Birthday weekend and yes I'm now 30

So I turned 30 this last weekend. To me turning 30 isn't much of a big deal. There are many good things in my life and a few not so good things that I'm still taking it one day at a time. What I am hoping for is that in another 30 years I will look back and see that a thirty was when I started taking life a little more seriously. (you know because I'm such a partier) What I've learned so far is that Hoping doesn't always get the results you were looking for. In the last few years I have gained many new friends that are now coming into use as the world that I have created for myself has fallen down around me. I won't get into the details because I'd rather talk about the excellent weekend that I just had. On Saturday my good friend Barbara and I headed up to Alger Alps to take in a rare sunny winter day. It was good to hit the trails with her again since her ankle sprain has kept her off the trails and away from the Wednesday night running group for far to long. At the top of the mountain/Hill we scrambled down through the Blackberries bushes to the rock out cropping which overlooks I-5 to take in the view to the south. In the proses we came away with the good battle wounds that you can see below. To top off a great run we headed back to her place grabbed a bite to eat and watched Ferg Hawk's new Badwater Ultra Marathon movie "The distance of truth" which was good but a little over dramatic. I said it made me want to go run. ( Since I was there this summer crewing for my good friend Sarah Lowell ) Barbara had to point out that watching people suffer for 135 miles in 130 degree heat and seeing pictures of there feet fall off is not something that makes most people want to go run. What can I say I like Extremes. I will run Badwater one day. anyway it was a great way to spend my Birthday. Next year I'll be 31 which will be an official 50k so I'll have to plan something special. On Sunday I got an encore when Barbara joined me for a three hour run through the Chuckanuts. Her longest since the ankle sprain. Later that night I was treated to stake by my roommates for my birthday and moving out party. I've eaten so much in the last 48hrs I'd have to run a 100 just to burn it off. which reminds me that this coming weekend will be my first ultra of 09 the Orcas Island 50k. Looking forward to another good time out on the island and some more time to figure out what the heck I'm going to do with the rest of my life. All I know is that good friends are invaluable, thank you all for you support.