tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218394892024-03-13T15:44:17.214-07:00musings of a wanderlustermostly a chronicle of a woman with a travel bug....bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-36600873076119354382010-05-01T19:07:00.001-07:002010-05-01T19:07:00.210-07:00Maiden voyage to Safeco<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/4569266615/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4569266615_1114f40958_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/4569266615/">Maiden voyage to Safeco</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/nakosgroup/">beckyengel</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-24767859588892952292009-01-21T09:32:00.000-08:002009-01-21T09:47:22.800-08:00here we go!!!mickey and i cracked into a nice bottle of wine last night to celebrate -- but what? obama coming in? w leaving? both are sweet. here's what i hope to happen in the coming four years:<br /><br />1. return to collaboration and <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/foreign_policy/">diplomacy </a>with other countries<br />2. a continuation of the all-inclusiveness that has pervaded obama's campaign and inauguration, making every american feel he or she is part of something, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatoday/sets/72157612787581054/">invited to participate</a><br />3. a renewed commitment to 21st century thinking around technology, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jan/21/obama-inauguration-science-policy-energy-climate">science</a>, medicine, human rights and <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/01/rev_lowery_inauguration_benedi.html">equality</a><br />4. removal of arrogance, ego, entitlement and cronyism<br />5. health for <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012002596.html">ted kennedy</a><br /><br />most of all, i'm hoping we continue to have hope.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-20105958696306190322009-01-05T21:03:00.001-08:002009-01-05T21:03:52.948-08:00Best bowl gameThat game against Ohio State was awesome. I only root for Texas when Nebraska and Oklahoma aren't playing. Thank goodness the cheering wasn't in vain tonight. bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-32780822474729044642009-01-04T10:58:00.000-08:002009-01-04T11:07:35.990-08:00new years' guidelinessome great reading for this early new year. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/features/2008/year-in-review/the_list_2009.html?hpid=topnews">what's in</a>, in 2009. <br /><br />and, cribbed from the list, finally someone offers <a href="http://toddsieling.com/slowblog/?page_id=10">perspective </a>on what i've not been able to articulate in 2008. i'm feeling uninspired by the pressure to be connected. twitter. facebook. blog. IM. txt. enough. finally, someone shares my POV on the constant chatter, most of which is irrelevant and un-meaningful. in 2009, let's be more thoughtful, shall we, and extract from the clutter.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-9457732762498764542009-01-02T17:46:00.001-08:002009-01-02T18:14:11.918-08:00christmas 08 reviewjust back from westcliffe, colo., from our christmas celebration. it was one of the best i've had in recent memory. so relaxing, no stress at all, and lots of family time. we wii'd every day, for hours on end, ate tons, and took lots of photos, including one day's photo safari contest. third base, her husband, mickey and i walked around town taking photos in pre-arranged categories. the only catch was that we had to use our cell phone cameras, in order to level the playing field, since we had a professional photographer in our midst.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">winning photos were:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7InhpAk0I/AAAAAAAAAIg/HGtX-LZTDxo/s1600-h/Becky+axshun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7InhpAk0I/AAAAAAAAAIg/HGtX-LZTDxo/s200/Becky+axshun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286883593950368578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">category: action</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IjfzfJEI/AAAAAAAAAIY/T_uIVub10Q0/s1600-h/SSPX0023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IjfzfJEI/AAAAAAAAAIY/T_uIVub10Q0/s200/SSPX0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286883524737967170" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">category: artsy</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IdVXl5nI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/9KFEc8wUINc/s1600-h/MikeJames.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IdVXl5nI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/9KFEc8wUINc/s200/MikeJames.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286883418857399922" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">category: flames unawares</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IZLevkkI/AAAAAAAAAII/tyqC8GQ0vck/s1600-h/SSPX0022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IZLevkkI/AAAAAAAAAII/tyqC8GQ0vck/s200/SSPX0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286883347483562562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:78%;" ><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic;">c</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ategory: macro</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IUaKhEqI/AAAAAAAAAIA/-KMqJNRntIU/s1600-h/MikePers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IUaKhEqI/AAAAAAAAAIA/-KMqJNRntIU/s200/MikePers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286883265525912226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">category: perspective</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IPrxsICI/AAAAAAAAAH4/XlGsJ4piCzg/s1600-h/MikeWTF.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SV7IPrxsICI/AAAAAAAAAH4/XlGsJ4piCzg/s200/MikeWTF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286883184354271266" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">category: WTF</span></span><br /><br /></div>we were without interwebs for nearly a week. i didn't really have cell service during the week, either, so it was truly a disconnected time. much needed, too, after so many weeks of stress at work. and, amazingly, colorado had less snow than portland.<br /><br />only two regrets of the trip: not having more time there (a week was far too short) and not getting more time with my cousins, aunt and uncle.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/sets/72157612023434617/">flickr set</a> of the trip details the rest of the lazy week. can't wait to go back to visit again. i forgot how much of a home away from home it was.<br /><br />ps: those of you logging in to see the video from our christmas cards will have to excuse the delay in getting our cards out. the snowpocalypse in portland delayed our mail for 3-4 days, so i didn't receive the cards before we left for colorado. finally the first 14 inches melted while we were gone, but sadly today we have another new inch. WTF indeed.)bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-85932571476371365582008-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:002008-12-14T20:59:44.216-08:00merry christmas to all<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d_89o_h5xEE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d_89o_h5xEE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-31918930769064448712008-12-11T20:18:00.001-08:002008-12-11T20:18:21.941-08:00Pre-season sadnessI hate the new Seattle GM. Why you trade JJ?! Our only real closer. Another shoddy season in the making...bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-64935058652660039962008-12-01T20:32:00.001-08:002008-12-01T20:32:04.989-08:00TestingTesting this new mobile blog writer. Ohgeez will it work?!bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-19447817910777656742008-11-23T16:25:00.000-08:002008-11-23T16:29:07.351-08:00alright already...the front yard unveilinghere, mom. ain't it great!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SSn06Fo0ftI/AAAAAAAAAG4/3QmYI6vuTg0/s1600-h/CIMG1897.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SSn06Fo0ftI/AAAAAAAAAG4/3QmYI6vuTg0/s200/CIMG1897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272014117596856018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SSn1ODw2o2I/AAAAAAAAAHA/YITudl51GrA/s1600-h/CIMG1901.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SSn1ODw2o2I/AAAAAAAAAHA/YITudl51GrA/s200/CIMG1901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272014460691063650" border="0" /></a>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-6711846576000595512008-11-15T19:25:00.000-08:002008-11-15T19:38:19.916-08:00muscle memorytoday mickey and i scored an original nintendo system from our neighbor, and played super mario brothers. the <a href="www.flickr.com/photos/joemad/2320628034/">original one</a>.<br /><br />it was rad.<br /><br />after not playing it for about 20 years, it was amazing how automatic and ingrained the game is. without even being conscious of it, we immediately remembered how to warp, where the bricks needed to be broken to get more hidden coins. <br /><br />i gotta get me a wii.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-18896280200662211622008-10-19T17:36:00.000-07:002008-10-19T17:37:00.778-07:00MIAi'm working too damn much these days. must slow down.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-32149013581235545712008-08-30T21:25:00.000-07:002008-08-30T21:27:07.842-07:00today's humorperson a: "you're a cold-hearted snake."<br /><br />person b: "and you're a frigid bitch."<br /><br />i'm still laughing about it...bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-28743527109925013982008-08-06T22:10:00.001-07:002008-08-06T22:19:13.241-07:00it's a beautiful day in our neighborhoodwe have the best neighbors. tonight we had dinner with the klutzes, and had a great outing. the best bit is that they're so willing to offer all sorts of advice (and helping hands) for our landscaping project for the front yard. we're talking tractor work, laying new sod, ripping out sidewalks, and consultation on where to get the cheapest dumpster (a hot commodity when doing landscaping or any house work, i'm finding).<br /><br />we're hoping to recreate the <a href="http://www.blackbarn.com/property.asp?id=8">rush cottage</a>, the spot team engel stayed at on our first visit to new zealand. in order to recreate, i've been growing a lavender hedge for two years. so far, only one plant of 8 has died, and it's filled in quite nicely (about 3 feet tall now). next step is to rip out our sidewalk leading up to the house, and lay new sod across the entire yard, north to south. this will give us a perfect bocce-esque lawn and will alter the way guests enter the house -- coming up from the side of the house vs. straight away. <br /><br />on top of the kind gestures of the klutzes, when we got home from our dinner, our other neighbor (an adorable, hotcha professional country singer) came out to chat with us. it was such a nice night to stand in the street, chatting with all the neighbors. it's precisely why i moved here: to have great neighbors. <br /><br />this weekend we're off to look at flagstones and other rock to start pricing out our project. hopefully we can swing it, especially with such great advice from the neighbors.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-29789788682030104092008-08-03T16:41:00.000-07:002008-08-03T16:52:29.557-07:00we've become those people...you know, those people that can't calm down. who constantly need something to do. even when they are on a weekend getaway where the goal is to wind down from a stressful week.<br /><br />we went camping this weekend in the cascades, hoping for some chill time. turns out, neither of us could chill out. friday was a little frustrating getting out of p-town (2 hours from downtown to boring, ore., mostly because we were lost, couldn't make up our minds about which store to go to for our forest pass, blahblahblah). once we arrived, the campground we planned to go to was full, so we found a primitive spot nearby and stayed there for a night. not the best way to start the weekend, but we stuck it out.<br /><br />saturday morning we got up, sat around for awhile, and finally were so annoyed with having nothing to do (we had books, knitting, etc, but none of it was holding our attention) that by 2PM we decided to bail. we needed activity. we needed action. we needed to get the hell out of there.<br /><br />so, we came home.<br /><br />but, still made our pre-planned camping dinner -- paella -- on the coals of our firepit in the backyard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SJZD_FtyvnI/AAAAAAAAAFI/iRf9o0rI3kA/s1600-h/CIMG1730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SJZD_FtyvnI/AAAAAAAAAFI/iRf9o0rI3kA/s320/CIMG1730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230442768382475890" border="0" /></a><br />and all of a sudden, camping was fun again. <br /><br />i surely hope we can figure out how to relax without stuff to entertain us (like a new iphone -- below). the thought of being those people who can't sit still annoys me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SJZDmfhTejI/AAAAAAAAAFA/K5CkpfEPYFc/s1600-h/CIMG1728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SJZDmfhTejI/AAAAAAAAAFA/K5CkpfEPYFc/s320/CIMG1728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230442345812687410" border="0" /></a>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-41701419854306288712008-07-27T18:09:00.000-07:002008-07-27T19:25:50.530-07:00a series of perfect momentswe've just returned from five days in gorgeous colorado. it was one of those trips that strung together a series of perfect moments, each small but rich in their impact.<br /><br />the first two days was spent in denver, where the highlight of the trip was seeing a dear friend from college and her fabulous south african husband. we spent five hours on their patio catching up, talking about favorite trips taken, politics and economics and the state of the world. it was one of the most enjoyable, stimulating and thoughtful conversations i've had in awhile. i miss this friend dearly, and felt so glad we could pick up after all these years. it was a sign of a true, great relationship.<br /><a href="javascript:void(0)" tabindex="10" onclick="return false;"><span></span></a><br />once we took leave from the pollocks, we joined up with team engel, aka mickey's family for baseball at coors field. rockies won due to a routing 7 run first inning against the pirates. beyond that, it was a great night at the park -- the thunderhead clouds moved in later in the game, just in time for sunset, and we saw in the sky why the rockies' colors are purple.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0iZaz3gfI/AAAAAAAAAEg/8XDy8T6nQ5s/s1600-h/CIMG1660.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0iZaz3gfI/AAAAAAAAAEg/8XDy8T6nQ5s/s320/CIMG1660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227872562535956978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">it helped that our seats were dynamite. roughly 30 rows up behind first base, with full view of the sky and the field. </span> </span><br /></div><br />following our stopover in denver, team engel headed west to breckenridge, where we'd rented a beautiful "cabin" that was equipped with central stereo, theater room, a gourmet kitchen, three balcony decks that faced the ski runs, and too many remote-controls for light switches. this was the first family vacation i'd experienced with team engel in its entirety (plus one -- miss kate, scooter's "ladyfriend" who i was thrilled to have there as the only other honorary team engel mate). miraculously, we all behaved ourselves, got along swimmingly, with no fights, no upset stomachs to ruin the vacay, and no hurt feelings at the end of the trip.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0jx4KGNwI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ZfUOnPGxHJ0/s1600-h/CIMG1676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0jx4KGNwI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ZfUOnPGxHJ0/s320/CIMG1676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227874082242311938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-style: italic;">scooter and miss kate at the coors brewing company in golden, colorado</span></span><br /></div><br />i grew up traveling through colorado to visit my grandparents, and so the area has a soft spot in my heart, almost a second home. this trip brought many of those sentimental feelings back -- the deep blue skies against the towering 14K peaks, the little back country towns where, free of my parents and the backseat of my family stationwagon of my childhood, i could get out and experience what these little ski towns had to offer (mostly microbrews). also, i finally fulfilled a childhood dream of mine: floating the arkansas river.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0i0P6NhUI/AAAAAAAAAEo/fYleXA0UMOg/s1600-h/CIMG1698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0i0P6NhUI/AAAAAAAAAEo/fYleXA0UMOg/s320/CIMG1698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227873023466243394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-style: italic;">pre-raft trip on the arkansas</span></span><br /></div><br />i was glad to get to know the feminine members of team engel -- my SIL and scooter's aforementioned ladyfriend. chelle and i have not spent a ton of time together in the 12 years i've been with her brother. one afternoon, she and i stayed back at our "cabin" to drink wine, cook dinner together and unwind from the day's shopping madness in silverthorne. miss kate was also a delight, and i knew we'd be fast friends when i found out her hair stylist now is the same guy i went to in college (and that chelle knew from her days living in lincoln). miss kate is tight with "kirky" so she called to tell him that we all remembered him. between our hair stylist and common love for coach purses, the three of us are now thick as thieves.<br /><br />and my final perfect moment -- a small grove of aspen trees outside my bedroom window.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0lRkrWmcI/AAAAAAAAAE4/e-f7tWUd3fg/s1600-h/CIMG1720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SI0lRkrWmcI/AAAAAAAAAE4/e-f7tWUd3fg/s320/CIMG1720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227875726280530370" border="0" /></a><br />view the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/sets/72157606406821708/">flickr set</a> for more perfect moments.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-40407661831403226332008-06-11T21:28:00.000-07:002008-06-11T21:45:39.966-07:00shades of disappointmentfirst this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SFCoLm3S4uI/AAAAAAAAAEI/-SXvzPNoqEQ/s1600-h/disappoint.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/SFCoLm3S4uI/AAAAAAAAAEI/-SXvzPNoqEQ/s320/disappoint.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210849686232163042" border="0" /></a><br />and, today, i finally resigned myself to ripping out my entire <a href="http://nakosgroup.blogspot.com/2007/10/lots-o-knitting.html">tree jacket</a> that i've been knitting since october. it's 2 sizes too big and despite the two months of denial that i could make it work, i just don't know how else to make it fit (the yarn's not feltworthy, i'm afraid) besides ripping out. half a sleeve, the entire body. all that's left will be a neck from which to start...<br /><br />but, i'll have plenty of time to rip out this saturday when i host my first <a href="http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/gms/716892766.html">garage sale</a>. multi family sale, in no'po. come on by! i'll be the one with the pile of debbie bliss next to me.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-42402901939798219682008-06-01T13:26:00.001-07:002008-06-01T13:26:25.865-07:00sasquatch<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/2542372824/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/2542372824_5d905d6b43_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/2542372824/">Michael Stipe</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/nakosgroup/">beckyengel</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>and, to bring the blog quasi-current, here is a photo from last weekend, when mickey and i went to sasquatch music festival in the gorge, washington. REM rocked the house, but then of course, i'm biased. it was by far the best of their shows, mostly because the band sounded amazing, michael's voice was gorgeous and strong, and they played a bunch of new stuff, by far their best album in years. i could go on and on, but for a more comprehensive record of the weekend, visit the flickr roll.<br /><br />this weekend we're chilling at the house, working on the yard and generally trying to avoid the allergy funk. oh, and also the greshamites who have invaided portland for the annual rose festival. god help us all.</p>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-66305173820865339552008-06-01T13:22:00.001-07:002008-06-01T13:22:18.646-07:00April doings<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/2542394878/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2542394878_2c8356b038_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakosgroup/2542394878/">Sandozie reunion</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/nakosgroup/">beckyengel</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>in april i went to vegas with some dear friends from sandoz, where we were RAs at university of nebraska-lincoln. 12 years later, here we are, at the venetian, looking lovely as ever!</p>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-47213812092516385812008-02-23T11:08:00.000-08:002008-02-23T11:11:24.955-08:00brain waveslast night i got home from work around 7:15 and was telling mickey how much i'd love to go get a massage this weekend. it's the first time i've mentioned it, since the idea only struck me moments before i said anything. <br /><br />5 minutes later he came downstairs with a bag from dosha salon spa with a gift certificate he'd bought me that day over his lunch hour -- for an hour long massage. <br /><br />hurray for being on the same page, even after 8.5 years of marriage!bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-75641639767702236882008-02-09T16:13:00.000-08:002008-02-09T16:18:16.767-08:00cautiously optimistic: mariners 08oh <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20080208&content_id=2368775&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&partnered=rss_sea">happy day</a>. please let this work out. i'm not sad to see jones go, will kinda miss sherrill, but if the loss comes with the prospect of actually having a decent pitching lineup, i'll take it. oh, and we also picked up mel stottlemyere as pitching coach. that has to help, too, doesn't it?bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-58944659007593927482008-02-07T20:04:00.000-08:002008-02-09T16:19:48.199-08:00indulge on behalf of the ratmy friend kim told me that on the lunar new year, one must behave the way they want the rest of the year to be: be happy, positive, no fighting, indulge in good food, be with friends and family, etc. if there's still time left, be sure to treat this new years day the way you want your year of the rat to be!<br /><br />speaking of indulging, i've just started <a href="http://www.roadfood.com/Merchandise/"><span style="font-style: italic;">two for the road</span></a> by jane and michael stern. i was only a paragraph into the book before i was hooked. here's why:<br /><br /><blockquote>'our first date was over a white clam pizza at pepe's pizzeria on wooster square in new haven, connnecticut, and it was instantly apparent as we gazed into each other's eyes across the thin-crusted neapolitan pie, speckled with tiny, tender clams and frosted with olive oil, that we shared a passion for garlic. our initial lust for each other was fueled by an orgy of lobster rolls, split hot dogs, yankee doodle double dandy doodle burger cheeseburgers, calzones, and cannolis.'</blockquote>if that's not the best first paragraph of a book, i don't know what is.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">update: sorry for all the typos. i am a poor proofreader at night apparently.</span><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/BECKYE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/BECKYE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" />bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-89697873899316040912008-02-03T10:55:00.001-08:002008-02-03T11:07:11.155-08:00craft daymickey and i deemed saturday craft day. his craft was to brew a batch of beer, and mine was to paint on canvas a picture i've been meaning to create since returning from NZ last year.<br /><br />at 5pm last night, mickey put all the ingredients in the big stock pot and started heating the grains and water for the first step. 5 gallons of water takes a long time to heat on our stove, so at about 6:30, we finally reached 180 degrees. at this point he removed the thermometer from the pot, so we could continue to steep the grain. to our horror, the thermometer had a crack in it. all that beer was now contaminated with either mercury or some other metallic substance that was in the thermometer. what a waste.<br /><br />my craft day was mildly more successful<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R6YQXB_LtOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/rphGJkGPz4E/s1600-h/CIMG1435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R6YQXB_LtOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/rphGJkGPz4E/s200/CIMG1435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162832010683331810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">"manapouri electrical station"<br /><br /></span></span></div>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-9408753921112008072008-01-29T20:08:00.001-08:002008-01-29T20:27:08.183-08:00three favorite pixthese are three favorite photos from the past month. nothing like catching mountain snow and beautiful beaches in one month. travel is such a miraculous thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R5_6bx_LtMI/AAAAAAAAADw/zbgiysezVb0/s1600-h/CIMG1383.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R5_6bx_LtMI/AAAAAAAAADw/zbgiysezVb0/s200/CIMG1383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161119053171635394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R5_5pB_LtLI/AAAAAAAAADo/LYcpeTxGwDM/s1600-h/CIMG1290.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R5_5pB_LtLI/AAAAAAAAADo/LYcpeTxGwDM/s200/CIMG1290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161118181293274290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R5_6zx_LtNI/AAAAAAAAAD4/ea850H3eCvY/s1600-h/CIMG1413.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y0CJ0eF26sY/R5_6zx_LtNI/AAAAAAAAAD4/ea850H3eCvY/s200/CIMG1413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161119465488495826" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-86398478550449218302008-01-09T21:11:00.000-08:002008-01-09T21:23:05.764-08:00new year's resolutionsso far, this is what has been running through my head:<br /><br />1. lose 20 pounds (and if i lose 10 in january, my reward is booking a trip to mexico...hey, it's an incentive)<br />2. be more motivated around the house, and not just go to bed at 9pm every night like i love to do<br />3. work hard and take advantage of a great professional opportunity that has presented itself to me<br />4. see friends more<br />5. read more<br />6. blog more<br /><br />so far:<br /><br />1. lost 4 pounds since new years, am exercising during the week (not saying how often, but at least it's something), drinking less, eating less, cooking at home, and eating sensibly when out<br />2. took one entire carload of crap to goodwill, organized boxes that hadn't seen the light of day since we moved to this house in 04 (and found stuff i thought i lost), hung pictures in the dining room that had been sitting in a pile since we moved<br />3. working more, but feel very positive and in a good mood about it, plus not panicked like i have been prone to be in the past<br />4. went to dinner with a friend the other night, have plans with a couple more for later this month, and am planning a girls getaway with college friends for april or so<br />5. started reading a great little book on account services to help me do my job better<br />6. (insert debbie downer sound here)<br /><br />it's not that i haven't had things to say, i just have been doing all those other things so have not had time on lappy to catch up. i have pix from christmas to upload and share, photos of the tree jacket's progress, a recipe for the most delicious marinara sauce i've ever had (thanks to step-sis monica), and other bits and bits to share. <br /><br />stay tuned for all of this....i have done so well on all the other things on my list that i am sure i'll finally catch up on ye olde bloge.<br /><br />happy new year all -- may your 2008 be propserous and full of adventure!bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21839489.post-69837750983096516952007-12-27T19:06:00.000-08:002007-12-27T19:15:59.176-08:00flying to the wild, wild west is not as easy as taking a wagon train, i suspectgreetings and happy holidays from wyo! we've had a delightful stay in my hometown these past few days. there are 12 of us here at one time, all in my mom's house, and despite the occasional sniping and snapping, we're all getting along well. spending christmas with my fabulous nephew has been fabulous. he's such a great kid and even though i called him a frog today, he's cute as can be. plus, we had a white christmas, and even though the weather was frigid, it's been gorgeous.<br /><br />the only drawback to this entire trip has been our flights. we had used free tix to get here, and i think that our travel karma from last christmas's travels has worn off. we missed our flight to riv last saturday, due to a late flight from PDX that caused us to miss our connection. we spent the night in south denver (aka colo. springs) at the radisson, on horrid sleep number beds with no luggage, and therefore no deodorant, toothbrushes or fresh clothes. 29 hours after leaving PDX, we arrived in riv. <br /><br />today, when we got to the airport to fly home, we were bumped because our puddle jumper plane had weight restrictions and they chose us because we paid nothing for our tix. we supposedly will fly out tomorrow, but i don't have a lot of confidence in great lakes aviation (aka great waste aviation), especially after seeing how poorly they manage their ticketing, flight schedules and passenger lists. it's a long story, but suffice to say that the people at reservations and at the ticketing counter are not on the same page as the people who actually board the planes, so just because one person says you are confirmed on a flight, the people boarding the plane may think otherwise. note to self: never fly them again. they are AWFUL.<br /><br />when i'm home, or perhaps at the airport tomorrow, i'll upload some photos of our trip. stay tuned, and in the meantime, happy new year! my new years' resolution is to blog more, eat and drink less, and be more motivated.bengelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18336924852671980079noreply@blogger.com0