December...........

Jan's Birthday was earlier this month, and we try to get to Portland for a couple of days. We don't really go overboard on the gift thing, but just enjoy ourselves. Tried out Gracies at the new Hotel Delux, Walked around a bit, saw the new tram. Good time..........







Came back, and pretty much right away, we were into the Mt. Hood search. The family was right across the street from my office. We had friends and family up on the hill for a long, long time. Joe Wampler (the Sheriff) did an amazing job of keeping it together for everyone.

It was tough to describe what everyone put into that search. On Monday, a deputy came in to tell us about the costs. Pretty much the board said keep on going until you can't do it anymore.......

Well....Ice storm is on its way. Looks like anymore has arrived....

Maybe the next post will be cheerier......Sorry.

Mt. Hood and the Climbers........

Ok. Many have asked why I'm not posting about the Climbers on Mt. Hood. So here goes.

About five minutes ago I watched the Blackhawk land at the port and the body of Kelly James removed and put in an Anderson's van.

I can't tell you how sad it is to see the Family trying to hang on given the news, that like an onion, peels off to a more somber mood. I walk past them on the street, they are around town and have been for a week. I've wathced the copters go up and down, heard reports of climbers, volunteer searchers, and our staff. I Feel Awful.

Joe, his staff, the Crag Rats, everyone has been doing an amazing job. Amazing. I suppose that we will get an update tonight at the Meeting, but I personally fear that all is lost, and my sympathies go out to the families.

I'm not going to post any photos of this weekend. Hood River, however has so much beauty, and alot of pain. Everyone knows that I think it's a rare place to be, but this is one of the downsides to living in a place of such beauty.

My condolences to the families. Please know that Hood River is with you now.

Late October and November

Sheesh! Always catching up….
After that great dinner, I had yet another great treat. Ron Kurahara joined me at my lunch buddy lunch meal on Tuesday. I’m the lunch Buddy for a young kid at Westside, and Ron’s son is in my Buddy’s class, so Ron joined us all for lunch. That’s Dakota sitting next to him. Good fun.

I traveled to Hawaii later that week to see my mom. Emma’s getting along. She’s in a 24 hour care facility now, and has had a recent spate of surgery, and other health issues. It is very sad, but I’m hopefull! She’s gaining weight by the day, and we had a nice visit.
Ate Dinner with Luana,
Ate Dinner with Ian and Noa
Breakfast with the Sisters, which included a trip to Char Hung Sut……..(See San Francisco Trip Post from May this year)

And………hung with the niece (Keolamau) and generally enjoyed the brief trip.


Let’s see……..Got home, and it was…………Halloween!
I broke down and bought a cool costume. More for me to watch his expression than it was for him. That stuff is cool. While I was in Hawaii, I got Julia a little outfit for the occasion as well.

We collected a TON of candy. (No thanks to Shane and Julie……Remember, Drum Set for your Kid you two……) and generally had another Hood River special evening with our friends, walking the downtown.

The Next Day, Nathaniel and I looked at all the candy, and decided that about half of it had to go. So we went to Ground, and handed out Candy. Fortunately, Doug Beveridge was there. B.e.v.e.r.i.d.g.e……..(It’s a funny story. We used to share an office and after about a year of listening him leave his name, I always make a joke of it. Imagine a year of hearing “….. Please tell him Doug Beveridge called…..yes, Doug…….B..E..V…..E..R...I...D.G.E. Yes, thank you.” After awhile we’d all just start laughing uncontrollably every time he started to leave a message.

Anyway. Nathaniel managed to give it all away…..
Weekend……Loaded up the kids, went to Powell’s bookstore in PDX, and no trip to Powells is complete without a slice of Rocco’s………Nathaniel got his mits on a Shonen Jump Magna, and now it’s all about Dragon Ball Z…….Asian Pulp!


The weather has been outrageous here this last week! 10 year type floods. On top of that, Nathaniel has the Chicken Pox! So…….My tour of duty was a couple of hours while Jan and Co. (The FCA Staff) worked on the FCA Branding material. We toured the oh so impressive flood stage Hood River. Half the town was out there!

Lots and lots of damage and drama!

Cattail Creek Farmer's Dinner and The Deschutes........

Very cool 48 hours.

We had our second Farmer's Dinner last night. Sold out, John Neumister of Cattail was our featured producer along with Dan and BShaw of Columbia Gorge Organic Mushroom......

Off the chart.

Here's my table of Guests (Well, Family and Supporters)



And a Shot of the Entree. Lamb Three ways.



This is Jan Jackson of Capital Press taking photos of John and Ben talking......



Some Prep, Introducing Luke Nance, our Kitchen understudy (Welcome Luke!)



The Next day, Julie cornered me and made me take here out on some property touring because now I'm so busy that the only time we get to talk is in the car to and from. She's a former assistant who is now the ED of the Farmer's Conservation Alliance, a group I'm dedicating alot of brianpower to. It makes what was once a quiet relaxing drive to a distant property to tour into a full blown brain drain..........



Turns out the guy is very conservation minded and was one of the first people to lease his water rights back to conservation groups. Made for instant connections.

It was a nice property on the Deschutes!

Fall Lingers.............

All I see is accidents these days......Here's a couple of accidents from this last month!



It's wierd how many accidents I'm stumbling across these days.......


September and things have started to slow down.....finally. The money is tight, but doable for the winter. I've spent much of September helping out get the Sixth Street caught up and organized.....Bit of this and that. We had the Sixth Street Dinner......Ate lots of Sushi, watched Ben recap the Summer during our Employee "guess how much we served?" Game........Holy shit we serve alot of food.........





....I hosted a delegation of Ukranians at the Yasui building this month too. THey are in the US for three weeks looking at Green Buildings. It is amazingly touchy to speak about challenges in our construction when they come from a country that has so much less stability in it than ours. Nice people. From Liviv, or Lion, in the Ukraine...



....Saw a Nacell on the Freeway the other day. We've been seeing alot of tower parts, but a Nacell is not that common. Looks like another tower is on the way......



....Nathaniel is at another school, and they took a tour of the Fire station, and did the whole spiel...very fun.......





We did photos for the FCA (Farmer's Conservation Alliance) a group That I'm involved with. Getting this group together has some of it's challenges, which roughly illustrate the complexities of the Rural Urban issues we face. Regardless, it was fun. GReat group of people who came up with an amazing invention that will, hopefully make a difference in Rural Oregon.





Jan Did the Art Direction, Peter Marbach took the Photo......


We went to a charity auction on Saturday night......"It's a lawnmower!" says Craig sheppard!



Cindy Kurahra and Kris Reynier Busted stealing desserts while their husbands bid on a trip to France........



And a great Sunday Hike to a beautful waterfall.......



Great Month....looks like the weather is changing....cold.......

Julia Hucks a fit.........And other PDX Stuff

Visited Portlandia this weekend. Paper and a drop by of Rejuvenation. They have a nice kids play area, and this is Julia's reaction at the news that we had to go.
























Went to the Provvista Open House.........Provvista is a wholesaler dedicated to artisianal products. They distribute our OGS line, and so much more. Great people, totally leading the way for responsible and artisianal producers.

Thanks Joe and Karen!





























Cypress Grove.........



























Nathaniel waits for fresh Peach and Strawberry Gelato