BILL AND JILL'S BACK YARD INVADED, OCCUPIED

Last week, while watering plants, Jill's head was buzzed a few times by a daring Rufus hummingbird.


Jill remembered that we have some old feeders, so she made some nectar, filled the feeder and hung it on the branch of the apple tree closest to the back sliding glass door for views.

It took less than one day for our back yard to become Grand Central Station for several hummingbirds, at least three of which are in the backyard regularly. There's probably more if they'd slow down and let us count them. They fly all around the apple tree, sit on a branch, sit and guzzle nectar from the feeder, sit and rest on the tomato plant stakes, or generally fly all around in pretty much any possible direction playing and chasing each other. They're a lot of fun to watch.

But now it seems they've staked our back yard as theirs and they aren't shy about letting you know it. Anytime either of us go out in the back to start the grill, water plants or do whatever, they fly all around and twitter as if we've really put them out and don't belong in their yard. In fact, they have no qualms about buzzing not too far from your head rather bravely to let you know who's boss. They even buzz right up to the back screen door in front of the cats just to taunt them. You gotta love that.

Either way, it's been a fun addition to the back yard.. more mouths to feed, but rather cheaply!

JILL "RETRIEVES" STOLEN CAR

Yesterday, Jill had to walk around an older compact car, running with no one in it, parked right in front of our mailbox. Jill thought nothing of it at first, but then the neighbors noticed its rather peculiar circumstance. Jill called the cops and, indeed, the car was stolen and just dumped off on our street while still running.

Jill's journalism training kicked in and she started querying the policeman about the theft. It turns out the car was stolen from Beavertron Beaverton and dumped off in our neighborhood unceremoniously and inexplicably. The cop then said that our neighborhood has a great reputation and that they were shocked something like this happened here.

So, not only did Jill do her civic duty, but she also confirmed what we knew all along: we have a very safe, nice neighborhood. If only Jill would learn to hotwire German cars.

DAD HEADED TO RUSK COUNTY, TEXAS

Dad called and reported that instead of working in Rock Springs, Wyoming, he's headed to Rusk County, Texas, not far from the Lousiana border, to drill some wells.

Why there's only 1,381 miles between the two places.. Nearly 23 hours behind the wheel of his Blazer. Mere Child's Play

So, I've enlisted the internet to assist him find things to do and attractions to visit while he's there in the way ONLY the internet can do it. FYI, Henderson is the County seat, but in true Texas fashion, the town named "Rusk" is NOT in Rusk County. The following information is courtesy of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce website previously linked.

-->There's the New London Museum & Team Room in New London. Read this charming description, and then look forward to a nice cup of Earl Gray after the tour:

On March 18, 1937, a massive explosion destroyed the New London Junior-Senior High School, instantly killing an estimated 296 students and teachers. The subsequent deaths of victims from injuries sustained that day brought the final death count to 311 . The explosion was blamed on a natural gas leak beneath the school building. Within weeks of the disaster, the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring an odor to be added to natural gas, which previously was odorless, and therefore, undetectable. See the dedicated workers and volunteers searching for survivors. See a teacher’s grade book, a twisted desk, Red Cross records and worldwide newspaper headlines. Listen close as one of the survivors takes you on a tour and tells you an unforgettable story.

Yowza, how's that for quaint? Even Waco hasn't opened up a similar museum for the Branch Davidians carnage AND tea house. Now we know who to thank for the lovely formaldehyde aroma of natural gas: some nincompoop rough neck from New London. Cautionary tale for natural gas industry, or for the educational system in Texas? I report, you decide.

-->The Gaston Museum, described below:
The mission of the Gaston Museum is to preserve the history and heritage of the 90 square mile area of the East Texas Oil Field once known as the Gaston Independent School District (the largest rural school district in the world at the time). One of the richest school districts in the 1930’s, the majority of its students were children of the oil field workers. It is their lives that are chronicled at the Museum. The present restored and furnished facility, called the White Complex, contains White’s Snack Shop, a 1940’s Roadside Café and the White’s home, which is a 1930’s oilfield "tent house" converted into a permanent home.

When it comes to his profession, I don't get the impression Dad's going to feel like the Maytag repairman in the Henderson area. Plus, I'm betting that given this is Texas, the "White's" they refer to in that description isn't a family name, but an adjective.

-->Last, but certainly not least is the Arnold Outhouse (you do not need your eyes checked, you read it correctly):

In September of 1983, the chairman of Rusk County Historical Commission heard about an authentic outhouse built in 1908. Following her nose (emphasis added by me.. I definitely didn't want you to miss that) for adventure through the pages of history, she decided to investigate. As it turned out, she was able to purchase the three-holer which once belonged to John R. Arnold, a prominent turn of the century lawyer in Henderson.

The Victorian Outhouse is equipped with three holes to fit a variety of "behind" sizes. (Whew.. that's a relief to know. I was beginning to think Mr. Arnold had an unfortunate medical condition) A window above the sitting place provides light for reading and louvered shutters cover the adjacent windows to provide much needed ventilation. Like any fine toilet of today, this one has lids to fit each hole. The construction is an example of Arnold’s meticulous nature. Doubled walls keep the outhouse warm in the winter, while wainscoting, a type of paneling and trim, protects the wood as well as decorates the structure.

The Historical Marker on this outhouse is a true prize because it is the first to be awarded to an outhouse in Texas and may very well be the first prize in the nation.

There are so many more ways to riff on this that I'll just leave it be and let you have the pleasure.

Dad, if I hear you claim you're bored in Rusk County, I have no sympathy.


OLD FRIEND LIVING IN PORTLAND

Yesterday on my MAX ride into downtown, I bumped into an old friend of ours from Eugene. Turns out he's living in Northwest Portland and was on his way to work as well. When I asked how his wife was doing, he might as well have kicked me in the stomach, because he said they had gotten a divorce. When we lived in Eugene, before and after our wedding, they were a happy couple and we always enjoyed social occasions with both of them, including our wedding.

I'm still a bit in shock over it, as is Jill. We very much like both of them. The circumstances aren't entirely known by me and I won't go into what I do know. But it is quite unfortunate. We hope to have him over to the house for dinner before we go on vacation, but we'll see how scheduling works out. It'll be nice to catch up.

More updates later...