Into P.T. and back again

It's only 8:30 a.m. and television has actually been kind of entertaining today. Woke up to America's Funniest Videos and the one showing made me laugh out loud. (It ended up winning the $10,000 prize too)  About a wife locking her husband out of the house and car on various occasions and not letting him back in until he did a dance for her.  It was hilarious.

The Golden Globe nominees were announced and the only movie I've seen is Argo. (which was excellent).  Some years the movies all seem kinda dull but I'm anxious to see all of them this year. I sure wish I could afford HBO and Showtime as they always get nominated for some of their programming and I'm especially anxious to see Homeland.

That shooting at the Clackamas mall was certainly sad.  Especially when the family and friends of the shooter are left dumbfounded about how the shooter completely changed in character and behavior.  You often hear those stories after an incident like that and it makes you wonder....could that happen to someone in our circle? I suppose it could.  I can't remember now but I recently heard of some study that the researchers had conducted on the brain and they discovered a spike in some brain wave or another that showed bizarre and violent behavior occurring in otherwise quiet and subdued individuals.  They thought it was a link to why serial killers come to be or snipers and such.  I think they should spend a whole lot more money on that research.

I've been to that mall before.  Years ago  we drove around and around FOREVER trying to find a parking place.  I'd never seen anything like it. And if you did find one, there were people fighting you RUDELY to ease you out.  Left me very agitated.

Rooftops looked a little frosty this morning as I opened the blinds to the back yard.  Glad I don't have to venture out.  Yesterday was rainy and dark as Mary Norton and I made our way into Port Townsend and back again.  Especially coming home. Eaglemount was foggy and dark and the rain came down in buckets.  I was mighty glad to pull into my garage at the end of the day.  A couple hours later I was sitting down to balance my checkbook and noticed a charge I didn't recognize against my debit card at the local grocery store where I bought gas.  I went down there and the clerk established they'd charged me twice and gave me the cash back on the spot.  Was nice to get it resolved so quickly.

Jenni just emailed me that Hunter and Sammy are coming over this morning to spend the day. Hunter's been out sick all week with a cold and doesn't want to stay home alone today.  Jenni recently interviewed for a new job at her bank and got the happy news that she'd been chosen. Her new title is consumer/commerical loan coordinator.  Way to go Jen!

Went to the doctor yesterday morning before my trip into Sequim to pick up Mary and we're leaning towards the diagnosis of restless leg syndrome being a part of my ongoing problem. Apparently, RLS can have more symptoms than your legs moving at night while you're trying to sleep. (which I haven't noticed is a problem with me) We upped my prescription dose and she is going to refer me to a neurologist in Sequim.  I'd been told I couldn't get in until February but my doctor says they have two neurologists now, instead of just the one, so we're hopeful I won't have to wait that long.

Mary and I had several stops to make in town. First was the nursery on Four Corners Road so she could pick up a gift certificate. Then we proceeded down the road a few blocks to my brother's house so I could drop off a cookie package and a couple of books.  Much to my delight, he leant me Neil Young's book called 'Waging Heavy Peace' and a CD of the concert they attended called 'Crazy Horse.'  I don't like all of Neil's music (the loud R&R stuff) but I LOVE his slower songs and his country music. I think my favorite is 'Long May You Run.'

From there, we headed to Linda Pedersen's house in Hadlock where I unloaded a few more gifts for her and Ruth and picked up a couple.  Looking forward to that jam Ruth made. Her Xmas card was there too with a picture inside of her and her grandkids.  Hard to believe they've gotten that big already but then I look at my twins and my face and I remember that time marches on.  Here's Ruthie..

Our next stop was at my sister's where I was able to unload the bulk of the gifts in my back seat and then load up my car with more from Janie.  She gave Mary one of her homemade bags while we were there too.  Oh, and before I forget.... happy birthday to my niece, Edwina today!

From Janie's we drove to Kris Logue's on Quincy Street and I took a few pictures inside her preschool and out on her back lawn.

With the gift delivering completed, we decided to browse a few shops on Water Street. I had worn my new gray hat (that covered up my stupid bad hair) and that I thought looked quite good on me.  Until I got a look at myself in a mirror, that is.  I also discovered that it was way too hot and cumbersome to wear while browsing in little stores.  I immediately started to hunt for a baseball type hat. It's all about comfort with  me, and trying to look stylish just isn't happening.  I did find just what I wanted -- a red Port Townsend hat. I also found several little odds and ends that interested me. Besides the hat, I bought myself a pair of earrings (with Czech glass), a little book called 'All my friends are dead', a cute necklace showing PT on the map, and a t-shirt.

 



We stopped at Don's Pharmacy for burgers and I got to visit with Barb Shaw a few minutes. She took a picture of Mary and me and Teresa Arey, who stopped by.

From there we went over to Quimper Mercantile to check out the place. Didn't buy anything but did have a nice visit with Ev Muehlethaler and her son, Sam, who we ran into.  Ev is close to retiring and she had "that look of happiness" that I recognized.

Outside Mercantile's door, I took a picture of a bench and a deer made out of driftwood.  They were both pretty interesting.  Also noticed a very large dog being trained to "stay". A newfoundland named Baxter.

 

 

When we got back to Mary's house, she showed me some dish towels her sister had given her. She'd discovered a website where you could send them a photo and they'd put it on a linen towel.  Her sister had some old hand-written cookbooks from their grandmother and she copied some of the recipes for reproduction. Mary intends to frame them. They're absolutely wonderful!

I looked around for PT Xmas cards but never did find any. Sharon Sofie had sent me this one and I just might put it in a frame.

After dropping off Mary, I made a quick Costco run (I still forgot to buy the frozen berries I wanted), and then stopped at Green Acres to take a couple of old neighbors some cookies. Was surprised to see one of the houses across the street from my old mobile gone.

I also noticed that my mobile has deteriorated a bit since I sold it four years ago.  You always notice the neighbors changing when it's an "over 55" park. I saw one house being emptied out by family members while I was there.

That tree on the far right is dead. I planted that one, and I notice the green tree to the right of the window is trying to grow leaves at the bottom of the trunk. Wayne had trimmed them all down for me years ago.  The neighbor directly to the right of this picture had been telling me about this concoction I needed to start taking for pain. She asked me again if I had tried it and when I said no, she gave me a little container to take home and use.  She swears by it. 

You take golden raisins and soak them in gin. Cover them up and let them expand a bit and every morning, eat a small handful.  I did it a couple of hours ago and was surprised how good they tasted. I've also noticed a few trips to the bathroom this morning. Not sure if it's related or not.  These days my bowel system seems to take on a very independent life of their own.  I don't seem to have any power over dictating how they're going to operate on a daily basis. Even when I'm 'really really good' and eat properly and exercise, they can play havoc with my routine.  Yeah, I know...too much information.  Ha!

My daughter, Mary, sent me this picture a few days ago of a house in their neighborhood. I noticed our street had 14 houses lit up with Xmas lights this year.  Sure makes for a colorful trip home to my end of the streeet.

Well, that's it for now.  I've gotta go pick up Hunter and Sammy in a bit. Also have to divide up all the fish and salmon I bought at Costco into small freezer packages.

Starting the week fresh

Sitting here with coffee cup #2 as the banana bread bakes in the kitchen. Gonna prepare a second bread for the oven (cranberry/orange) and then I'll start putting together my cookie packages. Or..... I may opt to make one more cookie recipe. I have a delicious sugar cookie that has orange peel in it but you do have to roll out the dough and use cookie cutters and then frost them so I'll wait and think on that one.  If the Aleve kicks in.....

Been a morning of butter fingers and I don't mean the candy bar. I'd eat a Butterfinger if I had one right now.  As I unloaded the dishwasher, I dropped a plate on the floor. It was plastic so it didn't break but it ticked me off because I always seem to drop at least one thing while unloading that damn dishwasher. Even when I consciously think about it and declare -- no dropped items today!

I melted some margarine in the microwave for the bread recipe and heard this "whoosh" when the timer went off. I knew what that meant. The margarine had exploded and I had to clean up another mess. That meant dragging over the foot stool as I'm too short to clean the top of the microwave.  A few minutes later, I was moving my coffee cup from one counter to another after filling it was french vanilla creamer and I managed to slosh a few drops on the floor. That meant another cleaning job with the dishrag (and yes, I put it in the wash after).  As I bent down to wipe up the drops, I noticed the dishwasher, refrigerator, and bottom cabinets all looked dirty.  Great!  Another cleaning job and I'll have to pull out my shower chair to sit and do it all 'cause my back will ache within seconds of trying to stay bent down that low for any length of time.

Jenni called asking me to pick up Hunter at school as he's feeling a bit under the weather. Missed her call (I was in the car) and when I got back to her, she was already on the way herself.  I pulled out of the grocery store parking lot and she passed right in front of me so we honked and waved.  Thought Hunter might come here but I guess he opted to go home with Sammy.  Here's a picture I took of the dog yesterday when I went over to retrieve a lot of my dishes.  He was begging for popcorn.

Here's a couple shots of Mary and Andy that she posted on Facebook. Catie took all their holiday poses.

Whenever I sit down to eat, I usually work on a crossword puzzle. I'm into a USA Today book now and finding all the puzzles way too hard.  I have a few reference books sitting alongside me but they don't always help that much.  The puzzle I'm working on now has a "Oh Oh" theme. Meaning double o's in the answer.  The clue was: "A child's name for a train".  Easy one, I thought - TOOT TOOT.   Silly me. It was CHOO CHOO.

And with that, I'm back to the kitchen for bread #2 and the wrapping up of individual tinfoil packges of fudge.  I'm determined to eat not one single piece--only the crumbs that end up sticking to the corners of the pan.

And here's a short video of the episode I mentioned on my Town Kid blog on the Leader website.
Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle in Mayberry making a citizens arrest.  Cracks me up!

A quiet Sunday at home

Last night as I sat in the recliner debating on whether to get up again and google "leg cramps", I decided the hell with it and just sat there having a stern talk to my lower extremities, letting them know I wasn't at all pleased with their behavior these past months.

I wasn't that interested in television and kept it on the PBS station while I finished a book I was reading by Richard Belzer.  Channel 9 was running old music  from the 70's and every now and then, some act would catch my attention and I'd stop reading to listen.  Like this one that cute Bobby Darin did...  It's beautiful.


Interesting bio on him you can read at imdb.com. His first name was Walden and he suffered from rheumatic fever as a kid which probably contributed to his early death at age 37. I think I'll hunt up that movie 'Beyond the Sea' that Kevin Spacey starred in.

I managed to get two pans of fudge made up today, and I'll work on the breads tomorrow. Yesterday I made a lot of cookies so I think I'll have enough for several Xmas goodie packages to take into PT on Wednesday.

Went over to see Jenni's tree this afternoon. They always have a really nice one that is shaped perfect. I took a picture of it but my camera hasn't sent it to my Picasa album yet and I can't figure out how to access Picasa on my computer.  I'm hoping Mary or Catie can sit down with me at Christmas and show me how to maneuver that website.  I saw over 150 pictures on my camera that I want to delete but I don't feel like doing it one at a time. I know there's a way to do it online with a click of the mouse, but I couldn't find my album and finally gave up in disgust.

One picture that was there was the popcorn machine that Jenni won at the wine tasting event she helped organize for the campfire fund. At least I think that was who the money was for. They raised over $4000 with their silent auction. Jenni had the microphone and hammed it up good from what I've heard.  Hunter put together the popcorn machine this morning and it's really cute. Costs close to $200 new and I think she spent $20 on raffle tickets. 







 

Jenni is out Xmas shopping a little right now. She told me as she was leaving the house, the kids said:

 

Where 'ya going?

Christmas shopping.

For who? Us?

Yeah, probably.

What store are you going to?

The Dollar Tree and Goodwill.

You're starting to sound like Gramma.

 

(Actually The Dollar Tree and Serenity House is more my style)

Looked over the tv line-up for tonight and found a movie I might tape at 10:30 to 1 a.m. but couldn't find anything else except a two-hour Amazing Race that I intend to tape and watch later. Way too many commercials and my time is precious.  I'll probably look over my Netflix streaming channel to find something to amuse.  Or I'll hit the sack and do some reading.

I set two of my houseplants out on the back deck this morning.  The cold will kill them off but that was my intent.  I've got three spider plants and all of them look dreadful with brown tipped leaves.
I googled the subject and it told me I had to use a special dirt and special water. Way too much work so I'm letting one live and casting the other two outside. I don't need three spider plants anyhow.

Posted on my Town Kid blog yesterday and my 'What do you say' blog this morning. I also commented on another guy's blog and sent a letter to the PDN editor.  Now I'm done with this one so that should do for a while.

Just took a second look at my Picasa website and found Jenni's tree is there now. Also took a picture of Wayne trying to fix their garbage disposal as it was leaking all over the kitchen floor.

Saturday morning

Gonna get started on baking pretty soon but have to finish my coffee and surf a bit online. Saw this video on Facebook and just loved it......


I also got some cute cartoons in an email from my son-in-law.  Here's the ones that made me laugh out loud...

It's Friday and I'm Back

I've had a case of the blues all week.  Woke up this morning and had another talk with myself about how I needed to get on with it and quit wallowing in the "woe is me" slump I've been in.  I just may start taking those antidepressants the doctor prescribed a few weeks ago when I asked for them. Not sure why I've put off taking them but I suppose it could be this attitude I have of thinking I can get a handle on everything myself.

I've been noticing a little upward spike in my anxiety right around 5 pm.  I've had this off and on for years, but it always passes. Last night I happened to come upon a couple of programs on the Canadian station that held my interest all the way through. I will definitely tune them in again next Thursday, and I just might watch the lineups for Canada TV a little closer to see what I've overlooked.

The first show had to do with how the electric lightbulb has changed our world.  I saw this picture on Facebook earlier this week showing the world at night and who is lit up the most.

Anyhow, the program(The Nature of Things) last night dealt with research scientists have done regarding how light has altered our physical life. Without going into all the details of the tests done with mice and humans, they found that our serotonin was out of whack because of our exposure to around the clock light.  Shift workers were especially studied, and they found a link between breast cancer being higher in the parts of the world that had more light at night.  For one thing, they found tumors growing in the mice exposed to 24-hour-a-day light. It also altered their behavior.  If you can Google and find the show to watch on-line, it's well worth it.  Fascinating stuff.

I managed to get my Christmas cards mailed off yesterday and since all my gifts are bought and wrapped, all that's left is the cookie packages.  I was at Walmart (which didn't help my depression any but I won't go into how much they ticked me off) and I saw a lot of things offered that I thought I would try to replace the homemade stuff I usually throw together.  Like Krispie treats. The box had 40 individual treats all made up so we'll see how they go over.  I bought a box of already made cookies with little decorations on them but I'll still make up snickerdoodles, chocolate chips, brownies, and maybe some sugar cookies that I roll out myself.  Depends on how energetic I feel. I hope to make some bread and fudge as well. Will probably work on all that this weekend.

Mary Norton and I plan on heading to Port Townsend Wed. morning so I can deliver a few packages. We'll also browse the shops on Water Street and have lunch.  Hope the weather is halfway decent, but I don't really care.  Think I'm more hopeful my legs and feet don't ruin the outing.  I'm still waiting on  an appointment with a neurologist. For the third time, my referral notes "were lost somewhere." I finally called yesterday wondering why I haven't had a phone call. It's been over a week since the orthopedist suggested I go that route.

Oh dear, the lights just flickered. I hope that doesn't mean I'm gonna' lose power. Guess I'd better hurry up and finish this post.  Here's some pictures of decos around the house and in the back yard.  Repeats, I know, but it's all I got....

The hummingbirds have been quite active all week. Four of them swooping and feeding and playing all day long.  I love watching them.

Well, I was trying to load some house deco pictures and google popped up saying my picture limit was met unless I buy some space.  So.... I just spent a couple of hours deleting one at a time...old pictures that I've posted on past blogs.  Good Lord, I posted a whole lot of junk!  Kind of like today.
Anyhow, I deleted hundreds and am curious if that will free me up to post more.  We'll see...

 Here's my little tree. It comes out of its box each December already decorated.

 My snowman table. I've had that old table since 1967 I think. Bought it an garage sale in Bellingham and I've painted it several times. Use it for my sewing table mostly. If I had the energy, I'd strip the red paint off and get it back to its natural color. I should have left it that way the last time I painted.

And here's some shots I played around with at night trying to see if I could get a picture of the backyard lights.

And that's it for now. I have to pick Hunter up in a half hour as he's babysitting for some neighbors down the street from 5 to 8 pm.  And the neighbor on the other side of me has been coming and going for two days -- with a trailer. I wonder if she's moving in with her boyfriend again.  We aren't that friendly so I can't ask her.  I'll just have to keep an eye out and see if I can figure it out myself.  Ha ha

Monday night

Almost time for Wheel of Fortune so I guess I better hurry this up if I'm going to blog today. Not much going on around here to speak of.  I got a few more gifts wrapped this afternoon and I'm pretty sure my shopping is complete.  I went online to try and find some inspiration for decorating my gifts but most of the videos were annoying.

I'll just decorate my same ole lame way, I guess.  I always start out with good intentions but I think you need to invest in more supplies than what I've got laying around here. Everytime my daughter, Mary, brings her gifts over, I look at them with envy as they're decorated so pretty.  I think it 's kind of like handwriting. Some  people have a nice, smooth, and easy way of writing and others...well...like me, our handwriting looks like we're unstable.

I went to the downtown postoffice this morning as there was a problem with the last thing Hunter sold on ebay. (stolen in transit) so I spent a lot of time online trying to figure out what I had to do to file a claim. After ten minutes on hold with ebay, I was told I had to file a claim with the postoffice. That took a while too but I finally printed off a form. Then found out I had to take it to the post office. I HATE GOING TO THE POST OFFICE!

Sure enough. I get there and the line is so long, I can't even get inside the door.  I knew standing there for a half hour was going to kill my back so I opted to leave.  I'll try again tomorrow since I have a package to mail anyhow.  I'd go to the corner grocery store substation but I'm betting they'd only send me downtown.

I stopped at Serenity House which is right next door as I needed half a dozen Xmas cards. I found 5 of this design...

It doesn't say anything on the back except made in USA.  Kind of looks like WWII or the Korean War but I'm not sure.  Different looking anyhow.  After I left there, I stopped at Swains a block away to get the last gift on my list.  I've noticed the crowds are out and about quite a bit.

Saw this picture on Facebook of Maddie and her girl friends at school. Maddie's in the green in front.

I saw this right after I got home from taking her across town to basketball practice.  It's always interesting to listen to the kids when I've got them in the car.  Maddie, especially, seems to talk nonstop. Mostly about her classes, her friends, sports, music, and boys.  She wanted the radio on her station so I accomodated her and then put my Roy Orbison CD back on after she got out.
I felt  kind of sad driving home.  Roy's songs can take me back to my teens  quickly and nobody sings a sad song like Orbison.  It made me realize just how old I am and how long ago that was.  Must be the holidays making me weepy.
And on that note...here he is...

December First -How'd that happen?

 

Can you guess what this is?  It was taken with my cellphone at night.  Obviously, that camera doesn't take night pictures.  I'll go out and take a day picture of the same thing right now....

 

Even in the daylight I guess it's hard to tell, but out there on my little tree is a strand of night lights. They're quite pretty in the black of night as all you see from the window is a weird circle of lights suspended in the middle of nothing. Last year Hunter and I put up lights on all three of my little backyard trees but I wasn't in the mood this year.

Had the same feeling when it came to house decorating.  I do love my Xmas decos and it's hard to not put them all out but I forced myself to limit them this year.  Some are so dear that I HAVE to have them displayed for the month of December, no matter what.  Like the homemade ones my cousin Sue Johnson made me over the years.

I've accumulated a lot of the McDonalds dalmations but decided to put out just a portion this time around. Here's the bin of what I'll save for next year.

Not sure why my camera phone isn't taking brighter pictures. I'll have to see if Catie can help me with that while she's here.  She's very good on the computer too, and did manage  to get my Gmail back to the original setting instead of the 'new format' Google presented. I clicked on using it but then couldn't figure out how to go back to the other.

Catie may also (if she has time and I have to be patient) may be able to help me with a project regarding pdf. formats.  I wanted to scan in my four annuals from the 50's & 60's and post them on the high school website that has an alumni section. I'd also put them on my alumni blog.  The process requires that all my jpeg. pictures that I scan in be converted to one pdf. document.  I don't know how to do that but I do know you have to pay to get a certain pdf. program and it ain't cheap.

Catie can do it from work on her off hours but I'd have to scan in the pictures (a long process) and then send them to her in a zip file. (also something I'm not sure how to do).

Man, it's coming down hard this morning. Wish I didn't have to go out but I'm eager to get a Xmas card picture of the twins, Catie, the dog, and me.

Just talked to Jenni on the phone (she's at work for half a day) and we were discussing Xmas gift buying among other things.  Somehow we got around to the subject of her favorite story regarding me.  I was at her house and looking over her book collection, trying to decide if she had something I might want to read.  I came across one titled "How Not To Be Like Your Mother."

"WHAT'S THIS?" I yelled.  "Why would you have a book like this?!"
"Cause you gave it to me!"
"Oh...."
(I love my memory)

Man, I sure am stuffed up this morning. I wonder why. I've got to remember to keep a pan of water simmering on the stove now and then. I assume the dryness in the house is what's causing this stuffy head.  Here's a quick roundabout tour of some of the Xmas decos I did opt to set out yesterday.

And here's Neil Young from 1979.  I do love his music.