My wife and I aren't swimmers, so we traded in a snorkel boat excursion for a glass-bottom boat. Oh, and I think we're gonna do the Haleakala sunrise trek.
I'm a huge Mariners fan and haven't been to a game in I think 5 years. That is way too long. I will be planning a trip to Seattle at some point in the summer.
I've been dating a girl for the past few months that never learned how to swim. I'm not a huge fan of swimming myself so it's no big deal, but I was really surprised when she told me that.
I almost drowned in a swimming pool when I was 12, so I've always had a fear of water. That said, funny story: I was around 20, worked at Kienow's Grocery Stores in Lake Oswego. I had a few co-worker buddies, and one day we decided to go to the Clackamas river to drink, get stoned, and the like. I'm not sure exactly where we were, but there was a little "island" in the middle of the river. We floated over with coolers and kicked back to party. And party we did. LOL. Anyway, when it was time to leave, before I realized the scope of the situation, my so-called buddies grabbed the coolers and began to set out across the river. I was, like, "WAIT! I need a cooler! I can't swim!" They then laughed and responded, "C'mon....swim! We'll save you if you start drowning!" I was becoming really upset. I cried back, "Geez, guys...I'm serious!" They were, like, "We are, too!" I then sucked it up, went horizontal, and made it across. Don't exactly know how. I was cheered, but didn't really care. I was so pissed.
I took some swimming lessons as a kid, I think. Everyone should know how to at least float and tread water. That could save your life..
I learned to swim when I was 6 and it was entirely self taught. Almost drowned along the way but it not deter me one bit. Loved swimming in Oswego Lake more than anything else. Almost drowned again on a steel head fishing trip. My buddy dumped our drift boat when he hit a rock and I went into the ice cold river with chest waders and as a child's life jacket. I only had my nostrils above water. My buddy jumped back in the river and saved my life.
My one big scare was up the North Santiam, jumping of the rocks at Salmon Falls. Took a little slip and thank god I cleared everything. Still gave me a bit of a panic and when I was swimming back to the shore anything could have happened. I've heard that swimming hole is no longer even accessible due to the fire the ripped down the canyon. I know you have fond memories up towards Breitenbush too Lanny. If I ever go explore the damage I will take pics and post.
My wife and Daughter just drove through Vegas on their way to Tucson for a Monday morning tour of U of A. They are going to staying Phoenix with some friends for spring break then back home. U of A is offering to pay her tuition all four years of college, which is hard to beat. Hoping OSU comes through and matches with one of their scholarships also, otherwise I guess we will get to know that drive well.
I think it is 36K a year now, but they sent her a 4 year scholarship for 35K per year with her acceptance letter, so the tuition part is taken care of.
Having a blast in Florida. Spent a couple days in Crystal River with the Manatees, looking at fixers and land in the panhandle for a winter retreat and visiting my brother-in-law and his wife at their ginormous Akaushi cattle ranch/estate for a week now, then down to Sarasota and Siesta Key for 6 days.
