Packing and Planning

 The more I think about what to take, the more confused I get.  We'll be in several different towns before we get to SGI, so I won't be washing until the 4th day - so that many outfits anyway.  The rest of the time, it doesn't matter what we wear all day.  I'm more interested in taking entertainment for me when I'm not dozing on the deck or watching the girls play and adults fish.  I have so many things I want to do that it won't be a problem.  

Looks like we will spend one night in New Orleans and let the girls explore some in the morning and early afternoon.  Then we'll head to Andalusia to visit Alan and Kathy and Carol and show the girls were Mimi and PopPop grew up.  We'll stay in a hotel that night and hang around a while longer before we leave for Mobile.  I'm not sure how much Emily and Ryan want to do there.  I don't believe there would be any people they knew who live there.  The only goal is to get some good seafood and maybe go to Panama City Beach where we spent a lot of time through the years.  I know it's changed since we were there last, and Spring Break happening won't help the overcrowding.  

Really, who knows what we'll do.  As long as we get some groceries and head for the island on Saturday and get settled in.  I'll have plenty to say starting Wednesday.  I think Seattle is a good place to be flying out of, and the TSA people are back to getting paid and showing up for work, so maybe we won't have long waits.  

I meant to do several errands today but decided to wait until tomorrow since I'm going out to get my hair cut anyway.  There's very little I need to do, so hopefully Noreen and I will have time for a visit.  She brought over 2 cinnamon rolls and left them on the porch.  So good.  I think they had apples and raisins in them.  She was out, and I was expecting the girls after school, so I did more of my planning where things are going to go.  Gray did her homework almost the whole time she was here, and Kate played some game on the computer until it was time for them to go to soccer practice and DMW class.  I should have gotten out a little bit.  The weather is very nice, and the sky is blue.  I don't think the beach is going to be really hot - maybe low 70s the day we get there and windy.  

Tomorrow it will all come together one way or the other.  We'll pick the girls up from school Wednesday morning and head for the airport.  I'm looking forward to seeing the azaleas and dogwoods and everything spring about the South.  

The only kid picture I have lately.

And Kate holding up something that I've forgotten.  I think it's a treat from a friend at Mah Jongg.  

Enough for today.  Lots of nothingness but very enjoyable.  

Sleepy Sunday Afternoon

 Not much going on here except catching up on little things.  Emily is working on getting a few folks hired this weekend, and Gray ended up over here.  She had soccer practice earlier and then came over, and she and Elise watched a little TV - something about historic home refurbishing.  I tried to play some online Mah-Jongg but kept falling asleep.  

I typed this much and forgot to post it.  Now I can't remember what else happened.  Kate was with a friend, so I didn't see her.  If I don't write things down, I immediately forget them!

April Saturday

 I stayed up so late last night and slept only after 4:00, so I didn't get up until 9ish.  I'm not sure what's up with this insomnia and then not being able to sleep enough.  I'm not sick though, and the girls seem to be improving, so all's right in that area.  They wanted to come over today but had to clean their rooms first, so I had the day mostly to myself.  I spent some time checking all my stuff to make sure it was TSA compliant and making some copies of things in case I lose my phone, which I never have, but I would not be surprised to do just that.  

The girls and Carly met at the nearby Chevron station and got fruit slushies.  I'm not sure what they're called nowadays, but they are in colors designed to stain teeth and tongue and strange tasting, the one I tasted.  They took their drinks and their bare legs and arms and headed up to the school and Community Park to hang out a bit.  They didn't stay long and came home almost immediately.  I didn't ask, and they didn't explain.  Graysen's mood probably was setting the tone - tired, moody, bored.  After a confusing discussion about what they wanted to do and my offering to take them anywhere they wanted to go, they ended up running across the street to Fun Park, the smallest park ever.  Their name - only a huge rock and two benches but plenty of trees and shrubs and more rocks to do whatever role playing they were doing.  I looked out the window every once in a while, and they were very active, gesturing and hopping on and off the brick walls.  They finally came in and watched a Pokemon show (I hear)   I don't even know what that is, but it was definitely funny.  

They were wound up on the way home and tired of being teenagers and preteens and giggling and tussling in the back seat.  They are all so precious to me, even when they're being their brattiest.  

I took no pictures and really did nothing worth writing about, so I'll go dig up a couple of pictures from the past and just be thankful for a beautiful day with blue skies and budding trees.  

Just opening pages at random.

I was once brave enough to take a baby to Disney World and have a good time. Emily in 1978.  Me with what looks like a fresh perm.

My new pink tiles I got to attract the attention of the girls and maybe make them more likely to play with me.  They love the tiles but so far haven't thought enough of them to give me any attention.

Just a snowy day with a girl sitting on her great-grandmother's chest watching it snow.

I've forgotten how to download photographs without wasting a lot of time, so that's all I have time for.  I hope I can refresh my memory soon.  

Drop Out Day

 After having a full week full of packing and relearning to fly and Mah Jongg, I woke up this morning with a slight sore throat and in no hurry to get up.  When I finally did, I felt weak and still sleepy. I had a 12:30 appointment for a haircut, but when Beth called to cancel because she was sick, I was relieved.  Yesterday, my hair was in one of those rare states where it looked tolerable enough to skip a haircut.  But I did take a Tuesday appointment just in case.  A look in the mirror just now made me realize it won't hurt to do it.  

My thoughts all day:  I CANNOT be sick.  I usually don't allow myself to consider such, so I tried to ignore it, but I fell asleep in my chair in the middle of the morning and then went back to bed and slept several hours.  

Emily called about 4:30 and said she was on the way home and let me in on a lot of the news of the clinic - who is being hired and all that excitement - and asked if I wanted to come over and clear up some details of the trip.  We really haven't talked about it much.  It looks like one of those vacations where we just go where we want to for a few days and then end up at our destination for a week.  Lots of things depend on other people, on whether they can meet up or whether they can join us or none of the above.  We're okay with anything.  The 3 adults have a lot of memories to keep us busy, but the kids might bet a little bored with talk of the "old days."  We'll see what comes up, but we have just a few musts - one including the Original Oyster House in Mobile where I always got Mike's Grilled Shrimp with cheese grits and turnip greens with tasso.  Yum  I'm not sure how much it was when we used to go, but Mike W would have something to say about the $24 price tag, although after seeing prices here, it doesn't seem high at all.  

I just don't take pictures like I used to, so I'll be borrowing from the past months when I need something besides boring tales.  

The last thing we had was Graysen's band concert last week.  Elise and I went separately from the rest of the family but ended up on the same row.  It was good, and the kids looked like they were having fun with it.  I have a few pictures from a distance, but the music stand blocked their faces for the most part, so I relied on those taken by a school photographer.  

Graysen spots us from the waiting area of the seventh-grade band.  

This is a good picture of our friend Carly in the sixth-grade group, front and center!

And little sister Ida who sat two rows in front of us and kept an eye on us!  Love that bow!                                                             

         A little bit excited!

But serious when they need to be.  They sounded great.

This girl has a busy life, but I love that she is involved in school activities along with her team soccer outside of school.  This is her second year of band, and she completed two seasons of cross-country as well as two seasons of middle-school soccer.  She'd love to take track this spring, but where's the time to fit it in?  I'm hoping she and Carly and Katherine can all do cross-country next fall.  It would be a lot of fun to watch, but I'm not sure we can convince Kate of that!  She's not sure about the band and says she might or might not try it.  Keeping all her options open!  

Tomorrow is free except for a couple of errands I might decide to run and more perfecting my packing technique.

Happy Mah Jongg New Year

 I promised myself I would write something here starting in April, and what better day to do it than a celebration of our 2026 Mah Jongg NMJL card.  Today was the first time this group has played with it, and it was so much fun.  We were all mixed up most of the time with all the changes, but we were able to figure things out and have a good time.  Sharon brought some delicious goodies along with some 2026 New Year glasses, and we took a break and took some pictures and just celebrated playing together for several months now and enjoying each other's company.  

Sharon, our fearless leader, is in front and the picture taker.  Lori is on the back row left, then Gina, then me, always the life of the party, holding my card upside down!  

We almost forgot to add Natalia to the picture.  She comes to every game with her mother and plays there in our room.  I think she had been zoning out on chocolate at her little table and looking at us like we were crazy when Gina grabbed her for the picture.  She's almost lost behind her glasses!  We missed the others today.  It's very rare, with everyone's busy schedules and children and jobs, to get everyone there, but we usually will have at least 3 or 4 on Thursdays.  Sharon and I play on Tuesdays also with another couple and a big fellow group of around 6 or 8.  We're learning a lot and having fun.  We don't have house rules but want to learn by the National Mah Jongg League's rules.  While it's exciting to win, we get just as excited when someone else wins and pulls off a good hand.  

Not to get into too much detail because I would never move on, I'll just mention today a few things and try to be more consistent about keeping my memories written down. 

I'm going on a trip!  I thought I was done traveling and certainly done flying, so it's still surprising to me that I agreed to do it.  I feel like I'm never going to be much healthier than this, and what better way to make memories in my 80th year than to fly across the country, visit 6 states (some of them just driving through or flying out of), and spending hours in a car with the family sharing old memories and seeing familiar sights.  I might not go back again, so I'm drumming up a little excitement about it.  I'm not sure who we'll see, but I'll be sure to record all that when the time comes.  

Latest with the girls:  They've been sick for over a week now.  What bad timing!  Graysen went back to school Monday, but I'm not sure Kate has been this week.  I fact, she had another temperature today, so she's getting a flu test to see what's going on.  Poor things.  They're just sniffing and feeling alternately lousy and sick and then bored and wanting attention.  

Gray went to her school skating party Friday night even though she wasn't feeling her best.  She said she had a great time.  I knew she was going to meet up with a friend on the hockey team, and I asked today how that went.  She said, "He's a really good skater.  He can skate backwards with his hands in his pockets."  I said I hoped she was able to keep up, and she said very seriously, "Well, I'm not that bad myself."  She had one group of girlfriends who weren't as experienced yet, and she was able to enjoy some slow skating with them and then with others who were fast and crazy!  

Just heard that Kate indeed has the flu.

Emily says she's so pale with circles under her eyes.  Maybe she can get some rest and cuddling this weekend and recover before we leave on Wednesday.  I missed them this week, but they were smart to keep them away.  I sure don't need to be getting sick too.  

What else is going on?  Getting a mini hair cut tomorrow since I'm having wisps poking out that won't wait 2 weeks to get trimmed.  I'm glad I finally got a haircut that's short enough to not have to be dried and will hold up to the humidity I've heard still exists.  We'll go to New Orleans, Mobile, Panama City, and St. George's Island, FL, and I bet we'll be getting our fill of that humidity and heat.  

Noreen and I went to Home Goods and Marshall's yesterday just to look around and came home in a pouring rain.  She's a good driver, but I didn't enjoy the part where huge trucks were in the lane next to us on either side, and it was hard to see the road.  We got safely home and had naps to top off the afternoon.  There were really pretty things in Home Goods, but I really don't have any desire to have anything.  I'm happy with what I have right now with just a little holiday decorating sometimes. I was trying to find a few things for Easter baskets but had no ideas except for some different-looking candy.  Katherine is one of the few people who actually likes Peeps.  And ducks.  So I thought this would be good for her.  They've just had Christmas and Graysen a birthday, so I'm out of good ideas. The pistachio macarons were for Elise.   

Emily's company has bought the recently closed clinic down the street from me, and we were up there Friday night looking around.  It's bigger than I thought, and she's going to have an extra busy time trying to get people hired and positioned and all the updates that are going to be needed.  Like she wasn't already busy anyway.  

I'll leave with some pictures as it is now and call it a day.  The girls and I found a little freezer that had frozen ice all inside with cold packs lost amidst the ice.  We took it upon ourselves to start rescuing the cold packs and melting the ice.  It was a fun little activity and kept them busy while Emily worked in the office.  

Formerly Peak Physical Therapy - now Proliance.

Plenty of space for letting off some steam and setting up obstacle courses.

I think there are six treatment rooms and a central work room for the therapists.  Look at those views!

The Dollar Tree in this one.

Our ice project

    

I have lots to do tomorrow besides the haircut.  I probably won't see the girls because of trying to keep me from getting sick and Graysen meeting a friend after school for a movie, but it's time to do trial run of packing to see what goes where.  

December Days

 I want to remember this month and have it not be such a blur, but I find it hard to settle down to write anything.

Thanksgiving was different for us, as usual, but fun.  We staggered 3 different meals - vegan, Southern, PNW - throughout the week and enjoyed bits of all of it.  I'll get some pictures posted soon.  I have a good many, but they're all scattered among texts and cameras and unedited.

Day 1: Monday. I woke up with a burst of energy, which is unusual for me.  I usually have to get some protein and some coffee and take what pills I have for the morning, especially since I've usually been awake half the night.  We were aware that the maintenance guys were coming on Monday to do a safety inspection and check the fire alarm and ceiling sprinklers, so we made sure we could let them in.  Noreen asked me to go over for a visit, and I didn't need to be asked twice.  We've had such a busy week and needed a lot of time to catch up.  It was good to laugh and share our Thanksgiving pictures and get back on track.  It wasn't even as cold as we were thinking it would be.  I washed my 3 big front windows, inside and out, and felt pretty proud of that.  Then I refreshed the front door wreath and swept the porch a little.  

The girls didn't come after school, so I took back library books and picked up some, and by that time it was beginning to rain a little.  I then took my little Christmas tree over to Steller for the girls to put in the upstairs playroom to enjoy.  It was good to get that out of the garage, and I'm hoping it's the catalyst that will get me going on giving a lot of stuff away.  I still can't get to my bins of decorations, but no hurry. 

Lots of stuff happened in between - texting with family and friends and catching up and getting my first gifts ordered.  A good day, for sure.

Day 2:  It had gotten much colder and rainy overnight, and I didn't have as much enthusiasm, but I got all my laundry done plus part of the girls' and went through yesterday's mail.  Kyle and his helper came by and inspected the alarms and noticed that my stove doesn't match the other appliances.  It's still an old white one, although there's nothing wrong with it.  He said he would bring us a new one. Yay for us, I guess.  I just wanted him to get some new burner pans or whatever those things are called.  

Noreen brought over some homemade turkey soup, which was delicious and perfect for a gloomy winter day.  

The girls came after school, and Graysen and I talked about gifts for Kate that she wanted me to order, and when Kate came in after crossing guard, we played Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza.  I'm hopeless and slow and am always mixing up the pizza for cheese.  I didn't win.  They had to leave at 4:00 to get ready for soccer practice and DMW.  I sure hate to see them leave after it's already dark to walk home, but they don't seem to mind.  I just don't trust the drivers.  I feel like the girls are careful.  Emily sent me more pictures just now of them doing the second cat picture of their advent puzzle.  I think they're really enjoying it.  

The Nutcracker is Saturday night in Seattle, and they'll go with the Wheats.  They are wanting new dresses for the occasion.  Always a fun night.  Then Saturday night I'll babysit while Emily and Ryan go back to Seattle for a show they want to see.  There's entirely too much travel for me to relax, but I try to not be anxious.  They're leaving the 17th to go to Leavenworth where they plan to immerse themselves in as much snow as they can while I stay and babysit Gus and Luna.  

Today was supposed to be Mah Jongg, but some had doctor appointments, and one had an appliance repairman coming, so we took another day off.  We'll definitely be there Thursday, the ones of us who can.  It will be fun even with going out in what looks to be more cold rain.  It makes coming back home that much nicer.  

Nothing planned for Day 3 except to get the living room ready for the tree.  We moved chairs today and the desk, and I think we have too much furniture still.  It's going to be okay for the few days it's like this though, and we'll enjoy the new look.

I'm way behind on pictures, but here are a few of the puzzle nights and the end of the decorating.  Gray did not like the tree they picked out, but once they got most of the ornaments on, I think she likes it better.  

 

 Emily came across this beautiful little face in the old Christmas memories yesterday and sent it to me.  Such a sweet baby.  Is she eating a whole cake?

My Jumbled Mind

 The last days of October just flew by, and I don't even remember them.  I do remember the beautiful fall weather disappearing and the clouds coming - but not all day every day.  Just enough to let you know the seasons are changing.  We had some lovely monsoon-like windstorms that Elise and I enjoyed from our snug little apartment - warm and prepared with flashlights and candles.  We just had some brief flickering of light, thank goodness, but it was pretty messy looking out on the damage.

When I went to the dentist Monday morning, I started seeing detour signs as I approached North Bend.  Luckily, the detour didn't take me far out of my comfort zone, and I got to get my semi-annual cleaning done.  I've been going there for about 5 years, and it's a nice place.  One dentist, one hygienist - sometimes - one office person - sometimes one person is all three!  There's always good conversation, and I've never had to have any procedures done there, so that makes me happy.  

I made myself go to the grocery store on the way home, because I knew if I didn't stop, my procrastination would keep me from going at all.  It was pleasant even though rather crowded, and I took my time and got almost everything I went in for.  I saw a long line for the one checkout space available and opted for self-checkout, which turned out to not be a good idea.  I try to avoid it when I have full groceries just because it makes me tired to stand in one place and bend over and pick up stuff when I'm tired anyway.  And after filling up 4 of my bags, I noticed I was feeling a little warm and dizzy.  I got everything bagged up, but I could not manage to swipe my credit card and just put my head down on the shopping cart a minute.  Immediately, the staff swarmed around me and swiped my card and brought me a chair and offered me water and hovered quite a bit.  I was back to normal in about 5 minutes and felt ready to go, but one of the familiar guys who lives near me insisted on taking my groceries out and putting them in the back of the car.  I felt silly but was really glad to have that help.  Elise brought everything in for me when I got home.  I really wish I knew what caused this dizziness.  I think it's not eating breakfast and trying to do things even though I feel okay when I start.  I hate to complain because I don't like to have to depend on someone else to take me places.  Driving is never an issue, because I only feel dizzy when I stand in one place too long.  

It's been an unpredictable week.  I never know what I'm doing when I wake up but find out during the day if the girls are coming by and when and for how long.  That's fine, but I feel like I never see them enough lately.  I guess I don't even have any Halloween pictures.  I'll need to request some from Emily so I don't have to keep on writing about myself.  

I just did that.  She's planning a wreath-making afternoon for us next week at Squak Mountain Nursery.  I know it will be fun, and I'll actually get to see her in person for a change.  She knows I'm a klutzy crafter and wants to take me anyway!  I haven't driven on the new interchange yet - just haven't had the desire or the need - so I think that will be a good day for Elise to drop me off at the clinic and go buy her weekly Trader Joe's meals.  

Another thing Elise and I have done is try to clean out the "sewing room" and get rid of some of the things I know I'll never do.  That's usually fun for me, finding things and organizing, but I'm puzzled about where to keep them.  Elise needs more room, and I know once I put fabric and stuff in the garage, it will disappear from my mind unless I label VERY carefully.  So far, I have.

I'm getting rid of my old Christmas tree that takes up so much room on the shelves since Noreen was nice enough to gift me a bigger one last year.  I also have a chair and several boxes of things to put on the Buy Nothing FB page too.  I just procrastinate about taking those pictures and listing them.  It was nice to donate about 6 boxes of clothing and household things to a fundraiser at the high school in October.  It seems like the more I take out, the more I have, and I feel like I never buy anything new.  

I'm making detailed lists of the books I want to read and giving it more thought.  I've been on a downhill journey with reading lately.  It seems like nothing I've tried has pleased me, and I end up sending them back to the library unread.  I did read two quite extraordinary books this week though, and I just recommended them to Emily.  I'll copy my message to her to save time.

-- I've been crying over a book this morning, so I thought you would like it.  It's The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry.  Several times this week, I've been listening to it when I went to bed and fell asleep with it playing all night, I guess.  I must wake up some during that time, because I do remember excerpts from it later.  After doing this for the third time, I just went back to the halfway point and am taking the time to listen to it all at once.  I did miss a lot!  And it's good.  And sad in places.  And human and beautiful all at the same time.  The other one is Sipsworth by Van Booy.  Sipsworth is a mouse.  I probably wouldn't have read it if I had known that.  I just read a recommendation about how much people love it and how beautiful it is, so I listened to it.  When the heroine is about my age and adopts a mouse and shares strawberries with it, how can I not like it?  It's almost fantasy but realistic enough to identify with. I have holds for several other good-sounding books that will be trickling in in the next few weeks or months.

I don't see any pictures being delivered, and the only one I was sent this week was a video of a soccer game in the pouring rain and high winds with lots of screaming and laughter.  

Kate had that soccer game and a very good martial arts skills test that her teacher was pleased with this week.  She went trick-or-treating with her friend Eiri while Graysen was out with a soccer friend ringing doorbells somewhere else.  Gray and Sawyer went to a Halloween dance last Friday night, and she gave it a thumbs up, but I don't know any more details about it.  And probably never will!!

I had a fun morning one day last week when I got to visit with 3 friends - besides mah jongg ones - all on the same morning.  Mary asked me over to play Scrabble, and as I left, I once again ran into Peggy walking her dog Riley (I think.  She lost one recently).  She walked along with me awhile, and we had a nice chat.  Then as I passed Noreen's window, I peeked in and spotted her at her table.  She waved me in and made me some coffee, and we managed to catch up on so many things.  Our lives have been full of kids and activities and doctor appointments, so it was good to have the whole day to devote to friends.  

I do have some pictures.  The Wyvills invited me to brunch last Sunday morning, and I took a couple of pictures.  We played a complicated cops and robber and innocent people game that I never quite understood, but it was quite entertaining.  Carly had made pancakes, and there were English muffins and very good bacon plus some much-needed coffee.  It's always fun to spend some time with them.  Since they've moved a block or so away, we don't see as much of them. Well, Graysen sees Linda every day since she's her math teacher!

I missed getting pictures of the cats and the scary Halloween head in the window, and the one I took of Wes in the kitchen was blurred.  Unfortunately, they're moving completely out of the neighborhood next week but within walking distance.  

I tried to take some pictures of Kate in her punk rock outfit Friday after school, but Graysen took my camera and fancied up the ones she took until I hardly recognized her.  Looks like she had a hard day of recess in the rain and wind, but at least one eye retained the makeup!

I liked the whole look better - the black high-top sneakers with the untied laces, the leather jacket and the tattoos plus some leather studded wrist bands - or something! I miss orange ballerinas and Harry Potter costumes!

I took these on my way back from Mary's the other day.  It was a pretty day in spite of the clouds.

I surprised myself by taking out a yellow sign from the above picture.  It was pretty neat.

Emily sent me the soccer practice ones.  Those were some strange clouds.

Ryan brought over the girls' laundry that I love to do, and it was perfect timing.  I was about to do mine, so I'll have it all clean and ready to go in a few hours.  He also changed the filter in my car.  We have a nice bartering system!  Elise and I are babysitting for the whole weekend starting Friday, so we need to call in all the favors we can!