Haha's Perspective

Boy does time fly!

2011-08-25T12:14:00.002-07:00

I cannot believe it is almost the end of August already - we have been busy trying to simplify our lives. Had a yard sale and sold and gave away lots of stuff! My goal was to earn enough dollars to buy a new mattress for our bed, but alas, it was not to be. We had to spend most of it to repair the fridge, but that is okay - I know there is a new bed in my future.

My dear friend Julian is retiring and returning to Great Britian to care for his elderly mother. He has been a wonderful friend and mentor to me through the years and work will not be the same without him. He will be spending his energies taking his Mum on vacation to Cornwall and fixing her home up while spending his free time writing another book. I wish him well...

My Dex is doing great, working too hard, but I cannot stop him. He is going to wring every moment of life while he is here on this earth. I am thankful to GOD for answering all the prayers of family and friends to spare his life. It is wonderful to see him pretty much back to his old self.

I have lots of people on my prayer list - their are lots of needs out there and I am trusting God to bless and provide, heal and give hope to all those I pray for. Although I cannot understand all HE does, I know HE has good reason as he sees and knows all, and I continue to look through the glass darkly until we meet face to face, so in the meantime, I will trust him. He knows best...

Thank you daughter

2011-03-26T17:09:00.003-07:00

I love it the new look to my blog! Thank you so much Mishka for all the things you do for me. I appreciate you and I am so happy you are only a hop, skip and a jump away although I know you would rather be elsewhere. I am very excited about taking a little time off to spend with you and your sister and William - I cannot wait to see the "Hobbit House" either! I love my family! They are exciting and interesting, wonderful, generous and intelligent!

My Dad Sept 1, 1911-March 6, 2011 - Elmer Byrd

2011-03-17T17:24:00.002-07:00

He is gone now and there is such a void when you walk into my mother's house now. You do not realize how much space we occupy, until someone leaves this earth. It is not the same as when someone goes on a trip, or to the store, it is the eternal gone that makes its mark. I was privileged to witness my Dad's passing on into heaven. He really battled between staying with us and going on. When we told him to go, that we were all going to be okay, he left. I could feel his spirit leave. I know he is no longer in pain, seeing family that have passed before him - he leaves one sister behind and all of the daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren. I am really going to miss him, but I have great joy knowing I will see him again!

It has been a long time

2011-01-25T16:08:00.002-08:00

I have not written for a long time and much has happened since then. There has been much learning going on and I hope I am sending up Sparks of Holiness as that is one of the things I have been learning. My husband is fighting cancer, my dad is fighting dementia and just plain old, old age - he is 99. I am dealing with knowing the end on this earth will be coming for me someday. Growing old gracefully is a fantasy that sounded good to someone and they put it out there. Nothing graceful about it. You have many aches and pains, burdens to bear - they were just a lot easier to do when you were younger - yet the trade off is the stuff you thought was so damned important is not really - and you really stop sweating the small stuff. I feel an urgency to get my act cleaned up, living simply, giving away stuff, giving away some important stuff to the kids now and getting wills and what finances we have in order. There is much comfort in that and then you feel like you can coast a bit, and smell a bit more of the roses. I am working on that, I do not want my kids to have to deal with it. I am trying to be healthy, I am a happy and I truly appreciate every moment here and more importantly, I am not afraid of my next adventure in my coming life - I have Faith and Trust In God.

Things change so quickly

2010-02-07T16:00:00.002-08:00

Well this year has been interesting so far. Time is going by faster and faster and in Winter I am always glad - It has been very mild so far and I see this every few years. I still cannot wait until spring arrives though. My birdies will be back and life renews, it is a cycle that never ceases to amaze me. GOD has been good to me and I thank him everyday for my dear family, for keeping them all safe and healthy.
Speaking of health - I have contracted Diabetes. I found it during my annual check-up. So important to have those check-ups. I am lucky and can control it with diet. I am still trying to find my bearings on that. Much of it is managing carbohydrates and portion control, which most Americans need to do. I did find out that if you have family members who have been diabetic that it ups the ante along with certain ethnic groups. Since I am part American Indian along with my English Heritage, I am predisposed. I am not a sweets hound, but I am a carb hound. I have been doing well testing my blood, but I feel like I am always hungry. If I can just get used to that...I will be okay.

It has been awhile

2010-01-19T15:53:00.002-08:00

I haven't written much lately - all work all the time, but that is going to change. I have found if I just do a few little things for me - I feel so much better. I am eating better and less, reading, singing and of course playing with my pup. I am hooked on Mahjong and try a play a game or two on my breaks at work and a night when I get home - it really relaxes me and is good for the brain too! My goal is to get financially where I do not have to work full time and I have a 50 hour work week with my commute and it is wear and tear on my body, mind and spirit. Sooo...I keep plugging away at my goals and I know that I will accomplish them soon!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2009-11-22T11:58:00.002-08:00

My favorite holiday is fast approaching. I love this holiday as it is for me, a time of reflection. The changing of the seasons, time with family and friends, reconnection to those who love us, catch-up and feasting together is this season's great gift. This may also be the last Thanksgiving with my step-dad, so I want it to be extra special. My daughter and son-in-law living far away, will be on my mind - they always are, but at this time of year I really miss having them near. My daughter and son-in-law who live near, will be down for the holiday this year together. William will bring his video camera and take some video of Grandpa. That will be very important to us all in the future.

I am extremely grateful for the wonderful family God has surrounded me with. I am thankful I am still employed. I am thankful that I live in the United States of America. She has many things to atone for, but I still love her and am grateful for the opportunites she has provided for me.

I am prayerful for those who do not have the things I do. A warm bed and clothes, family, food or a job. I am prayerful for those who are ill and fighting for their lives. I am prayerful that I will never take for granted all the wonderful things God has provided me with.

I love you my family and my God and my country!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Beautiful Fall Weekend

2009-10-11T15:00:00.002-07:00

I want to thank my daughter for the beautiful pic on my blog page. It depicts what it looks like right now in our beautiful Illinois Valley. We have had a great weekend! Pine needles raked - I could help thinking I could make some money on those if I were in North Carolina!!! Gathered some wood to take to Chicken when we visit in a few weeks. Umbrellas and patio furniture put away, plants moved, some repairs made. Got the laundry done and a couple of shelves cleaned and organized. Angel went to the shot clinic yesterday and got the last of her puppy shots. We did not know if she had any as she was given to me, although he said she had some. We just started from scratch to make sure she is protected. So she is good for a year, then her rabies booster and she will be good for 3 years. Dex will make an appointment for her to be spayed this week if possible. I want to get her done before her next Estrus as otherwise we will be waiting another 6 weeks. She should be good to go on our trip to Shorty's & Bill's. I am looking forward to cooking for them and maybe a trip out to Savvy Island. This is my favorite time of the year to visit - it must be because this is my absolute favorite time of the year. Mild days and cool nights - we sleep so good! Thanks again Mishka darling for the fantastic pic of Fall.

A Prayer for Sarah

2009-08-25T21:02:00.002-07:00

DEAR GOD,

I am offering up a prayer for Sarah - you know Sarah, a dedicated servent of yours. She is suffering greatly Lord and she is scared. Not of death really, but of what is going to become of her family if she is not around. Her husband Jim is not doing so well and is falling apart. I pray you give him strength so he can pass that on to Sarah. Her four boys know what is going on. The oldest will understand, but her other sons may not realize what is happening. I know you can fix this for us all here on the earth, and I know we will accept your will, but I still will ask for a miracle. I know they are possible, but I will never try to judge you for I know we see through the glass darkly. I must always remind myself that death is for the living and that we need to learn something from it. But being a selfish being I will still ask you to spare Sarah. She is such an Angel on Earth, do you really need her right now? Can we have a little more time with her here on this earth? We will accept whatever you decide Lord, but we will not stop praying for this miracle for Sarah.

Lord, I want to thank you for healing Gulshun. She has been in our prayers and will now live because you heard us.

Can we have another miracle...for Sarah.

In Jesus name I pray

The Moody Blues

2009-07-26T18:57:00.002-07:00

Dex and I were given tickets by my boss, one of many, to go to Britt. He asked me who I would like to sit with, since he had another set to give and since my sis and Mark had plans I asked for Julian and Vera to go with us. Bella Union catered our dinner which was delicious and then we had reserved lawn seating awaiting us after we ate. Chairs were provided and we were sitting in a great spot. I knew Julian would love to see this group, being a Brit and growing up with this music first hand. They did not dissapoint us. Those voices still clear, brought back a rush of fond memories for me. They took me back for a moment to a place in time that I was willing to travel to. The night was warm and the company was great and music fantastic. Thanks for the memories, Moody Blues!

Your going to miss this

2009-07-12T21:42:00.002-07:00

Maybe I am just being over sentimental...I am a bit by nature anyway, but tonight I was watching the CMT awards and heard a song by Trace Adkins, Called "Your Gonna Miss This" and it really touched my heart, because the words were so true. I remember as a young girl, daydreaming about where life would take me, 1, 2 or 3 years from now. I remember trying to imprint in my mind, my children's 1st tooth, step and words and that 1st day of school. How we all want things to get better and how hard it is to live in the moment and appreciate what he have at the time. I think we are suppose to live in the moment, and appreciate what we have no matter how hard things might seem at the time, because you may miss it. Maybe it is because God helps us forget how hard it may have been and let's us reflect on the joy in hindsight, I don't know for sure. I know I miss it though.

Michael Jackson and what he means to me

2009-06-25T20:41:00.003-07:00

It is with great sadness that I have learned of his death. He brought such great joy to my family and did so much for Motown Records and revived the label. He wrote many of his lyrics, and of course when he teamed up with Quincy Jones he made his greatest album of all time. Needless to say, it was played a lot in our home since we had two girls who loved him so much. My daughter Mishka graduated from Middle School with a wonderful Blue and White dress and her signature white glove on her hand making a tribute in her way to one of her music idols. We were all very proud that day and understood why she wore that glove!
He gave his youth to us and he was robbed of his. His attraction to children to me was his desire to live his childhood. Children need that and I am concerned today, that our children are robbed of that and expected to make grown up decisions when they still need to be living as children.
I hope people will judge what good he did in the world and let GOD judge the rest as he knows it all and we do not. I know GOD welcomed you to his family Michael and I will pray for the rest of your family on Earth that they will not lose site of who you were and what you brought the world. I pray your children will be where GOD wants them to be also. Rest in Peace with GOD Michael!

My 15 Books

2009-06-10T15:12:00.002-07:00

#1 The Bible

#2 Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

#3 The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy

#4 Song of Bernadette - Fraz Werfel

#5 Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

#5 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

#6 The Red Tent - Anita Diamant

#7 The Color Purple - Alice Walker

#8 Out of Africa - Isak Dinesen

#9 A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking

#10 Contact - Carl Sagan

#11 Cross and the Switchblade - David Wilkerson

#12 Cannery Row - John Steinbeck

#13 The Shining - Stephen King

#14 Evidence that Demands A Verdict - Josh McDowell

#15 Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss

These are not in a particular order except for #1

Kenny Rankin RIP

2009-06-09T16:07:00.002-07:00

Was so sad to learn of his Death - we had an album or two of his. I loved his versions of Blackbird and When Sunny Gets Blue, but there are so many that are wonderful. My sis is coming out this weekend and we will hit up Itunes and make a Kenny Rankin Tribute CD. I will send one off to my girls to, so they can put them in their music libraries. Have a listen if you can to a beautiful jazz voice and guitar!

Urgent Care Experience

2009-06-08T12:21:00.002-07:00

I got my arm squeezed really hard between my treadmill and the door frame when trying to move it so we could paint. Didn't think much about it and expected it to be sore, but nothing felt broken. Needless to say, six days later it was still hurting like hell and I started wondering if I may have a hairline fracture. So off to Urgent Care in Grants Pass. I have insurance with a 1000 dollar deductable which hasn't been met yet, so I of course was expecting a hugh bill at the end of this visit. I was there for 3 hours which was the worst part. The doc was very thorough and had me view the xrays with him and even pointed out a bone chip from my childhood broken arm incident. He said I had a very swollen tendon and just needed Ibuprofen and an ice pack and give it some rest! Total cost 37.00 dollars! I was impressed, by the way, that included my co-pay of 25.00. So you can guess what the xrays cost and the price of a physician. It was a better experience that with my regular doc. The length of time was the only drawback. Dex and chua took a nap in the truck!

Amazing Weather!

2009-06-02T16:08:00.002-07:00

This past week has felt like Monsoon season. We have had Thunder and Lightening storms for the last five days. Now this last weekend on Saturday Central Point/Medford had 2-3 feet of water come down in a flash flood. One person's home was hit by lightening and one person was washing dishes at McDonalds and was shocked. No one was hurt, Thank God! Today at work, it started raining again and with lots of Thunder. I called home and Dex was in the shop when the power went out. He went into the house to check on Angel, Buddy and Delta and turned off the computer and I reminded him to stay off the phone. The air is so refreshing and I took a big breath of all those negative ions. I smiled thinking of my family and how much we all loved storms and still do. It is mother nature at her best! We have a couple more days of it and I intend to enjoy every minute of it. Storm on!!!

Four Day Weekend!

2009-05-27T15:31:00.002-07:00

It was very exciting to have four days off. A mini vacation of sorts. We actually slept in (until animals demanded to be fed and potty walked). We got many tasks accomplished and managed to not work the whole day. My sis and Mark came out to spend the night. Dex and Mark started on siding the back side of our house and Dex and I finished it the next day. The weather was agreeable, there was plenty of iced tea and water to keep us hydrated.

We decided to let Buddy be an outdoor/indoor cat. We tried to keep him in, but he has the wanderlust that Toms have. Even though he is fixed and we tried to keep him indoors, he was always trying to sneak out. He is so much happier now that he can come and go when he wants. I pray, he doesn't use up his nine lives to fast.

Dex had evidence of a Raccoon visitor in the shop. Prints on the window of Betsy, the 56 Chevy. I warned him of their aggressive nature when cornered and to have a broom handy in case he needs it. There have been no further signs of him, so he must have had a look and left.

I am really enjoying this weather, but know it will come to an end soon and then the hot days will be here. For now, I am enjoying the hammock and swing while I can.

Monday we put our flag out and I said a prayer of thanks for all those brave men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom. I said a special prayer for my loved ones and their friends and families who are making sacrifices everyday for all of us.

Chua - The Best Medicine

2009-03-09T15:24:00.002-07:00

We went to visit with Gpa & Gma this weekend. Of course, Angel went with us. She feels like their home is her second home and is comfortable the minute she gets there! They were both glad to see her and it was good to see them both laughing and playing with her. She is so good for them. Gpa was moving the handle end of his cane across the floor and she was chasing it like a bunny rabbit, hopping up and down and back and forth. We were all laughing so hard at her antics!

I fixed Noodles Alfredo and fresh broccoli and Gpa even had 2nd helpings! It was a great weekend!

Now that Angel sleeps with us at night, I will be sleeping on the sofa at Gma's as there is not enough room in that double bed for the three of us! I keep thinking I am going to roll over on her, so I don't sleep as well at Gma's. It is fine when we are at home in our own Queen Bed!

Mean Virus

2009-02-27T15:27:00.002-08:00

I have been sick for one week. There have been two different Virus going around our offices. My sis had the 48 hour intestinal bug and then there is this other bug which is what I caught. Started as a mild sore throat and a bit of ear ache on one side. I figured a regular head cold - no big deal, but the malaise that hit a few days later was amazing. I was in bed for two days! I came to work yesterday and today but still feel crummy. This bug has hit the valley and my co-worker Karen said there were only three children at her well daughter's daycare. Her other daughter is sick and so is Karen.
I no longer have fever and have been diligent about keeping my sneezing to myself and washing my hands, so I am hoping that I have not passed it along. I have been making Dex take extra C and hopefully my chua chua will not catch it either. I am praying it bypasses my lungs - one of our co-worker's daughter had to be nebulized - I sometimes get a bout of bronchitus, so I am going to take it easy this weekend and get myself well!

Dog Day!

2009-02-01T14:26:00.002-08:00

My little "Angel" was smelling pretty "doggy" so I thought it time to give her a bath and nail clip. My niece Mickey gave me some good doggy soap (her mom and sister work for a groomer) and it doesn't hurt their eyes and it smells so good. I had purchased one of those rotary nail filers as seen on TV, but she was terrified by it, so I gave up on that and took her to Pet Smart 4 weeks ago and they did her nails for free. Not being the sort of person to give in too easily, I bought a muzzle and a pair of nail clippers that have a safety device so you do not clip in the nail quick. Today was the day! She did not like getting into the sink, but she did like the scrub she got. Then we got her rinsed and toweled. Next, came the nail clip and I needed Dex's help for this. We had the hardest time getting the muzzle on her snout, but we finally succeeded, You would think that would be the end of the battle, right? Uh...know not quite. Can you imagine how squirmy a Chua Chua Dog can be? Very! We ended up wrapping her in a big towel, Dex putting her on her back in his lap, her snorting away in the muzzle and me drawing those hind legs out, so I could push her toenails out and clip, clip, clip. She was no worse for wear and neither were we. I just kept telling her how beautiful she is and I think she felt pretty proud of herself. I have marked the calendar and we will do this again in 4 weeks. I can hardly wait!!!

USING ONLY ONE WORD

2009-02-01T14:13:00.003-08:00

USING ONLY ONE WORD! It's not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to tag (in Facebook) the person you received it from!

1. Where is your cell phone? HANDBAG
2. Your significant other? OUTSIDE
3. Your hair? GREY
4. Your mother? OREGON
5. Your father? DECEASED
6. Your favorite thing? LIFE
7. Your dream last night? FAMILY
8. Your favorite drink? TEA
9. Your dream/goal? GARDEN
10. What room you are in? LIVING
11. Your hobby? GARDENING
12. Your fear? PAIN
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? HEALTHY
14. Where were you last night? HOME
16. Muffins? BISCUITS
17. Wish list item? SOFA
18. Where you grew up? LOS ANGELES
19. Last thing you did? COOKED
20. What are you wearing? PJS
21. Your TV? ON
22. Your pets? INSIDE
23. Friends? LIFELONG
24. Your life? CONTENTED
25. Your mood? AMBITIOUS
26. Missing someone? CHILDREN
27. Car? SMALL
28. Something you're not wearing? WATCH
29. Your favorite store? POWELLS
30. Your favorite color? GREEN
31. Favorite vacation? OKINAWA
32. Music? ALL
33. When is the last time you laughed? TODAY
34. Last time you cried? TODAY
35. Who will resend this? UNKNOWN
36. One place that I go to over and over? MATSUKAZE'S
37. One person who emails me regularly? DONNA
38. Favorite place to eat? TAYLORS
39. Why you participated in this survey? MISHKA
40. What are you doing tonight? LAUNDRY

_________________________

2009

2009-01-11T09:23:00.002-08:00

It was a quiet New Year's eve at our house. This is the first year in a while that Dex wasn't playing music somewhere. It was nice that we were home together for a change.
With the downturn of the economy I am hopeful that Americans will learn how to be frugal, ingenius, become savers once again and be kinder to one another, since we will all be feeling the pain. I hope we will hold our elected officials accountable to us. They do take the oath to uphold our Constitution when they are sworn in and it seems they quickly forget about it soon after. We must, in our busy lives, take the time to tell them when they break their promises or we see them take a stand against our views. With the internet, we have great power to be heard (except for the time I tried to email Barney Frank as it seems he did not accept out of state emails) and they do get the message when their email servers time out because of the influx. I keep my email list at my desk so I can let them know my views. By the way, don't forget to tell them when they are doing a good job to. We must always incourage good behavior! I am hoping we all gain great insight during these trying times and so I believe 2009 is going to be a very good year for all of us, if we take the time to learn from it.

Winter Wonderland at Our House

2008-12-19T09:02:00.003-08:00

It is absolutely beautiful here at our house. The picture was one I took early this morning. What I really love is the quiet, not a sound. Even the birds were not up yet. They are busy now as I write. I put new suet out and our winter birds, Stellar Jays, Oregon Juncos and Woodpeckers are busy eating their breakfast. I have been working from home all week and it has been so enjoyable as my desk looks out on the feeders and the porch, so I can watch the birds feed and watch the cats watch the birds feed, then when the cats get too cold and decide to come in I get to watch Angel chase the cats! I wish I could send some of this snow we have way across the world to my daughter as she loves it. Don't know if our J would like it though, he is a sun person. Uh Oh, our squirrels are putting on a show now....got to go!

kitties & Pointsettias

2008-12-18T13:25:00.003-08:00

Our dear neighbor sent us a beautiful pointsettia plant. I had vaguely rememembered that this could be a toxic plant to cats. Our female Delta wants to eat it and will not leave it alone. Buddy has also shown some interest, so off to the web I went to find out what the truth really is. Well, needless to say there were many opinions, some say yes they are toxic and some say no they are not. One wise source said this - Cats will vomit from eating any plant, including some of the plant grasses that are just for them. I knew that was true as I got some kitty grass and sure enough Delta vomited it right after ingesting, Buddy was not the least bit interested. Best bet is to keep the plant or any plants out of kitty's reach. We will be enjoying our plant in our bedroom as it is off limits to the animals, unless we let them snuggle with us!

Meet Angel

2008-12-16T13:38:00.004-08:00

This is the new girl in our lives - her name is Angel and she is about 9 months old. We are still considered "foster parents" as we have been taking care of her for a friend who was in an accident and unable to care for her. He may not be able to care for her as he has a broken leg and it is all pinned and has a steel rod too. She of course is very lively and would be underfoot in a small travel trailer. She fits into our family quite nicely and gives the cats some exercise too, if you know what I mean. I wish I had a photo of when we first got her as she still had a tippy ear, but then one day it just "stood up" just like the other one. She thinks she is bigger than the cats and I think they enjoy making her play chase. She has brought lots of enjoyment to our lives and especially my parents, who just adore her. She loves to run up into my Dad's chair and it is so cute when they are both taking a nap together. P.S. She is not yippy either!!

Brrrrrgh - Freezing temps!

2008-12-14T18:44:00.002-08:00

Well I made it home in the nick of time on Saturday- followed a school bus all the way home and they made a great trail for me in the snow. It has snowed off and on all day today, but I made breakfast burritos and homemade split pea soup. I love to cook in this weather. Had to clean the satellite dish out once and I will not be going in early to work tomorrow. My youngest was cross country skiing and I was happy when she called and said they made it home okay as I checked the weather cam and it was snowing pretty good where she lives. We do not get severe weather very often so we are not necessarily great drivers in the snow and of course there are always those that thing the bigger the SUV the more invincible they are...Not! Shorty saw many of them in ditches on the side of the road, driving too fast and guess what guys???? Four wheel drive doesn't work on ICE. I am more worried about the temps that will be in the teens this week. I hate Ice, unless it is in my cold drink or someone is designing a sculpture!

Let it Snow!!!

2008-12-12T16:11:00.002-08:00

Well our first big snowfall is to happen tonight. I can hardly wait although I am not a fan of driving in it. I have to go to town and will be staying the night tonight in the Rogue Valley. We will see if I make it home tomorrow or not. In any case, I have a good book to read, there is some Hot Buttered Rum fixins at Gma's and I am set. I expect lots of Snowmen and women on the landscape tomorrow, but it is going to get really cold too! About 19 degrees. brrrrrrgh - Santa Weather for sure!

Drink up from the Santa Cup!

2008-12-04T16:07:00.004-08:00

Thank you daughter for putting our favorite Santa on my blog site. That little cup is filled with so many good memories for me as I know it is for you and your baby sis too! It reminds me of the mysteriousness of Christmas. The joy and excitement a child and parent share during the holidays.
Even though this time of year can be rather hectic, for all the wrong reason I might add, I am filled with a great peace as my faith in GOD is renewed. I sometimes wonder why HE loves us so much as man can be so terribly wicked and self centered and self indulgent; but there is that spark in us all, that wants to do the right thing and has hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. That spark is what HE gave us, for us to do the right thing, care for others, go the extra mile, and see the BIG PICTURE. We all have several goals in common as human beings. We all want to be loved, hugged, see our children grow up happy, and leave our mark,(hopefully a good one) on this planet. I think that is what HE had in mind when he put us here. To take care of one another. That will be my New Year's resolution this year as I think it is attainable one.
On Christmas eve, I will be thinking of my family fondly, perhaps daydream a bit about when my girls were little and feel that excitement that we shared, once again.

Fall is Here Again!

2008-10-25T09:28:00.003-07:00

It is beautiful here right now and just like I like it. Warm comfortable days where you can still get your yardwork done; then cold and frosty nights where you just want to curl up with a good book and have a cup of tea. Thank you daughter for the new pic on my blog header, it totally depicts our beautiful fall. Well, got to go and get those leaves raked! Happy Halloween!

Time Flies and I am not having any fun!

2008-08-07T16:13:00.002-07:00

Where is it going? School will start soon, it has just went by so fast. There are not enough hours in the day to get done and the things I need to do. I know, I know, one thing at a time. That is okay for some, but us Type A personalities want it all done now, all the time! My list keeps getting longer and longer, so I am breaking it out according to the season. All the things that need to get done to the house inside, will have to wait for Fall/Winter. All the yard work is to get done now. Dex is building me a super duper cart so I can take my yard debris in one or two loads. A co-worker is giving me a used composter, it needs some TLC, but I have always wanted one - leaves and garbage turned into good soil - Hurrah! I want to get the school bus moved so I can work on fencing off garden space so I can grow my own - vegetables that is. I dream of picking my own tomatoes, but right now they would go to the deer - they love them too! My maple tree is just now recovering from them eating all the leaves last spring! Well, I guess I better get my butt in gear as there is still plenty left to do today! Onward!

Hotter than Hades

2008-07-09T17:46:00.002-07:00

Summer is here! 100 degrees today and promises of 106 by weeks end. I can handle it pretty well as long as there is no humidity and fortunately it is low right now. The routine is get up really early, get watering done outside and get indoors before high noon. I work in an air conditioned office, where I do have to wear my hoody now and then as it gets so cold. It is the ride home that kills me. Directly in the sun all the way home and my little car that has 187,000 miles on it holds up bravely, but I try not to use the AC as it is hard on the small engine and eats gas like a billy goat on a willow tree farm! We keep the house darkened and the little window air conditioner on about 75 and it is pretty comfortable, especially if you are sitting right in front of it like I am right now. Other news - the building has been signed off by the inspectors - finally! I will make Dex and me a batch of strawberry maggies to celebrate and we will pretend we are on a sandy beach somewhere! Now we can start putting stuff away and get organized. Stay cool everyone!!!

What's happening???

2008-05-23T17:05:00.002-07:00

Let's see, shop building is up, steps on one door are finished. Dex will be ready to install the big door soon - he made all the hinges himself and it will be like trying to break into Fort Knox when he is done. We got the backyard mowed and umbrella's up, chairs dusted off and cushions placed, hammock and hammock swing are up. It is raining today, so all will be refreshed. We went to town and got the brick to finish the foundation where are hugh compressor will be housed. I looked at some draperie panels that I might buy and tomorrow I am ripping out the carpet so we can get new flooring in. I really do not like carpet and have had wood floors most of my life, I think that is why my children were not sickiy while growing up. I am a little phobic when it comes to germs, especially in carpet. I do like rugs though and will look forward to purchasing one for the living room. Oh, and we go to the dump tomorrow, they now have some recycling too! That's all for now - Oh, I just wish I could hear a chicken bawk, don't you?

Scary Computer Revealed!!!

2008-05-07T13:51:00.002-07:00

Dex finally burned out the cd burner! He is an itunes cowboy junkie, like someone else in our family, and I knew it was just a matter of time. So...I go to staples and buy a dvd burner. I was told cd's sound much better burned on the dvd burner. Great, found one and next step is to install. Well, foolish me, for some reason I thought there would be instructions on "HOW TO" and guess what??? NOT!!! You see they expect you to either already know what you are doing or you are buying the part to have your IT savvy friend put it in or you just take the CPU in and let the pro's do it. Step #1. Google the job you are trying to do, before you unhook everything. Of course, you will not cover all the obstacles that you may incur, but at least you will have something to go by. Step #2. Make sure you have a backup support system, I have several, but could not reach them, Uh Oh.
Here is a 57 year old women, at the kitchen table standing on a rubber mat (I am very static),with screw drivers,canned air and flashlight ready to take this on. I finally figured out how to get the cover off, woohoo, then my first mistake, blowing the inside out with the canned air. I created one of the biggest dust storms in history. I had to wait 15 minutes for the dust to settled before making my next attempt. I was surprised at how simple everything looked inside. Lots of empty space! It took me a minute to realize the burner had to be pushed from the inside to the outside, started to do that, but this large "ribbon thing" seemed to be attached to it. Was there just a holder strap with the ribbon through it or was it hooked to this burner box. I made my frantic calls to everyone to no avail. Well I wasn't going to pull on it, or poke it, might damage something. Thought maybe if I pulled the burner out I would be able to see what the issue was. I tried looking with the flashlight, but it was still to dark in there to see. Finally I pushed some more and the strap thing(I thought was a holder),which was a bar with pins that plugged in, pulled out and it was finally free! I installed the new one in reverse and away we went, back to itunes and making great cd's for our friends and Dex's fellow musicians. I have to tell you, I had a great sense of accomplishment after doing this and will be putting in some more memory and a new VGA card soon! That computer is not so scary after all!

Thank you Mishka!

2008-04-21T19:34:00.001-07:00

Thank you Mishka for putting my HaHa kangi on my blog. I love it!

Spring????

2008-04-21T19:20:00.002-07:00

Well, we thought spring had sprung, but I guess we were all wrong! We had some pretty wild weather the last few days. Wind, rain, snow, sleet hail and some cold temps to go with it. Our pear crops will suffer in the lower elevations as they were already in full bloom and now those flowers lie on the valley floor. The birds loved the weather and surprising they were extremely active, flitting around in the snow and rain from feeder to feeder. They were a delight to watch. I am hoping for a mild summer like last year, so our water holds out and we get the grass planted in front of our porch area. I am anxious to put up the umbrellas and get the solar lights out on the walk, put out new table cloths on the tables and get the chairs clean and the hammocks hung up, so I can spend some lazy afternoons ready my latest book. Go away old man winter, spring is here!

It is 81 degrees!!!

2008-04-12T15:02:00.002-07:00

Dex and I got up early to hit the three yard sales in town. Found a nice bracelet for a buck and Dex got a couple of microphones for his studio. We moved a bunch of stuff off the porch today, and washed it down. Raked some leaves and ate our lunch outside at the picnic table - that was so nice. I have washed and sealed the birdbath and need to go put one more coat on it and hopefully it will stay bright for my birdies...speaking of birdies, we discovered a wood pecker family nesting in one of the birdhouses I have on the top of my hammock pole. That is the first time we have had any birds nest in any of our houses. I think I will just let them finish up all the suet cakes before I take the feeders down and give the a good scrubbing and filling with seed. We have fed birds all winter, but I am looking forward to seeing the ones that migrated coming back. Our fawns were out this morning and the squirrels were frolicking in the woodpile...Ah Mother Nature isn't she GRAND!

My Baby turns 33!

2008-03-30T14:45:00.002-07:00

Happy Birthday Darling!
My Baby came into this world on a early spring morning 33 years ago. She not only had her father and I waiting impatiently for her arrival, she had nursing students and instructor cheering her to come and join us in the world! She was quite the celebrity at the hospital as they cooed over her and passed around pieces of her umbilical cord, for an upclose look. Her father and I were shocked that she was over 8lbs and 23 inches long, as she hid herself well, while nestled inside me. Her big sister waited so patiently to get a look at her and hold her, and we all fell in love and have been ever since. You have brought me tremendous joy daughter, and I and all your family and friends wish you the happiest of birthdays! I love you!

I Give Up - I am going to the Doctor

2008-03-14T13:26:00.002-07:00

Well, It was a rough night, hardly any sleep and my ribs are so sore from hacking. I just got off the phone with my dear friend from work and he said one of the waitresses at the local diner he frequents has had this thing FOUR times. I just cannot keep doing this, as I feel like I am getting weaker and weaker, so I will call in the morning and off to the doc I go, even though we have to drive 1 & 1/2 Hours to get there. Antibiotics are the only thing that will knock out the bronchitis and codeine cough syrup to silence the cough at night so I can get some rest. I wish I owned stock in the Kleenex Corporation (yes, I am trying to keep my sense of humor)!

Sick again.......

2008-03-13T08:49:00.002-07:00

I cannot believe that I am home sick with the flu. I had a bit of a scratchy throat for a couple of days, but attributed it to the fact that I was breathing the fumes from them tarring the roof of our office building. WRONG! Yesterday it hit me like running into a brick wall. The drive home took forever and when I got home, I could not stop shaking from the chills. Dex fed me applesauce and toast then I took some aspirin. Finally got some rest after midnight. There are over 99 different strains of this virus and I have now had two of them! So much for my flu shot, as it was for the wrong strain. Oh well, the good news is I feel a bit better and am working from home. I get to watch by birdies at my feeders eating their suet cakes and that makes being sick a little more bearable!
Thank you Mishka for the beautiful photo on my blog. Where was this photo taken?

A Time For Reflection

2008-03-11T18:07:00.002-07:00

Saturday, my sister and I attended the graveside service for our friend Vicki's husband Tom, who went on his journey on Feb 29th. Vicki said he passed on Leap Year as a parting gift to them. So they can have a memorial only every four years. Typical of Tommy's Irish humor. I did not know him well as Vicki's life and mine went in different directions, but we saw each other on special occasions. I most recently saw Vicki and Tom at our friend Steve's daughter Sam's wedding, he was unwell at that time. He became progressively ill in the following months and he knew his time was at hand. He was a wonderful husband, father and steward of the Lord. His oldest son Tommy preceded him in death and they are now finally together again in a very holy place...rest in peace Tom.

Sick, Sick, Sick of it!!!!

2008-02-18T07:40:00.002-08:00

I really tried hard NOT to get this virus - it is called a Super Bug and the title is appropriate. I did go in to see my sister as we both have it, she was worse. I am glad I was able to give her a little TLC and getting her to rest. We went to bed at about 6:30pm on a Saturday night, both exhausted from making a small shopping trip for meds. Sunday we felt a little better, she slept some and I slept off and on. We had breakfast, went to the mall to get my books that I have been waiting for, and got my dirty car washed at the robo car wash. She was exhausted from the trip and I dropped her off to rest and I went to the store for a few supplies I had forgotten the day before. Sooo... I woke up several times during the night last night, coughing my head off and will be staying home today as not to infect my co-workers. Carole and I stayed completely away from my parents and sanitized everything, so hopefully they will not get it. It is not fun, believe me and I am a not a happy person when sick, it is such a waste of time!

Weekend Sickies

2008-02-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Dex hurt his back on Friday, while he lifted a ladder he tried to slide a brace under it with his foot, shifting all the weight on one side of his body and thus tweeking a muscle. On top of it he developed a cold too. My weekend was spent nursing him back to health. I was feeling like a cold was coming on myself, so it was Zicam for the both of us all weekend. We did manage to get a few things done, but I now know what the term "stir crazy" means. I have been cooped up in our house for at least three weeks now, due to snow and sickness. I am determined to go into town this coming weekend and visit my parents, check on my daughter's rental and do some shopping! There is a car show at the expo and I will try to fit that in as well. I am a social being and being away from people for a long time, it is not good for me or my psyche. Hopefully the week will go by fast.....

Math Paranoia

2008-02-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Lin has went back to College at the grand old age of 56 years of age. Now there is a great advantage to returning to school at this age. You take all your life experiences with you and you just want to learn, learn, learn. She went to the same lousy south L.A. school I did. Many of the teachers were no longer interested in teaching anymore, just retiring. We were both poor math students. That's okay, girls do not have the aptitude for math anyway, we were told. She was really worrying about this math test as she was afraid she had forgotten what she had learned from last term and she had barely made it through. I assured her "It will all come back to you" and not let our Math Paranoia set in. She called me last Sunday with the good news, she passed her math test with flying colors! I knew you could do it! Way to go Lin!!!

Pet Peeve - Storms and Speeding Drivers

2008-01-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been having quite the stormy weather and I am a big chicken when it comes to driving if there is a slight possibility of ice. I have a small hill to travel up and down about 1600 feet and they keep it gravelled during the bad weather and that's not what I am really afraid of. It is that "other"driver, who must get in front of the pack, travel too fast and too close. I don't understand it especially in bad weather. Do they not want to make it to their destination without possibly killing themselves or someone else? Usually in the end, I meet up with them at the stop light in town and they have made no headway by driving in such a manner. What they have accomplished is putting their life and those of others in danger, wasted gas, made other drivers extra nervous and showed themselve for the stupid idiots they are.

I watched one of those silly shows on TV this weekend, I think it was called "Speeders" and I just could not believe the excuses people tell police when they get pulled over. The number one excuse is they have to go to the bathroom! One woman said "My car doesn't like going under 40 miles an hour - she had a speeding ticket for every year for the last twenty years - I just hope her insurance company was letting her pay for those tickets through her insurance rates. Even her kid in the car in the front seat was concerned and watching the "speed-mom-meter", I thought that was rather interesting, a child filled with anxiety about his mother driving too fast and she, had no concern at all.

Oh well, maybe I should write off all the agitation to old age, but I just don't remember wanting to get in that kind of hurry, especially with my children in the car and maybe that is why I have never had a speeding ticket in my forty two years of driving. And just maybe, that is why both of my girls are such good drivers.

Hopes for 2008

2008-01-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! Ours was a quiet one at home and off the streets, although I did try and lure my sister with a game of late night bingo! The pots are always huge, but our weather has been icy at night and we do not get home to my mothers until 2:00am or so. Good call sis, I stayed home and got some things done and so did she.
My hopes for this year is for people to take a moment from their busy lives to stop and take a look at who is governing them. Just register to vote! Have a say in how you feel about things. At least you will have tried to make a change.

I would love to see the way the primary's are set up changed. I hate the fact that four or five states set the conventions - how about holding all primarys on the same day? Will someone tell me what is wrong with that? It just seems so much more democratic!

No More PORK! Let's pass legislation without it. In fact. let's put all lobbyists out of business.
Term Limits, woohoo, I would vote for that one. Let's put the professional polititians out of business!
Green, Green, Green - let us all do our part this year to make a difference in our planet. We are a nation of consumers, if we are going to consume, let us do it responsibly.
I personally am going to try and get up and move around more, everyday! I work a very sendatary job and IT SUCKS the life out of you. I will try and be more like my children, who are very physically minded!
Pray, I will pray more for my family, country and world. It never hurts and hey all you sceptics out there? What it I am right?
Finally, Love, Love, Love, I will try and do more of that and serve and be more tolerant of all people on this earth....required by my Lord and hey, it just makes you a better person and feel really good!!!
So here is a toast to a new and better year for all people on this planet!

I have high hopes for us all!

Merry Christmas Family & Friends!!!

2007-12-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Dex and I want to wish all of our family and friends a very Merry Christmas! It is a true Christian Day of Remembrance of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our giving of gifts is in keeping the tradition of when the Magi brought gifts to the Christ child. It is a reminder to us all of the sacrifice Christ paid on the Cross for our sins and a rejoicing of the greatest gift that he gave to all mankind. I rejoice with fellow Christians in celebrating this birth and counting the tremendous blessings HE has given me! St. Nicholas is a representation of the Magi in the giving of gifts and is a delight for Children all over the world. Time to go to sleep now...I thought I heard bells tinkling! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas and all that jazz!

2007-12-22T15:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my sis and I finished our shopping and it wasn't too bad - we had a great time together and bought the things we had in mind, although I found an extra gift for Mishka that I think she is going to love! It was just sort of a "happening" and those are the best gifts! Dex and I got to spend some time with William and Chicken, we had a marvelous time at the museum and I was turned on to Chuck Close, I got to see a new Van Gogh, aquired by the museum, which was beautiful! I cooked for my kids, beef stroganoff, and they helped me prepare it, boy was it yummy! I left them with some left-overs too! My sis was meeting a guy she has been talking to for quite some time today, through an online dating service she joined. She was like a sixteen year old girl, going on her first date. She asked me if she thought he would like her? I told her if he didn't he was a dumb @?^% and not worth the time of day. At our age, we don't have time to waste on STUPID! I will update you when I get the juicy details. My Christmas message for you all is Love, Love, Love - that is what Jesus, my lord and savior requires of us and guess what, it is fun too!

What I've been up to

2007-12-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Well, we had the company Christmas party, food was good and I was the designated driver so I could drive my sister home. She doesn't usually drink, but she had lots of fun and we all danced our feet off. It is always good to see your colleagues "let their hair down" once in a while. I met some of the folks that I never see face-to-face and that was great. Christmas shopping is just about done, just a few things for some special friends at work and then I am done. I am shopping more and more online. It is a great convenience and it just so happens that my family are all bookworms and music buffs so they make it very easy. They are very socially conscious too, so gifts of Charity were sent in their names also.

I received a big surprise from my son-in-law and I am so proud of it. I received a certificate of appreciation for participating in a work project for him. This means the world to me and it gets a frame and position on the wall above my desk. Thank you J - I was glad I got to help!

Dex and I are going to Portland this weekend to take in a Museum with Shorty and William, see a steam locomotive and just take in the sights and sounds of Christmas in a big city. Maybe we can take the Max downtown and walk around for a bit, if it is not too cold...oh and I do have to make a quick trip to Powell's to get a book for my friend at work. He has never read Con Tiki and it is a must read for anyone with an adventurous heart. ta ta

Another Landmark

2007-11-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

Today was a lovely day as I celebrated my 57th birthday with family and friends. Received birthday wishes from my wonderful daughters, bling from my sister, nephew and parents. Had a wonderful breakfast with my childhood friend and her husband was give a beautiful photograph/print of Molokai and a toilet paper butler that matches the hardware in our bath, from my husband. He actually got me a 440 motor to put in my 65 Dodge Coronet, so I will forgive him for the "Butler." I have learned a few things these last 57 years, somethings I have carried with me forever, but other things I have picked up on this interesting journey. I am glad that I am in relatively good health (but too fat). I have the most wonderful family that I Cherise, your family is the most important thing on this earth! I still love GOD with all my heart and soul. I love my country and I am proud to be a patriot. I now feel free to speak my mind about what I think is important. I also know when to keep my mouth shut, and believe me that is hard to do sometimes. I have given up trying to "fix" things that I cannot. I try to look at all people straight in the eye as it is harder for them to not tell you the truth when you do. I hug alot more and say thank you every chance I get. It has been a wonderful birthday!

Sympathy Card Writing and real love

2007-11-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I got cards to write to my niece and two nephews along with Craig's girlfriend. Veronica told me the Rini was engaged to Craig and to be married soon, when he was struck with cancer. She nursed and encouraged him for two years and the impression Ronnie gave me was she virtually willed him to live. It is hard to write when you do not know the person you are writing to, but I will just try and thank her for all the love she gave Craig. When someone walks by your side in the way she did with Craig, well, that is what real love is, isn't it? I am thankful that both of my girls have those kinds of loves in their lives and I in mine too!

Faces locked in Time

2007-10-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, my daughters informed me of the death of their cousin. He was a bit older than my daughter Mishka and I think in his early 40's - with much more life ahead of him. Although I did not keep in contact with him or his brothers, I do occasionally email their older sister Ronnie. These kids are related through my children's father, children from his older brother who is also gone from this earth now. I cannot get over the fact that he is still a 10 year old boy in my mind, as that is around the last time I saw him. Isn't it funny how time plays tricks on us. I recently saw some dear friends at a wedding that I haven't seen in a long time. I could tell by the look on their faces at how much older I looked and they also to me, but then of course, in a few moments of conversation and catching up on the children and grandchildren, it was like nothing had ever changed. I guess I will just keep this young, sweaty, smiling boy, in my mind, just as he was the last time I saw him. I know when I see him again in the future, it will be just as if nothing has ever changed again.

Red is coming for a visit - woohoo!

2007-10-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Donna or "Red" as we call her, because of her beatiful red hair, is coming for a visit. She will be here on Thursday evening and spend Friday night as well. She is responsible for introducing me to my Dexter. They were longtime friends from Orange County and continued the friendship through their migration to Oregon. She and I have shared a strange part of my life. I am thankful for our friendship as she helped bring me through a dark period of my life. We will go out for dinner, have a few margaritas and stay up late, catching up. Her current job requires her to travel all over the country, which has been marvelous for her. I will give her the postcard book I have put together of her travels...I do miss not getting to see her more often though!

My favorite time of the year!

2007-10-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

It's here! It's here! Yellow, Gold, Brown, blowing in the air. Golden colors so bright that in twilight, it looks like midday. Burn piles, pumpkins, corn stalks and fresh apples, pies and ghosts, goblins and witches....CANDY - Coats and scarves at the ready, mitten's too....Oh joy, Fall is knocking at my door....Come in, Come in!!!

Finally settling in

2007-09-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Well, Mishka and J are finally in their home in Okinawa and finishing up making it cozy. Chase will be home soon and then the whole family will be together finally!!! Fall has arrived, just that first hint - you know the hot part of the day diminishes early and the evening air has a bit of crispness in it. This is absolutely my favorite time of the year. Fall colors coming, some great wind to blow the leaves and whoopee you don't have to water as much! Dex and I usually try and go see Chicken and William at this time of year in Portland. We usually go to a corn maze, but they have decided to take us on a hike on Sauvie Island near the wildlife preserve. I look forward to seeing all the fabulous birds before many of them migrate south. I am going to start my savings for a trip to Oki as I can hardly wait to see it again and I am hoping my Dex will get to go with me this time! I am also going to try and blog more, now that things a winding down. I love that part, a good book, glass of wine and looking out my window at the woods. My winter bird friends will be back soon too!

Sayonara Miska and J

2007-08-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

It was so great to spend time with Mishka and J. We gathered the families together for a nice long visit at Gma's and all of us had a great time. Mishka and J were able to sell the Carolina house right away and they have been working on the Washington house and now have it on the market. I know it will sell right away also. It is really a cute house and the price is right. I have to pretend in my mind that they are just on vacation, even though is is going to be awhile before they are back to stay in the U.S. But I feel good about Oki - it is a wonderful place and I hope GOD Willing to visit them there again - I have dreams of snorkeling with the beautiful fish and I want to do it again while I am able to do so. I hope the rest of the family will take them up on their hospitality and see this beautiful island and meet the gracious Okinawan people.
So my Children, have a wonderful vacation and don't forget the postcards...

North Carolina and Saying Goodbyes

2007-07-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I would update you on my trip to my daughter's in North Carolina. Flight out was great, stopped in Minneapolis then on into Raleigh. I was about an hours drive to Mishka's home and I have to say NC is absolutely beautiful. Very green like Oregon, but the pine trees are reminiscent to our Ponderosa Pines, but with much longer needles. We did something fun everyday. Got in lots of geocaching and eating and bird watching. Mishka made several Asian dishes for me, that were soooo....good. She is quite the cook. I did get to get my feet wet in the Atlantic and brought home some great seashells.
The best of all was helping J on a work project. It was so exciting and I will never forget it, and I got to see my first fireflies. I could live there with no problem. NC reeks of southern charm and hospitality and graciousness. Their storms are pretty awesome to watch too, but you don't want to get caught in them, they are downpours! Mishka and J are on their way west. We will have a gathering of friends and family and we will be saying goodbyes again....I hate goodbyes!!!

A Real Vacation for HaHa

2007-04-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

I will be leaving in a week to go a visit my daughter and son-in-law on the east coast. They will be going overseas later this year and they invited me out to see there home before they sell it. I am really looking forward to spending time with them and seeing a few sites. I love there company so much though that we would not have to go anywhere and that would be fine with me too. I am sure Mishka and I will get a few geocaches in and have a few late nite gab sessions as mothers and daughters like to do. My daughter made all the travel arrangements and fixed it so I do not have to change planes but one time which keeps me pretty worry free. I do think it is so important for people to take their vacations. I work in a job that can be frenzied at times and dull others (but mostly frenzied) and your mind just needs a rest from all that. I was fortunate when I was raising our family, that I was able to go on vacation with them and sometimes had a few days off for myself. That is the best of both worlds.

Taxes - At the last minute of course!

2007-04-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I spent all day Sunday, getting all the stuff ready so I could do our taxes. I do not have an organized system like I should have. We just throw all the stuff in a box and then go through it when the time comes. I use Turbo Tax which is a big help and so I finished about 9:00pm Sunday night. I efiled and got a confirmation from the feds right away. That was cool as we owed them a little, but even this morning when I checked for confirmation from the state I could not get one. So I ended up printing out our return, signing and sending Dex to the PO to get it posted with today's postmark. I did put a post-it note on it telling them that I did try to efile and could not get a confirmation just to make sure they did not deposit what they owe us in our account and send us a check in the mail also. We will see how this scenario plays out and I will keep you posted.

Good news and bad news

2007-04-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a week of good news and bad news. Let's get the bad out of the way first. A musician friend of Dexter and me, committed suicide this last week. No, it wasn't because of drugs, wait, I correct myself. It was because of drugs - chemotherapy. Janna had survived breast cancer for two years, she suffered a double mastectomy and lots and lots of chemo. She was one of the cancer patients who have very strong reactions to chemo. I learned the other day that her cancer had returned and she chose not to do chemo again. I do not know if she was already in pain or not, but I do know she was not willing or perhaps the odds were not in her favor, so she chose to end her life. As a Christian, that is not an option for me, but I cannot say for sure, that I would not do the same thing if in the same shoes.

The good news is that Chicken,(my youngest daughter) has a new job as of April 23rd. I am so happy for her and she will be learning a very valuable job. Once you learn purchasing, no matter what the product, you can pretty much go where you want to go. Added benefit, she will get to see MindSprite on a daily basis. I hope Sprite will walk with you everyday at work!

The other good news is that Mishka, (my first born daughter) and J will be returning to a place overseas that they love. This means I may have a chance to go to this wonderful land again. I will have a different set of priorities this time, which I am anxious to share with her and J.
Wonderful family friends will be visiting her soon, I know they will have a wonderful time together. The good things about old friends is the old cliche, "IT's LIKE THEY NEVER LEFT." Wish I could be there too.

global warming in Southern Oregon

2007-03-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

I finally went down and bought a battery charger for my camera batteries. When I last tried to take a picture, it was of the snowfall we had a few weeks ago - I thought I had got one pic of the snow, but I wasn't sure. So I charged up some batteries and downloaded 1 pic of the snow. Today it is 64 degrees and we have been outside working most of the day, getting our vitamin D and a little color on our skin and more importantly getting lots of yard work done...hope you all are having a nice sunny Sunday...By the way we ended up with a foot of snow from this snowfall - This is a view from our kitchen window looking out to the road and you can see our pump house and the foundation for the building we are about to erect for our old cars we are restoring.

A Mother gone to Heaven

2007-02-26T17:05:00.000-08:00

It was with great sadness that I learned my best friend and ex-sister-in-law's mother passed away a few days ago. I wasn't home all weekend - went to visit my mother and stepdad and took in a movie on Sunday. When I got home, there was a tearful message on my machine. Our two lives have paralleled in so many instances. We are exactly 6 months to the day apart. Mishka and Sean her cousin were born within weeks of each other and Chicken and Lynn's next child, Charity grew up hooked at the hip. Our fathers died at young ages and she and I are psychic with each other too. We feel when something is wrong or a shadow passes over either of our families. Her mother intimidated me when I was a young girl and I was mad at her in my teens when she sent Lynn away and called my mother and told her I was a bad influence on Lynn (it was her way of justifying sending her away), but true friends can never really be separated and Lynn forgave her mother and I did too. I grew to love Lois and her sisters and Mother. They were second family to me. Lois not only gave me the gift of Lynn in my life, but she also led me to the Lord and that is the greatest gift she could have given me. She joins her wonderful mother "Mama Ritchie" who died three weeks ago. She joins a husband, mother, sisters, grandchildren born and unborn - Jesus says "You shall be known in Heaven as you are on Earth" and I know she is rejoicing with HIM and family right now. I will miss you Lois Mom!

Bow Wows!

2007-02-14T14:37:00.000-08:00

Got a chance to watch the Big Kahuna dog show last night and of course I want a dog. I have wanted one for some time, but I know I cannot have one until I don't have to work full time. I am a firm believer in a disciplined dog, although my cats are not too disciplined (I try). These dogs are so beautiful and really do love strutting their stuff in the ring. You will also learn a lot about the different breeds from watching these shows. I think Eukanuba does one also.I love the herding and hunting dogs. They are so bright and you can see it in their eyes. The announcer's on the Westminster Dog Show are very well-informed and let you know the pro's and con's of the breeds and whether they would be right for you as a pet. I know someday I will have a dog again, Buddy will enjoy having a dog around and Delta will probably just ignore it. I would love to have a pure bred dog, but I know my heart will take me to the animal shelter to adopt another member into our family.

Update on M

2007-02-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

After viewing some horrific video of M's rant and ordeal with the police on the news this morning, I was pleased to learn that they did admit him to the psychiatric unit of the hospital. Dear M, I hope your mind is now at rest and you are getting the help you so truly deserve....my hopes and prayers are for you to get the answers you have been looking for.

Falling Through The Cracks

2007-02-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

Today was a very sad day. A dear friend of our family who is homeless (he chooses to live his lifestyle) went over the edge. I first learned of the incident on the morning news, but did not make the connection that it was M. He pulled his van up to a local TV station and lit some flares, when the employee's called the police (swat and state, local authorities) he threatened to ignite the inside of the van with himself in it. They played it on the news as a "Bomb Threat" and of course evacuated the area. He spoke with swat and he must have told them he had been treated at the VA hospital and that is how they found my sister, who used to be his girlfriend. M has had issues of anger over society, politics and law. He chose to opt out. My sister did not want that lifestyle and so they parted company, but he was and is our friend. We love him and want the best for him. We went to the hospital hoping to be able to provide some background info on him as he has no family here and we are his surrogate family. We are praying that he will not fall through the cracks of the justice system and get the help he so desperately needs. He is such a good man that has had a tragic past and has made some bad mistakes. Thank GOD he was not hurt and he didn't hurt anyone else....I am hoping for a happy ending to this story, please join me in thinking the good thoughts for him.

I Finally Figured it Out

2007-02-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been trying to blog for some time now and could not get back in since Blogger changed over. I have realized that I need to keep a book with all the passwords for all the places I go, as the only ones I really remember are the ones I use for my regular email and at work. The places I do not visit regularly just escape from my brain. So this one is now written down in the "BLUE BOOK" for safe keeping. Glad to be back!

Spring or Bust

2007-01-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, we haven't even had real winter yet and here I am longing for Spring. Daffodils, birds chirping, grass and tree buds appearing, the feeling of renewal. Is that too much to ask, so soon? I always get the winter doldrums at this time. The holidays are past and here we are stuck in this winter limbo. Time seems to stand still for me during this time, (except for upcoming taxes) of course. I want to be outside in the sun, digging in the earth, spying on my birds, don't you? My Dex just laughs at me and says we still have a some way to go, but I am impatient with nature. I want to see her burst forth in the glorious way she always does, showing off on her own private runway, her latest fashion. I am ready to buy!

Four Wheel Drive Dummies

2007-01-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

You know who I am talking about - you are the ones that have this false sense of security in your SUV or Truck. You think your vehicle will drive on any type of road condition - you also think you can continue with your daily habit of talking on the phone through your morning commute, or eat your breakfast, put on your makeup etc. Well, guess what? Your vehicle works no better than my little commuter car on ICE. So, please quit putting the rest of us in danger and just for a day or two, let the phone ring, it will go to your voice mail. Wait until you get to work and eat your breakfast or eat it at home before you leave. Please do not try and put you mascara on in the car while you are driving, you could cause an accident or POKE YOUR EYE OUT! How about just using a little common sense and quit being so damned Narcissistic - it really isn't all about you!

Keep your germs to yourself

2007-01-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

I am trying not to become Howard Hughish - but darnit, why can't sick people stay home! Intestinal flu was going around the network which is 30 miles away from the executive offices where I work. You would think I would be safe from "their" germs, but I forgot about the inter-office envelopes that are shuttled back and forth between locations daily. I get one everyday from production and of course production is where the "crud" originated. Needless to say, I have been home for two days, not exercised, unless I can log the trips to the loo - only good thing is I have seen some great movies, got to talk to Mishka and got to watch Dr. Phil and Oprah (not afraid to admit it) so it has not been a total loss. I will have two hours of spam to wade through when I get back though. On second thought "keep your germs and spam to yourself" if you don't mind.

The Kitties who own HaHa

2007-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to introduce our kitties to you for awhile now and finally got some decent pics of them. I think the one of buddy (white and black tabby) really shows his attitude (very much like Morris the Cat on TV) and Delta's pic doesn't do her justice. She was declawed (which I abhor) by her previous owner, but she will always be safe with us. She uses her teeth (against Buddy) instead of her claws, but she still pitterpats and "sharpens" her claws like a regular cat. Both Cats were adopted and although they still fight with each other (we use a spray bottle to break it up) they do seem to love each other too! We were going to get kittens, but I am glad we adopted them instead and I highly recommend it!

I Finally Made it

2007-01-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

Whew! I finally made it through the new conversion. It wasn't too difficult once I realized my password and username. I am finally resigned to keeping a book with the info in it as it is too frustrating trying to remember all the user and pass info for all the accounts on the web. I told Dex, I thought it would be nice if you could buy a box that had all the plug ins for a Tuner, receiver, speakers, sat dish connection, vcr and dvd along with cd player, game connect too. Just a simple box, you connect to and everything works, then a truly easy universal remote that has buttons that say, VCR, TV, CD, etc. We are getting so tech these days, that it is hard to keep up with all the current changes. I try, but as soon as I get it down, it changes. I would pay someone to come out and set everything up, but trouble is, they have to be up-to-date too! I just got an idea for this, what about a device that you plug in your computer that downloads all user/pass and you uplug unless you need it. You watch, someone will have invented it before I get this posted. Happy New Year everyone!

Turkey and the Snow

2006-11-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

It was a great time at Grandmother's house, although we missed having all the family there to celebrate. It usually snows on the valley floor by now, but it has been a rainy season so far. Great for me and Dex as our wells are now full of water. But now the temp has dropped and the sky is Black and White with snow clouds. This morning I encountered the white stuff on the way to work. I hope it stays off the ground for one more day as I have to drive to the southend of the state for an appointment, but I may stay the night at Gma's for the night as my eyes will still be dilated. Can you imagine driving in the snow with dilated eyes at night! Talk about psychodelic!

Sister, Sister

2006-11-10T15:18:00.000-08:00

Both of my daughters are together at this moment. The youngest flew out to the East Coast to spend some time with her big sister. These two have a wonderful relationship and enjoy each other's company so much. They are having the time of their lives right now, I can promise you. I have a younger sister myself and we have been hooked at the hip since I can remember. Yes, there were times I wanted to strangle her, just as my two daughters did when they were growing up, but truly, I cannot imagine my life without my sister. She has been my best friend ever and always will be...so heres to sisters!!! Especially my NEKO!!!

I'M Skeered!!!!!

2006-10-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been a real scare-a-thon on TV. There has been a plethora of pics to choose from. Anything from Scary Movie 3 to one of my favorites "King Kong" which of course stars the beautiful Fay Ray. It also has special memories for someone else in my family, Mishka was just a little girl, but she was glued to the TV set watching this movie with me. As Fay was strapped to the tiki's about to become Kong's bride, and she sees him for the first time, I had to strike while the iron was hot. Boo at the appropriate time scared the bejesus out of her and she flew up in the air and then she got really, really mad at her mommy. Great scare! Happy Halloween darling!

I love my job, I love my job, I really do!!!

2006-10-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

We just paid off all our bills! We came into a little money and our goal was to get out of debt so we paid off all our debt and now I have the freedom to look for another job if I want. I cannot tell you the sense of freedom I feel, knowing I do not have to work where I do if I don't want too. There is such power in this feeling! Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I love the broadcasting/radio business. What I do not like is the Bull#!$?. The idiots that do not have a clue as to what you do, but are great at telling you how to do it. I do not like not having the tools to do my job, continual computer breakdowns, software failures and bad internet connections (because they are too cheap). Hey, I guess I should be grateful that they finally got me a flat screen monitor (after much begging) and complaining of eye strain. Well...bosses, you better treat me nice...cause I can leave if I want to! Yahoo!!!!!!!!

She's a Saint but she smokes!

2006-09-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday, William and Chicken took me up to see Mt. St. Helens. The weather was made to order and the drive was beautiful. One of the first things you notice is the replanting of trees. As in most replanted forests the trees are all symetrical and the same size, which creates an impressionistic landscape. Weyerhauser also planted along with fir trees, red alder and it was strange to see whole forests of them. Soon after though, the landscape shifts and rounding up the backside of the mountain you are impressed with the lunar landscape where the Lahare flows are. We saw 3 bull elk from the lookout, visited the museum and saw the film and then we were on our way to the front side of Helen. I cannot impress upon you overwhelming sensation of your own small self in the face of the power of nature when you look at her from this angle. She had at least 3 plumes going up at the same time. At her base we saw more elk crossing a ravine. I don't think she is ready to completely rest yet, time will tell. Nature is so powerful and wonderful and frightening at the same time. If you get a chance, I would encourage you to make the trek as it is a wonder of the age. Thank you William and Chicken for this special trip and another great memory stored.

Crocodiles and Stingrays

2006-09-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

It was with much sadness that I awoke to the news of the bizarre accidental death of Steve Irwin. I really enjoyed his personality, humor and bravery along with his expertise and knowledge of the animal world. I tuned into the Today show and then experienced so much outrage that I had to email the show and let them know of my disgust. Steve has been on the Today show many times for different interviews. I am sure they had quite a few in their archives. They instead chose to broadcast the one in which he defends his actions when he fed a croc while holding his son Bob in his arms. While I might not agree with his call on that one, I certainly felt that was the absolutely WRONG interview to replay during this sensitive time. I told them this was "National Enquirer Magazine" reporting and they owe his family and all his fans an on air apology and I challenged them to do so. Good Bye Steve, we will miss your smile, personality and showmanship. GOD Bless you and the wonderful family you left behind. You made us laugh and learn and care!

Foureyes and then some

2006-09-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to find out they added vision coverage on our health insurance. Because I was going into "Big Town" this weekend I schedule and eye exam. I was way, way overdue. I managed to get it moved up a day and went through the usual procedure including the eye dilation, which is always fun for awhile. To my dismay, I have some issues with my eyes. Too much pressure in the eyes, which could mean glaucoma. He also found some differences in the optic nerves of my eyes. That is really scary. I have been anxiety ridden since he told me and he wants me to see a specialist. I guess I am a Kook as I am looking at everything in every detail, trying to etch it all in my brain, just in case the news is really bad. I would rather lose my hearing any day, then not be able to see the faces of those I love or the trees and ocean or not be able to read a book as I am a voracious reader. We think sometimes to be able to function is our right and it really is a priviledge. Those of you who pray, I would appreciate a word to HIM. The good news is I am going to have a really cool pair of glasses soon... I will keep you posted on the outcome.

Patio Furniture Find

2006-08-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the little well we use either has a pump problem or finally dried up and so we had to switch to the other well, which is deeper, but recovery is slower and water has more iron in it, even though we have it filtered. That means going to the laundromat to wash clothes. I take them home to dry them. As in most cases something good always comes from the little inconveniences in life. Because we had to go into town about 28 miles away, we stopped at a yard sale on the way. We picked up a glass patio table, four chairs and a really cool umbrella. The umbrella is about 8 feet across, muslim color and wooden framed. The whole thing cost $15.00. My backyard is ready for a party.

Labor Day - Labors

2006-08-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to take the Friday before Labor Day weekend and the following Tuesday off. This gives me and D 5 days to get some serious projects done, before fall and winter set in. The major project is to put in a new bedroom window. Although it sounds difficult, we have got it down to a science. Once installed this will allow us to sheet rock this room and finish the siding outside. I am hoping for some quiet in our room once this project is complete. I will try and put up a photo on this site when we are done. I haven't tried doing that yet, so it will be a new thing to learn.

WeightWatcherdom or Doom

2006-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

I weighed in. Took all my measurements and had a Smart One for breakfast. I have officially started my weight loss program. My goal is to replace every article of clothing I own! New undies, bra's and of course clothes! clothes! clothes! I am going to turn into a semi-foo foo girl too! Maybe have a manicure once in awhile. Perhaps a facial and a wax job, who knows, the world is my oyster - OOPS, I don't think I can eat those anymore....

F-Bomb

2006-08-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day from Hell at work. A board op played some bumper music that had the F Word and didn't hit the dump button as he had the monitor turned down. It is now a 300,000.00 fine for each incident. Needless to say it was a day of panic, trying to contact everyone and explain it was an accident and make sure it was not refeed over the stations that rebroadcast. So much for our free speech rights, okay to say it on Satellite Radio, and in the grocery store, on TV, but an accident can put small radio stations and syndicators out of business!

Rock, Roll and Rain

2006-08-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Thunder Rolling
Rain Tears Falling
Earth's Face

Much needed rain is falling as I write. Lots of thunder and some lightning and big drops of rain. I love the fresh ions in the air. They create such a clean and serene atmosphere, I always want to take deep breaths.
Buddy Rich our young male cat was quite impressed with the thunder, especially when it was right overhead and startled him out of a sound sleep. Delta Burke our four year old female was totally unimpressed. I guess she has been around the block a time or two an thunder is "old hat". The house is very quiet now and I love reading when it is just like this...sayonara

Well I finally made it

2006-08-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally made it, my daughters Mishka and Chicken have been encouraging me to start my own blog - Mishka even set the site up for me. All I have to do is write - sounds so easy, right? It (the blog site) would not let me log on, said I need to enable cookies, and there might be a firewall problem. It has taken me about four hours to figure out the settings and yes, I did try to call Mishka so she could check my computer and walk me through it, but guess what? I figured it out all by myself and I am pretty proud of that. When you only have a myopic view of how computers work anyway and your IT friend is not available it can be pretty frustrating. Quoting the Bard "Alls Well that Ends Well...I hope to share funny stories, daily woes (not too many of those) and maybe a little HaHa Haiku.

Starting From Scratch

2006-07-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

First post ever...more will come.