Ruined by Republicans

I am angry!!!!
As I was writing out my grocery list this morning, I realized that I can't spell with confidence anymore.

I reflected for a moment on my disabilities and devined that it is a product of the education I received in the 1980's when we were lead by Ronnie and George the first.

Thinking more about it - I can definitively point to the exact moment when Republicans ruined my ability to correctly spell vegetable names.

It is so sad!! I grew up in Idaho and now forever guess myself on the CORRECT spelling of potato and tomato. (and don't get me started on plural versions)
Arrgh!!!! (cry of pain and frustration can be heard across the land)
Dan Quayle - You ruined a generation of brillant minds!!!!

Withdrawals

It seems that I am suffering severe computer related withdrawals. It is very hard to carve time in my schedule right now to get on the internet and write. I keep meaning to and remember and such great ideas, while I'm in my car or at work or at a game...but can't do anything about it until I have time at home. (My poor Facebook account is very neglected as well.) Yes, I'm developing quite a serious case of "Internet Guilt." (kind of like a mild case of Catholic guilt, but more high tech.) Big sigh!!!!


I did do a little updating with my site. Pruned some blogs (sorry Bella) that haven't been posting in a while and added a couple of my new and old faves... still can't load one of my all time favorites... O'Malley's on the Web. He's way too "techy" for me and has some funky interface that won't let me link with him. Another sigh.... You just wait O'Malley! I'll get you and your little dog too.... (evil chess cackle wafting in the background)


I promise I'll have to tell you about a few of the Summer Solistice Full Moon craziness that have shown up recently. (There was a guy who was arrested for burglary / stolen car due to his distinctive and excessive colonge and another guy who was driving backwards the wrong way on the interstate for several miles laughing himself silly all the while. - I haven't seen him yet because he refused to get dressed and wouldn't come to court.) These are both stories that need to be highlighted. Oh and the funniest story I've experienced ever in court....it revolves around industrious indignant cops, ribbed condoms, illegal drugs and non industry approved containers. :) Totally cracks me up!!! That one needs it's own entry cuz it's just too darn funny!!!

I've also been getting a lot of funny, crazy phone calls as well this week. This isn't an example of those, but will give you a flavor of the my "normal" phone calls.
I usually answer the main phone line, "Superior Court Administration. This is Alice. How may I help you?"
On Friday, I had three calls right in a row that replied to me "Hi. Is this Nancy speaking?"
"No, this is Alice. May I help you?"
After the 3rd call in less than 4 minutes, my coworker turned to me stared in amazement and shook her head. I laughed. What can you do?



In my future blogs, I also want to make sure I share my experiences at the wonderful parish mission we had this past week. I learned so much about my faith and have been filled with a lot of peace. Thanks to Father Tony Judge and Father John Kuehner and the Redemptionist Order of priests, I was pleasantly surprised attending my first Catholic "holy roller" revival. It was very uplifting and I learned that one of my childhood goals was met.... (Hurray! one more thing to check off my bucket list.)

Well, now that I've left you some teasers and me some inspiration, I think I'll turn in.

HorseTrek 2009

We pick up M tomorrow evening. She has been on a 9 day (182 mile) serious back country horse ride through the Oregon Cascade mountain range. Yesterday she was riding / following on the Old Oregon Trail. She riding a horse called "Night Shade" if I remember correctly. It is a black Appy (with white speckled butt). When we attended the midTrek BBQ on Wednesday, she regaled us with many stories. (A lot were funny and interesting, several had me realizing the liability release I signed wasn't just another simple piece of paper you are required to sign before you participate in any activity - they were serious.)

All in all. She has been having a marvelous time. She has been hanging with a lot of the more vetern trekkers including the trail boss' daughter. Scott, the trail boss, said she was "really good with horses" and would really like her to come down and ride with them this Fall and Winter. I guess they have been impressed enough with M's skills that she was the 1st year trekker to ever to be "a dragger" or some such title. In other words, she was allowed to lead a string of 3 pack horses laden with a bunch of their gear. So basically... M is in heaven. Can't think of a better time for a girl like her who loves horses and has a special knack with animals. I'll regale you with more stories later - especially about beans, buckets of creek water and mutant chipmunks.

I Topped The Rock!!!!

B, C and I "Topped the Rock to Save the Library" this morning.

A little background in case you didn't read my earlier posting....

Several years ago, the city could no longer afford to run our little library, so it has had to have an operations levy every year since then. This last year, the library levy failed to get the super majority by just 4 votes and thus failed. The library has been running on donations ever since (yes those little cans at the grocery store).

The Friends of the Library hosted a 5k Fun Run & Family Fitness Walk called "I Topped the Rock". It incorporates some of our little towns famous features such as "the rock" which is a large basalt outcropping / hill just on the edge of town and our new river walk trail that meanders by the Cowlitz River. In addition, there was music, an auction, and semi street fair set up in downtown. (Most of it was blocked off this morning.) There were 2 bands playing. One "Carl Wirkkala and the Ghost Town Riders" are friends of ours. Carl grew up in our house and we bought it from his Dad. The drummer is M's best friend's dad. They are actually pretty good and Carl has made several trips to Nashville. (He's a really good songwriter and musician.)

Anyway....

It was a pretty neat little 5k fun run. It starts out in front of the library, goes on some city streets for about 6 blocks, then accesses the river dike path north of town. We went south along the trail until we reached "Castle Rock" at the south end of the town. We hiked up the steep hill trail until we reached the top and received our commemorative bracelets. Then down a different trail to the end of the south part of the path in Lion's Park. Then we turned around, went up the path until we hit Front street and walked along it (past the middle school) back to the library. It was a really fun time. Barbara ran it in about 31 minutes. Chris and I took our time and were 59 and 62 minutes respectively. I think the Rock really slowed down the times. There was a short 1 mile course which our friend accidently ran then went and redid the 5k so she really got in her excericise for the day. I liked that Top the Rock fun run had prizes for youngest to complete the course (5 years) and oldest (86 years). There were several 6 and 7 year olds and 77 year old runner and another 85 year old walker. That was just awesome to get that range of participants!!!

Since this was a fundraiser to save the local library there was a Storybook Theme Contest. We dressed up as our favorite story character, but didn't win any prizes. (The group of teachers dressed up as "Mother Goose and the Rhymes" and the little girl dressed as "Laura Ingalls" in her full length calico dress and bonnet took the top prizes. They were awesome!!) B was the accident prone Bella (from Twilight). C was "Billy" and Amber was "Little Ann" from Where the Red Fern Grows. (his choice - and favorite book) Our friend was the one of the fisherman from A River Runs Through It. I was Ferdinand the Bull and kept smelling the lovely flowers I had brought with me. (The local paper and internet media "guy" took pictures of us in our costumes.) I guess there's a Utube spot for it.

It was also announced that B won one of the coloring contests to help promote saving the library and got a free icecream cone at one of the local cafes. We all admired her pretty artwork which was hung up on the window outside the icecream shop.

There was a lot of fun music, food, and the Army had their rock wall there for the kids to climb. Good times all around!!!

Come Top the Rock

This Saturday is the 5k fun run/walk to save the Castle Rock Library. Several years ago the city couldn't afford to run the library any more so they had to authorize an operations levy every year to fund the library. (Last year, it failed to get the super majority vote by 7 votes.) The library has been running on donations (yes those little cans at the grocery store) since it ran out of money in February. This Saturday, the Friends of the Library are hosting a 5k Fun Run & Family Fitness Walk, called "I Topped the Rock". It starts at 10am Saturday (6/20) It will start at the Library and following the Riverfront Trail to the top of Castle Rock to get your commemorative wristband and then ending back in downtown for free food, music and awards. There is a Storybook Theme... Everybody is encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook character - with prizes being awarded to the best dressed in several age categories. There will also be live music from the Carl Wirkkala band (grew up in our house) and M's best friend's dad is the drummer. (They are actually quite good and Carl has been going to Nashville quite a bit in last couple years.) There is also a silent auction which includes a guided fishing trip for 4 on the Columbia River and a tandem skydiving trip - just to name a few prizes. The entry fees are $10 individual / $25 for family of 4. (2 adults / 2 kids) Check & money orders made payable to Friends of the Library - ITTR and sent to P.O. Box 638, Castle Rock WA 98611 or dropped off at Lacey Rah's Cafe OR.... The online registeration is powered by active.com go to: www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1740376 For more info email is itoppedtherock@gmail.com or www.myspace.com/itoppedtherock WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING THIS, SO HOPEFULLY ANYONE ELSE WHO IS AVAILALBLE CAN GET OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH US - AND HELP A GREAT CAUSE

Rocking Around The Rock

This is the "poodle skirt" featured in a previous post. B looked so cute in it as she was bee-bopping around the gym to Rock Around the Clock. Theye did a great job. You should have heard the sax and electric guitar solos. Both choirs did an amazing job. B was one of the top performers again. (I hope enough kids signed up so that there will be a Middle School Choir next year, but I think there are too many other choices that it won't happen.) I guess if they don't have choir, she will do journalism. Which is a perfect pick for her. B would be fabulous helping create the school newspaper and annual since she loves to write and is a great photographer.

Cricket The Wonder Dog

During our recent trip to the beach for my birthday we discovered that Cricket, our labmix, LOVES to skim board. She was so excited that if you didn't let her have a turn she would block your throw until she got a ride. She got pretty good about being able to jump on and ride it.. Cricket's excitement and sheer joy was so fun.

Not bad for a 9 year old dog learning a new trick.