4th of July

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

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 !!!

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 !!!

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

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

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

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

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.....

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...

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

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

We had our beloved Annie for about 17 yrs.

Update

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........

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.

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

Our (last) graduate

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

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 !!!

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

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...

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.