You and me, you and me, oh how happy we'll be

Okay, I have no idea how to edit this webpage, so I'll just start talking. This is our last weekend's hegira to the coast, including Seaside and Astoria. Of course, we had to have a sunset shot from our hotel balcony. Then there's the source of heaven's ambrosia--Josephson's Smoked Fish in Astoria where I dropped $16 for 8 oz of honey smoked salmon and another $8 for 4 oz of smoked tuna. Oh my. Oh my. The Victorian masterpiece home is the Flavell Mansion, now a museum in Astoria. We didn't go in, just marvelled at the ornamentation and the Sequoia tree planted outside. You see my smug pose with my Aaron-made custom walking stick at Cannon Beach with Haystack rock right behind me and then Carol with her Dennis-found-on-the-beach walking stick posing with Sacajewea and Jean Baptiste outside Fort Clatsop. We find it fun to enjoy the local wonders as easily as those of Hawaii and Disneyland. As long as it is "you and me" "you and me".

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea

Went to Astoria and Seaside for a long weekend and really enjoyed it. If you click on this photo you'll notice the mists that come up from the waves as they crest. Had Mom totally fascinated most of the trip. Of course, Dad had to have the historical element--here we are inspecting a recreated copy of Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805. We both liked it and had it pretty well to ourselves. Mom had to buy a hoodie and we found it in a trinket shop. Downtown Seaside has fun shops, rides and restaurants.

This is the sight early Christmas morn. David has camped in the living room with the HD screen and portable heater going, and the Christmas lights on. Yes, a high amp evening for him. But, hey, he is without his right arm here, away in Kooskia Idaho with her family. We love this kid

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Here, our boy checks out his new iPhone, which with accessories, constituted his main gift. So many cool applications, but too complicated for his dad to figure out.

At long last, love arrives, looking different yet again from any photos we have of her. She is the lovely Kymberlee Smith who, along with her sister Samantha lit up the house until their departure flight to Phoenix on New Year's Eve. The visit was so low impact, we're hoping they return often.

More Denver Video

Those of you who missed the Thanksgiving movie need to check the previous post. This time I'm showing the funny movie where it looks like someone pushes Izzy off the stage backwards. And of course one of my favorites-Grady in pursuit of invisible floor monsters/Klingons/bad guys from Star Wars!!

Denver Doings

Fast and furious was the pace, but fun and fanciful was the party. Delightful brine-prepared turkey, then turkey sandwiches, then turkey soup. Good sleepover with Izzy and Grady (notice the cookies and hot chocolate bedtime snack), to include breakfast at Hampton Inn followed by a good swim in the heated pool with the whole Parker clan, then a tree lighting ceremony featuring Izzy and her choir, then the movie "UP" on the wall with surround sound, then saturday with football games [yay BYU!!] and finally dinner at Papadeaux where we got to watch Laurel browbeat the service staff into getting us seated and comping our spinach-crab dip.

This video may be a little hard to hear. I think I may have had my finger over the built-in microphone. Whatever, sit back and learn about Thanksgiving folks!

Denver Bound (again?)

Once was a time when heading for Denver meant reliving my mother's life. We lived in Manassa Colorado during my Dad's stationing in Saudi Arabia and then Eniwetok Atoll. A drive to Denver meant getting cool board games, going to May D & F Department store, and maybe Elitch's Gardens--an amusement park. How it has changed. Now it means deplane (there is such a word?), drive through Aurora to the new suburbs of Parker to visit my daughter, her husband and three grandkids. That's where we are bound on Thanksgiving Day itself. Flight back on Sunday, so there's really no time for sightseeing, is there? So much fun to roll around the carpet with the kids, capturing them and having them miraculously escape, eating turkey and turkey leftovers and no doubt singing around the piano in the evening. There'll have to be some shopping done, to save December postage, and I'd love to go to Papadeaux now that I know there is one near Denver. Sleepover for the two oldest grandkids and a wonderful Hampton House breakfast buffet for the four of us! Oh yeah--I'll be sure to take my warmer coat to face les nieve du hier. Right? Jingle jingle, save me some gravy.

Not so bad

There are times when everything comes together--good weather, good company, fun things to do. This is from County Fair time when the fam made a trip to the Pasco Farmer's market. Not too big a deal, Pasco hasn't realized how wonderful this all is.

Brandon or Carol serves as photographer, but where is Dennis? Ah, yes, being the magic grandpa. I have Ade in the child seat and am driving circles around the market, lulling Ade to sleep with my smooth chauffering and cool tunes. Later, I pick up some of the clan and we push on to other exciting (well, for the Tri-Cities) things to do. We love it.