Brian and Christina

Brian and Christina
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

Here's the big news from this past weekend - Brian and Christina got married! It was a lovely wedding which took place at Brian's parent's house. Congratulations!!!

Discovering New Places Right Here at Home

When we went to Shore Acres Park for Sarah's wedding I hit all kinds of new places. One of them was Simpson Reef, which I think is part of Sunset Bay State Park - I had never heard of either of these places, partly because you have to mean to go there. You don't accidently find them on the way to somewhere else. Anyway, Simpson Reef is a natural rock reef on the Oregon Coast that provides sheltered water for a variety of seals and sea lions. Park Rangers are there on summer weekends to help us newbies figure out what we're looking at. Here's a pic I took through one of the Ranger's telescopes - this is the largest island within the reef area, called Shell Island. There are numerous smaller rocks/islands sticking out of the water and they are all loaded with animals.

We went here twice, it's a cool place. I have more pics on flickr.

Holy Crap!

My big trip is only 4 weeks away and I have not done anything to get ready. All of the clothes I want to take are at least one size too small. I get out of breath walking from the tv to the bathroom. What the hell am I going to do?!?!? Amelia will kill me if I can't keep up on the ship and shore excursions.....I think I'm in trouble. I'm going to be encased in my clothes like a sausage and I won't be able to walk to the dining room!

BUT, here's one way I'm getting ready: I have pre-ordered the essentials for the 35 day cruise. They are: 2 coffee cards, 2 soda cards, 2 bottles of vodka, 1 bottle of rum, 1 bottle of kahlua, 1 bottle of Bailey's, 1 bottle of white wine. I keep thinking I should order some Jim Beam or Crown Royal and I'm pretty sure we need another bottle of Rum. What do you think?

Cruise

Ok, the best thing that's happened post-retirement is that I made reservations for Amelia and I to take a cruise. And not just any cruise.

This cruise is for 35 days, it goes from Seattle WA to San Diego CA to the 4 main Hawaiian Islands to Kiribati to the Cook Islands to the Marquesas Islands to Tahiti to Bora Bora and many points in between. 35 days in and around the South Pacific. It's been a dream for so long I can't hardly believe it when I think about it. Although, my checkbook knows it's all true.

I come back home for 4 days and then head to Kauai for two weeks. First class all the way.....should be awesome.

Lily Pond

Lily Pond
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

I am currently retired and enjoying it very much. I've almost forgotten about alarm clocks and downtown and lunch hours and all that stuff. I went to Sarah and Jacob's wedding this past weekend at Shore Acres - here's a pic I took on the grounds, in the Japanese Garden section. That's a pretty cool place, my first time there.

Wedding photos are at flickr.com/photos/sunshinegurl2

Spring Lilacs

Spring Lilacs
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

I thought I'd share my lilacs in the backyard. These smell so heavenly, whenever I open the back door I get a rush of Lilac smell...wonderful.

Well, after 36 years, I am finally going to do it! I turned in papers last week to retire on May 31st. Now I wish I'd picked april 31. It's like once I made up my mind to leave work I wanted to go that minute. Crazy. It's going to be a nutty month or so getting ready - I have to go through everything to remove all my crap and organize stuff for the next lucky person to get my job. I have a wonderful job and work with really, really great people so whoever gets my job will have a good one.

Happy Daffy Easter!

Daffodil
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

And, here's the pic I gave as an Easter card to Mom. she likes daffodils - she liked this one. K and I went by and picked up S and Mom and went out to lunch/dinner. It was really nice to get out. After eating we went for a drive to Blue Lake Park but there was a tree down across the road so we weren't able to get in. It was a nice drive, though.

I hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Happy Easter!

Tulips
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

Here's a pic I used for my Easter card to bro S. He planted the tulip bulbs in my front flower bed a couple of years ago.

Flowers

Flowers
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

It was a gorgeous day today, and the flowers seemed to just pop out of their buds. This was taken in the front yard, but don't notice the weeds that also popped out.

K had his surgery today to build the fistula to get him ready for kidney dialysis. I just hate that he's heading that way, people don't seem to live long after they start dialysis. Plus it really ties you down so vacationing only in first-world countries and communities from now on, and no hunting trips anymore. This was a day surgery - we were home soon after noon.

S is also in the hospital - he went in last night complaining of abdominal pain. I still don't know what it was, they're running tests. Unfortunately, the two hospitals were on directly opposite sides of town so I feel like I have been in hospitals or traveling to hospitals all day long.

I'm fine, by the way.

Strawberries

Strawberries
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

Awesomely beautiful strawberries. Too bad they didn't taste as good as they looked. I can't wait for the local berries to come on, they're super sweet and juicy.

Some Things are Just ALWAYS Funny!

Camille and Skip were over today and we got to talking about something and the Bagdad Theater came up. And the time she got her butt wedged in between the seats! OMeffingG, we just howled all over again. On this blog, go to 2005, November, and you can read all about it, it's worth it.

Red Robin - 1st Day of Spring!!

Red Robin - 1st Day of Spring!!
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

It's the first day of spring and look! A red robin made an appearance and just sat and sat in the mountain ash tree. That was so cool. I took several pictures and he finally flew away when I wasn't looking.

We had a birthday party today for a couple of friends, it was so gorgeous out that I think most people didn't want to come because there were only 6 of us instead of 16 or so. The day was fabulous and at least 70 degrees.

Tomorrow it's supposed to rain again.

Fireworks

Light
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

Have I shown you any fireworks photos yet? I don't think so - here's one that's a crop from a photo taken of fireworks at the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

Catching the Big One

Catching the Big One
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

Here's a highlight of any trip to Hawaii - go out on one of the many boats which offer snorkling and several hours on the water. I don't snorkle but I always go out because it's so beautiful. Here we are at Molokini, a little crescent -shaped islet that is a wildlife reserve so you can't land on it, but lots of boats go there for the excellent snorkling.

You just can't beat a day on the water when you're in Hawaii. In fact, it's one of the most fun things to do. Plus they feed you - this BBQ was hamburgers and hotdogs. You're out in the sun, on the water, and the smell of grilling hamburgers is the most wonderful thing in the world - just seeing this pic brings that wonderful smell and contented feeling back.

Do yourself a favor if you are in the islands, and spend a day on the water.

Interesting Lily and Nervous Retirement!

Interesting Lily
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

I am thinking of retiring very soon - I have to decide in the next month or so if I want to retire on July 1. It seems very weird to think about not working, I'm not sure how people do it, and it's kind of scary to think about what I'm going to do with myself. K has been off work now for almost a year, and he just sits around, sleeps, watches tv, and gambles for most of the day, once in a while he goes for a drive. How can I live the rest of my life just doing that? I really, really, want to travel much more than I've been able to so that would be an immediate goal, but people always say that, don't they? Most of those people have spouses to travel with - I don't and I don't have a lot of interest (as in none) in traveling by myself because I get lonely in my own company.

At the same time, it IS TIME to change! I do not want to work forever. I have worked at the same company for 36 years, and we have a reasonable pension (altho it used to be better before the Legislature started messing with it and screwed it up) so there is no reason to just keep working for money. I won't make nearly 100% of my salary in retirement, as the people who changed it were so afraid of, like that's a crime or something. In fact, I'm hoping for 50-55%. Like I say they've messed with it to the point where they no longer have to be jealous that I work for a company with a pension plan - I always attribute complaints about my company's pension to jealousy from people who didn't think ahead when they were young and got in with a company with a good plan and STUCK WITH IT. I started work here when I was 22 years old and stuck with it and the benefits, including pension, were a major reason why. I did nothing to deserve a crappy plan at this point just because I thought ahead, and they didn't.

Anyway, enough of that. I am determined to go through with it - if I can't stand it I can work somewhere part time. I can volunteer if I want. I don't have to do anything.

And, if I decide I like it, I can sleep, sit around and watch TV all day, and do nothing. I've earned it.

Waianapanapa Beach

Waianapanapa Beach
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

Here's a picture of a black sand beac h in Maui - I'm excited because I just made reservations for a vacation in KAUAI! So, along about November, I will be sitting on the beach, absorbing all the Vitamin D I can get!

Sorta Blue Collar Tour

If you get a chance you must go to the tour going on now with Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Larry the Cable Guy. I went on Thursday night. I thought it would be fun, but I had no idea I would enjoy it so much or laugh so hard. My face was sore from laughing so much by the end of the night. We all enjoyed it thoroughly. They don't call it the Blue Collar Tour, though, I think it was listed under Jeff Foxworthy.

The weird thing was that I knew I had friends sitting directly across the arena from our section, because we'd talked about it. But, after we were seated in our row, the 4 seats to the right of us were vacant until just before the show started. After the show, when the lights came up and people were leaving, Bro K was walking out and a woman in the group sitting next to him said, "aren't you K?" He had been sitting next to other friends of mine the whole time. How weird is that?

Hypnotizing Purple Crocus

Purple Crocus
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

I found this awesome program where you can turn your photos into hypnotic pics. It's a crack-up, but I think once is probably enough. I cross-processed the photo first to get the weird colors, and then hypnotized it with an app, and put a frame on it.

Clouds from the Freeway

0131001442a.jpg
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

clouds

This pic was taken out of the car window while speeding down the freeway. The clouds were both gorgeous and ominous.

Sent via flickr from my cell phone to this blog. Don't ask me how, but somehow I actually think I set it up right. Amazing. The stuff below came over with the pic. I'll leave it up this once.

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Super Soft Pink Primrose

Super Soft Pink Primrose, originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2.

It could hardly be any pinker, could it? The natural color is almost pinker, I swear. I'm thinking I should go back and soften it again.

White Primrose

White Primrose, originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2.

I love softening and cropping the flowers. All is well today, I'm suffering from Olympics television coverage withdrawal so I'm not quite sure what to do with myself tonight. So, I guess that's why I'm playing with the flowers.

I also did a pink one that I really like. I'll put it here too.

Ha! It works!

Dreamy Primroses, originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2.

Trying again - this is fun

Lincoln City Sunset

Lincoln City Sunset, originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2.

A-HA! I figured out how to bring my flcikr pics here. I think.

We'll see if this works.

Edited to say: YAY!

Here's my limit

Just yesterday the president of Ryanair again said he is considering putting in a coin operated toilet on his planes. A COIN OPERATED TOILET!!!! Because, as he said, "toilets are a luxury on the plane, and are not mandatory." I guess he can hold it longer than I can.

Tell you what, if I ever ride on ryanair I am going to wear old clothing, and if I have to go to the bathroom, I will pee and/or poop on their seat. Then change and cleanup in the restroom at the arrival airport. I bet the cost of replacing or cleaning the seat, and fumigating the plane, especially if others do this also, is substantially more than it would have been to provide a damn free toilet.

Ok, I probably wouldn't do that but it would be tempting. I hope people don't ride on their stupid planes and they go out of business. I HOPE, if they actually implement this, that people do not accept this change, because that would mean that all airlines will try it. bah.

It was such a gorgeous day today it seemed a shame to stay home. So we picked up S and Mom and took a drive up the Columbia River Gorge, via the Old Highway. Here's a pic I took at Multnomah Falls.

Spring Means Daphne

Another sign of spring - the intoxicating, blissful, fantastic daphne. I have a HUGE bush next to the front steps and its aroma surrounds the yard and porch. Wonderful.....

Purple Crocus

It must be an early Spring. The crocus are up and it is gorgeous outside. I don't know how long this is going to last, but I'll enjoy it while it's here.

Nothing to Report

Uneventful day so far. K went to Corvallis to meet R and watch OSU basketball. The weather has been gorgeous this week, sunny and clear, which is really nice but kind of unusual. Is winter over? My daphne and crocus think so! They are both bloomed out in force.

Anyway, the nice weather makes me want to go to the beach - here's a pic of a seagull at the beach this past summer. And a wonderful beach kite pic. Beam me there.

Mardi Gras Parade Hints

I thought I'd post a few of my own Carnival and Mardi Gras hints in case you can use them if you go.

1. Buy a bead bag. Bead bags are heavy duty bags that can handle many pounds of beads, and if you go to parades you'll need at least one for each parade (maybe two for Thoth). If you're lucky you'll only have to buy the first ones - many of the krewes use bead bags on the floats and they dump them into the street as they empty them - if you're fast you'll be able to grab a continuing supply that way. But you need at least one to start.

2. Make a list of the parades you want to go to, and figure out how you will get there from the hotel and back. These plans have to be flexible as weather and crowds are variable and can mess up the best-laid plans.

3. Go to Walgreens and buy a lawn chair as soon as you arrive. You'll be very glad you did. Days of 3, 4 and 5 parades can be LONG. You'll be glad you have a chair.

4. If you buy a small cooler and some water/pop/beer while you're at Walgreens you'll save yourself several trips for drinks because, depending on the weather, parading is HOT, thirsty work! Or just make sure you set up close to a frozen daquiri shop - umm, they're the best!

5. If you can afford it, go to one of the restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat-and-drink, grandstands and BATHROOMS, at least once. You'll see the parades from a whole different vantage point, with all your food and drink in easy reach. These are spendy but the prices are pretty consistent among the restaurants along St. Charles - $130-$150 or so per person (depending on the number of parades), and more for Fat Tuesday. They are expensive but fun, and it's worth it to do it at least once.

6. Do not underestimate the importance of a BATHROOM! Unless you can hold it all day or all night, you must plan to be near a bathroon, either by purchasing something from a restaurant or fast food place and keeping the receipt for re-entry (check for the rules), being near a port-a-potty, or best of all, locating your hotel on St. Charles (if you're interested in the Uptown parade route), or on another route, depending on the parades you want to see. Uptown has the most parades so that makes sense to me. This way you and yours can just walk back to your hotel room between parades to use the bathroom. Assuming you're not staying with friends on the parade route or having a party at a friend-of-a-friend's house (which is a popular thing to do) right on the route, that is. Just make sure you know where a useable bathroom is before you get all settled in.

7. Parades are fun. Don't get mad when you've waited on the sidewalk for hours and someone comes up right at the last minute as the parade finally gets there and stands in front of you. Usually accompanied by about 10 little kids. Don't worry - you'll still get plenty of throws and it's not worth it getting mad at them, they'll move along pretty quickly.

8. Don't be surprised when you see walls of ladders set up along the route and you can't find a way through them to get to your spot or across the street. The ladders are an annoyance and I don't like them, but it's not my town. Just keep walking and you'll eventually find a break in the ladders - you may have to do some backtracking around them to get to where you're going, but there's nothing you can do about it as long as they're allowed to set up the way they do. I don't like them either.

9. Don't get too close to the floats because you can trip up and go under the wheels. My brother likes to get really close, like touching close, and I finally have to just grab him to get him to stand back. I don't think he realized what he was even doing - he was hypnotized by the beads or something. Just be aware that, yes, you can go up to the floats, but PLEASE don't get so close that you get hurt or killed - that'll just take the fun out of it for everyone!

10. Do not worry that you won't get any throws! You will get MORE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY USE, more than you can carry home! You might be anxious before your first parade or so, but relax, everyone will get throws. See something you really want? Yell for it, and if you get it, thank the rider. Did you and your neighbor both grab the same throw? If you want it, hang on to it and make the other guy give it up! If you don't really care, be gracious and let him have it. In fact, the best neighbors share the booty - sometimes riders will throw a dozen beads at a time and you catch them all - check around and see if anybody wants some. You will be the "good guy" and other throws will be shared with you! I scored a Zulu coconut this way - my neighbor caught two during Zulu, and gave me one. On that note, don't feel that you have to keep everything you catch - you will be weighed down with tons of throws you don't really need - feel free to give away or just leave the ones you don't really want. Throw them in the trees if you want. Also, there are gleaners that will come by at most parades and pick up the unwanted beads - a lot of them sell them on eBay.

11. Do not be too shy to yell for throws! "Throw me something, mister" really means something to the riders and, if they can hear you, they will throw you something! You can yell anything - I got fabulous pink beads by yelling "pink! pink!" and pointing to the beads I wanted in the rider's hand! You really will get more stuff if you yell for it - it's a two way street between you and the riders. You'll get more stuff if you show them that you really want it! And, if you know someone on the float be sure to yell their name loudly, get your neighbors to yell the name, you will be PELTED with throws if you friend recognizes you! Or? Make a guess and yell "John! John!" and if there's a man named John on the float he may assume he knows you and will pelt you. I didn't do this, but I watched others do it and it worked!

12. When a float is going by, be sure to pay attention! Throws come from all directions, and some of the floats are two levels so throws are coming laterally and from above. You will get bonked in the head if you do not pay attention! Do the best you can - you'll probably be hit in the head anyway no matter how careful you are but you can at least reduce the number of times if you just stay aware.

13. Unless you really like the smell of urine and vomit, don't go to Bourbon Street at night during Carnival. Or if you're over 25 years old. It really is kind of disgusting. Go during the day - eat breakfast and lunch, go shopping, whatever, but don't be there at night, at least without knowing what you're getting in to. It can also be a blast, as long as you know what to expect. Unfortunately, because of the media coverage that Bourbon St gets, a lot of people think this is all there is to Carnival and Mardi Gras and have no idea how fun everything is and you never even have to go there if you don't want to and you can still have a fabulous experience.

14. Be sure to eat some King Cake! Rice and beans on Monday! Community coffee! For me, Voodoo Barbecue for lunch. Cafe DuMond for a break any time during the day. Anywhere you eat will be better than anything at home! Go to the Green Goddess!

Ok, that's all I can think of right now, plus it's getting really late. I know there are more hints, but I'll add them as I think of them.

Most important thing? If you go, HAVE FUN!

Mardi Gras!

I've watched 5 parades on nola.com paradecam today - starting at about 8:30 am with Babylon, then Okeanos, Mid-City (and their cool colored foil floats), Thoth (one of my FAVORITE krewes because they are so generous with the throws), then Bacchas, with their King, Drew Brees.

I've attached a pic from my favorite parade, Krewe of Muses. They parade at night - they were supposed to parade on Thur night, but with the crap weather in NOLA, they were moved to Friday night and I MISSED IT. I was mad at myself when I remembered to turn on the cam and they had just finished! Bah. I love the throws from Muses and the gorgeous lighted floats.

Tomorrow evening is Proteus and then, I think, Orpheus. Paradecam shows all the Uptown route parades down St Charles so you can catch lots of parades.

I really, really want to go back to Mardi Gras. Maybe next year.

Geaux Saints! Congratulations!

I gotta say I am not in any way, shape or fashion a football fan, but I am a New Orleans fan and I am thrilled to see them all SO HAPPY! I wish, wish, wish I had planned to go to Mardi Gras this year - it's such a happy time. New Mayor! Super Bowl winners! Mardi Gras! All at once! It would have been a blast to be at the Saints Parade today. It looks fantastic in the videos.

Here's a pic from the 2008 Krewe of Zulu parade.

Sunrise This Morning

Isn't this gorgeous? I glanced out and saw that we had a nice sunrise going this morning, so grabbed a camera.

I can't really avoid either the power lines or the trees from my vantage point, unless I walk out into the middle of the main street. And I'm no fool.

Not much going on so far this Holiday weekend. Where are my friends? I'm not sure, I'm not really on the weekend fun lists any more, I don't think. Still, it's early yet, just Saturday. Still have Sun and Mon.

I hope everyone else is having a more exciting time than I am these past few months. Maybe I'm not as fun as I might have used to be - how can you tell that yourself??

Anyway, here's an image of fireworks painting. I called this one "Symphony in Blue and Gold" on my flickr page. Note the feet? Cracks me up.

Pretty In Pink

There's supposed to be a really pretty picture here that I took in Cozumel. It's pink bouganvillea (I will need to look up that spelling!)

Well, I've tried that twice and it said it uploaded but I do not see it. So, I'll try something else.

This is still the picture, but I liked the cropped one I was trying to get up here better. But, it's still gorgeous. And, notice the baby agave plants in the background. There had been a hurricane the year before that wiped out many of their plants so these are replacements. But they're growing well.

Teeny Rant - Poop on Molokai

Deleted because I don't want to hurt anybody.

Photos at flickr

By the way, I have these blog photos and others at my flickr account:
www.flickr.com/photos/sunshinegurl2

I think that's the address. Just search for sunshinegurl2

Anyway, if you're here and want to see more pics feel free to go there. There are literally billions of pics on flickr - at last count over 4 billion - and many of them are gorgeously excellent so if you haven't browsed flickr please do so. It's fun to think of a word, any word, and put it in search and see what comes up.

I can browse for hours.

Sunrise

This gorgeous sunset greeted me one day this week when I went out to get the paper. I saw this and ran back inside to get my camera. Glorious pics but I wished I hadn't run outside barefoot. It was brr cold.

Happy New Year 2010!

I didn't go out on New Year's Eve. My cousin and I stayed in and drank Hurricanes, and played with sparklers. Here's a pic of me with some of the sparklers. We took LOTS of pictures of us being goofy and playing with fire.

Hey, at least we weren't driving, right?