What I Did On My New Year's Vacation.
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December 31, 2006
Hippy New Years D00d.
Yes, I am completely sober. I usually am. At the moment, things are relatively quiet at the home of Wyrd. There is a lull in the traditional neighborhood fireworks and smoke bombs. Derek is napping so he can stay up later. A twenty says that if he actually goes to sleep he won't ever get back up.
Mr. Wyrd has just arrived in Portland. Our middle child is coming home from the Navy for the first time in two years. He is traveling from Virgina with his new wife. Company! So I am piddling, and arranging and cleaning inbetween computering and watching Sci Fi movies.
The weather is clear and cold here tonight. The moon is lovely, I even saw it up this afternoon!
December 24, 2006
Christmas Dinner Numero Uno
That was last night. At the parents house. It was also their anniversary. Their 40th anniversary. Simply Amazing. All the food was perfect. It was turkey night, with all kinds of potatoes and dressing and Reta's famous cherry fruit salad. We talked and ate and laughed and watched the cars go over the Charleston bridge. It was a warm night, typical of our usual Christmas weather, and on the way home we encountered some pretty thick fog. Tomorrow, on Christmas day, it's my day too cook. A 25 lb. double smoked ham awaits my attention in the kitchen. One apple crumb pie (hubby's favorite) done and one in the oven. Bread dough is boobling away in the bread cauldron. Between loads of dishes and pies we watch Aliens. Outside, the rain is aplenty and the wind is a blowin. Merry Christmas Even everyone! Watch for Santa!
I've Been Everywhere Man.
At least that's how it feels. Last Sunday I went to Eugene with the famdamily. My parents also went in another vehicle. One of the highlights of our trip was the elk lookout on the way. The elk were actually laying right next to the fence. They had BIG HARD horns. One elk was on our side of the fence. I was fearful that he might chase me for fun or just run into the road out of stupidity. He did neither while I was there.
We secured the parents motel room (base camp), and went to the Picadilly Flea Market. It was the last one before Christmas and was not as huge as usual but still pretty big. I bought a big assed basket from ghana with a leather handle. I bought a few books and this and that. I regret that I did not purchase the nice looking corningware baking pans that I saw. They were a good deal and would have filled some holes in my collection. Ah well. Then we ran across the street to the Saturday and Farmers market. It was neat to look at. My favorite was the metal sculpture booth. There was a big metal cobweb in the corner with a huge spider on it. The democratic booth was cool too, lots of funny stuff about Bush, like the bumper sticker that said, "Like a rock, only dumber".
We ate dinner at Gateway Mall, and my mommy and I shopped while the boys went to watch the Ducks basketball game. The ducks won btw. I don't usually like the mall but this time was pretty cool. Nice sales, and even though the place had already suffered a mass plundering we managed to come away with a cart full of stuff between us. I scored on Christmas candy, new cups, drapes and a few stocking stuffers. It was fun shopping with my mom, we had a very laid back time. We went to the kiddy stores together and played with Mr. Heinky slippers. She let me pick out a gigamous crock pot for my Christmas present.
The day was cold but sunny and beautiful. That evening, when we were ready to start home, it started freezing up fast. A bunch of cars slid on black ice behind the guys once, and all spun out, but the men folk were safe. We had a great time and the only irritations were suffered were minor. A nail that was in my tire and we had to get it repaired. The cop who had nothing better to do than to look for people throwing ciggies out their window on the way home. No, we didn't do it... THAT TIME.
December 17, 2006
Small Chance of Success, Certainty of Death, What Are We Waitin For?
Thats my motto as I prepare for our Sunday adventure. I can't ruin the surprise and tell you where I'm heading! Tiny clue: East. (Can't go any farther west without a boat). If you see a crazy chick in a faux fur trimmed sweater and a big assed hello kitty pin, IT'S ME! The weather is cold and treacherous, snow level falling to surface level overnight. As is traditional among my people, I must take this as a sign to do some exploring. I'm going with the whole famdamily. Parents too!
December 14, 2006
The Lull Before The Storm
It's been dead quiet for almost two hours now. Did the storm miss us or is it just sucking up steam for a head on collision. I believe the latter to be true. Outside, I hear a car here and there drive by. I wonder if they think its over. Til the next time!
Weather Update.
The neighbors say that the coast south of us, and the area directly inland, is blacked out - no power. Sirens scream past us. News says the worst will start about 9. It just started blowing a big sheet/wall of water. My husband took the doggy out to potty and came in totally soaked in seconds. Freaky!
Hurricane Winds
That is what we are having in the ole Coos of Bay. I looked outside just in time to see my greenhouse panels flying across the yard. Derek and I quickly brought in my most prized babies, the rest we sat on the floor and in the corner of the woodpile behind the greenhouse. We lost power about 5 times in a row as well. As you can see, I retain power at the moment. The TNT out in Millicoma has lost power however. Miss TNT is on her way over as she can't get to her home up Ross Inlet. Downed power lines and trees. It's blowing for sure, hurricane strength. It's so windy outside its just flat dangerous to be out there. Check back with you later folks, I'm cooking!
The Blowhole of the NorthWest
The storm has just begun and already we are having gusts that are easily 75 mph. The wind screams high overhead and dips down to wreck havoc occasionally. It's warm, and muggy and wonderful. Lake Englewood is once again flooding. It doesn't seem much like winter, well except for the storm of course. Temperatures 60 + at the Wyrd house. Lavender and flowers all blooming and pretty. Peppers and tomatoes turning red in my greenhouse. The Christmas cactus are exploding in bloom too, as are the African Violets.
I man the base camp (home), doing laundry, cooking, keeping things up incase the power goes out. Which seems fairly likely from where I sit. I'm not working overly hard, I assure you. Plenty of time for running the train around the tree and annoying the cat. Or hiding army men in the Christmas village that has threatened to take over the entire first floor of my home. I'm going to dress Barbie up like a Terrorist and give her the Humvie. She can drag GI Joe around by his Berka (I'm pretty sure I spelled that wrong).
December 10, 2006
I Smell Reindeer.
Yesterday felt like a holiday. I put a lovely rub on about 7 lbs of spareribs, then baked them for hours in the oven. I finished them off with a barbecue glaze and gave them a quick broil to make them pretty. Then off to the parent's house for a devouring. Later we went to see the Christmas lights at Shore Acres. They are bigger and better than ever. You MUST go see. There were tons of people there, (duh, Saturday), with cars lined up out on the main high way just to get in. We didn't have to wait that long, and close parking spaces are always available if you are semi-patient. I actually got to explore every nick and cranny of the old house, because my step-mother was there, and hanging out with her is a lot more fun than just going with the boys. A pack of mongrels were singing Christmas songs, adding to the festive slurping of hot cider, (better this year than ever), and chomping of chocolate chunk cookies. Then a quick stop at the giftshop to play with the wildlife hand puppets, the ladybug being one of my all time favorites. We always buy a year round pass so we can go and enjoy the party many times. So begone with you to Shore Acres, and when you go, kiss the frogs for me.
December 02, 2006
Oregon by Day, Siberia by Night.
THAT'S how cold it's been. Occasionally I have to get off my dead ass and work like hell, and this week was one of those unfortunate times. The frosty mornings have added greatly to my bitchiness level. First of all, I want to be SLEEPING in my cozy BED when such frozen dawns occur. NOT thawing out my windshield, NOT taking 3 times as long to get anywhere, NOT slamming shots of coffee just to wake up enough to drive. Noooooooo, I belong cuddling with her kittyness.
Three. More. Days. Three more days of getting up earlier than Satan commands of his followers in hell. For work that is incredibly strenuous, for which I am paid insanely well. Plus, I PROMISED. I promised to relieve my friend so she could go on her spensive river cruise, the first vacation she's had in decades. God I'm a sucker.
My evil self is smirking at the thought of my friend, on her poshy vacation, in her poshy vacation clothes, on some poshy rich bitch cruise, in the middle of a goddamn snow and wind storm. THE IRONY. Beautiful I'm sure, yet quite vomit inducing.
Think of me, in your own holiday madness. And I'll be thinking of the future. The 4th day. The day of sleeping in. Of big, slow cups of coffee laced heavily with chocolate. Of spending the day in my jammies and slippers. Watching Sci Fi and decorating and cooky making. I can't wait.
