Hello...is anybody out there? (makes me think of Pink Floyd...)

It's still hot and dry out here in the Pacific NW. Kelowna BC is on fire (30,000 folks evacuated; mutliple million dollar houses burned down). I'm almost nervous about going on vacation; 1st b/c of where to go with fires everywhere (like NOT going to Yellowstone, B.C., or some places in E. Washington), and 2nd because it's so dry here, I'm almost worried about grass and brush fires around here while I'm gone. Yikes.

Had George W. Bush out here this week (well, to the STATE, not to our house!). Tonight, Seattle entertains Howard Dean. Guess we're becoming interesting on the political map (if only for photo ops).

Going to pick and freeze corn today. Beans are coming on like mad, too. At least it's supposed to be cooler today, so hopefully the kitchen won't get too toasty. My hands always get so wiped out from cutting corn off the cob (wish I had a HUGE freezer just for *ears* of corn). It's tough typing for a living with sore hands. Good thing God invented ibuprofen.

Got hay on Friday. Good thing, as the grass is now completely gone. The sheep don't seem to mind much, as long as they get their alfalfa fix and lots of water. The ducklings have now grown up and have turned into poop masters. Nothing like dry dead grass covered in duck poop to make one yearn for rain, I'll say.

Okay, enough drivel. See, my life is so boring, you can now feel free to post anything and it will be much more interesting! Type away!

Have a good week, all. Stay cool.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2003

Answers

Side note to JOJ (in case you check back):

Still haven't dug up the y2K stuff. But I'll get there...

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2003

Just totally hot down here - makes me cranky. My son's fifth birthday is this weekend - making a party for him. Gonna be a 'brunch birthday' - August is too hot to make people want to spend time together. Hopefully, the 10:00 - 12:00 time will encourage attendance.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2003

Hello Sheepish (and cranky!) and all.........

Well we close Friday! Yikes!

Lotus reminded me why I am doing this crazy ass thing. (I would be nuts if not for my kids.) I'm doing it for ME. Failure is impossible, and wouldnt matter anyway, cuz it doesn't exist. This is my one big chance for freedom, ironically enough, and freedom for Bren too. Even if that freedom winds up with us going our separate ways eventually, ironically enough. This is my last and best idea, and I cannot afford to allow myself to get caught in her negative trap ever again.

I realized something interesting this week: my relationship with Bren has much in common with my relationship with my mom. Intellectually I've known this for a long time, but it didn't really hit me in the gut till now. I must constantly remind myself that she is what she is, that she is a good and generous person, but she and I are really not all that compatible, and that she will never change. She will always view the world from a position of faithlessness, she will never be the nurturing partner I long for, she will always expect me to fail and I will always have to repeatedly take her aside and reassure her that everything will be allright. I will always have to be the strong one, because she doesnt have it in her to be. I have accepted that now, and I am more at peace.

Enough about me.........how is everyone? How come this place is so dead lately? Wonderful to hear from those who do post.........keep em comin.........Marcia and Polly and anyone else, hugs to you who are depressed......you must keep talking to us!

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2003

Still don't have my computer back at home yet, so no chance to visit. Not blue anymore, but working quite a few 16 hour shifts lately, so no time to find another computer. I'll be back as soon as I can - see ya!!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2003

So come on, E.M.!! Don't keep us all in suspense...how'd the closing go??? When (notice I said WHEN!?) you get all set up and the business is going strong, I'm thinking about going on a diet with your pizzas! Much like the type of diet that the guy of Subway fame went on with his diet! Think it will work :-)??!! I'm serious!! When you get a chance...could you give me your feedback on my "numbers" on the medical question post? I really value your opinion on this stuff! In fact, when I was at the doctors, she asked why I hadn't gone for my mammogram. I just said, "EM said I don't have to!" I never did explain that to her...I just changed the subject :-)!!

Been having some really nice weather lately...cooler and dry. It's been so clear that we've been able to see Mars for several nights in a row now. Blue Hill Fair (a big country fair in this area) started yesterday...but I just don't feel like going this year. Heart's not in it, I guess! We've never missed it in the 26 yrs. we've lived here. Still making arrangements for our trip south. We're taking what's called "the slow route" (route 84 out of Conn. and changing to route 81 in Scranton, Pa.!). Still have to find a fairly direct route from 81 to Pinehurst, NC. Anything's better than taking 95 all through those big cities! We HATE bumper-to-bumper 85 mph. city driving!!!!!

Harry's sis's house was erected last Wed. It's a two-story Cape style modular and the shell was closed in in 8 hrs.!! Even came with carpeting and draperies!! Now the crew just has to do some inside finish work before the appliances are delivered and hooked up. She'll be moving up permanently sometime in Oct. Carol living here will take lots of stress off Harry! Eventually, she wants to set up her own small restaurant on a piece of property that we'll lease to her.

Feeding time for me so I'm headed outside. Hope all is well with everyone!!!!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2003

Closing went 'like buttah.' We and the bank now own the building! We spent today moving all the stuff we've been accumluating from our storage garage into the building (ali calls it 'betsy' (?)) with a rented truck with a liftgate. We also picked up a free old frig to put in the breakroom. Have to put a new cord on it tomorrow, and it needs a good cleaning, but it seems to work ok. Also got a free desk for my office over there from this cool place here called twincitiesfreemarket.org, where people post stuff they want hauled away. very cool! Lotus has her eye on a piano when it comes up; I ain't moving it! So I be excited! :)

Weather is still gorgeous here, but we really do need some rain. It's been a couple of weeks since we had any real moisture.

Every body take care....later all!

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2003

EM,

Hooray! You are on your way!!!!!

Best wishes! Sheepish

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2003