Rock n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon- June 2014

I signed up to run the Seattle Rock n’ Roll 1/2 marathon with some friends.  I had been training for months, but had a set back when I got really sick in April. I wasn’t excited to run the race, but figured I’d go through with it even if I had to walk the majority of it.  The Rock n’ Roll really is a fun race. There are bands playing music every mile.  There are tons of people and groups lining the race path cheering you on.  You get to run through the city, along Lake Washington, and up on the Alaskan Way Viaduct.  The views alone are entertaining and inspiring.  You start and end at Seattle Center.  This year one of the headlining bands was Presidents of the United States of America, whom I love!  Before the race there is also an expo where you pick up your registration and get to walk around and sample tons of freebies.

 

Kathi GIlman and I, at the expo, getting ready to Rock n’ Roll before the race. 

 

It turned out to be a great race!  I actually improved my time from two years earlier!

A New Addition to the Samsel Family- June 2014

 

Somehow I got it into my head that Revel needed a brother. So I began obsessively looking at the Seattle Humane Society website.  When I found I dog that was cute I would send it to Rob.  We even went once and tried to adopt a dog, but there were to many people ahead of us in line.  So I continued my search, not expecting it to actually amount to anything. 

One day, there were a couple of cute Husky mixes that came up for adoption.  They had just turned two months old.  I sent it to Rob and then went about my day at work.  Later that afternoon, Rob asked me to come by his office in order to bring home some items that he could not carry home on his motorcycle.  Little did I know that this little guy would be waiting for me!

Meet Kenai.  The newest addition to our family.

He and Revel were best buds from day one. 

 

Honestly though, how could you not fall in love with that face?!

Another new purchase- May 2014

We bought a boat!

The boat comes with a story.  Rob found a boat that we were ready to buy.  We went and looked at it on a Sunday evening and told the guy we would return on Monday evening, after work, with the money.  The man, however, sold it out from under us on Monday morning.  Rob was really disappointed. 

Within a week, he had found another one.  It was listed for $1100.  Rob offered a $1000 and they accepted.  We left after work to drive down south to pick up the boat.  As we were leaving our house we got a phone call from the seller.  She had taken the boat out on the lake to enjoy it one more time before we got there, and during their outing the propeller had fallen off the boat and into the lake!  She said not to worry though (um…) that she had a friend on the way to help her retrieve it and all would be fine when we got there.

When we arrived to the lake, they had found the propeller but not the nut that attaches it to the motor.  They made the boat work well enough to show us that it ran.  We were hesitant to buy it but Rob was able to talk them down and we ended up buying it for $800! 

Our New Boat!  1972 Fiberform

As a result of the new boat, Revel had to get a new Life Jacket.  Isn’t  he cute?!

We are looking forward to many hours on the water with good friends and family. 

New Motorcycle!- April 2014

Rob bought a new motorcycle.  Buying a motorcycle is usually not a big deal because Rob is constantly buying and immediately reselling motorcycles.  They cycle through our garage like a used car lot. This one however is different.  Ever since we toured around Germany on a BMW, Rob had wanted one of his own.  He found a great deal on this BMW R1150GS.  

When he first started riding it to work he was unsure if he actually wanted to keep it or not. It is a lot heavier of a bike compared to the KLR.  But he stuck with it and now actually really enjoys riding it.  It was a great purchase that will hopefully give him many years and miles of riding.  So far, this is by far the most comfortable motorcycle we've owned. 

Murder Mystery- March 2014

In March for a combined Young Men/Young Women church activity, we hosted a murder mystery dinner with a Rock N’ Roll Theme.  Everyone was asked to dress up as a rock star. The kids had a lot of fun finding clues and discovering who the murder was.  It was a really fun activity.

 

Ready to rock!

The whole gang.

Sounders FC- March 2014

The Cady’s came for a visit in March.  They came for the specific purpose of going to see a Seattle Sounders FC soccer game.  Rob found us tickets in the Rowdy general admissions section.  This section is on their feet the entire game shouting and chanting and jumping up and down.  It was a blast.  On the way inside there were people spray painting hair green a blue.  We decided to get out hair done.

 

Emily and Lisa                                                                  Rob and Cindi

 

 

Ready to enjoy the game.