I have a new friend.

I received this email today.

Good afternoon
This is Olga. I think my email for you is surprise. And i hope it is a happiness.  I think you will have a question about "where did i find yours email address. I used a services of serious attitudes agency. They asked me what kind of men i like, and then they offer me to start a correspondence with you via email. This agency reported me that your email address they found at dating site.  As i said you before my name is Olga and i am absolutely single girl.  My birthday is 25 of December 1979. I do not have children, but i love them. I like read books very much and i like a cooking.  Maybe learning more about each other we can have real relations.  I want to search my beloved man. I want  to have sincere relations. It is a little about my life. I hope it was interesting for you. I will be waiting your answer very much. I wait for your answer. My e-mail is :xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Have a good day , you new friend Olga

Do you think I should email Olga and tell her I am a woman?  Would it crush her heart?  Was she really set on having 'relations' with me?

I have been busy.

Crocheting baby blankets for Project Linus

Yelling at T. as he torments Tequila with my yarn.

Making brine for my turkey. (The Pioneer Woman)

Getting creative with twine to hold up brine bag.

Trying to do a nice table setting.

Attempting to be photographically creative.

Our incredible roasted delicata squash salad starter. (Banana Wonder)

The remains of our incredible turkey from Afton Field Farm

Drinking copious amounts of wine from my happy place.

Finishing off the last piece of my pumpkin cheesecake with sour cream topping.

Am I excused from not blogging then?

College students say the darndest things.

 

When T. was at BlizzCon he saw a group of Blizzeeks wearing these Spirit Hoods.  T. had to have one.

When T. got home from college yesterday he shared with me his college student encounter.  I am hoping that this student truly was mesmerized by the quality of the Spirit Hood, but given my previous personal experiences with students I somehow think not.

Student:  That is cool, where did you get it?

T.:  From a company called Spirit Hood.

Student:  What is it?

T.:  It is a Red Wolf.  One of the great things about this company is they give a certain percentage of sales to the conservation of the animals.

Student:  They give a percentage to conservation of the animal that they killed for your Spirit Hood?

T.:  *crickets*

My Happy Place.

My happy place.

On Wednesday I decided to take a drive to Left Coast Cellars.  One reason was to get the magnum filled, the other was to go to what I call, my happy place.  There is something about Left Coast that makes me feel as though I have received a warm hug.  The staff are great and from our very first visit to visits since, they have made us feel as though we were home.  Left Coast is the first winery we take guests to and when they leave they feel the same way.

If I were a better writer I would describe what I see and feel, but I am not so I will share with you pictures that I took.

Let me know when you are next in Oregon.  I will take you to visit my happy place.  Hopefully it will end up being yours as well.

My Magnum. I get a sticker every time I fill up.  Also known as "lush labels"

 

Left Coast Wine

Left Coast Swan

They always have great deals

Wine tasting bar

The Princess Chair

My lunch. Brie with roasted grapes and a glass of wine

On my Christmas wish list.

They make their own honey as well.

My favorite view

One of the bee hives.

The driveway leaving Left Coast.

My neighborhood.  I love Corvallis.

My Husband is 1 in 9 Million

Double perfect rainbow on the way to Portland on Monday.

Monday afternoon we left for Portland.  How perfect that as we were driving we saw a double perfect rainbow.  What a great way to start of this amazing journey.  Monday evening we had a wonderful dinner with our new friends L & D.  It really did help relax Bear, it was great to just kibitz with everyone.

Tuesday morning we were up early and checked into the hospital by 6:30am.  I had a cup of lousy hotel room tea and I was cranky.  Bear of course was upbeat, smiling and not complaining at all.  I think I do enough bitching for the both of us.  Our wonderful nurse, Karen, from the American Red Cross arrived and explained the entire procedure.  She would stay with us throughout the day.  Bear had his carbo load breakfast and things began to get moving.  Machines were then wheeled in and Bear was prepped and ready.  I had to leave the room.  I don't do well with needles.

View from our hospital window

We had a gorgeous room and the view was great.  A perfect fall day.  The nurses of the oncology unit each stopped by to introduce themselves and to thank Bear for his incredible gift.  It was very touching and some had me a little choked up.  I guess with what they deal with everyday, to see someone give of their time to save a life, gives them something to grab onto in those dark times. 

Our incredible nurse Karen with Bear.

Once the needles were inserted Bear was unable to move his arms so I had to feed him.  It was rather cute.  At lunch time he didn't want his tomato and he said he was full, but I made the tjoo-tjoo noises and told him to open the tunnel for the train.  Yes, I was bored and had to entertain myself.  Bear had no option, but to lay there and appease the Princess.

In the above picture you can see the bag hanging above the machine.  The stem cells (orange) were starting to collect and it went great.  Bear lay there for 6 hours.  Karen was amazing.  We kept each other entertained while Bear tried to take a nap. We watched Planet Earth as there was a DVD player in the room.  As the stem cell collection was almost complete I decided to liven things up a little.  I was sitting on the Lazy Boy and removed my wedding band which promptly rolled into the crease of the chair and underneath.  There was no way for me to get my ring other then trying to push my hand down the side.  I did and pricked my finger on something sharp.  This then sent the nurses into a little panic.  Next thing four nurses are in the room, lazy boy recliner is upside down and they are shaking, kicking, bouncing on the chair to find my ring and the object that pricked me.  It really was comical and am so sorry I didn't get a picture.  Karen looked at Bear and said "I guess your wife was tired of you getting the attention."  Spent 7 hours with that lady and she already figured me out.  Ring fell out, and the object that pricked me was a staple.  So calm once again reigned over the room.  Until I got the DVD stuck in the player. Yes, I am a winner.

Relief

After being on the machine for six hours Bear was finally done. The courier arrived to take the stem cells to their destination and Bear was finally able to sit up.  The smile on his face just shows his relief at being able to move his arms.  We are home now and Bear is currently fast asleep.  He has a headache, but that was to be expected.  What an incredible day this has been.  Have you signed up yet?  Click on Be The Match and this will take you directly to the sign up page. 

One other thing.  There are 9 million on the registry.  We had a double rainbow on the way to Portland.  I am taking Bear to the store tomorrow to purchase a Lottery ticket.