It's Finished !

Another thing I've been doing and have not mentioned in my journal is getting bids for a new kitchen floor.  I wanted to go with a company that is right down the street from where I grew up.  The son took over from the dad, the company has been in business for like 45 years.  The son came out and measured but never got back to me with his estimate, even after several follow-up phone calls on my part.  So the other day the TV was on and I heard the advertisement for "Empire Today" flooring, etc.  I gave them a call on Friday, Saturday a salesman came out and measured, gave me a good price and this morning a father-son team showed up to put down the flooring I chose.  It looks like tile but is laminate (snap together) squares.  I understand from all the online research I've done, it's practically indestructible.  My kitchen has only one window over the sink, no ceiling light...just indirect light around the edge of the cupboards so with that dark old avocado green floor it was very gloomy in there.  I believe this new light colored floor will make all the difference in the world.  It's already made a difference in my attitude when I look at it.  I'm waiting for Miss Gabi to wake up and come walking out into the kitchen to see if she notices the difference.

The next thing.....new hardware (just the handles) on my kitchen cupboards. What is there is old and all the finish has worn off.   I've purchased one new handle and have it on one cupboard, but I want to look around at other stores and see what they have before I make my final decision.

Hope everyone is have a marvy Monday !!  Until next time.....Linda

 

FedEx Delivery

I decided not to mention this until it actually happened.  Well, this morning it happened.  AOL Uncut videos had a contest during the month of June (I believe it was just for June) and any Uncut videos you shot would be considered for a daily prize.  It had nothing to do with the content, it was just a random daily drawing (anyway that's the way I understood it).  I got an email last week, saying that an Uncut video I had shot, was randomly drawn and to please reply to the email with my name and mailing address. RED FLAG !!  They gave me a link to go back to their blog about this contest and pointed out that since they only had email addresses, if they chose a winning video they would need the mailing address to be able to deliver the prize.  Ok, that makes sense...so with somewhat mixed feeling...I replied with my mailing address. Then a couple days later I got another email, saying my name had been drawn and that I should receive my prize in a week or so.

This morning the FedEx truck pulled up and the driver brought me a package from America Online, Inc.  Inside was my prize....from Pure Digital a Point & Shoot Video Camcorder.  Also was a letter;  "Congratulations on winning the Pure Digital Point & Shoot video camcorder !  We hope you enjoy the Pure Digital camcorder & hope you continue to use Uncut Video from AOL.  From all of us at UnCut Video, thanks for your support !  The UnCut Video Team "

Ok Lanny, I have to get this thing figured out so I can take videos on the cruise.....what do you think?

A Real Senior Moment

Thanks to my daughter, Julie, for this one.

This is a true account as recorded in the Police Log of Sarasota, Florida...

An elderly lady in Florida did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"

The four men didn't wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad. The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then it dawned on her why... For the same reason she did not understand why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12 packs of beer in the front seat!

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.

The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a carjacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less
than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed.

If you're going to have a Senior Moment, make it a memorable one.

How Times Have Changed !!

I'm going thru a big storage bin of pictures, looking for a picture that my daughter has requested.  Talk about a trip down memory lane....Anyway among some of the things I found are some pictures and the notes that were kept on a trip that we made the end of July  1972.  My former husband and I took the kids and went over thru eastern Washington and Oregon and finally back to I-5 to visit his dad and step mom in Ashland, Oregon and then south to visit his mom, sister and brother in law in Redding, California. After those inland visits we went over Highway 101 coming out at Crescent City, California and  then continued north on Highway 101 thru Astoria, Oregon and then on home on Highway I-5.  We drove a little over 1,000 miles in all.

In the notes I wrote at one point " 616 miles so far have used 54 gallons of gas for 11.4 miles per gallon."    I can't remember the year of the truck we were driving but it had a camper on it and was loaded for 2 adults, a ten year old and a baby about to turn a year old. So it was no doubt pretty full.  The point I'm getting to here is the price of gas...can you believe it ???????   A mere 42 cents a gallon !   And I'm sure at the time we were concerned about the cost of this vacation.  We weren't rich by any means. My husband worked hard and had a good job as a brakeman on the railroad but like any young family we were just making it, I'm sure. 

 Can you imagine if gas was only 42 cents a gallon now ???? 

"Queen of Dish Stacking"

This morning I was washing the dishes that have accumulated the last day or two.  Nothing much..just a few bowls, some silverware, one small sauce pan and a couple plates.  For the first time in in many years, I don't have a dishwasher in this mobile home so I've washed dishes by hand the last 5-1/2 years.... I don't mind all that much, except that when they pile up, there's no place to hide them. LOL    Anyway, as a kid...it was my job to wash dishes at least once a day, the other times I dried and my mom washed them.  The times when I washed and was supposed to dry & put them away, I thought it was just easier to let them air dry.  We had the standard dish drying rack and I developed a method to put all the dishes, silver, pots and pans for a family of four in and on the dish rack. Stacked so well, I don't think an earthquake could have toppled them.  My dad finally dubbed me the "Queen of stacking dishes."  I held that title for years...until I married and we bought our first automatic dishwasher.  It was a portable one that we rolled over to the sink to load and wash the dishes.

This morning as I washed those dishes and delicately stacked them in the small dish drainer that sits in my second sink, I thought my dad would be so proud of me.  Once again, they are air drying....I'll go back and put them away in a couple hours. I haven't lost the art of stacking dishes. 

Dad......I love you and miss you........Linda

Alaska Cruise Information

Guido asked which ship I'll be on for the Alaska cruise. (Guido maybe you can help those who are interested in following the ship on line, when the big day comes, I'm not even sure how to do that.)  Anyway, it's Royal Caribbean's "Vision of the Seas."  Our cabin is on deck 3 (cabin 3098),  I found that last year, the one time we were in a little rough water, the motion of the ship was less down low. We leave Seattle about 4pm Friday August 17th and return the following Friday morning about 6am.  Note: They do let you eat breakfast before you get off the ship.  And they let people off according to priority...in other words, I won't have a flight to catch, so will be among the last group to disembark.  Last year, I believe it was about 10am before we walked down the gang plank.  They served breakfast up until 8:30am and after that we were able to go back to our cabins, brush our teeth, go potty and get our luggage and head for the very beautiful Masquerade Theater...where we waited until our group  was called to leave the ship.  People were snoozing, visiting, reading and some were just gazing off into space, no doubt thinking about some wonderful off shore excursion they participated in or thefact that they had to go back to work soon.

Our itinerary is as follows;

Friday August 17th we leave Seattle at 4pm, we'll cruise north up past the San Juan Islands out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and then Saturday August 18th we'll be cruising all day on the outside of Vancouver Island.  Sunday August 19th we arrive in Juneau at 11am and we are there until 9pm.  Last year Lynnette and I attended a non-denominational church service in the "Some Enchanted Evening Lounge" before we set off to explore Juneau.  It was wonderful sitting in that lounge, having church, with huge windows all around, watching the beautiful scenery as we floated into Juneau's harbor. Monday, August 20th we arrive in Skagway and we are there from 7am until 8:30pm (this is the day I woke up sick last year~~not happening this year !)  Tuesday August 21st we cruise thru Tracy Arm Fjord from about 7am until noon.  Then on Wednesday August 22nd we explore Prince Rupert, British Columbia from 8am until 6pm.  Thursday August 23rd finds us cruising the Inside Passage.  There will be lots of on board activities, shopping, visiting the casino, playing bingo and relaxing on deck that day.  They also have demonstrations on folding the towels into frogs and other animals that day.  I missed most of that day last year.....only made it up on deck a few times to take some pictures and then it was back to my sick bed.  Friday morning when we pull back the drapes on our cabin windows...we'll be tied up to the dock in Seattle. 

I've signed us up for the Meet & Mingle which will be around noon on Saturday, August 18th.  There I'm finally going to meet another AOL journal buddy, Lanny and his family. We live probably less than 10 miles from each other but have never met in person.  From what I understand, it's a great way to meet others on the ship, a time to make new friends and get some hints from those seasoned cruisers. 

So many have emailed and commented, wishing they could go along. And I agree...I wish this was an AOL journalers cruise, and all of you could join us.  Everyone has different experiences and different perceptions so all the entries would no doubt be different.  Once again, I'll do my best to take photos & possibly videos. To let you get an idea of what all takes place on this  big 917 foot ship, as well as off shore.  I know Kathy and her husband have been on several cruises and they also cruised to Alaska last summer.  They did different off-shore excursions than I did and I loved looking at her pictures and hearing of her experiences.  

Well, it's time to get going.  I'm taking my vacuum cleaner over to Sears for a free check up.  There's nothing wrong with it (I just got it in January) but might as well take advantage of the free "check up" that comes with the maintenance plan.

So until next time........Linda

OK, Now I'm Getting Excited !!!

I've picked up my cruise documents and I've just completed my on-line registration for the Alaska cruise leaving Seattle August 17th.  Once again this year I'll be on deck three (my request) just one deck above the water level.  If only those windows opened I'd bring along some fishing gear.   LANNY ARE YOU PACKED YET ???

I'm sitting here today waiting for the repair person from Sears.  My refrigerator has been acting up, so it's time to get it checked out.  After the repair person leaves, I'll head over to Curves (the one I go to is open until 8pm) 

Yesterday, I took my grand daughter, Meghanne, on her "birthday day out"  with grandma. We went to the nearby little town of Sumner.  I'm invited to a wedding in August and the bride listed one of my favorite shops (Simple Tidings) in Sumner on her gift registery list, so we had to go there.  The main street of Sumner is lined with thrift shops, antique shops and consignment shops and last but not least "The Berryland Cafe."    We also found a thrift shop called Grannies Attic on our way out of town.  We stopped there, too and they had the nicest stuff.  They had a card rack with cards from Hallmark and other well known card companies for 25 cents a piece.  Meghanne was happy to find a birthday card for her dad on their rack.  After I dropped her off I headed off to Curves for my work out. 

Tuesday, it was a toss up between Curves and a movie.  The movie won out !  I went the afternoon showing of  "Hairspray."  What a great, happy go lucky, toe tapping movie !!  I loved it.  It reminded me of coming home from high school back in the late 1950's and watching "American Bandstand."   The entire cast did a great job.  I imagine, the one cast member that will always stand out in my mind is...John Travolta dressed as a woman to play the part of the mother, Edna.   So after the movie popcorn and a soda, I felt so gross...I didn't go to Curves.  But I did come home and mow and edge the back yard.  That took some of the "popcorn guilt" away.  

Well, the Sears guy has just called to make sure I'm home...so I'll close for now.  Hope everyone is having a great day!  Until next time.....Linda

It's Late & Here I Still Sit At My Computer...

If you haven't visited Krissy today...hop over and play her Monday Morning game.  It's a good one. She can be found at;

http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink/entries/2007/07/23/monday-morning-question/1339

Ok, enough is enough...I'm off to bed.  Linda

Monday Update

Charges of first degree aggravated murder, kidnapping & rape were filed today against Terapon Adhahn, who is believed to have taken little Zina Linnik from the alley behind her home the evening of July 4th.   It's come out on the news now that he actually led police to the remote area where they recovered her body on July 12th.   Last week they also charged this same person with the rape of two other young girls in cases dating back to the late 1990's.   Once his picture was released publicly these other two victims came forward and identified him.   Zina's father responded to her screams and saw an Asian man closing the door on an older gray van.  He was able to give the police a partial license plate number and the police found the van with that information.  The van was registered to Terapon, who is already a convicted sex offender, having sexually molested his half sister in the 1990's.

You know...there are nice people, grouchy people, mean spirited people and people that are so kind, you consider them practically a saint.  But it's beyond anything I can imagine, how anyone can be so evil to do such a despicable thing to anyone, let alone an innocent child.  There is some concern that this man may also have been involved in the disappearance and murder of other young children in our area the last 10-12 years.  I hope someday, if he did harm those other children, he'll confess so the families of those innocent ones can have some closure.

Many of you will remember Ted Bundy...well he was from my home town.  (I believe his mother still lives here.)  Anyway, I know before he was executed, a couple of detectives from here traveled to where he was imprisoned and talked to him for hours, trying to find out if he was involved in any of the cases of missing females that had gone unsolved.  There was an 8 year old little girl, Ann Marie Burr, that disappeared in the middle of the night in August of 1961.  At the time a 14 year old Ted Bundy was the paper boy in their neighborhood. This was one case the police were especially eager to close....but Ted never gave them an answer.  Very sad for those of her family who still are alive....who still wonder what happened to her.

On another note....I did make it to Curves this morning.  After a week's break, I'm determined to go everyday this week except perhaps Wednesday when I take my grand daughter for her birthday outing.  I also gingerly stepped on the scale and I was down 3 pounds from about three weeks ago when I had my 2nd round of  measurements & weight taken, since I joined Curves in May.

My friend Barbara had called earlier this morning, wanting to know if I wanted to go Goodwill shopping today.  So she met me at Curves, just as I was finishing up.  We were both starving so we stopped at Jack In The Box and I had a Kids Hamburger meal.  I had just a hamburger (no cheese), I shared the fries and had a diet cola.  But then, we did the unthinkable....we stopped at Krispy Kreme and got a donut.  Yup, Barb had two glazed and I had one of their caramel filled, covered with chocolate and topped with crunchy toffee bits donuts. But I've learned my lesson, it's given me a stomach ache all afternoon.  LOL

We spent a couple hours in the main Goodwill Store here in town.  I found one long sleeved cotton blouse ($3.99) to wear with jeans this fall.   I also found several rolls of gift wrapping paper (unopened) for 99 cents a roll, some pretty note cards with envelopes for 59 cents.  And I got two black DVD racks (each one holds 24 DVD's) for $1.99 each. And  Barbara found a really pretty blouse, it's casual, good to pair with slacks of jeans, so we had a successful shopping trip. 

After the donut incident, I came home and mowed the lawn, hoping to burn off a few of those calories.  It's so wet out there...in fact it was sprinkling as I was mowing, I only did the front, so the back lawn is still growing.  I think it's supposed to continue to clear up this week so hopefully I will be able to mow it by mid week.

Well, that's all for this time...I hope everyone had a good Monday........Linda

 

Definitions Not in The Dictionary and more.....

"Definitions Not in The Dictionary"

ADULT:
A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.

BEAUTY PARLOR:
A place where women curl up and dye.

CANNIBAL:
Someone who is fed up with people.

CHICKENS:
The only animals you eat before they are born and after they are dead.

COMMITTEE:
A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST:
Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST:
Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.

INFLATION:
Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MOSQUITO:
An insect that makes you like flies better.

RAISIN:
Grape with a sunburn.

SECRET:
Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON:
A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE:
The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW:
One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.

YAWN:
An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES:
Something other people have. I have character lines.

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

It's another rainy day in western Washington, with temperatures in the mid 60's.  The grass, flowers and weeds are growing like crazy with the warm temps and all the rain. 

Yesterday, it actually cleared up for most of the day but was warm and humid.    I spent the middle part of my Saturday, at my old high school at a multi-class reunion.  Hosted by the Franklin Pierce Class of 1958, the classes of  1956, 1957, 1959 & 1960 were invited to partake of a catered lunch and tours of the school.  Something's have changed since I graduated in 1960 and others remain the same.  My friends Joni and Barbara (I rode over with Barbara)  met in the parking lot and entered together.  There were 10 of us "young ones" from the class of 1960 and we had such a good time, catching up & visiting.   We did get to know some of the others, those ahead of us...because so many of us rode the school bus and they were on the busses too.  Not all teenagers had a car back in the 1950's like they do today.  In fact I didn't get my first car until after I was 20 years old.  I was working but had to move into town away from the farm and ride public transit or walk to work at the phone company.  Anyway, our day was very pleasant and us gals decided to plan a potluck lunch at the clubhouse here where I live after Labor Day sometime.  I'll have to check and see when it's available.   I've included a few pictures from yesterday.   Five of us gals, even went to the same grade school, so we've know each other a very long time.

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

I was going to just stay home today because it's raining and to me that's a signal to get something done in the house...but I see there's only about an inch of milk in the fridge, so I guess I'll go up to Walgreen's.  I can get a few of my pictures printed off and get milk there too.  Then I can come home and get busy.  It's getting close to my son & son-in-law's birthdays, so I need to dig into the back of my closet and see what I have stashed away in there for their birthday gifts.

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

By the way,  "The Astronaut Farmer" DVD was released July 10th.  If you didn't get to see it on the big screen, it's well worth the money to buy or rent.  This is the movie that was written by Mark & Michael Polish.  Mark Polish, is the son-in-law of Bob's cousin down in Carson City, NV (we stayed there for 4 days on our trip) and his cousin's little grand daughter is one of the little girls in the movie.  Her first acting opportunity....and she did a great job.

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

I hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend.........until next time, Linda 

 

HOUSEKEEPING TIP

THIS SURE SOLD ME!  I AM GOING

TO THE DOLLAR STORE TODAY

&  GET A DOZEN!

Good Housekeeping Tip
              from Maxine 
         
Always keep several

 get well cards on the mantle...

So if unexpected guests arrive,

They will think you've been real sick

 and unable to clean.

CABBAGE PATCH DOLLS

Remember back in the 1980's when grown women were ripping each others clothes to get to the Cabbage Patch dolls ?  Well, I didn't do that but when things calmed down I did buy some.  And I still have 3 of cute little round faced darlings.  I only took a picture of my two oldest ones, Jennifer & Josh.   After I got J & J, my kids gave me a baby Cabbage Patch doll one year for Christmas.  His name is Percy and he used to smell like baby powder...I still have him but he has these little spots all over his face ( I guess he got the chicken pox and they never went away).  He actually sits between J & J on a little bench, here in my living room.  I have had other C.P. dolls too, but they are long gone...sold on eBay.  I had a set of blond twin girls, an Asian one, a Hispanic one and an African American one.  When I knew I was going to have to downsize about 6 years ago...I had some difficult choices to make.  I have also given C.P. dolls as gifts.  I remember the boy C.P. doll named Carl I gave my grandson when he was about 4 years old.  I wonder if he still has him ?  I'll have to ask. Personally, I think they are still cute as can be. And when I see them in the store I always stop and look thru the boxes at the different ones available.  

Jennifer and Josh are so blessed...they were adopted by me but I saw to it that they also have a God Mother.  Yup, my friend Jan is their God Mother.  You see, back when I first got Jennifer, Jan had just had her first grandchild and everyday at lunch, it was "Cody this and Cody that."  Then out would come the pictures of Cody.   I got so feed up, I made her the official God Mother to J & J and started taking pictures of them in different poses and bringing them to work to pass around the table at lunch.  I didn't have a grandchild until 1991 and I was determined not to be out done by Jan, "the bragging new grandma."  Now, in the year 2006-2007 she has her first great grand child....so far I haven't come up with anything to top that !

She sometimes reads my journal so I'll be interested to see if she has any comments about this issue.   LOL

So do any of you out there still have a Cabbage Patch Doll or two around the house ?  Don't be ashamed...I'm 65 years old and I love mine.  I think they are adorable.

Narrows Bridge Opening~ Bag Pipers

Narrows Bridge Opening Bag Pipers     (click on the picture to start the video)

I wanted to share this short little video with you before weeks end.  As I looked at this video just now, it was hard to believe that just a week ago we were looking forward to Opening Day.  Since Sunday when we walked on the bridge with approximately 50,000 other people, I have driven across that bridge twice. 

It started raining Tuesday here in western Washington.  It's really a welcome change.  I put all my hanging baskets out on the patio this morning so Mom Nature could water them for me.   We are supposed to have rain off and on thru the weekend.

Bob's daughter and 2 grand daughters left his house about noon today.  I understand as she was leaving her old "stomping grounds" she drove by the high school she graduated from and found staff members there,  they let her and the two girls in and  gave them a little mini tour.   I know she enjoyed the visit with her dad, in the very house she & her siblings grew up in.  She has other family and friends to visit for now but we hope to see her and Nina again before they fly back to Pasadena on August 4th.

I hope everyone is having a good week.  I also know, from reading journals the last few days that there are a lot of needs out there in J-land.  So many are fighting cancer and other life threatening diseases. There are families that are having problems, families separated from loved ones who serve in the military and people worrying about their sick pets.  I pray that each one of you receive a special touch in your lives.

Until next time.....Linda

 

MONDAY PHOTO SHOOT: WORKING IN THE SHADOW

It's so bright any sunny during these dummer days. Let's go in the opposite direction:

Your Monday Photo Shoot from John: Take a picture in which shadow plays a significant role in the composition. You may ask, how does this differ from the recent Photo Shoot involving silhouettes? Silhouettes are a very specific sort of shadowplay, and for this assignment you can take a wider approach -- shadows of all sorts (you can use silhouettes, of course. Just don't recycle the shot you use!). Shadows make give a photo drama it might not otherwise have.

Since it's raining in my area right now......I'm using a picture I took this last April in Los Angeles.  This picture was taken inside the intrance of the Bradbury Building in downtown L.A.  Bob and his daughter Hope entered the building just before I did. The sun was streaming thru the high atrium window, but at this point Bob & Hope are still in the shadows.

BRIDGE FACTS

I've had several emails and a few comments left about the length, etc of the new Narrows Bridge.  So using the Opening Celebration flyer we received as we walked onto the new bridge Sunday, I'll answer your questions. 

Both bridges are suspension bridges.  And each are almost exactly the same length,  I think the new bridge may be a little wider than the old one, however.  

 The new bridge length overall; 5,400 feet (so just a little over a mile).  Main span (tower to tower); 2,800 feet; 60 pair of suspender hangers per side.  Side span, east side (Tacoma side); 1,200 feet; 29 pairs of suspender hangers per side.  Side span, west side (Gig Harbor, Bremerton, etc side); 1,400 feet; 34 pairs of suspender hangers per side.   Suspended roadway (deck sections, barriers, utilities); 53 million pounds, 46 deck sections, 120 by 78 feet in size (on average).  Towers (each); 510 feet tall, 8,500 cubic yards concrete, 2.9 million pounds of reinforcing steel.  Caissons (tower foundations, each)  85,00 tons, 6 million pounds of reinforcing steel,  40,500 cubic yards concrete (Tacoma side), 37, 000 cubic yards concrete (Gig Harbor side).    Anchorages (each)  81 million pounds, 20,000 cubic yards concrete, 1 million pounds of reinforcing steel.  Cable diameter (each)  20.5 inches, each cable contains 19 strands (bundles) of 464 wires, each steel wire is about a third of the diameter of a pencil, total steel wires per cable- 8,816.  Structural steel, superstructure (deck sections) 35.5 million pounds.  Structural steel, suspension system (cable wire & saddles atop towers) 12 million pounds. 

The new bridge has taken almost 5 years to build (ground breaking was October 5, 2002).  Besides, viewing it while crossing  the old bridge there were a few other locations where you could take a peek at the progress during those 5 years.   Also, there was always the bridge cam you could check, to see the progress.  Since they frequently worked around the clock, there were lights on the new bridge during the night time hours.   I do not remember of hearing of even one work related death during the construction. That's a good thing !  There may have been injuries but I don't recall hearing of them.

I went to Gig Harbor (on the old bridge) yesterday to help Bob get ready for a visit from daughter Hope, and two of his grand daughters.  I came back home (on the new bridge) and sailed right thru the "Good to Go" lane for $1.75.  Those that don't have the "Good to Go" transponder on their windshield have to pull into one of the toll booths and pay $3.  When I got home, I checked my online account and it indeed showed the $1.75 deducted from the $30 my account started with. In today's paper there are comments from people who used the new bridge for their commute yesterday.  One lady said she was 30 minutes early for work.  Living over across the Narrows and coming into Tacoma, Seattle or other towns on this side...has been a nightmare for the people involved.  You could leave 2 hours early of your start time and still be late for work.  Of course...there's still the problem of accidents or jumpers,  both of those incidents can bring traffic to a stop.  And then those same people went thru the same nightmare trying to get back home.  The old bridge had two lanes of traffic going in each direction (head-on accidents were not uncommon).  Now each bridge has 3 lanes and 1 HOV lane (for buses and vehicles with more than 2 people riding together), all heading in the same direction.  Hopefully all the years of work and the money spent on this project will be a huge benefit for those who travel it each day. As well as for those who only use it from time to time.

The first four pictures I've posted were from the local newspaper- I DID NOT TAKE THEM.  My hat is off to the photographer who braved the heights to take those incredible pictures.

For those of you who are interested on checking in from time to time on the bridge traffic, here's the link to one of the traffic cams (this one on the Tacoma side). http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/webcams/camera.cfm?module=tactraffic.cfm   There are others listed on the map of the bridge area.  Just click on whatever camera you want to view. 

It's raining here today, and I really need to go back over to Bob's.  Both of his brothers are there this afternoon with their wives, having a little family reunion since Hope and Nina are in town from Pasadena, CA.  But, I'm not very motivated today and I hate driving on the freeway in the rain.  So, I'm not sure if I'm going to make the trip or not.

Until next time.......Linda

We Did It !

We had a great time at the bridge this morning.  There were so many people, but the transit company did a fantastic job shuttling everyone back and forth.  Everyone was having a great time and the weather was perfect for such an event, overcast with a nice breeze blowing.  We only walked to mid-span because I actually got a shin-splint in my right leg. Oh my does it hurt.  I think it happened walking down the hill from the bus to the bridge. Now that I'm home for a few minutes, I've taken some tylenol and had a full bottle of water (hydration seems to help) and it will be better soon.  This afternoon when we go out to Bob's daughter's place, I'll just sit around and take it easy. 

Anyway...it was a wonderful experience...my grandkids had a good time and they took lots of pictures, so I know they will remember it forever.  I'm sorry the pictures are so dark, I should have checked the exposure on my camera.  It was really overcast out there, good for us people but bad for pictures.          Until next time....Linda

 

Sunday is the big day !

Sunday, July 15, 2007 is a big day here in my home town.  It's the opening celebration of the new Narrows Bridge. (The pictures I've posted, I just took in June of the year.)  There are going to be free shuttle buses from a park & ride lot on each side of the bridge, to take the public down to the bridge.  I'm picking up my grand kids a little after 9 am Sunday morning and we'll park my car at Tacoma Community College park & ride and take the shuttle a few miles to the east end of the bridge. Since the new bridge doesn't open to traffic until Monday morning, we'll be able to walk on the road bed, take pictures and enjoy the festivities.  The new bridge will carry traffic from the Gig Harbor (west) side to the Tacoma (east) side.  The toll booths will be for eastbound traffic only.  The toll to cross the bridge has been set at $3 per trip.  Commuters and anyone who crosses the bridge on a regular basis were able to get a free "Good to Go" transponder to attach to their windshield.  You start out with $30 in your "Good to Go" account and then each time you cross the bridge thru the special "Good to Go" lane, it deducts your toll.  However, when you have the "Good to Go" sticker...the toll is only $1.75.  I don't go over there very often but I've got the sticker, with $30 credit on it.  Bob's got three of them, one on the big truck and camper, one on his small size Nissan truck and one on his motorcycle.   If you look at this traffic cam, you can see the new bridge on the right; http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/tacoma/sr16_tacomanarrows_west.htm

Then later Sunday afternoon, I'm going with Bob to his daughter & son-in-laws place for a BBQ.   His daughter, Hope and grand daughter Nina are in town from Pasadena, so it will be a fun time getting together and eating ribs!    After a busy day, I'm thankful I don't have to get up at "O'dark thirty"  Monday morning to go to work.   Sunday will be a full day for this old lady !!

Today, after visiting Curves and delivering some Avon orders I did a little shopping.  I was able to find a real nice garment bag for $30.  It only has 5 spots for hanging clothes but that should be plenty for the cruise in August.  I also was able to buy the DVD of "Astronaut Farmer."  The story was written by Bob's cousin's son in law and the cousins' little grand daughter is in the movie.  If you didn't see it on the big screen, I recommend buying or renting it.  It's a good family movie, no blood (well a little) but no guts,sex or filthy language. 

The floral, stuffed animal and balloon tributes continue to pile up in front of the house where little Zina Linnik's family lives.  There are also several banks that are taking  public donations to help the family with the expenses they will have in the coming days.   It sounds like charges for kidnapping & murder will be filed soon against the "person of interest" who remains in police custody.  The police are now looking into some "cold cases" of other missing children in our area, they will be re-opening these cases, to see if he may have had anything to do with them.  There was one little girl who went missing a couple winters ago, while walking to school.  Her body was later found, but no one has ever been arrested for her murder.  Then about 8 years ago there was a little 2 year old snatched from a bowling alley.  She was there with her family and when her mom turned around and she was gone.  And lastly a little girl who was taken from a Target store, while she was shopping with her grandma.  All there one minute and seconds later gone.....

The weather is hot and humid here today.  First it's sunny, then the sun disappears behind the clouds but yet it doesn't cool off.  I have the sprinkler going on the front lawn and the flowers out there.  Everything is so dry all the time because it seems like there is a constant breeze no matter what the temperature. And that warm breeze tends to dry out my hanging baskets and planters.  The four legged, furry creature in my house is sprawled out on the wood entry way again today.  When I was bringing in the stuff I purchased earlier today, she didn't even move...I had to step over her highness. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday...do something fun, even if it's a trip to the Dairy Queen for an ice cream sundae.   Until next time......Linda

$ 50

Morris  and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year,
And every year  Morris would say, "Esther, I'd like to ride in  that
helicopter".

Esther always replied, "I know Morris, but  that helicopter ride is
fifty dollars -- and fifty dollars is fifty  dollars".

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris  said,
"Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I  might never
get another chance." Esther replied, "Morris that  helicopter is
fifty dollars - and fifty dollars is fifty dollars". The  pilot
overheard the couple and said, "Folks I'll make you a  deal.

I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet  for the entire ride and not say a word I won't charge you! But if you  say one word, it's fifty dollars."

Morris and Esther agreed and  up they went. The pilot did all kinds
of fancy maneuvers, but not a  word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and  said,
"By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but  you
didn't. I'm impressed!"

Morris replied, "Well, to tell you  the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know -  Fifty dollars is fifty  dollars."

SAD NEWS TONIGHT

Sad news on the 11 o'clock TV news tonight.  The body of this dear little girl was found late this evening.  The "person of interest" is still in custody, however they have not charged him as yet with the kidnapping and murder of Zina. 

Her family came here from the Ukraine,  I'm sure it was to find a new life and now this horrible thing has happened to their little daughter.  It has been good to see how their surrounding neighborhood has been there for them, has been supportive and caring.  Many of them have been out searching during our heat wave, hoping and praying they would find her alive.   Even as the police department were having a meeting tonight with this neighborhood, updating them on the search....other officers found the body.  It's so sad....how can people be so evil?

 

HOW HOT IS IT ??

The pictures speak for themselves. It looks like temperatures will start dropping a little in the next few days.  They are saying we could have thunder showers tonight....we'll see. 

The End Of An Era

I was sad when I read a report in today's paper that Faith Dairy is closing. It's been in the same location for 40 years.  But the owners say due to the high cost of fuel and feed, they are closing their drive-up dairy service, selling their herd of 400 Holstein cows after this coming weekend. There are 30 acres at the sight of the drive-up dairy and 180 acres in the outlying area where they keep the cows. Faith Dairy has not only sold milk but they have their own brand of gourmet ice cream, chocolate milk, eggs, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese and of course various ice cream treats like Dove Bars, etc.  Their milk prices have always been slightly less than the prices in the big grocery stores and their drive-up service has been excellent.

Faith Dairy....I will miss you !   Driving down 72nd street will never be the same.

They have a "person of interest" in custody in regards to the little girl taken the evening of July 4th.  They have his gray van, they have him and there are search teams with dogs, searching an area north of Tacoma.  This man is a sex offender and they were able to arrest & hold him because he had failed to register with authorities when he moved to his latest address.  (That is a law here, that all comvicted sex offenders must register with the authorities each time they move.)

It's blistering hot here again today.  At just before noon the temperature on my porch is 86*. The weather guys are saying it could be up close to 100* by days end.  I have Gabi in one of my bathrooms....the coolest one.  She has her litter box, food and water in there and the summer fan in my furnace is blowing cool air from the floor register.  I just put the baby gate up so she's contained in a cool room.  Yesterday's heat really wiped us both out.  She spent most of the day sprawled out on the kitchen floor.  I did not go to Curves yesterday and I'm not sure I'm going to day.  I don't want to close up my house again this afternoon, to go out.  I was going to stop on the way home from Faith Dairy but I called and the staff member said their little tiny refrigerator is full and I didn't want to leave my milk, etc in the car.....so I came on home.

Well, I hope everyone has a good Wednesday (hump day), keep cool or stay dry...whatever your weather conditions might be.  Linda

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE

I did go to Curves this morning but plan on staying close to home the next couple days.  They are predicting temps up in the 90's.  If I stay home, I can keep the house cooler by following the sun around the house opening and closing doors & windows as needed. My heart goes out to those who are already suffering in triple digit temperatures.

We had a nice"Sunday" drive to the beach yesterday.  I've already posted the ocean video but am including some pictures in this entry.  Ocean Shores is really building up.  It started back in the "dark ages" , promoters even included Pat Boone at one point. I understand they are still promoting the Ocean Shores community on a regular basis in Southern California. At one time you could get a lot (no ocean view) for as little as four to five thousand dollars.  We saw one yesterday, way back off the beaten path for $80,000 (it did have water and sewer running to the lot, however.)  There are a bunch of high end motels, condos and even an airfield for those who want to fly in. Personally, I prefer the little fishing village of Westport across the bay but on this day we were on a mission.  Some friends have built a new home at Ocean Shores and I've been anxious to see it.  Also anxious to visit with them and see their two flat faced kitties, like mine.  Johnnie was instrumental in my getting Gabi and she was a former co-worker at the call center.  Their house is done on the inside and out but they still have yard work to do, including spreading big piles of top soil over the sand in the back yard so they can plant grass back there.  There's a big lake (Duck Lake) in the center of the Ocean Shores community and from that lake are numerous canals that wander around thru the community.  Their back yard goes down to one portion of the canal.  It is a very beautiful setting.

Today after my visit to Curves, I've just been here working in the house. I'm really trying to dig into the "stuff" that's everywhere.  I've decided that some of the "stuff" I've been hanging on to for years needs to go away!  So I've been listing things on eBay as I come across things I'm ready to part with.  I need the money more than the "stuff."  I've had the TV or the music on full blast all day just to keep me motivated.   All the fans are going and the windows and doors are wide open, with a nice breeze blowing thru. 

On my way home from Curves, I did stop at a Liquidation Warehouse that's just a few blocks from my house. They are moving to a new location, so they are having a "moving sale."  I got myself another silk orchid.  My house is not suitable for the real ones and because I love them, I guess I'll settle for the silk ones.

As of this evening, the little 12 year old girl that disappeared the evening of July 4th from behind her home...has not been found.  The police have found a gray van that seems to fit the description of the one seen, speeding from the scene. They have taken it into headquarters to be thoroughly examined.  The reward money for her recovery is growing so hopefully someone will come forward with the information needed to bring this precious little girl home to her family.

I hope everyone out there in J-Land is keeping cool or in some cases...keeping dry.  I know there are storms in some parts of our world.    That's all for now, my break is over.   Until next time, Linda

An Afternoon At The Beach (Pacific Ocean at Ocean Shores, WA)

An Afternoon At The Beach (Pacific Ocean at Ocean Shores, WA)

Here's a few minutes of video that I shot Sunday afternoon at Ocean Shores, Washington, a mere two hour drive from my house.  I hope you enjoy, the sights and sounds of the beach.   Linda

 

Tags: Ocean Shores, WA

A LITTLE GIRL IS MISSING

Wednesday evening turned from fun to fear for a Tacoma, WA family when their 12 year old daughter went missing.  She was in the alley behind their house watching fireworks.  Later the other kids went on their way, Zina Linnik stayed behind to check something out.  Her family heard screaming and when her father rushed out to the alley, he saw a man shutting the door of a gray van and speed away. The father saw the numbers "1677" on the Washington state license plate of the older model van.   An Amber Alert has been issued and hopefully Zina will be safely returned to her anxious family. 

I decided to post this in my journal because, the person who took her could be far away from the Pacific Northwest by now.  So please read the information given and call the appropriate law enforcement officials in your area if you feel you've seen this van or little Zina.      Meanwhile, please pray for her safety and for the family as they struggle thru this horrible ordeal. 

Weekend Assignment #173

Weekend Assignment #173 from John: Share a joke. Make it funny. Also, since I'll want to link back to them, and I am, after all, but a cog in the great AOL machine, keep it reasonably clean and free of ethnic/sexual put-downs. You know.

Put the joke up on your blog or journal and then come back and leave a link in the comment thread (if you don't have a blog or journal, you can leave the joke in the comment thread. But remember, if you have a journal/blog, the point to let the massive attendance of this blog push people to your online home, with fame and fortune to follow!).

I just got this from friend Barry, who worked at the Chevy dealership with me years ago. As I woman I don't feel this is a sexual put-down...I think sometimes it's very close to the truth.  And the reason is...we have so much going on in our lives we get a little "scatter brained" sometimes. Linda

MALE VS. FEMALE AT THE ATM MACHINE  

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.
 

Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.
 

After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed. Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.

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

MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.

2. Put down your car window.

3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.

5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.

6. Put window up..

7. Drive off.

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

FEMALE PROCEDURE:

Unfortunately, most of this part is the Truth.!!!!

1. Drive up to cash machine.

2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.

3. Setparking brake, put the window down.

4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.

5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.

6. Attempt to insert card into machine.

7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.

8. Insert card.

9. Re-insert card the right way.

10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.

11. Enter PIN.

12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

13. Enter amount of cash required.

14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.

15. Retrieve cash and receipt.

16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.

17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.

18. Re-check makeup.

19. Drive forward 2 feet.

20. Reverse back to cash machine.

21. Retrieve card.

22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!

23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.

24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.

25. Redial person on cell phone.

26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.

27. Release Parking Brake.

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

For extra credit John asks; Have you ever been to Kansas City? My answer is no I've never been there, but I know the words to the song. And that should count for something.

 

4th Of July On Puget Sound

Like I said in an entry on Tuesday evening, Bob had found a spot for the camper...just about a block across the railroad tracks for all the activities, so he spent Tuesday night there in the camper.  Wednesday morning,  I went to one of the designated shuttle bus parking lots, parked my car and then rode the bus down to the waterfront.  After about a three block walk I was at the camper.  We crossed over the tracks and proceeded down the miles and miles of booths, containing food & drink of every kind, craft items, some really nice things and some junky stuff.  there were also booths from different organizations with free giveaways.  I got several pens, a tire gauge, a real nice tote bag (from Qwest-my telephone company), magnets, scratch pads, a T-shirt etc. 

The air show started about 2pm, so we found a place in the shade and along the shore to sit and watch the stunt pilots and other demonstrations put on by the armed services. The first plane was a "fly over" by a F-15 Eagle. This jet is part of the Oregon Air-National Guard. As fast as it flew, it probably got here from Portland in about 15 minutes (LOL).  One of the stunt pilots did his thing in his German built Extra 300 and then he must have landed his plane over at the Gig Harbor airport because later he was back in the Geico Insurance booth signing pictures of him and his plane.  I was happy to be able to get one for my grandson.    Probably the most amazing demonstration was the Harrier Jump Jet.  It actually hovered over the water and was able to back up and go forward at a very slow speed.  It gave a really impressing display.  When it took off, the noise set off all the car alarms in the surrounding parking lots.   There was also one of the big C-17 Globemasters that flies over my house all the time.  They put it thru some maneuvers over the water, that I don't see here at home (thankfully).   Then there was  a display by a Fouga Jet that was very breath taking.

One item of interest along the waterfront is the old Tacoma Fire Department's fire boat.  With all the water around us and so many buildings located at the waters edge this is a necessary addition to the city's fire department.

After walking for at least a couple miles, checking out all the booths and displays.... we stopped for a late lunch at a favorite on the water front, Katie Downs.  We were lucky to find a table on their back deck, in the shade, looking out at the water.  I had a wonderful turkey sandwich and Bob had his favorite, a Reuben sandwich.  We sat there for as long as we dared....cool and enjoying the activity on the water in front of us.

We slowly headed back to the camper, making sure we hadn't missed anything, where even though it was sitting in the full sun was remarkably  cool.  We had left the windows open and there was a nice breeze coming off the water.   Bob climbed up on his top bunk and took a nap and I sat by the window, reading my book and people watching.

The fireworks were to start shortly after 10pm so about 9:50 we took our lawn chairs and moved to a little higher point in a parking lot behind us.  There we sat with the fireworks being shot off a barge out in the water directly in front of us.  We could hear the accompanying music, a warm breeze was blowing...it was very nice.

We have gone to this 4th of July twice in years past in his boat.  But we both decided it was much better the way we did it last night.  The people out in the boats can't walk along the sidewalks to people watch and look at all the stuff for sale like we did.  The fireworks are more spectacular when you're actually on the water but that's all.   So unless we go somewhere different next year (which could happen, we've seen the fireworks in various places around the Pacific Northwest over the years), we'll do the camper routine again next year. 

After the crowd had diminished (almost midnight) Bob drove me to where my car was parked and then I drove it home.  It was after 1 am before Gabi and I got settled into bed.  And believe it or not...the crazies in my neighborhood were still setting off fireworks, when I got home.  Oh, I was so glad I didn't have to go to work today !!!!

I hope you enjoyed going to Tacoma's Freedom Fair with me....I wish you could have all been here to enjoy it in person.  

It's going to be another hot day here in my neck of the woods, they are saying 85 degrees plus. My little kitty is laying on the kitchen floor rather than the carpeting in the living room.  That's how I can tell she's getting warm.  But, I'm off to run errands and then to Curves and hopefully I can get a hair cut this afternoon.  Linda
Tags:  stunt planes,