I did a lamb roast to celebrate Kate & Dan getting back from Asia, Keevin & Sylvia getting married and Mo & Dan just getting married. The fire the night before was just as painful as last year but we had hot rocks in the morning. We forgot to put the meat in a trench of hot rocks and just threw it down and covered it. And the thermometer broke, so we couldn't tell how hot the meat was. We went off of last roasts temperatures and took it out after 7 hours.

The bottom was cooked perfect, the top wanted to be thrown on the BBQ for a bit. But it was all good, we had a good turnout, the lamb was damn tasty and people had a good time. The 6 brought pictures and we watched them on the TV so everyone could see how their trips and such were. I started drinking from the wine bottle so the rest is a bit hazy, but someone might have spilt beer on me and pushed me over in my chair.

In preparations for the lamb roast this weekend we (Dan, Ron and I) built a little hut over the pit. Hopefully if it rains the roof will keep most of the water off of the fire while we run around like pagans drinking beer and burning wood.

On Sunday I went to the gorge for a little hike with Kate, Cyndi and Matt. We went up Munra point. Well, I didn't make it all the way cos my shoes sucked and were sliding all over the place near the top. Cyndi was nice enough to turn back with me as Kate and Matt went to the top a bit further. It was a cool hike and looked like Mordor for a while.

I got a new toilet a bit ago and had the toilet on the front lawn with the turkey sitting on it. I'm sure my neighbors were thrilled with that. I decided it was time to break it up and throw it out.

Dan and Kate just got back from their travels in Asia so we all went out for beer.

Today Ron came over to help fix my door latch. After the door was fixed and the door knob didn't actually come out in your hand we moved on to the toilet. After some nasty cleaning and looking into the bowels of hell we got the new one tightened down and ready for use. Then I tried to get rid of a bunch of cardboard by pouring gasoline on them in the pig pit and lighting it. Needless to say, there was huge amounts of smoke and ash which took 10 minutes to put out.

On Saturday Jamie invited me to go ski up and down Mt. St. Helens. I went with him, Matt, Bob, Mark? and the Boarder (whose name I forgot).I had a list of excuses to turn around but thankfully didn't have to use them as around 5000' the wind got ridiclous and we all stopped there.As the wind didn't get better we headed down anyway after declaring 5000' the summit of St. Helens.

I made one successful turn and then fell on every turn after that. My best was falling head down hill and then flipping over my head.So I took off the skiis and carried them down with my broken pole (from fall #8).

It was a frickin' gorgeous day and I think everyone had a good time.

This weekend I went up to Barlow Pass with Vince and his scout troop to practice building snow caves. It took about four hours to form a cave, afterwhich you are completely soaked and cold - at least I was. Vince and his brother made a cave next to mine and we joined them.

It was badass and was pretty fun. The cave was warm at night, though the floor got to be a bit cold at night. Next time I will bring a tarp and a larger thermarest. I was trying to see what it'd be like to build and sleep in one with just what I'd bring on a climbing trip. More insulation is better.

In the morning we drank hot cocoa and waited for the sun to rise. After we got most of our stuff out of the cave I tried to break in the ceiling. After a few large jumps on one leg I broke it in near a vent hole. After that we went to Dairy Queen where I grubbed down food and fell asleep at the table.

We finally got snow in Portland, two separate times even.