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The Week Barely Started

September 10, 2014

An interesting 3 days so far – not sure I can take the excitement. Sorry, that wasn’t what I planned to write. I was cleaning out on Monday , this time my Mom’s hooking stuff. I had put on Craig’s List rug hooking magazines and another one with patterns and supplies. Imagine how amazed I was when I had an email from a lady in Nova Scotia. She is very interested in everything – though she seems to be thinking in terms of two large boxes to go through the mail. Hmmm, this may be more than I bargained for.

I have been figuring out what hooking stuff my Mom has – it is a lot more work than I realized. I went through two under bed drawers and found some dyed samples of wool ready to hook. Mom usually dyed them in 6, sometimes 8 values – she always enjoyed the dyeing part. I’ve been online to see what is there and how I can price things – what Mom paid is a lot less than today, though her money went farther. I also checked the Post Office, they ship by weight to Canada. Hmmm, this is going to be an interesting project.

I pulled out the things I found from when Dad was working before and during the war at aircraft companies, mostly in Southern California. Eddie checked with the Boeing historian today to see if they are interested. They were delighted with the items. It’s lovely to know there is some of my Dad in the Boeing archives. They are a welcome addition and I know they are in a good home.

I also went through a box of my Mom’s things – a lot of gift cards for her graduation and I think it was a wedding shower. There were letters from two hospitals saying she was set to work for them, letters from a couple of young men who had been at a dance when she was in Pratt. One guy was from Yale. A little bit different view of my Mom. Still more places to clear out, no telling what I will find. I am sending them to Candy so she can decide what to do with them.

Last week more cleaning out, amazing what my Dad and Mom accumulated over the past 60 some years in this house. I found 2 more photos in the original North American envelope for the Boeing archives. Eddie made sure my Dad’s name shows as the donor. I found books on cars that might go to the library the Car Museum is creating. I called the Center For Wooden Boats to see if they take ship models and if they don’t, who would they recommend. I think the guy is on holiday this week, I haven’t heard from him. And paper of all kinds, my Dad kept calendar pictures and so did my Mom – Dad for Scottish history and Mom for flower ideas for her rugs. It doesn’t look all that different, I just know I made a small difference.

Friday I went to see Mom, she is usually dozy because of meds. Judy tells me she forgets what’s she’s doing, so she needs to be reminded to continue. I have noticed that lately. I give her a piece of chocolate and she is enthusiastic, but doesn’t always finish it unless I ask if she is ready for more. She doesn’t like anyone to touch, especially when it comes to taking care of her. I now ask her if I can give her a hug, I mostly get an enthusiastic yes, but not always. You’re not kidding this is the hardest part.

I had a call from Didi last night – Mom had fallen and hit her head. She called Providence to let them know, she was going in for her regular day. I went to visit her this morning, she had a couple of large scabs on her right temple and her upper eyelid was bruised. Mom was fighting them as they were trying to get her washed and dressed. I asked Judy if she remembered falling, but Judy doesn’t think so. Mom was a bit sleepy today, probably not too surprising after her fall. She ate the cookies while I read to her, but wasn’t interested in the chocolate. She would have it later.

Eddie and I went out for a bit to have coffee and look around the bookstore. We came home and I found an email message from the station manager, they wanted my phone number because they needed to talk with me. so I emailed back and shortly after, they called. Seems he was a little mixed up on days – 9:30 isn’t open on Tuesday after all. He does have Monday at the same time and he wanted to know if that would be all right. Plus, he would air my show twice a week for the month of October as an “I’m sorry”. It will be a repeat of the Monday show. I will admit I am disappointed, but I just decided there is a reason why it is working out the way it is – no idea why but I am starting this Monday on the 15th. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes and maybe when I am ready for an hour show, there will be a different time slot.

My life certainly isn’t dull.

Tags:aircraft industry, clearing out, Dad, Fall, hospital letters, lady in Nova Scotia, Mom, new day, radio show, rug hooking, supplies, WWII
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About My Dad

September 7, 2014

I was watching Sunday Morning on CBS earlier and they were talking about the anniversary of the death of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria as the beginning of WWI in 1914. That made me think of Dad, he would have been 100 last march. I realized I have a list of things to write about him, especially since my sister wanted to hear things about him she didn’t know.

I remember when his parents came up to visit from California – Grandmother slept in my bed and Grandfather in Candy’s room. Ellen had her room downstairs in the basement and Candy & I slept in the rec room. I remember going upstairs to kitchen early in the morning and sharing tea with Grandmother while she told me stories about Dad. I’ve always wished I could have known her better, but she died when I was 14 – those early mornings were special to me. I wish I had written down the stories at the time, I’m having trouble remembering them. I know she talked about the time the kitchen porch roof caught fire, not sure what started it.

She had a very nice apartment in Buffalo when she and grandfather were married. Shortly after she had her first baby, Grandfather and her sister Elizabeth went out and bought a farm in Orchard Park – then present it to Grandmother. The problem was that it has no electricity, running water or any amenities – not the best place to have a new baby. She was left alone with the handyman during day while my Grandfather went into Buffalo to his Interior Decorating studio. Eventually they had running water and electricity – by then my Dad’s other sister Emmie was born and then Dad.

In 1926 Grandmother went out to visit her brother in Southern California – he was building houses in Palos Verdes at the time. There weren’t too many but there was a committee that had to approve the plans. They wanted only old style Spanish houses, red tile and stucco. So her brother was building them and Grandmother decided she wanted to move there. So she wrote Grandfather to come out and see what it was like. Unfortunately, the day he arrived on the train, it was pouring rain. However, he agreed to move there and he would help with the interior decoding of the new houses. He used fine draperies, oriental rugs and antiques in his designs. He would have his studio in Malaga Cove Center.

So back they went to Buffalo and packed up three kids, Gertie and all they could carry in two cars and drove across country to California. My Dad was about 12 or 14 at the time, the youngest child. He remember he was in the car with his dad and sisters and they stopped somewhere. There was a river and one of sisters nearly drown – I doubt they said anything to Grandmother.

They made it to California all in ne piece and Grandfather bought an old Spanish style house near the golf course in Palos Verdes. My Dad and his sisters went to Palos Verdes High School and Dad had made a lot of friends. Some were a little shady but Dad was not about to be talked into anything he didn’t want to do. He couldn’t be shady or do illegal stuff if his life depended on it. He used to work at the swim club as a lifeguard and in his high school annual, several girls wrote “To the Dancing Sheik” – he had a slow easy way of dancing the girls loved. How odd he and my Mom were never able to dance together – haven’t figured that out or thought it smart to ask.

He loved cars and dance music, his mother wondered if he would ever share her love of classical music. He told me one day that he heard a piece and it clicked with him and he was a classical music lover forever after. He still enjoyed dance bands and other kinds of music – I’ sure his mom was delighted to see how much he enjoyed classical music. He used to say that when Grandmother bought a gift for Grandfather, she would buy a piece she loved.

He spent a lot of time with his guy friends and working on cars, he did know a rum runner in those days but I don’t know if he ever went out with Dick or not. In the late 30’s before he went into the aircraft industry, he worked for Dick building boats in Wilmington, Calif. It was by the water and one day he dropped a tool into the water. He didn’t really want to tell Dick he had lost a tool, but he knew he had to anyway. When told Dick and apologized, Dick told him”I’m so glad you told me, none of the other guys ever tell me”. That has always stuck with me.

In 1941, Dad went back east to visit with an uncle and ended up getting a job at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Conn. He rented a room from a woman who lived in Glastonbury and she just happened to live next door to my Mom’s grandmother. Mom had seen him but hadn’t been introduced, but the families arranged a blind date for them. Dad once told me neither of them asked the other marry, they just assumed they were getting married. Three months later, Dad went to her father and said he wanted to marry his daughter. Grandfather Sherman told him “Go back to California and establish yourself. If in three months you still feel the same, I will give my permission.

In Late December of 1941, just after Pearl Harbor, Mom went to California. her family thought she was crazy, the Japanese were going to invade California. Only one aunt supported her and Mom often said it took all her courage to fly to California by herself.

To be continued . . . . . . . . . . .

Tags:California, cars, classical music, Dad, dance music, Dancing Sheik, Grandmother and Grandfather Paull, Grandmother and Grandfather Sherman, interior Decorator, Mom, old Spanish style houses, Palos Verdes
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A Screwy Week

September 6, 2014

It has nothing to do with the post, we have a lovely day today and this feels right. It is also the photo I have used for my websites and Facebook because I am using Ellen’s ocean photos for my book – Finding The Gifts In Rheumatoid Arthritis. Plus it is a gorgeous photo.

It’s really has been the last couple of weeks that have made me feel a bit topsy-turvy – I know this week had a holiday, not sure why last week felt that way too. Eddie had Monday off for Labor Day and I spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday here in the house. It didn’t feel confining at all, I really would have liked another day as well. I’ve been cleaning out the office, my parents’ bedroom, they kept a lot of calendar pages either for flower designs or pictures of Scotland. I ran across another North American envelope with 2 photos – they went to the Boeing archives with a note they were donated by Robert Paull. I called the Center For Wooden Boats but no answer so far. I wonder if a lot of people have taken this week off since the weather has been good.

It may not look as if I have done much, but I know I have. I have thrown out things, sent things to the Goodwill and put things away for my sister Candy and myself. It has barely made a dent, but it is finally some progress. I had to start somewhere.

Wednesday we didn’t have Breakfast Club but I was out early because I had a chiropractor appointment. Then I went to visit Mom, though she was very dozy. I saw her yesterday and she was more alert – she is better when she sits at the dining table. She spends time in the recliner because her legs hurt and she is more comfortable and relaxed. Her knee has been bothering her a lot and she doesn’t want to get up. I saw Didi yesterday and she was thinking about asking Providence for some Lidocaine pads for her knee. She thinks that might the knee more comfortable so she can walk more comfortably – right now it is a real struggle to get her to use the walker because the knee hurts.

Mom is at the point where she forgets to eat in the middle of meal. She loses focus and needs a prompt to eat. I have noticed that lately with the chocolate. The first piece goes easily but the other two take some time because she forgets she has chocolate to eat. When she is in the recliner, she doesn’t seem interested in the cookies, so I leave them on the bureau for a later snack. Yesterday at the table she polished off everything. It gets harder and harder to visit her and I know it will keep going downhill from here. She still seems to know me, or maybe just my presence, and is glad to see me. I now ask if she would like a hug because she can get moody and not want anyone to touch her. when I ask, she is pleased to have a hug and she definitely enjoys a gentle back rub.

Wednesday they called from the dealership to say my car was ready. We decided to go down the next day when Eddie came home from work – they stay open until 7. The loaner wasn’t a bad car, it just wasn’t mine and as Eddie said, mine is “broken in” and the loaner wasn’t. I am so happy to have it back all fixed and running properly. Even with the transmission on warranty, all the 90,000 mile maintenance was a bit spendy. However, we believe in preventive maintenance for everything – especially ourselves.

I have also been working on 2 websites for my show – one from the group who had my domain name and one with Wix. I decided to try the domain group for a month, though I can’t get the template I want. So I am making do and if I go to Premium, I might be able to have the one I like. I wanted to see how the template works and if it is hard to do or I just have to get the hang of it. I’ve got an email for the moment and need to check on Post Office box. I checked with UPS ad they want $180 – I don’t think so. The Post Office is less but I am not sure how big a box I need. I don’t think it needs to be too big.

Thursday I went to Apple Group session for Pages – I have been working on a logo. I would be interested to see what you think.

I also put together a Facebook page at Facebook.com/findingthegift Unfortunately I missed the s on gifts. I have also been in touch by email with the Morning Producer about the show and what I want to do. I need to feel comfortable doing it anyhow it works before I invite guests. I have a list of people I want to invite, they do different things that help with chronic illness and dementia. I have personally experienced how they work and definitely recommend them.

I have been helping Eddie with his PNAA stuff as well; looks as though we are going to be the repository for things for them. Eddie certainly enjoys working with them. A welcome change from the discord he sees most of the week.

Now back to clearing out – so many books to sort through. I think the car books might go for the library at the LeMay Car Museum – they are putting together a library.

Tags:Apple, clearing out, dementia, Labor Day holiday, loaner, logo, Mom, my car, Pages, radio show, topsy turvy
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I Am Official!!!!!!!!

August 29, 2014

I am now officially a radio host for KKNW, Alternative Talk Radio. I signed a 1 year contract yesterday for a 30 minute talk show on Tuesdays at 9:30. It will start on September 16th and is called Finding The Gifts. In some ways it is exciting and also a little unreal. I have never done this before, it is truly a leap of faith because at the moment I don’t have any sponsors to pay for the air time. I am feeling calm and at peace at the moment, watching with curiosity as it unfolds. My show starts on September 16th and it can be heard on the internet, iTunes, 1150kknw.com and you can also download an app for iPad and iPhone. I don’t think it has quite penetrated that it is heard globally, not just here in Washington and the U.S.

I am to meet with the engineer for the show, Benny, in the next couple of weeks to find out how it works in the studio. I am planning for the first 2 shows at least as a learning experience, seeing how things work the timing, how to break up the time for show and commercials. A lot to learn but I see it as having fun – better to see those butterflies as excitement rather than fear. They both feel the same way and I can choose which it will be.

It’s been an interesting week, Tuesday I put a spanner in my own works – I thought I was to see my primary doc this morning and do my infusion on Thursday. Turns out I mixed them up and still was able to do both. I was concerned about driving into Seattle to the Polyclinic, the viaduct was closed and I figured people were trying to find ways around. What a delight to find there wasn’t traffic either going down 4th Ave and later on I-5 south. It worked out quite well.

Wednesday I picked up Melanie to take her to Breakfast Club – she moved about 2 years ago to Las Vegas and it was a delight to see her. She makes me laughs, I learn so much from her and we have a great time. After Breakfast Club, we went to have coffee and catch up on what each has been doing. She is edited about my show and has had experience in radio. Also, if I need guests, she knows a lot of people. Time went by much too fast, she was having lunch with her stepmother, so I dropped her back at her sister’s at 12:30. Melanie is such a tonic for me and I had a wonderful time with her.

I had an email from the radio station, they are delighted I am joining the family – I am meeting them on Thursday for all the details and probably signing a year contract. In some ways it isn’t quite real, in other ways it is. I told the doc about it and he was pleased for me. I came home around 1 and was tired. I had a banana and then Eddie came home and we had some lunch. Then I had a nap for about 2 or 3 hours – I’m still a bit draggy, so I am hoping a night’s sleep will help.

I am working on an update on my business website fivesensespromotions.com – I feel as if I have been floundering try to understand and visualize it. They sent me a mock-up for the new site but it seemed so bland, yet I could describe what it needed. Then spent the last few weeks playing email tag with Chris, the designer. Finally we connected and talked on Friday, makes a big difference to say it than write it. He suggested I look at other sites for ones I like, so I was checking out website templates on Friday and Sunday. After a while on Sunday, I was bug-eyed, my mind had gone into neutral and my eyes glazed over. But I found things that I liked and was ready for him when we talked at noon on Monday. I felt as if we were on the same wave length and I had a better idea and understanding about the site.

I had bought an app called Wordify that takes a silhouette and makes the shape using the words I type in. It is fun and I have learned a lot about it – I found that I can click the triangle to Wordify it, then click it again and it is entirely different. I can do random, so the words are vertical and horizontal, or all horizontal or all vertical. There are all kinds of fonts, but clicking the box Surprise Me puts the words in all kinds of fonts and sizes. The I spent a lot of time going bug-eyed looking for photos for the top part of the site when I click on the icons.

After all the cleaning out last week, I took Saturday off completely. I find myself sleepy in the afternoon- Saturday I had a nap and felt better when I got up. I do have a calendar with things I am doing – tomorrow I am going to the radio station to talk about sponsors and how to structure the offers. Then they will help me with suggestions for approaching possible sponsors. I have also been thinking a lot about the show, who I would invite as guests as well as working on a website for the show.

I went to see mom Monday and today, she seems quite sleepy a lot of the time. The meds are to help her anxiety and the doc wants to keep her on them because if they cut back, she will be animus. She is comfortable as long as no one touches her, when they do, she gets feisty. Judy told me today that because her knee hurts, she has trouble standing and is reluctant to do it.

This may seem a little disjointed, I feel a bit that way. A lot of changes are going on for me and also for Eddie, no telling what will happen next. It is so good

Tags:1150KKNW, Breakfast Club, cleaning out, Finding The Gifts, Melanie Hope, radio show, sponsors, Wordify
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Life Is Full Of Surprises

August 24, 2014

Yesterday we took my Versa in for service, about 1000 before the 89,000 service. I noticed a thumpity when I was going very slowly about a week or two ago. Not very noticeable at first, but this week it was much more pronounced. I had asked Eddie if he noticed anything, just to sure I wasn’t imagining it. He noticed it too and I have to admit, it made me uneasy. So we went in Saturday to do the service and have them check it out. Later we had a phone call to tell us the transmission gave out. The CVT valve was being chewed up, they found bits of metal in the oil pan. I couldn’t have times it better if I’d planned it. So now I have a loaner car, another Versa but a little different. They said it would be at least a week for the new (remanufactured) transmission to come. Fortunately they had extended the warranty for it, so it won’t cost us anything.

I saw my Mom Friday and she was a little more alert, but after she had the chocolate, she started dozing. She managed one cookie but seemed very sleepy, so I left the other two for an afternoon snack. I didn’t stay that long because I had a lunch date with my close friend Kathie Brody, we haven’t done anything for several months because we were both busy. I emailed her to see how she was doing and she had been gallivanting to Italy, New Orleans and not sure where else. However, the past 2 or 3 weeks she has been taking care of Suburu, her cat. As she put it:

Himself has been very sick and I thought I was going to lose him a couple of weeks ago. He’s still thinking about it but for the moment he has decided to stay. The doc said he has very high blood pressure so I give him a pill and cream every day (the cream was my idea, not the vet’s!) and she also said maybe a little piece of cartilage has broken loose on his spine and floated down and lodged so he doesn’t know where his hind end is. He can no longer jump up on my lap or his chair, even his low throne. Poor baby. He is very quiet…so I think he is making up his mind. I know why he came into my life all those years ago (17, I can hardly believe it) which was to teach me how to love again. Now that I am taking the classes with my Shaman and living consciously and opening up my heart, I am wondering if he is thinking his job is done. If I hold on to him too long then he can’t go help someone else, but … it is a tough decision. I hope he makes it for me. At the moment he does not appear to be in pain. His meowing is very quiet and his purring motor is very quiet, but it still works. He vomits a few mornings a week but often he is polite enough to do it on the hardwood floor. So I am pretty worried about him and haven’t come to grips with it yet.

Kathy sent me this when I had asked for a healing from a difficult situation.

I asked Kathie about him as we were saying good-bye, she said he is not in pain, is fine but very quiet. So she is just waiting to see what he decides. Still brings tears to my eyes when I think about him – he has been a very special cat for me. We really haven’t met face to face, he is usually upstairs sleeping when I go to her home. But he has given me several messages over the past years and apparently does only for me. She says when I call or email, he always knows and comes into her lap, he only does it with me. I am very flattered and appreciative.

We had a delightful lunch at Queen Mary Tearoom. We had a lovely lunch, though both of us looked for a lighter meal. They have a wonderful phyllo dough pastry dish with cheese and not sure what else that is wonderful. Now I find something like that feels too heavy, so I tried their Bacon Leek Quiche and it was very good. They had a green salad and a lot of wonderful fruits; I was comfortably full but didn’t feel I ate too much. We talked about what she has been doing, what I’ve been doing as well as having fun with the waitress. They are so friendly and welcoming there, they had a new one on her first day, so we had fun with her as well. I always think I am going to try a different tea but find I go back to Creamy Earl Grey. It was a beautiful day, in the 70’s – my kind of weather. We are not going to let so much time go by before getting together again.

Thursday I had a meeting at the radio station about my show. They have an opening at 9:30 on Tuesday morning – Erik thinks my show would do well on Tuesday or Wednesday. I don’t have a sponsor signed up yet, but everything has lined up so well and so easily that it’s time to put up or shut up. It was a little scary but also exciting – I had to decide if I was going to take a risk and make the leap of faith or not. I had read somewhere that until one commits, things don’t appear. I think of Moses and the Red Sea – I always thought the water just parted and they went across. Turns out they had to start walking into the water before it parted. I thought about it and when I told Eddie I wanted to do this, it is very important to me, he said “Go for it”. I decided on Friday I was going to do it – I sent an email to Brian and Erik to get the show on the road. However, they won’t get it until Monday and I am not sure how long it will take for them to respond.

I have been thinking a lot about the show, who I would invite as guests, what to talk about as well as sponsors, a web site – it will be interesting to see how it develops and how it all works. It’s a big step, I will be signing a contract for a year. I was so pleased that both Erik and Brian really like my idea and concept, also the name Finding The Gifts. I didn’t want to use Gift of RA because it felt too confining and specific, this way it can expand and extend into other areas. One will be dealing with My Mom’s dementia, something a lot of people are now dealing with. I will also talk about dealing with a chronic illness because although illness may be different, there are some basic things we have in common.

It’s been an interesting week, up and downs and a lot of surprises. I am pleased to find I have had more energy and accomplished a lot of things I have been meaning to do. It also has been tiring and I have been sleeping with my bunny in my arms, she helps me go to sleep more easily at night. I also registered for my 50th high school reunion on Sept. 27th – it’s going to be fun and interesting.

Tags:50th reunion, Creamy Earl Grey, CVT valve, Kathie, leap of faith, loaner, Moses, Queen Mary Tearoom, radio show, Red Sea, Seattle Summer Day, Suburu, transmission
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Cleaning Out

August 10, 2014

I knew I had to start cleaning out drawers and closets but there was something holding me back. Not necessarily the size of the project so much as going through my parents’ belongings. If you saw the house, it doesn’t necessarily look as though anything has been done – it is more the inside where there is a difference. I cleared out a shelf in the office with things both Mom and Dad had clipped and saved, mostly Mom’s idea pile. She had a lot of articles about rug hooking, pattern ideas, calendars with flowers and some patterns she had transfer to a backing to hook. I found her patterns for the coat of arms rug – a list of tartans and descriptions as well as individual shield patterns.

Thursday afternoon I started on the desk in the living room, clearing out the top of the desk with all the little drawers and cubby holes. I know I come from a long line of pack rats, but I had no idea how much Mom kept. I filled a shopping bag with old pay stubs for Dad, check registers, you name it. I was really tired by the time I finished that. Friday I started on the first three large drawers below – another full bag of things. I put all the things to be shredded on top of the desk and Eddie took care of that for me – they may be old but I want to be sure no one can use the information. I have one more drawer to go. then it is on to the bedroom.

It was interesting to see what Mom kept, there are reports from school for all three of us, some letters from grandparents, congratulation cards for all three of us from relatives, a bunch of newspaper articles about family members – the others I don’t know who they are but I think they are people Mom went to school with or knew in Glastonbury. There are pictures of all kinds and in the lower drawers she has so many cards to use for any occasion. I may send those over to Goodwill and some other things. Letters, photos and other papers I have in a box so Candy and Ellen can check them out.

It will be interesting to see what is squirreled away in the bedroom bureaus. Now that I have done most of the desk, I realize it would have been smart to do it a lot sooner. Maybe it has just taken this long to be ready to do it. I need to clean things out to sell them, otherwise they would be very heavy and there is no telling what is in the drawers.

I put the dining room table on Craig’s list last Saturday – no word so far. I had been hesitant to do it only because I didn’t know how it worked and what to do. I checked out eBay as well just to have an idea how much I could ask – 52″ round mahogany pedestal table with 3 leaves, 6 chairs and table protectors. Turned out it was very hard to list it on Craig’s List, so I will put another on the site.

We need to start going through books and donate them to the library. I want to make sure which ones are worth keeping or truing to sell – the ones I have with Judith on her online book store are still there. She said things are very slow right now. I do want to check with her to find out which books are valuable then decide what to do with them.

I know Mom is no longer in this world but a world of her own – still, it feels strange to be doing this while she is still alive. Yet she isn’t going to be coming back and it is long past time for Eddie and me to make this house our own. I often feel pulled in 2 opposite directions.

I visit Mom twice a week and I notice she is more sleepy when I come – some days she is quite alert and aware. The day she didn’t know who I was took me a little by surprise and since she was in a feisty mood, she didn’t want anyone to touch her. So now I ask her if she would like a hug and the other day, she said yes, and a kiss. I know the not recognizing me will come more often, I hope to be able to be objective about it and not get upset. She loves chocolate and cookies, always saying yes to them. When she is really sleepy, I will save some of the cookies and put them in her room for later – Judy says she will have a snack in the afternoon. I tend to put her to sleep when I read, she says that’s fine.

Every day is an education, learning experience and challenge, I am working on seeing it that way rather than a upsetting situation. I am working on it every day and I have made a lot of progress, though I am still a work in progress.

Tags:books, chocolate, cleaning out, closets, cookies, Craig's List, desk, dining table, drawers, letters, Mom, Parents, photos, school, stubs
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Seafair Weekend

August 3, 2014

Today is the hydroplane races and the program by the Blue Angels. It is the last weekend of Seafair, though it doesn’t have the same feel it did when I was growing up. It was for only a week or two and there was a lot of excitement about the different neighborhood parades, the crowing of miss Seafair, the Seafair parade, the Torchlight parade and certainly when the pirates came ashore. Now that it is for a least a month or more, it feels as if it passes by very quietly. Maybe I just grew up in a more innocent time – without cell phones in every hand.

The Blue Angels have been practicing since Wednesday – I know when the I-90 bridge is closed because the planes all come over the house. The wind has been from the north, so they have been taking off that way and then make a sharp left turn to go south or not so sharp to go north. There are those who complain about them every year but it is only for a few days. I thing I notice is when I hear the Blue Angels, they have already passed by. They also have several Osprey helicopters this year – they came by the house Wednesday and I have heard them a couple of other times.

Eddie is glad he isn’t at the Museum of Flight today – it is usually a zoo. Today is his first day volunteering at the LeMay American Car Museum in Tacoma. The Volunteer Coordinator was quite impressed with his resume and the two references he gave. Now he will be there the Sunday he isn’t at the Museum. He is now doing things for PNAA and getting paid for it. he had 4 students and the professor the other week and had a lot of fun with them. he has just been asked to be Volunteer Coordinator for their events. he will find out more about it when he goes the meeting on Aug. 26th.

This weekend has felt a little strange – he took a vacation day on Friday and it has felt a bit odd ever since. He came with me to see Mom Friday – she was doing pretty well and was willing to have a back rub. She was pleased to see Eddie and enjoy the cookies and chocolate I brought. i read for a bit and then we left. I know he was itching to leave but he didn’t show it very much this time.

We went down to LeMay for him to pick up his red logo shirt and I met the Coordinator. Very nice woman and friendly. Then we did some of our errands and came home. It has been warm the past week or more, a little rain early in the week but just enough to settle the dust. I’m ready for a good steady rain to refresh everything.

Saturday it rained early for a short while, then thunder and another shower. We were sitting at the table looking out and not only was it raining, the sun was shining. I didn’t see a rainbow but I saw something I never saw before – every once in a while the sun would shine on a raindrop and it looked like a diamond falling from the sky. It reminded me of the first time I saw fireflies in New Jersey. Several times it thundered and rain for a bit – one point it was hailing as well. Then it all quit and no chance of rain again.

I don’t know if anyone outside Seattle has heard of Big Bertha and the tunnel under the city – a tunnel that is going nowhere fast. This is to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct – 4 lanes to take 6 lanes of traffic. I don’t quite see how that computes, plus they are going to charge to use it. So far I have heard they are going to charge $5 each way. No idea what it will be when the tunnel is in use, if it ever is.

I doubt I will use it not only because of the toll but mostly because I am claustrophobic and this doesn’t look very conducive to feeling relaxed. But that is the plan. This is Big Bertha:

It’s quite something and huge – the men below look like small toy people.

There have been more than one hiccup – first a pipe they didn’t know was there, then the blade needed replacing and this time it has been stuck for months because they have to figure out a way to get to the front to fix it. This is what it is like for the first 1000 feet, not a quick boring machine. There are still miles to go.

I’m sure it all makes sense to the builders but it is definitely not my cup of tea.

These concrete pieces are piled up all over the work area. They look smaller as one goes up and down the S curve ramp by the side of the digging.

As you can tell, I am not in favor of this thing. They needed to repair the Viaduct and then hire a Trompe l’oeil artist to paint beautiful columns on the sides since a lot of people talk about how ugly it is. I don’t think it is, but maybe I am too traditional. It would be a whole lot less money and it wouldn’t screw up traffic so much.

This is a flood wall but supposed they painted some cool columns

They never put a proper bill on the ballot for us to vote for or against – that sucks. Politicians seem to ignore voters unless it suits them. We have 2 stadiums side by side – one was voted down at least 3 times and they went behind our backs to do it anyway. They had been talking about another stadium a mile or so south for a basket ball team – give us a break! Lately all is quiet about that but it is likely to come up again.

Oh my, I didn’t mean to rant on about the tunnel, maybe I have been keeping it in for too long.

Tags:Big Bertha, Blue angels, Eddie, events, hydros, LeMay Museum, Mom, PNAA, Rain, Seafair, tunnel, Viaduct
Posted in Musings | 2 Comments »

Back to the Warm Stuff!

July 29, 2014

I know we don’t have very hot weather compared to a lot of places – I spent a lot of time living in the Eastern half of the country so I know hot and humid. I don’t do that well with hot weather and when I found central air conditioning, I knew I had found the solution to being comfortable at home. Then it was only going out somewhere that was very uncomfortable. Plus I never knew how cold the air conditioning would be in shops, restaurants or hotels. it would be cold inside the grocery sore and coming outside to the heat and humidity was as if I had been hit by a wet gauze curtain.

As a result, I am so happy to be back here in Seattle, not only the weather but also a large body of salt water and proper mountains. Yes, I am probably a wuss, but I like to be comfortable. Our idea of hot weather is different. We were close to 90 yesterday and will no doubt be about that again today – glad to have a day to myself at home with the windows open and the furnace fan circulating air from one floor to another. It definitely makes sleeping at night more comfortable. We have lovely breezes but for some reason they die down after dark – just when we need the cool air. That’s why I am glad I checked out the fan so we could have the breeze whether Mother Nature sent it or not.

I went to visit Mom yesterday morning – she was very feisty and grumpy. She didn’t want anyone to touch her – even me. So I said “Not even your daughter Elizabeth’? She wasn’t sure who I was, so I gave chocolate and cookies which she enjoyed and read for a bit. I asked if she would like a back rub, but that wasn’t accepted. I was surprised to find I wasn’t really upset because it isn’t the first time. I suspect as time goes on she will know me less and less. I find I have to put the chocolate or cookie in her hand – Didi says someone has to be with her at mealtime to redirect her when she gets distracted. I know she will slowly forget how to do the things she can do right now.

Fern – who is 102 – was at the table and she seems to enjoy hearing the book even when I put Mom to sleep. I’m glad I can do something to entertain her, it is so hard for her because she thinks no one ever comes to visit. Her son and his family do come, but it is in the evening after work. Didi now has an opening because Monique left – she was a bit in another world but when she got on the bus and made it all the way to SeaTac, that was a big problem. As far as I know Monique went to hospital but not sure what happened after that.

I have most of the blueberry bushes covered

The two branches that need tying up

The blueberries are ripening and the birds are having a field day. There is a huge Stellard Blue Jay eating his fill. On the way home yesterday, I stopped at Joann’s for nylon net. I bought 2 3 yard pieces and sewed them together – unfortunately the blueberries extend farther than I thought. So I need to make another trip for more and also some clips to hold it together. They will get under the net anyway, but it will be a little harder.

Eddie picked some ripe ones last night and they were wonderful He also found a ripe fig on the tree, so we split it – out of this world! The apples are starting fall on the ground, probably time to check out the pears to see if any are ready to pick. I didn’t realize pears are picked unripe and then they are left to ripen. If they stay on the tree, they may rot. The red ones are doing well, don’t think we have many on the other pear tree.

How about those pears!

Tags:Blue Jay, blueberries, clips, feisty, Fern, fig, furnace fan, hot weather, Mom, nylon net, pears, reading
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Cherries!!!

July 27, 2014

Royal Anne Cherries

Rainier Cherries

It’s cherry season and they are less now than when they first came in to the stores. We have been buying Rainier cherries, though I feel they are just like the Royal Annes we had when I was growing up. I looked it up and the Royal Annes are smaller, not as flavorful – I remember them as delicious. Who ever planted them next to the garage – espaliered across the side – didn’t understand long terms effects.

They were already planted and tall, producing the most wonderful cherries. As I stand at the kitchen counter eating Rainier cherries, I am sent back to being a little girl in the summer time. I would walk down the sidewalk and pull a branch down to eat my fill of cherries. It’s a wonder I didn’t get sick to my stomach.

When Eddie and I would come back to visit Mom and Dad, he would enjoy them as much as I did. I remember one day when the two of them climbed on the roof and picked a big bowl of cherries. Later they sat eating cherries while watching baseball.

Imagine 2 very large cherry trees right up next to the garage. I think I have a picture somewhere, but it will take a while to find it.

We also had “the little cherry tree” near the two – it was a pollinator and the bird made sure we never had any of those. They did a pretty good job on the Royal Annes, but there were so many on the trees that there was enough for everyone. I’m sure there were little furry creatures from the canyon that came in the night for their share as well. Those trees served us very well.

It seemed in later years the trees had less fruit and the wildlife managed to abscond with most of the cherries before we had a chance. Then came a point when they grew too big and began to push the garage over. When I looked at the garage from the street, it listed to starboard. So Mom and Dad had to have them cut down, but left the “little tree”. Somehow two other trees grew over on the edge of the property to the north. The wildlife took care of any fruit they might have produced.

Finally they began to look so sad, dying and shriveling up the leaves. So I had John come over last year and cut them down, that was hard to see happen. I still have the tree trucks, John sawed them up in wood slices and I have used them in my three beds. So they are still useful and not completely gone.

The blackberries are also ripening now – they seem to take over everywhere. Reminds me a bit of kudzu in Atlanta. These have wonderful, juicy blackberries, but this vines and thorns will tear you to ribbons at the blink of an eye. Believe me, it’s hard work but the results are delicious – once you attend to the wounds.

What I remember most were the tiny blackberries that grew in the fields. They have tiny thorns that stuck me and stayed in there for a long time. We used to call it “frying our brains” because we were in the sun and it was hot. We would see if we could gather enough for a pie, one year we even picked enough for jam.

We also had raspberries bushes, I would pick in the morning and then late in the afternoon it would like as if I hadn’t picked any. We had lots of those for breakfast, Mom made jam and many went from bush to mouth. We had blueberries as well, loved the blueberry pancakes in the morning, though plain blueberries in a bowl were lovely. Picking blueberries was easy, not thorns and the bushes were just next to the back porch.

Funny how eating fruit takes me back to my childhood; the taste, smell, texture all bring pictures to my mind of when and how I used to eat, pick and enjoy each one.

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Mixed Up Week

July 26, 2014

This has nothing to do with the post but I enjoy Ellen’s photos a lot and this makes me smile.

It has been a rather oddball week, at times I wasn’t sure what day it was, what time it was or what was happening next. Certainly traffic has been a real problem because they closed all but one lane each way on the I-90 bridge to fix expansion joints. Friday night to the following Friday morning, Eddie had a long commute from up north coming home. Of course it didn’t help that the President arrived on Tuesday – for 2 fundraisers rather than what to do about the wildfires. It took Eddie about 2 1/2 hours to get home each day. Because of the traffic, they didn’t open the archives, so Eddie spent Wednesday up north taking 4 students and their professor for a tour and a couple of places. This was done for PNAA rather than the Future of Flight.

I went to see Mom on Monday afternoon because there was an assessment being done – like the one done last year. The guy saw a definite decline in how she is from the last time; Didi was there and was able to tell him what she needs help with – everything. She was a little uncomfortable saying it in front of me, but I told her it’s what I need to hear. In many ways I wasn’t surprised and it didn’t hit me quite as much as last year. I have noticed she does less and less, I have to put the cookie or chocolate in her hand. When I went Friday, I brought cookies for the house.

Tuesday was a day for myself – I worked on my radio show. I am working on creating a picture in my mind to help me see it clearly. I am thinking of starting with a 30 minute show during the week and seeing how it goes. So I put together a clock for myself with each minute so I can visualize how much time for program and how for ads. Still lots of questions, but I feel it is important for it to be clear to me before I can explain it any sponsor. I would like to meet with Brian and Erik, this time with questions and see how to organize the show and all the parts that need to be set. It’s interesting to notice bits and pieces of it come together without great effort. I think deciding on guests is the easy part.

Wednesday I went to Breakfast Club and then went to see Cheryl again. I really felt exhausted after my adjustment, so I came home and found no electricity – I don’t need electricity to have a nap. So I did. When I woke up, I had no idea what time it was. Melanie from PNAA called to see if Eddie was home because she was anxious to know how things went. I asked her what time it was – 3:15. About 3:30 Eddie called and the electricity came on – he wanted me to call Melanie to let her know everything went like clockwork and they were delighted. So I called and she was pleased to heart. I told her Eddie would call her when he came home – whenever that was. She appreciated my call. I have to admit, I was not sure what was going on – I felt confused because of my nap and no electricity.

We also had rain this week – blessed relief. I would have liked a day or two more rain, everything is dry and parched – especially me. Now it is a fresh, washed clean feeling and certainly the air is clearer. Having temperatures in the high 80’s and into the 90’s are a bit much – I prefer 75 to 80. Now it is due to go up to the 80’s again. Tomorrow is the Ravenna Volvo picnic where the dealership invites owners and friends to celebrate with them. Looks as if it is going to be a lovely day tomorrow. Eddie cleaned his car very well this afternoon for the car show. He just bought a new wagon and it is different from the other wagons, so that should generate a lot of comments and compliments.

Thursday I went to Apple to Group Training to help me put together a new header for the new blog for Eddie. He isn’t doing the regular newsletter for Future of Flight any more and this is going to be a work in progress until we figure out how we want it to be. Looks like another education for me.

Friday Eddie took the day off to go down to the LeMay Car Museum about volunteering. I went to see Mom with cookies for house – she was a bit droopy but certainly ready for chocolate and cookies. In some ways rather she was rather talkative while I read D.E. Stevenson – no idea what she was saying, but it was important to her. Afterwards, I met Eddie at home and we went down to visit the place that will put a coating on his car to prevent dings from rocks. He is going to take next Friday off since he has to leave it the whole day. Then we can use my car to visit Mom and do what we want to do. Afterwards we had something at Barnes & Noble and did some grocery shopping.

Today we did some different things – went to Whole Foods, then over to Des Moines to the car wash for tomorrow and then stopped for ice cream. Auntie Irene’s is the only place I know that has licorice ice cream – yummy. Eddie is doing the laundry and I am about done with this – there’s an old movie on we want to watch. I think things will feel more normal on Monday.

Tags:Apple, assessment, Breakfast Club, Cheryl, Mom, oddball week, radio show, Rain, sponsors, traffic
Posted in Musings | 2 Comments »

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Archive for the ‘Musings’ Category

The Week Barely Started

About My Dad

A Screwy Week

I Am Official!!!!!!!!

Life Is Full Of Surprises

Cleaning Out

Seafair Weekend

Back to the Warm Stuff!

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