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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A New Bedfellow

Bill is out of town for the week, working in Winnemucca. I am home alone, or so I thought until last night when I realized someone else was in bed with me! It was exactly 2:10 am when I felt someone brush against my right arm. I screamed loudly, jumped out of bed, flipped on the light switch, reached for my glasses and turned to face the bed.

The covers were up so I gingerly pulled them back, expecting to see a flurry of movement as the intruder sought refuge. Well, he didn't move at all but sat staring at me with little beady eyes and a bald head. He was big, at least two inches long, and how he ever managed to find me will forever be a mystery.

The Jerusalem Cricket stared up at me, wondering what all the fuss was about. After all, Bill was gone and there was plenty of room in the bed for the two of us. I, however, had a different take on the situation and decided that he had to go. I retrieved a plastic container with lid from the kitchen and scooped up the invader so I could get a better look in the morning. Then I unfolded the bedding and examined everything carefully before climbing back into bed.

Living in the desert has its challenges and far too many encounters with insects and spiders determined to survive. Scorpions are frequent party crashers, trying every way they can to find refuge inside our home, away from the elements. There are also various spiders looking for dark corners. The Jerusalem cricket, I've seen outdoors but this was the first time one has ventured in. Yikes!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Birthdays on Top of Mt. Rose


Our family celebrates cluster birthdays. In September we always get together and have a party for Molly's August 31 birthday, my September 1 birthday and Chaja's Septmeber 3 birthday. We also celebrate Joe and Breena's anniversay date, also on September 3.

This year was a double digit year for Chaja. She is now 10 years old. I made her a dress, as I have done since she started school but this year the dress was fancy! She expected a "school dress" and was delighted to see the organza, taffeta and velvet...a party dress for sure.

The dress proved to be a greater challenge than I anticipated. I adjusted the pattern to fit and ended up with armholes large enough for me to comfortably ease into. Yikes!! I ended up opening the seams on the dress and lining, removing the sleeves, taking the bodice part way off of the skirt and taking everything in 5/8" on each side. Too much work for a project that I wanted to complete in a hurry. But I got it finished and by the looks of it, Chaja was happy as any ten year old girl could be.

Molly celebrated her 26th birthday and traveled from Tennessee with her fiance Luke. It was great to have both of them with us.

I transitioned into a new decade. Now I am 60 years old...deserving of every grey hair on my head. Breena made me a party hat and all of my family celebrated with me, at the campsite or from their home in Seattle. It was a birthday to remember.

Mama Mia.... Here I Go Again

At my request, Bill went with me to see Mama Mia. The theater darkened and a young woman rowed across the water to mail her wedding invitations to three men, one of whom (and she didn't know which) was her father. Then the singing began. I leaned over and whispered in Bill's ear, "Did I tell you this was a musical?"

I loved it! Had a hard time staying in my seat because ABBA's music was too much fun. Went again with Debbie and Darci to the little theater in Yerington. Got in as a senior (now that I am 60!) and it only cost $4.00. If I had trouble staying seated the first time, the second was worse. After leaving the theater I wanted to do the Dancing Queen down the main street of Yerington. Unfortunately no one followed me.

Then I got the Best of ABBA CD for my birthday from Randi. The music fills my car wherever I go. I am saturating myself with ABBA.

Tomorrow will be theater performance number three. I am going with Kathi. She isn't sure she has heard ABBA as she was "into country" and she doesn't really like musicals. So this will be the true test. Will Linda be able to stay in her seat? Will Kathi be able to stay in hers? Linda will want to dance, Kathi may want to leave. Tomorrow will tell.