tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87317248562700932002012-01-19T22:25:05.246-08:00Just another blog by just another blogger. This one happens to live in Salem, Ore.Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.comBlogger921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-77551539967881016252011-09-10T13:52:00.000-07:002011-09-10T14:08:42.533-07:00

The fear is gone. The questions of how and why have been resolved. The feelings of unity of purpose and resolve have long-since disappeared. But 10 years after Sept. 11, 2001, the pain and emotion remain just below the surface, like water behind a dam just below the level of the spillway. All it takes is the least bit of rain, the smallest wave, to make the emotions spill over again.I am not

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-42331758469020140602011-04-12T22:37:00.000-07:002011-04-12T22:52:40.428-07:00

My digital life is too complicated. I have too many usernames, addresses, accounts, IDs, passwords and profiles. I started off intentionally trying to keep some parts of my digital life separate. Keeping home away from work. Keeping family away from hobbies. That sort of thing. But I am beginning to wish I was part of a younger generation that doesn't compartmentalize life that way. With all

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-80748437649984214042011-04-11T23:43:00.001-07:002011-04-11T23:43:42.060-07:00

I added the Blogger app to my Droid phone. I don't know if it will make me blog any more. But it's nice to know I can blog on the go.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-42181674040533239282010-05-18T00:01:00.000-07:002010-05-18T00:07:18.745-07:00

For many Northwest residents who were old enough to remember it, May 18, 1980, invokes powerful, visual memories of the destructive eruption of Mount St. Helens.Those too close to the mountain died. Other who were close enough to the mountain could actually see the eruption, and for those east of the blast, they can remember the massive ash cloud turning the sky dark and raining ash and pumice

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-64196726719453397352010-05-06T21:51:00.000-07:002010-05-09T20:29:06.453-07:00

There's one nurse I appreciate above all others this National Nurses Week. I've never been her patient, but I know Monica's nursing knowledge, compassion and caring firsthand.She's my daughter's mom. She was, and is, amazing for that one, important fact and more than 19 years of making difficult choices. She's deserving of respect and admiration for that alone. She's part of my family. Our

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-63085088851208352022010-03-06T00:43:00.001-08:002010-03-06T01:12:48.698-08:00

I set up the blog so I can make mobile posts. So will that lead me to make more posts? Let's find out.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-78422781982364710032010-03-03T22:38:00.000-08:002010-03-04T00:35:03.298-08:00

The editor and publisher of the paper I was working for asked me why my title was assistant editor."I'm the editor," he said. "You aren't my assistant."I was dumbstruck. I was working for him after all. If he didn't want my title to be assistant editor, shouldn't -- couldn't -- he change it?I quit referring to myself as assistant editor after that, regardless of what my business card said. I

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-19787688250148060762010-01-09T14:15:00.000-08:002010-01-09T15:26:59.512-08:00

I posed the following questions the other day on Twitter and Facebook: Is it normal, or abnormal, to have exes as friends on Facebook or following on Twitter? How many exes do you have friending/following?I wasn't sure if I would get any responses at all, but I got several. I appreciate people willing to share their thoughts on the issue. Here's what I got:3 people responded on Twitter; 8

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-31704048361298459042010-01-07T18:45:00.000-08:002010-01-07T18:57:55.266-08:00

I will, no doubt, draw scorn for this, but I just can't get the thought out of my head.I've been seeing all these women on Facebook posting colors today, to signify their bra color in an effort to increase breast cancer awareness. There can't be enough awareness of the issue as far as I'm concerned. I hope my daughter and the women in her family never have to face that threat. I lost an aunt to

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-65734602808861794552009-12-17T22:34:00.000-08:002009-12-18T01:52:40.745-08:00

I haven't written a post here in about two and a half months and that post was about a trip my dad and I made to Nebraska for his brother's funeral, and in the time since that post was made two of the people we saw on that trip have also died.The latest call came today. My dad called me while I was at work. He never does that. My parents rarely call, but when they do it's almost always bad

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-24026047833323093412009-09-28T22:34:00.000-07:002009-09-28T22:36:58.418-07:00

My dad and I headed back to Nebraska for his oldest brother's funeral last week. It was good to see family, but I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-12560593433048439672009-08-24T23:21:00.000-07:002009-09-28T22:46:59.625-07:00

Tuesday, Aug. 25, is my brother Dean's birthday.The year Dean was born was an eventful one for our little branch of the West Family Tree. As my mom was getting ready for labor, my dad was buying a business in the thriving metropolis of Echo, Ore.About a month after Dean was born, my dad piled all of our belongings into a moving truck in Western Nebraska and then he piled my mom, brother Ron, me

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-38576211796273899142009-08-23T01:10:00.000-07:002009-08-23T01:47:33.629-07:00

Life had gotten boring. I didn't realize how boring until things turned around. And when it turned, it turned dramatically.I'm not quite sure where to begin. A big project at work has resulted in long days and long weeks. And it the midst of all that, I almost moved to Portland. Twice.There are many things about the prospect of becoming a commuter and the living arrangements being considered

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-47908120906455527532009-07-20T05:26:00.000-07:002009-07-20T05:34:40.270-07:00

I was awakened at 3:30 a.m. by a nose bleed. It's not unusual. I get them a lot and often in the middle of the night. The unusual part is that I was not able to go back to sleep. So now, two hours later, I realize a return to sleep is hopeless. It is morning now, the alarm will go off soon and it will be time to start the day.This one just started way too early.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-67386412751818949602009-07-17T22:25:00.001-07:002009-07-17T23:18:08.546-07:00

One of my earliest memories is of sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a black-and-white console TV watching Walter Cronkite's coverage of one of the Apollo moon missions. I was too young to understand the complexity of the science in sending men to the moon, but I knew that this was a big deal. There was something about Cronkite's coverage of the event that told even a young boy that

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-62057636957890300722009-07-04T12:34:00.000-07:002009-07-04T12:51:45.111-07:00

Photos from Friday, July 3, at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Ore.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-64812328866426867632009-06-29T19:51:00.000-07:002009-06-29T23:20:13.086-07:00

If the corporate community and federal and state governments are expecting me to help lift the country out of this recession/depression, they are all in for a long wait. If it's consumers like me, in similar circumstances, that will eventually signal a return to financial prosperity, then we are in for a few more years of rough sledding.It's not that I am opposed to spending money and wouldn't be

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-59082541889698306332009-06-04T00:12:00.000-07:002009-06-04T00:55:47.663-07:00

Either I watch too much TV or GM and Microsoft are spending some serious money on their new TV campaigns.In the case of General Motors, about every other commercial break seems to feature GM's "Chapter 1" commercial, putting a positive spin on the company's bankruptcy filing. As a print/online journalist, I hope they funnel some money to newspapers and their websites too. But the cynic in me

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-67629541479004638322009-05-27T22:06:00.000-07:002009-05-27T23:07:43.374-07:00

To say I didn't like country music when I was young would be the ultimate understatement. I hated it. I was a rocker. I was a head banger. I like AC/DC and Van Halen. I liked Ozzy Osbourne, Cinderella, Queensryche and the like.Country was my parents' music.But one summer when I was in college I met a guy from Texas. Our musical tastes were not directly compatible. Tom's musical tastes tended more

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-29854408622465373412009-04-28T21:58:00.000-07:002009-04-28T23:20:51.732-07:00

I am proud to be a journalist. I am also pleased, in this difficult journalistic climate, to still be a full-time employed journalist. But sometimes people need to realize that the things that get reported as big news isn't necessarily important news.This current swine flu static is a good example. What's largely missing from this story is context. People obviously care about this story. It's

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-80146596647676747432009-04-17T22:12:00.000-07:002009-04-17T22:24:51.863-07:00

Tonight is prom night for my daughter and her boyfriend. Here are some pictures of them getting ready for the big night with a little help from my daughter's mom.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-21002468466628471242009-04-13T23:37:00.000-07:002009-04-14T00:06:25.567-07:00

Every year, I seem to miss the peak of the spring cherry blossoms on the Capitol Mall. Either the weather's not right, or about the time the trees are reaching optimum bloom, we get rain and the blossoms are decimated by a spring storm. But this year, I timed it right.Last week, the weather was great on Monday. The skies were clear and blue and I ventured down to the Oregon Capitol, which is only

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-72616126494050780742009-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-02T00:01:01.024-07:00

My daughter turns 18 today. I'm not quite sure how that happened. I mean, I've been witness to her growth and maturity over the years, so I know it's her and she is, indeed, a young woman. But I don't feel like I'm old enough to have an adult daughter. Some days I don't feel like I'm adult yet myself, particularly in my after-work-hours life. At work, I feel mature and in control, but afterwards,

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-27369456292389331372009-03-31T22:27:00.000-07:002009-03-31T23:09:38.839-07:00

I've made a big decision. I've decided to quit my job. I'm moving to Phoenix and becoming a pool boy and professional blogger.April Fools'!OK, so I know I probably didn't fool anyone. Anyone who knows me would know I'd never do any job that requires manual labor, even if it is only fetching towels, and I don't blog often enough to be a full-time blogger.I've never been any good any good at coming

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-67994423650484555562009-03-20T20:00:00.000-07:002009-03-20T20:43:10.525-07:00

I knew the minute I walked in the door that something was different. I hadn't actually been inside the bank in a while. Usually I do my transactions from home on my computer or outside the bank at the ATM. But it was getting late in the afternoon and I wanted to make sure the deposit got posted as quickly as possible so I can pay some bills this weekend.The first thing I noticed was that the

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-80142599583561371982009-03-16T23:18:00.000-07:002009-03-16T23:45:50.473-07:00

Starting Tuesday, Seattle is a one-newspaper town.When I heard the announcement today that Tuesday's edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer out be its last print edition, I though maybe I would write a long, philosophical post about it. But I just don't have it in me. But I just can't. It's all too sad. Layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, papers folking. It's just all so bleak. Every newspaper

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-52811132834271685322009-03-04T23:06:00.000-08:002009-03-04T23:40:15.569-08:00

Are you following the dust up at the Oregon Daily Emerald? If not, you might want to check out this story about the Emerald news staff going on strike.I won't try to tell the story here. It's bizarre beyond words, but apparently the students objected to a job offer to Steven A. Smith, thinking bringing him on board would someone threaten the editorial independence of the student journalists. Yes,

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-85566149382146931982009-02-28T01:25:00.000-08:002009-02-28T01:31:50.433-08:00

This takes a while to load and it's long, but it's a moving tribute to the Rocky Mountain News of Denver by the folks there who are now out of work.It's a scenario likely to play out in newsrooms, newspapers and cities around the country this year.Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-70465725934229584352009-02-27T22:15:00.000-08:002009-02-27T23:13:11.027-08:00

We've been together a long time. We've covered a lot of ground together. I wasn't sure our relationship would last this long. Family and friends tell me I need to move on. But it's not that easy.When we met, I'd only been in California a few months. She helped me get through my first long hot summer in the Mojave. We've been together ever since that July day in 1995. I was only 29 then. And, well

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-74084381861783816832009-02-26T01:04:00.001-08:002009-02-26T01:16:30.717-08:00

I'm going through one of the periodic bouts of insomnia that visit me from time to time. I'm not sure what causes it. Maybe I need to keep an insomnia journal or something to see if I can find a pattern to the phenomenon.After a fairly dry and sunny winter, the rains have returned this week. Maybe that's a factor. But I don't think that's it, or at least not all of it, because the really late

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-33781348773748297822009-02-10T21:25:00.000-08:002009-02-11T00:09:45.850-08:00

I don't think I've ever read an article in Salem Monthly before this week, but there was a copy of it sitting in the lunch room at work and the cover story caught my attention.In typical tabloid style, the teaser on the cover was different than the headline of the article. The headline of the piece, by Kevin Hanson, is "Defining media: A question of credibility." I think the cover teaser posed

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-60568032151819087212009-02-08T23:43:00.001-08:002009-02-09T00:10:27.463-08:00

A visual reminder of why it's important to stop and enjoy life once in a while.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-7868950202271977982009-02-05T00:33:00.001-08:002009-02-05T01:37:27.478-08:00

Facebook really is a pretty amazing thing. I think I found a guy who was an intern at the same time I was back in the late 1980s at the Corvallis Gazette-Times. He was from Texas and at the end of the internship, he invited me to drive back to Texas with him.Perhaps it was because I had passed up any opportunity to visit Texas a couple of years earlier. I had dated a woman who was from Texas and

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-5317612830969664112009-02-03T22:20:00.000-08:002009-02-03T23:13:23.487-08:00

He died before I was born, but Buddy Holly's music has been part of the soundtrack of my life, just like it has been part of so many people's lives for generations. When Holly, Ritchie Valens and the J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959, it became known as The Day the Music Died.Of course music lived on, as did the music of Holly, Valens, and even The Big

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-9261824697146067492009-02-02T23:38:00.001-08:002009-02-02T23:52:17.193-08:00

I get these great ideas for blog post throughout the day. They are brilliant ideas and would make the best blog posts of all time. If you read these gems you would have no choice but to agree.Sometimes a send myself an e-mail to remind me of my flash of genius. Sometimes I use my little memory trick of turning my watch around backwards, which forces me to remember throughout the day why I turned

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-38727753260511252122009-02-02T00:25:00.000-08:002009-02-02T00:33:17.458-08:00

Here's to hoping that furry little varmint doesn't see his shadow and winter will soon be over.But who am I kidding? This is the Willamette Valley and it's been unseasonably dry so far this year. There's still lots of rain left to fall and my amateur prognostication tells me that winter-like weather will last far more than 6 more weeks.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-54104762327424487332009-01-22T23:15:00.000-08:002009-01-23T00:18:09.759-08:00

I hate acronyms. It seems there's an acronym for everything. But I heard about a group today that is just begging to be known by an acronym.The realization came to me while watching the 11 o'clock news on KATU, the ABC affiliate in Portland. They were leading the newscast with the latest story on the scandal surrounding Portland Mayor Sam Adams.The story prominently featured Hollie Teal, a

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-17455167359978451762009-01-20T22:26:00.000-08:002009-01-20T23:01:09.224-08:00

Seeing President Barack Obama sworn in today as the nation's 44th president forces me to admit that I was wrong about something I said to friends and associates early in the primary campaign season. I predicted, erroneously, that the voters in this nation would not elect a black man president. I thought that voters weren't ready, were too narrow minded to do that at this point in our nation's

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-76218173574041359852009-01-15T00:15:00.000-08:002009-01-15T01:19:00.491-08:00

I guess I should be thankful I am not currently working in the mainstream media.The news has been grim all year, and there is no sign of it ending anytime soon. Like so many industries, people are losing jobs and workplaces are being retooled in order to remain profitable or return to profitability.Last week, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was put up for sale with employees being told if it is

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-4793690414701412962008-12-29T22:17:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:57:19.860-08:00

I have been so busy dealing with weather adventures, holiday issues, family stuff and work that I really haven't realized that the New Year was almost here.I used to say the New Year's was my favorite holiday. It's a date with so much optimism. It was a nice counterbalance to the pessimist in me. For many years, Christmas tended to be a disappointment. It think i expected too much of myself and

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-65741858013189456042008-12-16T22:48:00.000-08:002008-12-17T02:11:57.118-08:00

I was out of town last week, off playing hooky last week. I was in Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.Before I get too far removed from the experience, I wanted to share a few of those experiences here.•••I didn't take a computer along, but I did post some updates via cell phone of my activities at the National Finals on my personal Twitter page. I was disappointed to find out that

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-45043399246521619592008-12-03T23:16:00.000-08:002008-12-04T00:48:57.183-08:00

The more you study the more you know,The more you know the more you forget.The more you forget, the less you know,so why study?The more I learn about business and Wall Street and investing, the less I seem to understand. I was listening to a radio talk show this evening on which an economist from the University of Oregon said we are not only in a recession, we are in an economic depression.You

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-63628536151236186792008-12-01T21:16:00.000-08:002008-12-01T21:26:10.462-08:00

In addition to enjoying great food and wonderful time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend, I came home with a cold.I knew I would probably get one. Spending parts of four days with a sick family member made it unlikely I would escape in perfect health. And as long as the bug is out of my system by next Monday, it's all good.I have a trip to take next week. Vegas baby!But for now

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-38391543881460335172008-11-26T23:04:00.000-08:002008-11-27T00:10:59.127-08:00

A woman I had never met, who's name I do not know, gave me an early holiday gift this evening. She demonstrated the spirit of generosity, sharing and selflessness that the holidays are supposed to be all about.I don't want to be overly dramatic or make a bigger deal out of it than it deserves. We aren't talking about an organ donation here. But she game me something new to be thankful for and

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-66613060553033409122008-11-24T23:12:00.000-08:002008-12-01T21:09:13.566-08:00

The lines in my online life are getting blurred. I started a Facebook page for work, in order to create a page for my employer, and ended up finding a lot of friends. So I have a mixture of work colleagues and personal friends in my contacts.I started a Twitter account, also for work, and tied it to my Facebook account, so my Twitter updates seem to amuse some of my friends because they update

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-10292273681859242112008-11-20T23:33:00.000-08:002008-11-20T23:59:32.061-08:00

Dead Denny not only returned on Grey's Anatomy again this week, apparently dead people are amazing lovers. And even when Izzie spurned her ghostly lover, he still frickin' won't leave.I may have to leave. The shark is in the process of being jumped. The concept was creative the first time I saw it, which Patrick Swayze's spirit used Whoopi Goldberg's body to ring Demi Moore's chimes. Now it's

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-46316087858258358872008-11-17T22:51:00.000-08:002008-11-18T00:07:23.396-08:00

I broke down this evening and turned on the heat out in the living room for the first time this evening. I've turned on the heat a few nights back in the bedroom this season, and I've been turning on the space heater in the morning to heat up the bathroom for a while now. But I've been holding out on heating the main room But I'm tired of having to wrap up in a blanket and wear a sweatshirt just

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-24574283694595392122008-11-13T22:06:00.000-08:002008-11-20T22:12:10.231-08:00

I think Grey's Anatomy has jumped the shark. What's the deal with the ongoing Izzie and dead Denny storyline? Can't the writers find enough dramatic content in a hospital, complex family, friend and lover relationships? Do they have to keep bringing back a character they killed off? Really?My opinion may not be universally held (see this post from Daytime Confidential). Hey, I can handle shows

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-42327930076404149682008-11-08T00:44:00.000-08:002008-11-08T20:00:17.613-08:00

Tom Wolfe wrote the book "You Can't go Home Again." I used to think Wolfe's title was right. I left the small town where I grew up 24 years ago for college and have been gone pretty much ever since, except for a couple of years in my mid 2os. The reason I used to think Wolfe was right about not being able to go home is that the home we return to isn't how, or what, we remember. The place changes.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-55706006328523093322008-11-05T22:24:00.000-08:002008-11-06T00:09:18.159-08:00

Television and the Internet can sometimes make the world seem like a very small place. It's easy to get the impression we all have shared experiences. We post our little burbs on our blogs and Facebook and MySpace pages, we Twitter and text and talk incessantly on cell phones. Communication is non-stop.We share data and details with those near and far. However, that doesn't mean there is true

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-87894914725624809582008-11-03T23:37:00.000-08:002008-11-04T00:15:19.487-08:00

I found out from my friend Karly's blog, that a couple of mutual friends and former colleagues had their first baby today. Congrats to Tom and Kara and their new baby girl, Lexi. There are photos on Tom and Kara's blog.I worked with Jose and Karly and Tom and Kara in Palm Springs. They are among about a billion former colleagues who seem to be expecting lately. Fortunately, I can stay caught up

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-33188215595644210082008-10-29T23:02:00.000-07:002008-10-29T23:23:49.894-07:00

My ballot and the voter's pamphlets sit a few feat away on a foot stool. Election Day is less that a week away. It may prove to be one of the most important elections of a generation, yet I find I'm not yet ready to mark my ballot.I miss going to the polls on Election Day. It feels more significant somehow to go to the polls and cast a vote. A vote at the polls seems more like I'm fulfilling a

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-23232181503169568122008-10-27T23:20:00.000-07:002008-10-27T23:22:50.956-07:00

Some days suck more than others. If a day of the week has to suck, it might as well be a Monday. But this may be a long lasting suckiness. Can I just go back to the weekend and live there for a while?

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-24323446138547214832008-10-26T23:30:00.000-07:002008-10-26T23:37:16.972-07:00

That day hiking all over the University of Oregon campus really took it out of me. I was pretty much a complete bum today. I got laundry and dishes done, but spent a lot of time camped out on the couch too.I was tired. Dog tired. Dead tired. And when I did get up to check the laundry or put clothes away, the muscles in my thighs protested at the strain of going from a seated to a standing

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-74711303324154404552008-10-25T20:37:00.000-07:002008-10-25T21:25:02.532-07:00

My daughter was one of hundreds, if not thousands, of high school students to take part in the University of Oregon college visitation today in Eugene. The Oregon campus was also host to the Society of Professional Journalists of Oregon and Southwest Washington's Build a Better Journalist conference.I had decided to go to the college visitation when I got an e-mail at work about the conference,

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-85701199010616458912008-10-24T19:33:00.000-07:002008-10-24T20:22:44.293-07:00

Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I wasn't a journalist. I used to be fond of saying, "I can always pump gas," based on my experience working for my dad when I was a teen. One of my jobs was servicing the airplanes, pickups and other rigs around the place. That involved pumping a lot of gas.For a decade I had to stop saying "I can always pump gas," because it didn't make since to anyone in

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-43559826324690238842008-10-22T22:40:00.000-07:002008-10-22T22:41:44.067-07:00

It wasn't my normal time of year to come home for a vacation. In the years I lived in California, it became my routine to come back to Oregon during my daughter's spring vacation, which was always close to her birthday. And whenever possible, I would try to come home as close to Christmas as possible.Why I came home in October eight years ago is lost to posterity. But for a change I came home

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-63439733157891675142008-10-21T20:53:00.000-07:002008-10-21T21:23:28.719-07:00

So the big date came and went and since I blabbed about it on here, it seems only right that I provide some sort of recap of the evening.The evening had all the ingredients for disaster, or at least a coronary episode on my part. What I neglected to mention in my first date post was that the meeting was arranged by my boss and my boss and his date were attending the same event I was, as were

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-23555039193904165652008-10-16T20:03:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:43:17.680-07:00

I have a date. I think. Sort of.Although, truth be told, I'm not sure I really know what a date is. I've never been much of a dater. So I may need clarification from more advanced and experienced daters out there.For me, the biggest dating issue has always been asking someone out for a first date. It's a two-pronged problem. I tend to be shy around women and suffer from a paralyzing fear of

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-15030601458093096712008-10-15T20:06:00.001-07:002008-10-15T20:20:45.775-07:00

I feel the need to write something extremely profound. To exhibit wisdom through well-chosen words. To engage people in dialogue that chances minds and alters beliefs.What I really need to achieve these goals is a ghost writer. Or maybe beer.Hopefully Google/Blogger don't implement a Blog Goggles system like they have with their Gmail Mail Goggles. Stringing words together is enough of a

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-70821146851583763432008-09-09T21:30:00.000-07:002009-12-17T22:29:11.929-08:00

I've never known much about my family history. I spent my early childhood in a small town in Nebraska that both of my parents' families had lived in for a long time. I knew one of my great grandparents. But I never really knew much about my family heritage. About all I knew was that my mom's side of the family was German and had come to America from Russia.That's all.My father's side has been a

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-35707114789629008712008-08-20T20:38:00.000-07:002008-08-20T20:46:18.066-07:00

Holy cow, I haven't posted here in ages, and to make my online live just a little crazier, I've added LinkedIn and Facebook account. How will I ever keep up?I held out as long as I could. I avoided LinkedIn and Facebook (and before that MySpace) well past the point where they were hip. But too many people I know are on those services. And I'm glad I've signed up, because at least it makes it

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-75568064073419840012008-07-01T23:46:00.000-07:002008-07-02T00:22:30.471-07:00

This upcoming weekend, the Fourth of July weekend, is one I've been looking forward to for a long time. Now, for some unexplained reason, I find myself having mixed emotions about it.I've been looking forward to it for months now because there is a reunion in my old hometown and I'm hoping to see a lot of old friends from school, many of whom I probably haven't seen in 20 years or more.Our school

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-3777115832827211712008-04-16T22:09:00.000-07:002008-04-16T22:27:12.019-07:00

I'm freaking out! Can the panic attack be far behind?OK, perhaps I am exaggerating, but I'm definitely feeling a higher level of anxiety than I have grown accustomed to experiencing.For people who have known me for most of a adult and professional life, this would wound a bit odd. I used to be one of those Type A folks. Long hours, long days, always pressing. That was my story.It worked pretty

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-88330822315532883072008-04-08T00:11:00.000-07:002008-04-08T00:49:26.811-07:00

It's rather amazing to find that when I have a life, and life it, I don't have much time to post to the blog.Last weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of taking my daughter out to lunch for her birthday. And while I did find time to write a post about that, I haven't spent much time in recreational writing since then.On Friday, a couple of friends and former coworkers were coming through Portland

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-89448322237177481682008-03-24T22:21:00.000-07:002008-03-24T22:54:06.788-07:00

It's one of those stories that makes you either fear for survival of the species, because people are too stupid to live, or make you fear for your own survival because people will take any opportunity to rip you off.Someone posted a couple of ads on Craigslist in Southern Oregon saying a homeowner had to leave quickly and his belongings were free for the taking. And given the power of Craigslist,

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-6637448097175081002008-03-19T23:01:00.000-07:002008-03-19T23:30:34.809-07:00

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is coming to Oregon at the end of the week and he is scheduled to make an appearance in Salem.According to the Statesman Journal website, tickets are required at his Salem appearance, but no more tickets are available.I don't talk about my politics, even with friends, so I won't say who I will be voting for in the Oregon primary or in November.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-76309137399073909902008-03-13T22:53:00.000-07:002008-03-13T23:22:08.645-07:00

I've had this urge. It's a craving. A pull. A need. It's a hunger that I have been unable to fulfill.I've had this urge to write. Not a work of fiction. Not something related to my job. Something more personal. But I haven't been able to start.It's sort of like when I have insomnia. No matter how tired I am, there are times when I can't bring myself to even try to sleep. It's been like that. I

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-73048985390607173102008-03-10T22:24:00.000-07:002008-03-10T23:06:16.008-07:00

This season's TV viewing has been pretty much a bust. The writer's strike left a lot of long winter nights without some familiar faces and video friends to keep us company.I'm currently watching the season finale of October Road. I find it ironic that the second season is ending after showing about one season's worth of shows since it's debut.In this strike-shortened year, it is an odd irony that

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-32994669474355309682008-03-07T20:22:00.001-08:002008-03-07T21:21:25.959-08:00

Something is wrong with the universe. I just finished a New York Times puzzle.Maybe it's one of their easy puzzles, I don't know. But that was pretty weird.I know a lot of people in my line of work -- newspaper journalists -- that are crossword puzzlers, but I never picked up the habit. One of my exes was something of a fanatic about her morning routine, which included doing (or at least

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-57482625167909182002008-03-06T23:09:00.000-08:002008-03-07T00:18:20.150-08:00

My efforts to polish my culinary skills (OK, the develop ANY cooking skills) have been derailed, at least momentarily.My grocery supply has run short, so I've reverted to some of my old ways the last few days. I've been eating out more often the last few days. I have no good excuse.I may have rediscovered why I never developed the habit of regularly eating at home. Did you realized that in order

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-19564619976075032992008-03-05T21:48:00.000-08:002008-03-05T21:56:16.611-08:00

I think my writer is broken. Every time I try to start a blog post, whatever I'm writing turns to mush and I either just leave it as a draft or delete what I have and start over. With more mush.That's the only explanation I can think of. Something has to be broken. It couldn't be that I have nothing relevant to say, could it?Nah, that can't be it.My writer-thingy must be broken.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-76135136252734098222008-03-03T21:10:00.000-08:002008-03-03T21:39:59.675-08:00

I saw this video earlier today (first posted on a site called LiveLeak.com) and it made me glad I wasn't on this plane. But it did remind me of a hairy takeoff several years ago from Ontario International Airport.That particular adventure was on a Southwest Airlines flight. I was traveling with three coworkers up to Sacramento to help our sister paper in Marysville cover a flood. We were like the

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-74619655484635511832008-03-03T18:26:00.000-08:002009-02-03T22:55:41.466-08:00

Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey could make a guitar weep, or roar. His unconventional playing style, holding the guitar across his lap, allowed him to make one instrument sound like many. But sadly, now that guitar is silent.Jeff Healey died Sunday in Toronto at age 41.I can't claim to be an expert on music, or even Healey's music, but I am proud to be a fan of his blues/rock. I got to see Healey

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-50440995069952500322008-02-28T23:37:00.000-08:002008-02-29T00:04:54.405-08:00

It's almost Friday. Feb. 29. We get an extra day this year for Leap Year. I'm thinking I should do something special to make use of this bonus day.Do people do anything special for Leap Year? Do people schedule parties for Leap Year? To make it a tad more special, the bonus day is on a Friday.I'm open to suggestions for what to do with the extra day. Maybe a special dinner or a movie or

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-64687446699632052802008-02-27T23:31:00.000-08:002008-02-27T23:59:33.108-08:00

Is this a sign of another Eastern Oregon Internet celebrity?Hey, towns like Hermiston, Ore., don't warrant much of a mention from the likes of the Oregonian, unless it relates to the chemical weapons being incinerated near there. But who cares about the Oregonian, this puppy's (or Bulldog) has apparently been feature on ESPN baby! Come to think of it, Dick Vitale would fit right in in Hermiston.I

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-61783744880824270142008-02-26T19:21:00.000-08:002008-02-28T23:16:09.322-08:00

The mayor of the tiny town of Arlington, Ore., got dooced this week by her constituents. See the full story from the East Oregonian.Some people just have no sense of humor. Come on, just how many mayors would anyone want to see in their underwear on a fire truck?There are mayors embroiled in even bigger scandals than this one. Like the mayor of Detroit, Mich. And remember Marion Barry?Well, I

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-7194715155461026132008-02-20T21:19:00.000-08:002008-02-20T21:38:44.273-08:00

I added a new blog to my list of links. It's called Black and Khaki. The blog belongs to a friend, Mark Crummett, from the ol' college days.Mark and I worked together at the college newspaper at Oregon State, the Daily Barometer. That was back in the days when my journalistic pursuits involved cameras and lenses. I was fortunate to be a staff photographer when Mark was the photo editor there.

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-33508992814750973222008-02-07T21:49:00.000-08:002008-02-07T22:24:13.760-08:00

I stopped at the grocery store after work. There was more grocery shopping. I think I've bought groceries more this year than I have in the last several years combined. And I've certainly fixed more of my own meals that I have since, well, ever.I'm got quite a little string going. But I've come to a a realization. Two actually.The first is that I need more cookware. My one skillet and two pans

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-15509919243010733352008-02-05T18:53:00.000-08:002008-02-05T18:59:38.335-08:00

Check out my beads! I hope you are all enjoying this Fat Tuesday, aka, Mardi Gras day. And this Super Tuesday election day. May your candidate win, or may the liquor hold out long enough that you just don't care anymore!

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-33992217063368319662008-01-29T23:00:00.000-08:002008-01-29T23:13:18.786-08:00

There's snow outside my window. Not a lot, but some. Snow in the Willamette Valley is not good. People here don't know how to handle slick roads. There has been snow in surrounding areas for the last couple of mornings, prompting a flurry (if you'll pardon the pun) of snow closures and traffic problems.I knew there are those who love snow. It's so white and pretty. I've never been a big fan. Not

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-21168267126092643682008-01-24T21:05:00.001-08:002008-01-24T23:53:32.005-08:00

I saw a woman today in the lobby of my office. She was sitting in the reception area. I don't know why she was there. I didn’t know her, but she reminded me of someone I once knew.A name and a face flashed into my mind. The name of the woman the mysterious visitor reminded me of was Kim. I haven't seen, or thought of, Kim in many years.Kim was the source of my infatuation in junior high. She may

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-32221429580505567372008-01-22T23:36:00.000-08:002008-01-23T00:16:28.710-08:00

The world absolutely must be coming to an end. You know how I can tell? I've been to grocery stores four times in a little over a week. To make it even more stunning, I actually bought groceries, for me -- my refrigerator, my cupboards.As if that weren't a sure enough sign of the Apocalypse, I've actually been cooking. So between the meals I've cooked for myself, and the far superior home-cooked

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-18281665789675114102008-01-19T01:23:00.000-08:002008-01-19T01:37:20.950-08:00

The check was in the mail. I got it this week. From the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. It was for a grand total of 80 cent.I'm not sure if it's worth the gas to drive to the band to deposit it. The irony is the check is to cover mileage for my jury duty.While I appreciate the gesture, I'm not sure as a taxpayer that I think the cost of issuing and 80 cent check and paying 31 cents

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-22682318762242502972008-01-18T00:16:00.000-08:002008-01-18T01:01:57.191-08:00

The scandal involving the Arlingon, Ore., mayor's myspace photo controversy will spill over onto national TV today. An interview with the mayor, Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, is scheduled to air tonight (Friday, Jan. 18) an ABC's 20/20.The mayor has refused calls for her resignation. I'm not sure what folks are so upset about. The mayor has put that tiny burg (population 524 in the 2000 Census), on

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-44576576946675896742008-01-16T00:27:00.000-08:002008-01-16T00:39:41.273-08:00

I'm not real good at planning my errands. I always thing on my way home that I'll have plenty of time to run out later, after I've vegged out a bit, had a bite to eat and unwound from the day. I knew I needed to stop at a story on my way home from work but didn't. So, there I was at midnight, venturing out for my delayed errand. Fortunately, there is a Circle K nearby with precisely what I

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-31410974034742530192008-01-15T00:36:00.000-08:002008-01-15T00:55:12.362-08:00

There is a story out on the Associated Press wire about a woman who died while on a cross-country journey with her family. They were traveling in an RV and the woman died while crossing Wyoming. I've only felt like I might die while crossing Wyoming, but she actually went and did it. But the family didn't stop. They continues on their journey to Oregon before reporting the death.The story reminds

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-27879385849771329722008-01-13T14:20:00.000-08:002008-01-13T14:36:17.532-08:00

I was looking around online and found out that there is a new chapter here in Salem for the Willamette Writers group. I've never really considered myself I writer, even though I do some writing now and again. But for some reason I am intrigued about possibly attending one of the local chapter's gatherings.If nothing else, it may be a way to meet some new people in town.I guess it depends on what

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-8677589757624502482008-01-11T18:16:00.000-08:002008-01-11T18:41:08.826-08:00

I survived jury duty without having to bear responsibility for tossing someone in jail or costing someone money in a criminal fine or civil judgment. The only cost, really, was a few hours of boredom and 3 hours of work time lost.On the positive side, I got caught up on reading some trade magazines, namely Quill from the Society of Professional Journalists and checking out the Best of

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-88520346449134500252008-01-09T18:56:00.000-08:002008-01-09T20:52:27.412-08:00

I've got jury duty tomorrow. I can't really say I'm looking forward to it. Coworkers tell me that the the court I've been called to tries to keep trials to one day as much as possible, so maybe I'll only have to spend a day at the courthouse. But we'll see.I wonder if it would be inappropriate to blog from the jury room?

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-25068529134339064562008-01-07T23:06:00.000-08:002008-01-08T01:48:00.940-08:00

"Every last one, route one, rural heart's got a story to tellEvery grandma, in-law, ex-girlfriendMaybe knows you just a little too well;Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jailHey words gonna get around;Everybody dies famous in a small town"-- "Famous in a Small Town" by Miranda LambertOne of my favorite sayings since returning to my home state a couple of years ago is that Oregon

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731724856270093200.post-18103885632748924712008-01-06T00:21:00.000-08:002008-01-06T00:25:27.920-08:00

There maybe be some stuff I don't want to post on the family blog I'm affiliated with, so I decided I'd start a personal one. This is that blog. We'll see how that goes.I have a start going to a list of blog links, which includes a couple blogs by people I used to work with in California who are now living here in the Pacific Northwest. So, I'll keep looking for new blogs to add and new ideas for

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11574747707702588774noreply@blogger.com0