Stay-cation results in home-grown fun

By Tammy Malgesini

Staff Writer

Published on August 16, 2016 7:09PM

I recently took a couple of days off and hung around Hermiston for a long weekend.

I rarely do stay-cations. However, that may change in the future — it’s a great way to get away from work for a bit without your pocketbook taking a major hit. I got to spend time with some of my favorite people (and canines) doing fun things.

Thanks to a lucky draw at work, I won tickets to Thursday night’s Farm-City Pro Rodeo. My husband, John, and I even got hospitality tent passes for a free dinner.

I’ve been to a number of rodeos over the years, including that one in Pendleton. And, all I gotta say is Farm-City is the best — hands down! There’s nothing quite like being in a box seat so close to the action that dirt from the arena flies into your lap.

John and I took our German shepherds, Lucifer and the General, to the river Friday morning. We had great fun taking a dip in the water and pretty much had the beach to ourselves.

I do have a shiner below my left eye. In his exuberance, the General rammed my sunglasses into my face. I think the goofy guy thought I was hiding from him (we often play hide-and-seek) and ran smack dab into me.

Although the reason for the event was a somber one, Ron’s Pink Memorial Party was one crazy gathering. Held Friday night in the Let ‘er Buck Room, it celebrated the life of a guy I knew through my previous job with Umatilla County.

Ron Fisher died Aug. 4 in a freak car wreck in Baker City. The shindig was pretty wild with most everyone wearing pink. In addition, the officiant was a drag queen — with great legs, I might add.

The thing that struck me is how cool it was that his family and close friends threw the type of party Ron would have loved to attend. Ron wasn’t a stuffed shirt type of guy — neither was the farewell gathering held in his honor.

On Saturday, John and I enjoyed looking at exhibits at the Umatilla County Fair. Oh, and sampling some fine huckleberry desserts.

In the evening, we headed to Hermiston Super Oval for the School Bus Trailer Races. I even got to ride in one of the buses. It was before the actual bus races and was supposed to be for kids (and their accompanying parents). I sort of nonchalantly got in line and climbed aboard. I’m a kid at heart.

After watching the hornets and legends race, the grand finale featured full-sized school buses dragging trailers and racing through the figure-8.

Seriously, take a moment and visualize that. Sparks flew and trailers were destroyed! The last bus with a trailer still attached was declared the winner. I laughed. I laughed a lot.

Sunday provided some much-needed girlfriend time. I went golfing with my besties, Carol Greene and Deana Cordell.

With our busy schedules, it’s been awhile since the three of us have shared face-to-face time together. In addition to taking selfies, posting on Facebook and making plans for our annual fall trip to the coast, we also swung our clubs a few times.

I returned to work Monday morning — reading emails, making phone calls and typing some words. I think I need another stay-cation.

———

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.