Do you miss seeing these sunsets?

Do you miss seeing these sunsets?
Originally uploaded by arlal.

Summer Survival

This is what my garage looks like this morning. Preparation for company means I go to the wholesale store and buy cases of beverages in plastic and glass bottles. I get one blue recycling bin to fill with these so maybe I have weeks to get rid of bottles unless my neighbors give me some of their bin room. Do you remember our first trip to Europe in the early 90’s when bottled water was so unique to us? I am going back to tap water one of these days soon.

Peyton and Walker came for their summer visit. Their mom says they like to stay home now so it was a special treat for them to make the trip to Spokane. Maybe it will be an annual event. Their mom has everything on a schedule and organized so you know the visit here did not fit that plan. Peyton didn’t like the size of his porta crib and Walker got a slight earache. Other than that the three days went well.

I gave my mom a note with the babies’ names and ages along with the parents’ occupations. That helped keep the conversation moving so we didn’t have to hear, “What are their names?” “How old are they now?” too many times.

Yesterday Fairchild Air Force Base had the Thunderbirds visit. Lucas loved seeing the weapon displays and is pleased with his camouflaged look provided by survival school airmen.

Have you survived your house guests?

Claire Zulkey

Last night I followed your example and went to an outdoor concert at Manito Park. It was very hot and very tranquil listening to Mozart and drinking wine. I don’t know how to do the outdoor wine scene with special coiled wine bottle holders that stick in the grass while also holding two wine glasses. I remember you had the fold up tiny table, the picnic container that needed a dolly to push it around, and I can’t remember who knows what else. I like the items from home in ziplock bags inside a grocery sack that can be tossed on my way to the car.

Lucas can swim now. I need a video clip so you can watch him swim the width of the pool underwater. Then you can also hear, “Watch this daddy, watch this mommy, watch this grandma. I’ll make myself invisible.”

He wears lots of Ryan’s hand-me-downs and I’ve noticed this summer he has navy sandals, brown sandals, and black sandals. Sometimes he is dressed like he’s ready to enroll at an East Coast prep school but then again he wouldn’t really fit in there as one of his favorite things to do these days is make Mud which isn’t too difficult if you aim the powerful nozzle of the water hose into the lawn. It will grow back.

Barbara and I had dinner the other night when she stayed over in Spokane. We have plenty to talk about but I can’t really say what.

Mimi Smartypants is giving a reading near you on August 1st. Forget coming to Chicago to see Frank Lloyd Wright homes or Sue but I would like to come to see her in person. Could you just go to the reading and give me a personalized account of your impressions? The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Chicago 60622.

Don Schubothe, my mom’s Warden neighbor who’s now a dentist in CA stopped by to visit her the other day. Most people have forgotten her now so it was very nice of him to go out of his way to have lunch with her. He says he prefers older people. My mom did not know him but she enjoyed listening to him tell about his family. She is still going to Physical Therapy and seems to be walking better these days.

I had two pregnant swimmers today as Charlie, Missy, Katie, John and Taylor stopped by to cool off. The mothers-to-be are so cute and Taylor was a good talker, sort of like his dad I guess. John was checking out my newly assembled barbecue when he discovered 8 dried up hamburgers on the grill. The day before we had a few Judo people over for a swim and Anna Marie and I were attempting to feed everyone while watching a three-year old swimmer and an eight month old. I think everyone got a hamburger but maybe a few people left hungry. We had been asking one another who had eaten the rest of the hamburgers.

Where is the photo of the Zoo Ball? Are you eating lots of raspberries this season?

We're hotter than Chicago!

We're hotter than Chicago!
Originally uploaded by arlal.

Comments

My mom had a good birthday with Lucas, Miles, their parents and myself to join her for dinner at Harbor Crest. Lucas brought lots of balloons and gifts and a good time was had by all except maybe the waiter, Brani, who no doubt wished he was back in Bosnia after waiting on our table. Grandma spilled a large glass of juice while attempting to light the birthday candles while Lucas and Miles ate neatly, sort of.

Alberta’s leg is much improved as she started physical therapy today and that seems to be helping motivate her to walk more and limp less. She is now using only a cane.

Aileen and Darrel came to visit from Anchorage for a few days last week. He is retiring from the Department of Fisheries and they are seriously thinking of moving to Spokane. Housing prices keep going up so they are ready to buy now.

I met the Harle’s at Sacred Heart on Wednesday morning and hung out a while with Ryan while Rachel had some tests that happily confirmed only her anxiety regarding doctors and hospitals. I learned a lot from Ryan like the best football team and his favorite basketball star, Adam Morrison, as he is a walking sports encyclopedia.

I visited Peyton and Walker for one day last week and they are growing.
They wouldn’t look at me when I arrived so after I consulted gaze aversion online I decided I have to visit more often so they get excited when I show up.

Linda Olson’s family had a reunion so I stopped by her place on Camano Island on the way home so I could visit the guys from Alaska that I spent some time with during college summer vacation. It turned out to be a beautiful drive home over the pass and I ended up in Quincy thinking about high school graduation. I need to find Hanna to help me piece together memories of that night.

I talked to Betty and Brice and they have been very busy. Brice is not only playing golf but out-playing his buddies with the low score of the day. They are very busy between golf, visiting and seeing plays so I wasn’t able to see them while I was in their neighborhood.

It was fun driving from Ephrata to Moses Lake while listening to "Married but not to each other," as it reminded me of our fast driving high school days on the Columbia Basin farm roads. Why did our parents let us drive their cars?

I’m glad you are finally making use of the comments feature here. I think your bathing suit top and animal print skirt must have been quite a hit at the Zoo Ball. You could send me a photo to post. Which of us has warmer weather?

Alberta is 89!

Alberta is 89!
Originally uploaded by arlal.

Bathing Suits

So you have three of these same style suits? Why so many? I guess because you are always off on so many tropical vacations. Now I want to know why you can’t use the comments section and the end of each posting? I tried it and it works fine. That way I wouldn’t have to quote you and maybe get the wrong interpretation. This last posting just had the photos as I was experimenting with the process.

I think the quiet morning thing was called Morning Watch. It just came to me. I’ve been using the same technique when I wait at medical clinics for my mom’s appointments. It’s just sort of living in the moment, being one with the present, and a way of ignoring the incessant repetitive comments like “I'm so glad I told Palmer we had to have a child before he went into the service.” The dates are a little off since I was two when he enlisted.

My mom’s leg is not getting better. She is walking and exercising and yesterday she was told again to stay off it as much as possible. A suggestion of a cane or walker was not happily accepted. Next week she has a consult with an orthopedic specialist so we’ll see how that goes. Yesterday she allowed herself to be pushed around in a wheelchair.

Lucas has been swimming three times now and this weekend will be hot so he can stay in the water as long as he likes. He’s getting bold and brave with new moves that he learned in his tumbling class last week. He calls it his “tricks” class. I think a somersault is his best trick to date.

This week I did little but stay around the house and do yard work. The sprinklers are now all working so no plants are dead and yet, thanks to Ampro, all the ants are. I think these past few months I’ve had an electrician, a plumber, and a pool maintenance man come out for a service charge while no service was performed. They just make some comment like the circuit breaker was off, or nothing’s wrong with your hot water, or your pump. My new challenge is to learn these house maintenance skills on my own so maybe a man will have to ask me for advice.

I haven't heard much from your sister. Barb and family will be in Spokane this weekend so I hope to see them. We are having a barbecue tomorrow and maybe a few guests besides Ray and Claire. I think it will be a Bounce Castle day. Are you going to Grant Park this weekend? Stay away from crowds.