Hello from the damp/cold of the Seattle area!

Sorry we've taken so long to post, Rick isn't typing well due to his hand, and is always on the computer playing games!!!

Okay, for those who need to know, Rick fell in Portland and mashed up his left hand pretty bad (see previous post). The real story is he and our son, Ken, were badmouthing each other as men do and Ken challenged "You'll have to catch me first old man!" Needless to say the race was on. Ken zig and Rick zag and fell headfirst into the concrete curb outside of a marvelous pizza joint! Kim and I both thought he had hit his head, but thankfully he didn't (of course the concrete wasn't in great shape after Rick's hard head hitting it!) but apparently caught himself with his hand and left side.

The hand is doing great, slowly healing, but healing and he is using it a good bit.

We went to Ken/Kim's house the next day and had a great dinner of ribs and played cards (Yes, Jerry, we taught them Polish Poker!) and had a great visit with them.

Later that evening we even got Dylan (16 year old) to come play with us.













Dylan, Kim and Ken Gill


All in all, we had a great time visiting with family, went home tired, but full and rested, ready for our next day of travel to the Seattle area.





Travel to Seattle was wet and Pam had to drive as Rick's hand was still in the splint. No problems, but some beautiful snow on Tiger Summit neas Sammamish (Hwy 18 to I 90).


We got settled into Tall Chief WHR at Fall City and proceeded to have a couple of adult beverages!!





We decided to take a day trip to the Olympic Peninsula to visit friends there, so took a ferry over and back, relieving old times in the Great Puget Sound area, however, there have been a few changed since 9-11-01 Yes, that's a Coast Guard boat with a 50 Caliber Machine gun on front. One on each side of the ferry escorted us out a good distance from the ferry terminal.







Salmon Pens - yes this is one of the places where they grow those "farm-raised, color-add Atlantic Salmon" you can buy in the stores.


There were seabirds and seals all over the place waiting for that delicious escapee!!








Rick fell right back into the Ferry habit! When we first moved to the Seattle area, we lived in Bremerton and he took the ferry every day to work at Microsoft, twice a day!!







Once we got into Bremerton, we drove through beautiful country to Shelton, WA


Christi Hall, with Rea (4 yrs) and Roz (14 yrs) holding one of her great Savannah kittens. We bought our first Bengal from Christi and have remained good friends. (Joey, husband, was at work)


Hugs and great to see you Christi!!





Then on the road again to Port Orchard, WA

Dan and Leanne Landon, had a great dinner in their new home and relived alot of old times working at the Bremerton Shipyard (computers of course) when we first moved up to Seattle.




Dan, Leanne, thanks again for a great dinner and all the GREAT wine tasting!!




We caught the ferry back to Seattle, and again, arrived home tired but rested and glad to of seen faraway friends again!


The next couple of evenings were also spent visiting friends. Fall City is on the other side of the Carnation Valley from Monroe and of course several of our friends are in Monroe!! We also met others for lunch!



We met some old buddies at lunch one day!


Rick, Steve Goan, Jim Meredith


They all worked together at the Big M, Steve and Jim are still there in one capacity or another. Jim is the first Test Lead that Rick worked for at the Big M.


Great seeing you again Jim and enjoy your soon to come 4th retirement!





Steve and Cam Goan and the Himis (chihuahuas) ChiChi, Turk, and Jessie



We have stayed with Steve/Cam several times when we had to come for doctor visits for Rick, including 10 day in 2006 when he had the unexpected bypass! Cam drove down with Pam to Mount Shasta (9 hrs) to load and bring back the 5th wheel and cats! (11 hours back)


Thank you Steve and Cam for all the support you've provided for us over the years!




Mike Pozlusny (Poz) (hope I spelled that right) Rick hired Mike into the Big M many years ago and yes, he's still there also!!! Mike comes over to the rig regularly to visit and have dinner, work on the computer as needed, and just hang out!! If you've met him, you know what type of character he is!!!!

Hugs to you Mike!!!!













and Last but not Least, Pam has managed to get some beading done over the last couple of weeks, with help of course! (taken in Fallon, notice the sunshine!)



edited 4-18-2008