Didn't Believe Me? HA!

I opened the door to take these pictues and the hail got all the way into the sofa. And... just after I got the door closed -- KABOOM!!!!  It raised the hair on the back of my shins.

Putting on weight - hardly recognize me!

Yep... that's me. I'm eating well. All the rain might have something to do with it. Chewin' trees and buildin' dams and piling sticks and branches. This Oregon park life is a hoot. Just call me J. R. Beaver (Junior Ranger). I'm attending the public showing of the two cannons which were recently found on the beach - near Cannon Beach (Duh!) I was asked to be the guest of honor.

I'm not making much money. Just what I find. I found this sand fifty cent on the beach a few days ago. I was following dog tracks. There's been lots of wind and big waves lately. Wow, today there was snow flakes coming down with the rain and there's supposed to be lots of snow building up over the next day or two - especially in the hills around here above 500 feet. And yet my daffodils are out. As I look out the window of my rockin' and rollin' motohome (windy day again, today), the dafs are the only bright spot out there. Even the worms are pinching their noses and holding up fingers. Oh... it's not all that bad. I had the top of the Miata down again the other day.

I'm headed back to Yakima if a few days - end of the month. Then it's off to Mount Vernon to play organ music to accompany the showing of a silent movie at the Lincoln Theatre. The Lincoln is one of only 5 theatres in Washington state which still has its original theatre organ - another story for another time. I'm planning on either loading up the Scooter to take with me next time, or getting a trailer to pull the Goldwing along. Still thinking about all that. But It'll be good to see home again, if only for a few days.

So, every day connects to the next one, and so on and so forth, etc. I hate the price of gas. I'm doing my part to try to keep it down by not driving so much. If everyone would do something like it, the overall consumption would drop a lot and so would the price. Then I climb behind the wheel of my motorhome - dragging the car - which gets 6.5 miles per gallon and -- oh don't get me started.

I made barbeque sauce today. Let me tell you that cooking something with vinegar in it - for an hour, sure makes the house smell bad for a while. Now I'm thinking about the steak or patty I'm going to have for dinner. Gotta go cook.

Brian (J. R.)

Back at Nehalem State Park - Qwack

I got here yesterday. It has rained and hailed, and blown (and done all those things over and over again) since I arrived. And they tell me that the weather has been fantastic for the last three weeks. Well... at least the weather down south a hundred miles had also been fantastic and I've even had the top of the Miata down during several days - comfortably.

My new digs (RV host space) is different from my January spot. It's just a bit further out and really close to trees on one side and the back. It's fine. Yesterday, when I pulled in, I noticed a really big (really pretty) and almost new Holiday Rambler motorhome parked next to me. Then a little later a mid 90's Holiday Rambler pulled in next to that one. With my Holiday Rambler being somewhat older than those, it looked like an exhibit of the evolution of Holiday Rambler motorhomes. I've yet to feel ashamed of mine because of its age. It's condition and the way I keep it up keeps me from that. Don't think I'm not looking at those other rigs without imagining myself in the drivers seat or polishing it up. Leapin' lizzards, the big one must be twice as tall and have about three times the surface area to shine. I'm ok now.

I'm still having a blast out here. All my apprehensions about being too far from friends and family - and being lonesome - have gone away. The Internet really does help keep us together and closer. The cell phone, on the other hand, just makes me poorer. I'm in, what I call, extreme roaming area down here on the Oregon Coast. With just a little bit of talking, my last cell bill was shocking. I get high roaming charges, even when someone calls ME. Fooey! So, I thank everyone who hasn't called me lately. You know who you are.

Gotta meeting in a few minutes - orientation - so I better get up and going (with my unbrella).

Toodles