Raincharm’s Weblog

Carl took one of his little ones to the zoo this afternoon. One of the exhibits they visited was the Gorillas where they found a mother and baby. The baby was riding piggyback on the mother.  As they walked away to the oohs and aahs of the on-lookers, the little one started peeing down the mothers back. Undaunted the mama did a  number two. (Carl said it looked like horses–t (think Mackinac Island)). Ah, fun at the zoo. It provided at least some additional conversation. [Note all three kids are in some stage of toilet training.]

I have spent my evening working on fundraising.
My current effort is writing reviews for a web-site.
They give you a small donation for each review, if they don’t have too many for the place, no chains, yada, yada, yada. Between 0.25 and $1.50 per review.
It’s not too bad, but I realize that I don’t get out too much.

Upstairs – AM radio with Mariners v Twins on KIRO 710 (Seattle feed)
Downstairs – XM radio with Twins v Mariners on Minneapolis Fee
TV in dining room – CBS with Final 2 of MarchApril Madness (MSU is a bit down) (no sound)
TV in living room – ABC with Jeopardy (for another minute or two)
Computer in living room – WordPress (obviously) and whatever other
Newspaper in the dining room – love being able to do the crossword while brain dead

OK, we could probably turn off one of the TVs at this point. I think I have settled in for the evening.

Finally.
We took a walk (at last) where I had on a long sleeved t-shirt and fleece. I should have left the fleece at home so I wouldn’t have had to carry it. Wow – so many people out. We walked from home around Green Lake – packed with white bodies (not all were white really, but the Seattle Winter White), up to Mae’s Phinney Ridge Diner for brunch, and then through the Zoo (also packed – parking lots full). We actually just cut through the zoo and didn’t look for animals too much (so many people). Carl is a counter, and if only we had thought to count strollers, we would have been into the hundreds.

And – the taxes are finally filed! We are even getting a return, and despite my starting them months ago, I just got around to figuring out where to put the 529+Coverdell information. Turbo doesn’t quite lead you down that road, but I knew it was somewhere. Thank god its the last year I have to go through the Coverdell gyrations. That account has been drained. The latest info didn’t change anything on the amount of the refund, but I feel better knowing it is correctly reported….

Time for BASEBALL. The Major League opener starts in less than 1 hour.
Carl will surface again in October.

That has been my day today.

Started with a soccer game. Temperature at kickoff – 37 degrees. Temperature a the final whistle – 52 degrees. In between a game in the sun. Turns out our team was short two players, and the other team had 4-5 substitutes. But we won! 3-2 I am not sure why they were not able to wear us down so that they could just run wild. And they did score both of their goals in the second half. One of our high school kids saved the day with an amazing goal in the closing minutes. Oh, to be eighteen again (and to have played soccer for most of your life before turning 18).

From the soccer pitch I went to a co-worker/friends house to bide my time for number three on my hit parade (proximity and both of us going). On the good side it was her six-year old son’s birthday – PARTY. This was their family party, with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and even a great-grandmother. Lego and K-Nex and some books, and several vegetable starts with tools. And yes, he was excited about the gardening (although not as much as the Lego). Had some good food too. His kid party is next weekend with one of his good friends who also has a birthday this month. Nice folks, and Sam was very gracious for a 6-year old with lots of new toys.

Part 3 – The funeral, or really more like a memorial service/party. One of our Board of Commissioners passed due to cancer, and we wanted to pay our respects. It was good to hear a bit more of his life story as well. I think they appreciated our presence even if we had not been a huge part of his life outside of water and sewer. The party was held at an Elks Aerie. I don’t know if I have ever been inside an Aerie, although I seem to remember walking by one on Huron, north of the split. An interesting place. Reminded me a bit of a dive bar, but maybe that was the smell of smoke that we just don’t have anywhere around here anymore. [I don’t miss the smokey bar!]

Part 4: MSU up by 8 10 as I type, with 7 minutes to go..
I drew UConn, but have really been rooting for MSU.
I am actually finding it hard to watch (although I might miss a sighting)
Now that they have a bit larger lead than tied maybe I will draw myself back to the tube.

Later

I had the privilege of spending the last two days in a class. Resource management for Emergency situations sort of a class. The instructor did  a great job. There was a real mix of attendees, and she kept us listening, working, switching groups, even a snowball fight. (By this time the snow had all melted so we used wadded up paper.) And – I think I really learned something. I had felt the need to not miss two days of work, but after the class I do not have the feeling of lost time. Some just work out that way.

And – the sun is shining, and is supposed to shine through most of the weekend – woohoo

“…  no need to mow.”

You finish the NEW and IMPROVED SAYING.
It is way into April (9-1/2 hours) and it is snowing outside my window. Not pellets, snow.

… ___________________