Respecting the flag

I had a great time in Tacoma with good friends, good food, good cowboys and great bulls. I got to see more work of a great glass artist that I really enjoy (Dale Chihuly), stopped at the Port of Kalama (which I always see but never stop at) to take pictures, and actually relaxed for a bit. I have a bunch of video and pictures to go through, but this one stands out. I snuck this picture during the singing of the national anthem.

Three young, well behaved, cute little boys, with their dads, sat in front of us. Someone raised them right. All three stood during the anthem, paid attention, and showed respect (which I guess is more than can be said for me since I was taking pictures).

The bullriders at the event were not just Americans. Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Australia were also represented. The foreign cowboys stood during the national anthem, which at least 2 of them would need translated to understand the words since they had a translator with them.

If these three boys and non-American cowboys know how to the respect the flag, why can't professional athletes?

US Border Patrol at the PBR

The US Border Patrol was at the PBR on Sunday (which makes sense since a quick Google search says the two made an alliance in 2008). I stopped at the Border Patrol booth on the concourse to say thank you for the job they do, and to hopefully get one of the challenge coins they were handing out. Watching the crowd give them a standing ovation was something to see.

That was before we learned they lost one of their own on February 2nd. Her family was honored Sunday, by not only the PBR but also the Border Patrol, and the fans in the Tacoma Dome.

Border Patrol Donna Doss honored

Veterans Day 2018

I wish I was the person who could walk up to a Veteran and say 'Thank you for your service' but I'm not that comfortable, so I do these things.  Maybe you can too.

Buy them a cup of coffee.  

Support those that support them:  
Fisher House
Close to home for me:  Northwest Battle Buddies

A special veteran for me:  Tommy

Cruise Animals

One of the things to look forward to on a cruise are the towel animals you get each night. I'm pretty sure we got a lobster, bear (dog), manatee, and the last night was an elephant.

The cruise that mom and dad booked for us included gratuities, however we all agreed our cabin stewards deserved something more. They did an awesome job taking care of us. So we did something more for them. Mom and Dad's cabin had already been done for the night and they were working on ours (we were side by side). We cleared out Keno (one of our cabin stewards was terrified of dogs and once we realize it we tried to be conscious of it as much as we could. Keno is a family fixture so we messed up sometimes when he was in the other cabin), and Mom and Dad came over to give them something extra. Then I did the same for Nichole and I. And then we all cleared out.....


Nichole and I got an elephant    Our room stewards were Indonesian, and in their culture an elephant is good luck. It's the only one that didn't follow the sea/Alaska creature theme.

Handa and Hakim on Holland America ms Amsterdam are amazing! They asked at the beginning how to address Nichole and I, and I said by our first names. And they did. They would see us in the hallway at any time and know us by name. They would say good morning or welcome us home in the afternoon and ask how things went.

I asked one if I could asked where he was from, which he answered Indonesian and immediately asked where I was from. That's always a trick question for me. Most people only hear Vancouver and then think Canada. Explaining Vancouver, WA to someone who speaks English as a second language is fun.....but it really was fun this time.

Keno

I went on my first cruise last week, and I have more post/pictures to follow.  But one thing to note:  I was traveling with my family, which included my sister and her service dog Keno.  Keno is a yellow lab who is amazing.  He's the sweetest thing ever and he loves my sister.




Keno's selfie.




The selfie outtake.



Getting a picture on the deck.



Keno and happy hour  :)



We were able to open the veranda between the two suites.    Keno couldn't quite open the stateroom door though ....  but he's ready to go!



Kudos to Holland America.  They were very accommodating to having a service dog on board.  He had is own 'litter box' at the end of our deck, with real grass.  Having two adults in the stateroom left him little space to sleep so we asked for a sheet that we covered the sofa bed with and it worked out perfectly.  He could go between our room and Mom & Dad's next door after the veranda door was opened.  The ship made a note that all four of us were family so any of us could take him off the ship in port and not have an issue, which helped in Juneau when Nichole had an excursion she couldn't take Keno on, Grandma was dog sitting and my excursion was cancelled.  Keno and I hung out a on bench while Grandma shopped in a quilt store.

Traditions

When the grandpas traveled, they tried to get pictures of each of them sleeping.  This was the best I could do to uphold the tradition.

I think I pissed off someone.  I was going to work from home this afternoon with high hopes of getting tons of catch up work done.    Xfinity has been down since at least noon here.  I had a hotspot from work so I could get a few things done.   But the only thing more painful than dong what I ad to do on a hotspot it doing it on airline WiFi. 

At least three times today I asked google to turn on lights.  Guess what?  Google couldn’t find the internet and couldn’t turn on lights.  

It would be nice if google worked on a local WiFi network. 

It would also be nice if Xfinity was up and running at some point.  I’m just glad I had movies on my iPad and my phone has unlimited streaming.  

First world problems. 😂😁😂

Stitch

I really want to be Stitch (mom's dog, or dad's if he has food) when I grow up!

Cost of Living

We need to hire our Veterans, but we also need to hire anyone who wants to work.  It's a sad fact that those who want to work, aren't always the ones we look to, or aren't the ones who get the jobs.

Luke Bryan Invites Ethan on Stage at AT&T Stadium Make-A-Wish

Mother's Day in SoCal

I spent Mother's Day weekend in Southern California
Before I left I walked and fed my favorite dog in Washington. Or rather she walked me.

Once home, I was greeted by family, including the four legged kind:

Keno

Ace

Stitch

I went for a walk each day, visiting some of my favorite Simi Valley landmarks.

Saturday was Descansco Gardens.  The last time I was there was several years ago, in August, during the drought.  It was hot and the garden resembled a desert.  This time, it was cooler, it had rained overnight and so much was in bloom.  Dad and took pictures, Mom wandered.

The rest of the trip was all about family, relaxation and food.

First up, my Mexican food fix.  At Yolandas.

Sunday was all about Mom.  Dinner was a Black Angus.  A petite fillet and green beans.

Mom and Dad shared the dessert they got.  YUM!!!!

Headed home Monday.  Stitch went to the airport to drop me off.  He's such a cutie.

I want this.

SoCal in July

I spent a week in July with family in Southern California.

First I was greeted by the other residents in the house.  Meet Ace (Border Collie) and Keno (Lab).

My sister and I played tons of Pokemon.

We went to the LA Zoo one day.  A few favorites:

We took a trip down to Hollywood and Universal City Walk, for lunch and more Pokemon hunting.  Keno came with us.  Voodoo Donut is coming to Universal. A Portland icon is coming to Universal!

We found a cool sweet shop in Universal called "It's Sugar".  They even welcomed Pokemon hunters!

A dear friend of mine from Sacramento was in Simi visiting her sister.  We managed to meet up one night.  I have to admit when Viv suggested a place in Moorpark, I was a bit leery.  What she suggested was Carrara's Pastries.  I didn't know it, but the chef was part of the current season of Food Network Star.

My cheesecake was AMAZING!!!  I can't wait to go back to try a meal.

I even got to see my favorite spot in Simi every morning on my walk.  Turns out it's now a Poke Stop.

It was a good trip, but all good things must come to an end.  Luckily, I sat on top of a Poke Stop at Burbank Airport.  Killing time was easy.

The grandpas

I found this going through photo albums with my aunt a few months ago.  My aunt wanted me to take some of the pictures, ones that had meaning.  I found one that would mean something to only me, and my sister.  My Poppa's 75th birthday party.  An image of my grandfathers, both of whom passed years ago and are missed.

It was so much fun to see old memories, the stories that go with the pictures.  With the age of digital, I think we sometimes forget the memories that pictures draw from us.

Boise

A few weeks ago I had to go to Boise for business on a Friday.  Rather than fly home late Friday night, I flew home Saturday afternoon and did a bit of sightseeing.

I made a trip to Powells for a few treats.

Saturday I stopped at the Boise Train Depot.

Big Mike was built in 1920 by the American Locomotive Co, and is on the grounds of the Depot.

I love being able to explore.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

Me and my dad taking pictures together in Tahoe.

A couple of my favorite dad photos from a few weeks ago.

My favorite dad picture.

Missed Connections

On my recent last minute road trip to South Lake Tahoe, I extended an invite to my Sacramento friends to meet up if it worked out.  I got a text from a friend, who happens to be a photographer too, that he was in the area.  A few texts exchanged.....we tried to meet up but no cell service and time constraints on my part meant it didn't happen.  BUT the spot we were going to meet, Picketts Junction, gave me a photo opportunity I hadn't planned on.

Sorry I missed you!