Winter Break

I dislike using the term "Winter Break" to describe what we have always called "Christmas Break'. To me, if we take a break because we want to drink a cup of coffee we should call that a "coffee break". If we need to go to the bathroom, should'nt we call that a "potty break"?
Okay, then. If we celebrate the birthday of the most influential person to ever live, let's call it Christmas!
I say this to lead into talking about my "winter break". I am layed off from work over the winter. I call this a winter break. I have lots of fun things planned for my winter break. I will celebrate Christmas for an extended time at my family's homes. I may even put up Christmas lights this year.

Third Rock Shrinks

Today I was amazed at how small the World is at times. Have you ever bumped into someone at a distant airport? Has someone called your name when you were shopping in the next town over? Have you been asked "Is your name (fill in your name) when buying produce?
Well, I must say, I have one that tops the cake. My younger daughter called me last night. Right out of her mouth came "Who is that person that posted on your Facebook page saying she is vacationing in Lincoln City?" So I explained that she is a lovely friend from my David Douglas High School in East Portland. I went on to say we have stayed connected over the years.
So, next I am asked if I think she would mind going to a Lincoln City pizza place and retrieve a jacket for my grandson. She explained the coat had been left behind while vacationing a few days ago. They had already continued on toward home in the Seattle area before they noticed it was missing.
I assured my daughter that my friend would be the type of person to volunteer to do that. I pointed out that she is on the reunion commitee from our High School. My daughter was not convinced it was okay to contact her at first, but eventually she was satisfied it would be fine.
As suspected, my friend was very willing to help out. So, I called back to my daughter. I gave her the friend's mobile phone number. I did not here from either of them for a long time. It seems they had much to talk about. I think they talked for close to an hour. She text messaged me this morning and assured me the coat is in her possesion.
Okay, so the next step, in this amazing tangle, will involve my ex-wife that lives in Portland, currently vacationing in Seattle with my other daughter. The plan calls for my friend and my ex to connect when they both return to Portland. My ex will figure out how to get the coat back to my grandson.
Whew!
When you think you are wasting too much time on line, remember this story. You never know when Facebook will save the day!
KB

Our Dad

Our dad is a very special person. Dad has been there for all nine of us children through thick and thin. We can find some shortcomings if we look for shortcomings, but I want the world to know his one amazing quality. Love.
Dad was a well respected man in the Verndale, Minnesota farming community that I grew up in. Dad managed to buy the machinery that he and our neighbors needed to harvest our crops. Our neighbors would hire dad to thresh their grains. These were especially fun times for the farmers because we would all share the effort. Each farm would supply tractors and wagons to haul the bundles of grain to dad's threshing machine. Lunch and dinner was served by the women. You have not lived until you eat a threshing meal. Yum!
Dad has a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Dad was grateful for what we had. Dad openly gave thanks to God. http://picasaweb.google.com/kayakbandit/HessFamilyStuff#5178444424297914194
Dad was and still is very stoic. I did not see dad cry when mom died, but we all know how very much he cared for my mom. The same is true of his expression of love to each of us. Dad did not give flowers or flowery praise. Did showed a sense of his love in less overt ways. I remember often, Dad would tell about our accomplishments to our neighbors and friends. When I would overhear him speaking well of me, I determined to do even better. I knew he had noticed.
Because of his stoicism, he did not hold us or hug us. One way to get near him was in church. I tried very hard to sit next to dad in church. We would start out with me sitting up straight. After time, I would start slouching toward dad. If I flopped over against dad, he would make me sit up again, but if I slouched slowly toward him, he would allow me to snuggle close and feel his strength and smell the scent of a real man.
I am thankful that I have such a wonderful man for a role model.
Kayak Bandit

Freedom

I like to make my own choices.
I like to pick Huckleberry Heaven ice cream to eat in a waffle cone. I like to wear a Gonzaga hat. I like to go to bed early and wake up early. I like to leave the tv on even when I am not watching it. I like to have one dog and one cat. I like to drive my Jeep Cherokee. I like to scratch where it itches. I like spending too much time at my computer.
I like having to earn money enough to do the things I like.
When I was a baby, I got what I wanted without earning it. My wonderful mother anticipated my needs and supplied them for me. I am very glad I grew to support myself without hanging onto her breast. I am also very gratefull for the many breast feedings that led me to my independence. This nurturing made me strong. From the very beginning, it was well known to all that one day I would be weaned.
As a nation, I fear we have way too many people unwilling to give up the breast feedings after they should be weaned. Think. What would have happened to my mom if each of her babies continued to breast feed. Nine grown kids getting their nurishment from one pair of breasts? She knew when it was time to reduce the nurturing. This wonderful country should learn from my mother. Stop allowing so many people to hang onto the free programs. Wean people from the dole so they can discover the fulfillment of independence and success on their own.
Our freedom to succeed or fail is the very reason our Country declared it's independence.
Happy Independence Day from Kayak Bandit

Where Am I?

Boy, A lot has been going on in my life. I gave up on blogging for a while because I only had mean things to say. I was angry that I had lost my job. I was angry that God was allowing my mom to suffer with dementia. There were so many reasons to be angry.
Well, I think I am turning the corner on all of that. My house is refinanced with easier payments. My new job is pretty good. My new computer is nice. We had a wonderful letterboxing bash here in Spokane. Bandit is completely healthy. Stephanie and Jessica came for a visit. Jennifer and family are coming to visit in August. I will soon have another joy. Emelia will be born in about one month. I am making good progress on egress from my basement bedroom. The shots I am taking for allergies is working. My kitchen is marvelous. I am losing some weight with the rigorous work schedule.
All in all, Life is good. So, in answer to my question - - "Where am I?" - - I am in a happy place again. Expect some regular posts again. I plan to revisit my favorite subject. That is, my wonderful childhood in Minnesota.
See ya soon,
Kayak Bandit

Cancer Threat

So, I went to the doctor on Wednesday to have him look at the roof of my mouth. It had gotten very sore the night before while eating popcorn. You know the kind of popcorn I am talking about. The kind where you buy the whole kernel yellow popping corn that makes such big pops. The kind where you pop the corn in corn oil and drizzle real butter and salt on it. You get the idea. All was going fine with the popcorn until it felt like one of the hulls had stuck to the roof of my mouth. Each time I tried to feel the hull and remove it, it made me gag. I resolved it by taking my dentures out and ignoring the annoyance as much as possible.
I went to work the next morning, but it was still bothering me. We had plenty help for the day, so I asked to go to the doctor. The doctor asked how I was doing and we conversed about the many stresses in my life. Then he asked me to point out the problem in my mouth. I described it to him and he gets out the light deal and points into my mouth. One very quick look, and he said I needed to go to a specialist because it looked like cancer. He tells the nurse to schedule an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible.
So, I go to the specialist on Friday morning. What a great team of people at this office. The doctor is very understanding and calms me down even before he starts to look in my mouth. Eventually he looks into my mouth and sees nothing noteworthy. He asks me to point to the spot with a tongue depressor. Once I did this he sees the problem and suggest I had burned it on some hot food. Well, I remembered eating something hotter than normal before the popcorn, and that is likely the answer to the scare.
He told me to return if it gets worse. Well, it is getting better. I expect it will be fine in another day or so.
Kayak Bandit

Mom's Chicken Noodle Soup

A couple weekends ago, I traveled to Oregon. The trip was not planned in advance. Midweek I learned that Lola Rose would likely not live through the night, and soon that likelihood was realized. The funeral was on Saturday. It was a wonderful time. Lola was a very vocal follower of Jesus Christ. This certainty made it easy for me to celebrate her life and not be fearful for her wellbeing in death. She is better off than she has ever been in life.
I had a wonderful visit with Stephanie and family. When they headed to church, I headed down to the Coast to visit my Mom and Dad. I struggle with seeing them because of my Mom's confusion. Mom suffers from a variation of dementia. I earnestly hope for anyone or their family that this terrible disease will find a cure. Need I say more? The truth is that the very one that gave me life, should be able to know me. She does not, and it hurts.
So, I arrive at their home. Dad is very pleased to have company. We fall easily into conversation while my Mom sits and scowls at me. Or is it studies me to try and recognize me? Eventually she seems content with this new arrival into her world. She relaxes and starts responding to comments we make to her. She obviously is not cognitive of much, but has a cute, playful way of answering to shield us from detecting her lack thereof. My mom was always a playful tease. It is the last remainder of her past self. I stayed a long time in their company, but had to continue to Jenny's home for the night. We said a goodbye to one another that was not painful at all.
As I traveled into the evening, I remembered many wonderful things from my past that were afforded to me by efforts of Mom and Dad, especially Mom. I got stuck thinking about my Mom's Chicken Soup. It was always a marvel how simple, yet wonderful her meals were. There were way too many of us kids to fuss with fancy presentation. Yet, we never ate a meal that sacrificed nutrition and good taste.
I had a wonderful time at Jenny's home. They allowed me to rant about my conservative political leanings, we went out for breakfast and more. Mid day I turned toward home. The trip was smooth and uneventful. My thoughts kept returning to my wonderful Mom. I decided I was going to make a batch of soup - - Mom's Chicken Noodle Soup.
Once I got home, I went to the store and bought a couple chickens. I fried all the larger pieces and boiled the remaining bony pieces. Once the chicken had cooked until it was falling off the bone, I added onion carrots and celery to the broth and cooked it some more. I added back the good pieces of chicken from the bones. I added some frozen mixed vegetables with an added handful of frozen beans. I threw in a little sage, salt and pepper.
While that was cooking, I made her variation of egg noodles. Her recipe is so simple. Starting with two eggs in a bowl, add one eggshell half of water for each egg. I suppose I could figure out how much a half eggshell of water is and tell you to measure that amount, but why? Her method does not require dirtying another spoon. Good thinking Mom! Add a pinch of salt and stir up the eggs and water. In another bowl, add a couple cups of flower. Make a well in the flour and dump the eggs into this well. Stir the eggs around in the well until they have incorporated all the flour they are going to accept. Now, dump out onto a flat surface and roll out the dough ball until it is very thin. Make sure you keep a dusting of flour on the surface of all your tools. Cut strips of this about one quarter inch wide and about three inches long. Precision is frowned upon.
Make sure the stock is boiling fairly hard. Be sure the noodles are dusted but not caked with flour. Drop the noodles into the stock without big bunches while you stir the stock with the other hand. You do not want the noodles to nest together and form a big glob.
I enjoyed this soup even more than if my Mom had made it. In a way, she did make it. She taught me much. Mom lives on in everyone that she touched in life. Mom may not be cognitive, but she is "My Mom".

Blue Dragonfly

The following is a post I wrote on Atlas Quest last summer. I was telling a co-worker friend about the post and told her it was here on my blog. Well, until now it was only on Atlas Quest. I hope you folks like it as much as my other friends did. I wrote it in response to some complaints about new letterboxers and the efforts some seasoned letterboxers take to prevent new letterboxers from seeing the clues until they have some finds under their belt.

You give me inspiration. We all need one another.
Many times while kayaking, blue dragonflies have flown to me and rode on me or my kayak. Sometimes it was when I was sitting quietly near a marsh, but other times too when I was making good time paddling out in open water. Over time my friends started talking about how the dragonflies were attracted to me and not to others. It is more common to have blue dragonflies accompanying me than not.
Last year while paddling with Kathryn, I spotted a dragonfly in distress. This dragonfly had gotten too wet to return to flight. It was a long way out in the lake. I doubled back to it and slowly lowered my hand under it and lifted slowly upward. The dragonfly was perched on the tip of one of my fingers. It did not try to fly.
To get the dragonfly to the shore required the use of both hands. So, I gently moved my hand near to the lashing in front of my cockpit. As I rotated my hand, the dragonfly, sort of, hopped onto the lashing. I continued paddling the course I was originally on. When the nose of my kayak slid onto the shore, the dragonfly flew to some rushes. To me, it seemed this creature recognized my good will and made use of it.
I suppose if we could understand dragonfly language, we would hear a lot of discussion about how horrible boats are. Well, this life lesson suggests there is at least one dragonfly voice saying that not all boaters are bad.
And I say, newbie letterboxers and letterboxers that have restrictions are not bad either.

Kayak Bandit '(*!*)'

Donkey

Recently, an on line conversation reminded me of the game we played called Donkey. I cannot find the rules to the game, but am pretty sure I could play it again. I decided to write the rules down here on line for anyone to use.

• Players---four to eight
  
• Cards---A standard deck without any Jokers. Aces are high.
  
• Object of the Game---is to take as many tricks as possible. The more tricks you get the higher your status in society. The highest society member is the President followed by the Vice President, Secretary, Teacher, Plumber, Carpenter, Chimp and Donkey. You can rename these to any names you like.
  
• Deal---The deal rotates around the table, dealing one card at a time until you do not have enough cards to deal another round and have at least one card left. In other words, if four people are playing you will deal out 12 cards with four cards left not dealt. When younger children played, we would make trump stay the same. For example, we would always have hearts be trump. Otherwise, we would turn up one of the left over cards and that suit would become trump.
• Play---The first hand will establish the hierarchy. The person to the left of the dealer leads any card they want. You must follow suit if you have the suit that was lead. If you do not have the lead card, you can trump or not trump. You are not required to beat a card unless you want to. The person who took the most tricks is the President followed by the Vice President. The person with the least tricks is the Donkey and next to that is the Chimp. The following hands are played the same except that the President chooses two worthless card to exchange with two cards from the Donkey. The Donkey must give Aces first. If he has multiple choices, he must give Trump over non trump. It is acknowledged that trump is more powerful than Aces, but the rule is to pass Aces, Kings etc. At the same time the Vice President exchanges one card with the chimp using the same criteria. If there are ties, the person with the higher rank before the hand began retains a higher rank over the person they are tied with. With the established persons getting more good cards, they often hold their position for a while. When they slip down, they are usually treated with the same kindness, or lack thereof, that they doled out earlier.
  
• Between hands---you always take a short break to exercise your authority. The President can choose anyone he wants to do one errand for him. At the same time, others that have rank over others can ask for one favor from someone that is lower in rank. You can only ask for one thing per break. If you have no one beneath you or if you have been asked to do a task, you cannot ask anyone to do something for you. You must do what is asked of you. You must not ask for anything unreasonable. Typically a request is something like "Please bring me a napkin" or "I would like a cheese sandwich" The fun is taking liberty with the request. The cheese sandwich could be blue cheese, or something. So, the person asking must carefully ask for his wish, or he may end up with something completely different. Those not asked to do something can get something for themselves, or just watch the fun.
• Winner---There will be lots of winners even though you do not keep score. You play this until you tire of it or someone notices that the sun is coming up.

I hope these rules make sense. If not, call me and ask for clarification. I will gladly explain it to you and also return here and edit the rules.
Kayak Bandit