September 8, 2011
Swift Watch 2011
Well, September is the time of year to pack up a picnic dinner, take the kids and head out to Chapman School in NorthEast Portland to watch the swifts as they perform their aerial show before they go to roost in the school’s old chimney. Now through the end of September is the best time to go….
Will you see me there???
September 7, 2011
Doggie Diary – Play Chase!
OK, so little Miss Mercedes is really coming along. She has a very cute personality and on days when she has to stay home alone, she is very playful when I return! She will run around the chairs and table in a circle, with one of her toys in her mouth, just daring me to chase her! I chase her a little bit one way, then we go the other way, then back again. On those rare times when I almost catch her, she turns up the speed and gets away! If I want to be really ornery with her, I will take another toy and I’ll hold it up off the ground and dare her to come and get it! She will drop the toy she has in her mouth and jump up to get the toy I am holding, then run off again! She will stop, turn, look at me, lunge toward me tapping both front paws on the floor as if to say “Come on! See if you can catch me this time! I dare you!” All I have to do is to make a slight move toward her and she is off and running! If I don’t follow, she comes back and tries again, “Come on! Chase me! Play with me!” She is so cute!
Since I get tired easily, I had to devise a method of letting her know that play was ended (I’m tired). So, I taught her baby sign language for ‘all done’. She is a fast learner and when I do the sign for ‘all done’ she immediately takes her toy and goes and gets in her bed! She is usually tired,too!
September 6, 2011
Nostalia Gum
OK, so I am checking out at Bi-Mart after getting my 30 Seconds Cleaner and I am just about finished with my transaction when I see it. The little cardboard display stand focusing my attention on Nostalgia Gum! Yes, there they are … the burnt orange colored wrappers of Clove gum, the blue wrappers of Black Jack gun and then the white wrappers encasing (my favorite) Beamens! I purchased one of each and had black gum in my mouth before I exited the check-out stand! Mu-m-m-m, it had the same licorice flavor that my 7 year old brain remembered! This non-gum-chewer will treat herself to a piece every day!
Do you remember Black Jack, Clove & Beamens?
September 5, 2011
Labor Day, 2011
I hope that you all enjoy this National Holiday and that you are flying your flag today!!!!
August 22, 2011
New Computer
Well. July 21st, my computer came up with the dreded blue screen! I was so tired and feeling unwell that I just shut it down and let it set. The computer was old and slow and ‘went bluescreen’ on me about 17 months ago so I know it was time for a new one and not worth fixing at this point.
Enter the Hewlett-Packard Touchscreen! A cool futuristic ebony swath that is just as it names implies! You can use the keyboard, use the mouse or (fanfare blowing in the background!) just touch the screen with your fingers!!!
I sometimes will use all three depending my frustration level. But for now, the novelty is still present.
Oh, yes, that is one of the reasons why I haven’t written too much during the last month.
July 15, 2011
Sand in the City
Sand in the City, sponsored by Koin chanel 6 is underway at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon! It starts today ~ Friday~ and continues through Sunday afternoon, 7/17/11. There is a small admission charge which benfits Impact Northwest.
Friday, July 15th, 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 16th, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 17th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information go to: http://www.sandinthecitypdx.com/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=462136&lis=1&kntae462136=985942A9029643B593E9E9C728CBF238
July 8, 2011
It Arrived!
My correct author’s copy arrived! My book looks beautiful. I am very pleased . There are just 2 small changes that need to be made… a blank page needs to be added and some graphics need to be realigned. The latter was the typesetters mistake.
Now to get some marketing done so peopel will know that my book is available.
July 5, 2011
Happy Summer
The weathermen here in Portland have a saying: “Summer doesn’t begin here until July 5th!”
This year the saying proved to be ture. Well actually it stopped raining here around June 3oth; July 1st was beautiful and it stayed a little cloudy on July 2nd. By the Fourth of July we were at 80+ degrees and today, July 5th, it’s back up in the 80′s.
And now comes the complaining…. Portlanders are so used to cool cloudy days that we complain when it gets about 78 degrees because now it is — you guessed it –TOO HOT!
I remember something that occured just after I moved to Portland from the midwest which is famous for its seasonal weather extremes. I was waiting in line at the checkout counter at my local grocery store . The clerk at the checkout counter had initiated a conversation about the weather by stating to the man in front of me in line “Everyone is wearing coats and hats and gloves today. Is it cold out?” His comment was “Yes, it is really cold out. I hope it doesn’t last long because everyone is freezing.”
I was wearing my lightweight midwest winter coat and didn’t feel the need to wear gloves or a hat for this trip to the grocery store so I was interested in the comment. As I went outside into the 38-40 degree air I remember thinking ”if this is freezing cold here in Portland, I am really going to be happy here!” And I have been.
Except now I have become used to the mild temps here and so the heat today (84) is hotter than I like. Well, I do have another reason to not like the heat. It is this new Chemo drug that I am on. Doxil. I cannot go into the sun at all without sunscreen on or my skin will blister. This has presented a challeng when driving, so I keep a quilt in the car and use it to cover up my arms when I am driving if the sun is shining on my hands and arms. But at least I am not over fatigued as I was with the Carbo/taxol drugs.
And so Happy summer! Be sure to wear susnscreen!!!
June 26, 2011
Doggie Catch-up
Mercedes is adjusting very nicely… she has calmed down considerably — so much in fact that I even noticed it! She knows when she can’t go with me to do errands and when we go ‘bye-bye’ she sit nicely in her seat (with her harness on) and sometimes looks out the window, sometimes looks at me. She waits paitently in the car, too. I think she figured out that she can be nice in the car and go with or she can stay home alone….
June 24, 2011
Portland American Idol Auditions
Season 11 American Idol Auditions will be held in Portland, Oregon on July 2, 2011 at the Rose Garden Arena. No Overnight Camping Allowed; but Transit/Max service available.
Registration is on Thursday, June 30th and Friday, July 1st, 2011. Wristbands will be distributed to auditioners during pre-registration (tables open Thursday and remain open until Saturday morning). Once auditioners obtain their wristbands, they will be asked to return to the stadium early morning Saturday, July 2 to line up for their audition.
Two valid forms of ID are required (see rules) and must be shown every time i.e. registration & actual audition. Those under 18 MUST have a legal parent or guardian present in addition to the valid ID.
You have less than one week to get your wonderful voice in ‘audition shape’, so get practicing!!!
FAQ: http://media.americanidol.com/forms/season_11/ai11_faqs.pdf
Required Release Form (print, fill out and bring with you): http://media.americanidol.com/forms/season_11/ai11_releases.pdf
Read the Rules: http://media.americanidol.com/forms/season_11/ai11_rules.pdf
Public Transportation Info: http://trimet.org/ Rose Quarter Transit Center. The Rose Quarter Transit Center is located across from the Rose Garden Arena. It is in Zone 1.
Please note that Portland is considered the City of Roses due to the many beautiful rose gardens in our city. The auditions are held at the Rose Garden ARENA. If you search Rose Garden, you will end up at one of our illustrious city’s beautiful Rose Gardens, but will not be at the AI Auditions! Stop and Smell the Roses!
And GOOD LUCK, PORTLAND!!!!
June 21, 2011
First Day of Summer
This morning at 10:something am, it officially became Summer! And we are really ready for this Summer here in Portland. Today the sun is shining and air is clear and it looks like summer outside. Yea!!!
April 11, 2011
Favorite Movie Line
I have a new favorite movie line. It is from near the end of the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”.
They are sitting in a room each reading a book. He puts his book down, takes off his glasses, walks over to her, takes her book out of her hand, marks her place, puts her book down, looks at her, extends is hand to her, smiles and says quietly, “My Darling, it’s time.” She smiles at him, he pulls her to him, they embrace sweetly and passionately. Fade out……..
March 31, 2011
Doggie Diary V
I thought that Mercedes was Bichon Frise breed of dog and that is what the shelter was told and they agreed. Well, I could finally have her groomed the other day and the groomers told me a little more about this white ball of fluff. This was her first groom.
Mercedes doesn’t like to have her face hair wet. She is starting to come to me after she eats so I can wipe off her face! So, I thought that I’d have her face shaved fairly close so she would feel more comfortable. Well, a Bichon has a rather broad and somewhat flat snout. Poodles have a long narrow snout. Mercedes had so much hair around her face and neck that I thought that she was pure Bichon, but after her new groom, it is apparent that she has Poodle in her. She has a classic poodle snout, but the sturdy body and cute ‘curved over the back’ tail of a Bichon. They also told me that she had had at least one litter of puppies. My Mercedes had been a Momma! And because of the abuse, I suspect more than once. I think they probably used her as a breeder to make money. No more!
The poodle in her explains why she insists on having her face wiped off after she eats! And is why she is so meticulous about keeping her paws cleaned off as well. When she came home with me from the shelter her toe nails were so long that her paw pads couldn’t touch the ground. The hair growing between her toes and over her paws was over two inches long. I couldn’t even see her collar for all the six inches of fur growing all over her body. And she couldn’t even see because of the fur covering her beautiful liquid black eyes. Within a few hours of coming into my home, I took care of some of those things as best I could until she had her first beauty day. But now she is the beautiful animal that God created her to be.
March 30, 2011
Color of the Year
I didn’t even know that there was a color of the year, but look out, there is!!!!
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Pantone captured the energizing hue of the honeysuckle flower to inspire and brighten the world during these otherwise gray times. Pantone has declared the color of the year for over a decade and has been the world’s authority on color for over 50 years. Leaders in product development and professional design depend on the Pantone color standards.
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going — perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, Eiseman continues, “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother-color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum. The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”
Shop for a Cure is Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Thursday, March 31, 2011 is your opportunity to shop and donate!
Chico’s store at Washington Square Mall is having a Shop for the Cure Day where they will donate 10% of sales to the local ovarian cancer fund raising organization for ovarian cancer – The SHOC Foundation. Please shop and when paying, please remind your sales associate that you are ‘Shopping for a Cure” . Thank you!
March 29, 2011
Doggie Diary IV
Well, Mercedes is now a part of my family. We are having a learning curve here on adjusting to each other. I have been listening to the audio books by Caesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer. He has some very valuable insights that I have had to employ with this shelter rescue dog.
Poor little Mercedes was abused. I was able to figure this out through some of her behaviors. When she does something wrong ( and believe me she knows when she has been bad) she goes and hides. When I went to get her out of her hiding place the first time, she growled at me and so I explained to her that I was not going to hurt her, that no one was going to hurt her anymore and that she can come out when she is ready. It took her 2 1/2 hours to come out from her hiding place and ask to watch TV with me. the next time she was bad she went and hid again, but this time, she came out in about 20 minutes. The last time she started to go and hide and then stopped short and turned around and came right to me. I could actually see her thinking and working through the process. “OK, I’m not supposed to be on the bed unless I’m invited. But I jumped up there anyway. Now she wants me off the bed, I was bad. I’d better go and hide before someone hits me. OH, she loves me, she doesn’t hit me. She doesn’t even yell at me. She just firmly tells me to get off the bed. I am safe. I think I ‘ll go and tell her I’m sorry.” And then she comes over to me and lays down and rolls over and all is forgiven and my little Mercedes has learned another lesson.
And then last night, when I quickly reached down to pick her up, she quickly blinked her eyes shut and flinched. Wow. An animal wouldn’t have flinched unless she had been hit before more than once. My poor little sweet (sometimes) girl. Someone must have been really mean to her. I cuddle her and reassure her and give her lots of affection. She has come a long ways in a short time. And I love her.
March 18, 2011
Abby’s Closet
The mission of Abby’s Closet is to inspire confidence and respect in high school women by providing free formal gowns for prom and other memorable events.
The “7th Annual Abby’s Closet Prom Gown Giveaway” will be held on April 2-3, 2011 at the DoubleTree Hotel Exhibit Hall-Lloyd Center. All high school women are invited to attend to receive a FREE gown (just need to show a high school ID). Hope to see you there! For more information, click HERE.
By the way, Abby’s Closet also accepts donations of wearable gowns of all styles and sizes. Go to the website to donate. http://www.abbyscloset.org
March 16, 2011
St. Patrick’s Day
Ah, tomorrow morning is the day to say, “Top o’ the Morning to ye.” I hope you all have a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day and enjoy the parade and the corned beef and cabbage and colcannon.
Here is the link to a colcannon (mashed potatoes & cabbage) recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tylers-ultimate/colcannon-recipe/index.html
March 15, 2011
KGW Raptor Cam 2011
The Hawks laid their eggs on March 6, 2011. Their nest is on a ledge of a downtown Portland building and this can be pretty cool to watch especially after the chicks hatch. Here is the link to their live web cam: http://www.kgw.com/lifestyle/raptor-cam
Enjoy!!
March 13, 2011
Introducing Mercedes
This is Mercedes Humane Society picture. She still hasn’t been groomed yet because of her surgery. But she really needs a beauty day!
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March 12, 2011
Doggie Diary III
The weather on the Monday that I first went to see Mercedes was beautiful – mid 50′s and sunny and dry, something we Portlanders had not seen in a long time! But by the following Wednesday the weather had turned nasty…. bitter cold with overnights in the teens with rain, snow, ice, and sleet in the forecast. The weathermen did not lie. We had all of the above on Wednesday and Wednesday night; it started to clear a little by Thursday morning. Thursday was the day the I could go and formally adopt Mercedes. On my way across town, the roads were clear but I ran into ice, snow, rain, sleet and a hail. Just a little bit of everything, not enough of anything to make a big road hazard.
I was really excited to get her and didn’t realize how long the process would take. I had to go through an interview process where we went over all of her paperwork. Since she was a ‘surrender’ the previous owner had filled out 6 pages of forms which we needed to go over. Part way through reading these surrender papers, I started to cry while thinking, “How could anyone give up this sweet girl?” I was anxious to get her and take her home and start her new life with me, so I stopped reading so carefully and just glanced over the remainder of the form.
After they checked my Drivers License Number, I was then approved to go to the cashier and pay for her. I brought the receipt back and they went to get her ~ after waiting for an available kennel attendant. This was about a 10 -15 minute wait. Then my little ball of white fluff finally arrived in the arms of a caring attendant. She attempted to locate Mercedes microchip and when she couldn’t locate it, she took her away again (more waiting) to insert another one. Then more time to go over that paperwork!
Since it was cold outside, I brought a little sweater for her to wear in the car home. Then we put her seatbelt harness on her and the attendant carried her out to the car. They are very careful during this phase of the adoption process because I guess that they have had dogs bolt before they were put securely into the new adopters vehicles. We put Mercedes into her seat belt in the front seat and the attendant held onto her while I went around to open my door and got into the car and closed my door. Then Mercedes door was shut and we were off on our way!
Mercedes loves to ride in the car and I don’t think that she took her eyes off of me for more than a few seconds on the ride home. I took her outside on the leash so she would know where to go. She followed me around the house for the rest of the day and just kept watching me. She adjusted Ok that first day and even ate from her cute little dishes.
She whimpered a little bit at bed time, but I knew that she was fine and just had to ignore her until she settled down a few minutes later.
She has settled into our routine and is getting used to me and is really showing her cute, impish personality.
March 10, 2011
Renovation & Remodeling Show 2011
The Portland Renovation & Remodeling Show is this weekend March 11 – 13th, 2011 at the Portland Memorial Coliseum.
Fri. 2pm-8pm, Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
Portland Renovation & Remodeling Show is the premiere event in the building and construction industry dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. This is the only national event that brings remodelers, custom builders, residential architects, and designers together to meet face to face with top manufacturers to preview innovative products, information, tools & services.
March 4, 2011
Doggie Diary II
Back home on Monday afternoon, I decided to take a little rest after my long trek over the hill. “Well, I’ve been gone all day,” I thought. “So I’ll just check my email real quick before I lay down.” Nothing there so I decided to look at the Oregon Humans Society’s web site to see if perhaps a cute little ball of fluff came in.
I actually had my hand on the mouse to close out the site as I was quickly scrolling to the bottom of the last page – disappointed but glad to be able to take a little rest. AND …. there she was ! ….. second from the bottom. Suzy. A ball of white fluff with two eyes in there somewhere behind the cute little black nose. My heart started beating faster, my mind racing, trying to figure out if she really was available and now what do I do to get her?
I went back and reread her bio, jotted down her ID number, clicked around the site to find the phone number and called the shelter. Yes she is available, just came in today, there are no holds on her. I decided to go and see her, but the shelter is on the other side of town and now it is rush hour.
Grabbing a very quick bite of early dinner, and refilling my water bottle, I rechecked the directions and got in the car. She was still available when I arrived and she & I had a ‘meet and greet’ in a large private room designed for just that purpose. She was perfect! Since she had not been spayed yet, I couldn’t take her home that day but I could put a non-refundable deposit to hold her until she could go home. I knew that I would change her name since she was going to have a new life . I watched her carefully during our time together and when I called out the name ‘Mercedes’ she stopped her explorations and looked right at me! So that was settled, her name is Mercedes. She is a Bichon Frise which is the breed of dog that the Spanish explorers would take with them on long voyages and they are often pictured in Goya’s paintings of Spanish Royalty. And so my new little doggie has a beautiful Spanish name to go with her beautiful spirit. I immediately paid the additional $15.00 fee and signed the papers and told her that I’d see her the next day. And I left. I was tired when I arrived home.
The next day, Tuesday, I kept my promise and drove the 60 miles to see her again. But she wasn’t in her kennel when I arrived. My Motherly instincts kicked in and I went back to the front desk to find out where she was. She was on a ‘meet and greet’ with another family! I was so upset… She is my dog! They informed me that until she is formally adopted after her surgery that they can still continue to ‘show’ her and can also put two more ‘holds’ on her. When the attendant opened the door to the room that she was in (with the other family!), I said “There she is; that’s her!” Guess who came trotting over to the doorway? Mercedes. Yes, I am sure that she remembered my voice from the day before! She is a very smart dog! I told the attendant “Please tell that family not to get too attached to her. She is my dog and she WILL be going home with ME as soon as she can leave.” That dog was not going to go home with anyone but me!
I waited for the other family to be finished with MY DOG, and then I got to sit with her again and hold her and sing to her and talk to her. We had some more bonding time together and I got a lot of my questions answered. I told her goodby and the next time I’d see her, she would be going home with me. “Now get in your bed and go to sleep, Mercedes. I’ll pick you up on Thursday.” She had surgery scheduled for Wednesday and I would not be able to see her that day as she would need to rest quietly ‘in the back’ that day and night. I could complete the adoption process when I came to get her on Thursday.
March 1, 2011
Free Pancakes
Today, March 1, 2011 is National Pancake Day. To celebrate this day, IHop is giving away a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes until close tonight 10:00 pm. They are asking for a donation to Dornbecker Children’s Hospital in Portland and I believe that they will be taking donations for other childrens hospitals throughout the United States.
For the location nearest to you go to : www.ihop.com
February 24, 2011
Doggie Diary I
As you know, I have been looking for a little Bichon or Poodle mix puppy. I say puppy, but I am really wanting an older dog… maybe around 3 – 8 years old. I have just missed out on 3 dogs over the last month and so when I saw one online last Friday I made arrangements to go and see her on Sunday.
Saturday night I cleaned the house one last time, got the new dog bed ready, got the doggie dishes out and set up in their own special spot in the kitchen, laid my clothes out for the next day and went to bed early so I could get up and go to early church before I went for the meet and greet scheduled for noon. I cleared my Sunday afternoon schedule so I would have all afternoon getting acquainted with her.
Sunday morning, I got up early and checked my emails before church and there it was –the disappointing email. The person could not meet with me that day. Oh she gave what she thought was a good excuse, but it raised another red flag with me. Yes, I had a couple of red flags go up during my previous contacts (phone & email) with her; but I persevered because I wanted a little rescue doggie.
She told me in no uncertain terms that if I wanted to see the dog, that I could drive over 2 hours to see her to Longview, Washington. I took her up on this challenge and we made arrangements to meet the following day – last Monday.
Monday morning dawned bright and cold and beautiful and I was ready for the trek to another state! I had asked a good friend who lives in Longview to meet me for the doggie meet and greet and he agreed. I am so glad that he was there to give his input and just to listen to what I was trying to process. Well, this dog was a mess. She was covered in fleas, filthy dirty, had an infected breast, and growled at me! The rabies tag said that she was a tan and black yorkie terrier, not the white bichon that the person had stated online and to me personally. Needless to say I did not take the dog and I was glad that I had paid attention to those red flags.
My friend and I had a great visit over lunch and after lunch he insisted that we stop by the local Humane Society to look at the dogs there. After looking at the dogs, we stopped by the front desk to ask about the rescue person that I had been in contact with . As I said her name to the lady at the front desk, the Shelter Director stopped short in his conversation with someone else and turned toward us and came over to answer our inquiry about this private rescue person. He took us over to his private desk where he told us an earful about the deplorable conditions at that private rescue where the dogs were kept. Then he took us to the 2 private parts of the Humane Society where little dogs were kept! No match, but a much better feeling about the way those dogs were cared for and treated.
I bid my friend good-by and got in the car without a doggie, for the drive home. As I mentioned the ride was beautiful and the friendship fun, so the day was not wasted at all. But I was tired when I got home!
