Our Green Eyed Monster

We just got back from the vet.  We are concerned that someone has sprayed Hylander with something caustic.  He was in our yard for about an hour yesterday afternoon and when William came home from school and let Hy in, he immediately noticed that Hy's right eye was swollen shut.  We just got his left eye healed a few weeks ago.  We immediately took him to the vet's office and started treatment.

The veternarians put a green dye into Hy's eyes to see if he has ulcers on the eye. They both are green from the strip but as you can see in his right eye, there is a large area that is bright green (in addition to the inner eyelid being swollen and red) which indicates trauma to the eyeball and erosion of the protective layer.  We are treating his eye like a normal ulceration, but are very dismayed with the thought someone would spray anything at a dog locked in his own yard, let alone something caustic. When we went to clean off his head and shoulders with plain water, his coat lathered up.  Whatever is on him smells like it has an ammonia component to it and feels like a soap.  It isn't coming off easily.  At least the swelling in his eye has reduced and his face isn't red on the right side.  The doctor put numbing drops in his eyes because they are both sensitive during the recovery.

Bill is spitting mad and I am now considering installing an external camera to cover our front yard.  I don't understand people who can harm innocent pets.  Our little guy has enough natural challenges with his eyes, he certainly didn't need someone to intentionally inflict pain and injury to them.

You Like This!

2012 Prom!  Kyra and Will looked great for Prom.  They were really great posing for the parents.    Will's Jeep slogan pretty much sums up this photo!

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.

My (Early) Christmas Present!

I have had paint chips on the walls in the dining room and the bathroom for at least a year now (even painted a swatch on the dining room wall but didn't like the color in the end).  Bill has taken the swatches and painted the dining room and is working on the bathroom today!  What a fantastic present.

The bay window wall is a gold color but from certain angles and with different lighting it looks like a soft chocolate.

And as an added bonus . . . .




Bill polished all of the silver!

O Christmas Tree

I came home tonight and William had the Christmas tree up.  He went and picked out the tree on Sunday and brought it home on his own.  So, it was only fitting that he decorate the tree himself.  He has worked on it for the past 3 hours.  It is looking quite festive.

I decided to take the opportunity for low light pictures using my 50 mm lens.

This photo of the ornaments in front of the tree shows the beauty of having a 50mm 1.8 lens - I love the depth of the picture.  When I took my first photography class I didn't have this lens and I couldn't figure out why others in the class got this wonderful depth/blur effect.  Took me most of the class to figure out I just didn't have the right lens.

Can you tell the difference?

My wonderful mother-in-law sent me a new wig.  It is surprisingly light and matches my normal hairstyle pretty closely.  After wearing winter skull caps for the last week, this is actually easier on my head than the caps have been.

Treatments have been going well.  If head itching is the worst complaint I have during chemo, then I am way ahead of the game.  My friends have started making and buying me hats.  I will have to take pictures and post  them - a couple are seasonal silly hats!

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm enjoying being in the kitchen today and everything is starting to smell nice.

Happy 16 Will!

I think he is happy with his board, boots and bindings!  School and then DMV to get the driver test complete and license in hand.  Bill is also taking Will to the courthouse to get his passport updated so he is all set for the Ireland trip in the Spring.  Busy day.

Happy Birthday baby!

Warning - do not read this sign if you are drinking anything!  I did and about choked.

OSU Game

I totally blog lifted this photo of Katie and Will at the OSU game the end of October!  It is a great picture.

Homecoming

Being the No. 1-ranked team in the state isn't a jinx after all!  Fishermen were victorious in their Homecoming game over Yamill-Carlton Tigers, on 10/7/10.  It was not without injuries as the quarterback Harber received a concussion and receiver Boord ended the night with a broken collar bone.  I spoke with Conor Harber's father yesterday who was under the impression that the homecoming dance was Saturday night - maybe that hit was a little harder than they thought, as the dance was Friday night!  Conor is fine, dad isn't in the "know" on the dance info - sports is his bag.

So, then on to the festivities . . .  Friday was an in-service day so the girls had plenty of time to get ready and the guys were able to take their time for that 20 minute preparation getting into the dress clothes (complete with ties)!

There was a lot of anxiety about getting the boutineers pinned on the guys! The boys had it easy as each chose a wrist coursages.

Mission accomplished - and they look great!

A large group of friends started the evening at the Tumberello's for dinner (25 in all, I believe). 

The adults served courses of salad, prime rib entree and cheesecake for dessert.  It was a very coordinated affair and very relaxing for everyone involved (yes even the adults!).

 I wish that we had done things like this when I was in high school, it makes the whole evening a lot more fun for everyone.