si's sweet fish

i had the chance to check out simon's travel pix to hawaii and japan and was blown away by this lovely underwater shot he took while scuba diving in maui. if only pat and i had a camera while we were in la paz - oh the sea lions wrestling. enjoy this gorgeous pix and i hope it brightens up your day!

children learn what they live

i just got off the phone with my dear sweet cuz, nic and she read this wonderful little blurb that made me think about my family and the person i've become today. admist all the chaos and drama, i'm sincerely grateful for my family. i'm thankful for having a feisty little grandmother who had a heart of gold and a head of steel. i'm grateful for having a mother who was calm, open and so well balanced and for teaching me to always look at the bright side of things. and i would have to admit that there is a part of me that needs to thank my father. he challenged me in so many ways that most people couldn't fathom, but what it instilled in me was the beauty of resilence and to push myself in ways that i could only surprise myself.

so thanks for teaching me the things that i live by.....

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

twin cities

just got back from my cousin's wedding in minneapolis with the kim clan. it was so lovely to see matt marry his one sweet love and to see how perfectly suited they are for each other - talk about future braniac children. allison is only twenty-nine and she holds her phd in mechanical engineering. it was quite funny as we sat at the family table and were all interwined with the suh family clan. who wasn't a doctor at the table? from a cranio-maxio facial surgeon, general surgeon, medical professor, dental student to opthamologist....it was foreign for me to be surrounded by shop talk conversations that i couldn't really participate in. nonetheless, i had a great time chaffeuring my aunts and uncle around and just tuning into their convos about our family and unforgettable memories. oh what good times!

here's to our furry friend...

happy 40th miles federspiel! it was a delight to have your worlds collide this evening and to share the celebration of your birth oh....so long ago! though in your head you may see us as acquaintances but i know in your heart we are in some form or another - your bosom buddy. cheers to this day and may you give birth to that dancing star!

see pix to the moto europe '07 trip.

euro moto 2007

biggie smalls

how could you not love this stinker?

asian nanny

i've already volunteered my services to some of my good ol' friends. exciting times are to come for ker and the p and to the myrens. i stopped by the hospital to pay a visit to mister haakon - an absolute angel who was brought into this world on his mother's bday.

so here's to the future gunnette and thord haakon....

the best birthday ever....

in every day there is a magic moment waiting to be created - adele basheer

i've been so behind in updating my blog and posting nonsense (as feds would say). i'll be working on it over the rememberance day long weekend. but to start off i just wanted to post this shot of the lovely ladies who came down for my bday and helped set it off with a big bang!!! thanks all for being in my life and i appreciate and cherish each and every one of you....

my little pot belly

pork-o-rama

had a fabulous time over @ duncan's place for steve & duncan's 2nd annual pig roast. i heard it was a blast last year and knew i had to check it out. i can't wait till i get my 'i found jesus in my pork chop' t-shirt - tres cool! enjoy the pix and the viewing pleasure of mr. mooks porkin' out.

WTF?

guess what arrived in the mail yesterday? i thought the days of photo radar were over and now i have to make a stink about this one. have a nice laugh!

**giggle giggle**

friends leave footprints

i just had a lovely evening with hanadi and her sister and i realized that i will truly miss this amazing women. the thought even crossed my mind that had i not moved into the villagio we would of never of crossed paths and i wouldn't of been blessed with her friendship and her kindred spirit. so in the next few weeks we'll be in the hunt for some inspiration on our quest to find the perfect tattoo - something simple, symbolic and a forever reminder of who we are and what we want to become. on that note, i thought i'd post this wonderful quote that nic had on her fridge. if only i could summarize all of these words into a little tattoo....

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. Anger is only one letter short of danger. If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; if he betrays you twice, it is your fault. Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. He who loses money, loses much; he who loses a friend, loses much more; he who loses faith, loses all. Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t life long enough to make them all yourself. Friends, you and me…you brought another friend…and then there were three…we started our group…our circle of friends…and like that circle…there is no beginning or end…yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it a present.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

cat riding charlie

i'm having so much fun tootling around town!

charles in charge

charlie, will be the name of my new little baby! i made my way down to portland this weekend to partake in the ducati northwest event @ the portland international raceway and thanks to the wonderful guys @ eastside motorsports, i landed my new little motobike - a ducati monster 695 dark, of course!

my goal for the next few weeks is to get more comfie with my bike in preparation for my bday ride through eastern washington. i was inspired by a woman named liz, and her journey through the interior of BC, eastern washington, oregon & the gorge in hopes of learning more about power generation in the pacific northwest as well as soaking in all the natural beauty.

i was blessed yesterday riding back to seattle through the mt. st. helen's area - absolutely breathtaking! thanks b for leading the way and challenging me on my first official ride back on good ol' charlie! named charlie for many reasons - sounds fitting to say 'charles in charge', 'ready to take charlie for a ride', 'charlie's angel' and to the connection to charlemagne.

on i ride....

i wuv u!

beer boy bry!

had such a wonderful time @ sinc's wedding in napa and it's always great to reconnect with your childhood friends and to this day i still find bryan to be one of the funniest guys i know - you kill me!

y's & the w's

long live good friends and let's never forget our night @ fuel and the $10 bottle of water from new zealand - oh good times!

moto europe 2007

i'll be posting a video of my lovely moto trip after i compile all the pix and videos. i faced a few issues after accidently formatting my memory card one morning and feeling like the biggest fool in the world. but for the mean time here are just a few of my fav pix but i'll re-blog after i get my work laptop set up as bloggin' from my apple just simply doesn't work! hope all is well....

moto europe 2007