I am attending a cello concert tonight with my friend Elisabeth. It sounds wounderful. The musician is a 33 year old woman who defected from the Soviet Union and for lack of money to continue her musical studies, became a very successful model - which allowed her to return to her music. She also composes. The concert will feature her own compositions, plus Vivaldi's Four Seasons, scenes from Tuscany projected for all to see, as well as readings by Frances Mayes who wrote "Under the Tuscan Sun".
We have been home since Sunday, and still playing catch-up. I seem to keep running across mail, magazines, and catalogs to contend with. Ken has washed the MH and the car and mowed most of the lawn. The lawn was so high we could have used a herd of buffalo for an afternoon.
But tomorrow starts playtime again when we go to Liberty Lake for the fishing week end. We will come home on Tuesday since the MH goes in to the shop on Wednesday for another punch list before the warranty expires in June.
Ciao
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
We are home
We arrived home yesterday about 3:30 and have been catching up on almost a month's worth of mail, bills, news, etc. Everything has sprung into leaf and bloom since we left. Our dogwoods are spectacular.
Our time in the wine country was okay, but Washington doesn't quite do it's spring barrel tasting like the Sonoma Valley. Here, the wineries that were providing barrel tasting couldn't tell us what they were going to do with the wine when they bottled it, but in most cases were likely to blend it. So that removes the possibility of purchasing any futures. There is no charge for the tastings, but you are asked to purchase your own glass to use throughout the week end. Since there was no food offered with any of the tastings, I guess that is why there is basically no charge for the week end.
There were lots and lots of people out on Saturday, with many groups using a limousine service. It became so crowded that I decided I would come home and return on a regular week end when I don't have to fight the crowds.
This coming week end is the opening of fishing season so we will make our annual journey to Liberty Lake so Ken and Bob can spend about 3 full days of fishing. Since I only fished one day last year, I'm going to save my money and not purchase a license. Sharon has a workshop on Saturday, so I plan to meet up with some friends for part of the day while everybody else is busy.
I'll try to be more faithful about blogging from now on. Ciao
Now we are looking at airfares to Baltimore. Sarah's graduation is May 31, and we will probably go out the week before. We have a number of military friends in the general area so will try to see some of them. I would really like to visit Maine, and even Nova Scotia, if time allows. Janet's parents and her sister and family are also attending, so I'm sure we won't be missed if we skip out for a few days.
Our time in the wine country was okay, but Washington doesn't quite do it's spring barrel tasting like the Sonoma Valley. Here, the wineries that were providing barrel tasting couldn't tell us what they were going to do with the wine when they bottled it, but in most cases were likely to blend it. So that removes the possibility of purchasing any futures. There is no charge for the tastings, but you are asked to purchase your own glass to use throughout the week end. Since there was no food offered with any of the tastings, I guess that is why there is basically no charge for the week end.
There were lots and lots of people out on Saturday, with many groups using a limousine service. It became so crowded that I decided I would come home and return on a regular week end when I don't have to fight the crowds.
This coming week end is the opening of fishing season so we will make our annual journey to Liberty Lake so Ken and Bob can spend about 3 full days of fishing. Since I only fished one day last year, I'm going to save my money and not purchase a license. Sharon has a workshop on Saturday, so I plan to meet up with some friends for part of the day while everybody else is busy.
I'll try to be more faithful about blogging from now on. Ciao
Now we are looking at airfares to Baltimore. Sarah's graduation is May 31, and we will probably go out the week before. We have a number of military friends in the general area so will try to see some of them. I would really like to visit Maine, and even Nova Scotia, if time allows. Janet's parents and her sister and family are also attending, so I'm sure we won't be missed if we skip out for a few days.
April 21, 2005
We are just now leaving Mt. Home AFB after having spent the past 10 days preparing for and then enjoying Brian's change of command last Thursday. Brian's pilot from Desert Storm, now retired, was here as well as Sheila's mother, Betty, cousin Curt Johnson and Colleen and Craig. Our friends, Bob and Sharon Jayne drove down from Spokane, and the wife of one of Brian's fraternity brothers also attended.
The change of command was held in a hanger with the guests facing the door to the outside where an F-15E was front and center. Seated on thep odium at the front were the wing commander, the outgoing CO, and Brian. It was a short but very patriotic and military ceremony. Afterwards, Brian and Sheila hosted a reception at the club and then we moved on to their house for the rest of the evening.
We usually see Sheila's mom, Betty, on a regular basis for some family affair, but it has been several years since we have been together, so it was wonderful to see her. She lives in Virginia, and we will see her again in June when we are in Maryland for Sarah's graduation.
And this week we were hit with the bombshell that Keith has been recalled by the Army. The letter was waiting for him when he returned from Spokane after Pat's service, but he did not tell any of us until after Brian's change of command. I consider ours to be a pretty military and patriotic family, but right now I only feel ill will toward George Bush, his cabinet, and every other individual responsible for our being in Iraq. I didn't believe we should have been there in the first place.
Keith was passed over for major almost ten years ago and was paid to leave the army. Then he was subsequently declared 30% disaabled (hearing and knees) due to his years in a tank. But there was to be no disability monies paid to him until all of the severance money was repaid. And now comes the final blow. He hasn't even been in a tank for over twelve years as he left armor and worked in acquisition. He is scheduled to be back in the army for 18 months to go to Iraq and take almost a 50% pay cut.
We just have to keep reminding ourselves that there are lots of families who have been affected similarly, but who have other major issues such as single parents, aging parents and severe financial hardships. Every one of Keith and Janet's friends and family will be available to them for whatever they might need.
We are enroute to the Washington wine country for at least one day since we have one prepaid night at the Wine Country RV Park in Prosser. This is the spring barrel tasting week end so there should be lots to see and do and taste. I imagine we will be making our way home by the end of the week end.
Our next trip will be to fly to Maryland mid-May for Sarah's graduation.
Ciao
We are just now leaving Mt. Home AFB after having spent the past 10 days preparing for and then enjoying Brian's change of command last Thursday. Brian's pilot from Desert Storm, now retired, was here as well as Sheila's mother, Betty, cousin Curt Johnson and Colleen and Craig. Our friends, Bob and Sharon Jayne drove down from Spokane, and the wife of one of Brian's fraternity brothers also attended.
The change of command was held in a hanger with the guests facing the door to the outside where an F-15E was front and center. Seated on thep odium at the front were the wing commander, the outgoing CO, and Brian. It was a short but very patriotic and military ceremony. Afterwards, Brian and Sheila hosted a reception at the club and then we moved on to their house for the rest of the evening.
We usually see Sheila's mom, Betty, on a regular basis for some family affair, but it has been several years since we have been together, so it was wonderful to see her. She lives in Virginia, and we will see her again in June when we are in Maryland for Sarah's graduation.
And this week we were hit with the bombshell that Keith has been recalled by the Army. The letter was waiting for him when he returned from Spokane after Pat's service, but he did not tell any of us until after Brian's change of command. I consider ours to be a pretty military and patriotic family, but right now I only feel ill will toward George Bush, his cabinet, and every other individual responsible for our being in Iraq. I didn't believe we should have been there in the first place.
Keith was passed over for major almost ten years ago and was paid to leave the army. Then he was subsequently declared 30% disaabled (hearing and knees) due to his years in a tank. But there was to be no disability monies paid to him until all of the severance money was repaid. And now comes the final blow. He hasn't even been in a tank for over twelve years as he left armor and worked in acquisition. He is scheduled to be back in the army for 18 months to go to Iraq and take almost a 50% pay cut.
We just have to keep reminding ourselves that there are lots of families who have been affected similarly, but who have other major issues such as single parents, aging parents and severe financial hardships. Every one of Keith and Janet's friends and family will be available to them for whatever they might need.
We are enroute to the Washington wine country for at least one day since we have one prepaid night at the Wine Country RV Park in Prosser. This is the spring barrel tasting week end so there should be lots to see and do and taste. I imagine we will be making our way home by the end of the week end.
Our next trip will be to fly to Maryland mid-May for Sarah's graduation.
Ciao
Sunday, April 10, 2005
As you might have suspected since there have been no blogs, my brother, Pat, passed away on April 2 and his graveside service was last Wednesday, April 6. I was not with him with he died, but his son, Steven, daughter, Sandy, and Mike and Mary were. We had just arrived in Mt. Home with Nolan and Warren whom we had had with us in Steilacoom for the week, so we parked and locked the motor home and drove to Spokane on Sunday.
We will all miss him, but we have had time to share our special memories, and even a few laughs, and none of us wanted him to continue to be so ill. My greatest solace is in the fact that Pat returned to his Catholic faith within the hour of his death and a priest heard his confession and administered the last rites. Ironically, Pat died within hours of when Pope John Paul II died and I have to believe Pat’s entrance into heaven was special.
Craig and Colleen (and Cooper) drove to Spokane for the graveside service and Keith came from Baltimore. Brian could not leave the course he was attending in Virginia, but Sheila made a supreme effort to fly from Boise to Spokane and back in one day. Needless to say, our family was a great comfort to me.
While in Spokane this past week, since Jerry and Lois and Mike and Mary had full houses with relatives, we stayed with Rod and Karen Sprague who live just a few miles from Mike and Mary. Karen and I grew up together, but as often happens, we saw little of each other over the past 40 years. We have recently reconnected, and she and Rod provided a haven for Ken and me during this difficult week. In fact, they just purchased a new fifth wheel trailer, and we plan to meet up next week somewhere in the Walla Walla/Wallowa area.
At the moment, we are enroute back to Mt. Home where we will stay for the coming week to be present at Brian’s change of command next Thursday. We trust the motor home is still parked at the Mt. Home Famcamp. I prepaid for 2 weeks and Sheila said she drove by to be sure it was still there.
It is now Sunday, and we are back in Mt. Home having arrived about eleven last night. After a good night's sleep, we are ready for the week. I'll try to blog with greater frequency. Ciao
We will all miss him, but we have had time to share our special memories, and even a few laughs, and none of us wanted him to continue to be so ill. My greatest solace is in the fact that Pat returned to his Catholic faith within the hour of his death and a priest heard his confession and administered the last rites. Ironically, Pat died within hours of when Pope John Paul II died and I have to believe Pat’s entrance into heaven was special.
Craig and Colleen (and Cooper) drove to Spokane for the graveside service and Keith came from Baltimore. Brian could not leave the course he was attending in Virginia, but Sheila made a supreme effort to fly from Boise to Spokane and back in one day. Needless to say, our family was a great comfort to me.
While in Spokane this past week, since Jerry and Lois and Mike and Mary had full houses with relatives, we stayed with Rod and Karen Sprague who live just a few miles from Mike and Mary. Karen and I grew up together, but as often happens, we saw little of each other over the past 40 years. We have recently reconnected, and she and Rod provided a haven for Ken and me during this difficult week. In fact, they just purchased a new fifth wheel trailer, and we plan to meet up next week somewhere in the Walla Walla/Wallowa area.
At the moment, we are enroute back to Mt. Home where we will stay for the coming week to be present at Brian’s change of command next Thursday. We trust the motor home is still parked at the Mt. Home Famcamp. I prepaid for 2 weeks and Sheila said she drove by to be sure it was still there.
It is now Sunday, and we are back in Mt. Home having arrived about eleven last night. After a good night's sleep, we are ready for the week. I'll try to blog with greater frequency. Ciao
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