I love the ocean during the off season.

When my sister, Kate, lived on the Oregon Coast, my favorite time to go visit her was during the winter months, when the tourists are all warm and snug at home.

So it made sense that February, (and also my 50th birthday), would be a wonderful time to go cruise around the San Juan Islands.

Roche Harbor

The actual lime kilns from the late 1800's at Roche Harbor, (which is now a tourist resort).
















A very old building (which has been preserved in a state park), shows the age of the use of these islands.

What a great way to celebrate the big 5-0!

My 50's are gonna be good.

"If we were meant to be naked, we’d have been born that way!"

I’ve had some questions about a previous post in which I mention being a member at a nudist resort a couple of years ago. People are always curious about nudism. Their first thought is usually, “Why would anybody want to do that?” So, I’d like to take the opportunity here to talk a little bit about nude recreation. (Sorry Mom.)

My adventure “up on the mountain” was a great experience, but I also discovered that it is the most misunderstood hobby, recreation form, or lifestyle in the world. I will try to explain, over the course of a few posts, why I was willing to try it, what I liked and disliked about it. I’ll also talk about why I think this form of recreation is healthy, natural, and even innocent and pure.

First a little background:

I got divorced a few years ago after almost 21 years of marriage. He was a great guy, but zero sense of adventure. I, on the other hand am very adventurous, so as time wore on, I felt more and more trapped, bored, and smothered. Once single, I vowed I was going to try as many new adventures as I possibly could.

So when I began dating a rather adventurous geologist named Bob, he asked me if I would be willing to try going up to a nudist resort with him. My first and immediate response was NO,(Actually, I think it was "Hell NO!"), then I thought, “ Wait, you wanted to try new things… at least consider it!”

So after a few months of gentle coaxing, (Bob never tried to force the issue), I agreed to try it one time, and only for a brief amount of time. Bob reassured me that the resort was ‘clothing optional’ so if I didn’t want to disrobe, I didn’t have to. That helped. He also explained that the area is private and fenced, and no PDA’s are allowed. (Public Displays of Affection) Couples can hold hands but that’s about it, pretty much any other touching is prohibited. They also do a background check on everyone who goes up there, to ensure that no 'creepy’ people join. And everyone carries a towel ALL the time, to sit on, or cover up with. So I felt comfortable that it was a very secure and safe environment. Plus I was with Bob, and I’ve never felt safer in my entire life, than when I was with Bob. So up the mountain to the Idaho Bare Backers resort we went! http://www.bareidaho.com/

I don’t mind saying I was nervous, but more so because I was afraid I’d do something really stupid like laugh at some of the naked bodies! As some of you know, I tend to have a bad habit of laughing at in-opportune times. But I didn’t laugh, because everyone I met was so kind, genuine and polite. And everyone always made good eye contact. It was AMAZING how quickly I felt comfortable. I never would have guessed it.

What a beautiful place! The resort sits among huge pine trees. It’s all very well kept. There’s a nice pool and sun deck. It has a cute little clubhouse, a dance floor, and a hot tub. There is volleyball, and horseshoe pits, a community fire pit and beautiful lawn and BBQ area. (And yes, they ALWAYS wear aprons when BBQing or frying bacon. …grin,…) They also have camping spots for tents and trailers.

Over the course of the summer, Bob and I went up there almost every weekend. (There was no AC at our little shack on the hill, so that pool was darned nice!) I met some wonderful people, who I know will be lifelong friends. But the best thing I got out of this new experience, (besides the great tan!), was that I learned that I can be comfortable in my own skin. Real beauty truly does indeed come from within.

(For more info see AANR, the American Association for Nude Recreation. http://www.aanr.com/top_experience.html )

My Koby Baby...

Throughout my daughter Lisa's pregnancy, she and I have both noticed that it's difficult to find dolls, icons, pictures, etc. of babies "with brown faces", as we call them. (That's what Lisa called her first African American playmate, "that little girl with the brown face.") But at Babies R Us , she got a package of samples when she registered, and it came in a box that had a picture of a baby "with a brown face on it". Lisa grinned and said, "My Koby is gonna be this cute!" She's hung on to the box, mostly because of the picture on it.

Well, a few weeks ago she came home with some tiny little overalls, and she fussed over how cute they were. So the first chance I got, I went in, and laid them out on her bed with a cute little shirt under it. I added some little pink shoes from Lisa's collection, and then realized my little manequin needed a face, so I grabbed the little box, and added a hat to it. Suddenly, I'd created Koby! When Lisa saw "my Koby baby" on her bed, she burst out laughing, and absolutely LOVED it. She took a picture which she emailed to several of her friends.

So how cute is our little Koby!!!

Well, if it works to get a reaction once, it will work twice, right? So a few days later, I dug into Lisa's clothing collection again, and made another Koby baby. I got a little more creative this time, adding props and a pose.
This Koby received a great squeal of glee and more giggles and laughter.

So a couple of days ago, I made this Koby for Lisa.
Notice how she's holding the frog around his neck, just the way a little kid really would.

Isn't our little Koby baby gonna be adorable????
I think Lisa now just WAITS to find the next Koby baby on her bed.
We do manage to entertain each other and have fun together!

I can't wait for Koby to come!!!

Remaking America – Paying it Forward

A Little Brunette Angel named Tiffany.

Paying it forward can work both ways… and the other day at work, someone did something very sweet for me.

I’ve had this cold from hell for the past two weeks, and last Saturday at work, as the day wore on, I was really feeling yuky, and my voice was shot. I had a 21 year old girl named Tiffany working with me. Tiffany is your typical bubbly, Christian girl. She even has the ponytail that sways from side to side because of her enthusiastic walk. She’s just too cute. Well, for some strange reason, she really likes me and enjoys working during my shifts. So when she realized how awful I felt, she looked at me with genuine concern, and asked if she could pray for me. Well, I was sort of caught off guard, because I don’t exactly hear that every day. So I said “Uh, sure, if you’d like to. That would be nice.” I figured she'd wander off and pray for me, but no, instead she came over and stood behind my chair and put her hands on my shoulders, and said a very nice little prayer. Basically, she asked her "Heavenly Father" to touch my body and give it strength. She said a few other things about liking me, and wanting me to feel better and me being a good person. Then she said “Amen”, and bee-bopped out onto the sales floor, her brunette ponytail swaying as she went.

I wouldn’t dream of telling her that I’m a Darwinian, and that I don’t believe any of the same things she does. But regardless of what I do or do not believe,… I believe that was one of the sweetest, - purest – gestures anyone has made toward me in a long, long time.
And as we walked out to our cars together after work, I told her so.

P.S. (If I had awakened the next day, cured,.. I might have been a changed woman! LOL!)

Remaking America – Paying it Forward

The other day, I was at the doctors office sitting in the waiting room. A man in his 50’s wheeled in a very frail looking elderly lady, and parked her wheel-chair across the room from me. He took her coat off and laid it in her lap. He spoke loudly into her ear and told her the nurse would be out to get her in a few minutes. He then walked out the door and left in his vehicle.

I looked at her. She looked so tiny and helpless in that wheel-chair. She just stared down into her lap. I have no idea how old she was, probably in her 80’s or 90’s. She was dressed nicely and her hair was done. Her purse hung off the back handle of the wheel-chair. I went back to reading my magazine.

After a short while, a slight movement caught my eye. I looked up and the tiny lady was tugging at the coat that lay across her lap. It probably weighed as much as she did. I could tell she was trying to pull it up for warmth, but she was so weak she was not able to do so.

I walked over and kind of squatted down in front of her so that I would be at eye level for her. I asked her if I could help her with her coat. She clearly couldn’t hear me, so I stood up, and spoke clearly and slowly into her ear. I asked again if I could help her. She nodded slowly but didn’t speak. I asked her if she wanted to put her coat on. She nodded again. I took her coat and slipped her tiny hand into the sleeve, passed the coat around her back and helped her get her other hand into the other sleeve. I smoothed the coat down behind her back so that it wasn’t lumpy. I pulled it together in front, and asked if she wanted it buttoned. She slowly shook her head to mean no. I smiled at her, and then went back to my seat and my magazine.

I couldn’t help but wonder why that man had left her there alone, why could he have not stayed with her? It was only a few minutes later when the nurse came out to collect her. As the nurse started to wheel her away, she turned her little head toward me and gave me a fragile smile and nod. I beamed.

My birthday is coming, time to take a look at my bucket list...

I am about to turn 50 years old. Half a century. WOW!
But I am totally cool with it, because, I have gotten to do sooo much in the past few years that I never dreamed I would. I now know that I CAN do such things, and my bucket list is entirely possible.

These things on my bucket list I have not yet done, but below that is another list...

My Bucket List:

1. I am going to visit at least one country that is NOT on this continent.
2. I am going to fly, meaning sky diving or hang gliding - or AT LEAST para-sailing.
3. I am going to scuba dive.
4. I'm going to attempt to summit at least one glaciated mountain peak.
5. I'm going to South or Cental America to photograph humming birds.
(This one was actually on Dad's list, but I'm gonna do it for him.)
6. I am going to sail a sailboat on the ocean.
7. I'm going to see an orca in the 'wild'.

Now, here is the second list.
These things were not on my bucket list, they are just a list of things that I have gotten to do in the last 3 years that, just 4 years ago, I would have never dreamed I’d ever do. But I've done 'em!

1. Sail a sailboat on the Columbia River.
2. Live in Portland, OR.
3. Be a member at a nudist resort – it was great, and I learned that I can be comfortable in my own skin.
4. Go to a live NFL football game.
5. Date a millionaire.
6. Eat lamb, duck, tomato soup, asparagus, cous cous, eggplant, salmon, and lots of other foods that I have never touched.
7. Own my own motorcycle.
8. Eat dinner on the roof of a building while watching the sun set on the Oregon Coast.
9. Drink wine that cost $200 per bottle – it was pretty good.
10. Live in a place without power or running water - I LOVED it!
11. Feel my granddaughter kick and squirm inside my daughters round tummy.
12. Eat dinner on a high-rise balcony over looking downtown Portland.
13. Sit in a remote and beautiful hot springs on a cold snowy day, enjoying wine, cheese and crackers.
14. Be flown to southern California for a mini vacation.
15. Become a liberal nature-hugging recycle natzi. (Kemit was wrong, really, "it is easy being green.")
16. Actually put my hand on a Greek relic that was over 3,000 years old.
17. Cross country ski.

Not bad for 3 short years. Just imagine what that list will look like 3 years from now!

Life is goooood.

It's February!

January is gone for another whole year!!!