Baggage to beverage and family in between

On the carousel
 Flip gets a ride after a long flight. Fortunately the bags came pretty quick and Debbie and Syvlia swooped  in and  delivered us to our final destination.
Dad, boychild, Flip and planes
David shares just one of more than 100 model airplanes, which are really handcrafted and to scale and freakin’ awesome. Flip’s a bit blown away and snuggles close to Carl.
Lovebirds
Lovebirds enjoying some dandy Mexican at Tia Rosa’s in Mesa. Flip is enchanted.
What a relief
After dinner and drinks, what a relief.
Flip's audition as a bird
In David and Jean’s backyard, Flip seizes the opportunity to sample some gourmet bird food, or so he thinks.
Flip's apertif
Well played, Flip! Well played.

 

Dinner and a movie

Flip starts his trip with a stop at Humps in Clatskanie for dinner and a movie. Coming in the middle of “Outlaw Jose Wales,” Flip had the urge to eat a cow. It looks like his wish came true with the biggest chicken fried steak I have ever seen.

25 January, 2015 00:21

Flip’s new stunt double, Rip goes out on the town with the Stanoviches to T. Paul’s Supper Club’s tasty happy hour then lures the couple home for an evening of martini experimentation.
Sharon Stanovich and Rip at T. Paul’s Supper Club.
Carl gets Rip roaring to kick off the martini tasting party.
Yeppers!
Rip’s stuffed buddies prop him up at the end of the meeting.

Rip gets his New Year’s grub on

 Happy New Year!
Flip’s successor, Rip, gets his fill of New Year’s Day blackeyed peas for good luck, spinach for prosperity and cornbread, just for goodness. Thanks, Mom, for cooking up a great, traditional plate of food. Oh, did we mention the key lime pie?
Rip is a little bummed because he was supposed to be winging his way down to Missouri with Carl, but he didn’t catch his ride. Next time, young critter. Next time.

Winning the lottery when checking in

After a long couple of days traveling to Barbados, we survived a harrowing taxi ride to the Barbados Hilton. We wound up waiting in line quite awhile, as they were checking lots of flight attendants and crews out. But, once we go to the front, our checker-in guy got a funny look on his face, left with Carl’s ID, finally came back and informed us we had not only been upgraded, but we had what was basically the Presidential Suite. Two other managers came over to congratulate us and share fist bumps. It really was like winning the lottery, and we were sorely tempted to skip the cruise to stay in our four balconied set of rooms and monster bath suite.

Thanks, Hilton! It was the bomb!IMG_0019 IMG_0020 IMG_0023 IMG_0024 IMG_6770IMG_0011 IMG_0010 IMG_6777  IMG_6817IMG_6823IMG_8593

Living the Dream