We enjoyed a full Sunday today, starting around 6:00 with a quick breakfast and drive to Vancouver where Laura and Carl ran a 10K. It was the first annual Ft. Vancouver Run. It was a great event from the flat course, to the goody bags to the awards and raffle. Carl got a medal for second place in his age division. and both he and Laura won in the raffle. After a warm up shower we headed off to the Mt St. Helen's visitors center with Laura's Japanese friend and short term roommate, Marina. The weather was cool and we even ran into (not literaly) feet of snow, but it was a great drive and picnic.

Another gray drizzling day in Oregon. But hey, it could be worse. Attitude is the paint brush that colors every situation. So we decided to enjoy to embrace the gray and go snow shoeing. We drove up highway 26 hoping for a break in the weather and good hike to Mirror Lake. Our first stop was for a trail pass and a bathroom for me. The first ranger/information/bathroom stop was closed up tight. The second Ranger Station didn't sell trail passes, but directed us to the local grocery store which of course had no public restrooms. At this point, I am very glad we hadn't stop for that "white chocolate mocha" at Starbucks. Driving on and anxious to get to the trail head and on with our hike. Upon reaching Mirror Lake trail head, we noticed that the parking spaces had not been plowed and we had no place to pull over. Not to be hampered in our quest for a hike we drove on to Trillum Lake and there we started out. It take about 45 minutes or so to get to the lake. Of course it was frozen and there was not view of Mt. Hood, but we had a nice lunch and finally found a bathroom. The snow was at least 6 feet deep, but, due to a broad roof and some melting, I was able to get down, not noticing however that it was the men's side.

It is Spring Vacation in Oregon. The weather is gray and cloudy with a sprinkling of rain, which is unfortunately too typical for Spring Break. Carl and I drove down to Ashland to visit David and see a play. We spent the night in Eugene and had a good visit with mom and dad Laney. In Ashland, we saw Music Man. It was very lighthearted and fun. Great music and professional acting, a step up from the last play we saw at the Alpenrose Dairy Play house. Here are a couple of pictures of David's house and his making waffels for breakfast for us. After break

fast Dave went on a run and later we drove to Jacksonville and visited a museum and house from the 1870's.

The neighborhood is made up of side by side brick two story homes. The back yard is beautifully shaded with two broad leaf trees and a Camilla tree. The front yard has a pleasant neighborhood feel with small covered porches, inviting paths and dotted with play places for children.

I just returned from a wonderful three days in Norfolk with Debbie and Pabu. I arrived just about with with moving trucks and we were busy unpacking, organizing and enjoying the neighborhood. We had two days of gray and raining weather and one beautiful sunny day.

You can see Debbie in the kitchen organizing the cupboards and Pabu was exhausted after and all night flight and supervising the move. He now has a wonderful yard to play in, chase squirrels and interact with both neighbors dogs and their fleas!!!

After four beautiful sunny days in Portland, the rain has come. We decided to spend the soggy day driving to Eugene to celebrate Gran daddy's 87th birthday. Of course Pabu, king of the cute puppies came along. He watched and slept and we stopped at a rest stop for a potty break, but he was a little hesitant. He didn't seem to like the wet grass too much. He was a good pooch and after greeting everyone settled down in his bed under the piano for a few minutes and then was out greeting all the cousins.

We enjoyed pizza and presents, and a trip down memory Lane. Gran looked very good and is getting around slowly, but surely. Grandaddy has really stepped up to the plate and takes good care of his wife of 62 years.

Welcome aboard the USS Teddy Roosevelt - a Nimitz class, nuclear powered aircraft carrier and home to John and the "Big Stick" team for the last 4 m0nths. The Roosevelt is currently deployed and considered the most battle tested ship in the fleet. TR's task is to maintaining open sea lanes of trade and communication and wherever deployed the TR brings 4.5 acres of sovereign US territory and 97,000 tons of diplomacy.

Thanks to all the men and women that serve our country and our world with integrity and courage.