Georgeous Day

The weather for November 16 is wonderful. Sunny skies and warm breeze, kind of scarey wondering what the Thanksgiving weather will be, but oh well. Just got back from lunch with two of my favorite friends, much laughter and insults me being on the receiving end, as usual....
Really hard to get back into the swing of things this afternoon.

Busy weekend ahead, got to finish off a paper/project for school - have left it to last minute, hard to believe I know. Tonight's Lit class about poetry, yeesh - it sounds better if read out loud but not much.

I'm Back

Have not posted anything for ages, love reading about the kids, but never seem to get around to doing it myself. So, have moved house into a still smaller house but with a bigger backyard. Alex loves it and as I type this is playing in the leaves throwing his chewy toy in the air and barking at it, I have a really smart dog, dont you know. LOL.
I love the little house although it does have some issues, dont we all, the foundations seem to be slipping. Now I would prefer none of you who know me make any snide comments about that.... The house is tiny but it has forced me to review all my possessions such as they are, not keep anything that I do not need - after all I can only sit in one chair at a time and drink out of one cup at a time. So I am working on living in a small house filled with exquisite stuff, including me.

Looking forward to decorating for Thanksgiving and Christmas, love that sort of thing. More later....

Habitat for Humanity/Birthday Party

Had a marvellous day today. Volunteered to help at a Habitat for Humanity site with my church. Of course, when I volunteered I did not realise it would be 90 degrees in the shade, well actually there was no shade - it was hot. Got to the site - at last- as of course I get lost along the way, turned left instead of right, who would have thought it but arrived about 10 minutes after everyone else. Put on my work gloves and proceeded to hang around not sure of what to do next. Discovered I have absolutely no skills regarding building a house so ended up making sure everyone had enough water to drink and holding bits of wood and plastic while Wendell cut them to size. Apart from the heat and as everyone knows as an ex Brit if it gets over 75 I have serious warmth issues it was a great morning. The prospective homeowner was there putting in her sweat equity, very nice lady and so grateful to Habitat. So I have already decided to sign up for the next day in September. Back home for a long soak in a luke warm bath finally getting my temperature back to normal and then a nice nap. I love naps, I do them so well.

Finished off the day at Cheryl and Nick's place for a wonderful birthday/anniversary/what the heck party at their place. Sitting out on the deck next to the waterfall in the shade with a lovely breeze blowing eating delicious food and drink, you know it does not get a lot better than that. Met some extremely interesting not to say funny people, had a blast. Then home to see if the new airconditioner work, and yah it does so house much cooler, so was able to switch of a/c and open all doors and windows for the cool night air to filter through the house. Lovely.

Funeral

Yesterday I went to my friend Renay's father's funeral. I went to support my friend and ended up feeling how very blessed I am in my life and how little we truly know of the people around us. Renay's dad was 85 when he died and although I had only met him a couple of times I enjoyed what I knew of him. Imagine my surprise when I get to the funeral chapel to discover he was during World War II a "hump" pilot which flew planes from India over the Himalyas into Burma and various parts. There was a wonderful scrapbook on the desk with pictures and stories about his life - fascinating. Anyway it was a lovely service leaving me with the impression of a man who was deeply loved not just by his family but my his friends and neighbors as well. After the service we went to the cemetary for the graveside service and for the first time I saw an Honor Guard ceremony. It was one of the most moving ceremonies I have ever been priveliged to participate in. His coffin was draped with the American flag and there was a lone bugler playing. After a word of prayer the other two honor guards folded the flag. These gentlemen consisted of an older man, sargeant I think, with the most amazing number of medals on his chest with another young soldier maybe 19 or 20. It was very clear the younger soldier was nervous and wanted to do everything just right and what was even clearer was the older man encouraged him all the time with just looking at him. As the younger man slowly folded the flag I could see him get more calm and confident as he worked his way along. After the flag was folded he saluted the older soldier who now held the flag and left the cover the of the tent. The soldier holding the flag knelt down in front of Renay's mother and very quietly said some things to her then he stood up saluted and left the tent. As the three soldiers moved quietly away they stopped about 20 feet from the tent and saluted one last time. A deeply fitting tribute to a man who did what he had to do at the time and who never made a fuss about it. As I was watching all of this I started to remember my maternal grandfather who I had not thought about in a long time and how interesting a man he was as well. He too served in the Far East during WWII in India and Burma in the British Army. A quiet, deliberate and modest man who I do not think about often enough.

It was a good day for me as well in the fact that I got to hang out with a friend of mine Carol, someone I had been distant from for a while and during this time of reflection which it is when death is around I was able to say how much of a blessing that she had been in my life. No matter where we are now in our friendship it does not negate the laughter and joy we have had in the past. She has been as close to me as a sister and it was a delight, given the circumstances, to see and talk with her again.

Well its been a very quiet morning so far with me and Alex hanging out at the house. So far its not been too hot so hopefully we can enjoy this day of celebration.

Sunday Afternoon

I have all the doors and windows open with a lovely breeze flowing through the house. Alex and I sat on the porch which manages to catch the nicest flow of air. Alex is sprawled under the chair trying to keep cool. This house is surrounded by the most amazing trees just wish the neighborhood was better. I have an amazing willow tree in the backyard which Maintenance Mike did some pruning on and I am not sure what went wrong but it has started to sprout growth from its trunk, looks kind of scarey in the moonlight... Went walking around the lake this morning, damned runners everywhere, could not do our walk as usual managed to make it once around the lake but so packed with people ended up being irritating, but good to get out before it got too hot.
It is amazing but it is nearly three weeks since my trip to the UK. One of my favorite places was Kew Gardens, where George III and his family lived in a small palace in the Gardens, very lovely so I am reading about him and his siblings and how his actions and thoughts behind those actions changed the course of history. Rather a misunderstood man who thought of himself as father as well as king to his subjects. A hard life which has rather surprised me so far. I have always thought of the monarchy having money up the wahzoo and being able to do what they want. Not so, very constricted by people's expectations and their duties.

Still househunting - looking for a lovely cottage 2 bed and one bath. Have seen some lovely ones in Old Colorado City. Have to make a decision regarding which one to offer for.

Also have after many years decided to go back to school just for the sheer pleasure of learning. I did not attend college other than for my paralegel job and that was torture, I love my job but the degree was stultifyingly dull. So I am going to do Southwest Studies. I am fascinated by that area of the United States and am looking foward to studying and finding out more about both the Indian and Hispanic cultures. I had a marvellous time living in Mexico for nearly 2 years some 27 years ago and have never forgotten how fasinating I found that culture and I hope to get as much enjoyment out of my studies.

Last Day

Day dawned and of course the weather sucks. It is cold, rainey and just plain miserable. We decided to go into town anyway and take one of the bus tours however by the time we actually got into town poor Cheryl who is not used to this weather was already freezing so we went on the bus but on the lower covered level. Oh, nearly forgot we got off the Underground at Hyde Park corner where we took off over the park and got to Buckingham Palace just in time to see the changing of the guard, very colorful and quaint but freezing, which brings me back to the bus tour. It was quite excellent but too cold to actually get off the bus to see anything. People getting on the bus were literally chattering their teeth with the cold so we did the tour in the relative warmth of the bus then got off at the place we recognized was the same place we had started on the Jack the Ripper walk and found a hotel for a spot of lunch and of course the ubiquitous cup of tea. Nothing like a cuppa when you are frozen to the bone. We found our way back to the hotel after getting on the wrong train - cold messes with the brain as well for yet another cup of tea.

Relaxing tonight, my last night I have to be leaving the hotel at 5:00 a.m. Yuk, but its been a fabulous time and I have loved every minute of it.

Kew Gardens - Sunday

What an amazing place. 300 acres of marvellous horticulture. We got up late and took out time getting out to Kew Gardens. Got off the train in a tiny little village of Kew packed full of really lovely little quaint shops and old Victorian houses. Walked about 10 minutes from the station and entered at the Victoria Gate. It was rather cloudy when we got there so we decided to do the little tram ride that gives you an overall view of the gardens. After we did that stopped for tea which in iteself was a pleasure and then took off walking. Went into the magnificent Palm house with all the palms from all over the world, Princess conservatory, the Orangey, Nash's building and numerous small gardens like the rock garden, relecting garden. I did the tour of Kew Palace home of George III and his queen Charlotte, fascinating they have refurbished the house as it was at their time early 1800s and these guys might have been royalty but there was not much stuff in this place. It might of been because she had 15 children and all but two survived. Can you imagine....Anyhoo, at the back of the house was a marvellous garden with a nosegay garden included which meant that all kinds of plants used in the late 1700s were planted with their names as they were used then and then the use eg stomach pains, getting rid of boils you name it they had a plant for it.

Because the weather was overcast and a little on the chilly side there were not that many people around so Cheryl and I got to wander all over the gardens, she took lots of pictures, I unfortunately forgot to charge my battery so I will have to get pics from her. We stayed at Kew for hours and decided not to do anything else that day but make our way back to the hotel and sleep.

Bliss....

Family Day

Had great day on Saturday my brother and his son came to pick me up from the hotel, getting lost of course apparently there are two A34s no of which means anything to me as I cant read a map to save my life. Anyhoo, he whisked me away to Romsey to hang out with his family and my Dad and his special friend, Ellie. Absolutely fabulous. Ellie is an absolute hoot and keeps my Dad in check, my Dad looked really good better than I have seen him in years and looks a good 10 years young that his 79 years young. My bru and his lovely wife, Andy, as normal just so much fun to be around, and theirs sons, Jon and his girlfriend Katie and David really enjoyed hanging out. In fact, we decided as it was a lovely day to head into Broadlands for the country show, which actually was like the village fete only bigger. Very interesting, got to see falcons fly and dive bomb something not sure what, owls fly really close to the ground, do you know that you cannot hear owls fly they are practically silent, well if you didnt you do now.... There was lawnmower races, cream teas, and all manner of totally useless stuff. Just goes to show how much England is changed when I lived here 27 years ago the village fete was all about cakes and jams, now it includes curry tasting and exotic foods from practially everywhere. Not a bad big of progress really.
Speaking of curry, my excellent brother got me an Indian meal from the local restaurant which was absolutely delicious and then he had to return me to the hotel.

I had a wonderful time and again was reminded of how much we underestimate how wonderful it is to be loved and belong to a family however far apart we are.

Jack the Ripper

So Cheryl and I finally managed to get out in the evening. She poor girl has been so pooped in the evenings we have just stayed at the hotel but yesterday night we ended up at Tower Hill Underground Station and off we went with every other American in the UK for a walk around the City of London into the seamier side of London retracing the steps of Jack the Ripper. Excellent fun. We of course had the obligatory fish and chip supper before we started and then we set off. Very atmospheric and a great guide who knew the story back to front and did all the various voices. We finished the tour about 9:15 and headed back to the hotel unfortunately we headed the wrong way and had to retrace our steps one stop on the Underground. We finally got on the right line and off we went. Took nearly an hour to get back to the hotel it is quite a way out from the heart of London so we did not get into bed until about midnight.

This morning Ian and Jon picked me up from the hotel after getting lost of course and I am in Romsey for the day with everyone including my dad and his girlfriend. More later.....

Windsor Castle

Decided to take off to look at Windsor Castle today. Have never been before and it was well worth the time and energy. Lovely place and even though it is a castle still retains a hominess that is very attactive. Decided to take a taxi there and back as the hotel is out of the direct route it would have taken me over 2 hours on a buss to get there while a taxi took 30 minutes. Of course the taxi cost 48 pounds which is nearly 100 dollars which is nuts but oh well I am only here for a short time.
Did manage to get some photos but I think will have to wait to download them. Castle has the most amazing picutre by Rembrandt, Van Dyke, Holbein, its one thing to see them in a booi but in real life absolutely fabulous breathtakingly beautiful.
State rooms are very "flashy" and some of the place settings could give you nightmares but on the whole a great day out. Went into St. George's Chapel originally started in 1500s saw the Queen Mother's small crypt. She and her husband George vi are buried under a black piece of granite with just their names on it Very simple, very peaceful nice statement about how they saw themselves.
Came back to the hotel and have a lovely swim.

The Perils of Pauline

Started the day with falling out of the shower and sliding around the bathroom on my butt. The baths here are really deep and so I stepped out of the shower expecting to put my foot on the floor but did not reach down far enough so slipped and slid around like a beached whale, did not hurt myself, thank god, just my dignity. So then cleaned myself up and went to join Cheryl for breakfast and coming back to the room later, she had come back earlier I could not remember the room mnumber and tried to break into 4036 when in actuallity our room number is 4063, had to run down stairs ask the kind Indian gentleman for help which was useless because I think he thought I was breaking in, anyhoo he called the number of the room he thought Cheryl was in and up I came. Some after some heart pounding I was able to relax.
Decided to take a runn into the City. Took free bus from outside the hotel, then got on Underground went so see Museum of London. Very informative went right back tno Stone Age and up to present. Of course today was the day all the schools had school visits but that was fun too as the children had to go around and find stuff so it was like watching a scavenger hunt.

After that headed to St. Paul's Cathedral. Now that is impressive, what iseven m or impressive is that it is a functioning church and at noon there was a communion service. Cheryl and I hope to go to a service on Sunday. Took some time walking around but it is vast so after about 1 1/2 hours left for journey back.
It took about an hour for the trip from the hotel into central London so might just do it again tomorrow. Go somewhere different of course.
Looks like it will be just me going to see Ian, Cheryl is packed with stuff so I think she is going to take Saturday off and let me visit the familia while she chills out which is rather nice and I dont feel I have to entertain her or at least make sure she is not bored, not that one can get bored with my family but hopefully she will see them in the evening when Ian brings me back. Then she and I will "do" London Sunday and Monday which will be wonderful.

Well more tomorrow. Love you all.

second Day

Today it rained, surprise but still very lovely. Cheryl did her first class and it went extremely well. I got up and went swimming in the spa attached to the hotel which was lovely. Came back and spent the rest of the day reading and hanging out in the lounge. All the staff kept coming to check I was okay and I got talking to the young waiter from Paris who wanted to practice his English, very cute. After Cheryl's class we cemt to the Marriatt at Heathrow this evening. Lovely hotel and we managed to get an upgrade to I am living in the lap of luxury for the next 8 days, now sure how I will get back to reality. My goofy brother called tonight although he is better than my goofy son who callee me at 3 in the morning this morning because he forgot the taime difference, sigh!!! Anyhoo, Ian is coming up to get us from Romsey on Saturday to take us back down there to hang out with the family. My father and his lady friend are going to be there and Jon and his girlfried as well as Andy, Ian and David, cant wait. Will be lovely to see them all. Cheryl and I have decided to go on the Jack the Ripper walk on Friday night which will be very exciting.

More tormoow. Will post pics tomorrow will have to reasearch how its done again. :)

First Day - Frimley Hall Hotel

So we had a great flight - did not sleep to much but its abeautiful day. Sunny about 65 degrees and perfect way to start our trip to England scones and tea on the lawn at an old Victorian manor house. They tried to put Cheryl and I in the same bed together but we nixed that we are good friends but not that good. We are now in a room with twin beds but really tiny however we are only hear one night. Took a stroll down into Camberley High Street wandered around and then had fish and chips and a beer - ah lovely.
Cheryl is ready for her first class tomorrow and we are trying to stay awake until at list 8 England time otherwise we will be awake at about 3 in the morning. Not much fun. The dollar is not doing so well against the pound its 2 to 1 ratio so things rather expensive.

More tomorrow.

We are on Our Way

Just sitting at home nervous as all get out waiting for Cheryl and Nick to pick me up to take me to the airport. Going to have a wonderful time in the UK for 9 days. First staying at Frimley Hotel in Camberly and then on to Marriott at Heathrow. Cant wait. Will send pictures of trip on daily basis I hope, hope Cheryl can make out the directions for the camera so we can download stuff, I think its fairly easy but you know me and "stuff".

Talk at you later.

Memorial Weekend Trip

Sooo, I am off to the UK again for Memorial Weekend as my friend, Cheryl's personal tour guide. She is working over there fore two weeks with a 4 day break in the middle so I am going to keep her company and guide her around London for 4 days, how sweet is that. The trick is to try to see just enough to leave great memories and not do too much where it all becomes a complete blur. We both love gardens and beautiful flowers so will have to see is Kew Gardens are open and what is blooming right now. I am going to make her have the traditional English dinner, Indian food, but she was not too impressed with the rest of the stuff she had last time she was over there. Wonder if I can talk her in to cockles and winkles, wonder if I can talk myself into cockles and winkles.
The weather should be pretty good I am hoping and its going to be brilliant to actually stay in London as opposed to drive up from outside. We should be able to do the underground whereever we want to go.

Sick Day

Its 6:30 in the evening and I have just now managed to keep my eyes open for more than 15 minutes today. Been fighting a horrible cold, cough that has laid me low. Have to sleep sitting up or I start coughing again and it sucks.

Have been researching the National Association for Professional Organisers. Who would have thought it an organization for something that I have loved doing all these years. Okay thats enough for now, I am off to collapse again.

Eeek its Sunday March 18

Well its amazing to me that I have not updated my blog since Feb 25. Life going well, weather incredible in Colorado Springs although I dont do well with really warm weather "before its time" as it were. Temps been up in the 70s but no leaves on trees or flowers in the ground yet so it feels rather out of time. Its amazing to me that it been a month since my time with Fi in Portland, how time flies and how much I enjoyed myself there.

I am thinking of starting to look for a house to buy. I have stopped myself because I have a tendency to think things have to be done a certain way, but there are all sorts of creative, safe ways to buy a home and I am rather tired of renting after three years. So have been looking at a course I bought a couple of years ago, which of course I never opened, and started listening and reading today. How amazingly practical, not airy/fairy (out of my reach) so I am going to give some of the techniques I am learing a try over the next few weeks and look forward to purchasing a nice home to live it. Cant wait, I am also, much to my surprise enjoying the actual process of learning how to do this, first Sunday in a long time I have not been glued to the tv, good tv of course all the British stuff, especially the international History Channel but still time consuming and while I am doing that really not doing a lot to improve my lot in life, so here goes....

Sunday Morning

Just caught sight of myself in the mirror, scarey. Have been doing projects around the house this weekend and not taken the time to shower so Alex keeps circuling as to say what is that smell. I did a little painting and am now in the process of cleaning up my tiny bathroom. I painted the back of my open shelves a lovely golden yellow color to match some roses I have in the kitchen and then I displayed my little bits of china against this yellow and though I say so myself, I'm good. I took a photo and will try to download it but as I have just learned how to actually switch on the camera that mignt take a while...

I also dismantled an absolutely awful shower door thing that was attached to the bath, yuk. I hate things like that grime gets into the corners and I can never get it clean. The bathroom looks bigger already. I am going to do things in stages though as I overdid it Friday night and early Saturday morning because of course once I had done the painting then I had to wash everything I took out he cupboard then I thought I out to clean the living room then my bedroom could do with a rearrange did not get to bed until 3 then I could barely move on Saturday so decided "easy does it" for this project. Of course I went and bought the paint but forgot the gunky stuff to take off the sealer around the shower doors and the stuff to patch up the holes, sigh!!!! Its a hard life isnt it. LOL

Had a lovely chat with my sister on Friday (its was Saturday for her. I think one of the highlights of my year last year was spending a week with her - trying to cram 25 years into 7 days but we did it and even though the distances are huge I feel so much closer. God is good, my family is amazing - a little eccentric but so much fun.

Well, I can smell that funny smell now so think I will take a bath. No comments from the peanut gallery in North Baddesly, thank you. :)

Rainy Sunday and Monday

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Well its official my daughter tried to do me in. We had a lovely day or I should say the start on Sunday when we started out at the Japanese Gardens. So beautiful, tranquil and completely different from an English Garden. It was very green, sparse and tidy. The trees had been trained using bamboo sticks to help them grow a certain way. There was waterfalls, ponds and two lovely Zen gardens. We walked around for some time drinking in the atmosphere - got Em's gift and went on to the the next thing. Then we went to check out a futon store for Fi, looked very overpriced. Then we made the trek to Astoria, where Fi used to work. Well I thought we would be going in the daytime, but no by the time we set out it was dark and I am a bit funny this way but I hate travelling in the dark to somewhere I dont know and there are no street lights anywhere, it was pouring with rain and there was fog. Took us about 2 hours to get to there. I was getting more and more agitated and concerned that she was taking me into the back of beyond and I was right she was... Nancy, her exboss, built a house on a mountain with a half mile incredibly steep driveway so steep in fact we could not get the truck up. Now you have to remember it was pitch black, no stars even, and we had a dorky flashlight that barely worked. We left the truck at the bottom of the drive and started walking. It took at least 20 minutes to get to the top but felt like two hours. I had to keep stopping and of course was getting quite anxious, no drama there, and kept telling her we were going to die. Oh by the way the reason for the trip to the house was the magnificient view over the Columbia River. Anyhoo, we collapsed in the house when we got there had a cup of tea and went to bed. The house was magnificent built in the Frank Lloyd Wright style but so vast I had to yell at Fi from across the room. So silly we started to laugh. This morning I woke up in anticipation of a beautiful view and of course there was thick fog abounding and we could not see a thing. We decided that it would be good to head back to Astoria so off we went in the pouring rain.

Got to Astoria and had a look around the Maritime Museum which was fascinating told the history of the town including the canneries, coastguard. duck hunting even but all of it extremely interesting. Then we met Monica, another of Fiona's old employers and she took us out to lunch at a restored cannery restaurant - lovely had Clam Chowder home-made delicious. After visiting and laughing for about an hour we set off back to Vancouver, really wet, rainy and quite dangerous. Fi did great I of course hung on to the side of the car the whole way when I did not fall asleep. Took us 2 hours of driving in torrential rain to get back. Have no seen so much rain in years. Wow, its been a brilliant trip and I have enjoyed myself immensely. Too pooped to do anything tonight so staying in to watch tv and eat pizza.

Marvellous Saturday

Started out a little later than we anticipated but weather was wonderful, sun shining no rain. Anyhoo off we went to see the Chinese Gardens at the heart of Chinatown, unfortunately the Chinese New Year is today so as we headed to the Gardens the bridge was closed and all sorts of detours were in place but my daughter the intrepid explorer is also a great map reader, she does not get that from me, and after some back tracking we found this exquisite little gem. However, what we did not know was there was going to be an azaela sale so after we got our tickets we pushed out way past the azalea buyers and started to walk around the garden. Our enjoyment was a tad curtailed by the fact it was so crowded that it was hard to enjoy the ambience of the gardens - so I decided that when I come back again I will visit these gardens either first thing in the morning when it opens or about an hour before it closes. The Gardens are beautiful and even though not much was blooming the smells were wonderful, the waterfall and ponds delightful, definitely worth a visit every time I come here.

Took us a little while to get out of the center of downtown circled a couple of the same blocks a few times before a tourist guide set us right and we headed up to theArt Museum. Parked the car and set off to find somewhere to eat. Stopped in at Heathstone (?) Hotel had a delicious crab omlete, Fi had the best French toast and we were fortified for the Egypt tour.

I love Eqyptian history. When I was 16 I was lucky enough to go to Egypt with my school and my claim to fame is that I got to be one of the last people to go actually inside the
Great Pyramid at Cheops. Its a fascinating country and this tour only goes to certain cities in the USA and Portland is one of them. We got their a little early so we took a walk around the buddist exhibit - exquisite decorations and statutes. Anyhoo, off we went into the exhibit..lovely but tell me why parents bring children in strollers to something like this. Ridulous it was already crowded and these idiots used the strollers like weapons. Shesh, I must be getting old and crochety.....The tour was fabulous - took about an hour and half to walk around some of the most amazing statues. It is so amazing to me to see how artisans in the oldest times using only hammers and chisels made the most beautiful works of art. One beautiful piece was off a couple Thuya and Sula (I think those were the names) and the detail in the wigs alone was enough to fill me full of awe. Some of the coffins had the most amazing colors still left on them and a boat to take the pharoah into the afterlife looked like it could have been made yesterday. Great exhibit and what was even better because of my walking I was able to do all of this and not collapse in a heap until later on last night.

Drove out of Portland and came back to house for cup of tea and then we decided to take off to Red Lobster for supper. Delicious.

Came back to apartment set up the futon for me to lie down on, Fi lay down too, it was like the old days before Scot when we all ended up in my bed watching tv together, lovely memories. Of course, I fell asleep before the movie, Dune, ended but all in all a wonderful day.

Hello From Vancouver

Its my second morning and really enjoying myself so far. Arrived late on Thursday night did get to bad until 1 which is late for me woke up at 7 went back to sleepuntil 10. Fi had left hours before for work so i was on my own with a vaccum cleaner. Ah bliss... I dusted and vaccumed once I had fixed it - she had somehow managed to suck a pen into the vaccum which was blocking the hose and compelely stopped the suction whats sacrey is that she had vaccumed before I came and thought everything was working well. Oh, my.. Anyhoo, I cleaned, watched tv, had a lovely day then Fi got home around 4 ish. We had a cup of tea in the new teapot and cups I gave her and set off to find the Indian restaurant. Lovely both of us had not had Indian food in a long time. Decided to go to the movies and picked Pan's Labyrith. Fascinating in a dark sad disturbing sort of way. Could have heard a pin drop in the movie theatre when we left - thought I might have nightmares but know slept really well.

This morning sun is shining and we are off to see the Chinese Gardens and then the Eygyptian exhibit at Portland Museum so a full day ahead of us.

Oh nearly forgot Feng Shuied her little apartment or rather just tweak it. Both my children have their own inate sense of style and we just needed to streamline rather than completely redo.

More later...oh before I forget got my deposit check back from Holiday Village yesterday but they spelt my name wrong and addressed it to a completely different never heard of address, oh well not the sharptest tools in the shed...

Have a marvellous day everyone.

Remote Control

Yes, yours truly managed to program the remote control for the tv last night. I spent some time, had to put new batteries in and then read the directions which as made for martians I am afraid. However, I persevered and finally found the right code for my tv. You actually have to be ambidextrious to do this as you have to push a set button until a red light comes on while holding the book of instructions and to make matters worse I am left-handed and short-sighted so when the little red light thing clicked on I had to change hands to program the tv. Sigh.... and of course I could not program the DVD because I must have bought a brand that no-one has heard of. There were some instructions as to how I could "find the code" but, lets not go there! Anyway I was more than happy to sit on my couch flicking from channel to channel....

Monday Morning

Well I have new hair but its not quite what I thought. I thought we would be bleaching my hair white so that the regrowth would grow through, not quite... We did bleach my hair but that was solely to get the red out apparently the hardest color to reverse, then we colored my hair a soft brown and highlighted it so that when the regrowth comes through it will all blend but it will take some months of cutting to get the white look.
Had a very productive weekend for a change. Did my taxes - not bad owe about $276 which I can pay on a monthly basis, I think I am going to get Pat to check my withholdings to see if I should be taking more out. Hate owing the IRS money. Washed the car - had Alex with me when I washed it and he got terribly upset at the water, probably the sound but I never thought - he calmed down at the end of the wash and gave a couple of growls just to let the water know he was in charge.
Went down to Prospect Lake with Alex for a walk as it was such a lovely day - sidewalks still not cleared though and a couple of times nearly fell on the ice but lots of people out.
Watched Monk on tv last night, really enjoy that show - I watched it because my tv channel changer is broken and I did not want to keep hopping up and down to change the channel. I have bcome soooo American.... :)

Friday and really really cold

The end of the week, thank goodness. Been quite a roller coaster regarding housing etc. After my disappointment regarding the mobile home situation, talked with a lovely lady called Peggy who is a mortgage broker who looked at my credit - my life history before my eyes, not a pretty site, and actually its not bad considering everything that has gone on. I have a plan. Her thought was that for the next 4 months buy nothing unless essential, continue to pay down my credit card and on time, bring up the rating which will make me eligible for all sorts of stuff including low interest loans as I am a "first time" homeowner which means I have not owned a home in the last 3 years. Talk about lightening my heart - I am now in the tunnel, might not be able to see the light yet, but at least in the tunnel and not in the ditch which is where I thought I would end up living in a cardboard box.....
Took Alex out today to do his business and normally he plays around making sure that everyone in the neighborhood knows he is out and just warning them off - in case. Not today, peed and then ran immediately back in doors looking at me as if to say - what the heck. I walked out to the garage to turn on the car and my nose hairs froze.
Looking forward to tomorrow when I get my hair "reversed" for want of a better word. My hair is now growing in white so I have decided to let it grow in that way to see if it looks good which means I have to have the color taken out so that when my hair grows out I dont look like a badger with a white stripe down the center of my head with the rest of my red hair. Still could be different, sort of punk, or is it puke!!!

Disappointed

Well heard last night that I did not get approved for the loan for the little home so no moving for right now. I tried to hang on to the fact that as everyone says if it was meant to work out it would, however, in theory that sounds great, in practice it sucks. I did not realise how much I wanted to be out of the area I am in and into the new place. It also did not help that it seems I have to keep revisiting my financial "sins" over the last few years which seem to haunt me forever. Dont ever go bankrupt it does not pay - if you cant handle money then find someone to help you, I think its a bit too late for me. If I knew then what I know now.... Of course, my deposit will take at least a week to get back to me, more irritation but I think I am mostly deeply embarrassed about this situation. I am 55 years old, cant get a loan, am renting, no financial assets anywhere, do not go down this path. I think I actually dreamt about being old and living under a bridge last night.... with spiders no less, not sure what that came from.... other than that its been a wonderful day...

Wednesday

Watched an Agatha Christie movie last night, The Pale Horse, done in 1998, English actors, excellent stuff. They fell asleep on the couch, did not go near the computer - I think I am rather intimidated by it all and concerned there will be another problem. Depending on how I feel tonight I might have a go, although I get so pooped in the evening I tend to get home, have dinner, start to watch a movie and then fall asleep. Yes, I am really feeling my 55 years. Actually, I remember now I read my new Oprah magazine, love her, its packed full smart ideas, excellent motivation stuff. In fact, Cheryl and I and her sister Pam, watched Oprah with Bob Greene and his new eating plan last Sunday. Looks as if I could handle that. Prepare your body for 30 days, then adjust to do the weight loss and then maintenance. I am starting out to do this for 90 days. I have 3 meals, 2 snacks, nothing after 7:30 - that is tough but I am hanging in there. I have not been able to get out to walk because of the snow and lousy street cleaning in my area but I can come up with something in the house, I think.
Still no news on getting financing for they mobile home, trying not to be impatient. I know it will work out the ways its supposed to be.

Irritation Abounds

Still no computer. Had to get driver disc, whatever the heck that is, it arrived I have no clue so have to take at least one hour out of my evening tonight to talk with Dell and have them walk me through it.

Aaah - still no computer

You know I did not realise how much I used my computer until I couldnt and it sucks. But the Dell tech called and I should be able to get everything done on Thursday, schedule permitting.

Still freezing here, real Minnesota weather, glad I moved away. I am reluctant to take down my birthday stuff which is in my cubicle so I am not going to its going to stay another week. Lovely.

Alex got groomed today, bless his heart. Hope the weather gets a little warmer otherwise I might have to go the Meagan route and start putting him in little coats.....we have not been able to get out the last few days and he gets a little loopy.

I'm Back

Okay so I did not know how much I use my computer during the weekend until I could not use it because the hard drive took a nose dive. I rushed through my blog got it done and then the dreaded blue screen appeared and this time would not got away. Anyhoo, did not get out of my pjs until Sunday afternoon, even the dog was keeping downwind of me, but it was so cold did not want to go outside. Cheryl rescued me in the great red truck they have and off we went to Montagues. I made her take me by the park to see the home I am hoping to move into, I had seen so many of them the last week that they had all kind of melded into one. Looks lovely, so now just have to wait for paperwork to be accepted.
I did have one funny thing happen to me this weekend though. My cable has not been working well so when Em turned up on Friday to take me out to dinner for the big 55 he said it sounded like the signal was not getting through. Now I had loudly complained to the cable company (hard to believe I know) and had set up an early morning appointment for Saturday, 7:00 a.m. So after dinner and after Em had left after showing me how to do more cool things with my little iPod I suddenly thought, could I have done something - well, I could and I did. Some weeks ago my $25 DVD player died after 5 years, what is the world coming to, so I disconnected it and threw it away and I think at that time I must have "jiggled" the cable wire because on Friday night when I "jiggled" it again, guess what all the channels came through. How embarrasing! So when the cable guy called Saturday morning to say he was on his way I had to tell him I had fixed it. His pregnant pause said it all..... But the great part is I can watch PBS again, lovely.

Saturday Morning - Computer Woes

Up and moving at 4:00 a.m. - not sure why that should be the start of most of my days but up and at "em I was. Threw the dog out, not literally of course, for its morning constitutional in the subzero temps. Had absolutely no trouble getting him back in this morning....
Watched Alien vs. Predator, love that movie - how biazzare is that - I am how old.... Anyhoo, after that decided to get on computer. Well.... the dreaded blue screen came up again. On hour later after having talked with someone called Jason in Canada as opposed to a gentleman in India called H..... last night finally came up with a prognosis that my hard drive is dying..... so they are sending me a new one but apparently I should be saving all my stuff to CDs - not quite sure how to do that but I am sure one of my wonderful children can help me through that. Jason was very patient with all my questions, my greatest fear of course that I had done something to make the hard drive go bad, its all about me you know, but apparently that would be pretty difficult so after sighing with relief went on to order another hard drive, luckily it is covered by my warranty. Never thought those things actually worked. Quite funny really after it is all over, I made my bed, cleaned up the bathroom and washed the floor all while waiting for the technician to come on the line. He remote accessed the thing - now it does feel as aliens are taking over the world and while he could not fix it at least I know what is wrong. So will try to type really quickly before things stop again which apparently they can.
Well today is definitely a day to stay in one's pjs and read a good book so I think I will do that.

Partial Birthday Day

Well day started well with me being unable to sleep so up at 4:00 a.m. but got on the computer to discover my geeky son had hacked into my blog and put a lovely wallpaper on there with candles and everything - good job he did not put every single candle on cake as we could have all been blinded....
Got to work to find Carrie had decorated my cubicle with birthday stuff including some pictures she downloaded for me of Scot and my parent's wedding day in 1948. Then Tom and Lauren came in and Tom gave me a Happy Birthday banner and they sang me Happy Birthday - Carrie being the only one in tune but who is complaining. Got wonderful goofy cards from Fi and Em, Kevin, Laura and Carrie (we all have really strange senses of humor - I love Hoops and Yoyo - kind of like me after I have eaten the cake). During the middle of the morning the Fedex guy arrived with my present from Carrie and Kevin which is amazing. I have always admired Winston Churchill, always felt he was the man for the time during World War II and he was a marvellous, deeply moving speaker. Well, they got me a CD of him delivering the Finest Hour speech from June 18 1940 along with a book which included a copy of the first and final drafts of the speech with all his notations. Made me go goose pimply... I will listen to it tonight and read the book. Felt like I have my own piece of history.
Then it was time for lunch so Tom took us out to lunch at The Famous, great steak and fish restaurant. Came back and Lauren gave me a beautiful necklace and Tom and Pat gave me spa stuff so I am spoiled rotten and I love it.
Hard to work, cant you tell. :)

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

This is actually her son making this post. I hacked her account...lol. Just wanted to say I love you and Happy Birthday mom. : )

New Home

I love the little house I live in and if I could transport it to another place I would but I cant and I am not pretending anymore that the neighborhood I live in feels safe. It doesnt. I live in the Knob Hill area. It is good to be so close to downtown but something else has to be better. So... I am thinking of becoming a mobile home owner. There is a little well little 35 acre mobile home park on Sinton Road, well back from the highway, been around for about 35 years. It is only open to 55 and older. I have been there 3 times to check out some homes and its very well kept and run, really nice homes. You would have laughed at the second place I visited though. When I told Fi and Em that I was looking they were horrified - shades of My Life with Earl I think they thought. You know, the kind of thing, beat up pickup trucks in the yard, cars without wheels on bricks and the various shooting most evenings. Well the second place I went to see was a beautiful home or should have been but had not been looked after, the lady of the house arrived at the door coughing with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and vicious terrier barking his head off and a really messy house which she told us she had worked very hard to pick up. Did not stay long in that house - turns out the park has asked her to leave as they have had numerous complaints about her barking dog. The next place we went to was a total contast, just like a normal (?) home. Lovely deck well kept yard, well all the yards are really well kept even the dog lady's place but out of my price range $25,000. I would have to put down $2500 and then get the rest financed which I believe I could do but dont have enough for the downpayment and thats okay. The home that I am thinking of getting would be a perfect size for me. It has a circular kitchen which looks like something out of the Jetsons. I love it. I am already thinking of how to decorate using 60s stuff and lo and behold pickup up a magazine yesterday with just the kind of thing I needed to give me ideas and colors - so am really excited to start. Anyway, maybe its a sign of getting a little older but I am past neighborhoods with screaming kids, loud cars and messy neighbors, enough chaos. Boy, that does sound like I am getting old doesn't it.

My own prejudices were rather disconcerting to get over. At first I was quite reluctant to share with everyone that I was looking at a mobile home park - but the more I have seen of this particular park and the homes the more I can see myself there. One attraction is that I could walk the dog in my own neighborhood. I truly dont like doing that here. How sad is that.

More Musings on Thursday

I have been researching the modular home parks in my area now that I am hurtling towards 55 and have discovered quite by accident that I would not be at all bothered by living on this particluar one. It is for people 55 and older which means that at first couple of glances most of the homes very well kept, beautiful yards and Neighborhood Watch which is a real attraction to me. I think that I have played down my apprehension about living in the neighborhood I do because I was able to make the little house I live in very livable but given where I live the neighborhood is not condusive to walking around at night and now a sexual predator has moved in down the street, granted its (and I use that word deliberately) about 6 blocks away but it was broadcast on the news and in the paper which kind of creeped me out. Anyhoo, I need to explore all my options and given right now I do not have great credit and no savings its definitely an option to explore.

The eating plan is going well, using my common sense, how strange is that!

Thursday Morning

Well 3 days into the food plan and surprising benefits already. Learning to eat slowly and savor every bite has reduced the awful bloated feeling I would get after every meal. Also not eating after 7:30 pm has been the biggest surprise. I did not realise how much I would nibble on food from about an hour after dinner until I went to bed. Consequently had heartburn most nights. Not when I stop eating before 7:30... who would have thunk it.

Having to face some unpleasant issues as regards buying a little property. Looks as if my credit which was always shaky is still not good enough to get what I want and I am really tired of settling for second best. I have a plan in place for improving my credit but it is taking more time than I want it to, wah!!!! Anyhoo, if I cant get what I want at this moment I need to see its a case of "not know" not "not ever" - I have noticed that as I have gotten older that I am more pessimistic which is sad I used to be able to bounce back in no time.

Sammy the dog who was staying with us for a few days has returned to his owner. They were a strange combination to watch Sammy and Alex. Alex is the "Tigger" of dogs and literally bounces his way around while Sammy was much more reserved and kept looking at Alex in complete disdain until the night before he left when he suddenly started chasing around a bone, throwing it up in the air, running around in circles, very strange. Alex looked as if he could not believe his eyes. Very funny to watch.

Roads still irritatingly awful. It is going to take at least another week possibly more to get the snow to melt and at the moment there are deep ruts where snow melts during the day and freezes at night - hate it. Still dont have much to complain about when whole towns on the eastern plains of Colorado are in real trouble and they are having to airlift food to the cattle so that they can stay alive.

New Year's Morning

Fell asleep in the chair with the dogs, Alex and visiting friend, Sammy at about 9:30 p.m. so decided would go to bed. Well, of course, slept for my usual obligatory 4 hours and then woke up again. Now the dogs have taken to following me around so even though they could barely see out of their eyes they dragged themselves up with me to the computer room, settled down again and fell asleep at my feet. I then decided to research through Oprah.com her and Bob Greene's 12-week plan for getting some order into my life as for weight loss and exercise. You know, this woman has so much common sense. I love her. I was able, because now of course I am wide awake, able to review her and Bob's suggestions for a gentlely does it kind of life plan - 1200 calorie a day food plan and 30 minutes exercise a day for 6 days a week. I even signed a contact with myself and pinned it up on the kitchen door to remind myself. I am doing this partly because as I hurtle towards 55 (in 11 days time) I am feeling my most heavy and unfit in the longest time. I had thought I would throw myself into exercise after my reduction surgery, however, that has taken rather a back seat because of the plantar facia in my left foot, but really its because I had still not decided that I wanted to get healthly and fit and that entails losing weight. A lot of my physical ailments are directly related to how much excess weight I carry and thats it. It is what it is and if I want to have more energy there are things I need to do. I can do this for 12 weeks. After that I can look at my progress, then tweak it and set off again. At the present feeling quite calm about it - will update how I feel every evening for the 12 weeks.

Have a marvellous New Year everyone. God bless.