Thank you Canada ;)

Canada you are a remarkable country and people. I've so enjoyed these Olympic games, and the insights on A Majority of Two's blog on her view of Vancouver and the games. Thank you Jo, while I was swamped with deadlines you kept me up to date.

If there were a medal for being hosts Canada would be awarded GOLD! Congratulations on your athletes GOLD!

I Climbed To New Heights

Quite literally! I spent the glorious weekend not in my backyard but on a ladder cleaning out the gutters of my patio roof. I had quite the argument with myself (it's age, and I'm sticking to it) about the fun of gardening and playing in the soil, or the responsibility to my home. Getting done what needed to be done and was forgotten in the preparing for winter. I lost, responsible won!

I HATE ladders, I'm not good with heights, so it was an adventure. Have any of you cleaned a gutter...in one word YUCK!!! While I love digging in the soil, that found on my patio roof and in its gutters was not soil: moss, slime and whatever else that had been blown around and deposited on my roof, branches, decomposed leaves, bugs.

The day started with organization, (I am an accountant). Line up the tools needed, easy enough; it's all in the garden shed. The standard, buckets, a trowel, garden gloves (I had to go out and purchase those, I love my hands in the soil), rake, hoe, hose, nozzle and of course the ladder.

It was lovely out, and the dog wanted to come play on the patio while I worked. Mandy is a mini schnauzer. Any of you who have known, or have schnauzers, know how vocal they can be. Mandy is no exception. She is in a word a "Barker", adorable, well behaved otherwise, a great but mouthy companion. I hooked her up on her out door lead. I grabbed the ladder, buckets, gloves, trowel and headed to the edge of the patio. I carefully lined up everything in the order I thought I might need it in. Then placed the ladder and took the first hesitant step on to it.

Did the world just tilt, or am I sinking? Oh this is Oregon and it rains a lot...hmm back to the garden shed looking for bricks to help level out the area and a sufficiently sized board to distribute the weight so the ladder won't sink.

Now I was sure that I had everything at hand and was ready to get this done in an hour! (stop laughing) I positioned the ladder on the board, tested it on the first step and then climbed up, and up and up. Wow that cedar needs trimming, looks like a dead branch. Back to the matter at hand I reached around to pick up the rake and found I was grasping air....then looked down. It had fallen down and lay flat on the ground. I climbed back down picked it up and made my way back up the ladder.

I made some headway raking the material down towards the gutter where I could grab it and fling it into the bucket attached to the ladder. I worked at the raking for a half an hour and had accomplished a quarter of the roof. I needed a break, down the ladder I went, into the house for a Pepsi for me and a dog treat for Mandy.

Back up the ladder I picked up the trowel and discovered IT was wider than the gutter…..I needed something with a hook to scoop the gunk towards me and into the bucket. Standard sized tools were not designed for narrow gutters. That was ok, I could make what I needed. That took a bit more scrounging, and an odd assortment of things, duct tape (where would the world be without duct tape), wire coat hangers, an expandable pole, pliers to bend the coat hangers.
With my new tool in hand I climbed yet again, back up the ladder.

My neighbors were enjoying the day as well, and now they were all out talking to each other, and walking their dogs. I reached out with my newly made specialized tool and dragged the gunk back towards me .... woof, Woof, WOOOOOF,HOWLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It startled me so much I almost fell off the ladder, grabbed onto the gutter and steadied myself while Mandy greeted all standing at the base of my sidewalk watching me attempt to remain sane. Down the ladder across the patio, waving hi to my neighbors, unhooked Mandy and took her in the house, muttering to myself about nosey neighbors and noisy dogs (walking by this time on feet not meant for ladders).

The bush that was blocking my ladder for the second half of the patio roof has been trimmed. No I didn't cut it down, but it is smaller. My gutters shine (well they are clean)and now have specially cut mesh guards installed. It only took me two days (laughing at my only an hour thoughts)! One could say my weekend had it's ups and downs. I'm so glad to be back on solid ground,blogging and catching up with all of you on your blogs ;)

Spring? Dreaming of Gardening

Our forecast is for "April" weather the next few days. It's only mid February!! Now if I just had the next few days off. Last weekend between house work and home work, I got out my seed catalogs and gardening magazines. I'm just itching to plop down in the middle of my backyard, dig into the soil and run my hands through it.

My love of gardening is a gift from my Grandmother. I spent many warm sunny days when I was little, digging and weeding in her large garden. On winters visits, she would get out her notebook and seed catalogs and ponder what we would plant in the spring. The vegetable garden and flower beds, the cutting garden.

I've been walking my backyard the last couple of nights when I get home, designing in my head. A small drift of astilbe and hostas at the edge of the fir in dappled shade, closer to the trunk of the fir, a curved bench with hostas on either side. I'd like to sprinkle trillium here and there in the shady half of my yard. The yard had been landscaped at one time I'm sure. Some of the structure is still there, some of it will be removed to make room for my studio. But the forsythia, lilacs and rhododendrons will stay. The boxwood and azaleas,old and scruffy, will go. It will be a full spring and summer. Now if I could just import firefly's for the summer evenings, and still it's only February.

To Kindle or Not To Kindle

I'm a reader. I LOVE reading. I carry a book or two or three with me at all times. At least two reside in my car, one in my briefcase and one is always tucked in a drawer at work (not that I ever read at work, who has the time) but for that occasional lunch hour that I have nothing to do, no personal or work errands, left my netbook at home, etc. Because of this habit of salting my areas with books, I am generally reading three or four books at a time. Recently a friend who also reads a great deal, asked me what I thought of the new readers for electronic books, specifically Amazons Kindle.

I love the idea of electronic books. Immediate gratification! Cringe...I know I do lean towards that more and more, perhaps its age or time availability. I wouldn't have to drive at lunch over to XXXXXXs Books (one of my favorite bookstores here in the Portland Metro area), dash around to find something new by the authors I read. Or a new author, which requires browsing time or at least one cell phone call to my daughter digging for anyone she's run across that she likes or thinks I would like, while hanging on to my bag and the books I've already found. If she hasn't any suggestions then another call to a close friend, and little time spent reading that lunch. With the Kindle I could sit at my desk download new books on it while working on spreadsheets, then go find a shady spot, set my cell alarm for an hour (otherwise I would read the afternoon away) and read. When done bookmark the place and tuck it into my briefcase and go back to work.

Sounds great...but then.....I love to hold a book, its weight, turn the pages, dog ear the pages where I left off, (and now you all will cringe) open the book and crack the spine. And what about falling asleep with an electronic reader? I've definately fallen asleep with books (not that the book was boring). What would happen to an electronic reader if you drooled on it, (Laughing), rolled over on it, or knocked it off the bed? Of course an electronic reader I don't suppose weighs much, so I wouldn't have to worry about flattening my nose as books have often almost done as I fell asleep reading. Another thing, a trip to a bookstore when I can take time and browse, soak up the atmosphere, meet friends, discuss books, is something I enjoy. A quick dash to an online bookstore and downloading doesn't seem to have the same ambiance.

I thought about other types of reading I do, newspapers and magazines. I can go to the Oregonian online anytime and it's free, but I love my newspaper on the weekends. Getting up Sunday morning and sitting on the patio with a cup of tea and the newspaper is my Sunday ritual. I recycle my newspapers, some go out to the recycle bin, some line the debris trays of my parrots cages. I love getting my magazines and turning the glossy pages, reading, even turning to page 98 to finish the article.

The other thing about any electronic reader is the ability to lend or share books. I purchase a great deal of books, when I have to start looking for places to put them (the bookcases are full and now so is under the bed) I "clean house" so to speak and sort through books, box them up and haul them to work. We have a bookcase in the ladies lounge for our lending library. I donate books, I pass books on to friends and even box them up and send them to my daughter.

After the discussion with my friend, we both came to the conclusion that we love our printed books. I will look into a reader, my friend, not to sure about them. A reader would tuck easily into my briefcase and would hold more than one book and Icould leave my books at home. A call to my daughter to get her opinion on electronic readers surprised me, into all the latest, she twitters, or is that tweets?, is on FB, blogs, texts, etc., it seems that she's not sure about electronic readers either. She did say that she has downloaded some books onto her laptop, but for the price of an electronic book device she would rather get a netbook.

So my question to those of you who do Kindle: How do you like it? Is it all you hoped for? Storage capacity? Book availability? I'm sure this would be a NO but, lending ability?

To those of you that haven't, To Kindle or Not To Kindle?

Lucy and Ethel

As a child I loved the I Love Lucy sitcom. Lucy and Ethel were the epitome of true friendship. For all their squabbles and misadventures neither ever let the other down in the long run. I've been so fortunate in my life to have had such friends. I've often felt like I was living in a I Love Lucy show. I'm not sure how I got there but the circumstances always seem to balance on a fine line between tragic and comedic. Various friends and I have swapped back and forth the rolls of Lucy and Ethel.

One memorable incident I was Ethel to a friends Lucy. It was late one evening when the phone rang, much later than one should be calling. My daughter, a teenager at the time, was in her room safe at home. I hesitated to pick up the phone, until I saw it was a call from the "Smiths" home. My friend (I'll call her Alice) was working there. Alice's life was filled to capacity. She's a single mother like myself but her daughter was grown, and lived with her. Alice is a wonderful woman and great with kids. She was a foster parent for "Therapeutic" foster children. Her home was their last hope to live as close to a normal life as possible, if they failed there, their next place would be an institution. She worked very hard. Her only respite was her daughter who had been approved to care for them when Alice needed a break.

It was near Christmas and the child in Alice's home wanted a computer for Christmas. Alice heard about it day and night, but it just wasn't in the budget. One of Alice's other friends called to see if Alice would help out temporarily care taking her elderly mother in the evenings (when Alice's daughter could be with her charge). The friend needed a break and would be taking an art class at night for a couple of hours. It seemed the ideal way to find the extra money for the computer. The elderly mother had advanced alzheimer's. The family had warned Alice that their Mother was quite cranky. They didn't tell her that she smoked like a chimney.

I picked up the phone, Alice was frantic, her voice muffled. All I got was " Smiths", come quick. I called to my daughter that I was going out and would call her as soon as I got to the Smiths. The streets were slick with rain. It was raining buckets, so much for a white Christmas I thought. I finally arrived at the house Alice had called from. I got to the door and rang the bell. Alice yelled come in it's unlocked. That in its self was strange, the door should have been locked.

I stepped into the house and stood there shocked, then almost fell down laughing. The family had purchased an older hospital bed and moved it into the living room for their mother so that she could see out. Before me "Mrs. Smith" lay in her hospital bed sound asleep, but there was a definate downward slant to that bed. Underneath the bed lay Alice, trapped. Alice was alternately laughing and crying. "Ok Ethel" she said...get me out of here. I pulled myself together and tried to see how to get Alice out from under the bed.

While I was tugging and pulling and lifting the end of the mattress Alice filled me in on HOW she got there. Alice is allergic to smoke and Mrs. Smiths house reeked of smoke. I was trying hard NOT to breathe. Alice said her eyes were watering from coughing so she stepped out on the porch for a minute to get a breath of air while Mrs. Smith was sleeping (or so she thought). Mrs. Smith, it seems, decided to play with the crank at the end of the bed. When Alice came back in she hurridly got Mrs. Smith back in bed then set about tiding up the covers, then she noticed that the bed was slanting slightly. She tried the crank but it was stuck. Alice crawled under the bed to unstick the crank and it fell lose from the bed which then slanted further, trapping her under it. It was lucky that the phone was near the bed, she pulled it off the table by the cord and called me. With me holding the bed frame up, Alice managed to get the crank back into the slot and crawled out. After we checked on Mrs. Smith, who slept through the entire ordeal, cranked the bed up and made sure it was stable, we sat on the floor laughing, while Mrs. Smith snored peacefully.

Christmas morning under the tree at Alice's house was a box with a very good used computer in it. Alice resigned from elderly care taking, she mutter for months that they were harder than children. I still laugh today at our trying to get Alice out from under that bed.

A Delicate Subject: Consideration For Others: Flush and Move On: Get Off Your Cell and Stop Texting:

How to put this delicately? Have you ever gone tent camping? Invariably you camp next to another campsite that is totally unaware that they are in a "TENT", a fabric structure and not a structure of solid (somewhat)sound proof walls. I spend a great deal of the time camping just blushing with embarrassment for the campers around them and the offending campers themselves. (This was the lead in for the topic, a delicate approach.)

There is another place where consideration for others would be most appreciated. I work in an office with about 30 female employees; there are TWO stalls in the Ladies restroom. We are privileged in that we have a lounge as well, furnished with a sofa and end tables, lamps included. A much better place to carry on a conversation or text with wayward or argumentative family/friend/relationship members. NOT the STALL. I've been that person that required use of one of them, just to open the door from the lounge and find both doors closed, voices (not talking to each other) or the click, click of texting. When finally there's a free stall, I've heard the doors open the grumble and sigh and the door bang closed...another desperate woman. This happens in public restrooms all the time as well. There are NEVER enough stalls. And WHY the need to text or use the cell phone in the restroom???? Aren't they afraid to drop it? I actually had a friend do just that, and that presents a whole other quandry...how to get the cell out of there! I don't recommend flushing, it causes a tidal wave of events, as a friend found out.

Since I've gotten this far, I might as well continue with the embarassment issue. Stalls in and of themselves are the site of embarassing situations. I know not to eat garlic infused foods, but sometimes I just can't refuse, neither can others. I wind up choking back giggles on both sides of that fence. I've never figured out why I get the giggles. I've been known to giggle at the most inappropriate times, funerals, the hushed silence in church between words, often when the Pastor is about to lead in prayer or just following the AMEN, and there is a huge BURP or "Fluff" as my Mother would have put it. Mostly it's embarrassment for the other person, or the timing is just right and it strikes my funny bone, which seems to be either well developed or just plain juvenile. In self defense I grew up in a straight laced "Ladies never "fluff", nor should they ever acknowledge them" type of home. Yes my sitting posture is excellent as well. The giggling must be my overdeveloped sense of rebellion, or empathy.

To conclude, I'll try not to giggle, please respond in kind when I shouldn't have endeavored at lunch, dinner, snack, etc. And PLEASE use your cell phone and text where you won't create any more desperate women. Those of you that still tent camp in this world of motor homes, please carry on as usual, but, keep in mind that you're in a FABRIC tent and that EVERYONE around you hears it all.

Thank you

A most grateful giggler ;)

The Post That Got Sidetracked

A post idea smacked me right in the middle of reviewing an updated retirement contract. Which is one of the most boring items to read (legaleeeeeeeeeeese), late this afternoon. I restrained myself, finished the review process, downed my computer, locked my door and drove home, mind in overdrive (thoughts and ideas for the post). I ran in, deposited coat, bag and briefcase in my home office. Took the dog for the shortest of runs, returned to my computer, just itching to get going..but I just needed that special piece of music or artwork.

I tabbed my way to YouTube...and got lost in the music: Eartha, Ella, Billy, Sarah, Dinah Washington: Ain't Misbehavin, What Difference A Day Makes, Santa Baby,'Taint Nobody's Business If I Do, One Note Samba, Good Morning Heartache, Summertime, This Bitter Earth. Wandered over to Tracy Chapman, The Promise, Telling Stories. On to Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue (I think this is my all time favorite piece of music that or Summertime, my lullaby as a child).

Music and creating art have always stopped time for me. I lose myself and the world in them. It was a lovely evening, wonderful music and the memories that flowed with the music and this different Post. Good night all, pleasant dreams.

"Monday, Monday...Can't Trust That Day"

Here's to abolishing Mondays....Universally! "Every other day, every other day
Every other day of the week is fine...." OK, I promise not to sing for the rest of this post, even if I'm loving this old Mamas & Papas tune ;). It has been a MONDAY!

Saturday you are busy with household matters, laundry, vacuuming, shopping and cooking. Sunday (sigh) a day of rest and leisure. You are relaxed, dreamily sublime, and then you walk into your office or workplace on Monday and it is off to the race again. It is a shock to ones system, it should be outlawed! Just think....an extra SUNDAY in every week. Another day to relax, pursue your interests. It should be taken to the people for a vote! Signs and banners made, people gathered in front of all work places, waving banners, chanting "NO MORE MONDAYS..... NO MORE MONDAYS" Errrr......... well .......... ummm ............ not, huh? Sigh, well just a dream...no more mondays, no more mondays.....

What would You do with another Sunday every week?