Tuesday Morning

We side stepped snow again. However, everyone north of Bellevue had some snowfall. The only problem that we dealt with in the AM was frost and ice on the road. When I got out to my car, it looked like it had been frozen in an ice locker. I tried pulling on the door to open it and it took some really good yanks on the door to get it to open. Luckily I didn't lock it or the lock would have been frozen. Sometimes one has to pour some water over things to get them to open or unlock. You have to be careful though since it could crack glass. A few years ago I learned about chemicals... there is spray that you can buy to spray on the ice/frost on the car to melt it. I got the boys in the car, started the car to get the defrost and heater going, and sprayed the windows. I must admit that it still seems strange to this CA native girl that I am in 30 something degree weather dealing with ice. All I ever had to deal with before was dew on the windshields.

I got the boys to the daycare and to work. I had a meeting and then I hit the road. I had an employee education fair in Tacoma. After the fair, it was back to the office at 3 pm. It was an OK fair. Nothing to write home about (well, that isn't true since I am writing about it here). Lindsey was out delivering materials so the office was quiet when I returned. I could have taken a nap. Then, in walked Laura, a 26 yr old that has been working with me since I started at the college. She had just resigned today and will be leaving to go to Jamaica on Friday for two weeks. She has been studying Yoga to teach and moved to the city of Seattle. She lives on Capitol Hill (where there was a murder a few weeks ago). I worry about her but she is a very sensible girl. Now while she is young it is time for her to do these things. I guess it is time for her to go on to her next chapter in her life. I will miss her but I am happy for her.

As I told you I would, I have added the picture of Mt. Rainier (with all it's snow on it) from Orting (which is above)and the picture of the entertainment center (which is below).
Tomorrow I am scheduled to go to another education fair, again in Tacoma. They say it might be icy again, so my traveling might be disrupted by weather. Again, we will see. Is it Friday yet?

Rainy Day and Monday

OK... the sunny springlike day that we had yesterday is just a memory now. It is amazing how quickly the weather can change around here. The weather people on TV are saying we could have snow falling tonight. I can tell you it is cold enough outside that I believe them. I just went out to the car to get something and I am still feeling the chill as I write this. I am afraid it may freeze the water in the water bottles I have in the back. One station is saying something about 4 inches of snow. We'll see.

I was at a high school college fair all this morning and then after lunch a bunch of us college reps met at a Starbucks to go over our calendars. It helps us to keep informed about what is happening so we don't miss an event.

I think I will take my shower, get the boys in bed, and finish a task while I listen for the news for the weather again. I am suppose to go to an employers education fair at a hospital in Tacoma tomorrow. But I won't go that far if there is snow on the ground.

Aaron is working on a paper that is due tomorrow. He worked on it last night and tonight and that is why I am posting by my blackberry again. Sorry no photos this time. I will have plenty to show once I get on to the computer again.

Have a nice and cozy evening. Hugs :-)

Oh Sunny Day

It was a beautiful day today. The sky was blue and clear, proving that there are non rainy days in Seattle during this time of the year. Usually on clear days it is cold outside but today it was like spring. The mountain was "out" which is our way of saying that Mt. Rainier is visable. It is hard to believe that just last week I was writing about snow and today about a springlike day. Another feature of today which made it feel like spring was that there were primroses at the stores to buy and plant. They are the first flowering plant we've seen since fall to plant. So I bought 5. It might be early but I couldn't resist.

On days like today we can't stay inside. Especially when we may not see a beautiful day again soon. So off we went on a drive again. We drove through the city of Orting and I took a picture of Mt. Rainier which I will add to this post. Orting is where we go bike riding on a railroad track that has been made into a trail to walk or ride a bike or horse. It where we went on one of our first dates in the summer of 99.

We also went to pick up an entertainment center from Lindsey. She is moving and getting rid of things. It fits a corner so I took it off her hands

I am not really ready for another 5 day work week. I guess I will make it up as I go. Cheers

I've Been So Busy

The Mint, Enumclaw, WA
(from January 11th Post)

We hear others and ourselves say those words so often, "I've been so busy". Don't you hate that we get so busy that time or life seems to slip away before you get a handle on it? Half of January is almost gone and we just were celebrating Christmas. New Years resolutions are fading around me as I try to keep mine without any company. Life is such balancing act, that's for sure. I don't remember it being like that in the past but it seems to gain speed. It is no wonder that people are wishing to simplify their lives.

This week I have been posting from my blackberry because I haven't had the time to go on the computer. That's why there hasn't been any photos etc. Posts are so much more interesting with links and photos or mood girls (which I haven't learned about yet). I hope I will soon learn how to add those things. I need a class I guess. I have learned a lot in a little amount of time which also has been so busy with Christmas and all it brings to do.

Yesterday I stayed at the college all day just going to meetings or catching up on my projects. The day went by so fast and wish I had more time to get it all done. I need to work on projects here at home.

With all our modern ways and technology, we battle with time. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I remember in college reading The Magnificent Andersons by Booth Tarkington which was written in 1918. Mr. Tarkington observed that with the new inventions that were to make life easier, there were other changes they brought to life that caused life to speed up. He noted that devises that were to give us more leisure time actually changed our lifestyles and therefore they really didn't give us time to spare. Behaviors in the society changed that didn't allow many kindnesses that they had time for before the changes. That was almost 100 yrs ago and it is true with each new invention our lives change but it doesn't mean it gives us more time to do what we want to do. Computers didn't exist and now we can't live without emails etc. Not we spend time at our computers and that means even deleting SPAM as Denise mentioned. I wonder what Tarkington would have thought of how things have progressed?

Did I mention that Dave brought me flowers? It was a "just because I love you" flowers. I thought I would give him due credit here in my post. ;-)

Right now I am taking a break from cleaning out the boys clothes closet and my closet. I am thinning out their stuff by getting out of there the clothes they don't fit in any longer. Riley,s old clothes are stored for Brady. Brady's old clothes I give to the daycare. Other clothes that fit but have been replaced by Christmas new clothes go to daycare for when they get wet from rain outside etc. Doing all that is challenging. I can see why Kari with ADHD had a bit of a problem. Again these are things that need to be simplified so there is peace.

I went to WW and only maintained this week. I understand where I went wrong. It was not having the right foods out with me on the road. I will have to picnic more on the road by packing my lunch.

Have a great Saturday and family day.

We Made It!

Wooo Whoo! We made it to Friday! Yesterday I went to the reservation to the Tribal School to met the counselor. Then I drove on to Enumclaw do a high school lunch visit. Renee was able to join me so we represented two colleges which attracts more students at their lunch period to our information tables. Speaking of Renee, she is now 5 months. There isn't official news as to what gender the baby is but she thinks it will be a boy.

Afterwards we went to lunch with the career specialist at The Mint. The Mint is one of those small town historial restaurants that locals know. Cindy mentioned in her post about going to a restaurant called The Trolley Stop. This place is only about 100 years old not close to 200 years old but it's cool. I looked around to see what the history about The Mint in downtown Enumclaw. Enumclaw is about 45 miles southeast of Seattle, in the foothills of Mount Rainier, which looms the northeast. The city got its name from a group of Native Americans who camped at the mountain's base. During the night, strong winds made loud thundering noises that kept them awake, so they named the area "Enumclaw," meaning "strong wind" or "thundering noise." The city retains a flavor of a small farm town, although it has grown in recent years. The downtown has undergone a revitalization program and boasts bakeries, restaurants and restored buildings. The town's population was 11,116 in the 2000 census, but the Enumclaw plateau area is home to about 40,000 people. Big change in population huh?

It was very rainy this morning. I had to wear my rain coat with a hood today. It is warmer but wet.

Aaron has been sick and running a temperature. Kari says her friends have been sick too. Hopefully we will not get it. That wouldn't good if we or the boys got ill.

Have a fantastic Friday. If you like the Seahawks, tomorrow Seattle is wearing the blue. They play the Packers this weekend. I am not the 12th man but I wish them well for my friends that are the 12th (13, 14, 15...)