Another Independence Day in the Books

Yesterday was another great day to celebrate America’s birthday. Like last year, we went to the Edmonds Independence Day parade with the Otterlees (nee the “Smiths”). This year we had a new addition to the Jenkins clan:

Mom and Finn.

Unfortunately Reese is just old enough to know not to look at the camera, and Finn is just young enough not to know he’s supposed to look at the camera. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but try as we might, we couldn’t get both kids to look at the camera:

No matter the angle, one or both of them kept looking the other way.

I can assure you there was nothing going on over there.

Among the parade participants was a group of scooter riders clad in the white version of my July 4 shirt:

After the parade we had a great barbecue lunch at the Otterlee’s. Later that day I did a 1200-yard open water swim down at the LBC, where we closed the day off watching fireworks with the Cheuks.

Not a bad way to spend a life.

Reese and the American Flag Shirt, Take 3

In what’s slowly becoming a family tradition I’m sure Reese will cringe at in years to come, we took the third annual Reese and the American flag pic today:

July 4, 2009.

The first two:

July 4, 2008.

July 4, 2007.

I’m not sure how this little tradition got started, but for a shirt that gets worn once a year and basically sat unused for years, this guy has staged quite a comeback.

Another Pro Tour I Won’t Be Joining

Today Joel and I joined a four of his friends for a day of surfing at LaPush, one of the northwestern most points in the union.

We surfed the star.

Surf and weather were great, but I was la pushin’ the bounds of sanity goin’ out there without a hood. Didn’t know water could get that cold. We saw a seal, a large bed of kelp, and a brave soul on a body board without a wetsuit. Me — I’d a died of hypothermia.

It was a very full day (left at 4:45 am, home at 10:30 pm) but one I’d definitely like to do again, although truth be told . . .

no one'll ever confuse me with this guy.

Reese Picks Up the Sticks

Ok, she may not be this guy yet . . .

but Reese’s golf career has officially begun:

Dig that clubhead speed.

Shaft may be a tad long and the alignment a bit off, but she'll get it.

Going to be a crafty wedge player -- unlike her dad.

The Jenkins Clan Hits Remlinger Farms

The Jenkins Four went to Remlinger Farms today for some raspberry picking. We did not get cheated.

I’ve posted pics on Snapfish. Nothing particularly fantastic as they were all iPhone pics (I’m no Chase Jarvis).

Hawaiian Day, Squared

Today the Jenkins family attended dose Hawaiian-themed parties. The first was Grant “Smith’s” first birthday party up at Jane and Marc’s in Edmonds (pics).

Grant hits the big Numero Uno.

Another shirt that doesn't get a lot of action.

The second was a soiree thrown by Roy and Grace Price down at the beach club. We didn’t take the camera to Grace and Roy’s so we didn’t get pics, but Norman did take this one of yours truly:

That's thirty feet if you're measuring.

It was a fun day for the Jenkins family but one overcome by sadness. Uncle Cole went back to Phoenix.

We’ll miss him, but he knows he’s welcome back any time.

Michael Jackson RIP

I learned of Michael Jackson’s untimely death today when Rhonda called to tell me about it. I was driving on I-5 through rush hour traffic in downtown Seattle.

No doubt that moment will go down as one of the “I remember where I was” moments of my life. There aren’t many:

I learned about Elvis Presley’s death while driving south on West Marginal Way with my grandpa. I was eight years old, Elvis was 42, my grandpa was 61 or so.

I learned about Lyman Bostock’s death when I read about it in an American paper in Moscow. I was nine years old. (I know, he doesn’t belong in this list. But for some reason I remember when he died. And he did hit .311 in a four-year major league career.)

I was sitting in a bedroom in a condo in Stateline, Nevada when I watched the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team win the gold medal. You remember — the “impossible dream” team. I was ten years old.

I was on a beach on Hood Canal just north of Hoodsport, WA when Mount St. Helens erupted. My grandma heard it. I did not. The date was May 18, 1980. I was eleven years old.

I learned the Space Shuttle had exploded over the loudspeaker at Kennedy High School. Father Batterberry delivered the news. I was 17.

I learned about Princess Di’s death when I saw it in the headlines in a newspaper at a Denny’s near the airport. We were on our way to catch a plane to Bend, OR for the first-ever Greenspan Cup. I was 28. Princess Di was 36, four years younger than I am as I write this.

I learned about the 9/11 attacks when my roommate Carol Baskin told me about it early that morning. I was sitting in front of my computer and watched the day’s coverage on CNN. I was 32.

Back to Jacko. I can’t say I was a fan of his music, and I count myself among the many (if not the majority) who found him beyond creepy. My Jackson memories are mostly of the 9th graders who dressed and gloved like him in high school, circa 1983-84. Nevertheless I can’t doubt his talent or his impact on pop culture. And regardless of what I thought of him, fifty is way too early to go.

Rest in peace, Michael. You’ll be missed.

Why Didn’t I Think of This

This from my friend Michael Anderson on his Facebook page today:

A smoking section in a restaurant is like a peeing section in a pool.

Uh, dad, maybe I should use the bathroom instead . . .

Flippin’ brilliant.

The Family Hits Port Gamble

This weekend Cole, Rhonda, Reese and Finn joined me for some Civil War re-enacting at Port Gamble on the south end of the Kitsap Peninsula. Never been there (or even heard of it) but it was a pretty cool place I gotta say. I really can’t see any reason why it couldn’t be a destination along the lines of a Friday Harbor. It’s certainly a lot closer to Seattle.

Anyway, we got lots of pics from the re-enactment. Among them:

I followed it up with a Father’s Day round of golf at Washington National on Sunday morning . . .

What a difference eighteen hours makes.

Greenspan 2009 Details

Seems no one keeps their Greenspan e-mails printed out in a nice folder.

No one except Cheever, I’m sure.

The Greenspan boys are returning to Suncadia/Chelan after a two-year absence.

Details of the 2009 event are as follows:

Golf
Thursday July 30 — practice round at Suncadia starting at 11:30 am
Friday July 31 — Bear Mountain Ranch — 8 am and 2:10 pm
August 1 — Desert Canyon — 8 am and 2:20 pm
Sunday August 2 — 11 am singles at Suncadia

Accomodations
Park Pointe, 808 Manson Highway, Chelan, WA (emergency contact numbers 509 670 4698 and 509 670 4697)
B202 – 2 queens, 2 aero beds
B203- 2 queens, 1 queen sleeper couch
B204- 1 king, 1 queen, 1 queen sleeper couch
B301- 1 king, 1 queen, 1 queen sleeper couch.
Fifth unit — World Team only