Now that we are poised to leave for a while, I am wondering if our friends the Ouseys are out there!!!! No blog since last Friday. Hmmmm.

We have no specific plans as to how long we will be away, but I have convinced myself that I can get to Spokane as fast on Alaska Air from anyplace in the west as I can in the car from Steilacoom. We are hoping to leave on Saturday. To be continued. Ken installed the 2004 Turbo Tax program to try and get that out of the way before we leave.

Colleen and I went to the base exchanges at Ft. Lewis and McChord today, and found so many great buys we could hardly contain ourselves. We didn't even get out of the clothing department.

I don't think we have had any rain to speak of in the last 24 hours, but we have had temps in the low 60's for the last 2 days.

Ciao

Rain, rain, rain, and more rain. That is pretty much how the forecast reads for the coming week. Perhaps we will get a chance to find out how the new sump pump in the basement works!

I whiled away the day doing some organizing in the motor home and making lists. Even if I don't get everything accomplished, I always feel like I am making progress if I make lists. We have been out so few times recently that I have forgotten what I have in it and what I don't.

Ken called Workhorse to check on the instrument cluster that we have been waiting for (one month and counting) and he was told it could be another month. Methinks we will travel without a temperature gauge for a while.

Brian and Sheila and the boys spent the long week end at McCall....skiing. And while there put an offer in on a condo. They want a place of their own to retreat to when escaping Mt. Home. It will be perfect for their winter skiing, and all other pursuits the rest of the year. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, with one bedroom and bath being in the loft area which will be the boys' domain. This will also allow them to take the dog and cat with them and not have to use the local kennel. We are excited for them.

The other exciting news is that Sarah has been accepted at the University of Washington. She is still waiting to hear from the University of Maryland. Now comes the number-crunching and scholarship work to see if UW can compete financially with Maryland (since they have a neighbor who is the golf pro at the University of Maryland and he has been tracking her application, it looks like a pretty sure bet she will be accepted there too). Would we like to have her here going to school or what?

I must go online to see if I can find some plans for an ark. Ciao

We did a 24 hour turn around in Spokane and are back home. The consultation with the radiologist was informative, but not enough for Pat to make a final decision with regard to treatment. However, that needs to happen soon. I continue to be impressed with the Washington State Veterans Home where he is staying, but I can't say the same for the Veteran's Administration Hospital where his treatment is being coordinated.

We are cautiously and tentatively making some plans for some travel and should be able to solidify some plans within the next few days. We are not positive we are ready to make a beeline for Arizona, but it is a distinct possibility. The Jaynes are spending about a month on the Oregon coast beginning next week, so we might meet up with them at some point for a few days. To be continued.

Colleen and I are going to Bellevue today; she to meet with a financial planner and me to keep her company and check out the shopping scene at Bell Square.

I have been pretty good about going to Curves these past two weeks. I can't say I can see the difference, but I know I have made the effort.

I will post as soon as we make some travel plans, if not before.

Ciao

We are back in Spokane to be a part of a consultation for Pat with a radiologist to determine if he can withstand any radiation treatment. We drove over today and enjoyed clear and dry roads, but there is more winter coming, so we will probably have to wait for a window to return home. We are staying on the north side of Spokane and there is a lot of snow piled up in the parking lots......and there is more to come along with temps down near zero!!

We managed to retire the Christmas tree and stow away the decorations before coming back to Spokane. I think this has been our longest Christmas season.

We are off to seek some dinner - there is a Mexican restaurant nearby so we won't have to drive.

Ciao,

Helen

Finally, last night we had our Christmas. Craig was here and the four of us opened gifts after dinner. Our Christmas tree seemed to know it had to last for us. We put it up about the 17th and it stll looks and smells fresh!

Ken is watching the Seahawks game which is in the 3rd quarter. Very nerve-wracking!!

We are having some differences with our cell phone provider, Sprint, so I suspect we will be looking for a new service. Our contract expires the end of January so no problem to change. Sprint is the only cell service we have ever had, so we are open to suggestions.

So I will be home until Tuesday, and if the roads are okay, I'll return to Spokane for a consultation with a radiologist to determine if Pat's heart can withstand any chemo or radiation. With a heart functioning at only 20%, I suspect the answer will be no. This should be a short trip, and I hope to return home by the week end.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. I'll blog when I can.

Ciao

We continue to take each day as it comes. I spent 12/21 to 1/2 in Spokane making arrangements for a place for Pat. I encountered roadblocks at every turn, most notably the VA social workers, and called Ken on 12/28 and said I needed reinforcements. Our friends, the Schulers, arrived at SeaTac on Wednesday and the 3 of them drove directly to Spokane. We spent New Year's Eve in a hotel room.

Pat is now at the VA nursing home in Spokane. We continue to have ups and downs with doctors at the VA Hospital, but there is nothing positive to report with the prognosis.

I stayed at my brother Mike's over Christmas and he, his wife Mary, and son Joel went out of their way to include me in their holiday. Actually, it was not as difficult as it might seem since I was so preoccupied with getting Pat moved and settled that it didn't even seem like Christmas.

The weather has been very cold here in Steilacoom, and this being an old house only adds to the chill. It has been down in the 20's at night. The summit area at Snoqualmie was like a postcard when we returned to Steilacoom last Sunday. No huge buildup of snowbanks along the sides of the Interstate, but the trees all hung heavy with beautiful white fluffy snow.

May 2005 be good to you.

Ciao, Helen

Sadly, I do not have a cheerful post this time. My older brother, Pat, was diagnosed last week with terminal esophageal cancer plus diabetes. This along with a failing heart valve that he has been living with for 3 years. So my posts will be far and few between for a while.

I have been in Spokane while he has been hospitalized, and will return tomorrow to move him to a family home north of Spokane. It is sad and stressful, but I find some redeeming moments in all of it. And my other brother, Mike, and I simply want whatever will give Pat comfort and solace. Please keep us in your prayers.

We had reservations to fly to Idaho yesterday to spend a few pre-Christmas days with Brian and Sheila, but cancelled that. And I could end up spending Christmas in Spokane with Pat. I am holding on to the thought that we will have Gary and Carolyn and Jeff and Bev here for a few days after Christmas. After that, we will see if we are able to leave to go south with the Ouseys.

I had completed most of my Christmas shopping, and Ken, Colleen and Craig are perfectly capable of creating a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for themselves.

Last Saturday was fun after I returned from Spokane. Colleen had several of her college friends here for an overnight along with a massage specialist and a foot masseuse. Ummm Ummm. I could get used to a massage once a week.

In case I don't post for a while, a merry and blessed Christmas to all.

Ciao, Helen

At last!! Some progress to report after the more recent postings about nothing getting done. Most of the Christmas decorations are up, and that just leaves the tree - yet to be claimed from a nearby tree lot. I even addressed envelopes for Christmas cards yesterday so that effor is also underway. I have done a small amount of baking, plus made a batch of crepes to put in the freezer, so I feel as if I have made headway. Truth be known, I quite like all of these projects which I did not even attempt when I was working.

The walls and ceiling for the upstairs shower were installed yesterday, and we can use it by this evening!!! It doesn't look like real marble or stone, but it does look new and shiny, and after all this time; I'll take it. Of course there is all the remaining stuff to be done such as taking up the old flooring and installing new, and installling a new sink, etc. etc. etc.

Colleen and I joined Curves last month, and I have been faithful about getting there, although joining an exercise/fitness program the week before Thanksgiving is not very smart. I figure I am just now catching up for all the eating and drinking I did while in Maryland. I do like the Curves concept as compared to a regular gym. It is for women only, so I don't have to deal with the macho men and muscle-bound trainers. Curves provides a circuit of machines with music and voice-over that lets you keep a rhythm as well as tells you when to change to the next piece of equipment, thus eliminating the need to even count. And there are no settings to wrestle with. All the equipment is designed for women and it all works on hydraulics, so again, a no-brainer. To be continued.

We are invited to a Christmas open house tomorrow afternoon and that, along with an open house given by our investment counselor pretty much sums up the social scene for us. We are looking forward to our visitors arrival after Christmas which will be our party time.


Ciao

Here it is Saturday and not a decoration to be seen. By the time we did a little shopping, cooking, and whatever else, we decided to postpone. Now Colleen is on her way to Colorado for 4 days to visit friends, so more time will pass. I'm thinking I will get started while she is gone. All of this decorating requires a fair amount of labor, but I won't have to do any of the dismantling since we will be leaving right after the first. Colleen gets that fun job.

We are hoping Brian and Sheila might have a few days available between now and the first of the year when we might meet halfway for a gift exchange and some Christmas cheer. He is pretty tied down with his job, so it is difficult to find a block of time to be away.

Ken spent the better part of yesterday with the motor home in and out of service sites. ....with nothing fixed. A new radio and speaker and shower head are being ordered from Winnebago. As for the Chevy/Workhorse problems: The instrument cluster (our second one) needs to be replaced, and there is such a run on those as a result of a recall, that we might get one by the time we get to Arizona, and the overdrive switch problem requires a trip to Allison which is located near SeaTac Airport. Our last MH was a Ford, and we never even darkened the doorstep of the Ford service center. Aargh. But we did buy chains for both the MH and the Jetta so we are ready to hit the road.

The shower pan for our upstairs shower was installed yesterday. Now Ken will put up the green board to be ready for next Friday when the walls are installed. Lesson learned: Never, never, never, build an over-sized shower, if you don't want to tile it. Our only other option, short of a natural stone such as marble or granite, was fiberglass that looks like marble. It is expensive and heavy!!

Sarah tells us that the University of Washington application went in the mail this week. We would be thrilled to have her going to school in Seattle. She is also applying at two or three schools in the east; all in Maryland I believe. She is a strong student and has been involved in band and volleyball, so I can't imagine why all those schools wouldn't want her!! Can it be true that we have a grandaughter old enough to be going to college?

It is 6:15 a.m. and I've been up since 4:00 a.m. to take Colleen to the airport, so now I have to decide if I want to go back to bed or want to wait for the newspaper to arrive! Probably read the paper first and then go back to bed.

Ciao

Home again. We had an uneventful trip other than sitting on the tarmac at BWI for an hour while the mechanics worked on the cooling system for the avionics. We arrived home to a warming trend, so we missed the cold days.

Now it is full speed ahead for Christmas and all related fun stuff. Colleen and I are going to start decorating tonight, and finish up on Friday which is a day off for her. The tree will wait for a while so it won't dry out by Christmas.

We used to bundle up the four kids, and along with the dog, load up the station wagon to drive to a tree farm to cut a fresh tree. Now Ken and I leave the house and stop at the closest tree lot. If there is nothing to our satisfaction we drive to the next closest, and so on, until we happen on the perfect tree. Then we cash in some of our stocks and bonds to pay for it (I thought we lived in the Evergreen State) and bring it home.

And the really fun stuff this year will be company and an eggnog party. Gary and Carolyn will be here on the 29th and Jeff and Bev Schuler usually arrive around the 27th. So Friday, the 30th will probably be the annual eggnog open house. I must say that my eggnog recipe has been praised by even those who thought they didn't like eggnog. It is from a military officers' wives cookbook from the 60's:

Eggnog Supreme

12 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c sugar (I have been known to use less)
1 quart whiskey (rye for you Canadians)
2 qt milk
1 pint half and half
1 pint heavy cream
Nutmeg

Blend egg yolks with sugar. Add whiskey. Add milk and half & half. Beat egg whites to a soft peak. Whip heavy cream until fluffy. Fold egg whites and whipped cream into yolk mixture. Chill. Serve sprinkled with nutmeg. 40 small servings.

Helen's method:

Blend egg yolks, sugar, milk and half & half and chill. When ready to serve, place half in punch bowl, beat half the egg whites and half the cream and fold in. For drama, take your bottle of rye to the punch bowl which you have now placed on the table or buffet, and pour it in (with flair and all to see). I place a shaker of nutmeg beside the punch bowl. This method keeps the punch bowl looking more attractive, and you have a second batch at the ready for the late arrivals.

And then after the party, we won't care what we do for the next day or two!!

New Year's Eve has been a tradition with the Schulers and us since 1981. We girls go out on the 31st to shop for dinner for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We enjoy a nice dinner, and then attempt to stay awake until midnight to enjoy a kiss and a sip of champagne as we watch the ball drop in Times Square. Then by 12:15 we are in bed!! Gary and Carolyn; take notes!

Ciao

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

Sometimes, there just isn't much to say!

We have spent most of the week at home with Ken working on the upstairs bathroom and/or talking to and waiting for contractors to give their 2 cents' worth. But there is progress!! We have such a large shower area that it requires tile or custom acrylic. We are going with the latter since we have never had good luck with the integrity of tile and grout in a shower. It will probably be a gray granite look that should be neutral enough to work with most any colors. And while Ken is in the process, he will install a new vent fan since the old one was vented into the chimney........somehow that just doesn't seem right. And since the bathroom is already torn up, we might as well replace the fixtures and install a big cabinet on the wall, and replace the vinyl, and...........! Perhaps by Thanksgiving?

It is has been dark and cold for days, and right now it is so dark outside that I am sure the rain will come at any moment.

Colleen has called a time or two from Australia. She did see 3 kangaroos from afar and has seen 10 dead ones on the highways. She loved New Zealand and is already talking about going back, maybe even to teach. She has visited Bassim's family and met his parents whom she says are very nice. She saw his sister, Gigi, whom she had met when Gigi was here in the states last July. Colleen gets home midday next Monday.

Maybe next week we can get out in the motor home for a few days since our dog sitter will return on Monday. Speaking of dogs, read this: http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/10/29/canine.caller.ap/index.html
Pretty amazing!!

Have a good week end, and keep on blogging!!

Ciao

My birthday, yesterday, was uneventful and enjoyable. I was gifted with flowers from Ken and the Baltimore Kirkwoods and the Idaho Kirkwoods tell me there is a gift on the way. I love it when the celebration goes on for days. Craig came by with 2 bottles of very nice red wine, so of course we had to try one. Woodward Canyon 2000 Old Vines Cabernet - a HUGE wine and outstanding! Ken and I went to Ft. Lewis to renew my ID card and then we made a stop at the commissary. That was the uneventful part. Ken cooked dinner for me, so all 'round, it was very nice.

I am meeting my friend Elisabeth for lunch. She and I met each other when entering the real estate game about 10 years ago and we have remained fast friends. She is a lovely, thoughtful person, and I enjoy seeing her. She lives in Gig Harbor so I must admit I don't go over to see her as often as I should. She is German, but has lived in the US (and is a US citizen) for at least half her life. My ideal trip would be to go to Germany with her!

Rainy, rainy, rainy, with a bit of sun tomorrow accompanied by: RAIN. Winter must be here.

We still have made no plans for the MH outing I mentioned in my last blog. We like to be spontaneous!!

I'm off for lunch.

Ciao

I'm back in Steilacoom after an uneventful drive across the state. I stopped in Ritzville for a cup of coffee and meandered off the Interstate to 'downtown'. I went into the Whispering Palms which was named the Whistlin' Pig many years ago. It turned out to be worse than a pig sty. One or two straggly men and the "waitress" were all at the counter puffing on cigarettes. Before anyone could get to me, I turned tail and ran. Continuing on my quest for something folksy in this farming community, I stopped at Jakes, which has also been there forever. Not much better. Not quite as many people smoking, but there didn't seem to be any separation of smokers from non-smokers. This place is frequented by truck drivers so you can imagine how bad the coffee was!! Enough!! Next time it is McDonalds.

On Thursday night, I met Mike, Mary, Joel and Pat for dinner at a new restaurant on the north side of Spokane. It is a rustic log style and very well laid out. And the meals were all good. For the uninformed, Pat is my brother, Mike is my brother and is married to Mary, and Joel is their son.Joel at 6'3" and almost 300 pounds (he is big, not fat (and still cute) was almost slowed down by the one-pound buffalo burger, but he mastered it. Pat is thin and does not look like he feels well. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do for him. A weakened heart valve leaves no alternatives at his age.

I arrived home about 4:30 yesterday, and Ken had proof that he worked on the bathroom and took care of the dog. The bathroom shower has a relocated drain, and the dog is still alive!!

We are planning to head out the middle of next week for a few days in the MH. The excuse is that we just had the shocks replaced and we need to see how it handles on the road. Besides, I want to get out and about before all the fall color disappears. I'm thinking north to the Skagit River area or Port Townsend and Fort Worden and Ken is thinking the ocean. We'll see.

I have sealed my absentee ballot so the deed is done. Enough said.

Speaking of politics, I find it absurd that this great country of ours doesn't see fit to import drugs from Canada, but now is ready and willing to accept flu vaccine from Canada. Of course, having lived in Canada for 2 years and having an affinity for our friends to the north, I am all the more embarrassed.

Today was quite a nice day with a fair amount of sunshine, and that is contrary to the weather report. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Ciao