Off Again

Here we are! We're headed back to Seattle.

Looks like we made it!

Packing up. Packing it on up.

Yep. It's almost time.

Packing for these temperatures is just a little bit challenging.

Sweaters? Rain jacket? Closed-toe shoes? PANTS?? What even are these things? I'm sitting here sweating! 

So looking forward to seeing my two dear friends tomorrow. I can't wait!

New Shoes

Twas a busy day. I mowed the lawn and watered, then it was off to Farmers Market and then to B's friend's house for their brunch. Then, shoe shopping with these two:

She chose the blue ones. We went for lunch at Shmolive Shmarden, then went home where a birthday package from Grannie (also shoes) was waiting for her!

Later on I trimmed her hair and we took her to ride the train up to Hannah, then picked up B and brought him home, and visited the kitties again. 

The Stupid Dentist

Yeah, she was actually a dental hygienist and was very smart and lovely. I can't gripe too much, except to say that my body has become way too high maintenance for my liking. Such is life, I suppose.

Otherwise, we had a very nice day.

IT'S GETTING CLOSER

Today was my last day of work for two weeks! The Treehouse Trip is coming up fast! Work went well - I was able to make more progress with contacting references. Yay, each new candidate has at least one reference finished! 

After work, I bought a few gifties, since we girls usually exchange gifts when we meet up. Check out the SEATTLE MAD LIBS from the toy store at Seaside!!!:

I'm so excited! 

We also bought my train ticket home for next Friday night!! SQUEEEE!! 

Now to launder like the wind and pack like the wind and finish planning a menu like the wind and possibly bake and cook like the wind? Maybe. The thought of having to haul a bunch of extra stuff home on the train is keeping me from going too nuts with ideas. We'll see how far I get this weekend. 

I have to go to the stupid dentist tomorrow. Perhaps afterwards, I'll reward myself with some SUSHI!! (Everything is exciting and must be shouted right now.)

Bad Medicine

Woke up to a smoky morning - bad enough that I wore a mask to work. Worked. Drove folks around (R is spending the night at Kate's cabin; picked up B and Hubby from work). Snuggled the Ladies. Met with Shrink, who told me to just ditch the metformin already and ask my doctor for something that won't send me to the bathroom every time I take it.

Hubby and I are kitty sitting for H and Alexis again. In between laser pointering sessions, I had fun with Sims, Survivor and Some Embroidery.

Being Out-Geeked

Worked, which included much phoning and emailing of references of new job candidates. R picked me up, and we picked up Hubby from work early and had lunch at Shmed Shmobin (yummmmm).

After lunch, I took them home, picked up B from work, and spent some quality time genealogy-ing at the library while he went to the social security office. Home, Gilmore Girls marathon on TV with the family, more genealogy-ing. I just can't not look them up. 

Until yesterday, this was kind of embarrassing to admit, but now that I'm better at Excel than I was when I started at the bookstore, I've been using it to make a spreadsheet of my closest family members so I can see who still needs research done. Also, at work, I have a small map of the United States on my wall, on which I wrote the surnames from my family tree in the states where they were born. 

BUT THEN I met someone at the genealogical society who made a spreadsheet just for the sources she uses for research, AND was wearing a t-shirt with a US map that had little gemstones denoting which states her family members came from. And now I'm just in awe. I thought I was the biggest geek in six counties and it turns out I'm not.

"You Must Be This Tall To Look For Dead People"

This morning I attended a meeting with some local genealogical society folks. They were absolutely lovely and welcoming. I have found my people, and will soon be formally joining the society.

(I actually found them in my 30s but at the time, being a mom took priority - and, at the time, no one would believe me that I actually knew what I was doing. Now that I look more like them, they can take me a little more seriously...as seriously as I can ever be taken, that is.)

Later today, I had a mammogram and it sucked. At least it was quick, and now Shmaiser will shut up about it.

(Here comes Mommy's "I hate having mammograms" face)

I shouldn't complain - I'm grateful that we have good insurance. Also, MY NEW GLASSES ARE HERE IN TIME FOR MY TRIP NEXT WEEK, and they're cute and I love them.

Portland Pride 2023

Hubby and these folks attended, and had a wonderful time.

The Ladies and I stayed home and played.

For dinner we had shredded barbecue chicken on rolls, pasta salad, corn on the cob, and brownies, and there was much rejoicing in the land.

BEACH DAY

At Les Schwab, getting our brakes did

It's been an enjoyable morning so far. I did some laundry and watered outside, then Hubby and I dropped off the car and walked up to Sbux and Natural Grocers (first time there). We also grabbed a rental car since our car won't hold six adults and two babies. Should we just pull the trigger and buy one of those 15 passenger vans? Is that where life is heading?

(While we were waiting at Les Schwab, I received good news: my new glasses will be here Monday!)

HERE WE GO

We're starting to think that we're the kiss of death on day trips. Another forest fire erupted near Highway 26, our usual route to the coast, and kept us on the road for at least an hour longer then we would be normally. At first we thought it was just normal Saturday summer traffic, especially since this weekend is supposed to be so hot, but then we saw the smoke. We drove the rental car with the babies, and R, Hannah, M and B were in our Subaru, and we amused ourselves by calling them and shooting the breeze.

Seaside

Seaside was foggy and cool. We went straight to Fultano's and had pizza for "linner", then everyone took off for the arcade and played games. 

Eventually we made it over to the carousel mall, where we bought toys for the babies (I may have scooped up some Mad Libs), and rode the carousel. 

Baby C was placed upon a carousel horse and immediately started screaming, so we handed her off to Pop Pop, while Baby R loved her ride so much that she threw a gigantic fit when we disembarked. She was placated by a second ride. 

Then we walked down to the beach, and the babies were beside themselves with joy. Baby C, for the third time in a row, would not walk in the dry sand. It's so funny. That cute baby girl has her opinions! She was fine in the wet sand, though. We took turns chasing both girls around the beach. it was such a blast.

Cannon Beach

At this point some of us were very tired, so we loaded up the babies and drove the rental car home. The Subaru took off for Cannon Beach and more adventures there. Hubby was in his element, taking wonderful photos of everything.

Hannah's On Her Way!

Drove folks to work, drove R to Bay to work out, bought groceries, had the car washed, and got busy cleaning the house. Such a nice, busy, but still chill day. 

I love summertime so much. I wait all year for it. After a few years of suffering through some really hot summer days, we're now at the point that even without central air conditioning and an east/west orientation, the temperature in the house feels okay in most areas, and great in the bedrooms. Out back we have a nice mix of sun and shade. Only the front of the house needs major help now, and we're slowly working on it. If we stay here, I'm thinking we need to plant a wall of arborvitae, and to tear out most of the grass and plant native shrubs that love sun. 

Around 5:30, R picked up Hannah at the train station and brought her home. It's so nice to have her here again.

Thursday the Thirteenth

Work: made more phone calls to references for our new hires. I always have fun chatting those folks up. 

After work: picked up Hubby at the Interstate Shmed Meyer. Just so you know, the Arco gas station on Interstate is a colossal hellhole. Did I mention I'm done with Portland for a while?

Portland Chillage

The morning went well. I've been tasked with calling the references for our bookstore employee interviewees, so I spent my "free time" on the phone. We've switched to Zoom for our phone service, which is newish to me, but I felt pretty comfortable using it by the end of the shift. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but old ladies you might have more luck with.

I decided to drive over early to Portland so I could pick up Hubby as soon as he finished work (he thought he would be off early) and tried like heck to find a place to park. It was next to impossible and very frustrating. I'm kind of done spending time in downtown Portland. 

Fortunately these two make everything more fun. 

7/11/2023

Dinner at Shmaghetti Factory!

Work was challenging today. For four hours, Dan and Amy were unavailable as they had interviews with potential new employees, our morning cashier called out sick, the credit card machines went down and we could only accept cash, and I ended up staying an extra hour to help out. Luckily I love my job.

Fortunately I had a coffee date with my dear friend Angie and dinner out with my wonderful family this evening. Life is good. Also, I ordered some new glasses online and I'm super excited to see if I'll get them before my trip. Did I mention I'm going on a trip?

Summer Rush

It's the first day of summer quarter, so naturally I'm blogging about food.

Dan bought this mushroom jerky at Costco and offered me a piece. I'm now addicted.

Also: one of the departments had an ice cream cart that they wheeled around to different parts of campus. Yum.

It was a big busy day, and we had a very cozy evening.

POT.

Hubby and I first headed over to Shmilco to get a couple of new pots for Phineas and Fern, and ended up with two new babies: a rubber tree plant which Hubby has named Mr. Manager, and a Swiss cheese plant for me. And a new hoe.

Then the Great Pot Out began. Every plant in the house is now outside for the day (maybe longer?) and quite a few of them have received the repotting treatment. 

Phineas was extremely rootbound, so he ended up being renamed Phineas, Baljeet and Buford. Phineas (now much smaller) will be going back to work tomorrow with Fern and the as-yet-unnamed Swiss cheese plant. 

I planted a cherry seed in the tiny plant and can't wait to see if it'll sprout.

Sandy Saturday

Just two besties enjoying some breakfast and thrifting. I love this lady. 

Speaking of thrifting ...

Two sweaters, a skirt (cream with blue dots), denim shorts, navy flats and a navy clutch. People, I've tried to buy clothes in other colors and I think I've done a pretty good job expanding my non-blue wardrobe over the last couple of years, but today I gave up and gave in to my quite obvious need for blue. I'm okay with my choices.

I love that Sandy also loves thrifting. To us, thrift stores are a lending library for clothes and household items. Buying retail is so last millennium! 

(I say that, but if I dig through my clothes and don't find a blue blouse to go with the skirt, I'm going to Old Navy to buy a t-shirt.)

(Also, some things are better bought new.)

Fun Facts

My fun facts: I swapped plants with Bryton today. Hubby has a soccer tournament this weekend, so R and I picked him up from work early and we went to lunch at Shnoodles and Co. Took a carb nap. Enjoyed time with the family this evening. Life is good.