Bug Show . . .

We own a 72 VW Super Beetle...

We have owned a bug for 28 years. We bought our first one when I was pregnant with my oldest son Chad. During that time we have bought and sold 2 different bugs. All of our son's have driven our bugs through high school, college, etc. Now it's back with us again. I love my bug, it's sooo fun to drive, sunroof open, blaring stereo (when it's working). It is a work in process though...the boys started working on it, installing new upholstery, paint, headliner, carpet, but could not afford to finish them on their teenage salaries. So I have made it our goal (my husband is reeeeal happy about "our" goal) that our bug will be restored ooohhhhh...before we retire... I informed my husband we are going on a road trip in the bug when it's finished, maybe to LA or someplace where hippies hangout where ever that is these days??....

I guess it must be the VW fever that has continued through our bloodline. Chad has purchased a cool VW camper bus, which has already won him a couple of awards at VW show's in the Phoenix area...must have been something I ate when I was pregnant!!

This weekend there is a Bug Show and Swap meet in Woodburn, it's a fun place to hang out with other VW crazy people like us (me). They have all kinds of cool bugs, busses, vans, convertibles, etc. There are drag races (yes, VW's can drag!), and lots of parts, parts and more parts. So we are hoping to pick up some things to move our retirement road trip a little closer... beep, beep!

Great Game!

Forest Grove Softball is alive and well and we are on our way to Oregon State University this Saturday for the 6A Softball finals! The girls played a GREAT game! and really came in under the radar for a sweet victory over Westview. Congrats to our Lady Viks!
http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/sports/story.php?story_id=118047723907659700

BINGO!

Just returned from a GREAT long weekend!! Before I get to work on my BIG pile of laundry just wanted to make a huge announcement.

This weekend we had 2 winners in the family at the annual Three Rivers Resort bingo game!! woohoo... Josh won a whopping $20, and our lucky daughter-in-law Danielle smoked him in the dust with her $100 win!!

We can go years, and years, and years.. and never win a darn game. This weekend we made history!

Lake Billy . . .here we come!

Well.....Memorial weekend is here! and that means it's time for our first outing of the year to Lake Billy Chinook. So inbetween typing this blog I am packing, making potato salad, Rice Krispie treats, layered taco dip, etc, etc. It will be a small group this year..Josh, Dani and a couple of their friends. Andy has plans with his girlfriend in Monmouth and there may be some friends dropping by from Dale's work. Just won't be the same without all the boys (& Nic) there but it's a needed get away and the weather is suppose to be faaabulous this weekend 80's woohooo!
There will be lots of time spent down by the lake, most likely (positively) the consumption of too many adult beverages will occur, playing bingo in the pole barn, horseshoes, target practice at the rifle range, poker games and way too much junk food to be eaten. Starting to sound like a real Jeff Foxworthy kind of weekend!! Lot's of stars to view in the Central Oregon skies at night, smore's (oops more junk food), stories and lot's of deep belly laughing. I'm ready . . .

Could it be Rip City chapter 2? .. . .

First Clyde Drexler on "Dancing with the Stars" and now this!!! how much more exciting can it get for our mighty Trail(Jail)Blazers!!

Remember Sam Bowie vs. Michael Jordan.....make the right choice boys..

http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Trail_Blazers_Beat_the_Odds_L-226109-1218.html

Pretty interesting to hear that the Blazers website keeps crashing due to an overload of folks wanting season tickets. Go Blazers!

You are the highest bidder . . .

Everybody collects something right? Whether it's baseball cards, vintage dolls, postcards or yard gnomes...my biggest weakness is old spice tins. I think I need to go into a 12 step program. Once I am on ebay I cannot stop myself from obsessively staying online until I am the last BIDDER YESS!! YESS!! I've won!!...it's very sad actually. I set a limit though, I don't spend more than $7 on any tin..unless it's one I reeeallly want..then I fudge over my limit just a little. I am proud/embarrassed to say I have now amassed over 100+ tins. I really shouldn't get anymore, but they do look really great on the new rack hubby made to display "some' of them on. Oops...I have to go..only 1 minute left on a bid...later!

I live in a small town. . .

John Mellencamp said it best. . .
There are things that aren't so great about living in a small town. We have only one grocery store, no restaurant that is open 24hrs, no place to buy fabric, definately not alot of choices. The list of negatives can go on & on ...but what is great about a small town is the people. We stopped for breakfast this morning at a little hole in the wall place (Maridon's) in the one shopping mall in town. When you walk in you are greeted with smiles and hellos, we stopped to chat with different folks, it feels good. People are genuinely concerned about what's going on with you and how you are doing. They ask about family, they knew my dad, they know my brothers, "how are the boys" they want to know. The owners are friendly and remember you everytime you come in. Other businesses in town are the same way, whether it's Frye's, The Ice Cream Shoppe, Collections from the Attic, Les Schwab, VanDyke Appliance, they know you and acknowledge you always. The list of great things can go on and on, sometimes in a town you have to find the balance between too many choices and remaining a small town. . . I think we have found that in our little town...

Autographs anyone?

BREAKING NEWS . . . . . .

rumor in town is that an NFL football player has moved here, perhaps I will run into him at Safeway....

Good to hear from old friend . . .

Spoke to my best friend from high school (Peggy) last night. It was really good to hear from her. She saw my new blog and wanted to check on Dale. I told her he's fine, he's better than fine, he's just as awnry now as he was before. Maybe more so now since I am watching everything he eats and making sure he is taking his blood pressure everyday. I guess I am annoying he says :). She shared with me health issues going on in her immediate family too. It's got me thinking......I hope that as we have reached the 50+ AARP "club" , topics in group conversation will not always relate to health, diet, exercise, aches/pains, prescriptions and doctor appts. Uugghh..how boring is that?? I guess there is that point that you become your parents...uh oh...I think it's here.

It's bunco week!

Once a month a group of lady friends (youngest being 50) get together for a "friendly" game of bunco. It's a ritual of cleaning your house extra nice (because all the ladies will be over), making fancy ordervies, having the right kind of wine, beer, sodas. Usually after catching up on gossip about what has been happening lately in our little town, the game begins! A $5 entry gets you into the game, you take your place at one of 3 card tables, intently stare at the rolling dice, add up your scores, winner advances towards the "head" table, loser stays put. And all while laughing, visiting, giving family updates, yelling when you get a good roll, screaming when you roll a bunco, also saying alot of four letter words that are normally used by truck drivers (no children are present) when your team doesn't advance. We are all very different personalities which makes it so interesting, in any other situation we probably would not all hang out, but once a month we are one wild & crazy group. To win at the end of the night is only a bonus . . .

Hubby update . . .

High blood pressure seems to be the culprit. After all the tests came back he was put on an increased mg. of BP medication Lisinopril, also a blood thinner Plavix and needs to record his BP daily for 30 days to attempt to get it into the "norm" category. He can fly now :). Salt intake needs to be no more than 2 1/2 grams per day (which actually isn't too bad after reading some labels). Of course every instruction from the doctor was proceeded by "as we get older".. So for all of our "older" friends out there..take note, this sucks but we need to face up to it now and take action.

Count us in . . . .

Surfing Craigslist the other evening I came upon a heading titled "Work for Beer". so...being curious the ad was as follows....

Come pour some world-class beers for a few hours, then have a few on us! July 13-15, 2007 in Portland's Pearl District North Park Blocks, It's the Portland International Beerfest, Volunteers will receive a very cool "Beerzilla" 2007 tshirt, free admission good for all 3 days, official festival glass & 10 beer tickets, work a 2nd shift and get 15 more beer tickets, work a 3rd shift and get 18 more beer tickets!! Each shift is around 3.5 hours, No drinking allowed before or during your shift. 130 world-class beers from 15 different countries, hard to find and exotics from near and far. Music, cigar bar, darts, chess, checkers, backgammon, great food booths.

And of course only in Portland does this special event benefit Pet Cross an area animal welfare group. Needless to say, we are in! See link below.

Mother's Day weekend . . . .

Enjoy!!

Things are blooming. . .

This is a new addition to our back yard. I showed Dale a picture from a Better Homes and Garden's magazine and wah.lah...it looks just like the picture! Just planted some lobilia, marigolds, petunias, snapdragons, etc, should look really great when they are all fully blooming in a month or so....starting to get the flower fever.....

Hurry up and wait . . .

Tests taken today to get to the bottom of hubby's "mini" stroke last week. An echocardiogram as well as an ultrasound of veins in the neck was the routine. He wasn't admitted following the tests so that was a good thing. He went right back to work after the procedures and will return to primary care physician Friday for what results show. Of course we are hoping it is just a high blood pressure thing that can be controlled with medication. If this means his "honeydo" list needs to be smaller, and I need to create a less stressful home environment by not being so high maintenance....hmmm...well.....I think doubling his medication dosage is going to be a requirement. More later . .

No more back pain . .

We have a doctorate in the family! May I introduce you to our new DPT... coming to a Salem, Oregon clinic near you.

We did miss Dale not being able to attend, but all the boys with wives were together, it was great that they could all share Josh & Dani's special day. A big plus was getting to see the progress of my future grandbaby in the oven of Nicole. He's coming along quite nicely, won't be too much longer..

It's time . .

This is my first attempt to visit with my friends and family in the world of computerized blogging. My kids are myspace and facebook users, text messengers, etc. etc. other family members are blog writers. Nobody picks up a phone anymore and talks to anybody (I'm just as guilty)... so having said that I too have caved to the computer. I'm not happy about this, it's just not the same as hearing a person's voice or face-to-face contact. Having said that I am a hypocrite to myself . . Is that possible?
I do promise not to bore you with the daily news, you can read the newspaper or listen to the TV. I won't shove my political views down your throat, who cares what I think really??. . . What I will do is cheer on my teams, visit about family and what's new with us, share some pictures and hopefully hear from you and just see how this blogging thing even works. So here we go . . . .