suegeemeanderings

Ocean Dream

2008-06-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

The mighty ocean and its many moods
inspires us as we stand on its shore

Insignificant are we compared to
this magnificent creation

The rugged coastline offers a challenge to all
who would conquer its rock formations

A small town, its stores and restaurants
just begging to be explored and enjoyed

A well-loved home, silent now, watching and waiting
for a new family to discover it's every nook and cranny

Imagine sitting by the fireplace, gazing at the ever changing waves
Contemplating migrating whales or a winter storm

A life long dream, once thought impossible, now brought to fruition
Yachats

Ode to Atomic Starburst

2008-05-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH!

An atomic starburst flying saucer was seen today, slowly spinning in the skies over Richland, WA about 10:00 am. Said saucer looked to be round with indentations on either side and on the roof. Paintings of blue and green atomic nuclei with their electrons in orbit around them, adorned the top of the contraption. It was reported that the saucer looked very old, about the type that was seen in the 1950's or 60's. Experts say the saucer showed a few tiny defects on the ceiling, but, on the other hand, it was rather amazing that it was in such good condition for its age. No other saucers were spotted, not even in that well known scientific reference work, E-bay.

The saucer was cleverly disguised in a brown cardboard box with Fed Ex labels on it. It carefully landed on a front porch at 1926 Pine St in Richland. Residents contacted at that address refused to comment on the suspicious item, but were heard mumbling, "Kerry and her Americana kitsch...." It was noted that this was probably a code to the occupants of the space ship. The Dept. of Homeland Security has been notified and is expected to cordon off the north Richland area at any moment (or maybe in four or five days)............

A birthday poem

2008-05-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

A little something to use
Where ever you roam
Perhaps you'll need gas for
The motor home

Or maybe groceries will be
In your cart
When you stop one day
At Camp Wal Mart

If Canada is on both your minds
Use it to camp at a spa in the pines

Or if you find yourselves out
Montana way
You might need a snack where the
Antelopes play

But where ever you wander,
Where ever you park
Come home to us safely at
The end of your lark!

A Peaceful Day

2007-06-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

I sat on the swing in the back yard. It gently swayed as I read. The book was "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom. The temperature was perfect. A gentle breeze blew through the trees, making the leaves a green ballet of motion and peaceful sounds. A bird sang its song. Next to the swing, the pond filter gurgled and running water cascaded into the crystal clear pond below. Two goldfish swam lazily around. Marbles, white rocks, and green iridescent stones shone up from the bottom, like a pirate's treasure waiting to be appreciated. A water lily busily sent up another shoot. The leaf would not uncurl until it hit the surface. Next to me on the swing was a little black dog, lolling about as I scratched her tummy. By my feet was the brown dog, chubby as a sausage. He waited alertly to announce the presence of anyone who might come too close to the back fence as they strolled through the park adjacent to our yard. But on this day, even his eyes drooped, and as his head nodded, he startled himself back to watchfulness. Red and pink roses bloomed, along with red-orange lilies, dark purple clematis and plumes of white astilbe. Summer had come to Pine Street.

donorschoose.org

2007-05-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hey, I'm back - after all these many months. I'm not sure how the blog fell off the end of the earth for me. Suffice to say it just did. I have no excuses to offer. But I return with a great website, www.donorschoose.org, in which one can donate to teachers in various areas of the U.S. to help their classrooms. Teachers submit their proposals and the donorschoose organization makes sure it is all legit. If you finish funding a project, or donate more then $100, the class will even send thank you notes and photos. I chose to finish a project in Long Beach, MS, in a 4th grade classroom that had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. 57% of the students are low income. All the teacher requested to "make our reading corner dream come true", was funding for a carpet, four bean bag chairs and a magazine rack. Many of the students are living in FEMA trailers and the school is holding class in double wide trailers. After my two relief trips to Louisiana last year, I just couldn't resist this project. So, Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, and check out this site to do the kids of a lot of other moms some good!

pictures of G G

2006-08-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

A younger G G and Rob.

An old girl

A tribute to GG the greyhound 1993-2006

2006-08-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

aka Cee Bar Moon. She raced in Florida, retired at 3 1/2 to be adopted by us. A better dog there could never be. She was loved by all that knew her. Thoughts on GG (named by her foster mom, it stood for "Good Girl"): Her gentle spirit, her will to live through many health crises, her spindly but powerful legs, her endearing personality, her brown and black "tiger stripes" brindle soft, soft coat.

Sleek and graceful, she ran for the sheer joy of it, doing figure eights in our yard and the yard next door. Clods of dirt and bits of grass would fly, as if she were some cartoon character. She would run straight at us and swerve at the last minute, while we cheered her on and laughed.

We first met her at her foster home in North Bend, where I immediately knew she was the dog for me. She laid her big (66 lbs) body down, right in the middle of everything (A knack she kept forever). I pet her and her foster Dad said she liked me. I asked him how he knew. He said "because she isn't afraid of you."

So we formed a bond that lasted 10 great years. Whenever I drove into the garage, the whole neighborhood heard her welcoming howls. Always a "mama's girl", she'd whine if I left, or sit by the door and await my return. That whine was her way of saying "Hey, it's dinner time" or "I need to go out." (Not a welcome noise at 3 AM!!)

I swear she knew the word "walk", because whenever I said it, her ears would perk up and she'd get exicited, prancing around and lifting her foot high to tap me as if to say "Let's go, I'm ready!" But always she would walk very sedately and grandly on the leash, never yanking me along. Such a lady. We had so many people ask us questions about greyhounds and she patiently stood by as I talked about their wonderful characteristics. Rob took her to show and tell in second grade and explained how even her ears were aerodynamic - held back close to her head (although she did perk them up when interested in something). Her slim face and needle nose, big chest and powerful thigh muscles were just meant for racing. But, true to her breed, she was that "40 mile an hour couch potato," content to relax except for about every third day, when she'd get that crazy "let me out quick" look in her eyes. If I wasn't fast enough, she'd run around the living room and what a racket that made! Once out in the yard, she'd run full speed for a bit, then come back in and flop down with a "Thanks, I needed that" look in her eyes.

Those big chocolate brown eyes! So expressive, so gentle. They glowed green in certain ligths and became clouded in later life. That coat that, no matter how much it was combed, still shed. Who told me greyhounds don't shed? Wrong! Her "goofy face", when her tongue would just hang out the side of her mouth and she looked so silly. She loved to lay down and be pet. So much so, that if I stopped petting her, she would tap me with a front paw, her way of saying "Please continue."

Those GG hugs were absolutely the best! If I was sitting down, she would walk over and put her head right into my lap or my side, holding it right there with a gentle pressure. She gave me hugs on her last morning, as if she knew time was running short.

She loved having her ears scratched and would stretch out her neck and turn it from side to side to make sure all the itchy spots were taken care of.

When she first came to us she was so shy, she would cower behind me if another dog approached. But when Prints came along, he taught her how to bark and they charged out together to greet any dog that came by the fence, running up and back joyously.

They made a funny pair - she the stately, tall, quiet greyhound - he the stubby, pudgy, high energy mutt. I'm sure people made comments behind our backs! She the older sister, looking at him disdainfully, as if to say "Why did you get him?" and sighing at his foolishness. He, the younger brother, always trying to rile her up by chomping on her neck, but never succeeding in breaking her calm demeanor.

She loved water, be it pond, river or stream. She'd wade right in and maybe even lay down in it, no matter how cold it was.

Greyhounds love to wander and aren't much good at listening to human commands, so we promised to always keep her on a leash or in a fenced yard. But she had a knack for escaping, especially at night, if the gate were mistakenly left open. For awhile, our new front door would blow open with a gust of wind. She'd listen for that opening click and out the door she'd dash. Prints and I would go looking for her. Most of the time we'd find her and she'd give us a sheepish look, as if to say "Sorry about that, but I couldn't resist the freedom." A few times we couldn't find her, but she would turn up at the front door in the middle of the night, calmly laying on the door mat until we woke up and let her in.

I called her "The Dog with Nine Lives". She made it through so many tough times. Her folder at the animal hospital got to be quite thick. They loved her as much as I did, and cried right along with me when she had a crisis. She would go to the vet's willingly, but once in, she'd turn around and point her nose toward the door. "I want to go home now" or "If I don't see them, maybe they won't notice me."

When the final morning came, and the cancer had gone so far she couldn't put any weight on the leg, Jack and I took her to the vets and they helped her to gently go to sleep as peacefully and serenely as she had lived. Goodbye, sweet GG girl, your spirit will be with me forever. I once read someone's idea of heaven, "where every dog you ever loved comes running out to greet you." I look forward to seeing her again on that day.

Eclectic B&N Shopping Spree

2006-05-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

Flush by Carl Hiaasen. The funny Floridian is at it again with a tale of money-grubbing casino operators polluting the waters of his fair state. Aimed at kids, it's has the usual mix of strange characters. A good read, but not as funny as his previous effort, Hoot. For a real hoot, check out Hiaasen's books aimed at adults.

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper. The CNN anchor who became a household word with his gripping coverage of Hurricane Katrina gives us a view of other hellish corners of the world. Man's inhumanity to man is interspersed with stories of his own personal hell: Trying to come to terms with his father's early death and his brother's suicide. Thanks, Anderson, for being our conscience. But, hey, dude, I hope you have a good counselor.

San Juan Islands from Moon Handbooks. Continuing my search to find the perfect retirement spot. This book actually included Lummi Island, a small gem west of Bellingham which was recently discovered by Sunset Magazine. (Watch those real estate prices rise now!)

Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan. Laugh if you want, but I love watching Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel. From agressive cases to Hollywood pampered pooches, Cesar (in his own words) "rehabilitates dogs and trains people."

And one last one, The Rules of Life by Richard Templar. OK, so I'm a sucker for this type of stuff and , hey it was on the bargain table!

Remember Dial Up?

2006-05-10T03:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, we've regressed to using dial up until Verizon decides to update us to something speedier. Jack thought he had the change over all worked out, but where there is bureaucracy, there is always room for snafus. Chick trip to San Francisco was awesome. Hopefully, pictures to follow soon.

Road Trip Readiness

2006-03-31T13:25:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, the snow tires are off. The whiny power steering pump is replaced. The new glasses are ordered. Kerry emailed me with her road trip expectations of "ridiculous shenanigans" and "Thelma and Louise without the plunge to the death at the end" and a Kerry "I didn't know existed"! What? Didn't Thelma and Louise rob banks and hook up with Brad Pitt? I'd prefer Johnny Depp, but if she could deliver him, she sure wouldn't share! Seriously, though, Kerry decided our road trip would more likely be titled "The Adventures of Commander Cautious and Captain Careful." So, I'm looking for suggestions to help us step out of our comfort zone. Kerry has come up with karaoke, second ear piercing and horse back riding (which we are always going to do on vacation, but never quite get to it.) I'm sure there are lots crazier suggestions to be found! I promise to send a souvenier to anybody who comes up with something that we actually do try! Email me with your suggestions: garvin@owt.com

Depth Perception Bye Bye

2006-03-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

We brought my car into the Ford dealer today for servicing in preparation for the big road trip. The customer service guy mentioned the scratches in the paint (Guess he didn't want the shop to be blamed for putting them there.) There was a diagram on the form to indicate where the scratches were and HE JUST CIRCLED THE WHOLE CAR! OK, I admit it! What little depth perception I ever had is even worse now. When we got back from the car dealer, I made an appointment with the eye doctor.....

I left my heart...

2006-03-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

...in San Francisco. That's right! Coming up at the end of April, Kerry and I will be making a road trip down to the Bay Area to visit Aunt Marie. Coming from the east will be Mom, Nancy, Laura and Megan. We're hoping for a chick trip supreme!

A Little About Nothing

2006-03-13T15:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing But Noodles plus lobster ravioli = YUM!

There's been a murder!

2006-03-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

Over on Whidbey Island just a short ferry ride from the mainland, there's a little town called Langley. Filled with quaint stores and great restaurants, with fabulous scenic views of water and mountains, it's a great place to find a nice B&B and spend a little time. Every year on the last weekend of February, amateur sleuths from all over gather to solve the murder of a well known (but perhaps not so well liked) resident. Townspeople act and dress the part of the characters in the mystery and stores hand out clues to help the visiting detectives solve the crime. The scene of the crime is all decked out with yellow police tape and a special edition of the newspaper gives even more clues. It's all done very "tongue in cheek" and with a great sense of humor. This is the third year we have made a "girl's weekend" of it. Even though it was colder then past years, we still had a great time and solved the crime!

RIP Gold Spike, San Francisco, 1920-2006

2006-03-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling fragile today

2006-03-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

Got an email that my 8th grade class is planning a reunion. Amazing enough that they found me, cause I only went to that school for 1 year. So, I was trying to exhume long lost memories by putting together the faces and names at the site. I remembered being asked to dance by one boy and so I thought I'd see if the info said what he was up to now. Turns out he's dead!!!!!!! What a shocker. Add that to the fact that the Italian restaurant where Jack took me on our first date recently closed. It's a little joint in San Francisco that has been run by the same family since it first opened in 1920! (No, we weren't there that year!!!) God, I feel so old. My older friends smiled at me with great amusement when I told them about my fragility. Basically, they told me to get over it. It only gets worse. Okay, now I need to go find some chocolate to soothe my feelings......

A strange combination

2006-03-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

Bunnies and eagles. Bunnies and eagles, you say??? Yup, kind of like the lion and the lamb of biblical fame (although I don't know if they co-exsist quite so peacefully). We went up to the northwest corner of Washington state because we had heard that up to 400 eagles come to winter in the Skagit valley and feed on salmon there. What we didn't realize until we got there was that although 400 had been sighted in December, the sightings were down to about 20 in February! Ooops! Next time I'll read the literature better! We did see one eagle. And the bunnies? Well we saw hundreds of those! We stayed at a cute family-run resort called the Skagit River Resort It's a 50's style resort with cabins, a B&B, a campground, a restaurant and a roadside chapel. Go here to learn the story of how the bunnies came to live at the resort. It was a restful weekend including a walk by the river, a wonderful dinner by Kerry, sitting by the fire and exploring the surrounding area. Oh yeah, and feeding the bunnies. Extra bread is left on trays by the restaurant so that anyone can feed them. They seem to be in groups (herds?, packs?), each clan staying in their section of the property, We would meander by them and up they would hop, waiting for us to toss bread for them. Most were brave enough to eat right out of our hands, although we didn't try to pet them. All in all, it was a delightful weekend and we hope to visit again in December when the eagles return.

Don't forget them

2006-02-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

As I close out my posts on the Gulf Coast, I know that many in the U.S. have gone on with their lives. Maybe they hear about Mardi Gras and assume all is well now. Such is not the case. If you can, consider going down and helping out. Or consider donating some money. Two organizations I recommend are Samaritan's Purse and Habitat for Humanity. As you cozy down in your bed tonight, think about our fellow U.S. citizens on the Gulf Coast, who are sleeping in a tent, a FEMA trailer, a hotel room or a relative's house because they have no bed of their own. Pray for them.

The Worst

2006-02-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

The worst destruction that we saw was in the lower 9th ward. There, a barge got loose of its moorings during the hurricane and slammed into a canal wall. The barge still sits where it ran aground. The neighborhood is totally destroyed. We saw only one house still standing. The rest were hardly recognizable as homes. Smashed houses, upside down cars and fallen trees were all that were left. There is nothing for these folks to go home to. Some can't even find where there house once stood.

Along the 17th St Canal

2006-02-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

The damage was much worse here then in the neighborhood we worked in. That is because this was where one of the canals broke. Note the boat up on the land, houses that slid into one another, and the water line on the church. Also, the reader board on the church still has dates in August. Nothing has been done here. Trees are down and abandoned cars dot the landscape. As bad as this was, though, there was still worse to come.

Imagine

2006-02-09T05:28:00.000-08:00

Imagine, if you can, that all you held dear was swept away in an instant. In the four months since Katrina, nothing had been done to "our" house. The flood took everything, threw it on the ground and mashed it into one big sticky pile. Things were still wet, mold was everywhere. Beautiful old furniture was delaminated and thrown around. If we tried to pick it up, if just fell apart in our hands. Thousands of books and magazines lay in heaps. We felt like trespassers, seeing family photos and gandkids' school work. We began our herculean task, shoveling possessions that were hardly recognizable into wheelbarrels to be dumped at the curb.

Everything had to go. Furniture, appliamces, clothes, books, momentos of a family's life together. Each day that we worked on the house, the debris piles were higher then our cars. It was a shocking revelation of the frailty of life. We learned a very biblical lesson: store your treasures in heaven, the things of this life are gone in an instant.

More Destruction

2006-02-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

For the rest of the week, we were in what was once a very nice area called Lakeview. It is not far from Lake Ponchertrain. Here we were truly introduced to the hurricane damage. The entire area had been under about 9 feet of water, as it was built on filled in marshland and is actually below sea level. The house we worked on belonged to an elderly man whose wife had died last February.

So many of the people we met already had health or family problems, the hurricane just added more to their burdens. Imagine a neighborhood that, for miles around, is destroyed.

Houses all had water level marks and spray painted codes from the searchers indicating when the house was searched and if anyone was found inside.

There is traffic on the boulevard, but very little life. No kids, no dogs, no cats. Only a few birds and a squirrel or two. Schools and many stores are closed. Some roofs have holes punched in them from where peopled climbed out of the attic to be rescued. Some second story windows have X's on them, noting where people had to be taken out during the flood. Front doors hang at crazy angles. Windows are broken. Most any house could be entered, unhindered. Indeed, the sad fact is that breaking and entering and looting is still occurring. This has occurred more than once at some houses.

Introduction to Destruction

2006-02-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

We were introduced to the destruction gradually. At first glance, New Orleans looked pretty good. The airport was working, the downtown looked intact (albeit minus a lot of windows in the skyscrapers). We heard that the French Quarter was not damaged. There was lots of traffic, as every contractor with a pickup truck seemed to be driving the freeways. Yes, there were billboards blown down, lots of blue-tarped roofs and FEMA trailers galore, but the weather was sunny and felt like spring. It was hard to imagine mother nature at her worst, tearing the place apart. Our first day's assignment was doing tree work in Gretna. Those with chain saw experience got to work and the rest of us hauled wood and branches to the curb. We worked with several different homeowners, all with stories to tell about the hurricane and evacuation. The evening left us tired and ready to take on our next task.

Around Camp

2006-02-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

Our camp was in a community center in Gretna, La (across the river from New Orleans). Samaritans purse staff had divided the building into mens and womens sleeping quarters, an eating area and office area. Rest rooms were outside but nearby. Also nearby was the shower trailer, the tool pick up area and the trailers housing the staff.

I can't say enough about how excellant the staff was. They kept the camp running without a hitch, everything spotless and organized. They always answered our questions with a smile, although they must be asked the same questions every week, since that is how often the teams are changed out. Lights came on at 6:00 a.m. and went off at 9:30 p.m. Each team had a job to do in the morning and ours was making about 65 sandwiches for lunch. Our chef, who kept us very well fed, was quite a particular fellow. It was either 5 slices of salami, or 2 slices of ham or 3 slices of turkey per sandwich, NO MORE, NO LESS! Speaking of food, it was quite different then home. Favorites are spicy gumbo, red beans and rise with sausage and corn bread, BBQ ribs, chicken, shrimp, crawfish and sweet potato pie. The weather was cool in the evenings but definately spring time during the day. The camilias, pecan trees, palm tress and magnolias were leafing out or in bloom (as least the ones that were not killed by the flood or knocked over by the hurricane.)

The Trip South

2006-02-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

The eight of us set off at 5:00 am on Monday, January 23, from Pasco, WA with lots of prayers and good wishes from family, friends and church members. Our trip took us through Salt Lake City and then on to Atlanta, where we learned our first important rule of travel. That is, Never Travel Through Atlanta If At All Possible! The trip was delayed a half hour at a time for about 5 hours until weather conditions got better and Delta found a pilot and co-pilot for our plane. So, with only airline snacks as food all day, we straggled into New Orleans about 8:30 pm, only to learn a second lesson. That was: Don't Rent A Car from Enterprise! Although all the other car rental agencies were open, Enterprise had closed at 8:00 with a "See you in the morning" note on their counter. What to do, what to do???? Luckily, the director of the Samaritan's Purse camp was there to meet someone, so he took our luggage and some of us. The rest of us went with a church member who is working in New Orleans. He and his wife kindly came to the airport and took us in their SUV. We left the moldy smelling airport (an odor we were to smell in one degree or another the whole time we were there), drove by the Superdome and Convention Center, passed the cruise ships housing policemen and FEMA workers, and over the bridge to Gretna, to the Dick White Center, where we were finally able to lay out our sleeping bags and get some rest.

New Orleans Fashion

2006-01-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

What will the well-dressed mudder be wearing this season? Here we have a one piece coverall in a stunning shade of blue accompanied by kicky little boots in red and black. Accessories include wool hiking socks and T-shirt and hat by Samaritan's Purse. And don't forget pocket bible, hammer for killing large bugs, map, gloves, safety glasses and huge bottle of Tylenol. A pry bar would also add a dash of spice. Complete the ensemble with coveralls by House of Tyvek and respirator. With apologies to Finola Hughes, "How Do I Look?"

The well prepared mudder also comes with a variety of additional support equipment, including sleeping bag, sheets, pillow, flashlight, snacks, towel and wash cloth.

Comprehension

2006-01-09T17:17:00.000-08:00

Sure, we've all seen a lot of hurricane pictures, but I've been told by those who have been there that even if a picture is worth a thousand words, it still doesn't show the reality of the Gulf coast. So I browsed the photos at Nola.com trying to get a handle on it. Thankfully, there are few moments in a person's life where one has to come to understand that life will never, ever be the same again. The death of a loved one, the diagnosis of a dread disease, the disappointment of a life long goal not achieved, to name a few. Multiply that by thousands of lives, thousands of homes and a much loved area of the country, with unique customs, unique food, unique architecture. Well, you get the point. Last night I was really excited about the trip, but today reality set in. Do I have enough stamina to do a good job? Can I make a difference, even to one person or one family? Who will we meet? What bonds will be formed? Seeing the humor amongst the pictures - a snow man decoration on a fallen tree, Christmas lights among the destruction, a list of restaurants open again...These are one tough people. They will survive. Let's help them get there.

Ouch!

2006-01-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

Went down to the health department today to update my tetanus shot. They are waiving the clinic visit fee ($20) for those doing relief work. (Still have to pay for the cost of the shot.) So I got punctured 3 times: tetanus, flu shot and Hepatitis A (the food borne kind). Already have had the Hep. B series. Might as well stay as healthy as possible!

New Orleans

2006-01-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

Met the other team members today. There are 5 men and 3 women. Our trip will take us from Pasco, WA to Salt Lake City to Atlanta to New Orleans. We will leave early in the morning on Monday, Jan. 23 and get there late in the afternoon. We will rent a car and stay at a hotel that night. On Tuesday, we travel to Gretna, where Samaritans Purse camp is located for the New Orleans relief effort. They will dispatch us to jobs in New Orleans each day. They will also feed and house us for the time we are there. Our job will involve ripping out wallboard, insulation, carpets. They tell us that even if we finish just one house, that is good. Imagine that one house multiplied by the thousands that need cleanup. Then there are the ones that will just be bulldozed. It is daunting. We need to get a tetnus shot, bring boots, sleeping bag, sheets, pillow, towels. They supply the Tyvek suits and respirators. We hope to bring some comfort and hope to the people we meet. Please keep our team in your prayers.

Rainbow Bridge, LaConner, WA

2005-12-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

NOLA in January

2005-12-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

Found out last evening that I've been picked to be on the January team from church that will go down to New Orleans to help with the hurricane relief effort. Dates are Jan. 24-28. This area has been in my heart ever since the storms struck and I'm thrilled to be going and doing whatever I can to help.

It's been a long time....

2005-10-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

....since I posted. Along with the rest of the country, I was mesmerized by the power of Katrina and Rita, and the damage they did. Somehow posting about the rich men's "cottages" in Newport, RI and our stop in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut just didn't seem important anymore. The real world has a way of intruding like that. So we've sent some donations off to Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity and have been thinking of what else we can do to help. My church will be sending a team down that way, so yesterday I put in my application. Even if I don't get chosen for this trip (having no experience in demolition and construction equipment!), I'm hoping to go sometime in the future. Heck, I can make sandwhiches and serve food and stuff like that!!!!

Old Homestead Revisited

2005-08-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

As a child, I lived in quite a few places: Virginia Beach, Va;, Bellevue, NJ; Albany, NY, Glenmont, NY, Louisville, KY, Walpole, MA and Cedar Grove, NJ. I attended 7 different schools, which made me feel rather nomadic and without a home town to call my own. Be that as it may, we decided to visit Walpole, Mass., the town I lived in from 1962-1965 (5th through 7th grade). The amazing thing was that, even after the passing of 40 years, I started to remember things as we came into town. Yes, here was the street Mom and us kids used to walk into town. (Remember when families had only one car?). Yes, here was the bridge where I fell walking home from school and busted up my nose. Two nice old ladies in fur coats (before the days of PETA) picked me up and brought me home. (I went with them despite all my mother's warnings about taking a ride from strangers.) There was the spot where Mr. Chase's store stood. Pre mini-mart days, it didn't sell gas, but it did sell bread and milk and most of all (to the delight of us kids) candy, Beatle cards, and Baseball cards. There was the truck garage, still there after all the years. They were the meanies in those days, because they had knocked down the hill behind our house. This was the place where we played house in the woods. The "houses" were outlined with stones taken from the rocky New England soil and carpeted with pine needles. We sledded down the hill in the winter. Mary Ann one time used her new sweater as the sled, leaving pinkish-red streaks behind in the snow.) They covered over the "swamp", which we explored when it was iced over in the winter. We turned down Norfolk, which seemed like such a big street when I was a kid. The gravel trucks still traveled down it.

Then we turned onto McDonald Circle, and there it was, looking the same as I remembered it. A two story house, with a little "breezeway" and an adjoining apartment where Grandma lived, and a garage. It was here that I tried to roller skate and wrecked the new blue corduroy pants Mom had just made me. It was here that Mom was a Cub Scout den mother for my brother and his friends, going to Walpole Woodworkers and getting scraps of wood for projects. Being artistic and good at crafts, Mom's den always won the monthly prize for best project, though others complained! It was here that Mom made John a big teepee and Dad built us girls a play house. It was here that I saw a shooting star while trick-or-treating one Halloween and here that I went to my first dance. It was a junior high dance, with all the boys on one side of the room and all the girls on the other. And it was here, one November day in 1963 that I got off the school bus in tears and ran into the house to tell Mom and Grandma that President John F. Kennedy was dead. Oh, the memories of childhood came flooding back, almost overwhelming. I knew there was one more thing I had to do. We had to find Old Stone School, where I went to 5th and 6th grade and the pond across from it where we ice skated during recess and drank hot chocolate to keep warm. We retraced our route and, sure enough we found the pond.

Across from it, stood a building that looked like it had once been a school, but not the school I remembered. Now it held the Town Hall.

All in all, it was astounding that the town had remained so much the same. Sometimes you can go home again.

Moving On...

2005-08-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Much as we enjoyed our stay in the 19th century, it was time to return to the 21st. For those with a passion for history, there are other outdoor museums in which to experience a touch of the past. Before we left, we explored modern-day Sturbridge, Mass., driving through the main shopping area. We stopped at Sturbridge Yankee Pedlar, a fun place in a big old building just stuffed with all types of home decor items. The friendly clerks there suggested Lola's Place for dinner. We get so used to fast food and chain restaurants these days, it was real interesting to step into this spot! Lola was not only our hostess, but also the waitress, the cook, the busboy and the dishwasher! For $11 a plate, we had a huge piece of salmon in filo dough with cheese and spinach, stir-fried vegies, coleslaw and garlic bread. It was a treat! Sturbridge is a place I've returned to several times, and this time was no different. When we learned of the nearby Brimfield Antique Show, we just knew we would have to come back this way someday!

Old Sturbridge Village

2005-08-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

The weather: perfect. The surroundings: quiet and peaceful. The town: A New England farming town, circa 1830s. Old Sturbridge Village is made up of period buildings that were moved to Sturbridge in order to preserve a way of life far different from today. The amazing part of the village is that, through archeological digs and research, the buildings bring to us the stories and careers of the families that actually lived and worked in them so long ago. If you go into the Towne House, the Towne's really did live there.

Some of their furnishings and pictures are still there. Their house was large enough to indicate they were well-to-do and important in the community. Their garden indicated their status, too. They were able to have both flower and vegetable gardens. Most people only grew vegetables. There was no time for frivolous things like flowers!

At the pottery shop, the history of the potter who actually worked the local clay was told through a historical interpreter. The big kiln is still fired up to bake the pottery. In the shoe shop, a young man was repairing by hand the shoes of a villager.

Not only that, but at the Blacksmith shop, a smithy was making the tiny nails that would go to fix more shoes.

At the Freeman Farm, a cooking fire was going, even though it was a hot day. No microwaves or fast food then!

So it went as we traveled back through time, through the church and the Friend's meeting house, through the grist mill and cider mill. Through the school, the bank, the tin shop, the law office, the parsonage. We came away tired and with an appreciation of how close to the land these people were. They labored hard for the basic necessities of life. Want a quilt to keep warm in the winter? Start sewing! Need a loaf of bread? Better go down and get some flour at the grist mill and then bring it home and make the bread.

Food for the winter? Hey, that is why all those vegetables were dried in the summer! Meat for dinner tonight? Go butcher a hog or kill and pluck a chicken. So, the next time you feel stressed by this century, think about what your ancestors did way back then, when the average life span was 45 years and there were no supermarket chains or "big box" stores!

On the Road Again

2005-08-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

We covered 4 states in 5 hours, which is easy to do when back east. Ah, but here I must digress into a slight rant! It sure was a lot different then a 5 hour drive in Washington state! New Jersey being (I think) the most densely populated state, driving is no piece of cake. Drivers tend to go fast, follow closely, cut in and out of lanes and be very short tempered (can you blame them?). Add to that the Garden State Parkway, where tolls must be paid every few miles. The newbie Parkway driver is faced with a bewildering choice of lanes: "Easy Pass Only"; "Token or Exact Change Only", "Cash", etc, etc, etc. Not only are there signs, there are pictures and various color lights either flashing or solid. Escaping over the Berlin Wall must have been easier then jockeying for the correct lane on the Parkway! In addition, they are redoing some of the toll booths, so a person without an easy pass must go through what appears to be an exit to pay the toll. (We missed one of these, so I'm sure the state will track us down through the rental car company and send us a ticket.) (This would be the second of the trip. The first was a parking ticket at the Manahawkin Flea Market. Despite no curb markings or no parking signs, the ticketing officer told complaining motorists that they "were supposed to know" that this was a no parking zone. After we mailed in the fine, the state sent us a note demanding more money!) OK, OK! We did survive N.J. and passed into New York and crossed over the Tappen Zee Bridge. Then it was on to Connecticut, where we passed by a bus merrily burning away. Luckily, passengers and driver escaped the flames. Driving through Connecticut and Massachusetts was easier then NJ, except for the habit of 18-wheeler trucks to travel in the middle lane. (In Washington state, they must use the right lane and go 10 MPH slower then cars.) Needless to say, by the time we got to our motel in Sturbridge, Mass, we were crabby, tired and hungry. But the bad part was over and the fun was soon to begin! Next: Old Sturbridge Village.

Crabbin' by the Bay

2005-08-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

Jack and nephew Dan raising the crab trap. These tasty critters were later cooked by sister Mary Ann and shelled by Jack and I. The crabbers in the family are careful to only take the crab that are legal to catch. The rest go back into the bay. It's a lot of effort for a little meat, but they are delicious!

Barnegat Light

2005-08-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

On the very northern tip of Long Beach Island is the lighthouse known as "Old Barney". The first "Barney" was built in 1834, but had the bad luck to fall into the sea. It was rebuilt in 1857-58 by General George G. Meade, who later achieved fame in the Civil War. It stands watch over Barnegat Shoals, which, according to AAA, is the scene of over 200 ship wrecks. One wonders how well the light did its job!! Today it is a place for picnics, fishing, boats, and walks out on the jetty. Also a great place to enjoy a treat from the nearby Dairy Queen on a hot day (which have been coming in record numbers this year). There are 217 steps to the top of the lighthouse where the view is said to be fantastic. (It was just way too hot to attempt it on the day we were there.)

Shifting Sands

2005-08-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last year while geocaching we found a great historic spot down by "Old Barney", the lighthouse at the North End of Long Beach Island. It was the mast of an old fishing ship sticking out of the sand. From info posted at the site, we learned that the ship had been named the Sea King and was beached in Feb. 1963. It had been over 1000 feet from the shoreline, but due to a jetty built by Barnegat Inlet, tons of sand formed a new shoreline. It is duned and beautifully covered in sea grass and other plants. The beach is very uncrowded (for New Jersey), because it is a bit of a walk from the parking area.

Hey, Have a Nice Day!

2005-08-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

As anyone who has lived in New Jersey can tell you, there are lots of people and lots of rules!

The best little beach house in the world!

2005-08-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Surf City, NJ

Sunset over the Mainland

2005-08-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Long Beach Island is only about 4 blocks wide by where my Mom's house is located. So, we bicycled over to the ocean side to watch the surf fisherman and then rode over to the other side to catch the sunset.

Back east

2005-08-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Sailboat classes on Barneget Bay
Long Beach Island, NJ

Go east 3000 miles....

2005-07-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry, been reading lots of AAA trip tik directions lately in preparation for our annual cross country jaunt to the east coast. Yep, it's time to go visit the much maligned state of New Jersey! We will fly from Seattle to Newark on Monday and rent a car to drive to Surf City. That's where my Mom's house is and where the Fearsome Foursome, their spouses and kids gather every summer to play our favorite game, "How Many People Can We Stuff into a Beach Cottage??????" I'm hearing we will be going for a new record of 18 this year. That includes Mom, Me (the oldest)(with Jack, Kerry and Rob), John, his wife Jo and the youngest grandchild, Johnny. Then comes sister Mary Ann with her husband Ray and their 4 teenagers, Greg, Amy, Kate and Dan. Youngest sister Nancy completes the Foursome with husband Rich and daughters Laura and Megan. Mind you, the house has 4 tiny bedrooms, 1 porch, 1 living room, 1 small kitchen, 1 small loft, 2 bathrooms and 2 decks. I'm guessing maybe 1500 square feet. Well, we love a challenge and Mom promises there are enough beds and camping mattresses for all!

More Sunriver Fun

2005-07-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

While the guys went to play (Bob walked, Jack drove and Rob rode) golf one day at one of the many courses in and around Bend, Sandra, Kerry and I went shopping for fabric for 2 quilts that Sandra is working on. We went to Mountain Country Mercantile, 1568 Newport Ave. in Bend. What fun we had! Neither Kerry nor I quilt, so we chose colors and patterns and ran them over to Sandra, who was busily choosing and critiquing. Much to our surprise, she found what she needed at just the one store. We decided we made a great team and would love to do it again some day. For dinner that night, we went to Old St. Francis school, an old catholic grade school that the Mcmenamin brothers have turned into a neat pub (among other things).

The Paulina Plunge

2005-07-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

After hearing about a wonderful trip on mountain bikes with stops at various waterfalls, I decided to give it a try before my advancing age made it impossible. (OK, I'm really not ready for that old folks home yet, but I admit to being out of shape.) The great part of this trip was that the ride up the mountain was accomplished in a school bus, not under pedal-power. After being fitted with a bike and given some tips on its use, our party started out. Ah, cruel fate - the first obstacle was a big hill. Our guide insisted that if we made it up to the top, we would have no problem with the rest of the ride. Now anything going uphill makes my lungs immediately close up in protest, especially at high elevations. With Kerry acting as my own personal drill instructor and with much huffing, puffing and wimping, I finally made it to the top. Then we started the downhill ride to the first water fall. Now, being exceedingly cautious on the slippery pumice sand, I immediately fell behind the (much younger) group. But they were patient, awaiting me with cheers as I caught up at the first stop. There we hiked down to the first waterfall. Yes, I said down, for one thing they didn't tell us was that each water fall walk was a half mile DOWN, which, of course, necessitated a half mile walk back UP to our bikes!!! (Oh, to be young and thin again!) But once down to the falls, the rough part was forgotten, as we all got wet and enjoyed cooling off. There was a small cave in the back of this particular falls, which some of our party proceeded to go into. We couldn't see them at all. It was here that our guide broke out the lunch - fried chicken, cantalope and cookies. Then it was off to the second falls, a place where the rock made some natural water slides. More fun and cooling off ensued. These falls were (luckily) part of the Deschutes National Forest, for I'm sure if they were part of a National Park, all of this splashing in the water may not have been allowed. Our third and final stop was at a campground where the waterfall made a big pool at the bottom. Then it was back on the bikes and off to the bus, which met us at the bottom of the hill. Rob enjoyed leading this part of the trip, as our guide was riding at the end of the pack this time. The trip lasts all day and is a great adventure, even for old Moms like me!

Kayaking

2005-07-25T05:51:00.000-07:00

The friendly folks at Central Oregon Adventures recently dropped us off at a small stream called the Little Deschutes River. No, not for us the rapids of a swiftly moving body of water. We were more interested in a serene and peaceful journey on "flat water." After practicing a bit and remembering how to keep from going backwards and crashing into the river bank (Hey, they said this thing turned on a dime!!!), we were on our way. It was a hot, sunny day and we were glad for the water bottles, suntan lotion and hats we had brought along. First off was a view of a huge osprey nest, and not too long after we saw a yellow tailed hawk being chased off by some much smaller birds. It was similar to the redtailed hawk here. Later on, there was a colony of swallow's nests plastered to the side of a bridge. Red-wing blackbirds flitted through the vegetation on the bank. The river took us through an up-scale neighborhood of beautiful log lodges. Not a sound came from any of them. Where were the people who owned these places and what did they do for a living to be able to afford such summer homes??? We kayaked through a golf course and Rob retrieved 23 golf balls. A few golfers along the banks were glad to see that their balls weren't the only ones to plunk into the river! Onward we went and finally the Little Deschutes joined the Deschutes and we could see the bridge which heralded the end of the journey. The guys loaded up the kayaks, paddles and life jackets and we headed back to Sun River with only a few blisters on our hands, no sunburns and lots of memories.

Crater Lake

2005-07-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

The reason for our recent trip to Sun River was a promise to Kerry's friend Tim to take him to see the plethora (Ha! good word!) of stars in the night sky at Crater Lake. Now, any one who has been away from the lights of civilization can attest to the brightness of a clear night sky. It's not just the Big Dipper, or a star here and there, but an absolutely spectacular show - a blanket of stars. Something like this, but a photo isn't the same as seeing it in person. So, off we went to Crater Lake, a National Park which was made many years ago (geologic time, that is), when Mt. Mazama blew its top. The crater that was formed filled with the most gorgeous blue water anywhere. The top, or cone, can still be seen and is now known as Wizard Island. Kerry, Tim and Rob hiked down to the lake and took a boat ride, but Jack and I, being not in tip-top physical shape, paid attention to the sign which the National Park Service had erected at the beginning of the trail down, warning of dire consequences for those who were not in the best condition. Here's more photos from the web. While Kerry, Tim and Rob took the boat, Jack and I went to the visitor's center and lodge. Our plan was to have dinner at the lodge and stay around for the ranger talk and the stars, but this was not to be. Lo and behold, we found that only those staying overnight at the lodge are allowed to eat there! The only other food in the entire National Park was a hot dog stand in the parking lot that closed at 5 pm and the campground store with its assortment of canned beans. So, although we were not able to achieve our original goal of seeing the stars, we had a fantastic day. Tired and happy we headed back towards Sun River, a BBQ dinner and a nice soft bed.

Over the River and through the desert....

2005-07-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, I'm always looking to escape the sage brush and summer temps, especially when it is to a place like Sun River, OR. It's the ultimate resort! Restaurants, shopping, bike baths, swimming pools, golf, tennis, horseback riding and all kinds of adventures (from spa treatments to wilderness trips). And so, recently we trekked through the sage brush, across the mighty Columbia River, past the wheat fields and a few towns that time seems to have forgotten, to a different kind of desert. OK, so there is sage brush and there are high temps, but at least there are several varieties of pine trees and manzanita bushes and great views of snow covered mountains, which make it quite a bit different then the desert of SE Washington. This area of Central Oregon is known as the high desert, and there is no better place to learn how to appreciate it then at the High Desert Museum right outside of Bend, OR. And no better place to enjoy it then a condo at Sun River with a big crowd of friends and family. What better way to wake up then by taking a short bike ride to the village and grabing a mocha and aomething sweet from the bakery? Then it's back to the condo for a big breakfast and the newspaper. Hmm...shall we relax and read or go on an adventure? Off to the lava beds or the ice cave or just sit by the pool? Perhaps shop at the village market for the BBQ tonight, with games for the kids afterwards. It's vacation time and everyone is relaxed. Heck, even the turning circles, those traffic frustrations, seem to work at Sun River......

Sun River

2005-07-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we are off to Sun River, Or for a week of fun and adventure, biking, kayaking, visiting Crater Lake and seeing friends and relatives. Three cheers for summer!

Oh, where, Oh where...

2005-06-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

has suegee gone?
Oh where, Oh where could she be?

With summer here and lazy days,
Her mind has decided to flee!

One track mind

2005-05-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I didn't think I'd make it through the first week of the diet, but thanks to a lot of help from the man upstairs, the scale has started to budge. I've made it through the headaches and general fogginess of the first week or two and am down about 10 lbs. Now I feel great and I'm continuing to make progress with exercising. Never mind that rice cakes are my new best friend - I can stand the taste of "styrofoam" (with a hint of salt) if it means progress!

Livin in the Diet Zone

2005-04-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

I've finally decided to get serious and have joined the ranks of fellow fatties trying to slim down. Signed up for the PRISM diet plan through church. The first 6 weeks cost $45 (reasonable) and come with readings for every day to keep motivated and a strict diet of no sugar or bread and a calorie count of 1200/day. Meetings are once a week and each week there is a videotape to view. Now for a mocha and bread addict like me, perhaps you might wonder, "Why this program?" Well, me too! I have to admit I almost wimped out and didn't do it, but a fellow inductee offered me a gift certificate to Anthony's if I took it on and succeeded. WoW! That was all the bribe I needed! I'm happy to say I got through the first week with no cravings (but I did have a terrible headache one day) and (best of all!) have lost 5 pounds. That is incentive enough for me to plunge onward.

Training with Maya

2005-03-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

Bought a great new program called YourselfFitness. A computer generated Jennifer Lopez look alike (minus the booty) is the personal trainer. You type in all your profile and take a fitness test and she makes up a program for you. You can pick the focus: weight loss, upper body, lower body, cardio, flexibility. She suggests duration and number of days a week, but that too is adjustable. So is music and setting. Along the way, she is encouraging and if the program is too much for you, she will adjust it for next time. She'll even make a diet for you, depending on how many calories a day you want to consume. Rob and I started yesterday and really enjoyed it. We'll try to keep on going!

Volcano Cam - Try this

2005-03-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

Mt. St. Helens has recently rumbled back to life after a nap of almost 25 years. Uncle Sam has obligingly placed a camera facing the crater so that we, the taxpayers, may keep an eye on it. Go here to see if it's smoking today. (And, yes, I am having fun linking things of late).

What's in a Name?

2005-03-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

To find out the origin and meaning of your name, click here. For what it's worth, mine means "Lily". No wonder spring is my favorite season!

How brave are you?

2005-03-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

Click here to find an interesting site that delves into what you may or may not want to know: how long is your life expectency?????? After answering questions about the usual "Do you smoke?" and "Do you drink?" and some other questions (some very personal ones, I might add!) , I happily punched the enter button, hoping to come up with Age 93 or some such. After all, my grandma lived that long. The number I got back was so low, it stunned me!!!!! Apparently, I have collected so many bad habits in my time on this earth that I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel! So, if you're brave, or young & thin, go ahead and try this site. Me? I'm going off to ride the stationary bike for a few (hundred) miles.

Happy Spring!

2005-03-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

It's a balmy and sunny 70 degrees here today. Yesterday, Jack turned on the sprinkler system (a month early) to find the usual variety of gushers and leaks that need to be fixed. He also bought a wood rocker at his favorite store - Harbor Freight Tools. After testing it out, I deem it perfect to enhance the ambience (aka laziness) at Camp Garvin. Anybody who has been there will tell you about the relaxing state of mind that overcomes a person there. (Unless you are riding the quad with Rob, then it is interpersed with moments of panic!) Anyway, happy sunny day. Sunny=happy. There must be some little icons that portray that in pictures.

Also, thanks to the Bellinghamsters, I found out it was National Craft Month. The perfect time to finish an embroidery pillow I started (dare I admit this?) 30-some years ago before I left the nest. Nothing is impossible! And the great thing is, the blues, yellows and greens have come back in style and perfectly match my new bedroom decor! Next craft project: I found a great ceramic basket with metal handle and bought really colorful gerbera daisies to put in it. That will really brighten up the office.

Langley, WA

2005-02-24T14:56:00.000-08:00

On the east side of Whidbey Island is a great little village named Langley. Lots of wonderful shops, views of Saratoga Passage, and the mountains on the mainland. We're going to the 21st Langley Mystery Weekend. It is a murder mystery with characters played by local folks. Clues are collected and characters questioned. Who dun it? Kind of like a live game of Clue. Did I mention good food and the weather is supposed to be perfect?? We're staying at a small beachfront cabin with hot tub, fire place, etc. My idea of perfection. Rock on!

Off to Bellingham

2005-02-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

Heading across the deserts and mountains of Washington today to go diagonal from our south east part of the state to the extreme north west corner (not too far from Canada). There we will visit the Bellinghamsters and see what's new in there lives. Hope for sunny weather. Plan to look at areas for possible retirement, as Jack takes the big step in April.

You go, Sir Paul!

2005-02-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

When the Beatles first came to the US in Winter 1964, they were held up by many adults as an example of the decline of western civilization's youth. (What were they thinking with that "long" hair? How decadant!) When they admittd smoking pot before their audience with the Queen and got into eastern religion with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, well for sure we were all doomed. Was that Shea Stadium concert in 1968? I asked my Dad if I could go. Definate NO followed, with no room for discussion. Further decline followed when John married Yoko and held the "bed in" in NYC, and what about that naked album cover??

It is with a humorous chuckle then, and a gentle smile, that I watched and sung along with Sir Paul during the Super Bowl half time show. You go, Sir Paul! Now you're the epitome of gentility and civility! Not a dysfunctional Jackson family member in sight (that is, unless you turn to CNN). Peace!

Best Kitsch Ever!

2005-02-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

A plug for James Lileks, author of the book "Interior desecrations: Hideous Homes from the Horrible 170s". Who can resist a title like that? Especially when the book cover is orange and avacado green with a hint of harvest gold! Certainly not those of us old enough to actually have lived through this time period. Heck, my first apartment (1973) had orange shag carpeting, orange counter tops in the kitchen and orange drapes!!! It was brand new and the latest thing! The book contains 176 fun-filled pages of "eye-jangling photos in full color that actually appeared in well-regarded design magazines of the era" with comments by the author. He's a humorist at the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

While you are checking that out at Amazon.com, be sure to look at his first book, "The Gallery of Regrettable Food" (inspired by 1950's cookbooks). My favorite is the erect wieners standing proudly in a pot of beans. How'd they do that? (Okay, maybe I don't really want to know.)

Of course, James has a site (Lileks.com) with a zillion different cultural oddities: funny dog pictures, ads from the entire 20th century (including a diet consisting of Mazola corn oil and little else) and lots more. Enjoy!

Marvelous Minestrone

2005-02-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

Saute in oil in a large pot:
1 cup chopped onion
2 minced garlic cloves

Add these spices: 1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil

Add 1 cup each: diced carrots, sliced celery, sliced zucchini, chopped tomato

Add 2 cans of chicken broth
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can tomato paste
3/4 cup uncooked elbow macaroni OR shells

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Great with some grated cheese on top and crusty french bread (but then, so is anything!)

Cheesy Goodness

2005-01-30T20:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a yummy stuffing for celery sticks or other vegies. Also goes good with crackers.

2 cups of cheddar cheese (grated)
8 ozs cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup plain low fat yogurt

Mix together. Can also add green onions or chopped walnuts or unsalted sunflower seeds
From: Healthy Cooking on the Run

Pathetic Statistic

2005-01-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

In conference with a high school guidance counselor today, found out that over 40% of the freshmen class at our local high school has at least one F on their report card. Is this alarming to anyone???? In a town that has probably a much higher percentage of college grads then most, what does this say about our society? Said counselor says Video games/TV are a huge problem, creating kids that have to be constantly entertained. Other factors: one parent families/parents on drugs/parents who don't care. What has happened to motivation and a desire to get the good things in life? Or does this generation have the good things and figure they will always have them? How does one motivate students that just don't care? I'm not on a rant here, just truly concerned. You know the old adage, you can lead a horse to water , but you can't make him drink.

Desperately seeking...

2005-01-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

Help! We're in the middle of some Tri-City gray days here and I'm desperately seeking sunshine!!! Tri-City gray days induce: crabbiness, lack of energy, need to keep a light on in the house all day, desire to hibernate under a warm blanket, taking naps, sitting in front of the pellet stove, and wanting mochas and chocolate (Oh, wait a minute, that happens every day). Basically, it is feeling bearish without being able to hibernate until spring comes. Help!!! Desperately need handsome prince to take me away from all of this.........................

Another great old house blog

2005-01-10T04:19:00.000-08:00

Came upon another great old house blog. This is an old victorian being rennovated by a couple in Richmond, Va. They have great photo walking tours through their neighborhood. Like a lot of neighborhoods in big cities back east, theirs is an eclectic mix of old homes ( some rennovated, some ghetto, some trashed, some abandoned and boarded up), interspersed with empty lots (from houses that burned) and a few curious structures where no one remembers what they might have been used for. It's a great study of a neighborhood, once respectable, that has gone through hell and is on the rebound. I'll post the link.

Cape Horn Blog

2005-01-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

Old/Victorian homes are a favorite hobby of mine. I love watching all those rennovation shows on HGTV and daydreaming about having the energy/money/knowledge that it would take to rennovate one of my own. In fact, it all started with "This Old House" on PBS about 20-25 years ago. I recently found a letter they had written thanking me for writing to them about the show. Hubby doesn't share the dream, however. His comment is "Over my dead body". So, Kerry was wandering around blog-land the other day and found a blog where I can rennovate vicareously. It is called "capehorn" and is the blog of two guys that are rennovating an old farm house in upstate New York. Lots of pictures and horror stories and $$$$ signs. I'll try to list it in my links. Thanks, Kerry!

Political Correctness come full circle

2005-01-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

This morning "Dear Abby" had several letters from deaf people in her column. The main point they made was to get help for children as early as possible if a hearing impairment is suspected. However, the last letter stated that many deaf people do not consider it a handicap or impairment to be deaf. Therefore, they should not (said the letter writer) be referred to as hearing impaired, but should be referred to as "deaf" or as "having a hearing loss". What a refreshing attitude!!!!! Now can we get rid of some of the other gobbledy-gook that permeates our language today???

Rite Aid Woes

2005-01-04T16:46:00.000-08:00

For many years, I refused to shop at Rite Aid because of the bad/untrained attitude of the staff. It has been so long, I don't even remember the details. Within the last year or two, I decided to give them another chance because a new store had opened by us. First thing I noticed is that, like many new stores, the layout was designed by a marketing genius who decided that if the customer feels like a rat in a maze, this must be conducive to spending more money in said store. Instead of being laid out so that one can walk up and down or go straight to the back of the store (where the pharmacy is), one must instead walk willly-nilly down off-angle aisles, hoping to arrive at the pharmacy by some stroke of luck. Jack skirts this problem by sticking to the outside wall and not walking down any aisles. The second thing I noticed is there is still no customer service, or people behind the cash register that even give said rat's ass about the customer. Third is that the last perscription filled there was several days short of what was supposed to be in it. Since some meds cost well over $1 a pill, this can be costly to the customer! Said shortage problem was made right by the pharmacist with nary a coment on his part and definately not even a "sorry for the mistake" leaving me to believe that this was not an unusual occurrence. New way for companies to make a profit???

How's this for lame?

2005-01-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

I bought a new diet scale, but haven't resolved to use it!

Bought a 2005 "at a glance" schedule book. Will it help me stay organized??

To resolve or not to resolve

2004-12-31T13:32:00.000-08:00

That is the question. Whether it is better to make resolutions knowing I will not keep them or start the new year with that wonderful sense of beginning over with a clean slate (which may even last a whole day or two). Whatever works out, I definately do plan to enjoy the weekend before having to get into the routine again on Monday.

Slacker on Board!

2004-12-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

OK, OK, so I've lost consciousness for more then a month. Don't buy that? How about I've been vacationing in Thailand? Had a tour of duty with the Army? Been busy recounting votes for Washington's govenor (whoever that may be)? Writing up a review for the book club? (Ha!) Nothing so dramatic. Just caught up in the usual Thanksgiving/Christmas rush of materialistic free-for-all: buying, addressing, stamping, wrapping, chowing-down, present exchanging, carol singing, partying, good-will-to-men extravaganza called the holidays. A great time was had by all. Now it's a typical bleak, cold Tri-Cities winter day and reality is starding to descend. Darn it all! Note to self: New Year's Resolution: Be a Better Blogger!

Swapatorium

2004-11-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Kerry, discovered a fun blog (see links) called swapatorium, a mixture of flea market, antique store, and garage sale finds artfully arranged into a blog. Check it out and enjoy! (And yes, Kerry is the same Kerry who won the "Identify this Food" contest.) To see Kerry and Zandra's blog, go to Bellinghamsters.

More Gems

2004-11-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

1. Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
2. Quoting one is plagiarism; quoting many is research.
3. I'm not a complete iodiot - some parts are missing.
4. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
5. God must love stupid people; he made so many.
6. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
7. Consciousness; that annoying time between naps.
8. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
9. Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it.
10. Wrinkled was NOT one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up.

Gems from Gene

2004-11-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

1. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't!

2. I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

3. I work hard because millions on welfare depend on me.

4. Some people are alive only because its illegal to kill them.

5. Don't take life too seriously; no one gets out alive.

Dreary Days have arrived

2004-11-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

Hate to be glum, but it looks like the dreary days have started in Richland. Usually they start around Nov. 1 and then we do not see the sun until February. We got a little reprieve this year. Time to turn on as many lights as possible and light the pellet stove in the evening!! Sometimes I feel like a bear: hibernate under the covers with a good book and come out in the spring time. One thing that does help is a garland or two with those little twinkly white lights strung around. I made one with fall leaves for the entry way. After Thanksgiving, I'll put up the Christmas one. I'm also going to make a seashell one for the bedroom.

Election Day

2004-11-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

Ah! Finally the day has come and now we can vote and get this thing over with. Away with all the signs cluttering up the landscape, all the political bashing ads, all the posturing candidates. I have to admit that it is the first time in my life that I did not vote for a presidential candidate, although I did vote for other positions. That feels really weird, but I just couldn't bring myself to vote for either of the two main candidates. I voted no on all the issues presented on our ballot, too. If that qualifies me for a one-way ticket to curmudgeon-land, well then, so be it. Bring on Thanksgiving! We're in need of a holiday!

PSIf you want to read about a guy whose right there in the thick of things in DC, pop on over to beFrank's blog in my Links.

Goodbye to the Pleagle on the Tadpole

2004-10-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

Last weekend at Camp Garvin, the boys were busy piloting the dirt bike and the quad around when one stated he wanted to go "to the tadpole". After a few blank looks and a few questions (You want to go where??), we figured out he meant the totem pole, that unusual landmark that welcomes all to the development. After a bit, they returned with the news that the plane on top of the pole was also part eagle. (A combination of the state's Indian and aeronautic history, perhaps?) It was promptly nicknamed "the Pleagle." So, it's with sad hearts that we bid goodbye to the pleagle yesterday. With nightly temperatures getting down towards freezing, it was time to close up camp for the winter. It was a day of drizzle with short periods of sunshine. In damp sweatshirts and wet gloves, tracking fallen leaves, we went about our chores, daydreaming of pumpkins, Thanksgiving at Cannon Beach and Christmas. When will we see the pleagle again? Perhaps for a day in the winter when snow is all around? If not, well, spring break isn't that far away...

You know you've been driving too many hours if..

2004-10-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

You stop at Sun Mart because the espresso stand is closed and you tell the clerk the coffee tastes as good as Starbucks and is a lot cheaper......

For miles you follow a sports care going 80 with "I see slow people" and a radioactive sign painted on the back of it...and then pass him 'cause he's going too slow. (Needless to say, it is no big surprise when he gets off in Richland.)....

You start calling the driver in front of you "the Bozo in the Benz" because the outline of his balding head looks like a silhouette of the famous clown...

You actually see the shocked expression on the driver next to you as his left rear window explodes into glass fragments. No telling what hit it....

You pass numerous cop cars and don't even bother to slow down...

On the one hand, you start calling every slow driver in the left lane "a little old lady", but on the other hand, you fear that some day you will be among that number....

The worst sound ever......

2004-10-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Stopped at Ray's Golden Lion for Mongolian BBQ dinner the other day, and in the process was subjected to absolutely what must be the most torturous sound on the face of the Earth. What could possibly assault the ears in such a manner, you say??? That would be the sounds emanating from the bar. That's right friends, it was Karaoke Night!!!!! Now I realize that this fad has probably long ago passed on in the civilized world, and a good thing that is, too. Here in the boonies though, it apparently still has some life left. Mercifully, I've blocked from my mind most of what I heard, but I do remember some Country and some Rolling Stones. Now anyone who thinks he's Mick Jagger has to be certifiably insane, but Mick Jagger after 2-3 hours of drinking???? Oh my aching head! It can best be described as cats fighting interspersed with periods of humming. We were laughing so hard, we couldn't even chew! Luckily, we were almost done with dinner when it all started and were soon able to hightail it out of there....

Thanks guys!

2004-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the "welcome backs"! And I thought nobody cared! Magz-love your blog. My goal is to someday get pictures into the blog like you and beFrank. Although my desert isn't as pretty as yours. Just lots of sagebrush and tumbleweed. Been here for 26 years and now I'm on the "4 year plan". (Goal: escape to Bellingham when son graduates high school). (Now, if son will just cooperate a little bit!) Kerry and Zandra: see you soon!

Where does the time go????

2004-09-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

Creative writing hasn't been on my mind lately, as you could probably tell! What little bit of creativeness that I do possess has been spent on big time (or in Jack's thinking, big money) redecorating of our master bedroom and den. Got rid of all the very, very old (OK, would you believe late 70s, early 80s?) carpeting and put in new (beige with a fleck of colors) carpeting. Very cushy and pleasing to the toes. Rob ripped out an old naugahyde (remember that stuff??) built-in couch in the den that looked like it belonged in my boss's waiting room (He's a dentist.) Now we have a combo TV room/library/desk for bill paying room. Lots of storage space in the closest, as we cleaned that out too. (Lost count of how may boxes of books we pulled out of there!) In the master bedroom, we re-arranged furniture a bit and are still waiting for the new bedding, pictures and drapery rods to arrive. Oh, and we painted both rooms and the hallway too. So, it's been a lot of fun, but now I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend in Bellingham with Kerry!

Your government is here to help you!

2004-09-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here is another fine example of rules that the government gets involved in making to protect ourselves from ourselves. Went to Goodwill this morning to drop off some things, including curtain rods that we had used for draw drapes in the bed room. No can do. Goodwill no longer accepts them because the government says they are not up to safety standards. I.E., a child could hang him/her self with the cords. Never mind that these rods did not have cords hanging (the cords were fixed at both the bottom and the top to run parallel to each other). Yes, perhaps there is some way a child could conceiveably get injured with these rods, but couldn't that occur with most anything a child comes in contact with? When was it declared that Americans no longer had any common sense at all??? Did I miss that?

O Ringo, say it isn't so!

2004-09-10T04:05:00.000-07:00

One of the dubious delights (?) of not sleeping well is being able to tune into late night television. Who should pop up there but Ringo Starr, doing (of all things) a Time-Life Music infomercial selling a musical collection of The First 10 Years of Rock N Roll. What in the world would possess this musical icon of the late 20th century to do this? Please tell me that he doesn't need the money! I kept expecting Colin and Ryan of "Whose Line is it Anyway" to be the announcers....

Thought for the Day, courtesy of Alice Cooper

2004-09-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

"If you are listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you are a bigger moron then they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons."

Computer's Back

2004-08-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Computer has been gone getting reworked for a few days. But now it is back and seems to be doing OK, except that Jack hasn't been able to load my favorite game (Welltris). I seem to be going through a draggy spell. Anyone have some words of wisdom?

What do you mean it counts as a meal?

2004-08-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

A few years back, when the coffee craze had really hit the northwest, a patient of ours who owns an espresso stand, brought us a treat when she came in for her dental appointment. Now, I had not drunk coffee in many a year, but a few sips of that yummy mocha was all it took to get me hooked! Going out and bringing back mochas became a favorite thing to do when we had some spare time. Gradually, it really took over and now we are trying to back off a bit! But that doesn't mean we haven't branched out to include all sorts of frozen concoctions in the hot weather. Now, I knew, in the way back of my mind that these were probably pretty similar to milk shakes as far as calories goes. But I did a really good job of denial. Until today. Lo and behold, the paper printed an article with some of the calorie counts. It was rather astounding, for example, a 16 oz Caramel Frappucinno with whipped cream has 430 calories. A 16 oz. Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino with whipped cream has 600 calories and 17 grams of fat . (Sorry, Zandra!) Yikes! Perhaps if I just didn't eat breakfast and lunch, I could still enjoy my mochas?????

City Buffet

2004-08-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

New Chinese Buffet opened in Richland fairly recently. Heard some good things about it, so we decided to give it a try tonight. Oh my! It should be illegal to walk inside one of those places unless you have not eaten for 2 or 3 days! (Or, as Rob said, unless you have Ghandi-sized yourself.) Rows of long tables with everything imaginable, and some that isn't. The first table consisted of a strange combination of sushi and dessert (of all things) . I decided my sushi-eating Bellingham friends would enjoy it, but I left it alone. (Was too full by dessert time to partake in that half of the goodies.) Moved on to the main course: three tables (not including the Mongolian BBQ table, which I'll leave for another time.) The first thing I noticed was the amount of crab dishes. It was Bubba in Forest Gump all over again, with crab instead of shrimp. Alaskan King Crab Legs, crab wontons, crab puffs, seafood delight, fried crab - just to name a few. Followed by many kinds of shrimp, salmon, fried fish and fried squid. (No, I didn't have that.) One dish was fried shrimp, with the shells, legs and eyes still there! What is the ettiquette on this??? Does one eat the black beady little eyes or leave them staring up at you on the plate??? Chicken, boneless ribs and the usual rice, noodles and soups type entrees were also available. The most unusual we found was called a Bum. It looked like a peach, with little green leaves even, but was actually made of some type of marshmellow or merangue confection. Inside, where the pit would be, was chocolate. We managed to wheel ourselves home without the aid of wheelbarrows and are now pleasantly recovering. The trick, of course, is to eat just enough so that you are not in danger of exploding later on in the evening!

More Vs.

2004-08-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Driving in the East VS. driving in the West

Drivers run over pedestrians toes VS. drivers stop for pedestrians crossing street

Parkways and Turnpikes cost money VS. Freeways are free

Drive 2 hours and see different states VS Drive 2 hours from my house to get anywhere at all

Drivers carry cell phone and lead pipe VS. Drivers carry cell phone and Starbucks coffee

SUVs and expensive cars are popular VS. SUVs and pickups with guns or fishing rods in rack

Campers, trailers virtually nonexistant VS. Campers, trailers clog right (sometimes middle) lanes

Food (One of my favorite subjects!)

2004-08-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

Vacation at the beach food vs. Home food

My sisters did all the cooking (Thanks guys - it was great!) vs. I cook (sometimes)

yummy thin sliced fresh cold cuts vs. packaged or pre-sliced cold cuts

family owned pizzerias vs. corporate pizza

family owned deli sub sandwiches vs. Subway

$5.99/lb lobster vs. $25/lb lobster

Home cooked vs. Costco

Vacation Musings

2004-08-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

Differences between the mid-Atlantic and the Pacific Northwest:

The Shore vs The Coast

Hills vs Mountains

Bikinis at the shore vs Sweatshirts at the coast

Trees vs Sagebrush (eastern half only)

The beaches are "groomed" every morning by truck with big rake attachment vs
The beaches are full of tree-sized driftwood and remains of campfires

The beaches are posted with long list of "Dont's" vs The beaches are sometimes posted with "In case of tidal wave, seek higher ground."

Must pay for badge to swim vs Free

Lifeguards vs No lifeguards

ice cream man at shore vs kites at coast

Off to see the Atlantic

2004-07-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

Going to visit family in New Jersey for a couple weeks. See you mid-August!

Revisiting Fryin' Time

2004-07-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

A ways back I mentioned the old saw about "hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk." Well, today it was 104 degrees. What better time to give it a try? Big Jack, being an engineer, told me all the reasons it wouldn't work. Darn if he wasn't right! I hate when that happens.

What were they thinking?

2004-07-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Exciting (hee hee) news from my part of the world. Local paper front page article (I’m not joking here) screams “100-pound bomb given to Goodwill”! Goodwill employees were contemplating what to do (CD holder? Book shelf?) with the 4 foot long “really cute crate” that had been dropped off several nights earlier, when some one actually read the words stamped on the crate. “100 POUNDS” on one side and “CLUSTER FRAG. BOMB” on the other. Opps!! Sure enough, inside the crate was a “3 ½ foot tall bomb with a rotor and a string dangling from it.” Police were called and moved the device to the Richland landfill. Personnel from the 53rd Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit later decided it was an “inert training device”. Police decided to keep it “for educational purposes.” Wonder if they gave a monetary donation to Goodwill for it???

Contentment...

2004-07-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

In this fast-paced day and age, there’s a lot to be said for the sheer joy of contented moments. Be it a place, a room, or a state of mind, a body needs to be able to contemplate life. A place to rejuvenate and be calm. A place to be inspired, to make plans, to converse with God.

Our place is a little camping spot close to Cle Elum, WA. Not quite an acre in size it is located in an area which contains an eclectic mix of year round homes, vacation homes, mobile homes and trailers. Some are kept very nice and some, well, aren’t, but that’s a different story.

On entering the development, one is greeted by a most strange and colorful sight - a large totem pole. No Northwest Indian ever carved this pole. Perhaps it was the work of a frustrated Seattle Boeing engineer, because the top carving is a jet plane! No evidence of Washington’s other big employers though - Bill Gates’ Microsoft and Starbucks coffee!

Following the road to the right (15 miles an hour, please!), one can look to the left and see a lake inhabited by ducks and perhaps beavers. Strangely enough, I’ve never seen humans in, on, or fishing from the banks of, the lake.

After following the road for a short while and then taking a left, one arrives at Camp Garvin. There is a grassed parking area which contains lots of wild flowers in the spring. The camp is shielded from the road by a band of trees in the front and on the left side. (Our own personal woods - pure joy to a desert dweller like myself.) On the right side is our neighbor’s small cabin. Take either the long or short driveway and one arrives at a grassy area bounded on the far side by a shallow stream and more trees.

Here is where the serious relaxation begins! One can choose a lounge chair in the sun, the picnic table on the porch, or even the comfy couch in the small (252 sq ft!) cabin. Future options in the planning stages are a deck and a hammock. All that’s necessary now is sunscreen, a cold drink, and a good book! If it gets too hot, just putter over to the stream and step in. Instant popsicle! (A very interesting sensation of having your feet in ice cold water, while the rest of the body is sun warmed and a bit sweaty!) If more serious cooling is needed, stroll to the banks of the nearby Yakima River.

For more activity, there are always board games or yard games. Or, our friendly hounds will be happy to accompany you on a walk around the neighborhood. Excitement is available in the form of an ATV with a very willing teenage driver. Hang on tight!!!

As the sun sets over Camp Garvin, out comes the BBQ. Delectable cuts of steak or marinated chicken from the butcher shop in Cle Elum are cooked up and enjoyed. Next on the agenda is a campfire with marsh mellows roasted to sticky perfection. Perhaps games, Nintendo or a DVD movie will follow. (No cable TV, though, that would spoil things!) Then it’s off to dreamland. Ahh...”roughing it” was never so much fun...

Fresh Strawberry Pie

2004-07-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

This is outstanding! Found at www.chilipaper.com

6 cups fresh strawberries
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 9-inch baked pie crust

Mash 3 cups strawberries in large saucepan with fork or potato masher. Add sugar and cornstarch and bring to simmer over medium heat. Stir until thickened and clear, 3-5 minutes. Blend in lemon juice. Remove from heat and let cool. Add remaining 3 cups strawberries. Spoon into crust. Chill. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

History and Good Eats

2004-07-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

Just a few more words on the McMenamins empire and then it’s on to other things. Here’s some info on a couple more of their historic properties.. Grand Lodge is located in Forest Grove, OR. It was opened in 1922 as a Masonic and Eastern Star Home for the aged. In 1926, a children’s cottage was opened for orphans, but that only lasted a few years. Apparently, “relations between the elderly and the children” were “less than harmonious.” Imagine that!! Grand Lodge became part of McMenamins in 1999 and opened in 2000. Like the other historic properties, it has a hotel, restaurants and bars, movies, music and other events. To tempt your palate, the breakfast specials this week include eggs benedict florentine and cheese blintzes. Lunch/Dinner customers have a choice of grilled steak burrito, muffuletta wrap (ham, salami, provolone and olive relish in a four tortilla), buffalo burger and vietnamese style hoagie.

Kennedy School is located in Portland, OR. It opened in 1915, when the area had few people but lots of rabbits. (There was a law that made it illegal to shoot rabbits from the street car.) Many of the students lived on the outskirts of the city, without benefit of electricity, water, sewer or telephones. The school was much used in the community, until its last year of 1974-75. Although there were many opinions of what should be done with the facility, the McMenamins were able to acquire it and start renovations in 1997. In October of that year, the “original principal’s bell was rung on the front steps...to herald the old school’s new beginning...” Some choices from the menu: for breakfast, lemon ricotta pancakes with marionberry sauce or a breakfast banana split. For lunch or dinner, try Tandoori chicken salad, pizza marguerite or a pesto veggie calzone!

Olympic Club Hotel & Theater, built in 1913, is located in Centralia, WA. It has 27 renovated guest rooms, a theater pub and the New Tourist Bar. Next door is the 1908 Olympic Club saloon, pool room and cafe.

Hotel Oregon, located in McMinnville, OR, was built in 1905. Among its many incarnations are lodging, “restaurant, lounge, dance hall, bus depot, Western Union office, beauty parlor, soda fountain.” The rooms have been named after some of the colorful characters that used to frequent the place.

The newest McMenamins will open at Old St. Francis School in Bend, OR this fall. Former class rooms in the circa 1936 building are being turned into “lodging rooms, a pub, brewery and bakery, movie theater...and a Turkish bath -style soaking pool.”

So take your pick, but where ever you are in OR and WA, a McMenamins probably isn’t too far away!

White Eagle Saloon

2004-07-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

As promised yesterday, here’s some info on another fine McMenamins establishment. This is the story of the White Eagle Saloon and Hotel at 836 N. Russell in Portland, OR. Now, I immediately go for the history of the place, and a wild history it is!. At its beginning back in 1905, the Eagle was nested in a working man’s neighborhood that included the docks, railroad shops, factories and mills. It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to picture the place! Lore has it that the Eagle even had its own trolly stop. When approaching it, conductors would call out, “Next stop, Bucket of Blood” because of all the fisticuffs that occurred there. Apparently, besides “pool, cigars, poker, liquor, beer” there were other recreational opportunities that included a brothel (upstairs) and an opium den (downstairs). By the 1970's, hippie long hairs and working men coexisted. The place has moved into the new century as a good place to “dance with a beer in hand.”

For those gastronomes (is that a word??) out there, the specials this week range from chicken (lemongrass, caesar wrap or Athens wrap) to stuffed burger (beef, jack cheese, green chilies, avocado mayonnaise). Soups (different one each day) include beer cheese potato and African peanut chicken. Cheap eats from 4-6 pm. My favorite title there was Scooby Snacks (mini-corn dogs with mustard and ketchup). Yum. I’m getting hungry. Too bad Portland is 3 ½ hours away from the Tri.

McMenamins

2004-07-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

A recent AP article in our local paper (affectionately, or not, nicknamed "The Tri-Cycle Herald") highlighted the careers of Mike and Brian McMenamin down Portland way. Since 1983, the brothers have been building an "empire of pubs, theaters and hotels" in Oregon and Washington. Their idea is to build family-friendly establishments, not just bars. The 53rd McMenamins will open this fall in Bend, OR.

Now, I love a good meal (and, rarely, a glass of wine) as much as the next person, but I salute the brothers today for reasons other than gastronomic. They are heros of mine for their historic preservation ethic. That's right! The brothers have sunk a ton of money into keeping history alive in the Northwest.

Take, for instance, the Edgefield in Troutdale, OR. This establishment was constructed in 1911 and for 50 years or so served as the Multnomah County Poor Farm. For 20 years after that it was a nursing home. It closed in 1982, and lay rotting until the brothers bought it in 1990. Over the next 4 years, they transformed it into "a European-style village, including lodging, a pub with a move theater, fine dining, a winery, a brewery, distillery, golf course, gardens, vineyards, artwork, meeting, wedding and banquet space, and special events year round."

Now, I have to admit, that the one time we strolled around the grounds, I did have a bit of trouble reconciling the laughing, happy crowd with the depressing former uses of the complex, but maybe I was just a bit melancholy that day. Be that as it may, tomorrow: the White Eagle.