California Journey...

A week ago, I began the drive to California, four objectives in mind:

1. I'd get out of West Linn and find better weather. Maybe play some selfish golf while my Oregonian friends endured an early winter.

2. Watch Nephew Dalton play some quarterback, attend a Braves game. Couldn't remember when I'd worn the Lompoc blue and white last.

3. Visit family, show them I'm healthy.

4. Meet up with Jillian, she was to fly down this Thursday. I'd meet her on the way north, do some winetasting, help her enjoy objective number 1.

Thus far, results have been pretty good. Weather hasn't really dropped below 70 all week. Got to play some golf with my Dad, who'd never been the local course he helped to build with his tractors back in the day. He got to see it with grass under his feet for the first time. Dalton's team lost, but he played well and the rest of the cousins are tickled he's getting some playing time. Nate, especially, is loving the emergence of a quarterback that weighs about what he weighed as a junior at West Linn.

The family has been wonderful. Got to see some older friends at the meeting of the Valley Club on Monday night. BBQ times in backyards. I feel great, everyone thinks I look fine.

Judy is sick. No trip to Napa, she can't travel. Needs to stay home and recuperate. So objective 4 is now revised to a combination of 3-B and 2-B. I'll watch Dalton play again tomorrow, stay with Carrie and Steve a couple more nights, and get to see Nephew Phillip who's flying in for a bachelor party and Dalton's home game.

Journeys can take some odd twists and turns...this one is going really well. Home to Portland this weekend, to enjoy what the Oregonian is calling the biggest storm of the season.

Oh...and somewhere in there the Ducks smacked the USC Trojans around Autzen...on national TV. People down here didn't know that Oregon could put so many points on the board. Apparently, they didn't get the Washington or Cal game on TV here...amazing!