Heaven on Earth
It is the only way to describe all that we are seeing and experiencing. The Big Tree, appropriately named as we could not see the top of the tree from the bottom. It may be the biggest tree I have ever seen. It was HUGE. So large that Paul took a video of the tree since a picture would not have done it justice. Facebook is where you can find the pictures.
We went to Eureka but it was not all that is was hyped to be. That's okay though. I still had fun. We even found a very nice and clean laundromat to do a couple of loads so that we would have clean clothes for the rest of the trip. The Samoa Cookhouse was what it was supposed to be. The food was very good except for cream of cabbage soup. I am allergic to cabbage and the smell of the soup was getting to me when we left. Who heard of cream of cabbage soup anyway?
Today was a totally wandering carefree day. We walked on the beach, drove to different places, sat at the only Starbucks we have seen since we got to California. That is really weird since there seems to be an espresso stand on every corner in Hillsboro. Paul and I tried the count the number of Starbucks within three minutes of the house and we lost count. We sat out in the wind and cold and read and relaxed in the sun. Yes, the sun has been out all week long. The weather has been beautiful tomorrow.
No plans for tomorrow yet. We leave on Saturday and will be taking an out of the way trip to the Bigfoot Museum. I can't wait. Once again, I thank God for all He has created. We live in a beautiful world and it easy to forget with the day in and day out of life. I really need to do this vacation thing more often.
Love to all.
The Redwood National Forest
I don't even know how to begin to describe all the beautiful and breathtaking things I have seen. The drive here was amazing. We have been to the Trees of Mystery where we took a gondola ride to the top of some redwoods. At the observation platform, we could see mountains and trees on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. We took some picture while there and I am trying to get the pictures uploaded on Facebook. We drove the Avenue of the Giants. I have never seen trees of this size. They are truly magnificent. The Founders Tree was almost 345 feet tall and the first limbs did not start until 200 feet up. I felt as close to God there as anywhere else I have ever been. I walked through those trees with Paul and we both felt the peace and the significance of what we were seeing.
And today, we went to an aquarium that was sure to be a cheesy tourist trap but Paul took me because it was my birthday and I wanted to go. Pictures and movies to be uploaded next connection. I had the opportunity to pet a shark, a leopard shark. I was so velvety and plush. If you ever get the chance, take it. And then, a special treat was offered. They brought the female sea lion, Red, on to the deck with us. That sea lion kissed me on both cheeks, a once in a lifetime event.
The birthaverisary is going well. I am having a great time on my birthday and our anniversary. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful world. Take a moment today to appreciate the world that God created for us. Love to all.
Loss
Christy lost her fight against ovarian cancer on Wednesday. I had been to see her and she died about an hour after I left. Christy was a special girl friend. We had something unique. I have only had a few friendships like this in my life. They are hard to come by so when death takes it away, the hole is huge. I literally feel like there is a hole in my chest that everyone can now see through.
I miss her.
Relay for Life
I did it! With God's and Paul's help, I did it. I walked in the Relay for Life for 2 hours. I worked in the concession stand. I sold baked goods at our tent. I sat with Lori and learned more about her and had a great time. Christy came. She walked in the survivor lap. I was so proud of her. I walked and remembered. It was dark the first time I walked. It was eerie as the luminaria were let and I remembered Mom and Jimmy and Christy and Ralph. And even Butterball.
It was inspiring to see the people out there walking for whatever reason they had. Our team earned the Gold Award. We were the second top fundraiser, our little team of 12. And some of our team didn't collect much or didn't participate. Paul became a defacto team member just so he could walk. And he walked with me. We are both tired but I accomplished something I set out to do that I knew would be hard and that I would need God's strength for. I made it. I may hurt now, hurt bad. I did it and that is all that matters now. I did what was hard. I didn't take the easy way out and just donate. I didn't take the easy way and just come for my walking times. I came and I did what I had to do to help us be successful. It was my little miracle.
Thanks be to God, the Father for giving me the strength to do what I thought I could not do. Thank you!
Lots of 4's
I got tagged by Doctor Dad for this one and it looked like fun. Four of this and four of that can make for interesting reading.
4 Jobs I've Held:
1. Waitress
2. Yogurt Slinger
3. Office Manager
4. Human Resources Business Partner
4 Movies I've Watched Over and Over Again:
1. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the entire thing)
2. The Day After Tomorrow
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (My favorite of all of them still)
4. Planet of the Apes (the Charlton Heston version not that newer one)
4 Places I've Been:
1. Disney World
2. Niagra Falls
3. Baseball Hall of Fame
4. The glorious Oregon Coast
4 Places I've Lived:
1. Winter Park, Florida
2. Statesboro, GA
3. Columbus, OH
4. Beaverton, OR
4 TV Shows I Watch:
1. Bones
2. Crossing Jordan
3. Dr. Who
4. Battlestar Galactica
4 Radio Shows I Listen To:
1. Car Talk
2. Lake Wobegon
2. Thistle and Shamrock
4 Things I Look Forward To:
1. Cuddling Paul
2. Time with the rest of the family
3. Reading
4. Sabbatical
4 People I email regularly:
1. Paul
2. Sister
3. Co-workers
4. Long lost friends
4 People to Tag:
1. Ken
2. Pete
3. David
4. Larry
Life goes on...
Not much happening in Hillsboro these days. We mostly go to work and come home and then do it all again the next day. On the weekends, we get to sleep in and then play. Last week we went to see "Iron Man" at the movies and it was terrific. It was a nice treat even if the movies are getting very expensive to go see.
Next week, I go in for a hysterectomy. They are doing laparscopically which is pretty cool. I will spend two weeks at home and that is about it. Not a big deal. Just something that needed to be done and now is as good a time as any.
The family is doing okay. I am not sure my mom is ever going to get over Tom's death. She struggles to maintain a weight of 98 pounds. She hardly eats anymore. She just looks so frail, like if you hug her, you might break her. She needs to see a therapist but she won't. They have tried grief counseling but I don't know how good it is. Part of it is that my dad doesn't really miss Tom all that much and I think that upsets my mom more than anything else.
This weekend Paul and I are going to play cards with another couple. I am working on getting us some sort of social lite. We are both such homebodies. It is taxing to go out but we will do it and we will have fun!!!
Well, gotta go.
Love to all.
Les Miserable
Larry has been working on his part as the villian in Les Miserable the last couple of months. We finally got to see the production last Saturday. It was put on by a company called Staged! here in the Portland area. It was awesome. I laughed. I cried. Larry was simply amazing if you don't mind a step-mother saying so. The people sitting next to us just loved him. When I told them he was my stepson, they said I must be so proud. They are right.
I just can't describe how much different this show was than all the others he has done. This cast was dedicated to making this work. It was a more professional show. All of the actors did a terrific job. Jean Valjean was stunning in his work. The entire show was in song. It was more like an opera but I could understand the words. :-) So, yes it was the best show he has been in by far.
And the day is not far away when Larry goes to the Czech Republic. He decided on Chicago for school and I am not sure how I feel about that. I know it will be great for him but he will be so far away. I know I am going to cry like a baby when he heads off to school. I love him like he is my own child. He is a fine young man. I like to think I had some influence there.
Well, gotta run. Love to all.
