Journal Entry #52 - Spokane, WA to Bozeman, MT

Sunday 10/20/2002                                                
Day 52 / Day 2 of 4th leg

start mileage (our truck) 95022 / end 95429
(rental truck) 74889 / 75306

Woke up several times, then had squeaky floor above @ 5:00am-5:30 so we got up...
Departed @ 7:15am  Clear and cold
McDonald’s B’fast at 8:00 C’oeur d’Alene 

image from pioneermonuments.org

9:50am   Nearing “Lookout Pass”  Have been traveling @ 20mph for the last 20 minutes

Entered Montana 9:52am [95124] right at the summit; now we’re careening downhill! I better stop *writing

10:20  (85 mi west of Missoula)  Just left a rest stop. Beautiful scenery—all morning but especially here, with the yellowed deciduous pines, and the sun glinting off streams and river bends. It’s like an oil painting come to life.

I’m not sad to drive through & leave it behind, though, because I don’t have to live here to appreciate the natural wonders. Also, there’s natural beauty in every state—in a variety of forms, and it would be a shame to get fixated on one style. David doesn’t seem sad to leave, either; I think he’s looking forward to the central Ohio scenery.

Well, now it’s 9:21pm (MT) and we’re in a Motel 6 between Bozeman & Livingston, Montana. The afternoon & early evening were steady driving (15-20mph up various inclines—no kidding!), with the main excitement being that one of the straps holding the mattress on top of our truck disappeared. The other strap held, though, and we made it to a truck stop so David could rig something up. (Rope & bungee cords) We’ll buy another strap tomorrow.

In searching for a rope, we found we are unable to open the back of the U-Haul as there’s something jamming it. We’ll just cross our fingers that the bumpy road will re-settle things, and it will magically open when we need it to…All part of the adventure!

Weather forecasts (and my Dad) are calling for unseasonal cold temps and possible-to-probable snow Tuesday & Wednesday right along our route. David spent an hour (as I work on this journal) pouring over the map & checking the Weather Channel, and we’re 90% decided to turn South and head to I-80. From experience our first leg back east, this is a bumpier, hillier route, but it’s south of the forecast problems, and slow going beats sliding in the snow with towed trailers.

I’m watching Game 2 of the World Series and it’s tied 9 to 9 in the 8th. Vince, Tessa & Tig are all being great little troopers! V & T don’t bark or make trouble in the motel room.

*writing: Yes, I admit I was writing while driving a stick-shift truck, with a cat in the front seat.
I told you we were driving slow!

Fuel: West of Missoula

Ours: 95170 / 200mi / $21.01 / 13.5 gal

Rental: 75039 /        / $39.00 / 25.5 gal

End of Entry

I Still Want to Know: Dad, Are You Reading My Blog?

Are you reading my blog about the move in 2002? Do you have any comments? Did you like the old picture from Malabar and the pictures of the pond house? Let me know!

Vill du läsa min blogg om flytten 2002? Har du några kommentarer? Visste du gillar den gamla bilden från Malabar och bilder av dammen huset? Låt mig veta! 




*

Journal Entry #51 - Auburn to Spokane, WA

Saturday 10/19/2002                                                
Day 51 / Day 1 of 4th leg

(our truck) start mileage 94750 / end 95022
(rental truck) 74614 / 74889

Our plastic-wrapped mattress is strapped to
the roof of the pickup truck...no room inside.

8:30am--1:00pm 

1:10 Honda to Dave K

1:15pm Depart

2:05-2:25 lunch at North Bend McD.  23mph up Snoqualmie Pass—
foggy and drizzle—called Karin & Dad.

3:45 Rest Area

4:45pm Rest area (quickie to check truck engine prior to hill climb)

5:05pm World Series Game 1 on a.m. radio

David *reports hearing a loud noise inside his rental truck, and something
thumping against the front wall

Nice weather since entering Eastern WA, and now a nice pre-sunset (past Moses Lake)

The view from my drivers seat. His truck was
so slow that I could multitask...

6:00pm Sunset in the sideview mirror, man-in-the-moon straight ahead, his jaw slack with surprise at seeing us.

7:20pm 95,000 mi on truck!

7:50pm Motel 6, Spokane WA

*reports: Our basic cell phones had poor coverage, so we were using a set of cheap walkie-talkies to communicate between trucks. Sometimes they did not work well and we used hand signals...

Fuel: Ritzville WA 

our truck: 94966 / 220 mi / $22.00 / 14.7 gal

                                   rental truck: 74882 / $40.00 / 26.7 gal

End of Entry

My Precious Homegrown Red Kidney Beans

I grew several kidney bean plants in the garden last year as an experiment. They did quite well, and I ended up harvesting 1 ½ quart jars of dried beans. Until now, I haven’t gotten around to soaking them in time to use them for a meal, so they’ve been waiting patiently in the pantry. 

Last week, I planned to make a pot of chili on the weekend, and David reminded me to soak some of the homegrowns. (At least I think that’s what he meant by “go soak yourself”). After doing a quick internet search about dried bean procedure (red kidney beans, unlike many other beans  are toxic when raw, so prep is important) I put a bunch of my precious homegrown red kidney beans in water and set them aside.

Now, had I paid attention to what I researched, I would have:

1. measured the beans and bean-to-water ratio
2. checked how long they should soak
3. read beyond the soaking and into the cooking

But, armed with my inferior knowledge, things went a little less than optimal:

1. I got around to draining & rinsing two days later, which affects nutrition, flavor, texture and color
2. David had to add more water when he saw the mass swelled to the top of the container, gasping for liquid
3. I did not cook the beans first before adding them to my chili recipe

So far, doesn’t sound too bad, right? I mean, they're just beans after all. It’s just a pot of chili for the two of us that no one else has to know about; not like Martha’s coming over. Unfortunately, my chili recipe calls for several types of canned beans to be added, and canned beans are already cooked. So, [wait for it, let me reach the punchline] when I tested the chili after three hours of cooking on high in the slow cooker, my precious homegrown red kidney beans were ROCK HARD!  CRAP! Crap, crap, crap!

After a brief freak-out, the solution became clear: We couldn’t eat it safely; I couldn’t just let it cook all night because everything else would turn to total mush; and I couldn’t bear to throw any or all of it away. So I started a pot of water on the stove, and began picking my precious homegrown red kidney beans ONE AT A TIME out of the chili.

Now, some of you may also have had the opportunity to fish for precious homegrown red kidney beans in a pot of thousands of other beans covered by simmering tomato and meat sauce; if so, you know how much fun I had with my slotted spoon and food tweezers. 

30 minutes later, I boiled the salvaged beans for 20 minutes, then added them back into the chili, and all is well. I think so, anyway, because we didn’t eat it that night since I couldn’t bear to look at or think about chili for awhile. David did a taste test when putting it away, and said “they” were still a little firm but okay. So, a few days marinating in fridge might do them some good.

Is it any surprise I'm not the head chef around here anymore? Oh well, for any future employers reading this: I admit my mistakes and I'll go to great lengths to correct (and eat) them.

Journal Entry #47-50 - Auburn WA

Tuesday 10/15 - Friday 10/18/02                                                
Day 47-50 / Day 19-23 of 3rd leg

As I sit here on Oct 20, I realize I did not do any entries for the above referenced days. So…

Basically, hours & hours and days & days of packing, transferring to the garage, and mental preparation.

The most difficult day was *Friday the 18th, but Thursday was tough too because there was a delay from Escrow (buyer’s side) and a possibility we wouldn’t be able to sign, which was an impossibility. David worked the phones & they sent someone to our house to conduct the signing on site. Whew! Also on Thursday David checked with Shurguard to confirm the truck, and was told it had broken down, but they’d “probably” have one for us by Friday as scheduled.

Friday had been planned down to the letter, but the truck delay screwed us up. David was able to pick up the U-Haul trailer in the morning, but we needed to pack that after the truck, which FINALLY became available after 1:30. By the time it was home & we started to load it was 2:00. Never fear, I had plenty to keep me busy inside the house in the meantime. So, loading started in earnest at 2:00pm, and at 6:00pm Ray & Sharon showed up with a pizza which we ate in the garage. Then more loading, and @ 7:30 Dave & Joyce came by. Although we’ve since agreed that the 2 of us would have done a tighter, more efficient pack job (as in packing it into the trucks), we’ve also acknowledged that multiple bodies were necessary to make it all happen by 11:00pm.

In the end, we had to go back out Saturday morning and refine a couple things, and find places to stuff all the odds & ends; however, much to the amazement of all involved we fit *everything we owned into a truck and trailer with the exception of some plastic lawn furniture.

Emotionally, I was in a great mood on Friday, all through the packing. David was terribly stressed before the truck became available, but then rolled with the punches. We connected with each other throughout the day, and both seemed to have the same positive outlook on the move in general. It just feels right.

*Friday the 18th: This was the day we had to pack everything in the 23’ rental truck & 12’ U-Haul trailer, because our travel schedule was set up to get us back to Ohio
for the house signing on October 25

*everything we owned:  In addition to the predictable boxes of “stuff”, we’re talking 3 couches, multiple chairs, dining room furniture, grandfather clock, Gold Wing motorcycle & trailer, 3 bedrooms of furniture and mattresses, a full kitchen including the refrigerator, our washer and dryer, a 3-car garage worth of gear including air compressor and tool chest, miscellaneous yard items, a car trailer loaded with our old Volvo wagon which was loaded with all the houseplants and some yard plants,…EVERYTHING!

End of Entry

Three Tenors and a Flute - Update & Tales of Adventure

Corky, Brut and Flute are maturing nicely. The kids still shed an occasional batch of miniscule, grayish-white baby feathers, and their markings continue to gain definition and deepen in hue.

Deuce is still an attentive father and singing coach. The foursome seem to enjoy each other's company, usually grouping on the same perch for grooming or naps, and carefully packing themselves into the open nest at night.

For those of you hung up on the possible "bird incest" situation (I know you're out there, people) I removed the hooded nest quite some time ago to discourage mating & egg laying--you know, the whole brother-sister father-daughter thing... So far, I have not observed any mating behavior like I noticed with Andre & Crystal and Andre II & Bubbles, so Flute's virtue appears to be intact. I will remain vigilant, and take action when necessary.

I did have some bird excitement a few weeks ago. One night I went into the bird room to check on them before bed, and after counting only three in the cage I saw one of the males sitting on the curtain rod behind the cage. I was mad at myself, because I must have had a slot open too long when changing water that morning and didn't see him get out.

After shutting the door, I used my best bird-whisperer technique to lure him back into the cage. (Translation: I held up the small transport cage with its door open and walked around the room behind the fluttering bird until I funneled him into that one, then put both cages door-to-door and encouraged him to go back into the big cage (sub-translation: I tilted the little cage and poked a long-handled artist's brush hither and thither).

Several days later, I went in the bathroom to wash my face. As is my habit, I opened the window & screen and watched the horses for awhile. Then, as I turned to the sink and started the water, I heard a strange noise. Just a tiny scritch-scratch, but enough to make me look around. And there, on the shelf of the framed-in bathroom mirror, was a male zebra finch staring at me! Of course I immediately closed the window, then after a brief but stern lecture I used my "technique" to get him back to his family.

Since I was sure no one escaped on my watch, I checked the cage for any gaps, and sure enough there was a slight gap in the right front corner. I taped it closed with white athletic tape, gave them all another lecture, and we've had no more adventure flights since.

Journal Entry #44 - 46: Auburn, Kent, Seattle, Des Moines, Alki Beach, Tukwila, Renton WA

Saturday 10/12 - Sunday 10/13/02                                                
Day 44-45 / Day 17-18 of 3rd leg

No Entries 



Monday 10/14/02                                                
Day Forty-Six / Day 19 of 3rd leg

Saturday’s highlight was going to dinner and a play with Ray & Sharon. We spent most of the day putzing around packing, and took a trip on the motorcycle to donate empty plant containers to the arboretum (sp?) and take a short walk.

Then Ray & Sharon picked us up at 5:30pm and we went to “Claim Jumpers” for dinner (David-top sirloin, Tina-BBQ pork san.) then the Renton Carco Theater for “Curious Savage” about a curious old lady, Mrs. Savage, and her brief stay in a sanatorium…

Sunday was more home stuff, and the only time one of us left the house was when David went to the grocery store in the morning. I did laundry, and we emptied a few rooms of their furniture and transferred to the garage. David keeps waffling between ‘No problem getting everything in the rental trucks’ and ‘Oh my gosh, it’s never going to fit!”

Had to take all the hanging plants into the garage because it’s getting into the 30’s at night.

Made a “Chocolate Sigh” cake from scratch!

This morning we had a surprise visit from an appraiser—turns out the buyers have sold their condo but need to apply for an FHA loan due to the closing date. Anyhoo, once that was over we got ready for a motorcycle tour of David’s old house, family cemetery, my old apts (Alki & Samara), South Park, and misc other sights.  Had sandwiches at the Alki Bakery and a couple sweets. *Took photos. It was sunny, but a very cold wind was blowing so we didn’t get too close to the water.

The house David grew up in (not his vehicle);
we painted the house that shade of blue in 1992--still going strong in 2002!

My view of Mt Rainier from behind David.

 

Outside the Seattle Mariner's stadium.
Great memories of the 1995 season!

My shoebox-size apartment on Alki Beach, next to the lighthouse;
the first place I lived after moving to Seattle in 1986.

The apartment building I lived in when I met David

Me on the phone at Alki Bakery

We were out & about from 9:30am--3:30pm. We’re very lucky to have weather nice enough to ride. If I hadn’t packed my chaps already, I’d be even more comfortable, though!

I did a little yard trimming, and picked more *kiwi to leave for the new owners—I don’t want to lose them to a frosty night. After dinner, David spent a couple hours looking at Ohio house photos and planning lighting, venting, plumbing, etc. His head is getting way too full!

OH! First stop this morning on the motorcycle was the MMP shop in Kent—for THE LAST TIME!! Picked up some checks then got the hell out of there!

Tomorrow we have a lot planned, so it’s just as well there’s absolutely nothing on TV.

*photos: all the posted photos were taken 2002 during our goodbye tour,
except the Carco Theatre photo which was borrowed from www.willhiteweb.com 

*kiwi: we had fruit bearing kiwi plants (male & female) growing on the arbor behind the bench on the lower deck.

End of Entry

Random List: Baby Steps

List of super easy steps to start working out again when you've lost the habit, and/or have fewer and fewer clothes to wear... 

It's easy to find exercise lists written by fitness experts. I made this list up myself, though, because getting started is the hard part, and "experts" usually gloss over it. I have done this or something similar in the past and it works. In fact, with the holidays looming, I will need to follow my own advice ASAP!

Day 1:  Find a 10' x 10' area of clear floorspace in your home to be your workout area. (This will need to be a pet-free zone: pets are cute and very distracting.) Walk away, you're done for the day. That was SO easy!

Day 2:  Put down an exercise mat or beach towel in your area, even if it's a soft, carpeted spot already. (The mat is a symbol of commitment.) Walk away, you're done!

Day 3:  Sit or lie down on the mat, for 10 minutes. No activity necessary, just relax and think about what your first exercise will be tomorrow. (situps, leg lifts, etc). NO digital or electronic media allowed (they still make clocks with a big hand and a little hand...)

Day 4:  Go to your mat, take a moment to relax, then do up to 10 repetitions of your chosen exercise. Stop. Sit or lie down until 10 minutes is up, and think about how easy that was, and what tomorrow's exercise will be. Don't do anymore today unless you REALLY want to, but the goal is a baby step so you have no excuse to feel burned out or stressed by a new routine.

Day 5:  Go to your mat, and repeat day 4's exercise. Then add a second exercise, then relax for the remainder of the 10 minutes as on Day 4.

Day 6:  If you've fallen easily into the routine, it will be easy to progress from step 5 and continue on at your own speed. If you are still avoiding or procrastinating, go back to step 1, choose a different area that may work better, and begin again. 

Good Luck, and be strong.  ~  Remember: Baby Steps!

Random List: Tinkering

Things I cannot stop tinkering with on my blog:

• page elements layout

• image placement

• colors of this

• colors of that

• paragraph break

• text size

• fonts

• html code in general (good thing there's a template back-up feature since I am completely untrained and just poking around after doing "research" on the internet!)

Journal Entry #38-43 - Auburn, Seattle, Redondo, Centralia, North Bend, WA

Sunday 10/6 -Thursday 10/10/02                                                
Day 38-42 / Day 11-15 of 3rd leg

No Entries (yikes! I lost the habit)

Friday 10/11/02                                                
Day Forty-three / Day 16 of 3rd leg

Brief recap of previous days not journaled:

Sleeping in – and I mean in – running errands, personal business, library, daydreaming, watching the news (getting concerned for the people in Virginia & Maryland re: the sniper shootings)

Tuesday the 8^th was my 38^th birthday. David woke me up with a homemade German Chocolate Cake alight with candles, and a song! Opened Dad & Elsie’s package and found a beautiful blue sweater that fits perfectly. Since the weather bode well, we went to the Woodland Park Zoo as planned, and had a great time walking (& walking & walking) around & looking at the whole collection--except the insect hut… Some of the exhibits are spectacular examples of a natural setting, especially the orangutan enclosure. Got some nice pictures, and took a “movie” of the noisy tiger.

That evening, we had 6:30 reservations at *Salty’s (Redondo). I had my favorite cocktail *(Very Berry Stoli) followed by an excellent feast of Cioppino--sans scallops. David had a wonderful salmon dish. We splurged and split a strawberry/rhubarb cobbler.

Couldn't find my photos of Salty's, so I borrowed this
from www.seattlesouthside.com

Also borrowed from www.seattlesouthside.com

Wednesday mail brought a birthday card & Pier One gift card from Karin. Thursday the 10^th we went to Centralia to visit David’s sister, Mary, at her uniform shop. Had a nice chat. We had brought her latest order of biz cards, and in exchange she gave us a blood pressure cuff and steth so we can monitor David’s blood pressure. (Testing it out a few times has produced 120/90 readings, but I’m still getting the hang of it). After we got home I made “creamy plum chicken” and rice for dinner, which got a thumbs-up.

Now it’s 11:30 on Friday, and we’re headed into the “outlet mall” in North Bend to check out some tools at the Black & Decker store.

Ended up getting a Rotary Hammer Drill (for masonry) and a reciprocating saw. I also landed (from different stores) an apple corer, a “quick chop” as-seen-on-tv food chopper, and a potato masher. None of these were impulse buys.

After we got home, I started a campfire while doing a little yard work. After dinner, we continued the fire and didn’t do much else.

*Salty’s (Redondo): our favorite restaurant in the whole world;
many happy culinary memories from here. Especially Thanksgiving buffets!
http://saltys.com/phocadownload/redondo-thanksgiving-buffet-menu-2013.pdf

*Very Berry Stoli: 1 shot Stoli, 1 shot Raspberry liquor, 4 oz. Champagne
I miss this; haven't had it since we moved away. 

End of Entry

Journal Entry #37 - Auburn, Ravensdale WA

Saturday 10/5/02                                                
Day Thirty-seven/ Day 10 of 3rd leg

I stayed up after dog duty @ 6:00 am and watched some neat cooking shows and dog shows, and a couple plant shows. I guess that’s a nice highlight list of things I enjoy…

After we were both up & around, we ignored the gray, moist day & headed to Home Depot to look at carpet swatches & tools for future reference at the Ranch. Then to the Honda store in Auburn to p/u the Gold Wing tire (

(This isn't me,
just a borrowed photo simulation...)

had bearings replaced). David managed to get me looking at ‘quads’ which I think may be helpful to ride around 10 acres, and pull a utility trailer.
I also sat on a motorcycle; a cool, snazzy Honda Rebel, which I liked for its looks (red & sleek) and the fact my feet both touched flat. Still too chicken to learn to drive (I know, I know: Ride).

Returned home, and David proceeded to put the Gold Wing back together. I decided to clean the kitchen, then make an experimental batch of blackberry cobbler. Short Version: tried to combine recipes, went 1 ½ cups short on flour, made an 8 x 8 pan of goo, managed to salvage the topping on some individual apple cobbler minis but not enough liquid in the fruit section so we’ll have to have a taste test. All in all, I’m glad this was a practice run and not for public consumption.

At 3:45 David came in and reminded me that we were scheduled to be at Ramona’s house @ 4:00 for a BBQ. Since the apple cobblers were still gasping for life in the oven, I had to call & say it would be a little later.

Had a good chicken BBQ, with corn & biscuits and pasta salad. Ramona & Norm were there as well as Ramona’s parents, with Phoebe the beagle and *Shadow and Ringo. Hung around & looked at the upgraded yards, and ate, and watched the WA State / USC football game. Also, showed Ramona the photo CD. Just before David & I left, *Kara called & Ramona was pulled away on an important conversation, so we left & told Norm that I would call Ramona and do lunch before the 19^th.

We had quality cuddle time with Vince when we got home – he’s so darn affectionate!

*Shadow and Ringo: Ramona and Norm's dogs

*Kara: Ramona's youngest daughter

End of Entry

Who switched our puppy with an old dog?

11-28-1999
Vince, 2 months old, first day at home after being adopted 

Just a wee bit bigger than an apple

After the cutest puppyhood ever and 14 zesty years, Vince is beginning to succumb to age and is having some health problems. He has been doing quite well, and we've all adjusted to his (alleged) deafness by waving our arms and pointing alot. He gets a little cranky with Frank, our other male, so we keep them separate.

Our illusion of Vince's immortality was threatened recently after a vet visit. He went with his four dog buddies for annual checkups and shots. Immediately afterward, Vince became lethargic and unable to stand or walk. He drank water, but had no appetite and not enough energy to lift his head. I had college friends visiting at the time, and they were obviously convinced (as was I) that our senior buddy was in his final hours.

While I was avoiding despair and heartlessly cavorting with my friends, David researched medical canine issues and convinced me later that Vince was simply having a bad reaction that would pass. Plus, he had good news that Vince had eaten some food.

Fast forward one week: Vince is able to get up and go outside on his own; do his "business" and come back in or stay outside on a pad. We are still having to encourage him to eat, and after concluding that his kidneys are stressing (very common for senior dogs, and a known reaction to vaccinations) we are feeding him a kidney-friendly diet.
I cooked up a big batch of rice and chicken, both low in phosphates which are difficult for kidneys to process, and a batch of elbow macaroni and ground steak (low phosphates, high quality protein). (Yes, I ground the steak bits myself in the KitchenAid attachment--go ahead and make fun of this over-zealous dog lover.) Sometimes Vince gets non-dairy whipped topping on his food because it's high in calcium and low in phosphorus. (I think I'll use that line this Thanksgiving when I put half a tub on a piece of pumpkin pie...)

Vince is sending out his message:
I won't live forever, so enjoy me while I'm here.
 And for crying out loud give me another piece of steak!

I'm sure Vince would appreciate any comments on his behalf, especially any memories some of you may have of him.