"eeekkkkkkkeeee!!"

 
 
"Ekkkeee.... drats! You found us, gamma."

"gamma.... you so silly !!"
 

We have Rain!

 
Some times a cloudy day DOES look good. And the freshness of the air after a rain smells wonderful.

Of course, all the freeways around here had backups this morning due to fender-benders.
 

Who gets the blame?

I must be in my ego because I just read a blog entry that has ticked me off. Just a little bit. Nothing serious, but lately I've been aware of how inconsiderate people are... and yes, I'm sure I fall into that category, too. I just can't remember right now.

Someone I read sporadically (when really bored) talked about going to a concert. It must have been in a theater of sorts (verses park or flat-ground area) because there were seats. To me 'seats' mean SIT DOWN. But this person talked about how she was standing and dancing around at the concert... and ignoring people behind her who asked several times if she would mind sitting down so they could see. In her viewpoint they should have stood up if they wanted to see. "Its a concert, after all." Please note... concert does not necessarily mean dance. I can see being up and dancing a bit on those songs that really rock your soul, but for the whole thing? And after you know you are keeping someone else from enjoying it? Well, how do you do, Queen of the Universe.

A previous blog entry has her blaming the mail carrier for not bring her the mailbox key that had been left in the lock for two days. Puleese... get real, princess. The castle is on ex-planet Pluto. Why don't you go over there to preem.

Saturday's visit

 
 
 
 
A friend invited me over for a visit yesterday. Its usually always very pleasant... quiet, just two people, and... she fixes dinner. Her original plan was to have a salmon dinner but it was too hot to have the stove on so she opted for turkey sandwiches with cold slaw. All very nice and its a chance to have someone else deal with dinner. All of which I appreciate very much.

My friend gets her salmon almost directly from the Columbia River. A fellow employee has access to the salmon caught by Native Americans. Almost as fresh as catching it yourself.

The photos were almost an after-thought. I put my camera in my purse and then forget about it. I got some shots of her porch flowers and one showing the upper apt. that is across the street. When the trees are in full bloom I imagine you could sit out there and visualize being in the woods... except for the car horns and exhaust fumes. And the one picture with a small spot of red in it... it was of a porch a couple of houses down that was covered in wisteria and had an infant seat hanging from the roof of the porch. It looked real kewl in person... something gets lost in the photo.

Its around 94 degrees right now, but the sun is pretty low in the sky so soon dusk will be here and things will cool down. Fortunately it has been cool at night so one has the chance to cool off the apartment.... if one is willing to have their windows open all night. My little place doesn't do too badly, as long as it can get cooled off once a day. It will be get cooler during the week and then heat back up this coming holiday weekend. That will be three weekends with excellent weather for those who like it hot. That doesn't happen very often around here.
 

Up for some excitement?

 
 
 
Cause I gotta tell ya... it jus dont get any more 'citing' than this!! Hang on!

Although I AM gave a great suggestion with regards to coffee makers I needed something NOW so I pulled myself together and went to the local Walgreens. Its pretty close. I picked up this Signature brand. I looked, but couldn't find a signature anywhere, but if I had designed it, I wouldn't want my name on it either. Not that its a horrible design like my walkman, but the opening for pouring in the water is on the smallish side and the lid gets in the way. I predict water on the counter is in my future. But I can deal.

Just so I would have a couple of other things to post about I also took a picture of my other purchases. Two rolls of paper towels for a buck and a coupon; sixteen AA batteries for under $8; and a package of crispy snap peas for a salad or two... if they last that long. They are kind of addicting... can't eat just one. Anyway, I can't.

Now... I haven't bowled you over have I? I hope not. I tried to play down the drama a bit so the excitement wouldn't be overwhelming. I trust I succeeded.
 

Mr Coffee

Mr Coffee indeed. Bah Humbug... and it ain't even Christmas.

When I moved into my current apartment it had been completely furnished by my son and his wife. I mean completely. There was food in the cupboards, in the freezer, and toilet paper on the roll. Broom, mop, vacuumn cleaner.... everything that a person would need, including vitimins. I even had a Mr Coffee coffee maker.

Granted, I'm sure it was a very inexpensive model. Just your basic heat and drip kind... but it has lasted only ten months. Thus the 'bah humbug'. I think they make the appliance so it will only last just so long. Lets look at the economics.

I think you can find coffee makers for under $10 when on sale or at Wal Mart but for ease I'm going to use $10 as the going price. $10 every 10 months.... in five years that would mean $60. hmmmm I wonder how much coffee maker I can get for that. And now days I wonder if a $60 coffee maker would last any longer than a $10 one.

Anyway, right now I'm heating water and pouring it into the coffee filter. I'll be checking things out next time I go to the store. I was thinking about going back to the ole percolator style, but I don't want to use the stove to do it.

Checking out some art

 
Nothing much is happening around here. I caught up on my sleep yesterday... so of course I was wide awake last night. My schedule is getting back asswards lately.

(technical note: looks like I can't copy/paste from Word when I'm using Picasa to do the blog update. I will post this little bit and then come back into my blog to edit and do the paste thing after the fact.)

Oh Deer! I started at Illustration Friday and link-jumped all over the place. Here are a few art blog-posts that have caught my eye. If you see one that interests you and you want to look at more of their blog, there should be a “home” link to click on… or get to their profiles and find their blog name and click on it. (blogger has it lower right side of profiles.) I don’t think you can get to individual blogs via IF but if you note the blog name and then go to Google’s Blog Search feature you should be able to track it down.

I love this character. Please note… she’s wearing purple and red.

I like the style of The Mighty Esther C, this is a link to her blog and you can check it out if you want to see more. I really like the expression captured of the singer… see post titled ‘Old drawing and Good News’ (or something similar).

Now how many times have you seen a character like this? How many times have you been a character like this? From HildaRose’s Sketchbook.

Well… this sharing of links didn’t last as long as I thought it would. I need to move on to other things, but if you think you might want to participate in Illustration Friday go here to see how its done. There seems to be about 400 to 500 entries per week.

 

Another Day

 
 
 
 
I was looking through the photos to see if I had anything new to put up. I noticed this series of pictures showing D. creating a tower. I'm not sure how old the photos are, but I would guess that its from last winter.

I just heard through the grapevine that my daughter-in-law is pregnant again. My son had mentioned that he wanted two more babies and he's a man who steps right up and gets 'er done. The most recent baby is only about 7 or 8 months old. He's going to have enough kids to form his own basketball team.

It felt like autumn today. Thin high clouds for most of the day then pleasant sunshine. Just the weather to turn the color of the leaves, etc.
 

Running around

 
 
 
 
I did some errands a couple of days ago. Whoa... the excitement of it all!!

I forgot to take pictures of the first two stops... Albertson's Grocery store where I obtained my Folger's Cafe Latte flavors (they are the cheapest...imagine that!!), then down the street to the bank to make a deposit. Yup... that's right. A deposit. Now that, my friends, rarely happens... but I luv it, jus luv it.

Then on to Michael's Arts and Crafts Store to get a canvas. My mind boggled as I glanced at all the art supplies. I thought I might pick up a couple more tubes of acrylics but since I didn't already have a color in mind, the selection was overwhelming. So many different brands, so many different colors. I decided against the purchase. I've been burned before when making rushed purchases. I'll need to make a list and then go again. (and for your viewing pleasure, I even took a picture of my car trunk with canvas and coffee flavoring resting. I know, I know... too much excitement is not good for you, but.... )

From there I went to Fred Meyers to pick up a couple more things (This is part of the Kroegers chain of stores now.) and I decided to splurge and buy lunch. It wasn't an easy decision. I usually think about what other item I could buy for the price of the lunch or dinner. The other items usually win out since lunch/dinner would not last over 30 minutes and then be gone. But today I splurged. Orange Chicken and fried rice from the Panda Express. $5.45. Be still my heart. Be still my debit card. (Its not use to this type of activity.)

Awwwww... a bit of normalacy. Can't beat it.

I was going to do some laundry this morning but the laundry room is still locked. Sunday morning... people get to sleep in so I decided against knocking on the manager's door and waking them up. I'll do it later.

Speaking of the manager. He's moving to a different place on the first of the month. They apparently need to do some "cleaning up" there too... and by that I mean get the drug users out. I don't want to see him go cause, you know, its easier to tell someone else about a problem than to take care of it yourself. (cheesy grin)
 

Thick as Thieves

I just saw a kid's bike get stolen. (snap)Just like that!

I noticed a young guy walking warily up into the yard next door. Suddenly he darts out of my view towards the apartments, even as I craned my neck trying to see what apartment he was going to... then in half a second I see him riding a bike across the yard next door and on down the street, glancing around to see if anyone was looking. He was gone before my mind could even process what it was I had just witnessed.

Big as Bull Balls he was....after all, nothing's going to happen to him even if he would get caught. People's windows in the apts were open... one even had their door open. It still didn't keep him from doing it.

Its a shame, too, because even though I watched him walk across the yard next door I still would not be able to identify him. He looked like twelve thousand other young men walking the streets around here. Cropped hair, oversized t-shirt, baggy jeans and a black backpack with a large splotch of red. Remove the backpack and I couldn't pick him out of a line up.

Eye witnesses are usually not reliable. This is where its good when people have tattoes... especially unusual ones. I don't care for them myself, but you know what? I say "go do it... go get something tattoed on your forehead, okay?"

I hope the thief doesn't get hit by a car and end up with a broken leg. He probably wouldn't connect it to karma.

Living in this neighborhood sure makes it hard to have any faith in humanity. I wonder if its like this everywhere.

Cool weather

 
We've been fortunate in having a couple of days of cool weather... temps reaching only around 70 degrees. Its been very nice, but now we are on an upward run for several days. By this weekend we'll be hugging the 90s closely.

I've made a list of things to do. Many people swear by them so I thought I'd give it a try.... again. I've made lists before but without impact. However, I'm always willing to try again. Up to a point. You've heard that saying... the one about people keep doing the same thing expecting a different outcome. Well, that would be me.

Geesh... I think I'm going to have to close the windows. Its getting too cold in here. BWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
 

"G'me outta here!!"

 
 
"Quick... I found a way out!!"

"Oh... Hi gamma. Me? Noooooo... it wasn't ME!"
 

Monday ... whatever the date

 
 
'Mom' and the boys came over for a few minutes two days in a row. What that shows is how bored 'mom' was.... yesterday her friends all had things to do and she didn't want to go home so she came over here for a little while.

As usual, D. headed straight for the water to play in it... the wee one was sleeping like, what else, a baby. Unfortunately he didn't sleep long.

Clever gramma sliced up some canalope to have ready for them... what a treat! Fresh fruit. D's response was to begin gagging as he tried to get it out of his mouth. I was able to keep him from putting the canalope back in the bowl. Perhaps it was the texture... who knows. I didn't even try it on the little one.

They both love noodles... Top Ramon kind. No food value, so they'll eat it seven days a week. And what is it with these noodles... is there some law that says there must be some on the couch and on the floor at all times? And don't try to pick them up off the floor... they don't like that and will run away.

Nothing else going on.....
 

Saturday .... again.

*I so seldom use my phone, other than answering telemarking calls, that I forget to put it on the charger. Then when I really do get a phone call, my phone goes dead. It can be frustrating. And dorky.

*Why would anyone think I have money to loan? I mean, really. STOP ASKING ME!!

*Just got a call from my daughter's friend (who was at my daughter's apt looking for her.)... apparently she and the boys are on the bus coming here. A domestic disagreement took place. She must be really angry to take the bus with the boys in tow. Sigh. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I had not had any offspring at all.

*Guess I'll get ready to drive my daughter back to her place in a little bit.

Holy Crap, Batman!!

*Bah Bah Bahbah Bah Bah Bah Bah BahBah Bah.
No, its not Goldie Hawn from Overboard. Its me after going shopping.

*A product I use each week has increased by fifty-cents. That's right... 0.50!! Not a nickel, not a dime.... but $0.50!! Bah Bah BahBah Bah.

*Anything that is top-heavy will eventually topple...be it a corporation or a financial system. I'm getting seasick from the swaying now.

*Will the United States become a third world country? We already have a higher mortality rate compared to some countries. (I'd name them, but I can't remember which ones because I'm still in shock from going to the store.) Somewhere around 40 million people are without health coverage.

*We have 2,000 FEMA trailers sitting empty.

*Quite often I find that the people who get a 'make-over' look better before the make-over. "We're going to style your hair this way because its the fad right now, even if it makes your nose look like Dumbo's."

*Saw a national weather map last night on the news. It looked like it was completely republican....everything was red, except for a thin strip of yellow on the west coast. Oh thankyou God...I be on the west coast. I'd wash my car if I thought it would actually bring on some rain.

*I went to see my youngest daughter today... she wanted me to see her new apartment. For the most part, if you've seen one apt. you've seen them all, but they've made a very nice and comfy home. The boys look happy and are learning how to clean up their toys without it being a drag. They've acquired more furniture. They even have two cats. How domestic.

*I dusted my car this morning before taking off. Last week it has sprinkle only enough to get my car dirty. I don't have a hose to wash it and I refuse to spend money to get it washed. The dirt was dry so I decided to simply dust it. It looks a lot better. Fortunately my car doesn't show up dirt very well, anyway. At least not if you are 100 yards away.

*I'm more likely to make a blog entry if I do it before I visit my 'regular sites'.

Its Sunday already!

 
Where does the time go? Hard to believe that its Sunday already.

Nothing much to talk about... each time I go to the store the cost of things have increased again. Future Shock, I guess.

The on-site managers found someone sleeping in the laundry room again when they went to open it up this morning. Left-overs from 'the neighbor'. I was considering doing laundry early today but I'm glad I didn't get around to it. The lock will be changed and the bolt will be made to go in deeper so the lock can't be popped so easily.

It must be really tough when the only place you have to lay your head down is a laundry room. I don't even want to think about where they are going to the bathroom.

As a people we are far from civilized. And as a nation we should be ashamed of ourselves. Human rights, indeed.
 

Another Day.....

 
... and deeper in debt. Do you remember Tennessee Ernie Ford? If you do, man, you are OLD!! And yes, I do remember him.

I'm having one of those mornings where I still feel sleepy but when I lay down to have a cat-nap, I can't sleep. Bummer. I know all that I need is a cat-nap. That's all it would take... but as it is, I don't feel like doing anything.

We had a small earthquake in our area.... perhaps 20 miles away. Just a guess. There must not be too much to report on the news because this is one of the headlines, as it were. It was only 3.8 and about 17 miles below the surface.

Its almost cold in my apartment. I have both windows open again and the breeze really gets pulled through the place. It will warm up later to around 80 degrees. I feel for the folks on the East coast and midwest. Lordy, lordy, lordy.