The Oregon (J) Hall's

Paradise

2011-05-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Kimo & Kalina !! As many of you may remember, Jaime (Kimo) and I (Kalina) had plans to spend our 25^th anniversary (April 2010) in Hawaii, but had to postpone our trip due to Jaime's illness. Well, what a difference a year makes !!! So, on Saturday the 23^rd, our journey began.

Day 1 in Paradise:

Our first day dawned beautiful and sunny here in Oregon. We couldn't have asked for a better send off! I have to start by telling you that this trip was full of “firsts” for both of us. To begin with, it was the largest plane I have flown on.........2 isles, 7 seats across. I have to start with our arrival on Oahu. I have never seen water come in so many shades of blue. Of course, I've seen pictures and postcards of Hawaii, but you still don't believe it....until you see it. We arrived in Oahu in the early afternoon and immediately headed for the condo at Ko Olina. Knowing we would probably be wiped out after our 5 hour flight, we purposely did not plan anything for our first day. So once we checked in, we spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing. We did, however, go down to the beach to witness a beautiful sunset.

Day 2 in Paradise

2011-05-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

The next day we headed to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. This was one of the main reasons we wanted to spend part of our trip on Oahu. And we were not disappointed. The “tour” began with a 20 minute film about the circumstances surrounding the attack, as well as footage of the attack and the aftermath. Having set the tone, we then were loaded onto a boat for a short ride out to the memorial site.

There is actually not a lot to the memorial itself. It is simply nothing more than a long, open walkway where at the end is a large marble wall that lists the names of all those that perished that day.

However, I cannot begin to explain the feelings it evoked in us as we walked across, and looked down upon that burial ground. It is very true, what they say....you can actually see an oil sheen on the surface from fuel that still seeps from the ship. Here's what Jaime posted on his facebook profile: “Yeah was not prepared for the emotion that overwhelmed me there. I was sad to see so many that saw it only as a tourist stop and not what it truly is. At least everyone was reverent in their speech (volume wise). I saw a name on the memorial, J.R. Hall. Just sharing two initials with one of those heroes all of a sudden made it very personal and very meaningful. Hard to explain...” Like Jaime, I was truly saddened that many people saw it as a photo opp. Especially people younger than us. For us though, it was an incredibly moving experience. One that will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Then, to pick up the mood, we headed to the North Shore for our surfing lesson ! Yes, I said surfing lesson. We had a little time to kill so we had lunch and then decided to indulge in some famous hawaiian shaved ice – yummmm.

When we were planning our excursions, trying to find a surfing lesson, I came across the North Shore Surf Girls. And it was the perfect choice. Unfortunately, Jaime has a bum shoulder and had to throw in the towel after just one wave.....paddling back out was just too painful. I, however, was able to stay out (barely) and catch 3 or 4 waves!!! Oh what a blast =) I have to tell you though, I couldn't believe how shallow it was out there. For most of the time, our instructors could actually stand up. And we could see the bottom!!

OMG! Absolutely incredible, especially for us who grew up on the gulf coast. And the neatest part – we can say we actually caught some waves on the North Shore !!!

Day 3 in Paradise

2011-05-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

This was, by far, our busiest day of the trip. Our first stop was Waikiki to do a little shopping at the International Market. The best part --- lunch at Puka Dog.

OMG....definitely a must do on our culinary list. This was also the day we got the most rain (or showers as we like to call them in Oregon). But as I posted on facebook..........a rainy day in Waikiki, still a good day !!

We then headed back through the central part of the island (toward the North Shore) and stopped at the Dole Plantation for a tasty treat – pineapple soft-service ice cream with pineapple (for me) and coconut (for Jaime) topping.

Again.........yummy :-) We did spend a few minutes and walk through the grounds for a look at some of the many pineapple varieties they have from all over the world.

The most fascinating part – a stop at the koi pond. Seriously.

They have fish food that you can purchase and feed to the fish. And they are so accustomed to being fed that all you have to do is step up to the railing and they will congregate at your feet. It was actually kind of creepy, like something out of a horror movie.

We then continued north, again through North Shore, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. I thought Jaime was gonna wet his britches when he realized we were driving through these places, places that he had read about in surf magazines as a kid. And it was beautiful. This was all our on way to our next stop – the LDS temple.

We only stopped long enough to take a few pictures and yet it was enough time to appreciate its beauty. Later that evening, as we drove back to our condo, we got a glimpse of it all lit up. It is truly beautiful. On a side note, that only members of our church will appreciate.....as we left the temple, we noticed a house directly across from the temple grounds that had a name placard that read “Monsons”. What are the chances ???

Our final destination that day was the Polynesian Culture Center. Unfortunately we didn't arrive until about 3 pm, so we didn't have much time to visit all the different villages.

But what we did visit was very entertaining. Our tickets included dinner – which was awesome – and the show, “Ha, Breath of Life”. And they definitely saved the best for last. The show was simply amazing. It was full of dancing and singing – what could be better --- a Polynesian musical !! But it truly was an amazing production....so beautiful. We were treated to a taste of all the different polynesian cultures, both in dance and dress. All while they weaved an incredible story. Truly the high point of our evening.

Day 4 in Paradise

2011-05-02T18:39:00.000-07:00

This was a travel day for us as we moved from Oahu to Maui. Our flight was right in the middle of the day, so again, we didn't plan any activities. Upon landing, we were treated to a water dance of sorts. As we came in for our landing, we got a glimpse at Ho'okipa Beach, a favorite for windsurfers and kitesurfers. And the beach was super busy that day. Once we were settled into our condo, we spent a little time to get a bite to eat and get a feel for the lay of the land. Then, we picked a spot on the beach and settled in for another beautiful sunset. We finished our evening with a Hawaiian shaved ice at the local marketplace on South Kihei Rd. Don't know if I could ever get enough shaved ice :-)

Day 5 in Paradise

2011-05-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

The day dawned beautiful and sunny, but what else would you expect in paradise, right? With free time on our hands, we headed to the beach again. We took advantage of the warm weather and headed straight for the water. Still, amazed at how clear it was. After our swim, we found a spot on the sand to let our swimsuits air dry. This, however, came with a sand storm of sorts ! We really got a taste for how windy Maui is.

Our next voyage was around the west side of the island to Lahaina for our anniversary luau. It was during this drive around the edge of the island that I really got a sense that we were truly on an island. What a great time we had that night!! First of all, the food was amazing....best buffet I've ever eaten at.

The mahi mahi was to die for....but I digress..... This is the traditional turning of the pig. It's a whole ceremonial thing.

Our next treat was an extraordinary sunset.

We were then treated to a good show, and a fun host.

Jaime really got a kick out of him cuz he was very Don Ho like. Bottom line – what a great anniversary celebration !!

Day 6 in Paradise

2011-05-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

This had to be the funnest day....We headed into the mountains of Wailuku for a zipline tour.

For those that aren't familiar with this, it's a series of cables strung along the side of the mountain that you literally hang from and zip down. This was a series of 8 cables, 2.5 miles of cables in total.

The last in the series is the 3^rd longest in the world.

And the view............no words are adequate. You could literally see across the neck of the island, from harbor to harbor.

And, of all the choices for zipline tours, we definitely made the right choice.

Not only were they a lot of fun, they made it more personable by learning all 13 of our names, they were so knowledgeable on the island's flora and fauna, and they included an “eco” element by providing the opportunity to water some of the “endangered” plants they had planted in hopes of helping to remove them from the endangered list. Truly a phenomenal experience.

Once we were down from the mountain, we headed to Ho'okipa Beach to try and get an up close look at the windsurfers and kitesurfers. And we learned that it was just as impressive up close. It had been a long day already, so we didn't last long at the beach. Our next stop was a late lunch in Pa'ia. After eating what Jaime claimed were the best fish tacos he's ever had, we headed back to the condo. Our next meal – dessert at Ono Gelato. Yummmmm And boy, did I sleep good that night having been sufficiently worn out.

Day 7 in Paradise

2011-05-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our last full day on the island.......... We had a few more gifts to pick up, so we headed to the Marketplace and I couldn't resist another shaved ice treat. Seriously. With time to spare, we made our way to the Ma'alaea Harbor to catch a charter in order to do some snorkeling.

Again, we made the perfect choice for this excursion. We left at about 1:30 pm with only 13 people on our tour, when we arrived at Molokini Islet, there was only 1 other charter boat anchored. (the early tour left at 7:30 – yes, that's a.m.--- they had over 100 people on board, and 30+ boats anchored at Molokini). Again, a perfect choice.

However, all this paled in comparison to our snorkeling experience.....the first time Jaime and I have snorkeled.

Here's what Jaime posted on facebook: “Spent the afternoon snorkeling at Molokini crater. It was almost a spiritual experience. The fish (all very colorful) would swim right up to you. The water was crystal clear...all the way to the bottom. Wow...” It was truly amazng.... Molokini is basically a bird sanctuary and nature preserve. There are rules against touching anything/everything. This became a little challenging because, as Jaime said, the fish would literally swim right up to you. Still can't believe how crystal clear the water was, yet so blue from the surface.

After almost an hour in the water, Jaime and I were shocked to realize we were the last ones left in the water !!! Sadly, as the boat began to move away from the island, we saw our one & only sea turtle in the water.....almost as if he realized we were leaving and it was now safe to come out!!! On our hour commute back to the harbor, we were served a delicious bbq lunch and then simply relaxed on the top deck, taking in the sunny day. When we left the island, the crew set up about 4 fishing poles across the back of the boat, and surprisingly enough, they snagged a fish!!! Huge fish !!! I mentioned to Jaime that I almost wish we had snorkeled earlier in the week, but at the same time I was afraid that had we done that, we wouldn't have wanted to do anything else the remainder of the week !!!

So, how did we finish this day? Well, we had to see one last sunset on the beach, and then our last meal --- dessert at Ono Gelato!!!

Day 8 in Paradise

2011-05-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Our flight didn't leave until 1:15, so we had a laid back morning....our biggest decisions were “where” and “when” to eat. And we were again treated to another beautiful day in paradise. We were so fortunate throughout our entire trip to enjoy absolutely perfect weather. Very little rain, and when it got really (ok, relatively) hot, we could count on the winds for a perfect breeze to cool things off. We couldn't have asked for a better trip --- it was perfect.

And we apparently brought the sunshine back with us....our first day back was beautiful and warm. I hear the rain is back tomorrow.

So....here's what we learned: GPS has a problem with Hawaiian pronunciations. Our girls can actually survive on their own – and not starve !! It truly is a small world....at the luau, we sat across from a lady from Clackamas and another from Happy Valley! Then on our zipline tour, we visited with a couple that, not only were from Bend, OR, but the husband grew up in Bellaire , TX.....what are the chances ??? You can make a reggae version of just about any song. The residents are all happy and friendly. It would seem the kids are allowed to wear their swim trunks to school. Almost everybody looks better with a tan.

Did we enjoy our trip, you ask? Well, let's just say jaime is shopping for a condo on Maui while listening to an island station......

4th of July

2010-07-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

It was a great weekend !!!

For my family birthday meal, I chose breakfast. And we actually had Justine (and her boyfriend), Kayleigh and Chris with us! (Darci is in Texas with my mom and grandma, for the summer.)

We tried a restaurant that Justine had heard of through some facebook friends. It's called Slappy Cakes and their "claim to fame" is a griddle built into every table top. You buy the pancake batter and add-ins, and you cook your own pancakes - right at your table.

The really funny thing - Chris doesn't like pancakes !!!! Luckily, they have other options.....

It's a very popular place...we had to wait about 45 mins for a table. But it was well worth it.

As for the rest of the weekend.........it was great!!! After church on Sunday, we went to Kayleigh and Chris' for a bbq. We gave them a new bbq grill FOR CHRISTMAS !!! And I felt kinda bad, cuz we spent the first 2 1/2 hours watching Chris put it together ! But we were rewarded with an awesome tri-tip dinner.

Then Monday, I played hookie - with my bosses !!! Scott's family lives in eastern Washington (Mattawa), so we drove up that morning to his brother's orchard for a tour. He raises cherries and apples, and while we toured....we ate....too...many.....cherries !!!

(This is "Stonehenge", right across the river in Washington.)

I left my heart, in San Francisco

2010-07-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in a previous post, we had plans to visit Hawaii for our 25th anniversary. And as plans sometimes do, ours changed when Jaime got hepatitis.Once he was back to work full-time, providence came knocking in the form of a business trip to San Fran. So we seized the opportunity to create a mini-vacation………..consolation.

Jaime flew down on Monday, and had training from Tuesday through Thursday. I joined him Thursday evening. What followed was three fantastic days, not for the faint of feet. We purchased a 3 day pass on the Muni (which includes various modes of transportation) and we were off and running. We stayed in Oakland, so each day began with a commute across the bay on BART. Friday, we were in complete tourist mode as we braved the waters of Fisherman’s Wharf (Pier 39) where we picked up several unique Christmas gifts. Then we were called to Ghirardelli Square… And you guessed it….an ice cream sundae for lunch!!! This concluded our first day, so we headed to the hotel to rest up for the next leg.

Day two dawns…. Again, armed with our Muni pass, we felt it our duty to get our money’s worth, and try every mode of transportation the pass had to offer. Our first stop was back to Fisherman’s Wharf to purchase new jackets (to combat the gale force winds). Now, armed & dangerous, our first stop was Coit Tower. We were immediately rewarded with some fantastic views of the city, the bridges, and Alcatraz Island. We then paid the $5 elevator toll, and were further rewarded. Along with more shots of the city, the bridges, and Alcatraz Island, Jaime took several shots of the neighborhoods below. They really seemed to appeal to him and I think it might have been due to the lack of yards (no maintenance required). I also realized, as we took shot after shot of the various views, for us it’s become all about the view….no matter where we are. I can only determine that our appreciation comes from living in such a flat area for so long.
Well, the adventure had only begun. You can't go to San Fran without seeing Lombard street. The funny part, it's only about a block long!! As we walked down hill, trying to get a good pic, we had a great view of those driving the distance. And each of them sported a huge smile and they slowly drove the short block!
We then headed off to see the famous “painted ladies” (think Mrs. Doubtfire, and that Bob Saget show…). We spent several hours making our way across town, up hills (at which point I promised to reflect on our time here before complaining about any of the hills in Portland), on and off buses, to finally reach them.As I pointed out to Jaime the fact that we had spent several hours in our pursuit, he corrected me by saying, “we spent several hours exploring this city”. And then he reminded me that with him, “it’s as much about the journey as the destination.”

Our next stop….The Stinking Rose for dinner. But not before we passed through Chinatown and Little Italy. Of which I can only remark about the smell and the truly odd things that they put in bags and sell. With full bellies, we headed back across the bay to rest up for the last leg. Thinking our day was through, until we realized Jaime had left his backpack in the restaurant……..so off we went to retrieve it. I can only say that at this point, we felt we were becoming seasoned travelers through the city. But boy did my feet hate me when we finally got back to the hotel. Thankfully, I had chocolate waiting….

All good things must end….. we ended our trip with a beautiful drive. Our first stop was the Oakland temple. What a great way to start our last day, and a Sunday to boot !! Then it was off to Berkeley, where we got a glimpse at the houses that Jaime’s dad grew up in. And if you go to San Fran, you have to go across the bridges. So from Berkeley we headed through Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Then through downtown and across the Bay Bridge. We decided to take a detour to Treasure Island, which is very interesting…. Then we were back where we started – Oakland. Our last stop was Jack London Square for lunch and a little Ben & Jerry’s!!!

So, it was a great week / weekend, with fabulous weather. And we’re already trying to plan our next visit…..

Kittens, Kittens, Everywhere !!!

2010-07-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Well, as kittens tend to do, they are growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, when they were about a week old, I told Jaime I thought they had doubled in size in just one day !!

They’re about 8 weeks old, which means cat food and litter boxes. Until now, we’ve tried to confine them to one room; that ended a few weeks ago. They have been liberated !!! And Shelby (our 100 lb aussie / lab mix) is not too sure what to think.

In addition to the kittens (who remain temporary residents), we have added another dog to our collection of animals. A few months ago, Justine found a small dog wondering near a busy street close to our house. Surely I don’t need to tell you the rest of the story….. She’s been named Lucy.

I’m still trying to get Justine to take her to the vet so we can see if she has a micro chip, and ultimately return her to her first home. Until then, we won’t be able to determine how old she is, though she undoubtedly is still a pup. And until recently, a very well behaved one. Apparently she has decided the proper amount of time has passed, and she can now make herself at home. The problem…she usually picks our bedroom floor.

Our one solace is the promise that the girls will be taking said animals with them when they finally chose a place of their own. Until then, we will continue to build our ark…

Kittens !!!

2010-05-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

Last week, I suddenly found myself pulling kitty midwife duty....

I came home at lunch and discovered our kitty was in labor. She kept meowing rather loudly at me trying to get me to follow her. Once I did, I discovered she wanted to have her kittens in the clothes hamper. So I was forced to put her birthing box on top of the hamper, and it took some time to convince her it was better than the hamper.

Once we agreed on the birthing center, I was stuck.... If I even started to act like I was going to leave, she let me know of her disapproval.

After a few short hours of trying to find a comfortable position, she finally began the actual "birth" part. The first one took longer than I thought it probably should, so ran her to the vet as a precaution. While there, they graciously suggested an xray, so I'd know how many to expect.

I was somewhat shocked to discover we had a total of 4 on the way.

So, after successfully birthing the 2nd one, they sent us on our way. She did really good until the last one, then I had to help it along and play surrogate mother to get it breathing. I still wasn't convinced the last one would make it, cuz it just kinda laid there.......it wasn't the least bit interested in nursing or anything. Thankfully, by the end of the night, it was moving around and nursing with the rest of it's litter mates, and you couldn't even tell which one it was.

Belknap has turned out to be a great mommy, which is good since she's so young. She is very attentive, and really likes to snuggle up with them. Once we got her and the kittens moved into a bedroom, she doesn't like them being out of it, for any length of time. I took them all out today so that I could change the bedding, and she waisted no time at all trying to carry them back to the bedroom !! I had to hurry and carry them all back, and once there, she snuggled right in again!

Oregon Coast

2010-05-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

So, we got a delayed anniversary getaway at the coast this weekend. And it couldn't have been a better weekend - it was absolutely gorgeous weather !!

We really didn't do alot, just walked up and down Broadway doing a lot of window shopping. However, we did indulge in a few pounds of taffy and a coupla blocks of fudge !!

The best part was this little celtic shop we stopped in. The owner is from Scotland and she tells the best stories !!! Given the opportunity, I would have gladly stayed all day just to listen to her talk. It was a delightful half hour we spent with her.

And for those of you that don't believe we have beaches in Oregon.....

This is where we stayed....right on the edge of the beach....

And this was our indulgence.........

And these were just for fun...

and this was just for Darci....

Milestone

2010-05-03T11:04:00.001-07:00

Well, Jaime had another good report on his blood work last week. So, you know what that means.....MISTER ! GET BACK TO WORK !!!!

Seriously, he headed back to work this morning. He'll be doing half days the first two weeks, and then should be back to full time after that. He continues to be a little jaundiced (mostly his eyes), but now it just looks like a healthy glow. And he's put on about 5 of the 10 or more pounds he lost. So, he's looking a whole lot healthier.

We have to continue to work on building up his energy level and lung capacity, so in addition to his walks to and from the light rail each day, we'll also work in a 30 minute walk after I get off work. I'm sure before too long, he'll be itching to get back on his bike.

Good News

2010-04-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally have some indication that Jaime is getting better. He goes weekly for blood tests to check, among other things, his bilirubin levels. Well, the last two (2) weeks his levels have finally come down. In fact last week, they decreased substantially - from 17 to 9. (Internet research shows normal levels are around 3.)

He's also showing other signs of improvement - his energy level is increasing, which means we actually venture out periodically; he's sleeping better and itching less. We're hopeful he'll be back at work within a month.

Finally, as mentioned in my previous post, we had planned to spend most of this week in Hawaii. Since we weren't able to go, our daughters put together a surprise celebration - with a little help from several really good friends. We were picked up by our bff's Scott & Jody, under the guise of taking us out to dinner to celebrate. We were immediately blindfolded - and driven to Kayleigh's house for a Hawaiian-style gathering!!!

And yes, we really were surprised....Kayleigh inadvertently left a few clues, but quickly covered her tracks, as did her sisters. It appears we've raised a bunch of liars !!!!

Update

2010-03-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s a little embarrassing to realize it’s been about 9 months since my last entry. When I started this journey, my goal was once a month… time to rededicate myself.

Let’s see…..after our great 4th of July visit in Seattle, our next adventure was our annual trip to the Oregon Coast sand dunes. Our good friends, Scott & Jody, loaned us their quad so that we would have a toy of our own (so to speak). Jaime and I both managed to launch it while we were there !!! He stood it up going up a hill, and I (literally) launched at the top of a dune, then set it on it’s rear – busted the tail light !!! Ahhh….what great memories !!! Our goal was to get either a camper/trailer, or a side-by-side for this year’s trip.

September meant the beginning of school – for Justine and Darci. Justine continued taking classes at Mt. Hood Community College, working toward the nursing program. Darci began her freshman year at Portland State University (PSU). She began taking general studies while she decides on her major. She scheduled classes for every day, starting at 8 am!!! So, she would leave the house by 6:30 so that she could ride the Max. She takes after her dad…

Then winter set in…..We spent this Thanksgiving with Jaime’s sister Elizabeth and her family down in southern Oregon. Justine and Darci went with us, while Kayleigh and Chris stayed here and celebrated Thanksgiving with Chris’ family – in their new town house !!! Mid-November, Kayleigh and Chris bought a new townhouse in Sandy, which is up the road from us about 20 minutes or so. They managed to close before the end of the year and take advantage of the tax credit. It’s a nice 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath – the perfect starter home.

The big news was the big freeze in December. This translated to a really busy time at work for me. And then we were flung into Christmas. We enjoyed a nice, quiet family gathering at Kayleigh and Chris’ house. And before we new it, the new year had arrived.

In January, after suffering months with chronic nasal congestion, Jaime finally relented and visited an ENT. His diagnosis included a deviated septum and lots of inflammation. His recommendation – sinus surgery. So, at the end of January – Jaime went under the knife – got a nose job !!! Besides the obvious discomfort, it was difficult to tell he’d had anything done….there was no swelling, no black eyes, just a little nose bleed. And this really funny looking kotex-type contraption !!!!

Well, that’s where the fun ended……….. About a month after the surgery he started having problems with hydration – or so he thought. Symptoms – very yellow urine, itching (like dry skin), nausea, and then he began to feel weak. So, this prompted a visit to the doctor and a diagnosis – hepatitis !!!

We are now 5 weeks into this ordeal….. The doctor quickly discovered it wasn’t Hep A, B or C (which means it’s not contagious). He referred him to a gastro-enterologist in hopes he could type it and determine how he got it. He started with blood tests, and then, when that didn’t reveal anything, Jaime had an ultrasound, and then a CT scan.

At this point, I have to insert a side note……… During this time, I had an aunt pass away, somewhat unexpectedly. On the day Jaime got his ultrasound, I was headed out of town for the funeral. While I was enroute, Jaime underwent the CT scan.

They originally suspected he had gall stones, and so they thought he would be scheduled for gallbladder surgery – possibly while I was out of town. CT scan didn’t reveal any stones, however, the doctor wasn’t convinced. The next step was an endoscopic ultrasound – that’s a procedure where they stick a camera down your throat while under mild sedation. They were hoping they would find a stone in the bile duct, and finally the cause of the hep. No such luck…… However, they did discover an enzyme deficiency, which they believe, coupled with the large (and long) dose of antibiotics, sent him into a drug-induced hepatitis. Finally, they mystery is solved. The next step is a liver biopsy, hopefully to determine if there’s any liver damage. As for a “cure”…………the only thing the doc can prescribe is time. You see, there is no medication to treat hepatitis.

So, he’s now into his 5th week at home. Can’t go to work cuz he’s too weak and too yellow ! And he has a hard time sleeping cuz he spends most of his time scratching. You see, he’s basically having an allergic reaction to the bilirubin in his blood. And, until recently, he’s struggled with his appetite due to the nausea.

So, we’re headed into April which, for us, means 25 years of wedded bliss! We had planned a trip to Hawaii – and now we’re hoping to at least be able to enjoy dinner out. And Hawaii, or not, we’ll be able to count our blessings.

in 100 words or less.....

2009-07-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

fantastic weekend...sonic lunch, stupid traffic, hot tamales, old friends (dear friends), crowded market, bridge troll, ferry ride, perfect view, beautiful scenery, late dinner, cute cottage, lazy day, 2 bbq's, generous hosts, sunny weather, cold water, boat ride, phone calls, birthday wishes (mom too), flashing necklace, bright moon, warm bonfire, reeses smores, fireworks galore, big fireworks, loud fireworks, late night, late start, music experience, walked blocks, closed market, no nectarines, rushed goodbyes, night drive, full moon, home again. Best husband, perfect gift....purple vans !!!

New Loves...

2009-07-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

The day that Annie died this little angel wandered into Darci's dorm at Girl's State in Salem. While she's Darci's cat and Annie could never be replaced, this little cutie has certainly eased the pain of losing Annie.

This is Lucky a cat that our oldest kidnapped and brought home a couple of years ago. She has ended up our cat, and she's a pretty good cat. We got her her own catnip plant the other day from the nursery. These pictures are of her "getting stoned". Turns out Lucky has quite the addictive personalty.

To-ma-toes

2009-07-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's gonna be a good year for tomatoes here at the Hall farm...REAL tomatoes for all you Farm Town folks. We've got Romas, grape, sweet 100's (cherry) and medium slicing tomatoes

In Memoriam

2009-06-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

We had our beloved Annie for about 17 yrs.

Update

2009-06-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

So, we've been helping kayleigh move stuff to her storage unit this week - in preparation for her move to Idaho. She was complaining because when she moved *into* this apartment, Chris was in Idaho, and unable to participate. So, she said next time they move, she's opting out - Chris can do it all.

Great news !! Kayleigh found out today that she's not being layed off, but will have basically the same position at a different school in the district. One that's actually closer to the apartment she just moved out of :-P

However, I couldn't help but remind her that means she'll be moving again at the end of the summer........while Chris is still in Idaho........

2009-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

Finally, I was chastised by my oldest daughter that I never post anything about my other kids. So, Kayleigh, this is for you.....

Justine is still waiting tables at a local restaurant / sports bar. She's currently on a break from school, but will be starting back in the next few weeks. Her plan is to get her CNA, and then (hopefully) get a job in that field to help her work her way through the remainder of college. In the meantime, she's spending time with all her friends.

As for Kayleigh, she's moving the last of the boxes out of her apartment tomorrow. She'll be staying with us the rest of the week, then she'll fly to Montana on Saturday. School is out for her this week, and she's moving to Salmon, ID to be with her husband while he fights wild fires again this summer.

With all the recent budget cuts, Kayleigh will be laid off at the end of the school year. She won't know, possibly until the next school year, if she'll have a position available for her. If not, her plans are to return to school full time.

As for Jaime and I, our immediate plans are to spend July 4th in the Bremerton / Seattle area, and we'll have our annual camping trip to the dunes in August. Beyond that, we're happily anticipating the next chapter in our lives, as well.

2009-06-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

I've included just a few of her senior pics.

Our (last) graduate

2009-06-08T21:59:00.001-07:00

Well, we've reached another milestone....our last child graduated from high school last Thursday. Had a little "weather" concern when major thunderstorms moved through the area that evening. Just like a Texas thunder boomer!! Moved through quickly so, not much more than a good sprinkle by the time we head for the venue.

As for the ceremony itself......it was shorter than I anticipated (only 1.5 hours!!). Darci performed with a small group of drama students, as well as the choir.

Then we headed for the all-night-party....... then the long, endless night commenced. (It seems the older I get, the longer the night seems...) Finally, at 6 am, we hit the bed for a nap.

The next chapter........Darci will be attending PSU (Portland State Univ) in the fall. Til then, the search is on for a job........and a clean room!!!

Fushcia

2009-05-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

This years spring production was "A Mid Summer Night's Dream". Darci played the "head" fairy (thus the staff and *much* larger wings!!). As you can imagine (just from these pics) that the production was awesome! Fabulous costumes and the set was equally impressive.

So, with that completed, we're now on the down side of senior year. After that Darci had to present her "Senior Project" - her film festival. Her score sheets showed she made an excellent presentation. High scores combined with great comments !

Next is the Senior Banquet (when we graduated they called it a Senior Tea). Then finally graduation and the All Night Party. Then............I get to relax, and she starts college !!!

2009-05-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

Well, Jaime and I recently visited Houston-our nephew James (Steven's son) was baptized. We seem to make it about once every 3 years, so it's usually quite an event for us !!! We were able to see most of Jaime's family and I was also able to visit with my mom, grandma and one of my aunts. This was a nice bonus because my grandma and aunt both live in Illinois, so I don't have the opportunity to see them very often. (The last time was when I turned 40 - and no, I won't mention how long ago that was...).

We were also able to have a mini-reunion with several of our friends. Although it's always difficult for me to process the fact that everyone's kids are getting older!!! But lots of fun catching up with everyone.

However, we weren't prepared for the weather. There was a band of thunderstorms that came through Friday and Saturday. As is typical in that area, we experienced widespread flooding. It really became problematic on Saturday, making it difficult for us to get around. In fact, we were over an hour late to the baptism on Saturday. According to the rain gauge, we received about 3.5 inches in 36 hours.

It was really irritating, because it really limited what we were able to do on Saturday. But, Jaime really enjoyed the thunderstorms (or at least until one struct less than 2 blocks from the house !!).

But regardless of the weather, it was still a great trip.

Film Festival

2009-02-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

When we moved to Oregon 10 years ago (really??), we discovered they do things differently in the schools. Some good, some not-so-good. One of the things they do here in the high schools is what's known as a "senior project".

It kinda reminds me of a thesis. They have to choose a mentor, then they begin work on this project. At some point during their senior year, they must complete the project, including various documentation. Then at the end of the year, during "boards", they give an oral presentation of their project, including visuals.

Since Darci is interested in Drama, naturally her project would reflect that interest. Last week, Darci hosted her very own Film Festival. Somehow she coaxed several of her drama friends into putting together short movies (10 mins or less). Actually, I have a feeling it didn't take much coaxing..............

And, as a bonus, she charged an admission which was then donated to the drama department.

It was actually very entertaining. She associates with a very creative group of students. We weren't sure what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised with the results.

Next chapter........... The drama department is doing "A Midsummer Nights Dream" for their spring production. Darci plays the lead fairie.

Why I love my job...

2009-02-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

Today I was "forced" to go work here...(cel phone pictures just don't do it justice).

View from the top of Dam 1 Bull Run Reservoirs.

The Bear Creek House at Dam 1.

Looking East from Dam 1.

I get to go here every now and then also...the lake is Portland's source of drinking water, Bull Run Lake. That's Mt. Hood in the background.

My morning commute...

2009-01-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from the morning commute this morning in Portland. Luckily I was already at work when the heavier stuff started falling...these are courtesy of BikePortland.org

Snow again.....really?

2009-01-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

It started about 8 this morning.....about the time I headed into work. We've got probably a good inch, and it's still coming down.

Forecast says it will turn to icy rain by mid day, and icy road conditions tomorrow morning.

When we moved to Oregon 10 years ago......this was not what we signed up for !!!!

2009-01-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I can even say it.............it snowed, AGAIN!!! We probably had a good 1/2 inch when I got up this morning for my early-morning church meeting.

S-N-O-W is becoming one of those 4 letter words we really should not be using......

As the wind blows......

2009-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

This is certainly a winter full of unusual weather. It began with all of our Christmas and New Years snow. Then things dried out and we had several really sunny days (though still a little chilly). Which, believe or not, is unusual - this is normally our rainy season.

Now, we're (hopefully) at the tail end of a wicked wind storm. Weather reports say we're having 45-50 mph wind gusts. If you're outside driving around in it, this seems like an understatement. It's like living in a hurricane!!

Not only are we dealing with tree branches & road signs in the road, but our yard is filled with roof shingles. Fortunately, not from our own roof. Power outages are also the norm. We were driving through Gresham last night, waiting to get through an intersection......we noticed all the lights flicker & then everything went black. The only light was from headlights. It was very eerie. Didn't realize how much the lights of the city contribute to the driving experience.

2009-01-04T18:47:00.001-08:00

I can't believe I'm saying this, again...............it's snowing!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-02T20:48:00.000-08:00

Holy Moly...........we got more snow today!! We finally thawed out. In fact, we were getting so much rain that flooding became an issue. And wham, we get (measureable) snow again. Certainly not how I expected the new year to begin.

So we're sending new year wishes to our friends & family. I hope this finds you looking back on a good year, and forward to a great one.

My only resolution is to regularly post to this blog! With our kids mostly grown, we seem to live relatively boring lives. (Not that I'm complaining....)

Christmas Eve

2008-12-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

Sending out Christmas greetings to all our friends and family, in far away places!

This has been an unusual Christmas for us; the weather has really had an impact. Most people I talk to here really don't have a sense that it's Christmas. Being snowed in, we haven't been able to do any of the normal Christmas activities. We haven't been to church the last two Sundays. Even last-minute shopping has been almost impossible. Jaime finally dug our truck out, with the help of Chris, and got chains on so that we could spend Christmas eve together.

That's the one constant we have relied on.....spending time together as a family. We loaded our gifts into the truck, and headed to Kayleigh and Chris' for dinner and some Wii !

Darci's perspective

2008-12-24T06:40:00.001-08:00

Darci says:

Despite the fact that the snow is preventing me from going anywhere (even though I try) it was nice to have a 3-week winter break from school. Even though the district office made a horrible decision and tried to make us go to school last Thursday. It started snowing 30 minutes after school started and they let us go at lunch.

Christmas eve

2008-12-24T06:32:00.001-08:00

Well, it's 6:30 am on Christmas eve - day 3 of the work week. I'm waiting for my boss to come pick me up in his jeep. All our cars are still buried in the snow, and we didn't get chains for our truck yet. The main roads are in pretty good shape......bare pavement but still little slick. The sides streets, however, are a different story. Most cities don't plow the side streets, so we have up to a foot in the street which makes driving a small 2 wheel drive vehicle rather challenging. We have a path of foot steps from our front door to the driveway.......the drifts are probably at least 2 feet deep.

Our (Gresham) city mayor has declared a state of emergency due to the amount of snow we received. Police and fire departments were having a difficult, if not impossible, time getting to emergencies. So, with the declaration of a state of emergency, that brought the National Guard and their Hummers!!!

So, we've decided that a white christmas is way more than it's cracked up to be.

2008-12-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

Darlene has pretty much the sames pictures that I have, but I have a few different ones...

This is the Broadway Bridge and part of the Rose Quater covered in snow...

The Broadway Bridge as I was leaving work in the evening...

This is the road leading into the building where I work out of. You can see the blue and white "Water Bureau" sign on the right.

This is how I get around at work. We affectionately call her "the Beast". A '96 Ford, 1 ton, 4x4 van. She's got a 460 C.I. V8 engine that could pull down the moon. The chains are pretty much for show...

2008-12-22T20:10:00.001-08:00

So, I have a (1/2) snow day from work. And I thought I would take advantage of the time as well as the pics I've been taking. We had measureable snow for a couple of days last week. We're currently experiencing round 2.......it began snowing friday, and it's pretty much snowed ever since. In addition to the snow, the wind had been blowing through the gorge, from the east. Mix those two together and what do you get? Snow drifts upwards of 3 feet. The forecast says we may not get any real relief until Saturday. The only problem? I'm not quite done with my Christmas shopping!!

Snow Day

2008-12-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

This is what we started with last week.
This is what I came home to, when I walked home today.
This was at 6:30 monday morning, when Jaime and I headed for work.
This will give you some idea what the snow drifts are like. The window is to my office, the snow reaching the a/c unit.
This is the first few steps of my journey home monday afternoon.
Somewhere, there's a yard, sidewalk, driveway......
This is what I found at the office............7 am. The gorge winds had blown the snow against the doors, making it impossible to open them without first shoveling. The snow kept coming, the drifts kept getting taller.
This is the same entrance when I left monday, early afternoon.
You can't really tell, but we've hidden a Honda Accord in the street.
And this is the final few steps of what seemed to be a very long journey.