FAR, FAR AWAY LAND

I was up at 5 AM this morning. Thinking. Mentally scrolling through today’s itinerary.

By 6 AM, I was fully awake and sitting in the recliner by the fireplace; drinking coffee and reading a few chapters of my latest Clive Cussler read 😉

Around 7 AM, I pulled my thoughts away from Clive’s far, far away land narrative; and pulled my ‘temple repair kit’ out of the vanity drawer … and started getting my face in place for the day ahead 😊

Temple Repair Kit. LOL

Glittery 'Gentle' for brow line & glittery 'Black' & 'Navy' for 'liners' - top & bottom.

Black accent eye color; 'Soft Brown' Eyebrow Gel, Glam Brown Mascara, & 'Coral Ember' Creme Blush.

1 coat of glittery Nail Polish; and 'Luminous Coral' Lipstick & 'Coral Crave' Lipgloss.

 

Ready to roll ...

The purpose of Mondays and Tuesdays is to help other’s build a beautiful life – inside, as well as outside.

A beautiful life starts with a love foundation.

Love comes from accepting yourself (warts, and all), and working towards a better life that will hold a beautiful future: should you be granted a tomorrow.

Love comes from building community: a communal network of people you can count on to have your back when the world is stabbing you in the back.

Love comes from making connections: a kinship. Unity. Identity. A cooperative spirit … pulling in double harness, so to speak.

Love comes from love (what you give, is what you get).

Love is what matters. Leave a trail of love in your wake 😊

After Monday’s meeting which went well, I was invited to lunch with friends. I was touched by the kind thoughtfulness that went into the preparation of the meal. Before we sat down to eat, I was laughingly (in friendliness) told, “I bought a tub of margarine just for you. There has never been margarine in my refrigerator before, but there is now.” I am allergic to dairy products – this small act of kindness meant a lot to me. This family has officially adopted me as a sister. I am blessed.

Even so, this is another Thanksgiving Invite I declined. Maybe next year ... but not this year.

Kindness is love in action.

Quality Friends are the best friends to have.

When I got home, I checked my FB Comments, and got a warm glow in my heart when I read a comment to one of my comments made a day ago. I always like it when people have good things to tell me about Bob 😊

I like knowing that people remember my husband in a good way.

FB Post I replied to ...

Replies

Bob; Mar. '67 - house he spent his teens in, & the same house I came to as a Bride … and lived in with him, for 19 years before we sold it, and moved; & Bob's Year Book Football Pic - Number 27; 1967. The jersey was so thread-bare, I finally trashed it, in Spring, 2019.

I do not know the people that knew Bob in High School – in that far, far away land of 1967. I saw Bob when he walked past me on the school grounds … but I did not know Bob until seven years into the future of 1974; after he had graduated.

My 2019 ‘I Only Want To Be With You’ Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/08/i-only-want-to-be-with-you.html

I like hearing good things about my husband – even if they are small tidbits, given here and there.

Now, I’m going to eat some of the BBQ Chicken that was sent home with me earlier today, after a homestyle lunch that included more recent far, far away land stories being shared … then after washing the dishes, I am going to faithfully work the calories off 😉

I SAID WHAT I MEAN

Oy!

Adulting is hard.

Dealing with people is even harder ☹

Today was Fellowship Potluck. I have been avoiding potluck Sundays because there is a couple, I really do not like being around – they are controlling. They are gossips. They are cruel.

Every time they come to mind … this song pops into my head:

The Undisputed Truth – ‘Smiling Faces’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oLl8NLtels)

This couple is old enough to understand “No.” They are old enough to understand that {no} is a complete sentence – it does not need to be expanded on. I have, more than once, asked her not to speak about my family as though she is a blood relative (she is not, praise the Lord), and I have asked her not to suddenly grab me and hug me against my will. I have told him to leave me alone (he’s pushy in his opinions concerning me, and he’s too touchy-feeling for my comfort). I have made it clear to those speaking to me on their behalf, that I do not want either of them touching me or forcing their opinions on me. Having gray hair and wrinkles on the face does not give anyone carte blanche to overstep boundaries: any boundary; no matter how “insignificant it seems to them”.

Both give off disingenuous vibes … and have on several occasions proven to be a two-faced lynching duo when faced with opposition to their pet agendas.

I really do not like them. And seriously go out of my way to avoid interaction with them.

But there are other people I really enjoy spending time with: the event was a dicey crapshoot.

So, I decided to put a smile in place, and ride the storm out; dealing with issues as they arose, in the moment. I mean … I’m teaching a class where the discussions are similar to this very topic, every Monday and Tuesday, for Pete’s sake! I guess it’s time (once more; God help me) to test where the rubber meets the road, on a personal level 😉

I pulled jeggings, and a lacy top out of the closet that looked to fit the holiday mood of today’s potluck (a precursor to Thanksgiving) 😊

I like the color of the top. I like the lacey material. I got a lot of compliments on it … but, it will not be a repeat.

Glittery 'Gentle' for brow, & 'Illusion' for eyelid; sparkly 'Navy' for top 'liner' & 'Lt. Blue' for lower 'liner'.

A spot of accent color ...

'Auburn' Brow Gel, Rose-tinted Creme Blush, & Black Mascara.

1 coat of glittery Nail Polish ... and black furry boots to keep my toes warm.

 

My favorite lip gloss, 'Pink Quartz' - so glittery! And, my face is ' place'. LOL

This top will not stay in my closet ...

Looking at these pics of that pretty top, it looks like I am wearing a cutdown tablecloth! I’ve worn it – and now, someone else can wear it next year.

On my way to the front door, I took one look out the front window at the frost-iced car across the street, and grabbed my heavy coat.

My stomach was pitching a fit thinking about the tiger couple – so, I stopped at Baker’s Corner and grabbed a quick bite to calm it down some 😉

Neighbor's frosted car plainly told me the shape the roads were in ...

I grabbed my Carhartt jacket; 'just in case'.

Ready for today’s Holiday Kickoff festivities.

A Breakfast Casserole & a flavored Coffee; I'm 'good to go!'

Fellowship went well; the message was good, and the atmosphere was warm.

I met some more new people … not new to the area, just {new} to me.

And of course, they showed up, and started right in with the overstepping high-stepping ☹

So, I spoke my mind: clearly. Distinctly. And firmly. In front of witnesses (they are the ones that staged it that way, to put me on the spot – I just cashed in on the listening ears surrounding us).

They acted surprised, offended, and miffed at my {candor}: but I remained unmovable in tone or meaning; repeating twice: “I meant what I said. Stop crowding me. I don’t like it; and I’ve asked you politely for months to “please stop.” And if you think I am {offensive} now, keep pushing on me and you will find out how “offensive” I can really be. Back off.”

I don’t like being a bitch … but if people continually push that Bitch Button, I have no qualms at all about leveling both barrels, and letting the scatter shot fly.

They eventually moved on to pester some other poor soul, and I moved on to enjoy the company of those I truly do enjoy. The rest of the day went smoothly, thank God.

I was invited to three Thanksgiving Suppers on Thursday, but I politely declined each one, stating, "Holidays are for Families; thank you, but I'll just stay home and watch 'Alice's Restaraunt' on YouTube if it's available - if it isn't, I'll finish my latest Cluve Cussler read." Every one of them assured me, "You are Family, Val", and I know they mean it; but I still declined. I really do appreciate those who love me enough to ask me to thier home (they are good friends) ... but every one of them are also football fans: and I am not. Thanksgiving & Christmas are football-madness-holidays. The Seattle Seahawks do not "thrill" me.

Later on, at home, I engaged in some more future thankfulness activity:

Tomorrow looks promising 😊

SQUIRRELY DAY ~Lake Sacajawea Walk

Jared was going to be showing up bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed this morning to clean my windows, skylights, and gutters: I needed coffee, and lots of it.

It was very frosty this morning, when I looked out the windows drinking my coffee: getting on the roof was going to be squirrely, so when Jared showed, I told him to skip the skylights if it looked unsafe to him. He didn’t seem to be concerned, and the skylights got done 😊

The moon was still 'UP' when I got up, this morning! 7:10 AM

BRR; 7:13 AM; even the phone was still on night-mode.

Frosty roofs sparkling like they've been sprinkled with glitter; 7.44 AM

We caught up on the months’ happenings since he’d last been here: he’d been to Europe for two months, giving lectures on Van Gough’s life (and we both laughed and said at the same time, “Imagine! From Longview, a {regular Joe} gets invited to lecture Professor’s on Van Gough!”): I was happy for him – and, he said he noticed that Bob's beautiful Coho Bench was gone …

Coho Bench.

… and I told him I’d asked my BIL to come and get it, in August; and Kerry did when he got off the mountain, and into town. I know it went to a good home (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/10/living-neanderthal-man.html).

After Jared left, the temperature was predicted to get warmer around 1 PM, so I decided to go walking around the Lake; and this time, I remembered to grab the peanuts 😉

The traffic on Ocean Beach Highway was a madhouse, driving to the Lake: back-to-back bumpers coming and going – it looked like Portland traffic!

I knew I’d be driving a different way back home.

The Park turn-out-parking space was full, so I drove around the block twice (and saw a cool house!), before a spot opened up: I nipped in quick before someone else snagged it – this is very desirable “off-street” parking space.

I bundled up with my heavy Carhartt hooded jacket, fingerless gloves, and furry earmuffs; and enjoyed my walk. The squirrels were active … and things got a little squirrely when the gulls and ducks tried to grab the peanuts before the squirrels: but the squirrels managed to snatch their treats and make a clean get-away 😊

Afternoon temps ...

I remembered the peanuts!

Cute corner house with a corner turret; the door on the frontside is pretty cool, too.

Bundled up.

I only did the upper end of the Lake Trail Hike today.

This frisky little squirrel had to scurry quick, because the gills and ducks were after his peanut.

Mallard ducks & Canadian Geese.

Upper end of Lake Sacajawea Park.

Bright color among all the drab ...

Squirrel snatching my thrown peanuts.

Same squirrel enjoying his snatched treat.

An hour brisk pace ... FEELING IT.

Perfect end to my Shabbat Rest.

Bypassed the back-to-back traffic on Ocean Beach Highway, by driving Washington Way to Industrial Way; then, I drove the #432 Industrial Way loop home (the upper lefthand corner is home).

When I got home (and before kicking my shoes off to relax), I refilled the birdfeeder – and slipped a suet block into the suet cage, too, that Bob had affixed to the feeder for me; in 2017. It’s cold: the little birds need the energy suet will provide for them 😉

Restocked the birdfeeder ...

Worked the kinks out, too ;-)

“Shava Tov!” = “To A Good Week!”