It's been a while, but life has been somewhat boring for a while. Until this past weekend.
Read on!
I am not sure if I've ever mentioned that we are the adopted parents of Josephus Awrightus' cat, Figaro. He's made his home with us for almost 3 years now (I think), because when JA moved out, he wasn't too sure of how safe his furry friend would be in his new digs. So Figaro (aka Mafia Cat) has made his home with us for almost 3 years.
He's had his share of adventures. And he didn't come by the name "Mafia Cat" because of his gentle nature. He hates other cats, although he tolerates dogs okay. And he's always ready for a fight. Last year he tangled with something bigger than he was--probably a raccoon, and after a $164-ish vet bill to fix him up, we determined he would no longer be allowed to spend nights outside. Now he has lost his "after dark" outside privileges as well. Here's the story.
Friday evenings Josephus Awrightus comes over for dinner and to hang out with his parents. Last Friday, he made a run to Barnes & Noble (payday, money burning a hole in his pocket), and when he returned about 9:45, Mafia Cat wanted in as well. But all was not well with Mafia Cat!
He looked pretty disheveled and grubby, and on closer inspection, we realized he was covered in motor oil. How he got that way, we can only guess. We couldn't just leave that on him, so we attempted to wipe him down as best we could, but he wasn't having any. After a good romp through the house trying to catch up with him so we could try to wipe off the oil, and even wash it off with a squirt bottle filled with soap, we just put old blankets on all the surfaces that he usually sits on and called it good.
The next morning he seemed pretty humble and subdued, but that only lasted until Pink Avenger came over and we attempted to give him a bath. We all know that most cats hate water. We weren't going to actually immerse him in water, but were attempting to wash him off by soaking him down with our *wucka-wucka* machine (bug sprayer but never had any chemicals in it) and applying Dawn dish soap on a sponge to the affected parts. We were well gloved, had him in the bathtub, plenty of towels, and were prepared for the worst!
Which we got! His normal meow is pretty lame, which seems odd considering he's a 20-pound cat and meaner than a junkyard dog. However, his *howler* works very well. We both came near to losing a hand or two, and when it was all over *Slick* climbed Pink Avenger's leg and attempted to bite and scratch her. He didn't seem particularly interested in having us dry him off, so we let him out of the bathroom and he had to dry pretty much on his own.
Naturally he'd do something like this late on a Friday night, and Petsmart doesn't bathe kitties on the weekend.
He looks a lot better, although his left cheek (white) and left back paw (also white) still is a dirty brown color, and you can tell there's still oil residue on his back and sides. But Mafia Cat has a new nickname which we will probably use forever: Slick!
And Slick must be in before dark!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Where Does the Time Go?
Another week has flown swiftly by. Lots of fun things, and some "not-so-fun" things have occurred this week. Lets see what's been happening in my life for the week of Oct. 12th-18th
First off ........
I stepped on the scale this morning and found that I have dropped about 3 pounds (could be 2, but it looks like 3) since the last time I weighed myself on our bathroom scale. Pretty darn good, considering that we've gone through two weeks of 2,000-2,400 calories--per the Curves diet plan. Tomorrow we start all over again with the 1,200 calorie per day plan. Weigh-in at Curves isn't until November 1st, but I hope those scales show a nice weigh loss as well.
Windy City
The first couple of days this week it was pretty windy around here. I love the wind, although I *don't* love the damage it can do. And as long as I can stay inside, cozied up next to the wood stove with a nice hot fire going, and my electricity still working. Where we are, we're pretty much only able to feel the east winds, which we seem to get more of. We're butt-up against a nice hill that blocks the south winds, so we don't feel those very much. Columbus Day was on Monday, and I was reminded of the great Columbus Day storm in 1962, when I was a sophomore in high school. At our house we knew it was windy, but how windy we didn't know until our power came back on the next day and we could see the news reports. The house of my youth (not the same one as in this photo) was/is also butt-up against a much taller hill--Forest Park--so we didn't get *near* the devastation that others did. When I met DC a few years later and the Columbus Day storm came into the conversation, I learned that he was out in it, and that his family lost their electricity for a couple of weeks. They were on top of a hill, rather than sheltered by one, so they felt the affects much more than my family did. Fortunately they had gas appliances so they could still eat hot meals. Their furnace was gas as well, but the thermostat was run by electricty. I think DC's dad was able to bypass it somehow. My family home was also run mostly by gas--cooking and heating anyway, but we didn't go long without the electricity.
Part of my brother's fence blew down on Tuesday, so we went up after everyone got home and put it back up. Well, actually DC & brother did, while I chatted inside with Sis-in-law, but I was along for moral support. They live atop the hill, so they get all the winds that hit our fair city.
Sad News
Ardyth's brand new kitten, Kaylee, passed away this week. She was only about 6 months old, but had FIP, which is an incurable kitty disease that I haven't had a chance to Google for to get the details on. I did get to meet her, and she was the sweetest little thing. Reminded me a bit of PA's kitty, Piewacket. Whenever I meet someone who has lost a furry friend, I send the link to the poem "Rainbow Bridge," which my brother sent me years ago at the lost of his first kitty, Tsunami. Here's the link for anyone who hasn't seen it before:
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
Grandma Nora said on many occasions that our pets are ours in the hereafter, too. This poem pretty much says it, too. Enjoy!
The End
I have a few people I need to think up nicknames for. That will be on my list of to-do's this week. I thank Heffalump for most of the names I have used--they were hers first.
First off ........
I stepped on the scale this morning and found that I have dropped about 3 pounds (could be 2, but it looks like 3) since the last time I weighed myself on our bathroom scale. Pretty darn good, considering that we've gone through two weeks of 2,000-2,400 calories--per the Curves diet plan. Tomorrow we start all over again with the 1,200 calorie per day plan. Weigh-in at Curves isn't until November 1st, but I hope those scales show a nice weigh loss as well.
Windy City
The first couple of days this week it was pretty windy around here. I love the wind, although I *don't* love the damage it can do. And as long as I can stay inside, cozied up next to the wood stove with a nice hot fire going, and my electricity still working. Where we are, we're pretty much only able to feel the east winds, which we seem to get more of. We're butt-up against a nice hill that blocks the south winds, so we don't feel those very much. Columbus Day was on Monday, and I was reminded of the great Columbus Day storm in 1962, when I was a sophomore in high school. At our house we knew it was windy, but how windy we didn't know until our power came back on the next day and we could see the news reports. The house of my youth (not the same one as in this photo) was/is also butt-up against a much taller hill--Forest Park--so we didn't get *near* the devastation that others did. When I met DC a few years later and the Columbus Day storm came into the conversation, I learned that he was out in it, and that his family lost their electricity for a couple of weeks. They were on top of a hill, rather than sheltered by one, so they felt the affects much more than my family did. Fortunately they had gas appliances so they could still eat hot meals. Their furnace was gas as well, but the thermostat was run by electricty. I think DC's dad was able to bypass it somehow. My family home was also run mostly by gas--cooking and heating anyway, but we didn't go long without the electricity.
Part of my brother's fence blew down on Tuesday, so we went up after everyone got home and put it back up. Well, actually DC & brother did, while I chatted inside with Sis-in-law, but I was along for moral support. They live atop the hill, so they get all the winds that hit our fair city.
Sad News
Ardyth's brand new kitten, Kaylee, passed away this week. She was only about 6 months old, but had FIP, which is an incurable kitty disease that I haven't had a chance to Google for to get the details on. I did get to meet her, and she was the sweetest little thing. Reminded me a bit of PA's kitty, Piewacket. Whenever I meet someone who has lost a furry friend, I send the link to the poem "Rainbow Bridge," which my brother sent me years ago at the lost of his first kitty, Tsunami. Here's the link for anyone who hasn't seen it before:
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
Grandma Nora said on many occasions that our pets are ours in the hereafter, too. This poem pretty much says it, too. Enjoy!
The End
I have a few people I need to think up nicknames for. That will be on my list of to-do's this week. I thank Heffalump for most of the names I have used--they were hers first.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Puzzles
Last night was the second installment of my birthday gift from Ardyth--Puzzle & Game night. Only Ardyth opened it up to my other daughters and their husbands, as well as my sister-in-law and my brother. Snacky food was the menu of the evening, and there were plenty of chips, clam dip, Ardyth's home-made garlic dip, donuts, cookies, and Ezre's chili. Plus "drinkage" (our term for beverages). And Ardyth came armed with lots of crossword puzzle books, Sudoku books, other types of puzzle books, and photocopies of some of the puzzles, as she was planning a contest to see who could finish a crossword puzzle first (with prizes). Since Sudoku was new to some of us, so she wanted to be sure she had enough copies for everyone to try without waiting for a free book. And she even supplied mechanical pencils. What a girl!
Ezre and Pink Avenger and their hubbies were the only ones who were able to come. Heffalump & my sis-in-law were both sick, and Myra was recovering from the birthday party they had given for Princess T earlier in the day.
Some of us were new to crossword puzzles as well. I have done them off and on through the years, especially those in the newspaper. And from time to time someone will gift me with a crossword puzzle book. This was one of my mother's favorite pasttimes, so it brought her memory a little closer to us. Ardyth was 13 when my mother passed away, so she remembered seeing Mom doing the puzzles. Ezre and PA never met her--she died three years before they were born.
Ardyth finished the crossword puzzle first, I was second, and I'm not sure whether Ezre or her husband (aka Roman) was third. Ezre was one who had never done crossword puzzles before (I don't think she has, anyway), so it was fun as we all tried to give her hints when she got stuck. For example, a 4-letter word using "turkey" as an example. She had the MEA, but couldn't imagine what the last letter could be. I don't remember exactly what clue Roman gave her, but she cried out triumphantly "MEAL." Poor Roman, he laid his head down on the table and groaned while the rest of us who had already gotten it, laughed. She did get it after that (the answer was "MEAT").
I have tried Sudoku in the past but had always given up because I lack the patience to keep erasing when I discover a wrongly-placed number. So Ardyth showed me her strategy. Totally different than what the first book I had ever seen had given. No wonder I was frustrated. I will be giving Sudoku a better look now.
Thanks Ardyth, for a GREAT evening!
Ezre and Pink Avenger and their hubbies were the only ones who were able to come. Heffalump & my sis-in-law were both sick, and Myra was recovering from the birthday party they had given for Princess T earlier in the day.
Some of us were new to crossword puzzles as well. I have done them off and on through the years, especially those in the newspaper. And from time to time someone will gift me with a crossword puzzle book. This was one of my mother's favorite pasttimes, so it brought her memory a little closer to us. Ardyth was 13 when my mother passed away, so she remembered seeing Mom doing the puzzles. Ezre and PA never met her--she died three years before they were born.
Ardyth finished the crossword puzzle first, I was second, and I'm not sure whether Ezre or her husband (aka Roman) was third. Ezre was one who had never done crossword puzzles before (I don't think she has, anyway), so it was fun as we all tried to give her hints when she got stuck. For example, a 4-letter word using "turkey" as an example. She had the MEA, but couldn't imagine what the last letter could be. I don't remember exactly what clue Roman gave her, but she cried out triumphantly "MEAL." Poor Roman, he laid his head down on the table and groaned while the rest of us who had already gotten it, laughed. She did get it after that (the answer was "MEAT").
I have tried Sudoku in the past but had always given up because I lack the patience to keep erasing when I discover a wrongly-placed number. So Ardyth showed me her strategy. Totally different than what the first book I had ever seen had given. No wonder I was frustrated. I will be giving Sudoku a better look now.
Thanks Ardyth, for a GREAT evening!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Whatta Week!
Now THERE'S a Name That Just Rolls Right Off Your Tongue!
Matt Tuiasosopo. I loved to say that name (last name) years ago when we lived in Seattle and his father, Manu Tuiasosopo, played football for the Seattle Seahawks. It's nice to see that name still in sports. One of Manu's sons, Matt, has been brought up from a Seattle Mariners farm club to play for the Mariners at the end of the season. Hit his first major league home run earlier this week, too.
I almost got to meet his father years ago. Several Seahawks, including Manu T & Jim Zorn, visited our Res office. It was my day off. I was so disappointed when I returned to work and heard the news. I don't remember now just why they were visiting us. Our office was still in downtown Seattle on Westlake Avenue, so it was before 1980. Must have been 1979 or early 1980, as Wikipedia says Manu Tuiasospo played for the Seahawks from 1979-1983 and our office moved out across the road from Sea-Tac in May 1980.
Good luck Matt Tuiasosopo, I wish you well in your career!
PS: While Tuiasospo is fun to say, it's not very fun to type out. Spelling variations I have stumbled upon in this blog include, but are not limited to:
Tuiasosopop
Tuiasposo
Tuiasopso
--------------------------
Losers!
Ezre has had us on a diet and exercise regime for almost 2 weeks now. And my friend Rose Marie and I have been going to Curves for almost two years now, in an attempt to get in better shape and lose some weight. I think I've lost the same couple of pounds, and regained them back, over this full amount of time.
Until this week, that is! Weigh-in was Friday. We usually weigh in once a month. My last weigh-in was on September 2nd. I had forgotten to weigh myself when we started this diet/exercise regime of Ezre's, so I don't know how much of the weight I lost in September was *after* we started the diet.
BUT I LOST 6 POUNDS!
And gained a star on my foot!
To explain, at Curves, once you have lost a combination of 12 inches and/or pounds, you get a foot--a paper foot with your name on it taped to the wall. We had earned ours about a year ago. As a result of the 6 pounds and 3.25 inches lost this past month, I got a star to represent the next 12 pounds/inches lost. Rose Marie got one as well. So we are the first of the two losers this section will cover.
The next *loser* is my daughter Myra. She has also been on a diet/exercise regime for a few months now. I don't know what she weighed when she started, but this past week she met her goal of 125 pounds. And got to celebrate with a shopping spree to buy some clothes that fit! Way to go, Myra!
When I was over at Myra and Art's house (Art is her dh) the other day, I noticed that Art was also somewhat thinner. So, congratulations to Art, who has lost around 27 pounds!
DC is also losing weight, I'm not sure how much either because I'm not sure what he weighed when we started. But our diets are good, exercise could be jumped up a bit. We are changing our life styles.
What I also notice is that I have more energy and don't need the customary afternoon nap anymore. Just the act of getting sugar and fat out of my diet has helped in the energy level too.
Congratulations to us all!
Matt Tuiasosopo. I loved to say that name (last name) years ago when we lived in Seattle and his father, Manu Tuiasosopo, played football for the Seattle Seahawks. It's nice to see that name still in sports. One of Manu's sons, Matt, has been brought up from a Seattle Mariners farm club to play for the Mariners at the end of the season. Hit his first major league home run earlier this week, too.
I almost got to meet his father years ago. Several Seahawks, including Manu T & Jim Zorn, visited our Res office. It was my day off. I was so disappointed when I returned to work and heard the news. I don't remember now just why they were visiting us. Our office was still in downtown Seattle on Westlake Avenue, so it was before 1980. Must have been 1979 or early 1980, as Wikipedia says Manu Tuiasospo played for the Seahawks from 1979-1983 and our office moved out across the road from Sea-Tac in May 1980.
Good luck Matt Tuiasosopo, I wish you well in your career!
PS: While Tuiasospo is fun to say, it's not very fun to type out. Spelling variations I have stumbled upon in this blog include, but are not limited to:
Tuiasosopop
Tuiasposo
Tuiasopso
--------------------------
Losers!
Ezre has had us on a diet and exercise regime for almost 2 weeks now. And my friend Rose Marie and I have been going to Curves for almost two years now, in an attempt to get in better shape and lose some weight. I think I've lost the same couple of pounds, and regained them back, over this full amount of time.
Until this week, that is! Weigh-in was Friday. We usually weigh in once a month. My last weigh-in was on September 2nd. I had forgotten to weigh myself when we started this diet/exercise regime of Ezre's, so I don't know how much of the weight I lost in September was *after* we started the diet.
BUT I LOST 6 POUNDS!
And gained a star on my foot!
To explain, at Curves, once you have lost a combination of 12 inches and/or pounds, you get a foot--a paper foot with your name on it taped to the wall. We had earned ours about a year ago. As a result of the 6 pounds and 3.25 inches lost this past month, I got a star to represent the next 12 pounds/inches lost. Rose Marie got one as well. So we are the first of the two losers this section will cover.
The next *loser* is my daughter Myra. She has also been on a diet/exercise regime for a few months now. I don't know what she weighed when she started, but this past week she met her goal of 125 pounds. And got to celebrate with a shopping spree to buy some clothes that fit! Way to go, Myra!
When I was over at Myra and Art's house (Art is her dh) the other day, I noticed that Art was also somewhat thinner. So, congratulations to Art, who has lost around 27 pounds!
DC is also losing weight, I'm not sure how much either because I'm not sure what he weighed when we started. But our diets are good, exercise could be jumped up a bit. We are changing our life styles.
What I also notice is that I have more energy and don't need the customary afternoon nap anymore. Just the act of getting sugar and fat out of my diet has helped in the energy level too.
Congratulations to us all!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
September 27th, 2009
So Long, Duke Boys!
On the northeast corner of 112th Avenue and 18th Street, stands a rundown brown house with a dirt driveway and ramshackle garage. In the back is lots of empty land, mostly mud. Living in this house were a couple of young-adult-type boys/men who were usually out tinkering in the driveway or the garage on some hot-roddy type pickup truck or car. And if they weren't out there tinkering, the fruits of their labor could be seen in the driveway, the garage, or sitting in the back forty. PA affectionately dubbed them "the Duke boys," after Bo & Luke Duke of the Dukes of Hazzard. And after seeing a woman in skimpy shorts at the mailbox one time (a la Daisy Duke), we felt that the moniker really suited them. Even if we never saw them out playing in the mud bog, the condition of their trucks told us that they must have spent plenty of time out there. The trucks were usually covered in mud. Who needed to go to the backwoods when you had this nifty-neat mud bog in your very own back yard!
Yesterday we were on the way to PA's house with a bench that we had been keeping for her. As we waited at the light on the corner of 112th Avenue & 18th Street, PA noticed that the Duke house appeared to be empty, and no muddy trucks were in the driveway, the garage, or in the back forty. We figure this property is going up for sale soon, making way for some fancy-schmancy apartments or houses or something else in the name of "progress."
So long, Duke boys! We'll miss your muddy trucks and seeing you tinkering on them in your driveway. Where ever you have gone, I hope there are plenty of muddy roads and hills for you to play in!
*****
Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning
My right knee has been bothering me for several weeks now. It's been stiff, can't bend it very far, and if I forget to turn the bottom half of my body at the EXACT same time I turn the top off when I'm setting off to walk somewhere--the excruciating pain reminds me of my mistake. It's been a real chore to put on shoes and socks, my jeans, cut my toe nails (or "tony nails as one of my kids used to say when they were little); cross my legs, drive for very long (longer than 5 minutes). What's been a mystery is that at the same time, I have no problems or pain in walking if I'm careful not to make any sharp turns; standing doesn't make it hurt; I can operate the exercise machines at Curves relatively pain-free.
At the same time, DC has been having problems with his shoulder again. He saw the doctor a couple of years ago when it first bothered him, who promptly diagnosed it as "frozen shoulder," gave him some anti-inflammatory drugs and a set of exercises to do, and sent him on his way. The problem was cured then, but it's recurred recently so he's been doing the exercises again. Yesterday he decided we needed to buy some extra-strength Advil to see if that helped any. We've been out lately--since PA & Ezre have been gone we've seldom had a need for it. So, off to Walmart we went. Just before bed he took one. I decided I'd try it too, to see if it helped my knee feel any better. Voila! I was able to bend that knee way farther than I have been able to in quite a while, although I got carried away and was reminded I wasn't totally cured. The best part is--it's some 21 hours since I took that one little extra-strength Advil, and I'm still relatively pain free, can bend the knee, and I don't have to lay my jeans on the floor and shuffle my foot into the pants leg far enough that I can then bend down and pull it the rest of the way on. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm happy to know that taking another "ESA" will probably take care of it for a couple of days, if I need it in the future.
****
The House On This Page
I've been asked whose house this is at the top of my blog page. Well, it's the house I lived in when we lived in La Grande, until we moved to Portland when I was 7 years old. Sort of! I got to thinking recently that this house isn't what I remembered, but I knew it was my old house because one of the useless facts taking up space in my head is my old address in La Grande--1001 11th Street. And this house is on 11th Street, the house number matches, it's on the back side of Eastern Oregon University, the same house with the scary overgrown garden I remember being afraid of as a child (I was sure a lot of snakes lived there) is still kitty-corner some 50+ years later. Then just the other day I was going through a crate of pictures that were in Josephus Awrightus' old closet, and I came upon my *real* house! Definitely a LOT older-looking than this pretty yellow house, but it's the house of my memory. Since my scanner's not working too well, I may ask Heffalump to scan it for me and I'll make it my opening photo--more realistic for early 1950's than this charming home.
On the northeast corner of 112th Avenue and 18th Street, stands a rundown brown house with a dirt driveway and ramshackle garage. In the back is lots of empty land, mostly mud. Living in this house were a couple of young-adult-type boys/men who were usually out tinkering in the driveway or the garage on some hot-roddy type pickup truck or car. And if they weren't out there tinkering, the fruits of their labor could be seen in the driveway, the garage, or sitting in the back forty. PA affectionately dubbed them "the Duke boys," after Bo & Luke Duke of the Dukes of Hazzard. And after seeing a woman in skimpy shorts at the mailbox one time (a la Daisy Duke), we felt that the moniker really suited them. Even if we never saw them out playing in the mud bog, the condition of their trucks told us that they must have spent plenty of time out there. The trucks were usually covered in mud. Who needed to go to the backwoods when you had this nifty-neat mud bog in your very own back yard!
Yesterday we were on the way to PA's house with a bench that we had been keeping for her. As we waited at the light on the corner of 112th Avenue & 18th Street, PA noticed that the Duke house appeared to be empty, and no muddy trucks were in the driveway, the garage, or in the back forty. We figure this property is going up for sale soon, making way for some fancy-schmancy apartments or houses or something else in the name of "progress."
So long, Duke boys! We'll miss your muddy trucks and seeing you tinkering on them in your driveway. Where ever you have gone, I hope there are plenty of muddy roads and hills for you to play in!
*****
Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning
My right knee has been bothering me for several weeks now. It's been stiff, can't bend it very far, and if I forget to turn the bottom half of my body at the EXACT same time I turn the top off when I'm setting off to walk somewhere--the excruciating pain reminds me of my mistake. It's been a real chore to put on shoes and socks, my jeans, cut my toe nails (or "tony nails as one of my kids used to say when they were little); cross my legs, drive for very long (longer than 5 minutes). What's been a mystery is that at the same time, I have no problems or pain in walking if I'm careful not to make any sharp turns; standing doesn't make it hurt; I can operate the exercise machines at Curves relatively pain-free.
At the same time, DC has been having problems with his shoulder again. He saw the doctor a couple of years ago when it first bothered him, who promptly diagnosed it as "frozen shoulder," gave him some anti-inflammatory drugs and a set of exercises to do, and sent him on his way. The problem was cured then, but it's recurred recently so he's been doing the exercises again. Yesterday he decided we needed to buy some extra-strength Advil to see if that helped any. We've been out lately--since PA & Ezre have been gone we've seldom had a need for it. So, off to Walmart we went. Just before bed he took one. I decided I'd try it too, to see if it helped my knee feel any better. Voila! I was able to bend that knee way farther than I have been able to in quite a while, although I got carried away and was reminded I wasn't totally cured. The best part is--it's some 21 hours since I took that one little extra-strength Advil, and I'm still relatively pain free, can bend the knee, and I don't have to lay my jeans on the floor and shuffle my foot into the pants leg far enough that I can then bend down and pull it the rest of the way on. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm happy to know that taking another "ESA" will probably take care of it for a couple of days, if I need it in the future.
****
The House On This Page
I've been asked whose house this is at the top of my blog page. Well, it's the house I lived in when we lived in La Grande, until we moved to Portland when I was 7 years old. Sort of! I got to thinking recently that this house isn't what I remembered, but I knew it was my old house because one of the useless facts taking up space in my head is my old address in La Grande--1001 11th Street. And this house is on 11th Street, the house number matches, it's on the back side of Eastern Oregon University, the same house with the scary overgrown garden I remember being afraid of as a child (I was sure a lot of snakes lived there) is still kitty-corner some 50+ years later. Then just the other day I was going through a crate of pictures that were in Josephus Awrightus' old closet, and I came upon my *real* house! Definitely a LOT older-looking than this pretty yellow house, but it's the house of my memory. Since my scanner's not working too well, I may ask Heffalump to scan it for me and I'll make it my opening photo--more realistic for early 1950's than this charming home.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Potpouri pt. deux
Josephus Awrightus dropped by tonight, it's not his usual night, but he had the new Wolverine dvd he wanted to show his dad. He knew it would be too violent for me, but figured I'd be doing computer stuff anyway so tonight was an okay night to show it. I actually spent little time on the computer while he was showing it. Since both he and Pink Avenger were here for dinner, thought I'd better cook something. I made a pork chops & scalloped potatoes dish, salad and corn. When I wasn't cooking, I was with PA in my craft room (to be), as she looked through old pictures. She was looking for her 2nd grade class picture. Didn't find it, but found some other interesting stuff. The bylaws for the Masons that had belonged to her grandpa Allen was one thing--copyright 1949. Her dh has a bit of interest in Masons at the moment so she took it home for him to look at. Didn't even know we had it.
Got a new cell phone yesterday. When I got my first one 3 1/2 years ago, through Net 10, I paid $50 for the phone and 300 minutes air time. I spent $50 yesterday for a camera phone and another 300 minutes. Now if I could just figure out how to erase all my typos. I was texting PA and I had to scrap more potential messages than I care to think about because of so many typos. The letters show up a little slower than I'm used to. And some of my phone entries (names--not the numbers) look a little strange, too.
Last Saturday night DC & I went over to Portland to the Coconut Cafe, on Glisan and about 75th or 76th. One of Ardyth's friends from school was playing, and it sounded like fun. We haven't done anything like that in years. Good music, good food. Josh Nielson is the guy's name, his dream is to become a touring musician but he'll probably do something more mundane, like be a journalist, when he's done with school. We bought one of his CD's, too. As for the food, we had chicken empanadas. Yummy! Reminded us of the Pasties we used to buy at Hot Dog Alley up in Kent years ago. I've never had anything that remotely tasted like those in all the years since we moved back here, but this sure comes close.
Ezre has us on a diet-exercise regime. We haven't had any junk food all this week, but we are allowed one day where we can go off the diet. I'll weigh in at Curves next week, we'll see if one week shows any noticeable changes. I hope so, I've been very hungry most of the week. Tortilla chips and salsa aren't too bad for you, and that's what I've been snacking on most. I need the carbs--I can't do a low-carb diet. Exercise is part of the regime, my 3 visits to Curves plus a few walks should be enough. I'll keep you posted!
This "Tell us what you're reading, viewing or listening to" feature hasn't worked in a long time. Just so you know--I'm listening to my Myspace music--good stuff!
Got a new cell phone yesterday. When I got my first one 3 1/2 years ago, through Net 10, I paid $50 for the phone and 300 minutes air time. I spent $50 yesterday for a camera phone and another 300 minutes. Now if I could just figure out how to erase all my typos. I was texting PA and I had to scrap more potential messages than I care to think about because of so many typos. The letters show up a little slower than I'm used to. And some of my phone entries (names--not the numbers) look a little strange, too.
Last Saturday night DC & I went over to Portland to the Coconut Cafe, on Glisan and about 75th or 76th. One of Ardyth's friends from school was playing, and it sounded like fun. We haven't done anything like that in years. Good music, good food. Josh Nielson is the guy's name, his dream is to become a touring musician but he'll probably do something more mundane, like be a journalist, when he's done with school. We bought one of his CD's, too. As for the food, we had chicken empanadas. Yummy! Reminded us of the Pasties we used to buy at Hot Dog Alley up in Kent years ago. I've never had anything that remotely tasted like those in all the years since we moved back here, but this sure comes close.
Ezre has us on a diet-exercise regime. We haven't had any junk food all this week, but we are allowed one day where we can go off the diet. I'll weigh in at Curves next week, we'll see if one week shows any noticeable changes. I hope so, I've been very hungry most of the week. Tortilla chips and salsa aren't too bad for you, and that's what I've been snacking on most. I need the carbs--I can't do a low-carb diet. Exercise is part of the regime, my 3 visits to Curves plus a few walks should be enough. I'll keep you posted!
This "Tell us what you're reading, viewing or listening to" feature hasn't worked in a long time. Just so you know--I'm listening to my Myspace music--good stuff!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Swift Sunset
My birthday gift from my oldest daughter Ardyth is an "Activity of the Month." Each month she has decided on a specific activity for her and I to do. It's the gift that keeps on giving, and I'm looking forward to each month's activity.
For September, she took me to see a birding phenomenom (the red squiggly line tells me I've misspelled it, but spell check doesn't seem to be working) at my old grade school. Up until a few months ago, it had been many years since I had even driven by the old school--now I was going there for the second time in about 3 months.
Seems that much like the sparrows of San Jan Capistrano, every September a rather large flock of swifts nests in the chimney of Chapman Elementary School in Portland. I believe their web site mentioned counts as high as 10,000 swifts roosting in the chimney. I have no idea how they could count them, but since it's a count by the Audobon Society, I guess we'll take their word for it. This goes on for pretty much the whole month, after which I assume they fly south for the winter. I didn't see anything on the web site to tell me where they went after September.
About an hour before sunset, hundreds of people gather on the lawn of the school and on the lawn of Wallace Park, across the street from the school. Ardyth lives about 10 blocks from the school, so we decided we'd get our exercise for the day by walking. Good decision, since the area was packed with cars full of people coming to see this event. We sat on the corner of what would have been 26th Avenue, had the powers that be not decided to fill in the street between the school and the park many years ago, and Pettygrove St. Plenty of people were already in the park and on the school grounds, and many more arrived after we did. We watched for the birds, and we watched the people. After a while, we could see tiny little birds flying around the school and the chimney, although they kept flying away. When they returned, there were more of them. I still couldn't figure out how anyone could accurately keep count, but this continued for probably half an hour at least. It was getting darker, and we wondered if the birds would do their show while we could still see something.
Ardyth & I also wondered how the birds would get into the chimney. We couldn't see them just flying in without doing harm to themselves, but how else would they do it? When it was almost too dark to see anything, suddenly a swarm of the birds, in tornado-like formation, hovered over the chimney and sort of "swooped" in. People were oo-hing and ah-ing over the sight. In just a matter of minutes (or less) another group repeated the process. I didn't keep count of how many groups of birds made this trip into the chimney. People continued to ooh and ahh, and even applauded for the birds.
When it appeared that the show was over for the night, we picked up the blanket and proceeded to walk to Rose's on 23rd Ave. where we enjoyed a luscious dessert. The walk was nice, and we didn't have to fight the traffic to get home.
Thanks Ardyth, for a fun evening and a great way to start our "Activity of the Month" activity.
For more information on the "Swift Watch" as it is called, go here:
http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch
For September, she took me to see a birding phenomenom (the red squiggly line tells me I've misspelled it, but spell check doesn't seem to be working) at my old grade school. Up until a few months ago, it had been many years since I had even driven by the old school--now I was going there for the second time in about 3 months.
Seems that much like the sparrows of San Jan Capistrano, every September a rather large flock of swifts nests in the chimney of Chapman Elementary School in Portland. I believe their web site mentioned counts as high as 10,000 swifts roosting in the chimney. I have no idea how they could count them, but since it's a count by the Audobon Society, I guess we'll take their word for it. This goes on for pretty much the whole month, after which I assume they fly south for the winter. I didn't see anything on the web site to tell me where they went after September.
About an hour before sunset, hundreds of people gather on the lawn of the school and on the lawn of Wallace Park, across the street from the school. Ardyth lives about 10 blocks from the school, so we decided we'd get our exercise for the day by walking. Good decision, since the area was packed with cars full of people coming to see this event. We sat on the corner of what would have been 26th Avenue, had the powers that be not decided to fill in the street between the school and the park many years ago, and Pettygrove St. Plenty of people were already in the park and on the school grounds, and many more arrived after we did. We watched for the birds, and we watched the people. After a while, we could see tiny little birds flying around the school and the chimney, although they kept flying away. When they returned, there were more of them. I still couldn't figure out how anyone could accurately keep count, but this continued for probably half an hour at least. It was getting darker, and we wondered if the birds would do their show while we could still see something.
Ardyth & I also wondered how the birds would get into the chimney. We couldn't see them just flying in without doing harm to themselves, but how else would they do it? When it was almost too dark to see anything, suddenly a swarm of the birds, in tornado-like formation, hovered over the chimney and sort of "swooped" in. People were oo-hing and ah-ing over the sight. In just a matter of minutes (or less) another group repeated the process. I didn't keep count of how many groups of birds made this trip into the chimney. People continued to ooh and ahh, and even applauded for the birds.
When it appeared that the show was over for the night, we picked up the blanket and proceeded to walk to Rose's on 23rd Ave. where we enjoyed a luscious dessert. The walk was nice, and we didn't have to fight the traffic to get home.
Thanks Ardyth, for a fun evening and a great way to start our "Activity of the Month" activity.
For more information on the "Swift Watch" as it is called, go here:
http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch
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