Summer's in Full Swing!

I never seem to get ahead. Jan was out of town driving out to Montana to visit her brother, and I had a week to get a handle on things.
Saw Dave Gee restocking our OGS product at Rosauers. Oregon Growers and Shippers is going gangbusters. Last evening they were a presenter at the American Cheese Society. (It's a bigger deal than it sounds, I promise)



I went out to Utah for a couple of days to a wedding reception for a friend of ours. We got a chance to hang out with Jan's sorority sisters, who are all very accomplished in their own rights. Pretty amazing bunch, Gina, Shelly, Heather, Tracy, Kelly and Sarah. Some of us went to the same college, some others, but those ladies remain very close, and much like family.



Came back........

Went to see Art and Chris, two Dentist friends, who just opened up their new practice. Broke a filling, gave them some business, it was a real treat, honestly.......!




Right after that, went to Salem to talk about Community Scale Renewables. I'd like to say here, publically for the record, that American Government is pretty much Bought, Sold and Paid for. I'm being honest, and I don't want to demean the work being done by our representatives,(because I'm friends with many of them) but I was blown out by the whole process. I came away more convinced that we do nothing but make shorter and shorter term decisions in an effort to achieve quarterly results. It is, in my best estimation. Broken.



Community Scale Renewables is almost a birthright of any community in America today. It is the core of self-definition and self-determination. With the threat of this pseudo-right being taken away, we received a nice pat on the head, and comments that lead us to believe that there will be no ability for community scale power generation. It's a total embarassment.

And thus ends my Rant.

OK back to what really matters........

At Monday Nights Meeting, El Neffe came by promoting a fire levy for Cascade Locks. The commission will be placing the formation (and subsequent taxation district) on the Ballot for November in Cascade Locks. Jeff did a great job! All grown up n-stuff.



Oh yeah......it was my Birthday this week too!

My Sisters flew in to suprise me, and so did my Dad. Jan planned it, and it was a nice, small scale event, with family. We had such a great time! I'll post more photos later, but here's my dad trying on an airpack at the Fire Station..........



The Leis that my sisters brought me........



And Julia.

Last Week..........

Got a day away from work this week. Summer is going to be long so I figured a quick trip to the coast was in order. Most importantly, my Son has taken a liking to the water. In the time honored tradition of my water training......we bribed him to hold his breath for the first time with........



Yep.

Went out to Indian Beach at Ecola, climbed around on the logs for a half a day...



Then wandered home. Got waylaid by a major accident on I-84.



While we were away, the craaaazyiest and potentially disastrous event happened. One of our team members Melinda Springer had her child! Milo is his name. He's a couple of months premature and there was a helicopter involved. I haven't heard the whole story yet, but I know enough to Thank Dayl Dickson for calling the helicopter.......There will be more later, I'm sure.


Picked some Strawberries..........



Saw Gene Thiel (One of the single most inspirational Farmers I've ever met, Grows awesome products out in Joseph, and is a true Titan in our circles)



Ate some Posole for Lunch with Benjamin



Drank some Beer.

Renewables Tour in Eastern Oregon………………

Went out on a well attended tour to the Klondike Windfarm. Pretty cool windfarm. Learned lots about turbines and how the process works. There’s so much potential, it’s frightening.

David Meriwether and Les Perkins, standing under the blades………




One of 66 Towers






We were at a farm with 66 towers, on 06.06.06. they were staffed by 6 technicians. My head spun.

Friday Night at Johansen’s Farm

We had a kind of going away party for Gretchen and Phil on Friday, and a small bonfire broke out.



Thanks to Robin, for the awesome marshmallow stick hunt for the kids, and for actually having the forethought of getting grahm crackers and chocolate………

Uncle Mark Watterson helping Zeke Bucovonski roast a marshmallow………



Uncle Stubbsy and Nathaniel discussing the relative benefits of green versus dry marshmallow sticks………….I think that’s Nathaniel, It could be Ezra Johansen…..it was dark.



It was nice to see everyone again. We’ve all turned into quite an extended family here now.

Nathaniel's First Walkthrough

….Took Nathaniel on his first walk through last week too. I took along some M & M’s so that every time he shook hands and said “it’s nice to meet you” he got a treat. After that, he got something to drink and nibble on and hung out under the espresso machine. Welcome to the restaurant business kid, get used to it.

Early Summer Randomness…….

The Kids are taking over!

Our local Ice Cream Store is Mikes Ice Cream. Nathaniel and Julia and I went down there for ice cream after dinner last week. Tassie and Mike who own the place have always worked hard to involve their children and friends and family into the business, so it’s not uncommon to see one of their kids, or their kids friends there running the place (and doing a great job, I might add)

So tonight, Devon Beveridge, Josh Kitts, McKinley (ninj) Kitts and others were hanging out, doing a little retooling of Mikes Ice Cream, so, we all hung out for a bit.

Little Hair Cutting……..



Little Sign Hanging……….



A Little Joshs’ love life counciling, you know, the usual stuff.

Saw Charlie, He’s back from Utah, and thinking about staying. One of genius crew, Charlie is choosing to make a living Telemark Skiing. And trust me, he can. He’s an amazing bundle of talent and brains. I’m just wondering where he’s going to end up………..

Trip to San Francisco............

First........We signed Wills in case something went awry........





Morbid, Yes, but we left the kids behind........And had a great time!!!

We went to San Francisco for the graduation of our Nephew, Jay Kepoikai. Great time!

There was alot of food........(no kidding) We went to the Farmer's Market at the embarcadero center, and had......food! (Best Tamale I've ever had..)





And My Dad was there too! (He's Happy, I promise. We all had a great time at the market)



We then went to the LEGION OF HONOR



And toured the Rodin exhibits and a beautifully haunting photography exhibit of modern day photographs taken from the exact vantage points of photographs taken just after the San Francisco Earthquke.

We visited the De Jong, and the SF Moma. and were exhausted, so.........

We ate snacks. (Char Hung Sut!)Famous Dim Sum Place in Hawaii.......Thank you Maile! :)





And then................We Went to Dinner! :)

L & G Lounge

Wow. Nice Dinner. Probably one of the best Chinese Meals I've ever had.






Late Night.........The Redwood Room.......



And the Next Day- The Graduation!

Mother's Day!

We went to the Hood River Inn on Mother's day. Here's a couple of shots from the spread. It was pretty incredible. They Served over 1000 people! Yikes!

Lynn Penner-Ash Wine Dinner........

We had a singular event in Celilo a couple of weeks back. Lynn Penner-Ash hosted our wine dinner. Thats her sitting at the head table.........



She pulled out a couple of very nice wines, Including her blend, a very well made "Rubeo" as well as a 2001 Reserve, which was a classic.



The Kitchen Rocked! I think they served up in four or five flights.



Wide open, great night...........