A trip in the trailer, Lydia, Ceierra, Ziva, & Jeran

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I did not realize that it’s been over a week since my last posting so there’s a lot to catch up on.

First, and almost the most important thing, I got to golf with the Peal brothers on Friday the 31st of March then again yesterday. The most important thing, really, was getting to watch Lydia play softball a couple of times. They were pre-season games against more powerful schools so the outcome was predictable – they lost all of them. But, they were fun to watch and they had fun playing. That’s the important thing. They were supposed to have their season league opener this evening, at home, but it was cancelled because it’s been raining, a lot, and the school doesn’t have a decent field for the girls to play on. So, it was a muddy mess and the game was cancelled. So, I took that opportunity to mow the yard, in the rain, with the hopes of keeping it low enough so Ozzie doesn’t get lost when he goes outside. Then, wouldn’t you know it, the sun came out, dried everything off, and it’s actually a perfect afternoon for a softball game. Sad.

In between those two golf events Diane and I took our trailer to Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast so we could participate in the SOLVE Beach Cleanup. I’ve mentioned this in the past (way long time ago). It’s simply an event held twice a year where anyone can join the effort to keep Oregon Beaches clean. It’s amazing what kind, and the amount, of trash is removed by the voluntary clean up crews. Last I heard the total was over 27.5 tons. That’s a lot of “stuff” to haul off the beach in little plastic bags. For our part, Diane and I managed to remove a considerable amount of small plastic pieces and a few hypodermic needles. A small but significant contribution.

Other than the trip to clean the beach, and a couple of other walks on the beach so Ziva could run willy nilly, we spent our time in the trailer, listening to the rain, reading our books. No wi-fi, spotty phone reception, so it was very quiet most of the time. Diane took an afternoon off to visit Goodwill, leaving Ziva and me at ‘home’ to fend for ourselves. We had a good time taking walks and just sitting around. My prize for being good was a DQ chocolate malt. I love those things. Give didn’t get a prize because dogs don’t get prizes. Instead, I gave her a treat. She was happy about that so it was all good.

I got a message from brother Jack giving me a little more info about what’s going on with him in Arizona. As many of you know, he’s got prostate cancer. He recently started receiving radiation treatments which he must endure for 5-10 minutes every day through the end of May. His new motto is “I’m not dying of cancer, I’m living with is.” That sounds pretty optimistic to me. I’m pretty sure that all those praying for him are having an effect so keep on focusing good thoughts his direction.

Now for some photos to end the day …

Diane and I had PB&J sandwiches, Ziva got the empty jar. That sounds mean, I’m sure, but she loved it.

Just another ho-hum sunset on the Oregon Coast.

Ziva investigating miles and miles of driftwood.

Taking a break, guarding Mom’s Peeps.

Nap time …

Back home to the overgrown yard. Thankfully the little yellow flowers are back. I was afraid they wouldn’t show up this year for some reason. Silly me, because they always show up. The trick is to keep them mowed down so they don’t turn into those fuzzy things that fly seeds everywhere. My up-wind neighbors don’t do that.

These always show up, too. More and more each year.

So do the peonies.

Then there’s Alice, the neighbor’s yorkie, in a standoff with one of their chickens. Alice chased the chicken all the way home, then back to the same spot. Fun to watch. I think the chicken has fun with it.

Then Jennifer sent these to share … Ceierra, Lydia’s best friend, and her new prom dress.

And Lydia in her prom dress.

Quite stunning for a couple of jocks.

I didn’t get a photo of Jeran giving his testimony yesterday evening at the Junior High Youth Group at his church, but I can tell you it was a very emotional story about how and when he found his faith in God. He will be 17 next month and knows pretty much exactly what his future will be. We’re very proud of him.

Cheers.

Lydia’s 18, take two …

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Here’s what I wanted to do with the first post about Lydia turning 18 but thought about it too long and decided I should be a little more respectable. It’s a significant junction in the road for her, after all.

I was going to say …

Here was Lydia yesterday …

… then today, when we cleaned off the spaghetti, we found this …

I think she’s part butterfly …

 

Girl Scout Cookies & the “Today Show”

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Today on the “Today Show” our very own Julia Vieira Reis was highlighted as one of the nation’s top Girl Scout Cookie sellers. She’s been doing that for years, selling lots and lots of cookies, and it’s fun to see that she’s getting recognition for her efforts. Seems like only yesterday she was bugging me, in a very nice way, to let her fiddle around with my iPad. It really wasn’t yesterday – it was 7 years ago. Just seems like yesterday.

If you missed the show, you can see it here. Julia is interviewed along with her Mom, Susan. Susan is my brother’s Granddaughter. To me, she’s my Niece-Niece because she’s my Niece’s daughter. So, I guess that makes Julia my Niece-Niece-Niece, or just Niece³. Having made that decision, and discovering that I could actually add the “²”, that would make Susan my Niece². Then, of course, Cheryl, Susan’s Mom, is Niece¹. What fun. All these people live in Connecticut.

All those superscript numbers work well as long as we’re dealing with the same-sex … like Carol Niece¹ (Alicia Niece²); Susan’s Sisters, Heather Niece² and Laura Niece² (Jeffrey Nephew³, Ariana Niece³)). Then we get to Cheryl’s son, Larry (Nephew¹), who has a daughter, Sarah (Niece²). This dilemma validates my newfound use of superscript numbers because I could never, with a clear conscience, call Sarah my Nephew-Niece. Well, I could, but it would be right. Maybe I should, however, since she only lives a short ways away from me and never calls. Ever. I’ve left some of the family out, so please forgive me for that. There are many new names, for some small people that I haven’t actually seen in person.

Anyway, I encourage you all to click the link and watch the presentation. Julia is a pretty special girl for many reasons, not just because she named her bass violin “Jerry”, even though she misspelled it. Actually, the whole fam damily is pretty special. Even the Grandma, Ruth.

Done

2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

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Hey! Is anyone watching the ladies play, or are you dedicated to the men’s teams?

Well, in case you weren’t paying attention today, both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University lady’s basketball teams advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. I think the Beavers have been there before, but this is the first time ever for the Oregon Ducks.

The Ducks beat Duke on their home floor giving them their first home loss of the season. Making it even sweeter was the way the team responded after a Duke player intentionally ran down an Oregon player on her way to the huddle during a time out. Totally avoidable.

Now we get to see where it goes from here. In the end, if a team other than UCONN wins, it will be a surprise.

Oh, ya. The Oregon Ducks men’s team is also in the Sweet 16 of the male version of the tournament.

 

 

My Lawn Mower

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Just letting you all know that it was spring in our neighborhood yesterday so I mowed the lawn. All of it. Diane timed me and said it took me an hour and ten minutes. The mulching blades were still on from last summer so I could run flat-out pretty much the entire time. I did that partly because I had no idea how much gas was in the tank because the last time I filled it was in August last year, I think. So, I just cranked it up and figured when it sputtered to a halt I might be able to get another 5-6 feet of lawn mowed as it coasted to a stop. Yes, I could have gone out and got more gas but that would have made it a lot less exciting. As it turned out, there was plenty of gas.

The real upper for this evolution was the fact that the mower cranked right up without hesitation after sitting outside all winter.

I love my mower.

March Madness

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I have a question for all you sports nuts out there.

When you think, or hear about “March Madness,” what comes to mind?

I’m betting that the majority of anyone who followed NCAA sports will say it’s all about the NCAA men’s basketball playoffs. I do even though I know all about the other aspect of this craziness and the more I think about it the more I think how unfair it is. College and University women’s basketball teams are also competing for their championship at t his time but you don’t hear a lot about it in the media. It’s all about the guys. Always has been.

If I were King, I’d be working to make it a more even playing field because I find that watching the ladies play their sports is quite often more enjoyable than watching the boys play.

There. I’ve said it.

Marijuana

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The following photos aren’t provided to indicate I endorse the legalization of marijuana in Oregon. Nor do they indicate that I don’t. I’m kinda in the middle. Still, the fact is, recreational marijuana is legal now no matter what any of us think.

There are shops selling this product all over the place. Most of them simply have green crosses outside their facilities.

Anyway, here’s the future …

    

March Madness, Softball, and a Puppy

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The games have already begun and according to the bracket I made here I’m already a loser. Well, some may say I was already a loser for various other things I’ve said and done, but I’m thinking I don’t really care about that. But the brackets … Only two games played so far and I missed on both. Now I can only hope that none of my picks win so I’ll still have a nice clean bracket of choices, all with little ‘x’s’ in a circle to indicate the loss. My one consolation with regard to this is that ‘Bing’ lost both of them, too.

I’m guessing that many of you couldn’t care less about NCAA basketball. That’s kind of me, too, until this time of year when things get exciting. It’s way more fun than watching the pros play. My opinion, of course.

It’s still raining here, but we did have one glorious day of sunshine when we drove to Eugene to watch the lovely Maryssa Santi play some fast pitch softball for Eastern Oregon University. It’s like God looked down on us and decided to give us a nice day to sit in the sun and watch the games. They played four games over two days (Sunday & Monday) and won all four. We only got to watch 1 and 3/4 of those games, but it was fun.

Lydia brought her new family member, Kylo, along for the 2.5 hour ride because he’s only 5 weeks old and is hard to put down. He’s kinda cute. This is Matt holding him, trying to keep him calm. Yeah, like that’s a problem because he sleeps about 90% of the time.

On the way, Lydia gnawed on the breakfast burrito she bought at Muchas Gracias before we picked up her and her Mom, Jennifer for the ride. I probably could have eaten one of those, too, but no one asked. I’ve had them before and they are really good.

EOU won the first game 7-4 and they were ahead 7-1 when we had to leave during the late innings of the 2nd game. They won that one, too, 9-5. On Monday EOU won 10-1 and 1-0 (I think). It was a good trip for the girls to win all four games on the road like that.

Now, back to the puppy …

 

Here’s Maryssa #10, 2nd base … she’s a junior at EOU.

Here’s Steffani, Maryssa’s Mom, Bob’s Wife, My Brother’s Daughter …

Here’s Maryssa and Lydia, Diane (in the hat), and Jennifer …

And that pretty much covers the trip. The puppy slept through the 5 hour trip, interrupted by a couple of softball games during which he was adored, and held, by all the pretty girls who walked by. Guys seem to be more immune to puppy cuteness than girls.

Lucky dog.

Kylo joins Solo (a big dog) and Boba the cat. Perhaps you can sense the ‘Star Wars’ theme for the Walter’s Family Pets.