Weblog 286

August 7, 2011~ 12:00 am
The humidity has finally worn down my good humor. I am CRANKY. (I know it's nothing like the way Texas or Oklahoma has been hit with this summer's pounding heat, but Pittsburgh- as of Friday, has had 16 days over 90 thus far. All with dewpoints up around 70.) The one shining spot was Kay's sixth birthday dinner.



New hairdo, looking quite contemplative in that shot, Kay's a beauty, a soon-to-be-first-grader, and she took the time to READ all the birthday cards out loud. Here she is standing watch at the front door with sidekick, Greg Brady-- one of her two standard poodles.



Once all the grandparents were assembled, we feasted mightily on a lovely salad with homegrown vegetables, grilled hotdogs and hamburgers with all the fixin's.



Picture perfect food. (I'd only had peanutbutter crackers for lunch on Friday at work, and was hoping for a cook-out and GOT one!) New teeth chewing fine. LOL!! (There was no corn on the cob, but I think I would have dared it. These choppers WORK.)

A second party, just for Kay's little friends, will be held at Holly's local library. In casting about for a unique place for a small number of female six-year olds, Holly happened upon the idea for a 'story hour party' and asked the librarian if that could be done. Holly told them she'd rather give THEM a contribution, than have a party at one of the usual places and they were not only accommodating, they were thrilled with the idea and intend to publicize it as a service they offer.

I think it's a TERRIFIC idea! A calmer and unique setting is a great alternative to the usual noisy chaos of children's parties, and for the library itself, a new way to fund support.

Kay's 'grandparents' party featured a cake baked by her mom



decorated with a smiling, blue-eyed KAY right in the center. After the singing, the wish-making and cake cutting took place, with 8 year old brother Bill looking on.



I loved the fact that it was just a small number of celebraters. We had time to talk. And Holly's air-conditioned house was a welcome relief, that's for sure.

I'd picked up the two-part 'Elizabeth I' mini-series at my own library for viewing Saturday evening, but honestly, it was too hot to watch either that or 'Paranormal II', which had been sent by Netflix. After our dinner and shopping, Wayne went home and I headed straight up to the cool bedroom. I thought I'd sleep the whole night through but here it is, just about midnight and I'm back up again. It's not quite as hot downstairs, but not comfortable either.

I may just roll the 'personal air' portable unit into the living room and watch the Helen Mirren series by myself. I finished my John Irving 800 page novel and started a biography about Lady Caroline Blackwood called 'Dangerous Muse', but I have no desire to dive back into it at this point.

Yep. I'm gonna try the Mirren movie(s). BBC..... here I come.

(I had some news that upset me on Friday, and I'm still processing it; sleep will not come for a while, so I may as well disappear back into the 16th Century for a bit. This one is more than I can handle.)




August 7, 2011~ 2:45 pm
Typical for me.....the 2 part Mirren BBC mini-series refused to play on my DVD player. LOL!! Neither disc would budge beyond, 'LOADING LOADING LOADING'.

So what did I do? I dug out a movie I'd never watched, bought at Giant Eagle around Halloween last year, and for whatever reason, Wayne and I never viewed. It was a horror film called, 'Drag Me To Hell'- a Sam Raimi supernatural thriller about a gypsy curse. It reminded me of Stephen King's thriller, 'Thinner'- (with lots of special effect creepiness thrown in.) For a horror flick, the acting was good, and it DID make me jump a few times- and best of all, it got my mind off things.

I think that's the reason we watch horror movies. They blot out current worries and concerns and create a world of WORSE frights. I'd say that film did the trick for me. Glad I watched it. Slept like a baby. LOL!!!!




August 9, 2011~ 5:20 pm
Left work 15 minutes early to even out delays on a work area on my accustomed route driving home. Breezed through that...... then got stuck in the back up from a 4 car collision on the Liberty Bridge. Didn't move at one point for over an hour.

I was trying to get over to see mum on my usual Tuesday visit, with a little surprise gift that Holly had sewn for her grandmother, and I needed to return the unplayable Helen Mirren movie (which I'll now have to pay late fees on)and... I never made it to buy a small fan for my room. (Yes, in all the heat and humidity last night, my air-conditioner froze up-- and then I knocked over the little sumabitch and the rotary blades flew off the damn piece of shite from China.) By the time I made it to my house today after a 40 minute drive turned into 2 hours, mum was already queing up for her evening meal.



I am BEYOND FRUSTRATED!

(Just wanted to pop in here and sound off a bit...... then go to BED.) GAWD! I hate days like this!




August 10, 2011~ 6:15 pm
Today was a much better day! First off, the TEMPERATURE is moderate-- high 70's with a cool breeze and low humidity, thank GOODNESS!-- and secondly, I was able to make it over to see mum with no traffic tie-ups, and I happily gave her the hand-sewn 'walker pouch' that Holly made her.



It has four DEEP separate pockets -two in the front here, and two on the rear side, sewn in a black and white polka dot pattern, all pockets lined in yet ANOTHER wonderful design! The main body is a sturdy deep lavender nylon, and fastens securely to the walker-legs with strong black webbing via velcro. No more 'things falling out' constantly.

(Mum had an old one about a quarter that size, only five inches deep, and it had a zipper on top that she never zipped, so kleenexes, her rosary, her room key... everything would tumble to the floor.)

I caught her here in the 'Country Kitchen'. Each floor has its own little kitchen where there are snacks, tea and coffee, little cartons of milk or juice in the fridge. Although these pictures were taken at 4:00, and she goes down for SUPPER at quarter to five, there she was, indulging in a small carton of chocolate milk and some vanilla wafers. LOL!!! (She usually looks very startled and sheepish when I find her in there when I visit. "Oh... I'm getting too fat, " she'll say, and roll and blink her eyes. Personally......



I think for 91, the lady is quite attractive......just the way she is.) Mission Accomplished!

I also returned my one-day overdue DVD to the library, and whoopie! found that the Claire Bloom memoir about her stormy marriage to Philip Roth, "Leaving A Doll's House" was waiting for me! (Our library will order any of their books from another branch of Carnegie Library if the local doesn't carry it.) I was very pleased. (I'd stupidly had it sent originally to the Carrick Branch, and by Jove-- they simply did a swap over the computer and had it sent along to my local.) Very nice young women work at the Castle Shannon branch. I just love them. And...... after paying my 50 cent fine, I ALSO bought four Hershey bars they had on sale as part of a support drive. (Like Mother, like Daughter I suppose. LOL!!) We BOTH like our treats!





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