Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Oops! The President lied again

Just a little one, but still not the truth, when standing by Tony Blair our president said that he didn't know Snow was leaving his job when actually the president had already appointed the replacement. Gotta protect the markets even if it means deception.




Honey bees have invaded this wall at the back of a warehouse.








Bridge over the Willamette River

Monday, May 29, 2006

Holiday buffet at the Abbey

Chef Marie is an artist. We eat well here.



Memorial Day


On this day when I was young we used to always go to my Grandmother's house in Evanston, Wyoming. We would make a trip to the cemetary with flowers for the graves. I remember my Uncle Charles large headstone. He died of influenza while serving in the first world war in France after having been married to my Aunt Ida for only a short time. She never remarried. In an older cemetary we found the graves of the children in the family who had died early. For me it was a time to ponder about death and life.






Linn runs in the Bolder Boulder race this morning.








This view of the Willamette Valley reminds me of the view of Provence that I have been seeing in the DVD 'A Year in Provence.'

Sunday, May 28, 2006

THE LIBRARY



Living just three blocks from the library means an easy walk. I will be volunteering there beginning this week in the computer area, just for two hours on Thursdays. This is a wonderful library.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Saturday Market









I am having some trouble uploading images. I'm not getting them in the order I want and then sometimes they are doubled. I guess I need to read the 'help' link.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Visit from Ronan and Loki




It rained today. I tried for a larger photo of Linn's watercolor but the glare on the glass distorts it.
The angle of the other picture is one way of avoiding the light on the wall reflecting on the glass, I hope.

Linn's Watercolor


It's Friday and I have plans to get some things done today. Things like organize the closet, some drawers, etc. Maybe I'll look at new HDTV's today.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Washington Abbey


Florence, at 96, is the most senior resident at the Abbey. She is a peacemaker, a woman of intellect and social grace. I am so glad she is here.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Lunch at McMinamins



Loki and Cathy joined me today for lunch and a visit. It has been a long time since we have seen each other. What a treat to be with young people to find what they are thinking and where they are in their lives! I think the river flowing by McMinamins is like the flow of human life. The water doesn't stand still. Ah, the first noble truth of Buddhism! Impermanance.

There was rain on and off today.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Coffee at Theo's






It is raining this morning, just typical of Eugene in May.

We discussed various topics at Theo's this morning, among them the fate of Christianity, whether it has to change or not.

Also, a new approach to campaign finance which sounds reasonable if enough of the populace are informed about what is going on with government.

I tried to call Linn on his cell phone but he may not have it turned on. The automated voice tells me that number does not have voice messaging set up.

On with the day wherever it leads me.

Everyone sends greetings to Linn.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Monday, just an ordinary day

This morning I changed a lot of furniture around and got very tired. I'm not through.

This afternoon I walked to the bank and then the library. In the Magazine section I perused a Vanity Fair issue. The ads are obscenely elegant. There is an article on Dick Cheney and how he has changed. Could it be from his heart problems?

Now I am relaxing until dinner. Tomorrow is another day

Good dinner----shepherd's pie

Saturday, May 20, 2006

5th Street Market


After Linn's run with his Saturday group we have coffee with all the runners and walkers, of which there are about 15 or so. The flowers are looking good now. The market is under construction for its newest re-incarnation. Will it be an improvement?

It is Sunday here now and I turned on Washington Journal. It comes on early in Eugene at 4:00 a.m. My call went through for the first time. The question was 'is the country headed for a time of drift?' as posited by David Gergen who listed five critical areas. They were education, health care, debt, science, and the fith one has slipped my mind. There are many more than his list of five. Yes, Gergen is right on. It is sad. I think my voice was shaky on my Skype phone, marking me as the old woman that I am.

If our country goes down we will still have our universe.

Linn Flys Off to Colorado


It is a quiet afternoon here now. Linn got to the airport in good time for his plane. This afternoon I'm going to take a nap. The apartment is quiet. I will have the space to myself for ten days. There is plenty to keep me busy. Things to catch up on.

I just read that the plan to secure the border involves giving big contracts to the usual friends of the Administration whereby so many have enriched themselves enormously already. No surprise there, just a feeling of despair and disgust.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Raining here


Friday and we are well into the morning. The rain is refreshing after some hot days. Husband, Linn, is getting ready for his trip to Boulder, Colorado tomorrow. He will go a week ahead of running in the Bolder Boulder race so he can get used to the altitude. This will be about the 10th time he has run this race with our daughter who lives in Boulder. Linn will be 84 in June. The competition is thining out.

I've been trying to find the Oregon Funeral Association online. We have been out of touch with them for a few years. I hope they still have our names as members. I finally did find a website. The name has changed. This came up this morning with our coffee group when we began talk about funerals. The consumer oriented state funeral organizations are very good for saving us from making hasty decisions and being influenced by the funeral industry. Paying a lot for a casket and ceremony doesn't make sense and doesn't really show respect to your loved one. It is just something people get suckered into. Here is the website I found for Oregon:
http://www.funerals.org/Oregon/index.htm

Not pleasant to think about this, but it is sensible to do it when you are not weighed down with what is inevitable for all of us at some time.

Now for a lighter note. The Natural History Society meets tonight at the U. of O. The subject matter is 'Origin of Animals With Backbones.' The speaker is John Postlethwait.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Washington Journal this morning

There will be hearings on the Major Hayden's confirmation this morning on c-span. Will the 'facts' come out? I have no confidence in what is being thrown at us. There is too much secrecy in the actions of this administration. I vote 'no confidence' before I've even heard what they have to say.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Another warm day in Eugene


Sifting through the news I am sorry to hear Paul McCartney is splitting with his wife. Not too much good news today. In fact, I can't remember anything. With intense curiosity I read some blogs I find interesting and am waiting for Rove to be indicted, sooner or later. It may be today but we have been disappointed before and so I don't have anything invested in that happening soon. The problem at our country's southern border is not easy to solve. It has gone on too long, now the president is trying to appeal to both factions to the effect that neither is happy with his being the decider. What can help our world? Be kind. Be gentle. Be glad for small things.