Camouflage and Christmas Lights

Christmas in Heaven

Singer Sarah Schieber was introduced to this song shortly after she lost her husband last October. Had to share.

The 12Ks of Christmas

my 12K's of Christmas - 5K results

Didn't beat any speed records but how fun! Didn't get passed by too many puppies this time but did stop to visit with a few. This 5k had another gang of tutu girls who left me in the dust. Darn tutu girls!

Jim was a great coach and cheerleader. And he is joining me for the Saint Patrick's Day Dash!

Thanksgiving again

Brother John is home!

Saint Francis and the Canticle of the Creatures

OK, I still don't have the the proper words of Thanksgiving, but Saint Francis's words are pretty beautiful.

The Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong;
no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun,
who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
of You Most High, he bears your likeness.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,
fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.

We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night.
He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,
who sustains us
with her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs.

We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,
for love of You bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
by You Most High, they will be crowned.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in their sins!
Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.

We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Today and every day

So much to be thankful for, so few words to properly express the depth of my gratitude for all the blessings and even the challenges in my life.

This is dedicated to Brother John

In honor of great news! Thanks to Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jules Bass and Chris for the idea.

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn

Pumpkin Pie at the Run Scared 5k

Had fun and beat my own best time, but even got passed by some of the dogs!!!!
I think I may be a - - - - - dragonboater!

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

This was our book club selection for September. As I said in an email, I hated this book so much I read it twice because it was so well written.

This is the violent, dark story of "the kid" who joins the army, deserts (I think) and encounters death and savagery everywhere he goes. According to Wikipedia:

The narrative follows a teenage runaway referred to only as "the kid", with the bulk of the text devoted to his experiences with the Glanton gang, a historical group of scalp hunters who massacred Indians and others in the United States–Mexico borderlands in 1849 and 1850. The role of antagonist is gradually filled by Judge Holden, a large, intelligent man depicted as entirely devoid of body hair and emblematic of violence and conflict

.
Why is McCarthy telling this story? Why did I get caught up in the imagery in this story? Why does McCarthy throw in Spanish language dialogue with no translation and why does that technique work so well for him? Why did I find "the kid" and "the judge" both fascinating characters even though there is nothing heroic or redeeming about them?

Here's one small example of McCarthy's wonderful way with words:

They saw patched argonauts from the states driving mules through the streets on their way south throught the mountains to the coast. Goldseekers. Itinerant degenerates bleeding westward like some heliotropic plague.

I think I will need to read Mr. McCarthy's bio to try to find out what is going on in his head. I think I will have to read No Country for Old Men and give The Road another chance. I think I will have to find out when the movie of Blood Meridian is due so I can hate that too!

More Romey Adventures

Daddy is home from Crazy, Stupid, Love premiere in Australia. Looks like they're having a great time.

Meanwhile down in LA ........

Nephew Romey is still being too cute!

Canada Dry Victoria Dragonboat Festival

Habu Sake had a blast and got a silver in the "consolation" division.


This is the view from Coach Bill's boat of our fellow Sake team (Hot Sake) fighting to the finish.

Book Club Wednesday night

Had sparkling cider to celebrate Claire's wonderful health news, but alas no Claire. Claire - we are all so happy for you.

Celebrated late birthdays, soon-to-be-born babies, and even death as a beautiful if often denied fact of life.

Crazy, Stupid, Love get two thumbs up from Sister and Ebert

It was smart, funny, sweet, raunchy (in a good way), well-acted and especially well-directed! Love the wonderful surprises. Love the Gregory Heights school name since that's the name of our childhood grade school. Love the acting. Love the life affirming message.

Crazy, Stupid, Love coverage in the Seattle Times

Moira McDonald of the Seattle Times wrote a great review of the movie last week. Today, The Times carried her article about the local connection (Brother John). Article even mentions Dad and how he used to work with the Dad of one of actresses at the premiere. Here's the link to the article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2015747808_crazy31.html?prmid=head_main

Saturday Night at the Aquasox

Boating group met for BBQ, then Aquasox baseball game. Lots of fun and crowd participation. Jim won the auction for autographed team manager's jersey. Auction benefited Japanese Tsunami relief.

Countdown to Crazy, Stupid, Love

John's movie opens at 12:01 tonight! Warner Brothers has been publicizing the heck out of this movie. So proud of little brother. Chris started an office pool about what the opening week-end box office totals will be. I'm in for 250 million! Whatever the totals, seeing my brother realize his dreams is priceless!

First 5k

I'm registered! Seward Park on October 30. Have the Brooks running shoes, thanks to my cute equipment manager (Jim)and some training ideas thanks to Niece Emily and the great people at Running Elements in Bellevue.

By the way, a wonderful extra motivator: the race benefits the Lymphoma Association. That is the disease which took the life of my mother-in-law Beth just 3 months after Jim and I were married.

More premiere pics stolen from Beautiful Sister Stacy's facebook page

With our beloved Pop

With Steve Carell

With Emma Stone

With Ryan Gosling

Here's the link to the movie website:
http://crazystupidlove.warnerbros.com/index.html

THE PREMIERE

John's Crazy Stupid Love premiered in New York last night. Opening all over July 29. Beautiful Sister Stacy and the folks were there and Stacy sent some pictures.

Scenes from a Huli drill

Huli is the term for tipping a dragon boat over. Or to borrow from Jim's joke it also means "how long can you tread water?"

Here we are in the water

Here's Jim (in yellow) safe on the dock.

Here's Jim jumping back into the water to help rescue the boat.

Everyone was fine. Stacy apparently had fun!

A greyt story

This is one email I just had to pass on .....

Subject: Fw: Great story...

In 2003, police in Warwickshire , England , opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. The dog had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had quite clearly been abused.

In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a female greyhound, to the Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, which is run by a man named Geoff Grewcock, and known as a haven for animals abandoned, orphaned, or otherwise in need.

Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims: to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved. They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.



Jasmine, however, had other ideas. No one quite remembers how it came about, but Jasmine started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It would not matter if it were a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting animal. Jasmine would just peer into the box or cage and, when and where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.

Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre, and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."

"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them, and it helps them to not only feel close to her, but to settle into their new surroundings. She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs, and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."



Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, fifteen chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and fifteen rabbits - and one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, eleven weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster-mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the roe deer with affection, and makes sure nothing is matted.



"They are inseparable," says Geoff. "Bramble walks between her legs, and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary. It's a real treat to see them."



Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.



Pictured from the left are: "Toby", a stray Lakeland dog; "Bramble", orphaned roe deer; "Buster", a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; "Sky", an injured barn owl; and "Jasmine", with a mother's heart doing best what a caring mother would do...and such is the order of God's Creation.

And, just in case you wondered, Snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/jasmine.asp verified the truth of this wonderful story and the reality of these photographs which accompany the story.

So you can pass this story on, and maybe make someone else's day to be just a little brighter!

Dragon boat capsizes on Thursday, Team has fun at Kent race Saturday

On Thursday, our Habu dragon boat team, ignoring signs that were obvious in retrospect, took the boat out and capsized. Scary moments re the new member's daughter's life jacket issues on one side and hysterical new teammate on the other side.

Meanwhile our junior team capsized further south. More scary moments as some of our team had kids on that boat! All ended well, they were rescued by fire, police and local residents. And they made TV and newpaper news!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015541454_boatcrash08m.html

Yesterday had a race at Lake Meridian. Had tons of fun with new and old friends.


Heading to the dock for a race.

The loading/unloading area.

Habu (in the background)in a race. Yes, that's a parrot on Captain/Tiller Bill's head!

Our junior team (in yellow)obviously recovered from their dunking on Thursday. They beat us old folks (in the background) in a preliminary race and made it to the finals.

Mon Pere (Dad)

Happy Dad's Day to Dad, Dad-in-law Mac and all the other great Dads out there.

My nephews the graduates

I shamelessly stole this picture from my sister. Beau graduated from high school on Friday. Ben on the far left just graduated from the UW in Electrical Engineering. Congratulations to two wonderful young men!!!!!

Like Daddy, like son

GPI in the news

I found out that the PI has a canine chat blog. The author was at GPI's meet and greet at the Kirkland Home Show and wrote a very wonderful post about us. Here's some of it:

I have an affinity for all dogs of course and sighthounds make the short list. I am drawn to the sweet, rocketship Greyhound that in essence is really a cuddly couch potato. Yes, they are fast, 40 miles per hour fast but their preference is to relax, curled up on your sofa.

Greyhounds lucky enough to find their way to a rescue organization usually come off the race track due to the fact they were not winners or have outlived their usefulness. Their fate was always euthanasia before rescue groups evolved. Many still end up destroyed.

Greyhound Pets, Inc.
I recently met this Greyhound group at a local event. Fell in love with these dogs, the organization and the doting hound parents who also volunteer for this organization. Greyhound Pets, Inc is a non profit group founded in 1985. It has found homes for 5200 retired racing hounds from tracks and farms across the U.S. These sweet dogs are spayed and neutered, up to date on vaccinations, treated for parasites, and given an exam by a veterinarian. This non profit is a no kill shelter.

Adjustment Period
Former racing hounds have lived in kennels all their lives. These sweet dogs have never been in a house until a foster or forever home, don’t know what stairs are, and don’t understand sliding glass doors or slick floors. They do require an acclimation period to life outside a kennel or barn.

These eager to please, quiet, sweet canines, are low key. Some are very playful and others need your help learning how to play. They need daily walks even if they live in a home with a fenced yard. Apartment or condo life is ok as long as they get daily walks. They have short fur, do shed, are wash and wear dogs and could use a nice coat in cold or wet weather as they virtually no fat to keep them warm. Greyhounds usually live 12-15 years and most of these adoptable dogs are around 2-5 years old when they are surrendered to rescue.

I highly recommend looking into this breed.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/caninechat/

Words of comfort

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (New International Version)

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

One of the blogs I love to read is Bowen's Heart. The writer is a singer whose son has a serious heart condition. The father was talking about a funeral and how he thought this bible quote was very applicable to that day. I think it applies to many other situations including fear of getting old or as a friend was today, dealing with grief and depression.

I think this blog is turning into a do-it-yourself bible study for me but that's the joy of blogging - one can write about what is meaningful to them and what helps them.

He's a natural

Nephew Romey in LA loves his tae kwondo classes!

Business park geese

Ran across these babys while waiting to pick up Jim at his office.

Forgiveness

Chris shared this very timely and very true article on the subject of forgiveness. I really needed this today. I put a link on the right side of the blog to the daily motivator. This Ralph Marston is also a very wise man. OK, enough of the sermons, I know.

The power of forgiveness
Inflicting pain on someone else cannot do anything to ease your own pain. When you have been hurt, there is nothing to be gained by passing the hurt on to another.

When others have caused you pain, give forgiveness. Sincere forgiveness is the fastest way to begin moving positively forward again.

Forgiveness does not mean that you agree with or condone whatever has been done. It means that you no longer choose to let those past actions hold you back.

Your willingness to forgive does not mean that you are willing to be hurt again. In fact, forgiveness frees you to take positive steps that will make you stronger and much less vulnerable.

When you feel the desire for revenge, stop and remind yourself that there is a much more powerful response. Forgiveness is the way to put yourself in the best possible position.

Can you find the strength to forgive? Forgive, and you will surely grow stronger.

— Ralph Marston



Read more: http://greatday.com/motivate/070308.html#ixzz1LM6z0bbG

William and Kate's wedding: A beautiful dress and a memorable sermon

So, got up at 2:30 am to watch the royal wedding and definitely was glad I did. Westminster Abbey was breathtaking as was Kate's dress. I had the sound down so as not to disturb my loving husband, so it was not until the next night that I heard the singing and this incredible sermon. Wise words indeed!

DR. RICHARD CHARTRES, LORD BISHOP OF LONDON: Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire. So said Saint Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be. Their deepest and their truest selves.


Many people are fearful at the prospects for our world, but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one. This is a joyful day. It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations. Because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.


In a sense, every wedding is a royal wedding, with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together, so that life can flow through them into the future. William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. And in the spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each other. And spiritual life grows as love finds its center beyond ourselves, faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this. The more we give of self, the richer we become in soul. The more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage, we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.


It is, of course, very hard to ween ourselves away from self- centeredness, and people can dream of doing such a thing. But that the hope should be fulfilled, it is necessary that a solemn decision is made, that whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love. You have both made your decision today. I will. And by making this new relationship, you've aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.


We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely the power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence for life, for the earth, and for one another.


Marriage should transform as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform so long as we don't harbor ambitions to refault (ph) our partners. There must be no coercion if the spirit is the flow. Each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase. "When mastery cometh, the god of love anon beated his wings. And farewell, he is gone."


As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there's been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive. We need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light, and this leads on to a family life, which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace.


I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen. That way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day. "God, our father, we thank you for our families, for the love that we share, and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day, keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life, and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ, and we all say amen."


ASSEMBLY: Amen.
[Automatically translated by Microsoft® Translator]

He is risen!

Prayer for Easter
The Lord of life has risen with power,
bringing with him love and justice,
respect, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The One who from nothingness
had called the world into existence,
only he could break the seals of the tomb,
only he could become the source of New Life.
- Pope John Paul II

Happy blessed Easter to everyone!

Yup, Easter Fun

Easter fun?

Nephew Romey in LA isn't sure what to make of this easter egg dying business!!!!!!!!!!!

Where in the world is Emily?

Hi Jonathan, Nicholas and Kate. While your mom was here, we showed her around Seattle. Know she missed you guys though.


At the Experience Music Project.


At the duck tour bus. It took us all around Seattle, even on the water.


At the International Fountain at Seattle Center.

The trailer is here!, the trailer is here!

John's Crazy Stupid Love is due for a July New York premier.



Here's the URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDLhjm-0rJQ

Mac and Emma

Couldn't resist "borrowing" my in-laws picture of father-in-law Mac meeting his 7th great-grand child. Welcome Emma Claire. Congratulations to Mark and Katie.

Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.

— William Wordsworth

I seem to be on a non-fiction kick but it really can be more dramatic and more inspiring than fiction. This is the story of Deo and the atrocities he experiences as he gets caught up in the violence between the Tutsis and the Hutus in Burundi. We then follow Deo through refugee camps and then to the United States where he goes from sleeping in Central Park to college graduate. He is eventually able to return and help his people. His story is amazing and Tracy Kidder's information on the Tutsi/Hutu war is fascinating.

Another gem from the JA Jance blog - Il Divo and Amazing Grace

My favorite author was sharing how much this hymn meant to her, partly because it was played at her brother's funeral. It means a lot to me, mostly because of the incredible story of the former slavetrader and how God used him to create probably the most beautiful, comforting hymn ever.

The greys are TV stars again

Moira, Mary and the pups were on New Day NW today! Here's the intro to the segment on the King5 website:

Moira Corrigan and Mary Gibbons from Greyhound Pets, Inc. talked with Margaret about the benefits of adopting a retired greyhound and why they make such good pets. They brought with them Addie (Moira's dog) and Royal, who retired from racing in Oklahoma and is now looking for a family to spend her golden years.

Happy Birthday Dad!

We love you!

Happy Birthday Romey!

Romey celebrated with a trip to LegoLand. Not sure if this pool was at LegoLand or elsewhere, but looks like he had a great time today!

AZ Trip - Nascar

Jim with Carl Edward's Nationwide car

Jeff Gordon's car ended up winning the big race on Sunday.