Squirrels, Seaside, and Sunshine

Although I've been a resident of this county for years, I never attended The Squirrel Fest until this year. To my surprise, I was missing out!

Manny, my friend Marie, and I went to the festival last weekend.  Lots of vendors, food carts, and music.  And plenty of people wearing squirrel ears and tails! 

I picked up a vintage necklace with clip earrings for $5, a Squirrel Lives Matter tee for $5, and a metal squirrel picture with "Welcome to the Nuthouse" printed on the front for the outside entryway.

Bargain vintage necklace find

We also ran across a photo booth taking free pictures.

Got my hair colored two weeks ago. Abbie always does an awesome job; however, it needed some more brown. Been so long since I've colored my hair myself but figured it would be easy to toss in a few brown streaks.

When it was done at first it seemed a little too dark.  After a couple shampoos I'm happy to report it is fading. 

Today we went to Goodwill and I found the cutest pair of shoes!  Black boots with colorful embroidery that lace up the front. They'll go perfect with a pair of skinny jeans or black cigarette pants.

There's a four day weekend on the horizon for me coming up. Friday Aug. 29 off for "volunteer day" them Monday Sept. 1 for Labor Day. We are planning a trip to the driving range so I can get a few no-charge golf lessons from Manny. Then on Saturday we will be spending the day in Seaside.

In the 90's this weekend so stay cool, stay safe, and enjoy your weekend!

Beach Life

I'm back at Arch Cape for the weekend. Damn I've missed this place!

Had dinner last night at Driftwood - steamed clams were perfect!

This morning took a 5-mile walk on the beach - it was sunny so didn't need a jacket.  When I got back I weeded the front yard then this afternoon went back and raked, loaded up 4 wheelbarrows full, final rake, then swept the pavers surrounding it. The project looks great and I'm beat!!

Here's a few photos of my first day.

The Beach and Nothing Else Matters!

August is here and I'm afraid summer will soon come to an end. 😒

Today I'm sitting at my hairdresser Abbies getting my hair colored. I usually get some lowlights because, as it is right now, the brown has faded and I've got a big blob of blonde on top of my head!

Am going to the beach this weekend! Leaving Thursday after work and returning Sunday. It's just been too long and I can't wait for some R&R!!

My horoscope today foretold of a perfect trip to boost my mood:

Aquarius horoscope for Wednesday Aug 6

If you are feeling anxious or restless today, dear Aquarius, find someone or something that grounds you. That could be a place where you feel safe and harmonious, like the seashore. It could be a hobby or activity that calms you - such as painting or jogging. It might even be a person who truly understands you and knows what to say to inspire you. There is no reason ever to feel like you can't cope or like you're falling apart. Today, if you feel a bit shaky, seek out serenity from a trusted source. 

Copyright © Daily Horoscope.

Still watching what I eat and walking in the regular. Yesterday walked along the Coweeman River and spotted someone fishing. Made for a picturesque photo.  Haven't lost additional weight but I'm toning up.

Am on a Wizard of Oz tee shirt kick. Picked up a few last year but, since they are too big, ordered a new one which I'm sporting today!

There's been a lot of other changes going on - for the better - in my life but I'm not quite ready to share. Soon, dear readers soon.

Hope your August is memorable, magical, and marvelous!

Fit and Fabulous!

Thought I'd brag on myself today. Here's a pic from my 50th birthday and one from today. I've lost 67 lbs total, 47 since this past Feb.  Continuing my intermittent fasting plan along with regular 3-8 mile walking. Used to wear a 22 now I'm in a 12 and knocking on 10's door. Just thought I'd share my progress!! 😁🥰

Kitty Makes Me Crumble

In our neighborhood there is a variety of homeless cats that wander around, looking cute but getting too close to our flock of pigeons, blue jays, and squirrels. There's one beautiful Siamese cat that sleeps on our backyard chairs on sunny days, lounging in all of his glory. He appears to be homeless because he disappears into an opening under our house and sleeps.

Well, he's kind of been giving me the warm fuzzies so I started feeding him. We aren't allowed to have pets but technically he's a stray so he's not mine. Started giving him canned tuna then today I set out a bowl of milk. That sure made him happy!

I'm going to start working up to pet him. This will take some time as when he sees me he generally scurries back under the house. Poor kitty just needs some TLC.

Isn't he cute?

Flower Girl Memories

My cousin Johnny posted a bunch of pictures of his mom (and my aunt) Mary Jane on Facebook.

One of the pictures caught my eye. When I was 11, I served as the flower girl in her wedding, which was held at a local waterfall. I remember wearing one of my sister's dresses for the event. By 11, I was fully developed and had been wearing a bra since 4th grade.  I look like a 15-year old in this picture but I was still playing with Barbies!

I don't look too thrilled to be there but it was memorable.  Great moment was when my mom, with her beautiful and strong voice, sang Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" over the background of the cascading waterfall.

Unthinkable Afternoon

Had an unexpected and traumatic event today. 

At the tail end of my lunch break, Manny and I went outside to enjoy the sun. We were the only ones outside on our block except for an older, tattooed man across the street who had just gotten off his bike and was pacing around and acting peculiar. I mentioned to Manny that the guy was acting strange.  

All of a sudden he grabbed his chest and yelled to us "Call 911 - I think I'm having a heart attack!"  I immediately dialed 911 as we rushed across the street to him. He was sitting on the curb in extreme pain and having trouble breathing. Per the 911 operator's request I asked him what medications he was taking and he said Suboxane, which I know is like methadone. And that he has congestive heart failure. He was still able to talk but was in great distress and pain. The 911 operator said the paramedics were on their way.

He was in such pain so I rubbed his back, told him to breathe, and everything was going to be okay. He then handed me his phone with the contact name of Tiffany on the screen.  I asked if it was his daughter and he said yes. I called her and let her know what was happening and the medics were on their way. She said she couldn't leave yet as she was waiting for her partner to arrive but she would check in with the hospital on his condition.

Finishing our call, two ambulances arrived followed shortly thereafter by two fire trucks and the battalion chief.  They started talking to him and checking his vitals, placing medical tabs on his chest and hooking him to the electronic machines. At that point he laid back and went into cardiac arrest. 

The team of eight first responders went into immediate action.  They began CPR compressions followed by electric shock and drug injections, constantly following the monitor to assess his

 progress.

We were standing there observing the treatment. His pulse would return, then he'd go into cardiac arrest again, and the CPR and electric shock would start all over. We were there through 1.50 hours of on-site action watching as he slipped away, returned, and slipped away numerous times. They finally decided to continue compressions in the ambulance so he was loaded onto a gurney, transported to the ambulance, then left for the hospital with sirens screaming.

During my call to 911, I had told the operator he was betwen 45 to 50. We later learned he was 61 and his name was Paul. 

I saved the daughter's number on my phone so the chief called her to let her know he's in critical condition. Then the chaplain showed up. The chief gave him the daughter's number then we gave him our names and my number. 

I was supposed to be in a meeting a 3:30 but it was 3:15 and there was no way I could recover so I called my boss and told her what happened. Shut my computer down and saw there was a phone message. It was Chaplain Ray calling me to talk about "my dad!" Ugh - he had mistakenly called me instead of Tiffany.  I called him back and let him know his mixup. Poor Chaplain Ray.

Then I grabbed my tissue and had a good cry as it was all so overwhelming.

I called Tiffany and let her know we put her dad's bike in our garage and gave his phone to the chief. She said they were going to the hospital tomorrow to see her dad and would pick it up then (she lives in Portland.)  

Unfortunately, Tiffany will never get to visit her dad as he passed away tonight. She text me to let me know and she was grateful we were there to help him when he needed it the most. Unexplainable that we were in the right place at the right time to be of help to a man who was living his last few hours of life.

Rest in Peace, Paul.