Dusting off the bikes

Bike clothes are BY FAR the goofiest, most unflattering athletic clothes I know. Even lean, handsome guys (and their equally good looking sons) barely look passable.....it's a whole new level of low for less than perfect others.

The good news -- we got out on the bikes today and it wasn't TOO painful. Then Yogi and I headed up the hill for a jog/walk. Man, oh man, am I tired! It's going to be a tough 12 weeks of training....

Home grown salad

We had fresh greens -- lettuce, parsley and oregano -- from our garden tonight! What a treat! Can hardly wait until the tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and chives are ready.

Planning for the Senior's Tour

Mickey and I hit the driving range this afternoon....
It's been a couple of years since we've been there and we have much to do before we can get on the Senior Tour.
We always go to the last available tee's as Mickey has a tendency to need a backstop for an occasional slice (or is it hook). Whichever it is, it keeps us on our toes!

The very tired clean-up crew

It was great party!

We had rain, 75+ people, showers, 1,000+ shrimp, 60+ oysters on the half shell, drizzle, 100+ barbequed oysters, rain squalls, salads, liquid sunshine, and desserts.
At 3:45, as Ken, Mickey and I watched the rain run down the driveway in waves and rivulets, we made the decision to move the tables to the garage and take cover with everything else. Food table was set up in the basement, drink table just outside the back door and shrimp cooked under cover of the loft deck. Oyster cooking stayed at the hot tub deck and folks ventured down during breaks in the weather. These are true northwest party goers that enjoy a great party and weather be damned.

BTW, the candle holders out on the deck had been emptied about 2 hours before the photo.

The weather goddess is messing with us

It's the night before our big Shrimp party (75 people confirmed) and this is how much rain has accumulated in the past 36 hours......

Kitsap Tri-Babe training begins

Tonight I went to the "meet & greet" orientation meeting for the Kitsap Tri-Babes. I will comPLETE (as compared with comPETE) the Danskin Triathalon in Seattle on August 20th.
I completed it last year and in a moment of delusion this Spring, decided to sign up again for this year's event. I'll train with a bunch of (close to 100) local women over the next 12 weeks (including Stephanie).

Guess it's time to dust off the bike, clean the running shoes, and (eeekkkkkk!) get the bathing suit out from the back of the closet. More, much more to follow!....

Happy Hailey!

Yesterday I get a mystery email that I ALMOST deleted, thinking it was spam. Then I realized it was from Steph's cell phone!

Sunday morning shopping at Fred Meyer

Mickey and I had a little shopping excursion to Fred Meyer (re: WalMart, Target, etc) early this morning. Buying "stuff" for the party,etc. We've talked about getting a few extra chairs for down by the fire pit, so we had to try all the offerings.

Container ships in Hood Canal?

What the hell? ... a couple of 'mini' container ships have been crusing up and down in front of the house the last couple of days. We are wildly perplexed about what they are doing? ... homeland security? boat races? lost in Hood Canal? hmmmm....

My second least favorite cleaning chore

As we get ready for the annual Shrimp party (one week from today), I start cleaning with a frenzy. This morning I tackled the ovens. Yuck!

Yes, Yes, I know about self cleaning ovens...I just don"t believe they clean as well as elbow grease. (BTW, what IS elbow grease?)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOGI!

FIVE YEARS OLD TODAY!

Catch Shrimp; Eat Shrimp

One must come off the boat after a tough 4 hours of Shrimping and have some of the fresh catch. Keith, Chuck, Don and Mickey enjoy an afternoon treat...with their mascot by their side hoping something (anything) will be dropped. What a life!

James' Graduation Weekend

Mickey and I went to Syracuse this past weekend for my nephew/godson's graduation from Syracuse University. A few highlights:

• Friday's 7:00am flight cancelled due to mechanical problems
• 10:30 flight delayed by 4 hours
• Baggage lost for 2 of the 3-1/2 days
• we now know how long Mickey is allowed to go without changing his socks
  
• went shopping for underwear, socks and other essentials
• 3,500 graduates; Billy Joel gave commencement address
• a whole bunch of family, sibling time (sometimes TOO much family time)
• proud parents; proud aunt & uncle
• Picked up a tired Yogi on Monday afternoon
• Mickey was mowing the lawn by 3pm
• Glad we made the trip!
  

Hailey on the run

Hailey likes to run where ever she goes, especially if someone tells her to stop. We had Steph's family over for Mother's Day and Hailey had a great time playing with everyone.

Mother's Day 2006

How do I get into this Jeep?

If I can get this thing running I bet my cousin will come and play with me.
Ok, I'll check back here to see if there's anything wrong with the 4 X 4.
I really like hanging out with my cousin Annalise, we both have red hair......

Yogi at the dog-sitter

We dropped Yogi off at Ron & Tomie's house this afternoon where he will be for the next several days. Gabe, Molly and Shelby (and a mystery dog whom we've never met because he's always inside) welcome him to the pack.

He thinks the dogs are okay but he LOVES Tomie as she let's him sleep on their bed, lie on the couch, eat ice cream from their bowls, etc.

An early Mother's Day present for Florence

Since we will be gone for Mother's Day, Mickey and I went over to Florence's today and did a little work around the yard. Mickey swept all the pine needles off the roof and then trimmed the hedge. I "fluffed" and cleaned the pots on her front porch and added some pretty plants that she could see from her kitchen table.

She was quite happy to have all the attention.

Head Shrimper and his homies!

Mickey and a couple of his skiing buddies tried their hand at another sport -- SHRIMPING. They were a pretty funny, motley crew that headed out at 8:30 this morning. They showed up several hours later with more shrimp to add to the bounty currently being frozen in anticipation of our party in 2-1/2 weeks!

The Shrimp is back for the Summer!

Another Spring ritual

Every Spring, one of Mickey's many rituals is to powerwash and re-seal all the decks. It started today. Stubbs and Yogi were NOT happy with the noise and the fact that one of their many 'nests' around the house was disturbed!

Our Anniversary

Yesterday was our anniversary and we decided to take a drive around the canal....ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CANAL.

We stopped at the Alderbrook Hotel (wow!) near Union, then dropped in at the Hoodsport Winery and sampled some fairly good local wine (and then bought a case of said local wine). We checked out the fresh Shrimp being sold on the Indian Reservation (as a possible back-up plan for the Shrimp Party in 2 weeks).

Can you tell we couldn't find anyone to take a picture of us TOGETHER?! But I did get a shot about half way across the Hood Canal bridge.

A wonderfully, delightful, lovely day spent together....

SIT...Hailey...SIT!

Ken, Stephanie and Hailey stayed for dinner tonight (Shrimp Fettucini, of course!). Before dinner was ready, Hailey went into one of the MANY food drawers at her level and grabbed a container of cashews that she promptly brought to "Gampa" to open and serve to her and Yogi. Before Yogi was allowed any, he was told to "SIT".... Hailey thought she was suppose to obey the same instructions!

Two minutes till Fresh Shrimp...YUM!

The front office crew (aka the de-headers)

Thankfully, we now have a pot puller!

Okay, this looks a good spot.! Let it drop!

Where is the hell are we going to set the pots...?...

...especially when the depth finder has decided not to work....

The coolest bouys on Hood Canal

My great-niece, and God-daughter, Samantha, spent the night with us and will be Shrimping with us today. We had some final details to complete last night, including "decorating" the new buoys.

Then we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for Cinco de Mayo festivities. We got some Budweiser & Tequila promo plastic necklaces. We let Yogi wear the Bling when we got home. Needless to say, he is in heaven having a kid around!

Da-Ta-Da!!!! The Boat Shed