Chips Fire Finally Contained!

 

My friend Jean's husband and son took these pictures of the Chips Fire--they are just now letting people into the area. 

 

 The fire started July 29 and 100% containment was August 31. 75,000 acres burned. The whole month of August was awful ... lots of smoke and frazzled nerves.  (from Jean)

 

They live on the southern tip of the lake and were threatened.  I live on the Peninsula and we were not.  However, we did have smoky skies and ash and little sun for the whole month of August.

 

Meagan and Keira had just been here and escaped it all, thank heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I live on the top of the Peninsula that you can see in the center of the picture.

 

Not Feeling Well

Meagan had this picture along with other new ones of Keira on Facebook. So cute.

 

 

I have felt yucky all week.  Went in to see the Dr today and have medicine and so hope I am feeling better tomorrow.  I have also been having a gluten attack all day.  I knew I would.  I bought a loaf of Holiday French bread for Mike and ended up eating it myself.  I was craving white bread so badly. 

Why do I feel like someone kicked me in the side.  Bummer.  I am officially 5' 3".  The nurse checked me today and I also am officially losing weight--shrinking all around, yea.  Gluten attacks really take a lot out of me--had one on Sun and Mon and now again so easy to lose when nothing stays in you.

First the Ears, Now the Eyes

Today was so frustrating.  Who knew my eyes were getting so old they cannot do fine work anymore?  I was shortening some skirts (a simple process) but I could not see well enough to thread the sewing machine needle.  Yes, I have had difficulty with this from time to time but I could not do it at all.  I had to wait till Mike got up to do it for me.

Then when I tried to hem my skirt by hand I couldn't see how many threads I caught in my needle.  I got out the magnifying mirror but it was very clumsy to use.

Needless to say I felt very old and very down.  I sought comfort by burying myself under my comforter.  It does help.  I decided to try the hemming again in the morning.  Maybe my eyes will be better then.

I really think there are some upsides of dying young.  At least you never know the despair of feeling so clumsy, and feeble.

I really thought I would use that material I keep saving, I had plans, but not now.

Just Another Day in Paradise

It is beautiful, sunny and clear here for now.  I should go back to the lake each day it has been so warm.

Last night I finally caught up on my sleep I think.  Slept all night and then some for a change.  It has been so dry and allergy time so I can not breathe very well.

Some of us Clear Creek Branch ladies met for lunch at the Knotbumpers and I had the Cinder Cone which was a Taco Salad.  It was very good.  Seems the last time I ate there with Maria it wasn't so good but we sat on the side of the porch and it was quite lovely.  Holly, the new lady with five children; Fonda, five childre; Jean, two children; Maryanne, three children; Sue, three children were all there.

I thought as I listened to the ladies who still had children at home how easy my life is now.  I had better enjoy it.  If only I didn't get so tired.

I bought some boxes that I will label with the children and Meagan's names so as I come across pictures, etc. that are of their family I will just put them in the box and they can decide what to do with them when I am gone.

Since I have shrunk another inch I decided it was time to shorten some of my clothes.  I did the blue denim dress yesterday.  Looks good.

Bye, Bye Love

Last night I watched "Bye, Bye Love" which was a sort of comedy about three divorced Dads and how they passed the children back and forth.  It was actually very sad.  I am thankful I never had to live that way with my family.

One of the quotes which I probably won't remember exactly was something like "Divorced people are the most unhappy in the world except for married Scandinavians."  Since I am a large part Scandinavian I would like to know exactly what they are referring to. 

We did hear the quote in Sweden that "Two is a crowd" or something like that.

Does this mean Scandinavians are happier alone????  I hope it just means they can be happy alone but it is curious.

I read the following in an article in 'Kwintessential'--now I know why I am not competitive!  My parents raised me that way!

One of the key characteristics of Swedish culture is that Swedes are egalitarian in nature, humble and find boasting absolutely unacceptable. In many ways, Swedes prefer to listen to others as opposed to ensuring that their own voice is heard.

When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly. It is rare that you were witness a Swede demonstrating anger or strong emotion in public.

Behaviours in Sweden are strongly balanced towards ‘lagom’ or, ‘everything in moderation’. Excess, flashiness and boasting are abhorred in Sweden and individuals strive towards the middle way. As an example, work hard and play hard are not common concepts in Sweden. People work hard but not too hard, they go out and enjoy themselves, but without participating in anything extreme.

Due to the strong leaning towards egalitarianism in Sweden, competition is not encouraged and children are not raised to believe that they are any more special than any other child.

Shades of the 50's

In my decluttering I found this dress I made back in 57 or 58.  Bill, my boyfriend, was a Helicopter pilot in the Navy and was overseas finishing up things from the Korean War.  He brought me this Oriental material and I made the dress and also had heels covered to match.  The material is so lovely I have been keeping the dress.  Meagan tried it on in high school and it fit her, I don't think anyone else even tried.   Hmm, what to do with it.

I wish I could sew as well now as I did then.  I made so many beautiful dresses, suits, capri outfits...I am amazed.  All on a little miniature Singer!!

 

Decluttering

The last two days I have been decluttering my house and I ache all over!!!  But I feel good because decluttering looks so good!  I threw away that old tree behind the TV and put my sailing pix from Michael's room and it looks so much lighter--I also took the large end table and light away (in the garage) and got rid of some of the pix and books that were on tables.  I also wrapped the doll house in plastic and put in the garage, that really made in lighter in there.

 

I removed the black shelves from the corner and put all my photo and scrap books on the bottom shelf in my bedroom.  I am so glad to find a permanent place for them!!!  I also removed the large BY picture and replaced it with one of John's and took the red hearts away after all these years and oh, yes, I took all the ivy off the walls.  Much cleaner. lighter look.

 

i put away the wedding pix and put the cabin there and removed the big desert pix and put the other sailing pix.  Notice less books and things on the center table, too.  I also removed the little wall plaques from over  both doors.

In my bedroom I took some of the pix down and trivia from the bedside tables.  I like it clean and neat.  I also saw in the Costco catalog one of those ipod docks--I should replace my big cd and ipod player with that--when I move maybe,  I also removed a lot of books to make room for my photo albums and scrap books.

 

My lesson manuals and scripture notebooks I put in my file drawers in the garage.  I still need to throw alot of the files in there away and need a shredder to get rid of all tax papers.  So I have lots of work to do in the garage but can take time to do that.

 

I am tired!  And Michael was not here so I was carrying a lot of things down the stairs--my feet hurt,  Anyway I an excited about taking a lot of books and things to the Thrift Store.

 

My Favorite Things

It is that time of year again--cool mornings and how I love my new wool sox from Costco.  Eventually I wear through the bottoms but it will take a few years.  They come in packs of three and are wonderful on cool wood floors.

Other current favorite things:

• Any Meryl Streep movie, "Hope Springs" was so funny...amazing actress
• Vanilla ice cream and raspberry jam--lots
• Chris Botti and Sting doing "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"
• Bubble baths every night
• Corn dogs, what can I say, I am addicted, life is short
• My checkered red quilt
• Collaged boxes for all my clutter, takes time to declutter
• Decluttering--my new favorite thing to do
• Looking at the pictures of my darling grandchildren and great grandchildren, love digital pix and such an easy way to save them to my computer
• Chris Botti on trumpet playing anything
• Vic Damone, what can I say, a favorite still after 65 years
• Big Band music, I keep it on my Recorder for a quick dance to "In the Mood" anytime I am 'in the mood'
• Yogurt with warmed blueberries, yum, yum
• Rod Stewart singing the Classics
• Micheal Buble singing the Classics
• Jane Brown Sunday School lessons, does she know the scriptures or what, So amazing
• Wendy's chocolate soft ice cream and I was just given a recipe to try at home--a quart of chocolate milk and a can of condensed milk made in my ice cream maker--I have a feeling it is going to be a new favorite
• Tootsie Rolls
• Diet Dr Pepper, especially from the Fountain rather than can or bottle, only occasional
• Hot Tamales especially with buttered popcorn, old favorite but only occasionally now, I am getting a little more prudent in my old age
• 'Monk' TV show--so funny
• Listening to the scriptures and novels instead of reading, technology is so great
• 'Sex and the City' TV show--love the clothes and relationship logic
• 'Army Wives'-such smart, pretty women
• My bedside computer stand...I can write any time I wake up and can't sleep.  Why do old people not need much sleep?  You would think we would need more--of course, there are the naps...
• Calls from my children and their patience with me
• Talking to my sisters and friends, we have time on our hands these days
• Silky pajamas and my Lauren cotten ones
• Golden Girls array of lovely pajamas and night gowns and robes--what a Collection
• Having my ipod music put me to sleep every night
• Linda Ronstadt singing the Classics--esp "What'll I Do?"

So many trivial favorite things and a few important ones, Life is Good!  

Thoughts on Utah

Greg T said from the pulpit that I looked 10 years younger today and he wondered what was different in my life.  It was just that I had finally made a decision and had the "next step" in my life figured out.  It must have shown on my face.  It is so hard to be in a quandry about what you should do, where you should go, when should you do it.  I am so thankful we can pray for direction and get answers and you know it is an answer from the Lord when it is something you have not thought of and yet it feels so right. 

I was just reading yesterday a quote from Pres Hinckley:

"Pray for wisdom and understanding as you walk the difficult paths of your lives.  If you are determined to do foolish and imprudent things, I think the Lord will not prevent you.  But if you seek His wisdom and follow the counsel of the impressions that come to you, I am confident you will be blessed."

I was born in Ogden, Utah and after we moved to Montana I have very happy memories of visiting our aunts and uncles and their families, the wonderful food, the laughter, the aunts speaking Swedish, the family reunions, Lagoon, so many things.  Aunt Ellen's scones and swedish pancakes always seemed the best I had ever tasted.  Aunt Erica amazed me because she could put on a large delicious dinner and the kitchen would be spotless as we sat down to eat.  I don't know how she did that.  She had a real walnut tree in her front yard and I marveled at that.

I really never wanted to live in Utah.  When I went to BYU those mountains so close made me feel smothered after living on the wide open plains of Montana, big sky country, and it was.  I would sometimes have to "run" to shake the closeness.  But the first Christmas home from college I cried with happiness when I told what a wonderful place BYU was.  I loved every minute of it, the professors, my roommates, the activities, the classes.  It was truly a very happy time in my life.  But I never wanted to live there otherwise.

It Is Official!

My house is on the market and when and if it sells I am headed for Orem to live with my sister Jeanne, at least until I decide something else or I drive her too crazy.  But she is alone, I am alone, she has a big house and lots of relatives around and I have no family or relatives up here anymore and I am not ready to go live with the my kids yet and not sure I want to or even could buy another house at all.  I think I will live the rented life for awhile and let someone else pay the property taxes, etal.I

Jeanne said she would love to have me, she has had a lot of grandchildren live with her over the years but they are all gone now so this may be my next venture.  I have been lonely since Maria and Marjorie both moved and I am sure Jeanne is lonely, too.  Only problem is Michael, he doesn't want to go with me so he will have to find a new abode.  I will miss him.

Carole was thinking I should take my furniture to Utah but on rethinking I think I should store it in the San Diego area.  I will end up there eventually and if I never have another house at least it will be there to divvy out or sell.

One day at a time.

Now to see if anyone is interested in my house...and willing to pay the price. 

PS--I can see that the raccoon or raccoons had used their long fingernails to open the screen door, I wonder if they have done this before???  Reminds me of when I found the two foot lizard in my RB home. 

Raccoon Encounter

As that cute little head peeked up over the deck I should have had a camera.  Raccoons are so cute.

I don't know why I got up at 4 AM and wandered into the kitchen, I think I was hungry for a corn dog!

To my surprise Bandido was wandering around his pen and both the screen door and patio door were wide open and the kitchen garbage can was on its side with the contents spilling out on to the deck!!!

I thought that Michael had carelessly walked by and knocked it over and hadn't noticed and then forgot to close the screen door and then...

I see the little raccoon peeking up at me and I knew I had interrupted his foraging.  Question is--was the screen door left open or did he open it himself? 

We often leave the patio door open and just have the screen to let the air in--no more doing that!!  They are too resourceful.

One time the little critters climbed the stairs and had a lot of fun in a garbage I left on the front porch and they left their footprints all over to prove it.  They also went into the opened garage door and unzipped my backpack pockets and ate the nuts and raisens and made a big mess all over.  I wonder where they live?  Probably under my deck but I never see them, this was the first time in 13 years.

It's a Good Thing!

Making hard decisions after months of stewing!  It's a good thing.

Bar-S Corn Dogs from Costco baked at 375 for 20 minutes!  It's a good thing.

Getting a perky short hair cut! It's a good thing.

RNC Convention!  It was a really good thing--loved seeing all the young people expressing the traditional values of America that are needed back so badly.  The Governors and the Ladies, Eastwood, all were so impressive as were Ryan and Romney.  I loved seeing truth and belief in God being sung from the airways with vigor and determination by a multitude of good people from all walks of life and religion, very impressive.  I am so sick of the negative untruths being slung from the airways.  The new show Newsroom was absoluting repulsive this week.  I am so sick of distorted views and chopped quotes being cavorted as truth...Not!  Some of the Democratic women are the most repulsive representatives of womanhood that I have ever seen.  Why is that?  When I am feeling negative and bitchy, I feel just like one of them.  Definitely Not a Good Thing.

A full tank of gas.  It's a good thing.  Paying $4.39 a gallon--It is such a bad thing.  Who wouldn't want the 50's back?

 Simplify, simplify, it is where I am heading.  It's a good thing!!!

Lovely cool days with sunshine and calm and not so much smoke.  It's a good thing.

Cabbage slaw with pineapple, marshmallows and cream.  It's a good thing.

Talking to my sisters.  It's a good thing.

Communicating with my family.  It's good thing.

Getting rid of more stuff!  It's a very  good thing.

A very clean yard after days of the wind blowing needles down.  It's a good thing.

Being able to do it myself.   It's a great thing.

Bandido still hanging in there with his pokey little walk.  It's a good thing.

Cantaloupe and watermelon right now!  It's a good thing.

Getting a good night's sleep.  Such a good thing.

Maryanne Turns 60!

Saturday night I was privileged to be invited to the surprise birthday party for Maryanne, our Relief Society President.  Her son had planned this party and had flown all the way from Arizona to pull it off.  He had invited her siblings and spouses who live in Chico, Paradise and Chester--there are four of them here.

 

He had also invited a several friends from the Branch.  SHE WAS VERY MUCH SURPRISED!

The birthday cake that her sister brought from Raley's had her picture on it!!  I have never seen any like this.  It was very well done!

 

The food and service was excellent.   We were at the Red Onion which has moved from Chester out to the Peninsula--so not far from my home. I   personally had  the Salmon and Garlic Mashed Potatoes and it was delicious and I had enough to take home for another meal. 

 

It was fun chatting with everyone and I am very impressed with Maryanne's son Chris.  He is 41 but looks much younger but a very impressive man.  He is in charge of  Golf Tournaments and a whole lot more.  He has lived in Florida, Mexico and now Arizona.

It's Me, Richard!

Richard, in high school.

 

Richard, when we married.



Richard, a few years before he passed away.

No doubt about it, he was handsome all the days of his life.  We miss you, Richard.  Whenever Richard called on the phone, he always said, "It's me, Richard."  Like I didn't know.
Wonder what he looks like in heaven.  When was his most perfect image?  And who of the children, grandchildren look the most like him, I wonder.

Happy Birthday, Richard!

Carole's Dog

Carole told about her dog's experience at the cabin last week and it was so like Bandido's.

While they were away from the cabin her dog got out.  He has a lot of the problems like Bandido, he can't see or hear well.  Anyway they searched and searched for him but to no avail.
Much, much later a stranger found him laying at the edge of the creek water edge.  He appeared to be dead, just as Bandido did.

She said she nursed him and even had to use a dropper to get nourishment and water to him.  Amazingly he recovered.  That TLC has amazing recuperative powers.  He now seems better than ever.  Not unlike Bandido.  The power of love and care in a cold uncertain world.

Yesterday I expected the debris to still be in the lake.  Amazingly it was just on the edge of the lake.  Mother Nature really does know what to do.  I was the only one in the lake again, just a few children playing on the edge.   I feel so much better by going everyday, I just wish it would warm up, the smoke would go away and we would have a long Indian summer.

Embers

Today was the first day the lake was really littered with ash and embers--largest about 2".  So dirty, I hope no one got it in their mouth.  There were about five or six boys with their Dad's today.

Strange this morning their was about a dozen birds in my yard at the same time.  Some drinking water, some running up the trees, some digging in the dirt and a couple big ones digging between the river rocks.  There were about four different kind.  I wondered if they had been dislocated because of the fires??  A deer was just here trying to get water, too.  This smoke cannot be good for them. 

Michael was complaining about some bird making strange sounds this morning and there was a big black one running around the side of the lake doing the same thing.  Complaining about the ash or what??

Right now there are eery golden spots shining on the ground as the sun tries to shine through
the smoke.  Wow, that was a big ember coming down.  Michael better get on the roof!

Danny

In 1957 I was in a play at 4th Ward in North Park.  Danny, one of the San Diego locals, played my son.  I had floured grey hair as his mother.   I also remember Danny and I stole a kiss behind the curtains one night.  Danny was the one who brought me a treat when I had my wisdom teeth out.  He stayed and cheered me up and told me about his experiences in Japan.  I also remember my beautiful new white blanket was stained when my gums bled in the night.  I was at the sink drenching my blanket in cold water, forgetting about the pain in my teeth.  Luckily it was white again.  It was also Danny who asked me to go to the Fireside with him the first Sunday I was back in San Diego after spending the summer at BYU after my break up from Bill.  Richard also asked me to go with him after he introduced himself but I went with Danny.

Danny was a good looking, fun guy who all the girls had a little crush on and he eventually married our friend,  beautiful Lani.

Lani and I were two of the BYU graduates who came to San Diego to teach in 56 and 57.  We drove all the way to Utah one Christmas when we were both alone in San Diego.  We had Christmas Eve in Las Vegas as we stopped for something to eat.  It was a spur of the moment trip and we arrived early Christmas morning at her relatives and mine.  Anyway fun memories of those dating years in San Diego--56 to 59.

Jump forward 53 years and Meagan is living on the same block as Danny and Lani and here is a picture of Meagan and Keira at Danny's 80th birthday party.  It is a small world, after all.

A Lonely Lake

I guess I am really committed to my water noodling exercise.  Today I was the only person at the lake, not even the lifeguards.  There was quite a bit of smoke on the main lake and it was a little cooler, however, the water was warm and smooth as ever.

I thought about the prospect of having a heart attack and no one being there but, heck, my license was in my beach bag and they would see a noodle flooding around and what a nice way to go, in a lovely serene mountain lake surrounded by lofty pines.  Can't think of anything lovelier.

Actually the worst I had was I didn't stay to sit in the sun as there was no sun.  Total smoke cover.  Ron and Jean are supposedly in a mandatory move area and would go to Dore's back apartment to stay in.  However, they don't plan on leaving but have packed some precious things and clothes just in case it does get worse.

It is like a ghost town here.  Weekend visitors are staying away. 

Jeanne wants me to come and help organize her pictures, papers, etc. and so I plan to go, in October.  She said she would pay my way.    Amazingly I can't find a direct flight!!!  Since Reno Air disappeared, the scheduling and service is not as good.  I can ride with Maryanne to San Diego and fly from there.  She is going to Santee and stay at her daughters for awhile after the baby is born.  Two trips in one???  Have to think about it.

Bandido made a big mess in his pen this morning.  I had changed it and gone back to bed and oh my, he was disturned when I woke up.  Mess all over his feet, everywhere on the towels.  He is so happy once he is bathed and his area all cleaned up again.  I think he loves his little pen and all the attention he gets.

Actual Waves Today

We had much needed rain this morning so we could see blue sky and the sun.  When I went to the beach at 1:15 the only ones there were two young lifeguards and one was laying there with his eyes closed.  The other was yelling to him to sit up when he saw me setting up my chair.  I asked them if something was wrong with the water since no one was there.

"No, it's fine", one of them said.  "Just a little cooler from the rain."  Actually it wasn't much cooler but it was much cleaner than yesterday.  And then the breeze came up and there was acdtually little ripples or waves on the water.  I have never seen that and thought we were in for a storm.  I thought I better leave when the lifeguards did, in case something happened.

When we swam in Glendive and a little storm would begin, they would tell everyone to get out of the pool.  You had to wait and see if it was going to be a lightening storm.  If it passed over, we could get back in.  Actually the wind calmed and I was able to spend a little time tanning my legs.  First time I have had a tan in oh so many years.

Anyway it was another pleasant day of  dog paddling with my noodle.

In Remembrance of John

Here's a picture of John  that surfaced this week,  He would have been 12 years old and had started surfing in 5th grade so was surfing mostly at La Jolla Shores at this time.   We had no way of communicating. however, when it was time for me to pick him up. 


So we had a plan.  I had a huge yellow umbrella and would walk the beach when it was time for him to come in from the sea.  It worked fairly well.  Eventually he began to bicycle with his surf board down to La Jolla Shores but I probably was still picking him up.  It would be four or five more years before he would have the Vokswagon and be able to drive himself.


Surfing was a great passion of his.  We miss you, John.  Happy Birthday.

Who Knew?

We were watching "Man in the Back Booth" on my computer because it was already on the dining room table and had the speakers hooked up.  Twice it died--overheating.  Then Michael tells me he always puts his laptop on two books so it can circulate air in the middle.  Who knew?

Interesting site called "Letters of Note".  I especially enjoyed a letter from Scott Fitzgerald to his daughter in camp on what to worry about and what not to worry about.  There was also one from Albert Einstein on his view of God. (He was an atheist)  And one from Hitler's nephew to President Roosevelt.  He had defected to England in 1939 and eventually to America and warned everyone he could about his uncle.  He wanted to join the US military and had been rejected by them.

I recently watched the whole 2004 season of "Sex and the City".  The thing I like about that show is the disecting of relationships and how the four women accept their own and each other's absolute individuality.  They are good listeners and supportive of each other.  And, of course, the clothes are so fun to see. 

Now, I am in to Reba reruns.  I like the way they can accept each other and make life work for them all.

Last night I slept 12 hours, with help, of course.  I have been stewing about so many things I just haven't been able to sleep.  Maria has been trying to help me with my distorted thinking and I appreciate the time she has put in to it.  We all have so much to learn about ourselves and each other.

Only Lady in the Lake

This water therapy at the lake is so good for me.  Today you could acttually see some blue sky for awhile but there was only a few people there.   By the time I left at two the smoke was worse and I did see some ash on the west end of the lake.  I find if I go back and forth the long way it actually takes about a half hour.  The swimming lake is really large this year and the water was so warm today.  It certainly lifts my spirits and I have felt the sore muscles so I must be doing something worthwhile.

I found an actually web site for doing water exercises with the noodle and this is how it described what I do.

Deep

In the deep water, you can sit on your noodle with one end in front of your body, and the other behind, and pedal your legs as if riding a bicycle. This position can also be used to challenge the arms by using a breast stroke to pull you through the water and allowing the legs to hang. Another use for this straddle position is to move your legs in a scissor motion, as if cross country skiing.

Exactly what I do.  I heard a little girl ask her Dad at the lake,  "Is that lady floating?" 

They Do It In the Movies

How many times have we seen a runaway heroine in a motel chopping off her hair and it ends up looking fabulous. 

I stopped wearing my hair short because I didn't want to have to get a hair cut every four weeks.  It was especially difficult when I was working out in the field on Disaster Duty to find a beautician on our off hours. 

Nevertheless every once in awhile it has to be cut.  This was that week but Shelley is evidently out of town so as I stood looking at myself in the mirror today, I thought, why not?--they do in the movies all the time.

So I took the scissors and chop, chop, chop, a half inch or so all over as much as I could and it doesn't look half bad...it works.

As I have been working on my San Diego memoir I have noticed I can tell how well we were doing by my hair do and my body.  If  we were doing well, I had a classy hair do and was slim and trim.  If we were not and I was working like crazy and had no time for for myself, I had put on weight and my hair looked lousy.  It's a fact...

PS--can't find my camera and I have looked in all the usual places, by my bed, under my bed, on my bed, in the kitchen, on my desk, in my purses, in my car, oh, woe is me...

Power Outages

Just as Michael was ready to warm up some chili, the power went out.  We scraped our monies together and bought him a Subway as I had to go into town to buy some envelopes anyway.  Doug Thayne has sent a copy of the Trust being drawn up for the cabin and asked if I would email it to Marilyn and Mary.  Unfortunately, they do not have email and I am totally out of envelopes.

When we returned the power was back on soon.  I was able to listen to a powerful talk given by Mitt Romney--with just a few notes in front of him--not a teleprompter.  This is a very interesting campaign as some of us cannot understand how anyone can have confidence in Obama and his cronies and the liberals feel the same way about Mitt.  Very interesting indeed.  I hate to get into politics on Facebook but it is getting harder and harder to not respond or not to share.  I would rather people kept Facebook more warm and fuzzy.

Last week I found my CD folder and so I have been listening to some of my favorites as I travel up and down to Susanville.  It is so funny that each song reminds me of a certain time and place or a certain person.  As one of my friends recently said it is such a blessing to have happy memories imprinted in our brains.  Certain songs can bring back a photographic memory of a scene in my mind and evoke laughter or nostalgia.  Randy in Guam was such a fun person in my life.  We shared a lot of personal information, he was the most sensitive man I have ever known, but he was not Gay.  He could also make me laugh even though we disagreed on so many things.  As I listened to one song today I remember him stomping in the parking lot and saying, "OK, that's it, the wedding is off!"  He was 23 years younger than me so it was just a funny joke, but so unexpected, he was like an actor performing for an audience he knew would appreciate his humor.  One day in Texas he got called on the carpet for sexual harassment because he was teasing us ladies with his buck teeth inserts.  So ridiculous.  If you couldn't laugh once in awhile those long days of tedious work would really get to you.  One day Julie had three of us laughing so hard we couldn't stop.  She had shared that last night her husband had said, "Why does it take me all night to do once what I used to do all night long?"  The guys wanted to know why we were laughing, we did not share that.

Another funny memory that came to my  mind from a song today was one Myrna shared with me.  In high school she had a boyfriend named Donny.  He went to the Army and she stayed home and because he was not ready for marriage and she was not going to college, she ended up marrying one of the oil men she was employed by.  Years later after she had left her husband because he was an alcoholic and she was in her 50's and had just gotten a new job near where her daughter lived in California, who should come up to the copy machine and say "Is that Myrna Graves?" but her old boyfriend Donny.  Small world, working for the same company.  No, they did not get back together.  He was married and died too young.  She ended up marrying one of her bosses again--it was good, but too short.  Why do all the good men die young????

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

We have had so much smoke from two fires near here that we rarely see the sun. For the most part the windows are closed and Michael is ready for winter to come!!!

Actually I have been enjoying "noodling" at the lake. I go down about 1 pm and because of the smoke there has been few people at the beach but when you are "noodling" in the water the smoke does not bother you at all. Since my thighs are hurting when I walk too much I find the exercise in the water is wonderful. The water feels like silk and is so warm--why haven't I been doing this every summer??? I am feeling great.

Money has been very tight for both Michael and I and that always depresses me but a few days ago I was reading about real poverty in Bangladesh and I felt ashamed as I considered how blessed we are in America. The interesting thing in the article as it talked about how anti-poverty programs of providing an asset and microfinancing have been used is that they discovered that there was much more success if they also provided a mentor to meet with them each week. This mentor would help them to have self-confidence in their enterprise and gave them HOPE!!! Without that HOPE the dream of a happy life eluded them. They also pointed out that it wasn't enough just to cheer the people up, they needed to provide them with purposefulness. A belief in a better future correlates with better performance, more money and improved health.

This is what we all need in life, a purpose, a feeling of hope and a sense of achievement. I am back to work on my San Diego book. I know it is really not needed by anyone else and may not even be read by anyone else but for me I want to complete it and then do my tie in book to my Lake Almanor books and I will feel like I have finished what I set out to do so many years ago when I started my journal. Will I include my negative experiences as well as positive--probably with wisdom from hindsight I hope.

I have a friend who is on a Spiritual Journey--trying to raise himself above just "positive thinking" into a higher relationship with God (metaphysics) and putting aside our earthly faults and being a better person. It is good to hear about--as for me I am still trying to put the positive thinking into my life and free myself from the suspicious skeptic I have a tendency to be. I think I was born a "Doubting Thomas" as I have always been a little bit wary of everything and everyone around me.

We had a very friendly meal after church on Sunday. Ron and Maryanne had prepared pulled pork and the rest of us provided salads and dessert. Many lingered as we talked and talked.

James and family are settled into their Del Mar place and feeling very good about things so hopefully he can pull it all together.

New fave in my life this week is warmed fresh blueberries on my yogurt each morning--love those blueberries. I have also revived the salad Mom made for us of cabbage, pineapple, and marshmallows with mayo and cream dressing. It tastes so good to me. There were several cabbageslaws at the church on Sunday that tasted good also.

Yesterday I realized how much interest Walmart charges--I should never be charging my food there. Michael says we don't need to buy anything but he asked me to make a big batch of chili and it does taste so good. We always need provisions for chili and milk so I am off to Susanville to make a visit to Golden and deposit some money and buy a little food anyway and I am sure I will visit Margie's Book Store and peruse the used books. Life is Good.

Memphis Belle

I just watched one of the best films to come out about WWII, the supposed true story of the "Memphis Belle" bomber plane which flew 25 missions and came in on a wing and a prayer on the last mission.  It was really exciting and made you realize the many problems of those old WWII planes.  Richard's brother Scott flew them.

This was probably the first movie Harry Connick, Jr sang in and I really liked the way he sang "Danny Boy".

Two days ago I watched "The Longest Day"--the story of D Day.  The landing on the beach was certainly a lot more tame and probably less realistic than that shown in "Saving Private Ryan".

Michael has been the chef the last two days and we have been watching "The Man in the Back Booth" on his computer while we ate.  It is last season's episodes and new season starts next week.  It is a series just shown on computer and very compelling.  I completely cleaned out and reorganized the garage today and found some room for Mike's stuff on the shelves.  Looks good and we changed the parking back to the way it was before!!!

Oh, yes, Michael's dessert that he shared "Boston Coolers" which is vanilla ice cream in Ginger Ale--actually very refreshing!

Proof

Here is the proof, I actually swam in the lake when Meagan and Keira were here.  Thank heaven this is a distant picture.  This was before I learned about riding on the noodle as an alternative to swimming.

 

Favorite Pix of Keira

Meagan took a lot of great pictures of Keira while she was here.  These are some of my personal favorites.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Swim Lesson

Keira was the only one of her age group to show up for her "Mom and Me" Swim Lesson so she had a private lesson with lots of cheering from the side.

 

 

 

 

Keira complied with most all their directions till she had had enough and then she got her strawberry licorice reward.

She really did well, I didn't get all the pictures.

 

Fun at the Beach and Learning to Swim

 

The reward for a good day's work in the lake.

Hey I like to wear this vest!

Practicing Keira's Swim Lesson.

Keira and Meagan at Lake Almanor

Keira and Meagan flew to Reno on Sunday and  by Sunday night we were playing on the slides and dancing to the Jazz band at the Bandshell.  Hopefully Meagan has a lot more pictures than I do.

Meagan and Keira have been at the lake everyday and Keira is happiest when there are other children to play with.  She has had one swimming lesson and appears to have no fear.

 

 

 

 The noodle is used for the children to hold on to while they kick.  The lady next to us on the beach told me I could ride on it and it would actually hold me.  Her son and I rode our noodles out to the deck and amazingly it does work.  You can get exercise with your legs and arms without all the work of swimming.  Keira has another lesson tomorrow.  Hope I get some more pictures.

It has been so fun to have them here.  We have also been to town and bought books and had frosties, Keira has walked Bandido, we had pizza at Buffalo Chips and played on the slide in Clear Creek and walked on the old bridge.  Keira has helped with tending Bandido and do the watering.  I just haven't gotten enough pictures!!!

The lake is so clean and warm, glad I finally got in it this year!