How Am I Doing?

My friends:

Everyone is so good to me; usually asking, "How are you doing?" And usually I say, "Pretty good." But I have to say that lately, I've been struggling a bit. It started 3 or 4 weeks ago, I think.

It seems that lately I've been thinking more about life with Jane before and after, in some different ways. When I think of life with Jane before, I think about the good times we had together with each other and with the kids and family. I get a lump in my throat when I think of those times, and miss them.

Other times, when I think of life after Jane I think of all the times that we'll never share, all the things she's missing . . . In my previous blog entry, you may have read that I went to the drag races in L.A. I saw some famous racers there that Jane knew (from my watching NHRA on TV). I was with my brother, Bob, but when I saw John Force I immediately thought, "Wait till Jane finds out who I saw here . . . oh, yeah, that's right . . . "

The first few months following Jane's death (when I think back on them) I must have been more numb than anything. The six-month anniversary of her passing is coming up on December 3rd, and it still seems hard to believe when I think about her being gone.

I'm not really lonely per se, but I do miss her terribly. This morning I read in the Gazette Times online that I guy I worked with at HP lost his wife (to cancer I think) last weekend. She was also 53 years old (like Jane). It made me very sad for him.

Life isn't the same without my Janey.

At the Drags

Well, after we made it past the fires, we stopped at the Pomona Speedway and settled in for some top-notch drag racing. This was the final event of the 2008 NHRA Powerade Racing Series.


Side by Side Funny Car Burnout from Doug Easton on Vimeo.


Side by Side Top Fuel Burnout from Doug Easton on Vimeo.

California Wildfires

I flew to Long Beach, California this past weekend to visit my brother Bob, and his family (and to see the NHRA Poweraide 2008 Finals in drag racing). On the way to the races on Saturday, we took the 57 freeway north to Pomona.

As we headed north, we drove right past this fire that was very close to the freeway. The road was closed shortly after we made it past.


Southern California Wildfire from Doug Easton on Vimeo.

Another video:


Southern California Wildfire #2 from Doug Easton on Vimeo.

And another:


Southern California Wildfire #3 from Doug Easton on Vimeo.

Happy (Belated) Halloween!

This is a slightly delayed photograph of me and the nurses in our Halloween costumes taken on Halloween Day this year at the Corvallis Clinic Surgery Center.


From left to right: Mr. E - - - Miss Taken - - - Miss Demeanor - - - Miss Understood - - - Miss Directed - - - Miss Used

New Harley Commercial

I saw this commercial on TV the other night, and really like it. You can judge for yourselves . . .



Ho Ho Ho

Take a Cha Cha Cha Chance

It's my 54th birthday today, so here's a song many of you will appreciate and remember:



Happy Birthday to ME!

New Car for DJ

Well friends, Daniel (DJ) has been working for awhile at the Safeway gas station on Philomath Blvd., and was riding his bicycle to work everyday. It's about 5 miles, and so he wanted to get his driver's license back, and get a car.

Saturday, we both went to the DMV and I renewed my driver's license, and he took the knowledge test again (and passed) and got his license. We went looking at cars on Saturday afternoon, and found a very nice, used 1995 Pontiac Gran Prix, with only 71,000 miles on it.

I fronted DJ some of the money, and we bought the car for him. His insurance is quite expensive, but a good way for him to learn about what it takes to survive these days. I am a bit nervous, to say the least, having him drive on his own; but I've got to start letting go, and letting him grow up, huh?

I'm finally going to visit my brother Bob (and his wife Malaura and kids) in L.A. next week. The NHRA 2008 Finals (drag racing for those of you who aren't hip to that sport) are being held in Pomona, CA. on the weekend of November 13-16, 2008.

I can't wait! I haven't seen a drag race (live) in years, so I'm really stoked. I've been watching almost every weekend, and the racing is incredible these days.

Top fuel dragsters running the 1/8th mile in under 4 seconds at a top speed of over 300mph.


And, of course, the drag bikes! Waaayyyy coool. I'll post after the races next week, hopefully with some awesome burn-outs, and thundering races. Until then . . .