Emily, the best furchild in the universe

Hugs and Loves...

I know I promised to tell my story and I am trying very hard to put it into words. Since I last posted much, it's been a wild ride and I am still processing it. I know one thing for certain...life is short, and life is precious. LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST!

More soon, I promise.

Hugs and loves and I am so happy you are still here...

I guess it's time I tell my story...

I haven't really blogged much since daddy died. His death took a whole lot out of me. I was always a daddy's girl and the last many years before he died, we got to spend a lot of time together. I cherish that time and I expected there to be a lot more of it. Like when Dale died, I just knew there would be more time and was heartbroken when there wasn't.

So enough of that for now...I've decided it's time I tell my story. It's been so long since I have blogged, I will probably have an audience of none, but I'm going to tell it anyway. But not tonight. Tonight I am going to crawl into my warm, cozy bed.

There's always tomorrow for blogging.

What a difference a day makes...

The trees were really beautiful this fall. I was almost late for work because I ran back to get the camera for this shot. I thought the weather was about to change...sadly, I was right.

Emmy out prowling in the privacy fenced, impervious to trespassers, and escape attempts yard, for what would be the last time for awhile. It turns out she's a fair weather cat. She hasn't set foot outside since the snow started falling.

Poor Talouse has snow on his antlers. What's a poor moose to do?


The newspaper said that we got more snow in the past two days than we did in the entire past year. Where the h*ll is this global warming they keep telling us about? I say bring it on!

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for many things in my life...great friends, fantastic family and the love of the world's most wonderful cat.

What are you thankful for?

Who is The Dalai Laurie?

The author of this blog, who drove 1200 miles with only Eckhart Tolle CD's to listen to.

Ohhhhhmmmmmmm....

Just a little bit of housecleaning...

It has recently become evident to me that I need to focus on the positive more and clear my mind and life of negativity. It's been a long time a-comin' (as my dad would have said), but the time is here.



There were signs along the way, small ones, then larger ones, and they were signs that I should have paid more attention to, but I ignored them as I have done often in the past. There's no reason to go into any of it here...suffice it to say it's a brand new day and a new way for me.

Now, let's get this party started!

I resemble that remark

I recently joined Freecycle.

If you don't already know, the Freecycle network is a non-profit organization serving to help people and reduce the amount of waste going into landfills. I joined the local group in order to find homes for several items I no longer had a use for.

People who need an item, or have an item to give, email the group moderator who either approves or denies the request. If approved, it is emailed out to all the members who then respond to the individual.

Today as I was reading requests from folks on Freecycle, I came upon this one:

Gordon S [CoeurdaleneFreecycleTM] seeking marbles.

As sorry as I am to hear that Gordon has lost his, it gave me an idea. Since I seem to be in a similar situation, I think I will try asking for some myself.

Beam me up

Stardate: 04162010, 1522 hours Pacific Time
Captains log:

The USS Mazda 6 was traveling at just below warp speed on I-90, a few miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID. The first mate noticed an anomaly in the space time continuum and attempted to photograph it.

Because the crew was traveling in cognito so as not to unnerve the natives of this primitive planet, the only photographic equipment available was a cell phone with a .2 gigabyte camera.

The image, and other pertinent data was transmitted to the Star Fleet Commander who will analyze it to determine if the planet Earth is undergoing rapid global warming or just enjoying a beautiful spring day.

Stay tuned for updates.

It's been a year...

...since daddy died, and still not a day goes by that I don't think of him and miss him. Sometimes it doesn't seem real, and part of that might be because I moved away not long after he passed, but it might be a bit of denial on my part as well.

I know I haven't kept in touch very well; I haven't had a lot of time to blog or email, or do much of anything but work. I guess that is what I do when I don't know what else to do...I work.

Most weeks I put in 55-60 hours, some a little more, a few a little less. I walk quite a bit, dote on my cat and of course enjoy the company of my friends and loved ones here in Idaho.

I still have my Montana phone number, but I did finally step up and get a local plate for my car (at the urging of a policeman who stopped me to tell me I was traveling a wee bit too fast).

I guess now I can truly say...

For Cathy...

Still alive...still kickin...just busier than ever, in fact, life's a blur right now.

That doesn't mean I don't miss you all and hope to catch up with you soon.

In the meantime, send me an email sometime!

Love,

Laurie

Random act of kindness

I have a slow leak in my tire. It literally takes a month for it to even look like it is going down and I've taken it in twice to be repaired and they can't find out what is wrong with it. I am pretty sure they think it is my head, but I'm telling you, there is very little in my head lately...and certainly not that!

Anyway, I digress...

Tonight, driving home, I decided it was time to check my bad tire. I pulled into a gas station and up to the air dispenser. I got out of the car and into the pouring rain. Mind you it had been windy and cloudy all day and pretty cold too, so the rain really was no surprise. I stood there looking forlorn, wishing I had stopped to buy a tire gauge.

As I was about to add air to the tire, a young man walked out of the station and towards his car. He glanced over at me asked me if everything was OK. I told him about my tire gauge dilema and the story of the mysteriously leaking tire and he reached in his car and pulled out a tire gauge. I smiled and reached for it and he asked if he minded if he did it. Of course I said that I didn't and he not only checked and filled the tire I was concerned about, he checked and added or removed air on the other three as well!

When I asked if I could do anything for him he said no, that he was happy to be of assistance. I told him how wonderful he was and I really meant it.

I drove away crying over his kindness.

Adventures with Gordy

I spent this afternoon with Gordon, my best friend's father, touring the Museum at the Brig at Farragut Park. The museum is dedicated to the Navy personnel who trained there and is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

It will also be open on September 12, 2009 for a reunion of the naval trainees. Those who would like to attend are asked to meet at the Museum at the Brig at 9AM and bring a sack lunch. Donuts and coffee will be served.

Gordon trained there in preparation for service in World War II, so it was a most interesting tour.


Here Gordon signs in at the special registrar for returning personnel.

The map is of the whole park, which is located on Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.

The museum curators left one of the "cells" as it had been in the past.

This is a model made by local high school students. It depicts the camp as it was when Gordon was there.

This is one of the many displays.

As is this.

This plaque is located outside the museum at the entrance/exit point.

These plaques, next to the commemorative plaque, contain the signatures of all who attended the 2006 reunion. Gordy is standing next to the plaque containing his name!

It was impossible to get a picture that showed the impressiveness of this courtyard, lined with flags of all types.

This is an original firetruck from that era.

As I walked around the exercise yard of the old brig, it was hard not to think of all the men who died during the war that brought this place to life.

This piece of art was sculpted by one of the men who trained at Farragut. A close-up of the head would show that there are hundreds, possibly thousands of heads carved into the massive sculpture.

Thanks, Gordon, for a wonderful afternoon.

Just a few photos as we head into the weekend...

There's not much I like better than spending the weekend on the boat.

Gone but Never Forgotten

Olga Kelley: born August 20, 1923-died August 15, 2001

Some beach...some where...

It seems I have no time for blogging anymore...no time to write or even more importantly, no time to read your blogs.

I seriously considered shutting down the blog...but hate to do so because it has been a life journal for me and I have LOVED sharing it with all of you.

But things have changed so much in my life in the past few years, and now it is time for another big transition. As a result I will have even less time than before.

With that in mind, I have decided to take a hiatus of undetermined length.

I will check back from time to time to let you know how I'm doing and catch up with what is going on in your lives, but for the most part I will be offline.

Big hugs to all...

Laurie

Life is good...

The bird that loves me...

Our friend Pat lives in the nursing home. She is a truly wonderful lady and we go to visit her nearly every day. She has an African Grey Parrot named Pepi, who she has had since he was a tiny hatchling. He is very smart and very busy.

Pat loves Pepi and Pepi loves Pat, but Pepi will not let Pat touch him. Every time she tries, he bites her. He also bites everyone else that tries...except for me. I can pet him, stroke him, feed him and kiss him right on the beak and he has never so much as looked like he was going to bite.

Pat has decided that Pepi is in love with me. And by the look of it, he may well be. According to Pat, who is quite the expert, what Pepi is doing in this video is the Parrot Mating Dance. He is also chittering, which is, apparently, part of the ritual.

I may not have had the best luck with men in my life, but I think that this one is a keeper...what do you think?

National Nursing Home Week

Even with daddy gone, the nursing home continues to be a big part of our lives. My brother and I take turns going to see the gang and usually make it over there at least six times a week. I go in for lunch or after work and he goes in on the weekends. It is so much fun to see everyone and they really seem to enjoy our being there.

This week, in case you didn't know, is National Nursing Home Week! In honor of that, the staff at the home held various events during the week, including Green Day, Home Town Colors Day and May Flowers Day!

As you may have guessed, I was invited to participate as well.

I don't have a picture of my personal celebration of Green Day, but rest assured that I was resplendent (or ridiculous...you know, one of those words that starts with R) in my green hoodie and blue jeans!

Since my home town colors are orange and black, and orange makes me look....well....orange, I had to go to the store and purchase something to wear. I am pawsative that I looked stunning (or stunned, more likely), what do you think? Orange you glad I didn't show you more of this picture?

May Flowers Day provided yet another problem. I don't own a single item of clothing that has flowers on it, so I had to get very creative, which is quite a stretch for me.

I'm not really sure who had more fun at these events, the residents or the staff. There was so much giggling and laughing and carrying on that by the time I had to go back to work each day, my face was sore from smiling.

My hips were sore as well, because my little sweet Marilyn thought I should do the Hula on May Flowers Day, which was fine, but I was trying to do it from a rolling chair and it kind of got away from me.

As I've said many a time before...it's all fun and games until someone breaks a hip!

Pitter Patter

It's a given...if I wash and detail my car, straighten my hair and take a walk without a coat, it will rain. Granted, all of these things have to happen within a 24 hour time span for the power of the cosmos to trigger torrential downpours, but it never fails to happen. Clouds in the sky or no...the rains will come.

That could be just enough to frustrate or upset me, but only if I let it and today I chose not to.

Instead I listened intently to the birds...they love the rain, and so did I.

And I smelled the fresh cut grass and the newly bloomed flowers...and the odor was amazing...the smell of spring.

And I looked at the clouds...they weren't gray, they were a mottled combination of silver and white.

And I looked at the children playing in the puddles...and the elderly couple enjoying the pitter patter of the rain on their roof from the sanctuary of their front porch and thought...life IS good.