Audrie Loves Daddy

Yesterday was our every other week visit to see Myk. Last visit Audrie was practicing her ignoring skills. This time she didn't do that so much. She kissed him and played and gave him cuddles. With the last cuddle she said "Iloveyou". We all looked at each other amazed. Now she doesn't even call me Nana and here she is professing love to Myk. Hmmmph. He looks at me and says "Well I am the daddy." That is true and it is the only way she gives him the firsts. So I really am happy about it, it just knocked us for a loop.
We are still waiting to see if he spends all his time at McNeil Island or if he will get transferred to Larch. A guard told Myk they intend on having McNeil empty by the first of the year.

It's a Grand Idea

So Tanya has decided to go into business with a friend. She also decided to not tell anyone because she didn't want anyone telling her she was stupid or not to do it. That is called both feet in the fire without a back-up plan. I don't have too many details because Tanya isn't talking and probably doesn't have a lot of details. My understanding is they are renting a storefront in Hazel Dell and intend to sell handcraft items and items to make said crafts. Like bracelets and anklets. They also want to have a place to rent out space for craft parties. It almost sounds like that is as far as it is thought through and they are working with that.
So I was talking about it at work and my friend Nate said I have to give her advice. I have to step in and tell her some things. Well she did not ask for advice. And there is only a tad bit of advice I could give on starting her own business. It is not something I have ever done. I already know that I would never do that. I like my paycheck job and have the rest of my time be my time. Since she definitely wants to do it all on her own then I think she should.
I am all for it. I think it is a grand idea. It is going to be the biggest learning experience in her lifetime. I love growth and this will make her grow. I think it is going to cost her a lot in time, money and relationships. I hope it works, but I can see many downfalls at this time. I hope she sees them and has a plan to get past and over them. So if she had asked I would have just pointed out what I see so that she could take appropriate steps to make it better. I don't think she is stupid.....just naive and that is all right. She also has a very generous heart and it could hamper her here. It is all a learning curve. So good luck Tanya....I wouldn't have told you not to do it no matter what you think and having your friend tell you to stand your ground was moot.

Cousins

So my friend Jodi had posted on facebook a thing about having great cousins and how they are your first friends and then forever friends. Well my first friend was Gubby, not a cousin. But that said I do have some good cousins. So Brenda, who is my double second cousin, and I had a conversation about cousins. My list of cousins that I count is very small, while hers is rather large. From that side of the family I count three first cousins by blood, two first cousins by adoption, two first cousins once removed, and seven double second cousins. There are more than that obviously, but those are the ones who matter to me. Brenda has a whole slug of first cousins who would be my double second cousins, but I didn't know most of them. I count the ones I know. I count the ones that matter. Well come to find out Brenda has some that she doesn't count either. What would be interesting is if we discount the same ones or not. We may have to have another conversation some day about the ones who aren't counted for reasons other than I don't know them.

Heater problem

The other day as we were driving to Fred Meyers I noticed that the window didn't want to defrost. Thought that was weird. Finally touched one of the spots that weren't going away and realized there was a film there. By the time we got to FM the window was pretty foggy. Wiped it off before we left, turned the car on and woof it fogged right back up. Managed to get enough defrosted to get home. Once home I played with it a tad. Turned the heat up and I had a car full of steam. Pat said probably heater core.

So me being me and assuming the dealer would be the most expensive I went to the local guy and asked. Yup it sounded like the heater core. So I brought the car to them for a quick look-see. On the way the mist was coming in even without the heater on. They agreed it was the heater core but couldn't get the car in last week. Oh and it was 8.5 hours of labor the first day and then they said they had researched and it was actually ten hours of labor. So I am looking at a $1000 to get it fixed. Damn. Took the car home and went about my business. When I returned home I had a big puddle of water underneath my car. Hmmm guess it went out the rest of the way.

I decided to call Rasmussen just to see what they would charge, expecting a lot more. The lady quoted me $500. I'm like whoa. Okay so then I ask how do I get the car there as it is now leaking. She agreed I should not attempt to drive it the 35 miles over there. Well I have Mini Roadside Assistance for four years and it doesn't matter what kind of mileage I had put on the car. So it was a free tow to Rasmussen. I didn't know that, but I like it.

So the car went on Friday. Niko called me with the news that it is the heater core. Turns out they don't have one in stock and it has to come from California. Okay that is two days. Then he tells me the sealant package with the o-rings is nowhere in the US and has to come from Germany. That will take at least a week, maybe more since customs is now concerned with those bombs that tried to come into the country. So maybe week after this week I will get my car back and hey it is only $450. I like that.

Really makes me wonder about the local guys. Maybe they just didn't want to do a heater core. I've heard tell they are a pain in the butt. They don't seem to mind at Rasmussen and they deal with Minis all the time so I feel confident that my car will come back like it went in as far as the dash goes.

McNeil Island

I have now visited my third prison. Each one has been different. To get to McNeil Island you check in at the mental hospital in Steilacoom and then ride a bus to the dock. Then it is on a ferry over to the island. Truly is an island.
Anyway Myk should be there until Mar. 9. So it should be my last prison. I have my fingers crossed.
Dave went with Audrie and I this time. The ferry ride was smooth, thank goodness. Audrie made friends on the ferry. Then at visitation she mostly ignored Daddy. He didn't get his feelings hurt too much. She was just in a mood. He did feed her a little and played in the play area with her.
Myk still looks good and is still kicking himself for that last choice that put him back there. Maybe this time he learns and if not he'll do it again. What can I say?

Myk's Brithday

So today was Myk's twenty-first birthday. Seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home as a new born. A lot of time has passed since then. A lot of bridges we have crossed. I'm glad that he made it to see adulthood. There were times when I wasn't too sure he would. And it always broke my heart.

Cats

Marseilles and Mittens seem to think we laid this rug down just for their enjoyment. They spend a lot of time lifting it up and playing under it. Max gets in on it too, just not this time when I was taking pictures.

Mowing Jeannie's

Jeannie's yard needed one more mowing for the end of the season. Dave didn't want Audrie duty so he opted to start mowing. In his hour and a half he got stuck, mowed her new garden hose, and broke a belt. Then it was my turn. I only mowed for about 45 minutes before I needed to finish supper. The first thing I do is get stuck. It almost feels like we weren't suppose to mow today. Larry, the other neighbor came over and picked the mower up like he always does when I get stuck. Got to like having a neighbor like that. Glad he was home. Tomorrow we must get it finished because the rain is again coming.