122nd & Halsey

I drove by 122nd & Halsey twice on Monday and I didn't notice anything different. From Eric's school to work, and the reverse at night.

I must have been in such a zone on Monday. Returning to work after two weeks off. Emails to read, eligibility puzzles to solve, caseworkers to harass--how could I ever stay away from such fun for that long?

Yesterday, I noticed that the one corner on 122nd & Halsey was a pile of dirt. The old neighborhood Albertson's was was gone. Empty for years now, in its day it was a old style grocery store, not too big, not too small...like a favorite comfortable shoe.

The coffee hut on the corner is gone...though I assume that will come back. Jodie and I go their sometimes while waiting for Eric at Sunday School. Great service, great coffee.

Anyway, this is what my flying fingers found on Google:

What's happening at the former Albertson's store at NE 122nd & Halsey? | Hazelwood Neighborhood Association

Back to work...

Two weeks off work was nice...back to work today.

We took Eric to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum.  Only $7 to get in,  lots of artifacts and historic photos.  I loved the old logging truck - it still runs and is used in parades.   We drove down to Hood River and watched the wind boarders...that was cool!

Jodie and I went down to Lincoln City for the night to celebrate our 20th anniversary.  We had a nice, accessible room at Ashley Suites.  We parked by the beach.  The highlight was Chinook Winds.  I was sitting by this one lady who kind of reminded me of Grandma D.  She was coaching me on what do do on the penny slot...as if I don't know how to lose money myself!  I got done to zero, and she put one of her bucks in.  I quickly turned that into five!

For me, the magic of the casino is watching the people.  All ages, all walks of life...all there to win big.  We are all different in how we look and act...but we are all the same in what we want.  We all want security, and  we see a shot of financial security.

Jodie and I each  won a small pot of security.  I played mine down to zero...we had two ribeye dinners on Jodie's at the wonderful restaurant upstairs at Chinook Winds.  Yes, I know who the smart one of this duo is...

During vacation, we took in the state fair.  We have been going every year since getting our scooters nine years ago.  Mom and John met us there this year.   Jodie, I and Eric only had to pay for one this year...almost as good of deal as last year when a worker called us through the side gate.  It happened to be on one of the few hot days we have had this summer.   Great onion rings, cool 3-d art...fun watching the farm kids trying to keep their goats quiet while they were being judged.  We found our favorite backpack vendor and got one for Eric for school.

I know...not hugely interesting.  But two weeks off work...priceless!

Twenty years, Woman, twenty years...

My brother Scott told me "Bro, you won't believe it!  People are lined up down the block trying to get in here!"

Yes, 20 years ago Jodie and I packed the church on 39th & Brooklyn, St. Paul Lutheran.  We went to school together when we were very young, but then did not see each other for 16 years.  It was a very brief courtship...we just knew we were going to get married.

September 8, 1990 was the huge day.  It was only dampened by the news that my best friend, Erick Norlin, could not make it out from St. Louis.  His head was full of tumors and his doctor would not let him fly out.  We had been through a tough time together on World Christian magazine.  Had no idea that day that Jodie and I would have a son five years later...and a perfect name...dropping the "k".

Jodie & I were reminiscing at the changes in 20 years...our jobs, where we live, family and friends no longer with us.

Twenty years is a long time, but it does not seem that long ago.  Both of us were ready to give up on finding love.  God brought us together.

Jerilyn sang this song to open our wedding.  It describes our love then and our love today:

Trying to get a disabled bus pass

Jodie got the application for a honored citizens card some time ago. She filled out her portion, the faxed it to our doctor to complete the rest. He faxed it back.

We are on vacation this week. We took the lightrail downtown to the main Tri-Met office to turn in the application. It was not accepted. No photocopies, has to be original.. Jodie is in her power chair and has ID. No go.

She did not argue. Rules is rules. We are state workers; we understand.

But man!

God not needed for creation?

In my humble opinion, it is harder to believe in nothing then to believe in God.

Hawking is a genius to be admired, but statements like this void of fact make little sense to me.

“Because there is a law such as gravity, the Universe can and will create itself from nothing,” the excerpt says. “Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to ... set the Universe going.”

Author Hawking says God not needed for creation - The Oakland Press News: The best place for news in and around Oakland County

The lift...It still not working right!

Jodie and I are on vacation this week and next.  Staying home, doing this and that.

On Wednesday I took our Sprinter into the shop.  We have had the van for three years and have dealt with a hanging ceiling panel...a missing snap.  Hard to explain...easier to show.  One missing snap has turned into six...the ceiling is falling!  My cousin Kevin is the shop manager...I showed him what was happening...he ordered some new snaps to fix it.

Jodie has had her power chair since December.  We have had trouble with the lift stalling when we are lifting Jodie into the van.  The lift was geared for us to back on to be lifted;  Jodie has been coming front first to be loaded...and, duh, not working to well.  Jodie, Eric and I were at the lift shop for a couple hours yesterday for a tuneup and to fix it so we could front load.

It worked at the shop...of course.

We made some stops on the way home...the lift stalled each time on us.  We had to hand crank it.

We stopped at Cathedral Park on the way home...very beautiful place!

When we got home, we tried something.  We pushed my scooter closer to the backseat, put my walker on my scooter, then had Jodie turn her chair around in the van.  It was tight, but it seemed to work.  Jodie transfers from her chair to the seat in the van.

Today we are going to see if Jodie can just back in and then walk around her chair.

Trial and error...always!