New Years Eve

I believe I will take a nice afternoon nap. Then perhaps I'll be rested enough to enjoy a late nite out. Barb & I will be at the Greenewell party at 12 Midnight to welcome 2009. That's not their real name, but when Bob Greene married Dian Newell, I saw no other choice but to call them the Greenewells. A little goofy, maybe, but they're okay with it. Hope you all are well and I'll talk to ya next year.

December 2008

The weather has been good. No snow yet, but cold enough for snow. It's been a great fall for disc golf, and I'm still playing plenty. Now that I'm 60, I can compete in tournaments in the class of senior grand master. That sounds mighty prestigious to me.
The economy is supposed to be in a recession, but Spokane Movers is still getting some work. Just not as much. Did I say please visit our web site? http://www.spokanemovers.com. I tried to make that a link, but it didn't make. Hmmm

Dinner

Barb and I will head over the Pend Oreille River and through the woods to Lana's house Thursday for Thanksgiving dinner with the Wendel side. Lana wants us to stay overnight, so that is the plan. I think the idea is to get more chatting and guitar/singing and vodka. Friday we head home and prepare for a trip to Ballard for Bruce and Carol's big whing-ding. See you Saturday!

Thanksgiving Week

It's Monday. I am approaching my 60th birthday. That seems significant. 60. Geeeez!

Going on 60

November is here and the U.S. has elected Barack Obama our new president.
I am hopeful he can lead America to a brighter future.

In the mean time I am finishing off the last days of my 50's.
That was fast.

Much has changed, but much is the same.
I'm still the President at Spokane Movers after an eight year term.
These days I work largely from home with immeasurable support from Barb.

Business is slow this year, so I've had plenty of time to play disc golf, and hang out with Ben and Bruce and friends.

Barb fell on the steps and broke a bone in her foot. She's been in a cast for the last 5 weeks, so I've been providing the support. She is mending well and anxious to get back to work and play.

Mid-September 2008

Hi Folks! I'm still here.

My blog has taken a back seat to everything else in life it seems.
All is well with me. The cucumbers and zucchinis are still producing like crazy, and we are now tired of eating them. We are giving away as many as people will accept. ( Lock your cars!)

I have had another Seattle visit recently. The weather in Seattle has been very nice this summer. Not rainy. Fun times filled with food, friends and plenty of Disc Golf.

Ben is a very accommodating host, and I feel welcome to sleep in his spare room.

Brother Bruce and son Ben share my enthusiasm for Disc Golf, so when they aren't working or sleeping or eating, we are out there with friends, having fun.

This place is like a park!

Yesterday while we were gone to Wilbur, Ronnie came a mowed and trimmed the yard.

Lincoln County Revisited

Saturday Barb accompanied me to the annual Wild Goose Bill Days in Wilbur, and this year there was a focus on Govan. I was invited to participate in two ways: On the Govan Railway float, I road along throwing candy to the children along Wilbur's Main Street, and singing along with Charlie several old railroad songs. After lunch with Barb Goodlake McRea and family, we were off to the museum for the matinee, "It Happened One Day at School" produced, directed and starring Jo Robertson as a Govan School, where I would be playing the part of a student at Govan School along with Denny Stone, Ves Sitton, Greg Sassman, Don Bodeau, Daryll Bahr. What a bunch of ham! The day was a total success. There is extensive Govan history on display at the Wilbur Museum!

Luau

Friday evening we went to a luau at the home of some friends and it was good. Homemade mai tai, home brew, alot of guests who are involved with the local chapter of Society for Creative Anachronism. These people make a great mix for a party. We came home pretty early, but I'm sure these youngsters partied on through the night. Thank you Regina & Mike

Why?

A day without a blog is like a day without a frog.

But only for purposes of poetic convenience.

Why is there a 't' in horizontal? I mean it's about the horizon, right? (not the 'horizont'). I've wondered that for a long time. Today I'm wondering why is there an 'n' in messenger? It's a message, not a messange.

Life's persistent questions keep me guessing.

Monday

Barb smelling the lilacs.

Long Time

People are telling me I should post another entry on my blog. I have been slacking for some time now. All is well. Barb and I have been planting flowers herbs and veggies. I want to freeze some things for winter use this year. Groceries are expensive! The lilacs are just opening. I'll go get a picture for you. There. That's me. Today. Every year the smell of blooming lilacs brings back childhood memories of Govan where lilacs lined the yard. So aromarecollective. Call me syllaballistic if you must....

Time

My, but time flies by when we are busy! I have had another trip since my last post. I drove a load to Salem OR, and then took a train to Seattle where I spent more time with Ben and Bruce playing some disc golf and joining great people for great food. Our new friend Lulit from Etheopia served us a wonderful dinner of traditional Etheopian fair which we ate with our fingers as is the tradition. The coffee was roasted right there on the spot in Lulit's kitchen in a pan on the stove (a first for me). Ben has a new neighbor upstairs: his cousin, Michael Cahn. Very nice to get more aquainted with Michael. The two cousins have a veiw to die for looking at the Seattle skyline from their perch on Queen Anne hill.

Yesterday, Ben departed for the vacation trip of his life. His trip will include China, Thailand and Japan. He is expected back early in June.

Downey Woodpecker

This place is alive with birds. The older I get the more I appreciate birds. We put out a suet feeder and watched as a wide variety of opportunists finished it off in a few days

Saturday

I was planning to change the picture from winter to spring, but....it's snowing here.

Auntie Esther

It's tough to contemplate a world without Auntie Esther. She was like an extra parent; or more like a faithful gramma. It was with sad relief we said goodbye to a grand lady April 1, 2008.

This picture was Thanksgiving 2005.

Climatnipulation

Hey, let's COOL the globe. Google "turned out the lights" today, (used a background of black, not their usual white). They are drawing attention to an effort to get us to reduce our electrical consumption. So everybody turn out your lights for an hour, and bingo. Planet cools off! If it's that easy, I'm calling it 'climatnipulation!

First Day of Spring

The moon is full, the Friday is Good, and Old Man Winter is back to tease us all with a fresh white reminder of who's in charge.

My trip to Seattle was really fun with plenty of disc golf and family and friends and great food and drink and celebration of Saint Patrick's Day. And interstate 90 across the State of Washington is a beautiful trip.

Meadow Larks

I don't know of a more beautiful song. Not even close. The larks are back, and they are SO vocal. Mike Billingsley challenged me years ago to find one of their nests, but I never could find one they are so camouflaged.

Tomorrow, Seattle.

Tariff 15-C

Today I am off to a workshop where I will learn about Washington's Utilities and Transportation Commission's new household goods movers' rules and new Tariff. Household goods movers like me must adhere to strict rules and the latest Tariff. Yes, the government is in the middle of the moving business and consumers pay dearly for their involvement. I'm going to the workshop though, because I want to know the stuff and also to bump elbows with a few "friends in the business".

Spokanimal

I'm glad for our local animal protection service. They are a dedicated team of true animal advocates who keep our community clear of strays and manage the surplus animals with an aggressive adoption program. When we were ready to adopt kittens, Barb and I went to Spokanimal Care and picked out two healthy sibling kittens. They have been a source of great joy to us (and to each other) every day since then. Here, Smokey has found something moving inside the electric meter.

Saturmorn

Another early to bed, early to rise. Up at 5am. Coffee, news, puzzles, blogs, daylight. It's almost 7. So quiet. Barb is still asleep. Happy has made her daily exodus from bedroom bed to dining room bed. She's had her morning stroll and a few barks at whatever. A light rain is falling on the old snow.

Planning another Seattle trip.

Not sure of the date yet, as I am hauling a few items to Bothel for a customer. I believe it will be the weekend preceding St. Patrick's Day. Looking forward to some family time and fun over there. Hoping for more disc golf with Bruce and Ben and...? It's never dull in Seattle. Always something!

Ben is planning his biggest trip abroad ever. He has plans to visit China, Thailand, and Japan this spring, and is saving in earnest.

We had a very nice visit from Mike Wiley and bride-to-be Maya Carman on Sunday and we all had dinner at Northern Quest Casino buffet. (My choice). They bought a fixer-upper house near Ferris High and will be working on that to sell for money to move to ...? Australia?

Here's Happy in her 'comfort' zone.

Plesiosauradorable

Do you Woot? Every morning, I check in with woot.com to be ammused or laugh hysterically, and maybe get an incredibly good deal on some worthless crap or really good stuff. Well, today's T-shirt was a cartoon of a baby plesiosaurus, (which I had to look up). The shirts are sold out, but I got me a new portmanteau! Nice one, Woot!

Swim Little Nessie!

Quail

There are about 100 of these fat boys around the house every day eating the driveway. I would eat them, but I'm not up for the preparation part. In Govan, Daddy had chickens. These are my chickens.

Auntie Esther

Yesterday I made a visit to Auntie Esther over at Riverveiw. She's been sick, but is feeling better. She said Lana and Bridgett have been by "once or twice a week" to visit and play Skip-bo with her. She sure does appreciate the company.

Sundark Morning

Sundark. Sounds a bit foreboding. Don't worry. It's just Sunday before daylight. All is quiet but for my sipping. And all is dark except for a distinct glow east of here. No, it's not the sun. It's the aura of neighbor Linda Lael Miller, the romance novelist. I hope she is feeling better. She's been sick. Although I've never met her in person, I feel like I know Linda pretty well. The reason for this is that she shares her life in her blog. Since she moved from Arizona to the house at the end of our road and cleared some land to put some horses, and built a big barn, I have begun to notice her presence more. So I read her blog and it is so delightful I read all the archives too. Now all her horses cats and dogs have names and personalities. I have not read any of her novels yet, but Barb read two and she says they are good. Anyway, Linda, now that we know you so well, it would be nice to meet you sometime. Your blog reads so easily, you have made the concept of blogging more realistic to me. Thank you Linda for inspiring me to write a blog.

Seattle

My recent trip to Seattle was punctuated by disc golf at 3 different courses.

Ben and I took a tour of Seattle Solstice, an amazing granite cutting shop.

I had the pleasure of the company of brother Bruce, son Ben and an array of wonderful friends of Ben's.

I should have gotten pictures.

Signs of spring?

Here's the new Jerry with a new beard starting. (Slightly lighter than the last one.)

Saturdawn

I spent an hour this morning catching you up on recent events. For the THIRD TIME the whole blog was lost before I pressed 'publish'. This happens when I try to give you a picture. GRRRR!

More later

GRRRR!

More Snow

We are getting some serious snow this year. I've been carving out the driveway with Barb's big snow blower. It's fun!

Blog, Blog, Blog

Blogs are web logs with most of the first syllable snipped off. Kinda like shrooms?

Dinner at Denny's

I didn't feel like cooking last night, but I did feel like getting out for a bit, so I took Barb out to the local Denny's. We sit at the bar when we go to Denny's and watch sports TV and people. Barb had a delicious coffee drink, and I had two beers. After the food was devoured, and we were waiting to pay, I was visited upon by one of my all-time favorite syllabeliminations: One of those burps that reminds you what you ate. A cucumburp. Enough on that.

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Monday, and a holiday to remind us all of civil rights. I'm a big fan of civil rights, and I believe we still have a long way to go in that direction. Thank you for remembering.

Winter winds have been creating snow sculptures in the yard and closing highways on the Palouse. Today will be a snow blower day as the driveway has become partly blocked with drifted snow.

The quail seem to appreciate the bird seed we've been tossing out in the snow covered driveway, and are sharing with some sparrows. The magpies seem to prefer cat food.

Ya gotta love this guy....

Well, I talked to Don. I thought he would be all depressed and bummed out about his diagnosis. No. He said he wasn't going to worry about it. He trusts in God, and he reminded me he is "with a real good woman". Said he had to go to work.

Pancreancer

Yesterday we learned that our beloved brother-in-law Don Brodie, who married my sister Peggy a couple years ago, has come down with cancer of his pancreas, which we fear may take his wonderful life. Our prayers are for Don and Peggy to be comforted in this difficult time.

Barb and I went to (my cousin) Lana's last night for a little dinner party. Very nice.

The snow is melting like crazy. But they are predicting a cold snap. What a blessing to live in a warm house!

Sunday

Today started off early early. That's because I went to bed early last night and was fully rested by 4am. So coffee and Internet news, puzzles, videos and blogs accompanied my dawn. 2 inches of new snow has just arrived and the winter birds are here for their handout. Flickers are here, finishing the last of the mountain ash berries. The 100 or so quail are so full of feathers they're like small chickens. There are small, grey, black-hooded birds I'm guessing are juncos. And of course we always have magpies.

Saturlaze

Met with friends for a few drinks at Chan's Dragon, and finished off Friday with dinner at Ming Wah. Always good. It's a lazy Spokaturday; sunny and 30F.

The Swamp Tavern Revisited

When Beez calls for beers, I drop everything and join in the fun.

Thank you Mike; that was about due.

January 2, 2008

My, this year is whizzing by.

Yesterday I played disc golf in the snow with about 9 others in a game of random doubles. Stayed dry and warm; had fun, got much needed exercise.

Feels like a Monday, but it's a Wednesday. The first business day of 2008.
Barb has gone to the office, and I am home with Happy and the kitties.

New Years Day 2008

Happy New Year!

I slept well. It is beautiful outside. Sun on frost. We are off to Denny's for a little brunch and then I'm planning to play disc golf in the snow at Stimpi Ridge.