Happy 35th Birthday, Michael
November 16th, 2005

Michael and Sylvia drove to Portland on Friday evening, November 18th, for a weekend celebration of Michael's birthday and the Civil War football game between Oregon State and University of Oregon. Rocke and I were anixous for their arrival as they were bringing us a 20 x 30 inch print of a picture Michael had taken of Cold Spring Creek. Rocke and I really thought the picture was beautiful and were anxious to see the final version and to get it framed. We were excited to find out he had already sold one of these prints.

Saturday morning, Michael and I went to a couple of frames shops, and finally settled for the "perfect" frame for the photo. We got it ordered and now had to wait for the frame to be delivered. We returned back home to watch the "Civil War" game with Rocke and Sylvia. Michael graduated from Oregon State and Rocke's two sons, Ryan and Ross graduated from University of Oregon. It can get very exciting in our home during the "Civil War" game. The University of Oregon "Ducks" won the game and have bragging rights for the year for winning the "Civil War". They have been very consistent in their games and did an awesome job this year. Now, if we can only get a good quarterback for the Oregon State "Beavers", maybe we will have a chance of winning the "Civil War" in 2006.

Before the game, we lit the candles on Michael's cake. He blew out the candles and we all enjoyed a piece of his birthday cake. Michael had already received his birthday gift from Rocke and I. We got him a Canon 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens for his new camera. This is a medium telephoto lens with a large aperture that brings the subject closer, creates excellent background blur, gives a longer flash range, and affords a faster shutter speed to freeze action.

Sunday, we went to the Japanese Garden and the Oregon Zoo. After leaving the zoo, Michael and Sylvia returned home to The Dalles. What a great fun-filled birthday weekend.