Busy Time

A beautiful, warm, sunny Day Off finally! If only I hadn't needed to sleep thru most of it. The pollen is proliff- erating, n my head-aches n sinuses are getting a work-out. I can't afford the good sinus pills this week, so Benedryl will have to suffice, n it makes me too groggy.

I enjoyed a minute sitting on the deck stairs in the sunshine with Mischief this late afternoon before the insects dive-bombed. It seems all that rain for weeks has resulted in a bumper crop of stinging bugs, thick swarms of them... everywhere.

After a very down-sized errand run, I went for a walk to the D-bridge for the sunset. Tiny no-see-ems were all over me, but I managed to stand still for a couple pics, like this one. Another very pretty sunset over the M-cove. The best parts of my Day are always the free ones- The worst part is always the latest tooth-ache, plus an ear infection this week, no doubt aggrivated by pollen allergies n no good sinus pills...

I'm so glad my crazy-order work week-end is finally over! I'm pathetically exhausted. They used to hire someone to do half of the summer order increased workload, but now they expect me to happily do it all on every busy night, in the spirit of getting more done with fewer people... I'm supposed to happily run myself into the ground like this so I can't function in my free time. You know, being so grateful to even be employed n all...

So today was extremely low-key. Between feeling sickly n the current penny-pinch, I really can't do much. The only payment plan offered by the electric company was timed to be paid the same week as rent, which is currently busting my butt.

I'd like to get more done. I need to dis- assemble n wash all the indoor fans now that it's getting warm. I want to see if the old, Sears hand-power-mower for the lawn still works. All the deck flower pots need to be re-done. Weeds are filling in all the soil. Not many resident perennials have come up in the containers yet. I planted some pansy seeds late, n they haven't sprouted. I'm putting off so much. Lately it's enough just to get through laundry.

My neighbors are so so good at keeping up the constant motor-mowing. My ears can't deal with it this week tho- so I have to close the windows on it. So much motor noise. Tons more autos, boats, n motorcyles around this week as the summer weather brings down many summer folks.

Tourist time on the Cape has begun- I just hope I can keep up with it!

Awakening

In rainbow dreams, a gentle Blue Dragon blows bubbles of magic drops upon her, while she lies stretched out asleep, unaware...

She will awaken to find in reality, she is but a bare branch on a hill before the darkening spring sky... about to burst forth with oak leaves.

Peachy

My errand run was timed perfectly to coinside with passing over the D-bridge at this pretty, day's end sight of the M-cove. I clicked just a couple pics of the gulls before my memory card reported being full.

I'll soon delete some lesser desired images for some useable space, but will be cutting way back until I can get a new card. Glad I got in this mini-vaca shot at least... so restful... time for a nap!

Rare

On Friday I awakened to a flash of sunlight at the window, the first in a very long time. I ran to open the window up n grabbed the cam to record the blue between MapleBeard n the pollinating Huckleberry tree. Ah, that pretty highlighted Blue n green...

Figures it had to be a workday... N I had to hurry n get going. Folks were flocking out doors to experience the brief brightness we were being graced with. Teen-agers in shorts sauntered down the road, n the roads were crowded as I drove to work.

There hadn't been another day in weeks I can remember being not totally overcast, and/or rainy.

The blue being reflected off the water of the boat ramp beach thru the trees was a rare spectacle to behold also.

Can't wait 'til I get a chance to soak up some rays sometime.

... Now back to our program of clouds n scattered showers for Day Off again...

Too Often

We run out of time

Forget the important Stuff

Avoid crossing paths

Skip ahead of the slower ones

Stop to catch our breath

Fail to see

Hear only what we want



Don't try to reach

Stay self-absorbed...

......................

by

SnaggleTooth

today

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Hope your predicted "Judgement Day" is fruitful!

Toady

Good thing I saved a few pics of non-rain stuff to look at, because Rain Toad is getting a work-out these days...

This year I had to touch up the paint on Rain Toad, due to many bright white scratch marks, n possible gnawing around the edges.

I'd remembered similar color-themed, permanent, Pantone Markers bought decades ago for a college art project, n went to search them out from the old shelves out back. Years ago I was taught to store markers on their side to last. N wow, can you believe the over 20-year-old markers still worked?! I was amazed n greatful they did, as it made the scratch covering quick n painless, plus, they weren't ready for the barrel yet after all- (They were 4 bux each).

I noticed more, similar toads this year at the store where I'd got it, but none with the water meter, which is my fave feature. The old tube also cracked on one side, so I used wateproof clear tape to patch it so I can still get a reading.

Which reminds me, that Mississippi River flooding is unbelievable! So many folks are put out of their homes. I heard they closed the river to barge traffic too. Yet another excuse to raise prices of goods. Also, Lake Champlain where I vacationed as a young child, n near where My mother grew up, is way past flood stage. I wonder if the Connecticut River is next...?

I'd thought the Coral-eyed Phlox look a bit rough there, now it's totally beleaguered! At least it survived the winter in it's container. Now the Lilacs are blooming unseen in the fog. Today I didn't even get out in the daylight due to feeling under the weather. Between tooth-aches n a stomache-virus it's amazing I'm even blogging...

Is This Thing On?

Well, it does kinda feel like the end of the world when you can't even get a comment posted on blogger for over two days! All the Coms I did on Weds evening got erased too.... No posting either...

"Service unavailable..." "Help forum closed to comments..."
Dead-end city! Wonder how many posts are about this recent mess?

You know it's bad when Lynn hasn't been able to post her good things for Thursday! Then I noticed on her side bar, some folks had been able to post during that day- N I wonder if they were prescheduled ones?

Had it run on longer I may've gotten over to Tumblr to play. I'm thinking that's the next step- so if this happens again I have something all set up there as an alternate. Still I feel like blogreading was a waste of time without the comments... But I did get to do Jannies at least! Surely there are plenty of Blogger Defections taking place out there...

Pic 1 unaltered: the flowering shrub out in the yard with the half-moon. Weds evening it finally cleared n I got out for some quick pics-

Pic 2 The woods across the road starting to green up.

How aggrivated were you Blogger folks?

10 Days

When I saw a recent news spot about "The End is Near" type ads, I thought the story rang a bell about something which happened awhile back... So I did a little digging.

Billboards have been going up around the world to warn folks. Some people in "Project Caravan" have given up their regular lives to spread the message to everyone they can, a noble n perhaps futile mission.

The group's 89-year-old leader, Harold Camping, is the president of the Family Radio Christian network. Mr. Camping was a civil engineer who used mathematics to decipher numbers in the bible according to a formulae which he devised, is thoroughly outlined on Wikipedia.

His web site explains why scripture lets us know that some will know when the end is coming, btw.
He incorrectly made the same prediction for September 4, 1994, n stated he'd made a mistake which he's corrected for the current prediction. That's why I'd heard of it before!

Members of the Project Caravan believe the date will begin the Rapture, n the world will officially end on October 21st. They believe if they re still here after that day, they weren't picked, n will suffer the months of torture with the rest of the damned folks. Some members I saw on tv news have stated they expect an Earthwide earthquake on that day, beginning on the Greenwich UK mean time line.

I have now done my part to warn everybody, just in case.
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Now, if I actually believed that the world ends the 21st of this month... What would it change about my current plans?

- I won't need to get MB a card for her B-day on the 22...

- I won't have to bring my trash to the dump or recycling as soon as I can. Let the pile build!

- I can stop worrying about how I'm going to suffer due to the electric bill payment plan all summer from this past winter's heat bill.

- I won't need to pay any bills at all, or worry about the deadlines. Not saving up to make rent frees up some funds-

-Hmmm, maybe I'll take all that bill money n have a big ole party... eat cholesterol laden ice cream with whipped cream n order a blooming onion from Chili's.... all the stuff I tell myself I can't afford to do.

-I could run up a huge phone bill calling all my old friends n it wouldn't even matter!

- Probably I'd sell some stuff that isin't needed short-term, n buy presents for folks with it, so at least they can have fun for a little while before it's too late.

I'm sure you can think of what you'd do differently, or things I didn't think of yet-

Mom's Day

I hope today all mothers are fondly remembered. May all those flown from the nest get to connect with home again, don't forget to call, n show appreciation for all given thru the years. On Mother's Day I really miss my mother. I think every one who still has one is very lucky! Even if she does know just how to get on your case.

My Mother raised five children. I don't know how she did it, but she sure was strict! You just didn't dare to cross her, n she managed to make you do everything she wanted you to. She was a strong n opinionated, brave woman who taught us to stand up n fight for what was right, n to help every one we could.

Tho She's been gone over ten years now, I can still hear her voice in my head, n most fondly remember the sound of her laughter. Back in the year 2000 I made her a free web page n started collecting some things there to always remember. The page is still up in case we need a family recipe quick. One of the sections is "The Kitchen Wall," where in her house we always read the plaques given to her as gifts over the years. The following is from one plaque:

A mother has a special way

of bringing joy to every day,

of bringing laughter to your eyes

As childhood years fly quickly by-

A mother has a way it seems

of understanding hopes and dreams,

of knowing how and what to say

a mother has a special way.

- anonymous

May you all have a good Mother's Day-

You guessed it, I have to work!

Peeks from the week

A neighbors flowering tree (I think it's an Olive)

Tulips out back just cleared of some vines beginning to bud...

A huge shrub in my yard budding like crazy, with a peek of Little Truck in the driveway...

Mischief out scouting the lawn...

A periwinkle spotted in the 5-gallon bucket on the deck... (I hear it's known as Vincia)

The vigorous hosta under the Lilac bush bursting out...

Here comes the green!

Spout

Fifth week in a row of cool, overcast skies for Day Off happening here! Some recent workdays were perfectly sunny n warm, making me very wistful for free, unrushed time in the sunshine lately.
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I've been having a very low-key week if not for the historical demise of Bin Laden. So I feel something really huge is going on out there, while I have no effect on it what-so-ever. All the media hype is driving me crazy, so good thing for the dvd collection. This week I've been watching the old "Firefly" series again to be ended with the "Serenity" Film. Almost seems like the TV I'd rather watch. New series not featuring reality shows, cops, bodies, n lawyers on my few free primetime evenings is too much to expect from major networks, apparently. (I only have basic cable channels).
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This week I'm really glad I don't have a Sony Playstation. If my game were bumped off-line, I'd be going ballistic... I bet many hooked folks are, due to the latest new info compromise. I'm still too paranoid for facebook. When online bankcards first came out, the local Cape bank made me change my card three times due to possibly compromised info. They soon after went belly-up, n were taken over by a large Bank. Guess I've always been overly suspicious of the on-line vunerability issue. I resisted being forced online for applications, accounts, n payments as long as I could but must do some. It's easier but there's always a hacker out to get every new, better thing. Recently, google made us give a phone number to recover stolen accounts... (that made me nervous, too!).
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Speaking of new things, Maplebeard is finally pollenating. My ears are ringing, eyes stinging, n the head-ache comes n goes. Good thing for allergy pills or I'd be totally non-functional. Always time to take the groggy benedryl on top of the other 24 hour pills now, until those trees are done. The pollen starting into high gear always slows me way down. It'll be a slow few weeks for me because of pollen.

The rain today is washing the pollen off of Little Truck. Turns out the folks downstairs messed up the hose water valve in the basement, so I can't turn it on until it's fixed, unless I let the basement flood. I tried tightening all the fittings, but it still spouted. Then I had fun getting it to shut off again. How to waste several hours of free time in one should've been easy step.
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I'm really allergic to pollen, so without the hose, now I'll have to carry water out with me to rinse off Little Truck's door so I can open it every day. I might throw buckets of water off the deck occassionally to rinse it too. Getting to work without getting more sick will be challenging.
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It'd be nice if just one thing about what those folks did downstairs didn't cost me more work n time! (Is that too much to ask?) Now, back to cowboys in space, as opposed to trigger-happy cowboys on the news...

Another 4

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Have a
Happy Day!
(pic from February 2011)