Wednesday Morning August 31st

God Bless the people in the south eastern part of the USA.  So much devastation from the wind, rain and flooding.  So many lives lost. There's no power and it's very hot and humid there. There's a picture on the front of my local paper of a dear lady grieving the loss of her husband, a cancer patient, who died after he ran out of oxygen.  The governor of Louisiana has called for a day of prayer for the people in those areas. 

Those Crazy Old Laws

Courtesy of: www.Cybersalt.org

Most of these are certainly outdated. But it's funny to think they ever were laws.

- In Michigan, a woman isn't allowed to cut her own hair without her husband's permission.

- In New York, it is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.

- In order for a pickle to officially be considered a pickle in Connecticut, it must bounce.

- To keep any of the incarcerated beasts from picking up bad habits, the town of Manville, NJ decreed that it is illegal to feed whiskey or offer cigarettes to animals at the local zoo.

- If you sell hollow logs in Tennessee, you are breaking the law.

- Compulsive gamblers stay out of Richmond, VA: it is even illegal to flip a coin in a restaurant to see who pays for the coffee.

- Don't bother the butterflies in Pacific Grove, CA unless you have an extra $500 for the offense.

- The same is true for bullfrogs and cottontails in Hayden, AZ. where disturbing them in the city limits is against the law.

- Have it your way, but don't share it in OK. This state forbids a person from taking a bite out of another person's hamburger.

- Need a radio on Sunday? In Spokane, WA, you can buy one on the Sabbath, but forget about purchasing a television!

- In the state of New York, you need a license to use a clothesline outdoors.

- If any retirees from the circus are thinking about settling down and farming in NC, they are forwarned right here and now that it is against the law in this state to use elephants to plow cotton fields!

- It is illegal to take more than 2 baths a month within Boston confines.

- In Calgary there is a by-law that is still on the books that requires businesses within the city to provide rails for tying up horses.

- In the England it is illegal to sell most goods on a Sunday, (this law is mostly ignored), it is however legal to sell a carrot. It is also legal to sell it at any price and to give free gifts with it, such as anything else one might want to buy on a Sunday!

Up Date: Reply to Comment left in my Previous Entry

FOR THE RECORD:   I did not, I repeat, did not  cut Julie's ear off during a hair cut.  It was one of those mornings when we rushing to get out of the house.  She had the hair style where the hair was cut up over the ears...pixie cut ? I can't recall the proper name for that style of cut.  Anyway, I looked at her and thought that part of her hair looked like it needed a quick trim.  So I did one side..no problem..but when I went to trim up the other side, I just barely clipped  the edge of her ear.  Oh, my gosh..she bleed like a stuck pig and squealed like one too.  And to make matters worse, she has never let me forget about it (you are all witnesses to that).  I don't remember about not having any band aids but how would you put a band aid on the little edge of a small ear anyway.  I think what I probably did was use a paper towel or kleenex (or T.P.) to apply pressure to the area in question.  There...that's my side of the story and I'm sticking to it.  Besides, she only remembers it from a kid's point of view and I remember it from an adult's point of view.  Until next time....I remain a remorseful mother.  Linda

JOHN'S MONDAY PHOTO SHOOT, Back to School

John says; Your Monday Photo Shoot: It's back to school season. Show us a picture of something that represents "Back to School" to you. Kids on their way to school, a stack of new text books, school supplies, parents leaping for joy... oh, wait, maybe not that last one.

Don't be afraid to reach back into the archives for this one; if you've got a great "back to school" photo from 1975, bring it on.

OK John & others....here's one.  This was from September 1968, a 7 year old future, AOL Journaler on her way to 1st grade at the Baptist School. Yup that's my girl...Jools of    http://journals.aol.com/joolsinwa/randommusingsofmymind

She's probably going to shoot me for this, so this may be my last entry.  LOL   

Math Trick..A Good Way To Get Your Brain Ready For Monday Morning

 Here is a math trick so unbelievable that it will stump you. (Or at least it stumped me)

 Personally I would like to know who came up with this and where they had the time to figure this out.  I still don't understand it!



 1. Grab a calculator. (You won't be able to do this one in your head)

 2. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area code)

 3. Multiply by 80

 4. Add 1

 5. Multiply by 250

 6. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number

 7. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.

 8.  Subtract 250

 9. Divide number by 2



 Do you recognize the answer?

(Thanks to a special friend for that one)

PATRICK'S SATURDAY-SIX EPISODE #72

Questions from Patrick's Place: http://journals.aol.com/pattboy92/PatricksPlace/entries1266

1. What is your current desktop picture?  a picture of my son climbing at Mt Pilchuck, WA What made you select it? because the background behind him is totally awesome !

2. A close friend who you consider to be up to date on fashion suggests that you should update your look and offers to pay for a session with an experienced hairstylist you've never dealt with before.  Knowing that it's free, would you go?  No way
3. When you do look in a mirror, what is the first thing you usually look at? Who can see the first thing in the morning? 

4. Take this quiz:  Which Bugs Bunny character are you?   wow, I can't remember the characters

5. What label seems to describe you the best as a whole? tired old woman

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #60 from Stacy: Is there a specific person that you credit with your successes? and HOW did they help you? It would have to be my parents, they were the best ever and even tho I messed up from time to time  as a teenager & young adult, they never gave up on me.

Panda Update

I  heard on the news the other day that the baby Panda is now 7 weeks old.  They have been able to examine and determine that he's a boy.  (Everybody seems to be having boys this summer)  I checked the website of the zoo and there is a lot of new information there about this sweet little black & white baby. You can also vote on his name. 

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?cam=LP1

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT # 74 Tell us about something you want...

From John the AOL Journal guy;

Weekend Assignment #74: Forget about the things you need -- Tell us about something you want. Preferably something useless and/or expensive. In other words: Toys! Something fun and/or sparkly and/or indulgent that you don't already have but wouldn't mind getting, if someone were offering.

Extra Credit: Do you really think getting that toy would make you happier?

My wish is simple, a winning Lottery ticket.  Just one little piece of paper, really, that's all it is....I could help my kids and grandkids, donate to my church and other worthwhile charities.  And I could pay off my car and other bills and finally retire after almost 45 years of working.  I'd probably buy some "toys", too maybe even get a little newer car and for sure a medium sized motorhome for the traveling I'd like to do after retirement.  I'd for sure help my son get a better car.  His "nickle & dimes" him frequently.   And I'd help him go to school for "worker re-training" like he wants to do.  I'd see to it that my daughter and family had a bigger car to accomodate growing teenagers.  And also a bigger house to accomodate those same growing teenagers.  And then take the grandkids to Disneyland and Sea World & the San Diego Zoo.

Extra Credit:  Yes it would make me very happy to retire and help my family and others.

All Purpose Excuse Form

(This all purpose excuse form courtesy of )www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh  

Here is an all purpose excuse form, designed to get you out of the trouble you've gotten yourself into. Where there's a multiple choice, pick the one that works best for your situation and just go with it. You'll be surprised how effective this form can be if you just let your instincts guide you!

Dear

a) Mom,
b) Dad,
c) love of my life,
d) Assistant Principal,
e) Local Police Chief,

Words cannot begin to express how sorry I am that your

a) car
b) house
c) pet
d) espresso maker
e) left arm

was severely damaged by my

a) infantile
b) puerile
c) inept
d) comically brilliant but nonetheless sadistic
e) woefully under appreciated

prank.  How could I have known that the

a) car
b) jet ski
c) large helium balloon
d) rodent driven sledge
e) Zamboni

I was riding in would go so far out of control? And while it is true that I should not have pointed it in the direction of your

a) house,
b) wife,
c) Cub Scout troop,
d) 1/16th sized replica of the Statue of Liberty, complete with light bulb in the torch,
e) priceless collection of antique knitting needles,

you must understand that it was all meant in fun. The subsequent carnage that I caused is beyond my ability to

a) imagine,
b) fathom,
c) comprehend,
d) appreciate,
e) pay for,

and I must therefore humbly ask your forgiveness. I know that you are perfectly within your rights to

a) hate me,
b) sue me,
c) spank me,
d) take my firstborn,
e) gouge out my eyes with spoons and feed them to the fish in your koi pond,

but I ask you to remember all the good times we've had, joshing around at

a) school
b) work
c) church
d) the bowling alley
e) the municipal jail

and to remember that I am first and foremost your

a) friend
b) child
c) sibling
d) lease co-signer
e) only possible match should you ever need a bone marrow transplant.

I think that counts for more than one prank, especially one that
a) was so stupid.
b) was so silly.
c) would have been funny if it worked.
d) you would have done, if you had thought of it first.
e) I'm going to use again on someone else.

Sincerely,

Enter name here (or alias): ________________________

Visit to a Fair

This past Thursday, a friend and I drove south on highway I-5 to the little town of Chehalis, WA to visit the Southwest Washington Fair.  It's a great little fair, mostly displays of kids in 4-H and other school programs like FFA.  There were pigs, chickens, doves, pigeons, cows of all types, sheep, goats, horses, llamas...all 4-H projects.  We saw two 15 years old girls (also 4-H) that were in a timed contest to make a skirt in 2 hours, all the time available to answer questions from people passing by. The weather was great and it actually got very warm by the time we headed home that afternoon. I love to go to fairs and I'm looking forward to the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup, WA (pew-all-up) starting September 9th.    Enjoy the pictures.....Linda

Sunny Weekend

My favorite Seattle TV station told us this morning that this is the 8th sunny (non-rain) weekend in a row.  Today it's supposed to be in the mid-80's and I have to work all day, so will miss most of it.  Oh well, if we can get to 8..maybe next weekend, when I'm off,  will be the 9th.    Meanwhile, here's a little funny story from Pastor Tim of the Cybersalt website.  Check out; www.cybersaltshaker.org

Prescription Change:

An old man strode in to his doctors office and said, "Doc, my druggist said to tell you to change my prescription and to check the prescription you've been giving to Mrs. Smith."

"Oh, he did, did he?" the doctor shot back. "And since when does a druggist second guess a doctor's orders?"

The old man says, "Since he found out I've been on birth control pills since February."

Weekend Assignment #73: Your Best Entry

From John the AOL Journal Guy:

"This sunday marks the second anniversary of the official beginning ofAOL Journals, and this year has seen some exciting changes, including the addition of the AIM Blogs to our community. To celebrate another year of AOL Journalers doing their thing (along with the other anniversary things planned by AOL-J members themselves), I thought bring the Weekend Assignment into play.

Weekend Assignment #73: From your own AOL Journal or AIM Blog, pick your own favorite entry from the last year (from 8/21/04 onward). Link to it in the comment thread below, so we can all see what it was. You can alternately, of course, create a new entry where you link to your favorite entry, but that seems a bit overly complicated. Linking directly to your favorite entry will be fine. If you want to include any thoughts on the entry in your comment, well, that would be great, too."

Since I just started with AOL Journals this last spring I don't have a lot of entries to choose from. But without a doubt my favorite entry has to be the tribute to my dad during the Father's Day weekend. "My Tribute to Bill Smith, My Dad"

http://journals.aol.com/lsfp1960/LindasWorld/entries/522

The English Language

Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

 Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people:

Recite at a play and play at a recital?

Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?

Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS: Why doesn't "buick" rhyme with "quick"?

"Those Wedding Bells Have Broken up That Old Gang of Mine"

Well, I promised this entry a week or two ago.  Two of my favorite people "tied the knot" on August 6th.  I've known Judy since the late 1970's when I first worked at the hospital and we were both married.  I also have known Phil since about 1979 when he was married (and I was still married, too).   Ironically the three of us were all divorced about the same time in the early 1980's.  I wasn't working at the time of my divorce but I ran into Judy again at church and when we discovered we were both alone....we became close friends.  We went to the adult singles group at our church and began to hold potlucks, etc in our homes.  I invited Phil to a potluck at my house one Saturday and that's where he and Judy met for the first time.   Eventually, they began dating and they dated for a couple years.  They then went their separate ways but stayed in touch thru their children. Judy's daughter and Phil's daughter developed a close relationship.  They celebrated each other's birthday's and other holidays even though they weren't really a couple.  This last year, they started doing more & more things together and finally Phil popped the question and Judy said  "yes, you bet!"  I am so very happy for both of them and I wish them years of happiness together.  My only regret...Judy was my last single girlfriend.  There was 5 of us single gals from the church that did things together and now they are all married.  So...that part is a little sad for me but I'm happy for all of them.  Maybe someday.....??!!??      Until next time.   Linda     (By the way, Phil has the most vibrant blue eyes but the flash from my camera apparently made him squint.)

Saga of the Skydiver Continued

Sunday evening I delivered my son's birthday gifts and dinner. His left foot is pretty sore and since he's on his feet during his entire work shift, I'm sure he'll miss work for a few days until his foot becomes less tender.

Today was another day on jury duty.  I came so close again today, they called people for two jury's and then after lunch there was going to be another call for District Court and one for Superior Court.  The lady said there's not many of you left, so you will all get called today.  She called 15 people for the District Court and took them to their court room.  When she came back, she came out and said "well, the rest of you are free to go..the defendant just pleaded guilty."  This was at 2:30pm so I went up to the office and did my time card and then went home.  My group is not called for Tuesday, so will be at the office all day.  Tuesday after 4pm I will call in and see if I go into the jury room on Wednesday.  At least I got a good start on a new book today.  I'm now reading book one of a series of four by Terri Blackstock, this one is called "Cape Refuge."

 

Worried Continued/Sky Diving Saga Continued

The jumper has called his mom and says that yes, he has stitches in his left heel...about 6 of them.  He's asked for a box of Saran wrap, so he can wrap his foot and shower.  Looks like he's "grounded"  for a few days.

Worry Continued/Sky diving

To add to my entry on August 11th and the piece about worry...my son informed me he was going sky diving (1st time) to celebrate his 34th birthday.  He told me it would be at 9am Saturday.  What I didn't know.. was that he was sitting thru a class on skydiving and then he would take his turn bailing out of a plane.  He promised he'd call me when he was back on firm ground but the day went by and no call.  I didn't hear any bad reports on the local news so I'm thinking "well, he just forgot to call and he'll show up at his birthday party, Sunday afternoon and he'll be fine." I did finally call him late Saturday afternoon and left a message on his cell phone that I was just wondering how it went.  Well, at 9pm he calls me from his cell..seems his turn to jump didn't come up until 8pm.  He jumped (and yes it was fabulous and amazing and awesome, etc etc) swooped in for a landing and when he put his booted (not tennis shoes)  feet out to land, a tree root or some sort of wood was sticking out of the ground  and penetrated the heel of his left boot and went into his heel.  His friend was driving him from the landing field to a local hospital emergency room. So about 9:30a I was on my way to the emergency room to see what the deal was.  There he sits, with one crutch (he just happend to have it in the trunk of his car) and his left heel bandaged with a big pressure bandage and the bloody wood piece that went thru his boot in a zip lock bag. It seems there was a bunch of military men there practicing and they not only practiced their jumps but their first aid skills as well. (My thanks to them.) Anyway, we sat there until a little after 11pm when they called him back to see the doctor.  Only 1 person besides the patient could go back, so I bowed out to the girl friend and came home.  At 1:30am he called...they'd x-rayed his foot, cleaned the wound, given him pain meds and antibiotics and he was on his way home.  Still going on and on about how awesome it was to jump out of a plane. He didn't have to have  a tetanus shot, as he had one several years ago when his left hand was sucked into and crushed in the printing press he was working on at the time. That was another call only it was from the emergency room staff at the hospital where his boss had taken him.  Worry ??? Yes, I always will worry, even though many years ago, when he was but a baby...we knew he was a gift from God, given to us to nurture and raise to a man.   That's been done and he's still a gift from God and I know that God has his hand on him at all times...but I'm his mom and I will worry about my children (and grand children and other loved ones) until I draw my last breath.  Now, I've got to go bake a birthday cake.  Until next time.....Linda

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday to my son and my son in law.  It was so nice of my daughter to marry a man who had the same birthday as her brother.  When I'm really old and senile I may have more of a chance to remember their birthday's since they are on the same day.   My son, Jim is 34 today and my son in law is 50.  He's the same age as Disneyland....how about that ?  We are having a family birthday get together Sunday afternoon, and maybe then I can get a picture of the two birthday boys.  I also want to wish happy birthday to Hope, who is the daughter of a friend of mine.  The picture I've posted is Jim at age 10 months old.  He'll shoot me if he finds out about this, so it's our secret, ok ?

WORRY

Thanks to my former husband for this one.  It's so true...our son is going sky diving this coming Saturday for his 34th birthday.  I will worry.....

Is there a magic cutoff period  when
offspring become accountable for their own
actions? Is there a  wonderful moment when
parents can become detached spectators in
the  lives of their children and shrug, "It's
their life," and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital
corridor waiting  for doctors to put a few
stitches in my son's head. I asked, "When do
you stop worrying?" The nurse said,
"When they get out of the accident  stage." My
mother just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was  in my thirties, I sat on a little
chair in a classroom and heard how one of  my
children talked incessantly, disrupted the class,
and was headed for  a career making
license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher
said,  "Don't worry, they all go through
this stage and then you can sit back,  relax and
enjoy them." My mother just smiled
faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime
waiting for the phone  to ring, the cars to come
home, the front door to open. A friend said,
"They're trying to find themselves. Don't
worry, in a few years, you can  stop worrying.
They'll be adults." My mother just smiled
faintly and  said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being
vulnerable. I was still worrying over my
children, but there was a new  wrinkle there
was nothing I could do about it. My
mother just smiled  faintly and said nothing. I
continued to anguish over their failures, be
tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in
their disappointments.

My friends said that when my kids got married I
could stop worrying  and lead my own
life. I wanted to believe that, but I was
haunted by my  mother's warm smile and her
occasional, "You look pale. Are you all right?
Call me the minute you get home. Are
you depressed about something?"

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a
lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another
handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of
human frailties and the fears of the
unknown? Is concern a curse or is  it a virtue
that elevates us to the highest form of life?

One of my  children became quite irritable
recently, saying to me, "Where were you?  I've
been calling for 3 days, and no one answered.
I was worried." I  smiled a warm smile.
The torch has been passed.

John's Weekend Assignment #72: The Ultimate Battle

Oh my gosh...what a dilemma ???? John, I think this is almost impossible. Let's see what I come up with.

           CAKE                                                 PIE

1. angel food w/choc frosting               1. lemon meringue

2. Costco's carrot cake                         2. pecan

3. Costco's chocolate w/choc               3. apple

frosting & bavarian cream filling

4. white cake w/white sour cream        4. strawberry/rhubarb

frosting w/coconut topping

5.                                                             5. chocolate cream

6.                                                             6. banana/butterscotch

                                                                    cream           

Gee, I guess my favorite is pie. So.....for my favorite type of cake, I choose #3  Costco's chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and a bavarian cream filling (Yum !!)

Tuesday afternoon

When I called the special number this afternoon, they asked groups 8-25 to report Wednesday morning.  So it looks like I get another chance to be on a jury.  At least I have a good book to read while I wait. 

 I'm presently reading "The Shop on Blossom Street" by author Debbie Macomber.  Very light reading but also enjoyable.  Debbie lives just about 20 miles from where I live and most of her  books take place in this general area.  This particular book takes place on a fictitious street in Seattle. I guess that's one reason I really enjoy her books.

I need to get out in my yard and get some sprinklers going.  These warm, sunny days really dry everything out.  Until next time.................Linda

DEFINITION OF A BARBECUE

This one came from a former co-worker friend, Debra.  Since it's the time of year that everyone is Bar-b-queing I thought I'd pass it along.

  DEFINITION OF A BARBECUE
 It's the only type of cooking a real man will do.  When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:
 
1) The woman buys the food.
2) The woman makes the salad, vegetables, and dessert.
3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on tray  along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill -- beer in hand.

 ( The wife proceeds to tell him, how she wants it done, when she wants it done, not to burn it, and she hasn't ever grilled a piece of meat in her life. But, by golly there ain't anything she don't know.) 
4) The man places the meat on the grill.
5) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he deals with the situation.
7) The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.
8) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.
9)  After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10) Everyone praises the man and thanks him for his cooking efforts.
11) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off."

 And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

Monday Evening

Well, I reported for jury duty as requested this morning.  There were so many people they had to use two big rooms to do the orientation.  They reason given...there's a lot of cases coming up.

Shortly after they finished the orientation, the clerk came out with the 1st jury call for 35 people.  My name was not called.  Then about 30 mins later she came out again and called another 35 people but not me.   And then just before the lunch break, she called another 35 people and told the rest of us we could go for the day, and to call the special phone number after 4:30 this afternoon.  So it was off to work for me.  A lot of companies just pay their employees two weeks pay when they are called up, and they consider them off doing their civic duty for that time period.  But, the health care system I work for expects you to come in to work if you are released, during the day.  When I called in this afternoon, the recording only said groups 1-7 have to report in Tuesday morning and the rest of the groups call the recorded line after 4:30pm Tuesday. I'm in group 8,  so that means I will be at work Tuesday all day. 

It was another beautiful day in here in the great Pacific Northwest. It is truly a beautiful place to live in the summer (well I like it all year round actually).  However, some people complain about the gloomy days in the winter and the rain...I just tell them that's why it's called Washington.

Until next time.....Linda

Later Sunday Afternoon

Well, I called the special jury duty phone number and the recorded announcement stated that groups 1 thru 20 must report for the first day of jury duty and orientation at 8:30 Monday morning.  I'm in group 8 according to the summons I received in the mail.  So it looks like that's where I'll be headed when I leave here in the morning.  My plan is to park my car about 5 blocks from my office and take the bus down to the court house building.  Parking is very limited there and the hospital issues free bus passes so it won't cost me anything to ride the bus.   And that way if I'm released during working hours, I can ride the bus back up to my car and then just be a few blocks from work to finish my shift there. Well again...have a good rest of the weekend & take care. Until next time....Linda

Sunny Sunday

In just a little of an hour I have to call a special phone number to see if  I'm to report for jury duty tomorrow.  After church today I did some ironing, finishing up just as the sun burned thru a little fog we had this morning.  Now, it's sunny and breezy out there, after I get thru here I'm going to write up the Avon orders that I have, post the debits from my checking account to my checkbook roster and relax for the rest of the day.  Monday will be a long day, if I'm not required to report in, I'll be going to work and then tomorrow evening I have to check people in at a Back Pain Seminar the hospital is having, so won't be getting home until about 9pm.  That's why I decided to relax this afternoon & evening.  I'm looking forward to writing a very special journal entry, possibly Tuesday evening.  It will be about an event that I'm sure took place either this last Friday or Saturday.  I just have to get all the details together first. Hope the weekend has been good for you....until next time,

45th Class Reunion

Well, it's over...It was a beautiful day at the park we chose for our reunion picnic.  There was tons of good food, lots of pictures taken, many friendships renewed and lots of old people. No, all kidding aside, it was a blast !  We only had about 70 grads (plus spouses in some cases) show up out of a class of 214, but those of us that were there had a wonderful time. We mourned the loss of those that have passed away in the last 5 years and proudly showed pictures of kids and grand kids. We talked about what to do for our 50th and reminisced about the good old days when we were young with our lives still ahead of us. Most of us lived in a rural area and were picked up by big yellow buses each morning. At one point today there were a bunch of us, who were on the same bus line, sharing remberances of some of those bus rides, especially in the winter when the roads were bad.  There were no "snow days" back then.  It didn't matter that I didn't loose all those pounds that I wanted to loose...a lot of the former "jocks" are bald and look 9 months pregnant.  If you've never gone to a high school reunion, you should give it a try.  It's like a trip down memory lane. So now I'm on a count down again....I have 5 years to loose some weight before the next one.   :)

POOR MARTHA

I am so sick of Martha Stewart's whinning !! Her home confinement has been extended until the end of August, her ankle monitoring bracelet irritates her skin.  Oh you poor baby !! Her home area includes 178 acres, I believe and no doubt her "humble"  home is air conditioned. Does she even have a clue how some people in this world or even this country live? I'm sure if it had been a non-celebrity that had commited her crime, they would have gone to prison (and not a "camp cupcake") for a long time.  There are hundreds of deaths every summer of the elderly and infirm who die miserable heat related deaths because they are living in horrible conditions in hot, stuffy tenements.  Many have no family to care for them and because of health conditions may be confined to their beds or wheel chairs, with little or no help.  My 43 year old daughter (also a wife & mother to 2 teenagers) had a massive stroke a little over three years ago, leaving her wheel chair bound and paralyzed on the left side.  She has to wear an A F O brace on her left leg every day, while she's up.  It comes from the bottom of her left foot, up the back of her leg to just under her knee.  Then there are wide velcro straps that go across the front of her leg to hold this heat trapping, miserable device in place. The skin under this brace is damp and itchy all the time.  Hey Martha...my daughter does not get this brace off in 21 days...she will no doubt wear it forever.  She doesn't live in a big fancy air conditioned house either.  She's coping like some of the rest of us...wearing light clothing and having fans going in every room of the house, in 80* plus temps.     I am so angry about this woman's attitude I have made a vow to never buy another one of her magazines, can of paint or anything with the Martha Stewart name on it. Obviously, her "confinement" has taught her nothing about about how the other half lives.  I'm sick of Martha !!

HOT, HOT, HOT in Western Washington

It's 12:55pm and my living room is already 84*.  I'm off work today, getting things done around here.  My 45th class reunion is this Saturday and I decided to take a big potato salad, so this morning I've cooked the big bag of potatoes and hard boiled the dozen eggs.  I'll let them set in the fridge until I get home from work Friday afternoon and at that time I'll mix the salad together and refrigerate until Saturday morning.  We are just having a pot-luck picnic at a large park in the vicinity of our high school. We did the same thing 5 years ago and it was so much fun and very succesful.  There were only 215 graduates in our class, sadly some have passed away (actually we have lost 11 in the last 5 years) so those of us that come together really have a wonderful time.  And a lot of us have remained close all these years.

Yesterday evening I was invited to a friend's house that lives on a large lake close by.  We had a wonderful boat ride on the lake and I had my camera along so took some pictures of our beautiful Mt Rainier.  I've included one of those pictures for you today.

Next Monday (August 8th) I start two weeks of jury duty.  I haven't been called since May of 1990 so am kind of looking forward to the experience again. I have several unread books, so I'm sure I will get some reading in while waiting & the Jury Room is nicely air-conditioned and across the street from the "Golden Arches."  In 1990 I was on two juries, one was a Domestic Violence (she finally admitted he didn't do it, she was just mad that he broke up with her) and a Malpractice suit (we found the doctor..not guilty.  Later we found out the lady had a long history of lawsuits against doctors, dentists, you name it.) In 1990 you served for 30 days and then could be on call for another couple weeks to the surrounding little communities' District Courts.  Now, my summons says "for two weeks or until released."  So we'll see....I'd like to get on a good case (nothing violent) that lasts most of the two weeks and then call it good.

Until next time, stay cool..........

P.S. I keep forgetting that I wanted to publically thank my son-in-law and grandkids for all the help they gave me the weekend of my car port sale.  The kids helped so much and were able to have some fun, too.  And my son-in-law was a life saver, especially when it came to taking down the tables and putting the unsold stuff away.  Thanks again to H, H & M