Hijacked

Yep - this is me, Shadow, the cat.  I just hijacked Mom's little place here.  I have a terrifying story to tell.

I went outside with the dog this morning.  No one saw me.  I just slipped out.  It has been over two years since I was outside.  It looked interesting.  SO I went.

Mom saw a black cat walking along the window in the den.  She didn't know it was me.  I am so clever.  I just strolled along the ledge between the window and the gas grill.  I heard her tell Dad that she better move the stained glass piece because if I had been in that window when that other black cat walked along there, it surely would have been broken.  Tee-hee.  They didn't realize. Did called me "Butterball" which is his nickname for me, but he didn't really know. I am so clever!

All was really good.  I was enjoying my vantage point there on the ledge.  And then, I got the liver scared out of me.  The guys with those loud machines showed up.  At first one stayed in the front yard, but then one came into the back with me.  Well - it was far enough away, but I was still scared.  Then this really loud thing came in.  It was blowing air everywhere, and all the dirt was flying with it.

I have never been so scared in my entire life - not even when I was thrown out in that forest as a baby to make it on my own!  I tried to climb in the window, but of course it was closed and locked.  I clawed that screen right off the window trying to get away.

Then I got in the bedroom window that is in the corner.  I was still so scared.  It was the only place where I felt like something had my back.  My heart sank then.  Mom left.  I didn't know what to do.  I was really sunk.  How would I ever get back in, but she came back about two hours later.

I heard Dad tell her that I looked sick.  You think? Yes, I was sick - with fright.  Mom said to keep Simone
away from me.  When an animal acts that strange, it is usually rabies.  I. DON'T. HAVE. ANY. OLD. RABIES.  I. AM. SCARED!

After a bit, Dad looked out the door to see me right up against it, screaming.   I heard him go tell Mom that he thought the "sick cat" was me, Shadow.  Sure enough, when he opened the door, I ran in.  What a relief.  I thought I was a goner.  We have an old, big, tomcat around here.  He was in the back of the yard.  If he had seen me, well it wouldn't be pretty.

So I guess I wasn't as smart as I thought.   But I am safe now.  Rabies? - Please!

Busy day

We ventured into the Big City yesterday.  We went to Aunt W's house first.  Actually it is a condo in a verrrry nice part of town.  The people who had it  before they bought it, bought two condos and made it into one large (2700 square feet) unit.  I absolutely love it.  My big drawback is "no animals."  I do love my animals too much.  I have always had pets.  I probably always will (hence biology major me!).

They are trying to sell the place so they can move to Dallas where Aunt B's children are.  I personally do not thing it is a good move - and I will talk about that more later.  W says she thinks it isn't selling because the HOA fee is $1300 a month.  I nearly fainted when I heard that, but that includes ALL utilities.  And if there are repairs...

Aunt B is in a rehab hospital right now.  She had been there about 3 weeks, and isn't expected to be released until Oct 1.  She fell 3 times in one day.  It was finally discovered she had been having TIAs.  These used to be called  mini-strokes.  The place they were going in Dallas requires she be completely independent.  No wheel chairs or walkers allowed in the dining room.  I don't know how they can require that of old folks who would be living there!!

So B's daughter is saying she will put her mom in assisted living and W can have a room there somewhere, and they can see each other.  They planned to live in the condo until one of them died, and then decide.  Don't think this will be a good move for W at all!

We then took Daughter's 35mm SLR to a camera shop to be repaired.  I figured paying for repair wasn't a bad deal when she said she had bought another camera.  The shop advertises repair on line.  When we walked in, the guy rudely told us they don't repair.  Well - he lost a customer with me.  There are a lot of people who sell cameras!  It wouldn't be there.

But they did give us the address of repair places.  It was 3:30 - in busy Big City, but we went to one of the places.  He couldn't do it, but suggested we contact the manufacturer, and send it off.  So we will try that.

We made it home without too much traffic.  We both were dreading the trip though.  Felt like a real country bumpkin too!

Peace.

Stupid, stupid, stupid

I guess I am the epitome of a hard headed German!  Knowing what the CPAP machine did to me night before last, I used it again last night.  Yesterday I was pretty miserable.  G gave me some A**egra to take.  It had an effect almost immediately, though I sniffled and sneezed all day.  Forget tissues - I was using super absorbent paper towels -a lot of them.

So last night I slept with that thing again.  Today I am getting no relief.  That is bad because we are set to lunch with G's last aunts.  I look like Rudolph.  My cheeks are chapped from the tissues and towels.  I have not had allergies this bad in years.  Every little odor sets me off - badly.

So we will see.  All this makes me pray all the harder for rain.  I think it would help -even thought probably not cure anything.  G suggested I have a cold.  I wish.  It would be gone tomorrow.  This feels terminal.

Now back to getting this weight off - again.  That made the CPAP use not needed the last time I lost it.  I really do hate that machine too.  It has head gear reminiscent of the head gear for braces.  Only the little piece fitting over the nose blasts you with air.  Sometimes I feel like I am drowning in all the air.

Well - do visit with the aunts, we have to (gasp) go into town.  They live within the loop.  We never go there. When G asked when to leave, he followed up with "it's either going to take us 30 minutes - or two hours."  How true.

Peace.

Big news

At least around here, this is big news!  It looks like we will finally be looking for a break in the drought AND high temperatures.  The blasted high that has settled in over the entire state is going to move to the southeast (sorry guys).  That is supposed to open a route for sub-tropical moisture to move in.  It means rain as well as temperatures in the LOWER 90's.  There is a feeling of cautious anticipation by the citizenry, but of course the weather clowns are ready to take credit for this change in weather.

I know there has been criticism for the coverage of Irene.  I have been guilty of that kind of coverage myself - then there was Ike.  But now there is rain as a possibility, those clowns have started all over again.  I would rather they get excited about the rain though.  They have  been telling us how many days in a row we have been without rain and over 100.  That absolutely inflames G (good choice of words there GK!).  Hew sets off on his tirade again, over and over.

Enough of that.  I went to my GP yesterday.  He concurs that my symptoms may very well be as a result of stopping the other drugs.  But to be sure, I swear he took a gallon of blood for every test known to medical science.

As I was leaving, he remarked that I might have a touch of sleep apnea.   Well, hello - I did.  Instead of the t-shirt, I have the machine.  I told him I lost a lot of weight after getting that thing, and I haven't used it even after finding that lost weight along with the fans of all those pounds.

So I decided to use it again last night.  I don't know too many Texans who are not having allergy problems right now.  There is all kind of stuff in the air - mostly dust.  I am with them.  Well, after having air forced into my nose all night, I just thought I had allergy problems.

I remember my poor daddy going through several handkerchiefs when his allergies were really bad.  I am that way today except I am using really absorbent paper towels.  I think I made a bit of a mistake last night.  I don't know if I will use the CPAP tonight or not.  I didn't sleep more soundly at all.

Please pray that the weather people are right, and we get some rain and relief from the temperatures this weekend.  It is really time!

Peace.

Open Letter

Dear Daddy (yes I am a southern girl and he will always be my "daddy"

Today is your birthday.  You would have been 99 today.  I especially thought of it when there was a picture of a lady who is 100 today.  Her picture shows her to be healthy and vibrant.  That is something you would not be today.

Your body was still going fairly strong.  I guess all those days of being a postal carrier who was on foot delivering the mail to each and every home was certainly good for your health.  Your poor knees - not so much. I remember how much you really loved that career.  Your patrons loved you too.

You said you didn't like dogs, and I thought that was because I am sure you had to deal with more than your fair share of them.  But in actuality, you had dogs on your route that you loved and they returned the love.  They would join you along your walks.  The love you showed to our dogs was evident!

You have been gone for six years now, but you were gone long before that.  The mind was ravaged by dementia.  You weren't the same.  You never got mean like so many with dementia do, but the real you was hidden so far down - if it even existed anymore.

I still miss you each and every day.  I don't find myself deciding to be sure to remember something to tell you - as often.  I don't have the feeling that something will happen (the phone calls) at 5:30 every Saturday.  Those things have faded some.  But there is always something that makes me think of you.

When I think of all the things you experienced in your life, I wonder what you really thought of our country.  You saw so many changes - things that people didn't dream of.  I never asked you that question.  But then I was so stupid that I didn't ask you many questions, and I didn't listen well when you talked about things from the past.  I am paying for that now.  I want to know more about the family.  I have so many questions that I will never find the answer for.

Yes, today would have been 99.  I firmly believe you are in a much better place.  Your last years, while relatively safe for you, were not happy ones.  You were the escape artist of the memory unit.  You really kept them on their toes.  But as time went on, you gave up.  I could see you deteriorate rapidly.

 Once the sharp dresser - you looked like a bum.  Sorry - but you did.  I know they did a lousy job on your clothes.  I had to give up trying to do your clothes myself.  The incontinence was just too much for me.  I would have to do three or four loads a week.  Your hygiene also had slipped.  I suppose those ladies did as much as they could.  I know they were working for peanuts, so I have to be glad they did what they could.  I wish I could have had you here with me.  I guess it's really  no excuse, but I just couldn't keep up.  Once again - you wandered too much.

So, Happy Birthday Daddy.  I so miss you.

Irene

As I watch the news reports about this storm as it chugs up the East Coast, I also pray for all of you in its path.  I have never been to NYC, but my impression is that it is the LAST place I would want to be in a hurricane like this ones seems to be.  I know about the winds, the power outages, and the flooding.  The last place I would want to be is in a high rise apartment building.  Around here, you are to put coverings over windows (which WE never have done, but....)  How can you cover those?  What do you do until power is restored - unless you are luckier than we were.

These are just the thoughts of a simple "flatlander" Gulf Coast resident.  I haven't seen most of the area where this storm is heading.  I have been further north - like New Hampshire, but never to the south along there.  I really do hope you get through this storm well.  What's the deal with these "I" storms??  Ike is the once that really made believers of the folks in Galveston again.  They didn't get the hint with Katrina.  That storm went so far to their east.

As for us, we are huddled under the a/c vents looking for the season's record breaking heat today  and tomorrow.  Sorry our little 1/4 cup of moisture is being pulled into that storm to drop even more rain.  We are left with dry, HOT, HOT air.  I have to listen to G go on and on about how he is not going to put up with this heat next year.  He is correct, we are supposed to be lucky (?) enough to have another high pressure area over us the rest of the year and again next year.

So with that, I am scaling the stairs to my sanctuary to slave over hot sewing machines.  I have the granddaughter's dresses to finish and complete the final draft of the shell for the baptism blankets.  I will take it tomorrow to get everyone's approval.

Have a cool, safe weekend.  We had a reporter on TV who would say; "Good golf, good tennis, or whatever makes you happy."  Oh, and he was the TV reporter who inspired the movie "The Best Little Whore House in Texas!"  Just a little factoid for today.  Gotta go - the brain is getting toooo weird.

Peace.

Odds and Ends

There are some things I really don't address here anymore, and cancer is one of them.  I know it is in my information section, but I just don't really write about it.  That doesn't mean that the thought isn't always in my mind.  All I have to do is take a shower or otherwise change clothes.  I see the scars.  Yesterday, I was changing clothes and got a terrible cramp in the muscles in the area where the mastectomy was and reconstruction took place.  Reminder?  You bet!

Then I have an appointment with Dr Death in September.  That always brings you back to the reality that regardless of the fact you are getting close to the "magic five year survival,"  it might come back.  With the other things that are going on right now, I have to wonder.  My headaches - withdrawal, sinus (since Texas is turning to flying dust), brain tumor ...

There is pain in that right side of the thorax.  One of our dear friends had her breast cancer return and that was a symptom.  But then I think there is some nerve damage from the muscle being pulled from my back to my breast.  But I will bring it up in a couple of weeks.

I sound like such a whiner.  But these thoughts live in the recesses of my mind.  G went to the bank to try to deposit some of the monies from his mother's estate.  They pulled out an actuarial table.  He was told he has 18 1/2 more years.  I wonder how many I have?  Do I really want to know?  Aren't there far too many variables in my life?

OK _ enough gloom and doom.  I really believe if I don't think about the Little C it will just go away. (Dreamer!!)  G is still wandering around here mumbling "global warming" with every news cast.  I have tried to explain to him that we have a variety of factors involved with the weather, and yes, we humans have done a really good job of ruining our environment, but he is absolutely sure the high that settles over  Texas in the summer (last for sure and apparently in the future) is caused by coal burning electricity plants.  Now it would make more sense for us here in Texas, where there is an abundance of clean burning natural gas, to use that gas for powering out plants.  But that would mean the politicians ( and I don't care if they are Democrats, Republican, or Tea Partiers - all want the same thing - re-election) would have to use some COMMON SENSE.  That is lacking in each and every one of those jokers in political offices from local school boards to the White House.

Oh, right - I don't become political here.  Forgot. But I do think they are all clowns, and when you cut through the outer BS, they are all the same.  Just deeper BS.

So I sit and listen to him complain about global warming and ranting that he will not stay here next summer.  He will go somewhere else.  I finally told him the other night that I wasn't going.  I didn't add that I wasn't going to come home to find the house falling down on our heads because the slab dried out and cracked into 50 million pieces, the pool was the Black Lagoon - at least the four cups of water that would be left, and the pool equipment burned up because there was no water going through it.  Stupid!

Oh - here come the men in the little white jackets to pull me off my soap box.  Sorry!  Sometimes I get a little wound tight.  This is one of them.  Time to go play nice again.  That means three loads of laundry before I head off to sew dresses.  Yep - still put that baby off.  What excuse can I find today?  Gotta go look for one. Later ...

Peace be with you.

Happy, Happy Day!!

WE HAD RAIN LAST NIGHT!  Sorry to shout, but you cannot imagine the celebrating going on around these parts.  It has been so dry and hot.  With Irene on her path, we are looking for high temperatures this weekend as she pulls out our remaining moisture.  But it actually rained again.  It may not for another really long time.  That's what the meteorologists say.  And we will be under the same high next summer too.  Ugh!

I am gradually re-integrating back into big city life.  I really needed to go to the grocery store yesterday, but Doodle Bug (the youngest in daughter's family) caught the bug that was going around the neighborhood while we were gone.  I went over to sit with her for a while, so that dashed all my plans for yesterday because two hours stretched into four.  Oh well.  I am so glad I can do it for them.  I know how hard it was without family here.  Glad I am here.

Today we went to lunch with Daughter.  Then to the grocery.  That is really the time to go.  I haven't felt well myself for a while (2 weeks).  I had a small lunch - in fact I didn't feel full when we left.  That soon changed, and by the time we reached the store the thought of food was rather sickening.  Oh and by the way, as of yesterday morning, I have lost 22 pounds this summer - most in the last 45 days.  For some of you lucky ducks, that would make you a skeleton, but, believe me, there is still way enough to keep that from happening to me!

I am getting ready to head up to begin sewing dresses for the two girls.  I was able to complete cutting them out yesterday.  That was a relief.  Now to the machines.  I have to do the final stitch out of the shell design for the baptismal blankets.  Pastor sent me an email last night.  We have a baptism Sunday, but I don't have to have it done - just the final approval.  So here I go to slave over the hot machines!!

Our prayers around here and across the state are for more rain.  Our property up there is so sad.  It is a sea of yellow.  It has happened before, and will again, but we dearly need rain.  Wells are drying up.  Ranchers are selling off.  Sad.

Peace be with you.

Hello again

I AM still alive!  We have been gone for a week in the dry Texas Hill Country.  It is really bad.  If we have any deer this time next year, I will be surprised.  We have about 20 head of cattle - a bull, cows and calves - for the next 30 or so days.  I don't know what they will find to eat by the time they go home.  It is such a terrible situation.  Ranchers all over our little community are selling off their herds.  Nothing to eat.

So this is to be a quick post to let you know that I did survive my cold turkey stopping of the pain meds.  It really was rough for a while, and perhaps I should have sought  medical advice to do it.  I honestly thought I wouldn't have a problem - at all.  Well ...

I quit a week ago Friday.  By Saturday, my head was splitting.  There were the other associated "problems" too.  When we were getting ready to leave on Tuesday morning, I couldn't think about what I really needed to pack, but we are pretty self sufficient there.  My main problem has been not sleeping well, but that happens sometimes up there.  I sleep like a rock or I don't sleep.  Such is life there.

I am better than I have been in a week.  But more than anything I am not in pain.  My back doesn't hurt.  My knees don't hurt.  I can climb stairs better than before.  Things are looking up.  I still have some other problems, but I am planning a trip to the GP to check them out, and I have a standing appointment with the oncologist in September.  So I will have other things checked out.

I am NOT saying the Pain Clinic was all bad.  The spinal injections absolutely helped.  I just couldn't see being on opiates the rest of my life.

Glad to be back with internet!!

Peace.

Well, I did what I planned to do - I quit all my pain meds.  You remember this all began with the first knee replacement that will be two years in January.  The knee pain wasn't the factor - it was my back.  So later that year I was put on hydrocodone, Lyrica, Elevil, and later a muscle relaxant.  


I decided I was tired of all that.  As I said, G thought I was over medicated.  I tended to believe it too, and even though I didn't take the prescribed amount of the hydrocodone, I was anxious to quit.  I didn't really think the pain clinic was doing anything anymore anyway.  Just getting me hooked.


So - I stopped all of those pills, just as I had planned, never believing there would be any physical problems.  I was wrong, wrong, wrong.  Either that or I have had a strange flu.  Saturday I developed a splitting headache.  When I get one of those, I also get diarrhea (nice -sorry).  But my sinuses were clogged, so I thought it might be a sinus headache.   



We planned to eat dinner out with Daughter and SIL, so I just sucked it up, and out we went.  The headache was nearly blinding.  I slept fitfully that night.  Sunday morning came around, and there was no way I could chance church.  The headache endured.


Last night I really was not a lot better.  It was another night of waking every hour on the hour.  Today, there are still vestiges of the headache, and nothing is really "right" yet.  I just looked at some of the things of withdrawal.  It is a laundry list that could fit anything, but it fit me too.


I am in hopes that tomorrow is a new day because we are scheduled to pack up and drive the 5-6 hours to the SSB.  


And I thought I wasn't hooked.  I have probably 500 untaken hydrocodine pills.  That, to me, meant I was far from any dependence.  I don't know.  I  don't know, and I guess I will never know.  I am not going back to the pain clinic - that I do know.  I was in pain with the pills.  I do  not have the pain now.  Why???  Well, lesson learned.

Experiment

Today I am going to try something.  It actually has me a bit nervous, but perhaps I won't fall asleep anytime I get too still.


G has been telling me (well once) that he doesn't think the Pain Clinic is doing any good, and he feels I am over medicated.  That well could be since I really don't know the exact count of medications I am taking unless I look at the bottles or read my list that I carry for doctors' appointments.


When I told him I was going to do this his response was "well, you moan and groan when you move anyway, what could it hurt?"  Point well taken.  So we'll see what happens today.


I have really hit a wall after running ragged with LB.  I need to cut out her dress so I can get it made before we head off to the SSB on Tuesday.  I thought I would get it done last night, but alas, the fabric is still sitting in a chair.  At least I got the pattern pieces separated.


And that thought brings on another rant.  Those of you who sew and use a pattern.  Does it bother you that the companies cram 10 sizes of four "looks"  into one envelope so that you have to open all the six by six foot pages of the most delicate of tissue paper to find all the pieces you need?  Then the trick is getting them back into the same envelope?  It makes me think of the phrase "putting toothpaste back into the tube.


So I have ranted enough for one day.  I really have to get moving before noon.  I am sitting here in my pjs ; I have read all my blogs and then some new ones.  It is just difficult to get the motivation to do much of anything.  I DO love a peaceful Saturday!


Peace.

Tired, tired, tired

I have been 10 year old Lady Bug's play toy for the past three days.  Only three??  It seems like six months.  Please let me explain.  I adore each and every moment I spend with her.  She is such an amazing girl.  But she is active.  She wants to help - and she wants to craft with me.  So guess where we have been spending our time.  Yep - in the craft room.


This morning when we were up there, I was shaving the embroidery machine stitch the shell for the Baptismal blankets.  I was going to make her a bandanna blouse which is the exact same thing as the dress for the little girls. As both machines were purring along, she sat up from what she was doing and said "it is just like a craft room here."  No kidding!!  I guess she just thought it was a messy bedroom without a bed - I don't know.


Spending time up there means I can't fall asleep on the couch or some place like that.  I do like my naps, though I would vociferously deny such a thing.  But I am beat this afternoon.  We had pedicures scheduled for G, me, LB, and Daughter.  When I got home from that, I should have cut out a dress for her.  I was just too beet.  Then the little towns papers arrived.  There is a kin in the one that I don't have in my list, and I cannot find her ancestors.


We seem to have such fun when we are together.  I know my days are numbered.  Soon, far too soon, she will be a teen.  Then she probably won't want to spend time with me crafting.  So I do cherish each and every minute.


NEWS FLASH - There was just something falling from the skies here.  It is something I vaguely remember.  It is wet, but almost disappears as soon as it hits our dry, fissured ground.  It was cooling while it fell.  Now it has stopped, and there is steam coming off the ground.  When I looked this stuff up, it was called rain.  Well, my gosh - we actually had rain.  Probably a scarce .01 inch, but it was rain.


Here's hoping you get some of this wonderful stuff if you need it, and here's to praying that this heat will stop - soon.


Peace be with you.

Here and there

The weekend was, as I knew it wold be, busy.  The kick-off is meeting daughter and family along with their present BFFs for dinner at the local Mexican Food restaurant. That will  be another story.  It's fun, but mainly it's good because I don't have to cook.


Saturday was Monkey Boy's birthday party at a laser tag place.  Needless to say, we DID NOT participate in the games.  But we have missed so many of his parties - along with the other two's parties - that since we were in town, we should go.  Got to talk to some of Daughter's friends (and mothers of the boys of course.).


When I got up Saturday I put on my glasses when I got out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen.  I have a condition where my eyes will be blurry because of the excretions from the tear ducts. Whenever I looked up that morning, I couldn't see.  I could see fine close up, but distance was just a blur.  In fact my eyes are blurry now - but close up. I kept waiting for it to finally clear, and I still could not see far.  


I finally took the glasses off,at  only to discover they were my READING glasses.  My new progressives are in a wire frame - like I would always wear before last year when I got the thick frames,  So I was trying to look at far things, I couldn't see.  I guess when I took the readers off, I put them were the progressives should have been. Que estupido!  Now I can tell the difference by feel - IF my fingers are not numb.  The readers have a little twirl on the ear pieces.


Sunday was church.  I managed to piss G off because I wanted to get there 30 minutes early.  We now have two services with 30 minutes between for social.  The folks I wanted to see all are in the early service because that's when Children's Church is.  So it was just my luck again.  They all went to the baby's room meet about who was going to teach what during Children's Church.  So no fellowship there!


The afternoon was great and worked like I wanted it to.  We were taking Lady Bug to the little suburban theater's yearly Mellardrammar.  She loved it.  Popcorn was thrown at the villain. She threw the popcorn she didn't  eat during the time he wasn't on stage.  But she absolutely loved it, and being an interactive play, it was great.


After the play, Family Dinner was held at Daughter's house.  Monkey Boy and Dad were at a baseball thingy.  THAT's another story.


So that was my weekend.  Fun filled.  I had great fun - loved it when we were on our way out of the play when the fella playing the villain admonished LB to "get your PARENTS (!!!) to buy better seats next time."  He certainly made my afternoon.  I haven't been mistaken for her mother in 10 years! 


Peace be with you!

Where is it?

I know it was here just a minute ago, but where in the heck did July go?  I know I am anxious to get out of this heat.  I know I was rooting for Tropical Storm Dan to give us a little moisture.  He turned out to be fickle!  But who took July away?


This summer has been a real challenge for most of us.  Not only is it dry, but the heat is like living in the clothes dryer.  Well, someday it will end.  I don't want another winter like the last one either.  We had too many freezing days.  My fruit trees are just beginning to come back.  That is a real trick now that it is hot and dry.  I don't know if they will ever be the same.


The big event on this week's agenda was going to the Embroidery Club meeting.  I am getting better and better with my machine, and it is going to be difficult for the organizers of this club to find things that I need/want to learn.  


We did beautiful lace snowflakes today.  They are impractical.  I don't want/need them for decoration, and they wouldn't sell at all.  I would have to charge $50 for each one according to the suggested pricing on all this embroidery stuff.  They also take 60+ minutes to complete.  I guess that wouldn't be so bad if I could set 10 machines going.


And so, another day of finding fault with things.  I guess I sounded rather pompous with all that.  I don't mean to.  I still have a lot of things to learn with that machine.  It can almost fix dinner.  It has features I haven't even considered using yet.  


So now it is time to lug the 50 pound machine up along with its 20 pound machine trolley.  I also need to re-organize the craft room.  I have put some things away so securely that, wait for it ...   come on you can guess the answer ... I can't find them.  What a surprise.  I still cannot find my other wedding ring.  It is someplace verrrrry safe - at least I hope it is.  So it goes with things in the craft room.  Things that will be found after I die, and my kids are repulsed by all the stuff I have,


Oh, I watched a little of the program "Horders." Bless his heart - my dad was a horder.  I never thought of it as a sickness, but what else do you call it?  He wasn't a crafter that needed stuff like he had.  He reupholstered furniture, but that was it.  When he was living alone, you couldn't walk through his house.  


I guess I'm like that a little, but as a science teacher, we used everyday things for our equipment.  Even as just a regular teacher, you never knew what you could use for bulletin boards and the like.  I do about 5 different crafts.  I use a lot of different stuff.  I know as soon as it is in the trash can, and loaded on the trash truck, I need the item.


Right now I am looking for some colored "jewels" to put on girl's hair things.  I remember putting them someplace out of the way.  Well just where is that place.  I'll bet I find my ring there too!


Peace be with you.

Weekend

Wow - a new form for Blogger.  I am so surprised I can hardly type, but then again that's really not new!  Can't type anyway!


My weekend was a killer, and most of it was my own choosing.  


When the subject if Vacation Bible School came up, my response was NO.  Been there, done that, used to have the t-shirt.  I was absolutely sure that was my answer.  I did VBS for years and years, and being the church organist full time it was, of course, determined that I would do the music program.  Does anyone realize how surly and non-participatory pre-teens are?  I absolutely hated trying to get those little monsters (and mine were in that group when the time came) to sing and learn the new songs for Sunday service.


Then I stepped out of the frying pan into the fire.  I was VBS director for two years.  Where was my mind?  I surely don't know.  At least I had a co-director.  But still, I must have been drugged to have said yes.


So all the times VBS was brought up in our little new church, I mentally said - nope.  Not me.  Until two weeks before the day.  I decided to go to one of the meetings.  I decided that they probably use another hand.  It was all on that Saturday, and it ran from 9-5.  We should have played that song by good ol' Dolly.  But I didn't know the ramifications of that.


I went to the next meeting.  That was easy.  They were after church.  I was already there. Daughter was signed up to work, and all three kidlets were going to be in classes there.  Sure, I'll do it.  I will just help out.  Music, er no, I don't do no music!


Saturday rolls around.  I get up at 6:30.  I have only done that a handful of times since my retirement.  But, this was for church and the children after all.  Up and at 'em for the 8 o'clock meeting to iron out cliches.  And for me iron on the patch.  


Things were looking good.  Everything was set.  I was doing registration with another grandmother.  Good, someone read my mind.  That's what I wanted to do.  AND as a result, I got to know Sharon who I had some work time the previous Saturday at one of our church's volunteer places.  Neat O!  Then we would go to the Children's Annex which was four or five storefronts down. (We are in a shopping center and the place next to us isn't available - so we took what was there)


About 2 o'clock the kids were out of it.  They were bored and tired.  The staff and student helpers had reached their limit - and we had three hours to go.  OMG.  The director had a melt down.  It was a disaster.  But Daughter found crayons, markers, and coloring sheets.  We had happy campers for about two hours.


At the end, I was afraid our little Pastor was going to have a fit.  Ours is a multi-use space. Church, but can be just open.  One of the young helpers got the boys to run around to expend energy.  Pastor C HATES running in the church, but I guess this really wasn't church. It was a wide open space.  He said nothing though.


Five came, the kids left, and we broke our the wine and cheese we (SIL and I although G had to be involved) thought it would be a nice ending to a long day.  And you know what? Almost everyone stayed and we had grand fellowship for a couple of hours.  It was wonderful.


Peace be with you.

Here I sit

I SHOULD be up and doing something. One would think there was nothing to do around this place, but that is so wrong. Name it and it needs doing. But I just feel attached to this computer. I don't want to get up at all. So I will bother you.

When I last spoke about our vacation - and I warned you that time provided blogging fodder for a long time - we had gotten to LA (and on time!!) where we boarded their metro train headed to Oxnard where we stayed for a night. We then headed to the depot to board the Coast Starlight route.

It runs from LA to Seattle. I knew it was a different. Not the outside of the train, not the steps and all the body of the train. It was when we got to the bedroom suite, there were two draw-string pouches that were filled with toiletries - like you find in hotels. Wow! Never had that before.

I knew I would not use them on the train. I have showered exactly twice on a train, and I won't do it again. I don't remember our trip to El Paso almost 20 years ago. I used the "public" rest room. I showered once in a bedroom suite. Never. Again! You are in a space that is probably 3x3. Even they suggest you sit on the toilet to shower. This is the only part of train travel I despise.

Our car steward had already gotten a lunch reservation. I was really glad because this is a big train - and only one dining car, which is standard. First class first!

This is one of the trains we have always wanted to take. It is the MOST scenic train I have been on so far. The train hugs the Pacific coast for a long time. That was so beautiful. When you look down on the beach there are people playing all along, and in most parts they are camped on the beach.

The second day aboard was the real surprise. There was a wine and cheese tasting. It was wines that were from whatever area we were in at the time. Never had that before!

While we were there, we went through such beautiful mountains. We were just climbing and climbing, Just beautiful.

Our final destination aboard that train was Portland. Or. The train went on to Dacoma and Seattle. That part we were going to be on a special train. It would be the great big steam engine that pulled the Freedom Train several years back.

Peace.

Rollin' rollin ', keep those doggies rollin'

Oh yeah, that's exactly the way it is around here for me. G sits and voraciously reads novel after novel. I run like a chicken with her head chopped off.

I shouldn't complain. Most of what I am doing is because I want to do it. When G was working, I spent my days alone and here at home. We are getting out so much - probably because of doctor appointments.

We went to a local bar (?) for lunch today. Now doesn't that just fit for two oldies like us - and I got another year older today - 67. As we were on our way I commented to G that I never thought we would become two oldies driving their 11 year old car that has 80,000 on it with really good paint. Never thought that at all.

I am about to finish my little cowgirl dress. After I finish that one, I need to get pictures of both and upload them.

Oh, for my birthday, I got new rings. You see, last year sometime I put my beautiful wide gold band someplace that it would be safe not heading the little voice in my head that I wouldn't remember where I stashed that ring. At least I had taken the diamonds out and replaced them with a CZ, but still - I really loved that ring.

So off we went to a jewelry store (really a diamond store)where my daughter bought her new ring set. She and the rest of her family were with us. We didn't know we were going, but it would be the practical thing to do since church is between our houses and the store.

To get a new ring, I told G that I wanted to put the old diamonds on it. Several years ago when I put that CZ on the ring and took the diamonds off, he didn't like that at all. They were from my original wedding ring set. Really what I wanted was a totally new ring. I had one picked out too, but he found a setting that would take my diamonds very well. It did and they are being put on now. It is also being sized since the devil arthritis is invading my hands now.

So the ring will be ready Friday, I hope. I am anxious. This ring will be our anniversary gift (43rd) too.

So peace be with you.

I'm baaaaack

OK, the important part of my day has happened. I was able to watch the Friday installment of All My Children. Watched it as often as I could when teaching because I have been a fan since day 1. Oh well, we all have our little things we do.

************************************************************

SIL works for a national company that manufactures commercial ovens and the like for restaurants, schools, hospitals, and the like. They employ executive chefs to help sell their products. These guys may stay at the plant in Wisconsin and/or travel a bit.

One of them who have been here before was in last night. I thought he was going to cook again. The last time he was here, he made a fish dish with papaya salsa with rice. It was so heavenly. I was hoping he was going to cook again, but SIL wanted to give him the night off (and possibly brag on his own cooking, which is pretty good for a civilian).

But the chef is a very amicable guy regardless. We had hoped my son would be able to come, along with his guitar, but he had other plans. One of SIL's friends,S, and his family came, and lo and behold, he also plays guitar. Chef A had his and his amp.

Originally, Chef A was going to major in music - until he realized that there is no money in it. As soon as you finish one gig, you have to be looking for the next one. So he went to culinary school instead. But he had his guitar last night, so after dinner, around the bottles of wine, he serenaded he with his jazz guitar for several hours.

Occasionally one or the other (Chef A or the friend S) would pick up Lady Bug's little child size guitar and the other on the electric to play. It was great fun.

So that was a long way to introduce my musing for today. Chef A lives in Wisconsin. We were discussing the heat there and the heat here. It got me thinking, where it is so unbearably hot now (and you know of where I speak), your heat is comparable to our cold. The area can be so miserable, either hot or cold (for us), but doesn't last long. We are accustomed to bitter cold that may last up to two or three weeks, more like just days, and the northern states that are suffering so now, it usually lasts just a few weeks. We can handle that which ever area.

Our cold can get to where it kills our vegetation and breaks our pipes, but that temperature doesn't last long. That is something I am glad about!! You have to deal with the heat longer, but it does moderate.

So the ideal thing would be to just alternate living areas with the season! Like the "snow birds" that come to Texas and Florida in the winter. Keeps a more regulated temperature! G is ready to buy a house in Seattle for the summer and return here in the winter.

I don't think that is a real option! The weather is a topic that keeps you talking regardless. We have been blessed with scattered rain. I heard thunder a bit ago, but I think it has passes. Darn it all!

Peace be with you.

A few answers

First, good morning! For once I haven't waiter until late afternoon or evening!! Of course I have 6 minutes before AMC!! Now for the answers (and I will probably be back late afternoon or early evening with my pearls for today).

Yes you can go coast to coast by rail. Before Katrina, it was easy. You took the Sunset Limited from LA to some point to Florida. Now you would have to go to New Orleans (too bad must see Bourbon Street and enjoy its ambiance). Then you would take the train to Chicago. From that train, there are several that would go on the the East Coast.

What are the "facilities" for coach. Not too bad - I guess. There is a women's and a men's bathroom. There are several stalls, and there are several showers - we think. This is all downstairs. Most of the seats are upstairs, and when you walk around the cars, you do it on the upper level. Best scenery in the upper level coach, but we found there is a downstairs seating level. We were going to use that when we had one of the coach seat reservation. Not as good scenery, but you also don't have to walk down the small nearly circular stairwell. I'm not into stairs!

So, I hope that answered questions. Seriously, go to the Amtrak website. They have diagrams of the cars (I think they are still there), and I think they will send you information. I would say to book early especially if you want those accommodations that are scarce.

AMC came on three minutes ago - peace and all that - check you later!

Rushed again

I think I need to return to work. I am busier now than ever - oh, wait a minute - G needs to go back to work! Yesterday was teeth cleaning, eye exams with a lunch thrown in. Geesh!

I wanted to tell you a little more about our train trip. We left Houston about 9:30 on the Sunset Limited headed to Las Angeles. The train was actually on time. In fact we had no trains that were late. It was really something. I always tell people to not depend on getting where you are going - unless it's a short trip if you are going by train. When you go by train, it's the trip - not the destination.

Our sleeper was about ready which was good. We really didn't need it made up for sleeping - yet. The tracks between here and San Antonio must have been worked on because the trip was smooth. We had a longish lay over in San Antonio because the train from Chicago hooks up, and there is considerable switching to do. It isn't as bad as it sounds. It is like 3-4 AM. I was completely sacked out. Didn't know a thing about it.

We were on that train for a couple of days. It is a nice trip. Eating in the dining car (included in the ticket), moving around the cars - like to the club car or dome. Even just sitting in your bedroom space is nice. You can really be comfortable. REMEMBER this is not coach.

The second morning we woke to the mountains in California, and the desert on the east of the mountains. It was really pretty.

We were going to change trains in LA. We have been stung before, and this was a leisurely trip. So we planned to take one of the Metro trains to Oxnard. I was a little concerned. I see our "Metro train." It is a little play train. Someday it may grow up into a real train. That was a really neat commuter train. Something I have never experienced. So we were on to Oxnard.

I will pick up there since I need to go to my "drug pusher" Pain clinic on (egad) clinic day. I get the results of the EMG and whatever else.

Peace be with you

Hi there!

It is 10:30pm. I should be in the shower and/or in my bed reading getting ready to fall asleep, but here I am!

I don't understand why, but it seems that my days are fuller than when I worked. Today was a day I have been busy the entire day.

I did my usual morning routine. I did get up a little earlier than 9 or 10. Hey I am retired. That's the way it goes when you are retired. Since it was a little earlier, the second stage of that routine was to fall asleep on the couch while drinking my coffee (and yes before you ask, I have spilled it on myself before) watching the news.

I asked G if he had eaten. I mean he is a big boy now fully capable. He snarled that he had not, so I got out the boxes of cereal. I threw away the milk that was dated June 15, although I really thought it was still good. That was the extend of out breakfast.

I came in here after The View to try to finish going through all the things on the computer that had piled up while we were at the SSB. I only had a partial day with a connection.

Before I knew it, it was 12. That is my special time that is running out. My soap - All My Children -will soon be history.

We went to the bank after AMC was over. I have never tried to see a banker without having to wait. And wait we did. The only reason I was there was to make the trip count. That meant grocery store. I didn't want to make G that too (not really, I don't know WHY I went to the store).

We spent a good amount of time at the store. It was after 4 when we got home. That meant no Sonic Happy Hour either. Drats!

I decided there wasn't enough time to go up to finish the dress, so I came back in here spending more time trying to finish loose ends on the computer. I was looking for a page that I had gotten to that had some really cute things on it. Never found it. Don't know who had them on their page. Fully a waste of time there. I did send a donation to the boxer rescue here. They really needed a foster home for a poor little girl that was in the pound. She needs medical care badly. Simone would never let me bring another little one in. And there is no way we could travel with her. So I did the next best thing and donated toward the $1000 they need to save her (medical treatments and the like).

So how was your day?

Peace be with you.

What else?

Well, here I am again. Still dressed for church ( and that's another story), finally getting the spaghetti on since it seems to be an unsaid thing that dinner will be here, still no pictures that I want to post because the computer put them in at least five different folders, and G wandering through. So much I want to say, but ...

Quickly I will tell this one on myself. My bedroom is not known for its lighting. My closet definitely not. My vision - getting really poor. I decided what I wanted to wear. Black pants and if I don't like the other blouse I picked out it will be the black t with black beads on it. Got dressed. Didn't look at my pants in the light of the den. We went out for breakfast since neither of us wanted to go to the store yesterday. Whoo hoo! Breakfast out!

We get in the car. We pull away and out on the highway. I finally look down. I have on my navy pants with my black blouse. It was then I realized that these felt different in the closet. But after my month of living in a suitcase for 16 days, then turning right around to the SSB for a week - I just didn't pay attention to the slacks.

And I still have this outfit on?? Am I trying to make sure it is pressed into my memory. No, I am just very lazy today finally getting the spaghetti sauce on to cook. Finally called DIL with that fact. Poor actions today!

Peace!

PS And my ridiculous stuff continues. When I was ready to look for labels - I realized that I was over there in The K Design. Sad, sad, sad.

Once again - rushed

I am here again, with a good connection, but no time. I spent the afternoon up working on the shell that I am going to use (I hope) on the blanket that is presented to the baby on its baptism at church. I put together a shell like the pastor wanted, how the initials and date would look. I will take it to church tomorrow. We will see.

Then I decided to work on the bodice of a dress for a 6 month old. I embroidered the front and will do the bloomers and skirt tomorrow. Or, sometime.

Anyway, it's dinner time and I run. And this laptop is pissing me off really good. It puts print wherever it pleases. I. AM. DONE.

Later

Oh and Peace

So brief

We are at the SSB. I can't believe I have a sjgnal - doesn't happen very often. Going out to look at some property. Try to be back soon. Soooooo dry. All the animals are suffering. We have some of the neighbor's cows so he can try to not sell them before we might get rain again. Don't know.

Ok class - next lesson on trains

Probably the least comfortable area of the train is the coach seat. We were, as I said, going to have to go by coach from Portland, Or to Chicago, Il. Even when we made out reservations way ahead, the bedrooms and roomettes were gone. I haven't ridden coach in about 15 years. It was from Houston to El Paso on the Sunset Limited. The train was really late then (a lot of retail traffic that ended us on sidings - doesn't happen so much now. I wasn't in the lap of luxury for the over night, but I wasn't miserable. After a certain hour, the lights go down, you put your chair back down, and sleep - sort of.

If you are riding coach, you can go up to an observation car. You can go to the diner. You can go to the club car where there is food. There you find sandwiches and the like, and wine too. Don't know about any thing else. I haven't gone because once I get up the stairs, I don't like to go down until we are at our destination. I send G! But he won't be traveling with you, so you are on your own!

The roomette, from what I see, is two chairs for regular traveling that make up into one bed for sleeping. They are on both sides of the sleeper car. They have doors on them so you can have privacy if you want, and I think they are like the bedrooms where that door is a pocket door enabling you to be exposed to the hallway. The other bed seems to be one that is above like the bedroom that drops from the ceiling. This area is also first class. That means your meals in the diner are included in your ticket. Also coffee and juice are available at the stair well where the bedrooms begin. You will have to use a communal bathroom however. It is used only by the folks in the sleeper cars. Folks from the coach area are not allowed in the sleeper cars.

The bedroom is my favorite. It consists of a couch that is a good six feet long and a chair facing the couch. You have a pocket door or a curtain or both to give you privacy from traffic. These rooms have a "bath roon" in the room, but don't get too excited. The sink is just as you enter the room. It is probably half the sized sink as a home bar sink, and it does have running hot and cold water. There is a mirror above. The shower and toilet and pretty much one and the same. There is a door that is water proof. Most of the shower stall is the toilet. When you want to shower, there is a hand held, I think, shower head. You make sure the door is closed well and pull the curtain over it. They recommend that when you shower, you sit on the toilet lid. Let me tell you - depending when you shower, and where the train is - that is a wonderful idea! The toilet/shower uses space very well, but it gets the job done - which ever job you need!

The diner still has the graciousness that it always had. Even though people no longer dress up for travel, the diner reminds you of time gone by. The tables are for four. They have table cloths that look so much like fabric that one meal, I had to find the edge to be sure that it was paper. There is a real flower on the table, and the knives and forks look like silver - they may be silver plate or a good substitute. They do have communal dining - that means they fill the tables. Unless you are a group of four, you will be seated with other travelers to fill that table. The food, while not needing to be prepared to order, is prepared on the train. The menu is pretty much the same for all trains. It is tasty. The flatiron steak is prepared to your taste, and just that cut is a really good steak. The prices, if you are a coach passenger, are not high. That steak is the most pricey, and it is $24. You can find a good meal that begins usually with a salad then the protein with potatoes and vegetable for no more that you would pay in a mid-cost restaurant.

The fun of the diner or club/or observation car is getting to know other people. We have met and dined with some fascinating people. It really is fun.

To get schematics of the train cars, go to www.amtrak.com.

Peace.

Train Travel Primer

The fact that the passenger trains, apparently all over the US, are full or almost so makes me really happy. The fact that they aren't making money bothers me because there are so many out there that are calling for the demise of Amtrak. You have to know by now, that I think that idea STINKS. I am not going to go all crazy with some political stuff here because I don't like that kind of stuff. I will say this one thing about politics - there isn't a dime's difference in any of the politicians. Notice I didn't just hit the "big" parties - it is every one of those who choose to run for political office. "Nuff said" - period.

But when we were originally booking our tickets, on the way back we were going to be travelling in accommodations that we normally would not choose for a trip over long hours. We were going to be in coach for at least 48 hours, and in a Roomette for another long period. I know the "choice" bedrooms are few on a train, but this was the first time we have had the problem of them all being full. But it didn't matter. We wanted the trip to be all train. It just wasn't meant to be. (I began taking pictures after we had to rent the car because it was soooooo boring. I will try to post them, but it will be in two weeks - we are at the SSB next week.

So if you want to take a long trip via rail - and you want a private bedroom (larger) or roomette (smaller) you need to decide sooner or probably take the trip when it is off season. Everyone travels in summer it seems. If coach is ok, you probably can get tickets anytime. If you want the largest bedroom - the family bedroom - there is only one per car, and there is usually only one sleeper per car.

If you are in the corridors along the East coast, I don't know how they run their trains, but I do know they are really full most of the time. Those are on our bucket list. We don't know how they are.

And tomorrow children, we will study the bedroom and roomettes. Class has been long enough for today.

Home

Yes, we actually made it home on Thursday to get the rental car returned on the 1st. We did a fast 2300 miles from Portland, Oregon to Jersey Village, Texas. As you know there were distinct ups and downs. I wish it were a planned leisure trip. We missed some really great things to see along the way, but the planned 500 miles a day just didn't allow for it.

#################################################################

We could have returned by train. We could have taken the Starlight back down the Pacific Coast and met up with the Sunset Limited, or we could have taken the Empire Builder as far as it would go, transfer to some other - probably the one where the truck and passenger train hit - I can't remember that name - then on to the Texas Eagle almost home with a stop in East Texas where we would take a bus that is part of the railroad. Houston doesn't deserve a rail line for the Texas Eagle. It goes to San Antonio.

We love to vacation in the northern states and/or Canada. It get so blasted hot here we love to escape. Usually we leave when it is only mildly hot here - 90's with a few days in the 100's (not really). That makes our return even worse. We left with it fairly cool - went where is is cool - come back to the blast furnace, I don't know how much G paid the little college girl to keep things watered, but at least we didn't come home to plants that look like wilted, grilled spinach! My orange tree (Satsuma really) didn't look all that great, but I think it will be ok.

###################################################################

I went to the grocery store yesterday since we really didn't have much in the house. When I got home there was a little cotton tailed rabbit in the neighbor's yard. I think it may have been smelling the pool's water. That is a dangerous thing for little things. They reach over, fall in and drown. So I rummaged through the garage and found an old pet watering device. I put it out for whatever comes alone that needs a good gulp of water. There's none around here naturally unless they catch it from yard/flower bed watering.

When SIL gets back, I am going to have him set me up with a sprinkler system that is not a sprinkler system. It is all normal yard watering parts - except one sprinkler and the timer (!!). They have gone away for the 4th, and I am taking care of their old dog.

####################################################################

We picked up Simone yesterday morning. It was a day late, but we are such good customers ... I know they are full for this weekend, so I didn't want to put them out too much. She is so difficult to get "to the back" whether it is for a bath or boarding. When she comes back to the front, she runs at full speed. I felt so sorry for the little attendant that was trying to hold her. She was being pulled at full speed. Simone did not act like an old boxer! Except for the extreme cold - I think she could be a good sled dog!

Then I went to Son's house to get Shadow. He, of course, was in hiding. He finally recognized me. He began being so sweet. That lasted about an hour. Then came the first bite. He also slept with me. He was sweet and fairly loving until about 4 am. Then he got upset that I wanted the covers back, and he went into his panther mode. That is "kill Mom." He attacks and attacks until I throw him off the bed. So he is back to normal - well, with one exception. He has let me pick him up and hold and love him twice. Miracle. I will pay for that this evening - I am sure.

So here we are. I haven't even unpacked my big suitcase. I took everything that was necessary and put it into the smaller suitcase. The other is things that I could live without. As usual, I over packed again. I really tried to be frugal, and take only what I projected as needed. Well - there are things in that suitcase that never touched my body. I'll try again next year when we go to Iowa. And I won't make fun of my daughter (in my mind) when they arrive at the SSB for a weekend with their entourage of six suitcases for five people!

Peace be with you.

Almost home

Sitting here in Oklahoma with free wi-fi. We will be HOME tomorrow. This return trip has been really something. We are averaging 500 miles per day. Most of the trip has been good, but we did have one real trial.

When I last posted, I thought things were going to be great. A Honda Civic isn't exactly my cup of tea. In the front there is adequate room, but only our two big bags fit in the trunk. The small ones ride in the back seat. However when we checked the mileage is was 38 mpg. OK

Well back to Wyoming of the last post. Things turned south that night or early morning. G got up to go to the bathroom, and I was vaguely aware. Suddenly he started making the most god awful noise. It was if he had taken a pill, and it got stuck in his throat. But he hadn't. He surely was having a pharyngeal spasm and couldn't catch his breath.

I was scared out of my mind. I asked if he had choked on something. No. I asked if he wanted an ambulance. Yes. I began trying to get lights on so I could see; find my glasses, and then call. I was trying to read the instructions on the phone. I really was unsure WHERE we were, and then which room number. Too much traveling. Too many rooms.

The spasm passed, and he no longer wanted an ambulance. During that spasm he really sounded like a child with whooping cough. So I told him to go in the bathroom, turn the shower on hot, and breath the steam. He did (remarkably he followed my suggestion).

After he came back in he told me to go back to sleep. What? Sure, right away. I did go back to sleep - and I guess more than I thought. At 7 he told me to get up. He was dressed and looking in the phone book I had gotten out to look up hospitals. He then called one to be sure they had an ER.

Guess where we went. Guess who is not a driver of the rental. Guess who was scared out of my mind driving to that hospital! We did get there in one piece, and to make a long story short, the ER staff were wonderful. But it was still noon before we got on the road.

Even with the horrible turn of events, we did manage 500 miles and got into Kansas. Destination made.

So now we are here in the 108 degree area of Kansas and Oklahoma. Houston is next - I hope!

Peace be with you.

Home again, home again - soon?

We are in some town in Wyoming. We are hoping for Kansas tomorrow, then home the next day in what will be considered a death march.

I actually have free internet, but it is as slow as my phone and its hot spot. So ...

I am so sorry about the flooding and the people who are included - I just can't imagine. It makes the cancellation of out return trip absolutely nothing. We are getting there. We had options. We could have flown - I'd rather walk. We could have taken a couple of trains back including the Sunset Limited that we took to California. We are still seeing beautiful things we never saw before. All is good.

I am just too tired to do some of the posting I have thought of.

Good night to you all, and peace.

Another short post

We have been so busy that trying to get to the computer and the phone's hot spot. Wednesday we saw all modes of transportation in Seattle. There was a lot of walking there, and I am really out of shape. Yesterday we rode a steam engine out to the base of Mt Rainer (still haven't seen that!). Today is a day of seminars. Too boring for me - I like to ride. So I am catching up on email and getting things straightened out here. I can't find anything.

Marti -please understand what has happened -that I am going to talk about - is not usual. Don't let this make you not want to ride the wonderful method of travel on the train. On a train, people are smiling - not so much on a plane!

We have been scurrying about pretty wildly searching for another way home. The mid-west floods have caused the Empire Builder we were going to take to Chicago has been cancelled. We could get home by rail if we made several transfers. With four suitcases - two heavy - isn't going to work for us, so we will drive home.

We won't really be late getting home. When you take the train you have to realize it is a grander, slower way. With the train, it's the journey, not the destination so much. You experience so much on a train. You see sights that you could not see by car.

So I finally got this phone to pony up and give me internet! It saved us on our return trip planning, but I don't know how long it will take. I will post things about our experiences when I can until I get back, and then I figure I will have many posts.

Peace.

Thumbnail sketch

Here we are in Portland, Oregon which is, as I was told, the bicycle capital of the world. I also read "Keep Portland weird" which also happens to seem true. I always associated that phrase with Austin, Texas, but I suppose there certainly be more than one "weird" city in the world.

Also I am being charged $9.95 for the privilege of getting emails, read your blogs to catch up, and write this little ditty. But you are worth every penny of the fee.

We arrived yesterday and I flopped on the bed. I didn't rise for the free happy hour nor going to find a place to eat for dinner.

I wanted to catch you up on some of the things we have seen and done since we have been gone. I still plan to write them. I am going to try to write them in office and then move them over. I will just bet that won't happen though. The new office and I don't like one another! And I am finding writing anything on the train is difficult at best. It is meant for looking out windows and sleeping.

The thing this blog is the train. Ah, the train. This is the one that hugs the Pacific Coast all the way, but is really close from about Malibu (I think) until there are more mountains. We saw scenery that would be difficult from a car, although there were campers, trailers, bus RV's down there along the beach. What a beautiful place.

When we got on board and into our bedroom, there was a little welcoming gift on the sink. Everything in that room was new. It was just outstanding. The food was, as I imagined it, Amtrack food. The menu was basically the same, but this train puts a little more into it. We found, too late, that there was a meal served in the Lounge car. This car is the one that has swivel club chairs and then the booths like the diner.

In the diner you most always meet some interesting people. That is for another visit with you.

The afternoon, there was a complimentary wine tasting. That was really interesting. It was wine and cheeses to sample. That's when we discovered that those booths are made for the mini people in this world, to we didn't pursue eating dinner in that car. The food was the diner food - but fewer choices, but done "fancier."

The train really was great - it even got us here to Portland AN HOUR EARLY. That may not seem unusual or something, but when we travel Amtrack, it is usually very late!

So now I am off to see what you guys have been up to. And I haven't had the latest from DIL - things seem fine. She goes to the doctor on Thursday. So we will see how far I get reading!

After I take this post from the other blog. Train brain - must be

Peace.

I have been working on the trip journal, but it isn't completed for the first days. We are in a motel in Oxnard tonight because we are changing trains. The good news is that the floor of this room won't move a millimeter! Trying to get some rest!!

I'll try for a real post on Sunday!

Looks like it's a go!

Well - Shadow is doing well with his cousins and Godparents. I just called to check. There is a bit of hissing, but he has found a new front window to watch out of. If he looks around, he will find there is one every bit as good as the bathroom window and sliding glass door at the SSB for watching wildlife. He may not want to come home!

The next thing is to leave Simone with the vet. She knows something is taking place. She knows there is not this level of activity that is normal around here unless we are headed out for a trip - be it SSB or something she knows nothing of. That will take place in about an hour.

Then our contractor/friend/whatever will be here at 8:30 to take us to the train station that is in such a wonderful part of Houston. Downtown with all the homeless. I think that is under pretty much control now. You see, we get train service only about every other day. Then, if the good lord's willing and the creeks don't rise, the train will be in at 9:15 to take off at 9:50. If it does - I will be surprised. But the last one that we got to take in privately owned cars (that spoiled me forever!) did leave just about on time. I hope the track is better than it was between here are SA. We are supposed to sleep then!

But the real news is this here lil' ol' machine will be going along for the ride. I will have internet service (I think) while we are gone. Yea!

I will have time in the evenings to return to your posts and read them from the time I had to leave them. I am so excited to catch up on your lives - that sounds a little pathetic, doesn't it. But it's true. I have missed reading it all.

So until the next time - Peace be with you. (and a little ps here - if you have a bit of time and a bit of inclination to do so - please say a few little prayers for DIL. I will fill you in later, but this pregnancy is not going as smoothly)

Home to wash

Me things we should have planned this affair better. We got in last night from the SSB. Tomorrow we leave on our two week train vacation.

Not lots from last week, but I am sure there will be stuff from the coming weeks.

I MAY pack this computer. If I do, I will give updates. I think it is looking like that may not be what happens.

We'll see. Hope you all will be enjoying the last days of spring and the beginning days of summer. No rough weather! There's been enough of that.

Peace.

Here I am again

I haven't been away because of our scare with Simone. I have had appointments. I was treated to the pleasure of an EMG. This is one of those little tests that you love - not.

This is the test where they attach electrodes to stimulate your muscles to see how much damage they can find. The first part wasn't too bad. The stimulation felt strange, but it wasn't really bad.

The last part of the test involved needles. Needles AND electrical stimulation. I discovered that the right leg isn't as sensitive as the left. They said the needles were like acupuncture needles. I think that was a little wrong! They hurt. Acupuncture doesn't hurt! And there was blood. Again not the same as acupuncture!

For a while, I thought there might be a question of Peripheral Neuropathy. But I think that was not the case. That is what I hope anyway.

I think I will hop over to one of the search engines and look for that.

Peace be with you.