Grad Reunion Part 2, and That's a Wrap
OK, so a few of us Grads got together with Terry, her mom Judy and the family. They were not able to join in the festivities earlier this week, but did stop by on their way to Alaska via Vancouver, BC, Canada.
So we have, Judy (Terry's Mom) and Terry,
Lauren & George (Terry's sis and dad),
Rachel & Hubby Gene,
Craig (Terry's watch dog husband), and the boys,
Jazzi, Sheri, Julia, & Vita-mom.
We shared a wonderful evening watching the boats and parasailers on Elliott Bay from Red Robin at Pier 56 in Seattle. (Great Burgers and Chili Burgers).
We finally had to let them go to get an early start to their next adventure.
We have Sheri and Jazzi with us and did a little sight seeing. There is a spot in West Seattle, overlooking Elliott Bay and the city we wanted to share with our captives. So a little more picture taking as the sun set over town.
Finally the last pictures. In case you were wondering, here is Michelle modeling the Vitalady Bottle Bandit.
Now there is no excuse for not having water available. Sorry, I don't mean to commercialize our blog, but I finally got the Bottle Bandit, the Heart Bandit to model and the camera at the same place and the same time, so here ya go.
Well, I think that's it. Vita Tour 2006 is over, and ready to start planning 2007 to San Diego. See ya there.
Thanks,
Don Curran
Grad Reunion Part 1
Vita Tour 2006 is officially over with the gathering here of a group of post-ops from the Yahoo group Graduate-OSSG better known as "Grad Weekend". For the past several years, Grads from around the area and a number from out of state have descended upon Washington State to laugh, giggle, share experiences, put faces to email identities and to celebrate their success.
This year, Florida, Illinois, California, Minnesota and of course Washington were represented. Carol Lis, Sheri from Sunny Florida, Jazzi from MN, Sherri R (WA), Apoplexy (Carrie from CA) , Julia (WA), Heather & family (WA), Eleanor (CA) & family, Carol & Dave (WA), Lane (WA) and hubby, Rachel & Kricket (both WA) spent time together "sharin' the love". Among the tattoos; unexpected trip to Mt Rainier; visiting the Seattle waterfront; Diet Pepsi Slurpee and Starbuck runs; impromptu tour of Puyallup's finer tourist attraction (including the Safeway, building murals, city park, Les Schwab tire store, including things no longer here) while waiting for the Slurpee machine to get fixed; an incredible potluck;
the English waiter at Jimmy Mac's Roadhouse;
celebrating a surprise birthday;
and "walking the dog" there was some time left to have fun and create better friendships.
Hey did anyone know Jazzi and Rach are really sisters of the 60's?
Sorry there aren't photos of many of these events, but some were incriminating and in others the camera was shaking was so badly because the photographer ROFLHBO. So next year, if you want to see, you just have to be here to believe it. Only requirements are, you have to appreciate the gift given to us through our weight loss surgery and willingness to celebrate the quality of life we have been blessed with.
Michelle and I want to thank Mike Z and his family (both work family and his personal family) for their hospitality and allowing us to participate in the booth at the ASBS Conference. We enjoyed sharing this trip in part with Carol G from Chicago. We also want to express our love and appreciation to Sheri from Sunny Florida for coming out and helping around the Vitalady home and business while we were gone. She spoiled the cats AND us with her loving attention to detail.
However, these trips are not possible without the our staff to watch over things in our absence. But then they do it when we are there, too. Huggs to Laura, Stephanie, Erik, Morgan, Krystal, Mandi and welcome aboard Melissa and Ashley.
Huggs,
Michelle & Don Curran
Vita-parents and friends
Last Leg Home
Next day we head north to Seaside, OR. our last stop, before going home. As we go north we are a bit more inland and we hit farm country. A nice change from the switchbacks on the coast.
Before we get to Seaside we stopped the Tillamook Air Museum. It is a private museum featuring Navy and Marine Aircraft and memorabilia. The building is an old WW II blimp hanger on the site of the decommissioned (1948) Naval Air Station Tillamook.
Being an ex-Navy Airedale, I had a ball climbing around and inspecting these exhibits. The A-3 was the plane of my first squadron, the Hellcat was the same plane my Uncle Dick flew in WW II, the Mustang is my step son's fav, the Mitchell is one of my brother's favorite, the Corsair, because who hasn't heard of the Black Sheep squadron and the Helo trainer was Michelle's favorite. (She had to make one her fav to stop from being bored.)
M: I think helicopters are SOOOOOOOOOO cute!Back on the road to the Tillamook Cheese plant, no big deal here, except to see the whey separated from milk curd as a byproduct in the cheese making process. The whey is then sold to companies like Champion to make their protein products. The milk curd is where the lactose remains and not in the whey, thus is why whey protein is mostly lactose free and safe for us to use. I will say that my cheese of choice is the mild cheddar they make here. Nummm.
SEASIDE, here we come.... This is a very special place for us. We have spent several vacations here as well as our honeymoon.
We pull into the campground and find there is no reservation on file. They are booked full, "sorry, no room at the inn". However I was amazed at the care and hospitality here at the Circle Creek RV Park. Even though there was no record of a reservation, they went out of their way to help us. They contacted the other campgrounds in the area looking for space or a misplaced reservation. One of the ladies drove to the other side of town to check one more place for us as they were not taking calls.
When all said and done, they spotted us in their field for the first night and gave us a cancelled reservation for the remainder of our stay. The park has become our home away from home when we come to Seaside in the future.
We enjoyed our favorite places, like the Ten Tiny Tees miniature golf course. We WON'T discuss the score. There was another carousel to ride, goodies to buy for our folks at home, walks on the beach (Barney had never seen one, or surf!) and prom (like a boardwalk), restaurants to enjoy and yes I even agreed to shop. (I had to pay back for the Air Museum, right?) I won't discuss that score, either.
We ran down to Canon Beach for a few hours and walked and shopped, enjoyed the beautiful flower displays:
and a cute little three wheeler electric car. It's called the Xebra Zap.
Cutest darn thing since those little European jobs back in the 60's. What were they called? Door in the front, tiny little wheels up there, too. Hey, could these be the commuter of the future?
: BMW Isetta
Well, back into Washington. We headed home with a stop in Longview at the best Sizzler Restaurant in the country. Every time we come through town we stop and enjoy their salad bar which is so wonderful. For a chain type establishment, the owner here takes the effort to make the menu a bit different and everything is perfect. This has been run by the same person since 1983 and he does a superb job, so if you are in the area, it is a great meal.
It was good to see our mountain again. As we say, 'it came out to greet us". Mt Rainier is spectacular and if you are fortunate to be in our area on a clear day, perhaps it will "come out" and welcome you as well.
The road trip portion of our adventure is over, for this year. Grad weekend is coming up next to cap off Vita Tour 2006. We want to thank everyone who came out to visit with us, for the well wishes and prayers for our safety. This trip has become very special to us and a tremendous encouragement.
I also want to thank Michelle for putting up with my short temper tantrums while setting up and breaking down the camp sites. For allowing me to cross the street, so to say, and share this great country and all the beautiful people we have met. You are truly a terrific mom to so many, and I am proud and love being your chauffeur down this road and at your side.
Thanks,
Don Curran
Michelle's Ocean
From Trinidad to Gold Beach, Or, Michelle was finally getting to what she considers "Our Ocean". Finally, the Oregon coast and smile from the Vitalady. The RV Park we stayed at in Gold Beach offered something for everyone. Michelle got the ocean she adores, Barney got the beach and all the funny smelly stuff to roll in, and I got a little airport runway and more flora to shoot. I also got to see my traveling companions enjoying themselves.
The beaches in California and Oregon are so different. California has large beaches with very little debris on them. Northern Cali oceanfront start to have steep cliffs and less beach. Oregon has very rugged coast line and shorter beach areas. Lots of seaweed and drift wood.
Both have their own flavor and attraction. Barney was happy to investigate both, so long as the surf didn't come too close.
Oh, I forgot to share the story about the cute little pink hat. We stopped at a little cafe in California, which was a story in it's self. Anyway there was this hat rack with several miscellaneous items on it. It was their lost and found rack. The waiter spotted Michelle's pink sweatshirt and figured she just needed the hat to bring it all together. The offer was made and Michelle now has a matching hat. Cute, huh?
Gold Beach to South Beach was uneventful and a short run. The park in South Beach was nice and comfy. How ever I learned a very valuable lesson their. Do NOT stand between the truck and trailer on a slope with the truck in neutral when hooking up. Fortunately Michelle found the brakes before disaster struck (or squished). NOTE: get the emergency brake on the truck serviced.
Thanks,
Don Curran
Cruising the California Coast
So off we go toward the California Coast. Michelle had fallen in love with a campground on the Gualala River, in Gualala, CA a long time ago. We were booked for 4 nights here and I must say it was the most peaceful place we had stayed in thus far.
The roads in an around the campground are tight for a larger rig like us, but we got all 29' parked and shoe horned in the truck to keep it out of the road. I mean this place was so cool it even had parking spots for the puppies, a hitching post marked "Dog Parking".
On top of that Barney found true love, but became frustrated when he had to stoop to her level for a little romance.
This park is bordered by this slow meandering river and the ocean right handy and the whole scene, deep in the redwoods was so relaxing to us. Just what the doctor ordered after nearly 3 weeks on the road. We relaxed and walked and talked and didn't even get upset because we couldn't get in touch with home or the office. Hey, Laura was there and between her and Sheri, everything was under control (we hope)
The 9th was our 18th anniversary and we went off to dinner in town. I'm not quite sure where Michelle got this blouse, but trust, I ain't gonna complain. She looked so darn ummm. Stunning is the only word the comes near to expressing how my date looked. WOW GIRL She kept wanting me to watch the sunset, but I was somewhat distracted.
Happy Anniversary, dear one.
After our 4 days in Gualala we head north again to Trinidad, CA and Gold Beach, Or. I didn't realize it but Barney has taken over Naggy Maggie's job of navigating. I could tell which way to go based on which ear he was drooling into.
We came up Highway 1 and 101 to the most beautiful beaches and wild flowers.
If you get the chance to travel the west coast, take the extra time to drive the Scenic Byway. It is well worth dealing with the 5 MPH switch backs and 7 + grades even if you are pulling an aluminum anchor.
Our last stop in Calif was at the Redwood Trail Campground in Trinidad. The staff there were waiting to greet us and help us in anyway they could. The local elk population stopped by for a visit during the night, which caused Barney to bark, but he was SOOOOOOO happy that they left souvenirs for him to roll in. NOT. Slight clean-up delay and on to Gold Beach, OR.
Thanks,
Don Curran
Champions all
On the 4th, Michelle & I accepted an invitation from Mike Z and his mom to join them in a little celebration at his mom's house. We were so thrilled to be asked so of course we went. We figured a little 4th of July picnic would be a great chance to visit with Mike, Beverly and Mom. Little did we know that Lorena and Sonny, Mike's parents, were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. All the family was there, and delightful people.
Once again, we wish them continued blessings in their marriage and appreciation for allowing us to share in such a personal event with us. We are so struck with the love and grace shared with us by your family.
We went to the Champion facility for a tour on the 5th.
This became the last of Vita Tour 2006 and what a climax. We gathered with Eleanor O., Alice M. (BettyTheLoon), Kristine, Tiffany & Carol G.and met with Toni (our rep, Rene (the chemist) and Mike (the boss) for a bit of behind the scenes tour. Unfortunately, the plant was in the process of a inventory shutdown so we didn't see any of our favorite products being produced.
However, we were treated to a brand new new product (Amino Shooters) and an un-ending amount of their time to get all of our questions answered. We really appreciate the time, respect and friendship afforded us by this wonderful company.
After lunch and sad goodbyes, Vitalady and Vitaguy sneaked back to their humble abode and prepared to be tourists again. We packed up for an early departure the next day.
On the 6th we hitched up the trailer and Barney and headed once more to say goodbye to Toni, to drop off the conference booth we brought back to them and to pick up a little product (Amino Shooters). Toni finally got to meet Barney (who fell in love with her of course).
Thanks,
Don Curran
