Pushing the Limits....And TWO B-days!!

    ..... AKA crazy day.  
         You know that carton thing about the repair man asking you to check the plug first before he tries anything else?  Well, sometimes that's true.  Yah.  This morning I looked over the fax machine again.---and the plug.  I shimmied it a little, then heard a click.  Click! went my brain.  I called the number in Park Falls and asked them to try again.  AND.....the fax came through. 

        Question.  How many times do you walk over an item on the floor before you decide to pick it up or move it?  A pillow?  A coat?  A toy? A keyboard?

On my way to the fax machine.....housed on top of a drum set box.

 

      I took the car into the auto repair this morning.  The man said he would call me in 1&1/2 hours to let me know what was found.  That he did.  The car would not pass the Washington state emissions test,  he said, and told me what had to be done for $750.  I didn't have any choice; it had to be done.  That stressed me so much I had to go look at table sets at Penny's in the Mall.  Actually I was looking at them when the man called.  (The mall is just 3 blocks up from the auto repair.)  I saw a set that was on clearance.   Long story, short, I bought it.  Someone is delivering it tomorrow.  Yeah!  

 

 The Vancouver I moved here for

 

Just a hint of autumn in the air.

 

      Carole was working at Penny's---just getting done.  She offered me a ride home since the car won't be ready until 3PM.  Once there, I prepared my dish for the community pot luck and watched my first movie produced in India.  People and situations are the same all over the world---just clothing and accents are different! 

 

      Carole again picked me up to go get my car.  The mechanic announced the need of another $650 part replacement.  What is one to do?  Gotta trust him and get it done.  Can't pass the emissions test without it.  So....Tuesday it will  be back to the repair shop.

 

 local flowers

lemon cucumbers from a neighbor 

      

     

     The evening passed enjoyably with the pot luck that featured corn grown here in the community.  Yum!  I was told there are blackberry bushes nearby. Blackberry picking this weekend!  Someone also explained the adjoining wet lands and green space---land that is allowed to remain as nature wants it. 

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HAPPY 7TH B-DAY TO OLIVIA!!  CHA! CHA! CHA!

 

 

                       Olivia lives in Milwaukee, WI with 2 sisters and  mom and dad, Anna and Chuck.

                                           
                                                

Olivia, Louisa and Emilia at Mt. Rushmore in June

 

 

     This has been a good "pushing the limits" day in the life of Grandma G.

 

 

      "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."  (Psalm 68:19)

 

 

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SATURDAY, SEPT. 8

 

HAPPY 5TH B-DAY TO LOUISA!  CHA! CHA! CHA!

 

 

 

Louisa and Olivia are 2 years and 1 day apart!

 

 

With Grandma G in Park Falls,



                                                                                   .....in South Dakota

 

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       Saturday was a day for relaxing after a stressful Friday.  Carole picked me up for 11 year old, Jake's, football game.  He was the star of the game, having made 2 touchdowns!



       





It's so beautiful to have a purpose.
(collecting money for every touchdown---for end of season party)

                                                                                                

Grandma G, Grandma Carole, Keys, Deb



           What better way to continue a relaxation day than with a Thai food lunch and, (back home)     3 hours of Star Trek, phone call to the B-day girls,  and........BLOGGING! 

     This has been a good relaxation day in the life of Grandma G.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  (Psalm 91:1)

A Mixed Day...

     I was a good, health conscious lady and got up, got myself to water aerobics.  I didn't remember any names.  For that matter I didn't remember how to get to the club house.  I turned to the left instead of the right as I walked from my house.  I DID get a ride in the manager's "mule" as he offered to give me a ride there. 
     There were 9 ladies at the workout.  Afterwards I chatted a bit while we soaked in the hot tub.  They gave me pointers on how to get out of the parking lot at Fred Meyers and told me of a back street that makes the travel easier.  They informed me of a store close by that has good buys and sales.
     I also met Frank and Trixie.  Trixie is a little brown wiener dog.  Guess she is known and catered to by the entire community.  Frank seems like a friendly fellow who has lived here for 7 years.  We had  a pleasant chat.  He has not been to northern Wisconsin.


    I had a happy surprise of a package on my porch.  Gerry and Gretta sent me flowers to welcome to my new home. 

     Since I relaxed and wiled away the morning I told myself I had to have "work time" from noon until 6PM. There is a mountain of paper work that needs to be attended to.  Most of my available surfaces look like mini tornadoes have blown through.  I did manage to plow through some of it.  Not a lot, though. 
     I was feeling very "in" when after a phone call I realized I needed to receive a fax----I have a fax on my copier, and the guy on Sat. set me up with the required cord to go with it.  All was great until I couldn't get it to work.  I REALLY dislike technology stuff.  So.... no fax, that's the facts.  And... my Wifi isn't working.
    I did connect by Skype to Stephanie way back 1,900 miles in northern Wisconsin.  She live so far north that if she drives a few blocks north she will plunge into Lake Superior (south shore).
  









      By late afternoon life was feeling a bit boring and isolated.  I continued with "work time" while dreaming of walking this evening.  Still too warm to walk eary evening and I gave into watching an ok movie, followed by an hour trying to remember how to play my piano pieces.  Oops!  Can't remember most of them.  Ouch.  All the more reason to find a professional printing company to print my music!
     It is off to bed now for more adventures tomorrow.  I take the car into a shop near here--and near the mall.  The "check engine soon" light lit up during most of our drive through Glacier Park and Canada, went off and has now been back on.  Hurray for faithful buggy in getting us here! 
    Tomorrow evening will be my first monthly pot luck here at the park.  Busy day!

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Enjoy a few Kate's pictures from Banff, Canada

 street markers

town bus---we got free passes compliments of the hotel

 Banff Springs Hotel  dedicated 1888

 funcky tree trunks

 Kate sniffed the poppies and had runny, stuffy nose for several hours!  Don't sniff the poppies.

view of main street in Banff

       Vicki and Cow











    

      This has been a good "mixed" day in the life of Grandma G.

     "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (Matthew 6:34)

Labor Day/ Social Day/ Explore Day

     Much to my relief the headache was gone when I woke up on Monday!  It was a holiday---Labor Day.  My son, William, called from San Diego; the first to call my new Vancouver phone number.  He makes business trips to Edmonton, Canada.  I told him we weren't very far from there when we were in Banff and Lake Louise.  

 Since it was a holiday I thought I should do something "holiday".  Deb picked me up to go shopping.  We also had a girls' lunch with Micaela and Angie.
  

Later in the day I drove myself to Deb's home for supper.  It is about a 25 minute drive that I will enjoy once I am familiar with the route.

I am having a swell time here in the Pacific Northwest.  

Deb thinks perhaps I should refrain from eating sea food.

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     Tuesday was a "get social" day.  I attended water aerobics for the first time.  There were 11 ladies and one man.  There were 2 Nancy's, 2 Donna's, 2 Lorraine's ,  and.......now......2 Georgia's!

     I also went to the $5 Tuesday movie with a group from Creekside; got my $2 popcorn and my rewards card from the theater!!  I BELONG.

    Later in the day I went shopping at Fred Meyer's to take advantage of the 10% senior discount.  However, I did not go early enough in the day because the day became night and night became dark and dark caused me to not find my way OUT of Fred Meyers' parking lot and onto the highway.  Well, I finally found my way out and only missed one correct turn on the way home.   My little "55+" neighborhood looked mighty good when I arrived there.

     I am trying to "own" this city.  I tell myself it is just an oversized large town.  This is my home; these

streets are here to take me where I want to go.  No cars want to crash into me.  These folks are my neighbors and family.  I truth, everyone has been friendly and willing to help out or give directions.  Vancouver,WA, you are my home!  

From "Big Buck" Wisconsin potatoes to "by George" Washington potatoes.

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     Wednesday has been "explore my Orchard's neighborhood" day.  I found my way to my local bank.  While in the area I decided to walk around a bit.  I discovered a chiropractor's office and stopped to inquire about their methods and costs.  (In his office he had pictures of a hike up to Machu Picchu.   One of my sons hiked there 2 years ago.  I take that as a good sign that this fellow will be my chiropractor.)

     On one intersection is this mural painted on the side of a building.  

     I also checked out a European Food Market and bought cookies, candies and German noodles. (There's a great recipe on the noodle package; I would try it if I could read German. Instead I used them in yummy looking home made chicken soup--just like Grandma G makes.) 

 Bringing in supplies....
  







             All the comforts of a non set up office.







   









       This has been a good 3 "get to know the neighborhood" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."  (Psalm 16:5 & 6)

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad......?

TECHNOLOGY......Not me; Not no more...

     I now have HDTV, 
         thanks to ME.   
I even got to watch part of 
Lord of the Rings.  Woo! Woo!



       Today was the start of "get back to normal daily routine" day.  I attended a great church service, played piano for a half hour, took a short walk, hooked up a new house phone and  TV (not routine, but watching TV is), made out a grocery list (cupboard is bare), took out the garbage for tomorrow pick up, checked emails from the privacy of my own home and talked on the phone a bit----all with a nagging headache since 6:30AM.  (Headache is not routine and hopefully gone in the morning.)

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     CROSSING THE BOARDER.......(Kate's photos Monday, August20)

This is as close as I'll ever get to the Olympics!

And we thought things were BIG in Texas....

                                                           



                                                     And FAST.....

                                             Three Senior Sisters and a Niece!!



     This has been a good "get back into routine" day in the life of Grandma G.

"By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)




     

SHE'S OUT THERE....AGAIN

     I am out there once again!!  And it sure feels GOOD!!  This morning and early afternoon a patient technician from COMCAST spent 3&1/2 hours wiring up my house for internet, cable, phone and WIFI.  He explained a bunch of stuff to me--stuff that I have already forgotten.  BUT...I am wired and out in cyberspace here at home....so I am happy!

     Did I get with the program here at Creekside?  Nope.  I was going to start water aerobics this morning.  I did not.  But Carole and I had a great shopping experience to get a TV, stools, bookcase, small table and lots of little stuff---including---.  Yes, I did it.  You won't believe it.  Will she REALLY do it?  She IS living in the Pacific Northwest now.  How long will it take her?  How far will she go?  She's going to do THAT in January?       

                                                      HIKING BOOTS  

     When I read in the Senior Messenger  that seniors actually go out for hikes in January and February I had to run out (figuratively) and buy a pair of hiking boots.  Back in northern WI the temperature in Jan and Feb is somewhere between -20 and 5 degrees.  We don't do any hiking there--I didn't.  
     Every Tuesday from Sept through April there are senior hiking events from 8:30AM to 4:30PM.  "Easy" hikes are from 3-5 miles.  I need to get in shape just to do the easy one.   Great opportunities. 




                                   FLASHBACK    GLACIER NATIONAL  PARK
                        (Kate's pictures)

      
     This has been a good "get wired" day in the life of Grandma G.

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."  (Proverbs 23:18)