Alaska; Here I Come!

I'm spending my weekend getting last minute things around and ready to fly to Alaska late next week for a week long visit with Rob, Erin & J. Even Samantha will be flying up there, and it will be a big surprise to her when Bumpa meets her at the Fairbanks Airport. It is going to be her first visit to see her Dad up there too! That will make this trip extra special for all of us. Here is a picture of Samantha & me the last time we were together in October, on the front porch of the WIG, in Owosso just before I moved to AZ.

Family Gatherings

It is summer, and the livin' is easy. It is also that time of the year when family reunions occur. Our family is no exception. The only problem is that this will be the first year, in I can not remember, that we will not be at the family gathering.

This is my Mom's side of the family. Coleman is the name. Out of 11 original siblings, the last has passed away late last year, my Aunt Dolores Conden. The reunion goes on, but not sure for how much longer. The family seems to be getting older & smaller. However, there are some delights in our family, like my grand daughter, Samantha.

I came across a photo and video storage disk the other day, and thought I should put together a video memory of last year's family function. If it looks like I focused on Samantha and my son Rob, you are correct. Sorry, but when you control the camera and production, you control the content.

Also featured is my cousin Gary's daughter Emily. Her and Samantha, in spite of the age difference, seem to always take a liking to one another when they are together.

So, in loving memory to Gary's Mom, my Aunt Dolores, here is my tribute to her and my Mom's Family, the Coleman's.

Train Fest in Owosso, Michigan

This is the weekend that everyone in my hometown of Owosso, Michigan has been working on for quite some time. It is Train Fest. Many steam locomotives, from a railroad era gone by are there. That, along with many people, who have come from around the world to see these magnificent machines. Here is a local TV news report from ABC12 out of Flint on today's opening day. Clik on this link to see the story...
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/video?id=6929631
Wow, I only wished I could be there to observe (...and of course, help out! :) )

Excessive Heat

OK, it is 10:30 on a Saturday night. Heidi and I went out late this afternoon for a nice family style Italian dinner with friends followed by a viewing a "chick flick" with my wife. The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock. Yes, it was a cute romantic movie where the girl gets the guy and everyone lives happily ever after.

Sandra Bullock, at her age, still looks great half naked. But the real reason we decided to go to the show was for the air conditioning. Not that we don't have it at home, but just the idea of getting out of this stifling heat in new surroundings.

The dog is bugging me to take her out to do her duty, but I know that the first thing she will do is head back to the door. Even the dog is considering crossing her legs 'til morning to avoid the heat. As you can see from the ABC15 weather page that it is still 102 degrees outside. The sun went down almost 3 hours ago here.

I'm not complaining, just reporting, mind you. And I keep reminding myself that I did not have to shovel a bit of this sunshine all winter long. So, I can put up with a little heat. As they say here, "If you can't stand the heat...'er huh, get out of Arizona!" Well, I plan on doing just that...next month, when I head to Alaska to visit my kids for a week.

Will I think that 80 degrees is cold? Better pack a sweatshirt just in case.