Cooking in Baker City...

This is the week, Oregon is the place. For many years, the highlight of golf season was an annual trip to Palm Desert to play in the Wild Turkey Invitational. That lengthy journey, expense and annualized rite simply became too much a few years ago. Though I miss hanging out with some of the guys, it has easily been replaced by the Baker City Miners' Jubilee. Many of the same Lompoc Fubarians are in attendance--though we can't convince Bobby Kranseler to venture north--and there are only two objectives. Playing golf all day on an easy course, and having fun the rest of the time.

I know this will sound oddly familiar, but some of that fun includes taking naps when we feel like it. Sitting by the pool IF we feel like it. Hanging out at the street dance, watching young kids lie about their ages. They've stood outside the fence for so many years and it is simply time for them to learn what it is like inside. Watching 250 cowboys and cowgirls dance to rap music.

Some readers may recall that partner Bill Schlager scored an ace in Baker last year, on our way towards "T1" as they say on the Golf Channel. We tied for first place out of dozens of teams, we heard something like 78. What that means this year is Billy and I just get to rest on our laurels. If we take too much of their local money, they'll not be happy. If we play badly, there is always the FUN to anticipate. If we play like we normally do, we'll post some good scores, enjoy hydrating ourselves, and laugh more than anyone ought to be allowed.

But is golf with the guys all there is? Let's see...in the past week:

Jillian and I had a terrific time (on a golf course) in a tournament at her old country club. We were graciously invited by friends who've now decided I'm a keeper after ten years, and had a ball. Somehow I'd misplaced a bottle of wine into my golf bag. It didn't take long to share that with the ladies, they seemed to enjoy it tremendously. The format included one THROW per hole, that didn't count towards a score. So if we were in trouble, we simply tossed it out of the trouble spot and into a better posistion. (I know, to some that may sound like the Wild Turkey, but that's another story entirely.) We took home more cash from the raffle than the prize money offered in the tournament, and we really did have a good time with our hosts, Judy and Al Zell. It was nice to be invited, and delightful to play in such a fun format.

We went to two July 4 parties, both required my big Lompoc football parka. The weather didn't turn summer-ish until the golf on the Fifth with Judy, but we still had a good time. Young Caleb, playing first base, won the smacktalk contest with a quick "Come ON, Catch....you coulda had that one" as I was falling to avoid the driveway and certain broken bones. Ended up with some sort of muscle pull, instead, right at the wrong time of the golf season....but the season would have ended early had I landed on the nearby driveway. I already have have a lame excuse about a broken arm, I didn't need another about a cracked kneecap.

The blueberries are in. Got to share dinner with Jon and Nancy after my infusion day, she LOVES my blueberries. Judy is busy organizing harvest parties for this weekend, since it is a "guy trip" to Baker.

Infusion Day, Friday last, went very well. Low key and fast--90 minutes. When I mentioned that I felt a little like I did when I had mono in college...low grade throat infection, lack of energy, etc...we decided to take a urine sample. (Skip this if you want...) Perhaps, to be polite, I should just mention that I have cranberry juice on my diet...and some new medicines in the cabinet. Let's hope that we chase those little demons faster than we're getting to the cancer cells, I do NOT want to watch the The Green Mile.

More to report after Baker. I will have actual houseguests this week, as Glover flies through Portland and drives over with me...and then shortly after we return my parents arrive on their way to Montana. Carrie Ellen is rumored to be on her way up in early August, golf season comes to an end on Labor Day, with the annual Lompoc HS fundraiser. THEN we start talking about Chile and traveling.

Life is good....and involves more than golf. More non-golf in future editions, when we are done cooking in Baker....!