Christmas and Cats...

xmas cat


1. Clear large space on table for wrapping present.
2. Go to closet and collect bag in which present is contained, and shut door.
3. Open door and remove cat from closet.
4. Go to cupboard and retrieve rolls of wrapping paper.
5. Go back and remove cat from cupboard.
6. Go to drawer, and collect transparent sticky tape, ribbons, scissors, labels, etc. . .
7. Lay out presents and wrapping materials on table, to enable wrapping strategy to be formed.
8. Go back to drawer to get string, remove cat that has been in the drawer since last visit and collect string.
9. Remove present from bag.
10. Remove cat from bag.
11. Open box to check present, remove cat from box, replace present.
12. Lay out paper to enable cutting to size.
13. Try and smooth out paper, realize cat is underneath and remove cat.
14. Cut the paper to size, keeping the cutting line straight.
15. Throw away first sheet as cat chased the scissors, and tore the paper.
16. Cut second sheet of paper to size - by putting cat in the bag the present came in.
17. Place present on paper.
18. Lift up edges of paper to seal in present. Wonder why edges don't reach. Realize cat is between present and paper. Remove cat.
19. Place object on paper, to hold in place while tearing transparent sticky tape.
20. Spend 20 minutes carefully trying to remove transparent sticky tape from cat with pair of nail scissors.
21. Seal paper with sticky tape, making corners as neat as possible.
22. Look for roll of ribbon. Chase cat down hall in order to retrieve ribbon.
23. Try to wrap present with ribbon in a two-directional turn.
24. Re-roll ribbon and remove paper, which is now torn due to cat's enthusiastic ribbon chase.
25. Repeat steps 13-20 until you reach last sheet of paper.
26. Decide to skip steps 13-17 in order to save time and reduce risk of losing last sheet of paper. Retrieve old cardboard box that is the right size for sheet of paper.
27. Put present in box, and tie down with string.
28. Remove string, open box and remove cat.
29. Put all packing materials in bag with present and head for locked room.
30. Once inside lockable room, lock door and start to relay out paper and materials.
31. Remove cat from box, unlock door, put cat outside door, close and relock.
32. Repeat previous step as often as is necessary (until you can hear cat from outside door)
33. Lay out last sheet of paper. (This will be difficult in the small area of the toilet, but do your best)
34. Discover cat has already torn paper. Unlock door go out and hunt through various cupboards, looking for sheet of last year's paper. Remember that you haven't got any left because cat helped with this last year as well.
35. Return to lockable room, lock door, and sit on toilet and try to make torn sheet of
paper look presentable.
36.Seal box, wrap with paper and repair by very carefully sealing with sticky tape. Tie up with ribbon and decorate with bows to hide worst areas.
37.Label. Sit back and admire your handiwork, congratulate yourself on completing a difficult job.
38.Unlock door, and go to kitchen to make drink and feed cat.
39.Spend 15 minutes looking for cat until coming to obvious conclusion.
40.Unwrap present, untie box and remove cat.
41.Go to store and buy a gift bag

In Transition...

I am going to be changing things on my blog today, so you may see some weird things going on. Bare with me please...while I figure out which color goes where. DAMN I wish I had a template that says "put the background color here...put the border colors here...put the sidebar color here...put the font color here...etc, etc, etc, You'd think that these template makers would know that the majority of the people that use their templates are not geeks, so they would make their own! I know when I was taking Basic way back in the darkages...you could put words into the program that would do nothing, but would tell anyone reading the codes what was going on. Sounds really easy doesn't it? Ah well. I will be fixed by this evening....I promise.

sassy critters...

funny

Weatherman says we are s’posed to have 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow. First snow of the year if in fact we do get it. We usually get all excited and phffftttt, Nothing. If we do get a snow it is usually gone in a day or two. Big snows mean its gonna rain right on top of it, because the cold air from the gulf of Alaska has met the pineapple express laden with lots of rain from Hawaii, right over the Puget Sound region. The two combine at first and dump snow, and then the Pineapple express warms up the frigid Alaskan air, and it all turns to rain, and melts it all into mud puddles. Nasty ugly dirty mud puddles. The road sand that the Dept of Transportation has diligently dumped on all of the major hiways and main arterial roads, to help with traction, is mostly dirty grit, and it gets all over your car. And all over your windshield, and generally makes for icky driving until it all dries up and blows over to the side of the road.

So this morning after I finished my afghan, I got dressed, and planned my day. Bob came over just at the right time, so I had him help me load up the wood box, and make sure I had enough close to the house so that I would not freeze if the power goes out. Then I went into the Farmer’s supply store, (Cenex) and bought bird seed, and bunny litter, and sunflower seeds for Lola, then off to pay my car insurance, and off to the scrapbook store to lay in supplies for the big snow.

I got home, and watched the news, and then as I was sitting here at the computer, Sadie ran up and jumped at my lap with her front feet, then headed to the office door, and barked, and then did it again very urgently, so I knew she had to pottie bad. I got up and started towards the back door, and she was not following so I went back and sat down. Again she came in and jumped at my legs and barked like “come on! Come On!!” so I followed her, and she ran right to the rug in front of the woodstove sat in front of it and barked as if to say “ok, Mom build the damn FIRE!!!” I did, Sadie and four cats are now stacked like cord wood all in a row, asleep in front of a nice cozy fire, while I am now in the office working on the computer.

Damn sassy critters!

UPDATE: Wrote this last night, and as usual, no snow!! It was dumping big time big flakes at 230 this morning, but I guess It switched to rain after I went back to sleep. Now there is nothing. Just wet and cold and sun breaks.

I'm DONE!!

afghan

YAY!!!! I'm Finished with it!!!! My mother started this afghan the year before she died, and did not finish it. She did the aquares in the middle. Donna, started a pink afghan about 10 years ago, got bored with it and gave all the squares to me. I took the beige yarn and finished Donna's squares, and then hooked them all on to Mom's portion. I was bound and determined that I would finish it. And this morning I finally DID!! got all the fringe hooked on about 30 minutes ago.

It feels really good to have a project actually finished!! As you can tell, we are a multi-generational bunch of procrastinators. I have made several afghans in my life, but have always given them away, so this one is staying right here!! I can think of nothing better than to be sitting by the wood stove wrapped in something that was made by the hands of two women that I loved most in my life!! My Mom and my Daughter!

AHHHHHHHHHHHH Big sigh of relief here........

Sunday Morning...

I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 730 this morning. Went to sleep around 330! must have been all that sleeping that I did yesterday!

I went into the show last night, and met another blogger-friend, Fran from Northwest notes She and her husband take off on weekends, and either backpack or hike around the pacific northwest, and they decided that they wanted to come see the show, and stay at a bed and breakfast in Coupeville. There are plenty of them here! It was wonderful meeting her for the first time. Her husband Tom is exactly like I pictured him and she is smaller than I thought she would be. You know how you picture someone in your mind...I had her tall and thin, nope, she's short and lean. An adorable little pixie! She is an avid gardener, and writes about her yard and learning how to ride a scooter. I am so glad we got to meet. Now that the ice has been bromaybe on one of their jaunts they can stop in and have coffee. THey both bike ride all over the place, and even do the Chilly Hilly which is a bike ride on Bainbridge Island in February. Lots of Hills, and Lots of Chilly weather! She's got guts, that girl!!

YOU GO FRAN!!!

I kept hearing a thump, thud, flop on the side of my house this morning, so I got up to see what was going on, and all the cats were in the office window looking down. HMMMMMMM so I go to the window slowly and peek down, and there on top of the dog house, right under a suet feeder sits Lola. I am out of sunflower seeds and bird feed, so she has been eating her way through the suet blocks that I make. The only ones she has not gotten to yet are the ones hanging from the eaves. Give her a day or two and she'll have those too. GUess I better stop today and get more feed, I don't want to entice her under the nice warm house!!! Although I fear it is too late.

It snowed last night, and melted before we woke up. DARN! it started about 300 and was gone by 630! Right now we have all the clouds you can think of, and blue sky too! we have the strangest weather. THe sun is even peeking through the alders and shining on the under side of the clouds. Makes for a beautiful morning even though it is chilly out.

Things to do and places to go, so I have to get busy....

BURRRRRRRP! Oh Excuse ME!...

Well we ate, we ate very well. Once again we had too much food! Next year remind me to cook a smaller Turkey. I cooked a 23# one this year, and we did not even go through one half of that. Phyllis brought a ham over too, and that was too much. SO next year, I will cook a small turkey, and she can bring a small ham, And I wont cook dressing from scratch, 'cause I always make waaaaay too much and end up feeding the birds! I will make a pan of stove top stuffing, it is really good, and easy! Phyllis made her Sweet potato Casserole, and she can bring that next year also. And the mashed potatoes were just right. The gravies were not very good, because I blanked out and was going on remote while making them.

My SIL Sherry is the pie baker in the family, so she brought a pumpkin and a pecan, coulda used more of the pecan!

Donna called first thing in the morning to tell me Little Miss Till-Till (Tilly) says Happy Turkey Day Grandma. She is finally all settled in, and Bill and Her are actually living in the same house and happily! (who'd a thunk!) It seems odd to have her happily married, she has been with him for 14 years, and married for 10! Strange...But Hey, when you hardly ever live in the same house at the same time when do you have time to argue? She has a job, he has a job, and they are both close to where they live. Do you suppose there MIGHT be time for a GRANDCHILD? nah....She has a 24 year old step-son, so I told her she will probably be a grandmother before I will.

Tim called just as we were sitting down to dinner!! Now mind you, Tim NEVER calls. THe last time I heard from him was August! He lives the next Island over, but the Ferry costs a fortune and is full of tourists, so it is very hard to visit back and forth. He is still with Sandy, and still working very hard. It was great to hear from him too.

So it was just us old farts, and Mike's son Galen, who will never miss a free meal. He is such a cutie, and working hard at two jobs and getting some classes under his belt for his nursing degree. He is so skinny, but man can he pack it away! I forgot how much a young man can eat!!! Galen is 27. We told him he better slow down because as soon as he hits 30 the fat will find him!!!

I am up and writting this post at 615, because I woke up and my back was just trying really hard to spasm, so I said screw it and got up. Amazing how fast the internet is at this hour!! Almost Fun! Just Almost.

So here I sit, with a dishwasher full of clean dishes, a cupboard full of dirty pans, and no coffee made. There is a piece of pie calling my name, and a nice comfy chair waiting for me in the living room, So I will go work on my Afghan for a bit, and before the Seattle Macy's Christmas PArade starts on channel 5, I will probably be sound asleep in comfy chair, with two cats on my lap purring contentedly.

I hope you all had as nice a Thanksgiving, or plain old THursday as we did. Now go fix yourself a turkey sandwich and be sure you put some cranberry sauce on it...makes your hair curly!!! ;)

I remembered!!!!....

I actually remembered to take the turkey out of the freezer this afternoon, I usually have to thaw it under running water, because I am usually so busy at work getting ready for BLACK FRIDAY that I forget it. I must say it is rather nice, not to have to worry about having enough sale merchandise to make it from 500AM until Noon, when it goes back off sale. (yeah RIGHT!) It was usually really lame stuff, and people would line up at 400 am just so they would be the first ones in line to get wrapping paper for 50cents a roll. AND UGLY paper at that! I swear, you advertise SALE, and SOMEONE will buy it. I am so GLAD to not have to do that crap anymore. I actually have my house clean, the dishes all done, and all I have to do tomorrow is get the few things I need for my part of the meal.

I have been watching FOOD NETWORK all week, and I discovered something, on my own, and now everyone is doing it!! I do not stuff my Turkey, and I cook at fast and high, the past three I have cooked have been soooo moist!! And now all the chefs are saying to cook it for 2 hours at 425 and it will be done. Take it out BEFORE the temp reaches 180 degrees, as it will continue to cook for 30 minutes just resting.

I need to clear up something. I posted that I had to dig through pockets for some money because this month I am hurting. Please do not worry!! I just had several unexpected things happen this month, and my retirement pay just did not cover it all. Donna moved out, and even though I knew it was coming, I did not plan for it. My own fault. I screwed up. And I had car repair bills that I was not counting on. I will be fine, I promise, I just have to get caught up and then I will be able to make it. I have been broke before, and I will be again. Just remember that when you retire, you have all this time to do all things you wanted to do when you did retire, only now you wont have the money to do it with!! HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ya'll drive safe on your trip over the river and through the woods tomorrow now. And don't overeat!! OH YEAH!!! The parades are on too!! WHOOT!!!

OH YUM!!!!!

I am rummaging through pockets and drawers and purses looking for loose change and I found 20.00!! Whoot!!! SO I run to Prairie Center to get a package of sugar free popcicles. On the way back to the cash register I pass the freezer with the specials in it. ANd there they were on sale for only 2.99. Dreyers Ice cream limited edition. THere was Pumpkin, and peppermint and one I had not heard of...EGGNOG! ok, I splurged. I bought it. I ate it. It's really really GOOD too! and I don't even feel bad because I splurged when I am so broke. tough! I needed it. And I did IT! Yummy!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving week...

I find it hard to believe that it is already Thanksgiving Week again. It seems just like last week that we were talking about the plans we all had for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, my house is clean, and I am not smack in the middle of producing a show. (I am, but it is almost over) Things are going to be kinda low key this year. Donna is still finding her own kitchen, and will be eating at her In-Laws this year. Tim is....Well Tim is not here. And probably will not be. SO it will just be Phyllis, Mike and his family wife sherry and son Galen, and Me and Bob. That is all. No big celebration, just dinner.

I am so broke, but Bob bought the turkey, Phyllis is bringing a ham. And the sweet potatoes (in which form, I am never sure) Mike et al are bringing the pies, cause sherry can make pie crust, I can not! And I have a bag of potatoes so we have dinner covered. I have two bags of cranberries in the freezer so I will make my own sauce this year. (can you imagine, cranberry sauce with no rings on it from the can?) so we will have turkey, and gravy and mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes and ham, and green beans and stuffing. I think I can scrounge up enough money for two bags of stuffing mix, and I can make cornbread too. Hey we will feast for sure.

Right now we are all socked in with fog and they say it will stay this way until Friday. The airport may be canceling flights. I can not imagine having to try and catch a flight anywhere during the holidays. I pity those that will be stuck in airports around the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever wondered why it is that when ever you leave a pair of colored socks in a pair of white pants, and throw them in the washer that they are ALWAYS RED? yep, did it. Yesterday, so now I have a pink sweater, 5 pairs of pinkish undies and a pair of mottled pink white cotton slacks. Now mind you I don't have any red socks, but I surmise they were kicked off of Donna's feet during a hot flash, and were all bundled up in the white mattress pad that I threw in with my laundry. Yeah, the socks are still Red too. AH well, No one but me sees the undies, and I only wear the white slacks around the house. So I guess that is a good thing.

My computer seems to be on the mend, after the all night defrag. I also took the tagboard down, as that seems to have had some "lurkers" that were slowing things way down too. After the first of the year I think I am going to get my own domain, rename my blog, maybe, and then BUY a zonkboard. I would put up a cute little chalk board like Kimmotions but I am not as smart as she is.

I am crocheting like crazy trying to finish this afghan, so I may not be posting much this week. On the otherhand, I have absolutely NO money, so I can not go anywhere or do anything, so I may be posting MORE!! Guess It will all depend on my mood and creative juices huh?

You all have a fine week! For those of us here in the US, If you are not in Retail Enjoy your short week. For the rest of you, Well, Drive safe please.

WHOO WHO!!!

YES, I defragged last night, and I am flying now!!! CRAp dial up aside, (It still kicks me off) I seem to be fixed, And I took down the tagboard, ONly 3 of you ever used it anyway. ;)

It is time to lighten up and maybe have a good laugh.

I stole this from Maria

Two fellas from rural Minnesota walked into a pet shop in Minneapolis. They head to the bird section and Sven says to Ole, “Dat’s dem.”
The owner comes over and asks if he can help them.
“Yeah, we’ll take four of dem dere little budgies in dat cage up dere,” says Sven.
The owner puts the budgies in a paper bag. Ole and Sven pay for the birds, leave the shop and get into Sven’s pick-up and drive to the top of the big cliffs by a lake. At the cliffs, Sven looks down at the
100-foot drop and says: “Dis looks like a grand place.”
He takes two birds out of the bag, puts them on his shoulders and jumps off the cliff. Ole watches as Sven falls all the way to the bottom, killing himself stone dead.
Looking down at the remains of his best pal, Ole shakes his head and says: “Dis budgie jumping is too dangerous for me.”
BUT WAIT!!!! There’s MORE!
PART TWO:
Moments later, Knut arrives up at the cliffs. He’s been to the pet shop too and walks up to the edge of the cliff carrying another paper bag in one hand and a shotgun in the other.
“Hey, Ole. Watch dis,” Knut says. He takes a parrot from the bag and throws himself over the edge of the
cliff. Ole watches as half way down, Knut takes the gun and shoots the parrot. Knut continues to plummet down and down until he hits the bottom and breaks every bone in his body. Ole shakes his head and says, “And I’m never trying dat parrotshooting either.”
BUT WAIT!!!! There’s MORE!
PART THREE:
Ole is just getting over the shock of losing two friends when Lars appears. He’s also been to the pet shop and is carrying a paper bag out of which he pulls a chicken. Lars grasps the chicken by the legs holds it over his head and hurls himself off the cliff and disappears down and down until he hits a rock
and breaks his spine. Once more, Ole shakes his head…..
“First der was Sven with his budgie jumping…. den Knut
parrotshooting…. and now Lars is hengliding!”

'Trying.....

lola

Once again I have been sitting here for almost 50 minutes just trying to get blogger to open my edit posts so that I could get something written. This is just so frustrating. I really dont think it is Blogger at all, I think I have a very very sick computer. That would be my luck. I cant afford another one, and I certainly cant afford to have John come out here at 50-75.00 an hour to fix it. I think I have a spyware thingie going on, because all of a sudden about a week ago, things just skidded to a halt! I will connect at 115.2 (how I dont know when I only have a 56.6 modem.) but anyway I will connect and then FREEZE I can blogwalk, but everytime I try to go to someplace secure, POW!! Off I go, and then I can only connect at 52.0! huh? THis is all greek to me. I thought it might be something DOnna had installed, so I uninstalled all of her email and ISP-Q (OH MY!!) and got about a gigabyte freed up. I then was doing pretty good, but when it started to freeze yesterday I did a system restore and all of her files popped back. I think I need something that will scan my drives and get rid of all the superfluous shit, and give me a clean, fast, functioning computer!

I want to win the lotto so I can get my Lap top upgraded, and take everything off of it except windows XP and microsoft office. THat way I can use it just for blogging , and keep this one for all the creating I do. Photos etc.

DAMN but I hate being stoopid!! What I think is really frustrating is I am not Stupid, Actually I am fairly intelligent, and logical, and can actually be a grown up person when I have to be. I just HATE being helpless and BROKE! GRRRRR

Tonight was absolutely gorgeous out. THe moon was coming up behind Mt Baker as I was driving into Oak Harbor, and it was shining through the haze and fog and actually sending out reddish orange light, diffused by the clouds, so that it looked like the mountain was erupting. I knew it was not because Our volcanoes just erupt pahoehoe lava (thick and viscous and black) and not the fiery red aa Lava that looks like shooting embers. (impressed yet?) When I was driving home, the stars were out, the moon was bright overhead, but the temperature inversion was making fog form upside down! (from the sky downward) and it was all bright like a lit blanket. Almost made the ground look like it was covered with snow. It is sposed to freeze tonight, and all the fog will turn into black ice and make for a very slippery road bed. Glad I do not have to go anywhere.

Donna is sposed to be over here tomorrow to finish cleaning her room and gathering her gear and finish moving out. I doubt that she will though, She has everything of value, the rest is just stuff, and you know how kids have a tendency to leave things in a royal mess when they move out. Especially my GARAGE!!!

Well Let me see if I can get this posted in less than an hour. cross your fingers..

Big Stretch...

Well Here I am sleepless North of Seattle again!! I was doing pretty good this week, I would go to bed about 1130, and read until the Tylenol PM kicked in and then I waould sleep a good 7-8 hours and wake right up rested. SO Tonight I decided I was sleepy enough I did not need to take the sleep-aid, turned out my light, snuggled down into the warm covers and slept like a baby for 1.5 hours and now I am wide awake. I HATE that!

I am trying to post a picture of Lola that I took yesterday morning. She has found the suet feeders that I have hanging off the deck uprights, and it was so funny watching her antics while trying to decide which was the most efficient route to take. She would run around the railing until she found the right upright and then climb it and STRETCH over to the feeder and just hang that way while she worked a sunflower seed out of the suet. Then she would fall and start all over again. She finally went across the top, and down the wire, and ate from the top. That worked real well, until Sadie discovered that Lola was RIGHT THERE, and ran up barking and away lola flew. I swear she had wings! There is a flying squirrel, but Lola is not one of them, She is a Douglas Squirell. I filled the feeder trays before I left this evening, and when I got home around 930, I let Sadie out to pottie and off flew a big barred owl. He was jusrt sitting there on top of the deck railing, watching the rats and mice and voles that feed there at night. Lint goes out every evening and kills one or the other of them, and the owl swoops down and takes the carcass away. Cool huh? Who needs exterminators, I have Lint and the woods full of owls.




***********************************************************************************
I tried for over an hour to post this early this morning, and finally gave up. I got it now though, I think. There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with my computer, it is soooooo SLOOOOOOWWWWWWWW. and getting worse. I run PC-Cillin and find nothing, and if I try to download something, it either takes HOURS, or my server kicks me off.

I need a fairy godmother who is a computer geek!!

Dark dreary day...

We have had the ugliest sky today. Not quite clouds, not quite fog, just YUCK!!! and no wind, so the air is not moving at all. There is a temperature inversion which means that warm air aloft has trapped the cool stagnant air at sea level. It was chilly, so just as I had a good roaring fire going in the wood stove, and settled down to watch the evening news, the weatherman came on and said that there was a burn ban on because of all the gunk in the air. If you only heat with wood, you can still burn, but if you have any other source of heat you will get a 4000 fine. I let the fire burn out. dont have 4000. But I had all the windows closed and it got really warm in this house with just the three logs I started with.

I LOVE my Lopi stove. I can heat the whole house for four hours on three pieces of wood. I have a 1400 SF house too. I do keep my bedroom window opened a bit year round, and that helps draw the heat back to that part of the house.

I sat and watched tv most of the evening, I am really getting into E-Ring. LOVE that MAn!! PURRRRRR! and then CSI NY and Gary Sinese...Mighty fine TV tonight. I almost finished the squares on the multi-generational afghan, my fingers are really sore, but I am determined to get all of these unfinished projects done in the coming year. The quilt will have to wait until payday so I can get the batting. ANd then It will be finished also. YES!!!! THen I can finish MY own creation.

I am finishing Rusty's Director's GIft tomorrow, and then I will have to take it in and have the cast sign it. then get it framed, and that project is done too.
Damn, I am almost getting good!!! Scares me...

Uh-oh!! there is a warning at the bottom of this that could not connect to Blogger.com. Saving and publishing may fail. Guess I better copy this into word huh...Stupid BLOGGER. NO It is probably my CRAP dial-up!!!

Missing her...

As much as I wanted her to get a place of her own and start her life like she should, I miss her! I have no one to talk to. There is only so far you can go with the animals. I talk to myself, and I always have, Bob only comes over on Friday Evenings, Phyllis has to work, and she is so busy, it is hard to get time with her. Mike is working at night and sleeps days, and TIm....well, Let's just say he lives 45 miles away, and I have not seen him in a year!

I am dead ass broke, so I cant go into town. I need to wait until payday to go anywhere. And dont have any money to spend if I did get there. I am starting to think I dont like retirement. ALl this time to do things, but no money left to do them with. I started to finish the multi generational quilt, and got the top finished, but now I don't have any money for the batting!! GRRRRR So now I am finishing the multi generational afghan, but My hand hurts so bad from Arthritis that I can only finish 6 squares a day.

I have cleaned the house! the dishes are all done, and I do not use many, so that is finished, the washing is all done. and put away, and I started in on Donna's room. She left it a wreck, thinking she would come back and clean it out but she has not had the time. (hmmmmm)

Donna and I have a very close relationship for a mother and daughter, although there are some things she wont tell me, and I DONT WANT TO KNOW EITHER. TMI for me. She is 38 and a very liberated woman. (EEK) and too smart for her own good. I honestly do not know where she got it from. She amazes me, and always has. I really miss her.
I call to talk, and she sees it is me, and wont answer, she thinks I am butting into her life, and I truely am not. I just want to talk to her and be involved some what in her life.

SIGH!!! I guess I need to adopt another puppy!! that will keep me really busy for a year or so. A little black and white cocker puppy about 6 weeks old. That way Sadie can raise it and it wont get bigger than her! :)

I think I will toddle my arse off to bed, and rest while I can, tomorrow I have to struggle with the lawn mower and see how far I can go before my back gives out again.
(Gosh, You'd think that since my SOn in Law only lives 40 miles away now, and this side of the mountains that he would take pity on me and come mow it for me. WOuldnt ya? Too bad he doesnt read this!! or maybe it IS a good thing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

JUST FOR LESLIE!!


Leslie was the first person to read my blog, and a great friendship has formed from the ethernet! We are almost like twins, except for looks, and age, and height, and weight, and hair color. Well we THINK alike anyway!! We have never met, but We will one day. Great Friendships are hard to find.

Happy Birthday Dear Leslie, May you get everything you wished for!

BIG HUGS TO YOUXXXOOOOOXXX

Stolen from Wanda...

Your Power Color Is Magenta

At Your Highest: You energize yourself and push others to suceed. At Your Lowest: You feel frustrated and totally overwhelmed. In Love: You are suprised by who you attract. You're a love magnet. How You're Attractive: Open and free spirited, people want to explore the world with you. Your Eternal Question: "What is my next source of inspiration?"

What's Your Power Color?

Fruitcake...

Anybody have a really GREAT recipe for fruitcake? The kind you soak in Brandy or Rum? how about an Irish Whiskey Cake? I need to make a big fruit cake this year, but I cant find a recipe that sounds right. I need a really good one. not dry, but loaded with booze!!

And a good Bourbon Ball recipe.

It felt like winter all day today, and I just stayed in and putzed on the computer all day, and then remembered that I had a party to attend this afternoon at 500. But I remembered this at 800, so I lose! SORRY RUSTY!!!!!!! :(

I was cold all day, so I put on my fleecey warm socks and my landsend slippers, and a sweater and built a fire and actually crocheted some more on my Mother/daughter/granddaughter afghan. Mom made some of it, and gave it too me, and DOnna made parts of another out of the dame colors, and gave the pieces to me, and I am putting it all together with a different stitch. It will be really pretty if I ever get it done. (Yes, ANOTHER unfinished project, but if you read far enough back, you will find it listed as one of the originals)

ANyway, If any of you have a great fruitcake recipe, would you share it? PLEASE???

(Bill, I promise I wont send you any,)

Monkey Business...

butt

I am soooo Upset!! It seems that last night, after I left Monkey in the office snuggled up with Knot Head, that he decided to pull some pranks. The above picture is what I found on my computer when I got up this morning. Now I asked who did it, and no one is talking. It certainly looks like we have a monkey doing some 'business' here. I had a long talk with him and he promised that he would NEVER tell storied again, that the truth and honesty is what counts. I told him that I would have thought it was funny if he had confessed to being bored, but to LIE!!!! tsk tsk tsk!!!

Today he had to stay in the house all day, so I made sure he had peanuts and a nice group of kitties to play with. Sadie and I had things to do, so when we got home, we gave him lots of attention, and promised him that he would get to meet Phyllis tomorrow.

And...

Monkey and Knot head

While I was trying to get my livingroom floor dustmopped, I looked over at the fireplace, and Monkey had chased off 3 of the cats presumably to get closer to the fire. You see it is a rather cold ugly night out there. Sadie immediatly snuck up to see just what kind of cat I had brought home now! He proceeded to turn his back to her, jump over me and hightail it into the Office where he snuggled up to Knot-Head, and made a life long friend. THe only one that has every snuggled up to Knot head is Tippy, the SIamese Cat I care for when DOttie is on vacation. Tippy rubs up against him and purrs, And I would imagine that if Monkeys could Mr. Nutt would be too, jusging by the grin on his face. He is sooo not want to go back to Yorkshire.

warming backside

Monkey at the Fire...

Mr. nut and the gang

Today was a cold and really drippey day in the Pacific Northwest, Monkey P. Nutt decided that even though the rest of us were up at the crack of doawn, he really wanted to stay all snuggled in his box/bed. I will let him skate until tomorrow.

Bob and I went window shopping at the outlet mall. I had no money, so could not buy a thing. THe Mikasa store was a real challenge. I could spend TONS of money in there! walked out empth handed and went to Michael's craft store. I forgot that I was NEVER gonna take Bob in there again!!! He just embarrasses me so much. He goes down an aisle, (not with me) and then I can hear him hooting all over the store. Laughing at some gizmo or another, and talking to me over the fixtures, YUK YUK YUK what do you use this for? YUK YUK YUK usually followed by a very rude crass remark with adult undertones. OH GOD!!! I am glad Monkey stayed home, he would have surely left and gone back to Yorkshire on the next plane.

While we were parking, the sky opened up and it literally DUMPED wet cold white stuff all over us. I cant really call it snow, too hard, but not hail, too soft, not rain, too solid and not snow too wet. just STUFF! which piled up on the roads and windows.

We came home and I built a fire while Bob played the STUPIDest DVD...Robots! unreal!!! After I had the fire built, and was trying to get my back popped in again, I looked at the throw rug in front of the stove. Yep there was 4 cats and Monkey all laid out like they were waiting to pass on. The picture is very bad, because my flash is not working correctly. It is way overexposed...but there is Monkey, and 4 cats all laying in front of the fire. Sadie had not butted in yet.
He will get to meet Phyllis tomorrow, SHe can take him to church and introduce him to her Pastor.

Have to go see what the ruckus is all about. THere are loud outside voices coming from the Fireplace area. Must be fighting over the warn rug. tsk tsk tsk.

Mr. Nut has entered the Bldg...

Yes, indeed, Mr. Monkey P. Nutt has arrived in the good ol' U.S. of A. for the second time, and he arrived in style. He came in an insulated carton, because it gets really cold up in the Northern Lattitudes. He had a big grin on his face as I opened the box with the only thing I had handy, a pair of cuticle nippers! He is such a good house guest, he came complete with hostess Christmas presents!! (He said they were from him, but I think he is confused, I think they are really from Bilbo. THe kitties immediately jumped into the box on the bed, and started rooting around in it before I even had him out of it.

Chitters took off with a ziplock bag in his teeth, followed closely by Loki trying to get it away from him. I finally rescued it, afraid it was one of Monkey's goodie bags that he gets to take home to England. It wasn't. It was for the kitties from Bilbo, They had so much fun drooling all over the plastic bag, that I just left it that way. There are teeth marks all over the bag, and Sadie opened it for them. SO the blanket toy, Sadie has claimed, and the meeces are all over the floor.

Mr. Nutt does NOT like the rain. I offered to take him out to meet Lola over a peanut or two, but he would rather just stay in his box/bed and rest for a few hours. Travelling is very tiring ya know. Even MAtt Lauer is tired after all of his stops. He is getting his rest so He can go see Little Shop Of Horrors tonight. (I hope Audrey II has already been fed!! :0 )

Im on that fence with Brenda...

I was just over at WHATS UP DOWN SOUTH and Brenda posted a quiz...ya'll know I cant pass up a quiz.
Ok Wanda, you can laugh if you want....

Your Political Profile

Overall: 45% Conservative, 55% Liberal

Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

You can quit now....Uh Wanda, WANDA, WANDA!!! You Can QUIT LAUGHING NOW!!!

just stuff...

On the tool bar of the Blogger post box, there is an icon that says add image. It doesnt work! I tried last night and the photo is off in cyberspace somewhere! So tonight I used Hello/Picasa and TA-DA!! It's there. So much for neat new stuff that is sposed to make your life easier!

I did A big fat nothing today! It was COLD and damp out side, so no yard work got done. Bob brought over two turkeys he got at the commissary on Base. One for this Month's family get together and the other one because it was smaller and only 39 cents a pound! I may send him back for another one in December. No wait!! He buys the Prime Rib Roast in December! It is tradition! Besides, He can afford it and I cant! :)

I am sitting here tonight doing a crossword puzzle and It hit me that I am sposed to be somewhere. I called Rusty, and she said NOPE! so I must be wrong again. I have been gone so much the past 6 months that it feels like I am forgetting something when I stay home for two nights in a row! I'm not at all sure I like this. I may have to find something else to do...

Busy bee...

I have been so busy the past few days. I have been putzing around the house trying to get it back to being MY house! Donna did not mess things up, in fact she helped out quite a bit, BUT I am a night owl, and she is not. She likes her privacy and QUIET time, so just when I was getting my second wind, it was time to hibernate in my bedroom and watch TV so I would not bother her. Needless to say, my house was always a wreck!.

I am a creature of habit. Did not ever think I was, But man I sure am now. I wake up, and no matter the time, the TV goes on, and I go back to sleep for an hour or so, then get up make a pot of coffee, and watch TODAY. I used to then go right into Martha, but the Network screwed that all up and now we have stupid TYRA. Martha is on during the TODAY show, on an auxiliary network. NBC is KING 5 and it's affiliate non-network is KONG 6-16! (cute huh) If they would take TYRA and switch it with Martha, then things would be fine in my world. Her new show is really quite good. And I think she is liking it too, she laughs and has fun with her guests. GOOD FOR HER!! Yesterday I discovered my DVR. And I set it to record Martha every day. SO now I can watch it when Stupid TYRA is on! Cool huh?

that is quite the tool! I like NCIS, COMMANDER IN CHIEF and THE AMAZING RACE on Tues, but I cant watch them all, because CIC and TAR are on at the same time. SO! I set the DVR to record CIC and I went into the bedroom to watch NCIS and TAR! At 11:00 I watched the news and then watched CIC!!!! I think I like DISH NETWORK!~! If only they had internet on it's satellite!! Ah well.

I have cleaned my bedroom and bathroom, and have taken out all the trash, cleaned off the dining room table, (don't ask) and washed all of the dishes and cleaned the countertops! Tomorrow I will do the livingroom floors and the kitchen floors, and then I MIGHT start in on the office. IF it is dry again tomorrow, I really need to get out there and mow the lawn. With all the rain and no freeze, (Close) the grass is growing so fast you can watch it get taller!! All of the leaves are now off the Maple tree out front, SO I need to mow them up and get them off the porch and empty the dead plants from the flower pots and get them ready for the winter.

I don't have to put my Christmas lights up this year, because I never took them down LAST year! Just unplugged them. (GRIN) I want to clean off both porches, and then start in on donnish room. I had just painted it before she moved in, so It just needs to be cleaned and the rug removed. (puppies, ya know, and NOT all mine. The rugs were all trashed when I moved back in)

I think It is time to go take a nice long hot soaky bath and reeeeellllaaaaaxxx! Ya'll be quiet in the morning ok? I think I will sleep in until at least 730!! Gotta get up and see WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MATT LAUER!

brrrr

We have been having a fair share of wet and stormy weather the past week or so. It rained like we have not seen it rain in a long long time. Yesterday we got over 1" of rain. Very unusual for us. We only get 17" a year, the problem is that it mists all the time. SO you think it really is raining and it isnt. Along with the rain we have had wind, 40-50 MPH winds up in our neck of the sound, and less by Seattle. It has been unusually dark out during the day also, Good days for staying in bed all hunkered down with a good book!

Donna came and picked Tilly up and took another load of her stuff home with her. It was so nice last night to sleep in a bed with out the dog pushing me off. Sadie is missing Tilly big time. THey fought all the time, but at least Sadie had some one to play with. I must need another puppy huh?

right now it is getting COLD out there, the temp is almost to 32 degrees, and already black ice warnings have gone out. The passes are getting FEET of snow, and the ski resorts that went wanting last year, are opening already. ANd several passes have closed!!

Now we usually close the North Cascades highway around the 1st of December, and it stays closed until March or April. But this year it closed last week, and they said it will remain closed for the year, as there is just too much snow on the pass now. Snoqualmie Pass, which is our MAJOR E-W Interstate route, has been closed for two days because of a rock slide. so that leaves only US2 which goes over Stevens Pass, (1 lane each direction) US 12 which goes over White Pass, and the columbia gorge which is I 82. Needless to say the truckers are really in trouble. It will take them several hours to drive around to the other passes and back to I-90 again. And with the cost of fuel up this week, there are some hurting trucking firms. I heard just now that they opened 1 lane in both directions over I-90, so traffic can start moving again. according to the news there is over 5 million dollars worth of goods transported EVERY DAY over that pass. Whew!! No wonder they are scared.

We are expecting more rain again tomorrow, but forcasted as of yet.

I have spent 3 days putzing around the house and getting it ready for Mr. Nut's visit. He will be staying here, because Phyllis does not have an extra room. And it just so happens I do now! I have been doing little odd jobs that I have been putting off for a long time, and things are starting to take shape. JUst one step at a time, and the house should be clean again.

I cooked a turkey on Saturday to make room for the three turkeys Bob is buying when the price is cheap. This one was 39 cents a pound for a total of 6.35!! dont mind eating turkey at that price! This bird was over a year old, and needed to be cooked. It was delicious!! none of the other fixings, just the turkey. so juicy! and I made a big pot of soup from the carcass. Now I hope I can replicate it come Thanksgiving.

I may or may not be posting daily, as I have a honey-do list that needs to get done, and since I live alone....
Ya'll have a great week.

Skipping rocks...

skipping rocks

Did you ever stand on a beach or a river bank and watch as your Dad or big brother looked down for a long time, finally picking up a rock and throw it into the water in such a way that it actually bounced off the water?

My Dad would skip stones all the time. When I was a little girl, he would do it, and I was in awe! I thought he was magic to get a rock to bounce on water. He would get me to try, not telling me his secret, and I would, only to be disappointed because mine would sink. JUST LIKE A ROCK! His would skip, JUST LIKE MAGIC.

It wasn't until years later, when I was on a beach with some other kids and one of the boys picked up a rock and bounced it magically just like Dad used to do!! I told him my Dad could do that too, and he said. "anybody can, you just have to find the right rock." He then showed me how to find the right rock, and showed me how to hold it and then throw it.

that summer, I spent every day at the beach across from my house skipping rocks with my friends. We would look for the right rocks, and then see who could skip them the farthest, fastest, most bounces, curved etc. I got quite good at it. I would look all morning for the flattest rock. Had to be flat, but still had to be small enough to fit in my hand just right and also big enough to have the heft to go the farthest. Several times I would stand at High tide and skip the rock, and then note where it landed, and go retrieve it at low tide.

To skip a stone, you have to have a flat rock, that would fit between your index finger and thumb, and touch the skin above your thumb. Then you had to curl the rest of your fingers into your palm, hold the rock top up, and lean over to the right side and do a side arm throw flicking your wrist just as you brought your arm forward and released the rock. The secret was all in the wrist action, much like throwing a curve ball or a slider.

I showed my young son how to skip rocks when he was about 8 years old. He thought I was magic too, but I just did not have the heart to tease him like my Dad did me. I showed him how to do it, and watched with wonder as the son I raised skipped his first rock. It was not a long skip at that time, but a skip it was, and the thrill that showed on that little boys face as he turned to me and said...I DID IT MOM!!!!!

Feels like WINTER...

fall bounty

We are sitting here waiting for the biggest storm of the season to slam into us either late tonight or tomorrow. Winds up to 50 MPH are expected in Admiralty inlet...Yep, that is where I sit...right above it! I was not planning to even get dressed today, it was just that kind of day for slugging in your pj's. Unfortunately 4 cats that live here had other ideas. It seems they have been having a hay day eating cat food. And they are out! I am going to have to put a stop to that! they are all getting lazy and chubby except for Chitters who is getting skinnier. So I got dressed and headed into prairie Center for groceries. I stopped by Phyllis' to pick up something, and then went on to the store.

As I got out of my car to walk across the parking lot, The wind came in right off the prairie and smacked me in the face, and I swear the wind chill factor had to be close to freezing. It even SMELLED like snow. I would not be surprised to see a dusting down at sea level in a few more weeks. The earliest we have had snow of any amount here was in 1985 I think, Nov 19, and there was 19 inches on the ground!! It was quite a dump for us. We will be getting colder and colder as this month goes on. And waiting for the storm to hit just brings it back that I need to bring in some wood before it all gets wet and will not burn.

The big grey squirrels have been tearing up the fence line running back and forth with nuts in their mouth. I think they are stocking up and storing up for the winter. Must be gonna be a hard one.

Hey up there!!! Did it all melt, or is it cold too? And ya'll down there, enjoy your warm fall weather as we get rained on and wet and cold and freeze!! Time to get out the electric blankets...

staff LSOH

This is the staff that worked on LSOH! Rusty the Director is in the front. I am in the back...

Tonight was our final dress rehearsal, and it went FINE!! Rusty and I went over the light cues before the show, and everything worked great. I still am not thrilled with the way the plant eats it's dinner, but it will work. Until something else is figured out.

Tomorrow I will be playing on the computer all day, getting the headshots and Bios done for the Lobby wall. ANd then, folks, I am done until April!! Whoot!!! Rusty and I are sooooooo tired, working these shows back to back. We will be videotaping this one also, so get your names on the list quick!!

I hope you all have a great Wednesday. I may not be by until Thursday. Lots to do!! Everybody wish Bilbo good health!!! His Mommie is very worried about him.

Halloween...

Happy Halloween

I am not kidding but it took me 30 freaking minutes of connecting re connecting getting disconnected etc just to get to this point in my post tonight. I HATE THIS CRAP DIAL-UP!!!! HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT! Everytime it rains it goes wonky. I have had the Telephone company come out and replace the line to the tune of 95.00 and it STILL does not work right. I HATE IT!

We have hit a major glitch in the PLANT tonight. The maker of the plants said he was done and left us with the pods, but the 4th pod HAS to have a base under it, for the people that are getting eaten to drop into and then crawl out the back. That was not done. So all night tonight while I was finalizing and rechecking cues, the cast was all on stage trying to finish the plant, and figure out how it will have to work. EEK!! All it needs is a light wood frame in the shape of a box, with material stapled around the sides then the pod could rest on the boxframe, the puppeteer could then back down, and move over while the POD "eats" the victim! The victim could then crawl out the back, and voila!! Hopefully Rusty can get ahold of the plant maker, and he can get it built tomorrow, we have an audience tomorrow night!

We have had a cold snap, and finally have termination dust on the tops of our mountains, for sure!! 6" of snow on Stevens Pass!! The ski resort operators are jumping for joy, as last year there was NO SNOW!!
I even turned on my heater here in the office, but I can not build a fire until tomorrow. Just my way of conservation. I put on socks and sweaters and extra blankets, and wait until November 1! SO tomorrow, I can build one, but probably will not. Almost all of the leaves are off of the Maple tree out front. THe Alders still have a ways to go, but with the storms that are marching across the pacific, it wont be long now.

I hope you all had a great Halloween and are now getting ready for Christmas. Us "mericans" are preparing for Our Thanksgiving, and then we will be full bore for Christmas. GOlly time sure goes by fast any more doesnt it. It seems like it was just yesterday I was trying to change my blog to spiff it up for Christmas last year!! 2 more months and I will be 60!!! AAAARRRRGHHHHH!!!! Scary thoughts!!!

YAWN!!!!!

I feel like this guy looks right now. AS you all know I have had a sleep problem brought on by my back and my legs hurting. I take Tylenol PM and that knocks me right out, but I will sleep until 12:00 noon if nothing wakes me up, so I don't take it all that often. Last night I did and today I slept in. I had to be at the Playhouse at 2PM so I rushed through my blogwalk. Finished setting all the lights, reaimed several more, and got all the light cues in just about 830. I got a pizza and went to Phyllis to share on the way home.

Phyllis fell again last night, as I am sure you all read, but I really worry about her and her job. If she cant walk, she cant do her job and she CANT retire until she is 65. She was doing so much better and then this happens. SHe says she is ok, but I still worry.

Came home, let the girls in, and they drank their water bucket dry! They had knocked their outside dish off the deck I guess, and they were out there for 8 hours with no water. Poor babies. But then they were covered with mud too, so I didnt feel too sorry for them. Especially Sadie, if there is a mud puddle around, she will find it JUST before she comes in for the night, then she makes a mad dash for the bedroom and up on my clean bed she will go. So we have to close the bedroom door FIRST, pisses her off it does!

I went to bed and read for about 2 hours, and felt sleepy so I turned out the light and fell right asleep, until Tilly crawled out from UNDER the bed and jumped ON the bed, and woke me up. it was 345, according to the clocks, but the DVD player says 245????? Wha......oh yeah, PST again this weekend. I wish the whole world would get together and pick one time and STAY WITH IT!! ANyway I am up again, and it is now 500AM or 600 REAL time, and I have slept about 3 hours, maybe.

I am getting sleepy, but the eyes just wont close. I really wish I had a bottle of Drambuie, a glass of that on the rocks with a cup of Hot tea would make the world right. or a bottle of Frangelico, or a Bottle of Baileys, anyone of the three would be fine!!

We have a Tech rehearsal tonight to iron out the kinks in the light cues, and the plant. So this is our final hour. We open this coming Friday, and Hopefully it will be a sell out. Ya'll come on up!!

Little Shop Of Horrors...

cast LSOH

Tonight was Press night/Family Night, and the show was wonderful. Seymour bloomed like we never knew he could, and sparkled like he was made for the part. He was actually. He auditioned for the part of seymour, and even before he knew what the part called for he WAS Seymour. He is geeky and he is sweet and he is soooo naive! And he really IS. when this show is over, he will continue on being just the same way.

Audrey is a lot more worldly, but she is a sweet young lady too. she has a very powerful voice and is a great actress, pulling off Audrey just like she was a natural blonde. I knew her before she auditioned, (Her Mom owns the scrapbook store that I am paying for...;) )

Orin the Sadistic Dentist has been seen in several of our shows and he is the President of the Board Of DIrectors. Unfortunately this is his swan song, as he is in the Navy and is being transferred in December. He will really be missed. His wife Dawn is our Musical Director, and we will have a really hard time replacing them.

Musnick is also in the Navy, and has a voice that sends shivers up your spine. He can do a Falsetto better than many can. Wonderful actor.

I can not believe how well cast this show is. Even our plant is great. Unfinished, but great. Audrey II will be ready by Tuesday I hope. We are building her, and she is being built out of fiberglass, and chicken wire. Fiberglass will not set if the weather is too cold or too wet and the weather has not cooperated at all.



dying audrey

Right after Audrey dies, Seymour picks her up off the floor and carries her to the plant, and feeds her to it. Seymour wrapped his arms under her tonight and went to pick her up and fell flat on his butt. He tried again, and fell again. THen they both started laughing, and then so did the audience. A very touching scene and they laughed. It was great.

Several of you have said that you have never heard of Little Shop of Horrors before. I would suggest to you that you go rent the movie, it is so funny. The show we do is based on the movie, and in this case, the Movie came first, and was so popular that they made a Broadway Show out of it. Rick Moranis plays Seymour, and Steve Martin plays Orin the sadistic Dentist. Do yourself and your family a favoer and WATCH it. It is blow milk out your nose funny!!! Dark, but funny. (David, live a little, rent it!)

Seymour...

seymour and audrey

Press night tonight, but so far only one paper has RSVP'd that they were coming. The Oak Harbor Paper has not replied yet and they are usually the only ones who do come. GRRRR. Ah well, It will give us a few more days to finalize our set. The cast is already raring to go. just need to tweak the lights and finish the plant. They changed the set on me AGAIN last night!!! This time none of my special lighting shows, so there goes the sunset, and the mood lighting!! ARRRRGGHHHHHHH. This is why you should NEVER plan lights until AFTER the set is finished, but I just could not wait any more. WIth the lack of time on stage between shows now, it is nigh on impossible to get everything done in time. 5 weeks is not enough time to get the set built, painted, lit and the props set and ready. ALL WITH VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK FULL TIME ON OTHER JOBS! SO basically this gets done on weekends, and it just makes it waaaaay too hard. We need to start thinking less complex sets and do more with special effects I guess. Almost done with this show, then a big long break, until Caine Mutiny Court Martial which opens in April. then who knows.

Somebody in the far northern part of this continent has been playing with my site I see....HMMMMM WOnder who it could be? Im surprised there isnt a black CAT up there too. Must be time for more catnip before the frost claims it all. ;)

first cast member

audrey

This is Audrey from Little Shop Of Horrors. I will post the rest of the cast when I get their head shots taken. This is going to be a fun show. I will be setting the light cues this weekend. THe Plant is HUGE and we are making it out of fiberglass, and there are 4 of them in various stages. We hope to rent it out to other theaters that may be wanting to do this show.

Sunny and cool today...

This is what they are calling the calm between the storms. Last night the wind was really really whipping it up out there. 45-50 MPH sustained winds in Oak Harbor. But what was really amazing is that the lights did not blink ONCE. Not in Oak Harbor, and not here at home either. The mainland got whomped though over 3ooo homes in the dark.

Wind itself is not the main cause of the lights and wires going down. We have a LOT of evergreen trees around here, and they have a very shallow root system. wide, but shallow. It rains and rains and rains, and then the ground gets saturated, and the clay layers get slippery, and then the wind blows and there is nothing for the trees to grab on to, so their roots just slip and over they go, taking the electric wires with them. A few trees in back did lose a top, but I cant see where a whole alder went down. Sure was noisy though.

Today it is calm and sunny and cold. no wind, no rain, just Sun and cold air. I almost gave in and built a fire in the woodstove, but I did not. I dont want to build one until November 1, and stop building them after April 1. I just put a sweater on and my spiffy slipper socks. stay nice and toasty.

I just heard on the weather report that there is more storm with heavy winds coming down the pike. Sposed to hit tomorrow. and be a series of them until Halloween when it will clear up. This system is coming down from the Gulf of Alaska, and has a lot of unstable air in it, which means stormy, blustery fall weather. I think I had better see where I stored the lanterns and the gas.

Tilly caught a rat today, at first I thought it was a squirrel, because it was a brownish color and it had long hair! I dont know whether it is a sign of a really cold winter coming, or that I just had never noticed long haired rats before. She was burying it under the fence, so I went out and took it away from her. I dont want them digging under the fence and discovering the rest of the world out there.

Donna is missing her Puppy big time. ANd I am missing Donna too. It is nice to be able to make noise in the living room again though. I can actually sit in my new chair and watch tv instead of going into my bedroom.
Her bedroom was right off the living area, and she likes total peace and quiet. No music, no TV. Well she is getting it right now. She is living in a house with only a bed and a dresser. She will be getting the rest of her furniture this weekend when Bill moves over to this side. Then They will come and get Tilly, and the rest of the stuff out of the bedroom, and then My house will be MINE!! YES!!

And now Wind!

LAst night coming home from oak Harbor, I was expecting really thick ground fog. I was actually surprised. It had lifted, but not very far. It was clear, down where the headlights shined, and thick like a blanket from windsheild height to about tree top level, and then clear again. The moon was shining on it and it looked very Hollywoodish. THe moonlight shining through the fog layer, and lighting the clear spaces in between. I wanted to stop and try and get a picture, but it would not have turned out. it was way too dark. AS I drove up to the top of the island, it was crystal clear, and the stars and moon were very bright, and when I dipped down onto the prairie, it too was almost clear, just a few whisps of fog. I came on home and as I got out of the car, I could hear the ships in the strait, so I knew it was foggy there too.

Tonight, the wind has kicked up and it is swirling leaves around like whirling dervishes in the road way. The rain yesterday has all dried up and the leaves are crackling and brown, and when they hit the window they snap. I was amazed at how many leaves there were on the highway, considering that it is mostly evergreens bthrough there. It is sposed to peak at about 30-45 MPH this evening. Seattle has a few power outages, and they are having major rain. We usually dont. SO we are entering our usual Fall weather patterns. Wind and Fog. I was sitting here typing the last paragraph and I heard a snap, CRACK! Thud, and then both Tilly and Sadie started barking. I went out and looked and could see no trees laying across the fence, so I assume it was in the woods. The alders have been sending off broken branches all afternoon.

I just let the girls in, and it is clear and nippy out there all ready. We have not had our first frost yet, but I would not be surprised to see this week or next. and I am predicting snow before Thanksgiving. It wont stick around, but it will count. I love Fall!

Foggy day...

I got a full 8 hours sleep again last night. Once I actually got to sleep that is. I took 2 PM's just as I went to bed, and read until I got sleepy and then turned out the light. Tilly is still here, and would NOT stay in her room for the night, so She was in my bed too. Now Sadie, was raised correctly. She was put in a small pen in my bathroom from the time she was 6 weeks old, so she knows that is her territory. She knows that when she is there she is to sleep, and no one will bother her. She will sleep and stay there until I get up or she lets me know it is time to go PEE NOW! Tilly on the otherhand sleeps where ever she wants to, and last night it was in bed with me, across the bed, pushing me off to the edge. I finally got up and turned her the long way down and told her to stay. I got back into bed and she rolled over, and got as close as she could to me and then pushed with her feet. Only 5 more days until her Mommie comes to get her. She is so big it is hard to remember that she is still a baby, only 6 months old. I'll bet her Mommie misses her something fierce.

I signed Phyllis guest map for Sadie, and forgot to change my name on the haloscan so everyone I commented on today will have Sadie on it instead of Mary Lou! I am sooooo sorry. Hopefully I didn't comment many places, I cant remember. I just noticed it on Becky's site.

I am sitting here watching the sun on the alders get lower and lower, and listening to the fog horns on the ships in the channel WHOOOPing along. The Seattle News just showed a thick layer of low laying fog on the Sound and the strait. We get really really thick fog on the water in the Fall. It will just hang there all day, and then move in when the Sun goes down. They just showed a picture from the Seattle Cam atop the Space Needle, and it shows the tops of the buildings, and just the roof of Quest field and Safeco field. They are very unique and open when the weather is good, so just seeing them above the fog looks really strange. I know that as I drive home tonight, I will hit the low ground fog. It gets so thick that there are times you can not see the road at night. I literally drove with my head hanging out the open car door looking down for the yellow line. It gets kinda scary. You can not see headlights or tail lights at all until you are RIGHT THERE on them. SO driving slow really is smarter.

Time to head to the Playhouse, and see how much they got done on the set. I can not program the lights until the set is finished. The colors may not work right. We shall see. I take head shots tonight anyway, and then get their Bios typed and ready for the Lobby wall, and then I am ready to take candid shots of the play, and then relax.

See Me!!

Moving Day!!! :)

Donna is MOVING OUT!!! :) Actually, I am really going to miss her. I am not a person that is really comfortable living alone. That could be because I have not been alone very much. I have had husbands and Children, or a roommate for almost all my life. I bought this house in 1992, after living alone on Adak, Island. And I moved in to it in Oct of 1992. In January of 1992, My Son's best friend moved in, and lived here for over two years, then my Dad moved in, then I was transferred to Nevada. When I got BACK, Donna moved in for a temporary visit, and that was 5 years ago.

Her and Bill have decided to try living on the same side of the mountains, instead of him living in western Washington, and her over here close to her job. (What a concept, eh) anyway, Bill is packing up HIS side of the mountains, and Donna is packing up HER side of the mountains, and together they shall move to Marysville, which is on the mainland about 25 minutes from her job in Mukilteo. Bill will then look for a towing job in Everett, and tada!! They will be a family. Tilly will stay here with me for a week, until Bill gets his stuff moved over here. I was afraid that Tilly would freak out if Donna moved her today, and then left her in a strange place with no furniture, all day long. That would not be a good thing for this puppy! She is after all still a baby, and needs her Grandmother. I will however be very glad to see her move out, and let Sadie once again rule this roost.

I spent all afternoon setting and moving lights for Little shop, only to be told at 900 last night that all the special lighting I had done would not be able to be seen because the set was not finished yet and the back flats still had to be put up. This is NOT what the director had just the night before told me was going to happen. ARRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Ya know I so HATE to have my time wasted. I am not feeling 100% right now, and then to be told that all our work was for naught, really really bothers me.

I should be helping Donna move, but I can not lift nor can I walk very far this week. My Back is so OUT. I can walk for about 100 yds and then I have to sit. I popped 2 excedrin PM last night and SLEPT A FULL 8 hours. AHHHHHHHH!!!! That felt so good! I do not take them every night though, don't want to get where I have to depend on drugs to get to sleep. I woke up with Ethel asleep on my chest with her ass-end right about 6 " from my mouth. GAK!!! So I moved her off and WHOMP! Up jumps the Till-ster right in the middle of my stomach. Must be time to get up!!

I go in to the Playhouse again today around 200 and finish setting the lights, and getting them gelled, and then next week I can get them programmed. I should get a good nights sleep tonight too. THANK YOU LORD.

My mind has all of this running around inside, and my creative juices have been stymied. Once LSOH is open, and on it's way, then I need to get the posters done for the Lobby, Donna will be gone, and my house will be back to a semi-semblance of order, and THEN I can once again get back to writing like I want to be.

Stand by!!

BASTARD CAT!!!!!!!! :(

I just woke up from a nice afternoon nap with 2 dogs cuddled around me and 3 cats at the foot of the bed. I knew the dogs had to go outside and pottie, so we headed for the back door. Now all of you know how I love to watch the critters, and you all know I LOVE my kitties. I have been coaxing the birds and the squirrels to the deck for over over two years, and this past month I have succeeded in getting the big grey squirrels and the Lola's to the deck feeder. I carefully watch out the back door to make sure there are none feeding when I let the girls out. If there is one, I will bang the door so that they will run before the girls get their scent. I certainly would not want the dogs to think that they are hors d'ourves trays there for their benefit.

This afternoon there was a little Douglas squirrel (Lola) feeding, so I banged the door, watched her run to the fence and then let the dogs out. They caught her scent right off the bat and took off after her. I watched to make sure that Lola got away and she was on the fence so I knew she was safe. I then heard her give her squeal, like she does when she is running, so I looked back just as the ugly orange cat from across the street chomped on her head and trotted off with her hanging from his mouth!!!

BASTARD!!! I Hope he chokes!! He was hiding in the grass at the base of the fence just waiting. I watched him as he ran out of Lea's yard and back across the street, I ran out the front door and yelled at him but he proudly went on his way into his own backyard. Poor Lola. SNIFF!!

As I am typing this, I watch out the office window and there is another Lola in the Feeder tray scarfing down the goodies in it. Sadie is going berserk trying to jump up high enough to get her, but Lola aint having any of that. She has watched as the other one disappeared, so she is getting her dinner eaten. Sadie will eventually give up and leave her alone. And Suzie is on the back fence waiting for the dog to leave, She is not as bold.

help!

Ok, I am pretty much done, but I still can not figure out how to make my banner fit the space it is sposed to fit. It should fit over the body of the blog (not the side bar) and go clear to the bottom of the frame it is in. Anybody got any ideas?
The banner is a jpeg and I used Picasa/Hello to post it. Maybe ther is no way I CAN fix it. I might as well leave it alone, by the time I get it fixed, it will be December and time to change it again!

Today I had a rare treat. I heard a putt-putt-putt and knew it was a quail, so I looked out the window, and saw not only George and Gracie back again, but their entire spring hatch too! All grown up and pairing off. There were 16 in all. They scratched under the feeder eating the tons of bugs that are living there, then Tilly and Sadie decided to sit in the window, and scare them all off. I also had Alvin the chipmunk from early summer, and 2 lolas and two Suzie's!! It has been a dreary wet dark foggy day, no sun, and I think the critters thought that winter was here and were stocking up!!

playing

Leslie and I are playing...bear with us please...

AAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHHH

AAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

God I feel like I could rip open somebody’s throat and shit down their windpipe!!  I have no idea who, I just have this urge to YELLLLLLL!!!!  My daughter says it is because my Doctor took me off my hormones two months ago.  COLD TURKEY after being on them for 18 years.  I don’t think so, But what the hell do I know?

Last night Donna and I went to our rooms and I let Lint out for his nightly poop.  As I was all comfy and reading my book, and listening to variations on a theme by Beethoven, and out the window, in the rain, I hear MRRROWR MMMROWR!  Right under the window.  Lint wanted in.  Normally he goes up to the porch and scratches at the door and Donna lets him in.  But I knew how pissed she gets, so I got up and went to let him in.  He was still under the bird feeder so I called his name, he came running, stopped turned around ran back picked up something and ran back.  As He was running up the steps, I noticed that his mouth was full.  OF RAT!!!  So I slammed the door quickly and yelled at him to drop it.  NOPE! IT’S MINE! I CAUGHT IT, AND I’M BRINGING IT IN!  I finally convinced him that he could just stay outside in the cold nasty rain, or he could come snuggle up on the recliner and be nice and warm and dry.  He dropped it.  He came in, and then raised HOLY HELL because I would not get up and let him back out to get his prize!  He jumped up on the window sill above my head and scratched at the screen, just as a barred owl flew down to the deck, grabbed his dinner and flew off.  Lint turned and looked at me with the nastiest look and went and scratched at Donnas door.  She let him out, and that is where he stayed all night!!  

This morning I got up early and Went to Seattle with Phyllis to an Emergency Weather Seminar and tour of the NOAA facilities for the West Coast.  I would die for their computers!  They showed how they have been able to track the storms coming in off the pacific, to determine with 70% accuracy what the weeks weather will be.  Lots of data, and lots of different screens to look at, but what we all came to hear took about 30 minutes.  We on the West Coast will be having a Wetter and Colder Winter.  SO we could have low-land SNOW!!  WHOOT!!    Bottom line for the whole meeting is BE PREPARED.  Phyllis has been talking about that for several months, and they hammered at us again to tell our employees, neighbors family etc, to Get ready for any kind of emergency.  Earthquake, disaster, Hazard Spill, Tsunami, Floods, Blizzards we could have any and or all of them at any time.  SO if you have not already done so, GO to your local Fire Dept web site or the NOAA website look at the list for your area, and get your kit ready.

You Never know…and there is another Hurricane getting ready to dump on the SE.  And this one is named WILMA!!  We don’t name our storms, but we call them by the day. THE COLUMBUS DAY STORM, THE INNAUGURAL DAY STORM, THANKSGIVING DAY STORM. (Ever cooked a half done turkey on a BBQ?)

OH!  And DON’T FORGET PET FOOD!!!  And they all need a crate just in case.  It might be a good idea to get an extra bag of food for each pet and an extra collar and leash and have them in the carrier at the ready!!

Autumn...

geese

Donna pulled the lawnmower out of the garage and mowed the backyard yesterday evening. The Grass was growing as fast as she cut it down. Grass grows in two seasons here, Spring and Fall. This is a really great time to plant a new lawn. The days are cool and moist, and just right for sending down grass roots and sending up blades of grass to tickle Sadies rear end.

I went out on the deck to watch her, and as the mower stopped, I heard geese again, but could not see them. They were far away, so I assumed they were out of sight beyond the alder trees. Eventually I spotted them, waaaaaaaaay up where the airplanes fly, and the flocks just covered the sky! I have never seen so many, so high before. All flying south in a giant wide wedge. Honking, and talking to their leader, encouraging him to keep going, that they were right behind him as he led the way to their wintering over ground. It amazes me how they know when to go, and where to end up. Science even is not really 100% certain, they assume that it is a homing sensor in their brain that allows them to find their way across 10's of thousands of miles of earth to get right back where they came from. Some of these geese had never made the journey, as they were hatched up North in their breeding grounds. They will follow their leader with blind trust that he will get them safely back again. They will then be able to find their way should their leader die the next season. Amazing.

We have had weather system after weather system coming in off the Pacific, and bringing wind. I woke up today to wet weather blowing in on my face. The wind is fresh, and full of moisture, and going pretty fast too. I lay there wondering if I should haul my carcass out of bed, or just lay there and enjoy the weather. Guess which one I did? I am expecting a really good blow before long. We have not had a major wind storm in a year or two, and that is really odd for us. October usually brings the wildest weather of the year. But the month is only 1/2 over!

My sweet peas are still blooming my roses are still flowering, I have a dahlia that has just decided to pop up out of the ground, and the trees are still 1/2 green. I think that we will wake up one morning and find that Autumn has left and winter has hit!! I am looking forward to it...

(Now why is this not showing up?)

Flying Geese...

Tonight I went to bed at 1130 and turned out the light just before midnite. I took 2 tylenol PM's to sleep. at 115 I woke up! the cats Loki and Chitters were sitting in the window growling deep rumbling growls. They would jump off the bed, run down the hall growling the whole way, then repeat the procedure. I heard the new dog 3 houses down baying at something. THey did not like his bark, and they were growling to tell me that something was not right. I got up turned on the light to read, and I heard them. Far off in the distance honk, honk, honking their way SOuth. They flew over the house at varying altitudes and different voices honking to encourage their leader the whole way. I love listening to the sounds of the geese and ducks finding their way South for another winter where it isnt freezing.

The Skagit Valley, here just East of us on the mainland, is home to a whole group of snow geese and Tundra Swans that make their way from the Arctic to spend the winter. THey are quite the tourist attraction, and are really beautiful to see, all standing wing to wing in the empty fields.

I am laying there contemplating whether to get up and post, since I did not get to it yesterday, or to read until I got sleepy again. And the phone rings. Scarded the bejeebus out of me. A phone ringing at 130 AM is usually not good news. It was Phyllis giggling and asking me to go read her blog, because she posted a funny picture and was afraid it would offend someone.

Guess she made my mind up for me. I am now up, posting and will soon be back in bed trying to get to sleep again. I think I will wait about an hour then call her and wake her up again too. LOLOLOLOLOL We are so mean to each other. LOLOLOLO

Over the River...

Yesterday Phyllis and Mike and I went up the Skagit River. We had planned to go over to Eastern Washington and get some apples, but all three of us were sore and we got a late start. SO we drove up to Diablo Lake overpass, and turned around, as the light was going fast.


Skagit River Boulders

If you went to Phyllis' place first, you saw this scene already, but it is worth repeating. The picture the River justice at all!! The Boulders in the River Bottom are HUGE!!! If we could stand next to them, we would be like ants crawling over them. The River at this point is diverted through the mountain, and comes out below Gorge Dam. It was the first Dam built on the River. There are three, and each one gets bigger and taller. All to fuel Seattle. The Mountains here are solid rock and to get the dams and the roads through here, they had to blast the rocks away. If you look closely you can see what the water has done to the solid granite. Smoothed it out and made it awesome.



Phyllis

AT this point, There was a major rock slide several years ago, and as you can see, it cut a pretty big swath out of the mountain. Phyllis is the teeny green spot at the foot.


mike

Mike was daring, and went down a trail to the river right in front of a sign that said DANGER, Do NOT go into the River bed, as the water can be released from the dam and flood the riverbed at any time. MEN!! I can just the amount of Gold and silver that is under all the rocks in that river bed.



cabin

This is the type of Cabin us 'Mericans have in our woods. None of those fancy schmancy cabins with heaters and hot tubs. :)

AS we got up to the overlook, we stopped and got out and took pictures down the lake, but mine look just like Phyllis' so go there to see the first lake. There are two huge lakes covering many thousands of square miles of virgin country. Gorge dam is a power house. It diverts the water from the skagit just at DIablo dam, and runs it through the mountain to the Dam at Newhalem. Then Seattle needed more power so they built Diablo Dam, which is higher, and floods the valley, it created a beautiful setting for recreation, and created even more flooded area. Next is Ross Dam, which is even higher, and creates even MORE power for SEATTLE, and this dam flooded clear up into Canada. Ross Lake is beautiful, and the most of it is in the National Park, so whatever Lumber is left, is protected. Seattle is wanting even MORE Power and the Seattle city Light CEO wants to raise Ross Dam another 650 feet. This would flood WAY into Canada, and it would destroy the oldest stand of red cedar left on the planet. It would flood Beaver valley and
take away many of the wilderness protected places. SO far we have been able to fight this monster off, but the power of the people is heavy, and they do want their pools heated, and their mansions lit.



Early Winter Spires

This is what we would have seen had we gone on another 40 miles. This is at Washington Pass, where the snow fall is so heavy that the Hiway closes sometime in November of each year. The highway almost did not get built because of this part. It is steep, high, and very rugged. The snow slides right down the rock face and lands on the switchbacks and blocks them. So every winter the cross state drivers have to drive another 300 miles around, via Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle, or Stevens Pass to Everett.

I will give you more history tomorrow on the highway. There is a book written about the building of this road called GOD'S HIGH TABLE that is well worth the read if you can find it at a library. Great book.

Another almost sleepless night...

Another almost sleepless night.  I am getting really tired of all this.  I go to bed at a reasonable hour, and read until I am sleepy, turn out the light and hunker down under the covers with the pillows and the cat.  30 min to an hour later I wake up and can not get back to sleep. I have five crossword puzzle books by the bed, all the maps I have gotten from blogger friends,  (You KNOW I love them!) and a stack of magazines along with my book.  I start with one and go to others until I get sleepy again.  Last night, I woke up at 330, 430, 545 and 700. That is when I decided it was time to haul my fat ass out of the bed, and get busy.  Maybe if I work my self into tiredness that will help.  My back has been right on the verge of going into spasms for almost a week, so I have not been doing much at all.  

One of the really wonderful things about being awake so early is getting to see the colors that the sunrise paints on the high clouds.  My house faces South west so I can not see the actual sunrise.  There are too many alders in the way.  I am also on the west side of the island and if the trees were all gone, there would still be a ridge that would block the sunrise.  Today  the clouds were blowing in from the pacific dark and foreboding, and the wind was picking up as the dark turned to light.  The high clouds to the East were tinted a gorgeous pink and purple, and the space through the trees was a vivid color also.  Two doves flew down to the feeder to join the flock of chickadees that were hopping in and out of the sunflower seeds. Doves, when they are fluttering down, make a whistle with their wings, which alerts the dogs that they are there.  So off Tilly and Sadie went, charging at the feeder and chasing all the birds away.  

Time for coffee and the laundry.  And then get the press releases written for the next show.  I am going over the Mountains with My Brother and Sister tomorrow.  My yearly Fall trip over to get apples for sauce.  The Apples are just a great excuse to go over, and the scenery and the color is the best part.  Our North Cascades highway has got to be one of the most gorgeous highways in the country.  We will be heading East over SR-20 and back over US-2, making the loop in about 12 hours.  Makes for a really long day, but then you have all those pictures to look at all year long.  Blog fodder ya know.

I have started again on my mothers quilt.  I almost have the top complete and then on to the actual quilting.  I am not sure just how extensive I want to get with the stitching.  I would have to do it all by hand, and I do not have a quilt rack.  I may just tie it, or stitch around the squares, and tie the middles.  I want to get this done, as It was started over 71 years ago.  My Mom made all the squares when she was 9, and they have just been hiding in a trunk all these years.  It is time to get it used.  Then on to my own quilt.  I cut out a sunbonnet Sue pattern, and have it all ready to be appliquéd onto the squares, but the problem is, (I don’t know how to appliqué!)  I thought it would be easy and it is not, so I have to figure this out.  I love bright colorful quilts and this one will be, if I ever finish it.
(Tricia, any advise on appliqué?)

IT seems the dogs are ready to go back outside after their breakfast, so time to get off this keyboard and get busy.  See ya Wednesday.

2 gallons of gas....

When I first started to learn how to drive, in my parents 1962 Rambler station wagon, My Dad told me that I would have to pay the extra on the State Farm Insurance, and I would have to put gas in the tank. No problem. I babysat a LOT and made a LOT of money. I was getting 35 cents an hour until I turned 14 then I raised my fees to 50cents. I did not date in High School (slow learner) and I had nothing else to spend my money on. The cost of car insurance for 6 months was 30.00. The price of gas? .25 a Gallon!!! I could fill up the 20 gallon tank for 5.00!!

Now it seems so cheap, but back then it was really pricey! We would search through our purses and drawers for enough money to put a few gallons in the tank. I was one of the fortunate ones that was allowed to have the car to take to movies, or games. So we would all pool our money to get those precious few gallons. Digging for a dime or a quarter in the bottom of a teenagers purse in the early 60’s was not easy. We carried everything we might need for an evening of “rodding around”. Never knew when you might need a camera or film or a flash bulb. Hair spray, makeup, brush, rollers, extra nylons, and maybe even a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

We would drive back and forth through the town, checking out the guys, and then run onto the base to see who might be hanging out there too. 1963 in Oak Harbor, was boring! There were 2 drive ins. Kow Korner, home of the 19 cent hamburger, and Dairy Queen, which was NOTHING like it is now. Even a different entity entirely. There was the main street downtown, and the side blvd and there was only one stop light in town. And stop signs only at the ends of the roads where they met the highway. So we would drive through town to Kow Korner, and turn around and go back to the other end of town, and turn around in front of the Harbor Light Tavern. Everybody who was any body was doing the same thing. Back and forth, back and forth, until we would catch the attention of a car full of guys, and then we would stop and chat. If we were lucky, we ended up with dates for the drive-in movie that weekend. If we weren’t, we would dig for money and take ourselves.

Nothing like drugs EVER entered our head. Only the really bad kids drank, and only really Bad girls had sex. We were of course Not that type!! We were innocent, and we had fun. We did not need computer games, nor did we even think of going to the drive in alone with a guy on the first date. NO WAY! Usually we would all pile into one car and go.

I hear the kids now days talking about their allowances, and they get in one week what I would MAKE in a whole Summer! We did not have malls to go to, we did not go shopping, we talked. And talked. And learned about each other, had our hearts broken, and learned.

My own very first car was a 1956 Chevy Belair and I LOVED that car. It was 2 toned green and had dark green leather upholstery. I drove it until my wedding night when We loaned it to the best man and he blew the engine out of it. Should have told me where my marriage was heading. Times were simpler then. Scrounging for a quarter to buy a gallon of gas to get home on, was brought home to me just the other day, when I was heading into Oak Harbor, but had to scrounge through my ashtray and under the seats to find 24 quarters to buy 2 gallons of gas to get home on. Man have times changed. There are now 17 stop lights in town, and the highway is all developed too. Midway Blvd is still there, and is the same length but Kow Korner is gone. Pity that. There was a lot of history associated with that drive in. Oak Harbor had a population of 4000 now it has 45000!

It no longer is a nice safe place to raise kids, and there are far more dangers out there than some sailor trying to unbutton your blouse on the 4th date! I wish we could go back to those quieter safer times. I wish that this generation of young children could see just how we were brought up. We feared authority, and would not DARE to do anything wrong for fear of punishment. We respected our elders, we respected our neighbors and our parents. We moved in to our first house with bricks and milk cases as furniture, we did not go bankrupt trying to have everything our parents had. We EARNED everything and respected it much more. Money MEANT something back then. 2 quarters would get you 40 miles if you drove carefully! Imagine gas that cheap today? WOW!!!