*Walks in and lies down*
Hi Mr. Blog. You would not believe the party I went to last night! It was at a Roosevelt High School pal's house and she lives in Windemere on the bluff over the lake. It is the most beautiful house in the world and Pam was such a charming hostess. About 20 Roughriders showed up.
So the mail came early at noon and I got so excited by this thick priority mail envelope.
But guess what it was?
*Stares at Mr. Blog*
Okay, I'll tell you. It was a twenty page long letter from Angelo Bonomi, the City of Kenmore Compliance officer. We are old friends going back two summers ago when our pool deck was two inches above the level needing a permit and he was really mean to me and made me cry.
I had to make a building plan, then a site plan and both took three tries to get it right.
I was at City Hall and I finally gave up and asked him what would happen if I did nothing
and he gave me a mean look and pointed up at the giant red STOP WORK sign behind him.
It was so horrible and finally Terry took over and finished the compliance work for me.
Anyway, Angelo came out and saw my giant NIXPIX sign
and wrote me up for that and
investigated NIXPIX and wrote me up for not having a city of Kenmore Permit.
I have a state license, which I thought for an online business was enough.
So I'll muddle through the ten pages of city codes and fill out pages of forms
and drag Terry to the bank to get everything notarized.
My sign has to come down January 30th and I'm so sad!
I worked really heard on that sign too!
Oh well, at least the letter had a high quality photo of the sign I can frame for the memories.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
12/27/09 The Kiss
*Bounces in and lies down*
Good morning Mr. Blog! Don't you just love this sun today?!
It is so pretty and the days are finally getting longer.
Guess what? I slept great. You can probably tell.
I do my heaviest sleeping between 3-7am and usually Terry gets up at 4:30am
and clomps around like an elephant and wakes me up so I'm cranky all morning.
But not today! I slept great right up until seven and I feel like a million bucks!
So I'm in the kitchen getting coffee and Terry walks right up to me and leans over and
GIVES ME A KISS!
Now how good is that?!
For twenty four years now I have been the one to walk up to him for a kiss
and out of the blue he strides right over like Edward Cullen and plants one on me!
What a great husband!
I am so inspired to work harder on my business now so I can earn the money
to pay off our house.
That way when Terry wakes up he can have the option of going to work or not.
When I was at Woodbadge leadership training with 2007 it was like fifty men and five women.
In my patrol, David, Kevin and Brent were all Eagle Scouts and very competitive.
But the general knowledge I learned from hanging out with them for a week
was that they all feel the pressure to take care of their families.
That was something I had never been exposed to.
The weight of taking care of a family.
So anyway, my personal goal now is to get my business blazing away with sales
and lift that wieght off my husband's shoulders
because he gave me a nice little kiss.
Good morning Mr. Blog! Don't you just love this sun today?!
It is so pretty and the days are finally getting longer.
Guess what? I slept great. You can probably tell.
I do my heaviest sleeping between 3-7am and usually Terry gets up at 4:30am
and clomps around like an elephant and wakes me up so I'm cranky all morning.
But not today! I slept great right up until seven and I feel like a million bucks!
So I'm in the kitchen getting coffee and Terry walks right up to me and leans over and
GIVES ME A KISS!
Now how good is that?!
For twenty four years now I have been the one to walk up to him for a kiss
and out of the blue he strides right over like Edward Cullen and plants one on me!
What a great husband!
I am so inspired to work harder on my business now so I can earn the money
to pay off our house.
That way when Terry wakes up he can have the option of going to work or not.
When I was at Woodbadge leadership training with 2007 it was like fifty men and five women.
In my patrol, David, Kevin and Brent were all Eagle Scouts and very competitive.
But the general knowledge I learned from hanging out with them for a week
was that they all feel the pressure to take care of their families.
That was something I had never been exposed to.
The weight of taking care of a family.
So anyway, my personal goal now is to get my business blazing away with sales
and lift that wieght off my husband's shoulders
because he gave me a nice little kiss.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
12/23/09 The Garage Sale
*Walks in and lies down*
Hi Mr. Blog. Are you ready for Christmas?
I am. We have up our fresh tree and garland in the picture window.
I woke up yesterday thinking I should have a garage sale.
Took me four hours to get up my garden canopy and get it all decorated with Christmas lights.
It is so cute! You'll have to stop by. I put it in the driveway up on the road.
I ran a 50foot orange extension cord out the bathroom window
for power and so I have lights and a hot water pot and a radio!
I put my best reindeer tablecloth over my folding banquet table and my best china
with hot cocoa and tea and cider packets. It looks so festive, especially at night!
I hope you'll stop by. Patty stopped by this morning and brought me a cute sweater
and a Starbucks latte! Wow! She has turned out to be the best friend in the world.
I can't believe I've known her since 1966, forty-eight years now. Since Bryant grade school.
She bought a driving game for her one son that isn't driving yet. I forget which one.
I have high hopes for last minutes sales tomorrow on Christmas eve.
I have to dash to the store for a few things to go with the ham and I hope to
start work at noon.
Yesterday I did all my Christmas cards while waiting for customers.
Only one person besides Patty stopped by.
A nice new senior neighbor named Claire. She was going for a walk on the trail.
Oh, and my sister Pam stopped by later and said it looked like a little circus!
Hahahaha. My life with Terry and Troy and Teddy IS a circus.
Those teens are darn cute and funny and always doing silly stuff.
I'll miss them when they move out.
Pam wanted to buy a NIXPIX t-shirt but I only had them up for display
because you have to buy them from the website.
I was pretty excited since I got her one for Christmas and she doesn't know it.
My neighbor Darcy drove past in her cool truck and yelled out the window,
"What the hell are you doing?!"
She is such a card.
I told her I was having a garage sale and she said you are supposed to have them in summer like she does in August. She said it was thirty degrees out and no one would stop in the freezing
weather. Well, Patty and Claire and sissy stopped so it was worth freezing to death all day.
Hi Mr. Blog. Are you ready for Christmas?
I am. We have up our fresh tree and garland in the picture window.
I woke up yesterday thinking I should have a garage sale.
Took me four hours to get up my garden canopy and get it all decorated with Christmas lights.
It is so cute! You'll have to stop by. I put it in the driveway up on the road.
I ran a 50foot orange extension cord out the bathroom window
for power and so I have lights and a hot water pot and a radio!
I put my best reindeer tablecloth over my folding banquet table and my best china
with hot cocoa and tea and cider packets. It looks so festive, especially at night!
I hope you'll stop by. Patty stopped by this morning and brought me a cute sweater
and a Starbucks latte! Wow! She has turned out to be the best friend in the world.
I can't believe I've known her since 1966, forty-eight years now. Since Bryant grade school.
She bought a driving game for her one son that isn't driving yet. I forget which one.
I have high hopes for last minutes sales tomorrow on Christmas eve.
I have to dash to the store for a few things to go with the ham and I hope to
start work at noon.
Yesterday I did all my Christmas cards while waiting for customers.
Only one person besides Patty stopped by.
A nice new senior neighbor named Claire. She was going for a walk on the trail.
Oh, and my sister Pam stopped by later and said it looked like a little circus!
Hahahaha. My life with Terry and Troy and Teddy IS a circus.
Those teens are darn cute and funny and always doing silly stuff.
I'll miss them when they move out.
Pam wanted to buy a NIXPIX t-shirt but I only had them up for display
because you have to buy them from the website.
I was pretty excited since I got her one for Christmas and she doesn't know it.
My neighbor Darcy drove past in her cool truck and yelled out the window,
"What the hell are you doing?!"
She is such a card.
I told her I was having a garage sale and she said you are supposed to have them in summer like she does in August. She said it was thirty degrees out and no one would stop in the freezing
weather. Well, Patty and Claire and sissy stopped so it was worth freezing to death all day.
Friday, December 18, 2009
12/18/09 Coolest Sign In Kenmore Washington
*Bounces in full of excitement and sits in the chair*
Oh Mr. Bl-og! You'll never guess what is up my trees fourteen feet in front of my ho-use!
Yep, we did it! My brother-in-law Seth came at noon and he is so delightful. Anyway, he let me drop off my hairdresser, Janet Ferris's $20.00 Christmas bonus and mail the package to the guy that ordered a game
from a place called Beerchurch.com. They have a great website.
So we got to Lake City Motorsports and Tom and Aime were there and gave me a hunk of display metal stuff to hang my t-shirts on. When Seth and I were leaving I saw a motorcycle
that I am going to buy! I don't care what Terry says! I've had a great life and
if I get killed I'll go out styling on that thing. It is called, "Rebel" and I want want want that
motorcycle more than anything!
We got back and Seth whipped out a giant machete from his truck and went up the ladder
and whacked off all the branches up to fourteen feet for me.
Then we both went up ladders and nailed up the sign fourteen feet up the trees!
We walked up on the bike trail and it is easily visible from the highway and
Kenmore Starbucks.
Tomorrow after Toady's basketball game I'll be working at my tree store all day!
I'm taking my 3x6' table out and my best Christmas tablecloth
and Seth suggest Christmas lights! So I'll put those on and my hotplate I use
at cheap motels to make hot cider and I'll drag out my chairs and free candy bowl.
It is going to be so fun! I can hardly wait!
Nothing like a mid-winter garage sale for fun!
You should stop by Mr. Blog!
Oh Mr. Bl-og! You'll never guess what is up my trees fourteen feet in front of my ho-use!
Yep, we did it! My brother-in-law Seth came at noon and he is so delightful. Anyway, he let me drop off my hairdresser, Janet Ferris's $20.00 Christmas bonus and mail the package to the guy that ordered a game
from a place called Beerchurch.com. They have a great website.
So we got to Lake City Motorsports and Tom and Aime were there and gave me a hunk of display metal stuff to hang my t-shirts on. When Seth and I were leaving I saw a motorcycle
that I am going to buy! I don't care what Terry says! I've had a great life and
if I get killed I'll go out styling on that thing. It is called, "Rebel" and I want want want that
motorcycle more than anything!
We got back and Seth whipped out a giant machete from his truck and went up the ladder
and whacked off all the branches up to fourteen feet for me.
Then we both went up ladders and nailed up the sign fourteen feet up the trees!
We walked up on the bike trail and it is easily visible from the highway and
Kenmore Starbucks.
Tomorrow after Toady's basketball game I'll be working at my tree store all day!
I'm taking my 3x6' table out and my best Christmas tablecloth
and Seth suggest Christmas lights! So I'll put those on and my hotplate I use
at cheap motels to make hot cider and I'll drag out my chairs and free candy bowl.
It is going to be so fun! I can hardly wait!
Nothing like a mid-winter garage sale for fun!
You should stop by Mr. Blog!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
12/17/09 Business Shut Down
*Walks in and lies down for short rest*
Hi Mr. Blog. I got the Christmas tree up and our new kittens just love climbing it!
Troy let me store the game parts in his closet, thank God.
So yesterday, Terry comes home all sore and tired and cranky from delivering
all the Christmas mail
and tells me I have to close down my little business
because I'm not making money to help with the bills.
*Gets up and paces*
I'm not going to. For crying out loud Mr. Blog! We all have perfect health!
Look at all the health problems everyone we know has!
*Lies back down*
So I decided to make my own retail outlet in front of our house.
You've seen where we live right on the highway Mr. Blog!
I went to Plywood Supply and got a bunch of 4x8' cardboard pieces and
two were plain white so I used my automotive adhesive to glue them together last night.
I had to work in my bedroom because the kittens get in everything!
I cut them into the shape of a 4x6' skateboard and I
just finished spray painting them yellow.
Now I'm really dizzy from the fumes
but when my head clears I'm going to go to Mabel's and see if I can have more of her old
yardsticks she doesn't use for the nixpix letters.
I'm going to spray paint them black and saw them up make the letters.
I think it will look cool and 3-D.
I have an electric handsaw so I need to hustle up and get the painting done.
I don't want to use power tools dizzy.
I am worried about going up the ladder and sawing the limbs
off the trees. I'm just not very coordinated.
Nailing the sign up will be a problem too because I
want it to be visible from the Starbucks across the street.
I was going to have a banner made and have the fire department
tie it to my tree but I can't afford a banner.
Mr. Blog, I don't want to give up my business!
I love designing games to help people learn or have fun or both.
It makes me feel valuable.
I mean not everyone can afford $500.00 for driving school for their kids!
My game is $25.00 and the kids can play enough to get a permit
and at least help with the family driving.
You still need drivers ed class to get a license under 18 but guess what?!
A friend of Troy's took driver's ed but didn't pass the knowledge test.
So I'm not giving up.
I just have to cook more
and listen to boring post office stories for hours and hours and hours on end.
And tickle Terry's feet. I have been doing that every night
for twenty-two years now.
He did find out about the home equity loan that I was never going to tell him about.
He was home when the 500 games got delivered and got all nosy on me.
I tried to sell my van to cover the print costs and forgot his name is on the title too.
I paid for it myself but figured if I dropped dead it would be easier for him with his name on it.
Oh, cheery news too Mr. Blog.
I took Mabel for our annual Christmas shopping trip yesterday
to Lake City Fred Meyers.
We found almost everything on Mike's list and he'll be so happy.
I love Mabel and pretend she is my mom.
Mom's been gone four years now and Lyle seven.
So after we shopped she wanted to take me out to lunch
so we went to Flo Anna's and had THE BEST lunch.
We drank coffee and she had a hamburger and I had a Rueben, which is my favorite!
She said something that upset me when we were leaving Fred Meyers Mr. Blog.
She looked at me and said, "This is my last Christmas."
I told her to forget about that idea.
I know she is eighty-nine but I can't bear the thought of losing her.
We love to hang out and talk and drink sodas.
I love hearing all the stories of her growing up on the farm in Minnesota and
walking two miles to school in the snow.
I like hearing about how Arky built her house for her sixty years ago
and her job at Boeing and later John Fluke.
I love her stories about how the train used to run in front of our houses to the
shingle mill on the lake where the bike trail is now.
It was mostly farms on our road with cows and horses and I do remember the giant
white barn that they tore down to build Trail Walk condominiums.
So, I love owning my business so I can be available for Mabel.
It's good to have a flexible schedule
and I can make more money later.
Hi Mr. Blog. I got the Christmas tree up and our new kittens just love climbing it!
Troy let me store the game parts in his closet, thank God.
So yesterday, Terry comes home all sore and tired and cranky from delivering
all the Christmas mail
and tells me I have to close down my little business
because I'm not making money to help with the bills.
*Gets up and paces*
I'm not going to. For crying out loud Mr. Blog! We all have perfect health!
Look at all the health problems everyone we know has!
*Lies back down*
So I decided to make my own retail outlet in front of our house.
You've seen where we live right on the highway Mr. Blog!
I went to Plywood Supply and got a bunch of 4x8' cardboard pieces and
two were plain white so I used my automotive adhesive to glue them together last night.
I had to work in my bedroom because the kittens get in everything!
I cut them into the shape of a 4x6' skateboard and I
just finished spray painting them yellow.
Now I'm really dizzy from the fumes
but when my head clears I'm going to go to Mabel's and see if I can have more of her old
yardsticks she doesn't use for the nixpix letters.
I'm going to spray paint them black and saw them up make the letters.
I think it will look cool and 3-D.
I have an electric handsaw so I need to hustle up and get the painting done.
I don't want to use power tools dizzy.
I am worried about going up the ladder and sawing the limbs
off the trees. I'm just not very coordinated.
Nailing the sign up will be a problem too because I
want it to be visible from the Starbucks across the street.
I was going to have a banner made and have the fire department
tie it to my tree but I can't afford a banner.
Mr. Blog, I don't want to give up my business!
I love designing games to help people learn or have fun or both.
It makes me feel valuable.
I mean not everyone can afford $500.00 for driving school for their kids!
My game is $25.00 and the kids can play enough to get a permit
and at least help with the family driving.
You still need drivers ed class to get a license under 18 but guess what?!
A friend of Troy's took driver's ed but didn't pass the knowledge test.
So I'm not giving up.
I just have to cook more
and listen to boring post office stories for hours and hours and hours on end.
And tickle Terry's feet. I have been doing that every night
for twenty-two years now.
He did find out about the home equity loan that I was never going to tell him about.
He was home when the 500 games got delivered and got all nosy on me.
I tried to sell my van to cover the print costs and forgot his name is on the title too.
I paid for it myself but figured if I dropped dead it would be easier for him with his name on it.
Oh, cheery news too Mr. Blog.
I took Mabel for our annual Christmas shopping trip yesterday
to Lake City Fred Meyers.
We found almost everything on Mike's list and he'll be so happy.
I love Mabel and pretend she is my mom.
Mom's been gone four years now and Lyle seven.
So after we shopped she wanted to take me out to lunch
so we went to Flo Anna's and had THE BEST lunch.
We drank coffee and she had a hamburger and I had a Rueben, which is my favorite!
She said something that upset me when we were leaving Fred Meyers Mr. Blog.
She looked at me and said, "This is my last Christmas."
I told her to forget about that idea.
I know she is eighty-nine but I can't bear the thought of losing her.
We love to hang out and talk and drink sodas.
I love hearing all the stories of her growing up on the farm in Minnesota and
walking two miles to school in the snow.
I like hearing about how Arky built her house for her sixty years ago
and her job at Boeing and later John Fluke.
I love her stories about how the train used to run in front of our houses to the
shingle mill on the lake where the bike trail is now.
It was mostly farms on our road with cows and horses and I do remember the giant
white barn that they tore down to build Trail Walk condominiums.
So, I love owning my business so I can be available for Mabel.
It's good to have a flexible schedule
and I can make more money later.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
12/15/09 Meltdown Avoidance
*runs in and sits in wingback chair*
Hi Mr. Blog! I refuse to meltdown over Christmas!
Yikes! I have some challenges!
I have game parts stacked to the ceiling where the Christmas tree goes
and we have a very small house with no other spot for it.
The new orange kittens Earl and Winston just ran over the plywood I spray painted and that can't be good for them! I put the wood in Teddy's room so the paint can dry.
The first two small games got stolen from the Kenmore Starbucks entertainment center
in one week so I had taken the huge one mounted on cardboard and they took that too!
When the paint dries I'm using automotive adhesive to mount the bigger game to plywood!
I have a million things to do including shipping my Christmas orders!
Now I know why men run most businesses. I have a cranky mailman husband and two rowdy teenagers to take care of and they are my priority!
So, I'm going to do my daily Jane Fonda exercise and start storing game parts
AND I WILL GET MY TREE UP TODAY!!!
Can you pray for me Mr. Blog?
Hi Mr. Blog! I refuse to meltdown over Christmas!
Yikes! I have some challenges!
I have game parts stacked to the ceiling where the Christmas tree goes
and we have a very small house with no other spot for it.
The new orange kittens Earl and Winston just ran over the plywood I spray painted and that can't be good for them! I put the wood in Teddy's room so the paint can dry.
The first two small games got stolen from the Kenmore Starbucks entertainment center
in one week so I had taken the huge one mounted on cardboard and they took that too!
When the paint dries I'm using automotive adhesive to mount the bigger game to plywood!
I have a million things to do including shipping my Christmas orders!
Now I know why men run most businesses. I have a cranky mailman husband and two rowdy teenagers to take care of and they are my priority!
So, I'm going to do my daily Jane Fonda exercise and start storing game parts
AND I WILL GET MY TREE UP TODAY!!!
Can you pray for me Mr. Blog?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
12/12/09 Woodinville High School
*skips in and flops on couch* Oh! Mr. Blog.
I think I turned a corner today. It was a very wild week.
On Wednesday Margo Thorning came over and we went to tea at the Chateau in Bothell.
I stopped on the way and dropped off the world's biggest bluckberry cobbler
at Allegra printers in Bothell on the way. They did such an amazing job on my game.
So we found Riel and went to see my old Junior Classical League pal, Ann Wendell,
give a book reading on her new book on the history of Frederick and Nelsons.
She also wrote a book on the history of the Ravenna neighborhood I want to buy because it has
pictures of Bryant and Eckstein and Roosevelt High school when they were all new!
She was so warm friendly and signed the books we bought
and even let us take our picture with her and Santa Claus.
He talk was brilliant and the waiters and waitresses brought
loads of fancy tiny sandwiches and tarts.
Then they had a Frederick and Nelson fashion show of vintage clothing.
It was awesome and Riel and Margo were such a hoot!
We had a blast and Margo won the doorprize!
A copy of Ann's book on the history of Ravenna.
On Thursday we all went to Terry's uncle's funeral and it was so sad I don't want to talk about it yet. Way too distressing to think about my cherished mother-in-law losing her only brother.
So I subbed up at Frank Love in the Resource Room yesterday and loved seeing
Penny and the kids. I have subbed for her for four years so I know the kids
really well and I'm very attached to them.
Only snag was I had my RHS Christmas shindig last night too and I was pretty tired.
I lived near University Village from 1966 when I was ten to 1975 and I didn't even
recognize it. It is totally yuppified now and the Christmas lights were beautiful.
It was fun to hang out with Riel, Margo, Mimi, Barb, Bonnie and George and Forrest.
We went to the Ram and the food was fantastic. It was a great visit!
Today I worked at the Woodinville arts and crafts fair selling my game and it was so fun!
I had great vendor neighbors, Laura, who is a painter and Janet who is a Tupperware seller.
We just laughed and chatted all day long and I sold seven games.
The teens there were so nice! A teacher there asked me to sub for her so that was nice.
I got tons of vendor tips from everyone there and wrote them all down.
I like working at the fairs and look forward to getting Gin Latin printed to take around.
It is kinda embarrassing to only have one product and everyone else has racks and racks
of different stuff. I look forward to vending with these women for years and years to come!
I think I turned a corner today. It was a very wild week.
On Wednesday Margo Thorning came over and we went to tea at the Chateau in Bothell.
I stopped on the way and dropped off the world's biggest bluckberry cobbler
at Allegra printers in Bothell on the way. They did such an amazing job on my game.
So we found Riel and went to see my old Junior Classical League pal, Ann Wendell,
give a book reading on her new book on the history of Frederick and Nelsons.
She also wrote a book on the history of the Ravenna neighborhood I want to buy because it has
pictures of Bryant and Eckstein and Roosevelt High school when they were all new!
She was so warm friendly and signed the books we bought
and even let us take our picture with her and Santa Claus.
He talk was brilliant and the waiters and waitresses brought
loads of fancy tiny sandwiches and tarts.
Then they had a Frederick and Nelson fashion show of vintage clothing.
It was awesome and Riel and Margo were such a hoot!
We had a blast and Margo won the doorprize!
A copy of Ann's book on the history of Ravenna.
On Thursday we all went to Terry's uncle's funeral and it was so sad I don't want to talk about it yet. Way too distressing to think about my cherished mother-in-law losing her only brother.
So I subbed up at Frank Love in the Resource Room yesterday and loved seeing
Penny and the kids. I have subbed for her for four years so I know the kids
really well and I'm very attached to them.
Only snag was I had my RHS Christmas shindig last night too and I was pretty tired.
I lived near University Village from 1966 when I was ten to 1975 and I didn't even
recognize it. It is totally yuppified now and the Christmas lights were beautiful.
It was fun to hang out with Riel, Margo, Mimi, Barb, Bonnie and George and Forrest.
We went to the Ram and the food was fantastic. It was a great visit!
Today I worked at the Woodinville arts and crafts fair selling my game and it was so fun!
I had great vendor neighbors, Laura, who is a painter and Janet who is a Tupperware seller.
We just laughed and chatted all day long and I sold seven games.
The teens there were so nice! A teacher there asked me to sub for her so that was nice.
I got tons of vendor tips from everyone there and wrote them all down.
I like working at the fairs and look forward to getting Gin Latin printed to take around.
It is kinda embarrassing to only have one product and everyone else has racks and racks
of different stuff. I look forward to vending with these women for years and years to come!
Monday, December 7, 2009
12/7/-09 Bainbridge Island Christmas in the Country
*Bounces in and lies on her couch*
Hi Mr. Blog! Guess what? I'm alive! Hahahaha. You probably guessed that already right?
Well this is one of those long rambling stories so do you mind laying down on your couch?
*Waits until he lies down on his back with his glasses on and notepad ready*
So. By the time I got fifty games assembled it was 10:30 on Saturday. It was only twenty degrees so I was slipping down mummy's wheelchair ramp with my first dufflebag and nearly fell.
So I go get some hot water and pour it on the wood and take the next duffle down.
By the time I get it in my van the water froze and I had to start all over!
Took me and hour to get the van loaded!
But guess what? I get to the Edmonds ferry dock and it is loading so I drove right on at 11:30!
I didn't go upstairs on the ferry 'cause without Terry and the kids it wasn't the same.
I had mapquested and memorized my route and it was so easy!
It was a brilliant sunny day and the water was sparkling
and the mountains were gleaming with new snow! It was breathtaking.
So I drove up until I saw Miller Road and it is the first main road running North South.
I took at left at the giant trolls and went south on a road I had never been on and
ended up going through Suquamish Indian reservation.
I kept going until I found highway 305 and there was a giant casino
at the intersection called Clearwater! I think I saw ads for it on TV!
I even think that is the one that Bren's mom, Carol goes to!
So I hung a Louie at the casino and went across Agate Pass bridge and I
swear to God it was one of the prettiest places I have EVER seen.
Funny that I was born here in Washington and didn't know you could
drive to Bainbridge Island from way up North here. Hahaha!
I saw Day road and hung another left and Valley Road and turned right
and then saw the sign for County Christmas with a big arrow.
I went through a town called Rolling Bay which was charming.
It had a Post Office, store and feed store.
I saw the Island Music Center and dashed in and met Sue Anderson and Dave and they
showed me my spot.
I was upstairs in a music lesson studio room that was about 10'x10' and directly above
the stage! It was awesome because they had all kinds of piano, strings and brass
music of all kinds from jazz to Christmas to folk all day both days.
I dragged in my duffles and tables and started selling at one
and sold four games. Two to parents for teens, one to a babyboomer wanting
something different for his dad who is a driving school teacher in Idaho
and one to a teenage girl for her teenage boyfriend that is afraid to take the test.
A nice young couple on vacation from California came in with their four year old son
and told me how sad they were that they couldn't take their son on the pony ride.
They walked on the ferry and were taking the Christmas in the Country shuttle but
it didn't go to the farm stop. I just handed that lady the keys to my van and you should have seen her jaw drop open. It was too funny! I said, "Take my van!" So her husband came
in and you should have seen his jaw drop open too. It was so hard not to laugh!
They came back a few hours later and showed me the pictures of the
little boy on the pony and they were DARN CUTE PICTURES!
The lady said they'd buy a game but it is only for Washington so I told her not to.
I gave them a free Nixpix refrigerator magnet and told them they could
get the little boy a t-shirt when they got back to LA if they wanted to.
Since Nic and Kathy had never met me and were letting me stay one
night at their house I figured loaning out my van to strangers was almost comparable.
I had really nice vendor neighbors and Karena was so young (twenties) and adorable.
Shoot, I should have taken a picture of her and her mom Carol who is also a
substitute teacher over there on the Kitsap Peninsula. Oh well.
Karena made and sold baby clothes and they were so cute I couldn't stand it.
Jo was down the hall and so young and tall and blond and willowy I couldn't figure out
why she wasn't in Hollywood making movies.
Well, I've seen zillions of photographs in my lifetime but
her work was something else!!! She traveled all over and went down
back alleys to get the gritty pictures of Thailand and New Zealand etc.
Now I used to work the flights to New Zealand out of Honolulu
but Continental put us in a fancy hotel downtown in a really
nice area so I never saw the cool looking side of real life down there
but Jo captured it in a way that was just plain AWESOME.
So Karena told me near closing time to just stay on Sportsman's Road and cross the highway
and that was a great tip. I pulled over once to verify the distance to Eagle Bay Drive.
Once I go to Eagle Bay drive, I was darn happy I carried mail for ten years
through rain, sleet and snow and DARK. Good training for this new career.
The road was tiny, winding and PITCH BLACK.
I just went really slow and pulled over when anyone came up behind me
and "Followed My Mail" as we used to say by watching the addresses get smaller
and remembering East is even house numbers and West is odd. 'Course the road was N/S!
I came to a spot with six mailboxes and six pitch-black long treed unmarked driveways and sat there intergrating my location skills with my intuition for a few minutes.
I drove down a half mile to a house with lit shed and cars and a van getting ready to pull out.
I jumped out and the older man rolled down his window and I said,
"I'm looking for Nic and Kathy"
Just as I said it I heard Kathy yell, "Gretchen! Gretchen!"
She was standing down at the house and invited me to go to dinner with them
but I had already eaten so I went in to rest.
They had two of the biggest cats in the world, one was black and aloof but
the giant orange one sat on my lap and purred. until I dozed off in an armchair.
When Kathy and Nic returned, he made a fire and we chatted and chatted.
I had never met them before but they volunteered to take in an out-of-town crafter.
Kathy teaches second grade so I was in teacher talk heaven and
Nic is the captain of the scout-own Oydessey sixty foot sailboat!
I told him I'd wanted to go with my scouts on it for years
but it was too expensive and you'll never guess what he said!
"If you like to cook you can come for free for any seven day trip this summer!"
Well, I am so going to do that because s
SAILING THROUGH THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS IS A LIFE LONG DREAM FOR ME!
How's that for a strange turn of events?
We blabbed till ten and went to bed and I slept great and woke up itching to sight-see.
I chatted with Kathy a few minutes and was off to find Kay Bainbridge State Park.
It was lovely and I realized when I was a kid there was a huge Catholic family kitty-corner
to us on 27th NE and 60th in Seattle called the Pierces that we were pals with.
The twins, Janet and Joan invited us to their summer house right next to this park when I
was ten and we took a tiny dinghy out and nearly got drowned by ferry waves!
That summer they took us out strawberry picking there too. 1966 Great summer!
So I took a picture and drove to Rolling Bay and got a cup of coffee and went to work.
I was walking back from parking my van when this gorgeous young lady shouted,
"Hey you!" You'll NEVER guess who it was!!!
*Waits to see if Mr. Blog tries to guess and sees he is sound asleep and snoring softly*
It was my half sister Heidi! She said she would come but I thought since
she works full time and Greg just had his operation three weeks ago that she wouldn't have time. WELL SHE MADE TIME! She grew up on Bainbridge Island and showed me
all her old hang outs and told me how they used to steal the driver's ed cars and
go joy riding all over the island. I just laughed and laughed 'cause I was such a JD too!
She came to my sales room and brought me all kinds of snacks and soups and sandwiches.
We had a great old time and she loved my salespitch.
I had Karena take a picture of us 'cause I am totally gaga over my little sister!!!
I only sold one game so I didn't even break even but you know what?
I don't care. Terry found out about the loan I took out
and he didn't divorce me
and I have another ten years of good health to work on my business
and my kids are in perfect health
and that's all that matters.
I'm not even going to worry about the fact that I screwed up on the printing of this edition.
The top game board was supposed to be laminated on both sides so the flaps snapped back
down in a snappy, exciting fashion.
I called Jeff first thing this morning to have the next 400 laminated on both sides
but it was too late.
Oh well. It was the best I could do.
This is the last of the Washington state games
and when we do the USA one that replaces it and is good
for the other forty-nine states, I'll get it right.
Then I can blast out my magnus opus, Gin Latin!
*Gets up and puts a blanket over Mr. Blog and tip toes out.*
Hi Mr. Blog! Guess what? I'm alive! Hahahaha. You probably guessed that already right?
Well this is one of those long rambling stories so do you mind laying down on your couch?
*Waits until he lies down on his back with his glasses on and notepad ready*
So. By the time I got fifty games assembled it was 10:30 on Saturday. It was only twenty degrees so I was slipping down mummy's wheelchair ramp with my first dufflebag and nearly fell.
So I go get some hot water and pour it on the wood and take the next duffle down.
By the time I get it in my van the water froze and I had to start all over!
Took me and hour to get the van loaded!
But guess what? I get to the Edmonds ferry dock and it is loading so I drove right on at 11:30!
I didn't go upstairs on the ferry 'cause without Terry and the kids it wasn't the same.
I had mapquested and memorized my route and it was so easy!
It was a brilliant sunny day and the water was sparkling
and the mountains were gleaming with new snow! It was breathtaking.
So I drove up until I saw Miller Road and it is the first main road running North South.
I took at left at the giant trolls and went south on a road I had never been on and
ended up going through Suquamish Indian reservation.
I kept going until I found highway 305 and there was a giant casino
at the intersection called Clearwater! I think I saw ads for it on TV!
I even think that is the one that Bren's mom, Carol goes to!
So I hung a Louie at the casino and went across Agate Pass bridge and I
swear to God it was one of the prettiest places I have EVER seen.
Funny that I was born here in Washington and didn't know you could
drive to Bainbridge Island from way up North here. Hahaha!
I saw Day road and hung another left and Valley Road and turned right
and then saw the sign for County Christmas with a big arrow.
I went through a town called Rolling Bay which was charming.
It had a Post Office, store and feed store.
I saw the Island Music Center and dashed in and met Sue Anderson and Dave and they
showed me my spot.
I was upstairs in a music lesson studio room that was about 10'x10' and directly above
the stage! It was awesome because they had all kinds of piano, strings and brass
music of all kinds from jazz to Christmas to folk all day both days.
I dragged in my duffles and tables and started selling at one
and sold four games. Two to parents for teens, one to a babyboomer wanting
something different for his dad who is a driving school teacher in Idaho
and one to a teenage girl for her teenage boyfriend that is afraid to take the test.
A nice young couple on vacation from California came in with their four year old son
and told me how sad they were that they couldn't take their son on the pony ride.
They walked on the ferry and were taking the Christmas in the Country shuttle but
it didn't go to the farm stop. I just handed that lady the keys to my van and you should have seen her jaw drop open. It was too funny! I said, "Take my van!" So her husband came
in and you should have seen his jaw drop open too. It was so hard not to laugh!
They came back a few hours later and showed me the pictures of the
little boy on the pony and they were DARN CUTE PICTURES!
The lady said they'd buy a game but it is only for Washington so I told her not to.
I gave them a free Nixpix refrigerator magnet and told them they could
get the little boy a t-shirt when they got back to LA if they wanted to.
Since Nic and Kathy had never met me and were letting me stay one
night at their house I figured loaning out my van to strangers was almost comparable.
I had really nice vendor neighbors and Karena was so young (twenties) and adorable.
Shoot, I should have taken a picture of her and her mom Carol who is also a
substitute teacher over there on the Kitsap Peninsula. Oh well.
Karena made and sold baby clothes and they were so cute I couldn't stand it.
Jo was down the hall and so young and tall and blond and willowy I couldn't figure out
why she wasn't in Hollywood making movies.
Well, I've seen zillions of photographs in my lifetime but
her work was something else!!! She traveled all over and went down
back alleys to get the gritty pictures of Thailand and New Zealand etc.
Now I used to work the flights to New Zealand out of Honolulu
but Continental put us in a fancy hotel downtown in a really
nice area so I never saw the cool looking side of real life down there
but Jo captured it in a way that was just plain AWESOME.
So Karena told me near closing time to just stay on Sportsman's Road and cross the highway
and that was a great tip. I pulled over once to verify the distance to Eagle Bay Drive.
Once I go to Eagle Bay drive, I was darn happy I carried mail for ten years
through rain, sleet and snow and DARK. Good training for this new career.
The road was tiny, winding and PITCH BLACK.
I just went really slow and pulled over when anyone came up behind me
and "Followed My Mail" as we used to say by watching the addresses get smaller
and remembering East is even house numbers and West is odd. 'Course the road was N/S!
I came to a spot with six mailboxes and six pitch-black long treed unmarked driveways and sat there intergrating my location skills with my intuition for a few minutes.
I drove down a half mile to a house with lit shed and cars and a van getting ready to pull out.
I jumped out and the older man rolled down his window and I said,
"I'm looking for Nic and Kathy"
Just as I said it I heard Kathy yell, "Gretchen! Gretchen!"
She was standing down at the house and invited me to go to dinner with them
but I had already eaten so I went in to rest.
They had two of the biggest cats in the world, one was black and aloof but
the giant orange one sat on my lap and purred. until I dozed off in an armchair.
When Kathy and Nic returned, he made a fire and we chatted and chatted.
I had never met them before but they volunteered to take in an out-of-town crafter.
Kathy teaches second grade so I was in teacher talk heaven and
Nic is the captain of the scout-own Oydessey sixty foot sailboat!
I told him I'd wanted to go with my scouts on it for years
but it was too expensive and you'll never guess what he said!
"If you like to cook you can come for free for any seven day trip this summer!"
Well, I am so going to do that because s
SAILING THROUGH THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS IS A LIFE LONG DREAM FOR ME!
How's that for a strange turn of events?
We blabbed till ten and went to bed and I slept great and woke up itching to sight-see.
I chatted with Kathy a few minutes and was off to find Kay Bainbridge State Park.
It was lovely and I realized when I was a kid there was a huge Catholic family kitty-corner
to us on 27th NE and 60th in Seattle called the Pierces that we were pals with.
The twins, Janet and Joan invited us to their summer house right next to this park when I
was ten and we took a tiny dinghy out and nearly got drowned by ferry waves!
That summer they took us out strawberry picking there too. 1966 Great summer!
So I took a picture and drove to Rolling Bay and got a cup of coffee and went to work.
I was walking back from parking my van when this gorgeous young lady shouted,
"Hey you!" You'll NEVER guess who it was!!!
*Waits to see if Mr. Blog tries to guess and sees he is sound asleep and snoring softly*
It was my half sister Heidi! She said she would come but I thought since
she works full time and Greg just had his operation three weeks ago that she wouldn't have time. WELL SHE MADE TIME! She grew up on Bainbridge Island and showed me
all her old hang outs and told me how they used to steal the driver's ed cars and
go joy riding all over the island. I just laughed and laughed 'cause I was such a JD too!
She came to my sales room and brought me all kinds of snacks and soups and sandwiches.
We had a great old time and she loved my salespitch.
I had Karena take a picture of us 'cause I am totally gaga over my little sister!!!
I only sold one game so I didn't even break even but you know what?
I don't care. Terry found out about the loan I took out
and he didn't divorce me
and I have another ten years of good health to work on my business
and my kids are in perfect health
and that's all that matters.
I'm not even going to worry about the fact that I screwed up on the printing of this edition.
The top game board was supposed to be laminated on both sides so the flaps snapped back
down in a snappy, exciting fashion.
I called Jeff first thing this morning to have the next 400 laminated on both sides
but it was too late.
Oh well. It was the best I could do.
This is the last of the Washington state games
and when we do the USA one that replaces it and is good
for the other forty-nine states, I'll get it right.
Then I can blast out my magnus opus, Gin Latin!
*Gets up and puts a blanket over Mr. Blog and tip toes out.*
Saturday, December 5, 2009
12/5/09 In Case I Don't Make It Back
*Rings phone*
Hi Mr. Blog. I got a partial order of 100 games yesterday at 4:00PM. I assembled until one am, got up at 4:30 and now I'm off to the Bainbridge Island Christmas in the Country Craft Fair.
I'm half asleep and it was 20F last night so the roads are icy. If I don't get invited to sleep over at the nice teacher's house two nights I have to drive back in the dark and I'm night blind to drive.
So if I don't make it, please tell my husband and kids they were the lights of my life.
Tell my pals Bren and JP thanks for keeping me alive
and all my other friends and relatives that I loved them all.
This business gave me a reason to live and I loved every second of it!
byers dude.
Hi Mr. Blog. I got a partial order of 100 games yesterday at 4:00PM. I assembled until one am, got up at 4:30 and now I'm off to the Bainbridge Island Christmas in the Country Craft Fair.
I'm half asleep and it was 20F last night so the roads are icy. If I don't get invited to sleep over at the nice teacher's house two nights I have to drive back in the dark and I'm night blind to drive.
So if I don't make it, please tell my husband and kids they were the lights of my life.
Tell my pals Bren and JP thanks for keeping me alive
and all my other friends and relatives that I loved them all.
This business gave me a reason to live and I loved every second of it!
byers dude.
Friday, December 4, 2009
12/4/09 The Great Kitten Mix-Up
*Walks in quickly and cheerfully and sits down*
Whew Mr. Blog! Under the wire again! Two times this month but I can't tell you about the other time for a year or two because the walls have ears.
So my 90 year old neighbor Mabel has a son Mike that lives in Everett.
When her cat had another batch of ten kittens I was running all around finding homes for them.
Our road is covered with orange kittens! If you like orange cats drive down my road, slowly.
So Mike goes to Hawaii and brings Scooter and orange to be cat-sat by Mabel.
Right after he leaves Troy's friend Ariana's dad gets laid off so she brings us
orange Winston to cat-sit until her dad get's rehired.
She also takes a black-orange tabby back to Mabel's as a return.
Well, Mabel calls me that she is tripping over her two cats and three kittens.
So I don't know about Ariana's kitten and I go over and tell Mabel I'll look for a home for it.
She says, "Don't get them mixed up! Mike's has the orange patch on her face."
So Teddy's orange kitten Earl is sick and I put a post on Facebook down the hall.
Connie's friend Gretchen brings medicine for Earl to my house.
I tell her about Mabel and the kitten problem and we go look at them.
She loves what she thinks is Ariana's returned kitten and it turns out
to be Mike's kitten Scooter but I don't know it!
I ask Mabel three times if we have the right kitten to give
away and she says yes, but makes Gretchen promise to exchange it if she
is wrong and Gretchen agrees to that.
Gretchen comes back the next day and we give it flea medicine and worming medicine and
she takes it home.
Two weeks later Mike gets back from Hawaii and finds out I gave away HIS kitten.
So I talk Gretchen into returning it.
Then her little son is crying all night so she decides she has to keep it
despite promising Mabel to return it and switch two weeks previously!
Yikes Mr. Blog! I call Mabel and she says, "Don't worry. We all have pretty good health and
we aren't dead yet."
So I call Mike and felt like while he was on vacation I helped someone cat-nap his kitten but
you know what?
He forgave me. It was horrible because he told me if he'd known another matching kitten was coming while he was gone he would have put a collar on Scooter.
That made me cry. This was the worst thing I have ever done because
it involved a small innocent creature.
So Gretchen and her little son love Scooter only now she is Cabella.
Mike is coming over Sunday for his orange kitten and I don't know if he will take
the black tabby with orange splotch face or not.
Earl and Winston are my biggest joy right now despite
the fact they have shredded my entire house from end to end
and gone pee pee on 100 packages for my game that I had to throw out.
But I got two more rolling duffles at Costco yesterday
so I can hide everything from the double-trouble orange kittens.
Whew Mr. Blog! Under the wire again! Two times this month but I can't tell you about the other time for a year or two because the walls have ears.
So my 90 year old neighbor Mabel has a son Mike that lives in Everett.
When her cat had another batch of ten kittens I was running all around finding homes for them.
Our road is covered with orange kittens! If you like orange cats drive down my road, slowly.
So Mike goes to Hawaii and brings Scooter and orange to be cat-sat by Mabel.
Right after he leaves Troy's friend Ariana's dad gets laid off so she brings us
orange Winston to cat-sit until her dad get's rehired.
She also takes a black-orange tabby back to Mabel's as a return.
Well, Mabel calls me that she is tripping over her two cats and three kittens.
So I don't know about Ariana's kitten and I go over and tell Mabel I'll look for a home for it.
She says, "Don't get them mixed up! Mike's has the orange patch on her face."
So Teddy's orange kitten Earl is sick and I put a post on Facebook down the hall.
Connie's friend Gretchen brings medicine for Earl to my house.
I tell her about Mabel and the kitten problem and we go look at them.
She loves what she thinks is Ariana's returned kitten and it turns out
to be Mike's kitten Scooter but I don't know it!
I ask Mabel three times if we have the right kitten to give
away and she says yes, but makes Gretchen promise to exchange it if she
is wrong and Gretchen agrees to that.
Gretchen comes back the next day and we give it flea medicine and worming medicine and
she takes it home.
Two weeks later Mike gets back from Hawaii and finds out I gave away HIS kitten.
So I talk Gretchen into returning it.
Then her little son is crying all night so she decides she has to keep it
despite promising Mabel to return it and switch two weeks previously!
Yikes Mr. Blog! I call Mabel and she says, "Don't worry. We all have pretty good health and
we aren't dead yet."
So I call Mike and felt like while he was on vacation I helped someone cat-nap his kitten but
you know what?
He forgave me. It was horrible because he told me if he'd known another matching kitten was coming while he was gone he would have put a collar on Scooter.
That made me cry. This was the worst thing I have ever done because
it involved a small innocent creature.
So Gretchen and her little son love Scooter only now she is Cabella.
Mike is coming over Sunday for his orange kitten and I don't know if he will take
the black tabby with orange splotch face or not.
Earl and Winston are my biggest joy right now despite
the fact they have shredded my entire house from end to end
and gone pee pee on 100 packages for my game that I had to throw out.
But I got two more rolling duffles at Costco yesterday
so I can hide everything from the double-trouble orange kittens.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
12/2/09 Cute Zazzle t-shirts
*Walks in and lies down*
Well, no games yet. Again.
But, on the bright side Steve has five t-shirts up at our Zazzle.com store.
I love the Cute Little Doggy one that Teddy designed when he was in 5th grade.
He used to make home made soda and the doggy was on his label.
So when I wanted a Nixpix spokes-animal I asked if I could use his
Cute Little Doggy and he said yes.
What cutes me out is how you can click all products
then baby and see the cutest baby in the world
wearing the Cute Little Doggy Fangerous shirt.
We tried running a Youtube contest which flopped
and Steve had a typo that said "No sex, violence or fangerous stunts
instead of dangerous stunts.
I thought it was funny so I asked him to add
fangs to Teddy's design and call it fangerous.
Well, no games yet. Again.
But, on the bright side Steve has five t-shirts up at our Zazzle.com store.
I love the Cute Little Doggy one that Teddy designed when he was in 5th grade.
He used to make home made soda and the doggy was on his label.
So when I wanted a Nixpix spokes-animal I asked if I could use his
Cute Little Doggy and he said yes.
What cutes me out is how you can click all products
then baby and see the cutest baby in the world
wearing the Cute Little Doggy Fangerous shirt.
We tried running a Youtube contest which flopped
and Steve had a typo that said "No sex, violence or fangerous stunts
instead of dangerous stunts.
I thought it was funny so I asked him to add
fangs to Teddy's design and call it fangerous.
12/2/09 ACK Game Delays
*Runs in and sits in chair*
Good morning Mr. Blog. I am in a terrible state. Jeff e-mailed me that he does not think the games will be ready this week! ACK! I already paid $100.00 to get into the Bainbridge Fair and it is non-refundable. Yesterday I got the bag toppers and thank you note/driving tips printed and picked up the world's biggest rolling tote at Costco to drag games to fair. I think it might fit all 500! If I don't get games to sell, I can smuggle people onto planes in it for cash.
So there is only one fair at Woodinville High school December 12th and my retail season to
sell in person is over.
I just don't know what I'm going to do. I owe vendors near $5,000.00 and need to sell!!!
I think my half-sister Heidi is coming Saturday to help me out.
I found out about her when my real dad, Jim Lehde died last summer.
He was married ten times and had lotsa extra curricular activity too.
He was so charming when he was sober!
Every five years I'll get a card from a new half brother or sister
that I didn't know about from all over
Washington and Oregon.
Heidi looks like my twin and is about five years younger than me
and the most delightful person I ever met!
Off to work!
Good morning Mr. Blog. I am in a terrible state. Jeff e-mailed me that he does not think the games will be ready this week! ACK! I already paid $100.00 to get into the Bainbridge Fair and it is non-refundable. Yesterday I got the bag toppers and thank you note/driving tips printed and picked up the world's biggest rolling tote at Costco to drag games to fair. I think it might fit all 500! If I don't get games to sell, I can smuggle people onto planes in it for cash.
So there is only one fair at Woodinville High school December 12th and my retail season to
sell in person is over.
I just don't know what I'm going to do. I owe vendors near $5,000.00 and need to sell!!!
I think my half-sister Heidi is coming Saturday to help me out.
I found out about her when my real dad, Jim Lehde died last summer.
He was married ten times and had lotsa extra curricular activity too.
He was so charming when he was sober!
Every five years I'll get a card from a new half brother or sister
that I didn't know about from all over
Washington and Oregon.
Heidi looks like my twin and is about five years younger than me
and the most delightful person I ever met!
Off to work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)