Tremors

Well, after an initial exam by the family doctor, a blood test and an MRI, I was sent to a neurologist in Corvallis. He confirmed what I have suspected for quite some time now, and diagnosed me with Parkinson's Disease. My symptoms aren't bad yet, so he prescribed Selegeline to reduce the tremors in my left hand.

It's an incurable disease but they have medicine that can keep the symptoms under control. I don't plan on it interfering with my fishing, kayaking or writing so I don't see any big changes in the near future.

Old Friends

There must be something sweeter than seeing an old friend for the first time in years, but I don't know what it is.

Gary Ronnow, a good friend we knew when we lived in Las Vegas called and came by the other day right after our weekly barbecue. We sat on the patio and reminisced for hours. He invited us for lunch on Tuesday and after we met at Georgie's Grill in Newport we took up where we'd left off, talking about old times.

We were amazed when we realized that it had been 45 years since we'd seen each other. After our lunch and a couple of beers the waitress was hinting that she needed the table, so we had to take the conversation out to the parking lot where we finally hugged and said goodbye, promising to do a better job of staying in touch.

The picture was taken rabbit hunting in Nevada in the early 60's. What more could you ask for: a blond, a convertible, a gun, a cigarette and a beer!

Jet Boat

I went for a ride Saturday on the Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue's new jet boat. What a blast! I know Carol wanted to go but since she was on duty, she decided to stay on shore and watch in case they got an ambulance call.

She should have gone with us. As fast as that boat is, it could have returned her to the parking area in just a few minutes.

It has a 350 cubic inch V8, an upright wheel house and an easy access platform on the stern for swimmers. It can make it from the port dock to the jaws in two minutes flat, which should greatly improve their response time for boats or surfers in distress. It turns on a dime and is very maneuverable.

Taz and Chip

Taz has been busy trying to catch our new house guest, a chipmunk. I guess we'll call him Chip, for want of a better name.

He sure is a gutsy little guy. We first saw him sitting on the fence beside our patio while we were eating lunch. After he scurried away, down the fence, across a small area of the patio and under the deck, Carol put a couple of french fries in his spot and it wasn't long before he was back, chowing down, watching us out of the corner of his eye.

I made a little feeding platform for him and put a handful of wild bird seed on it. I barely got the tools put away before he was on it, packing his cheeks full of seeds. On his way back to stash his groceries, Taz spotted him and the chase was on. To our relief he made to his safe spot under the deck, but instead of laying low for a while he decided to give Taz a “Nyaa Nyaa, you can't catch me!” He ran, upside down back and forth under the deck while Taz went crazy trying to get to him from above.

The next morning Taz was up on the arm of one of the living room chairs barking at the back door. I went to see what he was so exited about and there was Chip sitting on a shelf on the back porch playing with a Yellow push pin. Later I spotted him curled up on one of Taz's teddy bear toys on another shelf.

It's very much like a Tom and Jerry cartoon and I hope, like the cartoons, the little guy always gets away!

Just a Dream

The other night I was dreaming that I was still a little kid and in my bed at the ranch. I heard mom's voice saying, “Bobby, it's time to get up, you'll miss the school bus!” The bed felt so warm and comfortable, I pulled the covers over my head and went back to sleep. Then my dad's voice, “Wake up! Wake up! Grr, grr, woof, grrr!

I stuck my head out from under the blankets and there was Taz trying his best to wake me up.