Well, I've been sitting on Post No. 200 for nearly two months and it is well past time to update any readers who may be left out there.
Much of my energy has been focused on working on the book based on this blog and my travels. I am making great progress -- or would be if I could find fewer distractions. I've been to the coast three weekends since I last posted and to Seattle. My most recent trip to the coast, last weekend, was to take a kayaking tour on the North Fork of the Nehalem River. I went sea kayaking several years ago when I was in Mauai and, of course, the canoeing in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. But this was my first time in an actual regular kayak. It was great and I hope to do it again soon. Well, maybe after winter.
We left the dock probably around 3:30 and paddled up-stream with the incoming tide. After an hour or two the tide turned and we paddled back with both the tide and current. It was dark when we arrived back at the dock, close to 7 p.m. I went with two friends and we had signed up with Kayak Tillamook County. Marc and Paul did a great job teaching and guiding us and I would definitely recommend them.
We got rained on some but by the end of the evening we paddled out into a beautiful sunset. The next day the weather was very balmy, warm and sunny with no wind, a rare treat for the Oregon Coast. Except it was exactly the same as it had been a couple weeks earlier when I was there with several friends. In September, with different friends, we had rain one of the days but the other day was very lovely. I think Fall must be the time to go to the beach in Oregon.
Another reason to be at the beach in October is so you don't have to keep cleaning out the gutter and raking leaves. I've done both two or three times already since I returned on Saturday evening. I love my big huge maple tree but I think I need to have some serious pruning done this winter. It's so big it drops leaves all over the yard and roof.
While I was in Seattle earlier in October Charlie got into a little altercation with a neighbor dog and I returned to a big vet bill. Someone the other dog tore Charlie's ear and it was about $900 to repair the damage. Thankfully the other dog's owner offered to pay half the cost. No damage at all to the other dog, a black lab who has always been friendly in the past.
Jesse is growing bigger and cuter every day and not only walks now but runs and climbs at 16 months, a very busy boy. I have no idea what Halloween holds for Karl's family. I have no plans, probably just handing out chocolate to the neighbor kids. I am thinking of driving down to Medford for Thanksgiving again with my sister. It is closer for Kristin and Ryan than driving to Portland so we'll see. If I do I would want to leave here after our Thanksgiving Mass, which is always very special.
Christmas, of course, I will be in Cabo, for two weeks this year. My sister Shirley will be with me the first week, but the second week I may be by myself but I will figure out a way to enjoy myself. It's not as if I'm not used to spending time alone, after all.
So instead of post blogs I have been adding little sippets of updates and photos to Facebook. If you're on, friend me if you want more updates and want to let me know what's happening with you.
