Yesterday during my lunch hour I went to the National Day of Prayer celebration at our Courthouse steps. Pastors from different Churches (mostly evangelical)said prayers. The Mayor (one of my classmates) said a speech, Judge Hancock (one of my classmates) played the bagpipes, and the Pastor from Community Bible Church in Coupeville here played the drums (like mine only he has two). Our Pastor Terry said the Benediction. It was a well put together celebration. The Methodist Church played the bells for a few minutes then followed by silence for personal praying time followed by the public prayer then singing.

I then went back to work.
Tomorrow I have a day of nothing, then I go to Leavenworth in the mountains for a two day conference and home late Tuesday.
Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone, and please, if you drink.....DON'T DRIVE!!
Thank you.

Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

To get the camper....to NOT get the camper!!

Ok, I slept on it, and thought about it, weighed the pro's and cons:

Get it:
1 Only one can sleep in it, but I can use the car for a spare bedroom.
2 I've been wanting one for a few years.
3 Great for disaster preparedness.
4 I can make the payments now.
5 Cheap to haul.
6 Easy to use.
7 Will make a great spare room for my house.
8 Will get me enthused to go camping more.
9 The camper trailer I now have hurts my back to set up.
10 I will NEVER be homeless.

Don't get it:
1 Only one can camp.
2 I already have a camper trailer.
3 If I make payments now I cannot spend the way I am used to spending.
4 My tent trailer is cheap to haul too.
5 At $11,000 if I use it 7 days a year for 15 years it will cost me $100.00 a night to use, not counting the camp fees.

Okay, I like to spend money, and I have been trying NOT to spend money and get my credit cards all paid for in 4 years. My car will be paid for in three years, and then I'll have that extra $500.00 a month to put towards my credit cards, and I will then be able to put some money into savings for when I retire in 9 years.

But...It sure was fun to dream about for two nights, and if I get the strong feeling to get one later I can go through the same process. Heck, for that money, I might as well go to motels with hot running water and flushing toilets.
I love the smell of camp fires, and the community of people at the camps. But I already have the tent trailer and can use that if I want to go camping.

I feel like I have been put through a trial. I have been praying for the strength to curb my spending, and asking for the will power to stay away from the wrong foods. I battle obsessive compulsive disorders. I don't do anything small. If I do something, I throw myself totally into it! If I was to buy that trailer, I'd go buy the tent that goes onto the side of it, another canopy, a new ice chest although the one I have is perfectly fine all it needs is cleaning up, etc., etc., etc.!

Soooo, I guess I passed that test.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Ahhh, Frantic Friday is finally over!
Friday's are the busiest day of the week for me it seems lately.
I went to work at 8:00 and drove to Camano Island, then to Everett to a meeting, then back to Mount Vernon where I passed an R.V. place. (BIG MISTAKE)!!
I saw a Teardrop trailer in the lot. I love those things! I live alone and I don't need much room, so I have been thinking of selling my tent trailer I have. I haven't used it in two years and have decided it is because it really hurts my arthritic body to crank it up and level it out.
Well here is the trailer I have been drooling over for a few years just sitting on the lot yelling out my name, (Phyllis, come look!! Phyllis, come look!!)

Well I pulled into the lot and asked to look at it (OOOPS). The man was really nice and helped me into the trailer. It was really comfortable inside and perfect!



Just perfect! Except the price! $18,500. No thank you. I paid $4,000.00 for the tent trailer, and it is paid for! I told him I had a 1999 8' tent trailer that I want $2,500.00 trade in, and he said "fine". I told him I wouldn't pay more than $150.00 a month for payments. He said "fine". I asked why the other one over there was a thousand dollars cheaper, and he said he could make this one the same price, then as we were talking another guy came by and told him that there is a $3,000.00 rebate until the end of the month (Sunday). So that brings it down to $11,000.00. (hmmmmmmmmm). What to do, what to do, What to do, What to do!

I need to sleep on this one......What do you think? I know what the answer will be, but I need to sleep on it and really consider everything.
I want to travel when I retire, and this would be perfect. I can tow it with my MPV and take it to Alaska. It is much safer than a tent, and more sturdy during storms (which usually happen when I camp). It will be lightweight and cheaper to tow than other campers, and camp sites are easy to find. I will have a place to go to when and if the power goes out in my house and I need to cook. It would be a roof over my head if I ever lose my house and I am out in the streets. Hmmmmmm, What to do, what to do, What to do, What to do!

Well it is time to go to bed and dream of camping and traveling and the like.

Some people when they age try to turn back their odometers.
Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.
I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

FABULOUS FRIDAY!!

Ok, I just got an email Asking me why I haven't blogged since last Saturday!
Been busy! Working odd hours, meetings after work, etc, etc, etc! Going to Everett this morning (2 hours each way) for a two hour meeting. We received a grant to put on a new route from Terry's Corner to Downtown Everett, and from Mount Vernon to downtown Everett.
Any way, I really don't like to blog about work, so therefore no blog. I'll get to it this weekend!
I'm fine!!
Hope everyone else is too!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

If you're riding' ahead of the herd,
take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

FIRST AID / CPR

I went to my First Aid and CPR Instructor recertification class today.
The American Heart Association has changed the guidelines for CPR. It actuall is much simpler now. If you click on this site http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/quickcpr.html It will give simple instructions.
CPR saves lives, and the more people that know how to do it, the safer we all are.

Three simple steps:

1. Call Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If there is no response, Call 911 and return to the victim. In most locations the emergency dispatcher can assist you with CPR instructions

2. Blow Tilt the head back and listen for breathing. If not breathing normally, pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 1 second.

3. pump If the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions. Push down on the chest 11/2 to 2 inches(adults) 1 to 1 1/2 inches (children) 3/4 to 1 inch (infants) 30 times right between the nipples. Pump at the rate of 100/minute, faster than once per second.

CONTINUE WITH 2 BREATHS AND 30 PUMPS UNTIL HELP ARRIVES
NOTE: This ratio is the same for one-person & two-person CPR. In two-person CPR the person pumping the chest stops while the other gives mouth-to-mouth breathing.

This goes for children and infants as well.

If you don't learn to laugh at trouble,
you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

Well it has been three days now and the catnip plants are still intact. Although I have no idea how long it will stay there as Elliott followed me out when I took the picture and I gave him a leaf, and now he is wanting to get inside that cage!
The top was open so I stuck a tomato cage on the open top to defer the cats from jumping in and rolling all over the plants.
I used to have a big plant in the backyard when I had my dog, and of course he never bothered it nor did any of the stray neighborhood cats because my dog was there to scare them off! I remember right after Tlingit died I saw a cat walk by my front door heading to my back yard. I tiptoed outside to see where he went, and there he was, rolling all over the catnip plant! HAHAHAHA I laughed out loud and scared the bejesus out of that cat and he went lickity split outa there!! HAHAHA
I am off today because I have to work tomorrow. I have a First Aid/CPR Instructor update with the new American Heart Association guidelines. I've heard rumors that we no longer will teach giving breaths, instead we will teach giving nothing but chest compressions. Hmmm, that doesn't make sense to me. It goes against everthing I was ever taught, that getting air into the lungs to keep the brain going is real important. But I will see what the new guidelines are, then I will follow them when I teach.
Well I am going to get out and enjoy the SUNSHINE!!


Bilbo is rooting for the Flames!!














After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring.
He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.
The moral:
When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

I just yelled at Elliott and told him to leave the catnip alone, and he looked at me as if to say "I was smelling the flowers, not the catnip"! If you look just at the bottom of the flowers you can see a bit of the catnip plant.
I bought 4 of them and planted them in a whiskey barrell yesterday in hopes of having a hardy catnip plant later in the summer. YES I put a fence around it to keep the stray cats away from it! We'll see how long that will last.
It is still cold at nights, but Spring is definately here full force!! AAAAHCHOOO!
Sorry, hope I didn't get any on ya!

There are three kinds of men:
The ones that learn by reading.
The few who learn by observation.
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves

I'm being lazy today

After the busy weekend I feel lazy today! So does Elliot!
I took today off to sleep in and rest, but I have to get dressed and put my makeup on because I have a meeting at work at 1:00. I love my job so going in to a meeting is no big deal, but sometimes I just feel like hibernating and this is one of those days.
The sun is shining, the cats are out chasing bugs, the eagles are talking to each other, the farm machinery is rumbling in the background and my bed is calling me, but NOPE! If I take a nap now I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Well I am off to get presentable for the meeting!

Some minds are like concrete
thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Good Friday

I went to Good Friday Service tonight in our little Church.
Today was a very busy day at work, I went to the South end of the Island and up to the North end then back to the South end (about 150 miles total) and I got home from work at 5:30. I went to the service at 6:30, so I didn't have time to do much but change vehicles.
We were singing, and the Pastor came up front and in a very somber voice said "I'm sure there are some of you that haven't heard the news yet, and some of you have. I am sorry to have to tell you this...(About this time my heart was doing a flip flop because I didn't watch the news)..but Jesus died today. Yes, I said Jesus died today". I then realized that he was narrating the story from a participants point of view. We all were on the edges of our seats. I felt like I was right there when it was happening.
The Service lasted about an hour, and he was narrating the entire time. We had our communion then left. You could hear a pin drop when we were leaving. Tears were in all our eyes. We felt like we knew him personally (we DO)!! That was the best Service I have ever been to. Pastor Terry has the gift that touches each of us! We are so Blessed to have him here.
I cannot wait until Sunday. I am sure he will come in the same way and tell us HE IS RISEN!!

Have a safe and sane Easter everyone, and remember, we celebrate Easter because Jesus was crucified for our sins so that we can be saved. Not because the Easter bunny has left us candy and eggs! well ok....so the candy and eggs are nice, but don't forget the real reason for the Season.
AMEN!

Whaaaaaat?

I just can't help myself!
I laugh every year when I see this! It wouldn't be Easter without this.

I am going to Good Friday Service at 7:00, then Sunday Morning Sunrise Service at 7:00 am, then 10:00 Service, then my sister's house for leg of lamb at 4:00 pm. Poor baby lamb! MaaaaaaMaaaaa, daaaaaaaady, help meeeee!

I'm taking Monday off to stay home and Sleep!

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Punkin my spoiled rotten cat

This cat of mine drives me crazy!
I pour her a fresh glass of water, (yes I said glass), and she finds my stale water and reaches as far as she can get to drink MY water!
Why does it have to be MY water? Weird....
Today was a b-u-s-y day at work, and I believe the whole week will fly by.
That is good.
I'm going to try and take a day or two off next week to catch my breath.
Ooops the planes just buzzed my house on the way to my sister's neck of the woods. She'll be up most of the night now.
Hope your week is a peaceful one without storms!

Don't let your worries get the best of you;
remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Eye Test

Here's an interesting eye test.
http://home.mn.rr.com/t1camp1/Focus.swf

Try it out.

It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

Garbledegoop!

I am reaching for the Comforter to put on my bed this morning and this is what I see. My cat Elliott that thinks he is human sitting like a human in the chair next to my bed. He is such a character. I said "What are you doing" and he said "yeeoow". He even tries to talk like us. It wouldn't surprise me if he walked across the room on his hind legs.
Well I had another busy day today, and tomorrow I get up at 5:00 and go to Camano to interview more potential Operators. This definately is not a boring job! My mind does get a little boggled, and I need to take a day to do NOTHING on the weekend.
Well maybe I can do that next weekend. This is the week I take Hannah and my other friend in a wheelchair to lunch. I have GOT to find younger friends! Naw....I like doing this.
I had to get some Zyrtec for my allergies yesterday. My head was stuffy, eyes itchy and my lungs were hurting. There is a yellow haze all over my car. POLLEN!
Ahh yes, I love Spring!
Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! Yahoo!!!

How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest?
They Take The Psycho Path

This is it, folks. My third time as drumming in our little Church. We have about 30-50 in the congregation, and 6 in the Worship Team. We all know each other and have a great time! We play for 1/2 hour then break for coffee and fellowship, then the sermon for 1/2 hour. So it is short and sweet. I am having a ball playing the drum!! Who'da thunk??

Whew, today got up to 65 degrees, and looking more like Spring every day!! I am ready to be able to keep my windows and doors open. I want to take a nap so bad right now, but if I do I won't be able to go to bed tonight. This time change really messes with my internal time clock and causes stress to me. Find a time and LEAVE IT ALONE!! The animals don't care what time it is.

Well better finish my chores so I can work next week.

What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

This is for David:Three aspiring psychiatrists were attending their first class on emotional extremes.
"Just to establish some parameters,"
said the professor to the student from Michigan,
"What is the opposite of joy?"
"Sadness," said the student.
And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from California.
"Elation," she said.
"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas,
"How about the opposite of woe?
"The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be giddy up"

FRIDAY!!

This has been a L-O-N-G week! I'm training 5 new drivers. Two of them are plumbers and are real cut ups with no off switch, one retired city cop, a waitress and a massage therapist. All changing their careers to become a transit operator. It is a good job, and I take my work very seriously but at the same time we have FUN! I am exhausted from laughing so much. These days are good.
Well it is time to go to band practice for my drum. heeheeheehee I still can't believe I'm doing this! Tomorrow I get up at 6:30 on my DAY OFF to go to a counseling class for our Church. We are getting training to counsel folks. Something else I can do when I retire.
We LOSE an hour of SLEEP this weekend!!! WHHAAAAAAAA!!
Why can't they find a time and LEAVE IT ALONE!!!???
It is so stressful to people like me that are sleep depraved to switch our clocks twice a year.
Can you tell I am UPSET??
Well gotta go drummin'.

How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?
Unique Up On It.

How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?
Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

I have crooked teeth, and a GOAT has braces!

Well sorry 'bout that gross post, but I had absolutely nothing to post about and I got that email so I thought I'd share it.

I still have nothing to post about. I have been busy at work training 5 new drivers, and come home exhausted and crash. Tomorrow I go to Everett for a meeting with the DOT for a new Multi-modal station they are planning in Mukilteo sometime around 2008. Well now, aren't you glad I shared such exciting news? HAHAHA
That is my world right now. Work..Visit friends in Nursing Homes..Church..Work..etc.

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

A few things to make you stop and think...

During an hour's swimming at a municipal pool you will ingest 1/12 liter of urine. (When I'm there it will be more)heeheeheehee

In an average day your hands will have come into indirect contact with 15 penises (touching door handles, etc.)EEEEEEYYYUUUUU

An average person's yearly fast food intake will contain 12 pubic hairs. (I don't want to know how they got there)!!

In a year you will have swallowed 14 insects - while you slept!(gulp)

Annually you will shake hands with 2 women who have recently masturbated and failed to wash their hands. (good grief)

Annually you will shake hands with 26 men who have recently masturbated and failed to wash their hands. (I am going to quit shaking hands when I interview job applicants)!!

In a lifetime 22 workmen will have examined the contents of your dirty linen basket. (just HOW did they get into my house)?

At an average wedding reception you have a 1/100 chance of getting a cold sore from one of the guests. (Hmmm)

Daily you will breath in 1 liter of other peoples' anal gases. (Gee, is that all)? (And they say Diesel fumes are bad for ya)!

HAVE A GREAT DAY...

...and wash your hands!

Stuart Corey

Our beloved friend and Pastor Stuart Corey passed away this morning.
He was an inspiration to anyone that met him. He was a career Navy pilot and when he retired he started Island Ministries on the Island here. He was a very Spiritual man that trusted his life in the Lord. Sept 1st 2003 he was riding a bicycle in Canada and fell and broke his neck. His injuries were like Christopher Reeves. He depended on a machine to breathe. He was told her won't live through the night in Sept 2003, then was told he will never speak again but he beat those odds and started signing Amazing Grace in his hospital room. When he came to our Church we could hear every breath he took from the machine and I would look at him in awe, because he was HAPPY! He was happy because he knew the Lord, and knew his life here is just a breath until eternity. His wife Laraine was always by his side and she too was happy. It was like they knew a secret and was all excited to tell us. The secret is Jesus.
He is now dancing away with Jesus. You can read all about him on his website here: http://www.stuartcorey.com/ Do yourself a favor and visit his site and read his history.
You will be missed, Stu, and I feel honored to be one of your friends.

Hannah out to Dinner!

Last night I took Hannah to dinner. She practically begged me because her son is coming here for a month or so and he will starve her. He thinks she's too fat, and wants her to eat salad, and fruit. She's 90 years old for goodness sake...LET HER EAT!! When we were going there, she was enjoying the view from the bus window. We went down West Beach Road that overlooks Puget Sound. At night you can see the lights from Victoria 33 miles away.
She ordered clam chowder, steamed mussells, and Shrimp Scampi with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus and zucchini. She ate most everything but the veggies.
She was really enjoying looking out the window at the dock and the whale watching boat. I said "Hey, lets go get on that boat". She just laughed. She said she thinks she has died and gone to Heaven! That was a great two hours!

Tonight I went to band practice and they said I'm good to go for Sunday morning! It is fun! I don't know if I'm any good, but they said I was doing just fine.
After practice was AA, then I stopped at Albertson's for a few items. I filled up my water jugs for drinking water at home and the machine cheated me out of 20 cents, so I just told the cashier. I told her it wasn't a big deal to me, but to be aware for the next sucker. She rang up my items, and I had a 24 bottle case of mountain spring water on sale for $5.99, regular $1.00 each bottle, so it was a great bargain saving $18.00!! When the gal rang up the case it rang the regular price then it gave me a $4.99 savings, charging me only $1.00 for the entire case.
I told her that wasn't right, so she re-rang the item. Again it gave me a $4.99 saving. she called the manager, and the manager did something to the the main computer and then said it will ring up the correct price. Well it didn't, so the gal told me to take it at that price. I felt weird doing that, but we tried to pay the regular price three times!
Well I get home and unloaded my car and noticed I didn't have my kitty litter!! It was $7.99!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Well I guess I didn't come out ahead after all!!
Yes, I will go back tomorrow with my receipt and tell them the story hoping to get my kitty litter and let them know about the error in the water pricing.
Whew!! It is hard trying to be honest!!

Opportunity may knock once,
but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

This is my "Field of Dreams" backyard!
Last year there was a Soccer field. This year they moved the Soccer field across the field and built this Baseball field. They put up fences, but I'm sure there will be a few fly balls. I can sit in my yard and scream real loud in pain when I see a ball coming my way. hehehehe
The School owns the field, and I am so glad they built the field instead of building a new High School!! WHEW! I still have my view, and I can grill some hot dogs and sell them and lemonade over my fence!! They promised they will not put up lights, so I can still sit on my deck at night and watch the mysterious night sky!



Tomorrow I am taking Hannah to dinner at the "Mad Crab" a restaurant on the waterfront. Her son is coming here for a few weeks and she wants to eat while she can, so I am letting her indulge!

People are funny;
they want the front of the bus,
the middle of the road,
and the back of the church.

Sunday

Well heck, I tried to post with pictures, but it got lost after an hour of typing and downloading the pictures. Hmmm, I wonder where they went?
Anyhoo, I was telling you what I did last night.
I went to the nursing home and got Hannah and wheeled her down the street to the AA meeting. As we were wheeling down the street we were both giggling as I yelled "Free at last"!! hehehehe. It was March birthday night, and I took her to get her 34 year chip. It was very inspiring to all of us, especially the newcomers. She shared a few stories, but if I tell you, I'd have to shoot ya.
I got her back at 9:30 and got home at 10:00.
This morning I had Bible study, and right after that I took a casserole to a sick friend and then went to Praise team practice. Yep....I'm gonna play my drum for the first time in Church tomorrow! I'm scared, but I'm going to pray about it then put it in God's hands. After practice the Mexicans came to have their Church service so I stayed for that. I feel honored to be included in their worship. They are my friends, but I don't understand them. But to pray with them as they pray is very spiritual!-------------Very spiritual.
After Church tomorrow is my small twelve step group then I take another casserole to my sick friend.
Whew! Another busy weekend!

Oh, by the way, my friend down the street called me tonight to tell me the frogs are late, but tonight they are out doing their Chorus!! 10 days late this year! I wonder what that means?

Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

I couldn't get into my blog for two days. I thought it was my computer, so I defragged, ran a full system virus check, but nothing worked. I could get into my sister's blog and others, so I let the committee in my head take over!
(I must've done something wrong)
(Did I say something illegal?)
(Am I being spied upon?)
(Did I download a picture and now I'm getting sued?)
(It must be something big!)
(Lock the doors!).
I finally fired the committee and decided it was something from the blogger end, and to worry about it tomorrow. Well I was right...blogger had something wrong and fixed it. So I am not being spied upon, and I can continue with my boring blog!
Well that is it. Nothing exciting happened today, just another FRIDAY!! YAHOO!!

Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

Help!

Hmmm, I can get into edit, but I cannot open my blog from my computer.
It says I am not authorized to view the page. Whaaaa????
Can anyone else open it?

Yeouch!!

Yeouch, How'd you like to give birth to these triplets?!
Kinda cute, though, huh?
Speaking of frogs, I haven't heard my frog pond yet! I usually hear them on March 8 of every year! Here is last years post on March 8th:
Frogs
What is the "magic" about March 8th?
I never noticed the frogs coming out before. I was driving the bus once about 16 years ago and was driving by a pond and noticed the noise coming from it. Frogs singing their hearts out, the first I heard that year!! It was March 8th. I noticed the date, and then I never put another thought to it. The next year on March 8th I was driving by that same pond and sure enough the frogs were singing their hearts out!! The first I heard all year. I have told a few people and they just look at me and say "ok". They don't think it is weird at all. Well tonight I was coming home from a Youth Coalition Meeting and as I was coming in the door my phone rang. A friend of mine was all excited and said she can hear the frogs from her pond for the first time this year, and it is March 8th!! I had forgot about it being March 8th, and didn't think of the frogs, but she remembered me mentioning it last year, and just had to call me!! I went out on my porch, and sure enough, they are singing their hearts out!!
How do they know??????
Well it is March 14th now, and still NO FROGS!! I've heard a croak here and there, but not the big ponds!! Hmmmm, Global warming? It must be a secret warfare or something. Maybe we have the frog flu here instead of the bird flu, and everyone will croak!!
sorry

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Pussy Willows

Every February I look for the Pussy Willows. They come out and are gone before you know it.
I like to pick a few branches and put in a vase without water.
How Pussy Willow got the name. (copied from Communigate website)
According to an old Polish legend, many springtimes ago a mother cat was crying at the bank of the river in which her kittens were drowning. The willows at the river's edge longed to help her, so they swept their long graceful branches into the waters to rescue the tiny kittens who had fallen into the river while chasing butterflies. The kittens gripped on tightly to their branches and were safely brought to shore. Each springtime since, goes the legend, the willow branches sprout tiny fur-like buds at their tips where the tiny kittens once clung.


Another version goes:

A farmer, annoyed that his barn cat had just given birth to another litter of kittens, decided that his farm had enough mouths to feed. He put the newborn babies in a feed sack, went down to the riverbank and threw the kittens in the water to be rid of them. In the turbulence of the fast moving river, the tie on the sack became loosened which set the kittens adrift. On the riverbank witnessing this horrible sight, the distressed mother cat wept loud and pitifully.

A cluster of willow bushes, along the riverbank downstream, heard her cries and in sympathy held out their branches like mooring lines. This enabled the desperately floundering kittens to grab hold as they drifted by. Now in mythology, when the life we are assigned on earth is doomed but because the spirit is eternal, myth dictates that the spirit can live on but must be in an another earthly form. Because the kittens were destined to die, but their spirits were saved, they then became part of the willows which had saved them. Ever since then, in Spring, the willow-without-a-flower decks itself out in gentle velvet buds that feel to the fingers like the silky coat of a small cat. These buds are known today as catkins and remarkably, in every country, these soft willow trees are named after cats.

Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

Meme

Ellen tagged me to do this meme with five weird habits/facts about myself, so if you are shocked or disgusted, blame her....

1. When using toilet paper I have to have the paper tear off evenly. If it rips in half, I keep going until I have a perfect rip. HAHAHAHA perfect rip.....in the bathroom!! HAHAHAA .....get it?.....well moving on.....

2. Farts are the funniest thing ever! If I hear a fart at the wrong moment I start this hysterical giggle inside me then it erupts and I am out of control!! I even have a remote fart machine on my office door. People go by and push it all the time! I am sure, if I ever have a funeral (Which I won't because I will be cremated), my fart machine will go with me, and someone will push the remote button when the coffin goes by!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA That gives me a horrible idea!! HAHAHAHAHAHA never mind......

3. I am a multi-tasker, but not a multi-finisher. I can start something then my mind gets distracted and I start something else, then the phone will ring and I do something else, then I see something that needs to be done and I start that, then I see the thing I started in the first place, and go back to that after I pick this up, and get this done..........

4. If I hear a rumor or something said about me or a friend or heaven help them, a family member, I go right to the source and settle the matter. I don’t like to let things fester. I say it like it is, and pray for the best. I don’t like bad feelings. I forgive easily and expect the same.

5. I cannot leave clothes on the floor at all, not even towels. The only time dirty clothes are on my floor is when I am sorting them for laundry. I grew up with kittens and puppies that just love to do things on the clothes, therefore I cannot leave them on the floor.


I’ve probably got more quirks, but these are what comes to mind today.
I now tag
My sister
John
Esther
Special K
Sally

Wednesday's Wambling's.....er.....Rambling's

Whatever, I am having yet another night of not being able to sleep.
It must be because I slept so much last week when I had that flu bug! I was up last night until after 4, then tried my hardest to sleep, then I woke up at 9:00!!! I overslept through THREE alarm clocks! Now I am sleepless again! Hmm, sleepless in Seattle. Well actually Coupeville. I was tired all day today. I got off work at 4:15 and went home to get something to eat before my 5:00 hair appointment. I opened the refrigerator and didn't see anything exciting, and noticed I had a message on my answering machine. It was my friend Maria asking me to call her. We don't understand each other very well, but we do try to communicate. I called her, and she said "come, I make Tamales". Well I sure understand Tamales!! So I went over there and had two freshly homemade Tamales and some freshly homemade refried beans. Ahhhh, then I had to go to my hair appointment. I got a couple inches cut off my hair and it sure makes me feel much better! I then went to a meeting with my Church at my friend Debbies house. The Pastor wants us to go through some counseling classes to be of help in our Church. That is right up my alley, so I am looking forward to that! I got home at 10:00 and now it is 2:45 and I am wide awake!
SWELL. I have alot to do at work so I can get through the day without falling asleep at least.
Well I guess I should go count some of them sheep I hear in there!!

There is no key to happiness.
The door is always open.

Farewell my sweet friend Carolyn

Friday night my friend Carolyn lost her battle for breath and died.
She had a lung disease caused by smoking. She quit smoking years ago but the damage was done. She caught this horrid virus that is going around last week and went into the hospital and died.
She was a character. I loved her. I was her sponsor in AA. She came into the halls November 2003 and liked me and asked me to be her sponsor. I told her she has to not drink, and call me at least twice a week and go to meetings. Well she would call me mostly while I was at work, so she would leave a message on my phone talking to my two cats. I would press the message button and hear her voice "hello Punkin, hello Elliott, how are you two doin?". I'll miss her silly messages.
She had to use oxygen 24/7. I would watch her leave the meeting and walk 30 feet to her car and grasp the wheel leaning forward struggling for each breath, waiting for her lungs to get air. My heart would go out to her, but she refused help. She finally lost her battle, and is now pain free and in Heaven!!
Goodbye sweet friend, I will miss you, but we'll meet again.
Carolyn M. 1933-2006

Lesson of the Day:

Lesson of the Day: At 57 years old, ya'd think I'd know better, but NOOOOOOOO!
I have been horribly sick with the stomach flu for three days now, and just this afternoon felt good. In fact I feel almost better! But my stupidity ceases to amaze me (although I'm sure it doesn't amaze my sister at all). Tonight er, this morning about 2 am I was trying to sleep and my stomach was craving something. (making guirgling noises like hunger) So I get up and find some dill pickles. Hmmm, that looks great!! About three years ago I was buying dill pickles by the gallon, and eating them at midnight and drinking the pickle juice. So I figured I needed the salt with the dehydration from the flu, and there are no calories or fat content and no suger. So I sliced three of them and ate them and drank about 1/2 cup of pickle juice. I went back to bed and was snuggling in and about 20 minutes later I felt weird, so went to the bathroom and sat down and got rid of the pickles I thought, then stood up and projectile vomited all over the place!! Just chunky pickles and their juice. Elliott came running and looked at the mess and thought geeze, PICKLES!!?? He looked at me like he thought I was stupid for eating them!! He wasn't about to help me clean up the mess, thank God!
Hmmmppppffff!
I think I have been cured of the pickle cravings for a long long time now!!

The only two things we do with greater frequency in middle age
are urinate and attend funerals.

I have nothing to post about, so I thought I'd show off my two hanging lamps I made years ago.

The blue one was my first, then I made this pink one. It takes forever to cut the glass, then grind the edges, copperfoil around each little piece and then fit them together on a styrofaom mold then solder them together. It takes a steady hand. I haven't done this in years, as I have so much crap in my spare room that I cannot get to my work table. I guess I just lost interest.


Besides, everything I make for people they break then bring it back to me to 'fix'. It is easier to make a new one than fix the broken ones!
Well I have been up for two hours, that is a record for the past few days!
This internal flu is not a good thing to have!! Nope. I don't wish this on anyone, 'cept maybe those terrorist chickenshit cowardly guys!

When we get tangled up in our problems,
be still.
God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

This is me today. I woke up and was getting ready for work and felt sore all over again, then I was sick to my stomach! I waited awhile and felt worse, so I called in sick and went back to bed. I woke up at 12:30 and was still sore all over and this time my intestines felt all blown up and sore. I then stayed awhile in the bathroom and went back to bed. I have a slight fever and and a sicky headache and just feel horrible all over! Okay, enough of this!! I don't like being sick at all!!
Is this going on everywhere? Sheesh!!
Well I am off for my afternoon nap!!

Dear God,
I have a problem,
it's Me.

My cat is a character without even knowing it! My sister gave me this chair throw a few years ago, and I just put it on the chair when I looked over and there was Elliott sitting right next to the cat in the throw! 'Where's Waldo'? HAHAHAHA

I am sad today because two of our blogging friends had to close down their blogs.
I understand why, but feel sad anyway. I have to be very careful what I blog about because friends from work, Church, AA and family read this. I know this is my private blog, but it is on the World Wide Web, and anybody can read it. If I get mad at work and come here and vent, I would not be doing my job any favors. My job is in the public eye, so off work I am still representing my job. Same with family. If I get mad at my sis or brother, feelings can be hurt if I blog about it. If I blog about a person at AA, then I am in trouble there, because I broke their anonymity. Sooo, if I really want to vent I call my sponsor, or go tell Hannah. She is deaf so she is safe! HAHAHAHA
I wish my best to Dennis and Kim, and pray His will be done. They will get through this, and I have them in my prayers.

If you worry, you didn't pray ...
If you pray, don't worry.

Faith is the ability to not panic.

Friday Funnies

I am home today with a bad head cold. What else is new? I thought it was allergies, but it turned into a fever and chills, etc...etc! Hope it's not the bird flu from all my bird postings!!
So instead of thinking, I will share this cute email I received today:

TO: GOD: FROM: THE DOG
Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?
Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?
Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the " Chrysler Beagle"?
Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?
Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?
Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.
Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?
Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.
1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3 I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box, although they are tasty.
4. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.
5. The sofa is not a 'face towel'. Neither are Mom and Dad's laps.
6. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
7. My head does not belong in the refrigerator.
8. I will not bite the officer' s hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and registration.
9. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
10. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying "hello".
11. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.
12. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
13. I will not throw up in the car.
14. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.
15. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch when we have company.
16. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.
And, finally, My last two questions . .
Dear God: Why do humans only have 10 Commandments and dogs have 16?

P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

I just got another funny email!
Check out this site!!

Another shot of the albino Peacock

I just can't get over the beauty of this bird. It is probably a different bird from yesterday, but the beauty is the same.
It is hard to believe that February 2006 is about over with! Is it my imagination or is the clock ticking faster and faster? I like to enjoy life each day, but it is going so fast I am trying to still enjoy yesterday when tomorrow arrives!! They say one day at a time, but they are melding together!

"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"

God is goooooood!

I woke up this morning with the moon shining in my eyes and hearing birds chirping outside.(better than inside, huh)? It was 20 degrees and the area is frozen white with the moisture that moved in last night. A real Winter Wonderland without snow.

I received this picture in a forwarded email and thought of God. Peacocks are a beautiful creation with their bright colors, but somehow this albino Peacock takes my breath away!

I better get ready for Church now. Have a marvelous Sunday!!

The SON is shining and He can certainly use you!

Brrrrrrrrrrr............

It is supposed to get into the teens tonight, so I decided to post this picture that I saw in an email.
I was watching a little television tonight before going to my AA meeting and saw a commercial for a car. It started out with a couple sitting in a restaurant and the gal looks away sitting there all ladylike, and the guy pours a glass of wine for her and drops a diamond ring in the glass for a proposal, and she turns and grabs the glass and gulps the entire contents and smiles and has no idea she drank an engagement ring, and the guy has this dumbfounded look on his face. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA That was ME in my younger years!! I hated to follow rules and I loved to shock people! I went to a party with a guy in Virginia Beach and it was with a bunch of officers hanging around a pool. I started out just fine in my mini dress and false eyelashes and wiglet. (this was 1972, I was cute then, ok?) As the party progressed and my sips went to gulps then chugging, I ended up in the pool dress and all! It was B-O-R-I-N-G!!!! All the guys and gals were hanging around acting all proper and everything and sipping their drinks!! SIPPING??? I had no concept of what sipping a drink was, much less not finishing it!! After I jumped in the pool, a few of the guys followed, but not my date. Well I didn't like him that much anyway. Too stiff!! I have no idea how I got home that night nor do I wish to try to remember. But I can tell you this, all those prim and proper gals probably have no rememberance of that night, but I sure do, and I am still giggling!! Heeheeheeheehee I bet they don't go to AA meetings on Friday nights now either. Sheesh, they don't know what they're missing! I am gonna slide into home base when I die yelling WHEEEEEEEEEEE...WHAT A RIDE!!
All this came from a commercial that I have no idea what they were selling. I will just laugh whenever I see it now!!

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Soakin' up the sunbeams!

I stayed home today because I was 'sick in my muscles'. Sometimes all my muscles are so sore I cannot move without pain! I was like that today, so I stayed home from work and slept for 12 hours. I woke up at 2 this afternoon!! I got up and started my laundry and other menial chores, and went to make my bed and there they were! Right in my spot, and looking as lazy as anything can be!! My two lazy cats! Geeze, but they have a good life! They have no worries except that I might sleep in and they won't get fed by 7:00am!
I have some pain pills for days like this, but I find I look forward to the pills and take one for the effect. Hydrocodone 5/500. The doctor gives me 40 at a time and I save them for a time when I really need them. They do not cure the problem, they just hide the pain, or let you live with the pain and not care. I am an alcoholic, therefore I need to be very careful with pills like that! Yes, I take the pills, no I don't abuse them! Some alcoholics claim I should change my sobriety date if I take the pills. My first sponsor told me to throw them away! I am an alcoholic, not a martyr! Hogwash! I take them as the doctor prescribes, in fact I take them LESS than the doctor prescribes, therefore I still have 18 years sobriety. I did not take a pill today. I will however take them when I start training again, as I know that after a day riding in the bus sideways with new drivers stopping abrupty, will jar my back around and make me sore. Maybe not. I might get by without them. One day at a time here.
I see the temperature has dropped 7 degrees in an hour, so I must brace for that Arctic blast coming down the Frasier River Valley from Canada!
Everyone stay warm and safe now!!
Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

Mount Rainier

Our Winter mornings can be awesome. This is a picture of Mount Rainier at 7:25am this week. After a good rain or snow the air is so clean you can see Mount Rainier (Another Volcano) 150 miles away!! It is supposed to get really cold this week here. 20 miles south of us got 4" of snow last night. We just got a little hail, that's all. It is 35 degrees now, but going to get into the low 20's possibly colder. Thursday might bring a little snow. We'll see. The Northeast got dumped on!! I was in Connecticut in 1978 when "Blizzard Larry" dumped 2 feet of snow on us. It was really exciting to watch, when I went to bed it was about 8" deep, when I woke up the next morning the entire back of the house was covered in snow!! We were buried! I went to the front and it was only two feet. I never knew drifts could do that! I LOVED it!! Governor Grasso told us on television that the State was closed, and for everyone to stay home. Well where in the heck were we going with two feet of snow on the roads?? DOH!

I came home from work today and found this on my porch:

My Mexican Friends Karen and Karim gave me this big beautiful Valentine!! My heart burst with love when they showed it to me!!
I drove home and as I drove through the court I saw them and waved. They came running lickity split to my house and made sure I saw the surprise!! The looks on their faces was priceless. Karim is about 9 and Karen is about 7. Yes, they are Chris's cousins. I have been adopted and I LOVE it!!
I used to feel sorry for myself that I never had kids or grandkids, but heck, they sure fill the void for me!!
My 90 year old friend Hannah gave me these for my birthday:

Am I spoiled or what? Life is goooood!! I never dreamed my life would be this good in my younger years. I certainly feel God's Grace. I certainly do. AMEN!!

God is like...
TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

When the sun comes out in February we have a beautiful day up here. After all those months of snow in the mountains, (That is Mount Baker) the air is clear and the mountains are showing all their glory! I cannot imagine living somewhere where there are no mountains or salt water.
Mount Baker has a 200 inch base this year. I have some friends that just got back from snow camping up there! They are absolutely crazy, that is why I love them! I camp up there in May for a week. I might do that again this year, maybe not. It is about an 80 mile drive to get there.
Oak Harbor is just around the point there. Those floats you see are the mussell rafts. I posted about them earlier. They have long ropes hanging under the rafts and blue shelled muscles grow on them and they harvest them and sell them. I love them steamed and dipped in garlic butter. NUMMY!! Or in with clam chowder. I am going to bed. I had a busy but fun day. I just had to post and get rid of that creepy catman post.

If people from Poland are called Poles,
why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

My Church friends had a birthday party for me and my friend Debby tonight. We met at the Asian Jumbo Buffet. That is my favorite quick foods restaurant. I fill up on shrimp fixed many different ways and hot spicy chicken. I don't get the rice or noodles, I just go for the meat! They also have the best crab rangoons around!!
The adorable red head girl was showing off the Boa I made for her last week. Her parents said she never ever takes it off!


Can you see the back of the head between the girl and her mom? That is of the "Catman". My sister wrote a blog on him this last Summer. He/she/it moved to Freeland the next town down the Island. He/she/it has had numerous tattoos and operations to make him/her/it look like a cat. He/she/it has had his/her/it's teeth filed into fangs, and operations on it's face to split the upper lip to look like a cat. They say He/she/it is a man, but I noticed it had boobs, so I really don't know what to think. I don't really stare at people like that, but I feel bad that a person has to disfigure his/her/ self for their religious beliefs. The Seattle Times wrote an article on him.
Freaky....just freaky!! I wonder....does he use the catbox and scratches to cover it? And does he lick himself to take a bath? EEEEYYYYUUUUU!




What can I say, it just freaks me out!!

I have a very busy weekend ahead of me. Tomorrow I have to get up at 6:00 and go to breakfast with guys from work and put on a video testing for new Operators, then get hom by three to get my two flea bitten cats to the groomers to get washed and de-flea'd!!
then my AA meeting, then come home and make spaghetti caserole for a potluck Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Saturday morning I run to an Estate sale then take Hannah to lunch then run home and bake the casserole and go to a potluck on the Southend at 6:30. Then Sunday is Church then a potluck. WHEW!! Full of friends and food, what more can you ask for? well ok, it would be better if all of you were here too!!


I wonder......Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

The Morning After

I love a good storm every once in awhile, and to have a good one on my birthday...well I had a GREAT time!!
The winds came up around 2:00am and I stayed up for awhile then turned everything off and went to bed. The power went out at 10:00am. I was still in bed and my CPAP machine went off so I woke up gasping for air! A CPAP machine has a mask that fits over your nose and forces air through a hose to the mask that keeps your airway open during the night. My airway gets lazy and colapses during my sleep which makes me quit breathing for 20 seconds at a time during the night. I have used the machine for 5 years now and can't sleep without it. I actually wake up feeling like I've had a good night's sleep for once. So when the power goes out I know right away!!
I got up and brushed my teeth and fed the cats and sat there wondering what to do, as I get bored so easily. I have plenty of food and water, so I don't need to worry about that.
I sat and did some crocheting, then my sister stopped by with a card and gift then she left to go home and build a fire. When she got home she called me to brag about her having power. My power was still off, so about 4:00pm I was hungry and wanted some warm food. My friend Deb called and told me to meet her at our friend Sadie's house so she could shower, then we will go to dinner. Well she finally got finished around 6:00pm and we headed out to find a place. We tried 6 places and they were all packed with a waiting line out the doors, so we decided it was hamburgers! We got some burgers at Dairy Queen and I left to go home. I was still hungry so I stopped at Papa John's and got a small pizza and went home and ate the toppings and threw the crust away. I was stuffed! I took a hot bath and got my lanterns and shut the house and went to bed. I hooked up my CPAP machine to the converter and battery pack I bought for camping, set the lantern in the window and settled in with lots of covers on me and two cats next to me for warmth, got my book and opened it up and the power came on!! It was 10:00pm. So, I got up and turned on the news and did some blogging and went to bed about 2:00am.
I went to Church this morning and the Praise team played some good old Gospel music! It pumped us all up, and we even sang Amazing Grace!!
After the uplifting sermon I drove around in the BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE and took a few pictutres. The blockhouse up above was built in 1855 and was used for protection against the mean Indians from Vancouver Island (sorry to my Canadian friends). I love the way they cut the logs into Lincoln logs and put the buildings together!


Now I am getting ready for the next week of work and cooking the meals and doing my chores. I am actually gonna try to watch the Super Bowl only because the Seahwaks are playing and the entire area here is all pumped up for the game. I want to be able to say I actually watched the history making game when the Seahawks won the Superbowl!! I even painted my fingernails their colors.




GO SEAHAWKS!!
Actually, may the best team win, and whover does, it was a fun season!

There are three religious truths:
Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith.
Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters.

My little Helpers!

Every morning I have two shadows that follow my every step! They are at my dresser before I am. Trying to put my makeup on is a trial at times as you can see! Ya like the tricky way I planned on hiding me? HEHEHEHE
The lights are blinking already, and it is only midnight! The wind is just starting to pick up, and they are warning us that this could be the worst storm in years! UH-OH, and tomorrow is Super Bowl and Seattle Seahawks are playing!! It would be hilarious if the power went out in the entire area and the game was a history making one!! I do believe that the weather men are in cahoots with the generator makers, and give out warnings every once in awhile to sell the generators.
I don't have a generator, but I do have a back up power pack that will run my CPAP machine for 8 hours. I also have 25 gallons of water, plenty of food, and cat food, lots of blankets and candles and batteries. No plans for tomorrow, so I am prepared! Well the wind is gusting up to 25 right now so I better close this up. They are supposed to gust up to 80 or stronger. They warned us it could get to hurricane force. Hold on to your hats!!

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...
does that mean that one enjoys it?

SURPRISE!!

The past three weeks at work have been very busy and stressful! I am volunteering at a play tonight for a fundraiser for the Forgotten Children's Fund here on the Island. The money will go for Christmas for poor children and their families. Being as I am staying out late tonight I decided to take tomorrow off so I can SLEEP in and rest then go shopping. So while I was going from one meeting to another, a lady came in and asked for me and gave me this darling basket of Violets!! I read the card and saw it was from a very special friend, and it really cheered me up! I could feel the stress pour out of me! You see I was so busy I actually didn't realize my birthday was coming up Saturday. Well when you get as old as the hills, you quit counting, but it is fun to celebrate! The people at work ooooed and ahhhed and asked me who it was from, and I told them a really special friend!
I got home at 4:30 and ran to the Playhouse to get ready for the play tonight. We only filled half the house, but we made a little money from it so it was worth it. It was Steel Magnolias, and it was done just great! The actresses were funny and I felt like I was right there in the Hair salon!














Well I was told after I took this picture that I was not allowed to. OOOPS! Sorry. i JUST WANTED TO HAVE A PICTURE FOR THE (WELL i HATE IT WHEN THAT CAPS LOCK BUTTON GETS PUSHED!!) There, I fixed it, any way, I just wanted a picture for the scrapbook for the forgotten Children's Fund.
I came home at 11:00 and played with my kitty.














Life is Gooooood!
Don't ya just want to rub the heck outa that soft flabby belly?
Well DON'T!! I warn ya, his claws are SHARP!!!
Have a great weekend, we are going to hold on tight around here I guess we are expecting a huge storm blowing in tomorrow night and Saturday. The weather report says they expect the strogest storm in years to hit. YIPPEEE!

OK.... so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the "Jags"
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the "Bucs,"
what does that make the Tennessee Titans?

Maxine is SUPER!

What else can I say?

Maxine says it all!!

Have a great Thursday everyone!!

Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool? (My sentiments exactly)