**The vote is in: Death Valley it is**

Dog is off to a mini-vacation at the dairy farm. Cows to bark at. Cowshit to eat. She is in heaven. As for us. A sunrise departure for a 19 hour haul to look at wildflowers. Born to road trip. Back later in the week with, I hope, pictures. What would I give to borrow Sarah's camera:)

**Back when spring break was really spring break**

I leave in a half hour to pick up my daughter at the train station. Those who have seen her blog will know that it is not a short ride. hey some forced relaxation and general staring out a window can be a good thing.

More later.

**Whistler pictures**

Here are a sample of pictures. I have to say that the other photographers on the trip really captured the range of insanity that happens when travelling with 11+ intelligent, energetic and (mostly) young adventurers. Becca and Jen set up a nice galleries. And yes, there are about 500 pictures in Sarah's gallery, but frankly, the combination of her eye and that camera is simply unbeatable.

This picture suggests there was much more snow than there really was. But snow or no snow, it was beautiful:


With poor skiing conditions you can imagine what the snow shoe trails were like. In fact this is a view from a hike I did with Cari, Tyler and Beth on one of the snow shoeing trails to Lost Lake. It looks more like a day to swim:


Here is another shot of Lost Lake:


A wrong turn occured somewhere on the trail. This photo was taken before we realized we were walking way farther than the map indicated. Thus everyone was still smiling.


Of course the warm weather means "you know what" may be emerging from hibernation. Thoughtfully, the Lost Lake rangers put up signs to help clarify the "right of way" that exists at trail crossing. Glad we are clear on that.


The pinot noir wine seemed to go over well. The camera really likes these three rocket scientists!


I am off to pick up #1 daughter from the train station tomorrow morning. A big yahoo is echoing through my otherwise empty house. The spring break decision: Hang low at the house and maybe snow shoe in the Cascades if enough snow materializes over the next couple of days... or... play at the coast... or ... major road trip to Death Valley to see the 100 year bloom on the desert floor.

**Whistler report preview**

Back from Whistler. Snow sucked. Company rocked. Returned to a flood of emails, messages, good news and sad news. More later.

**Yes, another quiz making the local blog rounds**

Since these quizzes seem to be making the circuit, here we go again: Did not do too well for a highly overeducated person. Actually, it kinda makes sense because after thinking about all this stuff all day, I just want to come home and be entertained at night. How shallow.

You scored as Romantic Comedy. You love sappy shit. You're oblivious to what's happening as long as you have some guy for eye candy and a happy ending you wish you could happen in your own life. Time to rent some new movies.

**Como garnarse el premio del rulacho**

You know who you are.

**Welcome to Marriot U. and the evisceration of the last egalitarian impulse**

OK, right up front... if you are a hard core free marketeer, friend of the law and economics movement; if you have EVER sent money to the Cato Institute, attended or wanted to attend George Mason University, or think unionization is an abomination of God, then hit the next blog button quickly or....

come work where I work.

**Praise the Lord! Everyone's Whistler Dixie!**

Plans are made, tickets are purchased and in a mere week we are off to the largest ski area in North America. To stroll a bit down memory lane, let us take a moment to reminisce about the Whistler trip a mere two years ago..... If I remember correctly, these pix should be credited to our honorable trip organizer. They are used completely without her permission.

My fondest memory of our mini family reunion was the deep and abiding bonding. Whistler can be a dangerous place, but everyone was completely committed to looking out for each other. Notice the lightening fast reaction of my family as I started to fall off a stunningly dangerous cliff. Ah, the bonds of family. And with a positive attitude to boot. Notice Miss Caroline even managed to strike a stunning smile in the midst of imminent danger....




The second photo is of our illustrious trip coordinator and organizer of all things fun. She asked us to take this picture to secure evidence that she did, indeed sail across the deep mountain valleys suspended only by a 1/2 inch cable. We who were with her, know the truth.... she wanted a picture of the cute guy standing behind her shoulder....




Finally, there is the documentary evidence of the moment my zip trekking son embraced Rapture. Yes, he presented himself to the One, the Only, in a position of pure supplication before the eyes of the Lord. And yet, he was mercilessly pelted with snowballs as he landed. No rapture for you buddy.



Ahh, Whistler... where you can find snow, find God, and even find a wide range of nicely scented foot lotion. Possibly a contemporary Garden of Eden.