Glider Rider

The kids have one Glider Rider -Like a Bike knock off's. They are supposed to have two, but we have one. Still have to find out what happened to the other. They are not at Noah's level, but they are having fun. And having a hard time sharing. What usually saves the parents is that the one riding will tire, and hand over the bike to the other. I think they also have expectations of how fast they are supposed to be going, and how much fun it is supposed to be. When they do not meet these expectations, they tire. They are getting the hang of it and are scooting along. Walks are much better this way. I hope they learn how to use the break soon.

Last weekend was spent in Spokane...well one day of it anyway. Sarah had planned to stay in Spokane all day due to some Mary Kay stuff she had to do. I had heard from Mom that there were some WWII aircraft hanging out at the airport, and here was my opportunity to see them. It would have been nice if we had planned the day out more, but then it would not be Sarah and me, if it were. The kids and I took Sunset Boulevard, after dropping Sarah off. I'm sure they did not get as much out of it as I, but I do think there is more going by, closer to the old road than on the freeway. They seemed to enjoy themselves. So, on the old Navy airfield side, a touring B-24, B-17G, B-25J, and TP-51C, had stopped for the weekend. I thought the kids would be scared, but they were just a little timid, and we looked to enter the hangar (looking for restrooms). Rileigh would not go in the door. She told me that she cannot go in there. So, we wandered around outside, and did not get the "up close" experience. -we did find a port-a-poty, that was accessible too I might add. The good thing, for me, was that they were giving rides to paying customers, so were were able to catch them starting up and taking off. The twins were interested in everything that was moving fast, just not impressed with the noise of the jets.
After watching the B-17 and B-24 land, we headed for Riverfront park. The kids loved the falls, and were having a good time on the playground near the Y. The kids wanted to ride the train that roves the paths -maybe next time. We then headed for the large wagon-slide, which took us by the carousel. Rileigh was not going to get on the flying horses, nor was she going to walk near it. But since I told her we were going around it, that was OK, and the trek continued. The goat slowed them for a while as well, especially Ethan. He picked up leaves and anything he could find (not just garbage) to feed the goat. They had a good time on the slide, but we had to move on, making a large circle route by walking past the opera house. We got back to the car to be 20min late to pick up Sarah. After getting Sarah, we stopped by Carl's Jr. and were back on the road heading toward the setting sun. The twins were out before Sprague Lake. And the sunset was impressive. I like trips like that, I hope the kids are impressed as well.

Get out of the House

This may hurt a little but it is something you will get used to. The kids were not notably cute. There is nothing recorded to show how cute they are, nor were there any memorable phrases. They have been effort and real for some time.

Excrement. The first paragraph is not entirely accurate. Be careful, you might say something that you really mean. The accurate part is that nothing has been recorded for sharing. But it is not as though they have stopped being four year olds. They are as cute as they have been, it is simply that I, for one, have found other matters pressing preventing me from recording.

The magic jumping bean grudge cage match has progressed. Tonight they found it more fun to bounce off the walls. It seems they noticed that the force of two going against the wall pays dividends in launching them in the opposite direction. I guess the focus was diverted to getting maximum rebound, vs. the trying to get the upper hand I was noticing earlier. It no longer was antagonistic.

There has been a fascination with bugs as well. Bugs of all shapes. Ethan prefers the "roazie poazies", but is just as happy with beetles. The determination to find them seems to have picked up a bit lately. Both Rileigh and Ethan spend their outside time looking for creepy crawlies. A prime example was this evening, when Rileigh tumbled out of the thunder bubble. It so happened that this action brought her eyes close to some interesting subjects. Ethan noticed his sister's interest in the ground and curiosity got the better of him. Thus the rebound fiesta was put on hold, in order to better explore the ground. Being parents, Sarah and I inquired as to what was so interesting. This brought Rileigh over, with a worm draped between her hands (I think it was almost as long as she is tall), and more dangling from both hands. Parents tossed cookies, and with pale faces and weak voices, informed our daughter to let the worms go back home. She was not happy with this, and tried to pass off a few of her precious cargo to Ethan, under the guise of going to the dirt. She was not sly enough, and so it was stressed that the worms really wanted to be in the ground and left to their own interests- and that we did not know what those were, but it would be akin to a hand coming from the sky and pulling us out of our house. This seemed to register at some level, so another round of championship rebounding began and was enough to distract her. All day, they have been bringing in rollie pollies, beetles, and "lady bugs", so that they would not lose their friends. Somehow we have failed to express that bugs do not belong in the house. I am going to be on my toes for a while. Head on a swivel type thing.

Vampire Weekend

Just caught a quick glimpse(again) of Noah on his "Like a Bike". I simply needed a little pick me up. Somebody owes Matt something. He should get a call from the Vampire Weekend guys or Like a Bike.
I was trying to figure out how he got some of those shots as well. I thought maybe he was riding a skate board or something. But then, maybe he was just walking. Pretty smooth camera if he was walking.

Can not enjoy ice cream without goggles. Apparently, Ethan's only fit on the top of his head. "I told you they would not fit" he says. Which is all a fabrication, because they do fit. Try telling Riles hers does not fit.

The kids have a "Jelly Bean Jumper". The jumper is an inflatable trampoline with walls, made for ages 2+. In layman's terms, it's a grunge match cage mat. That is how they have been treating it anyway. They bounce off the sides, just like in WWF, and launch themselves at each other. Ethan's size to weight ratio, and strength has made it a "beat up on Rileigh" session. But Rileigh's never say die, "I don't take @#%*! from nobody" attitude make for extended stays in the Thunder Dome... bubble? They both spend equal amount of time crying/pleading to the parents to bail them out. And 90% of the time is hysterical laughter. Interesting to watch, and very confusing as to when, how, and where to step in. My next thought is to acquire those sumo wrestler suits that fit toddlers. For now, I'll just cringe as some of the falls look painful. I guess they just don't get enough momentum, and don't have enough weight to hurt themselves.
I want pictures, but so far the camera has eluded me during their stays in the jumper. The kids generate static electricity, enough to power the computer while I write this blog, which makes their hair stand up on end. We all know how valuable static hair is in a photo. I do have some video (not in a digital format), so the moment has been recorded, just want it in a more share friendly format.

The kids have Like a Bike knock offs on the way. And the communtiy pool (the frog pool as the kids call it) should be warm enough within a week or so. Summer will now commence. -It's almost July!? sheesh!

Sage and Sun

The photos attempt to show what I mentioned yesterday. This is no quiet cul de sac. The day started with a "Chief for a day" ceremony held across the street on the Grant County Courthouse lawn. A kid from the community is chosen to be a chief for the day for each of the law enforcement organizations in Grant County. Ephrata police, Moses Lake police, Soap Lake police, Warden (I think) police, Grant County police, Washington State patrol, Fish and Game warden, and the Grant County Fire Dept. Each chief for a day is escorted in, in his own car. This means a fairly lengthy "parade" of cop cars. And then there is the honor guard, and other dog and pony type stuff, like the police horses, and four wheelers, etc. It makes for quite a show, and makes breakfast a little more interesting. And to sign off for the day, a parade finishes up on this lawn, at around 8pm. Sure gets the kid's attention.

This morning was a good time to sample the sage aromas. It must be the temperature of the air, mixed with that it was rather still. Sage carries some nostalgic thoughts for me. The strange thing, is that this house has a grand bank of honeysuckle. There are many nostalgic thoughts there as well. But totally different. Honeysuckle to me, is Southeast. So the whiffs of that send me to places far away from Washington state. It was a grand morning to be out on my mountain board.

"down time"

Yesterday, I think it was, Rileigh informed me that her Tita Karley, and Uncle Regan were taking her and Ethan to the aquarium. She was rather insistent, and confident that this was going to happen. She said it was "going to be today, Sunday morning" (umm, wasn't it Tuesday evening when she was telling me this?) And on further query, she wanted to go to the one that "was many fish" and "has a big shark named Bruce". The fun part was that I could go too... if I asked. Ethan was sold. He bought into it hook line and sinker. I'm not sure what she really had in mind, but her Aunt and Uncle were in fact NOT driving from South Dakota in order to take them to the aquarium. In the end, she was distracted by other activities and that was the end of the trip.

Tonight, dinner was sauteed in sherry ...I think. I wish I had the camera on for when Ethan ate some of the food stuffs on his plate more sauteed than others. It was priceless. His faced wrinkled up like a prune and he shook his head from side to side. He told us it was spicy, but as adults, we thought he meant hot. Not until much later did it dawn on me; "OH! spicy!"

We are gearing up for the Sage and Sun weekend. First City shin dig of the season. aannd I'm gonna miss it. I'm heading to Denver to work on seating for my sit ski. These "party" weekends are great by the way. Every other weekend of the year, you would think we lived on a cul de sac in a secluded neighborhood. See, we live across the street from the courthouse for Grant County. Which translates to: Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, we are "not alone". But after that, on weekends, and on holidays: no bod ee. It was pretty weird for the first couple weeks, but now we expect it to be quiet. Then summer hits, and the County feels free to open our street to public "parties". One weekend we have vendors set up on the street, right out front, from Thurs till Sun. I'll tell you, I don't know why I leave. My social calendar is booked if I just stay at home. We also get front row seating to just about every parade, and there are a few. It is no Mardi Gras, but then we aren't under water either. But, I choose to be involved in activities which rip me away from the simple pleasures. It's a good thing my season is in winter, or I would miss all the fun.

Emerald blue

There is a sound made when liquid is poured into a cup. I can't really describe the sound, I think the description of the action is the best way to show what I mean. -Kinda like splash is not the sound of someone hitting the water, but we know what that sounds like. and then there is SPAH LAAASSHHH- I'm talking about pouring a cup of coffee. I'm not sure if it is what the mug is made out of, or the properties of coffee, but it seems to me to be unique. And it may be that my addiction to caffeine creates certain responses. Whatever the case, I pour a cup of coffee, and the sound has almost as much effect on me as the actual drinking of the stuff. I can't hear the sound of someone else getting poured a cup without me getting one too. I wanted to focus on the sound, but now I think about the latte, and I don't have the same connection. For me the latte, and breve, are attached to smell. Just a hmmm from me.
So the sun understands it is summer. At least, the daylight hours last a summer day. We have lights on the front of the house to help light up the house in the evening. The problem with living at this latitude is that these lights are ineffective until after 2100. The sun is up early in the morning as well, but I don't know much about that. Time has no value to me in the early morning. Respiration and circulation are more important then. So, the sun knows how long it is supposed to be up, but it seems it has forgotten how much warmth it is to provide. The temps do not feel like June. And this has been a rather steady trend, it is not just this week. So, with the amount of light, you get the impression of summer. And that is contrasted with the temps, and confusion sets in. I am beginning to doubt the accuracy of the calendar.
Yesterday I was in Seattle, and it was rainy. Yes you are correct, what is so surprising about that right? I still contend that it was a little out of the ordinary. I went to the VA to fine tune my new chair, evaluate my new cushion, and to get started on (we hope) better leg braces. I was able to lodge, in the hospital, so that I could participate in the softball practice. The Veterans wheelchair games are in July, and the Recreation therapists want to give the first timers some experience before they go. I actually drove over on Friday, did all the fitting and evaluating (VA does not "work" on the weekends! c'mon), and softball was on Saturday. Friday evening I enjoyed the Alkai beach path on my mountain board, and Sat, I did a short pole (workout) in the VA parking lot before the softball (we played in the VA parking lot). I should have brought goretex. I should have brought some of the clothes I wear in the winter. Instead, I brought clothes logical for June (at least for the Columbia Basin). I was under dressed, and I had sunglasses which were superfluous. In my favour, the sun remembered it's job by Friday evening, so at least I was dry on Alkai, its just that the sun did not remember till late afternoon, thus it did not warm up all that much. It was Saturday that I got wet. It never really rained. It was simply "misting" all day, which the west side is known for. I don't want to sound like this is me complaining. I like the cooler weather, and the sun and I have a love/hate relationship. I guess what all this illustrates is that I am an East sider again. I am re-acclimated with my home weather system. After eight years west of the Cascades, I think I got used to being wet all the time. And now, it comes as a surprise to me, that they are wet all the time, west of the Cascades.
Lodging is an interesting "benefit" to being in the VA system. (There are so many things to talk about, which happened to me in the last few days, I had to split up some of them) If there is bed space at the VA, and a staff member, like a therapist, nurse or doctor, writes the proper thing, I "get" to stay at the VA free of charge. In short, the VA can be a hotel of sorts. Now, before anyone gets the idea that they need to run out and become a vet to enjoy such perks, one should remember what exactly the VA is. First and foremost, it is a hospital, and that should be enough to send chills down the spine, and said person running in the opposite direction hands flailing in the air screaming like a little girl. That used to be enough to keep me away. But I got over that (sort of) and I feel some pull in the idea that I can be a good example to the new injuries. My night stay was not "free". It came with a few ....costs. I'll go through a few, but not in their entirety. I was in a four person room, with a curtain dividing each bed. The intercom the nurses use was in this room as well, and there is no button to select which rooms get to hear the messages over the system. My roommate (I only had one thanks be to God) was in for an infection, so he was hooked up to an IV, and he had the vampires in drawing blood for tests, etc. AND he had a temp, so he thought the room was hot. I should have asked for a blanket, instead of the light sheet of paper they put on the beds (or remembered my experiences and brought my own). It was a challenge to be a positive "role model" around this guy. Grumpy, disgruntled, knows-more-than-you vet is a good description. I also ran into one of the guys I was in the hospital with initially, who also walks on the "shadow side of the street". So, I wanted to focus on one thing in these writings, and have found it too difficult. But I think I am back on track now. The people at the VA are a different ....a different atmosphere is created. I guess it is like going to Wall Mart. At least I get a similar sense of the atmosphere. When all the people around you are not successful go-getter's, the air is different. In contrast, going to the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs has a completely different feel. And it could be all due to the people in the place. So, in the VA, I think what I mainly feel is people who are not about fixing problems themselves, they are looking for someone else to solve. Or using someone else to solve their problems. This is mainly the patients. The staff usually want to help, but with so many people asking for them to solve problems, and a bogged down system, they have a less enthusiastic attitude. For the most part, the nurses, and therapists are the quality people and are good at what they do. It is all the administrators and secretary types who are in their positions not due to skill which bogs the system down. Add to that the "customer" who is full of whining and demands that someone do something for him, and we end up with an air de Wall Mart. And it all feeds on itself. It becomes a downward spiral.
The negative air in the VA system can be broken. It is not easy, and it is not permanent. It takes sacrifice from those involved, and either we all share the load or one or two do. I have had the pleasant experience to have dealt with some "VA martyrs". These were staff people who had too much energy for one person, and they also sacrificed their personal lives to the VA entity. I do not rate at their level, but I aspire to accomplish similar feats by my accomplishments in Nordic skiing. So far I have received some positive feedback at any rate. Hopefully we can feed enough positive stuff into the loop, to rid the negativism inherent in the system. I suppose if I look at it like weeding the garden, it will be helpful. Because it seems to be quite similar in the way that one rids the garden of weeds, then the next week has to do it again, and again and again. I think in one way the two situations differ, is that weeds are a direct relation type thing. I know I am pulling a weed, and that it is coming out of the ground or not. The VA system "weeds" are less obvious.
Let me finish, because I have to finish, with that I am appreciative of the VA system that I have to deal with. It is not perfect, as I think I have made clear, but it is better than it has been. I appreciate the leg work that was done before me, by the guys who have gone before who did not accept mediocrity. I am lucky that I am a veteran with a spinal cord injury, and not a civilian, or child with a disability. I have resources and people who are willing to help me. I just need to find them and make them see what I need, and how they can help. I don't want to "use"(and then abuse) the system like so many have. Rather work in the system.

Summer Yet?

Yeah, so this is how I feel. I sit down to write, when I have time, and suddenly I am at a loss for words.

Sammy, here, has the right idea -I think. I sure do envy him. I have to add, that I have had ample opportunity to do as my friend here, and I can't say that I enjoyed myself. So I guess I really am not all that jealous of him....but just right now.

I was watching him walk the other day, and this thought came to me about how he is so confident. All cats for that matter. (or maybe it is my biases which cloud my vision. Anyway) He saunters around like all eyes are on him. The funny thing is that he is the most self-confident klutz I have seen. I have watched him miss the jump onto the washer and dryer quite a few times. Still makes me laugh. With his paws stretched on the top. his chin resting on the edge, with his whole body hanging down the side, as he slides off desperatley searching for some purchase with his paws. He has also looked for food in my hand, which has already been placed in his bowl. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. Yet he still parades around like he is someone important. I heard a quote recently: "what makes you worthy to breathe the air you breathe?" I don't think Sammy asks himself that question -ever. He is satisfied with himself, whether he is aware of his flaws or not.

In keeping up with the Jone's recently, I took the twins to Twin Lakes on Sunday, and we stayed 'till Tuesday. The pictures are linked, so you can quickly view if curious. I have been interested in seeing Spokane Falls all spring, which was a main goal of this trip. And lucky for me, all the snow this winter has produced an extended water fall season, so I was able to procrastinate and not miss much. I can only imagine the kayakers and rafters are loving this season. Also, it's always nice to go back "home", any little excuse.... Looking at all the changes, finding things which I had not seen before, and I guess I just have an affinity for the place. All this comes to me after for the most part. Before, all I can think of are the reasons why not to go. I'm glad I got up and went.

The weather is not all that warm there yet. The lilacs are still in bloom. They should have been done the first week of May, not June. But I must say that I enjoy it this way. I do wish it were warmer for a dip in the lake, but there are so many other things to do, that swimming is not missed. I have yet to try biking much this year, but I can see the potential for a large bug population. I have yet to find out...and may never (hopefully -the bug part). Still, the Hiawatha is calling my name...

I'm glad the kids saw the water falls. I also took them to Post Falls, and the Bowl and Pitcher -just down river from Spokane. I am confident that they did not appreciate what they were seeing, none the less, I think it will be filed away for future understanding. Ethan enjoyed throwing the bountiful rocks at Riverside State Park. I guess I could have taken him to any rock field and he would have been content. Still, my parents took me out "into nature" a lot when I was little, and I think it had a positive effect on me. I will pack in as many of these little adventures as possible before I become boring and oppresive dad.

Just for kicks: