Eugene, Oregon:

Travelling from Portland to Ashland, we stopped at the Hazelton's in Eugene. We found the grandkids, Payton, Brady and Derrick entranced with their new We Game by Nintendo!!! What a clever game!!! even for old folks! The difference between this new version of games is, you actually play the game. . .for bowling, you throw the simulated ball at the pins! . . .you can play ping pong, shoot space ships where you actually point the shooter at the TV screen moving targets, ride a cow over obstacles hoping you stay on the track, play tennis, etc. . .the most interesting game playing I've seen yet and taking the country by storm! Nintendo still hasn't caught up with the Christmas demand of last year!!!! I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with a We by year's end. . .thanks to Roly and his family who introduced us to this fun. And before you go out and buy this game contact Paul and Jana on how to get the best deals on games and controllers to go with your initial purchase. Esther & I can bowl against each other just like the real thing and your arm even gets tired after several 10 frame games!!!!

Brady celebrated his 8th birthday, April 8, 2008! He called the 8ths, his golden birthday! & in a rented gym, with his friends. He has lots of energy!

(Jana & Paul Hazelton)

Coming Rebate Checks

Who isn't concerned with high gas prices???? And who isn't looking forward to the nice rebate checks that we're supposed to receive soon? I've been concerned about gasoline prices for several years now and my wife, is getting tired of me suggesting that our brilliant legislators should eliminate the gasoline tax for a fixed period of time to give us all immediate relief! Finally after several years of bellyaching to her, I've heard several commentators suggest the same thing. But, alas, it is much more economical to mail us all rebate checks that will cost us, the tax payers, several million dollars to process and mail the 30 million checks! The simplicity of eliminating the gas tax to start immediately. . .2 years ago. . .would have given us all a financial boost along with a boost in confidence in our government. . .a boost they desperately need! Now they would like our applaud for their great benevolence in giving back to us what they have already taken from us! I will however, accept the check, if we get one, and shake my head all the way to the bank.

Ashland, Oregon:

Granddaughter, Amanda Good, is an avid softball player. This is her third year on the Ashland High School Grizzlies team. Most of their team are juniors and they have started the season with 14 wins and 2 losses! This past Saturday, they split a double-header on a beautiful 80 degree day in southern Oregon. The Grizzlies are rated in the top 5 in the state.
(Parents, Lori Freed & Bob Good)

Gotcha! Esther at bat July 16, 2008

Portland, Oregon:

Our son Dan, now 55, suffered a stroke on March 30. It affected his right arm and leg and his speech. Now after 2 weeks of hospital care, he is making good progress with 3 to 4 hours a day of physical therapy. We ask for your prayers.

Corsicana, Texas:

Great grandson, Blake, now 9 months, wants to crawl, sits up, and has his first tooth. Holly, his mother, is completing her final year in college and plans to teach this fall.

(Grandparents, Candy & Roly Freed)

Is anyone tired of politics? Everyone has a bias, even news reporters! They choose what to report and leave out the photos or the words they disagree with. Newspaper editors run 10 year old stories if it hurts the opposition. If important news doesn't support their position, it's buried on page 18. Of course we all have a bias and often refuse to believe obvious facts that disagree with our position. It's a human trait!

As I assess the current scene, name calling nor vain criticism gives credence to objective thinking. If you are open to looking, observe where the majority of political hostility comes from, then reassess. If your like me, we long for sanity and rational thinking in our government, something we seldom see particularly today when we were informed of the billions of dollars of questionable credit card purchases by our politicians! Who pays, we do! The only answer some give is to raise taxes. Why not eliminate the credit cards! Whenever any one of us belittles the competition, we close off rational discussion.