Ozma's Blog
Ozma's Observations
Last Post 17 days, 2 hours Ago
Dec 19, 2008 | 9:43 PM PST
Tags: new job , snow
At work, they finally gave me something to do that I can sink my teeth into, so overall it's been a pretty good week.
We had weather this week that's been more wintery than I've experienced before in Eugene (been here 9 years). I had planned to have my girlfriends over for lunch last Sunday, but I called it off since on just the day before they were predicting snow all day. It turned out that there was no snow, no ice, and the sun broke through the clouds several times. It snowed 4 inches by Monday morning, and it's barely gotten above freezing since. The good thing is that I've discovered that I can indeed drive on snowy, icy roads safely.
Happy Holidays to you all!Dec 14, 2008 | 10:08 PM PST
It's 10 pm in Eugene, Oregon, and finally it's snowing!
Dec 14, 2008 | 6:11 PM PST
Deanna just handed me a bloody Mary and told me to relax. So naturally, I'm here posting a blog. It's been 19 days since my last visit here. I hope everyone is doing well.
My first week as a programmer analyst for the county has been odd. My immediate boss is Loni and her boss is Dara. Dara was out most of the week to spend time with her brand new granddaughter, and Loni was out two days for a bad cold. So no one has been showing me the ropes, and I feel like I wasted my time and their money.
I think I've adjusted to getting up at 6am pretty well considering that I'm used to getting up at 9am. But I have had a spell of being very, very clumsy which I hope I'm over with. I tripped and fell twice in the past 10 days, and smacked my noggin on the floating metal stairway between the printer and my cubicle. Fortunately no broken bones and no concussion. I just have a strange way of trying to get attention.
The best thing was the IS department's holiday luncheon at the Valley River Inn. The manager gave everyone a Starbucks gift card and a greeting card with a personal note written in each. I was very impressed with him.
It was supposed to snow all day today, so last night I covered my parsley and lettuces with bubble wrap. I also cancelled the lunch I was hosting for my girlfriends because I didn't want them driving in the snow. It turned out that it didn't snow, and the sun even came out a few times. Sigh, it would have been a perfect day for them to visit. I'll never trust the Weather Channel again. I’ve asked them to come over for dinner on Tuesday after work and hope they can make it.
My place is all decorated which makes me happy, and I’ve sent out my Christmas cards. My husband (Paul), daughter (Deanna) and I are making a gingerbread house. The only thing left to do before Christmas now is wrapping up the gifts. It’s going to be a beautiful Christmas.
I hope yours is wonderful too.
Nov 25, 2008 | 4:11 PM PST
Tags: Zinnia , Daylilies , Morning Glories , Geranium , canopy
Every other Wednesday they pick up our yard waste, so I had to get the bin filled. I finally pulled up the zinnias and removed most of the morning glory vines. Also pruned the roses outside the picture window. To top it off, I grabbed some of the daylilies' dead leaves.
I'm trying something different this year and took some cuttings from the geraniums. I'll grow them indoors this winter and take a bunch of cuttings off them to plant in the yard next spring.
Paul bought a larger folding canopy for our deck. So we took down the 10' square one, and put up the 12' square one. It will keep the rain off the deck chairs better. Next we'll hang the two strings of dragonfly lights inside the canopy, so the smokers have a nice place to hang out.
Now I'll have to encourage him to put up the Christmas lights on a non-rainy day soon.
Nov 24, 2008 | 7:03 PM PST
Tags: job , good news
Starting Dec 8, I'll be a Progammer Analyst 2 for Lane County Area Information Records System (AIRS). I am so excited. That means I'll be able to hire someone to do the stone work in our front yard. Life is good.
Nov 23, 2008 | 1:53 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Maple , Roses , Rose hips , Autumn or Fall
What's up with my maple and my roses?
My roses budded, but never bloomed. I guess it was the shot of nice weather that we had a bit ago that caused the buds and now the cold that kept them from blooming. I'm wondering if I should leave the buds on or not. They may just turn into moldy blobs, therefore I think I should prune them. On the other hand, they may turn into nice rose hips, and so i think I shouldn't prune them. I am in a bit of a quandary. 
What do you think.
Nov 20, 2008 | 3:24 PM PST
Tags: job , MIL , good news
On Monday I had an interview for a job with Lane County (Eugene, OR). Two women interviewed me and it went very well. My potential boss, Dara, called me today to say that I am their #1 candidate, and before she took the time to do my background check and check my references, they wanted to be sure I was interested in a Quality Assurance position even though I was a programmer. I assured her that I was excited about the job. When I told my peeps what happened, my daughter squealed, bounced, and hugged me. Then my husband hugged me, and with a great big grin Deanna squealed and hugged me again. 
Today I took my MIL, Marjorie (I call her Mom), to her first Senior Lunch since her husband died in 2005. I've been asking her to go ever since I found out about Senior activities at the local recreation center a couple of years ago. I guess she finally got bored enough to step outside her comfort zone, or maybe her two week stay at an assisted living place while we were on vacation showed her what she was missing. In any case, I'm glad she decided to go. I think I had even more fun than she did, truth be told. And she wants to go again next week.
So things are really looking up for our family.
Thanks to everyone who sent me prayers and good thoughts!!!
Nov 15, 2008 | 1:03 AM PST
Tags: autumn , agapanthus , adam's needle , interview
Have you ever noticed how much bluer the sky looks in autumn? Thursday we had a cloudless day in Eugene, OR, and I was out in the yard puttering around. I kept looking at the sky, wondering why it looked so very azure. It might be the azimuth of the sun's path this time of year, or the contrast of the gold, orange, and rust colored trees against it. Whatever it is, it takes my breath away.
There are so many things are re-blooming in my garden that they must think it's spring. I'm especially amazed at my Lily of the Nile and my Adam's Needle. I'd show you pictures, but I've misplaced my camera. 
As many of you know, I've been looking for work since May. Well, I have an interview on Monday about a programmer analyst job with the county. I'm so excited because this would be an employer who is not as likely to lay off people during the current economy. Keeping my fingers crossed. 
Nov 6, 2008 | 5:31 PM PST
In my last blog, I mentioned Mr. Bones who joins us every year to help us celebrate Halloween. I neglected to include any pictures of him, so here he is.
Nov 3, 2008 | 3:25 PM PST
Halloween was fun! It marks the beginning of the holiday season for me. The children loved our decorations, especially our Mr. Bones. He's motion activated and says three amusing phrases. Today, I snapped off some pictures before I started replacing the Halloween stuff with Thanksgiving stuff.
Here's how the view form my chair looked today.
Oct 24, 2008 | 10:03 PM PST
My last web programming job ended on Cinco de Mayo and I haven't found another one yet. I guess while there was so much to do in the garden, it didn't get me down. It's gotten cool and many of the trees are blazing, but there isn't as much fun stuff to do in the garden. So joblessness finally got to me.
I let my self wallow in self-pity for about a day, and then found my backbone. The best way for me to get my spirits up was to get a new attitude. I'm pretending I'm retired, and I'm only looking for work for the fun of it. You don't have to be crazy to enjoy life, but it helps.
I thought the sedum on my berm was "Autumn Joy", but pictures I've seen show green foliage and mine has bronze foliage. So, is it "Autumn Joy"?
Oct 17, 2008 | 5:07 PM PST
Tag: composting
I found a very interesting article in the Mother Earth News. Check it out.
THE UNDERGROUND COMPOSTER
Oct 14, 2008 | 11:13 AM PST
All the boxes of fall decorations are clogging up the living room. So today I'm going to put on my witch's hat and spookify my domicile. I love Halloween! Maybe it's because my mom was born on October 31; we called her "Halloween Mary." I've always loved making costumes. The first one I made when I was in 7th grade was Ozma, girl princess of Oz. (Naturally!)
I won't be gardening today, with the possible exception of gathering bouquets of mums and zinnias. So here's a little compost for thought:
"...We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our window today."
~ Dale Carnegie
Oct 12, 2008 | 7:51 PM PST
There is a certain place to sit in my living room that's mine. When I turn my head to the right, I can see out the sliding glass door into the backyard. If I turn my head to the left, I can look out the picture window, and down Jill St. to the evergreens in Awbrey Park.
I love this vantage point for watching the passing seasons, clouds, animals, and people. Boys on their bicycles, teenage girls on their cell phones, and senior citizens on walks with their dogs. Flocks of little birds and individual blue jays zig-zag across Jill St. trying out this tree and that. Neighborhood cats, old ones sunning themselves in the middle of the street, young ones streaking after bugs and leaves. Sometimes I see dark clouds, heavy with rain, and other times, brilliantly white clouds sailing across a bright blue sky. At times the wind makes the trees dance and quake, scattering autumn leaves or spring blossoms about. And the sunsets! Some take my breath away.
I often just sit there watching, mesmerized.
Oct 11, 2008 | 1:40 PM PST
Tags: Tulips , Asiatic lilies , Hollyhocks
All season long, I've been making mental notes on what plants to move in my garden. I especially want to gather up the tulips that were planted here and there in the oddest spots and plant them where they can have more impact. Now if I can only remember where they are.....
The Asiatic lilies also need to be planted in a better location. The pink ones should go in Grandma's garden, and the orange ones in flower bed along the north fence in the backyard.
I also have a couple of old hollyhocks that should be planted in a sunnier spot, but I'm wondering if they take to being transplanted. There are several young plants that have sprouted in their vicinity that might be hollyhocks but the leaves are not lobed.
It's a beautiful day and I gotta get diggin'. Cheers!
