1st Graham, WA Olympics

This past Saturday, July 26, 2008, the neighbors on 148th Ave E. in Graham, WA held our first summer Olympics. Each neighbor along 148th Ave. E. created an Olympic event for the Olympic participants to compete for valuable prizes. Well, valuable in Graham, WA standards.

The day started out with the arrival of the Olympics althletes to the Ryckman's house for the opening ceremony. Michael rigged up the official Olympic mode of transportation (trailer) to his tractor. We picked up the athletes in style and transported them to the opening ceremony. Once the official Bud Light torch was lit, the games began.



First event, Lawn Bowling at the Ryckman's. Six Blue Ribbon beer cans as pins. Four botchy balls were given as bowling balls. The object? Knock down as many beer cans in four bowls. Gold - Kim Gallagher; Silver - Skippy; Bronze - Mark Ruttan.



Second event, "Schwing!!!" at the Gallagher's. Let me explain this one. Take pantyhose, insert one orange down one leg of the hose, tie around waist so that the orange is dangling between your legs. Place tennis ball on ground and try to hit the tennis ball with the dangling orange across the patio. Gold - Alanna Murdock; Silver - Lisa Carolus; Bronze - Sandy Ruttan. All female sweep!





Third event, wheel barrel obstacle course at the Carolus's. This event caused a few injuries right away. Thank goodness for video cameras! Michael flipped the wheel barrel but luckily Alanna who was inside was completely unharmed. Not a scratch. Michael didn't fare so well. After that, folks modified the rules a bit. Kim tried her run at it. 10 seconds into it, she hit a pot hole and banged her hip. Ouch! Paul decided to outsmart the event. He picked up the wheel barrel and carried it on his back and ran the course. Oops, he forgot to calculate the tree branch he'd have to run under! Ouch! A few others tried, but most decided to take a beer break instead. Gold - Alanna and Michael; Silver - ?; Bronze - ?.




Fourth event, water balloon slingshot at the Dionne's. Teams of two were given 10 balloons. One to launch, and the other to catch. Points were acquired by catching and popping the balloon in your hand. A piece of the balloon must be shown in order to receive points. Gold - Paul and Dora; Silver - Alanna and Curtis; Bronze - Mark and Sandy.




Fifth and final event, water balloon volleyball at the Ruttan's. Teams of two were paired up. The object was to pass the water balloons over the net using a dish towel without breaking. Easy...just hand it to each other back and forth over the net :) Gold - Tina and Chris; Silver - Dan and Kim; Bronze - Skippy and Lisa.



6774

McChord Air Show

Sunday, July 20, 2008

After a 3-year hiatus, McChord brought back their air show. Since it's only a few miles from our house, we went. We parked on base and walked around to check out some of the planes on display.









6720

Seattle Mariners Game

Saturday, July 19, 2008

We rode the Seattle Sounder train from Puyallup to Downtown Seattle on Saturday for the Mariners game. Of course, they lost. But what do you expect from the last place team? Our seats were great. We sat in the terrace level, behind home plate but along the 3rd base side. We had a T.V. screen above our head so we could see instant replays and waitress service. We even walked around the stadium and watched from various vantage points.








6720

Tourists For A Day!! Thursday, July 17, 2008

The two of us decided to be tourists for a day. It has been about 15 or so years since both of us had been to the Space Needle. Not together of course. So what better way to be a tourist, than to do the touristy thing like visit the Space Needle.

The weather was fairly clear that day. The day before would have been better weather, but that day it was pretty clear. We went there for lunch in the rotating restaurant at the top of the Needle. It takes 47 minutes to complete one rotation. We went around 2-1/2 times!

Very High Up! Looking ground level up at the Space Needle

Skippy from the Space Needle Observation Deck

Michael from the Space Needle Observation Deck

Downtown Seattle - View from Restaurant


On Saturday, we are going to a Seattle Mariners game. Even though they are in last place, I wanted to go to a baseball game. So we are being adventurous and taking the Sounder into Downtown Seattle from Puyallup. It is the equvilant of the MetroLink in Los Angeles. The cost is cheaper than gas and parking. The drawback will be the walk to/from the station to the stadium. Although it is a fairly short distance. But I figured, I walked a 5K in may so I should be able to do this! Our seats are in the terrace level behind home plate. So I'm excited about that.

Then on Sunday, there is an air show at McChord Air Force Base. It is only 10 miles or so from home. It's free parking on base with planes on exhibit. The Blue Angels will perform in the afternoon too. I've been amazed since I moved up here at the airplanes flying around. Since we're so close to the Air Force Base and Army Base, I've seen some amazing things. Michael teases me because I am so distracted whenever I see a plane!

So we're gearing up for a busy weekend. Hope the weather continues to cooperate.


6717

1 Year Anniversary

We celebrated last night by going to my favorite resturant overlooking the waters of Tacoma.

Michael surprised me with a beautiful necklace he helped design and have made. I'm not wearing it in this photo because he had not given it to me yet. And, since the first year is Paper, he gave me pink, paper roses!

6659

Monday, July 7, 2008

Happy 1-Year Anniversary to us!

Hard to believe that it's been one year already. Time sure has flown by us. This past year for both of us has been full of ups and downs. When we said "in sickness and in health", we've put those vows to the test. And we're still going strong.

I've been gradually feeling better. It's little changes that occur that I don't even notice, they just gradually happen. I've learned that it's not so much that I can't feel the left side of my body, it's the fine motor skills that I lost that I'm try to recover especially in my left hand.

I've adapted to just about everything and I know my limitations. I even tried jet skiing this past weekend! I did great. My concern was not holding on, but if I was to fall off. I knew I would not be able to get back on. So I just concentrated on not falling off!

We spent 4th of July at Michael's parents house. We had a party there and about 20 people showed up. It was a great day with lots of fireworks provided by all the neighbors around the lake. Good stuff too, not fountains and sparklers! The weather kinda cooperated. It rained from 12-3pm. Once everyone got there at 3pm, the rain stopped. It wasn't cold and it wasn't hot. It was alright. Certainly not what I am used to down in CA...at least in the 90's and very cool at night.


6652