BURST

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

2014-06-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

 I get it... I don't always remember it. But when really bad things happen... especially to amazing people... boy it shakes you, wakes you up and makes you reflect on your life. I can speak from experience. Before marrying my now husband, I lost my fiancé fourteen years ago in a sudden death accident up at Baldi Point at Alta Ski Resort while he was snow shoeing. My Mom lost her husband fifteen years ago, while walking across the street; a car, right in front of her eyes, hit and killed him instantly. She's strong and went on, but it changed her. Two years ago my Mom died; not from the cancer she had, but from an infection she picked up the hospital; that killed her within weeks.

 Recently, a friend lost her husband. They were the most in love couple I've ever known. Whenever we were around them, we'd watched their adoring ways and could feel their unbreakable love for one another. I don't get it. Why did this happen to them! Why does God take the good ones? Sometimes I believe it's just that, no explanation other than he wants the good ones. Here is a story about how I learned why; I once met an older woman, a very wise beautiful black woman. She had eight children and twenty-one grandchildren. After I lost my fiancé, Jeff, I was in a health food store with my Dad, the same week Jeff died. My eyes were red and swollen, my head hung low... she walked passed me, stopped, and said whatever those tears are from, it's not worth it. My Dad looked at her and told her what had happened. She then apologized, stepped closer to me and took both of my hands in hers, and said... "My dear, I'm going to tell you something and I want you to remember; when God takes something good away from us, it is because he has something greater in store for all of us". At that moment it didn't register, I just cried more. But in my deepest darkest moments, when I felt like I couldn't, and didn't want to go on, I had to find faith. I knew I had to go on, but I didn't know how, so I remembered this woman and thought about what she had said to me, and hung on to those words. I was still deeply depressed; I didn't know what that "greater" thing was, but I had faith there was something God had in store for both of us.

 I will NEVER forget this woman. She was a passing angel who God sent to me at just the right time. Her simple words got me through some tough moments. I have continued to apply that message to every difficult situation I encounter.

 Your world will never be the same. This experience changes you. You find strength in yourself and in the people in your life you never knew before. Keep your faith. No matter how much you don't want to wake up some days. Everyday that you do, you are one step closer to healing and one day closer to the next chapter of your life opening up again. You can't see it now, but faith will guide you.

 My heart is heavy for my friend, and my prayers are with her.

 Dedicated To Jen Hurley Klee

My Mom always said: You may not end up where you thought you were going....but you  will always end up where you were meant to be......

SPORTS AND WINE... COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

2012-04-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Sports and wine ... Right?! The perfect combo... (ok, beer too)

Two great things the Columbia Gorge offers... great standby topics that connect friends and businesses. Most enthusiasts around here have a passion for either sports or wine.. or both. Just being able to talk about wine and sports gives you the leg up when it come to engaging in interesting conversation. With over 40 wineries out here, kiting, windsurfing, mountain biking, skiing, and plenty more... this place is anything but stuffy, boring and dull.

Continuing my journey here in the Hood... the Columbia Gorge and Valley, recently had the pleasure visit from David Schildknecht - who's a member of Robert Parkers The Wine Advocate... visiting about 15 wineries out here... researching and scoping out the geological aspects of our vineyards... may just take our reputation to a whole new level. And of course, I have to tell you, I was lucky enough to meet him while he visited Phelps Creek Vineyards this past week.. tasting and evaluating the Pinot Noir's and Chardonnay. If I had to guess, I'd say he was not disappointed.

One thing's for certain, Hood River, will not disappoint you. Wind is the driving force around here.. man and nature in tune flying through a surreal experience atop the water, then onto land to experience the tasty handcrafted wine and beer that makes us happy.

Here's a couple of locals favorite launch/surf/bike/wine/beer spots...

HOOD RIVER SANDBAR "The Spit". Kiting... back in 2007 this sandbar grew close to 30 acres out across the river after a huge flood shot debris down from Mt Hood. Now it's used for kiting, windsurfing, dog play, kayakers and spectators.

THE HATCHERY. "THE HATCH" Windsurfing & Kiting. Right off Lewis and Clark Highway - 4 miles west of Hood River. The most difficult and progressive area for windsurfers and kiters - summer wind is strong and blows from the west, it can get up to 30 knots - the wind and river currant move in opposite directions with large 6-8 feet swells that roll close to the shoreline. This redefines "Wet-N-Wild".

ROCK CREEK. Windsurfing. Mosier - 7 miles East of Hood River... more difficult. Two launch's - one is rocky with a down-wind sandy lagoon, or launch off the sandy side of the spit.. the river is wide here, so space is not an issue.

PHELPS CREEK VINEYARDS Their tasting room is in the middle of the 'good 'ol boys' Hood River Golf Course on the 8th hole. The winery is known for their prestige and quality, and Pinot Noir's and Chardonnays. Considering they have two different wine-makers, one from the Gorge and one from Burgundy France. Each of the wines have very different profiles... the older local wine-maker, Rich Cushman, produces New World style wines, while the younger, french wine-maker, Alexandrine Roy, creates an Old World style, reminiscent of her family's vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin.

DOUBLE MOUNTAIN BREWERY super comfy atmosphere... like sitting in your old college dorm living room - hangin' out with your friends, having a good time, drinking great beer and eating THE BEST PIZZA IN TOWN... ingredients are simple, fresh and local.. somewhat like a thin-crust, brick oven New York style pizza. Even if you're not a beer drinker, this place is worth the visit for the pizza alone.. plus they serve a variety of great local wines.. and with beers like the Vaporizor and Hop Lava, you'll see why this brew pub is truly a labour of love. Check it out after some freeriding in Post Canyon....

POST CANYON TRAIL Thrilling Radical & Crazy. Ride your mountain bike through an extensive network of technical free-riding trails through the forest. The trails are divided up into different areas of difficulty..."Family Man", "Middle School", "Drop Out"... to name a few. You'll pass runners, dogs and hikers too. Unfortunately, the latest 2012 ice storm we had this past winter took a toll on the trails.. check out it's status before visiting.

MARCHESI VINEYARDS Searching for something a little different? Franco (owner-winemaker) produces Italian varieties. From Dolcetto, Sangiovese, Primitivo, Barbera, Nebbiolo and more. Most of his wines are reflective of the Old World wines from the Piedmont region in Northern Italy (where Franco is from). This is a great place that brings a Little Italy to town.. sit and taste, or share a glass with friends on their outside patio in the summer.

JACOB WILLIAMS WINERY off of highway 14, about 30 miles east of Hood River. I'd travel even further just to taste Brad's Merlot and Cabernet.. their Sadie Red blend and Zinfandel are worth the drive as well. The winery is situated right off the highway overlooking the Columbia River with a view so spectacular. They're big on throwing BBQ's, so prepare to spend an afternoon of pure relaxation and drinking good wine.

WARNING: Locals tend to geek-out on sports/wine/beer attitudes and verbiage... hang out and shake things up... just ask how their session or ride was today... or what They recommend you to drink.

Lonni Wright, Alan Busacca, Me and David Schildknecht (on right) from Robert Parkers The Wine Advocate

Double Mountain Pizza

Phelps Creek Vineyards

Post Canyon Trail

The Hatchery Windsurfing "The Hatch"

"The Spit" Kit Beach Kiting

Jacob Williams Winery '"The View"

Double Mountain Kölsch

Phelps Creek Winery Picnic

Alexandrine Roy French Winemaker for Phelps Creek Vineyards

MAUI HAWAII WINDSURFING SUP SURF BOOGIE BOARD PINA COLADAS

2012-03-11T22:18:00.003-07:00

Close your eyes and imagine the offshore wind whistling over the smooth sandy beaches and the crashing mess of the huge waves hitting the beach and rolling in, day in and out. This is my Virtual Vacation!

Sounds kinda funny... but I'm actually Not looking for the biggest relaxation getaway, but a bit more activity- more like Seinfeld (or for the younger generation- How I Met Your Mother) meets Kelly Slater in a modified updated version and continuation of the Beach Party. Tons of Fun. Four of us arrived Saturday at noon at Spreckelsville- our island host, Cesar, greeted us with fresh pineapple and coconut Pina Colada's. We jumped in the Jeep and drove up to an architect's dream getaway- it was built by two windsurfing nuts who spent most of their time here- the coolest oceanfront bamboo beach-chic hut with a grass roof, an elevated wraparound terrace jutting out over the beach with adirondack chairs, ceiling fans, outside shower, wet bar with snacks included, a personal chef (why not?)... hut is fully equipped with boards and sails. oh, and an outdoor jacuzzi and pool. yeah, that oughta do it. Guzzled our fancy drinks and jumped out of our clothes into bikini's and board shorts.. our outfits for the next seven days. Surfs up!

BOOGIE BOARD Grabbed our boogie boards and headed to Ka'anapali be ach- where we found some bigger waves, yet consistent, and water was clear and warm. At first I kept missing all the waves - felt like grandma surfing - then finally waves were getting faster and adrenaline kicked in.. we were rippin' it - one wave after another - until... well let's just say after swallowing a few quartz of water from our ocean barreling, we took a break and floated on our boogie boards, snorkeled and saw giant sea turtles, dolphins and whales... then back for more.

WINDSURFING (or as I like to call it.. FLYING)

Ho’okipa Love to fly over and break through the silky waves.. this is the place. Fred, Barney and George (you know who you are!) are forces to be reckoned with.. after fussing over the proper gear, equipment, sails, boom and foot placements.. they went out for a set, heads were ablaze with rage, they gunned down the line, saw the lip, hit it with all their mighty passion, and aired, aired, aired! Feeling of weightlessness. I could hear the cheers in their heads it was so loud. The last few days were awesome.. time had come I had to give myself a little pep talk as my head was still recovering from the previous evening of bongo beating. I did my first forward loop.. then all of us girls were doing backloops, goiters, crocks, slim-jims, aurora legos, universal radar rocket mounts (ok, fake lingo) Anyways, we had great airtime and then some. We were ready for the ~~world~~ special tour.

JAWS

Headed to check out the bad-ass wave surfing spot called JAWS.. locally known as Peahi.. biggest surf spot on the north shore, and considered to have some of the worlds largest waves. It's a whole different ball-game.. fierce waves that can actually swallow you.. some get as high as 50 feet... and higher. We watched the womens world surf finals and was blown away by a petite blond woman named Betty from Brazil (via Hood River via Maui)- no fear - she ripped the hardest throughout the event and took home the win. After the event.. for an adrenaline kick, Wilma and I had wave-runners take us through the swells and monster waves. Even virtually I break out in a sweat looking at this surf. There's a reason they call it JAWS!! You go...

R&F (Relaxation and Fun) Fat naps and massages in between activities, Mama's Fish House for lunch, and instant happy hour boost- island drinks and luau's every day... The four of us joined a reggae band for the week.. it was mandatory we had 3 shots of tequila before each set, wore dreadlocks and and played bongos. Guys were lookin' freeky - mix between Chevy Chase and Bob Marley.. and that's a compliment. What can I say, us girls (Wilma, Betty and me - you know who you are!) rocked it - glowing tans and spot-on beat. We're jammin' jammin' jammin' jammin' And we're jammin' in the name of the Lord.. We're jammin' we're jammin' we're jammin' hope ya like jammin too...

SUP

Waz SUP! We went over to Kanaha and sailed on SUP's. At this point there were some over mast high sets- but just to be out there with few others- not worrying about getting in the way of surfers, was awesome. Whales were pretty active.. one side-swiped me in a friendly way.. I could tell bc he didn't swallow me! Eventually when we grew tired of paddling, our new island friend- let's call him Flipper.. took us to a favorite hang out spot for dolphins - the caves between La Perouse and Kaupo - floating through peacefully we marveled at the absolute beauty of the lava formations and listened to the waves that echoed through the caves. This was a piece of heaven.

Check back in a couple of months as I'll be writing about my REAL experience there.. and how it compares to my virtual.

JAWS PEAHI MAUI WINDSURFING HAWAII

Please finish all these sentences:

I’m a big believer in…. focus, friends that make you laugh, and noodles.

Call me crazy but…. if thai curry is wrong, I don’t want to be right!

My favorite place on earth is…. US would be Cottonwood Canyons, in the world? Virtually it's Maui... and anywhere there's a noodle shop!

My friends are…. KooKoo... and trying to help me find noodle shops.

I could never…. Give up skiing, kissing, wine and noodles!

I’ve always wanted to…. water start and jibe while eating noodles!

Life is nothing without…. a good laugh, thai curry noodles and John Stewart and The Colbert Report.

Today I will…. Eat Pray Love and buy more noodles!

If I had the power I would…. be able to master the sport of surfing, skiing, save all animal and children and spread the love with my noodles!

I am…. grateful for close friends and family, Fibi, Taxi, Essy, Peanut and Kosmo! and thai curry noodles…

SURF COSTA RICA

2012-02-22T11:32:00.001-08:00

Embracing my inner surfer in Costa Rica my virtual vacation

I was looking to master the surf no further than Costa Rica. I'm talkin' sun-basked beaches, warm waters, un-crowded breaks and some world-class waves. But first, I meet with Daize Shayne and Malia Jones - two hot surfer chicks from California. I'm hooking up with them to teach me everything I need to know about surfing from eskimo rolling to hanging ten. Cutting to the chase, they're really quite something! Over seven days I allow them to show me the ropes, introduce me to the hippest hangouts, and find the best rips in town.

I began my surfing adventure in the paradise-delicious hot spot Jaco. It's the place in Costa Rica where surfers come to play, sun-seekers set up camp, and nightlife never quite sleeps. The waves are legendary and truly spectacular. With a fantastic coastal climate and warm temperatures, Jaco has some of the longest rides in the world. An unstoppable surfer's paradise, the great waves come from magnificent storms just off the Mexican coast, and the swells that accompany them are pretty much unrivalled. Whether you're a surfing pro, or a surf-rookie, Daize and Malia will help you. Avoiding the crowds, they took me off-the-beaten track to Jaco's best-kept surf's secret. Catch me riding the waves in style... check out my virtual pics.

Now that I've conquered the surf of Jaco, it's off to Santa Teresa for the next three days. With its white sand palm lined beaches, this is the perfect setting for me to sit back and unwind into Costa Rica's leisurely paced culture. And to truly settle in they have daily siesta sessions scheduled in with some Licuados (also called batidos) - it's an unusually flavored, locally favored milkshake drink. Delish! While enjoying the spectacular sunsets on the beach, I re-aligned my zen with a body melting massage to hit those sore spots.

I'll be back on the surf in no time!

your always affected by your first love,

if you fall in love with the ocean the smell the sound,

the story peaks

and your pumping heart

as you fall head over heels

on your first attempt

to catch a wave,

you are gone.

Then all you need

are some tasty waves

and the warm sun in your face.

APEX SKI RESORT - BEST KEPT SECRET IN BC CANADA

2012-02-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

Day 1- When in doubt... JUST DO IT!!! and so we drove, straight to BC Canada. Well not exactly. We detoured over and up to Seattle to renew my passport before passing GO. So what should've been an 8 hour road trip turned into 18 hours. Ugh!
Over the river and up route 5
to Seattle Washington we go.
Passport, then Pike's Place and Portage Bay Cafe
are all the places we know.
Hey!
So we made it to our destination... better late then never. Woke up the next morning to this hidden little gem of a ski village - over 1000 acres of skiable terrain and groomed cross-country near by. I can NOT tell you where - I was sworn to secrecy, and I will uphold my promise and keep their names anonymous... so you can't hunt them down and use chinese water torture to extract the secret of the BEST SMALL DESTINATION RESORT. Not gonna happen!
Well so I folded in my title - seriously wasn't suppose to tell - but key words trump secrets. Sorry Wilma and Fred (cover names, you understand).

Day 2 - The four of us ski'd right from the condo to the slopes. Our first run was freshly groomed, a little crunchy in some areas but mostly soft without slush. Where most people like slightly sketchy and difficult terrain that gives you an adrenaline rush... well not gonna lie, that's not me. Fare-weather kinda gal, SUNSHINE, groomers and no crowds - just the way my cold hiney likes it. Not that I don't mind a challenge... I've been known to accidentally get my ass into runs I have noooo right to be. In which case I'm yard-saling at high speeds cheering for mercy and peeps to get out of my way. Sad I know. So then I discover there's TWO lifts YES! (well three, but only two were open). Considering I'm always behind, lost or usually detour the complete opposite way of everyone - well doesn't matter. Two was the magic number that day... 50/50. How hard can it be to find my peeps. Coin toss. As the day gets better, run after run after run... we popped in The Edge Bistro had hot chocolates and home-made pastries and sandwiches... moving on, we buzzed around the mountain - generally just having a blast. Finally, maximizing our enjoyment we had an ice cold beer at the Gunbarrel Saloon. While visiting the pub you have to knock a nail into a tree trunk w the smaller end of a hammer after drinking a beer and before leaving (refer to video). Next.... hot tub! Then we cleaned up only to go get down and dirty w a bunch of crazy fun Canadians. All I'm gonna disclose is they have this game called SLOTS....eh! Awkward! (video! actually....)

Day 3 - Ooo, a small mythical ice skating rink wrapped around the condo where we stayed. Sweeeet. Wilma and I go ice skating after sipping COFFEEEEE for too long. After two hours of ice skating round and round and round you tend to get ~~crazy~~ creative. First, we did an ice dance and had to hum for each other the Blue Danube Waltz by Strauss... impressive I know. Really! (don't believe me? video!) Then we decided when the guys get back from skiing we'll play ice tag, with specific rules of course. The deal was they could only skate in one direction and we could skate both ways - when it was our turn, we only had to tag one of them, where they had to tag both of us, still only going in one direction. Sounds fair. never happened. It dumped that day so the guys stayed out shredding it up. good for them. they knew better. On a side note - the moon was shining so bright that day. hmm.... Next, XC ski'd on this blissful scenic groomed trail made for classic and skate. Nickel Plate Nordic Centre. that's all I'm sayin'. Afterwards, martini hour w Vicki and Chuck & his sis across the way - then steaks, grilled shrimp and late night dominos. It got brutal.

Day 4 - Remarkable, another amazing day, sunshine again! Woke up - Fred made delicious breakfast sandwiches... devoured them... buckled up, strapped on the ski's and headed for the slopes - one last time before take off. It was another EPIC day (silliness, not skiing). Most headed for the bumps. Fred and Alex tried to convince me to do the Toiletbowl run... only to get FLUSHED. No thx boys. pass. In spite, they cleaned it right up. My objective was to carve turns on some smooth groomers. We were having too much fun - owning the mountain mid-week. Finally we headed for our traditional happy hour at the Gunbarrel Saloon guzzling down a Canadian beer called Kokanee. God that was delish! Grabbed a couple road treats at our favorite deli - The Edge Bistro... and headed off in tears. Wilma chasing our car down to stay longer. Until we meet again!

WILMAAAA!!!!!!
CooCoo CooCoo....

(Video will be uploaded in the next day or two on youtube and here!)

EAT LIKE YOU GIVE A DAMN Portage Bay Cafe Seattle WA

Portage Bay Cafe Seattle Washington

SPREADING MY WINGS AT THE NEW AMAZON OFFICES

Pike's Place Market

View of Seattle from Pikes Place Market

WILMA, ME, ALEX & FRED

APEX SKI RESORT BC CANADA

HOT TUB + HAPPY HOUR = SILLINESS

US W CRAZY CANADIANS

CHUCK & VICKI

Nickel Plate Nordic Centre

APEX SKI RESORT BC CANADA

WILMA, ME & LISA

Nickel Plate Nordic Centre

GUNBARREL SALOON

APEX SKI RESORT BC CANADA

INSITU: TUNA TRACKER? OTHER FISH TO CATCH...

2012-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

UAV'S STARTED AS TUNA TRACKER??

I found this interesting as I've recently had the privilege to chat with Andy von Flotow and Guillermo Fisch who explained to me their idea about unmanned aircraft and Tuna Tracking.

In the beginning, 1998, a couple of engineers who formed Insitu, Andy von Flotow and Tad McGeer set out to build better UAV's (unmanned aerial vehicle)... and they did just that. They developed the SeaScan- launched by a catapult and caught with a hook when it got back to the ship.

Guillermo Fisch, an Argentinean-born naval architect and engineer, in the 1990's, helped big fishing companies improve their standard approach to finding tuna — roaming the ocean by helicopter from a fishing ship. Guillermo paired up with InSitu to help with the idea and development of this Tuna Tracking system.

Engineer, Tad McGeer, who was developing the UAV's, intended to have the unmanned vehicles fly over the deep ocean, find schools of tuna and stream back meteorological data. This is a Tuna Tracker - or Tuna Searcher- as Andy puts it. The goal is to monitor the fish when they're feeding.

Boeing was interested with the technology and potential of UAV's, and acquired InSitu in 2008 for $400 million. InSitu operates as a separate subsidiary under Boeing.

The pursuit and development of the Tuna Tracker was laid to rest, as the price ticket was much to high for fishing companies. There were "other fish to catch".

Today, UAVs are becoming a staple of modern military operations. Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) have several other (good) purposes as well, including patrolling small areas of the nation’s borders, flying over areas to assess damage after hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, forest fires, weather patterns, etc.

MUST READ: OPERATION PREYING MANTIS...

2012-01-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

OPERATION: PREYING MANTIS

John Sava: Warrior Priest

A Novel of Intrigue by Dennis R. Bennett

This story will appeal to readers searching for both a character driven and a social driven suspense thriller with unique objectives. The tone is similar to Tom Clancy’s military and governmental intrigue and John Grisham’s concern of social and philosophical intrigue. It also will appeal to those who enjoy insight into the philosophy and motivation required for people desiring to step outside the normal box of life.

Synopsis of OPERATION: PREYING MANTIS - John Sava: Warrior Priest

The overwhelming cocain traffic and related crime has become a great concern of a highly sophisticated group of wealthy influential men and women, known as The McLain Group. Their primary concern is the inability of the legal system to shut down one major crime group, who call themselves The Apollyon Group. The founders and leaders of The Apollyon Group are a Columbian grower, a son of a Mafioso Don, and a US Senator.

John Sava, a son of one of The McLain Group, is a West Point graduate and a Presbyterian minister, who experienced first hand the devastating results of crime fueled by cocain. He becomes the vigilante for The McLain Group. The mission of the group and its vigilante is to eliminate the three founders of The Apollyon Group. The mission is to be accomplished without detection. The mission is code named Operation Preying Mantis.

John Sava is the Preying Mantis (with an e) and must utilize all of the skills he acquired as a combat soldier, before becoming a minister. He also must utilize all of his ministerial training to carry out his mission undetected, much like a Praying Mantis does in nature as it hunts its prey.

OPERATION PREYING MANTIS blends the unique skills of a highly trained Ranger with the deft philosophical world of politics and religion. Each chapter is an encounter of good and evil encased in highly skilled military and religious fundamentals.

About the Author

Dennis R. Bennett is (my father) and a Presbyterian minister, a graduate of West Point, and a retired military officer, who was first a US Air Force line officer and then a US Army Chaplain. His military duty was both active and reserve status. He is also successful businessman and public speaker and has an earned doctorate from Columbia Theological Seminary. He was the recipient of both the Air Force and Army Commendation Medal and a Man of the Year Award.

As a writer, he has written more than 400 newspaper and business magazine columns and published one book, “My Rambling Thoughts”, which is a collection of some of his best published articles. His blog is at http://drdennisbennett.blogspot.com.

Dr. Bennett is one of the West Point graduates featured in the book, “Sons of Slum and Gravy” by Bill Mogan and available on Amazon.com.

http://drdennisbennett.blogspot.com/

OPERATION PREYING MANTIS... John Sava: Warrior Priest
ONLY $2.99
What! This price was a mistake... So Buy Now! :))

HOOD RIVER: COFFEE BY DESIGN

2012-01-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

3 Cool Independent Coffee Shops Around Hood River
Most of the country, coffee flows almost abundantly as water. While most people know joints like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Caribou, lucky for us, a lot of great independent coffee houses still survive in different areas of the country. These places are worker-owned and focus on quality drinks, perfectly-roasted coffee, a variety of beans, hip baristas and an artistic quality lacking from the name-brand chains out there. Here are some of my favorites...

Dog River Coffee: Smack downtown Hood River. Magic! Think Stumptown meets The Jetsons. Spoke w Nate Devol - he'd just came back from playing in the snow at the mountain, after getting blasted with almost 3 feet of snow from the night before - cool guy - one of the first founders of Dog River Coffee... along w Christine Hoag, who's from this area, and fascinatingly is also a judge at the NW Barista Competitions. This place happens to be one of the oldest existing coffee shops in HR... and was the only coffee shop in exsistence in HR back in 2004. My favorite coffee here is their Guatemala Antigua Buenavista which gets described a black cherry and lemon flavors interlace throughout a creamy milk chocolate blend... and w that I had a Mocha-chip cupcakes w espresso buttercream frosting... sinfully scrumptious! But it's not just their beans that make this funky coffee spot jump out... it's their laid back retro-cyber cafe space- cozy and open, cool art, local atmosphere, great music, chrome and vinyl dinette tables and chairs, and 50's & 60's upholstered lounge chairs, reflecting a kind of 70's feel... think Brady Bunch. Often they have interesting people come in, such as top athletes and give presentations- grab a coffee or beer and listen to exciting expeditions such as climbing one of the 7 summits or epic skiing stories. Pure love and joy was put into this shop. Besides their fabulous coffee they also serve smoothies, pastries and breakfast burritos.

Ground Coffee: On the east end of town is a cool eco-retro style coffee house where you can plant yourself down on the sofa with a good read... or eavesdrop on someone's conversation. Their slogan is It's not the coffee, it is the people. Owner Carin Agren is from Sweden and has lived in the states for many years. She opened this unique coffee shop with the idea of building a place for friends to gather. The artistic aura this place has draws musicians, artists and creative people in.....I can't decide if it's the atmosphere, people, food or coffee I like best. They serve a multitude of fresh roasted fancy coffee's and even have organic coffee beans. Daily homemade soups such as Curried Butternut Squash, Chicken Dumpling, Carrot-ginger, Russian Potato Soup, Cream of Mushroom... frequently they serve Borscht, MacNCheez, Vanilla Caramel Coffee Cake, Homemade Chocolate Chip Waffles, Greek Honey Yogurt & Vanilla, Homebaked Blueberry, Raspberry & White Chocolate Scones, Lemon Coffee-cake, not to mention all their delicious gourmet lunch and breakfast sandwiches... the list goes on! Are you hungry yet? This is Carin in the pic below...

10 Speed Coffee Up in the heights in HR- is a unique place- small-batch roastery who's committed to supporting local. While each element of the cafe supports and enhances cycling culture and the experience of riding, they also serve as a comfortable and friendly meeting spot for coffee enthusiasts and sportsman of all kind. They offer food and drink that is particularly allied to cyclists- breakfast sandwiches, wraps, pastries, treats, and of course cold local beer. It's great alternative for your morning meeting or weekend coffee spot. Sit in a relaxed atmosphere and have a cup of java while your bike is being tuned up next door at Dirty Fingers bike repair. You can actually watch them roast their own beans and brew coffee while waiting... precisely the vibe this funky 3 year old shop has... relaxing and interesting. You'll see a constant flow of locals, including bikers stopping by for a cold beer or killer coffee after riding. If it wasn't for coffee, we'd have no personality whatsoever!

ZION NATIONAL PARK: RED CAVE MT CARMEL

2012-01-15T12:51:00.000-08:00

Virtual Vacation... Just For Today!

Many people in the Northern hemisphere would love to go somewhere warm and sunny for a winter vaca, but not everyone can afford to go to places like Hawaii or the Canary Islands. For a lot of us the winter vaca's is simply a road trip, and in the NW that usually means south to California, Nevada or Utah. Not much warmer, but def a little dryer. Utah's always been one of my favorite places. So I'm headed out on a Virtual Vacation and escaping the winter - road tripin' it to Zion... with my two four legged girls (Fibi and Taxi). As I hit Route 89 listening to Days Like This by Van Morrison, feelin' happy - the morning was perfect... sun's beating down, car top down, warm air blowing just enough to keep me comfortable. Headed into Zion National Park... first stop Upper Red Cave in Mt. Carmel. Slot canyons! Imagine an impossibly narrow canyon with narrow curves and twisted wind-swept paths, lit with mysterious shadows and hints of light, that tempt canyoneers to wiggle, slither and climb to its finish. Add to that a fun 4WD right to the slot canyon entrance and you have Red Cave. Went spelunking through the lush canyons tightly enclosed by towering striated, sandstone walls... staring up at these grand walls marveling at how smaller than average I felt... leaving civilization behind, yet on some scale a sublime and peaceful feeling of contentment. Pretty kewl. But there's so many different hikes, so check it out b4 you get there.

After Red Cave I headed West to catch a beer and bite at Bit and Spur Restaurant & Saloon located in Springdale, Utah, at the entrance to Zion National Park. They carry Southern Utah's largest selection of micro-brews and fresh fruit margaritas. Sounds Yum! right about now (the funk soul brother...) They're considered the watering hole and gathering place for locals. Cool art exhibits and an open patio with breath-taking sunsets an amazing view of the canyons.

Driving back up Rt 89 I heard a dog bark... and awoke out of my imaginary getaway... girls are gettin' restless - gotta go take them out xc-skiing. Just got a few of feet of snow in the last couple of days - def taking advantage of that.

Red Cave Mt. Carmel

Stay tuned for my next Virtual Vaca... Hmm, Whistler maybe?

ZUMBA TO A SEXY BODY: SUPERSIZE THE SOUL

2012-01-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

ZUMBA QUEEN ALICIA

Laughter is a rapeutic exercise.... and Zumba is exercise that will make you belly laugh! Whether you're stressed, frustrated or mad about life... you'll laugh, and have fun! I ventured across town, all of a half mile, over to Group Fit Hood River- next to Snap Fitness- over near Pizzacato. I went behind the scenes with the beautiful and fit Beth Turner, one of three owners of Group Fit HR... and in my quest to find just plain fun fitness without the commitment of contracts and over paying for equipment I'll pretend to use, but well knowingly won't - found it... just classes! Clearly not just classes though... Zumba, Bollywood, Hip Hop, Stretch, Step, Tone, even Pilates and Power Yoga for you guru's out there. It was there I was able to shed light on the muses behind my goals, and Zumba'd myself into a hot bold sexy body... well the beginning of my dreamy image. Alicia Beckman- man can she move, jiggle and shake body parts I never knew exsisted... I do now! I'm hooked. Alicia was filled with energy that was bound to cause some quakes in the Gorge. I laughed hard looking around, and at me- all the expressions and postures, some good at this, and well some... picture Liz Lemon from 30 Rock (Tina Fey as we know her)... but if you can't dance it doesn't matter, you just have to move your whole body. The moves and music's anywhere from Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Rumba, Mambo, Belly Dance, Flamenco, Samba, Tango, Reggatone and Hip Hop of course. This is one of those times, well...

DANCE LIKE THERE'S NO ONE WATCHING!

Alicia Beckman ZUMBA instructor

Alicia Beckman and me ZUMBA'ing

Beth Turner

Not just for girls!

HAPPY PLACE

2012-01-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

Out with BBG (basket biking girl) yesterday– cross country ski’d the sno-park at Bennett Pass off of 35 Southeast side of Mt Hood – beautiful day for January – 50’s and sunny- snow melted down, but soft and easy to ski. So we’re yappin away about dogs, blogs, work, weather… and BBG popped a question that should’ve been simple to answer… ‘so where’s your happy place?’… Good question. It actually took me a minute to think of an answer... 10 plus years ago I could’ve answered methodically and without hesitation… I blanked - and realized I’ve been so busy living life in survival mode rather than just living in the moment, I lost sight of what really makes me happy. My answer back was sailing or anything connected to the ocean – of which I rarely get enough of. But later that evening I continued to think about it and decided I changed my mind... my past experiences has compromised what I Use to think would make me Happy… and if your aha moment is light years ahead of me, then you already know... it’s not where we live, rather who we are, or who we’ve become. Not so profound I know - just simply true. However, where we live has a huge influence on what and who we become… so if we grew up where our happy place is, isn't it possible we (or I) could’ve answered with a quick “right here and now”. On some level I’m happy - it's built in my DNA, but definetly still searching... for more excitement really. Life doesn’t fall into place the way it’s suppose to... some people yes. Most people - NO... you wake up 10, 20 years later and say ‘now what’… and that’s where I am. So sleeping on this - here’s where my Happy is - and goals to look forward to…

*Writing. quirky, simple, senseless... maybe. But I started. Check.

*Sail with a Crew in Sydney or Valencia… or where-ever!

*See the wilder side of the Grand Tetons… and rock climb

*Explore Rt 89 through the Rockies & national parks (bike hike and climb). Half check.

*Live in Bali paradise for a month… and paint. Started painting.

*Photograph people and anything with bold bright colors. Half check.

*Bike the back roads of Italia… the arches of Moab…and Valencia

*Dance w passion! to underground Tango in Argentina

*Learn to cook Italian style in Tuscany… and drink mucho vino! Half check.

*Skydive (not really, I breakout in a sweat just saying the word- just think it’ll help kick start my goals) and BBG will join me! J

Ok, enough of my thoughts. Life if pretty good, except when I'm not paying attention to where I'm walking.

Where's your Happy place?
post a comment - even just one thing - love to hear!

HOLY BAMBINOS BATMAN

2012-01-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

Bambinos International Learning Center

11 years and running...

Children or No children? Do you have family or friends with kids, or know someone that knows somebody with kids? This place is to be discovered.
Privately owned, this incredible learning center is designed to teach and develop children from ages 3 months through 12 years. I met with Lorena Lowell, Founder and CEO of Bambinos, who said her goal was to "Awaken their Passion and Excel their Development" by exposing them to the world. There's certainly No lack of creativity here and diversity is celebrated. Their Creative Curriculum enhances social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. The learning environment is the structure of the classroom that sets the context for teaching and learning.
I learned that every teacher has a Masters in Education...now that's impressive! Embracing Arts was high on their list- Mark Nilsson, a very well known Artist visits from time-to-time to teach them how to express their creative side. They learn languages such as Spanish and French from age 2, and chow on healthy well-rounded meals from natural organic ingredients made fresh daily... even Jamie Oliver would be amazed. There's enhancement and after school programs, transportation, And Parents' Night Out. Fun! They really seem to embody the quality and focus our kids crave today.

A Mark Nilsson inspiration

If only we were 3 again... gosh those were the days... wait 3's are the new 2's, and I don't think we'd survive the terrible 2's again. After visiting Bambinos, and seeing the Love and Logic that is taught, I learned this Center not only makes learning fun, but brings positive changes to the lives of our children.... our future!

Guitars Inspired by Pablo Picasso

COLUMBIA GORGE WIND-SEEKERS DESTINATION

2012-01-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hood River is well-known in the world of windsurfing and kite boarding. Thanks to the incredible gorge winds that blow along the Columbia River, it's been called the windsurfing capital of the world. Travel east of Portland- just about a 50 minute drive.

A few launch sites include:
The Event Site
The Spit
The Sandbar
Check out NW Kite for further details and some good info.

A few great local places for Gear, Rentals and Information:
Windance Boardshop
2nd Wind Sports
Big Winds Hood River
Brian's Windsurfing / Kiteboarding / SUP

MARCHESI VINEYARDS: PLEASURE WINE

2012-01-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

Pleasure Wine

Ever wonder what makes a Super Tuscan Wine? They are unique blends created by winemakers who wanted "think outside the box" of the DOC or DOCG and didn't want to conform to the strict governing winemaking laws in Italy. They tend to be high quality and expensive, although now days you can find decent affordable ones.

In my quest this summer to become more familiar with the local wines and vineyards near where I live in the Columbia Gorge and Valley- Marchesi Winery was one of the places I visited. Want to also know what Dolcetta, Sangiovese or Barbera's taste like? Visiting this place is a must! Franco Marchesi is the owner/winemaker, and was happy to engage in conversation (with his charming italian accent) about wine or your trips to Italy- he's truly passionate about what he does and his wines are distinctive and expressive, and yet very consistent.

Piasj is Piedmontese dialect for 'Pleasure' and this word tells you all about the wine. :)) It's a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. This is Marchesi's Super Tuscan blend- it's an elegant, full bodied wine with a harmony of classic cedar, dried currants and smooth mineral flavors.

Simply Delicioso!

ONLY IN THE GORGE! ...by Me

2011-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

Only in the Gorge!

Only in the gorge –you can put on a shortie, rig-up, sheet-in, plane-off, round-up, carve, gybe, bear-off, then ride swell, and de-rig all in a day.

It’s also a place where more people get their daily news from Temira or the weather page then CNN or BBC, they pray to the wind gods, make more S-turns than U-turns, investment services are places like Big Winds, 2^nd Wind and Windance, gear and equipment value more than their homes and cars, and some actually live in their homes which are their cars, eat at places called Brian’s Pourhouse and 3 Rivers Grill while battling river nose from a place they’ll revisit the next day… and still be proud to say they live in the Hood AND had the best day!

2012 Resolutions: LOCAL

2011-12-30T18:09:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year to look ahead- see how to Up Our Sales in a Downward Market. So I hit the street(s) of Hood River, where there's lots of unique small business' that rely on this town to keep them around. Here's what a few Owners had to say...

Lucy's Informal Flowers- spoke with the lovely Lucy, the owner and creator, who's been doing what she does for over 15 years. Walking into her shop on Oak Street, evoked a Parisian feel. Bursting visuals of bright and bold colors and smells that made the rest of your wild senses come alive- make you want to fly to Paris and make crazy love in a field of Roses.... Gardenia... Sweet Pea... Tulips... or whatever the season. Truly amazing- her shop is just the front door to what this woman is capable of... her focus is Floral & Design for Weddings, she also has talents in repurposing furniture, sewing house-felt decor, building Destination Weddings, Centerpieces and much more. Although her immediate challenge was figuring out how to use her new iPhone she got for Christmas, a more serious goal was how she could attract more local business. Starting in the new year you'll also find Lucy's flowers at The Farm Stand in the Heights- great place- say hi to Rob and Doug while you're there. To my local peeps, because nature does not grow alone, stop in for an occasional bouquet or her beautiful smile!

Mother's Market Place- chatted with Eric, who's quite the character- cross between Steve Martin and Jon Stewart- quick witted, very outgoing, yet detected a bit of modesty when it came to asking him a few questions. Little history- Mother's was founded 16 years ago- family owned by the Ohlson's- I'm drawn to call them the Health Ministry Market of Hood River- their philosophy is to help and educate people that there Are other options to a healthier mind and body, other then the conventional treatments. Stop in for lunch- yum! Not even mom can make 'home-made' soups, breads and pizza's the way they do... between their smoothies, wheatgrass and ginger shots you'll feel like Health Nut Guru! Talk to Margaret if you want to find an alternative way to fighting cancer, crohn's disease, or even want to spice up your sex drive. Speaking of... they just got Brew Dr. Kombucha (this young company is out of Portland) and soon we'll see dark chocolate. Surprisingly, their prices are lower than large chain grocery stores, AND you're getting local organic foods. Their #1 goal is health first. If only more people knew about Mother's, this world (well, Hood River) would be a better place! Yo peeps, a little tid-bit- sweet or salty tooth? try their Thai Nuts or Peanut Butter Pretzels. Heaven!!

Windance Boardshop- this is one cool store! Dave, the owner clearly loves what he does....seems he does everything. Must have been out playing in the snow when I popped by, so I chatted with Ginger = store manager- super friendly... and really enthusiastic about her job! Here I assumed this shop was merely about kiting and windsurfing... BAH! Snowboards, Mountain Boards, Skateboards, SUP's, Cool Gear, Shoes, Rentals, Lessons, Swapmeets, PartY's... cool local brands- Slingshot, Dakine and oodles more. What I dig about this place is their knowledge and service. If your sport requires wind or snow than visiting this store is NO BRAINER...when your headed up to the mountain- they're right at the base of 35... oh and check it out- right next to Mother's Market Place- where you can grab some good grub before hittin' the slopes. That's right- One-stop-shop! See at the top soda-pop!

Dakine base layer- SALE $21, an all season piece!

Dakine fleecy warm ski socks. SALE for $8...Bargain baby!

back to basics, here's a few tips...

1. Always smart to become more customer focused, and protect existing customer relationships. Remember the longer the relationship, the more profitable!

2. Provide more sales training. Whether I'm a customer or sales person, the story sells. Know your product and be enthusiastic about it... I promise, your sales will increase.

3. Advertising and Marketing. Network- face-to-face. Blog. Facebook. Switch up your ads. Offer promotions and discounts. Be open.

4. Change. With a fast-paced environment the companies that succeed are the ones willing to make changes. Evaluate what's working, and what's not, and change it!

Seems the common goal is to attract more locals, so let's double our efforts and shop local... with over 7000 people living in HR, even just once can make a difference in time.

You be the change!

Stayed tuned to read up on more local biz, bods and blurbs.