Thursday, February 8, 2024

Crying with egg salad sandwich in my mouth

I managed to keep it all contained but I had another one of those FREAKY genealogy experiences where I find a person's birth or death date, and it's TODAY. 

So, we finally got the situation resolved with the online company, which provides subscriptions to their website, on which newspaper archives are stored, indexed, and available for searching. My subscription has been extended from today instead of January 26, to make up for the time I missed. 

I immediately started looking for Lucien Smith, a first cousin of my great grandfather Maurice Smith. I knew that he died young, but without context, or access to death records, I had a really hard time pinning down the date or place. Thanks to census records, I knew it was between 1900 and 1910.

So after we resolved the situation with this website, I was able to go straight to the archives and find out what happened to him. 

While duck hunting with two other people, his canoe overturned, and he drowned....on this day, in 1901.

Cue the freaked out, mouth-full-of-egg-salad bawling. 

Well hey there, Lucien! It's nice to finally figure out what happened (maybe "nice" isn't the right word). 

Now I'm tossing around the idea that Lucien might have had a hand in the delayed access to my subscription.... but that's impossible, right?

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

"It looks so beautiful in here, Dran!"

Little C apparently likes having the curtains open

Originally, I had the day off, but I joked with Dan a little too hard yesterday and he asked me if I was serious about wanting to work today. One of our cashiers has COVID, so I will be filling in for him this afternoon. Fine by me: I never work in the afternoon so it'll be a fun change. Also, I like money.

So I've been busy doing housey stuff and playing with the girls this morning. It's been very pleasant.

Found this gem and had to comment:


Work was fun - not very busy, so we mostly chatted. I was picked up by Hubby and R, and we bought some Taco Time for dinner on the way home (payday!). Hubby had a long evening of soccer practices and I considered going with him, but stayed home instead and was very cozy.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Well hello there.

The PNW, teasing us with some blue sky. We know how this goes. You get us outside and then you start dumping rain on us! Very naughty.

I'm back at work today. It feels good. We're enjoying the calm before the spring quarter storm, coming up in just a few weeks. I dolled up just a bit - the entire ensemble is thrifted and I'm quite satisfied.

Newport is getting in on the blue sky action 

Monday, February 5, 2024

"Don't worry! It'll still be here when you get back!"

Today I turned into That Woman. I contacted an online company on every one of their social media accounts, and blasted them for their utter crap customer service department.

The griping paid off, however. Finally they answered me, and I was directed to the correct email address to voice my complaint. How wonderful! 

It made me laugh to think that somewhere in Lehi, Utah, folks are now mocking my name. At the bookstore we have a couple of names that we joke around about. NO ONE IS SAFE. If you act like a butthole, people mock you later. It's just how it is. 

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Boise Trip - Day 4

Heading home today.

Baker City, Oregon

Pendleton, Oregon

The old church building on Thayer in Richland, Washington. Lots of youthful shenanigans occurred here 
Richland used to feel like such a huge city to me (it was, after living in Brookings). Today it feels very tiny, like, how is this even a place?

After a couple more stops, we finally made it home to Ernie's house, where I met up with the very lovely Hubby. It was good to hug him. He fed me a Wendy's chicken sandwich and took me home.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Boise Trip - Day 3


Cousin Stan messaged me around 8:00 this morning and asked if Ernie and I could come over and visit. Of course! I mentioned that we'd been to Starbucks (wink) and I asked if he would like anything. Oh heck yes.
drinks for Stan & Whit

We had such a delightful visit with them. It was really fun. While visiting, we received word that Mel had arrived and was back at Uncle John and Aunt Karen's house, so we headed back there and spent more time with the family.

All sorts of chaos are happening at John and Karen's this weekend and I'm afraid we're part of it, but they're handling it well, like they do everything else. I love them both so much. I was really blessed with a great uncle and aunt and cousins. It feels good to be here.

Friday, February 2, 2024

Boise Trip - Day 2

Just two dorkus kudills
....in line for coffee

The morning: Why we can't live in Caldwell
We decided that rather than eat breakfast at a chain restaurant, we wanted to give our business to a local spot. So I Googled and found Cattleman's Cafe, and we headed in that direction.

The alarming amount of pickups and horse trailers parked outside, combined with the mucus-thickening stench of manure, should have been our first clues that city slickers weren't welcome here. But, hungry and ignorant, we parked and went inside.

After sitting down and ordering coffee, we found some tasty breakfast choices on the menu, but when the server came back and took our order, we were chagrined to find out that they had stopped serving breakfast 10 minutes before we got there. "Today's an Auction Day," the server said, pointing at a written announcement posted in the menu (nowhere near the breakfast items, it should be noted), "and we stop serving breakfast at 11:30 on those days."

Dude, we're from the next time zone over and we just rolled out of bed. Make with the biscuits and gravy already! We ended up drinking the coffee, paying, and leaving. E tipped them a quarter out of spite. We got in the car and immediately commenced the mocking.

But wait, there's more
We're sharing gas expenses and it was my turn to pay, so we drove to the gas station and I ran my card through the machine at the pump outside. Unbeknownst to me, Hubby had transferred our funds over to my other card, so the card I used was declined. I figured it was just because my balance was low, so I went inside to pay there instead.

Oh the joy that awaited me inside. The card was declined again, and I turned to walk back outside to check my balance and try again. The cashier stopped me with "It didn't go through," and I said "Okay, thank you," and tried to walk away. She repeated herself, I repeated myself. Finally, apparently at her wits' end, she bent at the waist over her countertop and loudly announced to me and the entire store full of people, "IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH."

Okay, thanks, Bertha! I demurely answered, "I heard you. Thank you," and walked outside. More mocking from E and me, mostly of ourselves. Clearly we can't make it in Caldwell. 

One gigantic breakfast at Cracker Barrel (finally, I was STARVING) and a trip to Target later, E and I finally felt we were among civilized folks again.

Later
We came home and I spent a few minutes with Neenaw. It was heartbreaking. My grandmother has been stolen and replaced with a sweet little old lady who can no longer chat with me, ask me questions, laugh at my jokes. Her mind is almost gone and her spirit is preparing to leave this world. I wasn't prepared and could only be with her for a short while before I had to leave her room so she wouldn't catch on that I was bawling.

Death sucks.

After bawling a while: I chatted with Hubby, drank some water, and went outside for a bit. That's one nice thing about this part of Idaho - it's usually dry as a bone.
She who has spent the afternoon weeping


Later in the evening, Neenaw was more like herself again and could sit and converse with us. It was a sweet time. I love her so much and I'm so sad she's leaving us but she is ready to go. I'll miss her so much.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Boise Trip - Day 1

Stop 1: Starvation Creek
Stop 2:  Biggs - gas and snacks
Stop 3: Rest stop near Umatilla
Stop 4: La Grande - lunch at Wendy's
Stop 5: Rest stop near Weatherby

We arrived at our destination around 6 PM. After seeing Neenaw, we all had dinner, and E and I headed over to Cousin Jen's to visit with her and her sisters. Fun was had. 

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

What Have I Done To Deserve This?

Cuz it's pretty awesome
As much as I love my job, I'm kind of done with being a disappointment to people today. (College's fault, not mine.) Due to our one car situation and B and R being on campus at different times, Dan offered to let me stay and work so I could leave with them, but I said NO THANK YOU.

Things I did after work:
- Mani/pedis with Little R and Little C
- Grocery shopping (spaghetti for dinner)
- Texted with Mom
- Picked up Hubby
- Played Sims 

Life is just a dream, sweetheart.

Just Another Mechanic Monday

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Out

But first: Still can't resist listening to Music and the Spoken Word with a big ole cup of Joe. I'm such a naughty girl.

And now: Out for an adventure. I have some birthday gift cards to spend and I also brought snacks. So you know things are serious.
Found these lights at Michaels. Bought them. Brought them home. Hung them up. They're very cute, and bright, but they're sure....warm.

After coming home and getting cozy, I just kind of laid around and did whatever. Earlier in the day I arranged with Uncle John that I would call and talk to Neenaw this evening, and when the time came, she and I had a great chat. Little R and Little C chatted with her as well, and I pondered on the rarity of being in the middle of a 5 generation grandparent-grandchild sandwich. I wish my dad had lived long enough to meet his great grandchildren and enjoy it with us. 

After talking with her for a while, I spoke with Uncle J. It's evident that Neenaw is getting ready to go soon. Hubby and I ended up planning a trip for me to drive down and see her and spend a long weekend. My work schedule ended up giving me a 6-day break, so it all worked out perfectly. Sounds like Brother E may go with me. I'm leaving Thursday morning.

After getting everything set up, I felt peaceful. Maybe I've been worrying about her for a while and that's why I've been having kind of a hard time lately. We found out earlier in the month that Neenaw's health was failing and it didn't seem like it would be much longer, but I had no time to go and see her because January was already so packed. That probably sounds terrible but she's always been so healthy, and reliable, I guess is the word. Like even though she's over 100 years old, she would just always be there. Uncle J joked that she was going to outlive him.

At any rate, I feel a lot better now.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Coming Home

After waking up to an epic storm ("Should we leave??"), eating breakfast at Cannon Beach Pig 'N Pancake, and spending time at a cute bookstore in Seaside, there was the exhausting marathon through Seaside Antique Mall. 

We had a mission: finding a sugar and creamer set. After searching high and low, we found a set that we fell in love with, except it 1) cost $125 and 2) might contain lead. No thanks! I'm bummed, though, because this pattern was new to me and so beautiful. 
Franciscan "Little Fruit" - THE LEMON HANDLE

Long story short, we ended up at the Fred Meyer in Warrenton, Oregon; bought a generic white (but still cute) sugar and creamer set; and are wending our way east. As we drive, we see things we want to come back and explore sometime. A weekend in Astoria is in our tentative future.

Lunch: burgers at Bundy's in Clatskanie, Oregon
Verdict: YUM. We'll be back.

Later: A relaxing afternoon and evening.

Friday, January 26, 2024

TO THE BEACH

Aye, tis a cold January noon

Here's our cottage! We love it!

It was a fun day. We watched some TV and ate our snacks for lunch, then headed out onto the beach. The weather was CRAP today and we spent about five minutes in it before we decided to come back inside and then go to town. Keep in mind, after spending that time at the beach, I walked into every shop looking like a drowned rat, so of course the kind and highly customer service-oriented shop employees of Cannon Beach were nothing but lovely.

(No they weren't, they were buttholes)

We went back to the cottage and chilled out, then I put on some fart licking makeup
(IS THIS ENOUGH MAKEUP FOR YOU, YOU CANNON BEACH HAGS??)

...and we went and grabbed some dinner, and found this funny little pie place - kind of a pie speakeasy. You walk up dark stairs to a third floor apartment, walk inside, choose your pies and drop your money in a drawer. It's on the honor system! Weirdest thing ever and I am totally here for it. The pie is good.
At dinner, we talked about going to a movie or something, but taking the pie back to the cottage was enough excitement for us. We turned on Fatal Attraction, which neither of us had ever seen before because Mormonism, and were very happy that Glenn Close gets it in the end. (I'd add the phrase "spoiler alert" but the movie is like forty years old.)

Now we're in bed and the window is open and we can hear the surf. Life is good, friends. Even with no makeup in Cannon Beach.

Monday, January 22, 2024

shhhh it's a secret

He can't know that I took a picture 

neither can she

also don't tell anyone that Hubby texted one of his soccer players, thinking he was texting me. he feels fortunate that he didn't say anything worse

we laughed our butts off, especially at the little dog emoji at the end, and "Classic bunny!" is our new favorite catchphrase 

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Indulgent Sunday Coziness

aw yeah 

Plus a couple of sisters getting some cheese
Sims, dishes, enchiladas, shower, bed.