This month's calendar Archives
September 3, 2004
IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!
I am going have to start saying, "Friday, already, where did the week go?"
First of all I want to wish Auntie Babe (September 1st), Dave (September 3rd) and Uncle Dean (September 4th) a very happy birthday. I LOVE you all!
Last weekend, was another run in to Portland. I am beginning to dread these trips more every time. I just hate to leave this beautiful place! But we had more things to do. Dave and I drove separate cars this time as he had a couple of announcing jobs as well as some electrical work to do and I took my mom back to her place. I ended up having lunch with her and then stopping off to visit with my sister, Judy. She lives about 2 blocks away from mom and does most of the caring for mom. She takes her to the doctor and makes sure all her needs are met. I had noticed quite an increase in my mom's dementia this last visit and wanted to make sure Judy was aware of it. Mom had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and sure enough, the doctor agreed and felt that in about three months we should think about moving her into a place that offers more assisted living. So, about the first of the year, were going to have to look at that. I would like to have her move down to the coast to a facility close to me, as the weather down here seems to agree with her sinuses. That is something to think about.
Saturday, we went to my oldest granddaughter's birthday. Ashtin turned five. I can't believe that she is five years old already and will be starting kindergarten this week. The theme of her party was "Care Bears" and Ashtin felt so special when everyone sang "Happy Birthday". All her cousins and friends were there and everyone had a great time, including her sister Paige, who always enjoys a good party! Cousin Jadyn had a "swinging" good time as well!
Sunday, Lara and Greg were packing to go to their cabin in Canada for a week, so I got a little "bonding" time with Jadyn while they were busy. They are on a remote lake a couple of hours out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They had to hike in and carry a weeks worth of stuff with them...oh yeah...and Jadyn too. This is their first trip in to Willowgrouse since Jadyn was born, and of course they have twice as much stuff to carry for the toddler. They'll be home Sunday. It's going to be interesting to hear how they did.
I had planned to come back on Sunday but we had to go to the Wall Bed store to place our order and they weren't open on Sunday. Our couch table and lamp tables were ready for delivery so Sunday we drove over to pick them up. That was a catastrophe! After driving all the way over to the store (about a half hour one way) the furniture wouldn't fit in the Jeep, so we had to drive all the way back and unload the Suburban (which was crammed full of stuff) and make a second trip. Needless to say, Dave wasn't very happy because it was my suggestion to use the Jeep in the first place and he was sorry he had listened to me.
When we got back to Wheeler with the furniture, the couch table looked great, but the end tables were too tall. Now we have to take them back and hope that we can find "cocktail" tables off the floor so we won't be charged the 20% "return" fee if we can't find anything. Hey, who knew that end tables are too tall to go on the end of anything and that you need a cocktail table if you want to put it at the end of a chair or couch? We didn't! Sounds like an "end" table to me! Especially since I don't plan to put any cocktails on it! Oh yeah, then the couch table had a blemish on the top so they gave us the floor model (also blemished) until they can replace it with a good one. Grrrr. I just hate it when things go don't go smoothly!! Still, I got a couple of cute lamps and put them on the couch table. It all looks real nice. Oh, and by the way, remember last week when I ranted about the way things come packaged? Look how the couch table arrived!
Monday, we got the wallbed ordered and headed for home at last. The weather cooperated more this week so I managed to get some more yard work done. I had a guy who works on a nearby dairy farm come by and pull weeds for me in the front. He likes to do this kind of stuff on his day off. Now, I just have a little bit more on the side to do and I think I will be done for the summer. Then I will probably have to start all over again come next spring.
Dave got a new...well...used riding lawn mower. I had seen the thing for sale along the road up on Highway 53, and thought to myself, "I wonder how long it will be until Dave mentions it?" Sure enough, a few days later, he comes to me and says he has a way for us to save money on lawn care. We're paying someone to mow now, and he figures we can pay for the mower in three months by canceling the lawn care service. Did I figure him out or what? Men are so predictable!! Now he just has to follow through on his promise to mow the lawn regularly!! It is really cute and has a little utility trailer that came with it. I have already made good use of that by having Dave haul some dirt around. I decided I don't want to "learn" how to drive it, as that will be my excuse for not mowing the lawn!
The office project is on hold. Dave got all the wiring done on the existing walls, but the carpenter was injured on another job a week ago and isn't able to work. So we're hoping maybe Tuesday after Labor Day he can get started.
Just a note. Did you know that Starbucks gives away their old coffee grounds and they are great for the garden soil? I brought back about 8 bags for my little plot that I want to use for my garden next year. I was kept awake for my long drive home because the car smelled like coffee.
Our congratulations go out to our son-in-law Jason, who made sergeant with the Woodburn Police Department! Leslie got to pin on his stripes at the ceremony. A lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice went in to that promotion. We're very proud of him!
GIVE ME A BREAK!!
Road Rage!! I know I have ranted about drivers before but I just had to mention that it happened again. I am driving back to the coast on Monday afternoon, it's a beautiful day and I am cruising along at about 65 mph (although the speed limit is 55 mph but I take my chances, okay?). Anyway, as I come to this junction some blankety-blank driver pulls out in front of me, and then cranks it way up to about 45 mph. He eventually gets up to 55 mph (we don't want to break the law do we?) and stays there. Never mind that there are 6 cars behind him that he has slowed down. Anyway, he is braking for anything that moves in front of him. I have been riding his bumper for about 5 miles and am praying all the time, PLEASE, PLEASE turn off soon. No such luck. We finally come to a passing lane and then he can't make up his mind which lane he wants to be in and stays in the middle! It is drivers like this that frustrate me and cause road rage!! Not that I did anything like that, but I sure felt like it!
And then there's the rain. Now, this is the Oregon coast, and I know it rains a lot, BUT NOT THIS TIME OF YEAR! Here's a picture of the rain drops bouncing off the puddle on my patio table yesterday. WHY is there a PUDDLE on my patio table on Labor Day Weekend?
~~ sigh ~~
