Hey Mark, remember that year at band camp???

This last week was football camp for Tigard HS. I dropped Mark off on Tuesday morning, bright and early and the coaches were loading up for the big haul over to the beach.


They arrived at Sunset Beach, by Warrenton, unloaded the guys, and got ready for some football.

It's all about the basics guys. Basics.

Okay, so not only the basics. This was a great opportunity to give the guys a chance to have some fun playing football on the beach. Okay, so basics and fun: that's what it's all about.

And s'mores. Mark said s'mores were involved during the process. Man, I should have been there for that.

Go Tigard!

Mark said the other guy give this guy a bad time cause it looks like he's always frowning. This is his usual expression. Looks like they're right, eh?

Our new coach is excited about sharing his skills with our young men. I'll miss Mitch, but it looks like our guys are in good hands, and this should be a fun year.

Wow, looks like Mark is right in the action here. Go long Mark, go long!

Having coffee with the guys. John, on the left, was Doug's football coach for two years in youth. Ron coached youth for years, and he did the announcing for youth football for a few years after that. He and I have had some fun times hanging out in the announcer's booth during games, watching ourselves some youth football. He's one of my favorite folks.

Guess Pete didn't want to be left out of the picture. Silly Pete.

I remember Beau when he was around 3, when Steven began playing youth football the summer after second grade, and Beau's dad was coaching Steven's team. This young man is one of the nicest young men you will ever meet. He's well rounded, an amazing athlete, and I know will do great things on and off the field. We have been lucky to watch him grow up. As I'm learning, this is what makes life worth living, the joys of friends and family.

Mark got home on Thursday night, tired, and ready for some sleep.

And he brought me a new Tigard sweatshirt! I'm SO READY FOR TIGARD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TO START. Did I get my point across? Go Tigard!

Baseball and fireworks for all!

Friday Tom and I went into Chico to get ourselves some dinner and see a baseball game. We parked near the baseball park and walked through Chico State campus to get something to eat.

The campus has some wonderful wetlands and such.

And some amazing buildings. I really enjoyed walking through the campus. I haven't been there since I was in HS. Granted that Chico State is known as THE party school: the only time I was ever there was for an orchestra event and trust me, we didn't party. Darn it.

Okay, the moment I saw this poster I knew I was going to enjoy my lunch. A burger and fries!

We went to Madison Bear Garden: it's owned by the same folks who own Fannie Annes in Old Town Sacramento, and I used to love to go there.

Oakland Raiders bar. Interesting concept.

Buggys and such all over the place.

Crazy!

And they make it easy to let folks know when they've had enough.

After eating we walked around downtown, finding a small bookstore to hang out in, and a fountain. And wouldn't you know it, right as Tom went to take my picture the fountain stopped.

Dumb ole fountain.

Back through the campus to the ballfield.

Party time?

Are these not awe inspiring?

Like I said, an amazing place.

The game was between the Chico Outlaws and the Vancouver Capitals. A unit from Beale AFB presented the flag. Well done.

Tom bought an Outlaw hat.

I'd like you to meet Avery. One of the guys sitting by us began asking Avery for a ball. He was funny, was doing it very nicely and very funny, and Avery kept putting him off. Cracked everyone around us up.

The game sold out, so they set up some space on the first base line and added tickets. It was the biggest crowd they've ever had. At 6 dollars a ticket you can't beat it. The crowd by us was nice and friendly and we all had a good time, even the guys from Vancouver in the bullpen right in front of us.

What a great night for baseball. The pictures don't do the evening justice.

Avery is still playing hard to get.

"Avery! Avery my friend! Throw me a ball! Come on buddy!" Our new friend even got others to plead his case for him.

The Outlaw mascot came by to say hello. How nice is that?

Quite the crowd attending.

But we had the bullpen. It was fun to watch them warm up right before us.

Since Avery was still playing 'hard to get' a group of very cute girls sitting by us began to chant, "Avery, Avery, Avery". Others joined in (yes, your's truly did) and Avery threw our new friend a ball. Everyone cheered, thanked Avery, and our new friend gave the ball to a very happy little fellow sitting by us. Fun times.

After the game there was a wonderful fire works display.

Happy Birthday America. I love you, and I wish you many more happy days.

California Dreaming

I had a wonderful visit with my mom and dad and brother Tom. We basically hung out and I taught my dad a bit about making meals. He needs to do most of the cooking now: that should be interesting....

Most mornings I got up and took a walk around the park.

Nice view over the horizon.

Lots and lots and lots of birds.

Jack rabbits as well.

I thought about going in the pool, but it didn't happen.

But I did do my walking.

I've not seen the RV section of the park as full as it is right now. Or maybe I never noticed before.

I have a great picture of Cari as a toddler hugging this little guy. Wonder where that picture is?

Dad taught me how to pick out a watermelon. Okay, so his method is to take the first one you see, but I have to tell you this was a wonderful watermelon!

Yes, this man taught me everything I know about watermelon. And hats that have hair on them. He taught me all about those as well.

Notes from Cal

Hello all! All is going well here in the land of sunshine. Mom had a doctor appointment today and the doctor said the procedure they did in the hospital to help with the issue with her lungs did a good job, but the tumours are still there. She's going to make an appointment to see if she can get in a study: she was in the process of getting that in place when the issue with her lungs got in the way. So some good news, and now she gets to get back to fighting the cancer again.

I found some pictures in dad's files....this is Mark from our previous visit, sitting in the very same chair I am sitting in at this very same minute. Ha!

This is me from our previous visit, hanging out.

My sister Linda and my nephew Scott from their last visit, about a month ago I believe.

I took a walk first thing this morning and it was so nice out. I saw a couple of jack rabbits and lots of birds. Nice way to start the day, and a good time to get some walking in before the heat hits. I lived down here for years: I remember how hot it gets. And now that I live in Oregon I take the heat harder. I'm a softie now.