Jimmy Johns Jones and I'm a princess

I seem to have a Jimmy John's Jones lately. At least once a week I'm up for a #2 (Big John - it's roast beef - real stuff not that fakey pressed crap, lettuce, tomato) no mayo/sauce (that's oil and vinegar for you un-educated ones), no cheese. Plus I'm liking their ice tea. I take my Tervis thermal with the screw on lid and pack it full of ice so it will last all day. Then I sit on a bench in the shade on Locust Street and read a publication or my smart phone. Good stuff!

At least I had my nails done at Princess Nails tonight. The last couple times I've had them done (except for that time in Creston, when Curtiss Bird's Mom did them...) the gal that did them kinda ignored me, and spoke her native tongue to the person next to her. I imagined her saying mean things about me...

Tonight - that nice young man, Tran, made me his princess. Because there were no other customers I guess. I got an extra long leg rub. He ask about my family. He turned on the chair "massga" - he couldn't quite say massage.

He couldn't quite get rid of my callus from walking...little toe - okay they may not look the best ever, but he was nice dammit!

Tran is Vietnamese and has lived in this country six years. I could understand nearly everything he said! He was a sweet kid. He kept asking if he was doing okay - I was a little embarrassed. Then he went a little crazy when he painted artwork on my big toe. Like I said - slow day. There has been construction on 22nd Street and I think it's taken its toll on the biz. So if you get a chance, go see Tran - nice guy.

Last night I shopped at Von Maur at Valley West. It's an upscale department store that employs piano players for its Baby Grand Piano. I love hearing them play. I feel rich shopping there - and mostly one needs to be! I did buy an ISU shirt Monday night. Plus I checked out the sandals in the sale room, but didn't see anything. But never fear - Bertha Bruise got her some Merrills at the Fit to Be Tied store.

I always think of Odie when I see this doormat.

I want to lick your face - look into my eyes

Today I was in Subaru Heaven. Got the oil changed in my 2009 Outback - the waiting room was full, and one fam even had a baby. So I sat outside on a gorgeous summer day and gazed upon the selections. I drooled a little.

The Agony and the Extacy

I decided to name the bruise on my arm Bertha. After all the tumor got to be Imelda the shoe loving tumor. And a surgeon took that out. Dr. Schulte gave this bad boy to me getting rid of scar tissue. It's been 2 weeks already and I'm venturing a guess that Bertha will be around at least another 2 weeks. So I bought some shoes tonight. Bertha is now the color of eggplant and she likes shoes.

I saw Dr. Schulte today for a total of about 5 minutes. He said - more therapy. Yippy. Then I went to therapy at Penn Med where I had a different therapist today - Tim. Geri is on vaca. Lucky for her - bad for me. Tim is a tool of torture. I cried. I don't have a problem with stretching to new heights and lengths. I'd just like to have had more warning. I had to ask for a tissue for the tears running down my face. I have to see Tim again in the a.m. For future appointments - I'm going to make sure they're Tim Free. I don't mind being pushed - and others, the women have done it. Just not so abruptly.

After my appointment I had another appointment - this one with my masseuse. My lady of mercy Christine. She was quite gentle, especially around Bertha. She said rubbing a bruise can cause blood clots. Chris sounded upset when I told her of my treatment. I might have been a bit dramatic. The massage was wonderful! Best thing that's happened to my body for a while. I do hope that I'm over the hump when it comes to pain. Fingers crossed!

Friends, Corn and Recovery

I think NBC network execs are knuckleheads for delaying showing exciting Olympic events until the evening. It's the weekend! We all know Michael Phelps lost and that hunky other guy whose name starts with L (I can't ever remember it) won. L guy has the body of a god...

Dumb move NBC. Because we were busy watching this:

Sunset looking NW from Creston

at Bobbie and Jeff's house. So we didn't even get to watch the race - though we already knew Phelps didn't medal.

B & J invited McKims, Eckhoffs and us over for delish grilled burgers. All we had to take was a bit of beer and some sweet corn. Roomie Joan and her husband Billy and sis Jeanie (they're both Jeff's sisters) stopped by later too. It was a nice night, with thunder and lightning all around but alas no rain. Fun chatting with good friends.

As I said, Paul and I were in charge of rounding up sweet corn for the night. We heard the Gates fam lost their 2nd batch of sweet corn - drought? raccoons?. The Gates family tent is where I usually get my sweet corn in town - right on main street. So yesterday we had to track down the Kiburtz stuff at Casey's South. It wasn't all bad though because their sales kid, while no Olympic swimmer, was rather built. Gee there seems to be a theme here. Am I becoming a dirty old woman? Perhaps reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" got to me more that I thought.

But face it, romance and hanky panky has been the last thing on my mind with this shoulder. It's felt a bit better at times. But is still plenty painful. My bruise is now deep purple. Like the song.

Bruises must be from doc grasping my arm to break scar tissue in shoulder

I see the surgeon tomorrow and will find out just how I'm doing compared to others who have experienced frozen shoulder. I'm not sure how hard to push therapy. It seems to be more painful if I work it hard. If the scar tissue will eventually go away anyway I would prefer to be painfree. After some 3 full months of constant pain, I've about had it. But when I see some of the others awaiting Physical Therapy at Penn Med, I feel like such a wimp! I am sick of taking pain meds too. I'm done whining now.

Good thoughts and prayers to my sissy Cindo as she recovers from partial knee replacement #2. She had to be on oxygen for a while post surgery, but she got rid of extra O2 now. She even went to the grocery store yesterday but said it about wiped her out...

Cindy had her left knee done in April, Right knee July!

The Bullock girls are on the mend! We text each other often - kindred recovering spirits.

I almost made the Olympics

In my own mind anyway. With all the Olympic talk lately, I can't help but turn on way-back machine...back to when I competed for Atlantic's Swim Team. The first time was when I briefly went with my big sisses as a real youngster of perhaps 8 years of age. Coach Drew Pellett needed somebody - a warm body who knew strokes - to help fill out the team for a home meet.

So Susi dragged me along. Cindy could have never talked me into it - she who said things like, "your hair looks like Captain Kangaroo's". But I'd do it for Suze! I must not have been a future Michael Phelps at that time...because she didn't insist I immediately join the team permanently.

Why you can hardly tell this body has a sex...

The next time I joined, I was around 12. The town mothers must have been looking for ways to occupy us during the summer because they dutifully took turns delivering us to Sunnyside Pool so Coach Drew and later Clark Pellett could put us through practice paces and wear us out. With swim team we had a summer purpose in life! I remember being so excited when I got my official team Speedo - black with a gold stripe down the sides. It was during those modest times when The suits were designed with a discrete panel across the crotch so womanly parts were disguised. But man - in those Speedos the boy's junk was pretty much on display. 

Atlantic was part of the Southwest Iowa Swim Association (SWISA). Other towns included Villisca, Clarinda, Creston, Shenandoah, Hamburg? I'm not sure who else. It was like a conference and we had a schedule where we had dual meets and big meets with multiple teams. There was a pool in Council Bluffs we frequented a lot called Town & Country. Shen's pool was huge, and it had a "dock" in the middle. I remember going to AAU meets in Jefferson and someplace in Nebraska - we had to swim 100 meters (like the Olympics...) at those meets instead of our usual 40 yards. That was a killer! I started out strong but faded.

Unlike school sponsored events there was no bus. Moms usually got stuck driving us in - and the vehicle of the era, the station wagon. Tylers, Deters, Rodgers and Bullocks all had wagons - so we piled kids and gear in. Our team even had a tent similar to what people use now for tailgating - to keep us out of the sun.

A lot of people had this era wagon...

Here are some of the cast of characters on the team - Relay teams varied depending on age groups. Back then it was 11/12, 13/14, and 15 and over
Mike and Pat Allen
Ron Tisdale
Ned Becker
Ted Simpson and Todd Pellett - it was fun to have a group of guys to irritate and entertain us
Clark Pellett
Barb Hutchinson and sister Diane - Barb was our backstroker, Diane a couple years older - not sure what she swam.
Marci Merrick - mostly freestyle, but good at everything. Her sis Cindy was a couple years older. Those four made up a great relay team!

Sally Rodgers
Robyn Bredensteiner
me
Sue Tyler
Sherry Allen
We had some awesome relay teams!

Jennifer Deter who was a bit younger - not sure who she was on relay teams with...

Besides relays, we were entered into a certain number of individual events - there was a limit of course to the number each person could be in of course. My specialty? Breaststroke. Perhaps it stunted the growth of my breasts...

I was good. At least in our little corner of the world - and broke the pool record for breaststroke at Sunnyside for 11/12 and then 13/14. Of course it was for 40 yards so meant - nothing - really. And I had one big rival from Council Bluffs, Margaret whom I enjoyed nipping time and time again. But my fave was racing in the relays, and putting our team in the front position. Very satisfying. One time a stroke checker tried to disqualify me. He said I'd used an illegal scissor kick - AS IF! Pat Bullock and Betty Lou would never allow me to do that. He backed off. I must have been a big mumbler as my name was announced as "Lisa Black" (instead of Bullock) quite often over the loudspeaker as the winner.

The other thing I remember is the fun we had hanging with those other kids - during those rides, during the days (we'd take comic books, play cards and just talk) and then after the meets we'd get to go out to eat. Back then there weren't any McD's. We went to places like Berning's Motor Inn in Creston for a burger and malt. Our sainted parents had to deal with rowdy kids for hours at a time - I began to understand what that was like after have children myself. I'll never forget Sue Tyler bringing jello packets to dip her fingers in for energy before racing for a "secret weapon". Green tongue freaked opponents out! A predecessor to goop that marathoners use?

My swim meet years were essential to forming the person I am today. Thanks to the Pellett family and matriarch Betty Lou for all they did for swimming in Atlantic! And here's to you fellow swim team members. We share a bond that can never be broken. I'm thinking of you during the Olympics!


,

I work with a bunch of losers...

I'm not kidding! Once a week or more I (and everyone else in our building) gets an email stating: Found, in the (location) a (item). Claim (location).
Here are some recent examples: Found, in the 4th Floor Women's Restroom, a ladies earring. Claim at customer service station. Those DNR people lose stuff all the time!

Now even though I work on 5th floor, and have not frequented said restroom, I find myself tugging on my earlobes to make sure my earrings are in place! Or if a watch is found in the men's restroom - I still check to see if mine on my arm...who knows? Those little buggers can move under their own power sometimes!

I wonder what it was like around DNR/Wallace Building before Gore invented the Internet? Did they do announcements like school - on an Intercom system? "Attention Everyone! Keys with a Budweiser can opener keychain have been found in the parking ramp." Or "Snack Bar will remain open another 15 minutes" Oh sorry - that's Cheech and Chong. They do a monthly safety announcement during a staff meeting - we pause briefly to allow them to finish, but just like when I fly, I don't really listen.

But I'll keep reading those lost item emails. Even when I'm working at home on Fridays.

A couple other funnies to brighten up your week. I don't know about you - but it's been kind of a long one for me. Physical therapy, slow recovery on the shoulder, post vacation. You all know the drill. This too shall pass. Plus, when I see all those other people at PT, I think my problems are small!

Sorry if it's a lil off color for ya - it's my landfill language...

Texting AND Talking whilst driving

Cloth snap together quilted towels found at Scott County Recycling Center - cool!

And this means you daughter and husband 'o mine. I met today with Laura Fiffick of the Campbell Institute and Kathy Morris, Executive Director of the Waste Commission of Scott County. I've known and worked with Kathy for many years, first as peers (kinda - she's got a lot more, shall we say assets than I ever did in Creston) and now in our DNR/stakeholder relationship. She's a go-getter and her organization is a can-do one, and highly respected across the state. Plus she's warm and has an infectious laugh - and that girl can talk, rapid fire!

I got to know Laura in 2009 when she worked for a consulting firm that DNR hired to work on one of my main projects - Environmental Management Systems (EMS). I quickly grew to like and admire her. Laura had experienced setting up an EMS at Dallas and the Port of Houston. So she had real life experience, that quickly won over all of those going through the Pilot year of training in this new and somewhat complex system.

Late in 2011, Laura dropped the bomb on my that she was leaving GS&P, the consulting firm, to take the job of a lifetime - with Campbell Institute - a nonprofit for Environmental Health and Safety. She has to commute from her home in Dallas several weeks a month to Chicago, plus travel sometimes around the world to do this. But it sounds pretty cool. I believe Exxon Mobil is one of the funding companies for this non-profit.
Link to Campbell Institute website

Since safety is one of the top things the organization studies, Laura explained that they have adopted a no texting or even talking on cell phones (distracted driving) - even hands-free while driving policy. She said that is one of their major pushes because studies have shown time and time again how dangerous this activity is - even when your hands aren't engaged because your mind is. Books on CD don't count because they are not two-way conversations. Discussions with others in the car aren't the same because when people are with you they stop talking when road conditions deteriorate, unlike phone companions.

People who worry about getting skin cancer or whether or not they should get Botox should think a lot harder about whether or not they should be talking on the phone as much as they do while driving. And that commercial with the guy who has the head injury from texting should be ample to stop texters...never mind "It Won't Happen To Me." It can! And you're a lot more likely to die from that than other things many of us worry about.

I was listening to a good book on CD (John Sandford - try him) on the way to Davenport. Even though that activity is not dangerous according to Laura, I took the wrong turn in Davenport. But I've now been here enough I found my way to the recycling facility - a few minutes late but hey, I got to listen to the book a little longer! The Butler did it...haha

I enjoyed a nice lunch catching up with those two ladies, and then a working afternoon talking about environmental health and safety. I'm proud to be in a job that takes care of people and the environment! And I'm lucky to know two great women like Laura and Kathy.

Bits and pieces

Ach! The hot, dry summer in Iowa is something else. It does remind me of 1988, back when I worked at First National Bank in Creston. That was the last time it was this dry and hot in the area. I would help stuff bank statements with Sandy Hysell, Cathy Lacina, Pam Grey and others. Cathy, whose former farmed, would talk about hauling water for livestock. We didn't even have Jud then! Seems so long ago.

The yards in Waukee are torched...this is Joan's

I had breakfast with my homegirls this a.m. It was nice to see everyone, though Diana and Bobbie were not there. Nancy, that stud muffin, rode her motorcycle (a Harley) with the Hells Angels (her husband Jim) to bike night in Winterset. She was very proud of herself - her longest ride yet, as she just got the two-wheeled cycle of death (as my mother called them) a few weeks ago. Paul has to report to me each time she drives by on it. It reminds me of his father George Goldsmith, how he used to enjoy keeping up on the neighbor girl's love life.  Nancy got coaching from Chuck, our waiter, on how to waive when one rides a Harley. Two fingers, ya'll.

My physical therapist took pity on me today and went easy. Oh I had to use the instrument of torture - otherwise known as "The Pulleys". When I bought it last week, I joked with Lori the receptionist that I had read 50 Shades of Grey and the contraption would be very useful...HA! Like I feel amorous with this shoulder pain.

My arm is bruised from the manipulation

I took a stroll - not a Deb Peterson power walk around the neighborhood tonight.

This was after I replaced the front right headlight in my car. That's right. I'm a motorhead. As I drove out of my garage this a.m. Charlene Dunphy flagged me down and told me I had a headlight out. Dang...not another one! I love my car, but it goes through lights like nothing else. Anyway after work I cruised to NAPA, thinking...well they'll put it in. Wrong! So I got out the instructions at Joan's. I had to take the air intake out. Holy Snikes! Good thing Joan came home to help me put it back in! But it works - let's hope it points in the right direction.

Joan and I just watched the end of Uncle Buck one of my all time fave movies. John Candy you left us too soon!

Goodbye CB on to Portland

We had to say goodbye to the Kohans and Cannon Beach Saturday morning, along with our temp home near the beach. Betsy and Wayne plan to rent this place next summer since the house they've been renting is on the market. I hated to say goodbye to Betso - I don't know when I'll see her and the rest of the clan again next.

Then the Lefebvres, Goldsmiths and Kara packed into the Grand Caravan (amazingly we fit!) and headed for Portland. Gar pointed us to the Marriott Courtyard downtown and we dropped off everyone and the luggage. Paul and I had to take the van back to the airport Alamo, which was a drag. We took the Max - light rail back, for $2.40 a piece. Very clean and efficient!

The Max

We hopped off downtown right near a shopping area, and ran into Jud and Kara in an overpriced Nike Store. Paul found something at the Columbia Store. Downtown Portland is an interesting place. There seem to be a lot of homeless people there and we were approached by a number of people for strange purposes - ultimately for money. It was a bit un-nerving for this Midwestern gal. That said we enjoyed the eclectic experience - the shopping, restaurants, bars etc.

 Saturday night we started out at Herman's - a place Bolder had scoped out. It's got a frost bar - a strip of frost where you can set your drink to keep it cold.

Amy takes a photo of our drinks on the frost strip at Herman's

Jud in his "Big Jud's" shirt Bobbie got him in Boise with Cindo at Herman's

We couldn't decide where to eat that night, so we ended up sitting in our motel room. We had pizza delivered by bike. It was delish! Kara, Jud, Amy, Paul and I sat and chatted until 10 or so. Then Kara and Jud went to see the sights. The rest of us hit the hay.

In the morning Jud and Kara took off in a rental car for Seattle. Kara works for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, providing medical software training. This week she worked in Seattle. How convenient! Jud rode along with her on the drive to Seattle and flew back to KC that afternoon. We were so glad they were able to spend a few days with us. We hugged Jud goodbye about 9 a.m. and off they went.

Amy didn't have to fly out Sunday until later that afternoon. It was misty when we woke up, but we were determined to trek to Voodoo Donuts - a place we'd seen on the Travel Channel, and scoped out online. We were lucky that due to rain, the line of people craving sugar and starch wasn't down the block. Amy had to order the voodoo guy donut but she couldn't eat the lil guy, cuz she can't eat stuff with faces. (I didn't remind her that at one time a hamburger had a real face...). The donuts weren't really anything special but the place was interesting due to the S&M/Voodoo theme.

The voodoo donut in the middle was filled with red jelly that oozes when you poke him with the pretzel sticking in his chest

We did a bit of shopping that day. We found a "dancing girl" theater with the name Stewart above it. That's my Grandma Zora Stewart Bullock's maiden name. So Cindo and I kicked up our heels there.

I can't get my leg up too high...plus no boobs. I'd make a terrible dancing girl

At one point we walked by the Roseland Theater - I saw this:

Rock On - Foghat was in Creston this summer!

We had a nice brunch/lunch and all too soon it was time to walk Amy to the Max light rail and hug her goodbye. It will probably be a fall football game before we see her again. That's what is hard about having kids who live far away.

That night I was crabby. End of vacation, sayin' goodbye crabby. Cindo told me to snap out of it and I did my best. Of course I knew that when I got back I'd have a day of work and then my shoulder manipulation to deal with. And Cindy had her second partial knee replacement in Vail, Colorado. She had the first one in April. What a couple of old has-beens we are! We've been texting each other about Physical Therapy and pain levels...

We wandered around Sunday night trying to figure out what we were hungry for, finally stopping at an Italian joint, in the lounge. The waitress saw us hesitating and did a tremendous sales job. She had us a "best ever lemondrop". Or perhaps that was me...It was really great food and we had a nice time! Our hugs in the elevator that night were teary. We'd had a great week together - love those guys!

Photo from earlier in the week of two of my fave peeps

Paul and I had to get up at 1:45 a.m. and a car was awaiting for a trip to the airport. We needed to be there too early for the cheap light rail. So it was $50, but worth it (the driver had a difficult to understand accent and liked loud country music). Flights went smoothly - through Seattle, with a couple hour layover back to Kansas City. After a frantic night of unpacking and laundry then packing again it was back to DSM early Tuesday.

What a lucky girl I am to have such a fab family! I love each and every one of them and thank my lucky stars and that higher power for all my great fortune. Not stuff, but relationships.

Now on to healing this nasty shoulder. Very painful. No fun - don't ever get one! Thanks to all for texts, cards and encouragement. Mendy even dropped off cookies. The only way they'd be better is if they contained painkilling drugs! 

Good News and Friday

I've been remiss not to mention the good news we had from Bolder (Brian) Lefebvre, who has spent the past year battling prostate cancer. The damn stuff had escaped the prostate. So the poor guy has been through not only awful initial surgery to remove the thing, an infected testicle also had to be removed, chemo and radiation - that finished up in May. Boldie just had his PSA re-checked and those numbers came back very good! So we are happy about that. Prayers and other good thoughts that all the evil cancer cells have been banished from his body.

The 3 bro-in-laws chat

Friday a.m. Susi and Sher plus Cowgirl the Wabbit Wuving doggie too off for Grand Junction - with an overnight stop somewhere in Idaho. We were sad to see them go! I'm not sure when I'll get to see Sus again...a wedding in the future? No engagements yet...

That morning was hike day for Paul, Amy, Jud and Kara. They walk up a peak overlooking a beach and the town of Manzinita. I had the bad shoulder and am in awful shape, so decided to pass. Several of Betso's kiddos went along - they all packed into the Kohan Suburban. Sounded like a fun trip.

Besides - I'd gotten a text from my Atlantic friend Julia Hoilien. We had seen her whilst in Colorado over Memorial Day and discovered we'd both be in this area during this week. Her family was in Cannon Beach! We made arrangements to meet at Haystack that morning. Betsy and the doggies walked there with me.

Jules and me

Jeff, Marcella, Zetta and Julia - beautiful fam!

Once Pablo and the chillens got back, we were off to CB to shop a bit and we and Cindy and Bold ate at the Driftwood. We saw a person with a pet duck with a lil duckie diaper. It takes all kinds!

Yep - one's a dog, but one's a DUCK!

That night our gang - 17 or so in number had reservations at the Lumberyard. Nope it's not like the one in Des Moines (where REAL men go to get wood...). This one was an okay restaurant. We started out at Warren House - disturbing Paul and Bolder's last night with their honeys...the waitresses there who had grown to love them.

Cute little place...Bold makes friends wherever he goes...

Jud and Kara had stopped by the candy store on their way home from shopping that day...and on a little walk down memory lane. (Jud remembered buying funky jelly beans when we were here in 2002 - he was 13), he bought these Jelly Beans. Under the influence of a couple drinks I had the bad idea of trying two of them...and of course instead of Pudding I got Dog Food, and instead Strawberry Jam, I got Centipede. That taste was in my mouth even after I brushed my teeth!

It was a fun night out and the waitresses came and sang to Betso! We got a lot of mileage out of the birthday gig.

Sad that it was our last night in Cannon Beach - the week was going so quickly as vaca always does!

The Kids are here! Betsy's Surprise 50th!

Wednesday was an exciting one, because the Goldsmith children were flying in that day. Paul played golf in the morning. Then we took off for Portland after lunch. We wanted to pick up a couple things at the shopping area near the airport - thank goodness Garmin showed us the way! Portland traffic is horrendous. As we started out in Cannon Beach it was 58 degrees and by the time we got to Portland it was around 90...but it was a dry heat.

I scored some new sandals at Marshall's - sparkly silver for Keith Peterson's upcoming wedding! Paul and I got to check out the IKEA store - a new experience for us. It's a Swedish discount shopping experience with furniture, other home supplies - even food. I got jube jel fish for Cindo and some gluten free chips for Amy.

Then it was time to head to the airport. Amy's flight was first, followed by Jud and Kara's a half hour later. All were on time, which was a relief! Hugs all around! The day stayed light nearly all the way back to Cannon Beach, even though it was around 10:30 p.m. by the time we got there. Bolder was the only one up - everyone had a beer then it was off to bed.

Paul is choosing

The next day was Cousin Breakfast Day! We had invited all the cousins to our place for a gathering before my Cali Cousins took off for the next leg of their trip. They were camping - I know...brave with triplets, huh!?! Susi and Sher had scored at a Farmer's Market in CB earlier in the week - they'd gotten Marianberries, blueberries and other great fruit. We got rolls at the delectable Cannon Beach Bakery - so hard to choose which thing to take home!

Susi, Andra, Leslie, Karen

In addition to the Cali Cousins, my Portland cuz, Leslie Morehead was there. She's my Mom's brother Herbert Leslie's daughter. I know - weird that my mom named her daughter the same name. And I have a niece Leslie. It's a great name! She's lived in Portland for many years - 40? And she and her hubby Bob bought a condo in Astoria just north of CB a couple years ago. She's really intelligent (must be a fam trait haha, and interesting). Leslie works as a consultant in computer software.

I was glad our children had a chance to talk to my cousins - after all they're the same generation as Andra. It's important to me that they have an idea where they came from. I'm sorry Amy and Jud didn't get to know my Mom much, since she died when they were so young. They have met Leslie M. a few times though, which is cool! We did a cousin photo before they left. Steve and Andra are bloggers too! I'm so glad the cousins made time to see us during our gathering.

Susi, Betsy, me, Cindy, Steve Legarra, Leslie Morehead

Susi overlooks cheese production

Cindy and I crash the cheese van

Then we were off to Tillamook to see the cheese factory and the Cape Meares to see the lighthouse. We've made this trek each time I've been here. It's pretty cheesy (yes that's a pun) but fun. I love factories and these folks do it right. I believe the gummi bear factory in Creston should do this - it would be a gold mine for everyone, especially the town of Creston! We took fam photos out front after chowing down ice cream.

The Kohan clan - Wayne is home with the doggies

The Goldsmiths with Kara

Cape Meares is so beautiful - but some knucklehead vandalized the lens of the lighthouse so we weren't able to go up in it as we had before. Kara, Jud, Paul and I walked up to see the Octopus tree too.

How would you like to see this mob walking towards you? On the way to the lighthouse...

Jud and Kara by flag along fence

Checking out the Octopus Tree

After we got back, we had lunch at Moe's - the restaurant right near our home. The Bloody Marys there were good - lots of olives, beans etc. in them! I had fish tacos, yum! Susi and Sher joined our family. It was fun to talk to Sher about writing - she's into journaling and has written the life story of a man who had a terminal illness. This blog is similar to journaling.

That night was burger night! We grilled at our place (by we I mean Bolder and Pablo). Cousin Leslie came back this time with her spousal unit Bob, who is retired from USDA Forest Service. He traveled all over the world in that position. It was another evening of beverages, food and good company.

Plus it was Betsy's Surprise 50th Birthday! Which is really August 27th (1 day before our 30th Anniversary). I think she would have been surprised had not my sissies been a little loose lipped the night before after champagne when we were in Portland picking up the cherubs. Bolder brought the Pope Hat along, and arranged for Sarah and friend to scatter flower petals. Susi carried an old medallion Mom had either given to her or she inherited - from England dated 1970. I had prepared a slide show, but was sad the music didn't come through (We Are Family!). It was fun. Welcome to 50 sis - it beats the alternative!

It made me very happy to have Amy and Jud there with us.