Latest Fashion?

This is what the latest fashion says the well decked out guy will be wearing this summer.....hmmmmmmm....



and heres the back of it!! (ouch)

OK OK OK I'll POST !!!!

Well MICHELLE!! I had a chance to work this week, and no chance to get on the computer and blog. I needed the money to offset my retirement. You do understand WORK RIGHT? ;) I too have no MR C. to take care of me. When I get home from work, I have a few minutes to check me email and my comments and then Donna gets home. She gets the computer from the time she gets home until she goes to bed, because she still has not gotten her own phone line and brought her 'puter over from Ellensburg. (she likes mine better anyway...mines COOL) SOOOOOO I was working! and I earned 24.00!! LOLOLOL

I spent the past three says working at the box office at the playhouse, and I got in trouble last time for blogging at work, so I dont even go on the net at all!!! Not that it really matters, BUT thems the rules, sooooooo...

And I volunteered to put together a powerpoint presentation for an awards ceremony on August 8th. I spent last night scanning the pictures from the scrapbooks into my computer, and then can not get them tranferred on to a CD! I screamed, and yelled, and stomped and cussed at it and I finally went to bed at 2:30 last night with the pictures still in my computer. it keeps telling me to insert a blank cd into drive G and I did !)) times and still could not get it to work. ARRRRRGGGHHHH

I have all weekend to try and figure out why it wont work. You would think that Microsoft would make it really easy for idiots like me. picture icons to drag and drop...drag the picture onto the cdrom drive G Icon and drop it. seems sooo simple to me, and once I fugure it all it prolly is. Unfortunately there is soooo much on this thing, that I never can remember which does what!!!

Ok, I will fill ya in more later, I just wanted to post why I was not on line, in case some of you wanted to report me AWOL. Michelle is the only one who noticed though!!! :(

Kinda Loses something in Translation huh?

Signs found:

In a Bangkok temple:
"IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A
MAN."

Cocktail lounge, Norway:
"LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR."

Doctors office, Rome:
"SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES.

Dry cleaners, Bangkok:
"DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS.

In a Nairobi restaurant:
"CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER."

On an Athi River highway:
"TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE."

On a poster at Kencom:
"ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO, WE CAN HELP."

In a City restaurant:
"OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS."

A sign seen on an automatic restroom hand dryer:
"DO NOT ACTIVATE WITH WET HANDS."

In a cemetery:
"PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN
GRAVES."

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:
"GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN
BED."

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
"OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR." (think I've had some of that! lol)

In a Tokyo bar:
"SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS."

Hotel, Yugoslavia:
"THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE
CHAMBERMAID."

Hotel, Japan:
"YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID."

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox
monastery:
"YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET
COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY."

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest:
"IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE
OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT
UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE."

Hotel, Zurich:
"BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX
IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS
PURPOSE."

Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand:
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN ASS?"

The box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong:
"GUARANTEED TO WORK THROUGHOUT ITS USEFUL LIFE."

In a Swiss mountain inn:
"SPECIAL TODAY - NO ICE-CREAM."

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen:
"WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS."

A laundry in Rome:
"LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD
TIME."

And we wonder why there is a communication problem?

Sundays.....Ho HUM

AHHHHHHHHH IT is soooooo much cooler today! Actually rather pleasant! It was overcast with fog until about 200 this afternoon, and then it got hot. But it was a cool hot compared to the past few days. Cool Marine Air comes sweeping in from the Pacific and funnels through the Straight of Juan de Fuca and smacks right into Whidbey Islands West Side. Last night the wind was blowing so hard that it broke another branch off of my poor overburdened-half-gone-now peach tree. IT hit the really hot air that was sitting in the Sound and FOG formed! Love that summer Fog!!!

I woke up this morning with the worst back ache, and barely moved all day! I did get out to refill the feeders, trim back the Pussy willow Bush, and prune the roses. I sat in the chair and watered the brown grass and roses. It has been so hot that even my Petunias have sunburned!! BUMMER! I should just give up on this years garden and start over next year!.

I was sitting out on the deck with my Daughter this evening burning a citronella candle and eating grilled hamburgers, and talking about the yard. I want a Garden Gnome. Not one of those really cheap icky ones, but one of the really cute ones that cost about 249.95! Then Donna cracked up and said she had been meaning to google Obscene garden gnomes and see what came up. FUNNY!!!!! There is a site about three sites down that has funny jokes etc on it but no obscene garden gnomes.

So I googled just garden gnomes. Ya know, there are an awfully lot of people out there with not a hell of a lot to do! LOLOLOLOLOL some are legit, but some of these sites are just WRONG! I gave up. I did bookmark some sites though. I think I read somewhere about the Gnome Book which is written like they were real. I will have to look it up.

I still want a Garden Gnome. One like they show on that cheap airline site? About 36 inches tall. Sadie would bark her ass off at it all day long!

I Love kitsch like that tucked away among the plants in the garden. Little plaster pigs, kittens playing with butterflies, mushrooms, gnomes, etc. SO for Mothers Day Donna got me a string of Flamingo Christmas lights to put around the deck. I forgot all about them until just now. I will have to find them and get them hung out there. The neighbors will really know we are cheap white trash then.

JAM!!! Fresh Plum Jam!!!

In all of this HEAT….all of my neighbors plums came ripe TODAY!!  RIGHT NOW!!! Won’t keep!!!  So in 100-degree heat guess what I am doing?  Yep, Making plum Jam/preserves!  I am taking a break to cool off, but DAMN it is hot!! The jam is good too!!  Last year I got to make it in several days batches, but not this year!!!



My peaches are going to do the same thing in a few weeks.  There were so many peaches on the trees this year that the top 1/3 broke right off from the weight, and then broke off a big lower branch too.  Unfortunately the peaches were not even CLOSE to ripe; so over three hundred of them got pitched over the fence!!  L  This has been a fantastic year for fruit!  The pears and apples are really prolific too.  May not have to drive over to eastern Washington to get them this year. 



I did not plant any zucchini this year, and that may have been a big mistake.  Neither did Bob.  Might have to buy them for my zucchini bread.  Too bad ya’ll aren’t closer…I’d send you some.

The wind is picking up tonight.  The High Pressure and the Low Pressure systems are evening out, and the wind is coming right off the Pacific and really cooling everything down.  We just are not equipped to handle the heat like you guys are.  Now a cold snap…is another matter.  It actually looks like it might form fog out on the water tonight.  I sure hope so.   That cools it right down, and makes it very comfortable.  Can’t see worth diddly, but it is refreshing.  We call it Nature’s air conditioner.

Well time to go turn the jars over and wait for the 6 pop. Pop, pops of the lids sealing.
 Great on fresh hot homemade bread and fresh butter, a spoon of fresh plum jam and a cu of tea!  UMMMMM UMMMMM GOOD!

Race Week 2004

Oak Harbor Marina hosts a sailboat race every year, and has been doing so for about 20 yrs now.  The forst one was fun, but no one expected as many boats to show up as did.  100's of them!!!  SO they planned better for the next years, and now it is a world class event, and boats from all over the planet come to race, get drunk and PARTY!!!



Some years it rains, some years it is too windy, some years the is NO wind.  This year is just perfect, and they are all in Penn Cove racing their little hulls off.  Their SPINACKERS  were out and colorful today.  (I called them jibs the other day...my bad!)



And right across the cove is the teeny tiny town of Coupeville, where I live now. 



and more boats........



It is pushing 100 degrees out there right now, and we dont get this kind of heat.   No cooking tonite!!!!
I already told Bob, I could pop a ready to bake pizza in the oven, but we were sitting on the deck to eat it.  Too hot in here. 

Penn Cove 1954-55

When we moved out to Penn Cove Park, it was just starting to be a development.  The first two or three streets were built up, but that is all.  We lived in a little tiny brown house behind the store that was also the resort.  They had 5 or 6 little vacation cabins that they rented out every summer.  The resort was right across the street from the beach, and we were right behind that.  We could play in the woods, run on the beach, build forts out of driftwood, fish, climb the cliffs, dig caves, climb trees and swing as far as we dared from the tippy top.  LOVED it.  Every day was an adventure.  Summer was the best time, because we could ride our bikes everywhere!! 

Our bedrooms were up in the lofty type attic.  And we each had our OWN ROOM!!!!  It was the first time ever that I did not have to share a bed with Phyllis.  I could wake up and not be peed on!!  I Had my own room and my very own bed!!!  the windows opened out like shutters, and the eaves were right there, and you would bang your head on the roof if you stood up to close to the edge.

I felt just like Jo in Little Women!!  We did not have TV back then, hardly anyone did, and we had to make our own entertainment when we could not go out because of the weather.  I discovered reading.  I read all of Nancy Drew, Little Women, Swiss Family Robinson, Misty of Chincoteague, Black Beauty, and I found Laura Ingalls Wilder!!! I was in Heaven!!!

When it got dark, I would take my books and go behind the big huge chair that Mom had, and lay back there snug up against the built in bookcases, and read by the light on the table.  I was hidden, and it was my special place.  I would also play with my Jennie dolls back there, on the bookcases and listen to the radio.   I remember the SHADOW KNOWS, And the LONE RANGER, And THE WHISTLER, and some soap opera that Mom would listen to.  It was so special.

One winter it snowed really deep, and we were allowed to go play in it.  We did not have a sled or anything so the landlord made us one really fast out of left over wood pieces.  We drug that sled up to the hill, and played for hours sliding down that hill.  One kid from a few streets over said there was a big huge hill over there, called Butterbaugh hill, and we snuck over to it.  It was the HUGEST hill we had ever seen.  The traffic was blocked off of it and kids could slide down it safely...EXCEPT you were not to go into Mrs Harringtons Yard.  She would yell at you.  No one wanted that, so we tried really hard to stay out of her yard.  I did slide into it once, and was scared stiff, so I ran home as fast as I could.

This time was only a mere 2 years until we got transferred back to Hawaii, but when I think of childhood and home, that is where I think of.  We were free.  We were Happy, we were allowed to play like real kids.  There were farm kids, and Navy Kids, And the Dutch kids, and the Contractors Kids.  (they were just building the rest of the base and the housing area)   I made friends with these people and kept in touch with them until we came back.  I felt like I was a part of the place, like I was  born to be here.

We did not get transferred back until I was a sophomore in High School, and things had really changed.  The Park was Grown, and all built up, there was no more rentals in town, We had to live in Housing, (brand spanking new Capehart housing) and the town was a growing and bulging place.  Growing so fast, that no one really had a game plan, (and they still don't) so it just became fair game to build anything anywhere.  the streets were all paved, and so many people had moved in that it was almost like every other Navy town.  The house we lived in was old and worn out, and Butterbaugh Hill was just a tiny little bump!!!  the beach was still there but the magic was gone.  It was time to move on.

It was a magical time back then, and I thank God that I had the chance to experience it.  When I tell people what it was like they just look at me all amazed like  I would or COULD remember all of that.

I can though...Just cant remember yesterday!!!

!954 on Whidbey

Growing up on Whidbey:
 
Several of you have expressed interest in knowing what it was like to grow up on an island like Whidbey.  First of all let me clear up a misconception.  I did not grow up on Whidbey, I came here when I was in the 4th grade, and left the summer between my 5th and 6th grade year.  HOWEVER, this was the place that I thought of as home, This was the place that I was allowed to go out of the yard, and not be kidnapped.  (My Mom was a worrier.)  I was born in San Diego, Calif. And lived there for a year, then to Seattle and then when I was 3 we went to Hawaii and to Guam, then back to San Diego , then back to Hawaii, and THEN to Whidbey. 
 
I was awestruck!  There were big Pine trees EVERYwhere.  We first moved into a 2 room apt above a garage on Goldie Rd.  Back then, there was hardly any housing available for rent, and there was a waiting list for housing.  We were lucky to get the apt.  It was out in the woods, and I had to walk out to the rd, and catch a school bus to school!!  I had never done that before.  It took us to the New school Clover Valley, and it was great!  I got to look out the cafeteria window at the most wondrous sight I has ever seen!!  A Mountain.  Sticking up big and snow covered, with no other mtns around it.  I Loved that Mountain.  I found out it was called Mt. Baker, and was a dormant Volcano!  Even back then I was intrigued over geology!  I would sit and stare at that Mountain every chance I got!
 
We then moved into town, into a 2 bedroom house.  (actually more, but we were only allowed into the bottom floor.  The attic was off limits, and full of the land lords stuff.  (yes, We did peek, and there was an old stuffed owl up there looking right down the stairs…scared the crap out of me!!)  Our house is now gone, but it used to be right where the new addition to the Playhouse is now.  I used to look out the bedroom window, and past the barn to the Old Dutch Reformed Church.  Which is now the playhouse!
 
Midway Blvd was only 2 lanes then, and there were NO stoplights in town.  Chimes Corner was the end of town, and that was fairly new too.  Then they opened Thriftway, which was in the woods!! (all of this is now down a very busy 4 lane Blvd.)
 
We then moved out, waaaaay Out in the country.  All the way to Libby Rd.  which is ½ way to Coupeville.  And we were living in a Log Cabin in the woods, heated with a big old fireplace, and it had a loft upstairs where Phyllis and I slept.  We thought we had died and gone to heaven!!   Dad helped us feel that way, by pointing out all of the wildlife that came out of the woods and walked through our “yard”.  Deer, Squirrels, rabbits…all right in our yard!!!
 
During the weekends, Dad would load Phyllis and I into the station wagon and we would go beach combing down on West Beach, where there was tons of driftwood to be had.  There were no mansions there then, and the water would come right over the road, and leave the driftwood right there.  We would walk along throwing logs up to the pavement, and then go back to the car and drive along and pick it all up and load it into the back.  You can not imagine how much wood a 1954 Ford Station Wagon can hold with the seats down!!  (whew)  When we got home, we would unload the wood out back, then Phyllis and I would get the two man buck saw and cut the wood into fireplace lengths, and Dad would split it.  Work, but fun work, as we had never done this sort of thing before.  We lived in the cabin for about 6 months and then moved on to Penn Cove Park, A fairly new development out in the woods.
 Tomorrow, Penn Cove

Smell That Sea air!!!

I was driving home from the Playhouse today, and got stuck behind a stoopid bus that pulled out right in front of me.  I knew he would go up the highway, so I took the water route, along twinsty scenic Madrona Way.
 
The Sailboats from the Race Week at Oak Harbor Marina were in the Cove, so Through the Madronas, I would catch glimpes of the boats with their sails popping as they turned around the bouy and headed back to the Marina.  I LOVE to watch the brightly colored Jib pop open in the wind.  Unfortunately these weren't  bright colored.  The wind wasn't right for them so they had on their "Jenny's" (I think those are the little ones)  and they were either grey or white.  Bummer.  As I was driving into Coupeville, they were just past the sewage plant, so I headed down there along front street.  Right in front of me was a doe and her twins walking through this ladies yard right up to her rose bushes!!  (She is teaching them to eat right)...I of course had to roll down the window and try and get pictures. 
 
It is really hot this week, and I had the a/C on full blast in the car, but I rolled the windows down anyway.  THe tide was out and I suddenly got the most wonderful whiff of childhood!!  the salty air, heated by the sun and mixed with the humidity and the smell of the tidelands.   WONDERFUL!!! Really, Really wonderful!  It reminded me of clamming with Dad, and walking on the beach when we were kids, and stomping on the muscles and barnacles that grew there.  (Little did we know that the muscles would become world famous :Z)
 
We spent hours on the beach during the summer, as it was right across the street from where we lived.  We collected rocks, and clam shells, and went oyster picking and clam digging, and even fished right off the shore.
I miss those days.  The carefree days of summer, when you could walk barefoot and not hurt yourself.  Days when you could ride your bike down the country road, up the big hill, then turn around and coast all the way to the bottom with your feet stuck out in front, and your braids blown clear back!  You could hear the meadowlarks singing in the fields, and if you were really lucky you could see a big preying mantis or Dragon fly pearched on a piece of grass growing along the fence line.
 
I could go to the beach and get the same scents, but there is no way I could be safe on a bike right now, too many tourists driving their honking big SUV's down our really narrow country roads.  The days of letting the bikes go first are long gone.  For that matter so is my innocence,  For that matter so are my braids!!!
 
SIGH!!!

Sundays in the Park

One of the very nice things about living in a very small town, is the quality of life that you have.  We have been discovered by the aging boomers, and for their retirement years, they have come up and bought all of our old Victorian homes and refurbished them into Bed and Breakfasts.   They then joined the town Council and the Various committees were formed.  One of them is aThe Concerts On The Cove, Sundays In The Park series.  Every Summer from mid July until Mid September, at the town park, bandstand, there are Concerts of all types. 
 

 
Today's concert was called Cornucopia Band.  It was about 25-30 people playing music from the early 1900's-1927.  Jerome Kern, John Phillips Sousa, ragtime, Charleston, lindy hops...And such.
 

 
The band was not the best in the state, but the music was fun, and the Singers were great.  People watching was fantastic.  Off to the left was the Cove, and during the concert the first race of the season, was taking place on the water.  The Race Week, has started and the cove and the passages will be full of sailboats of all types, racing.
 

 
If you look off in the distance you can see down town, and all the trees and Victorians in the city limits.
 

 
People watching can be loads of fun when you have couples like this dancing like no one was watching.
 

 
The sun beat down on us until just before the end of the concert, and then the clouds came in and cooled everyone down.  Next Sunday will be the Philharmonic Wind quintet.  Lots of good classical music.
 
Then the following Sundays have:

• All American Boy Choir
• Northern Lights Jazz Band
• Dillingers Clam Bake Old fashioned Barn Dance
• AZUL  (????)
• Solid Brass Quintet
• and Skagit Community Band

All of these are wonderful concerts, and they are only 7.00 or 35.00 for a full season.  During the winter months, the committee has different groups from around the world come and perform.  Quality entertainment where there had been none before. 

When We were growing up the only band in town was the old farts during the sheriffs posse BYOB Dances at the community Center.  We have come a long way baby!

Sneak peek at Bob coming back from the Pottie!!  Yes we do have intermission...

C'mon RAIN!!!

I am sitting out on the deck tonight, after having heated up the house by cooking a brisket.  It is hot and muggy right now, and not a breeze is stirring.  IT IS HOT!!!!!!   I don't do HOT!!!   I HATE HOT!!!!!  If I had wanted HOT I would've moved down south or someplace that was HOT.  I chose the Pacific Northwest because it ISN'T HOT!   At least not normally!  We have not had a good rain in quite awhile.  I forget when the last one was, but we are expecting some tomorrow. 
 
Right now it is 80 degrees F and high humidity.  Donna called her Husband in Ellensburg and it was 102F!!!  It is 8:30 PM folks!  not supposed to be this warm.  supposed to cool off down into the 40-50 * range at night.
 
We are not prepared for this kind of weather, as we all have our jackets at the ready...And no A/C!  I took the electric blanket off my bed last week, and washed it, and have not gotten it put back on yet.  THANK GOODNESS!!!  Even the birds are having a problem with it.
 
I know, Ya'll think I am whining, and you have it lots hotter, but you'uns are ready for it, and wait for it.  We usually only get two or three days of the really hot stuff a year, and that is in August!  I can hardly wait!!!
 
I was watching CBUT out of Vancouver, BC today and they went to Edmonton for some CFL football, and they showed the city and said it was 30* there!  Now I can do that unless they really meant Celsius...Which is 90 or close to that.  SHUDDER!
 
When I got my orders to Nevada I cried.  It gets 110 there on a regular basis, and I don't do heat well.  It got that way for the whole July and august!!  But the nice thing about it was it would drop down into the 50's at night.  conversely, the winters would fall to -10* F at night and warm up to 50-60 during the day. 
 
there is nothing nicer than a winter in Nevada.  Cold and clear, with snow on all the mountain tops, and animals everywhere.
 
I think I will go in and take a nice cool shower and stretch out on my bed naked under the fan, and just dry that way. 
 
Sadie has successfully chased Lola away for the third time today, so I now have her contained on the deck, so Poor Lola can get to the feeders to eat.
 
The neighbors plums are ripe!  I reached over the fence and stole three of them and they are sooo sweet and juicy!  Last year she told me take as many as I needed, so I made plum Preserves.  I still have a few jars left, so I may have to go swipe some more.
 
I hope you all are having a good weekend.  I did NOTHING today except cook dinner.  Tomorrow I am going to Concert on the Cove series   They play in the town park, in the band stand, and it is so cool to take your blankets and a lunch and go sit on the grass and listen to band music.  There is an old curmudgeon that lives across the street from the band stand, and every Sunday he gets out and rides his muffler-less riding mower as loud and as long as he can.  He will then get arrested and hauled off in hand cuffs for disturbing the peace.  Then after the concert, he will be released until the next Sunday when it starts all over again.  the City Council offered to pay for his wife and him to go to a nice restaurant during the time that the concerts were on, but he refused.  He is the old retired Mayor of  Coupeville, that got asked to retire because he was such a shit.  He still is.  It really is quite funny because he is 78 or 79 and his daughter goes to the concerts, and when she sees him getting out the lawn mower, she runs over and tries to stop him before he gets arrested.  It is a hoot!!
 
Mosquitoes are biting...gotta go...

Left-overs

Ok, Before I get started on the next project here are the pictures of my bathroom, and Sadie after her shearing...
 

 

 
The flash isnt working on my camera, I have not figured it out yet, so Sadie's picture is a little weird, but it shows her NAKED...
 
The color in my Bathroom is a dusky Lavender and it is sooo pretty even though it looks a little PINK in this picture.  Why have I not discovered borders before?  They save so much time!!!! 
 
(I whacked my finger on something..???  and I broke blood vessel in the middle part, and now it is all black and swollen...Icky)

WHEW!!!!

Ok, It's get off your fat ass and walk time!!! I went in and sat there for 45 min waiting for the DR. I was then called into the room, and waited another 45 min for him.

The chemical stress test should nothing conclusive. The is a very low risk of Heart failure. There is something in the right Aorta, but nothing to worry about. When I asked what the pains were, he said it was not my heart, and my blood gases were good too.

So basically, Im just getting older!! He actually said other than turn the calendar back....(bastard)

Cholesterol is 97 was sposed to be under 100 until today when they changed the rules, now they want 70!! (evil bastards)

triglicerides are fine, HDL, and LDL right where they should be.

HgA1C (blood glucose) was 7.1 up from 6.9 but he is thrilled.

my BUN number is 17...climbing slowly...will watch that!

So all that work and worry for a good report!!! WHEW! I still will finish my list!!
I promise!

PS got Sadie cut down to a summer cut, no hair except for her ears... She looks so funny!!!

My Theatrical Career

THE WHIDBEY PLAYHOUSE

In 1994, I mentioned to a friend that I wanted to get involved with The Community Theater. I did it just in passing, not thinking anymore about it. Before you knew it, I was costuming my first show. OLIVER! Priscilla was the Musical Director, and needed someone to costume it. What can that involve I thought, a lot of burlap and some ripped clothes!! Well the cast was HUGE and it was a LOT of burlap, and ripped clothes. (the picture up on top is from that show) I loved it!!!

As the show went on, I wondered what I would do next, so I asked the director of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, if I could costume it. She agreed and I started my second show. This one should have been easy, as I knew the era it was representing. I went out and got the patterns and material for what I wanted, and it was NOT what the Director wanted at all. (now she tells me) She wanted GLITZ!!! LOTS OF GLITZ Well she got it!!! I re did all the costumes and we had GLITZ!

I decided after that one that I wanted to Do something different, so for 1996 I Produced THE SECRET GARDEN and ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Now THIS was fun!!! 2 shows a year, and no costumes!!! Right as I was getting into the Theater, I got my Orders to Nevada. So I left!! 3 years later I got orders home again, and was asked if I would like to get back into the theater.



I Then Produced THE INSPECTOR CALLS, and Costumed CHILDREN OF EDEN! OH.My. GOD!!! I almost lost it on that one. I had to come up with unique costumes for this show. The Children were all animals, and had to be dressed in something that would entice imaginations. I had Ocupuses made out of dryer hose vents and skate boards, Giraffes out of paper mache heads and canes, peacocks out of satin and wooden dowels, Aardvarks and Anteaters out of gas masks, and ostriches out of paper mache heads and ballerina tutus. IT was FANTASTIC!!! When the animals all walked in, everybody WOWED!!

The next show was Assistant Director of ON GOLDEN POND. The Producer quit, so I ended up doing that job too. Then on to THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Abridged! FUNNY!!!!! I produced that one, and met a new friend, RUSTY who was the director.



I then started the long haul of being involved with almost every show. I produced OKLAHOMA, Assistant Directed and Produced I DO I DO!



Produced NUNCRACKERS, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN and RUMORS. I asst Directed ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, and produced THE DOCK BRIEF. Asst Directed OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, and ended up producing that one when our producer walked off. Then on to GODSPELL where I directed.



Right now I am producing THE CEMETERY CLUB, and I will be Producing TEN LITTLE INDIANS in April 2005, and finally will be Assistant Directing and Co-producing A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.
I set the lights for all of the shows that I work on, and generally do anything the Director wants or needs to be done. Rusty and I are a good team, and I have learned a lot. I need to train another person so I am in the process of mentoring another Producer.

I have always loved the theater, especially Musical theater. I was in music all of my life in school, Doing FLOWER DRUM SONG, SOUTH PACIFIC, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, OUR TOWN and others I cant remember. I studied Voice and Music in College, and had plans to become a Choir Director in High school or Jr High, but those plans all got way-laid by the Vietnam War, and I went to work for the Government. The rest is History! Now my voice is gone, and I never learned how to play the piano, but I still love the musicals, and enjoy working on them and watching them all come together. I am still learning the lights, but I will get them all down pat one of these days. I have to pick the brain of the man who knows the most. He says he wants to train others to do them but he doesn’t give out information easily, you have to ask questions constantly.

There is so much to learn, and I will be doing that until the day I die. If I am not involved I feel like I am doing nothing. My Mother retired from life, and sat in her chair and drank away the day, I don’t want to do that. I have to stay involved, and feel like I am contributing to something useful. I need to feel needed, and Love working with the Theater.

Anybody wanna Audition?

The office is finished and here are the pics!!!

I painted the first half over a year ago, so I could move in the new office desk that is shaped like an L. The color is called reflecting pool. It is a dark sage green, but as Donna says...it is the color of NOTHING!



I painted this half this weekend, which included removing the bookcase from the wall and moving all the books off of it. I have no curtains planned, as it just looks out into the woods, and I can sit here and watch the birds.



You can see the edge of my Bloggers map on the wall on the right hand side. There are a few of you who still havent sent me your picture to put up on it. HINT HINT



I have to finish putting the border on the bathroom wall, and then I will take pictures of that for you too. It's PUUUURRRRTTTTYYYY!!!!

I took today off of painting as I was in such pain last night that I could not sleep. My back and shoulder were just throbing and my legs were cramping. Not to mention it was HOT and MUGGY!!! We arent used to hot and muggy nights. Our nights are still flannel sheets and PJ's. gets down into the 40-50F range.

I am going to take a hot bath and relax then when Donna gets home I will have her rub some Icy Hot into my shoulder and back, and then sleep well.

I have a DR appointment on Wednesday at 515 PM that is an odd time. They called and the Dr wants to talk to me about the results of my stress tests. ACK!!! must be bad news. That should be the last appointment of the day, and that way he can take his time? This really worries me. That is why I am really pushing to get all my projects done, so if he has BAD news, I can sell the house and really downsize.

I know, I know I am borrowing trouble...ok I'll stop.

If ONLY!!!

You are a true nature girl!


Which Ultimate Beautiful Woman are You?
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Maybe in my Next life....I soooo wanna be thin and beautiful!

And another one bites the dust!!!

I got the office all finished, the ceiling is done too, and the furniture is all moved back in. The carpet however is a disaster!!! My renters ruined it when I was in Nevada for 3 years, and it will never come clean. I am gonna try to shampoo it really good,and if it doesn't come clean, it is getting ripped out too, and I will just paint the sub floor. The damn builders now days don't use quality plywood, they use OSB or particle board, and it swells up when it gets wet. If it is good wood under the carpet, I will seal it and paint it or varnish it, until I win the lottery and can afford to finish laying down laminate flooring. I did that in the Big part of the house and it is fantastic. Shows all the dust though, but ten minutes with endust and a dustmop and it is clean again.

I just finished painting the master bathroom, and the ceiling has the final coat on it. As soon as it is thoroughly dry I will put the crown border around it (covers up the paint dribbles) and I will be done with that room.

Tomorrow, I plan on starting on my bedroom, and painting it the same as the bathroom. A dusty Lavender with a white trim and ceiling and a flower border around the top.

I have kept my bedroom un-feminine for 38 years, hoping I could entice a MAN to live in it with me, but since it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon, Feminine it is going to be!!! Lace curtains, Lavender walls, may even paint the furniture white. !!

By next Thursday I should be done with that room, and Bob and I will go to Lowes and get some baseboards and transition strips for the Living/Dining room. Then paint those rooms. A pale Lemon Yellow I think, with a white trim.

I am looking for the perfect chair. I need a good comfy easy chair big enough to curl up in, and still have room for Sadie. I do not care if it reclines or rocks, I just need one that will not eat me. My Sofa right now does. I hate it! I am thinking a nice leather chair and a half with a full size ottoman. A nice comfy afghan thrown over the back. And a really good light to read by.

I'm off to the tub and bed right now...See ya

Slim Pickin's

Just a quickie to say that I will be posting erratically this weekend. I am bound and determined to finish a few projects before I start on any more.

1. Finish painting the office started June 03
2. Finish painting the baseboards in the LR started April 01
3. Finish painting the bedroom started June 04
4. Finish painting the gutters started July 01
5. Finish the deck started July 03
6. Paint the LR and DR planned in April 01

This is just the projects for the house...not to mention the scrapbook, and the quilt, and the afghans and producing a play or two or three...

I will be back, just dont know when...I may get tired like I just did and have to sit down, and if the spirit moves me (or Donna) I may get some blog time. Heck the rest of you are all on vacation anyway....

UPDATE!!

I dont know how to use the strike through key...but the office is done!!! I have auditions today and tomorrow from 1-4 so I get to do the bathroom ceiling and border on Monday!! then on to the bedroom!

The worst part of all of this is moving all the CRAP I have decided to gather through my many years of living. Move it all out, paint, then move it all back in. UGH

Any good strong backs out there willing to come help?

Back to the office walls.

stolen from Michelle

Wackiness: 24/100
Rationality: 20/100
Constructiveness: 56/100
Leadership: 36/100


You are an SECF--Sober Emotional Constructive Follower. This makes you a hippie. You are passionate about your causes and steadfast in your commitments. Once you've made up your mind, no one can convince you otherwise. Your politics are left-leaning, and your lifestyle choices decidedly temperate and chaste.

You do tremendous work when focused, but usually you operate somewhat distracted. You blow hot and cold, and while you normally endeavor on the side of goodness and truth, you have a massive mean streak which is not to be taken lightly. You don't get mad, you get even.

Please don't get even with this web site.


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


Diagnosis not quite right? Now that you've taken the quiz, you can view the personality key. If you have any attributes that are on the cusp, check out the personality that complements that attribute (in other words, if you're WEDF but only 55/100 Wacky, take a look at SEDF.)

Write down what personality composite this quiz has given you, because viewing the key will erase your score.

View Personality Key

The Norwegians

I am doing research of our family, and have run across some really incredible pictures on both sides of the tree. My Father's side is norwegian and Irish. We know hardly anything about the BRETT side, other than my Grandfather came from Boston, and his parents came from Ireland. My Friend Rusty's Mother is a BRETT also, but she came from England, and we can't find any common ancestors, although I'm sure there must be some way back there. My Grandfather came out to Oregon where he married my Grandmother, and we have lost all track of his family. Pity.

My Grandmother's side was Norwegian, and to hear them talk, there is no other blood but Norwegian in My father! We have their side of the family fairly well documented clear back to my Great Great Grandparents in Lillehammer, Norway. The Maternal family name was Jacobson, and on her side it was Gullsather. The paternal side was Gottenberg, and he married Larsen.

My Great Grandmother came to America in 1872 to Marry my Great Grandfather. He was born here in 1854 in Wesby, Wis. He married Gusta in Frankfort S.D. in 1880 Shortly after they were married the kids started arriving, and arriving, and arriving. The Living Children ended up to be 2 girls and 5 boys, born from 1881-1896. My Grandmother was the oldest girl and she was born a twin with Maynard.



This is a picture of the family shortly before the turn of the century. Sam was the youngest born in 1896 and he looks to be about 3 or 4 in this picture. Josephine May is the one on the left in the back row her twin is on the right. Gilbert who is my Great Gradfather has some mustache doesn't he? (He looks mean! )

The family eventually settled in the Willamette Valley of Oregon around Mt. Angel and Silverton. The ranch was located on the Big Puddin' River. We still have cousins there, and we actually keep in touch with them, although the family is all spread out now. My Dad was the one who kept track of everyone.

Why in this day of modern communications do we let our history escape? I am kind of the family historian, and I try to keep everybody filled in, but my Children don't seem to care, and neither does my Nephew. It is so sad to see the family dispursing and going their own ways, and losing track of each other. We should always know where our blood is.

(We might need some one day)

Letters from Kenny

My Friend Kenny has been wanting to start a blog for awhile, but just never got around to it, so I did what I did with Phyllis...I created one for him, and started him on his way...So everybody head over to Kenny's house and welcome him...now dont scare him away...he is just getting started.

http://lettersfromkenny.blogspot.com/

RAIN!!!!

I woke up this morning to the sounds of the trees gulping in great big gulps, the moisture that has finally arrived! It is raining big slow drops, and in the leaves, the birds are having a field day jumping from branch to branch, taking their long awaited shower. They are all out, wet feathers sticking up like little indian bonnets, chirping and ruffling their feathers to make sure the wetness gets down to their skin!

I looked out over the top of the window sill, and ther in the pouring rain, with her tail held over her head like a furry umbrella was Lola!! stuffing her face with wet sunflower seeds. Sadie was doing her usual tap dance wanting out, so I put her out, and watched as she ran out into the rain, did her pottie really quickly and bounced back to the door.



The mist is forming it's blanket in the trees, and laying low over the roof tops. The ships down on the water are blaring their fog horns, telling everybody in their way that they are there, and to also discover where the land lays. BOOOOOOP! Boop Boop!

This has been a long anticipated wait for the moisture that we need so badly. It is cooler about 55 degrees F, and the rain brings the comforting cool breeze!

Last night on the news, they were talking about how dry the plants were, the moisture level in them lower than ever before in history. Fire season has started and already the Eastern side of the state has several large fires burning.

The West side is now releived, but It is doubtful that this moisture will make it to the Other side of the Mountains. It usually drops it all on this side of the Cascades, and leaves the Eastern half of the state dry and fire prone.

I hope it continues to fall, but some how I doubt that it will. Pity. We need it so badly, to keep the trees green and the tourists away!

Fun with the Fireworks

We spent July 4th at PhyllisÂ?s house as you have now read, BBQ time. She marinated tri-tip steaks in Yoshidasgourmettsaucee and then grilled them. We furnished the side dishes. Baked Beans, cole slaw, pasta salad, 4 bean salad, all topped off with a nummy dessert. It was fun. Nobody argued, no one got mad at anybody else, we just ate, and had fun. A good Family Picnic.



This is Florence, Phyllis' 88 yr old neighbor...Whatt a hoot!!

We left about 5:00 and went to our own homes. Bob was coming back later to watch the fireworks, but I was pooped, so as soon as I got home I took a nap!! Bob came over about 7:00 and we watched the National Mall concert in Wash D.C. It usually is really good, but this year it was really STOOPID! I was bummed.

We headed down to the beach about 9:00 to watch the fireworks. This is a community Beach, overlooking the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Entrance to Puget Sound. There is a 360 degree view of land on all sides. We are straight across from Pt. Townsend, which has some yearly fireworks, and we could see beaches and communities all the way down the sound. Around 10:00 more people started coming down



Bob insilhouettee

The wind comes straight off the Pacific and right down the Straight and into the Sound, and every year it blows about 25 MPH right at dusk. This year was no exception. To top of everything, the Tide was in, but starting to go out, which meant there was not much beach to set off the fireworks.

Bob and I are the cheapskates. We donÂ?t buy the fireworks, we just come down to watch other people and their kids set off their stash. Every time we saw someone else come down with a box in their arms we would cheer and clap.



Oak Harbor, on the East side of the island has some really impressive displays too, but the traffic getting in to see them is BRUTAL, and takes about 3 hours for everyone to get home. Not worth it. I keep wanting to go down to Seattle and watch the ones down there, but we never do.

About 10:00 it was almost dark enough to see them, and the ones with the smallest kids set theirs off and took their kids home to bed. THEN THE BIG GUYS lit theirs off. Talk about some impressive displays!! Boom, crack, pop. Sizzle, colors, fountains of sparks, and tons of smoke choking you. I LOVED it.



At 10:30 we started seeing Pt. Townsends display about 15 miles across the water, and with our binoculars it brought it right up close! So there were rockets red glare, bombs bursting air, all around the waterÂ?s edge. We could see almost to Seattle, but not quite, as it is around the corner of the Kitsap peninsula, and further down the sound. But Pt Gamble, and Hansville, and Bush Point and Lagoon Point and Ft Casey and Pt Townsend were all in view and putting on wonderful displays.

The majority of the ones down there this year were the wussy safe and sane Legal ones, but there were a few illegal ones handled safely by the Men who brought them. They were stuck into the sand at the waters edge, with the mortar pointing slightly over the water to prevent mis-fires and injuries to the multitude of people that were there. It was fun. It was cold, and it was really COOL!! This has been a tradition for us for about 5 years now. When we first started going down it was to watch the ones at Pt Townsend, but then more and more people came each year, and now it is the place to be on the night of the 4th.

I had left Sadie in the house, as she went nuts on Saturday night with the firecrackers in the neighborhood, so I did not want to risk her going nuts with the barking. We came home expecting to see the house torn apart, as this was the first time she had been left alone in the house and not in her pen. I unlocked the door, and no SadieÂ?OHMIGAWD where is she? I walked on in, and Bob said something which made her bark. She was asleep on the couch, and when she heard him she woke up and started her watch dog routine, SEE MOM! IÂ?M AWAKE! I KEPT THE BAD GUYS OUT!!! Yeah rightÂ?she was asleep on the jobÂ?and had been that way since we left. GOOD GIRL!!! GOOD DAY!!! FUN NIGHT!!!

Have a Safe and Sane July 4th.

Isn't it nice to know that the whole world has a July 4th? Be safe everybody!

Alice

When you were a little kid, do you remember any songs that were nonsensical, but were ones that you sang all the time? Did all of your friends sing them too? Girl Scout songs, like John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt or 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Songs that when you hear them now it takes you back...back to your childhood, back to the place or the campfire you were sitting around when you learned it. I remember My Hat it had three corners and every time you sang a verse, you would leave out a word. And add a hand signal. Another one was Head and Shoulders, Knees and toes.

Summer nights like this one conjure up memories of fun times like that. We had us a unique childhood. We were not rich, we did not have much, but we did have fun and we have fun memories. Some of our memories neither one of us girls can remember who or where, but we remember the What. Some of our memories we remember totally different.

Today We were on our way through the pass , off the Island, and across the Skagit Valley to the Big City Mt Vernon and COSTCO. I was talking about wondering if I could draw on Jim's social security when I was the right age. I then went on to mention a woman named Alice that we both knew. When I said her name, with out even missing a beat, both Phyllis and I broke into the ALICE song. You know the one?

Alice, where art thou going?
Upstairs to take a bath.

Alice, with legs like toothpicks,
and a neck like a gir raff raff raff raff raff raff raff raff.

Alice, stepped in the bathtub,
Alice pulled out the plug.

Oh my goodness, oh my soul!
There goes Alice down the hole!

Alice where art thou going?
Glub Glub GLub

And then we both burst into laughter...Neither or us could remember where we learned that song, but we remember it from our childhood, and singing it all the time.

any hints?

ARRRGHHHHH!!

I am getting sooooo frustrated!! I can not load anything from my homepage. it all comes up as server not found. Now I can go to favorites and download SOME of you. I can get Leslie, and then use her blogroll to access everybody, but why cant I use mine? I hate being a smart dumb person!! I was gonna go take a class this summer but they wanted 350 for the class, and I dont HAVE 350! SO I sit here frustrated and ranting out the window, scares the birds and the neighbors. Does not phase the 'puter one iota!!! Damn piece of shit!
*****************************************************************************************
WAIT!!! I am hearing Don's voice in the far off distance saying "take out the www" I'll try that. If that doesn't work I dont know what I'll do. Right now I cant get any body but Leslie.

Poor Baby!!!

Little Johnny's next door neighbor had a baby. Unfortunately, the little baby was born with no ears. When they arrived home from the hospital, the parents invited Little Johnny's family to come over and see their new baby. Little Johnny's parents were very afraid their son would have a wise crack to say about the baby. So, Little Johnny's dad had a long talk with Little Johnny before going to the neighbors. He said, "Now, son... that poor baby was born without any ears. I want you to be on your best behavior and not say one word about his ears, or I'm really going to spank your butt when we get back home."
"I promise not to mention his ears at all," said Little Johnny.

At the neighbor's home, Little Johnny leaned over the crib and touched the baby's hand. He looked at it's mother and said, "Oh, what a beautiful little baby!"

The mother, who had braced herself for Johnny's comment, was pleasantly surprised and said, "Thank you very much, Little Johnny."

He then said, "This baby has perfect little hands and perfect little feet. Why, just look at his pretty little eyes! Did his doctor say he can see good?"

The mother a bit bewildered, hesitantly replies "Why, yes ... his doctor said he has 20/20 vision, why do you ask?"

Little Johnny said, "Well, it's a good thing, cause he'd be fucked if he needed to wear glasses."

--

Bits and Pieces

You know that first sip of coffee in the morning? The one you have waited all night for? The PERFECT cup of coffee, flavored just right, with all of your favorite flavorings in it...Or not? Just cool enough that you semi-slurp it because you know it will burn your lips. The expectation of waiting for it to be ready.

I wake up this morning, and stumble to let the puppy out, and then stumble back to bed to wait for my eyes to open. I sat there watching TODAY and listening to the birds. Finally one eye opens, and then the other, and they were not burning. After about an hour, I get up to go make a pot of coffee, and the pot is very warm.??? Donna must have gotten up early and made a pot, as there was almost a full pot left. I wish I had known it was ready!!

I poured myself a cup, and reached for the Coffeemate. IM OUT!!! arrgghhhhhhh! I LOVE coffeemate in my coffee. Two heaping spoons of it and 1 package of sweet and low. I look in the fridge, and no half and half either. So into the cupboard for a can of evaporated milk. (yuck) I get my coffee into the office, and settle in. Reach for the mug as XP is doing it's thing. I reach my top lip over the rim of the mug ready for the hot coffee to burn it, and take that first cooling SLURP! BLETCH!!!! PTEWEY! YUCK! GROSS!

The coffee had that burnt taste that coffee gets when it has sat for too long, and the rich creamy taste of Coffeemate was not there, and the sweet and low was bitter to boot!

MY MORNING IS RUINED!!!!!!!! What am I going to do? I go back into the kitchen and heat up another cup in the microwave, and add 2 sweet and lows and a dollop of whipped cream. That made it somewhat better, but not at all what I was wanting.

I will have to get my butt dressed and go to the store so this will not be repeated tomorrow! It was so disappointing. And it was not Donnas fault either. I'm sure HER coffee was fine, as it was fresh and not 3 hours old.