The Adventures of Mimi and Pa

What...Two Days in a Row

2009-03-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Tuesday of Spring Break dawned and the overcast skies had a little touch of blue in them. It was enough to give us hope that today might be a sunny day. After shaking all the water out of everything from the overnight showers, Pa got the coffee cooking and settled in to see how long before Mimi would arise from her slumber. About the time the coffee was being pressed, out she stumbles. A modern day version of Jeff Spicolli, she bursts out of the van in a cloud of smoke...ready to tackle the day...after the coffee that is.

After some breakfast and more coffee, they pack up Van the Man and head out to a trail head. This hike they're about to embark on, is at the Sunset Bay St. Park near North Bend. This is one of those beautiful idyllic settings you find along the Oregon coast. A perfect beach surrounded by rocks and forested cliffs. Waves crash against a rocky reef allowing only the smallest of waves to crash gently on the beach. It is absolutely spectacular.

So Mimi discovers in our hiking guide, a trail that skirts the coastline down to a place called Shore Acres. Now it turns out, all of this land was owned by one rich dude who built this glorious estate right on the bluffs of this amazing piece of coastline. Mimi says it has botanical gardens...need we say more. If it has a garden, Mimi is there. It could be twenty seven miles straight up Mt. Everest and Mimi would find a way to get to that Garden. So we set out on the trail.

Now if you'll remember, they walked six and a half miles the day before...some strenuous stuff. Right out of the shoot...no warm up...switchbacks. Switchbacks are the slow torture device created my some psychotic trail builder who had a lot of pent up anger and frustration he wanted to take out on the rest of humanity. They wind back and forth up the hill gaining seemingly insignificant amounts of altitude with each brutal step. If there was a staircase you could be dome with the whole climb in 15 minutes...albeit very tired...but at the top. But no, you have to walk an extra mile in each direction twice...or something.

Now Mimi, with the thoughts of that garden in her minds eye, was determined up those switchbacks. Even though the pain from yesterdays hike was still very present in her calves, she plowed ahead like a Lioness hunting down a Gazelle to feed her cubs.

She made short work of the Switchbacks and was up on top of the cliffs overlooking the spectacular wild Oregon ocean. A gentle walk along the bluffs were augmented by the rugged beauty of the waves crashing into the reefs and the sun...yes the sun...reflecting off the faces of the waves. Pretty glorious.

So the two miles were made quick work of and we arrive at Shore Acres and another spectacular view. Beautiful lawns spilling down to the cliffs. But these lawns were covered with whale paparazzi. I mean gaggles of them sitting in their chairs, eyes glued to the eyepieces, just hoping to catch a brief glimpse of a blow spout. As if it were Brad and Angelina and Jennifer all peaking up over the cliff for just the briefest of moments. They were quite rabid in their passion to see a whale migrate. It was hard for Mimi and Pa to understand the fervor cause they have been out amongst the whales and looked into the eye of a Killer Whale in the Puget Sound. Pa has had one breach through a giant pod of fish not 20 feet in front of him in Alaska. Now that's something to see. But maybe these paparazzi had not had those opportunities. It's too bad really.

Well, on to the gardens. Now let me tell you...they were amazing...beautiful...very nice. These were some of the finest examples of what man can do with stone and brick and of course the building block to every fine garden...the Boxwood hedge. It was really nice. The lower garden was Asian influence with a wonderful pond. It is so nice...but...........

The walk back was a reflective one for Pa...kind of quiet. Thinking about the garden and the paparazzi and the works of man. Apparently, the rich guy who bought and developed all of this property, built two spectacular homes on the property that burned down. He tried to harness all of this beauty and ended up in a little cottage in Coos Bay. The garden is amazing and beautiful, but let it go for one season and it looks like a wasteland. People clamoring for just a glimpse of the blessed whale and their whole year is now somehow worthwhile. All the while.........

Pa was reminded of the great scene in the movie "Jeremiah Johnson" when old Del Gue screams out "these here Rocky Mountains is God's greatest cathedrals, nothing on Earth can compare to these here mountains. I am a Mountain Man and will remain so until God takes me to Heaven" (or something to that effect).

The ocean and the cliffs and the trees scream out "look at me". All around is the handiwork of the Creator who made these things for us to have our souls refreshed and our hearts gladdened. It is hard to imagine trying to enhance something that is made so perfectly. But we try.

Through the Woods

2009-03-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Today Mimi and Pa took off on a hiking adventure. Now Pa has been walking in the mornings, but to be honest, it is pretty wimpy stuff. But Mimi refuses to walk to our mailbox. She has turned Pa down every time he has asked her to walk with him. Pa tries to not take it personally, but it kinda does get to him a little.

But today was a different day. Today we read about a 6.5 mile round trip hike out to a really cool lighthouse. It was the Haceda Lighthouse built in 1893, it’s just north of Florence Oregon and just a little north of the famous Sea Lion Caves. It sounded like a really cool hike and something Mimi could do…despite her reluctance to walk with Pa.

So off they went down a really cool trail through the Hobbit forest, meandering down the easy trail…Mimi was doing really well.

About a mile and a half into the trail, it crossed over to the west side of the road. What was once a pleasant little stroll with Hobbits, turned really ugly on the west side. The trail was steep and slippery…lots of boggy mud to contend with…lots of steep steps to navigate. But Mimi persisted…Pa was really proud of her. After another mile and a half, we came down a long series of switch backs, and arrived at the lighthouse.

The setting was spectacular, but the weather turned nasty again. Mimi had been doing her normal stripping down to the bare essentials through the forest…she calls them hot flashes…but now, she needed all of her layers engaged. A trip up to the top of the lighthouse was followed up with some power bars and dried mango and a few sips of water.

But there was a little hesitation when it was time to go back up and head back on the trail. Pa offered to hitchhike back to Van and come back and get her…but her pride got to her…she plowed up the trail. Up the countless switch backs, through the murky bogs, up the pulverizing steps…plugging on and on. Mimi kept going. She was the little train that could…she did it. We crossed back to the other side of the road and plowed through the Hobbit land until we reached Van waiting patiently for us. Mission accomplished. A pretty rugged hike for seasoned hikers. It was like an Everest expedition for Mimi though…but she did it.
Pa was really proud of Mimi. She did it all without complaining or whining. She was tough as nails and kept a great attitude during the hike. It’s good to have a Mimi in your life to do tough things with. But Mimi also knows when she needs help too. As soon as we get back she’s fishing through Van’s glove box, looking for something. “What are you after Mimi?” Pa says. “Alleve” she says with a determined look in her eye. “You want some Pa?” she says. Does Pa want some…”well uh” he stammers…”make mine a double.” Pa was tuckered out too. Pa was tanked. Don’t tell Mimi, but sometimes Pa’s have to pretend to be much tougher than they are. Sometimes, they wished Mimi’s were in to hitch hiking.

Wait a Minute…The Weather Will Change

2009-03-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Well Mimi and Pa have hit the road again. We can hear Ole Willie breaking it down as we write…you know “On the Road again…” yeah you get it. So it is Spring Break week and we thought hey, lets go camping. Cool, good idea. But where?

The where is always a really good question for us. We never quite settle that question until we actually get in Van the Man, our trusted 91 VW Vanagon Weekender edition. Van has learned to just be ready to go where ever we end up pointing him…he’s very compliant. All we knew for sure was that we had to find some sunshine…Mimi even painted her toenails so she could wear her flip flops. It is a must…sunshine.

So after church on Sunday, we got Van all loaded up and headed south…towards the Southern beaches of Oregon. On the way, we had sunshine…and rain…and hail…and gusty winds that caused Pa to try and wrench Van back into the appropriate lane. Like a wild stallion he was all over the place…Pa’s gentle guiding hand kept him contained to his lane.

But the weather was not looking good going over the Coast Range…there was snow…yeah real snow. It’s March for goodness sakes, how bout a little warmth and sunshine. We get to the coast and it is sunny again…nice…but still very windy.

So we settle in a place called Washburne St Park. Lots of empty spaces available, another hazard of not having reservations…often we are left with no room in the inn. But we found a nice spot that actually had a few rays of sunshine bearing down on it. We made a quick French Press of coffee and grabbed the chairs and plopped down in the sunshine. Nothing compares to kicking back in the woods with sunshine bearing down on you…it is a different warmth…unlike any other…it’s all good.

After coffee, Mimi says let’s go down to the beach. Sure thing, it’s nice and warm in my little sweatshirt. So off we go through this little Hobbit forest and on to the beach. Mimi is feeling all goo goo inside and writes a little Mimi loves Pa in the sand. But Pa is starting to feel the brunt of the cold…it is like 38 degrees outside with a really stiff wind chill factor. But Pa being Pa he just toughs it out…reluctantly.

Then from off the ocean comes this crazy something with winds doubling in strength and hail pelting us from the sky like God raining down BB’s from the sky. Ouch!!!! Mimi and Pa take off running for shelter and duck under a covering of Hobbit trees as the torrent passes. Wow…what an experience…

While these experiences are really cool and all…least we forget…we came for some sunshine. Pa is cold…I mean bone chilled. Maybe the next stop for Van the Man is Las Vegas…I hear they have sunshine there.

It's All About the Waiting

2008-12-20T21:24:00.000-08:00

I like things right now. I mean come on, anything worth having is worth having right now. When we are hungry, we want fast food...and it better be good. When we want to get somewhere, well we just zip there and back in no time. We want to get better and we want it now...or as Jim Morrison says "we want the world and we want it NOW"!
But as I have said in my former post, getting anywhere is taking lots of extra time. Mimi and Pa are currently residing in a Holiday Inn Express in Sacramento. We have traveled for two days and we have gone exactly 12 hours...with another 4 to go....if all goes well. In the old days we would travel 16 hours in one day...but these aren't those days.
But we sit here and tomorrow we will hopefully pick up Jacob at the Sac Airport at 9 AM. Then we have to wait for another 3 hours for GiGi (Tracey's mom...real name Daphne) to come in from SoCal. Then we head for Yosemite....should make it right around 5 if we don't hit snow or ice.
I am ready to be in Yosemite already...I mean I'd like to be there right now. I love Yosemite...I have been there at least 30 times and have spent the equivelent of a year of my life there, climbing, backpacking, hiking, ice skating, playing in the snow with my kids, sneaking in to the Ahwahne Hotel pretending to be a rich person...some of the best times in my life have been spent there. And now, something I could never imagine...cruising Yosemite with my grandkids. Wow...when did my life flash by me...my GK's for Christmas in Yosemite...its amazing. I can't wait...

Jackson (6)

Aidan (3)

Chloe (7 months today)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2008-12-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

Well, Mimi and Pa are off on another adventure. We have loaded up Van the Man (our VW Bus) and are heading south to Yosemite for Christmas. When M and P travel, they like to go with the flow, roll with the wind, and tumble like the tumbleweeds.
But this trip, we have the kids we're traveling with. I mean our grown up kids and their kids. Traveling with a family of five (in their own car) is different. They stop more, they take longer at those stops, and it is always very noisy. Lots of "I Wants" and "I Don't Want To's". When you are middle aged and approaching middle age (like Mimi is), your tolerance for those kinds of things is a little thin. It kind of makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck...until...well until they say..."PA...MIMI...we love you." This statement is usually accompanied by a big hug and a squeeze...suddenly...it all seems worth it. All the different demands and schedules and stops seem so worth it...so...well...looked forward to.
Now don't get me wrong...the freedom and independance to do what you want is still very attractive. But the joy of interuptions far out weighs the joy of independance. It's kinda like what happens with God. It is awesome to have independance, but it is always better to have Him interupt your schedule. Yeah...grandkids are clearly from God. As we always say...Grandkids are your reward for not killing your own kids.

What A Group

2008-11-23T21:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Mimi and Pa had the awesome joy of hosting our small group for a shop day. Now we have lots of great people in our group who thought it would be fun to spend the day together learning how to build stuff. So Pa was able to find a bunch of free recycled wood and our project was to make my famous Adirondack chair. So we met early and stayed late working really hard. It was loud, dusty, and really super awesome. We completed two chairs but have all the parts for seven more ready for the next time we meet. Great way to spend the day. Here's some pix.

Brady and Jace working hard

Stacey and Amy...the ladies rock

Good friends and good food

Lacey and Brooklyn supervise

Jace enjoying the fruit of his labor

Okay So I Got Tagged

2008-11-18T20:54:00.000-08:00

So our friend Linda sends me this email telling me I have to pick a picture from my fourth picture file and the fourth picture in that file and then write about it. So I goes to the fourth file, and scan down to the fourth picture and what do you suppose I find...well this one.

This is my most favorite picture of Mimi and I. We were on our way to New York, waiting in a pub at PDX. I had my laptop open and and snapped a picture in Photo Booth.

Now I love it because first of all, Mimi looks so beautiful in this pic. I mean she is beautiful all the time, but she looked especially so here. I look...happy. We look happy. What's cool is that we were happy.

This was day one of what would be a 10 week break for me. I had worked so hard to try and be prepared to leave and I really felt good about leaving. So this is a special picture for me. I wish it were one I had taken on my good camera...but it kind of adds to the specialness of the picture.

So, there you go, Mimi and Pa off on a bigtime adventure, happy, content, and still very much in love.

How Did We All Get Here?

2008-10-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Well, if you are a follower of the Adventures of Mimi and Pa you will know that in June we got to go to the UK for a trip of a lifetime. Our most favorite time and place while we were there was our chance encounter with Trevor Morriss in Conwy Wales. I wrote about him being a brother from a different mother...and he is.

Well last night we got to go into Portland to see him play with his music partner Paul. Their band is called Matching Ties (www.matchingties.com). They were here in the States to play in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Trevor had a friend from his past that lived in Portland and she scheduled a couple gigs for them on this side of our fair state while they were here.

So, what a great time we had listening to their music and catching up with them before and after their music. Trevor is a really truly great guy...and they are both phenomenal musicians.

But what was so random was...we had met Trevor in the little town of Conwy. He met his friend in a Kibutz in Israel back in the early 70's. Trevor met Paul randomly in Munich. And also there last night was a guy named Steve whom Paul met randomly in Italy. And there we all were together...all randomly knowing each other..and yet all of us just hit it off so well.

How does this happen? It is so cool the way people get to know each other. We talked and laughed and shared stories...what a joy. Now I have some new brothers and sisters from different mothers.

No Country for Old Men

2008-10-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

Sooooooo...it has been a long and crazy week. As we speak Chloe is on her way home from the Hospital...Mimi and Pa are relieved and so thankful...on many levels. We of course are so thankful for her speedy recovery and how well she is doing. It is a miracle what God has done to bring about healing for this precious little girl. But the relief comes in another form as well...our two favorite grandsons will be heading home.
Now don't get me wrong...we have loved having them at our house...they are a joy and a delight. But they flat wear a person right out...I mean...they can make a grown man cry with delight when they finally go to bed...whew!!!!!! It is a red wine kind of night when the two little buzz saws finally stop their spinning. Wow!

Now today...well it was an awesome day. Pa took the boys...and their Uncle Boomer (Jacob) to the new Space Museum and IMax theater today (www.evergreenspacemuseum.com) and did we ever have an awesome time. We saw the entire history of space exploration and an awesome 3D movie about the space station...it was so cool. But I tell you...I was shot/spent/toast/fried/pummeled when we got home. I put Aidan down for a nap, Jackson I parked in front of a movie (the best babysitter) and Boomer and I crashed.
It was exhausting. But tonight...it will be quiet...no coming into Mimi and Pa's bed in the morning...no pancakes together for breakfast...
I wonder when we HAVE to watch them again?

Okay...It Is A Miracle

2008-09-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

So Chloe has been returned to us...and she looks fantastic. They have opened her head, removed parts of her skull, reworked what needed to be done, put her head back together...and she's fine...no better than fine...she's perfect. How is that possible? Who thinks they can actually do this and get away with it. To be so secure...or arrogant to assure us that they can do all of this to our little Chloe and actually return her to us better than when she went in.
It is an overwhelming thought...that those who are created in the image of God, can be endowed with the gifts of God, to be the healer and fixer of a little girls head. I can only hope that they give credit to God for their skill and gift every day. To try and claim anything else would be blasphemous. Thank you God for creating us in your image...especially Dr Wehby.

Chloe's Adventure

2008-09-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well today is a really important day for Mimi and Pa...but especially for our precious little grand daughter Chloe...or as Aidan likes to call her...Coco. She is here today at Emmanuel hospital in Portland to have surgery to correct her skull...two of her plates are fused together...and reshape her eye sockets. She is in the hands of one of the finest surgeons in the country...but more importantly...she is in the hands of a God who loves her.
It's a weird thing to think of turning your child or grandchild over to the care and control of another. It was a very weird moment watching my little girl have to release control of her little girl. No one really is prepared for that moment...that decision...that complete abandon. It is a huge adventure...but it's an adventure in faith. After knowing all the facts, reading all the information, being assured that the very best people are doing the job...you still have to actually let go of her.
We will keep you posted on her progress...we're sure she will be fine...but it is at moments like this that you want to know she is in the hands of a loving God. Protect her Lord.

Something New

2008-08-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hey check out my new blog called "The Walker's Journal". It is just more musings on the world and life from someone slowly walking through it. See ya all soon.

Ahhhhh...Morro Bay

2008-08-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, I can't believe I used to live here. Morro Bay is awesome...why did I ever leave? Oh yeah, seven years of drought and no work...thats the way it was in 1991.
So, we heads on down from Santa Cruz to Morro Bay. Before we leave we stops off and get some goddies for Van (the Man)...(our bus) at a great VW shop in Santa Cruz. Now Van is 17 years old and we felt as if he might be needing a little support you know...so we gets him a...well it is a Manzere...you know a Bro...well okay its called a bra. Something to keep him snug and firm...and keep the rocks and bugs out of his teeth.
So any way, we have a great trip to Morro Bay...down the Salinas Valley and up and over the hills through Paso Robles...and down into God's greatest air conditioner...the Central Coast. So when it is eight hundred degrees in the valley, that heat draws moisture from the Pacific Ocean and cools off the coast. Now if your here looking to add to your skin cancer...forget it...it's cold and foggy...most of the summer. Come back on Thanksgiving day...it will be sunny.
But it is so refreshing to me...so...well its so cool. I mean cool not cool.
So of course we have no reservations any where...we're really gamblers at heart. But in the summer time the beaches are filled with the direct descendants of dust bowl farmers who all landed in Bakersfield, or Fresno, or Selma, or Ripon...you would swear the dust bowl had hit again. They come to the coast with trailors piled high with tentage and 14 bicycles per truck.
So the likelyhood of getting some place was slim. We checked two or three places and they had nothing. But then we called a place that was right on the beach, right next to The Rock (this and the PGE stacks are the landmarks for MB) and lo and behold...they had a spot for us. We snagged it pronto and came and set ourselves up for two nights of MB, Los Osos, and San Luis Obispo fun times.
We went to Los Osos and found all the places we lived when we lived here. We went to SLO and saw all the places we lived when we lived there. We also went to the courthouse cause Mimi needed to get a copy of our marriage license so she can actually become a real Wertz (another long story). It was hilarious...it listed my occupation as Gas Station Attendant...I can't believe I didn't say I was Oil Technition or something. I now know why Mimi's mom and dad were so against us getting married.
It is strange to come back and see things so different, and yet so many exactly the same.This place has exploded with new stores and shopping centers. We went to the world famous farmers market in downtown SLO. They close of about eight blocks of the main downtown street for tons of farmers, vendors, and food places. There were literally thousands of people walking up and down the streets...it was like a street fair. We bought some food and went over to the creek and sat on a bench and watched the water trickle down towards the ocean. It was so quiet and peaceful...while only a half a block away...it was a madhouse.
This was the creek my kids used to come and play in during the summer. Mimi and her frienf Helyn would bring the kids to the Mission and let the kids play in the creek while they connected about their lives. The kids would play and fight...you know just be kids.
As we sat on that bench and ate our food, we reminisced about our lives when we were much younger. We reflected upon the fact that the more things change...like SLO had...the more it stays the same. People making memories, building stories, processing and growing, and changing. And yet for one moment in time...we were so there again. I could even smell the gas and oil stained work clothes of a kid who had just met the girl of his dreams...oh my...the places you will go.

Off On Another Adventure

2008-08-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

Well we are off again. I mean gone...not like the normal off we are. Now we are in Van the Man (our VW Bus) and headed south...to Cali (that is fornia for the unfamiliar). We pack up Van on Sunday night, get up early Monday morn and head south. Van running clean and smooth. But if you know Oregon, any car can run clean and smooth for the first 2 hours heading south...then you hit the mountains. But Van did an awesome job getting us over all the Oregon passes and we made it to Cali in great time.
But NorCali has it's own challenges...like it's own mountains, dried up lakes (like Shasta), and of course the nearest to ell as I ever want to get...Redding...I hate that place. Like Elaine on Seinfeld says about Hell; "it's the heat, my God the heat. And the ragged clothing...bleeeeahhhh!!!!" That's Redding. The one redeeming fact about Redding...that's right...it's the closest In-N-Out Burger to Oregon...oh yeah...Double Double with cheese baybe!!!
So after Redding it is flat...but hot. Mimi takes a turn guiding Van down the road...Pa takes a little nap. Fortunately for us, we got the AC fixed in Van before we left.
Now most uninformed people would think...well duh...of course you have to have AC . But AC and VW Busses is a bit of a stretch...not only is it Yuppie Bourgeoisie to have it in a bus, but it cuts your power in half. It is a big sacrifice to use it and have it in a bus...only for the perfect conditions...like the Cali Central Valley...flat and hot. Perfect AC time...and it was awesome.
Our first stop in Cali...Napa Valley.
Now even though I grew up about an hour or so from Napa, I never really spent much time there as a young person. In my early days of young adulthood I was never really interested in Napa because it was a scene I wanted nothing to do with. So to be where Mimi and I are now, with wine tasting as a high on the list hobbie...we were wonderfully surprised at just how cool it is in Napa Valley. We found a great campspot, cooked some great grub, and drifted off to sleep in Van the Man...what a joy.
Day two of the Cali Adventure has us stopping and sampling some of the fine products produced in the region...very responsibly I might add...but then we headed south again. We were Santa Cruz bound. But on the way...we made a little detour...through my hometown of Concord.
Now Concord is another hot and dry town...but it is where I grew up. We saw the train tracks I used to walk on to see how far I could balance on the track. It is now a part of BART tracks...not sure I would get too close. Then we found my old house where I grew up. It looked pretty much the same. After shooting 5 or 8 pictures though I realized I was standing in front of the wrong house. But it was good to see it and know it was a really important part of my life.
Going home is really important to the soul I believe. It helps us to remember from where we have come and to see that we may not be perfect, but hey at least we're not still the same. And it's good to know that despite the changes we may go through, some things remain the same.
So then we headed for Santa Cruz...of course there is no where for a hundred miles to camp...and we were lucky to find a reasonable hotel at 11 PM. But we did, and had a good sleep.
The next morning, we got to go to the famous Cowells Beach...it's the place I learned to surf. I remember that day so well...1971...no wetsuit...cut-off levi's...sweatshirt...March in NorCali ocean...cold...and colder. But brother did I surf...I caught wave after wave...I was hooked. It was awesome to be there on such a beautiful day with Mimi...but we needed to head south and so we were off again...this time we were bound for SLOtown...more about that tomorrow.
Goodnight.

The Bug In

2008-08-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

You know something...some people do things on Sundays that don't involve church...I was not aware of that. Last Sunday, Mimi and I had the chance to run with that crowd who do other things on a Sunday. We packed it up early and headed to Portland in the bug...that's right...the 57. We drove all the way to Portland International Raceway for the annual Rose City Bug In. It is all VW all the time. Swapmeet, carshow, drag-racing, networking...all the fun stuff...it sounded really cool.
Now driving the bug on a normal trip is just a blast...but driving the bug to Portland on the freeway makes Mimi just a little nervous. Not having seatbelts or a gas gauge is scarey enough, but the bridges in Portland almost did her in. But we made it...safe and sound.
The hilarious part was when we arrived they asked us if we were showing the bug. "Uhhhhhh...wellll....we weren't planning on it" I said.
"But you should...you could win prizes" the guy said.
"Sign me up" I says...and off we go to the car show.
As I'm driving in I see cars that I have seen in the VW magazines...realizing I have no chance of winning, I still pull up and park the bug next to some hard core racer type cars. It is like apples next to oranges...you know there fruit, but their completely different. My bug is almost completely stock...and it is really nice.

As soon as we parked the car, we get out and people start taking pictures of it....some people thought it was so cool...just like I do. It is a weird feeling to think that others see what you have and wish they could have it. So many people were so happy checking out all the cool things about the car...didn't they see the little flaws? Don't they see the things yet to be done? Why did they see the good that I had lost sight of? As I was over Jonesing over the bugs that were flawless...some were trying to imagine owning a bug as nice as mine.
Why do we do that? Why do we forget how great our things, our lives, our situations really are. I hear people say all the time, "if I could only be...only live...only have...my life would be so wonderful." What's wrong with just being content with what we have?
Well Mimi and I had a wonderful day...as I walked through all those beautiful cars...I realized again just how beautiful she is...how much I love to hang out with her...how thankful that she indulges all of my little hobbies...how she makes them hers as well...she is my wife...but she's my best friend too. Pa is very happy...Mimi is really a classic.

If Your Interested....

2008-07-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hey I know it's a little weird and self serving to a certain degree...but if your interested in what is going on while I am on Sabbatical check out the link to my other blog (Bills Sabbatical Diary). I am going to post some excerpts of the book I am writing as well. I would love any feedback you might have by posting in the comments.

There's No Place Like Home

2008-07-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well we made it home. Little McMinnville Oregon. Who would have ever imagined a few years ago we would have prefered to be in Hooterville insted of London England. But it's true. The beauty of living some place small is the it does not have all the crud you have to endure to live somewhere "exciting."
Here are some things about home that are really great;

Family- Well nothing compares to flying into PDX at 11 PM and there waiting for you are three little kids with signs saying Welcome Home Mimi and Pa. Nothing compares to the welcome you get when people you love are actually glad to see you. We didn't get little kids saying "Welcome to London, Leave Your Money, Now Get Lost" when we arrived in London. No, having a wonderful family to come home to is...well...it is priceless.

Home- think about all that you have in your home, a comfortable bed, internet you don't have to pay 12 pounds a day for (thats 24 bucks for 24 hours), your yard and garden...thats right...those same things we get so tired of, we also come to miss when we are not home.
Food- access to your own food (that you prepare how you like every time), great coffee (everytime), variety, and our own food from our garden and fruit trees (loads and loads of cherries).
Peace- just knowing that your home is a place where you can be yourself and not pretend you are something else, or not worried about how to get somewhere, or...well...actually driving on the right side of the road...it brings peace to be at home.

Well Mimi and Pa's adventures are far from over...we still have a lot of adventures left in us. Just the adventure of everyday life can be really thrilling. So we'll keep posting blogs of our adventures, and if your still interested you can follow along with us.
As most of you probably know by now, I am also on sabbatical right now. What a blessing that is to know I have six weeks (well actually 5 weeks, 4 days, and 13 hours left) to get refreshed, renewed, and restored so I am fit to attack another seven years of ministry. During that time I am going to try and finish a book I started three years ago and for the last two years have let slide. It's working title is "Driving a VW Bus in an SUV World." It is about feeling like your oddball and the attempts to relate to God and others despite your weirdness...or something like that. So I'd appreciate your prayers as I try to finish...it's hard because it is very personal and requires a lot of self evaluation as well...besides the fact that it is hard work to make sense of all that garbage within me.

That Sense of Awe

2008-07-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I have worked really hard to make church accessible to people who don't normally like church. Over the years it has been a mission to remove barriers and make us in the church more accessible.

So imagine my surprise when after a long day of "power touring" around London, we show up at Westminster Abbey...yeah the one Chuck and Di got married in...right at 4 PM in shorts and backpacks and subway grime. Tracey went up to the really nicely dressed fella in a suit and fetching flowing robe and asked him what it would take to get in to see this unbeliveable church building. He said you have to get tickets...but the Abbey is going to close right after this service. This was our one real day in London, so it looked like our hope of getting in were dashed. But then the nice robe-y fella says, you can go to the service without a ticket. You mean dressed like we were...sure you canhe says...you are welcome.

Wow...can you believe it? We are in Westminster Abbey! Now the thing about the Abbey is, you don't need a bunch of posters and such to get people's attention...just the ceilings kept me mezmerized for an hour. Not to mention all the statues of people who have been faithful servants of the church but also the Lord.

I mean when you hear that organ start and the choir sing...wow...Chris Tomlin's got nothing on these guys. No fancy sermon with three points and a flashy ending....just a couple of Scripture passages and lots of standing and sitting and repeating after me's.

Now Mimi and I aren't exactly seekers, but the paper they gave us said if we will just listen and have an open mind, God could speak to us. We were so moved! We were awestruck!

But mostly we felt as if we were welcome both here in this huge building designed to help people feel a sense of awe, but also by the wonderful people we met.

Seeker freindly can take all shapes and forms...but mostly it is just being people friendly

So Maybe It's Not Soooooo Bad

2008-07-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

You know, in America, we take a lot of things for granted. Really, I'm not kidding. One of the things we have that the UK does not is a million radio stations. We have AM and FM and any where and every where there are radio stations galore...some good and some bad.

But in the UK there are basically four stations. BBC 1-4. So as your driving and get those long silences...you know when Mimi is looking at the map...you know...I need a little...MUSIC!!!

So you turn the radio on and you have a choice of Classical (love it but not good driving music), UK Charts (a wide variety of Pop...except I love it when Amy Winehouse comes on), something else I'm not sure of, and then BBC4...mostly talk radio. So we ended up a lot on 4.

Now it's not like the talk radio in the States...no way...this is actually good...it is smart radio. Now don't get me wrong...I hated it at first. I went on and on about communist propaganda and the lack of freedom...real freedom in the UK. But after a while, i kind of started liking it. They would discuss issues in depth with people from both sides equally represented. They would do short plays of historical subjects. They would do the news every hour. And, they would read books. Now generally I hate this. But I was completly won over, especially by one book in particular. Now if you are a guy friend of mine...stop reading...cause you are going to think I have gone...well bad.

But the book was called "Wife of the North" (I know...I know). But it was great...so great I added it to our Blog list. You should read it. I am looking for the podcast of it and I will make that available to you as well. It was great...Tracey and I would plan our driving around when it would be on...9:45 precisely.

Soooooooo, the lesson is, sometimes when we have all we want we miss that which might benefit us more than having and re-having that which we know...or something like that.

More of Those Crazy Self Portraits

2008-07-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

Okay so we're still freaks. But we do have a lot of fun taking these pictures. We seem to take turns looking either really good or just so so. So here are a few more from the places we have visited.

This one is taken in Edinburgh, Scotland

This one is in front of the Loch Ness

This is in the Cotswold area in England

This one is taken at Lower Slaughter, England

This is in front of one of the Stones of Avebury

And here we are in Piccadilly Circus, London

You know, I keep looking at these pictures and reflecting on what it takes to have a really happy and "successful" marriage, and the basic elements seem to be respect, trust, and a really good sense of humor, and it really doesn't hurt to marry a girl like Mimi.

There Are Some Strange Things in This World

2008-07-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

So as our trip is heading south, (I mean literally not figuratively) we set our course for Stonehenge. Now we have seen lots of old churches and castles that are all 800 years old. But the thought of seeing something that was erected 2,000 years ago is pretty compelling.

But as we had breakfast with a couple of know it alls (the biggest downside of the B&B life…everyone thinks their interesting) they tell us how overdone Stonehenge is…too commercial…and not accessible anymore. So they happen to mention this place called Avebury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avebury).

So as soon as we could break away from Cliffie Claven and Chatty Cathy, we head south. After seven or eight missed turns (a good day) we arrive in this little tiny town of Avebury.

No one can really prepare you for what you find when you arrive.

I mean we saw some other stone circles that I swear some farmers got together and moved with their tractors just to get the rocks out of their fields and then told everyone they had been there forever. But these were really really cool. Some of these stones had been standing in this field 3,000 years before the birth of Jesus (that is now 5,000 years old). 1,500 years before the Temple in Jerusalem was constructed, these worshippers of something arranged these giant stones into a very detailed pattern for some unknown reason.

Not only were the stones standing in the field, but they had obviously dug a deep gully around the perimeter and seemingly piled all the dirt into a burm around the gully. What were they doing? What were they thinking. What were they worshipping?

Unfortunatly, many of the stones were torn down by marauding tribes and by the church. The stones were used by the local church to construct their building to bring glory to God. I saw their church and frankly, I was more inspired by the stones.

When I see these stones I don’t see a bunch of pagans dancing around naked amongst the stones I some pagan rituals. I see people who were earnestly looking to explain this inner desire to know and touch the sacred within each and every person and the great wonders of the magnificent world all around us.

In Romans, Paul says that we can see the hand of God reveled in what was created in nature. David said the Heavens declare the Glory of God. These people found a way to express their awe and wonder by creating a natural temple made with the most majestic items they could find, stones, earth, water, grasses. And then the part of their nature that is like Creator God assembled them into a massive temple to the God they maybe never had a chance to know. Their sincerity and commitment could never be called into question…albeit misguided from an eternal perspective.

Why is it that we have to destroy everything that doesn’t fit neatly into our little box? Why can’t we recognize the God qualities in others? Why can’t the church see people and their practices like God does…feeble attempts to explain the sacred in each one of us. When we meet the source of that sacredness, it does put it all into perspective…but I still don’t get it right all the time. I would hope God’s grace will steer and guide me rather than destroy me. Trust me, I am counting on it.

A Dream Come True

2008-07-09T15:01:00.001-07:00

So you know, I've been playing golf for 30 some years, and all that time I thought if I ever got to Scotland I would love to pay St Andrews. Well Mimi said I could and so we drove there and well it all worked out and I got to play. I said "c'mon Mimi, you play too." So she said yes and so we both played.

Here I am at hole number One at the Old Course (I thought they'd have rules about flip flops...what kind of joint are they running here).

So I get the obligatory Caddie (from a real Caddie Shack). His name was Bryan McCrackky.

So I was on the first green lining up my putt (putting for par...I thought this course was a lot tougher)

Of course it is a tradition to get your picture taken after completing your first hole (oh the pressure was off finally).

Mimi was a wreck after her 13 on the first hole...but boy you got to give it to the old gal for hangin in there...and at her age!

So we make it all the way around...and despite the Arse Whoopping she got, Mimi was so nice and kind to William the Conquerer.

Are you on drugs, we could never afford to play there. This all happened on the really cool Women's Putting Club course. 18 holes of PeeWee Golf...but at St. Andrews. Our cost was 1.5 pounds (3 bucks) versus 100 plus pounds (200 bucks). But it was awesome. So if anyone ever asks, yes I did play a round of golf at St Andrews...so I got that goin for me...which is nice!!!!

The Loch Ness Incident

2008-07-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well so you know, Mimi and I were compelled by our two grandsons, Jackson and Aidan, to go to Loch (or Lake) Ness. You may have heard that there is this "monster" who lives in the lake. Well of course me being a black and white kind of guy, all science no emotion, you know me...well I just think it is all the ramblings of some Scottish fishermen who have been sampling Scotlands finest malt beverage (not the beer that's for sure).

But you know we just couldn't face our grandkids and not say we went looking for "Nessie" as they like to call her (apperantly it's a she...one more reason to belive it is a myth started by Seamus McTartan). So despite the 300 mile round trip, the exhorbrant price of fuel, and the commitment to one valuable day...we headed north to Inverness.

We arrived and found the road to the Loch and headed back south down a very congested road. I can't believe all the saps who obviously believe this ridiculous myth. But they pile into the gift shops and buy all the junk for their grandkids (oh wait that was us).

So first chance we got, I pulls the car over to the side and head down to the water so Mimi and I could take one of our self portraits.

So then Mimi says let me take one of you...I told her no because I look fat and all...but when I know she wont back down, I figure, hey I better send out some vibes you know.

Well then I was actually standing in the water, cause of all the things I'm afraid of, a mythical seamonster isn't one of them. So as I'm standing in the freezing water, Mimi starts shouting something...I'm like "what I have no idea what your saying." It's just like how she tries to talk to me while she's walking into another room...you know.

So as she's taking pictures and trying to talk to me, she's starting to scream at me. Well I wos getting kind of hacked you know...who does she think she is?

But the screaming persists...

"LOOK BEHIND YOU" she says. For what?

So I looks behind me, and as usual Mimi is seeing things that aren't really there.

Next thing I know...Mimi's passed out on the ground...must have been something she ate.

So I gets her loaded up on my back and haul her back to the car...what was it you ate I ask her...it was Nessie she says. Maybe it was the Haggis, I never know with Mimi.

OUR SELF PORTRAITS

2008-07-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

I know, we are weird. People ask us all the time, "would you like us to take your picture?" No we like to take our own pictures. These have been taken with the laptop, my Canon, my iPhone, and we have taken some with Mimi's little digital (but we're Wertz's and forgot the card reader and the cord). So here's a selection from various places.

In a Dublin Elevator

On the Coast of Ireland

At Slane Castle

At Conwy Castle

At a sheep ranch in Scotland

My fav...at PDX

In Philly being silly

Waiting in Chicago

Empire St Building NYC

RECAP OF OUR JOURNEY

2008-07-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

For those of you just picking this blog up, or for those of you who have been following us and need a recap, or for those of you who have been following us and just forgot, here's a recap of our adventures so far.

USA

Thu 6/20 PDX, fly to NYC
Fri 6/21 NYC
Sat 6/22 NYC
Sun 6/23 NYC, Philadelphia
Mon 6/24 Work in Camden
Tue 6/25 Work in Camden
Wed 6/26 Work in Camden
Thu 6/26 NYC, fly to Chicago

IrelandFri 6/27 Dublin

Sat 6/28 Dublin
Sun 6/29 Neil Young @ Malahid Castle
Mon 6/30 Limerick, Cork, Rock of Cashel
Tue 7/1 Belfast, Bangor, Slane Castle

Wales

Wed 7/2 Dublin, Holyhead ferry, Conwy Wales
Thu 7/3 Conwy Castle

England

Fri 7/4 Train to Liverpool
Sat 7/5 Liverpool, Chester, Conwy
Sun 7/6 Lake District, B&B near Carlisle

Scotland

Mon 7/7 Edinburgh, Perth

Okay Jackson and Aidan, Tuesday we go to find the Loch Ness Monster near Inverness Scotland. Wednesday we go to St Andrews and then back to England

More later

Let’s Be Honest for a Minute

2008-07-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

I have now been a Christ follower now since September 26, 1974. That is almost 34 years. I have never had a lapse in my conviction where I wondered if I made a mistake about my decision. I have always said I would gladly take a bullet to the head as opposed to renouncing my God (I hope and pray I don’t have to though). I read my Bible, pray (with some ceasing), serve, give, and generally try to honor God in all I do.

But let’s face it…I’m a hypocrite…I am. I don’t always do what I say I believe. I don’t always practice what I preach. As a follower of Jesus I have no problem admitting I am flawed, wrecked, and basically worthy of Hell if not for the great grace of God.

But let’s also be honest…most people are hypocrites. Doctors who smoke. Lawyers who break laws. Dentists who eat candy. Environmentalists who litter. You know…most people.

So when I met Bob the other night at the bluegrass festival, I was not prepared for the level of hypocricy I was about to encounter…an Atheist who loves Gospel music. What???? Most Christians I know hate Gospel music. You know, “if you don’t turn your life around then God’s gonna burn you in the fires of hell” type of songs. How do you do that? And yet, every performer at the festival is under a strict compulsion to sing at least a couple of Gospel songs. That would be like me singing “Oh I can’t wait to get to Hades my eternal home.” Or “I just love living this Godless life, free from the constrains of an oppressive god.” I just couldn’t do it. I don’t understand it.

What it makes me wonder is; has God just become another topic in a country song. Is He right there with an unfaithful woman, a runaway dog, or a broke down pickup truck. Has the view of God and his majesty slipped so far from the importance meters of people that someone who swears there is no God can sing about the GREAT IMORTAL YAHWEH like he’s an unfaithful runaway truck.

Now don’t get me wrong, I really liked Bob the Atheist. I think he is funny, and a really neat guy. But Bob, you’re a hypocrite. Welcome to the world where all of those who hold near and dear our core beliefs, don’t always do and say what we truly believe. Next time you want to be critical of the church, just remember the God we worship, forgives us for being a hypocrite…and he even forgives Atheists…even if he doesn’t believe in them.

OK, Now We’re Getting Obsessive

2008-07-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

So we leave Conwy behind and head for Liverpool…heading north and our journey away from Wales and on to bigger and different things. However, we did not get to see Trevor and the Morris Boys play. So after a great time in Liverpool (see future blogs) we head back towards Conwy…way out of the way…get a hotel…drive an hour or so back…sold out Bluegrass show…so we convince the ticket lady we’re friends of the band…we drove all the way here…please sell us two tickets so we can see our friends…stand in line (first ones in)…all for a half hour show. It’s what brothers do. But it was PRICELESS!

Too see the joy that these guys had playing together was so great. Trevor said later that despite all the “stuff” that had gone on between David, Glyn, and he, the music always held them together. I think that is really powerful. Whatever it is that goes on, surely we can find the thing that keeps us bound together.

Well after a couple of really good bands (especially Special Consensus…see them on iTunes) we headed down to the pub with the Boys. We also got to meet Trevor’s longtime friend Bob and his significant other Heather. They were down as well camping in a converted ambulance. He’s a devout Atheist who loves Gospel music (more on that in a future blog).

But when everyone left, the pub was closing, we spent a long time lingering with Trevor…it was like we just couldn’t bear to say goodbye.

How does that happen? You meet someone for just a few days and you build such closeness, a connection really. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder if God didn’t orchestrate the entire vacation just so he could introduce us to Trevor (I hope He’s also going to help pay for it J). It makes you wonder. And if it were true, did he do it for Trevor…or did he do it for me. As a pastor and an evangelical Christ follower, it is easy for me to think that God orchestrated the whole thing because Trevor needed some spiritual direction in his life. He needed to be somehow reconnected to God (in a more traditional form).

But the more I process this whole deal, I’m convinced that God introduced me to Trevor for my benefit, for me to be reminded of God’s magnificent GRACE. That the God I worship and love and am committed to, would devise a scheme to connect two people together from different countries and experiences, and allow them to have a bond, a connection, a friendship, a chance encounter with the Magnificent God. Music is a great bonding agent for brothers and friends, but when God is that bonding agent…well then you become Brothers.

Twin Sons From Different Mothers

2008-07-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yes I know it is the title of a album by Tim Weisberg and Dan Fogelberg. I never really understood what must have been going on with Tim and Dan until now. I feel like I met a brother I never knew I had…you know someone you feel so easy around…like time and space and distance holds no bounds…I feel like I am one of the Morriss Brothers. Let me explain.

Well it all started you see at Conwy. We got on the Irish ferry from Dublin to Holyhead in anticipation of getting a car and heading out on our Wales, Scotland, England leg of our adventure. Of course, because we’re Wertz’s, there were no cars available.

So we’re sitting in Holyhead ferry station looking for somewhere to go, when we chance upon this city of Conwy, Wales. There is an entire city built inside the walls of this castle built in the 12^th century by King Edward. It looked awesome, but with no reservations anywhere we would take a chance and we booked a rail ticket to Conwy.

On the way, with the wonder of the iPhone, we found the link to a place called Bryn Derwyn (Oak tree Hill in Welsh), and rang them up. Unfortunately, they had no room there but had a little unit right over by the train station. We agreed on a price on the phone and went for it…sight unseen.

Well to say it was lovely was an understatement. It was a three story flat with narrow tiny stairs…kind of Swiss Family Robinsonesque. We met Andrew the owner and he hooked us up and included a breakfast at Bryn Derwyn to top it all off…LOVELY! The flat sat right up against the wall of the castle ands we could reach our hand out the bathroom window and touch the 700 year old wall. Pretty historic.

So the next morning we head off to breakfast…quite awkward at first cause everyone at that B&B knew we were not one of the guests…they thought we were “crashers” I guess. But we sat down anyway and met Andrew’s father, a very polite man, and he escorted us to a table behind a door…kind of in the corner.

So we meet a lady from Maryland and then she goes over and talks to this guy (it was really just a voice to us…we can’t see him and he can’t see us) about him being in a bluegrass band. Well we had heard there was a sort of festival here beginning on the weekend and obviously he was here for that. Mrs. Maryland was done and so from behind the door I spoke up and said…”BLUEGRASS…I LOVE BLUEGRASS!!!”

Well that started a great conversation that went on and on and on. We talked from behind the door for a bit, but as the suspicious guests left we made ourselves more comfortable…eventually joining up at our table. His name was Trevor Morriss. Turns out he’s in a band called Matching Ties…he and a friend from the States. He was a Brit but has lived in Munich for the last 30 odd years. He was joining up with his brothers Glyn and David (the Morriss Brothers) after an eight year hiatus, to play some bluegrass at the festival. He has a really lovely life with a wonderful lady and a precious daughter.

Well our conversation went from music to life to politics to spirituality, back to music and life and God…well it was a wonderful conversation. I happened to mention to him…well down the conversation road that I was a pastor. His face was hilarious…not sure he had ever met a pastor who knew as much about Pink Floyd as he did. I am way sure he never sang all the words to "Friend of the Devil" by the Dead with his pastors growing up. But it was a really cool time of just talking about what we believed and listening to understand what he believed. He was raised in the church but set out to find a bit different method of experiencing God.

When he told us he was headed to Oregon to play music we tried to find out where and when so maybe we could come and see him play. Turns out he is playing at Willowa Lake, a place we really wanted to go. I told him that’s where the book The Shack takes place…another long discussion ensued about the premise of the story, which sent us off on another tangent. He thought he might like to read it. Well it just so happened that I had thrown a copy in my bag to reread on our adventure…and well…we agreed to get together later and get him the copy.

We got the book and we hooked up with Trevor and now Glyn the banjo brother, and Joe the rock and roll mandolin player, and Jerry the eccentric fiddler, down at the waterfront pub. We were there for hours laughing and joking and getting closer and closer. What a joy to get to know them and sing and play music…and well…it was family.

Sometimes, our own families don’t fit us so well…we feel odd around people we should feel normal around. And then you meet your twin brother from a different mother…and well…it feels just so right. Trevor is my brother…

The Parable of the Goldfish

2008-07-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Goldfish are interesting creatures. If you buy one for a quarter and stick it in a bowl of water it can survive for years. If you go out and buy all the tanks and pumps and the deep sea diver, place that same goldfish in there and sure enough that sucker dies the first day. It seems that the more desperate the situation the better the fish thrives.

Also, if you leave that goldfish (let’s call him Gil) in the bowl of water for 3 years he will remain the same size (roughly). But put Gil in a bigger bowl of water and he will grow even bigger. A bigger bowl…and well you see the dilemma…in order to grow he needs wide open spaces.

It is interesting to me as I have had many conversations with now both Irish and British people, that they are Gil’s. First off, they are a very hearty bunch, lot of spirit, lot of spunk. They have been kicked around by the weather, famines, unscroupulous kings, and marauding tribes. They are survivors.

But they are small minded in the way they view their world, just like Gil. We spoke to some people about driving from Dublin to Belfast and they advised us not to try it unless we were going to get a hotel in Belfast. “How far is it” I asked. Oh it’s about two hours drive. Two hours…are you kidding me? Sarah drives that just to go shopping at her favorite grocery store every week (well maybe just a bit of an exaggeration). But for them, the idea of making a journey like that is reserved for holidays. Now it could be that the price of fuel here makes the states look like a super bargain…but I think it is because like Gil, they can only grow to the size of their bowl of water.

Compare that to the Big Bowl of Water we live in. It is nothing for us to embark on a cross country drive, 3,000 miles in 36 hours. Westward Ho and all that. Let’s take a road trip…go go go…soccer moms driving big Land Rover’s with Rhino Grills so they don’t smash into shopping carts. We are mobile…we are on the move…saddle up the horses…don’t fence me in…”go west young man”…but when you see the deep sea diver and the bubbling treasure chest…look out!

Here’s a list of really cool things in Ireland

2008-07-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Citywest Resort just outside of Dublin. Great price, includes a really great breakfast, very nice resteraunts. Very hoitie toitie though. Big Rolls Royce parked outside.

Guinness Factory is really fun…very crowded…free tasters and a pint at the end. Very informative and interesting.

Neil Young at Malahide Castle was a real blast…see earlier post.

Irish People are so nice. So many of them have been so helpful and kind.

Rock of Cashle was by far the coolest thing we have seen. Great place to hang out and experience. We hiked around it, found the ruined Abbey, saw in the distance the hidden castle, really cool place.

Café Brazilia in Bangor. Really good coffee, nice little lady to talk to.

Seamus the Cabbie wonderful old school taxi driver in Dublin.

I’m Such a Wertz

2008-07-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

One only has to live for a couple of days as a Wertz to know the irony that it is to be a Wertz. Thankfully for Sarah, she was able to shed the moniker, and hopefully be able to live long enough to forget all the pain of being a Wertz…sorry Jacob, your stuck with it.

So as you know, I love driving in the more challenging driving environments. New York City, San Jose Costa Rica, Vancouver BC…you know some of the big ones. I approach driving in these areas much the way a team prepares for an assault on a mountain…training, preparation, testing reflexes and all. Obviously driving in Ireland is like tackling Mt. Everest in Flip Flops…nothing prepares you for everything being bass ackwards. But I have been…well masterful to say the least. I have tackled the major hiways, the crowded city streets, the country village, the one way back downs, the parallel parking on the opposite side, the endless round abouts….put it this way, if I were in the Olympics I would have Gold Medaled in the Decathlon. But like every stellar athlete, I had an Achilles Heal.

After a backtracking 20 miles because I forgot my credit card at the gas station, a minor Wertzflooper, we headed out towards Slane Castle. Down country roads right out of a Irish picture book. Beauty everywhere. In a typical Wertzian maneuver, I was looking at the forest and missed the trees. There was the road to Slane Castle in my rear view mirror. A simple three point turn. On a quiet country road. Who would have ever guessed such a little common maneuver could take down the giant. A David and Goliath moment. Who knew under the little grassy edge of the road would lurk such a foe…a 500 year old curb made of ancient stone. The new plastic cars are no match for 500 year old curbs. It seemed so insignificant a little bump at the time. But after an hour of driving things began to unravel…plastic parts began to rattle and fall off…weird noises began to get louder and louder.

I assured Mimi that all is well, no worries (she wasn’t buying it). But we made it back to our hotel and discovered it was a little worse than I thought. Fenders were misaligned. Plastic pieces were flopping around. Fiberglass was scratched. It wasn’t pretty.

So there I lay…on my back…repairing all the damage…painting the fender with my Sharpie…thank God we got a black car…we think it passed the inspection…its just what Wertz’s do. We Wertz’s are a long line of back-layers…artists in our own right…not the kind you will ever see hangin on a wall…that is unless we make a wrong turn in our rental cars. I’m such a Wertz!

What is a Limerick?

2008-07-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

There once was a Lassie named Mimi

Such a beauty she makes me drop to me knee-knees

There’s no doubt I’m her biggest fan

But I tell ya, she’d kill an ordinary man

I’d be pleased if Mimi would stay forever with me me

We have actually been to Limerick…Ireland that is. Very nice town. Big castle right on the river…big church…wait, that’s what every town in Ireland is like. Big castles, big churches. But Limerick is really nice. King John’s castle is now almost 1,000 years old. St Mary’s church is 900 years old…people still worship there every week.

Cork sucks though. That’s right. Cork sells it self by saying it is second only to Dublin in shopping…what’s so cool about that? Do you think in 200 years people will be saying…”Hey look, that’s the old shopping mall.” Me tinks not!!! (yes that’s how they say it). While we were there I watched as another business was closing it’s doors for the last time. They come and they go.

When you compare the two, it seems to me to be like the parable that Jesus taught about building your house on sand versus the rock.. Why waste your time going after things that are so temporal…like shopping for stuff. There must be things we could do with our time that will leave a lasting legacy…like King John did. Like the people who built a church expecting it to be there 900 years later

How To Make an Old Guy Feel “Young” Again

2008-07-04T01:16:00.000-07:00

I remember back so vividly, it was 1967 and I was 12 years old. My sister and I bought an album for like a $1.95…big money for us…and on that album was the song “Mr Soul” and the lead singer was this skinny scraggly looking Canadian dude (I had never seen one up to that point in my life…a Canadian that is) with a high squeaky voice singing “well hello Mr Soul I droped by to pick up a reason.” I still don’t know what that means…but I still remember thinking it must have meant something really important to Neil.

That album, “Buffalo Springfield Again”, pretty well set the course of my music taste for the last 41 years. I always want a song with a meaningful lyric, a crunchy electric guitar, and the very present distinct sound of a Martin acoustic guitar (which my wonderful wife bought me on my 50^th birthday).

So, fast forward 41 years. We are on the trip of a lifetime to see castles and the beautiful Irish landscape,meet wonderful people, and just experience all that is Irish (1/4 of my heritage), when we see that Neil Young is scheduled to play in Ireland while we’re here. Through the power of the Internet (thanks to Al Gore) we book two tickets the night before the concert.

The concert is north of Dublin at the Malahide Castle. A 16^th century castle, where as one concert goer explained, “there were no battles fought here…it’s really just a large house.” Whatever, it was older than our country.

So imagine our surprise, based on our late ticket purchase, when they hand us a blue wrist badge. Not knowing what it was we asked the castle expert behind us what it meant. “We are in the first 1,000 people” he said, “we get to go right up front.”

Whoa!!!! We were in the third or fourth row. So close I could see every freckle on the set up crew’s Irish face. How did I get so lucky, or blessed, or well…priviledged. To come all the way to Ireland to see a man who has been impacting me for so long, and then to be so close I could almost touch him (fortunately for me the bouncers were keeping whacko’s like me behind the fence).

So when Neil took the stage and his first song was a 19 minute jam of pure electric wailing and crunch…I was a goner. I was so taken back…so blown away. I had waited a long time for this moment…and it was worth every penny we over spent to get here (Dave Ramsey is spinning in his chair right now). Third song in…you guessed it…Mr Soul. I just dropped by to pick up a reason…a reason for expensive vacations…a reason for recreating…vacations are supposed to renew us and make us feel young again. To make us feel like 12 year olds with their whole lives ahead of them. To make them feel as if something as simple as a song, can change the course or direction of another. Wow…did I need to see Neil Young…what ever the cost…the benefits were priceless.

"It's Quite Lovely...Really"

2008-06-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Really...of all the things that are quite lovely about Ireland, the Blood Sausage was not one of them. But that's how the little Lass tried to sell it to us this morning for breakfast. You would think that is a quite lovely phrase lilting off the tongue of a sweet Irish lady...but it was actually said with a heavy Polish/Irish accent (there is a whole pocket of Poles working here in Ireland).

Well, speaking of breakfast, let me catch you up on actually being in Ireland (the only thing those two have in common is that we ate it in Ireland). But hey, we're troopers...and so we tried it (not lovely at all).

So we arrive after a 7 hour flight in Dublin. After factoring in the time difference, we got in at 8:30 AM...that is 6 hours ahead of Oregon. Our first job was to grab the luggage and head for the cars...yes we were renting a car. Now Mimi had asked me if I was so afraid of driving here. Pshaw!!!! No Way. I love to drive and I love challenges while doing so. As you may know, the whole fricken world drives on the right hand side of the road...except Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales...what's wrong with these people?

But I was up for the challenge anyway. the actual driving on the left isn't all that bad...it is the other aspects that you don't think of until you are face to face with a total bass ackwards vehicle. I told Mimi I couldn't find the door locks for the door...apparently they don't put them on the passenger side door. It's a safety prevention device so drunk americans don't get into their cars. But once I realized I was on the wrong side (and trust me I wasn't drunk) I did indeed find the door lock on the driver door...you just need to go around to the other side.

So once I actually got in the car I noticed that the stick shift did not move...well I mean it moved...but somehow I had to make it move with this thing called a left hand. The only thing that hand is good for is to carry my wedding ring.

But eventually I got the hang of it after going round and round in the rental car yard and was ready to hit the open road.

Now once you come face to face with oncoming traffic it makes you pucker up just a bit (if you know what I mean) and try to dodge the cars, trucks, and busses coming at you. It is just bizarre at best to see them on that side of the road.

then there are the mirrors. After nearly merging into a truck I realized I needed to look in a mirror on the right side of the car and not the left. It was about 30 minutes into the drive that I realized the rear view mirror was also attached on the left side. I would have never expected to find it there.

The only thing that is similar to driving in America is the simple hand gestures they seem to use. The one finger sticking out of the middle of a clenched fist means the same here as it does at home. It is usually accompanied by a frenzied horn blast here though. I couldn't quite make out the words they were saying, but it sounded like I was making their truck go off...or something like that.

Now don't get me wrong, after you learn to negotiate the wrong side of the road, the weird shifter, the crazy mirrors, and the pushy rude drivers, it looks...well...quite lovely...really.

What is going on around here?

2008-06-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so life is tough. I get it. I understand that everyone is hacked off because of gas shortages, food prices going through the roof, the escalating price of airplane peanuts, and of course the painful itch of psoriasis. But does everybody have to act like I just spit in their Ben and Jerry’s? I mean really. Where has people’s sense of humor gone?

So we’re at O’Hare airport in Chicago and go up to the desk to ask the woman employee standing there in an American Airlines uniform, if our plane was still on time and still at this gate (it had already been changed once on us). So right after I said excuse me, but could you…. she totally cuts me off and says to me with a nasty sneer… "I don’t have any answers.” I said I just wanted to know if our…”I don’t have any answers for you.” So I’m like, “well excuse me but I thought you were a… "you’ll have to wait for a desk helper.” Oh I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware that you were wearing a different uniform that says don’t ask me any questions.

So I goes over to another counter where someone who has a different uniform on and ask her the same question. Apparently she could only answer questions pertaining to gate K18…our flight was out of K16. Reluctantly, she tells me that it was at the same gate…but don’t blame her if it changes. Oh…okay.

Is this what has happened to the American worker? Don’t inconvenience me, don’t ask something that makes me have to work, don’t take me off of my course because all of you dopes who try to fly on our airline are a burden to me. What’s up with that? Don’t people know they are in the CUSTOMER SERVICE BUSINESS!!!!!!

I am so thankful for two of the flight attendants on our plane to Ireland. The one CZ (or Carolyn I think)...(but her husband calls her Squeezy) was so awesome. She had a great sense of humor, was helpful and kind, she loaned me her special Irish pen, and she was aware of the same things we are.

The other was also kind and helpful...(and she was in no way "chopped liver") but I regret I did not catch her name...so sorry...what's wrong with people today.

These people helped to restore my confidence that there may still be a glimmer of decency in the customer service industry.

Now I’m not saying that I wish things were the way they used to be, when people cared about the reputation of their company. Nor am I saying I wish we could go back to a time when people were concerned about their own personal reputation. Oh wait…maybe I am. I want to go back…. please take me back to those good old days.

Now that's a smile to take you back to some good old days.

What the whoohaw are we doing?

2008-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well the adventures of Mimi and Pa go international. That’s right we are heading to Dublin Ireland…the home of the Blarney Stone, lots of castles, Guinness beer, and of course the greatest rock band in the world…you know their name…come on…that’s right…Van Morrison and his Big Band. There is also that other little group with the singer named Bozo or something like that (actually Mimi and Pa love that group too).

So here I sit in the Big Jet with my Brown Eyed Girl. What a joy it is to be in a position to do something that is so outrageous. Actually, upon further review…it’s pretty stupid (please interject Silly if you are reading this to your kids). I mean really…we finally got summer in Oregon and we are headed to the only place ion earth more damp and cold than Oregon. We have seen countless people headed for warm places….what the whoohaw is wrong with us. And besides all that, the dollar is down to an all time low of just over 50 cents on the dollar in Euros (the official currency of Ireland), and less than 50 cents in Great Britain…stupid (please interject Silly if you are reading this to your kids...cause we don't use that word in front of the kids).

Well I guess since they just closed the doors it’s too late…I guess we’re going to Ireland.

Speaking of people who smartly went to someplace warm, today I got a chance to talk to Jacob. He took one of the more sensible vacations to Little Corn Island in Nicaragua. Cheap hotels, cheap food, and apparently cheap rum. I’M SURE IT WAS ONLY USED FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

But I had visions of him and Jack Sparrow running around the island looking for the rum. He made it home in one piece, despite the strike that caused him to have to rent a boat to make it back to the mainland. I’m sure he’ll be bloging about that adventure soon…NOT!

Mimi's convinced were in a "My Name Is Earl" show

2008-06-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Mimi said "Well we're here in Camden County...right over there is Earl and Randy...that's where Joy and Crabshack lives (it's actually Crab Man)...those trailers..thats where they live...right there" (there's a reason her nick name is Grandma WoWoo).

Actually, we have been working for the last three days in Camden New Jersey, helping a young family with their house. It's a really cool story...

Andy and Melissa are a young family who have been working realy hard to make it in very difficult circumstances. They live in Camden with their four sons and Melissa is expecting in about a month. She has a really good job and will be working right up to the moment of birth. Andy has to get up at 3 each morning for his job. With all of that going on it's tough on their boys.

Fortunately they have a great program called

Kid's Alley to go to in the summer to help them deal

(http://www.kidsalley.org)

So when Diane Reynolds went to a "Confident Kids" training (www.confidentkids.com), she met the director of Kids Alley. Well the two of them got together and next thing we knew we were heading to Camden to so how we could help them out. Some of our team worked with the kids and some of them were able to serve by helping some of the families involved in the program.

So Mimi and I and some of the others elected to work in the homes of the people (probably because we hate kids...well thats not exactly true...we love ours...and we love our grandkids...well and I guess we love some others too...okay...we can tolerate some kids for a little while). So we got to work on Andy and Melissa's house. They were able to buy their first home for them and their boys. It was a neat little house that they fixed up a bunch so far. But we helped by installing ceiling fans, fixing plaster, painting, you know all the stuff you do to an old house (we had lots of experience with that...ask Sarah and Jacob).

So we got all of our projects done today at 5 or so, and we headed into downtown Philly to look at some of the cool historical stuff there. We saw the

Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Christ's Church, the Carpenter's Hall, Penn's Landing, well we saw it all.

The only thing I didn't see...in Camden or Philly...was the statue of Earl...you know...Earl. I have tried to convince Mimi that Earl isn't real and that if they lived anywhere, it is probably somewhere near LA.

How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm....

2008-06-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!!!! New York City! (said in the style of the Pace Picante Sauce commercial). Who could ever imagine so many people from so many places. As Mimi and I walked down 7th Ave. we realized there were more people on that street at that time than in the entire town of McMinnville. When a couple of Bumpkins from Hooterville Oregon go walking in NYC it leaves you breathless.

So we got off the red eye from Portland and land at JFK, rent a car, and start looking for our hotel. After following our awesome instructions...in a language not even thought of in the Book of Acts...we were lost with no idea how to get to where we were going. Which on a normal day we would just roll with it. But after 13.5 minutes of sleep on the plane...it was not amusing. So we finally got some instructions and made it to the hotel. Fortunately they let us check in early and we got a little bit of sleep.

After a little rest we hit the road to the city. Took the Airtrain at JFK to the NYC Subway. Subway to 42nd St. and set about walking. We walked all over and saw so many things.

We ended up at Central Park Zoo. Who knew something so beautiful could sit in the middle of something so not. We had a really great dinner back at Rockefeller center and then back on the subway and to the hotel...all pretty great.

Today (Sunday) we went back in to do some things we couldn't do yesterday...like take Mimi to the little blue box store...that's right Tiffany's on 5th Ave. what happened to that crazy hippie chick I married?

Well after a little something for her and a little blue box for Chloe (we had to get her her first blue box before her dad did :)) we went into my store that gives you a cool little bag...it's called the Apple Store. This picture was a fun shot looking up through the staircase.

Then we headed to the ESB (Empire St Building). After shuffling through endless lines we made it to the top. What a view...not like a view of Yosemite...but spectacular in it's own way.

Well it was back home and pack up and head for Philly.

Finally....

2008-06-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well it is finally here. We are actually at the airport...waiting for our midnight flight to New York City. We had a wonderful dinner with the Butler fam, they dropped us off at PDX...and here we sit...waiting. When I consider all of the craziness of the past weeks trying to get ready to go, this moment seems almost unbelievable.

Yesterday (Thursday) was one of those days. I had so many things to do...all of those projects that needed to get done at the church before I could feel comfortable leaving...and of all things...my old faithful 76 Chevy truck..."The Silver Bullet"...breaks down coming out of Lowes. I push it off the road into the Paragon Motel parking lot, and as I am gazing under the hood, praying and asking for divine wisdom and healing, Gary strolls by and asks if I was having problems. I did say something sarcastic like "no I'm just meditating and looking for some shade." He was a guy staying at the hotel and happened to be a retired mechanic. He needed some work...and I needed some work done...sounded like a match made in heaven.

So after 5 hours...the Bullet was back on the road. Gary and his wife Cathy will hopefully be visiting the church and I got to scrunch all of those projects into an already scrunched day.

So here we sit...waiting. Waiting is a blessing. It is interesting how waiting can create such a vast array of emotions. You know when you are late for church and you inevitably get behind someone who has to slow down to look at the flowers on the side of the road...oh that brings out the emotion.

But to have had a crazy week, and nothing to do but sit and wait...it is a blessing. Really. Even the slowest line ever checking in and going through security was not a problem...just go with the flow.

So next stop... New York City.

Anticipation...Anxiety

2008-06-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Well it is coming down to the wire. We leave for the journey of a lifetime in just two days. On Friday night we leave for a week in Philadelphia working in the inner city. Then we leave for three weeks in Ireland, Scotland, and England for a vacation that is getting more and more expensive at every turn. Then we begin six weeks of sabbatical from my job to refresh, renew and to rite (I know there's supposed to be a w in front of that...but we have to have three points and they have to...boy I do need a break).

But with every adventure there is a certain amount of fear of the unknown associated with it. But for Pa right now, there is just the fear of forgetting to do something to get ready to go. The anxiety that while I am straining out a gnat (the details) I will miss the Camel (the obvious) sitting on my front porch. People ask me if I'm excited about the trip...NO...there is so much tension and stress I am going to need a month just to recover. The beauty is...for once in my life...I will have that opportunity.

(a stressed out Pa)

Mimi on the other hand is already done with work. Her job has been to take care of many of the details before we go. But all the while the realities of what it costs are actually piling up on her causing a great deal of anxiety (I think it was John Kennedy who said to count the costs before you build something...or maybe Jesus). The insurance, the hotels, the 8 dollar Starbucks...it is all too overwhelming.

But on Friday night...........

The Adventure begins.

It's a BIG day

2008-05-20T23:31:00.000-07:00

big day for Mimi and Pa today. today (may 20, 2008) our little grand daughter...who will remain nameless (untill they tell us the name)...was born into this world. she was 7lbs 9ozs, 20 inches long, born at 6:34 pm in the mcminnville oregon hospital. what a little beauty...she looks very much like her second oldest big brother Aidan. Jackson, the first oldest big brother looked like the proudest biggest brother as he just watched in amazement.

Sarah, our first born, is great and looked relieved and tired. this is the last for them (we'll see) as the being pregnant part is not so fun. but to have a little girl to corrupt at pottery barn made all the effort so worth it. Shawn will just need to hide the cash from them both. Mimi and Pa are thrilled.
the big question is how did two people like us deserve so rich a reward. to have a chance to influence another generation and have them influence us...its just a small part of the miracle.