I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO LIE IN A HOSPITAL BED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. OUR VETS DESERVE A LITTLE HAPPINESS AND APPRECIATION...AND A SMILE !!!

IT IS TIME FOR ME TO UNWIND BEFORE MY FLIGHT BACK HOME....THE JAPANESE GARDEN IN PORTLAND IS A TRANQUIL PLACE....THE SAND AND ROCKS ARE NICE TO GAZE UPON !!

SO NICE TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE INTO THE VA HOSPITAL ROOMS !!

PORTLAND IS SO INTERESTING TO SEE BECAUSE IT IS BUILT ALONG THE RIVER WAYS !!

THOSE "KISS A VET" T-SHIRTS WILL BE WORN AND ENJOYED BY OUR VETS FOR A LONG TIME !!

SOMETIMES, IN THIS LIFE, YOU JUST GOTTA STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES !!! MMMM.....SO FRAGRANT !!!

I HAVE BEEN NICKNAMED, "THE CALENDAR ANGEL", AND I TAKE THAT TITLE SERIOUSLY !!

THE JAPANESE GARDENS IN PORTLAND WERE SO BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL !!

WAY BETTER THAN A VISIT FROM THE TOOTH FAIRY !!!!!

INTRODUCING THE SCULPTURE CALLED "POD" IN DOWNTOWN PORTLAND !!

Here I am again with Shaun Benson. Shaun is Chief of Voluntary Service. I worked with Shaun to coordinate this visit here! Thank you Shaun for all of the time you put in to planning!

THE NAME OF THIS ELEPHANT SCULPTURE TRANSLATES FROM THE CHINESE WORDS MEANING "UNIVERSAL PEACE".

EVERYDAY IS VETERANS DAY FOR THIS PIN-UP GIRL !!

COME AND RELEASE YOUR STRESS AT THE PEACEFUL JAPANESE GARDENS IN PORTLAND !!

I WISH MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD VOLUNTEER AT A VETERANS HOSPITAL. THE VETS ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE YOUNG FACES THERE !!

I AM ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT TO SEE IF THE POW-MIA FLAG IS FLYING IN CITIES WHERE I MAKE MY HOSPITAL VISITS !

IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BRING A SMILE AND YOUR DONATED "PIN-UPS FOR VETS" GIFTS TO OUR HOSPITALIZED VETS !!

THE HOME STATE OF THE OREGON VA HOSPITAL IS SOOOO GREEN !!

THE "CALENDAR ANGEL" STRIKES AGAIN !!!

AM I IN THE JUNGLES OF SOUTH AMERICA ??? NO, SIREEE ! IT IS THE BEAUTIFUL JAPANESE GARDENS NEARBY THE PORTLAND, OREGON VA HOSPITAL !!!

IF I KNEW MY SMILE COULD MAKE A VETERAN'S DAY BETTER, I WOULDN'T STOP SMILING !!

I ONLY WISH I COULD TAKE THE SIGHT AND SOUND OF THIS RELAXING WATERFALL AND CALMING POOL INTO THE NEARBY PORTLAND VA HOSPITAL !!

YOU SAY YOU WANT TO POSE WITH A PIN-UP GIRL ?? WELL, I SAY I WANT TO POSE WITH A U.S. VETERAN !!!

I MEET THE NICEST HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS DURING MY VA HOSPITAL VISITS !!

SO YOU LIKE THE SEPTEMBER CALENDAR GIRL, DO YOU ??!!

I THINK THE "PIN-UPS FOR VETS" CALENDAR ALWAYS LOOKS GOOD POSED IN FRONT OF ONE OF OUR U.S. VETS !!

SHOW ME YOUR "KISS A VET" T-SHIRT !!!

MOTHER NATURE USED HER BEST COLORS TO IMPRESS AT THE JAPANESE GARDENS NEAR THE PORTLAND VA HOSPITAL !!!

ALL THE PEOPLE I MET AT THE PORTLAND VA HOSPITAL WERE AWESOME PEOPLE...FROM VETS TO HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES !!

A GREAT VA HOSPITAL, WONDERFUL VETERANS, AND SUPER EMPLOYEES....THANK YOU PORTLAND VA HOSPITAL FOR A GREAT VISIT !!!