Sunday, April 25
April 24 Escape from Washington
We followed the route of J.W. Boothe from the Ford's Theater to Garret's farm. An all day bus ride with a guide talking the entire time..
Happy 30th Birthday Matt and Jackie
April 23 Manassas or Bull Run
The Battle of First Manassas (First Bull Run) was July 19, 1861
Battle of Second Manassas (Second Bull Run) was in late August of 1862
The most dramatic thing about the Civil War battlefields, is that most were slight rolling "hills" about 6 to 12 feet high about 100 or more yards apart and no other cover to speak of. These large open field with soldiers advancing on foot sometimes over 500 yards in the open in frontal assaults. The picture below shows a statue about 400 yards from the canon and the range of most of their rifles was at best was about 200 yards. They wouldn't start running until they were about 200 or 300 yards. It is a wonder that anyone survived these assaults. Imagine running at this canon position with infantry on either side if it.
Battle of Second Manassas (Second Bull Run) was in late August of 1862
The most dramatic thing about the Civil War battlefields, is that most were slight rolling "hills" about 6 to 12 feet high about 100 or more yards apart and no other cover to speak of. These large open field with soldiers advancing on foot sometimes over 500 yards in the open in frontal assaults. The picture below shows a statue about 400 yards from the canon and the range of most of their rifles was at best was about 200 yards. They wouldn't start running until they were about 200 or 300 yards. It is a wonder that anyone survived these assaults. Imagine running at this canon position with infantry on either side if it.
Thursday, April 22
April 22 ~ George Washington Masonic Memorial ~ Fort Ward
George Washington Masonic Memorial - This magnificent building on a hill in Alexandria is privately funded through the contributions of Freemasons and others. It is one of the sites described in the Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol. From the front steps you can see the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument.
We went about 3 miles outside of Alexandria to Fort Ward, one of the last remaining forts used in the defense of Washington during the Civil War. Nancy and I have great grandfathers who defended Washington at the end of the war.
Lunch - Char-broiled chicken and spinach burritos. We ate on the dock next to the Potomac.
Beautiful day - great food!
Dinner - I cooked for Nancy, Carol and Linda. Stir fried jumbo shrimp, carmelized onion in balsamic vinegar and fresh cut vegetables served over steamed rice.
We went about 3 miles outside of Alexandria to Fort Ward, one of the last remaining forts used in the defense of Washington during the Civil War. Nancy and I have great grandfathers who defended Washington at the end of the war.
Lunch - Char-broiled chicken and spinach burritos. We ate on the dock next to the Potomac.
Beautiful day - great food!
Dinner - I cooked for Nancy, Carol and Linda. Stir fried jumbo shrimp, carmelized onion in balsamic vinegar and fresh cut vegetables served over steamed rice.
Wednesday, April 21
April 21 Newseum Washington DC
We went to the News Museum (Newseum) in DC, just off of the Capitol Mall. It was very interesting to see all of the same news event covered from many papers around the country and world. One of the exhibits was the news coverage of Lincoln's assignation and how it helped find the conspirators. More information on Saturday. The Pulitzer prize photographs were the most compelling for me.
The most interesting part of the day was talking to a guy waiting to watch a news conference at the Newseum on a new telescope (Solar Dynamics Observatory) that is observing the sun. He was the nicest guy and he loved talking about the satellite. Ed finally told me he was an astrophysicist and he helped design the telescope. Pretty incredible pictures that the satellite is sending back to earth.
A forgettable lunch at the Newseum.
An afternoon snack of homemade chili, jalapeno corn muffins and a super tasting porter at the Capitol Brewery.
Dinner- I pooched fresh tillapia fillets over lemon slices and covered with a light coating of mayonnaise. Nancy and Carol filled out the menu with steamed broccoli and yellow baked potatoes.
The most interesting part of the day was talking to a guy waiting to watch a news conference at the Newseum on a new telescope (Solar Dynamics Observatory) that is observing the sun. He was the nicest guy and he loved talking about the satellite. Ed finally told me he was an astrophysicist and he helped design the telescope. Pretty incredible pictures that the satellite is sending back to earth.
A forgettable lunch at the Newseum.
An afternoon snack of homemade chili, jalapeno corn muffins and a super tasting porter at the Capitol Brewery.
Dinner- I pooched fresh tillapia fillets over lemon slices and covered with a light coating of mayonnaise. Nancy and Carol filled out the menu with steamed broccoli and yellow baked potatoes.
Tuesday, April 20
April 20 Ball's Bluff and Antietam battlefields
Nancy and I started our day traveling to Ball's Bluff battlefield in Leesburg, Virginia. Nancy's great grandfather fought in the battlle. The USA units were ravaged. 550 captured and 230 killed.
We traveled another 35 miles to Antietam to find where another great grandfather fought. It looks like his Ohio unit fought at the battle for control of the Burnside Bridge. The battle of Antietam was costly for both sides. One CSA unit lost 83% of their soldiers. A USA unit lost 2200 people in 20 minutes. I don't believe that the death ever leaves that ground.
Lunch was at the South Street Under restaurant in Leesburg. We tried carmelized onions in balsamic vinegar as a relish on our sandwiches. Yum!
Dinner back in Leesburg at the Tuscarora Mill Restaurant (locals call it Tuskie's). Another great meal! Thanks for the tip, Jim and Darlene.
We traveled another 35 miles to Antietam to find where another great grandfather fought. It looks like his Ohio unit fought at the battle for control of the Burnside Bridge. The battle of Antietam was costly for both sides. One CSA unit lost 83% of their soldiers. A USA unit lost 2200 people in 20 minutes. I don't believe that the death ever leaves that ground.
Lunch was at the South Street Under restaurant in Leesburg. We tried carmelized onions in balsamic vinegar as a relish on our sandwiches. Yum!
Dinner back in Leesburg at the Tuscarora Mill Restaurant (locals call it Tuskie's). Another great meal! Thanks for the tip, Jim and Darlene.
Monday, April 19
April 19 The Adventure begins
We arrived in Washington D.C. to visit nearby Civil War battlefields. We are visiting places where some of our relatives fought or were stationed during the Civil War. We will be on the road tomorrow. More later.
Sunday, April 18
Spring Fishing news
Doug, my brother-in-law, and I took drift boat trip down one of the coast rivers. Those are two nice Steelhead Salmon I caught and our guide Doug Miller.
The next photos are Chinook Salmon caught from my boat in the Columbia River.
Bruce with a 15 pounder. Doug and Roger 15 and 11 pounders.
Nora's Second Birthday
We had a great time celebrating Nora's birthday.
The excitment with a set of drums at the Childrens Museum in K Falls.
Katie and Nora playing in a antique dentist chair.
Fun with static electricity.
Sad News
T.J. 's adopted mother Jolene Myers died after a long battle with ALS. I flew down to L.A. for the memorial service. Jolene was a very positive force in TJ's life and she will be greatly missed. Memorial service set-up with Bob, Michelle, Lisa and TJ.
Trip to Klamath Falls February
Winter travel in Oregon is always an adventure. We took our time heading over the snowy Cascades to visit Matt, Katie and Nora. Crisp, but beautiful. Papa with Nora at the south end of Klamath Lake.
Wednesday, February 10
February 5 @ Sandy Actors Theatre
Nancy and I went to see one of my high school classmates from Chula Vista in a play at the Sandy Actors Theatre, in Sandy, Oregon. We had a great time and the play was very funny. Jim is a retired Air Force colonel and has been in several community theater productions. Jim and his wife just moved to the Portland area and we reconnected at our 45th high school reunion last summer in San Diego. Small world.
Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop
The Stage Door Slasher brought an end to one musical comedy on Broadway. Now the creative team responsible has gathered in a New York Mansion to try again...and so has the Slasher. In this zany comedy, acclaimed writer John Bishop pulls no punches accomplishing some amazing twists amidst the raucous laughter. A hilarious whodunnit!
The Stage Door Slasher brought an end to one musical comedy on Broadway. Now the creative team responsible has gathered in a New York Mansion to try again...and so has the Slasher. In this zany comedy, acclaimed writer John Bishop pulls no punches accomplishing some amazing twists amidst the raucous laughter. A hilarious whodunnit!
Catch-up for January
It has been a busy month with appointments, dinners, catching up with friends, taking people to the airport, arranging activities and travel for the spring and summer. Plus, loads of projects in the shop for me and genealogy projects for Nancy. I gratefully celebrated my 64th birthday in Klamath Falls.
Goofy Papa blows out the candle.
Sunday, January 3
January 2, 2010 Blazers
Phil, Linda, Nancy and I went to a Portland Trail Blazer game. Both teams have injury problems and the Blazers only had 8 players suited up. THEN - - - Golden State ran out to a 17-3 lead ( in less than 4 minutes) and were up 41-31 after the first quarter, making 15 of 22 from the field. It looked like a long night...... The Blazers pulled it together slowly and dominated the 2nd half of the game. YEAAAAAAAH.
New Years Eve
We met with our good friends for our annual party to catch up and bring in the New Year. Champaign and hugs, as we watched the ball drop in Time Square.
This picture of Times Square was from our hotel room during our recent trip to NYC.
This picture of Times Square was from our hotel room during our recent trip to NYC.
December 29 The BIG Surprise
Doug and I took the boat to Newport to do some crabbing in the bay. We arrived before sunrise, launched the boat and put out the crab traps. After a couple hours of cold windy and generally miserable weather, we called it a day with one crab. Usually I would have tossed the little beggar back, but I was bringing something home.
Doug left for Albany and I took the boat back to Lincoln City before it started to rain. I beat the RAIN by a few minutes. I knew the weather was not going to get better, so I decided to head home after a short nap. I left (3:00ish) for a cup of Starbucks best and headed toward Portland. It is raining and I am watching the temperature gauge start slow decline, then little bitty flakes of snow, then bigger flakes and then lots of them. The traffic finally grinds (actually slides) to halt. Finally we find out that a SURPRISE snow storm slipped pass our weather people. NEWS FLASH Traffic is at a standstill for two hours with multiple wrecks.
Back to Lincoln City. About 5:30, I figure the wrecks are cleared and the snow stopped. Off again with a full tank of gas and about 10 miles from 101 traffic is meeting the snow. I drop to 4 wheel HI with my new all weather traction tires and get in line behind a pick-up (I am car the 8th in line) with apparently no traction devices and takes no opportunity to let any of us pass for the next 15 plus miles and we cruised between 15 and 25 MPH for a while.
I finally arrived home, to Nancy's relief, at 11:30 PM for what is usually two hour drive. I downed a large dose of medicinal scotch and headed for bed. Weather Surprise
Doug left for Albany and I took the boat back to Lincoln City before it started to rain. I beat the RAIN by a few minutes. I knew the weather was not going to get better, so I decided to head home after a short nap. I left (3:00ish) for a cup of Starbucks best and headed toward Portland. It is raining and I am watching the temperature gauge start slow decline, then little bitty flakes of snow, then bigger flakes and then lots of them. The traffic finally grinds (actually slides) to halt. Finally we find out that a SURPRISE snow storm slipped pass our weather people. NEWS FLASH Traffic is at a standstill for two hours with multiple wrecks.
Back to Lincoln City. About 5:30, I figure the wrecks are cleared and the snow stopped. Off again with a full tank of gas and about 10 miles from 101 traffic is meeting the snow. I drop to 4 wheel HI with my new all weather traction tires and get in line behind a pick-up (I am car the 8th in line) with apparently no traction devices and takes no opportunity to let any of us pass for the next 15 plus miles and we cruised between 15 and 25 MPH for a while.
I finally arrived home, to Nancy's relief, at 11:30 PM for what is usually two hour drive. I downed a large dose of medicinal scotch and headed for bed. Weather Surprise
December 27 and 28 Boat Ride
Doug and I met at Lincoln City on Sunday evening for a brew and burger to get ready for a drift fishing trip on the Nestucca River with Doug Miller The water looked good and the weather was cold and sunny, but the fish were on vacation. We saw a lot of boats on the river and not one fish caught. Another day.
Christmas
We joined Doug and Pam in Albany for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Beth, Ty, Emily, Brian, David, Sherry, Rocky and Stella were able to come together Christmas Eve. Katie, Matt and Nora were joined in Klamath Falls with Katie's parents and brother. Katie was on call at the clinic for the holidays. We will join them next year. 
Bud and Nancy, Brian and Emily, Ty and Beth, Doug and Pam, David and Sherry
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