Slug Season!

Okay, what the heck are these slimy critters up to here? They are wrapped around a transluscent kind of blob. Are they doing the nasty??? That's all we need, MORE SLUGS!! Are they creating a big blob? Remember the movie in the 50's "Beware of the Blob"? I think it was the first creepy show made.

Tonight I went to my AA meeting but instead of the meeting, we had a "living wake" for one of our special friends that has cancer and maybe a few months to live. It was kind of weird having him there, but we had him sit in a recliner with his wife next to him and we all had a chance to share our feelings with him. I shared that he made me feel welcome at the first Bluebox AA meeting by him getting up and offering me coffee when I walked in the door. I thought I was special until I noticed he did that to all newcomers. He will be missed dearly. About 200 people showed up to give him love. We all shared then put in a few laughs. This picture shows that we all hug each other and AA has a special bind with each of us. He is the one on the left with his back to us. I blurred the photo so no-one would be recognized.

Boy, this has been a tough week with Ellen leaving us, the wake for My friend here. Another friend showed up to the meeting and she has the same prognosis! But the good thing is, they each have Faith and that gives them much courage and hope.
Hope for the here after. Hope that when we die, we will be in heaven and our pain and addictions will leave us! We will shed these bodies (which I will GLADLY shed) and who knows what we will look like? Be like? I just know that we will be with Jesus and that makes me happy! Some of you don't believe that, so maybe you won't be with Jesus. Maybe there is another place you are going to that will be better or worse? Whatever your belief, that is fine but I sure like the feeling I have believing in Jesus and living with the hope of meeting him and being forgiven for my sins! Whew! AMEN!
Well I have no idea where all that came from, but I am heading to bed now.
Have a marvelous weekend and please drive safe!
If you drink....please don't drive!!

I'm still around

I have been busy and tired. I have not left the blog world.....just taking a small break.
Hope everyone is fine and enjoying the last of the Summer.

Have you ever noticed that Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their Chair at a meeting.

Farewell Sweet Ellen!

You will be missed........dearly.
It was fun meeting you and your Hillbilly husband Curtis in June 2005.
You two were the perfect match, and I truly believe God put you two together.
You put up a fierce fight and you were a lady to the end.
I'll see you on the other side.
God Bless you Ellen.

What is God?....Who is God?

I went to a friend's house tonight for an AA meeting. We are holding them at his house on Wed nights for a few months. He has cancer and the doctors quit the treatments he was getting and told him they will give him pain medication to make it more comfortable for him. He told me tonight he thinks he might last until Christmas......maybe.
He started out the meeting asking us to relate our feelings about "God".
I know there are a few people that have a hard time trying to grasp the "God" idea because of troubles in their childhood or just no teachings in their childhood.
I related that I had a wild youth and young adult years and had God up on a shelf until I was two years sober and started working the 12 steps.
Step three:
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God As we understood Him.
That was the hardest step for me. The idea of letting go of my own control was hard for me to grasp. I guess I am a controller and have been told all my life that I am responsible for my own life. I have to live with my choices and pay the consequences.
I remember I used to be afraid of just about everything. If I was in a thunderstorm I would cower until it was over.....I would come home from work to an empty house and search each closet and under the bed before I could relax....I was afraid to go to sleep at night, afraid I wouldn't wake up....I felt lonely and hollow inside.
I finally "surrendered" myself to God in my prayers and told Him He can have me.
It is His will, not mine be done!
I quit worrying about getting a higher position at work, and guess what, I got it! I can actually live one day at a time now and not worry (too much) about the future.
My friend tonight told us he is curious about what it will be like, then he smiled and told us he will find out before us, and we need to find out for ourselves, because he isn't coming back to tell us!!
Ellen has only a few days before she meets Jesus,
another friend of mine Diana has maybe a few weeks.
Another friend of mine is fighting a long battle with cancer too, and we keep him in our prayers.
We all will die someday, that is the only guarantee in life.

Here is a prayer for Step Three I found in my workbook
"The Twelve Steps, A Spiritual Journey":
Lord,
I am learning that there is an awful lot I can't do.
I can't control life the way I used to.
I can't make people be what I want.
I can't stop the pain inside me.
I can't even fully submit to your plan yet-I'm still too frightened of you.
But I know that there is one thing I can do right now.
I can make a decision to turn my will and my life over to you.
Making the decision doesn't mean I have to make it happen.
Making the decision doesn't mean I understand you or your plan.
Making the decision doesn't even mean I'm entirely willing, but it does mean that I know your way and will is right.
Lord, turn my simple decision into reality.
AMEN

After working the Step, I say a prayer every night giving myself to God:

Lord Jesus,
I turn my will and my life over to you.
Mold me and do with me as you will.
I trust you to guide my steps, and
I enter the world with hope that I may better do Your will.
I ask for your forgiveness and acceptance.
I welcome your Holy Spirit's power, love, and guidance
In everything I do.
AMEN.

I pray that everyone can find the peace and warmness I feel since I have found God. I am no longer cowering in fear,
I no longer fear death,
I no longer feel lonely,
I no longer cry myself to sleep at night,
I feel loved unconditionally,
I feel forgiven!
For all of that,
I feel very very thankful.

Another parade!

Well I sure get the fun jobs! We had another parade here on the Island today. The Island County Fair in Langley. The entire route was only about 1/4 of a mile.

Phil, one of our newest drivers wanted to go, so I let him drive and showed him how to "ham it up" for the crowds.
Saranell, one of our C.A.C. members would get out of the bus, go in front and gesture to the bus to "kneel" then Phil would lower the bus to to the pavement.

The kids really loved it! The little boys were fascinated by it.
After the parade we parked the bus and ate our way through the fair. I had BBQ ribs (Nummy and greasy) and a funnell cake (really sweet and greasy), then went back home. I was home at 1:30 then took a long nap. Now I am wide awake at midnight and heartburn from all that nummy greasy food!

I have been totally exhausted for the past few weeks. Probably because of the sinus infection then two weeks of Augmentin. (Plus a full week of fun and activities with my 40 year class reunion)!!

I hope that horrid storm misses land and fizzles out in the Gulf!

Something to know:

Have a Sunburn? - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water.

I really didn't want that baked potato with my dinner! I hardly ever eat potatoes...so sticking that potato in the oven was just what I did.....I did not puncture it with a fork. OOOoops. I'm glad I have a self cleaning oven.
I drove to Seatac yesterday to pick up a friend of mine that arrived from Texas. We went to school together and tomorrow we are going to the 40 year class reunion. FORTY YEARS!! We are meeting in the town park with the rest of the school alumni. It should be fun. I guess I shouldn't look for the kids I went to school with, I'd have better luck looking for their parents! Although Linda looks that same as she did 40 years ago! It isn't fair! I look like my mom!
We had to take a picture of the Space Needle in Seattle while crawling through the city during rush hour.
I slept until 11:00 today. I am exhausted from my time off, but I enjoyed every minute of it!
Two more days.

AA Across the water

I went to Port Townsend today with Jane, a friend of mine. Here she is standing by the life boats just in case!
We are approaching Port Townsend here.
Across the street is the ALANO Club for Alcoholics Anonymous. I went to the noon meeting and met alot of new people. I used to run to the nearest local pub in every town I visited, now I visit all the AA halls. The people are the same only in AA they are sober.
And here is the meeting room waiting for all of us alkies to come and share our stories. We studied step 9 today. "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. (That is another post).


As we were crossing the Strait I was thinking of Ellen and the time she went whale watching up by Vancvouver Island. My heart goes out to her and her adoring Hillbilly husband Curtis. Ellen is fighting the fight of her life right now with cancer. She needs all the prayers she can get. She went into a hospice place yesterday where she can get 24/7 nursing care. If you have the time, pop over to her sight http://headlint.blogspot.com/ and say hello. Her husband reads her blog to her every night.
God Bless you Ellen. I'm praying for you.

New afghan

I don't know how to flip the picture for this post, but here is the afghan I just finished for my sis. I call it the "Candy Cane" afghan. I love the deep red color so I made up a pattern and named it. It is bigger than what I want so I will modify the pattern for a smaller one for me. It is made from "Homespun" yarn. It is soft and great to wrap up in during cold winter nights (IF THE CATS WILL LET GO OF IT).

Well I am off to bed. I have a few busy days ahead of me. I am going to Port Townsend tomorrow and Thursday I am driving south of Seattle to Seatac airport to pick up a friend.

Tip for the day:
When doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on.
Hmmm...I haven't fit in doll clothes for decades!! But I wonder if it would work putting on tight pants on hot days?

More pics of Lady Washington

This is what she looks like all dressed out.

This is her in the background


These pictures were taken from the wharf about a half hour ago. (8:30pm).

That's her in the back right.

Ahhhh, I love my little Island!
This was a relaxing day today. I did absolutely NOTHING!

I did go to Curtis's blog and read his thoughts about his wife Ellen. Please pray for them.

Lady Washington

The Lady Washington has appeared in Coupeville! It looks majestic next to our Wharf. I heard they are going to have a mock battle in the Harbor. When? Don't know. This Ship appeared in the Pirates of the Carribbean.

This weekend was great. The sun was out both days. I went to Church then came home and my friend Debbie followed me into Oak Harbor so I can leave my car at the garage to get serviced tomorrow. I am having it detailed inside and out, oil changed, filters replaced, air conditioner serviced. I like to keep it in good shape and have preventative maintenance on it regularly. I don't like surprises!
Anything exciting going on your way?
Any funny stories? Aww, c'mon, There's gotta be something going on!! JimBob?

Did you know...
Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair?

Stuff

I have been waiting all week for word from my doctor to see what the CTscan found.
I'm feeling much better, but there is something going on in my sinuses. I want it FIXED!! Ok, a little show of impatience on my part here. sorry. Now I know how Leslie feels. She waited for months for results and found out they LOST them!! Arrgghh!
On a more cheerful note....I have a full week off!! YAHOOOOO! Sleep in every day!

We had hot dogs at work the other day so I took in a salad I saw in Paula Deen's magazine. It is a corn salad. I saw the recipe and thought good grief, I must try it! Everybody raved about it and even the guys took a copy of the recipe. It is quick and great for pot lucks or barbecues. Try it!

Corn Salad
2 cans corn (drained)
1 cup diced red onion
1 cup diced green pepper
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
mix together and chill over night
just before serving add 10 ounces roughly crushed chili cheese fritos, stir well and watch it disappear!

Well I am off to my AA meeting. Have a great evening.
My prayers go out to all that died and were hurt in that horrible bridge collapse. And I applaud all the heroes that jumped together to help out the injured!
Thank you and God Bless you all.