Summer Take 2

The sun has returned to the Pacific Northwest. After all the rain and gray skies we've had, temperatures soared above ninety yesterday. Our second glimpse of summer this spring! Fingers crossed it continues. I'm tired of rain!

I love grumpy cat. Feeling a little grumpy myself this morning, but I hope it passes. I have lots on my To Do list including attend my swim clinic class. I'm now on the 3rd session. Now to build endurance so I don't die when we have to do 50m or 100m. I much prefer 25m at a time!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

May!

I can't believe it's already May. I know I write something like that the first day of every month, but time is speeding by so fast.

I hope it slows down so we can enjoy spring.

Isn't that a cute picture?  Of course Bambi was one of those sweet movies that ended up traumatizing me, but that's another story!

Spring continues in the Pacific Northwest. A little rain, sprinkles really. Nothing to keep the kids from playing outside or dragging out the rain slicker. The sun keep shining even if the temperatures have dropped a little. I will admit last night at Rose's soccer kickaround it was a tad chilly even with the sun out.

Yes, soccer tryouts are coming up. Rose has hers this weekend. This is her first time trying to make a competitive team. Finn will have his next week, but he's an old hand at this. Two soccer clubs merged this year so it'll be interesting to see how all the teams fallout. This will be our fourth tryout. Two have been nothing but drama. Fingers crossed this one is easy-peasy make a team. That's not always guaranteed, though I must admit my life would be easier if they played rec soccer instead.

Hope you have a lovely May Day!

Happy Friday!

Why am I happy? We've had a couple of days of sunshine and warm temperatures. A much needed taste of spring after so much rain, gray clouds and cold! I'm not happy about that I'm thrilled! I haven't heard the weather report, but I'm crossing my fingers the sunshine continues through the weekend. Of course the nice weather is not helping me reach my page count. Must write first, then play!

Fellow Harlequin Romance author, Jennifer Faye, talks about my March release Winning Back His Wife on her "My Friday Read" blog post today. Jennifer's debut book, Rancher to the Rescue, comes out in July. I remember when my first book was coming out. Such an amazing time! I'm very excited for her!

Hope you have a very happy Friday!

Cold!

I agree completely with Stealth Kitty! It's so cold outside. The temperature is in the twenties around her. Lots of snow fell yesterday, but none stuck. Now we've got ice in the area! I much prefer the white stuff to the slick stuff.

None of the schools are running late around here, but many over the area in the west and north are starting two hours late. The temperature seems to be heading upward which will be a good thing. We have to take Chaos to a neurologist today.

Hope you have a great day!

Sandy

So if you saw this post earlier, I mentioned it was release day. I was prewriting a post for November 1 and published it instead of scheduling it. Oops. So you'll see that again. Sorry, I was very tired.

I hope all of you being affected by Sandy are okay. You've been in our thoughts and prayers.

I saw this on icanhascheezeburger. It's called Hurricane Sandy Perparedness for Cats. 


Please take care and check in when you can!

Cool Thoughts

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If you've read this blog for over a year (or longer for a few of you die-hards who I love), you know every summer brings posts about the heat and my lamenting the lack of a/c. But there's been none of that this year. Oh, it's still hot here though we're getting little rain every now and again. But when I was in San Diego in May, we had a heat pump installed.

Best. Thing. Ever.

I'm never hot. In fact, it's taken a bit to figure out the right temperature so I don't have to wear a sweatshirt inside. But it's seriously awesome. I finally put my foot down this spring. Hubby grew up on Long Island on the water and never had a/c. I have no idea how they survived because the humidity is stifling back there. Anyway, he never saw the need. Still boggles the mind, but maybe it's an east coast thing. Or maybe it's just him. But every summer for the past seventeen years (how long we've been married), it's been a battle between my "I'm dying" and his "Think cool thoughts."

I finally won.

Now, he admits he was not wrong (even if I think so) but stubborn. He loves having a cool house more than I do. The kids are happier and so are the fur babies, especially Chaos, our Norwegian Elkhound with all that fur! I like not having to complain about being hot! A win-win for all involved. Finally!

Snow!

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This was the second night in a row that we wore our pajamas inside out. That's what the kidlets do when they want to wake up to snow. It didn't work yesterday, but it did work today! Yay!

This is what our backyard looks like this morning. The schools aren't canceled, but are running a couple of hours late.

Figures.

Today is one of two days the kidlets attend classes. I stayed up late putting together a lesson on revising for Rose's class. I was supposed to give it this morning during their writing block and my volunteer time. I'm assuming they'll jump right into their science block when school starts. Oh, well... At least I'll be ready when I volunteer next.

I'm going to enjoy the quiet and the snow for a little longer. How are things where you are?

Update: Lots of squeeing at the McClone house right now! Just got the robocall. School is canceled for the day!

Cold

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Not only is it cold, but it's snowing. We keep getting flurries off and on. A few school districts are closed in the area. Two field trips we had planned for today were canceled because of the weather. I could understand the Bonneville Dam tour, but OMSI canceling surprised me since it's right in downtown Portland. Better safe than sorry I guess.

I'll be spending my day writing and schooling the kids. Before signing off, I'll leave you with this...



Looks like Big Cats like Christmas Trees as much as our little Beauty!

Have a nice Monday!

An early winter?

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My cats don't go outside, but there helpful like this when it comes to folded laundry I've left on the bed, paper I want to put away or recycle and piles of books.

The weather is changing here in the Pacific Northwest. It's getting downright chilly. There's a prediction of snow this weekend. We're not high enough for it to reach us, but I have a feeling we're going to need to bundle up for soccer and not all of us are going to want to attend the game! My son's team won their flight (division) so is playing in the semi-final of an end of the season tournament. They will be playing a local rival.

Yesterday was spent driving and having to write on my Alphasmart while waiting for kidlets. I'm in catch up mode. I'm currently two weeks behind where I want to be. The goal is to be all caught up by December 1. Otherwise, I won't be able to take the time off I planned for Christmas. That would not be good.

I better get to it while only the animals are up! Well, and hubby. But he's locked away in his office on a conference call. I won't see him for hours!

What is hour Wednesday going to be like?

No snow

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I wanted to wake up this morning, peek out the window and see a winter wonderland ala Narnia. That's what was predicted in the weather earlier this week. Then it changed to some snow with ice. Last night we received a few flurries, but the rest was freezing rain.

Sigh.

Not even wearing our pajamas inside out worked.

Temperatures are predicted to be rising into the 40s. That means we'll have to wait for snow. I'm itching to make a snowman and a snow angel. Okay, Mount Hood is a little over an hour away, but I want to do that at home.

How's the weather where you are?

The Only Thing Missing is...

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...snow.

The east coast is getting pounded with snow, and a couple feet is predicted to fall in the Cascades. I wish those of us in the lower elevations of the PNW would also see some of the white stuff.

How's the weather where you are?

Yesterday, I had to exchange son's jacket for a larger size so also picked up some wrapping paper, tags and ribbons on super sale. I also swung by Michaels to buy some Christmas craft supplies on clearance. Now I'm all set for next year!

Today is all about writing. I have to take our dog Chaos to the vet, but after that I'm going to concentrate on the new proposal. Hubby has the week off so I want to take advantage of his being home to get lots done on the proposal, house, etc.

What are you up to?

Snow!

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This has been a swim meet weekend, and the meet was a bit of a drive away. Both mornings we left home at 6 am. Today on our way home, we had rain the entire drive. Until we got off the freeway at our exit.

The rain had turned to snow! It's really falling hard and sticking. Hubby pulled out the bucket with all the ski gear and clothing. The kidlets are outside having a blast as is Chaos!

Hard to believe they were swimming this morning! They say this will be a really bad winter. Yesterday, when hubby went to buy chains for the new minivan, he got a quote on studded tires. If this keeps up, we're going to need them.

I'm so excited! I just love snow!

How's the weather where you are? Oh, and today is the last day to enter this week's contest. Just post a comment. Check back tomorrow to see if you won!

Rainy days

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This LOLcat put a smile on my face this morning!

It's raining again. So far it's rained every day in June. That was after a string of rain in May. It's the PNW. It does rain here, but not like this. It's very odd and much colder than normal.

The kids just play outside in the rain. They don't let anything stop them except hail because that hurts.

The rain makes it easier for me to stay chained to my computer and write. A few more days and I turn in the book. I can't wait!

How's the weather where you are?

Sunny days!

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Not sure how long this nice weather will last in the PNW, but it's really nice! Sunshine and blue skies.

Today my oldest and Chaos are marching in a parade with 4-H on the west side of town. The theme is pirates. It should be a fun time.

Me? I'll be writing. Though I plan on taking a walk around the lake for my break!

I also see s'mores being made tonight on the fire pit I got for Mother's Day!

Hope the day is sunny wherever you are!

Rainy Day

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This weekend my two girl kidlets decided it was time to share a room. I hope it goes well, and that I don't find love notes as the LOLcat above is writing. When anything happens, the kids write me notes and leave them on the computer. I think they believe it's an anonymous way to talk about something (or tattle) except their handwriting and spelling give their identity away! Some of the notes just crack me up.

The rain is pouring down outside. It's been doing that since last night. Not the greatest start to Spring Break. I haven't checked the temperature up at Timberline yet to see if it's raining or snowing. I think I need my back to heal some more before strapping on a pair of skis.

Hope you have nicer weather were you are!

Random Friday

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Today is the last day of Irish Dance Camp for the two younger kidlets. No more spending 5 hours at the dance studio for either me or hubby! YAY! It's only once a year, but by the end of the week we're ready for it to be over with.

The temperatures have cooled significantly. I wore a sweatshirt all day yesterday. The furbabies are much more comfortable, too.

I had a great phone call with my PMR friend about my new book. I changed the plot of the book after he fell from Mount Hood in January. I was going to have my heroine be the one injured, but thought a mountain rescuer who needs to be rescued would be better. And it is!

My friend gave me some great research info plus it was really nice to talk to him again. Email only goes so far. It was wonderful to hear about his recovery. He's not 100% yet, but he has climbed Hood again and is skyjumping & basejumping.

I can't wait to work on the proposal today. I'll need to start at the beginning of chapter one again, but now I'll be able to add some significant detail in. I'm a draft writer so starting over is nothing new for me. Each pass adds more to the story, and I know this won't be the last time I do this.

Not much else to report. I hope you have a great Friday. What do you plan on doing today?

May the Force be with Us

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We had fun at Amy's. We swam, ate lunch and chatted while the kidlets played. But the temperature was still rising when it was time to leave so I decided to drive to my parents' house after hubby suggested it via a phone call. Unfortunately my parents had turned off their a/c when they left for an overnight trip to the Oregon coast and it was 94 inside. All that driving to reach a house that was hotter than my own.

Fortunately, they have a basement so we stayed down their. The a/c never did cool the upstairs off before we left. When we got home, our downstairs was 10 degrees cooler than my parents! This morning the downstairs got down to 73 degrees (that's where we slept once again.) The upstairs is currently 82 degrees.

It's suppose to be another hot one today so we may have to go in search of a/c once again!

What are you up to?

Hot

I'm heading south to Amy's house. She has a pool and a/c. We're miserable here. Sorry I haven't been blog-hopping. Our upstairs, where my computer is, is over 90 degrees by lunchtime. I just can't sit here for too long. We've been going to the library, the store, any place that has a/c to keep cool. Anyway, hope you are staying cool wherever you are!

Melissa

Heat Wave

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The Pacific Northwest is facing a scorcher of the week. Lucky for me, I picked 8 am for the kids swim lessons. We just got home from the pool. I was thinking it might be too early, but it was a perfect morning.

Rose hasn't had swim lessons since she was 2 so I realized I'd better enroll her before the summer disappeared. She was the only one in her Level 1 class so we'll see if anyone joins in as the week goes on. The older two are also in classes. They're working on improving their strokes and just having fun.

My nephew's team from Cascade League is in the Oregon State tournament for Junior Baseball. We sat in 100 degree heat to watch them beat a team. They were ahead by more than 10 runs in the 5th so the game got called. There's another game today, but it's a later start so I'm hoping it'll be cooler!

I ended up sleeping downstairs on the couch last night because it was so much cooler than upstairs. Chaos and Rocket joined me. I think I'm going to have to force Spirit to stay downstairs. She looks so miserable. The kidlets aren't bothered by it at all.

Not much else to say. If you have cooler temps, send them our way please!

Cooler

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The temperature has dropped here. Thank goodness because it made writing and sleep difficult. Every summer it's the same thing...wishing we'd installed a/c, complaining a bit and surviving the heat spell. It's only early July so I'm sure there will be more hot days ahead!

I continue to write, write, write. One week to go until I have to send in the book. The first seven chapters are in great shape. The last part of the book not so much. Better get back to it.

Is the weather where you are cool or hot or just right today?