We have spent several more leisurely days here in Columbia. Janet, the girls, and I have ventured out on two or three shopping forays, and as expected, we encountered madness. Janet dropped us off at the mall entrance for Columbia Mall, and it was another half hour before we saw her again. That was after at least 20 minutes previous driving around trying to get a parking place.

Yesterday I treated the four girls to pedicures, and Janet treated us to lunch, so it was truly a girls' day out.

We have done some Christmas shopping, so we can leave Keith's and the girls' gifts here. I am all in favor of not having to mail anything to avoid supporting the U.S. Postal Service.

We are going out to Ft. Mead today to take a look at the FamCamp. We are thinking about driving the MH out here next spring for Sarah's graduation on June 3 and the covenants here where Keith and Janet live will not allow us to park it in front of their house. Actually, since they live on a circle, there really isn't room for us.

Sarah is working at Pizza Hut today from ten to nine. Where are the child labor laws? She worked last night so that is where we went for dinner.

Tomorrow is our last full day here. Janet is taking the day off, but I think Keith is working, and the girls have school. We leave about eleven on Tuesday morning. I see where it is 25 degrees farenheit this morning in Steilacoom. We are hoping everything in the MH was winterized as we thought. Time will tell.

I keep up to date with all of the happenings of the Ousey clan. I feel as if I know Gary's brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Catherine, since I follow Dennis' blog as well as Gary's. Actually Dennis' is a compilation of political satire, prose and poetry, in addition to the latest news from Winnepeg.

It rained heavily here last night, but since the guest room is in the lower level sans sight and sound, we were totally unaware.

Keep on blogging,

Ciao

Here I am, surrounded with our two wonderful granddaughters. We had an uneventful flight here on Sunday, and have just enjoyed our time with Keith, Janet, and the girls.

The girls had yesterday off, and only half days on Monday and Tuesday, although Sarah works about 3 jobs so we have seen less of her than Rachel. She is a waitperson at Pizza Hut, and works at a nearby furniture store. As soon as tax season starts up, she will be working also for an accountant. All of that while maintaining a very high gpa. She completed her first college application today for the University of Maryland. One down and several more to go. We are waiting for the application from the University of Washington. Guess what school we would choose for her?

Rachel is a busy social teen. When she is not around she is more than likely on the phone with someone or on the computer with someone. I'm sure she is destined to be an actress, she is very outgoing, and can be very dramatic.

Keith has taken some time off, although he did work last Monday. He was asked to fly to Florida for a meeting, and he said, "No, because my parents are here." So he was asked again if he would go if he were to go on the corporate jet. So rather than a very long day, or two days, he was outbound a little after six in the morning and back here on the ground about four.

We just finished a marvelous Thanksgiving dinner. I made tomato aspic since it is a favorite of Ken's, and I rather like it, but it was soundly rejected by the others. My only other contributions were dinner rolls and an apple pie. And we still have dessert to go!

Craig and Colleen are spending the day with some of the Kirkwoods. Dinner is at Cliff and Jordan's in Kenmore, and Linea is home from school. In additon to Cliff's parents and their friends, Curt and Cinda and Jerry and Lois will be there.

We have no specific plans for the next few days. I think the girls are planning to brave the crowds tomorrow, but probably not me!!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ciao

We did leave town for a total of about 48 hours. It was my desire to go to the wine country, which is a 4 hour drive each way, and after one day there, Ken felt the need to return home. He said he was worried about the pass, but I have to suspect he wanted to be home the day before the Apple Cup to be sure he was in place at 4 pm this afternoon. So we had a few hours to visit a few wineries in the Columbia/Yakima Valleys and to purchase some Washington wine to take to Baltimore tomorrow.

The snow level on Snoqualmie Pass was considerably lower yesterday than when we drove over on Wednesday, but anything that had been on the road near the summit was gone. You could see a bit of snow along the frontage roads that had been left by a snowplow.

Our flight leaves around nine in the morning with a stop in Detroit. So we will get to Baltimore by dinner time. I plan to do my Christmas shopping for the Baltimore Kirkwoods while there to save mailing packages. Besides, with two teen girls, it is just easier to be there to figure out what will work for gifts.

We have had sunshine and blue skies for the past 3 days, so I guess the threat of rain passed us by for now. It was very frosty when we got up this morning.

Colleen and I have joined Curves. They have a site in the complex where she works at Starbucks, and it is about a 5 minute drive from home. I'll meet her there at 3 today when she gets off work. The workout routine seems pretty easy considering the rewards promised, so we will see.

No results for governor yet, but I think the recount has begun. If the recount comes out as close as the original count, a matter of less than 300 ballots, then I suspect the losing party will be looking at doing something more such as going to court. It is claimed that a candidate who was ahead with the original count, has never lost to the recount.

Only 5 days left to buy your turkey!

Ciao

And now Christine Gregoire has pulled ahead by less than 200 votes..........I see a recount coming. And speaking of politics, with Colin Powell's resignation (read fired), we have lost the last (and only) bastion of sensibility and reason of this administration with regard to foreign relations. I never would have believed I would be saying that about a four-star Army general! Condie Rice is so much not her own person, but Bush's puppet, that we will see even more aggression and complacency; none of it in the right places.

The weather foiled Brian's efforts to come to McChord AFB yesterday, so we missed him both coming and going. We are in the midst of about a full century of clouds, fog, and rain. I don't think the forecast shows a glimmer of sun for the next week.

We have a couple of appointments today, financial planner and then a haircut for Helen, and then we will decide if we want to prep the motor home for a 2 or 3 day outing. As noted in the aforementioned paragraph, it will all be with rain and clouds. But I can sit, with a drink in my hand, and look at the stormy Pacific for hours on end! No need to bother with the grill and charcoal, but better be sure we have the wellies and oilskins!

Ken spent the better part of yesterday slugging away at the concrete floor in the basement to create a well for a sump pump. The entire town of Steilacoom sits on a sidehill that is full of springs, so when the rains come, there is just too much water to be absorbed fast enough. He is installing a proper automatic pump since we will be away for the first part of the year - the rainy part.

Better buy your turkey - Thanksgiving is less than 10 days away.

Ciao

As of yesterday, the governor's race was favoring Dino Rossi for about 3,000 votes. Yay! This is a nail-biter. The count is now down to pretty much the provisional ballots and those that were not signed (with volunteers seeking those voters to sign their ballots). And with both, it is impossible for the pollsters to hazard a guess as to which way they will go.

We were expecting Brian, along with a second plane, to be coming through McChord today on a cross-country, but it turns out that McChord is having a 'down' day that precludes any flying, so there will be no landing here. We are hoping we might still see them on their way back to Mt. Home in a few days.

We have been singing the praises of Tatonka Takeout here in Tacoma which is a little walk-up eatery that features buffalo burgers, and it was going to be the lunch stop today. This little 'hole-in-the-wall' is about the size of a good-sized living room, with one corner cordoned off for the cooking area. It takes a while to receive your order, but the wall are covered with photos and kitsch about bison to while away the time. There are about a half dozen tables plus a little bar at the window with metal tractor seats for stools.

Today is my friend, Elisabeth's, birthday so she and her son who is visiting from the east coast are coming for dinner. I dredged up an old recipe that was a mainstay for me about 30 years ago, but is still pretty acceptable, a chicken and rice dish embellished with mushrooms , bell peppers and light cream. The birthday cake is a sour cream chocolate cake with chocolate sour cream frosting.

Our Thanksgiving plans have changed dramatically from staying here and spending it with the Jerry Kirkwood family. With one small invitation from Keith, we were online booking tickets for Baltimore. We leave on the 21st and return on the 30th. The girls only have half days at school on the Monday and Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving, so we should have a little extra time with them. Janet works half days, and I'm sure Keith has some comp time coming, so we should see lots of everybody. When asked what we could bring besides good Washington wine, Keith answered that we could not bring tomato aspic. No problem, we'll make it when we get there, and Ken and I will eat it and enjoy it. I suspect he doesn't want to hear about mincemeat pie either.

The kitchen is calling me so,

Ciao

And so another week begins.....
We were able to see Sheila for a few hours yesterday. Her sister left around noon, so we picked Sheila up at SeaTac and brought her to the house for a few hours and dinner. She, Lisa, and the other squadron wives had a good time in Seattle. Sheila was a hero for suggesting the Pink Door for lunch. For the unitiated, it is a long-standing restaurant on Post Alley just above Pike Place Market, but it does not have a sign - just a pink door - so you have to be in the know.
We talked to Nolan and Brian on Saturday, and the boys were having quite a good time while Mom was gone - had had pizza at least once a day since Thursday with a promise from Dad for two more days' worth.
The upstairs shower saga continues, but we are getting closer. We placed the order for the fiberglass panels, and set the date for installation. We should have a working shower by the first week of December!!
I have purchased 4 Christmas gifts!! And not a clue as to where to go from here. And I have been collecting some holiday recipes, but haven't created a thing to put away in the freezer. there is still lots of time isn't there?
Still no governor for Washington, but it is looking like Christine Gregoire is holding a slim lead - darn, she wasn't my choice. This state has had enough of the democrats, bring on a republican!
Ciao

.....and the elections are over, even if we still don't have a victor in the race for Washington's governor. It looks like it could be a few days before that one is decided. I just watched John Kerry's concession speech, which was very much a class act. As I've said before, I am not enamored with either one; Kerry for not knowing what he might have done, and Bush for knowing what he has done (and not liking a lot of it).
We have been staying home and doing projects. Up until today, the rain and gray made one want to just hunker down inside, but we now have sunshine, and should have same for several days.
Sheila and several of the wives from the squadron are flying to Seattle tomorrow for a few days of shopping and being pampered at the Westin Hotel downtown. Her sister, Lisa, is flying out from Virginia to spend some time with her. For all the cities Lisa has visited around the world, she has never been to Seattle, so I'm glad we are going to have some nice weather for her.
Brian and Sheila have decided they will stay in Mt. Home for Thanksgiving and hope to work in at least one day of skiing. We will probably be with the Jerry Kirkwood family at Cliff and Jordan's in Kirkland. Both Oregon and Washington wine countries do an all out Thanksgiving weekend of wine and food tastings so I'm thinking we will try to get to one or the other on Friday and Saturday.
Have you had a hankering for some pizza? Try this:

In a food processor, puree 2 cans of artichoke hearts with some garlic, olive oil and oregano and use this for the 'sauce' on an unbaked pizza crust. Top with sliced tomatoes, black olives, onion, green pepper, and spinach. Add crumbled feta and mozzarella cheese and bake. As you can see, you could use whatever toppings that appealed to you, but I must say the artichokes are quite a nice change from red sauce.

Ciao