...another rebus story

I don't get to spend nearly enough time with my sonHe works in from late June to late October (missing both of our birthdays).

When we get together we have a great time talking about and playing lots ofHe beats me nine out of ten times.

When he is home he spends a lot of time with

who is doing very well after being hit by a car while crossing a

this winter.

He has recently gotten into and thinks I should try it. I'm not so sure. He also plays indoor and I

you
!!!

...a rebus story

My daughter

is a busy girl. She is a atand is working towards a degree that will alllow her to work with To help pay her share of the rent on she works at a pub as a She also volunteers as a

and makes time to hang out with

who is anwaiting for the

that he illustrated to be published.

I

you !!!!

...laughter

We went to our favorite little place on Hawthorne Street,ate delicious happy hour food (sweet potato fries, yum!),met Zachary,walked along the street admiring the beautiful flowers,and laughed.

...the up escalator

(No, of course this wasn't a camera malfunction....it's art! haha)

...a road trip haiku or two

Stop, Sue, stop! Smoke is

coming from the back. Oh no!

Another flat tire?Why am I wearing

white shorts when I have to crawl
under the truck, huh?

With wind in our hair,

beautiful, older women.

But no one stopped. Hmm.

(Home again, safe and sound, travel worn, white shorts came clean, another adventure, great fun in Portland once we got there!)

...some sister time

My sister Arlene is here from Boise. We're headed to Portland for the weekend, with plans to go to Trader Joe's, Penzey's Spices, and Saturday Market. We get to hang out with Katie, and meet the new man in her life. :-)

Arlene is the cook in the family. Hands down, no doubt about it, she can cook. I, on the other hand, go for simple fair. I always get a tad nervous about what to fix when she comes to my house. This is what we had tonight. Pico de gallo (avocado, onion, cilantro, tomato, and lime juice), and black beans with onions and pepper jack cheese. No need to be nervous--Arlene agreed, it was delish.

After dinner we sat at the computer and looked at maps of southern France and Italy. We are going in 2012! We used to say "someday we'll travel to Europe together." We finally realized that "someday" would never come unless we started putting money aside. Three years ago we opened a savings account together and have faithfully put a little in each month. It's amazing how just a little grows when it's left alone.

I am so excited to see Katie. It's been toooo long! But she's out of school now and only working two jobs, so she has some time off. Nate, on the other hand, got a call that he was leaving for Alaska earlier than expected. He flew out this morning. :-( He thought he wasn't leaving until Saturday and would get to spend some time with us too. I am going to miss that kid. He won't be back until late October.

So...a road trip with my big sister...just like the good ol' days when our kids were young. Except now we can go where WE want to go and not worry about entertaining anyone else!

...youth

Tonight was going to be the night that I hung on to the fast pace line. It was going to happen. And it did--until the first hill. Then I found myself in no man's land--a place I tend to hang out-- ahead of the slow group, waaay behind the fast group. But tonight I had company. A young woman visiting from Russia was riding with us. There I was, huffing and puffing and grumbling to myself that I got dropped again when Veronica came up behind me. Her friend had told her to stay behind someone so she could "drift" off them. (As an ESL teacher I love little misspeaks.) She was riding a borrowed bike and wearing running shorts and tennis shoes. I said something about how well she was doing and she said, "Oh, this is only my second time on the bike. I want to give it my all!" And she did. I had to work hard to keep up with her. Ah, youth!!