I didn't walk today.  It was sunny, but it was also pretty cold.  I just did not feel like going out and walking in the cold, so I skipped my walk.  I went out in my car in the late afternoon to Target.  I got the whiteboard and it's perfect!  I had written down the exact one I wanted from the Target website and even the aisle they were on. :P . I got that and then went to the toy section to look at puzzles.  I found a few I liked and picked out a 500 piece one that has vintage stamps on it.  It's pretty cool.  I've already started on it.  The pieces are huge! It's so much easier to work when I can see the pieces.  The puzzle, has the stamps in order by color.  I've done the green stamps and I'm working on the blue ones.  I went through the box and pulled out all the green pieces and filled those in and then I got out the blue ones. I have done part of that, but I'm done for the night. I took a picture of the board, the puzzle, and the puzzle in progress.  (I've done more since I took that picture.) Here are those pictures:

This puzzle is an unusual size. It's 20x20.  I like it though.  When I had checked out at Target, I looked over at Starbucks and saw the spring mug on display.  I had to have it. LOL . I love mugs and this one is so pretty!  It's all pretty pastels colors.  It was double star day, so that made it even better!  Luckily, my car did fine and started right up when I left.  My gas light came on, so I stopped on the way home and got gas. I did not turn it off for that. I don't like running the engine when I'm pumping gas, but I didn't want to have it not start.  I was happy to get out and get the things done.  I was almost about to come home when I realized that I meant to go by a Pokestop while out as I was on a streak and this was day seven.  I did that and came home.  I worked on the puzzle and it's pretty cool. I really love the bigger pieces. Also, the puzzle is pretty thick.  I don't have any other puzzle that is this thick.  Puzzles are so expensive now, though!  I am able to get the ones at the dollar store sometimes and they are pretty nice for $1.00.  Next time I go, I'm going to see if they have any.  I like to do puzzles of actual pictures.  I am not fond of illustration puzzles.  The ones I usually get at the dollar store are pictures.  I prefer those.  I just think they are nicer to look at.

Oh! In case you wanted to see the mug, here is a picture of that:

The lighting in my house sucks.  It looks much better in person. :P  Let me see if I can find a picture online....Nope! lol  I  guess my poorly lit picture will have to do!

So, tonight I finished a puzzle.  I had worked on it a while back and got frustrated with it because of the small pieces and the way some would fit in the wrong spots.  I tossed it back in the box a year or so back and didn't bother with it.  Well, I wanted a puzzle to work sometime last week and pulled it out.   I have been working on it off and on since then.  It's truly hard because the pieces are so tiny and the colors are very similar.  I finished it tonight.  Sadly, when I got done, I was missing six pieces!  I found five of them and now I'm just missing one.  I'm hoping it will turn up.  

Last night after looking a puzzle boards, puzzle mats, and all kinds of other things, I thought about a solution!  I could get a wall hangable chalk board or whiteboard in the size I need to do larger puzzles.  I looked up some and found some a lot cheaper than any of the puzzle boards.  Most of the nicer puzzle boards were expensive and they would be smaller than my old chess board!  I looked up whiteboards and found that Target had one that is 2x3 and that would be perfect.  It can also be used as a whiteboard when I'm not working a puzzle!  The white background will make working the puzzle easier too, I think.  I was going to go to Target tonight and pick one up, but I never made it.  I worked on the puzzle from hell and finally got that done.  Now I just need to find that one little piece!

I almost skipped my walk today because I was tired when I woke up.  I didn't get a good night's sleep last night.  I went for my walk anyway.  When I was coming back, the train tracks that lead into my neighborhood were totally blocked.  They have been doing maintenance on the tracks.  One day when I left for my walk, they were blocked the crossing, but I was able to go around it by walking down the track just a few feet.  Today, there was no way around.  I had to walk all the way down to the next crossing.  There is no sidewalk between the two crossings and it's not fun to have to go down there. I finally got home and I was so tired!  I truly hope they are not there tomorrow!  If they aren't when I leave for my walk, I'll keep an eye out and try to go around before getting to the point where I usually go over the tracks.  There is a way to do that, but only if I know in advance. Technically you aren't supposed to go that way, but I figure it's better than walking down the highway to get to the other entrance to the neighborhood!  

Oh and if you are thinking, why didn't I just walk down the track a bit and go around, there is a good reason for that.  They had cars on the trains that were working on the track and it extended almost to the second crossing. If that one had been blocked, I probably would have cried!  

I went to bed a little bit early last night and I actually slept pretty well.  It was truly a nice change!  It was sunny today but it certainly wasn't warm.  It was only in the 40's.  It wasn't too bad though.  I got home and relaxed a while.  I looked through the grocery ad and my coupons and headed out for the grocery store.  I spent way too much money, but I have a lot of groceries.  My car started up when I left home and when I was leaving the store, so I was happy.  I was also happy to have a lot of good food in the house!

I am looking at Amazon for puzzle boards or puzzle mats.  I have an old homemade chess board that I've used for years for this purpose. (The back is solid wood) . It is great for 500 pieces puzzles, but I have a 1000 piece one that I want to do and I need a bigger area to work it on.  I remembered seeing roll up puzzle mats in catalogs before so I'm browsing on Amazon.  I can get a mat pretty cheaply. As in under $20 shipped.  The boards are very expensive for the smaller ones and the ones that are the size I need are even more expensive. I found one that was not too high and even though I did it so only Prime items showed, this one had a shipping cost of $63!  Good grief! I'm thinking of trying one of the mats, but I don't know if I'll like it.  I'm not sure what to do.  I could start the 1000 piece puzzle on my table, but then I can't use the table until it's done. lol Ah!

I was so tired when I got up today and I so wanted to skip my walk. I didn't though!  I got up and took Cocoa out and did my usual morning routine and then walked.  It was cooler like I knew it would be, but it wasn't too bad.  I came home and let Cocoa go out again and then I crashed for a bit.  I was so tired.  I didn't sleep well either of the nights she was here.  Not totally her fault.  I hope to sleep well tonight!  My bed linen is clean and back on the bed and I have washed my hair.  I didn't feel like heating up the water this time so I did it without.  BRRR!  That was not fun, but I did it and then immediately got under the hair bonnet hair dryer.  That helped!

After my friends got home, my friend's son came down to pick up Cocoa.  I did not feel like walking up there.  I needed to buy groceries really badly, but I did not feel like messing with it today.  I'll go tomorrow.  Tonight, I was looking through old posts here on Typepad and realized that when I started it, I meant to do mirror posts at Wordpress. I never kept up with it.  Tonight, I exported my posts here and imported them to Wordpress. I'll try to do that once a week or remember to crosspost each post.  We'll see how that goes. LOL!

So, I walked today and it was sunny and warm enough for short sleeves. Tomorrow it's only supposed to be in the 40's.  Nutty weather. :p  I got in a good walk since it was nice out there.  I am still pup sitting.  Cocoa is asleep under a blanket beside me at the moment.  She is such a little sweetie.  She likes to sleep under the covers.  Last night, I 'lost' her!  I had turned down the bed and was doing some thing to get ready for bed.  I had gotten her to come with me so I could take her outside.  I got distracted and then couldn't find her.  I looked all over including my room.  I came back to my room and looked at the covers.  It didn't look like anything was under them, but I flipped them up and there she was. lol Silly pup!  I got her and took outside so she could go once more before bed.  

I went up to my friend's house tonight to check on everything and make sure everything looked okay.  I took the van out to the post office and checked my box.  I had a stack of mail again!  Five penpal letters and three other pieces of mail.  I left there and decided that since I was out, I'd run to Starbucks and go through the drive thru.  That is exactly what I did, too!  I didn't carry Cocoa with me because I didn't bring the van here to load her up.  Oh well. Perhaps another time. :) . She is a bit on the portly side as it is, so she really didn't need the treat. :p  I always give her goodies from my plate when I eat up there and my friend's mom does too.  She loves to eat!  

I sat down tonight and paid my bills.  I will try to go to the grocery store tomorrow after I take Cocoa home after my walk.  I am hoping my car will do okay.  I did take it out for a little bit tonight again to charge the battery.  I'd like to get some groceries as I'm out of almost everything that is remotely good!  I need some variety in this house.  I will get that done tomorrow and do my other errands on another day.  I don't want to do a lot of starting and stopping my car in one day as it likes to mess up.  Better safe than sorry!  I think I'll get my groceries tomorrow and then go to the dollar store on Monday.  Unless one my friends will run me to the dollar store tomorrow which I doubt!  If I didn't have to get toilet paper, I would just walk to the dollar store.  Everything that I need but the tp would probably fit in my backpack easily.  I usually get a huge pack of tp so that it lasts a few months.  I'll decide what to do with that tomorrow.  Walking isn't a bad idea if it's dry, but the forecast is calling for rain AGAIN tomorrow evening.  I'm am so totally tired of rain. I do not live in Seattle.  I should not have to have so much rain. Booo!

My friend called my last night and asked if I would pup sit her mini Doxie, Cocoa, and her mom's terrier, Roxy.  I said, yes, since I love both of the pups.  Well, today, I went to go and pick them up and their supplies and what not.  I only was to keep one.  I love them both, but it is easier with just one at a time. lol  I have Cocoa, the mini Doxie.  She is curled up on the bed next to me at the moment sleeping.  She is such an old sweetheart.  Here are a couple of pictures I took earlier:

Isn't she adorable! When she visits, I put my trunk and a step stool next to my bed so it's easy for her to get up and down from it. ^_^  It's hard to jump on my bed with those cute little stubby legs!  Back before I got the frame bed, I would put the mattress and box springs on the floor.  This is much easier to do and a lot simpler to put back in order after she goes home.

I walked today and it was pretty nasty.  It was colder, which I was expecting.  It was also overcast, BUT it drizzled a bit off and on.  I never used my umbrella, but I did get damp. It was just a sullen drizzle.  It was annoying, but I didn't feel like holding my umbrella, so I didn't!  When I went up to my friends to pick up Cocoa, it was raining a lot.  I used an umbrella then!  They sent me home with some cans of food for her, some treats, and her leash.  They also gave me the leftover barbecue that my friend's husband makes. It's soooooooooooo good!  I had a couple of sammiches of it for my dinner!

I have use of their van while they are gone, so I might just have to go to Starbucks tomorrow for a bit. :p  I don't want to pass up the opportunity to go and not worry about my vehicle.  I also will probably take Cocoa with me and get her a Puppaccino! ^__^  I know she'll love that, and she likes to ride, too!  I will try to remember to go to the post office while I'm out tomorrow and check my box.  I need to reply to the letters I got when I went to the post office last week.  According to Informed delivery, I have a few more letters waiting for me.  I'd like to pick them up.  Perhaps I'll answer them all tomorrow or Sunday and send them out. I'm trying to keep up and not get behind on them this year.

Yes, I realize that I didn't post for the past two days. Sorry about that.  I just didn't get around to it or feel like it.  I'm going to try to make up for it today.  I walked all three days, so that is good.  The first day, it was around 60 and it was nice.  Yesterday, it was in the 40's and cold.  Today, it was in the 60's while I walked today.  That was nice.  Tomorrow is supposed to be around 40 again.  I swear the weather cannot make up it's mind! Oh well!

My friend came today and we went to eat at one of our local places.  Afterwards, he put some new spark plug wires on my car.  I started it up and drove it for a bit.  I didn't stop anywhere or turn it off.  It did fine.  It wanted to overheat, but it didn't, so that was good.  I am not going to totally trust it, but at least it was okay for a short time today.  My friend lent me his jump box.  I've been looking at them on Amazon.  It would be something that would be nice to have in my car.  I think it would also be a good idea to get a set of jumper cables to keep in my car.  That way I won't have to find someone that has some, I'll already have them.  I'll just have to find someone to help me by using their vehicle.

While I was out tonight driving to charge my battery, I thought about going to Starbucks to the drive thru, but I was good and didn't.  I will probably do that at some point this weekend.  That is if my car continues to do okay.  Wish me luck!

I needed to update my address with my insurance.  I go to the site and log in and all if well.  It shows the current address (my po box) but no way to change anything.  I actually have to print out a PDF and mail a change of address to them. ~_~; That is ridiculous! I should be able to change it online.  Get with the program, people!

I walked today and the wind was still a bit brisk.  It wasn't as bad as yesterday as I wore a hat to help.  It also wasn't as intense as it was yesterday.  I got through with my walk and came home and decided I was in for the night. I didn't go anywhere else.  I'm actually afraid to drive my car and get stuck somewhere!  I should go out and try to start it, but if I do, I'd have to drive it around some to charge up the battery.  Perhaps tomorrow.  

I totally forgot to post yesterday.  It was one of those days! Let me tell you about it.  First of all, it rained, it rained a lot.  I did not get to walk because of the rain.  I decided in the evening to go to Starbucks and get that tumbler that I wanted before it was gone.  I got over there and got my tumbler and a drink and headed to my car.  By then, luckily, the rain had stopped.  Good thing too.  My car wouldn't start!  I went back in Starbucks and asked one of my favorite Baristas if she or anyone had jumper cables.  No one did, but she went with me to ask at the little restaurant next door.  One of the guys there had them. Yay!  It took quite a while, but my car finally started up so I could drive it home.  Many thanks were given!  I got home and parked my car and I haven't tried to start it since then.  

I got to walk today to make up for yesterday.  It was overcast and the street was still wet when I left today, but it didn't rain and the sun came out.  Unfortunately, I didn't know there was a wind advisory!  As I was on my way back, the wind was nuts.  I had to put my hoodie up and tie it under my chin to keep it on. Seriously!  I pushed my way through the wind and got home.  I was so glad to get here, let me tell you!  The wind and the soaked ground led to power outages in the city and surrounding areas.  Luckily, so far, I still have power.  I made sure to get everything I needed done early in case the power went out.

When I went over to Starbucks last night, I noticed how high the river was.  It was really, really high.  We can't seem to dry out from one rain event before another hits. It's crazy!  Hopefully we'll dry out soon.  I am sick to death of the rain.  Especially since I woke up to a pond in my kitchen!  I found a new leak in there.  It is about a foot away from the sink, too. ~_~;  It couldn't have happened over the sink, could it?  I cleaned up the water and put down something to catch the drip.  It's weird because the parts that usually leak haven't in a while.  It's like the drips move around. So weird!

Anyway!  If you are interested, here is the tumbler.  I really like this one and I think it's probably going to be my favorite.  I love the design on the outside, it makes gripping it so easy and I love the silver color.  It will be my beach bound tumbler this year. lol

When I got up today, it was raining.  I was thinking that my walk was out.  I checked my weather app and it said there was only a small chance of it raining during the time I actually walk.  I decided to try to walk and take the chance. I'm glad I did. It didn't rain on me at all.  The forecast for tomorrow is rain all day and we are under a flood watch.  I don't know if it will be like today or not.  I'll see how it goes.  I was determined to try and walk today since tomorrow and possibly Sunday were looking like no gos.  

After I got home from my walk, I didn't go back out.  It was raining and colder by then.  I thought about going out to Starbucks to the drive thru, but I just didn't want to go back out.  I've pretty much been laying around doing nothing since my walk.  I haven't slept well lately and I'm tired.  I would have taken a nap, but when I take naps, I don't sleep well in the evening.  I'm hoping to get to bed a little early tonight and make up for some lost sleep!