Three Times

The first time it happened was after Lynn and I drove to California along the Oregon coast. The second time it happened was when we all arrived back at Jean's house after a family reunion. The third time it happened was after I went back to work when Jerry and Jane left. So I have learned over the last three years, not that I have a slow learning curve or anything, that vacations send my blood sugar out of whack and I will have some sort of icky diabetic incident.

Falling asleep at your computer is frowned upon at work. Doc said I might not have followed my diabetic diet closely while family was here -- you think? He also told me to diet, exercise, and quit smoking. Now where have I heard those before? Anyway, I'm back on track and no more diabetic incidents for me. I have learned Jeff is diabetic so watch out Jeff when you travel, and learn to eat more vegetables, then eat some more.

Has Nora moved to Little Rock yet? Or is it Fort Smith?

Miles driven while Jerry and Jane were here were pitifully small, probably no more than 500 miles if you can believe that of a Jerry excursion. I think we sailed more than we drove.

Sites seen: Christian, Ian, and Roger and family, of course. Downtown REI. Freemont people wandering around in Wallingford after the Solstice parade, just a little weirdness with their feathers and brass bras and such. Snoqualmie Falls and the new redesigned park. There was lots of construction going on but the falls were still magnificent. The old viewing platform that cantilevered out from the cliff is gone and all the trails were closed, however I think it will be fantastic in a couple of seasons. Friday Harbor -- practically perfect boat ride. Tulalip casino -- big disappointment. I was going to take them to my favorite gas station restaurant but it was gone -- big disappointment. We watched the cruise ships sail out from one of my favorite vantage points in Edmonds, the place I will watch the Bowman family sail out from very soon. I think we hit about seventeen beaches to look at water and ships. Two bakeries. We dined on Fish and chips eight out of ten days. Had Greek one day and Mexican another.

Sites not seen: We never made it up Mt Baker nor did they sail to Victoria.

Movies watched: with comments by Jane.
Concert -- I forget the things we can do in America, informative.
Belgium/Moscow -- cute.
Bella -- mixed emotions.
Kinky Boots -- different.
Serenity -- Jane took a nap or bath or something so she didn't have to watch.
9 Queens -- It wasn't nearly as good as The Sting.
Sita Sings the Blues -- I think Jan was the only one who thought it was fantastic.
September Issue -- do people really take this seriously.
The Devil Wears Prada -- yes they do.
Kings Speech -- My favorite of all of them.

While they were here there was one emergency with their water.
Norman survived.
Jordon had her tonsils removed.
Blaine was hiking to a mountain top.
Amber was traveling, no it Mark was who was traveling.
Amber was suffering from the heat.
Jerry got a little upset because the high in Mukilteo for ten days was supposed to be lower than the low in Oklahoma, but alas we hit 74 degrees one day.

Other than that it was walks down the hill. Admire Connor. Naps. Coffee. Books, books and more books.

They arrived in California just in time for Jane to go with Janice to the doctor. Poor Janice. Poor Jane.

Jerry and Jane really did try to read during my movies, how silly was that.

What Mountain?

What mountain? We haven't seen the up side or the down side of a mountain.

We have done some couch sitting, chair sitting, bench sitting, and table sitting with a little people watching, Ian watching, Connor watching, and ship watching thrown in. We make sure we have time for a nap possibly two as the day progresses. Jerry and Jane are enjoying the cooler weather and Jan is enjoying not working -- everyone is happy.

Jerry and Jane have strolled down the hill a time or two.
We found the USS Lincoln in port.
We meandered around the sidewalk sale at University Village.
We've dinned at Spuds, Rams, Ivar's and Roger's
and we have a few more selections coming up.
We pursued our books.
My friend Lynn wandered by unexpectedly .
Jan watched a movie or two which the the guests caught a portion of.
True Grit and Song of the Sparrow,
If Jeff was going to portray Rooster Cogburn
it would look an awful lot like the Jeff Bridges version.

Jane brought Jan a beautiful new purse, beautiful,
but it took two whole hours before someone complimented me on it.
What's up with that?
Ian had already told me where a store was,
so when the lady complimented me and talked about it
I was fully informed and told her where to go...
Not that kind of told her where to go, but where a store was located.

Roger was properly adorable.
Ian was properly adorable.
Connor went above and beyond properly adorable.
There hasn't been a Christian siting, but I can assure you he is properly adorable also.

For the first time Connor grabbed my finger and took me to his daddy because he wanted me to make his daddy behave. Daddy had said no to the iPad and Connor wanted me to trump that decision. Granny had the power to trump the decision, but decided to up hold the Daddy decision and distracted Connor instead. Adorable.

We might do something wild today like go to the downtown REI.

To quote my brother; Life is good.

Shush; they are still sleeping and we don't want to wake them yet.

Life is good.

Don't Fall off the Mountain

My car had a few creaks and squeaks so I took it to Christian for a once over. He said don't worry mom you aren't going to get stranded anywhere.

I said I'm not worried about getting stranded, I'm worried about something breaking and causing an accident as I drive down the highway. I don't want to kill Jerry and Jane while they are visiting.

He said you won't kill Jerry and Jane unless you drive off the mountain. Problem solved.

When Jane gets here I'm going to give her her prize for winning the "I'm Great" contest. Jane it's pink, shaped like a flamingo, and will fit in your suitcase. Love you.


Depression hit me like a Gong Show gong the other night. I chatted with Ian, went to bed, and wham down I went. All of a sudden I felt like my life was a failure. My job was a failure. I was a failure as a daughter, wife, sister, mother and friend. My health was iffy. My finances a joke. My car squeaky. My house dusty. I don't understand one damn thing about Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. I don't dance and I'm smoking. How could It be any worse?

Hours I lay there not being able to go to sleep because of this well of depression. I thought to myself I've metered out. Then it hit me. I can seep into the murk and mire of reality and be depressed or lift myself up over the rim of reality and see the entire Universe spread out around me and live in a delightful world.

What is worse being delusional and escaping reality, living in a fantasy world and loving it, being better for it, or living below the clouds of the heavens mired in the gunk?

I've been visiting with people who hate their jobs, I don't.
Are really sick, I'm not.
Have real life problems with their children, mine are dandy.
My mother was grand.
My car got a clean bill of health.
I'll sort all the sixty-five shit.
Ian will dust, kind of.
The cupboards are full.
The checking account isn't empty.
I can still walk the streets to work.
Pay the mortgage.

So what if I don't dance anymore. I read, visit with friends, watch mediocre to good movies, eat, talk to people from all over the country, sing when I am alone, rattle around on the computer, drive in the country (with a healthy car,) ride ferries, look at my spectacular western exposure sunsets, feel the cool rains, laugh at my own jokes, anticipate company and anticipate new babies entering the world (Ian's friend Nila and Mary's daughter Lisa.) I also get to pick up from daycare, visit with, play with, smooch, nuzzle, dandle, enjoy, and just sit back and watch my wee grandson. Any two year old can learn eyes, ears, and nose, but lately I have been teaching Connor where his clavicle, elbow, and femur are.

So reality come on down, life is good. Every life has some garbage in it, but my garbage has a place to go and it isn't on my doorstep.

May your life be garbage free today.