tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89626744106411171422024-02-07T12:46:15.474-06:00**********Joanne's *J* Spot**********A spot for Joanne's musings, photos, tutorials and especially PINK POODLES!Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.comBlogger613125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-40036766430299153982021-02-04T13:24:00.002-06:002021-02-04T13:24:41.576-06:00What happened to me just after I moved to Portland<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">(I finally am free to write to the media and government representatives about the experience that I write about in the next paragraphs. My lawsuit with State Farm ended in March 2020. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I got my freedom to write just in time for the advent of Covid 19. I don't think the media or government representatives will care about my experience with the bus company unitl long after the virus is finally conquered. But, at least now I have the freedom to write in my blog.)</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In 1994 I vacationed in Seattle and Portland.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I fell in love with Portland and dreamed of moving there one day.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When my youngest son was looking for employment he searched in Portland because I told him how vibrant and beautiful the city is.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In 2015 he and his family moved to Portland.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My husband and I had divorced so nothing was holding me back in Houston TX.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I retired from a job I loved, sold my large house, gave away or sold most of my belongings and moved to Portland. I was looking forward to helping take of my 2 young grandchildren and involving myself in Portland’s rich art community.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I moved into a small apartment on May 19, 2017 with my cat and dog. Around 6 PM on May 22 I took my dog for a short walk outside.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I looked both ways as I crossed the street.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was about a third of the way into the crosswalk when I heard a noise.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A large bus was bearing down on me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It hit me throwing me onto the pavement.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I suffered a major concussion and a shattered right femur.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I was taken by ambulance to the hospital and had surgery the next day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then I spent 5 weeks in a rehabilitation center.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I healed enough to walk with a walker, Medicare decided I should be released.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I knew that living alone would be dangerous for me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Besides, my apartment wasn’t for someone with a handicap.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Medicare had not given me enough time to apply for assisted living so I moved into a senior apartment complex that provided meals and cleaning service.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Plus there was nursing assistance business and physical therapy office in the building.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I paid a high premium to live there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After 4 months there I bought a home near my son.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">18 months later I had to have another surgery - a bone graft.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I stayed 3 more weeks in a rehabilitation center.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The police had given the bus driving a ticket for reckless driving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Drivers’ Union fought the ticket in court.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since The Portland police officer failed to show up for court, the ticket was dismissed.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Trimet was obviously at fault for my injures.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They had a video that showed the driver running 2 stops before he ran the third one where I was in the street.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">They had a moral obligation to pay me a settlement for my injuries that resulted in my being permanently handicapped.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Instead of going ahead and fulfilling their obligation I had to hire an attorney and file suit against them.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At times I was followed by their private detective.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I couldn’t email my friends, write on my blog, or post on facebook.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Everything I said was open to Trimet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If I did email a friend, they would inevitably ask me how I was doing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If I said I was doing better, Trimet would interpret that as my total recovery.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So for over 2 years I did not write online.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It took Trimet that long to give me a settlement.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I had to turn over all my medical records - even those before the accident.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>On August 13, 2019. the deposition with my lawyer, Trimet’s lawyer, a recording clerk, videographer and the bus driver took place <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>During the bus driver’s deposition I learned that he had rear ended a truck the week before he hit me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One of his passengers went to the hospital by ambulance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Trimet took no action against him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In fact, even after he hit me he was not fired.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Trimet allowed him to keep his employment record clean by allowing him quit with the provision that he not talk or write about the bus company..</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After Trimet’s lawyer presented the details of the deposition to Trimet, I was awarded the most that Trimet legally has to pay - less than $700,000.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A third of that went to my lawyer, another third to my insurance companies for paying my accident related bills.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That does not leave much compensation for a permanent disability.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’m writing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>because I believe that Trimet does not train their drivers adequately.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nor do they have enough performance checks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The tort bill limits their liability so they do not fear retribution for their inadequacies.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Also, Trimet seems to be immune to traffic laws.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The driver who hit me ended up with a clean driving record.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Police officers should be instructed that they MUST show up in traffic court to insure that their tickets are upheld.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now that I have lived in Portland for over 3 years I have witnessed many incidents of buses running stop signs, traffic lights, cutting off other traffic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I believe that buses need to follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles. Drivers should be trained that all traffic laws must be obeyed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If that had been done, I would have avoided all the pain and anguish that the accident caused me.</p>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-52261108458438203302020-11-10T13:45:00.000-06:002020-11-10T13:45:00.416-06:00<p> This is a personal journal entry.</p><p><br /></p><p>I lost a friend this week. We would hang out about once a week. We went to the coast one day, Sauvie Island another day. We made lunch for each other. We had plans this week to go to the OMSI museum. I was looking forward to it. And he wanted to come over and watch Borat's second movie.</p><p>No, he didn't die. He said he wanted to "take a break." He gave no reason for this. At first I thought it was all about me. I thought I had said or done something wrong. Then I realized that the last time I saw him he told me to arrange for the museum's tickets. It can't be about me. Most likely another woman has come into his life - either a new person or an old girlfriend.</p><p>Last Thursday he told me he was tired and congested. I checked in on him by text on Friday. He didn't respond. I tried Saturday. I texted once and then called and left a message. My family comes for dinner on Sundays. I was worried that maybe he had the virus and that I had been exposed.</p><p>I texted him again telling him that I needed to know if it was necessary for me to isolate from my family.</p><p>He responded to this text. He said he was okay and that he would email me on Sunday. That was kind of weird because he likes to talk on the phone.</p><p>On Saturday night I made meatballs and sauce for the family dinner. I made enough for him and I to have for lunch later, Sunday morning I got the "take a break" email. I responded that I was disappointed and could he give me a reason. It would be nice if he would respond but he hasn't. That makes it doubtful that I will see him again.</p><p>He was a very sweet person, kind and caring. I had really enjoyed his company. He never approached me physically. That was okay with me, though I do enjoy more closeness. Friendship is very important to me.</p><p>It's been difficult for me to find a companion since I've been in Portland. I think I wrote about the woman friend that I had. We had lots in common, went shopping, lunch, plays, some sewing together. She basically dumped me. She wouldn't say why. Finally after a month or so, I took her aside at a sewing meeting and asked her why she was mad at me. She said she wasn't mad, just tired of hearing about the bus accident. I guess that makes sense considering the timing. She dumped me on the same day that I found out that I would need bone graft surgery. I guess we were really never friends if she would do that to me.</p><p>Last year I met a nice man. We dated for a few months. Then I didn't hear from him. Finally after he told me that he had gone back to an old girlfriend.</p><p>When I look at men's profiles on line I feel undesirable. The men here all want to camp and hike. I wish I could do those things. I can't ride a bike, take long walks, squat in a forest, etc. It's beautiful in Oregon. I enjoy the nature here in a more limited way.</p><p>Even though my chances seem slim I joined an online dating site this week. Maybe one day I will find a significant other or at least a pleasant companion.</p><p><br /></p>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-23864024937550939402020-10-11T00:05:00.001-05:002020-10-11T00:05:37.313-05:00October 10, 2020: It feels weird.<p> Today when I was walking Sweetsie in the neighborhood I said hello to some neighbors. They were a young couple working together in their yard. It hit me again how strange it feels to not be part of a couple. It was never in my plans. I guess I thought I might be a widow someday. But that was in the future, not now.</p><p>I've joined the league of older single women. It's a big club. But, it feels weird to be a member of it. Jim used to talk about growing old together. Maybe if he hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't be thinking of it now.</p><p>There are a lot of positives to living alone. I can buy whatever I want for my house without consulting anyone, watch whatever I want on TV, listen or not listen to any music, go to bed when I feel like it, etc. But, I'm not sure I'll ever grow used to it. Or maybe I already have - I just bought a new car. I researched different models, chose one and bought it. </p><p>It is wonderful to be independent. It just continues to feel weird.</p>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-12952079325682986242020-09-15T12:27:00.000-05:002020-09-15T12:27:02.832-05:00<p> <b> September 15, 2020: Double Trouble </b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> VIRUS AND SMOKE!</span><br /></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaHt8ZtW3cumcvfaxTgUzPiPizhzIhU4VGBU746klU7txgOWeBG0ZbiOWXK1i1y_eTdLrZnMHV-wsltEKwF-d5JFdqI38G0bvvcTNUvXZ1CDrAYVWvwxF0vDRiCD0jTB4bUdhozTmWg0/s2048/2020-09-13+smoky+air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaHt8ZtW3cumcvfaxTgUzPiPizhzIhU4VGBU746klU7txgOWeBG0ZbiOWXK1i1y_eTdLrZnMHV-wsltEKwF-d5JFdqI38G0bvvcTNUvXZ1CDrAYVWvwxF0vDRiCD0jTB4bUdhozTmWg0/w300-h400/2020-09-13+smoky+air.jpg" title="Sweetsie on a walk with dog walker" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2020/09/13: Sweetsie on a walk with dog walker. Today it's too smoky for him to take her.</span></div><p>For the first time since I was a kid in Rochester, NY I have a little garden. I watered it everyday. I'd sit on my porch enjoying my flowers and waving to passersby. It made staying at home during the pandemic more bearable.</p><p>But now, it seems like Portland's beautiful summer and fall have abruptly ended. Last week wind storms started. It was like a hurricane without the rain. The huge pine trees bent in half as the wind roared through. The winds encouraged forest fires. </p><p>Now the air is very still and filled with thick smoke. Sweetsie and I can't sit on the front porch or go for walks. Poor Sweetsie keeps bugging me to walk her. It's actually so bad here that even opening the door to let her outside is difficult. The smoke and burning smell is so strong. My flowers are suffering without my attention.</p><p>We are lucky here that we just have the smoke and not the fires.</p><p>It's dark in the mornings. My cat, Stella is letting me sleep later. As I write I'm sitting under my daylight lamp. Otherwise I'd probably stay up late into the night and sleep until the afternoon. I want to keep my circadian rhythm normal.</p><p>My hobbies keep me motivated to get up and moving every day. My mother always thought that my sewing was a strange hobby. But, it certainly is helpful now.</p><p>I finally learned how to use my sewing machine's walking foot. It's easy and really helps with sewing knits. I'm working on getting a t-shirt to fit me. I have a small frame and big bust. Finding a nice fit in ready-to-wear is difficult. I've already made one using a Pamela Pattern. It isn't quite right so I've tweaked the pattern and cut out another shirt. I plan on finishing the shirt today. I'm using a different knit fabric so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one turns out better.</p><p>My timing isn't always very good <span style="font-size: x-small;">(eg. using the crosswalk when a bus is being driven by an inept, irresponsible driver)</span>. However, when it turned out that I had to get my heat pump moved because of my home remodel, I decided to have a Halo unit installed. https://www.rgf.com/products/air/reme-halo/</p><p>I was thinking that it would be a good thing to have because of the pandemic. It cleans the air with ultraviolet light killing viruses, bacteria and filtering the air from dust, smoke, etc. So I'm a lucky one in Portland now. My house doesn't smell smoky!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-10216158240439677752020-09-10T18:10:00.001-05:002020-09-10T18:10:11.805-05:00September 10, 2020: My house remodel, Part 2<p> Guess I got out of the habit of blogging. 3 years of not being able to express myself in writing has changed me. I think about what I'd like to say but that's as far as it goes. I'm going to attempt to do better. It's healthy - makes me feel connected and chases negative thoughts away.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><b>My House Remodeling Part 2</b></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>BEFORE: The front of my house:</b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MzixqmQ2xm5FHJxeUSlXzuuJWJG_SG2o0SEJ5ES6HvaKuAchHChLt7jLkWkBZcRSpyjeio-MrfVm5Fs9Q9Rm78yp8Z8TVPEsbEK1EHIhi1H3BWcp7iplfh8AQqIyYZJrWgITkkStEpM/s510/Before+front+of+house+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="510" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MzixqmQ2xm5FHJxeUSlXzuuJWJG_SG2o0SEJ5ES6HvaKuAchHChLt7jLkWkBZcRSpyjeio-MrfVm5Fs9Q9Rm78yp8Z8TVPEsbEK1EHIhi1H3BWcp7iplfh8AQqIyYZJrWgITkkStEpM/w320-h255/Before+front+of+house+pic.jpg" title="BEFORE PHOTO" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>AFTER:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodxSPJza4xs3EV_uiaIW4myr34NN7ldUiY6XuhtQ9Qg3v1bJ7-2kFD5iPb4NuA4CRbCNZUIb1BI4AtpnsMTRT3Pm2vdsAb1La8wcgdc1jSv9KHS5MTt34FgybqzRkrVuD97n1APdy02k/s2048/2020-07+zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodxSPJza4xs3EV_uiaIW4myr34NN7ldUiY6XuhtQ9Qg3v1bJ7-2kFD5iPb4NuA4CRbCNZUIb1BI4AtpnsMTRT3Pm2vdsAb1La8wcgdc1jSv9KHS5MTt34FgybqzRkrVuD97n1APdy02k/w500-h375/2020-07+zoom.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I have enjoyed my new front porch so much! Sweetsie loves sitting out there with me. </p><p>I even planted a little garden in front of the porch. Fuschia are in containers on the porch rails.</p><p>I had my front door painted in dark pink last year. This year I decided that the garage door should match.</p><p>People who walk by compliment me on my pretty house!</p><p>The driveway used to be full of broken concrete. I had a new larger driveway poured. An addition of a basketball hoop over the garage gives Kenny his own practice court.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKexGcermEIg9zR0XkCkMVZPwm3b3ssHwyvJrL8IAXMz3kE49uhF7xxYlwTtDPXnFgPUMQY3oqJXRF8l29H7cs9lz3UniBunBuRS3trAsdMs_eNad9-P4fJs94aciSP2Kas_lihztEWMQ/s2048/2020-06+basketball+hoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKexGcermEIg9zR0XkCkMVZPwm3b3ssHwyvJrL8IAXMz3kE49uhF7xxYlwTtDPXnFgPUMQY3oqJXRF8l29H7cs9lz3UniBunBuRS3trAsdMs_eNad9-P4fJs94aciSP2Kas_lihztEWMQ/s320/2020-06+basketball+hoop.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mz4UANdXMPnO-D0_1yCSs-oItlxb49P36aGZ_qb1csvTBYq8csZvjbf-rwvA-pq5OYdJEb1VEFfbW8JJMmK3BNJt3cWNOAGJ3F9avx6McTwjj1b4QytBJAFCOS5E0fwNq4Sm6TKIkHw/w500-h375/IMG_20200712_183433100_HDR.jpg" width="500" /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-5907103136728958352020-08-05T12:49:00.007-05:002020-08-05T13:16:25.933-05:00August 5, 2020: Life is a Crap Shoot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurjFYTblZ9D4ga9jB5fOMpxz7RzSsaxjyz-XnKvwRUBajoifrAG8PyPUWx7vavPaEskfmSMvv9fEZYhIU9Y2ZA2XuK2b7BetcVw_52tLYpD1rmd38nkMVaWW2hnZQ_9kCx2paiEK3kbE/s972/crapshoot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="972" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurjFYTblZ9D4ga9jB5fOMpxz7RzSsaxjyz-XnKvwRUBajoifrAG8PyPUWx7vavPaEskfmSMvv9fEZYhIU9Y2ZA2XuK2b7BetcVw_52tLYpD1rmd38nkMVaWW2hnZQ_9kCx2paiEK3kbE/w107-h73/crapshoot.jpg" width="107" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>And sometimes what you get can be pretty crappy.<div><br /></div><div>Ten years ago was my tenth wedding anniversary. We had hoped to travel to cooler climes on our anniversaries. But in 2010 I was recovering from knee replacement surgery. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 1969 I was in an automobile accident. The collision spun my car around and then hit a huge tree. As a result my left kneecap was shattered. The pieces were surgically removed. The kneecap functions as a fulcrum to the lever formed by the long leg bones. Its removal results in a 33% permanent disability.</div><div><br /></div><div>The disability worsened as I aged. I saw an orthopedist who told me to wait as long as possible for a knee replacement. I waited until I was 59. He replaced the knee joint but could not replace the kneecap.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, in July 2010, when Rice University's classes were out for the summer I got my new knee joint. It was wonderfully successful.</div><div><br /></div><div>My husband and I celebrated our tenth anniversary at the restaurant in Hotel ZaZa. We spoke about how we would have a vacation the next year to celebrate.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, by our 11th anniversary on August 5, 2011 my husband had become quadriplegic as a result of a fall in November 2010. He also had sustained a severe brain injury. </div><div><br /></div><div>Shortly after our anniversary in 2012 I found out that he had proposed and given an engagement ring to his young Mexican caregiver. He told me he didn't love me or even like me anymore. We were divorced in 2013.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love to celebrate holidays, anniversaries and birthdays. Today is no cause for celebration though.</div><div><br /></div>Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-28685193796821167322020-07-17T14:50:00.000-05:002020-07-17T14:50:10.399-05:00My house remodel, Part 1I had lots of remodeling done to my house after I finally got my settlement with the bus company. Mostly I worked on making my home more handicap friendly. But, also I had other work done just to make me happy,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My she shed</td></tr>
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I wanted to build a laundry room in my garage. I had to walk down steps and go into my garage that was usually extremely cold. But, first I had to move all my stored stuff out of the garage. I had a shed built in the backyard. On the outside it looks like a cute "she shed." Not so cute on the inside - just shelves with christmas and halloween things plus lots of other stuff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before</td></tr>
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I now have a laundry room with shelves for canned goods and supplies, a freezer, a pegboard with tools, a utility sink, litter box, a small work table along with the washer and dryer. I had a pet door installed so the dog and cat can go outside. So far, neither of them will use it - too chicken!<br />
I had hoped to put a fabric cutting table in it, too but not enough space. So I still have to use the kitchen table.<br />
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I had a ramp installed from the laundry room door into the garage. I put groceries, etc. into bins and load them onto my old wheelchair and roll them up into the house. Wheelchairs are great for moving stuff. They can hold lots of weight and don't tip over easily - much more user friendly than a dolly or cart.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPYW29iuxPlfHSvb0v7wUu4o0myEqTx3RSm2ZblBqEZNIC7VY3D55eadMVhCA8TiJ2BN2h9IwOr3q_Smdb00JLWYqfHCsTr3am-bqXLzcst3r09-4EluHAMY0HZLeQWAOF7SbDjfIKhQ/s1600/ramp+going+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPYW29iuxPlfHSvb0v7wUu4o0myEqTx3RSm2ZblBqEZNIC7VY3D55eadMVhCA8TiJ2BN2h9IwOr3q_Smdb00JLWYqfHCsTr3am-bqXLzcst3r09-4EluHAMY0HZLeQWAOF7SbDjfIKhQ/s200/ramp+going+out.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD4ur_ZXsdtVioQYfErpKtgdtjnUNmUvbBmG3IL20IQY9ml3ufxlV_Wjv1WXzBxOXc8Va93X9LLU8sU6W4_Nc_ZpGHfSTCRUItnyBJld1Z1owpzfZjdqY_6rpo0GQOhwEV9r36DstQPU/s1600/new+garage+shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD4ur_ZXsdtVioQYfErpKtgdtjnUNmUvbBmG3IL20IQY9ml3ufxlV_Wjv1WXzBxOXc8Va93X9LLU8sU6W4_Nc_ZpGHfSTCRUItnyBJld1Z1owpzfZjdqY_6rpo0GQOhwEV9r36DstQPU/s200/new+garage+shelves.jpg" width="150" /></a>I had pegboards installed above the handrail on the ramp. Here I hang garden tools, shopping bags, brooms, etc. I found some skinny shelves to put in the garage along the other side of the ramp. I put things that I can easily grab when I'm on the ramp - canned drinks, paper towels, water bottles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of laundry room wall from the garage. <br />Of course, I hang artwork in my garage!</td></tr>
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My house is still tiny but the space is much more useful now.<br />
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-90776632474237272452020-07-10T18:37:00.002-05:002020-07-10T19:02:54.279-05:002020-07-10: Positive from PandemicMy family isn't so busy anymore. There are no birthday parties, little league games, ballet practice. The kids have just a few playdates with one or two families.<br />
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That's my good news! Now they have time to spend with me. I get to see them a couple times per week. I've been having them over for dinner on Sundays.<br />
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I had a basketball hoop installed over my garage. My grandson loves basketball. The whole family bikes over to play hoops. My granddaughter doesn't enjoy the game so much. She and I spend time together watching cartoons or doing crafts.<br />
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It's been wonderful. After all, I moved to Portland to be near them. Of course I do miss seeing my Portland friends. I joined several organizations here and I miss the in person meetings. Now we zoom. I'm a member of North Star Village, the American Sewing Guild, Columbia FiberArts Guild, CFG Wearables group and The Time Travelers' Costume club.<br />
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I miss all the things that everyone else misses - going to restaurants, movies, shopping, traveling, get-togethers with friends, etc.<br />
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But I remind myself of the positive within the tragedy of the Covid pandemic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandson, Kenny</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My granddaughter, Miho</td></tr>
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-59569661701255620482020-06-24T13:25:00.001-05:002020-07-09T15:26:47.669-05:00BUS HITS PEDESTRIAN IN SIDEWALK, Portland OR<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J-VdYi6Dm7c" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #0033cc; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I show up - on the ground - about one minute into this video.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "noto" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a video of a bus running a stop sign and the driver not looking to the left as he turned left.
I was in the crosswalk and the bus ran into me. I was terribly injured. It happened in May 2017. The bus company fought hard not to have pay me a dime for my pain and suffering, even though they admitted it was their fault. It took over 2.5 years until I received any compensation.
The bus driver had rear ended a truck just the week before he hit me. An ambulance had to be called for one of his passengers. The bus company (Trimet) allowed the driver to keep on driving until he hit me. Then they let him quit instead of firing him so he would have a good employment record.
I wonder in which city this negligent driver is operating a bus now.</span></div>
Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0Portland, OR, USA45.5051064 -122.675026117.194872563821157 -157.8312761 73.815340236178855 -87.5187761tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-54790758728847572232020-06-19T17:23:00.000-05:002020-06-19T17:23:33.536-05:00FINALLY FEELING FREE<br />
3 years ago I was in the crosswalk with my dog, Sweetsie. A full sized city bus ran the stop sign and smashed into me. I've had 2 major surgeries and 2 stays in nursing homes as a result of my injuries.<br />
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IF THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH! Instead of just going ahead and doing the right thing, the bus company (Trimet) fought with me when I tried to get compensation for my injuries. I had to file a lawsuit against them. My lawyer advised me that everything that I wrote online- on any platform - was open to Trimet. Three years ago I wrote on my blog that I painted my whole house pink. Even though I was still dependent on a walker to move around she told me that Trimet would interpret that against me. They'd say that if I was well enough to paint my house then I wasn't really injured. Of course, I didn't do the painting myself! What would I have done - climbed a ladder with my walker? In order not to have my blog used against me I stopped writing it and closed access to it.<br />
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I stopped using Facebook for the same reason. Anything I said would be used against me. I stopped emailing friends because they would ask me how I was doing. If I said I was working hard to get better, then Trimet would claim I was just fine. For goodness' sake, I wasn't fine. Their damned bus crashed into me. There was even a video of the accident to prove it.<br />
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Not being able to communicate with my friends back in Houston was crushing to me. I could telephone them. But, I had so many people that I used to communicate with online. I fear that I have lost those friends. It's been over 3 years since I've chatted with many of them.<br />
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Trimet made me a low ball offer after a year and a half. If I had accepted that, I would have received zero compensation. If you win a lawsuit after an injury, the first ones to get compensated are the insurance companies. Anything insurance paid for as a result of the accident would have to be reimbursed to the company. Then the lawyer gets a third of the settlement if any monies are left.<br />
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Therefore, I had to continue my fight with Trimet so I'd at least get some compensation for my pain - physical and emotional. There is an Oregon tort law protecting Trimet. There is a cap on compensation that they have to pay in a lawsuit. It is not nearly enough. The more they fought with me the more I wanted them to have to pay the cap.<br />
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Besides not having freedom of written speech, I didn't have freedom of movement. At times there were private detectives watching me. That didn't bother me so much. The injuries had already taken away my freedom of movement. I still have to use my walker when I take my dog on walks. The rest of the time I use a cane.<br />
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On August 13, 2019 I had a deposition with Trimet. I had to sit at the same table with the bus driver who didn't bother to look both ways and not stop at the stop sign. He didn't look at me during the deposition. No apology from him. He had had an accident the week before he hit me. He rear ended a truck and one of his passengers was taken away in an ambulance. But, he was allowed to continue driving. After he hit me Trimet didn't fire him. They let him quit so he would have a clean employment record.<br />
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Finally in November 2019 I was awarded the cap of compensation. I ended up with a bit more than a third of the total after reimbursing the insurance companies and paying my lawyer.Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-27806115956229266452018-05-24T15:50:00.001-05:002020-06-19T17:29:19.705-05:00May 24, 2018This post is just to help me remember. It's not very interesting.<br />
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Last year on this day I woke up in the hospital self aware enough to take a selfie. <br />
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I think that was the day I noticed a phone in my room and dialed the only number I could think of at the time. I called my office number and talked to Altha. She said I sounded very weird. She thought I was joking about the accident - who gets hit by a bus?? Then she noticed the hospital name on the caller id.<br />
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It's funny how spotty my memory is of my time in the hospital. On TV medical shows they always ask people their names in the emergency room. I only remember when they cut off my dress. I was annoyed because I made that dress and liked it.<br />
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I heard lots of screaming. It sounded like my mother's night terror screams. I barely moaned during child birth. My shattered hip was so painful it must have been my voice I heard.<br />
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I remember talking to the police and telling them my son Kevin's address. Around midnight they went to his house pounding on the door and flashing lights. Kevin thought it was a home invasion and called the police. Poor Sweetsie had been stuck in the back of the police car for hours.<br />
Kevin came to the hospital while Tomoko took care of my puppy.<br />
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I remember seeing Kevin bending over me in the hospital that first night, maybe? He told me that he and family visited every night. My poor son had to go to my apartment and find my insurance card, etc. The next day he had to be there because my stuff was arriving from Houston. I guess he had to make other medical decisions for me.<br />
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There are no nurses in my memory. I remember being stuck in a dark hallway after being x-rayed. Legacy Emmanuel Hospital is old and dreary inside.<br />
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I don't remember eating any meals until I woke up after being transferred to the skilled nursing home. I still had a piece of hamburger in my mouth so the hospital must have fed me occasionally.<br />
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This photo was taken on May 22, 2018, the one year anniversary of the accident.<br />
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<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-34220154583164359832018-05-22T09:38:00.000-05:002018-05-29T01:19:07.528-05:00May 22, 2018: I won Survivor!It has been one year today since I survived being hit from behind by a metro bus running a stop sign. The impact shattered my hip, threw me to the ground thereby giving me a concussion, multiple bruises and tearing my scalp.<br />
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I'm not going to sit around at home and feel sorry for myself.<br />
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First, I'm going to a session with my physical therapist at 11 AM. Then I'm going to lunch with a friend and to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in southeast Portland. (I could only look at the gardens from above. The paths were too steep for me to be able to go down.)<br />
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Tonight I'm taking my family out to dinner at our favorite restaurant. I think that my survival is worth a celebration!<br />
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Marvel Comics has not yet written me into any of their Avengers' stories. <i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My super power is stopping buses with my butt.</b></span></i> It definitely beats spinning webs, turning into a giant green man or warping reality - BIG TIME!Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-60323826108420236592018-05-09T10:50:00.000-05:002018-05-29T01:20:27.994-05:00May 8, 2018: Newport OR<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20Gv9im8xOj0m_Tr3Gd8gre1p7fH7kLeFO_kPsGDo058cW9ZoHU6o0q2bGiWj5IWQgMRyuc-yjyepyOx3dVUT_mnMFn3suRbFkgUA547NHEq3rlDqK2GYmQKaWLgq9fs-AQ1E7HoVfBc/s1600/IMG_20180508_140544_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20Gv9im8xOj0m_Tr3Gd8gre1p7fH7kLeFO_kPsGDo058cW9ZoHU6o0q2bGiWj5IWQgMRyuc-yjyepyOx3dVUT_mnMFn3suRbFkgUA547NHEq3rlDqK2GYmQKaWLgq9fs-AQ1E7HoVfBc/s320/IMG_20180508_140544_1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newport aquarium</td></tr>
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I made it off the waiting list for a trip to Newport on a Multnomah County senior trip. The bus left at 8 AM. It was a 3 hour drive. I remembered my travel pillow and snoozed most of the way there.<br />
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The bus left us off on the main street in Newport. We walked around looking for a place for lunch and ended up at The Chowder Bowl. I had the chowder cannonball - clam chowder in a bread bowl. It was very tasty.<br />
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The beach was a a long walk down a hill, past road construction. I couldn't walk that far but I could see the ocean from the road. I ended up walking a short way down the main street and popping into a shop.<br />
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At 1:30 the bus took us to the aquarium. There was no close to the door parking. I don't understand why Oregon doesn't follow ADA laws. I'm glad I was able to make the walk to the entrance. The displays inside were interesting but a bit confusing. The descriptions on the walls didn't always match up with the fish in the tanks.<br />
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My favorite tank was the one with the jellyfish. They are so beautiful in the water.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jellyfish</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moray eel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea nettle</td></tr>
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It started raining hard so I missed seeing the outside displays.<br />
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I did a bit of walking with my cane. That was good exercise for me.<br />
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The bus made a pit stop at a Dairy Queen in Salem on the return trip. It was a long day. We got back at 7:30 PM. Sweetsie spent the day with Tomoko. My poor doggie was so exhausted when she came home.<br />
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-55650332457920926242018-05-06T01:18:00.002-05:002018-05-29T01:27:31.056-05:00May 5, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oregon Convention Center</td></tr>
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Last Saturday I went to the <a href="https://gatheringoftheguilds.com/" target="_blank">"Gathering of the Guilds"</a> at the Oregon Convention Center with Sheila, a friend I made at an ASG meeting. It was a big show including the bead, woodcrafting, glass, weaving and metal arts guilds. (I had to use my walker to be able to walk that far.)<br />
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One woman made jewelry out of legos.<br />
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Here is a sewing basket in the shape of a house at a beader's booth. It was very detailed inside and out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVCjLnTKt4fMetvF4MREAs4wE8gD38fMus-8IST5mg66a8XdWjssaf2c44gEOjXgUm9ZOozBuWwwnjbFMmiYiGIEChaAMtKBnlJbat8ACY-kde6AETJ2mTTlg5bLU8E_k5Ywc1eeUmI/s1600/IMG_20180427_105242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVCjLnTKt4fMetvF4MREAs4wE8gD38fMus-8IST5mg66a8XdWjssaf2c44gEOjXgUm9ZOozBuWwwnjbFMmiYiGIEChaAMtKBnlJbat8ACY-kde6AETJ2mTTlg5bLU8E_k5Ywc1eeUmI/s200/IMG_20180427_105242.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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This was an interesting layering of plastic bags. No one was available at this booth to talk to me about it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ50EIiXvPEPZG74B0J4-fC7Yao4ar262EP7jWvt4qh19FHXUuWD4jhRsmvZlvETtx-tXDage8_kYhF9_U1t7ziS0yyfVZFV5pEm2m_heSqU-NSV1oeHuGZZpdmLCQd0Uh_xAU_h6m35o/s1600/IMG_20180427_123154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ50EIiXvPEPZG74B0J4-fC7Yao4ar262EP7jWvt4qh19FHXUuWD4jhRsmvZlvETtx-tXDage8_kYhF9_U1t7ziS0yyfVZFV5pEm2m_heSqU-NSV1oeHuGZZpdmLCQd0Uh_xAU_h6m35o/s200/IMG_20180427_123154.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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I put my name on one ticket for the free door prize drawing. The next day I received a call that I had won second place! I won a silver, amethyst geode ring with a small diamond that retails for $495.00.</div>
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I like big chunky rings so this ring is perfect for me.</div>
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I hope winning this drawing signals that my luck has changed. </div>
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Today we went to the <a href="https://craftywonderland.com/blogs/news/todays-the-day" target="_blank">Crafty Wonderland</a> show at the convention center. (I had to use my walker to be able to walk that far.)</div>
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It wasn't as big an affair as the Gathering of the Guilds. There were t-shirts, jewelry, art and lots of cat-themed things at the show. I did get to catch a glimpse of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iammoshow/videos/1468663726575785/" target="_blank">Mosho the Cat Rapper</a>. I couldn't see over the heads of people to see his cat DJ. About 5 minutes of listening to his rap was enough for me. I've included his link in case anyone wants to hear him.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyt3cbrK_zaJ2gne0LA6UV91xZH9A8rziVaHiq-tkEW0Icf_N-NSRA2btjY3JWO-H0LEn7QoAtT1zu5D_YFU-E1psDraLsBd3Pjs-0Syk7Sc6icDdurGh0JE8LNhMNcDmgxmbyOpO0T4/s1600/IMG_20180505_141144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyt3cbrK_zaJ2gne0LA6UV91xZH9A8rziVaHiq-tkEW0Icf_N-NSRA2btjY3JWO-H0LEn7QoAtT1zu5D_YFU-E1psDraLsBd3Pjs-0Syk7Sc6icDdurGh0JE8LNhMNcDmgxmbyOpO0T4/s200/IMG_20180505_141144.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Spring has come to Portland. A big park is just around the corner from me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xO272pyBOrRfFjEB69A-wuqKBRndtaFSzIuTLC1C86JEJKpfcgNIRKsuA_86H0DFrm5wGYpIkr4TPB_j_9XjPTN9KJr18PjJbcKjGsiKTrKcBzKwZUeucRnnVmZ33OofC3sj0BWwyyM/s1600/IMG_20180502_144909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xO272pyBOrRfFjEB69A-wuqKBRndtaFSzIuTLC1C86JEJKpfcgNIRKsuA_86H0DFrm5wGYpIkr4TPB_j_9XjPTN9KJr18PjJbcKjGsiKTrKcBzKwZUeucRnnVmZ33OofC3sj0BWwyyM/s320/IMG_20180502_144909.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the flowering trees are just beautiful.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhq1KNA9OU1-qT68y65RUZKb7ZFsKBQIcUFgm3EFBRh4RvKoBr_N0Is-HLHSQBaEj5iXBGGxIiRruvJAsjfaTpIq7WiWOjonxlOwEVlJOfTl8TSPKOpcg2UuLUHEJXFBc9AAfb8e4Tb8/s1600/IMG_20180320_135306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhq1KNA9OU1-qT68y65RUZKb7ZFsKBQIcUFgm3EFBRh4RvKoBr_N0Is-HLHSQBaEj5iXBGGxIiRruvJAsjfaTpIq7WiWOjonxlOwEVlJOfTl8TSPKOpcg2UuLUHEJXFBc9AAfb8e4Tb8/s320/IMG_20180320_135306.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last month the cherry tree across the street from my house was gorgeousl.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2KFImcJqMqU3stEPRQh7QWLBAP6mX1WMaEQv1KRF6g9G0OTWg2_lpACiU_f5PX1-im-zd63ETRYgUIuObNYgERSqjYVsSU7ycDHdMZobJtAAsRh_iFRL5z8wOftG0vALcpwhZ7cUM7I/s1600/IMG_20180503_180341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2KFImcJqMqU3stEPRQh7QWLBAP6mX1WMaEQv1KRF6g9G0OTWg2_lpACiU_f5PX1-im-zd63ETRYgUIuObNYgERSqjYVsSU7ycDHdMZobJtAAsRh_iFRL5z8wOftG0vALcpwhZ7cUM7I/s320/IMG_20180503_180341.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dogwood trees are in bloom now. PINK!<br />
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-59177633219929439462018-04-18T23:14:00.000-05:002018-10-02T01:37:44.667-05:00April 18, 2018: More Sewing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0N0EcxRS_QFqft2DgN7MTj2Ca_iFq2KabgiVXjzuHkYAtK4L2wfj0OsZm-nWKTA97xH2OR4UM0csYw4dmMtENY4jwhCTo8r_OymyK9PPsgw5r6PsZ-cHy_mV4JOqxXle6tvsnmOL510/s1600/2018%253A04+Kenny+t+%2526+shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0N0EcxRS_QFqft2DgN7MTj2Ca_iFq2KabgiVXjzuHkYAtK4L2wfj0OsZm-nWKTA97xH2OR4UM0csYw4dmMtENY4jwhCTo8r_OymyK9PPsgw5r6PsZ-cHy_mV4JOqxXle6tvsnmOL510/s200/2018%253A04+Kenny+t+%2526+shorts.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Kenny was sweet and posed for a photo in the outfit that I sewed for him.<br />
I made him a pair of shorts. I added a pocket to a purchased blue t-shirt. I thought it would be fun to make a double pocket. The elephant fabric was a great match and it's a little pocket on top of the big pocket. He says that he likes the pockets the best.<br />
I didn't have enough fabric suitable for a boy to make him a pair of pants. The outfit was a present for him (along with a couple toys, of course) on his sister's birthday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc2ocX4R_e8-w6_X0nzov0JVGMt7Rgoa4O6Zsa-Syoo7zrtg2CxMkpTfzIiCn4dwzAhNd1O1pfogIxEnxpvzxJRdaj5U3HDlcu3v205h_QvDrX2EwwxDU3DbhTN-J-iPEow1bihaysJs/s1600/2018-04+Kenny+outfit+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc2ocX4R_e8-w6_X0nzov0JVGMt7Rgoa4O6Zsa-Syoo7zrtg2CxMkpTfzIiCn4dwzAhNd1O1pfogIxEnxpvzxJRdaj5U3HDlcu3v205h_QvDrX2EwwxDU3DbhTN-J-iPEow1bihaysJs/s320/2018-04+Kenny+outfit+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJABIA03DqZ7hG84i18nTYpKhpxxMoXPZVE4edToU8JpKTUroQ7UMHFyYwSdsvb76hxksb4La6eUIo2zCD5t25yKVDEatAGE8Hqmo7Zmfx611VmvJdwyUf9AS5AlAtD6dja0xHhd0jTRE/s1600/2018%253A04+Kenny+t+%2526+shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJABIA03DqZ7hG84i18nTYpKhpxxMoXPZVE4edToU8JpKTUroQ7UMHFyYwSdsvb76hxksb4La6eUIo2zCD5t25yKVDEatAGE8Hqmo7Zmfx611VmvJdwyUf9AS5AlAtD6dja0xHhd0jTRE/s320/2018%253A04+Kenny+t+%2526+shorts.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I will be on the lookout for more boy fabric. I've got tons of girly fabric but I can't sew for one grandchild and not the other.<br />
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I was working on a little unicorn doll for Miho's birthday. I've finished it too late for her birthday but I'll give it to her for another occasion. But, it's sooo cute that I might just keep it for myself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5SslnlETTDhDkBtTqCEtI-_zdjsFdDbOA_2FovkGPab6Amo0N_Wv2u5xDyjJhSaUfbUqkpu0Rn4kfih-1tsgoQmcfRY_RdKZ33q_IQbkafeUMlx85Xr1iaegDtvNuhpiGKkRj8xzGms/s1600/2018-04+unicorn+doll+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5SslnlETTDhDkBtTqCEtI-_zdjsFdDbOA_2FovkGPab6Amo0N_Wv2u5xDyjJhSaUfbUqkpu0Rn4kfih-1tsgoQmcfRY_RdKZ33q_IQbkafeUMlx85Xr1iaegDtvNuhpiGKkRj8xzGms/s400/2018-04+unicorn+doll+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5olenaaHN4fR1d5Gu4RtqD-ni5cIwwrc3R61RtCLuteN66MgQUjpt6Kfhyphenhyphen480bHmUGHquF9ECIgMpg3djb6j_1nO1zX15V6QYNeliv5oGiE9WK2_X7cu2s35YpFLKssVEPC7vvw7bT3s/s1600/2018-04+back+of+unicorn+doll+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5olenaaHN4fR1d5Gu4RtqD-ni5cIwwrc3R61RtCLuteN66MgQUjpt6Kfhyphenhyphen480bHmUGHquF9ECIgMpg3djb6j_1nO1zX15V6QYNeliv5oGiE9WK2_X7cu2s35YpFLKssVEPC7vvw7bT3s/s400/2018-04+back+of+unicorn+doll+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-57850966936320486182018-04-10T18:10:00.000-05:002018-05-29T01:29:53.147-05:00April 10, 2018: Finally sewing stuff!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3YD0vGDt6F58wYfTPU_6MPjeuubORBZNQKL9LntQdL5DyYOGGk-Gc41m2-0Ck0ol85wEcv4qrxJle0lYDLo2-m_3-YekwtufXdFA3D5Wcg7YyD3TEu670zZyGb0sn_4pZKKLXlP6Aos/s1600/2018+Rapunzel+apron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3YD0vGDt6F58wYfTPU_6MPjeuubORBZNQKL9LntQdL5DyYOGGk-Gc41m2-0Ck0ol85wEcv4qrxJle0lYDLo2-m_3-YekwtufXdFA3D5Wcg7YyD3TEu670zZyGb0sn_4pZKKLXlP6Aos/s320/2018+Rapunzel+apron.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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My sweet granddaughter is celebrating her 4th birthday this week. Now that I have my sewing room set up I've been busily making her some birthday gifts.<br />
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First I made 2 princess aprons. I got the idea from pinterest and etsy.<br />
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Miho loves pretending she's a dog. I bought a pinkish vest on Amazon, added ears, paws, tail of pink fake fur. I made a little skirt for her using the best match from my pink poodle fabric collection. Then she needs a little purse to hold a cabbage page doll wearing a matching skirt. And she needs a top so I appliqued some of the skirt fabric on a white tshirt.<br />
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I'll try to take some photos of her wearing my gifts but 4 year olds can get feisty so she may not cooperate.</div>
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I plan on making a pair of pants and appliqued tshirt for my grandson, too. I've got to get busy and start working on them.</div>
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-5228249912130489742018-03-01T13:34:00.000-06:002018-05-29T01:32:49.892-05:00March 1, 2018Yesterday I had an appointment with my trauma surgeon. He said my current x-rays showed improvement. My bone has filled in now to about 90%! That is great news. <br />
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The trauma to my body from the bus colliding with me was so severe that my hip bones (top of my right femur) had been widely displaced. The trauma also disrupted the blood supply to the area, plus, of course, damaged my muscles. That is why it has been taking so long for me to recover.<br />
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Now I feel like I am on the final leg of the journey to my recovery. Maybe when the year anniversary of the accident, May 22, 2018, comes around I'll be much closer to feeling as well as I did when I arrived in Portland. (update - 5-28-2018: I still get muscle spasms but they are not as bad now.)<br />
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I look forward to being able to explore the city. I can walk with a cane but not that far. I have to resort to using a walker if I need to go more than a block or so. The doctor said that I will get stronger with time.<br />
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My grandkids think using a cane is so cool. They always want to be the ones to use it. Wish I enjoyed it like they do.Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0NF-2510, Oregon, USA43.652860440698412 -120.9741497039794917.997788940698413 -162.45852470397949 69.30793194069841 -79.489774703979492tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-47169418241335151812018-02-21T12:29:00.003-06:002018-05-29T01:34:54.992-05:00February 21, 2018: Snow?!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning I woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland. I turned on Good Morning America. The outside audience was in shirt sleeves. That's just backwards - Portland is supposed to be mild.<br />
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The local news reports that this weather is unusual. It was in the 60's last week.<br />
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I've had to cancel my PT yesterday and today. Since I'm hibernating in the house I've been working on organizing little stuff. Why do I have all this jewelry? I had already disposed of tons of it before my move. Now I'm getting ready to send half of what's left to thredup.com. At least I'll get a couple dollars for it. What they don't accept, they donate.<br />
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Tomorrow I was scheduled to take a bus trip to Tilamook. Tilamook is near the coast and there is a big creamery there. It will most likely be canceled. The bus is supposed to leave from a community center. That center is closed until noon today. It might snow again tonight.<br />
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I am almost ready to post pictures of my house. Every time I work on one room the whole house gets messed up. Last night I had to throw all my boxes of sorted jewelry into a bin so I could use my bed.<br />
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How can I throw away a cup my son, Kevin made me for Christmas ten years ago? Or the reindeer Andy made from clothespins in preschool? All the gifts I've received I cherish. Then, of course, there's the stuff I've collected. I got rid of most of my once extensive cat collection. But, I've kept the Catwoman and pink poodle things. I couldn't give away the dolls I've made and collected. They're in a clear bin in the garage.<br />
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I still hope to make displays with the miniatures I've amassed. They, too, are in the garage. I've kept my oil pastels and drawing pencils. I'd like to take up drawing again someday.<br />
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I have gone from 6 large bookcases of fabric to 3. The sewing group I joined brings in things to share and swap at their meetings. I can't carry it all at once so I take a bag of it every month.<br />
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I went into the local arts and crafts store with virtual blinders on. I asked the salesman to take me directly to Modpodge and that is all I bought. The same with the huge Fabric Depot - I bought only belting to make Sweetsie a new harness.<br />
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Growing old is tough. It's the letting go of so much of one's past. I have my dad's World War II pin, my mom's years of service at Sibley's awards, the baby book my mom made for me. It's hard to let go of these things. I am trying to choose just a few select things and discarding the rest. It's only fair to my sons to minimize my possessions. I don't want them to have to deal with too much stuff after I die.<br />
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Keeping some of my memorabilia is a form of self love. It's important.<br />
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<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-4824138802562367962018-02-19T12:28:00.000-06:002018-05-29T11:59:32.190-05:00February 19, 2018Since I stopped pushing myself so hard, I'm feeling much better. It also helps that the stuff I need inside the house is now out of the garage and even in their proper rooms.<br />
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My sewing room is now 98% completed! My living room is 100% completed.<br />
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My daughter in law, Tomoko has been a fantastic help to me. She hung pictures for me, carried boxes in and out of the house. I couldn't do all this by myself. My son helps out when you can.<br />
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Yesterday I finished emptying out the closet in my "closet room." Some things I boxed up that I don't need now and put them into clear bins in the garage.<br />
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I put excess stuff - suitcases, pillows, etc - from my bedroom closet into the closet's closet. I put my filing cabinet and extra towels in there. I still need to organize my jewelry.<br />
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I had my pictures in the bedroom and living room hung. The excess (not as nice) pictures in the garage. I enjoy parking in a decorated garage. I need to have shelving built in the garage to store all the clear bins.<br />
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Now I have my closet room to straighten up. I need to utilize the space better.<br />
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My kitchen needs a pantry. I found one online at Lowe's. I'd go look at it today but the roads have ice and snow all over them. I got up too late to hear the weather forecast. Maybe I can get there later this week.<br />
Right now I have excess kitchen stuff on a rolling cart in the middle of my small kitchen. I have to push it aside to get into one of the cabinets. A pantry could hold all that stuff.<br />
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If it stays icy outside tomorrow, I'll cancel my PT appointment. The PT office is on the other side of town that stays icy longer.<br />
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That will give me one more day stuck in the house so I might just get this house finished this month!<br />
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My son Kevin says he will work on my yard. He enjoys yard work. Plus then he can plant more vegetables over here. I've got a larger yard.<br />
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My poor little Sweetsie is bored today. I only have the dog walker come over twice a week. It gets expensive.<br />
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It had started to get springlike before yesterday's snow. But, at least it's not raining!<br />
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<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-13371061942854759642018-02-01T23:51:00.000-06:002018-05-29T01:37:22.708-05:00February 1, 2018: Giving inThis week I have really slowed myself down. I'm so wanting to get back to a normal life but I can't yet. The pain was so bad for most of December and January. It would feel like I had a charlie horse from my waist to my knee.<br />
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One day a couple of weeks ago I used my walker to go to Walgreen's. It's not far away. I rested in the pharmacy after I picked up my prescription. As I started to head back home, my muscles seized up and I had to limp even with the walker. I had to call Kevin to pick me up. Luckily it was a Saturday so he wasn't at work.<br />
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I started paying closer attention to when the muscle cramps really got bad. Now I'll be active for about half an hour then rest for one to two hours. That has helped a lot - physically anyway.<br />
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It bugs me that my house is still disorganized and often messy. That's just not my style. Hopefully, this recuperation period will end soon so I can get back to near normal.<br />
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I'm almost done unpacking boxes. I've been unpacking in the garage and bringing things in a little at a time. I keep an empty box in my car so I can fill it up for charity as I unpack.<br />
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I've also started repacking some things into clear bins and labeling them. Maybe I'll have to donate them later but not just yet.<br />
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Having my house interior painted pink has really paid off. There are lots of dreary days in Portland. But it's always cheerful inside!<br />
<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-23270993008217422402018-01-24T00:26:00.002-06:002018-05-29T12:00:18.231-05:00January 23, 2018: Portland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a good day. Tomoko got her driver's license this morning! I've been practicing with her for the past few weeks. She made me proud -- she got an A on her first try. We went to brunch at Elmer's to celebrate.<br />
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Now I want to share on the goofiness of Portland:<br />
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It rains a lot here, right? You would think people would park in their garages so they wouldn't have to walk to their cars in the rain.<br />
NO. The houses are so small that their garages have to hold lots of their possessions.<br />
There was snow and ice on Christmas. On 12/27 I had to drive to the southeast side of town. A big piece of snowy ice hit my driver's side window on the freeway. It blew off a car ahead of me. That car had a roof full of snow and ice. The driver cleared his windshield but didn't worry about what would happen to the snow on his roof. If you're not going to park in your garage, then cover your car with a sheet or be sure to clear the snow before it flies off and hits another car at high rates of speed. I'm not going to drive on the freeway another time after a freezing spell.<br />
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There is a severe lack of parking in Portland. Cars line both sides of narrow streets. So many shopping and dining areas have no parking lots. This impacts where I can go and what I can do in the city. I have to check google satellite and look at the parking situation before I can decide if I can go somewhere.<br />
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The disabled parking places are few and far between.<br />
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Giant apartment complexes are built with no parking garages. Portland wants people to walk, bicycle or take public transportation. Somebody needs to inform the powers at the bus department of this. You can't expect to have bad drivers injure pedestrians and then not have the city accessible to those disabled as a result.<br />
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It's eight months now since the bus hit me. The last x-ray showed that my bone has not completely filled in the gaps between the rods holding the bits together. My surgeon said he'll x-ray me again in 6 weeks. If the x-ray doesn't look better, I'll have to get another cat scan. Then maybe have a bone graft.<br />
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I'm fighting to get my strength back. I continue to go to physical therapy twice a week. I bought my own NuStep machine. It's a recumbent cross trainer that can only be found in rehab facilities. So, I can't just go to a gym to work out.<br />
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Despite all this I keep busy. I get to play with my grandchildren. I go to a book club and a couple meetups that are held in accessible locations. My sewing room is still not set up so I can't enjoy my hobbies yet. I left this room last because it's the most complicated one to organize. I'm still unpacking boxes for that room. I do too many crafts. Something will have to go - doll making? miniatures? garment sewing? knitting? drawing & painting? jewelry making? fabric flowers? costume making? locker hooking? flower arranging? All these activities have tools and supplies that take up space. I haven't decided yet what to give up. I keep hoping that somehow I can fit it all into my one hobby room that also houses my NuStep machine.<br />
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<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-89827521470412786332018-01-02T19:23:00.000-06:002018-05-29T01:44:39.271-05:00January 2, 2018<br />
Starting the new year right - I got the teeth on the right side of my mouth scaled and cleaned. In 2 weeks it's the left side's turn. The hygienist gave me novocaine so I can only have one side done at a time. I had to find a dentist in Portland. I went to one about a mile away that had good reviews. Plus, it was in a cute little house and named Edelweiss Dental.<br />
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My last checkup in Houston was great. Maybe stress caused some gum problems. Or maybe the dentist just needed more business. Whatever, I figured it would be a good thing to have done. Plus my dental insurance ends this month.<br />
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This morning I went to another 60+ meetup for coffee. I wish it started at 10 instead of 9 so traffic wouldn't be a problem. At least traffic was light this morning. It's a nice group but the activities seem to be mostly on the southeast side of town. <br />
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So far 2018 is going smoothly - except those yucky ants are making a comeback in my house.<br />
<br />Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-48180975740669322842017-12-28T09:28:00.001-06:002018-05-29T01:45:21.853-05:00 December 28: Happy Birthday to me! <br />
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How the hell did I get so damned old? </h2>
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-27813381698106448422017-12-25T23:53:00.000-06:002018-05-29T01:46:07.318-05:00Christmas Day 2017<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My house on a snowy Christmas Eve</td></tr>
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Last year at this time I was packing up lots of stuff in my house in Houston. I had to make the house more appealing to potential buyers by making it impersonal. I had so many beautiful things that I cherished. I packed what "I couldn't live without" to take with me to Portland. I sold many things on facebook market sites. I donated even more.<br />
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Last night we celebrated Christmas Eve at my little house. The kids opened their stockings and gifts. I made spaghetti for supper. Kenny and Miho are fussy so I had my fingers crossed. They ate it - no complaints except I forgot buy parmesan cheese.<br />
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Then we watched a movie, "Get Santa." When it ended the kids were in a big hurry to head home and go to sleep so Santa could come to their house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXnG2gQk7_ij4TyVP8lgWu8a0QXVU5vl5SBDsXUG-5FQGNApv2Wl8S4hB9tbPII6ImhjZ2_Z9IvZqSZD1wbEKzKyozAJeKYaeir3Adk5Fz0B_j2DJQwVYz5KQJqg61ldH8oJ1BO2Mbvo/s1600/2017+xmas+eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXnG2gQk7_ij4TyVP8lgWu8a0QXVU5vl5SBDsXUG-5FQGNApv2Wl8S4hB9tbPII6ImhjZ2_Z9IvZqSZD1wbEKzKyozAJeKYaeir3Adk5Fz0B_j2DJQwVYz5KQJqg61ldH8oJ1BO2Mbvo/s200/2017+xmas+eve.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockings at the fireplace</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZg8afVzekp4rhkZ3_wqCNbxmNpRTbs1DOyTOXjO1MJd3H640m9-injdzWpMpdvvmw_tj4pis3ftTSswgv-bKg6JvF6Fkq-Rl3YOJZS8Q6p8EaB7XZgUMXlwAGKYQMceJz7b_6ouzJiE/s1600/2017+eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1289" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZg8afVzekp4rhkZ3_wqCNbxmNpRTbs1DOyTOXjO1MJd3H640m9-injdzWpMpdvvmw_tj4pis3ftTSswgv-bKg6JvF6Fkq-Rl3YOJZS8Q6p8EaB7XZgUMXlwAGKYQMceJz7b_6ouzJiE/s200/2017+eve.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little pink tree</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvCb3sUUd_RoVcy-7sVy8L1eHeuOXFXpiUapsVnUcknyJzJqojHcNK7ti8Z2eVyR-r8BR-3NlYb-lmFs1TddxS5OnMb-35CMn8fNtLyl95kpIdmAe0z0vnGyDm_ppliWWzKL77Eh-QpQ/s1600/2017+eve+on+sofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvCb3sUUd_RoVcy-7sVy8L1eHeuOXFXpiUapsVnUcknyJzJqojHcNK7ti8Z2eVyR-r8BR-3NlYb-lmFs1TddxS5OnMb-35CMn8fNtLyl95kpIdmAe0z0vnGyDm_ppliWWzKL77Eh-QpQ/s320/2017+eve+on+sofa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm wearing my new Ninja Turtles Christmas jammies for the occasion.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddc3qKyZa0eTrHDtFCcZqGhFk-Wp69tDaYk2q6-DnQYmz1E8_Boon7kIShXQkWFO7HwcNf6X6IhIHWaszOxlYGl7BMUjPNTRtkuBdiIBdxjUW-kVi50txJedhFAIVwy2hkDt7881UPmg/s1600/2017+eve+all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddc3qKyZa0eTrHDtFCcZqGhFk-Wp69tDaYk2q6-DnQYmz1E8_Boon7kIShXQkWFO7HwcNf6X6IhIHWaszOxlYGl7BMUjPNTRtkuBdiIBdxjUW-kVi50txJedhFAIVwy2hkDt7881UPmg/s320/2017+eve+all.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in my living room</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DzjxCvch9mOX4o05h8Y600wIPga7P1KpvUiIK9ZkO0R2ftppJa5kEzFv0QhL85BiQ8VMdJdLwHt9RC9REge55a7PkvEGLPyvNmZG_9nPPtf8aBNMtafARfhfMljyCfx9eF687NNy4LA/s1600/2017+eve+barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DzjxCvch9mOX4o05h8Y600wIPga7P1KpvUiIK9ZkO0R2ftppJa5kEzFv0QhL85BiQ8VMdJdLwHt9RC9REge55a7PkvEGLPyvNmZG_9nPPtf8aBNMtafARfhfMljyCfx9eF687NNy4LA/s200/2017+eve+barbie.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbie has a pink poodle, too!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILtTIdiufwAm5uwxIMyAtP8dA-2UgTD1DZ1le2pvBgvgNQYOAqBYnmmyS3ahNaUhU9hosbRQTIoc6x0qix6c_UnDqEjbrlm8kiaB0txIa_BqND0jZHAusNoBF2yDyJi4LQ38wlxN820Y/s1600/2017+eve+kenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1096" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILtTIdiufwAm5uwxIMyAtP8dA-2UgTD1DZ1le2pvBgvgNQYOAqBYnmmyS3ahNaUhU9hosbRQTIoc6x0qix6c_UnDqEjbrlm8kiaB0txIa_BqND0jZHAusNoBF2yDyJi4LQ38wlxN820Y/s200/2017+eve+kenny.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made a Ninjago puzzle for Kenny.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIP7mdvcjJpWHgmzcn5r2DHmy_qWvpq1cMPfne-HjJqAKHiSbVT7-EZWP4Y_LbZN_NZy7rVgPv6Llt5S9I6kqw1fSj43dR4AJwee7OaRKaZAdGTOBqcTCReY3chJkysXx6I1QM0j2FQA/s1600/2017+eve+miho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIP7mdvcjJpWHgmzcn5r2DHmy_qWvpq1cMPfne-HjJqAKHiSbVT7-EZWP4Y_LbZN_NZy7rVgPv6Llt5S9I6kqw1fSj43dR4AJwee7OaRKaZAdGTOBqcTCReY3chJkysXx6I1QM0j2FQA/s200/2017+eve+miho.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miho is wearing her unicorn costume.</td></tr>
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Today I got what I was working so hard to achieve - spending holidays with Kevin, Tomoko, Kenny and Miho. I wish Andy could have been with us. We all missed him.<br />
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I got up 5:30 AM. The streets were icy and I was in the only car on the road. When I got to Kevin's I had to wait while he and Tomoko poured hot water on their steps and scraped off the ice. The kids waited until I arrived and then started opening all their presents.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65eGhCPrtAZU2D387JeqJ8sTCQ1MNEBlJjuHO0knbnSzWfyCBwpXaDxQbon6TtgiPm7TIHsYX-WuB60Tytn9juL2IFPndOKo9olHQOiRTTX4Bie6fG_Q4oQLOYg87NYjPkZ8l-x8gOCU/s1600/2017+xmas+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1012" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65eGhCPrtAZU2D387JeqJ8sTCQ1MNEBlJjuHO0knbnSzWfyCBwpXaDxQbon6TtgiPm7TIHsYX-WuB60Tytn9juL2IFPndOKo9olHQOiRTTX4Bie6fG_Q4oQLOYg87NYjPkZ8l-x8gOCU/s320/2017+xmas+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin's living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMDJ5PLjcwavn4hZKXYLggiUp9VbyUlvl-ii1iXyrHJDAui7waOrtOKd2TvEMvnOVEHu7xtVGArdXdl_ZrW1UI7OnH5fR9tOLoMXeY98pir1tEnVbjVQieHpX0lGsNPTJ9r9t3y3Qg6I/s1600/2017+poodle+xmas+sweat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMDJ5PLjcwavn4hZKXYLggiUp9VbyUlvl-ii1iXyrHJDAui7waOrtOKd2TvEMvnOVEHu7xtVGArdXdl_ZrW1UI7OnH5fR9tOLoMXeY98pir1tEnVbjVQieHpX0lGsNPTJ9r9t3y3Qg6I/s200/2017+poodle+xmas+sweat.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pink poodle Christmas sweatshirt</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgEEwWVYN255_J-J52c5Nl-iCvuQFWOpVWEVNkaTxZZ-m2YU3VoiKGZ_LU4E1-cgJRrvYVsdYfTrojd06ZOfAVPldwSYVHL4VdCxWGxJjno5LH51KSoiOfFE9eglLknMnh2CkcYVh9h4/s1600/2017+andy+gift+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgEEwWVYN255_J-J52c5Nl-iCvuQFWOpVWEVNkaTxZZ-m2YU3VoiKGZ_LU4E1-cgJRrvYVsdYfTrojd06ZOfAVPldwSYVHL4VdCxWGxJjno5LH51KSoiOfFE9eglLknMnh2CkcYVh9h4/s320/2017+andy+gift+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening a big box from Uncle Andy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMLOCdzHxERWdpfnHuDLNmOo28mZjKOswGCn08Py-KidSDnAgM7CGLhrMsfLMPK0QX4BN35qRLTrgH1MQ9Kp6sP6wMf4ixCIDPuJYIAPpLhnVqOF3y9LBC8-tg0WOZbKsemBvHXPLdrM/s1600/2017+andy+gift+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMLOCdzHxERWdpfnHuDLNmOo28mZjKOswGCn08Py-KidSDnAgM7CGLhrMsfLMPK0QX4BN35qRLTrgH1MQ9Kp6sP6wMf4ixCIDPuJYIAPpLhnVqOF3y9LBC8-tg0WOZbKsemBvHXPLdrM/s200/2017+andy+gift+2.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The box held a scooter for Kenny.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJDC143_8JwSJrQI-iDQDpGfinElJ_XXVWuoMKss_LvWY05uNIxkK-Z92KiDNeU36vApEOzRXgNI41Op_foK1Uq2ZiQzBd0eJwg3PVSbSYy3rbTx5XTAS403WUYqrQYQ0B8Mgrzg_mOM/s1600/2017+andy+gift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJDC143_8JwSJrQI-iDQDpGfinElJ_XXVWuoMKss_LvWY05uNIxkK-Z92KiDNeU36vApEOzRXgNI41Op_foK1Uq2ZiQzBd0eJwg3PVSbSYy3rbTx5XTAS403WUYqrQYQ0B8Mgrzg_mOM/s200/2017+andy+gift.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a bidet from Andy</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5u4tmVZf2Cpi7_yud8rk12pLDx_RIXxbi8dojQpUc79KYVRJUZAaYCKGNKwWu2rec-JaH54UOtxEAYHqg0qhcFvjIV14Fk8WqqTRnSFd0OrHNo4c1xXfDU2UmsCuOg6f_wh8rCL1Vtw/s1600/2017+andy+octopus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5u4tmVZf2Cpi7_yud8rk12pLDx_RIXxbi8dojQpUc79KYVRJUZAaYCKGNKwWu2rec-JaH54UOtxEAYHqg0qhcFvjIV14Fk8WqqTRnSFd0OrHNo4c1xXfDU2UmsCuOg6f_wh8rCL1Vtw/s200/2017+andy+octopus.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Andy gave Miho a huge stuffed octopus.</td></tr>
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The kids both received lego sets and were working on them throughout the day. Kenny had a complicated set but he was putting it together almost all by himself. Kevin was helping Miho.<br />
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Kevin took both dogs to the park. Sweetsie got all tired out.<br />
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After our teatime at around 4 Sweetsie and I came back to our little house. Bedtime is early for us tonight.<br />
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Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962674410641117142.post-49759488768661431082017-11-22T13:37:00.000-06:002018-05-29T01:47:44.571-05:00November 22, 2017Tomorrow I am going to Kevin's for Thanksgiving. Tomoko is making the dinner. She is a very good cook.Joannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15141673740326844964noreply@blogger.com0