M I A

Goodness, what a busy week! A weird one too. Nothing serious, just unexpected stuff. Randy's old computer was giving him fits and our service kept going in and out. I'd be in the middle of trying to post and it would go down... I'd lose everything and got so frustrated that I took some days off.

Then Randy got a new computer and I loaned him Hal's (my computer) monitor, mouse and key board so that he could transfer stuff from his old one to his new one. So Hal is currently down until that is completed. Meanwhile, Hal is off at the computer spa getting the works. :-)

Our service is still going in and out. They are coming to fix that and hook up more cable for us in our family room that we are trying to get moved into for winter. So I've no idea when things will be normal. I will continue to work on Randy's new one until Hal is re-set up inside the house. The time for patio computing is over for the year.

I had two interviews this week. One was yesterday and I think it went very well. Ironically, I didn't want the job that I thought I was applying for... only 10 hours a week, but the Emp. Div. says I have to apply. When I got there, very relaxed because I didn't care if I made a good impression or not, she told me that the short job was filled but would I consider more hours. Suddenly I was very interested in making a good impression. Ha. For once I think I did very well in the interview process. I'll keep you posted.

This weekend... off to T and K's for pulled pork BBQ and watching the Ducks Vs The Trojans at the Coliseum. There has been a lot of flack aimed at the Ducks from USC, but we retain the higher ground on mannors. The game should be a good one with high emotions adding fuel to the fire. The point has been made that since USC can't do a bowl game, this is their big fight for the year in the Pack 10.
Yikes! But I believe in my Ducks and hope for the best. Good luck to both teams.

Meanwhile, I'm keeping a close eye on BSU... scoping out a possible match if we go that far into nationals. All that blue turf! Ha... they call it "Smurf Turf". It seems to me it might give them an advantage, as it matches their uniforms and they sort of blend in... but I think that's an illusion because games are filmed from above and it's not 3-D. Anyway, they are looking good.

I hope you all have a great weekend. Sorry I've been off so much. No worries... its all great here. Big grins everyone!

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

This is an old fire grate that I planted.  Like my weeds?  I like to find unusual things to plant in.  This one will go in the front yard on a berm.

I began inventory today.  The library is supposed to be closed right now through the end of the year.  However, a sub, who did not know any better decided to bring in a class of 8th graders to work on the year book where there is more space.  I do have space and normally welcome my student visitors.  However, time and experience have taught me that Middle School students and inventory are a disaster.

  True to that bit of wisdom, it was just a matter of time before one of the students... who had been requested to stay out of the area that I was working in... tripped over my inventory computer's cord and wiped out all the inventory I had done for the day.

Lord, give me patience!

I know that accidents happen, but we are talking about the "Easy" section where the books are skinny and many.  I have over 13,000 books in my small library.  All need to be inventoried in the next 10 days if I am to leave as scheduled.  I am the sole scanner of books.  Yikes!

So I have asked the 5th grade teacher if she can loan me some students to scan.  Here is an irony... 5th grade students are far more responsible and reliable than Middle School students.  They love being given a task of great responsibility and are careful to do a good job.  Middle school students tend to think of chores like this as punishment that can be blown off in a number of ways.  

Give me a 5th grader any day!

But now I am home and very excited.  This time tomorrow I will be on the road home again.

Yay!  Yay!  Yay!

This weekend Randy and I will drive back on Sunday for my big things... my oak table that served as my shelter from thunder storms as a child and three iron beds.

All are antiques.  The full sized iron bed was something I found for $15 a bazillion years ago at a thrift shop... covered in rust and lovingly restored.  It will go in Randy's mom's room.  Yes, she has her own room in our house, though she has her own house.  They often need to come to town and do things.

The twin beds are very cool, with sunflowers on a vine in the ironwork.  Those I intend to refinish and sell.  Originally I got them for my grand daughter, but I'd be afraid that her mom would sell them now that she and Boo have split up.  So I may as well fix them up, sell them and be sure that the money goes into a college savings account for Sukey.  They are hers and any profit from selling them is hers as far as I am concerned.

I find myself in a strange place and mood today.  I walk through the box on rocks and see things that I still need to pack up and take.  Nothing of value to anyone but me.  Things my kids have made me over the years, an antique trunk filled with my Christmas stuff.  Not much really and it can all go inside the way back in the Aspire.

The next time I return here, I will be living out of WalMart eco-friendly bags.  I will have one four day week, a short weekend of two days at sanctuary with the man and then my final 5 days of work.  

That last week will be a killer.  It will be the first full week of work that I have had in awhile with no way of cutting it short.  Drat!

In the middle of the week, the students will have their last half day at school.  There will be an assembly for awards and such.  I suspect that one of the classes will do something as a good-bye to me.  Our graduating class will be given our traditional good-bye, which means the rest of us line the hall and clap as they board the bus.

Watching all of them all board the bus for the last time will be hard for me.  I have had their parents as my students.  Many of whom have spent nights in my home and have been close friends with my own children.  Most of my students I have known since they were still inside their mothers!

That same day is the end of the year pot-luck.  I tried to skip it.  Good-byes are not easy for me.

However, my boss has informed me that my presence is mandatory.  Crap!

On the bright side, we will have it off campus so I can at least temper my attitude with some ale.

There's always a silver lining if you look for it.

Big grin.

Okay.  Enough babble.  I wish all of you a happy and safe Memorial Day holiday spent with people you hold dear.  I may or may not post on Friday morning.  The man will be at work and I will be lazing about, enjoying what time I have there before the long haul begins.

One last thing... if you know a living vet, take the time to thank them.  If you have lost a vet... then know that I for one will honor them on their day.

I know I am not alone in this.

Ut-oh and angry Beaver! hee hee Go Ducks!




Home again. My trip to Duck land was outstanding. Had a wonderful time. All revved up for the Rose Bowl on New Years... hurry up and wait.


Nice day today too. School was great. Kids were extra funny. I think they are getting excited about the coming break. Me too.


Irony: My wedding anniversary is/was Dec.7th. (It is still Dec. 7th as I write.) So today when I get home and open my mail box... there is my official copy of my divorce ruling. Yay! But isn't that a hoot? It begins and ends on this day.


Frog pond is greatly reduced. Down to three. I think that's plenty.


On my personal battle front... four more pounds down. Big grins.


The next few posts will be like this one... short and sweet. We've got some computer issues at home that will take a couple of days. I'm doing this one from the Bear's house. Tomorrow's from my work computer after hours.


So there you have it. I hope you all have a lovely day and that your world looks as bright as mine. By the way... it's pretty much a done deal. I'll be moving to a real city in June. Woot!

Okay folks... taking a cue from laura b. I have decided to do a choose and defend post.

Oregon Ducks

In the world of football, you have to admit that there are some real giggles in poses.

Which of these two football photos is the most fierce?
Can you guess who I pick... or remember if you have been following? Hope I didn't stack the deck too much. (giggle)

Oregon's Beavers




Well it was a typical Tuesday for me. They are not my best or my worst days of the week. They are pretty mild really. No class to read stories to, which is my favorite part of my work week. But then I got to catalog over 150 books into my system and get them ready for my sub to barcode, etc.

Got home and my Internet was flat line... the wireless card was accidentally knocked off by Loren when he was re-hooking up his computer to the line. I do not live well without my connection to the world. But Squeaky came home from the Bear's and fixed it. Yay! Thank goodness for live-in computer geeks.


I am currently engaged in a kitchen war... cooking and baking. Turkey enchiladas, Spanish rice, macaroons, and chocolate haystacks.
Hey... when I get going, I go. One pan of enchiladas and the rice go to the Duck game day. So does the fresh salsa I'll make tomorrow. All that along with the macaroons and haystacks go to the civil war with me.


Tomorrow I also get my studs put on my hubs. The time has come. It is so cold out that it would snow if there was moisture. I expect to see it on the top of the gorge cliffs above me tomorrow morning.
It is always beautiful.
Perfect for the holiday season... but could also signal an
end to trips south. I am the world's biggest chicken on the road,
though I do not mind cruising around town when it's
3 feet deep. One of the few.


The pond is quiet. But its early yet.
I did get a nice text on my phone from Frog D that
I pulted. He would like to keep communicating and remain friends.
I am not so sure about that.
So I told him that I was overwhelmed at this point.
I felt a bit like a creep.
So it goes.



I intended to have the lights begun tonight, but
cleverly forgot to charge my battery. Tomorrow then.



I am excited about the coming game. I am not generally a football fanatic, but have been having a blast with this year's
teams. When I was growing up my brother played and
I never missed his games. Got to see him get seriously injured too and that took a great deal of fun out of it for me.
I think my entire family made it out on the field before the
coach got to him.
He recovered to be picked up on a college team on a scholarship.
But you could see that his heart for it had left.
The following year his scholarship changed to academic.
Not a bad thing. His education has served him very well.


I have to have my big toe nail removed. Dropped a can of soup on the poor thing and turned it an ugly black...
infection under it.
Being diabetic causes them stress over any infection.
It will be sore and gooey. Fun stuffs!
Fortunately I don't care much about pain. I have a nice high threshold to it and expect to be rosey in no time at all.
The lure of pain pills is like a shiny object. Ha!
Hey... I am what I am.
And a buzzzzzz is a buzzzzzzzzzz.
Legal is good but I have become a real lightweight over the passing years.
Down to being giggly and not much beyond.


Well Dexter is calling to me from the other room.
Deer hunter is online too.
The frogs have begun to croak.
This time tomorrow I will be pacing like a cougar in a small cage.
The following day I will be doing my toe thing and hitting the road.
Pain pills will have to wait until I land.
Hope I can drive okay.
Thank goodness for cruise control and boundless determination... and that high pain threshold.
There's always crying and driving.
Kind of good at that too.



When I am there this time I will post!
A first for me. I'll have the run of the house and a computer to use.
Chores too... toe willing.
Kindness must always be repaid... and a good house guest pitches in.
I am good at many things.
BIG GRINS!
ENJOY.