Mah*Sweet*Baboo is right at the top too. He's fine with me going on retreat. I married the right person, that's for sure.
Susan! I forgot to mention that the place I'm having my dress altered at happens to be a quilt shop! I've thought for years that they only sold sewing machines, but they have the BEST selection of calicoes and batiks that I've seen in Vermont! Whoo hoo! I was in there plotting my next quilt and I haven't even finished this one yet! :-D
BTW, I embroidered a male cardinal and a buck onto the quilt on Wednesday. Next up is a doe. Then I'll just have some sparkly thread to add to some very small places, for effect, and the four panels will be DONE.
Then it's on to the actual quilting stitches! Whoo hoo!!!
Oh--I asked where one could eat in the courthouse area and was directed by a deputy DA to the Oakland Police Department headquarters, just across from the courthouse. Down in the basement, with no signs to indicate its presence, is a very decent little cafeteria with moderate prices and a pretty good selection. A full magazine rack, but the chairs seem to have had too many big cops sitting in them over the years. It sure beats the snack wagon in the lobby of the courthouse. Reminds me of the airport employee restaurants--hidden away (ask a janitor where it is), very reasonable prices, and a lot of interesting customers. Just stash the obvious tourist things like cameras or suitcases and ignore the "employees only" signs. Maybe add an ID card from wherever you work.
Trip accomplished. Longest he's been left alone, so far. Behavior? Perfect! One bark as I closed the door on him. Grand sweet greeting on return. Absolutely NO damage of any variety. Didn't even bother the trash can. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!
I feel bad that I haven't been around much...but I feel like I'd just be a downer. Not a whole lot of happy news. And I'm just so NOT politically involved, it's kind of embarrassing.
Anyway, rough times. Thank you again, listener, for picking up with the posting.
Saw the most amazing thing coming home from town today. A doe, giving birth next to the road. My car scared her, and she got up in the middle of it, with the babies front legs hanging out as she ran. I'm going to assume she and the baby are all right. That was just about the spot I saw the mama with the brand new (still soaking wet) baby a couple of years ago. Wonder if it's the same doe. Maybe her sister? Promise *I* wouldn't have been able to run in the middle of birthin'. . . .
Mah*Sweetie and I got up earlier than optimal and met my cousin Tom and his wife Ann in Burlington for lunch. We like them very much and it was wonderful to see them again. At the end of lunchtime, they told us they had something for us in their car. When my Uncle Jim died a few years ago, he left a house that was filled to the gills, since he was such a pack rat. Tom and Ann sorted it all out (even found letters to and from my Aunt and Uncle dating from before they'd wed!). So they had for me a big box with a ribbon on it. And inside? My mother's paintings!!!!! I have one of hers, my brother has one and my older sister has one. That's all we knew were still in existence. This is a box of something like 10 paintings!!! They aren't her best, but I remember watching her paint some of them, and I learned a lot about brush strokes by watching. Since I have so few mementos from my childhood this is a huge find. Mind you, they are yellowed from all the cigarette smoke my parents emitted over the years, and none has a decent frame. But all of that can be amended. I am so grateful.
And as if that weren't enough to full my cup today, I discovered that I have been planning my time off from work assuming I get two weeks of paid vacation. I was reminded by the Library Director that I get three weeks of paid vacation! What's more, I have to take it all by December 8th (my start date), and so far I've used one day. I'm planning on taking a day for a family reunion in July and two days for the wedding in August, and two days for the retreat in October. Turns out I also have three more days!! Whoo hoo!! Plus, tomorrow our sick time resets, so I have 5 days of sick time available too. The second half of the year is going to be a lot sweeter than the first half was! Ha!
And as if all of that wasn't enough to make my day ten times over, we have a silent auction each month at the Library which raises money for the Library. Local businesses donate goods and services and the money goes to help keep the Library afloat. And tonight I was the highest bidder for the June auction item: A $20 party platter every month for a year!! It can be sandwich wraps or veggies and dip or a fruit plate or a pizza or whatever we want. Sweet!! Now when family is coming to visit we can have a simple dinner, or party perker-upper. I may ask how they'd feel about giving us several months' worth at once in August, because of the food we'll need after the wedding rehearsal. All this and retreat too!!!
I feel utterly soaked in gratitude! =Simply Awesome!=
Thanks. I *do* know that it's not super political.
I was recently recalling the "Kittens for Dean" picture that we Photoshopped "back in the day". That was Stevie--the cat in my avatar--when we first got him. When Daughter was 8 and still allowed me in her life.
So that era was a whole other lifetime. Currently there's a pet rat on death watch in our office and I've got a collie who *wants* to eat, but currently can't stand and won't eat lying down. I've got a husband working nonstop on an animation project that may or may not actually result in some money.
And I've seriously got to look for work. That's hard to do on a good day.
That is absolutely astoundingly amazing. I am sure she and the fawn are fine, puddle. This is exactly what deer are supposed to do in the middle of birthing if they feel threatened. She's a good mama...perfect instincts. She just needs to find a more secure location when she goes into labor..! What an amazing experience to see that. I'll bet it stays with you always. I recommend you go over that way around the same time of day several times and see if you can spy the two of them somewhere.
listener, it all sounds lovely..... your mother's paintings, the days off, the auction win, the retreat. Well-deserved, my friend. Hope you enjoy it all to the max.
puddle, I surprised a rabbit in the birthing process. Did not end well. Freaked me out. She had built her nest right in our front yard. The male was standing guard and I was curious as to why she seemed frozen in place. One baby had been successfully born, but the one I surprised her birthing didn't survive. Made me feel just awful. The one that survived did grow up to leave the nest.
The new thread won't open for me due to some Internet weirdness I suppose, so I will post here (after all, it is still before midnight out here).
Renee {{{HUGZ}}} ! You know this place wouldn't be without you, how could you not be welcome here? Troubles come not single spies but in battalions (or in bunches like grapes and bananas, as my folks said). Use our shoulders when you have a need.
Bill--I just hadn't heard of fiberglass window frames before. Sounds like it should be better than metal--less heat loss, no sweating.
Sounds like things are going well for you, listener!
Our excitement for the day came when an onion came apart as Miyoko was slicing it with a nice new sharp vegetable slicer and she sliced maybe two mm off the end of the right ring finger. When I got home maybe half an hour later it was still bleeding so freely I couldn't see the actual wound, so off we went to the ER as a precaution. It took about two hours to stop bleeding, but it wasn't a cut that could be closed up with stitches. It should be well on its way to being OK in a couple of days, I expect. [Am I allowed to say that until then I am her right hand man? (He ducks...)]
This evening we visited friends; the husband is receiving experimental chemotherapy for disseminated melanoma, and he's having a LOT rougher time of it than I did.
Howard Dean rocks First!
ReplyDeleteMah*Sweet*Baboo is right at the top too. He's fine with me going on retreat.
I married the right person, that's for sure.
Susan! I forgot to mention that the place I'm having my dress altered at happens to be a quilt shop! I've thought for years that they only sold sewing machines, but they have the BEST selection of calicoes and batiks that I've seen in Vermont! Whoo hoo! I was in there plotting my next quilt and I haven't even finished this one yet! :-D
So here's someone who deserves a Best Grammie Ever award!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/grandma-revives-toddler-from-drowning
BTW, I embroidered a male cardinal and a buck onto the quilt on Wednesday. Next up is a doe.
ReplyDeleteThen I'll just have some sparkly thread to add to some very small places, for effect, and the four panels will be DONE.
Then it's on to the actual quilting stitches! Whoo hoo!!!
Oh--I asked where one could eat in the courthouse area and was directed by a deputy DA to the Oakland Police Department headquarters, just across from the courthouse. Down in the basement, with no signs to indicate its presence, is a very decent little cafeteria with moderate prices and a pretty good selection. A full magazine rack, but the chairs seem to have had too many big cops sitting in them over the years. It sure beats the snack wagon in the lobby of the courthouse. Reminds me of the airport employee restaurants--hidden away (ask a janitor where it is), very reasonable prices, and a lot of interesting customers. Just stash the obvious tourist things like cameras or suitcases and ignore the "employees only" signs. Maybe add an ID card from wherever you work.
ReplyDeleteEnd of rant.
Pretty day! One past seventy. Trip to da big town in sight, and then I won't have to go *anywhere* for two weeks, yay!!
ReplyDeleteTrip accomplished. Longest he's been left alone, so far. Behavior? Perfect! One bark as I closed the door on him. Grand sweet greeting on return. Absolutely NO damage of any variety. Didn't even bother the trash can. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!
ReplyDeleteNitpicker! They're double-pane glass in fiberglass frames, of course. The whole thing together is the window.
ReplyDeleteSo puddle's trip is accomplished. Mine is about to begin. See you all Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteTraveling mercies, Bill! And have a lovely time!!
ReplyDeleteI feel bad that I haven't been around much...but I feel like I'd just be a downer. Not a whole lot of happy news. And I'm just so NOT politically involved, it's kind of embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, rough times. Thank you again, listener, for picking up with the posting.
I'm enjoying it, Renee. This is such a nice bunch of Deaniacs to post for. ♥
ReplyDeleteAnd ... have you read our postings lately? We don't wax very political around here!!!
Just come by and be part of the community.
You don't have to be smiling; this is a come as you are party.
:-)
Saw the most amazing thing coming home from town today. A doe, giving birth next to the road. My car scared her, and she got up in the middle of it, with the babies front legs hanging out as she ran. I'm going to assume she and the baby are all right. That was just about the spot I saw the mama with the brand new (still soaking wet) baby a couple of years ago. Wonder if it's the same doe. Maybe her sister? Promise *I* wouldn't have been able to run in the middle of birthin'. . . .
ReplyDelete~*~ ♥ ~*~
ReplyDeleteWeeeellll, my big news of the day:
ReplyDeleteMah*Sweetie and I got up earlier than optimal and met my cousin Tom and his wife Ann in Burlington for lunch. We like them very much and it was wonderful to see them again. At the end of lunchtime, they told us they had something for us in their car. When my Uncle Jim died a few years ago, he left a house that was filled to the gills, since he was such a pack rat. Tom and Ann sorted it all out (even found letters to and from my Aunt and Uncle dating from before they'd wed!). So they had for me a big box with a ribbon on it. And inside? My mother's paintings!!!!! I have one of hers, my brother has one and my older sister has one. That's all we knew were still in existence. This is a box of something like 10 paintings!!! They aren't her best, but I remember watching her paint some of them, and I learned a lot about brush strokes by watching. Since I have so few mementos from my childhood this is a huge find. Mind you, they are yellowed from all the cigarette smoke my parents emitted over the years, and none has a decent frame. But all of that can be amended. I am so grateful.
And as if that weren't enough to full my cup today, I discovered that I have been planning my time off from work assuming I get two weeks of paid vacation. I was reminded by the Library Director that I get three weeks of paid vacation! What's more, I have to take it all by December 8th (my start date), and so far I've used one day. I'm planning on taking a day for a family reunion in July and two days for the wedding in August, and two days for the retreat in October. Turns out I also have three more days!! Whoo hoo!! Plus, tomorrow our sick time resets, so I have 5 days of sick time available too. The second half of the year is going to be a lot sweeter than the first half was! Ha!
ReplyDeleteAnd as if all of that wasn't enough to make my day ten times over, we have a silent auction each month at the Library which raises money for the Library. Local businesses donate goods and services and the money goes to help keep the Library afloat. And tonight I was the highest bidder for the June auction item: A $20 party platter every month for a year!! It can be sandwich wraps or veggies and dip or a fruit plate or a pizza or whatever we want. Sweet!! Now when family is coming to visit we can have a simple dinner, or party perker-upper. I may ask how they'd feel about giving us several months' worth at once in August, because of the food we'll need after the wedding rehearsal. All this and retreat too!!!
ReplyDeleteI feel utterly soaked in gratitude! =Simply Awesome!=
Thanks. I *do* know that it's not super political.
ReplyDeleteI was recently recalling the "Kittens for Dean" picture that we Photoshopped "back in the day". That was Stevie--the cat in my avatar--when we first got him. When Daughter was 8 and still allowed me in her life.
So that era was a whole other lifetime. Currently there's a pet rat on death watch in our office and I've got a collie who *wants* to eat, but currently can't stand and won't eat lying down. I've got a husband working nonstop on an animation project that may or may not actually result in some money.
And I've seriously got to look for work. That's hard to do on a good day.
That is absolutely astoundingly amazing. I am sure she and the fawn are fine, puddle. This is exactly what deer are supposed to do in the middle of birthing if they feel threatened. She's a good mama...perfect instincts. She just needs to find a more secure location when she goes into labor..! What an amazing experience to see that. I'll bet it stays with you always. I recommend you go over that way around the same time of day several times and see if you can spy the two of them somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWow, listener! I'm impressed! And glad. So glad. Coming together nicely, now. After such a long time of anxiety. Couldn't happen at a better time!
ReplyDeletelistener, it all sounds lovely..... your mother's paintings, the days off, the auction win, the retreat. Well-deserved, my friend. Hope you enjoy it all to the max.
ReplyDeletepuddle, I surprised a rabbit in the birthing process. Did not end well. Freaked me out. She had built her nest right in our front yard. The male was standing guard and I was curious as to why she seemed frozen in place. One baby had been successfully born, but the one I surprised her birthing didn't survive. Made me feel just awful. The one that survived did grow up to leave the nest.
Sending hopes for good job hunting, Renee. ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks, puddle and Susan. :-)
ReplyDeleteUnder the Wing, all! ♥
The new thread won't open for me due to some Internet weirdness I suppose, so I will post here (after all, it is still before midnight out here).
ReplyDeleteRenee {{{HUGZ}}} ! You know this place wouldn't be without you, how could you not be welcome here? Troubles come not single spies but in battalions (or in bunches like grapes and bananas, as my folks said). Use our shoulders when you have a need.
Bill--I just hadn't heard of fiberglass window frames before. Sounds like it should be better than metal--less heat loss, no sweating.
Sounds like things are going well for you, listener!
Our excitement for the day came when an onion came apart as Miyoko was slicing it with a nice new sharp vegetable slicer and she sliced maybe two mm off the end of the right ring finger. When I got home maybe half an hour later it was still bleeding so freely I couldn't see the actual wound, so off we went to the ER as a precaution. It took about two hours to stop bleeding, but it wasn't a cut that could be closed up with stitches. It should be well on its way to being OK in a couple of days, I expect. [Am I allowed to say that until then I am her right hand man? (He ducks...)]
This evening we visited friends; the husband is receiving experimental chemotherapy for disseminated melanoma, and he's having a LOT rougher time of it than I did.
TTFN