Brrrrr

We are not leaving for Arizona until after Christmas, and I think I will be a frozen popsicle by then. Right now it is just 30 degrees outside and there is frost everywhere. I know that doesn't sound like much for many of you who already have snow and live in colder climes, but we are not accustomed to such cold around here.

Even now that we have made the decision to wait and leave later, I feel like I am short on time for what there is to accomplish. Wedding planning has taken the forefront, but there is still Thanksgiving and Christmas to think about.

Jim's family will be in town for Christmas so I am planning to invite them for dinner since we have not yet met, and I am contemplating a small engagement party for Jim and Colleen. I get a reprieve for Thanksgiving; Jim and Colleen are cooking!

Colleen and I have spent two full days looking at reception venues and yesterday was the first trip to a bridal shop:) There are no decisions on anything, but we are close for the church and reception. Her church is too large, so we are looking for something that is more suitable in size. We can do lots of planning via phone and email, but I wanted to be a part of some of the early fun and shopping.

Ken has been busily making some modifications to the coach before we leave. I have an awesome pull-out double shelf in a kitchen cabinet that was just one big empty space in addition to the shelves he installed to convert the washer/dryer space to storage. He has refinished two IKEA tables that can serve as cocktail tables and since they are on rollers, I can use one for the computer in the cockpit while we are underway. After two recent trips to Southside Repair, I think all the little problems have been taken care of.

We visited Craig in his new digs last weekend, and he is as cozy as can be in his own unique spartan manner. He has yet to buy a bed, so he has been sleeping on a cushioned window seat in his dining room. He said he recently had to move the cushions to the floor because the window was too cold. We did convince him to take one of our extra blankets and he admitted it was a good move. He lives about three blocks from Sixth Avenue which has a host of restaurants, wine bars, and fast food shops. We walked to the Red Hot; a small local spot where they serve nothing but a variety of hot dogs and beer and wine. Quite fun.

How many of you with smart phones are addicted to "Words with Friends"? I am!! There is a limit of 20 games at any one time, and I have 20 games going all the time. It works well because you can simply take your turn whenever the time suits you. And speaking of technology, I just yesterday discovered how to read my Facebook pages in chronological order rather than in some random order that FB wants to impose on me. I always feel the online resources such as Facebook and Firefox are so focused on proving how innovative they are, that it is a constant battle for me to keep the order that works for ME!

In case I don't return to my Blog this week, I am wishing everyone a very happy and grateful Thanksgiving. Ciao.

Wedding Bells

Colleen and Jim came to Steilacoom this week to tell us that they are planning to be married next spring..............We couldn't be happier. And it isn't as if we have to get to know him since we have known him from his and Brian's college days. Jim had discussed it with the girls, and Ani is still taking some time to get used to the idea. But Colleen has a good relationship with both of them so it will all be fine.

I told Ken he is fortunate that we made the move to buy a different motor home earlier this year, because now it would probably have not been in the budget!!!!

The only details I know so far is that the wedding will be in Seattle and it will be aquvavit shots instead of champagne toasts:)

This weekend we are in lovely downtown Umatilla, Oregon to celebrate the 90th birthday of my cousin Ellen Jean, and it was fun to visit with family that we have not seen for some time. Mike and Mary are here so we will go out to have a bite to eat this evening and then head home tomorrow. We plan to make one or two stops in the wine country on our way:).

So November is well on its way and we are scheduled to leave for California the day after Thanksgiving. Jim and Colleen are hosting Thanksgiving in Seattle so all I have to do is make "funeral" rolls and tomato aspic and something else that doesn't come to mind at the moment.

We only plan to go as far as Travis AFB or Beale AFB in northern California for the first part of our trip. Then we are going to drive the car back to Steilacoom for Christmas. We are good at keeping everything just a bit complicated, but I really don't want to be away for two Christmas' in a row, and I am in the mood for a Christmas/engagement party.

In the midst of all this excitement, Craig has closed on his house and is now living in north Tacoma. He is very happy with his purchase and I am busily trying to get him to relieve us of some of our furniture and household items.

It is dinnertime. Ciao