Me, Myself, & I...

are: hiccuping uncontrollably

think: there is a lot of potential good in this world that is too intimidated by the bad to show itself

know: a smile can make a difference

want: to be appreciated 
have: an unfailing support group in my sisterfriends 
dislike: inconsiderate behaviors 
miss: my Bethers 
fear: pain 
feel: a bit between periods of contentment 
hear: machines whirring away 
smell: overripe nectarines 
crave: a fruit smoothie 
cry: when I don't know what else to do 
usually: understand both sides of the story 
search: for answers that make sense 
wonder: why I'm shy, when I like people so much! 
regret: not spending enough time with my roommates - I was so lucky to live in houses and apartments full of wonderful people, and I let school and work keep me away 
love: colorful skies, contagious giggles, delicious food, sincere hugs, sharing memories... 
care. and that is why I want to hear more about you, and talk less about me 
always: want to do better 
worry: that specialized schooling & work has narrowed my brain! 
am not: terribly confident 
remember: minute details 
believe: the grand purpose of my life is to help others.   
dance: while baking 
sing: along even when I don't really know all the words 
don't always: have something nice to say 
argue: when I'm right. 
write: to remember, and to entertain 
win: quietly 
lose: often 
wish: for more time. 
listen: to make friends 
don't understand: when others cannot see what is so obvious to me! 
can usually be found: on MSN 
am scared: of falling 
need: moral support 
forget: numbers 
are happy: to know you.  Thank you for reading my blog stories!

Survivor Rose

Last Fall, the local building supply store was having a clearance sell on potted plants.  Andyman stopped by and came home with a random selection of bushes to add to the yard.  He planted everything except the rose bush - we were really uncertain where it should go, only knowing roses can be high-maintenance.

Well the snows came, and they stayed for months!  That poor potted rose bush was lost at the bottom of a frozen snow drift.

When Spring finally arrived, we discovered that the little rose bush had survived and was not ready to give up.  The branches were that promising spring green color!  Our butterfly bush had not fared so well during the long winter, so we dug it out and found our little survivor a home.

That little rose bush has been thriving all summer long - blooming nonstop through this hot, dry summer as if to show us it can make it through anything.

Club Roadtrip - Billetproof

 The weekend after Rose City Roundup, we hit the road west yet again with our trailer full of merchandise.

This time we had company on the drive - this car show was a sanctioned event for the club so we got to travel in a caravan with our car club friends and their head-turning rides!  A few of us took off early in the morning and stopped by Sunnyside to get a few things at the huge junkyard there.  Forrest, Andy, and I had spent hours here an earlier weekend, and this time we weren't going to walk away empty-handed.  We brought portable tools and spent half the day crawling in and out of piles of cars, taking the parts and pieces we need for our projects.  It was a productive trip for my pile of a Model A, and really a lot of fun!  

Near the end of our adventures in the junkyard, we got a call from the group of club members traveling a few hours behind us.  Marc had busted part of his suspension, fixed it temporarily on the roadside, and would be rolling into town looking for a welder to use.  Luckily, our new friends at Rocket's Hot Rod Garage were browsing through the junkyard with us and volunteered a couple of options for a welder there.  They fixed it up in no time, and we hit the road as a whole group.  Always a good time!

We rolled into the Chehalis fairgrounds right before dark.  The show did not start until the next morning, but we were there to camp as well!  They had two sections of the grounds designated for camping, and there were cars and tents everywhere!  We had reserved spots, not knowing what the place looked like, and it turned out to be just a big open grass field with no real designations.  We piled our group of tents and vehicles right in the middle of it all, explored the fairgrounds to find restrooms, and huddled around Aaron's propane campfire until we couldn't stay awake.

All night long, trains went by every hour or so and blew their whistle at some unfortunate intersection.  Cars driving by on the nearby road felt the need to honk, and at 5:00 am, the hot rods started firing up.  The show wasn't for another 3 hours, but we had heard about the line-up to get in.  For some, parking spots at shows are a big deal!  For us, as vendors, it was time to get up anyhow.  We had a booth to set up!

We were in a prime location to watch all the cars drive into the show - right in front of our booth.  This was especially great because we rarely get a chance to break away and play spectator!

A few snapshots of the show's attractions:

 After the show, the crowd moved downtown to cruise the streets for awhile.

 

 We went out for pizza with the club friends, and then back to the fairgrounds to hang out around the campfire.  It was Randall's birthday, and he was happy to be with friends for it.  Since he moved to the west side, we only get to see him once a month!  As the night wore on, our neighbors became more and more interesting, and we discovered the invention of PajamaJeans.  What a concept! 

After all the excitement and sleep deprivation, we were all incredibly exhausted and managed to sleep through the trains.  We were ready to pack up and hit the long road home early the next morning.  The mountain roads are beautiful, but they work the big old cars pretty hard!  We stopped at the top of the steepest grade along White Pass to let them cool down, and to check out the views. 

 The entire side of the cliff is exposed basalt columns - incredible to see!

 There was also a perfectly framed view of Mt. Rainier.  Stark white on that cloudless day.

 We stopped another time along a beautiful stretch of Highway 12, and captured a glimpse of a roaring waterfall.  Given the opportunity, you should take a drive along this scenic highway.