Sunday Evening Wrap-Up

It was a cool, rainy day here is western Washington today...and they are saying it will be this way for many days to come.

I went to Curves this afternoon...this new one I'm going to has very strange hours.  Among other things, they are closed Saturday's and open on Sunday from 1-4pm.  After Curves I headed to a grocery store...last night I almost had a melt down because there was no ice cream in either of my freezers...I just wanted a little taste...and there was none!   It was late, dark, cold, windy & pouring rain so I didn't want to go out in the car to the store.  

Today I was determined to remedy that situation with some Dryers Grand Light and I chose "Fudge Tracks."  The store had some good sales going.  I got two salmon filets, marked way down because they had an October 1st date on them.  I cooked one tonight in my George Foreman Grill and froze the other one.  I also got a 3 pound package of ground beef (also had an Oct 1st date on the label).  I cooked it up, drained it real good and put it in two bags and popped it in the freezer.  Then I found strawberries on sale.  I bought 4 lbs of them, washed & sliced them and put them into 1 pint bags...into the freezer. 

I have one of those Food Saver gadgets that vacuum packs food & all of this stuff was vacuumed packed, so it won't get that icky freezer burn.  I'll tell you, if you don't have one...it's the best investment I've ever made. I highly recommend it to anyone, no matter how many people your cooking for.

After I got home from the store, I built a fire in the wood stove.  It's raining so hard and  even though it's in the mid 50's...it feels colder than that because it's so damp.   Gabi is loving the warmth...she's all curled up in a ball in front of the stove.  And I'm just loving the fact that's it's warm in here and the furnace is not running up my light bill.

That's all for now...hope everyone had a great weekend.  Until next time.....Linda

 

William Tell

This gal is very clever....about 80% of what she says, reminds me of what my mother said to me back in my school days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

It's Installed and Working

It's installed and working...just warmed up some water for a cup of tea.  I've been using those old solid burners for 6 years...I'd forgotten how fast the coil burners heat up.  I found an almond color Jenn Aire double oven on Craig's List for $250.....do I dare ask him to change out my ovens?   I'll have to think about that one.  

I did call a local appliance store and a range top like this from General Electric retails for $259.00.  Me thinks he got a good deal!

 

Pink Daffodils and Stove Tops

In the garden section of my local newspaper today, there's an article about those pink tinged daffodils.  Here's a few names of the ones they list in the article.  "Fidelity" has  blushed, sulfur-yellow petals and soft apricot-pink cups.  "Pink Charm" has white petals with dark orange-pink cups, while "Pink Pride" has white petals with unfading pink cups. For a petite selection, try "Bell Song," a jonquil with white petals and pick cups that grows 10-12 inches tall.

The article also lists a ground cover that makes a web across the planted bulbs making it difficult for squirrels to dig up the bulbs.  Oxalis tetraphylla "Iron Cross" is a slowly spreading, deciduous groundcover.  It has large leaves that look like four-leaf clovers, but have a purplish center markings that form a cross shape.  Dark pink, 1 inch flowers bloom from late spring through summer.

So there you have it...hopefully if you're interested in this particular color of daffodils, you'll be able to find them in a garden center near you.  I'm going to go get some more of them.....

On another note; My 4 burner cook top is old and ugly but I determined when I moved here, I would use it without complaint until it no longer worked.  The burners are solid (which takes forever to heat up and cool off).  Well, yesterday afternoon Bob was at one of the many Goodwill stores in our area.  He called, asking to measure my cook top...I did and he said there was one there that was in like new condition for $15.  Wow !! Get it !!  It is the same size as the old one...it's going to make a world of difference in my kitchen. (Now I need to find almond color double wall oven to replace the avacodo green ones.)

 old icky black stove top.

 the new one, resting on the hearth ready to be installed. That little red thing is the $14.99 price tag.

With this new stove top and the new floor...my kitchen is looking better all the time.   :)          Until next time...Linda

Friday

Well, the rain is gone....it's been cool but sunny today.  I took a ride with Bob down to Olympia, so he could pay his union dues.  He dropped me off at Shipwreck Beads while he went to take care of his union business.  He's been retired for almost 4 years and he walks in and they said "hey, do you want to go to work?"  When he was working, he'd sit on the "out of work"  list for months sometimes, waiting to be called out on a job.  Now he's 66 years old, tired & retired and they want to know if he wants to go to work.  By the way he was a commercial plumber & pipe fitter for over 35 years....at times it was a very physical, hard job...definitely not a suitable job for an old guy.  LOL

I browsed around Shipwreck Beads...and found some new charms and some little gold and silver split rings so I can add the charms to my gold chains.  I also got a black velvet necklace neck display thingy so I can display & photograph necklaces for eBay.

After we left there, we stopped at the Goodwill in Lacey.  I found a pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans for women for $5.99.  I was so thrilled !  Having worked for so long, I am very short on regular, around the house clothes. I have one pair of jeans, which I wear around the house, out in the yard, etc. Yesterday, I was out painting in that pair of jeans.  So I'm happy to have a inexpensive pair now that I can feel comfortable wearing for projects around the house.

Shortly after I got home my son stopped by.  He wanted me to put an engagement ring on Craig's List for him.  Poor kid...two engagement rings are in his possession.  The store would only take them back within 90 days and unfortunately the engagements lasted longer than 90 days.  Does anyone need an engagement ring?

Oh...they are just saying the rain is coming back.  At least I guess that's what they mean, when they mention;  "pitter, patter on your windshield." 

Thanks to all of you who have voted for my picture....If you haven't seen it yet, here's the link;  http://www.picture.com/voteforme/photovote1.asp?PID=2375984

YIPEE !!!

It's raining.  I stepped out on the porch about 9:15pm and it was pouring rain.  I hope it keeps up for days !  Well, maybe a day or two anyway.  I have some "in the house" projects I need to get done.

I've had some emails and comments about the pink daffodil bulbs I mentioned in my last entry.  There's no name on the box, it just says; "hand selected quality, Dutch bulbs, pink mixture."  I'm sure if you look in your local garden center, you should be able to find some too. 

Ok...I've watched the season premiere of "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" so now it's time to head down the hall with my book and my  kitty.    Linda

Last Weekend of September, First Week of October....

......RAIN & WIND !   That's what the TV weather guy just predicted. He also said we are going to have a wetter & warmer winter. (That's what I saw in the Farmers Almanac for 2008, too).  I scurried around outside today, dead heading my roses, cutting back some of the dying flowers over on my big lump of dirt, I painted the door to my main storage shed and emptied some of my flower pots of the old dirt (grabbing the bulbs as they fell out).  I have two more large pots that need emptying but the trash can is full, so will have to wait until it's emptied Friday.  All of these pots were so full of weeds that I decided to start all over again with fresh dirt.  By the way...did you know that coffee pot filters make great coverings for the drain holes in the bottom of your pots?  I've been using them for that purpose for several years now and it helps to keep the dirt from washing out of the pots when they are watered or during a heavy rain.

I'll go over to the garden shop in the next few days and get some bags of potting soil and get those bulbs planted as soon as possible.  I also have purchased on bag of daffodil bulbs with a pink tinge that need to be planted.  I was telling Sandra, that I have to cover my pots with wire mesh to keep the squirrels from digging up and eating my bulbs.  One year they wiped out almost 100 daffodil bulbs. I was so upset.  The pesky little rascals !!  They won't eat tulip bulbs but I don't want to change over to just tulips.  I love the combination of both. 

Thank you all so much for the explanation of the invitation I received.  I'm going, so I won't call.    LOL                     Until next time, Linda

Explain Please

I received an invitation the other day for a retirement luncheon.  Down at the bottom is the RSVP and phone number but it reads differently than any other RSVP I've ever seen.    It reads  "RSVP if regrets"....so does that mean you only call if you can't attend this luncheon?  Usually if there's an RSVP, I call one way or the other.

Can someone out there please help me with this ?     Thanks.......Linda

How To Install A Home Security System

                      Thanks to my friend Susan for this one;

How To Install A Home Security System

1.   Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men's Work Boot's size  14-16 (used)

2.   Place them on front porch, along with a copy of Gun And Ammo Magazine.

3.   Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazine

4.   Leave a note on your door that reads;
Hay  Bubba,
Big Jim,  Duke, Slim, and I gone for more ammunition.
Will be back in one hour. Don't mess with the pit bull's-- they
attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad.
I don't think Killer took part in it, but it was hard to  tell from all the
blood.  Anyway, I locked all of the dog's in the house. Better just wait outside until we can get back.   Signed, Cooter

Wednesday Update

Happy Hump Day to all of you out there in J-Land.  It was a very beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest.  Sunny, big white fluffy clouds and a pleasant 72 degrees.  

I had a dentist appointment this morning, just the semi-annual cleaning and x-rays this time too.  But, I do have to go back the end of October , as I seem to have a few areas where I need some deeper cleaning.  That means numbing and cleaning down below the gum line. Yikes !!  I've never had this procedure done before and I'm not looking forward to it.  But there were no cavities or anything like that.

After I got home, Bob came by and said he wanted to go out to his house and get his motorcycle and bring it into town.  So we drove out across the Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor.  I have to go to a funeral this coming Saturday and it's going to be at a church on Fox Island. I told him I couldn't remember which exit to take, so he said he'd show me how to get there.  We went down past where his oldest daughter lives and then continued on until we came to the Fox Island directional signs.  Then it was across the bridge and we were on the island.  We drove about 4 miles and in the distance I saw a big church and sure enough it was the very place the funeral will be held.  So that will be easy to get to this Saturday afternoon.   I took a couple pictures of  Mt Rainier as we crossed the bridge...it was so beautiful....with the lovely homes, the water and the mountain in the background.  Those people who live on the shore in that area sure have a magnificent view. 

Once we got to his place, he got into his big garage and got the motorcycle out.  Meanwhile, I'm snapping pictures again.  There's an old Datsun out there I'm going to put on Craig's List for him, so I took some pictures of it.  Then I saw the big ant hill behind the Datsun, so I'm including a picture of it...it's really gotten big since I saw it last.  And then I turned around and that big Douglas Fir in his front pasture was there....standing tall against the pretty blue sky...so I took another picture of it.  He told me he climbed it once many years ago and even then he could see the lights of Seattle from the top.  And of course it's much taller now, but he's too old to be climbing trees.   The last picture I took is one of the beautiful dahlias growing out there.  It's white and sort of a butterscotch color.

I'm so happy for our friend Robin and her daughter Gabby.  Robin's Air Force husband, Michael,  is going to be home tonight after going thru Boomer Training.  Other than a couple weeks leave, he's been gone since last March.   They will be moving from northern California to a base in Florida in the next couple weeks.  Have a wonderful reunion guys....I'm glad the three of you are back together under one roof.  

I'm going to go get my "jammie's" on...it's almost time for  "Dancing With The Stars."    Until next time....Linda

Can You Believe That We Did It Again?

Yesterday morning Bob asked me if I wanted to go to the Fair again...oh sure, what the heck....so I gathered my camera, etc and away we went to the mall to catch the bus (after stopping at Safeway for our discount tickets).   This time we could tell, once we got to the bus that there were going to be more people attending on this Saturday than last Tuesday.  Sunday morning's paper told me that was true...last Tuesday there were a little over 30,000 ....yesterday over 118,000.  Quite a difference and it was noticed in the various lines waiting for food, bathrooms, etc.  I didn't even get any scones this time...every time I checked the lines were blocks long.  I guess I'll have to make my own here at home....I have the recipe, plus you can buy Fisher's Scone mix in the grocery stores and other locations.

But we had a good time....we watched Travis Fox, the hypnotist's show two different times.  I got some more CD's from Gary Jess who also happens to work for the health system I worked for, and I went back to a booth, where a nice lady from Alaska was selling these beautiful dishwasher & microwave proof commuter coffee mugs. 

We saw Darlene (of Dennis & Darlene that went on the Alaska cruise)...she was working out there in one of the official Fair souvenir booths.

The forecast was for sun & rain but I never saw or felt one single drop of rain.  It was cool....probably in the low 60's but actually perfect for surviving walking thru the crowded show buildings and fair grounds.

Enjoy the pictures (enlarge them and they will be more clear).......the Fair is officially over at 10pm tonight.  Next will be the Spring Fair April 17th thru the 20th.

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

On another note, I mentioned eBay the other day in one of my entries and I had several emails asking what so I sell.   Well, the answer to that is; a little bit of everything.  I do shop the thrift shops for items to sell on eBay and also I list things of my own that I will give to the thrift stores if they don't sell.  Years ago, I decided since there were no Barbies when I was young I wanted to collect Barbies...so I did.  Then I realized one day I would have to downsize, so I sold over 150 Barbies that I had purchased.  I still have 4 left...that were given to me as gifts and I'm not ready to sell them as yet.  One thing I love to sell is postcards....easy & cheap to ship and they are great sellers.  I once sold a 25 cent postcard for $8.50.   I buy books, DVD's & VHS videos on eBay, read or watch them and then re-sell them. So that's the story about my eBay experience.  I've been doing it now since January of 1999 and thoroughly enjoy it.

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

 

 

Irish Priest Transferred To Texas

 Father O'Malley rose from his bed. It was a fine spring day in
his new Texas mission parish. He walked to the window of his bedroom to  get a deep breath of the beautiful day outside. He then noticed there  was a jackass lying dead in the middle of his front lawn. He promptly  called the local police station.
  

  The conversation went like this:
 "Good morning. This is Sergeant Jones. How might I help you?"
 

  "And the best of the day te yerself. This is Father O'Malley at St.
 Brigid's. There's a jackass lying dead in me front lawn. Would ye be so kind as to send a couple o' yer lads to take care of the matter?"
 

  Sergeant Jones, considering himself to be quite a wit, replied
 with a smirk, "Well now father, it was always my impression that you people took care of last rites!"
 

  There was dead silence on the line for a long moment. Father
 O'Malley then replied: "Aye, tis certainly true, but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin."

******************************************************
Bob's friend, Stuart was discharged from the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle late yesterday afternoon.  He is now home, concentrating on a total recovery.  He still doesn't know if he'll have to have radiation or chemo, however.

 

I'm off to the Post Office (I've done really well on eBay the last few days) and then to Curves.       It's sunny here right now & in the mid 60's but I understand that's going to change to rain this weekend.     Have a wonderful rest of your Friday........Linda

 

The Next Survivor Series

Thanks to Bob's daughter Hope in Pasadena, CA for this one;

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation). He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function, the night before said function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the name of each and every character on cartoons.

Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.

Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6-yr old boy finds it in the purse.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting. He will need to read a book to the children each night without falling asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. And then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they are better.

They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me".

The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

What's In A Name ?

I got this from Robin, who got it from Sharon...........

Does Your Name Fit ??

 

A: Hott
B: loves people
C: great friend
D: can kick ur butt
E: has gorgeous eyes
F: wild and crazy people adore you
G: very outgoing
H: crazy
I: loves to laugh and smile
J: is really sweet
K: cute
L: good kisser
M:can be funny and dumb at times
N: easy to fall in love with
O: has one of the best personalities ever
P: popular with all types of people
Q: good boyfriend or girlfriend
R: has a smile to die for
S: makes people laugh
T: very good kisser
U: is very sexual
V: not judgmental
W: very broad minded
X: never let people tell you what to do
Y: is very sexual
Z: makes dating fun

 

L: good kisser

I: loves to laugh & smile

N: easy to fall in love with

D: can kick ur butt-ocks

A: Hott (ya right)

 

L: good kisser

E: has gorgeous eyes

E: has gorgeous eyes

 

This old woman has no comment, I was just playing the game....thanks Robin !

Here Kitty, Kitty....

....You are a South African bush pilot working for Blue Sky Aviation. You fly in some critical medical supplies, enjoy a quick lunch at the hospital.

It's a stifling 100 degrees in the shade and you're eager to get back up to the cool, high blue yonder.

On the way back to your plane, you discover that the only bit of shade within 1 mile has become very popular . .

You start calculating the distance to the plane door and wonder . . .

"Do I feel lucky today?"

You Can Do It A Trot, You Can Do It At Gallop, Do The Puyallup !

Tuesday we left here about noon and headed for the local mall, where we caught an express bus to the Puyallup Fair.   If you click on that link you can listen to the Fair song, that's been used for many years.  Those of us who live in the area, know it by heart.

First of all the weather guy kept saying "Sun breaks with rain."  So we thought, "well...we'll do what we can outside & if it rains, we'll head into one of the buildings."   Well surprise, surprise it never rained but the forecast kept the crowds away.  I saw in today's paper that there were just under 39,000 people in attendance yesterday. 10,000 less than the same day last year.   So the bus wasn't crowded and neither were the fairgrounds.  Lot's of the games of chance places, had no players.  Many of the vendors were reading magazines, newspapers, etc.  It was nice not to have wait in line for anything. 

We wandered around; looking at the quilts, the photographs, all the baked & canned items, the needle work, sewing, etc.  We went to see Harley, the 2,000 lb Holstein steer, who thought he was in love with the pretty cow in the next stall (he could see her thru the window).   He broke thru the window , he didn't know she was plastic and had rubber udders, so kids could enjoy the act of milking a cow.  Poor Harley, the window has been boarded up and he can no longer see his true love.  We saw various breeds of goats (those little miniature ones are so cute), even a breed that are born with no ears.  We saw all the animals, there at the Fair with their 4-H handlers.  It's so nice to still see young people interested in animal husbandry. 

We looked at all the various vendors; had our hands washed by the "Touch of Mink" people, watched demonstrations of mops, knives,tools, cookware, slice 'em dice 'em machines, siding,windows, etc.

We walked around the midway area; watching all the kids on the various rides (I remember those days when I was a kid and that's the first place I headed), parents (or grandparents) shelling out the money for those long strips of tickets for the different rides, we heard the screams from those on the roller coaster, the Mad Mouse and even the ferris wheel.

We ate; scones...you can't go to this fair without eating at least one scone...warm from the oven buttered and filled with raspberry jam (and we bought 4 to bring home, they are good warmed in the microwave). And finally about 7pm I bought my Young Life BBQ sandwich...my favorite fair fare for the last 5 or 6 years.  Tender BBQ'd, thin sliced beef, piled thick on a bun.  You add the BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, mayo & onions to your taste. Yummmy !!!!!

I got my annual hug from a policeman; one of my daughter's high school friends is now a policeman.  He's a great guy, with a lovely wife and family. He was part of the junior high, high school group at our church and the kids spent many Friday nights at our house playing pool and messing up my kitchen back in the 1970's.  They also spent some Saturday night's toilet-papering the trees in our front yard (yes this future policeman was part of that, too.) Anyway, all has been forgiven and when he see's me at the Fair, I always get a big bear hug.

Finally about 8:30pm with our feet screaming, we decided it was time to head to the bus that would take us back to the mall and my car. So our Fair experience was over for another year.  Up to several years ago, it was not uncommon to go out there more than once...but as I get older...once is normally enough. 

Today the weather looks more threatening, the wind is blowing, and there's more gloom than sun.  They are saying we could have some thunder showers later today.  I'm glad we did the Puyallup yesterday.   

Thanks for coming to the Fair with me....I hope you had a good time.           Linda

He Had A Good Weekend

Jim and his friend Carrie finally had a weekend off together and got to go on a river rafting trip on the Tieton River in Eastern Washington.  He said they both had a great time.  I don't know if Carrie has done this before but I think this is Jim's third time down a river.  Carrie is the second one back from the front and Jim is in the very back right hand corner next to the guide (he's wearing sun glasses.) It looks like fun, but I don't think I'll be trying it anytime soon.  My big river thrill, has been several jet boat rides up the Rogue River from Gold Beach, Oregon.  I'd do that again in a heartbeat!

It continues to rain off and on here today.  At least everything is getting a good drenching.  We could still have warm weather into October, so this will help keep the grass on plants growing.

I got a call from my friend Ruth this morning.  Her adult son, David, went thru treatment for colon cancer last year and now they have found nodules on his liver.   He was able to go thru the last treatment phase, missing very little work.  Now, he'll have to go thru testing and no doubt treatment again.  Please remember David and his family in your prayers.

Until next time.....Linda

 

Sunday Afternoon

Hi there, I hope everyone has had a good weekend.  There's water falling from the sky here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest today.  I put all my hanging baskets out on the patio so they could get a good soaking from Mom Nature.  I did water the front lawn & shrubs yesterday evening with the sprinkler but not for very long.  I just had a feeling that the weather guru's in Seattle were finally going to get it right and we would indeed get some rain today.

I am hoping it clears up a little by Tuesday, because that's going to be Puyallup Fair day for me.  It's "old geezer" day and this next week is the last full week of this year's Fair, I figured it would be a good day to go. Actually cool temps and very light rain would be fine, as most of the Fair exhibits are under cover anyway. And the cooler the better, when you're in all those buildings with lots of other people. 

I worked out in the back yard for about 4 hours Saturday afternoon.  I pruned a lot of the shrubs back there, including my lilac tree.  I know this isn't the best time of the year to be pruning but with the cooler temperatures, I'm sure they'll all be fine.  I not only filled up my huge yard waste bin but have a sizeable pile of debris that will go into it after the trash collector comes and empties the bin, Monday morning.  I asked Bob to bring his little electric chainsaw over, and cut off 3 branches off one of the fir trees back there.  All three are low and I have to dodge two of them, when I mow the lawn and the third one is laying on the fence that separates my yard from the yard of those noisy neighbors of mine.  That's all I need is to have the fence fall down because of my fir tree.  Yes, by the way...they serenaded me again yesterday with their very loud and obnoxious music while I was back there working.   It was very special...........NOT !!!!

Bob has gone over to Seattle again to visit his friend Stuart.  He was over there Friday (the day of the surgery) until about 10pm and then again yesterday until about 7pm.  He came thru the surgery good....but is in a great deal of pain.  He has one of those little things where you push the button when you need more pain meds into the IV.  Lucky him, of all the surgeries I've had...I had to depend on Extra Strength Tylenol, as I'm very allergic to all the good stuff.   They say they are sure they got all the cancer but will be running some tests in the next few weeks to be sure.  It's not known yet if he'll need radiation therapy.  They not only removed his bladder but also fixed a hernia he's had for at least  8-9 years.   I used to tell him that he should have that hernia fixed, as it could kill him too but he'd never go to the doctor.  Now it's done.

My friend Barbara left yesterday with a friend of hers for Ireland.  They flew out of Seattle-Tacoma Airport very early Saturday morning for New York and then were going to fly to London where they'd spend 3 days, before meeting up with their tour group for their trip to Ireland.  I can't wait until they get back to see the pictures...however Barbara (unlike her friend Linda) is not much for taking pictures.  So hopefully her friend Celeste will take some.  Barbara's 65th birthday is September 19th and she thought she was so smart booking this trip so she'd be gone over her birthday.  But I was one jump ahead of her...I took a card and a little gift over to Celeste and she has it packed away in her suitcase, so on Wednesday...where ever they are...she'll get it anyway.

I haven't been to Curves since before I went cruising.  Remember, I hurt my knee back the first of August and I tried Curves once and I just couldn't do it....it was too painful.  Then the day I got home from Alaska there was a letter from the Curves location I was going to saying they were closing, effective immediately.  The dumb woman running that one wasn't making her lease payments and she got evicted !!!   I talked to several of the gals on the phone and everyone was so upset.  I loved that place..it was close to my house, and located so that if I had to go to the store I could do that conveniently on the way home.  She was nice enough to send us a transfer form and locations of other Curves in the area.  I went looking for one this afternoon and I drove forever and never did find it.  So then I went to another one (I'd peeked in their windows before and thought it looked very small) and actually went in and looked around.  They are closed Saturday's and have weird hours the other days of the week but I guess that's where I'll end up.  It is small, all the machines are sort of all bunched together but I did see some familiar faces in there today, gals from the one that closed...so it may not be so bad. 

I have a pot of vegetable soup on the stove...it's that kind of weather.  And now I should get out the vacuum cleaner and do a little stiffing up around here.  Working in the yard the last few days, I've really tracked in on the carpet.  

 My one big project for this fall is to wash down all my kitchen cupboards with the Murphy's Oil Soap and then install new hardware on my cupboards and drawers.  I had to buy 29 new handles just for the kitchen.  I also bought new ones for the built in china cupboard in the dining room and then some more for the cupboards down the hall.  I didn't buy the same ones for all because I wanted a variety of styles.  When this mobile was built, they put the same ugly green linoleum thru the whole thing as well as the same hardware on all the cupboard doors and the drawers.  I've already changed out the ones in both bathrooms, when I painted them several years ago.   It's been 6 years the end of this month that I've been here in this mobile home community and I do love it.  I still have some changes I want to make but all in all...I feel it's my comfortable little home.

Until next time.......Linda

P.S. if you have a Coldstone Ice Creamery in your area, Go to www.coldstonecreamery.com and sign up for free ice cream on your birthday.       

P.S. #2  I have one skylight in the roof of my mobile.  It's in the hallway that goes down to the bedrooms and past the main bathroom.  Lately, every morning I've heard this thumping & bumping around on my roof and finally I discovered it was 3 big crows up there pecking around for bugs or whatever.  Well, the other morning I was walking down the hall and looked up at the skylight just as one of them took a "big crow dump" on my skylight.  I could not believe it !  Of course that particular day it was in the 80's so the "dump stuff" got cooked real good.  Now even after the rain.....it's still there.  I guess maybe I'll ask my son or Bob to go up there one day with some soapy water & the hose and clean it off.  Stupid crows....of all the places to "dump."

 

She never ceases to amaze me....

I’m speaking of course about Miss Gabi.  Every night when I am getting ready for bed…she comes into my room and jumps up on my bed and curls up on the blanket I have for her across the end of the bed.  Sometimes, after I get settled in, she’ll move up next to me and lay her head on my arm while I’m reading.  Other times, she just stays there on her blanket.   And that’s usually where I find her in the morning, too.  Although by morning, she’s normally awake and sitting there patiently waiting for me to wake up, then get up and give her the moist food.  Days like today…when I sleep a little later than she thinks I should, she comes up and paws gently at my shoulder, making her little squeaking noises. (Unless totally stressed, she never meows like a regular cat)  

 

 I’ve had lots of very sweet cats in my life….but this one takes the cake !!   And to think someone abandoned her….I can’t imagine.

Prayer Requests

Thursday, September 13th Bob's long time friend, Stuart, will be entering the University of Washington hospital for surgery on Friday morning.  He has been diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer and they are going to remove his bladder.  We are not sure if the dreaded disease has spread elsewhere, but they have scanned every part of his body.  Stuart is in his early 70's and is one of those people who hadn't seen a doctor for over 30 years when he initially got sick earlier this last spring.  At that time he was in the Intensive Care Unit for over a week, with a horrendous bladder/kidney infection.  He nearly died at that time.  At that time, Bob actually dragged him out to his truck and took him to the Emergency Room.  Even as sick as he was, he was reluctant to be seen.  He just kept saying "oh I'll be better in a day or two." 

Stuart is married but to a lady who doesn't seem to care one way or another about her husband.  She has never visited him in the hospital and does not seem to be concerned about this upcoming surgery.  But, Bob will be taking him to Seattle and will stay with him as long as the hospital allows. Please remember Stuart in the coming days.  He is very fearful and anxious about this surgery.

Also, my friend Dianne's husband (another Bob) has been recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He begins the first phase of treatment, Thursday Sept 13th.  He has been faithful about physical exams, so it's been caught in the beginning stages.  His prognosis is good...And Dianne will be at his side every step of the way.  

The Box Of Chocolates

Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road.  As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.

 

With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.

Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman.

 

The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a white bag on the seat next to Sally. "What in bag?" asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the white bag and said, "It's a box of chocolates. I got it for my husband".

 

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said: "Good trade."

My Tribute

On September 11, 2002, one of my co-workers went to the Y before she came to work in the afternoon.  As she entered the Y, there was a table that held business size cards of tributes to the victims of 9-11-01.  Julia gathered up enough of them for those of us at work and when she came in she stopped at my desk first, and let me have my choice of "victim" cards.  I chose Mary Teresa Caulfield because she was very close to my age.  I've never been able to find out much about her, but in searching thru several web sites, I've discovered she was an aunt.  So that means she was a sister and of course a daughter and absolutely a friend.   Mary Teresa...you would be 64 now, probably getting tons of mail from AARP and Social Security.  You'd no doubt be thinking about retiring soon and perhaps that trip you'd always dreamed of taking.  But all those dreams were cut short by the senseless acts of a few.  A senseless act of hatred, that most of the people of this world can't even understand. 

I still carry that little green card with your name and the fact that you were confirmed dead in the World Trade Center that day, that horrible day~09-11-2001.

To the family and friends of Mary Teresa.....please know that as long as I live, I will carry this card with me...I will pray that God continues to comfort you and bring you peace as the years go by.

May we never forget those who left us on that day.

Jane Wyman

Jane Wyman passed away this afternoon. She was born January 4, 1914 in St Joseph, Missouri. I found one source that gave another birthdate & year but I like the January 4th one, because that's the same as mine.

Jane appeared in over 100 movies during her career, she won 9 Oscars and was nominated 11 times.  I especially loved her in the movie "Pollyanna."  

Before her movie career took off, she once worked as a switchboard operator (another thing Ms Wyman and I have in common.)

Of course we all know she was married to Ronald Reagan from 1940 thru 1948.  They had two children.

My sympathy goes out to her family and friends...

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My little stripped kitty.  Actually she was laying in the sun coming thru the front window.  The shadow of the mini-blinds makes her look like she has stripes.

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I had lunch with 9 gals from my high school class today.  We had a potluck lunch up at the club house where I live.  We had a great time...the food was wonderful and we're going to do it again, by golly!

Until next time.......Linda

 

 

 

 

HORRIBLE NEIGHBORS !

How do you deal with them ??  There's some people who's back yard borders my back yard that are horrible as far as noise.  There's a tall fence that separates the two yards but that doesn't stop the boom boom boom of their very loud music that played all day yesterday until about 11pm and is once again playing today. It started about 8 o'clock this morning and will no doubt go on until late tonight again.  We have all filed numerous complaints with the police about them, they've had visits from the police and it does no good.  Today..I feel like I need to go...escape my house to get away from this incessant noise.   Even Gabi, has her ears laid back...it's bothering her, too.   I wanted to work in my back yard today, prune my lilac tree and other shrubs back there and I'm afraid if I do...I'll have a nervous breakdown. 

To top it off, their back yard is filled with campers, motor homes, vans, even an old school bus with people living in them.  You'd think under those circumstances, they'd play it cool and keep the noise down, not attracting attention to themselves.  I don't think the local Health Department would approve of the "camp" they've set up there.  I'm not sure if the house is rented or they own it.  But I'll tell you if I was the owner and they were my renters....I'd be furious !!!

Well, I have something's to mail, so I guess I'll escape over to the post office to give me nerves a break.   So until later....boom, booom bye....Linda

Scattegories, Come Play Along

Val  found this game of Scattegories at Chuck's Place.  It was fun!!  If you want to give it a go please leave your full entry URL so Val can come take a look! 

P.S.  Don't forget to leave me a comment & link, too. Linda

What is your name? Linda
     4 letter word: love
     Vehicle: Lincoln
        TV Show: Law & Order
     City: Longbranch, WA
     Boy Name other than yours: Larry
     Girl Name other than yours: Lillian
     Drink: leche (Spanish for milk)
     Occupation: lawyer
     Something you wear: lipstick
     Celebrity:  Lindsay Lohan (oh that wasn't a good choice)
     Food:  lasagna
     Found in a bathroom: lotion
     Reason for Being Late: lost keys

     Cartoon Character: Little LuLu
     Something You Shout: "leave me alone"


    

My Cleaning Routine

 

Cleaning Poem     

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work...
I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into.
I was into it all night.<<Sigh>>

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.      

 

Mount St Helens

I'ts very clear down there again today, so thought I'd once again share the link to the web cam at Johnston Ridge Observatory.  You can see a little steam escaping over on the right. 

http://www.king5.com/livecams/sthelens.html

 

The last of the cruise pictures

Here's the last on my pictures from the cruise.  These pictures were the ones taken by the ship's photographers.  Picture #6, I took one day when we went up on deck and it was a little rough.  The water in the swimming pool was really sloshing back & forth. It only lasted a few hours and then all was calm again.   The only thing I have left is a video from "Italian Night" when the waiters all sang to us.  That video is in that little video camcorder thingy that I won from AOL UnCut Videos.  I still haven't had a chance to figure out how to unload that video, so until I do...it will stay in the camcorder. 

I had a great day today.  My friend (and yours) Joni, drove down and we went to lunch and shopping for her "mother of the groom" dress.  She found a couple really cute outfits at Gottschalks, settling on one.  She emailed me after she got home and said her husband really liked it...so I think she's good to go.  Those affairs are always stressful for the mom's......you don't want to out-shine the bride and you don't want to look like a bridesmaid either, while the dad's can put on a tux and call it good.  So Joni, now you've got to put that outfit on, have Floyd take your picture and post it in your journal.  

Bob took off this morning to Sekiu with some of his retired plumber buddies, for a fishing derby.  Last year he did well with both salmon and halibut.  So hopefully the fish will be biting and he'll get his limit.  They will fishing all weekend, unless of course they all limit out. (If you go to the Sekiu web site, you'll hear the ocean waves)

In looking around at web sites, I found a great one for Mt. St. Helens.  Right now, it's very clear and sunny and you'll get a good view of the mountain. 

Guido mentioned it today in his journal...are you noticing how the days are getting shorter?  I have...I woke up this morning about 5:45am and it was barely light out.  I used to hate getting up in the dark and going to work during the winter months...oh it will be so nice not having to deal with that again. 

Well folks...I'm going to go out and get the back lawn mowed.  The dandelions are getting tall again. LOL 

 So until next time..........Linda

I Got A Call From The Local News Paper Today

About six weeks ago, there was a little blurp in the local paper, asking readers for memories and stories about their grandparents.  I love to do that kind of stuff so I sent off a little story about my maternal grandmother and a picture of myself with both of my maternal grandparents.

Well, the paper called me today and said they're going to use my story in Sunday's paper in a piece they are doing for "Grand Parent's Day."    I was happy to hear that, because I love reading these types of articles anyway, and it will make it fun to see my own story in print.

Gabi had a "spa" day today.  There's a groomer at her Vet's office so I had made an appointment for her to come in today.  The groomer put her into a twlight sleep, bathed her, cleaned her ears, clipped her back claws, gave her the vaccinations that were due and generally just checked her over. Then of course she was able to blow dry her, because she was in "LaLa Land" and didn't know what the heck was going on.  So now she's all fluffy and smells so nice but she's out like a light on my bed from the vaccinations. I guess some animals are kind of like babies when they get their shots...they run a little temp and tend to sleep the first few hours after receiving them.   She really didn't even have anything to eat today, because the groomer asked my not to feed her this morning, so she would have less chance of getting sick.

After the thunder, lightening and rain we had the other night...it's cleared up again. Yesterday and today have been quite pleasant weather wise.  They say it will be back up into the high 80's again by the weekend. 

Well, that's all for now....I hope everyone is having a good week. This one has sort of flown by here in the U.S. because of the Labor Day Holiday.  

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

 

We Have Two Winners !

1. As a young girl I rode on a circus elephant.

2. I took tap dancing lessons for about 6 years and danced in many local recitals, when I was junior high school age.

3. My ex husband and I once went to a taping of the old "Barney Miller" TV show.

 

My friend Joni.  I figured she'd be the one to guess correctly because we went to grade school and high school together and she would know this old woman was never a tap dancer. And just recently, Pat in the UK also guessed number 2.      So number 2, is indeed, the big fat lie.  

#1~When is was young, maybe 6 or 7, the circus came to town and my grandma took me, early one morning,  to see them unload off the train and then there was a procession to the location where they set up the big tents, etc.  For those of you who live in my area....they got off the train behind 56th & South Tacoma Way....the procession went up 56th to the area where the I-5 Freeway now runs thru....it was a huge grassy area at that time.  We followed the procession in grandma's car and then watched them put up the big top.  Afterwards, they offered elephant rides.  There was a big box thing with seats in it they put on the elephant's back, it was strapped down like a saddle and some portable stairs allowed us to climb up and get into this box for the ride of a life time.  I remember it was very slow and swayed from side to side. All so exciting and grandma did not have her camera with her.

#2~ the big fat lie

#3~ Yes, we went to California in 1976 for a couple weeks.  Somehow we managed to get tickets to a filming of the "Barney Miller" show.  It was very interesting to watch the process and of course so funny.  As I remember it took almost an hour to film a 30 minute show.  We always loved that show and I wish they'd bring back the re-runs.

Tomorrow, September 5th, is "National Be Late for Something Day."   I read that in my little "Book of Days"  It suggests you should "be late for work on purpose, and then leave early to make up for it."   Ya right !  That would have gone over well at my last & final job.   LOL

Well, I'm going to start sorting those pictures, so I can get them in the album.  Have a good day and thanks for playing that silly little game.  Congratulations Joni  and Pat !! 

Two truths and a lie

Here I am still up and it's almost midnight.  (What a crazy old lady!)  Well,  Marti over at Porch Stories left me a comment so then I was over at her journal and I saw this entry she did called "two truths and a lie."  She listed 3 things she has supposedly done in her life and her readers have to figure out which two are the truth and which one is a lie. I think we've done this before but I thought I'd give it a try again.  So here goes;

1. As a young girl I rode on a circus elephant.

2. I took tap dancing lessons for about 6 years and danced in many local recitals, when I was junior high school age.

3. My ex husband and I once went to a taping of the old "Barney Miller" TV show.

Now it's your turn, to tell me which is the truth and which is a lie. You can leave your comments below and then...why not try it in your journal, too. 

The long weekend is over

My heart goes out to all of you who have to go back to work Tuesday morning.  Oh I used to hate that day...no more long weekends now, unless you're a civil servant and you get Columbus Day off.  Some get the day after Thanksgiving off but not if you work in retail.  And Christmas is on a Tuesday this year so unless you ask for the 24th off right away...you'll work one day, get Tuesday off and go back the 26th.  Oh I'm so glad I'm retired !

I had a great day today.  I got all the stuff done I wanted to do.  Dropped the bank deposit off, mailed a package & some letters at the Post Office, went to JoAnne Fabrics & then to the 50% sale at the thrift store. There was great sales at JoAnne's too. I got my Christmas gifts for Bob's 5 older grandkids.  I got them all really nice photo albums at JoAnnes.  I got the fat quarters I needed (see picture) and some other odds and ends.  I stopped at Sears (even though the Mall parking lot was jammed) I remained cool & calm...just drove up one lane and then down the next one.  Finally a lady pulled out of a parking spot and I slipped right into it...just a few steps from Sears' front door.  I went to look at some thermal type drapes.  I want to get a one way draw thermal drape to cover my sliding glass door this winter.  It's the old aluminum framed door and there's so much cold air that comes in there.  And since I'm going to be home more this winter, I can't be turning the furnace up all day, to keep from freezing. 

School starts here in my area Tuesday and then some on Wednesday.  Except for those districts where the teachers are on strike.  I think there's two that I've heard of. 

Labor Day and school starting brings another big event to my corner of the world....the Puyallup Fair starts its 17 day run this coming Friday, September 7th.  (Jeannette, there's still time to get over here.)  Since I'm not working, we can go out next week, on a week day, when all the little angels are in school.  I've already purchased our discount (senior rate) tickets that include a ticket for riding the special shuttle buses out there for only $1.   I've also entered a few contests for tickets to the grandstand shows.  There are several good acts coming this year including;  Clint Black & Kelly Pickler, Reba McEntire, Kenny G, Steve Miller Band, Devo and "Weird Al" Yankovic.  George Lopez was supposed to perform on Sept 15th but I understand he's canceled (I hope he's not ill) and I heard Howie Mandell was taking his place. They also have 5 days of Pro Rodeo but that doesn't really interest me.

We haven't had any rain for so long, it makes me wonder if we'll get the rain during the Fair's run?  It's not fun out there in the rain.   Oh well, there's many days that I can go & I'll just choose a sunny (or non-rain) day. It's not fun out there if it gets too hot either.  I'm not picky or anything.  LOL

Tuesday, I'm going to get my pictures sorted and in my Alaska album.  Someone mentioned using the order they are downloaded on my computer for putting them in order.  So that's what I'll do.  Thanks for that great idea!

Well, it's getting late...it's been a long day.  A lot of it spent here at my computer listing items on eBay.  So I'll say good night.  Until next time.......Linda

P.S. As I was sitting here, I heard what sounded like thunder...I went and looked out the front door and sure enough...it's raining !!  YEAH !!!!  I don't have to water all my hanging baskets & stuff tomorrow.  And everyone has had a nice rain free weekend and are no doubt home safe & sound by now.   God is good!