A lot has happened since I blogged! Went to Seattle on Fathers Day, just me and D. Of course we get a flat in the middle of nowhere, but I'm proud to report that I was able to change it myself (with 4 calls to Jim's Tech Support). A kind man tightened the lug nuts as I was practically done when he stopped, but I felt safer knowing a man tightened them. Got to my folks that night, and my flight to Wyoming was the next day. My poor mom still had 2 days of school (and then endless packing as she retired), so dad took me and D to the airport. They hung around until I cleared security, and then I think they went to get new tires for my car! Yay. Something we'd been meaning to do...
FAB time in WY, C is the best hostess ever. We kayaked twice, on Jackson lake and Jenny lake. I have some pics I may share if I get around to it. We cooked (very loose use of the word "we") every night, pasta is much better with homemade stuff instead of Prego. I think we had Pasta Carbanara one night and something else I can't remember the name of. I remind her to send recipes (this is it, please send recipes).
Returned to Seattle Friday to find an insane pickup of my nephew occurring. My poor parents are the dumping ground for their grandchildren, it appears - but hopefully they don't find it too horrible. Anyway, we hung out for about 4 hours, partly with my other brother and his family waiting. It was fun to see them as I hadn't expected a visit would work out. The next day we drove back to Spokane, no excitement beyond a heart attack at the gas pump (which happens all the time).
Then the big rehearsal (see other blog if you care) and today, I started VBS!! That's vacation bible school. I was coerced. D protested mightily, but once he was there he had a great time. I also got my wires crossed with the neighbor and left her 15 year old son at our house waiting for me to pick him up! So I went home to get him, neatly missing the boring staff meeting. Yay. Actually worked out better than I had expected, not as scary this year since I've done it before.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
gardening
Today there is no snow so I am planting! I decided I would rather kill them outside than in, so no more waiting. It actually is supposed to warm up later this week, and they may die of heat - J will have to be persuaded to water (since the fabulous drip system isn't QUITE in working order yet) I love drip systems, but what a huge pain they are to set up. And apparently we have to redo it every year due to dogs, mice, dirt and other stuff eating or clogging the pipes.
Another good thing; our neighbors have their annual garden party this Sat, and I can get rid of any extra plants there! I hate having guilt for not planting everything. But I must be strong and not bring home a bunch of plants from the party, thus defeating my purpose.
Another good thing; our neighbors have their annual garden party this Sat, and I can get rid of any extra plants there! I hate having guilt for not planting everything. But I must be strong and not bring home a bunch of plants from the party, thus defeating my purpose.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
snow???!
Ok, so we are sitting here watching the snow pouring down...yes snow. And it was even in the paper so you know I wasn't hallucinating alone. But big white flakes are really putting a cramp in my gardening style - all my little starts I have WAITING here for the soil to get to 70 (HAHAHAHA). So now I'm just going to wait until the downpour lets up (hopefully before I leave on Sunday).
J has been out in the nasty unloading our ill-fated truck which is still full of wood. Once it is empty we can get new tires, then perhaps he can hook it to the newly finished boat trailer so we can put the boat (sans motor, at least *working* motor) on said trailer, and begin working on THAT. *sigh* It's not that he doesn't keep busy, but there are so many things he doesn't get to. Oh well, I'm glad he is handy. And handsome (thanks RedGreen).
J has been out in the nasty unloading our ill-fated truck which is still full of wood. Once it is empty we can get new tires, then perhaps he can hook it to the newly finished boat trailer so we can put the boat (sans motor, at least *working* motor) on said trailer, and begin working on THAT. *sigh* It's not that he doesn't keep busy, but there are so many things he doesn't get to. Oh well, I'm glad he is handy. And handsome (thanks RedGreen).
Monday, June 2, 2008
Moms Retirement!
Yay, crazy but fun weekend is over and I'm actually posting stuff (frantically) before the next big thing. Mom is here getting "leid" - and random other pics from the day...I of course am taking photos so none of me! Our friends Ann and Randy helping set up; Aunt Mary and Uncle David with brother Jeff; various staff from YHS, and several lovely grandchildren (it was loud)....
Sunday, May 25, 2008
school
I have signed up for an online beginning grant-writing class. Mostly for my own interest, I keep being in these groups that need grants and I want to understand them better. And who knows, maybe I could bring in some big money to the symphony or the library, or some other worthy cause...
So our assignment this week is to do all the paperwork one would do on background of a prospective funder. THere is a lot. And it's a holiday weekend so I feel entitled! But I'm really trying to stay "up" on the assignments even though we have a 2 week period to turn them in. It is kind of fun to be studying again.
We had a BBQ yesterday with the mica peakers (neighbors) TOO much food, but very fun. Today another BBQ with other friends and Monday another...we are party animals. Oh well. Then Friday is the big surprise party, I STILL don't know if I'm driving solo or if Jim is coming, w or w/o D, he would have to miss school, but that's not that big of a deal. Then that Sunday they are having the music picnic, I feel like I should try to go to that for political reasons - and Jim's dress rehearsal Sunday night I need to go to as I have a rehearsal during his concert on Monday! Argh. And Wed we go to the Botany lab for a field trip. Fun.
So our assignment this week is to do all the paperwork one would do on background of a prospective funder. THere is a lot. And it's a holiday weekend so I feel entitled! But I'm really trying to stay "up" on the assignments even though we have a 2 week period to turn them in. It is kind of fun to be studying again.
We had a BBQ yesterday with the mica peakers (neighbors) TOO much food, but very fun. Today another BBQ with other friends and Monday another...we are party animals. Oh well. Then Friday is the big surprise party, I STILL don't know if I'm driving solo or if Jim is coming, w or w/o D, he would have to miss school, but that's not that big of a deal. Then that Sunday they are having the music picnic, I feel like I should try to go to that for political reasons - and Jim's dress rehearsal Sunday night I need to go to as I have a rehearsal during his concert on Monday! Argh. And Wed we go to the Botany lab for a field trip. Fun.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
the long road home...
First let me state that we had a great weekend at my aunt and uncle's visiting and loading the truck and trailer with wood! Everything was great and we started home (about 3 hour trip) at 2pm. At 2:30 (after getting gas) there was a loud bang and we blew a tire. Not on the trailer, like we had worried about, but on the truck. Big tires, and J was annoyed because he was sure his old bag phone would have had a signal, but our new RAZR phones didn't even have one bar. We were on a stretch of highway with a steep upward cliff on one side (to fields) and traffic whizzing by on the other (two lanes only) Fortunately we were in a place where the road was straight for a bit, so you could see us (lots of twists in that area - between D and W for those in the know).
So we did have a spare tire, but it was under the truck, and it was for the old set of tires we had (these were larger). Also, J had never pumped it up for 10 years. AND I had taken his million tools out of the truck so I could fit 5 kids in for the carpool, and he hadn't put them back before this trip. So he is trying to jack up the trailer (loaded down with probably 3000# at least, I am a terrible estimator) and the jack handle breaks, with the jack down. So we can't go even if we get the tire changed because the jack is stuck down.
My phone is out of batteries, so I take Jim's (which has none of the #s programmed) and start walking about 1/4 mile down the road to a place where I can crawl up the steep cliff and get into the field. Then I walk probably a 1/2 mile up the giant hills hoping to get a signal (this is the Palouse so the hills are big) Fortunately again, the wheat is young and soft so I am not cutting my legs to shreds. I get a signal, and try to call my aunt. No answer. I try again. No answer. I am a bit concerned, because AAA won't be able to do anything with this totally loaded down trailer, and I don't have my card (it is 3/4 mile down the hill) so I can't call, and I try one more time and she answers! Yay - J has requested a nail or some metal bar piece so he can try to work the jack (he ended up using his key ring, just call him Mcgyver) and a floor jack, which I guess he didn't end up needing after all. When I got down D was sweating in the hot pickup, there was no room for him to be outside and we trashed the interior getting out the jacks and tools - he didn't even have a seat! But we did have one Coke and some jerky. J actually got the tire on, and we limped along to W where we waited next to the shady park for aunt and uncle. They had tire pumps and water, and we killed a few hours waiting for the road to cool down (apparently the heat of the road is very bad for loaded down tires. *sigh* the things we would do over if we only knew!
Anyway, we got home a mere 9 hours after we left. GLAD to be here!
So we did have a spare tire, but it was under the truck, and it was for the old set of tires we had (these were larger). Also, J had never pumped it up for 10 years. AND I had taken his million tools out of the truck so I could fit 5 kids in for the carpool, and he hadn't put them back before this trip. So he is trying to jack up the trailer (loaded down with probably 3000# at least, I am a terrible estimator) and the jack handle breaks, with the jack down. So we can't go even if we get the tire changed because the jack is stuck down.
My phone is out of batteries, so I take Jim's (which has none of the #s programmed) and start walking about 1/4 mile down the road to a place where I can crawl up the steep cliff and get into the field. Then I walk probably a 1/2 mile up the giant hills hoping to get a signal (this is the Palouse so the hills are big) Fortunately again, the wheat is young and soft so I am not cutting my legs to shreds. I get a signal, and try to call my aunt. No answer. I try again. No answer. I am a bit concerned, because AAA won't be able to do anything with this totally loaded down trailer, and I don't have my card (it is 3/4 mile down the hill) so I can't call, and I try one more time and she answers! Yay - J has requested a nail or some metal bar piece so he can try to work the jack (he ended up using his key ring, just call him Mcgyver) and a floor jack, which I guess he didn't end up needing after all. When I got down D was sweating in the hot pickup, there was no room for him to be outside and we trashed the interior getting out the jacks and tools - he didn't even have a seat! But we did have one Coke and some jerky. J actually got the tire on, and we limped along to W where we waited next to the shady park for aunt and uncle. They had tire pumps and water, and we killed a few hours waiting for the road to cool down (apparently the heat of the road is very bad for loaded down tires. *sigh* the things we would do over if we only knew!
Anyway, we got home a mere 9 hours after we left. GLAD to be here!
Friday, May 16, 2008
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