Raincharm’s Weblog

We managed to unload a few pounds from the house today.
Two of Carl’s former charges came over and had their pick of the books slated for removal from the house. They took about 3/4 of a box. Not too bad.
The best part was after the initial flurry of looking at the books when they both were sitting in chairs reading away.

Repacking what stayed, for their final journey.

Other than garbage, which gets parceled out each week, to whatever can fit into our mini-can, these are the first things to find new homes. Hopefully this trickle will start the flow, and may it become a roar.

Things have been continuing here.
Cleaning, sorting, working, working, working.

Carl has been the primary cleaner and sorter.
Jay has been the primary worker. Only in the measure of hours past normal this week, which has resulted in less cleaning and sorting.
I actually have work to attend to today, but am trying to take care of a bit of transactions that are not quite correct. I am on hold – speaker hold, so thought this would be a good opportunity to put up a blog.

The great book sort is nearing its conclusion. The last big bit of books have been gathered and vetted for keeping or going. The next step is to start the going process. Maybe even starting tomorrow.

Carl has expanded the sorting into pictures. Mostly gathering, not too much “going away.” But he keeps bringing them down to look at. The current picture being viewed is from approximately 1990-91. Ashlan, “Can I snuggle?” Actually, she was possibly not that verbal at the time.

Morning snuggle with the kids

The picture is in our old house (next door to our new house). Looking at the picture I see that we still have the same bed, different sheets. The TV was located in the built-in wardrobe in our bedroom. (I remember going to bed early while I was pregnant and watching Perry Mason re-runs on the wardrobe TV.)

This is the B&W TV I bought when I graduated from college and got a paying job. It continues to work, so we continue to use it. The only other “thing” I recognize readily is the alarm clock. It is still next to the bed, but it doesn’t work very well any more. The clock works fine. One of the two alarms can be set. What doesn’t work reliably is the radio that was the alarm to wake us up in the AM. So, it has been replaced with the B&W TV on a timer. The type of timer used to turn lights on and off when you are not around to do this.

Now perhaps it becomes clear why we have so much stuff to go through. If it has a chance of working, it doesn’t leave.

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OK – Work is continuing to dominate my time.
This weekend has been a MUST COMPLETE PROJECT type deadline.
As usual, my initial optimistic estimate of time to complete the project was underestimated.
Nevertheless, I have persevered, and am taking a break now before trying to get through the last stages (for this weekend). Today I hope to finish the Water Comp Plan Amendment, complete 2 maps for the WCP, and finish the SEPA Checklist for the WCP and associated project.
Other bits that extend beyond today include some resolutions, letters to distribute SEPA, and finishing an Agreement and updating our Web information.

All this while remembering Salvador Dali’s quote, “Have no fear of perfection – you will never reach it.”

OK – now that we are past what I must do, here are some other bits.

It has been 50 years since the movie To Kill a Mockingbird was released. I read an article about Mary Badham, Scout, yesterday. When she was in the movie she had never seen a movie. Perhaps not so unusual back then. It sounded like her experience was very much one of an innocent just going along with what was happening. That 10-year old feeling that I really miss sometimes. Your expectations were limited in scope, and that provides a sort of freedom.

I was very much in an internal turmoil over the Susan G. Komen initial decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood. I support both entities, and it was awful. I sent off my e-mail to SGK as soon as I heard the news, and apparently so did several thousand others. But I feel their move will continue to taint the organization, and it certainly won’t make our fundraising this year any easier. Even before this I was fairly certain this year’s event was going to be our swan song. For a day I was trying to figure out whether we should even push forward this year. At this point I do believe we will move forward.

Yesterday I was asking Carl a series of questions. They were not all related, and I can’t even remember exactly what they were about. His answers, however, kept being the same, “I am deferring to you, it is your call.” I finally managed to ask a question to which he said he wanted to, “Fer.” I am not sure exactly what “ferring” looks or sounds like, but I will continue to try to figure out how to use it in a sentence.

The weather in Seattle has been spectacular for February this weekend. So, in amongst the work, we did take a walk yesterday. It was late afternoon when we started, and it was clear that it is still winter, as the sun was fairly low on the horizon. (Translation – shining right in your eyes if you were heading west.)

It is a stated “fact” that Seattlites purchase more sunglasses than anywhere else in the country. Now this would fly in the face of all that cloudy, wet weather stereotype. But it is more the angle of the sun when it does shine, and the inability of Seattle eyes to acclimate to the sunshine. Speaking of which, I ordered a new pair of sunglasses a few days ago (see prior blog). They have not yet arrived, and I walked with clear lenses yesterday.

I have been using a new APP for our walks – Endomondo.
I found yesterday that you can look at what you did on their website as well – post walk.
One cool thing that I found was their altitude chart, which I tried to copy, but not successfully, so no sharing at this time. It also maps the route – pretty successfully. I have been pleased with it so far. Has all manner of workouts to chart – bicycling, spinning, running, ….

The BIG GAME.
We will be watching, or at least have the TV on to the correct station.
I don’t really have a favorite team. If I have a leaning – maybe NY Giants. Ashlan is living in NY.
I also have $5 riding on a random pick board. Could win $20 for each of the first 3 quarters, or $40 for the final score.
My numbers (these are for the last digit of the score)?

Patriots 8  Giants 6
Patriots 5  Giants 4
Patriots 4  Giants 6
Patriots 3  Giants 0
Patriots 6  Giants 5

This is what really helps us through the game. Figuring out what needs to happen for one of my “scores” to win.

I remember when the Vietnam War was going on, that some of my friends and acquaintences had brothers going off to war. Occassionally one would not come back.

I remember when this latest round of difficulties in the Middle East started. I think the kids were in middle school, and I was terrified to think of them going off to fight far from home. Really – it terrified me.

I know folks here who have kids that have gone to Iraq and Afghanistan, and a few that have been injured pretty badly. But until today I have not been aware of a person I knew going away and not coming home. This particular person, Will Stacey, Sargent Stacey, played baseball with both of my kids in little league. He was just between their ages. There may be more connections, but I am slow to bring them to the front of my mind.

I just know that this has impacted me more than I would prehaps have expected. When I told Carl, he just started rattling off how much this kid (at the time) had impressed him with his dry humor, willingness to get along, and smart. Here is a much better report on Will.

Enough said. I am so sorry, and I can’t even imagine how his parents are coping tonight.

Took care of a few things today.
First thing I did was work.
The difference was that I stayed home and worked over the internet.

I actually think I accomplished what I intended, although I did not get as far as I had hoped on my project.
But, I was able to better set aside answering every e-mail that came my way, and certainly all of the walk-in requests. I wish I could do this tomorrow, but alas, I must go in.

One of the reasons that I thought today would be a good day to work from home was that I had a doctor’s appointment. Instead of leaving an hour early from work, I could leave after work hours from home.

Nothing major, just an eye exam.
It has been more than two years.
And for the first time in many years – my prescription did not change!

This does not mean that I can suddenly see, but that I have “stabilized.”
At least for the time being.

So I just had my glasses tightened up, and ordered a new pair of sunglasses – with full prescription this time instead of just medium vision. So – when I get to the cabin this summer, it had better be sunny so I can wear them while I read books on the beach.

While I was at the eye center, they kept asking me if I had brought any sunglasses, since they dilated my eyes. Since the sun was going to be down when I was driving home, I had dismissed that idea. However, the drive home was one of bright stars and sparkly lights. I almost think headlights are more of a hazard than the sun.

And yes, these were the most exciting things that happened to me today.

So what if it still feels like winter.
I think it still feels like winter when the regular season games start in April.
And I seem to remember some snow-outs a few years ago.

Baseball season is upon us because

1) It is Fan Fest Weekend in Seattle
2) Practice is starting for both younger and older guys.

On Wednesday Carl was at a batting cage with his contemporaries.
Today Carl was at a batting cage pitching to high school kids.

In between, we went to FanFest. This was the first time I can recall going without a small child in tow.
It was still fun, and perhaps more so because we didn’t have to worry about keeping a small child engaged.

It begins

First order of business. Meet the newest Mariner.
Another Montero for Seattle. The other is Freddie, as in Sounder striker.

Jesus Fish, er ... Jesus Montero and Mike Carp (2 left seated)

After a bit of food, and chatting with fellow baseball enthusiasts we started our meandering wander.
The first wander was in the direction of a deadend, but it afforded this view.

Waiting for us to participate

The first bit of participation was to try hitting a home run.
In this case it was from the outfield, off of a tee, with a “soft” baseball

The Wind-Up

And the blast to our seats (actually 2 rows past our seats)

The “home run” really did land about 2 rows behind our seats (over the Boeing logo)

Onward – back to more hitting. Excuse the next picture. It was difficult to be safe, and get a good pic.

Felix (you can't see the picture) pitching to Carl

Next up was a tour of the Mariner’s Locker Room

Felix Hernandez, with a Bernandez bobble-head on the shelf

We ran into several folks that know Carl. Friends, other fans, Safeco Field workers. Kind of like old home week. Or day.

Short post – should be working.

Work – has been draining this week – so falling behind on home stuff. Not so much doing extra work in the evenings, more just too mentally tired to do much of anything.

Must share this video – of my lovelorn son.

Just trying out his acting chops, I guess.
(Rey – don’t quit your day job.)

Looking forward to taking a reasonably long walk this weekend, and maybe moving a few boxes out of the house. (We’ll see what really happens.)

Today it was back to hitting the books.
All I can say is – gee, we have a lot of books.

Started getting into clearing out the kids rooms (of books) and the study. Other odds and ends. This means that pretty soon we will be able to start the distribution process for those not staying long term.

As I move around the house it still looks quite cluttered.
But when I look closer I can see that there are many spaces where the back clutter is being cleared out. Still a daunting task ahead.

Maybe this week I will try to conquer either my clothes or old filing.

The biggest fun for the day was trying to see how much we could cram into the recycle bin. And our neighbors bin. We only have 2-3 bags of stuff that didn’t fit. I could really use a weekly recycle run (instead of bi-weekly).

During the snow/ice pause to our normal lives, cleaning of the house has continued.
Carl has been working on the majority of pulling things out of old hiding places.
Then he brings me the latest pile to go through.
The piles this week have only proven to slow me down – because they are old letters.

Letters from old boyfriends (yes), roommates, friends, relatives, and most from Mom & Dad. I have read (reread?) many of them. Thus the slow-down.

Much of the letters report the weekly comings and goings of our lives.
Sort of like some blogs.
Birthdays, weddings, passings, retirement and a divorce or two.
Dinners, movies, plays, college experiences, bike trips, visits. You name it, it was reported.

Some of my memories have been reinforced, and more than one corrected.

I have to share a few things here – just because.

My Dad can be such a card!
From one letter dated Sunday April 18th, during a year in which Jane was at MTU

References to my lack of timely writing are a theme throughout the pile.
Sunday 6/6 included an exchange between Dad & Jane.

Sunday, July 11

From a Tuesday June 19 letter that was right about the time of my Dad’s retirement.

The preceding sentiment followed my hiring “Eastern Onion” to have a “fairy godmother” crash Dad’s last class (as a high school spanish teacher), with a Happy Retirement song and dance. (I can’t remember if I did this on my own or had sibling help.)

Sunday, Sept. 7

Included with a letter was the following program dated Friday November 3, 1978, 8:15 PM at the Music Auditorium.

For those that want to know, Anne (KW) played the Sonnata in E minor by Bach, Concerto by Gordon Jacob, Grand Solo No. 1, op. 57 by Friedrich Kuhlau, Density 21.5 for flute alone by Edgard Varese, and Prelude and Scherzo by Henri Busser.

On the roommate/suitemate/college buddy level there was the following from Sam (Archaeofacts) written late January 1983 from Jackson, Michigan

I do believe it did work out.

Many letters included bits about transitions. School, work, boyfriends and girlfriends, kids. In other words, everyday ordinary life.

What I really realized is how much I liked, really relished, getting letters.
And I know I was not the best letter writer, but I must have written some to have received so many.
And don’t anybody feel bad if I did not quote them. The pile was enormous, and I just pulled out a few that struck me at the moment.

Now – back to cataloguing books.
ASHLAN – Rey has gone through the list. Your  turn.

Day 5 dawned with no snow falling.
Rain had finally started.

Rain just starting as I went out for the - not delivered - newspaper

Waiting for my carpool

Rain and wind have cleared much of the snow

Looking like February/March Snow in Michigan