Party in Renton today

 Hundreds of walk-ons on the ferry going to the Sounders game this morning.  At one point as we were waiting to board and there was only one short bench near the wait area we were in, I decided I needed to sit down. There was just enough room for my butt between these two young good looking studs.  I settled in and told the one on my left:

"Sorry....this is the day you have to sit by an old fat lady."

He looks at me and grins, and says: "Well, at least you don't stink!."  ....  tee hee

Catie picked us up and we crawled through a ton of traffic to get to Renton. Sure don't miss living on that side of the water.

The menu was wonderful.  Grilled vegetables, tossed salad, cole slaw, baked beans (my favorite), pulled pork mini sandwiches with a special sauce, chips with salsa and guacamole dip, grilled figs and cheese wrapped in bacon, grilled shrimp on skewer sticks, garlic bread, a special fruit torte dessert, fancy cupcakes, and apple pie. Maddie made up the fruit torte.

The kids' cousin, Keith Sawka, showed up for a while too. It was so nice to see him again.

Here's a shot of six of the guys and then the group shot I made everybody pose for. Would have been a lot better picture had I just taken it and stayed out of it altogether.

I didn't get home until 9:15. Sooooo tired.  But Sammy was in the backyard and happy to see me. I'm off to bed now. Tomorrow I'll hang out around the house, and then call to see if I have jury duty. I hope not. I'm not in the mood right now.

LOOK AT THIS!

My cousins and uncles have been known to catch a fish or two in their time. Here's Lee Arey with his latest......

Thursday morning

Just finished setting up sprinklers in the front and back yard. Noticed that the areas I was watering (near my new grass) was much greener than the rest of the area and figured I'd best try to water more frequently.

I did manage to get the front and back lawns mowed yesterday. I was near collapse afterwards but once I showered and rested for a while, I was darn pleased with myself.  I'm noticing more and more these days that I have to pay special attention to where and how I walk.  More than once I've tripped on the hose outside and had intense pains shooting through my knees as I tried to catch myself.

I know falling is something older people worry about and I suspect as clumsy as I am when I'm tired that a fall is probably going to be an event in my dreary life sooner or later. How's that for a pessimistic outlook? Ha!  Oh well, I call 'em how I see 'em.

I got a few quilt squares cut out yesterday, a load of laundry washed, and my next blog post for the Leader edited. I'll probably submit it next week sometime.  Think I'll start a couple of apple pies today.  At least the crust fixings so it will be ready to roll out tomorrow.  I'm picking up my sister-in-law, my niece, and sister for a drive to Bainbridge Island where we'll park to walk on the ferry.  Then my granddaughter, Catie, will pick us up for the final leg over to Mary and Andy's house in Renton. 

We'll be celebrating my son, Joe's 40th birthday and from the sound of the menu it's going to be a good feed.  Jenni, Wayne, and the twins may go as well. They were planning on going camping but I'm not sure that's still in the works.  Also attending will be my ex, his wife, her daughter and twins and Joe's girl friend. (who I haven't met yet)  Good picture opportunity, that's for sure.

The neighbors have out-of-town relatives visiting and Sammy is beside himself barking out the window whenever he sees people.  No matter how much I get after him to stop, he just can't break the habit. I finally moved the convenient window bench I had set up for him (don't know why I didn't do it sooner) but since he can stand on two legs quite easily, he still keeps an eye on things.

Gotta go move the sprinklers now. I may write more later.

What goes around.....

This video from Bill Brown was in my email box this morning (after I sent out a slide show I liked on birds making nests). I thought it was worth sharing. It never fails to amaze me how corruption continues to flourish everywhere--and we allow it!  But then, what exactly are we supposed to do?  Sharing it in emails or on blogs may or may not make a difference but stilll..... something needs to happen.



Bill Koepke sent me this in another email and it was also food for thought...

General Electric is planning to move its 115-year-old X-ray division from Waukesha , Wis. , to Beijing . In addition to moving the headquarters, the company will invest $2 billion in China and train more than 65 engineers and create six research centers. This is the same GE that made $5.1 billion in the United States last year, but paid no taxes-the same company that employs more people overseas than it does in the United States .
So let me get this straight. President Obama appointed GE Chairman Jeff Immelt to head his commission on job creation (job czar). Immelt is supposed to help create jobs.
I guess the President forgot to tell him in which country he was supposed to be creating those jobs. If this doesn't show you the total lack of leadership of this President, I don't know what does.


A few days ago I thought taking iboprofen might have been contributing to my tinnitis. Well, I guess not.  The buzzing continues and I haven't taken any pills! I suppose I should have known that was too easy of a fix.

Speaking of fixes, I did break down and make a chiropractor appointment yesterday.  I found myself fighting off depression because I had no motivation to work on any projects. Interesting how you can get into a chiropractor immediately and doctors often have a 3-week wait. But I won't go down that road today. Anyhow, he said I was really out of whack.  I told him everyone already knows that.  Ha!   His records showed I hadn't been in for a year. Funny how time slips away.  I'm going back on Friday for a second adjustment.  Sciatica is still here but then I didn't expect it to go away in minutes.

I've been thinking perhaps I needed a new chair.  My recliner is not overly soft but I had heard that they sometimes aren't good for backs.  I was playing with the idea of getting me a straight back rocker and then using a footstool.  (Yes I know this is totally boring but this is my life, after all)

Last night I realized that my recliner IS A ROCKER!  Just another reminder that I'm losing my memory.  I put a pillow behind my low back and made myself a footrest out of a step stool and a pillow.  I may look around Serenity House and see if I can't locate a nice footrest.  Gotta try little changes here and there to see if I can't help my body adjust to growing older.

I was dozing in my recliner yesterday afternoon and I must have dropped off and started snoring.  I heard a giggle and opened my eyes to see Maddie standing over me grinning from ear to ear.  She apparently thought it was so funny she went to get Hunter and he was standing nearby watching me too.  She started laughing and I said:  "What's so funny? Was I snoring?"
She said "Yeah!"

It took me back in time almost 60 years. I remember my grandpa sleeping in his rocker in the kitchen and trying to catch a few winks.  Being the brats that we were, we'd take a feather and tickle him under his nose or get up close and stare at his nose hair blowing as he exhaled. He'd wake up and cuss us out.  We'd laugh and run outside thinking his snoring was funny.  Ironic how kids find the same things entertaining decades apart.

I picked up a  small $10 TV set at Serenity House yesterday so I'd have one in the guest room. (Didn't realize I had a cable outlet in there) Anyhow, Hunter hooks it up for me and the color is bright and clear.  Only problem was, the channels only went through 36.  Can't return the set, of course, but does anyone know how to get channels 37-66?  If not, I'll just have half a selection in that room.

Nothing much on my agenda today. Kids are at their other gramma's house so it's just me and Sammy. I'm playing with the idea of trying to start the mower and see if I can't get the backyard cut.  Depends on how hard the mower is to start.  Hunter said he was sure he could mow it tomorrow, even with his broken arm, if I could get it started.  We'll see. Maybe I'll just cut the front. It's a lot smaller area.  In fact the more I think about it, the more I think I'd best get on that project now before it gets too hot.

And here's something to get your day moving...

If I was in charge of things....

I turned on the tv as soon as I got up  to have it running in the background while I worked on morning chores.  Didn't take long for me to pick up the remote and start surfing. Like that was gonna do any good.  If I had my way, (and I don't know why somebody hasn't thought of this), I'd broadcast a channel JUST FOR US OLDER FOLKS.

It makes perfect sense.  This channel would not advertise drugs that need a few hundred words afterwards discussing everything that could happen to you if you took them. They'd also tell you  upfront exactly what these miracle drugs would cost.  For those of us who don't have drug coverage on our medical, we don't need our time wasted on pills we can't afford.

Our news topics wouldn't cover fancy wancy weddings of reality stars who we have NO INTEREST IN AT ALL!  These "news shows" also wouldn't inform us about raising babies and toddlers or dealing with teens. We might report on the latest woman missing but we wouldn't repeat the same story over and over for weeks, giving the slime ball air time who is suspected.

We wouldn't have to hear about the latest findings on products we've used all our lives and how they "think" they might be bad for our health today.  There would be no shows covering misfits who can't clean up their house, be kind to their pets, get along with their neighbors, or who are trying to get off drugs or alcohol.

My station wouldn't go into prisons to give tattooed bullies air time and discuss how nothing is their fault.  Television or movie celebrities behaving like spoiled children would be given zero air time.  And we definitely wouldn't waste our time on those younger folks blessed with good looks but deprived of good manners or common sense.

We wouldn't waste viewers time by telling them the secret to losing weight is to eat less and exercise more.  And we definitely wouldn't immediately show people walking around on the sidewalk with their bellies or butts waddling around in tight clothes. We would probably let blowhard phoney baloney politicians strut around and talk too much...but only so we could use the mute button or turn them off altogether after cussing them out a little bit.

We might have a show now and then that had violence or even bad language but we wouldn't get carried away with gore and these shows would be done in good taste.  I know that sounds nuts but I do love mafia movies, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, and Dexter, among others.

What would my station show to bring in older viewers?  Our soap operas would center around seniors and their problems in life.  They wouldn't be having sex with the neighbors or strangers, of course, but they'd discuss sex among themselves now and then. They'd worry about health issues and finding a doctor who cared, and the price of food and insurance.

Movies would be GOOD MOVIES.  A lot of classics and movies that don't show up every other month and repeat over and over again. Heaven knows there are thousands of movies out there to choose from.

We'd have fun game shows and interesting talk shows without the host trying to be just as cute as he or she can be.

Our how-to programs would help us make minor repairs and talk in simple language when our computer was acting up and what we needed to do about it. 

We'd have animal shows where vets would give us tips on the care of our dogs, cats, birds, fish, or whatever else we want to know about.

We'd have health related shows and talk about "real subjects" that interest us and that we care about.

We'd report on the stars of yesterday that are still around and aren't trying to act like they're 39 years old.

Our travel shows will follow seniors on cruise ships and talk about reasonable motels and which cities are senior friendly.

Our cooking shows will give tips on easy and fast dishes to make where we don't have to invest hundreds in fancy food we'd never buy anyhow.

Our music shows would feature old time rock and roll, ballroom dancing, newer groups that aren't too loud and outrageous, and singers of yesterday that can still belt out a song.

Our religious shows will feature all religions and visit churches across the country and discuss what the various town churches do for the locals. 

Our shopping shows would feature products seniors could use and afford and would encourage people to team up together to save money on shipping charges. 

We'd also have a show where singles could connect--if even just through phone, letters, or emails.

Our talk shows would discuss favorite books, movies, stars, food, health, places to visit, concerns over housing, and dealing with death and/or nursing homes.

Stuff like this.......



Yeah, I really need to be in charge.

I love Google

I use Google on a daily basis. I think anyone who uses a computer has discovered the magic of Google.  I've found it especially helpful dealing with health issues.  For the last few days I've been limping and moaning with the sciatica pain that shows up every now and again. I'm getting down on the floor today (not an easy feat) and will work on some stretching exercises that I think have helped in the past.

I've been sitting here at my computer for the last hour working on a NY Times crossword puzzle I'm determined to solve.   I could look up the answers, I suppose, but using Google I'm forced to study a little harder.  I just noticed my tinnitis kicked in and my ears are a buzzing to beat the band.  I haven't been bothered as much lately and my first thought was.....OK...what's different?  What have I done in the past hour that might have caused this ear ringing to commence?   It was like a lightbulb coming on.

 I went to Google and typed in:  "Can tinnitis be aggravated by taking iboprofen?" There was quite a bit of feedback to that question.   I learned that a small percentage of people can have tinnitis start by taking even a low dose. I wonder...... Needless to say, I'm staying off that pill for a while to see what happens.  What's discouraging, however, is that iboprofen seemed to work better for my pain than tylenol.  We'll see.....

Since the sciatica and the metatarsalgia ailment were causing me a lot of grief, I pretty much took it easy all day Saturday.  Even sat on the back porch and soaked up sun.  I must admit it did feel good to let that heat beat down on my body.

I started sorting and filing photographs on my computer.  Probably spent over an hour  on that and will begin again today.  I pulled out my material bins thinking I wanted to start another sewing project but the house got hotter as the day progressed and my energy level dipped.  For whatever reason (probably because of my OCD) I then got it in my my head that I just HAD to rearrange the living room.  I was ready to collapse after that but I got corners vacuumed and the room picked up and tidy.

I pulled a large box of music cassettes out of the back closet this morning and am playing them in my tape deck as I sit here now.  Makes me get up and move more frequently than I would otherwise. Not to mention I'm getting to listen to a lot of music I never hear anymore.  Good stuff too.  I'm still thinking about looking around for one of those machines that turns your cassette music into CDs.

One thing my grandkids and I enjoy together is music.  I'm always amazed at how both of them love and know the words to music that was popular in their folks or even grandparent's time. I'm discovering all kinds of artists I never gave much attention to during my "very long country only" period of life.  This one, for example, came on the radio while we were in the car. Hunter knew who it was but I didn't.  I liked it enough to order it on Itunes.  David Bowie's 'Jean Genie' from 1967.



Speaking of Hunter in the car....last week as Hunter sat in the back seat, he was arguing with his sister about something or another and his voice transported me back to the 1950's when I used to watch Ricky Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.  Ricky's voice as a youngster was unique and very cute.  Hunter sounded EXACTLY like him and it made me chuckle.  I said:  "Ohhhhh...it's like I've got Ricky Nelson in my car!"

I've noticed an ever so slight change in Hunter's voice but I guess that's to be expected as he goes into puberty.  He'll be disgusted with me for even talking about this but I told him my grandkids are always gonna be part of my blog.

Had an interesting Friday night around here. I was just dropping off to sleep and heard voices that I felt were awfully close to my window. I peeked out the window and saw half a dozen teens enter the gate of the deserted house next door and head for the backporch.  I got up and went outside and saw them close the curtains on the second floor and turn out the lights.

I'd seen the teenage daughter of the woman who used to live there at the house earlier in the day and my first thought was she was probably having a party.  If the boys had kept their mouths shut until they got inside, I'd never had known they were there.  And if they had kept the lights on, I would have assumed the daughter had permission to entertain there.  Once the lights went out, however, I figured monkey business was in process so I called the cops.

Apparently, none had permission to enter as several cop cars arrived and kids were being interviewed in separate corners of the backyard for the next hour.  I know this because I had to peek out the window the whole time afraid I was going to miss something.  ha ha

Just looked over the tv lineup for Sunday and as usual, next to nothing to get excited about. I did put in a tape to record Breaking Bad at 10 pm tonight but the last two or three episodes of this new season haven't amounted to much. They'd better get their act together soon or I'm going to add them to my list of "not bothering anymore."  That'll show 'em!

Happy Birthday yesterday to my cousin, Marlee Morin, in Gig Harbor....

Gift Basket Surprises

I don't usually win raffles even though I enter every one I ever come across. I hit it this time, though, when I bought $5 worth of tickets at the alumni booth at the fair instead of my usual $1. I think the gift basket our alumni association gives out is probably the best prize at the fair.  You wouldn't believe what was in there....

haircut at Jacqueline’s Hairstyling

2 passes Uptown Theatre

$25 flower arrangement or plant at Safeway
$20 worth of food at PennySaver Deli
$20 meal at Roadhouse
banana split at Don’s Pharmacy fountain
$25 gift certificate for Hilltop Tavern
a dozen bagels from Metro Bagels
wicker laundry basket
elect. cork screw
food timer
bath set of soaps,
Red door perfume
embroidered dishtowel
a set of little glasses
photo CD of alumni
Wood vase from Joe Guiher
a second wood vase from unknown
alumni t-shirt
Redskin blanket
jello molds
safari hat
round of golf from golf club
meal at golf house
2 Tom Camfield books
Norman Rockwell book
note cards

There's probably a law against it (there are laws against everything these days) but privately, I intend to encourage people to ask me to buy them a ticket for next years' drawing. I'm totally honest and I think people who know me know that.  Would be a good way to generate more money for the scholarship fund.  Not everyone can get to the fair.
 
I've shared the basket with several people already and will share with several more.  One of the cute things I kept was this salt and pepper shaker. They have magnets on the lips.

I posed with the basket in the casino parking lot as Ruth delivered it to me this afternoon.  None of us knew what was in there for sure so I unpacked it in my trunk to take a look.  I later took another photo when I got home.

We had a nice lunch at the buffet and listened to stories about Mary's trip to Africa.  She told us, among other things, that the way you can tell the sex of a giraffe is that while they all have horns, the females have hair on their horns.  Joanne Gilles says:  "Oh, I thought you could tell my what they had on."   She's so silly.  hee hee
 
Liz O'Brien Hausler (Betty Hayes) was there with her wedding album too and told us about her wedding in Alaska. I borrowed the picture of her cake top as I thought it was terrific.

Here we are posing for our group picture.

Mary and I left before 1 and I decided on the way home to stop and get a quick haircut. Here's my cartoon face and my real face.

 

A friend of Jenni's brought the twins home from the fair a little early so I'm glad I didn't dawdle. Poor Hunter threw up while there and ended up laying on my bed until his mom arrived at 6:30. I just hate it when he's sick and not talking.  I assume it's a flu bug of some kind.

Well, dinner and dishes are done and I even put fresh hummingbird nectar outside. Tomorrow I intend to kick back and take it easy.  Will wait and see what I feel like doing.  Maybe some sewing, but if not, perhaps a jigsaw puzzle, videos, or reading.  A Netflix movie arrived this afternoon and while I've seen it a couple times before, I'll watch it again as I always liked it....Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

Maybe I'll start work on my second blog posting for 'Town Kid.' I hope to submit one a week.