The Pictures Have Been Taken Down, The Desk Is Clean.

I've shared this with some of you in past emails but now I'm making a formal, "world wide" announcement.  Thursday, February 1, 2007 is Linda's last day at work.  After 25 years at the health system (this time...I worked there two other times in the 1970's) and almost 46 years of working...I am a tired old lady and beginning Feb 2nd...I'll be retired!  I'm concerned about making ends meet financially but if I have to get a part time job, I will........but it will be at a job that's totally different than what I've done in the past.  No more call centers and no more headsets for sure!  I still can't believe this is happening, but I guess next Monday morning when my alarm doesn't go off...I'll begin to believe it.   My supervisor has organized a retirement party for me, which will be the evening of February 23rd in a local restaurant...if you'd like to attend, let me know and I'll see that your name is added to the list.

I have no great plans for travel, etc. (I know there's not going to be enough money coming in for much of that)  But, I do want to do a good spring cleaning here at my house and do some extensive work in the yard.  And it will be nice  not to have to go to work and be able to see my friends more.  I am blessed with many dear friends and I can't wait to call up this one or that one and say "hey, what cha' doing...lets go get some lunch."  

Anyway, that's my news...I will keep you posted as to how I'm doing with this new phase of my life. (I'm sure I'll do just fine.)

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

 

Last September I posted an entry requesting prayer for David the son of friends Ruth &  George and for my co-worker Susan.   http://journals.aol.com/lsfp1960/LindasWorld/entries/2006/09/20/prayer-request/1165.   I got a call from Susan today, she's been out on a medical leave this month, trying to recover from the radiation treatments she had for the lymphoma.  Anyway, last Friday she went for a post radiation treatment P.E.T. scan.  Her appointment to find out the results was today.  She called me from her cell phone to tell me that other than a very small spot in her left breast there was no sign of the cancer on this recent scan.   They plan to do an ultrasound on that spot, since it may just be dense tissue.  She was so happy and she wanted me to let everyone know that prayed for her..how thankful she is for your good thought and prayers.     And David, is about done with his chemo treatments. He is really a fighter and has such a positive attitude. He's blessed to have a very supportive family.  He's of course suffering some of the side effects of the chemo but has also been able to go to work from time to time. Even his work place has been supportive.  Like I said ...he's fighter.  Please continue to remember these two dear people.  Susan still has the suspicious spot in her left breast and David has far to go to be declared in remission.  

It was 55 degrees here today, but like I told Jeannette in the U.K......that doesn't mean a thing. We could have a blizzard on Saturday.  You just never know what the weather will be in the great Pacific Northwest.  Everyday can be a weather surprise !  

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

Sunny Saturday

It was a beautiful sunny day here is western Washington today.  I think the temperature got up to almost 48 degrees.  I know I had a sweatshirt on under my jacket and got too warm when I was driving around town.  After my breakfast with Judy, I did a little grocery shopping and then came home and worked in the yard.  I got my roses pruned (finally) and picked up some of the debris in my front yard. Whenever the wind comes up it gets littered with branches, etc not only off my cedar tree but apparently trees nearby.  I even found some Douglas Fir branches out there and the only trees like that I have are in my back yard.

It is a little cloudy out there right now, so I'm sure more rain is on the way.  At least I feel like I accomplished a little in the yard this afternoon.

My handsome, sweet son stopped by this afternoon.  He was out looking at & test driving vehicles.  He feels all the financial stuff from his Thanksgiving Day accident will be settled by the end of this next week.  He's still driving my brothers truck and is anxious to get it back to him.  It's been a real blessing for him to be able to use his uncle's truck and he's decided that he's going to get a used mid-sized truck rather than a car.  I think that's a good thing...every guy needs a truck.

Well, I'm going to go fix some dinner and feed this little whinny flat faced cat. You'd think she hasn't had anything to eat for days. Have a good evening...Linda

FRIDAY EVENING

The movie was wonderful...however, I would like to think Queen Elizabeth wasn't as unfeeling and cold when Princess Di was killed as the movie shows...but not living in the U.K. ...I don't know. Maybe some of you in the U.K. can shed some light on that.  It was a little difficult to watch all the news reels interspersed in this movie...brought back the events of those horrible events August 1997.  I can  remember being glued to the TV that first weekend and just sobbing...everyone was so distraught.

My daily weather email from KOMO TV this afternoon was interesting.  It mentions rain in Norway...

"Dear Linda,

It's another rainy day around Seattle, but if you think it rains often here, you should see some other parts of the globe. I received an e-mail today from someone in Bergen, Norway who found our past Web article about the rain streak we had last January when Seattle had 27 days in a row of rain. Bergen is currently working on a 94-day streak of days with some sort of rain, but is looking for their first dry day in 3 months this Sunday. Our tiny four-day rain streak might have to wait a little longer than Sunday to be broken...but not much longer. Tonight will see continued scattered showers under cloudy skies, with lows dropping into the mid-upper 30s. Saturday will start with areas of rain -- with the steadiest rain north of Seattle, and then scattered showers Seattle southward. All rain/showers will taper off as we get into the afternoon for a brief quasi-dry respite. Highs will reach the low 40s. Another wave of light rain returns Saturday night and into Sunday as we get brushed by a system going into British Columbia, making for a day probably a lot like today, but maybe not quite as wet. Highs will stay in the low-mid 40s. For Monday, it looks like a band of rain just stalls off the northern coast, but a few fringe showers might clip the northern Olympic Peninsula, but the rest of the area should remain dry. Beyond Monday, the forecasting models go into disarray. (It's been a while since they've been all over the map, so we'll give them a pass this time.) It still looks generally dry for Tuesday and Wednesday -- perhaps even mostly sunny on Wednesday, but the amount of cloud cover is in question both days, so we'll go partly sunny on both days with temperatures climbing into the upper 40s. It's even more difficult to pick out Thursday and Friday and into the weekend, where the models range from mostly sunny to rain at times. In fact, as an example, for Thursday, it either has a pretty good storm moving into Anchorage with strong winds and heavy rain...or the storm is 1,200 miles offshore and it's a somewhat sunny day up there. We're going to pull the meteorological equivalent of a white flag and just call for scattered showers on both Thursday and Friday to hedge our bets. We'll see how that shakes out as the time draws closer. But either way, we're pretty sure it's not going to start a 94-day rain streak :) Have a great weekend! Updated Friday 3:45 p.m. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weather Producer Scott Sistek" Saturday morning, I'm meeting my friend Judy for a birthday breakfast.  Actually it's my birthday breakfast.  Since she's remarried we don't see each other very often, so getting together for each other's birthday is a special treat.  Her birthday is the middle of September, but I hope it's not that long until we have a time together again. Until next time......Linda

 

FRIDAY~A DAY OFF & OFF TO THE MOVIE

I love Friday's...my day off.  I hope it warms up a little before I go back to work on Monday. It's just barely above freezing this morning, but most of the snow (in my area at least) has melted. Although, as I was taking the garbage can out to the street last  night, I noticed there are still a few slippery spots in my driveway.

My thoughts are with the people in U.K and Europe this morning who have been pounded by the severe winds the last day or two.  So many people killed and injured...it's really sad.  And some of our journal friends have had property damage as a result of the wind.  Hopefully, the wind will blow its self out soon and all will be calm. 

I am so excited this morning....the movie "The Queen" has finally arrived at the big theater up the street from my house.  It was in town before at the sweet little private theater in town, but always in the afternoon when I was working.  So Barbara will be here a little after noon and we'll head up there to watch the first showing today.  Actress Helen Mirren plays the role of Queen Elizabeth II  (flawlessly...the critics are saying.)  I'm so happy it's finally arrived to the local theater complex (15 auditoriums for watching movies at this one.) 

Happy Friday...Linda

Some Recent Snow Pictures From Western Washington

These pictures have been featured in The New Tribune the last few days. 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/photos/galleries/story/6326578p-5515065c.html

Weekend Assignment #148: Cats or Cheese?

 From John at ;

http://journals.aol.com/johnmscalzi/bytheway/entries/2007/01/18/weekend-assignment-148-cats-or-cheese/7019  Weekend Assignment #148: Cats. Cheese. There's only enough room on the planet for one of them -- and you have to decide which stays and which goes. Which do you choose and why? Now, you ask, why cats and cheese? Well, why not? People like cats; people like cheese. They're generally considered to be unrelated. Having to choose one over the other sort of gives you insight into your soul, about what's really important to you. Or, alternately, it's just fun to consider. Really, let's not pretend we're doing anything too deep here.

For charity's sake, when we say "cats" we mean domestic cats; lions and tiger and cheetahs and such will still be about, so you don't have to worry about taking out a whole bunch of endangered species. When we say "cheese" we mean all cheese, even the stuff that comes out of aerosol cans and/or is spelled "cheez." It all goes.

Extra Credit: what's your favorite breed of cat and/or type of cheese?

 

It's no contest !  Cat's paws down.   Cheese doesn't look up at you longingly, winding in a circle 8 pattern thru your legs.....cheese doesn't try to snuggle with you in bed...cheese isn't soft and warm when it lays on your lap....cheese isn't waiting by the door when you come home after a long day.....and cheese doesn't love you unconditionally.

 

My Extra Credit:  my favorite breed right this moment is the Exotic short hair and that's because I have one.  But in the past I've had a very loving 25 lb Maine Coon, several Siamese and some just plain cats.  All have been sweet natured and brought a lot of love, enjoyment and comfort to our home.

 

Exotic Shorthair cats are featured in the March 2007issue of Cat Fancy magazine, on your news stand now.

 

Linda and Gabi Lin

Tags: http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/exotic.html

63 Days Until Spring

Now here's some comforting news....(ya right)

"Dear Linda,

63 days until Spring...and counting. Most of us like snow in a general sense, but if our e-mail is any indication, we're sensing a growing eagerness to find some warmer temperatures somewhere. For the third time in a week, Mother Nature brought another round of snow to already icy Western Washington. This time, after picking on the evening commute a couple of times, the snow hit during the heart of the morning commute. Generally, it looks like storm totals were between a dusting and 2" with most right about 1". Tacoma and Gig Harbor pushed 2-3", as did the Hood Canal area. Ferndale also reported 3". The big, accumulating snow is done. There will be a few isolated showers this evening and overnight that could be a rain/snow mix or plain old snow, but no accumulations expected. Instead, the attention turns to freezing fog and ice on the roads for Wednesday morning. Temperatures tonight are expected to drop into the 28-30 range -- not a hard freeze, but enough to freeze the melted slush from this afternoon. We're also looking at areas of freezing fog, where fog can freeze to surfaces, making roads slick that way as well. Bottom line: Be prepared for more ice challenges for Wednesday morning's commute. Once we get into the day tomorrow, the fog will gradually burn off, leaving a partly to mostly cloudy day. There could be a few showers in the foothills that could spout a few flakes, but no real accumulations expected there. Highs will "warm" into the upper 30s. Another quasi-chilly night expected Wednesday night, with lows again in that same 28-32 degree range. Forecasting models are having a difficult time figuring out Thursday through the weekend. It looks like we'll see very light rain at times as weak systems brush by our area as they head into B.C. (even weaker than today's system.) but they're all over the map, so to speak, with the timing. So we'll call for a general chance of rain showers during the day on Thursday and Friday as temperatures will easily make it above freezing both days (highs in the low 40s.) It is possible to see a few snowflakes during the pre-dawn hours when temperatures are at their coldest (low 30s both mornings) but no accumulations expected here either. (Let's just say no more accumulations are expected in any shower for the next week.) Looks like lingering showers for Saturday, perhaps mixing with some sun breaks. We then appear to go dry again for Sunday through most of next week, with areas of morning fog giving way to partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-upper 40s. Guess we'll have to break out the shorts! Very long range models keep us dry through next week, but then hint at returning to a colder pattern for the end of the month. But just think, by then, we'll be down to 48 days until spring! Updated Tuesday 4:00 p.m. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weather Producer Scott Sistek"

Tuesday Evening

It took 56 minutes to get to work this morning...normally a 20-25 minute drive. I was 20 minutes late...but what could I do?  I left early and was still late.  I got stuck behind one accident and because of the terrible road conditions and the heavy snow falling, I don't think my speed ever went over 25 mph. This snow was very wet snow...great for snowmen and snow balls.  This afternoon when I left the office it was very slushy.  The weather people are saying the temperatures are going to drop below the freezing point tonight, so tomorrow we all may encounter black ice for our commute.  Even my 4-wheel drive doesn't help on that stuff.  The schools were closed again today...this is the 6th day because of the weather, so far this winter.  That means they will have to make up those school days at the end of the school year in June.

We are registering for several upcoming seminars right now and I've talked to many teachers the last few days.  One gal that I talked to today said her husband is also a teacher and they've been keeping busy cleaning closets, etc. In other words...they are doing their spring cleaning in January. But for working parents who have to find day care for young school age children, the whole thing is becoming a real pain. And no doubt the kids are getting bored also...I mean really, how many snow ball fights can you have ?

My precious son took me to a delayed birthday dinner tonight. He's been working long hours and then I was busy a couple other times, so tonight we were finally able to get together for dinner. It was enjoyable spending some time with him over some yummy enchiladas at a local Mexican restaurant. And I had some left overs which will be good warmed up for lunch tomorrow.

Well, that's all for now....there are dishes in the sink calling my name.  They want to be washed, dried and put away. 

Until next time, Linda  

 

No.........I don't want anymore snow !!

Yes folks...it's snowing here again this morning in western Washington.  Yesterday's commute was horrible for me.  The side streets around the hospital were totally covered in ice and compacted snow.  It appears the sand trucks have completely ignored that area.  I couldn't believe it...I drive about 10 miles to work, the last three miles took as long as the first 7.  Now there's a new layer of snow coming down out there.  At least yesterday, you could see where the ice was....not so today.  Well, I guess I should get off here and go get ready for work.  Then I'll get out there with the rest of the folks and see what happens.   Have a good Tuesday....Linda

THE BIG GAME HAS ENDED :(

Well, I'm sorry to say the Seattle Seahawks just lost 27 to 24 (in overtime) to the Chicago Bears.  It was a good game and well fought.  I know that's no consolation to the Hawks.... Boy it's going to be a long flight back to Seattle for the team.    Now the Bears will play the New Orleans Saints next week...more playoffs...heading towards the big Super Bowl game in February.

Linda

THE BIG GAME

Don't get me wrong, I am in no way a sports fan...but today is a big day for the Seattle Seahawks. They take on the Chicago Bears in Chicago.  This game is part of the Division Playoffs. Certainly if it snows in Chicago today, it won't bother the Seahawks...they've played in their own stadium in Seattle with the snow coming down. I'll not sit glued to the TV for the whole game but I will agree to have the TV on and watch now and then as I go about my duties today.

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My friend Barbara is flying off to Anaheim, CA and Disneyland with her youngest daughter Jessie and 6 yr old grandson Alex.  It's a first airplane ride for Alex and I understand he is very excited.  And the weather is perfect for anyone from Washington to visit Disneyland...in the 60's (which is cold to most Californians).  So the crowds should be light. Have fun guys !!!!

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Last night I brought out the huge box of those round slide trays that I've been meaning to go thru.  I got out the slide projector, hung a sheet on my entertainment center and went thru 18 trays of slides.  Each tray holds 100 slides...now they weren't all completely full but there were alot of them.  Gabi and I were up until 1:30 this morning doing this task.  I narrowed them down to 5 trays and my next dream is have them transferred to DVD's. There is a place here locally that does this but I think it's quite expensive for a slide transfer. I've had the old home movies transferred to VHS, then a couple years ago to DVD's and even that was a little pricey.  I threw hundreds of them away last night...and others are divided into little piles and I'll mail them off to the people in the pictures.  All of these pictures were taken between the years of 1975 and 1981...when I was married, when the kids were young and when my folks were still alive. It was amazing how many pet pictures I took during those years. We had cats and one special little dog...Frisky. And he was special !!!  I'll have to do an entryon Frisky one day.  It was both a happy and sad time last night as I tripped down memory lane.  But I feel it's important for those memories to be preserved.

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My plans today are to get these slides in padded envelopes and addressed to the people they need to go to, maybe even make a trip over to the post office where the lobby is open and they have a self service machine so you can affix postage and mail your own packages.  I also want to mix a meat loaf for dinner Monday night after work and make a pot of soup for my lunches this next week.

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It's still cold out there (20 degrees right at this moment) but the sun is shining so it won't be a gloomy day.  The sun does help warm up the house too. I'm just getting really anxious for spring and summer.....but we still have the rest of January and February to get thru. The worst may still be yet to come, I hope not but you never know in western Washington.  I remember in 1955 my family came home from a trip to southern California (that's when I met John Wayne..I'll have to do that story again one day too), actually arriving at our house on my mom's birthday (March 17th) and it was freezing, there was snow on the ground and the pipes in our house had frozen and then burst while we were gone.  My poor dad had a mess on his hands for a couple days after that long car trip.

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Well, I hope everyone has a good Sunday...tomorrow it's back to work for some of us. And some of us will be driving in icky conditions and others will drive in nice balmy weather...where ever you are be safe.   Until next time..........Linda

GO HAWKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Warming Up A Bit?

This latest email weather report from KOMO TV in Seattle cracks me up.  To me "warming up a bit" means like the high 40's or even 50's (the 60's would be pushing it in January.)  But, they call warming up a bit into the 30's.  Oh, I can't wait for summer !

"Dear Linda,

Updated Saturday 6:15 p.m. The snow flurries from today are tapering off and we are headed to a partly cloudy night. Lows will drop to the low to mid 20s. Sunday we start out with areas of low clouds and fog, but break out to partly sunny skies in the afternoon. Highs will be noticeably warmer as highs finally break past the freezing mark for all of western Washington. Plan on the mid to even upper 30s. The warming trend continues on Monday with a partly sunny start to the day. Clouds will build by the end with a chance of an overnight showers into Tuesday morning. Tuesday should stay mostly cloudy, but by then our highs will be flirting with the mid 40s. The sunshine comes back to town on Wednesday finally getting rid of any left over icy spots. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weathercaster Theron Zahn"

Saturday Afternoon

Oh..I've had a busy day.  I finally was able to get my hair cut this morning (she was too busy yesterday.)  Then I came home and showered (I hate all those little pieces of hair on my neck after a hair cut). Then I took off in the car and headed for Sears, determined to buy a new vacuum cleaner.  I'm so sick of the noise the other one makes and yesterday it was spitting dirt all over the place.  So today I got a new Kenmore that takes the bags and it's wonderful ! I hate the bagless ones. It was on sale so that made it all the better.  Then I delivered an Avon, went to the store and got some milk and a few other things and came home...all this in a snow storm. Yup, big fluffy flakes falling but not sticking, thankfully.  It was very pretty but I'm glad it finally quit and that it melted.  The temperature got up to about 34 degrees today, the warmest it's been in many days. There are still lots of side roads that are covered with compact snow and ice.   When I got home I put the new vacuum together, just had to screw the handle on to the main body and I tried it out.  What a dream...so nice and quiet and you can turn the brushes off when you vacuum hardwood floors or linoleum, which is nice, because the brushes tend to scatter the dirt when you're off the carpet.

The sunset this afternoon was spectacular.  It seems weird to have the sun setting at 4:30 in the afternoon, when it's still light at 8pm in the summer. The second picture shows the glow if the sunset on the west side (where the porch roof is gone) of my house.  That big Rhododendron, at the end of the house was so pretty Thursday morning.  I'd put that half burnt out string of icicle lights on it before Christmas, to brighten up the yard a little.  Anyway, with the heavy snow on it and the lights....oh it was a Kodak moment but I didn't have my camera.   I've decided to leave the lights out there for a couple more months...the winter is so drab and everyone rushes to take down their Christmas lights, which I think is sad.  If I were the King, I'd pay people to leave their holiday lights up and burning brightly until at least the first of March!

I hope everyone has had a good Saturday....until next time,  Linda

Out My Front Room Window

It's still so cold.  Actually the thermometer on my porch says it's 16 degrees.  I think the weather guy said it was 22 degrees in my area.  So my thermometer may be off a little. Even the road out in front of my house here in the park is compact snow and ice this morning.  So I'm really glad to be home today and that I do not have to go out.  I would like to get my hair cut but that's only about 6 blocks from here...so I'll call after 10am and see if she made it in to work. And the theater is in the same complex so I could go to a movie this afternoon if I want to.  I feel so bad for the people up north of here.  The snow was so much heavier.  Many have had to abandon their cars along the freeways and even the side roads because they just couldn't go any further.  Then apparently many of them ran out of gas while caught in traffic jams....there's something to be said for keeping your gas tank full, especially in the winter.

I've got a fire going in the wood stove to help heat the place and Miss Gabi is all stretched out on the back of the sofa, sound asleep.  I keep telling her how lucky she is that she was rescued off the streets of Seattle and found a nice warm home. And she doesn't ever have to go out in the cold, wicked weather, since I'm agreeable to a litter box in the house.

Well, that's all for now.  It's pay day so I suppose I should take a look at the bills and get them ready for the mail man to pick up. 

I hope where ever you are...you can stay warm and dry.   Linda in freezing cold Washington state

Thursday Evening

I made it to work ok this morning, however very slowly.  The roads that were clear yesterday when I came home from work, were compact snow and ice on my drive into work this morning.  It really came down during the night and then with the temperatures dropping like they did it froze almost instantly.  Some of the roads were only slightly clear tonight on the drive home because even tho the sun came out, it didn't warm up.  I had to walk over to the hospital about noon and with the wind blowing and the cold temps...it was colder than a well diggers belt buckle out there.  Brrrrrrrrr 

It seemed like today was 16 hours long.  The health system has several big seminars coming this month, so the phone rang non stop all day, with people wanting to register for any and all of them.  I was even late getting out of there this evening.  Oh well...now I'm off until Monday.  So I can relax and just putter around the house all weekend.  Unless the road conditions change, I'm only going up the street to get my hair cut and maybe a movie on my days off.

I've included more snow pictures that I took today.  Until next time........Linda

Early Thursday Morning

Pictures taken out my front door at 5:15am this morning.

I've got to get ready for work....my later after I get home this evening.    Linda

Wednesday Evening

I made it to work ok this morning.  It was a slow go however, I think I was on the road about 45 minutes and it normally takes 15- 25 minutes, depending on the traffic.  It was snowing very hard until I was within about a mile of the office. Then later this afternoon it snowed real heavy at the office but it didn't stick around.  I feel sorry for the people  from Seattle north....I guess it's a real mess up there.  The roads were dry when I came home tonight and they are dealing with compact snow & ice up north.  Anyway, I'm ok and only have one more day to work and then I'm off for three days.  I think my friend Joni has to go back to work Thursday and it could be a nasty commute for her.  She lives up in the Seattle area where the conditions are worse.  Drive safe Joni....

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

P.S. I see the pictures I took this morning disappeared from my early morning entry.  I've put them in again...I just opened my front door and aimed my camera.  I didn't even walk out on the porch because it was snowing so hard.

The "S" Word Has Hit My Neighborhood

Well, the weather people were right..it's snowing and 34 degrees, here where I live in western Washington. I took the two pictures this morning about 5am, so it's still dark out there.  I just opened my front door and shot them.  It's weird to see snow on my porch as it's usually covered and it's normally spared from snow. It's really coming down and supposed to continue this morning.  Then the temps are supposed to drop, so the ride home later this afternoon should be interesting. 

I'm off to get ready for work...I'm going to try and leave earlier this morning.  I'm still trying to figure out the best route to take ...so many hills between here and the office.

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

Good News In The Mailbox

Finally........ today I received another check (the first check was $1,200 off) for the replacement porch roof.  The insurance company felt the estimates were too high.  They are headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and like I explained to the adjuster back there, that perhaps material and labor costs could be different between here and there.  They still shorted me $200 (on top of my deductible) but I'm not going to quibble over $200.  I'll just scrounge it up somewhere.  I was talking to a co-worker today and telling her I was having trouble getting them to agree on the estimate..they thought it was too high.  We were wondering what would happen if.... when my next payment was due on my home owner's insurance, I wrote them a note and said I thought the premium was too high so I was sending  in what I thought was a fair amount.  Hmmmm......

  I've called and left a message for the one company that I want to do the work and hopefully they'll get back to me soon.  Meanwhile, the rain continues and tonight they are predicting wind and rain turning to snow and ice before morning...so it will be ugly in the morning if all that happens.  I have to just be patient and wait for a new and improved roof, I know it will be worth the wait. It will be fun to have it done and get my outdoor furniture back in place once again.

It's been pleasant here the last couple days...no rain, very little wind but this afternoon about 1pm....it started.  Before I left work we had strong wind, rain that turned to sleet for awhile,  pounding on the office windows.  But then the rain let up long enough for me to run a couple errands after work and get home without getting drenched.  So that was good.

I hope everyone is doing well so far this week..tomorrow is Wednesday and then it's downhill to the weekend.  I always look forward to the weekends.  :)

Until next time....Linda

 

 

Early Sunday Morning

It's raining hard and very windy here again this morning.  It was loud enough to wake me (and Miss Gabi) about 4am.  I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't so decided since it's back to work tomorrow, I'd just get up at my normal time (5am) when I'm working.  That way I've got myself back on schedule. 

Last night I finished the last book in a series by Liz Curtis Higgs.  The stories took place in Scotland in the late 1700's thru the early 1800's.  It was a wonderful series.  If anyone is interested, the four books are; "Thorn In My Heart,"  "Fair is The Rose,"  "Whence Came A Prince" and finally "Grace In Thine Eyes."    Now today I have the task of finding my next read among the many books I have here at home.  I did get a book at Costco yesterday, that caught my eye.  It's titled "A Train To Potevka." by Mike Ramsdell.  I'll have to take some time and see if it will hold my interest.  I always read while I'm eating lunch at work, so I hate it when I forget to bring my book or it's a new one and it doesn't seem to work for me. 

I have to go to the local Post Office later and drop a package in the bin there.  I love it that you can print out a mailing label with the postage on it (the postage is charged to your debit account) and then just drop it off and not have to stand in line.  Of course that's just for packages within the U.S.  I do a lot of eBay selling, so I have a postal scale and have been using this great feature for my eBay items for some time. The package I'm mailing today isn't eBay but you can still do this by going on the US Postal Service web site.

I'm going to make my usual big pot of soup this afternoon. I love to take it for my lunch, it's good, it's nutritious  and it fills me up.  Plus it's easy to make and re-heat at work.

Well, I'm going to get off here andget my day started.  As I sit here, I can hear that rain out there....pounding on my house.  I complain about it...but I feel so blessed to be in here, warm and dry and not out on the street somewhere trying to keep warm and dry.  All of us in J-land are truly blessed.  We may not have a lot of money in the bank but we have food, shelter and each other.   Have a blessed Sunday.....Linda

They Say It's The Calm Between Storms

Oh my word...what a wild night last night.  I thought my house was going to be lifted up only to come down in the Land of Oz. I think between 1:30am and 3am was the worst.  This house was "shuddering"...that's the only word I can think of to describe the feeling. The rain and wind started around 5pm...when I went out to dinner with my brother and sister in law it was getting ugly (which by the way, dinner was very good and enjoyable with two of my favorite people).  When it was bedtime I took my purse, car keys and other important items back to my bedroom in the back of the house.  I also put the baby gate across the hall so Gabi could not get out into the front of the house.  I was again worried about that big tree in the front yard.   The wind woke me up about 1:30am and I finally just turned the light on and read for awhile. This morning........all is calm and there's lots of "Heavenly" sunshine streaming thru the windows.  I may take advantage of the sun and go out an prune my roses today.  It's cold out there but I can bundle up.

I mentioned the other day in an entry that my friend and former co-worker, Pat, had emailed me some pictures from 1968-69 when we worked at the Oldsmobile dealership.  There was one picture of me,  but all those many years ago, I had taken the picture and tore my image out (it must have been awful) Pat claims she will find the negative.  But there was one picture I wanted to share...something you don't see anymore.  It's the cash register I used as parts and service cashier.  I wonder what ever happed to it.....it truly would be an antique today.

Here's my weather email from KOMO TV....it looks as if tonight another storm will hit this area. And snow on Wednesday ?   NO... I have to go to work Wednesday morning !

" Dear Linda,

We are getting a break from the rain this morning, but don't get too used to it. Clouds and showers will increase today along with the gusty winds. The winds will be out of the southwest around 25 mph with gusts to 35. Highs today will hit the low to mid 40s. This next storm system will also bring another blast of snow for the passes. Another foot of new snow will be on the ground by midday Sunday. Down here we are headed to a gray and soggy Sunday with breezy winds too. Highs will be a touch warmer, making it to the upper 40s. We calm things down on Monday with just mostly cloudy skies. Cooler air moves in midweek giving us the chance of some snow at sea level for Wednesday morning. Updated Saturday 7:30 a.m. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weathercaster Theron Zahn" Have a wonderful Saturday...and Kathy down in southern California, I hope it's warmed up a little for you down there. I've had no birthday cake yet...I think I'll go buy one of those little squares of cake you can get for $1.99 at Safeway bakery.       Until next time.........Linda

Now this would be scary !

NORFOLK Naval Air Station Virginia -- One of the military's largest transports got stuck at the end of a runway atop the I-564 overpass for more than 16 hours. It was unable to turn around at the West end of Chambers Field at the Norfolk Naval Station.  The incident forced the closing of the field to all but helicopter traffic and made for a dramatic sight for hundreds of motorists passing beneath it during morning rush hour. "That thing' s like a big building sitting there.'' said motorists. The nose of the aircraft actually stuck out and OVER the Interstate! The aircraft's nose was so far over the end of the ramp, the crew was unable to see the runway where it was supposed to turn around so the pilot simply had to leave it at the end of the runway.  The Air Force C-5 Galaxy, largest airplane in the free world, is almost as long as a football field and as high as a six-story building. Weighing 420 tons with a full load, it uses a system of 28 wheels to distribute its weight.  The aircraft had to wait for a specially made tow bar trucked in from Dover, Del.     When the tow bar arrived, it was used to hook the C-5 to a tractor that then turned the aircraft around.  The plane was not damaged. The female co-pilot was overheard saying to the male pilot as they exited the plane..."I told you we should have stopped and asked for directions ."

Another Windy Day in western Washington

Another Windy Day in western Washington

Click on the picture to start the video

Barbara and I did go see "Dream Girls."  We thought it was excellent !  The music is fantastic...

I'm off to have dinner with my brother and sister-in-law.   Have a good evening.....Linda

NO...NOT THE "S" WORD AGAIN

They keep talking about it but I haven't seen any as yet.  It needs to stay in the mountains where it belongs.  This whole area is built on hills of all heights...you can't go anywhere without having to go up or down a hill.  Please Mr Weatherman...keep the snow in the mountains where people expect it.   As for the wind..there's not much more that can blow down here at my house, except that big 80 foot cedar tree in my front yard.  

" Dear Linda,

We have pockets of snowfall this morning after some parts of western Washington dropped below freezing overnight. Don't be surprised if you see a mix of rain and snow where you are before we warm up to the low to mid 40s. We will keep the showers around all day. Another soggy system is moving on shore as we speak and will bring gusty winds by the end of the day. The highest gusts could reach 40 mph. The weekend is looking rainy and breezy. Take the slicker with you down to Qwest Field for the Hawks game. Highs this weekend will hit the mid 40s with heavy rain at times. Monday we get a break from the rain with just a few showers and even some sunbreaks. Midweek cool are drops in our area giving us another brush with a chance of snow. We'll keep you updated. Updated Friday 5:50 a.m. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weathercaster Theron Zahn"

Later Thursday Evening

I had to do one more entry tonight.  My son-in-law came by with a gift bag and cards for me.  First was a gift card from "The Outback" .......yum, yum.  And in the gift bag I found a darling little clothes pin doll and quilt top pillow, all hand made by my grand daughter.  The pillow is all sewn by hand and she's done a beautiful job.  At age 14 1/2...she's  perfecting the lost art of hand sewing.  And of course the clothes pin doll is handmade( except the clothes pin of course).  These two items are very special and I will treasure them forever.   

 Thank you...Meghanne....I love them !

Thursday Evening

Thank you all for your birthday wishes...and I also got so many emails and phone calls.  And when I got home this afternoon, there were 7 messages in my voice mail (wow, that's a record!).  But none from the people I work with other than dear Susan (who was also home today). I printed out all the emails and saved all the voice mails......

I had a doctor's appointment this morning, had to show the Medicare card...yuk!  Then friend Bob met me, driving the borrowed car and we took it back to Lynnette in Federal Way. It was good to visit with her for a few minutes.  When she walked me out to my car, Bob said "well....where do you want to go for a birthday lunch?"  I'd already told Lynnette where I wanted to go and that he'd probably not want to go there. But I gave it a try and he agreed....so off we went to the Rain Forest Cafe in the South Center Mall near Seattle-Tacoma Airport.  I've been in the gift shop of the Rain Forest Cafe down in Anaheim, CA at Downtown Disney but didn't eat there.  Let me tell you, if you have one near you (there's even one in London) it's a little spendy but what an experience!  It's great !  And the food was good !  I will definitely get back there again someday.

I got one great email today from my former co-worker and friend Pat. (We worked together at the big Oldsmobile dealership here in town back in the mid 1960's). She had uncovered a bunch of old pictures that were taken at different occasions at the dealership  (38-39 years ago mind you) and she sent them to me along with birthday greetings too.  I've printed out the pictures and will keep them in my album.   Thanks again Pat!  I love those pictures.  (She told me she reads my journal but didn't realize she could leave comments)

Tomorrow early afternoon, Barb and I are going to a movie and my brother and sister in law are coming by later in the day to take me to dinner.  I woke up this morning really depressed about turning 65....but as the day wore on...I've come to terms with the fact that there's nothing I can do about it, so I might as well accept the fact.  It's funny too, because 30, 40, 50 or even 60 didn't bother me....but 65....WOW !  That seems to be different.

Thanks again to Barbara in Texas for the sweet song this morning and thanks to all of for your birthday wishes.   Until next time.......little old lady Linda

Thursday January 4th

Well, today's the day I've been dreading for sometime.  65 years ago today, I came squalling into the world at the same hospital where I work.  However, this year is different...I chose to take the day off and not be there.  I don't have any big plans...just a doctor's appointment this morning (first time to get the Medicare card out of my wallet) and then hopefully return a car that my son has been using.  He's working 6am to 6pm this week, so can't help with that task but I think I've found someone to follow me to Lynnette's place so we get that car back to her.

I want to thank Barbara for the beautiful song she sang to me this morning and also to Robin for the e-card.  You two are wonderful ! 

Well, I'm off to get some make up on my 65 year old face....so I can get on with my day.    Until next time..........Linda

PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT #101

      

Photo Scavenger Hunt #101 will be due on Sunday, January 7, at 11:00 PM EST.

Our subject this week comes from Linda of Linda's World.  She wants to see our baby pictures.  So show us what you looked like as an adorable baby!  Or you can show off any baby.  This is your chance to show off your children or grandchildren.  Go into your files or snap new photos.  It doesn't matter.  Just bring on those babies!   

Please place links to your entry submissions in the comments section below, including your full entry URL.  Thanks for playing, and let's have fun!  ~Krissy...

Well, since I suggested it...I guess I'd better play along.  I chose this picture of me because I absolutely love it.  It's one that was taken just as my dad was leaving to go into the Army in the summer of 1942.   He carried one just like it, all the time he was over seas.  My mom has a smile on her face but her heart was breaking because she knew he was leaving for parts unknown. Fortunately, he came home unharmed.  But like many dads down thru the years, missed those early years of my growing up.   The second and third pictures are my favorites of my daughter and son, both taken when they were each about 10 months old.   Linda

Holiday Cookie Recipe

This is the best Cookie Recipe!  Read the entire thing!

 1 cup of water
 1 tsp baking soda
 1 cup of  sugar
 1 tsp salt
 1 cup of brown sugar
 lemon juice
 4 large eggs
 1  cup nuts
 2 cups of dried fruit
 1 bottle Crown Royal

 Sample the Crown Royal to check quality.
 

 Take out a large bowl, check the Crown Royal again, to be sure it is  of  the highest quality

 Pour one level cup and drink.

 Turn on the electric mixer...Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.
 Add one teaspoon of sugar...Beat again.

 At this point it's best to make sure the Crown Royal is still OK, try another cup.. just in  case.

 Turn off the mixer thingy.
 Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
 Pick the fruit off floor...
 Mix on the turner.
 If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a dewscriver.

 Sample the Crown Royal to check for tonsisticity

 Next,  sift two cups of salt, or something.... who giveshz a sheet.

 Check the Crown Royal.

 Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
 Add one table.
 Add a spoon out of the cup, or somefink....  whatever you can find.
 Greash the oven.
 Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
 Don't forget to beat off the turner.
 Finally, throw the bowl through the window.

 Finish the bottle of Crown Royal.

 Make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.
 

Sappy Pew Fear!

BACK TO WORK TODAY

Well, just a short entry before I get ready to go back to work today.  It's windy again here today...it woke me several times during the night.  I could hear what's left of my porch roof "flapping in the breeze."  I hope the insurance company gets that sorted out soon, so I can get it replaced. Now that the holidays are over....maybe that will happen.  However... I know they are swamped with claims, some more pressing than mine.  My next door neighbor still has two big fir trees laying across his house. 

The funeral for former President Ford is today....declared a holiday so all government offices including the Post Offices are closed again today.  But not the hospitals...so it's off to work I go. 

Here's my early morning weather email from KOMO TV in Seattle...another week of weird weather in western Washington;

"Dear Linda,

It is going to be a wet and breezy day across Puget Sound. The rain is all ahead of a cold front that will not pass through western Washington until Tuesday night. Temperatures will be on the mild side for this time of year with highs in the lower 50s. Heavy rain will fall in the Cascades and Olympics over the next 24 hours. A FLOOD WATCH has been posted for rivers in the North Cascades and Olympics. A FLOOD WARNING is in effect for the Skokomish River in Mason County. Wednesday's forecast features more rain, but it will lighter than what we get Tuesday. Afternoon highs will also be a bit cooler, topping out in the middle 40s. Even cooler air pushes in from the north on Thursday. We'll be lucky to crack 40 degrees over most of the area. There will be a few showers lingering through the day. Rain is expected to increase as the next Pacific weather system moves in Friday. Temperatures will go up a few degrees, rising back to the lower to middle 40s. The longer range picture doesn't show any significant changes all the way through the weekend. Periods of rain with highs in the 40s are in store Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Updated Tuesday 4:50 am more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weathercaster Todd Johnson"

Comments Made In 1955

Thanks to my friend Debra for the following;

******************************************************************

Comments made in the year 1955:


            "I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way
They are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20."

            "Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It
Won't be long before $2000 will only buy a used one."


            "If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to
Quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous."


            "Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging
A dime just to mail a letter?"


            "If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be
Able to hire outside help at the store."

            "When I first started driving, who would have thought
Gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off
Leaving the car in the garage."

            "Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts
Make it impossible to stay groomed. Next  thing you know, boys will
Be wearing their hair as long as the girls."


             "I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more.
Ever since they let  Clark Gable get by with saying 'damn' in 'Gone
With The Wind,' it seems every new movie has either "hell" or "damn"
In it.


            "I read the other day where some scientist thinks  it's
Possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They
Even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas
."


            "Did you see where some baseball player just signed a
Contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise
Me if someday they'll be  making more than the president."


            "I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen
Appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters
Now."


             "It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where
A few married women are having to work to make ends meet."


            "It won't be long before young couples are going to have
To hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."


            "Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more; those Hollywood
Stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."


            "I'm just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the
Door to a whole lot of foreign business."


             "Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the
Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we
Are electing the best people to congress."


            "The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather,
But I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."


            "There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for
A weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel."


            "No one can afford to be sick any more; $35 a  day in
The hospital is too rich for my blood."


            "If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it."

***********************************************************

My...how things have changed...........Linda

PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT #100

 

Photo Scavenger Hunt #100 will be due on Monday, January, 1 at 11:00 PM EST.

The subject for this week is:  Show us a photo of a milestone in your life.  If you are unable to scan old photos, how about a Christmas or New Year's celebration photo.

Notice that the Hunt is extended until Monday evening at 11:00PM EST in order for us to get in all the New Year's celebration pictures!  The idea for this Hunt came from Greg at Photo Trek.  Thanks, Greg!

  

This week's Hunt is a milestone, is a party, is a celebration of sorts!  You see, Krissy is celebrating her 100th Hunt!!  How appropriate that this falls on a celebration week!  Let's congratulate her by deluging her with submissions!  Krissy has been faithfully doing The "Original" Photo Scavenger Hunt for 100 weeks!  She has had so much on her plate and yet she has kept this hunt alive!!  Congratulations, Krissy, on your 100th Hunt of The Original Photo Scavenger Hunt!!

***********************************************************

Yes...Krissy, congratulations and thanks for your dedication to The Photo Scavenger Hunt, this past year with all that's been going on in your life. 

This is my entry...a picture taken at the Service Awards breakfast at the hospital where I work.  My award was for 20 years service.  Now almost 5 years later...I'll celebrate my 25th anniversary with the health system on January 25, 2007.

First 2007 Entry

Good Morning,  I hope everyone had a safe and sane New Year's Eve.  I left some comments in several journals, that my drink of choice last night was a big glass of milk with my dinner, a bowl of homemade vegetable soup.  Gabi and I headed to bed about 10pm and I read for awhile and then turned out the light.  I did wake up around midnight because of all the fireworks people were shooting off.  I was too tired to even get up and look out at their activity.  Next thing I knew it was 7 o'clock this morning...a new day and a new year.   A new opportunity to make changes in our lives, an opportunity to wipe the 2006 slate clean and start over.  A time to remember to write a new year on those checks as you make them out for your bills in the coming weeks (I will sit down sometime today and write 2007 ahead on checks, until it sinks in) and the day to get out your new calendars. I have my new Australia calendar here by computer thanks to my dear friends Harry & Helen in Adelaide, South Australia. I also bought an Alaska calendar so have that hanging in my bathroom (yes, I put calendars in the bathrooms). And a light house calendar in the kitchen.  I started the new year off  by doing laundry...I'm telling you...I lead an exciting life here in my corner of the world.  Later, I'll go out in the car and deliver an Avon order and then back home.  My 5 days off are almost over...it's back to work at 7am Tuesday morning.  Although, I do just work two days again this week...so will have another 4 days off after Wednesday.  But then the 8th of January it's back to a regular work week.

Best wishes to all my Journal friends for a happy, healthy and successful new year.

Until next time,  Linda