2/22/5 - Lost somewhere in Idaho

Just when can I have a fancy GPS system like this one that Finnish timbertruck-drivers use? (Article below)
You read it right - Finnish timbertruck-drivers. I guess it means Finland is a more technologically developed and civilized country than we are these days. Well, they ain't spendin' billions in Iraq neither.
Boy, I sure could have used one of these today...I was as lost as the Washington DC boys and our City Hall boys seem to be.
Anyhow, I'll see y'all next time I'm in town and be sure and keep an eye out on things while I'm gone.
-Tom

The Information System in Timber Trucks
There is also an information system in timber trucks, which receive wireless haulage instructions from Metsähallitus. The haulage instructions clarify where to get the timber, which grades, how much and where to deliver to, and what time the timber should reach the customer. Deliveries are made according to a detailed schedule provided by the customer. Thanks to quick and wireless information transmission, a truck’s arrival time at a mill can be flexibly changed to suit the customer’s request.Timber trucks are also equipped with GPS technology, which helps drivers locate storage areas marked on the map. The smooth flow of information also helps in managing the work. Procurement managers and timber truck drivers communicate regularly via email.

2/16/5 - Longview to Portland

"What a beautiful day", was the consensus around Wayne's HotDog truck on Wednesday. We were all happy, upbeat and grateful to be livin' in the Northwest, in Oregon, in Washington, in St Helens. We all agreed that these kinds of days are upliftin' and we all basked in our happiness with lots of humor.
One old-timer said, "Now a couple of Wednesdays past, was both Groundhog Day and the day the State of the Union Address was given. It was ironic: One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication, and the other involves a groundhog." We all roared, despite the real meaning of the joke. Other than that, I didn't hear anyone complain about anything, though there certainly could be lots to complain about. I was sure sad to hear about two young St Helens kids killed on their motorcycles on Tuesday.
We all hoped that the St Helens city-hall boys would take their lunch in one of the parks today and think about things. Think about our parks. Think about days like today. Think about St Helens people in parks on days like today.
Ahhhh...then, it was off down the road towards Portland.
Take care of things in this beautiful town ya got, ya hear?
-Tom
PS: My thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of the two St Helens High School boys killed in the motorcycle(s) accident yesterday.

2/8/5 - Longview to St Helens

Had some time to kill, so I headed over to the St Helens Library. Nice buildin', I thought to myself as I pulled up. I went inside, turned right...Uhmmm...What library? Now, my Grandmother always told me, "If you can't say somethin' nice about somebody or something, then don't say anything at all." Ok...thanks Grandma.
To the left of the library is the Columbia Center where some computer people were frettin' and worryin' and shufflin' about like a bunch of angry bees in a traumatized hive. Turns out the main server was down. The real trouble is that the City of St. Helens and the Spotlight newspaper and a whole lot of other folks rely on this server for e-mail and internet and all. And just now, as I tried most of the city links on the sthelensupdate page, none of them seemed to be workin'. A tough day at 18th and Plymouth.
ok Grandma...ok.
I'm just keepin' an eye on things in this nice little town y'all got here.

-Tom

1/31/5 - St Helens to Mossy Rock

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An hour or so before leavin' town, I found out that the same guy who ripped off the Barlow Brothers for a pile of dirt, will be constructing the stairway for Columbia View Park. And even more troublesome is that it will not be the stairway that Larry Buzbee originally conceived and designed. No, I guess that would be too nice for St Helens, Oregon.
The City Hall Boys sure seem to think so. And the City Hall Boys also seem to like hangin' out with this dirt-sellin', project stealin', bmx-track destroyin' fella.
A few bits of advice for y'all on the "new" Columbia View designin' committee: here's some basic lessons on stair-buildin' that you could probably learn on any Saturday Afternoon at Home Depot:

Here is the Columbia View Amphitheater (9/04)

Note Mr. Buzbee's artistic design. Imagine his original vision that included a beautiful rock-laid stairway. Imagine, and ONLY imagine, because it aint gonna happen. Instead they will throw together in HACK-like fashion, something that will merely function as stairs. Now, I suppose that's alright if your skimmin' some money or whatever, but really you guys, take some time to think about how you're gonna throw it together; think about how it could look for future generations. For example:

Here are some fancy stone steps, and they look pretty nice.

These are also fairly simple and classy

These are very boring stairs.
Not much imagination at all and very cost-effective.

Now, the questions you have to ask yourselves: Which kind of stairs will you, as St Helens citizens, be walking on for the next 50 years?
Will they be fancy, or classy or artisitically considered?
Or will they just be thrown together to save a buck. Or to skim a buck?
Do you deserve better?
I kinda think you do. So did Larry Buzbee.
Take care of things in this nice little town y'all got here.
-Tom