October/November

Time for an update. Since our last post we have continued to have fun outside and I have been making progress on my thesis.
I am taking a diving class this fall. Last week we were diving with a foraging sea otter and the week before we got to dive in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's kelp forest exhibit. It has all been awesome. Check out the MBA exhibit live link at http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_kelp/kelp_underwatercam.asp
In the mornings between 9-10 they have a diver in there to feed the fish. While you are checking out the site you can print out a sea food watch card, they recently put together one for sushi.
Louie has spent some weekends without me in Yosemite. He met up with Jake and Emily, and Graham and Greta last month for a fabulous weekend in the park while I made progress on my thesis.
Halloween weekend was the annual Tahoe trip with my Grampa Don. We were joined by a new cast of characters (new to the Tahoe weekend), including Louie's mom, her boyfriend and his daughter, my grandpa's girlfriend Pam, and Jake and Emily.
The weekend started on Halloween night in Sacramento. Louie and I dressed as Dr. Seus's Thing 1 and Thing 2 complete with silly string, water gun, and balloons for props. It is good fun to create small bits of mischief at a party where you only know two other people.
Saturday night we spent several hours at the casino. Emily played 4 hours of blackjack and didn't lose any money! I sat down at a roulette table and placed 6 chips on number 23. The ball was tossed spinning around and coming to rest on......23! The first spin! One spin and I doubled my gambling money. One spin and I was cashing in, a short successful night of gambling for me. Jake played some roulette later and won all the chips in his color!
Most of our group walked out of the casino with some extra money or at least even, and we all had fun.
We played a great game of Pictionary and went on a group run. There was a lot of rain this year so no climbing, but there was great company, good food, and a welcome soak in the hottub.

One week into November and we are preparing for our Thanksgiving vacation. Louie and I are much looking forward to some time climbing at Red Rocks with a slew of friends we don't get to see often enough. At the last head count we will be joined by Pete, Keith, Jake, Graham, Garrett, and Eric. After four days of climbing we are headed to Boulder to meet up with even more of our fantastic friends for Thanksgiving feasting and other festivities.

Look for a third quiz question coming soon. Melanie is two for two, any challengers out there?
First person to correctly answer three quiz questions will receive a treat from the Fraurer's bakery.