My sorry excuse for a blog

2006-07-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

This is for real. I've seen this burrito. Gordito's in Seattle, yo.

2006-07-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

As if the howling dogs weren't enough, it turns out that there is at least one rooster in our neighborhood. My honey saw it walking around under a car today. I'd like to say we're glad to be moving soon, but it's just so comical....

2006-06-16T23:33:00.000-07:00

#$*@ing neighbor's dogs howl everytime there are sirens. Argh.

2006-06-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Oh, this is WAY too good to pass by. I'm watching Star Trek (TNG) and the episode is called "Preemptive Strike." No, no, wait! It gets better!! The Maquis get "intelligence" that the Cardassians are supplying their troops with "biogenic" weapons. So the Maquis decide to plan a preemptive strike! This episode aired in 1994, think the Bush administration has been planning that long?

2006-06-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post for weeks on a couple of books I've read recently. I've been inspired by NPR interviews and a realization that while well-read, I've never received much of an education in American literature. My selections have been somewhat random, but I've learned some interesting truths....

The first book I want to recommend is The Gay Talese Reader, surprisingly, by none other than Gay Talese. I don't usually read non-fiction, but I was inspired to check out this book after listening to an NPR interview of the author. It is a collection of non-fiction short stories, most of which were inappropriate for publishing at the time of their writing. I enjoyed his portraits of semi-tragic real-life figures, such as an obituary writer and the of cats that populate New York City. Talese likes people the world doesn't notice or has all but forgotten. While paying attention to the historically insignificant, he also portrays Sinatra, Castro and Mohammed Ali. There are few classic question and answer segments, rather he observes the way the stars interact with their friends and with the public, letting the reader see what kind of person they really are and he write almost as if it were fiction. My favorite pieces, however, were the ones biographical in nature. When writing about his father in Italy or his own precocious childhood, the words seem much more vivid and I found myself unusually curious about this man. I think his writing made me wonder what kind of background fostered his style and interest. For not only a tutorial in 20th century American figures and literary style, I suggest this collection.

The other book I've recently read is The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton. In the first novel by a woman to win the Pulitzer Prize, I was almost shocked to find the protagonist a man. I wonder if the choice of a male made the book more credible. There are so many books out there of women torn between two men that the theme is cliche. Women are expected to be indecisive but ultimately make the "right" decision in the way of Newland Archer. That said, I did like the book. As a West Coaster, I don't know a lot about East Coast culture and history beyond the colonial period and that they are uptight snobs. No offensive intended, but that's just how it is. The transition from old to modern New York was a new idea for me. It's odd for a West Coaster to think of American aristocracy. Sure, it's out here, but it's not so much in that era. Back to the book. I would have liked to see more character development outside of Newland and the Countess. I found the matriarchal Mingott family facinating; their clan warrants a book of its own. They certainly offset the male lead, though I'd like to know how common such a family was. While in no way free from the expected upbrining of a woman to become a wife and mother, they had a great deal of power over their communities. There's too much going on in that book for this forum, but I think it's worth the read. Cheers!

2006-05-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

President Bush's new border plan...

2006-05-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

Look at this hottie. Here's a pic of my boyfriend at his show last week in Tacoma.

2006-05-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

"You're a squeeky Jesus!"

This phrase came from the mouth of an irate old man on the bus last Saturday. He pulled the bell too late for his stop and argued quite vehemently with the bus driver that he pulled it in time. What's she going to do, turn the bus around and go back to his stop? She still let him off early, before the next stop, and as he grouchily departed the bus, that's what he muttered at you. My honey and I almost lost it right there. On this same bus was a crazy old lady sitting across from us who he thinks was looking at his crotch. This is possible, she was pretty nutty, but who knows. I love the bus.

2006-05-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about bathroom door etiquette. This may not be a problem for men, but in my building I can't tell you how many women clearly do not understand that standing near the bathroom door is a good way to get hit. I almost killed a little hispanic lady today. She giggled. Damn, woman! Just the other day I opened the door and damn near creamed a little boy in a stroller. What did his mommy do?? She moved him CLOSER to the door. I just don't get it. This is a huge bathroom and people just don't seem to understand that's a dangerous place to stand. I'm just waiting for a lawsuit. Damn.

idiot...

2006-05-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

Man burns down N.C. house while painting
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER, N.C. -- A man taking a break from painting burned down his house after trying to snuff out a cigarette in a bowl of paint thinner.
Stevie Spencer had put the bowl on his coffee table before taking a smoke break about 10 p.m. Saturday.
"I forgot paint thinner was in the bowl," Spencer said. "I thought it was water."
The fire from the paint thinner ignited some papers, Spencer said. He got his wife out of the house, then tried to extinguish the flames with a hose. Spencer suffered minor injuries.
Fire Chief Jay Flynn said the house was too far gone to save it when firefighters arrived.

2006-05-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

An applicant burped at me the other day. Seriously, what is the world coming to? Actually, I think he was drunk (which begs the question how the hell did he get into the building), but that's no excuse for burping at some girl you don't know. Espcially one with power over your future. Idiot.

2006-04-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Taylon? Taylon?!!! No seriously, this is a name I saw today for a little boy. What, his parents were torn between Taylor and Talon? Maybe they had a Star Trek thing? His parents totally did it for themselves. Hey, look at what a unique name we found for our son! Nevermind that he's going to be beaten and ridiculed his entire life. That's not even a name that will be cool when he's an adult. Poor kid.

Guess who said this...

2006-04-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."—Washington, D.C., April 18, 2006

As I told my boyfriend this morning when he asked me if decider is a word, "honey, it takes a strong, confident man to make up his own words."

Thank you!!!!

2006-03-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

Nick Schulz of Slate magazine recently wrote the following article "The Crappiest Invention of All Time: Why the auto-flushing toilet must die." I am vindicated.

2006-02-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

This article made me think of Lamby, and not because of animal sex, but because of her distaste for all things goat.

Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat
A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.
They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.
"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.
Mr Alifi, Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.
"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up".
Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper.

2006-02-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

Did I already post a pic of me at my desk? I can't remember and I'm too lazy to go back and look in my archives. This is my desk.

2006-02-13T07:45:00.000-08:00

I had the greatest weekend. Saturday, after running errands, my man and I went to Red Mill for lunch, however they were so busy that we decided to take it to go and went down to Green Lake to eat. That was possibly the best idea ever. We grabbed a blanket from the car and took our greasy burgers, fries and onion rings down to a bench on the lake and people watched. And let me say, those people did not like us. Green Lake is where the health consious, the families and the people trying to loose weight flock. Damn we got some dirty looks, particularily from the guys who were clearly there by force. We're thinking next time maybe we'll have to bring some deep-fried turkey and take up smoking.

It's the little things...

2006-02-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

I'm reading another article from the BBC online about a scientific mission in Indonesia.

"This bird had been filed away and forgotten; it had been lost. To rediscover it was, for me, in some ways, more exciting than finding the honeyeater. I spent 20 years working on birds of paradise; they're pretty darn sexy beasts," Dr Beehler enthused.

I'm going to have to start using that phrase.

DUI Oregon-style

2006-02-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a bar in LaGrande, Oregon.

After last call, the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After what seemed an eternity, and trying his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his car which he fell into.

He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine, dry summer night) -- flicked the blinkers on, then off, a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained still for a few more minutes as more of the other patrons' vehicles left.

At last, the parking lot empty, he pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive slowly down the road.

The police officer, having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol car, put on the flashing lights, and promptly pulled the man over and carried out a breathalyzer test. To his amazement the breathalyzer indicated no evidence of the man having consumed any alcohol at all! Dumbfounded, the officer said, "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyzer equipment must be broken."

"I doubt it," said the truly proud Oregonian. "Tonight, I'm the designated decoy."

2006-02-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

I'm reading an article about the "new" space object 2003 UB313 and if it's been officially determined to be a planet. It's already been determined that Pluto isn't really one and here's what Professor Frank Bertoldi, from the University of Bonn and the Max-Planck-Institute for Radioastronomy had to say about it:

"I would not want to demote Pluto for historical and cultural reasons - you'd upset the schoolchildren. So, it seems only fair to call objects larger than Pluto planets as well. I think we could cope," he told the BBC News website.

Right....Pluto's feelings will be sorely hurt.

2006-01-31T19:23:00.000-08:00

Things You Can Do
If You Love Jesus
Other Than Honk.

BY JEN GOODHUE

- - - -

Send him flowers for no reason

Pass him a note in geography

Make him a mix tape

Set him free

Make an altar to him with his trash

McSweeney's Internet Tendency Lists

I just don't get it.

2006-01-31T19:15:00.000-08:00

I work in a building with something like 35 floors, of which probably 90% is just office, so you can imagine how many people work there. I can't speak for employees in other offices, but at my office we have desks and when we are done working, we leave everything there. I don't take crap home with me, helllll no. We also do not spend the night. So then why is it that everyone feels the need to carry some sort of backpack (most often the stupid kind with wheels), a purse/brief case and some other bag? I carry a purse. In that purse goes my wallet, book, umbrella, phone and lunch. It's not even a backpack-sized granny purse. Why bring so much in? And we have to go through metal detectors and put our bags through x-ray. No way would I want to bring more than I do simply for the reason that it takes forever to get in the damn building. End rant.

2006-01-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

It would seem that my last post made it sound like I would be elaborating on my love life. Suffice it to say I have found an amazing person and I am not in the least bothered that he's a musician.

2006-01-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

Is there something about my perfume that attracts musicians, particularily drummers??? This guy who isn't my cousin, oh yeah, he's ANOTHER drummer. More to come.

2006-01-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

This weekend I went to Vancouver, BC for the first time with one of the girls from work. We decided just to spend one night since we didn't make the plans until last minute, but after all the fun we had, we're definitely going back. Where else will a weird street person offer you a half-eaten burger he found on the ground? And they have Pita Pit, what more could one desire??

P.S. I know I'm a total spaz, love me for who I am.

2006-01-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Canada!

2006-01-15T18:38:00.000-08:00

The view from our balcony (stay at Blue Horizon, it's great and cheap!)

2006-01-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

Behind the bar at el Furniture Warehouse with our cute bartender friends

2006-01-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

With our new Canadian best friend

2006-01-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

Make sure you pick up your dog's poo or it could cost you $2,000

2006-01-15T18:34:00.000-08:00

walking along the beach, downtown

2006-01-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

Cousin lovin' is no good. Even my grandma backs that up. (She told me that when I get married, I have to first present the lucky lad to her. This I agreed to readily enough, hey, she's my grandma. That's not why she wants to meet him, it's to make sure that he and I are not related, because we have lots of family around Oregon.) Anyway, I got asked out today and after I said yes and got a good look at his business card, I found that I am going on a date with a guy who has the exact same name as my first cousin. Oops. Oh well, he's cute and NOT my cousin, no matter what anyone says.

2006-01-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

I cut my finger again. ok, a finger, not the same one. Of course it would be on my left hand, so whenever I try to use my hair dryer hairs get caught in the cut. Argh.

2006-01-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

Two things.

1) Gmail has recycling tips in the email recycle bin. It suggested using film canisters to store things like nails and tacks. Who buys film anymore?

2) I know this is old news, but who the hell lets their 4-year-old son and his 4-year-old friend play outside on a slide without any supervision and keeps a gas can where a 4-year-old can get to it??? These parents should be shot. What happens when you're this irresponsible? They pour the gas on the slide to go faster and end up catching on fire and getting 3rd degree burns! Idiots!!!

2006-01-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

Huh. Turns out that my cheese and my shampoo are owned by the same company. Random.

2006-01-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

And just for kicks, anyone whose been to the Pike Place market should recognize this fish (they've been doing this for at least 10 years)

2006-01-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

For Lamby, the Austin urban bat colony that pooped on me.

2006-01-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

So I finally heard back from the journal to which I submitted my thesis for publication. Here's a nice little splice of what they thought:

The introductory section laying out the background on standards, their use, their creation, and the trade politics around them is flawed and often superficial.

The evolution from the GATT regime to the WTO organization appears to be misunderstood as the latter simply being designed to expand the former a colossal understatement.

And to suggest that standards are being used as a means of international competition because of a small loophole in the Agreement on TBT seems misguided to me.

I am not a standards specialist per se, though I have considered this set of issues as one among many. Therefore standards specialists may see merit in the nitty-gritty analysis later in this paper beyond that which I am ready to concede.

The guy uses nitty-gritty like five times. I can't respect someone who even uses it once. Oh, and it's not really acceptable to start a sentence with "and". We don't like him.

2006-01-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

I have two new New Years resolutions. The first is to hone my lock picking skills and the second is to stop locking my doorknob so that I don't need those lock picking skills (I actually can open some very simple locks with a bobby pin, but not my doorknob). Yep, that's right, locked my ass out. Right on.

Next topic. I just switched to the Rose Bowl and what do my wandering eyes see? The entire USC marching band grabbing their junk. For those of you know know my experience a certain member of this band, you know my distaste for their extreme arrogance. I'm all for Pac-10 respect, but I almost want Texas to win. Besides, I've got a good friend whose in grad school there and Austin rocks. Much more rocking than LA. Does LA have the largest urban bat colony in the world? No, but Austin does and they pooped on me. Is that sharing too much?

Auto-flush toilets are the devil!

2006-01-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Aside from a small, completely rational phobia that I may some day be in a battle for my life against a toilet that wants to suck me down, I just don't like the things. I realize that they were designed to eliminate the unflushed toilet (lazy-ass people who don't have the manners to flush a toilet after use), but they don't work! They never flush when they're supposed to. Like when I've just put down a sanitary seat cover it goes, haha, suuuuuuuck. Damn it. Or, as the case always is in a movie theater, there are auto-flush toilets and half of them have pee and tp floating around because the stupid sensor doesn't work and the person who used the toilet is either too stupid or too lazy to find the little button (why is it so little and hidden, do I want to touch it? noooo, but I get a square of tp and do my fellow lady a favor). My vote is to get rid of them all and install foot-flushers. Those are awesome. You don't have to touch it with your defenseless, naked hand, therefore more people actually flush. Of course this isn't something handicapped people can do, hence the auto-flush in the handicapped stall at work, but there's got to be an alternative. That's all I have to say on the subject.

What is that aweful smell?!

2006-01-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

So Sunday morning I open my fridge in search of breakfast, find what I'm looking for and pop the english muffins in the toaster. Then it hits me. A vaguely familiar, stomach-churning, rancid-ass smell. No, not from the toaster. Must be the fridge. I think to myself, "The contents of my fridge consist of condiments, yogurt and juice, what does that leave?" Daringly, I open it back up and take a quick look around. Nothing jumps out at me. Hmm. I grab the baking soda out of the cabinet and put it on the top shelf. Maybe this will fix it. No, it still stinks. My brother was here this weekend, was that the cause? I open the fridge again, look more carefully and spot my leftovers from Saturday night's dinner and it hits me. Greek food. That's why the smell is familiar. This has happened before, except it was the paper with sauce on it in the garbage can. We ate Greek food Saturday night. Word to the wise, if you don't finish your Greek food, don't even think for a second it's going to be yummy the next day. Nothing that smells like that after a few hours in the fridge is going to be good later. If you feel guilty about not cleaning up your plate, fine, get a doggy bag, but do yourself a favor and toss it in the nearest dumpster or skip a step and give it straight to a bum. Your nose will thank you. So will your roommates and neighbors.

2005-12-29T09:59:00.000-08:00

Item #224 on the list of things I am not allowed to use...

I managed to remove a good sized chunk of skin from a finger last night taking off my boots. My hand slipped and hit the corner of the heel. The things I do for fashion.

2005-12-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

Tonight I paid $20 to hear a woman sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer playing the accordian. No, really, she was the opener. I saw the Bobs, an a capella group, at a sweet venue called Triple Door with some friends.

2005-12-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

I got some really sharp knives for christmas. I've already cut myself. Don't worry, no blood. Vegetables, beware!

2005-12-22T06:54:00.000-08:00

I live in an apartment complex where I can honestly say I know no ones name and wouldn't even recognize most of them on the street. The closest I got to meeting them was during the series of mornings when the fire alarm got set off by paint fumes. Yesterday I was walking down the hall and saw that the apartment next to mine was propped open with a shopping cart (there are multiple grocery stores nearby and we have an elevator, so this isn't that uncommon), so I peaked in as I passed. I hadn't ever seen the tenant, but it would see that it's the oldest lady in the building who may be mostly blind, though she's definitely talkative. Anyway, her apartment is stacked almost to the ceiling with boxes. Not kidding. This actually made me shudder (thank you dad for making me on the verge of keeping my stuff obsessive-complusively clean). Freaked me out.

2005-12-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Why is there onion in my tatertots? Explaination, please?! Unless you want onions added your pure, yummy, delightful tatertots, don't buy the QFC Kroeger brand. Sick dude.

2005-12-08T17:14:00.000-08:00

My friend asked me where I was 25 years ago today. I had to think about that for a minute. Not even in my mama's womb.

2005-12-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

Today I was reading an article about Charles Darwin over lunch and came across the statistic that less that 1/2 of Americans believe in evolution. Almost lost my lunch.

2005-12-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

I had the best pizza last night at Madame K's in Ballard. It's in an old brothel and has kept the theme. Absolutely amazing pizza and very good service.

Seattle

2005-12-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

This is where I live. Need I say more?

in dad's words, not all of our ancestors were horse thieves.

2005-12-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

It would seem that while digging through some old crap, my dad found some papers making reference to Lord John Boyd-Orr (1880-1971), who is somehow related directly to my great-grandmother (nee Orr). Aside from the whole famous scientist/doctor thing, nice to see that long life is in the family. A side note, it's snowing and sticking at my apartment! Happy December!!

Cat Haiku

2005-11-30T16:01:00.000-08:00

(I did not write this, but any cat owner/lover can see the truth in it)
The food in my bowl Is old, and more to the point Contains no tuna.
So you want to play. Will I claw at dancing string? Your ankle's closer.
There's no dignity In being sick - which is why I don't tell you where.
Seeking solitude I am locked in the closet. For once I need you.
Tiny can, dumped in Plastic bowl. Presentation, One star; service: none.
Am I in your way? You seem to have it backwards: This pillow's taken.
Your mouth is moving; Up and down, emitting noise. I've lost interest.
The dog wags his tail, Seeking approval. See mine? Different message.
My brain: walnut-sized. Yours: largest among primates. Yet, who leaves for work?
Most problems can be Ignored. The more difficult Ones can be slept through.
My affection is conditional. Don't stand up, It's your lap I love.
I don't mind being Teased, any more than you mind A skin graft or two.
So you call this thing Your "cat carrier." I call These my "blades of death."
Toy mice, dancing yarn Meowing sounds. I'm convinced: You're an idiot.

2005-11-28T19:46:00.001-08:00

Aren't we a sexy family?

2005-11-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

As promised, the gun shootin'.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2005-11-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

Took the train to Oregon for the Thanksgiving weekend. Be forewarned, if you take Amtrak, slot in time for delays. It took an extra 1 1/2 hours to get to Albany. However, the ride back to Seattle was awesome. I'd had to buy a business class ticket because coach was sold out, but I'll have to say it's worth the extra cash. Much more relaxing. Also, we were right on time getting into Seattle, which was a big plus. My brother and I went to Sweethome for dinner #1 with my mom's side of the family. Sadly, we had to leave early to get back home for dinner #2 or we could have gone shooting. Highly disappointed. Of course, we didn't realize that was part of the plan, so we neglected to bring our matching shotguns. Also made it down to Eugene. Busy, busy girl. Got to see a whole bunch of people. All in all, had a good time. With winter break coming it looks like I'll be getting some visitors throughout December, can't wait!

2005-11-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

My brother and I with our grandma. This is how we always look.

2005-11-27T13:57:00.001-08:00

With my cousin.

2005-11-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

My brother (on the left) and my youngest cousin.

2005-11-27T13:56:00.000-08:00

Outside Braille's after breakfast on Saturday. Mmm, hash browns.

2005-11-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

I hate being sick. Aside from the constant snot drip and all, I can sometimes get some pretty foul breath. Like today. Today my mouth smelled like something crawled in there and died. Good thing I'm short so no one gets too close to my death breath.

2005-11-11T22:42:00.000-08:00

Today we tackled downtown, specifically Westlake, the main shopping area. We went to Ross, Walgreen's, Sephora, the Gap, Old Navy, Nordstrom and other pretty places. For dinner we weren't sure where to go, but settled on Goofy's (a sports bar obsesses with the Packers) because it was close and served burgers. We were surprised to find that the clientele was quite varied and the music was good. Now we're home in our jammies, watching the news and eating Runts.

2005-11-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

After a very rough day of shopping

2005-11-11T22:40:00.002-08:00

At Goofy's. I SWEAR we're not drunk, we just look, well, goofy.

2005-11-11T22:40:00.001-08:00

Downtown

2005-11-11T22:40:00.000-08:00

Our sexy new shoes that we bought super cheap at Ross

2005-11-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

The "Mexi-Mullet"

2005-11-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

lamby's here! We went out last night with my coworkers, so here's a pic of us in the bathroom at Contour.

2005-11-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

Picture this. You live in a small Minnesota town and are going to run for mayor. Your only competition is an 18-year-old. The 18-year-old beats you by 60 votes. The kicker? The 18-year-old is still in high school. Crazy. Sorry, can't find a link, but I did see it on the news.

2005-11-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

please note the contents of my dishrack.

my eyes!!

2005-11-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

It was kind of sunny today and I was in some serious retinal pain. Didn't matter if it was just looking at sunlight. It was like a hangover, but without the fun. I guess this is what I get for living in the northwest.

Two Chinese Students

2005-11-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

I so need a web cam.

Semi-random thought

2005-10-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

You know how in movies and tv shows spies are always disguising themselves using the clothes off someone they just knocked unconscious and dragged into a closet? How on earth do they change so fast? I'm mean, they have to strip the badguy, strip themselves and then get dressed again. This all takes time. Is this something you get training on? Is it one of the proficiency tests, like bomb disarming and faking your death? All good questions.

2005-10-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy, I'm so happy, my Lamby is coming to visit me in November!!

Volunteer Park

2005-10-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today's mission was to visit Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill district. Definitely worth the hour+ bus ride. The park is home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which I didn't get to see due to a temporary closure, but I did see lots of other stuff. Fall is my favorite season. Why? Despite the rain and shortening days, I love the temperature and when it's sunny, the crisp sky and much appreciated sun. The smells are great, the leaves changing and, of course, fall inevitably means pie is somewhere in the near future.

2005-10-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

There is a great old stone watertower that is open to the public to climb (up the inside) with a 360 view of the city. The trees obscure lots, but I got some decent shots. My building in roughly in the middle, though it's being blocked.

2005-10-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

The Space Needle, of course.

2005-10-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

There is a great dahlia garden maintained by a Puget Sound group. Tons and tons of flowers.

2005-10-22T16:55:00.001-07:00

The Volunteer Park Conservatory, a Victorian style greenhouse with absolutely beautiful plants. Not the best picture because I had to be sneaky.

2005-10-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

Isn't it beautiful. I sat forever watching leaves fall and people go by.

2005-10-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

And here I am, sitting at the base of an awesome tree, absorbing the park.

2005-10-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

This worm is way cool. "The female Pacific worms keep males inside their tube as a sort of little harem that fertilises eggs as they are released into the water column," explained Dr Glover. It's scientific name literally mean "bone-eating snot-flower". Check it out.

2005-10-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

One of my bosses gave me this matchbook today (he knows I don't smoke). It's for real. Funny, huh?

2005-10-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

2005-10-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

This is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Seriously.

2005-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

After work today I called Lamby after work to chat. As I was walking down the street I most rudly interrupted our conversation when I saw a man drinking from a fountain. And I use the term fountain loosely, as I saw no flowing water, so perhaps stagnant pool of water is better. He was down on his hands and knees cupping water in his hands and drinking it. Yeah, ew.

2005-10-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

This is just WAAAYYYY too funny. Killer, genetically engineered sheep in New Zealand.

2005-10-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

I thought I understood why banana slugs have that name. I didn't, not truely. To truely understand, you must let your bananas get really ripe, throw them in the freezer and then set them on the counter to thaw. As they thaw, you will understand. I promise.

2005-10-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

I watch the news while I'm eating breakfast and I saw a story this morning that just bothers me. I didn't get to see the whole thing as I was also getting ready for work, but I believe the gist of it is a dog with a little of puppies is also nursing a squirrel. They showed video and everything. K, aside from the fact that the squirrel appeared full grown (which begs the question, why is it nursing?), we do not need more squirrels. Anyone who has been to the University of Oregon campus knows this and has learned to fear the little devils. I know three people who have been bitten without having provoked the squirrels, one of which actually had a squirrel RUN UP HER LEG to bite her. Yes they are cute, but they are not nice and most certainly do not need our help sustaining their population. Don't save the squirrels!

2005-10-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Going back to work was so hard after my three-day weekend. I didn't do jack for most of it, though I made it to a craft store to buy a cable knit needle, so now I'm working on a new scarf. Pictures upon completion. Hallelulah, I get a real desk at work. It's by a window and not next to annoying or stupid people. I should get to move in tomorrow or Thursday. I'll check out the sun exposure and then maybe bring in a couple of my light-starved plants because I've got a huge window sill. Yeah.

I love SciFi

2005-10-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the best movie ever. The premise is an alien race has lost all of its men so the women go to a university in Canada to repopulate (because they need someplace really cold). They found this university online. Of course they are all super hot, but sadly haven't quite figured out how to reproduce without killing the college boys. It's hilarious.

I'm a killer

2005-09-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

I seem to have failed in keeping my plants alive after the move. I think they didn't get enough sunlight, my apartment doesn't get much direct sunlight. They got some sort of nasty disease and are no more...

2005-09-30T18:51:00.002-07:00

sad

2005-09-30T18:51:00.001-07:00

sad

2005-09-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

sad

2005-09-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

WTF? I watch news before work and they just talked about a new statue that's going to go in next year here in Seattle. Some rich guy from Safeco left the city a bunch of money for a statue providing that some part of the statue featured a full-sized naked man. Are you kidding me? So that's what's going to happen.

My only friend hates me!

2005-09-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

No, seriously. I have a betta named Klaus. We got along totally fine when we lived in Eugene and then at my parents. Now he seems to think I'm a male betta and get SUPER pissed whenever he sees me. He starts flaring his gills and swimming like he's on crack. Oh well, at least he's got energy.

2005-09-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Watch this: Presidential Speechalist (starring George W. and Andy Dick)

2005-09-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

So my bus was diverted yesterday morning because the police had shut down a whole block for some sort of investigation. Well, now I know what happened.

My life as an adult

2005-09-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

Today was my very first day of work at a real job where I earn an annual salary, time off, benefits and get free flu shots! Actually, it was pretty boring. I got a tour, went on a coffee break with the supervisors, read, ate lunch, read, made photocopies and sat on a bus for 45 minutes through rush hour traffic (I think the old guy behind me touched my hair. I seem to attract people who like to do that, *cough*, crazy Amanda). Pretty much I won't start my formal training until next week at the soonest, so I get to do busy work. But hey, it's well paid busy work, and my coworkers are all nice. Now I have to go stretch my quads because I'm not used to wearing heels (albeit very low ones) for 8 hours and walking around lots...

2005-09-19T17:03:00.001-07:00

Here I am immediately before leaving to catch my bus. Yes, rather casual, but that's how the office is.