Traffic, visits, the heat

It's 10:30 a.m. and I've been up for three hours.  Temperature is pleasant but I know it's going to get uncomfortable as the day moves along.  I'm preparing myself.  I could hook up my large a/c unit on wheels but I can't use it when my shoulder is this messed up 'cause I need to lift it to a table so I can empty the water tray underneath.  Maneuvering it to a window and attaching the hoses and such would also require physical activity I'd best forget about for now.  I'll make do with the three fans I have.  I can always set them up in my bedroom, lay on the bed, and watch tv, read, or listen to an audio book.

For now I'm fine at the kitchen table with the sliding glass door open allowing a breeze to waft on through.  I cooked up two pieces of fish and 2 chicken legs so I don't have to have the oven on later when it's too warm.  Been thinking I might make a sandwich  with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a thin fish fillet. It kinda sounds not that yummy but I don't have any bacon so it will have to do. I have ice cream and root beer on hand, too, for the float I'm gonna want later.

Just noticed a hummingbird fly in for the flowers I have on my back deck.  I LOVE these red crocosmias, also known as falling stars and copper tips. (I had to look it up)

I finally got in to see the orthopedic surgeon in Issaquah yesterday.  Had to have yet more x-rays and need to go back for a pre-op appt.  on Aug. 18 with surgery scheduled for Aug. 20. They'll do a shoulder replacement and he thinks I'll need to stay overnight, maybe two nights even.  I'll recuperate at Mary's and go back for another check on Aug. 29.  I "might" get to drive home that weekend but it all depends on how I'm doing.  I'm not keen on being on the freeway for Labor Day weekend but I'll play it by ear and take one step at a time.  I know I'll need to go back for another check (maybe two checks) but again....I'll deal with the travel issue one day at a time.

It wasn't that bad driving to Bainbridge Island really.  I left at 5 a.m. to give myself lots of time in case there was road work, an accident, or the bridge was open.  I wanted to catch the 8 a.m. boat and of course, I got there in time for the 7 a.m. boat.  Ha!  I walked on it anyhow and called Mary to tell her I was arriving sooner than I thought.  She picked me up down on the waterfront (Jake was with her so that was nice) and we drove to Bellevue to check him into daycare.

Then it was off to Issaquah and breakfast at the 12th Street Cafe.  Yummy food!  Met a lady from Manhattan and we shared NY memories.  She was from Manhattan itself but lives in Maple Valley now.  The girl at the appt. desk at the doctor's office said her folks had a summer home at Beckett Point so I asked her who they were.  Come to find out, she's a relative of my dad's old pal (and mine) --Harry Gauthier.

Mary took me back to the ferry and I only had to wait maybe 20 minutes or so.  Picked up a Subway sandwich for myself and Ruthie, who I intended to stop and see in Poulsbo.  I also took her some brownies I had made.  She's more than ready to be released and wants to come home in the worst way. I know she needs a full time caregiver onsite first and I hope it happens as she is not a happy camper. I did notice her left arm was moving better and she says she's walking better too.

As I left there, I spied a $5 bill in the parking lot.  That never happens to me.  I decided to stop at 7 Cedars by the time I got to Blyn because I needed to use the restroom. Plus I had that $5 eating a hole in my pocket.  I also needed to take a break to wash off my sticky steering wheel.  I was hungry while driving and took a plum out of the ice chest.  Bad idea.  Drippy mess.

I was listening to a book on tape by Lee Child so the trip home was fairly quick and easy.  Seems like you always get home quicker than you get to your destination when driving there.  Traffic was heavy but then it is summertime, afterall.  On my trip over to Seattle on the ferry, I noticed most commuters were quiet and lost in their reading material or Ipads, etc.  Not the guy I was unfortunately sitting near, however.  He never shut up once.  And he wanted to make sure everybody around him knew he was educated.  Most boring conversation I've had to listen to in a long time.  He couldn't even swear like a normal person.  He referred to something (political) as horse manure. ha ha  Another guy near me who obviously wanted to nap got up and moved.  I should have too.

I did okay at the casino.  Put $20 in the slots and took away $33.  Would have preferred $83 but I was contented enough with a $13 bonus.  Stopped at Safeway to buy a few things because I knew it was going to be hot the next few days and I didn't relish leaving the house if I didn't have to.

Here's a picture Mary posted on FB today of her and Jake.  I just can't get enough of looking at him.

I posted a very yellow and brown picture of my back yard on FB this morning. Now I think I'll post another photo of how well the yard can look.  What a difference!

Here's a song by one of my favorite singers --