The Trouble With Leaving Town.

The problem with leaving Eugene for any amount of time (even two days) is you see how normal the rest of the world really is and you wonder if we are mislead, arrogant or can’t see ourselves as we really appear to the outside world.

I read the Oregonian for a few days and when I come back, open the RG and find 40-square miles surrounded by reality. The headlines have nothing to do with my life or the lives of most of the people I know.

I like living in this area (I live in Springfield) but when you get out of town you really discover how different this place is and it’s not all good.

I wonder sometimes if we don’t fall into some false sense of thinking we’re right and the rest of the world is wrong.

When I visit Portland, Hood River or Mount Hood I find the “Hippy Vibe” alive and well but minus the need to fight and argue over every little detail in life. In other places in Oregon they welcome alternative lifestyles but it’s not like a religion. Go to Cottage Grove and you find people who disagree actually get along. No one group runs the show.

I think we need to come down off our high horse for a minute. Perhaps we need to look around and see that the squeakiest wheel really isn’t the majority and probably shouldn’t be running the show.

But I guess if you want to issue blame it should go to each one of us who allows the minority to rule the place we call home.

But that’s takes work and people can’t just sit on their butt and wait for it to happen.

Vandals Strike Springfield Landmark

The white horse and rider statue that greats folks to the town of Springfield Oregon is the victim of vandalism. The odd thing is the mayor of the city knew about it, sanctioned it and was even there while people were painting it.

The white statue is now blue, to support Prostate Cancer Awareness month.

Men, if you are 40 years or older get a PSA done. It could be a matter of life and death.

Snow in the forecast….yeh

There is something about the snow that makes everything looks so clean and good. This is a picture of our house last year when we got that huge snow storm. I get excited when I hear snow is on the way. Why is that? I feel like a kid again. Kathy went out and bought a bunch of groceries to make sure we have what we need. I don’t have chains for my new car so we will use her 4-wheel drive if need be. I stopped by and got dog food and a heat lamp for the goats. If it’s gets down to 15 degree’s they need something to keep them warm. Jess covered the vents and faucets the other day. I even bought a few flood lights to put in the pump houses to protect the pipes in those places. When you live in the country you have to worry about pump houses too.

In Oregon you don’t always trust the weather experts because they make a lot of mistakes. Hey, it’s science and God doesn’t give us a whole lot to go on. So, tomorrow night we’ll all look out the windows one hundred times to see if the snow is falling, if it’s accumulating and if there will be enough to keep us indoors, by the fire, sipping hot coffee or drinking a dark beer or 14 hands cab.

So, pull the covers up to your neck tonight. Get up early and make sure everything is covered and ready for the cold weather. Grab a book, some snacks, a beer and the remote and relax. It’s Western Oregon, enjoy the snow while it lasts. Man, I hope it snows for Christmas.