Stuff from Ann

February, already!!

2012-02-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

Good Grief! Where did January go??? It was a busy month, that's for sure...and one with a few problems!!

The biggest problem right now iS my car...It has starter problems, light problems, windshield wiper problems and the radio doesn't work! I think the best thing to do is too "part it out" and finally stop driving....Lordy, Lordy...that is certainly a tough decision!!I have applied to Access to get permission to ride their vans...but you have to be fairly severely disabled to get approval....One would think that being 81 years old would qualify me - wouldn't you? Once I get that approval I can resume my volunteering which I really want to do. I have found a "Hyde Shuttle" that will take me places around here....and, of course, my kids are ready (sometimes) willing, (always) and able (usually) to haul me around to doctor appointments and such..

I saw my doctor a week or so ago and she sent me to get an ultra-sound on my aorta of all things. She thought I had an aneurysm on it....but, fortunately, that turned out not to be so. I also have been having trouble swallowing so she sent me for a "barium swallow"...ugh!! Not pleasant!! so now I need to see a gastroenterologist too see what is going on with that! Brother!!! She also said I needed to go back to the "Back" doctor- so I did that yesterday....and it is back to PT for me...this time for tight muscle type stuff.. believe me, this is seriously interfering with my social life!!!! (such as it is :-) )

Jocelyn took off for Germany on Sunday for another 6 months.. She is pretty excited about that excerpt for the fact that she will be leaving her two precious grand-babies. She will return in early April for 10 days and be back home permanently in mid-July. She landed safely and is happy to see her friends again...and is back to work! What an opportunity this is for her!!

Well I had best get to gettin' I will try to post more often..Take care,everyone!

Snow!!!!

2012-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

I do NOT enjoy the snow!!! I agree that it is beautiful.....I don't like not being able to get around safely....The "pundits" gave us a lot of hype that we would probably be buried in the stuff...then there were blue skies yesterday so I actually started up the car and went to get my meds at the pharmacy....Glad I did...it is probably 4 to 5 inches this morning!! I peeked out the window and noticed that the walkways were clear around the building, so I hitched up Fritz and gave it a try....He is not much of a fan of the snow any more than I am...so it was a quick trip...Needless to say we arrived home safe and sound....we'll give it another try around noon or so..

I had a magnificent birthday on the 7Th!!Seemed like there were more phone calls than in the past...Dian came and cleaned my apartment and we went to dinner (all of us here in Seattle area) and then off to the casino....where I actually came home with more than I brought!! I just love getting together with my family!!!

I have a friend here in the building, who has the same birthday....she's a year younger than I am...she had me up to her apartment for some celebratory wine and wonderful conversation on Tuesday...then played CLR (a simple dice game) on Thursday and won 3 pots which gave me enough quarters to wash a ton of laundry..Friday I went to lunch with the building ladies and played scrabble that night (didn't win that, but did come in 2nd)....Saturday Jocelyn treated me to a trip to the nail salon where I got my nails done, Brooke got a pedicure, and Joce got a mani-pedi..Then we went to Wal Mart and I stocked up on groceries....so I don't need anything during this snow business...and then to dinner....A nice day, that's for sure.

I have taken a leave from my volunteering job...my car's lights are hay-wire..and I come home when it is dark - don't want sketchy lights when it is dark!! I am seriously thinking about getting rid of the vehicle and rely on Access for my transportation..if I get accepted by Access that is....It takes a long time....I sent in the first questionnaire over a week ago and haven't received the second, more detailed one yet. The next step after that is a trip to Harborview for a physical to determine if I am actually disabled....I really don't think I am...unless you count being old being disabled. So...we shall see!!

Enjoy the snow.....I will as long as I don't have to go out in it!!!!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Who'da thunk it? That I would see 2012???? Well - here I am..fairly fit and healthy ready to take on a new year!!! My back issues are still here...but I seem to be able to tolerate them better...Getting out of bed is still a huge problem - but fortunately getting INTO bed isn't...LOL.....I am glad the holidays are over...however...this holiday season was wonderful - and fairly stressless....

New Year's Eve was dinner at Jocelyn's house...she was baby-sitting her grandkids (another "who'da thunk it!) so Marcia came down and took me over there. We had baby back ribs which were wonderful/ Marcia was busy making cupcakes for a friend's birthday....she is getting quite accomplished at the cake decorating and baking thing. I wish she could open her own bakery!! Or be able to work in one to learn the ropes. My favorite this time were the chocolate-Irish Creme ones!!

Jocelyn brought me home and I went down to the building New Year party...they were playing CLR (a dice game) and I won three pots....I now have enough quarters to do ALL my laundry...now I need to get the gumption to go down the hall and DO IT!

Yesterday (New Year's day) I went over to Dian's to go down to Idlywild park and watch Nigel and Chris participate in the Polar Bear thing to go into the water, They are crazy! There was a large crowd of them....some in string bikinis! it was a cvold and windy day, for gosh sakes! This was a fund raiser for Special Olympics. Nigel raised over $300...one guy pledged 50cents for every second he stayed in the water....he lasted 46 seconds - the last to come out.....Chris was the first to come out..pehaps he lasted 2 seconds! It was fun to watch - and a good cause!!

I got home in time to go down and watch the Seahawks lose in their last game...Had a nice visit from my friend across the hall who came over to look at the incredible calendar Jocelyn made for us for Christmas....It is nice to have friends again!! This morning while walking Fritz, I heard another friend yelling at me from the 4th floor inviting me up to visit...of course we went. I share a birthday with her - which is fun.

So...next big deal is my birthday Saturday....Don't know what we'll be doing. When they asked me what I wanted to do - I replied "I want to eat a good steak!".,..so guess that will be happening! (Wouldn't mind a lobster tail thrown in...tee hee!)

Got to take down the decorations from my door - so better get at it!

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-19T13:07:00.001-08:00

Six more days.....hard to believe! I got my shopping done a week ago yesterday, when Marcia and Dian came to take me down to Macy's at South Center....and....thanks to a bunch of sales...was able to finish off my whole list! Feels quite good...and unusual for me....furthermore, everything is wrapped - how about that!!

We usually have Christmas at Jocelyn's house but this year we are going to Dian's...Jocelyn will be returning to Germany in a month so isn't doing the tree thing and just didn't need the further stress.

On last Thursday evening the cub scouts came to carol for us. Is there anything cuter than a little boy singing carols?? except a whole troop of them ?? They were so much fun. Then...since we have a resident here who has a full white beard, white hair AND a Santa suit, came down...You should have seen the looks on the little ones' faces...it was priceless...FUN!

Last night, was the night Michael came to visit/ Michael's mother used to be a resident here and enjoyed it so much, he started "paying back" by providing us with a big screen TV and DVD player...and to annually come to us with a huge offering of stuff from Costco along with a cold cut/veggie/cookie buffet....and big white sacks to put the stuff in to pack it home. This was my third time to experience this and it was wonderful. I think he goes to the other SHAG building here in Renton. He brings his family along to help out and they would carry people's stuff home if they couldn't carry it themselves...They also filled up a cart with sacks of stuff and went to apartments of people who couldn't come down...It was wonderful!!

I have become fascinated with knitting fingerless mitts...found a lot of patterns online...and came across one particular one that stumped me...it had a "lateral braid" - but I finally figured it out with the help of a few women who knit here in the building...It really doesn't look that great but will when I get more practiced at it.

Well...time to take Fritz out.....Talk to you later....

2011-12-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

For some strange reason my posts keep publishing themselves when I sometimes hit the wrong keys...

I am mighty sick and tired of diabetes supply companies calling me! One day last week the call came at 6:30 AM!!!! I have gotten so I just turn the phone on and then off again without saying anything. Between Nov. 23 and today (Dec. 4) I have had 11 calls. I went ahead and re-registered at "do not call" site...hopefully that will help!! It is so annoying!!!

Back pain has gotten either much better or I have finally gotten used to it....Yesterday, Dian and Marcia came down to take me to South Center Macy's so I could do my Christmas shopping. Got it almost done!!

I should probably be able to pay off the Macy's bill in about 3 months...which I don't think is too bad considering the length of my list...This is what I get for having so many kids, huh?!! anyhow I have only two more to get which I should be able to do on Tuesday when I am out and about... Now to wrap this stuff....

I sort of got in the spirit when I hauled down the Christmas box....decor on the door, winter rug on the entryway, a Santa on the floor on one side and a snowman wooden cutout on the other...That's about it....Don't have much room for anything else...

Jocelyn had another friend from Germany last week....a real nice lady!! Jocelyn is returning to Germany probably in January. She really liked it over there. Met a lot of new friends...

Well...better get to gettin'...have started a new finger-less glove pattern ....Hope I can finish them....it is sort of difficult to figure out...but once I get it, it should not take much effort to finish them....I surely do have a lot of yarn to use.....

Don't freeze out there!

Busy, busy!

2011-12-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

Howdy!!

2011-11-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

Tell me, please, where is the time going? and why is it going so quickly??

Still raining leaves...that is quite a sight.. This morning I counted 36 trees shedding their leaves..and it isn't that large of a park!! There a lot more to come down before it is over!!Kudos to the Renton Park Department for keeping up with them.

Well...I got another back brace and this was equally uncomfortable and I still didn't see any difference...so....This week I am going to call the doc and have him show me what is wrong and if, indeed, it can be fixed...if not, I will live with it...I am almost used to it.

Had a lovely Thanksgiving meal Friday night down in the social room. There were a ton of people there...which is quite a thing because that doesn't happen very often. We have a lot of new residents and that is probably why it was so crowded. Our manager cooks the turkeys and we all bring whatever we want. I had a "trader Joe's" brownie mix so I brought that.

Also this morning (after counting the trees) there was a blue heron down at the river....they are so regal and beautiful...and then when he decides to take off it is incredibly beautiful with his huge wing span and the deep blue stripe at the bottom of the wings!! Love it!!!

Our Mortland Thanksgiving will be at Dian's again this year....we will have another one of Jocelyn's German friends with us this year. Looking forward to meeting her!! I am still torn about what to bring,,,,most likely a cranberry jello salad.....SO unoriginal!!

Guess that's it for now. Have a marvelous Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Hello Again

2011-11-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize how long it had been since I last wrote...Time sure does fly, doesn't it!!

Latest on the back pain saga....I am now in a back brace which I am not too crazy about. It does indeed keep ME sitting straight and walking erect....but it is really uncomfortable. I sit down and it climbs up my body, rubs against my arm pits and pushes my boob(s) up almost to my chin. Furthermore, I don't see a whole lot of difference with the pain....I will give it the old college try, though...I realize it takes time...

I do not care for the standard time...it gets too dark too early...Don't like venturing into the park in the dark - even tho' it is well lit. There are still a lot of lethargic fish in the river....I don't recall it being this long that they have been there...Of course it is raining leaves again...Monday morning the parks department crews were the blowing the leaves into a pile and then vacuuming them into a truck...looked so nice...Tuesday the leaves were back....Talk about a frustrating job!!!

Glad the election is over....I was getting plenty tired of all the commercials...one after another and each one different...pro and con on every issue...The liquor one was particularly nasty and often misleading...it did pass and if the people against it are right, we will all become alchololics - as will our children....sheesh!

Not much else going on here....and it is almost noon....and I haven't had breakfast! see you later...

Disappointment!!

2011-10-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

On the Tuesday before my "procedure" I called the hospital to ask a question and they told me that the procedure had been cancelled.....huh????....when were they planning to tell me this??? Called the doctor doing the procedure and he said he had tried twice to call me but I didn't return the calls...of course I didn't...I didn't have any calls from him showing on my phone!! Boy was I mad!!! Evidently he didn't see the fracture so I wasn't a candidate for that procedure...Went back to the doctor who saw the fracture in the first place and he insisted he saw it and wanted me to do another MRI...well....I had had one prior to this mess and Medicare won't pay for more than one a year....So now I am getting a back brace and stronger pain meds! Today is the day I get the brace..Sure hope it does the trick!

Aside from that, life has been decent! Jocelyn has a friend from Germany visiting her and that is really fun....a delightful young woman! Very fluent in English too...Another friend is coming for Thanksgiving - such fun!

The river is still full of fish...more than ever before I think...the river is almost red! Every once in a while we see men from the county trying to count them. Once I saw a boat with two guys in it counting fish..

The leaves are finally turning - and falling....the park has so many trees that shed...and they are so pretty when they are full...I almost hate to see them drop.....

Gotta go now....hope all are well!

Finally!!

2011-10-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

I'm finally going to get some help with this more than pesky back pain. Next Tuesday at 2PM I am getting a "Vertebral Augmentation".....Which is, essentially, an injection of bone cement into the fractured bone which will stabilize the bone and thus not ache!! Hooray!!! I evidently have Osteoporosis - exacerbated by the many falls I have taken this year. I didn't even know that!! I figured when I fell down and didn't break anything I didn't need to be concerned.. well..evidently I did break something...my back! Fortunately I will be put out during the procedure....therefore I don't dread it as much as I would otherwise. I'll also come home the same day...which will make me happy...

I have been going to physical therapy because my legs are getting weak...I have been pretty good about doing my exercises at home this time...I would think that walking Fritz three times a day would strengthen the legs...but evidently not...

Not much other news this time....Surely do enjoy visits with my great grand babies.....they are both so sweet!

Take care!

Fish

2011-10-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

The fish are back!!! It must be October! There are a lot more of them this year...but perhaps I just am able to see them better...who knows?!

Another wonderful thing about the river is that I have seen several blue Herons lately. When they take flight it is so regal...their wing span is enormous and a beautiful blue stripe at the end of their feathers.....

Needless to say, I love that river walk! And I love living in this building! I have made so many good friends here - unlike the last place . One lady moved into another apartment on the second floor...and to celebrate that, had a few of us in for cocktails last week....she has two dogs...Bert - an old doxie - and Lulu - a wonderful Beagle. So, of course Fritz was invited too...It was super nice...then...another good friend ( who was there ) invited us all up to her place for spaghetti dinner..This is where Bogart lives....an absolutely beautiful Peke....Debbie also has a husband who is in stage 4 cancer and her sister Mary also has an apartment in the building. Debbie and Ron, as well as Bogart, live in one of the larger apartments in the building...it is really nice! They actually have room to put in an extra freezer....Debbie is the youngest one in the building - 59 -but is able to be here because of Ron...She has a huge heart! She has a great - if not boisterous - personality...and will do anything for me and for Fritz....Needless to say we love her!

I took Fritz to the vet last week....I had found one flea on him several weeks back and immediately put on the flea stuff - and didn't see any more. Well...he started chewing and scratching and was beginning to look like a junk yard dog with all the hair he chewed off...not to mention the activity was driving me nuts! Vet put him on some anti-itch pills and some more flea stuff...and I could see improvement the next day! He's doing really well again, thank goodness....

Started Physical Therapy.....ugh! I don't like going there...evidently my legs are extremely weak and my leg and back muscles are hard as rocks.....I still hurt tho' and probably will until the PT is over....I assume the stress fracture will heal itself so I am not going to worry about that.

After the appointment yesterday, I decided to go to Sam's Club to pick up a prescription I had there. I took a cart - BIG mistake - and decided to wander around.....Mercy me! I came out of there with a lot more than the darned pills! I can use everything I bought - but really - do I need all that stuff?????

Had a nice time with son Steve on Tuesday...He came down and took me out to dinner...went to the Muckleshoot Casino buffet and then, of course had to play a bit...It was fun! Tomorrow morning I'll be having breakfast with a couple of the girls.....Really looking forward to that!...

Well...it is getting late and I haven't had breakfast yet.....Take care, everyone!

It's Almost Fall!

2011-09-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, isn't it!!We have had marvelous weather the last few weeks.....but it is now going back to the normal stuff...I did enjoy the summer - even if it was late - and short!

I went to the physiologist - and liked him a lot! He sent me for another test - a SPECT test...good grief - it was an all day affair, almost...Went in at noon to get an injection of some radio-active stuff...then had to wait two hours for it to get into all my bones....then back to the nuclear medicine place...They put me on the table - strapped my feet together, strapped my arms to my body and started the machine...they were done two hours later...Thought I would go crazy!! Fortunately I am not claustrophobic!! The next day the doctor called and I have a stress fracture in my spine...no wonder it hurt! Must have happened during one of the many falls I have had over the last year...so...back to PT for four weeks...if that doesn't work then he'll do an injection of some sort....I would think it would heal in that time, wouldn't you???? We shall see.....

Best news now i s that I now have a new great grand-daughter....born 9/9/11, 8 lbs, 3 oz., and 19" long..named Brynlee Ohana Mukai....and, of course she is a real sweetie!!!! Ohana is a Japanese name (her daddy is half Japanese)...it means something, but I don't know what...I love how the name flows tho'.... She is a week old yesterday and doing very well....so tiny! - compared to her big(!!) brother Grayson....Grayson seems to have accepted the new one pretty well...he does have his moments but that's to be expected...He is a precious little boy...so cute - and so smart....do you suppose I am prejudiced?

Better get going here....it is almost noon and I haven't had breakfast yet!! Talk to you later.

Time Flies.....

2011-08-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Boy...where did the month go? It has been a busy one....

I had a MRI a couple weeks ago to see what was going on with my back...Come to find out I have lumbar spinal stenosis...a product of old age, I guess. I go to a Physiologist - whatever that means - on the 9th. In the meantime I am on a non-narcotic pain med and Aleve....I surely don't want back surgery but I surely don't want to hurt either. Perhaps a cortisone shot or two will do the trick like it did with my knee.....The short time I spent in re-hab didn't do much but make it hurt more....Mercy me!!

Susie came to visit from New Hampshire...and that was fun!! We were able to have the whole family together for Dian's birthday. What a treat!! Love it when that happens! Her birthday was the 18Th and we went to dinner at the Cabbage Patch, In Snohomish. Then she left the 19Th at midnight for the long flight home. Fortunately they have avoided both the earthquake and the hurricane that are plaguing the East Coast.

We finally have some actual summer weather.....I LOVE it! My apartment stays fairly cool - compared to most of the others - I have a hedge in front of me and that seems to provide enough shade to keep it cool. Down at the river, however, the breezes blow and it is ideal!

Granddaughter Brooke's birthday is the 28Th (August was a busy month for the Mortlands ) She will be 30 years ole! I can't believe it! Her 2nd baby is due the 10Th of Sept...it is a girl...and we are super excited...

Well...I'd best get to gettin' Talk to you later!

August already!

2011-08-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Howdy....here we are....already into August - My oh My, how time flies as we get older!!

Enjoying the summer weather, finally. The rubber ducky race was much fun. I learned that one can purchase a ducky for 5$...and they set up a finish line at the bridge down the river. There were a lot of "officials" making sure the kids didn't go out and grab a ducky, or otherwise impeded their travels down the river. Quite a sight, believe me....hundreds of yellow rubber ducky's floating down the river...much fun to watch!

Had a tragedy happen Tuesday....one of the residents here - a stubborn, cantankerous old man, who drove his "scooter" way too fast - got hit and killed by a truck in the intersection at the end of the building. He had been a long time resident here and many were really upset about it. I always passed

his window on my morning walk with Fritz, and saw him often sitting in his chair in his underwear....That's about as far as I knew him...

Yesterday I had a wonderful visit with some old Sweet Adeline friends...One of them lives in Merrill Gardens a few blocks over, and the other is in Walla Walla......It was so good to see them...we yakked until it was almost dark!

Physical Therapy is "going"...I don't like it but I do it...I always hurt more afterwards...perhaps that is a good thing????? I see my doc on Monday.....What I want is some stronger pain pills but maybe I need a cortisone shot instead??? We'll see what she says on Monday.....

Fritz gets his hair cut this afternoon....I know if he knew what he was going through he wouldn't be looking forward to it....but I surely am...He is extremely hairy!

That's it for now.....see you later.

Hello, again

2011-07-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

It is finally looking like the weather is going to behave and become summer! I feel so sorry about the rest of the country that is baking in the heat!!

Back is continuing to bother me....but the bed and chair are wonderful! I am continually on Aleve which does help a lot. I also should avoid constant activity...which is funny because I try to do that all the time! LOL

Jocelyn came home Tuesday...Marcia, Brooke and I went to the airport to get her...It was so good to see her!!! We came to her house and Dian was there with lunch for us all...all in all a great day! She has until August 1st until she has to go back to work so that will give her time to adjust to being back from being half way around the world!

Last night we went to a Rainbow Bingo game...which we call "gay bingo"...it was a fund raiser for the Southeast Seattle Senior Center...My goodness - there were some strange people there! Several fellows in drag....and several more in weird costume and white face makeup...It went slowly - and the chairs were hard - and parking was not as easy as one would like...They provided a hamburger dinner with the $15 ticket - which was good. They also were serving beer and wine AND Jello shots....I had never tried a Jello shot..but I did like it! A lot!! None of us won anything and we left before it was over because it was so slow....and the chairs were hard! Still a fun night.

Tomorrow is the annual Rubber Ducky race down the Cedar River. This is the final event of the Renton River Days..I missed it last year but \hope to make it tomorrow...They release a ton of yellow rubber ducky's and let them float down the river. Should be fun to watch - the river is really running fast this year. I have no idea how they declare a winner....

Finally I will be going to physical therapy to figure out how to make this back feel better...Wednesday at 1 pm is the day. It's been a long time coming! This is the first time in my life that I have had to cope with chronic pain....and it is probably not as bad as most folks who have to deal with it, but I don't like it! Let;s hope they can figure out what to do with this old body!!

Well...I'd bet get to gettin'.....Breakfast awaits!!!

Sorry!!

2011-07-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been almost a month since my last post!!..So sorry about that!...

As I scan my calendar, there has actually been nothing much happening this last month... They're still talking about Fritz's party around here. I actually saw a U-tube video about a doggie wedding! It was cute...but a bit weird. The groom had a black tux and the bride wore white...they were chiwawas. (sp??)

The biggest event was the acquisition of a new bed, chair and DVR! I have been having bad lower back problems..and suspected that the bed and chair were both the problem....so..off to South Center with Dian and Marcia and Brooke....Found a twin bed with memory foam...like a Temper-Pedic ...and a bit smaller recliner (which makes it easier to get out of)....both at decent prices. A bit of a hassle with Macy's regarding when we could pick up and when they were available to have stuff picked up...but Marcia ( bless her heart) kept on 'em and we were able to pick up everything Friday night....when we had a truck and "muscle" to do the job...Marcia cleaned my carpet while Dian & Chris disposed of the old and picked up the new....What a difference in my apartment!! I feel like I have a new place with all the room I got....It is wonderful. I also had Comcast come out with a new DVR and to up-grade my channels to the next "tier" I am enjoying that for sure!!...Unfortunately, however, I still have the back problem, as well as sleeping problems...but my attitude is sure better!! Guess I will be off to Physical Therapy for the back..

Big News! Jocelyn is coming home from Germany on Tuesday, the 19Th....We are all so excited about that...She will have been gone about 10 days shy of 6 months...that is a long time!

That's about it for today...I will try to be better about writing oftener....Love you all!

Puppy Party

2011-06-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Guess what! Fritz turned 11 years old...(77 in people years) this month...so I decided that warranted a birthday party. Went online and found invitations and ordered them. Then decided it would be down at the park...made my usual tons of lists, decided whom to invite..and actually distributed the invitations..,.No backing out now! There were about 9-10 dogs along with their people....so...what to serve? how? what am I leaving out? To the rescue...my wonderful daughters, Marcia and Dian....Marcia offered to provide the cakes...one for the dogs and another for the people...Dian decided some snacks were in order so she made sandwiches shaped like dog bones, as well as some chips and dips.... It was awesome! I got dog themed stuff at the party store, PetSmart and the dollar tree that just opened up a few blocks away....The day arrived and wouldn't you know it....it rained. What to do?? The building manager offered the lobby and we were on our way.....It actually turned out better than the park because we were able to let the dogs off leash...they all knew each other, so there were no growling confrontations. Also we had more room to set up...the girls really got into the project...they did all the set up (and take down)...the cakes were outstanding! The dog cake was made of grated carrots, flour, lots of eggs and strained baby food chicken.. the frosting was yogurt... the candles were Pup-er-oni sticks.....the dogs all loved it...especially Fritz who ate his up and proceeded to help the rest of the pups eat theirs! All in all a resounding success. They're still talking about it!

Otherwise...it has been quiet around here. Sure do wish the cool weather would go away and the warm would return...this every other day stuff just won't do!!

I got up early this morning and hope to get a lot done...so I had best get off this computer and get to it!

Reflections!

2011-06-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

I know I said two weeks - but I feel like writing now! Today is the day we lost Mort - four years ago! Time has flown by hasn't it! We are all feeling the loss today...but life goes on and we must go with it - right?

Last week I happened to spot a beaver down at the river! He was a big one....of course Fritz got excited and barked at him...he slowly got himself down into the river again....I didn't know they got that big!

Plans are coming along for Fritz's birthday party...such fun! Marcia is making the dog cake as well as the people cake. We'll put Pup-er-oni sticks on top of the doggie cake to act as candles. fun, huh?!! Hope all the guests

show up no9w...June 18 is the day - needless to say I will report in detail once it is over.

Let's hope it does NOT rain!

Went to the Claim Jumper in SouthCenter area for dinner with the building ladies last Saturday. It was good food - but HUGE portions....Then on Sunday we all got together at Dian & Nigel's for dinner. IT was fun!! I love it when we all get together.... (I wonder how I got italics ... I must have pushed a button somewhere)

That's it for now.....take care, everyone!!

Memorial Day, today...

2011-05-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

So...,isn't the sun supposed to be shining today - the almost first day of summer?? Thinking of all the folks I have lost in my life...especially Mort, of course. June is definitely not my favorite month, that's for sure!!Oh well...it will pass and I will carry on!

Let's see....what has been going on in the last two Weeks or so? Dian got home from Germany last week....she surely did enjoy her time there and being with her sister....They poked around Germany a bit, went into Amsterdam and took a trip down to the Italian Riviera....sweet!!

Jocelyn will be staying an extra three weeks and won't be home until July 22.....She is doing so well over there....I know she will come home a changed person - and changed for the better!! I am really proud of her!!

Fritz will turn 11 years old some time in June....so I am seriously thinking of throwing him a birthday party down in the park....I started to list the invited dogs and came up with 11!! Now that seems like a major undertaking, doesn't it! Went on-line to see what's available in doggy birthday parties...and...oh my! there is a lot!!!I can get invitations, balloons, birthday hats, table cloths...you name it...Who knew??? Of course the 11 dogs means they all have humans to accompany them....so, of course, the humans need to be considered as far as refreshments are concerned....Have I bitten off more than I can chew????? Stay tuned...I just might do it if I can enlist some help with it....actually the only thing I am worried about is schlepping all the stuff down to the park....Should be fun,huh?! Needless to say, Fritz has made a lot of friends here!!

Guess that's it for today...I'll be back in a couple of weeks.....

This is CRAZY!!!

2011-05-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

May is half over, already....what's with that, already??!!

This ancient old body has started to hurt more than I would like......so....the doc sent me for an X-ray which showed a bunch of arthritis (My sister used to call it "arthwrongis") so I guess there's not much I can do about that . So, for now, it will be Tylenol Arthritis for me. Now, I wake up this morning with my left hand/wrist aching....Can't lift anything with it! I tell you....this whole thing sucks the big wienie!!

On a cheerier (?) note, it is raining.....quite hard, actually...my sweet peas have popped through and once it dries out - or at least stops raining - I will go out to thin them and start them on their journey up the trellis...Yesterday was such a glorious day...warm and sunny!!

Once a month a bunch of us go out for dinner together...this month we were going to the Red Lobster....so we piled into a couple of cars and journey down there....Once we got there, they told us about an hour and a half wait.....that surely would not do so we spotted a fish place across the street and went over there...It was wonderful! I had brown sugar,balsamic salmon....yum, yum yum ! I enjoy these outings,,it is pretty much the same folks that go every month...

Also, last week Dian made her way to Germany to be with Jocelyn.... She will be home next Monday - the 23rd. She is having a wonderful time and enjoying meeting a new culture - and, of course, seeing her sister!! They went over to Amsterdam on the train...don't know where it will be next weekend.

Well...it is time for an attitude adjustment here...I will take some more pills and take Fritz out in the rain to do his "thing" Then I am going to attack some "crafty" projects I have going which must remain name-less because they are various gifts...I will be lucky to finish them and when ( notice I didn't say "if") I finish I will take a picture and hopefully by then I will have figured out how to post pictures on this blog!! I did it once - but so long ago I forgot how to do it..... Mercy me!

Here's to your good health and happiness.....Have a good rest of May!!

May Day!!

2011-05-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, May Day was a big day...always had flowers for our mothers and neighbors..not expensive ones, mind you...just things already growing in our yard. When we were living in Fife I had a friend who exchanged May Day greetings with her only daughter....I think of her every May Day...it must be a bittersweet day for her...her daughter passed away several years ago.

On a cheerier note - I went to visit my cardiologist on Thursday...and he pronounced me extremely healthy for a woman of my age.It must be the 26 pills I take every day!

About a year ago, I volunteered with a woman who I felt was very strange!! So much so, I told my supervisor if I had to work with her any more I would probably quit. I found it very frustrating to be around someone unwilling to help herself - or ask for help..She had had gastric by-pass surgery and had lost over 100 lbs...which is exciting....but she blamed that surgery on anything that happened to be wrong with her at the time...be it sniffles, burping or passing gas....She claimed she did not have money for anything...new clothes, skin removal surgery, or a smallerapartment....and....she had over $10,000 in the bank....I kept telling her that if she spent some of that money on new clothes and/or the surgery she would feel much better. She was afraid of the economic situation in the country....and didn't want to spend it. Well...later on she did get some surgery done on her arms and evidently it did not go well....Well, the upshot of this story is that she passed away last week.....so I went to her funeral (along with some hospital friends) and it was nearly as bizarre as she was. Only one relative there..her brother..., the five of us and a few of her old neighbors. The minister obviously did not know her....He quoted a lot of poetry and a few scriptural passages...There was a woman there playing the harp - not to well, sorry to say....and, of course, no reception afterwards. Glad that is over!!

Dian came down yesterday- along with Brooke - and we had lunch and got "a mani" (me) and pedis - (them) It was fun!!

I wonder where April went....I almost missed it - it was so fast. Next week I see another doctor - this one my primary one. Should be a-okay there too. Just got a call from Jocelyn who is spending this weekend in Spain....how fun!!! Have a good one everyone.....

Happy Easter everyone!

2011-04-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

Boy...Easter sure did sneak up on me this year!! No special plans this year...quiet day, in fact.

Well - I got cleaned up for the big inspection - but nobody came! One time, long ago, that happened to us with a birthday party....What a weird feeling that was!! This time it was no problem, however....I actually dragged the vacuum cleaner out and used it!!!! I also made the bed. I told our assistant manager that I had made the bed for the inspection and she laughed!

Last Sunday, Marcia came down and we went to the store(s) and bought stuff to plant in and to plant. Came home and she did all the work...and now I have a window box with pansies, a couple of pots with geraniums and a big pot with a trellis and sweet pea seeds.....I can hardly wait for the sweet peas to come up...they smell so great!

On Wednesday it was Steve's birthday....and Thursday it was Jocelyn's birthday...Those birthdays surely do come up quickly... Wednesday was the volunteer appreciation dinner at the hospital...it was really nice...A full dinner this year featuring salmon AND chicken breast smothered in a good mushroom sauce...I love going to those affairs...keeps me stoked to go another year! LOL

Thursday was bingo in the social room...once again I won - along with 2 other people..I got a whole $1.25!!

Yesterday Dian and Marcia picked me up and we went to the airport to pick up Brooke and Grayson back from visiting Jocelyn in Germany....It was so good to see them again. Grayson is - sort of - walking now. He scoots around on this knees, it's like the bottom of his legs hasn't figured it out yet so cute! She finds out if it a boy or a girl she is carrying....tomorrow. Needless to say, we are all on pins and needles to learn who he/she will be!!

Had a nice surprise visit from an old Sweet Adeline friend yesterday as well...She lives in an assisted living place only a few blocks away. It was nice to visit with her..hopefully we'll do it again soon...

Guess that is it for today...have a good one, everyone!

Try Again...

2011-04-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

I wrote a big long post yesterday and couldn't get it to publish...so will try again.

I seem to have trouble with remembering that I have a limited amount of cupboard space and that I am responsible for only one human and one dog....I seem to go overboard every time I go to the grocery store. Fritz has enough treats to last him the rest of his life...and I seem to have enough food to last me the whole month at least.

I must learn that when I go to Sam's Club to get my pills, I should not take a cart in with me...I really didn't overload the cart - but I did get a lot of stuff - including doggie treats...When I came out of the store the rain was coming down in sheets...and I still needed to get my nails done. So I did that with hair dripping and the back of my jacket soaked. I was really pooped when that was done I decided to forgo the Safeway trip until another day. Two days later I went to Safeway...coupons in hand..and while I did not buy out the entire store, I realized when I got home that I could probably set up a grocery store in my apartment!! When will I learn???? My kids always remind me that I don't need all this stuff....but I guess old habits are hard to break!

On Wednesday, the 6Th, I went \on another casino junket. This time it was a sort of private bus which we caught somewhere up in the Highlands....It was hosted by a woman and her husband - they charged us $5 each to ride and away we went.....down to the Red Wind casino near Olympia. The gambling gods were not with me this trip. however. But...I brought the same money I brought two trips ago so I guess it was about time to loose it, huh! They had stuff for us on the bus...a hard boiled egg, a small bottle of water, some cookies and candy, and an Easter basket to put it in. The bad part of the day (aside from not winning) was that I had to be up and at-em and in the lobby at 7:30 ....AM!...I had forgotten that there was such a thing...Dian offered to call me at 6 so I would be up in time to do all my morning stuff...mainly take Fritz out, read the paper and eat breakfast...so it all worked out. Got home around 4:30...so it was a loooong day!

I had Fritz groomed last week and he once again looks like a little toy puppy....can you believe he will be 11 years old in June? He is spry like a puppy though...and a love!

Guess that's all for now....lets hope the publishing gizmo works this time...Love to you all!

Been a Long Time!!

2011-03-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted....Well....Fritz got home feeling much better..and no more scooting! :-) Had his drain removed on Saturday and feels fine ever since. He is getting way too hairy so I have arranged to get his hair cut next Wednesday.

I managed to wear something green this time ( on Valentine's day everyone wore red but me!! Corned beef and cabbage was the main fare, of course, along with a lot of side dishes folks brought. I brought a potato salad which everyone seemed to enjoy. and...of course...there were a lot of desserts - Yum!!

On the 21st, we all went up to the Snoqualmie casino on the bus they send down for us. I had a couple of coupons I had received in the main so I cashed those in and played all day on that money...I came home with around forty bucks more than I brought...Didn't dip in to the stash I had brought with me....love it when that happens...and i t doesn't happen often enough, that's for sure.

Yesterday was my 6 week diabetes exam with my doctor...all is well there. Bingo was last night and I won the last pot!!! I sure wish that would happen when I go to the bingo hall!!! There was probably $10 in quarters there...lots of laundry money.

A week ago Dian brought me to lunch and then to the mall because I wanted some new shoes. I was able to get some nice ones (unlike the old lady clunkers I was wearing) I don't seem as inclined to fall in these because the heel and sole are not so thick....Thank you, thank you, thank you Dian!!!!

Well - that's it for today....

Hello, again....

2011-03-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

This has been a busy couple of weeks.....I spent a lovely evening with Dian at the Mukilshoot Casino with Dian....the gambling gods were not looking down upon us favorably, however - tut the company was great!!

Sunday, the 27Th was Grayson 's first birthday party...can't believe he is one already!The theme was pirates and he arrived in a red bandanna dew rag, a striped shirt and blue pan ts that were cut off in jagged edges...way too cute. Marcia made two birthday cakes...one a pirate's treasure chest and the other a skull and crossbones cake. the skull cake was his to plow into...and he certainly did that....It was so cute to watch....

Friday the 4Th was my appointment with the retina specialist...Marcia came with me to hold my hand and generally keep my spirits up.. Bless her heart - I practically broke her hand bones as he put the injection directly into my eye-ball... They did numb it a lot...but it still hurt like crazy. It was two years since the last one and, I suspect, it will have to be done in another two years...I also sort of jumped when he did the injection so I have a really red eye these days - tho' it is getting better. Doesn't hurt and hasn't dried up...so all is well now in that department.

Steve came down on Saturday - so good to see him!!!!! We went to lunch......he walked the dog....and went home. It was a good afternoon!

Saturday night, the building manager organized a dinner out.....We went to an Irish Pub here in Renton First problem with that was that we had two individuals in power chairs....and they restaurant had put us in a spot that had a step to go up...which the power folks could not manage.....one decided to stay by himself on the main floor and the other one went home...(The place was only three blocks from the building) From the time we got in until we left they played, sang and danced LOUD Irish music....We couldn't hear ourselves think let alone have a conversation....To top it all off,,,,my beer was $6 a glass! Needless to say, I most likely won't sign up to go there again!

Monday, as I was walking Fritz, I noticed he was having a hard time pooping...and when he did do the deed, he would scoot and try to drop more...and generally make a mess in his hind end. I am sure that this is too much information! LOL I had brought along a paper towel to wipe him down 'cause I didn 't want him on my lap in that condition....saw some tiny blood spots....and knew that was not good...so off we went to the vet....Come to find out, he had ruptured an anal gland....they had to put him under in order to drain it...and fix it....and then they had to give him antibiotics. While he was under, they cleaned his teeth - a good thing!

I can pick him up this afternoon (Wednesday)...it has been really weird not having him around...I will probably spoil him even more than I already do!!!!

So...that's that! I was able to talk with Jocelyn on the phone the other day...so good to hear her voice....she is having a great time in Germany....I miss her LOTS.....

Better go....It is nearly noon and I haven't had breakfast yet!!!

Lazy - quiet Saturday

2011-02-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!! It has been a really busy week.....going to be nice to have a quiet day!!

The 13Th was Nigel's birthday so Dian had us over for brunch. Poor boy was not feeling well but he didn't let that slow him down!! After brunch, we went to the casino - which I always enjoy.. I had a $5 coupon the casino had sent me and that was gone in record time....the place was packed!!! Finally found an empty machine and stuck my $20 in.,..,.thought it odd that I only had 400 credits instead of 2000....Don't know what I hit but it gave me a lot of credits so I decided I had best get out of there and cash in my ticket....low and behold, I had $101!! So I played the whole time on their money - always a nice situation...and surely rare. Come to find out it was a nickel machine, of course, and needless to say I was a lot more careful picking out my machines of choice....So..took in $60 and took out $70...not bad, huh!!

Monday was Valentine's Day and there was a party down in the social room. They sure do a nice job on these party's.... We each were to bring a valentine and that was our "ticket" to get in. Numb-nut that I am, I didn't think to wear red - everyone else did....Now that I think of it I don't think I have anything red...hmmmm. Anyhow, I went on complete sugar overload - there were a lot of sweet goodies....I survived it just fine tho'.

Tuesday, was P,.T....I have been going to PT for balance problems since I have fallen a few times in the last 6-8 months....come to find out that my right leg is weaker than the left....thus I don't pick it up and tend to trip over uneven=ness in the sidewalks.....I am not too good about at-home exercises....but, aside from that, I am learning a lot....Then, after that I go volunteer...by the time I get home, I am truly bushed!!! B y the way, Grandson Chris turned 21 this day....how in the world did that happen???????

I had calculated that I have finally hit the five year mark since the mastectomy.....so I needed to know if I could quit the medication I had been taking....so off to Dr Fer on Wednesday. I hadn't gone there for a year...Worried that I was late for the appointment - why???Once I got there I had to wait an hour anyhow! So...all is well I am now down one pill Yeah!!

Thursday was the eye doctor who had told me I would most likely need to see the retina specialist again...you may recall that I saw him a couple years ago and that resulted in an injection into my eyeball - nightmare! Well...I now have an appointment for March 4. Woe is Me! As I recall, this particular doctor wore extremely interesting - and usually awful - neckties....We'll see if his taste in ties has improved!! (Taking my mind off the injection!!)

Jocelyn is having a fine time in Germany - and she is writing a blog! Never thought that would happen!! Think she will most likely be semi-proficient in German by the time she gets back.

Well....must have some breakfast - it in 11:30 already.....Take care, everyone!

February already!!

2011-02-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

Pretty hard to believe, isn't it! Grandson Chris turns 21 this month! Wow! He's quite a handsome young man...and a nice one too!!!

Saturday was a busy day for all of us. I set the alarm for 6:30 AM - and that was unusual in itself! I drove over the Jocelyn's house - Marcia, Dian, Brooke and Grayson were there - and they were all trying to help with the packing.,...She was allowed 70 lbs per bag - and they had the scale out and weighing the bags and shifting stuff - very busy Marcia cooked breakfast - which was yummy! Finally it was time to go to the airport...Dian said her goodbyes there and stayed home with Grayson....Jocelyn, Brooke and I piled into my van and Marcia drove it down to the airport....Finally found the Luftwansa (sp???) counter and the bags passed inspection okay...but her carryons didn't. Discovered she could have three instead of two so she shifted stuff around (again!) and it was time to say goodbye....Gosh, that was hard. Especially when it was Brooke's turn...What an adventure this is for her!! It was a 10 hour flight with another hour on the train from Frankfurt to Bonn....She e-mailed us all that she had arrived safe and sound. She was in hotel for the first couple of days and is now in her apartment - which she says is "okay" - I say that is better than a "dump"...LOL

So....after that, we came back to my place and Dian and Marcia moved stuff around my apartment to accommodate Jocelyn's smaller computer table...It is really nice but I have one major problem....since I have hi-speed Internet, there is only one telephone line that runs my Internet....and it is in the bedroom...I called and the phone company told me it would charge me to switch the outlets...so hopefully, on Saturday, Marcia will come down and we will see about stringing a longer phone wire - tacking it to the floor...and voila---it will work!!

Needless to say - I was exhausted by Saturday night! Still have to figure out what to do with the stuff I took out of the old computer table but that will come...A trip to Target is in order, I believe!

Went to Physical Therapy yesterday...because of my many falls....come to find out that my right leg is weaker than the left - thanks to the neuropathy - and that makes sense since, now that I think about it, my right foot is the one tripping me up all the time! Who knew???

Well...I had better go unplug the Internet and get busy. I will be glad when I don't have to do that any more. It does cut down on my computer time, though;....Have a good one everybody!!

Good Times!!!

2011-01-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

Saturday was quite a day!! Got up early so I could take Fritz out and get dressed and ready for Marcia to pick me up to go down to Kent for Brooke and Greg's wedding. There were about 15-20 people there and the wedding was sweet....Grayson was dressed up in actual black slacks (with cuffs already!)He had on a coral shirt and a bow tie and black vest = and - "big boy" black shoes with heels on them...way too cute! Brooke wore a short strapless dress with a white top and a charcoal grey skirt and a short black sweater .....and black high heels...Such a pretty girl she is!!

After the wedding and a zillion pictures, we went to the Rock here in Renton at the Landing ... it is a pizza place - and the food was really good. They had drinks - and I indulged myself with a Manhattan......Marcia had baked little heart shaped cakes and a larger one as well for Brooke and Greg..the small ones were favors for the guests...she covered them with fondant - a technique she had not tried before....they were awesome. There were well over 20 people there..they just kept coming in....Greg's parents picked up the tab for the affair So nice of them!!!!

Then, after a few hours at home when I concocted a dip using sauerkraut....I had made the crescent rolls the night before...(I still have a ton of "little smokies" left...any ideas what to do with them????) Then I got picked up and went to Jocelyn's house for her "going away" party. What a good time that was! Dian and Marcia were the "hosts" and a ton of people were there, it seemed....I left before midnight and it was going long after that, I hear....

Jocelyn leaves for her 5 month life in Germany on Saturday....she got her braces off her teeth and looks fabulous! After talking about this venture for so long, it is hard to believe that the time is actually here! I will miss her so much....but we have Skype which will help. She will miss us all too....especially Brooke and Grayson....So.... Saturday at 1PM her plane departs....WOW!!!

Well...I'd better get to gettin'...have a good day, everyone!!

The River Runs Thru' It!

2011-01-17T15:17:00.001-08:00

Boy that Cedar River is getting high!!It is running fast and carrying logs as big as trees down with it. Quite a sight, believe me! The poor ducks have to come clear up to the trail to get to any high ground..The viewing area down below is flooded over the benches they have there...and up at least 5 steps leading up to the trail.

My new TV arrived Saturday...Steve came down and installed it for me. I thought I wanted it up on the wall so we \went to the hardware store to get the stuff for that....but the stuff we got didn't fit the TV..so it is sitting on the same stand the other one stood on. He moved the stand over where I wanted so if it ever comes to pass it will go up on the wall, it will already be in place. Now I need the smaller computer table Jocelyn is giving me and I can place the chairs where I want them and I will be all set. The only thing that didn't get hooked up was the DVD player....and I think I can do that when I find the correct stuff to do it with. (I looked on the set-up directions so I can do it myself -easily - she said confidently!) LOL

Once that was done, I took Fritz and went over to Jocelyn's house to dog sit while she went away for overnight. She left the key hidden outside, so I got in okay. THe pellet stove was going like crazy and it was toasty warm....She left a page of instructions as to how to turn it on and off so I settled down for a warm winter's night, as it were. The dog door had been shut and I found it stupidly difficult to open it up again....but finally got it; played a couple games on her laptop; and it was time for bed. First problem was getting her dog, Gizmo, up on the bed. He is HEAVY...between us, we got it done; then I discovered the bed light was not working so I had to use the overhead to read by; tried the TV in the bedroom and couldn't get it to work; so....went to sleep...and lasted a long time in that state. Got up and went to make coffee and couldn't figure out how to turn the darn coffee maker on....finally got it after a few zillion tries......then decided to take a shower but couldn't figure out how to turn on the water in the stand-up shower. (Didn't want to use the other shower 'cause the tub is slippery) Suffered through the first half of the Seahawks game and Marcia called telling me she was coming down....so I decided to go on home and wait for her there...Joce came home soon after I left...When Marcia arrived and properly oohed and awed over my TV we went back to Joce's house and were joined by Dian and Brooke and Grayson. Brooke and Grayson went down for a nap and the girls and I went for some brow waxing (them) and nail filling...(Marcia and me)....then to Marshall's for some shopping - to Ezells for some chicken - and back to Joce's to eat it - and chat about the upcoming wedding and going away party - less than a week away!!

Boy oh Boy!!! It;s either feast or famine these days.

Week ago today was my 3 month checkup with my doc. All seems well. I asked if I could qualify for a handicapped parking thing - since I was so old - and she said yes...so that should be coming this week. Get my eyes checked on Thursday.

I am hunting for some innovative ways to use sauerkraut I was looking for some appetizers I had one time using the stuff...but can't find it. Come to think of it - it may have been cookies or candy that I ate...I'll look in that area. Did find an appetizer that looks easy using Crescent rolls and little smokies which I will take to the party... I forgot...I have laundry in the machine..I had best go get it!! Take care!!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted...sorry about that! Christmas was wonderful - as it usually is - Christmas Eve Jocelyn and I went over to Dian and Nigel's for dinner..Nigel had smoked spareribs all day - and they were mighty delicious ! I went back to Jocelyn's to spend the night, as I have done the last 3 Christmases,....Everyone came there on the big day..I was so proud I completed all my projects...a crocheted afghan for Dian and handmade tote bags for Marcia, Jocelyn and Sheri...( I had already sent a bag to Susie) everything looked great, if I do say so myself! We had prime rib for dinner - I LOVE prime rib!! A very busy day and I was really glad to home to my own bed. The kids all went together and got me a new flat screen TV..which thrills me to pieces!! I will get it some time this week - I hope. I will need to rearrange my whole living room set-up so we can hang it on the wall - but that's okay. We brought the TV I am now watching up from Seaside 6-7 years ago....and it was not new even then. ,..So...a treat for ME!

New Year's Eve was pretty uneventful...Had dinner with Dian and Jocelyn and then went down to the party the building was putting on. We played CLR and I won two times...greatly increasing my quarter collection....(for the laundry) .. I left around 11 - I was tired - and I didn't want to be embarrassed by winning any more! LOL

This week is being spent gearing up for my Birthday on Friday....by that I mean MENTALLY getting ready for it....I will be - (HOLD YOUR BREATH) 80 years old....I am really finding it difficult wrapping my mind around that......that hardly makes any difference - it is going to happen whether I like it or not. I just never figured I would be around that long..I am glad I am though - around, that is. The first Tuesday of each month they have a party for us birthday people...so, of course, I went...it was nice. They have a cake and punch and sing to us,...lasted under an hour. It was nice.

Friday will probably bring some casino action and out for dinner with everyone...Love it!!

Ho Ho HO !!!

2010-12-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

Here we are....4 days 'til Christmas and I still haven't done all the stuff I need to do!!

We have had a couple of fun events here in the building....Last Tuesday evening the cub scouts came to serenade us with carols...they are so darned cute.,..They love to come here because they can eat all the cookies they want. They always bring us little gifts they have made...this year it was a holiday tree decoration.

then on Thursday it was bingo night and I won the "big" pot...it was 14.50, actually - which bolstered up my quarter supply quite a bit. Gotta have those quarters to do the laundry you know. Friday was lunch out at the Olive Garden in South Center. There were nine of us and it was fun...and tasty.

Sunday was the evening Michael came to treat us. He, as you may recall, is the fellow who comes to treat us with a light buffet abnd a ton of groceries to pack home...,.I understand that he also provided the big TV in the social room....quite a magnificent fellow ! We had lots to choose from - everything from produce to candy...it was amazing!

So-----now, I am off to volunteer today - then do a bit of shopping and home to sew - and sew - and sew! I will be spending the night at Joceyn's house on Christmas Eve and everyone else will be there on the Day! Very best wishes for you all for a Merry Christmas...probably won't see you until next year!

It's Friday - again!!

2010-12-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone....Don't have a lot to report this time, but am trying to be more communicative and thus post more often .

Saturday, Dian came and within an hour and a half had my apartment all cleaned up! Boy it sure does feel good....we celebrated by going down to Sam's Club and came home with a great wreath (among other things, of course) which she installed in my window along with the one string of lights I have...so now I am presenting the Christmas spirit for all to see! Very festive!!

Marcia came down on Sunday and took me to lunch at the Snoqualamie casino buffet. She had a two-for - one coupon -- and it was a wonderful treat. Of course we stayed to play a while - and Dian joined us - and I ended up with a nickle more than I brought....not bad, huh??!! It was fun!!

On Tuesday, Dian and Marcia and Jocelyn and Brooke & Grayson joined me for dinner...being's how that day would have been Mort's 82ND birthday.....then Dian and Marcia took off for the airport for the red-eye flight to New Hampshire to visit Susie. They arrived safely and they are having a good time back there. They will be home Monday afternoon...so it is a short trip.

Yesterday I finally got Fritz to the groomer....his hair was way too long and was getting matted as well as messy in the rear end area, if you know what I mean....He is now beautiful again and is sleeping off the trauma today

With Christmas just two weeks away, I am frantically trying to finish up all my projects. I swear I start them with plenty of time to spare and then here I am - frantic again....All of which tells me that I had best get to gettin' instead of writing on my blog!

Snow is gone!

2010-12-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness for that....I do not like the snow much!!!!

Thanksgiving was really nice..we were all there except Susie, Alex and Scott & Leanna and their family...We tried to skype Susie but they were having network problems....so weren't able to stay on the line for much time -but enough to say Hi and they were able to see Grayson and we could see all of them.....boy those kids have grown since I last saw them! Marcia and Dian are making the trip back there for a few days...should be an awesome trip for them. They leave Tuesday night.

Big news in our family is that Jocelyn will be traveling to Germany In February for six months or so. I am so excited for her - and so proud of her. T-Mobile will be sending her there so she can train her German counterpart in whatever it is that she does for T-Mobile,....sorry I don't quite know exactly what that is! but I know she has saved the company tons of money. whatever - I am proud!!

As a matter of fact, I am extremely proud of ALL of my kids! They all seems to excelling in their jobs...they have happy marriages (those who are married) , wonderful kids and seem generally happy in their lives....I couldn't ask for more than that, could I?!!

:I tripped the not so light fantastic again (ie..fell down) last week....I get so angry at myself when that happens - not to mention embarrassed . twisted my ankle a bit and had a bruise or two but otherwise did not suffer any damage, I sure do have good bones! I hear rumblings about needing a walker but I am ignoring them for now....but I suppose I will not be able to ignore them forever!

I have a friend - named Sharon - who lives in the building here. She is confined to a wheel chair -actually it is a Scooter - and she is quite large, so it is difficult for her to get out much. We communicate via computer usually....and I sometimes see her down in the social room. We are going to have Mexican food for lunch on Monday.....she can drive her scooter and I will walk along - She obviously doesn't get out much so - providing it doesn't rain - we will make the trip....should be fun.

I actually got my Christmas stuff down to see what I had....not much, any more....I do have my front door decorated and a couple candles and some lights to put up in my bedroom window and I will call it done.

We have Bingo tonight...so guess I will wander down....Hope there are ore than 5 people there!!

Excitement in the Hall!!

2010-11-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

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!!

Happy Hallowe'en

2010-10-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

Wow...November tomorrow..can you believe it? Not much is happening...the fish are still here and still dying..no smell yet though...A guy was taking photos of them this morning..

I continue to love my new digs....and so does Fritz! and my family! - they don't have to ring me up to let them into the building. That sliding glass door makes it seem more like I am living in a small house and not a big old building.

My current "panic" is that my TV remote control went out on me yesterday...The TV works fine..I was able to play a Netflix movie....just can't get the darn thing to move off of channel 22! Jocelyn is coming over today and will look at it....I just might need to call my son-in-law Jeff back in New Hampshire...he's the one who fixed it so well when he was here over a year ago...What I really want is a new flat Screen.....that will have to wait a while however - unless this one conks out on me....We brought this one up from Seaside....so it is probably 8-10 years old...amazing it is still going, huh?! Oh yes...I DID replace the batteries...so it is not that! And it turns the thing on....

Today, we are going to the grand opening of a Grocery Outlet store, here in Renton. Should be able to score some bargains there!!

I am really enjoying the audio books Jocelyn put on my computer...She did two of them....Labor Day and Room....I am in to Labor Day right now...Room was fantastic!!

I am trying to sew these days...have patterns for several tote bags and - wouldn't you know -I picked the most difficult one to start out on !! At first I was going to make all of these bags to sell at the building's annual bazaar....well...that happens next week...so much for that idea!

Think I will get to sewing now.....perhaps the remote knows I have all of this to do and that's why it went out????? highly doubt it! Talk to you next month~!

Still Here!

2010-10-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

The fish, I mean....they are still here and dying like crazy...watching them is mesmerizing....I suspect we will smell 'em this year...There are two very fat seagulls feasting out there..

So...what else is going on here? not much, actually. Went to the doctor last week for my 3 month check-up...all is well there, fortunately...Susie went home on the 10Th..sure didn't seem like she was here long enough....the days flew by!!

On Monday, we went to the casino on the bus the casino sent....I had a good time, although the machines were not as nice to me as the black-jack table was.....and even that wasn't much...came home $30 lighter than when I started.l...so I guess that wasn't as bad as it could have been . I had fun....so $30 isn't that much for entertainment...huh?!

That night, I woke up at 1:30 am with my feet burning and paining...Had to get up and take some pills and then wait for them to kick in so watched some TIVO and got back to bed at 3...didn[t wake up until 11! This was a problem, once I realized it was Tuesday and I had to be volunteering at noon-30!! So I called in "late" and got up to walk Fritz, eat breakfast and get dressed...not necessarily in that order;. Finally made it there at 1:30...only an hour late. I have come to the conclusion that my feet rarely do this to me unless I have spent the day mostly on my feet...It happened when I went to the mall with the girls a couple of weeks ago too. so....watch it not happen next time I am on my feet for a day...I HATE my feet!! On the other hand I NEED my feet so guess I better be more aware of what causes this dreadful neuropathy..

Nothing exciting scheduled for this week coming up.....I have decided to venture into the sewing mode....I am making a tote bag and, of course I had to pick a complicated one to start with. I will be really cool when - and if - it is done.....talk to you later.

The fish are back!!

2010-10-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Yep...,they're back....it seems like there are more of them than last year...I learned that the salmon head up to the fish ladder at the dam - deposit their eggs, and head back downstream to eventually die...what a way to live!!! The fisheries folks say they have collected more eggs than ever this year..wonder why?!

Steve, Marcia and I made the trip down to Seaside for our friend Tracey's funeral...It actually was an Elks service and held in the lodge hall. It was packed!!! I saw a lot of friends..which is nice...but we only stayed for a while since we had to head back the same day..Took Fritz along with us and he did well...as usual. He is used to riding on long trips - he went with us on our now famous road trip around the country. Anyhow, it was great to spend some time with those two kids.

A couple of Fridays ago, we had a fire alarms testing throughout the morning. For some reason I could not get to sleep that night, so I got up and watched a couple of TV shows on the tivo...and finally got back to bed around3:30...then...at5:30, the alarm went on,...and , since there are not supposed to be any fire drills, we have been told that when that happens we need to leave the building...so I donned my pink robe, hooked up Fritz and out we went...to mingle with other old folks in various night clothes....Finally a fire truck came...and the firemen sauntered into the building...and back out again a few moments later...and the noise stopped. Come to find out, there was a glitch in the alarms they were testing during the morning.,,,.in any case, I decided to stay up...turned on the TV (which I rarely do in the morning) and got started on a marathon of (I still don't believe it!) America's Next top Model....I was so rummy I watched the whole darn thing....with breaks to take Fritz out, of course....Boy o boy!! Did sleep well the next night, however......that was really something.

Next Tuesday, Susie arrives....I am so excited to see her..She hasn't seen my new apartment. She will love it...she hasn't met Grayson yet, and she will love him as well.She is only here until Sunday morning.....not nearly long enough!!

We are having our annual apartment inspections this month...first floor is next Thursday,...so I must get this place whipped into shape...talk to you later.

Hello!!

2010-09-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hello again...I know it has been a long time since my last post...I am sorry about that....Now that my fingernails are a bit shorter it will be easier for me to type...lame excuse,huh?!

We had Labor Day party downstairs...SHAG provided the hot dogs and we brought the other stuff to go with them. There was quite an array of stuff, believe me! We were supposed to tell about memorable Labor Days we had lived through...Since they weren't all that memorable, it was difficult to come up with something. Buying school shoes was always a chore on that day... particularly for Dian and Steve...shoes in her size were not "cute" and in his size hard to find since his feet was so narrow ( and long!) One year we were between houses and we spent the weekend camping - and had to find shoes then!Not so fond memories!! Anyhow, that story won me a prize - a big coffee mug!

Then I got the news that a dear friend of ours in Seaside had passed away...such a shock that was. He - along with his companion, Jan - was in the Elks with Mort...and in the Cannon Beach Chorus with me...Tomorrow, Steve and Marcia are going with me down to Seaside for his memorial service at the Elks...a trip I wish I didn't have to make...My heart aches for Jan and for Pat (his mother),,,,I can't imagine how awful it must be for Pat. We are not supposed to lose our children like that!! I think he was only in his late 50's...way too young to die!

Today we have had a bit of a respite from the rain...it is quite nice out actually. Hope this holds for tomorrow but I really doubt if it will....

Well - I have a Netflix Movie to watch...talk to you later.

You never know, do you?!

2010-09-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

You surely never do know what the day is going to hold for you! So - Saturday we went for lunch to celebrate Brooke's birthday.....she loved the sock,by the way...we were in South- Center which has certainly changed a lot since the last time I was there (5 years ago when I lost my car in the parking lot and swore I would never go back!!) After lunch, Dian, Jocelyn and I decided to go to Nordstrom and do a little shopping. Then we decided to go over to the "Rack" to hunt some bargains...The curb in front of the store is a bit high and I (also known as the klutz!) tripped and fell smack dab on my face...My nose bled like a stuck pig!! A usual when this happens, I was unable to get up on my own and Jocelyn and a kind stranger helped me up while Dian ran into the store to get a chair...which she did....and she was caught on the security cameras and store security people ran out to see what the heck she was going to do with that chair! As I look back on it - that was really funny!! Anyhow, they decided they needed to call 911 and up came a fire truck and an aid car...so embarrassing.....Upshot was that I didn't need to go to the hospital and would be okay...biggest injury was to my pride, I think....didn't even break my nose...did have some right knee scrape but that's about it! I sure do have strong bones!! Now - to the relief of my family - I am taking the cane out whenever I walk Fritz!! (except in the rain when I need the umbrella...can't handle the cane, the leash and the umbrella at the same time)

Yesterday was time for my annual mammogram...and - once again - all is well...I was not worried but all the same it is a relief!

That's about it for now....talk to you later..

Time's a Flyin'

2010-08-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Today is my oldest grand-daughter's birthday...She is now 29 years old AND a mom! How in the world did that happen?? She is special to me because she and her mom lived with us for a while when she was first born...A beautiful red headed child - and, guess what! - she still is!!

This last week was fairly uneventful...no drama out my window. Nice weather for the most part, so the ladies gathered at the river most evenings. On Friday last week, Dian and I went to the Muckleshoot (sp??) casino. I did fairly well...only took $20 in and came out with $53! nice, huh?!Love it when that happens!

Spent most of the week working on Brooke's birthday gift....I made her a Christmas Stocking for Grayson....It is felt with a ton of sequins and beads and is a little drummer boy. My eyes are not good enough for sequins and beads, believe me! It was truly a struggle...but I made it! I think we are doing lunch today.

]

Marcia has had a difficult week or 10 days.....Her Husband collided with Isai ( a three year old they have bonded with) and fell on his (Isai's) head and on his (Doug's) tailbone....There were several skull fractures and lots of trauma....Isai ended up in Harborview Hospital in Seattle and now he is over at Children's for Physical Therapy. Prognosis is pretty good...but complete healing will take a long time. This child is a real pistol...he is never still...and he is not too happy with his situation! Poor Marcia has had to be there for Isai's mom to listen to the doctors so that she gets the right information, since mom's principle language is Spanish. And she also has to tend to her hubby and his sore tail bone and guilty feelings over the accident...so her hands have been full....I think both patients are doing well now. I still can feel my tail bone once in a while and that injury was when I was a teen!!!!

Well...I need to take a picture of the sock, since all the "river ladies" wanted to see it....

It's HOT!

2010-08-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Yes..it is finally hot around here.. Fortunately my apartment is fairly cool for the most part. I really don't do too well when it is really hot...tend to stay in and complain.

Dian and her family got home from England Thursday night...they had a great time but are happy to be home...and I am really glad they are back...I missed 'em!

Marcia and Jocelyn catered a "commitment ceremony" up in Monroe on Saturday....so Friday we got together to help with the prep and to celebrate Dian's birthday Went to dinner at Vino's where Brooke works...it was wonderful...then we went up to the dollar store, goodwill store, and Saar's Market for supplies...next to Fred Myer to find outfits for them to wear - which we did - and then I begged out of going any further and had to come home...I have a lot less stamina these days. I dislike that a whole bunch!! They worked until 2AM and then they went up to Monroe to finish the function the next day. I hear it went off well and the customers were really happy with the food...they are quite talented in this area....I am really proud of them.

Yesterday there was an ice cream social downstairs and - of course - I went. It was really nice. We were all supposed to bring toppings and SHAG provided the ice cream.,..there were some interesting toppings,.,..the usual chocolate, strawberry and caramel...along with stewed cherries, apple pie spice flavored pureed apples, apple pie fillings, various nuts, candies, pineapple, marshmallow,.....on and on. It was pretty neat...I was actually sort of worried what all of this would do to my blood sugar...but not worried enough to not "imbibe".....didn't seem to bother it at all....thank you very much!!!

Today must get my nails done...one popped off while I was doing laundry last week....also going to lunch with one of the ladies here....so....have a good week, everyone..I will talk with you later.

Evacuate!!

2010-08-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

Boy, we had some excitement last night! About 9:33 nor so,the fire alarms started screeching and blowing like they do...I stuck my head out the door to the hall and was told to get out of the building. So, I hitched up Fritz and went out through my sliding glass door..... Soon the parking lot was full of residents in various stages of nightwear. Of course rumors flew around - mostly that there was a fire on the second floor. Once we heard that, of course, we thought we smelled smoke...One fire engine came and two firemen got out in full gear..,.,it was curious to me that there was only one fire engine and only two firemen.,,...when the guy broke the toilet, that rated two trucks, a pickup and an ambulance! Of course we were worried about the folks in wheelchairs and otherwise impaired....they finally started to trickle out...,.All the time the alarms were going...and all the dogs except Fritz were in panic mode. It was difficult to hang on to them.,.,.Old fritz was completely unfazed by it all....more folks to pet him, was his thought!!

Come to find out it was a glitch in the sprinkler system,....no fire.....we could go back home.....and slowly and surely we did. Ella, the manager asked if I would make sure all was well on my hallway...along with my next door neighbor. Even tho' I don't know most of those folks yet, I agreed..... Then the next door lady knocked on the door and said we needed to check every four hours...was she kidding me? check what? I said okay and got ready for bed. Then, around 2:30 AM, there was a knock on my door (which I didn't hear but Fritz did) and it was next door Mary....all seemed well, she said so I could go to bed....thanks a lot! That's where I was!! Of course, I went back to bed and could not fall asleep.....so I got up again and turned on the TIVO and zoned out on a couple of shows and finally got to sleep at 4AM...So here it is - almost noon - and I have not had breakfast yet. I hate it when this happens - which it seems to be happening oftener these days.

I have friend two doors down who was in Fred Myer parking lot ...stepped out into a crosswalk, and got hit by a truck! Knocked her down and, miraculously (sp??) did not break any bones....but LOTS of internal bruising - putting her into a lot of pain and difficulty in breathing - She spent one night in the hospital and came home.....had to be taken back to the hospital the next day and came home again the same day....she is in some serious pain. She made her way down to the river - God only knows how! On the way back I could see she wasn't going to make4 it on her own.l...so I went and got a wheelchair (they keep 3 of them by the door for just this purpose ) and, with the help of another friend got her back to her apartment,,....All this happened yesterday afternoon. Needless to say last night's excitement she really didn't need !

That's life in the "old Folks" home for today.....Hopefully, today will be quieter!!!

Feast or Famine

2010-07-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

I tell you! Its either feast or famine as far as news goes....this time it is feast, so sit back and relax...here goes...

Last week, about 1AM, I woke up to a huge vehicle passing my window...and, Gladys Kravits that I am, I had to get up and see what that was...it was a huge fire engine....It was there for about a half hour and went on its way....then - the next day, an aid car came roaring in and they carted a lady in a pink sweater off,,....don't know who it was - all I know it wasn't any of my friends....On Saturday up came a huge fire engine, followed by another one, followed by a white pick-up truck belonging to the fire dept., and then followed by an aid car...Turned out a gentleman on the 2nd floor fell in his bathroom and - BROKE his toilet! The water finally started seeping down to the first floor apartment underneath and those folks called the manager - who called 911. They pumped the water out, turned off the water to the toilet, took the man to the hospital and about 2 hours later they all went away. (If you are wondering who Gladys Kravits is - she was the nosy neighbor on the Bewitched television show way back when)

Last Friday, I took Fritz to the groomer and boy does he look cute...just like a toy dog. He seems to be happy with it too....it is much cooler for him..and he isn't shedding anymore,.

Then the next day, Dian, Nigel, Brandon and a friend of Brandon's, took off for three weeks in the British Isles...to see Nigel's family. They were so excited to see everyone...they are having a great time.

Then Sunday, Marcia, Karina and I took Dian's car and drove down to Seaside. We stayed with my friend Eileen Hall and her wonderful dog Ichibon....What a superb hostess she is!!! I took Fritz, of course and the dogs got along just fine. Ichi is a Japanese Chin/Poodle mix just like Kimo was....She looks eerily like Kimo. The purpose of the trip was to go to a party for the director of the Cannon Beach Chorus who resigned the post. It was so good to see her as well as all my friends in the chorus....I had a WONDERFUL time, needless to say. Since I still cannot sing, I couldn't get up and sing with them - a huge bummer!! We came home Tuesday with a stop at a friend's house in Gearhart...took us all day ( we did get a late start, I must confess) but the traffic was dreadful on I-5.

Then yesterday evening there was a free picnic for anyone who wanted to come down at the park....so a few of us went..It was put on by a North Renton civic club of some sort...they served hot dogs (actually they were polish dogs) and there were lots of pot luck things like salads and deserts....It was really nice. Next Tuesday the Renton Police put another one on in our park! We will definitely go! The price is surely right..

Well...that about sums it up...if I have forgotten anything, I will include it next post. Have a great couple of weeks...hope the sun is shining for you.

Sorry...

2010-07-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

I have neglected you-all and I am really sorry about that. I just haven't had a whole lot happening this month. That being said, yesterday a young fellow climbed the fence on the river side of the building and entered the manager's apartment (no less) He then tried to get in next door but the dogs in there raised such a fuss - and - he saw someone watching him so he left..next he Tried the street side and someone else saw him so he took his girl friend and went across the street to the library area....Needless to say all the little old ladies were in a bit of a panic.... What I don't understand is why no one called the police ????? I'll probably never know!

I am enjoying my little patio....Jocelyn brought me a chair to sit in - and that is great. I love to sit out there and watch the folks coming and going. We decided one of the bushes needed to come out and she said she would be over Saturday with A shovel....Since this isn't my property, I decided to ask the manager.....she came out and looked and said no problem - she got Jimmy (the maintenance guy) to do it - and it is done!!

This weekend is Renton River Days which takes place right across the street.....so I will most likely check it out. Tomorrow, Fritz goes to the beauty parlor for a trim. Also tomorrow, Dian and her family take off for England....that is so exciting.l They haven't been there since 2002 or so. Sunday, after she is finished working, Marcia and I are going down to Seaside. I have a party to go to Monday night and we will come home Tuesday. We are surely looking forward to this trip.......and then it will almost be August,already!!

Enjoy the summer weather.....

Finally!!

2010-07-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

We finally have some decent weather! The fourth was really cold and wet...but fun all the same.

Steve and Sherrie came down and hung all my pictures and did several other "honey do's" and it now feels like home again. I decided not to hang all the pictures - mostly because I don't have the room. I think some of them were under the bed upstairs - left over from the old apartment - which had another room.Then we went over to Jocelyn's to visit and see baby Grayson...he is the cutest thing!! almost 20lbs now - a real hunk! Steve and Sherrie had to go home because they have several animals who get spooked by the fireworks noise coming off the Indian reservation they live by - particularly the horse....I stayed to watch the fireworks that night. When it started to rain they put up a couple of tent-like shelters and all of us brave fools huddled under those - ate our wonderful dinner - and ooed and ahhed once the fireworks started over at Coulon Park in Renton. I lasted about 3/4 of the way in and then gave up and came home. Just too cold!!

Car is working well, these days.. I am so thankful!

On Friday, the 2nd, it was Marcia's birthday. We met for dinner at a place called Vino's where Brooke has started working. It was really good - and really fun, as always is when we get together! It was also my brother-in-law John's birthday...he turned 92. He was always the one to extol the glory of going to heaven and let us know he could hardly wait....and here he is, the last one in his immediate family to live. He has had several bouts of pneumonia this last year - but come out of those quite well.....He has a pretty good memory too. I need to get over there to see him some time soon.

Well..I'd better get to gettin' .....Have a good week everyone!

I'm Here!!

2010-06-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my three daughters and several family friends, I am in my new apartment...and I LOVE it here. I love not having to take the elevator every time I leave to go out...love being able to see the traffic coming into the apartment...love not living on top of the busy main street...love not hearing the fire engines wail every time they go out....Love being able to take Fritz out oftener because it is easier....etc., etc.

I am still looking for things, since they put stuff away as they found room. Everything is reversed so that is a bit confusing...fridge opens on the left side, for instance....cupboards also open differently...guess I am truly a creature of habit,huh!! Oh well, I will adjust.

While all the moving stuff was going on, I took Fritz and went to get my nails done and to purchase some new sheets and a shower curtain liner. Got back and they were nearly finished...I don't know what I would do if I didn't have those girls!!!!!

I have been having some car issues. I went out to Redmond to pick up some boxes from Marcia and when I went to go home, I could not get the key to turn in the ignition. Marcia called out a couple of guys who tried and they couldn't either. So I called trusty AAA who sent a traveling locksmith....AAA paid $50 of his bill and I had to pony up $95!! The guy got in the car and - whadda ya know - it started right up. He told me to bang it with the head of a screw driver, and it would loosen it up...also to be sure the wheels were straight. So I got home, parked and made sure the wheels were straight. Next time I tried it was moving day and it started right up again... and when I left the nail salon it started right up....and when I left Fred Meyer it started right up.....and when I left KFC I couldn't start it! Called home and Dian came to the rescue...banged it with something heavier than my fist and got it going again. So....yesterday I was telling the ladies in the social room about it and they said there was a locksmith near by....so I took Fritz and went looking and, sure enough, there he was. He said it looked fine to him - lubricated it and sent me on my way....Sure hope he's right...I asked him what I owed him, and he told me to bake him some cookies! What a nice man!! Have to go to volunteer today and am nervous about being able to start it up in the parking garage....He also said NOT to bang it....just wiggle the steering wheel until it starts.....oh my..I really hate having car problems. Wish I could manage without a vehicle - particularly this big boat!

Better get going...wish me luck!!

Rain's back!

2010-06-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yep...it is back and this is the first day of summer....summer solstice...the longest day of the year and it is so gray out there we'll probably never realize it! Oh well, I have a lot to do this week inside....like tackle the packing. I am going to use the luggage I have to pack up clothes and linens and the grocery bags I have collected for the food items. We have a couple of great carts to transport all the stuff down stairs! This will most likely be the smoothest move ever.!

Yesterday I was coming back from the evening walk and met one of my dog-walking friends and she was tracking a beaver in the river...Sure enough there he was - swimming down the river - we think he was after the baby ducks nearby.,...the mama duck put up quite a fuss as he went by..I love this place!

Yesterday I went over to visit baby Grayson at Jocelyn's house...he was sleeping, of course....but when he finally woke up I was amazed at how he had changed...He is a bruiser!! so strong and big..He has the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen....and that's saying a lot 'cause my own children all had beautiful eyes...(still do, actually). He is too heavy for me to pack him around..and not quite 4 months old!

Well....gotta eat breakfast and then get to work....have a great week everyone!

Finally - it stopped raining

2010-06-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hello again...Not much has happen in the last two weeks....I am VERY excited about moving downstairs...that'll happen in about 10 days or so. The girls will come in and help and I am seriously thinking about hiring our maintenance guy here to move the heavy stuff. He has all the equipment to do it. He is pretty cheap....$50.....I don't know that I would do all that for 50 bucks!!

I ventured downstairs last Thursday night for bingo here in the building. I was finally getting low on quarters - and I won twice!! Now I can do my laundry!:-) The Saturday before that, Jocelyn and I went to regular bingo and I won there too!! Of course I had to share the prize with someone else but I got $162 out of it.....Split that with Joce and it is still a fine chunk of change!!

I got a bee in my bonnet the other day to round up all my old jewelry that was sitting around. In the back of my mind I was thinking to sell it but once I went through it I decided to offer up whatever the kids might want to keep....and, so far, they have been happy to take a few things. there were things like my mother's rings and other jewelry....she had the smallest fingers possible....my grandmother's rings - tho I had already taken care of all but one of those. My dad's old pocket watch...lockets with pictures in them....various bracelets. Jocelyn and Marcia have gone through it all and tonight Dian is coming down to do the same. I am saving the pocket watch for Steve since he is the only one who remembers my dad.. Also found Mort's original wedding ring - which I am keeping. I wish Susie were closer so she could have a "go" at it as well...but alas, she isn't. I will save out some items she might want....probably the lockets 'cause she would love the pictures......and they are certainly unique!...most of that stuff is already officially antique. :-)

Hoping for a continuation of this nice weather....doesn't look too promising for today...but you never know!!

It's June already!!!

2010-06-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

Time surely does seem to fly by quicker when one gets older....why is that???

The last couple of weeks have been somewhat uneventful...I am probably going to move downstairs on June 26, Once they get it all duded up for me I can start taking things down as I see fit. I am so excited!! Especially since summer is coming - or so they say - I wonder about that!! The rain has been dreadful this spring. I am used to rain - I have lived here most of my life - but this year is ridiculous. It isn't really cold, though...but certainly not "tropical"either.

Last Thursday was bingo downstairs and - guess what ! - I didn't win this time. My quarter supply is now seriously depleted. The next day Fritz went to the beauty parlor and got himself a trim. He looks so darned cute! Like a little stuffed toy. He was way overdue for a trim, that's for sure.

On Saturday, Jocelyn had a little "do" at her home for her ex-husband and his wife. It was fun and good to see "sunny Jim" again. He hasn't changed a bit. His wife seems nice - very quiet - it probably wasn't the most comfortable situation for her. I got home that night around 9 or so and took Fritz out and went right to bed....woke up at 3 AM with horrible foot pain...got up and took some extra strength Tylenol....watched a tivo show,....went back to bed around 4:30....and didn't wake up again until 10:30! I couldn't believe it.... it screwed up my whole "clock" for the day....

Memorial day there was a BBQ here in the building. I went - and it was fun. I'm getting to know more and more folks here - and that is nice

Yesterday, we found out that our dear Brooke got engaged to Greg - Grayson's papa. I'm pretty excited about that, believe me! Grayson is getting so big...nearly 17 lbs....and he is 3 months old already.

The month of June looks pretty empty...June is pretty much our least favorite month....we miss Mort a lot this month..,..It has been 3 years - but seems like yesterday. I DO look forward to moving downstairs on the 26th, however!

Big News!

2010-05-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday as I was coming back from a Fritz walk, Ella - the building manager called me in and asked if I was the one who wanted a first floor apartment so I could grow things outside....I have never been a gardener - and I sort of said no, it wasn't me...but if a first floor apartment was available I would love to be considered...Ask and Ye shall receive!! Where I am now faces a really busy street - across from the fire station and a very busy tattoo parlor (which is interesting, I must say) also on a bus route and the library is across the street. All of this makes for a lot of noise!! Since I also get the morning sun, the windows are open a lot and the dust and dirt that gets in is dreadful....The new place will face the parking lot on the front of the building.. #108, it is. There is a fairly tall privacy hedge...and I will probably move in the last weekend in June....The lady who lived there had been there for 8 years or so, so they will be replacing the floors and generally cleaning it up before I can get in there....I will have a small patio so I can sit outside and I can build a fence out there for Fritz...Needless to say, I am thrilled and so are my family. Now they can knock on my sliding door instead of going through the rig-a-ma-role they have to do now. Pretty darned exciting, Huh???

Busy Week

2010-05-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

The day I last talked with you, I decided to return some books at the library across the street...so I braved the traffic and crossed the streets necessary to get there and went on the side walk when all of a sudden I tripped over a rise in the sidewalk seam and down I went! Of course I had Fritz with me, and, bless his heart, he stayed right with me. I tried to get up but couldn't - there was nothing to hang on to...I got out my phone to call someone and then realized anyone I would want to call couldn't help me...they all work or are too far away - and I did NOT want to do the 911 thing..Finally a lady came along and asked if I was all-right,,,Duh!! and then a man came along and between them they got me erect again. One of them took my books to the '"return bin" and then after I decided I was okay to walk, the man took me to the apartment building...what nice people they were!!! Gosh, I hate it when that happens...I am no delicate flower and my body gets quite an impact when I go down....Lucky there were no broken bones...huge scrape on my knee, which is still ugly today....I should have fractured my knee...I have been told that I have unusually dense bones....I believe it.

So....that sort of benched me for the most part of the week...felt wobbly and dizzy....promised my family I would go to the Dr. if it continued another day ....and, whatta ya know?...I was fine by Thursday. It was bingo night here in the building so I took my quarter collection and went down...I have won nearly every time I go....and this time I won twice. Had to share both times so we each got a whole $1.50 each time.... I have started to apologize whenever I yell bingo. They tease me a lot.

Friday, Jocelyn called and invited me to go along with her and Dian to "the river"....She has a good friend who has a home on the Naches River....and is very generous whenever a friend wants to get away from it all. It is hardly a cabin....it is a real house! Filled with lots of furniture...a complete kitchen, two baths - one with a Jacuzzi tub....a couple of TVs ....nice porch in back so we can sit out and watch the river go by..Lots of outdoor equipment....a computer....a jillion books and magazines....a jillion cookbooks....lots of "doo dahs"....you could spend all day looking at everything....anyhow, we had a great time.....ate....read....they sun-tanned....beautiful weather. We brought her dog along, a Chesapeake Terrier..named Casey... she doesn't really like to ride in the car but once she got in she was fine....except she had a dreadful odor. She is really territorial so we had to leave our dogs at home - but in spite of the fact she is almost the size of a small horse, she is a dear....

So...I had to hustle to find a dog sitter for Fritz and called on a woman on my floor who really loves him.....and, yippee!, she said yes. I asked what she would charge for this and she said not to worry about it....I did worry, tho'....when I got back Fritz was home...and I went down to Carol's to thank her and generally find out how it went...Of course it went fine. She said Fritz didn't want to stay in her apartment, so she brought him "home" after the 5 or 6 walks they took every day....and he was happy with that - even overnight! I decided she was going to get some sort of "thank you"...so I bought a small bouquet of flowers and a card from Fritz..and when I knew she was going to be gone, placed that by her door.....She was most appreciative and, best of all didn't throw it back in my face.

Yesterday I had lunch with two old friends I bet I hadn't seen in 20 years..Oh my, that was wonderful. We talked and talked, and talked some more.....I surely hope it won't be 20 years before I see either one of them again....One was 86 years old! She gets around with the help of a walker....she is mentally alert (aside from some short term memory problems - which I have as well. The other one is younger than both of us and she and her husband settled in Mesa, AZ. but are seriously thinking about moving back up here. I sure hope they do...Both were in Sweet Adelines with me. I can't get over how great that was!!!

Have to walk Fritz before I head out to volunteer....

Life is Amazing!

2010-05-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

Guess what Fritz and I saw this morning.....a bald eagle!! My first thought was that I wished Mort could have seen it....it was so close. I stopped and watched it with my mouth hanging open - like the eagle was a rock star or something. The crows were having fits, of course....and they finally chased him out of the tree and they flew up and down the river and right back to the original tree. I loved it! Then, one of the mama ducks came out with her five ducklings...and a couple male ducks decided to fight her and, boy oh boy did they ever chase her.....She won, however and soon herded her babies back to safety. All this during the first 10 minutes of our walk....What a treat!

Mother's Day was truly wonderful....it usually is, actually.....we had a brunch at Dian's house with sausage rolls, Eggs Benedict, hash browns, strawberry waffles...yum!! Everyone was there except Brooke who had to work...so Jocelyn brought Grayson and, of course no one could keep their hands off him. He weighs close to 15 pounds now.....quite a load to pack around. We were able to "skype" Susie and she got to see Grayson and Dian with her magnificent weight loss...I tell ya' that skype is a wonderful thing....while we were talking to Susie, Jeff was skyping with his niece, Cassidy... and we were able to shout out to her....the amazing thing is that she is in Egypt!!! The weather was perfect....shirt-sleeve, actually. Then, after I got home, dropped Fritz off and went on over to Jocelyn's for a delicious salmon dinner....which Greg (Grayson's daddy) cooked for us and his mom and brother came over too. It was wonderful!

Being a mother is by far the most wonderful thing for me - in spite of the fact that when I had five kids I often thought perhaps I was mentally ill. I am so glad I have lived to see them as responsible, caring, and sensitive people. AND they are surely wonderful to their mama!!

Beautiful Day!!

2010-05-06T14:50:00.000-07:00

Boy - is it ever nice out!!! Fritz & I just finished our afternoon walk - I bet it is close to 60 degrees this afternoon. Would that it lasts!!

It has been a quiet week...bingo, last Thursday - I won twice...felt the need to apologize...I think I have won at least once every time I have gone down. Granted, it is all so $1.50 most of the time, but at least that pays for my laundry...:-)

In my quest to wean myself away from frozen dinners, I have decided to cook instead.....at least try to....So far I have done a pork chop, spuds and green beans....and shrimp with al fredo pasta.....Of course I made this vow a couple weeks ago, so you can see I am not vigilant about this. I got a flyer in the mail from Win Co with some killer deals and coupons...so Monday night Jocelyn and I went down there. This is a HUGE store with a HUGE parking lot and it was packed. I loaded up, believe me! Such fun.....but where to put it all???? Not too bright on my part. The sale started Monday morning and they were already out of some things by the time we got there....It is absolutely insane down there! I have never seen so many people in one place....made me want to yell "fire!!" - of course that would have jammed up the parking lot and that wouldn't be cool. They have about a dozen or so check-out stands and the lines all nearly reached to the back of the store...I think in square feet this place would equal Costco..and of course we have to do our own bagging - which isn't so bad...they have a good system where you (or whomever is with you) can bag while she is toting up your stuff. And...the person behind you does not have to wait until you are finished before she can start.

Needless to say, I was a bit pooped after that jaunt!

Not much else going on...Mother's Day coming up....don't know what - if anything - they are planning.....I am sure something will happen - I KNOW I raised them right! :-)

The River

2010-04-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I just love the Cedar River.. the other morning, Fritz and I were out walking and I thought I saw some fish swimming....sure enough...they are on their way down from where they were born and on their way to Lake WA and eventually on their way to Puget Sound....and two years from now they will be on their way up-stream to start the process all over again.

Then I spied six baby ducklings swimming around with their mom....was that ever cute!!! I had seen several males (drakes?) but no females, Evidently the males are not too hot about the little ones because they peck at them and toss them around,....The mom fights back and the chase is on....away from the babies.....They run down the river, fly up over the trees , land back on the river and fly some more,,,...the male chasing her all the time. But she comes back to her brood and steers them back to their hiding place....so sweet...

So...while that was going on, I heard a helicopter and looked up and saw it was hovering over the river....and circling around the area of the senior center down "stream" then a fire truck came by sirens and lights going.... found out later that a body was found floating in the river down by the senior center....It was a man who had been missing for a few hours.

Granted not all of our walks are this interesting.....but I wanted to get it all down so I didn't forget anything!!

A quiet week coming up....have a good one!!

Hello, again

2010-04-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

I sorta slept in this morning - when I finally rolled out of bed I detected that perhaps Fritz had been naughty....sure enough he was..I cleaned it up, made the coffee and prepared to take him out and discovered he hadn't gotten rid of all of his"stuff".....this called for what I call a "butt bath" and some hair trimming....Not a great way to start the day, huh?!

B y the time I had my appointment with the cardiologist, I had worked myself up into a fine lather composing dire situations with my heart.....in fact I had Dian come with me so she would hear the same thing I did.....come to find out "abnormal" is my "normal" and things are fine....Evidently the heart muscle is somewhat weak from the heart attack several years ago....the one I didn't know that I had.....I complained about the word "abnormal"....and he asked what I would suggest as an alternative....couldn't come up with one.

This past week was "birthday"week....Steve was Tuesday and Jocelyn was Wednesday...gosh it is had to believe all the years have gone by so quickly....We weren't able to connect with Steve but will in a week or so....Jocelyn had her dinner at the Snoqualmie Casino....which was fun ...and Actually came out ahead in the gambling venture....I doubled my money - which isn't all that much 'cause I tend to bed minimum amounts on the machines....but it was fun.

Before I met the girls at the casino I attended volunteer appreciation function at the hospital. It was really nice....they served dinner which was good. Prior to dinner they offered "cocktails" which were mojitos without the liquor....a bit tasteless, obviously.....but the thought was there.

Yesterday we had lunch for Fritz 's babysitter who is moving to Florida this weekend. There were about 12 of us there.....we went to a Mexican restaurant here in Renton...

Well - since I got a late start, I had best get to gettin' It is almost noon and I haven't had breakfast yet...0h dear!!

Hello

2010-04-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Lat time I wrote, I was about to go to my primary doc for a physical.....so I went and, for the most part I am fine. Then she asked if I had seen my cardiologist about the echo results. I figured no news was good news in that department and she said I should call him....so I did and have an appointment this coming week because the echo was "abnormal"......what kind of word is that??!!

That word is not a nice one when mentioning medical tests!! Well, we will see on Thursday!

In the meantime - on Tuesday the building is sponsoring another gambling trip to the Snoqualmie Casino whoo hoo!!!

Fritz's baby sitter is moving to Florida this month so Tuesday will be the last time he will be able to stay with her.

Last Tuesday evening our family friend, Sherrie, had some of us over for dinner. She used to live in Jocelyn's house but moved out when Brooke and her family moved in. She is a great cook, let me tell you ! I was stuffed....so good...

Next week will be "3rd floor inspections"....whatever that means.....I should probably ask someone. They announce the inspections a couple months ago - I had Jocelyn come over and power clean for me - and nobody showed......we'll see...I 'll let you know.

Supposed to be warm today....I ;believe it - I have my windows open and the ceiling fan going and it is not even noon yet.....See ya'!

Happy Easter everyone!

2010-04-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hi folks...I can't believe it has been two whole weeks since I last wrote......Not much has been happening which can be good or bad - all in how you look at it!

Since I have my new parking spot, I seem to be using my car more often....it is so much easier to get to. I still don't enjoy driving much and rarely after dark. The best part is when I am able to go see baby Grayson.....what a cutie. He looks a lot like his mama - and then it seems like he looks more like his daddy.... He is one month old now and doing just great! I get over there about once a week....a lot can happen in a week of a baby's life!!He has that - if you stretch your imagination - little smile going on...so cute! He now weighs almost 12 libs and has grown an inch and a half.

Tomorrow I go to my primary care doctor for a physical. I don't like those much.....I always have a written list of things to talk to her about....she is very patient with me and my lists. Once I am done with that, then I should be "doctor free" for quite a while. Yea!!!!

I passed my one year anniversary in this building....and that surely went by fast! I still love it here - the decision to move here was one of my smarter ones!

Steve came down this morning - it was so good to see him. We went to see Jocelyn - and she gave us lunch.....

I am tired of eating frozen entrees for dinner....so I decided to cook up some recipes and freeze what I don't eat for another time....Hopefully acquiring a large supply of meals in my freezer. So...with that in mind, Dian and I went to Trader Joe's (almost my most favorite store in the world) and picked up a few things...then on to QFC to get stuff on sale from their ad. Yesterday I finished up at Safeway....and I was so pooped from doing all that shopping that I was not in the mood to cook! Hopefully I can start tomorrow -:-)

Well it is time to transfer from one chair to another - about the extent of my strenuous exercise (aside from the dog walking, that is!) Talk to you soon....

Busy, busy week!

2010-03-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

Why do some weeks have nothing in them and others have almost more than one can stand?

Monday was a fun day....Dian treated Marcia, Jocelyn and I to a slot tournament at Snoqualmie Casino....Talk about intense! If you are into that type of thing, you MUST try a tournament. there were 14 machines available and they had ten rounds in the first section...two of us were in round 3 and the other two in round 4, We had 7 minutes to get as high a score as we could and our fingers were flying! When I heard there were 7 minutes I thought I would never last that long...but the next thing I knew they were calling 1 minute warning....None of us made it to the second tier but we all had respectable scores.....and decided we didn't necessarily need to do it again any time soon......Of course we spent the rest of the afternoon at the machines...I didn't do very well...but only lost $20 which wasn't too bad I guess. I got extremely tired ....as usually happens the night before I am slated to do something fun, I didn't get much sleep the night before.....so Mon night I slept a full 9 hours...yay!!

Tuesday was volunteer day and while there weren't many surgeries to keep track of, there were a lot of odd questions....

Wednesday - St Paddy's day _ I had an appointment with the oncologist (an annual occurrence). All is well in that department - in one year I will be cancer free for five years....and I can stop taking the Arimidex and going to the oncologist....Most of those appointments are spent talking about Mort...he really liked him.

That evening there was a St Pat's party here in the building. Of course I went....and it was a lot of fun. We were to bring in a "little known fact" about ourselves...so I went with the famous "smuggled across the border" when I was a newborn.....It was the most unique, that's for sure. There were hors d'oerves (sp?) ,fruit punch and the a full dinner was served with salmon as the main dish.....Really, really nice!

Thursday was my annual appointment with the cardiologist...Evidently I have a heart murmur and that along with the fact I get out of breath easily caused him to order up a cardiogram and after that he scheduled an "echo" for next Tuesday....Sheesh!

That night was Bingo down stairs.....we play six games and I won 4 of them. I now have a boat-load of quarters. It was something else....and a bit embarrassing.

Today I go for an annual bone density test which is a quick procedure....With all the calcium and other stuff I take I am sure my bones are plenty dense!

So....I'd best get to the shower and get ready to go......

Frustration!

2010-03-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

I have way too many passwords....can't keep track of them. I tried to renew some scripts at Sam's Club and for some reason it won't accept my password...so I re registered with a new one and it still doesn't work....Guess I'll have to use the phone after all. Last time I renewed I didn't have a problem at all....go figure!

Another frustration this morning was my coffee pot. I usually start it up before I take Fritz out and it is ready when we get back....,.This morning, when we got back half the coffee was over the counter, and about a quarter was in the pot and when I poured the "pot coffee" the other quarter started to drip into the pot! go figure!!

so,...I have a mess to clean up,.....and a phone call to make.....see ya..

He's Here!!

2010-03-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Once again I am a Great Grandmother...Brooke and Greg had their baby boy on Tuesday, March 2. He weighed in at 9lbs8oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. Of course he is beautiful!! He has a bit of a jaundice problem but with some treatment that will go away. It means he has to go back to the hospital for 24 hours. Brooke is doing really well...sleep deprived , of course, but otherwise just fine - and really glad that's over!!

I can't remember if I told you I have a new parking spot....right out front....got it on 3/1. Somehow that liberates me..to go somewhere whenever I want to ....didn't like the hike to and from the last one. Yesterday I finally found the Renton dog park...Dian found the driving directions for me or I would never have found it......I tried the day before with no luck...and it turned out I was right on top of it. Anyhow, there is a section for small dogs...but I didn't put Fritz in there 'cause there were only three other dogs there.....he doesn't s socialize with other dogs much...gives them the sniff all over and then goes off. This park is not quite like the one I went to before.,....no grass...signs that say (besides"pick up the poop") if we could, please bring a bucket of water since the city hasn't gotten around to running the water pipes there..

Went to an Information Volunteers workshop at the Hospital....it was really good - made me feel like I was doing something right there.

Went to bingo here in the building and won one game - about 2.5 bucks...so I am going to do my washing....which I have put off way too long....see ya!

I am NOT a sir!!

2010-02-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

I am getting really tired of every stranger on the phone calling me sir!! Then.....since I got a bee in my bonnet to get my hair cut the other day, and she really cut it short, a fellow said, "excuse me sir"...that did it...I went home and the Avon lady was there and I walked in and ordered a new lipstick - one that would last me all day!! Not much I can do about the phone, however...except to make them feel really bad when I reply, "I am NOT a sir!" Sometimes they still do it after I tell them my name....how many men are named Ann???? Sheesh!

Sweet Fritz got a haircut last week too....and he looks a lot better...AND the poop doesn't stick to his rear any more....probably too much information, huh?

On the 1st of March I get my new parking spot...I am quite excited 'cause I have been walking nearly 2 blocks to get to where I park now....this one is practically right out the front door.

February was a birthday month for Dian's family (she calls it birthday hell) Nigel was on the 13th and Chris turned 20 on the 15th...then there was Valentine's day in between there. On the 24th will be Maggie's birthday back in New Hampshire....she will be 6.

Jocelyn just called and she went to Brooke's Dr. appointment with her and Brooke is 1 1/2 dilated....so it won't be long now...maybe even this week....suppose????? I'll let you know. It is a good thing that the baby is a small person - otherwise there wouldn't be room for him in his room...it is pack with stuff....we are all so excited!!

Hello, again

2010-02-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Here it is almost the middle of February already.... As of today it is 3 weeks before Brooke has her baby....they tell her he is around 7 lbs already.... She has all her stuff together in the baby's room and there is hardly room for the baby...:-) Maybe we will be lucky and he will pop out early...She is certainly ready....and we are all anxious to meet him.

I have been to the casino twice already this month....last Friday I went to the "shoot" with Dian for a while....of course I did not win, but didn't have to go to the cash machine either.....a good time. Then this last tuesday I went to the Snoqualmie on the bus which picked us up here in the building.l I didn't win this time either but lasted a long time with most of the money I brought. I do love going there.

On last Saturday I Had lunch with a woman I used to work with back in the day. Found her on Facebook We hadn't seen each other for about 25 years....lots to catch up with on both sides..good times!!

Fritz is going to the groomer tomorrow morning...his hair is so long it seems to interfere with his pooping ability......Not a good visual, I know.....so we shall fix that right away

Sunday, Dian is having us over for dinner to celebrate Nigel's birthday on Saturday (13th) and Chris's on the 15th......and of course we have Valentines Day squeezed in there and there is a party here in the building on Sunday at 1 pm.....so I am now off to find valentines and birthday greetings....talk to you later

Next week I MUST get my nails done.....they interfere with my typing ability....Thank goodness for spell check!!

Good Times!!!

2010-01-24T13:17:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy and eventful week, that's for sure. The occasion that caused all this activity was my Grand daughter's baby shower. Daughter Susie and her daughter Maggie flew in from New Hampshire Thursday morning, Dian and I decided to find Trader Joe's before she landed so I set my alarm for 6 AM......Mercy that was early. We found the store and did I ever have fun!! I had received a substantial gift card from there from Susie at Christmas so I shopped with abandon!! I got food (frozen & already prepared) for at least 20 meals as well as a bunch of snacks....boy was that ever fun!

We then went back to Jocelyn's house to pick up Brooke and Wait for the call from Susie telling us she had landed.....and she did...right on time. Picked up Susie and Maggie and continued on over to Dian's and Marcia was already there. Dian was baking cupcakes and Marcia was working on the table cloths for the shower. We dove right in and helped with the table cloths...Marcia had found a lot of white sheets at the Children's Hospital thrift store near where she works - More than enough for our purposes for only $5!! Then she found some flannel with monkeys printed on it for the center of the table. They were turned into about 16" squares......(The theme for the day was Monkeys) So Susie and I

hemmed the cloths with stitch witchery.....The center squares will serve as burp cloths.. Dian had already baked cookies in the shape of bananas -- she found d the cookie cutter on-line as well as bright yellow coloring...then all of us back to Jocelyn's for some pizza and relaxing. Unfortunately Jocelyn had to work both Thursday and Friday... Girls all spent the night there and I went home....to set my alarm again for 6 AM.

Friday we decorated the cupcakes - turned them into monkeys, actually, with the help of some 'Nilla wafers, Chocolate mint candies, and food coloring . They were really cute. The bananas were frosted with yellow butter-cream and trimmed with brown lines...so cute, I am going to try to put some pictures here....wish me luck!..

Well, I can't figure it out....I will get some help later and try again.

The shower was held in the "party room" of the Round Table Pizza where Marcia is the manager. Once you got in there you'd never know it was a pizza parlor! There was a montage of pictures of Brooke from birth through now playing on a TV....Dian worked on that and don't ask me how she did it....but it was terrific. There were balloons and the pictures on the wall were covered in gift wrap and had her name sprawled across the wall. The dollar store had little plush monkeys which were put on the tables as favors. Also on the tables were water bottles where the labels were torn off and stickers saying: "Brooke will find Motherhood so refreshing! Thanks for coming!"

Her gift pile was HUGE! Lots of monkey themed stuff, of course. lots of diapers (there was a drawing for bringing them) and lots of nice things......to put it mildly.

So now it is Sunday...back to normal. Susie flew out this morning....It was so wonderful she was able to come . Next week is looking quiet, which is nice. I'll work on the picture thing!

January is half over already!!!

2010-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

Two weeks have gone by ...where did the time go? Let's see.....New Year's Eve I decided to go down stairs to the party being held here in the building. There were about 10 of us and we played many games of r-c-l......a dice game that is easy but hard to describe. I didn't win one game. There were hats and horns and at midnight we blew the horns and then went up to go to bed. The visual amuses me...6 old ladies and 2 old men wearing funny hats and blowing horns, just waiting until we could go upstairs and go to bed.By 12:15 the room was empty and locked up.

\So...New Years day was spent recuperating from all the excitement from the night before. :-)

Had a great visit with my grandson Scott and his wonderful family....they are kind of in a transition between this side of the mountains and over into Twisp...we went over to Jocelyn's to visit and play a few lively games of Wii. So good to see them!!

Wednesday, the 6th I went over to Joce's for the night because we had to get up at 5am to get her to the doctor to have her right wrist carpal tunnel fixed. She made it through just fine and is recuperating nicely.

Of course Thursday was my birthday and we decided to celebrate it on Sunday....which we did at a wonderful brunch at the Maltby Cafe......a great place! wonderful food!

We are all looking forward to Brooke's baby shower on the 23rd.....it is going to be wonderful...Susie and Maggie are flying in from New Hampshire on Thursday for the event.

I must get to gettin' however, in order to finish her gift....so I will leave you now.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T12:10:00.000-08:00

Once again, it's almost upon us..another new year, I mean. I am amazed that I am still hanging around - and fairly healthy at that!

Christmas was wonderful! I spent the night before at Jocelyn 's house which was interesting....We had 5 year old Kylie sleeping in between us - which wasn't so bad, but we had three dogs on the bed as well...Poor Fritz couldn't find a place to land to his liking...and he kept walking all over me trying to find a place to sleep. We survived that just fine.... People started dribbling in soon and by the end we had 14 people there Such fun....I love it when they all come together...of course Susie wasn't there physically but we "skyped" her so she sorta was there.. I had been sewing - actually quilting, pot holders for everyone. My sewing skill are rusty as all get out these days....but I just loved the fabrics I got to work with,....for Steve and Sheree I had a "hit the gas" medley with fabrics with race cars, helmets, black and white checkers, bright stripes and tires. - since they are both so into car racing...for the girls I found fabrics with food on them....one was all fruits (bananas, pears, apples, blueberries, raspberries and oranges; the other was all veggies (green beans, red onions, garlic, corn, potatoes, and peas)....how cute was that!!!! They each got a fruit one and a veggie one. I also covered plastic hangers with all the leftover yarn I've got - I found out how to knot the yarn...makes a great hanger to use for slippery items that tend to fall off. Hardly put a dent in my yarn stash, however..and I made 14 of them!!

On other fronts, not much has been happening.....there is a New Year's Eve party downstairs that I will probably attend...bought a bottle of wine for the occasion...so i had better go, rather than sitting in my apartment and drinking it, huh?!

best wishes for the New Year, everyone, and may it be filled with good fortune and good health!

It' Almost Upon Us!!

2009-12-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

Good Morning, everyone.....I can't believe it is almost Christmas already.

Tuesday evening it was announced that the cub scouts would be here to sing Christmas carols to us. So down I went to listen...and it was crowded....not only with residents but with cub scouts and their parents. There were probably 15 or 20 kids with all the parents helping out. They passed out song sheets so we could sing along. Talk about cute! after they were through, they came among us and chatted for a while.....then they attacked the cookies on the table behind. I have never seen so many cookies. Next year I will contribute to that cause. The kids are quick to say they love coming here because we have so many cookies and they can have as many as they want!

Before Thanksgiving, Jocelyn purchased two turkeys...one for that day and the other for the freezer. Well....she cooked the other one Thursday and had me over for dinner, as well as her good friend, Marci and Marci's sister. What a great evening that was!

Whenever the "management" wants to alert us to something, they come around and stick a flyer in our door.....The latest was to announce that Michael was coming Sunday evening, and we should all come down at 6 PM......So, of course, I came down.....out of curiosity. When I got there there was a table piled high with snack stuff to eat and two more piled high with groceries. Every chair had a big white kitchen-sized trash bag hanging on the back of our chairs...Those were to use during our "grocery shopping". OMG! You should have seen the groceries.... They even had people to pack our bags to our apartments if they were too heavy.....it was amazing.....Evidently Michael had his parents in this building and he was so impressed with the treatment they got, he decided to give back......for 11 years he has been doing this. I was amazed!

Busy week coming up....a couple gifts to finish....all of them to wrap....checkup at the doctor this afternoon.... 3 more gifts to purchase (which I can now do since I got my new debit card). Then to Jocelyn's for Christmas Eve and day....everyone will be there - a real plus. Joce and I will go the Christmas Eve church services - probably at the Episcopalian church across the park where I live.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas........embrace your family and remember those who are no longer with you.... and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.....love and kisses to you all!!!!

It's warmer!!

2009-12-14T09:25:00.001-08:00

Finally it warmed up to the point I don't have to wrap myself in my scarf, coat, hat, gloves with a sweatshirt underneath!

On Saturday I decided this would be a good day for errands....so off I went - first to Pet Smart to get fritz a new Christmas coat. Marcia has brought down a little t-shirt thingy but that proved difficult to put on him....so this one is hooked on with Velcro and looks pretty neat. when I got to the checkout counter, I discovered I didn't have my debit card....oh no!! I remembered checking to see if I had it but then what did I do with it??? So I charged the coat and went on to Target to get a little necklace for Maggie for Christmas....also had to charge that. Hurried home and there was no debit card waiting for me. Off to the bank to report it ..... now I have to wait 5-7 working days for the new one - which is probably a good thing.....but I didn't get groceries like I planned. Oh well...I have to clean out my food cupboards anyhow....and the freezer.

Jocelyn came home yesterday - she had an interesting trip back east. Very glad to be home, however!!

Did I tell you about my gasoline purchase a couple weeks ago? The nozzle got stuck in the gas tank and I had to put all my muscle to get it out. I think I left the nozzle cover in there.,.,.but can't tell for sure. Hopefully Steve will come down and take a look-see soon. I'm needing more gas now. Can't get it until I get my new debit card tho'....

Well - I better get to gettin'....have a great week!

Brrrr!!

2009-12-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

It is COLD this morning..Not supposed to get over 30 degrees today. I finally turned my heat on today for the first time. I usually get enough morning sun to warm up the place for the day. Often have to open the window and turn on the fan.

Today would have been Mort's 81st birthday...I like to think he is celebrating with Kimo up there.

Today is also the day that World war II began. I can vividly remember that day...I was at my grandmother's house playing Canasta - her favorite game. Since she lived only a block away I often walked down the hill to visit. This day my dad decided it wasn't safe for me to walk and drove down to get me home. I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.....I was only 10 or 11, Funny how some memories stick in your head forever, isn't it.

Thursday I went to bingo here in the building and won the final game,...,.the "big one" and came home with a fine load of quarters which will let me wash clothes clear into the new year!

Thursday was also the day Jocelyn went back to visit Susie in New Hampshire. It surprised me how much I miss her....It's so nice to know she's close by when I need her..

I am still sewing my family Christmas gifts....I certainly don't do it as well as I used to...hope everyone understands....Maybe as I get more done they won't even notice.

Living across from the fire station certainly is noisy! I am also across from a tattoo parlor which is often interesting It is a busy one!

Not much on tap for next week....

Black Friday (??)

2009-11-27T12:13:00.000-08:00

Why do they call it "black Friday" ? It's a downer - right? I know that you wouldn't catch me in a store today, since I don't care for crowds.

Thanksgiving was wonderful, as usual. We had it at Dian's house - and there were about 12or so people there...we seem t o "adopt" people into our family. Oh well, that is certainly okay - we love 'em all. I really ate too much, as evidence by my blood sugar reading this morning of 193!!

Last Friday, we had the Thanksgiving building pot-luck. It was really nice and really different from my old building....no greens, no grits, no dry mac and cheese and no ham.!! I had my choice of people to sit with.....unlike before.....I didn't feel comfortable sitting with just anybody before. Further more they all knew my name.....Love it here!!

Last week I had somewhat of a scare when Fritz decided to stay under the bed all night and wouldn't''[t come out when I called him. Of course my imagination ran wild and I finally got down on my knees with the flashlight and there he was - wide awake. I went ahead and did my usual morning routine and still he didn't come out....Finally I rattled my keys and out he came.....Once we got inside tho', he scooted under the table, under the chair and finally back under the bed.....I agonized whether I should take him to the vet....and decided to wait until I got home from volunteering and see how he was....He was just fine!! Hurrah! He is as lively as ever - crises averted!...guess that's all for this time.....see you soon!

Sign-in Trouble

2009-11-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hello.....I have been having trouble signing in here so I could update my blog...they wouldn't take my password.....problem was that my fingernails are so doggone long these days that I don't type so accurately.

Anyhow...things are going well these days. We never did smell the dead fish..the river rose so quickly that they were most likely washed away - hope so anyhow.The river is sure high...they tell me it gets much higher but this is dramatic enough...It is now almost up to the trail on the other side...the ducks are all up on the lower sidewalk in order to sleep. They are so cute with their heads tucked under their wings...Sunday, the 8th was the benefit dinner for Marcia's friend's family It sure was roaring success!!! Nearly 200 people turned out. Marcia did a spectacular job getting things organized.

The next day I went on the bus to the Red Wind Casino down by Olympia. Let's just say that I had a good time with the folks in spite of the fact the gambling gods were not with me that day. It was pretty ugly

Tonight there is a thanksgiving dinner downstairs....I must get to baking the brownies I promised to bring .. Also I have clothes in the dryer so I better get to gettin'....Happy Thanksgiving to you all.....

Rain, Rain Go Away!!

2009-11-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

I take back all the complaining about the heat I did last summer!!This is ridiculous!! I always said I wouldn't melt - but now I am not so sure....Oh well....this is Seattle, after all.

The fish all all pretty much dead now...but still no smell. The river is so high that it is difficult to see them. I can't get over how ugly they get before they die... The river has been known to flood up over the walkway in the park.....of course this has all the old ladies fussing. I figure if it doesn't get up to my third floor apartment, I am okay.

I finally got a parking spot. It is nearly two blocks away - but it is MINE...

Those of you who do not live in this area may not have heard about the policeman's murder on Halloween night. Someone drove up to a parked police car and opened fire...injuring a police trainee and killing the trainer. He was a young man who had a family - wife and two kids - very sad. The Seattle police dept held his memorial yesterday and, of course, it was on TV. I was glued to the set....Police were there from as far away as San Diego and there was a huge contingent from British Columbia... The motorcade started at the UofW and wound its way down through the city to the Key Arena at Seattle Center. Took several hours for that alone.

Anyhow, no sooner was that over than there was a news alert that there had been a shooting incident in the Tukwila area and they suspected it was the person who "did the deed".....all very dramatic. This person is now in critical condition in the hospital. They are pretty sure that they have the right guy....I sure do hope so!! I must say it was quiet here in Renton without the police sirens going off all the time.....they were all in Seattle. The police turnout was quite amazing!!

I have pulled out my sewing machine and am working on Christmas gifts for my family. I Have not sewn a stitch in nearly four years - it was not easy to get back in the groove, but I think I have it down now and am putting' along quite nicely.

Tomorrow we are going to a benefit dinner for the family of Marcia's former employer who recently died from cancer. She was really nice to Marcia over the years....raising money for her when she was in the hospital, etc. Anyhow this was going to be a benefit for her medical bills, but she passed before it even got off the ground. Now it is for her family and the response has been nothing less than phenomenal. Lots of businesses have donated stuff needed to put the event on.....They are looking to having 200-300 people there. Surely do hope so. We are going to help in the kitchen and with the silent auction.

Now - in spite of the rain - MUST get to the grocery store - and the bank. (have to get cash for the Casino trip Monday..-:) )

It's Raining Leaves!!

2009-10-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

All the trees along the river have turned color now and every time there is a wind storm, it is literally raining leaves. Quite a sight! They are all over the grass and the sidewalks...but the city of Renton does it's best to blow them off. Fritz doesn't like them too much....he'd rather poop in the grass....I would rather that also -- easier to see. Too much information, huh?

The fish are pretty much dead now....there surely were a lot of them....of course they die right in front of us. The smell will come soon I expect. The male salmon sure do turn ugly .... They acquire a big ugly snout and big ugly fins.

We had a lady suddenly pass away this week. She was one of the "river ladies" - Coralie. Her dog is Holly and evidently she sat with her for a day an a half before she started barking. We were worried no one would take Holly in but today we learned Coralie's granddaughter will take her. A big relief to us all. Her son and grandson are here today to clear out her apartment. They brought all of her clothes and household stuff down to the "free table". It seemed a bit grisly to me to be pawing through that stuff before she was even buried. It is an odd family I guess. Not too close.

I have been sort of blah in recent weeks....discovered that my blood pressure is way too low. So another change in pills. I feel quite good today -obviously - I'm writing on my blog!!

But - for now - I am finished..

It's Fish Time

2009-10-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

What a sight it is - on the Cedar River right where we walk our dogs. The salmon are coming up to spawn - and they are turning red. The current is fairly swift going the other way and it is really hard for them to get up stream. They tell me that they sort of give up and lay their eggs and die right in front of us....eventually the river area begins to stink with all the dead fish.....I can hardly wait for that one! - NOT!!

Otherwise life is fairly quiet these days. I have actually pulled out my sewing machine and started on Christmas gifts already...I have not touched that machine in four years....and it has taken me a while to get into the groove. Think I am about there, however, so it is full steam ahead. I had forgotten what a great boost it is to successfully sew something - and be proud of it!

I seem to have pulled out of the lethargy, thank goodness. Thank you, Wellbutrin! However, having said that I am ashamed to say that it is 11AM and I still haven't had breakfast....so I better get going.

Leaves are Turning.,..

2009-09-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Gosh, it doesn't seem possible that it is nearly October already. We have had a nice September this year...

The folks from Sam's Club came to sell us memberships. So I got one.....I can get my pills for the same price as Wal Mart, milk is cheaper, and so is gas.....besides it is easier to get to than Wal Mart! So I made the trip down there and got lots of good stuff. Of course where I am going to put all this good stuff is another matter. Oh well...I had fun.

Went to the doc for my 3 month diabetes check-up.....all is well on that front. I told her that I was somewhat lethargic - didn't want to do anything. I KNOW I am not depressed any more. Well...she said the lethargy is a form of depression - whoda thunk it???? So one more pill added to my arsenal of medications. Think they are helping - I am not getting any more things done but at least I feel bad about it! :-)

Yesterday we had dinner at Dian's. The occasion was the fact that grandson Scott and his wife and children are moving to Twisp.. Scott will stay here and work and Leanna and the kids will be going over next week. He will eventually join them over there. None of us are happy that they are leaving but - it IS their life, after all. Their kids are so precious - we will miss them a lot.

Hopefully by the time of my next post I will have news as to the gender of Brooke's baby. we are all anxious to know, needless to say.

A couple of weeks ago, my cell phone slipped right out of my pocket and into the toilet....not a good thing. I finally got a new one and Dian slipped the old SIM card into it and I am back in business again. Same number and everything....amazing!

Gotta get the laundry done today.....no more excuses!!

River Ladies

2009-09-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

During this warm weather a bunch of ladies from the building congregate down by the Cedar River. It has become something we all seem to be drawn to most every night. We don't last long...some of the more frail ones get chilly....but we seem to enjoy each other's company - and each other's dogs!

So...let me introduce you:

Sharon.....is in a motor chair - is considerably overweight and well aware of that. She lives on her computer and plays all the Facebook games. She has "friended" me and is now playing Bejeweled too. She thinks Fritz is about the cutest thing she has ever seen......she is also a pinochle player and was one of the first to greet me when I moved in here last April.

Dorie...is the lady who watched Fritz when I had my eye surgery done....She is a sweetheart..uses a walker but doesn't need it all the time. She is also a pinochle player.

Carol....lives on my floor and loves, loves, loves all dogs - including Fritz. I have the feeling, from talking with her, that her life before she moved in here was pretty active. She says she is now all alone - with no close relatives. that saddened me, but she seems okay with it,. She will always take Fritz on an extended walk - which I do appreciate.

Erin...she is "mother" to LuLu and Bert.....LuLu is an overweight beagle and a love! Bert is an ancient doxie - also a love They are both slow enough she can take them off-leash and they will stay with her. She is a delight...She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity in their office doing data entry. Lots of fun to talk with.,

Ann...mother to Jasper. Jasper is a Lasha Ahpsa.....adorable and stubborn. If he doesn't want to walk he will let her know....She walks him all over Renton - I swear!

Margie....She is the Bingo nut in the building....also likes the casinos. She is always off to a Bingo game somewhere.

Roseanne...she lives right below me..very quiet...almost mousy....very religious....very sweet.

Faye...Mollie's mom....Mollie is a black cocker. Fritz barked at her for the longest time - which frightened Faye....but now all is well

Coralee....her dog is Holly - a long haired doxie. She doesn't come out too often...it is hard for her to get around. She has been working at her son's antique shop in Issaquah....he has now moved it to Duvall - a considerable distance from Renton! She has to take Access to get there and that's a day long event. She is from the New York City area and wishes she could go back there. You can hear the east coast twang in her speech.

Hope...she hasn't been coming long and I don't know her too well....but seems lovely.

I almost forgot Leone.....and Rico. Rico is a terrier of some sort and he and Fritz hit it off first thing. Rico will bark at any thing and everything....even across the river. Leone has a bad back so she doesn't come out too often.

So,...that's it! Isn't it wonderful that I can name all these women? I couldn't name half that many in the old building....and they all love my dog too!!

Party's Over

2009-09-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

...The pity party, that is....Woke up yesterday morning - and this morning - actually looking forward to the day, knowing I wouldn't be rubbing my annoying eye! The ointment still makes it blurry, but otherwise all is well again....

Cell phone still doesn't work, however

Gonna be a hot one today......happy to have the air conditioner!!!!!

Pity Party

2009-09-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

I am throwing myself a pity party today. As I have been telling you, my lower left eyelid turned into the eyeball, causing the lashes to irritate it....Yesterday, I went to have it fixed....the doc put three stitches into the lid to lift it out - which it did. Really a fairly minor procedure when put into the realm of things that can happen in one's body.....but of all the things that have happened to mine - diabetes,heart attack, mastectomy, thyroidectomy - this was by far the most annoying! He did numb up the eyelid but now it is un-numbed of course, and hurts a bit....also I have to put ointment on it which causes severe blurring and it is already starting to itch. It was really blurry last night and for some reason I couldn't get to sleep until 2AM....that could be why I am having this party.

Perhaps another reason would be that I was packing my cell phone in the back of my black pants because there isn't a pocket on the side....and it slid right into the toilet (fortunately it was clean water) so now it does not work.

So...now that I have that off my chest, I will resume counting my blessings: my wonderful, wonderful family,my adorable dog, good health - all things considered, great living space....and, most important of all I am ALIVE!!

National American Miss

2009-09-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a few of us went to the National American Miss pageant in Bellevue.......bet you didn't even know there was such a thing, did you?! If you have ever come across the TLC Show Toddlers and Tiaras, it is a scaled down version of that..... Marcia has a friend whose daughter was in it. She is probably 5 or 6 years old...really a cute kid and, when she didn't win anything besides the trophy everyone gets, didn't seem to be upset at all. It cost $15 to get in and even the parents and siblings had to pay that - on top of everything else they had to shell out for in the process of getting to the finals. They started out with presenting the top five "modeling" winners. Next came the top five "talent" kids - one of whom was an incredible gymnast.....talk about agile - that kid had rubber for bones. Naturally she won the talent contest. All I could think about is that my granddaughter Maggie had much more personality than any of those kids and she certainly could sing better than any of the talent up there - the big difference being she wouldn't want to do that in the first place, I'm thinkin'. .. So - once those events concluded we went on to award the other stuff they were there to receive. First they presented all 30 finalists in their "evening gowns"- some of which were completely appropriate for girls of their ages and others that were completely over the top. There was some serious money up there on that stage! Then came the "awards".....like for the Miss Congeniality.....the best "thank you note" writer....the best community service girl....of course the talent and model winners......It went on and on - and I decided I needed to invest in a trophy company - they gave one to runners up as well as winners - and - every girl who entered got one too. The girl who was out going American Miss Princess was a cute little red-head who lost a few teeth during her reign.....but she stood up there handing out trophies with a huge grin in spite of the gaps in her teeth. The girl who won this year was not memorable....the gymnast, however, took first runner-up. As we were leaving we heard lost of anguished sobbing - particularly from little girls who couldn't hold all the trophies they had won.....I went out of there shaking my head!

Not much other news....Fritz is well again, much to my relief.....He is on his second week of pills which I now hide in a spoonful of canned dog food....gobbles it right down.

Tuesday after volunteering I get my eye fixed....I can't wait.....it is so annoying!! The doc promises it will only take 20 minutes and I'll be able to drive home. Yeah!!

Bye Bye Summer

2009-08-31T09:17:00.001-07:00

Wow....here it is the end of August! This was a quick one....I have actually been here in my new place 5 months already....and still don't have a parking space. It is okay tho', I usually can find a spot on the street in front of the building - although I did have to park by the park and hike a couple blocks one time. I guess I am either 2nd or 3rd on the waiting list but the people who either move out or die don't seem to have cars - thus no parking spaces empty...I will be patient!!

Fritz seems to be back to his old self....tho he is still coughing a little. But he's perky and bouncy and "bright eyed and bushy tailed" again. So I will call the vet and let him know and hopefully we won't need to go in for X-rays.....surely don't need that expense.

Tuesday I had my annual mammogram and all is well there!

Friday was Brooke's birthday and we had dinner at a pizza/grinder place in Kirkland. We then went out to the Snoqualmie Casino for a while. I only risked ten bucks which I figured was cheap entertainment for the evening.

Then yesterday was Isaac's birthday and Marcia and I traveled up to lake Stevens for that. He is now 6 years old and will enter school - maybe even today. It was a beautiful day and we were out in the back yard....the theme was pirates and pizza.....and there was lots of both. A fun time!! Then Marcia and I went to the Tulalip casino for a while where I didn't do so well .....She did tho', and shared - so the damage wasn't too bad. Fun, fun day.

Looks like a fairly empty week coming up.....talk to you later.

Results

2009-08-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

This morning I took Fritz to the vet....of course he wasn't coughing like he did all day yesterday...but dear, sweet Dr Young gave him a good going over the the upshot is that he most likely has a respiratory infection....and he also has a small heart problem. He gave me a weeks worth of pills to give him and I am to call with whether or not he is better after all of those are gone. If not, then x-rays are in order - and they'll be able to tell the extent of the heart problem then as well. He does seem a lot better...still sleeping a lot...but he actually barked at a big dog this afternoon - and I cheered!

So then it was my turn at the eye doctor....the upshot of that is that I will have surgery in two weeks to pull my lower eye-lid back out. At first I thought they were just going to pluck the lower eyelashes out - but that didn't happen - fortunately...this surgery will be bad enough - but still not as bad as when they did the injection in the eyeball.

All this and it is only Monday!!

forgot about this...

2009-08-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

As we were driving down I-5, we notice the car in front of us weaving in and out of the lane....very scary - so we decided to pass the car and guess what - the chick was TEXTING! So - Joce called 911 and reported her.....we pulled over first and let her pass so we could grab the license number. An Oregon driver! Gave the info to the 911 lady and lo and behold a call came in from WA State patrol confirming the info. We had to take the exit to the Narrows bridge in Tacoma so don't know what happened - but the patrolman assured her they would take care of the situation. It was very frightening....she swayed nearly half way into the next lane and then nearly half way into the shoulder. Joce was honking her horn at her like crazy - very dangerous!

Feelin' puny...

2009-08-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Poor old Fritz is feeling down-right puny these days! He went to the vet on Monday and got - among a jillion other shots - his rabies shot. Ever since then he has been unable to get up on my lap - or onto the bed - without help....so unlike him! The ladies down in the "social room" tell me that is fairly common when older dogs get rabies shots. He also has arthritis in his hind-quarters, which is certainly not helping. Now he has started coughing....so I will return to the vet tomorrow morning. Thursday morning when he didn't come when I called, I got down on my knees to see if he was under the bed - and actually alive - and yes to both concerns. I could reach him and stuck my hand under there and he growled and snapped at my hand. He still comes running - sorta- when I rattle my keys - and the tail still wags when that happens,. But he just stands there while I attach the leash as opposed to wriggling with excitement and peeing on the kitchen floor,. He actually sits down in the elevator instead of poking his nose at the door so he can get out of there.

Yesterday, Jocelyn and I took a trip to Port Orchard to visit Mort's brother, John. John turned 91 last month and has just come off stint of pneumonia. He was down for his afternoon nap when we got there so we didn't stay long. He knew who we were and asked about all of our family - including grand kids - most of whom he knew their names. Amazing. He even knew I had moved down to Renton and asked if I was still volunteering at the hospital. Needless to say he was delighted we were there - but told us we had better go before he started preaching at us....He has been worried about my soul as long as I have known him.... and conversation always gets around to that. It was a beautiful day for the trip, and we had lunch down by the water and then roamed around the farmers' market a bit, and drove home. All in all a very nice venture,.

Tomorrow I go back to the eye doctor....this eye business is mighty annoying. Evidently my lower eyelid has turned inward and the eyelashes are rubbing against the eyeball. Very strange!! Wonder what - if anything - be done about THAT??!! I'll keep you posted.

Tuesday is the annual mammogram and that about covers it for next week....and we are almost into September, already...can you believe it? Have a good week!!

I LOVE Julia!

2009-08-17T14:12:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Dian and I went to see Julie and Julia.....and loved, loved, loved it! Meryl Streep was magnificent as Julia Child....and both the stories were wonderful. What an undertaking to cook ones way through a cookbook in a year. and, for that matter, what an undertaking to actually write a cookbook - although it did take her longer than a year to do it. I realize these days the food network folks crank out a cookbook almost every year but I betcha none of them had to go through the hoops Julia Child did! Aside from the fact that my resolve is nothing like Julie's, I really doubt I could have cooked every single recipe in the book, back in the day. Now I let Stouffers do my cooking for me....

I took Fritz to the vet this morning. Every morning from 9 to 11 they have open hours where you can bring your pet without an appointment. The place was packed! Fritz has been chewing on a spot on his hind leg - and I wanted to get something to stop that...besides I knew he was behind on his shots. Dr. said that he probably had arthritis in his "knee" and that's why he was chewing.. Gave him some pain pills which I give to him for a week and he should be okay from now on. I surely never noticed he was having pain....still jumps up and down just fine. He got his shots and we were on our way. Lots of dogs there today, as well as cats. Soon as we got there he started trembling and sat on my lap the whole time we were waiting. Didn't even bark at the big dogs - which is so unlike him. He still weighs 9 pounds like he has for most of his life. I also took him for grooming on Saturday and once again he looks like a toy fox. So cute! Needless to say, I love my dog!! - and he needs to go out again....talk to you later.

It has beenn so long......

2009-08-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

since I last wrote, I had to reset my password. Sorry about that!! Actually not a whole lot has happened since last post. Thankfully, the weather got cooler - that heat was way too much! Fritz pulled out of it okay, after all - as did I. Thankfully the air conditioner worked like a charm.

Oh yes - I almost forgot - I was a winner at the casino!! How could I forget that???!! Playing "50 Lions" I won $400 and playing something about "fairies" I won another 100.....shared 100 with Joce, played another 100 and came home with 300 - 200 of which I still have. How about that! Very cool!

Susie went home - with Maggie - and left Henry here for another week. Marcia took him home on Friday - and she will return day after tomorrow. It was so wonderful to have then all here - wish we could seen them oftener.

Tomorrow will be Dian's birthday....wow those years sure do fly by, don't they!! Week from yesterday will be Susie's birthday and the week after that - on the 28th - will be Brooke's.

Brooke now has a "due date" - March 4 - and we are all pretty stoked about that! I am pulling out my knitting needles and patterns once again. March seems a long way away but it will be here before we know it.

I read in the paper this morning, that my best childhood friend, Shirley Anne, passed away the other day....I hadn't seen her for several years. She and her husband and daughter ran a bed and breakfast in Everett for 8 years or so - Gaylord House. It was a nice one. She was six months or so older that me - and could never imagine having the energy to bake all those cookies and climb all those stairs - but she did it.

Went down to play pinochle this afternoon....and I actually CHEATED!!! I am embarrassed to say. I had three legs and my partner was in the process of melding 40 jacks when I said, without thinking, "why don't you pass me those jacks - since they are losers anyhow? " Of course that gave me 300 pinochle.......they actually let me get away with that - which I doubt would have happened down in Seaside,.....In the end, the other team won the match - by 3 points- so I guess justice was served after all!

Yesterday was my volunteer day and I had to go in early because so many folks are on vacation these days.....ended up working two shifts - and I was pooped by the end of the day. There were 12 surgeries to keep track of and tons of odd questions to answer. Fortuanately I had a great gal to work with - not the odd woman I have had the last couple of months. I am being sort of polite when I call her "ODD", believe me!

Well, I'd better get to gettin'......still have dishes to do from this morning AND yesterday....and it is nearly dinner time. I will try to post a bit oftener from now on......

Glorious Water Park!

2009-07-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, 15 of us Mortlands went to the Henry Moses Water Park, here in Renton. What a great place that is! There is a water slide, a big wave pool, a regular Olympic size pool (for serious swimmers) and another area with fountains to play under, in and around. Best of all, with my Renton address on my driver license, we were able to get in for around 89 bucks....that would probably get two people into Wild Waves down in Federal Way. There are lots of lounge chairs and regular chairs and big umbrellas to sit under in the shade. You can also bring in your own snacks and beverages - which you can't do at Wild Waves. They limit the number of people to 650 or so - even tho the capacity is 900. Once they're full they won't allow anyone else in.,...even to watch. Needless to say, I was a "watcher" not a swimmer....but let me tell you, the people watching is magnificent!!

Susie and her family have been here from New Hampshire and it has been so great to have them here. The kids have grown a lot, of course, and they are still sweet, engaging, smart, beautiful and wonderful. Jeff went home yesterday, Susie and Maggie go home on Thursday and Henry is staying an extra week and he and Marcia will go home then. We have been doing nothing much but hanging out together while they are here. It is wonderful!

I am worried about my little dog, Fritz.....this heat we are having seems to be doing him in. He spent the night on the bathroom floor - did not hop up on the bed as he usually does. He went out for his walk this morning, took his treat - but didn't eat it - VERY unusual. He just stared at his food just now, decided that was a no, drank some water and went back into the bathroom. I have the bedroom fan on, the air conditioner on, and another fan going...but it is still hot here. Yesterday the apartment got up to 80 degrees with all that going on....still better than outside Supposed to hit 100 tomorrow....lordy, lordy!!! I wonder why he has chosen the bathroom for his retreat.,...it is hot in there! If this goes on much longer, I will take him to the vet......if only to reassure myself that it is the heat and not something else.

Stay cool.....if you can!

I get so mad at myself........

2009-07-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

....I had a whole post composed and went away from it by accident ...pushed the wrong button again....grrrrrr!!! So...here we go again!

Went to the foot doc =- and asked him just what exactly were these inserts were supposed to do for me??? He looked at me with pure pity in his eyes - poor old woman! they were supposed to make it more comfortable for me to walk.....I said, I couldn't tell much difference except the arthritis in my right hip seems to have reared it's ugly head again. So he had his girl grind down the arch support in the right insert. Believe it or not it seemed to help a lot. They are still awkward - and my feet still hurt a lot - but I have decided I will live with it. If I have to go back to the foot doc, I think I will find another one,.......I didn't like this one's attitude

Steve came down Saturday afternoon....it is always so great to spend time with him.....don't get to do that often enough. He hung my stereo on the wall, which made room for my sewing machine - which was on the top closet shelf and difficult to get at. He also took down the box with all my sewing supplies and there is room for that down on the floor under the table So...now I just need to get the gumption to go at it.......between all my library books and bejeweled blitz I seem to get involved with those things instead of things I need to do - like sewing and house cleaning.

Dian came over on Sunday and we went to lunch. She all of a sudden had sharp pain in her left foot....got so bad she had to go to the doc the next day and discovered she had a stress fracture in the foot....Now she is sporting a big old black boot which evidently helps support the foot. With the hot weather we have been having, the boot is not comfy at all!

Speaking of weather.....it is here! I tend to stay in with my dandy air conditioner. Fortunately I got Fritz trimmed before it got hot.....he has such a thick undercoat - I hope he is insulated from the heat....In the evenings, we go down to the park and meet other ladies with their dogs and chat. I would surely never been able to do this in the old building!! There is a great breeze coming off the river. Fritz gets along now with most of the other dogs,....but he still has trouble with the big ones - as well as bicycles, skateboards, motor cycles and buses.......Have to keep him on a short leash when walking along the street, needless to say.

Dian and Nigel had a nice surprise when Nigel's sister dropped in on them from England! She is here for a couple weeks.....the whole thing was arranged through grandson Chris...if you ever want to pull a surprise, you can safely confide in Chris, that's for sure.

Tomorrow evening, Susie and her family will be here from New Hampshire.....Monday, they will be going down to Oregon for a wedding....then on to eastern Washing to visit with friends and they'll be back on Wednesday.....We can hardly wait!!

Well, my tummy is rumbling....it's lunch time......see you later.....

New week...

2009-07-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! Another new week starting. It is much cooler outside today so I don't have the blessed air condition running. It certainly was wonderful over the weekend!

On Thursday, we got together to celebrate Marcia's 50th birthday at the Melting Pot in Bellevue. It was a fun time.....every thing they serve there is fondue.....we went at happy hour and had a brie platter and also the cheddar with different bread chunks. Of course we also had the milk chocolate fondue with various things to dip in that too . Then we decided to go to the Snoqualmie casino .... we all came out okay....I put in 10 and took home 20 which isn't bad, huh?!

Since Jocelyn decided to be a "good" girl and go home instead, she decided she needed a "fix" as well so we went to Bingo - and she won 100! So I took my share of that, 50, and put the 10 from the night before, and stashed it away for the building trip to the Lucky Eagle casino next Wednesday.....once again gambling on their money instead of my own. I know, I know....I had to spend in order to get....but let's just say I am re-spending, okay?

Jocelyn had us over to her house on the 4th. Nice time!! Dian and her family came as well as a couple of friends of Jocelyn's. From her deck we can see all the fireworks going off up and down Lake Washington....and it is a great sight to see.

Joce, Dian Marcia and her friend Laureen, took off the next morning to camp in Joce's new (to her) tent trailer. Once again - to celebrate Marcia's birthday. Hope they are having fun and it isn't raining on them. It is so wonderful that they all get along so well.

Can't wait for Susie and her family to get here....they arrive in the area and right away go down to Oregon for a wedding.....Maggie is the flower girl in the wedding. Then to head to eastern WA to see some friends before they eventually land in Seattle for a short week here. Henry will be staying on for another week and Marcia will take him home and visit back there for a few days.

Guess that's it for now....have a great week, everyone!

Beautiful cool air...

2009-07-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

This morning the maintenance guy, Jim, installed my new air conditioner.....and is it ever nice! A couple days ago, I got up and it was almost 80 . So I opened the windows wide and put on the two fans and hoped for the best.....It got so hot in here I could almost not stand it...so I went out and purchased a portable air conditioner.....the best 300 bucks I ever spent. Of course it has cooled down considerably outside....but I am ready for the hot days they say are coming.

Last Sunday was my great grand-daughter's first birthday party. We got a bit lost trying to find their place but made it, finally. What a sweetie she is! she tore into her cake as only a one year old could - as well as the gift wrappings. Such fun.

Speaking of birthdays, tomorrow is my daughter Marcia's 50th and my brother-in-law John 's 91st! We are celebrating Marcia's at the Melting Pot in Bellevue - it is a fondue restaurant that is supposed to be fun as well as good.

Well...my dinner is ready. Talk to you later

I think I have an addiction!

2009-06-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

I have been playing Bejeweled Blitz 'til I am nearly cross eyed! I get caught up with trying to get higher scores than my family.....It is not easy - but tonight I reign (for a while). They are pretty darned good at this stupid game!

I went back to the foot doc and got my orthotics. Then had to go buy some shoes with removable insoles - which don't come cheap ( nor are they cute). So I have been wearing them for a week....and they feel odd....but then my feet always feel odd. I HATE my feet!! See the doc in a couple of weeks to assess the effectiveness of the darned things.

Had Fritz groomed on Wednesday too. I asked them to trim him down at least by half...he now looks like a stuffed toy. Really cute.

Also saw my primary care doc this last week.....I counted up and discovered I have 9 doctors I see throughout the year...that's disgusting! Anyhow, all is well there so I don't have to go back for another 3 months.

Today would have been our 54th wedding anniversary.....I spent the day volunteering at the hospital so didn't have to think about the day a whole lot. It was an interesting day.....had one family who spoke only Russian so they had to have an interpreter.....another huge group of people were there for a 24year old girl...and not a relative among them....strange.....Lots of questions throughout the afternoon so the time went quickly.

Saturday was my grandson Henry's 9th birthday. Time sure does fly.....guess he had a sleepover and ---- he fell asleep himself, much to his chagrin! Friday, my great-granddaughter turns 1 year old...they're having a party on Saturday. I remember going to her dad's first birthday party.

Well I better turn in.....taking Joce to her colonoscopy tomorrow morning...and since I have been sleeping in lately, I guess I'll need to set the alarm. Yawn!

The Blasted TV!

2009-06-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought my TV woes were over, wham! bam!.......all of a sudden I could only get C-span....couldn't change channels at all...neither on the tv or the tivo. What the heck happened?!! So......Dian said she would come over to see what was what - which she did last night and we ended up unhooking the tivo all together and I am without tivo now - which is fine with me. In a couple weeks I might call either tivo or comcast and try again......who knows?! While watching tv last night, I saw that tivo was recording away......very weird!

Monday was the building's trip to the Snoqualmie Casino. The Casino sent their shuttle buses for us....two of them.....so 50 of us went. Had much fun and up and down luck......came home $40 poorer....which isn't too bad for a whole day's entertainment.

Yesterday I was supposed to take Fritz to be groomed but when I got there, there was a sign on the door saying the groomer was ill and to call at 5:30.....come to find out she was in a bad car accident....so we go in today to a new person who, they say, is every bit as good......I hope to get him trimmed down a lot this time.

So.....I'd better get to gettin'......

You'll be happy to know.....

2009-06-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

My tivo problems are over. Yesterday, the comcast man came and, while he readily admitted he didn't know much about tivo, he DID know that the sensor was on the front of the digital box and not on the back - where the tivo guys said it had to be.....once we put it on the front, everything worked just fine.......drama over!!!!

Seems funny to me!

2009-06-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

So I have gone through two telephone batteries on the line with tivo trying to get my darned tivo to change channels which it quit doing when Comcast installed the digital box to get me ready for the big digital transition. It has been suggested that I drop tivo and get a dvr directly from Comcast...but I really don't want to do that because when we signed up for tivo 2-3 years ago, we purchased a lifetime membership and there is no bill.

Then it occurred to me that since everything was working before Comcast came and screwed it up, they should fix it. So this afternoon I called 1-800-COMCAST. I had two options.....since this was not comcast equipment, I could have someone come out and fix it for $19.95 or I could join a plan of some sort and I would get a bill for $.99 each month. If I wanted to quit the plan after it was all fixed I could cancel on Monday and I would only get a bill for - are you ready? -3 cents! I chose that option. So she set me up for the plan.....and once I was all set up, we made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon between 2 and 6 PM for the guy to come out and fix me up. The whole thing seems sorta fishy to me but - hey - if it works I will take it.

In other news.....we had bingo in the building last night...so I went down and actually won three of the five games,.,...came home with a boat-load of quarters. Fun, huh?!

I will let you know what happens with the tv/tivo.......

Tuesday, Again

2009-06-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

I hope you all have found me by now.....Once Susie gets to town I am going to ask her to transfer all the stuff from the old blog site to here - if it can be done, she'll be able to do it. In the meantime....

Yesterday was a difficult day....the second anniversary of when we lost Mort. I heard from all 5 kids and that was nice. For some reason this was a harder "anniversary" than the last one The girls think maybe that was because I am more relaxed in my new living situation. Probably so....

Sunday night the girls and I went to Bingo and - ta da! - I was a winner. The very last game I won $200.....could have been 400 but I had to share. So, as we always do, I kept half and divided the rest with the girls....now I have "guilt free" money for the building's trip to the Snoqualamie Casino next Monday. whoo hooo! gotta love it!

I had received a gift card from Target on Mother's day so I went last week to spend it...bought a new bed set and Jocelyn helped me get the bed skirt on and actually had the whole thing put together after I returned from taking Fritz out. It is really nice to have it looking all put together since I have to look at it every time I sit down to watch tv. When I moved here, I thought I was going to exchange my bed for a twin....but that didn't happen . I gave away all my bed linens, however. so I was kind of "strapped" there.

On that same trip, I went to Fry's to get the IR cable....they had no idea what I was talking about.,.they were sending me all over that giant store to look for it. I gave up - came home4 and went to the tivo on-line store and there it was....so I ordered it! Should be here soon - then comes the fun of hooking it up.

Off to volunteer today....have a good one.

Change!!

2009-06-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hi, folks.....I hope I can get this site to work....all of a sudden the old one refused to recognize my e-mail address and password so I switched to this one. Hope I don't lose any of you!!

The Renton farmers' market opened this week so I decided to hitch up Fritz and walk down there.....I was enjoying the music (a barbershop chorus) when I got a tap on the shoulder and was informed dogs were not allowed in the market. Jocelyn had seen us walking down there and told me that if I needed a ride to call her.......so I did....she came and got me and brought me home.....so I gave her the flowers I bought.

The heat has been difficult in the apartment. Not as bad as the folks facing West, however, but bad enough I am considering investing in a portable air conditioner. Of course it is cooler today...so I'll probably wait.

When the cable company came to hook up the box so I could get digital TV, they hooked it to my Tivo...and the tivo quit recording. So I called them and they said I would have to call tivo..which I did......35 minutes later I found out I need an IR cable....whatever that is. I will go to Fry's today to find out....then comes the fun of installing the thing.

Volunteering is going well....I am distressed that my regular Tuesday partner is ill and the substitute bugs the heck out of me. I took an extra shift yesterday and lots of things happened.....first a lady came up and said she was in horrible pain and needed to go to the ER.....but she needed to talk to her husband's doctor too 'cause he was in surgery.....all the time wincing in great pain. Called security to take her to the er and called the surgery room to send the message to the doctor......by the way, she had had gall bladder surgery six days ago....About an hour later she came back smiling from ear to ear....it had been a spasm in her back. then a guy came up with a parking ticket he felt we should pay for because "one of you people" told him parking on the street was free with people with handicapped cards hanging on the car.....It usually is but not if he is In a bus zone, or a time limited zone or his ticket is expired......

I am loving my new computer.....I find the keyboard difficult tho' - a lot more sensitive..,.but, thanks to spell-check I can fix most of my errors....need to get my nails shortened too Well....I am going to send you all an e-mail telling you to come here from now on......see you soon,