Hang on to your Top Hat!

Guys, guys, guys.....here are some I forgot!!!


Oh, and Art..... I Love You!

Ten Packages in Ten Seconds

Hey guys...the Package Shark arrived and I am happy to report...IT WORKS!
I've been shopping like mad for things in those annoying packs....CD's... DVD's....cables....batteries....adapters....just to be able to slice them open with "the shark." Well, not really...I already had those things.........

The battery operated shears, on the other hand.....not so much.........but they were a freebie with the Shark, so I don't feel bad.....

Once there was a Snowman, Snowman, Snowman...

It occurred to me today that in the thirty years since Mark and I have spent Christmas away from Idaho Falls, not one member of our family has been to our house to see it all decked out for Christmas....Now, we ain't Martha Stewart, but we do our best to make our place as festive as possible...and our desecrations are fraught with tradition.....some things we have had since our our first Christmas together...we still have the same stockings to hang by the chimbley with care, the same tree skirt (no bare naked trees in THIS house!)and the original Frosty and Mrs. Snowman I made in Relief Society before we even had kids.....trust me, they've seen better days, but they will NEVER retire.....they started my Snowman collection. This house has a space over the fireplace for a television...kind of a box type thing that most folks would use for their T and V....but our screen won't fit in there, so we use it as a display box of sorts.....depending on the season, it holds Hallowe'en, or Easter, or Patriotic stuff....when there's no particular season, it holds a lot of my Rooster and Chicken collection. Right now it is Snowmen....



Now, I love all my snowmen...every year there is a new addition, and this year beats just about anything we've ever seen...our dear friends, The Boersmas found this little beauty, and immediately identified these folks as Debbie and Mark!!! We totally agree and couldn't be more delighted with this very special addition!!! Watch this little video, and you'll see the remsemblence, yes???

Now, don't you feel like you have been to our house....ALMOST???

Tradition, You Say????

If you know me at all, you know that tradition patterns my life....I love keeping traditions...and the Taylor family has many. We once started to list all of them, and it was really cool to see how many wonderful traditions we hold........

One of my favorites is The Annual Ladies Luncheon and Ornament Exchange with the women that work at our parent company, Hinds Instruments. I am the only female employee at Columbia Weather, so I get to plan and coordinate the drawing of the names for the exchange, and make arrangements with the Tea Room for the luncheon.
If you step into Judy's Parlor very often, this may be dejai-vu all over again....last year at this time, Miss Five posted pictures from the luncheon, and it is very difficult for me to believe that a year has come and gone since then............the ladies are the same, the Tea Room is the same, the HATS are even the same.......the only difference is the ornaments we exchanged.
This group of ladies have excellent taste, and the gifts are always wonderful.......and this year was no exception. By now, we are familiar with each others collections and styles, so we generally receive an ornament that we truly will enjoy....especially for me this year...I received a really lovely snowman to add to my collection........
Have you seen my collection, by the way? It's bigger than my Santa Claus collection by only a bit....
The best part is that everyone always thanks me for "Putting the luncheon together," but all I do is make the reservation, hold the drawing for "who give to whom" and make sure they all remember to wear a special hat! That's all I do....traditionally....

Are we done yet?

I'm so glad Christmas is over.....now I have 360+ days until it rolls around again.....
Don't get me wrong...there were some really great things...........
Talking to Geoff was the very, very best.......he even went Renegade Caroling with us early Christmas morning......through the magic of cell phones, he sang along with us....and even had a solo at the end......it was, as one friend put it...AWESOME!

Here Comes Santy Claus....

HO HO HOLY COW!!

Last Friday night was my company Christmas party. Although Columbia Weather is very small...just 5 of us...our parent company, Hinds Instruments employs about 35 people...we went to the Oregon Zoo, which is a great place for a Christmas party, as they put up bazillions of lights and lighted displays...there is a steam train that runs through the zoo to get a great view of all the pretty sights....but the best sight of all was an appearance by Santa Claus! And wow, what an appearance he made! He was happy and jolly and full of cheer! EVERYONE wanted their picture with Santa, and here are a few favorites... oh yea....I owe Santa....Big Time!

I've been a very good girl all year!

Santa and his favorite little girl

I think the BIG BOSS has a BIG WISH for Santa...and Santa looks like he wishes he had a BIGGER LAP!

The room was dimly lit, but I think you get the idea....even with an "Angry Gypsy" ringing the jingle bell tamborine to signal that Santa was on his way....

Gee, What a Peach of of Pair!

Today is my parent's SIXTIETH Wedding Anniversary...in a day and age where Sixty Months is considered an achievement, this milestone is pretty doggone remarkable...unless you know my parents...they are pretty doggone remarkable people...still going strong, healthy and active into their mid-eighties..
In 1947 my mother was a young, very pretty housekeeper working in a rooming house in a little town in Utah...the boarders were mostly railroaders...and when Wavie caught the eye of a handsome new dispatcher, the other workers made sure Ralph got the word that she was pretty special...and not to be trifled with! Wisely, he took their advice...he pursued her until she let him catch her and they were married December 9, 1947...
It's not possible to write a fraction of the happenings during the next sixty years...five children, lots of grandchildren, and now double digit numbers of great-grandchildren...and while that is all wonderful and noteworthy in itself, it is the relatioanship between the two of them that is most remarkable...they have truly become "one."
You know how they say that couples start to look alike after awhile? Well, I don't think that is necessarily the case...but I do think they are on such the same wavelength that they don't really need to say things out loud that much anymore....which probably good, because some of the things they hear...or THINK they hear make for some pretty hilarious situations.....and maybe laughing a lot it one of the secrets of a long, happy marriage.....whatever the key is, these two have found it....so today I say...CONGRATULATIONS on your Diamond Jubilee...I guess it's true............Diamonds are Forever!

Sometimes really horrible disasters happen, and as just a regular person you have absolutly no control over anything involved.....this I believe to be true when it come to that Fickle Mother Nature...
You ALL know how I feel the about the wind...and have made no secret of my desire to NEVER live in a high wind area...when I was a little girl growing up in Idaho Falls, the wind would whip and howl up and down the Upper Snake River Valley....it was scary and uncomfortable, especially when I would be awakened in those dark nights as the house slightly shuddered and shook with strong gusts of wind whistling around around the corner...I didn't like it then....and I loathe it now...so you would likely assume I was most uncomfortable with the disastrous weather in the Northwest this past weekend...
Brutal, Unrelenting,and Indescribably Destructive....that has been the wind this weekend....wind that has driven unrelenting rain all the way from the north coasts to the south coasts of Washington and Oregon...Massive ammounts of rain...over 13 inches in 2 days left the more inland town of Vernonia completely submerged and isolated.....no roads in, no roads out...certainly one of the hardest hit communities........and then there is the Coast.....so much rain fell so quickly...a two day sustained downpour, that all the mountain streams and rivers overflowed and inundated all the towns and communities....people will be without power for days, they say....they have no place to live....no place to recoup.....all the reports show folks pretty much devastated and in shock....no one foresaw the flash flooding.....why, even the Chinook Winds Casino where we vacationed with the delightful Don and Missus Berg last year sustained heavy damage when the wind blew away the siding on the south side.......that now is considerd minor damage...people are losing their homes, businesses, jobs, hopes, desires, dreams, keepsakes, souvineers, sentimental things.....just here one day, ruined by a fickle Mother Nature the next....Right now they say the best thing we can do is stay out of the way of the National Guard as they bring in other relief workers....our time will come to assist, I'm sure when they can assess what needs to be done...my coworker Jeff's brother and family live in the abovementioned Vernonia....right square in the middle of the abovementioned disaster....tonight Jeff and his Brother were able to get everyone out of town and to safety at Jeff's....and it looks like an extended stay until they can figure out how to clean the muck up....and salvage......and fight mold and mildew...what a daunting task...BUT!!! All this to say that we Taylors are safe and dry in our home....we saw lots of downed debris and limbs and even a number of big trees snapped right down...and we heard about the loss of a beloved icon passed on every single trip to and from the Coast...I admit it was sometimes a rest stop....but mostly it was a National Landmark

We're so glad we took time during the last few years to visit the world's tallest Sitka Spruce just outside Seaside and Cannon Beach...it wasn't a healthy tree, and Mother Nature put it out of it's misery, breaking it off at about 75 feet....But I'm most worried for our friends Rick and Grace Henry...they own an adorable bungalow just over the dune at Sunset Beach....you know...the turn off to the beach access road is just before you get to Camp Rilea...just before the Fort Stevens Cutoff....It's a lovely, cozy, welcoming home they have had for the last 4 years....it's in a slightly protected area....emphasis on SLIGHTLY...and they are anxious to get to the coast to assess any damage...the only problem is that all the roads and highways are still closed!!! And the Power is still out! It's just a flat out MESS!!! We pray for The Henrys and for the Maxwells who live out north of town in a more isolated area...we also give great thanks from the depths of our hearts for the safety and security we feel...No ill effects, except driving through a little high water on our way to work...........It's ugly...really ugly...But we are safe, healthy, warm, dry, powered, fed, and comfortable.....now I guess we better get on to helping those who aren't...

Have you seen this thing???

So...I saw this gadget for opening those doggone plastic sealed packages I hate so much...and today I ordered me a couple for the office...It's the first time I've ever ordered off an infomercial.............as far as you know...
So, when it gets here, if it works we can all get one and make ourselves happy......just think, we can open 10 packages in 10 seconds.....the very thought makes me dizzy...and positively giddy........sure wish the mailman would get here!!!!

So Far....So Good

Okay...I got Maxine back on my profile for today...but I can't guarantee she'll stay....I have no idea why she disappeared.......but if she goes away again....she's history.....Also, may I say, I love that, of all the things to notice in my own picture....no clothes, an obscene number of medicines next to the bed....and who knows what else, Granelda homed in on the ring.....That's My Sister!!! Goon on ya! I don't know anyone who loves hand jewelry more than she does....which is only one of the bajillion reasons I love her..........so keep your ring fingers crossed that Maxine hangs around....

Well, CRAP

Gone again........Kyle is getting frantic......must...............get..........(kaff, kaff)......................help........

Better Lookin' Tonight!

Well, WHEW!
I finally got my picture back on here! It's a very long boring story, but it's taken me this long to take the time to figure out what I needed to do to get it to show up again! What a relief! I think I have some sort of disorder that won't allow me to accept when "Things" don't work........I can never just let things go, with an "Oh, well" and a wave....it bugs the tar out of me when something isn't right....and I'm always so relieved to figure out the problem (or more accurately, have it figured out by someone else who then tells me)and solve it....because that's the other theen....if you know what the malfunction is, there HAS to be a remedy.....If it worked once, and it isn't working now....there is a reason....once you figure out the reason....correct it and get back to work! I could never be like my Aunt Betty who was without the use of one of the electrical outlets in her living room...for over 20 years she ran an extension cord from across the room to power the lamps and phone and whatever else neeeded electrical current near the faulty outlet power.....it wasn't until she re-carpeted her living room this summer and everything was stripped bare in the room that someone figured out that some wires had been inadvertantly snipped....on a whole other wall, if you can feature it.......well, once they tracked down the problem, the electricians in the vicinity fixed it right up........Lo and behold, after all those years, someone figured out the problem, corrected it......and Betty was back in power.......No, I couldn't have lived with that....fortunately for me, I have my very own personal McGyver, complete with duct tape, shoelaces and flashlights...........and an ohm meter..........but my secret weapon is really the manufacturing area at work.....we're talking some serious diagnostic tools....and they use pretty serious equipment, too!! Ba dum pum! (is that how you put a drum shot in print???) The guys I work for/with are pretty great at troubleshooting electical or electronic malfunctions.....and they are more than generous with their time and expertise, saving my money and my sanity by repairing important electical things for me...which brings me back around to how my last nerve has finally been coaxed back from the edge into a semblence of calm just by my devoting time to fixing this little bloggy profile picture thingy....in a matter of minutes this irritant was resolved and tonight I feel so much better.....I think it bugged me so much, that it may have kept from making entries, don't you???? I'll bet that's it!!! Glad I got that figured out....... Next....the Maintenence Light on my car dashboard has been on longer than I can remember....................Suggestions, anyone??????

So Glad I'm Addicted to Love Instead...

48%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Wanna hear somethin' funny?????

Here's the theen...I don't cook.......I don't enjoy cooking as a hobby...experimenting in the kitchen is not my idea of fun.....in fact, I view eating as a means to an end.....you know, fueling the body....And yet.......within the last week I have cooked two big meals..........and the prospect of a big Thanksgiving Feast looms large on next week's horizon..........huh!
Just goes to show ya.....even if you don't like something.........sometimes there's no avoiding it.

I’ve been DUP’d

This past Wednesday was the November meeting of the Sunny Oaks Camp of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers…of which I am one…..thanks to my sister. Connie has been affiliated with the DUP for a number of years, now. She is a great asset to her Camp…even serving as an officer when she made it very clear she was not interested or available....sometimes that's the worst thing you can say to get out of something……………and in order to receive her Three Generation Pin, our mother had to be a member…..Now, our Grandmother was a very active participant for many years, so it comes as a bit of surprise that our own mother never joined up…but never one to deny her children anything within her power, she dutifully signed on the dotted line earlier this year……….and not to be left behind, Chanel and I quickly fell into step………and it is really quite fun….we already know and admire a few of the Camp members, and we are quickly becoming acquainted with the rest……….how quickly, you ask?? So quickly that we hosted this month's meeting………meaning we provided the lunch……..we served Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach Salad, Rolls, and Apple Cobbler for dessert……….it was delish………and we got a lot of compliments……….I think we passed the audition…….so, now we just get to go enjoy………….so, for anyone who cares, I can happily add to my resume: I'M A DAUGHTER OF THOSE GRAND OLD PIONEERS!!!

Trottin' the Fox

This past Tuesday night, Mark and I started our ballroom dance class...again...
The Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District (or THPRD as it is called)offers a huge variety of classes and workshops dealing with fitness and health, especially recreation...the classes are very reasonably priced if you live within the district so we have, on occasion, taken advantage of a few different activities...
So, last October, as I was leafing through the course catalog I noticed a beginning ballroom dance class...10 classes for $80 (per couple of course.) I signed us up and we were off and hoofing...The classes are held at the Cedar Hills Recreation Center, which in a former incarnation was the very exact Cedar Hills Elementary School that Donald H. Berg attended as an eager young student.... Yup, THAT Don Berg...the school is now a rec center with a couple of classrooms opened up into a couple of "studios" with nice floors for dancin'...We weren't the best dancers, but we certainly weren't the worst...Unfortunately, we had to drop out a few weeks early for "personal, medical reasons" (A little snicker to myself...I've always wanted to use that phrase...just like a public figure, or celebrity or somethin').
ANYWAY! My THPRD membership card "expired" this month...since it costs nothing to get a card, or to renew a card, I think it's funny that it can "expire." Actually it's just their method of making sure you still live in the district boundaries...cuz you get to pay more for classes if you don't live "in-district."
A couple of weeks ago I stopped by the Conestoga Swim Center after attending a Southridge High School JV Volleyball game next door (you know, my continuing effort to de-hermitise)to renew my card and the nice girl asked me did I want to sign up for any classes?? No, I said...then...Wait!!! Do they have any spaces left in the ballroom dance class??? She clickity clicked on the computer...why, yes...there's lots of room, she said...Sign me up! I said...I paid my money and hoped that Mark was free on Tuesday nights...and just like that, Fred and Ginger are back in bid-ness...
Our teachers, Clark and Rita, are very nice....We were surprised at how quickly we remembered the things we learned last year...Mainly, we remembered that Clark fancies himself quite the comedian, and we are all best served to nod and smile at his lame attempts at humor so he will move on....he is a master at "I can wait..." while the group catches on to the pun or quip...or....just whatever........this time, we were quick to nod or smile...and thus maintained our status of Teacher's Pets....
Plus, none of the other couples knew we had taken the class before, so they were all secretly admiring how quickly we picked up the steps and routine...not to mention that we were the ONLY couple (besides the teachers) with our own Dance Shoes....oh, yes...we have our own shoes...and, much like bowling, you can tell the serious dancers by their shoes...
We had a really good time brushing up on The Fox Trot basics and are looking forward to next week ...adding turns and a spin...slow, slow...quick, quick.
There's just one problem...as with most dance studios, one entire wall is covered with mirrors...and some fat lady keeps getting in the way every time I try to get a glimpse of myself....don't know who she is, but she's fast.........she's really annoying to look at...except for the cute glasses...

RAH, RAH, RAH...SIS BOOM BAH!

Last night, as part of my new effort to de-hermitise, we went to a football game. Beaverton's Southridge HS pitted against Portland's Grant HS...the "Skyhawks" versus the "Generals."

Most of our friends live within the boundaries for Southridge, unlike our own personal high school experience at Aloha HS (pronounced Uh-LOW-Uh...not at all the Hi-wian greeting) for Chanel, and Beverton High for Geoff...in fact, when Geoff was in school, Southridge was his arch rival...except that because we lived barely outside the school boundaries, most of his best friends were at Southridge, so he wasn't toooo arch rival-ish...fortunately for Chanel, Southridge didn't even exist when she was in school....ANYWAY! I hadn't been to a Friday night football game for a very long time...since the days of Bucky Beaver! I just love the energy and excitement they generate...the kids are all riled up, tho few of them actually watch the game, as they are too busy playing their own game of socializing...but there is just nothing quite like it...a phenomonom like very few others...maybe it's the marching band that stirs me...

A lot of our friends still have kids at Southridge, so they sort of HAVE to go to the games, but they are, every one, the kinds of parents that wouldn't miss a single minute of what their kids are involved in.....and boy, are they involved!You name it, we know 'em...Carrying the offense is Mitch Matthews, hot on defense is Kyle Rose, Peppiest cheerleader Hillary McDermott, Drum Major Tommy Williams, Spiritmonger (student body VP)McKay Garrett, and middleschooler ball boy Cody Graham
Now, I know these names only mean something to me, but when I am ninety years old, and can't remember who belonged to whom....and believe me, it happens a lot already...re-reading these names will bring wonderful memories into focus.

It couldn't have been a more perfect night to be out under the stadium lights...it was the sort of day you wish every autumn day could be...clear and warm with just the hint of fall in the turning leaves and early sundown...we sat out on TOP of our stadium blankets, not huddled UNDER them...no coats, jackets, umbrellas or tarps which are the normal accessories for outdoor football in Oregon...

Well, a fan is a fan, is a fan, is a fan....I love watching football, no two ways about it...and I get excited...so it should come as no surprise to anyone that even though the final outcome of the game didn't favor the Skyhawks, it wasn't because I didn't root for them every play, every down, every call! Who can stay seated when exciting things are happening on the field? Who can keep from yelling and cheering and hootin' and hollerin' when the action is revving up.....well, apparently not me!
This did not go un-noticed by two "band moms" sitting behind us...women we had never met....midway through the first half they leaned down and asked us "who is your player?????" uhh..OUR player?..."All of them" I said...."Which on is your family?" one asked... "Oh! None of them," I said..."REALLY???" she said...."Yup, we just like them all..." They seemed more than a little surprised as they complimented us on our "enthusiasm" and noted our strong vocal support of the home team, our "encouragement" of additional training for the ref's and even our well meaning suggestions for the opposing team....bless their hearts for noticing!

Well, in the end the Grant Generals marched all over the Skyhawks...24 to 14...but, hey, it could have been worse...the Hawks didn't execute to their potential, and after, all, Grant is rated number 4 in the Metro League...they ain't no slouches! For me, it didn't really matter who had the higher score at the end...
I just loved being out in the great atmosphere of camaraderie and support...the company of family, friends, fun, and free tickets....
The season is young, and we're looking forward to next week's game...I think they're saving our seats! In the meantime,

Lean to the Left, Lean to the Right....Stand Up, Sit Down.....
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!!!

Ri-dang-diculous!

Hey, with the dozens of things I need to post about, this is pretty low on the old skidooly (phonetic pronounciation for schedule)
ANYWAY! In preparing a package to send to Geoff, I needed to find out about Stride gum, as that is his preferred chew...so I found their website...and I was hooked!
I find it absolutely hilarious......and the entire style of the site appeals to me as terribly clever......when I clicked on the "Matt's Place" button, I was so delighted with the outtakes, I watched it several times....when I should have been gettting ready for work, btw.....so check it out if you want a chuckle...or at least I hope you'll get a chuckle....take your time and enjoy the whole site...not a dog page in the bunch, in my opinion....

www.stridegum.com

I want to dance around the world, too..........................

Coming Attractions

Coming Soon To Trixie's Circus: Visiting Boise, which will be several different blogs....everything from the brand new Grandbaby (my grandniece) seeing different family members...the Siples, the Bergs, Stringhams and the Furnisses....plus the auctions and board meetings and all kinds of stuff..........
Upcoming posts will deal with Elder Geoff Taylor & Stuff.......so don't be gone long...it'll creep right up on ya, no kiddin......Check back soon, I tell ya' and it will be worth someone's while.............reaaallyy..........

Plus, I admit I have been a bit under the weather so I haven't been diligent about writing.....but I'm doing better, feeling better and starting to feel like posting again....hooray...........................more very soon, I assure you dedicated readers....you know who you are......................don't we?