Snoqualmie Ridge in November

A week at James and Amy's (Spencer and Garrett, too) in Washington at the beginning of the rainy season. Beautiful weather for our flight out Wednesday (11/4) where we met Brenda at Sea-Tac Airport and picked up her rental car. We couldn't seem to find a place for a late lunch so we went directly to Reagan's house on the Ridge. Late lunch with Amy and Garrett, then on to pick up Spencer at his bus stop. Later to see Spencer at Tae-Kwon-Do class.

Thursday we got the boys off to third grade for Spencer who gets a ride to school with James on his way to work and preschool for Garrett who shares rides with another boy. After we picked up the boys from preschool and dropped off Kyle we were off to do some shopping--the girls to a craft barn and the boys (Garrett and I) off to Home Depot. Then late lunch at a great steak house. We picked up Spencer at his bus stop and were off to home to get Garrett ready for soccer.

Breakfast Friday was in North Bend at George's Bakery for some of their fabulous baked goods, especially their BIG doughnut. Spencer's school had teacher workday so he and G-man (preschool M, T, Th only) had a great time at Imagine Children's Museum in Everett--water discovery; train, plane, and bus exploration; art center; construction arena; rooftop play and climbing; and self-directed theater kept the boys (and adults) busy for hours. Met James at home, the off to Kent for dinner at Spiro's followed by WHL hockey game; Seattle Thunderbirds lost to Spokane Chiefs.

We are now in the midst of some serious rain and on Saturday morning Spencer plays soccer in the water and mud of a nearby park. I am proud he tolerated the cold rain, playing very hard in difficult conditions. We boys watched some college football (which starts 9 am there) including Purdue's win at U of Michigan for the first time in our children's lifetimes! and a nostalgia rush playing vibrating football (called electric football when I was a kid), the game where plastic football players move on a vibrating field until the ball carrier is touched by an opponent. Meanwhile, the women were off to a scrapbook and craft convention and fabulous lunch.

After a lazy Sunday morning we dressed for threatening weather we expected in Seattle for the Seahawks-Lions football game (luckily it was dry, though cool and overcast). Lunch at a Chinese restaurant in the International District, the off to the game where we watched the Lions end the first quarter ahead 17-0 but finally lost 32-20.

Monday found us easily fixing some doors and laundering clothes between transporting the boys. Amy fixed dinner for us and we watched Monday Night Football which begins at 5:30!

Kathy and Amy help at Spencer's school on Tuesday while Brenda works on business and I read my book at a nearby Panera Bread. We pick up Garrett from school along with a friend and his brother who we watch so their dad can work from home. All of us go to a McD with a play area for the boys. Later Mexican cuisine for our last dinner.

Brenda, Kathy, and I go to the airport together early Wednesday, drop off the rental car, and grab a quick bite for breakfast. Brenda got on her flight and we ours a couple hours later--since she had a stopover our planes landed about the same time. A wonderful visit, the first time we'd all been together in well over a year.

Tillson Street Halloween Decorations

Now is a special time for residents on Tillson Street in Romeo who decorate their homes and front yards for Halloween. Kathy and I took our walk up and down Tillson Street which stretches from Van Dyke to Sisson. It is amazing. Each house (there are about 30 in all) has there own theme: a graveyard with headstones of prominent historical Romeo figures who are recognized by street names in the village, a castle home to tens of skeletons, one dedicated to cartoon character Charlie Brown and his search for The Great Pumpkin, and an extremely large collection of jack-o-lanterns carved to represent cats, dogs, happy folks, and sad sacks. The list goes on. As does the fun.

Kids love it, as do their parents and grandparents. If Spencer and Garrett were here, we'd certainly take them on the yearly fun visit to Tillson Street.

Back to the Lake

Last Wednesday we left for only our second trip to Emerald Lake this season. From then until Sunday we worked on projects, went to dinner with Kelvin, fished, took a Ranger ride "back east", mowed, cut up and moved downed trees, trimmed, fished, got rid of spider webs, took a pedal boat ride, and read. Weather was warm and mosquitos were active. Another great trip.

And on the Sea

After we settled in our cabin and dinner, the cruise ship left Seward with us on deck.  The room seemed small but adequate for us since we spent our time on deck, in port, at the theatre, and listening to musical performers.  The next day at sea the ship pulled up among small icebergs as close as safely possible to Hubbard Glacier's six mile wide face.  A beautiful sunny day we saw eagles soaring and harbor seals sunning themselves on the icebergs and swimming alongside the ship.

On Sunday we docked in Juneau set between the mountains and the sea.  We walked up to the Alaska State Capitol for a guided tour, then past the Governor's House only open to the public for the annual open house around December 7.  Up a steep climb we found the House of Wickersham, a Victorian manor lived in by the man responsible for Alaskan home rule, the Alaska Railroad, the University of Alaska, and Mount McKinley National Park.  The guide summoned us in even though the house is closed to the public on Sundays. On our walk back to the ship we saw St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church and the obligatory saloon (Red Dog Saloon).  As we walked about we noticed the abundant lush vegetation and that most cars are older and smaller (the same throughout our stops).   That evening we sat "fore" and watched as we sailed through some straits.  

In Skagway on Monday we took a historic walking tour from the Klondike National Historical Park Visitors Center.  Gold.   That afternoon we boarded the narrow gauge White Pass and Yukon Railway for a ride up to the pass climbing alongside the turbulent Skagway River before summiting at the border between Alaska and British Columbia where we saw ice still on the river and deep snow alongside the track, and flags marking the border.

Tuesday we were "tendered" to Icy Strait Point shore.  After walking along the rocky beach and nature trail we walked into Hoonah, the largest Tlingit village in Alaska.  Along the way we saw eagles, one eating its fish lunch atop a piling and others perched in trees.  The town was different from the others:  houses were modest, roads were narrow, jewelry stores were absent, fishing harbor looked ordinary, boats looked used.  This is the fifth season of cruise visitation for the village and they permit only one ship at a time--I hope it does not change too much over time.  Refreshing.  That night we had a formal dinner of lobster followed by Baked Alaska.

We walked about Ketchikan Wednesday where we took a bus to see collection of totem poles--short stop, too commercialized.  Back in town we visited a museum and stopped in their library for 15 minutes of free Internet.  The stores are beginning to look familiar so back to the ship and a snooze on deck. 

After a day at sea seeing beautifully forested mountains nearby on either side we reached port in Vancouver, passed through immigration and customs, and were transported to our hotel.  We along with Bill and Ginny from Alabama took a bus to University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens, a collection of at least seven different gardens including an Alpine Garden arranged by continent, and A Walk in the Woods.  Especially interesting was the Physic Garden displaying medicinal plants (Bill is a pediatrician and Ginny a nurse).  That evening we had our farewell dinner as we followed Game 7 between Detroit and Pittsburgh intermittently in the bar.  After that we strolled a while finding near the museum a countdown clock for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

We arose at 2:30 am Saturday morning for our taxi ride to the airport.  Eight of our group were aboard the 5:40 am flight to Salt Lake City.  Upon arrival there Kathy and I read on the departure board that our flight to Detroit was cancelled (the other six were off to Newark).  It took several conversations to learn we were rebooked on a 3:00 pm flight affording us five hours of unscheduled airport touring.  After our somewhat bumpy flight to DTW we arrived home close to midnight.  Bring in the bags. Tired.  Happy.  Great trip.  Good night.  We'll start the laundry in the morning.

...To Shining Sea.

We visited Alaska on a twelve-day tour that included a land portion from Anchorage to Denali NP via motor coach and train, then motor coach to Seward.  There we boarded our ship for our cruise that stopped in Juneau, Skagway, Icy Straits Point, Ketckikan, and Vancouver.

We arrived in Anchorage late Tuesday afternoon and, after checking in to our hotel, walked about the downtown area passing the official starting line for the Iditarod Dog Sled Race, a world class stuffed Kodiak bear, and a memorial to Alaskan statehood, then met our tourmates at dinner.  With light streaming in the windows until near midnight (4 am Romeo time) we resisted sleep.  Though we know about the increased daylight, the experience was sensational, sitting up with light through our window so we could read until near midnight.

Wednesday morning we rode to Telkeetna.  There the Telkeetna River and the Chulitna River join the Sustina River.  Along its banks we got a panoramic view of Mt. McKinley (Denali) with Mt. Foraker,  and dipped our hands into the cold water to scoop up flour rock, the fine sediment deposited from glacial runoff.  Walking back through the town we found a small cafe with bakery in the historical district (downtown) that served wonderful cinnamon rolls--should have bought two.   We boarded the Alaska Railrod train in Telkeetna for Denali Park.  The rails followed a river winding its way up to Denali Park.  Here our hotel sat on the banks of the Nenana River and because we had no air conditioning we left the doorwall open for cooling and for the white water noise which lulled us into a sound sleep.

The next morning we took the Denali Natural History Tour into the park where we saw young Grizzly bears playing in a meadow beside a stream not far from their mother, Dall sheep high up in rocky terrain, caribou, moose, and ptarmigan on the side of the road; a rustic, still used ranger cabin; and of course Denali.  For two full days we have viewed the "the great one", seen only about 20% of the time because of the fog, rain, and clouds, but for us 100% of the time.  That afternoon we were driven back to Wasilla for the night.

Our first stop on Friday was at a sled dog training facility run by the family of Joe Redington, Sr. who founded the Iditarod Race in 1973.  Kathy took a ride on a wheeled sled pulled by sled dogs--MUSH.   A short ride later along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet we stopped at Begich-Boggs Visitors Center from where we can view Portage Glacier, walk along Portage Lake, and touch floating glacial ice. We then rode in the Kenai peninsula, back and forth between mountains, to Seward where we boarded our cruise ship later in the afternoon.

From Sea...

After flying into Manchester, NH we had lunch at a little restaurant recommended by the host at our B&B in Manchester.  We wanted to walk about the city but succumbed to the 90 degree temps and drove to Concord to see the state capitol building and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium and discovery center.  Much of the center is hands-on student activities, just what I can imagine McAuliffe would have wanted.  (We came to find out later that Becky, Mike's new wife, has a brother who had McAuliffe as a teacher and her dad knew her from his business.)  Later that night we went to an IMAX theater to see Star Trek.  

The next day we we joined at breakfast by a couple from Wisconsin, originally from Michigan.  She grew up in Detroit--east side like me--and did her student teaching at Utica High School.  How many degrees of separation?  Afterward we walked down to the Merimack River, around the Millyard area which has old red brick textile mills now being used for offices and housing.  Then through downtown Manchester and a bite to eat at a diner.   We visited the Currier Museum and took a tour of the Zimmerman House, one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright--o much like the lake house.  After that we drove to York, Maine for lobster dinner with Mike and Becky, their families, and many of their friends.  Kathy was in seventh heaven with the fresh seafood.

Saturday morning we walked from our resort into downtown Ogunquit with the obligatory tourist shops, restaurants, and pubs.  The wedding was nearby at Clay Hill Farm.  Mike and Becky wrote the service which was performed by a close and longtime friend.  Met Mike's wonderful neighbors from D.C. and some of his longtime friends at dinner.  Then the music and the Eschenburg clan eventually changing into some comfortable clothes and doing the alligator which has become a tradition being passed down to another generation.  Afterward we relaxed with a walk on Ogunquit Beach reached via Marginal Way, a paved walk along the ocean edge overlooking small coves and inlets, and cliffs punctuated by the crashing waves on the rocks.

We visited Cliff House resort where Kathy spent summers giving workshops to educators in the northeast.  The cliffs are high, the rocks are large, the setting beautiful. Then a drive up the coast.  We eventually reached Old Orchard Beach that seems to be for teens and young adults with its carnival atmosphere.  On our return we stopped in Kennebunkport for lunch and a walk in scattered light showers.  We did not try to find the Bush compound but a few in our group quite by accident did.  We meandered back through some of the off-coast countryside and relaxed outside and read before joining the Eschenburg family for a night of pizza and pop and laughter.  

Before we broke camp Monday we walked to Perkins Cove along Marginal Way in the opposite direction as before--just as breathtaking in this direction.  Our drive to the airport took us along Shore Road through York Beach, downtown Portsmouth, NH (which was busy with people everywhere), then a walk in the historic district of Exeter, NH's Revolutionary War capital where we passed a house that predated the RW by about 70 years.  Then to the airport and home.

Great fun with a great family!!!

From the Ridge to the Mitten.

Grandsons Spencer and Garrett brought their mom, Amy, for a visit before Easter.   We had great fun with the three of them.  They also visited Amy's family and friends in NW Indiana both before and after their visit here--they changed cars in Marshall.

Colored and decorated Easter eggs.  Went to Buddy's for pizza and Fuddrucker's for burgers.  Saw the movie Monsters vs. Aliens while eating candy and slurping cold drinks.  Looked for frogs in our pond but found only tadpoles.  Waited for the last big snowfall to melt.  Played games including checkers and Isolation.  Looked at family pictures, especially of the boys when they were younger.  Jumped on the inflatable bed like a trampoline.  Roasted marshmallows.   Read and wrote.  And gave lots of hugs.  

We had a great time.   

My Vote for Mr. Basketball in Michigan...

would not have been the winner.  I watched Nix (Pershing HS)  play in a quarterfinal game at UD, semifinal at Breslin, and final on tv.  Yes, he is big, can rebound grabbing missed shots and putting in the puppies, can take up space in the middle, but lacks other factors I expect from a Mr. BB.  His teammate, Keith Appling, is on my list ahead of him.  Versatile, quick, fast, great shot, touch, and a leaper--most of which Mr. BB does not have--who can dominate a game and carry his team.  However, Appling is a junior and that may have disqualified him from consideration.

For me Mr. BB must stand out in the latter stages of the state tournament and Appling did.  He scored most of his points  in the second halves of the quarterfinal and semifinal.  But in the final he scored early and often setting a Class A finals record by scoring 49 points.  On his way to to MSU he could wind up contributing as much as did Drew Nietzel.

The Flakes Just Keep On Coming

We've had many chances to enjoy our new x-c ski equipment.

Sometimes we ski in the rear of the Romeo house as Kathy is here.

And we've been to Stony Creek Metropark on their groomed ski trails.  We will stay on the easy ones for a while until we get better and more comfortable.

We restrict our skiing to temperatures above about 20 degrees, perhaps lower if sunny.  Our snowfall total for January is near a record.  And for the season we have had over 62 inches--last season the total was about 69 inches--according to one neighbor who measures each snowfall before he clears his driveway.

Hoping to get out this weekend... 

Inauguration 2009

A while back, when Obama won the Democratic Party nomination, young people seemed excited by his nomination, and motivated to be actively involved in his election  At that time I thought it quite likely he would be elected.  Deja vu, the commitment by many young people in 1960 propelled  John F. Kennedy to the presidency.  And so it happened again.

A change has come.  And I hope Obama and our congress are successful solving our most pressing problems.  Two wars and a crippled economy require the efforts, wisdom, and attention of us all.  

A Bunch of Boring Bowls

Couldn't get excited about too many of the bowl games.  Perhaps it was because the Big Ten teams did not do well, but perhaps also it was because the BCS Championship game has minimized interest in even the big bowl games, namely Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl.  The others have little meaning to all but their fans.

Until the BCS championship ten years ago or so, multiple bowl games were of great interest because they contributed to determining the national champion.  The 1997 bowl season exemplifies the importance and excitement of the old system.  Michigan and Nebraska were the only undefeated teams during the regular season and both won their bowl games.  #1 UM beat #8 Washington State in the Rose Bowl while #2 Nebraska defeated #3 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.  The final polls gave a split national champion and generated spirited conversation about which one was correct.  AP poll ranked University of Michigan number 1 and Nebraska second while the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll had them reversed.   Some considered Nebraska's victory "better" than UM's.   More interesting would have been UM and Neb both losing.  Then Tenn might have been voted national champion (one loss and the big win over Neb) or WSU (one loss and a bowl win over UM); in addition #4 Florida would also have had some claim because they had only one loss and defeated Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.  Three bowl games kept our interests back then because each contributed something to the mythical national champion.  The interest was intense, the talk interesting.

Now there is only one game that gets discussed for the national champion.  No more what-ifs before the bowl season, no more lively comparisons of schedules, no more who beat who and by how much, no more this bowl win was better than that one.

A lot of the fun of the bowl season is gone.  And a playoff will not bring the fun back.

BRRRR...

Below zero the last three nights, but warmer weather over the weekend.

We went to Evart for a funeral Friday in the new Envoy and were pleased the temperature was uniform and constant while the outside temps began at 8 below and increased to 10 above.  The Envoy has manual climate control whereas Kathy's car and the old Expedition each are  automatic so learning the settings will take some time.

Am also trying out a new winter coat I got a few weeks ago at Columbia outlet; it's working very well in this weather.  The coat has a waterproof and breathable shell and fleece  liner, a new design for me.  I like the flexibility of removing the liner and using the shell by itself over other layers while x-c skiing and snow removing or inserting it for bitter cold and less active outdoor work.

Hope to get out this weekend for a couple skis if the temps and winds permit.

Some Works of The Masters

A special exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts features works from Monet to Dali on tour from the Cleveland Museum of Art.  And we went Saturday to stand in line with hundreds of our new found friends to see the special exhibition of over 80 pieces including paintings by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, Cezanne, Degas, Renoir, and Dali and sculptures of Rodin.   

I am awed that I can see works in person which I have read or heard about secondhand in books and magazines or heard described on TV.

In addition we saw much of the rest of the DIA including an impressive collection of chess sets including a Faberge creation and one depicting France vs Great Britain.  I was impressed by the carving of ivory into artful chess pieces.  Check mate.

Have I Got A Deal For You!

A perfect storm for car buying.  After a couple postcards and a recorded phone message from the auto dealer where we got Kathy's car , including a 40% off sticker "teaser", I went to look over their inventory.  

You see, we were nearing the end of owning the Expedition.  We put money into the Expedition last spring just to keep it running and safe.  And we were sure we would need to put in more.  So it seemed a good time to trade for something newer.  And auto dealers were offering what seemed to be unbeatable deals, both domestic and foreign.

After meeting with our salesman at Serra Cadillac-Buick-GMC-Pontiac, I came home with the 40% news.  Available were 5 of the same model GMC Envoy, a size we were looking at since it is a bit smaller than the Expedition, in four colors I could live with.  Kathy looked at the colors on the Internet and made her first and second choices, then called the Casey with our choice.  The next morning we met with Casey, took the vehicle for a test drive, decided to buy it and trade in the Expedition, signed the papers, and drove it home.  We now have a new workhorse vehicle and can keep Kathy's Caddy for "pleasure".

So for 10 years the maroon Expedition was our workhorse.  It hauled 4 x 8 sheets of drywall and rolls of insulation for finishing the garage and basement, groceries and softener salts from Sam's Club, bags of fertilizer and plants for our gardens,  hundreds of day lilies from Don and Marietta,  and friends and relatives downtown for theater, concerts, and sports.  It took us up north with our tools and supplies, west to MC when James and Amy were there with Spencer (who loved "Grandpa's Car"), to airports and train stations with our luggage and travel plans, and around the state for consulting work.  And for a short time it took me to work during my last months before retirement.