Showing you Oregon,one post at a time. Did you know that I post the links of many of my stories and articles on the sidebar? When you have extra time, please scroll down to see more. At the bottom of this page there are links to many other blogs that I enjoy.

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Hello, friends, thank you so much for stopping by. I really hope that you will enjoy your visit to Oregon Gifts. Due to spam, I am not accepting comments from anonymous people. Please email me at: oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy@hotmail.com if you are unable to leave a comment on here. I write back through email when I can.

My words and photographs are copyrighted, and may not be used without permission, even on Pinterest.

~ Kathy M.

Monday, June 28, 2010

How Jimmy Buffett Helped Me to Love the Gulf Coast:


Treat Her Like A Lady  

I have been a Parrothead since 1975, when I attended my first Jimmy Buffett concert at the age of 17.  The concert was at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene, Oregon in the Cow Palace.  Jerry Jeff Walker was the headliner and Jimmy Buffett was the close second.  (I think I went with my friends, Paula Scott and Scott, but I'm not sure.)  I lived across the street from the fairgrounds, so, who knows, maybe I went by myself.  Or with a date.  We sat on our coats on the hard, cold, concrete floor.  And then got up and danced.  I don't remember, really who else was there, I only had eyes for Jimmy.  And for Jerry Jeff. 

Anyway, around that time, my little bro had loaned me a JB cassette tape and I loved it.  I really loved "Behind Door Number Three".    So, that must have been on A1A.  I found it hysterical.  I was hooked.  I also thought that "My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, and I Don't Love Jesus ... Oh My Lord, I Don't"   was pretty funny too, which was on  Havanna Daydreaming, but by that time I had met my first husband, who was also a Jimmy Buffett fan, and had lots of favorites then.  (Trust me, it helps, but you cannot base a marriage on a mutual love of Jimmy Buffett.)  I did go to lots of JB concerts with him though.  And he went to many more without me, after THE DIVORCE.  Cuz, he had the big bucks and I didn't. 

I have been to where the oil spill is, a decade before it happened.   My ex-husband took me on a fun trip to New Orleans in 2000, after I divorced his successor.  It was an awesome trip.  We stayed in the French Quarter; went on a Bayou alligator tour; we went to the Bellagio, in Biloxi, boarded a stern wheeler on the mighty Mississippi;  and took a bus tour that included above-ground graveyards and a mansion by the heir of Sears and Roebuck.  We also went to Margaritaville in New Orleans, and my hand painted chair had the song title, "Come to the Moon".   We had a blast. Thank you for taking me!  (Not that he reads my blog, but just in case.)

Anyway, after 30+ years of being a Buffett fan, Jimmy has definitely influenced me.  Even today, my personal philosophy is a blend of Jimmy Buffett and the Holy Bible.  In a lot of ways, they are not that far apart, really.  Jimmy writes about what he knows and loves.  He loves the Gulf Coast, the Caribbean and the Mother Ocean; his work, family, love and friendship. Jimmy also writes about his adventures and his childhood.  I would call that life.  Jimmy Buffett celebrates his life through his songs and books.  Amen to that.  I love his songs, listening to and singing them at home and on tape or CD in the car (since they are rarely played on the radio).  My three children were brought up on Jimmy Buffett songs.  The girls had it from both sides; my son got it from me.  We are Parrotheads, and very proud of it.  When I sing karaoke, I sing Volcano, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Come Monday.  By the way, Cary's Jimmy Buffett song is The Perfect Partner http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jimmy_buffett/perfect_partner.html  and, if he knew all the Jimmy Buffet songs, I would like to think that when he first met me, this song would have come to mind, Smart Woman in a Real Short Skirt http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jimmy_buffetSmart Woman in a Real Short Skirt Okay, so that is a summary of the background of my Jimmy Buffett experience.  


This morning, my new friend Leigh, who has the blog named "Bloggeritaville",  wrote a post http://lbratina.blogspot.com/2010/06/reclaiming-our-ocean.html  about going down to see the oil spill disaster firsthand.  Leigh and I both share a love for Jimmy Buffett and his song, "A Pirate Looks at Forty"  .  We also share a love for that beautiful part of our country, where the oil spill is devastating the ocean and the environment. 


After I read Leigh's post, I got to thinking, if it were not for Jimmy Buffett and his songs, would I even know that much about the Gulf Coast?  Would it be in my heart?  Would it have mattered to me if I had went to visit it in 2000 or not?  Would it have hit home like it did when the hurricane devastated New Orleans?  (Believe me, that did effect me.  I sat there in horror and tears before the t.v. watching the devastation; the people drowning; the people being held hostage in the football stadium and those dying on the bridges.  I already had plans to have my Cary take me there so that I could show him around.  Hopefully we will still be able to go there sometime soon. For some reason, Mississippi is always on Cary's mind, and he longs to return there.)

So, which songs gave me a picture of the Gulf states through Jimmy's eyes?  Here are some of them, though I am very sure that there are many more:

A Pirate Looks at Forty http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jimmy_buffett/a_pirate_looks_at_40.html
Who's The Blond Stranger http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jimmy_buffett/whos_the_blonde_stranger-lyrics-69096.html
The Stars Fell on Alabama http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jimmy_buffett/stars_fell_on_alabama.html
Frankie and Lola http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jimmy_buffett/frank_and_lola-lyrics-69105.html
Biloxi   Biloxihttp://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jimmy_buffett/biloxi-lyrics-68988.html
The Captain and the Kid http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jimmy_buffett/the_captain_and_the_kid.html
Treat Her Like a Lady http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jimmy_buffett/treat_her_like_a_lady.html
Trying to Reason with the Hurricane Season  http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jimmy_buffett/trying_to_reason_with_hurricane_season-lyrics-69032.html
Margaritaville http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jimmy_buffett/margaritaville-lyrics-69017.html

(Here is a list of all Jimmy's songs and lyrics, if you want to check them out: http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jimmy_buffett/ )  Okay, for now, enough about me and my stuff and how Jimmy Buffett introduced me to where the oil spill is ruining the Gulf Coast. 

To paraphrase Leigh's request, I am asking you to all please pray for this horrendous oil spill to be stopped.  Please also pray for the U.S. Government and the Administration to do their very, very best to clean up the mess immediately!  Please pray for those in charge to stop blocking the progress that the gulf coast residents are trying so hard to go forward with.  Let us get the shores cleaned up, the animals saved, and the fishing and tourism industry restored.   The ocean belongs to all of us, and should not be held hostage in a political move.

Thanks, you guys, for your help and for your prayers.  They really want you to go down there on vacation too, even if you cannot swim in the ocean.  There are lots of other things to do.  You can even help clean up the beaches if you want to.


Take care,


Kathy


Books on Writing Books:

The Papa Bear Book:

Remember, the other day, when I began reading this book by Oakley Hall?  I was so excited.  I said that it was going to be hard, though, like going to school.  It was/is difficult for me to read.  I only read around 10 pages and then put it away for later.


The Mama Bear Book:

Then I remembered that I had this one, from 20 years ago.  It is a great book, written in 1938 by a wonderful woman.  It is fun to read and very inspiring.  I am going to re-read it shortly.


The Baby Bear Book:


In a snap decision on Friday, I visited the new location of the St. Vincent de Paul in Mayberry for the first time.  I had been thinking about how hard the Papa Bear book is.  All those new terms thrown out here and there, excerpts from those masters that I am supposed to know about.  Well, I had heard of most of them and read some them, but they are not my first choice for everyday reading.  That book intimidated me.

When I walked in to the St. Vinnies, there was a library section near the front door.  On the left.  I am always a sucker for library sections.  The cheapest place in town to buy books is at the La Pine Library Book Nook, which is open on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons, by the way.  Anyway, back to my riveting story.  This book, "On Writing", by Stephen King was placed there just for me, and my eyes zoomed in on it immediately.  I will count it as a God thing.  It was in brand new condition, and cost me only $3.00.

I love reading it!  It was written in 2000.  Steve (as I now call him) spends the first part of the book writing essays about his life, and how he came to become a famous writer.  The second part is how to improve your writing.  For me, everything he says in this book goes straight to my heart, and is very encouraging and inspiring.  It is funny too.  I even want to go to Steve's website and tell him thank you for writing it.  I'll put that on my list of things to do right now.

I have gathered my writing books, journal, legal pad, pens and pencils and placed them in to a big leather purse/bag that I got from my step-mom Jill, and am now carting it around all over the place.  I am really getting serious about my writing now, and I don't want to miss an idea, forget a conversation, story or awesome phrase that I can use later on.  


So, now, I leave the house with two camera's in my purse (3 if you count the one on my cell phone, but I haven't figured out how to get the pictures off of there yet) ... and my "writer's bag".  I am prepared for life documentation of all sorts.  It's funny, but it wasn't so very long ago when I was carting around a large diaper bag everywhere I went instead, and children were my focus and passion.  Things do change over time.

The other thing I am going to do is start writing down my memories and stories in addition to what I put on my blog.  I just want to sit here at my computer all day long and write, write, write.  It has suddenly become a passion, like my photography.  Practice has to help.  My pictures have gotten better over time, and I believe that my writing will too.  I hope so!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Fender Bender

After we were done with our stroll around Downtown Bend yesterday, we headed back to the new parking garage.  The one that was designed for VW Beetles, not full sized pick-ups.  As we walked toward our truck, we saw several people standing around it, and a blue car parked behind it.  Uh-oh!  In the dim light and small isles, the poor little girl who was driving the car did not see the trailer hitch on our truck and ripped a big hole in the passenger side of her car.


We were like, oh, no, look at your car!  Cary said, don't worry, that is what insurance is for.  Her friend said, well the car only cost us $800, so I doubt if we will be getting it fixed.  We said, oh, man, we are trading this car in tomorrow, the salesman and his wife are driving from Olympia to deliver it.  So we exchanged info, and I'm sure that the little girl's parents were really excited to learn later on that she had hit a company car owned by a retired state cop.  Really excited, I'm sure.





What was kind of funny was the look on the lady in the minivan next to us.  She and her family walked up to the unfolding scene a couple of minutes after we did.  Cary and I were trying to make the girl who hit us feel better by saying, oh, well, these things happen, don't worry, nobody got hurt, etc., etc.  The lady kept staring at me with a really weird look.  Later I wondered if she thought we backed into the blue car and tore the hole in it ourselves!  We didn't, I swear, we were not even around when it happened.  Honest.

So, anyway, we got the car all washed and cleaned on the way home from Bend.  This morning we drove to Redmond and signed the papers for the new one.  Now we don't even have to get a rental car while the old one is getting fixed.   

Thank you Billy and Leanne for driving the new one down here for us!

Leanne, Cary and Billy Paul


 It is really nice.  It has a full backseat and 
XM Radio featuring Jimmy Buffett...
what more could a girl want?


Visit Central Oregon: Downtown Bend in Late June 2010

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Another dress that makes me look absolutely huge. 

But, I really am happy and having a great time with
my best friend on our 6th anniversary, so I am putting it in my online diary.


At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.
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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Happy Sixth Wedding Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Matthews!


You may kiss the bride!


Was I happy, or what?
I am even happier now, but I sure do look older these days!


Seven years ago, we met, fell in love and got engaged.  Six years ago today, we were married in front of 250 of our family and friends.  I am so blessed that my best friend Cary " found me out in the woods" as he is fond of telling people.   I love you, Cary Matthews!


Cary gave me flowers.


I gave him birdbaths.


We went to Corey's for lunch and then we
walked around downtown Bend.

It doesn't get much better than that!


Except for this: the company bought us a new truck.  
Thanks, company!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Casey goes to the beach ....


Click to enlarge for a close up view!

No Copying!


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I LOVE THE STATE OF OREGON.

I LOVE THE STATE OF OREGON.
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