"Cinderella" is home!

I picked her up around 4:00pm and got her in the car in her carrier then proceeded to drive for 3 and a half hours with her high pitched meows all the way home!
When I brought her in I put the carrier on the floor and Elliott & Punkin come up and sniffed. Punkin turned and left, but Elliott made a fool of himself! He cried and screamed like a little girl!

Cindy found a spot on the perch and Punkin was under the chair, and Elliott was behind Punkin under the chair. The weenie!

Mary Lou came over and I handed her Cindy, and she climbed up around her neck and stayed there!

I stayed home from work today (I am really sick) really! And Cindy stayed right by my side! She was either on my bed next to me or on my chest smothering me! Her purr is deep and she feels right at home. It will take a few weeks for the other two to accept her, but she already knows this is her home and she is not leaving, so there!
Elliott stayed most of the night sitting on top of the covered cat litter box to be sure she didn't go in there and make a mess! I had to make her a small one just for her. I also had to give her food by herself as Elliott does not want her near the food either! That will change!!

KIDS!!! HMMPPFF!!

She is adorable and quite the lover!!

And VOCAL!! whew!

Happy Birthday Donna!

My sister's daughter Donna turned 41 years old today!
I can't believe how time flies. I was 18 years old when she was born, and at my peak of youth, beauty and wild times. I went to the dances at the Enlisted Men's Club on the base three times a week. I took Donna to the cafeteria where my sister worked and everyone thought she was mine! I was (still am) blonde, and so was Donna. Mary Lou has Auburn hair.
It seems a lifetime ago. I got her a birthday card that says the earth stopped 41 years ago and she got on. That about explains Donna. She is unique in every way! I am very proud of her and hope she knows it. I love her like she is my own daughter. She gets raw wool and makes her own yarn then knits things. I crochet small things with store bought yarn. She is a very self sufficient gal and I have no worries about her survival! None whatsoever!
Happy Birthday Donna!!

I saw a huge lightning strike today about 2pm over the mountains. It was bright orange and poerful! I never heard the thunder so I figured it was a long ways away. About 20 minutes later I noticed a heavy plume of white smoke in the mountains where the strike hit. I called 911 and they transfered me to the Jeffereson County office and I told them what I saw and they said about 4 other people saw the same thing and it is a forest fire in the Olympic National Forest caused by the lightning strike I saw.
WOW!!

Stay safe everyone!

Happy Birthday Sherry!

51 years ago God smiled down at the earth and presented us with a baby girl they named Sherry. My brother met her and married her in 1976. She is the best thing that has happened to the Brett family. She is my best friend and a wonderful wife for my brother. They had one child (Galen) who got married July 4th this year. My brother is not doing too good today but knowing he has a wife by his side that loves him unconditionally is quite a blessing.

This is Sherry blowing out her candles on the melted cake. My sister bought the cake and put it in the car and stopped at another store and came home. Just in that short time the heat of the day melted the cake!! HAHAHAHA

My sister took this picture of my brother. They left right after. He was tired. They went to the Island County Fair and he was worn out. He is starting to hurt in different places now and that worries me.
Alot!

We take it one day at a time here. Pray for mercy and comfort for him please. Thanks.

I'm Home!

Can you believe these were taken within three minutes of each other in the same back yard?

I took the first one then walked over to the edge of my yard looking towards the mountains and took the other one. Too bad I have those nets from the field in them!

This is for skywatch Friday.

It was a hot one today and going to be even hotter tomorrow and Saturday! GOOD!! Maybe my tomatoes will ripen now!

I need to unpack and get ready for bed!

G'nite.

Off to Tacoma!

That is Mount Rainier in the distance. Tacoma is just north of it.

I'm off to Tacoma for a few days on a class for work.

Be back late on Thursday.

Y'all have fun!

Meet Cinderella!!

Well dang! My boss went to Olympia and picked up her new Ragdoll kitten. The woman raising the kittens showed Martha her two other "rescue" cats. a 9 year old and a One 1/2 year old Ragdoll female. Her name is Cinderella. She was born Feb 7, 2007. I called the lady and she said she is mine. I pick her up on the 19th. I am going to a meeting down there and will pick up Cinerella then. Ooooo I can't wait!! Elliott gets a new girlfriend. UH-OH!! Punkin will be royally pissed!!

Isn't she a real sweetie? How long will it be before MaryLou gets her kitten?

I felt it!

I felt an earthquake at 10:03 tonight and called my sister but she didn't feel it.
I called my neighbor but she didn't feel it, but another neighbor did! It was very mild, but I was sitting here and felt a rumble, then a bang. My stomach did a little flip, my knees went weak and my tongue went numb. (probably from fear).
Stay tuned....................................................

P.S. I just hung up on my sister. She was laughing at me about my tongue being numb. I couldn't say a word she was laughing so hard!! click.....bitch.

They just put a news announcement that there was a quake 3 miles north of Port Townsend. (that's right here).
Stay tuned...................................................

Okay, it was 3.0 on the richter scale 5 miles from Coupeville near Port Townsend.
I'm going to bed now. I better bungee cord myself in the bed.

G'nite!

Whew....pant...pant

My gosh, time is flying by!! It is July 29th!! What happened to June?
My computer at home is getting ready to bite the dust, so I am dropping a quick line from work before I head home!
Thanks for the award Brenda!! In a few days I will catch up with my blogging.
Everyone have a great week!!
We are having October weather right now. The wind is blustery, sprinkling rain and 58 degrees!!

Race week

Living on the Island in the Summer is a busy place. Beginning July 3rd in Freeland they have an old fashioned waterfront fireworks display along with old time music and carnival atmosphere. Then July 4th in Oak Harbor about 25 miles North is another old fashioned affair starting out with a big parade, a day of fun and finishing with the fireworks display. This weekend begins Race week. People come from around the world to participate in the race. We usually have good winds for it and mostly sun. Sometimes we have bad weather but that is rare. There have been a time or two that we have had no wind and that makes it bad for sailing. This week is great!
In August we have the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival. That is two days of people from around the world selling their art. It started out as handmade things from local residents. I used to have a booth in it with my stained glass items. I quit making them as I have no room in my house for all the equipment. We used to have a local tribe of Indians with a salmon barbecue. I haven't seen that in awhile.
The third week of August is the Island County Fair in Langley. It is a four day event. So there is alot of things to do here on the Island.
Enjoy your weekend!!

Benefit for my brother

My brother used to play music in various bands in the area here. His heart is in music. When his old band heard about Mike having cancer, they got together and had a benefit dance for Mike last Saturday. Luckily Mike felt much better and was able to attend his son's wedding on Friday then the benefit on Saturday. He went on stage and played with the band for awhile. Sherry said when he sang "Knocking on Heaven's Door", it got to her and she cried. I had gone home before all that went on. It was too loud for me.
Sherry and my friend Debbie enjoying the music.

The band.

My next door neighbor Florence enjoying watching the long haired "rock star" jumping around on stage. She has alot of fun with me. We go out and act crazy wherever we go.

Y'all have a great weekend!! I sure will!!

Meet Galen & Sumre Brett

Today we went to Monroe to attend the wedding of my brother's son Galen to Sumre.
Galen is the one dressed in his best t-shirt and cammy shorts....Mike my brother is the one sitting in the chair giving wise words to Galen.
This is Sumre, dressed in her black dress sipping (well ok, guzzling) her beer before the wedding.

Mike and his lovely wife Sherry (she is the only sane one in our family).

Meet Brent, the minister that performed the wedding. He dressed in his tuxedo t-shirt that he found under some snow boarding gear in his garage and smells like gas.

Galen is getting ready to put the ring on Sumre's finger.

Sumre is placing her ring on Galen's ankle. (ball & chain).

Hehehehehe..............the key broke when they were trying to get this off his ankle. They were actually trying to cut the thing off with bolt cutters when we left.

Mary Lou and Bob, and her son Tim and her daughter Donna.

Sumre's mom (who cried throughout) Galen, Mike, Sherry and Sumre.
The wedding was great! Have you ever seen Rocky Horror Picture Show? Well they threw water balloons at the couple after they said their vows. I wish I would have known they were doing that, I would have brought a loaf of toast to throw at the bride!!

They had marvelous vegan food at the ceremony as they are vegans. When we left the wedding we couldn't get to the Farmhouse Restaurant fast enough!!

I had a great time!! I think everyone did.

YEEOWZA!!

Yeeowza, we just had a HUMONGOUS thunder and lightening storm blow through!!
I got home about 8:00pm and heard distant thunder then saw the dark sky. I then unloaded my car and ran in the house and pulled up all my blinds so I can have a great view of the storm, and boy, did I!!
I was bouncing from the living room to the bedroom watching the strikes hit all around me! It was right over my head and LOUD!! I heard one crack and boom and lightening at the same time then I heard an echo like sound. Whew! That was a good one! I can hear it in the distance now, so I can finish this and take my bath.

Remember, we NEVER ever get storms like this here!! It seems to pass around the Island alot, but this time it was right overhead!!
I don't think I need to go watch the fireworks Friday, I had my own private display here!!
You all have a SAFE fourth!!

I'm going to Monroe for my nephew's wedding on Friday. Galen is my brother's only child. He is 30. Mike really wants to see his grandkids. Maybe the chemo will work and prolong his life. We sure pray for that.
Pictures later. (of the wedding)

Another day on the Island

On the way to work I stopped for this buck. I love the fuzzy antlers!

On the way home from work I drove down West Beach Road and it was windy so I stopped to watch the waves hit the beach

Ya gotta stop and smell the roses at least once each day. Take time to enjoy your surroundings. I sure do.

Life is Good

Life is good.

I have lived on this Island most of my life and I still have awe inspiring moments while driving by the beaches.

Brenda asked me for close ups of the windows, so here 'tis. The windows slide sideways to open. They are about 45"wide X 51"long.

Y'all have a GREAT weekend!!

TA-DA!

Thursday I got the windows put in. I came home from work at 11:00. They said they would be here around 11:00, and they showed up at 11:10! Egads, I opened the door and told them go to work, I trust you, then gave them my phone number at work to call me if they needed me for something. I expected them to be done around 6:00pm. I got a call at 2:30 telling me they were done!!! YIKES, 8 windows in three hours! Only two guys were here.
I inspected them (the windows, not the guys) and they looked great!! I didn't get everything put back until Saturday night, but now my house is CLEAN!! New clean windows, and I polished the floors before I put the furniture back. What a great feeling to get all that done!!

I went to Seattle for a Paratransit meeting Wednesday.

I had to get a picture of the Space Needle!

It is always good to get home from the City!
I'm so glad I'm a country bumpkin!!
The window guys were amazed when they called me at work and I was home in 5 minutes! I told them I hate rush minutes!! Get it? Rush hour....rush minute?
Oh, never mind!!

Have a great week!!

Windows

I came home from work last night about 4:30. I had a message on my machine from Home Depot telling me my windows are ready and they can install them tomorrow morning!!

(I am having 8 windows replaced because they are all in need of it).

WHAT?? I thought it was going to be about a month!

I called work and they told me to go ahead and take tomorrow off so I can be here. WHEW!! I changed cars and went to my friends house for an AA meeting and got home about 7:30. It was windy so I got Florence (my 92 year old next door neighbor) and we drove out to the beach to watch the waves and the boats rolling on the swells. We drove over to the ferry to see if it was running. They have a borrowed small ferry because the other one broke. Well that was very intertaining watching it try to make it across the Sound to the other side. We were getting sick watching it roll. Egads, no way would I be on that!!

I got home around 9 and started getting my house ready for the big change. I had to get all my curtains down so I washed them. I then had to get my blinds down. It was 2am so I decided to wait until the morning for that. I pulled all the furniture away from the wall and cleaned up all the dust bunnies. My goodness there were alot of them!!

I got up early this morning all achy from the work last night and started pulling down the blinds in all 8 windows.

I sat down all tired and sore and my phone rang.

It was Home Depot.

"Hello?"



"Hello, this is Home Depot, I have no idea how the mix up happened but the bottom line is, your windows were not on the shipment today. They won't be in until Thursday".

"What?................You are kidding, right"?


"No ma'am, I feel horrible about this".



"Excuse me you have NO IDEA what I went through to get ready for this".


"I'm really sorry, I feel horrible".


"NOt as horrible as I feel! I am 59 years old, disabled with a horrid back. I pulled all my furniture from the windows and took down all the blinds and curtains, took the day off of work to be here at the last minute because you guys gave me no warning of them coming, and now you tell me never mind"?

"We can put them in on Thursday or Saturday".

"No, I cannot take another day off of work for this and I will not give up a day off for it"!

"I'm really sorry ma'am, my hands are tied".

"I know, it isn't your fault, but my goodness this is bad, really bad! sniff, snort, sob, whaaaaaaaa"!

I started crying then sobbing............So did she.

I told her that They need to do it Thursday. I work two miles away so they can do it on their own and I can sign later. I hung up then proceeded to have a good cry. Well I tried anyway, but I pictured all this in my head then started laughing, then started laughing harder while I was crying. Hmmmm, is that called hysteria? Anyway, I got it all out and now I feel better.

She called me back and told me They will be here Thursday at noon and finish Friday morning.

Swell.

Oh well, so be it.

I talked with my sis and was laughing saying thank the Lord it wasn't her!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

Here are some "before pictures. Elliott peeking out the bedroom window at me peeking out the spare room window at him.


My living room exposed to the neighborhood for two days. I am NOT putting everything back just to do it all over again. I will sit in the dark.

Bunch of nothing

My brother has had a great week and he doesn't have chemo for another week, so that is good!!

Not much to blog about, I keep tremendously busy, but that is what life is for, isn't it?
Monday & Thursday nights I take an AA meeting to a friend who is waiting for a liver transplant, Wednesday night is Bible study, Friday night is my AA meeting, then Saturdays are full of chores and Sunday is Church. Not much time leeft to get in trouble with.

The sun finally came out yesterday and today, and possibly tomorrow too! Yikes,!!
No summer here, floods in the midwest. The world is changing right beofre our eyes.

Have a plan, folks, alway have a plan!!
What would you do if a disaster happened? (have kits in your cars & home).
Who would you call? (Have their phone numbers handy).
Plan on where you would go if you lose your house. (Do you have a bank account you can access by computer)? Do you know your credit card numbers if you lose your purse or wallet?
I have a copy of all my cards (with numbers to call to report stolen) in my office desk in case I lose my purse.
I guess we shouldn't worry too much, but keep a plan in your mind on what to do in case.......!
Big earthquakes are popping up world wide, and we are overdue on the West Coast, so I am as prepared as I can be.

I'm also prepared for GOOD WEATHER if we ever get it!!
My backyard is prepared for barbecues and the freezer is full!!

I pray everyone is safe from the floods and weather! Have a good week!!

Whatcha thinkin?

Me, staring at the wall.
Mike: "Whatcha thinkin?"
Me: "I was thinking I'm wondering if Elliott is sleeping on my pillow right now."
Mike: (giggle)
Me: "What are YOU thinking?"
Mike: pause..."I was wondering what it is going to feel like.........................when I die"
Me: swallowing a huge lump in my throat..."Well I think you will probably be so doped up you won't even know."
Mike: "Oh yeah."
Me: (speaking in a soft whisper) "From what I have read from near death experiences, people have felt themselves being swooped in a tunnell with a brilliant light at the end and when they pass through the light they will see Jesus, and their family that passed before them. They will immediately forget the pain and stress and feel this awesome peace."
Mike: "Yeah?"
Me: "Oh yeah, I truly, truly believe this."
Silence................(tears falling from both of our eyes, me squeezing his hand.)

This was said on Monday night about 2:00am as Mike was laying on the gurney in the ER waiting for the doctor to release him.
He had an immense chemo treatment on Monday morning and went home and puked every hour on the hour until about 9:00pm when Sherry took him in to the ER. They gave him some IV treatment, some antinausea drugs and pain medicine. He was released at 3:00am and I took him home. The next day at 3:00pm Sherry took him back to the ER, and we took turns sitting by his side. I came back from my AA meeting at 9:30 and let Sherry go home, and I asked the nurse if they are going to release him or keep him. They decided to keep him until the next day so we all could get some rest. That was about 12:30am. He was released from the hospital at 3:00 the next afternoon.
This is only the beginning.
Bless his heart, I hate to see him suffer like this. The tumors are beginning to invade his colon and pressing on his stomach. I told Sherry we need to ask the doctor for instructions on what to do at the house in case this happens again.

I drove up to Bellingham yesterday and it was 45 degrees and pouring rain. It is June 6th fergoodnesssakes!! I can hear my tomato plants shivering out in the garden!! But my roses are enjoying the cool and wet weather. The slugs and snails are having parties at night!!
There are tornadoes in the East, heat waves in Texas. Yikes, what is going on?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'Lisp'?

Farewell Barbecue...Day 4 of my 16 day vacation.

My sister Mary Lou and Merrily waving at the camera. Linda sitting on the steps, my brother Mike and his wife Sherry to the right.
Mike, Sherry and Merrily.
Mike, Linda, Merrily, Carol and Sherry.

We had a great time today grilling alot of meat and eating salads and fruit!
Merrily is a dear friend of all of us and their family is moving to Roswell Georgia next week!! Of all places, GEORGIA!! Merrily is a guardian angel for my family. She is a dear friend of mine and was my sister's nurse when she was in the hospital, then was my brother's nurse when he was in the hospital twice!! She prayed every time she came in Mikes room and made his stay much easier and took the fear from him. They will be missed.
Dang I hate saying goodbyes to friends.

Elliott chases cats away

This is a horrible picture, but it shows a few of my bird houses on my fence, and Elliott in the corner chasing away a stray cat. He doesn't want to share the houses with anyone!!

Elliott guarding the new Bird condo

I have a new hobby. I love colorful birdhouses. I have 9 in the back yard and two in the front. I paid my neighbor to plant my whiskey barrel to make it look pretty, and he put trailing lavender colored geraniums in it along with other things that will bush and trail. I painted a two story birdhouse to match the plants. I looked out today and there was Elliott, guarding the birdhouse making sure no bird will go near it! I'm surprised he isn't sitting there really still with his mouth wide open!

As you've noticed, I have been lazy in posting. I have lost my enthusiasm. I want to write about my day, but I cannot write about work, and the rest of my energy is put on my brother. I have two weeks off coming up next week so I will catch you up then.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone has a great Memorial day weekend!! We had warm weather a few days back! It is back to being cool and rainy here.

Goodbye Ron

We say goodbye to Ron Edwards, a graduate of Coupeville High School (1965?). I knew him from school (an upper classman). He also played drums in the band the Sceptre's in 1968. Later, he was a Deputy Sheriff then a Detective, then moved to California. He got cancer last year and was told in June that he had 6 months to live. In December he wrote a note to my brother on the Caring Bridge Site:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2007 09:50 AM, CST
Dear Mike, I heard about your site from Pam Young. I am so sorry to hear of your illness. One thing you must do is stay positive and believe that you will get well. It is a real struggle , to say the least. I know somewhat of what hell has been placed in your path but from experience I can tell you, "Don't give up!" not for a moment. The chemo is an awful stuff but it can and does help. Keep eating and keep up your strength. Obviously many people love you and care and that is such a solace to anyone. Always remember that you will beat this, it does not have you.

I remember you as a young man and you don't seem the type to let this thing get the best of you. I have had numerous speed bumps placed in my path over the years but like you my life has been placed in others hands. Six months ago I went to the hospital with what I thought was phnemonia. turned out to be a large tumor in my left lung and cancer of the bones, liver and all. I was much more fortunate than you when it came to them getting me on chemo. When the Doctor told me I had six months I asked that we get started right away and he started that day. That was on June 13th of this year. I am past my six months and I am still here writing this note to you. Anything is possible Mike, this is the voice of experience. Hold your head up, be positve and believe in yourself. You can do it. Once you get over the initial illness of the chemo it will get better. I have found my peace in the fact that so many of the people I knew in my past are back in my life, supporting me and now you are finding the same. God bless you my friend and continue on, and no matter what, NEVER QUIT.

Ron Edwards


He fought to the end and that came today at 12:18 Pacific time.
Goodbye Ron. I'll see you on the other side!!

The sun is back!!

Elliott enjoying a sunbeam on the couch.
Tomorrow I head to Leavenworth. (The town, not the prison).
It is in the Cascade Mountains just East of Stevens Pass. The State Transit systems get together once a year to have a conference on issues dealing with person's with disabilities.
Leavenworth is a Bavarian looking village and is sort of centrally located so all the systems have a chance to get there. Last weekend it would have been hard to get to with all the snow we were having. Today it is 70 degrees and sunny! I will be glad to get off the Island and do something different from the every day stuff here.

My brother is doing better on his new chemo. I don't know if it is shrinking the tumors any, but he is tolerating it much better! Before, he was acting weird and not in focus. Now he is back to being my brother. Sherry and I were talking a few weeks ago and she mentioned that she missed Mike. I asked what she meant, and she said he just isn't the same. He acts doped up (which he is) on the medications. We prayed together and I asked the Lord for healing, but if he won't heal, we'd like to have my brother back, we'd like to have Sherry remember his last days with warmth. Well since he started the new chemo he is actually acting like his old self. Sherry and I hugged each other and said "Thank you Lord". He listens.

Today I am grateful for my brother.

I am leaving after Church tomorrow and will return on Tuesday night. You won't miss me, because I seem to only post once a week or two. But y'all have a good week!!

Is this april?????

Lookie here folks, we have SNOW!! It is APRIL fercrissakes!
I was driving home from my AA meeting tonight and it was hailing, then snowing, then lightening, and 1" of slush on the road. It is 33 degrees now and they are forecasting heavy snow this weekend! WHAAAAAA????? Ok, I'll admit it, I love it. I like anything out of the ordinary. I am a weather freak and always look for extremes. At least we aren't getting tornadoes or earthquakes!
Anyone else getting weird weather?

Sorry I have been absent, I have writers block....actually I have trouble talking too. It seems I can't keep my concentration focused. I was sharing at the AA meeting last week and changed subjects in the middle of a sentence then I heard myself and lost my train of thought. I realized I just interrupted myself so I shared that and shut up. My friend Jane thought that was the funniest thing she has ever heard!! I guess it is kind of funny.

G'nite.

Where have I been?

I see I haven't posted in almost two weeks!
I was busy, then had a few days off and got the crud that is going around. I seem to be greedy and get every germ that passes by me!! I thought it was allergies, but nope! Any way, I am better. I went to the doctor today and he gave me an inhaler to use and told me to rest (yeah, right). So I went back to work and cleaned my office! Yikes, I actually threw away alot of old crap I was saving just because. Well I have no room for that, and all it does is collect dust to irritate my airways, so out they went! Now my boss will come in and ask if I had a certain document or folder or whatever. Please don't be reading this Martha!! {:-)
My brother started his new chemo treatment Monday and seems to sleep alot. It is so hard watching him go downhill. So hard. I posted my feelings on the Caring Bridge site, then Sherry posted her thoughts too. Go visit here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikebrett If you don't want to sign up just use my email address, phyllisbrett1@comcast.net then the password booboo00 the last two 00 are zeros not letters.
So that is where I have been lately. Busy then depressed, but hanging in there. Life goes on, and it is a beautiful Spring day today after the snow around us the past few days!!
And Baseball Season is upon us!! GO MARINERS!!

Good Friday

I had a busy week, and of course my weekend will be just as busy.
Today I cleaned off my desk and actually finished off a bunch of "things to do" that had piled up for the past few months while I was busy training new drivers.
I met a friend for dinner and then went to my AA meeting to help Doreen celebrate 25 years of sobriety!! She was 19 years old when she decided to turn her life around and enter alcoholics anonymous. She is only 44 years old and looks 30! She calls me her sponsor and calls me at least twice a week. That is how you "work the program". You get a sponsor, don't drink, go to meetings and help others that want to get sober. Period. It is that simple. Life has its struggles, and yes you might have suicidal thoughts at times, but do not put alcohol as an option to make things better. Period. We had chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting (YUM) at half time.
I got home at 10:00pm and called a friend from Church and we sat here and watched "The Passion of The Christ". Of course we sat here in total silence with tears rolling down our faces. He died for our sins, folks! As I watched the nails being pounded into his flesh, I felt it! I remembered too many of my sins. I pray and asked forgiveness knowing he died for my sins and I will be accepted in Heaven. That is one thing I am so thankful for with my brother. He is suffering in his Cancer but he has eternal hope! He will die here, but will live on in eternity.
Thank you dear God, Thank you!
Tomorrow I am teaching a First Aid/CPR/AED class for about 30 people at work.

My friend that watched The Passion with me and I are going up to Sunnyside Cemetery Sunday morning at 6:30 to watch the sunrise service put on by the Methodist Church, then have breakfast, then on to our normal 10:00 service at our Church. It sounds weird having a service at the Cemetery but it is on a slope and looks East. Jesus died on a hill so it is actually quite appropriate. If we have an earthquake at that time I will crap my pants!
I will more than likely have a nap after that then on to my brother's house for a late afternoon Easter Dinner. My sister is going to Bellingham to visit with her son that day.
Monday I have off to catch up on some MUCH NEEDED REST!!

I pray you all will have a great Easter weekend!

God Bless.

Frog pond

Where are the frogs? They are oversleeping and not paying attention to the calendar!!

March 8th of every year I can stand on my deck and hear the frog concert from the pond 1/2 mile away. So far this year, no frogs. I drove by the pond last night and opened my car window and heard a few frogs doing a solo, but no chorus line yet. I guess it is too cold for them. It is still in the 30's at night. The trees are late to bloom also and the rose bushes are just starting to get leaves. I guess I better go prune them this weekend.

Tomorrow is Friday, my favorite day of the week!! YIPPEEEE!!

Easter in two weeks!!??

Wow, tonight we set our clocks ahead (why? who the heck knows?!!) Easter is in two weeks. And the Country is still in the middle of Wintery weather!! If there is snow, then the Easter eggs will be much easier to find.
I was driving home today from a luncheon and we saw a yard with clothes out drying on the clothes line. Now that is a rare sight to see. That brought on a conversation of laundry day. I remember using a wringer washer, wringing the clothes into the rinse tub, then wringing them into yet another rinse tub. Then out to the clothes line using wooden clothes pins to keep them on the line. If it started to rain we would run out and grab them really quick or else just leave them out on the line until it clears up and dries them.
After we brought the dry clothes in we would sprinkle the ones to iron using an old pop bottle with a special top on it for sprinkling. After sprinkling the clothes we would roll them up and put them in the basket to iron.
There were no steam irons then, or spray starch. Electric dryers came later as did the fancy washers. Maybe they were already invented, but we sure didn't know about them!! We had white scratchy sheets that were stiff from the lines. (Maybe that is why I spend ALOT of money for my special sheets now). I guess I have turned into a sheet snob. Well heck, I spend 1/3 of my life in bed, why not sleep in comfort and style?
Laundry day now is on Saturdays, and the biggest chore is putting them away. Not anything like we had forty years ago!! Thank the Lord!!
I am keeping up on my Fitness Center! I actually look forward to it now. I try to go at least three times a week, preferably four times a week. I spend at least an hour each time. I use the recumbent bike for 10 minutes then the treadmill for 15 minutes, then upstairs for the 7 different weight machines. I do about 30 revolutions each with 50 pounds. I feel my back building up strength and muscles. Whoopeeee!! I have only needed to use my pain pills once this week!!
This will be a long journey, but well worth it. I hope to keep a steady schedule of this. After the gym, then I really watch what I am eating, knowing how many calories I burned on the machines.
Hope every one has a great week ahead!!

Well I'm sure glad I made that appointment on Monday!!
I woke up and my face was all rashy again and my eyes were really swollen!
I had difficulty breathing and my heart had a few palpitations. I saw the nurse at the diabetes specialist and she told me to quit taking metformin immediately! She gave me a prescription for gliburide and I am to go back to see them in June. So I have a few months to see if I can keep off insulin, but at this point I will do whatever they tell me to do.
I went to pick my brother up at his chemo appointment and when I walked in there I was panting, and the nurse looked at me and asked me if I am like that all the time and I told her no, that I was having a reaction to metformin. She said I was going into anaphylaxis!! I live two blocks from the hospital so I wasn't worried about going home, but I think I better listen more closely to my body for now on.
puffy face,
itchy rashy face, (hives)
constricting throat,
difficulty breathing,
fast heart rate,
palpitations,
Sounds like a severe allergic reaction to me, YA THINK??!! And I teach first aid and was an EMT on an ambulance. DOH! I should've known.

I was out from work for two days and was busy today and tomorrow, but next week I will get back to the Fitness Center! I really liked the feeling after I did an hours workout!

I won't be able to go to my AA meeting tomorrow because my Church is having a "Seder Feast". A Jewish man is coming to give us a teaching on what the Jewish celebrate during the Passover. (I know it isn't Passover yet but this is a teaching). I am bringing the salad. I was going to bring a Greek Salad but it has Feta cheese, and I was told NO DAIRY. Well there goes that idea. Maybe a salad with walnuts and apples in it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Spring is sneaking in on us s-l-o-w-l-y.

OW

Well I went to the Fitness Center 4 times this week!!
I am gradually working up to a good routine. I was sick on Wednesday, so I stayed home that day. I went to the doctor and he is sending me to a Diabetic specialist in Bellingham. It seems I have an allergic reaction to Metformin. It began last January a month after I started it. I tried to blame it on the fire I had and the Chlorine in the pool but it is also the medicine. I might have to go back on insulin. I'll find out Monday when I go to the specialist.
Meanwhile, I am really trying to keep the right foods going into this body and EXERCISE!!
It's never too late.
I put myself in God's hands and trust in Him. What will be, will be. He gave me a three year reprieve from insulin, and for that I am grateful.
On to the next phase in my wild & whacky life. It is quite the adventure.

Last night the subject at AA was FEAR.
I shared what I went through for years.
I used to be paralyzed with fear of death. I was afraid of thunder storms, driving, (yes, at one time around 1984 I was petrified of driving a car on the highway)!! I used to come home at night and check all the closets, and under the bed for monsters, then re-check in case someone snuck in behind me. I would lay in bed at night crying and afraid to fall asleep in case I died in the night.
After I was working on my step three "Gave my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood him" Well that little step actually got me thinking of God and what life really is about. When I finally got on my knees and really prayed to God and really gave my life to Him, I finally felt Him inside. I feel loved and protected. I don't feel alone anymore.
I can live my life now.
Since I gave my life to God and the fear left me, I was hired on as an EMT and actually drove an ambulance on the FREEWAY with lights and sirens in rush hour to Seattle Harborview Hospital, I drove a Fire Engine, and then a 40' bus! I now train people to drive 40' buses. I have gone camping alone in the mountains, sleeping in a tent in a lonely campground.
Thank you Alcoholics Anonymous for giving me back my life and bringing me back to God!!
Oh, and by the way, ignore that idiot from my last post. I have no idea who or what it is.

P.S. Go check this out.
I like to read simple little murder mysteries, and Jonne Fluke an author, has an orange cat that is in all her books. She has a site with pictures of kitties. My character Elliott made the list. Go check it out and scroll down. He is about the tenth one down.
http://www.murdershebaked.com/moishe.htm
Have a marvelous week!!

Yep, I did it!!

I joined a fitness center!! Thrive Fitness Center just opened this month and I have a few friends that have joined. I loved the swimming classes, but have a big sensitivity to the chlorine in it so had to quit that. I used to walk three miles after work, but have fallen too many times and caused painful permanent injuries, so I had to quit that too. I LOVE getting the high from exercise, so here I am, trying again!!
I was in Oak Harbor today at quitting time so I stopped at the fitness center to try out the machines for the first time. I put 3 minutes on the elliptical machine, (OUCH) it tightened up my calves into almost a charlie horse, so I went over to the bicycle and put on 5 minutes there. I could feel my legs getting wobbly so I went over to the treadmill and put on 5 minutes there. I don't want to hurt myself the first day, I want to work up to a good work out. I thought that was enough so I was wobbling out the door when my friend Merrily walked in and got all excited to see me! She took me upstairs (I had to pull myself up each step) and she showed me the weight machines. I did 10 cycles on each machine, then noticed I had been there over an hour!! I had to leave to get back to work.
I felt so much better after the workout!! I didn't overdo it, but I did work up a sweat and my legs got wobbly. Tomorrow I will do it again!!
That picture of me gave me the incentive to try and get some of this blubber off this body!!
Whew!! Now to get in my Jetta tub and relax!!

Annual birthday Dinner

My two best friends and I treated ourselves to a birthday dinner Friday night. We have been friends for over 20 years, and get together at least once a year. we all live close (within 2 miles) of each other but we are so busy that we just can't find the right times to get together. I gave up my night af AA for this. The waitress heard it was a birthday celebration so brought us some to die for desserts! The Tiramisu had a great taste, and we realized it had booze soaked in it. Don't worry folks, I will NOT change my AA anniversary date because of that! It's not like I DRANK it for goodness sakes!! Ok, well maybe I did pick up the plate and licked it clean, but I did NOT get drunk on it! Well ok, we did act like teenagers while eating it and giggled our heads off then peed our pants a bit then giggled even louder and more hysterical because we are now OLD and pee our pants every time we get the hysterical giggles!! I told them they make Poise "pull-ups" and maybe we should consider getting some next time we get together!! NOT!!
It is fun having friends to share great times with. Alana is a Paramedic and works odd hours, and Debbie is a housewife that stays busier than any of us! She does alot with the Church and goes to alot of different meetings, then there's me.

I took over some Gatorade to my brother. He is sick again. It seems to hit him a week after his chemo treatment. Gatorade replenishes the electrolytes you lose when you get dehydrated from throwing up. Bananas are good for the stomach and has potassium, so I told Sherry to make sure he eats a banana once in awhile. Bless his heart.

We finally had a sunny day today and what did I do? SLEPT!! I came home from Church and laid down to read and woke up two hours later. It's a good thing I did, because Elliott came in from outside and jumped up on my pillow and proceeded to throw up all over my pillow and bottom sheet. (He always seems to run to me when he is getting sick, and cries, too like a little kid)! So I am now washing the sheets again!
Cats like to eat grass to loosen up the innards and get rid of hairballs in their tummies. They usually pick the weirdest places to do it too. Like your pillow, a pair of shoes, even my purse once. (or was it Mary Lou's)? Ahh, but we love our cats!!
Well time to get ready for another week of work.
Hi Ho!!!

Been busy

Well there really isn't any big excuse for not blogging, but I have been rather busy lately. I have been training 5 new Operators and in a few more weeks will train more. This seems to be a full time job lately plus my other duties. We are growing faster than we can keep up with! I love it though. No complaints here.

My brother seems to be holding his own. Nothing new to report.

The weather has been WET!! Cold and WET!! Brrr, WINDY and WET!! Typical fer here.

That's it, folks. Nothing exciting to report. I did have to change out my hot water heater elemant AGAIN!! Twice in a year. Sheesh, the water around here eats up elements!
I went to the caucus yesterday. We found out by watching the news that we need to go to the caucus in order for our vote to count. WHAT??? They mailed out absentee ballots to everyone in the State then they tell us the vote doesn't count? The Democrat party decided to go by way of caucus only, and the Republicans are taking a percentage of both the causcus and votes. That doesn't sound legal to me, but what the heck, I'm just a dumb ole country folk who's opinion doesn't matter!! Crap, I feel like we are losing our voting privileges!! Why vote?
Anyone else frustrated out there?

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Thanks for the Birthday Greetings everyone!!
I had a busy day at work. About 9:00 my sister called me and told me Mike was sick again and she was going to go "brother sit" him. I called her back about an hour later and asked her how many times he was sick. She said he got sick about every hour since 1:00am. I told her he needed to get some electrolytes in him and some Pottasium. She took him into the ER and spent most of the day there and he got home about 2:30. Dangit, I hate this! I wish they could send some I.V. solution home and I can go hang it for him when he gets that sick instead of wearing him out taking him to the hospital! I'll check into that.

I got off work at 4:30 and had to go to a meeting tonight for a new group. I call them the "granolas". You know the type...half the cars had bumper stickers "Liberal and proud of it", I think I was the only gal there that had make-up on. They were probably all thinking "She is wearing lipstick and they kill whales to make lipstick"! I also had groceries in my car in plastic bags and the subject tonight was making plastic bags illegal in Washington State! Well okay, then lets kill all them trees for paper bags!! No, they want all of us to carry our own canvas bags.
They also passed around a paper about making it illegal to sell water in plastic 8 ounce bottles. Oh fer craps sakes you guys, so let's all drink beer in aluminum cans and toss them out our car windows!! I came home after the meeting and flushed my toilet about 10 times just to make up for all the water they saved today!!
I worked with a Paramedic that is a vegetarian and he conserved everything! He would not flush the toilet! "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down". So everytime I saw the yellow toilet water I'd flush it three times and really piss him off!! We called him the "Veg-o-medic".

Okay, I vented. I really didn't want to go to that meeting tonight but I did. They are people that are really concerned about the world and I respect that. I'm concerned too. In fact we all should be concerned....BUT NOT ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Hehehe I feel better now. If this post disappears then you'll know it got read by the wrong person and I needed to get rid of the evidence!

I've been tagged!

Donna tagged me to list 5 things about me, so here goes nuthin!

1. I am a divorced 58 year old HAPPY woman.

2. I am a Christian.

3. I have no children.

4. I work fulltime as Service Development Administrator at Island Transit.

5. I have been clean and sober for 20 years and 7 months.

Wow, now wasn't that exciting!

OK, now she has a meme to list 7 weird things about me!

1. I find everything funny. (really)

2. I read murder mysteries.

3. When I use toilet paper I have to have it rip off straight, and the roll needs to have the paper with the flap over, not under.

4. I HATE all the new REAL t.v. stuff.

5. I love to watch all the Disney movies, like Shrek, etc.

6. I love to travel to Alaska on the Ferry leaving Bellingham and sleep up on the solarium deck.

7. I overdo everything I get involved in. (That is why I am in AA)

I won't tag anyone, so if you want to join in on the fun, go for it!

Aren't they adorable?!
I was training new drivers and we drove by one of the trainees farm and she showed us her "boys". Tanqueray is tha fuzzy headed one in front. I forgot the other one's names. They are so cute! She sells the wool and my Niece spins her own , so I found a contact for her to buy fresh Alpaca wool!

Friday morning I got a call at 6:00am and it was Sherry, my brother's wife telling me she took him in the ER. He was having severe stomach pain!
I have the story on the Caring Bridge Site just click on that, give your email address, then pick a password and you can visit any time for updates.
If you don't want to visit the site, the short of it is: They did xrays and saw he had a severe blockage and thought they needed to do a colostomy. Later they did more tests and decided it was not the cancer this time, it is internal blockage. They pumped him up big time with prune juice, enemas, etc. He gets to go home tomorrow. The poor guy was so miserable and in so much pain!!
Thank you everyone for all the prayers. God does listen!

Well it is 35 degrees and raining here! They predicted snow but we get what we get here, and it is mostly cold miserable slushy rain!
I'll take that thank you!

Have a marvelous Sunday!

YIPPEEEE!!

I got my Tax Return!!!
It only took 1 week from when I filed it online, to when they deposited it in my account.
YAY! Now I pay off my little bills and my house taxes and car tabs!! I might even fill up my gas tank in my car!!

I just heard on the news that I will be getting $600.00 back by May! Well if that is true then I will get a 32" HDTV. Yes, I will put it back into the economy.

What will you do with yours?

Tax Returns?!?!

Okay, is it me or is everyone else stumped about filing their taxes this year?
Every year I get a book in the mail and I follow the instructions and call the number and get my tax returns in a few weeks.
I have always filed the 1040E-Z
I have not received anything from the IRS yet. Is there a secret I don't know about? I have my W-2 statement and would LOVE to send in my stuff so I can get my returns!!
HELP!! Anyone out there know what to do?

Well my impatience got to me so I asked Google and he helped me find the "My1040EZ" site Whew! I did it and filed in 10 minutes. Now I will see if it really worked.

Dinner out

I took my sister out for dinner for her birthday. Her birthday was yesterday but she went out with Bob last night so I took her out tonight. I called Catmomaj, and two of her friends from the playhouse, my brother and Sherry, and Mary Lou's daughter Donna. I was going to call a few more but when I called Mary Lou to ask for Catmomaj's phone number, Mary Lou asked why, then she said YOU BETTER NOT BE PLANNING A SURPRISE PARTY, I HATE THEM!! So I told her I was going to, but now I'm not. She said she HATES big groups, and especially big groups of a surprise party for her. So HMMPPFF! I stopped at 8 people. Sorry Dick, I really was going to call you because we went to Johnny Carino's in Burlington.

It has been a busy week and I will busy for the nest three weeks, so I will get as much rest as I can tomorrow.
We gotta catnap when we can at our age!! hehehehe
Have a great week!

In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.

Happy Birthday Mary Lou!!

It's my sister's (Mary Lou) Birthday today!

Run over and wish her a happy birthday!!

Well, Hello 2008!!

You came in with such force, I am inspired by what you will be bringing us this year!!
We have had high wind warnings just about every day so far this month. Now they are threatening us with snow. But I am ready!
I am ready for anything you throw my way! The trials of last year has only strengthened my Faith, and has made me ready for ANYTHING!!
I trust in the Lord with all my soul. My life is His and I pray I can live in His will. Whatever happens, I will trust that it is for a reason and I am not to ask what the reason is, but accept it. I am not saying I will not be sad, or grieve, or cry, but I will accept this year as it is, and live accordingly.
I have a great prayer group and we give each other strength, which we will be needing during this year of elections!
This Country needs a strong leader and I pray that we elect the right one to do the job. Not the one that looks the best, is the right sex, is a certain race, a certain political party, has more experience, is a certain religion, but the one God chooses to do the job. Whoever is elected we need to rally around and accept the choice and back that person, not stand on corners with sorrowful angry looks on our faces holding a wimpy sign.
We need to be part of the solution!
"What can I do to help out this situation",
not... "I hate what happened, do something!!"
We have a rough ride ahead this year, so be prepared, folks! Be prepared. For ANY kind of emergency. Man made, weather, earthquakes, riots, or just personal problems. Find a place to worship and strengthen your soul. Offer help at soup kitchens, the Red Cross, food banks, Fire Departments, whatever. be part of your Community!
Okay, I'm through with my tirade. I just feel all pumped up with strength and ready to face the world!!
TA DA!!

God Bless