Great times with Rachel

Got Rachel to the airport at 4:30 this am and just checked SW airlines and she that she departed Portland on time. She has a 2 hour layover in Denver and arrives at Midway at 3:00 Chicago time. Jim has all the info down pat for picking her, along with Lana and her crew and driving them home.
Unfortunately, we did not get to spend much time with Lana. Her entire family lives here in Portland, so naturally she wanted to spend her time with them, especially with the recent passing of her Father. I was glad that she was able to bring her 91 year old Mother to the condo for 3-4 days.
I absolutely loved having Rachel here. IT was so nice to have some one from the family visit me. As much as I love coming home to Holland, it sure wasa great time, having some one come to see me. I know you will not believe this but I did not get a one picture....Rachel took pictures and I am sure will post them on her updated blog when she returns home.
After "bragging" on Facebook for the last 4 weeks about "how great the weather was in Portland....blue skies and sun....", the weather when she was here was pitiful. Rain almost every day....what can I say??? I hope the rainy weather that has been here does not get to Holland to ruin Tulip time.
Since we can do nothing about the weather, we had a great time anyway. Everyone knows how low-key Rachel is and happy to do anything tht is suggested, so we had really good time eating out, shopping the outlet malls and meeting a few of my good friends here in Portland/beach. Doug and Val came over for dinner here on Sunday and yesterday we went to pick up Deanna after a medical procedure and had lunch with her. We were able to make it to the Saturday farmer's market and the Portland Market, (arts and crafts) on Saturday even though we missed a "blow-out storm", complete with thunder and lighting by a few minutes as we were on the train going back to our car. It is a big, big deal to have thunder and lightening here in Portland so of course it was all over the news that night.
Sunday we went to see a theater production called "Zoo-Zoo", 5 actors doing short vingettes all of different animals...anteater, hippo, bears, frogs, penguins. IT was fun to see something totally different. There were a lot of kids in the audience that really enjoyed it. We thought of Macey and Kelsey...
Monday night we went to a late night "Happy hour" and then to the "Candlelight" bar where they have good music 7 days a week. Mostly blues...and some up tempo funk. It is a really small place, never a cover charge and always great music. Even on a Monday the place was packed and an African American couple let us sit at thier table with them as there was no place to sit. Very typical Portland. On the way out I saw La Marcus Aldrige sitting by himself in the back booth. HE is a Portland Trail Blazer starter, so since I guess Portland is out of the play-offs, he was there trying to be "in-cognito" but I saw him and he gave me the nod of his head and a smile. Just read in today's paper that he will play USA basketball this summer to maybe play in the 2012 summer olympics in London.
Funny thing, the band was Kellen Smith and the fam.....Dan had a friend back home with that name. Rachel bought one of thier CD's, it would really be a trip if it was the same kid.
Of course I will miss Rachel's company, but Sheba is in a MAJOR FUNK. She knew last night something was "up"....and is very sad this morning with Rachel being gone. She is now used to those 6 or 7 am walks that Rachel took her on every day. She even slept right by Rachel's bed the time we were at the beach, and one day did not even let her get her coffee before she was up nudging Rachel to take her out for a walk on th ebeach. She is one spoiled Diva....she is also suffering from "Happy Tail" again, a result of me shutting the door on her tail at the condo. I am glad that Rachel did not call protective services on me. So....I have attempted to wrap it for the last week, the first time it stayed on until we unwrapped it on Sat night. I say "we" because as I tried to get the tape off, she started crying like mad and Rachel quick jumped up pet her head and distract her which really worked or I would not have been able to get it off. SHe has a really tender spot in th emiddle of her tail from a previous happy tail disaster. Since then I have tried different methods to no avail. It has to be tight and secure enough to stay on her skinny tail, but if it is too tight I can't get it off and if it is too loose it will not stay on. I am hoping the Chad can engineer a new idea I have involving foam PVC protective tubing, along with a finger splint, gauze and tape....Rachel has the total idea of what it needs to be like so I am am hoping to get this product perfected. It would be a lot easier on both Sheba and I, not to mention a great money-maker as greys are so susceptable to this syndrome and many folks bring thier greyhounds to the vet every 4-5 days to get it wrapped, taken off, and re-wrapped....so there is a need and money to be made.
Bubba comes back to me on Saturday so I will have to have a good fix on her tail before he returns.
I go see the cardio specialist tomorrow regarding my abnormal cardiogram. Knee is better but still sore.
I sure am enjoying the Tulip time pictures and blogs and hope you guys have great weather. Dan graduates from MSU on Saturday...congrats to him.
Well I sure have enjoyed the last 10 days, praying for Rachel's safe return and hopes for more vists from family in the future....
I am sure Rach will post pictures once she gets home and settles in...she has to work again tomorrow.
Thanks for coming to see me Rach. I love you AND thanks FOR EVERYTHING