Weekend ramblings...

old barn

I went in to Oak Harbor today to pick up paint chips from Home Depot, and look at wll borders for the living room. Got the paint chips no problem. They don't sell wallpaper or borders!! What is that all about? I am getting ready to paint the set. My set builder had me come in and look at it today, and it is going to be wonderful. DIfferent, but fine. Poor Casey, is new to the Playhouse, and noone is willing to tell him what he needs to use. He builds set in other places, so I do not know what the deal is here, but my DEAR LORD, it has created a fiasco because he used a 6" something on a four inch platform. He was ready to walk off, but he will stay for me, and he will be fine. THe old farts in this organization dont want to do it anymore, but they are all being the "dog in the manger" over some one else doing it. SHITHEADS!!

On my way home from Home Depot, I decided that since I had a full frozen Dairy Queen Arctic Rush...Watermelon, I would take the scenic heights route home. It runs along the Harbor, and then along Penn COve, where I grew up. I had not been down that way in a long time. The main road has washed down the bluff into the harbor, so it now goes up and around the old Farm. On this road, Balda Rd, I caught a glimpse of an old picturesque barn out of the corner of my eye as I topped a hill, so I went to a turn around and went back to see it. No traffic on this back road, so I just parked in the middle of the road and snapped away. I LOVE old barns and old run down buildings. THey have a story to tell, I just wish I knew how to listen to it.



two old barns

This old Barn is beside another one that I could not see on the way up the hill, but I thought it was cool too. It used to be an old Chicken Farm. They still do sell farm fresh eggs. Only the barns the chickens are in are made of metal and have no ambience at all. Pity.

I continued on the way, and passed the place where our house and the little store used to stand, all gone now, and replaced by big new houses side by side. Another pity.


prairie

Since I still had about half of my drink left, I went up to the Cemetery in COupeville and parked at the Prairie Lookout while I finished it. Gray, a new reader, wanted to know where the Smith Barn was, so I took a picture of it from the car, and caught this young couple heading out on the nature hike along the top of the prairie. It is one of my favorite sights on the island, The same place I took the moon shot a few weeks ago.

Came home, and took a nap, now I am raring to go again. We got interuppted this morning by the neighbor coming over and asking DOnna if she left her car door open. She had not, and had been broken into. THere were about 5 houses hit last night, all unlocked cars, but they did not take anything but money. DOnna had all of her CD's in the car, and her brand new stereo but they did not take it. THe Deputies think they were looking for crack money. THey found a little plastic packet in Donnas car and asked if it was hers, she said yes probably, and he looked at her and said No, you don't want this to be yours. It had crack dust in it. DOnna does not do drugs of anykind. She backed off, and said nope not mine, but the presription drugs in there are mine, and that was fine.

We ahve never had any problems like this in the 13 years I have lived here, but I think it has finally made Donna a believer in LOCKING YOUR CARS and the front door every night. She has been pooh-poohing me for doing that. Not any more.

GOnna go see if this windex for outside windows really works...I'll report back on it.

Friday ...

SERENE JAPANESE COMPUTER MESSAGES
Here are 16 actual error messages seen on the computer screens in Japan, here some are written in Haiku. Aren't these better than "your computer has performed an illegal operation?"
--------------------------------------------
The Web site you seek cannot be located,
but countless more exist.
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Chaos reigns within. Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
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Program aborting: Close all that you have worked on.
You ask far too much.
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Windows NT crashed. I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.
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Yesterday it worked. Today it is not working. Windows is like that.
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Your file was so big. It might be very useful. But now it is gone.
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Stay the patient course. Of little worth is your ire.
The network is down.
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A crash reduces your expensive computer to a simple stone.
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Three things are certain: Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred?
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You step in the stream, but the water has moved on.
This page is not here.
---------------------------------------------------
Out of memory. We wish to hold the whole sky, But we never will.
------------------------------------------------
Having been erased,
The document you're seeking must now be retyped.
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Serious error. All shortcuts have disappeared.
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Screen.
Mind.
Both are blank.


THis just tickled me. I have been so very busy, and sharing a computer and a telephone line with a daughter has been kinda hairy lately. I have been really tired, so I am not staying up until 0'dark thirty to post. DOnna is on it until I get home from rehearsal which is after 10:30PM. i WILL try to post on a more regular basis once this weekend is over. THen I might have some time.

Miss you all.

Rainy Night!

I came home from the playhouse last night, hurting so bad from moving furniture and getting the set ready. My back was aching, and pinching that damn nerve. SHooting pains were running all down my leg to my toes. It was awful. I could not sleep, at all, I could not get comfortable. SO I lay there and was listening to the drip drip drip of the fog on the leaves, when I noticed that the drips were getting louder. I listened and thought it sounded like RAIN!! It was! Glorious wonderful Wet Rain!! It rained or rather Poured for 12 hours It has not rained for way over a month, so we really needed this to help the forest fires. THe whole eastern half of the state is dry as a bone, and there are more fires already than anywhere in the continent. Not a good thing. THe rain smelled and sounded so good. I lay awake until about 530 when I finally passed out from tiredness. At 600 I was hit in the middle with 35 pounds of really wet Aussie Puppy. Tilly had gone pottie early, and when DOnna let her in she ran right to grandmas bed and jumped right in the middle of my stomach. OOOOOUUUUUUFFFFFFFFF!!! I sat up screaming.

I got a tiny bit of sleep, got up and took a hot shower and then slathered Icy Hot all over my back. Felt better until tonight when I did it all again. This royally sucks.

The Moon tonight was absolutley gorgeous. Low on the south east Horizon as it rose, and turned a big bright orange. It wont be full until tomorrow night, but it sure looked full! ANybody else see it? The moon path waters of the COve was spectacular. I think I am going to have to drag out my 35 mm camera and get some high speed film to start taking shots at night. They do still make film dont they? Tine? what speed should I use 800 or 1000 ASA. I wise I could go over and take some lessons from her, she is so good with her camera!!


TOday was Donna's 38th Birthday, I had been asking her for weeks what she wanted for her birthday, but I never got an answer, so All she got was a chocolate cake and a card. I sang happy birthday to her, and then we cut the cake, ate it and she went to bed. We hardly see each other anymore, since I am at the playhouse until 1000 or later. I dont feel like I should have a daughter 38 years old. I remember when I was 38 like it was just yesterday. Shit!! that means I will be 60 in January. ARGGHHH!!!

Stage whispers...

We took the Stage yesterday for the first time. Right now all we have is a bare stage with a few flats on it left over from the previous show, but they are ones I will be using also. Now We have to get the rest of the stage fitted out, and then get it painted and dressed. Tonight was the first time off book, and it took 4 hours to get through two acts!! ACK! It is a long play, but not THAT long. I am looking for 2 1/2 hours at the MAX. SO needless to say, we have a long ways to go.
Once we get the set furnished and all the props up and out, then we will have a good feel for the length of the play. I have a good feeling about this play, don't know if that is a good thing or not. Only time will tell.

Coming home from the playhouse last night, I noticed that the lights on the clouds were reflecting more than usual. I was just past the Blue-Fox drive in, so I knew it could not be the movie lights, but it just looked funny out. It was after 10:00, so it was dark. As I came around the curve heading down towards to water in San de Fuca, I got a little disoriented. Normally I would look over the water to the other side and see the lights of Coupeville, and those of the homes along Madrona Way, but last night they were not there. That is when I realized that the clods were not real clouds at all, but thick FOG. It was forming right on the water, so it blocked the lights from Coupeville, It was also so thick and low that all the car lights, and lights from the Oak Harbor Airport were reflecting off of it and creating a really pretty lightshow.

Autumn Is already making it's presence known. The low thick fog, the cool breezes along with the hot dry sun, the way the leaves are rustling in the wind, the dry brown grass. All signs that Fall is close by. Some of the trees are already turning color. We don't have the color show that the people in New England have, but ours do turn yellow and then brown and fall to the ground. Our Evergreens, trees and bushes, will give the critters the protection they need after the alders and maples have all lost their coverings, and leave nothing but black and brown skeletons reaching for the dark winter light.

the birds and the squirrels are feeding like crazy, and the berries that we have growing wild around us are extremely prolific, portents of a harsh winter to come?

I'm ready. I have wood all ready to burn, I have kindling ready to split, I have the car all ready, and Donna has her new car ready too. I can't wait for cooler weather. I can always put clothes on to get warm, but I can not take off enough to stay cool. At least not in public. I think that is brandishing a lethal weapon. Lord knows that this body should NEVER been seen in anything less than jeans and a big bulky sweater or shirt. (AARRRGHHHH!!! The eyes!!!)

Barn Dance Saturday Night...

Last night was the 5th annual Dillingers Clambake barn Dance in Smith's Barn on the prairie. We went last year but Bob had something to do on Sunday so we left early. This year we stayed until the rest of the old farts were starting to leave, then we did. It was soooo much fun watching the people!


Barn Dance

The Barn is over 100 years old and sturdy but drafty. There is a concrete floor in 1/4 of the barn, so that is where the dance floor is. The people either bring lawn chairs, or sit on the hay bales that are edging the dance floor. We sat on the hay bales. Bob has never danced so we just sat and watched the rest of the people go for it.


bob

It was dark by the time Bob had to go Pee, so I could not get the requisite picture of him coming out of the john. So I opted instead to get the scary "He didn't know I was taking his picture" shot. Cute huh? (shudder) This dance was open to all ages, and people brought their tiny kids in and let me tell you those kids were up dancing right along side their parents!! Just bouncing and jumping up and down, and twirling and running, and having a ball! They all conked out about 10:00 and fell asleep on a hay bale. Why not!

the whole time I was watching, I was thinking back to the days when we would go to the club on Base and dance our hearts out. Oak Harbor was a Dutch Reformed town, and there was no place in town to dance, so everyone, civilians included, went into the Norwester Club which was the Enlisted club just off base. We would dance until it was time to close and go home. I loved to dance, and did almost all night long. I don't know if I could now or not. Maybe I should buy some Richard Simmons tapes and see how much I can hurt myself with them.

Bob and I were watching one couple that could really do the swing, and he nudged me with his elbow and said "that's us next year" Yeah, RIGHT! I started to say "well Bob, you realize that you would have to actually TOUCH me to dance like that...
But I didn't! There was one couple there that danced every dance fast or slow the same way. He was a long drink of water, with a cowboy shirt and hat (black hat of course) and boots, and his partner was a blonde with long hair and a long black sweater on. They held each other in a traditional dance pose, and just went round and round and round the floor, sometimes she was backwards and sometimes she was, but they danced well together. The whole time he has this big toothy grin on his face. I never saw him without it. IT was fun to watch.


Sunflower volunteers

this morning the sun was hitting the bedroom window just right, and I looked out and saw that it was also backlighting the sunflowers that were growing right under the bird feeder. I let them grow, because they are pretty. They are all volunteers, from seed that the birds kicked off the tray. Not planted, just sitting on top of the mulch and sending out roots to grow with. I love them.


Tilly

As I was taking another picture of the sides of the sunflowers hoping to get the backlight just right, I had a surprise. I was in here downloading and then publishing some pictures when I noticed that there in the window on top of all my pillows, was Tilly. She was the Doggie in the window. RUFF RUFF! The one with the waggely taaaiiilll. Sorry I got carried away.

OUCH!!!!!

I am sitting here waiting for the perseid meteor showers to get going full blast. THey are sposed to be in their fullest around 200 AM. So I thought I would come in and catch up on the computer, and Donna started rubbing my shoulders. and then my neck and then the torture started. She pushed her thumbs clear into my shoulder muscles until they hit bone, and then plucked them like a banjo! OUCH!!!!!! "doesn't that feel good Mom?" she says...Yeah when you QUIT!!!! She kept on until I thought she was going to go right through my brain, And I told her that she would feel really bad if she dislodged some placque in my carotid artery and caused a stroke. She LAUGHED!! My precious daughter LAUGHED at me.

Oh yeah, and she has this really gross night time guard for her teeth, to help her jaw. She has TMJ and her jaw really cracks and pops and hurts her. SO she has this mock-up of her mouth, that the dentist made to fix her teeth and jaw. When he was finished he gave it to her. She loves to bring it in and torment me with it. The upper and lower jaws clacking together just like the old time scary movies when you were a kid. Do you KNOW how scary it is to see the skeleton of something you gave birth to coming through the air and chomping at you? It is awful!!! Bloody damn awful!!! And she thinks it is funny. I told her that if she did not stop I was going to go get the snake skin out of my bedroom and torment her with that.

I remember when she was three, we were in a huge department store like walmart, only it was called GEX or something like that. We were in the toy department and I picked up a rubber aligator and showed it to her, and the next thing I remember is her voice getting farther and farther away as she went screaming down the main aisle and top speed and at the top of her lungs. I was pregnant and could not run and she was GONE!!! My precious blonde baby doll was gone, leaving a puddle on the floor where we were standing. It was mine. I was laughing so hard I peed, and I could not catch her. DO you think she might be trying to get even with me after 35 years?
You can't hold a grudge that long can you?

Pretty Puppy!

Sadie

After the horrible month of May that we had with all of our animals and itching, and losing hair, and itching, and scratching, and itching; We finally have our dogs back to good health. Sadie was hit the worse with a staph infection, scarcopic mange, and kennel cough. She was on Antibiotics, had a shot, was taking pills for a yeast infection, and was taking Prednizone for the itching. She swelled up and was looking kinda chubby there. Her fur fell off her tummy, and she STUNK to high heaven!

Today was the first time she has been back to see the groomer since all this began, and it was NOT the same groomer she caught it from. She pranced out looking all girly and cute with her bright bows in her ears and her cute little hankie on her neck.


pretty

I took a picture of the back of her head because it showed off her ears better!! Isn't she PRETTY?

She went to rehearsal with me last night and stayed right outside the door, (dogs are not allowed in) where she could watch and still be legal. And of course the cast all made a fuss over her.

AS soon as she got home, Tilly started wrestling with her trying to herd her along, because that is what Tilly does, (Aussie Shepherd Puppy) and grabbed her ears and pulled her bows out. Then this morning Tilly took Sadie's hankie off. I told Donna last night that I thought Tilly was jealous because SHE didnt have bows in her ears! Might want to try that on her!

I mean a girl has to look her best at all times. Right?

A funny....

Never thought of a washer in this light before . what a blessing!

' Washing Clothes Recipe' -- imagine having a recipe for this ! ! !
Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following
recipe:

This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with
spelling errors and all.

WASHING CLOTHES
Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke
wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin
water.

Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white,
1 pile colored,
1 pile work britches and rags.

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.

Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.
Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea,
sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
===============================================
Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things
are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give
thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and
dryer, also your toilet - those two-holers used to get mighty cold!

Monday blahs....

Even when you are retired, you get the Monday Blahs. I don't know whether it is because it is because you have been conditioned to wait for them all your life, or whether it is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the air. What ever they are, I got 'em.

I woke up early this morning, after going to sleep late last night. I slept really good too. But now I have NO energy. Monday Blahs I guess. I woke up at 630 and as I was blogwalking this morning, I kept falling asleep at the computer. So I said this is stupid, go take a nap. I head into the bedroom around 1030 and as I laid down, I was wide awake, so I took my shower, got dressed and came in to blog walk some more and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ so I went back in to watch the noon news and fell asleep. It is now 300 and I feel like I could go BACK to sleep and sleep another 4 hours!! NO ENERGY!

We have rehearsal tonight again, and next week we go off book. This is going to be really hard, as we still have no props, so when we get to use them, they are going to have the challenge of trying to remember their lines AND use their props for the first time. We get the stage next Monday, so maybe there is hope!

We have not had any rain in over three weeks, and it looks like we wont have any for another two at least! The only thing that keeps us moist is the cold Marine Layer that blows in every night and creeps back out every morning. It was really thick fog this morning, so the trees got a little moisture on their leaves. The grass is all brown, and will stay that way until Fall, as we should not water our lawns, just the flowers and gardens. We are still in a drought condition. Fires are now breaking out in Eastern Washington, and it could be really bad before the rains come back.

There is a chill in the air though. Strangely enough. The sun is out, bright and warm, but the air has a definite feel of Autumn in it. There is a dry, musty smell in the air, and I have a feeling we are going to have a cold cold winter.

My daughter was talking with me Saturday night, and she had the audacity to say she did not think I could live on my own much longer. I am 59 years old for Christ sakes! I am NOT on my last leg. Yes, I am in pain, with my back and my knees, but I get around! I just am not as active as I was, and Now I feel like she is ready to put me out to pasture! That really hurt! I feel like I should just quit everything and just sit around and wait to die. But I WON'T!! I'll survive! Monday Blahs and all....

Garry Oak

One of the first things I fell in love with when I stepped foot on Whidbey Island was all the TREES! There were trees everywhere, and it reminded me of the mountains where we went camping. I had not been here until I was 8 years old, but as soon as we moved, I felt like I was home.

We lived in a 1 bedroom apartment over a garage, while we looked for another place to live. This garage was on land covered with Fir and Cedar trees, and you could not see the road from the house. I loved it! We only lived there for about a month before we moved even deeper into the trees. We next lived in a 3 room log cabin way out in the wilderness about 10 miles from Oak Harbor, and down a long un occupied road. There were trees everywhere! Dad took us out that Christmas to chop down our own tree. Can you imagine! Walking through a forest full of trees all so tall you could not see the top, and the woods so full of the smell of Christmas, all the time. That year we brought home the scrawniest Charlie Brown tree, but that is because we found it and we liked it and we were excited!! Just Dad and 2 little blonde girls with long pigtails wrapped in plaid wool coats and scarves, dragging home this scrawny tree proud as peacocks. It was heaven.

After about 4 months we moved back into town to be closer to school and to work for Dad, And I expect to be closer to people for Mother. Oak Harbor was just a tiny little town of about 4000 people at that time, and the area where we lived was FULL of big huge Garry Oak trees. They were MAGNIFICENT! We would ride our bikes up and down the streets, looking at the big Oaks. The park was just across the street and down the hill a block, and it was solid Oak Trees! We played on those trees by the hour! We picnicked under them, and we were happy.

Time passed and we again moved out into a new development called Penn Cove Park, and into a 3 bedroom house right on the beach. Trees all around there too, Tall Fir trees that we could climb and play in. And trust me we did. We would climb clear to the top of the fir trees and swing back and forth to see how far over we could make the top go. We had no fear then, and did not even think about the top breaking off and throwing us the 50 feet to the ground and certain death. Nah would never happen.

As the years passed, I grew very fond of the big Garry Oak trees in the old part of Oak Harbor, and grieved every time one of the big old ones would fall in a windstorm. The Garry Oaks don’t sway in the wind like the firs and alders do, they just snap off a branch or two, or split and fall.

The Garry Oak is not a native species to the Island. They were brought here by the Haida Indians hundreds of years ago. There is a big spring on the Navy Seaplane Base that once was part of Oak Harbor, and the Indians would use that as a camping place and eat the acorns brought with them from Vancouver Island. The acorns were roasted in an open fire and then cracked open. The ones that were not eaten grew, and spread outward from the Big Spring, and Up the hill and over the top into the place now called Oak Harbor.

Through the years, the founding fathers have died off and sold their land to new developers and most of the Garry Oaks were cut and removed to make room for the town. Houses were built around the remaining ones, and through time people have cut them away thinking that the old brittle wood would fall during a storm and destroy the houses they so carelessly built in their shadow.

There are still a few Garry Oak trees in Oak Harbor, but not nearly as many as there used to be, and the ones that are there are usually the really old, big ones. The giants that people have left are truly awesome. Their big gnarly spreading branches making great dark skeletons in the winter sky. I love them so. They have been there for hundreds of years. Not many things any more can hold that honor. The fir and cedar trees were cut for lumber, and firewood, but the Oaks are too tough to chop.

One of the oldest Oaks is the one we now call the Post Office Oak. It is at least 300 years old, and has cracked and lost so many of it’s branches. Some of the town Council people want to take it down before it falls and hurts someone, and have hired an arborist to tell them that it has heart rot and does need to come down. There are others on the council that have listened to the same hired arborist tell them that the oak is diseased, but can survive many more years yet, if the roadway over it’s roots were to be removed and allow water to get to it like it should.

People have talked about what should be done with the wood once it is removed. Some suggestions were to cut the oak into giant slabs and hire a wood carver to carve historical scenes into it to be placed about town. Not a bad idea, but surely a final one for said Oak tree.

Lastly it has been decided that the Oak will be saved as long as it can, and the road re-routed around the tree, and a park like atmosphere be placed around it. I like that. There are so many old things that we have destroyed in our few hundred years on this continent. There are no more HUGE fir trees, no more 10 feet in diameter trunks to remove; No more trees so big you could cut a tunnel through them and drive through and still not destroy it. No more trees so big that you could raise a family in it’s stump. All that is gone. We need to try and save what we can. We need to preserve what is left of these rare Garry Oaks, and try to encourage them to reproduce, and hopefully our future generations will be able to see why this town was called OAK Harbor.

Things to think about...

This was sent to be a while back in an email...It is worth posting.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. >From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get the toddler toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older . The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, fail to see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Stop and smell those roses you pass every day. Stop and watch a sunset. You never know when it will be your last.

Wasn't that good?

Monday night during AUditions for LITTLE SHOP a young man got up and said he was going to tell a true story about him and his Mom, as he had nothing prepared. He worked at big brothers and big sisters, and tells this story to his kids every week...

He was getting ready to go somesome place and his Mom asked him a question about where he was going and what he was going to do, and he shrugged her off and said something really sarcastic like: What's it to ya? or something like that.

His mom was 41 years old and smoked very much. He had often tried to get ther to stop but she wouldnt. He gruffly left the house, and was gone until really late. When He got home, he discovered that his Mom was not home, and his neighbor came over and said your Mom was taken to the hospital with a heart attack. He of course panicked and got to the hospital as fast as he could.

THe Drs. told the family that she probably would not make it because she had so much damage to her heart. She was only 41! He sat in the ICU with her and told her he loved her but she could not hear him. All he kept thinking was the last time I saw her I told her "What's it to ya." and walked off. And he may never again get to tell her how much he loved her.

She eventually lived, quit smoking and he was able to tell her while he was on stage and she was in the audience how much he loved her. There were no dry eyes folks.

This was a true story. ANd If you have had bad words with someone you love, make amends today! you may never get the chance again.

Killing yourself with work is not what counts. Your life, your family are and your friends are.

This n That...

I slept! I slept through the night last night! Whoot!! I did things a little differently though. I got home from the Playhouse at 11:00 and then came in here and blogwalked some, then did some scrapping and THEN went to bed. I watched the end of the TONIGHT show, and then turned off the TV, opened a book, and when I found myself reading the same line over and over and over again, I turned off the light and woke up this morning at 9! Now if I can just stay awake all day today...

I decided that since there isn't much pollen floating around in the air right now, I would quit taking my Zyrtec and see if that helps me stay awake. I know that when I am on it, I sleep all day long!!! Even when I take it at night. I tell you I am a really cheap drunk...Any type of narcotic, or spirits, and I am OUT like a light! All except for morphine. I puke, and puke on Morphine, so for surgery pain I have to have demerol (WHOOT!!!!)

Lola and Suzie and ALVIN all were at the feeder this morning, so I could not let Sadie and Tilly out until the squirrels were finished with their breakfast. The birds are pretty much doing their own things right now. The goldfinch are nesting, they are the latest ones to do so. The hummers have all gone South, by going East over the mountains and then down, There is still the occasional one or two flitting by, but the feeders will come down and get sanitized and stored for the winter, and go back out again in February. The woodpeckers are out pecking at dead trees and eating bugs, and the doves and pidgeons are out and foraging off the natural seed available. The Sparrows and the house finches and the Juncos are still at the feeders in abundance though.

I have Dottie's two cats for a week, and then they go home for two weeks then I get them for another 3 weeks. Right now I am just getting Tyler to come out of the garage, and into the house where he can get his water and see the birds. He is afraid of Tilly. (and rightly so, she will herd anything right now!!) Tippy is too, but she hisses and growls and spits and shows her ass and Tilly heads for under the bed.

the salmon are hitting the beach right about the time I head for the Playhouse, so I am not able to go fishing this year! DAMN!! I was so wanting to take advantage of the Humpy run this year and stock the freezer.


Pink or Humpy salmon

Maybe I can this weekend! I love fishing. I don't even care if I catch anything. It is the act of standing on the edge of the water and throwing this teeny tiny little Buzz Bomb into this vast great ocean and actually thinking that SOME dumb fish will take your line out of all the others that are out there. Damn we are an arrogant species aren't we...

Another one cast!

Whidbey Playhouse

Tonite we cast the Musical A Little Shop of Horrors. It will be in production from Aug 15 until November 26. Rusty is directing this one and I am producing. We said we would produce each others shows before the season was set, and BAM! back to back they put them. So we will be quite busy until November when we will both take some time off.

I am directing Blithe Spirit, and I have a wonderful cast, and it opens September 16, Rusty's show opens Nov 4. And we BOTH just got through with the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The FOrum!! 9 months worth of shows is almost like having triplets!! Even the labor pains are rough!!

Little Shop will be a hoot! The Auditions were as good as the show!! I am bone tired right now. I think I will get a sandwich and head for the bedroom, maybe tonite I will be able to sleep. Then Again.....

Can't sleep...

When I was younger, a LOT younger, I would sleep 12-15 hours a day if I could. I would sleep in until 1:00 PM. Or until either my Brother or my Sister would wake me up.

When I started working, I worked from 630 AM until 3 PM and then I would go party, come home and sleep until time to go back to work. It was tough trying to find a husband that would be able to take care of me the rest of my life. On my days off, I slept!

When I had kids, I slept when they did, otherwise there WAS no sleeping. I was fortunate enough to have a husband who was an early riser, and he would let me sleep. I think a lot of it was escapism.

As I grew older, Sleep became a time of peace, and rest. I would go to bed fairly early and get up fairly early also. Sleeping in was 9-930 AM.

Now that I am retired, I have formed a weird pattern. I will go to bed around 1100, and read until I fall asleep, which most nights is right away. Then I will have to wake up about an hour or two later to get up and pee the first time. I may or may not be able to get back to sleep. Didn't matter, I have all day, I have crossword puzzle books and maps to read. And then I will fall back to sleep, until I have to get up in another 2 hours to pee again.

the past few nights however, I am getting to sleep around 100 AM and waking up around 330, and staying awake! Not tired, not sleepy, just mad, because I cant sleep. My feet will be burning up, or ice cold. SO I am either crawling under the covers that I fell asleep on top of, or crawling out from under the covers that I had cocooned myself in.

Tonight was another one of those nights, only this time I am tired, and I am sleepy, and I want to go back to sleep, but as soon as I turn out the light to try again, I am wide awake. The experts tell you to get up away from your bed, and go sit in a chair until you are ready for bed again.

SO that is why I am sitting here updating my blog at 450 AM! I have tons to do today, so I should be getting my rest, but I cant! My mind is whirling, and twirling! I have Act III to rehearse this evening, and then I have to run across the parking lot to the main stage, for auditions for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. So I wont get to bed until late again. I also have to go grocery shopping as I finally have money in my account again.

I have watched Mars make his transition across the early early morning sky, I have watched the stars over head get dimmer and dimmer as the fog layer moves in and covers them. I have watched the northern sky looking for the Auroras that might hit today. And I have finally heard the first bird of the morning chirp his little self awake. The tree line is just barely visible against the deep navy blue sky, and it is getting a tad bit lighter every minute. It seemed like just yesterday that the tree line was plainly visible at 345 AM. Now it is closer to 515!! Soon it wont be light until 800, and will get dark again around 430.

It is almost time to go make a pot of coffee, as Donna will be getting up in about an hour, and madly rushing around getting ready for work. It is nice to know that I can crawl back into my bed, and pull the covers back over my head, and sleep until I want to get up, but I wont. I may catch a nap or two, during the day, but those are no more than 15-20 minutes long.

What do you take in your morning coffee? I'll go make us some...

133d Army Band from Tacoma, WA

133rd Army Band

Today's concert was the 133rd Army Band made up of members of the Reserve Unit of the Army National Guard. These members were all sharp, and excellent musicians. The Leader of the Band, 1SG Rebecca M. Sharrett was herself a member of a family of seven all playing since they were old enough to hold their instruments. Her father was Robert Storm, and he wrote two of the pieces that the band played today.


jazz!

The jazz portion of the show was made up of this group of players, and man could they play! The Gentleman on the platform singing, was singing Ray Charles' rendition of America The Beautiful and just as he was singing AMERICA, AMERICA, GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE, a bald Eagle flew over and circled the park, and it was like it was right on cue. BEAUTIFUL!!




boot strings

This section of the program was made up of instruments that Lewis and Clark had available to them. Violins (fiddles) and fife and drum. And they played a series of songs from that era. After they played their selections, the whole band again got together and played some rousing marches, and got everyone clapping and their feet a tapping.


echoing trumpets

This was two selections before the end of the concert, and the Boot Strings got back up and played Amazing Grace like you have never heard it played before, and then as they were finishing, the two members with trumpets went off to the sides and played taps and echoed each other, as Amazing Grace was ending. GOOSE BUMPS PEOPLE!!!!

I did not get the weekly picture of Bob heading to the pot, because I was caught up in the music and was clapping when he came back!

It was a great performance today and HOTTER THAN HADES out but it was once again a gorgeous day, and a perfect day for concerti on the cove Sundays in the Park!

PHHHFFTTTTT!!!!

I hate to try and make up a title when I am not sure what I am going to blog about.

I could not sleep last night, kept waking up with back cramps and leg cramps, and then a freaking HOTFLASH! Come on there Dude!! I am damn near 60 years old fer Chrissake!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!! Go give those Power surges to someone else.

Actually it hasn't been that bad really. It has been almost a month sine the Dr took away my hormones, and I have only really melted down twice, and only 3 or 4 hot flashes. I may just have this one licked!! Now if only I could dump this freaking weight!!! I have gained a good 50 lbs since I retired, and Lord knows I did not need to do that at all!! But it is extremely hard to exersise when you have a back that gives out and puts you on the ground, and 2 bad knees that wont work.

My Dr. brought up the subject about Weight loss surgery, but I have such a rotten luck with major surgery I am not sure I want to go that route. I asked about lapband and he said no, that they have a bad record of coming undone. Trust me, if something can go awry with a surgery it will happen to me.

Every one I have had, has had to be redone for various reasons. The last one was 1984 when they final took the other tube and ovary out, and then the rest of my cervix. Somehow they knicked a bowel and two days after being released I was back in having it all done over again. This time they left me wide open, no stitches, to heal from the inside out.

My son who was 13 at the time, bless his heart, was my nurse. He would change my dressing, and irrigate it with saline solution, then re-dress me. I do not know what I would have done if He had not been there. He was wonderful through all of that. No complaints at all. He was such a good kid!

anyway, I am not sure I want to go through all of that again. I keep hoping that I will wake up some day skinny again and it will have all been a bad dream!

I had planned to go up to Mt Baker today, with my cameras and just shoot pictures all day. But after no sleep last night, I called Bob and told him I was not going to go, so he could work on his Motorcycle if he needed to. I really wish I could have gone. Maybe I will next weekend. IT is so pretty up there in the summer. The heather is all in bloom and all of the wildflowers are out. The glaciers on the sides of the Mountain are so close that you can walk up to them. I wont though, too high! I will sit on the bench and watch the other people hike up!

Have any of you seen Mars this month? It is so bright about 400AM and right over my head if I am lying on my back. I can lay there and see Mars, how way cool is that? I would love to be able to see the new planet that they just discovered. No official name yet though.

SHIT!!! I just saw the time at the bottom of the page here, it is 200!! I need to get my self to bed!! I have a SUNDAY IN THE PARK concert to go to tomorrow. The 133rd Army Band will be playing. gotta go support our troops!! I will come back with pictures again.

Changes....

misty sunset

We have been having a heatwave. Nothing like the rest of the country or world, but hot for us. It is been in the high 80's 90's. Today you could feel the change. As I listened to the weather report on the evening news, I saw that we have some Marine Air coming in from the west. He said that the temps were gonna drop, and the wind was going to bring in the clouds.

I went in to rehearsal and afterwards, drove along the west side of the island to see the sunset. As I got closer to the beach, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped drastically. I turned on Ebby Road, and went on down the sharp turn to the landing and the beach. The wind was pushing the water in from the sound and crashing the waves right up on the beach. The tide was coming in, so the water was really close to the road.

I stopped, got out of the car and stood there with the wind whipping into my face, slapping me with the mist off the water. I turned on my camera and snapped away. The picture above is the best one. In it you can see the spindrift blowing across the face of the bluff and on up to the prairie.

I followed the water past the Ferry landing and on down the strand to the cove where I live. The water on this side of Ft Casey and Admiralty Head, was very calm, and the ferry landing was smooth as glass. On down the road 1 mile the wind was again coming in from the Strait and making waves on the shore. I clicked away as long as I could, until the light was too dim to get good exposures.

I headed on around past the pond and the Pool where I thought I dropped my transmission last year, and headed on up the hill. Just as I got to my block, the Lady on the corner was walking her oldest wolf. I HAD to stop and tell her how much I love hearing them howl at night. The oldest one is 12 1/2 years, and I have been here for 13, So I have heard him since he came here. He is absolutely GORGEOUS! I do not think I would ever be frightened of meeting a wolf in the wild. She has three of them, and they are well cared for, never loose, in a proper pen, locked up and safe from idiots.

Very late at night especially on a really cold winter still night, you can hear OWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO coming from 6 houses down, and you know that all is right with the world. The wolves are communicating and the fog is rolling in. Don't get much better than that.

Tagged again!!!!

I told you not to bring that DAMN WOODPECKER!

1. If you were a celebrity, what kind would it be (movies, tv, literature, crime, etc)?

Probably a Movie Star. I would be one of those classic faces that you always saw but didn’t know. A comedienne.

2. Which other celebrities would you make a concerted effort to try and be around?

Tom Hanks, Katie Couric, Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Speilberg, to name a few of the best ones.

3. Which other celebrities would you avoid like the plague?

Any of the Jacksons, any of the so called really cool and IN celebrities. They are all so not worth the fame and the attention they get.

4. Which celebrities would you date?

SAM ELLIOTT!!! No doubt about it!! I have been in love with him for YEARS!!

5. What would be your "Celebrity Cause"?

The plight of Single Parents. Womens issues, helping single Mothers cope with one paycheck and 3 kids to feed. Getting higher education to women who desire it.

6. Since celebs always get off, what crime(s) would you commit?

I wouldn’t. And I would not hang around with Celebs that did. Wrong is wrong!

7. What would be the name of your tell-all book?

Not sure I would write one.

8. Tag 3 people to do this poll.

Leslie

Michelle

mizkittay

9. Link to the post that tagged you:

Purple Moose

Another Sunny Sunday in the Park...

Latin

this week the performance was by this group of 4. 2 acoustical guitars, 1 bass guitar and a set of drums. Grupo Incindio was their name, and if you ever get a chance to go see them, DO! They are all Americans, From all over the US. And they have made and are selling 4 CD's. They play Latin upbeat music, that they compose. They also play Fusion music, which is a mix between rock and Latino and just a real toe tapper.

You could not sit still during the whole 90 minutes of playing. No singing, just Music, and wonderful. I told Bob that we needed to bring a picnic lunch and sit in the shade and listen and all I got was a grunt.


bob

Here again is another Picture of Mr. Friendly coming back from the john. I have a whole album of him either going to or coming from the bathroom. He HATES to have his picture taken, and If he does hold still for it, he poses so arrogantly that it isn't any good. He actually bought a new shirt for this years' concert series too.

Bob is a creature of habit, and has 7 pairs of Levi's, 7 pairs of navy blue boxers and tees, 7 navy blue outside tees, 3 navy sweat shirts and 3 gray sweat shirts and 3 gray tees. OH and now 2 aloha shirts!! That is the extent of his wardrobe. I have GOT to write about him one day, but you'all would never believe me so I have been putting it off. I have started to so many times, but I just can not do him justice. Maybe I oughta let Phyllis do it...NAH! NEVER MIND!!!

the Prairie again...

Last night, I headed back up to the Cemetery to see if I could catch the sunset on the mountains and the prairie ..."and the ocean white with foam."

THe picture below is of the left side of the prairie and the tip of Mt Baker just touched with the sunset. It was starting to get a bit hazy, but you can see the beauty.


mt baker

THen I looked to the right, and the sun was still shining on the prairie and the hay freshly cut in the field. You can see the haze starting on the water.


prairie sunset


Tonight on the way in to Coupeville from My home, Bob drove the back way along the water, and up Ft Casey Road. THere was a red car stopped in the road, and I told Bob to slow way down, they must see a critter. As we got closer we could see the hay bales stacked in the fields, and a black dot on the top.

"OH!" "It's an Eagle!" and sure enough as we crept closer, there was an adult bald eagle just sitting on the hay bales. There are at least three breeding pairs around this area, judging by the number of juveniles, and when the hay is cut and baled, they eagles sit in the field and wait for the baby rabbits, mice, snakes etc, to surface.

Just last month, I saw 6 babies and 3 adults all sitting in a freshly mown field. The babies are so very dark, and their eyes are piercing. They are also bigger than their parents just for a little while.


eagle

THis one was sitting and not moving, and his right wing was away from his body. He was either sunning himself with his wings spread, or he flew into the telephone wire and hurt himself, and is just sitting there waiting. I choose to believe he was sunning himself. He really did not act hurt. The have really made a good comeback from the brink of extinction. At least around here, and the North West Coast. Here is hoping that it soon becomes the Norm to see them every where. They are such a cool bird.

The haze is coming in again tonite, and there are showers forecast for tomorrow, so our summer may just be over. we shall see.

Prairie Moon

Last night after rehearsal, I was driving down Highway 20 heading towards home, when my eye caught the moon. It was HUGE! Big and bright, and almost full. It was 936, so it was not dark yet, to my left the moon was rising over the water, to my Right, the sun was setting over the water. I tried to follow the moon, and get a good picture of it making a path on the water, but I could not find a good spot to pull off and get out. I drove on in to Coupeville, and headed up to the Cemetery, where I knew I would get a good view of the moon, but no water. Just a very big bright moon over the Prairie. The photo has not been enhanced, that was the actual light! Our Prairie has been placed on the National registry so that it will stay a prairie in perpetuity. I would hate to see this full of condos!!

My feeling of Doom left when I saw the magic that the moon brought to the evening. It should be really big tonite!! I will try to get a picture of the moon path on the water, with the town of Coupeville in the background if I can. It is real Magic when that happens.

Night before last, as I came down the street, I saw what looked like a beige cat sitting on the dark street. I slowed down, and as I got closer, I saw it was an OWL just sitting there! It was a barred owl, and I got very close to him, with the car, before He even blinked. I was afraid he was hurt, so I opened the car door to go see, and he lifted his wings and flew shudderingly over to the top of a pick up parked in a driveway. I have to assume that it was a Fledgling, as it was not as aware of it's surroundings as an older owl would be. It was quite a priviledge being able to see this very shy owl up so close.

Yep, our nights are magical here.


UPDATE!!!!!*********************************************************************


barred owl

On My way home tonite, I was looking for the moon, but it has not risen yet. BUT right on the corner just three houses down from where he sat last night, baby owl flew up to the telephone wire. Since it was fairly light out, I rolled down my window and called to him. He was a barred owl so they call a very low "WHO COOKS FOR YOU, WHO COOKS FOR YOU AH!" He responded my siddling down the wire so he could see me better, then I heard a loud HISSY SQUEAK. and then another one flew from the tall Cedar tree to the wire next to him. I called to them both and they both responded. HISSY squeak. So now I know they are fledgelings, and that their nest is somewhere close. I shoulda been born a naturalist.

Dread and DOOM...

When I was growing up, I lived very close to areas that had been under attack or hit during WWII. I also lived all my life on the COast, so I was fully aware of the threat of attack by "the Russians" or whom ever. We had tuck and cover drills in school where we would drop under our desks, curl up and put our arms over our heads and cover your eyes. We would stay that way until the Teacher or the Bell said All Clear. We had air raid sirens on most corners, and we knew that when they sounded, that we were to find cover and duck. There was one siren for Take Cover, and another for all clear. THe radio stations would have CIvil Defense Drills, and On every block, there was a designated Bomb shelter labeled with the Funky Yellow Triangle circle thingie. We worried about it, but we never lived in fear. We knew that it was a fact of life, and that we needed to be prepared for such an attack.

THen We grew up and the threat of Nuclear War was very real. We knew that if and when it happened that the whole world would be destroyed. We also knew that no country in their right mind would shoot first, as it would be assured nuclear destruction for them too. I worked on bases that were geared to that end. We just lived with it.

When I was a Senior in High School, I read a book called ON THE BEACH, about just such a scenario, and it was awesome. Soon a Movie came out, starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins. I just finished watching it for the 2nd time in my life. The first time was at a drive in with friends, and I am sure I never took it as seriously as I should have. Today I watched it, and cried again, for the total destruction that we brought on ourselves. I missed the very beginning, so I don't know who started this war, but it was total annihilation of living beings. No dogs, no birds, no people would be left.

In one scene they showed the view of San Fransisco from the periscope of a submarine, and all of the streets were empty. NO life at all. It was Chilling to watch.

I went in to catch a nap before the Playhouse rehearsal tonite, and could not rest. I have this feeling of impending doom. I am just hoping that it was brought on by watching this movie. Phyllis had this feeling on Friday. I hate it when We get these twinges. I can think of no more horrible way to go than knowing that you are the last vestige of humanity left in the universe, and you are going to die also.

If you ever get a chance to see it, please do. It is Black and White, and not gruesome as our movies are now days, this was done to allow your own imagination to fill in the blanks. It was a very good movie, and well worth the sleepless afternoon I just spent.

(Shudder)

Sunny Sunday....

Today Summer arrived!!! It is absolutely GORGEOUS here. It also is the first Sunday of THE CONCERT ON THE COVE, SUNDAYS IN THE PARK series. Today's performance was A big band sound from a band called the SeaNotes. A Band from Oak Harbor, Not the very best, but for 7.00 it was good! Played for 1.5 hours of 40-50's style music. Great Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, etc jazz. Super day to plop your beach chair on the grass, open up your umbrella and sit in the sun and watch people, and sing. There will be 6 more of these concerts through August. Can't wait!


bandstand

After the concert, We walked through the park and down the path towards town and the parking lot, and just as we came out of the trees, there was this view. I couldn't pass it up, so I stopped, put down all my gear, and snapped away. This is looking right down at the Coupeville Wharf and the Port of Coupeville. Across the water is more of Whidbey Island, and Oak Harbor, and the Navy Seaplane Base. On the Horizon, you can just make out Mt Baker, our wonderful kind benevolent sleeping volcano. May she sleep for a looooong time yet.


wharf

This is the view at the entrance to the wharf, and down Front Street and the rest of the town. Big isn't it? It is being turned into a tourist destination, but we are keeping the old feel of the town, and really it is pretty much the way it was when We were growing up. The paint is newer, and the car models have changed. The big red bldg WAS an Evinrude outboard motor, and boat repair station, but now it is a number of little shops inside and a gourmet restaurant and brewery.




Most of the people that grew up here cant afford to live here anymore, and their old family businesses and homes have been sold and purchased by nouveau retirees from the big cities with lots of money to fix up these buildings. I cant say it is a totally bad thing, because it does bring tourist dollars into the county, but it is sad to see people dislocated because they cant pay the high taxes any more.

such is the way of life in utopia I guess. Days like today don't help much either, because if it was the first time you had seen it, you would fall in love with this area too, The sky is blue, the water is cool and blue, and the breezes are just enough to cool you off from the hot sun. The days are LOOONG this time of year, and there isn't much NOT to like. HOWEVER, had you been here in June or the first part of July, the skies were a dark gray, it was windy and cold, SUN? What sun? And it rained, and rained, and rained.

today is the jewel of a day that sustains us through the rest of the dark cloudy year. I wouldn't live anywhere else...Well maybe Alaska...

Bigfoot!!

When I Moved away from Whidbey in 1969, they were just starting to finish pushing through the mountains that would soon be designated NORTH CASCADES National Park. There was no way to get from West to East between Steven’s Pass, near Seattle and Rogers Pass, in Canada. This Highway was a long time in planning, and building, and everyone was waiting for it to finally open.

In 1977, I came home on vacation and Dad and Mom and I drove the North Cascades Highway, from Burlington through to Winthrop. Over the Pacific Crest, between Washington Pass and Rainy Pass, there was this sign along the side of the road. I just had to stop and get a picture of it and the footprints that were painted along the road.


feet


bf


I had not heard of Sasquatch until the middle sixties, but it was a very big Campfire tale around here. It was never seen, just hinted at, and there were occasional sightings in the North Cascades, and down around Mt. Shasta in California, and Around Mt Adams and Mt St Helen’s even once or twice on the Olympic Penninsula. Nothing substantiated.

Soon the tale grew, and people were faking the sightings, and then it got to the point that everything was suspect. People who may have sighted it, were not telling for fear of being ridiculed.

When I was The General Manager at the Navy Exchange in Fallon, Nevada, I had a young woman of American Indian heritage working for me, and she was from Bellingham, just North of us here. Just South of the Canadian Border. She tells the story of when she was about 12, and her and another young girl were in the woods playing, and when they were picking blackberries they poked through the bushes, and came face to face with a Bigfoot. They were terrified, and ran home. They got the elders of their reservation, and brought them back to where they had sighted the animal, but nothing was there. They were poo-pooed and they swore they would not talk about it again.

I had heard many tales, but just put them away for a campfire. A few years ago on the discover channel I was watching a documentary on BIGFOOT. And there on TV was Wendy’s story!!! I was amazed!! She believed it was a real sighting, and obviously someone else did too.

Yesterday on the news, was this story about several people seeing the animal. Footprints and a hunk of hair were found. So Now DNA evidence can tell if it was a bear, a man a monkey or a real honest to God Sasquatch. I believe. I really
do!!


© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Roger Smarch of Teslin, Canada, shows off track where mysterious creature was spotted (courtesy: CBC) The legendary creature "Bigfoot" has been spotted again, this time in Canada, where nine people in the Yukon community of Teslin claim to have seen the legendary creature. According to the CBC, the witnesses, some of whom are children, saw the hairy, human-like creature pass in front of a house window, and then later behind an abandoned car near some houses last weekend. Those who claim to have seen Bigfoot, which is also known as a sasquatch, said they heard trees snapping and creaking despite the lack of wind at the time. They say the figure was running too quickly for them to keep up with it. "He ran through the backyard, and that's when I seen him," said one man who was on his porch at the time. "You could see a big, black thing go by, and you couldn't see no head or nothing. So, I figured it was somebody messing around." "We weren't gonna tell anybody at first 'cause we thought everybody was gonna look at us and say we're all snakin' out or we're crazy," said another eyewitness. "It wasn't too much fun explaining it at first, but once everybody starts believing us, it's not so bad. They wanted to see the track, they wanted to see the pictures, they wanted to see the hair and stuff like that. ... I wouldn't want to run into him in a dark, back alley or anything like that. Geez, it stands over ten feet tall, [it would] proabably tear my head off or something." The men said some evidence was left, including a footprint about twice the size of a human print, and a patch of hair which has already been sent to a conservation officer in Whitehorse for possible DNA review.

I'm here!

I have been so busy and so sore, that I have not had a chance to sit down and write. ill dont, but felt that if I did not update and post SOMETHING soon, you all would leave and not come back.

I held auditions for My new show BLITHE SPIRIT on Monday and Tuesday night. A total of 7 people showed up. It is getting harder and harder to compete with every other thing that is taking people's time. There were 7 roles to fill, so I cast everyone that auditioned in a role. It isn't what I wanted, but I can work with it. What I can NOT work with though is losing my leading man 3 hours after I cast him!!! He was thrilled to get the role, but realized that he could not do the lead, as he had some issues with his father that he had to deal with over the next month or so.

So once again, I am looking for one good man! At least this time Im not looking for Jesus! Just Charles. I'll get there...(rolling eyes)

Last weekend I really did a number on my back. I have three compressed disks in my lower spine, and when they start acting up, it is sheer hell!! I have had to walk with my walking stick. ANd because of the way I'm walking I guess, my Knees are acting up too. THose pesky darned knees. I think I am gonna try and see if my insurance will cover surgery since they switched over. I have been flat on my back in bed most of the day, then get up, check my email and work on play.

This weekend I will finish blocking and then rehearse our little hearts out. We wont open until September 16, but it is amazing how fast the time goes, when you are trying to get a set built and lines learned in time.

Rusty and I are going to be so pooped!! we will have done three shows in a row by the time we close HER show in November. Then we are both taking a break. WHew.

OH!!! I have a JOB!!!!! I can sit right where I am right now, and answer the phone!
I will be a customer service rep for a friend of mine who runs an internet business. I will get paid a prety good salary for a little work. THey are furnishing the land line 800 # into my house, a cell phone for away from home calls, a lap top and color 3/1 printer, a fax machine, and a company credit card for expenses!! WHOO WHO> It will surely help me get through the month! My retirement check pays all the bills, but there is NOTHING left for incidentals. This will allow me money to play too!! YES. This Man was my Boss at the Navy Exchange in Bangor, Washington. We have a great relationship and I love his wife! It is really her company, but he runs it. I think. ANyway I am excited.

So that has been my week, and I think my brain is scrambled....

The Millionaire...

Millionaire


A contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? had reached the final plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would win the million dollars. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the $32,000 milestone money.

And as she suspected it would be, the million-dollar question was no pushover. It was, "Which of the following species of birds does not build its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds? Is it A) the condor; B) the buzzard; C) the cuckoo; or D) the vulture?"

The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer. And she was doubly on the spot because she had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Audience Poll Lifeline. All that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline, and the woman had hoped against hope that she would not have to use it. Mainly because the only friend that she knew would be home happened to be a blonde.

But the contestant had no alternative. She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices. The blonde responded unhesitatingly: "That's easy. The answer is 'C' -- the cuckoo."

The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered employing a reverse strategy and giving Regis any answer except the one that her friend had given her. And considering that her friend was a blonde, that would seem to be the logical thing to do.

On the other hand, the blonde had responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be persuaded.

Time was up. "I need an answer," said Regis.

Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, "C) the cuckoo."

"Is that your final answer?" asked Regis.

"Yes, that is my final answer," she said, breaking into a sweat.

After the usual foot-dragging delay Regis said, "I regret to inform you that that answer is ... absolutely correct. You are now a millionaire!"

Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the million dollars.

"Jenny, I just do not know how to thank you," said the contestant. "Because of your knowing the answer to that final question, I am now a millionaire. And do you want to know something? It was the assuredness with which you answered the question that convinced me to go with your choice."

"You're welcome!" the blonde said.

"By the way," the winner said, not being able to contain the question anymore. "How did you happen to know the right answer?"

"Oh, come on," said the blonde "Everybody knows that cuckoos don't build nests. They live in clocks!"

I am NOT crazy...

My daughter just asked me if I was going crazy, because I said something really stupid. PHHHHFFFFFTTTTTTTT!!!!! I am not going crazy, I may be a little bit stressed right now, or as she just said, you're not crazy, you are just losing your mind. Insanity is inheirited. you get it from YOUR KIDS!!!! They drive you nuts!!!

Actually I am a little concerned because I forget things. like what I was going to say next, people's names, the names of things, etc. I asked my Dr at my last check up if it was something to really worry about, and he said yes, but if you can remember this conversation, then NO!. Wellll PHHHHFFFFFFFTTTTTTT to him too.

I used to have a memory like a steel trap, I never forgot anything, but lately I am. I am trying not to let it consume me, but it does bother me. I do crossword puzzles every day, I can read and remember what I read, I can remember what I just did, but I get bothered that I will forget what I was going to say next. THere is no Dementia in the family other than my 93 yr old Aunt. but she just had old age dementia, not altzheimers. I guess I should not worry about it and get on with life huh?

My SIster in Law came over today and weeded my yard!! she had energy to burn and her yard was done, and her house was clean, and she saw how bad mine was last weekend, so she came over to do it for me.

Bless her!! She got the front beds all cleared of weeds and grass. DOnna mowed the front yard until her back went out again, then we went around back. Sherry pulled weeds, and I hooked up the electric weedwhacker and I would do 10 feet and have to stop and sit down and lwet the back go back into place, Then start all over again. Took me about 2 hours to go around the back fence line, but I did get it done. She was working in the Iris bed, and aroound the roses. I rested and then started up the lawn mower out back. I mowed for a few feet and then rested, and then mowed a few feet more and then rested. We got almost the whole back yard done too, except for the mess behind the deck which we will tackle tomorrow.

so to the ANGELS that are keeping score on blessings given and received....SOME blessings were received and thanked and helped, and some blessings have to be re-directed, but the thought was there, and that should not count against them!! SO do you hear me? DO NOT BLAME ANYONE whose BLESSING, well intended, may happen to get re-directed. Count it as a blessing given and received please. It aint their fault. ;) (you do know who too....) ANd these blessed souls will always remain very close to my heart. Sherry for coming over, and you know why for the other. ;)

After I finish the yard work tomorrow I will take a picture and show you what all we did. I had a BEFORE picture but I cant find it.

This was the first day in a long time that it did not rain, and everyone was out doing yardwork. you could hear weed eaters and lawn mowers and chain saws all over the neighborhood. So obviously my yard was not the only one in dire straights.

MY Brother went over and put Phyllis new toilet in for her. So now she does not have to share the kitty box with Punkin any more. Her toilet was so LOW. She has a mobile, and for some reason the toilet is lower than normal, so finally after 15 years, she bought a tall toilet. (no DAVID!! Not THAT TALL!) Now in our old age, we can easily get off the pot and get on with life. WHEW!! That was worrying me too.

I start AUditions for Blithe Spirit on Monday night. I have to finish blocking the play by next Monday. Mon and Tues are Auditions, Read through will be Wed. and THurs we will take everyone to the annex for costuming, then off the weekend, and start full rehearsals on Monday the 18th. This should be an easy play to do, the set designer did a lovely set, and All I need to do now is find someone to finish building it.


the set

I am heading for bed early tonight , as my back is sooooo sore from all the mowing. I need to get some rest. Hope you all are safe and healthy. And Wanda, TW, Joe, and John, YOU all stay safe and dry!! stay away from DENNIS.

up before the birds even...

Yep, it is 445 AM and I woke up sweating, and cant get back to sleep. I have been off of my hormones now for two weeks and other than a few mood swings, it has not been as bad as I was expecting. Of course I had been on them for over 20 years! All spare parts in my body have LEFT THE BUILDING! When the Dr told me at my yearly oil change that he was taking me off of them I almost cried. I remember the horrible mood swings and depression that I went through after surgery until the Dr I had then decided that OOPS we just took all hormone producing organs out of this 38 year old, I'll just bet she needs some Premarin. YA THINK?

It is not hot out so I guess my sweating was a mild power surge. not really wet, just hot! kicked those covers off, and laid there for about 30 minutes. I looked out side, and it isnt even light yet! It is amazing how fast it goes from being light at 345 AM to not being light until 530 or so. We have had clouds and rain for three days, so it may be cloudy still, and that keeps it really dark out.

Mrs. Robin is out there in her tree just singing her little heart out. she is getting closer, so she must be able to see the grass, and the worms that are hiding there. Although the grass is so tall I wonder how. I tried to get out and mow on Monday, but I could only get about 1/4 of it done before my back gave out on me. I really miss My brother keeping the yard looking nice like he did for the past two years. I just cant afford to pay him anymore. Darn!! He kept it looking really good, weedeated the yard and kept the grass mowed and raked. If it does not rain this weekend I'll get out and try for a little bit more. Maybe between DOnna and I we can knock the majority of the weeds down along the fence and deck line. I gave up on my little garden, It got away from me, and now it is full grown weeds about 4 feet high. The birds LOVE it, but I cant see my Iris' and my hydrangea bush is totally hidden.

I am getting ready for Auditions for Blithe Spirit next Monday and Tuesday. I have the Blocking almost done for Act 1 so I had better spend some time finishing this before I procrastinate my self into a stress-corner. Rusty and I are a team, SHe directs and I produce, or I direct and she produces. But we boxed ourselves into a corner this year without realizing it. she did FORUM which just closed, and I am doing Blithe which opens in Sept, and she is doing Little Shop which Auditions in August and opens in November, so we are going to be some really busy chicks, and then NOTHING for a few months. I will be producing Caine Mutiny in April '06, but I just may try and save my pennies and take a road trip North for a week or so between shows.

I may sit next year out unless there is a show I really want to get involved with. I have been at this for 5 years straight, and Ive done about 3 out of 5 shows a year. I like to do it, but I think I need a bit of a break from it for a while. I am starting to get tired of all the back door politicing that is going on, and I dont need that. Back biting, cut throating, malicious gossiping...GOOD LORD. I had to deal with it at work but I dont have to deal with it in my retirement. I can walk away from it all if I want to. We'll see.

Well it is now fairly light out, you can see across the street and the birds are all awake and chirping, but it is still dark. the cloud cover must be pretty thick. We get clouds that are like thick gray winter blankets that cover everything and let in very little sunlight. Makes for really depressing days. I need some sunshine.

or Coffee!!!!!

Reruns...

What a wuss I am…I am watching an OPRAH rerun and I KNOW what happens, but I am still sitting here bawling my eyes out just as much as I did when I saw it the first time. This is Her WILDEST DREAMS show, and she has taken a woman who has three kids of her own and has taken in her 6 nieces and nephews who had lost their parents to Drugs. She has just given all nine of the children a 20 minute shopping spree at Toys are us, then since they were all sleeping in beds with other children, (been there) She gave them all brand new beds, a new living room, a brand new kitchen with all appliances, NATE BURKUS to decorate their place, and A BRAND NEW HOUSE!!! This lady is practically peeing her pants. There is a 12 year old girl who is just bawling her eyes out over all of this, and that made me start too. SNORF!! I know that at the end of all of this she will also get a vehicle, I just cant remember what kind.

OPRAH is such a wonderful woman. She came from a poor background, had some horrible things happen to her, and came through it all to work her way up through the networks to the point where she is now. What is truly wonderful about her is that she GIVES BACK! I do not know how many young people she has paid through college, but it has to be more than 1 a year!! She is truly a good soul. Yes she lives grandly, and I would too, but she gives a lot of her money to charities and to African Missions, all to improve the lives of women around the world. She is truly an inspiring woman.

Now I wish she would come and fix my yard so that it can be maintained by me and my arthritic back and knees. I don’t want much, just the back yard leveled and raised beds put in for veggies and flowers, a hedge planted around the fence line, a concrete patio off the wooden deck, and the front of the house porched all across it. That is all. Not a lot.
Ah well, I guess I have not paid enough dues to have my Wildest dreams come true.

Now the news is on, and the first wildfire of the season has started. 32 homes are threatened, in Eastern Washington, east and North East of Omak. Even with all of the rain we have had lately, we are still in drought conditions. Eastern Washington is all desert and sage brush and burns like crazy, with very low humidity. It is really bad when you can see the fire smoke over the top of the Cascade mountains. Makes you really glad that you live on this side, and are more likely to have fire protection close by.

We had an impromptu BBQ last night, as I had planned one for the fourth, but everyone said they could not come, so It was just gonna be Bob and I, but then Phyllis and Sherry came too, so we BBQ’d steaks and enjoyed the weather on the deck. After it got dark, or at least almost dark, Bob and I went down to the beach to watch other people shoot off their booty. It is quite the thing down there, watching the private displays, and then looking across the water at Port Townsend and seeing the city sponsored ones. I got home just before 11:00 and headed for bed, and then listened to the fireworks in Everett, across the Island to the East. Seems they were delayed by 1.5 hours so they started at 11:30. SO until Midnight, I laid there listening to the booms and bangs , and then went quietly to sleep when it all ended. SO here we are on the 5th of July, all cloudy and cool, waiting for even more rain, and the silence is strange after all of the noise of the weekend. With my luck, the Planes will start in this evening…

Happy 4th of July!!

happy 4th

The actually Holiday is not until tomorrow, but the neighbors across the street have been setting ofr fireworks all weekend. Poor Sadie is going nuts, If she is outside she is barking fiercely, if she is inside she is standing on the desk looking out the window and barking her head off. THe neighbors are setting them off in the ste=reet, and so far, have been pretty responsible about it. No bottle rockets on the roof or in the back yard...YET. Last year, there was one on the deck that scorced it badly. GRRRRRRR

RIght now Ethel is as far under my bed as she can get, Loki is on his back in the sunshine,oblivious to it all, Chitters and Sadie are snuggled under the computer together. and they HATE each other. I have no idea where Lint is, probably has a front row seat out on the street drinking it all in. He is such a social cat.
Tilly and DOnna are over the Mountains to see Hubby/Daddy. SO at least she isnt barking. Bob is no where to be found, and I am all alone. I was invited over to phyllis' for a BBQ, but I was not feeling well this morning, so I did not go. TOo early for a BBQ. My throat feels like I swallowed a firecracker. (snoring I guess)

So I just stayed in the house. I should be out back trying to mow the yard, but my back is so sore, and my knee hurts again, so I am not. I may just fix a cup of tea, a sandwich and go to bed early.

Tomorrow I will BBQ for just me and Bob because nobody else can come, and then when it gets dark, we will go down to the beach and sit there for a couple of hours and watch the fireworks. It will be cold and windy. It always is, and then Summer will start.

I hope that all of you are having a safe and sane 3 day holiday. whether it be July 1 or July 4th. oh wait, you Europeans and Africans have different days dont you. well I hope you had a safe and sane July 4th anyway. Ya'll have one, even if it is just another day for you.

MAN!!! Sounds like WWIII out there.

testing...testing

Well I am trying to load a picture through Blogger instead of Hello. But it does not seem to be working. I tried the large picture, and nothing, then tried the medium picture and still NADA. MAy have to go back to Hello. I thought this was too good to be true.

THe roses were a vibrant orange red called Tropicana. They are just beautiful, and I cant seem to kill these. I planted them 12 years ago, and they are the one of about 35 that were still surviving as planted when I got back from Nevada. the others that survived somehow reverted back to their parent, and in some cases a really pretty rose, just not the one I planted.


tropicana rose

I planted a french kiss, and it now is red. I planted a Lady Diana out front, and she is now in back. I planted a black majesty out front, and it is now a deep red. The one that did come through just fine is my David AUstin rose called Genievive or something like that. IT is a deep pink, double rose with the deepest rose scent. It wafts in the door as you come in and just smells heavenly.

I love the roses, but they take up so much of my time. I think I will try to get them all in one spot and baby that spot along with fertilizer and Lady bugs.

I wish I knew where the pictures went. I'll just have to go back to Hello...

AWWW Come ON!!!!!

Catman pounces on Whidbey


By Jessie Stensland
Jun 29 2005


cat

Dennis “Cat” Avner is a little out of place on South Whidbey.
He’s a cigarette-smoking, out-of-work, registered Republican who owns firearms and left California because he believes it’s become a “communist state.”
What’s more, he’s in the process of transforming into a tiger. He has stripes tattooed across his head, a mouth full of fangs, a number of facial implants to make his face look feline, piercings in his lips and brow for whiskers, and silicon injections in his chin, cheeks and lips.
Whatever people may think, Avner is determined to make the island his home. He strikes a visitor as a genuinely nice man, with a healthy sarcastic sense of humor. A catman with a heart of gold. And that may be all it takes to fit in.
“People have a lot of preconceptions about me,” he said. “They make up facts. I wish they would just ask.”
The 46-year-old electronics and computer technician left Southern California in order to find work outside of a busted economy and landed in rural Freeland less than a month ago. He lives with a married couple, Rick Weiss and Tess Calhoun, two dogs, two cats and a snake in a fixer-upper house with a beautiful view of Holmes Harbor.
Avner claims to be the most famous, or at least most recognizable, person in the world. While that may be an exaggeration — which is just like a cat — he certainly must be one of the biggest celebrities on Whidbey Island.
He’s been on at least 50 different TV shows and featured in magazines and newspapers more times than he can remember. Larry King interviewed him twice. Ripley’s Believe It or Not featured him twice. He’s been on Rickie Lake, MTV, VH1, Discovery Channel, the Learning Channel and on and on. He’s been on TV programs in many different countries, including Japan, Germany, Australia, China and even Romania.
“I would rather be rich and unknown,” he said, “than famous and poor.”
Avner began transforming himself into a tiger 25 years ago, undergoing at least a dozen surgeries and hours of tattooing by a body modification artist in Phoenix, Arizona. He said his desire to become catlike stems from his Indian heritage, notably the Huron and Lakotas. He claims it’s an ancient Huron tradition to transform into an animal totem.
A “totem” is a concept that’s difficult for even Avner to explain. It’s like a spiritual guide, he said, but much more. Every person has a totem, though most aren’t aware. His totem, of course, is a cat. He recalls dreams and thoughts of cats from his earliest memories of growing up in Michigan.
“People who don’t have close relations with their totems don’t have any concept of what it’s like,” he said. “It’s physical, dreamlike, emotional and metaphysical.”
To be closer to his totem, he decided to turn himself into a tiger — the cat he feels the closest bond with. Though he’s a work in progress, he currently has tiger stripes on his face and much of his body. To create a feline face, he had his lips and septum split; implants were placed in his forehead and the bridge of his nose; his teeth were removed and replaced with tiger teeth, complete with sharp fangs.
He had surgery to give his ears pointed tips. His lips and brow were pierced so that he can put in whiskers whenever he wants. His contact lenses give him cat eyes and his fingernails are long and painted with stripes.
Though the down-on-his-luck cat guy can’t currently afford it, Avner said his next project will be to get transdermal implants to place tiger ears on the top of his head.
While many humans may not understand his obsession, Avner said felines do. He’s volunteered at cat rescue organizations and recently got the chance to wrestle with panthers and a giant tiger. There was a little bloodshed, but a lot of bonding.
“I have no fear of them,” he said. “I communicate with them.”
There probably aren’t any big cats in the wilds of Whidbey, but Avner brought a couple spoiled house cats — Morris and Pretty Girl — to keep him company.
Although South Whidbey is stereotypically known as liberal, as well as affluent, Avner said his decision to move there had nothing to do with the progressive, accepting attitude. He was out of work in Southern California, so he left in order to find work outside of a poor economy.
Avner decided to move with his good friends, Weiss and Calhoun, who were going to Washington because that’s where Boeing transferred Weiss. After an intensive home search, they ended up on South Whidbey.
Avner’s job, while he’s looking for work on the island, is to fix and remodel the home. He hopes to eventually find a job either as an electronics repairman or a locksmith.
Calhoun said she met Avner at an anthropomorphic arts convention. It’s a hobby or interest that’s received a lot of media attention lately, including on MTV and the CSI: Miami TV show. Devotees call themselves furry fans or simply furries.
According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, “Furry fandom is a subculture of the science fiction and fantasy fandoms. Members of the furry fandom ... enjoy media that involves anthropomorphic animals: that is, fictional animals with human traits (such as walking on two feet, talking, wearing clothes, living in houses, etc.).”
Beyond this unique interest, Calhoun understands Avner’s connection with his totem. Her own totem is a horse. While she hasn’t transformed herself into an equine, she does have a large tattoo of a horse cave painting on her back.
Calhoun and Weiss said they love to live with and care for Avner.
“He’s living in a family for really the first time,” she said. “It takes some adjusting.”
So far, Avner said he’s had a great time on Whidbey. His home was recently visited by a Island County sheriff’s deputy when some rambunctious people at their party decided to howl at the moon. But it was no big deal, Calhoun said.
The unique family has traveled to Oak Harbor a number of times, to eat at his favorite Chinese restaurant and shop at Home Depot. Avner claims that local folks have barely batted on eye at him.
While he’s happy to talk to curious strangers and answer questions, he does have one pet peeve.
“I hate those jerks who take photos of me without asking,” he said.
So that’s probably not a good idea. Some tigers, after all, are known as man-eaters.


When I first saw him on Dr. Phil he was portrayed as a real nut case. According to the reporter who wrote the article up top there, he is really sweet. I do not care how sweet he is, he is NOT sitting on MY lap and purring. That is carrying your love for an animal waaaay too far.

Would you do this?