My friend Dave Partridge, wanted to know if I would go with him to Pleasant, CA with him to tow back a car that his brother had given him. I was more than willing, as we never get to have a lot of time to just talk, and there wouldn't be much more to do than talk and drive.
Barb was off at camp and did not know that I was going, but since I had been invited to join the returning staff for dinner at 4 PM Friday night, I figured that I could tell her then. We were planning on leaving at 6PM. I had told here earlier that I might help him, but as I didn't find out the time till after she had left for camp, I hoped that it would be OK.
I picked up the tow dolly Friday afternoon, so that when Dave arrived, we would be ready to roll. We were on the road about 6 PM, and with only about 30 minutes stopped time, we were at Don's house a few minutes after 4 Am.
We got about 4 hours sleep, and were both wide awake, so Don fixed breakfast for us while we visited with some of the rest of the family. By 10 AM we started hooking up the car, and were ready to hit the road by 11 AM.
We rolled into Albany about 10 PM and then continued on another 20 miles to Jordan, where we dropped off the car, and then returned to Albany so that Dave could get back to Eugene and hopefully get a good nights sleep before church.
In all we traveled about 1200 miles in 30 hours and got an overall average of 18 MPG on the whole trip. We were quite happy with the results.
Red Lion Man
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Royal Family Kids Camp
Wow, what a week!!! I had the privilege to be a counselor at Royal Family Kids Camp. The camp is for foster children ages 7 to 11. The staff is all volunteer, but each have to be screened and trained.
Some staff went up Sunday night to prepare the camp, others registered the kids at Jefferson Baptist Church on Monday morning and rode the bus with our campers to Camp Tapawingo. Counselors are paired up and Laurie Angell, who had been our next door neighbor when Carole was a baby, was mine. We had lost track of each. What a reunion!!!
Some of the children are very excited to be going, some not so sure, and others really do not want to or are very scared. Both of my girls were first timers just like me. One was upset and did not want to come because the family had just got a horse the day before. I was not sure how to win her over, but agreed with her that it would be very hard to just get a horse and have to leave it behind. She was rather quit but, cooperative and it wasn't long before she was warming up to me and having a good time. The other girl I had was friends with the girl my partner had so they were very happy campers until they had to go to bed earlier than they were used to.
It was so cool to watch them come out of their shell as we did crafts, fished, caught salamanders and crawdads, swam, ran races, did the balance beam, archery, discus, and shot putt together. We had bible stories, puppet shows, skits, and singing all kinds of songs.
Other staff members, called grandmas and grandpas, would relieve us in the evening for a 2 hour break and get our campers to bed. They were also in charge of the fishing, and other activities, so we would just show up with our kids and enjoy the event with them.
The meals were great and on Thursday evening they had a big birthday party to celebrate every one of their birthdays. Each, even the counselors, were ushered in to their table by a staff member that was dressed in evening wear. We were made to feel very special. They each got a bag of presents. After dinner, they did a talent show. It was a riot!!!! I would not be able to do it justice if I tried to describe what all they did.
All in all, I had a great all expense paid vacation! Ha!
This is a sample of our daily schedule.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Another Time
I can't resist something that is old or has the appearance of old, so as I was driving down the road yesterday, I had to turn round and go back and grab a few shots.
I sometimes think that if I had had to be born in another time, that it would have had to be at the beginning of the industrial revolution. I think of my dad who was born in 1912 going from plowing in the field behind a horse to riding a Jet to Bolivia and seeing a man land on the moon. I doubt if any other generation was able to witness so much change in one lifetime.
Red Lion Man
I sometimes think that if I had had to be born in another time, that it would have had to be at the beginning of the industrial revolution. I think of my dad who was born in 1912 going from plowing in the field behind a horse to riding a Jet to Bolivia and seeing a man land on the moon. I doubt if any other generation was able to witness so much change in one lifetime.
Red Lion Man
Monday, July 14, 2008
Barb compeats with Karen, Christopher and Jessica
It's Monday afternoon and we're settled back down in Albany, the laundry is done, cherries have been picked, shopping done, Dick got his allergy shot, so now it is time to relax. Dick is always asking me if I want to write something and I keep saying, "No, it's your baby." That being said, I thought rather than me looking over his shoulder and bugging him, maybe it was time for me to write about our week end.
Bill Strom was a very good teacher and I was feeling good about skiing in Saturday's compitition. But when I saw someone else in the drivers seat, I panicked and looked him up and said "Please tell Dawn Adams how fast to go and all she needs to know to get me up." He was very nice and had a little chat with her to appease me. When you are Karen's mom they treat you special! At this point Karen did not know yet that I would be skiing. She was to be first off the dock so she asked me to hold her ring. I hesitated and said sure and took it. Since everyone else was in on the surprise, Kathy Strom came to my rescue and took the ring. Once Karen was on the water, I geared up, and really stared to feel the butterflies. When she finished her pass she dropped closer to our coach and started to go there instead of the dock, so Mike had to announce that she was needed on the dock. When she saw me she was surprised and told me I was awesome and was cheerin me on.
On my third attempt I was off. I made the entrance gate and pulled out for a green ball (in practice I had not tried for a ball) and got i
t! Yeah! Green balls are 1/2 point and red balls 1 point. When coming back in over the wakes my ski started to wobble (certainly not my fault.) The exit gate (1 point) was too close to worry about form and righting myself, so I managed to twist my ski just enough to get through the gate and than crash! So far I have 2 1/2 points. So after 2 false starts I was on the water on my way back. This time I make the gate, ball and gate for 2 1/2 more points for a grand total of 5 points and glided (sorta) in toward the dock. Everyone was cheering me on and congratulating me. It was real cool!
That evening we had a potluck dinner and than the awards. Would you believe I got a 2nd place medal? Oh, did I forget to tell you there were only two in women's novice division? Karen got the first place. Christopher got first and Jessica 2nd in the Jr. Novice. We make Oregon INT history by having 3 generations in the competition.
Sunday morning I was the first down to the dock for a practice run. I was able to spin the Island for the first time and built up my confidence (maybe too much.) In the competition it takes me about 3 tries to get up again and I make the gate and 1 ball and than fall. They pick me up and I tell them I was getting to brave and I was going to play it safe and only go for 1 ball on my way back. Well, you guessed it. I made the gate and the first ball so easy I went for the 2nd. As I got around it the exit gate looked so close I panicked and cut too sharp and down I went. There went my cool glide into the dock. Normally you have to swim to shore and do the "walk of shame" to the dock. As I started for shore Mark spun around and picked me up saying it was a special for seniors. They were too good to me. The INT is such a family oriented organization. We even had one member lead a church service on Saturday evening for anyone that cared to attend. We park our coaches, pitch tents and canopies close to each other, share shade, cheer each other on and become one big happy family.
While talking to my brother, Steve, I figured out I make only 3 1/2 points on Sundays run. My little granddaughter, Jessica in the Jr. Novice Div. had 4!
Only 3 weeks till the next competition!
Bill Strom was a very good teacher and I was feeling good about skiing in Saturday's compitition. But when I saw someone else in the drivers seat, I panicked and looked him up and said "Please tell Dawn Adams how fast to go and all she needs to know to get me up." He was very nice and had a little chat with her to appease me. When you are Karen's mom they treat you special! At this point Karen did not know yet that I would be skiing. She was to be first off the dock so she asked me to hold her ring. I hesitated and said sure and took it. Since everyone else was in on the surprise, Kathy Strom came to my rescue and took the ring. Once Karen was on the water, I geared up, and really stared to feel the butterflies. When she finished her pass she dropped closer to our coach and started to go there instead of the dock, so Mike had to announce that she was needed on the dock. When she saw me she was surprised and told me I was awesome and was cheerin me on.
On my third attempt I was off. I made the entrance gate and pulled out for a green ball (in practice I had not tried for a ball) and got i
t! Yeah! Green balls are 1/2 point and red balls 1 point. When coming back in over the wakes my ski started to wobble (certainly not my fault.) The exit gate (1 point) was too close to worry about form and righting myself, so I managed to twist my ski just enough to get through the gate and than crash! So far I have 2 1/2 points. So after 2 false starts I was on the water on my way back. This time I make the gate, ball and gate for 2 1/2 more points for a grand total of 5 points and glided (sorta) in toward the dock. Everyone was cheering me on and congratulating me. It was real cool!
That evening we had a potluck dinner and than the awards. Would you believe I got a 2nd place medal? Oh, did I forget to tell you there were only two in women's novice division? Karen got the first place. Christopher got first and Jessica 2nd in the Jr. Novice. We make Oregon INT history by having 3 generations in the competition.
Sunday morning I was the first down to the dock for a practice run. I was able to spin the Island for the first time and built up my confidence (maybe too much.) In the competition it takes me about 3 tries to get up again and I make the gate and 1 ball and than fall. They pick me up and I tell them I was getting to brave and I was going to play it safe and only go for 1 ball on my way back. Well, you guessed it. I made the gate and the first ball so easy I went for the 2nd. As I got around it the exit gate looked so close I panicked and cut too sharp and down I went. There went my cool glide into the dock. Normally you have to swim to shore and do the "walk of shame" to the dock. As I started for shore Mark spun around and picked me up saying it was a special for seniors. They were too good to me. The INT is such a family oriented organization. We even had one member lead a church service on Saturday evening for anyone that cared to attend. We park our coaches, pitch tents and canopies close to each other, share shade, cheer each other on and become one big happy family.
While talking to my brother, Steve, I figured out I make only 3 1/2 points on Sundays run. My little granddaughter, Jessica in the Jr. Novice Div. had 4!
Only 3 weeks till the next competition!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Surprise! Surprise
Yesterday we traveled to Winlock Waters ski lake in Winlock, WA. Karen, Christopher and Jessica have an INT Ski tournament here this weekend, and we like to get here early so that we can get our coach parked in a reasonable location.
We got here about 2:30 PM and were only beaten out by Mike Johnson's coach. Mike is the Oregon director, and it is pretty hard to arrive before him. Of course there are some of the skiers who have summer homes on the lake, and they are always here this time of the year.
Bill and Kathy Strom own the home next to the area where we park. Of course, when you live on a lake, you also have your ski boat with you also. We were talking to Bill and Kathy after we got set up, and the discussion of skiing came up. (Interesting subject at a ski lake?) Barb mentioned that it would be fun to surprise Karen and be in the competition on Saturday morning, but that she had not successfully managed to stay up on a single ski for any distance. Bill offered to take
We got here about 2:30 PM and were only beaten out by Mike Johnson's coach. Mike is the Oregon director, and it is pretty hard to arrive before him. Of course there are some of the skiers who have summer homes on the lake, and they are always here this time of the year.
Bill and Kathy Strom own the home next to the area where we park. Of course, when you live on a lake, you also have your ski boat with you also. We were talking to Bill and Kathy after we got set up, and the discussion of skiing came up. (Interesting subject at a ski lake?) Barb mentioned that it would be fun to surprise Karen and be in the competition on Saturday morning, but that she had not successfully managed to stay up on a single ski for any distance. Bill offered to take
Barb out for a practice session, but Barb was not sure that she really should. For every excuse that Barb came up with, Bill had an answer. The next thing I knew, we were on the lake with Barb behind the boat.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Karen sees Barb's name on the list for this mornings Novice run. Three generations sking in one day!
Red Lion Man (& Lady)
Friday, July 4, 2008
Neskowin 4th of July Parade
This morning being a holiday, we didn't sleep in any longer than usual. Knowing that we are always awake by 5 AM, we had made arrangements with our son Dan, who is camping at Neskowin Creek Campground, to meet them for breakfast at the Hawk Cafe.
After doing the normal morning things, we were out the door and on our way for the 80 mile trip to the coast before 6 o'clock. We arrived at the restaurant about 7:30, and already people were gathering for the 10 AM parade, and setting up for the book and bake sale. From past experience, we knew that we needed to be waiting at the door fifteen minutes before they opened, or we may not get seating.
The doors opened just about 8 AM, and Dan, Richelle and Erika
arrived just in time to be seated with us. After breakfast, Grandma and Erika headed to play in the Neskowin Creek, while Richelle and I got the camping chairs out and captured the spot that we wanted to observe the parade from. By the time the parade started, there were so many parade watchers around us, that I had to stand the whole time anyway, just to take my pictures.
After doing the normal morning things, we were out the door and on our way for the 80 mile trip to the coast before 6 o'clock. We arrived at the restaurant about 7:30, and already people were gathering for the 10 AM parade, and setting up for the book and bake sale. From past experience, we knew that we needed to be waiting at the door fifteen minutes before they opened, or we may not get seating.
The doors opened just about 8 AM, and Dan, Richelle and Erika
arrived just in time to be seated with us. After breakfast, Grandma and Erika headed to play in the Neskowin Creek, while Richelle and I got the camping chairs out and captured the spot that we wanted to observe the parade from. By the time the parade started, there were so many parade watchers around us, that I had to stand the whole time anyway, just to take my pictures. 
Erika scored big in the captured candy category, and it was rather cool, with the wind blowing up the river and hitting us on the back. By the time the parade was well under way though, the wind had died down a bit.
After the parade, we went back to the camp ground and helped Dan move the trailer from overflow camping into a regular camp site. Then Barb and I visited Jack and Barbara Clark, whom we hadn't seen for almost a year. I continued to visit with Jack, and Barb played some cards with Dan and Richelle.
Before you know it, it was time to hit the road and return to Albany. We were back in our Coach by 3 PM having leftover Mexican food, from last nights birthday celebration with family in Stayton, OR.
Red Lion Man (& Lady)
Enjoy Today's Parade Slide Show
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