Seattle and Washington

OK - I obviously spent too much time in my sick bed today because now it's 1 a.m. and I'm up. Catching up on some reading (blogs).

We just got back from our trip to Washington. Seattle was beautiful. The whole state was, really. The snow in the mountains was wonderful, Rainier and the coastline breathtaking.

The people I didn't like so much. I guess I've gotten used to friendly, smiling Oklahomans. We went to Pike's Market (of course) and I people watched. Mostly white people. All looked like they were trying desperately to be "cool" and maybe they are since they are emulated by other communities around the U.S.

But it seemed to me that they looked unhappy. After people watching for a while, I categorized Seattle-ites into 1. White people who dress all in black or grey and act sophisticated and cool and drink lots of coffee 2. White people who dress in hippish or grunge outfits, look as if they haven't bathed in a while and drink coffee 3. Asians who dress in hip outfits, look artsy and drink coffee.

Yes, coffee seems to be the connection. But really, here we were in this naturally beautiful setting and these hip cool people all walked around with frowns or scowls. I spotted a little baby in his stroller at the market and what struck me the most about him is that he looked pissed off too.

I was amazed at the wine industry in Washington. Because our son lives on the eastern side of the state, we got to drive through and get a sampling of the different regions (and wines.) It's an impressive state. Of course, hubby was taken by all the outdoor nature stuff like fishing he could do there. Allergies killed me as soon as we got off the plane and I lived on antihistamines the whole time, well until the flu hit. I blame the allergies for weakening my immune system. This is the sickest I've been in a long time. So the outdoors stuff sounds like fun, but not for me so much.

The granddaughters were beautiful and it only took them about 20 minutes to get used to us again. Of course "papa" is still the favorite. That's ok. He's a good papa. We had a wonderful time, and I'm just sorry it took us so long to get there. We're already planning a trip back later this year.

Washington is a state at odds with itself. They have the hip Seattle image, and then there's the outdoorsy "mother earth" image. Nothing impresses this on visitors more than the fruit stands with their bounty of apples and cherries. And expresso. Yep. Right below the fruit sign there was always an expresso sign. Expresso.

Washington, the flu and Texas Monthly

We're back from Washington. It was a great trip. I'll post my thoughts on the whole adventure later.

Today I'm just trying to breathe. Sick. Got sick about mid-week. I have the flu -- made for a horrible plane trip yesterday as I tried to not hack up enough germs to infect everyone from all parts of the nation. Probably did anyway.

Texas Monthly arrived in the mail while I was gone, so I huddled in my bed reading. It made me sad to see the face of a friend's son in there -- part of 203 Texans who have died in Iraq. My heart goes out to Taylor's family and all the other families who have lost children in this war. It makes me even sadder that there's no end in sight.

Girlfriends - pic

Here's the Dressing Room #4 crew. Look for stars tonight ya'll...

Girlfriends

First things first...23 hours and counting!

One more show tonight. I'm exhausted and should be sleeping right now, but I've never been able to "sleep in." 7:30 is about it for me. Hubby will probably sleep until noon, and I'll let him.

Me, I'm gonna blog for a while and then pack.

I've had the absolute best time this week sharing a dressing room with a group of wonderfully, crazy, terrific gals.

Maybe it's because we've all been in states of semi-nakedness and semi-drunkeness together this week, but it's absolutely great to have this group of very different women that have formed a bond. And I think we'll all still be girlfriends after this is over tonight. (C & S -- you always were my "girly friends")

Anyway, heed this warning. I'm gonna sign us all up for a special belly dancing class sometime in March. Hey, if a 78-year-old can tap dance -- we can belly dance. Do you think they'll let us do that next year in Gridiron?

By the way -- how about that Gov. Brad Henry? Who would've thought he could sing?
Karoke, here we come...

42 hours and counting

Hubby and I are so abolutely excited to be headed to the northwest. We'll be in Seattle by mid-day Sunday. Sure the city has a big attraction for us, but the big deal is getting to hug our two granddaughters!!

Anyway, it's supposed to be snowing in OKC that day, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that the snow won't slow us down.

Last day at work today, though so that means lots of work, and two more Gridiron performances between now and the time we board the plane. Whew. I need a vacation after this week!

Happy V-Day!

I had a great though unconventional Valentine's Day. Hubby gave me some great music c.d.'s and he got flowers and a coffee pot (red, of course, designer model he's had his eye on for a while.)

Then we headed to the Gridiron Show for dress rehearsal. We blew lines, entrances and sang badly as usual. It was fun.

Count down to Seattle has started. We leave Sunday morning at the crack of morn for a whole week. Should be interesting. More on that end later...

$1 for a dream

Ever since Powerball came to Oklahoma last month, I've heard people on television, on the radio, in the check out line talking about what they would do if they hit the big jackpot.

That's what makes the lottery so attractive. Here's the ordinary Joe or Jane, happy with family, happy with job, but able to plunk a buck down for a dream of something out of the oridinary.

I've never been much for gambling, but I broke down and bought a Powerball ticket today. Tomorrow's drawing is worth an estimated $250 million. My chances of winning are nil, but hey, it's a dream. So dream I will...

Pay off the bills
Pay off the student loans
Buy a house for us, for my parents, for each of our children (Hey, real estate here is not as high as in NYC or other places. And despite what Charles Barkley says, we don't all own chickens.)
Probably buy a nicer car.
Set money aside for the grandkids in a trust
Give some to charity.
Save the rest, invest and make sure it's there when we're ready to "retire" and travel.

I doubt that I would quit my job. My husband would probably quit his and finish his master's degree, then go back to work.

I hope that we wouldn't blow it, but the temptation would be great. We probably would take flying lessons and buy a plane, just because it's something we've always wanted to do.

So what do you think? How often do you buy a lottery ticket, and do you allow yourself to daydream a little bit?

Shopping Trip

I really resent the implication that all women like to shop. Or that ONLY women like to shop. I don't think that's true.

Or maybe I'm missing some genetic code. Shopping to me is an oaccasional diversion, maybe once or twice a year I engage in "shopping" for the sake of shopping. Sort of like watching mindless television when I'm stressed and want the world to go away. I'll go down to Garden Ridge (Thanks Cindy for introducing me to the cornicopia of shopping.) or to Home Depot (must have inherited a dad gene there because I LOVE the smell of cut freshly cut lumber.)

Usually, I go shopping with a purpose. I don't go to the mall very often.
When I do go to the mall, I park near the store that I need to go to. I go into that store and I leave. Only occasionally and usually with an escort do I wonder aimlessly in the mall going from store to store --well, except those "way too trendy for me" stores like Abercrombie.

I don't think too many of my women friends like shopping for the sake of shopping. We just don't have the time. So what do you guys think? Do women shop more than men, and do we like it or is it a necessity? I mean, after all, if I quit going to the grocery store I think we'd starve to death.

Go Steelers

Doesn't it seem weird that the Super Bowl is in February? Oh well. Go Steelers!