Hello Sean, I'm glad you are back from your trips and glad you had an wonderful time Welcome back home. Addddison
O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS ----- Original Message ----- From: Sean Ray To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 10:20 PM Subject: {dbilg} Back from trip Hi all, We have just come back from our trip. It was quite fun I have put my comments into the schedule and so I hope you enjoy reading it. I hope your Memorial weekend was a good one. Read below. You'll hear about Oral Hull Foundation for the blind and all that it tries to do for its guests and members. This was a retreat for adults. I think that the executive director, Jeff, did a very good job putting this all together. Memorial Day Weekend Schedule Friday, May 22 We arrived at about 10:00Am We went to the store, but before arriving we had to get up with the roosters to get our six O'clock tri-met Lift Bus. It was very early in the morning. So I was sleepy for most of Friday. We went shopping and ate a lunch at Burger King. We went to Fred Meyers. It was a lot of fun and I bought some yarn there too. We bought TV dinners and also bought the box lunch and continental breakfast. Yum. We hung out after coming back for awhile I unpacked and made my headboard nice and cluttered. The way I like it. (smiles) Later, some people from Seattle Washington came down the day before it was a lot of fun. They did not know about the dinner on their own and so received hotdogs for their dinner. 6:00 Dinner on your own 7:30 Enjoy a friendly game of team trivia in the Lodge that was a lot of fun. We played outside instead as it was a nice evening. It was kind of cold, but it was enjoyable. Todd did not play the game. He wanted a scenic recording. Well, It didn't turn out as the microphones weren't a good match for the unit. He put in an appearance later and watched us all play. the way the game was done, it was very fun. 9:00-10:00 Take a dip in our indoor heated pool. We went swimming earlier that day and also went swimming later that evening with time in the spa. Oh it felt wonderful. Saturday, May 23 8:30 Continental breakfast ($5) It was a nice meal but simple with boiled eggs hot and cold serial and bagels and fruit. Very yummy breakfast 11:00 bus arrives Portland the Portland people came and that made the crowd even bigger. It was very nice to see old friends again. 12:00 bus arrives Seattle the remainder of the people from Seattle came and what a large bunch of attendees we had. It was a lot of fun. Everyone was finding rooms and getting settled in for the fun filled weekend to be had by all. 12:30 box lunch ($5) this was a good turkey and cream cheese sandwich with chips, fruit, and yummy cookies. 12:45 fire safety discussion, orientation for newcomers. I didn't attend that and neither did Todd. We were like, "Not that again." 1:15-2:15 Option 1 Drumming workshop. Todd and I went to that one and we loved it. We always go for the drum workshops and drum circles. It was so much darn fun. We played with drums, shakers, and bells. It was a blast. Find out what drumming is all about. Join Jane McIver in the Lodge for this hands-on workshop. 1:15-4:00 Option 2 Explore the Wildwood Trail in the Mount Hood National Forest. We did not do that but have done it several times before and that is also very fun. I wished that they had not put these two choices together. GRRR. Oh well. Naturalist Enid Briggs will take you on a one mile loop of gravel, an elevated boardwalk and paved foot paths that cross the Salmon River. The Wildwood Trail is known for old growth timber, songbirds, waterfowl and turtles. 2:30-4:45 Open swim. Now I did this one as by then Todd had been off doing something else with another camper and then called away to do yucky dishes. That's how he was able to get his fair paid. He had to do the meal's prep and after dishes. Wow! That's not my thing. He doesn't mind it. He always talks about how he did after each dishes session. I'm just so not into the touching and getting the food on me from eaten off plates, etc. Yuck! 4:00-5:00 Astronomer Michael Orlove of the Palmquist Road Observatory returns to Oral Hull for a discussion on the moon. I'm not really fond of that so I didn't go. I did some knitting and talked with friends instead. I can always find trouble to get into. Meet in the Lodge. 5:00-5:30 Get down and dirty with Jim Wilhite, artistic director of the Sandy Actors Theatre. Jim will provide us with background information on Dirty Work at the Crossroads". This classic musical melodrama, by Bill Johnson, is ideal for blind and visually impaired people. Todd and I attended this one. This was a fun time. He came and talked to us about how we were going to go see the set on the stage, meet the actors and actresses. it was so much fun. We sang songs, and heard him and his one actor that came with him talk about what a mellow drama is. It was a good time. According to Jim, "language tells the story at every turn". 6:00 Dinner We had a picnic with Hamburgers, potato salad, chips, and ice-cream that was trying to melt. The diabetic ice-cream was a mess! Yuck! Someone was describing to me how the ice-cream was being served and dripping off the spoon. Ah well, that's picnicking at its best. the dinner was great as Becky, the cook always makes it good. 8:00 Meet recording artist Lee Rice of Sunflower Music for a performance in the Rainbow Lodge. Lee has previously opened for Bonnie Raitt and other top name entertainers. Lee will be accompanied by saxophone player Zachariahs Angelos. This was truly an awesome event. I had a wonderful time listening to the singing and excellent playing of the instruments. Lee is wonderful on the piano and Zach is wonderful on the sax. We opted not to do that swim but we had a jam session afterwards. It wasn't a big session but it was fun. It kind of never really got its groove and we were done by about 10:30 . We hung out in the dorms and visited those who were still up. It was so much fun. 9:30 Moonlight swim in the pool 10:00 Quiet hours begin Sunday, May 24 7:15 early bird walk with Briggs, meet at the fountain in the O'Keefe garden. The two of us did not go on this walk as we had over slept and we needed to take care of river, dress and all that good stuff. 8:30 breakfast We had pancakes, Sausage and fruit it was very good. 9:15 self-led, non denominational church service in Rainbow Lodge. the guests and members had a fun time with that. We sang songs and did a short time of prayer. I had those who knew the hymns and old standards do the singing this time. they felt that it would be best since most of the people would probably be more familiar with the hymns. So, it was just okay for me as I didn't know all the hymns. It was pretty to listen to. When a song was playing and I was trying to play along on the penny whistles, someone jerked my hand away from my instrument and pulled me into a standing position. I was shocked by that one. the person next to me said,"We couldn't sit and sing Stand up for Jesus, Could we?" I could have. (smirk.) 10:00 Singing in "rounds" with Jane. Now this was fun. Once everyone got their music together then we had a good time singing. We even sang for the talent show that night. 11:30-3:30 Leave for a hands on guided tour of Timberline Lodge (box lunch provided, weather dependent) We didn't do this one because I had been on the tour before. I wanted to go swimming instead. So I went swimming and also just put some extra time in on knitting my poncho. It was a lot of fun. Again, I talked with friends and old acquaintances. 12:00 Lunch. This was another bag lunch and we had sandwiches again. It was a lot of fun. People could choose to eat outside and where ever they wanted. 1:00 Show down contest 2:00-4:00 Open swim and hot tub 4:30 Early dinner that turned out to be an English tea which was a light dinner. It was very interesting with tiny finger sandwiches and the tea. 5:00 Leave for Sandy Actors Theatre where you will get a back stage tour, meet the actors, and experience "Dirty Work at the Crossroads". this was a wonderful experience meeting the performers. three of us were each assigned to one actor and we all went around touching the different fixtures on the set. We saw the little cabin with it's real door. We saw the barn and the River bed. The river bank was painted scenery. It was really fun. 6:00-8:00 Dirty Work at the Crossroad That was a very wonderful play. Todd and I had so much fun. it was neat clapping and cheering for the good guys, Saying Ah for the maiden, and booing at the villain. Oh what fun. The villain got his in the end. I really enjoyed it. Some people went back early as it was too hot. Wow! I didn't even realize it was hot in there as I was so entranced by what was happening on stage. the French maid read all her signs she held up for the audience. that was wonderful! 9:00 Express yourself at the Oral Hull talent show, Jane McIver, coordinator. Now this is where the schedule changes a little. We had a wonderful show and then when we were done went back to Oral Hull where we had a formal late dinner. after the meal, we had the talent show where I sang accapella, the Heart of Worship, as Todd was doing dishes. He didn't get to occompany me this time. I told everyone I was a big girl and could do it on my own. As one of the main people from the kitchen said that Todd could come, I just started singing. I didn't want him to keep getting interrupted and make them think that they didn't have good help because I kept needing Todd for this and that. He did go to the theator with me instead of doing the dishes for the Tea, so it was only fair that it happened this way. For the formal dinner, we had lemon grass chicken, Sesame veggies, and neat roasted potatoes. 10:30 Late night tea in Rainbow Lodge. We did not have the Tea but there was swimming and then quiet hours. Oh I don't know where I would have put anymore food! Wow everything was so good, but a late night tea would have been too much. I'm glad they opted not to do this. I don't think we went swimming for this time either, but we did go for the afternoon swim. It was a lot of fun. Monday, May 25 7:15 Early Bird walk. We didn't go again. Once in awhile we make this walk. It's a miracle when this happens. 8:30 Breakfast and weekend evaluation this breakfast was Breakfast burritos and fruit and muffins. 9:30 Bus departs for Seattle After our friends from Seattle had gone, Lee and her friend Zach held an informal mini concert. We ate lunch and packed. We hung out and talked with Lee and Zach until they left. Then, it was time for us to leave for our bus had come. 12:30 Box lunch 2:45 Bus departs Portland We got off at Karl's Junior. We had a dinner and then we took the long lift ride home. We were tired. Also that morning after the Seattle group left, we had another informal drum circle. I ended up getting some sun on my arms and face. It was a bad burn in my arms but it was so much fun being out there. My arms feel a little warm today. I had to take aspirin and many rubs of allovera. Anyway, we had a lot of fun and I thought I would share it all with you. River had himself a good time too. I got closer with him at the Memorial Weekend at Oral Hull. . He did well with the dog distraction of a near pet. when I went shopping and when the both of us went to the theater, I did not take River. Becky was wonderful about watching him. When we were at the store, she took him for a walk and when I returned from the store, Becky told me about how River did well and she said he was a good boy. It makes me feel so proud of him. And, today, we received our birds. Precious Gandalf was here with me. he was skinnier than I would have liked, but he was here in living color. Oh I was so glad to see My baby Gandalf. He wasn't alway so glad to see me. He started to peck me and test me, but soon afterwards, he was cuddling me. Ah. Now, I'm at peace and everything is complete. Ganners still feels warmer than I like but We'll just keep praying for him and making sure he stays healthy. Cody is just as onry as ever and princess was her sweet self. After a fun filled weekend, our happy little family is together again. River didn't have a sore neck while at camp but has a sore neck again when we got home. If that keeps up then I will take him to the vet on the first. Blessings, Sean skype: musicmaker68 windows live messenger [email protected] Email my verizon account only please. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
