Last Day of July

Woke up to overcast sky and cooler temps. Fine with me.  I had a couple quick errands to run this morning so I got that over and done with quick like. Hard to get around anywhere with all the detour signs in place for road work on this side of town.  I do hate to be inconvenienced.

I've started a new Facebook page called Port Townsend kids.  Basically, it's just the several files of old black and white class photos I've accumulated over time.  Great pictures that Mr. Redding took over the years and way too interesting to just be sitting on my hard drive when I know a lot of people would enjoy seeing them. I've also been adding a few to the other page "Jefferson County Washington of Yesterday".

A couple days ago the house shook when a tremendous boom exploded somewhere in this neighborhood. Sounded like dynamite.  I got my scanner out of the junk box and put in new batteries so I could see if the police ever found out the source. The paper never had anything on it so I assume it will remain a mystery.  I suppose it could have been a super size firework thingie --very much illegal. Stupid people!

Finished my double bed quilt and it's not near as neat looking as I thought it was going to be.  All flowered material separated with white blocks.  I threw it in the washer and dryer and it looks more "old and worn in" so I guess I'll keep it for my bed.

My television viewing as been more or less limited to Amazon Prime lately. I recently added a few things to my watch list from the old days -- seasons of The Waltons, Kung Fu, To tell the truth, and Rescue Me.  I put Dog the bounty hunter in there for a while (him and and wife have always tickled my funny bone) but I guess I wasn't  in the mood because I watched one episode and decided it was just too stupid to waste my time on. Usually, I kind of like stupid. 

I've been watching Baking with Anna Olson but I get discouraged (and hungry) when I see her many ovens available to her and the money she spends on ingredients. No one can cook like that unless they've got dough.

I saw Wally Cox on something or another and got to wondering about his career. Fascinating stuff on IMDB (one of my favorite websites ever!)  I read:

His television persona was that of a shy, timid man in horn-rimed glasses who spoke in a tentative, though distinctly enunciated, voice. It was a persona that his long-time friend Marlon Brando said was completely at odds with the real man. Born Wallace Maynard Cox on December 6, 1924, in Detroit, Michigan, his family moved to Evanston, Illinois, when he was a child, and he became friends with the young Brando. The child Marlon once tied Wally to a fence as a prank and left him in bondage overnight. After World War II, Cox moved to New York City and studied metal-working, becoming a master craftsman. In New York, he met up again with Brando, and the two rekindled their friendship and became roommates, with Cox eventually moving out as he reportedly could not abide Russell, Marlon's pet raccoon. Brando interested Cox in acting, and he studied with Brando's mentor Stella Adler. Cox and Brando both shared a delight in book-reading and learning, though Cox was the more accomplished intellectual. Outside of performing, Cox liked to ride motorcycles and take long nature walks. Dying unexpectedly on February 15, 1973, from what some newspapers described as an accidental overdose of sedatives but which Marlon Brando in his autobiography said was a heart attack, Wally Cox's cremated remains were kept hidden in a closet by his old friend for three decades. According to Brando's son Miko, both his father's and Cox's ashes were scattered at the same time in Death Valley, California, in a ceremony following Brando's death, thus reuniting the lifetime friends.

Books I'm reading right now:  Difficult Women (short stories) by Roxane Gay and Leaving Whiskey Bend by Dorothy Garlock.  Another movie I saw on Amazon recently and can recommend is 'Lean on Pete.' I watched 'Fasting' a few nights back and decided I was going to give it a try.  I fasted yesterday  and it was pretty easy. I wasn't hungry and didn't get the shakes.  Course I thought about food all day long but I do that anyhow! I drank water although you're allowed herbal tea or black coffee. I hate black coffee so stuck with water. Had to pee a lot but I expected that. Got up this morning and had lost 3 pounds. I know it's only water but I still wasn't hungry and thought about doing a 2nd day.  Changed my mind, however, because I had some horrible foot and calf cramps during the night and decided I needed to eat bananas and drink tonic water. Been ages and ages since I've been plagued with those dang cramps so I was most unhappy that I had three episodes during the night.

I am eating today but very light and very healthy. Breakfast was a poached egg, a piece of toast, an orange, half a banana, and coffee.  Lunch will be grilled cheese sandwich (my favorite) and dinner will be finger food (carrots and celery) with a little of the leftover spaghetti I made two nights ago.  Tomorrow, I'll fast again.  I may alternate fasting every other day to see how I do or I may end up fasting just one or two days a week.  And I will also make sure I'm eating low carbs most of the time.  Fasting seems to work well for me and from what I've read, it's a very healthy habit to establish. Heaven knows I need at least one healthy habit in my life.

Well, let's see...what pictures can I post today?

 Here's Mary Gaboury with her daughter, Kathleen. She recently had cataract surgery and only needs her glasses for reading. A big change in her appearance as she's worn glasses her entire life as far as I can remember.

 And here's one of her husband, Dave, that Kathleen posted on FB.

 These are my cousin, Cindy's grandkids, Pearl and Jon. I posted them on my facebook too as I think they're so adorable.

This is a bridge I saw on Facebook. It's in Virginia and fascinates me how it goes under water.  

And here is a shot of Hunter, Jake, and Andy at their motel in Phoenix. M&A took Hunter down to check out the college he's going to next month for diesel repair.

And here's a couple more of Jake enjoying his summer. First shot was taken at Mary and Andy's company picnic. (T-mobile)  Jake was thrilled to find a water slide in place.

And last one for now....my snapdragons in full bloom on the deck.  So pretty.