and also thinking that I really deserve it.

How come people get 6 wks of vacation in

Italy, and americans get scarcely 2 weeks?

Somehow it doesn’t seem fiar.

I am pondering participation in a paddling workshop

that will meander down the river in one of the most lovely

areas of the states.  Well, it may be lovely if there are

no mosquitos out… otherwise they may bite me and

I’ll die from West Nile virus. LOL!

The opportunity to learn outdoor skills and to understanding

natural resources in recreation pursuits.

It’s supposed to be interactive and hands-on canoeing,

kayaking,  and fly fishing.

I’m interested in nature hikes, adventure courses and

such so I thought this might be fun, albeit a little

bit out of the bandwidth of my typical day.

When I have plenty of time, I look for opportunities to

spend time outdoors for adventures.  Of course, most

of the time, it’s TIME that is the elusive factor and I

end up not going anywhere.

Last year or so I was into history themes,  including a strong

American Indian influence such as Native American healing

techniques, and basket-making.   That was a fun phase, but now

I am feeling drawn again to the outdoors.

My aunt did a summer as a volunteer ‘park ranger’ up in

Alaska.  the pics she brought back were just stunning.

You are not really a ranger, just a volunteer helping

visitors with questions and getting settled in their camp,

but you get to spend the whole season there.  that would

be such a kick!!!

childhood and youth memories, but  I

do not recall this from the past.

Perhaps it is old age setting in.

I just do not remember people saying this in the past.

Not me.

I get so tired of don’t eat this, don’t do that.

But…. Our playgrounds have the worst slides and stuff

because a child might get hurt on the stuff we had so

much fun on.

We have so much antibacterial stuff out there how are

going to develop an immunity to the germs if we’re never

exposed to them?

Our sewer treatment plant let the smell get all over town.

It was rough, but two people are suing them. That’s the kind

of stuff that gripes me.

I bought pistachios at the store while I was there today –

this new brand of ‘nut’ with walnuts, and stuff.  And now

I hear there is a rish from the stuff I just bought? How

can that be?

Not sure I understand the warning that was on the radio.

Pistachio pudding?  Who, where?

All those people in pistachio eating countries are

going to die?  I doubt it.

It’s like I have the yawning contagion.

As soon as I think about NOT yawning,

I find myself yawning again.

Slept in a bit, which was nice.

Straightened up the kitchen, now I need to vacuum

upstairs and down.

I could still make McD for breakfast. Hmmmmm.

Watched a movie last night, with Patrick Dempsey.

He’s not a great actor, but he’s very charming and

likable.

If I have time and motivation I need to get more done.

So, cleaning, baking, preparing for tomorrow. That’s the

day’s plan. Tomorrow, back to work. Gonna be hectic.

Work has piled up since Tuesday.  I’m bracing myself for

a stressful, draining week.

Have only had a couple handfuls of chips. Need real food.

I keep thinking I’ll eat later or dash to McD - I don’t want to

cook or mess up.

Looks like Facebook is down, some groups anyway.

I don’t know where the nicer weather is.  The house is

chilly today.  I don’t have my little sweeater on while

I’m moving lots around the house.

I have other things to do today, but ugh, no jutspa.

Dining room, kitchen, basement could all use dusting.

comes from growing up in a rigid society, but

I can’t say for sure sice I did not have anything

to compare it to growing up.

However, when it comes to cooking I am a little

more creative.

Like a recipe that I’ve kind of made up one day– to me that is

and act of creativity.  Not massive creativity, but a little of

it nonetheless.

I’ve used all kinds of incredients when cooking also– everything

from cooked capon, chopped hotdogs, or leftover salsa.

Today I decided to make lasagna. I rarely buy canned sauce

because my sister makes it for me.   Delicious.

For me, making lasagna is a reflective time like washing

dishes in the sink.. you can’t rush it but you can enjoy

it for the quiet meditation that it is.

At any rate, this time around I threw in a whole chicken

cut up into the sauce simmering.  Turned out ok.

My tip for making a great dish? Grate some carrots onto

it at the end. Not too much.
A neighbor loves to make waffles. There’s nothing like

some waffles in trade for a little lasagna.  Works for me.

gasoline, so I have been planning my

trips out in advance inorder to hit as

many destinations in the shorterst

trajectory possible.

So first I went and paid for my Spring buffet  because the

cutoff date for reservations is next Tuesday.
Many of us are attending and looking forward to the catering

food, as they have a great reputation in our area, so I know

we won’t be disappointed in the buffet they is preparing.

The after buffet speaker is coming from some distance

away just to speak.

From there  driving time took me to the church where the

rummage sale was supposed to be. There was a sign in the

parking lot, but nobody was there. One car parked and one

leaving. Slowly. I circled the parking lot thinking maybe the

sale was on the other side or maybe it was a church across

the street and for some crazy reason they’d put the sign at

the entrance to this parking lot. I knew I had the time right.

As I was leaving a truck pulled in, slowly circled the lot and

left behind me. The sign? Says it’s next week. Arghhh!  I

was not happy.  That was the reason I went up there.

After that I was in no mood to hunt down regular yard sales,

and didn’t want to spend any more gas.

I went to a favorite fish and chips place to toss them a

little business.  But good news-  they were busy.  I really

like the owners, so I was glad for them.

Had my eye on some pie, but decided the poundage might

be too much for me.  So I decided to wait til next time I

eat there, and maybe I can save up some calories for their

pecan pie.

The best thing about today is that it was a gorgeous weather,

which I am ready for.

When I was out, I treated myself to my very favorite

chicken salad from the Safeway deli for dinner, with home

made (Safeway made) sweet grilled pickles (try it!). Can’t

wait til it’s time for supper!
In a couple days it’s the home show. Maybe this one will

be better than the last one.  Last time they were really

going for lower end customers.  Stuff like mops.  I couldn’t

figure out why they didn’t stick with the more upscale

home decor stuff like previously.  Anyway, we’ll see what

they come up with this year.  I’d love to shop for a hot

tub again… even though I never buy one.  Do you know

how much those hot tubs cost???

Gotta go a dress I found in the back of the closet a couple

of weeks ago.  And I need to get a few things packed and

ready to donate to the thrift store.

get out and go for a stroll.

This is a small thing, but if you attend to how

much of a blessing it is, it can be the peak

event of the day.

Today I decided to do a  tree walk, my own self-guided tour

of some of the more beautiful and noteworthy trees in the

neighborhood.
Sort of my own  arborial recognition  of the variety of

healthy, beautiful trees we have here.  I’ve always been

into trees.

If it were up to me the city council would pay some

kind of tribute to the variety of trees in the area.

Maybe something similar to the historic walk that

some towns like Boston have incorporated in their

areas and have delighted in taking city visitors on

the historic walk.

When the trees leafed out like now walking is shady

and enjoyable.  The library has some nice books on trees

which I have enjoyed  reading.  The abundance of beauty

of America’s diversity of trees is something we owe to

the many people who brought the various species from

foreign lands to American soil where they have –for

the most part– prospered.  (Dutch Elm being one

possible exception that didn’t fare well after being

plagued by disease… very sad.)

in the mood for it.

Anyone want to join me?

Also, I’m thinking of doing lawn and garden

things soon.

For instance, going to be updating the yard soon here, and

would love ideas that would help.  I wonder what the good

magazines are.

And I am not sure if I need more equipment, or if I can

find what I already have amidst the things out in the

garage.

My neighbor is into flowers.  She would like to put down

stepping stones, so I was thinking about doing a twin

porject at our place.

I’m not sure if any one store has what I am looking for.

Once I saw some stepping stones that had seashells in them,

and I thought they were really cute.

Lowe’s the standard ones I know, and Home Depot is also

probably a good place to buy them (also the standard

ones).

My car for the first time looks like it may be letting

moisture through the windshield, so I need to figure

out a way to fix that.  Could use any sort of good product

for that repair, but I don’t know what it is.

I have a king size comforter on the seats in the back seat.

That has kept them in good condition from my view.  A

super easy solution to dogs and kids and dirty boxes

that a person might be moving.  But now I’m pretty blue

that the window shield might be leaking, considering how

I have tried to take good care of the car.  I would like to

pick up the windshield stuff today when I am out.

I will be attending a costume party where we have to

dress up in characters.  My character is a diplomat.

Somewhere I have just the siut coat and spectacles for

this, and that is what started my cleaning/searching

in the first place.

we once took.

The tropics sound so romantic, but they don’t

tell you it’s 120 degrees with 100% humidity.

It’s like living in a rice steamer.

Nonetheless, there are those pleasant moments, and that’s

the corner of my mind I was in today.

Just images, sounds, and smells that seeing a piece of

bamboo or a certain color can trigger.  I remember the

clouds of iridescent butterflies hovering and shifting.

Smells are much more difficult to pass along, yet they can

trigger stronger, more intense, memories. Smells can make

you stop dead in your tracks, searching for the memory,

looking around for the sound and image.  The food was

so delicious there, tho I can’t tell you the name of a

single thing we ate.  You just have to trust that things

are edible, even if you don’t know what it is.

Sometimes I wake in a hard rainfall and all the humidity

and sweat comes back to my memory.    I can smell the

rain run off the leaves to the dark earth below.

It would be nice to take another vacation to the palm

tree zone again someday.  Nowadays it isn’t the adventure

travel it was for us years ago.  You can look up everything

online.

Need to take a vacation back to the nordic

land or something.

I’m bored or lacking imagination today.  Thinking

about what would be fun to do instead of the

drudge tasks I’m into at the moment.

I used to have one (imagination) a million years ago,

but I can’t find it.

What I really need is a new life.
Bubba got mad at me tonight because in spite of the fact that

I made a great dinner, my waitressing was bad — his words,

not mine. I didn’t come back and ask him if he wanted seconds.

Well I did twice actually, but then I got interested in something

on TV in the other room and forgot to come back a third time.

Apparently he’s 1) not able to holler that he wants more food

or 2) can’t take the lid off the food and serve himself some more.

I made three meals today, washed dishes three times — and he

wants me to ‘waitress’ better. I really need a new life.
Just only now heard that Ron Silver died. Wow, I really liked

him. Only 62 I think.
Weather has been nice the last couple of days.   70 today,

and by Tuesday it should be 85 and by the weekend it will

in the 90’s.

I know I’ve said this before, but we need more good weather

so the foggy overmist of life doesn’t weigh us down.  Sun

makes a big difference, I think.  Don’t you?

Got a fortunate fortune cookie the other day.  A little  humor

never hurts.  The food wasn’t that bad either.

Sorry for the mundane level of fortune cookies, but

that beats whining about stuff like mentioning parking

slots, laundry, walking the dog, yadda yadda yadda. Of

course there’s no saying that I won’t be talking about

all thqt tomorrow.  You never know. Seriously.

admiration for writers. 

In school I was not too bad a writer, and

used to keep journal after journal.  Still do.

 More and more people have been saying

that I should write a blog.  I didn’t even know

what that meant, but I learned thanks to some

helpful friends.

So here I am starting out and we will see what

comes up as being worth writing about on the

days I am not working in the business, or at

work if things are slow.