Recovery is good

Our aches and pains from all the work we've recently completed has started to subside and we are beginning to enjoy our vacation more. We've spent the last few days with Russ and Marie and have enjoyed their hospitality. They cooked up a WONDERFUL dinner for the 4th. Ribs, salmon, mahi-mahi... the fish was fresh from Zupan's market where Marie is the departent manager. It's a new store and she's been worn ragged but the effort has paid off in being the number one producer for the company. Congrats to Marie!

After consuming some of the best fish I've ever had we retired to the back yard to view a delightful and varied display of pyrotechnics. Seems several of the neighbors put on quite a show each year and we benefitted from it.

We had the chance to visit with all the daughters; Becky, Melissa, and Sarah. Delightful ladies all. It's hard to believe that Becky is soon to graduate from college. An ambitious young lady, pursuing two degrees in the course of her four-year stint. Very impressive. She seeks employment in law enforcement, possibly in forensics or psychological profiling. Ambitious. We wish her well in all her efforts.

Russ is the assistant Meat Manager at the Raleigh Hills Zupan's and they keep him very busy as well. While he is very good at this sort of work, he is seeking college education and desires to pursue a career in a Fisheries department. We know he's well suited for this type of work, being the sportsman and capable fisherman that he is and we wish him well in all his endeavors. Not easy to go back to school at this age but we have a fantastic example in our father who, at the age of 47, sold the grocery store business he owned in Wiley, Colorado to pursue a career in Nursing. Quite a transition. Russ is near that age and I'm right there -- both of us looking for career changes as well. Have you started a trend Dad? Could be interesting. I pray we are as successful as you were. If you could do it with five children -- all still in school and most quite young -- then surely we can as well.

It was very good to see my dear friend Loretta and her husband. She invited us to a dinner at the Gresham Mongolian grill. It was a wonderful time with good food and good company. I miss all the wonderful people I worked with at PGE. In my work experience, it was the best place I've been. You won't find a more closely knit crew of hardworking individuals. I'll miss them all.

We'll be here through today as all the potential stopping locations for us are currently booked to the gills. I hear it has something to do with some holiday this weekend. We plan to stop near Crescent City, CA by tomorrow evening and spend a few days enjoying the Redwood forest. Today, we'll take in some sights around the Portland area and continue to enjoy the time we have together.