fossilfreak

 

263 recordings of 45 types, 38% clear.

 

Monday, while in Ashland, I had made an appointment for Friday.

 

When I got home (the 22nd) I started the Crater Lake puzzle. I got most of the frame and a bit of the sky done. I enjoyed saying "where's my Spooky cat?" and having him come!

 

The 23rd I changed the kitty litter, policed the yard, watered the flowers and soaked the trees. Brought in the laundry. And oddly enough, I got tired.

 

 

USAA gave me all kinds of trouble about logging in. (And today SAFE is doing the same. Sometimes I just hate computers!)

 

 

The 24th was my appointment with the surgeon. They sent a message to the cell phone that doctor was running late, but I was prepared with a book and just stayed there. About 2 hours. But when I met him I liked him a lot. I was surprised to learn, though, that this will be a more complicated operation than I thought and will involve a hospital stay. I found the rectal exam embarrassing. However, the staff and surgeon are nice. I initially scheduled the operation for the one day Roni said she couldn't come, but they ended up postponing it for a week to the 26th. There are tests I have to take, and the receptionist Jen was quite helpful telling me where I could do that. (Kaiser and/or the military spoiled me, everything being in the same place.)

 

I watched Safari Live, which I love.

 

On the 25th I spied HUGE toadstools in the zinnia bed! I guess something in the compost I put in was rotten.

I finished the Crater Lake puzzle, now to get it sent to Niki! And I went to see "Christopher Robin", which is cute.

 

I didn't do the paper bag of papers I'd planned to sort, didn't write my TripAdvisor reviews, didn't do much of anything except make eggplant parmesan.

 

On the 26th I went across and told my neighbor my medical news and also that Bill was coming to live with me. She tells me there are two newborns on the street, and another expected in October! How neat.

 

We had an African missionary at church who claimed the source of the Nile was Victoria Falls. I was sure he was wrong, and at home confimed that he meant Lake Victoria.

 

I started a 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle, that's too big for anything so I have the frame on the table with a cloth over it, and some of the pieces on boards, and some still in the box. Later I decided to put different colors in sandwich bags and that's been helpful. Day 1 I didn't even get very far with the frame, day 2 I got the right side of the frame done and Day 3 got the frame all done apart from one piece. I also got a lot of the big brown cookie done and a white one with green sprinkles. Day 4 I got most of two identical cookies with candy balls. Day 5 I hooked a lot of stuff together, and also got the red sprinkle ones partly done. I also found the last frame piece. Day 6 I started slow but then hooked up the green sprinkle cookie to the brown one. Then the last three days have been slow, maybe 20 or so pieces attached. I'm trying to get the big lump attached to the frame, but it's slogging.

 

On the 27th I spilled the dog's water all over the floor just as the cleaners came up. I went down to see Bernadette and the kids, at last. Joan had only 10 days to destroy Bernadette's system so she didn't do too much. I started reading "Stowaways in Paradise" to them.

 

Sadly, the surgery was postponed a week. This helps Roni but gets it uncomfortably close to the Kingston Trio concert. I've arranged a ride if I make it out of the hospital in time.

 

I played a lot of Fishdom on this day and Albion on the 28th. I signed up for Western films at Renaissance. I'd decided against going back to the guy who did time travel films, because that room is far too uncomfortable to watch movies in. I went to

 

Wednesday the 29th I took a marble run down to Padreic a day early for his birthday. He was THRILLED!! He had seen the same kind with A.J. and he just played and played with it. I read another chapter to the kids and then they tried to play with him, but he still needs help with sharing. Anyway, it was the best present I could have given him. Before I gave it to him, I read the Seuss Happy Birthday book to him.
 

 

   

 

Pharaoh was reluctant to come in, and on the 30th he spent the night out.

 

The funeral services for John McCain just went on and on... I reluctantly voted for him in 2008, deciding that it was either the Democrat or the Democrat Light (McCain) and I'd have preferred Sarah Palin. And the fact they didn't invite her to the funeral... I understand not inviting Trump, but they ruined Palin, not the other way around. Facebook quote: "I've grown quite tired of the white-washing for a vindictive, petty man." And another, about Palin: "The whole thing just illustrates the reality that John McCain was a giant A***ole while alive and now can be thought of as one in death as well."

 

I went to Mass at the Retreat House and then went to Mercy San Juan and got my EKG and chest X-Ray done. And I accidentally lost 70K "gold" in Albion which sets me back considerably.

 

And Padreic is 4!

 

On the last day of August, and my last day to live alone for awhile, I went to see "Operation Finale." I spent some time arguing with the ticket lady demanding my Monday discount, until she convinced me it was Friday. THAT's embarrassing! But the movie was great. I knew what happened and I was still on the edge of my seat!

sunny, mild!

 

320 recordings of 23 types, 67 old SVU. 28% clear.

 

Monday the 11th I realized that it was going to be cold and windy over the weekend so I called Alicia, and yes, she could come house-sit while I went to San Jose. Hooray!

 

My feet got cold and I remembered the toe socks. Sure enough, that helped. Later, the house got up to 69, this without the heater.

 

The cleaners came.

 

It rained that night and overnight it only got down to 67 in the house. I've been trying to keep the heater off as much as possible. The cold snaps recently made my gas consumption go up even so. (The previous Saturday it got down to 62.)

 

Tuesday I went to the ladies' breakfast. There were only three of us there, so I'm glad I went.

Then I went to get my taxes done. I hadn't brought the 1099 for the one thing that is not taxable anyway. And I found out that it will probably not benefit me to itemize deductions next year. This year it gives me $1200 but next year the standard deduction will be $1300. And I had my aha! moment why Rich didn't itemize... there were two of us, it wasn't worth it. But I didn't because he didn't in 2013, and then the light dawned that it might be worth it, and sure enough, it has been.

 

Claire went to get her Africa pictures so we compared notes afterwards. She also has a "rub my tummy" picture of a lion!

 

I got to the WPAC office for my name badge, (and then lost it again, for about a day, till I got it off the car floor), and to the AAA office for maps and tour books for Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario. (I'm beginning to get excited.)

 

I had canned tamales for dinner. I don't think I've had this since I lived with my Mom on Ord Street. (I'm fairly sure my granddaddy would not have been happy with this dinner!)

 

Wednesday it was so rainy I didn't want to drive the freeway with Padreic, so instead of going to Wee Wednesday I just stayed at the house with them and read the Faith Ringgold books to him and played with him.

 

The neigborhood signpost and Wee Wednesday on the 7th.

 

Bernadette has both Siri and Alexa, so they can fight it out.

 

As it was still raining, Bernadette went to get the kids and I read to them. I especially enjoy Gareth's reaction, as he seems to be really enjoying the story and listening well. Joanna hadn't had her meds in the morning and was definitely wiggly.

 

I accidentally got TWO copies of Charlotte's Web, so decided to donate the extra to the kids' school library.

 

Thursday I went to the Retreat House, where I volunteered to help with the June 3 picnic. Then I went to the commissary. This was a medium expedition. I had a big shopping thing to really load up the freezer and pantries in September, and then have been going about once a month with fairly small ones since. There was quite a bit to get today. I had been looking for falafel mix, and this time I found it. (But not tahine sauce, so I'll try that somewhere else.) I made falafel the next night. Yum. I also picked up meat, though there is still quite a bit in the freezer. And I got stovetop cleaner, then discovered I already had two bottles of it!

 

Also, in Fishdom (am I opening my data up to the Russians? Maybe not, since I don't use the iPad with any money accounts (except, of course, iTunes and Amazon)) I played a side game. They finally opened the Wonderland aquarium on the next day and I had a grand time playing and stocking it up. Then I have to wait until the next Thursday when they'll load up 15 more games. Their Easter stuff is all the same as last year, so I only moved the hedgehog playing with the egg to Wonderland. I'll play to get enough eggs to get the two fish, Humpty and Dumpty. (I have "Alice", "Chessie", and two clown fish, "Tweedledee" and "Tweedledum." One day as they were swimming, one of the Tweedles hoped I would buy a clown fish, "they're a lot of fun." Heh.)

 

The Russians keep giving me Oz decorations, Dorothy's house with a cyclone, ruby slippers, and a tin man. Apparently they don't know the difference. I've stashed all of those decorations.

 

There was a terrible bridge collapse in Miami.

 

Before the commissary I tried to renew my Air Museum membership but they weren't open when I was there.

 

And I put down my deposit for Oberammergau. They want the rest April 19... I sure hope Father Giltus has sorted it out by then so I can cancel and only lose the deposit. Otherwise, I'll either go with Road Scholar or transfer the $$ to a Japan trip.

 

Friday I woke at 3 to the pouring rain and decided not to go to Renaissance, and then it had cleared up by the time I got up... but I chose not to go anyway and had a jammie day! The only thing I really missed was the forum with Sacramento's new police chief. The Time Travel movie was "Back to the Future."

 

Fiona from Ngoko safaris was visiting the school and wanted a letter from me to the kid I'm sponsoring, Kuthula. I thought I'd missed my chance but was able to send one for Monday, with the elephant-ride picture.

 

I'm watchng olde Oscar-winning movies, and enjoyed Liz and Dick in "Taming of the Shrew." (I wonder if this is the one I saw at Renaissance).

 

I booked my hotel in Haliburton, Ontario. It's too early to get Syracuse. (I hope to use my stay points for it.)

 

Saturday, I did quite a bit, emptied the compost jar, poured out the garden cart, policed the yard, moved the car... then got a haircut, stopped at Lazy-Boy for a grill set for looking around, found a farmer's market, which wasn't much good for me since I got lots of veggies at the commissary, got money, then wine to share with Helena.

 

A couple of geocaching friends came by for the stuff we had that they might be able to make geocaches with, and we stood outside and talked. I missed some of the Gonzaga game but we won anyway.

 

I watched, again, "Gone Girl." Scary stuff.
 

 

 

360 recordings of 36 types (so many TCM movies!) 72 CPD, 1 SVU, 11 LMS, 18% clear.

 

(This was Saturday!)

 

I know, I know. When the news of Russian meddling and the total incompetence of the FBI in the Florida shooting came down, the low-level anger I've felt ever since the sore loser Resistence movement rose up, that anger reached boiling point and I've been unable to write. I'm just furious over Russians, Resist, Cryin' Chuck, Adam the Buffoon, the "unwittting" helpers on Facebook, the FBI, knee-jerks and just plain jerks.

 

And last year, just before I left the house to go to Roni's, I said "Besides getting to see Africa, I also will be happy to have almost three weeks without the panic-of-the-day, the hysteria, the riots, the hyperbole, the Godwin's law violations, the BS and outright lies, the hypocrisy..."

 

But a lot has gone on. And at least I caught up with the pictures, so I can illustrate our adventure on Monday the 12th.

 

The kids were out of school, so I went down to Elk Grove and Bernadette and I took them to Calistoga to see the Old Faithful Geyser of California. Rich and I had been here long ago, as well as the Petrified Forest in the same area. Unfortunately, the big fire last summer closed the Petrified Forest. It also affected Old Faithful, but just the bathroom block (which they had just built. They put in two enormous port-a-potties to replace it until it's rebuilt.)

 

The geyser goes off every 5-10 minutes, so we didn't have to wait. It's fascinating. Joanna brought along her drawing tablet so she could draw it. (She and I kept knocking heads on this trip, not only about the drawing tablet but later about the playground. One of those days.) Padreic was enthralled. And he understood the chart about why the geyser happens.

 

 

Gareth mostly walked around. At the end he disappointed me by not wanting a stretched penny. They're "not interesting." (Padreic, of course, wanted one. I'll have to get him an album.)

 

They weren't that interested in the fainting goats. I was so tempted the last time to scare them. Then they were in a smaller pen, now they have a huge paddock and don't look like anything would make them faint. There's a cute little playground. Padreic was climbing into the plane but slipped and hit his eye on the pipe. He was crying but Bernadette put him into the plane before he'd calmed down, so he's unhappy in this picture. Later, though, he was happy to play in the plane. Joanna had some elaborate story going on when we stopped for lunch.

 

 

 

Then we looked at the other things (not much, actually), and got the stretched pennies, and went back to Napa to the Playground Fantastico. This is another place Rich and I had visited in 2004. We'd recommended it to Roni and Monica for their families. It's still nice enough, though not as incredibly special as I had remembered. I walked across the freeway and around under the bridge to look for a geocache, without luck.

 

 

After about 90 minutes we packed up and went home, in the Bay Area rush hour, but it wasn't too bad. (Not like the horror of getting back from Rodeo Beach.)

 

Tuesday the 13th I had the cleaners. I walked to Raley's to pick up my prescription and a salad. I watched the Westminster dog show, and learned that Lex, my grandparents' dog, was an ENGLISH cocker spaniel. I'd wondered why cocker spaniels were so much smaller than I remembered. I worked some more on the jigsaw puzzle. I also dashed over to the neighborhood street to take a picture of the leopard in a tree!

 

 

 

 

343 recordings of 42 types. 1 old SVU, 71 CPD, 49 LMS. 25% clear.

 

I forgot to mention that on Wednesday, I found treasure! I had left too early for the Crocker and arrived with about 25 minutes to wait until it opened, so I took Padreic over to look at the utility box that looks like a little house. Then we walked back through the park, and I spied two halves of a disco ball which had been thrown out.  Bernadette was equally pleased and plans to put them together. Treasure!

 

Since I had no luck at Bed Bath and Beyond, I ordered an Instant Pot from Amazon.  Then, when I was at the senior care center to help with Communion, I learned the nearby WalMart was closing. So afterwards I stopped by just to see. The lines just to get IN at Sam's Club were amazing, but it wasn't that bad at WalMart. They had one Instant Pot there for a lot less than I'd paid from Amazon... I considered having someone get the box, and then the lines to check out, and the fact I'm reluctant to use the credit card at WalMart, and the fun of either cancelling or returning the pot at Amazon, and I chose the lazy way. 

 

I stood in front of the TVs for quite a while. It's really tempting just to buy one that actually has everything I want instead of this constant fight with the white elephant Bernadette and Rob gave me.  But then I had the bright idea to have Pagan help me the next time he's here. 

 

Reading my Nero Wolfe, I suddenly got to a page where all the capital Os were blacked in. It was just like my Mom was saying "hi." 

 

On the way to church I had a bit of dizziness. I wondered if I was going to be like the man last week. Fortunately, no. Gerrie wasn't there, so I couldn't trade books with her.

 

I don't like the toothbrush, guess I will buy an Oralcare one. Too bad I can't find that 20% coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond. I suppose I'll get it from the dentist.

 

I got my tickets to Pittsburgh and reserved a car. I also filled out a reservation form for the Crater Lake boat, but it's 2017 and I had to put all the credit card info out there... sort of worrying. I had to call the Bard's Inn because they're no longer with Best Western and their online reservation system is being revamped. That's a relief, I was afraid they were sold out. I got a room on the first floor of the building I like. It's going to be pricy, but worth it. So I pretty well have August and April set. (Still need motel reservations for the Ottawa trip.) I tried to get Joanna's camp set up online but will have to call it in.

 

Yesterday, Monday, I got a call from John (a friend of Jackey's) who is planning to go on the Camino. I talked to him and since it was the third Monday, I invited him to the Newcomer's dinner. We met and he'll be coming over today to see my pictures (well, about 5% of them.)

 

I had wondered if the cleaners were coming yesterday, as it was a holiday. They sure did, at 8:30, and I really wasn't ready. Oh, well. 

 

I got a lot of the sky done on the jigsaw puzzle. It's coming along nicely.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 560

215.4 miles

clear, cold

 

358 recordings of 60 types, 4 old SVU and 45 old CPD. 25% clear.

 

I think I'll pay less taxes with this tax cut bill. Monica says they pay $34K in income tax! OUCH. Nice to be poor! Or nice not to live in California.

 

I gave up on the Rosetta Stone puzzle. I'd put in 405 pieces, not 395. It's very frustrating but I would like to do it one day. I put the groups back into the box still connected, but I really need to try something else for awhile.

 

In the evening I went to a caroling party. It was great fun. I'd taken a veggie tray, others had brought bread and stuff. They had a really delicious tortilla soup and glogg, and then we went out and carolled around the block, singing at places that were decorated. It took two hours, and as I wasn't planning to eat dessert anyway, I came home.

 

 

I took a quick trip to the Commissary. I couldn't get regular oatmeal, but it doesn't matter, I have a spare box. I usually use the quick check, but it's Christmas time, so I went through a regular check stand so I could tip the baggers.

 

The cleaners came early and there were three of them (of course.)

 

I picked 13 more oranges. There are 5 left on the tree, but I think I'll have Bernadette's for her.

 

368 recordings of 27 types, 23 old CPD and 4 SVU. 23% clear.

 

Sunday Laurie called, because her car was stuck at the mall. I gave her a ride to church (she'd called just in time.) I gave the Sharing God's Bounty donation to Jim.

 

Afterwards I went to Petsmart for dog food (for some reason, Pharaoh keeps eating!) and also got a cat toy to play with Spooky. He's enjoying it.

 

In the evening, Helena called, to commiserate. Nice lady, nice to hear from her.

 

Monday the cleaners came. They were pretty late, and of course after 4 weeks, there was a lot for them to do. When they left, I heard water running. I checked all the faucets in the house, out in front, and then glanced out the window in back... uh oh! The pipe had burst! Such timing.

 

I called the plumber and nobody could come out until the next morning.

 

 

Tuesday Brian came out about 9 and had nothing but bad news. Because it's galvanized pipe, it will all need replacing, about $5K. Furthermore, he doesn't have the tools to fix it, and he was NOT willing to dig down where the leak was because he couldn't be sure he'd find the pipe. He was just a barrel of rainbows, but fortunately he didn't charge me for the visit.

 

So I googled "electronic leak detection" and found American Plumbers, practically in my neighborhood. I called them. I had to tell my story to about 4 people, but finally got Monique, who told me their two emergency plumbers were out on calls but maybe she could get someone between 2 and 4. OK, I figured I had time to make my quick trip to the commissary. I did turn on my cell phone, fortunately, because the phone rang while I was on base. I pulled into a parking lot, too late, but I called back and a plumber was available could be at my house in an hour! I told her I'd be home in a half hour, dashed through the commissary and got home after 31 minutes. I could see the plumber's van in front of the house. Dave had arrived about a minute earlier! "Thank you for waiting!"

 

He immediately stuck a probe near where I said the leak had started and created a small geyser, then probed around till he found the leak. Then he turned off the water and went to make his estimate... digging out a 2x3 square, and replacing the leaky area with PVC plastic, then clamping it on and refilling the hole, 3 hours, $678. I signed, and he got to work.

 

 

 

 

The amazing thing is that even though he had to go to the store for a part, he still was done in 3 hours. He's related to my neighbors and was at the Hallowe'en party!

 

 

   

We talked about the next step. After the water company does their thing, he will replace the whole pipe from the house to the riser. This will take two days, so I will have a motel stay in there, and cost $4K. Sigh. I'm trying to get back to my pre-Africa money and was thinking earlier on Monday that I was closing in on it. But at least I do have the money for these emergencies. Also to be thankful for was the good weather, and that I was at home when all heck broke loose, not off on a trip.

 

 

Today, in my 6 years ago memories, "A lot of these tears are leftovers from the last few weeks. I didn't want him to see me crying. He did once, last week, I was sitting next to him on the bed rubbing his back and I just couldn't help it, and he looked over and saw me. I don't know if he understood or not."

 

 Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 547
154.7 miles
mild

372 recordings of 50 types, 71 old SVU. 17% clear.

Saturday the 9th was a busy busy day. After I did my morning watering I walked down to Leslie's house to help her set up her garage sale. I worked there until it was time for the sale, and got a decent wheeled ice chest and a great National Geographic atlas for my trouble.  (Well, I paid for them, but it was nice stuff. I needed a new ice chest... I had taken one from the neighbor's discards and they told me the handle was broken, but in actuality this lasted about 3 years before completely falling apart when we went to Micke Grove Park last April.)

I had planned to go to the WPAC second Saturday breakfast but decided there simply wasn't time. I headed back to the garage sale about 9:15 to chat and wait, and my friend Eileen came about 9:30 to take me and Alisa to Oroville for Jeo's memorial. I was wearing an orange Hawai'ian shirt that Rich bought about 10 years ago. (That was a great surprise. He always wore very conservative shirts, till we were in Hawai'i and he got a shirt for the luau (at my insistence.) This was on sale at the Lathrop gas station for $10 and he bought it.) It is far too big, and I couldn't wear my waist pouch on the outside and didn't want to wear it underneath since it made me look 10 months pregnant.  So I pocketed my camera and ID and money and keys, and made do without the kitchen sink I normally carry. (And I remembered when we picked up Alisa who is attached to her phone that I didn't take mine.)

It was a nice ride and I got some answers about why Jeo and his wife were no longer together. I thought she had washed her hands of him when he got sick, which I don't really approve of, but it was the other way around. Jeo told her to get out of his life (I have to believe it was the disease talking, as Jeo was usually a very sweet guy).  So at the memorial it was easy to hug her and tell her how sorry I was. At the memorial (which was at Jeo's sister's house) I learned some other friends are now divorced. Sigh.  There were about 35 geocachers there (all in Hawai'ian shirts, plus the family. The three children, and Cinde and her parents, Jeo's sisters and brother, and his mother. (Woe. Eileen says she's somewhat out of it, what a blessing.) Plenty of food  (although the cookies I brought were unpacked at the end.) I picked up a geocoin to remember him by. It's a California one, not recognized by Groundspeak, but that's OK.) I wrote a memory of Jeo in the book. (Rich and I had just started geocaching, and found a big travel bug hotel in Elk Grove, and we were engrossed in checking the contents when this voice boomed out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" and scared us to death.) Jeo's son spoke. It was nice to see so many old friends.

I got home about 5.

Eric Bolling's son died.  The hits just keep coming.

Sunday was also a busy day. At church, Gerrie returned my books and gave me some candy (how the heck am I supposed to get my A1C down this way?).  I hadn't planned to go back to the house before the late afternoon, but had to get the candy bar out of the car.  Thence down to help with Communion... there's s guy from church there recouperating from a fall, in his 90s and sharp as a tack, knew my name and Brenda's.  He has an easy name to remember, Charles Schulz!

Hence to Elk Grove. I thought I would drop in on the 9/11 event and see some of the people who weren't in Oroville the day before, but I couldn't find the group. Oh, well. I stopped at Jack-in-the-box for lunch, then got to Bernarob's house. When it was his truck left in the driveway, I thought maybe they'd changed their plans, but no, he was still taking the big kids to see their Mom in the play. My job was to babysit Padreic.

He was busy busy.  There was plenty for him to do in the living room, but at one point he climbed over the gate into Mommy and Daddy's room (forbidden, and I'd locked both kids' bedrooms.) I got him out and then told him to pick up the little bells he'd been carrying. "No." He said "No" a couple of times, and finally I gave him a pop on the backside. Then held him while he cried it out, and we started playing finger games.

Rob and the kids enjoyed the play. He said it was better than the other Gilbert&Sullivan's Bernadette has been in.

Monday the 11th of September I had the flags out all over the yard. It was the day for  the cleaners. They sat in the driveway in their car and had lunch, and here I was all ready to let them in and disappear into the bedroom. I could have finished my TV show!

While I was in the bedroom, I straightened up some more for the window people, and called my classmate Rich who was in town for the weekend. Too hot to leave the house again, though.

I had cloudy urine. But it's been coming and going, mostly clear, so I don't know what's going on.

My neighbor Carol brought over ice cream bars to keep in my freezer for the party the next day.

Tuesday I went to breakfast with the ladies. We only had 4 this time.

I found and rescued a tiny alligator lizard in the house. I thought at first maybe Pharoah had hurt it, but it moved from the zinnia bed where I put it, so it's probably OK. So beautiful!

Carol had a farewell party for Leslie. I will be sad to have her (and Zeus) go. We met the new homeowners, James and Yolanda. They're into wine and across the street Sloan and Christy (who were new to me) brew beer! Hey, I live on a party street! I also met Luann, and then chatted with the neighbors I know, as well.

I got home just before Vince's call. Eric will be going to the Bahamas next year. Gabe and A.J. are doing well in soccer.  And I forgot to tell him about Jeo's memorial and about the alligator lizard... so I started a list for the next time!

Wednesday I went down to Elk Grove as usual, and Bernadette wasn't there. I thought maybe she had decided to take Padreic in to the doctor, since he's been crying over a hurt leg since Monday. Sure enough, it's broken!  He had a splint on it and it will be cast on Friday. He was apparently really good with the doctor, and the X-rays.  It was a trampoline accident. I said, when Joan gave them that, it was dangerous for such small children. Monica argued that it was good exercise and I said it would lead to broken bones. She said "at least they won't be overweight."  So of course, when I posted about the broken leg, I said "told you so, Monica!"

The big kids were in trouble about this. They just stood on the trampoline watching while Padreic cried. No one went in to tell Mommy.  Also, while B. was trying to clean up, Gareth just went to his room and Joanna wouldn't go fetch something "there's a branch in the way."  She got popped on the bottom for her pains, too.  Daddy had a long lecture for them. 

I fetched them and we talked about the broken leg on the way home. Nobody knows what exactly happened. I read them more of Pinocchio. I decided I need to bring over a marionette so they really know what it is.

Thursday, I got my new windows!!!!!! I just love it! The annoying thing is I will have to make sure all the smoke alarms have batteries (I really only keep the hall one and my bedroom charged up, the others are old and beep even with new batteries, too much trouble) before I call the county inspector to come out. It took the guys 4 hours to get all the windows in, and I spied one defective screen so called about it at the end of the day.

I went to the WPAC Appleby's dinner. I ordered the chicken tacos which were filling enough, and to my surprise, between the half price Happy Hour and the 10% discount, I only owed a little over 4 dollars! 

Friday was Renaissance. The morning documentary was "And Still I Fly" about Maya Angelou. When it was dealing with her early life, there was a cameo with Hillary Clinton, who said it was like her mother's early life. All I could think about was "was that before or after she named you for Sir Edmund Hillary?" The bitter old woman (mighod, this book tour!) always has to make it all about herself! The documentary, however, was really good. There was this time she lectured Tupac Shakur about his language.  I'd read all the autobiographies and really enjoyed this documentary.

The time travel movie was Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. I enjoyed it more this time than when I saw it first. Silly but fun. I was tempted to go to the forum but really wanted to come home.

Before I left I saw Leslie walking Zeus for the last time here, so dashed out for a hug from her and a total slobber from him.

The windows will go on November's bill! Hooray, it's nice to spread the misery out!

They warned me there might still be pieces of glass, but I forgot, and sure enough, barefoot in my bedroom. Ow.

Saturday I was pretty well crippled up with a terrible backache, but because I'd promised, I saw Bernadette's play, Patience. It's cute and funny. I'd never heard of it before though there's one song in it I've heard somewhere (an ad, maybe?)

Sunday I stayed in to heal up. My back still hurt but not as badly as it did the day before. I've been leaving the windows open night and day, except when the gardeners were here.   I trimmed the roses in the rose garden Rich made for me. Most of them are dead, thanks to the drought.

I made a salad of dragonfruit, pineapple, (I wanted pomegranates, but they aren't quite ready yet. There are so many I think I can have some despite the squirrels), romaine, one small bell pepper chopped up with a blueberry balsalmic vinaigrette. Yum.

I actually READ "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" for the first time. Disney did a great job following the descriptions! Irving's prose is great!