Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Let the SUn shine...Let the sun Shine IN!!

You know those little constellations of Kitty snot that your cats leave all over the windows? You know how hard it is to clean off? you know after leaving it up there all summer, fall and winter? (Yea, yea, yea, you neatniks) You know those phantom rain drop spots all over the outside of the windows? You know, the ones that you wipe off, and then when it all dries you see those spots again? THe ones that you can NOT get off no matter how hard you scrub?

Well Leslie tried a magical new product on her bathroom shower doors, that worked miracles, so after wiping the windows over and over again, BOING it hits me....MR. CLEANS MAGIC ERASER I used it on the nose prints, and poof! off they went, So I take it outside to the raindrops and VOILA!!! clean, sparkling clean windows, no lint!!! no streaks, just clean!!!

So clean that Loki actualy tried to jump THROUGH the "open" window!! He bounced back onto the floor, leaving yet another nose print splattered on the marvelously clean window!! I took care of it.

I did all of this for Brenda. I am trying to get a really close picture of a male hummngbird, at the feeder, and in all of the pictures, the nose prints were blinking at me, and the hummingbird was blurry through them. So it's all Brenda's fault...some friend huh? ( :-)

Angel for CJ

THis is the picture of CJ's Pocket Angel that Phyllis sent to her. She carries it with her, so We will too. Please feel free to copy it and put it on your blog for CJ.



Tuesday, March 30, 2004

24 hrs later

It is amazing the difference 24 hours will make in the weather. Right now the wind is blowing, and the temperature is hovering around 44 degrees. THe rain is falling pretty heavily. Sadie is NOT wanting to go out side to pee. I had to catch her and throw her out. Even Lint does not want to go out.

I have been working on my scrapbook all afternoon. I am trying to get all of my retirement pictures mounted and labeled. THen there will be the playhouse pictures, then on to the odds and ends I have been carrying around for years. I lazed in bed for quite a while this morning. I could not sleep last night. Woke up about 5 times. Dreaming really bizarre dreams, most of them I can not remember. I did dream about Work though. YUCK!!! I dont ever want to go back to that stress!! I also have been waking up with a very very dry mouth! so dry my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

I woke up late, about 930, and just laid there listening to the birds. I heard the Swainsons Thrush for the first time this year! I was afraid they were not going to come back. Last year I only heard them 1 time, and every other year I heard them first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. I am glad to hear it again. The Doves are pairing up for nesting. It is so funny to watch those foolish males, puff up their chests and coo their song and try to mount the female. SHe will just hop away, and then he has to gather his pride and toddle after her and try again. SHe will turn around and peck at him and then he will start all over. Youd think they would get tired of trying.

THe black headed grosbeaks are due back anytime. The hummers are really draining the feeders now, most of the femaels are back and staking out their territories.

I am just about finished with my pile of books to read, guess I will have to hit Amazon.com again and stock up. I dont think that any of my favorite authors have any new ones out though. I have read all of
NOra ROberts
Sandra Brown
Barbara Delinsky
Nevada Barr
up through L of whats her name
Catherine COulter
J A Jance
Elizabeth Lowell
Kathleen Skye Moody
Dana Stabenow
Sue Henry
Lillian Jackson Braun
And I need # 2 of Tony Hillerman so I can start his series.
ANd it is about time for Nicholas Evans to come out with a new book.
THe same for Diane Mott Davidson

I could start on Janet Evanovich I have not read her at all yet.

OH The sun just popped out! OUCH!! it is so bright and intense when it is about ready to go down and is shining under the dark gray clouds, and the grass is so green it hurts your eyes. We do live in a beautiful part of the world. I wish you all could see it.

I tend to

Monday, March 29, 2004

Pictures of Spring!



I tease my kitties, only one of them is allowed outside, and that is Lint, who was raised outside. The others all have flat noses from banging into the windows after the birds. THe Birds have a hoot teasing them too.



I moved Bea's cage outside and sat it on the grass, and she LOVED it,. I could not let her loose out there because Sadie would have pounced all over her. As it was they layed out there together all afternoon. Nose to Nose!! They love each other.



Bill, THis is what I mean about my WIsteria. It is Just staring to bud out. It'll be mid May before it is in full flower.



My Peach Trees have finally all popped into bloom. Hopefully the bad weather we are expecting will not kill the new fruit coming up. It had really good peaches last year.



This is what I have to look forward to. If I can ever get out there and do it without my eyes running and my breathing compromised. soon, real soon,



And this is the sad sad life that my son's cat Lint has, rolling around on the sun warmed deck, and moving into the shade when he gets too hot, and then back to the sun. AHHH the life of animals in Mary Lou's house. Poor babies.

We hit record breaking weather today. got up into the mid 80's which for us is quite the feat in March. But we are expecting a low pressure center to come ashore tonight, which will bring rain, cold and wind. AHHHHHH Spring in the Pacific Northwest!!! Pollen, heat, sleet, cold, sun, wind, rain, would not live any where else.

Except maybe North from here. BC or Alberta or ALaska.


Record breaker!!

It has hit 75 degrees so far, broke a record, and it is just noon!!!! I was out in the backyard taking pictures of all the blossoms and the green grass, and Sadie and Bea. I even put the Ol' Umbrella up!! The sun was way to intense . I am on all kinds of meds that tell you to stay out of the sun. (Heat stroke occurs) So I sat with my head in the shade and waited camera ready for a hummer to stop on the feeder so I could get a better shot for Brenda.

I decided today would be an excellent time to air out Beas cage, so I pull it outside, took the tray off the bottom and sat the cage right on the grass. I thought that there was better grass under the peach tree so I picked up the cage and headed for the trees. Tripped in a rabbit hole and fell flat on my face!! Poor Bea was flumoxed!! right on my sore knee,. I lay there trying to see if I broke anything, and Sadie is bouncing around between me and Bea going Cool!!! Someone to play with.

Sadie and Bea have not been separated all morning. I can't let Bea out, because Sadie plays too rough for her, but they are laying their nose to nose through the wire, communicating as only dogs and rabbits do. The shade is helping Bea, and Bea is helping Sadie, and Lint just lays there on the hot deck...Yeah my animals all have it so rough!! Loki and Chitters want out in the worst way, but Chitters would be on the roof in a heartbeat, and Loki would hide under the deck. Ethel is too much of a chicken to go out side. She just finds a sunny window and stays there.

I have so much to do to the yard, but I just can't get to it. I want it to do itself. I sat out there for 1 whole hour and coughed and sneezed and my eyes ran. so it's back inside where I can look out the window at Bea and Sadie!! I Do so Love Spring!!! Achoo!!! (Sorry)...

Sunday, March 28, 2004

Fresh!!!

After that post last night about cleaning…I FORGOT TO TURN ON THE OVEN!!! So I have it cooking away right now. Stinks to high heaven!! But the stove will be clean again. It is a sad state of affairs when you have a self-cleaning oven and all you have to do is turn a knob and flip a switch and your oven CLEANS ITSELF, and you don’t. I have no idea why I don’t I just don’t!! I hate housework!!! I expect the house to stay spotlessly clean all by itself. I have 6 animals in here and me and Donna, so why should it get DIRTY? PHHHFFTTTT!!!!

New subject: I just got out of a nice hot steamy shower, washed my hair, and scrubbed down the walls of the shower with the magic Mr Clean Eraser,. Works SOOO much better when you use a cleaner with it. Anyway…I also used my foo-foo body stuff…Donna got it for me for My Birthday, and it is WONDERFUL!!!! I teeny tiny little bitty bit of it on a scrubby poof and you have lathery smelly good stuff all over your body!! It is called Patchouli Bath and Shower Gel, from a company called L’Occitane. I gather this is only sold in a few little boutique stores, but they have all sorts of things. Donna uses the Honey stuff which smells just like you dipped yourself in fresh warm honey. (I don’t care for it, I’m afraid the bees will like me too much) I have the Lemon Verbena, which is Wonderful first thing in the morning when you want to wake up fast. I also have Lavendar which is great for nitetime showers, It relaxes you, and then the Patchouli, for whenever. I love this stuff!!! It is so much nicer than Bath and Body Works which I also like. But this lathers so nicely, and the aroma stays with you. It is quite spendy though. I think An 8 ounce bottle is 20.00 or so, but People, It lasts forever!!! It only takes a drop or two on a poof. Seriously!! Try it. L’occitane.com
They have a wonderful website, and they ship direct. They also have a listing of where their products can be found. Try IT!!! You’ll LOVE it.

Saturday, March 27, 2004

Saturday....

I actually have time to sit in front of my computer. Donna went home for the weekend, took Bandit dog back home. The Dr told her she could keep her arm out of her sling except when she slept, so she can drive over the top no problem. It is hard to maneuver I-90, I-405 interchange with only one arm. She will be back on Monday night. Since She and I share my computer, I blog during the day, she has it at night. I told her to bring her computer home and have another phone line installed, but she is afraid that Bill would get very insecure if she took her 'puter.

I have been carrying around a load of newspapers and plastic bottles and cardboard boxes in the back of my car for about two months. I need to take it to the dump. So today Bob came over, and I loaded his truck with all of the boxes around the house, and the extra trash bags, and the newspapers stacked by the door, basically any odd bit of trash. Got it all to the dump, and Bob went on his way. I called Phyllis and we met in Oak Harbor to go to Costco.

Guess what is STILL In the back of my car? Yep, all the same trash and newspapers I had before. Cleaned out the yard, house, and garage, FORGOT THE FREAKIN CAR!!! So we took her car to Mt Vernon to Costco. Gads.

My brother had come over and mowed the yard while I was gone, and put Sadie in the house, so she would not escape. BUT he left her there!! this was the first time she has been left alone for more than a few minutes, and she was pretty good. did not tear up anything, but she pooped in front of the back door! So she is house trained MOSTLY! darn! I thought we had all that behind us! Guess not!

I am hooked on this stupid paint program. I have got to be able to master it soon!!! I cant wait until Kat posts all of these on the refridgerator door!!

I need to go get the kitchen cleaned. I have oven cleaner gooped all over the top of the stove. I have a self cleaning oven, but stuff burns around the burner, and I need to get that off. I also need to turn on the oven so it will clean. funny how that works...

Friday, March 26, 2004

Blathering on!

Ok...I doubt if I will make much sense out of all the muddle in my mind but I will try...

I was incredibly HURT by something that was written about me to the board of directors of the playhouse. I will not get into the details, but I was betrayed...I will not get a play this coming season. Nevermind that GODSPELL! Was the highest money maker this season; Never mind that every member of the same board told me personally that I did a fantastic job. Never mind that the majority of the cast LOVED me. 1 member said that I was terrible, should never have been given a musical, made her forget her lines and because of that AFTER the show closed, she wrote the letter. The Board discussed it and decided that I should not get a show until I have more experience. Now This person wrote it ANONYMOUSLY!! I can't believe the BOD actually gave it some credence. As a body they all gave the letter some thought. BUT they all came to me and said I was wronged! SO GIVE ME A FREAKIN PLAY!!! I am pretty sure I know who this person is, and if I am right, she was not originally selected for the part, but I called her back because two other people dropped out. Guess who got my play!!!!! yep!! I am so MAD! I have stewed and stewed over it, and it just took all of the glow out of doing GODSPELL. I was walking on air I was so pumped. The cast was fantastic and I made sure they knew that. I never took credit for the job they did. My first thought was to just not go back. But I have to. It is the only thing I have right now/

Which brings me to my second downer. I have no play to prepare for right now, so this whole next year's calendar is BLANK! I have things to do, so I should not be bored, but I don't feel like I have a purpose in life right now. I have no job, I have no play, I have no plans, I have no money to get my knees and back fixed, I have nothing to push me.

My kids are grown, so I am basically out of their lives...I really have no input. So why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? Where am I supposed to go? What am I to believe in?

I am questioning so much right now. Politics is one of them...Right now I am actually thinking of NOT voting for president, so that I can sit back and bitch just like everybody else does. Why are we always pushed into choosing between the lesser of two evils, instead of voting in the BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB! Why can't we write in the name of who we think would be good? I would have voted for Howard Dean I believe. I will not vote for John Kerry!! I do not trust the man. I have something in the back of my head from a long time ago, that I can not find, that makes me feel this way. I think He is dishonest and evil. George W. Bush is not for women's rights, and he is pushing the religion button just a tad too much for me. I have stated before that Government has NO BUSINESS in our religions nor our Bedrooms!! I do not think that a constitutional amendment against same sex marriages should be considered. It is none of the governments business who you marry.

I am also tired to death of people tearing down HEROES. I am talking about anybody that you admire, as your own hero. It is as if they are jealous of what the other person has, so therefore the other person is a crook! I am talking here about Martha Stewart. I love Her, Her Show, Her products, Her magazine. and If she did lie she is NOT the first person to have done so. If she is guilty of lying do like you have done for every other celebrity, slap her hand! She has been punished enough! She personally has LOST millions and not just from the sale of Imclone. The publicity has killed the stock value of MSO, and in doing that thousands of other people have lost also. I think that the judge should sentence her to just community service, helping out in a women's shelter, or hiring unemployed homemakers to work in her company. Mentor a displaced homemaker, help one start their own business. I think Martha has been punished enough, whether she is truly guilty or not.

I am also questioning my faith. I have been for some time. I just can not believe that a forgiving GOD allows people to kill other people in HIS name! We all believe in the same GOD, we just don't agree in the Messiah! I talk to my Lord every single day, and he does answer me. He just does not tell me who the true Messiah is. Maybe they are all the same. Maybe he had to send them down differently so that different cultures would have someone to believe in.

All of this has been affecting my moods, and my mind... I barked at Donna over something little. She left her clothes laying on the floor in her bedroom, and Loki once again, peed on them. He hates her for some reason, and pees on anything she owns. Her luggage, her rug in the bathroom, the dirty laundry on the floor, her shopping bags. I have asked her to keep her room picked up and the door closed. It happened again last night!! Loki does not do that anywhere else, just on Donnas stuff.

Now I realize that choosing a president , believing in God and my cat peeing are not all on the same level to any of you, but when they all are on your mind, it just takes a spark to blow, and I did! She may move out tomorrow, I don't know, but she will have a devil of a time finding a place that costs as little as she is paying here. ( yes I am mean, I do charge her rent..But not very much at all)

So I have been sitting her for an hour blathering on and on, but at least now I have it all off my chest. Thanks for listening, I feel sooo much better....

Thursday, March 25, 2004

100 THings you always wanted to know about me but were afraid to ask.

has been posted correctly this time under my links to the right,. Just under John's name. I have had it ready for quite awhile, just did not know quite how to get it up there. I played with Dreamweaver for about three months, and changed it several times, but finally Carl sent me the code, and I whapped it up there. I need to change the color of the yellow, but that can wait I think.

I have been having a ton of fun trying to learn Kats paint program. She is so good with it. She needs to copyright a cartoon of her life in Calgary. I swear it would be a hit! Who would have thought that a Dentist in Winnipeg would make a ton of money writting about her family? Well, I'm not sure she is the dentist or her husband is, but FOR BETTER OR FOR WORse is the funniest comic around, and I know Kat's could be just as good once the word got out.

I am the big bad BITCH tonight. I yelled at Donna, and now she is mad at me. I feel bad, but when you have two females under one roof, one or the other spits. I did. She didnt like it. This too shall pass I hope, Because I really like having the company and she cant afford a place of her own right now. I have been trying to come to grips with a few things that have happened to me lately, and I just might get it out here. Not tonight, but soon. It has really affected my moods and my blood pressure.

I just needed to stew about it for awhile.

OOPS!!

Well obviously I screwed something up in putting my 100 things on here. Well I will try again later. Sorry...

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Daylight Savings Time

I was reading a blog from Scotland (Colin) and he mentioned that they turned their clocks ahead this Sunday, when I got to thinking about it I wondered if The whole world did it differently or what? So I goggled it...


When we change our clocks
Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April. Time reverts to standard time at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time.

In the European Union, Summer Time begins and ends at 1 am Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time). It starts the last Sunday in March, and ends the last Sunday in October. In the EU, all time zones change at the same moment.

> See more information about elsewhere in the world.


Spring forward, Fall back

During DST, clocks are turned forward an hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

United States European Union

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Year DST Begins
at 2 a.m. DST Ends
at 2 a.m. Summertime
period begins
at 1 a.m. UT Summertime
period ends
at 1 a.m. UT
2000 April 2 October 29 March 26 October 29
2001 April 1 October 28 March 25 October 28
2002 April 7 October 27 March 31 October 27
2003 April 6 October 26 March 30 October 26
2004 April 4 October 31 March 28 October 31
2005 April 3 October 30 March 27 October 30
2006 April 2 October 29 March 26 October 29
2007 April 1 October 28 March 25 October 28
2008 April 6 October 26 March 30 October 26




Now See there, You learned something new again today!

HMMMMMMMMM!!!!

just got this in an email from a friend. Anybody know if there is any truth in this? Truth only please, no vituperous rants.

The Republicans of Citrus County, Florida ask fellow Americans not to purchase Heinz products until every production facility of the H. J. Heinz Co. is relocated back to the U.S.

Democrat presidential candidate Kerry has made an enormous campaign issue of the loss of American jobs to foreign countries, yet his wife's company is one of the big offenders.

A total of 57 Heinz plants are located overseas, while only 28 are located on American soil!

As the saying goes, "If you're going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk."

Don't buy Heinz products. Put Kerry in a pickle.

Please forward to everyone on your email list.

Ask them to contact each media outlet in their local areas!

Don't allow John Kerry to get away with this.

Monday, March 22, 2004

tonites funny

After his death, Osama bin Laden was greeted by George
Washington, who proceeded to slap him across the face
and yelled at him, "How dare you try to destroy the
nation I helped conceive!"

Patrick Henry approached and punched Osama in the nose
and shouted," You wanted to end our liberties but you failed."

James Madison entered, kicked Osama in the groin and
said, " This is why I allowed our government to
provide for the common defense!"

Thomas Jefferson came in and proceeded to beat Osama
many times with a long cane and said, "It was evil men
like you that provided me the inspiration to pen the
Declaration of Independence!".

These beatings and thrashings continued as John
Rudolph, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans
came in and unleashed their anger on the Muslim
terrorist leader.

As Osama lay bleeding and writhing in unbearable pain
an Angel appeared.

Bin Laden wept in pain and said to the Angel, "This is
not what you promised me."

The Angel replied, "I told you there would be 72
Virginians waiting for you in heaven. What did you
think I said?"

My First Drawing...

OK Ms. Special K got me started on this drawing stuff. I have had paint in my computer, but never had I ever played with it before because I CAN NOT DRAW. And this proves it, but last night, I said why not try. It's a hoot!!! I sat here at 1:00 AM drawing this stupid self-portrait and hooting my head off. SOBER!!!!



Go ahead, You all have it, try it, Let's see if anybody out there is better than Kat. I know I am NOT!

Sunday, March 21, 2004

I'm On a roll...

Billy Penn from Wigan has two aunties who run a pie shop in the middle of the town. They have a big notice in the window outlining the prices for every pie in the shop.

Why would this make a great musical?

another quiz!!

bamboo
You are bamboo.
Warm, cozy, and thoughtful, you take your time and
enjoy how things feel, smell, and taste. You
love the craft and beauty of traditional
things, and you value the comfort and
experience of knitting as much as the results.
But while you are reveling in your warm cozies,
don't get stuck. Warm is wonderful, but so is
the whole wide world!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Found this over at Desert Knitters place. I would link you to her, but I lost the address, ansd I got it off bloggers recent posts. I'll keep checking...

New Camera

I have a new Sony Cybershot DSC-P10 Camera. A 5.0 megapixel digital one. and It is really cool. BUT I cant figure out how to get the pictures from the mega new Memory Stick Pro 256 MB. You have to use the camera to download it to the computer, Unlike the regular memorystick that comes with the camera. I have a Sony Vaio computer, and it has a slot for memory sticks, BUT not the new ones.

So I get out the manual and read how I have to hook up the camera to the AC/cord, then the USB cord to the Camera Then to the Computer. Oh and download this program that comes with the camera. It is called Image Transfer. It looks cool enough, but then I cant figure out how to get the pictures I took from that program into MY PICTURES so that I can download them onto my blog.

Why in Hell don't they make things like this really really simple to use? Why do they assume that if you have a digital camera that you are a PC wizard? I will be able to figure this out, but I know that Phyllis never would. Donna could, but all she spouts is "Read the manual Mom, That's why they print them!" Humph!

The whole bone of contention is the new type of memory stick that I ordered to go with the camera. It came with a 36 MB stick, but with 5.0 megapixels, it only holds 12 pictures. I can make the picture less megapixels and it will hold more, but then why pay all that for the camera?

Right now I have the manual on my desk, the camera on my desk and two pair of glasses on my desk. I need my glasses to see the computer at times, and I need the readers to see the teeny tiny writing on the camera. This is gonna be fun folks until I figure all of this crap out!

I went out driving into the Skagit Valley today because it was so nice. I wanted to see the daffodil fields all in bloom and buy a big bunch of flowers. Unfortunately every body in NW Washington had the same idea. So traffic was horrendous, and there were no cut flowers to buy. I was really bummed. Every place that there was a good picture, there were thousands of people in the way, and no place to park.

I even went over Deception Pass bridge planning on getting out and taking some pictures for you, BUT the line of cars was 1/4 mile on either side of the Bridge. So much for that.

You can tell that people are ready for Spring...This was the first weekend that the tempurature was over 60 and the sun was out. Filtered, but out!

It must have been opening day today too, as you could walk across Pass Lake on all the boats!! Unually there is only three or four belly boats on the lake. Guess I had better get my tackle box cleaned out, Throw away all the old stale marshmallows. Throw away the old Potskees salmon eggs, get new hooks and line and new salmon eggs and the new bait scented marshmallows. OH GADS and dont forget the license!! I really need to get back into fishing the lakes and rivers again, I miss it. Don't even know where my hip boots are!!! They probably got commandeered by a SON!! OK< I have his pole and tackle box. HEH!!!

FIxed it..

I think...sorry 'bout that...I forgot the www. How come sometimes you have to use it and other times you don't? I know soooo little about this....

Saturday, March 20, 2004

A Candle in the WIndow for Our Troops(or it WAS)

So THERE!!! I don't want to get into a political argument on who is right and who is wrong. I just wanted to show support for our Military men over seas.

So I'll just take the damned link down!!!

SPRING!!!!

It is a BEEEUUUUTIFULLL!!!! day. The sun is shining warmly through the window, the birds are chirping at the feeders, the sound of lawnmowers permeates the neighborhood. I plan on getting out and doing SOMETHING in the yard. It may be just sit and watch Bob stack wood!! (if he shows up) I really need to find my flower bed out front. It is sooo badly overgrown. One of the BAD things about living in the Pac NW is that the weather is very conducive to year-round growing. Not flowers, but WEEDS!! They THRIVE!!! So I need to get out there and get the thistles out before they take over the grass again. I almost wish I could just let it go back to nature, but then the Himalayian Blackberry bushes would Take over the house!!! They are Washington's KUDZU!! No kidding! The berries are wonderful!! But the plant is extremely invasive.

A note to any of you that may have sent me an email yesterday. Please resend!!! Sadie Bin Laden chased Loki under the desk and unplugged the computer just as I was receiving email, and I lost EVERYTHING!!! ARRRGGGHHH!! I was hoping to hear from some of you and saw that you had indeed responded, but I didn't get to read them WAH!!

SO send them again PLEASE!!!

Friday, March 19, 2004

Mother's Quilt

In 1932 when my mother was 9 years old, she lived with her older sister in Amarillo, Texas. This was during the time when most of the farmers were or going broke. Since there was no such thing as Television, Little girls had to learn to do things around the house. One of the things they all learned was needlework. My mother was excellent at any type of needlework there was. She even embroidered quilt squares on old flour sacks. Re-cycling was a necessity, not a statement. THese old Muslin squares were hidden in an old box for years until they were discovered when my Aunt died. Mother had embroidered these 20 squares, and appliqued little Sunbonnet Sues made from her own old dresses. All of the stitches were done by her little hand, no machine was used. The stitches are perfect, and even the back of the squares was perfect. I however will have mother rolling over in her plastic box at the bottom of the pacific ocean...I am using a machine!!!!



I decided that I would finish these squares, and put them into a quilt top and then into a quilt. The problem was trying to decide how to connect them together so that it didnt look too modern. All of the material I found was too bright, too new to go with the muted patterns of her old dresses. One day while wandering in an old store in Fallon, Nevada, I ran into a tiny print of calico flowers, which had all of the colors that were in The Squares. I bought it and Now I am in the process of connecting these squares to form the quilt top.



I cut all of the strips to the measurments of the squares, BUT I forgot about the centers where the strips all meet. Once I had connected them I found the "hole" in the center. OK, all is not lost, I found some material the same color as the muslin background, and I am making SQUARES to cover the HOLEs in the middle. :-) Am I not smart? I also will put a plain colored border around it all and then make the binding out of the calico flowered print. THe back is a nice soft baby flannel in the same beige color as the rest.



By next week, I will have the top finished, then all I will have left is putting the batting on and then the backing, and then the binding. After that is all done comes the really hard part!!! The quilting!!!!! I may opt out for the traditional tie in the middle of the corners, with just a simple quilt stitch around the girl.

I am really excited about finishing this. It has been over 72 years in the making, and It is so beautiful that it needs to be used and enjoyed. I remember the warm Comforting feeling I had when I was all hunkered down under an old quilt we girls had on the bed. OH WAIT!! That was Phyllis wetting the bed!!!

HELP!!!!!!

Anybody out there know how to remove a stuck floppy from your disk drive? I cant turn the 'puter off until I get this disk out!! WAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! If I call the Computer Clinic, It will cost me a minimum of 50.00!!! HELP!!!

Rants...sorry

What is a bloggie? How do you win? Why would you want to? How do you enter? Who votes? I have seen several sites where they have said they were entered and were up against So and So. But I have never seen where you would vote, or rather who the winners were. Nor the criteria for winning. Is this something new that I missed somewhere? Huh! Obviously I am not awake when I log on...

THe news last night said that there is another fisherman missing, this time it is on the next island up, in Padilla Bay. THe boat was found, going in circles with the motor still running, so obviously he hadn't been gone way too long unless he has a honking big gas tank. Another man missing over the side. THis is another example of why men need to be trained to KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS!!!! I swear, Women have to hold it until we get back to the dock, why do men think that all they have to do is yank it out, stand up and pee over the side? HEY DICK!! HERE"S ANOTHER DARWIN ENTRY!!!! Why do they think that just because they CAN that they SHOULD! Why should I care? I dunno, maybe because I have a rotten back right now, and I have to pull myself up and make it to the bathroom, and figure out how to sit and then HOW TO GET UP!! Maybe I'm jealous.

I woke up in the middle of the night again last nite, I kept hearing the blood curddling screams DOnna emitted when she fell. Can Mom's get PTS Syndrome? SHe has not hurt herself like that in 36 years, why do I think she is gonna do it again? She won't I am sure, but I keep hearing that screech, and the vile words!!! and the panic!! Why can't Moms be like animal moms...shoo their kids out of their nest and forget they exist? God wouldn't that be GREAT? no worries that they will get hurt, no worries that they will make wrong life choices, no worries that they will get in trouble. Lordy the world would be much more peaceful.

I realize that I may be ranting here, and I don't do nearly as good a job of it as Ms KATrina does, but I feel oh so much better now thank you...think I'll go get another cup of coffe and then think about what I REALLY want to write about. I'll be back....(scary huh)

Thursday, March 18, 2004

Late night Ramblings

I am wide awake...It is 2:15AM I can not get to sleep. so Since I finished reading my book Ske Kathleen Moody's new book Medusa, I thought I should get my ass out of bed and come in here and post something maybe squinting at the monitor will make me sleepy.

THe wind is roaring through the alders out back, and since they are in full fertility with their little catkins popping pollen all through the air, my eyes are burning like Hell. I sleep with my head practically stuck out the open window 365 nights a year. That is the only way I can breathe. I can not stand breathing warm air. SO I will just have to live with the itchy eyes until pollen is through pollening. Next come the firs and the cedars, but I dont think they bother me as much as the alders do.

On the news last night was a bit about an 80 yr old man who was over due from a fishing trip. They found his boat going in circles just off of Port Townsend, no sign of him. When they do find him, (and they eventually will find Parts of him) I will wager that his zipper is unzipped. The majority of men who die in drowning accidents in our waters do so because they fell overboard while taking a pee. He either had a heart attack bringing in a fish, or fell over board peeing.

I went down to the beach today with my brand spanking new camera, and took shots of where this man fell in, so you will see how vast it really is. The tide was on its way out, so more beach is showing than usual.



This is looking West across Admiralty Inlet towards Port Townsend in the far distance.



This is looking down Island towards the entrance to Puget Sound.

Needless to say I do not want to be beach combing anywhere around there until his body is found. The tide rushes through the Straight into Admiralty Inlet and circles around the Inlet and then goes back out to sea through the Straight of Juan de Fuca. So he will more than likely either wash up on this beach or hopefully over on the Kitsap Penninsula Side. With all the crabs in the water and all the fish, finding people whole is almost impossible. It aint a pretty sight at all, I think I will stay away for a few weeks.

It is a lovely beach to walk on though. You can walk for miles and miles on rocks and driftwood, No sand here.

As I left the beach I went down the spit road past the beach houses and ran into a flock of the local tame geese. THe females were rather shy, but mr Goose himself wanted his picture taken in the worst way. He really wanted some bread which I did not have with me. Sadie really wanted HIM!



These geese were turned loose by my father over 35 years ago, before this became a development. THere are fresh water ponds and a lake, and they thrived!!! They get thinned out every year by the bastards that bought their $300,000 homes right on the beach right where the geese live and poop. They think the geese are pests, and want them all destroyed. Most of us like the geese and ducks, so thinning is what happens. I think if you are dumb enough to buy your property where there are wild animals, then YOU should be the one thinned!! I LIKE the wildlife, Even the mangy old Coyote in the woods. I am responsible...I keep MY pets in the yard or the house.

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

another stupid quiz!!






what's your inner flower?


[c] sugardew

scrabble anyone?

Pholph's Scrabble Generator

My Scrabble© Score is: 32.
What is your score? Get it here.

Punny

Stolen Shamelessly from Denny, who got it from Robert.

An Indian chief had three wives. The first gave birth to a boy. Elated,
the chief built her a teepee of deer hide. The second gave birth, also
to a boy. He built her a teepee of antelope hide. The third wife gave
birth a few days later, but the chief kept the details secret. He built
this one a two-story teepee, made of hippopotamus hide. No one could
guess what had happened. Finally, a brave guessed the third wife had
had twin boys. "Correct," said the chief. "How did you know?" Said the
warrior, "It's elementary. The value of the squaw of the hippopotamus
is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides."

Which Founding Father are you?

Oh dear, I forgot where I got this from...That's what I get for posting last. Oh well,


Monday, March 15, 2004

And How do you blog?

As I was making my daily rounds this morning, I noticed that some of you are up at the crack of dawn post your daily writings and get on with your day. Some of you are making comments before you even post on your own blog.

That is what I do. I turn on the 'puter, go make a pot of coffee click on my blog to read the comments ya'll have left then I go over to the side bart and click on Phyllis, then start reading. I click from my favorites sometimes, and click from your blog rolls the others. WHat I don't know is what is the PROPER way to do it? Am I stealing bandwidth (whatever the heck that is) by clicking on your blogroll?

Another thing I notice is that I NEVER show up on your referral lists...hmmmm, I go there, I really do...

I also notice that I have missed several of you for a few weeks. As you remember I re-arranged your names, and in so doing, I misplaced some of you. So I am playing with names again. I have you all listed in my favorites and that is what I use to blogwalk. Now somehow I hit a button which arranged all of my favaorites in alphabetical order. thus I lost some of you. Not LOST just misplaced. Now I think I have every body back to where they are sposed to be, and If I dont show up on your blog for awhile let me know....

I also have blogs I only read once a week or so, because that is how often they are updated. (None of yours of course)

How do you blog? do you open blogger first and then post as you go? DO you read first then post? DO you Post first then read? Do you compose on word then post ?

After a year, I have a routine, but Since it takes me almost 2 hours to read everyone, I am wondering what the best way is. Leslie seems to post comments on the entire blogsphere every day, PLUS post daily and take care of Carl. Wanda gets into all the political ones. Some of you post from work, How do you get away with it?

Just curious. I know there is no right or wrong way to do this, but there might be a BETTER way...I'm listening...

Saturday, March 13, 2004

Signs of Spring...

This week has had several gorgeous spring days. Sunshine, cold, clouds scuttling by, birds chirping, Hummingbirds appearing morte and more. SOon I will have to fill all the feeders every day. No small feat this!! I will have 10 hummingbird feeders that I will have to keep fresh. I will have two feeders to fill with seed, 5 suet feeders for the woodpeckers and chickadees, two platform feeders for the doves, juncos, black-headed grosbeaks, and two more platform feeders for the ground dwellers, the spotted towhees and the quail. I have been thinking about buying grubs for the robins, and thrush, but that is a bit overboard for me.

Spring has also brought out the mice and the snakes. When ever I let Sadie in the house now, I have to stop her and open her mouth to see what pressies she is bringing MOmmie now. Today she brought me not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 dead mice...



I put them on the feeder tray for the owls or hawks. Im hoping the barred owl will come pig out on them. I love to listen to them hoot at night. The woods are full of birds of all kinds, so someone of them will probably partake of the carcasses. If they are still there tomorrow I will throw them over the fence.

As I was walking around the yard looking for more Sadie -kill, I took a few pictures of the trees getting ready to pop their blossoms. THe neighboring plum tree is in full bloom already. YUMMY, they are so sweet and good, and hang over onto MY SIDE!!! Yay!!!



My peach tree is rerady to pop open also, and the Daffodils are ready. I LOVE SPRING!! ACHOOOOOOO!!!! (sorry)
THe tree Pollen was reading dangerously high for those with allergies, but has dropped considerably now. ACHOOOOOO!!! (so they say, sorry)

Update on Chemystery's shoulder.

Donna is much better now...humble as hell...and grateful for the Lortabs. Man that must have HURT!!! even the Dr said sometimes it's easier to break it than dislocate it. She takes her arm out of the sling twice a day and does the full range of motion movement, and it isn't hurting her. She has to keep the swaddling sling on for 6 weeks though, to give the muscles time to get back into shape. I could not believe it when I saw the top of her shoulder poking up under the skin of the top of her boob! YUCKY!!!

She is left handed, and of course she hurt her left arm. Go figure. She is going to try to go back to work on Monday. driving will be a trick, but She'll be ok. Her boss sent her a bunch of flowers which really surprised her. SHe has a really good boss. And He thinks the world of her and her work, so I guess He wants to keep her happy. Too bad her husband didnt send any though. (prick that he can be). Oh did I say that?

I have not been in an emergency room with one of my Kids in many many years, and Trust me, the mothering instinct does not go away with age. I was so scared when I heard her screaming. Gut-wrenching feelings are not good for you! I am the type of person that does great during an emergency. I am calm, I joke, I can handle blood and guts. UNTIL I know that the crisis is over, and everybody is safe, and then I fall apart! I don't cry, but I shake inside and out, and need to sleep.

She is up right now trying to do some washing. I asked if she needed help and she said NO , I have to learn how to get things done. Stubborn Kid, I would have let her have today. Now Tomorrow.....

Thursday, March 11, 2004

E.R.

Yesterday was such a glorious day!! The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky and I had a dentist appointment and couldn't play! Got through with the dentist and then wandered up to the Coupeville cemetery to take some Mountain pictures. Unfortunately the haze was keeping the mountains from showing up the way I wanted. I had plans for this morning...Wake up early, felt the wonderful warm sun hitting my face, breathing in icy cold air and laid there listening for the hummingbirds to buzz up to the feeders.

SON OF A BITCH!!! GOD DAMNED SHITTING ASS HELL!! FUCK!! FUCK!! FUCK!! SHIT!! SHIT!! MOTHER OF GOD DAMN IT!!
SCREAM!!

Oh says I, this does not sound good. I snapped awake, and stumbled into the Living room where the vulgarities were originating from. DONNA!! DONNA!! ARE YOU OK!!! I CANT GET MY EYES OPEN WHERE ARE YOU!!!??

Another Scream, then an I'm Ok Mom. By this time I have the eyes pried open, and see her laying on the floor, face down, with her left arm under her. She has twisted her ankle going to the door, and fell. I touch her and she screams. She says she has dis-located her shoulder.

Ok, On ER they just pull and it pops back in. NOT!!! One does Not touch Donna when she is hurting. She yells at you.

I finally realized I was not going to be able to get her up off the floor without hurting her further and myself also. So I for the first time in my life, Call 911. Nice Lady!!! My voice was croaking it's morning froggy voice, so the poor lady thinks I am hysterical. I am not, but she was very nice while she got the address. (I thought they had those automatically) And then told me to keep her comfortable until the paramedics got here.

Donna was going shocky on me so I covered her up and waited for the fire dept to get here. My entire family is involved in the fire dept. (or was until they all retired) so We know everybody.

15 minutes later Joe shows up and followed by the engine and three more medics then the ambulance.

Now I have to tell you, that I stopped by Leslie's blog first before I posted this, hoping to get some calming, relaxing information, only to find out Carl has fallen and is hurt. Leslie said that Carl managed to keep his sense of humor through it all. A different cut of cloth is my daughter. PAIN means I AM A BITCH STAY AWAY!! I warned them all!! She does not suffer fools gladly, and does not see the need to ask the same questions over and over again, and proceeded to tell them so. I warned them again, and said that she was normally a really nice person. They don't believe me.

I get her in the ambulance and I follow over in Bobs truck because he is taking a friend to Seattle in My car. I have never driven his new truck. It just would not go...Kept stalling at the stops. It is a stick shift which I can drive no problem, But it also had a little lite on the dash saying BRAKE! Where? I cant see where? It isn't there. I drive for 5 miles and then I reach under the dash thinking that I will either flip the hood open or release a brake.

It is amazing how easy the truck drives when the brakes are all off. DUH!!

Back to the emergency room...Get there and she is cussing a blue streak at the admitting clerks. 2 Nurses are looking at me and rolling their eyes...OH! Too late. I explained her vocabulary and said that once she was no longer in pain she would be really nice. They didn't believe me either.

Had problems getting an IV in her, Had problems finding a vein, could not sedate her until they found a vein, needed X-rays, and she is in horrible pain through all of this.

Finally got the Vein, and sedatives, got the xrays, no broken bones but her shoulder was poking out her boob in front. EEEOOOOOO!!!! The Dr then ordered the conscious sedation, and when she was no longer in pain, he took her arm and pulled it up and in, did not take 10 seconds to fix. I was so disappointed!! I was expecting a big POP...CRACK ahhhh
nope, just went right back in. She did not feel a thing, and was immediately the nice sweet young thing I knew she could be. Her husband called, and asked if she was sedated yet, and when I said yes, he said oh good then she isn't yelling at them any more huh? We all laughed.

So now my nice warm sunshiny day is clouding over, my dear darling daughter is now sleeping soundly with her swaddling sling wrapped around her body keeping her immobile, and drugs! Nice Knock you out drugs,. She is quiet. She is safe now, she is pain free now, and her mommie is now a wreck!!!

So now it is time to go blog walking and see how all my friends are. I need to see how Merikate is doing after her surgery, and make sure her granny is ok, I need to go back and apologize to Leslie for laughing. I need to make sure CJ is ok, and then I can go visit the rest of my friends and get lost in their worlds for awhile.

Been a hell of a day...

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

another dumb quiz!!!

Dern ol' CJ posted this quiz today... Since it was about cats I had to do it.

Grin!
The Cheshire Cat! You're a sly cat who grins on the
outside, but schemes on the inside. Even your
best friends don't realize that you may
actually be their worst enemy!


What kind of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Obviously she did not float away in all the rain.

Beating Leslie!!

LOLOL Everytime I see a cute picture come up I save it into a file, and when I am having brain farts (eating those beans of Kats) I will pull one up and post it. This morning Leslie once again beat me to the punch and posted one of my ace in the holes. So now I am posting this one, even though I don't really have anything to say about it. (TEEHEE)



Monday, March 08, 2004

Quacker Factory

Ok ladies, I am now a stay-at-home-Mom and I get to watch TV while I blog. In the past 20 years or so, my wardrobe has consisted of silk blouses, Pendelton WOol suits, and panty hose and heels. Once I retired I went into sweat shirts advertising the different plays I was doing and Jeans.

Well now I need clothes. QVC has had some lady selling Quacker factory clothing that seems really cute. It could be casual or not, and I was wondering if any of you have tried her line on? I do not know if they run large, small or right on. I hate to buy clothes, and I never ever send them back if they dont fit, and I never try them on either. (Phyllis is tearing her hair out and screaming right now, I can hear here 8 miles away!!!) I HATE to shop....HATE IT!!!

So...Is there any body out there who has some Quacker Factory clothing? Is it good quality? Is it generous? Whatcha think?

GET A GRIP!!!!

I opened my email this morning, and the following email was f rom some person called Pricess alana. Now if you have read Kat's blog lately you know how I feel about people who feel like they are victims of this that or what ever. Now some dumbass has the bloody nerve to write this and ask for MONEY? PHHFFFFTTTTTT Get a grip People!!! Get a fucking job like the rest of us had to. Quit thinking that we are all STUPID!!

But then my Horoscope said that Early March was the best time for a windfall! Could this be legit?

SLAP! Mary Lou...wake up!!!
SLAP! Ok!!!! just a thought.

don't you just love all the mispelled words and typo's?

Do people really get taken in by this crap? How STUPID do you have to be?



Good day and compliment,
A CRY FOR HELP,I am writing this letter in confidence believing that if it is the wish Of God for you to help me and my family, God almighty will bless and Reward you abundantly. My family and I are true Christians and worship's God truthfully. I got Your contact through Internet during my research on some one who could Help us. I am a female student Of University of Nigeria, Lagos. I am 22 yrs old. My fathers died earlier two months ago and left my Mother I and my brother behind. He Was a king, which our town citizens titled him before his death I was a Princess to him and I and my brother are the only people who Can take Care of his wealth now because my mother is not literate enough To know all my fathers wealth behind. He left up to USD 27.350 000.000.00 million dollars with a security Company, and I dont know how and what I will do to invest this money Som! ewhere in abroad, so that my fathers kindred will not take over what Belongs to my father and our family, which they were planning to do Without my present because I am a female as stated by our culture in the Town. That is why I felt happy when I saw your contact which I strongly believe that by the grace of God, you will help me secure And invest this money. I thereby need your help in bringing the box Containing the money out from the security company, based on your reply I Will furnish you with more details on how we can proceed. I am ready to pay 10% of the total amount to you if you help us in Securing this money and another 10% interest of Annual Income to you, for investing this money for us, which you will strongly have absolute Control Over. If you can handle this project sincerely and also willing to assist me In lifting this fund, kindly reach me and I will let you know the next Step to take towards actualizing this transaction as quickly as Possible. Please, no! te that this transaction is 100% risk free. I look forward hearing fro m you soonest. Yours sincerely,
Princess and family

Sunday, March 07, 2004

LOLA'S BACK!!!!

I am laying there this morning, the alarm had gone off at 7:00, and I could not get my eyes to open. They were all watery and burny... I sat up coughed and layed back down. I kept trying to get those eyes all the way open, but could not. As I was laying there listening to the doves cooing, and the chickadees twittering, I heard a CHIT CHIT CHIT!!! LOLA!!!!!!!!!!

Lola for those of you new to this site is a Douglas squirrel. Actually there are several, but unless I see them more than one at a time, they are all called LOLA! If I see two then the first is Lola and the second is Rita, then there is Sal, which can be either a he or a she as befits the backside of said squirrel.

This is Sadie's first Spring, so she chases Lola away from the feeder. She chases the birds away too, but they have caught on that she cant reach them so they come right back. Lola hasn't quite figured that out yet. Lola was running back and forth on the neighbors wooden fence just a chattering....

I picked up the binoculars and could not see a thing My eyes are so fuzzy right now. Pisses me off! I tried to rub the floaters away and just made them sting even more. I finally got a good look at Lola, and she looks nice and fat and healthy! Her coat looks full and colorful, and her tail was fluffy. I was worried about her since I have not seen her since the first of the year.

Must have been living off the nuts she squirreled away this last fall. I have corn cobs stuck into the fence about every 20 feet to entice her closer to the feeder. Hope it works. Sadie will be the kicker though. If she continues to chase her away she may not come back. Gotta figure this out...

The Woodpeckers and the Hummers aren't flocking like they did last year either. NOTHING scares the hummers, but I have only seen one or two of them this year. BOO!!! Must be the weather down south. California is getting hammered with rain and wind, so maybe that is keeping them down there.

HERE BIRDIE BIRDIE BIRDIE!!

Friday, March 05, 2004

PFFFFFHHHHHTTTTTTTT!!!!

I am in such a deep blue FUNK this week. I feel unloved unwanted, unuseful, un-funny! I may blog about it later, but right now I feel that if I did I would either be royally pissed or whine so much that you all would be turned off. SO I won't write today about it.

INSTEAD if you want to learn about differing life-styles, customs etc. Be sure to go to Robert Brady He has a whole week of posts on there about FIREWALKERS. THere are five installments complete with pictures. It is great!!! I read him every evening. His Love for his Family comes through so much, and his love for his new country does also. I say new, but he has been an ex-patriot in Japan for about 25 years now. I love reading his blog.

Another one to research is JoelHe has a wonderful way of writing, that just pulls you in. He links quite a bit, which I don't like, because I have such a difficult time downloading with our antique phone lines out here. (Still dial-up!) But he also writes about topics that get you thinking.

A great essay writer to go to and read once in awhile is USS CLUELESS He was one of the first blogs I read, when I first started blogging. I will admit some of what he writes I do not read. Most of what he writes is so far over my head, that I don't understand it, but every once in awhile he gives you another reason to re-think your stand on certain topics. He is all writing, and takes no comments.

I have to leave you with a funny that I have been saving for a rainy day...beleive me it is one today, both emotional and actual.

The Middle Wife...

How would you like to be this teacher? (A grammar school teacher from
Miami, remembers this Oscar-worthy birth tableau from one of her
students)

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two children
myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own
first-grade classroom a few years back. When I was a child, I loved
show-and-tell.

So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get
over
shyness and experience a little public speaking. And it gives me a
break
and some guaranteed entertainment.

Usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Children bring in pet turtles,
model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And,
never, ever
place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it
to
school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing
child,
takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow
stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant.
"This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his
birthday. First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and
then
Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate
for
nine months through an umbrella cord."

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not
to
laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The children are
watching
her in amazement.

"Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, "Oh,
oh,
oh!'" Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. "She walked
around
the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!'"

Now the child is doing this hysterical duck walk; holding her back
and
groaning. "My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she
doesn't have
a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in
bed
like this." Erica lies down with her back against the wall.

"And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case
he
got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like
psshhheew!"
This child is sitting on the floor with her little hands miming water
flowing away. "Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push, and
breathe, breathe." They started counting, but never even got past
ten."
"Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky
stuff. They said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot
of stuff
inside there for him to do "

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her
seat.
I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, if it's
show-and-tell
day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another Erica comes along.
Life is meant to be lived .. enjoy.




Wednesday, March 03, 2004

Maps

All of my life I have had a fascination with maps. Road maps, Atlases, National Geographic Maps, topography maps, National Park Maps, all of them. When we were young, Dad would get orders from San Diego to Washington, or San Diego to Hawaii, or Hawaii to Washington, etc. In order to get there we all piled into our usually old beater car, and head North or South as the case may be. Phyllis Ann and I would have to fight over the backseat, and we each staked out our territory and the other was NEVER to cross the line. Dad would drive and Mom would read the Map. “There is a town coming up, Can you stop so the girls can go to the Bathroom?”

That immediately evoked feelings of I GOTTA PEE NOW! And of course the next town would not have an open gas station with a bathroom that Mom would use. We usually ended up bouncing on the back seat holding our hands between our legs and BEGGING Daddy to stop. He finally would, usually in the wide spot on the road so we could pee on the side of the road. (I was 5-8 Phyllis Ann was 2-5) We always wondered why Dad had to go before we could stop.

As we grew older, and could read, I got to see THE MAP. I learned how to fold it, and how to hold it so that I always knew the direction we were traveling. By reading along as we went, I learned the different symbols for towns, cities, Hiways and Places of Interest. I learned where National Monuments and National Parks were. On the backs of some of the maps were interesting stories about the State that we were traveling through.

As the years passed, and the traveling with Mom and Dad ceased, the travel with Husbands began. I always stopped and got a road map every time we entered a new state. Mind you, I could NOT re-use a map! Besides, back then, Texaco and Shell Stations all gave away FREE maps. I would write on these maps the places we stopped and the sights we saw. I would also write where there was and was not services. (I was through peeing in the woods)

Out of habit, Every time I would see a map, I would read it thoroughly. I would read the towns, and the cities, look at the place names and wonder how they got there. Whiskey Dick Mountain, Screaming Woman Creek, Bald Knob, just to name a few off the top of my head.

Because of this I was usually pretty good in Geography. I could name all the countries in Africa, I could name all the State Capitals, and I could name all the capitol Cities of the Countries.

This weekend, I was watching CBC, and they were re-running the finals for the Women’s Curling Championships. They were in Red_____ Canada. I grabbed the Gazetteer, and looked for a Red______ Canada. The only one I saw was Red Deer, Alberta. So I assumed that was it? This was late at night, and before you know it I had spent over 4 hours reading the Atlas. I noticed how blank Canada is above Edmonton. I then read across to the Eastern Provinces. I have never been there and wondered if I ever will. I also looked at the Tongas National Forest and saw how very vast it was, and how soon it will be destroyed if logging is continued at the rate it is.

I will spend hours reading these maps that I get. It is one way to get to know the places your friends have lived. I have maps from Germany, and maps from Sicily , Maps of Alaska, where I followed the Iditarod and circled all of the stops for two straight years. I have maps from Nevada, where I highlighted all of the roads I explored while I was there. I have the Island County map which was printed way before development started. I even have a Map of California before Interstate 5 was built!

When I am reading a book, the map of the area is right beside me, and I use it to check on the accuracy of the author. I take these maps on Airplanes, and look down and try to figure out where we are flying over. People have collections of teacups, and teddy bears, and License Plates, I have Maps.

A strange hobby I know, But it is enjoyable, and since I will probably never have the opportunity to visit any other countries, It at least helps me know where all of you live. So in all of your Garage cleaning, or household reducing you should come across a map of the state or Country that you live in, If you would Circle where you live and send it to me I will be even more enriched. The friends I have made have enriched me, and just knowing more about your countries would please me greatly.

Tuesday, March 02, 2004

MV KALAKALA

One of the Many icons in Western Washington is the Washington State Ferry System. With a Huge chunk of our real Estate across Puget Sound, The major way across the waters is by Ferry. Bridges are not Cost effective due to our extremely unstable Land Mass. We are sitting on Glacial Deposits, and the waters are filling the deep valleys scoured out by these Glaciers many eons ago.

The first settlers here knew that they were gonna have to have a means to commute to all of the Islands, and they had what was then called the Mosquito Fleet…Small Boats that ferried passengers and freight from one town to the other; Sometimes on the same Island.

When Automobiles became the method of choice to get to and from town, and to and from the town to the city, The only way was to drive around the sound, which could take several days. If there was a road. And if there was a bridge!

What was a perfect work around was to have a series of Motor Vessels that could carry cars from Island to Island. Several were built and in the 20’s a fleet of these vessels were started. For the most part, These vessels are Still in use today. Of course they have been re-worked, re-built, re-done and are in need of repair once more.

During the Retro era of the 1930’s there was a reconditioned Hull out of the San Francisco Bay that had caught fire and was burned almost to the water line. The Hull was salvaged and then re-fitted with the current style that it has today. This was the beginning of the MV Kalakala.




We in The Puget Sound region, call it The Silver Slug, because it looks just like our State Animal, The Slug. It ran back and forth across the sound ferrying vehicles and passengers across to the Olympic Peninsula. When the new generation of Super Ferries was built in the 60’s and 70’s, the Kalakala was retired from the fleet and sold. Through many evolutions it was eventually brought back to the Seattle Area, Battered, Beaten, Rusted, and at one time grounded. But she still had Life.





In Late 2003 it was finally sold on E-Bay for a nominal price. It was purchased by a gentleman that has intentions to restore it back to the glamour it had in the 1930’s and turn it into a Restaurant and Museum. An admirable plan. Unfortunately the Government has gotten in the way of a simple move to another location. It was blocked by people who were afraid it would become an eyesore. It was then decided to move it to another location, and that too was thwarted.

Today, the owner of the Vessel and the owner of the moorage came to an impasse, and the Kalakala was untied and left to float on Lake Union. The Coast Guard does not want to give it permission to pass through the Ballard Locks and into the Sound, to be towed to its’ temporary location, because there is a storm coming in. Since the intended location for the Kalakala is at Neah Bay, at the Western Entrance to the Straight of Juan de Fuca, and when ever there is a storm it comes blowing right into the Straight, The US Coast Guard was afraid it would turn into a 200’metal sail and be uncontrollable. They have a good point!

The last I heard it was going to be towed to the East end of the Ship Canal, and be anchored there until it is safe to be towed on to Neah Bay.

This whole venture is an admirable one. I can only hope that the new owner really does have the financing and the where-with-all to follow through with this plan. It really would make an excellent waterfront restaurant and Museum in downtown Seattle. If done correctly, it could also be a wonderful museum and testimony to the boats and ships and vessels that have plied the waters of Puget Sound.

I hope it comes to fruition. For further History and pictures, go to the MV KALAKALA website and read all about its history, from burned out hull to fish cannery to building, back to Vessel. It really is an interesting part of our history.

Monday, March 01, 2004

Changes

I am updating links And I am putting them in with their titles not your names. I was "told" that is the proper way to do it. So now I won't know who any of you are out there. But then neither will anybody else. If I have left any one out or have inadvertantly gotten your name wrong, please let me know and I will fix it. I still had DOn on there, and we all know he is in hiding right now, and won't ever be back...and Tina moved, but I still had her old address on there and now it is a porn site!! (Tina, SHAME) It may take me a few days to get you all in there correctly, There are a lot more of you than there used to be. Tkes me almost 3 hours to visit you all everyday now. I sure am glad I am retired!!

Quarter recall

WHO-HOO!! and Dorothy just sent me one!!! Yahoo!! You don't want it back now do you Dorothy?


BULLETIN WASHINGTON, D.C. - Hang on to any of the new State of
Arkansas
quarters. If you have them, they may be worth much more than 25 cents.

The U.S. Treasury announced today that it is recalling all of the

Arkansas quarters that are part of its program featuring quarters from
each state.

"We are recalling all the new Arkansas quarters that were recently
issued," Treasury Undersecretary Jack Shackleford said Monday. "This
action is being taken after numerous reports that new quarters will
not
work in parking meters, toll booths, vending machines, pay phones, or
other coin-operated devices". The quarters were issued in the order in
which the various states joined the U.S. and have been a tremendous
success among coin collectors worldwide. "The problem lies in the
unique
design of the Arkansas quarter, which was created by a University of
Arkansas graduate," Shackleford said. "Apparently, the duct tape
holding the two dimes and the nickel together keeps jamming the
coin-operated devices."