BEAVER TO BUCKEYE

Michelle is a loyal Oregon State Beaver fan, a graduate of that fine university. This morning she asked if she could have my shirt for the weekend. Yeah, the shirt I was wearing. She and her hubby have bet on the Buckeyes. Let's hope the shirt brings good luck. I agreed and peeled off my Buckeye shirt at the end of my work day and handed it over, but not before getting a photo for my blog. Go Buckeyes!!

SURPRISE STORM

At about 3pm snow flurries flew outside the windows of the cancer center. Some coworkers called it 'snow'. No, I thought, that's not snow, just flurries. Soon it was a light snow and quite pretty. A scant layer covered the grass but roads looked good. I left work at my usual time and four hours later I arrived home on a mere fume of gas in my car, an empty stomach, a headache, and pretty darn stressed out. Yeah, four hours! My normal commute is about 35 mins. The surprise storm didn't stay long but it was enough to cripple our unprepared city. Here's a photo I took while sitting still, I did lots of sitting still and waiting.

LONE BUCKEYE AND A GAGGLE OF DUCKS

Kathryn, the nurse just next to me in this picture recruited a few nurses to show their support for the Ducks. Kathryn is a huge Duck fan, so loyal that you can hear her cheers on tv. She comes to work after attending a game without a voice. Laurie, the nurse on the right had asked for a Buckeye shirt recently. I'm not sure Laurie knows where her loyalty lies as she is really a Husky! What gives, Laurie?? Today Laurie was sporting that Buckeye shirt! Yay, Laurie! Molly, the nurse between Kathryn and Laurie was just happy to have a lively and colorful shirt to borrow for the day even though she's not a die hard Duck fan. Molly's easy!

I tried to get a photo from today but the infusion room was whirring and chock full of patients. I'll try again tomorrow.

GO BUCKEYES!!

THE BIG BET

Well, we shook on it. The bet goes like this, the loser has to wear the jersey of the winning team to work or school. Seb, my young friend and loyal Oregon Ducks fan, is so confident his Ducks will win that he didn't even flinch when we made the bet official with the handshake.

GO BUCKEYES!!

Winter Walks

I haven't posted an entry in months. There's been no shortage of material just a shortage of motivation. When November arrives it brings the steady rains and the sun goes away for what seems like forever and it stays gray for days on end. Suddenly the energy and motivation I had withers away.

I like to stay active all year. I don't think it's good to give up fitness and sensible eating just because it's dark outside. I say that knowing I mean it wholeheartedly but I don't always live it. It's just plain hard for me to motivate this time of year.

Fortunately, I live in a town that offers more than I could ever explore. I've been doing hill walks with a good friend. I love these walks. They combine hilly, winding streets, public staircases, and urban forest.

This is a shot I took on Saturday of the fog in the forest. I have thrived on these walks for the last several weeks. On one occasion I took Elmo along. Like a trooper he walked five miles with us that day. He left his pee mail on everything possible and tried to chase every squirrel he heard or saw. Below are two shots with Elmo, one taken at Council Crest and the other with his pooncha while napping after his big walk.

The next two shots are taken along the streets of Portland's west hills. I love the moss.

I hope to get inspired to cross country ski and snowshoe very soon. Meanwhile, I'm quite content doing these invigorating walks.