Author Archives: edwinandlisa

Adventure Calls You Challenges: My 30 “Day” Challenge

by

Getting out of my comfort zone — not something I’m really good at, but I try.  There are things in this world that I don’t like to do, or maybe I haven’t tried because I don’t think I’ll like it.  Well, I have decided to create a 30 “day” list of things that I am going to challenge myself to do.  Most will probably be food challenges, but I know that I will be able to come up with more.  So this particular post will be one that is on-going as I add and complete my list — once I attempt one of the challenges listed below, I will devote an entire post to that experience!  It might not say much, might even say “Hated it!”  But at least I can keep honest with myself and meet the challenge as it presents itself.  I have no timeline, it will happen when it will happen.  So I challenge you to do the same — make your own 30 “day” challenge and give it a try!

 

My 30-Day Challenge List

  1. Try kombucha
  2. Meditate for ten minutes a day for at least 21 days straight
  3. Try sake
  4. Eat eggplant
  5. Eat mushrooms, and not just as some small pizza topping

A Lazy Week at Home

by

I love the lazy, dog days of summer.  At this time last week, I was celebrating the end of my week of Bike Camp, and I could finally do what I do best — not work!  Here is what I have spent my last week doing…

  • Family reunion with so many family members young and old.  Of course, plenty of Filipino food and entertainment — our culture’s DNA is to dance and sing and perform.  We had a great time, the only disappointment is that we didn’t get the memo that a big Motocross race was also happening in the same area, which resulted in the main road being clogged with 20,000 spectators.  Instead of a 45-minute drive to the reunion camp facility, we were stuck for over two hours
  • Watched a bunch of movies and ate a lot of popcorn.  Saw Ghostbusters, Central Intelligence, Tarzan and Lights Out
  • Enjoyed the Washington County Fair, checking out exhibits on animals, 4-H, hobbies, carnival rides and more
  • Last Thursday on Alberta Street, including a stop for some of that famous Salt and Straw ice cream
  • Collected passport stamps from various McMenamins locations
  • Went to one of those home shows where you get to walk around a brand new house and imagine the possibilities of upgrading your own home
  • Ate out a lot — nachos, pizza, tater tots, ice cream, corn dogs — sheesh, that is not a very healthy diet!
  • Planned for more vacations, including mapping out a road trip plan for our final vacation that begins next week.

This past week has gone by so fast, and I am just so thankful that Lisa and I can afford to not work during the summer to enjoy this time together.  We make sacrifices during the year and try to budget as much as we can so that we have enough to play and rest before our school duties call us back in late August.  Which is less than four weeks away, what??!!!

Travel Gear Favorites Series: #1, Eagle Creek Travelpack

by

Have backpack, will travel.  That was my motto / tagline for some other social media site or internet profile from a while back.  And it was quite long ago when I first discovered the Eagle Creek line of travel backpacks.  Wow, that was almost 20 years ago when I did my Eurail-backpacking trip in Europe.  I remember visiting REI and finding this wonderful, cool backpack that could easily be converted to carry-on luggage.  All one had to do was unclip the shoulder straps and tuck them away into a zippered pocket.  The hip belt also magically disappeared into the fabric. And what really sold me was the small daypack that attached to the main pack.  Now I could leave my big backpack in the youth hostel and just carry my Lonely Planet guidebook, camera and snacks in my day pack for my day of sightseeing.  It was dependable, versatile, roomy and comfortable throughout my four months abroad.

It served me well on subsequent trips, but alas, years later another model came out that had a few more bells and whistles, including a backpack rainfly that stored neatly underneath the pack until you needed it.  I purchased that pack about ten years ago, and it has been my go-to travel bag for most of my trips that last over a week.  It is still going strong but showing its age — I might just have to take a look at the newest models sooner than later!  At any rate, Eagle Creek is not the only manufacturer that had a travel pack line — REI and Osprey make them, and I remember that Rick Steves even had a model for sale not too long ago.  I prefer traveling with a backpack over a small rolling suitcase any day of the week — I like having both hands available instead of having to drag something behind me.  Travelpacks are quite genius and work best when combined in tandem with packing cubes — but I’ll save that for another post!

Modeling the Eagle Creek Travel Pack

January 2006 at the Portland airport