Boise

OK, at some point I will get around to doing a trip report for the rest of the trip. For now though, we are settled in Boise, getting to know the new place and the new job. The adjustment period.

This time there are no jagged snow capped peaks or 600 ft waterfalls beckoning and insisting that you go immediately. There are beautiful areas here and some that we are really looking forward to, just not immediately.

It is really nice getting back to a computer charting system at work. Paper charting sucks. We keep hearing reports of horrible heat across the country. So far we have managed to avoid most of the worst of it. It is mid 90's here most days, a few 80's and even fewer 100's. Heck we didn't even use the AC in Vancouver. It is nice to finally dry out after the constant moisture further West.

Spent today at a local pool. Tired in a good way.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

OK, when last we spoke we were swimming with a cold penis in the pool outside of Corvallis. The next day we drove to the coast and saw the Oregon Coast Aquarium. That was pretty cool. Michael was excited to see the giant Pacific Octopus and the Wolf Eel. We walked through the underwater tube with sharks circling above and other fish in different tanks. One of them even had some divers in cleaning everything up. I overheard one parent using this as a teaching moment about how everything needed to be cleaned even if you had to get in a SCUBA suit to do it.

We made our way over to the octopus display and there was no sign of him. Couldn't see anything. We thought maybe he wasn't even there. Very disappointing. So we went to see sea otters. Then on to the tide pool area where you can touch things, a big hit. It is a nice aquarium, if you are in the area I do recommend it. After a bit we moseyed back over to the octopus tank. Still nothing there. I searched and searched and finally found it stuffed into a back corner blending in to his environment very well. Then I saw a tentacle move. I called Michael over and he stood front and center while the octopus came out and posed right in front of him. Too cool. It sat there and made itself look big, changed shades of gray and then retreated again to the corner where it seemed to disappear. Pretty cool stuff.

We wandered around and saw more fish, jelly fish and other neat stuff. Took lots of pictures and even bought Michael and Max stuffed animals. Michael wanted a Wolf Eel until we hit the parking lot and then he decided he should have bought a Moray Eel. Max wanted a sea otter and seemed quite happy with his choice.

Then we went home, had dinner and chillaxed for the rest of the day. After that, it was on to Mountain Man RV park in Cave Junction. I know I am behind a few days, but I'll catch up.

Two more notes from today

First, the water at this campground is, Sarah and I have decided, the worst in the world we have experienced. That covers a large chunk of the USA, some Mexico and Canada, much of Europe, Hong Kong, Persian Gulf, the Carribean...all better than here. Sulpher and metal. Awful.

Second, the pool water is cold, so cold that Michael screamed at the top of his lungs at the pool, as he entered, "It's so cold on my penis!"

Travel Day

Today we went from Vancouver WA to just outside Corvallis OR. 102 miles. Easy enough drive, but too much traffic for my taste. Now it is sunny and hot and time for the pool. We woke up to this back window...



And will go to sleep to this back window...

That's it.

Another contract in the books. Worked late last night, didn't get home til after 5 am. That wasn't any fun, but the upside was that I got pictures on my phone of sunrise over Mt. St. Helens. That was cool.




Trying to make better use of the features found here. Let's see if they work.

So now we are off for two weeks worth of adventure before the next contract starts. I have some pictures to upload to facebook from the past week or two and we have some work to do still today to get ready for hauling Irv around. Hopefully the posts can come a little more frequent again as we move around and do stuff.

Every once in a while

It doesn't happen often, but when it does...

Sometimes you can help a patient beyond what is normally offered in the ED. It isn't a prescription, or a bandage, or suture. Sometimes it is who you are and what you have experienced placed through words and into someone at just the right time. Those moments when you see a light turn on when previously there was only darkness and pain are awesome. Sympathy and encouragement are powerful tools when they are appropriate. Just like any other medication though, they shouldn't be overused.

Portland music

So, only one of these artists is actually from the Portland area, but these three songs are the soundtrack for this visit for me. They got a lot of radio play while we were here and I didn't hear them before this trip. Of course, we would have to add Katy Perry to the list because Michael has fallen in love with her.

Portland soundtrack for me:

The Decemberists - This is Why We Fight
The Black Keys - Howlin For You
Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man.

And anything by Katy Perry. Yeah, I said it.