Sunday, September 12, 2010

Frybackyard Olympics 2010

For those that do not know the the Olympics are, you are surely missing out. They are only the best event of the year. Family friends I've known for over 20 years have the backyard for yard games. This year marked the 5th annual Backyard Olympics hosted by the Fryback Family... hence the Frybackyard Olympics. Each team is drawn at random, guy girl teams as they can be, this year there were more girls than guys however. You cannot be with your significant other and you don't know who you're with until you show up. We BBQ, drink, eat lots of potluck style food and have the best time. The events begin after Whitney Houston's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner... yes, every year. The events of the day tournament style are: horseshoes, lawn darts, bocce ball, and a combination golf chip/soccer chip. After the days events the final game begins... beer pong. For beer pong you are allowed to play with whoever you want, since not everyone sticks around for the final event. There are medal rounds at the end of every event complete with photos on the tiered steps in the yard. My mom arranges her Sept visit to make sure she gets into town in time for the Olympics so her, Josh, and I headed over the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. My mom was partnered with a Fryback family friend Terry, Josh with my friend Alyssa's (Fryback) aunt Lisa, and me with Alyssa's friends boyfriend Steve, another Duck. We started strong, can't say the same for Josh or my mom, but I ended up fizzling out once we got to the metal rounds. This year ended with a silver in the golf chip/soccer chip, silver in horseshoes, and a silver in lawn darts... Lawn darts we had but I couldn't come through in the end. I blame being on my feet and my back hurting for my demise... I was told when I could blame pregnancy hormones, do... so I will. For beer pong Josh and I teamed up with him drinking double... although Alyssa's dad Rick gladly stepped in and took some as well. It turns out I totally suck at beer pong when I'm totally sober... good to know!

Below are some pictures from the days events. We got lucky with dry weather after rain the last two. Either way, the games must go on!
Cupcakes I made for the potluck

National Anthem

Josh playing horseshoes

Me at horseshoes

Our wonderful hosts, Rick and Carol Fryback

Sorry mom, I did that to you

Nick (Alyssa's boyfriend) had a rough day, the night games treated him a bit better

Even grandma plays!

Uncle Sam during bocce ball

Alyssa

Medal Ceremony for Lawn Darts

Metal Ceremony for Horseshoes

The night games begin... Sam and Carol

Sam had a partnership rotating between Carol and my mom

I believe this was a reaction to one of Sam's "rules"

Steve and Rick streaching before the championship game

Strategy?

Beer pong winner... my parter Steve, and buddy Rick Fryback!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Road Trip Home

Just the last few photos from the trip... such a beautiful drive home through Shasta... the rest pretty much sucks though!






Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! (In San Fran!)

On our last night in town we were lucky enough to catch the Cubs/Giants Game... I say luckily beucase if you know me at all then you should know that the Cubs are my all time favorite sports team, other than the Ducks that is. It goes back before I was even born. This was my first Cubs game, and they won! It was even more fun booing the home team... I got lots of glares for being so loud... but I also got the last laugh!

Dempster warming up before the start

The coolest Ghostbuster looking hot chocolate dispenser ever!

So glad the stupid Husky Tim Lincecum had a bad night, only lasted 4 innings.


Dempster on the mound

I have renamed the cove to McCubbie Cove! Especially after Fukodome's first inning homer into the splash.




Sean Marshall

Okay, the sun went down and the birds came out! This picutre doesn't even begin to show how many their were.

Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

San Francisco Trip

Friday, August 6th Josh and I headed off to San Fran for a few days, driving. We left after work and stopped in Medford for the night before finishing our commute the next morning. We spent Sat-Tuesday around town and headed back up all day Wednesday. Every day we pretty much spent playing it by ear depending on if the sun came out over the Golden Gate Bridge or not. It never did. The sun came out, although it never really warmed up, and it never shinned over the Golden Gate Bridge. We walked along the water, took a boat trip around Alcatraz and under the GG Bridge as well as dined and shopped at Pier 39. Our hotel was 6 blocks from the pier which was nice, especially since we never really wanted to spend much time there... not the best hotel, and a little loud in such a busy location. Below are some pictures from the first few days of our trip.

Alcatraz





The Bay Bridge


The Golden Gate Bridge








Random Shots around San Fran

The best fresh baked bread ever!



 


So random but we loved the big noodle!

View from the cable car trip down Lombard St.


The cables that run the cable cars all throughout the city - as seen from the Cable Car Museum




So weird seeing the docks so empty!

 
Just like a kid in a candy shop!

Coit Tower above, view from within below