Excitement in the Hall!!

The fire truck came rolling in - red lights a flashing! Wasn't followed by an aid car....The driver got into his fire gear....but no alarms are going off....I hear them in "my" hall... open the door and there is a big old blower going - aimed down the hall - and the fireman said something about apartment 102 - where there is a severely disabled man living - and the smoke smell is definitely in the air!!....Wonder what's next?! wonder if I will ever know??!!

In the meantime, the snow is coming down in buckets!! It was just "spitting" this morning when I took Fritz out...but now it is full fledged snow! Guess I am confined to indoors today....I will let Fritz out to do his business, but I will stay inside holding his leash. This weather is beautiful but I do NOT like it one little bit.

Well, the firemen are packing up their truck....crisis averted, I guess.

I went to the quincinera on the 13Th....it was quite interesting! It was supposed to start at 4pm but didn't get going until after 4:30....I honestly don't think it would have come out as well as it did if not for the Mortland girls!!! We were kept busy from the time we got there until it actually happened. Karina ( the honoree) looked absolutely beautiful in her lovely white gown which Dian purchased and Marcia altered so it wouldn't be so "wedding dressish" She had 5 attendants but there were only 4 there...when it was all over, the 5Th one had appeared and joined the party. Jocelyn decided the room didn't look"festive" enough...so proceeded to place balloons all over the place - which helped a LOT....A family friend did Karina's hair and Brooke did her makeup....The food was decidedly Mexican....right up to the cake - which was a "milk cake" .... so good. Evidently they bake the basic cake and it comes out quite thin...then they pour sweetened evaporated milk, whole milk and half & half on it - which causes it to rise...Usually they pour rum all over that - but in this case it was rum flavoring. The centerpieces were smaller cakes and then there was a big one...We were told we could take the centerpieces home so I took one..I did not realize what kind of cake it was then....once I took a bite I knew and started to worry a bit since I had taken my cake down to the Seahawk game viewing here in the social room...Those who tried it said it was good.....and it was - if you like that sort of thing!!

A week ago, were had a residents' meeting. There was the head honcho from SHAG (Senior Housing Assistance Group) who passed out some surveys we were to complete and turn in...then there was a person versed in security who showed us all sorts of alarms we could carry while walking in the park at night....so....I bought a " shrieker" and it sure does shriek!! I can attach it to my grocery shopping cart, put it in my purse and if anyone gets the idea they want to grab my bag, a big noise will come for their efforts. :-)

Last Friday night we had our Thanksgiving dinner here in the building...it was potluck and there was turkey prepared by our building manager....it was quite crowded - and fun as well.

I have two new neighbors....next door is a woman named Lindsey who has sustained some sort of injury I guess She does walk around - sometimes limping and sometimes not....peeking into the window,k there seems to be a lot of unpacked stuff....also peeking into her car there is also a lot of stuff....I think I have been watching too many "Hoarders" shows! Across the hall is a nice lady named Carol....don't have too much info on her yet - she just moved in yesterday.

Well...Thursday is Thanksgiving, already....we will be at Dian's home and I am looking forward to it....We'll miss Susie - but can skype her so she will almost be there....I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.....and count your blessing! I know I will.....

Crazy November weather!

It is beautiful out this morning... Prediction is for rain...guess one must dress in layers these days..When I turn the heat on here in my apartment, I just barely turn it up...in no time it is too warm and I have to open the door to let in some coolness....

The river has gotten high with all the rain happening lately. I think most of the fish are gone now - it is hard to see them with the water all dusky from the speed of the current. There were three more dead ones on the sidewalk yesterday...guess the seagulls pull them up out of the water. It is gross!! I guess further down the river are where the larger fish are and where it smells bad.

The beautiful trees have lost most of their leaves. The Renton Park Department does a wonderful job of blowing them up and disposing of them . Wet leaves tend to get slippery. My biggest complaint s that whenever Fritz leaves a "deposit" I have a hard time seeing it...leaves are sorta the same color,.,..lol! It is especially bad at night now that daylight savings time is over..and I pack a flashlight when I go out now and even that doesn't always help..... Oh the problems of the aged!!!!!

Saturday Jocelyn and I took a trip to the casino.....I didn't win anything, but did partake of the wonderful buffet which consisted of lots of crab AND a lobster tail...Boy that was good!!

This weekend is our family friend's Quincenera....Hope I spelled it correctly. She is turning 15 this month and it is Mexican tradition that this party is thrown for her to celebrate her ascension into womanhood...Marcia is doing most of the organizing for this and the rest of us are contributing one thing or another to the event. It will be hugely interesting.l I have never been to one of these...let alone heard of it. Should be fun. Karina is a wonderful young girl whom we have known since she was born. I consider her another granddaughter!! I'll let you all know all about it next post.

This past weekend was the building's annual fall bazaar. I had decided last year that I would make up a bunch of tote bags and try to sell them....well....so much for that idea...I am still on the first one....Merry Christmas everyone. !!

Gotta go....haven't had breakfast yet and it is 11AM!!