Diane and I have both received our COVID shots and survived.

Diane had the cataract removed from her right eye and can see perfect without her glasses with that eye. It’s a strange thing for her because she’s worn specs since she was 5-years-old. She’s also amazed that colors can be so bright. I’ve speculated that once she’s had both eyes done her difficulty with blue and brown socks will be history. Not knowing when that will happen, I’ve encouraged her to dump her sock drawer on the bed and sort her socks. I’m curious, aren’t you?

My dermatologist carved a couple of iffy spots off my body and sent them away for biopsy. They were both benign. Now I have two more spots on my body that will never tan. I’m a very blotchy person in my old age.

Ruth had her birthday on Diane’s and My anniversary. She’s 80, now, which means she was only 27 when Diane and I got married. We didn’t plan our wedding to intentionally be on Ruth’s birthday, but it’s OK. More reason to celebrate.

Our Pastor got a new knee. She’s been wanting one of those for a while. Around the same time, another friend got a new hip. Diane needs a new knee but won’t get one. She’s happy with the new eyeball she got and isn’t interested in a knee.

I started construction of the window frames for our new windows. Takes me lots of time to trick my mind into thinking I can cut the pieces correctly so they will fit properly. Yes I measured twice before cutting. Matter of fact, I measured dozens of times before cutting. It took me 3 days to cut the first board. It’s a very tiring process. So far I’ve got most of the pieces cut for 3 windows. Each window requires eight pieces to make them pretty. In a couple of weeks I plan to see if they fit. Until then, I’ll just pretend everything is just fine. I’ll take a photo one of these days to show you.

I’ve been involved in a long delay, ending just now, trying to get my laptop to recognize my phone so it will allow me to transfer new photos to share. I’d like to share because a lot has happened recently that was documented with my camera by Diane. Since the photos aren’t working now, I’ll just explain them to you.

First off, Diane and I left home last Tuesday, headed for Bend, Oregon. On the way we traversed Highway 22 from Salem to Tumalo State Park near Bend. Much of the landscape we travelled through was severely burned recently. A number of small towns along the route were totally destroyed. Pretty sad. Detroit Lake was one of the most notable for us because we stayed at the park there not long ago. All of the structures along the highway are now gone. Destroyed homes and vehicles, including fire trucks, litter the route. Even with all that destructions, people are rebuilding, reclaiming their land. I only took a few photos of that aspect of our trip.

We made it to Bend unscathed. The road was nice and wide and I didn’t run off the road even once. Diane was pleased. We got eveything set up by 4 pm or so, and called it a day, hooked up the TV and watched it until we both woke up and went to bed.

The next day, Wednesday, we made a valiant effort to go see Tumalo Falls in person. We only had to drive 15-20 miles, or so, to tiny parking lot next to a locked gate. Turns out to see the falls in person one must hike 2.5 miles down a rocky road. We made it out about 1 mile before deciding that looking up photos of the falls on the internet was a better use of our time. We exited the road and followed small deer trails along the Tumalo River back to the tiny parking lot.

I think it was the Tumalo River. It was coming from the direction of the falls. Had to’ve been the Tumalo River. Even though it looked more like a creek.

OK, I actually looked it up and it IS a creek! Go figure. Tumalo Creek! It empties into the Deschutes River which actually runs next to Tumalo State Park. I think I read that somewhere.

On Thursday we thought we’d find some Mexican food for lunch. We were hungry. I searched the internet for nearby Mexican themed food truck, because we like food trucks, and found one at a place on Purcell Drive call River Place. I don’t know why they call it River Place because I never once saw a river. Anyway, we found the food truck we were looking for and it was closed. Being hungry we took a look at the other 3 food trucks. Actually, I looked at the other 3 trucks because Diane stated she didn’t care what I got. She just wanted me to go out there and make a decision. So, I opted for a very busy roast beef sandwich from Hogan’s Hoagies. It had things in there I’ve never seen before, but it was really good. They had tables spread out on a patio but we opted to test fate and eat our sandwich in the car with flimsy paper the only thing keeping whatever was in the sandwich off our clothes.

It was delicious! Highly recommended, and it was only $11. Fed both of us easily.

Since Pilot Butte State Park was right in front of us as we left the food truck parking lot, we decided to visit it. Another state park we can check off the list. Turns out Pilot Butte is a very prominent hill of prominence in the Bend area. You may want to look it up and check it out. Or, you can just click HERE without searching. That works. Just checked it. It’s a stunning view.

From there we ventured to the Humane Society thrift store. While Diane looked at interesting stuff, I checked the shoe supply, looking for something in an 8.5 for Lydia. Saw some interesting footwear but none the right size. Then we went to Goodwill seeking other treasures. I didn’t find any, but Diane did. She always finds nifty stuff.

On the way home Diane went through a DQ drive thru by mistake and we wound up with a chocolate malt for me and a cherry slushi for Diane. I had mine gone within a block of leaving DQ but Diane held on to hears, taking only little sips as she drove, then finally mixing it with a glass of moscato back at the RV. It was a very pretty drink.

Today, Friday, we paid a visit to a Hobby Lobby we spied a day or two ago. Turns out that the road that runs past our park kinda terminates in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Pretty handy. The store’s name was very misleading to me because it doesn’t really have the kind of hobbies I was thinking of. It was pretty much all girly stuff. But, I went up and down every isle and looked at every bit of it while Diane lagged about 1/4 mile behind looking at everything 2, 3 times. It’s a really big store, so I got a lot walking in for this trip.

I cooked dinner tonight. Simple fare of omelettes, bacon, hash browns and toast. Comfort food.

Now we relax until morning when we unhook from the park facilities and head back to St. Helens.

Another adventure.

Once again we enter a special time of year that reminds me I’m the luckiest guy in the world. On this day, in 2021, a very special Lady will have allowed me to bask in the glow of her presence for the past 53 years.

There were moments when we didn’t see eye to eye, but we’ve always seen heart to heart. Without a doubt.

This was taken on Okinawa in 1968, not long after she joined me on the island. From what you see in the photo, you might suspect that our life was not an easy one to start, but we actually didn’t realize then that life could be better. We had each other and we were together.

That’s all that mattered back then.

That’s still what matters today.

Thank you for all those wonderful years, My Love.

Let me bask a while longer.

I Love You!

It’s been a while since I’ve been here so please have patience with me as i teach my old arthritic fingers to flitter around on my keyboard like they used to. Yeah, they actually flittered. So fast, sometimes, that they had no clue what they were doing. Those are the posts I should have edited, but didn’t.

Let’s see what I can remember since March 16th …

Hmmmmmmm. Apparently not much … I’ve been sitting here for about 15 minutes wracking my shriveling brain and staring at my calendar for clues but nothing is happening. That leads me to believe that one of two things has happened: 1) My short term memory has finally bit the dust completely, or; 2) Absolutely nothing happened.

Since #2 is unlikely, I’ll go with #1 which opens up a wide range of possibilities since I can just make stuff up, not caring about whether or not what I’m sharing is true. That being said, let’s pretend I know what I’m doing here…

Yesterday was an astoundingly beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest. So beautiful that I was compelled to fire up my new-to-me lawnmower and see what kind of damage i could do to the grass that was growing wile pretty much everywhere. Actually, that was the second time I’ve mowed it since acquiring my new-to-me mower.

About that – it’s an X304 John Deere all wheel steering rig that was kind of freaky to drive the first time I used it. I got it from Diane’s Mom’s Sister whose Husband, Bill, recently passed away leaving the mower stranded in his garage. It needed attention which I was happy to give it.

Jeff helped me get it home by renting a trailer from Don’s Rental. I would have hauled it in my old pickup truck but it went to a new home where someone could take better care of it. So, you might say I’m pickupless. That could be a word. I’ve ordered a trailer hitch for the Equinox so I can drag a trailer around if necessary but it won’t be here until next week sometime.

I also ordered hitch a mounted motorcycle carrier to tote my scooter around. I believe I mentioned it previously. One of these days I’ll have a photo to share, but can’t find one right now that can be saved in this post. I don’t know why.

In reference to the title, it’s true. I’m reminded of both those events on a regular basis throughout my day. In my typical fashion, I ignore those little jabs because I’ve earned every one of them.

Today it was 70 degrees outside so I went out and tussled with our blackberry vines for a while. It seems to be a neighborhood thing now, kinda like a competition. Our neighbor is winning but they’re cheating by using a hedge trimmer. It’s an electric one. I’m going to get a Stihl gas-powered one tomorrow. That will surely show them.

Just finished watching Gonzaga squeek by the UCLA Bruins in the 2nd game of the final four. What a game it was. I normally cheer for the Zags but no matter who won it, it would be a west coast team. I’ve followed the lady basketballers, too, and the west coast did well. Actually, the Pac-12 did well because the two teams playing for the championship (Arizona & Stanford) are Pac-12 teams. Pretty snazzy.

Now I must go find a squeegie and scrap the dried sweat off my body so I don’t mess up the sheets. It’s time for bed.