This is a continuation of a trip, Marge, Judy and I took in the Fall of 1978. This was our first time to see the Pacific Ocean and the West Coast.
9-21-78: Everyone slept late this morning and after baths and packing we went to the laundromat and did a couple of loads of wash. Someone we met, told us the drive on the California side of Lake Tahoe was well worth seeing so we took it and it is beautiful. Mountains covered with tall narrow pines and a small river running through. The water absolutely sparkles and some parts of the Lake are a beautiful turquoise blue. We passed Squaw Valley Ski Resort and saw men in kayaks practicing for the Olympics (you didn't see many kayaks in Illinois at that time) Lake Tahoe is a beautiful lake with a lot of gorgeous homes around it. The road twists and turns. Marge is having nervous spasms because occasionally we see a sheer drop on one side. We stopped at Johnnies Restaurant for lunch. We're on the way to Frisco now on Rt. 50 that takes us to the very top of Echo Mountain and then down. It's gorgeous.
Well, we finally made it to San Francisco. We got here about 5:00 p.m. We stopped at the Holiday Inn in Emoryville, which is about ten minutes outside of downtown. Someone suggested it to us as a place to stay. We have a magnificent view of the freeway from our room! We drove over to the city in the evening, it looks really neat. Drove along the pier and through downtown. We came back across the Oakland Bay Bridge which is really something. On the way over all six lanes of traffic were going to San Francisco and since we couldn't see another bridge, we wondered how you got back. We found out. There's a bottom layer to go back (such 'hicks' in the big city). We ate supper at a Dennys Restaurant across the street and it took hours to be waited on. We met a nice older Negro couple who sat next to us and laughed and talked with them for awhile (we all had the same waitress) (Things have not changed much in 34 years, service is still bad at Dennys Restaurants - in fact I avoid them whenever. I don't think it's politically correct to call someone a Negro these days and that "older" couple was probably younger than we are now. Ah well, it's all about perspective).
Back to the motel and when we got into our room, Marge turned on the lamp by the window to sit and read, the bulb crackled and broke and our room went dark. (she had blown out the fuses in a third of the hotel) We sat in darkness until the lights came on again. We called home tonight and everyone is fine. Today is Leah's 21st birthday. (When Judy had called Bill, he was all doom and gloom, Michelle had a cold and somebody else had measles. Judy hung up and told us what he had said and started to laugh and she said: "And I'm out here and there's nothing I can do about it!" and she laughed some more). I love my sister!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Three Broads in a Buick 9-19
9-19-78 We left Cheyenne at 6:30 local time (The wind had blown so hard that night that it blew off an outside door into the motel) and headed for Salt Lake City. We didn't see much of Iowa as it was dark and rainy but Nebraska is desolate looking. We could tell we were going up but all you see is slight hills and scrub. In Southeastern Wyoming, there are no trees just hills of yellow grass, cows and telephone poles and an occasional oil well.
We started getting into snow at the Lincoln Monument on I80. The highway was wet and lots of spitting snow. Elk Mountain and a lot of the other high mountains are snow covered. We're about 180 miles from Salt Lake City. It's 2:15 pm and we've checked into our motel - Motel 6 - $18.00 for the three of us. The hotel is an el cheapo. Black and white TV - which you pay extra for. (as I remember there were only two towels in the room and we had to pay a little more for a third towel)
About 20 miles before Wyoming ended and for about twenty miles into Utah there was a lot of snow on the ground - about 2 or more inches, it was really beautiful but the highways were clear and dry. Utah is the most beautiful state. About 25 miles out side of Salt Lake City you start down a winding road that has to be one of the Country's most spectacular drives. High mountains and at this time of the year, red and yellow bushes on the sides of these green hills partially covered with snow. It was gorgeous. Salt Lake City is in a valley surrounded by mountains
We toured the Temple Square area. It was beautiful. Lots of gorgeous flowers and monuments. We took the tour (Of the Visitors Center) under protest of Judy but Marge and Norma enjoyed it. The history is different but interesting. One of the guides told us about a shopping center called "Old Trolley Square" so we visited it. It's made from an old trolley barn. Lots of interesting shops, very unique. We ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
9-20: Norma woke everyone up early and we headed for the great Salt Lake. When we arrived it was still dark. So we drove back to the airport to have breakfast. By the time we finished eating it was light enough to see the lake and mountains around them. It's a big, big body of water. We could see mountains in the distance and it took a long time to get to them. We stopped for gas at Windover, Nevada, just over the border. Gas is expensive out here - $.69.9 or $.70.9
We stopped at Battle Mountain, Nev. for gas and added a quart of oil. They had a crummy little roadside park where we ate a sandwich. (we had a cooler for drinks and sandwich makings) Marge had a chocolate attack and Judy stopped so we could get some candy bars. Battle Mountain is about center state. The mountains are all in the distance and they don't look real. I looks like someone has painted a back drop for a stage set.
We got into Reno and found a room at the Six Gun Motel. While Marge read, Judy and Norma went down to the swimming pool and jacuzzi. Nice and refreshing!
We saw on billboards that Andy Williams last night at the Nugget Casino was tonight so we made reservations. When we came in we slipped the maitre de' a five and he gave us a table center in front of the stage. We had a great meal and visited with the people sitting around us. The show started with a comedian named Steve Blustier. He was cute and his jokes were mediocre. Gave an impression of being a nice Jewish boy from next door.
Andy Williams portion started with a huge screen showing him from a little boy on and then from the back of the room, he came singing "Moon River" He came right by us and down to the stage on Marge's side of the table. She reached out and touched him as he went by. He put on an excellent show, a lot of variety - a good two hour show. Shirley MacLaine was in the theater and Andy introduced her. She is their next performer. Our evening at the Celebrity Room with tips, drinks, meal and show was $23.40 each.
We spent time in the Casino at the Nugget, had an enjoyable time and were home about 11:30.
We started getting into snow at the Lincoln Monument on I80. The highway was wet and lots of spitting snow. Elk Mountain and a lot of the other high mountains are snow covered. We're about 180 miles from Salt Lake City. It's 2:15 pm and we've checked into our motel - Motel 6 - $18.00 for the three of us. The hotel is an el cheapo. Black and white TV - which you pay extra for. (as I remember there were only two towels in the room and we had to pay a little more for a third towel)
About 20 miles before Wyoming ended and for about twenty miles into Utah there was a lot of snow on the ground - about 2 or more inches, it was really beautiful but the highways were clear and dry. Utah is the most beautiful state. About 25 miles out side of Salt Lake City you start down a winding road that has to be one of the Country's most spectacular drives. High mountains and at this time of the year, red and yellow bushes on the sides of these green hills partially covered with snow. It was gorgeous. Salt Lake City is in a valley surrounded by mountains
We toured the Temple Square area. It was beautiful. Lots of gorgeous flowers and monuments. We took the tour (Of the Visitors Center) under protest of Judy but Marge and Norma enjoyed it. The history is different but interesting. One of the guides told us about a shopping center called "Old Trolley Square" so we visited it. It's made from an old trolley barn. Lots of interesting shops, very unique. We ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
9-20: Norma woke everyone up early and we headed for the great Salt Lake. When we arrived it was still dark. So we drove back to the airport to have breakfast. By the time we finished eating it was light enough to see the lake and mountains around them. It's a big, big body of water. We could see mountains in the distance and it took a long time to get to them. We stopped for gas at Windover, Nevada, just over the border. Gas is expensive out here - $.69.9 or $.70.9
We stopped at Battle Mountain, Nev. for gas and added a quart of oil. They had a crummy little roadside park where we ate a sandwich. (we had a cooler for drinks and sandwich makings) Marge had a chocolate attack and Judy stopped so we could get some candy bars. Battle Mountain is about center state. The mountains are all in the distance and they don't look real. I looks like someone has painted a back drop for a stage set.
We got into Reno and found a room at the Six Gun Motel. While Marge read, Judy and Norma went down to the swimming pool and jacuzzi. Nice and refreshing!
We saw on billboards that Andy Williams last night at the Nugget Casino was tonight so we made reservations. When we came in we slipped the maitre de' a five and he gave us a table center in front of the stage. We had a great meal and visited with the people sitting around us. The show started with a comedian named Steve Blustier. He was cute and his jokes were mediocre. Gave an impression of being a nice Jewish boy from next door.
Andy Williams portion started with a huge screen showing him from a little boy on and then from the back of the room, he came singing "Moon River" He came right by us and down to the stage on Marge's side of the table. She reached out and touched him as he went by. He put on an excellent show, a lot of variety - a good two hour show. Shirley MacLaine was in the theater and Andy introduced her. She is their next performer. Our evening at the Celebrity Room with tips, drinks, meal and show was $23.40 each.
We spent time in the Casino at the Nugget, had an enjoyable time and were home about 11:30.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Three Broads in a Buick: 9-17
Several of you have told me you like my travel stories so I thought I would blog one I wrote down in 1978, when Marge Lee, Judy and I drove to California and back. A lot of changes in thirty four years. I hope you like it.
September 17, 1978: We left Norma's at 6:04 p.m. to take Keith (we were driving Marge and Keith's Buick) and Joe home and so that we could pick up Marge's swimsuit. It was 6:12 when we came by the State Bank in Washington. First stop was at Kickapoo Interchange to pick up a package for Aunt Liz from cousin, Bob. Now we're on our way. (Traveling West on I74) Money's been sorted into appropriate envelopes (We all contributed to envelopes for motels, food and gas) Norma is driving.
Just into Iowa we stopped alongside the road and Judy and Norma changed places inside the car as no one wanted to get outside in the rain. It's been raining since the East side of Galesburg. Stopped in Coralville for gas and supper at 9:00. Judy's still driving. West of Des Moines, Judy began talking on the CB to a driver named "Snuffy" His alternator was out on a brand new truck, 19,000 miles and he asked us if we'd be his 'back door' to Omaha. Police know when something is wrong and they go easy on a trucker if he has someone behind him. We enjoyed his conversation. Told him that "Gypsy Lee (Marge) was afraid to talk on CB. Before the night was over "Gypsy Lee" and "Snuffy" were CB pals. When he left us at Omaha we all said "Good by, Snuffy" one after the other and when we finished one very sexy voice came out of the night saying "Good by, Snuffy"!
We stopped at Sapp Brothers at Omaha for gas and coffee about 2 a.m. When we got back in the car and were pulling away, we heard a scraping noise and Judy got out and noticed the muffler was hanging low. There were two trucks in the garage and we had to wait until one was done. Two hours later, with Judy and Marge pacing and Norma dozing, we were ready to pull over the 'truckers pit'. On the door was a sign that said: "Basic ramp fee $6.00". Judy pulled the car over the open pit and when the mechanic went down under the car to check out the trouble, Judy walked right down behind him to check on his work. The clamp had come off the muffler, he wired it up front and back so it would stay put and charged us $5.00 total. About 4:15 a.m. and we're back on I80 going West.
As we pulled out on the highway, we got a CB call for the 'westbound car from Land of Lincoln. This was "Great Dave" who stayed with us to Cozad, Nebraska as our 'front door'. He was an electrical supplies salesman and said he'd just gotten up to go to work. He told us there had been a tornado at Grinnell, Iowa that killed 6 people traveling on the Interstate.
Next stop was Gotheburg, Neb. for gas and Marge started driving and Judy got a much needed rest (Judy did most of the driving on this - or any trip - she prefers to drive) We stopped at Paxton for breakfast and Judy refused to wake up. Marge's breakfast - $2.16, Norma's $1.85, huge portions.
We stopped at Cheyenne at 11:30 Mountain Time and got a room at a Regal 8 Motel for $19.64. Nice room and clean. We took showers, turned on the telly and promptly fell asleep and woke about 6:00 p.m MT. We drove to downtown Cheyenne, saw the capital building and ate dinner at the Mayflower Hotel, very old west atmosphere. The wind has blown hard all day and we heard there is snow between Cheyenne and Salt Lake City.
September 17, 1978: We left Norma's at 6:04 p.m. to take Keith (we were driving Marge and Keith's Buick) and Joe home and so that we could pick up Marge's swimsuit. It was 6:12 when we came by the State Bank in Washington. First stop was at Kickapoo Interchange to pick up a package for Aunt Liz from cousin, Bob. Now we're on our way. (Traveling West on I74) Money's been sorted into appropriate envelopes (We all contributed to envelopes for motels, food and gas) Norma is driving.
Just into Iowa we stopped alongside the road and Judy and Norma changed places inside the car as no one wanted to get outside in the rain. It's been raining since the East side of Galesburg. Stopped in Coralville for gas and supper at 9:00. Judy's still driving. West of Des Moines, Judy began talking on the CB to a driver named "Snuffy" His alternator was out on a brand new truck, 19,000 miles and he asked us if we'd be his 'back door' to Omaha. Police know when something is wrong and they go easy on a trucker if he has someone behind him. We enjoyed his conversation. Told him that "Gypsy Lee (Marge) was afraid to talk on CB. Before the night was over "Gypsy Lee" and "Snuffy" were CB pals. When he left us at Omaha we all said "Good by, Snuffy" one after the other and when we finished one very sexy voice came out of the night saying "Good by, Snuffy"!
We stopped at Sapp Brothers at Omaha for gas and coffee about 2 a.m. When we got back in the car and were pulling away, we heard a scraping noise and Judy got out and noticed the muffler was hanging low. There were two trucks in the garage and we had to wait until one was done. Two hours later, with Judy and Marge pacing and Norma dozing, we were ready to pull over the 'truckers pit'. On the door was a sign that said: "Basic ramp fee $6.00". Judy pulled the car over the open pit and when the mechanic went down under the car to check out the trouble, Judy walked right down behind him to check on his work. The clamp had come off the muffler, he wired it up front and back so it would stay put and charged us $5.00 total. About 4:15 a.m. and we're back on I80 going West.
As we pulled out on the highway, we got a CB call for the 'westbound car from Land of Lincoln. This was "Great Dave" who stayed with us to Cozad, Nebraska as our 'front door'. He was an electrical supplies salesman and said he'd just gotten up to go to work. He told us there had been a tornado at Grinnell, Iowa that killed 6 people traveling on the Interstate.
Next stop was Gotheburg, Neb. for gas and Marge started driving and Judy got a much needed rest (Judy did most of the driving on this - or any trip - she prefers to drive) We stopped at Paxton for breakfast and Judy refused to wake up. Marge's breakfast - $2.16, Norma's $1.85, huge portions.
We stopped at Cheyenne at 11:30 Mountain Time and got a room at a Regal 8 Motel for $19.64. Nice room and clean. We took showers, turned on the telly and promptly fell asleep and woke about 6:00 p.m MT. We drove to downtown Cheyenne, saw the capital building and ate dinner at the Mayflower Hotel, very old west atmosphere. The wind has blown hard all day and we heard there is snow between Cheyenne and Salt Lake City.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
My Sad Tale
So Thursday morning about 6 a.m., I thought I would go out and water the plants on the patio. We have had no rain for so long and one of the pots was looking very dry. As I walked out the back door, I remember thinking that I should probably get my cane but decided I could get stability from the hose! Stupid thought! Walking toward the front of the house - west side - I twisted my ankle and fell flat on my back. I laid there for a couple of minutes, sat up, cursing a little. Several cars went by. No one stopped, I guess fat ladies sitting in the front yard is an every day occurrence! This neighborhood is full of early morning walkers.... but not that day.
I got my bearings and scooted back over the mulch to the patio, turned over on my knees - not a good thing to do (fake knees) - and sat on the patio. Was able to stand, finish watering the plants, but couldn't get the hose put away neatly - Jeff, the landscaper came later in the morning and did that for me.
My ankle was starting to swell, so I called Diana to tell her I wouldn't be in to work out and she said to put ice on the ankle for 20 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Well, I tried that but that only works if you have someone to fetch ice.
I was sitting in the Computer room, foot on the ottoman, thinking maybe I need to go into assisted living, to old to live alone, and the phone rang. It was sister, Judy. She said hello, and I started to cry, feeling sorry for myself. Well, if you know Judy, she didn't let me off the phone until I was laughing and feeling better about things. As the day progressed, the swelling increased and I couldn't put any weight on my foot at all. I called my friend, Phyllis to see if she would come and close up my house for the night. She sent her daughter, Angela and family, Brian and 4 year old, Gabe. Gabe fetched bottles of water for me, and brought me a cup of M & M's from the Bubble Gum Dispenser in the kitchen. What a sweetie! They shut windows and doors and locked me in for the night. Brian - and Gabe - stopped again on Friday to check on me. I had hobbled into the Computer Room and got my Desk Chair on wheels and wandered around the house on that after I used my cane to move rugs. The only problem was I couldn't get into the kitchen, the grout lines between tiles prevented that. I knew I was going to need help, brother, Dick and Karen were in Florida so I called for help from the daughters. Lora came down, Friday evening and was my 'fetch it'. When Brian called on Saturday morning, he said to start walking on my foot. Brian is a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse so Lora assured him she would make sure I did. And I did! It hurt like hell but with Lora along side we got through. She cooked for me and as the day went along I felt strong enough to ride over to Washington where she trimmed up the Gravesite, we stopped to wish Marge, Happy Birthday and spent a few minutes at Phyllis and Bill's so Lora could see the layout of their house - she and Randy are getting ready to build a new house. I was exhausted when we got home - this series of chemo has left me with no stamina.
After Mass, this morning, I sent Lora home, the swelling has gone down a lot. She left after watering the yard one more time. I am able to get around with a cane. My friend, Jean left a wedge shaped pillow to keep my foot raised in bed. Love it!
So what have I learned from this experience:
A hose does not give you stability no matter what your feeble brain thinks.
Do not wear sandals to work in the yard. Wear more stable shoes.
Carry your cell phone in your pocket when you go out to work in the yard.
People are amazing and soooo helpful.
and
Best of all, for the third Sunday in a row, a daughter was with me at Church. Bill Calliss joined us as well. Life is good!
I got my bearings and scooted back over the mulch to the patio, turned over on my knees - not a good thing to do (fake knees) - and sat on the patio. Was able to stand, finish watering the plants, but couldn't get the hose put away neatly - Jeff, the landscaper came later in the morning and did that for me.
My ankle was starting to swell, so I called Diana to tell her I wouldn't be in to work out and she said to put ice on the ankle for 20 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Well, I tried that but that only works if you have someone to fetch ice.
I was sitting in the Computer room, foot on the ottoman, thinking maybe I need to go into assisted living, to old to live alone, and the phone rang. It was sister, Judy. She said hello, and I started to cry, feeling sorry for myself. Well, if you know Judy, she didn't let me off the phone until I was laughing and feeling better about things. As the day progressed, the swelling increased and I couldn't put any weight on my foot at all. I called my friend, Phyllis to see if she would come and close up my house for the night. She sent her daughter, Angela and family, Brian and 4 year old, Gabe. Gabe fetched bottles of water for me, and brought me a cup of M & M's from the Bubble Gum Dispenser in the kitchen. What a sweetie! They shut windows and doors and locked me in for the night. Brian - and Gabe - stopped again on Friday to check on me. I had hobbled into the Computer Room and got my Desk Chair on wheels and wandered around the house on that after I used my cane to move rugs. The only problem was I couldn't get into the kitchen, the grout lines between tiles prevented that. I knew I was going to need help, brother, Dick and Karen were in Florida so I called for help from the daughters. Lora came down, Friday evening and was my 'fetch it'. When Brian called on Saturday morning, he said to start walking on my foot. Brian is a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse so Lora assured him she would make sure I did. And I did! It hurt like hell but with Lora along side we got through. She cooked for me and as the day went along I felt strong enough to ride over to Washington where she trimmed up the Gravesite, we stopped to wish Marge, Happy Birthday and spent a few minutes at Phyllis and Bill's so Lora could see the layout of their house - she and Randy are getting ready to build a new house. I was exhausted when we got home - this series of chemo has left me with no stamina.
After Mass, this morning, I sent Lora home, the swelling has gone down a lot. She left after watering the yard one more time. I am able to get around with a cane. My friend, Jean left a wedge shaped pillow to keep my foot raised in bed. Love it!
So what have I learned from this experience:
A hose does not give you stability no matter what your feeble brain thinks.
Do not wear sandals to work in the yard. Wear more stable shoes.
Carry your cell phone in your pocket when you go out to work in the yard.
People are amazing and soooo helpful.
and
Best of all, for the third Sunday in a row, a daughter was with me at Church. Bill Calliss joined us as well. Life is good!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Could It Be?
I love my little house! I love my life! I particularly love it today. Today feels like the first day of summer. And I'm sitting here wondering why.
Could it be that I'm on the other side of side effects from a chemo treatment? Last week was beastly. Didn't get dressed all week until Thursday afternoon. I"m here on my own - and It's okay. On those very lethargic days, the last thing I want is to talk or interact with someone else - too independent, I guess. I don't answer the phone, not interested enough. I had plenty of Canada Dry ginger ale and Italian bread toast - the only thing that tastes good. And I know if things get really tough, there's a whole raft of people to call on. I will have a Pet Scan on May 30th to see if these first three treatments have changed the "increased activity" that precipitated this series of chemo.
Could it be that two weekends in a row I've had a daughter to take me to Church? Most likely, you know what that means to me.
Could it be that last night, Maureen and I attended a performance by The Second City Traveling Troop? Probably! We enjoyed them so much. Could watch them again and again. All day long, we have remembered and started laughing about something from last night. Both of us needed that fun night.
Could it be that I finally figured out how to get music from a USB thingy to my computer to my playlists? Sometime ago, I gave son-in-law, Gregg three Readers Digest LP record sets that we had for years and we couldn't play as we no longer had a turn table. He took them home and recently put them on the USB thingy and mailed it to me. It's been great listening to this wonderful old music and every once in awhile you hear the scratches from the old records. So cool!. What a great gift. When we bought those records - which I think we paid a little each month to purchase - we would play the record until it was done, turn it over and play the flip side and do the same thing with the next record. I'm sitting here listening to country music with no interruption. Who'd a thunk it all those years ago? Download and Playlist were not even words in the dictionary let alone a USB.
Could it be that I got the screened in porch washed down yesterday morning? I did! Clean floor, screens and siding. This afternoon Maureen put chairs out there and we sat there and visited. Nothing says summer like sitting on the porch.
Could it be that we bought and Maureen planted the pots on the patio and around the house? White petunias in a pot to the left of the front door - to balance the white mailbox on the right. And the other pots on the patio in varigated marigolds - her idea - very simple but looks great. White petunias in the window box and other pots by the garage. Bill - who mows and shovels snow for me - moved two big pots to the back yard. Two tomato plants in one and a cucumber vine in the other - that's my garden this year. Also, this week, Jeff, the landscaper, took out the burning bushes to the right of the garage and planted red knockout rose bushes. In a couple of years, they will be amazing. Blooms all summer. I love the pink roses around the back porch and in the corner garden.
Could it be that I know how blessed I am by Our God and the people in my life? You Betcha!!
Could it be that I'm on the other side of side effects from a chemo treatment? Last week was beastly. Didn't get dressed all week until Thursday afternoon. I"m here on my own - and It's okay. On those very lethargic days, the last thing I want is to talk or interact with someone else - too independent, I guess. I don't answer the phone, not interested enough. I had plenty of Canada Dry ginger ale and Italian bread toast - the only thing that tastes good. And I know if things get really tough, there's a whole raft of people to call on. I will have a Pet Scan on May 30th to see if these first three treatments have changed the "increased activity" that precipitated this series of chemo.
Could it be that two weekends in a row I've had a daughter to take me to Church? Most likely, you know what that means to me.
Could it be that last night, Maureen and I attended a performance by The Second City Traveling Troop? Probably! We enjoyed them so much. Could watch them again and again. All day long, we have remembered and started laughing about something from last night. Both of us needed that fun night.
Could it be that I finally figured out how to get music from a USB thingy to my computer to my playlists? Sometime ago, I gave son-in-law, Gregg three Readers Digest LP record sets that we had for years and we couldn't play as we no longer had a turn table. He took them home and recently put them on the USB thingy and mailed it to me. It's been great listening to this wonderful old music and every once in awhile you hear the scratches from the old records. So cool!. What a great gift. When we bought those records - which I think we paid a little each month to purchase - we would play the record until it was done, turn it over and play the flip side and do the same thing with the next record. I'm sitting here listening to country music with no interruption. Who'd a thunk it all those years ago? Download and Playlist were not even words in the dictionary let alone a USB.
Could it be that I got the screened in porch washed down yesterday morning? I did! Clean floor, screens and siding. This afternoon Maureen put chairs out there and we sat there and visited. Nothing says summer like sitting on the porch.
Could it be that we bought and Maureen planted the pots on the patio and around the house? White petunias in a pot to the left of the front door - to balance the white mailbox on the right. And the other pots on the patio in varigated marigolds - her idea - very simple but looks great. White petunias in the window box and other pots by the garage. Bill - who mows and shovels snow for me - moved two big pots to the back yard. Two tomato plants in one and a cucumber vine in the other - that's my garden this year. Also, this week, Jeff, the landscaper, took out the burning bushes to the right of the garage and planted red knockout rose bushes. In a couple of years, they will be amazing. Blooms all summer. I love the pink roses around the back porch and in the corner garden.
Could it be that I know how blessed I am by Our God and the people in my life? You Betcha!!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Gallimaufry
Reading a biography of one of my favorite people, Teddy Roosevelt. The author is William Roscoe Thayer, a friend of Roosevelt's and the book was written in 1919. The author gives a quote that I felt was so true for today that I wanted to share it. He writes: "We have fallen too much into the habit of imagining that only hostile critics tell the truth."
I was scanning the channels on TV and came on the John Stewart show and he was ridiculing Mitt Romney in the most 'snarky' way and I thought about what I had just read by Thayer written almost a 100 years ago. Most of the late night comedians are so liberal that they are not funny anymore. They are just as bad and mean spirited as that group on Fox TV.
I have read two other biographies on Theodore (I like the name, my grandfather Hartman's name was Theodore) Roosevelt. Manifest Destiny, can't remember the author and Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough. Both well done. So many people forget how much he did to preserve our forests and natural resources and even though the first National Park was dedicated by Lincoln, Teddy is the one who really began our National Park Service. If you've had a chance to visit one of our National Parks you can appreciate what he started.
* * * * * * * * * *
Today, of course, is Mother's Day. It's been a quiet day here today. I had a chemo treatment on Friday and so am starting to feel a little rocky and being quiet and alone is what I need. Friends and family have called to check on me, and the daughters sent or brought flowers and one daughter gave me a gift certificate to my favorite shopping place. But I have to admit my favorite 'gift' was going to Mass with one of them. Lora and Randy came down yesterday to visit both Moms - his and hers and while Randy watched the car auctions on my new TV, Lora took me to 5:00 Mass at St. Thomas. The best gift my children give me is attending Church with me. A double gift yesterday because at the end of the Service, Father Taylor had all the mothers stand and he gave us a blessing. Receiving a blessing standing next to your daughter who is receiving the same blessing is the best blessing!
* * * * * * * * * *
Our oldest grandson, Joel Vernon Benway is graduating from College this next week. I was reminiscing with his parents last night about when he was born. Lora was many days past her due date - they were living in Rockford at the time - swollen with Edema and very depressed. She wanted to see her Mommy and Daddy. Against doctors orders, Randy bundled her into the car and they drove down not even for an hour. I remember watching her 'waddle' back to the car, her face, hands and feet twice their normal size and standing there crying when they backed out of the driveway. She looked so PREGNANT. But in a few days, I was on a bus to Rockford to meet out new grandson and Vern and Leah joined me on the weekend.
He is a brilliant young man, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will do well. My best memories are racing from the kitchen sink to the wall when he was about one and a half years old - he mostly won, and him climbing up and then sitting in the maple tree in the back yard just off the porch, from about age four and older with his tool belt on and a rope in the tool belt deeply contemplating life, nature or just being four.
Of all the things he's been and done, the thing that makes me the proudest was that for the first two years of his College life, he taught grade school CCD at the local Church. Pretty impressive.
Congratulations to Joel from a proud grandparent.
I was scanning the channels on TV and came on the John Stewart show and he was ridiculing Mitt Romney in the most 'snarky' way and I thought about what I had just read by Thayer written almost a 100 years ago. Most of the late night comedians are so liberal that they are not funny anymore. They are just as bad and mean spirited as that group on Fox TV.
I have read two other biographies on Theodore (I like the name, my grandfather Hartman's name was Theodore) Roosevelt. Manifest Destiny, can't remember the author and Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough. Both well done. So many people forget how much he did to preserve our forests and natural resources and even though the first National Park was dedicated by Lincoln, Teddy is the one who really began our National Park Service. If you've had a chance to visit one of our National Parks you can appreciate what he started.
* * * * * * * * * *
Today, of course, is Mother's Day. It's been a quiet day here today. I had a chemo treatment on Friday and so am starting to feel a little rocky and being quiet and alone is what I need. Friends and family have called to check on me, and the daughters sent or brought flowers and one daughter gave me a gift certificate to my favorite shopping place. But I have to admit my favorite 'gift' was going to Mass with one of them. Lora and Randy came down yesterday to visit both Moms - his and hers and while Randy watched the car auctions on my new TV, Lora took me to 5:00 Mass at St. Thomas. The best gift my children give me is attending Church with me. A double gift yesterday because at the end of the Service, Father Taylor had all the mothers stand and he gave us a blessing. Receiving a blessing standing next to your daughter who is receiving the same blessing is the best blessing!
* * * * * * * * * *
Our oldest grandson, Joel Vernon Benway is graduating from College this next week. I was reminiscing with his parents last night about when he was born. Lora was many days past her due date - they were living in Rockford at the time - swollen with Edema and very depressed. She wanted to see her Mommy and Daddy. Against doctors orders, Randy bundled her into the car and they drove down not even for an hour. I remember watching her 'waddle' back to the car, her face, hands and feet twice their normal size and standing there crying when they backed out of the driveway. She looked so PREGNANT. But in a few days, I was on a bus to Rockford to meet out new grandson and Vern and Leah joined me on the weekend.
He is a brilliant young man, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will do well. My best memories are racing from the kitchen sink to the wall when he was about one and a half years old - he mostly won, and him climbing up and then sitting in the maple tree in the back yard just off the porch, from about age four and older with his tool belt on and a rope in the tool belt deeply contemplating life, nature or just being four.
Of all the things he's been and done, the thing that makes me the proudest was that for the first two years of his College life, he taught grade school CCD at the local Church. Pretty impressive.
Congratulations to Joel from a proud grandparent.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Traveling by Train Part 4
Judy flew back to Florida on Saturday. She sent a message to say she finally got warm. It was in the 40s and 50s in Idaho and California. The two days after she left were very nice.
April 16: Yesterday we had a get together with nephew, Mark and his family - really like his wife, Kirsten. Their twins are darling. Alissa and Ron have a huge chess set on a board in the living room and Mark is teaching Eli to play. Oh, the intensity of this little five year old as he thought about his moves. Vera has been shown the rudiments of the game but doesn't seem too interested. I think Mark gets better looking as he gets older. He brought a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne for all of us to share. Can't say I thought it tasted that good. Of course, I only had one sip, maybe if I had had a little more. Too much Asti Spumonti in my past!
Mary Lou, Lisa, Nichol and Nichol's 18 month old little boy also came. Nathaniel shows that he has Epperly genes. Nichol is expecting another baby boy in June. She is prettier than I've ever seen her.
Alissa's friend, Jan and her husband Greg were also here. Plus Lissa and Ron's four boys and several of their friends. A house full but a nice mix of people. I shared family recipes, ribs simmered in beer and then grilled; cheese potatoes made with velveeta - I haven't used velveeta since Vern died - and Lissa made a pineapple upside down cake. She also made the family pizza recipe on Saturday night. Did a good job.
Lissa and I went out to the company's Aqueduct field this morning. It is beautiful and about 20 minutes from her house. The plants are all lined up in rows, different colors. It looks like a quilt. We then passed acres of white iceberg roses, amazing!
Tuesday, April 16: Well, I'm on the move again. Heading home this time Lissa brought me to catch the train in Riverside. No station, just benches outside. The train was late but I got on in time for supper. I sat with the most interesting lady. She teaches at a college in Flagstaff. She teaches a class on how economics affect southern Africa. She works with farmers there in Africa part of the year. Very interesting! She became an activist against apartheid in 1963 - she must have been just out of school. She knows Nelson Mandela and hosted him when he visited Los Angeles some years back. So, she asked me what was my profession. I told her I had none, I was a stay at home mom who volunteered. When I got back to my cubicle, I began to think about the great work she is doing and has done and what have I accomplished. Was feeling pretty blue.
This morning I realized what I have done is raise amazing women, made a home, collected wonderful friends and have the most brilliant grandchildren. Not a bad feat!!And best of all I have had an opportunity to meet people who are making a difference in the world and appreciate them.
A little while ago we stopped in Albequerque. What a pretty city. It looks like every skyscraper matches all the others. Some adobe colored and some Siena. Even the very modern blend in. It looks like a decorator put it all together.
In 1990, when Vern retired, we took a trip west and we got to Albequerque at the time of their annual balloon festival. We just lucked into seeing it. A very good memory.
We're going up higher into the mountains to the Raton Pass. Been over it by car. This land is bleak with a scrubby looking trees. A trickle of water in arroyos. Once in a while you see a colorful complex on the horizon. It is a Casino. The Native Americans have gotten back at the palefaces by getting their money. Ah, revenge is sweet.....and profitable.
We passed through Las Vegas, New Mexico which has one of the last of the Harvey House Hotels. Very close to the tracks. Those hotels and restaurants helped build the West.
I woke up in the night, probably some place in Eastern Colorado or Nebraska and you cannot believe the stars in the sky. How great is our God and His universe.
Took a shower in the bathroom/shower combo while the train was parked at Kansas City. The combo is the type you see in travel trailers. I love K.C. Vern grew up there, brother Russ lives there now. Lots of good memories in Kansas City.
Sue and Steve had taken my car to Galesburg the night before and when I arrived on the 18th at noon, I got in and headed home. I am so glad I had this opportunity to travel this way. I doubt with the way things are going in my life, that I will do it again, but if anyone who reads this considers this form of travel, it's the best way in my estimation.
April 16: Yesterday we had a get together with nephew, Mark and his family - really like his wife, Kirsten. Their twins are darling. Alissa and Ron have a huge chess set on a board in the living room and Mark is teaching Eli to play. Oh, the intensity of this little five year old as he thought about his moves. Vera has been shown the rudiments of the game but doesn't seem too interested. I think Mark gets better looking as he gets older. He brought a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne for all of us to share. Can't say I thought it tasted that good. Of course, I only had one sip, maybe if I had had a little more. Too much Asti Spumonti in my past!
Mary Lou, Lisa, Nichol and Nichol's 18 month old little boy also came. Nathaniel shows that he has Epperly genes. Nichol is expecting another baby boy in June. She is prettier than I've ever seen her.
Alissa's friend, Jan and her husband Greg were also here. Plus Lissa and Ron's four boys and several of their friends. A house full but a nice mix of people. I shared family recipes, ribs simmered in beer and then grilled; cheese potatoes made with velveeta - I haven't used velveeta since Vern died - and Lissa made a pineapple upside down cake. She also made the family pizza recipe on Saturday night. Did a good job.
Lissa and I went out to the company's Aqueduct field this morning. It is beautiful and about 20 minutes from her house. The plants are all lined up in rows, different colors. It looks like a quilt. We then passed acres of white iceberg roses, amazing!
Tuesday, April 16: Well, I'm on the move again. Heading home this time Lissa brought me to catch the train in Riverside. No station, just benches outside. The train was late but I got on in time for supper. I sat with the most interesting lady. She teaches at a college in Flagstaff. She teaches a class on how economics affect southern Africa. She works with farmers there in Africa part of the year. Very interesting! She became an activist against apartheid in 1963 - she must have been just out of school. She knows Nelson Mandela and hosted him when he visited Los Angeles some years back. So, she asked me what was my profession. I told her I had none, I was a stay at home mom who volunteered. When I got back to my cubicle, I began to think about the great work she is doing and has done and what have I accomplished. Was feeling pretty blue.
This morning I realized what I have done is raise amazing women, made a home, collected wonderful friends and have the most brilliant grandchildren. Not a bad feat!!And best of all I have had an opportunity to meet people who are making a difference in the world and appreciate them.
A little while ago we stopped in Albequerque. What a pretty city. It looks like every skyscraper matches all the others. Some adobe colored and some Siena. Even the very modern blend in. It looks like a decorator put it all together.
In 1990, when Vern retired, we took a trip west and we got to Albequerque at the time of their annual balloon festival. We just lucked into seeing it. A very good memory.
We're going up higher into the mountains to the Raton Pass. Been over it by car. This land is bleak with a scrubby looking trees. A trickle of water in arroyos. Once in a while you see a colorful complex on the horizon. It is a Casino. The Native Americans have gotten back at the palefaces by getting their money. Ah, revenge is sweet.....and profitable.
We passed through Las Vegas, New Mexico which has one of the last of the Harvey House Hotels. Very close to the tracks. Those hotels and restaurants helped build the West.
I woke up in the night, probably some place in Eastern Colorado or Nebraska and you cannot believe the stars in the sky. How great is our God and His universe.
Took a shower in the bathroom/shower combo while the train was parked at Kansas City. The combo is the type you see in travel trailers. I love K.C. Vern grew up there, brother Russ lives there now. Lots of good memories in Kansas City.
Sue and Steve had taken my car to Galesburg the night before and when I arrived on the 18th at noon, I got in and headed home. I am so glad I had this opportunity to travel this way. I doubt with the way things are going in my life, that I will do it again, but if anyone who reads this considers this form of travel, it's the best way in my estimation.
Traveling by Train Part 3
April 11: Mary and Gregg drove us back to Spokane to pick up the train from there to Portland. The first leg of our trip down to San Diego. .
11:24 a.m.: We have been following the Columbia River for quite a long time now. We took off from Spokane right on time at 2:45 a.m. We went just a little way into the countryside and stopped. Come to find out, a freight train ahead of us had trouble and we sat there on a siding for a couple of hours We moved ahead slowly and then stopped again for another couple of hours. The long story short is that instead of having a four hour layover in Portland, we are not sure we will reach our Starlight Express down to L.A. in time. Can't worry about it, their problem not ours. Just passed a container barge in the middle of the river. Not sure it's moving. Looks like those we saw in Alaska that supplies that State everything.
9:00 p.m.: They held the Portland to LA train for twenty minutes until we got there. They told us to get on the porter's cart and go. We were concerned how we were going to spend our layover in Portland and we never made it inside the train station. One train to another.
Neither of us got much sleep last night, we couldn't figure out how to work the upper berth. We have traveled through some beautiful country today. Down the Columbia River Basin and saw a whole raft of waterfalls - Vern always loved that drive, it's almost as spectacular by train. We climbed into the Cascades where we trained among snow covered steep hills - pretty close to the edge - and snow covered pines. Just beautiful. We have gone through almost thirty tunnels today. There was a huge lake - Upper Klamath. Some of this grandeur is almost indescribable. But we also went through some bleak landscape in West Central Washington as well. Desolate but still very interesting.
This afternoon, Judy asked Lorna, our attendant, if there were any roomettes available, she would pay extra to have a decent bed. Lorna said she would ask the conductor if there was anything available. She came back about a half hour later and said the conductor told her to prepare roomette #9 for Judy at no cost. So she just left to go down there. How cool is that? Just took a sleeping pill, so hopefully it will be a quiet night.
April 13. 6:07 p.m:. We just came from Henesseys, a great bar in Vista. A glass of Smithwichs and fish and chips. Life is good.! Lissa ordered an Irish Car bomb - 4 oz of Guinness, a shot of Jamesons with a shot of Baileys on top. I didn't like it much, but I guess several of them can be pretty potent.
We arrived here a little after midnight. We changed trains at L.A. to a commuter train to Oceanside. The Los Angeles train station is unique and people watching was great. An interesting group of characters. Yesterday just seemed long. We were really tired and both were asleep within minutes.
As we traveled south we saw beautiful orchards in bloom, pink and white. Lots of fields growing vegetables and then major forests. People say California is the home of fruit and nuts and it really is. I don't think people realize how much of our fruit and vegetables are grown there.
Just past San Luis Obispo, we saw the ocean for miles. Always like to see the ocean.
This was Judy's first trip to San Diego and her first long train ride. I love traveling by train mostly because it's a leisurely way to travel. Sister Judith Ann likes to get from here to there in the shortest time possible. I believe she liked the experience but it's certainly not high on her bucket list to do again.
11:24 a.m.: We have been following the Columbia River for quite a long time now. We took off from Spokane right on time at 2:45 a.m. We went just a little way into the countryside and stopped. Come to find out, a freight train ahead of us had trouble and we sat there on a siding for a couple of hours We moved ahead slowly and then stopped again for another couple of hours. The long story short is that instead of having a four hour layover in Portland, we are not sure we will reach our Starlight Express down to L.A. in time. Can't worry about it, their problem not ours. Just passed a container barge in the middle of the river. Not sure it's moving. Looks like those we saw in Alaska that supplies that State everything.
9:00 p.m.: They held the Portland to LA train for twenty minutes until we got there. They told us to get on the porter's cart and go. We were concerned how we were going to spend our layover in Portland and we never made it inside the train station. One train to another.
Neither of us got much sleep last night, we couldn't figure out how to work the upper berth. We have traveled through some beautiful country today. Down the Columbia River Basin and saw a whole raft of waterfalls - Vern always loved that drive, it's almost as spectacular by train. We climbed into the Cascades where we trained among snow covered steep hills - pretty close to the edge - and snow covered pines. Just beautiful. We have gone through almost thirty tunnels today. There was a huge lake - Upper Klamath. Some of this grandeur is almost indescribable. But we also went through some bleak landscape in West Central Washington as well. Desolate but still very interesting.
This afternoon, Judy asked Lorna, our attendant, if there were any roomettes available, she would pay extra to have a decent bed. Lorna said she would ask the conductor if there was anything available. She came back about a half hour later and said the conductor told her to prepare roomette #9 for Judy at no cost. So she just left to go down there. How cool is that? Just took a sleeping pill, so hopefully it will be a quiet night.
April 13. 6:07 p.m:. We just came from Henesseys, a great bar in Vista. A glass of Smithwichs and fish and chips. Life is good.! Lissa ordered an Irish Car bomb - 4 oz of Guinness, a shot of Jamesons with a shot of Baileys on top. I didn't like it much, but I guess several of them can be pretty potent.
We arrived here a little after midnight. We changed trains at L.A. to a commuter train to Oceanside. The Los Angeles train station is unique and people watching was great. An interesting group of characters. Yesterday just seemed long. We were really tired and both were asleep within minutes.
As we traveled south we saw beautiful orchards in bloom, pink and white. Lots of fields growing vegetables and then major forests. People say California is the home of fruit and nuts and it really is. I don't think people realize how much of our fruit and vegetables are grown there.
Just past San Luis Obispo, we saw the ocean for miles. Always like to see the ocean.
This was Judy's first trip to San Diego and her first long train ride. I love traveling by train mostly because it's a leisurely way to travel. Sister Judith Ann likes to get from here to there in the shortest time possible. I believe she liked the experience but it's certainly not high on her bucket list to do again.
Traveling by Train Part 2
April 6: 4:30 p.m Mountain Time. Fewer and fewer farms in this part of the country. Flat, barren but still a certain beauty. We came through Wolf Point, Montana. Some years back when Maureen was digging for dinosaurs down at Ekalaka, we got off at Wolf Point, rented a car - I think it may be the only rental car in town at that time Vern had rented it from a Ford dealership. We took the drive south to the dig. Ekalaka is a very small town but had a great museum.
We drove out to the dig site, Maureen's friend, Helmut driving. He drove so fast over a rough and rugged track, Vern who felt responsible for the rental car was beside himself. I had to grab his knee several times to keep him from saying something. (Vern drove on the way back) They were digging for Homer Now on display at the Museum in Rockford. They found his collar the day we were there. The dig site was in a huge valley, surrounded by high cliffs. Maureen pointed out that the different striations of rock, all different colors that were different eras from millions of years ago. So cool!
The next morning, we got up early to head back to Wolf Point. Eastern Montana is quite beautiful. Rolling hills, lovely streams. On the way south, we had spotted an interesting outcropping of rocks Maureen had told us that that was Medicine Rock, a spiritual place for Sitting Bull and other Native Americans. We drove in. Medicine Rock is a State Park. There are no waste receptacles, what you take in, you take out. We got out of the car, there was a gaggle of wild turkeys just behind the rocks We stopped there in the early morning air and both of us said almost simultaneously, "I feel the presence of God in this place." It was a good feeling and we could understand how it could be a holy place for peoples for all these centuries. Back to Wolf Point and onto the train and the rest of our journey. I think that was the trip where Vern and I both fell in love with train travel.
8 p.m.; We're in the mountains now, have been for about an hour. All snow covered and it's been snowing off and on. We've gone across some pretty high trestles over a gully with a very clear fast moving stream. Beautiful! Reminded me of Switzerland. Lots of aspens and pines. I sat at dinner with a couple from Australia. This has been an international group on board. We are now at West Glacier. Almost dark, but twilight in the mountains is spectacular.
Mother once said that her Uncle Will told her that when times are good, trains are long. In the Depression, trains were short. I'm guessing we have long trains today because there are fewer runs.
Some thought: I still like traveling this way. Love having a bedroom. This may sound gross, but it's pretty fine to sit on the toilet with the door open, traveling along watching the landscape go by. When we trained the last time, the meals were better. A more extensive menu. No lamb chops this time. Ice cream was served in a dish with a choice of sundae sauce. This time it was a Haagen Das frozen cup put on the table. No one got on from a local Historical Society to talk about the area, maybe because it's Easter week. Missed that.
April 7: Grandson, Stephen picked me up in Spokane and we drove to Couer d'Alene. The train got into the station at 1:45 a.m.
Judy had flown in to Spokane on Friday and went to the Cowboy Ball with Mary, Gregg and friends. This was her first time to Couer d'Alene and she thought it was beautiful. The Larson family lives on a hill overlooking a lake. They are pretty close to Canada so it is very picturesque. Of course, while I was there Lora called to tell me that the police had called her to report the robbery.
One day we drove into Spokane to visit Gonzaga University. The college uses Bing Crosby's boyhood home as a museum and the upstairs for offices. The Student Center houses memorabilia and awards including his Academy Award for 'Going My Way'.
We had lunch at a wonderful restaurant overlooking the falls in Spokane. Early Spring the falls were running wild. We took pictures on my cell phone, if I could figure out how to get them off, I'd add them to the blog. Something new in the IT world to learn, I guess
We drove out to the dig site, Maureen's friend, Helmut driving. He drove so fast over a rough and rugged track, Vern who felt responsible for the rental car was beside himself. I had to grab his knee several times to keep him from saying something. (Vern drove on the way back) They were digging for Homer Now on display at the Museum in Rockford. They found his collar the day we were there. The dig site was in a huge valley, surrounded by high cliffs. Maureen pointed out that the different striations of rock, all different colors that were different eras from millions of years ago. So cool!
The next morning, we got up early to head back to Wolf Point. Eastern Montana is quite beautiful. Rolling hills, lovely streams. On the way south, we had spotted an interesting outcropping of rocks Maureen had told us that that was Medicine Rock, a spiritual place for Sitting Bull and other Native Americans. We drove in. Medicine Rock is a State Park. There are no waste receptacles, what you take in, you take out. We got out of the car, there was a gaggle of wild turkeys just behind the rocks We stopped there in the early morning air and both of us said almost simultaneously, "I feel the presence of God in this place." It was a good feeling and we could understand how it could be a holy place for peoples for all these centuries. Back to Wolf Point and onto the train and the rest of our journey. I think that was the trip where Vern and I both fell in love with train travel.
8 p.m.; We're in the mountains now, have been for about an hour. All snow covered and it's been snowing off and on. We've gone across some pretty high trestles over a gully with a very clear fast moving stream. Beautiful! Reminded me of Switzerland. Lots of aspens and pines. I sat at dinner with a couple from Australia. This has been an international group on board. We are now at West Glacier. Almost dark, but twilight in the mountains is spectacular.
Mother once said that her Uncle Will told her that when times are good, trains are long. In the Depression, trains were short. I'm guessing we have long trains today because there are fewer runs.
Some thought: I still like traveling this way. Love having a bedroom. This may sound gross, but it's pretty fine to sit on the toilet with the door open, traveling along watching the landscape go by. When we trained the last time, the meals were better. A more extensive menu. No lamb chops this time. Ice cream was served in a dish with a choice of sundae sauce. This time it was a Haagen Das frozen cup put on the table. No one got on from a local Historical Society to talk about the area, maybe because it's Easter week. Missed that.
April 7: Grandson, Stephen picked me up in Spokane and we drove to Couer d'Alene. The train got into the station at 1:45 a.m.
Judy had flown in to Spokane on Friday and went to the Cowboy Ball with Mary, Gregg and friends. This was her first time to Couer d'Alene and she thought it was beautiful. The Larson family lives on a hill overlooking a lake. They are pretty close to Canada so it is very picturesque. Of course, while I was there Lora called to tell me that the police had called her to report the robbery.
One day we drove into Spokane to visit Gonzaga University. The college uses Bing Crosby's boyhood home as a museum and the upstairs for offices. The Student Center houses memorabilia and awards including his Academy Award for 'Going My Way'.
We had lunch at a wonderful restaurant overlooking the falls in Spokane. Early Spring the falls were running wild. We took pictures on my cell phone, if I could figure out how to get them off, I'd add them to the blog. Something new in the IT world to learn, I guess
Traveling by Train Part 1
As many of you know, I recently traveled West by train. I kept notes along the way and decided to share some of what I saw and thought.
April 5: Sue Sepich brought me from Washington to Bloomington. We got lost in Bloomington, the train station is in Normal. A quiet ride to Chicago. Dwight, Il has a windmill in the middle of town. What's that about?
Traveling by train gives you a different perspective. Instead of seeing pretty homes, on the train you see the backyards. Wood piles, garbage cans, trash, an occasional above ground pool - is there anything more sad looking than a swimming pool in Illinois in winter?
Joliet had a huge factory complex rusting and abandoned. Loading docks with scrub trees growing where trucks once backed in Windows broken, just desolate looking. Imagine how excited employees were years ago when the company expanded - it was obvious that the plant had been added on - did they think the jobs would last forever?
Just pass the plant was Joliet Penitentuary. An imposing front facade. Built of limestone. Built to intimidate prisoners entering to serve their sentence? Limestone walls topped by barbed wire. Is it still open? The exterior looks pretty unkempt.
As we got closer to Chicago, graffiti started appearing on empty buildings, buildings still in use, bridges, overpasses and viaducts. Do graffiti artist go to class to learn that broad printing style? Some of it was amazing with beautiful pictures. We just passed the Royal Dragon Fortune Cookie Factory.
When the train stopped, we were south of Jackson Blvd. Spent my waiting time in the Metropolitan lounge. There were a lot of people there. The Cub game was on. It was opening day.
Rode a cart to the train to Spokane - a three block walk. My bedroom is very nice. The toilet/shower is a tight squeeze for a fat lady, but it's doable. Champagne and mints to greet us Plugged in my I-Pad and played my 'favorites' playlist. So I just sat there, listening to music, feet up, enjoying the scenery. The only way to travel.
Ate dinner with a Chinese family. The parents work in cancer research at the University of Minnesota. Their seven year old boy was very precosius. They are expecting a girl in June. The big brother said she would be his pet. He really wanted a dog though. The wife - who spoke English the best - said they were contemplating returning to China. That that country was beginning to do more research. My first thought what would they do with two children when that country only allows one child?
Some houses here in LaCrosse are very, very close to the tracks. We should be crossing the Mississippi pretty soon. Minnesota, the third State today.
April 6 - Good Friday. It's a little after five and the train has stopped. We must be waiting for a freight train to pass by. Amtrak uses other Railroads tracks, so freight trains always have the right of way. I think we are probably in North Dakota. We are following an Interstate, not sure which one. I slept good, The bed is comfortable.
11:30 a.m. We just passed Williston, N.D. The center of fracking. Fracking is a new way of getting oil out of the ground. This is the center of the oil boom. At the station there were a lot of people especially young men - 18 and up. We've passed several 'man camps'. The camps are a series of FEMA trailers. When this all started people were camping in tents so the trailers were brought in for people to survive the cold. This fracking is going all the way up to Canada. My next door bedroom person, Flora - she's in D, I'm in E - knows quite a bit about this area. She has friends living in the area. Drilling Companies have bought the mineral rights, so people are getting rich. So in this desolate hilly area where mostly you see fields of wheat stubble, occasionally you see a flame in the distance where an oil well is burning off waste.
1:00 p.m. We're now about mid Montana and it's snowing! This is the first snow I've see since January when we had a very light snow at home. I believe this may be a blizzard. Very little visability. I was hoping to see some antelope but I either missed them or can't see them for snow.
April 5: Sue Sepich brought me from Washington to Bloomington. We got lost in Bloomington, the train station is in Normal. A quiet ride to Chicago. Dwight, Il has a windmill in the middle of town. What's that about?
Traveling by train gives you a different perspective. Instead of seeing pretty homes, on the train you see the backyards. Wood piles, garbage cans, trash, an occasional above ground pool - is there anything more sad looking than a swimming pool in Illinois in winter?
Joliet had a huge factory complex rusting and abandoned. Loading docks with scrub trees growing where trucks once backed in Windows broken, just desolate looking. Imagine how excited employees were years ago when the company expanded - it was obvious that the plant had been added on - did they think the jobs would last forever?
Just pass the plant was Joliet Penitentuary. An imposing front facade. Built of limestone. Built to intimidate prisoners entering to serve their sentence? Limestone walls topped by barbed wire. Is it still open? The exterior looks pretty unkempt.
As we got closer to Chicago, graffiti started appearing on empty buildings, buildings still in use, bridges, overpasses and viaducts. Do graffiti artist go to class to learn that broad printing style? Some of it was amazing with beautiful pictures. We just passed the Royal Dragon Fortune Cookie Factory.
When the train stopped, we were south of Jackson Blvd. Spent my waiting time in the Metropolitan lounge. There were a lot of people there. The Cub game was on. It was opening day.
Rode a cart to the train to Spokane - a three block walk. My bedroom is very nice. The toilet/shower is a tight squeeze for a fat lady, but it's doable. Champagne and mints to greet us Plugged in my I-Pad and played my 'favorites' playlist. So I just sat there, listening to music, feet up, enjoying the scenery. The only way to travel.
Ate dinner with a Chinese family. The parents work in cancer research at the University of Minnesota. Their seven year old boy was very precosius. They are expecting a girl in June. The big brother said she would be his pet. He really wanted a dog though. The wife - who spoke English the best - said they were contemplating returning to China. That that country was beginning to do more research. My first thought what would they do with two children when that country only allows one child?
Some houses here in LaCrosse are very, very close to the tracks. We should be crossing the Mississippi pretty soon. Minnesota, the third State today.
April 6 - Good Friday. It's a little after five and the train has stopped. We must be waiting for a freight train to pass by. Amtrak uses other Railroads tracks, so freight trains always have the right of way. I think we are probably in North Dakota. We are following an Interstate, not sure which one. I slept good, The bed is comfortable.
11:30 a.m. We just passed Williston, N.D. The center of fracking. Fracking is a new way of getting oil out of the ground. This is the center of the oil boom. At the station there were a lot of people especially young men - 18 and up. We've passed several 'man camps'. The camps are a series of FEMA trailers. When this all started people were camping in tents so the trailers were brought in for people to survive the cold. This fracking is going all the way up to Canada. My next door bedroom person, Flora - she's in D, I'm in E - knows quite a bit about this area. She has friends living in the area. Drilling Companies have bought the mineral rights, so people are getting rich. So in this desolate hilly area where mostly you see fields of wheat stubble, occasionally you see a flame in the distance where an oil well is burning off waste.
1:00 p.m. We're now about mid Montana and it's snowing! This is the first snow I've see since January when we had a very light snow at home. I believe this may be a blizzard. Very little visability. I was hoping to see some antelope but I either missed them or can't see them for snow.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Just Sayin'....
Like most of you I get quotes, poems and sayings via e-mail and facebook. Here are some I've received lately that I wanted to share.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late are more often jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Working for God on earth does not pay much but His retirement plan is out of this world.
* * * * * * * *
From niece, Claudia:
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: "My dear girl, the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all try to understand what I'm going through. If after we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say: 'you said the same thing a minute ago', Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.
When I don't want to take a bath, don't be mad and don't embarrass me. Remember when I had to keep after your making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?
When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don't look at me that way... Remember, honey, I patiently taught you your numbers and your letters and how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life's issues every day...
The day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we're talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can't, don't be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.
And when my old, tired legs don't let me move so quickly as before, give me your hand the same way I offered mine to you when you first walked.
When those days come, don't feel sad... just be with me and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I'll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I've always had for you, I just want to say, I love you...my darling daughter".
* * * * * * * *
From Sharon Durkee:
I do not define myself by how many roadblocks have appeared in my path.
I define myself by the courage I've found to forge new roads.
I do not define myself by how many disappointments I've had.
I define myself by the forgiveness and the faith I have found to begin again.
I do not define myself by how long a relationship lasted.
I define myself by how much I have loved, and been willing to love again.
I do not define myself by how many times I have been knocked down.
I define myself by how many times I have struggled to my feet.
I am not my pain.
I am not my past.
I am that which has emerged from the fire.
* * * * * * * *
...And lastly my new favorite: I intend to be the kind of old lady that people won't think "What a sweet old lady".....but "Oh crap! What's she up to now?"
From Vern's cousin, Virginia Frye:
The Positive Side of Life:
Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late are more often jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Working for God on earth does not pay much but His retirement plan is out of this world.
* * * * * * * *
From niece, Claudia:
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: "My dear girl, the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all try to understand what I'm going through. If after we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say: 'you said the same thing a minute ago', Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.
When I don't want to take a bath, don't be mad and don't embarrass me. Remember when I had to keep after your making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?
When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don't look at me that way... Remember, honey, I patiently taught you your numbers and your letters and how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life's issues every day...
The day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we're talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can't, don't be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.
And when my old, tired legs don't let me move so quickly as before, give me your hand the same way I offered mine to you when you first walked.
When those days come, don't feel sad... just be with me and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I'll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I've always had for you, I just want to say, I love you...my darling daughter".
* * * * * * * *
From Sharon Durkee:
I do not define myself by how many roadblocks have appeared in my path.
I define myself by the courage I've found to forge new roads.
I do not define myself by how many disappointments I've had.
I define myself by the forgiveness and the faith I have found to begin again.
I do not define myself by how long a relationship lasted.
I define myself by how much I have loved, and been willing to love again.
I do not define myself by how many times I have been knocked down.
I define myself by how many times I have struggled to my feet.
I am not my pain.
I am not my past.
I am that which has emerged from the fire.
* * * * * * * *
...And lastly my new favorite: I intend to be the kind of old lady that people won't think "What a sweet old lady".....but "Oh crap! What's she up to now?"
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