Monday, May 29, 2006

In Honor Of Those Who Served

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Today we remember those who have served.

My father was one. May he rest in peace, unaware of how the President of the United States has destroyed the freedoms and rights that he fought to preserve.

May God have mercy on the souls of our fallen soldiers and may He damn for all eternity the 43rd President of the United States.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

This And That

Dag rabbit! Only got 3/4 inch of rain over the past 3 days, bringing me to a grand total for the year so far of 75 inches. I am thinking positively and telling myself that I will get more rain in Oregon.

Spoke with an old friend who moved to Salem last year. Offered to send me a care package with Sunday real estate section, some Coastal newspapers and those Homes and Land magazines that are everywhere. Confirmed my guesstimate that the area I'm thinking about is about 45 to 60 minutes outside of Salem - which is just about what I have to travel now over the hill to get to Kaiser.

Still have my fingers and toes crossed and will update when I hear. If it is negative, I've already got my real estate agent picked out. Referral from a good friend and we've already met. She sounded confident ... more fingers and toes in my future.

I've decided that I used to be a practicing heterosexual but now I am just a consultant.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Raining In The Rain Forrest

Good thing I like the rain. The weather dude is saying we are looking at rain all weekend. My year to date total for rain is 74 and 1/4 inches before including whatever I get this weekend. Being double Irish, I had just set out my table and chairs just two days ago. All winter, they usually are stored under the eaves in tarps.

My first peony blossom. Bought this plant down in Ben Lomond (3 miles down the hill) last fall. Didn't know what color it would be and I am very happy. It bloomed in time for Mother's Day and that flower is literally dinner plate sized.


Additionally, a picture of Token, also known as "Grumpy", sitting next to the peony. He was not cooperating, but then I have rarely known a male who cooperates at picture taking time.

Token and Goldie are curled up on their pillow in front of the fireplace insert, dreaming doggie dreams. Bailey is alternating between preening herself in front of the dining window and curling up , waiting for this band of showers to stop before she heads back outside to unsuccessfully stalk birds and brazen hussy squirrels.

I've got one possible buyer (fingers and toes crossed) for the house. Don't want to jinx anything (that double Irish thing) so I'm not going to say anything more on that. A friend of a friend kind of thing.

Been spending my time waiting for Fitzo-de-Mayo and checking out housing along the central and northern Oregon coast (Tillamook and Lincoln Counties). Kaiser's southermost Oregon facilities are in Salem so I'm keeping that travel time in mind. So far, the plan is to sell, move to Oregon, and rent until I figure out the pro's and con's of these areas along the Coast.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Decider Bush Is Spying Around

I've got to share a little ditty I found ... to be sung to the song “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

They know to whom you’re talking
They know who calls you too
They claim you shouldn’t worry
Cause your evil if you doooo….

Soooooo…..
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Decider Bush is spying around

He knows when you are sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
So what’s the fuss and muss about
We’re terrorists… for goodness sake!

Soooooo…..
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Decider Bush is spying around

He claims that’s its all legal
He claims we’re in a fight
He tags our emails night and day
He says God tells him he is right!

Sooooo…..
we better watch out
We better not cry
We better not pout
I’m telling you why

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Selling The House

I was awake most of the night, tossing and turning, unable to stop the numbers running through my head. No matter which way I crunched, the only solution is to sell the house.

My heart is breaking.

I love this little cabin on the creek. But, having been laid off twice this year (from two different jobs no less) and having zero success in finding another job, I really feel I have no other choice.

I will be unable to make my mortgage payment this month. I was unable to pay the second installment on my property taxes last month. I've dropped all unnecessary expenses (and some necessary ones too) a long time ago and there is no more fat to trim. My food budget runs at the most one hundred dollars a month and most months less than that.

I see no other solution.

What really sucks is this is a stock cooperative and therefore not eligible for traditional financing. All the places here are owner financed. I need a cash buyer in order to pay off my mortgage. My house is worth around $450,000 and I owe $242,000. Not many people willing to place a 50% down payment on a house.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Steelhead In The Creek

Last night, just before dusk, Naomi came in to tell me there was a steelhead in the creek. I grabbed my camera to take a picture of it. It was about 18" long and was in the pool the steelhead use for spawning under the wood bridge.

Unfortunately, my attempt was unsuccessful. I was looking down into the creek and could see him/her clearly when I took the pictures. I've tried cropping and all kinds of tricks to show the fish more but it really is not distinguishable from the rocks.

Instead you get this picture of the creek just before dusk. The water is getting back down to summer level after getting almost 20" of rain in 6 weeks (March to mid-April). Soon the swiftness of the water will slow, making it easier to wade. It still runs fast due running downhill from the bridge to the river but doesn't make me worry that I will have my feet knocked out from under me by the current.

We last had steelhead in the creek in December. I was glad to see this fish made it past the salmon fishermen down river and in the Monterey Bay. Each one that makes it up here has run that gauntlet.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Wisteria In Bloom

First, a little geography. I live in a special place just outside of town. My little slice of heaven was formerly a private campground owned by the Elks Club and consisted of campsites, a large common bbq area, and a much older large house converted into a clubhouse back in the day.

The land, 12 and 1/2 acres, is now owned as one parcel by our Association and we each own our house and one share in the Association. We are surrounded by water on three sides and are blocked by a large hill on the fourth. I am just across the river from town yet isolated from town. The only way in and out of our "compound" is via the wooden bridge. Very private setting.

The campsites became sleeping platforms and eventually those were converted into cabins. The cabins are now houses, some added onto, others look just as they did when they were built. There are 24 houses and the clubhouse.

The clubhouse has a large rec room and kitchen on one half and the other side of the house is where the caretaker lives, who takes care of the grounds. Inside the rec room there are still Elk momentos. In a side yard of the clubhouse stands an old oak which looks to be older than the clubhouse. Climbing this old oak is an old wisteria with its large branches wrapping around the old oak trunk clear up to the top.

It is currently in bloom and is a sight to behold. I took these pictures this afternoon but they do not do this old oak covered in purple flowers justice.

The picture above was taken standing at the base of the oak looking up. You can see some of the wisteria blooms in it.

The picture below was trying to show the blooms at the top of the tree.



This is a close up looking at the top of the tree. Note all the purple showing. When the light is just right, which unfortunately it wasn't in this picture, the tree glows purple.



Joanie, these pictures are for you.