I Finally Got Hot

 I've been waiting to bask in some warmth, but there wasn't any basking - just full-fledged heat!  I forget how much energy it takes to be hot.  

It also takes forever to make a simple outline of the day ahead so everyone knows what to expect, when, and where.  Right before lunch, I got a text from Gray saying that they'd like to swim and bring their friends Ellis and Harper.  That was fine with me, and I proceeded to get myself prepared - which doesn't take much more than just grabbing some Capri-Suns and putting them in a bag.  

Before I had a definite time, Harper and Ellis had been delivered by Nonnie, who wasn't really sure they'd been invited.  My look of confusion probably didn't add to her confidence.  I told her the girls were still at their house but were "on the way."  When I called Ryan, he seemed not to know anything was happening and quickly got them headed over with the big seal float hanging out the truck window!  

They were scurrying around changing into swimsuits, eating, drinking, hunting goggles, and just confusing me.  We were finally off - without goggles - to walk to the pool.  Luckily, the girls are all big enough now to settle in a little area and put on their own sunscreen and get ready to jump in.  I'm still wondering why 3 out of the 4 had on socks with their slides.  

We immediately saw Melissa from the apartment above us and two of her three kiddos plus two more little girls.  One of them, Zoe, said she knew me, but I don't remember her.  She and her mom were speaking another language, and I'm sorry I don't know exactly which one, but it was beautiful - Russian, I would guess.  The two groups, as is typical, ignored each other at first and did their own things.  Once in the little hot tub where they had to be in close quarters, I heard them making a little conversation.  

I happened to be talking to another person about her granddaughter and whether she lived in the apartments or not, and we found out she was Noreen's former upstairs neighbor who had moved to a one-story apartment.  That was nice to know.  I felt like I already knew her, and she'll be spending a lot of time at the pool, it sounds like.  

I read some but can't remember what I read, with all the eavesdropping on what the kids were saying and doing.  My four were doing role-playing, and that always makes me smile.  It gives you some inkling of what's going on in their minds without having to ask questions.  

Sorry that this is the only picture I took all day.  Graysen on Harper's shoulders.

Except for these.  I feel like it's my fault but not totally.  I saw a box of Skittles in the kitchen snack cabinet and grabbed them for the bag.  Naturally, Gray was a partaker and messed up one of the brackets on her braces.  She didn't seem overly concerned, but I knew they had to be taken care of, so I texted pictures to Ryan who talked with the orthodontist.  I don't know what that means, whether they'll have to do to Seattle today or not.

Right before we left, a few adults and 4 children showed up that I think were a couple of the new PTs at the new Proliance clinic.  I'm not sure, but the children fit the age bracket, and I know they live in the apartments.  So cute.  Then along the trail by the fence came Mary on one of her daily walks, headed to the workout room.  We talked very briefly about playing Scrabble this morning but didn't get anything worked out.  I've texted but didn't hear anything back.  I'm also not sure what the girls will want to do this afternoon.

We eventually got everything gathered up and headed back to the apt with all the usual petitions for more time together.  Whatever was decided, it wasn't going to be with me.  First, there is very little room for four big girls to enjoy hanging out, and secondly, I was beat and ready to cool off and be alone for a minute.  One decided to go home and the other three to hang out together - at their house!!  So we went and fed the cats and played with them a while and then I took them and dropped them off.  I know Gray had soccer practice at 6, but by that time I was already asleep.  The nap turned into all night, and I woke up at 6:15 this morning.  I would love to say refreshed but not hardly.  I seem to have just more stiffness and aches than usual the more active I get.  I guess I knew getting older wasn't going to get easier every day.  

On Monday, I went and watched Kate at her stripe test, and that was so much fun.  I didn't know what was going on most of the time, but she is such a serious little being.  Toward the end, she did relax and have more smiles.  Ryan and I took some pictures, but it was mostly videos.  I'll try to get some of his clearer ones here later on.  I've run out of time and will just pick a few pictures for now. 

Brief Sleepover

After the last Pokemon adventure, the girls got ready for bed and sat on my bed talking.  Such a sweet time.  They're just so interesting and funny, and we hardly have time to just have those quiet times for chatting.

Kate is usually in my pictures a lot, but somehow this weekend, she stayed in the background - or took the pictures.  I'll make up for it.  It's rare that they're still enough or normal enough to warrant another picture to add to my thousands.

Graysen has gone from Harry Potter to "trying" to read some Jane Austen books.  She doesn't find the books as interesting as the movies, which she loves, and I don't think she has much spare time for reading yet this summer.  She did want to share the book she brought with her, and I'm sorry (I guess) that I didn't get the name of it.  She told me in quite a bit of detail what it's about, and it's hard to get used to how their interests change.  This one is all about murder - all the chapters have a related but different one.  I think I got the gist of it.  I did get a lot of detail, and she didn't find it disturbing at all. It's geared for teenagers or young adults and seems to have a good story, so she was smiling most of the time she was talking about it.  Who knows?  I did say, "Do Mom and Dad approve of this?"  She said, "Oh, yeah."  Emily always did have strange tastes in books, so of course she did.  We do read a lot of the same ones now though.  

I did go back and find out more about the book.  It's called Five Survive.  The author is Holly Jackson, an author from the UK, who wrote an earlier series called The Good Girls' Guide to Murder.  This book reached the New York Times #1 spot as a Young Adult Hardcover Book Best, so I guess it must be readable.  I actually heard about it last year when, much to Kate's disgust, a lot of the girls were reading this series.  She thought it was awful until she read some of them and decided you can't judge a book by it's cover - or title.

Anyway, here's Gray talking me through the first 3 chapters.  She said it started to get boring after 3 chapters.  I don't doubt that at all!

We didn't finally go to bed until nearly midnight.  They were afraid they couldn't sleep, but they were out before I was - and I had had a really tiring day.  I woke up around 4:30 and stepped over and around them to get out of the room.  I love it that they still want to sleep in the same room with me.  I haven't lost them completely.  

They'll hate that I took pictures of them sleeping, but I don't care.  They aim that camera at me way too much.

I got so much done while they slept, and they slept until almost 9:00.  I cleaned out more of my sewing desk and managed to throw away a little bit and designate a few things to give away.  Elise saw my collection of scissors and sarcastically asked if I thought I had enough.  Never!  Some are inherited, some are pinking shears, some are just cheapies, and I have only a few good pairs.  I depend more on rotary cutters and rulers for quilting, so I like to have a few good sharp little pairs.

I made it through elastic and divided it once more into sizes and type.  Same with Velcro and cording and binding.  It was fun to see what I have and maybe give me a little boost in my interest.  

When Ryan called to give me the day's schedule and tell me that he was coming to pick up the girls in 30 minutes, I was not thrilled.  I finally talked him into an hour so I could feed them a good breakfast.  They had babysitting duties all morning and possibly feeding the neighbor cats in the afternoon.  They ate some scrambled eggs and a banana and got a hot berry muffin thrown in at the last minute before they wheeled off on their bikes.  It's so hard to stand there and watch them ride away.  

They have a new cousin in South Dakota - Albie.  I've seen quite a few pictures on FB, so I thought I would post a few.  He has a big sister, Sailer, that the girls have actually met and played with and keep up with her mother's Facebook news.  So sad that they don't get to grow up with them.  I guess they are second cousins.  The dad Logan is their first cousin.  

Beautiful babies.  I have doubts that I'll ever meet them, but I bet the girls will be seeing them pretty soon , either here or in SD.  

Emily got through her second day of soccer tournament duty and is hoping not to be needed as much today.  I know she's exhausted after the clinic craziness this week.  I'm looking forward to hearing all about the opening and how the first 3 days went.  

I'm not sure what I'll do today, but I have 3 books started and a new Mah Jongg strategy book (it's about time to learn some).  I have earmarked my filing cabinets to clean out today and got a good start earlier.  I'd love to pare it down to just two drawers, and I think I can, and keep them in the garage.  Tomorrow I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor and then Mah Jongg at 1:00.  I'm tentatively thinking about letting Katherine sit in on a few of the games - or at least watch us - especially since there is another beginner, and we won't be playing very fast.  I don't know how the other ladies will take that, so we might have her just observe!

I don't know what the rest of the week holds, but if the girls are tied up with babysitting several mornings this week, Elise and I might try to get to Issaquah to donate a few boxes of things and get them to send a truck for a few bigger pieces.  Ryan is going to dread seeing me when I get ready for neatening up in there.  I need more wreath hooks and shelves moved, bins taken down from the top shelves and looked through and replaced.   Some things for a junk run and a few repairs.  I just love having so few things.  It's not really that few, but compared to the way my life was 12 years ago, it's a drastic change.  

Looks like a moving van at the house across the street.  I hardly ever saw those neighbors but a sweet couple with 3 little boys.  They mainly came and went through their garage and back alley, not out the front door across from me.   

I'm keeping my eye on the weather and hoping for some warm weather to get the girls into te pool - maybe Tuesday up to 80.  

We'll see how these plans go.  Friends in South Carolina are already getting ready to get their children back in school.  Good grief!

Friday Night Sleepover

 Not as exciting as it once was, I'm sure.  After camp, they had to get showers and change clothes, so it was after 7 when they got there. They rode their bikes, but we parked those and ran over to take care of their cat duties.  I let them do everything alone as a rehearsal for going by themselves tomorrow.  Hail, the black kitty was friendly and immediately ate his half of the food, plus a couple of treats.

Kipo was shy with us today.  I think he's really missing his family.  

We stayed awhile and tried to coax him out, but he was not feeling social.

So Hail cleaned up his half of the wet food.  They have plenty of dry food in an automatic feeder, so he won't be hungry, but I feel sad for him.

They added more water for the cat fountain and changed the litter.  Hail got brushed and petted, but Kipo remained under the table.

 

We had planned to stop at Ria Bravito on the way back for quesadillas, but when we got there, we found they had closed at 8:00.  They comforted themselves with taking pictures of their surroundings. 

Kate wants recognition for this beautiful photo.  I just noticed the bug on top.  Gray took the one with the sunset brightening Mount Si.

No one was really hungry, so we came home and thawed their leftover pizza from their last sleepover.  Along with vanilla ice cream with caramel topping.  It was a beautiful night, and I didn't really want to go inside.  

I guess the soccer games were successful.  Emily worked until 8:30 and will start over on day 2 tomorrow.  

Girls are watching Emma with Elise and have been promised 3 episodes of some Pokemon movie. 

I hope no one wants to stay up late.  😴

Summer Chaos and a Long July Catchup

 It seems that half my life I have trouble finding anything going on worth writing about, and then there are times like this where I can't keep up with it all and have no time for writing it all down.  What a crazy time it's been this year.  On top of the usual activities for the girls, this Proliance Clinic opening on the Ridge has consumed all of Emily's time and energy and thoughts, and we're trying not to NEED her so much.  It's not over yet, but they did have the soft opening Wednesday, which went well, I hear, and yesterday I even received some texts with FUN emotis and laughing faces and a sense that it was a really nice day. 

I got invited up to see the remodeling (almost finished) Tuesday night, and it was just lovely.  It looks like double the space and so light and open.  

I know there will be glitches and problems, like anywhere, but I'm really proud of her for giving up so much to get this project finished.  Her only reward will be sleeping for about a week when it's all over.  Which won't happen this weekend, because the company is sponsoring the Cascade Soccer Tournament here in town, and they will be on duty Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at two different parks.  Fortunately, Graysen doesn't play until next weekend - and yes, it happens again NEXT weekend - for a different age group.  Our tiny town will grow by 7000 people over 3 days, and I can't even imagine where they're going to park or sleep.  I'll try to think ahead next time there is an event like this and go on a vacation and leave the apartment and, more importantly, my parking space, to a newcomer.  One of the exits onto I-90 is also blocked because of construction.  Luckily, I just don't have to worry about things like that too much.  

All that's been going on:

--School ended, and the girls seem to have found employment to fill in their time around camps.  I'm going to have to make appointments to see them.

--Kate has been asked by a young family to be a "mother's helper" for 3 mornings a week to help out with entertaining their 6-year-old while one or both work at home.  I don't have all the details, but I know that Kate met and bonded with the little girl when she was her reading buddy at school.  Fifth graders are assigned a kindergarten reading buddy during the school year, and this worked out so well.  Kate has been beside herself with excitement.  I hope it works out as well as it seems to be going.  

Then one afternoon a week, Graysen is going to watch both children - the 6-year-old and the 2-1/2-year old for a few hours.  They accompanied them to an event in town, and it sounds like it's good for everyone.

Unfortunately, the SweetLines mountain bike camp that the girls love so much is every day this week in Issaquah, so they can plan nothing but that.  So much fun seeing friends from years past and getting all that exercise - plus bruises, bug bites, and dirt.  That ends today but so glad they got a chance to do it.

--As for me, Elise and I are cleaning the garage still and gave away a whole bunch of stuff.  That's hard work, watching the FB page for people requesting things and setting up a porch pickup and changing times and items around.  It became a full-time job for a few days.  I was up in the middle of the night adding just one more item to a bag and trying to remember who it was who asked for it and when they were coming by.  I enjoyed some nice conversations during the whole process.  Some I remember:  Donating fabric and sewing books and patterns to a 12-year-old girl who is already making her own clothes as well as doll clothes.  What a go-getter.  I think she is even selling earrings and things she's made at a kids' bazaar somewhere.  So glad to help even a little bit.

Another person saw a random shower head I had taken off the apartment shower and asked for it since they all of a sudden had theirs mess up.  You never know.  I had caramel K-cups we weren't going to drink, and someone who likes caramel coffee ran by and picked them up.  Strangely, no one wanted a perfectly good coffee pot that uses K-cups and a brewer.  I think we handled a dozen or more giveaways and made a nice dent in our mess.  We have only a back seat full of donations now for when we have time to go to a thrift shop.  Ryan is going to take some things to try to sell.  I don't like that part of it - the selling.  I have found it easier to just open the trash can lid and throw away things!  Now I have to keep myself away from checking out other people's free things and bringing them home.  Luckily, there's very little I want right now - just more room for what I have.

This Barbie Camper was hard for the girls to part with, and they're in luck, because no one else wants it either.  I see a sneaky trip to the dump for that and a few other things.  

-- The girls have another job that I'm a little involved in until camp is over.  Our former neighbors and sweet friends are spending 10 days on the East Coast and trusting us to take care of their two kitties.  They will ride their bikes the mile or so (maybe) starting Saturday, but Elise and I went over to check things out and feed them the first 2 days and give them some petting.  They were friendly but not really excited to see us.  Give them a few days, and I think they'll be glad to see people.  And hopefully pictures to add today.

I'm really impressed at how early and how innovative some of the middle school and high school kids are with jobs and responsibility.  Dog walking, cat sitting, babysitting, running errands, yard work.   They're making their own ads and sharing them on FB through their parents' pages.  So nice. And still keeping up with the numerous activities they have.  I wish we could put some of these fast scooter and bike riders to work.  I'm so afraid of hitting one, the way they just dart out of nowhere in front of my aging reflexes!  

---- Mah Jongg!  We've had to take a lot of time off our twice weekly games because of family things - kids, vacations, just general busyness, but we did get together yesterday for a nice time at the Y.  The three of us regulars enjoyed catching up, and we had a new person join us.  She's only had a few lessons but is very eager to learn, and we all need to slow down and go over the rules sometimes.  She lives in Scottsdale and come here to spend some time visiting her WA grandchildren - just a few of her 11 grands! We're set to play Tuesday again.  

Kate and I finally got a chance to sit down and continue with her learning while Gray was at soccer practice.  She is going to be really good if she keeps on at this pace.  I helped a little, but she knew which hand she was looking for and accomplished it.  

We then sat on the porch while we waited for Emily to pick up and listened to the Music in the Park a few blocks away.  I'm not familiar with bands or anything.  Someone said something about a Tom Petty cover band.  I don't know, but it did sound good, and it sounded noisy and happy over there. It was so perfect as far as temperature - maybe a little cool - but birds singing, fresh air, people walking by and saying hello.  Emily thought Kate and I were having heartfelt conversations or something when she drove up, but she soon found out I was teaching her some Southern expressions.  One of Mike's favorites was "Mama and 'em" to describe several family members or even just one person.  You have to say it with just the right dialect though, so it comes out - Here comes Mama Nem. Or sometimes even Momern 'em!  She practiced and was going to try it on Ryan, who loves to collect Southernisms.  One of our favorite is "It's comin' up a cloud" which we can use here practically every day over 3 seasons.  

--- Today is cat feeding, picking up the few grocery items I forgot yesterday, picking up a book at the library, maybe some late-afternoon time with the girls.  I hope they're not too ambitious.  

--- I'm reading - on line - The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, the author of the book The Help which we enjoyed so much - the book and the movie.  This one takes place in Mississippi - I think The Help did also - during the Depression.  I can see it's going to make me cry before I get through with it, although this author is very entertaining.  I wanted audio, but it would have taken me a year to get that free, so I downloaded the actual book.  Sometimes it's good not to multitask and just sit down and concentrate on a good story.  I have so many library holds lined up, and I'm afraid they're all going to come in at the same time. I've not found any really good things to read lately, so this gives me hope.

Anything else to touch on?  Noreen has done exceptionally well recovering from her knee replacement.  I'm sure she didn't feel exceptional every day, but now that's the worst is over, I think it was a good decision.  I dread having to try to keep up with her once she gets out walking.   

And my computer has had a little of a rough patch.  As I told Ryan, the girls and I are hard on  computers, and mine is a large screen and awkward.  I won't mention how it got sick, but I'm trying to type as the screen just rolls and rolls enough to make me dizzy.  I have to go to my phone to edit pictures and make corrections, so I'm spending way more time than I should on this.  

---Can't forget a precious new cousin for the girls in South Dakota. A little brother for Sailer! More about that plus pictures next time hopefully.  

Hopefully, I'll be getting another computer soon and won't forget all that's happening in my little world.  

Well, June is Almost Gone

 This was probably the most boring June ever.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's because I'm entering a new time in my life where I'm more on my own and don't quite know what to do with myself.  I guess the main problem is I don't WANT to do anything with myself.  

Wins for the week were getting my hair cut yesterday, and that was a good thing.  Beth worked her wonders on my unkempt hair.  She had been to Alabama and Florida - and New Orleans - the same day as we were there, so we had a chance to find out about those trips.  It's nice to hear views from someone who has never spent much time in the South and never in Alabama.  They managed to visit before the heat took over so had some good days.  They went to Panama City Beach just for lunch.  I'm not judging!  It sounds excellent to me.

The girls had come over to swim on a warm day last week, and we went to the grocery store.  The problem is that the things they got to eat are here and are still uneaten.  If Graysen doesn't get that salad package opened today, I'll be eating it or will toss it.  The drinks and snacks will be fine the rest of the week, but they might not be wanting to get out much.  

It sounds like they had a busy weekend.  Ryan and Graysen went somewhere for a soccer tournament, and it was back-to-back days, a good distance away, and several games, so they just spent the night.  I think Gray enjoyed getting some time with the girls who don't go to school with her.  I take it they didn't win since I didn't hear about it!  So she rested up yesterday, and Kate had a friend over, so they'll enjoy doing nothing today.

Elise found a note on our door stating that we would have some sort of visitors (inspection type) over the first 3 days this week.  It sounds different than a lot of quick checks they do every once in a while, so that will be interesting.  We have no idea what day or what time they'll be here, so we have to stay semi-alert for that.  Everything in the garage seems to be scattered around the apartment, waiting for sorting and either donating or finding a place for.  We sort of know what we're doing, and the goal is to turn the "sewing room" into a bedroom for Elise so she doesn't have to sleep on the couch.  If we don't get a 3-bedroom apartment this summer, I'm not sure how we're going to manage.  It's just not enough room for 2 people in a 2-BR apartment - both with way too much stuff - even though I've pared down as much as I can.  

Noreen made it through her knee replacement last Wednesday, and even though I know it's been awful at times and just something you have to endure, she seems to have done really well.  Most of that is preparing ahead and anticipating all the things she would need and lining up people to be there when she needs them.  

While Elise was cleaning out her bins from the garage, I attacked the kitchen drawers and cabinets and made a little more sense of them.  There's nothing like opening a drawer and finding just what you need with no crumbs in the drawer.  We have duplicate sets of a lot of things, and we're seeing what we can get rid of and what Elise wants to save for a place of her own one day.  By now, I know what I need, and it's not much!  But there are still those sentimental mugs and bowls and even dish towels you can't get rid of.  

 I got all the sheets clean and on the bed this weekend with Elise's help and all my laundry done, so I can coast a little bit and see if we have visitors this morning.  My favorite time of day is sitting at the window early in the morning with the blinds up listening to the birds sing and seeing what kind of precipitation we're having today.  It looks like a gray day but beautiful anyway.  I'm waiting to see if the girls want to come over today and also talking with Sharon about whether or not we're going to play Mah Jongg tomorrow.  We have to have just the right combination of people to make it fun - number wise - so I'm holding out until tonight before I commit.  

I entered an online MJ tournament Sunday and surprised myself by making 128th out of 828 players.  It's a charity event, and no one knows how you score unless you tell them or end up the top 5 players.  

I don't know how to do a screen shot from my computer, so here are the results I snipped from the web page.  I'm not RebeccaW, although I'm envious.

Each person played 16 games against bots, and I won 6 of them, even with the timer on.  When I draw a tile, I like a little more than a few seconds to make a decision on what I want to do with it.  If you don't think quickly, the computer just discards it for you.  That's the only thing I don't like.  

I have a few things I want to get done this week, but I'm not very ambitious.  The next week, the girls are set to start feeding our friends' cats for 10 days while they're out of town, but since they'll be in a mountain biking camp for 3 of those days, I might help out a little.  They really look forward to that camp every year.  Graysen is going back to Camp Seymour for a week later on this summer, but Kate is just not the camping-with-peers type.  She loves to go with her family but does not enjoy all the activities you have to do.  I think she just hasn't had a good experience yet.  

The PT clinic here is set to open on the 8th - just 2 days late - and maybe Emily will be able to carry on a conversation of more than 2 sentences with me after that.  

I'll get out later today with my camera and see what I can discover.  In spite of the drizzle this week and the cool temps, it's just beautiful to see all the green outside.  The tourists are all out in Snoqualmie town and North Bend, but here on the Ridge, it's just nice and quiet with everyone working or sleeping in.  By afternoon, the dog walkers and bicyclists and kids playing will liven things up.  I'm hoping for some warm days for drinking coffee on the porch.  

This was the sewing room at one point this weekend when Elise was staging her bins and getting rid of lots of stuff she's accumulated.

It worked fine when it was just me and the sewing machine, but it doesn't make a very nice room for living and sleeping, so we're working on it.

This was not a fun thing to see this weekend.  Black bears are not known to pay much attention to you, but there was an attack nearby when a person got between a mama bear and her cubs.  He's okay, but it's still scary.  Community Park is just blocks from here, walking distance even for me.  Poor things are just hungry and doing what bears do.  

From the time we moved here, Mike and I were impressed by the huge flower baskets hanging from the light poles.  I saw this at an intersection in North Bend yesterday.  I wonder how they keep them looking so beautiful all the time.

I put out two hummingbird feeders this weekend since I could hear some in the trees above us, but I haven't seen one yet.  Cats sitting in the rocking chairs watching them might be too intimidating. 

That's all I can find to record this Monday morning.  I guess I'll start with my day before it gets too far gone.

Sidetracked

 I was rocking right along with keeping up with my life events, as small as they are, but all of a sudden I just lost my desire to keep tabs on myself.  

Not that I'm turning over a new leaf, but here's a start.  

It's been a rough patch for a few weeks with so much busyness and so little time and some misunderstandings that turned out to be nothing.  I tend to overthink and worry too much, and somehow I'm going to have to work on that.  I finally gave in to a home health visit from my United insurance company just to keep them from calling me every day, and it turned out to be quite nice.

I see my primary doctor and cardiologist enough that I don't think I need anyone new coming in and checking on me, but I did enjoy Meri, a sweet nurse from Duvall, who kind of wove all my various messes together into a plan of sorts.  She asked all the right questions and was very interested in my answers and just more than my physical health.  I tend to worry about things I can't do anything about, avoid things that don't fall into perfect alignment with my expectations and waste a lot of time thinking about all the what-ifs.  Getting old is quite an adventure.  Sometimes I think I do okay, and other times I just want to give up and be invisible.  

I keep thinking about one thing she said when we were talking about handling my anxiety.  I said I've probably needed anti-depressants before but am afraid of side-effects and the unknowns, but she said, "Sometimes NOT taking a medication that can help you is a side-effect in itself."  I had to think about that a minute, but if there is a medication that might keep me from driving my friends and family crazy, maybe I should try it - for their sake anyway!  That's on my question list for my September visit.  Sometimes when I hear a siren in our tiny town or on the interstate, I will get a call from Emily saying - We're all okay.  What about you?  Maybe it's inherited.  

So the other positives lately!

It wasn't easy coordinating it, but I grabbed my girls yesterday and went to the grocery store and then to the pool.  Because of my procrastination, I hadn't left home by 10 a.m., and therefore they were my willing companions.  They're the sweetest and most helpful girls, but with a crowded store and no prior planning, we were backtracking all over Safeway and spending way too much money.  Of all days for some of the self-help registers to have glitches, it was when we were there.  Kate wanted to hand me the items for scanning, and Graysen wanted to put them in the bags and arrange them.  That took more coordination than I expected, especially when Kate will use any excuse to use the scanning wand or whatever that thing is called.  Half the time, I was reaching behind me to grab the item.  Then they love to do produce.  One types in the name, and one puts in the weight and bags it - taking twice as long as if I had done it myself.  I could see a line forming behind us but refused to make eye contact with anyone!  It was great though, even when I heard the announcement, "Oops, we're up to $100."  That was NOT helpful.

We got the melting ice cream into the freezer and everything else put away with Elise's help, had a snack and headed for the pool.  I was a little draggy by then with no lunch, but once I got there and got settled in a comfortable chair in the shade, it was lovely.  Nice breeze and only one more family there at first, so the girls had a good time by themselves, once they got used to the water being a little too cool.  

A bonus was having Mary and her granddaughter Vivi show up.  It's been so long since we've talked, and it was great seeing her.  My girls were ready to go, so we didn't overlap too much, but it was about the right amount.  

I let Gray indulge in her current favorite Dr. Pepper - just because I'm Mimi and I like to make her happy.  Within reason!

Unfortunately, a rainy stretch is starting today along with cooler temps, so we'll be working on doing something different if they come over today.  

Elise and I are serious about our garage cleanout.  We've tried this before, but this time we were truly serious.  Ryan came over and took away 4 or 5 items to take to the dump.  It already looks better.  I'm no longer going to hold onto a bin or a lid if there is not a well-fitting mate.  If it hasn't happened in all this time, it's not going to.  We're listing 99% of our stuff on the Buy Nothing page, so it should be a busy time.  I love this page.  I have no qualms about listing a collection of K-cups collected because of having caramel in the name and not being consumed here.  Someone reading might just love caramel-flavored coffee and take them off our hands.  Besides, I have a good coffee pot with a K-cup side and a regular carafe side that someone might enjoy.  It's too much for us.  

Elise is going to finally pack of all her grandmothers' old china and silver and other inherited things and get them stored.  I need my dining room for other things - mainly Mah Jongg and sewing  - if I may be allowed to entertain those hopes!  If we can find a 3-bedroom apartment next spring, we will be happy.  Otherwise, we'll continue to crowd into this one.

Elise can't go to the grocery store without coming home with some kind of plant, and this time it was a beautiful begonia.  I haven't even been to a nursery this spring but just continuing to keep what I have alive.  It's been a little chilly for sitting outside yet, but I'm about to change that.

Unfortunately, Noreen, my favorite porch-sitting friend, had knee replacement surgery yesterday morning, and it will be a little while before that happens.  She's getting it over with early in the year so she can enjoy the rest of the summer without pain.  According to her daughter, the surgery was a success, and she is now in that unenviable position of healing.  Luckily, she has sweet family members, a friend from her former hometown here for a few days, and a pre-med student home from school for the summer as caretakers.  

Speaking of knee replacements and healing, Emily is trying not to get her hopes up too high - but READY for the grand opening of the clinic July 6th.  For a while, she thought it was going to be delayed because of contractor and remodeling problems, but she sounded much better about it yesterday.  I'll try to get down and take some pictures of the blue and beige interior instead of that mud-brown one that was there before.  

I'm behind on a lot of pictures.  It's now the middle of the night, but as soon as I get up for good, I'm going to take a tour around the house and record the tornado that's hit our space as well as whatever else I can record in my limited existence.  

No Mah Jongg this week.  We just don't expect to get many games in this summer with trips and children and activities, but we'll start back in the fall.  I see that someone is giving lessons at the senior center, so maybe we'll have a few more people we can enjoy playing with.  Kate and I are getting out our pink set and playing some, while shaming Elise and Graysen for not being good sports and playing with us.  

What else?  Oh, we have a little watermelon and corn-on-the cob to look forward to.  The Fourth of July parade as such has been cancelled, but the whole town can still dress in their patriotic colors and walk from the school to the Y where the festivities are.  Noreen and I won't be sitting on the porch waving our flags this year.  We always say we wish we would walk over and watch the fireworks, but for some reason, they don't get started until we're ready for bed.  Good thing we have a lot of good memories of our fun Fourths through our lifetimes.

I lost my first and best childhood friend Tonnie this week in South Carolina.  She's always lived in Florida, but since the onset of Alzheimer's, she's lived with a daughter in SC.  That hurts.  Many sweet memories of the fun we had and the adventures.  I'm so glad we got together a few years ago when we went to St. George's.  We met one afternoon and tried to cover our whole lives in one sitting.  So much fun.  Such a special friend.  This is also something I'll try to come back and post pictures and memories of.  

The WinBins lost their outside cat Luna this year.  She has been around awhile and lived in both places at various times, but the past few years, she owned their fenced yard with her little heated house, sunshine to stretch out in, birds and racoons to chase, and we like to think she had a good life.  She was never very sociable to humans but seemed to enjoy having someone sit beside her and talk and bring her food, of course.  It's always sad to lose a pet friend, and she'll be in our hearts.  

It's been a season of sadness, including the death of one of our old neighbors from Thomaston, a young man with such a future and loved by so many.  

I need to go back to bed and get rested for the day.  Hoping we'll get some things accomplished and make room in this crowded apartment.  I'm thankful for the easy life I have now, even though I complain a lot!  Right now, my focus is on my right heel and getting rid of that plantar fasciitis.  Emily showed me two exercises this weekend and gave me some tips.  I think I need to invest in some better shoes soon.  I hardly wear shoes at all, but I'll try to do better.  It really hurts!

Getting a haircut this weekend should put me in a nice frame of mind to kick off the summer.  And planning for Stephanie and Gray to visit in September.  I can't believe June is almost over, and I spent so much of that time worrying and fretting over small things.  

Let the summer begin!  

Lost Weekend

 Just a weekend of things planned and not followed through with and dissatisfaction of my ability to follow though with anything.  

I can't even remember anything I did, but for the last part of Sunday afternoon, I finally found an audio book I'm enjoying.  I spent a good portion of time copying a list of books I want to read and reread - or at least books that have been recommended.  I have a feeling I'll cancel most of them.  I tried 3 times this week to read The God of Small Things just because I saw Anne Patchett give a good review about a new book written by the same author.  She said she had read this book when it was a on the best seller list a long time ago.  She gave the impression that I was the only person who hadn't read it at the time and had my life changed by it.  So I tried it.  I gave it several chances and absolutely hated it.  It was a good feeling to press the Return to Library button.  So there.  I tried.  Chances are I won't like the new one written by the same author, Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy.  It's on hold, and if I get it, I'll give it a try.

I'm not too interested in reading things I don't like.  I made a new list of 76 books just waiting for me, either recommended by people or written by authors I'm familiar with.  I'm just glad this new book is good enough to keep my interest all evening.  It's A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.  No great plot and no real action, but the writing is good and keeps me interested.  I think it matches the mood I'm in tonight.  It's a really long book.  I'm on Chapter 3 and only 10% finished.  

I can't do anything that involves thinking or distraction while I listen, so I did laundry and changed sheets and other housework, but I've re-discovered the mindless pleasure of online jigsaw puzzles.  No thinking involved but just the satisfaction of clicking those pieces together to make a picture.

I chose the first one offered, and it was very satisfying.  I chose 500 pieces, because any smaller, I could barely see.

I guess I'll listen a little more when I go to bed, but I'm sure I'll fall asleep and have to rewind the tape.

Maybe tomorrow will be more lively.  It's hot, but we were cool inside.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter.  I wonder if the girls will want to swim.  I hope so.  It will be nice to sit by the pool instead of finding something to do inside.  Tuesday is their last day - a half day only - and then it will be summer.