Re-discovered this blog I had and had somehow forgotten I had! However, the clock says it time to head off to work so I can support my habit of living on this planet! I shall soon return with thoughts and observations!

Cheers!

Sarah and Nathan

A picture I took of my kids playing a online game on the laptop. It just makes me smile when I se them enjoying each others company, which is quite often!

Sarah's Japan Photo's

Just a few of the many photo's that my daughter, Sarah took in Japan during her stay there in June. There is a story behind each photo which I will go into at a later date.

Sarah in Japan

Sarah has been in Japan for a week now and is having the time of her life! We didn't hear from her for almost a week, but finally did last Monday. She really enjoyed the couple she stayed with in the first town. She also had a host sister who she really got along with and showed her a lot of the town and about the history of it to that she was in. They also helped each other out with each others language. She tried some sushi, specifically eel and octopus. She didn't much for either one, but at least she tried it. Sarah also got to wear a kimono which she said fit very tight but was fun, she also wore the traditional makeup that goes with it. She is now with her second family in the second city she is visiting who are a little more traditional, so she is having to deal with that a little bit.

Have to admit we were sitting on pins and needles for awhile until we finally heard from her, you know, typical parent worries. But, in short we a so glad that she is enjoying the experience in Japan!

Sarah's Trip

My daughter, Sarah is on her way to Japan this very moment. I am very excited for her and this opportunity to experience life in another country. She will be gone for 18 days. For me that will seem a very long time, but you have to let go at some point. I will be posting pictures of her adventure as she sends them to Cathi and I.

51

My birthday is coming around again and I have to admit that I am still dealing with the idea that I am actually a half century old now, plus one in a few days. The whole concept is very weird to me. Not sure why, could be that I am not quite where I thought I would be career wise or that I have as much grey hair as I do, well at least I still have hair! I don't quite have the energy as I did when I was younger, but I think I do pretty well at keeping up the pace. And, there's the fact that my body is "older" too. I won't go into the "fun" medical stuff I have been dealing with since I have covered that "stuff" in previous entries.

What's been fun, but amazing to me, is that I have been reconnecting with people that were special to me many years ago, we're talking 20 to 33 years ago, which makes me wonder, where did the time go? I know, very cliche, but true! But, it is fun to reconnect with these friends that I thought I would never hear from again.

Well, even though it is odd to me to be my age, and given the challenges of late, life is good and getting better. Cheers everyone!

Old time rock and roll?

So, I came up with this quiz today to have some fun at the morning meeting at work today. Now, the majority of the people at the meeting were of the age group that could of known. So, the question that they had a hard time was "What song did George Harrison write and record and was sued for plagiarism?" Tick toc, Tick toc,Tick toc,Tick toc,.........MY SWEET LORD. He was accused by The Chiffons for copying the melody of their song "He's so Fine". And, who could not recall when John Lennon appeared for a whole week on The Mike Douglas Show??? Am I really getting old????? Someone please tell me........

Our Front Door

Only my son, Nathan could take a picture of our normal unexciting front door and make it look like something ancient, foreboding and a little evil too. Amazing what he can do with a digital camera and a computer. Now, if he could only apply the same curiosity and effort to his schoolwork........

Oh, he also took the picture at the top of my blog too.

Monday in the NW

Ok, so we did really quite well yesterday, at work. Today, a totally different story. But, on the bright side the weather was very good! It got to the low eighties! Not bad for April! I mean, it is 8:26pm and I am still sitting outside! Is this summer type weather or what?! Would be great if I was downtown Eugene at the Excelsior Inn on 13th requesting another bottle of Red wine! But, I am just in my backyard enjoying the evening!

Sunday

Wow, what a day! Just finished eating 3 polish hot dogs hot off the BBQ! One to many! Have all the doors in the house open since it is 73 degrees outside and it is 8:46pm. Oh, and the cats are outside too! (Yea!) Had a good day at work, really good, still awaiting for txt on how well the store and the division I work in did.

Weekend and stuff?

So, what is a weekend? Those of us in retail don't get the luxury of having a "weekend". Well, I do get one (weekend) every third week of the year courtesy of the company I work for. Could be worst, I suppose.

Cathi rearranged the upstairs living room. And, I actually like it! Very appropriate to having company over. Tim and Karen are you listening? Time for Happy Hour!

Changing subjects, Nathan is actually cleaning the kitchen! And, I didn't even ask! Totally amazing! Sarah is in the shower, she always helps out when we ask her and is very concerned about her parents well being. So is Nathan in a more quiet way.

Today I took Sarah to get her passport pictures today for her passport which we still need to order. She is going to Japan this summer for three weeks, and is very excited about it. She will be traveling with some friends from both Eugene and Beaverton Oregon which will be good for her.

Nathan is still heavily into computer and movie making stuff. Which he really excels at. Now, if we could only get him to be that into his other subjects at school it would be a perfect world!

Nathan and Sarah

Just playing around with my camera tonight. And, Nathan and Sarah just happened to be caught in front of the lens! ENJOY!

6am

Again, I am up after a short nights sleep. I have an appointment on my next day off to see if I am a candidate for the Sleep Clinic. Pretty sure I am, at least my doctors are pretty convinced I am. Hope so, would be nice to eventually to actually sleep a full night and awake fully refresh instead still tired as I do now. Cathi went through the sleep clinic and we are awaiting the results and possible remedies for her sleep ailments. Hopefully, insurance will cover it all, we have amassed a large amount of bills to the Portland Clinic in procedures not covered 100% by our insurance. The cost of living a healthy fulfilled life I supposed. I always thought one had insurance to cover ALL of ones medical requirements. Used to, guess not anymore.

On the battle with the tufts of cat hair and the wood floor we received a new weapon via Fed-X yesterday! It is a 30 foot hose with extensions and attachments to connect to our built-in vacuum system! So we can suck up the hair of our two long haired cats instead of attempting to sweep it up, which is never very successful. Oh, happy days!

Lips disconnected

Okay, for some reason the lips, tongue, and brain were not quite connecting today. Oh, well, other than that it was a good day. No rain, traffic was light and it didn't rain on the way to work or home. Even with a mountain in Alaska erupting and spewing ash, and the economy in turmoil it was a good day. The only drawback to the day is that the NCAA playoffs pre-empted the usual prime time shows my family watches on Fridays. But, no problem, I just pulled out the DVD's of "really old" episodes of Dragnet, open a bottle of Chardonnay and we are ready to go! Oh, I forgot to mention the really excellent chicken noodle soup made by Cathi really topped off the day!

Until tomorrow!

Have a good one!

MRI and ..........stuff

Today, I had the pleasure of experiencing a MRI. Was a experience I am none to excited to repeat again for a long time if ever! Took all my courage to endure the 20 minutes of being in the "tube" with the very loud hammering and clicking noises the machine makes while taking pictures of, in my case, my back. Hopefully, this will help the doctor prescribe a remedy so I can lay off the many Advil I take to endure the time I spend on my feet.

So, on a less medical note, I now am on Twitter! So, if any of you care to follow or trade comments, feel free to look me up! Um, that is a "Is there anybody out there (reading this)" thought.

Other than that, I spent the day, starting, to organize our rather apparently massive cd/dvd collection. Never realized we had so many until I took on this project.

One of my favorite cars!

OK, If I had an extra $25,000 this is (one) of the cars of my dreams! I happen to be a fan of the seasons of Spring and Fall, so can you imagine cruising around this magnificent vehicle checking out the various wineries of the northwest?! Yes, you can! I can! And, this is (to me) just a really cool car! Check it out at Memory Lane Motors in Portland Oregon at http://www.memorylaneclassiccars.com/40lasalle/1940_lasalle_coupe.htm

Enough!

Alright! It is March 9th and it snowed again! Enough already! It's suppose to be getting warmer the closer we approach Spring, isn't it?! At least couldn't we have decent weather to distract from the rest of what is going on in the world?

Speaking of the state of the world that is, my world, which is retail. You know it is bad when people return previously purchased items that cost only $2.97! Or they come in with items they purchase 6 months ago and all we can offer them is a in-store credit and at a reduce price at that.

All I can say is, I am glad I am still employed. So, pop open the champagne and lets celebrate! Although, with continual reducing of the troops at the store and not necessarily of customers, it does make some days at work somewhat eventful.

The Cats

Here are the Hercher cats and their respective owners. Jack, who is Sarah's cat, the very vocal and wild one! He is known for these sporadic running and jumping fits at any given time. Neptune, Cathi's cat, on the other hand, is a very quiet and mild mannered cat. Although, he does have his moments too every now and then. Especially, when a neighboring cat appears at the downstairs window to antagonize both cats. That's when things get really interesting!

I survived!

It's done! I survived the colonoscopy! The anticipation was worst than the actual procedure. I have absolutely no memory of it at all. The last thing I remember is the nurse asking me to turn to my side and then waking up back in the prep room where I started. They did find one small polyp which they removed and will look at. It will be at least 5 years before I have to go through this again, and I can wait!

Afterwards I had Chinese food for lunch, and was it good! Tonight, its hamburgers and fries for dinner! Nice big juicy ones made at home! And, I will probably have a nice big ale to go with dinner too.

Today's the day!

I survived the "cleansing" process yesterday (and last night), and it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Today is the actual procedure, I have to be at the hospital at 11am this morning to be prep and the colonoscopy is schedule for 1pm. I keep wondering "Why does it take two hours to prep me?" Guess I will find out shortly. All in all much of the fear has left me, I am now not so worried about going through with the procedure as I have been the past month.
After all, they tell me that I will not be aware of what is going on because they will have me totally sedated. Probably a good thing!