Tea, Airplanes and the Outback...

Another fine day in Eugene. Michael went to a men's breakfast study. I took the younger three to the pool     and soaked up some vitamin  D while I read the newspaper.

The girls, Sherri (Sister in law), Mom G and Mom T enjoyed a tea party at Mom T's. 

We all picked our favorite tea cup to use

My favorite which I didn't select as I figured it would be near impossible with the handle

Bad photo - but the only group photo I took 

Michael took the boys on a super secret surprise.....an airplane ride. 

We've had LOTS of plane rides recently so what made this special? Well - it IS a small plane....

and Michael piloted the plane. Michael attended the flight program at a college in this town...the boys had a blast....and Michael did too. The timing was right. 

I think there are a couple of girls who would like a redo on this tea/airplane choice...they want to have their tea and plane too. ::snort:: Another plane trip may be in the near future. 

Michael, myself, Arielle, Nolan, Zander and Stacia met Bre, Mom G and Rebecca for dinner tonight.  Then Arielle, Zander and Nolan went with Pastor Bre to work on a VBS banner. 

We brought Stacia home hoping to find a nice kids' movie for her to watch - you'd think as they have cable...NOPE nothing suitable for a child. She fell asleep. She hurt her toe this afternoon - I believe she'll lose the toe nail - it's loose and so she's a bit worn out. She hates, and is terrified of, blood. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Eugene on Tuesday

What is wrong with the above photo? No Internet in the room - yes I DID tell them on Saturday.  We had to decide today if we were going to spend eight more nights here or move to the award-winning hotel I love across the highway. ::snort:: Michael doesn't complain about hotels; but said he was ready to move. We decided to try to talk to the front desk. We really wanted a room with Internet, one without a moldy shower curtain...and I was so embarrassed but told her one room smelled like cat urine and the other like wet dog. I told her we were trying to decide if we should stay or check out. Turns out we were on the PET FLOOR. It was NOT our imagination. She offered us keys to four rooms to check out on another floor. We found two, side by side....two chairs in each room, microwave in each room....AND they smell fresh....no mold or pet odors, Internet in the room.  We stayed - it IS almost 50% less than the other hotel. (We don't NEED a hot tub and I can do laundry elsewhere).   As we left the hotel the front desk told me  an access point for Internet has been out and there was NO Internet - just like we'd been saying. ::snort:: 

We headed to Marie Calenders to have lunch with Mom G and Mom and Dad T. Turns out our messages weren't reaching each other and Mom G had a dental appointment over lunch.  I have committed to finding a recipe for Michael's favorite at Marie Calenders - Artichoke Mushroom Chicken

We were SO close to Valley River Center.....Krista suggested she take Arielle and I over. Michael and the other kids went to Rebecca's to see if they could catch up with Mom G. 

We only stopped in a few stores but Arielle found a pair of shorts and I found a couple of summer shirts. I plan to take the kids shopping at Target before we come home. 

We caught up with the rest of the family and enjoyed a nice visit with Mom G. 

We then zipped over to the cheap theater and met Bre (done with work) and Mom T. We watched Pirates Band of Misfits - in 3D. 

Krista has picked up eight more hours a week of teaching English to Koreans. She had a job interview this a.m. and was notified this afternoon she was hired to be a new librarian at New Hope Christian College.  She headed home to sleep - those English classes are at strange times due to the time differences. LOL 

We swung by the deli and took dinner to Mom and Dad T's to enjoy. Dad had been tantalizing us with tales of watermelon. 

There was also ice cream for those who like that better. We enjoyed another visit with Mom and Dad T and Bre....good times. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Experiencing Eugene - Monday

OK  - seriously - other than observe the life patterns of hotel goers - what DID we do yesterday? 


Michael and I took care of a lot of loose ends: 

• Tricare
• Medical appointment made
• Tickets changed to fly next Wed (will be moved up or back depending on appointment).
• RV storage paid for a year
• Trailer visited
• Sprint - revisited - hopeless; just hopeless. Yes, we've even called the headquarters...now we're resigned AND writing the Better Business Bureau.

Krista joined us for lunch and introduced us to "Burrito Boy," a Eugene original. This local chain began as a street vendor. 

We were all filled...and price is great. 

Krista took Nolan, Stacia and Zander - along with Taleena- to experience Eugene. They slid down the "Giant O"....

Played in the fountain, romped around....Mom and Dad T and Michael and I joined them after we'd run our separate errands. 

Beautiful Views

Will (my brother) and I used to play on this whale over 45 years ago! LOL  

Shelton-McMurphy-Johnson House built in 1888 - now a museum 

And look what I found when searching online for photos..a connection 

The Cogswell-Miller house was built by Cogswell in 1884 for his daughter DeEtta. 

Actually, Eugene Skinner (namesake of Park and City) is a relative of some sort....sort of fun to visit and think about legacy.  I wonder what he'd think of the unique flavor of Eugene these days. LOL 

The kids had a blast. We returned to Sprint to continue our discussion about Krista's phone....what a run-around. 

We came back to the hotel to swim in the outdoor pool - really refreshing.... Bre joined us for dinner at Applebees and we headed to Eugene to see if we could catch Mom G - couldn't.  We spent a bit of time with Bre at her apartment and headed home. 

Choosing Joy!

©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Random Hotel Breakfast Thoughts

Just a few hotel breakfast observations: 

• Early to breakfast is your best bet to avoid being run over by rude travelers eager to get on the road. 
• A Bible and Journal terrify most eager travelers....hallways, poolsides also work to snatch a private quiet moment or two with Jesus. 
• Ladies - really - I mean this kindly...but before you drape a wrap around around you body and come to breakfast....bend, sit, twist and move...do you really want to share that much of your flesh with bleary travelers? 
• Drink only from your OWN Camelback - you really have NO idea how many ungloved hands have handled those cups....and don't even speculate about the plastic silverware....
• Beware the scrambled eggs...at many-if not most.....hotel breakfast bars they are something definitely OTHER than eggs. 
• Yes, I'd love to share my table...oh you mean you want me to shut my computer, pick up my plate and eat standing in the corner so your family can have this table........

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Mommy Stories

A few mommy stories I've been collecting: 

Sitting in the hot tub with Stacia and BreAnne days after Dad G's burial. 
Stacia: I think I'll have 20 kids. 

Bre: Really? Wow, why? 

Stacia: I don't want the family name to die out. 
Maybe I'll just have 5.

Bre: Oh.

Stacia: No 5 would be lame.  I could have one. That happens you know.

Bre: Yes, it does.

Stacia: I'll have one or ten!


Heard in the girl's hotel room somewhere in Idaho
Stacia: Mom, would you tell Arielle to quit with the swirlies? 

Mom: WHAT?

Staica: She's leaving the toilet wet.

Mom: Um..... Bre jumps in with the info that the towels are right over the toilet so when we wash our hands and go to dry them we are sprinkling water on the toilet.  That seems to settle it, until....

Stacia: No, Arielle  came out of the bathroom crying because she gave herself a swirly.

Hilarious discussion ensued between four girls as I laughed.

Stacia: Arielle, you ACCIDENTALLY gave yourself a swirly.

Arielle: I could NOT accidentally put my face in the toilet.

Stacia: Quite emphatically and seriously, "You came out of the bathroom and you stunk!"  ::snort::

Shopping in Target - retold by Bre
 Nolan (13yr old bro) and Stacia (6yr old sis):

Stacia: Oh! This would be perfect! Isn't it cute?! (spoken repeatedly about everything she lays her eyes on)

Nolan: Now that we have established that everything in the store is cute....

Stacia: continued exclamations regarding the perfection/cuteness of stuff.

Nolan: Guys don't look for cute stuff when they are shopping. They only look for material they can use to destroy the world.

Stacia: affirming the truth of his statement;P


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Back in OR

Everyone is exhausted after day 3 of travel - Michael more than the rest of us I'm sure - but I'm drained too.  It can be awfully tiring sitting and watching scenery wiz past. ::snort:: 

Not my favorite retirement option

Ah, Oregon....

This was a great place to stop when Stacia got car sick

We arrived, got the girls settled back at their apartment, met my folks for dinner and are now back at the hotel. We look forward to sleeping in tomorrow and not hitting the road at 0630. 

Another highlight of the day was talking to Mom G. We didn't see her much in CO but she is having a great time in Denver.  It was great to hear the lilt in her voice as she talked about art fairs, lake concerts and going south to visit with Earl Jr and Mary.  She'll fly back home on Monday evening. 

As we don't know how long we may be footing hotel bills, I didn't book us into our regular hotel here in Springfield. I LOVE the people at that hotel.....so here we are....much cheaper....but much older, right by the highway, outdoor pool, no fitness center or hot tub....and internet that only works sitting at the business center and not in the rest of the hotel.  I'm going to look into choice points we've earned on the rest of the trip if we don't end up leaving....because this girl NEEDS a fitness center and a comfy bed....with fluffy pillows.... ::snort:: The good points are price, we're near the hospital, the police are right outside our door and we have a clear shot to the road which leads to my parents. LOL 

Sorry, I'm so whiny tonight. I've been traveling since June 10th and I'm plain ole tired.....I'm sure I'll think life is grand in the a.m. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

OLD FRIENDSHIPS

First - the frustration. We've spent UNTOLD hours dealing with cardiac drama while home for a FUNERAL. The doc's comments have ranged from, "Not a problem, the local center gets these wrong all the time," to "you need to be seen before you return to Japan."  SHE must initiate the process with a referral. Typically, she puts in a referral, the local tricare office selects a doc and there you go. Evidently, they cannot google for stateside cardiologists - so we did. ..all on PERSONAL LEAVE TIME as she has deemed Michael will not need further treatment....o.k. we were working with it. We found a doc. They had an appt for Michael on Monday - we'd fly the next day....but when we went to make the appointment the referral we were told had been submitted is not in the system. The soonest appointment is now next Friday and without a referral there are no guarantees he'll get the appointment. 


(July 7th a.m.) OK caught in mid-rant and I'll delete the rest....seems a saint of a COL called all together in one room to talk this out. They ARE amending Michael's orders and he will stay in the states until he can have an appointment. Because COMMON MEDICAL SENSE says you do NOT look at results from a cardiologist and respond, "They get it wrong, I'm sure he doesn't need treatment!"  I pray they DID get it wrong....but good grief....The kids and I are supposed to fly back as planned. We are checking to see if we can change our tickets and fly back with him when he cleared to do so.  Please pray that the kids and I can amend our flight plans. Common sense says he'll not have a procedure done but I'm going to be really upset if we touch down and here two days later he's having a surgery and I need to figure out how to get us all back to the states. LOL 

Long travel day but a great end to it....good friends, good food, good visits...and a big "campfire with smores" in the backyard. How we miss our friends. Being with Ryu and Kim makes Japan feel closer!

Kim, Beth and I

Jordan, Michael, Don and Ryu

Jun and Stacia

Bre, Arielle, Sara, Jon and Krista

GIANT pizzas!

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...