Ok, my LJ friends, I just wanted to let everyone know, I'm doing ok.  I haven't jumped from the face of the earth, although some people would consider New Mexico the end of the earth.  I'm chilling (baking actually) with my mom and trying to get some dust to settle.  I'm not sleeping well, but really the New Mexico sky at night is really beautiful.  I've launched head first into her garden and soon there will not be a weed to be found.  I even pick weeds at night.  My mom is being wonderfully silent on my nighttime escapades into the garden.  It's very theraputic.

i'm still working on projects that were in place up in Washington before I left and I'm tring to get some more studying in for a job. I've lost 10 pounds in the week I've been gone. But I think that's mostly sweat. 

Enough for now. 

Long as I remember, the rain . . . .  Who'll stop the rain.

Another rainy day in the Pacifice Northwest.  My garden loves it.  And they are predicting sunny skies for the next week or so.  I'm planning a hike with Ali on Thursday.  Hopefully the rain will have stopped and the sun will be shining brightly.

I helped Mike grout the shower yesterday after finishing up all the cut tiles we needed on Sunday.  It took much longer than I thought to cut and place the tiles, but I think we got all the trouble spots covered well and now just need to let it cure and then seal it a couple of times and wha la, let the water flow.  Sorry Niki, it took us until now to get it done.

Job hunting.  It's interesting thing to do.  Especially since I just putting out lots of feelers. I've not actually hunted for jobs in a very long time.  They've always seem to find me.  So it's kind of weird that I've actually put out my resume to several different places and I haven't got a "you're hired" response from anyone.  I guess I thought everyone would want to hire me and I would be able to pick and choose.  Reality check. I guess I needed a reality check.  Of course I am putting a pretty high salary requirement!  Yeah I know, sabatoging the whole situation.  I guess I feel like if I'm going to work for someone else they are going to have to really want me and pay me well.  The perfect job for me is a part time, on island, high paying, low stress.  Kind of hard to find. 

I think I'm going to add a new service to my many businesses.  I will do 'fill in' for people.  A lot of sole proprietors running their own businesses can't leave for dr.'s appointments, sick days, etc.  So I think I will offer my warm body to help them out.  Also, when small businesses just need vacation help or sick days help, I can step in.  That way, I'm still in charge of what days to work, etc.  Since I'm multi talented and really no job scares me, I think I can do pretty well.  I guess it at least gives me somewhere to put my energies.  Been waiting for Kim (hint) to get some stuff together for me so I can go out an sell for Boomerang.  It's looking like she is finding the time to work on it.

I think I toasted my first set of tomatoes in my garden.  Not enough water was getting thru the plastic hot houses.  Oh well, good thing I have another set in to take their place.  Another day will show me for sure if they will make it.  Otherwise, the garden is doing well.  A friend came by and left off some more starts for me.  Looks like a cucumber, a pepper, some oregano, and more lettuce.  Yippee!  I love getting veggies starts.  I love my garden (except the weeds) and I love flowers which I am putting in as I get them.  Sharing perrenials with me is a good idea :) cuz I need them.

Enough for now

Have a fun and warm and dry birthday today.  I was nice walking with you this morning!

Since my recovery (sounds ominus) I have been able to do things that I had not done for years.  Yardwork in any kind of quantity is one of them.  Even though I admit I do have allergies and they do bug me a bit (runny nose, stinging eyes), I am able to work hard and breathe hard and just keep on working until the job gets done.  But it never seems to get done, cuz the yard and the grass and the weeds keep growing.  But at least I can join the battle instead of sitting and watching it all grow around me.

I spent all my daylight hours on Sunday in the yard, mowing (walking behind) and weeding (hands and knees) and burning (blackberries that I cut down a few weeks ago.  Also I dug out tile and tools that we will retile the basement shower stall.  This time was added to Saturday doing the recycle run, weed eating, running errands, etc.  And now it's raining and giving all that greenery the water it needs to grow 6 inches by next weekend when we will do it all again.

But at least I can do it again.  My life is so much better since I can breathe without fear of coughing spasm and passing out.  ahhhh, (heavy contented sigh).

Happy Birthday Nikki

Yesterday morning, my kitty announced that she was to be let outside with no uncertain terms.  I sleepily complied, stumbling to the door half asleep and returned to my bed and was again dead asleep within seconds.  Then the sun starts peeping in and my husband is downstairs crunching away on his cereal and suddenly the chickens are screeching and hollaring and hitting the fence and the chicken house and making a huge racket.

I leap from my bed, run to the door open it and scream "Get out of her!, and then make all kinds of noises that wild life (and sleeping neighbors) don't like to hear.  I then run back to the bedside, grab my glasses, my housecoat, my slippers and run out the door, still yelling at the unseen bandit, all the while chickens are sounding like they are being murdered.

I'm up at the chicken coop in a few seconds, (yes I ran) and they are squawking and cackling and acting very put out, but no longer trying to defy physics by throwing themselves againest the wooden structure, but they were all facing the same direction looking into the woods.  So I counted ten little heads and cooed and spoke softly trying to get them to calm down and then I fed them, all the while talking softly.  All but two chickens calmed down and started eating, but two of them continued to screech and yell.  After counting heads again and looking in the same direction I headed back down to my house. I cursed the coyote or racoon or whatever critter was trying to eat my chickens knowing in the back of my head that they would be back and I was going to start losing my chickens, slowly picked off one by one.

I spent the day at home, gardening and cooking and sewing and playing outside with my grandsons.  I called for my kitty several times, but she didn't show up.  I didn't really think about this much until last night when I realized the cat still had not come home.  It was then that a dreadful feeling came over me and I thought back to the morning ruckus and her non appearence all day, when she is always around when you're outside wanting to play with you. I sent my husband up to the big house to make sure she wasn't sleeping up there and he checked the store room to make sure she wasn't stuck in there.  She was nowhere to be found.  I got up a couple of times throughout the night and called for her, all the time with a knot in my stomach.  She has not yet returned.

I'm holding good thoughts, but I know the coyotes around here.  I've lost more than one pet to them.  It all makes sense with the way the chickens were so freaked out.  The cat would hang out around the pen, stalking them and rushing the fence, but they had gotten used to her and didn't even squawk anymore when she was around. 

So here I sit wondering, but knowing, but hoping I'm wrong.

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

So, we are back from our cruise. And my skin is sloughing off like an old lizard.  So I guess that means I got sun.

Overall, we had fun.  The cruise ship had the air conditioning on 24/7 and was just a bit cool for me.  Fortunately we could control the air in our room so we always had a warm place to go.  As first time cruiser's we didn't really know what to expect.  Some surprises included having to pay a service charge to eat at some of the onboard restaurants.  Since Dan and I usually share a meal anyway, it wasn't worth paying for me, but they wouldn't make an exception. We did eat at the Japenese/Sushi place once, other than that we ate at the "free" restaurants.  The food was good where ever we ate.  People had to pay $2 for soda pop and of course all alcohol had to be paid.  The drinks were kicking strong and it only took two to put me out like a light one night.  We also had to pay a service charge everyday for each of us.  Just for being alive I guess.  The shows were ok, mid level for most.

The most disappointing part on the boat was all the drunk college students. We never even got close to swimming or hot tubbing.  And it was fairly disgusting to see them stumbling about yelling and raising a ruckus.  And after the first day @ sea, seeing most of them burnt and blistered from too much sun. But I guess enough alcohol will cover all the pain. I must admit I did get my forehead and nose a bit crispy, but it wasn't painful and now I'm just kind of peeling all over my body, but I look at it as getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. I guess I didn't use enough lotion.

The ports of call were great.  Well, a couple of them were.  Costa Maya was great.  We went to Mayan ruins and then into the village and had lunch with the locals that cooked for us.  Then back to the boat for an overnight to Guatemala.  I loved Guatemala and I'm kicking myself for not buying a bunch of stuff there. I guess I'll have to go back.  The children there are so beautiful.

Belize was a bit of a disappointment.  Considering it is supposed to be a progressive and up and coming place to live, all I saw were bars on windows and tall fences and gates.  The port was so touristy, with overpriced items and aggressive sales people.  Very unlike the other places we had been.

Cozumel was also very touristy.  We did snorkeling there, it was overcast and could have been 10 degrees warmer for me.  I had to get out a bit early cuz the tiny jellyfish liked me a lot and I got cold.  A new sensation for me.  I guess loss of insulating fat is the reason for that. But the shot of tequila helped both problems and we ate some yummy food and made it back onto the boat just in time.

The day at sea home was similar to the first one.  It was warmer and less windy and most everyone had the first protected burn turned to a tan, but lots of peeling skin was exposed that day.  Dan and I sat and warmed our bodies most all the day, Dan enjoying all the hard bodies prancing around and me enjoying the sun and a book. 

We met some nice people and took some pictures that I hope to get posted somewhere soon.  Now it's back to the grind, but with spring just around the corner and hopefully warmer weather along with that my skin will get another dose of sun before too long.

But as I'm typing this, my hands are freezing and my brain is yearning for 80 degree weather.

IT's cold and snowing again and I've had it.  IF I wanted this much snow, I would have stayed in Colorado!  I guess our little trip to Mexico/Guatemala/Belize/Mexico is coming at the right time.  I wish I was on my way right now!  I'm so dang cold right now I could just spit, but it might freeze up on my lip.

We have planned excursions (and paid for them).  We will see the ruins in Costa Maya, go thru the cave on innertubes in Belize, do a riverboat and little town excursion in Guatemala, and snorkling in Cozumel.  Plus all the other stuff and the cruise ship stuff. Oh the hot, hot hot sun.

Sorry, I'm not trying to rub anything in, just can't wait to feel warm again.
B

On Friday, I went and saw my excellent eye doc and she confirmed that I should be frustrated with my eyeballs and my glasses and the fact I can't see with or without my specs!  Reminder, I had lasik eye surgery, um 5 or so years ago.  My eyes then immediately started getting nearsided again.  My brain just wanted it that way.  But that is just the way it was.  As time went by my eyes began the aging process and I got more farsided, so what does that mean?  A little bit nearsided, a little bit farsided and waa laa, my eyes are beginning to level out at almost normal!  So I got new prescriptions for computer glasses with a bifocal to see the data I enter and distance glasses with a bifocal to read and a pair of nice sunglasses.  All for $460.00 at Costco.  Our insurance will reimburse us $300 of that and I will be able to see again. Ah, my brain will be able to relax and I got some stylin specs.

We get into New Orleans on Saturday @ 5:00 pm and get a hotel.  (We are currently working on that).  Then we get on the cruise ship @ 8:00 am and head out to sea.  First stop is Costa Maya, Mexico (http://www.puertocostamaya.com/index.html) to see some ruins.  Next stop is Santo Thomas de Castilla, Guatemala (http://www.destination360.com/central-america/guatemala/santo-tomas-de-castilla.php), then head back North to Belize City in Belize(http://www.travelbelize.org/).  Board back up and then up to Cozumel for a day and float back to New Orleans, where we will have a full day and a half to explore there and home on Sunday night. Oooh, the hot sun baking off the Pacific Northwest Algae is calling.

UH DUH!  After waiting for another half hour, I went directly to the cruise line and booked the cruise.  Silly me.  Now I have to deal with the heartburn that I gave myself stewing and waiting. 

So it's booked and we're going to go!  Yippee.  Yeah I think I'll enjoy it.

So, Dan and I made the decision, after lots of internet cruising ( that's a funny pun) to go on a cruise and to do it sooner than later.  If we wait much longer, we would have just not gone, having forgotten that we PROMISED ourselves that we would go 'away' for our 25th anniversary.  Since that came and went several months ago and I just got my passport applied for with a rush order on it, we just made the decision to do it and we did, well, almost.

Do I buy the airlines tickets first or book the cruise first????  Oh dear,  ok, just book it.  Oh I know, call Orbitz and have them do it all at once.  Yeah, good idea, well, almost.  I called and was on hold forever and just decided to start entering the credit card while I waited.  The price for the airline tickets was sure to disappear any second, I mean really $382 for two of us to fly to New Orleans in two weeks.  It wasn't going to last, so I got all the way to pressing the purchase button and the number was wrong so I had to re enter it and then the Vcode was wrong and then after correcting that it wouldn't let me purchase with that credit card and then finally someone came on the line,  and told me that they were the wrong department and that they would transfer me and was put on hold, then alas I heard someone speaking an almost english sounding gibberish with a really bad (international) connection.    After he told me he could book the airlines but not the cruise, and would charge me $25 more to do what I had already done, oh yeah, after I had to answer all the questions of security that I was using my account, blah, blah, blah.  I was getting annoyed at this point.  I told him I would just put in another card and do it myself and to transfer me to the cruise people.  So after much clicking, squeaking and noise I was put on hold again.  So I hear a tiney, tinney, toney voice saying if I don't respond that our call will be disconnected. So I spoke up and said "HeLLLLLOOOOOO" is someone there"?  Sure enough the tiney, tinney, toney voice asked how she could help me and she said she was the wrong department and would transfer me. Oh god, it really started out as a good idea. . .   I sat on hold deciding to try and book the cruise myself and couldn't get past the page where I was to pick the stateroom, because there wasn't anything to choose and finally I heard someone come on the the line.  Fortunately, speaking English and with a good connection and she asked me a million questions about who I was and had to make sure I knew who I was and then tried to book the cruise that I had already found, selected and was trying to pay for. . .  Oh, the cruise line is updating their site and we can't access it until 3:00am EST, which was in 15 minutes, so she told me to call back or try to continue doing it online.  Will the same price be available? What if it's sold out?  I've already bought my airline tickets after the big hassle.  Don't know, don't know, can't help you, so sorry mam, have a good night.

ARGHGHGHGHGH!!!!  I'm downright pissed now, not having a single solitary alcoholic drink tonight.  So now I've been waiting and waiting for the site to come up and nothing yet. Grrrrr.  So tomorrow morning may bring a really pissed off, tired, ready to kill someone, grandmother just trying to get away from it all for a few short days.  At this point I don't even know if I can enjoy the cruise, if I ever get it bought.  It's caused me so much grief. . .

So now, it's been over an hour since they were "supposed" to be back up and running and getting darn late for us pacific coast folks.  I suppose it isn't too late to start drinking . . .

I was a good idea, well almost.

And while i wait, I watch the superbowl pregame stuff on TV and surf the internet waiting for the email that will put me to work for a few hours that must be done today.  Well at least I thought it had to be done today.  Anyway, I wait and I wait.

My youngest daughter had accident number 4.  The third car totaled, but at least this one wasn't her fault.  She is sore and hurting and this one will probably take the longest to recover from.  She was rear ended at a complete stop by a big buick going 'too fast' (per police report)  The posted speed limit was 45 mph and no skid marks.  Her bumper is where her back seat used to be.  Pretty bad. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=580048054&ref=profile#/photo.php?pid=2039787&id=580048054&ref=mf

So I've spent hours and days getting her medical care, legal care and car rental, dealing with insurance companies and finding another car. I've used up my 'travel' money and now must wait for some sort of settlement.  She is buying her sister's Toyota and Ali move up to a newer bigger car.  I feel good about the deal, cuz I know Ali's car is well taken care of and has lot's of miles to go.  And Ali is happy with her new Outback with more space for her dog.

More legal and medical stuff tomorrow, oh I wish I felt better (currently losing a battle with yet another cold/cough/ thing) with more energy.  I'll get through it.

I'm sick again.  Coughing and coughing.  Seems like I just get better from one virus and I'm hit with another.  I saw my wonderful PCP this week and she assured me I'm supposed to cough when I have a 'cold'.  It is a productive cough, unlike the old cough that just was dry, hard and consistent. Just proves my lungs are not healed and that it will still take awhile. I guess I can't expect that after 12 years of non stop hacking that it would be 'healed' overnight. I don't like feeling like a truck ran over me.

I'm not eating enough protein.  My tests came back low and my hair is falling out and my finger nails are crisp and flakey.  So I'm going to work on doing a better job of getting the right foods in me. My good friend and ex-boss, Dr. Bob W. suggested that I do NG feeds at night. Just get a kangaroo pump and feed my body while I sleep.  I suggested I should try getting up in the middle of the night and drinking a protein shake.  HE agreed that might be a good idea.  Silly man, always thinking like a doctor!  My body continues to deflate, although the weight loss has slowed down, I think it's figuring out the intake.  Just like they said it would.  I'm very soft and squishy.

It won't be easy, and if we could we should tighten down the hatches and dig deep and just get ourselves out of the mess. I would be totally ok with NONE of the pre election "promises" being acted upon so that we could just pull ourselves out of the huge hole we are in. I feel bad for our new prez. He doesn't have a path of roses set before him. I think his acceptance speech last night said it all. It's amazing where our country has come from in the last 100 years. Change has come to America. Yay!

Today I watched Lela and Drae.  Lela had a few moments of discomfort when her dad dropped her off, but was soon at home and playing happily with Drae and I in the play room.  She was a complete doll.  Drae was pretty good about sharing his toys. They helped as I washed, dried and folded several loads of clothes, vacumned, swept and mopped the floor, baked two pies, scrubbed iron stains off the porcelain throne, fixed lunch for the munchkins and dinner for the crew.  Watching two kidlets and keeping house, just like riding a bike. I'm trying to figure out how to break out my sewing machine to use, while they nap (different times) but hauling them up and down from my house to Kim's isn't really smart, since I just want to leave it out for awhile.  I have a bunch of things I want to do, but I guess I'll be doing them of different days. Now I'm sitting on my couch typing and catching up on emails and what not.

Ok, nuf said.

B

Another Monday has come and gone and I'm sitting here wondering again where does the time go.

I watched the little critter all day.  He was mellow and cooperative, very sweet and adorable.  He helped me strip some wallpaper off Kimi's kitchen wall, and then we went to the thrift store to look for a high chair for little Lela.  Who I will start watching on my Draeven days. He fell asleep on the ride home, but gladly went down to finish his nap in his bed  He slept a solid 2 hours, in which time I swept, mopped and washed several loads of clothes.

My bed has been glorious. And I don't want to wake up each morning.  My kitty actually is giving me lots of love, so maybe she did miss me. I believe I live in the most beautiful place.  I always feel that way whenever I leave the island for a prolonged amount of time.  It was great seeing Dan's siblings and being a guest in their homes. Not having to think about anything much more than what, when and with who we are going to eat with.  Dan gained 8 pounds. He isn't happy about that. He said he ate too much and didn't walk around much while he was working in SC. That will do it.

We took measurements of my everchanging body and I've lost, uh, a bunch of inches.  No wonder my clothes stopped fitting me. I hope my package arrives in one piece, all my gifts and some new clothes are in it.  The most exciting thing is the new Firefly Iced Tea Vodka. My family and friends will love it I'm sure.

So another Monday closing up over a cup of tea and jotting down a few words. 

B

We made it back home.  Once again in all our travels, as we head down Maxwelton Road I always get overwhelmed with how beautiful it is right here on Whidbey.  I feel like it's the most beautiful place I've been.  The fall colors are breathtaking, better than any I saw on our trip.  Or maybe it's just knowing that my house, my kitty, my bed is awaiting eagerly for me.

We had a really great time, with great family and in general beautiful and new scenary.  I really enjoyed being with Dan and not having to meet any schedules. I shipped home my few treasures and hopefully they will arrive unbroken.  We discovered and very tasty alcohol.  It is called Firefly Sweet Tea VODKA!  It's so yummy.  I can drink it straight, but it is wonderful in tea or lemonade. 

It was wonderful to see my little grandkids even if it was only 10 days.  Dan had been gone 5 weeks and Drae was so happy to see him.  Kim, Ali and Emi were happy to see him again too.  I've decided that if he travels again, he is required to take me too.

So, tomorrow I will watch Drae all day and do some cooking on Kim's new stove top.  Oh, I'm glad to be home.
B

Another Saturday night and I ain't . . .

In a few short days I will be reunited with my husband.  He's been gone since September 19th.  It'll be good when he gets back home.  I've kind of just sort of put my life on hold, no decisions, doing basically, nothing. Being in shell shock with the economic crapola and the frenzied last days of campaigning for our new Prez.  We are in such deep doo doo, the new prez will be doing everything he can just to keep his head above water. Treading in the poo of idiots.

So, will we make it to a tropical place for our anniversary?  Still to be determined.  I should just make some reservations and to hell with it all. Once the money is paid, it's too expensive to unspend it.

I'm buying half a cow. Guess I need to buy a freezer to put it in.  Organic, grass fed, LOCAL.  I should find someone to share it with.  Hmmm, maybe the Schlangettes.  It's cheap, about $4.00 pound.  With our chickens finally putting out, we have fresh organic eggs and soon fresh dead cow.  I've canned jam and applesauce until my eyes are crossed and still have more apples to do. I still have produce in the garden, like carrots and beets and my tomatoes, which I'm sure at this point the plants are dying, so I guess I'll look into what to do with green tomatoes. Then when Dan gets home, I'll have him till under the garden except the onions and garlic and strawberries.  Good food for good people.

My body, UGH, my butt still hurts and will for awhile longer.  Not looking forward to the long plane ride. Maybe I'll drug myself up real good and have some liquor and see if anyone notices when I stop breathing, but at least my butt won't hurt.  Well it probably will, but I won't care.  The skin is hanging, but I'm remaining optomistic about it shrinking.  Touching me feels really weird, kind of a squishy, rubbery gooey feeling.  I will hope for the best. I'm squeezing into a size 14 now. But I'm just not comfortable in form fitting clothes, so I continue to wear loose clothes, until I have 3 people tell me they are too big. I think it's time to let some more weight come off.  I've managed to 'plateau' for about 3 weeks by eating high calorie cream, butter and ice cream. Now it's time to let another 10 pounds drop off.  I will go away for a couple of weeks and come back a size smaller.  That means my loose clothes just won't fit at all when I get back. I'll have to find more.  What a waste.  Then I want to start working out, so I'll have to put more calories and protein in my diet.  I need to build some muscle back up.

I guess I have a fight ahead of me. The insurance company has declined to pay for my surgery, saying that it was an investigational procedure.  Well I guess they better get all their ducks in a row, so I can shoot them down.  If they don't pay, I'm on the hook, for a lot of money. Crapola.  I was told that we had authorization before we went ahead with the surgery, so it will really suck if that isn't the case.  I better go put my combat gear on.  Here I come Regence, GRRRRR.

What am I feeling?  Don't know, hmmm, don' t know and I don't know why. I need to feel excited about something.  WEll here's something, my cat isn't in the house and I have no idea where she is.  And it's fully dark now. Damn

B