I see I have two weeks of catching up since I last blogged.

We loved our time with Sarah, and she left here with a love affair for the UW. No doubt she would like to attend, but it will all depend on what kind of a financial package is offered to her to see if it offsets what it would cost at the University of Maryland, where she has also been accepted.

With thanks to her cousin, Cinda, Sarah was exposed to much more than most incoming freshman could expect. Cinda had her connected to some great people both at the UW andt Seattle University. And Linea spent an entire day with Sarah between the two campuses. Many thanks to the Johnson family.

I went to Spokane last week to spend some time with my brothers. And a cousin from Florida visited Spokane last week as well. Pat is maintaining and has days that are better than others. He is still able to consume soft and liquid foods which are supplemented with tube feedings. He remains interested in the stock market, and has had a little exposure to the computer which he enjoys. I will probably go back over within the month to see him. He loves to play cribbage and rummy. I barely play cribbage, but I tried to hold my own in rummy, but without much success.

We are looking forward to having some time with Nolan and Warren next month. Due to work commitments for their dad and mom, we will probably be with them at least for the week of spring break. We learned last night that Nolan has been selected for the second year to work on the Mars Rover program - a project to build a Mars Rover out of Legos and then go to Boise to compete with other schools. He is the lone team member with prior experience. If anyone can make Legos sing and dance it would be Warren and Nolan. I'm sure they hold some kind of record for the quantity and variety of Legos they own.

Ken and I are looking at another short trip out in the motor home in the near future. The problem is to find the warmest place possible without having to drive 1000 miles. To be continued.

Gary and Carolyn Ousey sound like they are continuing to enjoy the southern sunshine. They just spent two weeks on BLM land near Yuma and are now at Picacho Peak between Tucson and Phoenix. Picacho Peak was one of the highlights for us when we were in Arizona last year. We regret that we were not able to make the trip south with them this year, but maybe next time.

Colleen has changed property managers and now has her townhouse available for lease again. She thought about selling it since she has no plans to return to Colorado, but it is difficult to give up an asset that took a lot of effort to acquire in the first place. If I had any desire to live in Colorado Springs (which I don't), I would love to live in it. It is quite small but very comfy and cozy.

I'm off to Curves. Ciao

Monday and the beginning of a busy week. Sarah arrives late tomorrow night (10:00), and then she will be in Seattle and Bellevue for Wednesday and Thursday.

Our drive home on Saturday was uneventful. It takes 5 hours from Lincoln City to Steilacoom with just two short stops.

I have talked to Mike and Pat in this last week The decision for Pat for treatment is to do nothing. It is felt that the treatment would do little and would not be pleasant. His daughter, Sandy, spent the last week with him, and she kept him busy. In addition to a doctor's appointment, she drove him out to Mike and Mary's for a few hours, and on another day they drove to St. John and he visited his old haunts: the tavern for coffee and cards, the grocery store and the bank. Sandy also showed him how to play solitaire on the computer so that is another diversion for him.

I plan to go to Spokane next week to spend a few days. The week end of 2/18 is the annual chocolate and wine week end in the Yakima Valley so that might prove to be a diversion.

Our two weeks on the Oregon Coast were very enjoyable, and we had a great time with Bob and Sharon. We have spent little time together since the Las Vegas trip last year so we just relaxed, ate well, and played cards.

Colleen is working on a decision about her townhouse in Colorado Springs. It is now vacant so the dilemma is whether to sell or rent again. To be continued.

Brian and Sheila are moving toward closing on their ski retreat condo in McCall which is supposed to occur this month. They are in the process of shopping for all the goodies needed to outfit it with an eye toward keeping it simple and easy to maintain. Sheila is thinking about beige with red accents in a Scandanavian motif which sounds perfect.

Blog on. Ciao

Greetings from the Sea and Sand RV Park near Lincoln City. I am sitting in the passenger seat looking out at an unobstructed expanse of the Pacific Ocean. We are perched on a ledge that is about 20 feet directly above the beach, and It is awesome. We just happened on this location as we were looking at the Woodalls Guide for our options for the area. There are about 10 sites on this terrace, and there is one other site occupied besides the Jaynes and us. Our neighbors, who are from Coeur d’Alene, are in a pickup and camper with a full-sized German Shepherd.

Our entertainment has consisted of a few rounds of pinochle and wandering through the shops in the area. We are going in to Depoe Bay and Newport today. Yesterday, I stayed put and read and looked at the view!

We will leave Saturday to drive home with every intention of being home by Saturday night, unless some whim should befall us while enroute.

Sarah will arrive on Tuesday, and Cinda has arranged for her son-in-law’s sister to give Sarah the grand tour of the UW campus either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. And Uncle Craig said he would take ½ day off to show her where she shouldn’t go at the UW!

I haven’t spoken to Pat for 2 days. I tried to call yesterday but there was no answer, so I suspect he might have gone someplace with Sandy. He has an appointment today with the oncologist to make his final decision with regard to treatment, if any. I hope to talk to him this afternoon.

The coffee is ready! Ciao.

Thursday afternoon

We drove in to Lincoln City to check email and post the above blog. We spent some time in Newport yesterday and had lunch at Mo's. Tomorrow is our last day of leisure and then home on Saturday.

We did have some entertainment at the beach yesterday. The Coast Guard had two boats conducting some training right out in front of our campsite.

Ciao