Tag Archive | websites

Livin’ the Dishwasher Life

Sep29

The other day Calvin came upstairs and saw the kitchen was all clean and tidy and the dishwasher was running and said, “livin’ the dishwasher life, eh?” And I said, “oh yeah.” I had a dishwasher that didn’t actually clean anything, so was skeptical that a machine could do it. But this magical implement comes with a channel whereby you can add softening salt, so the well’s minerals are finally defeated.

I had a marvelous time at the Ya Ya reunion at Maryjoy’s little house on Osoyoos Lake. Five of six remaining women attended, and all slept there except me. I wanted to sleep at Mom’s as I had the dogs with me, but I also got a last-minute call from Carol the realtor saying she was holding an Open House and asked if I could clean up the joint. I gave it seven hours and then decided that was all I could do in between social events.

The weather was very hot and sunny, so on Friday afternoon we hopped into kayaks and paddled to Haynes Point and back. Penny, Alison and Mary swam, but Phyllis and I wisely decided against submerging ourselves into cold water. They insisted it wasn’t. As a reward Alison made Ina Garten’s Panko-crusted salmon for dinner and I made a burned prune tart for dessert.

I blamed the oven for that. I also made us a breakfast casserole that I thought was overdone and again, pointed at the appliance. On Saturday night we had Greek food at the Diamond Pizza and Steak house. My earliest memory of that place is eating there with my boyfriend Tom Schmidt, so that would’ve been in 1972. The place is a legend to locals.

Because the weather was so great we took a couple of nice long walks. One around Haynes Point and the other along Lakeshore Drive. The town has amazing paths for walking and biking. On Sunday we had brunch at an adorable place called the Best Cellar Bistro, Books and Tours. They make delicious stuffed waffles, and its walls are lined with used books. Very cute.

Alison had bought a music book, so we hung around Mary’s piano and sang old songs from the 1930’s and ‘40’s. Not sure why that endures but Alison and I learned them from our mothers and can’t let go. Since the other three women were sitting there going, “um, what’s maresy dotes and dosey dotes mean?” I said to her we really do have to move to at least the 1960’s and get some Beatles music.

Next reunion, for sure. Everyone enjoyed themselves so I’m sure we’ll have another quite soon. Penny proposed walking a part of the Camino Trail and we all said sure! Watch us require ambulances after two days of it. But at least we think big.

Donna, Sharon and I went to the Eldorado for High Tea. They have the tables set with mismatched cups and saucers and a variety of tea pot styles so it looks very eclectic and cute. You do have to want an awful lot of sweets, which I’m fine with, but if you want mostly savoury, you’ll be disappointed.

I finally stopped asking Luke when he was going to make a website for Mom’s property. He was the one who had offered to do it, as I never even thought of the idea. But after a month of asking I went to Calvin who said sure and made this for me. Please check it out and let me know what you think. https://osoyoosbohemian.com

This Should be Interesting

Sep15

I phoned my GP’s office and said even though there’s nothing wrong with me, I’d like to come in for a general check up with my doctor. The receptionist looked up my file, and said, “Oh yes. I see you were last here two years ago, so you can have an in-person appointment.” I said, “great thanks,” thinking wow, what if I had made the mistake of calling earlier. I would’ve been told I could have a phone appointment, I suppose.

One of my friends who shall remain unnamed is looking forward to this with great anticipation. She hardly drinks but has had blood tests showing elevated liver enzymes. My last blood tests of a few years ago showed my liver being “fine” according to the doc which made her shake her head in wonder. She’s now hoping for similar results on my new blood tests which the doc will presumably order.

This is why we’ll all be waiting with bated breath for these results. Tomorrow when I see the doc, I guess she’ll do the usual and ask how many drinks I have in a week. This then causes a few moments of mental consternation as I begin to cipher it out. “Let’s see. Three times seven is, no wait is that six plus two? um I think it’s around ten drinks a week.”

She then probably writes down twenty which is more like it. I believe we’re supposed to have a limit of one drink a week, or something nuts like that. This will never work, just like once-a-week watering in the Okanagan summer heat doesn’t work either. And really folks, with AI threatening human extinction, is it reasonable to follow some of these untenable rules?

How embarrassing if I have to report I also have elevated liver enzymes. My parents would be so ashamed. There was one thing they always agreed on: you can’t trust a teetotaler. It was one of the worst things you could say about someone.

I’ve been in some kind of writing mania for the past several days as I wanted to enter the San Miguel writing contest that closes today. I also wanted to finish the third and final kids’ book featuring the dachshunds as the neighbourhood crime watch. And now those things are indeed behind me, so I can fully concentrate on the impending reunion weekend in Osoyoos.

Alison’s arriving from Toronto on Thursday, Penny from the Island on Friday, and we’re heading south to party with Phyllis and Mary. It’ll be grade ten all over again, just with more liquor, better food and heavier participants.

You’ll recall I sent photos and wording for a website on Mom’s property to Luke but I’m sorry to report we are nowhere with that. I don’t know how to get that kid to move. He’s been like that since he entered kindergarten though so I shouldn’t be surprised. It’ll be nice when done, but by then the house may have crumbled into the ground.

We did pass the inspection on the modular home and so that hurdle’s behind us. I just wish someone with imagination and ambition sees the potential in two houses on one acre with a hundred feet of private beach across the road. I like to imagine a couple who adore cooking and hosting running a high-end Airbnb or else creating an artists’ retreat.

In the meantime I just have to wait and hope. It’s not unlike the writing contests.