It's going to get hot. Again. WE still don't have AC at the cottage. Wah!

Melanie Sproul, Ben Rush Elementary, 4th and 5th grade teacher, 1970's

Got new glasses and I have this whole vertigo thing going on. Major stomach issues!

K, I booked a flight and hotel for Des and me to go to Disneyland on August 5th to the 8th. That was cheaper than I thought it would be (Expedia) but the tickets to the park itself are rediculous! She doesn't count as a child, so I have to pay for two adult tickets. Anyone have a clue on getting discount tickets??

I'm weighing in on the potential Brown execution tonight. He is going to be put to death by lethal injection. Many people feel that it is inhumane. What he did to that woman was inhumane. 48 hours of torture and rape, and then strangulation. He admitted his guilt. Now, people are worrying whether or not lethal injection will be "painful" for him. I believe that God will judge us all, but I also believe that we have a social structure that must be adhered to. Statistics say that corporal punishment does not affect the crime rate. I say it does for her family. As a grandparent and friend of many, I agree. As sad as it sounds, he must go.

I used to be an Eyor (sp?), but now I'm a Tigger!!! I'm very strippedy!

I put my notice in at Everything Party. I've had enough of the anal-retentive management style. I talked to D. at World Markets and casually said, if I had more hours here, I could quit the party store. He looked at me and said, no problem. He even thinks I can work there when I go back to the park. We'll see. When I called the manager at the party store to see if I needed to submit in writing, he pretty much said, "whatever". I wrote a short notice and asked to be considered for re-hire next Fall, when I leave the park again. I feel like a great weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.

We're headed up to Bellingham for New Years at the club. Hopefully, the snow has melted and our boat won't look like this. This picture was taken on my birthday last week. Happy New Year, all!

What a fantastic Christmas! Al and I were sitting around playing dominoes and watching the snow fall. We looked at each other and said, lets make casseroles and load up the car. We made it to tent city and delivered the food and bags of clothing. Everone was extremely friendly and grateful. Children are not allowed in tent city but they were allowed to visit for the dinner. They had a big table set up with hats, gloves, sundries etc. It was sad seeing children so excited to have a new hat or pair of gloves. Anyway, we were making our way home and went through Kirkland. We went by Marina Park and there was a lone sailboat tied to the docks. We got out and walked out to it and sure enough it was some friends from Bellingham. We had a nice visit with a glass of wine and roasted chestnuts. It was 4:00 by the time we left, so we decided to find a restaurant that was open. Our favorite chinese place was open so we treated ourselves before going home to play in the snow with the Finnster. As my dad used to say, I need to plan to be spontaneous (hehe). Doing things on the cuff always makes me uncomfortable, but yesterday was a really great exception!

Cecil!!! I saw him the weekend after Thanksgiving. He has a new buddy that he isn't too fond of, but he is getting so relaxed, he came downstairs for a visit. There were 9 adults and 5 kids all making noise. I was shocked to see him saunter down the stairs. Here he is with Trish, Al's ex-wife:

Hello, I'm calling from ADT about a past due payment

I have an invoice, but it's not due until October 29

Yes, and I'm calling because it's late

(much puzzlement on my part here) Today is the 23rd

Yes, and your payment is late

How can it be late if it's not due until the 29th?

(his voice getting nasty) Ma'am, perhaps you can get a credit card and rectify this situation before we send you to collection.

(me getting annoyed) You can't send me to collection on something that isn't late!

Ma'am, our records show that your account is past due

(me getting more annoyed) Do your records show the payment is due on the 29th?

Yes ma'am

Do you agree that today is the 23rd?

Ma'am, I don't appreciate you getting smart with me. This payment is your responsibility!

SIR,ARE YOU JUST FUCKING STUPID!!

(me, hanging up)

(me, realizing I'm going to be late for work. Me, running to the car only to step in dog shit with my brand new shoes on. Me, running back in the house to change shoes. Me, being greeted with a $280 vet bill upon arriving home after a long and tedious day dealing with cranky, demanding people)

Sheesh!!!

flu shot. yuk. closing tonight. yuk.

So...I was looking at my Safeway receipt today and noticed that they have a "back to school" fundraiser program going on until 10/6. The school of your choice gets 10% of what you spent. I think that's pretty cool, so I logged on and found that MEOW Cat Rescue is one of the participants. K, so it's not a school, but it's a worthy cause.
All you do is log onto: www.backtoschools.escrip.com. Pick your recipient and enter the code on your receipt. Simple and doesn't cost you a dime! You can also enter your Safeway Courtesy Card number.

And yup, that's Finnster in Al's lap!

A friend of mine called me and said she wants to "come out". Being the prude I am, it took me a minute to figure out what she was saying. She has been so conflicted for so many years, I'm afraid for her mental health. I told her that finding out who and what and where you are in life is a GOOD thing. I want to be supportive, but I am not sure how. I was raised in an "open" atmosphere as a child, but "Gay" meant "happy" in those days. I think she just needs someone to talk to about how she's feeling. I'm a good listener, so I can probably do that. Anyone have any other advice??

Here is Chris and the kids!

The picnic turned out to be fun. I met too many people to remember! I won a Starbucks gift pack as a door prize and a t-shirt. Got back to the office just in time for the computers to come back on line. There was a big crisis with a double booking, which someone else did for once! Princess Tim has to leave early today, and K. seems to think that I should work late to cover him. Oh contraire. We have friends from Idaho coming for dinner, and I need to skiddadle out of there right at 3:00. I seen to be a jack-of-all-trades in that office, and although that makes me more useful, it's something that can be taken advantage of too.

K. I just perused Craig's List and now I'm really depressed. I can't be a nanny 'cause I don't really like kids. I don't want to be a house cleaner. Or a security guard. Sheesh! I really hate uncertainty. I know that nothing is forever, but a secure future would sure be nice. I guess none of us really has that.

Al got tomorrow off so we are leaving at 6:00 a.m. to head to B'ham. We'll stop at Hunter Bay on Lopez Island and then off to Port Townsend on Friday.

I ended up going into work early today to get signs made before the attic got too hot (that's where the big laminator is). It looks like the weekend of the 22nd, I may be working a few hours. We just have so much going on at the park, and I need to see some of these events in action so I can get a better idea as to how things flow.

For those of you with nothing to do this weekend, The Art at Marymoor starts on Friday. 12-6 on Friday, 10-6 Saturday and Sunday. Parking is $6.00. It features local artists, and is quite a big shindig. I guess the food available is awesome too.

Friday night is Garrison Keeler (Prairie Home Companion) and Saturday is KMTT Mountain Music Festival. The only artist I recognized was Brandi Carlisle, but others tell me it's a good lineup.

So, have a great weekend everyone!