Out and About

Status of Blog - DOA?

2009-10-29T01:31:39Z

I still have a lot of interesting trips (mostly much more local!!!) - so may add more travel blogs time permitting. Obviously I'm a couple of years behind right now - not doing things, just writing about them...

I'm also having problems editing video's - once I stopped using my regular digital camera and moved up to an MPEG4 video camera, my laptop just doesn't have the horsepower to do the rendering necessary. So will try to upgrade computers eventually and can then start uploading video's again...

So anyway, the family blog idea seems to be dead. So far, I'm not crazy about FB, but will do my best. The kids seem to like it...

Status of Blog - DOA? remains copyright of the author jl98584, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Thanksgiving at our place this year

2008-12-01T03:10:58Z

Vivian and I had thanksgiving at our place this year. The day before Jeanette called to say she was ill and couldn't come, so Nick brought Mike's wife, Tiara up with him. Mike got to the condo a couple minutes before Nick, Amanda and Tiara came in, then Mike's other Mom, Ann came and finally our friend Tommie. We had a lovely dinner, minus the pumpkin pies Mom was going to bring. Actually, Melody had used the pumpkin pie filling Mom had gotten for pie the week before to feed the mobs of us at Jeanette's.

Vivian baked a beef briskett 24 hours, adding an apple butter glaze during the last part of the baking process. It was tender and tasty. She also cooked a turkey breast and two drumsticks for the traditionalists amongst us. Que did an experiment that turned out well, baked squash with quince. In addition, I cooked my usual twice baked potatoes and green beans with mushrooms and onions. Nick and Ann both brought apple pies and Michael (via Ann) brought the rolls, white, whole grain and the ever popular Hawaiian ones.

We all ate too much, took home a lot of leftovers and talked and talked. Later in the evening, some of us played the games Munchkins and Scategories. Tommie left to go home to her kitties and the rest of us went to bed for a good night's sleep.

Thanksgiving at our place this year remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Mom's Stroke Recovery (5/4/09)

2009-05-04T23:07:11Z

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Update - Mom has moved to Long Beach, CA
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I just realized what a terrible job I've been doing keeping up on the blog since finishing the RV Trip! So sorry. Anyway, Mom was feeling so down after her stroke there just didn't seem to be any way to cheer her up. It was cold and rainy one day and she refused to get out of bed, so I asked her if she'd rather move to LA where my brother Charlie had recently moved (Long beach actually). She was practically up and packing befoe we had a chance to discuss it! So a few days later I drove her down in the RV. She seems to be quite settled in, when I called her today she had just gotten out of the pool! So hope the sunshine helps cheer her up some, the beach probably doesn't hurt much either...

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As strokes go, this one wasn't too bad. She has some blurred vision, speach, and is weak, but none of the serious difficulties one often hears about with strokes. Still, it's a blow to one's confidence and independence (can't drive with the vision thing).

She had an occupational therapy and physical therapy assessement last Tuesday and did rather well overall. The occupational therapist says only one or two more appointments, mostly working on her vision and sense of touch. The physical therapist suggests 5 to 8 weeks, mostly to improve her leg strength and balance, after which she should be better off then before the stroke.

Art, Melody, Que, Vivian, Nick and Amenda, Michael Brown and Tiara all came by last weekend and helped build a walkway to the neighbors driveway and remodel her bathroom, making it easier to get in and out of the tub. She wanted very much to stay in her own apartment downstairs, but some of the doctors and nurses were concerned about the stairs. Since the neighbors garage is on the lower level, their driveway goes right down about level with her apartment, so there was only about 9 feet of lawn to traverse for her to be able to walk to the car (neighbor gave us permission to use the driveway), now replaced with a nice walkway. Since then, the physical therapist has OK'd her use of the stairs (even suggested it might help with her leg strength), but it will be nice to have the walkway for when she doesn't feel like using the stairs.

I suspect it's going to be very hard for her to not be able to drive. We'll just take it one day at a time and see where it takes us. Life takes it's turns and bumps and we just have to adjust.

You might find the following web booklet of interest. I have printed it out and will be using it as a resource here at home, along with some other research.

http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/hope_full.pdf?docID=921

One of the symptoms Mom complains about is that she occasionally has difficulty saying what she wants. This turns out to be a very common side affect of strokes and is a condition called "Aphasia", although her case is relatively mild. This also turns out to be one area where treatment can be quite successful! Mom's occupational therapist (OT) is considering recommending a speach therapist, but in the meantime the MayoClinic web site has information specifically to help family assist with Aphasia recovery.

When you are with Mom or communicating with her, please consider the following suggestions from Mayo Clinic:

- Simplify your sentences and slow down your pace.
- Allow the person time to talk.
- Don't finish sentences or correct errors.
- Keep conversations focused on one topic at a time.
- Reduce distracting noise in the environment.
- Keep paper and pencils or pens readily available.
- Write a key word or short sentence to help explain something.
- Help the person with aphasia create a book of words, pictures or photos to assist with conversation.
- Use drawings or gestures when you aren't understood.
- Involve the person with aphasia in conversations as much as possible.
- Check for comprehension or summarize what you've discussed

Mom may not need the paper, pencils and booklets as much as her case is so mild, but most of these suggestions wouldn't hurt us whether or not one's communications skills are impaired!

Mom's Stroke Recovery (5/4/09) remains copyright of the author jl98584, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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BACK TO KOREA

2008-10-31T08:45:06Z

Bob is teaching this fall semester at Sahmyook University, the current name of the small school we came to exactly 50 years ago. He's teaching 2 theology courses in the seminary. He's here Aug. 24-Dec. 24. I decided to come for a few weeks, not needing a visa for that, and not wanting to leave the house and yard and various tasks at home that long. I'm using his laptop, but tedious SquirrelMail for e-mail, and we don't have a lot of time to just sit and use the computer, but I'll now try to send you a report.

Bob is enjoying very much being back in Korea. He's always felt the years spent here were the best in his life and career, and he always feels deeply appreciated and respected here.

I had worried about getting here, as my sciatica got much worse after driving to TN and back in May for James's graduation (though I wanted to be there and would do it again). Three days before leaving, a friend who is a pain specialist, took me in and gave me an epidural steroid injection. The pain left, the moment he removed the needle. I was so happy, but then it came back as a result of the travel. When I left from South Beth, my checked suitacse was 62 pounds, and they said I'd need to remove 12 pounds and put them in my tote bag, or pay $50. I put 12 pounds of books and magazines into my tote bag, but also had my somewhat heavy camera bag to carry. And on a United flight one walks from one end of one O'Hare terminal to the other end of another. Then sitting on the flight and carrying it off in LAX didn't help, but Lyndon met me at baggage claim and took the suitcase. Again when we flew to Seoul, it was a long spell of sitting. I've continued to have some pain, though not quite as bad as before, and most days Celebrex and Tylenol will ease it.

Lyndon was in L.A. for a final concert weekend with the Phil, and the church member housing him in Glendale graciously took me in too. Lyndon and I tooled around southern CA the next day, doing a bunch of errands and eating in a nice Mexican restaurant. The next day we went to church in Glendale, and he had to get back to the orchestra, but I went with friends who ate at another Mexican restaurant, hoping to give him a nice farewell, but he couldn't join them. One of them then drove me to the home of friends from childhood, whose daughter from the Sacto area was visiting, and we had a great visit till Lyndon picked me up. That evening I went to a Phil concert in Disney Hall, the first I'd attend one there, and it was great--also L's last weekend there.

With more errands, and an afternoon concert for Lyndon, Sunday went quickly, and that evening our hostess and I met Lyndon at Disney and attended a wonderful concert by the L.A. Master Chorale, which friends on their board had told us about and urged us to attend. They insisted we meet them during intermission in the elite Founders Room, where a greeter had to find a coat for Lyndon before he could be admitted! It was fun, with some juice and nuts and cookies, and visiting with a few friends.

Monday Lyndon and I flew to SF and then on to Korea, where Bob and a driver met us. Beth and the girls had arrived from Wellington a few hours earlier and braved the subway out to the college. They stayed in a guestroom there 2 nights, and we did things together, and then they moved to a downtown hotel when the rest of the orchestra arrived. We still joined them there on Friday and all went to the Korean Folk Village, sort of a theme park to show what Korean life was like in the past--actually, how it was when we lived here, but no more. They came out here by subway for services the next day, and Lyndon played for the foreigners' SS here. Lyndon had to get back downtown, but the rest of us ate with some other guests from America and some school leaders (former students of ours) in the VIP room of the cafeteria. That evening Bob and I attended the Phil concert, with Sarah Chang, as soloist, in the Sejong Performing Arts Center downtown, after all 5 of us meeting Lyndon there and eating at a nearby Italian restaurant. On Sunday we joined them and some Korean friends who immigrated to Glendale years ago (and whose daughter, a former student of Lyndon's is subbing on violin on this Phil tour. They treated us to a wonderful buffet breakfast, with everything imaginable, at the hotel. The kids and the orchestra left Monday morning for Japan, then Singapore, then Hong Kong; and when the tour ends, his resignation is effective Nov. 1, after 17 years with them, and they fly back to NZ.

Bob and I have an apartment on campus, with all new appliances, though instructions are in Korean, and we haven't used the rice cooker, or the stove much (no pans or can opener), and the front-loading washer across the hall is hard to figure out. We've missed a few times, but have figured out how to get cold water and gentle spin, but it also dries, and one setting seems to end with damp clothes not dried (though we have a rack in the apartment), and the next one up seems to leave them quite hot and wrinkled. We generally eat dinner in the cafeteria, where we get a fair variety besides the brown rice with beans in it and the white rice. Breakfasts and suppers are easy in our room, with fruit, toast, dry cereal, and soymilk. The latter is very good, made at the SDA food factory. Dry cereal is available from a Costco not far away and from a HomePlus (another big warehouse store but with single items). These things were all unavailable, as was any bread we didn't make ourselves, 40-50 years ago. Now we can buy just about anything here.

It also has become the most wired country--Internet access, wireless, almost anywhere; cell phones, more per capita than any other country, just about everyone on the subway wearing ear buds. Growth is unbelievable. Our house and the neighbors' have been replaced by big apartment buildings for foreign faculty. Many large buildings are on campus. The gym has an Olympic pool, a bowling alley (which Rilla and Lynn enjoyed and introduced us to), a huge gym floor, exercise equipment of all kinds in several rooms, a pingpong room, and much more. The student center has a cafe, bookstore, etc. The Horticulture building has a greenhouse and more. They are now building the largest building, their third science building. A huge ad building was built since our last visit 4 years ago

Where only missionaries had cars before, now parking space is a problem, as many students and most faculty members have cars. The road from town to the entrance was a one-lane dirt road that washed out every summer in the rainy season; now it is a 6-lane highway, filled with traffic. The road used to take us past rice paddies and thatch-roofed houses into Seoul; now it is surrounded by high-rise apartments and businesses of all kinds. Bob has visited a number of the churches he helped found, with students; they then built small cement-block buildings about the size of Jeanette's living room; now some of those are on their 4th building since then, and are in huge churches with a sanctuary, large fellowship hall and kitchen, rooms for young people, and more. We actually don't get our bearings anywhere because we can't find any familiar landmarks. There was no subway when we were here, but now 7 lines crisscross Seoul and extend out from there quite a way. Ten buses owned by the university shuttle people continuously from campus to the stations just a few miles away, or public buses run also. One magnetic card works for all public transportation, swiping it when entering and exiting, and renewing it as needed at ticket offices (or by machine if we could figure them out).

When we came, the college was a 2-year ministerial training school with about 150 students. It is now a university with several majors, graduate degrees, even doctorates, and almost 6,000 students.

Monday we took the subway out of Seoul to another city where the food factory is. It has grown tremendously, too--begun as a small dairy here on campus, but now a large factory producing 300,000 liters of soymilk a day, plus other fake meat products. After the tour they gave us a nice gift bag of various flavors of soymilk--regular, high-calcium, tropical, strawberry, chocolate, sesame, black bean, etc. All are packaged in little boxes with attached straws, like juice boxes in the States.

We've spent some days just walking around downtown, taking pictures of the high-rise buildings and other interesting spots. (I think most days here I've walked 5-8 miles or so.) We've tried some of the restaurants--many available now, with various ethnic ones too. And there are the ubiquitous chains: Macdonald's, Burger King, KFC, Baskin-Robbins, Coldstone Creamery, and more.

One day last week 3 former students took us and a Korean couple visiting from the States (former students also) to Soeraksang NP in the northeast. I'd always wanted to see it, and Bob was there just once with students many years ago. It is beautiful, with rugged peaks, fall colors, etc. We hiked about 6 miles, I figured, up and down trails. We took a cable car up one high peak. We ate at a very nice park restaurant with a vegetarian buffet. On the way home we stopped for supper about an hour from campus, again with a buffet with a lot of vegetarian food. The men brought a breakfast that we ate in the car after they picked us up at 6:30. Driving was about 3 hours each way. These fellows rented an SUV, paid the gas, arranged for a driver, paid the entrance fees and cable-car tickets, paid for the meals. I'm sure it was all costly.

Last night a retired minister, who studied in the Philippines the year we were there, with his wife took us to dinner. The night before, a pastor who studied under Bob at AU for his doctorate, with his wife took us to another restaurant, and gave us a dress shirt and a silk scarf before we ate; they will also pick us up tomorrow for Bob to preach at their church, and we'll be fed there too. Others have done the same. We actually don't have many suppers in our room.

Last Sabbath we attended an interesting report on conditions in N. Korea.

Today a South African teacher of English here, who has been very friendly and helpful, went downtown with me. She'd taken me last week to a tailor she could recommend as fitting people well (I've had some bad experiences), so I ordered a black cashmere coat and a red alpaca/wool jacket. I went for a fitting today and will pick them up on Monday. She went to have him adjust a coat he'd made her 4 years ago, before she lost quite a bit of weight. Then we shopped for a few gift souvenirs and such, and we ended up at HomePlus, where we got a few food items and I bought a nice washable-wool sweater for about $15 (turtleneck, ribbed knitting, long-sleeved, very soft).

I will be leaving for home next Tuesday. I almost wish I'd planned to stay another week, as there is much more I'd like to see and do. A neighbor wrote that he'd gone into our house and watered the plants and inspected bathrooms and all, and all is fine, no leaks or anything.

Well, that may be more of a report than you wanted to wade through. But it really just scratches the surface.

Love,

BACK TO KOREA remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Stowe, Vermont

2008-10-12T22:27:21Z

So there was a conference that I wanted to attend in Stowe, Vermont. Neither Vivian nor I had ever been to Vermont so we decided to go. The conference was held at the Inn at the Mountain about 6 miles uphill from the Village of Stowe. Everyone was saying that the leaves in the Stowe area were more colorful than they had been for several years. The trees in Burlington where we stayed the first night were about as colorful as the trees here in Seattle, a few just turning. We took the scenic route to Stowe, around Mt Mannering, the highest mountain in Vermont at about 4400 feet high. (Don't laugh, it did snow at the top Friday.) After leaving Jeffersonville where we had lunch at an odd little cafe where the French toast was on sour dough raisin bread and very good, but the Maple French toast was on baguettes sliced so thick they had to be deep fried, (I had the plain French on the recommendation of the waitress. She said the corned beef hash was from a can! Not to worry, we didn't have that either.) we drove toward Stowe. We did take a side road where there were some lovely trees and an enticing path which I followed for a little ways. We found some horses in a pasture by the road and stopped to take pix, of course. As we approached the pass, we entered a magical area with bare craggy black cliffs above and huge boulders laying all around under the trees. It's an area called Smuggler's Notch and in among the piles of stones if a hollow in the rocks where old time smugglers hid their booty from the revenuers.

We finally made it to the Inn at the Mountain, 5 hours from the time we left Burlington. We were still on Seattle time and we forgot to set the alarm clock the first night. Fortunately I had checked into the conference after we checked into the Inn so I didn't need to do it the next day. Although breakfast opened at 7 it lasted till 9 so I was able to eat before settling down at the session. It was a great conference. A couple of my old classmates were speakers and it was good to see them as they both moved East as soon as they graduated and I rarely get to see them. Some of us were talking afterwards one night and a Doc from Puerto Rico asked me when I was going to talk. At first I asked him when he would as he seems pretty knowlegable, but then I realised I did have a topic and actually told the guy who puts the conference on that I wanted to talk about cholesterol, the myths and the reality. He said it sounded great so I need to get an outline into the WTS people soonish. Oh boy!

The Saturday after the conference, we drove north to withi9n a mile of the Canadian border and turned left, toward Lake Champlain. We drove south through the islands in the north of the lake, eating lunch at the only place we could find food, a very nice deli called Hero's welcome on the south end of North hero Island, of course. We ate on a deck overlooking the water with a nice view of Vermont, including the "mountains". We made it back to Burlington by 3:30 Sat afternoon, tried to go out to dinner later, only to be told it was "parents weekend" and all the restaurants had at least a 45 minute wait. there wasn't even room to sit and eat at the bars! We ended up eating at Henry's diner, a small place with good diner food and way overworked wait staff because of the crowd that couldn't find anywhere else to go. We got up at 4 am sunday morning for our 6:30 am flight, flew 6 hours total and crashed when we got back. now its more or less back to as normal as we ever are...

Stowe, Vermont remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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More Recent Update

2008-09-12T02:02:05Z

Robert phoned about 9:30 MI time tonight. They were comfortably settled in a motel in Jackson, TN, probably about 5 hours from Collegedale. They'd left the pets a little stressed but settling in. The cats headed for beds, but the dog cried when they left. But they figured the animals would be happier there than in cages with them all weekend.

Bob just phoned from Korea also. This weekend is Chusok, their equivalent of Thanksgiving, when everybody wants to head to their family home. People are being advised not to travel if they don't have to, as trains and such are full, so Bob figures on lying low. His Sunday class is canceled, too.

More Recent Update remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Update on TX, Etc.

2008-09-12T01:09:45Z

Jeanette asked me to update you here on Robert and Kathy. I thought I wouldn't have time for a while, so she said she'd post a brief word, but then I decided to give up on some work I was doing, so here goes.

Robert, Kathy, 1 dog, and 2 cats left Lake Jackson at 2:30 this morning, when they couldn't sleep anyway. Mandatory evacuation for their area was to begin at 8 a.m., and they'd planned to leave at 4:30. He e-mailed me their plans, as I'm their contact person for Dow and family. Then he phoned about 12:30 MI time that they were about 90 minutes from Little Rock. They would go to Kathy's sister's home there, leave the pets, and then drive on until they got too sleepy, stay overnight somewhere, and go on to Collegedale, TN, to visit James and take him camping. Taking their camping gear forced them to leave behind the 4-5 cans of gas they were going to carry on top of the car, remembering the traffic before Rita, but by leaving this early they didn't need it. They hope they will have a house to return to next week. As projected now, Ike is headed straight for their place, and even the National Weather Service calls it "catastrophic."

Bob went to Korea 2 weeks ago, and I promptly got the flu, but I am improving now. Yesterday I made reservations to fly to LAX Oct. 9, attend a concert at Disney Hall that evening (Lyndon's last weekend there, and I've never heard one there, though he's given me tours), and then on the 13th-14th fly with him to SF and Seoul. Beth and the girls plan to get there 4 hours ahead of us, from Wellington. Bob is arranging for a van to pick us up. They will stay in guestrooms at our university for a couple of nights, then move to a downtown hotel when the rest of the Phil arrives to begin its tour of Asia. I will fly home Nov. 4.

They sold their San Marino home, finalized the day before Beth returned to Wellington a couple of weeks ago. Lyndon and the girls had gone earlier, to get them into school. Then a few hours after Beth's return, he flew to Beijing with the NZSO for the Olympics Arts Festival--had a great time, but said he'd tell me more about itwhen he sees me.

Laura is having a great time in Denmark, though she is kept too busy to write. I follow her activities on her Facebook page. She is in Berlin right now, chaperon for a 10th-grade excursion.

I have been helping a 92-year-old woman seminary professor here to prepare her autobiography for publication. I have postponed getting my new compuer set up until I am done with that, so it sits in boxes beside me as I limp along on my failing laptop.

Update on TX, Etc. remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Hurricane Ike will hit Texas!

2008-09-12T00:47:12Z

9/11/08 Robert & Kathy live very close to the project path of the eye, maybe will be on the 'dirty north side'. Per Madeline, the evacuated this morning to beat the rush. They will be staying with family in Arkansas, then maybe also visit James in Tennessee. They have a brick home, so wind damage may be somewhat limited (lots of tree's however). Flooding could be serious however, they live in a very low lying area close to the coast.

Becky & Family live in San Antonio, which is farther inland and is forecasted to get maybe 60 mph winds. Bad, but more tropical storm then hurricane. Becky says her hospital has taken in some of the patients evacuated from Galvaston and she's been instructed to keep an overnight bag at the hospital. Danny & Connie are now living in Austin, so are out of the direct path of the storm, but may still have kids in Corpus Christi. Becky thinks they have all evacuated to Austin.

This is all I know so far, hopefully others can post updates or more accurate info as it develops.

Hurricane Ike will hit Texas! remains copyright of the author jl98584, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Update on Our Clan

2008-08-23T02:05:16Z

Jeanette asked about us. We're a bit overwhelmed, as usual. I've been working hard on a 92-year-old friend's autobiography. She typed it in 6 weeks on an old manual typewriter. I had it scanned and have been correcting scanner errors and making revisions as she gives them to me. I should have entered it from scratch--so many scanner errors. And my computer keeps having problems, different ones all the time, and I have a new one unpacked on the floor of my study, for 4 weeks now, as I want to get this job done before I maybe can't function at all for a while. I also have now been told that Vista probably won't work with my WordPerfect, which is a dismal thought.'' Working as her agent, I want to get this ready for publication sooner rather than later. Her story needs to be told--45 years of teaching in the seminary, etc.

Bob has had trouble getting his visa, but it finally came yesterday. He had to postpone his flight, now will leave next Wednesday for Seoul and return Dec. 24. It looks as though I will probably go over mid-Oct. with Lyndon, a couple of days ahead of the Phil's Asian tour that starts there. Beth and girls will fly up from Wellington. Then I'll spend a few weeks with Bob there. He has been making arrangements for snowplowing, lawn-mowing, etc.

Beth's family visited about 4 weeks ago, Beth and the girls coming in on a Tuesday night from their visit in Pittsburgh, then Lyndon arriving Friday after flying back to L.A. for concerts in between. Every minutes was busy--shopping for clothes for the girls, picking blueberries and raspberries and peaches, going to Midway to get Lyndon, friends over for potluck after church, more friends for supper that evening, then their departure Sunday morning after a waffle breakfast, a walk in the woods here, and informing each other of estate issues for both families.

Lyndon and the girls returned to Wellington a week ago, and the girls are back in school. Beth flies from LAX tonight. Their house sold yesterday for sure. Beth arrives in NZ Sunday (losing a day), and Lyndon leaves on Monday with the NZSO for the Olympics Arts Festival in Beijing, then returns to L.A. in September. Beth has been meeting this past week at Loma Linda with some colleagues in research from Canada. She's also looking forward to her job as director of research for Mary Potter Hospice in Wellington--she put in 2 weeks before coming to CA, so she could mull over what she'd like to do with it. She's also still on 10% salary with LLU-SN. As soon as they get settled enough, the girls plan to start writing for the Adventist Review's "Kids' View" section.

About 3 weeks ago, Margaret and boys flew to Sacto and picked up a Prius they were buying, visited relatives in Calistoga, then drove to Beth and Lyndon's, where Kevin flew in for the next weekend. While Beth packed household stuff for storage and later shipping, M. entertained the 3 younger kids, and Lyndon took Kevin and Samuel shopping for a new violin for Sam. They got one that all were happy about. Then Kevin flew home, and the other 3 drove home via the Grand Canyon and I don't know what else.

James is still in Collegedale, working on a computer project. Laura is now in Denmark, assistant dean of girls at a boarding academy. She's been there 3-4 weeks and absolutely loves it. If you're on Facebook, find her pictures there.

Paul and Sharon continue as usual, busy again with the start of school right now. He wrote that he will now have 2 classes of freshmen, rather than the one he's usually had, so he's getting pretty well loaded at CMU, plus his pastoral responsibilities.

That's a lot, but it's only a short paragraph about each member of the family--just the way it is. :-)

Madeline

Update on Our Clan remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Pheonix

2008-08-15T02:05:00Z

I am at the annual AANP (American Association of Naturopathic Physicians) convention in Pheonix this week. Yes, its very hot, and, did I say muggy? Last night I went out with my nephew, Becky's son, Raul Jr and his wife, Lynette. We went to a the Skeptical Chemist, one of her brother's 2 Irish Pubs. The Shepherd's Pie was quite good. We had a good talk and a great time. Raul said that although it usally rains in August, it hadn't in the past few years. It is rainng now. There were some amazing thunderheads earlier today. I have been quite busy with sessions, school reunions, which I am going to in about an hour, lunches, dinners, dances, visiting the exhibitors, etc. I am getting together with a lot of my colleagues I rarely get to see and meeting a lot of new ones. I spoke with one this morning who told me I was the first Naturopathic doc she had ever met, and I had let her hang around in my office for a day. Now she's in practice in Minneapolis. I really like to know that I am spreading the energy like that. Its great getting back to my roots like this. The talks have been informative and inspiring. I'm at my professional family reunion and I am dealing with the heat for it. It feels good.

Pheonix remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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possibly an even better idea for us to do

2008-07-27T16:10:40Z

you've seen that umiaks are large skin on frame boats for a whole family to build and use. We could get together as a family and build an umiak together, and we could use it as a family as well, no one would be left out because they didn't really want to go out in a small kayak, or build one. We could build as large or small umiak as we want, build one we can sail or paddle, make paddles, etc.

As some of you know and some of you don't, its a typical seattle summer day, cool and rainy. I'm sure some of you are happy you moved away and some of us are glad we stayed. Its been pretty dry the last month so the rain is welcome, actually.

Well, I'm off to build a paddle now. Que

possibly an even better idea for us to do remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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the correct url for Corey Freedmans skin on frame website

2008-07-27T01:48:39Z

the correct url for the webpage is: www.skinboats.com. His email is umiak@skinboats.com, yes, umiak is a correxct name for his skin on froame boats. Great photos on the website. check it out.

the correct url for Corey Freedmans skin on frame website remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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The Seafair United Indians of All Tribes Pow Wow

2008-07-27T00:56:42Z

Sunday afternoon, Vivian and I went to Discovery Park for the Pow Wow. It actually runs from Friday to Sunday. Many of the participants camp there or stay in RVs. It is held at the Daybreak Star center in Discovery Park, overlooking the Sound. There is a large grass circle above the center for Pow Wows. There were Indians from all over at the pow wow, and many styles of dancing and drumming. We ran into several friends there, ate Indian food, bought from Indian craftmakers and watched the dancing. There was dancing all day long, many ages and styles. I noticed that some of the outfits were pretty traditional, with intricate beading, fur,feathers and leather details, and traditional colors. Others were almost blindingly neon and bright. They also tended to have more fabric than leather.
Some of the beading was in bright colors, but not the neon stlye. Some of the neon costumes were very intricately sown.

I did find out what to do with my bison jawbones. There were several decorated bison jawbones for sale. They were painted and wound with leather for hanging as decorations. One woman I have met at various events told me her people have always boiled the bones in sea salt water to get the meat off and bleach them. Insects ate the meat off my bones, but I will see about getting a large old pot to boil them in, maybe when Vivian isn't home so she isn't bothered by any smell that may happen. Another guy told me he used peroxide to bleach the bones. I think I will try sea salt water first.

Vivian got a lovely print from an artist. She signed it. We are getting it matted and framed. I got a tile of a northwest style whale, a copper coin pendant of a spindle whorle. Spindles were used to prepare yarn, mainly mountain goat wool. The whorles (selseltel) were joined with spindles. I also got a hoodie with the picture of a dancing bear. It has bear paw prints up the sleeves. We also got gifts for various people.

I will try to download some pix soon

The Seafair United Indians of All Tribes Pow Wow remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Here's an idea for an interesting family reunion

2008-07-27T00:55:09Z

Ok, I will be making a skin on frame kayak within the next year. I will be making an Aleut paddle tomorrow. There is a man named Corey Freedman who lives in Anacortes, the jumping off place for the San Juan Islands. He teaches classes at the Center for Wooden Boats on making skin on frame (Aleut) or the misnomer of Russian (colonist) origin, Baidarkas and Aleut paddles. The classes cost $1100 when you take them at his shop in Anacortes, you can camp on the grounds, $1100 at the Center for Wooden Boats if you are a member, or $1300 at the CWB if you are not. (membership is $35 a year) If you take the class at the CWB it is a 9 day class. if you take the class in Anacortes, you can do it on weekends and take all the time you need. At the end of the class, you have a skin on frame kayak to keep. Actually, if you have priced good kayaks, that's not bad, and you have made the kayak yourself. and its beautiful and unsusual and will get a LOT of comments when you take it out.

So. I am going to make a skin on frame kayak next summer. If I do it alone, I will do it in Anacortes on weekends and do the family reunion wherever it happens. If enough of you want to do the class, we could do it together at the CWB or in Anacortes. On the last day we would make the Aleut paddles.

If you want to check it out, his website if skinonframeboats.com I think. If not I will put his website in the blog when I get home.

I paddled around Lake Union Monday and Friday in a skin on frame boat and an Aleut paddle. Aleut paddles are so much more ergonomically designed than "Euro" paddles I just have no words. It is so much easier on the shoulders
and takes much less energy to paddle. Skin on frame (sof) kayaks maneuver well, are lightweight, and go fast. Your kayak will be customised for you.

Can you imaging the family kayaking on Oakland Bay together in sof kayaks we have built ourselves? I can. I feels good. please let me know if you are interested in doing a class together.

Que Areste

Here's an idea for an interesting family reunion remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Laura

2008-07-12T22:36:56Z

You might also be interested to know that Laura, who finished her sophomore year here recently, has returned a couple of weeks ago from 3 1/2 weeks in Hong Kong. A Chinese business teacher here took a class there, taught a course, visited downtown businesses, did sightseeing. She had a wonderful time. In another 10 days or so, she leaves for Denmark, to be a student missionary, assistant dean of girls in a boarding academy there for the school year.

Laura remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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The New Zealanders

2008-07-12T22:33:42Z

The NZ family arrived safely in southern CA this week. They've been busy preparing their house for sale, entertaining realtors, getting their stuff from the garage unpacked, and then need to start soon to pack for shipping. They'll be here 7/22-27.

Bob finally got his documents for Korea, so may go this week to Chicago for a visa. I'm leaning toward going over with Lyndon in October and spending a few weeks.

The North American Adventist Retired Workers' convention is meeting here this week, from early Thursday to tonight. I've been enjoying the meetings, and seeing old friends; Bob attended some today.

The New Zealanders remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Fire in CA! (Updated 7/12/08, 12:20 PM)

2008-07-12T19:27:45Z

7/12/08, 12:20 PM - Just heard from Art, he and Melody were able to slip past the Fire Crews and get home today and found everything is fine. Steven's home is fine, there was some brush burned on his property, but it didn't harm the structures. Jim has heard from a neighbor that his home & shop also are fine, again some burning around the edges. Looks like the fire that went through Art & Steven's neighborhood was mostly a slow moving brush & grass fire and most of the homes/structures have been saved! Art says there are some badly burned tree's he can see on his neighbor's property. They are still waiting to learn about other friends and relatives, but this is great news - the best possible for us to expect based on what we've been seeing. He expects the hospital to remain closed for several more days, so he and Melody are going around feeding/watering neighbor's chickens etc and looking for ways to help get back to normal...

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7/11/08, 1:30 PM - Winds weren't as bad as expected and there isn't much news out of Chico, however the newest map of the fire boundary shows it now covers most of the Granite Ridge Rd area, including Art & Steven's homes. I just got off the phone with Art and they haven't heard anything for sure, it's possible homes survived, but both of their properties are now within the burn area. If he learns anything more, he said he'll call.

In the map, the city of Paradise is the green area on the left. It is separated from Granite Ridge (where Art's place is) by a deep canyon where the west branch of the Feather River flows. The Red area is where the fire is now or has burned. I have drawn in the location of Art's and Steven's properties.

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7/10/08, 11:30 AM - The Chico Enterprise Record just updated the fire map, it now shows that the fire has crossed the intersection of Granite Ridge Rd and Jordan Hill Road and appears to be on the west side of Art's property line, the downhill side (Ugh!). I called Art, he hasn't heard anything yet either about whether they are still trying to hold the line there or have had to abandon. The Feather River Hospital is still closed today, so he and Melody are off (on call I suppose). He has registered with the Red Cross. Not as rosy as I'd hoped.

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7/10/08, 8:30 AM - Cautious good news - the winds did not pick up last night and the firefighters were able to hold the lines, so at least things didn't seem to get any worse. The news conference this morning specifically mentioned that they were able to hold the line established at Granite Ridge Rd, so Arts & Stevens places are probably still OK. We are not as optimistic about Jim's place however. They have been bringing in additional fire crews from all over - as of this morning, there are 2,886 firefighters working this fire (that's a serious fire! Penny heard some were brought in from as far away as from Delaware!). Maybe they can finally get this fire contained. Hopefully this is the worst of the crises.

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7/9/08, 7 PM - Just got off the phone with Art. The most important thing he wants everyone to know is that everyone is fine. Jim's house could very well be lost but no one knows for sure. Art has text messaged the fire crew hunkered down at his house and was told they had a very difficult night, but have kept the fire at bay so far. Winds are forecasted to pick up tonight, so it will be another difficult night. He says the fire has crossed the west branch of the Feather River in spots, but they are holding the line for the most part. The hospital is completely closed, even staff are off, however he and Melody are on call in case somebody bring someone in. Jim's hospital was also evacuated, but he was called in to work in Chico where the patients were transported. Art, Melody, Jim, Jeremy & Amanda have been staying at Jessica's apartment in Chico, but Jeremy and Amanda will be moving in with her relatives shortly. Alice & David are staying with Melody's folks. I think Steven & his family are staying at his apartment south of Sacramento near where he works. It looks really, really bad for property but the people are all fine, which is what's really important anyway.

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7/9/08, 10 AM - Haven't heard from Art yet but wanted to let you know the latest per the news media. It looks like the fire is still about 1/2 mile from Art & Stevens places, Jim's is still in the thick of things and about 50 homes have been lost in that area (don't know about his). The fire has not jumped the Feather River into Paradise yet, but they have closed the ER room at the Feather River Hospital, again as a precaution - Staff is still on duty however, so Art and or Melody may be working there today. For the most part, the winds stayed subdued last night which enabled the fire crews to hold the lines. Forecast is for 115 F temperatures today (very bad), it mostly depends on the winds, if they stay down - everybody stands a chance, otherwise more homes will probably be lost.

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7/8 11 PM - Fire is now quite close to Art's house. At least 5 homes have been burned in the vacinity of Jim & Alice's home, others spared - not sure the status of theirs. Fire seems to be moving towards Art & Melody's.

Map of Fire

Art and Melody's place is just below the hand shape approaching the green area on the left (Paradise).
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Everyone in the family is fine and has other places to stay.

Art & Melody are staying in Chico with Jessica. They were not home last night when the police ordered everyone to get out - but my nephew Jeremy and his girlfriend Amanda were at the house. They were able to get some of the important papers and the pets out with them.

This fire has been a threat for the last couple of weeks, so I imagine most folks had some sort of evacuation plan. Art said he and Melody have been clearing underbrush from their property for the past week or so to try to help.

There is a fire crew stationed on their property that has been using a bulldozer to clear a fire line around it, so they're doing all they can to save Art's place. Art thinks the fire is about 2 miles away, but in that area a fire can cover 2 miles very easily (they live on the top of a ridge, with lots of tree's and brush).

Of course, most folks who live out there have no fire insurance, including Art & Melody - it's kind of a rural, offbeat community and is 'off the grid', so nobody can get mortgages (and probably not insurance either).

All we can do now is wait and hope for the best.

Fire in CA! (Updated 7/12/08, 12:20 PM) remains copyright of the author jl98584, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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vacation 2008 part 3

2008-07-05T17:17:36Z

USA | 03.07.08 16 °C / 60 °F

we wanted to take a different way back to seattle, didn't have the time to do the whole cascade loop, so we took hiway 97 to cle elm and roslyn and i 90. it was a lovely road. we stopped at an unassuming produce stand and got cherries, sugar peas and apricots. the hiway wound through the wenatchee national forest most of the time. toward the ens of the cutoff the cle elm we passed several bison in a pasture, the a sign saying "buffalo meat". we took the next turn onto a gravel road. stopped at another sign on a fence with a phone number on it. i called, got the matriarch of the family who said to go on in as her son was there and would be happy to sell us buffalo meat. he was about our age, sold us a couple of steaks and some ground meat. he showed us his skulls, showed us the difference between a 30 month old bull and an older bull. he had a bison head on thewall. it was 11 years old. he said it had been very gentle for most of its life, then suiddenly became violent. it started killing the younger bulls, which they couldn't afford, much as they loved him by then. when they killed him and butchered him, they found a small piece of wire in his stomach which is probably why he changed. they sell the skulls for $200, but he gave me two bison jawbones because it like bones so much.

we went into cle elm, had a chocolate shake from a local drive in. vivian got the shake while i took pix of the wagons across the street. we went through cle elm to roslyn. most of the town was closed that late on a wednesday, probably recovering from a music/arts festival the previous weekend. we went to the bricks to use the restroom. it is washington state's oldest operating saloon. the bar is over 100 years old and the tables and chairs are original, from sears. more stable than the tables in newer places i could name. there is still a spitoon running along the bar, a shallow trough with water running down continuosly.

the worst part of the trip happened shortly after we stopped for gas at snoqualamie summit. as we drove toward home it started to rain. first just spotting, then progessivly harder. by the time we got to issaqua vivian could not really see where her lane was going. no one was going faster then 40 miles a hour. we finally turned off onto lake sammamish parkway and drove to redmond. we took a street that looked like a major arterial. it took us past the microsoft campus to 520 and home.

it stormed all night and is still raining and thindering today. wild weather!

vacation 2008 part 3 remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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vacation 2008 part 2

2008-07-05T17:15:38Z

USA | 02.07.08 18 °C / 65 °F

we woke wed morning, got up and i went to the exersize room to work out a bit. v and i met up in the solarium breakfast room for our full breakfast, even made to order omlettes. french toast, hot cereal, bacon, fresh and canned fruit, yogurt, etc, etc etc. while eating we were serenaded by an alpenhorn concert. the guy has been playing 25 or 30 years, "most of my life". he's in his late 60's, i think. he played two sets, each time he played a couple of songs outdoors then a couple of songs indoors.

when we went to visit the nutcracker museum we were saddened to learn it didn't open until 2 pm. while i browsed the nutcracker and tchatchkela store dwnstairs, vivian went out to use the facilities. when he came back the man who runs the museum was picking up the mail. she said something about how it was too bad they didn't open until 2 as we would be gone by then. he said "come on up" and they opened up the museum just for us! we saw an excellent video on nutcrackers and toured the museum. there were nutcrackers from all parts of the world, some dating back thousands, yes i did say thousands of years. there were nutcrackers made of wood, of course, nutcrackers made from bronze, steel and iron, ivory, porcelain, inlaid, as animals, people, in walking sticks, from 1/2 inch tall, it works but can't really crack real nuts, to 6 feet tall, it can crack coconuts. there were nut sized holes in rocks, photos of the oldest found nutcrackers, found in israel with nuts from extinct nut trees. Some of those nuts have been planted and have sprouted. jurassic park!

there were many nutcrackers of the familiar variety, in a multitude of costumes. they are originally from a small part of germany near the czhech border. a few villages made them, still do, and have handed the craft down in the same families. originally they were miners, the industry of the area, then became kings and soldiers. the hats differ in shape between the villages.

when we asked some locals where was the best place to eat, they all said to go to a mexican restaurant. we did and had great food. i loved the sauce so much the waiter gave me a container to take some home with me.

it was oppressively hot. we went back to the car, didn't tour as much as we would have because it was soooo hot.

vacation 2008 part 2 remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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2008 vacation trip, part 1

2008-07-05T17:12:35Z

we are on vacation this week so we decided to go to leavenworth as neither of us had ever been there. we made reservations at the enzion inn, right downtown. the drive up was lovely, altough they were doing road work at a few places so our progress was slowed a little. when we got to deception falls we decided to stop. there were two trails, a long loop trail of .5 miles and a short one, .2 miles. we took the long one. it was beautiful. i took lots and lots of pix. when we were in view of the parking lot we came to a place where there was a ford in usually shallow water, but because of our huge snowpack this year it was no shallow at all. there were some branches across the water but they were not very stable. we went back the way we had come, took the short loop trail and saw an exceedingly violent falls. itwas impressive!

as we had been following hiway 2 we had seen several bicylists with bright green vests, all the same color. when we got to steven's pass, there were support vehicles parked in the lot, so we knew there was a bike trip of some sort with many riders. as we went down from the pass, we saw some bikes stopped at the side of the road with one of them sitting down holding her head. vivian was thinking of stopping as it looked like someone was not well when i said "stop the car." I went back and asked if she was ok. the other woman said "no". The woman sitting on the ground had fallen and her handlebar had hit her hard in the chest. she was crying and in shock. as they were all heading to leavenworth, we took her and her bike in our car.

they are on a coast to coast bike trip, called sea to sea, to raise money to fight poverty. we delivered her to a nurse at the sea to sea camping area at the leavenworth cascade high school. as she was having pain on breathing or laughing, i just hope she doesn't have a broken rib.

we checked into our hotel, ate dinner at a german restaurant and walked around town. we had dessert at a crepe place, i liked it better than the place we had dinner. we went back to the hotel, listened to the nightly piano concert and read our book club books then went out to the pool. it had started as an overcast, cool day but had ended up quite warm. as we swam we looked up at bats flying overhead catching bugs. good for the bats!

2008 vacation trip, part 1 remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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home again, home again

2008-07-03T07:00:00Z

it stormed all night and is still raining and thindering today. wild weather!

home again, home again remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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touring leavenworth

2008-07-02T07:00:00Z

it was oppressively hot. we went back to the car, didn't tour as much as we would have because it was soooo hot.

touring leavenworth remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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adventures in leavenworth

2008-07-01T07:00:00Z

adventures in leavenworth remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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News from NZ

2008-06-07T01:25:09Z

I wrote this a day or two ago and didn't realize, until Jeanette pointed it out just now in an e-mail, that I apparently did not hit the right button that I thought I hit, so it did not get out there for the family to read. I'll try again.

This may be the easiest way to let the extended family know that Beth and Lyndon and the girls (now 10 and 8) have decided recently to move permanently to NZ, having enjoyed their year there very much. The symphony there voted unanimously for him to stay as assistant concertmaster, and his resignation from the Philharmonic will be effective November 2. Beth has accepted a new job: director of research for the Mary Potter Hospice in Wellington, 20 hours a week, with a patient clientele of about 150 a month, and with prospects for maybe expanding into a consortium of the 36 hospices nationwide for research. She has submitted her resignation to LLU. The girls have been happy in school there and will continue. They like the fact that they can walk to school, whereas in their lovely CA neighborhood it still was not safe to let them go unaccompanied. There have been many pros and cons both ways to weigh, and it was an agonizing decision, but they have thought it through carefully, prayed for guidance, and feel at peace with it.

They all will leave there for CA July 9, to pack, sell their house, visit relatives, and do the Hollywood Bowl season. They'll return to Wellington in September, and she will begin the new job. He will come to CA again for Salonen's final gala concert as music director and to go on their two-week tour of Asia the end of October. Beth and the girls may join him for that. They will see Bob, at least, in Seoul, as he plans to teach there the whole fall semester (if the right papers come through in time). I may or may not go.

They are budgeting for two trips to the States per year, so perhaps we'll see them almost as often as before.

News from NZ remains copyright of the author msj, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Birthday lunch with Mom

2008-06-06T18:23:40Z

My partner, Vivian and I took Mom to lunch in Shelton on Sunday. I know, her Birthday is on Tuesday this year, but we both work then, so Sunday was the day. We had to get up early anyway to get a friend to her pick-up point for an Alaska cruise, so we took off for Shelton right after that. We like to got to Tacoma to get there as the Tacoma Narrows bridge does not have a westbound toll, and take the ferry back because we only pay for the car eastboud on ferries and we don't have to drive so far. We get to rest most of the way back and have spectacular views to boot.

The green this year is alomost aggressive, with a narrow band of psycotic yellow Scotch Broom along the roads. The rododendrons are quite late this year because its been so cool most of the time. We saw a lot of those as well as irises, flags, roses, etc. The tide was way out, common for this time of year here in the NW. Ferries are having to cancel trips to shallow docks because of the low tides.

We had a nice visit with Mom and Penny, then Vivian, Mom and I left for lunch. Penny decided to stay home and have some time to herself. Mom wanted to eat at either El Serape mexican restaurant or Blondies. We got to Blondies first and it had moved up the street, so we decided to try the new location. They had liver and onions on the menu so Mom was happy. Friends of hers were there and she lkied that as well. We ordered, and waited. And waited. Some more friends of hers came in and they talked. They got their food. We waited. !/2 hour after we ordered, a waitress came by and told us that the stuffed potatoes we had ordered weren't served until after 4 pm. It didn't say that on the menu. She said she would get our waitress to come get our new order. 10 minutes later she showed up. Its a good thing we ordered salad because that came quickly. The rest of our food didn't show up for another 1/2 hour!! Mom's freinds had left by the time we got our dessert, rasberry pie with ice cream. That at least came in a relatively timely manner. We sang "happy birthday" to her, did not sing the birthday dirge mandatory at all Johnston birthdays because I don't think she really likes it much.

We took her back home, 2 1/2 hours later, had a lovely visit with Mom and Penny, and went home to rest.

Birthday lunch with Mom remains copyright of the author drque, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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