Bummer! Learned today that the Broadway Across America production of Fiddler On the Roof - featuring TOPOL! - has been rescheduled from Dec 2009 to May 2010. Sigh.

So guess I'll have to make do with having a theatre party night for Wicked instead. Gosh.
Hey Raven! Hey StitchWitch! how does Friday, Sept. 18th sound? I'll book us in downtown for the evening; we can have "after" and go shopping on Saturday. Yes? Maybe we can even do something that TigerBoy and Wolf will find interesting.

Oh NO, just looked at Camlin and it looks like they are doing the group theatre thing again. How about we get a couple of 1 bedrooms and go to the play on Friday, Sept. 25th? Email or call so that we can talk tickets.

Sometimes I really don't like my commute. Like yesterday afternoon when it took over 2 1/2 hours to get home. The game got out right at rush hour.

I know that Seattle has to repair/resurface their downtown streets. It just seems that if they have to 1/2 the available traffic lanes there should be some way to detour part of the traffic. My bus driver yesterday suggested that instead of getting on at our usual north end stops we take a different bus through town in the tunnel and then connect with our bus at the final stop at the south end of downtown. I'll have to try that next week.

The majority of southbound bus routes through town approach downtown from the east on Stewart Street, which is currently reduced to 2 (of 4) lanes on left so that they can repair bus zones. This causes stack-ups of buses waiting to get to stops. The routes split between 3rd and 2nd Avenues when they turn south. Second Ave. is currently, for 2-4 weeks, reduced to2 (of 4) lanes to left for the same reason.

I've heard that the surface streets all need to be done while there is "stimulus" money available, and that they have to be done before the viaduct replacement tunnel can be started. Too bad the light rail doesn't go through town. Someday.

I stayed home from work on Wednesday because I wanted to be there when Sierra Stone Northwest did the resurfacing of our patio. They'd said they'd leave the bill and I could mail a check if it was easier. Those who know me also know that since D.W. had to go to work and I don't always believe workers will do what I was told they would do when unsupervised...... Not to mention I wanted them paid immediately so that there was no possibility of a construction lien being started. Yup, trusting, that's me.

We forgot to take a "before" picture, darn. It took them about 5 hours.
They cleaned out the starts of new growth that had appeared post-pressure wash and filled in the holes and cracks with epoxy. That was followed by a rather nasty smelling primer, then they chased away the neighbor cat. They started to mix epoxy for surface when neighbor cat returned, got chased away again. Back to mixing; picked up neighbor cat and set him just on edge of primer - he schedaddled. Finished mixing, glared at cat. They blended 5 different colors of pebbles to get the mix we had selected, poured in the epoxy and they were off on the 1st of 4 sections. (I watched the color/epoxy blending. A cooking analogy would be layering dry ingredients for a recipe, without a bowl, blending them then adding liquid to center and stirring to combine evenly.) To create the new patio surface they used a "rake" to spread the stone mix and then got down on hands and knees to spread/tamp/smooth. As they started to mix for 2nd section they had to run off you-know-who, again - luckily this was the last time. The last step of the day was tossing a light layer of sand over the wet surface, to add just enough "texture" that it won't be slippery when it gets rained on.

We had chosen a 2nd, lighter, color to be applied to the "step" aka "weird angled ledge" on patio. Guess what! It can be seen, easily. Now I wish I had told them to do that to garage door step as well.

The "new" patio looks great! We were laughing last night because it has just enough shine to look "wet". No more looking at patio and saying "it's starting to rain". :)

Next, final (?), step is building new stairs. Home Depot here we come.

We'll have a BBQ when they are in!

Hello world, I'm back. It has been pointed out to me that it has been several days since I posted. OK, yeah, I'm aware.

Think I told you that I took a tumble on a Seattle street. I landed complete palm down on my right hand, which means that the wrist was nicely bent, so I jammed it down pretty hard. I've had a recurring soreness when I turn my wrist or pick up anything with much of a weight (large, full, coffee cup for example). NO it is not broken, or sprained - it doesn't hurt nearly enough for either. Been there, done those. I think strained would be the most it can be called. It has caused me to treat it "nicely" for the past week. It is much improved!

Yesterday was Father's Day. D.W. and I took my Dad to brunch at Marie Callendar's before D.W. had to go to work. They have quite the spread. Omelets, waffles, fruit, and dessert in 1 room; salad/soup bar in another room, and the bisquits&gravy, salmon fillets, chorizo, quiche and the like hot trays in a 3rd location. We all enjoyed it. Dad ate more than his usual for breakfast :) , including giving in to a bit of sweet tooth. I'd never put shredded carrot into a veggie omelet before, that was pretty good. D.W. and I did justice to the wonderfully flavorful pineapple.

Have I told you that the neighbor's cat has been trying to convince us that he belongs to us too?
Started when we let him into the dining room (where the cat door is) when he was locked out of his house during the snow storms that past winter. Now he just comes for company. He knows that he isn't supposed to come any further in than the dining room area; and he minds a darn sight better than ours do.

Anyway, this weekend another cat (who I have only seen once before) came to sit on the steps and gaze in. This one is a large, medium-long hair, cream color with orange points.

What brought this subject up is that "someone" decided to scent mark my kitchen! So I washed down the counter fronts, and the floor, and the rugs. That worked. Think I'll go back over the counter fronts and floor tonight with a more specific cat odor out solution just to be really sure.

Raven and I went to Firwood Farm Alpaca's earlier this month, see previous post. And we went back after they sheared and took a look at the fiber that they decided to keep and sell directly to hand-spinners. Raven also booked a day for the weaver's guild fiber artists to visit and have a mini spin-in. We had told her that we were mostly interested in the chocolates and the multi-color suri (long haired) fiber. She showed us the whites, and the pure black that she had as well.

We purchased small amounts from those for which we had previously expressed interest. Mr. C's is a warm, milk chocolate color. Hershey's is a dark chocolate color with some blending toward his father's black, and just a bit which is an usual kind of grey-brown. The the suri, Bellagio, is a 6" long staple of mixed fawn, grey, white, cream. For the event, the farm staff will be making an assortment of 1-3 oz. bags of single color or assorted color/texture.

I haven't worked with raw alpaca before. I decided to look for cleaning instructions on-line. What I discovered is that there is a wide range of ideas on how to treat raw alpaca. Who'd have figured. I knew that because alpaca does not have lanolin that it would take a lower than sheep's 150 degree wash temp. What I hadn't realized is that the "popular opinion" as to care would range from 85 - 140 degrees. And some said they thought the best option was to spin raw and wash afterward to clean and set twist at the same time.

With this alpaca I can see that last option, these are very clean alpaca. Very little vegetation and pretty low odor for a camelidae. These species like to roll, and who cares if there is urine on the ground. Apparently this farm has very well behaved alpacas, they don't even dig wallows.

I decided to stay home from the shoot and recupe. Today I decided to ACT on the idea of alleviating pain. Worked, sorta. Now I just have to figure out how to not use that hand. And the deep muscle bruise from the fall has worked its way up to the surface, not pretty.

Ghost thought it was a very good idea for me to stay put and act as catnap furniture.

This evening I had a tutorial from D.W. on ways to customize blog. He asked why I didn't figure it out for myself. Answered that why should I take months to work it out when he is here and already knows. Yup, definitely The Wife.

We went shopping this afternoon because we were out of eggs. How can I make Vanilla Ginger French Toast without eggs? Came home with several bottles of wine. Well you know how it is.

One of them is a Spanish sparkling non-vintage Cava. Non-vintage made about a $40 difference. Are you surprised we thought we'd try it?

BTW for anyone who doesn't know us well, D.W.Drang of Clue Meter is my other half!

I've had a couple of mishaps lately. Darn it! I am NOT at a certain age and starting to fall apart; I simply refuse.

I hadn't been to the dentist for longer than I should have - I called & made an appointment. Several days before the day, all of a sudden, c.r.a.c.k, broke a tooth. Went & got a rubber patch applied; on the appointed day I got prepped/fitted for a crown as well as rest of exam and cleaning. Oh my aching jaw. I get the actual crown next week.

This week I have grounds to sue the city of Seattle. Those sidewalks are UNSAFE. I was walking along, on my way to work, and WHAM! All of a sudden I was flat on the ground. The thing just reached out and grabbed the toe of my sandal. I have witnesses! No broken bones, no torn clothing. My hands bore the brunt and got chewed up some. And I seem to have jarred one hand to the extent that I either bruised the bone or strained it somehow. Tonight D.W. took me to buy a wrist support so that I will stop using it wrong and give it a chance to rest. Sigh.

We are supposed to be going to a "shoot", or at least an outdoor social event, tomorrow. Can't shoot, can't spin, don't kow any of the attendees. I'm having 2nd,3rd,10th thoughts - still haven't made up my mind whether to go or bail and send D.W. on his own.

Last weekend Raven and I went to visit the Firwood Farm Alpacas. Oh yeah, tasty fibers. Met the pure black herd sire and the white herd matriarch. We got to hand feed several, some very dainty, some slobberers. Glad to have the hand sanitizer. The "Guard Westie" was a treasure.

But it was last year's babies who won us over. Mr C, and Hershey are milk and semi-dark chocolate. Bellagio is a suri throwback, longer straighter fiber, thinks mini dreads instead of curls. And he is a multi-color! fawn, gray, white, mocha. Yummy. The herd was to be sheared/sorted/graded on Tuesday. I left a message today asking what fiber they would have for direct sale and reminding her of what we had told her when we were there. Crossing fingers that the news will be good.

Raven was wearing a watch/bracelet set which she had made. (I didn't register for any of Fusion Beads classes this time around. sorry to have missed this one.) She says that she'll show me the technique - Triangle weave chain.

Father's Day is fast approaching and not an idea of what to do for Dad. A pocket case for the ever present toothpicks, perhaps? He did say when we talked tonight that he would like to go back to Maria Callendar's for one of their brunches again sometime. Hope they are taking reservations.

The Aunts are leaving in the morning for a trip back t0 the old homestead. Aunt B's daughter and husband will be doing the driving. Since both aunts are now in 80's this may well be their last visit. Dad (86) says he wishes they had asked if he wanted to go.

Does this mean I need to plan a driving trip to Midwest? I already am working on how to do the coast trip he wants.

Next week we get a new patio! Or more accurately a freshly resurfaced patio. I am very much looking forward to having a nice looking patio.

Next step is steps. So just what does it take to build new steps (4)? Sure can't use the step stool I put out there was any length of time.

When that is done I think it will be time to get Dad on Evergreen's waiting list for the apartment he wants to move to. I'll have to start clearing things out of here so that I'll know what we want to take with us in the move to the house.

I have been doing fairly well with the "redesign the Bearcat" plan. Not losing weight fast, but losing it steadily. Leslie says my chart looks fantastic. I commented to D.W. tonight that it surprises me how many people comment on my brighter spring/summer wardrobe. It is still quite casual but nicer casual.

Ghost says I'm ignoring him so I better go appease the cat. Jet went outside after it cooled off; wonder what time he'll decide to come back in tonight.

So, I've finally decided to jump into the water not just dip a toe.
My husband says "start your own blog."
My boss says "I like the way you write, you should have a blog."
My friends say "if you'd write it in a blog you wouldn't have to write to [everyone] separately."
Alright, already, it begins. Today, June 12th, 2009.