Boat Racing at Cullaby Lake

Denny had a boat race over the weekend at Cullaby Lake, which is between Seaside and Astoria. Great lake and it was perfect weather since it was so hot at home. We took our camper and stayed in the parking lot. It is only a day use park but they make exceptions for the boat racers. We loved staying there and didn't even go into Seaside to "play" on Saturday night because the lake was just too awesome to not enjoy. We BBQ'd both nights.

Denny raced great. He raced four heats and won all of them. Lee gave him a real "run for his money" the first day. Lee is on the right.

But Denny was able to pass him in both races on Saturday. Denny. R-8.

On Sunday Lee had boat problems and Denny had a close race with Zach.

Here are Denny, Lee and Mark getting ready to take off.

Our friends, Rod and Kay, spent the weekend in Astoria so they could watch Denny race. They just happened to be in Astoria a couple of years ago when Denny was racing, so I mentioned the boat races to them, and they dropped by and enjoyed them. So this year they made reservations at their favorite motel and spent two days with us. Thanks, Kay and Rod for being there. We all really enjoyed your company.

Julie, Scott, Kyle and Tori were also there. They stayed at Scott's parent's in Astoria. His parents also stopped by.Scott helped Denny start his boat each day. Scott said it was really fun after the race because guys would come up and look at Denny's boat and motor and make comments about it and would say a few things to Scott about it. Scott acted like he knew all about it but little did the guys know that about all Scott knew was how to get the water out of the boat with the sponge! But he was lovin' it and felt like a real "racer dude!" Kyle and Tori always wipe off the boat afterwards. Tori comes up to Grandpa after the race and says, "It is time for us to do our job yet?!"

Sara enjoyed playing in the water. She was always trying to dig up rocks and bring them to shore. It was a great weekend. The park was nice, weather was perfect, racing was super and the company was awesome. Thanks everyone for a terrific time.

Hope all of you had a nice weekend also and were able to stay cool.

Love to you all,

JO

Kyle's Staying With Us

We have our grandson, Kyle (10), staying with us for a few days. He brought with him, his pitching machine, bats, balls, glove, bike, skateboard, etc. I don't think he is going to be bored while staying with us. Yesterday we rode our bikes to the nearby school. He rode a little motor bike that we have here.

Then when we got home he rode on his skateboard while I took a video of him using my camera. I have never done that before so they didn't turn out too great. But he enjoyed watching them. We would record, delete, record again, etc.

Grandpa (Denny) decided it would be fun for him to "chairboard" down our driveway and this is how he ended up! Boy, did Kyle and I laugh. I wish I would have had a video of that!Today when I went to my meeting for women with metastatic cancer, Denny took Kyle to the batting cages. He hit great. Then they went to the Malibu Grand Prix and Kyle drove a race car. I thought you had to be 16 to drive one but apparently they go by height. He made it! He loved it and I am sure he will be going back there. Denny didn't realize that the camera was in the car so he took this picture with his phone. So it isn't the best picture but Kyle is in car 4.My meeting was nice. There were about 20 of us there. A man from Providence came to take our picture with the quilt that we made and hangs on the wall in our meeting room. I have a picture of it in a previous blog. He is going to be writing a story and printing the picture in the newspaper that Providence/St. Vincent's publish. I will try to figure out how to put that in my blog when it comes out.

Hope all of you are enjoying the fantastic weather we are having.

Love to you all,

JO

PS: I keep forgetting to tell some of you who like 50's - 60's music, that there is an FM radio station that plays all the oldies like KISN used to. It is 105.9. Try it, you'll like it!

Harley Ridin' and Eatin'

Yesterday we rode our Harley to the beach. It is the first time we have ridden it this year. It is has been so long that I even forgot what side of the bike I usually get on! The first two times I got on, it felt uncomfortable and I kept thinking that maybe I had gained some weight and just couldn't get on it like I used to! Then we both realized that I was getting on the bike on the left side like Denny does and I usually get on it on the right. Dah!

We stopped at the new Starbucks in Longview just before crossing the bridge into Oregon. Then we stopped and had halibut fish and chips in Astoria at the best place ever. We have stopped there before and it was just as good as it always is. I think the place is called the Bowkeeper and it is across from the Maritime Museum. It is a wooden ship that sits on a lot and a couple of gals cook the fish. They only serve halibut and fries. We got it to go and sat by the water and ate it.

Then we stopped by Cullaby Lake (between Astoria and Seaside) to check it out since Denny will be boat racing there next weekend. It is a nice little lake and most people don't even know there is a lake there. These pictures were taken there.

We then headed to Seaside and drove around the Prom and sat on a bench and watched the people playing on the beach. There were lots of people there and the weather was nice. We had a great day and we look forward to many more trips on our Harley.

Hope all of you had a nice day like we did.

Love to you all,

JO

Turkey, Bacon, Ranch Wrap at Arby's

Once a month, some of us Lunch Bunch gals meet for lunch at Arby's in Hillsboro. I always end up getting the same sandwich, a turkey, bacon, ranch wrap. It is great. Today, I met Amy and Carolyn at 9:30 at Marshall's and we shopped before lunch. I wasn't going to buy a thing, yeah, right! I ended up with a pair of black carpi's. They were $50 and I bought them for $16.99. They do not wrinkle at all. They will be perfect for packing in a suitcase. More on that later. Then we went to Kohl's since it is right next to Arby's and I didn't buy a thing. I said, "I didn't buy a thing!" Hard to believe, but true. Amy and Carolyn both bought tons of things today and I was trying to tell them they were spending way too much money and they didn't need all that stuff, but they just wouldn't listen to me! Good thing I have discipline and know when not to buy too much! (I know Amy and Carolyn read my blog, so you know gals, that I am just kidding. But you will have to admit that you both did buy more than I did! Now that is unusual.)

Julie sent me a picture of Tori and her neighbors at their swimming lesson. Tori is the gal on the far left.....the one with the nice figure like her Grandma, yeah right! Cute kids.

We just booked a cruise to the Western Caribbean in 2009. This is the first time since I have had metastatic cancer that I have made travel arrangements so far in advance. Since I have my CAT scans every three months, I usually plan no more than three months ahead. But, I did it and I feel okay about it. We can cancel up to three months before the trip and then we can buy travel insurance. Right now, I feel great and am planning on feeling great for a long time. We will be going with Jan, Dick, Lynne, and Bill. Jan and Lynne are the gals I go to Reno with each year. We have been on a few cruises together. This time we are going on the Norwegian Cruise Line. We have never been on it before and it sounds like it will be different since they have all open seating for their meals. There are 13 restaurants on the ship. Plus, you can dress up if you want to but you don't have to. We have had several formal pictures taken recently on cruises, so we don't need any more of those. A couple of the ports we will be going to are Belize and Cozumel. I have not been to Belize and hear it is nice. So, I am looking forward to letting you all know about our cruise, because I am going to be healthy enough to go on it!

Justin sent us a new picture of Bella. Pretty darn cute!

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine.

Love to you all,

JO

My Huge Garden

Today I went to my support group meeting for women with metastic cancer. There were not very many there. Some of the gals are sick and some were out of town. Before the meeting, I visited a gal from our support group, Betsy, who is in the hospital. She was in the group when I joined so I have always felt a closeness to her. We both worked together several times on the quilt that our support group made to hang in our room. We both attended the writing workshop that was offered following our meetings. She and her husband have a sailboat and sail in the San Juan Islands. I know she is anxious to do that again and I sure hope she gets to soon. Just want you to know, Betsy, that I am thinking of you and sending you healing thoughts.

My friend, Madeline, received the results of her CAT scan and it was good news. It showed there is no CLL in her body, she is still in remission and chemo is not necessary. She will continue to have some more radiation treatments on her legs and her bones should be completely healed in six months. Here is a picture that was taken a year ago of her, her sister (Shirley-on the left) and myself. I worked at Hilhi with Shirley for 20 years. Their parents and my parents were good friends.

Here is a picture that was taken a month ago at Shirley's new house and before Madeline had surgery on her leg.

So, Madeline, keep on doing good. I am so happy for you. You Go Girl!

Yesterday, I planted the flowers that I bought at Beaverton's market. Thank goodness Denny helped me or it would have taken me till midnight . They look nice but they need lots of sunshine to grow. I also planted a cherry tomato plant , like I do each year. My tomaotes never seem to make it. I have only gotten tomatoes one year and have planted at least 4 years. I planted two strawberry plants. I don't have much luck with those either. I think it might be because I don't have a garden space and I plant them in buckets! Probably not the best enviroment for growing fruits and vegtables. Never was a farmer!

Hope all of you are having a good week.

Love to you all,

JO

PS: IF my tomatoes and strawberries make it, you are all invited over for salads and strawberry shortcake!

Happy Father's Day

I want to wish all you fathers a Happy Father's Day.

I went to a picnic at Vancouver Lake with some friends we met while Denny taught and coached at Lake Oswego High School. Sonny and Marion organized it last year and it has become an annual event. We thought it would be fun to get our families together since we don't get to see each other very often. Everyone and anyone was invited. Unfortunately, this year, I was the only one from my family. Denny was boat racing, Justin was working and lives in Hermiston, and Julie had her in-laws with her celebrating Father's Day. It was fun to see so many old friends that we used to hang out with years ago.

Here is a picture of Sonny and Marion who hosted the picnic. Sonny BBQ's hot dogs and hamburgers. All the food was terrific. Thanks, Sonny and Marion.

Here is a picture of Craig (Marion's son) and his family. He is a good friend of Justin and Julie's and we love him like a son.

Here is a picture of Larry, Myrna, and their daughter Cindy with her kids. He taught and coached with Denny and Myrna was athletic secretary at LO for many years.

Here is a picture of John and Chris. He also taught and coached with Denny at Lake Oswego High School and Chris was a secretary there.
It was so much fun spending time with old friends that we don't see very often.......some of them, only once a year. 'Looking forward to seeing all of you, not only at next years annual Father's Day picnic, but at many, many, many more .

Hope all of you were able to spend time with your fathers or friends and enjoy the outdoors in the nice sunshine.

Love to you all,

JO

Tori's Recital

Today was a fun day. I got up early and went to the Farmers Market in Vancouver, hoping to find some geraniums and a hanging basket. But I got there too early (8:00) and not everyone had their booths ready. But from what I saw, the flowers weren't that great. So I came home, changed clothes (had to dress for Tori's recital) and headed for the Beaverton Farmers Market because I knew they would have lots of flowers. I found the greatest geraniums. They were $4 a piece and worth every penny. The same ones sell for $6-$7 any place else. So I bought 6 and took them to my car and then went back to look around and ended up buying 4 more! I didn't find a hanging basket that I liked. So I headed to Sherwood where Tori's dance recital was going to be and I stopped by Al's Garden Center. Their hanging baskets were twice the price of those at the market. So I hope to go back to the Beaverton Market next weekend and hopefully find a basket I like. Here's a picture of the geraniums I bought.

Then I went to Tori's dance recital. She was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz presentation. She had the biggest smile on her face the entire performance. You could tell she loved every minute of it. There were a couple of kids that stood on the stage and cried.

Tori had a smile on her face during the entire performance.

Tori with the two neighbor girls.

Kyle didn't feel real good that day (allergies) but I managed to get a picture of him and Tori.

Here is a picture of Scott, Julie, Kyle and Tori, oops, I mean Dorothy.

These are the kids and I with Scott's parents.

Notice how Tori is always posing!

We all enjoyed the recital and were so proud of Tori.

Hope all of you had a nice day and were able to enjoy the sunshine.

Love to you all,

JO