fossilfreak | Entries tagged with niki

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 602

93.8 miles

heating up, 90s

264 recordings of 41 types, 38% clear.

The 16th I drove over to the campsite and parked and had breakfast with them. Then off we went to the boat dock... they had said, the night before, that we'd better leave by 7:30 to get to the trailhead by 9, due to construction. As it happened, however, we were fine. I got the tickets (I was #1!!) for the 10 o'clock boat, and we started down the trail. Nice trip, too bad I was never going to make it back up. We were early, so I settled down with my book (The Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher, oh my goodness!) and the bags while the family played by the lake. Then it was time for the boat trip. A.J. and Gabe had to have life jackets, and because of the recent tragedy in Branson, I really paid attention to the safety information.

It was a bit smoky, but as we got close to the sights we could see them clearly and if you looked at the water, it was really blue. We saw the floating tree, the Old Man of the Lake, which has been floating at least since 1896. We boated around the Phantom Ship, which reminded me of a Galapagos Island.

After the 2-hour trip it was back up that trail. I walked across the Pyrenees (bitching and moaning all the way) I can do this. Yes, but it took a lot of sweat and a loooooong time.

We went to the Visitor's Center for lunch and shopping, then to an overlook for The Picture. I have a picture of Vince and me in 1992, his college trip, here. One of my friends glanced at it and asked "are they twins?" which has made my day ever since. So we had to have an updated picture. I think it turned out pretty well.

We stopped at another visitor's center on the way back to camp and saw a film and took a short trail, and Gabe got into trouble with his mom for leaving the trail. In my room, later, I realized there were virtual caches all over the park, including that visitor's center, so I made my plans for the next day. Gabe made the fire though dinner was something else... this was for marshmallows. AND I had just given them a grill set they could have used for marshmallows, but forgot until they got back from a trip to the store. Anyway, I left about then.

I had coffee in my room so didn't have to use their system. The next morning I drove down for breakfast, and watched Vince helping A.J. with his Junior Ranger stuff. I then went back to my cabin and checked out and met them at the center place, and we drove to the Pinnacles. This was a short hike and the Pinnacles are fascinating. They are fossilized fumaroles. We saw the National Park border with an old gate
.

Then we went to Plaikini Falls, which was a pleasant hike after the hard one of the day before. And then we said goodbye... they were going around the lake counter-clockwise while I planned to head that way a short distance to pick up some information for a virtual cache, then go back to the park center and get more information and maybe just walk along the rim for awhile, then out the north entrance and go to Ashland. I did this, and also stopped at a couple of viewpoints and chatted with a couple who'd been to Devil's Tower and a German couple, and then to the park center. I walked over to the Lodge and finally found the information I needed for that geocache. When I stepped out I was admiring an old car when a modern one screeched to a halt and a lady raced out saying "JAN!" It was my dental hygeinist!! So then, as I walk back to the park center, I spy some familiar looking people... Vince and family, taking A.J. to a visitor's center to get his Junior Ranger patch!! We said goodbye again, I grabbed something for lunch and passed their car on the way out of the parking lot, and drove on to the Wizard Island overlook where a nice man helped me with the picture, and so out of the park.

And so to Ashland. It was a VERY long way, over 100 miles. I swear I thought it was closer. I finally pulled into the Bard's Inn, which is no longer a Best Western but still very nice. They had repaved the parking lot, and it's beautiful. The town was smoky but I managed to see all the plays, even the outdoor ones, outside. I took the backstage tour (I think the 4th time, and this one was the best) and went to a "park talk" which was inside. Got to hear a couple of the actors, always a fun thing. My plays were Book of Will on Friday night (and I was tired, had a hard time staying awake), Henry V and Love's Labors Lost on Saturday. LLL was outdoors and late because of the smoke and the possibility they'd have to cancel it. So about 11 I was really getting tired, but it finally ended. Sunday I went to church (and since Joan knows the priest, I went back to say hi on Wednesday) and then to Sense and Sensibility and, outdoors, Romeo and Juliet. The weather was beautiful, but when Tuesday dawned, they had to move R&J to the high school.

Monday was off, so I went geoaching, then walking and shopping. The first cache was fun, since I was having no luck at this church sign, when a voice from on high (well, the porch) said "keep trying." Eventually he pulled it out of the bush for me.

The shopping I got three jigsaw puzzles, as if I needed jigsaw puzzles. I also saw a marble run and thought it might be a good present for Padreic. And I got "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein, for the kids, because they obviously need more books.

Tuesday was Othello in the afternoon and then I went to dinner at the Black Sheep. I'd tried all kinds of restaurants and still have to write my TripAdvisor reviews. It was a fun but very expensive trip!!

Wednesday, after Mass (everybody wanted me to stay for coffee) was a long drive home.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 602

93.0 miles

heating up, 90s

276 recordings of 46 type, 35% clear. I am halfway through season 3 of NCIS.

On the 10th of August I was weeding the zinnia bed and semi-tripped over my little wire fence. I didn't fall, thank goodness, but had (and still have) a doozy of a bruise.

Pharaoh was giving me trouble about coming in at night and I left him out about 40 minutes.

I went to Bernadette's and played with Padreic and helped clean out Gareth's room a bit. She told me the coming operation will take out the appendix, which makes sense.

My driver's license renewal came. Too late to get an appointment, especially with the medical issues.

I went to the pizza party for Sharing God's Bounty. I really pigged out. It's amazing how many people are involved in so many jobs... besides cooks and servers there's publicity and volunteer liasons... I sat next to Peter Mithin and Boyd Keenan. I felt a little silly saying why I was there, but as a founder, and hospitality early on, and as Rich's widow, I was OK. I said I didn't do much now but bring coffee and both Ann and Jim said I was also a generous donor.

My jaw hurt on the way home. I don't need a heart attack just now, TYVM.

I finished the jigsaw puzzle in 9 days. It has 5 pieces missing, but 31 pieces that didn't belong to this puzzle. I took it up to Niki.

August 11 was second Saturday breakfast. I spent some time looking for my Social Security card so I can get a Real ID driver's license. I stopped at Lazy-Boy on the way home and got some glasses. I took them up to Vince and Niki but they didn't want them.

August 12, Father had a LONG homily. He's very excited about the Mass and eager to share it. Then I went to Communion at the nursing home. It's been a long time, since before the disastrous Pittsburgh trip.

I ordered face masks for the smoke in Oregon.

August 13. I finally got my appointment to get the results... very disappointing. Basically Svetlana, who is a very nice lady but NOT the doctor, read me a black and white copy of the color report I got from the doctor. They're going to refer me to a surgeon. I was in tears when I left and went to Bernadette's. She was too wrapped up in her World Con plans to be sympathetic. I tried calling the doctor's office to find out the name of the surgeon, but of course it didn't work. So I don't know any more than I did before.

I walked over for a geocache, which I actually found.

August 14 I drove back out to the office to get the surgeon's name and phone number so if they call while I'm gone, as they did, in fact, I could call back for an appointment. It turned out there's no phone service at Crater Lake so I couldn't check in at home until Friday, and couldn't call the surgeon's office till Monday, but I got an appointment for Friday! I had to replace the bulb in the back hall.

There was a Pilgrim's pizza party, and this time I didn't pig out quite so much. I gave a little speech about Casa Leopoldo in Palas de Rei. I bought wine for the trip to Ashland and packed my Ashland glass, but couldn't find my beaded covers for the glasses!

And, finally, Wednesday the 15th, I could start my Oregon trip. I packed two duffel bags, one for Crater Lake and the other for Ashland. My sandwich was too big for a regular sandwich bag! Finally, I left the house at 7:47. I drove and drove (past a field of melons!) till 9:48, the Corning rest area. I needed to get out and stretch even more than I needed a potty break! What a nice rest area, where I've probably never stopped before. Look at all the olive trees! Is there a geocache here? (My pocket query assumed I was taking Highway 99 instead of I-5.)

At 11:39 I was at Castella, looking (unsuccessfully) for a cache. I had waved gaily at the rest area where I saw the eclipse last year. After the fruitless search I stopped at the RRPark resort to ask how they were doing with the smoke. I'd put on my mask at Redding because it was really bad there. There were "thank you" signs to firefighters on all the overpasses. My favorite was "thank you for kickin' ash."

I ate my sandwich at the resort and decided not to stop in Dunsmuir, maybe on the way back. (no.) I went on to Weed and couldn't find the cache at the totem pole, but fortunately stopped at the gas station for a potty break. I say "fortunately" because the rest area on hwy 97 was closed.

I didn't notice there was a cache in Dorris (and in a store, I really could have found it!) till I was just past the turn to it. And no real place to turn around. Oh, well. I did stop and take a good look at the second-highest flagpole in the world, which we had watched being built, back in the days when we would drive to Spokane on 97.

I stopped for gas in Klamath Falls, next to the Super 8 where I stayed when I went up alone to get Vince (when Rich bought the van!) Actually, leave them alone for 25 years and they change everything! Then when I took the turn for Crater Lake I started looking for geocaches, but only found one of the ones I had marked. I stopped at the overlook for Annie Falls, and finally got to Crater Lake about 4:30. I registered and got cabin D1.

Then I tried to call Vince, and discovered there was no phone service. So I left a note at the camping check-in, but decided, sensibly, not to trust that and sat on a log overlooking the parking lot while I read a book. Sure enough, I saw them, about 5:30, and told Niki just to register to see if they got the message... nope. They were camped about .4 miles away, further when I walked around the long way.

I sprang for dinner and had pork chops with mustard, cornbread and butter, and green beans. Yummy. And I bought A.J. his first stretched penny. I spent the rest of the time at Crater Lake looking for an album, but they finally managed to get one (and two more pennies) on the way home.

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

202.4 miles

c-c-cold!

(It would be easier to keep up if I weren't so busy. Of course, then I would have nothing to write about.)

Last Saturday, November 25, I slept in until 6 and started covering a garden bed with leaves before the gardeners came.

I spent most of the afternoon waiting for Bernadette, and still bitter, at one point I took a 4.3 mile walk to take a book to the farthest Little Free Library. No Bernadette. I thought she'd forgotten, but it turns out my communications major was unclear as to when she was coming... she'd meant SUNDAY afternoon.

There was a Black Friday sale on Fishdom. I'm not playing much, only getting the diamonds when they are on sale.

While online, I also bought one thing for Steve&Family, since it was something I was already going to get but was on sale.

The 26th was Niki's birthday and I actually sent her card on time. Bernadette came by and got her tickets, and stayed and talked. She admired Hoarder Central. She says it's gone from "dumpster ready" to "messy." I was having her help me move the train layout so I could cover it with plastic and put it out, but it turned out to be broken. The plaster mountains had cracked. OK, then, it will go with the hauler. She helped me move it out to the carport.

Also, I found out they are going to WorldCon in San Jose next August. Since I'll be in Oregon with Vince and family, Joan will be babysitting. I hope she doesn't have the heat problem again. (She fainted last year.)

While Bernadette was here I darn near burnt the turkey soup, but saved it just in time. It's gonna be good.

I replaced a light bulb and the Brita filter.

I was beginning to wonder about the night twinges I've been having. They are normal, hyptic jerks or sleep starts. (And, of course, now I know that, I haven't had any since.) On this evening, I'd been asleep for about an hour when there was a TERRIBLE noise. The cat somehow managed to knock my ceremonial dagger to the ground! Boy, that changed things!

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

196.4 miles

clear and cold

371 recordings of 29 types, 7 old SVU and 32 old CPD. 24% clear.

Thursday the 16th I was a seething mass of resentment because Bernadette and family were going to Oregon for Thanksgiving, even though they had been planning to be at Roni's with me and the rest of the family. There's a good (though sad) reason for it, in that Rob's Aunt Marie is sick with bone cancer. But I really resented it, and it brought up memories of some of the other good reasons, like last Christmas, and really, tellingly, Bernadette's wedding, which Joan took over. I had wonderful plans for here, but it had to be in Junction City, for the good reason that Rob's dad was too ill to travel here.

Joan only left 10 days ago, and would see the kids again on Saturday. She sees more of the kids than I do!

When I got to Bernadette's, she was gone. I burst into tears. Then I called her, where the heck are you? She was at her Mom's group, Heart 2 Heart, which I thought she'd had last week, so would be home this week. FINE! I'm going home!! Wait, wait, she said. Why don't you come to Heart 2 Heart with me? I grudgingly said OK, but really was considering going home anyway. But I drove over there and she was waiting outside in the cold for me. In we went, with me griping about the trip to Oregon. Then I hear the speaker talking about "how to get along with your inlaws this holiday season!"

She was really very good and made a lot of telling points about relationships and how a quick prayer can help. Most of the mothers there are young (Bernadette, at 40, may well be on the old side) but the points still applied to me, and I got the definite feeling God got me here. I definitely finished with a better attitude and am trying to hold on to it.

When we got back to Bernadette's, it was almost time for me to fetch the kids. I stopped at Joanna's class (she had a good report for a change!) to talk to the teacher and ask if I could chaperone the planetarium trip in January. It's at the nearby museum so I would like to meet them there rather than ride the bus. We don't know yet.

Meanwhile, all the way home Joanna insisted the field trip would be tomorrow. She only heard part of the directions, that they had to return the permission slip the next day. This was one of the things the teacher meeting talked about, that her comprehension was down. Apparently we need to have her feed back what she heard. She didn't really believe me till Mommy told her the permission slip was what she needed.

Vincenik sent my Christmas present already. Since I hadn't actually read the Facebook thread, I'm afraid I opened it. Then I re-packed it. (It's a scratch-off map, you scratch off places you've been.) . I think I'll know where I'll put it.

(On Friday, in the Travel discussion at Renaissance, which was about Panama, I started listing all the places I want to go. There are at least 10 of high priority. Then I realized that we didn't travel (out of the country) for 40 years! (Rich had trips to Europe, but I stayed home except for a quick trip to Burwell in 1977.) 40 years between 1972 and 2012 wasted. Lots of travel in the states, but a lot of it was to places we'd been before. So this map will have a lot of places not scratched off, and never will. Well, at least I got to Hawaii.)

I finished And be a Villain which introduces the criminal master Arnold Zink. So I am now reading

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Pepys' Diary; Embarrassments by PJ Nel; Shattered, Jonathan Allen & Amie Parnes; The Little World of Don Camillo, Giovanni Guareschi; and The Second Confession by Rex Stout.

I have to renew my passport next month! I was thinking of doing it next year, but now realize I'll be going into Canada just a couple of weeks before it expires. Can't do that! I guess (see above) it's possible the next one will be my last.