Vacay, a Chronicle (Part one, Day one)

This will be a series of posts, likely out of order chronologically. This current draft is being written during a "recharge" period. When you're as tied to technology as Jilian and I are, you need to take stops to recharge your various electronic devices including, but not limited to: Digital Camera, Blackberry (go-to phone including the always useful Google Maps app), and laptop. We're definitely roughing it.

I digress. First off, to address the topic change on this blog...it started as a chronicle of my attempts to get and stay fit. Rest assured this is still an ongoing story and effort I will be commenting on, but I figured, why not expand the topic to include life and living? Since readers of this blog consist of my immediate family plus a few close friends, it'll let me keep writing.

So, the topic at hand: vacation. The title is a work reference, for some reason we like to shorten words in Teach For America and "vacation" is no exception. Shortening it to "vacay" gets rid of the unnecessary third syllable. I do the same thing with the word "totally" though it's extremely economical at just one syllable, "totes." Both syllable saving adaptations annoy Jilian and any English language purist to no end.

Leg One:

Jilian and I, mainly at the urging of my manager who insisted I use my vacation days while I can (thanks man!) are in the middle of a multi-pronged "Oregon Experience" trip with a particular focus on the Coast. We started by visiting my folks and Aunt Annie in the Tri-Cities for an Elton John concert. It was epic. It started with a fantastic meal from Aunt Annie's endless supply of stuff in her freezer and vacuum sealed for later consumption. The halibut and steak tasted fresh, which makes me want to purchase a vacuum sealer (no freezer burn AND good quality? Yes please). The next morning, Dad, Jilian, and I went to the Columbia at a beach near Richland. It was great to go swimming, although I spent about 15 minutes waiting in the water while Dad had made two trips in and out of the water already (Dad's a fish). We then made our way for Yakima, the "Palm Springs of Washington." Yakima has sort of the "poor stepchild" status in Washington State. While Tacoma and Spokane feel a similar pain, Yakima gets the worst rap due to a previously stagnant economy, migrant work force, and dry, desert-like location. Every time I drive by, I compare it with Walla Walla and think that Yakima would be much better with a revitalized downtown and a small, liberal arts college. Liberal arts colleges make every community a better place because they spawn unique coffee shops and college kids who think they know everything who will then blog affectionately about the "good old days" in their former college town.

 

Elton usually plays in sold-out arenas, so his choice of Yakima, Washington, as a venue was pretty unreal. He packed the Yakima "Sundome" to capacity, and there was not a bad seat in the house. For a 63 year old, Elton rocked it for 2 1/2 hours. Jilian and I were one of probably 20 "20 somethings" (it's great that we have a category!) at the concert. Most people to our immediate front, back, and left and right were in their 50s or 60s and grooving out. I'm going to buy "Mad Man Across the Water" as soon as I get home.

With high spirits, we packed Yota, added the two lawn chairs Mom and Dad let us borrow (or have? They're very comfortable Mom) and we left around 11 AM for Crater Lake. Stay tuned.