That Kenny Roger's song

I finally did some research on all-in Poker tournaments and won our big one with total purse of $1000. I won a sweet $500. The key - great cards and moxie.
You also have to ignore the snide looks of men, as you call them all in, take their money, and move on. I even took Tim out. Had to keep the chips in the family I figured.

Not much else...Robin is getting worse, hooked up to a nebulizer. she's thoroughly enjoying my novel. She thinks it has more action and more romance than Gone With The Wind. But she's also grateful for my company and might say anything to make me feel good. I've told her of my writing woes, and she just listens. I should be paying her some sort of therapy fee.

Greyson, where are you???

Greta bit a neighbor; she made a small rip in the guys pants. Police came but no charges. The garbage man said she was acting threatening - she was out on a cable chain since our fence is still down- and left our garbage undumped. She also chased one of our lady neighbors and supposedly was looking to lunge. Weird. Too weird, so we took her to the new Redmond humane society where they had a crew tempermant test her. She showed no signs of aggression and they thought she was sweet. So, they think they'll adopt her out soon or send her to the eager Doberman rescue. Sherbert also died from something the vet couldn't explain. His full blood panel showed nothing, but he withered away until we had to put him to sleep. There's been lots of tears. We're thinking of a Fox Terrier like in August.

Personally, I like the peace,but the boys want a dog to throw balls to and play with...sounds like a fox terrier to me. And its little feet won't trample my new yard. we're installing an underground system around the beds...that should help some.



Hope to hear from all of you,

Traci and family

make him stop!

No -no,no,no. Make Dad stop or he'll have no enthusiasm left for my pergola. But then again, he usually learns a lot from his projects, regroups, cuts the losses. Alright, we'll take the second wind of his pergola obssesion.

Grandma, 8 Pounds is very impressive! By the time we do our going out/coming in celebration of our yard and hot tub this summer, you'll be practically stocky. That'll help you not float as you enjoy the 14 jets massaging your lower back and on up, like little figners, to your upper back and neck in the lounger.


The cats are wild, attacking shiny pencils, bits of crumpled homework, each other; they can feel the spring in the air.

I don't think I've officially posted about the "Greta developement". I'll have to wait and tell that story later. It takes a toll on the teller. Maybe Tim should jump in and explain the torn pants, the pounds of garbage, the 'what, she did what?' and then the decision, the goofy, beloved Greta. Oh, just rehashing the highlights (the black and brown angles of it), is tiring.

Tim is awaiting his contract for next year...that will be interesting. We should know specifics by tonight. They were talking of paying him Middle School Admin pay. That's not what they said in the Fall. He's doing A.D. work and V.P. work at a 4A Highschool - so he was expecting Highschool admin pay now that his license is offical. Maybe Tim and Mom can commiserate on how hard they work, how taken for granted. One positive is that he'll get that double pay this summer! His old Teacher on special assignment...did I get that right?...and his new admin pay, wherever that may be. Actually, if it's anything decent, we want to stay here. Can you imagine Dad, all that digging, the monster sod-cutter, the laying, breaking, and re-laying of pipes, the endless trips to Home Depot, and then we just up and sell the place? Make a quick $55-60k profit, but the principle of it.

Traci

So Tim...

So Mr. Porter, have you been using that fancy, dancy new scale of yours. I have not heard ANYONE bragging about their health and fitness accomplishments in the last couple months. Grandma far-away have you gained back some more weight?? I have just held steady. I am sure the better weather will inspire me to get back out there. I will say that if any of you smokers can give up smoking they should get a fitness bonus.

I love spring

I don't realize how much I miss the sun and plants and birds until they are all here. I have been going outside as much as possible these days after work when it isn't raining. My new flowerbed is coming along. Greyson spent 3 days filling it up with dirt and I got it planted with shrubs and a few perenials. The highlight is a weeping willow. Once it was all in I decided that I probably planted the shrubs too close together. But for the next 5 years it will probably look pretty good.

All sorts of birds are out. The hummingbirds are at the feeder, the robins are using the bird bath and I saw the first house finch of the season. I am still waiting for the garden to dry out and then hopefully my father and husband will get out there and get it all planted.

We have a 9 month old rat terrier at the house and she has been playing non-stop with Ada for the past hour. They are just starting to get tired. Quark is not too happy with the situation. I told Greyson I wanted a puppy for my birthday but he just ignored me. Oops, she just started to pee on the carpet. Oh, the joys of puppies. Now she is sprinting through the new flower bed. Ada is just staring from safety saying "you aren't supposed to be in there, you're going to get us in trouble". Enough doggie reporting.

All else is good. I have been having a little more responsibility at work which is exciting but stressful. I have today off but will starting back up tomorrow for the next few week with a commute to The Dalles each day. Greyson is going to go visit his parents in a couple weeks. They are talking about rescheduling that cruise or possibly taking us to Hawaii.

How is that trailer building coming, Deans. How is the garden project, Porters. How is the pergola project, Sharps. How's the ripping up the lawn project coming- Greyson.

Later, Mel

porters

Well, I've been officially rejected. So, I scrapped the query letter and tweaked the new one to have a "commercial appeal while still maintaining literary quality". I'm pitching it as an adventure/suspense. Writing is so absolutely awesome and interesting that I dusted our heaters and cleaned the lips of our trim - that three inch painted wood that sets off the carpet- Yeah, 409 and elbow grease is the trick. And I wore a Pendleton (stetson type) hat while I scrubbed, which made me feel both ingeniously superior and morbidly pitiful - all to postpone staring at a blank screen.

I don't smoke.

I want a smoke really badly. I'm not even picky about what kind. I smoked Capri's once. It was like inhaling on a toothpick, baby puffs of nicotine teasing me. And I kept sucking in, thinking of those minty toothpicks they gave you at restaurants. If you stood next to the bar area and breathed in deeply, then twirled the toothpick in your mouth, it was exactly like smoking a Capri.

They say quitting smoking is as hard as trying to quit heroin. Now, you may say, 'see I told her, I warned her,' and you may shake your head...go ahead, I'll wait...but you could see smoking as a next-to-impossible-to-quit habit, that is cheap and drawn out in its health complications compared to heroin. And its still legal.

I bet if I took a drag, I'd move on to a new subject and inform you of some news of Porter life that would compel you to mow some old lady's lawn or plant a tree - plant a small one, a dwarf juniper right in a public ashtray.

Traci

quick Dean family update

The first camping adventure was a success.  I’m really glad we went with the four bunk model- the higher bunks are out of reach of the girls- and the boys had their own private space to play with star wars lego’s and Parcheesi.  We had rain at night- but beautiful weather all day Saturday.  We worked out a few things that need to be fixed or added- shower head outside needs repair.  It would be smart to remember toys on the next adventure (for situations of rainy weather).  We are headed to Newport Friday morning to Whaler’s Rest RV Resort- they offer trailers and cabins to rent for anyone else interested in joining us.  We are dropping the girls off at Brian’s parents.  We get three nights and four days free at the resort to try it out.  Next month we are trying out Neskowin RV resorts- during Memorial Day weekend.  This resort has a more reasonable annual few. Our $1000 enrollment few is waived- Olinger offers this for both resorts (the dealership we bought from).  Anyway- the design we picked for the trailer was perfect…the openness of the bedroom I used as I imagined to talk and sit- eat and still interact with children at the table.  Well I’ve got lots of school work to get done today before we take off again.  Talk to you all later.

Home again

I am back from Rufus. It feels very nice to be home again. I got to relax all day yesterday and went into town today to get a few plants. I picked up some beautiful hanging fushia baskets today. I know sometimes I get that for my birthday but I just couldn't pass these up. We also have a dumptruck of dirt coming tomorrow. I am hoping Brian will let us borrow his rototiller again so I can get the garden planted.

I am starting work at The Dalles Dam on Tuesday. That will last most of a month but I get to stay at home and commute there during the day. I will still be working 7 days a week and 13 hours a day but I get to sleep in my own bed.
-Mel

spring break is over (posted by Mom/Janice)

We had a nice little trip to Southern Oregon. The highlight was an Oscar Wilde play at Ashland -- The Importance of Being Earnest. It was a comedy and very well acted. We stopped at Jacksonville and toured the shops but didn't have a lot of time there. We walked on the beach and took a little hike at a park near a bunch of cranberry bogs. The weather was very nice -- didn't really even need a sweatshirt down on the beach. We stopped at a Wildlife Game Park and saw some animals, but I thought it was depressing because their habitats were pretty meager. Our car performed beautifully and we still like it very much. My best gas mileage to date is still a little under the 28 mpg we are supposed to be able to get.

I'm anxious to hear how the Dean's managed on their first new trailer trip.

Will got his stitches out and seems back to normal.

Dad had to cut a couple of holes in our metal door where the hot water heater and furnace are. For that he needed a new saw. So, if anyone needs anything metal cut into, we now have the tool for it.