Nate

I thought that today I would change my name to Nate. That student who didn't like me being Nathan was almost madder at Nate. He could not understand why I didn't just use my real name. And I think he got mad. I think tomorrow I will be N8. I'm bad. I know. I might tell him my name is Natalie and that might make him feel better.

Rush Stories

Danny tells me this morning that they were talking about me. I had made a comment yesterday about how girls who dress like boys bother me. I don't know why and not all girls dressing like boys does. Just the ones who dress in the latest hoodlum fashion. They don't look like boys. They look like girls who think they look like boys. Anyway, after my comment I went home. So he and Amanda talked about how normally I am really easy going and have a let live attitude. So my comment had kind of thrown them.
Today I made a comment about a kid who occasionally works with us. I said I thought he was gay and didn't know it yet. Danny says he loves listening to me talk because I come up with the funniest stuff. I was also told I come up with random things by Spencer. Hehe. I told Spencer that he can just wait until he knows me better or until I know him better if he thinks I am being random now.
Jerry was in again today getting more books for Carley. I got another hug. I keep thinking about him and his wife Connie singing at my wedding. Damn I wish someone hadn't taken the wedding tape so we could hear it again. They were so lovely.
Some of the people are getting a little cranky as the week is going along. Mostly the ones getting tickets in the parking lot. Hmmmm. We get to hear them complain since the school security is right next to the bookstore.
By the way. My name is Nathan. I am Nathan all week. I am Nathan just about every rush week. Or I am Rich. Or I am no name. I don't particularly like people knowing who I am and talking to me like they know me. So I just don't use a real name tag. Seems to bother some people. One guy this week told me I could change my tag since the paper just slides in and out. It seemed to really bother him. I'm not sure why. Today he commented that I was still Nathan. I told him I would be all week. Kind of left him speechless. For some reason my co-workers seem to get a really big kick out of explaining my name tag to people.

A Best Thing

The absolute best thing that happened today was seeing Jerry. He had come in to buy books for Carly. I haven't seen him since Elizabeth quit riding horses. He hadn't been home when I took Audrie out to meet their horse. I think he was as happy to see me as I was to see him. That is just a good feeling. And I like it.

Fall Rush Begins

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/sep/26/nearly-15000-enroll-clark-college-opens/

That line they talk about to get into the bookstore started at 9:30 a.m. and was still going when I left today. We've never had that happen like that before. Long lines and sometimes lines to get in, but not a continuous line outside for hours. What the article doesn't say is that everyone was polite and patient while in those lines. I had a great time being line leader and letting people in. Been awhile since that has happened.

Family Visits

We had a surprise visitor this week. Uncle Norman was up from CA for his 60th hs reunion. He was just in time for the final dismantling of Grandma's house. Kind of sad, but an interesting project. Betty opted to have it decommissioned, which means it was torn apart and all the usable pieces salvaged.

Norman was a social butterfly this trip. We managed to connect with him one morning and two short afternoons. He looks good, but says he is slowing down. Aren't we all?

Another Saturday at Farmer's Market

Busy Week Again

So Thursday was our routine Elizabeth day. This time we ventured over to Washington Square and met up with Brendan. We bummed around the mall until he got off work. We found an apple store. Got lotion at The Body Shop. We smelled like lemons. Poked in the kitchen store and Pottery Barn Kids. Spent no money there. After Brendan got off work we went out for dinner with him to a Chinese buffet. Had a nice visit. Got Elizabeth home just in time for bed.
Tonight we went out for dinner with Jacob and Amanda. Elizabeth hinted that she wanted to come with so we invited her along. Had Thai at a place off Padden. Not as good as Thai Lotus, but all right for what it was. I think maybe Dave and I will stick to BG Thai places. Audrie met Amanda's charge (she is a nanny now) and they hit it off.
We managed to make it up to the lake for star-gazing. Unfortunately for us it clouded up some and it was no better than watching them from our deck. I think Audrie got a kick out of walking around in the dark though.
Myk had another probation violation that caught up with him. So he is spending some time in the county hilton again. I was amused and annoyed how everyone assumed I had turned him in. He is the one with the warrent and not taking care of his business. And just because they came and arrested him does not mean that I turned him in. And Myk and Elizabeth were the only ones who actually asked me if I did it. Everyone else just talked about it as if it was a sure thing. I can't help it if he has a probation officer who keeps tabs on him. So for the record, I did not talk to either his PO or the cops. And it all would be a moot point if he was doing what he was suppose to be doing. It really doesn't matter who said anything to anyone because it would not be happening if he was walking a straight path. That said I am not upset that they found him today. He made choices and these are the consequences of it.

The End

A house used to stand here. All broken down now. The end.

My Blog

Again I need to say it. This is my blog. What I say here is up to me as long as I am not libelous. I don't intend on hurting feelings, but I can see where it can happen. I post what I feel and what I feel like posting. Anyone can disagree with my opinions and are free to leave comments. I am free to remove them if I don't like them. It's my blog. And everything that I post is not always about who you may think it is.

Game Night

Since we didn't camp Saturday night we turned it into a game night. We played a good game of scrabble first. Amazingly Elizabeth beat us. Wonder if she would have if we wouldn't have helped her. Hmmm. Then we played Yahtzee. I thought I had that game won when my first roll put me with a yahtzee. No such luck. Again Elizabeth ruled the game.

The little girls spent their time drawing and rolling dice for us. It was a nice quiet evening with us paying lots of attention to our girls. They needed that.

Camping With the Girls

(Disclaimer: All photos are mine and I get cranky when someone harvests them and puts them on their facebook page as theirs. Ask; It is the polite thing to do.)
We went camping with all three grandgirls Friday night. Dave went up early and got camp set up. Elizabeth and Adrianna couldn't come until after Elizabeth got out of school. Mom and Pat came and dined with us. We had camp stew that Papa added a tad too much pepper to. The girls had fun roasting marshmallows. Minnie did not know what to make of camping. She had to be leashed the whole time and is not used to that. She did okay though.

We heard a great number of coyotes howl in the middle of the night. That was cool. They did it again a couple hours later, but not as many. We awoke to rain and decided to be fair weather campers and came home. Dave is now bbqing the burgers we would have had at camp tonight. It's all good.

Simple Pleasures

I love the simplicity of sitting outside watching the moon and stars. We have enjoyed counting the airplanes and the satellites. Listening to the barn owls screech it just pleasant. I am so joyful to be a person who can sit in nature and be calmed, inspired, and happy. It is just simple pleasures that make up a great life.

Just an Ordinary Day

I worked my shift spending the whole thing on one pallet. At least when I left it was almost all done.
Came home to cuddles and naps. After that Audrie and I went grocery shopping. Totally forgot what we needed. Did manage to get some stuff for camping. Came home, put the few groceries away and then went to FM. Got Audrie some new shoes and some new clothes.
Audrie also got her first big girl haircut today. Papa needed his done so had hers done at the same time. She didn't cry or anything. Just wondered what that lady was doing to her hair.
After bath time we went outside to look at stars and listen to owls. What are we going to do when the rainy season starts?
All in all, just an ordinary day. I like it.

Girls' Outing

Elizabeth and Adrianna came and spent the night. Elizabeth made us pizzas for dinner. She used french bread dough. They tasted delicious. Definitely a nice change.

Today we went to the zoo. It was Nana, Papa and all three grandgirls. Audrie was old enough this year to really pay attention to the animals. We saw hippos out of the water. Most of the cats were awake. A polar bear danced for us. Audrie loved the seals (last year they were the only thing she really liked). Adrianna said she liked the hippos and the monkeys. It was very nice and we were glad we went early to avoid the crowds and the heat.

After we were home the little girls played in the pool. That was grand until Audrie got her first bee sting. Took the winds right out of her sails.

Elizabeth Day on Hawthorne

Elizabeth and I needed a new place to venture on our Elizabeth day. We knew we wanted to go to Portland as we really like it. So I asked Jacob for suggestions and the first place out of his mouth was Hawthorne in the 30 blocks. There is a boutique goodwill there and Powell's has a home store as well as lots of funky little shops and places to eat.
I had my directions all memorized. And the first thing I do is take the wrong exit. I couldn't get back over once I was in the wrong lane. That put me on I-84 with the rest of rush hour traffic. We took the first exit which was 33rd. I thought cool. I will just follow 33rd down to Hawthorne. Good intention that didn't work out. 33rd isn't just a nice straight shot. So we toured a beautiful neighborhood. Finally stopped at a Fred Meyer that was out of the way and called Jacob. His suggestion was to get back on 84 and go back to I-5 and take the right exit. Well 84 was plugged so we just kept driving around. Found it and it was the greatest place.
The boutique goodwill was nice, but a little too spendy on some things. They had a book for $16.99 that I got at Powell's for $4. Now it was hardback at goodwill and paperback at Powell's, but we are talking a book that is almost 20 years old.
We poked in some really cool little shops. That is when Elizabeth decided that instead of feather hair extensions she would rather have just a hair clip with feathers. We found exactly what she wanted in some funky used clothes store. We hit Powell's which has two stores down there. A normal one and the home store. I managed to find five books for myself and Elizabeth found a book on Hindu deities that she wanted. She informed me a few months ago that she doesn't really like to read anymore. Maybe not storybooks, but she does still read. Hence the deity book.
Then it was time to eat. We ate at Chopsticks. It had nice ambiance and Elizabeth said her orange chicken was really good. I had Pad Thai and it was nothing compared to Thai Lotus (I really need to find some good Pad Thai locally). Anyway we both used our chopsticks. I did better left handed, but quickly gave up.
So we had a fantastic Elizabeth day. It was good fun, good company, good food and good bonding for Elizabeth and I. We needed it since we haven't had an Elizabeth day since July.
Thanks for the suggestion Jacob. It was the cat's meow.

Blue

Oh that Doug. Again he is trying to motivate me without knowing that he is doing so. He texted me last night about painting. Oh boy. So I have intended to paint one wall of the hall bathroom for over a year now. I bought the paint over a year ago. Now it feels like it must be time to do it. The change is now I think I want to do the one wall plus the area around the tub. Should look cool when it is done. Means new rugs though as I have green rugs and blue paint.
My to do list is so long that I don't think I will ever get it done. I might be happy if I can get that painting done.
Just for today I am breathing and contemplating one project. Hoping that makes the list less overwhelming.

Odds and Ends

Waiting for an airplane.

"I want to be like you."

New skills at the playground. I can go up a ladder type steps.

Someday I'll be able to ride this by myself.

Josh's Barkdust

Josh was wanting barkdust so the weeding of the flowerbeds would not be as much work. I don't know how long he wanted it, but when I heard about it I bought him some. Audrie and I got up early and headed to Northfork Nursery and picked up a yard of dark hemlock. Josh said he preferred the dark stuff, but would be happy with the red fir. There is only a $5 price difference between the two, so he got what he wanted. Took it to their house. Josh had the truck unloaded in about 15 minutes.

Josh still has one section left to do, but what is done looks fantastic.

Cool Things

One of the coolest things happened while we were in Minnesota. We were on the farm and there are a lot more dragonflies there than here at home. But one evening there seemed to be a growing number and a bigger growing number. I realized they were swarming. It was rather cool. The little girls played in them after they realized they weren't going to get hurt.

So I did a tad bit of research. They only swarm when there is a great food source. We didn't see the food source, but obviously it had to be there. You may see this only once or twice in a lifetime. So we were lucky to experience it.

A Perfect Evening

My mom came over for dinner. After she left, Audrie and I spent about an hour just sitting outside watching the moon move, looking at stars as they appeared, seeing airplanes cross the sky, listening to barn owls screech and geese honk. It was a perfect evening and I got lots of kisses on my cheeks. Must be her new thing. :)

Oddness

I wonder how come I can't blog from my ipad. Hmmm. Bet someone somewhere knows.

Just for Today

I am going to try really hard not to worry about my friends and family members who are trying to fill the hole in their lives with material objects, alcohol, drugs, drunken friends, friends out for what they can get, and abusive boyfriends. And let me tell you that is harder than it sounds.

I was watching "Men of a Certain Age" this week and one of the characters has a gambling addiction. When his friends call him on it he goes into a tirade of "I am a grown-up and can do what I want". That could have came straight from my life. We are all grown-ups, but we don't go around saying that to justify our choices. When we do it means there is something wrong with our choices.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference".