From Oregon

Well...after seven hours on airplanes, I got here at 2:00 a.m. body time. While the flights were generally good, I took a long route getting here (priceline specials, you know) from South Bend, which is not bad with the new highway (US31) in place...but we sat on the ground at SBN for 30 minutes waiting for clearance to land at ORD. It is a 25 minute flight, but they were stacked up. We were still on time and I had plenty of time at ORD to change, but start counting...that is one hour on a plane.

We left ORD late for LAX in our widebody 767...about 1/2 hour behind time due to "loading extra luggage" (sounds like a UAL slowdown to me) for the 3 hour and 57 minute flight. We were all of that and more...add it up...4 more hours. During the flight I stood up once...window seat.

Got to LAX about 1/2 hour late which squeezed me down to 45 minutes on the ground...hey, no problem. I hustled to the gate (I did go to the bathroom) without eating (6:00 pacific) just in time to hear my row called (I was sitting in the back of the plane.) We left LAX on time...in our not as wide 757...but still stuffed with people with too many suitcases carried on, etc. We headed north. Unfortunately it was cloudy so I did not get to enjoy my window seat. I hugged the window not for the view, but because the young woman sitting in the middle should only fly first class...widebody. This is a two hour flight....took us 2 1/2 due to, get this, 100 mph headwind from the north. Here we were flying at 575 mph air speed and our ground speed was 475. But we got here. I have never had a bad landing at PDX. Do the math; 2 1/2 more plane hours.

Got my rental...no problem....thanks to Avis and the fact it was now after 9:30 pacific (do the math...12 o'clock midnight, body time) which means everyother soul was gone someplace. I called Aleene to tell her, jokingly, "I will be there in 45 minutes IF I DON'T GET LOST." I have to admit, that most of the time we come here we have valet shuttle service (Amy or Brendon) and while I know the route, it has little nuances at certain spots that under daylight and clearer headed conditions would be no problem. But do you think I could figure out how to get on I 205 south? I knew where it was, I just couldn't find the streets to make it work and then had to drive around looking for a place to do a Uie to correct my errors....BUMMER. Once in Sherwood, I did a right when I should have done a left off I-5 but corrected that quickly, but by this time I was really punchy. The reason for that missed turn is unclear...I need to see that one again in daylight, and I will have my chance.

I pulled into Newberg at 11:00 pdt....2 o'clock in the morning body time. Some of the boys and girls were up to greet me...fed me a yummy chicken enchulada and I stumbled up the stairs, finally.

Seven and a half hours in airplanes (the best route through MSP is about 5 hours in the air)...up for 20 of the past 24 hours...remember, I am pushing 64. This is not a cakewalk anymore. Interesting note...I start back on Monday afternoon and get in SBN at 9:30 eastern on TUESDAY...same crazy route. But, hey, cheap tickets. When I get Rose at Margot and Duane's I will be ready for the loony-bin.

All joking aside...Asher is so cute...I can hardly wait to get my hands on him, but my big challenge is my buddy, Tru. He has big plans for Pappy so he will be my focus, for sure. He is doing well, I am told, but any 4 year old who has received ALL the attention for being cute now has to feel a bit threatened by another cutie. So I am typing this at 6:00 am pacific waiting for everyone else to realize the morning is about half over and they are still asleep.

One more observation....7 hours on a plane beats five days on the road to get here....just remember that.