Brown Lawn

No one in Spokane wants this lawn status as the neighbors can be very critical and I should know because each morning when we walk we critique the grasses and therefore the lawn owners. Why I ever got involved with spending money and time greening my lawn I’ll never know. This hot weather makes it a full time job just tending the parched patches, on the other hand, it is perfect swim weather.

Thanks for giving me a heads up on the possible need for malaria medication for Kenya. I think I’ll just let it pass and hope nothing bites me once I make it out of Nairobi with its United States Advisory to refrain from traveling to this country at this time. Other than the disease, poverty, and crime I’m sure I will love the rhinos besides I can stay here and perhaps get the West Nile Virus.

Yikes, Hank is trying to get me involved with defending President Bush even before I get to the Earthwatch Project. He’ll have to wait for my rebuttal until I get my facts in order. I feel mostly sorry for the 4 men in our group of 6 women no matter what their political affiliation.

Have you visited this website so you can be contacted in case we need to flee the country in an emergency?

Nairobi Fashion

It is difficult to think about getting dressed to walk across hot, barren fields in colors that animals will like, but not like too much. I guess the colors animals like are ones that blend into the surroundings-no white, blue, beige, pink, orange, yellow or red. So far I have pants that are tank and sage. Next I need to find shirts that will coordinate with those colors though I’m not really sure tank is a color.

Morani, the old, tame rhino who is the camp pet will be the only rhino I want to spend any time observing. In fact, I hope to finish three or four novels by flashlight in the straw hut while I’m there. I’m also now listening to Rush daily to prepare for political discussions with the liberals in camp.

I’m bantering on about trivia when I’m really focused on more solemn situations. Bill’s wonderful brother, Sonny, suffered a fatal heart attack yesterday at the age of 78. When I spoke with him a few weeks ago he was joking about Britney Spears and Pantygate, leaving me in hysterics. He was always amusing and spent most of his life caring for his family and others.

Raymond was turned down for a liver transplant because of his age, pacemaker, and who knows what else. They are thinking of approaching two other liver transplant centers for consideration. These are tough times for Claire who is the outstandingly commendable nurse, travel coordinator, and vigilant medical expert.

So I hope you have your travel items in mind. I will appreciate any suggestions and now I'm off to break in my new, inexpensive boots.

The Perfect Family Photo

You know the kind I mean where everyone looks beautiful, happy and has matching shirts. This is what I was attempting to replicate when I bought each of the family Fourth of July shirts at Old Navy. It turned out that some took theirs off and some never put theirs on but before it was time for people to leave we made a quick attempt to get a photo in our shirts. Even Anna Marie, who hates being in photos, scurried to get shirts on her boys so we could equal her sisters’ photographic efforts. We are going to have to work on this project or else just give it up.

Ron, Dorena, Jill and Jake stopped by on July 8th and visited with my mom. We didn’t take a photo of them either as we were too busy talking. We did get a photo of Alberta so we can remind her that she did indeed have a 90th birthday.

Cyd and her twins stayed a week then I drove them to back to Sumner. It was something being around 3 one-year olds. They were so busy and here they’re interested in the beep they hear when they squeeze grandma’s nose.

Lucas was the twins’ favorite person and he only had to appear to keep them busy and entertained. This week Lucas has been at a Sky Hawks sports camp every day so he is a big athlete and ball kicker now. Mostly he learned to scream Sky Hawks in two parts.

Today my house is now intact and very quiet. I hope you are getting a supply of raspberries.

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We have had a warm week so fortunately Pool World saved the day with a functioning pump. On Wednesday we had 20 people here and kids stayed in the water all day. Hopefully the 30 year old pool stays running for a few more years so the little boys enjoy it. Lucas is the only swimmer so far but the others are eagerly struggling to jump in.

Jill now is on My Space to recount her parachuting experience and life to date and Pat has followed suit. Just contact them and you too might be lucky with an invitation to join their group of friends. There’s even talk of a Johanson My Space which might be interesting for those of us who have no life without our computers.

So far the highlight of Peyton and Walker’s stay at Grandma’s has been the Thursday lawn mowers. The twins are fascinated by anything with wheels and a motor. It has to be a genetic trait but it might be better than collecting sticks for weapons. Maybe that comes next.

Hope you are staying cool in Chicago. I have new boots that I found on a clearance table outside Big 5. I’d tell you the price but you’d be jealous.