Oh Riley!!

This dog worked her way into our lives and hearts. She is one of the silliest dogs ever and talks to me all the time. She can be such a baby than turn and be so independent you can't break her concentration. Her instincts are very wild. Maybe she has Akita, Husky, or Malamute in her. She sure acts like a hard-headed snow dog. Someone told me a few days ago at a bbq that Riley looks like the healthiest homeless street dog they'd ever seen. A little rough around the edges, maybe.

Update : What is Going On??

Spring is in full swing out here in Dundee. My daffodills are blooming, the iris' I planted are sprouting and are being persuaded to bloom in their first year. Spring Break has passed, Forrest went to Arizona to visit family and pick up some tools. He bought a truck to bring these tools home and broke down in the Mojave desert, he was towed to Barstow, CA where he was stuck for many days figuring out what to do. He has come home with some funny stories that you all can ask about in the future. Maggie, Rosie, Riley and I went to Lincoln City for 2 days. We stayed in the most awesome, frugal hotel ever!!! The Historic Anchor Inn. It reminded me of Ernie Hoods house in West Linn. Covered in kitchy antiques, a mounted bear's bust made of moss, and one of the coolest original retro bars I have ever seen. It is really affordable, takes big dogs, and they serve breakfast in the morning. You can find them listed on my links. We ran the dogs, Riley learned to swim by surprise, and Maglet taught me to felt, my new favorite hobby!!

My dad's cancer treatments are finally working and he gets to lay off a bit on the chemo. We are still waiting to see what is going to be the best route for him to take. It is looking hopeful. My mom and I want to get him better enough so they or we can all take a trip, maybe a Alaskan Cruise. Mom needs a vacation too, caregiving is tough work. I just wish she would quit smoking. I am trying really hard to quit, and can almost never resist when spending time with her. If she were to quit it would make it easier for me to spend more time at their house.

I have been continually throwing my back/right hip out this month. Pain like I hadn't experienced in years took over my body the week before my beach trip and is coming back today. I really don't know if I can take living with that sort of pain. I can take pain, I am a pain princess, but specific pains, yikes!! Poor Forrest didn't sleep his entire week of finals, he had to listen to me screaming and crying from the persistent, sharp pains, while he tried to help me and get some really needed rest. Sorry Baby. It is coming back and I am fighting it, taking it easy, allowing myself to take care of me. Sometimes I get so mad at myself, my body. I want so much from my life, but the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome keeps getting in my way. I would give anything not to hurt anymore. Anything. Forrest's Mom is really trying to help me. She is a ND, and really good at what she does. Thankfullness for her isn't enough to describe all that she does for me.

Forrest has one term left and he will have his Associates Degree. He just found out that he is the first member of the Arriaga family to acutally have a college degree. Shocking to both of us, but really cool. He came home the other day with a life size poster of himself from PCC. Ever since he did the scholarship speech last year he has been the poster boy for donations and voting in favor of PCC bond measures. He has been working for Freightliner and was lucking enough to still have work, until the end of this week. Forrest is looking for work now, we really hope he can find employment in the industry he has been training so hard to enter into. We'll see.

That's the quick rundown, I gotta go heat pack my hip. Bleh.

Forrest's 29th B-Day Memorial Weekend May 2008

Rosie & her Dad on the Oregon Coast near Waldport, OR. We had beautiful weather and Rosie sure loves the water and the ball, the ball & the water, ball, water, water, ball.......pant. pant. Good times.

I am Soooo Proud!!

Forrest has worked his butt off the past two years and has received the recognition he really deserves. This is a picture I snuck while he was giving his speech. The bright flash was to help him uh.. concentrate. In all he has received 3 scholarships, given one speech to over 500 people, been in the Oregonian, in the Portland Community College school newspaper, on a video for scholarhsip fundraising on the PCC website, and finally his picture is in the new brochure for the diesel technolgy department at PCC. My guy is Famous!! Te He. I always thought he was cute enough anyway.

Life Update

Things are moving along out here in wine country. Forrest has one more term of Diesel classes and he is an official certified Diesel Mechanic. He has to take some classes to complete the requirements for his AAS degree and will work on them while returning to work soon. I am so proud of him. He really worked hard. Though I wish we had more time together, I can't complain. He does it all so we can have the life we have dream of.

I am currently taking strides in earning my Landscape Design Certificate. It has been a struggle to return to college, but I am doing what I love which helps to lift the burden from my shoulders, mostly. I am working closely with Students with Disabilities, my instructors, and the head of my department. Everyone at Portland Community College wants me to succeed, and has been extremely helpful and understanding. It has been interesting continuing to teach others about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, most people look at me and could never tell there was an issue. I don't want to have to be on disability my whole life. I would like to contribute as long as I can and hope that by finishing this program I can handle doing contract work from home. This will allow me to hopefully work at my own pace, take breaks as needed, and leave beautiful gardens as my legacy to the world when I am gone. I would really love to have a small rare plant nursery. That all depends on when we buy a chunk of land to homestead on.

My dad's illness has been hard to deal with. Multiple myeloma is a stupid, stupid cancer. He had blood tests this past week and the chemo and radiation are working. We just hope that he stays in remission when this round is over, as usually but not always, multiple myeloma is not cureable. I have never been so scared for either of my parents. My dad is doing most he can to eat better and get lots of exercise. It is a little rough when he has to take Dex, which is a potent steroid that happens on Fridays. Buzz Buzz. We are going to the coast this Thursday to take photo's of the damage caused to the coast mountain range during the strong wind storms this winter.

My mom has been making really cool silver clay jewelry and playing with her new kiln. The pieces she has made are really cool. I have been trying to make her do more. She really knows how to design nice things and has been collecting things from nature for inspiration. My momma has so many ideas.............................so little time!

Love to all.

IRIS

Forrest N Iris @ Someplace Else?

Someplace Else, huh?? It is actually the name of our local tavern down the road. I get the strangest looks when i tell people I am at Someplace Else.

Rosie the Dog

Princess Rosie & Forrest Snuggling.