Multnomah Falls with Mason, Sam and Lane

Once again the Lubell family find them self on a "Fencing Trip."
A few weeks before, we spent 3 days in Louisville and never saw a horse race, or took a tour of the Louisville Slugger factory. In fact, save for a few trips to a Dairy Queen at the far end of the parking lot, we never left the Hotel/Venue. The worst part was, the hotel was not even nice.
Arriving in Portland Oregon, I was determined not to make the same mistake. Yes we traveled all this way so the Lane could fence, but we also were going to make sure we took at vantage of the opportunity to see a bit of the beauty of Portland.

The fact that Lane fencing was a bit "Disappointing" furthered my resolve to to find some "Silver Lining" in the storm clouds that were circling my head. The idea was to rent a car and take off for the mountains. We waited for Sam to finish fencing, then a bit longer for Mason to, once again, have an amazingly successful tournament. As much money as Mason's parents spend on her fencing, it will pale compared to the cost they will have buying a home large enough to house her trophies and metals.


Truth is, she works very hard and deserves the success, and no child is ever more graceful in both victory as well as defeat.
So we picked up the car and drove back to the Oregon Convention Center to pick up Sam, Stacy and Mason to head to the mountains.

Time was limited; so we decided on the Multnohah Falls since they were just about 30 Minute trip.
Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls are the second-tallest
year-round waterfall in the nation. The water of the Falls drops some 620 feet from the top of Larch Mountain. Unusually cold weather have been know to freeze the plummeting water into a majestic cascade of ice. The Falls are considered one of the best places to study the geology of the Columbia River Gorge area. Floods, and falling water have exposed rock formations, and acting like window into the geological history of the entire region. Five distinct flows of Yakima basalt are visible in the fall's cliff face, giving geologists insight into the amount, and times of volcanic flows.

It was great to be out of the convention center and instead sightseeing. It was wonderful to see Lane, Sam and Mason have fun and bond outside of fencing. (O.K., so it's not like Lane and Sam don't spend large quantities of time together outside of fencing, but it was great all the same).
We started at Multnomah Falls Lodge. A sign stated that "Every type of rock found in the Columbia River Gorge is represented in the Lodge", that is interesting, but we were hungry; so we were more concerned with the ice cream, that the rocks used in construction.

Once fed, we walked toward the Benson Bridge. Crafted by Italian stone masons in 1914, hired Simon Benson, the owner of the falls at that time, offers a fantastic view of the face of the fall. It is this bridge that you see in nearly every picture of the falls and it is the way visitors to cross the falls between it's lower and upper cataracts.

I hate to admit this but, the hike to the top was a bit more strenuous than I anticipated, thereby reinforcing my conclusion that I am not in the shape I would like to be, or feel I should be in at this sage of my life.

That said, the trip to the top was well worth the effort. Truth is, it was not the view I expected. I think we all envisioned a view looking down the steep drop that comprised the "Fall" part of the falls. Instead, we found ourselves a bit further up-stream, at a beautiful, tranquil small pond.
If this spot did not exist, it would be necessary for a major water bottling company to "Create it" for their advertising campaign and label. The water was clear and cold, and yes we did all drink from the water. The taste was as good as water can be, though Ilene did voice concern afterwards that maybe we made a mistake and put our lives in jeopardy. I figured since I eat fruit from the store with out washing off the pesticides, I would be OK. Truth is, we all were just fine.
The best part was watching Lane, Sam and Mason playing in the shallow water. I took off my shoes and went in up to my knees. It was refreshing, the way encasing your feet in a block of ice is refreshing. No matter how cold the water, Lane is drawn to it, but this was not swimable but you could step in and splash around.
It was great to get away from the fencing strips for a few hours and see a bit of nature.
Photo Gallery of Falls

Jack in the Box in Chicago

From: urbannewsblog.blogspot.com

Do you remember when ordering your fast food involved talking to the "Jack in the Box"?

In this country, where each day, independent businesses loose ground to chains and franchises, it is surprising when you find a regional fast food franchise. While I hate the idea of dining in an up-scale seafood restaurant only to find they have 60 of them around the country each indistinguishable from the next. I'm upset when I find myself a thousand miles from home, exploring that city's "Hot" shopping district, and find that it has the same list of stores I can find in a 15 minute walk from my home.

But Fast Food franchises are exempt from my scorn. Just as I expect each city will carry the network's feeds, and my cell phone will work, my expectation is that the streets will be filled with a uniform list of fast-food joints. The fact is that simply is not true. Sure McDonald's and Burger King spots will be found, I think P.E.T.A. even found a method to franchise protesters to Stand in front of KFC restaurants, but In & Out burgers, are not to be found in Chicago.

Truth be told, I don't care about In & Out Burgers, comming from Chicago, the only thing I know about them is the Paris Hilton eat there one of the nights she got caught driving drunk. But Jack in the Box is a different story.

I grew up with "Jack in the Box" There were so many late nights, in a car filled too-full with friends, spent speaking to "Jack". Jack was my friend, he fed me those wonderful tacos. He got me hooked, I looked forward to those golden-brown, deep-fried, tasty treats. Then all at once, they were gone. Jack fled west of of the Mississippi, leaving me and so many like me, stranded, left with a craving we were unable to fill.


The other day, after a disappointing Y12 Epee contest, I brought my son over to a Jack in the Box, two blocks from the San Jose Convention Center, desperate to bring some happiness to an otherwise "Dark day". I put in my order for 6 tasty tacos, and from the first bite I was transported back to a happy memory-filled time of youth and grease, it was wonderful! O.K., I would have traded the taco for my son bringing home a medal, but that was not a choice offered.

Yes the tacos were just as I remembered them to be. Each time I find my self in a town that is lucky enough to still have Jack in the Box, I make a point of eating as many of these tacos as I can stuff down my throat. Jack never lets me down; though I am still mad at him for moving away.



Larry Lubell

Earthquake in Chicago?

Our bedroom is decorated with an eclectic mix of 30s Art deco mahogany, and modern furniture. In the sea of coco browns, gold and olive resides an artificial palm tree; its trunk comprised of PVC pipe, toped with leaves of cheep bright colored fabric. Twelve years ago, when it was purchased with a room full of baby furniture, it was cute, in a mobile-over-the-bed sort of way. Today it can only be defined as an eyesore. My son's room has long since been redecorated according to his desire not to be embarrassed when his fiends come over. The reason we inherited, and can not get rid of this "Tree" is because of what sits on top of it; our pet BLUE-CROWNED CONURE Forest. Tucked inside the fabric fronds, is where he sleeps each night, flying him-self up there upon getting tired.

It was in him special spot on his tree where he was at 4:37 this morning till he suddenly woke me by squawking and franticly flying around the darkened, obstacle filled room. Terrified that he will crash into the armoire or vanity, I jumped out of bed and turned on the light so he could see his way. Once the room was bathed in light, he landed still visibly, and quite uncharacteristically upset. The last time this occurred was more than six months earlier, five minutes before a storm arrived.

It took more than an hour of my wife and I holding him, before he calmed down to go back to sleep. Without any explanation for his terror, I assumed that he must have had a nightmare, and said as much to my wife and son, who agreed, even though neither of us were sure that birds dreamt.

At a few minutes after 7:00 that mourning, I flipped open my laptop to read about an earthquake that occurred but a few hours prior.


WEST SALEM, Ill. (April 18) -- Residents across the Midwest were awakened Friday by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that rattled skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop and homes in Cincinnati but appeared to cause no major injuries or damage.The quake just before 4:37 a.m. was centered six miles from West Salem, Ill., and 45 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such distant cities as Milwaukee, Des Moines, Iowa, and Atlanta, nearly 400 miles to the southeast.

So much for the nightmare theory!

April 2008 (Recent Pictures)

Two votes Yes one vote No

Another day = Another Fencing Tournament

First day with a new Grip

Sarah Cheers on her friends










Here Comes the Sun!

Well, I used to fit into the baby swing!

Grace Is Getting Married

Hello Friends and Family,

A few of you know, but most of you probably don't know that I've been dating a Korean guy, Sayna, ever since my first month here in Yeosu. He's a sixth grade teacher at my elementary school, and I first met him on my first day of school last June.

Our 250 Day Anniversary was last week. (I know this sounds strange, but the Koreans count days. The 100 Day Anniversary is a big one, as is the 250 Day and the 500 Day). On the evening of our 250 day anniversary, after dinner at a lovely seaside restaurant, Sayna proposed to me!! I can't begin to explain how happy I was, and needless to say, I said yes. We're engaged! I was already considering resigning my teaching contract before this, but I definitely will now. Don't worry, we'll eventually move back to the States, and I'll be home to visit you all pretty soon, bringing Sayna with me!

I've lots more to say, but I'm so excited it would probably come out as gibberish so I'll save it for the next one.
I hope you are all happy and healthy and enjoying the beginning of spring!

Lots and lots of love,
Grace

Judy The Club Champ!

Glen Eagles Country Club

Is proud to announce that the winner of the

Woman's 9 Hole tournament is:

Judy Lubell

The competition for the 2007 -2008 season was particularly tough.

There were an unusually large number of competitors this season.

The Whole Lubell Family is proud of this difficult win, and wait to See the trophy.

Beach Pictures