a huge dahlia
On our anniversary, we went to the Rose Garden at Point Defiance Park. The dahlias were in bloom & absolutely gorgeous! We found this one, and I made Jef take a picture because it was AS BIG AS MY HEAD!!! okay, maybe it was a little smaller. :o)
am I a criminal?
Tonight I went to the drugstore to purchase sudafed. I had to go to the pharmacy for this, as sudafed is no longer sold over-the-counter. I asked for the 96-count box (since Jef & I share, we need the biggest box we can get!). The pharmacist told me they don't have the 96-count box anymore. She said, "We are unable to get that size anymore."
After she got me the 48-count box, she took down my driver's license info and had me sign a paper.
All of these things (not selling sudafed OTC, having a smaller box, requiring info & signatures to be taken/given) are supposedly to stop the production of meth.
Our lawmakers need some advice. IT HASN'T WORKED. Please quit treating me, the allergy sufferer, like I am a criminal and find some other way to stop meth production.
Okay, that's my rant. I'm going to bed now. :)
how would you like to win an apron??
A friend of a friend is having a contest - go here to enter - http://www.xanga.com/Jude1_22You can win a handmade apron!!Check it out!
Yesterday we were listening to talk radio, and the host was discussing Rudy Giuliani's wife (former wife, I think). He (I can't remember who it was, we listened to a few different shows) was talking about how Mr. Giulaini's wife booked a separate seat for her handbag when flying.
Today I received an e-mail from a friend talking about two houses -
House #1
A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Mid-western "snow belt" area. It's in the South.
House #2
This house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.
~~~~~
HOUSE #1 is located in the posh Belle Meade area outside of Nashville, Tennessee; it is the abode of the "environmentalist" Al Gore.
HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas; it is the residence the of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.
An "inconvenient truth."
You can read the whole article here - http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp
~~~~~
This all got me to thinking. Yesterday when I heard about Mr. Giulaini's wife booking a seat for her handbag, I thought, "that's silly, but whatever - if she wants to pay for it." Jeff made the comment that he'd rather she book a seat for her handbag than be like these politicians we see who fly everywhere in private jets. At least Mrs. Giulaini is carpooling.
I did not know President Bush's house was like this. I checked it out, to make sure, and it's true.
Mr. Gore is like a lot of people, though. He's just trying to put on a good face. There are other politicians who do the same thing. I like the way President Bush does things, though - quietly and unassuming. If you'll think about it, you'd see that President Bush has gotten every one of the things he wanted passed through Congress. :)
accidental photo
I couldn't see the top of the rose, so I held the camera up & snapped the shot. This is what came out!
Mt. Rainier & the foothills
waterfront
The mountain, the waterfront, and the boys. Ruston Way goes along the Sound, so the water is saltwater. The boys met some friends from soccer camp down there.
Nicholas hasn't quite gotten the idea of what kind of rock to skip ...
Jonathan skipping rocks
My Three Sons
As you can see, Nicholas didn't really want his picture taken. Daniel asked why I always take pictures now and Jonathan didn't know I'd snapped that one (or he would have made a face, too!)
the mountain
The boys & I went for a walk with our friends, the Clarkes. We walked on Ruston Way, which is by the water. It was a beautiful day. In this picture you can see Mount Rainier in the distance. I've come to love & look forward to seeing her each day. Sometimes, I see her in unexpected places; places I've looked before and not noticed she was there! :)
