I find myself in the proverbial rut. But what a beautiful rut it is.

This weekend will be my 5th trip to the mountain in a row! I'm going skiing with Mike on Friday (free lift ticket at SkiBowl if you bring 4 cans of food), followed by camping somewhere around the mountain on Friday night, and then climbing the Palmer Glacier on Saturday with a ski return to the lodge.

Last weekend was incredible. Eric and I attempted to build an igloo, but after realizing the ceiling would be about 12 feet high by the time we were finished, we decided to sleep in the pre-existing 3-sided wood shelter instead. The air temperature got pretty chilly at night, but we both stayed warm with our nice assortment of gear & apparel. Just because these short trips don't require the extensive planning that they used to, it doesn't make them any less memorable.

Hi everybody!

This weekend (on a trip with Eric) will make 4 weekends in a row that I've gone to Mt. Hood to play in the snow. Life doesn't get much better than that.

Here are some pictures from when my Grandma Marr & parents came to visit for Thanksgiving and also some pictures from our White River sledding trip with Jen & Trent Thompkins...

My Grandma...


Maddie loved Grandma and Grandma loved Maddie...


Steph & Jen hiking to the sled hill...


Apparently I'm afraid of the snow...


Jen & Trent...


Introducing the Calvin Klein winter collection...


Jen & Steph...


Good times with friends...

There are certain times when I wish we didn't have a dog. And then there are other times when I couldn't imagine life without Maddie.

On Sunday morning, I had every intention of going to church with Stephanie. But as I was laying in bed waiting for the shower, Maddie jumped up and started to get her snuggle on with me. I looked out the window and saw that the sky was perfectly blue, so I decided that Maddie and I would play hooky. I gathered up my new cross-country ski equipment and we were soon heading down the road to Mt. Hood.

It was an absolutely perfect day. There was plenty of snow, it was incredibly warm, my new gear worked great and Maddie had the time of her life.

By the time we made it back to the car, there were tons of people at the Sno-Park. Maddie said hello to all of the little kids with their sleds and as they were petting her, you could almost see them asking their parents with their eyes, "Can I get one?" Maddie spread her love around to everybody nearby (she's not picky) and soon we were loaded up and heading home.

Not 30 seconds after I started driving, I looked in the rearview mirror to see Maddie's head drop to the floor. She slept without stirring until we got home.

Read the previous post before looking at this one.


Jim with Paul Revere in the courtyard of the Old North Church.


Alex (Stephanie's cousin) at Sturbridge Village.


Stephanie, Alex, Delissa, & Samantha at Sturbridge Village.


Jim and Samantha share a moment.


Yes, that is John Ashcroft in the background.

Hello. Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Stephanie and I had a great time on our trip to New England. Below is a picture essay of our adventures (more to follow in second post)...

And for those who might be interested, we can further discuss (in person) my insights gained regarding self-realization in the formative years of childhood, or what makes a memory a good memory.



Where my house previously stood.


Stephanie enjoying the view of Bar Harbor, Maine.


Boats in Bar Harbor.


Stephanie excited about finding Portland Head Lighthouse.


Stephanie climbing a rock.


Stephanie on guard duty.


Samantha (Stephanie's cousin).

Do you ever have those days that are so full of good times that you almost can't believe it? Our weekend was like that. Totally crammed with fun. Here are a few pictures...

Stephanie loves her some elephant ears...



Stephanie loves her some candy apples...



One of my all-time favorite Steph pictures...



Mike and Becky looking for the perfect pumpkin...



Mt. Hood from a hillside near Forest Road 48...

It's official!

I'm a CPA! Washington State License #25327.

The saga that started six years ago is finally complete. Based on my rough calculation, I've spent approximately $387,000 on exam fees, review courses, and study guides.

Please don't ask me for tax advice. If you talk to my wife, she will attest (how's that for a CPA word?) to the fact that I nearly have a brain hernia when I prepare our own tax return. And that is with the help of software.

Let's keep my lack of tax knowledge between us. Anyone who sees my fancy CPA license on the wall won't know any better.

Oh sweet! Beans!

I believe I will call this summer the "Season of Completed Endeavors." On my run last night, I was thinking about all of the fun trips I've taken and all of the long-overdue home improvements that are nearly complete. And to top it off, I finally completed the Ethics Exam and the only thing stopping me from becoming a CPA is the paperwork being lost in the mail.

Ever since I lived in Seattle and saw a picture of the Three Fingers Lookout in a book at Barnes & Noble I was anxious to go there. And this summer I did.

Ever since Eric and I did a loop hike in the Wallowas, I wanted to go back and spend more time relaxing at Moccasin Lake and peak Eagle Cap. And this summer I did.

Ever since I heard Eric and Mike tell their stories about climbing Middle Sister, I wanted to see the view from the top. And this summer I did.

Ever since I looked out my back window and saw nothing but ugly brown barkdust, I wanted to get a sod lawn installed. And this summer I did.

Ever since I realized that I could push over our fence with my pinky finger, I wanted to get the fence replaced. And this summer I did.

Ever since I sat in a large building in the Oregon State Fairgrounds for my first CPA exam (in 1999), I wanted to pass the test and become a CPA. And this summer I did.

I can't say that I ever had a desire to become a runner, but because this is the summer that all things come to completion, I did that, too.

And it looks like it will continue for the rest of the year. Stephanie and I have always talked about going to the Northeast and we're finally taking the trip in November.

I am satisfied. I haven't experienced that feeling very often in my life.

And it must be time for me to set some new goals...

Steph and I took a long weekend and went to visit my parents in Lynden, WA. We had a great time and our itinerary went something like this...Wake up, eat, talk, eat, talk, walk, eat, play cards, talk, go to bed, repeat. Could a weekend get any better than that?

My mom grew up on a dairy farm in Lynden and my parents live in a beautiful house on the border of town. This is the view out their back window...



I've been lucky enough to see a lot of beautiful places in my life and you can't beat Lynden on a clear day. There is something idyllic about the red barns against the green pastures with the rugged mountains in the background. The view is even beautiful enough to make you forget about the ever-present sweet smell of cow manure in the air.

My mom is a great cook and we took full advantage of her kitchen skills during our short visit...



She also serenaded us on their new baby grand piano...



My dad keeps himself busy with his wood-working hobby. He's added a number of pieces of furniture to the house and they are all good-looking and functional...


All pictures taken by JEM.

Hollywood...Sherwood. Have you ever noticed how much these two names have in common?

I'm pretty sure that I ran through a movie set last night. Here are the reasons why I arrived at this conclusion...

1) A number of trucks and RVs were parked along the road, all having California plates.

2) The afore-mentioned trucks and RVs had the name of a production company with "Hollywood, CA" painted on the doors.

3) A number of people with strange haircuts were milling around in a front yard.

4) One of these people was a man wearing a headset and barking orders to someone less important than himself.

5) A large area light was sitting in the driveway of the house.

6) When I ran down the sidewalk in front of the house, the man with the headset shot me a look that said "Who do you think you are?" and "What do you think you are doing on my set?" and "Don't you know that people with headsets are better than you?" all at the same time. I was listening to music on my MP3 player as all this was unfolding, so I just put my arms up in the air, as if to ask "What do you want me to do?" while I continued running down the sidewalk in front of the house. When the man realized that I was unimpressed with his headset and haircut, he just waved me through and I went about my way.

Let me just say that I'm glad I live in Sherwood and I was happy to realize that people with headsets and odd haircuts stick out like a sore thumb in my town. But, if by some chance the guy with the headset is reading this blog and wants to cast me in major blockbuster, I would love to move to Hollywood and pursue a career in acting. As Groucho Marx said, "Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others."

Remember that time we ran 25 miles down the Oregon Coast? That was awesome.

Mike, Eric, and I had a great time on our jog from Seaside to Oswald West State Park. The weather cooperated for most of the day and the only time that it really rained hard was during the 1/4 mile stretch on Highway 101. I bet everybody who drove by thought, "Those are the toughest guys I've ever seen in my entire life," or alternatively, "Those are the stupidest guys I've ever seen in my entire life."

It was great to have the girls along and they were the best support crew we could have asked for. Steph and Becky did a little cheer for me and Mike, which was very nice even though I ended up with a bit of sand in my cup-o-soup from a wild leg-flailing kick maneuver.

Eric is much faster than me and Mike. I think I actually heard an audible "zoom" as he ran by.

And as a final note, it is possible to roll-start a late model XTerra by popping the clutch in the unfortunate event that your battery dies because the lights were left on in the parking lot.

Well, when the weather says "I dare you. Go ahead, just try it..." you need to pay attention.

Mike and I were intending on running around Mt. Hood tomorrow, but with temperatures dropping and a large storm system moving through the area, we decided it was an undertaking best saved for another (less frosty) time.

But! Because we each spent a couple hours packing last night and because we have $50 worth of trail food all nicely organized into plastic bins, we thought we should get outside and do something tomorrow regardless of the weather. So, on a less extreme note, we have decided to run along the coast for 25 miles. Eric will join us along the way and the girls will supply us with food and hot soup at a couple of strategically located spots along the route. We are going to run/hike from Seaside to Oswald West State Park.

Bring on the rain!

Here is a picture of Mt. Hood from Trillium Lake...

Looks like another man-child is on the way! Yesterday, Eric and Sarah found out that their little one is going to be a boy! Steph and I are very excited for them.

I hope he looks like his daddy...

Admittedly, it's hard to post anything to this blog that compares with the pictures of Baby T. So, maybe after my ramblings I'll add another picture of Carson so you go away with warm and fuzzy feelings.

I went for a run on the Wildwood Trail on Saturday morning. 15 miles of pure heaven. I saw a number of other trail-runners and everyone looked to be having a good time.

The great thing about running is the natural rhythm of movement. It doesn't require a great deal of concentration. Your brain is allowed to focus on those things that require thoughtful reflection...

As usual, I was listening to my eclectic mix of tunes on my MP3 player and every once in a while a powerful praise song would make its way into the rotation. I could literally feel a burst of energy as I sang along, often with a hand outstretched heavenward. I was thinking to myself as I sang, "Huh. I don't ever do this in church." But then I realized that God probably isn't that particular about how and where we choose to worship Him. I feel an intense closeness to God when I am outside enjoying His creation, so why not sing His praises when I'm on a trail run? So, if you should happen to see a tall guy running down a trail with a smile on his face and singing out of tune, it's probably me, simply engaging in some unconventional praise & worship.

As promised, another picture of Carson (this time having his temperature taken)...

Carson Michael Tompkins







This is going to be one cool kid.

Well, I was scheduled to be in Houston for the rest of the week. On my way to the airport I was notified that the hearing I was to be attending had been adjourned because of the impending hurricane. I suppose that logically makes sense, but it is incredibly annoying nonetheless. I stayed late at work last night making sure every little loose end was tied up before I left town and now I'm back at my desk (looking quite sophisticated in my business-casual attire, I might add).

So now I'm thinking about getting outside on a quick over-nighter this Friday/Saturday. I haven't told my wife about my little plan yet, but I'm sure she'll be okay with it. Maybe I'll go here...

Okay, now the pressure is on. Over the past couple of weeks, only my closest of friends have been looking at my blog. Now my family has joined in the fun. I feel a strange obligation to come up with something meaningful and witty on a daily basis.

Therefore, in an effort to keep expectations low, this posting will be nothing more than a factual account of how I spent my weekend...

Saturday, 5:00 AM: Woke up, showered, drove to Eric's to meet him and Mike at...

Saturday, 6:00 AM: Eric, Mike, and I drove to the Portland REI (with a slight detour to Starbucks) for the Used Gear Sale which lead to hanging out in line between...

Saturday, 6:00 AM to 8:59 AM: We waited in line and impressed each other with our early-morning wit and humor. You could feel the anticipation in the air as it got closer and closer to...

Saturday, 9:00 AM: The line started moving and pretty soon a mass of people was smashed into an area no larger than a walk-in closet. Gear was flying overhead, babies were screaming, and a remarkable amount of static was being produced by everyone's fleece jackets rubbing together as we pushed our way through the crowd. Pretty soon we were spit out at the far end of the walk-in closet at about...

Saturday, 9:27 AM: Mike was all smiles, as he scored a number of nice items at a low price. Eric made out well for himself, also. I spent $0.83. We left the store feeling satisfied and began making our plans for the rest of the day. We decided that running and golf were on the agenda. Mike and I ran from Eric's house to my house and arrived at...

Saturday, 11:15 AM: We cleaned up, gathered our golf gear and made a tee time at the course in Newberg for...

Saturday, 12:47 AM: After a quick lunch at Taco Bell, we were on the first tee box. We all had fun and decided somewhere around the fifth hole that we would make dinner for everybody. After finishing our round of nine, we went to the grocery store and got the fixins. We made shish-ka-bobs (I honestly have no idea how to spell that) for what seemed like 4-5 hours and boy were they delicious! The party broke up shortly after Jen & Trent left and we wouldn't see each other again until...

Sunday, 9:10 AM: We met at church and sat in our usual place. Stephanie and I went to Olive Garden for lunch and then to a furniture store to continue looking for a chair to be placed in the front of our great room. We might have found a design we like, but now we need to decide on color/fabric. We drove home and spent...

Sunday, 1:30 PM to 9:30 PM: We basically hung around the house and relaxed. What else are Sundays for?

Hello. I went golfing last night with Jason Schwanz (Schwartz), Grant Christy (sometimes we just call him "Christy" or "Chris"), and Mike. We went to the new course in Newberg. Good times had by all. It's amazing to see how much Newberg is growing. There are some nice houses being built around the golf course (imagine that!), but they are all a little bit too cookie-cutter for me. It seems that all new houses can only be painted in dark green, dark red, or mustard and they all must have fake stonework around the entryway.

I need to say "hello" to my mom, who recently found a way to access this blog. My parent's silly computer apparently is part of a conspiracy to keep hard-working Americans out of the blogspot.com world. But, as always, she overcame those who would stand in her way! My dad gets back on Saturday night from a 3-week trip to Romania. He visits a dental clinic in Romania about once a year, performing basic dental work and making people's smiles brighter. As the good hymnal book says, "Crown Him With Many Crowns." More info on my parents will follow...

In the meantime, here is a picture taken from the window of the old fire lookout tower on Three Fingers (in Washington state), with Glacier Peak in the distance. Definitely a great trip. You should go there.

Have you met my friend Eric?

If not, you should.

If so, you're lucky.

I know I'm lucky to have friends like this...

http://etrootsystem.blogspot.com/

Hi. I don't really have a whole lot to say this morning, so I thought I'd just post a picture of myself...



Okay, that's not really me, but if you squint really hard while you look at the picture, it kind of looks like me, right? Right?

My run home was good. I was certainly fatigued, but never to the point of exhaustion. I attempted to not take walk breaks as it seemed my muscles would start to stiffen up quickly. Instead, I just slowed down my jogging pace and kept the forward momentum going. Maybe I'll run to work once a week (at least until Mike & I complete the Timberline Trail loop).

Here are some lyrics to a song that I've been trying to get Stephanie to sing in church...They were inspirational to me yesterday and might have encouraged my first-ever "runner's high."

You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always

You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God

You Were There, Avalon

Good morning! I had another great weekend. The only downside was having to work for about 6 hours on Saturday. Luckily, the project went very smoothly and we finished by the deadline.

Our new washer and dryer were delivered on Saturday and they are quite fancy. Apparently the dryer can handle something like 20 towels at once, so next time the US Swim Team comes for a sleepover, we will totally be prepared.

We went to church on Sunday morning (Steph's singing was pretty) and I went golfing with Mike & Trent on Sunday afternoon. Mike had one of his best days ever and I hit a couple of decent shots, also. Trent looked really nice.

I ran to work this morning. It was definitely challenging, but also invigorating. It took me 1 hour & 10 minutes door-to-door. I won't be running that fast on the way home. (I use the term "fast" loosely, as averaging 8:00+ minute miles generally doesn't fit in the "fast" category.) I feel as though I've earned the 520 calories of danish that I'm currently inhaling.

Well, I'm never one to sit idle and wait while the opportunity to buy gear presents itself. In other words, I'll be receiving my new ski setup at the end of next week. My buddies tell me that they won't be swayed from their snowshoeing ways, but I'm certain that after seeing me gracefully schuss down a hillside they will quickly change their minds.

Here are my new skis:




Here are my new boots:





Here are my new bindings:

Yesterday was sort of eventful. I of course jinxed myself by talking about my great bike ride in the morning. When I left the office at 5:00, I noticed that my rear tire was nearly flat. Luckily, a coworker had an air compressor in her car, so I filled up the tire as full as I thought was safe and rode home as quickly as possible. The tire was halfway deflated by the time I made it home. Looks like a trip to G.I. Joe's is in my near future. Boooooo.

I've decided to replace my snowshoe hobby (come on, it's been like 5 years since I picked it up!) with a new hobby...backcountry skiing. Basically, backcountry skis are beefy cross-country skis. I'll hopefully be able to carve a few turns on easy downhill sections. Convincing my wife of the validity of my new passion only required a short negotiation process. I hope to capitalize on a few pre-season sales to get a good deal on the necessary new gear.

Yesterday was uneventful. Steph and I worked in the backyard for a bit, trying to get it ready for sod installation in the near future. I can't wait to be done with it but it seems like that day will never come.

I rode my bike to work this morning. The conditions were absolutely perfect (minus the constant convoy of trucks barrelling down Tualatin-Sherwood Road). I really enjoy being active.

Charles Houston wrote in his book, K2-The Savage Mountain, about the mystery of outdoor pursuits: "The answer cannot be simple; it is compounded of such elements as the great beauty of clear cold air, of colors beyond the ordinary, of the lure of unknown regions beyond the rim of experience...[it is] the pleasure of physical fitness, the pride of conquering... the chance to be briefly free of the small concerns of our common lives..." His words perfectly echo my feelings. I've experienced the sensation of being totally consumed by the grandeur of God's creation and I feel sorry for those who aren't fortunate enough to have such an opportunity.

As usual, we had a pretty busy weekend. I never come back to work feeling as rested as I should.

On Saturday, we went roller-blading with Mike & Becky. Good times and we all walked away raspberry-free. Had an awesome breakfast at a new cafe in Beaverton with "Bear" in the name. Chicken-fried steak is perfect, because not only is it deep fried, it's also completely smothered with gravy. After we ate, we bought a new washer & DRYER (emphasis added for Stephanie's benefit) at Sears. It will be delivered on Saturday. When I got back from a run on Saturday evening, Steph had this crazy look in her eye and she informed me that we were going to paint the downstairs bathroom. That night. So off to Home Depot we went. It was a little before midnight when we had finally finished with the second coat. It looks quite nice if I do say so myself.

We went to the coast on Sunday and it was beautiful. Blue skies and warm. Maddie made a bunch of new friends and when we got back home she was exhausted. It's true what they say...A tired dog is a good dog.

Yesterday, Mike and I did a 20-mile hike/run on the Timberline Trail. We started at T-Line Lodge and headed east as far as Lamberson Butte. After a lunch break at the Butte, we headed back to the Lodge, for a 6 hour round trip. We saw lots of people on the trail, presumably finishing the loop on the last day of the holiday weekend. Mike and I intend to do the complete loop in a day, probably later this month. After yesterday I continue to believe it's possible, but I now have a better understanding of just how challenging a 40-mile day can be.

I had a busy night last night. Went for a run, accompanied part of the way by my dog. It seems that she doesn't have the unlimited energy of just a few months ago. When I got back from the run, I decided that the yard needed a little work so I picked weeds and mowed the lawn. The lawn is ready for a bit of rain and it looks as though it might get some on Sunday.

Steph and I have tentatively decided to head to the coast tomorrow. It's been a couple of months since our last trip. Maddie loves it out there and it's a ton of fun watching her play around in the sand.

We have another member of the family that I've failed to mention. Sam is our moderately obese cat. He is full of love for everybody. Here is a picture of Sam engaging in his favorite hobby...

My ever-vigilant friend Mike noted that I did not mention in my post yesterday that my wife's name is Stephanie.

My wife's name is Stephanie.

Yesterday evening we took a quick trip to the library to do a little research in Consumer Reports regarding washing machines. Nothing says "I'm grown up" like being a well-educated consumer. Stephanie wants the Rolls-Royce of washing machines and I'm leaning towards something more conservative. We plan to do some shopping this weekend, hoping for good holiday-weekend sales. We're looking for a washing machine, an area rug (for the front room), a reading chair (again for the front room), and maybe a cedar chest to go under the window (in the front room).

We might also head to the Coast for a day. We'll go on whichever day has clear skies.

My lovely wife and our dog, Maddie, in front of Mt. Hood.

Well, this is my first attempt at adding something to my blog. I'm too cheap to get DSL at home and I've always wanted to have my own content on the web, so I figured this would be a good way to get started.

Here are some pictures from a recent trip to Middle Sister (8/13/05) with my good friends Roy, Mike, Eric, and Trent...


South Sister from Camp Lake









Middle Sister from above Camp Lake