Off Days and dresses

Here I am, watching a movie, (I know, is anyone shocked??) and recognizing the patterns in the relationships on the screen. Don't ask me how I made the leap, but I went from the movie and feeling kind of off, to the realization that I adore wearing dresses...they make me feel better, much like chocolate improves the attitude for other people.

So I looked for a few and decided that these will be my inspiration.

Wow. I am tired.

I planned to go hang with Chris for a while. Chill at Bugatti's and work my Sudokus...instead, I watched "Running with Scissors" which might be the strangest, and maybe one of the saddest films I have seen in a while. And though it is early, I am going to bed. In the words of Harry Chapin's grandfather - good tired.

what a great day!

Spent it with the team and we did the challenge course. It ROCKED!

Lots more images of our day are on the GSE site.

http://tagalogtravelblog.blogspot.com/

Gratitude, exhaustion, and beauty snakes

Sometimes I say I am tired, and really, though it sounds like I am complaining, I am not. I am so grateful for all I have in this life. There is no way around it - I am very very fortunate.

Sometimes I think about Esmerelda...she was amazing.

I finally beat Mark!

ok - I know - it is like 15 or 20 to 1, but I am savoring my victory. Happy dance, happy dance. The tide has turned. perhaps.

Dr Brody is fixin' me

So today we start to tackle the anemia. Curious, since Jan thinks the low red blood count is Thallessemia...if Dr B can fix it up - wow. I will be very impressed. But hey, her track record getting the cholesterol down without "drugs" was pretty good! The approach - find a way to absorb the iron I take in better. And, crap, track every bite of food for several weeks. ugh. It isn't HARD, it is merely a pain in the tush.

ok - Daily Plate: Marie returns tomorrow.

www.thedailyplate.com

Our halibut was at least larger than this

But still too small to keep! Check out the scale - I mean really, look at his thumb!

Back from the ocean

Well, we are tired but pleased that we returned Gary's boat with no mishaps. Sad to report though, that we caught only a small shark and a tiny halibut (I will include photo's of the shark, but alas, not of the halibut). But we did have fun - well, maybe young Ryan had less fun as he was a touch sick....here is the shark!

The real way to relax

Is to get all the chores done first so that play is guiltless. I finished the laundry, and got the "office" straightened up - finally! So I am now off to buy halibut bait.

Guess who is fishing tomorrow?


ME!

Check out the biggest halibut ever caught in Norway. And no, I do not expect to catch anything remotely close to this.

Dave and Kurt holding up our meager bounty

The bloody crime scene

Hey - got one on!

Darn, I failed to mention that I forgot the card for MY camera, so we used Kurt's which has the dumb time stamp on it...oh well.

Me and Kurt - heading out in the morning sun

Tuna with the boys

So - the spontaneous Tuesday trip was a blast...Gary, Kurt, me, and Kurt brought his friend Dave, who, after several hours on the boat, we realized was someone I went to high school with. Hilarious - Dave knows Deb and Al and their neighbor Joe...it is such a small world. We got a late start having starter trouble in Forest Grove...it is funny to tell people we had trouble starting the boat and then mention that we went 40 plus miles off shore. But hey, that is where the tuna were!! Photos will be up soon!!

Going to bed VERY early!!

Why you ask? Why would a girl be giddy and ready to sleep before 8pm? To go FISHING - of course. Making lunch and then going to try try try to sleep....tuna? Did you hear that tuna calling me? :-)

One more Poker run photo

so we finally got to strip off a couple layers. Before the day was over, I was wearing a tank top and my jacket completely unzipped. Hard to believe how cold it was at the start.

Jewels and Mosaics....

Girls just want to have fun, and things that sparkle!

Fun night...even sold a coaster set and Aida wants another "river" which is cool and fun since I haven't made one in a while. Still, it is really nice to be home and relaxing.

last Astoria shot...today

It is just so pretty.

ok, off to wash the scooter.

The Rotary Ride continued....

An all around yummy day. Here we are at the start of the ride - not too many bikes, which is fine as I am not big on riding in huge clusters. As it turned out, the three of us had pretty open roads the whole ride. The Astoria port area is so beautiful. But what really rocks - is I won a two night stay there for having....say it.....the LOWEST HAND! LOL

Astoria Rotary Ride

So here I was while we waited to meet Dennis Frames brother in law - 47 layers of clothes on - ok, maybe 5 - and the day was shaping up to be clear (though at this point, crisp was more accurrate. Oh, and the FOG in the mountain - downright cold!)

The NAA conference 1st annual 5k run/walk

Given my back soreness, it was mostly a walk for me, but it was beautiful. Along the river, the golf course, saw magpies and the uphill (which was significant rising up from the river) stretched my back well. Yeah!! Finished it - so hey - i got my tee shirt! I love being part of starting traditions.

I so love central Oregon...

Putting clothes away in my room, the sliding door is open and I feel the warm breeze, hear the golfers swinging away, and listening to Pandora - whoever invented Pandora, and leaves it as a free way to listen to music is currently my hero. We have a 4 pm 5k run/walk. Depending on how the back feels, I am currently guessing my participation will more resemble a walk...

good to be here though. feels clean, and fresh, and renewing somehow. yeah

(so can you see me in the window, second floor on the rightside of the picture...overlooking the 17th hole tee box. I am waving at you all! LOL)

The unnamed river

Not that I am saying for a minute that this place exists, or that if it did, I could say its name, but these photos don't do it justice. Brad and I had a lazy, gorgeous day on the river in his awesome boat - the photos were meant to capture the reflection on the water, and how the boat made circles in that reflection. I am convinced there is a mosaic, or several, laying quietly in wait for me to bring them to life from this inspiration.

Saturday with Ryan

So this is the ever cool Ryan standing on his very own townhouse terrace, overlooking his amazing view - trees, the water, the wildlife...does it get any better? Apparently it does - he has the SAME wonderous view from his upstairs room.

Had a great day at UofO with Ryan; lunch, catching up, the token house warming items (every home needs a snake - or several - some rocks, a feather, and YIPPEE - I got to give him the first fridge magnet), checking out the buildings and the trees on campus, and of course, drinking out of the 1920's water fountain - all four fountains as a matter of fact.

Can you spell great day? I can - Y E S T E R D A Y W I T H R Y A N.

I actually thought for a minute I would sleep in...

...when the call came in for an early fishing adventure. So, I am headed to buy lunch, and going to bed as soon as possible, to be at Brad's by 4:15. Yes, 4:15 AM. I really love fishing. Apparently.

gorgeous morning

ahh...the difference a good night's sleep and a less sore back make. And poof - just like that, she has her old cheeriness and hopeful spirit fully engaged. Off to add the finishing rejuvenating touches in a wonderful hot shower and a motorcycle ride to work.

making it through the day

sometimes the running away plan screams "good idea" to me - of course the practical side of me knows better, but the fantasy occasionally makes sense through the filter of the day to day crap. There are soccer kids in the field, I am deciding about getting lost in a silly movie or just calling it a day. decisions, decisions.

work and such

tomorrow is our status report. why do I think we are going to get bashed? hmmmm

oh my aching back....

...is not QUITE so aching any more....thank you thank you thank you Marilynn. Though I think you might have a sadist bone or two in you, you have incredible healing hands and a joyful, child like heart. Yeah Marilyn!

The end of the holiday weekend

I wound up actually getting a few things done today. That feels great. Saw Mama Mia (which made me smile on so many levels), I heard from Texas (his text message says he is lost...I cannot begin to imagine), I organized the information on the Philippines trip into a new big folder, and got stuff to organize the office. Oh! And I got rid of some old broken stuff to Goodwill! Yeah, cleaning out the old feels FABULOUS. I cannot wait to purge through the office. Redid my alter as well. Wow. Thinking about it now, I really did get a lot done.

I even started writing...not the main thing, but practice comes in many forms.