...to buying the iphone is that -- oh joy of joys -- it came with SNL's "dick in a box" video preloaded. i could watch that thing daily. mickey was not impressed. i'm going to interpret statement to "go listen to that somewhere else" as a sign that he's jealous. it probably has nothing to do with the fact that i've told him 50 new things about the iphone tonight.
tonight's accomplishment: learning to set up my email account on the device. now i can send AND receive. not sure this gives me iphone geek status, but i'm pleased with myself. i am woman, hear me download!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
sixth sense
all day i had a weird feeling. i thought it was because we were startled awake at 5AM by the deafening sound of our upstairs smoke alarms. it took us nearly 10 minutes to get them to shut off, and for the next four hours i had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. it wasn't the best day at work -- nothing major happened, but it just didn't feel right.
later tonight mickey got a call from his brother. today his parents had to put their old dog, capone, to sleep. i can only imagine what they're feeling. it's better this way -- he was failing quickly and this week they knew it was inevitable. that still doesn't make it easy to say goodbye to a furry friend.
later tonight mickey got a call from his brother. today his parents had to put their old dog, capone, to sleep. i can only imagine what they're feeling. it's better this way -- he was failing quickly and this week they knew it was inevitable. that still doesn't make it easy to say goodbye to a furry friend.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
suitcase to suitcase
am swapping suitcase for backpack. we had the best -- absolute best -- time in vancouver with dave and angie. photos forthcoming, but suffice to say i can't imagine a more relaxing and enjoyable time. each day, lazy mornings with coffee turned into busy days of walking 'round vancouver sightseeing, then late nights laughing and chatting. we kayaked through english bay, did the canada day thing on granville island and on the waterfront for fireworks, did some light shopping (both angie and i got fancy new canada day shoes, and hers definitely turned heads), and visited whistler for a day for some hiking and happy hour beers. perfection. it was so wonderful to travel with two people who are on the same wavelength as mickey and me. we're already planning our next trip together -- can't wait!
but back to the backpack. home for two days, and off again, this time camping somewhere in washington with mickey's friend keith and his new wife. as i think about it, how odd that we're seeing two former classmates of mickey's in one week, neither of whom live in portland.
massive laundry pile increasing, and it's potentially one million degrees in the house. no better time to get out of town, i think.
oh, and happy spamiversary to mickey. eight years of wedded bliss. i adore you.
but back to the backpack. home for two days, and off again, this time camping somewhere in washington with mickey's friend keith and his new wife. as i think about it, how odd that we're seeing two former classmates of mickey's in one week, neither of whom live in portland.
massive laundry pile increasing, and it's potentially one million degrees in the house. no better time to get out of town, i think.
oh, and happy spamiversary to mickey. eight years of wedded bliss. i adore you.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
happy canada day!
greetings from vancouver, where we're celebrating the country's 140th birthday. hurrah! we are annoying our canadian friend with all our trivial canadian trivia. "did you know that phil hartman is canadian?" "hey, we love timbits, don't you?" and so forth. today we intend to join the city's celebrations, and when asking our friend angie what a traditional canada day celebration involves, she said, "beer." we are set.
photos later, including of a gorgeous sunset view from our 20th floor hotel, and my new shoes.
photos later, including of a gorgeous sunset view from our 20th floor hotel, and my new shoes.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
best baseball sunday ever
hurrah, the mariners won the cinci series (and i was there to enjoy sunday's live)! at times i was unsure who seattle fans were rooting for more heartily: griffey or the home team. i think the mariners edged griffey out, but it was touch and go, especially after junior hit his second homer of sunday's game, farther than i've ever seen anyone hit a ball in safeco park. it nearly hit the "hit it here" cafe sign, which is typically an aspiration, not an actuality.
note to self: pay the extra $ to sit in terrace club seats more often
and then, the beavers won the CWS! what more could go right with this world, except perhaps finishing this freaking nz blanket. 2.2 squares to go.... it's taking all the strength of my being to not buy new yarn for another project. and did i mention i have to sew seams together still? i'm blocking that part out of my mind.
speaking of knitting, a friend emailed me this uber knitting project the other day. after viewing this, i have no grounds to complain about the nz blanket.
in four days we're headed north to my favorite country where we will meet mickey's friends, the clarinetists, for five days in my favorite city on earth, vancouver bc. rumor has it we're going to try to kayak and do some hikes. i'm excited about walking around stanley park (maybe a picknick and some knitting in the sun...) and to shopping, even though the dollar is so weak now against the loonie and toonie (thanks GW). i'm trying desperately to stay focused on work, which is very busy this week, but i find little thoughts of the gorgeous modern skyline and bright blue harbor creep in my mind at inopportune times. focus, focus focus....
note to self: pay the extra $ to sit in terrace club seats more oftenand then, the beavers won the CWS! what more could go right with this world, except perhaps finishing this freaking nz blanket. 2.2 squares to go.... it's taking all the strength of my being to not buy new yarn for another project. and did i mention i have to sew seams together still? i'm blocking that part out of my mind.
speaking of knitting, a friend emailed me this uber knitting project the other day. after viewing this, i have no grounds to complain about the nz blanket.
in four days we're headed north to my favorite country where we will meet mickey's friends, the clarinetists, for five days in my favorite city on earth, vancouver bc. rumor has it we're going to try to kayak and do some hikes. i'm excited about walking around stanley park (maybe a picknick and some knitting in the sun...) and to shopping, even though the dollar is so weak now against the loonie and toonie (thanks GW). i'm trying desperately to stay focused on work, which is very busy this week, but i find little thoughts of the gorgeous modern skyline and bright blue harbor creep in my mind at inopportune times. focus, focus focus....
Friday, June 22, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
reading for pleasure
i've not had a lot of time recently to read for pleasure. i think the book "mostly true" from my previous post was the first thing i've read in months, not counting my cooking light magazine, and the occasional article in vanity fair. one of these articles recently caught my attention, and it led me to make a book purchase i feel like i need to hide from public.
yes, yours truly, a true blue liberal, bought "the reagan diaries." in hard back. and, starting today, i'm not ashamed to say it in public: i'm loving every page so far.
i've spent the better part of my politically partisan life despising reagan, with few concrete reasons why, except that i believed he was the poster child for the red party, he racked up billions in deficit, and he was a hollow actor/camera cow, scripted to the n-th degree, idolized by all the politicos i loathe.
however, in a mere 25 pages of his 696 page abridged diary, i've gained a newfound respect for reagan, the man, his marriage to nancy, the international turmoil he dealt with daily. and i'm learning some helpful history lessons about the 80s, a time when i was too young to care what was happening around me (except when the oliver north trials pre-empted my afternoon teevee shows).
i don't think this enlightenment makes me a republican, but i do think it makes me an adult.
in other reading, i am thrilled that my corner borders bookstore carries donna hay magazine. she's somewhat of an australian martha stewart, though modernly hip and sophisticated. the food and decorating tips in the magazine are stunningly gorgeous, and at every page turn, i was dreaming of the meals i could concoct. the only downside is that, due to the opposite seasons in the southern hemisphere, all the recipes are for autumn foods -- butternut squash, baked pies, soups and stews, and heavenly heavy desserts. what a treat it will be to pull this issue out in october!
yes, yours truly, a true blue liberal, bought "the reagan diaries." in hard back. and, starting today, i'm not ashamed to say it in public: i'm loving every page so far.
i've spent the better part of my politically partisan life despising reagan, with few concrete reasons why, except that i believed he was the poster child for the red party, he racked up billions in deficit, and he was a hollow actor/camera cow, scripted to the n-th degree, idolized by all the politicos i loathe.
however, in a mere 25 pages of his 696 page abridged diary, i've gained a newfound respect for reagan, the man, his marriage to nancy, the international turmoil he dealt with daily. and i'm learning some helpful history lessons about the 80s, a time when i was too young to care what was happening around me (except when the oliver north trials pre-empted my afternoon teevee shows).
i don't think this enlightenment makes me a republican, but i do think it makes me an adult.
in other reading, i am thrilled that my corner borders bookstore carries donna hay magazine. she's somewhat of an australian martha stewart, though modernly hip and sophisticated. the food and decorating tips in the magazine are stunningly gorgeous, and at every page turn, i was dreaming of the meals i could concoct. the only downside is that, due to the opposite seasons in the southern hemisphere, all the recipes are for autumn foods -- butternut squash, baked pies, soups and stews, and heavenly heavy desserts. what a treat it will be to pull this issue out in october!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
two loves
friday night we met up with an old coworker of mickey's from the dot-com days. he's married now with a kidbot who is super fun. the occasion for our reunion was baseball -- mariners vs padres, at their house, because...wait for it: they're bigger baseball fans than perhaps moi. she's the heart and soul behind a mariners fan site that was picked up by the seattle newspaper. their kidbot's middle name is ichiro, and at two years old, he knows names of several players. way cool.
it was fun to get together for a night and chat about all things baseball, with people who genuinely love it. from random stats ("how many ways to get out in a game?") to history, to cheers and jeers for our beloved team (several jeers directed at a "tall cool drink of ugly," her nickname for one said mariner, who'll remain nameless, but points to anyone who can guess).
lining their bookcases were "summerland," "brothers K," and other modern baseball classics. the one i saw missing was "mostly true," by molly o'neill, sister to paul o'neill of yankees fame. received for my bday and just cracked this week, it combines two of my three favorite hobbies, food and baseball, in a touching, amusing and genuine memoir from the only daughter in the o'neill clan. those who don't like baseball won't probably love the book, but coming from a somewhat rabid baseball household, the book resonated with me.
this morning i just finished the book, and the last few pages brought tears to my eyes, for a number of reasons. certainly the end of the book was sentimental as it recounted the 2001 world series, during which o'neill's father passed away and brother paul retired from baseball after winning game 5.
mostly, though, it was one of those books that, upon its conclusion, you feel a sense of loss and emptiness, as though you've said goodbye to a dear friend forever.
it was fun to get together for a night and chat about all things baseball, with people who genuinely love it. from random stats ("how many ways to get out in a game?") to history, to cheers and jeers for our beloved team (several jeers directed at a "tall cool drink of ugly," her nickname for one said mariner, who'll remain nameless, but points to anyone who can guess).
lining their bookcases were "summerland," "brothers K," and other modern baseball classics. the one i saw missing was "mostly true," by molly o'neill, sister to paul o'neill of yankees fame. received for my bday and just cracked this week, it combines two of my three favorite hobbies, food and baseball, in a touching, amusing and genuine memoir from the only daughter in the o'neill clan. those who don't like baseball won't probably love the book, but coming from a somewhat rabid baseball household, the book resonated with me.
this morning i just finished the book, and the last few pages brought tears to my eyes, for a number of reasons. certainly the end of the book was sentimental as it recounted the 2001 world series, during which o'neill's father passed away and brother paul retired from baseball after winning game 5.
mostly, though, it was one of those books that, upon its conclusion, you feel a sense of loss and emptiness, as though you've said goodbye to a dear friend forever.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
it's the same, but different
for the long holiday, mickey and i are visiting my ma at her new house in wyoming. this thing is beautiful. what i love most is that the big, red kitchen, where currently my ma is slaving away over a pot of green chili sauce to smother some burritos. those who know me know my obsession with green chili. stay tuned for the review.
the house is located about six miles outside of town, and last night we sat on the deck watching the sun set over the sandy, scrubby buttes. it was so quiet. i forgot what it's like to be outside the city, because it's been more than a year since we were in a rural setting. i also forgot how many stars appear when there's no city lights to compete.
this morning on my walk on the country road, i saw a field that was full of dead refrigerators and other appliances. i'm going to try to sneak into the field later to take a photo, but i'm a little afraid that if i do, i'll get shot. we're talking about wyoming, after all.
the house is located about six miles outside of town, and last night we sat on the deck watching the sun set over the sandy, scrubby buttes. it was so quiet. i forgot what it's like to be outside the city, because it's been more than a year since we were in a rural setting. i also forgot how many stars appear when there's no city lights to compete.
this morning on my walk on the country road, i saw a field that was full of dead refrigerators and other appliances. i'm going to try to sneak into the field later to take a photo, but i'm a little afraid that if i do, i'll get shot. we're talking about wyoming, after all.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
tippy or tipsy?
i had the great fortune of spending this weekend with our friend john from georgia. we met him a couple years ago through toots, and have since then had a blast when he comes through portland for conferences or other activities. what was supposed to be an afternoon of hang-out time turned into nearly two full days of QT. highlights, in photo:
day at the beach with four environmental scientists...
and did i mention i suck at biology?
mickey and john at the chinese garden
bonsai
while at the chinese garden we escaped the pouring rain at the tea house. note to self: next time, don't order tippy south cloud (a tea), because it has such a ridiculous name that none of us could shut up about it for the next 4 hours. iterations included: tippy south park, tippy south paw...on and on. one would think the tea was alcoholic for how idiotic we were about the name, but no, none of us was drunk.
it was such an unexpectedly terrific weekend, and despite the rain, we had an amazing day. back to work tomorrow....
final note: one more square done on the new zealand blanket. hallelujia. 3 more to go.......
day at the beach with four environmental scientists...and did i mention i suck at biology?
mickey and john at the chinese garden
bonsaiwhile at the chinese garden we escaped the pouring rain at the tea house. note to self: next time, don't order tippy south cloud (a tea), because it has such a ridiculous name that none of us could shut up about it for the next 4 hours. iterations included: tippy south park, tippy south paw...on and on. one would think the tea was alcoholic for how idiotic we were about the name, but no, none of us was drunk.
it was such an unexpectedly terrific weekend, and despite the rain, we had an amazing day. back to work tomorrow....
final note: one more square done on the new zealand blanket. hallelujia. 3 more to go.......
Monday, May 14, 2007
tranquility
spring is finally here.
delicious grilled chicken, stuffed with
goat cheese and spring greens
tonight mickey and i had a great dinner on the patio, complete with an amazing bottle of wine (evolution white, from sokol blosser -- a great blend of 9 white wine varietals, which resulted in a spectacular, fruity, tropical and semi-dry wine -- the essence of a summer picnic, warm weather and light, summer breezes). my poppies are in bloom, and the hostas are growing by the day. the sun slowly set in the west, and as it did, the old fir trees near our house were cast with a golden red hue which makes them glow, a sight i always love to drink up each summer night. instead of sitting in front of the teevee, mickey and i lingered at the table talking about happiness, life, priorities, and the future.
i also got my first mosquito bite. but, for tonight, i don't mind.
delicious grilled chicken, stuffed withgoat cheese and spring greens
tonight mickey and i had a great dinner on the patio, complete with an amazing bottle of wine (evolution white, from sokol blosser -- a great blend of 9 white wine varietals, which resulted in a spectacular, fruity, tropical and semi-dry wine -- the essence of a summer picnic, warm weather and light, summer breezes). my poppies are in bloom, and the hostas are growing by the day. the sun slowly set in the west, and as it did, the old fir trees near our house were cast with a golden red hue which makes them glow, a sight i always love to drink up each summer night. instead of sitting in front of the teevee, mickey and i lingered at the table talking about happiness, life, priorities, and the future.
i also got my first mosquito bite. but, for tonight, i don't mind.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
men in tight pants
just caught 'blades of glory.' what a tepid film. i did enjoy the musical stylings chosen by the skaters, especially will arnett and amy poehler's choice of markey mark and the funky bunch. all in all, not as good as other will ferrell films. i did like the scene where sasha cohen caught that jock strap. wait, no, that was disgusting.
mariners took two of three games this weekend against the crankees. it was sad to not be at last night's game (was offered tix from a friend, but had other obligations), i'm glad i didn't have to witness batista's poor showing. plus, my new favorite player, yuni betancourt, wasn't playing, either, so it all worked out.
mariners took two of three games this weekend against the crankees. it was sad to not be at last night's game (was offered tix from a friend, but had other obligations), i'm glad i didn't have to witness batista's poor showing. plus, my new favorite player, yuni betancourt, wasn't playing, either, so it all worked out.
Friday, May 11, 2007
camera's dead
but if it wasn't i'd show you pics of ena's shaved forearms from the vet. so sad. while i was there picking her up, a person came in with a dog who was sick or injured, and was shaking uncontrollably. i started crying in the waiting room. which is why i can't be a vet.
if the camera was dead, i'd also show you the three newest FOs that i finally felted in my neighbor's washing machine. a new decoration for my office. hurrah!
but, since the camera's dead, photos will have to wait. happy friday!
if the camera was dead, i'd also show you the three newest FOs that i finally felted in my neighbor's washing machine. a new decoration for my office. hurrah!
but, since the camera's dead, photos will have to wait. happy friday!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
torture. aka, "the office"
mickey and i had a rockin' dinner last night with double-d at encanto, a newer new mexican restaurant in no'po. delicious food, great drinks, nice service, cool space. i got the slow cooked pork stuffed in sopapillas, which had a zippy red sauce on top. their guac was really fresh, plus no tomatoes (just like i like it), and they had a queso fundito dip with homemade tortilla chips that was outstanding -- tangy/creamy cheese with a pumpkin seed salsa/pesto thing on top.
it was such a nice night out with two dear people, and and to cap off the night, i caught the 5th inning of the mariners/tigers game, in which the m's scored 6. they are all of a sudden looking like a solid team this year. with the fact that i'm catching on average about 3 games per week, i'm feeling pretty pleased about the baseball this summer.
in other news, i have two days off, so i got up this AM, dropped the pud off at the vet for her tooth cleaning ($400 -- for cat teeth), and then went for a walk. i'd forgotten my MP3 player, so as my thoughts wandered, i realized, today is thursday, and thursday is "the office." and then i got to thinking about my favorite moments on "the office," when i got a text message. the chime of my phone got me thinking about michael scott's ring tone.
and now i have the midi version of "my humps" stuck squarely in my head. it's killing me.
what's in your head today?
it was such a nice night out with two dear people, and and to cap off the night, i caught the 5th inning of the mariners/tigers game, in which the m's scored 6. they are all of a sudden looking like a solid team this year. with the fact that i'm catching on average about 3 games per week, i'm feeling pretty pleased about the baseball this summer.
in other news, i have two days off, so i got up this AM, dropped the pud off at the vet for her tooth cleaning ($400 -- for cat teeth), and then went for a walk. i'd forgotten my MP3 player, so as my thoughts wandered, i realized, today is thursday, and thursday is "the office." and then i got to thinking about my favorite moments on "the office," when i got a text message. the chime of my phone got me thinking about michael scott's ring tone.
and now i have the midi version of "my humps" stuck squarely in my head. it's killing me.
what's in your head today?
Sunday, May 06, 2007
yakkedy yak
last night whilst out with my friend ben for his bday, we witnessed a chick crumple to the floor right behind our table (we're talking 4 inches), passed out/fainted/whatever, then lift her head enough to yak ALL over herself and the floor. and then, someone said, "we're calling an ambulance," and she said, "no, don't, they cost $500." poor form: both for yakking all over the floor, but for also (apparently) having enough experience with ambulances to know their going rate.
even more disgusting was the fact that the bar employees didn't clean up the yak. they just put some paper towels over it, and the LEFT IT ON THE GROUND for more than half an hour. at which point, i left.
gross. i question whether i'll go back. which sucks, because they serve the bottles of miller high life for cheap.
on a more positive note, i knitted a new yarn bowl to decorate my office, and got both a walk and a short bike ride in this weekend. i love spring, because it's so nice to sit on the patio and soak in the fresh air and the sounds of the neighborhood. the only downer of the weekend was not seeing the end of that mariners game on friday, when they beat the yankees 15-11. f-ing DVR shut off at the bottom of the 7th. thank goodness mickey recorded sports center that night.
have i mentioned how much i love my DVR?
even more disgusting was the fact that the bar employees didn't clean up the yak. they just put some paper towels over it, and the LEFT IT ON THE GROUND for more than half an hour. at which point, i left.
gross. i question whether i'll go back. which sucks, because they serve the bottles of miller high life for cheap.
on a more positive note, i knitted a new yarn bowl to decorate my office, and got both a walk and a short bike ride in this weekend. i love spring, because it's so nice to sit on the patio and soak in the fresh air and the sounds of the neighborhood. the only downer of the weekend was not seeing the end of that mariners game on friday, when they beat the yankees 15-11. f-ing DVR shut off at the bottom of the 7th. thank goodness mickey recorded sports center that night.
have i mentioned how much i love my DVR?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
overcoming guilt
i have been working on the nz blanket since last february, and i am now only 3.5 squares from being done. if i sat down for one week and knitted every night, i think i could finish it. but, for the life of me, i can't bear the thought of picking up that project. it has nothing to do with the fact that i love the project so much, i don't want it to end. quite the opposite. i don't want to look at it again. it might also have something to do with the fact that once i finish it, i'm going to have to sew it together. bleck.
anyhow, recent distractions have me even further torn away from this project. it has taken all the strength in the world (and a lot of yardwork yesterday) to keep me from going to the yarn store and buying supplies for this. ack! it's so cute and looks like a great first project to try my hand at knitting clothes. i would love to make it in a beautiful soft pink or baby blue, or maybe even a dark orange....ACK.
i've decided just now that the reward for completing the blanket will be yarn for the sweater. off i go...
anyhow, recent distractions have me even further torn away from this project. it has taken all the strength in the world (and a lot of yardwork yesterday) to keep me from going to the yarn store and buying supplies for this. ack! it's so cute and looks like a great first project to try my hand at knitting clothes. i would love to make it in a beautiful soft pink or baby blue, or maybe even a dark orange....ACK.
i've decided just now that the reward for completing the blanket will be yarn for the sweater. off i go...
Saturday, April 28, 2007
the real social networking
really, a whole month has gone by with no posts? no good reason, i'm afraid. perhaps it was the new teevee that has snake-charmed me away from lappy. or, the more frequent sightings of friends after work and on the weekends. or laziness. take your pick.
at the bday party last night for semaphoria (hurrah! your triple-x is upon us!) i ran into a couple people -- one i know from a past life and one is a new acquaintance -- who are very smart, very talented. we had terrific talks about work, about web, about art, and families and friends. at the end of the evening, i realized how much i've missed being out and about.
starting today -- no more hermit!
at the bday party last night for semaphoria (hurrah! your triple-x is upon us!) i ran into a couple people -- one i know from a past life and one is a new acquaintance -- who are very smart, very talented. we had terrific talks about work, about web, about art, and families and friends. at the end of the evening, i realized how much i've missed being out and about.
starting today -- no more hermit!
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