Me: Hey, I have an idea!
Stephen: Um. Okay. Can you give me a second to move into fetal position before you tell me?
Yes I am on a bit of a "let's change our lives in profound and potentially expensive ways" kick, why do you ask?
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Friday, August 05, 2005
Knowing My Limits
I don't care how difficult the job market is or might become in the future, I can tell you one thing for sure.
No matter what the pay and benefits, no matter that I could see the world (kinda), learn a new language, and be surrounded by potentially hunky men in naval uniforms.
Even though it's a given that one should never say never about anything, I'm going to put my foot down, plant my flag and prepare to died on this particular hill.
I will never and by that I mean never ever apply for work on a Russian submarine.
Just say niet.
No matter what the pay and benefits, no matter that I could see the world (kinda), learn a new language, and be surrounded by potentially hunky men in naval uniforms.
Even though it's a given that one should never say never about anything, I'm going to put my foot down, plant my flag and prepare to died on this particular hill.
I will never and by that I mean never ever apply for work on a Russian submarine.
Just say niet.
Friday, July 22, 2005
A World of Pure Imagination
After finishing up our reading of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last week, and with their expressed desire to see the Johnny Depp version of the movie sometime soon, I thought it important that the kids see the Gene Wilder version first. So tonight we watched, and I was transported back to my own childhood with them. It had been... damn, I don't know HOW long since I had seen it last.
What a great movie... although the opening chocolate montage nearly did me in. My mouth was literally watering, and it took all the willpower I possess not to break into the chocolate chips that - even now, hours later - call to me from the kitchen with their wicked siren song.
And how I love Gene Wilder. Adore. The. Man. The only other actor that compares to him on my pure love meter is Dick Van Dyke. I tell you - when those two pass on, I might not be able to get out of bed for a few weeks.
But I digress.
What I loved most about tonight was that my kids wanted to watch the whole movie again, immediately. When that wasn't possible (it was already nearly 9 o'clock and a chapter of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator awaited), what scene did they choose to see, when the option was offerred up? Yup. The scary boat speeding through the tunnel with disturbing images scene.
How cool is that? I have freaky freaky kids.
What a great movie... although the opening chocolate montage nearly did me in. My mouth was literally watering, and it took all the willpower I possess not to break into the chocolate chips that - even now, hours later - call to me from the kitchen with their wicked siren song.
And how I love Gene Wilder. Adore. The. Man. The only other actor that compares to him on my pure love meter is Dick Van Dyke. I tell you - when those two pass on, I might not be able to get out of bed for a few weeks.
But I digress.
What I loved most about tonight was that my kids wanted to watch the whole movie again, immediately. When that wasn't possible (it was already nearly 9 o'clock and a chapter of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator awaited), what scene did they choose to see, when the option was offerred up? Yup. The scary boat speeding through the tunnel with disturbing images scene.
How cool is that? I have freaky freaky kids.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Antici...
pation!
Tomorrow at 11:59 p.m, William and I will be at Barnes and Noble queued up to buy our copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. As of this post, that is only 39ish hours away. Is it possible for one to die of anticipatory excitement?
If so, I might not actually see midnight.
squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow at 11:59 p.m, William and I will be at Barnes and Noble queued up to buy our copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. As of this post, that is only 39ish hours away. Is it possible for one to die of anticipatory excitement?
If so, I might not actually see midnight.
squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Is It Me You're Looking For?
Boy it's dusty in here.
So perhaps you've noticed I've been on a bit of a blogbreak. I probably should have mentioned that I wouldn't be around for awhile, but honestly I had no idea it was coming. Let's call it a mini-breakdown, that wasn't really a breakdown at all... I just let most communication come to a screeching halt. Maybe I just didn't have anything I wanted to say. Maybe I was just lazy. My own personal June Gloom.
For nearly a month now I just haven't felt like writing, either in the blogverse or e-mail, and I also haven't kept up with the blogs I like lately (I have lots to catch up on). Apologies all 'round. But I think that the break has been good for me. I'm feeling ready to jump back into it.
So what have I been doing?
There was more, certainly. And there are quite a few half-started-but-never-finished blog posts and even more half-thought-but-never-written-down ideas that may someday see the light of day in some form. Or they may not. Life moves so fast.
Hello.
So perhaps you've noticed I've been on a bit of a blogbreak. I probably should have mentioned that I wouldn't be around for awhile, but honestly I had no idea it was coming. Let's call it a mini-breakdown, that wasn't really a breakdown at all... I just let most communication come to a screeching halt. Maybe I just didn't have anything I wanted to say. Maybe I was just lazy. My own personal June Gloom.
For nearly a month now I just haven't felt like writing, either in the blogverse or e-mail, and I also haven't kept up with the blogs I like lately (I have lots to catch up on). Apologies all 'round. But I think that the break has been good for me. I'm feeling ready to jump back into it.
So what have I been doing?
- I took a week off and Stephen and I worked on the house. We now have new baseboard and a lovely green room that is sans all traces of icky wallpaper. And now there is just so much MORE I want to do.
- I missed (and am still missing and am preparing to miss) my travelling friends... one in Africa (home tomorrow!), one in Hawaii (home Friday!), one in New York (home in a couple of weeks!), and one heading off to Amsterdam (home on the 17th and promising me a birthday visit).
- I worked my tail off (including evenings and vacation days) to push some work out by the required deadline and felt pretty good about it. I might not love my job, but I like the folks I work with and I'll do most anything to come through as needed in the clutch.
- I watched the Tigers and Mariners slide away from the brink of respectability as they both hit long, painful losing streaks. Oh, the pain.
- I finished 3 books and am cruising through another right now and in doing so remembered that I love to read. Love. It. I need to make sure I make time for it, just as I need to make time for writing here, no matter what.
- I thought about what I want to be when I grow up. I know, what's new? But I also made a baby step, put some energy out there, pink bubbled an idea and set it free to see whether anything might come of it.
There was more, certainly. And there are quite a few half-started-but-never-finished blog posts and even more half-thought-but-never-written-down ideas that may someday see the light of day in some form. Or they may not. Life moves so fast.
Hello.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Nathan on Nathan
With permission, here is what Nathan wrote to introduce himself to his Day Camp leaders this summer. It was a form letter with blanks to fill in; the italicized portions are his.
A Letter To My Group Leader
Date June 8, 2005
Dear Group Leader,
My name is Nathan. My friends call me Nate and Nathan. I will be in 2nd grade at school in the fall. I have 0 brothers, ages __, and 1 sisters, ages 5. When I am not in school, I like to play baseball, sketch Nature, sketch Spiderman, read and play Gameboy. But I don't like to sit around doing nothing. I am good at math, baseball and reading. I am coming to YMCA Day Camp Sand Point because I want to learn more about camping. At Day Camp Sand Point I want to have fun, make new friends, and help each other, but I don't think I would like to sit around doing nothing. I get along with friends that are happy, listin, help each other, and are in a good mood. Last summer I went camping, went to a rodeo, went river rafting, and a folk festival.
Other things you should know about me are I am 7 years old, I live on ** Ave, I am kind, I am honest, I like to sing, and I have 2 cats and 3 fish.
Camper's Signature: Nathan
A Letter To My Group Leader
Date June 8, 2005
Dear Group Leader,
My name is Nathan. My friends call me Nate and Nathan. I will be in 2nd grade at school in the fall. I have 0 brothers, ages __, and 1 sisters, ages 5. When I am not in school, I like to play baseball, sketch Nature, sketch Spiderman, read and play Gameboy. But I don't like to sit around doing nothing. I am good at math, baseball and reading. I am coming to YMCA Day Camp Sand Point because I want to learn more about camping. At Day Camp Sand Point I want to have fun, make new friends, and help each other, but I don't think I would like to sit around doing nothing. I get along with friends that are happy, listin, help each other, and are in a good mood. Last summer I went camping, went to a rodeo, went river rafting, and a folk festival.
Other things you should know about me are I am 7 years old, I live on ** Ave, I am kind, I am honest, I like to sing, and I have 2 cats and 3 fish.
Camper's Signature: Nathan
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Somewhere In My Youth or Childhood
... I must have done something good.
You might remember this post from around the holiday season, where I gave praise to whomever turned in a bag of Christmas gifts that I left on the bus. Well, once again I have to send a big old 'thank you' out to the person who found my... get this... Metro Flexpass (basically a yearlong free ticket to ride the bus that my company provides as an incentive to take mass transit rather than driving) along with my office keycard.
Folks, if you were to buy a comparable pass, it would cost nearly $1600. And yet... there it sits at the lost and found waiting for me to go get it. I'm cashing in some good karma points from somewhere down the line, and I'm very very grateful.
You might remember this post from around the holiday season, where I gave praise to whomever turned in a bag of Christmas gifts that I left on the bus. Well, once again I have to send a big old 'thank you' out to the person who found my... get this... Metro Flexpass (basically a yearlong free ticket to ride the bus that my company provides as an incentive to take mass transit rather than driving) along with my office keycard.
Folks, if you were to buy a comparable pass, it would cost nearly $1600. And yet... there it sits at the lost and found waiting for me to go get it. I'm cashing in some good karma points from somewhere down the line, and I'm very very grateful.
Monday, June 06, 2005
More Me
I've decided to branch out a bit... check out Metroblogging Seattle today for my first post. Short but sweet. I've committed to posting there at least thrice weekly, but it will be erratic so you'll just have to hit the site every day. Seattle locals should be doing so anyhow... lots of fun info about our city.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Happy Birthday, Boy!
But don't underestimate me...
I'm seven years tall
and all I need is a cape and a mask
so I can fly outta here
I can fly
- Eddie From Ohio
Seven (!) years ago today my life changed forever. I still remember the first morning I woke up in my own bed, my now empty tummy lying like an entity unto itself next to me. At first it felt like it might be any other morning, but then I heard the fruit of my loins stirring in his bassinet at the end of the bed. And I thought...
"What have I done, and is there any way I can get out of it?!?"
Not my proudest moment, that.
Luckily, it got better. My "NOT A NORMAL BABY!" has grown into a sweet, beautiful and smart little boy who wants to grow up to be a professional baseball player or a singer - at least today.
So much more to write, but I feel incapable of making much sense - too sleepy. Nathan had 4 boys over for a birthday slumber party last night... as would be expected, there wasn't much slumbering. They went to bed around 10:30 and were up and at 'em by 5:30. We survived 'em. Barely.
I'm seven years tall
and all I need is a cape and a mask
so I can fly outta here
I can fly
- Eddie From Ohio
Seven (!) years ago today my life changed forever. I still remember the first morning I woke up in my own bed, my now empty tummy lying like an entity unto itself next to me. At first it felt like it might be any other morning, but then I heard the fruit of my loins stirring in his bassinet at the end of the bed. And I thought...
"What have I done, and is there any way I can get out of it?!?"
Not my proudest moment, that.
Luckily, it got better. My "NOT A NORMAL BABY!" has grown into a sweet, beautiful and smart little boy who wants to grow up to be a professional baseball player or a singer - at least today.
So much more to write, but I feel incapable of making much sense - too sleepy. Nathan had 4 boys over for a birthday slumber party last night... as would be expected, there wasn't much slumbering. They went to bed around 10:30 and were up and at 'em by 5:30. We survived 'em. Barely.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Heaven On A Stem
Oh my oh my. It's that time of year and I am sitting here savoring the first Rainier cherries of the season. We discovered these at Pike Place Market not long after moving to Seattle; like any good pusher of addictive substances, the market vendors used the "first one's free!" tactic which resulted in us walking out with a couple pounds and a lifelong yen.
I can't fully express how achingly we look forward to their brief appearance every year (they're only available for about two months - late May thru middish July). Blackberries are as brief and delectable a treat, but in August they're readily available all over town free for the picking (ah, the Pacific Northwest - even our weeds bear fruit!) so they don't have quite the same cachet as these delicate and beautiful blobs of sweetness.
What a fabulous weekend this is turning out to be.
I can't fully express how achingly we look forward to their brief appearance every year (they're only available for about two months - late May thru middish July). Blackberries are as brief and delectable a treat, but in August they're readily available all over town free for the picking (ah, the Pacific Northwest - even our weeds bear fruit!) so they don't have quite the same cachet as these delicate and beautiful blobs of sweetness.
What a fabulous weekend this is turning out to be.
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