OK, so last fall/winter was busy, but all that was work-related. I really didn't get any chance to enjoy life. Well, this year is much different. Rather than write numerous separate posts, I'll share it all at one time here, behind the cut.

( I know what you're saying... Make with the pictures, already! )

After work yesterday evening, I picked Sami up and took her to get her nose pierced.   She'd been wanting to do it for quite a while now and agreed to go talk with the piercers at High Priestess Piercing about it.   They've been helping her as she gauges up her right ear (only one... she needs to do the other one, still).   I am very impressed with ( Read more... )

I'm challenging myself to post a photo each day from this point forward. I don't always have time to write a lengthy post, but I'll do my best to at least post a photograph.

Yesterday's post featured two images, both captured during our Saturday jaunt to Portland. Today, I'm going to cheat just a bit and post a photo that I shot a week ago. I ( Read more... )

Saturday was insanely busy and not at all as I had planned. After dropping the car off at the dealership in Albany, we met my parents who took us over to the Verizon dealer. We had both been experiencing problems with our cell phones and needed to have them looked at. Ultimately, a firmware upgrade on my phone and a complete firmware reset and ( Read more... )

.... My parents were married. I know both of them (duh!) and have to say that it couldn't have been easy for them to make it this far. They are two of the most stubborn, giving, kind, and caring people I know. I am blessed to have them in my life.

To celebrate, they drove up the Oregon Coast and into Washington. When I last spoke to them, they were ( Read more... )

We had a splendid day today... Sami and I took off for the Kings Valley Cemetery and visited the gravesites of the King family, specifically focusing on those upon whom her book project was based. We then took off for Peavy Arboretum here in Corvallis, and walked around in the sun.

We had some good talks, got some sun, and somewhere in the process ( Read more... )

I'm back from Mom and Dad's house. I think that having the tree around has been good for Mom. She seems to have the Christmas spirit a little more... Well, she just seems a little less "bah humbug-ish" and dare I say, not the least bit lethargic! It was refreshing ( Read more... )

My grandmother passed away today. I'm not certain, but I believe she was in her late 80's. She was my father's mother and was one of the sweetest people on this planet. She was a single mother much of the time, raising her five children and working hard to support her family. As she aged, she faced numerous challenges, including mental health ( Read more... )

I just called my daughter to tell her goodnight. I'm in the living room. She's in her bedroom.
My unorthodox parenting methods astound even me.