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 The
2009
Southern California
Google Earth KMZ
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| Saturday,
December 19
Los Angeles to Bellingham via the Metro Green Line light rail for a non-stop flight on Allegiant Airlines. Thanks for the ride, Heidi. And putting me to work right away. And the overnight accommodations, too. |
 Mount Rainier |
What an AWESOME trip! Travel was basically uneventful. Very busy. And way too much fun. This journey brought closure. Literally. To the rectangle I'd started when I left Los Angeles in 1993 (going counter-clockwise) to the same trip now (clockwise). |
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The "Grand Circuit" Around the Country |
| The new Amy's Place For Youth needed about 5 hours of setting up furniture and cleanup after all the stuff from the old location was brought here. |  |
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| And the grand re-opening started at 6:00 pm. |
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| We drove about downtown and it was eerily quiet. No one was out & about. Not even near the Lighthouse Rescue Mission. |  |
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 VIDEO: Kids Karaoke (large 10± Mb MP4 format) |
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VIDEO: Kids Karaoke (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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| Sunday,
December 20
Bellingham BUF worship service & Christmas pageant followed by meeting friends. Bellingham feels like "home." |
 Marty Mitchell & Charlotte Gazak at the Bayside Café. |
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| Cold, breezy, stormy. But it felt good. Perhaps because I was visiting and knew I didn't have to experience this for many months. |  |
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| My usual "walkabout" the Hotel Bellwether and Anthony's Restaurant before meeting Larry Kimmet. |
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| After which, Heidi picked me back up and took me Lionel & Judy's place --- my former home --- for a fish dinner (I caught the fish in the Sea of Cortez) dinner and to stay the night. Thanks Lionel & Judy! |  |
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 VIDEO: Bellingham Marina (large 20± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: Bellingham Marina (small 3± Mb WMV format) |
| Monday,
December 21
Bellingham It's off to see Kurt & Janice Fuhrmeister for a chiropractic adjustment and leave some canine biscuits for Rudy and his newfound playmate. |
Digital Christmas card from 18 Frost Drive. |
There's much to write about here. I took much fewer photographs and videos than I usually do. This time was about being together and sharing less so than documenting everything. My little red journal continues to serve me well on this fast-paced trip with completely full days. Yes, it feels like "home." I know with the wonderful friends I've made here in almost 2˝ years, that when I visit, due to everyone's generosity, I will never have to worry about a roof over my head, how to get around town or a warm meal. |
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I even rode the WTA bus to Fairhaven. Something I never took advantage of while I lived here. I should have. It was easy and cheap. |
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Once again, Heidi picked me up, made a few stops with me (my car mechanic Keith Cox Autobahn and the closing Sunshine Liquidators) before going to her office to organize her computer and get some grant writing started. Even her computer tech, who doesn't know me, gave me a laptop computer power cord, since mine had died. |
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I met Joe Yaver, Larry Horowitz and even John O'Malley at Village Books / Book Fare Café for lunch. And then John Brown joined us. What a wonderful afternoon. |
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Heidi then deposited me back at Marine Drive with Lionel & Judy. And my replacement renter, Joe. Appetizers, dinner and movies rounded out a wonderful evening at home. |
| Boy, does this interlude look familiar ??? |
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 Shook hands with this nameless Grinch. |
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| Tuesday,
December 22
Bellingham |
After debating a walk back down to Nooksack River Beach with Judy, we decided not to because of the cold rainy drizzle. |
On their way back to Vancouver, Lionel and Judy gave me a ride to Irene & Gary Morgan's house out "in the country" near Eversen. There Irene and I worked on getting her organized for grant-writing. I had a pleasant evening meditation and "walkabout" Irene's Labyrinth and in her "retreat." |
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Then Irene and I drove to Amy's Place for the Christmas party. Tori, the girl I met on the Green Line train that does this sort of work in Los Angeles and was on my flight had already come and gone, telling me on the plane and at BLI arrival area that she'd like to help while visiting Bellingham. I gave her my contact information. |
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wonderful donation checks came in during the holidays.
And in a sad juxtaposition ... a tribute to Patrick from Amy's Place kids. |
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See more at Amy's Place For Youth website. |
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See more at Amy's
Place For Youth website.
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It's a really cool space. But it will need plumbing to create a functional kitchen area, a shower room and washer / dryer hookups.
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 Unknown baby, Irene and Andrew. |
 Heidi, Andrew, Irene and the unknown baby. |
 Heidi, Andrew, Irene and the unknown baby. |
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Now that's a true (400-pound) butcher block cart! Boy it's cold tonight! But I got to sleep in a former meat locker that was both pitch black and toasty warm once the space heaters got going. I'm pooped. Slept like a log. |
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| Wednesday,
December 23
Bellingham to Seattle Irene gave me a ride to the WTA bus terminal. |
But across the street, we met my friend Beth Fuller from BUF for coffee before heading south to Mount Vernon. Hey, this riding is getting to be fun. Even with luggage and in cold weather. |
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| Met Don & Pat Paye for lunch. What a wonderful interlude. The only snafu was a sold-out Amtrak bus/train to Seattle. So I made a connection on the airport shuttle instead. Amanda was kind enough to pick me up after work and I stayed at her place until the next morning. |
I am blessed and grateful to have so many people that care about me. And I, them. Andy, I'm sorry we missed each other on this trip. As well as for your loss of Terry shortly before. |
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| Thursday,
December 24
Seattle to Newark, New Jersey Leisurely rise-and-shine, followed by breakfast at Amanda's --- kinda, sorta sounds like a movie title or two. |
 My beloved Mount Baker looking into Canada, over 100 miles away with a fresh snow dump! |
 American Cascade Range in the foreground. |
 Canadian Cascades (the Coastal Range) behind Mount Baker. |
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flight was uneventful with the exception of the government's TSA opening
my suitcase and tearing open each wrapped Christmas gift. What were they
searching for that a canine or x-ray wouldn't already disclose?
Knuckleheads!
Gidget drove up to get me. It's been over three years since seeing each other. |
 Christmas Eve gift sharing at Friedl, Gidget & David's house in Lakewood. |
 With all my relatives living back in "old Germany," the Guenthers were the 2nd of 3 extended families while growing up in New Jersey. Read on below. |
 The Rohlands of Toronto were the 3rd of 3 extended families. But that is in itself another whole long story. |
 Canine Café treats for the 2 doggies. Nothing for the 2 kitties. Stayed here on Christmas Eve night as well as Christmas night --- my 51st (ugh!) birthday. |
| I met a nice woman named Lisa Hull on the flight reading a book called "The Book of Joe" by Jonathan Tropper. Cecil, you always said I should read more of the Bible; so how good am I doing? |
As we talked about family strife, the holidays, inevitable death and ultimately redemption before death, she hurriedly finished the last few pages of the book and gave it to me. It was a very good book/story and very appropriate to read on the return flight to Los Angeles. |
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| Friday,
December 25
Lakewood, Toms River & Bayville, New Jersey Hurried rise-and-shine and a fast ride to my brother's house in Bayville to surprise everyone with my unannounced arrival. How will it go? |
 The kids were surprised and happy. |
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| Lawrence
comes up to visit Friedl and Gidget.
We're all getting older. And life is too short (I think). |
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| Saturday,
December 26
Lakewood, Toms River & Bayville, New Jersey |
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| Sunday,
December 27
Bricktown, New Jersey Guenther family re-union. It's a joyous occasion for me to see and participate in so much family healing, compassion and growth. Thank you for sharing this very important family moment with Lawrence and myself. |
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 VIDEO: Gidget Toast (large 10± Mb MP4 format)
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VIDEO: Guenther toast (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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 VIDEO: Christmas Balls (large 10± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: Christmas Balls (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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 VIDEO: Friedl Birthday (large 10± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: Friedl Birthday (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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 VIDEO: Singing (large 10± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: Singing (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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And she's the only sober one! |
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| And a nice visit with Giesela and Perry Henn after the Guenther event. |  |
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| Monday,
December 28 Growing up in Toms River, New Jersey As Bruce Springsteen might sing, "This is your hometown ..." |
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 VIDEO: Toms River (large 30± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: Toms River (small 5± Mb WMV format) |
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Winding River Drive
Toms River High School North |
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Raymond Drive
2 Bough Court |
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| Routes
166 & 37
Frost Drive |
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 VIDEO: Frost Drive (large 20± Mb MP4 format)
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VIDEO: Frost Drive (small 3± Mb WMV format) |
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| Tuesday,
December 29 New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina |
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| Charlotte's changed in 3 years --- new buildings on the skyline; a 3rd parallel runway; roads eliminated and re-aligned. | 
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| We flew right around Dornier Court. With a nearly-full moon rising |  |
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| And even Musket Lane. I've seen almost every house I've ever lived in on this trip. |  |
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| The Burg-Richardson-Grier (oops, forgot the Thompson part) household. Ugh! |  |
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| Wednesday,
December 30 Charlotte, North Carolina |
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| Thursday,
December 31 Charlotte, North Carolina |
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 VIDEO: New Year's Eve (large 10± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: New Year's Eve (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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 VIDEO: New Year's Day (large 10± Mb MP4 format) |
VIDEO: New Year's Day (small 1˝± Mb WMV format) |
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| Friday,
January 1 Charlotte, North Carolina |
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| Watching the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California and looking for Meagan Barbe. She was supposed to be the "D" in Glendora. I'm thinking she got promoted to the "E". WARNING: these are large image files. |  |
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| Saturday,
January 2 Charlotte, North Carolina |
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| Around the house. Gawd, it looks good! I did a good job. Over 200 (!) perimeter trees. Thanks, Barb, for keeping it up. Just like Paloma Street. |  |
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And to my former County cohorts --- thanks for lunch. I had fun Bill, Tim, Eric, Tim and Michael. ADD MORE TEXT HERE as time permits |
It was great to see you again Ronda. Same with you Alexi & Lydia. ADD MORE TEXT HERE as time permits |
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| What an awesome plant this marginata has become! It's a small tree. |  |
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| Sunday,
January 3 North Carolina to California |
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| I
miss my Hoover. Last of my three buddies ... Taco
and TeeJay.
Recognize this flashback photo ??? |
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Hoover's
best day.
And Hoover's look-alike 3,000 miles away along-side Taco. |
You've gotten so much older, my senior friend. I just over 3 years. But so have I. We all have. You look good. My senior statesdog with a bit-o-gray. Thanks for allowing me to be with you. Even if only for a few days. Namaste my friend. I'll see over the Rainbow Bridge. |
| Taco,
the day before was your best day and I honor this day as your "requiem"
photo page.
I'm soooo sorry, Taco. And TJ. Both of you. I miss both of you. TJ memorial web pages. |
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