Friday, October 29, 2004


On my way to plastered...taken at the office holiday party last year.

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

tuesday is chooseday

    Would you rather:
  1. get a wedgie OR get a swirlie?
  2. oh, I think the wedgie wins that contest

  3. have to kiss ryan seacrest OR simon cowell?
  4. I have to choose Ryan, because I wouldn't be able to resist the urge to slap Simon

  5. have an ingrown toenail OR a carbuncle?
  6. umm, definitely the toenail

  7. vote for john kerry OR george w bush?
  8. Up with Kerry, down with Shrub


Via Amber.
I'm once again in the position of more homework than I can complete in the amount of time available. Last week I made it, by the skin of my teeth. I still don't know how well I did, but dammit, at least I turned it in on time.

I'm looking forward to having some down time for the next couple of weeks - light training schedule with the squad, no house guests, no races or other travel. Would like to do some knitting, some reading, go to the movies with Joni, go up to the mountains and see what's left of the fall foliage. It's getting cold now, frost on the car the last two mornings.

As some of you know, I recently began a love affair with my new camera, a Nikon D70. I have been taking a ton of photos lately, and will eventually create an area of this site to post them. Prepare yourselves for lots of pictures of a small red dog with one eye.

Sunday, October 24, 2004

It has been a Feast of Food all weekend. I can't remember when I ate so well. Lunch at the Med on Saturday was divine, as usual. Dinner at my mother's tonight was even better. My mothers Sunday dinner menu this week was:

    - Grilled pork loin, marinated in soy sauce and honey
    - Sweet potato biscuits (made w/ yams)
    - Hoisin salad (cabbage, red bell peppers, bean spouts, mushrooms, caraway seeds)
    - Homemade applesauce (with apples from the tree in the yard)
    - Apple and cranberry cobbler w/ whipped cream

Oh my.

Saturday, October 23, 2004

A and his father have had a really nice visit, hanging out around Boulder and taking a road trip up to Coeur d'Alene to look at properties. We headed for the airport this afternoon after a lovely lunch at The Med. Unfortunately, we took a new route, missed the airport exit, and missed the cutoff for checking luggage on American (who knew they stopped taking luggage an hour before the flight?). Anyway, A's dad missed the flight, so we were all able to spend another night together. We vegged out in front of the TV and watched the World Series. We'll be heading to the airport before dawn tomorrow to make sure he makes this flight.

Friday, October 22, 2004

How 'bout those SOX?

More later.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

I saw this meme today, and while I like it, it's awfully long - the idea is, there is a list of 200 things (complete list here), and you're supposed to highlight the things that you've done. Since that would take up the entire page, I've just cut out the ones I've done.

Via Snowball.

3. Climbed a mountain
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said 'I love you' and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
12. Visited Paris
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
16. Gone to a huge sports game
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (Snowball calls them "mental health days" - I agree)
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
41. Ridden a roller coaster
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit-faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
58. Taken a road trip
59. Gone rock climbing
61. Midnight walk on the beach
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
74. Gone scuba diving
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
96. Had sex at the office
98. Made cookies from scratch
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
110. Been to Las Vegas
113. Had a one-night stand
116. Bought a house
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
123. Bounced a cheque
125. Read—and understood—your credit report -
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congressman/Member of Parliament
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. —More than once? —More than thrice?
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
145. Broken someone's heart
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
149. Broken a bone
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
175. Gone back to school
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
196. Dyed your hair - hello? doesn't everyone?

Monday, October 18, 2004

And if there's one famously disenfranchised and alienated and apathetic voting bloc that needs to get off its collective yoga butt and stand up and make itself known this election lest it lose an even larger chunk of its basic human rights than it even realizes, it's youngish women.

From SFGate.com, via my sis.
It was a good, calm weekend for the most part. I staffed at the rescue squad on Saturday night, and spend Sunday finishing up some projects around the house. Joni came over at 11:30, and our plan was to go to Tuesday Morning, and then a movie. We allowed ourselves an hour to browse at TM before needing to head back to Boulder for the movie. Well, that didn't work...we spent 3 hours shopping. After that, we needed sustenance, so we headed to Southern Sun Brew Pub for snacks and drinks.

Later on Sunday, my brother headed up to Boulder to join my mother and me for dinner. He had promised to do some reorg on my mom's home theater setup, plus we hadn't seen him in a while. My mother was heading home from the airport, so Turtle and I hit Munson Farms for some produce - I got winter and butternut squash, green beans, pumpkins and peaches & cream corn. Yum. I can taste the squash soup already.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

A and his father left this morning on their road trip to Coeur d'Alene, ID. A's father wants to buy a second home there, now that he's retired, so they've gone to look at property, with assorted fishing stops along the way. It's a bit too long in the car for my taste (about a 17 hour drive from Boulder), but I am a little jealous at missing the fishing in Montana - something I will definitely be trying one day.

The dogs and I have a full day ahead. Following my renovation of the bedroom/bathroom last weekend, I now have tons of returns to do at Home Depot. Other assorted errands around town (hardware store for African violet pots, pet supply store for enzyme cleaner, etc.) will keep me busy for most of the day, but I'm hoping for a while to sit on the couch, knit and watch college football.

Thursday, October 14, 2004

A's father is visiting us this week, and they're both thrilled with the chance to spend time together. My mother is in LA working, so we've got both of her dogs, plus Ruby roaming around the house. Isn't strange how three dogs isn't the same as one dog times three, it's more like one dog times ten? They all get along really well, and they're very well-behaved, but I feel like the center of the universe when they're all here. I stand up, they stand up. I go to the bathroom, they all want to come to the bathroom. I sit on the couch, they all want to be on the couch, in my lap, all together. Not such a big deal if you have Pomeranians or some other type of small, puntable dog. A bit of a problem when the smallest of them is 55lbs, and the largest is pushing 90lbs.

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

What kind of girl am I?


Via Len.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

I tried to keep busy all weekend so that I wouldn't think about Maggie and having to bury her in the yard. That was one of the harder things I've ever had to do. My girl just didn't have it in her anymore - the diabetes was wrecking her body and the vet assured me that she wasn't likely to ever improve. So I did what I think I had to do. I cried and I kissed her head and I told her I was sorry, and then I wrapped her in a shawl and buried her. I confess that I rubbed her toes after she was gone, something that she would have never let me do while she was alive.

The rest of the weekend involved renovating both the master bedroom and the guest bath - new paint, new light fixtures, new curtains, new shelves and hardware in the bathroom , new sink and shower fixtures, the works. It really does look amazing. My mother helped with the whole thing (thank the Lord), otherwise not only would it not be finished, but I probably wouldn't have even started the job.

Friday, October 08, 2004

I've been quiet on the blog this week because I'm dealing with a lot at home - mainly that I have to put my cat to sleep. My poor girl isn't getting any better since being diagnosed with diabetes a few months ago, and her symptoms keep getting worse. I can't watch her deteriorate like that, so the vet is coming over today and will give her a shot at home. More later.

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

I wish there were another day in the week (a weekend day, of course). I have so much to do that I find myself prioritizing absolutely everything - when it becomes a tradeoff between eating lunch and studying, you know you've got too much on your plate. The early part of the week is the hardest, because I have rescue squad on Monday evenings and homework due each Tuesday night.

I'm getting up in the wee hours of the morning so that I can work out before heading to the office. Knowing myself as well as I do, I can safely assume that I won't be properly motivated to work out in the evenings after dragging myself home after a long day. I am really enjoying my early morning time with the Bowflex, and I like being wide awake when I get to work. It's tough to get up at 5:30am when you don't get home the night before until 10pm, but I'm doing it, and I'll keep doing it. They say it takes 21 days of repetitive behavior to create a habit, so that's my goal - make it through 21 days, and hopefully I'll have developed my workout pattern.

Saturday, October 02, 2004

The scavenger hunt on Friday was a blast. It was rainy and cold, and we were wandering around downtown Denver, gathering items from the Denver Mint, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the State Capitol, etc. We had about 25 people show up, and it was just the right amount of time - we had two and a half hours to get everything done before meeting up for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe downtown. Lunch ended up getting pretty rowdy, I kept expecting the staff to come and ask us to leave.

We're headed up to the mountains today to spend the evening with Dean & Kim, and then the four of us will go to the races tomorrow. This will be the first time (I think) that A has just been a spectator. It's the last race of the season, and the last race forever at this particular track, as it's being closed down due to complaints from neighboring subdivisions about the noise (bastards!).