hot..hot..hot....Southern California is hot.
Folks trying to reach us should call us at 541 390 5550 or 541 390 4836...
Dave
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday...August 27th...2008
While watching the Democratic Convention tonight, I was struck by recognizing the Denver Pepsi Center and remembering the Fan Forums Linda and I led in the same Center during the Champ Car days.
It was the same place where one year, Linda for the first time, took the microphone and led the Forum (as opposed to me who repeatedly urged her to step up and do it).....the bad news (for me anyway) was that she got so caught up in things that she FORGOT to introduce me. After that Linda couldn't be stopped...she understood for the first time that speaking from passion and the heart was quite easy as opposed to speaking from the head.
Dave
It was the same place where one year, Linda for the first time, took the microphone and led the Forum (as opposed to me who repeatedly urged her to step up and do it).....the bad news (for me anyway) was that she got so caught up in things that she FORGOT to introduce me. After that Linda couldn't be stopped...she understood for the first time that speaking from passion and the heart was quite easy as opposed to speaking from the head.
Dave
Wednesday....August 27th...2008
We are way...way down in California...hot...hot..hot!
Tomorrow we go "on track" for the NASCAR race weekend....
Linda has a bad cold...combination of being around people last week and changing weather (rain one day...sunshine the next)...so she's a bit worn out...hopefully she will get well soon.
Dave
Tomorrow we go "on track" for the NASCAR race weekend....
Linda has a bad cold...combination of being around people last week and changing weather (rain one day...sunshine the next)...so she's a bit worn out...hopefully she will get well soon.
Dave
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday...August 24th...2008
We just finished a five day seminar in Eugene, Oregon...a personal growth seminar called Crossover...it is a Wings Seminar...see www.wings-seminars.com
Linda did great....high energy.....very animated....very much a participant in all activities and processes. She's a bit tired tonight.....but so am I....it is to be expected with the week we put in.
Tomorrow we leave Eugene for California.....Fontana, California ...for the NASCAR race..we plan on spending 3 to 4 weeks down there before returning home.
Linda is feeling well.
A good friend of ours..Deb Bruce..who offered much support to Linda has just been diagnosed with cancer...see her Blog at www.debbruce.blogspot.com We wish her well and will support her in any way we can.
Dave
Linda did great....high energy.....very animated....very much a participant in all activities and processes. She's a bit tired tonight.....but so am I....it is to be expected with the week we put in.
Tomorrow we leave Eugene for California.....Fontana, California ...for the NASCAR race..we plan on spending 3 to 4 weeks down there before returning home.
Linda is feeling well.
A good friend of ours..Deb Bruce..who offered much support to Linda has just been diagnosed with cancer...see her Blog at www.debbruce.blogspot.com We wish her well and will support her in any way we can.
Dave
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday...August 18th...2008
Yes..I was a smokejumper while in college (4 years) and 8 years while I was a high school biology teacher..this was after being a fire lookout after high school...see photos below.... 
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Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sunday....August 17th...2008
We made it home..those "all nighters" in the airline stuff is a bit much....
We now embark on another series of travels.....in fact the RV is out front being packed for our next adventures...Tuesday we leave for Eugene to be part of the Wings Crossover team for a five day seminar. I'm excited as it's been years since Linda has been on a Crossover team. After the seminar we head directly to southern California for a labor day weekend NASCAR weekend....then two more weeks wandering in California before returning home to Oregon.
We actually then have 4 days at home before the first Remond Air Center Smokejumper three day reunion...I was a smokejumper for 12 years when I was younger (and braver). Then it's back to Eugene to be on a Wings Listening Heart team for couples..then Mexico for a week (to make up for the trip we missed last year when Linda was so sick....then off to Florida for two months...then home for Christmas.
Phheeewwww!
We now embark on another series of travels.....in fact the RV is out front being packed for our next adventures...Tuesday we leave for Eugene to be part of the Wings Crossover team for a five day seminar. I'm excited as it's been years since Linda has been on a Crossover team. After the seminar we head directly to southern California for a labor day weekend NASCAR weekend....then two more weeks wandering in California before returning home to Oregon.
We actually then have 4 days at home before the first Remond Air Center Smokejumper three day reunion...I was a smokejumper for 12 years when I was younger (and braver). Then it's back to Eugene to be on a Wings Listening Heart team for couples..then Mexico for a week (to make up for the trip we missed last year when Linda was so sick....then off to Florida for two months...then home for Christmas.
Phheeewwww!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday...August 16th...2008
In a few hours we fly home...BUT a layover in Seattle of 6 hours..ouch!
Linda "faking" a kayak trip..."photo op"!
The reason why we didn't take the boat to the glacier....it was like a "freakin'" ocean!
When we get home Sunday..we rest...Monday we pack the RV...Tuesday we go to Eugene with the RV to be on a Wings Crossover team for 5 days...then straight to California for 3 weeks for a NASCAR race and travel.
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Linda "faking" a kayak trip..."photo op"!
The reason why we didn't take the boat to the glacier....it was like a "freakin'" ocean!
When we get home Sunday..we rest...Monday we pack the RV...Tuesday we go to Eugene with the RV to be on a Wings Crossover team for 5 days...then straight to California for 3 weeks for a NASCAR race and travel.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday...August 13th...2008
We've been in Alaska for our 3rd day and have been a lot/seen a lot of places including the Bottanical Gardens and a trip to the Portage Glacier and Girdwood (where the Senator Stevens is having his problems for who paid for his house improvements)....Linda is doing well...her back is improving a bit....
Pictures below are from the Bottanical Garden (including pic of Linda and sister in law LaVelle with her grandaughter Emily)...and the trip to Girdwood, including my new "moose hat" and brother Darron after Cocktail hour.....
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Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday....August 11th...2008
On our way to Alaska...yesterday all fights into Anchorage were cancelled because a volcano eruption was blowing the wrong way..into the flight path...today it is supposed to be ok.
Look at the following picture Linda and I took (self portrait) during nephew John's wedding....Linda's brother Marlin was sitting behind us....we discovered...and had the "sourest" look we'd ever seen....looks like a guy right out of the mafia...."Guido" the mafia guy!
Marlin claims he knew we were taking a picture and deliberately made the face..we don't think so...
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Look at the following picture Linda and I took (self portrait) during nephew John's wedding....Linda's brother Marlin was sitting behind us....we discovered...and had the "sourest" look we'd ever seen....looks like a guy right out of the mafia...."Guido" the mafia guy!
Marlin claims he knew we were taking a picture and deliberately made the face..we don't think so...
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Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sunday..August 10th...2008
Phewwwww!
We are going here..going there...going everywhere!
We finished 4 days of camping (ok..ok...an RV isn't "camping" in the truest sense of the word)...then off to Salem for nephew John's wedding...then today a picnic for Linda's brother Norman who is heading off for a year in Uganda as a missionary. Now back home and flying off to a week in Alaska tomorrow.
Linda is doing fine...steroids give her energy.....and.....and. Her back is still a bit sore but we're hoping the steroids do the trick.
Pictures below of the wedding and picnic:
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The wedding ..first picture..nephew John marrying Ashlie.....second picture..Linda's grand nieces Ava and Zoe...Third picture..Linda and Ava...Fouth picture...Linda's nieces Jen (mother of Ava and Zoe) and Julie...Fifth picture..brother Norman..heading to Africa..sixth picture..Linda's sister Karen (Mother of John...the groom) and last picture..Linda's brother Marlin and sister in law Joni
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Monday Evening...August 5th.....2008
This update will be in two parts..first an update on Linda's "aches and pains" and visit to the Oncologist today and then a summary of our wonderful three days at the Oregon Jamboree.
Linda's pain level was high today with the pain increasing if she breathed deeply. She hoped the doctor would provide answers (as we spent tons of time and money going to the Clinic and the Emergency Room with no relief). The doctor had access to the scan done in the hospital and the summary by the doctor who reads the scans. He seemed a bit baffled...saying it was not cancer related except it may be an aftermath of the radiation...I forgot the word he used to discribe what might be going on....he put her on steroids for a week to see if it reduced any inflammation that might be in the muscle tissue....he reassured her that there was no cancer signs....but if the steroids didn't work in a week of so, we'd go back in and they would do some further tests to see if the problem could be isolated.
So that's about what we know....
The Jamboree was fun...great singing....Sugarland...Glenn Campbell...Kellie Pickler....Phil Stacey (both of American Idol).....Trace Adkins...Randy Owen of Alabama....etc...etc..We were very entertained for three days..glad we went..will be back next year.
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Linda's pain level was high today with the pain increasing if she breathed deeply. She hoped the doctor would provide answers (as we spent tons of time and money going to the Clinic and the Emergency Room with no relief). The doctor had access to the scan done in the hospital and the summary by the doctor who reads the scans. He seemed a bit baffled...saying it was not cancer related except it may be an aftermath of the radiation...I forgot the word he used to discribe what might be going on....he put her on steroids for a week to see if it reduced any inflammation that might be in the muscle tissue....he reassured her that there was no cancer signs....but if the steroids didn't work in a week of so, we'd go back in and they would do some further tests to see if the problem could be isolated.
So that's about what we know....
The Jamboree was fun...great singing....Sugarland...Glenn Campbell...Kellie Pickler....Phil Stacey (both of American Idol).....Trace Adkins...Randy Owen of Alabama....etc...etc..We were very entertained for three days..glad we went..will be back next year.
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Currently we are in the RV with granddaughter Jillian at a Thousand trails RV park south of Sun River....off to Alaska next week.....
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday...July 31st....2008
Tomorrow we head to the Oregon Jamboree...Top country music for three days.....Sugarland...Randy Owen...Joe Nichols....Kellie Pickler (American Idol show)....Trace Adkins...etc...
Monday we head home with Jillian...our granddaughter...for a week...then off to Alaska for a week.
Linda has been hurting today..her shoulder hurts bad again and the pain medications are not doing the trick...she can't figure out how she might have agitated it yesterday....Wednesday she visits her Oncologist for her 4 month check up....maybe he can help.
Monday we head home with Jillian...our granddaughter...for a week...then off to Alaska for a week.
Linda has been hurting today..her shoulder hurts bad again and the pain medications are not doing the trick...she can't figure out how she might have agitated it yesterday....Wednesday she visits her Oncologist for her 4 month check up....maybe he can help.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday...July 29th...2008
We got this email from Julie...granddaughter Jillian's Mom..it is a great "sequel" to Jillian's "horse accident"..We share it in full:
Well Fair has ended and I must say it was an incredible experience. Jillian shined! She did a number of extra stall duties, and really enjoyed being there helping her fellow 4-H ers... She also spent a lot of time in the bunny barn, actually doing barn duty there as well even though she did not have any bunnies of her own.
Fair was a wonderful experience for the both of us.....
Friday was a very special day for us! There was a an event that has changed our lives and we have added a new member to our family. Wayne and Sharon Nelson started the Neslon Colt foundation. This is to 4-H families only. How it works is any 4-H member can write an essay on horses and commit to a 3 year training commitment to a colt that is awarded to them. Well this year there were 3 participants, and as we were watching the presentation only 2 of the girls showed up. So yes there was a Colt without a girl. Mr. Nelson said that he would sell the Colt to a 4-H family for a $100 down and $100 a month for a total of $1,000.00 I immediately thought this would be a great experience for Jillian. I went to talk to Mr. Nelson and had a friend, a horse trainer look at the horse, and then had Jillian work with the horse. After spending a good few hours with him I knew this would be a great opportunity.
Jillian is the Proud owner of a beatiful Gelding, Quarter Horse/Paint. She has named him Nelson after Mr Nelson which she is very fond of after meeting him.
As you can see from the pictures she is very much in love with her horse. Nelson will be going to a trainer for a few months and then will be working with Jillian and a trainer following. I believe her love for horses will enrich her life.
Send her lots of loves and prayers... She is the bravest girl I know!
Fair was a wonderful experience for the both of us.....
Friday was a very special day for us! There was a an event that has changed our lives and we have added a new member to our family. Wayne and Sharon Nelson started the Neslon Colt foundation. This is to 4-H families only. How it works is any 4-H member can write an essay on horses and commit to a 3 year training commitment to a colt that is awarded to them. Well this year there were 3 participants, and as we were watching the presentation only 2 of the girls showed up. So yes there was a Colt without a girl. Mr. Nelson said that he would sell the Colt to a 4-H family for a $100 down and $100 a month for a total of $1,000.00 I immediately thought this would be a great experience for Jillian. I went to talk to Mr. Nelson and had a friend, a horse trainer look at the horse, and then had Jillian work with the horse. After spending a good few hours with him I knew this would be a great opportunity.
Jillian is the Proud owner of a beatiful Gelding, Quarter Horse/Paint. She has named him Nelson after Mr Nelson which she is very fond of after meeting him.
As you can see from the pictures she is very much in love with her horse. Nelson will be going to a trainer for a few months and then will be working with Jillian and a trainer following. I believe her love for horses will enrich her life.
Send her lots of loves and prayers... She is the bravest girl I know!
Julie
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday...July 28th...2008
We're "hiding out" in the woods again in the motorhome...waiting for the Oregon Jamboree to start later this week in Sweethome, Oregon.
The last two days were spent hosting our 1.5 million dollar "spec" home...yet to be sold...there has been a "Tour of Homes" in Central Oregon this past two weekends and our realtors were busy with other homes the last two days...so we did the hosting...even though our home was not officially on the tour, we used it as an opportunity to have a continuous open house...and it worked well.
But today we are very tired. This will be a week of rest....
Linda's back is better..no pain medication taken today for the first time. So far so good.....
Dave
The last two days were spent hosting our 1.5 million dollar "spec" home...yet to be sold...there has been a "Tour of Homes" in Central Oregon this past two weekends and our realtors were busy with other homes the last two days...so we did the hosting...even though our home was not officially on the tour, we used it as an opportunity to have a continuous open house...and it worked well.
But today we are very tired. This will be a week of rest....
Linda's back is better..no pain medication taken today for the first time. So far so good.....
Dave
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thursday...July 24th...2008
Just when things were getting "boring" on the BLOG, Linda adds excitement!
Yesterday, Linda awakened with a sore shoulder...she put heat on it...then ice..then some pain meds....then said it was under the shoulder blade and radiating in different directions...and so painful she needed help. Of course, my mind and body went to an immediate "old" place it had not gone to in a while ( not a comfortable feeling).
So off to the Bend Memorial Clinic we went.......
After a long wait, we were seen by a physician who immediate Linda recognized as the one who had originally diagnosed her lung problem as maybe pneumonia...he was a bit embarrassed until Linda reassured him that this had been an initial diagnosis and that if he had done the followup the cancer would have been found by him...after looking over his notes at the time, he agreed..but still a bit edgy...
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Yesterday, Linda awakened with a sore shoulder...she put heat on it...then ice..then some pain meds....then said it was under the shoulder blade and radiating in different directions...and so painful she needed help. Of course, my mind and body went to an immediate "old" place it had not gone to in a while ( not a comfortable feeling).
So off to the Bend Memorial Clinic we went.......
After a long wait, we were seen by a physician who immediate Linda recognized as the one who had originally diagnosed her lung problem as maybe pneumonia...he was a bit embarrassed until Linda reassured him that this had been an initial diagnosis and that if he had done the followup the cancer would have been found by him...after looking over his notes at the time, he agreed..but still a bit edgy...
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Anyway, to make a long story short, the diagnosis of the pain was either a severe muscle strain in the upper back (to which Linda could not attribute to any specific cause) or PE (pulmonary embolism)..or also called a blood clot in the lung. The doctor said Linda was in the "high risk" category for this because of the lung cancer.......and he did not want to take the chance of sending her home without further testing as she may go home..go to sleep..and not wake up because of the PE....he did not want to be the doctor who "blew it" twice (light humor). So a scan was ordered to see if there was a clot.
In the meantime we had dinner guests showing up at home and time was "flying".....so we canceled that.
Was the end of the story a simple scan and then we went home......nope....Miss Linda decided to make it tough on everyone including herself. They couldn't get the needle in the vein to start the "contrasting material" in, which was needed for the scan. 6 times they tried! No luck! And she was miserable.
So off to the hospital emergency room we were sent for their specialists to do the insertion and scan (do you spell "m-o-n-e-y-?)
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And I forgot to mention that Linda started into shock due to the number of needle insertion attempts (we've done that...seen that.... before)...which caused a scramble of personnel.
In the hospital emergency room, we met "One Stick Tom"......the emergency room nurse..."No problem"..... said he....and he was right...the insertion was made on the first try.....mind you, we have now been in one or more medical facilities for over 7 hours. We were scheduled for an activity in Portland today...cancelled that.
Finally after a total of 8 and a half hours, the scan was completed...no clot....big pain meds administered (regardless of no clot, the upper inner part of the back area still hurt her badly).....and a "relieved everybody"...including us.
Off to home....some dinner close to midnight....Linda's gotten up a couple of times for more meds....and I've awakened restless....tired but glad everything has worked out...
As Linda says.....she only did it for the BLOG as things were getting boring...
I'm sure we are all glad she is "OK" and were quickly reminded about how things can turn so quickly....and a reminder that being active as Linda is.... muscle pulls, etc are part of "normal life"......
End of story...no pictures this time...camera was at home....
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturday...July 19th....2008
Yesterday we had lunch, with friend Mary, at MO'S which is the most famous seafood restaraunt on the Oregon coast...Barb, our server, was so struck with how much fun we were having that she wanted a picture...and then she sent it to us.....what can we say.....we are stars!...and we "made the day" for another.... 
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Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday...July 16th...2008
Yesterday...the Oregon Aquarium in Newport.....Linda is doing well...some allergy irritations....she's trying out a neti pot today she bought yesterday....she says she's been putting it off as she doesn't like new experiences like that....full report coming.
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Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday...July 14th....2008
Today we visited with Linda's dear friend Mary...up the Oregon coast from where we are staying...as you can see from the picture...it wasn't any warmer up there... 
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Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday...July13th...2008
Today we arrived at the ocean...and are staying south of Newport, Oregon at Whaler Rest RV Resort...Linda loves the ocean and couldn't wait to get down to the shore (picture #1)...and then back quickly as it was COLD! (Picture #2)...we will be here a week and Linda gets to visit with her friend Mary from California who is vacationing north of us a few miles.
You ask..what is in Linda's hand?....Dog P**p....everytime we take Sadie along and those little legs start working...it's Dog P**p time! How come it's not in Dave's hand? Cuz he's smarter! Lindas' left "holding the bag"! We go through a lot of bags with Miss Sadie!
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You ask..what is in Linda's hand?....Dog P**p....everytime we take Sadie along and those little legs start working...it's Dog P**p time! How come it's not in Dave's hand? Cuz he's smarter! Lindas' left "holding the bag"! We go through a lot of bags with Miss Sadie!
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