Christmastime

I have been a horibble blogger!  It has been over half a year since my last blog.  Thank goodness that the New Year is around the corner and I can make blogging a resolution to keep.

We have had a good year. Work has been good and very busy.  I started a management training program last year and ended it in September.  I also was asked to participate in an 18 month executive training program and started the week after finishing up radiation treatments in March.  I am glad to have completed the management program, so that I can concentrate on the executive program. I'm halfway through and learning a bunch!  I feel like I have settled into my position at Tongue Point and look forward to work every single day.

Bill has been very busy this year with both his limited editions and AnAmericanFootprint.com.   He is constantly adding informaiton about American made products to his site and producing information and video about products.  He is tireless and wears me out with his enthusiasm and energy!

William is a junior this year.  He started the year off with a bang by spending two weeks during spring break in Southern Ireland with some golf teammates and his golf coach (this was when he was a sophomore).  Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Starting his junior year, some decisions had to be made regarding his schedule.  Will is taking English and Seamanship courses at the community college and getting dual credit.  He is really enjoying the seamanship classes and being on the boat.  He should be able to continue this trend through his senior year.  Because of scheduling conflicts, Will is not in the high school orchestra. He is continuing with his violin by participating in the Columbia River Symphony.  We had an enjoyable evening at a recent performance with a great variety of music selections.



Will negotiated to obtain his Jeep Cherokee Sport and he and his dad have spent time getting a lift kit and drive shaft installed.  It is the ultimate guy vehicle for a teenager boy in the Pacific Northwest.  Bill should have a video of the lift and shaft installation on AnAmericanFootprint.com site within the week.  We are anxiously awaiting it's launch.  Watch for it!

Will has grown so much in the last year.  He is 6' 1" now and loves to put his chin on the top of my head.  We are very proud of him and his accomplishments.

We hope that everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASTORIA - 200 YEARS!

This weekend Astoria celebrated it's 200 year birthday.  The tall ships were fun to watch and the canons boomed throughout the weekend.

  Tall Ship Hawaiian Cheiftain

Tall Ship Lady Washington

I've Seen Better Days . . .

We have kept this grill going over the last few years by replacing the elements, but I think it has seen it's last season . . .

It still works but we are afraid to move it, in case it falls apart from the rust at the bottom.  No matter how well we protect it or treat it, the incessant rain of the Pacific Northwest has taken its toll over time.  It is a bummer because those racks are now perfectly seasoned!

Window View

I love this photo that William took at the Blarney Castle.  The composition is just awesome and I really like the hard edge of the castle walls being offset by the light and the countryside setting.  He took so many great pictures, it will take me awhile to get through them all. 

The guys had a great time, lots of golf and after a week, Will is finally getting back into our time zone.  A seven hour difference is a little hard to adjust back from.

Between them, there are several hundred pictures and I really haven't seen too many that were bad.  They all did an awesome job of cataloging the trip.  So . . . more to come!

This is William at Tralee Golf Club.  The landscape is beautiful.  Tralee was designed and built by Arnold Palmer.  I think this is Brock's Hollow #13.

Departing EWR for SNN

Flight CO24 is in the air. About 1.5 hours late but they are heading toward Ireland now.

I found a couple different ways to follow the departures at Newark Intl Airport.

Oh, and I may have found a live stream for the video of the parade.  It will be starting at 7am Wednesday (our time - Ireland is 8 hours ahead of us).  I'll post the link in the next update.

Bags are packed . . .

and William is less than two hours away from starting the Ireland trip!

St Patrick's Day in Ireland!

The Ireland Trip commences on March 12th!  OMG it is almost here.  Coach Foss has made it possible for our golfing contingent to be part of the St Patrick's Day Parade and festivities.

Check out this link of last year's festivities to see what William will be experiencing in less than two weeks (I am so happy for him and a little jealous!):

http://www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie/

They are Here!

They are here!

Got the actual Reba McEntire tickets today.  Note:  RAIN or SHINE.  Let's hope it is shining 'cause general admissioin lawn seats in the RAIN will stink.

Snowboardin

Mom asked for a new picture so here it is:

This is Tyler Caruana and Will.  Tyler is Paul Caruana's son who is about 6 mos older than William.  Paul (and his ex-wife Julie) were the first friends we made after we moved to Astoria. I hosted Tyler's baby shower.  And here they are 16 years later at Mt Bachelor.  The boys were part of the teen bible retreat.  Great snow, they all had a great time in Sunriver.

Mom - Check out those pants!  This will probably be the last year they fit but they are great.

Soggy Paul Lee

Here is a phone picture of Paul after he took a bath yesterday.  It has been awhile since he has taken an immersion bath.  I just hope it was in clean water.  Paul sometimes feels the need to take baths in the dog bowl, in the soaking dishes in the sink and he eyes the toilet water - so we always close the lid afraid he will go in but not be able to come back out.

Snowing in Astoria

Well, you can't really make out the snow (look at the street light and you can kind of make out the flurry of snow) but it is snowing here tonight.  Probably won't stick.  Gave me an excuse to take a picture of Will - seen here clowning around.