McOllie's Travels

Made me smile

2009-12-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

Apparently this is an impromptu recital by Fran and Marlo Cowan after they noticed the piano in the lobby of the Mayo Clinic on their way to (or from) a doctor appointment. He turned 90 earlier this year and they have been married for 62 years.

via (A Cup of Jo)

the theory of fun

2009-10-08T23:20:00.000-07:00

I so would have been taken the stairs had this experiment been going on while I was in Stockholm. Sadly, it wasn't. The Fun Theory has been tested in a few other ways. Check them out here:

(via swissmiss)

A plug for a friend

2009-09-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

My friend Melinda, is an all around cool woman. Not only does she make delicious desserts and divine jewelry, but she plays on my soccer team and does triathlons and raises three funny kids with her husband, but she now has started an etsy page for tote bags. I gotta say, I love these, even if she wasn't the one making them.

Yesterday, she gave me one of her new business cards for the site and they are also super duper cute. But then, the back color is that kinda apple green and my favorite pale blue.

Wanna play?

2009-09-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

I've rediscovered my love of Tag. I mean, try and play without laughing. It's hard to do. At least for me. I like laughing. Seriously. I busted out laughing this week carrying laundry. You know when you have that really large load and you have to carry it without a basket or bag into a different room. You have to get into a sumo wrestler pose and then bend over the load and try and contain it all so that you don't lose a sock to the great unknown along the way? Yeah, now, imagine doing this and turning the corner to unexpectedly find someone catching you in the act.

(Thanks swissmiss)

A taste of things to come

2009-09-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

I told several people that the Sweden and Norway pictures would be shared more quickly than the Amsterdam ones. I am still curating the photos (yeah, because they are THAT good! hahaha) as I took an insane number of them. But for a little taste of Norway, here is a sampler. This is at the Lysebotn turn off from highway 45 a few hours east of Sandnes that we unexpectedly found ourselves at for about an hour. Can you guess what had us rooted to the spot?

Amsterdam at night

2009-07-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

Amsterdam at night is pretty amazing. All the canals with lights reflecting off of the water. The solitude and quiet the night brings with the occasional pedestrian's feet walking on the cobblestones and the soft rickety sounds of the bikes taking their riders wherever they want to go. At least that is what I heard when I was walking in and around the Jordaan district.

I stayed in the Jordaan district at a great hotel, Hotel Van Onna. It is sparse and not big on frills, but it is well situated and really inexpensive compared to the rest of the area. Plus the breakfasts were filling. Music to my ears. The below photos were all taken within 10 blocks or so of my hotel.

Either along the Keizersgracht or the Prinsengracht:

On the Raadhuisstraat:

The westerkerk:
from the corner of Raadhuisstraat and Prinsengracht

both of these are from Bloemstraat and Prinsengracht

from Bloemgracht less than a block from my hotel.

When will I get a personal helper monkey?

2009-07-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

Apparently Conde Nast employees need to start doing their own dishes instead of just letting them pile up for the interns.

An intern's note announcing this change is what you see below. I have no idea why I find this so funny, but I do.

It wins by a Landslide

2009-05-29T23:57:00.000-07:00

What wins, you ask? The 5th graders of PS22 chorus singing Landslide. Love it.

(found via A Cup of Jo)

Nothing but...

2009-05-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

...PAPER!! These drawings by German artist Simon Schubert are achieved by folding white paper. That's it! Amazing.

See some of his other cool stuff here.

(via AT Chicago)

It's about time...

2009-05-18T23:35:00.000-07:00

...that I start showing some photos from my Amsterdam trip. Especially since it now looks like I am going to Scandinavia in August/September. If I am diligent, I will show a photo or two periodically.

For several minutes I just stood and watched this man and his dog while in Vondelpark. They made me smile and I was reminded of the devotion between my grandfather and his dog, Jake.

This is a canal in the Jordaan district and also the canal my hotel overlooked.

My room was the window next to the little blue sign with the white "h" (in between the two cars).

And here you can see two people trying to find their bikes at the central station. This is only 1 of 3 levels. I wonder how they even know which is their bike.

My idea of heaven

2009-05-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

I love books. One day I want to own a library like either of these spaces. Two stories of books and lots of natural light? Heaven.

(Top image via Design*Sponge)
(Bottom image by Hedrich Blessing (Steve Hall, Jon Miller, Craig Dugan) (not sure which one took this photo) via Arch Daily and AT-Chicago)

Seriously...

2009-04-30T18:50:00.001-07:00

How freaking cute is this kid?

(via The Sartorialist)

Tracking an epidemic

2009-04-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

I realize that in the US it is a health emergency and not an epidemic, but if you want to keep track of where the swine flu outbreaks are occurring and the status of them, Google Maps can show you. Of course, I wonder where they are getting their updates. If it is directly from the CDC and WHO then great, otherwise, who has the job of tracking them all?

You can now outsource your own work...

2009-04-25T09:11:00.001-07:00

Or so the Onion reports.

More American Workers Outsourcing Own Jobs Overseas

The Daisies Will Be Pushed...finally

2009-04-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

How excited am I? ABC just announced they WILL show the remaining Pushing Daisies episodes this Spring!!! Here's the deal, they will show them on Saturday nights (thank goodness for TiVo and for ABC.com) beginning May 30th through June 13th.

And for anyone who watched Eli Stone or Dirty Sexy Money - these shows' remaining episodes will be shown on Saturday's as well. Eli Stone will air between June 20th and July 11th. Dirty Sexy Money will air between July 18th and Aug 8th.

What will I create today?

2009-04-01T07:46:00.001-07:00

I think I need to read or watch this speech on a regular basis. It is just a very lovely little reminder of the power of creation that exists within every person. Creating in all of its forms brings us closer to happiness. Have you ever said a funny joke that brought a smile to someone's face who was previously sad? That is creating. Finished or completed a project at work? That is creating. As we create we feel value in ourselves and a purpose in our days. So everyday I want to ask myself: "What will I create today?" And at night when I ask myself "What did I create today?" I better have an answer.

I ate...

2009-03-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

...the last of my licorice from Amsterdam.

I love this stuff. I brought back several bags in my luggage and have been diligently rationing them out over the last 4+ months. Well, yesterday, the last drop in the last bag was consumed. I now need to go on a hunt for more. And if anyone ever goes to Amsterdam and wonders what to buy me? You now have your answer. :)

I like...

2009-03-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

...this house. Bet you won't guess where this home is located.

If you guessed Croatia, then you are correct. The war has left their landscape a blank page with which to write on. And what beautiful writing it is. This home is designed by the firm 3LHD Architects. Don't worry, you don't have to know Croatian as the site is in English.

(via Design Sponge)

I have...

2009-03-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

...these Weck jars!!!!! I was walking home on Saturday after watching Coraline when I decided to pop into the always cool store Canoe. Wouldn't you know it that less than I minute after I stepped in, I saw them. They were so lovely there in 4 sizes. Of course I had to buy a couple in 3 of the sizes. The bonus...I had found a visa gift card a few weeks ago and so I didn't have to spend any of MY money to buy them!

Happy Up Here

2009-03-06T18:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

This video makes me happy. Given the stress of work right now, it offers a nice few minutes of calm. While I don't think I have just listened to their music, I do often find myself watching Röyksopp's videos over and over again. They are just the right amount of quirky and fun. Apparently the Norwegian duo is coming out with another album later this year. You know what that means...more videos!!!

(Reminded of them via Black Eiffel)

Hotmail is sucking the life out of me

2009-02-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

Anyone out there use Hotmail and had their "windows live" page go through a recent upgrade? If so, I need your help. It looks like they are trying to compete with Facebook and other social networking sites but I don't want anything to do with it.

MSN News Story updates - I used to get nice MSN News Story updated, but they appear over on the bottom of the right side instead of where I want them. Whenever I try and modify this or add sources for news, nothing happens.

Network - Is there a way to remove this completely? If not, can I instruct it to permanently ignore people? I really have no interest in being asked each time I go into my account if I want to invite a guy I went out with a year ago to be in my network. Because I can tell you, the answer to that question is "No" and it will ALWAYS be no. Just the sight of his name each time I open my account makes me annoyed.

If I can't find solutions to these issues, I may have to find another email company to handle my junk mail and less personal mail communications.

Long live my true email provider of Google. May they continue to impress me with their service.

Friendly anchors

2009-02-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

I wonder how much time it took them to practice this routine? I especially like the end when they have to hurry before they go back on the air. :)

(via swissmiss)

Who's who?

2009-01-31T08:56:00.001-08:00

While reading the weekly wrap up on A Cup of Jo from yesterday, how could I not click on the link? Wouldn't you if you read "Christian Bale looks like Kermit"? I dare you to not look. But if you do, you MUST click the further link for additional photos. Somebody spent a LOT of time doing this.

I want...

2009-01-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

...these Weck jars. Supposedly Heath Ceramics sells them, but I can only find the small 80ml size on their site. I want the bigger ones for leftovers. I really do like them. It's a little ridiculous exactly how much. :)

Update: I just had to keep looking and eureka! Apparently searching for Weck Canisters only gets you to Heath Ceramics but "weck canning jars" gets you to the company's website. Yippee!!!!

Do you like it like this?

2009-01-20T22:00:00.000-08:00

Why don't we get the good ads? T-Mobile did their own flash mob on 15 January 2009 at the Liverpool Street Station.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO8lLP4DP0w

This too makes me smile.

(via SwissMiss)

Now that's how I roll

2009-01-19T23:41:00.000-08:00

If there was any doubt how people around the world feel, this photo by Andrew Gill sums up England's opinion. Well, and the photo below (which was an ad campaign in Tube stations earlier this year for the London Times (a fairly conservative paper).

(via London-Underground)

Who needs a gym

2009-01-16T15:15:00.000-08:00

Did anyone see the NY Times article on the Hong Kong apartment of an architect yesterday? It is the 344 square foot apartment he grew up in with his parents and three younger sisters. You would get a workout just moving the walls around to get stuff.

Why didn't they tell me?

2009-01-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

I just found this video on how the Japanese fold their shirts. Why didn't any of my Japanese (well half) cousins tell me this trick? It will make folding laundry so much faster. I've eased up, but in high school and college it would take almost an entire tv show to fold laundry. I was that meticulous. But hey, it saved me from ever having to use an iron.
.

Flickr

2009-01-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

Chelsea's Portland guide (and subsequent link to my flickr account) has done the trick. I am resolved. I will update my flickr account tonight. First up will be photos from Amsterdam. Give a girl some slack...I've only been back for 2 1/2 months! What, you think I was sitting at home in December with nothing to do for days on end? Wait, don't answer that. I so was doing that. But when I was snowed in, the last thing I really wanted to be was productive.

More Ants

2009-01-13T19:21:00.000-08:00

Now these ants are cool in a non-squirmy way for me.

Actually, the whole Type as Image is cool. It is a typographic experiment where the words reflect and represent their own meaning.

(From Swiss Miss, sent to her by Petar Pavlov)

Lovely

2009-01-12T18:46:00.000-08:00

I would love to be able to stay in this guest house designed by Portland's very own Allied Works. Unfortunately, I don't know the New York homeowners, so it isn't likely to happen in this lifetime.

Danny Boyle is global

2009-01-11T23:32:00.000-08:00

Danny Boyle is one of my favorite directors. He has such an amazing way of storytelling. Like Simon Beaufoy (the screenwriter) said, many directors shoot a screenplay, but Danny Boyle makes it soar (or was it fly?). In any event, this time, his genius garnered a Golden Globe with Slumdog Millionaire. The remarkable screenplay took a pretty standard story and wove it into a vibrant and creative tapestry. The music was phenomenal. And Danny Boyle is genius yet again. I loved that they swept their Golden Globe awards!

And you will want to have your volume on if you visit the movie's website.

Ants on a Plate?

2009-01-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

Many of the pieces from Bailey Doesn't Bark are lovely and beautiful. But I shudder whenever I look at the following:

Ants on My Cup and Saucer

Probably has to do with my irrational fear of ants (or bugs in general) walking all over my body, but it creeps me out. Happy for Bailey Doesn't Bark that others do not share this paranoia.

Courtesy of AT Chicago

TNT redeems itself

2009-01-06T21:18:00.001-08:00

TNT was in the doghouse for a long while due to requiring Windows Media to watch their shows online. I am still a bit upset about it as I now can't watch The Closer or Leverage at home. Even so, I found myself on their website tonight and noticed a little button in the upper right corner "Boss Coming? Dramatic Pause". Brilliant! When you click on it, this is what you get:

What a difference a day makes

2008-12-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

So last photo of Ollie was taken on Sunday. This photo was taken on Monday. And to think we are supposed to get a couple more inches of snow tomorrow.

Yesterday I walked around my neighborhood with my snowshoes. One of the other benefits of the snow is that the line at the main post office yesterday was super duper short. Only 3 people in front of me. Now, I have been there before a holiday before only to turn and walk away as the line can be 60 people deep with another 20 people deep at the self help machine.

I often keep my blinds closed given the close proximity of the building next door. However, I have been opening the blinds up a bit this last week so I could watch the snow fall. The fire escape is pretty much the view I have.

This is a first

2008-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

I started working for a bank shortly after college. It was always a big, national bank and so we always were open during normal business hours. Maybe a few branches would close but there was a work around. But I now work for a regional bank. It is the largest one headquartered in Oregon, but it is still regional. As a result, when a region is beset by inclement weather, the entire bank feels it. At first they announced all of Portland/Vancouver and Puget Sound locations would be closed all day. Then an our later, they changed the rest of the bank from an 11am start time to closed all day. My ENTIRE BANK IS CLOSED! This is just weird.

Snowy blessings

2008-12-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

One of the benefits of the snow we have been getting in Portland is that I have been able to work from our downtown office and walk to work. Chains have been required on metro area highways and wouldn't you know it, but little Ollie doesn't have chains. In fact, Ollie has been hibernating this last week.

The view from my temporary office is out at the West Hills.

I find myself occasionally staring out the window at the beautiful snow fall.

Yesterday I went walking around for several hours and saw that I wasn't the only one finding it easier to walk in the street versus the sidewalk.

I am also grateful for friends who generously fed me. Melinda and Marcus on Saturday and Julie and John on Sunday. Plus the emotional boost hanging with their kids gives me. Both couple's kids are just so dang cute.

Pascal gets a major shout out for taking me to their homes as both couples live on the other side of the West Hills.

As far as we could see in front of us, no other vehicles. We wondered about the fairly clean freeway until we came up 4 plows just as we got to the tunnel.

Plus, he let me drive in the city last night. Now I understand why he likes driving in this stuff. With his vehicle, it is fun! (No photos of this. Instead, a night time view from the elevators on his floor as I retrieved laundry from his dryer. Yep, I am thankful for P's washing machine and dryer too!

Dogs are cute until...

2008-11-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

...they move in next door and they bark incessantly for HOURS on end in a young, high pitched yelp. How they manage to do so without getting tired I do not know. What is weird is how loud it is. I would think I shouldn't be able to hear it through my closed window and theirs. Maybe my neighbor in the building next door (it might even be the building behind mine) keeps their window open. If that is the case, well, then my patience may wear thin for the owner.

Jon Stewart and the conservative "machine"

2008-09-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

I love the fact that this clip was forwarded to me by my Aunt Deede who lives in Tromsø Norway.

What have you done with your life?

2008-07-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

Saw this on my cousin's blog and thought I would do the same. Every item in BOLD is something I have done. It is amazing how much I have forgotten. Plus I gotta say that several of the items I have yet to do I have no desire to ever accomplish.

200 Have and Have-nots!
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing (only if you count a rock climbing wall)
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain (have I really not done this one? Man, I've got to get on this :)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions At least I think I contributed to it.
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you (But I have been the subject of art that got sold to someone I didn't know before I could buy it myself)
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (Only if mini-golf counts?)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon (I am counting this since I walked one)
136. Learned to surf (well tried to learn)
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers (I hope so! Oh wait, I was thinking of the british definition!)
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime (only if you count Clue)
200. Commented on a friend's blog today.

I fancy someone :)

2008-06-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

As I watched again The Taming of the Shrew the other night I was reminded of how much I like Rufus Sewell. I don't think it is too much of a stretch for me to say that I fancy him. I do. I forget about him a bit, and sometimes he takes a back seat to Clive Owen. But in actuality, I think I like him a bit more than Clive. (gasp!) They both have the ability to be complex, can play darker roles, usually pick intelligent and interesting characters, look good in jeans and in suits, but the relaxed humor Rufus can exhibit isn't one that is seen by Clive. Rufus is a bit quirky and I like that the most. Well, and the fact that my adoration has sustained itself since I saw him perform in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia at the Royal National Theatre in London on Monday, April 5th 1993! Yep, I found my play bill and ticket. I didn't see Clive until Croupier in 1998. So there you go. I fancy Rufus.

Oh crap. As I went to find links for Clive I found his fansite and now I have to rethink who I fancy more. Oh dear, what a quandary. Hmm, maybe Rufus by a hair. After all, he is at least available. :)

ps. Apparently the blank boxes are photos that won't show. But if you click on them, they take you to photos from IMDB.

So yo mama writes some postcards?

2008-04-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

As I was perusing some random blogs, I somehow found myself clicking on a link to this site. I have to tell, you I crack up at these emails. The gist of the site is that people submit actual emails or IM chats from their mother.

So great. They make me smile. It quickly got added to my reader.

Can only go up from here, right?

2008-02-23T11:49:00.001-08:00

I don't get sick. I sometimes wear this statement like a badge of honor, but often it is just fact. I don't. I get minor colds that last a few days with each symptom arriving separately. Other than that, I get bronchitis every 5 years or so. Well this year, thus far, I am making up for lost time.

1. Kept up with the zicam and held a cold off for a couple weeks. It finally reared its ugly head just as I was heading into the 3 day MLK weekend. Thought it would be a run of the mill cold until Monday. By Friday, I was able to go to work. Yep, MLK was a gorgeous day and that whole week was sunny and lovely, or so it looked from outside my windows. The cold took me under for 4 days and then I had a week or so to recover before a friend came into town.

2. A few days after the main beast of the cold leaves my body, I get dealt another blow. My Uncle Ed passed away at home while taking a nap on Monday afternoon. The family was all able to gather at the house and say our final goodbye's before he was taken away. He will sorely be missed. He was a one of a kind man who knew who he was and lived his life according to his values. He didn't have a work personality and a home personality. Everyone who knew him, really knew him.

3. So my friend is in town for nearly a week and goes home on a Thursday. That night, I meet up with friends for dinner at a new cool restaurant. My plans to go to work on Friday (so as to avoid wasting a vacation day that would entail me laying around my house doing not much of anything) were thwarted. I woke up at 2:45am not feeling very well. By 3:15am, the first of MANY "episodes" occurred. At least that is what the nurse at my doctor's office kept calling them. It sounds so much more civilized than what I was actually going through. But the consensus was I had food poisoning. This was only the 3rd time that I (or my mother) can remember having "episodes". Once when I was 16, a couple years ago and earlier this month. See, I really don't get sick! I am not just making it up.

If I am being generous with my caloric intake, I consumed about 200 calories that day. Definitely do not recommend it as a good weight loss plan. Slowly drinking water and gatorade. Who knew 4 saltines and a single slice of a banana would be so filling! Also, I never knew I could savor a saltine so much that it would take 20 minutes to eat it. No joke. But I slowly added food and within a few days, I was unfortunately/fortunately back to my usual appetite.

But I figure I have had a lot of time to think and process some things that I otherwise would not have done. And really, the year can only get better right? I mean, I think I crammed all my sickness into one tight time period just to get it over with.

I heart burgerville

2007-10-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought my love for Burgerville couldn't grow any more, I get proved wrong. Given the wonderfully sunny and crisp, but not cold, fall weather we are having, I decided to walk to Burgerville for lunch. As I ordered all my food that was pretty much all locally grown or made in the NW, the cashier asked that I NOT throw my garbage away after I ate. Before I could ask why, she informs me that the company has made the decision to compost and recycle! How very NW and cool is that?!?!?!?! In their research, Burgerville hopes to reduce their garbage sent to landfills will be reduced 85% from 340 tons a month to a mere 41 tons! See the article below for details. (sorry for the need to likely copy and paste on the link. I am at work and not really wanting to take the time to figure out why the link isn't working right now...)

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-21/1192580268282530.xml&storylist=orlocal

Autumn is the time to leap, not Fall

2007-10-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

So this autumn I am doing something I have never done before. I'm super excited as it is turning out to be a great outlet for my creativity. Here it goes: I am making a movie. Well, a short film really. Some of you readers have graciously opened your homes up to the altar of possible locations and for that I am truly grateful. My friend and partner in the venture has been assigning me various books to beef up my film making knowledge. Some of it seems very intuitive and some just downright weird given the various union and guild regulations, etc. But I am up for the challenge. I like challenges.

At present this is more of a side hobby, but who knows, it may turn into something else. But I realized something about myself when this opportunity popped up. I often get that inspiration to leap into the abyss of the unknown, but my fear of success and failure (that somehow manage to coexist at the same time) eventually pulls me back. The times that I follow through on that intuition usually provide some of my happiest memories so why do I hold myself back? Well, I am done with that poppycock nonsense!

I'm hitting the road...well the airways

2007-08-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

Heading off to San Francisco Friday morning for a short trip to San Francisco with JD. Should be fun. Helps that I am just now dipping into my 2007 vacation. All the vacation I have taken was using up 2006 days. Amazing how much vacation I store up when I don't get my old 4 weeks (my current company only gives me 3) and I don't head off to Europe due to my desire to save some money. Anyway, should be good times ahead.

This morning I am bugged!

2007-08-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

So I got up a bit early this morning since I knew I would be in meetings most of the day and I wanted to have time for something productive. I guess it is a good thing I did get up early; had I not, I wouldn't have found an ENORMOUS bug in my apartment. I do take offense to HOW the thing was discovered. I came upon it (or more accurately it came upon me) when it fell from my bathroom light fixture on my leg, while I was sitting on the toilet. I don't handle bugs of any size well, but a giant something with long antennas that make its size go from its body length of an inch+ to nearly 2 inches is more than my bleary eyes can take; especially when the thing lands on me so unceremoniously. Ugh. I would give you a more accurate size measurement, but the bug is currently residing under a opaque mug on my living room floor. I know I should kill it. I know I want to kill it. Yet I cannot kill it. The bigger the creature, the harder it is for me to kill. Especiially if they have any type of hard skeletal body. Just he crunching sound of the thing being crushed grosses me out. So I will call my trusty friend in the neighborhood who will happily come and dispose of the creature for me.

ps. I just learned (as I thought it might be) that the bug is a giant, grown silver fish. I was going to put a picture of one up, but frankly I couldn't really look at my screen and had to blindly close the window. So count yourself lucky.

Lufthansa is the distracting demon

2007-07-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Because I love to travel, I get emails from different airlines and travel sites. Lufthansa has a sweepstakes going on right now that has a game attached...a highly addictive game.

The gist? There are 3 rounds.
Round 1 has a map of Europe (no words) and red dots for each city they fly into. They will list a city, you click the corresponding red dot. Easy enough (well, unless, like me, you never learned German geography.) Each of the 5 answers has a maximum of 1000 points. The points will be adjusted downward for how far from the correct answer you are.

Round 2 is the same thing, but they have removed the red dots and you only have the country outlines to go from. The 5 questions are each worth 2,000 points.

Round 3 is more difficult as they remove the country outlines and you are left with the land mass outline. The 5 questions are each worth 3,000 points.

Total points possible: 30,000. Number of people who have achieved it? A lot. Me? Not so much, but I have gotten pretty close. I won't say how many times it has taken to get this score, mostly because I don't think I can count that high. Anyway, see for yourself.

Can you spot the fake smile?

2007-05-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

I apparently can. I found this on my perusing of the internet while at home. Amazingly not while working! I got 19 of 20 correct and could kick myself because the one I missed, I almost chose differently. But it is apparently a study done by the BBC in the UK.

Sorry, I can't be bothered right now to make sure the link is working, so if not, just copy and paste.

Can you spot the fake smile? http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/smiles/

the spoken word vs. the written word?

2007-04-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Do you think we as people have our most intellectual of discussions with the written conversation or the spoken dialogue? How do we encapsulate those things discovered in the spoken dialogue so that we can refer back to it and allow it to grow within us and possibly change our own perceptions of ourselves?

I just recently came across a response to a friends email that I had saved on my computer for some reason. The bulk of our emailing was done on a website that deletes messages after 30 days whether you want them to or not. Needless to say, I forgot about this until I decided I wanted to print out the conversations and couldn't find them. But discovering this response on my computer made me realize how often I forget that I can and do have intellectual discussions. I also forget how much I thoroughly enjoy them. Spoken converations probably happen often as well, but I have a short memory when it comes to this stuff and so do need the reminders of those things written down. But what about other people?

The Secret is out but I wish it wasn't

2007-04-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

This post is really my venting of how much The Secret bugs me. I can appreciate and recognize that like attracts like and that if you send out positive energy, it is a good thing and that usually that is what you get back. But it seems like since Oprah championed the whole concept and the craze, tons of people credit it for their success...and it is getting ridiculous.

When people say that they won a contest because they believe in the Secret and they practiced the principles of it, I just want to scream. If you go with that thinking, then clearly the other contestants weren't really believing in the Secret or else they weren't believing in it as much. Aargh.

If you want to believe in the concept, fine. But at least recognize that the belief should be more that if you want good things in your life you should project good things. You don't get to always pick what those good things are. God does. You just need to be open to the possibility.

Okay. That is it. It is out of my system.

What accent do you have?

2007-03-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

So Aisy http://aisyworld.blogspot.com/ had this test on her blog and I decided to copy her. Apparently I don't sound like the area I come from and have lived most of my life in. Maybe its because I had speech therapy for 10 years...hmmm, maybe my therapist was from the "midlands". However, I wonder when they say the region of "the West" if they mean California. But I buy into the fact that it is an accent that "doesn't have an accent". I mean, people on the news and radio all learn to talk like us so they can sound good!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
The South
The Inland North
Philadelphia
Boston
The Northeast
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Let's try this again

2007-01-18T17:55:00.000-08:00

I finally decided to try and correct my map of countries travelled. We'll see if it takes this time...

create your own visited country map

New digs

2006-10-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

I have the keys to my new life. This last weekend, I moved most of my stuff into my new postage stamp of an apartment. Couple things are still not there, but it will happen. The sofa on the last post got returned before I took possession. I realized I should really have a real bed. Since there is limited room, I sold my sister my old bed and I bought a twin. It allows me more room for storage. As a result, I actually think everything is going to fit. I just bought a couple bookshelves to house all my books among other things. Got some shelves in the kitchen for all my pots and pans, etc. I am just glad that I didn't have to move my stuff in and immediately start living there. I am able to set things up on my own time and get it set up. Today, got my cable installed. The highlight was a cute technician who was from Nottingham England.

I'll have my bed and sleep on it too!

2006-09-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

Since I am moving into my wee little place, I decided to sell my bed and buy a sleeper sofa. After several weeks of looking and continuously returning to one at a cool store called Hip, I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy it on Labor Day. Unfortunately, they were closed that day so no sofa. I ended up going by the store on Thursday and discovered that they had only 1 left and it was the floor model so no go. Because the sofa is so popular (4 sold the week before) the guy tells me it is likely a 6 - 7 week wait but that he would verify and call me if they have an order already placed for some.

Well, I was helping a friend with the flowers at a wedding on Saturday when I get a call from the store. They had done an inventory check at their warehouse and found one in the color I wanted. So I drove over there with my good friend Jaime to look at it one last time before taking the plunge. It should be noted that the color is not so much beige as it appears in the photo but more of a caramel color. The back also can be in 3 different angles.

Duly chastised

2006-08-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, Aisy, I get it. I am not the most consistent of blog writers. It all ebbs and flows with how busy I am at work I think. But I also think it is the same tendency I have with things in general. When I like something, I love it and I go gangbusters for it and want to do it all the time. Then after a bit of time, the love fades a bit not because I don't like it anymore but because there is a new something I now like that is consuming my time.

I have a friend who is trying to get me to join myspace and I am holding out. It will just become one more thing to divide my time and take away from my posting of occasional blog postings. So I am remaining strong and not succumbing.

I will try and be better, I promise. Just no guarantees. Hey, at least I am more frequent than Rebus:-)

Just some of the reason's I love Portland

2006-08-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

Powell's City of Books. I love the place. I cannot lie. But I love it even more when I take in 3 boxes full of books I have been keeping since college and walk out with only 1 box and $110 in cash. It could have been more if I had taken store credit (to the tune of $135, but I want the cash this time). I think walked a couple blocks to Everday Music with another box full of all my cd's and walk out with a near empty box and $90 cash. Luckily I didn't get mugged right then or else they would have gotten about $190 more in cash than I normally ever carry.

But as the guy at Powell's was sorting through my books, we got to talking about simplifying one's life. He said he had to do that when he and his wife moved to England a few years ago. They went because of his wife's work, but he had probably one of the best jobs there is while over there. He was still working for Michael Powell as a book buyer. Instead of waiting for people to bring the books to him, he got to travel around to various book auctions and estate sales and buy antiquarian books.

If you have never been to Portland, Powell's is definitely in the top 10, if not 5, places people insist you see. It is a warehouse on an entire city block with multiple floors just full of books. Best of all, for anyone not from the US, they accept almost every major currency for their books with exchange rates posted.

Back to the topic of selling the stuff. With my proceeds, I was able to buy a 320GB external hard drive so I can back up all my music without needing all of the cd's. More space then I needed, but I am sure in time I will fill it up.

Is July the new black?

2006-07-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Apparently July turned into the month for moving. I know so many people, myself included, that are moving right now. Last night at a dinner party for my sister (who just got a teaching job, YIPPEE) I had the fun pleasure of explaining why I had a car full of moving blankets and a few boxes (thanks Ansley) about 10 times.

The conversation often went like this:

"Why do you have all the blankets in your car?" "No, I am not sleeping in my car, but I am moving and they are moving blankets." "Where are you moving to?" "I don't know yet." "Huh?" "Well, my stuff is going into a storage unit and for the month of August my aunt and uncle are graciously letting me live in their downstairs while I try and decide where I want to live." Why are you moving out now then if you don't know where your moving to?" (This is the question I don't understand as much as sometimes I want to get a smidge sarcastic with my response) "Well, my lease expired at the end of July and to stay longer would require I sign another full year lease which I am not, nor are any of my roommates, interested in doing."

So I am using Ruthie as a bit of an inspiration and getting rid of a bunch of stuff. I realized I have accumulated a bunch of stuff because I had plenty of space and a lot of storage. This is stopping. I am tossing a bunch of stuff and it feels great!

I don't have to be out of my place until the end of this week, but I have all my furniture save the mattress and a few smaller items left. I will probably have a few more posts relating to moving, so just hang in there.

2006-06-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

To copy Aisy, who is an original. Here is my map of the world. This is one occasion where I hope the red will spread.

create your own visited country map

Old Maids?

2006-05-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

A friend forwarded me this link on the Newsweek article written 20 years ago on single women over 30 and their chances of ever marrying. It is interesting that as you look at something, conclusions of the facts change depending on the perspective you look at them from.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13007828/site/newsweek/from/ET/

Eventually I'll learn

2006-05-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

I wish I already knew how to upload pictures to my blog page. I know, it isn't that difficult. I was driving to work this morning behind a Fulton Crane. I suddenly noticed their "motto" on the back of the crane that made me laugh out loud and definitely brought a smile to my face. (As I think the actual product does to older women as well as the Anna Nichole Smith's of the world).

"Just like Viagra... we get it up for you"

Maybe I will and maybe I won't

2006-05-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Given that this is my first post since my New England trip, you would think I would talk about it. Unfortunately, you would be wrong.

So I went to my favorite pizzeria in Portland tonight, Apizza Scholl's. Normally, it takes forever to get in, but since the weather has been so fantastic, they opened up their patio tonight and we got a table right away. Within a few minutes we order our Marguerite pizza (yum). I swear, the waiter goes into the kitchen and momentarily comes out with a pizza. Apparently, it just came out of the oven but didn't know who ordered it. The whole dinner, with lots of chatting afterwards, lasted just over an hour. That may not seem that cool, but if you were at my birthday dinner, you would have had the more common experience of waiting just over an hour for a table.

parlez vous francais?

2006-04-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

I have delayed the french classes long enough. This summer term I am going to resume french classes in my attempt to become proficient enough for graduate school and other things. I have used the paltry memory of the french language (hello, I had nearly 4 years in high school and 1 year in college) as a weak excuse for not going back to obtain my graduate degree in int'l relations/business. Well, that is going to change.

What was the epiphany that provoked this decision? The Peace Corps informational meeting I went to this week. Okay, I just realized this could be a long post as there are a lot of things that have been percolating in my head that a couple of you know about but I haven't told many people. I get tired of people who always say they are going to do something, but never follow through. I too often am that person myself, which is probably why I hate that trait in other people.

Well, a prior coworker quit her job last month so that she could join the peace corps. She is going to South Africa to do micro lending. This brought up memories of talking with peace corps reps at my university center when I was in college and my desire to go then. Back then, I didn't have the skill set or academic background they were looking for so it was a no go. They have expanded their options to include business development (either that, or else my job history now makes me qualified). Do you know when you get those tingling sensations in your whole body when you hear or see something that speaks to you? Well, my whole body was tingling and I got so excited about the prospect of doing it.

I have since sat down and worked out a budget to see what could be done with finances since I would need to payoff my credit cards. I discovered that with a little, but not too much, self discipline, I can be completely out of debt in a year at most. I have even begun filling out the online application that is pretty time consuming.

So that brings me to the French thing. I went to this informational workshop on Wednesday night and found out that they prefer applicants give the process a year to get an assignment. I get another little tingle since this matches up perfectly with my financial timeline. They then say that for most posts, you do not need to know the language ahead of time, except for two regions. Latin America requires 2 years of college spanish and then West Africa requires 2 years of college french. Again, another overwhelming feeling that things were lining up. I spoke with the recruiter and she said that even though it was so long ago, if I could get a letter from a professor attesting to my grasp of the language, it would be sufficient. She also said that they have a shortage of French speakers so pretty much if you have some French, even if not the 2 years "required", you almost certainly go to West Africa.

You may be wondering why I want to go to West Africa so bad. In addition to my love of the African continent after my South African trip, I want to establish a proficiency in French. It is the most useful 2nd language for me to have for graduate school and the peace corps will help to solidify this requirement.

I now have renewed drive to get in the French class sooner than later. Starting in the summer, I will start taking night classes and hope that those of you who know how to speak French will keep encouraging me in my quest to master le francais.

Boston and the rest of New England

2006-04-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I bought a ticket to go to Boston. I leave in less than 2 weeks and I have no idea what I to do when I get there. If anybody has ideas for Boston or any of the outlying towns in MA, NH, Maine, you name it, let me know. I normally have lots of time and I plan things out, but not this time. The opportunity was there so I took it.

How many is too many?

2006-03-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

So I get into work today and talk to a coworker about her new jeans. She informs me she had to buy them a couple weeks ago when she was at the beach because she only had 2 pairs of jeans and was going to be there for 4 days. I thought she was joking about her "need" to go shopping before I realized she seriously felt like she had to have a separate pair of jeans for each day. (If she knew this about herself, why didn't she take more pairs?) What I found even weirder is that all the other women in the office think this was normal.

Is it really normal to wear jeans only 1 time and then wash them, even if you are on vacation? I knew that I kind of do my own thing, but wearing my jeans more than once I thought was more a standard practice. I must confess I usually only wash mine when they either stretched out too much or else I spilled something on them.

How many times do you wear your jeans before washing them?

banker goes rocker!

2006-03-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

Well, at least with my hair. While I sat through the long process of the cut and colour that occurs every 4 months, I think my hair is a bit high maintenance. But by spending 3 days a year being high maintenance, it allows me to be low maintenance every other day of the year. Why do I feel the need to excuse any behavior that takes a bit of effort? In regards to my hair, I have owned up to it because the thing is, my hair IS my style. It's my one act of rebellion against my conservative job at the bank. If only I owned a digital camera and knew how to post photos I could show you. Needless to say, bright big red streaks frame my face as well as another streak at the crown of my head. Cut is slightly assymetrical with sweeping fringe. I absolutely LOVE my haircut.

Men in uniforms

2006-03-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

Men in uniforms have always been a mixed back for me. I don't usually like guys in uniforms that require them to carry guns. Not because I am against guns, but I just wasn't raised around them. I work with a woman who goes crazy whenever the local firemen go to the deli next door for lunch. We get a lot of them as the Training Center for the Portland Fire Bureau is a couple blocks away. I mean she goes nuts. She has pretended to go out and get the mail in the pouring rain just so she could see them better.

Well, today I gotta say I kind of get it now. I helped a friend by being a "parent chaperone" for her constitutional law class field trip today. After observing some arraignment hearings, a civil breach of contract between a Freightliner Auto Dealer and Bank of America and a robbery trial we decided to head up to our final courtroom. One of the kids wanted to specifically hear this next case because his dad is an attorney and plays pool with the judge. Weird reason, I know, but then we all found out it was a prostitution case. Suddenly, each of the 6 kids I was watching wanted to see it.

I should say that up to this point, everything was pretty interesting and diverse. But the prostitution case made the whole trip extra fun for me. Not because I know that many, well any, prostitutes, nor do I ever expect to go into that profession (thankfully). The real reason is that I got my eye candy in for the day. The officers testifying in the case were both pretty attractive men, but man oh man, one of them just was beautiful to watch. Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to unabashedly watch him for 10+ minutes.

I was talking with them after their testimonies until my friend met me. I felt justified in my opinion when, as we left, she just said "oh my". Yeah, it was the icing on an already really good cake of a morning.

Now I know how a caged bird feels

2006-03-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

I need to go on vacation. That is pretty much the beginning, middle and end of the story. It has been over a year since I have gone anywhere outside of the beautiful Pacific Northwest and my emotional and mental health is being affected! In the last couple months all plans to get out of Dodge have been thwarted the week before going. Also, a possible trip to Europe in the fall may not happen. To top it off, my trip to Boston to visit family keeps getting pushed back. Boston is currently the one that is making me sad. One of my roommates is going there for work tomorrow and her brother just got his mission call there. To get psyched for the trip, she has been listening to Augustana's Boston and watching Boston movies like Fever Pitch and Good Will Hunting, etc. Makes me homesick for a place I have never been to. Ugh. This is why I appreciate solo traveling, I don't have to coordinate with anyone's schedule but my own. So here are my for and against lists for traveling alone:

Against
1. No one to take my picture
2. Having to eat at restaurants by myself.
3. No one to talk to.
4. Depending on where I go, restricts how late I can stay out on the town safely.
5. Can be cheaper for hotels.
6. Afterwards, no one to laugh with about the trip.

For:
1. Get to be selfish and do whatever I want to do.
2. Don't have to worry I will get annoyed with my dear friend and travel companion.
3. Get to be selfish and eat whatever I want.
4. Easier to crash with friends when I am by myself.
5. Don't have to worry about whether the trip is too expensive or to cheap for my travel companion.
6. Get to be selfish and do whatever I want. (yeah, I know I already said it, but it bears saying twice).

Oh, that's amore!

2006-02-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

As if I didn't already love my TiVo prior to this month with the Olympics and my ability to watch pretty much everything televised in the US reminded me of it. But imagine my surprise and pleasure to discover one more reason to love my TiVo...the internet.

Yep, I can access select internet sites through my TV courtesy of TiVo. Currently offered are Yahoo sites, Fandango, 1000's of streaming radio stations, a few games, podcasts and more. Plus, if I can figure out how to get the URL numbers from other favorite sites, I can add them to my list. I don't hold out much hope for the last happening as I can't figure out how to add links to this blog, but one can always dream.

I really don't know why I love this as much as I do. I mean, it isn't as though I don't have wireless internet on my laptop, have iTunes, have a stereo system, my cell phone and it's internet access. Maybe it is the fact that the tv screen is significantly larger than my little 12' laptop. Now if only I can get someone to give me back Arrested Development. I still hold out that it will reappear. I will not remove it from its #1 spot on my Season Pass list.

On this Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

On this, the supposed most romantic of days, I will be enjoying my evening doing something I love...watching the Olympics. I love the Olympics. Heck, I get excited watching curling and find it fascinating. My heart broke for the defending 2002 Norwegian cross country skier when he was involved in a spill at the very beginning of the 3000M race that had him leaving the stadium dead last out of nearly 80 skiers. I nearly cried when it became evident that his teammates and a German recognizing he wasn't up in the front where he should have been, showed amazing sportsmanship by slowing down the pack. I cheered as he was able to come into the stadium at the end and emerge a silver medalist. I love it all. I even get tense watching curling. The Olympics bring out the best of the human spirit. They bring hope and rejuvenated drive.

I think some of what makes it exciting for me is that I only watch most of these sports when the Olympics come around. So I have to soak it all in so that it can last me 4 years. Kind of like I do with Girls Scout cookies. You gotta stock up on the things.

Anyway, I hope to be a more prolific writer now that my coworker is back from his 6 week medical leave. You know you have too much to do when you can't even READ your friends' blogs. The last thing I then want to do when I get home is to look at a computer. But times they are a-changin'!

obsessions

2006-01-09T14:26:00.000-08:00

If I had a bottomless pit of money, marketers would love me. I get easily wrapped up in the packaging and in all the gloss and superficiality of products. But since I do live on a feeble attempt of a budget, I don't often do anything about the obsession this marketing generates and when I do, years have usually gone by. However, I finally fed an obsession by getting my video iPod on Friday afternoon. Although I haven't played with it much, I LOVE IT. The biggest draw amongst my friends to it has been the "Lazy Sunday" video/rap from SNL. So much so that a certain someone, who shall remain un-named, and I watched/listened to it during the opening song of relief society at church. Bad I know. But hey, at least were in class. That in itself, is a minor miracle.

Do you feel lucky?

2006-01-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

I went running on Saturday with my friend Aimee and as we were walking back to our houses (she lives at the corner of my short street), we were barely missed by a bird-in-flight's droppings. I mean, had we been 1 foot to the right, the bird could have nailed two people with one drop. Also, last week on Boxing Day, I was going to go with my sister and her boyfriend to see a movie. Well, unbeknownst to us, for him that meant King Kong. He got all psyched to see it, but I had since decided I wasn't going to go and my sister really can't handle a 3 hour+ movie (she can barely sit still for a 2 hour film). My sister, urged on by my mom, decided to do the good girlfriend thing and go. Both of these events got me thinking about gratitude and the need to be thankful for what isn't going on in my life.

I am thankful that I didn't get hit by the bird. I am also thankful that I don't have a husband, a current boyfriend, or event a guy on the near horizon that has even piqued my fancy (wait, as I am writing this, maybe I should be a bit upset about this). I don't have to make compromises with my time, where I go on vacation, what I buy, etc. Whenever I do end up in a long term relationship, I can then be thankful that I always have a date to my company Christmas party, have someone to eat dinner with (and split the work of cooking), and not make it pathetic when I run errands on a Friday or Saturday night.

But now, I am thankful that it is a new year. Past mistakes and failed endeavors are wiped clean and new challenges await me.

Happy New Year everyone!

Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own

2005-12-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

I love U2. Always have and probably always will. This past Monday I got to see them live for only the 2nd time in my life (the first was in Seattle in April with my FREE tickets that I won on the radio on my birthday). The whole experience was fantastic, even the 6 hours in the cold and rainy weather since I had GA floor tickets. Just glad Mother Nature didn't continue with the freezing rain.

Just some details of the day:
- Finally being healthy enough to be able to stand outside for hours on end in the cold.
- Heat warmers for the hands. (also can be useful for the toes that numb up)
- Meeting Matt and Tara in line. They were the 332nd and 333rd people in line to my 338 spot. They are from Bainbridge Island and are cool people. It was fun to do our own thing and then chat about cool books, our love of mindless hollywood gossip (well, not so much Matt), observations about other people in line.
- Making a pact with them that if Shannon and I both got chosen to go into the Ellipse that we would take them and vice versa (alas, none of us got in).
- Discovering I was the sole Portlander of the 20 or so people around me in line.
- Pascal. Deserves props for many things including: letting me park in his extra parking space at his condo, bringing me a Starbuck's venti hot chocolate with soy to keep me warm, coming by again at 5:15pm to pick up my chair, blanket and let me change my clothes in the back of his car as he drives around the block.
- Getting a spot on the floor 3 people back from the catwalk behind other shorter individuals with a clear, unobstructed view of the stage.
- Being able to celebrate Bono being named the day before as one of Time's People of the Year award.
- Experiencing the joy and gratitude the crew had for the band and vice versa as it was the last show of the North American tour.
- Blending of several John Lennon songs into the playlist, along with Johnny Comes Marching Home, Rock the Casbah, and many other songs.
- Running to Kells after the show to hang with some other friends since the MAX was really slow and all the taxi's were taken.

Needless to say, if I needed new friends like Matt and Tara along with an old friend Pascal to help me get through the day without being bored.

I can't breathe

2005-12-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

So I don't really handle being sick very well. I say I act like a baby. My mom says it is more like a stereotypical guy. Luckily I am usually very healthy and getting sick is a rare event. Unfortunately, the 4 year bug caught up with me this week. I could feel the cold hit at 1:10pm on Sunday shortly after church and I just felt it get worse as the day wore on. Days like this make we question why church is 3 hours long. Needless to say, I tried to be good and I took Monday and Tuesday off and slept. I felt great so I went into work today, but alas, by 2pm I was feeling terrible and by 3pm my 12 hour decongestant taken at 8am had completely failed me. I literally cannot breathe unless my mouth is open. I can barely see through the watering of the eyes. The worst thing about being sick? I can't see the Dandy's tonight. Life sucks right now.

This Isn't the Real America

2005-12-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine sent me this article written by Jimmy Carter that appeared in the LA Times on 11/14/05. I find the tone of this compared to the letter in my last post is startling.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-carter14nov14,0,7164514.story

While I confess I don't know much about when he was president, I am impressed with his ability to do so much since his "forced retirement"as he called it last night on the Daily Show. His position on all of the issues addressed in his article are rooted in his belief as a follower of Christ and shows that the fundamentalist christian base does not own the sole right to speak for Him. They may be the loudest but are they the most in tune with His wishes? Am I doing all I can to lend my voice to this fight? Probably not, but passing this on is a start.

Well, I Do Care

2005-12-06T15:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I am not fully savvy of sending a link to an email, so you will get the majority of the emial below. I get into work the other day to this in my inbox answering a question that a friend had asked. Well, for some reason I didn't get the original question but figured it had something to do with America and the war in Iraq. All I can say is this: I have never felt so sick in my life and could feel the blood drain from my face as I read this. Why then do I post it here? Well so that people who do love this great country that I call home will realize that there is another war going on that I believe has a greater impact on what our country will be in 100 years than the war in Iraq.

"Unless you're an American-hating fool, you have to love this lady..............

The lady who wrote this letter is Pam Foster of Pamela Foster and Associates in Atlanta. She's been in business since 1980 doing Interior design and home planning. She recently wrote this letter to a Family member serving in Iraq.

Subject: I don't care! WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?

"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic terrorists who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, Burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" When an overworked American soldier is accused of kicking it or getting it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all. What I hate more is the so Called 'news' reporters, the pompous liberal liars, were trying to make a Big stink out of nothing, just to make President Bush look bad.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and just Before they drop the noose around his scrawny neck, repents for Incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11. I'll care about the Koran when the fanatic bastards in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia. I'll start to care when the stinking better than Thou Muslims in this country really condemn the radicals of their Pathetic dark
age 'religion' for all the terror and death that they've caused in the world. I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques. I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law Instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave Marine roughing Up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I hope he beats His ass to a pulp because he really deserves it and I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi terrorists who Have been 'tortured' in what amounts to a college hazing incident, by having To wear panties on their heads, rest assured that I don't care. When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told Not to
move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank That I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart that I don't care, and I wish they'd quietly make the illegitimate son of a camel turd disappear for good.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and -- you guessed it -- I don't care!"

I'm with this lady Well Jimmy Crack corn and I don't care either. Pass it
on......... if you don't care either."

Well I DO CARE. If muslims did the things we as Americans have done to them to a Christian, she would probably not take the Jimmy Crack Corn position. The determination of when human rights are to be respected aren't ours to choose. To be the last remaining superpower on this planet requires much responsibility. And at this moment in time, we are failing in our responsibility.

Like a lamb to the slaughter

2005-12-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

That is how I feel about finally starting a blog. I have compulsive tendencies and so I am a bit afraid that I will either become addicted to the whole experience of writing a blog or else will just become too consumed with my feelings of my verbal and written inadequacy and not write at all. Let the bets begin to guess which it is. As for me, I don't know. I hope it will be somewhere in between. If I can master the blog, maybe I can save some money on my therapy bills.