Felt like I was a secretary today . . . oops! I mean an Administrative Assistant!

I have a variety of jobs at the Library, none of which I love. BUT. . . it's a job and is helping me pay the rent while I am searching for another job. Today, my boss told me she would not be there so I was going to go upstairs and sort magazines. . . a dull routine job but one that somebody has to do.

I never got there at all.

The minute I walked in, Nancy said to me that I would be using the computer at my supervisor's desk and replying to emails that had applications for a certain library job -- one that I am not qualified for so didn't get to try for it. First I made copies of the emails by sending to the printer and then downloaded all their info they had and sent them to the printer. Last of all, I replied the same wording (little cut and paste activity) to the top of each email and sent it on its way. The lady that had me do this said by doing this, the applicants won't keep sending emails about the job they applied for. lol Then I gathered up all my printing and bundled them with paper clips for each applicant, highlighted names on the cover pages and put them in alphabetical order.

Nope! I wasn't finished yet. Then I had to separate into the two different positions they were applying for in two different town libraries and make copies of each. After making stapled copies for each, I sorted and filed alphabetically into two folders and gave the originals to the person in charge.

THEN, I got to use this really weird electric typewriter since I was making only two labels for the folders. You could not see on the label what you printed until you pressed return BUT you could see it all in a special slot on the typewriter! I think that was the most fun part of the day! I have never seen a typewriter that worked like that in my life!

That part of the job over, the Human Resources person had me sort, alphabetize and make copies of other applications for the position (that arrived through the mail.) I also filed them in order and combined with earlier work.

I can't believe how much time this took. I was almost finished when my boss returned but I hadn't even taken my break yet and I had only 25 minutes to work -- minus the 15 minute break. Soooooooooooo, the regular boss told me to just do some quick things so I sorted some pictures I had cut out and framed for the literacy program and it was time to go home.

Well, I am definitely getting experience working on a PC computer at work. . . sigh It makes me appreciate my iMac so much more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can one ever have too many roses?

I had to ponder this very question as I tried to share photos of the roses I recently acquired. The answer was yes because they were so slow loading. Thus, I am here with another batch of ROSES from yesterday's escapades. This time, all orange beauties:

Shoes to roses. . .

Now, that title sure makes the reader wonder what I have been up to! Well, it pretty much speaks of my Saturday. I traveled on two buses to get a store to buy some new sandals that looked a little dressier to wear with my new brown suit and shirt of blue, brown and white thin stripes.





I hadn't been shopping in many months and after almost 7 hours of looking for just the right outfit, I finally found it at Penny's. That was yesterday after work. Today, I just had to go back to the store I saw the shoes in before I went to the mall and found the outfit. Luckily, they went together. And . . . look at the neat hair holders I found and bought before I even had the outfit!


My shopping journey finished, I decided to go home via the downtown Farmer's Market. I didn't actually go the market today but to the park next to it where they have a rose garden. I figured it was probably time for roses to be blooming and I was correct!



















More to add but allergies getting the best of me now. . . so until later. . .

So, that's my Saturday. . . the best part anyway. The rest, I spent coping with my allergies. The news said this is the worst year for allergy suffers. . . they are soooooooooooooooo right. I'm glad my "shoes to roses" adventure provided a reason to enjoy an otherwise allergy focus Saturday.

PS If you click on individual photos, they enlarge.

Hurrah! I got some more help. . .

Presently, I am the librarian for our church. It doesn't pay anything but it gives me a chance to use the skills that I went to college for and hardly ever get to use otherwise . . . since I never "got that media specialist job."

When the church first started almost 50 years ago, someone or maybe, several someones did a good job of cataloging books. I wasn't a member then. I came 21 years ago and it was an ignored place by 1985. No one did anything to keep the library up. People donated books and they just piled up -- even if they weren't appropriate for a church library. In '95, I started to help take care of the mess but then I got a job teaching in California so I left with good instructions written down for others to continue what I began. Guess they gave up because I didn't see much change when I returned 7 years later.

Then, one of our church members, a wood craftsman, built beautiful library shelving in the church narthex. It sat there for three weeks with nothing on it. no one was doing a thing to move any books to it from the old library that was down the long hall.

Sooooooooooo, I volunteered to be the librarian. Of course I wasn't satisfied with just moving the books. . . I had to check to make sure that each had the three cards, were listed on the accession list and in good repair. THEN and only then, we transfered some books to the narthex. I had two volunteer helpers. There is also a video shelving unit so got some of the videos placed there. . . went thru the check list of videos and there were over 200 missing. It is no wonder . . . with no decent checkout system in place and no one in charge.

OK, so here I am, now starting to catalog the myriad of books that had never been catalogued and the job is overwhelming to me. I counted 24 things to do to each book by time as it is placed on the shelf. THIS IS A BIG JOB and neither of my helpers wants to type and typing is slowing me down.

Sooooooooooooooooo, three weeks ago I placed a notice in the church bulletin that I could use some typists in my work with the library. I asked for temporary helpers or full time helpers; any day, any time; for one time or every week; or once a month or twice a year. . . was not particular. I would take all that offered. Week one. . . nothing. Week two . . . nothing yet.

Finally,last Sunday, TWO (2) people volunteered to come and type at church. One will make the title, author and subject cards and the other will type the book pockets and cards. I already type the spine numbers. I also type the accesion list. They start this week! I am sooooooooo happy!

This morning and part of the afternoon, I spent working over at church, getting shelves of books ready for the different people that work on the cataloging. Got at least one shelf of work for each helper, filled with books that are in different stages.

Art files all the cards in the three drawer metal cabinet and glues in the date due slips and stamps page 13 with our church name. He also helps me decide if it is a church related book that agrees with doctrines of our faith when I am not sure. . . most of them, I can do myself but it never hurts to have a 2nd opinion. He catalogs his own books at his home and is a voracious reader. He used to invite the Jehovah Witness people over so he could prove them wrong. Ü They refuse to visit him any longer. lol

Dorothy helped me sort the cards in the title, subject and author drawers when we first started since we needed to make sure we had all the cards for books that were already catalogued. She now helps at home with the videos -- she has a few more to type cards for and I am glad I don't have to deal with them!

Ka 'ren will now be my typist for the three cards: title author, and subject. . . sometimes there is more than one subject card. I write down all the information for her and she will type it on the appropriate cards using samples I made for her.

Elaine will type the pockets and check out cards. She wants to take them home to do but after the first few hundred that she hauls back and forth, I bet she will opt to bring her typewriter there or use the one I have stored in the cabinet -- on a different day than Ka 'ren volunteers.

I will continue writing down the cataloging info, puting clear plastic covers on the nicer books with jackets and a sealed plastic cover for special paperbacks. I will continue to type the numbers for the spine and put tape over them and colored tape for certain types of books to make them stand out for sections like Fiction or Children's books. I will keep up the accession list on my laptop and keep the supplies ordered. I will repair the books that need it. I will also shelf all the books in the narthex (or the overflow in the room where we are working) and write articles to encourage people to make use of the library for Sunday bulletins and the monthly newsletter. This is a big job even with help!

You would think I would be looking for the day when all the books are catalogued . . . I am . . . because then I get to do some ordering of current books and that is something I know I will enjoy! All the hard work will be worth it. Then I can start all over again with MORE hard work. . . am I a glutton for punishment or what?

Do you think God is deaf? OR Setting records. . .

I know this is a stupid question. . . I know God is perfect and hears my pleas for NO MORE RAIN! I reckon He has a reason for giving us an over abundance of it this year but it is so cold and wet today! Today? Heck! Yesterday we set a record for the date for having a high of 56 -- the lowest high for that date here ever!!!!!!!!!!

Last year on the same date, it was 96 which also set a record . . . as being the highest temperature for that date.

I guess now that it is spring and summer is almost here, I just wish that we could have some of those nice warm days without wind or rain to cool us off too much. I like to walk and it has been awhile since I had the time and opportunity on a nice day.

I wanted to share MY rain with Vir Ü but it just didn't happen. . . she finally did get her own rain though.


Well, I guess there is one good thing about rain and photography. . . the droplets of water make the flowers look interesting

Some people can be so stupid!!!!!!!!!!

This is a snowball tree which I love . . . I place it here because paying my taxes this year felt like I was being snowballed!

My tax person filed my 2005 taxes online so all I had to do was send in the check of the amount I owed with my social security number on it. I did just that -- on the last day I could possibly do it WITHOUT getting a penalty. I deposited my letter to the IRS in a locked mailbox and waited for them to cash it so my bank account would not "look like" I had lots of money in it.

Almost two months later, they still had not cashed it! THEN, I give up and stop checking on line banking for it. THEN, I get a bill in mail for what I owe and penalties added. I was so mad I could've spit!

Finding their 800 number, I called. When I finally got a human voice (can't call her a human being), I explained my side and questioned their bill. In the meantime, I was signing online with my bank addy. I can see that they cashed my check on May 3rd and it is finally posted online. . . so I asked why they sent me this new bill because I definitely had sent them the check and they had cashed it and I had the proof before me.

I told her how my accountant had said to just write my social security number on the check and that it was for the tax I was filing this year. . . and sure enough I had done that. The voice on the other end says, "Well, you put "2006 taxes" on the notation so we presumed it is for the coming year since you are employed for yourself in your position and you must pay ahead.

I guess I should have written "2005 taxes owed". . . because the idiots that work there can't compare it to my return and see it is the exact amount I owed for 2005, taxes they had ragged on me for NOT PAYING yet. SIGH

I do not know of a single person that pays their whole year's taxes ahead of time. . . based on what their salary is supposed to be. Even in my job, I was supposed to just make payments three times a year. I had coupons for it. I didn't pay the last two coupons because my job ended. Then I found out that my taxes were estimated on my total salary I should be getting and spread out to pay. It still doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway, now the "problem" is taken care of and I am poor on my bank statement. I sure hope I can find a full time job soon so I can even think about spending a dollar foolishly or go window shopping and know I can afford to buy something.

When I wrote the title to this, I was thinking of the IRS as stupid, but they probably think it was me for writing "2006 taxes" on the check notation. ANOTHER BIG SIGH!

I heard her talk today. . .

Yesterday was 97 followed by 86 today. . . need I say it was HOT?????!!!!!!!??????

I almost didn't go to the Nursing Home to visit my friend, Myrl who is recovering from a stroke there. I told myself it was just too hot to walk that half mile after I got off the bus. After all, Myrl has two daughters and 2 sons presently in town and many grandchildren too. . .

I couldn't NOT go. I am glad I did as she was off eating in the dining room (with her left hand and in a wheel chair) and her son, the Pastor, and her oldest daughter were there. We chatted a bit and then Myrl was wheeled back to her room from the dining hall. It was good to see her -- she was sporting a pink baseball cap!

I guess she had a bad day on Mother's Day. She looked great tonight! We chatted a bit -- I mean the three of us did and Myrl listened. THEN, her daughter said, "Mom, show Paulie you can talk now." I was flabbergasted. . . She said "a" . . . that's 100 percent more than she has said over the past two months! It was so good to hear something coming from this gentle friend again. She understands what we say and can shake her head yes or know. She just needs that physical therapy to learn to talk over again. I am soooooo excited to see this progress. She is getting a new cast this week too. I just wish her right hand would get some motion again.

I told her I am going to make a power point on my laptop of flowers from her yard so she can see them. She cried a little and I felt sad that she had to see photos and not the real thing. BUT . . . the good news is that she is starting to talk again. Thank you, God, for this small miracle. Thank you for giving me such a special friend.

Wonder what to plant this year??????

I live in a gated complex presently and the guy in charge said I could have some garden space this year. I asked him for just two rows because I am poor and can't afford to buy many seeds or starts. Wonder what I should plant this year?

Tomatoes have to be one of the veggies for sure. . . think I will get two. I love vine ripened tomatoes; the tomatoes the store sells are tasteless. Guess I got spoiled always having a huge garden when I was growing up. I remember my first garden when I was married-- I lived in upstate New York then. I planted 36 tomato plants; they were coming out of my ears! We had sliced tomatoes every day! I never canned a one. What a great memory!

But I digress. I had two tomato plants in my flower bed last year and that was sufficient for me to have some everyday. Yes, that is my top priority! I already have two cages to keep them off the ground and from "getting buggy."

I love peas from the garden too -- never cook them, just shell and eat them so think I will plant a whole row of those. AND, I have to have a couple (or more) zucchini plants so I can fry lots of zucchini this summer.

Hey! That wasn't so bad. Tomatoes, peas, zucchini . . . yes, that should take up two rows. Think I will plant them Sunday. It will be Mother's Day and none of my kids are going to travel here so that would be a good time to do it.

I would do it Saturday but I have an all day Red Cross First Aid training to go to and no time left over -- will have to walk home. . . will be a nice hike. The weather should be nice if the prediction on TV is correct. . .think I'll take the part of the new trail they recently built as that will get me within a mile of my home.

Home! That sounds so wonderful. Last month I did not even know if I would have one still. God is good!

I forgot. . . again

How many times have I reminded myself to write something down so I would not forget? Too many!

This afternoon at work I was thinking about what to write in my blog and I came up with two words I wanted to discuss. I remember this vividly. Do you think I can remember what they were? Of course not. Murphy's law. . .

So, I am stuck and have nothing to write about tonight. sigh I thought by coming here, it would prompt a flashback to those two words. Didn't work.

Planting time . . .

Last year at this time, I was very excited about planting my tomatoes, zucchini, kohlrabi, peas and Bachelor Buttons. This year, I can't get in the gardening mood to plant because I don't know what will happen . . . . in ways of a full-time job, I mean. If I don't get a better paying job, I may have to move. I figure if I have to move, why bother to go to all the trouble to plant and not be able to reap the benefit of all my home-grown goodies myself?

So, until I make up my mind, I will just imagine those wonderful tomatoes I could be eating in a couple months.

I received a bunch of seeds after the library's Volunteer Appreciation Day event. They had the theme, "Seeds of Kindness" and gave out packets of flower seeds. The volunteer supervisor gave me some leftover ones.

Decided to plant some of them at Myrl's in a couple long flower boxes on her front porch. I also weeded and made three rows of different plants in one of her garden boxes out back. I am hoping they will be a nice surprise for her when she comes home from the Nursing Home. Maybe I will plant some tomatoes for her too. . . we will see. She has three of these garden boxes.




On the way to Myrl's this past week, I found another letter: "Y"


Of course, there were beautiful spring flowers to enjoy too! More are also blooming in Myrl's backyard. . . the snowball tree is getting whiter from its pale green snowballs; instead of one gold/purple Iris, there were many in bloom.



On the way home, among other flowers I saw, I found this "drop dead gorgeous" pink and white striped tulip:



Here's a close up.



Sure makes a poor person feel rich to see all these lovely creations God provided for our pleasure.

It's Friday again!

Been working at the library with magazines all week. . . and the project should be finished in two more days. . .at least that is my estimate. I have known all my life that the library had magazines. . . I just don't take advantage of checking them out like I do books.

Usually, I head straight to the fiction section, aisle D for Diana Mott Davidson culinary mysteries. The main character is a caterer in Colorado. All of her books have a food connection in the title:

Catering To Nobody
Dying For Chocolate
The Cereal Murders
The Last Suppers
Killer Pancake
The Main Corpse
Prime Cut
Tough Cookie
Sticks and Scones
Double Shot
Chopping Spree
Sticks and Scones

And all of her books have the recipes included in each novel.

That would be enough to tempt one into reading her culinary mysteries but she has yet another temptation for me. . . she writes so beautifully about snow! let me give you some examples:

"Snow fell softly on millions of rows of perfectly frosted pines."

or

"The curtain of flakes had thinned; maybe we were experiencing a mere flurry."

or

"Trees high and low were hung with glittering ribbons of snow."

or

Sunbeams slanting through the pines and aspen branches winked off errant flakes."

or

Out here in the boondocks, the snow is seductively pretty."

or

"Through the thickening swirl of snowflakes . . . "

or

"As if on cue, the snow began to flutter down again . . . "

Those are just a few of them. So, reading my culinary murder mysteries I can get my snow fix too! I can hardly wait til she writes another mystery. I am reading all 12 of them over again. One day I hope to own all of them myself.

I hate pollen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You would think that I would be just the opposite since pollen produces beautiful flowers for me to photograph. . .

Maybe I should have said I hate pollen in Washington state. When I first moved here in 1985, I had no allergies. Then about three years later, I was tested for different allergies and about the only thing I am not allergic to is pets -- and I don't have any of those!!!!!!!!!!!! In 95, I moved to CA to teach and the allergies all disappeared.

I guess that is why I didn't think about the problems I have with allergies when I decided to move back here. Possibly because it has taken 5 years for the allergies to kick in again. (Thank God!)

My allergy problems started yesterday and I had no meds available . . . and decided to chance it going to work today. I should not have. . . I definitely needed my meds. About an hour after I was at work I asked my boss if I could walk to the store and buy some meds for allergies and then work longer when I came back to make up for the time gone.

She allowed me to do that, thank goodness. I got them at Walgreens and walked across the street to catch the bus downtown -- I was uptown. I lucked out and got the bus that changed into the one I needed after loading more passengers downtown. I was gone an hour and 15 minutes but before I left Walgreens, I asked where the water fountain was and took some meds.

When I arrived back at work, I checked in with my boss and said I was going to take my 15 minute break then instead of in an hour to give the meds more time start working before I went upstairs to the magazine stacks to continue my job. That worked pretty well. I was glad because it was hard to be checking the magazine boxes with the dusty shelves when I am sneezing constantly.

Sidenote. . . there must be something "special" to the dust in WA state since I am allergic to at least three trees, 5 weeds, grass and DUST! I am not kidding. (Might be why I don't bother to disturb the dust in my house!) I wasn't allergic to dust in Idaho, upstate New York, South Carolina, Hawaii, northern or southern California . . .

Thank goodness the meds worked and I was able to complete my hours today. They have now worn off and I have to get some more. . .

BUT guess what I saw when I was walking to the drugstore? You're right! A purple Iris to photograph! And white and purple lilacs and more! Blessings come in all kinds of disguises.

Bringing Myrl's backyard to her. . .

Yesterday was Tuesday. It's the day I go to see Myrl at the Nursing Home after work. This week I went when I knew she would be eating dinner. (Last week, I went later and she was already asleep!) I found her awake and slowly eating; one of her daughters was there also.

It was good to see her eating by herself even tho it was with her left hand.

She also has a new PINK cast on her foot that is broken. it is a walking cast so she can do physical therapy with her feet. She is also practicing how to slide from her bed to her wheelchair and back so that she can go for a ride in a car occasionally. I know she is going to love that and is looking forward to the day it will happen. Her son, the Lutheran Pastor in California, is coming to visit her again --for Mother's Day for a week long stay. She is going to love that!

When she finished eating, I gave her my new BIG card and tears started coming from her eyes. . . my heart was melancholy at that moment. . . it was my intention to bring Myrl's yard flowers to her IF she couldn't go to see them herself! Now, I was feeling that I made her miss her home all the more.




Last week, when I was there watering her indoor and outside plants, I took some photos: purple and white lilacs, snowball tree and her first Iris. After trimming the photos down and rounding the corners of some, I put the 4 photos on blue cardstock and labeled it at the top "Myrl's Flowers in April." I added corner punches and didn't care too much for them so tried to disguise them with bows which weren't much better. . . BUT it was the photos that counted so I gave it to her anyway. It's hanging on the wall for her to see every day.

Now that it is a new day, I am wondering if Myrl's tears were ones of joy that she could see her flowers even if she couldn't be home YET. I hope so!

Myrl's first Iris this year . . .

On Friday afternoons, I have been walking over to my friend's home to take care of her indoor plants while she is recovering from a stroke at the Nursing Home. I get to do this so that her family members (that stop by) don't kill them by watering when they think no one is doing it. Ü They know they can count on me and, more importantly, that Myrl can.

Yesterday, I went to an EXCEL class at the college to learn how to do things on a PC computer because I only own APPLE products and I have to use a PC at my library job unfortunately. The week before, I had taken a basic PC class in WORD. (Have I told you how much I appreciate my flat screen G5 iMac computer?) When it was over, I got my new bus pass for May and then headed home only to take 4 walking trips back and forth -- to the church I attend -- with things for their rummage sale Saturday. I was exhausted! Now, you say, what does this have to do with Myrl's plants? Well, I am trying to express why I was so tired and didn't really WANT to go water her plants on Friday after all. . . but I did anyway. . . because . . . it was for Myrl.

I rode the bus from 104th to 124th and then started my walking trek of a couple more miles. Of course I had my camera with me and I got a few new photos and I spotted a "T" for my alphabet photo collection also.



Ok, I got sidetracked again. . . That's the way life is. Myrl's stroke got her sidetracked and she is missing the beauties of spring right in her own yard. I arrived at Myrl's home and watered her houseplants like usual. Then I remembered she had this huge Christmas cactus; I searched for it and found it in the dark interior of the garage where she puts it to hibernate after it blooms in the winter. It needs a little water now and again too.

I looked out the window to the back yard and saw that her flowers were beginning to bloom so I thought to myself, "after 8 straight days of sunshine and wind, I better give them a drink also." Getting the hose hooked up, I watered trees and bushes and plants. Her grass is automatically watered in the early mornings so I knew I didn't have to do that. Filling the bird bath with some cool water, I knew those creatures who frequent her yard from the forest of trees beyond her wooden fence would soon be able to cool off.

Then I opened the side gate and proceeded to water flowers that I knew were there; to my amazement, I saw this:



I hadn't expected an Iris to be blooming yet, it was the first one I had seen anywhere this spring! I was so excited about seeing it I watered it before I thought of returning to the house and getting my camera. I can hardly wait for the back yard to become ablaze with Iris of all colors that I remember from past years living with Myrl! Maybe I will make some cards for Myrl with photos of the flowers in her yard. Then she can watch the beauty grow from the Nursing Home until she gets better and can see them in person once again.

The snowballs on her tree are a sight to see also! The flower petals are still light green so they don't look like snowballs yet but they will! (I guess you knew I would find a way to write about snow in this post, huh?)



This is a photo of some from the same tree from two years ago. . .



Of course, her flowers don't end with the back and side yards but extend to the front also. I had plenty of rose bushes and other blooming annuals to water too. Her Clematis vines had grown so tall and tangled that they just drooped and clung together like a beard on one of Santa's elves. I could remedy that! I patiently separated most of the twisted vines and threaded each into the lattice work she had for that purpose. When those purple blossoms arrive, they will deck out her front porch in a beauty that invites one into the yard of a wonderful lady who would give her right arm to help you.



My watering finished, I closed and locked her door, I knew why I had made the trip today. I wasn't there just to water the flowers for Myrl; God wanted me to see the new spring flowers in her yard so I could photograph them and share them with her so she wouldn't miss a thing! I would rather that Myrl could see them first-hand but doing this will be the next best thing. Thank you, God, for Myrl and HER flowers that bring us both joy!

More "alphabet" photos . . .

My Sunday walking excursion along the Columbia River did not fail me in my search for the "alphabet." Who would have thought I might find such a gallant "X?"




I was definitely surprised when my walk brought me to this perfect tree "W."





The peninsula that juts out into the Columbia River along Tidewater Cove provided me with my "H" standing there proudly.




An office building near the shore proudly boasts this beautiful brick "I."



Surprise came with this "F" in the shadow of a tree! Look carefully!



And to think this FLOWER "C" is what started it all. You can be sure I will be out there with my digital camera,taking a few more walks and chasing down the rest of the alphabet in the near future.

Alphabet in photos

Having enjoyed this photo for a few days now, I am wondering if I can find photos of other letters of the alphabet in nature/my environment. To me, the flowers form a "C."

I am going for a walk today after church. Deciding which walking path to take gets challenging for me nowadays since we have so many here. What a blessing they are!

Walking alongside the Columbia River is one of my favorite excursions because I love the ocean and I know that the Columbia River heads out to the Pacific. It only takes two hours to drive to the coast. . . sometimes I wish I had learned to drive so I could head out there every weekend.

Not only do I like to watch the things on the river but those around it on the shore. Wintler Park's sandy beach is at the eastern part of my walk and near the I-205 bridge. I remember when I first "discovered" it when I moved to Vancouver almost 21 years ago. It was my little escape to "the ocean and beach" right here in town! I can see snowy Mt. Hood in Oregon in the distance and across the river. . . well, most days I can. I hope there is a clear blue sky when I am there today!





Heading west on the walking trail, I come to the Water Resource Center and often see goslings in the wetlands,learning to swim with their parents. Of course there are many flowers along the way and I occasionally spot a wild rabbit or an eagle. All along the paved walkway/bicycle path there are varying degrees of sandy beaches or wetland areas that I can explore-- if not on foot, with my camera. Vancouver is a city that cares about the natural environment. I'm glad I came to live and learn here.

Marine Park is the next "marker" on my journey. It is a huge park that people come to for picnics or to just play and enjoy the warm sun near the river. It also has a boat launch and a marina for three touring yachts. It is also a good vantage point to take photos of Mt. Hood.






The DISCOVERY trail "ends" here but not really because regular sidewalks take you past the business center which has a variety of Port of Vancouver buildings now that the Kaiser shipyard, built during WWII, is no longer in operation. Waiting at the end of the business center is a continuum of our wonderful paved trail along the Columbia again and yet, another vantage point to see Mt. Hood.



Seeming to guard the Columbia River, is the statue of Ilachee; she was an important figure in the settlement of Fort Vancouver. Many condos line the shores of the Columbia here but the walking trail is open to the community. They have benches to sit and enjoy the river happenings. . . on a nice sunny day, the river is full of sailboats from both Washington and Oregon. The trail continues down to the old Apple Tree Park, famous for having the oldest apple tree in the Northwest, and then. . . on to the fishing pier near the I-5 bridge. This is a favorite spot to be at in December when the Christmas ships, decked with lights in different holiday designs, parade up and down the Columbia for our enjoyment.

Yes, I am looking forward to my little excursion today. . . one of my favorite walks to traverse the length between the two bridges along the Columbia and enjoy scenes from two states. Hoping I can find some photographic alphabets on my little jaunt this afternoon. I'll let you know . . .

Random thoughts. . .

It has been a whole week since I wrote anything. It isn't that I didn't want to . . . I was just at a loss for words. I did post a photo to get me started but it didn't help. Today, I deleted that one.



Look at a beautiful flower such as these purple tulips and try to not take a photo!

It is an impossibility IF you have a camera with you. I was walking to Myrl's home to water her houseplants when I spotted these. Truly, there are blessings in "burdens."

The light, that was reflecting off them, drew my eyes towards their exquisiteness in an otherwise unkempt yard. Feeling that it would be a crime to not stop and capture the beauty permeating from them, I did just that. On a cold, winter's night in my future, I can look back and enjoy the memories revealed, once again, thru a simple photo. Thus, I did the only thing I could and captured the precious flower moment for "that day" in my future which would surely come as inevitably as tax day.

The rain is back in full force!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All week long, the weather has been teasing us. Mornings would start out overcast and the rain soon followed. Then, while I was at work, the sunshine appeared. It was great for a nice long walk. I didn't get to take advantage of it for a leisure walk tho. . . mostly had to run errands in another part of town and walking was faster than waiting for several bus transfers. Also spent two afternoons with Myrl and another cataloging books at the church library.

I am now signed up for taking the Red Cross course for First Aid for babies, children and adults. Also taking a Blood Pathogens class because I can't find my original paper from a class years ago and the school district that had it on file weeded it out after 7 years. . . sigh Oh well, the Senior Program that helped me find the library job is paying for both so they were the right price. They also paid for me to get my fingerprinting done since it had expired.

Today, when I got off work, I took the bus a couple miles down the street that the library is on and then stepped off the warm, dry bus into howling winds and rain so hard I wanted to cry. "I must be crazy to be out in weather like this," I said to myself, holding back the inevitable tears. Ordinarily, I would have just gone home and snuggled up or played on my computer for comfort. I couldn't do that today. . .

You see, Friday afternoon is my time commitment to go to Myrl's home and water her houseplants so they will be thriving WHEN she returns one day after suffering a stroke and breaking her foot. Myrl made many sacrifices for me and even shared her home when I was in need. Braving the 2 and half miles walking each way to do this little chore is nothing in comparison. I made it there and was rewarded with beautiful flowers blooming in her yard -- just ready for my camera! Ü

I didn't stay long. Just watered the flowers and wrote a note to place on refrigerator about the date the plants were watered. Her empty house was a reminder of her absence, an absence that wasn't planned. One that seems so unfair. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back next Friday to do this again. . . knowing Myrl isn't home. Then I had a little heart to heart talk with myself walking home, carelessly walking through puddles while lost in my thoughts. Myrl's spirit was in that home. . . all who enter know it's love.

I remember when I was living with Myrl and subbing. I came home one time after three bus transfers on a cold and wet afternoon. Myrl had cooked a special dinner to share with me and it was hot and on the table when I walked in the door. She didn't need to do that -- usually we cooked our own things and she ate much earlier than I did. This made me really feel at home. Yes, that is only one of the memories I hold in my heart from her sharing her home with me. I hope, next time I go to water her houseplants, it is a nice day outside because I want to take a little time to sit on her porch swing on the patio and remember some more good times that help me remember why Myrl's spirit is there on 131st Avenue even tho she may be recovering in a nursing home.

Thank you, God, for Myrl and memories!

Yes, Virginia. . .

Until last week, I believed that most info printed was "the truth." Like the story of Virginia O'Hanlon in "The Sun."

*************************************************************************************

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measure by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
***********************************************************************************


(sidenote: I still believe in Santa.)

Oh sure, I know people can write articles with a slant. . .that's why there are editorials. . . but I trusted GOOGLE to be a great source of information. I found out last week that they can also be a great source of misinformation ----- unintentionally. Zheljko put me on to that. Thanks!

You see, I took a photo in front the library where I now work. . . and I asked online if it was a TULIP TREE? The blossoms certainly looked like it and there were no leaves (the leaves come on after the blossoms fall off) and the thick branches looked like photos I found on the internet of Tulip Trees.

Some people on the internet told me it was a Japanese Magnolia tree instead. I said I believed GOOGLE was a good source of information and would call my photo a "Tulip Tree." I talked to the reference librarians after work. They brought out about 6 books. We found out it is a Magnolia Tree after all -- not a Japanese one but a Chinese one. (The library also has a "grounds info book" and it was labeled as the Chinese Magnolia and its scientific name.)

What we decided is that anyone can mis-label something on their website on the internet and GOOGLE picks it up as a graphic and labels it what the mis-label already is. Thus the mystery is solved about why the exact same blossoms I had a photo of could be labeled wrong on the internet in a GOOGLE search.

I love learning new things! That's why I miss teaching. . . I always learned more when I was teaching.