Sorry buddy,
What about Beau/Tehya, you and Shanna, Jill and Paul, Fordo and Kate outweigh Sharon and I, Jeannie and Mom, Ricky and Nida, Wally and Gena? How do Seattle and Portland stack up against SF/Santa Cruz/Monterey and Yosimite? Oh, and you completely skipped over the fact that "IT'S ALWAYS RAINING UP THERE!!!"
See, thing is... your mom and dad, Sharon and I, Mom and Jeanie, Ricky and Nida, Wally and Gena... we're all "old". We like to do "old people things"... like jetski in 10 foot ocean surf, 4 wheel off big cliffs, etc. We're not into young people things like jumping off cliffs when skiing... ok, maybe we are but we end up wounded when we do, so it's best if we just stick to riding our motor cycles on black ice... ok that's not a very good idea either... so maybe we should all live where there isn't black ice or "slick wet pavement" so that when we "wobble" we don't fall down. Falling down sucks when you're old!
Bottom line is that you haven't convinced me. I'm still not believing that WA is a better place to move than CA. Your folks would make more $$$ here, could buy a bigger, better house cheaper here, and would ultimately live a better quality of life... HERE! They can fly up to see you a couple of times a month if that's what makes them happy.
I know it's important to Coco to be very involved in Tehya and Beau's growing up years. If that makes it worth it to live in the rain and overcast sky all the time then I'm supportive. Just know what you're getting into. When we lived there the first time Sharon went "really weird" on me. Turns out she has SAD. Without sunshine she was a real headcase. A normally "very upbeat and positive" woman turned into a sad, depressed, cynical person. Don't want to see that happen to anyone else in my family - it sucked!
Ask her and she'll tell you. It was bad. So bad that the last 2 times I was stationed in WA, I made her stay in CA and got home on the weekends when I could... that's how much I didn't want to live that "life" again. Three years folks! Three years that I was away from the person I care for the most in my life (except weekends I could get home). I'd do it all again tomorrow to avoid the life I lived when she was there with me in Washington. It was better to only see her a couple of days a week "happy" than to see her depressed every day of the week.
If you can live with rain and gloomy weather in order to be close to your kids and grand kids, then I say go for it. We'll come see you (and not only when it's nice - "no dig - although I have a million of them"). Just please, please think it over. You'll be moving close to your kids but to a place that has less "good weather days" than where you live now - and where you live now ain't all that great.
Love ya Blayner but I think from wages, housing costs (and upside potential) and weather position - CA wins out over WA. But, whatever your mom and dad decide, at least they will be closer than they are now.
OBTW: Your dad is suppose to visit here next week after he visits you guys for the weekend. Good luck with the WA "vote" after that ;-) Unfortunately (for my case) I see you're suppose to have a "decent" weekend this week so when he visits here he won't have just come from the "rainy" Washington we all know and "love". I think 80+F in October down here might just have enought of an impact though.
Once again, just my two cents!
Love ya all,
Stosh
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I didn't cry I am worried!
Loved your thoughts Katie Kate. I love more that you love my son so much!! You are both centered people with amazing things to come. I worry that the man who accused my son of aerating villages and killing citizens may become the next President of the US. The same man (with 14 other senators) voted against funding the troops in Iraq. That was happening when FM was having to hydrate his troops with IV's because they were running out of water. It makes it so much more personal when you have a dog in the fight! I do try to avoid politics and religion on this blog..but as MOM .. Please all of you who read this.. check out Obama's record on military funding.I also have to put a Blurb in for Sarah Palin. She is the best thing that has ever happened to Alaska. She routed out corruption and went across party lines to get things done. She has infuriated BIG OIL and ya know what? She has an 80% approval rating in alaska..That says a whole lot because we are a tough state!
she has suspended our gas tax for the next year and sent us an oil refund check in the amount of 1,200.00. This was an addition to the 2,250.00 permanent fund check we got. (That is for every man woman and child who is an Alaskan resident.)
Sarah is not a religious fanatic. She is Christian who practices tolerance.
she does not believe in abortion as a means of birth control. She also does not believe in and will fight against partial birth abortions. Please look up partial birth abortions and see if you can support them?? Obama does supports them. Enough Politiking. I only ask that you look at the values you own and then check out the candidates records. Kate, thanks again for loving my boy so much! I know that the feeling is mutual! By the way, he did get 1 spanking growing up and he never let me forget it! (This is like 3 years ago..) "Hey Mom , remember that time you hit me?" Not to mention that was the time he took out a "banned arrow" from the very highest shelf in the house and "accidently" stabbed his best buddy Nathan in the arm. In his mind it was justified because he was just showing Nathan how sharp it was or how it worked.. I forget the excuse..but it wasn't good enough for General Mom!! and he got his 1st spanking! I think he was 5 or 6?? Doubt he'll ever truly forgive me..and least until he gets a couple of blayne and ford JR's to deal with! Nathan did pay him back.. They were about 15 and we were skiing at Alyeska. Nathan dared Ford to take a jump off a cliff(somewhere they shouldn't have been)so Ford.. never to pass on a dare.. took the jump.. mouth wide open yahooing,, hit the ice.. and fractured all 4 molars! he was spitting enamel for hours! He was soo mad at Nathan! He had never had a filling and ended up with 4 root canals and crowns.. Nate won! Love you son. Come home safe. Mom
she has suspended our gas tax for the next year and sent us an oil refund check in the amount of 1,200.00. This was an addition to the 2,250.00 permanent fund check we got. (That is for every man woman and child who is an Alaskan resident.)
Sarah is not a religious fanatic. She is Christian who practices tolerance.
she does not believe in abortion as a means of birth control. She also does not believe in and will fight against partial birth abortions. Please look up partial birth abortions and see if you can support them?? Obama does supports them. Enough Politiking. I only ask that you look at the values you own and then check out the candidates records. Kate, thanks again for loving my boy so much! I know that the feeling is mutual! By the way, he did get 1 spanking growing up and he never let me forget it! (This is like 3 years ago..) "Hey Mom , remember that time you hit me?" Not to mention that was the time he took out a "banned arrow" from the very highest shelf in the house and "accidently" stabbed his best buddy Nathan in the arm. In his mind it was justified because he was just showing Nathan how sharp it was or how it worked.. I forget the excuse..but it wasn't good enough for General Mom!! and he got his 1st spanking! I think he was 5 or 6?? Doubt he'll ever truly forgive me..and least until he gets a couple of blayne and ford JR's to deal with! Nathan did pay him back.. They were about 15 and we were skiing at Alyeska. Nathan dared Ford to take a jump off a cliff(somewhere they shouldn't have been)so Ford.. never to pass on a dare.. took the jump.. mouth wide open yahooing,, hit the ice.. and fractured all 4 molars! he was spitting enamel for hours! He was soo mad at Nathan! He had never had a filling and ended up with 4 root canals and crowns.. Nate won! Love you son. Come home safe. Mom
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Did you watch the debate tonight? Did you cry?
Ok - here’s the thing. I’m not crazy, nobody panic. I’m fine, I swear. But I would be willing to bet that what I saw tonight was different than what you saw.
Our VP is visiting from NYC, I worked late and (as usual) Mom kept me company on my commute home. I got in and immediately turned on the debate, only in time to catch the last few comments and the closing credits…but what I watched brought me to tears. Normally, I would have ignored this portion of the debates, and opted for email, dinner and laundry (in that order)…but this time…because I was late and it was all I had (somehow feeling guilty for missing it)…I watched.
I watched as the wives waiting in the wings, joined their husband to network and “politic” the room. I watched strong women stand by their men and not just to support them as accessories, but to enable them to do their jobs, as true partners. They play a role. A very important, “in-the-background,” silent… but not so silent, role… and it got me to thinking.
For 28 years I have been all about being the woman my mother taught me to be. Strong, independent, educated and tough…. I don’t need a man to buy me a house; I will buy my own house. I don’t need a man to support me, I work and I contribute…thank you very much. I have a wonderful family that loves me and friends that support me. I am a rockstar.
And then I met Ford. And since you all know him, I won’t go into mind numbing flattery, but suffice to say – he changed my world.
But not all at once, like in fairytales…no, no…that’s not the way it ever happens, is it? He changed my world….. by not asking me to change mine. He’s changed my world, by being the first person to ever truly appreciate the “me” I was trying so hard to be. He knew my struggles, strengths and fears and signed up anyway, knowing, before I did…that the best was yet to come.
After years of being all that I could be (thank you army for the lending of catch phrase), I now find a greater good; a higher purpose, or at the very least, a peaceful calm. I may not be the star of this show, but I am proud. I am proud of my husband, I am proud of the son that he is, of the brother he is, of the friend that he is, of the soldier he is and most importantly of the man that he is. I too, support my husband – not as an accessory, but as his biggest fan, an advocate, a confidant, and a safe place to land when he is finally done saving the world.
Ford is kind of a hard act to follow….or at least keep up with. Perfect child who was never punished, hockey star, Westpoint grad, decorated special forces soldier, future medical student…..and on ,and on, and on….ad nausea. (Sorry sweetheart, its true) …needless to say, I lost him at perfect child who was never punished….but I digress….
In our married life, we’ve now been apart longer than we’ve been together (which the military will tell you is par for the course and civilians will tell you, is the secret to a happy marriage). All I know is this, I am very content to be the woman beside the man for the first time in my life, but I think it is only because of THIS man, this phenomenal, strong, charismatic, honest, fun, sincere, wise, loving man that is so amazing and easy to follow.
It doesn’t mean that I have given up who or what I want to be…. Instead, its feeling that I have met my match and am on a team, a team that is constantly motivating me to work hard and be strong, in order to give the best of myself every day, a team that I may not lead, but am damn proud to be a part of.
Our VP is visiting from NYC, I worked late and (as usual) Mom kept me company on my commute home. I got in and immediately turned on the debate, only in time to catch the last few comments and the closing credits…but what I watched brought me to tears. Normally, I would have ignored this portion of the debates, and opted for email, dinner and laundry (in that order)…but this time…because I was late and it was all I had (somehow feeling guilty for missing it)…I watched.
I watched as the wives waiting in the wings, joined their husband to network and “politic” the room. I watched strong women stand by their men and not just to support them as accessories, but to enable them to do their jobs, as true partners. They play a role. A very important, “in-the-background,” silent… but not so silent, role… and it got me to thinking.
For 28 years I have been all about being the woman my mother taught me to be. Strong, independent, educated and tough…. I don’t need a man to buy me a house; I will buy my own house. I don’t need a man to support me, I work and I contribute…thank you very much. I have a wonderful family that loves me and friends that support me. I am a rockstar.
And then I met Ford. And since you all know him, I won’t go into mind numbing flattery, but suffice to say – he changed my world.
But not all at once, like in fairytales…no, no…that’s not the way it ever happens, is it? He changed my world….. by not asking me to change mine. He’s changed my world, by being the first person to ever truly appreciate the “me” I was trying so hard to be. He knew my struggles, strengths and fears and signed up anyway, knowing, before I did…that the best was yet to come.
After years of being all that I could be (thank you army for the lending of catch phrase), I now find a greater good; a higher purpose, or at the very least, a peaceful calm. I may not be the star of this show, but I am proud. I am proud of my husband, I am proud of the son that he is, of the brother he is, of the friend that he is, of the soldier he is and most importantly of the man that he is. I too, support my husband – not as an accessory, but as his biggest fan, an advocate, a confidant, and a safe place to land when he is finally done saving the world.
Ford is kind of a hard act to follow….or at least keep up with. Perfect child who was never punished, hockey star, Westpoint grad, decorated special forces soldier, future medical student…..and on ,and on, and on….ad nausea. (Sorry sweetheart, its true) …needless to say, I lost him at perfect child who was never punished….but I digress….
In our married life, we’ve now been apart longer than we’ve been together (which the military will tell you is par for the course and civilians will tell you, is the secret to a happy marriage). All I know is this, I am very content to be the woman beside the man for the first time in my life, but I think it is only because of THIS man, this phenomenal, strong, charismatic, honest, fun, sincere, wise, loving man that is so amazing and easy to follow.
It doesn’t mean that I have given up who or what I want to be…. Instead, its feeling that I have met my match and am on a team, a team that is constantly motivating me to work hard and be strong, in order to give the best of myself every day, a team that I may not lead, but am damn proud to be a part of.
Too Many Decisions
Stosh,Carla, Blayne and ME...So here is my new plan..Cali in the winter/spring Wa.in the summer..and Atlanta in the fall! Are you all in?? I guess we could keep the house in AK. for the really hot summer months..Ak. never gets above 80 degrees. Stosh..I know you are absolutely right about the rain, I hear it from the kids all the time. I love you guys and mark my words..I won't be spending many more winters in Ak. Thanks again Stosh Sharon and Carla for the wonderful time in Mexico!! Hey, Thats an even better idea..Lets all move to Mexico!!
I rest my case
1. Beau and Tehya
2. Jill and Paul
3. Ford and Kate
4. Shanna and I
5. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Bachelor, and the Columbia River Gorge
6. Rain Forest, Beach, and snow within 1.5 hours of each other
7. Seattle, Portland, Vancouver BC.
8. Seahawks, Mariners, Storm, Sounders, WHL thunderbirds, and Canucks three hours away.
9. Whistler Blackcomb
10. Oregon and Washington Coast.
11. Less traffic, less crime, less stressed out folks on the freeways.
12. Greeners, environmentalists, artists, community activists, and other assorted kind people.
13. A huge sense of community, with two "co-op" style food stores, amongst other things.
14. a good place to save up for your retirement to Cali or Wyoming or Texas.
15. Beau and Tehya
16. 16 hours by freeway to Cali...and about the same to Sheridan
17. A sweet farmers market in Olympia and Seattle for mom to sell her art and raspberry jam.
No disrespect to my uncle in the making of this list.
blayner
2. Jill and Paul
3. Ford and Kate
4. Shanna and I
5. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Bachelor, and the Columbia River Gorge
6. Rain Forest, Beach, and snow within 1.5 hours of each other
7. Seattle, Portland, Vancouver BC.
8. Seahawks, Mariners, Storm, Sounders, WHL thunderbirds, and Canucks three hours away.
9. Whistler Blackcomb
10. Oregon and Washington Coast.
11. Less traffic, less crime, less stressed out folks on the freeways.
12. Greeners, environmentalists, artists, community activists, and other assorted kind people.
13. A huge sense of community, with two "co-op" style food stores, amongst other things.
14. a good place to save up for your retirement to Cali or Wyoming or Texas.
15. Beau and Tehya
16. 16 hours by freeway to Cali...and about the same to Sheridan
17. A sweet farmers market in Olympia and Seattle for mom to sell her art and raspberry jam.
No disrespect to my uncle in the making of this list.
blayner
Corliss & Tom to WA or CA
Hear, Hear brother. I'm all for Sis and Tom moving to California. I liked Stosh's reasoning too. However, also know how important Blayne and family, Ford and Kate, Jill, Paul and Beau are to my sis and her spouse so-o-o-o-o, tough decision. I'm selfish so I opt for California with bi-monthly flights to Washington. Hell, maybe we will get all of the Lannan/Olsen clan moved to California.
Ford Mike, what can I say. I think of you all the time and say prayers for your safety. I know you are o.k. but I still worry. Gramma misses you so much and every time I talk about you she gets big tears. She always asks me to send you her love when writing on the blog.
We took mom (gramma) to Jackson so she could do a little gambling on Saturday. On the way home we stopped in a little town called Waterloo. They have a restaurant called the "Waterloo" (go figure) and they have the best ever ribs, homemade pasta, bread, etc. Good martini's also. Anyway, when you get home we want to take you to this place. Think you and Miss Kate would really like it. For me, it's all about seeing you and Kate again. Can't wait!!!
Just a confirmation for Uncle Stosh. That fish WAS awful! I had Amber Jack in Florida many years ago and it was really good. This one was NASTY!
Bino (Jeffrey) and Melisa just had another baby boy. His name is Brett Jeffrey. Evidently 'little Wade' thinks his name is Shrek. Nancy e-mailed a picture and I forwarded it to Kate. She and 'big Wade' are doing well. Hope you get to see and visit with them when you get home.
We love you to pieces Ford Mike. Be safe!
Love,
Auntie Carla
Ford Mike, what can I say. I think of you all the time and say prayers for your safety. I know you are o.k. but I still worry. Gramma misses you so much and every time I talk about you she gets big tears. She always asks me to send you her love when writing on the blog.
We took mom (gramma) to Jackson so she could do a little gambling on Saturday. On the way home we stopped in a little town called Waterloo. They have a restaurant called the "Waterloo" (go figure) and they have the best ever ribs, homemade pasta, bread, etc. Good martini's also. Anyway, when you get home we want to take you to this place. Think you and Miss Kate would really like it. For me, it's all about seeing you and Kate again. Can't wait!!!
Just a confirmation for Uncle Stosh. That fish WAS awful! I had Amber Jack in Florida many years ago and it was really good. This one was NASTY!
Bino (Jeffrey) and Melisa just had another baby boy. His name is Brett Jeffrey. Evidently 'little Wade' thinks his name is Shrek. Nancy e-mailed a picture and I forwarded it to Kate. She and 'big Wade' are doing well. Hope you get to see and visit with them when you get home.
We love you to pieces Ford Mike. Be safe!
Love,
Auntie Carla
OK. Here's the deal.....................................
Move EAST y'all!!
Atlanta is lovely this time of year :)
And in winter, fall, spring...........OK Summer sucks.
But a good time to visit Wasilla!!
You've got Lannans' in the North, the West and the Southwest.
there is some seed-spreading needed on the East coast:)
fondly, mamawegs
Atlanta is lovely this time of year :)
And in winter, fall, spring...........OK Summer sucks.
But a good time to visit Wasilla!!
You've got Lannans' in the North, the West and the Southwest.
there is some seed-spreading needed on the East coast:)
fondly, mamawegs
Clarification!
In that picture your mom posted "you get the idea" I want to make it clear that I wasn't passed out. I was just getting a little snooze in after a "long" day. I think that might have been one of the days we spent 8 hours fishing (one of the two trips we made where we bounced around on the ocean for 8 hours and ended up catching 1 fish).
Speaking of which, you know what the most expensive fish in the world is? No?
Well, turns out it's Amber Jack Tuna - costs about $100/LB
($400 dollar fishing trip = 1-4LB fish) LOL. The worst part is we ate it and it tasted like crap.
Back to the picture - for the record, I didn't officially "pass out" until many more hours of partying had occurred - LOL!
Love ya,
Uncle Stosh
Speaking of which, you know what the most expensive fish in the world is? No?
Well, turns out it's Amber Jack Tuna - costs about $100/LB
($400 dollar fishing trip = 1-4LB fish) LOL. The worst part is we ate it and it tasted like crap.
Back to the picture - for the record, I didn't officially "pass out" until many more hours of partying had occurred - LOL!
Love ya,
Uncle Stosh
Hi Fordo
Sorry I spent most of my time typing reasons why your mom and dad should move to CA vs. "talking to you".
I hope you know we are thinking of you always and continue to pray for the safety of you and your team.
I go in for surgery on my shoulder next week so my typing is going to be limited to "left hand hunt and peck" for a while. Don't hold it against me if future blogs are a little short. I'm sure it's going to piss me off not to be able to use my right arm for a while. Oh well, you do what you've got to do, right?
Take good care of yourself and those who serve with you!
We love you,
Stosh
I hope you know we are thinking of you always and continue to pray for the safety of you and your team.
I go in for surgery on my shoulder next week so my typing is going to be limited to "left hand hunt and peck" for a while. Don't hold it against me if future blogs are a little short. I'm sure it's going to piss me off not to be able to use my right arm for a while. Oh well, you do what you've got to do, right?
Take good care of yourself and those who serve with you!
We love you,
Stosh
15 reasons Tom and Corliss should scrap the idea of moving to WA and move to CA instead.
#1 - You don't develop webbed feet from all the rain!!!
#2 - Year round motor cycle riding weather!!!
#3 - Lots of fishing to be done (year round also).
#4 - NO SNOW!!! - Very little rain!
#5 - It's only 1hr 45min/$160 (just checked this today) round trip plane ride to WA, and then after your visit you can come back home to NICE weather - at that price and the extra money you'll make working in CA you can go a couple of times a month if you want to!
#6 - The Giants, the A's, the 49ers, the Raiders, the Warriors, the Kings, the Sharks, oh did I forget the Thunder (hockey), the Ports (baseball), the Lightning (arena football), the Cougars (soccer) semi-pro teams right here in Stockton ($7 to $20 for tickets).
#7 - Stockton weather report - today 82F/clear sky, tomorrow 80F/clear sky, Thursday 72F/clear sky, Friday 72F/clear sky. Warming up next week to the low 80s/high 7os again with "you guessed it" CLEAR SKY.
#8 - SEATTLE weather report - today 60F/showers, tomorrow 56F/showers, Thursday 52F/sprinkles, Friday 56F/rain.
#9 - The Bob Hope Theater (where we'll be seeing Bob and Tom's comedy all stars this month) that seats @ 1000 and there are no bad seats! We get some "top name talent" there at reasonable prices. We've seen Weird Al, Ellen Degeneris, Dennis Miller, Wayne Brady and numerous others there (guess we're into comedy).
#10 - San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Yosemite, Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Lake Tahoe - all of which I remind you can be enjoyed without an umbrella!
#11 - Home prices!!! You can buy now for half of what homes cost 2 years ago! Prices will return to previous values but it will take a while. WA hasn't taken the kind of hit we did so buying in there will cost more and the upside isn't nearly as favorable.
#12 - $$$ - jobs pay well in WA, jobs pay REALLY well in CA!!!
#13 - Tom, Ricky and I could flip some foreclosed houses and make BIG BANK!!! I'm thinking there is a quick $50K or more in a lot of these homes if we fix them up a little (I'm talking paint, carpet and a little interior repair - well inside a months worth of work). I'm actually just waiting for Ricky to get done "being retired" (he's leaving for an Oregon salmon fishing trip tomorrow) and we're getting going on this anyway. Sure could use an extra hand when we get started though - (Tom???).
#14 - Whatever you're in to, we've got it - from craft shows to craftsmen shows, museums, night life, outdoors stuff, indoors stuff... it's all here!
#15 - Your crazy brother and his lovely bride, your sister and mom all live here! We'd love to have you join us :-)
I could continue with reasons upon reasons why you should move here but I need to get back to work. SUNSHINE has a way of making everything else just "stuff"! It makes you truly feel that "life is good" no matter what's going on with the economy, in the nation or around the world.
It's a balmy 82 here today; sun shining, birds chipin', dogs barkin', cat baskin' on the window ledge kind of day. Think I'll drop the top on the Vette and go take a spin (oh that's right, I gotta charge the battery LOL).
Not trying to disrespect my family in WA or where you live - but let's face it, "your weather sucks." I've lived there for a total of about 3 years and it rains/is overcast and gloomy all the time.
Come on Sis - if you're thinking of moving then move to somewhere that weather doesn't restrict you from doing what you want to do when you want to do it! "Californy is the place you ought to be, so y'all load up that truck and move to Beverl... I mean Stockton"!
Just my two cents! Without bringing up kids and grand kids, I want my family in WA to convince you that the Seattle area is where you should move. If you can overcome the positives of living in Cali I've laid out here, hell, I might move there too. Just remember, I've lived there before so you can't "snow" me (or should I have said "rain" me - lol).
Love ya Sis, (love you all)
Stosh
#2 - Year round motor cycle riding weather!!!
#3 - Lots of fishing to be done (year round also).
#4 - NO SNOW!!! - Very little rain!
#5 - It's only 1hr 45min/$160 (just checked this today) round trip plane ride to WA, and then after your visit you can come back home to NICE weather - at that price and the extra money you'll make working in CA you can go a couple of times a month if you want to!
#6 - The Giants, the A's, the 49ers, the Raiders, the Warriors, the Kings, the Sharks, oh did I forget the Thunder (hockey), the Ports (baseball), the Lightning (arena football), the Cougars (soccer) semi-pro teams right here in Stockton ($7 to $20 for tickets).
#7 - Stockton weather report - today 82F/clear sky, tomorrow 80F/clear sky, Thursday 72F/clear sky, Friday 72F/clear sky. Warming up next week to the low 80s/high 7os again with "you guessed it" CLEAR SKY.
#8 - SEATTLE weather report - today 60F/showers, tomorrow 56F/showers, Thursday 52F/sprinkles, Friday 56F/rain.
#9 - The Bob Hope Theater (where we'll be seeing Bob and Tom's comedy all stars this month) that seats @ 1000 and there are no bad seats! We get some "top name talent" there at reasonable prices. We've seen Weird Al, Ellen Degeneris, Dennis Miller, Wayne Brady and numerous others there (guess we're into comedy).
#10 - San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Yosemite, Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Lake Tahoe - all of which I remind you can be enjoyed without an umbrella!
#11 - Home prices!!! You can buy now for half of what homes cost 2 years ago! Prices will return to previous values but it will take a while. WA hasn't taken the kind of hit we did so buying in there will cost more and the upside isn't nearly as favorable.
#12 - $$$ - jobs pay well in WA, jobs pay REALLY well in CA!!!
#13 - Tom, Ricky and I could flip some foreclosed houses and make BIG BANK!!! I'm thinking there is a quick $50K or more in a lot of these homes if we fix them up a little (I'm talking paint, carpet and a little interior repair - well inside a months worth of work). I'm actually just waiting for Ricky to get done "being retired" (he's leaving for an Oregon salmon fishing trip tomorrow) and we're getting going on this anyway. Sure could use an extra hand when we get started though - (Tom???).
#14 - Whatever you're in to, we've got it - from craft shows to craftsmen shows, museums, night life, outdoors stuff, indoors stuff... it's all here!
#15 - Your crazy brother and his lovely bride, your sister and mom all live here! We'd love to have you join us :-)
I could continue with reasons upon reasons why you should move here but I need to get back to work. SUNSHINE has a way of making everything else just "stuff"! It makes you truly feel that "life is good" no matter what's going on with the economy, in the nation or around the world.
It's a balmy 82 here today; sun shining, birds chipin', dogs barkin', cat baskin' on the window ledge kind of day. Think I'll drop the top on the Vette and go take a spin (oh that's right, I gotta charge the battery LOL).
Not trying to disrespect my family in WA or where you live - but let's face it, "your weather sucks." I've lived there for a total of about 3 years and it rains/is overcast and gloomy all the time.
Come on Sis - if you're thinking of moving then move to somewhere that weather doesn't restrict you from doing what you want to do when you want to do it! "Californy is the place you ought to be, so y'all load up that truck and move to Beverl... I mean Stockton"!
Just my two cents! Without bringing up kids and grand kids, I want my family in WA to convince you that the Seattle area is where you should move. If you can overcome the positives of living in Cali I've laid out here, hell, I might move there too. Just remember, I've lived there before so you can't "snow" me (or should I have said "rain" me - lol).
Love ya Sis, (love you all)
Stosh
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