Happy Birthday Brother Jim

Today is my brother Jim's birthday. I've been doing the math, and its taken me a while. I had to subtract and carry and check because I couldn't believe the outcome. It appears my brother is 77 years old. How can that be?? He just got home from the navy a few years ago and went off to college. I'm absolutely sure of his birth year because it was just 10 years after my mom's birth year and mom's birth year was immortalized in the house address my folks lived in for many years...1923. Ergo, Jimmy's birth year is 1933.

Wasn't it just a few years ago that he brought home Miss Murphey? And then the kids coming along...surely that couldn't have been too long ago. So what if they all have kids of their own by now, that just happened recently...right???

O.K., o.k.....so maybe my sense of time is a little skewed. After all, I'm just a kid myself...right? RIGHT????? Well...the only thing I know for sure is that my idea of 'old' changes a little more each year.

Anyway, Happy Birthday big brother, and many more to come. Your family, including your 'baby' sister, love you very much.

Thanksgiving Day 2010

It's just after 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. I'm a little put off that I'm awake so early, but I guess its true that you need less sleep as you age. I'm sitting here in Amy's house waiting for the family to wake up. The girls and I did a little (read: 'lot of') shopping yesterday so I came up early. Bruce will be here a little later this morning. It's cold an icy outside.

Steve and his family will celebrate at home in San Jose and Kevin and his family will celebrate in Austen. Stephanie's parents and some of her siblings are visiting with them in Texas. I'm sorry we won't all be together today, but I'm thankful they have jobs in our current tough economy.

Our plans today are a little different for us. Instead of cooking ourselves into a frenzy all day, we are going out to dinner. There won't be the leftovers we usually have, but that's better in the long run for us...at least this year. Besides, it's not about the meals...its all about the plan for Black Friday...(sort of kidding here, but not really...)

Later in the afternoon: O.K....erase what I said earlier about no leftovers. We ate at Claim Jumpers and had a ton of leftovers. We brought home those plus our dessert because we were too full to eat them there. Shane made a couple of pies here at the house and Bruce brought a cobbler and a pie from home to share. Amy put together a lovely appetizer tray earlier today and we snacked on that. In other words, I may never eat again.

I've been on a diet the last few months. I put on a lot of weight this year. It seems my thyroid was out of whack, plus it was just a bad year overall. But that is back on track. I've lost nearly all the extra weight and I feel a lot better.

Back to Thanksgiving. I think one of my best ever memories of Thanksgiving was back around 1966. Mom and my sister-in-law Gloria were cooking the meal. It was a pretty big production back then because there were so many people to feed, so many children running about and so much confusion. Everyone was starved and waiting (im)patiently for the meal. Mom and Gloria consulted each other and declared the huge turkey was cooked to perfection. With the precision only time and experience can give, they each took a side of the bird and began to lift it out of the pan onto the platter to rest. The memory gets a tad hazy at this point as to who or what failed. Suffice it to say they both had a look of total horror as the lovely brown and juicy bird fell and slid across the kitchen floor. I observed this activity and can still recall the look they gave each other. The look said more than a thousand words could have. Without missing a beat, they swooped up the turkey, dusted it off, and placed it on the platter. There was an unspoken agreement between all of us that no more was to be said about the matter. The meal went on without another hitch and was declared the best turkey EVER by the family.

I'm thankful for memories like those. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to be close to my dear sister-in-law Gloria. She passed away a few years ago, and this year would have been her and my brother Jim's 50th wedding anniversary.  He had a party with family to recognize the date, but it was nothing like they would have had if Gloria was still here to enjoy it with him. The whole town would have been invited and the party would probably go on for days. She was one in a million and I was blessed to have had her in my life for most of it.

I think the tryptophan is kicking in from my turkey dinner and I'm getting sleepy. It may be nap time, so I will close this for now. I can't do so without saying how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family and extended family. I love them all.

Amy Catherine

One of Amy's Senior pictures. She wanted to inclue her little brother and sister.

Amy and Shane just before they got married.

Amy and her little cousin Ian, just after returning from Thailand.

Amy and Shane on their wedding day

Would you look at that red hair and those adorable freckles!

Top left: Deb and baby Amy; Amy being pulled by Steve in his wagon; Amy on vacation.

Amy and Steve in their Sunday-best.

About this time of night 37 years ago I began noticing the unmistakable signs that I would soon be giving birth. I was excited and more than a little nervous. I remembered the feeling I'd had just before Steve was born...that I had changed my mind and didn't want to have a baby after all that day. A slight panic was all it was. We were living in San Luis Obispo, California at the time and Bruce was in school (carrying a 4.0 gpa, I might add.) We called my parents to come and take care of Steve while we did what we needed to do. We didn't take into consideration the fact that I would need to go to the hospital in the middle of the night (its always in the middle of the night, isn't it?) and my parents lived about 2-1/2 hours drive away. Add in time to dress and get ready for the trip and we had a problem. I wasn't going to be able to last that long. We ended up calling Bruce's buddy Henry to watch Steve until my parents arrived. Henry was not a 'kid person' but Steve didn't seem to notice.

Things progressed as they should and soon I was in the delivery room pushing like crazy. I remember someone saying "it's a girl!" and my response was 'oh! That's JUST what I wanted!" We were delighted to have a daughter. When she was brought to me a short time later, she was wrapped tightly in a pink blanket and she looked like a tiny pink peanut. We felt like the tiny little girl needed a tiny little name so we named her Amy. Her middle name is Catherine after her Aunt Katherine. She didn't have much hair, but what we could see seemed to be red. My dad was SO excited to have a little red-headed granddaughter. He called her 'red-in-the-head'. Steve seemed to accept this new addition to our family without a lot of problem, so that was good. We settled into our life as a family of four. We installed seat belts in the tiny back seat of my 1956 Nash Metropolitan so the kids would be safe. It wasn't a law back then, but I was always diligent when it came to my children's safety. We would pile the two kids in the back of the Metro and head south to Ventura on most weekends.

Amy was a good baby, and very mild mannered (especially in comparison to Steve). When Bruce graduated from college and went to work for the Federal Highway Administration we began a 2 year training program, moving our family 4 times to 4 different states in those first 2 years. By necessity, long car trips were a big part of her early years and Amy took it all in stride. She was a trouper from the get-go.

We didn't have much money in those early years so I made a lot of the kids clothes. T-shirts and shorts were my specialty. For recreation we would go to parks and for special occasions we would go to McDonald's. Amy's hair was a little slow in coming in so I made her a shirt that said "NO! I'm a girl!". I thought it was hilarious.

Amy is more like her dad than she is like me. She is sensitive and smart and a true athlete. Sometimes we've clashed a little over the years but I think that's normal for mom's and daughters. She does have some of my traits like my 'just do it' nature. If she needs to make something or do something she never has before, she just thinks it through and then goes for it. I got that from my mom and I believe Amy got it from me.

One of the big joys of her life has been sports. She plays tennis, soccer, swims and can exercise in the gym for long stretches without getting tired. Even when her weight was up she was still in better shape than most people. She has had to curtail her sports somewhat since having knee surgery last year, but I don't count her out. She'll figure out a way to keep active.

She has a gift for languages and speaks Thai very well. She also speaks a good amount of Spanish.

She's a great mom to Ben and Ryann. They are both exceptional kids and Amy and her husband Shane are the reason why. She goes to nearly every game the kids have (they are both in soccer and basketball) and supports them in every way. She has taught her children well and I'm proud of her for that.

My daughter Amy has grown into a beautiful, strong and thoughtful woman. I'm very proud of the person she is. Happy Birthday, my sweet little peanut.

Nelscott Reef Classic

So I was wrong about where the event I referred to earlier was to take place. I thought the reef was just north of town, but its just about dead center. (only about 20 blocks from my house.) There were tons of people there (and little parking) so by doing a little snooping, I found a place high on a hill that only a few people had found. I set up my spotting scope and my folding chair. I had my cooler with water and a diet shake, and my handy little camera. The activity took place too far out in the ocean for my camera to capture any of it, but my spotting scope was perfect. It was awesome to see the big waves and people actually out on them! That doesn't happen often here in Oregon.
I didn't have the means to take any long range photos or video, but this was on utube from someone else that was there. It was an amazing day.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGMoFSO-cIw

Aparently the Brazilians were the best surfers of the day. Who knew?!

All the Beautiful Children...

And all of them are attached to me! Love it!

Halloween 2010

From the left: Cedric Rory as "Max" from Where The Wild Things Are ; Madeline Eilonvy as "Haurio", an Asian Anime' character; Pierre Genieve as "Repunzel"; and William Stewart as "Neo" from The Matrix.

For reference, this is the character Maddie was portraying:

This is a photo of Sophia Brynn and Juliet Rose as "Rosetta" and "Silvermist" from the new animataed Tinkerbell movies

And last but certainly not least: Benjamin Michael as a Roman warrior; Kerry Elizabeth as a Grecian Goddess; Kerry Ryann as a shorter and younger Grecian Goddess; and Amy Catherine as a Warrior Princess.

'And finally, I have to add the following excerpt from an email from my daughter-in-law Beth. I think its hilarious and will always be a great family story.

We had an interesting time trick-or-treating this year. Or rather it was pretty typical except for one house that handed out a very unusual treat. We went down our own street first. There aren't very many houses there because of the high school that takes up over half the length of the street. So kids often skip our street altogether. A few doors down we were greeted by an Asian man. As occasionally happens, he was unprepared for Trick-or-treaters, but instead of simply telling us he had no candy, he asked us to wait for a minute. He left the door open. If he had closed it, we would have just moved on after a minute. Instead we stood there awkwardly (holding Ceddy back so he would stop sticking his head in the house) while an extensive conversation played out in Mandarin. I assume it went something like this:

"Honey, there are some kids at the door. They want candy."


(footsteps coming near) "We don't have any candy"


"Why not? It's Halloween, isn't it?"


(exasperated sigh) "We never get trick-or-treaters; why would I buy candy when nobody ever comes?"


"Well, do we have something else to give them? They're waiting out there."(His voice is getting quicker and a little panicky now.)


"I don't think so" (rummaging around in drawers) .."Wait, what about these? They came in the gift basket from your cousin last New Year's."


"Lemme see... Is is okay to give these to kids? They probably won't even like them"


"It's fine. Just give it to them and get them out of here."


The man returns and plops a small object into Pierre and Cedric's buckets. He kind of shrugs at Maddie and Wills because there isn't anything else. We move on.

Maddie gets a little suspicious (and possibly a little jealous) so she rummages in Ceddy's bucket to see what she is missing out on. She stops in her tracks. "Um, mom, That guy gave them whiskey."


"What?" I ask, "Did you say whiskey?"


By this time Maddie has also confiscated Pierre's "treat" and hands them over to me. "It says whiskey."


In my hand are two little bottle shaped objects labeled Jack Daniels brand old no. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. I blink. I flash back to when Steve and I were in Paris and I bought a chocolate cherry cordial confection at Michel Cluizel. It was a wonderful little chocolate filled with a Kirsch-soaked cherry. Very good, but definitely STRONG. Not a flavor profile for kids. Later that night I cut one chocolate open and out oozed a syrup and the potent reek of alcohol. It was less than two teaspoons; not enough to affect anyone but it might have put them off candy for a while. Hmm...maybe that's not such a bad thing after all. Jack Daniels, anyone?"

Weather, Surf, and the What-ifs

Ok, so my title is a bit random, I'll admit that. I couldn't think of anything catchy and a title is required.

The weather is the big thing this morning. The wind and rain are coming down in torrents and sideways. its actually kind of exciting. I'm glad I finished my weather-proofing of the house on one of the nice days last week. The storms bring other things-high surf. World-class surf. At least that's what's happening in Nelscott, just north of Lincoln City. The annual Nelscott Tow-in Classic has been scheduled for tomorrow. Surfers from all over the world make the Oregon pilgrimage to ride the 20-30 foot waves....conditions permitting. It's really kind of cool...there is only a few days warning that it will happen so people watch for it. I'm thinking seriously of going and trying to catch a glimpse. I suspect it will be difficult though. There is very little access to the area. It's rather remote. But...hey....I got that kinda time. I watched a movie about it last year, and I have to admit I'm curious.

In the past the surfers have been towed out past the breakers with jet skis since its so treacherous, but this year they have changed the rules and the surfers will have to paddle out. Only the strongest (and luckiest) will be able to make the grade. I have to wonder what kind of people take those kind of chances. The water in Oregon is VERY cold. Very few people swim in it, especially during storms. Of course they'll all have on wetsuits, but that doesn't protect the hands and face, and I can't belief they are actually 'warm'. The very thought makes me put on another blanket.

Anyway, other than that today is my library volunteer day, so I'll be heading out to do that in a little while. I'm really proud of the fact I only have to sing the ABC's song in my head when I put away the fiction books and not out loud.

I hope the world has a good day.

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night....

We've been getting hit with high surf and rain here on the coast. On Monday, when I drove into town I thought it had snowed because there was white stuff all over the ground. Turns out I arrived just after a hail storm had passed over. I have one more window to caulk and ready for Winter, but the rain has made that impossible. Hopefully, I'll get to it tomorrow.

It seems the whale activity has increased. I manage to spot at least one a day. I'm going to volunteer for the twice yearly 'Whale Watching Spoken Here' program. People get trained to help the general public find the huge mammals in the sea. Oregon is along the migration route for the Gray Whales so we get a lot of opportunities. Volunteers man viewpoints up and down the coast for a week at a time, twice a year to educate the public on the Gray Whales. It should be fun, and a natural activity for me, since I love watching the critters so much.

Otherwise, a pretty quiet week here. Lots of reading and tv watching.

Sunday morning in Vancouver Washington

So I had a some free time this weekend and decided to come up to Vancouver and watch Ben and Ryann's soccer games. Wow! What a difference a few weeks made. While they've always been good players, you couldn't really say they were star quality...for heaven's sake - they're little kids! (8 and 10 years old). But after watching them this weekend its just stunning to me how quickly kids grow and learn.

Ben has always been a pretty laid-back player. While he was good, it was clear he didn't fully care about the games he played so much as the socializing that could take place. While he still is a social-being, his game awareness has at least tripled in the last few weeks. It's like a light switch has been tripped in his brain. He has become aware that the goal is...well...the goal. He has realized the potential in his long legs and that by taking longer steps a little faster he can travel several times the distance. He looks ahead when he has the ball and either dribbles it or finds another player to pass to, always with the goal being the final destination. He had a header ball on Saturday that just missed the goal, but it was still a dramatic play. He has grown so much! His team won easily.

Ryann seems to be finding her nitch as a goalie. She shows no fear in going for the ball. She has developed a second sense (and is continuing to develop) where the plays will be made and in being there to thwart the other team. A lot of the game on Saturday took place on her side of the field. While one goal did manage to make it past her (hey! It was raining cats and dogs!) she made at least 12 'saves'. Her teammates were able to score on the other team and they won the game.

Watching these two makes me sad I haven't been able to watch some of the other kids in their games. Maddie is becoming a great softball player and I haven't been able to see one game! I'm going to rectify that situation when her next season starts. It makes me so proud to watch my grands do well in their chosen endeavors - whether it be a sport or school, dance, art....whatever. They are all such great kids. I'm so proud all eight of them are mine!

The Newest Library Lady

I have become a volunteer at the Lincoln City Library. Yesterday was my first day 'on the job'. I was shocked and surprised at the complicated system for re-shelving books. They go to great lengths to make sure books are returned to where they belong. I have to admit I was a bit rusty on my Dewey Decimal System. I used a computer program to refresh my memory on it. My supervisor was impressed with my speed and agility. I suspect it may be because she is over 70 years old and it appears most of her volunteers are also. I have to admit I did work circles around the other people, but to be fair I was a kid compared to them. I think I'm going to enjoy the work.

I've been doing a lot of work around the house. I installed a shelf in the laundry room and I'm preparing the house for Winter the best I can. The yard looks especially nice right now, which is usually an open invitation for moles, but I don't have any yet. They will come. They always do.

It's a particularly good time for shopping...lots of extra coupons and all. I wish I needed something so I could justify buying. Oh, well...such is life.

I'm going to Salem this evening for a play, then to Vancouver on Friday to get my hair done. Maybe I'll stick around and watch Ben and Ryann play soccer on the weekend. They are both coming along famously in the game. Ben actually scored last week! They have both come really far in their playing.

Ok...that's all I have for now.

Indian Marbles

My friend Debi came over to Lincoln City to visit with me yesterday. I was anxious to show her my secret sea garden, so at low tide we started the hike down the beach. Sadly, yesterday's low tide wasn't low enough and my garden was under water. Dang!

Anyway, during my forays around the area I've learned about Moqui stones. Also known as Indian Marbles, these pea to baseball sized round stones are reputed to be thousands of years old and purported to have mystical properties. Another name for them is Shaman Stones. They are supposedly only found in a few areas of the world, but we have a spot right here in Lincoln City. Here is a little of the information I've found on the net about them.

"Moqui Marbles, named after the Moqui Indians who often inhabited the lands in which they were originally found. Many people, including Native Americans, call these marbles Shaman Stones” as they are a great metaphysical aid.

Shaman Stones have been used for centuries by Shamans and mystics, helping them to connect with the energies of their ancestors.


These Moqui Marbles absorb negative energies, transmuting them into the positive. They are also a natural healing stone, as they aid energy in flowing up the spinal column.


Mochi Balls protect when placed in ones environment and the energy is similar to being around a good friend.

Shaman stones can wonderful used in medicine pouches, and these are a high quality Moqui...they are quite beautiful.

Moqui's are dramatically going up in price, and this Amulet is quite unusual!

These are rounded ranging in size from 1/2 inch to just under one inch in diameter. They come from the Navajo formation, Southern Utah."

Fun stuff, huh? Here is a pic I took with my phone (my camera battery is dead again). Next time you see me I'll probably be wearing them in a little bag around my neck!

Postscripts....

I was looking over my last couple of blogs and realized I hadn't mentioned the last part of my trip to Austin, so I'll post pictures.

The Visit

My twin brother Dave and his wife Fran recently made a trip to Oregon. The visit was primarily to watch their oldest grandson Spenser play football and basketball. Since he’s a senior in high school this is his last year so the timing was important. The bonus for me was an overnight visit from them and Fran’s daughter Jodi and Jodi’s younger son, Peyton (age 5).

I love having people visit at the beach, because there is plenty of room for them to be comfortable in the house and a ton of activities and things to see along the coast.

They arrived late in the afternoon on Saturday. We had dinner at one of my favorite places The Blackfish Café. The food is extraordinary there. It’s a tiny bit spendy, but oh so worth it. We spent the remainder of the evening visiting.

The next day I took them on a walk to my secret sea garden. I’ve written about it recently, but this was the first time I’ve been able to share it with anyone. We went at low-tide which is the only time many parts of it are accessible. I hope they were just as enchanted as I always am when I go there.

At one point, David felt natures call and found a large rock to go behind to answer. Peyton went with him and said ‘Grampa that’s gross!” Dave explained that sometimes its necessary and they were discreet, plus the sea would be coming in soon to clean the area so it was ok. Peyton seemed to accept this answer.

A few minutes later Payton and I were climbing on some rocks. We were both engrossed in our search for moqui’s (a.k.a. Indian marbles) so I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to him. I heard Jodi yell “Peyton!” and I looked and he had decided he too needed to answer natures call…the only problem was he wasn’t as…uh…discreet as his grandpa had been. He had ‘dropped trou’ at the top of the rock I was on and was letting go. Unfortunately (for me) I was ‘down-rock’ and found I could move MUCH faster than I ever realized. He’ll work on those tiny details as he gets older, I’m sure.

By the time we got back to the house it was time for lunch so we went to another of my favorite places The Inn at Spanish Head. The restaurant there is called “Fathoms”. The neat thing about the inn is that it is built right on the cliff of the beach. The restaurant is on the 10th floor so you have an amazing view of the ocean as you eat. The food is also very good so it’s a win-win.

After lunch we did a little sightseeing and spent some time flying kites on the beach. We tried to cram an awful lot of stuff into a short visit, but I’m hopeful they will come again. They had to leave in the afternoon because Monday was going to be Peyton’s first day of Kindergarten! I hope that went well for him, he’s a delightful little guy.

I’ve now had two brothers, a niece, nephew and a few friends visit me at the beach. I need more company, so you all talk amongst yourselves and make a plan to visit me soon.

 Dave flying a kite

 Dave, Jodi, Fran and Peyton

nearing the secret sea garden

Howdy, ya'll

I've been surprised at the lack of accent I've heard here in Texas. I expected to be 'howdied' all the time. However "ya'll" is still flourishing. Everyone says 'ya'll'...even the people with no other indication of accent. I find it comforting somehow.

This weekend Kevin was off, so we all went to downtown Austin. We  had planned to go to the capitol building but didn't manage it, but we did see the outside and it is very impressive. We also managed to make it to the Texas history museum, and the art museum. The Children's museum was a favorite stop of the little girls. This week Stephenie,the girls and I go to San Antonio for the day. I'll report back...

So this is Texas!

Yeeeee Haw! I'm in Austin Texas and really enjoying visiting with Kevin, Stephanie, Sophie and Jubie. It's true....everything is larger in Texas.

I got in yesterday and when I saw Sophie and Jubie we just hugged and hugged. The heat and humidity is a bit much, but I was told what to expect, so it's fine. Sadly, the a.c. went out in the car so we've been doing our run-abouts with the windows open...a bit of a challenge on the highways, but it should be fixed on Friday.

Kevin and Steph's apartment is really adorable and they've made me feel especially welcome. Kevin is loving his job at Apple and bikes to and from work each day. Sophie is loving school and Steph and Jubie are enjoying their time together as well.

Here's a pic of the apartment, but you can't see much. I'll add more later. The rose was on the table and I just had to have a pic of it. Maybe I'll paint it later....

The Secret Sea Garden

A few weeks ago, when the family was all here, we took a hike on the beach around Cascade Head. The only way to get to this place is to hike. I started the hike with them but had to turn back because of some arthritis issues that particular day. I was disappointed, but vowed to go back another day. That day was yesterday.

It was unusually warm for the Oregon Coast last evening. The usual cool breeze was no where to be found and I was itching for a nice walk. I checked the tides (Yes, Amy I do that) and knew that it was outgoing and near low tide. I found a place to park my car a little closer to the spot I wanted to go with an easy beach access point. It was evening, but the sun was still up and I figured I had about an hour, so I set out.

I don't usually go to far when I'm alone because I figure I'm a little more vulnerable to problems at this stage of my life, but the lure of the place was just too strong. I was amazed as I moved farther along the beach away from 'civilization' how quickly the scenery reverted to wilderness. I looked up at high cliffs on one side and the crashing sea on the other. Ahead I could see huge other-worldly rock shapes that seemed to be dropped haphazardly on the sand. The cliffs had suffered many landslides leaving a huge alluvial fan at the bottom.

I reached a rock wall that I would have to climb over to go on. It wasn't very high, but still slippery from the marine growth on it so I used caution but made it easily to the other side. The rock shapes around me were surrounded by sand. I found caves and tide pools. Everywhere I looked I could see huge colorful star fish attached to the rocks. They were orange and purple and in the evening light almost fluorescent. The waves were crashing against other huge rock shapes not far away and splashing fifteen feet into the air. The only other people in the area were a few older couples and dogs. I found one particularly large and deep cave and looked carefully inside. It was dark and large and looked like a perfect place to hide a pirates treasure.

The sun was quickly setting, so I reluctantly started the hike back. I was hesitant to leave because I felt so enchanted in the place, but reality - as usual - was rearing its ugly head and I would have to move on. As I hiked down the beach, the moon shown as a crescent just above the horizon. I could see the planet Venus to its left and the colors of the sunset. It was truly beautiful and I hope to return one day soon. Next time I'll carry my camera.

(Note: I returned the following week with my brother Dave, Fran and Frans' daughter and grandson Jodee and Payton  AND my camera.)

Our Hood to Coast Mini-venture

I took Ben and Ryann back to Vancouver last Friday (a week ago). They were happy to get home and get ready for school.

I made an appointment to get my hair done and included Kerry and Amy. Our favorite hairdresser is Irene. She is a hair genius and also so much fun. She is a very animated Mexican lady who has lived in this country several years now, and has an 'Anglo' husband. She was expecting us for haircuts but ended up doing a little color on each of us. She really went the extra mile and stayed late into the evening to finish us all. I adore Irene.

Anyway, during our chats as we all were sitting in varying stages of..uh...beauty...Kerry told me she had to drive to Astoria at 2:00a.m. to act as a volunteer for her friend Emily's family running team. They had to have a certain number of volunteers associated with their team or forfeit their right to run. Kerry was one of them. Her shift would begin at 4:00 a.m. I was immediately concerned. First of all, she was tired having worked a very difficult week and secondly she is...well...uh...Kerry is directionally challenged. I could picture her ending up at the end of a forest road with no where else to go and no clue where she was. She was concerned also (yes, she knows herself) but was determined not to let her best friend down.

I should explain at this point that the race was the annual Hood to Coast relay race. The course runs from Mount Hood, east of Portland to the Oregon coast. The entire course measures 197 miles. Teams have about 12 runners who run legs of the race each measuring (legs vary somewhat) around 6 miles - give or take.  The race is run beginning one day at Mount Hood and ending the next day at the Pacific Ocean, running through the night. I won't go into the details of the race now but I'll include Emily's link to her blog to explain it all. http://montgomerymoments.blogspot.com/2010/09/hood-to-coast-2010.html

So it became clear that I was going to come to the rescue. I didn't have any other plans for the weekend other than cleaning the beach house, so I volunteered to drive the volunteer to her destination. Moms do those sort of things, you know.

We headed west about 10:30 that night with the vague idea of finding the place she was supposed to check in as a volunteer, then hopefully finding a motel nearby. The fall-back plan was to sleep in the car. Sadly, since I didn't know anything about the project until the last minute, the back of my car had a summer's worth of sand and junk in the back.

We used to live in Beaverton (which is west of Portland) 20 years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with the road to the coast. Oregon coastal routes are notoriously winding, dark and dangerous...especially at night. One of the hazards is animals, small and not so small. I have come up on herds (pods? gangs?) of deer in the middle of the night on highways where they just stand in the road and stare at you. Elk can also be a problem though I've never personally come across one. I was on alert.

Traffic was surprisingly sparse. About two/thirds of the way there Kerry decided to check her gps on her phone to see if we were on track. The lovely lady's voice sounded alarmed as she said "Immediately make the next legal U-turn!!" Huh? Why would I turn back? I was clearly on the way west. I suddenly remembered stories of people lost in the Oregon wilderness when they listened to their gps instead of looking at a map. Of course we didn't have a map with us, that would have been too simple. I decided to carry on the way we were going. What's the worst that could happen...right?

We arrived in Seaside/Cannon Beach and realized our destination was on the actual race route so we would have to go a bit further. I was ok with that and we agreed to trust the gps from here. By now it was near  midnight. We were able to find a McDonalds so we could use the facilities. Thank goodness for that. We settled back into the car for the 'short' trip to the check-in site. A block later, the lovely lady told us to turn right. OK. It was into a residential area, but..ok. We wound through the residential area and marveled as the landscape became more forested. After several strange turns we found ourselves on a very narrow, very twisted, barely two-lane road. We had to go very slowly to make all the curves. I didn't know that such a road existed. About then the moon rose and cast a ghostly light on the forest, making strange and scary shadows. We came to another very dark intersection lite only by a very large, very red...cross. Here in the middle of nowhere. a cross. Was it a symbol of someones devotion or warning of things to come?

Kerry switched into her 'hick' voice and said 'yanno...turn riiight at the red cross..." as if she were giving directions to another hick. We laughed but I was getting concerned. It seemed the gps was taking us on a wild goose chase into the wilderness. We continued on the winding roads nearing a creek. As we traveled near the creek, fog formed and made ghostly images in the moonlight. Wow. Where in the heck were we? We had gone about 20 miles when the road suddenly ended and became gravel. Huh? This can't be good...again the news stories of hapless travelers popped into my head.

I stopped the car and tried to peer ahead into the darkness. Couldn't see anything. Ok. We decided to move on a short distance and see what we could see. Several hundred feet ahead we saw a motorcycle coming towards us. It passed, so we felt secure that the was SOMETHING ahead. We soldiered on. Finally the pavement began again and we saw a truck with lots of lights. What were they doing? They were off-loading some porta-potties. AHAH! We must be nearing the race course. We went on another 10 miles, occasionally seeing a person here or there on the road, so we were beginning to feel more secure about finding our destination. Suddenly, out of the darkness...blazing lights ahead! People! Yeahhhhhhhhh

We drove up and asked if this was the right place (we had a number) and they said no, we wanted the NEXT one up the road. "how far?" we asked..."about six miles" they answered. (deep sigh here) As we continued up the road the hazards became greater because of the walkers on the road. They had on lights and reflective tape, but with all the turns and bends in the road, you could be upon one without knowing it. So we drove slowwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Very, very, slow. (The walkers were part of the pre-race group who walk the course instead of running. They start much earlier than the runners.)

Finally, we saw lights ahead. We found someone to ask and this was indeed our destination. We were told to park down the road. Since we didn't have to report until 4:00a.m. we decided to try to sleep in the car. Kerry was exhausted and fell asleep pretty quickly. I was exhausted, too, but sleep wouldn't come. There were people and cars all over the place by then. I think I nodded off once...just before the fire truck went by and sounded its siren. (big sigh) I mostly watched the runners and support teams coming in. At 3:45 I woke Kerry and told her it was time. Since I was there, I offered to volunteer and they were glad to have me. We ended up as parking guides for the next four very long hours. It was ok work until we ran out of parking spaces and the people kept on coming. They became angry and I got crankier. We put Kerry as the first line of defense because she doesn't take any guff from people...just tells them 'it is what it is". It was frustrating for everyone concerned, but there wasn't anything we could do about it. The race has become too large for the venue.

We gratefully turned our jobs over to new recruits at 8:00 a.m. and headed home to Vancouver. We didn't arrive for many hours. Kerry went to her room to sleep and I lay on Ryann's bed. There was no one else home at the time. The doorbell rang many times with the kids friends wanting them to come out to play. I gave up and drove back to Salem, another hour and a half drive. I was exhausted having not slept all night. I was being extra careful because I knew I wasn't on top of my game. I noticed a pickup with a trailer in front of me. It had a really cute little shed in the trailer - more like a playhouse. It was pink and had a cute rounded roof. It was very cute. It was also very tall. Hmmmmmm...I wonder....

Then it shifted and I realized it was going to fall out of the trailer going 65 miles an hour! I managed to switch lanes honking my horn like crazy. It caught the wind and flew out of the trailer crashing in the middle of the freeway just missing me. All the cars behind me on the freeway had to stop, but I kept on going. There was nothing I could do for the playhouse. It was splinters.

I made it to Salem alive and sleepy, but ok. It was a long, long day.

The Party is nearly over...

Tomorrow is Ben and Ryann's last swim lesson, then I will take them home to Vancouver. I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit panicky. What in the world am I going to do with myself now?

I've got 3 weeks before I go to Austin to see Kevin, Stephanie and the girls. I kind of feel like I need to check out the place and make sure its ok for them. Then...back to Oregon and...what?

I guess I need to decide what I'm going to do when I grow up. I'm being forced into it. I sure can't spend the rest of my days staring at the ocean 24 hours a day.

Oh well...whining is not attractive, so I'll shut up.

The Sameness of Summer

Ben, Ryann and my adventures have taken on a sameness. We searched for new beaches yesterday because the weather was glorious. We ended up going to the lake so they could 'fish' for fingerling's. They managed to get every kid in the area involved with the search. They managed to catch and release several, so it was a good day.

Ryann decided that she wants a dog. For some reason yesterday became doggie day. Every time she came across someone with a dog, she would ask the owner politely if she could pet them. She always got a yes.At one point on the beach she was in the center of four dogs and throwing a stick into the water for them to chase. She was having a ball and all the critters loved her.She showed no fear in her interaction with the dogs or the owners. My little darlin' is growing up.

We have three more days of swim lessons, then I'll take them back to Vancouver. They start school next week. We don't have a firm plan for today. Maybe we'll just take it easy.

Make your own adventure

Ben and Ryann and I have been trying to come up with a new adventure each day. We call them mini-ventures. Yesterday we went to the ocean science center in Newport, Oregon. We spent about 2 hours there looking at sea creatures and learning about the topography of the earth below the seas. I found it very interesting. The kids found it just 'ok'.

Today we went to the sand hill in Pacific City, Oregon. It's a very tall hill of sand...fun to go up because if you fall, you only fall into sand. Ryann actually rolled down it on her side with her hair flying. Ben ran down really fast laughing and grinning all the time.

Later today  we took some bread and some Cheerios cereal that had been dumped on the floor...(long story)..to feed the sea gulls. The kids got very excited as the gulls flocked around us. They seemed to come from every direction.

Swimming lessons each day are going well also. Tomorrow will be day 4 of their lessons, and I can honestly say they are both swimmers now and becoming more comfortable in the pool each day.

I'm beginning to worry a little about what I'll do when they go home. Oh well, I'll think about that another day....

You can't cure stupid, but.....

This has been an eventful week. We saw Stephanie, Sophia and Juliet off to Austin on Thursday. Grandma didn't do too well with the goodbyes, even though I'm going to see them next month.I'm using a new version of blogger and I'm not sure how to add pics yet, but when I figure it out I'll add a pic of them walking into the airport. Ahhhh, here we go...

Ben and Ryann and I have spent the week together and then we have two weeks at the coast with swim lessons. They are both very excited about it. In the meantime we've been trying to have a little adventure each day. Yesterday we went to the lake so they could play in the water. Ben managed to catch a small fish in his hands, so he was very excited.

Today we went north to Tillamook and went through the cheese factory. The reward was the Tillamook ice cream at the end of the tour. We came out to our car after, only to find that someone had parked behind our car! I was furious. About 3 cars had decided this was a good idea. I can't imagine why. I stood there fuming and the woman in the car parked next to mine (we were parked legally before the idiots parked behind us) came and we both lamented the stupidity it took to be the first one to park.

As we stood there talking, the persons parked behind her car walked up and started to get in. I couldn't help myself...I started to question them. I asked in what universe it was that made it seem like a good idea to park behind already parked cars. She hemmed and hawed and said 'well there was no one....' at which point I stopped her and said 'oh yeah...we were already here before you got here! Here's a tip for the future...don't EVER park behind cars that are already parked where you'll be hemming them in. I can't cure stupid, but I can help you learn from your mistake and make sure you don't make it again.." Wow..did I really say that outloud? Oh yes. It was one of those times where I won't be saying later "I should have said..." because I said it.

After that adventure I was fuming for a good while. Ben told me.."Grandma, just relax and breath deep". We stopped at a lighthouse that I'd been wanting to see. It was a short hike out to it, but we loved seeing it.

All in all, it was a good day, and swimming lessons start tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Ryann the TV Star

Ryann was on the evening news with a basketball star. I'm trying to imbed the link, so be patient.

http://www.kgw.com/video/featured-videos/Brian-Grant-fundraiser-to-fight-Parkinsons-99699279.html

Pictures of Kerry

Mom know's a snow job when she sees one.

Best friend Emily and Kerry at graduation and horseback riding when they were about 15. Kerry running cross country in high school.

Sister Amy's wedding

First neice, Madeline and Auntie Kerry

A Kerry montage: Budding Vanna White; showing off new duds in Beaverton Oregon house;

with playhouse that grandma Stewart sent to Ames, Iowa; Kerry and Kevin in Iowa; Soccer Pic; at a family reunion in California at Uncle Bill's house.

Kerry's first day home from the hospital.

Coming up on the 24th of July....

Yes, it's true. My baby...my youngest child...my heart...is turning 30! I'm not sure how this has happened. I did all the things I could think of to keep her a kid, but she's moved on anyway. Kerry Elizabeth Johnson, the last born of my children (but not the last to be profiled...Amy will be last in November because of where her birthday lands in the year.) will be 30 years old. It's a milestone of sorts I suppose, for both of us.

I've been dreading the day I would have to profile my daughters. Certainly NOT because they are any less in my mind, but because in a way, they are me. Okay, so maybe I'm getting a little philosophical here, but my daughters are my same sex. We have a bond that is impossible with the boys (the whole Mars/Venus thing I guess.) When they hurt, I hurt...when they are happy, I am happy, etc.,etc., etc. Okay, then....moving on.

Kerry was born in Ames, Iowa on July 24th, 1980. Her brother Kevin was only 18 months older, so I had two little babies. Amy was delighted to have the ultimate 'doll' to play with and if you ask her, SHE raised the two little ones. Steve was 10 and really couldn't understand what all the fuss was about...sure, another kid...so what...and a girl to boot! Big deal...and he was off becoming a pre-teen and running around the neighborhood with his best buddy. Me, I was just tired.

Kerry was different from Kevin at the git-go. While he was shy and easy going, she was inquisitive and a showman from the very beginning. When I asked Steve and Beth who are staying with me right now their impressions of Kerry, Steve said 'infectious laugh and ready to be with you in your idle time and have fun'. Beth's first impression of Kerry was at thirteen and her thought was 'loud'. I think the reason she said that was because when Kerry comes into a room, EVERYONE is aware of it. She is a force of nature. She is one of those lucky people that other people flock too. You can't walk through a mall with Kerry without strangers making comments to her, or randomly asking her advice. It just happens. I'm not sure why. It may be her head of golden-red hair that sets her apart, and that would explain why people notice her, but it goes deeper...it goes to her heart. She has a good and loving heart. Maybe that's it.

We moved to Beaverton, Oregon when Kerry was four. She loved to play with the neighborhood kids and spent most days at the park across the street. When she was 10 we moved to Salem, Oregon. By the time she got to middle-school (which was conveniently around the corner) she had met Emily Friess and they became best friends. The duo was joined by Jeanne Burke and became a trio. By high school they were inseparable.

The girls went everywhere together and had some great adventures. There was one time when I took the three of them to Canada for a road trip. I'm still not sure how they talked me into it, but we had a great time. At one point Kerry thought she saw a movie star on the streets of Vancouver that they were all in love with at the time so they piled out at a stoplight. I had to keep on driving. (this was before everyone had cell phones) so I circled several blocks for a long while hoping to find them again. I did, and all was well with the exception of the fact that it wasn't the movie star they thought it was. We went to the site of the Olympics and wandered around and saw some interesting sites. We also found some outlet malls with bargains we still talk about today. It was a good time.

After high-school they parted ways with Jeanne because they all had different goals by then. Kerry wasn't sure what she wanted to do, so she lived with her cousin Tammy for a year and acted as nanny for her two daughters, Kourtney and Kaela. Kerry went to college for a while after that and at the age of 21 decided to serve a mission. She spent 18 months in Chile and enjoyed that time very much. She came home and went back to school (changing her major many times) and then had the opportunity to go to Mexico with school on a work/study program. She did well at that and enjoyed the time and the opportunity to use her language skills. She went back to college, but came home after awhile because she couldn't seem to find exactly what she wanted to do with her life. I'm still trying to figure that out for myself and my life, so I don't worry about her a whole lot. Some of us are late bloomers and some of us will never bloom (talking about myself here) but it is what it is.

She and her sister started a business where they do personal shopping and style education for people. They found they were a great team, but they couldn't make enough money to live on, so the business has taken a back burner. She is now working a 'real' job where she has benefits and everything. She currently lives with her sister and her family, but is looking forward to the time she can purchase her own home.

As with all my profiles, this one barely scratches the surface of the incredible woman Kerry is. She is fun, spontaneous, soft-hearted, boisterous, loving, caring, awesome...and I could go on and on. I'm lucky to be her mom.

I'll have to edit this and post some pictures when I have access to them.

Life on the 45th Parallel

Ceddie's family has returned and he seems not to be holding any grudges. When they first came in the door he was upstairs, and I called him down....he heard their voices and was completely overwhelmed. He stopped halfway down the stairs and just started sobbing! I looked and asked him what was wrong and he said "Well, I just missed those guys!". He was very happy to have everyone home again.

Steve and Beth and the kids will be here another week or so. I'm just plugging along taking each day as it comes. I'll have Ben and Ryann for 3 weeks in August. When school starts in Septemb er I'll have to completely regroup because I'll be on my own again. I'm hoping to get swim lessons set up for Ben and Ryann for the last two weeks of August. It would be really good for them. They can both get around a pool, but neither really swims, more of a dog paddle.

That's it for now. Not a lot to report. Today was the laziest Sunday I've spent in a long time. Tomorrow I will make a bigger effort to move more. :)

Ceddie the Bully

Today Ceddie and I spent a good part of the day doing yard work...I made him stand and water the lawn where he is wearing a path, while I mowed. A little later in the afternoon we went back to the lake so he could work on his paddling in the life jacket.

He had a squirt gun that I bought for him and I cautioned him against shooting towards anyone since the water is cold and it may make for a cranky kid if someone were to get a watery surprise. I sat on the sand about ten feet from the waters edge as he began his assault on the water. I noticed three large kids (O.K...FAT kids) in the water a good distance away in tubes playing, but I didn't think much of that. After all they were a lot older than Ceddie. I had a book and read a little while often looking up to check on him. Suddenly I heard a mom screaming at the top of her voice. She was yelling at someone in the water about throwing a rock. Suddenly I realized that this screaming banshee was yelling at Ceddie! He was standing in water shivering as she yelled at him. I was stunned into silence for a moment while I processed the scene. She's standing there screaming so that everyone in the water and on the small beach can hear and this poor little boy is just as stunned as I am. She continued to yell and asked who he was there with and he said 'Grandma' and pointed to me. She turned on me and began to yell at me. Apparently what happened (as I reconstructed the problem) Ceddie had stepped on a rock and simply picked it up and chucked it a little further out in the water. Admittedly it was towards her kids, but the chances of hitting them and doing any damage was pretty small. She yelled at me that if the rock had hit one of her kids they might have gone down and drowned! (They could have stood up in the water...it wasn't deep)It was pretty clear to me that she was totally irrational and in a case like that, it has been my experience that the best course of action is to agree with the person. It will usually diffuse the situation.

I knew I had two ways to play my response. I could be the 'adult' and calmly accept her explanation at face value, and assure her it wouldn't happen again....or I could stand up and kick her butt in front of her fat kids, push her in the water and try to explain to the police who would surely be called what had happened. My natural instinct was to kick her butt, but I wanted to be a good example to Ceddie, so I spoke to her in a calm voice and told her it wouldn't happen again. Then I spoke to Ceddie, in an equally calm voice and asked about it. He told me the truth and I explained that there was no place for rock tossing when other people were around, regardless of the fact that hitting one of them was unlikely. Then I told him to go back and play and have a good time. The woman left and went back to her chair. The group left a few minutes later because the children seemed to be very embarrassed about the whole thing. I wonder why.

I went back to reading my book, trying to retain my dignity. A woman sitting nearby said quietly to me "I'm sorry that happened". I was a little surprised at that and said "Well, she surely got her point across, didn't she" and kind of laughed. She said "But she didn't have to alert the entire lake of it! How stupid she was.I have to say....you handled that with grace. I was impressed." I thanked her for her nice words and went back to my book, knowing I had done the right thing.

Ceddie continued to play and have a great time. Every once in a while he would call to me and ask if he was doing great in his paddling. I assured him each time that he was doing extra great and I was proud of him. The screaming banshee-woman was soon forgotten. After a little while he came out of the water and sat by me while I tried to warm him up. He put his head on my lap and said "Gramma...I love you." I got my reward for the day.

Deep Thoughts...by Ceddie Johnson

• Sometimes clowns wear birthday hats. I don't hate clowns.



• If you put medicine on a bullet before you get shot....will you still die?



• If you mix lemonade and 7-up you get 7-ade.

Ceddie and I went to see another movie today. We saw Despicable Me. He liked it a lot, but I thought it was only so-so. A little later I took him to a place to get his favorite bean and cheese burrito. It was cold and breezy today so we didn't get to swim again, but possibly tomorrow.

The Mind of a Six-Year-Old Boy

I'm watching my grandson Cedric for a few days while his parents get away. His siblings have been farmed out to different relatives so its just him and me. It's only been a day and a half so far, but we are having a great time. We went to see Toy Story 3 yesterday afternoon. He spent most of the rest of the evening running a course in the front yard that he has established and being Ironman. The yard is sloped so if he takes off at a dead run from the high point he can get a good deal of speed built up to get him up another slope and onto the flat part of the yard. He will run this pattern for hours. He comes inside every once in a while to get a snack or a drink, but then he's off again...running....running...

He also has an ongoing commentary as he's doing this, complete with sound effects and threats to the evil bad guys. I can't exactly make out the details of his narration, but it must be compelling because he goes on and on. The sound effects are pretty awesome also. They range from gunshots to lazer beams and light sabres. He also supplies the screams of agony and cries for revenge from the bad guys. He's an all-purpose fantasy guy.

He's a great little kid. I'm glad I'm getting a chance to know him one on one. We went to the lake today. I put him in a life jacket and let him have at it. The area we were in was contained, but the water did get over his head in one spot and I didn't want to have to go in after him. He was having a wonderful time and kept saying 'this is GREAT!'...meaning the life jacket and his new ability to float. Of course I watched him every moment and made sure he was safe, but he was in his element. I think he's enjoying our time together also because he told me tonight he sure loves me. Of course...that comes on the heels of his comment about my being a really old lady.

Oh, and a post-script on the last post. The fellow who fell was released from the hospital after several hours and seems to be doing just fine. I'm glad for that.

I also suspect after a week with Ceddie I'll have several more stories to share. Stay tuned....

This Sort of Thing Happens to Me a Lot. Wonder Why?

It’s been an adrenaline pumping morning so far. I woke up late, around 9:00 and opened the windows to the house as I usually do. I noticed that the red truck was still at the house across the street which seemed a little odd since I hadn’t seen anyone. I went about my morning routine and noticed a few minutes later that the back window of the truck was open. Hmmmm…that seemed a little odd since I hadn’t seen anyone. I guess my first thought was that someone was breaking in. So I watched a moment or so and noticed a man come out of the house. He was lurching a little and my first thought was “wow, kinda early in the morning to be hitting the sauce”. He appeared to be loading the truck, so I made the assumption that he was preparing to leave and went about my business. Something just didn’t feel right so I made it a point to look every few minutes. As I was looking he seemed to lose his equilibrium. He twisted somewhat and sort of took a few running steps down the sidewalk. I realize now he was trying to get his balance, but that was impossible on the steep sidewalk. As I watched he fell against the rock wall and dropped the things he has been carrying - they were flung all the way down the sidewalk. I waited a moment to see if he would try to get up. He seemed to be dazed and hurt.

I ran into my bedroom and threw on some clothes (I wasn’t going to go out in my nightgown) . I also put my cell phone in my pocket. and started across the street. I said “hey, what’s going on” he managed to say ‘Parkinson’s”. So I knew we had a problem. I looked around for help because I knew I couldn't get him up alone. The man (Dave) who lives on the other corner of the intersection we all live on had seen me run out of my house and came to see what was up. Between the two of us we got Rick (the man’s name) up and sitting on the wall. We were letting him gather his wits and I was accessing the damages. He was scraped up pretty badly and bleeding. I managed to get blood all over me. I ran home to get some paper towels and band-aids to stop the bleeding. We sat and visited while I waited to see how he reacted to things. Dave had to go to work, so he left. Rick and I talked a little while and I asked if he thought he could walk. He thought he probably could so I got him up. He immediately began to wobble and say ‘sit, sit’.

I managed to get him back down and he kind of collapsed. I told him I had my phone and would like to call the Lincoln City police to get someone to check him out. He agreed so I called. A few minutes later 2 big guys in an ambulance showed up with sirens blazing. I told them as much as I knew. Rick seemed to be coherent and they were about to leave. I asked them to check his blood pressure. It was extremely low. He didn’t want to go to the hospital so it seemed we had done all we could. I told the fellows I was just across the street if they needed anything and I left. They were attempting to help him to his car when he collapsed again so they decided to take him to the hospital because something was clearly going on with him besides the obvious issues with the Parkinson’s disease.

I saw him collapse from my window and started back over. I asked him to please allow me to call his brother (I found out during the conversation he was the brother of the owner of the house, Mike). He said “ok” so I called as they loaded him into the ambulance. I let his brother know what was going on and then closed up the house and truck while they took him away.

I came home and put my bloody clothes into the wash and cleaned up. It occurred to me I should have used rubber gloves as I cleaned him up, but what was done was done. I’m still from the old-school first aid glass. Back in the ‘old days’ we didn’t have to be concerned about blood-borne diseases.

Now I’m in the hurry-up-and-wait mode to find out how he is. I’m pretty sure he’s fine, he probably just got dehydrated or forgot to take some meds, but I’d still like to know for sure.

I’ll keep you posted.

　

Another day, another ending

I've been in Vancouver, Washington all week watching Ben and Ryann. I couldn't watch them at my house because they have summer soccer camp in the evening, so here I am. I haven't been home for more than a minute or two in weeks and that seems to be working fine for me.

It's really amazing how little a person can get done when they aren't in their own home. I did my laundry yesterday but otherwise I've been footloose and fancy free to watch tv or read all I want. I've been watching the old Roswell series about teenage aliens set in the late '90's. I had seen the series when it was broadcast but I'm amazed at how much I forgot. I think I have a crush on an alien. It's been fun to watch, and I'm on season 2 now. I think it only ran 2.5 seasons, so my fun will soon come to an end - as all things must.

I also finished a book Kevin and Stephanie got me for my birthday. It was about 2 best friends and all the ups and downs of friendship. In the end the 'good' friend dies and the selfish one steps up to the plate. It was a good story and had me bawling my eyes out, hoping no one would hear me sobbing. It really touched a nerve. The good friend ends up with cancer and fights the good fight all the way to the end. Even after death her essence lingers on. I think any essence I have left will go with me when I go.

Sophie and Jubie will be here in Vancouver this afternoon. They have been staying with Steph's parents while Kevin and Stephanie are in Austin, Texas checking out the area for a possible job/move. Her parents are leaving for a trip, so I'll have the girls here with me for a day, then I'll take them back to their house on Friday afternoon. I'll probably stay there Friday night since Kevin and Stephanie aren't expected home until late. Saturday morning I'll probably check for mail in Salem, then head back out to the beach.

I have all my painting supplies with me, so perhaps I'll do some painting next week. I've been looking for some inspiration, but I haven't found any. Summer at the beach is a little different than the rest of the time because of the constantly changing faces of the tourists. Traffic is bad, especially on weekends, so my errands will have to be walking ones unless I decide to face the masses. The walk to the library is about a mile, so its a nice jaunt. And of course there is always the beach to walk. I like to put an audio book on my ipod and just walk and walk.

I seem to be rambling a lot, so I guess I'll close this for now.

Kevin Johnson, MBA

June 11, 2010

University of Oregon