Home Again........Jiggity Jig

We came home last Wednesday and bypassed going to Ft. Stevens. The rain and mud were getting to us, and it is doubly annoying with a dog. Colleen was here to greet us, and Craig stopped by so it was a perfect opportunity to go out for a bite to eat and visit - Colleen's treat.

We tried the newly-opened Jakes's Bistro here in Steilacoom. Jakes started about 18 months ago as a beer and wine stop and has now relocated and added a full menu. As with most restaurant endeavors in Steilacoom it was okay (and over-priced). I haven't found that any of the eating establishments in this town, either current or closed, quite hit the mark for whatever style of dining they are offering.

We are still working on emptying the motor home and moving back into our stick-built house, but we are getting closer. After two weeks on the road and stays in rainy Oregon, I felt like EVERYTHING needed to be laundered! Plus I found on this trip that I was dragging a lot of stuff with me that I had not used in ages, so I have been purging!!

I have chatted with Elisabeth by phone, and we hope to get together next week for an outing, to include lunch of course, and to catch up on each other’s news.

Ken has been busy planning a fishing trip to Alaska with his long-time friend from grade school days, Daryl Ziemer. The guide whom we used twelve years ago is still in business so they are booked with him for two half days on the Kenai. And I think they hope to squeeze in a bit of halibut fishing or try fishing some other river in the area while there. I would love to go, but this needs to be the guys’ trip in honor of their 70th year. Ken’s birthday was in March and Daryl’s is September.

Our summer plans include a family reunion in Spokane on July 5 for the descendents of Bill and Lilly Kirkwood, and then we will be off for Virginia for a visit with the Brian Kirkwoods and the Keith Kirkwoods. Ken’s visit will be shorter since he has to bt back for his fishing trip, but I am thinking of staying longer. Sheila’s mother has invited us to spend a week with her and Nolan and Warren at her newly-built beach home, and I am excited to do that. I always enjoy time with Betty, and who wouldn’t want to spend time with their grandsons?

Brian just learned that he has been selected for a school starting in August so he will be leaving his post at the Pentagon in favor of a year’s worth of school. The downside is that his commute to the Pentagon has proven to be very easy and relaxing since he uses public transportation, and the school commute is going to be longer and more challenging. Everything comes at a price, but of course we are happy for him and this latest bit of good news. Fortunately, the school is at Fort McNair so they don’t have to move. Many Air Force schools are in Alabama. Ugh.

I utilized our bus system last weekend to visit Colleen in her new digs in Seattle. It took over 1 ½ hours from the Park and Ride in Lakewood and a transfer in downtown Seattle to her stop. Had I chosen to leave Steilacoom by bus it would have added at least another half hour. No wonder we cling to our cars!!

Her apartment is great and it is in the heart of Queen Ann. She has a lower level apartment with a narrow concrete patio running the full width of the apartment and accessed by a sliding glass door off the living room. A wonderful spot to dine or sit with coffee and paper and watch the world go by. The patio and apartment entrance face an alley rather than the main street, and it is fun to see all the folks out walking and bicycling. There is a peek-a-boo view of the canal and one can hear the boats and bridge tender honk at each other when a boat wants to pass.

The downside is that there has been a smoker who occupied the apartment, and even though the lease says it is a non-smoking building, we suspect there is another current tenant who smokes. I think the landlady has agreed to replace the carpet, because even though it has been cleaned and deodorized, there is still that lingering stale odor. And we think a good air cleaner would overcome the rest of the problem. It will all be worth it in the end.

I need to save some news for my next blog!! Ciao