Life in Weyers Cave

Yup, 22 years old. At least chronologically. Her mental age, maturity age, etc. are all kind of a crapshoot from day to day. She at one time had a cap that was glued to her head from Disney World saying she was never growing up and I think the message is still there, which is one thing I love about her. Last night I got a frantic text message, or as frantic as a text message can be, saying that she was almost killed by her nemesis, a 1000 pound plus Cathryn-hating sea lion named Woody. He apparently came barreling towards her but stopped just shy of the glass. Apparently he scared her well. Tomorrow she is off for the long drive from Seward to Fairbanks to (hopefully) finish up her last year of college. Then the hard parts, getting a "real" job, though considering she has supported herself quite well the last few years, the term "real" is probably a misnomer. She has an incredible gift with the written word, but has a hard time sitting still long enough to be happy ...

Funny, but it seems that everyone is in a bad mood and stressing out lately. Except Dianna and Bryan. I would say something in the water, but we all drink different water. I think we all need to get in a great big circle and chant Kum Bah Ya! Everyone should love everybody. Maybe too much internet. The news is always depressing. Nothing fun to look forward to? As for me, I try to listen to the radio system David gave me. The music is great, if I could cut out the news which makes me want to punch someone. Sigh. I am very excited -- I rented a space to put kids stuff in and I can start cleaning out my house. It is half a mile away. First, the garage and Allen's bedroom downstairs. And the stuff from the Red House. Then we will add some of Cathryn and Dianna's stuff. Bryan, do you have anything left here? I'll find out as I dig! I would love to totally simplify. And as I find furniture for whoever needs to furnish their home, I can shove it in there. I think the 10x25 foot sp...

Greta the black and white speckled chicken likes to come inside the house and eat the catfood. Sadly, this will soon end because dear Mishka the cat has feline AIDS. We have her locked in the attic so she doesn't get the other animals sick with it. Just a word about Mishka, the best cat ever. She is fifteen and for years, was always asleep during the day in a basket in the Stube. One day, a chicken came and had the gall to lay an egg in her basket while she was away! Poor Mishka never went in the basket again. She can tolerate thirty 7-year olds poking and yelling and never get upset, but she will NOT tolerate an egg in her basket! Now she curls up on whatever free material is left on the benches, or if not, she curls up on the bed. But anyway, in comes Greta to eat Mishka's food. I never allow chickens in my house (don't like their presents on the floor), so I always chase her yelling "Aus! Aus! Hinaus!" and waving my apron. I decided to try a new strategy. I pi...

 

  This is from a clean home and isn't very old. Dust LOVES computers.

If you were on the feed to this blog, you would see I posted twice today and deleted them both, because they were negative and boring. Yup, life is boring without the kids. Except for Tuesdays with the chickens. What to do, what to do...

I am having a little trouble with this computer and the video card from the camera not reading correctly. I know I need to post some pictures. Tonight Allen send a footlocker full of cool things from Djibouti. The greatest were his two Army Commendation Medals. Cool! There were lots of other medals, some coins, some statues (no, I didn't like THAT one, Allen!), some pictures made with thin shaved wooden strips of different colors and textures, a pretty white necklace, some lovely soapstone boxes, a few baseball caps (one says Djibouti) and stone statues. Dad wants the box, the ties, and the safety glasses. I will try to post a picture. We got the new microwave oven. It is very small and just a microwave. The other was so much bigger that the little table is too low. I guess after 30 years it is okay to replace a fiberboard cheap table??? I've been working on computers at Skyline Literacy all day. Twelve computers plus the laptops. Maintenance and upgrades. I got one student lap...

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been about 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.” -- Alexander Tyler

Tonight the microwave gave up the ghost. I think it was about fifteen years old, replacing another one we had had for nearly fifteen years. It had the convection oven in it and was wonderful doubling as a second oven when we really needed the extra room. But sadly, I don't think I can justify the extra money to get the new one with a convection oven. I'm not at all studied up on brand names, or if they even mean anything anymore. I got a microwave for the Red House two and half years ago and it didn't even last out two years. Apparently, with the new ones, you must be careful to always turn them off before you open the door or you burn out a switch inside. Which costs more than the microwave. So now we are down two microwaves in a year. I always spend the time to do the comparison shopping, and it is quite a chore buying a new appliance. Any suggestions?

I love having the online journal/blog, because it makes it so much easier to find when I did things and remember names and stuff. Plus with all the kids spread out, I feel like if it is on the blog, I don't have to repeat myself. I know when I deal with older people they repeat themselves again and again. Okay, so maybe I do too, but not so much on things that have happened recently. I think. I worked on two computers today, one totally trashed with viruses and the other setup for a college student going off to school next week. Both are fun, but I get more enjoyment out of the virus-laden one. A bit of an adrenaline rush when I finally get it working. This one had a bad CD drive as well. And just a bit of RAM, so I had to add more. With David gone, I don't tend to eat very much. I've been nibbling on fresh beets and tomatoes that Martha brought over and some leftover stew meat from the other night. This computer is driving me crazy and I can't put my finger on it. It h...

We're home. It is five in the morning, and I've been up for hours with a splitting headache I've had for two days, going into the third. Traveling, particularly five days in a row in the car, is not something I enjoy doing at all. I loved going around Savannah (though would have liked to go on a famous ghost tour there) and being with Dianna is priceless. The hotels were very nice and we were able to go swimming twice. It was good to see my parents and in-laws. The car is comfortable, but I am so hyper and sitting for hours with nothing at all to do is mind-numbing. I am not driving, David doesn't like the radio on in general, I can't read in the car... Next time, I will get some books on tape and a headset. But mostly I just don't like sitting for more than twenty minutes. I can't even sit through a movie. So I am really happy to be back! To do list and all. There's no place like home.

Dianna is safely tucked away in the comfort of Disney World for four months. David and I delivered her there this morning. The trip down has been relatively uneventful. We celebrated David's birthday in historic Savannah, saw all three grandparents, and managed through storms, traffic jams, etc. but no accidents, illness, or tickets. Tonight we are in Savannah on the way home. David teaches Friday morning and we are eight hours away so it will be a long drive tomorrow. Bryan is taking his last check ride for captain as I type this. It lasts from 8 pm to 1 am tonight. Cathryn has no place to live in Fairbanks, since her housing plans fell through. Allen is due for a big promotion within the next few days.

Yup, thanks Tam. H ere is the Health Care Bill. No spin. Just 1018 pages.

Do jellyfish get gas from eating jellybeans? Do pilots take crash-courses? Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? Can you buy an entire chess set in a pawn shop? Did Noah keep his bees in archives?

I have been meaning to get some food from Angelfood Ministries for quite a while. This is a unique service to give everyone access to low-cost, decent quality food. Once a month you can get a box of food for thirty bucks. This months box is: Qty Size Item Description 1 1.5 Ribeye Steaks (4 x 6 oz.) 1 3 lb. IQF Split Chicken Breast 1 1 lb. Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops 1 2 lb. Mac & Beef Dinner Entrée 1 1.5 lb. Breaded All White Meat Chicken Nuggets 1 1 lb. 80/20 Lean Ground Beef 1 1 lb. Bake or Fry Fish Sticks (32 sticks) 1 1 lb. Frozen Corn 1 1 lb. Frozen Baby Lima Beans 1 1 ct. Cello-Wrapped Iceberg Lettuce 1 2 lb. Sweet Potatoes 1 15 oz. Pork & Beans 1 1 lb. Rice 1 32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk 1 Dozen Eggs 1 Dessert There is also a senior box for $28 Qty Item Description 1 Chicken Cacciatore 1 Macaroni & Beef 1 Chicken & Noodles 1 Meat Lasagna 1 Chili with Beef & Beans, 1 Macaroni & Cheese 1 Boneless Pork Patty 1 Sweet & Sour Chicken 1 Spaghet...

"You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." you've ever had to explain that there really isn't a cave in Weyers Cave "You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." you've seen Paul Wilson do his nightly 1000 jumping jacks on the trampoline "You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." it doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat, Steve Landes is okay anyway "You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." you've watched the light go from green to yellow to red just for entertainment "You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." you've ever forgotten your wallet at Super Save and they called you by your name and said not to worry, just pay next time you come in "You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." you know that anything you do WILL be spread around the town in a matter of minutes "You know you are from Weyers Cave if...." you know about the rivalry between Bethany and Pl...

Yesterday was our 28th anniversary. We celebrated with a quiet Mexican dinner. Yes, I do love my husband. And after all of these years, we fit together well. I try not to take him for granted and really appreciate all that he has done to be a good husband.

Tonight I had a real "gig"! My dear friend Adair and I fippled at a local Ruritan club for their evening entertainment. Actually, I fippled and he harpsichorded some songs. And he was responsible for the bad jokes. He is a jolly fellow and always fun to be around. I went to the chiropractor today and he jerked me around and twisted me like a pretzel and promised I would feel better. By jove, I must admit I do. I think the trips on the cobblestones in Belgium weren't too good for my back. Hopefully I can hold onto my health, because I had been doing quite well before Belgium. Happy Birthday Allen! Yup, he called me from Djibouti which was very exciting. He is doing very well with his job. Talk about someone who is tough to buy for, though!

A week from this Saturday is the first ever Fipple Fest in the valley. Now don't get too excited! Wow! A fipple, for you noobies (am I allowed to use that word???) is the little wooden insert at the top of a recorder (blockeflote) that the air runs over towards the blade to get a sound. So this is a day when ALL of the fipplers (recorder players) in the Shenandoah Valley can get together at an old church in Harrisonburg to jam together. My buddy Adair will be in charge and is the brains behind it. Adair is a delightful character, full of talent and ideas and always a joy to be around. I am his right-hand man. Flunky. Whatever...

David and Dianna talked me into watching the DaVinci Code last night. I had read the book. I loved the on-location angle, and am fascinated with history of the early Christian Church. I have little interest in the Knights Templar and later Catholic church, despite having been at the Knights Templar church in Luxembourg. Okay, that church was kind of cool. Casting was great, music wonderful. Cameras did a great job. I knew when to close my eyes for the violent scenes. By all counts, of course, an excellent movie. But I still had trouble. Sitting for two hours? Tough! I stood up near the end just to get off my feet. Much to Faraday's dismay. She had jumped up to sit between my legs the instant I sat down. So it was very, very late when I finally made it to bed. When I went to bed (after MIDnight for Pete's sake!), I was in pain and slept fitfully because of it. I just can't stay sitting in my chair that long. I really don't understand how there could have been a time in m...

It was nice to be back at the German museum yesterday. I missed my chickens. There is a new baby chick, 12 days old. She was ridiculously cute. Awwwww.... We had a steady stream of visitors all day long. We went to the Verizon store together on Saturday and after waiting twenty minutes, they made me to go the "other line" and said I had to wait through it, then come back and wait in the first one again. The place was full of people, loud music blaring, and the lady behind the stand started out by telling me that Dianna's phone "couldn't" be two years old, it had to be three. (Hint: you don't start out a conversation by calling someone a liar, particularly when you have the data in front of you proving they are telling the truth.) So we left. Fortunately, I have a friend who is a Verizon agent, so Dianna and I went in last night. There was no one else at the store in the mall where he is located. It was quiet and peaceful and a much nicer experience. We w...

I don't work well with To Do lists on the computer. Paper lists are good when they are short, but I lose longer ones. Sometimes I use the white board in the kitchen but it is awkward to reach. So when I have a LOT of different things to do, I write one task each on the backs of old business cards and tape them to the pantry in the kitchen. It is cathartic to tear them down as I do each task. Since I was gone three weeks I have a LOT of things to do. So the cupboards have been covered with things my task list. When the kids were young, I would post chores there with a dollar amount for each chore to get stuff done on Saturdays. The kids would get the card, do the chore, and turn them in for money. Nobody could play until all the chores were done. Afterwards, one child (cough, cough, the one who thinks work is a four-letter word) would always complain there wasn't enough money in it. Fortunately, all the kids today do realize you have to work to get money.

  I thought she was cute with curls.

It is amazing how quickly 50 pounds of chocolate disappears. 20 of it was David's, so that is almost half. Then a few bars here and a little bit there. Ruritans, church members, friends, two recorder groups, museum, literacy board, and oh yes, family. My mother, who is 5'8" and weighs almost 120 wants $75 dollars worth! Where will she put it! The Bastin chocolate shop, a mom and pop place where we know the owners, had fifty bars for us of truffles, our favorite. But only 28 had labels since they ran out. I was disappointed until I tasted one. They were literally made the day before we picked them up and were SO INCREDIBLE! Fresh chocolate tastes a lot different. We got home and my friend Martha had filled my kitchen with all manner of food: corn, beets, beans, tomatoes, squash, zucchini and a huge salad, all fresh from the garden. I have never had so many veggies as we have had the last few days, all outstanding. And the fridge is STILL full. It is wonderful having Dianna ...