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