Kat's DRAWERINGS

Right after AI started Blogging in 2002, I mat Kat...also known as SPECIAL K. Her blog was very advante Garde, but I loved it. She was not afraid to tell it like it was...and in very graphic terms. She even warned MAMASITA not to read on, as it would embarass her mom. As we all got to know her, and follow her through her life, she started using windows PAINT to draw with and illustrate her blog. Below are just a few, and they are PRICELESS. She was so talented. She could write, she could draw, she was so smart. Even her English Teacher from High School ELLEN said that she was a genius with words. Unfortunately, she did not live long enough to realize how talented she was. She died Yesterday at the age of 39, of Lymphoma I believe, and she will be missed GREATLY!!!

FOr those of you who knew her, take a trip down memory lane. FOr those of you who DIDn't know her. you really missed someone special!

...and a few more from Whidbey Playhouse's CINDERELLA

a few more pics from Cinderella

Rehearsal shots

Last night I had to run in and get a few rehearsal shots of Cinderella for the local newspapers. Half of them are in costume, half are not, but you can tell it is gonna be fun!

WHAT!!!!!!??????

Is anyone besides me just mad as hell that one political entity in One state can change the wording in History books at their own WHIM? There were wars fought over the fact that someone burned books and covered up the real history, and we are doing it again in TEXAS!! (sorry Donna!) I can understand religious entities wanting to write their own history for their own people, although I personally think it is WRONG, but to change real time school books just because you dont like the way they portray history should be forbidden!

If I had children in school right now, I think I would be jumping up and down on the school board's desks to ensure that our entire history was told correctly! The bad and the good! If we continue covering up the bad, and changing things, then our future generations will NEVER learn from our forefathers misdeeds, mistakes.

I am so sick of the Religious Right dictating things in MY life. Religion has NO PLACE in our governments or in our schools, but in our CHURCHES and Synagogues and other places of worship.

GAK!!!! I am becoming a nasty old lady! And no one hears me scream! Look out! you could be next!

It LOOKS like Spring...

The Baby Geese are getting bigger, the trees are all in bloom, but I'll be DAMNED if it did not have snow mixed in with the rain yesterday. It was not just me that saw it either!

The wind blew 60+ MPHs, knocked out phone, lights, and cable. Even had a TORNADO in Eastern Washington...RARE indeed.

It is so cold out right now, that I am seriously thinking about building a fire to take the chill out of the house.

I know that if it ever warms up and gets really hot, that I will complain about that too, but Man oh man what I would not give to have some nice summer or even late SPRING weather! I really think we are entering a mini ice-age. no matter what they say about global warming. BRRRRR!!

I have on my fuzzy slippers and nice warm socks. and my feet are STILL cold.

I am so glad I got my garden planted early! PHFFFFTTTTT!!! so much for tomatoes this year I guess!

spring...finally?

Well, our weather has sure been strange this year. A warmer and wetter than average winter, and a colder than average Spring! I THOUGHT it was safe to put out bedding plants, but aparently I was wrong, as my lettuce is not doing well, and my spinach is turning yellow! My pumpkins did not thrive, and we had frost last week.

HOWEVER! They are predicting warm and dry for the next few days. in the 70's! Whew! Everything is late growing, but the tulips were really early! The blossoms on the apple and pear trees are setting fruit already also! THe grass is growing like mad! So MAYBE, just MAYBE, we have ventured into SPRING!

I wonder what the summer will bring?

I attended a class on Septic tanks this weekend. We are required to have an inspection before July 1, and hardly anyone has heard of this yet! with over 40 thousand septic tanks in the county, I am sure that they will extend the deadline, as there are very few qualified inspectors. After this class, I supposedly am qualified to inspect my own system, however I am not physically able to. So I have to pay some one to come dig up the cover anyway, so might as well bite the bullet and just have them inspect it for me. That way I know it will be correct.

Egads, There comes the jets!! along with good weather come the Navy jets bouncing off the OLF. Lots of noise! SIGH!!! Sound of freedom!!!

MUD!!!! Oh Boy!!!

You dont EVEN want to see my Utility room! SIGH!!!!

It's RAINING grandma!

I could tell the minute it started raining. The BOYS had been sleeping in the snoopy doghouse all day, just laying around being puppies, suddenly, they stood up, looked at the dirt pile and ran full bore toward it. Before I could stop them, they had their muzzles and their elbows in the mud and were having a ball. I just shook my head and grabbed the camera.

I have a better picture, but it is not downloaded yet. I will get to that tomorrow. Right now I have them locked in the utility room with a big blanket on the floor, so maybe they will dry off and shake the mud off. GOD!!!!

They are just adorable! But MAN can they eat! I put them to bed with a big pigs ear apiece, thinking it would last a few nights! WRONG!!! after about 20 minutes all traces of the pig were GONE!! Not even a smear on the floor was left! Each of them gets 4 cups of puppy chow twice a day, and all the water they can suck up! Sadie is in AWE! Loki tolerates them, and Schroeder has not been seen!

Tim and Misty were in Talladega during all of the tornadoes, and now are in Columbus, GA. Having fun and enjoying family. The boys and I are having fun too, before the rain started, we all were laying on the couch watching TV, and relaxing. MY LORD they are heavy!

Bubba and Napolean

I had to laugh when I saw this picture, as I know exactly what Misty was thinking. OHMIGAWD! They had gone out to potty, and discovered a mole hole, and decided to explore it. The looks on their faces are priceless. SEE HOW DIRTY WE ARE MAMA! We are sooo proud of our muddy feet, and we brought it into you nice clean kitchen too!

THey are 9 weeks old now and getting bigger by the day. I get to babysit while Tim and Misty go to Talladega to NASCAR and then on to Georgia to meet the family. I actually THINK I am looking forward to it. then again.....

Cash On Delivery On Stage Now!

Air station talent hits stage in ‘Cash on Delivery’

Whidbey Playhouse photo
“Ooh no! Poor Uncle George is dead.” If you’re looking for a good laugh, see “Cash on Delivery” featuring, from left, Kent Peckenpaugh as Eric Swan, Allen Young as Uncle George and Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Dustin Curtis as Norman McDonald.


Thursday, April 1, 2010
A live comedy featuring NAS Whidbey Island military and civilians hits the Oak Harbor Whidbey Playhouse in April.

The show is a full-on farce, complete with slamming doors, dead bodies, bold-face lies, mistaken identities and men dressing as women. This fast-paced physical comedy involves a con artist who has duped the welfare authorities by claiming every type of benefit for the innumerable people he claims lives at his address.

The cast includes Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Dustin Curtis of Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, who plays Norman McDonald.

The audience will also see retired Lt. Cmdr. Kent Peckenpaugh, who works on base with Innova systems Int’l LLC, a software contractor for the Navy. Peckenpaugh is in the role as Eric Swan.

“Following the lost of his job, Eric rectifies his situation by creating fake tenants and submits benefit claims in their names,” said Peckenpaugh. Although in the lead role, Peckenpaugh said. “Dustin Curtis really steals the show, becoming the central character.”

Navy Exchange customer relations employee Joyce Napoletano plays Sally Chessington.

Among those working behind the scenes in lights and sound are Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Mike Tucey of FRCNW and Aviation Electrician’s Mate Airman Matt Benson of VAQ-138.

“I’ve been doing live theater since middle school,” said Benson, a native of Wenatchee, Wash. Only arriving here last February, Benson said he originally went to the Whidbey Playhouse to help usher, but the Playhouse decided to use his theater technical expertise instead.

The play directed by Bob Hendrix and Melissa Bridges opens April 9 and closes May 1. Tickets are $16, and groups of 10 or more receive a $1 discount on each ticket. Call the box office at 679-2237 for more information and show dates throughout April.

© 2010 Sound Publishing, Inc.

Poor little Sadie!

My poor little Sadie bug is a wreck! She has been digging at her neck for 4 days now and it is raw and bleeding. It looked like there was a dog bite on her neck and it could have been Rocky, although I am not sure he has the energy to actually clamp down on anything as he is so old. But they do get into it once in awhile. It is usually Sadie's fault. I held her down and looked at her closely and it looked like there may have been a B-B in her neck and her leg. I would not put it past the wicked Witch of the North to do something to her, so I took her into the Vet today.

No B-B! Whew, I would be in jail right now if there was. But the Dr smiled and said, I know it looks bad, but what she has is an extreme reaction to all the pollen in the air right now.

WHAT???????

He said that they have been so busy the past two weeks with dogs with exactly the same thing. Well....Shut my mouth!

So she had to have pills. She is on Prednisone and Antibiotics for a week. She will not keep a bandage on, and I can not put a CONE OF SHAME on her either, because it would rest right where the sores are.

I tried to get a pill down her today...PHFFFTTT! no way! so I waited awhile, and went in and cut a piece of Zuccini bread and came in here. Sure enough there she is begging for a bite. I put the Prednisone in it and mushed it up and gave it to her. She sniffed it as if to say "I Know you did something to this". But when I put a piece in my mouth, she swallowed hers. So then I did the same with the Antibiotics. So there are two pieces of bread on the desk, one with the pill one for me.

Guess which one she got?

I worked out in the yard all day Saturday. Cant work hard or fast, but I worked! I pruned all of the wisteria. It has taken over the fence, and has grown roots under the fence and up the trees out back. Si I am trying to get it back into the two spots it was originally planted. I found a yellow climbing rose that the wisteria had covered. so now it will thrive. THe two climbers I planted two weeks are are sending up shoots already. I cleaned up under the bird feeder and now that area is ready for some petunias. 5 of the eight raised beds are planted,. The cabbage is doing great and so is the spinich but the onion sets are wilting down. May have rushed it a bit.

I transplanted the rhubarb and got five plants out of it, so they new plantings should do better in the sun.It too is looking good.

Now to get Tim to come home and move the rest of the dirt into the backyard so I can have my driveway back. (Yeah, THat will never happen!)

Isn't he CUTE?

His name is Bubba, and he is 6 weeks old. He is my New GrandPuppy! Tim and Misty got him last week. THeir neighbors were raising a litter and mama quit nursing, so they sold them cheap. Tim says he has doubled in size in a week. I told him, Phhft that is nothing compared to what he will be!

I have wanted a St Bernard Puppy ALL MY LIFE!! I wanted a female, and I wanted to name her Heidi. But I love my little Sadie just as much!

Bubba is a rough coat St Bernard, and will soon be HUGE!!! He came and spent the day with me. ANd I get to puppy sit next week and then again in May!

Sprinter?

I can't really say we have had a bad winter, because we haven't. It has been one of the warmest. driest on record. The snowpack is very low, below normal, which means that there will be a water shortage this summer. We don't run out of water, but our rivers get lower, and our reservoirs behind our dams get really low, and we can not generate enough electricity to sell to California. (oh DARN!) If you watched the Olympics in Canada last month, you saw how very mild our weather is right now.

Well Hang on! the weather reports have a possibility of SNOW in the next few days. Not at all unusual for this time of year, but the record COLD temperatures are. THe tulips in the Skagit Valley are blooming a whole month early, the fruit trees are all in bloom, the bees are buzzing, and as I have said before, i have mowed my yard three times already this year. The cold will hurt the blossoms on the fruit trees and even though they are loaded with buds, They may not produce fruit if they are frozen in their infancy.

My roses that I just planted, already have new tender shoots on them, and those too will freeze if I dont cover them.

We are a week or so away from SPRING, and have not yet had a WINTER. So I guess we are going to have a SPRINTER or maybe a WING? El Nino is giving up and we are in the middle of a new phenomenon called ( Well, I read it last week, and now I can't find out where I read it, so I can't remember what it is called. Anyway it is between el Nino and La Nina, and affects the weather in the Pacific. Hard to say what we have next.

I wish I had paid more attention to science when I was in school, as I really get into the geo sciences! I love geology, climatology, and earth sciences. It is just awe-inspiring to me, to watch things happen, to walk along a beach and see where the cliffs have fallen away, and realize that I am the first human to EVER see that particular ROCK!

Ah...I digress. I really need to get my taxes done, so I had better stop and go visit taxact.com!

Bad neighbors..

Anybody got 80' of solid fencing laying around? I have a wicked Witch living next door with two darling children, who love to tease my Cocker Spaniel, My SMALL Cocker Spaniel. Sadie also likes to bark at them when they are teasing her. She also likes to bark at strange people walking on the other side of the chain link fence.

Wicked Witch moved in about 6 months ago, and proceeded to tell me that she works from home, and she is not supposed to. And if they find out she is working from home she will lose her job. She told me she works for a credit card company. She told my other neighbor she sells travel insurance to time-shares. If she hears her kids playing outside she screams at them to be quiet or she will lose her job, then they will lose the house. THe kids stay outside from the time they come home until dark. RAIN OR SHINE! COLD OR WARM! so SAD!

Sadie is used to being out side during the day, but wicked witch called the animal control officer on her. Said officer came to the house, with a citation. I met her on the porch, and asked her if she heard anything, she said NOOOOOOOOO. and rolled her eyes. I said Sadie only barks at strangers, said officer said "that is her JOB!" I said that I am trying to keep Sadie in when the kids are out so she wont bark at them, but it is really hard. She agreed and said just make sure you comply with the noise regs. Which state, "continuous, repetitive, barking..."

I put Sadie out, and when I hear her bark, I bring her In. 7 barks max. It takes me that long to get up and let her in. I have even gone so far as to sit out there and watch her while she is out. Now I am being accused of SPYING on her!

Dear Lord! Will you PLEASE give her laryngitis so she will MOVE! (cant talk, cant work, have to move!) I wonder just what she REALLY does that she has to have complete silence? Wonder how she explains the jets flying over? I wonder what she would do if I sat in the backyard and sang....

I HATE being held hostage by an evil minded Witch who does not even OWN the house! I was here first! GRRRRRRR

Just a simple old woman with no brain...

I bought a new dryer a few weeks ago, and it came in on Wednesday. I mentioned to Bob that I would like to pick it up on Thursday. (I have to plug into his schedule!) I waited and waited and finally about 230 he shows up. We went in to the Base to load up the dryer, and bring it home. We pulled into the driveway and he said he would off load it into the garage and be back sometime later to hook it up.

NAH NAH says I. Please just set it in the Living room, and I will get the pigtail hooked up. So he brought it in, plopped it right in front of the couch and left for his 5:00 appointment with a beer at the Local Watering hole. He will be 70 next week, and NOTHING stands in the way of his routine.)

I looked at it, and looked at the laundry room (really a wide hall between the living room and the back yard.) and thought....HMMMMMM I can do this. I pulled out the out dryer, unhooked the wiring, and then tried to get it out the back door onto the deck.

It was like a chinese puzzle! this has to move here in order for me to go there, in order to get this over there! Like I said WIDE HALL. just wide enough for for the door and the appliances. Nothing else. and If you dont have it set just right, the door wont close.

After realizing that the dryer would not go through the door unless I took the door knob off, I had to move everything back to square one, to go get the screw gun and bits. Got the door knob off, got the dryer to the deck and then put the knob back on.

Step one done! Now I opened the cardboard box that the dryer was in, got the dryer turned around and went to open the flange that covered the wiring screws. OOPS, the one socket that fits that particular screw, was missing. Off I went to hunt down a pair of pliers. Found one but it was rusted shut. So off I go again looking for the WD-40. Finally got the pliers working and the screw off, got the flange off and hooked up the pigtail from the old dryer unto the new dryer. (Now WHY don't the manufacturers put real plugs on their merchandise?) Then I sat and rested, because my back was starting to spasm. I sat there and looked at it sitting there in my living room and thought, I can do this. So I tried to push the new dryer over the carpet...Nope! So I moved the couch, pulled back the rug and then realized that the really heavy display case that I rescued from the demolition bin at a place I worked, needed to be moved, so that I could fit the dryer through the door into the utility room.

That damned near killed me! But I got that done. Then I pushed the dryer into place. OOPS....gotta put the vent ducting on and plug it in, SO back out it comes, and then I crawled behind it. ( no easy task with a bad back and a giant stomach!)
GOt it hooked up, sorta, and got out, and then pushed everything back into place and turned it on. VOILA!! Step two done

I went out back to see if airflow was coming through the vent to the outside, and it was not. I got a flash light and looked up in there to see it was jammed full of lint and fuzz and more than likely RATS!! I thought the sense was the better choice and left it for Bob. After all he can move a lot faster if there should be something alive in there.

The dryer does not have much clearance between the wall and the vent pipe, and If I did not get it set just right, either the vent would kink up and not blow outside, or I would not be able to get the door shut. I Waited for Bob.

Late yesterday he called and said I am planning on coming over to hook up your dryer does that work? I said it works fine. :) he came over and was shocked that I actually could do something. (after all I have been doing for myself all my life)
I handed him a long wire clothes hanger and took him outside and told him what was left to do. Nothing alive or dead for that matter was in there but it was 6 feet of solid lint and mud! No wonder the old dryer quit!

So to make sure that the vent worked right, he unhooked the dryer and crawled back ther to see how far up the duct the clog went. We got a big sack fuyll of junk out of ther and then said he had to go to ace hardware in oak harbor for some tape and some clamps. I KNEW if he left, it would not be hooked back up until later in the week, so I said WAIT!! and pulled out a package of clamps from the kitchen junk drawer. He gave me one of those looks...You ruined my plans...teehee. He got the dryer hooked Back up and pushed sort of in place and then said he would see me later.

Step three will be to get him to actualy wiggle the dryer back far enough to shut the door and be straight with the washer. That one make take a few years. I now have a dryer again, and the vent is cleaned out and all the clothes are dry and my house no longer looks like a chinese laundry!

Mission accomplished, and once again, I am a simple old woman with no brain. At least that is what he thinks!

Opening Night Friday Feb 6, 2010

By LIZ BURLINGAME
Whidbey News Times Reporter
Feb 03 2010, 8:34 AM · UPDATED

A feel-good photo that graced the cover of Life magazine in the 1940s turns out to have a dark underside in “The Cover of Life” opening Friday, Feb. 5 at the Whidbey Playhouse.

Kate Miller (Cynthia Kleppang) is our narrator, a Lois Lane-type character and Life correspondent who is thrust into southern women territory.

She’s reporting a “woman’s piece” about three wives who have come to live with their mother-in-law, who goes by Aunt Ola, while the boys are at war.

Apart from a few squabbles, it’s a pretty civil household, until the second half. That’s when the wives’ happy facade breaks down, and bad news and wartime separation takes its toll on the women.

“The newlyweds don’t know what marriage is all about because their husbands quickly moved away,” said director Rusty Hendrix. “It’s a touching story.”

The play is set in a tiny, Louisiana town, and we see Aunt Ola’s early Americana-style home, porch and screen door. The sets were built by Bob Hendrix, Rusty’s husband.

After some insistence, Kate moves in with the wives. She meets the modern and racy Sybil (Amanda McCartney), who describes herself as “hot as a Saturday night and safe as Sunday morning.”

Weetsie (Michelle Hunter) maintains that she’s a plain, common housewife, while Tood (Lisa Datin) just wants to break free of the family and start a life elsewhere.

Mary K. Hallen is the homespun Aunt Ola who has a feisty sense of humor. When the newlyweds spar, Hallen nicely conveys strength as the family matriarch.

Although the script is considered a bit dark, Hendrix said her cast brought some playfulness to the characters.

“What they made is better,” she said.

Rounding out the cast are Judy Hendrix as Addie Mae, the gossipy local reporter who tipped off Life in the first place, and Fernando Duran, who plays Tood’s husband.

“The Cover of Life” is a show (like it’s punning title) that hints that life isn’t always what appears on the outside. It also briefly casts a light on a media that won’t let personal feelings ruin the story it wants.

Part social commentary, humor, drama and hope, it’s a surprising and deep story written by R.T. Robinson. Hendrix said it may touch on some feelings of Oak Harbor’s military families. She adds that a few of the play’s scenes are “too strong” at times, and it is not for children.

DAMN SPAMMERS!

Well Much to my dismay, I have had to add comment moderation to all comments, which means that your comments will not show up until I say they can. Which in my case may be several days. If I have to go further I will then ask for word verification Which I HATE! or turn on the doo-hickey that says you have to register. All becasue I do not think that my blog should subject all of you to having to read crap that others put on there. ARRRRRRGHHHHH!!! Thank you for sticking with me.

Now on to putting away the crap I bought at COSTCO today! I hate this part of shopping. i want to pay for it and have it magically appear at home and put in it's proper place...Isn't there an App for that?

Next on stage....

THE COVER OF LIFE


Amanda McCartney from Anacortes is one of the featured women in the WWII story The Cover Of Life. This poignant story is about three women who are married to brothers who have all joined different branches of the Military. Sybil, the Modern one, (Amanda McCartney) is the oldest, and the most worldly.



Tood (Lisa Datin) is the youngest and the one who is most likely to move on.



Weetsie (Michelle Hunter) is the third sister, and wants more than anything to be exactly like Aunt Ola. They all are sent home to live with Aunt Ola (Mary K Hallen) the brothers mother in Sterlington, LA.



Adie Mae MacGough (Judy Hendrix) is the local reporter who sees a story in the women, and forwards her report on to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Eventually Life Magazine gets wind of the story and sends their ace Reporter Kate Miller (Cynthia Cleppang) to Louisiana to interview the girls. The Husbands are all over seas, and only one, Tommy (Fernando Durran), is seen in the Play. Kate befriends Tood, and learns the secrets and the joys and sadness of being left behind while the boys go off to war.

This production, Directed by Rusty Hendrix is not for young children, but is sure to pull everyone into the story, and no one will leave with a dry-eye.
Tickets are now on sale at The Whidbey Playhouse box office, by calling 360-678-2237, or in person during box office hours Tues-Friday 11-3, Wed and Thurs until 6PM. The Playhouse is located at 730 SE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor. Tickets are Reservation only, and all seats are 16.00. Check out our website www.whidbeyplayhouse.com

Ok, Donna, Is this better?

What did I forget?

I have had the strangest things happen to me in the past several days. My Calendar is chock-a-block full, and I just turned the page a few days ago. But already I have so much scheduled, that I have to look every single day to figure out where I am supposed to be when!

Lately, I have gotten off a day or two, looking at the calendar, knowing where I am supposed to be and what time I am supposed to be there, only to find out that I was on the wrong day. And in some cases, WEEK! I have no idea what causes this, and I am not at all fond of it.

I think it is tied in to just being really really tired! I need some time to ME! And that may be to just lay in bed all day, or read a book, or listen to absolutely NOTHING!

I forgot to take Sadie in for her hair appointment. I was up in time, I just looked at the wrong day. I think that it is .... Well SHIT!! I forgot what I was going to write!

WAHHHHHHH!!!!

Spring?

It is the first of January, 2 weeks into WINTER, and we are the only part of the whole continent(with the exception of Mexico) that is having balmy weather! It is gray and drippy, but it is 50-60 F. We are expecting High winds, which is not so unusual for us, but the balmy weather sure is. We had about 3 weeks of cold freezing weather in November, but no snow! The rest of the country however has had it and then some! We were out trimming the low branches off of the crab apple tree, and the dogwood tree, and they are absolutely LOADED with buds! We may just have another fruit filled summer. Either that or the frost and wind will hit in April just as they are blooming, and kill all the fruit as they are born! Last year we had so much that one of the plum trees actually broke in two parts. Several branches broke on the peach trees. Year before last, NO FRUIT at all! I would kinda like it to meet in the middle. Not so much that I feel it is being wasted if I dont put it all up, but enough so that I can have fresh fruit! I guess I am just not ever happy huh? ;)

Bob just came over and handed me my mail. In the middle of the mail was an envelope with no writing on it. ?? in the envelope was a birthday card with 400.00 in it! WHOOT!! He is buying my swim pass for this year! I told him it was only 309. and he grabbed back 100.00. Now if it is in an envelope and you get it as a gift, shouldn't it ALL be yours? LOLOL He is also loaning me the money to get my brakes fixed. So I am a truly happy girl today! OLD, but Happy!

Funny, I just dont feel like I am 64! The body says I am, but the mind says I am about 20-25! Am I regressing? Maybe I am just a young soul! ANyway. I am off to finish some work for the Playhouse, and then to Swim for 2 hours. (I hope the Lap Nazi isn't there today!)

Packing it away

Christmas is gone from my house. Packed away and put away into the Christmas closet for another year. I had a big tree this year, and Bob decorated it, so I had 7 strings of lights and all the ornaments in the closet on the tree. Every year I pull out the Christmas egg, the smuckers jelly lid with a picture of Santa glued in the top, the felt and paperclip ice skates, and the little god reindeer with Timmy written across it. Every year when the kids come home they head right for the tree to find their ornaments. I put Timmy up in its usual spot in front and up high, and Timmy Pat could not find it. I told him it was there and had probably slipped down a branch or two. He was here yesterday, and looked for it again, still could not find it. So today I methodically took every ornament off, put them in their boxes and then took each string on=f lights down, looking all the while for Timmy. I could not find it at all. I then decided that since it has been on my tree for over 33 years that I MUST find it. I very methodically cut each branch off the tree and piled it right beside me on the floor, I got down to the bare trunk and still no gold Timmy!!! Now I was starting to panic, even called Tim to make sure he had not pocketed it for his own house and he promised me he had not,
By this time it is midnight, and I was tired, but knew I had to find it before I went to bed or I would not sleep. I went down to the garage, and dumped what little cord wood was still in it out of the wheelbarrow and tugged the empty wheel barrow up the stairs into the house. I sat right beside it and picked up every branch, cutting them into smaller pieces, all the while searching for a glint of gold, I finally got down to the last few branches and still no Timmy. I picked up the last branch remaining on the floor, the very first branch I cut off the tree. And there hanging on the tiny branch was the little gold reindeer named Timmy. I called Tim and told him it was found and he was very pleased!
I finished putting away everything Christmas and got it all stowed back into the closet for another year. I might even get around to taking the boxes of my Christmas village, down to the garage this weekend; they have been sitting in the hall for a year, right where I left them when I took everything down last year. Bob will be over tomorrow to take down the outside lights.
It takes so long to get everything out and ready, and then you are so busy you can’t sit and relax and enjoy it, and then before you know it, it is all over again. Maybe I should think about leaving it up for a whole year. The neighbors would REALLY start wondering about me then!

Awesome CHristmas!

I had a totally AWESOME Christmas! Not a lot of money spent, Except for the Car repairs that Bob gave me. We all made homemade goodies to give to each other. Freezer Jelly, Zuchhini bread, smoked salmon, cookies, fudge, rouquefort dressing, (my sister's recipe) hand crocheted doilies etc. It was as Christmas should be! No mass amount of monetary crap and greed, just lots of love and good stuff.

My daughter, in her eclectic way again, gave me some totally AWESOME pillow cases! She, as I have told you before, shops at good will, and found hand embroidered pillow cases, that people have decided are not in favor anymore. (May even have been in some one's estate sale) And She knows how I like them So I got 8 sets of pillowcases. She also made candied nuts! OH MY!! My Blood sugar is up today! ;)

Have you ever taken a real hard look at embroidered pillowcases and wondered who did them, or when? I did last night. THere is one set that is almost identical, but one of the cases was not quite finished the same as the other one. I sat and looked at it, and wondered if it was perhaps a Mother/daughter how-to lesson, or maybe it was an elderly woman who just could not see well enough to thread the needle, so set it aside. Or maybe the original owner died mid stream? The stories to tell are in there, I will just have to look harder to see what they are.

Some of the pillow cases are very well done, and others are wrinkled and rough. I know how that can happen. I gave up embroidery when my Mom would look at the back of everything I did, and if it did not look as good as the front, or if the linen was taut under the thread, then I had to rip it all out and start over unti it was done right. Needless to say, I don't embroider anymore. Maybe I will pick it up again, and try and see if I have improved any.

One of the odd pillow cases was embroidered with a very fancy edging and scroll work, and had HIS written in the middle, there is no HERS. Did he maybe die? or did they divorce and she got rid of the HIS and kept the HERS, or was it maybe for a trousseau, and the marriage never happened? Lots to tell in those pillowcases.

Lots of wondering whose heads rested on them. SOme of them look like they were barely used. Maybe it was just busy work. Only they know, and they are not telling. It made a great Christmas Present for ME!!!!

Tim and Mistie came with Molly their St Bernard, and DOnna brought Tilly her AUssie, and Sadie was a yappy little Bitch and did not want to share, so she got locked in my bedroom with the cats, because she would not behave, The others did though.

I cooked Prime rib and it was PERFECT! I even made green bean casserole for Tim, and it al got eaten. Everyone was happy, healthy, and sated when they left, no Alcohol, so they all were safe driving. It was the first CHRISTMAS in over 15 years that both of my kids were home at the same time. It is so nice to have them both happy again. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

I told him I needed a new car!

When Bob asked what I wanted for Christmas I immediately told him a new VW passat Stationwagon.





He laughed. I was serious. He instead said how about a tune up, brake job and new tires? That'll work! So I make all the appointments. (DId you know that in order to have work done on your car anymore, you have to make an appointment to have it looked at so they can order the parts and make an appointment to work on it?) I called Les Schwab and told them I wanted 4 nes tires and new brakes. So I make an appointment for the appointment, and was told that my brakes are FINE. So during my APPOINTMENT, I had four new tires put on. THen I called Mazda and told them I needed a tune-up and a detailing job. SO I make an appointment to see when I can have an appointment. THen I took the car in for my APPOINTMENT and got a loaner car, because you can not get a detail and a tuneup on the same day.

So after 2 days have gone by, I called Mazda to see when the car will be ready, and was told today sometime. SO here I sit waiting for the appointment to be over. MEANWHILE, he calls and says, you need new brakes, and oh by the way your valve seal is leaking around your valves, and to fix all that it will cost you 875.00 for the seal and labor and then 495 for the Front and Rear rotors and pads for the brakes. Now Bob has already spent 700 for the tires, and the brake inspection (which they said was good) at Les Schwab, and the detail and tuneup is another 900.oo. and then all of this on top of it will be around 1400.00! (which will have to wait for Income tax refund) I TOLD HIM I NEEDED A NEW CAR!!! HEll, by the time all this is done, I just might have one.

So last night I took a load of clothes out of the washer threw them into the dryer and stuck another load in the washer and went to bed. This morning, the clothes in the dryer are still wet. So I trurned the dryer back on, and it sounded like a car trying to run our of gas. (electric dryer) Then NOTHING!!! so now when Mazda calls, I will load the loaner up with wet clothes and take them in to pick up my car, transfer the wet clothes into MY car and go sit in the laundromat for an hour drying all my clothes. What does it cost anymore? last time I was in a laundromat it was .50 to wash and .10 to dry. Must be close to .75 cents to wash and .25 to dry?

To top off everything, This morning I headed into the back yard to pick what little mint I thought I had growing back there (for the Prime rib seasoning) and Jupiter the neighbors cat jumped out and scared me just as I opened the gate, and SWOOSH!!! there went SADIE! Out the gate and down the street with her nose to the ground looking for deer, or raccoons or cats, or bigfoot...who knows, but she will NOT come when called. SO my neighbor and I were running around the neighborhood sreaming for Sadie in barefeet, on frozen ground, and in our nightclothes. Sara finally caught her just as she was about to cross the highway. (Little Bitch!) I HATE kids that won't mind!

So how has YOUR day been?

Winter Solstice

Today is the shortest day of the year. Or the longest night...It has always been a comforting day for me. Don't know why, but I always want to just stay home and zone all day. It is 3:20 PM and already is getting dark. Then of course it is raining like hell too. Might have snow tonight, mixed with the rain of course.

I have not seen the squirrels in several weeks, they must hibernate, although they were out two years ago playing in all the snow! I wish the sky was clear, so I could look at the moon. I Love a crystal clear, cold still winter's solstice, with all the stars sparkling and the moon a waxing crescent! Been so long since I saw it, I THINK it is that phase now! But then a really full moon on winter's Solstice is pretty too, shing and lighting the woods like a spotlight! So we will be still for a day or so, and then start our tilt to the South, and the days will get longer and longer. Of course those of you in the Southern Hemisphere may be sad, because your days will get shorter and colder! THat must be strange.

I have to go swim, then run to rehearsal and read several parts, as two people will not be there tonight. (GRR) Then Tomorrow I take the car in for a tune up and a detail. (The other 1/2 of my CHristmas Present. Poor Bob had no idea how much this was all going to cost when he mentioned it, but when I said hey, you dont have to do this and I mean it, he said he rides in that car too, and he wants to make sure everything works right. Bless his sweet heart! He is A keeper.

I just about have all my shopping done. I need to find something for TIm, and I have no CLUE what to get him. He could probably use money, so I might just do that. He is now living with Mistie, and she has all of her stuff up here, so I dont think they need any household stuff. SHe seems to be helping him stay clean and sober, and he seems happy! So go for it! She is divorced, and has children, although not with her, and is a devote Mormon, so does not drink or drug! If he is happy and safe, that is all I want!

O Christmas Tree....

I finally got my lights up outside and finished decorating the tree inside. I told edt I would post a picture of "my wee tree" when it was finished. I always start out wanting a small tree, and by the time I get the thing home, it has grown two feet, and by the time I have it in the stand and the lights on it, it has grown another 2 feet.
You think I would learn, but I never do. Got all the ornaments on it this time too, and fixed the broken ones, and rigged fishing line in the ones with no hooks. (cant find any anywhere to buy!) So now all the ornaments I have are on the tree. All new lights, and all I have left is to put out my Christmas village. Then stand back with a fly swatter and kill schroeder as he tries to play with everything.

Nutcracker

Meiko Parton as THE NUTCRAKER in Thw Whidbey Playhouse's Production of Nutcracker



Meiko, and Jacey Geragotelis As the Sugar Plum Fairy



I really did not have anything to do with this play other than be the Photographer and do the Bios and the Lobby Wall and the Poster, And the Program...Ok, maybe I DID do something. Meiko was in my show ZOMBIES< and we encouraged him to go try out for Ballet, and Voila. He stuns the audience with his leaps and turns. and only 6 months of formal training too!

This weekend was the reception for the Donors, and I had right at a month notice to plan and pull it off. But I did! WHEW! I am tired. I took today off of rehearsal for Cover of Life to get my house cleaned and rest! I can actually see my dining room now. Now tomorrow I have to go find a tree!

30 Years of WHIDBEY PLAYHOUSE On MIDWAY

Here is what was presented to the Oak HArbor Chamber of Commerce today. It is 5 minutes but shows a number of productions that I have been involved with!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvjG5DuQPTA

I dont know how to make this an active link, but if you copy and paste it should work it is a you-tube link.

Busy, Busy busy!

Where has this year GONE? I cant believe that Nov is already 1/2 over and I have not even racked my lawn from August. As usual it has been raining here, and windy, and BLEAK! Typical Fall weather. But it has not been really cold yet. no frost that I can tell.

I had my first Board Meeting with the Whidbey Playhouse Sunday night, and I did a show and tell on the poster restoration that I have been doing, They were amazed!!!
one of my readers here, Karen Twitty-Hartlieb whom I have never met, has offered to start a donation to the playhouse strictly for the restoration and framing of theses posters. THe Board was in awe that someone that DOes not know us would be willing to do that. THey said they would earmark all funds that came in labeled for poster restoration for just that purpose. WHAT A NEAT THING! I was just doing it because I wanted to, and doing them a few each month. This now makes it official! THANK YOU KAREN FOR BEING SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON!



GODSPELL 1980 Before and after





Camelot 1979 Before and after





The big gray squirrels have found the feeders again, so Schroeder has something to chatter at our my window. I do not let him nor Loki outside at all. THey are inside wussie babies. Big bad nasty things out in the woods, eat cats! So mine each have a window they lay in and watch the wildlife.

Last weekend Bob and I went down Island to W.I>C.A. to see ROcky Horror Picture Show. it was done live and it was a hoot! We dressed casually but everyone else was dressed like the show...transvestites, monsters, weird people. It was more fun watching the audience than the show. We sat in the front row, so needless to say, we were drenched, and covered with confetti! It was fun though. Everyone needs to see it twice in their lives. Once to go see how it is done and the second time to participate! I did the time warp in my seat because my back was hurting so bad.

I have been doing a major spreadsheet for the Coupeville Festival, as we are getting ready to give away the money we made this summer. Our Grant allocation meeting is this Sunday. Man time is flying! I also have a Patron Gala to plan for December 12. and then the WPH Christmas party, then on with COver of Life. Which I am producing. I have some exciting news about next season, but we cant tell anyone yet! HEHEHEHEHEHEHE