Step into my garden

Job search and move

2010-06-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

Hello and wow it has been long time since I have blogged. I am currently looking for a new private nanny job. I was hoping to stay in Seattle but have not found a job that will allow me to stay here. I am so shocked that the economy is this bad and that I would have problems finding a job that would pay enough to pay my rent here and other bills.

So I am moving to Portland Oregon on June 30th to live with my son and his family. I may also go to visit my daughter and job search in the bay area mid July. My Portland family and friends are happy to have me there again.

I had two aunts die withing three months of each other. I will miss them so much.

Sad, frustrating, and interesting developments in my life the past three months.

Tickling Slow Loris

2010-03-01T13:57:00.001-08:00

Shamanic Zoo musings

2010-03-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

Saturday night I joined a group of people for a evening visit to the Zoo. It was a Shamanic gathering to be with the animals and to say thank you for them being ambassadors to us inept humans.

The Zoo guide, Carolyn, was excellent. She started out the journey with a king snake and two tortoises. They were as interested in us as we were in them.

We also interacted with some pelts that the Zoo uses for education. My favorite was the snow leopard pelt. He still had his pads on his feet and when I touched them I could sense how he felt the earth under his feet. (Yes I am woo woo like that.) I said, " I want to wear him." Everyone nearby said yes do. But I thought it weird and didn't want to seem weird in front of all these people I didn't know. But after watching others do it. I finally gave in to the urge. It was wonderful and I thanked him. He had the most wonderful tail and I could just see how it would twitch and move.

There was also a bear skin. Brother Bear is what I called him, I shook his paw and felt his claws. But I didn't wear him. He is powerful medicine. I thanked him too.

Then we went out into the Zoo. They gave us little red flashlights as those do not disturb the animals like a regular flashlight. At first I was worried that I would trip and stumble but then I realized I had been to this zoo so many times that I could have walked it blindfolded! So I gave my flash light away.

The Moon was full and the sky fairly clear. What clouds there were scuttled across the sky quickly and never really obscured the moon fully. It was interesting to feel the zoo at night and to know we were the only people at the zoo. We saw all kinds of animals and there were some birds who really wanted us to come see them. They called to us, "hey come here, come see us, what are you up too?" (All in loud bird squawk of course )

We learned lots of zoo trivia. A man who one night went swimming with the penguins on a dare and left his clothes, wallet and car keys laying there. When he heard security coming he went home which was near the zoo. When he finally returned to the zoo to pick up his car he tried to insist it wasn't him. But of course they had all his id.

The snow leopard likes to play tricks on the zoo keepers by hiding and when they start getting worried he has escaped will jump as if to say "aha fooled yah, here I am."

I found out they let they orangutans paint with mustard and ketchup and that the wolves won't come out when you first come by, they scent you first, and when you come by again they will be their watching you.

We went to the night exhibit which closed today. So sad. We wanted to support those creatures in their move. The anteaters were extremely cute, running around in the trees. Yes they run around IN trees. One seemed to have a big itch happening.

The night monkeys were pulling tricks on each other. One pushed over their feed/water bowl. The other seemed quite annoyed by this while down below the armadillo ran around and around on the ground.

My favorite night animal is the slow loris. He is a tiny teddy bear looking creature that moves slowly around his cage. But the guide told me that he doesn't catch and eat his caterpillars slowly. I also was surprised to learn that the slow loris has a poison gland on his back toe and he licks it and then bites to protect himself. It is like a bee sting however zoo keepers have been know to go into anephalaptic shock from it's bite. I guess when you move that slowly you need some kind of protection.

I also saw a springhass which is a very shy animal and the guide said she had only seen it three times in all the tours she had led. So I guess he was saying farewell to us.

We also found out they are bringing in some meercats in the fall. I love those crazy little animals. So cute.

I had a great time and was glad that I went. The zoo is one of my favorite places. I have animal friends there. I am sad that they can allocate for a new west entrance but no one allocated funds for the night animals. So they move on and we will miss them. I hope they all travel well and are well kept and fed in their new zoos.

Good times and bleg....bleg.. ralph

2010-02-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to Portland. I stayed with my son Jere. My daughter Leeonna and her partner came to town to visit. I hate the drive but it is totally worth it to see the kids.

Saturday I went with my son and his family to see Wolfman. I loved that they stayed true to the old movies. Yes they used special effects to change the wolfman into well...wolfman, but they were done well. Not overdone like some movies effects can be done today. As a kid I felt so sorry for the Wolfman, I mean it was so clear that he hated being the wolf man. I felt sorry for all the monsters. Frankenstein, (Frankie, as I like to call him) couldn't help being a monster either. Those were the good ole days.

Monsters today are just monsters and the special effects are mainly to gross you out. They bore me to death. Yeah yeah yeah, gonna be blood and guts, spewing blood, but do I feel sorry for any body in a modern day horror movie, naw, not even the victims. Note: ok movie makers give me a monster to care about...like wolfman...yeah I felt bad for him.

Oh and how come all those victims are so stupid???!!! Hey look tons of blood, yeah I am going to investigate that!!! NOT!!! How come they don't notice the music? If I heard that creepy music I wouldn't be looking around... geez it's loud folks...can't you hear it??? When I was a kid and was watching a scary movie I found it wasn't so scary if you turned off the sound! LOL..yeah we all know what that creepy music means!!! Anyway go see Wolfman, it was good and you will like the wolfman and feel sorry for him.

My son and his step daughter cooked dinner. They called the recipe Breast Implants. Oh my goodness these guys can cook a mean meal. They made up the recipe and it has to do with ricotta, mozzarella and Marinara. I would tell you how it's put together but then they would have to kill me....shhhhh it's a highly guarded secret. but I bet they could win some kind of chicken recipe contest it is that good!

Saturday night my son and I went and met my daughter and friends at a Wine and Beer Bar, called Crush. It had interesting decor, kind of that trendy metal art work, sort of ala seventies. The waiter was happy to see us but became disgruntled when he realized most of us were lite drinkers and some of us were actually drinking water..gasp! He went so far as telling us we could get our own water. The music was weird... one minute it was polka or something like polka and then Hooked on Classical. But visiting with my daughter made it worth it. It was also the first time I met her fiance.

Sunday my son put on a pizza eating contest... now I don't usually eat gluten products but unfortunately Pizza is one of my weak spots that and a competition. I actually thought that I would eat..oh one or two pieces... but my competitive nature got a hold of me and I ate six and half pieces in something like eight or nine minutes. I once did a corn on the cob eating contest and came in second.. Let me tell you eating pizza in a contest is much more difficult. Mozzarella cheese is not conducive to chewing at a fast pace. Crust tends to be a problem too. Our team won and the winner ate seven pieces.

I had a lot of fun visiting with family.

However, I thought I got off scott free in the "it didn't" affect me" department to eat all that gluten. Hah...either nature was out to get me with a stomach virus on Wednesday night or my stomach decided it "wasn't going to take it anymore!" Ralph visited me right as I got off work Wednesday night... a purge of epic proportions. I probably will rethink another pizza contest..... or if enough time as passed...maybe not....

Dear Jean Makers

2010-02-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Jean Makers,

I went shopping for a pair of new blue jeans. However I didn't buy a new pair of jeans. Why, because I am not a hard body 16 year old anymore. There are some importants facts for you to know oh gods of jean design:

1. I don't have a waist anymore and I am not sure where I lost it, some where between birthing two kids and homemade bread is my guess. You on the other hand no longer make waist high pants anyway.

2. I don't want to show my tummy, my belly button or my butt crack! My tummy looks like the Pillsbury bread dough boy, my belly button is not cute or cuddly, and the butt crack look works for plumbers not for me.

3. Those slim your tummy low waisted jeans only push the tummy fat up to where my waist should be, creating the giant muffin look, sexy looking, NOT! Really looks great with those short show your tummy shirts everyone insist on making again NOT!

4. Those jean pants with the stretch elastic might work if I was 100 years old, (I doubt it) Why would you think if we don't want to look like we are 16 years old we want to look...matronly. (Only word I can think of to describe those kind of pants)

5. My legs are not 6 feet long! How come women can't buy jeans that are measured in pant length like the guys? (Oh yeah they make women's Carharts like that but Carharts also think we want the butt crack look.)

6. Wearing a belt isn't a solution when the waist band sits under your stomach, in fact it is downright painful.

So my choices are let it all hang out or wear really ugly matronly pants.

Right now I am not taking either choice. I am lucky that boys Levi husky fit the leg length issue but they too have the waist issue.So I deal with the muffin top look, unhappily whether they are made for male or female.

(An aside note: How come men don't seem to notice a breeze on their butt crack?)

Dear Jean designers and makers...please make some jeans that reach the waist and don't have gigantic flapping roomy, too long legs. If you want to put a little slimming panel in the waist high jeans feel free..at least all of me will be covered all the way to the waist, squashing all around equally is better than the giant muffin top look.

P.S. Shirt makers if you are reading this...start making some great looking shirts that go past my waist to my hips.

Thank you

P.S.S. Designers: I would be glad to draw you a picture if you can't figure it out.

Just call me little Miss Muffet!

2010-02-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

So I had thought about making Ricotta on Saturday but when the sun shines in Seattle ya just gotta get out in it. So I spent the late morning walking and doing errands in my neighborhood. Saturday night I worked.

So today it was gloomy, dark and sprinkling. I had some more errands to run in my van so I went out and got those done.

<-----Draining the whey from the curds.

When I got home I decided to make the Goat Cheese Ricotta. It's true! It takes just a short time to have yummy tasting Ricotta. However just as I got ready to make it I couldn't find my cooking thermometer. I at one time had two! So I ran to the neighborhood Freddies and bought one. (You can be sure one of my thermometers will show up if not both, now that I bought one.) It was done in a jiffy and I think the draining of the whey took longer than the whole cooking process. MMM curds and whey are tasty!

<-------Finished Ricotta after whey drains off.

So then I made Lasagna. I am one of those cooks who kinda of checks out a few recipes and then flys by the seat of her pants. I have food allergies so I have to adjust and modify. Here's what I put into my Lasagna.

1 lb ground buffalo (I am allergic to beef)
1/2 yellow onion
1 large bulb of elephant garlic (cuz I luvs garlic)
Italian seasonings - (shook in what looked like it was enough LOL)
I sauteed the onion and garlic in olive oil.
Added the ground buffalo and seasoning cooked it all together until browned.

The sauce is something I found at Costco and thought was yummy.

One jar of Dave's gourmet butternut squash pasta sauce (mix in ground buffalo mix)
Shredded Jack goat cheese (would've added some goat mozzarella but didn't have any.)
Homade goat cheese Ricotta! (I'm allergic to cow dairy products)

One box of cooked rice lasagna noodles

Layered the Lasagna noodles with sauce, ricotta cheese, jack cheese.

.Done Lasagna ..................................>

I am in Lasagna heaven!!!! It has been years
since I have had Lasagna.

Tomorrow I will make gluten free bread and use the whey to replace the liquid in the recipe.

I gotta Ricotta

2010-02-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

Last week one of my employers showed me a book about green homesteading. So while the kids were napping I read it. (in high school I was clocked reading 1500 words a minute in speed reading class!) So I read the whole book. It was interesting and the best thing is that it had a recipe for making Ricotta from goats milk.

Now I don't eat gluten, dairy, soy, or beef due to food allergies. I can eat goats cheese but man is it expensive!!!! I have been wanting to make Lasagna. But kept wishing I could figure out how to replace the ricotta or cottage cheese in the recipe. I kept looking for goat cheese ricotta at the specialty stores, (like whole food) but all I have been finding is jack and cheddar goat cheese and sometimes if I am lucky goat cheese mozzarella None of them fit the bill for ricotta for my lasagna.

Ricotta is so easy to make! I was shocked. I do a lot of my own bread making due to my gluten allergy and it is pretty tasting. So when I saw the recipe I thought, I CAN DO THIS!!! So I am going to the store getting the goats milk, and then I will try it in the morning...unless I can't wait.. then I will make it tonight. The biggest problem I face is keeping my cats out of my ricotta and whey once I make it. I think I will rig up the cheese cloth on a hook in the dish cabinet and let it drip into a bowl. I can close the door and hopefully my cat Harold won't figure out how to get it open.

I love learning stuff like this.

So far it looks like if the world comes to an end you can survive with:

Camping supplies, first aid kit, three chickens, a few goats, a garden, downspout water barrel or some water source, a big fence...er and some big guns...

Thoughts in the night

2010-01-31T10:50:00.000-08:00

Wow! its been a while since I posted. LOL, my garden is now a muddy dirt pit covered in cardboard to keep the weeds at bay until spring.

I have these really deep thoughts (subjective) right before I go to sleep. Ones I think I will remember but of course if they are right before my Ambien induced sleep they are pretty much gone.

However I did remember one and the whole concept makes me angry. How come we can get such cheap auto insurance to replace our cars and their parts should an accident happen and not get the same type of insurance for health care?

I mean really there is a lot of competition in the car insurance field. They are fighting for our dollars...(here I imagine that little geckko with boxing gloves on)

The interesting thing is I haven't heard of car insurance companies whining how they will go out of business because of all the competition. Yet big health insurance are whining (not to mention giving senators lots of money to listen to them) that if there is competition , OH MY GOD THEY WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS! I think pharmaceutical companies are whining the same tune.

Yes there are deductibles in car insurance...you pick em... for the most part but hey I don't mind paying 250 as my share to remove dents if I should have an accident. My health insurance for the same rate expects me to pay 5000 deductible to fix "dent's" in my body. God forbid anything should happen to me as I don't have a slush fund of 5000. So cars are treated and taken better care of than people in the good ole USA.

Oh wait can't I ask the government for a bail out like all the big banks??? Sorry Mr. President I was using my money to live on. I know I should have kept some back but hey we are in a depression oops I mean recession and I made some bad decisions like ..oh say pay my rent and have groceries, electricity etc etc etc.

I'll hold out my hand, big eyes like those old seventies pictures and poof I'll get a nice lump sum with admonishes to pay better attention to where my money goes. No more paying for necessities...aren't there poor houses to house the poor? They are called cars for many....(sorry Dicken's just seemed appropriate.)

A prescription that I put off getting until I absolutely have to cost me over 200.00 here in the USA. It would cost me 72.50 in Great Britain, true story...However not for the people who live in Great Britain. They get it free along with their health care. However my government cautions me that it may be inferior product if it comes from another country, even Canada...oh give me a break! (rolling my eyes!)

I didn't use to be so cynical but I think having my health insurance raised (to better serve me) each year (since I turned 50) on my birthday by 30 to 40 dollars has made me that way. WTF

Guess I am a tad cranky from waking up with a head cold..

First Harvest on a hot day

2009-07-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hot, hot, hot , and hot. But it is great for my garden! Picked my first tomato and cuke. Had them for dinner.

O Canada

2009-05-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

I went to Vancouver Canada this last weekend. First vacation in a while....ahhhhhh I needed that (:

I found one Geocache in Blaine Wa. Looked for one on the Canadian border but didn't find it. Oh well there's always next time.

Geocaching

2009-05-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

So I have discovered Geocaching. I love the great outdoors and treasure hunts appeal to my piratey side.

So I have been on a few forays. This one was at a bus stop and I took the kiddos. it was easy I didn't need the gps just used the clue.

Not the greatest picture but in my hand is the "log" of this geocache. It was a micro and just contained the log. A piece of paper that you put your name on to show that you found it. It was already full of names and most likely the cache wrangler will need to put a new log in soon.

I found one here at this hamburger place exactly at the coordinates on my gps, another little micro cache. It also had a clue which helped find it.

Another bus stop cache seemed like it would be simple to find so I didn't use the gps and I guess I should have as I couldn't find it. I will return to that one and see if I can find it later.

The last cache is pretty well hidden. I used the gps and found the coordinates but couldn't find the cache. I asked for another clue. Had to have been right there on top of it. Later I will go back and look again with new clue. There seems to be a learning curve.

This weekend I am going to Vancouver Canada and I plan to stop and try to grab a few there. Well hopefully at least one, lol. It ain't as easy as it appears to be.

ahh run around like chicken little

2009-04-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

First we were all going to die of Sars, then the avian flu, then we were all going to die/riot because of the banks, (well I do feel like rioting about the banks). Um Mr. President where is my bailout? I keep checking my mail and it's not there. Really you don't have to send me a billion I think I only need a mere 10 thousand. Oh wait, I get few dollars more in my pay check due to a tax cut uh huh ... oh yeah right...that REALLY helps! (take that as a sarcastic really)

Now it's the SWINE FLU.

I'm sorry but I guess I am a little jaded. Sure I don't want to get a flu and die, pretty much goes for all of us. But how can you tell what is really a crisis anymore?

The president is still playing golf. (Of course Mr. Bush was reading a story book during a the 911 crisis, so maybe that doesn't mean much either.)

Anyway watching tv news is like seeing a dozen chicken littles running around screaming the sky is falling, the sky is falling....!

I hope this is not really a pandemic. But I can't tell, it feels like the weather report...yes big snow storm...close everything...nothing happens then but well we in seattle knows what happens next. So yah, I'm worried but I think I will quit watching the news, I can't tell what to worry about anymore.

Cranky pants tonight

Parent advice - a viable website idea?

2009-04-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

I have been looking for a way to share what I know with others. I am working on a website and would love to have some input from you all. Feel free to email this to friends too.

If you needed support and advice and went to look on a website what would you expect or look for?

Would you be willing to pay for email personal advice?

What about phone advice or home visit advice?

What would be the price range you would be willing or expect to pay for this service.

Do you think parents would be willing to take advice from someone (like me) who has 30 years of on the job training?

What do you think of this as a business idea and do you think there is a niche for this on the web.

Any advice/ideas would be appreciated. This has been a pipe dream of mine and I decided I would try and get it started. After all I won't be young forever LOL and thought this might be a great retirement sideline.

SUN SUN SUN SUN

2009-04-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

What's that up there in the sky? It's a bird, it's a plane, oh my god its a bright yellow orb called the Sun!

Wow, the sun has decided to visit Seattle. The day is bright and sunny. I have plans to open all my windows and air out the house. I am going to do my house chores and do my bread baking today as tomorrow it is supposed to be even warmer. I want to get out in this sunshine while it last!

There are rumors that Monday the temp might reach 70's!

(humming...the bluest skys around are in seattle.......)

Dangers of chewing breath gum

2009-03-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine chews Clorets gum. So I bought some. I have been chewing it until a few days ago when I realized that it was thinning out and sticking to the roof of my mouth.

Now you would think that you could just swallow it down but no it is stuck there somehow. I have tried to dig it out with a tongue brush and a toothbrush but it just sits up there a thin layer like some kind of gummy super glue.

I have even tried using my finger to try and scrape it out to no avail, only managed to make myself gag several times.

I finally went on line to see if anyone had experienced this problem. No one has posted that they have had this problem with any type of gum. GAAACCCKKKK

I notice that hot beverages seems to help but has not yet melted it completely away. I can't imagine going to the doc or the dentist and telling them I have a chewing gum problem. See doc/dentist right up there on the roof of my mouth, yeah that minty stuff...see it?

I guess I will have great breath until it somehow wears away or disolves...

Geeeeezz what the hell is in that gum?

Happy St. Patty's Day - Have you seen my lucky charms?

2009-03-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

weatherization

2009-03-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

Wow, I am having a hard time getting used to being warm in my house!

I spent most of the winter freezing my butt off because I live in an old house without insulation. Last fall I called the electric company to inquire about how to save money on my electric bill. I had just paid off the winter bill which was really high and hoped they would have some advice on how to lower the cost. Lo and behold they told me that they had a weatherization program that I might qualify for, even though I was a renter, for free!

So I made an appointment for them to come out and look at my house and see what they could do. This happened around Thanksgiving. It took three hours to run all the test to see what the house needed to make it more efficient at retaining heat. I have base board heaters in my bedroom, dinning room and front room. My bathroom as a little in the wall electric heater. They pretty much told me all my heat was going out the walls and that they could indeed weatherize the house and make it better.

In the meantime they gave me little pamplets with ideas on how to keep in what heat I was using until they could weatherize. One of the ideas was to put up curtains to close off parts of the house I didn't use very much. So I put up two curtains that cut off the drafts from the back part of the house. Which meant that when I went into the kitchen and bathroom it was like walking into a refrigerator. But I thought it was worth the chill as it meant that if I hung out in the front part of the house I would stay fairly warm. So I would run into the bathroom and do my business and run back into the living room where it was warm. yes I have a heater in the bathroom but didn't want to live it running 24/7 when most of my trips there were short and brief. I did turn it on for showers or baths. The kitchen was cold but I could cook up my meals and then take them into the dinning room to eat and the stove would heat up the kitchen and it wasn't too bad.

They finally came out to do the work on the house this last week. Two days of work and now I am so warm I have to turn down my heat. I haven't really use the curtains as the house is staying so warm that I don't have too. They added a really cool convection heater to a back bedroom so when it is in use I have heat. Wow I can't believe the difference.

The smell from all the sealants is pretty strong though and I will be glad when it dissipates. My bedroom window has been open for the last few nights as I couldn't bear to sleep in the smell. But it is slowly disappearing. Even with the window open tho the room stays fairly decent. A big change! I may even have to take off some of the blankets on my bed so I can sleep without being too warm!!! Who knew!

Thanks City of Seattle, what a great program!

Rooftop Prowling Cat

2009-02-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

I recently got a hummingbird feeder and a suction cup device with which to hang it up on a big front window in my dinning room. I have been enjoying enjoying watching hummingbirds coming to feed. Last Saturday morning I heard a big kuthunk outside on the porch. When I investigated both my cats were on the porch and the hummingbird feeder was on the ground.

Of course they both looked at me innocently but I wasn't fooled, somehow one of them knocked it down. I had placed the feeder so it was not near any places where my cats could jump up on it, so I was mystified as to how one of them could even get up close enough to make it fall down.

Then yesterday I looked out the window and up on the porch roof was Harold, my cat! I have been hearing sounds on the roof but since I have a squirrel problem I figured it was those darned squirrels playing tag on the roof. Now I think some of the noises was Harold getting up on the roof and hanging out there to check out the hummingbird situation. Not only was he on the porch roof but he also got on the main roof, and then I spied him on the neighbors roof next door. I still don't know how he is getting on any of the roofs. But now I know what happened to the hummingbird feeder. I bet he didn't realize it would crash down to the ground under his weight.

(No hummingbirds were harmed in the process of this event, it probably flew away laughing as the cat crashed to the ground, like the roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote.)

I hope he figures out how to get on the other side of the roof and routes out those pesky squirrels. However knowing Harold he might just decide to sit in on the poker parties the squirrels are having up there. I can see him now, smoking a big old stogy of catnip and drinking a beer.

War of the squirrels, 2009

2009-02-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

The other day I was out in the back with the kids. It was a beautiful day in Seattle. We heard a scrabbling noise up on the roof. When we looked up we saw the squirrel. Now ever since I have lived in this house, the squirrels have tried to live here too.

I don't have anything against the squirrels but they can cause damage to the house. This however is the first time I actually saw a squirrel enter his/my domicile.

I yelled at him.. "hey squirrel don't even think about it!"He gave me a look and after a brief pause he slipped into the original hole that somehow has become uncovered. There used to be a metal grate across it, courtesy of the landlady's handyman. How they got it off I am not sure. But I think they have a little squirrel tool box with a pry bar hidden in a tree nearby. Funny thing is I never found the grate, maybe they snuck it over into my garbage can while I wasn't looking. The 31/2 year old was pretty amused that the squirrel didn't listen to me.

I have blogged about the dancing and the er, x rated squirrely love I am sure is going on up in my eaves but now I think they may have taken up gambling. I will know for sure when the little cards and poker chips start showing up on my backyard lawn.

It will be the very last straw if I catch them with camera's out spying on me. I think they already listen to me though the walls when I call the landlady and tell her about their returning to live in my eaves. They are probably plotting ways of outfoxing the exterminator guys that come out to supposedly keep my house free of the little varmints.

They put little warning signs that say, "Caution, Black Boxes on Roof can be Deadly!!" Maybe in bright yellow with a little red crossed circle across a black box. "Don't be relocated" might be another.

They probably take a vacation during that week. I imagine there are little notations on their calendars...take vacation, exterminators will be present.

The exterminators have never ever seen a squirrel in my eaves nor have they caught one in the "relocation" boxes.

And where do they take those squirrels to be relocated? Oh nope I won't go there...uh uh not me.....

So now the squirrels have a really nice front door and when they get their tools out again and take off the other grate they will have a nice back entrance too. Perhaps they will build a nice little porch from it. They have a great view into my back yard after all.

So squirrels 3, me 0

computer mojo 4

2009-01-27T18:50:00.000-08:00

HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE

I upgraded my computer memory all by myself. yah, what a super feeling to know I can do it!!!

HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE

Happy Dance, Computer mojo 3

2009-01-26T20:38:00.000-08:00

I got my replacement dvd/rw drive today in the mail. It had a 7 day return policy. So I decided to put it in my computer.

It took me all of five minutes and it works!!!! Yah!!!!!! So I did my happy dance. LOL

Computer mojo 2

2009-01-23T22:32:00.000-08:00

After looking at the prices of desktops and laptops I have decided to fix and upgrade my laptop. I ordered the dvd/cd drive and some more memory after looking at the dell support site and seeing how easy it should be. Notice I said should....it looks easy on paper er web diagram.

Loosen a few screws, unhook cover and pop things in and out. So I am going to do it. I have a friend who is willing to be my back up techie.

I will update when I actually get the stuff, get brave enough to try it and hopefully get back on line. If it doesn't work...well...I guess I will be looking for another computer or a repair shop.

Computer mojo

2009-01-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

A very long time ago, I used to be able to fix my own computer. I had a desktop. If something went wrong with it or needed replaced it was a simple task.

Now I have a laptop. It is scary to think of taking it apart and trying to fix it. One of the really big reasons is that it is the ONLY computer I have. So if I screw it up, well, I have no back up!

The cd/dvd drive died in it or at least I think it did. I also notice I don't hear the fan running anymore. Or is it my imagination.....

I bought it about five years ago and I think that in computer years that means it is oh, about 100 years old. lol.

I know if I take it to the repair shop they want 80 dollars to just look at it. The replacement part, the cd/dvd drive is around 100 dollars. If it needs a fan...well it could all add up to more than the computer is worth.

If I had another computer source I would take it apart just to learn how to do it! If it didn't run when I put it back together than no big deal.

But for now I am nursing it along. Deep in thought....what to do... what to do....

Rain

2009-01-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

Will somebody tell me where they parked the ark????!!!!!!

A visit to San Jose

2008-12-31T18:21:00.000-08:00

This last week I was in San Jose visiting my daughter. Right after she picked me up from the airport she took me to see some awesome Christmas lights. There were two houses with lights that were hooked up to play to music on a fm wave link. Lucky for me I took my Zune, (it has fm capabilities). I gave her one ear bud and I used the other to hear the music while the lights danced. Wow a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.

On Christmas we were invited to one of her friends house for brunch. Very yummy, and they surprised us with stockings!

After Christmas we went to the Winchester house. Very impressive, once I saw the mansion it made sense why she would want so many windows. It would have been a really dark dark place without adding windows everywhere. My favorite photo is the spider web window. She had several spider web windows in the house. I was able to catch the reflected window in the shadow.

On the last day I was there we decided, spur of the moment, to go see the Monarch butterflies at the Natural Bridge park in Santa Cruz. What a beautiful place.

The Monarchs kept mostly in the high tops of the trees. You could see them in the tree tops. But my camera couldn't really get a good picture. This Monarch was on the ground.
The next picture is of a Monarch caterpillar. But it is really hard to see at the top of the plant.

This is a picture of the trees in the park. There were only around 900 butterflies at the park. They come in, in mass, starting in October. Many had already left.

This is the beach at Natural Bridge park. However the stone bridge which connected these rocks has long ago fallen into the sea. Look! It's actually sunny! A welcome sight to a snow weary seattlite.

snow impressions Dec. 23, 08 or what you do when you are really bored!

2008-12-23T13:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read Cedarflame's blog and she had pictures from someone using their bodies to make snow impressions. Well you know me, I just had to try it.

I just have a little digital and instead of a car hood with a dusting of snow, I put my face into about 9 inches of icy snow.

The pictures didn't look like much until I used my photo shop to make them into negatives, with really creepy results. LOL, It looks like the picture of Eisenhower on the dime.

I think having to press into the snowy ice flattened my features. Either that or I look a little like Eisenhower. But pretty cool anyway.

The first picture is me face taking a dive face down in the snow. If you can enlarge it you can see a 3d image of me, if you look long enough. Plus two disembodied hands were I got up after the dive.

So if you have a spare moment, are bored, and stuck in doors, go out and do a invigorating face dive into some snow. Don't forget to take pictures of the results!

Snow storm Dec. 08

2008-12-21T09:18:00.001-08:00

Seattle is in the midst of winter storms. More snow is expected on and off all week. This is what it looks like out my front door.

My friend L has four wheel drive so we were able to get out to do a little shopping yesterday before this new snow hit.

I am supposed to fly out on Wednesday to visit my daughter in San Jose. The airport has had lots of cancellations and I hope that by Wednesday things calm down a bit. I hate to think I might be spending Christmas at the airport! ):My cats still don't know what to think about all this snow. Here is Harold checking out the snow.

No snow yesterday but lots of warning...lots of snow today no big warnings.

2008-12-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a big deal was made of a supposed snow storm that was coming to Seattle. Problem is it never showed up. So lots of people stayed home yesterday.

This morning it snow thundered at 5:30 this morning. Yes thunder and lightning during a snow storm. It has been coming down ever since. I have to laugh because I just checked the weather underground website and they said it was snow"mist". Ha ha ha, I would like to see what they consider a snow storm!

The kids and i went out side today to play. I made a snow angel in the snow, first one in a long time. I think the kids thought I was crazy. lol

Cats and Snow

2008-12-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

So we had the first snow of the season. My cats were raring to get outside but they had never seen snow before. So it was a cat double take. They ran out on the porch and did a quick skid to a stop. I could almost see the thought bubble above their little furry heads, "What the HELL!!!????"

Harold was first to try it out. He hopped through it like a bunny, searching for a spot of grass to step on. When that failed he stared digging. He finally gave that up and gave me a look like, "Are you in anyway responsible for this?" Then he shrugged and went on his way.

Chloe on the other hand tip toed cautiously onto the snow and then looked for a place that was more or less dry. She went to their favorite haunt which is where they take all the toys they steal from the neighborhood dogs and kids. It is under the bush in the picture. I hadn't thought to grab my camera so I have no pictures of Harold hippety hopping over the snow.

By the way, I found a leather fur rimmed glove on my porch, I think one of the cats pilfered it and brought it home to stash. LOL, It is pretty nice maybe they will bring me the match tomorrow.

It's snowing in Seattle!

2008-12-13T20:39:00.000-08:00

Wow first snow fall here in Seattle. I will post updated pictures in the morning. It is supposed to only be in the 20's so I imagine it will stick around.

watermelon explosion or what my son does for fun.

2008-12-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

blowing up a watermelon

Fall in Seattle, Seattle Center

2008-12-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

It was rainy and cold but oh what fun we had playing in the rain.

My daughter's visit

2008-11-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

This week my daughter came to visit. She arrived on Wednesday night. There were so many places I wanted to take her and of course we ran out of time.

I am gluten free so she got to experience gluten free cooking. I also don't eat beef, soy or dairy because of allergies. I steer clear of nitrates and msg, so many of the things I cook are free of those kinds of things.

There were only a few things she thought tasted weird. But then again I was doing some experimental cooking and some of the things I thought were a little weird tasting! I think mostly she thought it was ok.

She learned to play a game called Sequence. She calls it a cut throat version of connect four. I copied the wikipedia explanation of the game.

Sequence is a board-and-card game distributed by jax Ltd., Inc.. It involves an average-sized playing board, on which are depicted two decks of cards (minus the Jokers and Jacks), two full standard decks, 35 red, 50 blue and 50 green playing chips which total 135.
The game is played by two players, two teams, three players or three teams. Players are dealt a certain number of cards (3-7 depending on the number of players), and then take turns to play these cards, placing a chip of their color on one of the corresponding card images on the board. The object of the game is to form one or two rows of 5 chips (be it horizontally, vertically or diagonally) before the other player or players, team or teams. If there are two players or two teams, 2 sequences must be formed to win the game. When there are three teams or three players only 1 sequence needs to be formed in order to win.
The four corners of the grid depict printed images of 1 chip in each of the 4 spaces instead of a card. These can be used as your own color chip, that is any series of 4 chips including a wild square forms a sequence.
The jacks fulfill a special role. If a player plays a two-eyed Jack, he or she may place a chip anywhere on the board (except of course on the wilds). If a one-eyed Jack is played, the player may remove an opposing player's token from anywhere.
Sequence employs some distinct hard and fast rules that include no table talk, and an order in which you must play your hand: card, chip, replace your card.

We visited with some of my employers, their kids and some of my friends this week. I took her to Archee McPhees, a crazy weird place to buy things like underwear for squirrels. LOL

Yesterday I took her to the Seattle center, where we had Thai and then went to the EMP (Experience Music Experience) and Sci Fi museum. It was fascinating! It was the first time I had ever been there even though I live in the area. The outside of EMP is pretty weird looking, a big metal blob.

This is the guitar tower. A computer randomly strums the different guitars. It creates an airy scary sounding kind of music.

They have a great display about Jimi Hendricks. We also tried out playing a bass guitar. I already know how to play Louie Louie on the guitar but the display was so slow that I grew tired of waiting for the instructions.

They had lots of instruments to try out but it was crowded and we didn't want to wait in line. Although the "be a rock star" gig was awful tempting. I am not sure how it worked but you would experience performing on a stage in front of screaming fans. Then you could buy a poster or a video of your performance.

The sci fi museum was connected and it was pretty cool but I couldn't help thinking it seemed like some fans put all their sci fi collection on display. But it was interesting and I shouldn't critisize as I used to be a big Trekkie! lol I even was in a Star Trek club.

Today was the last day of her visit and I took her to a beach that I like to go to called Golden Gardens. It was foggy here today, so the beach was pretty foggy. She lives a stones throw away from SF so I joked with her about coming here to see more fog.

The sun as seen through the fog along the beach

I had a great time seeing her and look forward to visiting her at Christmas time.

Christmas Chickens

2008-11-27T22:06:00.001-08:00

Are you ready for the holidays!!!!

City of Seattle - part three

2008-11-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

The guy finally arrived to do the energy assessement. He was very apologetic. I know it is not his fault as it was the appointment setter who neglected to write down my name and address.

After doing the assesment he told me that the original guy, (the first Mr. So and So0, would be back out with some contractors. The visit this time would be only 20 minutes. Then they would take the lowest contracted bid for the weatherization and they would weatherize my house.

I asked when that might be and he said it would be six weeks after the bid acceptance. So I am guessing the end of winter, which is a bummer. The reason I called about an energy audit is to hopefully not spend the next 8 months trying to figure out how to pay my way high electrical bills for heating.

Ah well, it's free, what more can I expect, at least i will be warmer next winter!

The great thing is that he didn't find any mold anywhere in my house, I am truly thankful for that.

I am hower going to call Mr. so and so before he is due for the appointment. At least that way I will know if they gave him my name and address! (That is if there is a real person who answers the phone!!!!!)

city of seattle part two

2008-11-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I called mr. So and So again. He was in this time.

Me:" oh hi Mr. So and so, my name is blah blah blah. I was told that you were taking mr. first so and so's jobs and I had an appointment at 10:00.

Him: " oh yeah we had a mix-up mr. first so and so didn't have your name and address we only had the appointment time. So I didn't know where to go this morning."

Me: " I called this morning and no one answered"

Him: "well I waited and then left at 10 for a different job." "We will have to reschedule."

(now remember my appointment was for 10.)

Me: " Look you don't understand, I go to different job sites and I made a SPECIAL arrangement to be home today so you could come out. Isn't there any chance you could come out TODAY?"

Him: " well is it a small house? It takes hours and hours to do this."

(I was told three).

Me: " I think it is a small house and I need you to come out today."

Him: "Well alright, I guess I will gather up my stuff and come over there."

(hmm it's your job to do this and you have to gather up your stuff to do it?)

Me: "Thanks! I appreciate it."

This is going to be interesting........

arghhhh grinding teeth in frustration!

2008-11-20T12:31:00.000-08:00

I was so happy to find out that I would qualify for free weatherization last month. So they made an appointment with me to come out and do some more assessment on what needs to be done. I am not one that hangs around the house much even though I have three little charges three and under. Today was a bonus day as two are on vacation so that means I only have one little one to deal with during the appointment. So I said I would be home for the appointment, 10 am today.

Ten arrives and no one shows. I call the City of Seattle housing department. Hmm no real person is in so leave a message. I leave the message. I also call another number that was given to me by the first guy that came out, he called a few days later and said if you need anything give me a call. So I did, no real person just message phone." Uh Ken, no one is here, no one is answering the main phone number, is anyone going to show up?" I wait another 45 minutes, no return phone calls. I call the first number, Oh my God, the real person answers!

me:" Hi, someone was supposed to come out a 10 and do an assessment, are they coming?"

her: " oh what was the name?"

me: " Mr. so and so"

her: " oh he's at a conference today, Mr. another so and so is supposed to be taking his jobs for today."

me: "Well is he going to be here?"

her: "I don't have that information, you'll have to call (you guessed it) his message phone."

me: "ok but I am really frustrated as I don't know if i need to stick around, and I moved my furniture away from my crawl spaces. (thinking to myself and I am damn cold in this house!)

her: " So sorry but you will have to call him. "

Me: "grrrr alright"

So I get off the phone and call this guys message phone. "Uh Mr. So and So my name is blah blah blah, and someone was supposed to be out at 10 and no one is here. I made special arrangements to be here. Please call me and let me know when you will be here. blah blah blah thank you."

It's 12:45, no return call. Maybe he is at lunch, maybe he's on break, maybe he only checks his phone messages at 5 when he gets OFF work.

I hate wating and not knowing. I guess I will call again..............

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of ....Waiting for the City of Seattle Housing guy

I survived the pineapple classic! yeah team

2008-11-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

MY TEAM!

Wow I am home from having a great time a the Pineapple Classic. It was a blast.

The weather was perfect for the run. Not to hot, not too cold, just right. I made it over all but one obstacle! Sometimes I had a little help from my team mates. Especially the walls, the tunnels and tires were a cinch.

Each wall was a little higher, we would go over and think oh my gosh we did it and then further down the course come across the next higher/harder wall. The very last wall was a climbing wall. Here we are coming to the last obstacle and the finish line.

Me getting a boost up to the monkey bars. I made it two bars before falling off.

YEAH WE DID IT

We are already planning for next year! There is still time to donate to this great cause. I have until Dec. 5th to get in donations. http://www.llswa.org/goto/rose

Movie Review - Changeling

2008-11-15T23:12:00.000-08:00

I just saw the movie Changeling.

Oh my gosh it is sit on the edge of your chair, close your eyes intense.

Don't go if you are not up to some pretty violent scenes and theme. I think it will win in the oscars. Angelina will probably get best actress.

Did I like it? I have mixed feelings. I liked the acting but the theme was almost too much for me to handle.

Be sure to read about it before you go. It is not simply a case of a lost child.

Squirrels dancing to Michael Jackson

2008-11-14T17:59:00.001-08:00

I think this is what the squirrels were dancing to in my attic the other day. LOL

Seattle - a beautiful city

2008-11-14T12:58:00.000-08:00

I have now lived here in Seattle for over three years. I just love how beautiful it is here. Yes, it rains a lot. Sometimes too much. But having grown up in the NW I am willing to put up with the rain to have the beauty.

I take the kids out on excursions and yesterday we went to Seattle Center. We were walking through the center when I looked up at the space needle and thought it looked beautiful against the clouds and blue sky. I always carry my camera and so took the picture. It turned out really pretty. So I thought I would share it.

Aloha

2008-11-12T21:57:00.000-08:00

I am getting ready for the Pineapple Classic 5K. I am a bit nervous as i have recently had a flare up of my RA. It has been many years since I have had any problems with arthritis and I had really forgotten how it feels.

But rather than totally stop my life, I am charging ahead. However I have been making an effort to get more rest this week. I also just had xrays and will go back into the doctor in about two weeks to find out what they may or may not reveal. For now I am on an anti-inflammatory drug and am using heat and/or ice to help the symtoms.

LOL, when I say I am getting ready for the race I really mean sewing silk lei flowers onto a hat. One of my employers is letting me borrow a Hawaiian shirt. I think it will be alot of fun.

Winter Pineapple Classic Nov 16th Seattle Wa.update

2008-11-04T23:36:00.000-08:00

"Aloha! I will be participating in the Winter Pineapple Classic - a 5k race with obstacles followed by a luau - on November 16th. While I'll be getting dirty and having fun, the reason behind all this mayhem is to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Please support me by going to http://www.llswa.org/goto/rose and click donate. Type my name in and then donate. It's that easy! Mahalo for supporting me in the fight against blood cancers!"

Winter Pineapple Classic Nov 16th Seattle Wa.

2008-11-03T22:31:00.001-08:00

One of my employers told me about a team 5k obstacle/race to raise money for blood cancers a few months ago. She asked if I would like to participate and I said sure.

So on Nov. 16th I will be participating in the pineapple classic in Seattle. Each team has to make it through the race carrying a pineapple. My team consist of two of my employers, a friend of one, and me.

I will update you more when I know more. (: Sounds like it will be lots of fun. For more info on the race itself google Winter pineapple classic.

me 0 Squirrels 2

2008-11-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

Last year about this time, i had a squirrel problem in my attic. The landlady sent the exterminators. They couldn't find the squirrels but did find the hole they were using to get in. So the landlady sent the handyman who made sure the squirrels weren't at home and he wired and boarded the hole up.

Friday I had the kids over napping in the play room. One of the little ones woke up, I went in to see if I could get her back to sleep. While in there I heard the squirrels once more doing the cha cha or the locomotion, couldn't quite hear the music, in my attic. Today I went outside to check look at the repaired eave. Yep, still repaired but the squirrels have diligently chewed a new entrance to their warm fall haven.

I think they are in there laughing at me.

Fall in Seattle

2008-10-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Outside right now it is pouring rain, yeah it is Seattle, so to be expected, but we have some beautiful fall sunny days too.

I am fighting my fall bout of sinusitis so I pretty much laid low this weekend. But I did get out and hike on Saturday hoping that it would make me feel better because it was a beautiful fall day. It didn't do much for my sinusitis in fact I over did it. But the walk was gorgeous and very worth it. These pictures are taken on a trail in Carkeek park. It overlooks the puget sound.

This is me posing by a tree, but at the same time sliding down this steep hill as I tried to look cool for L while she took the pic.

New Presidental Candidate

2008-10-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Ok I am done with all this political bs. Here's my solution!

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=377646&altf=Sptf&altl=gps1Qsftjefou

Election musings and other updates

2008-10-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

So I have been watching the debates. Unfortunately I have managed to fall in and out of sleep as I am watching them. Hopefully during moments that aren't too momentous lol. It may be the ten hour days.

I think I am getting the gist of it...

McCain says, "Obama is too young and inexperienced to run the country."

Obama says, " McCain is just like Bush."

Only they have speech writers that know a few thousand ways to say the same thing over and over again.

Then there are the vice presidential candidates.

Palin says, " I am a soccer mom just like you."

Joe says, ( I can call you Joe, Right?) "Vote for Obama"

Now I know Palin is not "just a hockey mom"...I heard how much her and her husband made last year. I really don't know too many hockey, (or any other), moms that have that much income. Sorry Palin you are not like the mom next door! I am the mom next door and I don't make boucu bucks. (News Flash- Most of us have trouble making ends meet!)

I am not too hot about Joe either....I am not sure why Obama picked a guy who said, "he didn't want to be vice president! It doesn't give me that much confidence in what might happen if something happened to Obama during office.

However I certainly don't want Mr. McCain, a la bush clone, in office. I am tired of eight year of garbage.

It is pretty scary out there right now. Did you know that for the first time since the civil war, troops have been deployed in the U.S. Hmm what are they expecting???? Oh yeah, they were deployed to help in time of weather crisis...uhuh ....sure.... By the end of this next year there will be 4700 men/women trained to "help" us during a homeland crisis! oh I mean weather crisis....

Really check it out on Canadian news.. they are stationed at a fort in Georgia. Notice our local news hasn't mentioned it. CNN has.....but who watches CNN on a current basis.

Curious thing but my old bank....(I changed before the bank crisis)...Wamu...was closed today.

I have picked up another job. I am back to 10 hour days but at least have another client for Fridays. Will definitely help.

I also got an energy audit from the city of Seattle. I found out that they will weatherize my house as I am considered low income. Although my landlady said that her handy man had weatherized the upstairs, the auditor said there was no insulation. They hope to have it weatherized by Thanksgiving. Hopefully I won't have an 800 dollar winter heat bill next year.

So some good things have come my way.

Now if I can just stay awake for the next debates!

Celebrate talk like a pirate day!

2008-09-19T14:59:00.001-07:00

Arggghh me matey's,

tis talk like a pirate day!
don't be walkin the plank, drag out your pirate and celebrate!

Yo ho ho

Top Ten Pickup lines for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day(from talk like a pirate website)

(We came up with these in an effort to interest The Other Dave (Letterman) in TLAPD. His staff liked 'em, but alas, his show was"dark" the week of Sept. 19.)

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?
9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?
8. Come on up and see me urchins.
7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.
6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.
5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?
4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?
3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.
2. Well blow me down?
And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …
1. Prepare to be boarded.

Bonus pickup lines (when the ones above don't work, as they often won't)
They don’t call me Long John because my head is so big.
You’re drinking a Salty Dog? How’d you like to try the real thing?
Wanna shiver me timbers?
I’ve sailed the seven seas, and you’re the sleekest schooner I’ve ever sighted.
Brwaack! Polly want a cracker? … Oh, wait. That’s for Talk Like a PARROT Day.
That’s the finest pirate booty I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Let's get together and haul some keel.
That’s some treasure chest you’ve got there.

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Lady Pirates
By popular demand ...
10. What are YOU doing here?
9. Is that a belayin' pin in yer britches, or are ye ... (this one is never completed)
8. Come show me how ye bury yer treasure, lad!
7. So, tell me, why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"
6. That's quite a cutlass ye got thar, what ye need is a good scabbard!
5. Aye, I guarantee ye, I've had a twenty percent decrease in me "lice ratio!"
4. I've crushed seventeen men's skulls between me thighs!
3. C'mon, lad, shiver me timbers!
2. RAMMING SPEED!
...and the number one Female Pirate Pick-up Line:
1. You. Pants Off. Now!

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Check it out more piratey info!!)

The Five Love Languages

2008-09-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

The Five Love Languages

My primary love language is probably
Quality Time
with a secondary love language being
Words of Affirmation.

Complete set of results

Quality Time:		11
Words of Affirmation:		7
Physical Touch:		6
Acts of Service:		5
Receiving Gifts:		1

Information

Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.

Take the quiz

I survived!

2008-09-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

This is the third week after my root canals and I am finally believeing that I have survived. Yah.

I spent this weekend doing mega gardening and mowing my lawn. Then as an award for getting it all done I rode my bike to the Gelato shop and had some yummy gelato.

This morning I rode my bike to work and back. I had to take the kids to my house as the electricians had to come back to my house to fix something they said they already fixed. So we walked back to my house and later walked back to their house. Then I rode my bike home.

Their mom said, " sure you don't need a ride home after all that walking?" me, donning my helmet feeling like some kind of bike super hero. "Oh no thanks, I want to ride my bike!" (hands on hips, cape flowing back in the wind). LOL, I am having fun riding it. However I am still getting off at crosswalks and walking it across. Not ready for that bonzai bike mentality of flying right on throuh. Cars look awful big to me....I am still keeping my distance!

But I do like riding my bike and plan to keep it up until Seattle rain becomes the monsoons.

Root Canal update

2008-08-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am scheduled for the root canals next Friday. It is so dang expensive that I am working on selling what I can to raise the money for it. (I have insurance but it only covers 50 percent). So for the first time in a very long time I had a garage sale.

Always a weird experience, you never know what people will or won't buy. But the weather was nice and business wasn't bad. I sold my PlayStation to a friend along with the games I know she likes. Now I will need to go set it up for her.

So I am about 1/3 of the way to what it will cost to pay for my dental work. By next week I will be 1/2 of the way there I am pretty certain. The endodontist wanted at least 1/2 up front and it looks like he will get it.

One of the great things about a garage sale is you meet some pretty nice people. I met my neighbor across the street who just moved in. She has two kids and is interested in some babysitting.

Since losing two of my three jobs, damn the depression (whoops I mean recession), I have only gained back one. I got a raise from my steady employer and charge the new family a bit more. But it doesn't make up for the 500 dollar deficit from not having a third family. However I was working my A** off and don't really want another full time family if I can help it. So extra babysitting is going to come in handy!

I have decided to kick the habit of the goodwill, pretty much the only place I shop for stuff, nowadays. Yeah it really is a habit, the hunt for that one thing you don't need but gosh look at the price, gotta have it. I am sure I will need to put up reminder signs in my house and car....YOU WILL NOT GO TO THE GOODWILL, YOU MUST PAY DENTIST OFF! lol

Actually I am pretty serious about tackling those pesky credit cards and working on whittling down my debt. So the next time I need a root canal, God Forbid!, I can actually take the money out of my savings and hand it over.

I am planning to work hard for the next six months which means working evenings and weekends to make the extra bucks to do it. It will be worth it, I will just need to buckle down and do it. I will, I know I can, I will!

owie ouch owie, root canal woes

2008-08-16T15:22:00.001-07:00

I have been having pain in my jaw since June. It all started out after a great dinner of Buffalo steak. My back teeth started aching. But it didn't last too long. But on and off through june and july they have hurt. I thought maybe it was something lodged under the gums.

So the last week I went to the dentist. He did some checking, xray and some cleaning on the back tooth but really couldn't tell if the gum was the cause. He sent me home and said to see if the cleaning helped.

Yesterday I was still in pain and now the pain is pretty steady. So went to the dentist again. He said can't see what is wrong so you need to see an endodonist. I went yesterday late in the afternoon. Unfortunately for me, (and my checkbook), I have two root canals that are infected sitting next to each other. So I am on an antibiotic and pain meds until I can go back in for the surgery which will last at least two hours if all goes well.

CRAP!!!!!! I hate getting these kinds of things done. He asked me if I get overly anxious about this kind of dental work....well "duh" who wouldn't! So he has offered me the option of taking a pill, 30 minutes before starting the surgery. He said I would still be awake but wouldn' t really be "there" while they did the work. He said the 2 hour surgery would seem like 30 minutes.

Well I am all for that, however insurances don't pay for the happy pill. So I will pay the 35 bucks to make it through the procedure without undue stress.

ah well, so goes life......

New "retro" bike

2008-08-11T22:47:00.001-07:00

I have been looking for a bike to ride around my neighborhood. This is such a great neighborhood for bike riding. My bank, the grocery store, my job, the pharmacy, even my dentist is located nearby. So I was browsing the goodwill and spotted froggy. I think froggy is either a schwinn breeze or a schwinn racer. She was most likely made between 1970 to 1973. So like me she is vintage lol. I think I am a bit more vintage than she is.

Froggy is a 5 speed cruiser. I named her froggy as she is green. I like her sparkling green handle bars. I took the bike to a bike shop and they said she is a great bike. I thought they might have to do a tune up but all they did was pump up her tires and she was good to go.

I am planning on buying a basket and I even found (but have yet to buy) a green frog shaped horn. Lol how appropriate. I rode around the neighborhood and had forgotten how great it is to just breeze along. I felt like a kid again.

whoo hoo!

A great summer weekend adventure (s)

2008-07-28T21:09:00.001-07:00

I had a great weekend this weekend. It was the Lousters third bday party. They held it at Carkeek park. L's mom is in town and so we all went to the little get together.
Lou was more interested in getting some bday cake then opening presents. He kept saying, "I need cake!" LOL, the best part about turning three I guess is the cake.

I got Lou this pedal car for his birthday. I found it in one of my favorite shopping places. Ahem let's just say that I didn't spend what it is really worth. I love a good deal. I knew he would love it. He calls cars like this Rat Rods when he sees them on the road. So when I saw it I just knew it would be perfect, his own Rat Rod. The one I got him has a little side mirror and an ooga horn. (I am sure his parent's love that!)

I didn't take it to the party as I knew it would be a 2/3/4 year old brawl fest over who would get to ride in it. So I dropped it off on his porch. His parents found it after he went to bed and put it in their living room for him to discover in the morning. They said he ate breakfast in it. LOL

That afternoon L, her mom and I went to the Ballard seafood festival. We heard there was an eight dollar salmon feed and so we went to search for it. We found it and boy was it ever delish! Then we wandered until we could wander no more among the booths.

The next day we had decided on going to the San Juans, some islands a few hours away from Seattle. We choose the big Island of San Juan. The day started dismal and rainy but living in Seattle means never postponing an outing due to rain. (You would never go anywhere if you did)

We had meant to take the early ferry but discovered that we had misread the time. So we took the next ferry out of Anacortes. (It is about an hour and half ride north of Seattle)

This is a picture of the Anacortes ferry dock.

It was pretty cold on the ferry but it was a great ride. It has been along time since I had taken a ferry anywhere. However it was really cold and windy as it clipped along at an impressive speed over the water. Here are Les and I on the outside deck. Les' mom wisely chose to stay in the car.

Has we were sailing a long a great big sail boat passed by. I was lucky enough to get the pic at just the right time.

Once at Friday harbor we drove towards our destination, Lime Kiln Park. It has been a lime quarry at one time. Now it is a park where many go to see the orca's. We stopped once before we got there as we thought we had spotted a whale. However it was jus a log and a few seals who would poke their heads up everynow and then. I stopped to take a picture of a roadside butter cup before we left that area.
We arrived at the park just in time to hear the guides say that the orcas (killer whales) were headed toward the park. All of us tourist where on pins and needles as we waited to see if they would come through. The park guide said that sometimes they would change their minds and turn around.

We were rewarded with the sight of the whales as they went through the bay. I am not sure if you can see it in this picture but there is a whale fin just behind the kayak in the foreground. It was exciting. A baby orca breached (jumped up) twice in the water. The large male whale's fins where impressive.

Just before they started to come by we spotted a seal up close to the shore hanging out in the kelp. After seeing the size of those fins I am not surprised that a seal would swim a little closer to the safety of the shore!

Afterward we walked up to the light house. I took pictures as I usually do of things that I thought would make great pictures. These are a few of those "scenic" pictures here in the park.

Then we went to catch the ferry home and found that that ferry was full up. So we killed a few more hours in Friday Harbor while we waited for the later ferry. We grabbed a smoothie than hit the touristy shops. Finally it was time to board the ferry and go home after what was a spetacular day. The sun had come out and we had seen whales! I arrived home very late but very happy with our adventure.

I took this sunset picture on the ferry on our way home. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

2008-07-28T20:47:00.001-07:00

Sundance, beach trip and long lost sons

2008-07-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

I spent the last week of June and the first week of July at Sundance. I love how it renews my spiritual world. Here is a pic of the inside of my tent and the camp site. It is pretty much in the middle of a prairie in the desert. The temperature each day was in the 100's. Someones thermometer in the shade read 109!!!!!! There were also some rockin thunder and lightning storms.

This weekend I went to visit my mom in Chinook. My son Jere and his family met me there. My mom was glad to see us. I had forgotten that my mom's beach house has bats. They don't bother me but the thought of bats whooshing around while we slept did bother my son's gfriend. Me, I just told em they should go out and eat bugs outside then went to sleep.

The next day my mom took us to breakfast. It was cloudy but we decided to go out and sight see after breakfast. So first we went to Fort Columbia.

This is my son doing an imitation of Kilroy at Fort Columbia.

My son and his girlfriend . In the background are the homes of the officers who used to live at the fort.

Me, taken by my son's girlfriend's daughter. She is yelling, you're fierce! you're a tiger! feel the fierceness! be the tiger! lol.

This is one of the old guns at the fort. We went into the battery which consisted of all these rooms in a concrete bunker type of building. Several rooms were pitch black and only had small windows. My son and I made our way through the darkness and made faces out the little window and his gfriend took the picture.

After the visit to the fort my son really wanted to see the new batman movie, Dark Knight. So we dropped the dog off at my mom's and went to the movie. Wow it was a really dark and violent movie. However I have to say my favorite scene had to do with a semi.

When we got out of the movie the sun was shining. So we went to the beach. Here is a picture of my toes in the sand and surf.

It was really sunny but since it was the NW coast it was also very blustery and cold.

I got some great shot of the ocean too! The sun was starting to set.

After playing in the surf and sand we finally got cold enough to think about heading home. As we drove down the main drag of Long Beach, my son said, "Hey, that's Jon!" I said, "Jon who?", my son said, "Jon my brother!". We pulled over an sure enough there was my youngest son having sitting on a bench having a cigarette. I haven't seen Jon for years. I had lost contact with him after he graduated from Job Corp. I just couldn't stop hugging him.

After talking to him we found out he has been living about 10 miles down the road from his grandmother but couldn't remember where she lived. We had a nice talk and got his info and went on, as he had to go back to work.

When we got back my sister Bam, showed up. It was beginning to be a family reunion. Here is a pic of me, my sis and mom. (We think we all have the same hair cut. LOL)

The next morning my youngest son called and said he wanted to come and see his grandma and auntie. So my son and I picked him and his fiance up. It was so awesome. I just couldn't stop hugging him. Here is a pic of all of us.

All in all it was one crazy and wonderful weekend get away!

my new hair cut

2008-06-27T09:25:00.001-07:00

ok I realized that I probably needed to let everyone see my new haircut. For my birthday I went and had it cut. L says I look cute as a bug. I am still getting used to the shortness of it but gee it is so much easier to care for. I just have to remember to protect the back of my neck in the sun!

I haven't had it this short since I was nine years old.

My son pointing out my new hair cut.

My new motto! LOL, yes it took bravery to do this. But I am glad I did.

Sundance

2008-06-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am packing my car as I get ready to go to Sundance. It is a little Scion and it will be packed to the gills. LOL I am a condo camper! L bought me a new tent canopy and screen to help keep me out of the sun at Sundance. I checked the weather report and it will be in the 100's by the end of the week.

I will be gone for a week and a few days. Sundance is my solstice renewal. It is a very spiritual event and even though it means camping in the desert in high heat, it is very worth it. I will be sending out all my prayers for all my friends and loved ones.

If I have not replied to your emails it is due to my preparations for Sundance and a new job. Sometimes I get so busy that I don't get time to reply to all the emails that come my way. I apologize ahead of time. I will get on the band wagon when I return and answer your email. In the meantime have a great week!

Almost getting old lol

2008-06-18T22:51:00.001-07:00

wow I can't believe that tomorrow I turn 55. I sure don't feel that old. It was weird to realize when I turned fifty five years ago that I would be welcomed at the senior community center. It was freaky. Well I never really did much but donate to the auctions. Most of the stuff they did was really more for retired people, and I ain't one of em.

However a few months ago I thought I should check up on my retirement fund and it was then that I found out I could retire at 58! It kind of snuck up on me in a strange way. Really, I don't feel that old.

So tomorrow I will turn 55, I now qualify for those senior prices in the restaurant, but you see there is a catch, it sounds good until you realize that the Senior meal is smaller than a regular meal. So really you are still paying what it is worth, a smaller portion, and I didn't even need my reading glasses to figure that one out. Oh yeah and when I opened my mail this afternoon was that I now had to pay more for health insurance as I had moved up to a new "older" bracket sheeeeshhhh!

The only time this week I have felt like a senior is when I fell down the stairs of my new employees home. I had gone up to check on my new little one. Another little guy, almost 3 years old, was standing at the bottom of the stairs watching me. The little one up stairs was asleep so I turned around and went to step down the stair and not so gracefully did a flying flop on my behind side and slid willy nilly to the bottom. I was laying there trying to not react to the pain in my butt and other places when a little voice popped up, "Nana! I have never seen you do that before! you went bumpety bump down the stairs!" As I lay there stunned and in pain I replied, "yeah well I hope you never see me do that again Louie!" Never fear! I am alive and well, just know that if you see me on my birthday I will be doing the little old lady walk due to various bruises and scrapes from the fall but not because I am turning 55!

How time flys....bzzzzzz

2008-05-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Wow here it is Memorial Day weekend. I can't believe that time is just going by so fast. I had a wonderful time visiting my daughter and SF.

Our hotel was not too far from the wharf. The trolleys ran by the hotel we stayed in. However it was five bucks a person to ride one. yowch in the pocket book. So we grabbed a city bus and in no time we arrived at Pier 39. Pier 39 is the happening place to go when visiting SF. It is like a glorified Pike's market except way more commercial.

My favorite part was the sea lions who hang out on the docks near the pier. Most of them were all laid out in the SF sunshine (with gale force winds LOL). However a few just seemed to want to bother everyone who was trying to get some rays. They would glide up to the dock and give the closest lounging sea lion a nip. Then the whole dock would erupt in a cacophony of loud bassoon braying from all the sea lions. One of the biggest ones (usually a male) would lunge at the intruder and bray him out of town. The renegade sea lion would then swim away to find another victim.

On another dock a very large sea lion was playing king of the mountain. Every time a sea lion would climb on it's dock there would be a shoving match and the intruding sea lion would be pushed back in the water. When we asked at the sea lion kiosk the guide said the sea lions were playing. (both times)

We had a great breakfast outing with my daughter. It was great to meet her partner once more. Unfortunately her partner had thrown her back out on the job and was in a lot of pain during out visit. ):

We want to go back and do some more sightseeing. L has never been there and this was such a short visit that we just didn't get to see very much.

Hugs to my daughter for picking us up at the airport and healing thoughts to her partner. I hope her back is all better.

This weekend L and I are going to Vancouver Canada. It will be a short over night trip and we have a whole list of places to visit. We won't get to see most of the sights but Vancouver is pretty close and I am sure we will return.

Mini vacation here I come

2008-04-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

This week end "Thursday" night I will climb into a plane with my gf and fly to SF. whoo hoo I need a vacation. I will bet to see my daughter and her latest sqeeze. I am hoping to see some sun, you know that bright yellow ball in the sky.

I still don't have another job yet although things are in the works. It' is so hard trying to get it all going again.

Poop on that I am going to have fun and forget all about it while I m gone.

If everyone is really really really nice to me, i might try to smuggle said sun back to Seattle. shhhh don't tell or every one would want it.

hahahahahaha I am writing this on ambien and tomorrow won't even know what I said here ......pretty much the story of my life at this moment...... but pretty funny in that wierd fun way.

Our new kitties will left at home. I have found someone to feed them. They are the cutest cats and so wonderful with the kids. Hopefully they aren't party cats and I will find them at home with all their friends raking the house with their nails, tuna cans in hand doing the macrena. I guess i will find out lol.

Two little kittens/no lost mittens!

2008-04-08T23:51:00.000-07:00

Ms. Chloie

Mr. Harold

wow it has been a long time since I posted. I am a cat mama now

I got two kitties, such sweeties. When we got the male cat his name was dukie. His sister's name is Chloie. First L, (who drove the cats to myhouse) told him what dukie means to a lot of people.

Then she asked him to tell her what he wanted to be called. He said "Harold". She laughed to her self about the name and had a hard time believeing a cat would want to be called Harold.

Later that night *I didn't know she had already asked* I asked the cat what he wanted to be called. He said "Harold" I too laughed and thought that he couldn't have really said Harold!

That night I said to my L, the cat said he wanted to be called "Harold". She said, "oh my god! that is what he told me too!" So he is harold. We went down and told him right away. It really helped calm him down.

His sister has just been spayed and is resting well. I am sure she will warm up once she feels better.

Mr. Harold playing with his favorite toy a bunch of gold ribbon.

Ms. Chloie watching her brother smooshing through the cat door. (I was tempted to call her Maude, (as in Harold and maude) but she gave me the cat death stare. So she will remain Chloie.)

Earlier this month I found out that I was losing a child from my day care this last month. His folks has gotten down to one bread winner and dad has decided to stay home with his little guy.

Then looking at my situation I realized that I am only making 6 bucks an hour per kid. Which really wasn't what the nanny share was about. I am working my bones to the nub with very little return.

So to make a long story short, there was a meeting called about something else and I decided to attend to ask for more money. Now I am losing another family who is unable to come up with the extra. I think it is fair considering that I was not even recieiving minium wage per employer.

Hopefully the search won't last past a month.

Happy news! My L. found an apartment about 10 min away from me. yah! We were driving 45 minutes twice a week or more to see each other.

What my name means

2008-02-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

This is a blog thing, I used my real name, which I don't use here on my blog for obvious reasons.
I think most people would agree that this fits me pretty much, except for the last line. I really don't consider mysefl a dominant personality. I don't know maybe I will have to ask my friends about that one, or not! LOL

WHAT MY NAME MEANS:

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.

A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.

Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

Sunshine in Seattle

2008-02-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

It is mild and sunny here in Seattle. So beautiful.

I can't believe that a month has passed since I last blogged. I spent about six weeks being ill with what I suspect was the flu (yes I got a flu shot but they say it was a different flu). Then it turned into pnuemonia. But I am well and feeling quite chipper once more.

I am beginning to look at my garden beds and think about planting once more. Not sure what but a sunny day makes one think about the possibilities of flowers and spring!

and.....even more snow.....

2008-01-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

This has certainly been a strange weather year here in Seattle! All week it has been very very cold, and everyday the weather people would bring us STORM WEATHER WATCH!!!! (that is exactly how they say it....)

However the weather didn't really cooperate and so I grew tired of all the chatter about the BIG STORM, so when they once more mentioned the POSSIBILITY OF SNOW, I think I yawned and I am sure I said, "yeah, yeah yeah, un huh sure."

Well when I woke up this morning I pulled up the blinds to see a winter wonderland. It finally snowed. I was surprised as I didn't really beleive it would happen. So tonight they are once more saying MORE SNOW, again one to three inches overnight. Well we shall see.

The kids and I went out this morning to play in the snow. They were amused when I threw snowballs at the garage and house. (They are too little for me to throw snowballs at them). We (I) built a small snow man in the back yard. I heard kids playing out front so I talked them into going out into the front yard. They happily played with the riding toys (which didn't go anywhere do to the thick snow) while I started to build a BIG snow man. One of the kids did help me push the snowballs around the yard a little bit. The kids got cold before I did so I had to quickly finish mr. snowman and take them in.

This afternoon there was hardly any snow left in the yard and I had remembered that I wanted to blog each time it snowed. Mr. snowman is still standing so I gave him a jaunty hat and a muffler. Some eyes made out of coal, (no not really) his features are little round plastic toys I had around the house. He looks a little sad, I think he knows his time is limited. Later I want to go add a few more on his mouth to make him smile.

Help I'm....m...e....l...t...i...n....g...........

SHOES!!!!

2008-01-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

I own many pairs of heels. All kinds, many sit in my shoe rack or in shoe boxes, bought for costume inhancement or for just that certain look when I dress up. I have never owned a pair of stillettos until now.

I really hadn't went out to buy them this weekend although I had thought that I would look "some time in the future".

We went out to go to the pet store, really just an innocent trip for cat food, when we happened on an adult store called lovers. On just a whim we pulled into the parking lot to check it out. I had been there once before or at least one like it. I was like a kid in the candy store, oh my, what femme treasures were to be had!!!

I thought they must have stillettos, they must! So off I went spying the shoes on display. Dare I, Yes I darest! lol. It was great fun trying them on. They even have names, I didn't know shoes had names. They are Penthouse shoes, and each one of the girly named shoes has a key on the back. The shoes I picked are called Jamie. They are black patent, with rhinestone buckles that fasten on the side or the front. I was totally happy when I found out they were 50 percent off...

oh my god...SHOES......

Of course I bought them. What girl could resist a pair of shoes like this??!!! Now I just have to learn to walk in them lol.

More snow!

2008-01-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

I am going to start calling this my snow blog. For the third time this fall/winter we have gotten snow. I am truly amazed. It snowed last night and then froze over night. I was sick so I didn't go out into it. I just now stepped outside to see how it looked and if it was thawing. This house tends to be in the shadows and although the other side of the street is pretty thawed (sidewalks) my side is still icy. I guess I will need to put out some sand if it doesn't thaw soon. Wouldn't want the mail man to fall down my stairs.

It is supposed to stay clear but very cold at night here in Seattle the next week. I hope it thaws out soon. Before night fall or I may have a weeks worth of frozen snow on my sidewalk!

I have been sick for over a week. Last Monday I came home all achy and ill feeling. I went to bed early and spent the next week nursing one humdinger of a cold. By Friday I thought I had beaten it.

My head was still stuffy on Saturday when I went to a Korean Spa. I figured that the heat rooms would clear up the last of the stuffy! (More on the spa a little later in this blog). However after a wonderful time at the spa I came home and started feeling icky again. My throat hurt, my sinus' was raging and I generally felt like I had been run over by a truck. Sunday morning I woke up feeling achy again and under the weather. By Sunday night I was much worse. My throat seemed to be hurting so bad that I could hardly swallow.

Then I realized that the last time I had a sinus infection it had also been accompanied by an ear infection and the pain I was feeling was an ear ache. So I started to use my naturopathic remedies to try and make things feel better. On Monday I went in to the ND and indeed had a sinus infection with lots of fluid on my ear. So she added a Chinese medicine, (the same one that worked the last time) and advised that I keep up the other naturopathic things I had started.

I have been off work for two days and it feels so weird. I rarely take a day off when sick. But I was really run down and pretty sick so this is probably good for me, no matter how strange it feels.

The Korean Spa

On Saturday I used a gift certificate for the Olympus spa for women. Oh my goddess, think Roman baths, so decadent. You check in and they hand you a cotton robe and funny little hair cap. You get a locker key for you items later in the locker room, you shoes are checked in at the entrance.

Then you enter the spa. You undress completely and put on the robe and hair cap. Then you have access to all these heated rooms. I chose the sand room. A hot room, 140 degrees, that has canvas over the heated sand. The lights are low, there is the sound of waves and pillows for your head on the floor. You lay down and position your body into the canvassed sand. hmmmm, so relaxing and the heat just seems to relax each muscle.

I had scheduled a body scrub and a body moisturizer. So the instructions said to soak for at least 30 minutes in the hot pools, either 97 or 104 degree. They have several pool spas, one is at 60 degrees. I entered the spa room, put my robe into the cubby, yes, you go in nude. However you don't feel too weird as everyone is nude with the exception of the silly caps. You really quit feeling self conscious after a few minutes.

I tried the 104 pool first whooeee hot. After about 15 minutes I got out and opted for the 97 degree pool, which felt oh so much cooler. You can also get out and use a mug wort rinse. It is mug wort heated water that you pour over your body. hmmm feels great.

After 30 minutes a woman called my number. She told me to wash my hair, all products are provided by the way. So I went and washed my hair. She came and got me and put me on a massage table. Basically arranging my body like I was a mannequin. Feet here, arms here etc. Then she poured wonderfully hot water over me and commenced to scrub with a scrubby pad. More rinse water, more scrubbing. Roll to one side, roll to other, lay on your stomach. Never have I been so clean!!! Then she had me go to the dry sauna, after a few minutes she came and got me. Then she coated my body with olive oil, milk and honey. On my face she put a cucumber mask. The scrub and the moisturizing treatment also feels like a massage at times. Afterward they tell you not to bathe or shower that day and to drink lots of water. My skin felt like baby skin all fresh pink, soft and glowing.

I will probably return, who can resist such pampering for long. Definitely worth the money (even though this time it was a gift certificate), I am willing to put out the moola for another such experience!

Zune

2008-01-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

I got a holiday bonus and took a while deciding on what to buy myself. I went to the store a few weeks ago and looked at Ipods. I talked with the sales person and finally decided on a Zune.

I am still figuring out how to put music on it as it doesn't come with a manual. You can go to their website and look things up but it isn't the same as having a manual in hand.

However, the music I have loaded on so far sounds awesome. Later I will buy a dock with speakers and have an endless supply of music on hand.

I am currently using a karaoke machine that loads one cd at a time. LOL I guess it is time to upgrade. However I am not giving up my karoke machine. (: I might want to sing some time.

Funny video

2008-01-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

This so funny and louder than all the noise makers at the New Year's Eve party I attended last night.

I want one! LOL

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1794722

Marshmellow guns and snow

2007-12-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

Marshmellow gun from my daughter in Ca.

Maja shoots Jere with my marshmellow gun. Ouch!!!! ahhhhh!!!! oooowwwwww!!!! Who knew marshmellows could sting like that. Jere after tasting yams with marshmellows. hmmm still doesn't like it.....how come? it's like pure sugar!
Snow flakes on our tongues!

Snow ball fight!!!!!

Michelle and happy the dog take a walk in the snow.

christmas snow

2007-12-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday everyone!

I got up around eight and people were still sleeping! hey wake up it's Christmas, me I woke every hour, excited that there were Christmas presents under the tree and in my stockings. Eight was the latest I could sleep in!

The dorky family picture lol

My son and his family are here, along with my friend, L and altogether we all opened up our stockings, lots of fun presents and candy.

Then we opened presents. So much fun seeing what we got. I got a cozy blanket from my son and his family that looks like it could be santa's blanket or if you fold it up and put it on your shoulders it could be my queenly robe lol.

I got a wonderful "green" woman from L. It is a version of green man but with a woman as the face.

My daughter in California had sent us all these wonderfully wrapped boxes, all the same. I couldn't for the life of me think what she bought that covered the ages of 4 through 54. Then later another box arrived that said "do not open until Christmas!" Now what's this? I thought.

Well we opened the boxes from my daughter and they were marshmellow guns! The extra box was the amunition, mini marshmellows! lol they shoot like a machine gun! We laughed and laughed. I got Jere while I was cooking he he he.

Jere cooked a ham, while I could the rest of the side dishes. While we were eating we looked up and it was snowing!

Jere doesn't like vegetables and we were trying to get him to taste the yams with marshmellows.

Snow on Christmas is so unheard of around here! At first it was light and then it got heavier and as I speak it is sticking and still snowing.

The forecast says chance of snow for next three days. L had to go home a little earlier than planned as she has cats at home and lives at the top of a very tall hill.

L and me.

My brother Santa Claus

2007-12-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

This last weekend I went to Portland to go to my annual family Christmas get together. There are a whole heck of a lot of us. We were at my brother's house. Everyone brings presents for just about everyone.

My mother started a tradition of giving us all paper bags filled with things like an oatmeal packet, hot chocolate packet, fruit snacks, various stocking stuffers and candies. We would be just heartbroken if we didn't get our little paper bag of goodies. Funny how little things like that mean so much.

Mama elf herself!

Now I don't tell everyone this but shhh...my brother is Santa Claus...yep each year he undergoes a metamorphosis...

Santa brother arriving with his big bag of toys.

HO HO HO HO HO

Doesn't he make a great Santa??

Well most of the time he does, lol! One year brother Santa had a little too much spiked hot chocolate. When it came time to begin giving out the presents my dear loving brother dressed as Santa to the nines, said to his son..."come mere you little bastard!" er....ummm....the collective intake of breath from every person in the room, took all the oxygen from the room! Mrs. Santa shot him a look that curled his beard and fried his eyebrows! To his chagrin, family story for years to come.

I even sat on brother Santa's lap this year, I'll have to scan the picture and put it on here. Anyway a fun time was had by all as usual.

Christmas in the air

2007-12-12T21:36:00.001-08:00

This weekend I will be headed for Portland to be with my crazy and wild family. I come from a very large family. I had a very large family myself and so did many of my siblings. Now our children are having children. So when we get together it is definately more than a houseful!

However we have so much fun together, we have a chance to catch up with each other and I get to see my mom, who is coming in from Arizona. Last time I saw her was in Aug. at the family reunion. I have missed seeing her.

Santa always arrives, usually someone's new boyfriend gets talked into being Santa, and all the kids get a present from "Santa".

It is always loud, people coming and going, babies crying, kids laughing or fighting but in the end it is great to be with family once more.

I can't wait to see my mom, brothers, sisters and assorted and often names forgotten relatives!

I have been making presents. Shhhh can't tell what it is....for people and wrapping presents like mad. Every available surface of my house is covered with some sort of craft project. I have been helping the little ones make presents for their parents. So glitter abounds everywhere.

I have yet to fill out the christmas cards I will take to portland but it will get done before friday, or like my mom I will be hiding out in a bedroom in Portland frantically filling out cards.....LOL You know it's true mom!

Next week will seem a little more quiet once this bit to do is done. I only have one child next week. Then my son and his family will be here for Christmas. I can't wait!

SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN!

Let it snow!

2007-12-02T13:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it snowed in Seattle. The forecast had been for snow but I always take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes they make a big deal of a weather system and then it passes right on by.

So I went out to a craft fair in my neighborhood. I wasn't sure what kind of craft fair it would be. Sometimes a craft fair consists of little old ladies and their doilies. However this craft fair was pretty awesome. Two whole buildings of hand made crafts. As usual my pocket book didn't match the wish of buying all that appealed to me.

However I had been looking for a winter hat. I found a great jester's type fleece hat of red and black that I just couldn't resist! My friend said it was just perfect. I wore it directly after buying it and I got lots of comments about how cute it looked on me. I am going to sew bells on it as soon as I get a few extra minutes. (:

I am going to my first holiday dinner party this afternoon. It is with my employers. I am baked brownies (gluten free) earlier and the whole house smells like chocolate. I am bringing some veggies and soon will go down and prepare them.

I guess the holidays have commenced!

Re: Cat Talking, Translation

2007-11-26T22:53:00.001-08:00

OMG so cute couldn't resist

Pink- get the party started

2007-11-26T18:49:00.001-08:00

love pink!

The next Rachel Ray????

2007-11-22T21:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! This was my first Thanksgiving after being diagnosed with food allergies. So I was worried how I would adapt my recipes for holiday cooking. I knew I couldn't use any foods with gluten, soy or cow's milk. So there went the traditional pumpkin pie, stuffing and mashed potatoes recipes.

I asked around and was given a recipe for a pumpkin type pudding with granola topping. The recipe contained some of the things I couldn't eat. But after looking at it I decided I could substitute. I went to a market that sells lots of gluten free foods. To replace the granola I decided to buy cashews, sunflower seeds, and pecans. It called for flour or soy flour, both of which I couldn't use. So the same person who gave me the recipe suggested chick pea flour as a substitute.

As for the stuffing I realized I could make cornbread stuffing if the corn bread contained no wheat/gluten products. So while I was at the market I looked for cornbread stuffing. However there was no already prepared cornbread stuffing without wheat. I knew that they had gluten free cornbread that is totally delicious so I figured I would buy it and crumble it up to make stuffing.

Instead of turkey I bought two Cornish game hens. Risley, was coming for Thanksgiving dinner. So I was a bit worried how she would feel about all this gluten free food. I didn't even know if my substitutions would work or how the dinner would taste. When I talked to her I could hear the doubt in her voice. LOL.

Here is the menu:

Pumpkin pudding (in place of pumpkin pie)

Cornish game hens (in place of turkey)

Cornbread stuffing (in place of bread stuffing)

yam (from scratch) with marshmallows (marshmallows made with fish gelatin not pork gelatin)

corn (canned)

mashed potatoes (from scratch)

gravy (from scratch) (the gravy was a last minute addition when Risley said she wanted gravy)

I am the kind of cook that cooks without measuring. I also had most of the ideas in my head for how I would substitute things. Hoping that it would all turn out okay.

For the pumpkin pudding I substituted goats milk for the cows milk. The rest was pretty much a pumpkin pie recipe without the crust of course. I baked it then prepared my substitute topping. I crushed up the cashews and pecans then added the sunflower seeds. It called for flour so I substituted the chick pea flour. It called for margarine and I substituted goat butter. Then I added the honey. When the pumpkin was almost done cooking I sprinkled on the crumbled mixture.

While that was cooking I started the yams and prepared the Cornish game hens for cooking. When the pumpkin pudding came out of the oven I put in the Cornish game hens.

I saved the Cornish game hen necks and threw them into a pot with water to boil while I started the stuffing, I crumbled the gluten free cornbread into a bowl. I diced up the onion, garlic, carrots and threw them in a pan with some goats butter and sauteed them. I then cut up mushrooms and threw them in the last few minutes. I took that mixture and tossed it into the bowl with the cornbread. I added an egg and some spices. Then took the broth of the Cornish game hens necks and added it to the mix. (sans necks!)

After that I put it in an oven proof bowl placed on the lid and put it aside to put in the oven with the Cornish game hens after the hens had cooked for about 30 minutes. I then got the yams off the stove, and made the marshmallow yams. 30 minutes into the hens cooking I put both the pot with the cornbread stuffing and the yams into the oven next to the hen pan.

I threw on the potatoes to boil while the rest cooked. (When I made the mashed potatoes I used goat milk and the goat butter. )

Meanwhile Risley wandered into the kitchen and asked about gravy. Umm I had honestly not thought about gravy. So I said, "Well I don't know how it will taste but I will give it a try with the chick pea flour." She shook her head, and I could tell she still had her doubts even though the kitchen was filled with delicious cooking smells.

To make this long story short, I made the gravy using the drippings of the Cornish game hens, corn starch and chick pea flour.

The stuffing and yams finished before the hens. I pulled them out and placed them on the counter. Risley came in attracted by the smells coming out of the kitchen. She grabbed a spoon and decided to taste the stuffing. She was delighted, I hadn't tasted the stuffing yet so she gave me a taste. OMG it was delicious!!! We preceded to test the pumpkin pudding, yum! She tasted the gravy which I had not yet added all the drippings. We both agreed that the drippings would make a difference, which indeed it did turn it into excellent gravy.

It was a really delicious dinner and Risley admitted that she had indeed been thinking that the only thing edible would be the Cornish game hens.

Me, I feel like Rachel Ray.

A day of cleaning and rearranging

2007-11-17T21:49:00.000-08:00

Today I spent the day rearranging my bedroom. I have been meaning to do it now for a while. My bed was located under a window and as it grew colder outside there was a noticeable draft on my head.

So this morning I got up and commenced to moving furniture. As usual the moving of the furniture took some creative thought. I had to move my dresser and vanity which were being used as a wall for my office. It's an upstairs attic room and right in the middle is a chimney. So I used those two things to divide my bedroom area from my office area.

Without those two things making the wall I had to come up with another idea. So I remembered I had a tension rod in the basement and I had left over sari material. So I bought those little doohickeys that hold a rod in the closet and nailed them between my office hutch and the wall. Then I inserted the pole and hung the saris. Looks pretty dang good for a spur of the moment solution.

However I thought it would take a few hours and it actually took all day long. Partly I think because I also cleaned and organized my office area. But the results are definitely worth it! Tomorrow I plan to tackle the guest room.

These pictures are like a panoramic view of my room if you were to walk into it. The first picture would be to your right.

This is where I originally had the dresser and vanity as the wall divider. The item you see draped over the sari curtain is a costume piece. It is an awkward item to display and store. This actually is a good place for it and I was happy that it worked.
This is the center wall and where I placed the bed. The blue fabric over the head board is actually a pair of wings for a costume. Just thought they might look cool there. (: The cool mirror was already there and so I didn't move it at all.

Here is the window where the bed used to be. I loved having the bed right under the window but even though the window is a storm window there still was a draft coming through. Now the window is an open space. Some how moving the bed opened up the room. Not something I expected at all. But it sure looks nice. This last picture would be to your left. I placed the vanity at an angle not sure if I like it that way for sure but will leave it and decide later if I should move it. The black on the floor at the end of the bed is a lambs wool rug. The long white expanse of wall is over a baseboard heater. Nothing can go near the heater but I hope to find a way to decorate the wall. Perhaps some rectangle mirrors or pictures. I'll think of something. After all the work I took a nice long bubble bath. Wow can't wait to go to bed and sleep in my "new" bedroom. Hopefully I won't wake up in the night and stumble on something in the dark. LOL.

Oh the dresser went to the office area next to one I already had there. Funny, I went to find my jammies and walked right past it and looked in the old spot. I am sure it will take me a while to get used to the new set up.

If I were a Wizard, this would be my wand

2007-11-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

Wood type: undefined
Length: 11½ inches
Core: Dragon Heartstring

get your own wand!

my little passion flowerl mmmmmm

2007-11-16T23:46:00.000-08:00

Your Heart Is Red

You're a passionate lover - you always have a huge fire in your heart.
Too bad it's hard for you to be passionate about just one person!

Your flirting style: Outgoing and sexy

Your lucky first date: Drinks and dancing

Your dream lover: Is both stable and intense

What you bring to relationships: Honesty

What Color Heart Do You Have?

Shopping healthy

2007-11-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

I have went a whole week without eating gluten, soy and milk products. I am past the body reaction to eating like this. I am actually feeling pretty healthy.

What I am finding out is that it is expensive to eat like this. As I shop I have my reading glasses on hand to read the ingredients list. Even gluten free items often have soy or dairy products in them, so I have to put them back. Everything except for the rice tends to be expensive, only the high price upper class food stores here carry the things I can eat. I can't just walk into a general food store and expect to find rice tortillas that don't taste like cardboard.

I have replaced the beef with chicken, buffalo, lamb and fish. I am not a fish fan so it is hard to find fish I like. I replaced cheese made with cows milk to cheese made with goats cheese, butter with goats butter, and am trying goats milk instead of cows milk. Not sure if goat products will replace cow products as my son was allergic to goats milk when he was a baby and I worry I might be too. They don't specifically test for goat milk allergy. So I am being cautious. I tried almond milk and rice milk but don't really like either too much.

I find what I really miss is sweets. I can find all kinds of chips like items to replace the crunchy things but it is really hard to find sweets that don't have gluten, soy or milk products. urrgghh. When I do they don't always tastes so good. I did go to a party this summer that had a chocolate fudge volcano cake that was sooo delicious and it was gluten free. I need to ask that friend for the recipe!

I have lost two pounds eating this way, which is a bonus. I have several light medical conditions which will improve if I lose 10 to 20 pounds so I don't mind that side affect. LOL, if I cheat on this diet I feel bad, so the incentive is to stick with it. I was able to turn down angel food cake, my favorite cake, without too much qualms. Amazing!

After two weeks of eating like this my doc said I could start adding things back in. But I feel so well I am not sure I want too.

Today I am at my Cedarflame's house. She had surgery on Friday, they sent her home yesterday! She is doing quite well for having had major surgery two days ago.

We'll know she is on the mend once more when she starts blogging lol

Lord of the Rings Parody - Jack Black

2007-11-07T18:40:00.001-08:00

Oh my gosh this is sooo very funny. Couldn't resist putting it on my blog.

Say What?

2007-11-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

I changed doctors last month and have been having lots of test. Mainly just cuz I haven't had a physical for along while and mainly because of my age. I guess after 50 they add a few on just for fun times. (not)

Anyway I have been plagued with sinusitus now for a long while. So my doctor suggested going off gluten. yeah well the whole world is made up of glueten I discovered. lol. So I have been trying very hard to do exactly that. It's been a gradual process, with well, cheating in between. Even though I am not one hundred percent gluten free at this moment my body is reacting as though I am kicking a drug. Achey joints, tired, headachey, the blahs. I have even had a ganglion cyst flare up in my wrist. When I told the doctor she was not surprised and said lots of people have that reaction to going off gluten. Who knew!

She also suggested an allergy blood test, so I had that done. It says I am severly allergic to milk, no big surprise as I have had reactions to milk since I was a child. However that didn't stop me from having ice cream and yougurt. I also was drinking lactose free milk. She said that it is just not the lactose I am allergic too. So I need to quit all milk products.
Since I knew milk would come up I switched to soy milk and soy products. However the test said I am allergic to soybean. YIKES, what a surprise! so here I was loading up on soy. So no soy milk but she said tofu would be fine. I am also allergic a little bit to egg white, pork, mustard and corn. But she said not to worry about those they were slight and I could eat eggs if I didn't scrable them. Something about the scrambling releases what ever I reactic to into the eggs.

Now here is the kicker, I am allergic to beef at the same level as I am allergic to soybean. Say What!!!??? I didn't know you could be allergic to meat.
This really really is going to be a hard one for me. Not that I sit and eat tons of beef but I love once in a while to have a steak nice and rare! I mean I crave it!! Partly I think due to my slight anemia but I tend to be a vampiric type of person, and since I can't go around biting someone well.... a good steak has to do. I can see giving up hamburger but steak....aaackkkkk.
Someday my friends will find me lurking around the meat counter, like some kind of meat junkie, just staring at the beautiful red juicy steaks laying in orderly rows in the glass case and craving.. craving...craving....wanting... wanting.... craving..gotta have it...

Then as the store closes they'll be dragging me out the door my hands waving widly in the drection of the glass case.I will be raving about those perfect steaks just waiting to be grilled to that perfection of rare, the blood oozing, the meat tender and flavorful in my mouth. sigh....Will I be able to resist steak? STay tuned, news at 11 lol.

At least it didn't say I was allergic to chocolate that would have been a deal breaker!!!
My blood test also said I was pre diabetic. Not terribly high but enough that my doctor said to go light on the carbs. Well that should be easy enough as I can't eat gluten.

Gosh, a few test and I have to change my eating habits in a pretty major way. I am working on it, really I am. Now I think I will go and eat my no gluten carob cookies I bought the other day.

wow already the end of oct???!!!!

2007-10-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that my last post was on the 1st of Oct. My how time flies. Tomorrow it will be Halloween. One of my favorite holidays. I don't have big plans this year. I decorated the porch and will take pictures. It is pretty tame for me. But I do have plans to put my pirate skeleton in the window and use a strobe light behind him. Not sure how it will look, as it is just a plan in my head, will find out tomorrow night. buhahahahaha. Next year perhaps I will go all out.

I make costumes, pretty fancy ones at times, but this year I am going to be either a dino from the flintsones or a mouse for my two year olds. They want me to be a dino, I want to be a mouse. LOL I brought up both costumes from the basement.

If I have time I will change to greet the trick or treaters but I don't think I will have time to change to any other costume as it will be getting dark when the kids get picked up.

I had a scare in the middle of the month. I wanted to find a doctor near where I live now. So I found a naturopathic doctor and went in. She asked me a few questions and when I said I had been having bad indigestion she decided due to my age to give me a EKG. I wasn't to worried about it right then as I push 2 year olds around in strollers and pick them up and put them down all day long. But when I returned the next week she said I needed to see a cardiologist as the specialist who looked at the EKG said I should have further test. I got more worried when she said I needed to do it right away. So she referred me to the cardiologist. They ran another EKG and it showed that there was an irregularity, a possibility that I had had a heart attack in the past, WTF!!!

Now I wasn't scared until they showed me the blip on the second EKG. How could this be I thought! Then when he asked when I could come back for more test I said "oh next week sometime would be best" and he said, "no I mean in the next two days." Now I was really scared. But everyone I know here was saying impossible, you can't do what you do and have a problem with your heart. Still it was nerve wracking just to think there could be a problem.

So I went in for the tests a few days after that. Well to make a long story short, no problems showed up. In fact they told me I had the heart of a 29 year old when I took the treadmill test. LOL wonder if she wants it back???

We had strange weather a few weeks back. We had a big thunder and lightning storm. It hailed so hard the kids thought it was snow as it covered everything. We had fun watching it fall and when it quit I ran outside and got some hail in bowls for the kids to play with. Later that day there was a beautiful rainbow. I didn't think to get a picture of the hail right after it fell but hours later when we saw the rainbow I did grab my camera. I got a picture of the left over hail and the rainbow.

It seems colder this year here in Seattle or I am feeling colder, not sure which. It will be interesting to see how the weather goes this year. This week it has been very sunny but chilly. Lovely weather for playing outside for the kiddies.

Well as usual it is past my bedtime. I always aim to go to bed early and I never make it until after 11 pm. dang. well nite nite all.

squirrel wars

2007-10-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well the pest people came out to check out the critter problem. Seems they aren't in the attic but rather in the back porch eaves. No way to set any traps. They basically said to wait until night, pound on the back porch ceiling and then when they run out seal the two holes.

So the landlady says her handyman is going to seal the holes. Ihope he gets the squrriels out first. (He isn't such a good handyman, having alreadybotched almost every job he has done.) So I am a little concerned that he might seal the squirrels up in the porch by accident.

I got a new camera last month and have been trying it out. I took these pictures at the farm the kids and I visit once a week.

One of my families added a new baby girl to their family today, Happy Birthday little Sissy! I can't wait to see you (:

Twirl-A-Squirrel, with music

2007-09-23T00:10:00.001-07:00

Think it would work on my squrriels?

Squirrels in the attic

2007-09-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

There are squirrels in my attic! lol no!!no!! I am not referring to my normal crazy state of mind but to real squirrels that are having wild squirrel sex parites in my attic and who knows what else.

I had a friend stay over in my spare bedroom and when she got up the next day she said you got some kind of animals in your wall. So I went to listen and sure enough in the closet where the roof slants down I heard them scampering around and making mew like noises.
I have also spied them dancing on the roof and then freezing when they see me as if "not doin nutting nope aint me" and casually sauntering away and, I swear, whistling as they go the other direction.

I think they just removed the "for rent" sign and moved in recently. Now when I get up at 6 am and I flip on the light, I can hear them run across my ceiling from one side to the other. hmm I guess I am their human alarm clock.

I wonder what they think about my choice of radio stations on my alarm clock. Do you think they would enjoy alvin and the chipmonks better. (giggle) Do they get out their little pirate squirrel bandanas and put them when my Phone alarm (my second, now it is really time to get up. alarm) plays the theme "the black pearl" from the pirates of the c.?

Then I got this wierd thought that maybe it is like that movie called "The Others". Lol the kid squirrel says to the mom squirrel, "mommy I think there is SOMEONE ELSE" here. Squirrel mommy says "It's not nice to make up stories go sit on the stairs and read your little squirrel bible until you can tell the truth"

So maybe I am that other "ghost person" and to them the house is haunted! lol Sorry sometimes my imagination gets carried away.

Seriously though I am having some pest control folks come on Tuesday to trap them and take them some place very very very far away. A squirrel kidnap scene.

Hopefully they won't find their way back and invite their friends over wild party to pay me back.

Tomatoes, Tomatoes Tomatoes

2007-09-15T21:39:00.001-07:00

I worked 12 days in a row and this is the first weekend no working. I had a nice movie date on friday with Cedarflame, 3:10 to Yuma, and then we had dinner. Not a bad western and it was worth going to see.

Today, I opened my fridge determined to do something with tons of tomatoes one of my employers gave me. You see this year he started a garden plot. He planted lots of tomatoes, not realizing how over run he would become with tomatoes once they came in. So in desperation he has been doling them out to everyone he could think of including me.

So I think to myself that I will make salsa out of all those little cherry tomatoes. Meanwhile, Cedarflame has commandeered the playstation and is on a rampage being Tommy on vice city liberty stories.

I tell her I am going to find a recipe for salsa on line and do something with all those tomatoes, she grunts a butch "yes" and goes back to her game. I in the meanwhile download a recipe for salsa that can be frozen for up to six months.

I had a large bowl of cherry tomatoes and another quart bag full. I think wow this will make lots of salsa. I read that I need to get rid of the skin of the tomatos and the way to do it is to pour boiling water over them and then plunge them into ice water. so I start boiling water, and make a bowl of ice water. Then I start chopping up the rest of the ingredients, onion, garlic, several varieties of sweet peppers and thow them in a fry pan with some olive oil.

Mean while the tea kettle whistles indicating that the hot water is ready. So I pour the water over the tomatoes, run and stir the stuff in the fry pan and in a minute go back and plunge the tomatoes into the ice water.

Now my vision is that the skins will magically float to the top of the water and I will throw the naked defenseless tomatoes into the blender, a quick one, two, three.
However it wasn't so easy, So I start pinching off little tomatoes skins and throwing the naked tomatoes into the blender and find that at least half have not decided to undress that easily.

So I run stir my pan, throw some more water in the kettle and then go to the cupboard for the rest of the spices for my salsa. I add them in and stir a few stirs more. Umm smelling good, enough so that Cedarflame comes wandering in to see what's up in the kitchen. By then the water is once more boiling and I throw more water over the already tortured tomatoes and induce them, by means of plunging them in ice water, to shed their skins.

Cedarlame watches as I use the blender to basically puree them, with a few comments like, "hey dont'cha have a pulse on this thing?", me, "Nope don't think so",

She checks it out, "hmm doesn't look like it", I throw in the chopped cilatro and annilate a few more tomatoes until the blender is full.

Then she decides to go check her email, saying that she is thinking about heading home, and wanders back out of the kitchen while I pour the whole concoction into the pan that I have been stirring.

The kitchen is filled with the most delicious aroma. Wow I think to myself this stuff smells really good. I let it boil per instructions and then turn the stove down to simmer and turn on my timer for 15 minutes.

After about five minutes I take a taste, OH MY GOD THIS IS THE BEST SALSA I HAVE EVER TASTED! Cedarflame is returning to the kitchen and I say, "Come here, you have got to taste this!" She takes a taste and looks at me, "you got stuff to make burritos?" Her plans to go home thwarted by the wonderful taste of the salsa!

I look at her, she looks at me, the only thing I have is flour tortilla's and a can of black beans. The black beans I can puree. So she hands me money with orders to go get the rest. I put her in charge of turning off the burner when the timer rings and hurry off to the store.

I hurry to the store, grab grated cheese, corn chips, lettuce, and ground beef. Get back home and together work on making the fixin's for a burrito feast. (Now don't tell anyone but Cedarflame had cleaned up some of my mess from cooking while I was gone.)shhhhhh it's a secret lol.

That was the best burrito feast! I don't think this salsa will see the freezer, by the time we got done I had a quart left. It may or may not be there by the end of the week. lol I think I am going to ask my boss for more tomatoes!

2007-09-04T22:51:00.001-07:00

What color is your soul painted?

Blue

Your soul is painted the color blue, which embodies the characteristics of peace, patience, understanding, health, tranquility, protection, spiritual awareness, unity, harmony, calmness, coolness, confidence, dependability, loyalty, idealism, tackiness, and wisdom. Blue is the color of the element Water, and is symbolic of the ocean, sleep, twilight, and the sky.

Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

Sunny Seattle

2007-08-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today is a warm sunny day in Seattle. I have been very busy and have had lots of adventures. I had my family reunion and also took one of my little charges to the Pt. Defiance Zoo in Tacoma.

It was such a nice day I took the kids to a new place called Golden Gardens, that i had meant all summer to go to. It is a very nice beach off the sound. We had fun playing in the sand, getting our feet wet, brrrrr, and having lunch there.

Whoops I thought I could fix them right side up lol. Well you get the gist of it all. Sunny skies, water and a beach what more could one want!

2007-07-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

Summer part II

2007-07-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

It is sunny again here in Seattle. I love this neighborhood! The other day we had our annual seafair parade. It has one of the feels of an old time parade. Kids in drill teams, important people, who I have no idea who they are, in cars, and the best part the seafair pirates. Who ride around on a pirate ship and shoot a cannon every few blocks. They good naturedly harass the crowd as they go by. Afterward I walked the four blocks home(: I am so happy to have moved here.

Seafair Pirates

I am going to Portland to a family reunion and hope that it is sunny there as well. It is a pretty big shindig. Relatives flying in from all over the USA. It will be nice to see them.

Yesterday I went to see Capt. Bogg and Salty, a pirate band with the little ones. I love pirates and pirate bands. They were at the Seattle Central Library,which is the biggest library I have ever been in . However being with the little ones meant I couldn't explore the whole library and we pretty much stayed in the Children's section. I plan to go back to explore for myself one day. However I will take a bus! It cost eight bucks to park in the library's garage.

What really toasted my oats was that there were parking places that were labeled small, as in small car, what was parked there were SUVS! There was one parking spot left and the SUV was parked over the line, oh duh, SMALL CAR SPACE! I have a little Scion so I squeezed it into the spot and gingerly and literally squeezed the kids and I out of my car. None of my doors could open fully. I parked there as I didn't want to park on a downtown seattle street with two two year olds in tow. So I felt like I didn't have a big choice of not taking the space.

When we came out and I squeezed us all back in, the owner of the SUV came back too. For one thing it was ONE LADY, no kids no passengers. If I had been the fighting kind I would have said something about her parking her big ass car in a small car space. But instead I just gave her the evil eye and cussed her out in my mind.

Seattle Central Library.

The nice thing about yesterday was that when I got home Cedarflame had made dinner. A really delicious New York steak. corn on the cob, all on the barbe. With a side of sweet potato. She's a great cook. Afterward we went and bought some lime ice cream and key lime drink mix and had a lime ice cream slushie. mmmmmm Thanks Cedarflame!

Well I will post pics and more news about the reunion when I return. Have a great weekend all.

I always steal this stuff from Cedarflame lol

2007-07-16T19:28:00.001-07:00

$6175.00

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

I agree I am smooshie and cute!

2007-07-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Gummy Bears

You may be smooshie and taste unnatural, but you're so darn cute.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

flame on! cedarflame!~lol

2007-07-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as a housewarming gift Cedarflame gifted me with a barbecue. We went to lunch and she said go get one. Now she was thinking of one like hers. It folds up and rolls around, lol but not when lit!

So off I went looking. Now the one she bought must have been on sale cuz as I looked I couldn't find one like hers at a reasonable price. Hers was already put together and so she thought that would be a easy one for me to get, no assembly needed. But I hate spending someone else's money even if it is a gift and so I went off looking for a better deal. (I hear you mumbling Cedarflame....mumble....damn femme...mumble...can't just get the easiest one....mumble).

So I found a nice one for less and bought it. However it had to be assembled and I had invited Cedarflame over for a steak barbecue and I hadn't went shopping for food yet. So I went and got some nice steaks, portabellas and some corn, yadda yadda yadda. Went home and Cedarflame found me finishing up the assembly when she came by after work. So she helped finish the assembly and decided of course to do the honors of starting the Barbey.

Now you can see why she is called Cedarflame lol.

However once the flames died down we had a lovely barbecue. She says on a scale of one to ten it was an eight. That reminds me somewhere I have Hawaiian barbecue chips. yummm

Now I have been a busy girl and painted my bathroom on Thursday. Last night I put it all back together. Here are the before and after pictures.

I seem to have lots of energy. Today I had a great day, helped move some furniture around so that Cedarflame could put in her air conditioner, we went garage saleing, I washed my car, cleaned the car windows, cleaned the dashboard, washed the children's play house and climbing structure and put a comforter in the wash. Oh yeah and blogged.

whew makes me tired just to type it. lol not really. But I suppose a nice bath will be in order now just to top off a really nice and productive day.

Vacation

2007-07-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

A friend pointed out that it had been along time since I had blogged. So I thought I would post pics of my "vacation". It is more of a spiritual renewal than a vacation. I go to a Sundance each year at this time. It is located in eastern washington in desert country.

I take my tent and camping gear and go for a little over a week depending on when I decide to come back. But usually I return on the morning of the fourth of July. However this time I came home on the third at the ungodly hour of 1 am.

The reason for this is that when you go to Sundance you are on Indian time. I think it works like this

two or three hours=one hour

So if you say you will leave in an hour you probably are not going to leave until much later, LOL in this case it was quite a few hours later. Like all day later. First of all there is the feast, then the raffle, then the give away. After that you spend quite a while walking all over a very large area of land to say goodbye to folks. I ended up waiting for a friend who wanted to do a ceremony before leaving. So I helped another friend pack. (I had gotten all packed that morning before the feast.) By the time it was all said and done I left at 8 pm. I have a four hour drive back. But all in all it always feels strange to return to the mundane after having spiritual ceremonies for a week.

So I thought I would include a pic of my tent. It is actually in my back yard in this pic. I had just gotten it off ebay and wanted to make sure I could put it up by myself.

These pictures are what the area looks like. It is desert and full of hills, sagebrush, and not too much more. Although where I camped did have trees in some areas, scrub brush trees mostly. It is a camp ground so the land was more spread out and a bit flattter. Although there is a hilly feel to it and most of the tents sat on a slanted hill side.

This area is called Selah. I actually camped in Goldendale washington but it pretty much looks the same. I stopped at a rest stop and took this picture when I got pretty close to my destination. This is called the Selah Cliffs. The bridge is a memorial bridge, I think it was called the Fred Hutchinson Memorial bridge.

The next picture is at the end of the Sundance with some friends. I have to admit I look better than I thought I would. LOL It is a hot and dusty camp out. For spiritual reasons we use as little water as we can except for drinking purposes. So what you can't see in the pic is that my ankles are filthy with dust. At night I used a cleansing wipes before I got into my sleeping bag but after a while the grime just settles in.

I saw a really cute weasel while I was there. It was red and running through the prarie grass. It poked it's head under the canopy tarp and looked at us. Then it scampered to the other end of the tarp and look at us there, then it ran away. Later I found it had rummaged through the garbage sack in camp. What a weasel! LOL. I didn't take this picture as I didn't have my camera out. Found it on the internet. Isn't he cute!

I woke up this morning and decided that I am going to paint my bathroom. When I left for Sundance the landlady had her handyman come in to paint the ceiling of the bathroom. He is not the best handyman in the world and for what ever reason he painted all the walls but two. So I have this bright white paint everywhere else and this flat dirty paint in the other places. Sigh, I wonder what she pays this guy to do this stuff. I have yet to have him do anything well. I wish I was a bit more handy myself. So I will paint over the white with the blue I have on hand because if I don't I will be looking everyday at a crappy painting job and mumbling in disgust. Might as well save me the mumbling LOL. Lucky for me it is a small bathroom and won't take long, well unless I am on Indian time. (:

I will post the before and after pics when I am through.

I'm superman!

2007-05-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		90%
Batman		80%
Wonder Woman		80%
Supergirl		75%
Spider-Man		60%
Robin		55%
Hulk		50%
Green Lantern		50%
Iron Man		50%
The Flash		45%
Catwoman		20%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

New Home Sweet Home

2007-05-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

So I am in my new place and the boxes are unpacked. I love it here. I wake up like Snow White in the forest to the chirping of birds. The neighbors are friendly and we wave at each other and say hi. The kids play outside. This is a picture of my house on the outside. I have planted some flowers but it needs some more TLC. So I will be doing some more on the outside.

This is my front room/dining room. It was painted a dark blue. This is a picture of the dining room side.

So I had to prime the all the walls. This is the living room part with the stairs leading to my bedroom upstairs.

This is the dining room now. The color is sage green although depending on the time of day when the sun is shinning it sometimes looks blue.

This is part of the upstairs room. It houses my bedroom and office. This part is my bedroom. I didn't have to prime it at all. The color I chose was a teal and I thought I would try an accent wall. It took three coats of paint to get the teal to look right. I didn't realize that a dark color takes so many coats. So it pretty much will be an accent wall I am not into that much painting LOL.

After picture...It turned out great. I am still decorating it so it is a project that will be on going.

This is the other side of the bedroom. My office is divided by the bureaus and the desk. Behind this is a huge closet and another small closet. This is a big room.

I still have the kitchen to finish. I started painting it, ran out of paint and went to the paint store. I took the old can of paint with me so they could match it. But when I got home it was orange not the mardi gra gold I wanted for the kitchen. I ran out of time to get to the paint store and will take it back. Hopefully they will fix the problem and I can finish the kitchen. On my list to paint is the bathroom, the hall way to the bathroom and the spare room.

I love this house and this neighborhood. Tonight there was an art walk on the main street. It was great. This neighborhood puts on lots of community events and is so friendly. I am truly happy here.

Goodbye Sheba

2007-03-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

Today I did a really hard thing. I took my kitty back to where I got her. I love having an animal. But she was getting so aggressive that I was starting to feel nervous around her.

Ever since I got her she has tended to bite. I tried to train her out of it but I never knew when she would reach up and bite me. She did pretty good for a while but within the last three weeks she bit me twice. Once she was on my lap and I was talking to a friend on my cell I had my arm up playing with my hair and she bit my forearm and then scampered away. The last time was last Sunday. I had one of my little charges over and the little one was playing on the floor with toys. Sheba kept laying on the toys and several times I removed her. Then she tried to jump over my arm and do it again and I put up my arm to bar her from doing it. She bit me and dashed away.

I love animals but not ones that bite. It was the last straw, and I worried that someday she would bite one of the kids or my grandkids. She wasn't predictable at all and I never knew what would provoke a bite.

So today I started to pack up her stuff. She looked at me as if she knew what was coming and I took a very long time doing it. It was hard and emotional. I at least knew that where I was taking her would be safe and they would find her a new home. I had been told by the kitty foster mom that I could bring her back if for any reason I couldn't keep her. Finally I just figured I would have to do it. I tried not to think too hard about it as it brought tears to my eyes. Yes she was a bitchy cat but I still loved her, I am just tired of the biting.

So I drove her over to the shelter where her foster mom worked. I was worried that they would tell me what a terrible pet owner I was and how I should keep her no matter what. But they were sympathetic and seemed to understand how hard it was for me. I filled out the forms, they called her foster mom, I gave them all her stuff and quickly left, crying as I drove. I almost ran a red light because I was upset. I miss her already.

I asked them if they would ever let me get another kitty because I had returned her and they said it would be ok. I am not going to do it at this time as I am moving and right now another kitty won't replace the ache in my heart.

I love you Sheba and wish you luck finding a new home.