Vacation is over, bummer! It was really hard getting up and heading in to work this morning, but we do what we must to keep the cat feed and house over her head. I mean really we all work for either our pet or our children. That may be a redundant statement on some days. Oh yeah, and one of the email in my inbox informed me that one of our city commissioners is proposing a halt of all merit raises for at least the next year. Wonderful! How will I ever afford the diamond studded collar for Fluffy?
Loved having my brother and his family here for a visit!!! We don’t get to see them nearly enough. The time always seems too short, but at the end we’re all worn out.
I read three comics daily: 9 Chickweed Lane, Non Sequitur, and Rose is Rose. I know a weird kind of mix, but it works for me. In Non Sequitur today was especially great.
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/nonsequitur
What a great observation!! Men are not mysterious at all. Of course I’d propose that women aren’t all that mysterious either, you can read our projections just as well as men’s. The problem is that men refuse to learn to read them. Every other woman in the world knows what’s going with one look. So the problem isn’t projection, it’s illiteracy in men. It couldn’t possibly be our fault!
It looks like the Reaper has made a mad dash through the celebrity and semi-celebrity ranks: David Carridine, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, the Pitch Man, Ed McMahon, and Bernie Madoff. Granted Bernie is still alive and kicking, but he won’t be seeing the light of day for a good long while. It’s crazy out there.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The World, vacations and room to roam
I came to work today and looked out my window and found a huge cruise ship docked at the river’s edge. Being in a city with an active river front it’s not uncommon to see fairly good sized boats and ships at dock. In fact, last week we had Navy and Coast Guard ships here for our Rose Festival. This ship, The World, dwarfs them all. This is a super deluxe condo community for the high seas. Check it out at http://www.aboardtheworld.com/ Yeah, how would you like to look out your window and see that? I’d rather be looking out over my deluxe seagoing condo balcony at the Portland skyline. I’m not stupid!!
Well, I guess I’d enjoy it for awhile but eventually I’d get tired of it. In fact, it probably wouldn’t take that long. Cruises seem like a wonderful idea, and if you’re with the right people and on the right water for a reasonable length of time, it probably is great. But, I have to honest with myself and after two week on Oahu, that island got to feeling really small to me. I think I’m too much of a westerner to appreciate small spaces for long. Let’s face it, it’s a little hard to get in the car and go tooling around a ship. I guess The World would not be big enough for me. LOL
My favorite vacation ever was when Kristin (my daughter) graduated high school and we took a driving vacation. We started by driving down the Oregon coast on Highway 101 until it connected with Highway 1. We followed it all the way to San Francisco. We saw the redwoods, Banded Dunes, elk herds sitting right on she shoulder of the road, small towns, roadside parks, and cheesy tourist traps. We had a great time!!
After San Fran we went to see Hearst’s Castle, Yosemite, Crater Lake and about a billion acres of land and sky. It was a vacation of open possibilities. We could just take off in any direction we wanted and see what interested us. We were limited only by our imaginations and our wallets. The second being the most limiting factor.
Of course, my wallet would be a real limiting factor to cruising on The World as well.
Well, I guess I’d enjoy it for awhile but eventually I’d get tired of it. In fact, it probably wouldn’t take that long. Cruises seem like a wonderful idea, and if you’re with the right people and on the right water for a reasonable length of time, it probably is great. But, I have to honest with myself and after two week on Oahu, that island got to feeling really small to me. I think I’m too much of a westerner to appreciate small spaces for long. Let’s face it, it’s a little hard to get in the car and go tooling around a ship. I guess The World would not be big enough for me. LOL
My favorite vacation ever was when Kristin (my daughter) graduated high school and we took a driving vacation. We started by driving down the Oregon coast on Highway 101 until it connected with Highway 1. We followed it all the way to San Francisco. We saw the redwoods, Banded Dunes, elk herds sitting right on she shoulder of the road, small towns, roadside parks, and cheesy tourist traps. We had a great time!!
After San Fran we went to see Hearst’s Castle, Yosemite, Crater Lake and about a billion acres of land and sky. It was a vacation of open possibilities. We could just take off in any direction we wanted and see what interested us. We were limited only by our imaginations and our wallets. The second being the most limiting factor.
Of course, my wallet would be a real limiting factor to cruising on The World as well.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Laughing with the Pres
I just watched the video where Steven Colbert has his hair buzzed off by the commanding general in Iraq. I guess if you’re going to get your hair cut it’s good to have the General do it.
What was just as funny was the President chiming in saying he had overheard Colbert saying it would take more than a general’s orders to cut his hair. The President promptly commanded the general to cut Colbert’s hair. Colbert asked if the President’s spy satellites were that good, to which the President responded, “No, my ears are that big.” Which received a big laugh by all the soldiers. They also enjoyed watching Colbert getting buzzed by the General.
A few days ago the President was in Egypt at the Great Pyramid at Giza getting a tour. At one point the President points out a carving on the wall and remarks on how it looks just like him. It was a head that was round on top, pointed at the chin, with big ears on the side. I love that he has such a great sense of humor about himself! At last least the world is laughing with our president and not at him. That’s a step up!
What was just as funny was the President chiming in saying he had overheard Colbert saying it would take more than a general’s orders to cut his hair. The President promptly commanded the general to cut Colbert’s hair. Colbert asked if the President’s spy satellites were that good, to which the President responded, “No, my ears are that big.” Which received a big laugh by all the soldiers. They also enjoyed watching Colbert getting buzzed by the General.
A few days ago the President was in Egypt at the Great Pyramid at Giza getting a tour. At one point the President points out a carving on the wall and remarks on how it looks just like him. It was a head that was round on top, pointed at the chin, with big ears on the side. I love that he has such a great sense of humor about himself! At last least the world is laughing with our president and not at him. That’s a step up!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Weedeating mystic
Last evening I got out and weedeated the yard. (That sentence just sounds so wrong!) I really enjoy this for some strange reason I can’t explain. I don’t even mind when the string doesn’t feed and I have to pop the spool off and fix it. There is something about weedeating that fulfills the human need for both destruction and order. At the same time I to mow down any weeds and grass that meet with my displeasure for being where I don’t want them, I’m also bringing order and definition to my yard and garden. There really is something mystically about the whole experience.
I have to do this work (or meditation if you will) either in the morning before I take a shower, or in the afternoon when I’m sure I won’t be going out again. At the end of the process, I’m covered in weed guts and pieces. It must be something like a warrior returning from battle covered in gore, except without the blood, smell, and disgusting factor. Once I’m through I can wash it all off and either get dressed for the day, or for bed which ever I feel like.
I have to do this work (or meditation if you will) either in the morning before I take a shower, or in the afternoon when I’m sure I won’t be going out again. At the end of the process, I’m covered in weed guts and pieces. It must be something like a warrior returning from battle covered in gore, except without the blood, smell, and disgusting factor. Once I’m through I can wash it all off and either get dressed for the day, or for bed which ever I feel like.
Friday, June 5, 2009
The garden, a mullet and balance
This morning I went out the garden to see how it did through the storm, it did just fine. While there I picked our first handful of peas! I also did some weeding pulling. When we built our raised beds we made them 5 ft wide and place them against the concrete base of the fence. This seemed like a very good idea, that is until we discovered that you can’t reach the back half of the garden. We had to put in some stepping stones, this kind of negates the advantages of raised beds, which is that you don’t have to bend over completely to weed and work with the plants. Not being the most nimble person, I keep my weeding and working to the perimeter and my more agile sister works the back portion. Danna has been down in her back this week so I’ve been the one doing all the weeding this week. This has left our garden neat and trimmed in the front and on the side, and bushy and wild in the back. In short, we have a garden with a mullet.
Today Danna and I were out doing some errands, which we finished up around noon. Just in time to grab some lunch. At first we thought about grabbing something a Wendy’s on the way home but them remembered a couple of friends telling us about a great new place called the Pita Pit and decided to stop there. It had been raining and the place was packed with people. We walked in excited about trying a new place. No sooner had we stepped through the door and I went down on the floor, slipping from my wet shoes. That’s me, the personification of grace and dignity in all that I do! I was really embarrassed and it didn’t help that the whole incident was witnessed by about 50 people and that the manager kept asking if I was alright.
I’m happy to report that the food was excellent and that we will be going back again. As we left I mentioned to Danna that it was a good thing I didn’t kill myself before I had a chance to try it out. Danna said, “Yeah, that would have been the pits.” You know how I love a pun!
I dropped Danna off at her house and helped her carry in her grocery and slipped and fell again! I’m too old for this crap! I went home, carried my groceries to the front door, placed them just inside the door, took off my shoes and carried them to the kitchen, put them away, took 3 Advil and took a nap. I’ll be fitted for my tutu and ballet slippers soon.
Today Danna and I were out doing some errands, which we finished up around noon. Just in time to grab some lunch. At first we thought about grabbing something a Wendy’s on the way home but them remembered a couple of friends telling us about a great new place called the Pita Pit and decided to stop there. It had been raining and the place was packed with people. We walked in excited about trying a new place. No sooner had we stepped through the door and I went down on the floor, slipping from my wet shoes. That’s me, the personification of grace and dignity in all that I do! I was really embarrassed and it didn’t help that the whole incident was witnessed by about 50 people and that the manager kept asking if I was alright.
I’m happy to report that the food was excellent and that we will be going back again. As we left I mentioned to Danna that it was a good thing I didn’t kill myself before I had a chance to try it out. Danna said, “Yeah, that would have been the pits.” You know how I love a pun!
I dropped Danna off at her house and helped her carry in her grocery and slipped and fell again! I’m too old for this crap! I went home, carried my groceries to the front door, placed them just inside the door, took off my shoes and carried them to the kitchen, put them away, took 3 Advil and took a nap. I’ll be fitted for my tutu and ballet slippers soon.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tired, Blazing Saddles & a poor woman's Med cruise
Today is Thursday, but it’s like a Friday for me because I’m off tomorrow. Of course I will be working; it just won’t be the kind of work I get paid for. My list of errands is getting longer and longer.
This has been a quick and busy week, so much going on at work and at home. I had Walking Buddies Monday after work, a recital to attend Tuesday night, Wednesday evening I helped my son make a flyer for an event he is organizing, and tonight is the neighborhood meeting. The days and evenings have been full this week!
I felt so bad about not getting a box together for my adopted soldier that I went online and order him a cooling scarf and a sand scarf from the Soldiers’ Angels Store, and a gift box from Hickory Farms. He’ll love it but I feel like I took the easy way out, which I did. There won’t be a personal touch to either box, other than the notes. Of course being so busy I’m not sure I could have put much personal touch into anything.
My three closest friends, My Peeps, have all had equally hard weeks. I know they’re tired as well. In honor of us needing a break to just relax, I sent them an email with a link to YouTube for Madeline Kane’s performance in Blazing Saddles, as Lily von Stuchpp singing “I’m Tired” and inviting them to my patio tomorrow evening. We can let the kids run wild in the field, let them roast hot dogs and marshmallows, while we sit and watch and sip our adult beverages. This is as close as we’re going to get to our ultimate goal of a Mediterranean cruise anytime soon.
Last weekend I bought a big wooden spool at a garage sale to make a yard table. I decide to leave it as is for awhile and let the kids play on it. I remember when we were kids we had two 55-gallon barrels. We had a lot of fun with those things. We taught ourselves to barrel walk, had races and barrel fights. We also used them as construction material to build our forts, and of course we used them for drums. I anticipate that my wooden spool will ignite similar ideas in the kids. When they get tired of it there will still be time to turn it into a yard table.
This has been a quick and busy week, so much going on at work and at home. I had Walking Buddies Monday after work, a recital to attend Tuesday night, Wednesday evening I helped my son make a flyer for an event he is organizing, and tonight is the neighborhood meeting. The days and evenings have been full this week!
I felt so bad about not getting a box together for my adopted soldier that I went online and order him a cooling scarf and a sand scarf from the Soldiers’ Angels Store, and a gift box from Hickory Farms. He’ll love it but I feel like I took the easy way out, which I did. There won’t be a personal touch to either box, other than the notes. Of course being so busy I’m not sure I could have put much personal touch into anything.
My three closest friends, My Peeps, have all had equally hard weeks. I know they’re tired as well. In honor of us needing a break to just relax, I sent them an email with a link to YouTube for Madeline Kane’s performance in Blazing Saddles, as Lily von Stuchpp singing “I’m Tired” and inviting them to my patio tomorrow evening. We can let the kids run wild in the field, let them roast hot dogs and marshmallows, while we sit and watch and sip our adult beverages. This is as close as we’re going to get to our ultimate goal of a Mediterranean cruise anytime soon.
Last weekend I bought a big wooden spool at a garage sale to make a yard table. I decide to leave it as is for awhile and let the kids play on it. I remember when we were kids we had two 55-gallon barrels. We had a lot of fun with those things. We taught ourselves to barrel walk, had races and barrel fights. We also used them as construction material to build our forts, and of course we used them for drums. I anticipate that my wooden spool will ignite similar ideas in the kids. When they get tired of it there will still be time to turn it into a yard table.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Red light cameras, tickets & a hard question
I had an engineer come by to talk to me today about a project we are working on, and then we got to talking about other things. We got on the subject of red-light cameras. I mentioned how the City of Portland doesn’t make any money on tickets from the cameras. Because a city our size is prohibited by state law from running our own courts, all traffic tickets go through the county court system. So, any money left after the contractor (who operates the program) has been paid, pretty much goes to the state and county. People are always surprised by this information.
This engineer was no exception. He thought that supported his stance, which is that all red light cameras should be removed at once. He willingly admits that his opinion is colored by the fact that he recently received a ticket in the mail from a red light camera. He is also convinced that they cause more rear-end accidents, but grants that they perhaps reduce t-bone accidents.
His parting observation was that we always hear how these cameras are loved and adored by people, but if that is the case, he would like to know why they are always housed in bulletproof, armor encased, housing?
Got to love those engineers!!
This engineer was no exception. He thought that supported his stance, which is that all red light cameras should be removed at once. He willingly admits that his opinion is colored by the fact that he recently received a ticket in the mail from a red light camera. He is also convinced that they cause more rear-end accidents, but grants that they perhaps reduce t-bone accidents.
His parting observation was that we always hear how these cameras are loved and adored by people, but if that is the case, he would like to know why they are always housed in bulletproof, armor encased, housing?
Got to love those engineers!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Dancing in Iraq
There are some very clever and fun dance videos on YouTube made by soldiers in Iraq. Of course there are a lot bad ones as well, but even in those there are some good moments, like an American airman attempting to break dance in a room with several Iraqi soldiers watching on. It’s clear they are not impressed and are pretty much wearing an expression of, “WHAT?”
There are also videos out on the streets with soldiers performing for citizens or getting the local kids to join into the dance. These are fun, but not usually for very long. At least they’re not good enough to watch more then once.
I have two favorites that I have watched many times and have sent on to others so they can enjoy them too. One is by a British unit and it’s basically one soldier walking around the FOB (Forward Operating Base) and lip-sinking a song while other soldiers come into the frame with him and exit. Each group coming into the frame is telling its own little story, or joke visually. It’s also quite funny that a bunch of British soldiers would choose a song about Texas for their video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIRerGVrEeg&feature=related
The second one is a clever mix of music and some very creative soldiers, complete with dance steps designed to incorporate fire arms. You’ve got to love that, how often do you get to see a thing like that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW1toLy_FMQ
Go onto YouTube and search “soldiers dancing in Iraq” you’ll find some great stuff.
There are also videos out on the streets with soldiers performing for citizens or getting the local kids to join into the dance. These are fun, but not usually for very long. At least they’re not good enough to watch more then once.
I have two favorites that I have watched many times and have sent on to others so they can enjoy them too. One is by a British unit and it’s basically one soldier walking around the FOB (Forward Operating Base) and lip-sinking a song while other soldiers come into the frame with him and exit. Each group coming into the frame is telling its own little story, or joke visually. It’s also quite funny that a bunch of British soldiers would choose a song about Texas for their video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIRerGVrEeg&feature=related
The second one is a clever mix of music and some very creative soldiers, complete with dance steps designed to incorporate fire arms. You’ve got to love that, how often do you get to see a thing like that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW1toLy_FMQ
Go onto YouTube and search “soldiers dancing in Iraq” you’ll find some great stuff.
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