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.

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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.