01-SEP-2006
Friday, September 1
This is the nest that the mouse made in my desk drawer. When the guys came to help me clean the drawer out this morning, the mouse was still there. I'm kind of half expecting to have it scamper across my feet as I sit at my desk some day. Although they put a mouse bait box under my desk and directly under the drawer it was in. Supposedly the mouse will eat the bait and go off and die somewhere.
01-SEP-2006
Friday, September 1
This is my friend, Ann. She is starting her sabbatical on Tuesday, 9/5. She’s going to drive 10,000 miles across the country—visiting friends, relatives and acquaintances from coast to coast. What a cool trip!
01-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 2
This photo was taken in the outside rearview mirror of my car. And it was taken last night as I drove home so I'm kind of cheating putting it as an entry for Saturday. The sun was this glowing, red orb in a totally cloudless sky. Very beautiful.
04-SEP-2006
Monday, September 4
Today is Labor Day so we had the usual party class for Jazzercise. Party classes are really fun because everyone comes to that one class--we have eight instructors on stage and students from every class fill the hall. The energy level is over the top and it is just a lot of fun. So in this photo, Helen challenged all the instructors to stretch themselves and do push-ups instead of pec presses for that part of the routine. They all did pretty darn good.
I didn't have anything to report on yesterday as I didn't do much--stayed home and read my book (I'll finish tonight).
Tomorrow--back to work although I will be WFH.
05-SEP-2006
Tuesday, September 5
This is one nice glass of iced tea! Since I've discovered blueberry tea and the weather has been so warm, I had been thinking it might make a nice iced tea as well. Then, I was thinking that if I mixed the blueberry with ginger peach it might be really tasty. Well I did, and it is! YUM! I have a Mr Coffee iced tea maker and put 6 bags of blueberry and 2 bags of ginger peach tea in the brewing basket. This is what you get--6 quarts of delicious tasting iced tea.
Wednesday, September 6
Intel has been in the news for the last week it seems--fun things to think about over a long holiday weekend. Hopefully this daily reminder to everyone in Oregon that their jobs are in jeopardy will cease soon. And a guy down the row from us plasters the headlines on his wall for all to see. Our CIO spoke to us today and said we'd have to wait until the last week in September, first week in October to find out where we really stand. Oh joy--more waiting.
On a more positive note, there was the most awesome HUGE moon rising tonight as I drove home from work. I didn't catch a shot of it though because I couldn't get to a vantage point that would be good for photographing before it got too high in the sky. They said on the news that it was a "corn" moon. Next month would be the "harvest" moon (closest full moon to the autumnal equinox) and in November the "hunter's" moon. I wonder what the December full moon is called???
07-SEP-2006
Thursday, September 7
Tonight at body sculpting, Helen had us all go sit on the bench seats in the hall to do an upper arm routine. Boy we did a lot of upper arm stuff--except me since I was taking photos. I took several but this was the only one that I could salvage--too little light and too slow a shutter and not a steady enough hand to catch a better shot. I actually prefer doing this type of routine sitting on a chair to sitting on the floor.
08-SEP-2006
Friday, September 8
Today we had our ECAM quarterly at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. EUT had a total of three show up--me, Matt and Joe. But we had fun eating hamburgers, yakking with folks we normally don't see, meeting new people, playing frisbee golf and playing a couple teambuilding games. We also had drawings for prizes--with a slight gift stealing slant--but everybody walked away with a prize of some kind.
09-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 9
After Jazzercise this morning, I met Yachiyo and Joan at Coffee's On and we ran into a couple other Jazzercisers that I didn't know. I do now--Debbie, Frances and Paula--they are all elementary school teachers. Well Frances is actually retired but used to teach with Paula. Anyway, nice gals. While we were drinking our coffee and yakking, these young kids came in and got their coffee and went outside. A while later, we noticed that all the boys were sitting in the chairs and the girls on the cement sidewalk--I had to get a photo of that. I guess they don't teach manners any more, huh?
10-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 10
I had a surprise visit from my friend Nora. She was in the neighborhood dropping off her granddaughter Mary and had to use the restroom so came to my house. She convinced me to go with her to 7 Dee's Nursery to buy some plants for her new house. She bought a bunch and I fit them all into her car for the loooonnnggg ride home.
12-SEP-2006
Tuesday, September 12
Well my boss is here from Arizona for a few days this week so I didn't get to my regular Jazzercise class by 6pm. So instead, I came a bit early for the 7:15pm class and caught a photo of some of my classmates working out--something I never see since I'm usually in the front row. This was the last day of our nice sunny, warm summer weather as the weather since then has been cool and overcast.
15-SEP-2006
Friday, September 15
As I said in my previous post, summer is over and the rain has begun. It was almost spring-like as I was driving home Friday night: drenching showers, a little hail, a bit of thunder, many rainbows. Quite the weather spectrum. So in my outside rear-view mirror, I could see the sky glowing like it was on fire so after crossing the bridge to the east side, I pulled back around to face the west side so I could see the whole sky--gorgeous!
16-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 16
Val Vance came out to Clackamas Jazzercise today to drop off some stuff for the race tomorrow. She also disclosed to us a friend she had hiding inside her coat. Lucky is an orphaned squirrel that someone found and gave to Val.
16-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 16
Val always seems to have a little "pet" project going. She plans to let Lucky grow up and then release him at her parents house out in the country.
16-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 16
Later in the day on Saturday, I went to a customer appreciation event that a gal from Jazzercise was having for her real estate clients/potential clients. Helen and her band were the entertainment and I would have to say they did a GREAT job. There were LOTS of Jazzercisers there and everyone looked like they had a good time.
Helen's gig got over at about 7:15pm so I went to the store to get the stuff I needed for Sunday and then went home. I am trying to finish Season 4 of "Sex and the City" and have 3 episodes left to watch. Poor Aidan and Carrie just broke up again after he realizes that she's never going to marry him.
I went to bed at about midnight--have to get up early to be at Judy's at 6:15am for breakfast before the race.
17-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 17
It's here--Race For The Cure day in Portland. I am part of a team of Jazzercisers from the Vancouver, WA and Clackamas, OR centers called TEAM JAZZERCISE. We have always done this as a team and usually meet for breakfast at Judy's house before heading downtown. She does a really great job--pulling out all the stops to make sure we all get a good start to the day.
17-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 17
We always have Mel take a shot of us before we depart for the race. We have been soooo blessed with great weather each year, and this year was no exception. This year it is warmer than in past years, and forecasted temps in the low 70s, so perfect walking weather.
We had our good friend Diana Wente make team shirts for us (lime green--and individually tailored by request) and we carried smily face balloons to try to stay in contact amongst the hoards of people we know will be doing the race with us.
Front Row: Kathryn Lansing, Karen, Val Vance
Middle Row: Angela Lansing, me, Vicki, Carol Albert, Judy, Muzzy, Julie Harvey, Harleen Gross
Back Row: Greg Talbert
17-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 17
Can you see the Jazzercisers in the crowd?
Hint: I see Carol, Julie, Suzy, Crystal, Muzzy and Angela
17-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 17
On the route we pass a Portland landmark. That sign used to say Paramount but when they refurbished the theatre and it morphed to the Schnitz, they also redid the sign to say Portland.
In past years the race has wound its way through downtown and then over the Burnside Bridge to the east side for a while and then back over the Burnside Bridge and down Naito Parkway to the finish. This year, because of construction on Naito Parkway and the bridge, we are staying on the west side. I thought it was kind of cool to see the newer parts of NW Portland instead of the industrial areas of the east side. But when you don't cross the river, you don't get the true vastness of this event--you're not on one side of the river looking back at the endless sea of people that are following you. That is quite a sight indeed.
It is always such a sobering thing to see all the people with "In Memory of" placards pinned to their shirts. So many women (and men too) have been affected by breast cancer and I am always amazed at the numbers of young women who have died from this disease. Many are lucky enough to be able to join us in the walk and proudly wear their survivor's pink shirts and hats.
17-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 17
Greg took a post race photo of all of us.
17-SEP-2006
Sunday, September 17
Finally, after we returned to Judy's house and picked up our cars, we went to Lisa Hanson's house for an "after race" brunch. More good food and friends--reuniting with those we couldn't find in the masses of people.
All in all, a busy, fun weekend. I can't wait to get home and take my shoes off!!!
Monday, September 18
Today we had a "virtual" baby shower for Arizona manager, Kristi Connolly. We had cake and played a "Guess the Baby Food" game and then a baby related word scramble. But the best game was who could drink the water out of the baby bottle fastest. Matt was the eventual victor, proving he is the master of the baby bottle.
And I found a recipient for the baby food and bottles: Susan Wang returned from maternity leave shortly before I returned from sabbatical. She was very happy to have the food for her new baby and I was glad to not waste it.
20-SEP-2006
Wednesday, September 20
It is the third day of some really gloomy, rainy weather. I'm glad it held off until after the Race For The Cure. As I drove to work Monday morning, the rain was pelting down and I thanked God that this occured on Monday instead of Sunday. It made me wonder how many people would have turned out for the race had it been raining. In general, this photo is a reflection of my ever changing mood. At least we are getting closer to finding out the outcome of the efficiency efforts at work, but until then the roller coaster ride continues.
22-SEP-2006
Friday, September 22
April, Lois and I met for lunch today at Red Robin. We had a lot to talk about with all the speculation about changes that are going to be occuring at work. We all think that this process has been pretty brutal--downright cruel--to make people wait for so long to find out if they still have jobs. People have been told all summer long what a wonderful job they're doing to keep busy and getting the job done. But what a farce--what are they working for? Why should they continue working hard if they might not have a job? Is anything going to matter once their fate is known? The whole thing has been handled very poorly -- IMHO.
22-SEP-2006
Friday, September 22
When I was on sabbatical April told me she was "thinking" about getting a new car. Guess she went ahead and did it, huh?
22-SEP-2006
Friday, September 22
The new signs with the new Intel logo look pretty cool at dusk or after dark. I love the blue glow.
23-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 23
Went to see Too Slim and the Taildraggers with my friend Julie on Saturday night at the Cascade Bar and Grill over in Vancouver. We have both been in kind of a funk lately so thought going out might pull us out of it. But like everything else, the band just didn't seem to do anything--didn't seem to have the punch it had the last couple times I've seen them. Nobody danced much and the crowd was rather subdued. Must be because they've banned smoking indoors at the club? At least we didn't leave smelling like we'd been rolling in an ashtray.
29-SEP-2006
Friday, September 29
The nice weather has returned for a last gasp at summer. We've been having temps averaging 80-85 degrees for the last few days and it has been sooo nice. I couldn't help but capture a photo of the just breaking daylight reflected off the buildings on Marquam Hill just up from the west end of the Ross Island Bridge. Looks like it will be another glorious day.
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
Today we were enticed to sit outdoors at coffee by Carolyn because she had brought her little Sophie with her. She was driving her Barbie car so she couldn't leave Sophie in the car. So we took all the chairs and tables outside Papaccino's to make a big long gathering place. Joan and John were there with their granddaughter Maya. Maya's other grandmother, Gilda was there as well. It was so pleasant outside and the light was so nice, I couldn't resist taking candids of all the folks who sat facing me across the table.
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
Judy was deep in conversation with someone when I caught her photo.
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
Ken took a phone call and I captured his photo.
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
Yachiyo asks Judy how she liked class this morning. Notice her jacket--it says "Instructor" on the front and "Jazzercise" on the back.
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
You see some very interestingly clad people stop in for coffee on Saturday mornings. If there was ever a perfect place to do some people watching, this would be the place. It was about 11:15am when this gal drove up and came strolling in wearing her PJs and slippers. I've seen Reedy's wearing full slips as dresses (that was the style at the time), but I don't think I've ever seen anyone in their PJs. She's taken "casual" to a whole new level if you ask me!
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
John lets us know what he thinks of some of the season's new TV series.
30-SEP-2006
Saturday, September 30
Julie made a rare appearance and joined us at Papaccino's. She went to the 9:30am class and usually goes to a different coffee place with another crowd. If you look carefully, you can see Diana's reflection in the window.