Goodbye June...Hello HOTTER weather...

Victor has a nasty cold, so I got off work an hour early to go pick-up Charlie from my mom's place. We got home long enough to decide that Victor was just too tired to have us around, so we headed to the Tuesday Farmers Market! The weather was perfect, 80 degrees...kids running around like maniacs in the fountain, blue berries a plenty (Charlie and I ate an entire pint by ourselves) and a fun art project for Charlie (flag, with newspaper as the pole--cool beans)...we even got to watch a group of belly dancers perform...good times...hard to believe that this year is 1/2 over in just over 5 hours!

Keeping it Real for Doreen...

My Relay/Bloggin' buddy Doreen in Washington is a fighter! She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in April of '06 (she has NEVER smoked a day in her life) and she's still fighting the fight! You should also know (if you don't already read her blog), that her hubby Rick was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in Dec'06 -- talk about the worst possible one-two punch!

When I read her blog today, blogged by one of her twin daughters Amy, I was again reminded of what an amazing family Doreen & Rick have and they've raised 3 amazing kids! The title of Amy's blog update was "Being Real" and she pretty much spelled out what most of us knowing what chemo treatments are like, it's just plain horrible! Knowing their story isn't just about the good times, but also the "real" times!

If you don't normally read Doreen's blog, I encourage you to do so...she's proof that living each day with meaning/purpose and truly appreciating all the time you have here on earth (along with having a sense of humor) really is the best medicine....because you just don't know what the future will bring. http://cancersurvivor2006.blogspot.com/

I'm gonna start a thinking of you card campaign, I did something similar when a co-worker was going thru the recovery of having a brain tumor removed...snail mail can't cure cancer, but it can bring a smile to your face! Besides birthdays or Christmas, when was the last time you sent a card, just bee-cuz?

If you would like Doreen's snail mail address to send her a card, just shoot me a note, wouldn't it be great to send her & Rick a ton of "Thinking of you" cards in the mail??

Dreaming Big for Dor & Rick! ;-)

Happy Sunday...

Victor, Charlie and I went to the Lake Oswego Arts Festival this morning. We were only there a couple of hours, looked at lots of great artwork, watched a couple youth dance groups perform and the highlight for Charlie was riding in the small shuttle bus to and from where we parked.

We came home, veggied out and Victor & Charlie are down at the park right now, while I vacuumed and started laundry...it was a really GOOD weekend! ;-)

The pud is toast....

This is how she still looks, an hour after I took this photo...we went up to mom/dad's for an impromptu BBQ and to return the Yukon (thanks for letting us borrow it you guys)! We also had to go pick-up the pud.

She was a really good girl last night, went to bed when Nana did (by 9m) but then decided that 5:45am was a good time to get up, since the sun was up (she slept in until 9:15am on Friday)...Anyway, the getting up early, running around for a couple of hours with Matthew & Maddie at the garage sale and then spill an entire water bucket of water on herself (accidentally) must have worn her out...she fell asleep at mom/dad's on the chair around 6pm...got ugly when we went to move her into our car, but she had no issues when Victor put her to bed...we both hope she stays ZONKED OUT until at least 8-9am tomorrow!

Beaverton's RFL Rummage Sale...

What a great day for a Relay For Life Rummage Sale...We came, we saw, we sold a LOT of stuff! All the proceeds from today's event went to our Relay For Life of Beaverton! We had nine teams that set-up shop and sold, sold, sold until they dropped!

The weather was a little warm, but there was a nice breeze and compared to what the weather was like in '08, it was perfect!

Our Wee Bees for a Cure Team raised over $350...can't wait to hear how all our teams did! To my Wee Bees team members Victor, Rosemary, Bev & Gayle...THANK YOU for all your help today! Also a big thanks to my parents who babysat Charlie for us last night & today and brought us FOOD to eat at lunch! ;-) Thanks also to all those who donated items to the WeeBees....Bev, Gayle, The Turpins, Bonnie, Gloria, Patricia, my folks and our nearly organized garage which is a lot less crowded now!!

Thanks to the great folks at Pacific Oncology for making this happen (special shout out to Jeanie & Tami).

Another big thanks to Sonya for putting together our flyer and the RFL event flyer information we were able to hand out to folks at the sale.

Thanks to all the teams that were able to participate...we had a great time and made $$ for Relay in the process...it's a good thing!

Baby skunks and tractor, OH MY!!!

So my parents have had a little (literally little) skunk problem as of late....4-5 of the little guys and NO mama in sight! Dad helped relocate them and I had asked him to take a photo...here's what he sent me, along with a funny note:

The garden hose nozzle gives you perspective of size...it would fit in your palm. BTW, they do have some basic self protection instinct and can and did try to spray me, the ungrateful little squirt!

The other picture is of the tractor and might be more representative - less glare than the one you posted.

Thanks Dad for the photos! Happy Friday everyone!

Goodbye to three icons...

WOW--what a bizarre week in the world of entertainment. The passing of three icons...

First Ed McMahon on Tuesday, then Farrah Fawcett early this morning, THEN Michael Jackson's passing hit the internet waves later this afternoon. My dad actually called me at work to tell me about MJ's passing. Back in the 80's I was quite the fan. I'm still a fan of his music, just wish his personal life hadn't taken such bizarre twists and turns over the past 15+ years.

I was lucky enough to attend one of the Jacksons' Victory Tour concerts in Kansas City on July 8, 1984. That is a day I will NEVER forget! I remember thinking, WHY would this tour begin in Kansas City of all places? I just happened to be going to Kansas City on my way back from a KEY Club convention in Dallas and thinking, wouldn't it be cool if I could go...totally DREAMING and knowing it would never happen....funny thing, my Aunt Jan & Uncle Dennis (hi guys--I know you read this daily) were lucky enough to score 4 tickets (tickets that they had to get put into a lottery for, it was an interesting purchasing experience...no internet back then, those were the days that people normally camped out for tickets, but they didn't even have to do that)...imagine my surprise to find out I was going!!!

We had row 13 center on the floor at Arrowhead Stadium...Awesome doesn't really begin to describe that concert experience. I was 15 years old -- it was AMAZING! Cameras were strictly prohibited, I remember metal detectors and of course no cellphones back in those days! Didn't even take my camera to the stadium to get photos outside, but I was there! I also remember thinking it was really strange that Thriller was NOT performed???

I still have the ticket stub, need to find that scrapbook...ironically I just recently recycled a ton of old memorabilia from the 80's..including two magazines (Time & People July '84) with MJ on the cover from the Victory Tour...bummer! (Victor had rolled his eyes at my keeping them for 24+ years...so I knew it was time to LET GO)....

Rest in peace Michael, Farrah & Ed...you three are true icons and will be missed!

Relay For Life - Beaverton Multiple-Team Yard Sale

Stop by Saturday between 9am - 3pm to buy some great deals and support a great cause -- the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life!

Houston, we have a problem...

Things are not pretty up in riding lawnmower land at my parent's house! This is what 2 days of Sears repair guys working on one of dad's riding lawn mowers looks like...At this point even the repair guys said that Sears should just replace it with a new one...it would cost Sears less...oh such fun!

On a separate note...Victor & I had a fun time tonight at the Forest Grove Wednesday Market...saw Bonnie & Family along with Karen & family and then spent time helping support the Forest Grove Relayers at their Winetasting for a Cure FUNdraiser at the Urban Decanter. Sampled four fun wines and Victor had a wonderful dessert.

Today...

Saw this yesterday on Cathy Z's blog and thought, what the heck, I'll do it too!

Outside my window... it's just starting to get light outside!

I am thinking... how loud the birdies outside are even @4:15am...

I am thankful for... my family and wonderful friends!

From the kitchen... I wasn't home for dinner last night, but tonight I will be!

I am wearing... jeans and a polo shirt, ready for work already!

I am creating... more knitted dish clothes that I will soon put on my blog for a Relay FUNdraiser!

I am going... to have a better day at work today and looking forward to attending the Winetasting FUNdraiser tonight in FG with Victor!

I am reading... unfortunately nothing right now, but I have 3 great books to take to Sisters in a couple of weeks!

I am hoping... that something turns up soon job-wise for Victor! ;-)

I am hearing... those birds, they are still chirping and it's making me SMILE!

Around the house... things are starting to get put away where they belong (Victor's stuff is already where it belongs)...

One of my favorite things... checking on my kiddo and watching her sleep first thing in the morning...

A few plans for the rest of the week... two more days of work, winetasting tonight, then some FUN times at our Beaverton All-Teams Relay For Life Rummage/parking lot sale at Pacific Oncology on Saturday!

A photo from Charlie & Victor's trip to the zoo yesterday...maybe I'll slip a quick trip to the zoo in on Friday morning too!

Monet al la Charlotte...

Fun times tonight at the house...Charlotte got to paint on a new canvas and I got a really cool painting when I got home tonight! Victor took photos of the masterpiece in the making!

I really do think it looks kinda "Monet-ish"...

Relay For Life Fused Glass FUNdraiser...

Mary V. and I made the trek over to Vancouver late this afternoon and spent a couple hours at a really FUN fused glass FUNdraiser that Marilyn had put together.

Check out Ruth's website, she's got some AMAZING artwork on it for you to look at. As soon as I get my two masterpiece tiles (6"x6") back this weekend, I'll post photos of what we made.

I'm hoping to keep one of the fused tiles and use the other piece as a FUNdraiser at our Beaverton Relay Silent Auction on August 1st.

Winetasting for a Cure...

Lots of great FUNdraising events happening this week and the coming weeks....

Forest Grove Relay For Life FUNdraiser...Winetasting for a Cure

Join us during the Farmer's Market at Urban Decanter on Wednesday,
June 24th from 4-9pm and Winetaste for a Cure!

Sample a great wine selection for $10 and feel good doing it, knowing that your proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Forest Grove.

Happy Fathers Day 2009...

Had a nice lunch with my folks this afternoon...Here are Victor, Charlie & Papa.

Happy Fathers Day to all you great fathers out there!

Why I smiled today...my kiddo running through Bugatti's restaurant announcing to everyone that she "went pee-pee in the potty"...thankfully the place was pretty slow today and only the wait staff heard her (we think)...

Big Philly Rocks!!!

A few of us from the Beaverton RFL Committee were out at Hillsboro this morning helping them clean-up. Big Philly was back (with donuts) and stayed until the very end, including walking the final lap.

So glad we were able to see and spend a little time with BP while he was here this weekend!

Congrats to the Hillsboro Relayers, they raised over $107,000 dollars this year!

Relay For Life of Hillsboro 2009...

Once again Big Philly made the trip from Texas and this year was asked to speak during the Opening Ceremony. He did an AMAZING job!

93 Teams, over $85,000 raised SO FAR and over 110 Survivors took part in the Survivor lap and ceremony.

If you are in the Hillsboro area tonight, stop by walk a few laps, leave some $$ behind at the Silent Auction and THANK the wonderful Team Captains and Committee members that helped make this another wonderful Relay Event!

Friday @Salem's Relay For Life...

Rosemary, Charlie & I headed down to Salem on Friday to attend the beginning of their Relay! Despite the cloudy sky, there were tons of teams, on-site FUNdraising and WOW, they already had $199,000+ raised at the beginning of their event!

So glad we made the short trip down to see how our Relay friends in Salem Celebrate, Remember and FIGHT BACK!!!