A soldier comes home

Today, a soldier arrived home at the Tri-Cities regional airport.

We were blessed with perfect weather, 60 degrees! The smell of autumn filled our noses, the taste of change tickled our tongues. A mild wind blowing from the west as we waited for his private jet. Just beyond the cold galvanized gate, we stood and waited. Quietly the world hushed as the engines spooled down. Noises of the rail yard muted, I don't know how or why. The flags all fluttered, popping occasionally in salute to our soon deplaned soldier. Honor kept us warm.

Today, a soldier rode from Pasco, through Richland, past Benton City, Prosser, Grandview and finally to Sunnyside.

Today, over 100 motorcycles, 10 cages, and a various number of Law Enforcement vehicles escorted a soldier, his mother, his father, siblings and relatives home.

On this ride home, regular folks gathered with flags to wave him on by. A seaman stood at the corner and saluted the caravan. Mothers and fathers, boys and girls stood silently by as we motored past. Cars pulled off the highway, and some that drove by saluted. Overpasses had people, most with flags, waving as we passed underneath. Life moved in slow-motion as we pulled into Sunnyside. People stopped, waited, waved, cried.

We stopped, and the riders dismounted their steel horses and again silence befell the earth. Only the noises of birds and wind carried through the air.

Today a soldier arrived home for his last time.

Fire aftermath

As you see, the fire was rather devestating to the north face of Rattlesnake Mountain. Not the first time that a fire has burned this area, nor will it be the last I'm sure. Still it will be interesting to see the new life that springs up here post fire. I also am interested to see how the Yakima elk herd will winter here now.

~N

Rattlesnake Mountain/ Hanford Area Fire

Okay, so the photo doesn't look like much, I'll explain.

What you are seeing from a window in our house is a fire that is currently burning on the Arid Land Ecological Reserve. This is on the Hanford Reservation, west of the Tri-Cities.

This is not exactly close, maybe 20 miles away as the birds fly. I saw the fire near the beginnings, around 3:30 today. Since then, the wind has really pushed it along and whipped it up to a frenzy.

Also, here is a link from Google to show the satellite view. It really is sad and impressive at the same time.

~N

Summer is moving by

We have watched July scream past, and August steaming by at full speed ahead, where has the summer gone?

Carlee was able to spend a few days at a summer camp outside of Dayton. This was her first such camp and she seemed to have really enjoyed it.

Julie and I traveled to Vancouver for a hot rod cruise in at Glenwood Church, this is the 6th year of it and 180 cars were there. The following day, we picked up Alexis to come back to our place for a couple of weeks. Austin would have, but he was leaving Monday for a rafting trip down the Salmon River in Idaho. We picked him up in Pomeroy, WA on that following Friday to join our family camping trip, read below...

Just returning from a weekend camping trip at Central Ferry State Park. A scenic place on the Snake River. We looked forward to swimming but the "swimming area" was not what we had hoped. Our first impression was set by the "Caution-Rattle Snakes" sign upon entering the campground. A quick speech to the kids about what not to do, and where not to go covered that. We enjoyed some reading, board games, typical camping meals of hot-dogs and chili, and late evenings. Sunday, during the camping trip was Julie's 31st birthday. We celebrated it the night before when her folks came out with a cake and ice cream. I asked her if we could go camping on my birthday and her answer was a firm, "No." Sunday night was also the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, this was a fun time for the kids and us. While sitting in our chairs starring up, we watched the space station scoot overhead, along with a dozen other satellites throughout the night. All in all a fun time.

Soon summer break will end for the kids, although Carlee has one more "adventure" before school starts. She has, throughout this year and prior years, had several bouts of strep-throat. The doctors have said that the removal of her tonsils will help this. So on the 20th, Carlee will get to change her diet to ice cream, Popsicles, and yogurts. Nothing beats closing out summer with a surgery...

~N

Allergies

Today I learned that taking an allergy pill 2 hours before church isn't a bright idea.

I did that a 9:00 and by 10:30 I was asleep on the bed again and didn't wake up until 1:30-2:00.

Next time, I'll check to see if it is a sleepy-time pill or not.

~N

So What Has Been Happening?

Upon the request of my beautiful bride, a long over due update is in order.

Between May and June, Carlee was participating in a junior fast pitch softball league. The season was not too long, which is probably the greatest thing about it. She took to softball like a duck to water. The final regular season game, she was allowed to pitch. Julie had been working with her on technique, being a former pitcher herself, and when the game came Carlee did a fantastic job. She even had the "toe drag" that people look for. Her team went on to a tournament and won first place. Carlee now proudly displays that trophy in her room.

Alexis recently wrapped up her role as a stand-in for a movie that was filmed in Portland. I'm not sure when the exact release of the film is, but will let you all know. The name of the movie is "Untraceable", starring Diane Lane.

Austin, as of last weekend, took his first logged flight. He's been up in small planes before, but this is the first time he took the wheel and was able to actually fly the plane. He flew a Cessna 425, which is a sweet little twin engine turboprop. I'm really kind of jealous that he's received turboprop time and I haven't...haha.

Julie and I have continued to unpack, organize, adjust, re-adjust and generally trying to settle our home. I've been trying to figure out the grass here in the front and back yard. It appears as though the grass is getting watered enough, but then there are brown spots. I'm thinking that next spring I'll aerate it. The yard is about 5 years old, and probably needs it. Julie is finding new and creative ways to decorate. Hanging mirrors, photos, curtains and generally making the house feel like a home. She's good at that. I'm going to work on the garage when the weather cools off more. I really think it is hotter inside the garage then it is outside...go figure.

With summer being here, we have our plans of camping, and recreating outside. Austin and Alexis will be here for 2 weeks starting today or tomorrow. We'll go to a couple of the minor league baseball games, mostly on Saturday's due to it being fireworks and all....go figure! We'll also be closing our our season of indoor football viewing. Our local team the Fever is doing okay. They're not stellar by any stretch, but there are some really good players and I think that if they all buckle down we could see a good playoff run. Spokane is our biggest rival, and they just so happen to be last year's AF2 National Champions. We beat them at our home game, and a week from this Saturday we play them up there. Go Fever!

I'll try to get some photos uploaded of things we do over the course of the summer. And as a friendly reminder, back up your photos off your hard drive. I most of the photos I had taken recently when the drive crashed.

~N

Happy Independence Day

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!