Monday, November 27, 2006

IT WASN'T TOO BAD

It was very slippery for about the first 4 miles going to work early this morning.  But after that the road was clear and no sign of snow anywhere.  (That's how weird our weather can be.....one end of town completely clear, the other end...snowed in.  The rain does the same thing.)  But even at the office it was very cold.  Then throughout the day we'd get snow for 15-20 minutes then you'd look out the window and it would be sunny...go figure.  I walked over to the hospital about 9:45 this morning and even though the wind was blowing and it was very cold, the sun was shining brightly in a blue sky with big fluffy white clouds.  A half an hour later it was dark and snowing.

After work today, I delivered the electric blanket to my son.  He looks better than I thought he would, the right side of his face is sort of a yellow color.  He said he thinks the right side outside mirror is what hit him in the side of his face...when he went to get the stuff out of his car, it was laying on the console where the shifter is located.  He called off work again tonight as he's still not feeling 100%, he said his face is still quite tender and he finds himself sleeping alot.  So it's better he's staying home, I guess.  His job is very physical and probably the longer he's off the better for the healing process.

Well, I'm going to go fix some dinner.  It's going to be early to bed this evening, not knowing what I'm going to face in the morning.  If the conditions are worse, I'll have to leave earlier than I did this morning.     Have a good evening,   Linda

Mother Nature Fooled Me

When I went to bed last night is was 42 degrees.  I was hearing about snow, up to 7 or 8 inches way north of me but I just smiled and went to be confident it wouldn't come here with the temperature way above freezing.  Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit (I learned that from Robin) there was snow on my lawn ( the one I've never been able to get cleaned up) this morning.  So now, I proceed to get ready for work with fear and trepidation, trying to figure out how I can get to work without going up several big hills. My usual "snow route" is no longer available as it's been demolished as part of the new Narrows Bridge project. So...I have about 45 minutes to come up with a different plan.

Have a good day folks, I'm off to face my snowy world.    Linda

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Sunday early evening/late afternoon

I did a great entry earlier but lost it.  Seems it's happening to everyone these days.  Ok what did I say ?   Well, I was taking a break from ironing, now it's turned into a very long break.  Oh well, at least I have something to wear to work tomorrow. 

I've talked to my son and he's feeling a little better today but still not 100%.  He states the swelling on the right side of his face has gone down since yesterday.  He also told me that my brother and sis in law brought him their pick up truck this after noon, so now he'll have wheels under him again.  The insurance adjuster is supposed to go out and check out his car either Monday or Tuesday, but it's hard to say how long the whole process will take.  And who knows when he'll be able to get another vehicle.  I'm still so thankful he wasn't hurt worse and whenever I think about it, it brings tears to my eyes.  God is good !!

I did do a little decorating today (I was a little intimidated by Robin..her house looks beautiful.)   Bob brought my 4 foot, permanently decorated fake (but green) Christmas tree in from my storage shed before he left for California. I keep it wrapped in plastic and in the shed all year except during the holidays.  All I need to do is set it on the table (actually 2 large cardboard boxes, on top of each other, covered in a white sheet) plug it in and straighten out a few branches and untangle some of the ornaments.  I also put the holiday wreath on the front door and brought out the silk poinsettias.  I'll do more but that's a good start since we are still in November.

The weather was very strange here today.  I woke up to about 36 degrees and rain.  I kept checking for snow but instead the temperature went up into the low 40's. Then about 2pm today the wind suddenly came up.  I mean it was really kicking up !!!  It was coming from the west and for awhile I was concerned about that big cedar tree in my front yard but at least with the wind out of the west, it would have gone down in the street and not over my house.

Well, I must get back to either my ironing or my Christmas cards.   At least I have themall addressed, the stamps purchased and some have notes written in them and are actually sealed ready to be mailed.  I'm having writers block when it comes to my Christmas letter that goes out to family and close friends living far from here, however.  Hopefully, that will pass and I can get that task completed by the end of next weekend. 

Hope you all had a good weekend and that this coming week will be good for you too.   Until next time, Linda

Oh here's a cute web site , especially if you're a cat lover;  http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp  

Thanks to my former co-worker Debra for sharing it.

P.S. I just heard on the local news that our neighbors to the north in Bellingham got 14 inches of snow in the last 24 hours.  And they are predicting another 6 inches during the night.   I bet there'll be no school up there tomorrow.  If you look on a map of Washington, Bellingham is very near the British Columbia/Washington border.    We on the other hand have had 15 inches of rain this last month. 

Saturday, November 25, 2006

SATURDAY EVENING

Well, after I posted my entry this morning Barbara called and said she couldn't go to the movie today after all, so I dug in and started to get stuff done around the house.  Then she called about 2:30pm and said she could go and was on her way over.  We went to see Hugh Jackman's new film "The Fountain."  I haven't seen a movie that weird since "2001, A Space Odyssey."  It was weird, weird, weird !!!!!   We were absolutely baffled about the meaning of this movie.  Anyway, the popcorn was good. 

I talked to Jim before we left.  He said the right side of his face is so swollen today he can barely see out of his right eye.  He admitted that it didn't feel all that bad yesterday so he didn't really ice it like he should have.  But today, he's staying right on top of it.  he was supposed to go to work tonight but called his boss yesterday and told him what happened so was excused from work tonight.  Actually the Emergency Room doctor wrote him a note to be off thru next Wednesday.  So he's just going to play it by ear for the next few days.

It's still cold tonight but there was no rain/snow here in my area.  It was actually sunny most of the day but the temperature didn't get above about 42 degrees.   I think if it stays this way until tomorrow, I may get the lawn mower out and run it over the front yard.  There's still all the debris from the cedar tree and now a bunch of leaves, etc. from all over the neighborhood.  If I run the lawn mower over it....it will be green and nice at least for a day or so.  

Well, I'm going to go clean the bathrooms and then maybe it will be time to go down the hall with my book and my kitty.   Speaking of books...I started a new one the other day.  It the new book from Richard Paul Evans (The Christmas Box) and it's titled  Finding Noel.   I think it's going to be a good one.  I've read all of his books since  The Christmas Box and there was only one I didn't really care for.   Until next time.....Linda

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

It's cold, cold here in Washington state.  I see on the news the folks up north of here (almost to the Canadian border) in the Bellingham, Mt Vernon area  got some snow last night.  But not here in what's called the South Sound .  However, in looking out my window I see that Jack frost came thru here last night.  My car is under cover but one of my neighbors has a couple vehicles that sit outside and they are both very frosty this morning.  The temperature on my porch outside my kitchen window is sitting right at 30 degrees.  But the sun is shining and I see blue sky and fluffy white clouds.   They are having a terrible time in the mountain passes.  So much snow.  Here's a link to a cam up at Snoqualmie Pass where Bob and I were just a few weeks ago.  They are skiing up there now.  http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/info/winter/cams.asp   This heavy snow fall has also been attributed to a fatal accident on the pass.  A snow laden fir tree fell across the highway and across the front of a pick up carrying four men.  The two men in  the front of the truck were killed.  A freak accident that had they left a few minutes earlier or later might night have happened.  My heart goes out to their family and friends. http://www.komotv.com/news/4736241.html

Bob of course is basking in the sun and warm temperatures down in Pasadena, California.  He called last night and was telling me that he went out to the auto auction with his son in law (he's an auto wholesaler) and it was like 65 degrees which Bob thought was fine.  All the workers out there had jackets on and were hopping around, rubbing their hands together like they were freezing to death.  Meanwhile Bob was in jeans and a regular short sleeved cotton shirt and they were looking at him like he was crazy. 

Well, I'm going to get off here and get some breakfast.  Barbara called last night and wants to goto a movie this afternoon.  I told her that would be fine unless Jim needs me for some reason.   So, I'm going to eat, shower and get another load of laundry done this morning to I don't feel guilty about sitting in the theater for a couple hours this afternoon.  Sandra...you'll be happy to know the ironing is piling up here.  So Sunday afternoon I'll be standing behind my ironing board like you do most Sunday's.  I even brought out all my holiday work blouses, so they will need to be run thru the wash and then ironed.   I washed them before I put them away but that was 9 months ago so they need to be laundered again. 

Have a wonderful Saturday, until next time,

Friday, November 24, 2006

FRIDAY EVENING

I've heard from my son several times today.  He says the right side of his face is more swollen today and that he feels like he was ran over by a big truck.  When I talked to him on the phone, he sounded stuffed up like he had a bad head cold.  A friend of his came and took him to clean out his car, so he was happy that's done. 

He only had one request for Christmas...an electric blanket.  His upstairs aprtment has very little heat in the winter so I can understand why he'd want one.  Well, I called around.....today being the biggest shopping day before Christmas, I was surprised that those who answered the phones in the various stores were very pleasant.  I ended up at my favorite store...Gottschalks....at a mall near my home.  They had Sunbeam electric blankets for 80% off.  So this beautiful $180.00 blanket cost me just under $60.00. I was thrilled and I know he'll be happy to have a warm bed.  I told him I'd found one and that I'd leave it out and he could have it before Christmas.   When it's something they  need...it's mean to make them wait until December 25th.    Other than that, I didn't do any shopping.  I think I'm pretty much done anyway. 

It's still very cold tonight.  They say it's snowing like crazy in the mountains. But Gabi and I are all cozy here in the house with a fire in the wood stove, so we don't care.  I'm anxious to see if the weather man is correct in saying we'll get snow down here in the lowlands.   My car has all time 4 wheel drive but I still don't like to drive in the snow because of the other people on the road.   There are some drivers who like to even exceed the speed limit the worse the streets are. I  never could figure out that mentality.

Well folks it's back to my Christmas cards...and the movie I've got going.   Take care and have a wonderful Saturday.    Until next time.............Linda

P.S.  Bye Jeannette and Andy....have fun and be safe !!!!!

HELP ME STAY THANKFUL

That's my plea as I read my personalized weather forecast email from KOMO TV in Seattle this morning. 

"Dear Linda,

MOIST AIR WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH THE SNOW LEVEL AROUND 1000 FEET. LOWLAND SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE MIXED WITH SNOW AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF SEATTLE.

ANOTHER FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT AND
SUNDAY...WITH SNOW LEVELS BELOW 1000 FEET. COLD AND UNSETTLED
WEATHER WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK.

Today: Showers are scattered across the area THIS MORNING WITH SNOW
IN THE MOUNTAINS. Highs in the low 40’s.

HEAVY SNOW WARNING will CONTINUE until NOON FOR ANOTHER 3
TO 6 INCHES.

SHOWERS WILL DECREASE ACROSS THE LOWLANDS AS WELL
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. SNOW LEVELS WILL REMAIN QUITE
LOW...PROBABLY AROUND 500-1000 FEET IT COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IN SPOTS.

THINGS BECOME MORE COMPLICATED OVER THE WEEKEND. SHOWERS WILL
CONTINUE SATURDAY WITH COOLER AIR ALOFT STILL WORKING INTO THE AREA. A mix to some snow is forecast late Saturday into Sunday.

AT THIS POINT IS FOR A MAINLY SNOW EVENT FAR N INTERIOR. OTHER AREAS WOULD LIKELY START AS RAIN AND POSSIBLY CHANGE TO OR MIX WITH SNOW AT SOME POINT IN THE EVENT...ESPECIALLY N OF SEATTLE.

GIVEN THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT EVENT AND ALSO A BIG TRAVEL DAY...THE FORECAST SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY.

Temperatures will stay in the 30’s for highs and low will likely drop into the upper 20’s in Seattle.

Updated Friday 4:03 a.m."
  (I'm probably between 0 and 200 feet about sea level)

I'm determined to go about my business and hope they are wrong on this forecast.  However the temperature is dropping, it's 38 degrees on the the outdoor thermometer on my porch.

So I guess as the day goes on, I'll see what happens.  I'm going to go to the post office to get stamps for my England & Canada bound Christmas cards and also try to get my hair cut today. I just realized ....I have no left overs, except green bean casserole.  But I do have some left over vegetable soup that I made last Monday evening.  So I guess that will do.

Happy Friday everyone.......Linda