5 :: WAILEA-MAKENA, HI :: On our last full day in Maui, we headed south and visited several beaches before heading up to Haleakala. Each of the beaches were very nice, but pretty much the same. However, one beach, or rather, a pair of beaches stood out: Big Beach (officially known as Makena Beach) and Little Beach. If we had one more day, I would have enjoyed spending some more time here with a boogie board, a lounger and a cooler full of beer.

It's easy to see how Big Beach got its nickname. It's both wide and long, and very scenic. The sand was soft and the waves were some of the largest we had seen on the island. Adjacent to Big Beach is Little Beach. We had to climb over a small hill to reach it. We had read Little Beach is "clothing optional." Sure enough, several dozen people were in the buff enjoying the nice weather. I'm sure Kristie and I would have joined them... if only we weren't sunburned...

I tried to keep the photos family-friendly. Most of the dangly and pointy parts from Little Beach have been digitally obscured.
]]>9 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/big_beach_makena_little_beach.html 2007-09-10T19:08:52Z 2007-10-09T11:34:31Z Waimoku Falls

MAUI VACATION DAY 4 :: HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, HI :: Our final destination of the day was Waimoku Falls via the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park. The trailhead is at the ranger station near The Seven Sacred Pools, just a few miles beyond the town of Hana.

The trail began in alternating grassy and forested areas filled with large banyan and fruit trees. Guavas covered the ground in some parts, their bright pink centers smashed and smeared across the trail. Their strong scent made the air sickeningly sweet. Fortunately, the guava trees made way for a bamboo forest about a mile into the hike.

For us, the bamboo was the highlight of this trail. The path narrowed and meandered through the bamboo's tall, narrow stalks that often blocked most of the light. In the wind, the bamboo clacked together. Most of the time, their hollow, haunting sound resonated at a peaceful, Zen-like rhythm. Occasionally, a strong wind would blow and the forest became a loud cacophony of creaking and clacking. It was a very cool and unique experience, but kinda creepy at the same time.

The trail through the enchanting bamboo goes on for about a mile to Waimoku Falls. The water drops 400 feet, straight down a concave wall. The fall was pretty, but I think it would have been more impressive if there was more water flowing. We only spent a few minutes here before heading back to the car and then driving all the way back to Kaanapali.
]]>7 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/waimoku_falls.html 2007-09-09T21:30:14Z 2008-04-22T18:53:30Z Honokalani Black Sand Beach

MAUI VACATION DAY 4 :: WAIANAPANAPA STATE PARK, HANA, HI :: When we were planning our trip, we didn't think we would drive to Hana, as Kristie has a low tolerance for roadtrips, especially roadtrips that contain curvy roads. The famous Road to Hana is perhaps the curviest in the world, with approximately 600 twists and turns along 52 miles of narrow, mostly one-lane road that crosses 52 bridges and is often right on the edge of shear cliffs dropping several stories into the ocean.

We really wanted to see the black sand beaches and the bamboo forest near Hana, so we thought we'd give it a try. The three hour drive was actually fun and very scenic. The entire way is green and wet. We saw a wide variety of plants and many waterfalls, and also passed by several small towns and charming vendor shacks along the way.

The photos do not do it any justice, but Honokalani Beach is probably one of the most strikingly beautiful I've ever seen - vibrant green vegetation, deep blue sky and turquoise water crashing in white foam against black sand - it was pretty cool. The pumicey sand is coarse and the water is filled with poisonous jellyfish, so I wouldn't want to swim here, but I could look at this beach all day. We also found some neat caves adjacent to the beach and a blowhole. This stop might have been worth the drive alone, but we had one more destination: Waimoku Falls.
]]>9 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/honokalani_black_sand_beach.html 2007-09-09T20:42:08Z 2007-10-01T09:12:17Z Iao Needle

MAUI VACATION DAY 4 :: IAO VALLEY STATE PARK, WAILUKU, HI :: By day four, our burnt skin needed a break from the sun. Fortunately, the remainder of our planned activities on Maui would take...

MAUI VACATION DAY 4 :: IAO VALLEY STATE PARK, WAILUKU, HI :: By day four, our burnt skin needed a break from the sun. Fortunately, the remainder of our planned activities on Maui would take place in cloudier areas. It's amazing that Kāʻanapali and the west coast of the island annually receive less than 20 inches of rain, yet just five miles inland, more than 400 inches fall on the mountains.

On our way to Hana, we took a detour into the Iao Valley, the second wettest location on the island. There we gazed upon the ‘Īao Needle, a natural landmark with spiritual and historical significance. A major battle between Hawaiian kings to unite the islands occurred here in the 15th century. It's said the river in the valley ran red with blood.

We took a short walk across a bridge to the lookout, alongside the river and through a garden. Perhaps it was the wrong time of the year, but most of the plants in the garden seemed pretty dead... Only a couple decent photos at this quick stop.
]]>1 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/iao_needle.html 2007-09-09T19:38:53Z 2007-10-09T11:36:40Z Drums of the Pacific Luau

MAUI VACATION DAY 3 :: KAANAPALI, HI :: You gotta do a luau when you're in Hawaii, right? There are several to choose from on Maui, but I had read Drums of the Pacific at...

MAUI VACATION DAY 3 :: KAANAPALI, HI :: You gotta do a luau when you're in Hawaii, right? There are several to choose from on Maui, but I had read Drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt was the most exciting. To get there, we walked a half mile along Kāʻanapali Beach, getting a glance at the various resorts, cabanas and poolside bars along the way. It would have been a very nice walk, but Kristie's poor calves were starting to hurt from being burned pretty badly during the day's snorkeling. We stopped at the beach-side showers to cool them off.

Fortunately, we had made reservations a couple months ago and paid a little extra for VIP seating. I highly recommend it. We were quickly seated in front of the stage and sipped on several Mai Tais and Piña Coladas from the open bar as others waited for a long time in a line in the hot sun to get in. Kristie ordered a steady stream of ice water to cool off her calves.

The service and food was great - VIP was first to get their share (and then seconds). The show was very entertaining and romantic as well, expectedly several notches above what we've seen put on by Polynesian clubs at local high schools and universities. We enjoyed our walk back, and Kristie's calves felt better in the cooler, night air (77 degrees, as opposed to 87). The stars were bright over the ocean, framed by silhouettes of palm trees. The air smelled like coconuts. All was good in paradise.
]]>18 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/drums_of_the_pacific_luau.html 2007-09-08T21:11:24Z 2007-10-09T11:37:06Z Sea Turtles at Black Rock

MAUI VACATION DAY 3 :: KAANAPALI, HI :: Our day of snorkeling ended at Black Rock (Pu'u Keka'a), one of only three ancient sites where Hawaiian's believed their spirits departed the world. Mighty kings dove into the ocean and returned to prove their favor with the gods. Every night, a torchlit cliff diving ceremony honors the history of Black Rock.

It's also the best place to snorkel on Maui and is only a couple hundred yards from The Whaler. Black Rock divides the beach and creates a coral wall where lots of fish and a few turtles hang out. The water is clear, no rocks to stub a toe, and there was plenty of sunshine - the weather always seemed to be the best in Kaanapali.

Sea turtles (honu) are much revered by Hawaiians, and they were the highlight of our snorkeling trips. We saw two females and one monstrous male which must have weighed at least 300 pounds. The locals nicknamed him "Volkswagen." The turtles were busy munching away at seaweed and didn't seem to mind our presence. We tried to maintain a certain distance, although they swam right towards us a few times. I had to leapfrog over one to avoid it.

Unfortunately, the poor sea turtles throughout the Hawaiian islands are suffering from a disfiguring disease which is threatening the already endangered population. We could see signs of it on the big guy. We hope the turtle scientists find a cure soon!
]]>10 http://www.johnandkristie.com/archives/2007/09/black_rock_sea_turtles.html 2007-09-08T20:37:50Z 2007-10-09T11:37:37Z