A Visit to the Studio: Pat & Cheryl - Artists and Good Friends

Some of you may remember that I lived with Pat years ago when I worked in PDX - year 2000 I believe. She rented me a room and taught me the wonderful craft of glass fusing and slumping. (She & Cheryl also do traditional stain glass and other things I know nothing about - they are talented artists.) I owe my love of warm glass to Pat and will always remember her as the warm, special lady that took me in when Carol (my best friend) was far away.

.

The highlight of the visit was sleeping in Dennis's bed. Dennis is a professional, widely traveled comedian that also lives occasionally with his mom & sister. It was really an out-of-body experience sleeping in his bed. It had a certain aura about it even though it had clean sheets. I felt young again, invigorated, refreshed, funny even, Carol giggled. (Carol said it probably that blue pill I took from the thousands he had in an empty whiskey bottle next to his bed.) At any rate, 4-hours later, I called the doctor, he told me to take aspirin, take a cold shower and sleep on the couch rather than the bed. (He asked me for Dennis' address.)

.

Pat & Cheryl have a beautiful shop - I browse their work and usually buy things that Cheryl did that strikes my fancy and that I want to copy. No purchases today though since the Clampett Mobile is full.

.

I did put together a piano piece or two though while I was visiting. Cheryl said she liked it - that means I am happy. (Cheryl is my artistic idol.) Cheryl said that I need to come back to do a few more dove related plates. I thought she was drepressed with my dove infatuation years ago - now I find out that she was impressed, I think... or maybe she was kidding.  (People like to kid me, not sure why.)

.

Richard & Katy Visit... Good To See You Two

Of course we are visiting all of our old PDX friends that answer our phone calls. Richard later admitted he thought we were a charity organization - no wonder he asked me to take him off our call list. Seriously Richard, we just look like the Clampetts as we drive up with our rocking chair strapped to the roof of our old car.

Richard and Katy are world travelers that we have always looked up to - I told him that I hoped to go to Greece and he looked at his IPhone and showed me where he and Katy cruised the Corinth Canal, two minutes from the pipe mill. He said that I should look for a juicy fruit gum wad about 2-feet in from the end of the dock 123 if I get there. (Richard is a world champion water melon seed spitter - he can nail a pheasant from 50 yards.)

At any rate, we enjoyed our visit with them and hope to see them visit Germany, even though they have probably been there 25 times already.

Potential Golf Pro - Brian - Million Dollar Signing Bonus Ceremony

I recognized the first day I met him, that Brian has the potential of being a very good golfer. Carol took a picture of us his backyard while we were in very serious contract discussions over gin & tonics and expensive cigars. (You can see the contract on the table between us.) Bottom line to this discussion was the formal hand shake that he was going to do his best to maintain his health, drink moderately and make his wife & mother-in-law happy. (Well, the last item I just added to the contract because I like his wife and mother-in-law, not because their happiness will have any affect on his future golf skills.) We have targeted him for the Senior Tour so we have a few years to hone his skills. We probably won't need all of them, or maybe we will; he certainly has the potential but it sometimes takes time for physical & cognitive recollection of those intrinsic physical attributes.

.

I asked Brian how he would like to accept his Million Dollar Signing Bonus. He said he would like to show off a bit. I was apprehensive at first until I heard what he had in mind. (His idea of showing off was wearing his wedding tux and inviting two of his best friends to the Dairy Queen near his house for a Peanut Buster.) At any rate, we all dressed up, we ate our ice cream, I handed him his Million Dollar Signing Bonus and we all fawned about his golf potential. (I took this picture to memorialize the occasion.) Pretty soon, both his buddies looked at their watches and said "Holy mackeral, we both have to cook supper for our wives, gotta go dudes." They both left and we laughed about "some guys being bossed around by their ladies." Pretty soon, we remembered that we had to cook supper for our wives too. We both beat the dog home.

.

I put one of his many (I am sure he has many, being the modest man that he is, he only had one out for display.) trophies out on the front porch while he and his wife were at work. Immediately people from the neighborhood came over to gaze at it. I told them all about the potential golf phenom they were living close to. All were impressed. Two old boys in big trucks from across the street came over. They looked sort of rough, asked a few questions and went home. I think they were jealous of Brian's potential Hollywood Stardom when he finally hones his potential golf skill. I must say that they were a bit taken back when they found out that he didn't hunt, fish or bowl. But then they were happy again when I responded to their question of whether Brian ever "lit up?" I said "sure he lights up every day" when he gets to work - that this was his motivational tool for creating a positive work environment. They said something like "cool dude", can't remember just how they put it.

.

We moved the tropy to the steps as people were wanting to touch it. I made them sit down so they did not drop it in their enthusiasm to get into the spirit.

.

The person next door wanted to know if I could keep the trophy in the window so she could show it to her family when they come to visit. I told her that it really looked better on the mantle, front and center in his life. She was disappointed but I did put it into the window for awhile so that she could take a picture of it from her house. She is sending it to all of her relatives.

.

The trophy on the mantle where it belongs. Get to work Brian!! That Million Dollars I have given you is only a start!!

.

Post Cruise - Thanks for the Visit Bob & Kay

We were invited to a very nice dinner at our friends, Bob & Kay, on the day that our cruise ended. Bob and I climbed Beacon Rock, after talking about it for years. Thanks for dinner and the overnight shelter Kay & Bob. Let us know when the weddings start happening - we would love to share them with you.

.

Doug posing for Bob at the top of Beacon Rock.

.

Bob posing for Doug on the top of Beacon Rock. We are obviously a couple of good posers.

.

It was a gorgeous day as we climbed Beacon Rock. Bob kept me talking all the way as I recall.

.

What a splendid trail that they have on the Vancouver side of the Gorge about 25 miles from Portland/Vancouver. Try it if you have not had a chance to... takes about an hour.

.

These two gentlemen should be commended for their work on the trail. (I am going to google them later to find out what other talents they shared with the local community.)

.

We think that Bob has become attached to his dog. It is a year old minny Schnauzer. I believe they call the dog Hans, or maybe Franz or perhaps Beethoven or might be Godfried or something German like that.

.

Seattle to Alaska & Back - Fun Time With Friends

The Cruise Crew and yes, the sun does rise near Dan's head most of the time. (Just ask him.)

.

We were just on board, we were getting ready to have a little snack. We had already sent Vinny out for Bloody Mary's.

.

Thanks Carolyn for organizing the trip. We all had fun!!

.

Vinny told me that "Kakrayok Illas" means "Kiss My Ass" in Alaskan Induit Indian language. I told him that I have never heard Carolyn tell anyone to kiss her ass. He just said, "you don't live with her". I am not sure what he meant. He might have been pulling my leg.

.

One of the Glaciers in Glacier Bay.

.

I put a couple of Alaska scenery pictures in that I took from the ship. The only problem with them is that they are about 10% as spectacular as I remember the scene to be. So my posting of them is sort of "ho hum" if you know what I mean.

.

As I recall, the best sunset that there was occurred on the cloudless first night. Keith managed to convince everyone that the sunsets in Alaska are really not that good because there is no air pollution. Keith has convinced himself of a lot of interesting things that people enjoy listening to. People believe that Keith is a long story teller by profession. I used to work with him, so I have pretty much heard them all. Which is not to say I am bored with them... I pretty much just pretty much know how they end.

.

The cruise entertainment was good. Every night there was at least one big show and lots of other smaller venue things to do.

.

Doug and Carol posing on their "deck" (last minute upgrade) prior to leaving the Port of Seattle on Sunday afternoon. The weather was beautiful all week except for one rainy day in Ketchukan.

.

Up or Down? Only Keith, Carol and I know. These were steps that we encountered after we were done with our hike in Juneau. (The hike starts out about a mile out of the bus stop at 8th and Gold. We recommend it - it was fun.)

.

Boy, I was sorely tempted while in the Glacier Bay to stop the ship with this Emergency Stop button that I spotted out on the back deck. I resisted but even now I can feel the temptation that nearly overwhelmed me as I sat in my deck chair.

.

Keith, Carol and I took a wonderful hike in Juneau.

.

The world famous Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. Keith tells me that this is where Sarah Palin announced that she would pretend to respect and obey her running mate in the last election. He says that this is where her daughter went to the Prom. Not many Saloons in Juneau.

.

Carol chatting with her daughter in the beautiful middle median of the main street in Juneau. (Note her facing the Red Dog Saloon. Dan and Vinny were just about to start a fight with a couple of fisherman in the bar. Apparently one of them told Vinny that there was no way he owned 2 Mercedes, a Porsche, a Lexus, a Prius and a 64 red Corvette.) I think that they misunderstood when Dan piped in... At any rate, they were out of jail by the time we needed to sail to Sitka. Dan took most of the beating as it turns out because Vinny can run slightly faster. Dan told me later he was wishing he had an ejectionation seat in the bar.

.

There was alot of talk about who is going to be the biggest whale after the cruise ended. I heard Carol tell the group that she thought she had spent the most time on top of the biggest whale during the trip. (I thought she was referring to this picture.) Now I know she was poking fun at me because I was a fixture at the ice cream line. I get the last laugh though because right after we took this picture, the cement whale split right down the center. You should have seen the little kids in the park cry...

.

Alan, Carolyn and Nancy: Brother, sister, sister-in-law.

.

There is a story here and I plan to tell all one of these days...

.

A cute, historic little Victorian in Sitka.

.

Totem poles are big in Alaska - they are doing a really good job of saving the old ones by putting them in covered, safe from the element places to preserve them. This one happens to be a copy of an old one that is now residing for view in the National Park we visited.

.

My lovely wife in the Sitka National Park Preserve with the Oosterdam in the background.

.

The first Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska.

.

(Left to Right) Vinny: used car salesman.

Vinny's hot-wife, successful clothing designer: Carolyn. Vinny's hot sister-in-law, an Indiana Teacher Prolifferate of the Year: Nancy. Vinny's brother-in-law cool, calm, suave, successful, Rancher/Farmer: Alan.

.

Deserts anyone?

.

Deserts anyone? ?enoyna streseD

Vinny told me that "enoyba stresed" means "kiss my fat ass" in Alaskan Intuit Indian language.

Vinny is really quite proficient in the Alaskan Intuit Indian language. I was impressed.

.

A typical evening dinner desert.

.

I hung out in a very comfortable library at the front of the ship overlooking the direction of travel. I read three full length novels while on board.

.

My favorite book!! I miss my kids and Grandkids!!

.

Pikes Peak Place - Getting Ready for the Cruise

We all met in Seattle, Pike Place to be specific - we had a good Saturday on our way to a Sunday cruise to Alaska on the Holland America Oosterdam.

.

There we are in all of our Saturday slendor: Kay, Doug, Dan, Carol, Ellen, Keith, Carolyn and Vinny for good measure. Note that Alan and Nancy were still enroute.

.

Seattle had a parade for us. We thought that was really nice of them.

.