What happened to manly truckers?

So, we went to Boise today and it brought up an interesting topic. Have you noticed the average trucker these days? Maybe my memory is faulty, but it seems to me that they used to actually be men. Now, they more resemble nintendo nerds than truck drivers. What happened to real pants? Work boots? The ability to lift more than a Starbucks latte without breaking into a sweat? This week there was a delivery to the feed store and the driver couldn't even get into the back of the truck to unload pallets. He had to be lifted up with the forklift! And his sweat pants didn't want to stay up, he had no gloves, slip on shoes... I mean really? Doesn't anyone teach them to be prepared anymore?

Anywho - not much else to report. Tomorrow I go to TRY & get my hair foiled again. (Blimey - foiled again!) This will be the THIRD time we've tried to get it take color, it's being very difficult.

More later on our trip maybe. We'll see.

10 days to go

Only 10 days until I leave for Montana. Not much else happening here. Jeff started his new job last Monday & seems to like it. He's only working 32 hours a week (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri). But, at least it's far better than not at all!

I, with all my free time, have been honing my bread-kneading skills. Working on a few craft projects. Cooking - a lot.

Well, that's it for now I guess. Oh.. btw - I should put in a shameless plug here for my 2 favorite book swapping sites. www.paperbackswap.com (my very favorite) and www.bookmooch.com (my 2nd favorite). Check them out!!

Jeff Birthday & Harmonica

Today was Jeff's birthday. We celebrated by having over a couple friends for cake & ice cream. Jeff requested a wacky cake w/ peanut butter frosting, so that's what he got. I made him Lasagna for dinner. And, for his birthday, I renewed his Pennsylvania Game News subscription.

Also, his shirt finally came in that I'd ordered him for CHRISTMAS!! But, first it was a week late, then the wrong size... finally is right!

Jeff is really getting into the harmonica. He's been spending HOURS on the computer watching how-to videos, tips, info, etc., as well as watching clips of harmonica players. This one is REALLY cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KAZ4uf8Q18&feature=related

That's it for today!

Sled Dog Races

Ok, so we went to the sled dog races today in Halfway. Actually, it isn't the RACE in Halfway, it's the halfway point for the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race. The mushers stop there (after 100 miles) for a mandatory 6 hour rest before turning around to head back to Joseph. So, you can go wander around & watch the dogs & mushers sleep - riveting, I know. But, it's pretty cool to see the outfits up close & especially to watch them when they take off again. Here are some pics I took. OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) was there filming & I think some other journalists as well - those are the photographers you see.















And... it was really cold - you can tell in this photo.

































Here are some good photos of the dogs & also a video of them howling - they were ready to GO!!!!

PS

I forgot to add these pictures too of our horses.

Eagles

Today we saw a beautiful Bald Eagle right outside the door. It was working it's way over to pick up a dead quail on the ice. These pictures don't really do it justice, but I had to take them out the window.

Jeff may has a new job - at least temporarily - if he chooses to take it. He goes down tomorrow to review the offer, etc. We'll have to see how things go before we decide if he's going to leave the park & work at this new job full time. It's for the Feed & Seed, so it would require moving which would result in having to pay rent & utilities which we really don't want to do.

Quilting

I went to quilting today for the 1st time in awhile. I am making progress! For my 1st quilt, and a somewhat difficult pattern at that, it's looking pretty good! I'm excited to get it finished & see it all done.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Well, another storm has hit in force. We rec'd about 12" in less than 6 hours, then more today - we're at about 18" - 2'. We are kind of enjoying it - one of the benefits of being unemployed - we have no where to go anyway. Here are some pics of snow in the park and also of our horses.

On another note: We have been quite amused by the political wrangling going on between Halfway (the next town over) and the State of Oregon road dept. Halfway is known for getting humungous loads of snow. Because the main street of Halfway (just like Richland) is still considered a state highway, the state is responsible for towing. Well, this week, there is an "emergency" meeting to determine the best time for plowing. The state says is must be done at night as they are too busy during the day, and the street also has too much traffic during the day. The business owners affected by this are saying that night is inconvient - "why would they say such a strange statement?" you might ask. Well, because in true redneck fashion, the 2 main businesses on main street that are affected - are bars. All the rest of the businesses actually have parking lots that they maintain themselves - but the bar parking is on the street and their busiest time is - you guessed it- at night. And, this is only still an issue because the stupid street is still, technically, a highway. The city of Halfway plows all the side roads, etc., but can't plow mainstreet.

Anywho - I also baked bread today - the 1st loaf in YEARS. It just came out of the oven - but it's HUGE. I kinda forgot to turn on the oven to warm up, so it got really big while waiting for the oven to heat. I asked Ben to check & see if they were done by tapping them w/ a knife & see if it sounded hollow. He said "I'm trying to remember what hollow sounds like"... I laughed - Jeff said "tap your head, dude".

Today, those beautiful Heron's were catching fish at the edge of the ice, right here in front of the house. They would stalk very slowly to the edge & then just grab one up & eat it.

The other excitement for the day, was the re-arrangement of the living room. I'd been asking Jeff to help for a month... he decided he wanted to do it ALL today! So, "strike while the iron is hot" and all that - so the whole house got clean and looks much better with some stuff gone and the room rearranged. I'm happy about that.

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve - here's a partial clip of Jeff singing at the Christmas Eve service. It doesn't really sound that great, my little camera isn't very good at recording the sound, but it gives you an idea anyway.

More Birds

A beautiful, big Blue Heron was sitting on our dock this a.m! He was just sitting there, surveying his kingdom... lol Another one was flying around over the water / ice (it must have gotten really warm last night - the ice is about 1/2 melted.) One of these days I'm going to actually get a picture of one of these pretty birds when they are sitting there - but they have INCREDIBLE senses (duh!). Pictures through the window are just not the same - and no matter how gently I open the door, they know it and fly away.

As I fell asleep last night, I was dreaming - and started to write a "story" in my dream... if I remember right, it went like this:

"I was younger then. As I've always been younger to those in my life. It's a strange thing that as we age physically, mature mentally and grow spiritually, we are still "young" to those who've always known us. I couldn't see the impact that my actions would have on all those around me".


It was better in my dream - I was writing a "story" to try & help Susan. She was struggling with where her life is now and how it got there. Oh well, I guess things are always better in dreams. Actually, if I hadn't been so stinking tired, I should have just gotten up & written it down then, as i know I've gotten some of it wrong & forgotten some... there was a lot more. Anyway, that was how it started, kinda.

The New Year

Well, we've had a mixed-reviews start to the New Year, so far. I saw a HUGE, mature bald eagle right out our window on NYE, flying in circles over the water, then diving down & just brushing the ice... he did it 3 times! It was beautiful. Then, after I worked a couple hours, we spent the evening at the church playing Mexican Train & eating. That was fun! Dennis Reasonor (the town drunk - not that he's the ONLY town drunk, just the one most people would finger as THE town drunk) showed up around 11:30 so we made him sit & play also & he was there for ringing in the new year (which we actually RANG in - the boys rang the church bell). He is someone that always makes me sad - he is EXACTLY the type of person that dad would have really been able to help and identify with. The guy has always been a pretty heavy drinker, but has a great heart inside him. But, his wife was thrown from a horse & died this summer & that has kinda pushed him over the edge. I just feel like this town has let him down - no one who can truly identify with him & his disease and still be a man that he can respect. Instead, people just ignore the problem - or enable it. I do what I can when I'm at work & he comes in or like when he came to church NYE... but it can never be enough. He needs someone like dad.

Anyway, we stayed there WAY too late... didn't go to bed till 2am. So, all day New Year's Day, I had a terrible headache - so unfair to feel hungover when you didn't even drink! Jeff was totally psyched about the Rose Bowl, his Penn State Nittany Lions had finally made it back there - but we didn't get the channel on our tv - so we rented a motel room & watch it so Ben could see it too. Unfortunately, his team lost so that was a bummer.

So, home & to bed early!