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.

The next couple days in beautiful Oregon

Ah - the life of vacation. One could get used to it!
Paul played golf with Wayne, Susi, Sher and my niece Sarah and her friend Allison on Monday. Cindo and I walked on the beautiful beach with Ziggy and Kirby the wonder wieners. I wished Odie could have been there - but of course, she would have hated both of them! She's a kind of a bitch. Like her mommy...

They're full brothers from the same litter. Ziggy is the chunky one (or
big bones as I used to say about Moki)

We headed towards Frank and Joe, the two big rocks south of our beach home. It was quite refreshing out - breezy and low 60's I'd say. Quite different than the 100 degrees back home in Iowa. I love talking to my sissies while walking - the time and the miles go quickly. I had fun trying out my new camera.

And they didn't even plan to coordinate outfits...

See the starfish peeking out from the water?

When my sisters and I get together it's pretty much non-stop talking. We don't tend to talk on the phone a great deal in between seeing each other. I'm not much for phone conversations. We email updates. But when we're together - watch out! Our kids love to sit and listen to the stories.

Bolder with Paul Kohan

When we got back from the walk Bolder, Cindy's husband and Paul Betso's oldest (one of the twins) son were ready to head to the "town" part of Cannon Beach for some Clam Chowder. Paul drove us in his new Mazda 3. Much to his parent's delight, Paul has a job! He's a proud graduate of the tough Computer Science program at the University of Washington in Seattle. He'll be working for White Pages, helping online clients get the information they're looking for. He was wined and dined by lots of employers before selecting that company. So if your child has computer aptitude - there are jobs!

It was fun hanging with Paul as a newly minted adult. We ate at what ended up being our go-to place The Driftwood. Decent Bloody Marys, the best chowder (according to chowder eaters), and good other soups, and really good prime rib sannies.

That night Betso made her famous pasta dish with heavy cream and Italian Sausage. We hung out at our house with its big kitchen, living room area. Cowgirl on bunny patrol was the entertainment. I didn't stay up too late though - still catching up for the night before and our long day of flying!

Paul Kohan went with Paul, Boldie, Cindo and me the next day too, on our trek to Seaside, the town just north, where we ate lunch at a new brew pub in an old jailhouse. The tangerine brew was good. Shopped at Safeway and selected a big chunk of salmon for grilling that night. Bolder is griller extraordinaire! He made some of it blackened and some just seasoned. Plus he did sweet corn on the grill. Paul G. was his helper. They spent each afternoon together at the "Raven" just up the street, chatting up the cute bartender chicks and having a few bevvies. They've become such buddies!

That afternoon I invited our cousins over to our place to visit a bit without the "mob". Cindo and I were the only ones home at the time of their visit. It was my cousin Steve Legarra and his wife Karen, along with their daughter Andra Speck and her husband Zach plus their triplets! Amelia, Abigail and Ethan - going on 4 years old. I read Andra's blog and am amazed at how much this fam does with a busy group like this. They all live in California - Andra and family in Rocklin and her parents not far from there. Steve is my Aunt Dorothy - my Mom's sister's son. We didn't know them well as the miles between Iowa and Cali were a barrier.

I'd gotten to meet Steve, Karen and Andra in October of 2010 when they trekked here tracking down genealogy information.
My Blog about our 2010 visit

I think she got marshmallow in her eyebrows...success!

I was happy to finally get a chance to meet the little guys! They're quite the characters and I was glad our CB home came complete with kid's books. They quite enjoyed those. I invited them to our Smores fest later that night! A new experience for the kiddos.

Cindy helps the triplets daddy supply smores

Nothing like a fire on the beach - we don't get this in Florida

These were a busy couple of days - just what the doctor ordered. Beach time, a few bevs, relatives, good food, and laughs galore. The environment is great!
 

Shot into a Cannon

Cannon Beach! Ten years ago Betsy suggested our family get together at her family's favorite spot, Cannon Beach, Oregon, just a few hours from their Southeastern Washington home in Kennewick. We took her up on it! The year was 2002.

I was working at the landfill in Creston then. Dad was married to Pat2 - Mom passed away in 1997. We invited cousins and aunts and uncles from both sides of our family - Bullock and Morehead. And they all came! Even Aunt Dorothy, Mom's sister, who almost never traveled from her home in Sacramento due to health problems. That year I took 2 weeks off and we drove out. We went again in 2008. And now in 2012. This year we flew into Portland.

Paul and I had to leave Creston at 2:30 a.m. to get to KC for our flight and Lefebvres had an early wakeup for their Denver trip too. We met Cindy and Bolder in Portland on Sunday July 8, where we had rented a van. We stopped at Super Target for some food and a few bevvies but Betsy had picked up a whole cache of booze from Costco, so we didn't need much. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from there straight west to Cannon Beach.

Does this make us look like alkie cruds?

Susan (AKA Suso/Susi) had arrived the night before with friend Sher and her dog Cowgirl. Susi's husband Jim Alvillar was busy with a trial and couldn't attend. Susi and Sher drove in from Grand Junction, Colorado, a two day trip. Cowgirl was crazy for the bunnies that were all over the area. The house we rented for the week was great - huge open room upstairs. Betsy and Wayne's rental was across the street but they're going to take the one we stayed in next year.

As soon as we arrived we went to Warren House for lunch. A banana and 2 airline cookies doesn't cut it and I was starving! A Bloody Mary and a rockfish po' boy sannie started out my vacation right! 3.5 Moki heads.

Paul, Cindy and I took a beach walk right away. It was quite chilly (60 degrees?) for people used to 90+ degrees. Quite refreshing really. I love that beach. To the right of our beach entrance (our house was just a half block from the beach) is Haystack Rock, and to the left, Frank and Joe. Those are two other rocks that we like just as well at Haystack because they aren't as busy with tourists. Frank and Joe aren't their real names - that's just what my nephew David Kohan called them when he was little, so it stuck.

Bunnies look like they were once pets...

Betsy, Wayne and a few of the kids and friends got there a couple hours after we did. Pizza was the evening meal. We were entertained by Cowgirls bunny antics.

I enjoyed meeting Sher - interesting woman, a writer like me! Cowgirl is on the lookout!

Of course Lemondrop martinis were in order. And I was in luck because Susi is the originator of the fab recipe. So she and I made them together. I love my sisters so much! Even without alcohol. They are smart and caring. Of course they're funny. We have all that history - and we love each other's children and spouses. That's quite a bond when you think about it. To grow up and have these separate lives, but come together seamlessly.

Bullocks rock! Just ask our husbands...
So that was Day 1.

PF Flyers



Me, Cindo, Susi, Bets - I think I evan stood differently due to the shoulder

When I was a kid, I thought new shoes had special powers. Perhaps that's why I love shoes so much today! Mom would take me to Brown's Shoe Fit for new tennies, and I'd get Keds or PF Flyers. When I'd get home, I just knew I could run faster and jump higher with them on. Like a super-hero!

PF Flyers

These last few weeks/months I've not felt like a super hero. Quite the opposite in fact...I have felt very much like each of my 54 years. Old. Elderly. And I don't like it! It's this damn shoulder...which started out feeling like a muscle pull, but progressed. By the time I went to the Doc, Sheryl Young, Nurse Practicioner, who sent me to Physical Therapy (PT). In my own mind I was convinced something was torn in my shoulder.

So when PT didn't help, I was depressed - using the arm less and less. I couldn't sleep due to pain at night - luckily I found Advil PM helped. But mornings were bad. The pain began to move down my arm. I went back to Sheryl who after X-Rays, referred me to a surgeon, Kary Schulte who diagnosed "Frozen Shoulder" or adhesive capsulitis. It doesn't sound bad - but believe me, pain 24/7 can get you down.

Unfortunately I couldn't get in to have Dr. Schulte manipulate my shoulder (crank on it to break the scar tissue that formed for some unknown reason) until July 18. So I waited it out through July 4 and then through my vacation in Oregon. I survived, but it was with a great deal of pain...and feeling old. Good thing I had my fam around to help distract me - more about that when I get a chance to write!

Yesterday Paul took me to DMOS - the surgical center at 6:15 a.m. for the procedure. The night before, thanks to Facebook, I learned that a couple people I knew - Mendy and Kara's Mom Renee had been through this procedure. So that helped ease my mind going in! They knocked me out for just long enough for Doc S to move my arm in ways it hadn't for quite some time. He said it popped 3 times! (Ick). He also shot it up with a steroid solution for pain, but it won't kick in for a day or so.

I woke up sitting in a recovery room chair. Severe pain under my shoulder blade - before I could help it, I started to cry. This got the nurse's attention very quickly and she brought me some Vicodin. Plus she put something into my IV. Crying is quite effective! I don't like doing it though. I feel I have a pretty high pain threshold, so it must have been bad. It took a few minutes but that took the edge off.

They wheeled me into the little room I started in and I put my pants on. I got instructions on going home. Then Paul came in and I finished dressing and talked to the doc briefly. Then off we went, stopping at HyVee for drugs. I was very sleepy and dozed on Joan's couch until nearly 1 while Paul ran errands.

Physical Therapy was at 3 PM down by my work. Paul loaded me into the car - though I was pretty alert by then. Angela was my therapist, a young compact woman. She was nice but instructions were to be aggressive so she had to force the arm at times. I told her to go for it, because I want this to work. I bought a pulley contraption to use at home to help with therapy, and got instructions for exercises to do. I'll be back at Penn Med for more sessions every day for 2 weeks.

So no running around with PF Flyers but I hope I'm soon back to regular workouts. My plan is to join a gym and get a personal trainer after I'm a bit more mended from this. The procedure hasn't gotten rid of my initial problem - my tendon in my shoulder is impinged. So I need to work that out. My arm is definitely sore today but I'm glad I can get it over my head!

My sis Cindo underwent partial knee replacement yesterday - her 2nd. She did the left leg in April. She texted that it was more painful than the first one. Yikes! Let's hope the Bullock girls are on the mend!

On a lighter note

I spent an hour and a half in the dentist's chair yesterday! I know...most people don't enjoy that, but I was so happy to get in to see the dentist. I had called just after lunch and Jan, Dr. Dave Buck's receptionist said, "come down right now." The visit was a result of a zinger I got when I bit down on some food Monday night when I ate supper at Joan's. I was chewing on some frozen steamed concoction that wasn't even all that crunchy.

I haven't had dental problems for several years. I'm just used to periodic cleanings and X-Rays. I was forty (14 years ago) when one of my retained baby teeth (I had 4 of them), finally gave up. I told my parents the Tooth Fairy owed me a whole bunch. And Dave pulled that sucker and installed a Maryland Bridge. (Evidently Iowa doesn't have a dental appliance named after it) Yesterday I reminded Dave that I haven't pulled it out with Milk Duds in several years. (I did that one year kayaking with Deb on the upper end of the Upper Iowa. I smartly put it into a baggie for him to re-install). I was shocked and peeved that the week before Pablo and I head to Oregon for my fam reunion one of my teeth decided to take a dump. And I wasn't even sure which one. Friday morning drinking coffee, that heat really got me!

Lots of other people I know were burdened with being at the dentist Friday afternoon. Bob Snodgrass walked by, and Dan Miller was in having his crown adjusted. (The one in his mouth) I didn't learn this through any violation from HIPPA. I know Dan and saw him drinking shots of Tequila a couple weeks ago at the Lobby. He was in pain due to a broken tooth. He ended up spending some time with us, and we got to hear some "Dan" stories. He's a great storyteller! I love it when he commands in his deep bass voice to, "Group Up!" That's when we know we're going to hear a good one! Small towns - gotta love 'em.

Dave figured out which tooth it was, jacked me up with a couple shots of Novocaine. Then he peeled a filling out and found a break in my tooth. Shazaam! He did some patching and grinding. I feel very fortunate to have a dentist who would make time for me like that. A vaca would be pretty miserable with a bad tooth!

Tomorrow morning at 2 a.m. Paul and I are off to Cannon Beach, Oregon. Can't wait to see my sissies! 

A week of sadness

Thea-self-photo

I got a call from Thea's phone Monday. I was surprised when it wasn't Thea on the phone but Jan Lesan reporting Thea was entering hospice at Creston Hospital. How quickly she had gone downhill from when I had just seen her last Saturday! I visited her Thursday. Deb called Friday afternoon to tell me that she passed away at 1:30 p.m.
Thea's obit - she wrote it herself...

I visited my friend Thursday at Creston's Hospice House, which had just re-opened after April tornado damage. I got to meet Thea's only brother, George and sister-in-law - they're from Harlan. I'd heard about them a great deal through the years. It was nice to finally talk to them.

Three of Thea's AEA friends were there too. Thea seemed to be resting comfortably, she didn't open her eyes while I was there. We stood around and exchanged happy Thea memories - I felt a need to explain how important she has been in my life. How Book Club friends were important to her too. Vidette did much of T's shopping and shared Thanksgiving with her this last year. Dianne took her to many of her appointments. Deb and I visited and helped as we could.

I told a couple stories from book club that I enjoy remembering. We always got off topic when discussing the assigned book - especially when it wasn't such a great book. That's one thing I enjoy about this great group of women. One time we were talking about birds. Baby birds. Thea discovered a nest of them on her big front porch.

This is Thea's awesome home with a great front porch

 Then one day after the eggs hatched, one chick had fell out of the nest. Thea - softee that she was, decided she'd place it back in. She put on gloves and gently picked it up, raising it slowly towards its siblings in the nest - when the remaining chicks all panicked and began bailing out! She was beside herself! The more she tried to help the worse it got - I can just see her now. Her telling of the story was very dramatic and humorous. We also had many a discussion about bats.  With "This Old House" Thea had to call the "bat" guy to help her rid her home of them. That topic always brought about some great stories.

Deb and I always chuckle about the time we read a book that had ghosts in it and Francie, who is prone to dramatics, thought her deceased father was reaching out to her through her DVR, each night at the same time. Francie is also a great storyteller but usually makes a long story longer. Thea said, "I think the company re-programs them then." Totally innocently, but bursting Francie's ghostly bubble.

Thea never married, but she'd had boyfriends through the years - some serious. In her younger years she was called Cindy, or Cynthia. But she changed it like others who, sometimes to the chagrin of their families, want to like their names. She wanted to be Thea. I bet it was hard for George not to call her Cindy...

I'm going on vacation this week. So I'll miss Thea's services. I guess I'm not all that sad about that...though she set it up herself and wrote her own obit a couple weeks ago. So like her, she took care of herself. She had Vidette read over her obit. The girl was preparing to go. I'm glad she's no longer suffering. But I'm sad for me. Until later my friend - enjoy the big pool wherever you are, with Oreo, your dog (I teased you by calling her Hydrox) and a good book.

On another sad note, an Atlantic classmate, Tom Sandhorst passed away. He had been diagnosed with bladder cancer just 3 or 4 weeks ago. He was married to another classmate Connie Swanson. Tom was the son of my piano teacher.  He had been a schoolmate since kindergarten. Tom was one of those guys who was a steady Eddie - never mean or loud, just reliable. Thoughts and prayers to your family Tom - a good guy!
Tom's Obit

Thea needs your help

Deb with Thea - healthier times

I visited my friend Thea yesterday. When I stopped at her home, I saw a van in the driveway and assumed another friend was there visiting too. So I knocked and went on in the side door as I always do. I'm sure my jaw dropped when I saw...or didn't see Thea in her usual spot (at least since her illness was diagnosed) *see information about Thea's diagnosis of kidney cancer and multiple myeloma - blog http://lgoldcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-brave-friend-thea.html

In recent months, the besides medical appointments Thea has become more housebound. So when I saw all her stuff gone ...my first thought was "Thea's been robbed!" But I knew I'd just spoken to her on the phone. So that wasn't it!

I wandered back out toward the voice I'd heard on my way in the door. I found Jan Lesan, Thea's good friend and Amy's former 7/8th grade volleyball coach. She was working around T's above ground pool. Jan explained that Thea had moved to Creston's Assisted Living building on Prairie Street. It made sense to me - when I'd seen Thea last she had just come back from the hospital where she had been placed on oxygen. I worried about her being alone in a big house all by herself.

Prairie View is very similar to the assisted living facility my dad lived in right after his stroke - very nice

The fact that Thea has so many good friends in Creston says so much about her. She's lived here just over ten years I believe. Her former AEA (employer Education Association where she was a social worker, which on a side note just blew down in the tornado this spring) co-workers moved her furniture to Prairie View. Book Club friends had been helping her get to appointments and with groceries. I've done a bit on weekends but need to do better.

Thea's room is lovely - in fact it's 2 rooms and a bathroom. She's got her fave things there and round the clock help if needed, which puts my mind at ease. I don't like the sound of her cough and lungs. She continues to battle the evil cancer with weekly chemo treatments. She's a fighter, that T!

I'm so proud that she's my friend! Of course as a social worker (and a good SW Iowa girl - from Avoca) she's all about people. So caring, compassionate and concerned about each and every student and person she ever worked with or for - along with each friend. And she's smart as hell.

But she needs your help again. Please put out those prayers, good karma - crossed fingers. Whatever you've got! Let's surround Thea with our loving thoughts and prayers. Thank you.