Thursday, June 4, 2009

Hello Again

Wow, it's been a while since posting.

What's been going on around here for the past couple of weeks? Well a certain amount of the same old, same old. Work has been ridiculously slow lately. Not a good thing for this time of year. It's been good for the honey-do list, but not for the checking account. Hopefully that will be changing real soon.

The boys are counting down the days. . . make that the hours until school lets out. Next Tuesday is the final day of the year, and it also happens to be Matthew's ninth birthday. That's kind of a nice present don't you think?

We kicked off the camping season last weekend by heading out to one of our favorite destinations, Pacific City, Oregon. The temperatures inland were in the upper eighties so a trip to the coast where the temps were in the mid sixties was a nice break. We spent the better part of Saturday on the beach having fun and doing our best to get sun burned. We succeeded at both.

Later in the evening the couple who were camped next to us came over and we sat around the camp fire chatting and getting to know one another. Found out they live in a town about fifteen miles from us. Really nice people too. We've already exchanged a couple of emails, and talked about meeting again during the summer for another camp trip.

That's always been one of the things I enjoy about camping; getting to know other people. I recently saw an ad, I believe it was on TV, that said camping was the original social networking site. That made me chuckle and at the same time, nod my head in agreement.

This weekend will be a guys trip. I'm loading up the boys right after school and we're heading up to Fort Stevens for the weekend. This is a great place for exploring. It was used between the civil war and WWII as an military outpost to protect the Columbia River where it meets the Pacific Ocean. All the concrete bunkers are still there and make for some pretty cool exploration. There's also an old shipwreck on the beach to check out, a lake for fishing at and miles of bike and walking trails. Needless to say the boys are excited, then again, so is Lisa. A whole weekend with the house to herself!

I'll be sure to bring my camera and snap some photos to share next week.

Talk with you soon.

18 comments:

Jules~ said...

Hi there Jeff. Good to hear all is going so well. School days almost over with.....yep my Puddin' has had a count down list going on her bedroom door. Pippin's last day was last Friday because of senior rights. She has really enjoyed being at home with me this week.
Have fun at Ft Stevens. I love that ship wreck. My favorite is to go take pictures of it in the early morning.

quilly said...

I remember that shipwreck on the beach from when I was a kid! I hope you and your boys come home with at least as many wonderful memories as I have or my time on that beach!

Anonymous said...

Great post and thanks for sharing. I bet you and the boys have a great time. How fun to have an outdoor adventure. Maybe you might run into Jack Sparrow :) Aloha

Sandi McBride said...

There's nothing better than making new friends when you're off from home and finding that they're close enough to visit if you want, but far enough away not to if the mood doesn't strike you! Hope the work picks up soon!!
Sandi

Sandee said...

Enjoy the camping trip with the boys. It's time for a well earned rest and some great exploring.

Have a terrific weekend. :)

katherine. said...

I'm sure Lisa appreciates a couple days of respite before the summer schedule begins!

I think however....considering how her birthday weekend played out...maybe you should plan to have Psycho Mom hang with the boys...and you take Lisa someplace nice for a few days.

picture me waving to you all

Desert Songbird said...

June 9th is your son's 9th birthday? It's my son's 10th birthday! Imagine that! My kids have been out of school since May 21st, and I'm ready to kill them already. *sigh* It's going to be a looooooooooong summer.

buffalodick said...

Sounds like a great time with your sons... I miss that, now that mine are grown! We did a lot together, but now it seems like we could have done more...

Jeff B said...

Jules- Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us. What a wild one we had yesterday afternoon.

Quilly- The last time we were there Matthew was too young to remember being there. Should be different this time though.

Thom- Might have to bring along a black flag and eye patch just in case.

Sandi- Good point about the distance. I remember camping as a kid and how we'd meet other people all the time. Something about that group of people that seems to bring out the friendly ones.

Sandee- I have a feeling I'll need more rest after this weekend. Looks like a full schedule ahead.

Katherine- that sounds like an excellent idea. Adult time. . . I vaguely remember that feeling.

Songbird- He turns 9 on the 9th in 09. Kind of a neat numbers coincidence. Hang in there, only three more months till school starts again.

Buffalo- From the bits you've shared about family life, I'm thinking you did a great job as a dad.


***Thanks for the comments. I'll check back in after the trip***

Akelamalu said...

Sounds like you had a great time camping and met some nice people. Have a great weekend exploring. :)

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

HI JEFF!

Sounds like a fun trip - can't wait to see the pictures.

OH, and I saw that commercial also.

Dana said...

Good to see you Jeff! I'm trying to get my family into camping, but so far I've been unsuccessful. I have so many wonderful childhood memories of camping, it's difficult to not want to pass that on!

Travis Cody said...

Sounds like a grand expedition for the weekend. Enjoy!

Ron said...

Have a GREAT time, buddy!

The camping trip sounds like a BLAST. Can't wait to see your photos!

Later gator!!

The Teamster said...

the social network of camping is always enjoyable...although i'm social everywhere...enjoy the weekend with "the boys"...

Mel said...

Ohhhhhh......bugs and snakes and rocks and poison ivy and STUFF!

:-)

Happy birthday to the kiddo!!

Roan said...

The only camping I've done is in a pup tent in the back yard, many moons ago. Hubby's out of school for the summer, too. It will be difficult to head off to work each day while swallowing my jealousy. Have fun!

Nessa said...

All of my men are doing a boy's weekend (early Father's Day) the weekend of the 12th while I host my daughter's baby shower.

Camping is a great way to get away and meet people.