ONE WEEK FROM FRIDAY

It's almost that time again.  That time in the fall that I've look forward to now for over 50 years.  (Yikes that's along time)  But no really, I love the fair.  And the Puyallup (Pew-all-up) Fair opens on September 8th at 10am and runs thru September 24th.   The fair ranks among the 10 largest fairs in the world, and it's right here practically in my back yard. Actually it's about a 12 mile drive from here but the last four or five years we've taken public transit.  They pick you up at the nearby mall and for a couple dollars you get a round-trip ride, dropping you off at the main gate of the fairgrounds. No parking hassles, no dented fenders, just sit back and let them do the driving. 

I'm not sure when I'll go out there yet.  But I will be there at least once before it ends.  Both my grandkids have entires again this year, so will go for that if nothing else.  

You can check out their web site at; http://www.thefair.com/

Until next time........Linda

I Think I Had Already Figured This Out

I just got this little weather tidbit from my favorite Seattle weather guys at KOMO TV.  I already knew this however, since I've been tired of dragging hoses around now for weeks and weeks.   But here's the official update on the weather for this part of the world.  (And there are people out there that think it rains in Seattle 380 days a year !)  

 

Dear Linda,

Midnight tonight will make official what many of you have already figured out -- especially those in south King County that have had to use garden hoses to keep brush fires back -- it's been a very dry summer. We are finishing up what will be the second driest July-August in Sea-Tac Airport history, with just a paltry 0.08" since July 1st. (Of course, there are some other spots around here that have been wetter -- remember, Everett got three times that amount over the past two days alone.) The driest summer ever was in 1967, which had just 0.03". It will also be the second-driest August ever (0.02), tying 1967 and just missing 1974's 0.01". The good news for those rain fans tapping their feet wondering where our usual Seattle weather went, in those aforementioned years, the autumn's have been pretty wet. So hang in there. In the meantime, it's back to sunny and warm as we build in yet another warm stretch just in time for the weekend. Sunny skies will be the rule Friday, with afternoon temperatures climbing to around 80. The weekend sunny streak continues this weekend (it must be a historic dry streak if even a three-day weekend can't bring rain) with even warmer temperatures into the mid-upper 80s both Saturday and Sunday. So bring plenty of sunblock and water for your outdoor activities (don't forget -- Bumbershoot is this weekend.) We'll cool down just a hair for Monday to the low 80s, before we get back to the more usual 70s for the rest of the week. But still no real rain in sight through the next week. Let's just hope we don't have to wait for fall to officially start to get that rain back :) Updated Thursday 3:20 p.m. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weather Producer Scott Sistek

ALASKA CRUISE 2007

I may have mentioned when I came back from the Alaska cruise that I was ready to go again.       Well, Lori at the travel agency has called and here are the prices (actually a little lower than this last cruise) and details for "Linda's Second Alaska Group Cruise."  She has set aside a block of inside and outside cabins until the end of October for this group. We will leave Seattle August 17, 2007 returning August 24th.   She gave me prices for inside and outside cabins on Deck 3, where I spent my week on this last cruise.  They are as follows (remember these are group rates for this time period.)   Outside cabin Catagory H on Deck 3 is $1,173 per person (double occupancy) with a deposit of $300 per person due November 1, 2006.     Inside cabin  Catagory L on Deck 3 is $963 per person (double occupancy) again with a $300 deposit per person due November 1, 2006.  There is a reduced rate for a third or fourth person in the cabin of  $688 each, also requires a $300 deposit.  We saw one room with a queen bed and a bunk bed.  Or if there is just one extra person, there would be a queen bed and a single bed.   These rooms are called Quad rooms and go very fast so Lori is recommending they be reserved and deposits made by September 30, 2006.      The final balance on all rooms is not due until May 31, 2007.

The Itinerary for this cruise will be the same as the one I just returned from;  leave Seattle at 5pm Friday August 17, 2007. at sea on the outside of Vancouver Island all day Saturday, arrive in Juneau on Sunday, arrive Skagway Monday, arrive Icy Strait Point on Tuesday, cruising the Inside Passage on Wednesday, arriving Victoria B.C. on Thursday and wake up in Seattle on Friday, August 24, 2007.

You can see all the deck plans at; http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/ship/decks/deck/home.do?deckCode=AD&shipCode=VI&shipProfile=1059&sailDate=1060901&hasNavigation=false  just click on "Select Deck" in the upper left hand corner of this page.    There are of course balcony cabins available on higher deck levels and for those prices please contact Lori at the travel agency.

Think it over and talk it over and if you think this is something you would like to do next summer, send Lori an email at; lori@travelcenter4u.com   Just tell her you want to go with Linda in her "Second Alaska Group Cruise. "    She's waiting for your email.   

By the way, if there are any folks who want to do this and would rather drive to Washington, I have a huge driveway where you can park and leave your vehicle while we're away.        Linda

P.S. Alaska cruises fill up faster than any others...so don't hesitate if you're interested.   Lori told me that a lot of people book for the following year before they even get off the ship.

 

What A Job, But It's Finally Done

Well this afternoon,  I finally got my photo album (the Travel Agency gave each of us a very nice one that had our school name, etc on it) and scrap book (I used a 3-ring binder and lots of page protectors)  finished from the pictures and stuff  I collected on the cruise.  I love to do that, when I take a memorable vacation because then I have those memories at my fingertips for years to come.  And I save everything....will not sales receipts and such but I save a lot.  And besides the pictures I take, I always buy postcards and they go in my album too.  Sometimes, you just can't take a picture of everything.   Anyway, it's ready for you to come look thru....I'll have cookies and tea on hand for all who show up.   :)

Linda

 

SWEET DREAMS

Julie can verify...these are good cookies and what I plan to make.

Sweet Dreams

1/2  pound butter (2 cubes) , 1 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 egg,  2 cups flour,  1 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt,  1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional), 1 12 ounce package chocolate chips and powdered sugar.

Cream the butter in a large mixing bowl.  Add brown sugar and egg; beat well.  In a smaller bowl, mix together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger.  Combine with butter mixture and mix in vanilla.  Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips.  Chill for several hours.  Form the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in powdered sugar.  Place on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.   NOTE: Dough can be frozen and brought to room temperature and baked as needed. 

Enjoy !!!!!!!!!

 

25 Things About Me

Write an entry listing 25 things about yourself. Start each with "I" -- elaborate on each as much or as little as you'd like. Try to focus on current things in your life or facts about you as a person. Give us a mental picture of who you are & what your life is like outside of J-Land.

1..I am a born again Christian, accepting Jesus as my personal Savior when I was 9 years old.

2..I work at the same hospital where I was born (nope I'm not a nurse..work in the Customer Service Call Center)

3..I am a natural blond.  However, I have always longed for dark hair, eye brows, and eye lashes (have used lots of mascara & eye brow pencil over the years.)

4..I always wanted to have a big family, lots of kids... but God blessed me with two, a daughter and a son.  And it's too late now to change that.

5..I really don't like to fly...but I have and I will again if it means I can get somewhere fast.

6..I love to go camping on Washington, Oregon and Califronia's ocean beaches. 

7..I love to take road trips and see the sights (as opposed to flying over them).

8..I met and had lunch with John Wayne when I was in the 7th grade (1955).

9..I prefer cats to dogs.  However, I love other people's dogs.  I just don't like the walk & pick up poop thing.

10..I recently received my award for 30 years as an Avon Representative.

11..I have never had a broken bone .

12..I did not go to my Senior Prom.

13..I did not have my first car until after I was 20 years old.

14..I'm still using the end tables and the bedroom dressers and night stands that my former husband and I bought together back in the late 1970's. I still love them. 

15..I was a "Brownie" and a "Girl Scout" but then we moved out of the city, into a rural area, so I never got to move up the Girl Scout ladder.

16..I was in 4-H once we moved out into the rural area.  My mom was the leader and our main focus was sewing.

17..I grew up on a small farm from about the age of 10 on.  We had 10 acres, with cows, pigs, chickens and a huge garden.

18..I did have to learn to milk our cow, Daisy, so my dad could go fishing once in awihile.

19..I was blessed to have grandparents in my life.  I realize now how much they impacted my life.

20..I miss my mom and dad, also.  My mom passed away Oct 8, 1987 and my dad on Sept 14, 1990.  They loved each other dearly and my brother and I always knew we were loved.

21..I loved my first cruise to Alaska a couple weeks ago and hope to go again next August.

22..I can still remember my school song...can you?

23..I've had two great loves in my life. 

24..I'm allergic to all pain medication, not fun sometimes but it is what it is.

25..I'm going to go bake some cookies, for myself..not for a bake sale or someone else like I usually do.

Until next time.......Linda

 

Learning To Drive "Revisited"

On August 10th,  John at;  http://journals.aol.com/johnmscalzi/bytheway/entries/2006/08/10/weekend-assignment-124-learning-to-drive/6335      weekend assignment was about Learning to Drive.  At that time I couldn't find a picture of my first car and then today, duh !!, I see this one on my refrigerator.  It was there all the time.  Anyway, so I'm back tracking a few weeks to show you the picture of my very first car.  A "stylish" 1949 black Chrysler with fluid drive. I bought it probably about the fall of 1962 or spring of 1963 (basing this guess on Julie's size in the picture.)   It was a huge and very comfortable car.  But about a year later, I found a really cool 1954 Chevrolet and got rid of the old "upside down bath tub."  I wish I still had it, and it was in good condition..I'd be a rich woman.

Here's my entry about "Learning to Drive"  http://journals.aol.com/lsfp1960/LindasWorld/entries/2006/08/10/weekend-assignment-124-learning-to-drive/1103