Buddy

Thanks to my cousin Susie for this one....

A WOMAN was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind lady replied, "No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs."

Picture this:

All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog!

The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!

True story... Have a great day and remember...



THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR.
A DAY WITHOUT LAUGHTER IS A DAY WASTED!!!

Double Out House

Words fail me!  This picture is worth 10,000 of them. Yep!!! This pretty much says it all.

Tuesday almost 5pm

After a beautiful sunny day, with those big white fluffy clouds now I get this rather complicated weather email from KOMO TV in Seattle.  I have plans for Wednesday evening, dinner with some gals I used to work with....and Thursday, Barbara and I are going to an early dinner and then to the Festival of Trees. Our last outing for awhile as she leaves Saturday with her oldest daughter and grand daughter for San Diego, to catch a cruise ship for the Mexican Rivera Cruise.    Friday it's just a trip to the dentist at 2pm, so that should be ok.  But I hate driving at night when it's stormy. Yuk ! 

Dear Linda,

Updated Tuesday 4:20 p.m. It doesn't get more challenging than this around here. For all the different weather events we get -- rain, wind, convergence zones, rain shadows -- snow is the most challenging... and fringe snow is the most challenging of all. While it's not nice to drive in, having it be 25 degrees with a big blob of moisture moving in actually makes our job easier. But more often, it's about 33-35, and moisture is only expected in some places, and don't forget minute variations in altitude, topography, and proximity to large bodies of water with swirling winds in this region that might make down the block two degrees warmer and raining while it's snowing at your home. Which is all a fancy way of saying the upcoming forecast will not be a cakewalk. Tonight is still fairly calm. We'll see just a few isolated showers toward the foothills that will taper off overnight. The rest of us will be partly cloudy and chilly. Lows will drop into the upper 20s in the outlying areas to the low-mid 30s in the city. Then comes Wednesday, which will begin calm but not end that way. We'll start with mostly cloudy skies, with light rain developing around midday or early afternoon as a weak cold front drops in from the northwest. It's Wednesday night and early Thursday morning where things get interesting again. The front's parent low pressure system is forecast to move southeast across the northern interior. There is some semi-cool air in B.C. that could get drawn into the low, so areas on the north side of the low could get just enough cool air late Wednesday and early Thursday to get a little bit of snow -- especially above 500 feet. No significant accumulations expected though -- maybe 1-1.5" at most. The exception is the Hood Canal area (same places over there that got snow Tuesday), which could see maybe 1-2" of snow from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. Outside of the general snow/mix zaniness, we're looking at scattered rain/snow showers in the morning and then decreasing showers for the afternoon. Highs will climb into the low 40s, so any snow that does fall will melt pretty quickly once the snow ends. (Wow, 11 paragraphs, and I'm not even to the weekend. Man, I love November!) Forecasting models don't offer much help in the consensus department for the weekend. And wouldn't you know, we still have cool air and moisture in the neighborhood. It does look like we'll have some cooler, modified arctic air will move in from B.C., adding more of a winter chill to the air. Friday looks calm, with just a few isolated rain showers amid plenty of sunbreaks, with highs in the low 40s. Saturday, a weak system is now forecast to drift through, and with some of that chilly air in place, it could be for light snow or flurries. No significant accumulations expected, but something to be mindful of. Highs will only reach the upper 30s. Our next challenge will be Sunday. A much warmer, wetter system is forecast to head our way, but if we get enough of that cool air entrenched ahead of time, precipitation could begin as a heavy wet, sloppy snow before changing over to rain as the warm air scours us out. That could bring widespread accumulations before that occurs, so be mindful of that on Sunday. However, it should all be melted by Monday, so no commuting problems expected. In fact, long range models for next week hint at a warmer, wetter pattern, ending all snow concerns and probably instead requiring an eye on the rivers. Highs will climb into the upper 40s or perhaps into the 50s. But at least it's not fringe snow :) more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weather Producer Scott Sistek

There was a lovely sunset...and I stood on my porch and watched it , then gathered wood and got a fire going in the wood stove.  As it was starting to get chilly in the house.  I'm anxious to see who wins "Dancing With The Stars."   The final show is tonight.   Have a good evening.........Linda

It's not quite 2pm on Tuesday

Although it's cold and the wind is blowing and the snow levels are dropping~ right now it so beautiful out my windows.  I took a break from the Christmas cards and grabbed my camera to take a few shots to share with you.  I went out on my little porch on the east side of my house and then out into the driveway on the west.  You can see that the Oak trees are bare but of course the Douglas Fir and Cedar trees always stay green...

Yesterday was so gloomy and dark I was turning lights on by 3pm.  But today will be different, I think.   Maybe there will be a visible sunset.  

Now it's back to the business at hand........Linda

A Christmas Story

Thanks to my long time friend Lynnette for sending this to me this morning.....

It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name.....

no identification, no inscription. It has peek through the branches of our Christmas tree 

for the last ten years or so. It all began because my husband Henry hated Christmas, not 

the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it, overspending, the frantic 

running around at the last minute for a tie for uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Granny. 

The gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. 

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to by-pass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties 

and so forth. I reached for something just for Henry. The inspiration came in an unusual 

way. Our son, Kevin, who was twelve that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the 

school he attended Shortly before Christmas, there was a match scheduled against a team 

sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly Black young boys. These youngsters dressed in 

sneakers so ragged that the shoestrings were the only thing holding them together, presented 

a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new 

wrestling shoes. 

As the match began I was alarmed to see the other team was wrestling without headgear, a 

light helmet to protect the head and ears. It was a luxury the rag-tag team just could not 

afford! We ended up walloping the team, took every weight class. As each of the boys got up 

off the mat, he swaggered in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that 

couldn't acknowledge defeat. Henry, seated beside me, shook his head sadly. ' I wish just 

one of them could of won. They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the 

heart right out of them.' 

Henry loved kids. All kids, and he knew  them, having coached little league, football, baseball 

and lacrosse. That is when the idea for the present came. That afternoon, I went to the 

sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear, and shoes and sent 

them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas eve, I placed the envelope on the 

tree, the note inside telling Henry what I had done, and that it was his gift from me. His 

smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and the succeeding years since. 

For each Christmas I have followed that tradition. One year sending a group of mentally 

handicapped to a hockey game, another year sending a check to a pair of elderly brothers 

whose home burnt down the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the 

highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and 

our children, ignoring their new toys and such, would stand wide eyed in anticipation as 

their dad would reach for the envelope and reveal it's contents. 

 As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical gifts, but the envelope never lost 

its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Henry last year. When Christmas rolled 

around, I was still wrapped up in grief, I barely got the tree up. But there I was on Christmas 

eve placing that envelope. When I came down in the morning my envelope had been joined by three 

others! Each of our children, unbeknownst to me and the others, had placed an envelope on the 

tree for their dad. 

The tradition has grown, and will someday expand even further with our grand children standing 

around their tree in anticipation as their fathers take down the envelope. Henry's spirit, 

like Christmas spirit, will always be with us. May we all remember Christ, who is the reason 

for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always. God bless, and pass this 

on to your friends and loved ones........................... 

Hope you enjoyed this story. 

Senile-Virus

This is a cute web site....thanks to my friend Judy down in Tuscon, AZ for this one.  So when you get a minute, check it out. Linda

  http://www.members.shaw.ca/grandmafaith2/senile-virus.htm

Let it Snow

Well I woke up to freezing temperatures again this morning and a gloomy sky. The minute I looked out, the word "snow" came to mind.  Sure enough, I open my email from KOMO TV in Seattle and there's the "s" word.  I will say, I don't live in either county that's named as a possible sight for snow, but you never know in the Pacific Northwest.

Dear Linda,

Updated Monday 4:20 a.m. We are tracking a cold front sitting off the Washington coast. As the front gets closer to us, the cloud cover will be increasing. Rain will develop along the coast Monday morning and spread inland during the afternoon. Monday's highs will be in the middle 40s. The front is forecast to move to our east Monday night bringing some colder air into the Sound. The cold air combined with a convergence zone that will form behind the front means some parts of our area could see the rain changing to snow Monday night and Tuesday morning. The most likely spots to get a dusting of light snow are the favored convergence zone neighborhoods of northern King and Snohomish counties in the higher hills. Skiers and snowboarders will be glad to know the Cascades will get a healthy dose of snow. 10-14 inches of new snow is expected to fall in the mountains by Tuesday morning. A Heavy Snow Warning is now posted for later today into Tuesday. All of the passes are included. Tuesday afternoon, the clouds start breaking up and the sun makes an appearance. High temperatures will be in the lower 40s. Most of Wednesday will be dry. The next round of rain comes Wednesday night and off and on through the day Thursday. Highs both days are going to stay in the lower to middle 40s range. The longer range computer forecasting models are showing another ridge of high pressure building for Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday. Patchy morning fog will be followed by sunshine. It will be on the cold side with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s and overnight lows below freezing. more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weathercaster Jim Castillo I have set aside all the wrapping stuff and yesterday I went to out to my front storage shed and retrieved my "already decorated, wrapped in plastic, 4 foot Christmas tree."  I brought it in and positioned it on the cabinet here next to my computer and plugged it in.  Then I wrapped a pretty Christmas table cloth around the base of it and turned on the lights.  Done deal !!     Today I hope to start on the Christmas cards, once I get into my stash and decide which ones I 'm going to use this year.  I still haven't located those flannel sleep pants for my son-in-law so ordered another pair yesterday when I did my Avon order.  I'll just return the extra pair when I find them.  There's a picture in this morning's paper of a Pierce County Sheriff deputy and a Marine Corps reserve member collecting bags of new toys that were donated by employees of the Regal Cinema just a few blocks from my house.  That was nice to see, as most of the staff there are mostly part time employees of  high school and college age.  I love to see young people involving themselves in charitable activities.  For those of you that don't live in the U.S., Toys For Tots is an agency, sponsored by the Marine Corps that see to it that needy families have toys for their children each Christmas.  Volunteers sort the toys by age groups, and gender, put them into wrapped boxes...and then they are taken to various sites, and those parents who qualify, can come to the location closest to them and "shop." This event was started in 1947 in the Los Angeles area and a year later it was adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and went nationwide.  Yesterday, it was so pretty out, sun shining, etc.  So I was out there for awhile, collecting scraps of wood, branches, etc. for future use in my woodstove. My neighbor was cleaning up the last of the branches from his yard and I brought several of them in under my carport, to cut up later.  He's the one who had two Douglas Fir trees fall on his place in the storm last December 14th.  It was up to the park management to get those trees cleared away and that was just done the first of September.  And the people who did it, only took the big wood and left a horrible mess of branches and debris behind. He's trying to get his place ready to sell, and had a buddy there yesterday to help haul the stuff to the dump.  While I was out, I filled up the bird feeders and hung a new suet feeder for my feathered neighbors.  So far, no one has visited but I'm sure someone will come across the fresh food soon and then the word will be out. Well, it's time to get off here and get my day started.  Happy Monday..... remember there's only 29 more days until Christmas.     Linda

Abbot and Costello ~ Buying a Computer

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello and too
old to REALLY understand computers to fully appreciate this.
For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers,
please read on...

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous
sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like
this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT


ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm
 thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?
 
 COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?
 
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?
 
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the  windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write
 proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

 ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just > say
 
I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal.
What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. 

 COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with
some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping?
You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right what do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer?
How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

 COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

 ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

 ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

 (A few days later)
 
 ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
 COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
 ABBOTT: Click on 'START' 
 

August Rush

It was a wonderful movie !!!  Very moving story, great cast, beautiful music. I highly recommend it and be sure and take some Kleenex.  I definitely want to get the soundtrack.

The story line is as follows;

 August Rush (Freddie Highmore), an orphan uses his remarkable musical talent to seek his parents, an Irish guitarist and a young cellist who had a chance encounter in New York, from whom he was separated at birth. Also staring, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell ,Robin Williams & Terrence Howard.

Tonight Gabi and I lounged on the sofa and watched "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen.  Another tear jerker.  But I love that movie and never tire of watching it at this time of the year. 

I've put the wrapping paper away for the time being and Sunday I'll bring out the card table and get started on Christmas cards.  Most of the gifts are wrapped, and I'll finish what's left in a couple weeks.

It's very cloudy and cold...feels like snow to me but the weather man says just rain for the next couple days.

The fires are still burning in California.   Hundreds have been evacuated from their homes.  The winds are still blowing.

It's been a long day, and it's time to go down the hall with my book and my kitty. Until next time...........Linda

More Fire

I just heard on the TV news from Seattle, that there's another fire raging in Malibu, California.  It started around 3am (Pacific Standard Time) and already over 100 homes have been evacuated.  The Santa Ana winds are blowing between 60 & 70 miles per hour which is making it difficult for the local firefighters to knock the fire down.

I know there were several hundred fire fighters that went south from here, last month to help the exhausted local fire fighters.  But I'm sure they've come back home by now. 

Let's pray that the winds will die down and the rain will move in and get this fire out before it destroys even more of the beautiful southern California coast line.

P.S. just hearing again that over 250 acres and several homes have burned already.  The T.V. is showing big tanker planes flying over the area dropping water. I wish you could see these amazing pictures...there's a plane up over the tanker filming.  You can see the hundreds of black, burned neighborhoods left behind from the previous fires.   The winds are so strong, the fire fighters are actually being held back by the smoke and flames.   "Lord help these people."

Stamps

I found them...but now I can't find the flannel sleep pants I got my son-in-law.  They just arrived about a month ago in my Avon order and now they've walked away!   99% of the time I put all gift items in one location.  The flannel pants are not there.  Now what ?

It's supposed to sink into the 20's again tonight so I'll leave all faucets dripping a little and and leave the cupboard doors under the sinks in both bathrooms and the kitchen open for added protection.

I had left over spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. I did heat up the asparagus I brought home from my brother's house Wednesday night.  It was good with the spaghetti.   Even the thought of a turkey sandwich was too much for me, after having turkey dinners two nights in a row.

Barbara and I are going to a movie tomorrow...the early one before noon which means $4 to get in.  We're going to see "August Rush."  If you want to come with us, just be at my house about 10:45am.

That's all for now....until next time, Linda

 

Over For Another Year

We had a great time yesterday at the home of Bob's #2 daughter.  Her husband, Bill,  does the majority of the cooking and he loves it.  And he does such a beautiful job.  I've always told him, he missed his calling...he should have been a chef.  His 84 yr old dad was there, and also his cousin and her husband.  We had never met them, so that was fun getting to meet a new couple.  Bob's oldest grand daughter, Heather, had to work but she popped in on her lunch break and got 2 plates of food for herself & a co-worker.  They work at the local Regal Cinema but decided they wanted something other than hot dogs and popcorn for dinner.  Laura, the other grand daughter was there with us and we enjoyed catching up.  She's 16 and a junior in high school but she's doing the "Running Start" program at a local junior college.  She takes two classes at her high school and then finishes her day at college.  By the end of her senior year, she'll not only have her high school diploma but her AA degree from college.  The older grand daughter is in her first year of college, she graduated from high school last June.

It was very frosty by the time we left there for the ride home.  We had taken my car and I think it's the first time it's windows had frosted over.  It always sits under cover here, and that keeps the windows frost free.  Thankfully the roads were not slick.  Bob went out to his house because he was worried about the pump house for his well.  He has a heater in the pump house and didn't even think about turning it on, when he left there yesterday. He normally leaves it at about 45* during the winter months, so the pump doesn't freeze up.  I left the doors of the under sink cupboards open but was up during the night turning the faucets on a dribble when I saw it had dropped to 24 degrees.  Mobile homes are not insulated as well as a regular stick built house and even though I have skirting around the bottom I'm always concerned about freezing pipes when the temperature dips. 

I see by the weather report, that clouds are rolling in and we're supposed to get some rain by Saturday evening or Sunday.  Although they are predicting night time temperatures to be in the low 30's....so that combined with rain....could bring some of the white stuff we all dread.  Actually, I'm hoping for a little precipitation, because that will mean no burn bans.  When the weather is cold & dry like this, they often impose no burning of fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves.  Mine is EPA certified but I still feel guilty polluting the stagnant air with smoke.   But on the other hand I also can't afford sky high electric bills from running the furnace much above 60 degrees during the cold winter months.

 Today, being what we in the U.S. call "Black Friday".....this old lady is staying off the road and out of the stores. On the local TV news last night it showed the crazies camped out (yes some had tents set up) outside the door of the store they planned to hit first. Below freezing temps and they're sitting out there waiting for the store to open at 4 or 5am.   Oh well. each to his own.  And I'm sure the retailers were rubbing their hands together in anticipation of overflowing cash registers.

Well, I'm off to finish the wrapping business or maybe start the Christmas cards...not sure yet which task I'll choose.  

Have a good Friday , until time........Linda

P.S. can anyone remember where I put the 100 Christmas stamps I bought last week?

Chicken/Turkey Enchilada Casserole

Great for using up some of that left over turkey;

2-3 cups diced, cooked chicken/turkey,  

 1 cup chopped onion, 

 1 can of Cream of Chicken soup, 

1 can Chicken Broth

1 small can of sliced olives

 1 small can of chopped green chilies

 1 can chopped fresh or canned tomatoes (partially drained)

 1/4 cup salsa (optional)

 1 small carton sour cream

12-15 corn tortillas, torn or cut into bite size pieces

  1/2 pound grated cheese (I use a bag of the Kraft Mexican blend grated cheese)

Mix all ingredients, except grated cheese.   Pour into a 9" x 11" baking pan (I spray it with Pam for easier cleaning).  Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top of the mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  

NOTE: I use the mild chopped green chilies and mild salsa so it's not quite to spicy.  But if you like hot & spicy you can use the hot stuff. 

Brrrrrrrrrr it's cold out there !

It was 28 degrees when I woke up this morning.  But the sun is shining brightly, giving the false impression that maybe it's 75~80 degrees.  WRONG!!!!!!!!!!  Not here in Washington in November.  At least it's not storming.  There have been many past Thanksgiving days were the power went out and folks were left to eating their jello salad, cranberries and pie for dinner.  Because the stuffing and turkey didn't get done. 

We're leaving in about an hour for dinner at the home of Bob's #2 daughter and family.  Not sure who all will be there.  His #1 daughter had to have a little surgery on Tuesday so she's still home recouping.  And I don't know about the youngest one.  They may have gone to eastern Washington, from what I'm hearing.    I did take my camera to my brothers last night but the batteries went out after one picture, so I had to give up.  But, I enjoyed my three little great nieces and 1 great nephew.  They range in age from 7-2 and are all so cute. 

I've spent the day doing laundry and getting bills ready to mail tomorrow.  There's no mail service today of course, they are all home with their families.

I have never been one of those to roll out of bed at 0'dark thirty the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping and tomorrow will be no exception.  A movie...maybe, but shopping....no!!! Anyway, as far as I'm concerned I'm all done, except a couple McDonald's gift cards for my son.  (He works close to one, so thought it would be nice if he had some in his wallet, so he could pop over there for lunch)

Tomorrow, I'll re-post my recipe for Chicken/Turkey Enchilada Casserole so you'll have a way to use all that left over turkey.  It's very good and makes a huge 11 x 9 pan of the stuff.

I hope we all take a few minutes to remember those serving in the military who are away from the families today.  Eating their Thanksgiving in the hostile middle east. May God keep them safe and bring them home soon. 

Well that's all for now....enjoy the rest of your day,  Linda

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving !

I just want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families and friends.  And that you take lots of pictures to post in your journals.  It will be a "tryptophan overload" day for most of us ! 

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

I found this picture taken Thanksgiving November 1941.

 I don't know who took the picture, possibly my dad.  Left to right is my mom's oldest sister, Doris, her husband Dick, my dad's mom~Grandma Smith, my mom, my mom's only brother John, and my mom's mother~Grandma Stern.  Where my grandfather was is a good question...maybe he was out in the kitchen carving the turkey or chicken.  Me....I was there too.....see the bulge in my mom's tummy?  That's me! 

What A Shame !

It seems today the chat room, turned into an XXX rated mess.  A bunch of filthy mouthed people hogging up the room all day.  It seems to me they could take it somewhere else.  One guy was even advertising homosexual acts across the bottom of his image.   He's been reported !   Another young "lady" called me a "B_____" because I asked them to please clean it up.  She's been reported !  It makes me very sad that this has happened.  It was so much fun chatting with my journal friends....

This afternoon my son, his girl friend & myself are off to my brother and sister in law's for an early Thanksgiving dinner. One of their daughter's has to work on Thursday so we're just celebrating a little early. My contribution is a pumpkin pie, which is funny, because I don't even like it.  But I bought a frozen one at the store and baked it and hope my brother made one of his famous apple pies.

It was just a year ago on Thanksgiving day, that my son got in that awful car accident driving to my brother's place for Thanksgiving dinner.  I spent the afternoon and evening in the Emergency Room with him, and took him home after he was patched up.  I think today, I'll be driving over to my brother's and he'll just be riding along. http://journals.aol.com/lsfp1960/LindasWorld/entries/2006/11/24/im-still-thankful......./1292

 Bob is involved in a project, fixing an area of his camper that he found to be wearing thin.  So he's not going to join us.  We'll be going to his daughter & son in law's place on Thursday, for dinner there.  

Have a wonderful evening and I'll check into the chat room later tonight when I get home, to see if some housecleaning has been done.    Linda

Good Housekeeping Tip

Another great tip from Maxine;

Always keep several get well cards on the mantle...
So if unexpected guests arrive,
They will think you've been sick......and unable to clean.

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

Update on baby Peyton

I got an email from my friend Judy (Peyton's grandma)  this morning.  Peyton is doing very well.  She now weighs 2 pounds 15ounces and is 15.75 inches. She is off her IV and has had her feeding tube taken from her mouth and put in her nose so that her mommy can attempt to start nursing her. They are weaning her off her nasal cannula and she will probably go into a regular bed in the next couple weeks. Things are going very well for Peyton and she continues to amaze the nurses and doctors. She is still the smallest in her room but she is the best one according to the staff. 

The family continues to be grateful for your thought and prayers as little Peyton continues to grow and get stronger.  

Holiday Cranberry Quick Bread

I've had quite a few emails regarding this recipe so here it is, it really is easy and very tasty.

Holiday Cranberry Quick Bread

4 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 2 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, cut in 1/2 cup shortening.  Mix these ingredients together until they resemble coarse crumbs.  In a separate bowl beat 2 eggs, 1-3/4 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoon orange peel and then stir into flour mixture.  Fold in 2 cups chopped cranberries and 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional of course).   Spoon into two loaf pans evenly and bake at 350* for 55 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean).  Cool pans on wire rack for about 10 mins and then remove loaf from pan and continue cooling.  Let bread stand at room temperature for two hours then you can wrap each loaf in plastic wrap. 

We have frozen well wrapped loaves for up to a few weeks for gift giving later in the season.   Enjoy !

 

Monday Morning Question (on Sunday night)

monday morning question

         

From Krissy; What would you say are the three strangest items in your refrigerator right now?

Well, I don't know how strange they are but I do have quite a collection of little hot sauce packets from Taco Bell, and some Buttermilk House Sauce from Jack-In- The-Box and then there's the little carton of Cat Sip, which is a special milk formulated for cats.  The rest is all ordinary stuff.         Linda

 

Italian Night on my August 2007 Alaskan Cruise

Italian Night on my August 2007 Alaskan Cruise

Click on the picture to start the video~

My son in law & grandkids stopped by this afternoon and they helped me unload the Italian night video I took on the August 2007 Alaskan cruise.   So 3 months later here it is.  Similar to the one I took last year but longer and a little more clear because I used my new Point and Shoot Video Camcorder I won from AOL Uncut Videos in July.   Just watching it makes me want to cruise again and then again !!!!! 

(When the video first starts out, our table was over to the far right by the window on the upper lever of this huge dining room on Royal Caribbean's "Vision of the Seas." )

They also brought me a loaf of yummy cranberry bread.....if anyone wants the recipe I'm happy to share.  It's not a secret family recipe. 

Back to wrapping.........Linda

The Last Tomato Of Summer

I can't believe this one little tomato continues to attempt to ripen.  In this cold icy weather.......what a little trooper!  I think I should bring it in the house and then in a couple days, eat it.  The plant is nearly dead...it's amazing.   The hot pink geraniums in the hanging basket are still doing well.  I'm wondering if the dark pink and red ones are more hardy.  The lighter colored ones have long since died.

It's cold here this morning, right at 39 or 40 degrees.....it depends on which way you hold your head when you look at the thermometer.

And sunset was at 4:31pm Saturday evening.  I must go out and change the timer that controls the light I keep on all night in my carport. 

Yesterday Barbara called and asked if I wanted to go to a movie.  We went to see "Beowulf."  It was very weird !!!  However, the effects were interesting so it wasn't a total loss.  Oh and the popcorn was delicious! 

It rained here so hard  Saturday morning, I thought we may float away. But by the time we got out of the movie it had settled down to a light sprinkle.  After the movie, I was able to get the Christmas wrap into the house from the storage shed and have it here in the living room, ready to wrap.  My daughter's birthday is December 4th and I did get her b'day gifts wrapped (not in Christmas paper~LOL) and have started on her Christmas gifts.  Hopefully, I will be done with this project by next week and then I will start the cards.  All the labels have been updated, so I need to print them out and then I have some cards that I hand address because of their length. 

I had some time on the Journal chat this morning.  Was happy to see and hear Jeannette (even saw Leo), Guido, Jan & Pixie.   The time difference is something.  Jeannette got off to eat her dinner and I hadn't even had my breakfast yet.   I must get myself a web cam...so I can talk rather than type.  BIG FUN !!!!

Well, I'm off to get started on the wrapping business.   Have a wonderful Sunday, until next time.......Linda

YIPEE !!! It's Back !

Thanks to Malika on "Magic Smoke" I was able to retrive my Wednesday entry and the ones preceeding it.   Thank you, thank you !   It took me 3 tries to get this entry to "save" and after it disappeared, I was ready to delete my whole journal.   Thanks again !  Linda

 

Did You Know?

Jeannette just informed me about the "Journal Chat" button up at the top of your journal.  A good way to meet new friends and chat with those who have journals that you read on a regular basis.

Journals Chat | Create Journal | Hide Edit Controls Show Edit Controls | Notify AOL | Help

Just click on "Journal Chat" and see who's there........Linda

Describe Me In One Word

The Game is on!!! And you're IT!

Describe ME in one word (from Krissy)..........just one single word. Post it in my comment section. Then put the same request in your journal so we can visit you… and do the same thing… and see how many strange and interesting things they say about you.

Come on you know you wanna play, lol. Leave your link so I can come see.  (This could be scary)

Wednesday Night Adventure

Wednesday evening I started checking on line only to find that my cousin's plane would be about 20 minutes late.  We left a little later than planned, took my car to a local Park & Ride and headed out on the I-5 freeway.  It was absolutely pouring rain, and the spray from all the big trucks was almost blinding. (I'm glad Bob was driving, I would have been a nervous wreck.) We got over to the airport's Cell Phone Lot about 9:40pm, about the time we estimated Betty's plane would be landing.  The lot was full and the overflow cars (including us) were circling thru the lot like a bunch of sharks.  Finally someone got "the call" and pulled out, so we were able to park.  We figured by the time she got off the plane, got her luggage and was ready for pick up, we would just barely have enough time to catch our 10:20pm bus back to where my car was parked.  When 10pm rolled around and she still hadn't called, I called her cell phone and she said yes, she was off the plane but the luggage hadn't come down yet. (Oh great!).  The minutes ticked by, and we knew just before 10:15pm our last chance to get back was the 11:20pm bus. Finally at 10:45pm she called and said she had her bags....so we left the Cell Phone Lot and headed for Continental's Load/Unload area.  We pulled up, I grabbed my purse and got out of the car, Bob got out of the driver's side, helped Betty put her two bags in the back seat, she handed me a bag saying"here's something for you guys" (my gift is the posted picture and Bob's was a beautiful coffee mug with Alaska scenes on it), gave us both a hug and hopped into the drivers seat and away she went to her friend's house in north Seattle.  That all took approximately 3 minutes or less.

We went into the terminal, to use the rest rooms and so Bob could get a cup of coffee.  He double checked on the bus time and we sat and waited, inside where it was warm.  I love to see the hustle & bustle of an airport.  All the people coming, getting their luggage, greeting their loved ones and friends. So we had an enjoyable 15 minutes or so people watching.   If you'd been there, you would have heard me snicker as I saw people dressed in shorts, t-shirts and sandals...getting their bags, only to walk outside in the 43 degree rain of Seattle to their rides.  LOL !!

Our bus came right on time and we climbed on with about 20 other passengers for our journey south.  The driver stopped at several Park & Ride lots to let people off and about an hour later we arrived at the Park & Ride where my car was parked.  There's a McDonald's right there, so we pulled thru the drive thru window, to get a little hot fudge sundae and then on to my house.

Miss Gabi was sitting at the door with a puzzled look on her face, as if to say "Mom where have you been, so late?"  So I took her cue and she & I tumbled into bed a little after 1am. 

I was going to stay home today and get started on wrapping but Barbara called me about 10am and said she wanted to go to the Goodwill, closest to my house and would I go with her.  So I did....and then after that we stopped at I-Hop and had a little late breakfast.  By the time I got home it was almost 3pm...and then my son stopped by to change from his work clothes because he had a dentist appointment.   I did find a couple treasures at the GW, one of which is already on eBay.  The other is a beautiful little girls coat (size 6) that I bought.  My friend Dianne called on my cell phone while I was there and I was telling her about this coat and she said "go ahead & get it & I'll pay you for it, that will fit my grand daughter."  So I got it and if she ends up not liking it for some reason, I'll just sell it on eBay too.

Needless to say, I got nothing else accomplished today.  But tomorrow is another day and the rain continues.........Linda

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

WHAT ????? IKEA Again ????

Yup, that's right!  It was another trip to IKEA today.  I drove over to friend Barbara's house and from there she drove to IKEA in Renton, WA.  And....Joni met us there and the three of us had a meatball lunch and shopped (or at least looked) until we could walk no longer.

  I did a little shopping, picking up some last few things for Christmas.  Every year I try to get a little something for Bob's 4 daughters for Christmas.  This year I took a picture that was taken of him on the cruise, with his suit & tie and had 5" x  7" copies made for his girls.  (He hasn't had a good picture taken since the youngest daughter got married back in 2001.)  So today I was able to find frames for those pictures. So I was able to get them a nice gift for a little less than $10 each.    That about wraps up my Christmas shopping.  Now I'll start dragging it all out and getting it wrapped.  My daughter's birthday is December 4th, so I'll go thru the stuff I have for her first and wrap some in birthday paper and the rest in Christmas paper.  Anyway it was a fun day and hopefully after the first of the year we can do it again.

Tonight Bob is here and we will be leaving in about an hour to Seattle-Tacoma Airport to meet my cousin when she comes in from Anchorage.  She was here last Thursday afternoon, spent the night and then Bob took her to the airport for her early Friday morning flight.  Her car has been here, safe in my carport while she was visiting friends. We will be taking my car over to a Park & Ride about a mile from my house, leave my car there, hop on the freewayin her car, drive to the airport and when my cousin comes out, she'll take her car and drive to a friend's house in Seattle and we'll catch the bus from the airport to the Park & Ride, to my car and will get back here about 11:30pm.  Did you get all that? 

After a dry day, the rain has moved in again tonight.  Another storm system is predicted for the next few days.  That's ok...I've got all that wrapping to do, so I can stay home and get my stuff done. 

I was so sad last night when Cameron got knocked off  "Dancing With the Stars."  No doubt, he was relieved.  He's been flying back and forth across the country since the season began and I'm sure his wife and kids will be happy to have him home again.

And speaking of reality shows....has anyone been watching "The Bachelor" this season?  I didn't when I was working because it was always on too late.  But, I've been suffering thru it this time.  Brad is down to two gals...Deanna and Jenni.  Who will be the lucky winner of Brad's proposal?  I think Jenni, but it's hard to tell....I guess Monday night will tell all.

Well, that's all for now...Have a wonderful Thursday and for those of you working a Monday thru Friday job...there's just two more full days till the weekend.    Linda

A Bright Sunny Day !

Well after that storm yesterday, it's bright and sunny here this morning.  Cold but sunny never the less.   My front yard and the street out in front of my house looks like a battle zone.  There's leaves, branches and all sorts of debris everywhere !  

There are still hundreds of homes without power. And as I was watching the news last night, it was amazing the amount of damage that occurred in some areas.  There was one fellow up north of here that thought he should go out and move his new Toyota pick up and as he walked out the door, a giant Douglas Fir tree, fell right across the cab of the truck.  And there were pictures of trees over houses and even a 76 Union gas station that was heavily damaged. The wind blew the roof and awning off the building.

They say another storm is headed our way, so I guess today I'll get done what needs to be done in case I have to stay in again.

By the way, we were so thrilled to hear from the former neighbors, the Newtons.  They not only sent a lovely thank you card but Mr Newton called Bob's cell phone Sunday afternoon. They have moved to a town just outside of Kansas City, MO. They had a smooth trip between here and there and the movers had all their belongings deposited in their new place when they arrived. They were able to lease the "other-side" of the duplex where their daughter, son-inlaw & grandkids moved  after leaving here for new jobs this last August.  I know they were thrilled to finally sell their house and be close to their daughter again, but I sure do miss them....it's just not the same.

Well, I hope everyone has a good Tuesday, for those of us in the U.S. it's back to the "real world" today.  The mailman will show up and the banks will be open again after the Monday holiday.  Until next time.......Linda 

They Say It Will Be Much Calmer Tomorrow

Here's the latest weather email from KOMO TV in Seattle;

Dear Linda,

Updated Monday 3:35 p.m. There's now been two windstorms this fall season so far, and this one was a role-reversal from last October. The last time, the North Interior was spared while the Puget Sound area was hit hard. This time, the North Interior and coast was hit very hard, while the Puget Sound area got off relatively lightly. Anyway, the windstorm is over. The High Wind Warnings have been canceled as of 2:30 p.m.; peak winds have passed and are on their way winding down. Here are some peak overall storm gusts. Bellingham (trained spotter, but unofficial): 97 mph Clallam Bay: 92 mph Lake Lawrence: 84 mph Tatoosh Island: 78 mph Destruction Island: 75 mph Bellingham (official): 74 mph (then 71 again at 10 a.m.) Anacortes: 73 mph Hoquiam: 71 mph (they've hit over 70 a few times) Oak Harbor: 70 mph Smith Island: 68 mph Westport: 67 mph East Strait of Juan De Fuca Buoy: 64 mph Friday Harbor: 63 mph Ferndale: 62 mph Port Angeles: 58 mph (early Monday a.m.) Point Robinson: 57 mph Forks: 57 mph (last observation before power outage at 6 a.m.) Seattle (Alki Beach): 55 mph Hoquiam: 54 mph La Conner: 53 mph Tacoma: 53 mph ** Forks: 52 mph Seattle (Magnolia): 51 mph Orcas Island: 48 mph Seattle (Sea-Tac): 47 mph Olympia: 46 mph Everett: 39 mph Where Do We Go From Here? The weather will be significantly calmer from here on out as the storm center races into Alberta and the weather clears here. Tonight will feature partly to mostly cloudy skies with a few lingering showers. It'll also be a little breezy, but winds will be decreasing through the night. Lows will drop into the mid-upper 30s. Snow levels are down to 2,500 feet in the mountains, and they are expecting as much as 7-10" of new snow overnight. Tuesday will begin with a few lingering, isolated showers -- mainly in the foothills. Those will clear by midday, leaving a partly sunny day. Highs will top out in the upper 40s. More rain returns for Wednesday bymidday or afternoon, but nothing major. Highs will stay in the upper 40s. A second weather system quickly moves in on Thursday, making for another rainy and breezy day. Highs will warm a touch to the low 50s as some warm air moves in ahead of the front. Showers linger through Friday with perhaps a few sunbreaks. The weekend isn't looking too bad. The atmosphere will be a little cool and unstable, making for our classic showers and sunbreaks pattern, so we can't promise completely dry, but plenty of dry time -- and maybe a few opportunities for your sunglasses. Highs each day will be in the upper 40s. Long range forecasts show occasional rain continuing through next week -- including Thanksgiving. Because it's not Thanksgiving if it's not raining while cooking the turkey :) more...

Sincerely, KOMO 4 Weather Producer Scott Sistek Some people are crazy, there were actually people out on the rough water taking advantage of the wind storm by wind surfing today.  I'm sure it was "big fun" for those who ventured out on their boards.  There are hundreds of homes with no power and trees have fallen across highways, on homes and vehicles.  My power did not even flicker once today, so I am thankful.  Hopefully those who did, will have their power restored quickly and everything will be back to normal.