Kingfisher Cove

Poor Baby, Silly Baby

My 20-year-old baby is sick.  It must be the flu because he has a fever.  And his lymph nodes are all swollen.  I inundated him with Gatorade, throat losenges, Satsuma oranges, and ibuprofen.  Oh, and chicken noodle soup.  He definitely milks it when he's sick.  Like most people I know of the male persuasion.

And guess what the silly red-head kid did last night prior to coming down with this ailment?  He dyed his RED hair BROWN.  Not only that, but he also DYED HIS EYEBROWS.  (Jeeze, isn't that a big no-no?  "Do not color eyebrows, eyelashes, or pubic hair".  I'm pretty sure the instructions are dire about that).  As a red-head, his eyebrows and eyelashes are naturally very light-colored, and so 1) it looks very odd to see him with distinctive eyebrows, and 2) he now has no "eyes" at all because he (thankfully) did not attempt to dye his lashes and so they seem even lighter than they usually do. Whether he "addressed" his pubic hair I don't even want to know.  Hmm.  Well, at least he didn't dye his hair blue.  Or green.  And it is temporary.  Sort of.

Kids.  Sigh.    

Rollercoaster

On the weather front, they've backed off on the severity of our impending snow storm tonight.  In fact, it may not happen at all.  This is typical, so it's always hard to totally believe it when we're told:

Another! Storm! Coming!

It's a little irritating, but I do understand it better these days because of my favorite local online meteorologist guy who writes like Dave Barry and explains these things very eloquently (with a big dose of humor, too).  Western Washington is impossible to forecast, and it's really not an excuse.  There are so many variables with the ocean, Puget Sound, the Cascades and the Olympic mountain ranges, the "convergence zone", the rain shadows, the arctic flows, the Pineapple Express, El Nino, La Nina.  I mean, get the picture?  When they're right, it's pretty amazing -- which means they had to take into consideration all of these factors, multiply them by 0.5735, divide by pi, and then lay down a bet in Vegas. 

At any rate, if it indeed does NOT happen, it's win-win for all of us.  I, for one, am totally fed up and utterly weary of this icy crap.  I choose to not live in the midwest or in Maine for a good reason.

I drove in to work today and the freeway was fine.  It was getting to the freeway that had my heart throbbing in my throat.  Since we don't encounter these snow "events" all that often, we don't budget in a huge fleet of sanding trucks or snow plows, and so all these hilly side streets and arterials are utterly ignored.  And of course all intersections (always with a RED light in the direction I'm going) are situated at the bottom or in the midst of these slippery/slimy hills.  I don't trust myself, I don't trust others -- because we're all virtually out of control!

I suppose because hormones are out of wack, and also because of feeling some post-traumatic stress after arriving to work, plus burdened all day with the impending doom of another storm coming, PLUS the attitude I seem to encounter everywhere I've ever worked by the head honchos who are typically from MINNESOTA or BOSTON or MAINE or NORWAY and so the expectation is that YOU WILL BE AT WORK OTHERWISE YOU'RE A WIMP AND I HAVE NO TIME FOR WIMPS....well.  I've been on the brink of tears all day.  What's up with that?

[Update:  It's now sleeting.  Oh joy.]  

Tonya Telecommuted Today

Took one look at the sheet of ice road out front of our house this morning (and our steep driveway from hell) and made a lightning-quick decision:  "Ain't risking it."  There was some guilt involved, but jeeze, I just didn't want to get my Bug crunched or end up in a ditch.  LIKE PLENTY OF PEOPLE DID.  Actually, it sounds like the vast majority of people stayed home.  My commute is a 20-mile drive that involves several steep hills and they aren't good about sanding around here.  Thankfully, I was able to get a lot of work done from home.  (That alleviated the guilt quite a bit).  I wrote an article for the newsletter, conducted email interviews for two more articles, and my proposal (due Friday) is now a completed draft shipped via email to the technical guy all ready for review!  Yay me!

It's true we didn't get a ton of snow where we live (about two inches, compared to 8-15 inches in other areas), but boy.  It doesn't take much to create havoc.  It was amazing to hear how many cars were abandoned on the freeway, and that people driving home after the Seahawks (win!) last night were still trying to get home this morning!  Yes, part of it is inexperience about driving in the snow (it's scary, OK?)  But a good part of it is the abrupt differences in elevation/terrain.  And black ice.  Black ice that wasn't sanded.  (Don't get me started about that).

Tonight it's clear and sparkly COLD (currently 26 deg.), but guess what?  Another snow storm is due tomorrow afternoon!  And they are calling it a "widespread event" with "significant accumulation expected." 

Just call this "Snowvember."  (And I'll be glad when it's outa here).

Peanut

Oh God. I might die.

Holy Crap!

You wouldn't believe what it's currently doing outside (and has been now for the past half hour or so).  Not only is it snowing, but it's thundering & lightening!  The flashes are directly overhead and light up the sky like it's noon outside (instead of 7:00 p.m.), followed immediately by LOUD! CRACKLING! thunder.  This is most unusual.  A snow-thunder-storm?  Well, it's been the wackiest November we've ever had (wet-wise, etc.) so I ought to just shrug my shoulders.  GOD THERE'S ANOTHER FLASH! BOOM!  It's just really strange.

Surprisingly, Peanut is taking all of this in stride.  But Bailey the long-haired weenie, is not a happy camper.  In fact, she is camping beside my leg, leaning against it and shuddering.  I keep petting her and talking to her and I think it helps, but then THERE IT GOES AGAIN!  Surreal.

[Update:  Here's an interesting article on how "thundersnow" can happen, written by my favorite weather guy].

This morning I left the house feeling just fine because there wasn't much snow on the ground and the road out front was wet.  People were driving quite slow and I was OK with that, until everything came to a total screeching stop on the freeway.  I'm still not sure what that was all about, but it ended up taking me nearly an hour and a half to get to work (normally a 35-minute drive).  It was insane!  I do know areas were very slick, but I never encountered any ice in my Bug.  Maybe my Bug is immune.  (I will not take that thought seriously and will continue to be on alert.  Especially since it sounds like tomorrow morning could be a nightmare).

It's Snowin'

After waking up to a faint dusting early this morning that melted in short order, I spent the rest of the day hearing how all points north of us were getting slammed.  Blizzard conditions!  And I felt a little jealous.  Seems that's usually the case since we are close to the water and we apparently get it's "warming effect,"  so significant snowfall is quite a rarity.  This often results in the "Cinderella Effect."  (You know, the wicked step-sisters get all the fun and you have to stay home and scrub the floors).  But I woke up from a fitful nap to about an inch accumulation on the deck and I then noticed that it was sticking to the road, too.  For all of you who get snow regularly, this probably sounds ridiculous, but it's pretty exciting around here!  However, why couldn't this have happened last night when I didn't have to worry about driving to work tomorrow morning?  (Because what does this night hold?)  It's continuing to come down pretty seriously. Nate's actually admitting that he's rather nervous about driving his cute lil' Miata to school, too.  The thing is, we have a driveway from hell.  It is hella steep and dumps right into a very busy street.

Chances are pretty good that it'll turn to rain and it will be totally moot by morning.  (But we won't be going to bed thinking that, unless it's already turned to rain).

THEN.  As you know, JDub has had to work all weekend long.  From Thanksgiving through today.  He got home this afternoon and immediately plopped down for a nap and his (work) cell phone kept ringing, which he slept right through.  And I wasn't going to wake him up!  Finally a call from Da Airplane Company came through on our land line so I knew it had to be important.  Turns out there was a minor emergency (a Big airplane move into a hangar that really needed a manager to oversee) so he had to go back into work -- just while I was making dinner.  Grrr.  Well, he just called (thank you, dear!) and everything is back on track and he shouldn't be too long.

It's going to be hectic from here on out.  We have things going on every weekend until Christmas!  (Well, maybe the weekend prior to is free).  So no Harstine for a while.  Sometimes I've decorated this weekend after Thanksgiving but I just wasn't in the mood this year.  Next weekend for sure.  I was surprised being out and about last night with JDub (out for bite then to Fred Meyer) that there are lots of residential Christmas decorations up already.  I hate putting it all away so much that I've just gotten to the point where I don't put a fraction of my stuff out anymore just to avoid that.  I love the tree and I have a few special things (my Santa Collection), but I used to haul all of my books out of my shelves (we are talking hundreds) and fill those shelves with unique Christmas things, and I don't do that anymore.  No sirreee.  Someday, when I don't have to work anymore.  And so will have the time and energy.  (Well, we'll hope I have the time and energy since I'll be old).

Oh.  And a note about shopping.  I. Hate. It.  WHY do stores insist on packing every goddamned thing into every square inch?!  The aisles are full of crap.  You can't maneuver between them.  The clothing areas are racks abutting racks abutting racks.  I got so irritated when I attempted to walk BETWEEN racks and about a half-dozen items on hangars would fall to the floor.  I just left them there!  Otherwise, that's all I'd be doing is picking up hangars off the floor!  Jeeze, why don't they get a clue?  I soooo prefer online shopping.  So there.

A Totally Fun and Productive Day!

Today was so fun!  Helen came over this morning and stayed through early evening and we accomplished a LOT. We each made a number of gel candles, and she also made some soap.  Everything turned out excellent -- no duds.  The gel candle-making is a simple craft, a wee bit messy but really not bad.  And watching Helen make the soap was impressive because it's simple, too.  (For each of these, it's just a matter of having all the right supplies and basic paraphernalia).  The scents were interchangeable, and she had a vast assortment so our "stuff" smells good, too!

Of course, to get started, we had to have our priorities in order.  (You can click photos for larger versions).  We had very nummy "cadillac" margaritas that are on-the-rocks and topped with a shot of grande marnier.  Mmm.  However, to start Helen made lemon drops with freshly squeezed lemons and oranges and you actually feel like you're drinking something very healthy.  Heh heh.

Here's Helen thumbing through the collection of shells, beach glass, and agates that JDub and I mostly collected on Camano Island over the years.  The Harstine stuff is at Harstine, and there's not a lot of shells or beach glass there.  On Camano, they're all very plentiful.  This stuff makes fun additions to the gel candles with color and texture and in this case a beachy motif.

Next was pouring the melted gel into the glass containers.  It made all the difference to have a little pot with a pouring spout.  When I made these a few years ago, I didn't have that and it made for a huge mess.  I always have to learn things the hard way.

I like the bubbles in the gel!  They nicely catch the light (flame or sun!)

I was going to work on some stained glass this weekend, but our printer is on the fritz so I can't print out my patterns.  (A new printer is enroute but that won't be helpful this weekend).  Gee.  Guess that means I need to do laundry.  Sigh.

From Naked Hens to Happy Hubby

The rock Cornish game hens turned out nummy! No, I did not clean my plate (or even come close to it!) The weenies made out with what basically resulted in sausage stuffing. 

Happy Thanksgiving

...from Tonya, JDub, Nate, and the Weenies

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

It's the eve of a four-day weekend for moi!  And Helen is on her way from Oregon bearing Lemon Drop ingredients and gel candle-making supplies.  (Woohoo!)  I have some supplies, too, although I have yet to pick up some more glass containers.  I may have to go with what I have on hand or head out early Friday to pick up some more.  Hopefully near my house, because I'd hate to drive down to the Mall area (which is an absolute ZOO any day of the week, let alone Black Friday).  Shudder.

The boss never showed up at work today and I was told that she never does the day before a major holiday.  (Which is fine with me, it really doesn't matter).  HOWEVER.  My coworker and I have been requested by our office principal to report to her (the principal) regarding our "assessment" of our boss.  It's review time (mine's next Wednesday).  I do not feel comfortable about this at all.  I've been bit in the butt in similar situations in the past.  My coworker told me that this has never been requested before.  Jeeze.  What to do?  Yes, there are issues.  Do we dare address them?  Shudder, again.

Oh, I heard back from the game manufacturer about the glitch in "Secret Files: Tunguska".  The geek nerd idiot person replied: "Yes, a patch is being released regarding a problem some customers have been reporting.  I do not have a date as to when said patch will be released."  OH, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELPFULNESS.  NOT.

So, what strange or unique Thanksgiving traditions do you and yours observe?  I can't say that I've ever experienced anything particularly out-of-the-ordinary (other than I HATE yams and I HATE cranberry sauce), but somebody called into the radio station today that on Thanksgiving morning, they HAVE to have chocolate-covered bacon.  (Yes, that's what I said -- chocolate-covered BACON).