Rancho Relaxo Update 9-14-11
After a whirlwind week of packing, stacking, racking, and driving, along with seeing relatives and eating our way through three states, we have landed back at “Rancho Relaxo” where we plan on…relaxing… for a couple of days. Ha, ha, ha! You thought I was serious, didn’t you?! We hit the deck a’runnin’ and haven’t been able to do much resting.
From another perspective, though we are certainly running to catch up to the freight train, it’s still more like the old saying, “I have to go back to work so I can get some rest”. We’re tired. Well, we started tired so I think we are now “exhausticated”. There are few body parts that are not protesting their abuse. I haven't noticed my left ear lobe complain as of yet. So, we’re still getting our one duck in a row. We're trip spun but are otherwise doing about as good as dull knife in a butcher shop.
The weather was most accommodating while away and the espresso coffee up yonder was outstanding. When you are in the Pacific Northwest, you can throw a rock and hit a place the sells espresso. Even McDonalds sells the sweet elixer of life! The place where I used to buy latte’s twenty years ago is still making them at the same “half price” deal. “Brew me up a triple latte’”, says I. You can bet that the special deal added some extra savor to the mix. After searching around a bit, a couple of nice bags of coffee found their way into our bags too.
The weather was most accommodating while away and the espresso coffee up yonder was outstanding. When you are in the Pacific Northwest, you can throw a rock and hit a place the sells espresso. Even McDonalds sells the sweet elixer of life! The place where I used to buy latte’s twenty years ago is still making them at the same “half price” deal. “Brew me up a triple latte’”, says I. You can bet that the special deal added some extra savor to the mix. After searching around a bit, a couple of nice bags of coffee found their way into our bags too.
It was nice to see friends and family again. We only get to see them once per year so we savor the reunion. Reckon Ol’ Ran will have to come up with a nice fast airplane so that he can see his kith and kin more often. Anyone feeling sorry for Ol’ Ran may feel free to contribute to the “Feel Sorry For Ol’ Ran” benefit fund. I think the starting contribution is around 100 bucks (tee hee). A free tear towel and handkerchief is included for no extra remuneration. I'm thinking about starting a website too so I can garner mega contributions (you can't possibly think that I am serious, eh?).
One treat was an absolutely super BBQ'd pork and baked salmon fest hosted by long-time friend and brother, Jeff Edgecomb. I think the guy is a magician when it comes to BBQ’ing stuff. His pork was incredibly tasty and fell apart in your mouth. Unreal! He uses a dried tomato rub and apple juice (I may be incorrect given the fact that he was speaking English into my one good ear. He should have used Morse Code). I couldn’t figure out the combination until I tasted it. I’m a convert, to be sure! The baked salmon that he and his mother prepared was absolutely stunning in its simplicity. They tossed some butter on it along with a pinch of salt and wrapped it up on aluminum foil. It was fabulous!
I guess that that's why I still miss the Pacific Northwest after having lived there for about 5 years. There seems to be no lack of fresh fish (trout, steelhead, and salmon for the most part) and no lack of elk. Not only that, the weather is fairly moderate, all things considered. There are times that come to mind when I lived there that it was 106 degrees in this area yet it was only about 78 degrees or so in Longview. Granted it does get rather chilly in the winter. But, I have long sleeve shirts and a couple of nice leather jackets to help with keeping the "California Kid" comfortable.
Now the good part: the yard sales in Longview , WA
Add to that, my buddy, Jeff, gave us a like-new Bow-Flex exercise machine! All I have to do now is hire someone to use it! HAR! All seriousness aside, we hope to find a spot in the new barn (which is already way too small) in which to install this large chunk of man-humiliating pulleys and iron.
If I fit an exercise regimen into the daily calendar I will have to arise and greet the day at about 4AM so that I can study for my instrument rating, mow the lawn and do the farm work, shoot a few ground squirrels, study the Bible and pray, and make my daily espresso while getting ready for work. Seeing as how I usually work until or later each day, this could be…how you say…”very interesting”.
If I fit an exercise regimen into the daily calendar I will have to arise and greet the day at about 4AM so that I can study for my instrument rating, mow the lawn and do the farm work, shoot a few ground squirrels, study the Bible and pray, and make my daily espresso while getting ready for work. Seeing as how I usually work until or later each day, this could be…how you say…”very interesting”.
We're tiiiiiired to be sure but had a great time seeing the kids and EATING. I have to mention that because we got to knock over the “Five Guys’ Burgers and Fries” place in Arlington (just north of Marysville). It’s ranked as one of the top burger places in the entire country. I have no doubt about it. This was our second go around with the place and we were not disappointed at all. If we lived up there, I'd weigh 400 pounds in no time.
As far as the calorie counting is concerned, we also hit the “Golden Corral” in Marysville. I honestly don’t try to eat until I make money at a buffet. It just seems to happen that way with only my fork getting a vote because my brain slid into neutral and just watched things happen. How on earth is a human being suppose to resist the incredible stack of food they offer? My frailty was upon me that day. I hurt the breaded shrimp population and thinned the school of deep fried fish planks.They'll need to re-build their shredded pork, ham, and cheese biscuit supply, too.
Anyway…it's nice to be back at home where we have a bit more control over dietary concerns and sleeping provisions. I don’t mind bunking at a motel because it’s something different and we can watch the news. That may seem insignificant to some but we don’t have TV service of any kind here at the ranch. It's on purpose because we simply don't have time to watch it and, other than a few things like PBS, there is almost nothing on network television that's worth watching anyway. We'll be dipped in "Cheese Whiz" (or horse whiz for that matter) before we shell out big bucks for cable or satellite. So, it’s nice to turn on the “Discovery Channel”, "The Travel Channel", "The Food Channel", "The Science Channel" and then drop down to “Fox News” or such and look at what’s happening around the world to see who is about to blow us all up.
Anyway…it's nice to be back at home where we have a bit more control over dietary concerns and sleeping provisions. I don’t mind bunking at a motel because it’s something different and we can watch the news. That may seem insignificant to some but we don’t have TV service of any kind here at the ranch. It's on purpose because we simply don't have time to watch it and, other than a few things like PBS, there is almost nothing on network television that's worth watching anyway. We'll be dipped in "Cheese Whiz" (or horse whiz for that matter) before we shell out big bucks for cable or satellite. So, it’s nice to turn on the “Discovery Channel”, "The Travel Channel", "The Food Channel", "The Science Channel" and then drop down to “Fox News” or such and look at what’s happening around the world to see who is about to blow us all up.
Daughter, Brandi’s, significant other, Brian, hosted an excellent spaghetti dinner that was as good as any that I’ve ever tasted! We stuffed ourselves with garlic toast and spaghetti and a nice batch of brownies that grandson, Cade, a newly minted Kindergartener, and Connie prepared earlier. It was so terribly difficult to not overeat that....I didn't try. I succumbed to gluttony that night but will make it up by eating sawdust and worms for a few weeks. I'm probably kidding myself since my wife will not allow me to do that. She's not a big sawdust or worm fan. Guess I'll have to just eat normal things like hamburgers, tacos, stews, beans and hamhocks with cornbread, Pho (Vietnamese soup), BBQ'd and grilled steaks, pork, and chicken, and such. Oh, poor Ran.
Part of our big agenda was to see Cade off to his very first day at school. We hauled his young and wide-awake carcass (at least two older folks were not quite that perky that early in the AM) to the old “Highland High School
His mother, grandmother, and I doted about and watched him settle in. Of course, you almost couldn’t hear yourself think what with all the parents snapping pictures all during the break-in period. Once settled in, Cade was left to himself to capture the attention of those about him (which he seems to do rather easily). Brandi was a bit teary due to the strain of dealing with a beloved child who is growing up and out but we all managed to survive the first day at Kindergarten. I told her, "It's amazing what happens when you feed children".
After our stay in Marysville, we loaded up our stuff and headed south to Longview which is about 3 1/2 hours away. It's not all that bad a drive but you do have to pay attention as I-5 can be quite treacherous. Some folks seem to have a death wish but, unfortunately, they seem to kill others and not themselves (to which I can attest having been in the paramedical profession for most of ten years).
The stay in Longview was really nice as well. It was son, Michael's, 39th birthday. You can't help but notice that, when your youngest son is pushing the big FOUR-O, your descending colon begins to erupt in spasms of joy. We got to spend quality time with them but really wish we had one more day so that Mike and I could jam a bit. He has his drum kit set up and ready so he just needs someone to make some noise on a G-tar to be able to rock on.
Mike, Roxanne (Mike's wife), Connie, and I took down the "Red Lobster" in nearby Kelso and had a great time. The servers seemed to enjoy singing "Happy Birthday To You" to Mike since he is a former employee there and knew some of them. My pick of the menu was the fish and chips. Connie dug into the chicken sandwich. Mike and Roxanne clobbered the chicken strip dinner. No one left the place hungry, I can assure you.
Connie and I hadn't been to a "Red Lobster" since last year at the same time and same place on our previous visit north. We have a "RL" store in Visalia but haven't bothered to drop in. I suppose it's because there is a "Home Town Buffet" just down the street from them.
His mother, grandmother, and I doted about and watched him settle in. Of course, you almost couldn’t hear yourself think what with all the parents snapping pictures all during the break-in period. Once settled in, Cade was left to himself to capture the attention of those about him (which he seems to do rather easily). Brandi was a bit teary due to the strain of dealing with a beloved child who is growing up and out but we all managed to survive the first day at Kindergarten. I told her, "It's amazing what happens when you feed children".
After our stay in Marysville, we loaded up our stuff and headed south to Longview which is about 3 1/2 hours away. It's not all that bad a drive but you do have to pay attention as I-5 can be quite treacherous. Some folks seem to have a death wish but, unfortunately, they seem to kill others and not themselves (to which I can attest having been in the paramedical profession for most of ten years).
The stay in Longview was really nice as well. It was son, Michael's, 39th birthday. You can't help but notice that, when your youngest son is pushing the big FOUR-O, your descending colon begins to erupt in spasms of joy. We got to spend quality time with them but really wish we had one more day so that Mike and I could jam a bit. He has his drum kit set up and ready so he just needs someone to make some noise on a G-tar to be able to rock on.
Mike, Roxanne (Mike's wife), Connie, and I took down the "Red Lobster" in nearby Kelso and had a great time. The servers seemed to enjoy singing "Happy Birthday To You" to Mike since he is a former employee there and knew some of them. My pick of the menu was the fish and chips. Connie dug into the chicken sandwich. Mike and Roxanne clobbered the chicken strip dinner. No one left the place hungry, I can assure you.
Connie and I hadn't been to a "Red Lobster" since last year at the same time and same place on our previous visit north. We have a "RL" store in Visalia but haven't bothered to drop in. I suppose it's because there is a "Home Town Buffet" just down the street from them.
After hugs all around, we departed Longview Grants Pass , OR
It was a long long day but we made pit stops to get gas and to load up on food. At one "Pilot" truck stop we grabbed a couple of chili cheese hot dogs. At that point we became "myth busters". That myth is that you can eat a chili cheese dog in the car without making a mess. It can never be said after this time that you can actually accomplish this feat.
I should have gotten the hint at the register. The guy behind the counter said, "Do you know that you have chili on your left hand?". Then he said, "You also have chili on your right wrist and....your pocket". Great. A true friend, eh? I should have just walked away, dumped the dogs, and grabbed the "two for $2.22" tasteless and cold hamburgers. Instead, I plowed my way back to the van and settled in with my teeth in full battle array. Alas, before the dog-noshing event was over, I was looking for a hose and a couple of wheel barrows full of dry towels. No telling what a professional would have charged to make this big of a mess. *Sigh*
When we hit the manicured rock driveway at home a full twelve hours later (), the trip odometer had clicked a tad past 2,300 miles for the round trip. The van had valiantly made the trip without complaint but her tires are going to require some attention as will the transmission. We'll service the old trooper prior to our trip to Texas.
It was a long long day but we made pit stops to get gas and to load up on food. At one "Pilot" truck stop we grabbed a couple of chili cheese hot dogs. At that point we became "myth busters". That myth is that you can eat a chili cheese dog in the car without making a mess. It can never be said after this time that you can actually accomplish this feat.
I should have gotten the hint at the register. The guy behind the counter said, "Do you know that you have chili on your left hand?". Then he said, "You also have chili on your right wrist and....your pocket". Great. A true friend, eh? I should have just walked away, dumped the dogs, and grabbed the "two for $2.22" tasteless and cold hamburgers. Instead, I plowed my way back to the van and settled in with my teeth in full battle array. Alas, before the dog-noshing event was over, I was looking for a hose and a couple of wheel barrows full of dry towels. No telling what a professional would have charged to make this big of a mess. *Sigh*
When we hit the manicured rock driveway at home a full twelve hours later (), the trip odometer had clicked a tad past 2,300 miles for the round trip. The van had valiantly made the trip without complaint but her tires are going to require some attention as will the transmission. We'll service the old trooper prior to our trip to Texas.
Our bodies are tired and some parts are even flattened, deflated, and/or calloused. Some parts are aching and some are yelling at us while others are threatening us with dire consequences if we don’t discontinue the abuse. In order to quell the uprising, we came back home and crashed in wonderful peace (at least until the next morning when it was "business as usual"). It’s not often I’m in alignment and agreement with my body parts but this time I was glad to be allied with them. In November, when we head for Texas
Stay tuned for more reports from the overweight middle-aged white guy.
Stay tuned for more reports from the overweight middle-aged white guy.
