July 31, 2010

Well, it's the last day of July. The weather's been rainy off and on, with lightning and thunder now and then. We went for a walk this morning between storms. It started raining just after we got home. Whew! Looking at the WeatherBug this afternoon there's another band of shower over Eastern Washington. We're going to wait until 4:00 PM to see if we can take another walk. However, we did walk over to the Post Office and the Library earlier. Bentley got his retirement check, and we got our new License plates. Interesting thing about those License plates. As Bentley was pack his car the evening before his departure to Tampa, FL, on the 26th, he found two old license plates in the trunk of his car. He didn't know where they came from, and I didn't know, either. They were from 2001 and 2003. Yesterday, we got a licensing renewal in the mail, and Susan, while paying it online, discovered that every eight years or so the plates have to be replaced because their reflective coating becomes tarnished. Just today, in the mail, we received our new plates. Our number was 163 RRW, and now it is: ABP 4446.

July 30, 2010 Update: Bentley

At around 11:30 AM (PDT), 2:30 PM EDT, Bentley arrived in Tampa, Florida. He wrote this on Twitter: "I made it to Tampa! The long trip is concluded. More details later." Susan and I are so happy for Bentley. At 12:30 PM, Bentley called Susan and spoke briefly. They will chat later on Skype.

July 30, 2010 - Bentley

Day Five of Bentley's cross-country road trip to Florida. He wrote early this morning around 5:00 AM EDT: "Final day of the trip. So far, so good. Should be in Tampa by this afternoon if all goes well (crossing fingers)." We will monitor his progress as soon as we hear. He is, however, in cell conservation with his beloved mother, Susan. They did speak to him early this morning PDT.

July 29, 2010 Update: Bentley

Susan just emailed me at 2:56 from work saying that Bentley just called her..."he made it to Atlanta!" Georgia is 3 hours ahead of us in the Pacific Northwest, so it was about 6:00 PM (EDT) there. He's almost there at Tampa Bay, FL.

July 29, 2010 - Bentley

I'm sorry that I didn't post about Bentley's worrisome cross-country trip daily, so I will just relate the facts for the most part. Bentley has decided, after careful and extensive deliberation to search for employment in Tampa Bay, Florida. He left Susan and I, here is Medical Lake, WA, on July 26th at 5:20 AM. On the first day, in the little blue Toyota, he made Miles City, in eastern Montana. On July 27th--day Two--he traveled through North Dakota and Minnesota stopping in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Bentley wrote on Twitter: "There is a torrential downpour outside my hotel window here in Minneapolis, and now the thunder is rolling in." He also tweeted: "Made it to Minneapolis - Phase 2 of my trip to FL is complete." Then Bentley headed south for Missouri--day Three. "Finished day 3. Took a little while to find my hotel in St. Louis, but I made it!!! Even saw the arch on the way." Today, July 29th, Bentley is headed to Atlanta, GA. "Getting a little later of a start on day 4 to Atlanta. Should be going through Nashville, so I'll start practicing my country singing." That's the latest. He was getting a late start: didn't leave until about 6:00 AM--which was 4:00 AM here.

July 25, 2010

It is warming up here, into the low 90s. Monday and Tuesday are predicted to be near 100 degrees. Consequently, Susan and I will not be walking after work this week. Susan decided that she wanted to do knitting again, and so later this morning, around 10:00 am, we drove to Cheney to Ben Franklin where Susan picked out some yarn, knitting needles, and a darling basket. As we were coming back on the Silver Lakes road, nearing Medical Lake, Susan said to me that she was thinking about going to Mass next Sunday. I couldn't believe it, but I was so thrilled inside! It was what I'd been praying for all last week, particularly on Friday, when I had the day off and listened to EWTN while working around the house: that Susan would return to our Catholic faith. I'd been praying to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, especially, and of course to our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This was an answered prayer! Praise the Holy Name of Jesus Christ!!!

July 23, 2010

Wednesday, Susan heard a rumor that they were thinking of closing a cottage, which naturally caused her, and me, some concern and worry. We were very anxious to hear from Bonita on Thursday morning if this rumor were credible or not. She reassured Susan that she didn't think she had anything to worry about. That was a relief to us both. We are more determined to pay our debts. We have one more payment on the Nordstrom VISA. Then just two more credit cards, WSECU and Chase, amounting to around $6,000.00. We will have the paid off by the first half of next year, especially since I've stopped drinking wine, which amounted to something like $80 to $100 dollars a week! Susan told me this morning that she's been losing weight, as I have too. I was so very happy to hear that she has. We've been on Weight Watchers. When Susan went to work this morning--I had the day off--I went to the Recycling Depot with her, and then started walking around the Lake. Susan called me 3 or 4 times--it was great. Then when she came home, just before 3:00 p.m., we walked around the Lake together! The temperature was a nice 78, but it was still hot out there.

July 22, 2010

Not much to relate. We didn't walk around the Lake last evening after work. It was too hot, nearly 90, something like 87 or 88 degrees. Susan and I both agree that sometimes we need a little break from all that exercise, especially when it is so hot. I feel that anytime it's over 80, it's uncomfortable to say the least. We just stayed at home (with the air conditioner on) and read books--we're really into Jane Austen. Last evening we started watching Miss Potter, which is such a beautiful movie.

July 18th, 2010

The hot weather has finally arrived! Average afternoon temperatures are in the lower to mid-80s. Susan and I have walked a lot this month, in spite of the heat. Of course the mornings are great--around the mid-50s. This weekend we saw wild turkeys--that's a first; and we saw something that looked like a raccoon, and was verified by an on-coming bicyclist. We continue to see deer, osprey and heron. I had a physical in June, and the results were good. On July 12th I had a colonoscopy. I was dreading it somewhat, but I'm very happy to announce that the procedure went well, and there were no polyps. I'm very pleased to announce that I've stopped drinking. The last time I had wine was 2 or 3 ounces just before my nap on July 10th. Susan has been wonderful and very supportive. I thank her, and love her.