Pineapples and Roses

This is the winter that isn't. The ski area has been open 2 days all season and that was on man-made snow. With it raining up to 8,000+ feet, that snow quickly washed away. It is much too warm to make any more. Tulips are up and fruit trees are blooming. Running with Ferrari is the only mushing the dogs have done this "winter".

The weather scientists call our weather an "Atmospheric River". A river of warm, wet, blistery weather all the way from Hawaii. Locals call it the "Pineapple Express."  Monday night the ski patrol took over a brew pup for a "Kill the Pineapple" dinner party (complete with a pineapple pinata, hit-the-pineapple-with-the-dart game and plenty of brew to drown the patroller and ski area owner's sorrows). Before the party, Greg and Tule Loowit hiked up to the top of the ski area to find a bit of snow to ceremoniously kill the pineapple.

The venue changed the next night. Hawaiian shirts were exchanged for a suit and tie for Dave (we had to google how to tie his tie) and dress with heels and nylons (which were buried way down in the drawer) for me. Dave's brother was honored as Eugene's First Citizen.

John Brown - a well deserved award.

 Siblings: John, Susie and Dave.

I am bummed. I didn't take my camera to the Pineapple Fest and shot a lot of really disappointing pictures at the award banquet. From now on, I will find a way to use the flash when I am indoors. I learned my lesson. I can't hold the camera steady enough for long exposures.