Thursday night at 7 pm

I've been under the weather the last few days. At first I thought I was just catching a cold but now I suspect it's a stomach issue. I won't bother with the details as it's boring.  Just hoping whatever is going on finishes its run tomorrow as I want to go to Port Townsend Saturday morning.  Have a memorial get together for classmate Lew Morello and plan on stopping to visit Carolyn Lopeman out on Beaver Valley Road beforehand.  Haven't had a chance to visit with her in several years.

My days continue to be spent doing one craft or another along with reading and jigsaw puzzling. I've been bothered for weeks with plugged up ears and have tried unsuccessfully to clean out the wax buildup. Apparently some people  have earwax issues all the time and I am one of those.  I've been putting in earwax oil at night and squirting water in the ears in the morning but it isn't working and today I put up with plugged up ears all day long. They're still plugged. Have a doctor appt on Monday (for stomach issues) and will ask to have the ears cleaned out while I'm there. Even though it hurts.  I do hate having my ears cleaned at the doctor's office.

Jennifer invited me over for spaghetti dinner tonight so I was happy I didn't have to cook. I brought home a plateful for tomorrow's lunch along with a container of sauce for when I want to make my own spaghetti.  Hunter wasn't there so I've missed seeing him twice now.  He's a busy boy I guess.
I took a two hour name in the recliner this afternoon underneath my electric blanket as I always get cold when I nap. Slept hard but then I knew I was tired. I'm always tired, seems like.

I did do some "senior exercises" that I've been putting off for about five years. ha ha  Now we'll see if I can be a good girl and do them tomorrow.  Well, I don't usually blog at night because I'm too tired but I will add a "celebrity piece" from my book of Billboard Hits.  Sometimes I go online to find out more about the subject the book doesn't cover their recent life. Today's bio is on The Fleetwoods.

Mr. Blue was the Fleetwoods’ 2^nd number one hit single but lead singer, Gary Troxel didn’t think it would be a big hit. The producer was convinced it would sell a million and was willing to let Gary drive his Corvette for two weeks if the song went to number one.

Gary was in the navy reserves in Olympia, WA and the group had offers to tour Europe and Australia but had to turn them down because of Gary’s service. He eventually had to serve in San Diego and Gretchen Christopher and Barbara Ellis, the other two girl singers would meet him in L.A. when he was on leave to record new singles and albums. The Fleetwoods parted ways in 1966 but reunited in 1971 for four sold out performances at the New York  Academy of Music.

By the late 1970s, Troxel was working in a plywood plant in Washington; Ellis was managing a trailer park in California and Christopher was a housewife and modern jazz dance teacher in Washington at St. Martin's College and at The Evergreen State College.

Since their 1988 induction into the Northwest Area Music Association Hall of Fame, and their 2005 induction into the Olympia High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame, The Fleetwoods have been inducted into both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame of America in 2006. Their group name came from a telephone prefix in Olympia.

The Fleetwoods performed a few “oldies” revival shows in the early 1970’s. When Gretchen decided she wanted to stay home and be a wife and mother, Barbara and Gary did a couple of shows together and re-recorded their hits for K-Tel records. In the early 1980’s Gary teamed up again with Gretchen and replacement Cheryl Huggins. They performed together until 1985.

Cheryl Huggins grew up in Montana and moved to Olympia, Washington in 1978.

Bonnie Hannukaine grew up in Aberdeen, Washington. Bonnie and her husband met at Grays Harbor Community College. They own and operate a sign business in Olympia, Washington.

Gary Troxel was born  in Centralia, Washington in 1939. He moved several times during his school years, attending schools in Centralia and Port Angeles, Washington; Port Orford, Oregon; Pico Rivera, Hollywood & Carmel, California. Gary graduated from Olympia High School in Olympia in 1959. He has an AA degree from Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington.

He married his high school sweetheart, Jenifer, in Olympia in 1960. They all live near Mount Vernon, where Gary and Jenifer live. Gary worked at Publishers Plywood Mill, in Skagit County, until 1980. 

He had worked as a casual longshoreman off and on during this time until becoming an ILWU member in 1980.Gary’s hobbies include street rodding.  He attends weekend rod runs and each year tries to take one long trip. He still has his 1932 Ford Roadster highboy and hasn't made up his mind about keeping or selling it yet. Gary likes to read nonfiction, especially books about pioneers, firearms, cowboys, trappers and Amelia Earhart. And, he likes to go to automotive swap meets and antique shows.