Hellgate is Heaven

Last Saturday, Al & I met Don & Cheri Suklis at 5:30 a.m. for a trip to Grants Pass. Starbucks in hand, we headed south on I-5 toward Hellgate Canyon and a 4 hour jetboat excursion. We boarded out boat and began our sight-seeing jouney down river. Along the way we saw a bald eagle, nesting osprey, turkey vultures, many Great Blue Heron and Canada Geese that like the weather so much that they've stopped migrating back to Canada. The scenery was lovely and the canyon itself, amzing. This is the place where the movie "The River Wild" was filmed. I think Meryl Streep & Kevin Bacon were in it. Anyway, after we toured the canyon, we were let off the boat at the OK Corral. This beautiful lodge was the location of our Champagne Brunch. Excellent food and drink in a really pretty setting. After brunch we boarded our boat for the trip upstream and that's when the excitement began. These boats travel at 55 mph, draft only 6" of water and are remarkably maneuverable. We did 360 turns, wake jumping and boat drenching stops. It was so much fun! We laughed ourselves silly and have vowed to go again soon. If you're in the Grants Pass area and have the time, indulge yourself with a fun adventure.

Happy 4th of July Weekend

Bocce Ball, a car show in the park, The Garlinger boys, a carousel ride, and a picnic @Dad's. Hope your weekend was wonderful!

Fore!

What a fun way to spend a lovely summer evening. Jana, AJ and Maryanne played the front 9 at our McNary course. JJ had a meeting in Portland so he couldn't join them. Ordinarily the four kids play on Tuesday evenings right after work. I love that they enjoy hanging out together.

A Yukky Start to a Fun Evening

Friday night after work, AJ, Maryanne, Al & I decided to go to the Volcano game here in Keizer. While we were having a pre-game dinner at Panda Express, we witnessed a horrific car accident. We didn't see what caused the accident only that one car was off to the side and one car was upside down with the roof crushed. As we passed by the scene a few minutes later it appeared that the passenger/s of the upside down car might have been dead. The paramedics had not yet arrived, police officers were frantically diverting traffic and no one was near the car. It seemed impossible that anyone could have crawled out of the car because the roof was so squashed. As we entered the stadium parking lot we heard sirens heading our way so hopefully our assumption was wrong. I never saw anything in the paper so who knows?

The evening improved as we were able to enjoy a warm summer night watching baseball. We ate cotton candy and nachos and root beer shave ice...the Volcanoes even won the game! Can life get any better?

New table...Old friends

Yesterday Jana and I went to Eugene to pick up my new coffee table. I have been looking for months and finally found one at the Pottery Barn in Eugene. I actually found it at the PB in Scottsdale and figured I'd have no problem finding closer to home. Boy was I wrong. But at last, my quest is over & I have a lovely new table to decorate (I've only just started in the picture).

On the off chance that my high school friend Nancy & her husband Curt were available, I called them to meet us for lunch. Instead, Nancy invited us to her home for lunch on the patio. It was so good to catch up with these dear friends. We talked and laughed and talked and ate and laughed for 3+ hours. It was a delightful way to spend a sunny afternoon. At 2:45 we headed home. I dropped Jana at her house, drove straight to the Garlinger's & picked up 2 year old Sarah and brought her to our house so I could get ready for Thursday night dinner. What started as a relaxing day with friends ended up a chaotic, loud evening with the usual crew of hungry diners, barking dogs and an excited 2 year old. Thursdays at the DeBacker's are always interesting...and fun!

Tom Sawyer DeBacker

Yesterday at work, Al asked me to create a chart to track some appointments that he and Patti are doing over the next months. I had an idea, that Maryanne enhanced, and began to work. Being computer challenged as I am, I kept asking Maryanne for help. She ultimately ended up creating a wonderful numbered (1-300) list. However my idea was to have the numbers go from 300 -1. We didn't have time to redo the whole thing so Maryanne worked and worked to reverse the order but had no success. We called Jana and she gave us some great ideas that we couldn't make work. So I called JJ and he saved the day. It took him all of 2 minutes to do what we'd tried unsuccessfully to do for over an hour. Bottom line...we ended up with a neat chart and all I did was come up with the idea. :-)

Happy Father's Day

Al's choice for breakfast...the Original House of Pancakes

The boys + Maryanne take Dad shopping for a new stereo receiver. They go to every electronics shop in Salem. Finally after much talk with the salesman, they find one that meets all the required elements, (and believe me, there are multitudes) only to be told by the same salesman that they don't have any of those particular receivers in stock. Feeling the crushing weight of defeat & disappointment, Al comes home and takes a 2 hour nap. The only thing that might redeem this day is a big win by the Lakers. O happy Day!

A Bittersweet Goodbye

Last night, Al and I officially said goodbye to the Bible study group that I've been leading for the past 9 years. We finished the study in early May but schedules being what they are, we had our year end social last night. The group treated Al and I to a yummy dinner at Bentley's here in Salem. It was extra special because a favorite couple from my Sunday morning group was able to join us.

One of the group members is taking over leadership so I know that it will be in good hands. As I walked away from the restaurant, I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for this group of friends that have encouraged and challenged me for almost a decade. Thanks Lord!

Why I Love Scottsdale

After Taco night at Randy & Robin's

Isn't this illegal? NOT one of the reasons I love Scottsdale

Drunk on Mexican food and hot fudge sundeas

1. It's warm - 100+ degrees. Not once did I wear a sweater or even long sleeves.

2. There are great reaturants - Houston's, Sauce, & The Breakfast Club. I only gained 1.5 lbs .

3. Two of my brothers are there - Jeff & Randy and their families. We laughed a lot!

4. There is a fabulous Mall - Fashion Square, similar to The Forum Shops in Las Vegas

5. There are wonderful home decor stores

6. Jordan's Mexican Restaurant and Mary Coyle's IceCream Parlor - childhood favorites.

7. Jerry Sienfeld - a hilarious Friday night concert.

8. Daqaries by the pool...and fresh baked cookies delivered to my lounge.

9. All the cacti are in bloom and add lovely punches of color to the ordinarily brown desert.

10. It was vacation with all the above benefits.

Phoenix Phun

We are here in Phoenix enjoying perfect Arizona weather, a lovely hotel, great restaurants and good fellowship with the brothers. Tonight we were at Robin & Randy's home for tacos. They have repainted most of their house and it is lovely, warm and inviting. Earlier in the day we shopped at Scottsdale Fashion Square and ate the best pizza we'ver ever had...and that's saying somethin'. Tomorrow it's all day at the pool after I meet with my sweet cousin MeMe. Then on Saturday, it's haning with the brothers and then a Bar B Que at Michael and Rebecca's new home. Can't wait to see it. I hear it's quite the place. Enjoy the pictures.