The Powell Project V

Kelly Giving us a Clinic

The Rowley's have become spoiled.  Each year since 2004, the Nash Family has included us in an annual Lake Powell trip.

Here's a brief rundown on why we keep returning. (why they keep inviting us is another question altogether)

First and foremost, 

The People: The Nash Family and their extended family and friends are the cream o' the crop. They are fun, energetic, positive and hilarious.

The Adventure: Just a few highlights from our years' on the Lake are captured below.

• Nine-year-old Pete sleep-walking right off the 2nd story of HouseBoat.


• Lynn cliff jumping off an enormous (at least  6-foot) cliff to an encouraging choir singing a Pocahantas medley


• SPA Day. 'Nuff Said.


• Two cracked ribs in one week... You gotta' love those crazy High Priests.


• Two VERY memorable bonfires! It's a miracle all fingers and toes are in place

The Beauty.  While I'm not  typically a "desert" person, the immensity of the canyons and the color of the rock and sky are so impressive.  It is the antithesis of Seattle scenery and it is awe inspiring.

The Stories.  It is a week-long gab fest.  It is so fun to get caught up with old friends and new ones, share opinions on books and politics (my apologies to the entire boat, by the way for my leftist leanings), be universally disgusted by the People, Us and Hello magazines that we stood in line to buy (okay, that I stood in line to buy) and laugh and laugh and laugh.

Each trip has truly been a treasure and we thank our gracious hosts and their wonderful friends for another memorable year.

I think they're happy

Steve had a great wakeboard run

Twilight on the Lake

Karen:  Way to Represent!

the ski gods

the whole gang 

the youngun's

good clean fun

this is before the explosion

It's hard to take in he beauty and size of the place

Ski King Was Ready

Water Ballet - am not sure why we weren't in the Olympics

Laura taking down not one, but two strapping young men... at 25 mph

Worst Olympic Moment Ever!!!!

Like the rest of the world, the Rowley's have been enamored by the 2008 Summer Games. We thrilled with Michael Phelps when somehow he pulled off that miracle touch to bring him the 7th of his 8 gold medals at the Games. Our hearts broke for my 41-year old inspiration, Dara Torres, when she was denied the gold in the relay after outswimming everyone in the pool. There were other disappointments along the way...

But the worst moment of my Olympic Experience is as follows:

After a long Sunday (sometimes the whole "day of rest" thing is more of a theory than reality), Steve and I lay down in bed to watch a few minutes of the gymnastics competition before drifting off to sleep. We were fortunate to watch the Pixie Athletes in the vaulting competion.

A little background might be helpful at this point: the Rowley's tend to be a bit passionate about sports. It matters not that 15 minutes before we didn't know a game was on, once we are spectators, these matches become like those in the Parthenon: life and death.

The other important thing to know is that Steve has a gift. He can tell how well a game is being officiated, even when he's not in the room to view it. And the reffing NEVER goes his way. It is really very strange that in all the years that Steve has watched sports and all the games (that through his power of discernment) he's been able to tell were fixed by poor officiating, the ref's were never being paid off by HIS team. Strange indeed. Ahem. I digress....

So, back to Sunday night's vaulting competition. Although this was meant to be relaxing, emotions are already running high by the news blurb on Alicia Sacramone's disappointment about the all around event. Steve and I were ready to adopt her after Chris Collingsworth's interview... and then the Vault Competition.

Poor little rich girl Alicia has to start. Steve and I spend 5 minutes discussing why this is unfair and why the other contestants shouldn't have to be locked in a darkened sound proof booth for her performance. I mean they can do it for Jerry Springer, but they can't pull it off at the Olympics????

Alicia gets off two solid vaults and then she must wait. Other vaulters come forward with varying degrees of success. Alicia is clinging to the Bronze by her size 2 1/2 fingertips. And then comes China's Cheng Fei. World Champion. After two stumbles Steve is appalled by her scores that finally do rob Angel Baby Alicia of another medal. He discusses the "hometown effect" and corrupt, slopping officiating. Ever the voice of reason, I sweetly remind Steve that he may not be exactly expert in the field of judging the Vault. I educate him on terms like "level of difficulty". His blood pressure is finally beginning to drop when who should pop on the screen with my boy Bob, but Bella Karolyi who spends the next 10 minutes ranting about the unacceptable sloppy judging of the Vaulting Competition and how darling Alicia Sacramone has been robbed.

Steve practically levitated about the bed. "See?? See??"

This moment in itself would have been annoying. I mean, One never really wants to see one's spouse be right, now do they? But the worst part is that Steve feels total vindication for every "poorly called" game he has ever witnessed... I can spy into the future and every time, between now and the London Olympics, that I question Steve's un-biased analysis, I'll hear, "Remember Bella??"

2012 is a long way off.

I Blame This Man.

Sucking Up Those Negative Ions

After a couple of stressful work weeks, and "honey do" weekends (exciting things like cleaning out carports and sheds) the Rowley's decided to get back to their strengths: doing nothing productive.

We took a very quick overnight trip to the beach.  The itinerary went something like this:

•   9 pm  Arriving into town late Friday evening and eating copious amounts of seafood.
• 11 pm  Laying around reading and watching TV fighting off food coma and swearing we'd never eat that much again.
• 8 am  Saturday morning  walk on the beach.  Those who know Brian will be surprised to learn that he slept through this.  Ahh, his lucky missionary companion!
• 11 am  Late breakfast, eating copious amounts of seafood.
• 12 pm  Renting pseudo-powerful scooters allowing Steve and Brian to race (ask Brian who won!) and Brian to chase seagulls until he was very kindly informed by a beach warden that this was an illegal activity.
• 2 pm  Climbing around the jetty.
• 6 pm  Returning home Saturday evening to get back in time to catch The Dark Knight.  Intense movie, by the way!

The trip was way too short, but it was fun to grab a  weekend together and just enjoy one another's company.  We're trying to squeeze in as much fun as we can before September 17.   This may be challenging, but again, as we dig deep, and draw upon our natural talent for avoiding responsibility, we think we can pull it off!

They're scruffy, but they're handsome and they're mine!

This one's for Alicia...

He's the King of the World!

We may be old.  But we're still stupid.

Wow.  A man and his machine.

My Heart Will Go On... Maybe

If you were a normal person, it would be bad news. For the Rowley's, it is devastating. And for my visiting family members, why they may never return to Aunt Lynn's.

It is with a heavy heart, although possibly a shrinking waistline, that I announce that Thin Pan Thai Restaurant will be closing its doors in Kirkland.

For those poor infidels who have never tasted the the life-changing green beans, the Crying Tiger Salad which makes you weep with joy, and of course, the center of every meal I've ever enjoyed there: the Red Curry with Chicken, you can't understand. You don't know why I feel the need to play Mozart's Requiem Mass in D Minor, tear my clothes, and run through the streets screaming that the sky is falling.

There are two ways to find comfort during this dark time:

1. I have great memories there with dear friends and family members. Some highlights:

• Taking Brian there for the first time as a young teenager. Me, nervous that my Big Mac loving son couldn't appreciate the complex flavors. And then watching him fall in love with the Thin Pan noodles that would become his trademark.
• Wrangling Madison long enough to try to enjoy dinner with Corey and Karine and tipping heavily after the waitress had to clean up cups of rice from on and under the table.
• Discovering that it was our good friends favorite place too and then spending the evening enjoying eachother's favorite menu items (and dressing alike in the bargain!),
• Take out with Megan and Shane. (We learned from the whole Madison experience that The Thin Pan was probably not ready for Hank) Meg, I lost a little respect for you when you couldn't handle the heat of the Crying Tiger, but no one appreciates a spinach wrap like you girl.
• Last month when many of the Beagley gang (those who stay up later than 8:15) closed down the joint. The food and company was so fabulous... truly one of my best restaurant experiences ever.

2. I still have at least six weeks to pound as much Thin Pan as possible... who's with me???

This is a picture of thai food not made at Thin Pan. I spit on it in disdain.

I should also draw comfort from the fact that there is talk of moving the restaurant to Seattle, but this to me feels a bit like salt in the wound. Because let's face it: we discovered this restaurant because of my early evening laziness. If I don't feel like cooking, can you really see me schlepping back to Seattle during rush hour for dinner?

How will I get through September? My favorite restaurant on the planet is closing. Oh, and that's right my son leaves for two years... What will I do without my Red Curry with Chicken?

When Nature Calls

Last year we were less than thrilled when a woodpecker decided to pretend our roof line was his personal leafy treetop.   We've talked about fixing it, but in typical Rowley fashion, we talk more than we actually fix.  In the meantime, these baby finches or starlings or whatever they are  (Jack Hanna, we're not) built their nests here.  

While we may not be the world's greatest pet lovers, we are also not completely heartless and couldn't bring ourselves to uproot the family.  We were so glad tonight that we hadn't evicted the tenants when we were all able to watch the birds' FHE.  The babies sat up in the "window", fought for a space and then waited for several adults to fly in and feed them.  The light wasn't great, so the pics are less than National Geographic, and the prose is certainly not up to Bethany's bear piece, but it was so much fun to watch.

The Bird Whisperer at Work

Nature Rocks!

A Nod to the Old Country

For Mother's Day this year, Steve gave me a weekend getaway to Victoria, BC. We were finally able to actually make the trip a couple of weekends ago. It had been 25 years since we'd been back. It was such a wonderful few days.

Victoria at Night

It is a great trip, as it is close to home, and has a northwest feel, but also has a very real old-world charm. On a side note, it also happens to have the best breakfasts in the free world. I am so ready for eggs benedict again... although the arteries may need a little more recovery time.

In typical Steve-style, he splurged and we flew up on a little sea plane. The flights were amazingly beautiful. Very cool to see the beautiful part of the world we live in, from a very new perspective.

Orca playing off of the San Juan Islands... we saw at least a dozen. Were actually able to see a couple breach. We were so shocked, we couldn't get cameras ready in time. Amazing!

and below, the happy looky-loos!

Our Summer Home... or as some like to call it, Butchart Gardens

(if I could pick any home on earth, this would be it. )

One day we rented a motorcycle to tour the peninsula. We may have finally come up with a win-win situation here. Go some place beautiful which makes Lynn happy. Then rent a bike when you get there, thrilling Steve. I did love it too!

Flying home... over Seattle. It's not too ugly here either.

A Hymn of Peace

While I have no reason for complaint, life has been stressful lately: from many sides. My work has a lot of uncertainties right now and we've had loved ones go through some real struggles. It seems the world has no peace to offer.

I'm so thankful for Sundays. They bring me that longed-for peace and perspective. I felt especially grateful on this past Sunday when we sang a hymn that I have paid little attention to in the past. This week it was exactly what I needed. It is a reminder of who truly is in control. I need to be prompted again and again that the Lord knows what is best for me and my family. That He will bring me what I need to learn and progress, if I will just turn things over to Him. He has proven this to me again and again. I'm thankful for His endless patience and that He gently reminded me one more time.

Lead, Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom; Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene—one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that thou

Shouldst lead me on.

I loved to choose and see my path; but now, Lead thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,

Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

So long thy pow’r hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on

O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till The night is gone.

And with the morn those angel faces smile,Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Text: John Henry Newman, 1801–1890 Music: John B. Dykes, 1823–1876

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I'm thankful for the understanding that just because I can't clearly see the end of the path from the beginning, I do know who created it for me. And I know where it will lead me, if I have the faith and humility to follow it.