Friday, October 12, 2007

Just A Quick Prayer Request

The daughter and son-in-law of my friend Judy are expecting their first baby in January.  Judy's daughter was admitted to a local hospital today with extremely high blood pressure (174/129).  At this point, this little baby girl probably only weighs 2.5 pounds...not ready to enter the world.  Judy's daughter may have to be on bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy and this young couple are not financially prepared for this.  Please remember "K" in your thoughts and prayers. 

Like I said, this is their first baby, Judy's first grandchild and they are extremely anxious about this whole situation at this time.   We are blessed to have excellent OB departments in our local hospitals, so I know she will be in good care. We just pray they can get her blood pressure down and that she can carry this baby to term.

Thanking you all in advance for your prayers.......Linda

It's Friday !

Hello out there in J-Land.  It's been a few days since I've posted an entry.  It's been kind of a busy week.  My left foot is still really bothering me..I finally went to the Urgent Care last Sunday afternoon because it was hurting so bad I barely slept Saturday night.  The doc sent me for an X-ray and there is a little bone at the base of my toe that's broken. They said I could "buddy tape" it to the next toe but that makes it hurt worse. So it's been left to heal on it's own. 

Monday afternoon Bob's cousin and her husband arrived here on their way back to their home in San Diego.  They had been up in the northern part of the state visiting his elderly uncle. We had a delightful visit with them and met Bob's brother and wife at a local restuarant for a lively visit over dinner.  They were pulling their totally restored Shatsa travel trailer.  It's so cute.  They also have a larger motor home but left it home this time. They were on their way, heading south on I-5 by 1pm Tuesday afternoon.  If we go south this winter, they want us to stop and visit them in San Diego. I'd be up for that !

At the suggestion of one of the readers of my journal, I finally got my Avon web site up and running.  I had been putting it off but it was actually easier than I thought, so I worked on that Tuesday afternoon.  If you're interested, follow the link; http://lshook.avonrepresentative.com/.   You can shop directly from there and Avon will ship your items out to you. 

I've been listing stuff on Craig's List for my neighbors and myself.  My friend Dianne & her hubby have been looking for a twin bed for their spare room. I put a "wanted" ad on Craig's List for them and by the following afternoon, they had one set up and ready to be slept in.  Now if some of my stuff would sell that fast. 

Also been doing some eBay listing.   Bob and I stopped at the Goodwill last night and I purchased a few things there to list this weekend.  

Wednesday I spent most of the day cleaning the mini blinds on my sliding glass door.  I couldn't figure out how to undo them, so I could take them out in the yard and clean them there, so I had to clean them while the were hanging and then of course once that was done, the glass behind them had to be cleaned.  I'm going to try and get the new drapery rod hung today or tomorrow and then I can put up the new insulated drapery panels I bought to cover that large area of drafty single pane glass.  I bought the drapery panels in a natural (off white) color so the winter sun will still shine thru, but the cold drafts will be stopped, to a certain degree.

Thursday, October 11th was Bob's 66th birthday. I went to a lovely retirement luncheon for one of the nurses I used to work with and then later in the evening took Bob out to dinner.  He's so hard to buy for that I got him a Goodwill Gift Card !  Yup, they have them now.  He was thrilled.  His youngest daughter and family gave him $40 in McDonald's gift cards and the package from daughter, Hope in California hasn't arrived yet so don't have a clue what that will be. But, she always hits the nail on the head with what she purchases for gifts.   Saturday we're going to his birthday dinner out in Orting at another daughter's house...and he talks about me dragging my birthday out for days.  LOL !    October 11th was also the 67th birthday of my dear cousin, Susie, down in Lincoln , CA.   I sent her card but forgot about the Columbus Day holiday (no mail) so wasn't sure if she'd get it in time for her special day.  So I called her yesterday morning to extend birthday wishes.  She was so cute...she said "I just love my birthday, because the phone rings all day long."   Her neighbors were taking her out to lunch and she had plans for several other lunches and dinners out over the weekend.  One year she was here at my house on her birthday, so I had dinner and birthday cake for both her and Bob.

One of our AOL Journalers is on the move.  Robin, (who's an Air Force wife), her husband Michael and daughter Gabby  are being transferred from northern California (where they've been just about a year) to Florida.  Robin has a journal that she started when they were transferred from their last base to northern Califronia.  It's called     "Tales of a Trailer Park Princess."  She is a fantastic journaler and everyone who read of their escapades as they traveled last year enjoyed her "tales."   I hope those of you who might be new to journaling and haven't met Robin, will log onto her travel journal and follow along as they make this move to Florida.  They plan to leave their present location Saturday (October 13th) morning. Michael, Robin, Gabby and Princess we pray for your safety as you make this journey across the country to your new base.  And we look forward to your comical entries. 

We've had rain off and on here in western Washington this week...fall is definitly here.  The night temperatures are dropping into the 40's and the highs during the day sometimes reach into the 60's.  The leaves are turing color and falling like crazy.  My neighbor is out with his leaf blower on a daily basis.  He even blows out my carport nearly everyday.  What will I do when he leaves for their new home in Missouri in November?  Not only will I miss the best nighbors I've ever had, but I will miss his acts of kindness, especially those acts that include his leaf blower.

I hope everyone has had a good week...and that you all get out and do something fun over the weekend.   I'm looking forward to Monday...Bob and I are going to make a trip to Ikea.  It's a ways from here and this is only the second time I've been there, so I'm excited.  Joni...do you & Floyd what to join us there for a meatball lunch? Let me know.....

Monday, October 8, 2007

Monday Morning Question

                                     

From Krissy at "Sometimes I Think." What commercial do you find the most annoying?

I can't stand the "Head-On" commercial...the stuff that's supposed to cure your headache.  What if the head ache is caused by the guy that just cut you off on the freeway?  

P.S. I was reading some of the other comments, unlike some others~ I LOVE THE GEICO CAVEMAN commercials !!!   LOL  

P.S. #2  I'm also sick and tired of all the TV commercials for medications.  It's not necessary & that's what is driving up the cost of our prescriptions.  We, as a country, need to write our Congressman, the drug companies...everyone we can to get this stopped.  The drug companies are paying BIG bucks for these ads.  They need to let the "prescribing" of medicine go back to the doctor's, not to the consumers.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Saturday Night

First of all, I hope everyone out there had a good Saturday.   I went with my friend Barbara to a movie today.  We saw "The Jane Austin Book Club."   We like Jane Austin's stories, so we thought the movie was great.   It was however, a "chick flick" so I'm, not sure the guys would care for it.  We went to a different theater today..the movie scheduled to start at 12:05pm, so we got there about 11:50am to find admission prices were only $4.00 before noon.  What a deal, huh?   They have good popcorn, too.  The way their snack bar is set up, you put your own butter on....or not.  I like that idea.

After the movie, we went to the closest Goodwill to browse around.  I found a few things that I have since listed on eBay.  And Barbara found a new dog water bowl for her dog and her "grand dog" that she dog sits everyday.  I wanted to get a Goodwill Gift Card (yes they have them now) for Bob's birthday which is October 11th but they couldn't get their cash register to activate the card.  They thought there might be a problem on the Internet part of the procedure.  I'll just go back another day and get one.  Bob loves the Goodwill...he buys books and his famous Hawaiian type shirts (I think he has a hundred of them).  And of course every once in awhile he finds things like my new stove top...so I want to encourage his shopping trips.  His daughter June asked me the other day what to get him and I suggested the GW gift card to her too.  So he may get more than one.  Often his kids buy him McDonald's or Burger King gift cards or Home Depot gift cards.  He's so hard to buy for, gift cards just work better. Then he can get what he wants. 

After Barb and I got to my house I had her help me with the decision about drapes to cover my sliding glass door.  Right now there's just mini blinds on it and in the winter there's so much cold air (it's just the old single pane glass)that I decided to buy some insulated drapes to cover it.  I got one set in chocolate and one in a natural color.  We each held both colors up to the door and both of us decided the natural color will look better.   And it will let a little light thru on a cold but sunny day. The fabric has a faux suede feel and look and then is insulated on the back. Now I just have to get some rods and rings so I can get them hung.  The chocolate ones will be returned to Penney's.

After Barbara left I tried to get on line and I couldn't.  I called my daughter to see if she was having trouble and she told me she'd gotten kicked off about 3pm...when the big explosion happened.  What big explosion ???  She said it's on the TV, mom."  I turned on the tube and oh my gosh....There was a huge propane explosion at a foundry here in town.  (This is the same foundry I drove by every single morning on my way to work.) The first explosion was at about 3pm...the same time I was trying to buy that gift card...is that why they couldn't get on line to activate it?  Then there was a second explosion...there are at least 4 people who have been injured, one critically.  And a major section of the freeway is closed indefinitely.  You can read the latest details at; http://www.komotv.com/news/10288352.html .  My daughter said their lights flickered, she lives about 1-1/2 mile from me and we live about 6 miles from the foundry.  I understand the axle of the propane truck flew up in the air and landed on the nearby overpass, the explosion was so great.  The driver of the propane truck was the one critically injured...he was airlifted to Harbor View Hospital in Seattle.  Please remember this man and his family. 

Well, it's late and I have a little someone looking up at me with those big eyes. If she could talk she'd say..."come on mom, lets go to bed."   Until next time,  Linda

 

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Thursday Night Update

Bob and I went up to Enumclaw today to visit with his youngest daughter and her two little one.  Her husband is a fireman and he was on duty today, so we didn't get to see him.  Anyway, we had a great visit with June, Lance (he was 3 this last April) and little Marin Rose, who was born June 21st.

PaPa Bob got lots of wrestling in with Lance...he loves to wrestle...even with his great grandma.  And I read him a book and he leaned on me from time to time to watch TV. He's a darling little boy, with a beautiful smile and I love his non-stop chattering.  He never did get his nap, so I'm sure June had one tired boy when we left there about 6pm

Marin on the other hand, slept on and off while we were there.  Just recently she's decided she doesn't want anyone to hold her except her mom or dad...so we each held her about 2 minutes awake, before she'd start to cry.  I held her once for quite awhile, while June fixed Lance something to eat but she was asleep.  When June was holding her, she just cooed and gurgled and smiled....it was so cute.  But, once she was away from mom, that bottom lip came out and she would pucker up.

When we left there, we were continually amazed at the cloud formations.  We'd see blue sky with big fluffy clouds on the left and dark, angry storm clouds on the right. And then a beautiful rainbow and just beyond that the tip of Mt Rainier sticking out of a cloud bank all around the bottom of it.  We stopped at the Wal Mart in the town of Bonney Lake and Bob went in to get a few things.  My left foot is still killing me, so I waited in the car.  The clouds behindthe Wal Mart were so sinister looking and then I looked over to the west and there's this beautiful, brilliant sunset, surrounded by heavy, dark clouds.  Mother Nature really put on a show for us this evening.

Gabi thanks all of you for the birthday greetings...poor little girl was home all alone today.  Oh well, I left the TV on and she knows how to change the channel by stepping on the remote, so I'm sure she had a good time.

Hope everyone had a good day...I'm off down the hall with my sore foot, my book and my kitty.   Linda

GABI LIN

It was two years ago today that this dear little one came to live with me.  It was determined that she was about two years old so I have chosen October 4th as her birthday, at least a day of new beginnings for her. Of course no one (but her & she's not talking) knows exactly when she was born.  Most of you know Gabi's story so please bear with me as I tell it again on this special day.

Gabi (the name a co-worker and I gave her) was found by the Humane Society on the streets of Seattle in August of 2005.  She was starving, matted, flea ridden...a real mess.  After an initial examination to see if she was microchipped (she wasn't), she was taken to a lady in the Seattle area who raises and fosters Persians and Exotic ShorthairsGabi by the way is an Exotic,  because she has short hair unlike a Persian who is long haired.  Anyway, the next couple months she was cleaned up, examined by a vet, vaccinated, and started on the road to recovery.

The end of September, a co-worker of mine had started looking for an Exotic kitten.  She knew this lady as she had talked to her before about Exotics.  So she gave her a call to see if she had any Exotics ready to be adopted.  The lady didn't have any kittens but she told my friend about the little two year old, who'd been rescued and was ready to go to a permanent home.  She emailed some pictures to my friend, who emailed them to me and for me it was "love at first sight!"  She decided she'd take her and I kept saying well if it doesn't work out, I want her.  Meanwhile we were going over names, my friend (and myself ) both liked names that have meaning.  We kept coming back to the name "Gabi" because in Hebrew it means "God is My Strength."  After hearing the story of her survival, we both felt "Gabi" was a fitting name..   So my friend picked her up and took her home.  The vet had said that Gabi should have dry food available at all times and be fed canned food at least twice a day, because she wasso thin.  (She still only weighs 4lbs 8 oz and my vet would like to see her between 5 & 6 pounds)  Well, my friend only feeds dry food twice a day, she does not leave it out for her cats...so after a day or so she could see she had an impossible situation going.  Trying to feed two cats, two different ways...it was not going to work.  She came to work the morning of October 4, 2005 and said "I can't do this! Would you like to have this cat?"  OH YA !!!  I took an extended lunch, went to Petsmart, got a carrier, cat food, litter, etc. and that afternoon my co-worker left early, took my carrier, went to her house & got Gabi and brought her to me.  She came home with me that night and immediately settled into her new home. 

It's only been two years...but I feel like it's been forever.  She's such a sweet girl, especially at night when she jumps up on my bed and curls up next to me while I read.  She leans her little head on my arm and purrs away, sometime stretching out a front paw to my arm.  Once I turn out the light, she gets up and goes down and lays on her blanket at the end of my bed.  When I wake up in the morning...there she is...sitting there, looking at me...waiting for me to get up and give her her breakfast.  However, if I sleep too long, she's up walking around me, gently pawing my arm or head with her little white paw.  Making her little throaty noises which mean "mom get your _____ out of bed and feed me." 

Some may feel it's silly to go on and on about a cat...but she's such a dear little girl.  I can't help but love her.  Before she came along, I thought Persians were quite unattractive, their smooched faces did nothing for me.  But once you have one in your house...and you get to know their sweet personalities and dispositions, all those feelings fade away. 

So Happy 4th Birthday little Gabi Lin....I love you ! May we have many more happy years together.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wednesday Update

I met my friend Judy at Steamer's, a waterfront cafe here in my home town.  I love this place. And I've taken journal pictures there before.   It's right down on the water, with a great view of the new and old Narrows Bridges.  There are tracks between the cafe and the parking lot, where trains, both freight and passenger go by on a regular basis. There's a lovely beach just down below Steamer's where I used to take my grand kids when they were little and a great paved walkway, to walk dogs or take a leisurely stroll.  I was concerned about the weather...but while we were there, the rain stayed away.  This was her "birthday" lunch from me...her birthday was on September 16th but this was the first opportunity we had to get together.

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From there I went to Trader Joes, to stock up on a few things and then on to the Toyota dealer to have the oil changed in my car.  When they were done, the Service guy came with a serious look on his face and told me of some things that need to be taken care of on my car.  I've never had much trouble with this car, it now has 97,700 miles on it...so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, just disappointed as I don't have the $1,100.00 he is suggesting to fix all the trouble spots.  I keep having things happen that suggest I may have to get a part time job...the retirement money is just not stretching enough.

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From there I went to my nearby Fred Meyer store, to get milk and coffee creamer and then on home as the sky was getting blacker and blacker.  I could see rain coming down out of the black clouds off in the distance...but I made it home and as I took the last bit of stuff out of my car, heavy rain started pelting the carport and patio.  There was some thunder (one blast shook the house like an earthquake) but it seems to have subsided now.

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Those of you who have read my journal for sometime remember the account I gave of the shooting at the Tacoma Mall on Sunday, November 20, 2005.   The shooter, Dominick Maldonado wounded seven people, kidnapped four and frightened hundreds of others who fled the mall in fear for their lives. One of his victims, Dan McKown was shot three times at point blank range, leaving him partially paralyzed.  Maldonado was finally brought to trial and Tuesday the jury returned their verdict; GUILTY ! Convicted of 15 crimes including; first degree assault, guilty of attempted second-degree murder (in the case of Dan McCowan), guilty of second degree assault, guilty of first degree kidnapping (he held 4 people at gun point in a store)and guilty of first degree unlawful possession of a firearm.  His sentencing date has been set for November 2, 2007 and it's been said he could get as much as a hundred years sentence for the horrific things he did. He's only 22 years old now, so young...what a waste of a life.  Thankfully, even though Mr. McCowan is in a wheelchair for the rest of his life...no one died on that scary day in November 2005.

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There's snow falling in the mountains here in Washington state.  Stevens Pass saw enough snow fall today, for people to head up there with their kids and sleds.   The main pass (Snoqualmie) from my area over to eastern Washington is at 3,200 feet and they have not had any snowfall as yet.  But the snow level is falling so it's just a matter of time until the white stuff starts falling there, too.

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After I got home this afternoon, clumsy me tripped and I fell here in my living room.  I caught my left foot on the leg of the coffee table and I'm afraid I may have either sprained it badly or broken a bone just below the second toe (from my great toe).  It's extremely sore (ouch) and swelling.  I've got ice on it now and I took a couple Tylenol but so far...no relief.  I bet it will be black and blue tomorrow.   So, I'm going to get off here and go elevate it.  Until next time........Linda