Well, the family vacation is over.  We had a great time on a totally non-planned vacation.  We travelled as we liked, stayed where we liked and saw what we wanted to see.  No plans, no itineraries, nothing.

However, on the home front, more planning would have been nice.  The neighbor boy was to feed the cats and WATER MY PLANTS.  Excuse me for a second while I compose myself.  My poor cherry tomato plant looked like a tumbleweed when we got back.  The sprinklers caught most of the rest of the garden, but my cherry tomato was up in a pot on the patio.  Poor thing.  Good news though, it has recovered pretty much.  I don't think it will ever forgive me, but it will put on a few more cherry tomatoes.

The bigger problem is the zucchini plants.  WARNING!  Never assume your zucchini plants will stop growing while you are away.  Many a gardener has been found eaten alive by a gigantic zucchini.  I was gone for one week.  One week mind you, and the picture tells the story.  (I still have not found out how to place pictures in my journals, so you will just have to look at my latest shot.  It is a picture of what looks like 3 green logs on my kitchen table.)

One of my memories as a child was large zucchinis.  My father was never content with planting one or two hills of zucchini plants.  Oh no.  If 2 were good, 20 were supreme.  We would have zucchinis coming out of every orifice.  Because of this, some would grow to monster proportions.  Now, here comes the problem.  My father never believed in planting pumpkins in his garden.  Oh no, waste of water, so I never had a pumpkin to carve on Halloween.  Well, being the creative child that I was, I applied a solution that killed the proverbial 2 birds.  I carved zucchinis.  Well, let me rephrase that, I attempted to carve zucchinis.  Unfortunately, it never caught on.  Perhaps someday, and then I will be heralded as the genius that I truly am, and go down as the first person to carve a zucchini Jack-O-Lantern. 

Final note on my zucchini problem and this is a good one.  I have a friend at work who raises tortoises.  Guess what tortoises like to eat?  Answer, you got me.  LOL, but she said to bring in my zucchinis and we'll see what happens.  I'll keep you informed. 

Today we visited Mount St. Helens, or what was left of Mt. St. Helens.  It was a beautiful mountain until that fateful day in 1980. 

Today it is still scarred, but recovering.  I have lived in Idaho almost all my life, but the year the mountain blew up, was one of the years I was slaving for Uncle Sam's canoe club (underwater canoes, no less) and so I totally missed all the hoopla that went on during and after the eruption.  It was very informative and very interesting to go there.  Unfortunately, Mt. Saint Helens is someplace you have to be going to.  You can't stop there on the say to somewhere else.  But it is well worth the trip. 

We are in Longview, Washington tonight.  Had an excellent seafood dinner at Freddie's Just For the Halibut.  I recommend it.  Very casual, but god was the food good.  The halibut--excellent, shrimp--sublime, clam chowder--fresh and great.  Have the oysters, they were succulent. 

Tomorrow is day 5 on the trip, and we may actually get to the Washington coast.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

I hope to post a ton of pictures, to totally bore everyone to tears of my trip.  However, I have had a grand time and really have enjoyed this vacation that had no itinerary, no purpose, no nothing.  Just get up, decide what you might want to see and then go do it.  Yesterday we went to Beacon Rock on the north side of the Columbia River.  It is the second largest monolith in the world, next to Gibraltar, and I climbed all the way to the top (with many many many stops).  Thank God my boys are patient.  Coming down my legs were like rubber. 

Again, take a trip, enjoy yourself, it seems like a lot of people aren't travelling this year, so, that sounds like a good time to travel to me. 

Pictures next week.

Film at 11.

Chuck

Day 2 on the vacation to anywhere is in the books.  What a trip!

Today we rode Segways in Richland Washington.  I mean it was like learning to ski all over again.  If you don't know what a Segway is, Google it.  If you do know, run out and rent one and try it.  It was like flying on two wheels.  We went up and down their park system and had a great time.  The pictures will be uploaded when we get back off vacation, since I am at the mercy of motel computers and terrible internet connections.

We wanted to go to the Maryhill Art Museum in Maryhill Washington today, but the Segways and an extended lunch got in our way.  Tomorrow we tackle Maryhill.  From the outside it reminds me of the Hearst Castle (but in a much smaller version.)  The man who built the museum also built a lifesize replica of Stonehege just up the road from it.  All to commerate 13 men who died from this county in WWI.  The views were spectacular.  The Columbia River Gorge is a sight in itself.  I know you folks from the east usually aren't impressed by water, but when you grow up out west, you soon bvalue water and all it's glory.  The Columbia gathers all the water from the Northern Rockies and takes it to the Pacific.  It is an awesome site, believe me.

I really appreciate AARP putting me on their main web page.  I hate to go down in my 15 minutes of fame as a zuchinni farmer from Idaho, but you take what fame you can get. 

I look forward to many more journals.  Let me just finish by saying I am having a great time recreating myself with my 2 boys.  Life is good.  We all went swimming tonight in the motel pool and had a great time.  I love them to pieces.

Thank you for the messages that you send. 

Chuck

Day 2 on the vacation to anywhere is in the books.  What a trip!

Today we rode Segways in Richland Washington.  I mean it was like learning to ski all over again.  If you don't know what a Segway is, Google it.  If you do know, run out and rent one and try it.  It was like flying on two wheels.  We went up and down their park system and had a great time.  The pictures will be uploaded when we get back off vacation, since I am at the mercy of motel computers and terrible internet connections.

We wanted to go to the Maryhill Art Museum in Maryhill Washington today, but the Segways and an extended lunch got in our way.  Tomorrow we tackle Maryhill.  From the outside it reminds me of the Hearst Castle (but in a much smaller version.)  The man who built the museum also built a lifesize replica of Stonehege just up the road from it.  All to commerate 13 men who died from this county in WWI.  The views were spectacular.  The Columbia River Gorge is a sight in itself.  I know you folks from the east usually aren't impressed by water, but when you grow up out west, you soon bvalue water and all it's glory.  The Columbia gathers all the water from the Northern Rockies and takes it to the Pacific.  It is an awesome site, believe me.

I really appreciate AARP putting me on their main web page.  I hate to go down in my 15 minutes of fame as a zuchinni farmer from Idaho, but you take what fame you can get. 

I look forward to many more journals.  Let me just finish by saying I am having a great time recreating myself with my 2 boys.  Life is good.  We all went swimming tonight in the motel pool and had a great time.  I love them to pieces.

Thank you for the messages that you send. 

Chuck

Well we started the annual family vacation.  This one is very similar to last years.  That is, no place in particular to go, no agenda, no itinerary.

My boys and I did go to Twin Falls, ID to see the Blue Angels over the weekend, but now the whole family finds themselves in Kennewick, WA and we are headed west to see the Stonehege replica and a museum at Maryhill.  Later the Washington coast, and perhaps Mt. Saint Helens.  Who knows?

Well, youngest just poked head in, I guess I will help him with his free continental breakfast.  Wyndam Hotels are quite nice, btw.

I have to admit it.  I love to flirt.  Flirtation is a pastime that I will never tire from.  It is the thrill of the chase, knowing that one is still in the game.  I think if you are too old to flirt, you are ready for the dirt.  (Just a bit of prose thrown in to keep all readers happy.)

Currently, I am baking banana bread as part of my flirtatious scheme.  A lovely lady in my office says she loves my banana bread.  It is easy to make.  Good tasting, I will admit, and it gets rid of excess old bananas that would just go to waste.  Why stop at 2 birds with the proverbial one stone when you can get three?

Today is that young ladies birthday.  I have divided my banana bread into three individual loaves, to insure that she gets one all to herself.  The co-worker hoards will devour the other two, and everyone will be relatively happy.  Once again, multiple winged animals with singular hard object.  Plus, one never knows where the next flirting target may come from, you have to cover all your bases.

Oh, by the way, it is also my wife's birthday today--very ironic.  Of course I have taken care of her also in regards to the festivities.  Gifts purchased, cards signed, but it just isn't the same with her.  I know, I know, many will say that comes with the years, but if you look at my whole profile, I am sure the Sherlocks out there will figure out what I mean when I say she has failed to take care of my marital needs for a long long time.  I think the flirting fills that niche.

However, as much as the flirting helps the old libido, I am like an old dog who chases cars.  The eternal question is:  What would the dog do if he ever caught one?  I am sure everyone has seen the answer on the streets and highways of this land--road kill.

Well here's to banana bread, flirtatiousness, and trying to stay off the road.  Have a great day everyone, message if the mood strikes you.

Chuck

  Just a short entry tonight.  It is Friday, I deserve a good 8 hours of sleep.

I was reviewing the pictures I have posted.  It is very neat that the system keeps track of not only the comments that people make about your pictures or videos or journals, but, the system also keeps track of the number of times a picture is just looked at.

I have 12 pictures right now on my site.  I add ones as I find interesting subjects to put out there.  I find it very interesting that the one that has the most views it the one of my double yoker egg, AFTER it was cooked.  It is just a normal 100% all American breakfast.  it looks like 2 eggs over easy (but aha, it is just one) and some hashbrowns and sausage.  I just find that very amusing, that more people will look at my breakfast than me.  LMAO

Anyway, I hope that the people who do look enjoy the view.  Perhaps, due to cholesterol or weight problems, they no longer see breakfasts like that, and they long for it.  That is just as plausible a theory as any.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Hey, if you do look, take a minute leave me a comment.  Add me to your friend list.  If you look at my picture, wouldn't you say I'm a friendly guy?  At least I eat a hearty breakfast.

Chuck

  I don't know if I can put a picture into a journal.  If I can't you will just have to go to my pictures to see what I am talking about. 

I harvested my first zuchinnis of the season!  Yes, I am now officially a farmer this year.  Oh I have had gardens in the past, but as of late, I just got too lazy.  This year, while at an Ace Hardware Store, I saw a zuchinni, a pepper, a tomato, a watermelon and a cherry tomato just sitting there.  The all called my name, so I succumbed to temptation and bought them and planted them.

Well the fruits of my hard labor are in.  We had fresh zuchinni last night for dinner.  I have to admit, it was really good too.  Harvested and cooked within an hour.

I am up to midnight downloading the silly pictures and writing this journal just so I can share this pleasure with you.  I have to remember that I can sleep for the rest of my life, but for now, just stay up a bit.

I also had 4 beers tonight after work!  My supervisor (who got the supervisor job when I should have gotten it, but that's another story) left today and went into the Peace Corp.  I wish him luck, but scratch my head at why he wants to do something like that.

I'll stick to my farm and my 2 boys and call it good.

Don't forget to go to my pictures to see my harvest.  It's worth the drive.

  Ok, I am a little late in doing my journal for the third day.  To over use a cliche, which will have my 9th grade English teacher rolling over in her grave, sue me.  I was tired last  night.

Anyhow, I am back on top of my game, ready to roll. (OMG, that's a George Bushism, I have got to find a new source of trite cliches.)

My day yesterday was uneventful.  Now there's an overstatement.  I have been coming home from lunch every day and tending to my 14 year old.  If you peruse my pictures, he is the shorter one of the 3 of us (if you can call 6'2" short.)

He banged up his knee several times this summer at his camp he'd been going to.  You know, things like sliding into home plate, majorly scraping it on a rope cable at a rope course we have in McCall, Idaho, and then getting it whacked with a tennis ball.  One of those three things caused his knee to get infected.  It is a staph (I need to look up that spelling) infection, and one of the type that is resistant to antibiotics.  Of course the doctors are treating it with antibiotics (what else can they do?) and we are keeping it cleaned and drained and elevated.  I think it is getting better, but people do get concerned whenever they learn it is a staph (looked it up, that is the correct spelling) infection.  I guess you could say, staph happens!  Deal with it.  And dealing with it we are, as best we can.

My boys and I are still planning to take weekend after next off and go see the Blue Angels do an airshow in Twin Falls, Idaho.  Seems like a strange place to do an airshow, but at least it is wide open air and land wise.  it will be hotter than blazes.  If you have never been to Idaho, feel free to visit, and go to Twin Falls Idaho.  It is where Shoshone Falls is located, which is a higher waterfall than Niagra.  You will notice that it is in the middle of a huge desert, and some terrible lava flows.  It truly is a wonder that the pioneers on the Oregon Trail were able to get through there.  Did you know that the travelers on the Trail were unable to get water from the Snake River in some places due to the canyon walls being too steep and high?  It would be terrible to be traveling through that section of Idaho in the summer, and look down on that river and see all that water, and be unable to get to a drop of it.  You have to come see to appreciate it.

Well, for not having a subject, I have blathered on long enough.  If I can get one more reader, my percentages will go up again!  (Now there is a non-statement if I ever heard one.  I should go into politics.)  I appreciate the comments and hope that today is a great day.

  What a high!  Today I received several messages that people had actually read my first journal.  This means.......Yes it's true........I am finally published.  I have arrived,  OH yeah, OH yeah, Uh Huh, Uh Huh.  Ok celebration is over, time to move on to.........

DAY TWO

Today was Monday, and at my job that can mean nothing less than a whole lot of work.  The phone doesn't stop and neither do the customers.  When you work in unemployment insurance you can please no one, and piss everyone off. 

I did realize that it was an old friend/lovers birthday today.  I had planned on sending her a card for weeks, but just never got around to it.  I had to go to the store tonight, so I grabbed a funny card (One with a picture of George Bush on it.  Inside it said:  No party is complete without a clown.  I thought it was very funny.) and I took it to her house to hand deliver it.

Well, she wasn't home.  However I was so surprised to see her house.  The yard was so run down, and the bushes so overgrown.  I need to talk to her and see if she is ok.  I think it is a sign of depression, or not being able to take care of things around the house.  I hope it is the latter.

I do hope that my audience of two does continue to enjoy my journalistic journaling.  Spread the news, if I get one more person to read these, I will have increased my readership 50% in one day!  I'd like to see some of the major newspapers have that happen.

Enough for now.  Have to see what else I can find on this bottomless pit we know as the INTERNET.

Chuck