Lucille McLaughlin 1909 - 2005

My great-grandmother, Lucille McLaughlin of Tidioute, had a massive stroke early Monday morning. She was taken to the hospital and passed away yesterday morning. She was 96 years old, and was the matriarch of our family. She raised 5 children by herself in a time long before there was WIC, or welfare or any of the programs we have now for helping single mothers. She had all of her wits about her, if not her hearing, right up until she went to bed Sunday night.

I'm having a hard time being sad, because I know she had such a full, long life, and moved onto the next life, peacefully, while she slept. I actually dreamt about her Sunday night. My Grandma Eb came to pick her up from this fair the whole family was at, and I wanted to go home with them, but Gram told me I couldn't go yet, I had to stay. So I know Grandma McLaughlin is happy, she is with Grandma Eb, and all of her other friends and relatives that have already sailed across the sea to the Summerlands. It's just amazing to see the number of lives she affected, there are cousins and many of her other great, and great-great grandchildren coming from all over the country to be at the funeral on Monday. I'll be going down home Sunday after work for the viewing and will be back Monday after the funeral.


So I am glad to have things to look forward to, like the move next weekend, the party in August, and...

Items Ordered
1 of: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) [Hardcover]
By: J. K. Rowling

Ship Method: UPS
Tracking Number: 1ZW4Y449PT13407514
Status: In transit
Order #: 103-4465746-6772667
Shipment Date: Jul 13, 2005
Destination: Bradford, PA, United States
Estimated Arrival: Jul 16, 2005

Track your package

Date Time Location Service Area Checkpoint Details
Jul 15, 2005 05:05:27 AM KANE PA US Arrival Scan
Jul 15, 2005 03:50:00 AM KANE PA US Arrival Scan
Jul 14, 2005 11:51:00 PM NEW STANTON PA US Departure Scan
Jul 14, 2005 11:36:48 AM NEW STANTON PA US Arrival Scan
Jul 14, 2005 10:08:00 AM NEW STANTON PA US Arrival Scan
Jul 14, 2005 06:23:00 AM NEW STANTON PA US Arrival Scan
Jul 13, 2005 10:28:29 PM US Carrier notified to pick up package
Jul 13, 2005 10:18:00 PM LEXINGTON KY US Departure Scan
Jul 13, 2005 10:28:29 PM US Carrier notified to pick up package


Merry Part and Blessed Be

It has shipped!

Delivery estimate: Jul 16, 2005 (More about estimates)
1 package via UPSwith tracking number 1ZW4Y449PT13407514

Shipping Address:
Suzanne R. Huffman
40 Pleasant St.
Apt 1
Bradford, PA 16701
United States

Shipping Speed:
Standard Shipping
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Items Ordered Price
1 of: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) [Hardcover]
By: J. K. Rowling
$17.99
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now it had better get here on time!! I was having Harry Potter Dreams last night. I was Hermione and I was yelling at Ron and Harry to hurry up. It doesn't take an analyst to figure out THAT one! I suppose it doesn't help either that I was looking through stills for Goblet of Fire last night either.

Playing Settlers of Catan this morning. I've been on a losing streak lately that I'm trying to break.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Harry Potter Paranoia - And Happy Birthday Jess!

I've gotten this odd worry today that somehow my copy of HPB will not arrive on Saturday as Amazon has promised. Maybe this is from the dozens of people I talk to every day asking where their cigarettes are, but still I have this fear that I won't get mine Saturday and everyone else will and then I'll be lost and Paul will know who the Half Blood Prince is before me.

Also today is Jessica Clark nie Mealy's birthday. She is now 25. That's 175 in basset hound years. ;-)

I think that's all for now. I'm feeling accomplished enough for having posted two days in a row anyway.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

The Search has Ended!

We signed the lease Friday for a new apartment here in Bradford. It's at 31 Edwards St, and we're so close to the hospital Jeff can walk to work. We'll be moving in July 23-24.
I am so excited!

Only 6 more days til Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince arrives on my doorstep. I just was thinking this morning I feel kind of bad for the mailman on that day. A lot of people must of pre-ordered. That would be nearly as heavy as carrying the big department store Christmas catalogs. Speaking of catalogs, I got a cool one the other day called Mystic Trader. Here's what I want out of it - Rock Salt Lamps

I've also been playing a LOT of Catan Online, and I must say I'm getting pretty good. I won 3 of the 5 games I played against live players yesterday, and also won a game against computer players.

I think that's all for now. - Oh wait, I wanted to mention that Jess and Frosh's dog, Quincy, was on TV yesterday. They took the dogs to Slobberfest, a big basset lovers day near Erie, and one of the local news stations showed a nice head shot of Quincy. I bet Amelia is WILD with jealousy. After all, she is the princess!

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

My insightful husband

Jeff: Dreaming is just TV for your subconcsious. Lucid Dreaming is finding the remote.

We had a nice drive back up from Lacy's parents last night, and stopped in St. Marys for dinner with Jeff's folks. Today the new upstairs neighbors are working on the hallway. Putting trim along the floor, etc. This results in a lot of hammering and pounding, so I escaped for about 2 hours to go eat lunch and shop. I went to Wal Mart and the Hallmark store. At Walmart I bought new capris and a new purse. At the Hallmark store I bought some Yankee Candle votives. One is called Meadow Mist, the other is Storm Watch. Both are clean, outside smells. I'm currently burning Meadow Mist, and listening to Evanenscence at a high volume to block out the aforementioned pounding and hammering.

That's all for now, I'm playing Catan online. Less than two weeks til Half Blood Prince arrives!

Merry Part and Blessed Be

The Search Continues...

Still no luck on the apartment hunting. The two bedroom house was tiny for what they were asking for it, and it didn't even include a stove and fridge. Jeff also didn't like the parking situation. I'm trying to get us an appointment to see a 2 bedroom on Edwards St, which is just off of West Washington, near Dexters Auto and fairly near the hospital. The building is pretty big, and it looks like it has off street parking. We'll see.

Work is going pretty well. We're going to play volleyball at our meeting this week, barring inclement weather.

The weather is pretty inclement right now, and being on the computer during a storm always makes me nervous so I'll end this here.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Playing Catan Online

And Blogging.

And getting my ass whooped at Catan Online. the people I'm playing with aren't real talkative either. Just very ruthless. But I won the second game, so I am happy.

Lacy and Jay are coming up this weekend!! I am so excited!! We might go to the Casino, or do something else.

That's all for now, later!

New Foamy!

Open Mic II ... Germaine's stalker speaks out...

Jeff comes home!!!!

Jeff is coming home today!! He could be arriving ANY SECOND NOW!!! I am so excited!
I don't want to start any projects or anything I may have to stop the second he walks in the door. I can't believe how much I have missed him. well, I guess I can. Maybe I thought I was more independent than that, but I was wrong. And that's fine. Cuz Jeff is coming home!!!

Work was cool today. Because I have one of the lowest talk times on our team, Brian, my Team Leader, had someone on our team who has a high talk time sit with me to see how I do it. So apparently I am doing something very well. I wish I could sit with someone, maybe Ken, to see how to get more autoships and sell more Kentuckys Best. We have an incentive going on, and every carton of Kentucky's Best you sell gets you 15 points. There are lots of other ways to gain points. I really would like to win the first prize, which is a DVD recorder.

I am working the next 3 days, so I will be off Tuesday with Jeff. He's off tomorrow but then back to work Sunday and Monday. Then I am off next Sunday.

I had fun shopping with Allison in Erie on Tuesday, and seeing Jamie on Monday. It was really great to meet Matt Granger, Grey's boss, who Al talks about all the time. He has very cool swords decorating his office wall. How can you not like a guy like that?

I also got to visit with Michelle last night which was cool. Sorry we didn't get a chance to play with the Tarot cards, Michelle. Jeff is working next Thursday til 8:30, and I'll be home about 5 if you wanted to come over for a bit. It will be just a day past the full moon, we could maybe even do a little wee Esbat. (No extensive studying or planning will be necessary)

So even though I missed Jeff oodles, especially at night, It was good to see a lot of friends this week. Merry Part and Blessed Be!

More fun Quizzes

You scored as Mermaid. Mermaid: Mermaids are also known as Sirens. These creatures were beautiful women who tricked sailors into becoming completely entranced by their haunting voices and found death soon after. Not all stories of Mermaids are about gentle loving sea people. They are mystical, magical, and extremely dangerous. They have a way about them that brings anyone they are around to seem enchanted. They are very mysterious creatures and to meet one... Would mean certain Death. Let the song of the Sea fill your soul, for you are a Mermaid. Mermaid 92% Angel 75% Faerie 67% Dragon 58% WereWolf 50% Demon 0% What Mythological Creature are you? (Cool Pics!) created with QuizFarm.com

I'm a bad blogger

Jamie's discovering her ability to link to my blog has reminded me that I have shamefully not posted in quite some time.

The new job is going okay, I am going to a post office orientation in Erie on Tuesday because they are letting a new batch of people take the test and throwing out the old list. It'd be sweet to work for the post office, they make a lot of money.

Today I was very annoyed with some things. One - I couldn't deposit my paycheck because even though National City's drive thru was open til 5:15 because I don't have any deposit slips. I don't have any deposit slips because I have requested new checks twice and never gotten them. I'm going to close that account Saturday and open up a new one at Northwest. I mean it this time, dammit. It also aggravates me that it's going to be easier to do that than to get National City to change the name on my account. I have to take my marriage license down. What a pain in the ass.

I was also annoyed because I wore my long red button down dress to work (because it's hot and the dress is cool and comfy) and had to wear my coat over it because apparently we're not allowed to wear things without sleeves. Now if you haven't see this dress, it is just sleeveless, not like a tank top or with little spaghetti straps or anything. And that's what I took that rule to mean. My high school had the same one for the dress code. And what really annoyed my is the Team Lead I sit nearest was wearing a big t-shirt and long gym shorts, that were compliant with the "no shorts or skirts with hems more than two inches above the knee" So I was wearing a nice dress, and the Team Lead was wearing what looked like pajamas or gym clothes. Which one of these people looks more appropriate for work? But I'm the one who got told to put a coat on. Rules are dumb.

** Okay, end rant here **

I've been enjoying Something Positive lately, and also Randy's new strips. I am also envious because Jamie is getting to visit Wendy and Grant and it sounds like they are having lots of fun. Good luck on driving to Philadelpia, Jamie, tell Artie we say "Hi!"

I think that's enough for now. I've started re-reading the Harry Potter books in preparation for July 16th. Which, if you look at Paul's blog, you will know is less than 3,123,600 seconds away. Or if you aren't quite that obsessive -- about 5 weeks and 2 days away!

A quiz from Grant's blog -- not really fair, because I think picking, I'm a girl, pretty much guarantees me this answer as this is the only female character with a name in the whole movie!


Which Revenge of the Sith Character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com


Merry Part and Blessed Be

Memorial Day weekend

Rain sucks. We were going to go out to Rimrock for a picnic with Jess and Frosh today, but it's raining and they are calling for thunderstorms. So we are going over to their house to barbecue, and play some Settlers of Catan. Work is going well, I've been scheduled for 8 Am to 4:30 the last week and next, I hope it continues. It's nice to get out during the daylight.

I bought a new swimsuit and cover-up yesterday at Wal-Mart. Well, Wal-mart thinks the coverup was pajamas, but I thought it looked like a cute cover-up. Tomorrow Jeff and I are driving down to Hickory to spend the night with my folks and go to the farm to see Bummy and Pappap and Allison and Grey.

Jeff bought some squirt guns for our neighbor's two sons yesterday at Wal Mart too. Of course he had to try them out. I have water in my ear now.

Just making some calls to finalize plans for the weekend, then we'll be off to Jess and Frosh's in a bit.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Posting

I am wondering if I can get someone to switch me at work today so I can have off Thursday and go see Star Wars with Jeff. This morning I am making brownies for a picnic at work today. They smell goood. And the batter tasted pretty good too.

Jeff and I have been playing Champions of Norrath. He helped me finally beat the game, and then we started a new game, with him playing the Barbarian Warrior and me playing the Dark Elf Shadow Knight. Playing this makes me want to play D&D. I don't even care what edition, I just want to kill some orcs and find +1 daggers and such.


I think that's all, I don't want my brownies to burn!

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Back to work today

Yesterday was a really good day. We went to the Lighthouse for brunch and got to spend time with Jan, Dakota and Brandon, our nice neighbors. We also wandered around Big Lots for a while, they have so much interesting stuff. For dinner, we made pasta and we rented The Usual Suspects, which was very good.

Jeff and I also looked at an apartment and got to talk to our landlord. Apparently the neanderthal and his girlfriend next door have been behind on the rent, so Todd (that's our landlord) had been thinking about booting them anyway. If that happens we may just move upstairs to the 2 bedroom there. But the one we looked at next to Tasta Pizza was nice too. It had a big living room and dining room, a nice looking little kitchen, two bedrooms and a laundry room. It's $500 per month including all utilties.

Also, although I know Paul doesn't want to start reading Another web comic, I really think he will appreciate yesterday's PvP, as it mentions his lord and master, Joss Whedon. In fact also anyone who appreciates Star Wars humor should check out this particular strip.

Anyway, I think that's all for now. I still need to shower, go pick up my paycheck, deposit it, and return The Usual Suspects.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Looking at Apartments

Today Jeff and I have an appointment to look at an apartment on E Main St. We may have a second appointment to see one on Osborne Place, which is sort of near campus. I also took the Neon in to be inspected.

I don't really have anything interesting to report.

Later...

Rip Van Winkle

Today I start my regular shift at Injun Enterprises, 12:30 to 9 PM. So I slept til 9 today after going to bed at 11. I feel like I've been asleep forever. I had very strange dreams about watching Hagrid fly on a giant broom through a forest towards Hogwarts. So I guess I shouldn't have been too suprised to the the link the the Goblet of Fire teaser trailer on Paul's Blog when I got on the computer this morning.

Yesterday was a really nice day. I went to West Hickory and spent the day with my Mom. She cooked a big dinner for us and for my grandparents and my great-aunt. I helped dust and ran to the store to get different odds and ends for the meal. (applesauce, milk, chicken gravy, etc) And my reward is a nice stuffed chicken breast and broccoli and cauliflower casserole to take as my lunch to work today.

Saturday I went to Bradford's Stinkfest with Jeff's parents. For the non-Bradfordians, Stinkfest is a festival all about a certain local food, the Leek. Leeks are like onions - but not really like ogres. (sorry, also listened to my Shrek 2 soundtrack a lot this weekend) I had pizza with leeks, leek dip, and stuffed mushroom, with leeks. While eating too many leeks can upset your digestion, they are interesting. There was also a good live Country band at the Stinkfest. I enjoyed spending time with Jeff's parents.

Well, I think that's all for now. I'm going to take a bath and read some more of Mirror, Mirror, the Gregory Maguire novel I got last week.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

It's Wednesday

And all day long I thought it was Tuesday. So now I am extra glad, because it means only two more days of work before the weekend. Although I am getting settled in at my new job pretty well. It'll be interesting to see what the evening shift is like next week.

No luck in the apartment hunt, the one appointment we've made to see a place so far, the guy didn't show up for. We waited 15 minutes. And now there are no ads in the paper for 2 bedrooms that I haven't called and left a message at at least twice. I figure these people must not want to rent those places very badly, because they never call me back. I think I'll have better luck next week when I can call in the morning during business hours.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Happy Beltane!

Jeff and I are having a lazy day at home so far. I placed an Amazon order, for a Reel Big Fish CD and some World of Darkness Books for Jeff.

We watched Ocean's 12 last night. It was pretty good. I definitely liked the first one better. We also so Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in Olean. I liked it, but then I never finished reading any of the books. Jeff pointed out on the way home that there were times I was the only one laughing out loud in the theater. The best part of the movie though were the trailers - Serenity, and Revenge of the Sith. The Serenity trailer was even more fantastic on the big screen.

Anyway, I think I need to shower before long here, and get some Food. If you saw Hitchhiker's Guide, let me know what you thought.

ALL my books came today

Today I got two romance novels by LaVyrle Spencer, Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler and The White Goddess by Robert Graves. My work with Evolutionary Witchcraft is going really well, I started the work for Chapter 2 yesterday. One of the people on my message board is actually taking lessons from the author. I wish I had enough people around here to get her to come here to teach a class.

2nd day of work was good. I gave Jay Whitaker a ride home. Today I just listened to people on the phone. There is a lot of complaining about orders, and the changes that the company has recently gone through. For example, for awhile they couldn't take credit cards. They just started being able to take Visa and Mastercard again today. Then people would complain because all their information wasn't still on their account, because they didn't keep it once they couldn't make the orders with the credit cards anymore.

Anyway, we're going to campus to go visit our friends before they leave. Still no luck on apartment hunting. I've left a couple messages today but I didn't get to actually speak with anyone. I guess I'll just have to keep an eye out.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Searching for apartments

I've made a few calls. (As the neighbors stomp and pound their way out of the building, reminding me yet again why we are looking for a new place. The first two I called about are within line of sight from each other. They are both 2 bedroom apartments located across from School St Elementary. 119 N Center St., and 77 School St. 1 includes a washer/dryer and the other has hook-ups. The only problem I can see with them so far is we were hoping to actually move out of downtown, away from the crazies. But on the upside, we would be near enough by still to visit the neighbors we do like, Jan, Brandon and Dakota.

Also I think today might be Paul Stefko's birthday. I'm not sure, as he's nearly as fond of his birthday as Jeff is his. - And I just found out it was yesterday. Curses. Well, Happy Belated Birthday, Paulie. You're what, 22 now? Congrats!

Merry Part and Blessed Be