When I Want To Tempt Fate

Ran across this neat little chart showing how many miles you can drive your car after the gas light comes on.  There are times during my commute when the light comes on but I just don't feel like stopping to fill up, especially if I'm not around a lower-priced gas station.

Based upon this chart, I can cruise another 60+ miles before I need to worry.  Granted, I've never run out of gas in the over 35 years I've been driving but it's nice to know I don't have to sweat just because of the gas light.

Smelt, Sea Lion, and Screw Up

Well, the smelt were non-existent this weekend. We drove all over and checked the usual spots but didn't even get the net wet due to the lack of smelt sightings.  Bright spot was I picked up several rocks for painting!  We did drive over to Rainier to see the reason behind  no smelt - tons of sea lions!!

Speaking of rocks, Friday I painted a tribute rock for my friend Lucy who recently lost her dog Boone. Not an exact likeness but close enough.  I had Sam drop it off on her front porch for a little surprise.

Also received word from Lewis County Rocks that someone had finely picked up the rocks that were hidden by my work.  Seemed to be the.perfect person as well who found them!!

Spent the evening having dinner and watching the Oscars with Lynn.  Was typical show until the end when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the wrong winner for best picture. Priceless!!

Last note is to say congrats to sis Julie who was named manager of the year at her company party last night.  Great job Jube!!!

Goodbye John Wayne and Hello Smelt!!

Friday my fave is here!!

Ended up hiding some rocks this morning while I was getting gas, including my John Wayne rock specifically for a gal who wanted to find it for her dad.  Also got Jordan and Candy involved in the rock scene.  They painted several and hid them all over town today.

This week I did score a treat - one of the gals at work who has been bending my ear lately gave me a bottle of Baileys!!  Nice surprise!!

Steve is here under the cloud of visiting me but I know the truth - it's smelt dipping time tomorrow morning!!  I will help him with smelt but at the same time gather up unique rocks to paint from the river bed.  Third year in a row I've made the smelt dip experience with him.

Where's My Mai Tai?

There are some weeks where I'm tired of humans and I'm wishing I was on a tropical island hangin in a hammock sipping a tropical drink!  I've been very busy with early morning and numerous teleconferences and meetings and people issues and dilemmas to solve and problems to figure out.  Is it Friday yet?

Of course my recent stress relief has been painting.   This week I painted John Wayne and a variety of other rocks, including one that I hoped would look like Marilyn Monroe but came out more like Al Jolson with blackface.  Looks like a repaint coming it's way.

I posted the John Wayne one on the Cowlitz County Rocks Facebook page.  One lady wanted to buy it from me for her dad.  Of course I said no  way but I will hide it for her.

I also dug out a piece of driftwood I found from my recent trip to Willow Grove.  I ended up painting it for Steve as what else - a duck!!

Started back up with the Women's Bible study this week.  It was great to see all the gals and get back into the fellowship.

And guess what?  Tomorrow is Friday!!  Steve will be back up so we can partake on Saturday in one of his favorite annual activities - smelt dipping!!  This will be our third year of catching those little buggers.  He nets, I empty the net, and so on.

Freeze and Shine Weekend

Never enough in the weekend I tell ya!  Celebrated Sam's 22nd on Friday by going to dinner at Parkers. Got up early on Saturday, cleaned the kitchen, then showered and went to Ulta before loading up a ton of groceries at Walmart.

While I was at Ulta, I looked for some new heavy holding hairspray.  I ended up buying Paul Mitchell's Freeze and Shine.  This morning when I squirted it on my hair, the smell of it brought s flashback to the 80's and how much we used of that to keep our hair in place.

Arriving home Steve was there.  We ended up going to browse in downtown Longview, then relaxing at home, at which point I gave Stubbs a bath, then having dinner out - at Parkers.  Seems to be the hot spot.

Today I went to church then Steve headed home.  Tonight I painted the base coat on a few rocks then made myself dinner - a new recipe I found in a Good Housekeeping magazine called Spring Pea and Asparagus Pasta.  Turned out very yummy; it was the kind of dish that you make in one skillet so for me those are the best kinds as it limits the numbers of dishes that need to be cleaned.

After dinner I watched the new Jack Reacher movie with Tom Cruise.  Movie was good but he really did something wacko to himself.  His face was all puffy with serious rosacea happening along with a huge mole on his cheek.  Either some kind of Botoxed treatment occurred or else he was on prednisone which caused him to bloat.

And now it's Monday once again!  Let's have a great week!

Rocking the Rugged Rocks

Decided to go on a hunting, fishing, men-themed take on my painted rocks this week.  Last night I made a few, planning on placing them at Lexington Hardware today.  However, after shooting a pic of my finished rocks to Steve, he decided he wanted one or more of them!

Tonight I continued on my painting jag and again Steve said he wants them all.   I either need to change my picture topics or stop sending pics to Steve!

Food, Family, and Farewell Fish

This past weekend was very family centered.  Saturday I had lunch with sis-in-law Lynn before making my way back home to roast a turkey for my boys.  Jordan, Candy, and Sam all came over for dinner, which was a big hit.  I made the turkey along with homemade bread but cheated some and made instant potatoes and canned sausage gravy.

Lots of leftovers so today I made crockpot turkey chili then boiled the carcass to make stock.  Also did three loads of laundry, then grabbed Stubbins for a drive. No shower, no makeup, and dressed in sweats so I felt right at home when I swung by Walmart.  Pup and I then made our way to Willow Grove before heading back to gas up the car and return home.

Jordan and Candy returned tonight to pick up my fish tank, which I had gifted them. Just tired of dealing with keeping the tank clean.  Sam and his buddy Jimmy showed up then they all chowed down the chili - every bit of it.  So much for having leftovers.

Was able to sneak in some rock painting time this weekend, too.  Another batch created to hide somewhere.

And tomorrow is Monday.  Have to be at work early for a teleconference so it's going to be an early evening for this gal.

Creepy, Cold, and Chamomile Tea

It appears I'm now fighting a cold.  First I had the flu and now a cold is knocking at my door.  Enough already!!  I'm chocking it up to all the snowy weather we've had lately.

Last night a weird incident occurred.  It was almost 11pm when I was nodding off on the couch when there was a knock on the door. Ended up being the mom of one of Sam's friends, whom I hadn't seen in over 5 years. She kind of rambled on then asked if she and her boyfriend could stay one or two nights at my house. Then she asked if, after treatment, she could rent a room from me.  It was such a bizarre situation and obviously she was under the influence.

Of course I said NO then got her out of the house.  I promptly locked up all doors and put the wood in the sliding glass door.  It was pretty unnerving.  Today I made sure to lock everything up when I went to work.

Sad situation for the woman and my prayers are that she is able to get help to conquer her demons.

Poor Sam learned a hard lesson last night. He brought his W2 over for me to do his taxes. Not much had been deducted so upon carefully reviewing his tax form, I pointed out that my single son was claiming Married with 2 exemptions. Boy was he upset.  Obviously it was an error which would have been caught early on if he had read his paystubs. He got it all straightened out at work today but unfortunately he will have to pay in $200 instead of getting a refund.

One of the gals at work is big into fairies.  Last night I painted a little fairy rock to surprise her at work today. She loved it which of course gave me a smile!!

Tonight I'm sitting here watching the original The Taking of Pelham 123 movie with Walter Matheau and Robert Shaw and sipping some Sleepy Time herb tea with honey and lemon. Here's hoping I can kick this colds butt!!

So True!!

Color, Cut and Kiss Me Kate

Saturday Steve showed up earlier than I expected so he relaxed at home while I got my nails done.  Returning home, I snagged him and we made our way to my hairdresser. Steve browsed at the vintage shop next door while my hair was cut and colored. 

After hair, we hit a movie and game shop across the street where I picked up several $1 movies, including some classics such as Kiss Me Kate, Meet John Doe and Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell.  

Next stop was Applebees for an early dinner then on to home to enjoy the movies.

This morning I got up early and made pasta salad. Ran over to Safeway to pick up ingredients for cheddar broccoli crackpot soup. Good thing I went early because on my way back the snow started.  Really?  I'm so over the snow!!!  

Steve ended up leaving around noon and it continued to snow. Surprisingly there is no snow in Portland but it's made its way up north.  Unless a miracle happens, I may be housebound tomorrow because it won't be safe to drive. 

Ice Ice Baby

For about 25 years now I've attended every one of my annual company parties. This year was no exception, although it was cut short due to the weather.

The forecast called for freezing rain and even snow so Steve's trip and overnight stay was cancelled to be on the safe side. Bummer!!

The theme this year was superheroes.  I decided to go as the only superhero that would work best for me - Super Diva!  Lots of sparkles along with a crown and I was set.  Arrived at the party but only stayed for an hour due to reports of freezing rain made me cut the party short so I could make it home safely. And before I had dinner which was a bummer due to the fact the food being served was Olive Garden this year. Drat!!

Hit the road and ran into a couple patches of freezing rain but made it home safe and sound. Expected today to be icy but my commute was smooth sailing.

Best of all today was Friday! Sam treated me to a belated birthday dinner tonight then tomorrow I will be getting my hair and nails done for a treat. Then tomorrow afternoon Steve will be here for the rest of the weekend.