Summer in Review

Well, we are back in Bangkok and its time for a little summer in review. Summer is a great time of year. It is a time to refresh and, for us, reconnect with friends and family. I find that the number of friends I see when I return dwindles each year. The theory on this is basically that people think the following:

• Summer One "Wow, Isaac, tell me about all your travels!"
• Summer Two "I thought you were coming back after two years. Seriously, what going on? Thailand?"
• Summer Three "Isaac who?"

OK, maybe its not that bad, but I think people lose interest and move on with their lives. When Becky and I come back from summer, I feel like Mel Gibson. Not the racist crazy Mel but the Mel from Forever Young. The only real differnce is that everyone I know is not dead.

On to the fun stuff.

Summer started off in Chicago. Becky is crazy, in a good way, when it comes to getting stuff done so we had to get ALL of our shopping done in the first two days of being back. This is in severe contrast to my style which would have had me running around like crazy the last few days trying to get everything I need. Actually, I still had to do this for the stuff Becky didn't make me buy early. When will I learn?

We checked out the Stanley Cup Parade for the Blackhawks!

After a week in Chicago, I left for the United States Open of golf while Becky stay in Chicago to go to Jesse and Luis' wedding in Ann Arbor.

Justin and I with the U.S. Open Trophy.

 We met in San Francisco to have treats. I only ate Ricearoni, it was delicious.

 We left San Francisco and made a stop in wine country. Everyone was really impressed with our knowledge of wine.

As you can see, we really knew what we were doing.

Biking and photography don't mix. The sacrifices I make for this blog.

After a couple of nights in Napa, we continued our way up the coast towards Oregon. We drove through the Avenue of the Giants to see the Redwoods and then up to Crater Lake in Oregon.  

Someone getting creative with orange peel.  Found while hiking near Mendocino.  

Crater Lake, Oregon

Awesome!

Steve, a counselor from our school, convinced us that a stay in Bend, Oregon was in order. He was absolutely correct and he was a great tour guide.  First we had some business that we had to take care of our first night in Bend...the business of love. It was our one year anniversary. The year one gift is paper and Becky suprised me with a lovely Charmin two-ply. A very practical gift, I loved it. Here we are at dinner at the supposed best steakhouse in Bend on the Deschutes River.

Bend has a ton of brewery's and Steve took us on a tour with his son Adam after a day of tubing on the Deshutes River.

Despite my appearance, this was stop number one and beer number one.

I have a much better picture of Adam and Steve, but I thought this captured the moment.

 The next day we explored Smith Rocks State Park before heading to a minor league baseball game that night.

Monkey Face Rock...can you see it?

The other side of Monkey Face and some crazy dudes.

From Bend, we headed to our final road trip destination - Portland. But not without driving the senic route.

Stopping to pick some strawberries.

Kite surfing is apparently a huge deal on the Columbia River. 

Thanks to Dave and Gloria Mendy (Scott's Parents - Scott husband of Katie sister of Becky), we had a place to stay our first night in Portland as we dicided to come a day early.

The reason for going to Portland was a big fat Korean wedding, kinda. Friends from Korea wedding, not a real Korean wedding. Sarah and Jonathan Webster, or Sqweebs, kindly invited us to be a part of thier day/weekend and it was a blast. It was especially great to catch up with old friends.

Soju shots for everyone.  A Korean tradition.

Ryan playing an 80's relic at the rehearsal dinner.

How accidents happen. Becky and Kristi try to kill Batman.

The real reason Bruce Wayne wears a mask.

A homeless guy in Portland.  A common sight...except it ME.  Tricked you.  Seriously, it was cold so Becky and I borrowed the robes from our hotel on the 4th of July.  

 We headed out Monday, thanks again to Dave and Gloria who took us around Portland then out to lunch before dropping us off at the airport. They were really great! Finally, they moment I was really looking forward to had arrived. Thats right, I was back in the Great State of Texas!

We got to stay with Adam Glenn and his wife Kimber and they really made us feel at home. Some other highlights were a trip to Austin/San Marcos where we got to see Katie and Jarred Brazeal, Ben Raley and Mike and Erin Johnson. We also got to hang out with my parents and with my brother Joel who going to school in College Station.

 Another highlight was getting to check out my brother Matt's new golf course. He is the head pro at The Cliffs Resort on Possom Kingdom Lake. Matt, my Dad, and I golfed while Becky, Rebecca (Matt's wife) and my mom rode. I think I permanantly scarred her into never going golfing with me again. She said she doesn't like to see me that angry, and thats after years of improvement. I don't even think I threw a club! Anyway, I blame the course, it was the hardest I have ever played, and one of the most beautiful.

Matt and I, not at The Cliffs. We decided to play this cheap course the next day.

 Thanks to Justin Strickland, we went to a couple of FIRST PLACE Texas Rangers baseball games. Justin currently has season tickets to the Rangers, Yankees and Nationals. He has a sickness.

The last hoorah was a day at the zoo with my Mom, Becky and my Nephew Skye. Unfortunaly, Adam (Skye's Daddy) is on the DL with some herniated discs, so he couldn't join us.

Going to the zoo with a two year old is great birth control.

My Mom, Nana and Skye.

We had to eat the wedding cake a bit late, but we did it. Still tasty. 

Sadly, out time in Texas was at an end and it was back to Chicago. Kings of Leon was the first order of business. It was an awesome concert that turned into a big mudslide when the heavens open up the flood gates.

"Oooooooohhhhhhhh, their stage is on fire"

 Our last weekend in America saw Justin Strickland make a special Chicago visit just to see his favorite couple. We started things off right at a Chicago White Sox game. A special guest appearance was made by Texas Aggie Class of '04 Michelle Rivera. It was great to catch up after about six years.

Melissa, Becky, Michelle, Justin, Isaac

 Another big item on the summer agenda was Becky, Katie and Dr. Kyle running in the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Becky and Katie Rocked it in right at 2:00 hours. Dr. Kyle was right behind them. 

Becky in blue.

Cheering on the girls.

Scott, Katie's husband couldn't come due to a nasty broken leg. Justin tried to fill in.

He couldn't handle the pressue though.

Trying in vain to get the anti chaffing gel to work AFTER the race.

That's a good Dad: Notre Dame Alum wearing the Michigan hat.

 Later that day Justin, Becky and I went to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. My favorite quote of the day was from first time OmniMax viewer Justin when he said will all sincrerety, "Why don't we watch all movies this way?" That, Justin, is a fabulous question. 

I love Becky's face in this picture.

Mind battle at the Museum.  Who could relax the most.  Shocking the world, Justin won.

You might be thinking right now, "Wow, Becky is a trouper. Running a half-marathon and then going to the museum all day!" Well, you would be right, she is a trouper. In fact, she is so awesome, that after the museum, we when to meet with a big group for some deep dish at Girordano's. The guest of honor were (Korea friends) Kristi and Jason and his kids Connor and Sinead. 

Kristi, Sinead, Jason, Conner, Isaac, Becky, Justin, Emily, Melissa

 We met Kristi and Jason the next day for a Cubs game. They lost 18-1. Way to go Cubbies. 

That about does it. A whole summer of recap. If this is your first blog reading, I assure you, they are usually much funnier than this. There is only so much you can do when you have to summarize. The good news is that we are getting back into a groove which means more regular blogging. Until then.

 Love, iBeck