Settle in Portland Area

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In July they started sending me out as a driver more and more (and less as a helper). Loretta, Becky and I were doing three international air pack and loads are were moving right along when my truck wouldn't start. They went on to the third job (as Loretta had brought her own vehicle since she had to leave at 3PM). It turns out the that the automatic kill switch (diesels don't have an ignition system, relying on compression instead and, hence, require a kill switch) was stuck. A mechanic came out and moved it by hand and everything worked fine after that. Go figure!
The second job had been to pack and load about 700 lbs (it was a single guy who was allowed up to a 1,000 lbs). Here is the entrance to his apartment. As it was on the first floor that was really nice.
Intel ships a lot of its people between its fabrication plants in Hillsboro, OR, Ireland, and Malaysia (so that they can learn the techniques that work). Here is a view of the Seneca condomeniums where many of the visiting people stay. We have been doing a lot of Intel international moves.
On July 24, 2003, Karyn had a sort of Family Day picnic for the place where she works (a government agency) where she got paid for attending and family was welcome. She invited me to come with her and Alex. It was at Oaks Amusement Park, which is a classical amusement park established in 1905. Wow.
While we were out in the sun (it was a goregous day) I took the opportunity to take a better picture of Karyn's engagement ring.
During much of the picnic/family day, there was music provided by people who work for the agency. The performers on the far left and far right of this picture actually work with Karyn. They played quite well.
One of the games was where they would throw coins and candy onto a tarp covered with hay. Then they would allow kids to search to find the coins and candy. Here is Alex looking for prizes.
Another of the games was a water balloon toss contest where pardners would toss a balloon back and forth with the distance between them increasing with each round. Any broken balloons would eliminate that pair.
Just around the picnic area was a miniture train with tracks and all (propance powered from the smell of it).
As a part of the picnic you could buy passes that would allow you unlimited rides during a certain period.
At the train we first saw the park's squirrel. It was a pretty warm day (but still very nice) and so we felt sorry for the person inside of the squirrel suit. The squirrel went to various parts of the park and we saw him/her a few times.
Alex rode all the kiddie rides. He chose not to go on the small roller coaster, ferris wheel, or haunted mine. He had been on the ferris wheel ages ago with Karyn, but now was too fearful (before he may not have known to be afraid).