06-30-14

I cannot wrap my brain around tomorrow being July!  But, the lake is starting to look a lot like Go Fourth, so it must be almost July 4th! 

A sultry calm evening; trying to slow down and enjoy it.

06-29-14

While we were out of town, Longview installed the fourth squirrel bridge in the collection.  It's a bit more ornate than earlier bridges.

I would love to see a squirrel actually use one of the bridges!

06-28-14

Crashing back to reality...

The day zoomed by, and I have to show for it is restocking the kitchen, unpacking, lake walks, and starting the trip album.  And church.  It was a full house, fun to see people, feels like we missed more than one week.

06-27-14

Farewell, Hawaii!  

Today involved a lot of waiting at airports and sitting on planes.  

But we really like the outdoor Kona airport, and the hula was a perfect touch.

06-26-14

Our last day in Hawaii.  We didn't get to do everything we had hoped to, but feel like we have seen and done Hawaii.

Today was a great day to end with - a snorkeling party boat cruise at Captain Cook/Kealakekua Bay, upgrade to Snuba, Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park, 100% Kona coffee and macadamia nut coffee cake, the painted church and Hawaiian artisans, and touring Holualoa Town.

06-25-14

Another water filled day in Hawaii - a beach walk, a dip in a secret fish pond, and snorkeling in search of turtles. Also another food filled day - yummy food that magically appears at Adrienne's before we said farewells, coffee, fish, seaweed salad, fries with all sorts of weird toppings, donkey balls, and maybe time yet for sweet bread and guava jam.

06-24-14

The kids wanted lots of water and beach time this trip, and today we delivered. They also got in lots of cousin time with Tristan and River.

This photos is from our first stop, Mahukona Beach, a pier with old sugar machines and a huge school of yellow Tang.  From there we went to Lapakahi State Historic Park, Beach 69, Pu'ukohol Heiau National; Historic Site, and the Puako Petrograph Trail.  Fun busy day.

06-23-14

Today was a rainy day in Hawaii, but we still got out and about and are having some time to slow down and chill out.

We hiked down to the black beach of Pololu Valley, enjoyed coffee and ice cream in Hawi, and took the scenic drive to Waimea.

Adrienne is a wonderful host!  And her cousin never grows up...

06-22-14

Goodbye Oahu, hello Big Island!

Today we toured Oahu, from Pali Highway to Chinaman's Hat to Pipeline. We also started the day hoof in it to the top of Diamond Head. Then the short interisland flight.

Enjoying the Big Island so far!

06-21-14

Today was our water day. The kids enjoyed their surf lesson, we enjoyed swimming nearby. The paras ailing was a blast, especially with a big pod of dolphins around us. Then we swam on Waikiki. Soaking up the sun, enjoying the warm water, and starting to chill out.

06-20-14

We arrived safe and sound and made it to our Pearl Harbor tour. Blending in with the locals isn't working so well; we got stares in the grocery store and the hole in the wall diner gave us tourist keychains. Xander's "plate lunch" was a meat fest - beef, spam, hot dog, chicken, and a token raddichio vegetable.  Aloha!

06-19-14

Leg 1 of vacation took us to the new home of the Carasas. Riled up the kids, enjoyed seeing the great new house, and marveled at Chloe the dogs new found energy.

06-18-14

Back home after a few days of meetings in Federal Way.  Several of us attendees are headed on vacation right away, to the coast of WA, to Disney, to Wild Waves water park, to San Francisco, and to Hawaii.  Just enough time to move things from one suitcase to another.  Life on the go...

06-17-14

We did a photo shoot with Dad Fischer tonight.  We need professional quality photos to be used with our upcoming podcast.  Dad was looking for lovely backgrounds, but Bruce and I thought that the ugly field and house next door were a fitting backdrop for our low income landlording in Longview.  Funny glare on my glasses, no matter who takes the photo, but otherwise one of my favorites.

06-16-14

Take me out to the ballgame... buy me a decaf coffee when I get cold... root, root, root, for the Mariners...

Bruce and I attended a Weyerhaueser function at Safeco Field, my first time watching a game int he new stadium.  We were with a few people who had never seen a game at all.  It wasn't a lively game, but was fun to win, and fun that the roof was able to be open.

06-15-14

Happy Father’s Day!

We headed to Portland (on gay pride weekend, what were we thinking?!?) to do an on-line scavenger hunt.  There were 18 puzzles to solve, but we couldn’t do one because Powell’s is being remodeled.  It was fun, we discovered several new neat things in Portland.  The Ira Keller fountain is a gem.

We didn’t finish strong and we got a little rained on, but we had a very fun day.

06-14-14

We have an evening alone and we.... go to the grocery store!

I don't go very often.  I get distracted easily and get so frustrated when I can't find things.  Today there were no grapes and I could not find the aisle with the orange marmalade.  And I found gum on clearance, not on the list.

Party on!

06-13-14

Instead of celebrating the beginning of a weekend, we’re running around like crazy trying to get a rental settled.  Bruce recently decided that our motto is “safe, clean & flexible” instead of “safe and clean”, and tonight is sure a tribute to that!

Even so, happy weekend!

06-12-14

Rental business conducted at Starbucks... even ran into a fellow investor while we were evaluating our latest applicant.  With only drinking two decaf lattes a week, each one becomes more appreciated...

06-11-14

This morning I got up early and explored the Oregon Garden.  What wonderful weather we’ve been having!  It was fun to check out the garden.  Then a long day of meetings and a 2 hour drive home.

06-10-14

Tuesday afternoon I took a woods tour with my peers.  But, it was a different kind of woods tour.

We attended a two day meeting at the Oregon Garden Resort.  Which has an education forest on its grounds.  The tour guide talked about luring school busses of kids in with plants and flowers and teaching them something about forests in the process.  One section was about controlled fires, or their “fuel reduction program”.

Nice day, nice to get some exercise while on the clock for a change!

06-09-14

Xander has discovered day old bread at Jimmy Johns.  Last time we ate there Xander ordered a $0.46 each day old bread, and they gave it to him free.  Today he went to buy three to use for lunches, and again he got them free.  Anastasia thought it was a great gig, now Bruce is concerned that both kids will be begging for day old at Jimmy Johns each day.  Anastasia worked on a trade to get one of his loafs tonight.

“Do poor people know about this?!?” - Anastasia

06-08-14

A gaggle of girls gathered to bid farewell to Meri, a foreign exchange student from Finland.  We hung out in the kitchen with the adults for while, Bruce tasting Finnish foods.  The salted licorice is a big hit.

Adieu Meri, you will be missed!

06-07-14

Kind of an impulsive decision to jump into a day long landlording conference today.  Got some good information and tips, got to network with other investors, and got some fodder for my real estate blog.

06-06-14

We got our photos from Rugged Maniac today, fun.  Put those on Facebook.

Today is a peaceful TGIF shot.

06-05-14

Xander got his license today!  The last bird has flown the nest, he’s off!  Was weird not heading to the tennis court to pick him up…

06-04-14

We seem to be living and breathing tennis again.  The whole family found time and energy to play tonight.  The girls stayed int he game with awesome serves.

06-03-14

Good thing the school year is almost over, because his backpack is quickly falling apart.  Anastasia and I went to the Relay for Life meeting together, and Anastasia and I exercised on the dike together.

06-02-14

Fall sports are starting practice already!  But spring is barely over!  Xander started tennis practice tonight, Anastasia starts swim practice at 5:30am tomorrow.  Funny that the kids favorite sports are both fall...

06-01-14

Happy June!

As busy as yesterday was, today was tranquil.  Made $50 on Craigslist sales, finished up Hawaii trip planning, read my book in the sunshine, and paddleboarded.

Here's Bruce clicking photos of Anastasia and Meri in the fountain...