Hello from Canyonville

Hi everyone - things are good here. The weather is finally drying up and getting warmer! Of course, my yard has no flowers - by choice - the deer will have to dine elsewhere.

Frank leaves for his camping trip today and will be gone until the first week in June. He is ready!!! Kelti and I will hold down the fort (when we are here). My schedule for classes and shows is pretty full - so we will be on the road also.

Work is getting busier now. We are implementing a new LIMS system on the computer that will actually make our work of logging in and tracking and recording sampling data much easier (once we learn it). So it will be a little more stressful at work than ususal for a while.

Our Bend lab should be fully certified by this Friday and then they can start doing their own Drinking Water Analysis instead of sending everything to us. They are very happy about that!

And yes, I know it is hard to believe, but I did behave myself EAster Sunday at Ian's parent's home - I didn't get too loud or fart or anything. I didn't even pick my nose!!! I made Dobrina proud. See - she CAN take me anywhere........well maybe!!!!! (ha ha)

All is better at Mary's home - she is finally over her illness (stomach) and is brighter and able to function clearly. She was really in a fog for quite a while.

Anna and the girls might be moving to Colorado. Anna has a possible job there with the government at one of the facilities there. She would rather be going to England (that is another option) but the decision hasn't been made yet. It is really sad that her husband SEan has turned out to be such a jerk. He really doesn't care about the girls or whether he is with them or not. Too bad, it is his loss.

Okay kiddies - have a good rest of the week and weekend. Love to you all
Mom

Sunshine and all is well in Ljubljana

Hi everybody!
Today, when I went outside to go downtown, the cherry tree on the way to the bus stop was in full bloom FINALLY ! - Dobrina, yours are all done blooming aren't they.
The temperature is now comparable to yours, and the plants on my balcony are showing it. It's a pleasure to sit out there in the sunshine reading, listening to music and drinking wine.
In my absence, Marjeta (from Kranj) will be in charge of watering, and I hope that this time she will not let them die.
It is good to read your updates on the BLOG, I just wish the postings would be more often.
Love you all - and yes, I do have a disposable camera (almost forgot about it) and will take some pictures when in Egypt, but don't expect quality.
ata.

hello

Everything is pretty good out here, Dobrina I'm happy to hear you are in the yard and keeping up with Ata's lead, you and he always had the plants, no plants out here. Life is good though, the apartment is doing well and I'm getting closer and closer to a real kitchen setup. I'm bummed to hear we won't see you at the wedding but at least I know you'll be out here soon. I'm hoping to have the car ready to rock by the time you get out here. I've just signed up with the International Maserati Club based out of Auburn WA in your neck of the woods. In fact I think the car was actually purchased in Seattle. Anyhow, I've saved the money and think I have some solid leads on spending it as wisely as I can. There's really not much to do so all this time is going into the leg work of setting it up. Mom's birthday sounded fun. I'm happy that you could be together for it. I'll check out the circus the next time they come through and report back. Ata, have fun and do take pictures please. I'll be sending you some of my own soon.
----p

monday

Hello all! I just came in from the chill... I agree, where the heck is spring??? I'm going to a local nursery with my neighbor tomorrow to buy some new plants for our landscaping so I had to prepare the front beds of the house. They were absolutely overrun with wild grape hyacinths; I had a heck of a time pulling them all out! But now they're gone and I have an open area in which to plant something beautiful. I've decided to stick to foundation plants/shrubs rather than perennials, at least for the front of the house; that way there's less upkeep and I can concentrate my time on the backyard (where we spend the most time during the summer).
Ata, I am SO PROUD of you for signing up for the trip to Egypt! and so jealous! I can't wait to hear all about it -- will you at least get a little disposable camera and take a few photos to share?? What an experience!
Greg, I too am looking forward to the day when your new technology will hit the market, because then I can buy a new phone and brag to all my friends that you programmed it! How's Maggie? Are you two still sort of seeing each other? (I hope?)
I had a great time with mom this weekend in Portland. Friday night we had dinner with my friend Michaelle (you all might remember her as the very talkative one with a daughter the same age as Sophie; they hung out with us for a bit at the hotel). Saturday we went out to breakfast, then had pedicures and shopped at one of the malls (it was pouring outside!). That night after a seafood dinner we went to the Cirque du Soleil performance and had so much fun. If any of you haven't taken in one of their shows, make it a priority when it comes to your town. It really is a magical experience for all ages, boy or girl. The acrobatics, music, costumes, humor -- it really was wonderful! And mom really enjoyed it too!
Sunday we met Ian and his family (sister, parents, grandparents) at their church for Easter service, then went to his parents house for lunch. It was all very nice and mom behaved herself. :)
that's the news from here! I wish I could see you all at the marathon and wedding, but alas I shan't make it. Hugs and kisses... dobrina

From Greg: 3 o'clock and all's well...well

...well as well as it can be at 3 o'clock in the morning. I'm trying to get a final test done before I go home. We've been trying to make deadlines for months, and this week is yet another one. It'll be nice to be able to report to you all that we've actually succeeded in getting our software onto a commercial phone someday soon. I've been holding off on buying a new mobile phone too soon, so that I can instead get one that has my software on it - and hopefully that'll be before the year is up.

I've still been training for the half-marathon that's near Jack's place, the Potomac River Marathon and Half Marathon on May 7th. My pace is holding steady at 8:00 per mile. Just got some new running shoes that will hopefully keep me at 8:00 or better. I'm training with Maggie on the weekly long runs, but she's much slower, about a 9:30-10:00 per mile. We got our plane tickets, Jack and Peter, so we'll be flying down to DCA on Friday night, the 5th of May, and then returning Monday morning on the 8th. The flight back is at 11:00 AM, so hopefully it'll be convenient to drop us off on the way to work. Looking forward to seeing Jack, Peter, and Sophia at the run, and then the rest of you at our cousin's wedding soon afterward.

Gotta get back to my testing so I can hopefully go home to get a few hours of sleep before I come back in, but I just wanted to contribute to the blog while I had a chance.

Love you all,
Greg

Where are you "Spring"?

Hi from Ljubljana

Rainy, windy and cold again. In fact the surrounding hills got a new coat of snow - but my flowers on the balcony are hanging on, in fact, I added some new ones this morning (can't help myself) and I am gambling on the temp. not to go below freezing.

Was downtown this morning and on a whim (though I have been wanting to for a long time, and kept putting it off) I signed on for a tour of Egypt. I leave Ljubljana on the 26 of this month and return on May 3rd - Cost (all including) is $1,214.- Of course there will also be some out of pocket expenses, but I am pleased that I took the plunge, especially given the cash bonus not now due on April 15th.

Hope you are all well.
ata.

Rain Rain Go AWAY!!!!!

Hi everyone - it is raining again - and this time I'm tired of it. Usually it does not bother me because I am such an inside person. But even I have had enough!

We too have bushes blooming here and there. Even in my yard, although I don't what they are called! Low green foilage with white flowers. Oh welll, pretty to look at.

This next weekend Dobrina and I are going to Portland to have a girls weekend and see the Cirque d'Solei (?) I am excited about it. What fun.

Frank has just left for his camping trip (6 weeks) and he might even encounter snow on the ground, even now. He is at 4000 ft elevation - so the prospect is very likely. I'll find out when he calls me tonight.

Dick and Chloe are hanging in there. Dick still gets really tired - no energy. If they could just get his medication regulated I think that he would be okay. When he gets the blood transfusions he is good for about 3 days - healthy and hungry - Chloe can't feed him enough food. Then he starts to fade out and get sluggish. What a mess.
While I worry about Dick, certainly, I worry more about Chloe because she is his care giver and he is grumpy because he is uncertain about what is going to happen. Don't forget to keep them in your prayers.

Hope this finds you all well and happy. Have a Happy Easter!!

Okay children - I'm off to the sewing room for some fun and frolic!!! Love to you all
Mom

the week in review

good morning! it's 6:30am here in seattle, Ian's still in bed (slacker) and I'm afraid even to call the east coast to chat since my dear brothers may also still be asleep. :) We went to see "Take the Lead" last night (we'd seen a few boy movies recently (Sixteen Blocks, Inside Man), so it was my turn for a chick-flick) and it was pretty good! Predictable, no surprises, but still entertaining; and the dance scene between the instructor and one of his top students was just about the hottest thing we'd seen in dance ever.
I delivered a baby Thursday night, so missed soccer. Ian went, though, and they tied 1-1. He said that neither team played as well as they should have, and that the other team was better and should have won (but he wasn't complaining).
We worked on Ata's taxes this week and determined that he didn't make enough income to file, so that's great news! Unfortunately Ian works in a few different places and thus gets a few different paychecks, all of which are small enough that they don't really take out taxes, so even though they take a huge chunk of my paycheck, we still end up having to pay about $3000 -- how much does that suck??
The cherry trees lining our street were in the most amazing bloom last weekend, really at their prime. It doesn't last long due to wind and rain, and currently the petals are so thick on the ground that it can be mistaken for snow. But while they were still on the tree I took some photos with my digital camera and used some photo software (Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006) to play with them. It has the coolest feature (I'm sure they all do, but I'm new to this whole digital thing) in which you can apply filters to the photo to make it look like an oil painting or a watercolor or a chalk drawing or any number of other styles. My plan is to find a place to print out some enlargements to use as artwork; I've heard Kinkos can do things like that.
This weekend I'm on call so we're sticking close to home. We're having some friends over tonight for dinner and cards. I'm going to keep working on my quilt project and if the weather is nice enough we might do some gardening. Ata, sorry to hear about your snow! We're not in danger of that here anymore, but the nurseries just don't have much in stock yet to fill my pots. The ground is bursting with daffodils and hyacinths, though, and the tulips are pushing up.
happy weekend to everyone!

Update from Ljubljana

Hi all !
Just to let you know that, after I went and bought flowers and planted them on my balcony, it is now snowing - all day already.
The last few days were warm and sunny (spring like) and I had made a few excursions into the countryside where the pastures and hillsides were all full of spring flowers. I got overcome with "Spring Fever" and couldn't wait to already plant in my flower boxes, against the warnings of people that we might still get frost. Well, it is not exactly freezing and the snow is not sticking, so I hope for the best. At the worst, I'll have to buy and replant.
Love you all!
ata.

Well good morning children - happy April to you all. The first quarter of the year is already over.

Peter, hope you had a great 30th birthday party!!! And Greg - you on your 37th!!! Boy do I feel old (ha ha) but happy. As Pete said to me - Mom, now all your children are in their 30's. Yep!

Frank is getting ready for his annual 6 week camp out starting this weekend - he hopes. He is , of course, really looking forward to it. Kelti will go to day care during that time. And she usually comes home tired from playing all day long. It will be nice for her too!!

Tina - haven't heard from you at all lately. Hope all is well there. I know that everyone is very busy.

Not much else happening around here. Everyone have a great Easter.
Love to you all
Mom