I did not cry....

 Elliott, on his first day of 5th grade, September 2003

Elliott, on his first day as a college freshman 8/2011

Well, at least I did not cry when he was looking!  Elliott just left for his first day of college.  It did not seem so daunting when Mason did it, probably because I knew I still had my "baby" in high school.  He has classes on Monday and Wednesday's.  Even though he is only going two days out of the week it is considered a full load, because the classes are pretty long.  He leaves the house around 8a.m. and won't be home until almost 8p.m.  He is taking psychology, geology and an English course.  I asked him a few times yesterday if he wanted me to drive him there, and he politely refused.saying he was totally cool with taking the bus.  I cannot wait to hear all about it.

Mason lost his wallet on Friday...which of course had all his ID and debit cards in it.  By the time I saw the post on Facebook about it, he had already called the bank and taken care of business.  His main concern was that his military ID was in there with his and Lee's social security number on it.  His military ID had just expired (actually it expired when he got married...) on his 21st birthday...but when you have had that ID since your were 10 and it is drilled into your head not to go anywhere without it, I am sure it was hard to remove it from your wallet...kinda like leaving a piece of your life behind.  We got Mace and Lee signed up for credit monitoring...so we now just have to be on the lookout for anything bad to show up.  I was impressed that Mace knew exactly what to do in the situation....these boys never cease to amaze me.

Something interesting...

Gray whale swimming in the Klamath River (this is not my picture)

There is something a little odd happening in Humboldt...well, truthfully Humboldt is all kinds of odd everyday...but this is interesting.  For those that have come to visit us from the North, you probably noticed the bridge over the Klamath river..it is the one with the gold painted bears on each end.  It has become quite the tourist attraction....a gray whale entered the river with her calf about 2 months ago.  The calf left a couple weeks ago, and went back to the ocean..but the momma has not left.  The local scientists and Indian tribes have tried everything, but she shows no signs of leaving.  They worry if she is getting enough nutrition and about people getting too close...she is 45 feet long for goodness sake!

I have a whale tale of my own to share....this was definitely a "bucket list" moment.  This took place a long time ago...when Mason was just a baby.  Lee and I went to Westport (WA) for a night or two, leaving Mace with Grandma and Grandpa.  On the spur of the moment we decided to take a whale watching tour, it was late int he season, so the tickets were a little cheaper than usual.  We head out of Grays Harbor and into the Pacific...Lee all the while reminding me to look toward the horizon...trying hard to keep my breakfast intact and still in my belly.  It took a long time, but some whales were finally spotted...it was amazing to see them (2 or 3) just swim and bob lazily in the ocean...we were on their turf.  The gray whales got closer and closer to the boat....I was like a child, eyes wide open and in total amazement.  One kept getting very close....and one time close enough to touch...Lee said he had never seen me move so fast, I saw it getting closer and thought I had a chance, I flung myself onto the deck of the boat and stuck my hand over the low railing....and touched a whale!   I could feel the skin and the barnacles that lived on the whales back.  It felt like slimy sandpaper.   It is one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced.  It is also a moment I have no proof of...we did not take a camera!


August 16,  I just read online that the whale beached itself last night and died sometime before morning.....it's sad, but also at the same time, an opportunity for scientists to learn more.

Time to celebrate my August Birthday!!!

Oh my...cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes...yes, the cupcake shop on TLC!!!

A little back story....Christine has been my friend forever, I have written about her a lot in the blog.  Well, for the first half of our friendship...28 years now...she would celebrate my birthday in August.  Finally, she realized my birthday is in September...but in true Christine fashion, she said something to the effect of "screw that, I can celebrate your birthday in August if I want to"...and she still does.  She had let me know I would get a delivery today..but no good hints as from where it might be from....oh my goodness, she sent me two dozen assorted cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes (in Washington DC).  This is the same cupcake shop on TLC's DC Cupcakes.   I am pretty sure she got the idea from one of our text-a-thons last week when I complained that all the cupcakes shows were making my sweet tooth crazy!!

She said she added the lemon cupcake in there for Lee.....but I think this is a "don't ask, don't tell" situation...if he does not ask which one is for him, I just may never tell him!

THANK YOU CHRISTINE!!!!

Some things I am really loving right now....

 Oh goodness...they served these on my Alaska airlines flight to/from Arizona....they are thin crisp cookies that kinda taste like a pumpkin pie spice latte..they are delightful!  Only draw back...I shared with Elliott and he loves them too!

 My Kindle.....probably the best gift Christine (besides her friendship) has ever gotten me....I spend time with it everyday...my "kindle time".  I love, love, love it!!  I love that 80% of the books I have downloaded are free.  I could not love it more!!!

I love it when Mason calls out of the blue!!!  I also love when Arrielle texts me and begins the text calling me mom!!!  I miss them both very much!!!

I got theses flip flops a long time ago, and never wore them.  I found them in the closet  a couple months ago and have not stopped wearing them.  Very comfortable!  Lee calls them my "bling, bling and a pinky ring" flip flops...due to the beading and rhinestone flower on them.

Oh goodness golly.....I saw ads for this butter a year ago...our Safeway just began carrying it a couple months back.  It is expensive, about $3 for 8 ounces...but this is the creamiest most yummy butter I have ever had!!

This kid makes me smile....Elliott comes off as shy and quiet to most people, but since he was little he has been one of the funniest people I have ever known.  He is as picky about things as I am....probably not a good thing.  He starts his first college courses on the 29th!

So......what are you loving right now????

Well...hello there

Kitty...thinking he is is pretty bad ass, sitting on top of Lee's motorcycle.

This week was so much better than last week.....Monday, I was excited because Cirrus and her two kids were coming for an overnighter.  She used to live across the street from me and moved to Sacramento in May.  I saw her while I was in Oregon, and we made the plan for her to stop her over night on her way home.  Her kids were adorable, I cannot believe how much they have grown.  Her son, Brennan says he wants to move back into his old house so I can be across the street.  I am pretty sure it is the cookies, that I always seem to have for them that sways them into my corner!   Brennan even quizzed me on all the names of the characters in The Backyardigans....I failed!  Keira was snuggly and sweet, a huge change from a year ago when one night I watched her so her parents could go out and she cried and cried.  It was really nice to see them all!

Get this....I dragged my ass into the gym this week.  for the first time in a little over a month.  I have to admit it felt really good and I even look forward to going back today!!!

Lee, was sneaky and took a couple days leave this week...so we could avoid Coast Guard Day.  I know that is bad...but it is a ways away, on a winding road and I am the worst when it comes to car-sickness.  In all honesty....Coast Guard Day is the best day in housing...because everyone is gone and it is so quite.  Lee and I ran an errand and when we got in the truck to leave I sang "it's the most wonderful day of the year...".  It is all back to normal today...the wild packs of kids are roaming the neighborhood.

In yesterdays mail I received two letters, from Wyatt and Gracie...my neighbors that I stayed with in Oregon. I love deciphering the phonetic spellings of younger kids!  It was sweet to get the letters, thanking me for coming up there and their hopes I will come again someday.  They should be home on Sunday....which is good, because I have a plan to get them back for all their orneriness they put me through when I was with them.