Disclaimers: Thank Yous

Okay...you've been patient and kind and I am going to stop neglecting you and using the whole jetlag excuse. But please do note that I am NEVER up at 5 am and so incoherent ramblings aside, I really mean it when I say read the disclaimer and thank you's first.

Disclaimer: I am but only one girl. Not really a world traveler, a bit too conspiracy theorist, a picture taker but not a photographer, a fighter, but not really an all out activist. I see things. You see things. Often times, we don't see the same things. I don't know all Americans nor did I get to meet all Chinese citizens or Tibetans or Nepalese or Indians on this trip. When I make a comment like "Fat lazy American" I of course refer only to myself. When I make a comment like "they are all so nice" I refer only to the 200 or so pilgrims trekking about me. When I say "the Chinese government disgusts me" I mean "the Chinese government disgusts me". But in context of course.

Everything I say here I take credit for. I of course reserve the right to debate the heck out of an issue here on my blog with those that leave comments and if you email me thinking you'll stay annon that way, think again. If you ask to not be identified, I won't post your email addy for people to spam you, but I reserve the right to talk about what you write to me because I am still very much processing this trip and I'll be darned if some good hindsight doesn't do me well in (gasp!!) changing my mind on some issues. Fair warning that you will never change my mind on the Chinese government. Okay, maybe you will. Doubtful, but there is hope yet.

I will try to not make this boring and long, but anyone who knows me at all knows I talk/type a lot. If you don't have the attentiton span for it, might I suggest my www.shotsfired.blogspot.com picture blog where you might even win a prize for leaving a comment? For those who want a more in-depth disucssion and overview of the trip, you're in the right spot.

If you leave a comment with contact information, I'll likely respond directly to you. If you leave no contact info, I'll respond in the comments of the thread. If I feel that it REALLY warrants it, I will edit a post and make it obvious (ie a different color), but generally speaking, if I do more than one post per day to this blog, generally the second post will be marked to note that it is a commentary piece on your comments. I know, I have grande visions of lots of folks making comments which will likely not happen, but I'm the kind of girl that likes to have lots of contingencies. Partial reason why I'm not a fan of the Chinese government. More on that to come.

That all said, some thank you notes are in order. In no particular order of course, I'm thankful to Seattle University--particularly the law school and the law school admission staff--an amazing group of women and students who worked their tails off so that I could even fathom taking a trip like this at a time like this. I'm also thankful to Mike O. and Vicky K. at the Olympian--Mike was patient enough with me on his Diversity Panel and really helped me to grow as a writer--please don't blame him for what transpires on this blog. But more importantly, Mike and Vicky, a year or so ago, were all ready to make me a bonafide correspondent when I was supposed to go on a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Africa. Because way back then they believed I could do that, I figured a journal and a camera would be good to pack for this trip. I thank them for opening my mind to the thought of sharing. And of course, thanks to the Rotary Olympia GSE folks. Last year, I almost went to South Africa. Best laid plans of course BUT, in preparing for that trip, my eyes were opened theoretically to what it meant to not be an American (mostly because in that training I found out that Jesus was born on the same day in Canada as he was in the U.S...) and to not be "lucky". I'd be remiss if I didn't also thank people like the amazing teachers/professors and instructors I have been blessed with throughout my life. From my first fave teacher Mr. Jim Oakes back at PHS to some of my current faves like J. Stringer at Seattle University, the common thread amongst them all is that they all realized that I was just a girl with a tad bit different perspective on things and they never stifled my need to ask "why". I thank the Freedom Writers who beyond keeping me entertained on a way too long flight to Beijing, also opened my eyes to living beyond the context and I also thank John Krakauer for being from Seattle and surviving the beast that is Everest. He kept me entertained for 48 hours of tedious train shuffling, but moreso, he made Everest real for me. I thank Kodak for making great picture print paper because without them, I wouldn't have had Crystal, Quantae, David, Tyshaun, Jarius, mom and granny with me on this trip. But most importantly of all, I thank that crazy, determined, amazing man that 20 someodd years ago first had the notion that while the summit might not be a good idea, Base Camp was really not that far flung. His patience, motivation, selfless nature and amazingly analytical mind knew with an uncanny certainty that if we flipped a coin, Everest would win out and if it didn't, he was more than prepared to make the case for why Everest, why now. I love risk takers and I love that this particular risk taker loves me back.

So there you have it. Please comment often and in detail about any crazy thing (or "no duh") thing that spews from my keyboard. I commit to trying to make this at least a daily entry, but you know me...if I can't say it all, I often wait until I can. That said, the easiest way to keep track of when I have something new to say is to sign up at www.bloglines.com. It is free, it is easy, it will tell you in big bold letters when I have something new to say. Alternatively, if you say pretty please in your email, you can also shoot me a note and I'll put you on a VIP list of folks to get a weekly email from me with a bit of the condensed version of what went down for the week and I might even hyperlink some stuff for you. Wow! Special. That will be three emails tops (I don't anticipate these ramblings to take longer than three weeks) and then I'll likely forget your email address and never talk to you again until I have to email and tell you that it has been 4 years since we last spoke, but I'm ready to talk again. That's how I roll.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and be sure to send lots of others by to leave their two cents as well. Check out the www.shotsfired.blogspot.com blog for lots of pics and thanks for joining me as I relive this journey of a lifetime.

Briefly...

I'm back. and I'll be darned if it doesn't feel like I should be sleeping right now. so I'm going to give in. Tonight, the disclaimer. Maybe even day 1. For the month of May I'll go day by day through the most amazing trip of a lifetime. on the shots fired blog, I'll load three pics per day and let ya'll choose which is your fave for each day. here I'll transcribe my journal (in italics) and then add some after the fact commentary--warning, the entries will be long and many times pictureless but will give you some of my thoughts on everything. My suggestion would be to check out shots fired for the pics and then here for the stories behind it all and then some. Print these entries off...maybe they'll make for good bathroom reading.

Gotta get a list together of folks I've been neglecting for a while so that I can tell them to come and check out why I've been a bad, bad, friend and then hopefully get the life back on track. Oh how I miss my cell phone...

before my head hits the keyboard...until later.

Gulp...

going off the grid. It is 4:21 am my time. In about half an hour, we head off to the airport. Our plane leaves at 7:50. we are checked in, just have to check the tons of luggage we're toting along...much of it photography equipment.

I can't believe we're really doing this. Wow. I feel kind of at a loss for words. I wish I could take my mom and my sister and my brother and my nephew with me...let me grab some pics...done.

Just grabbed breakfast, cab will be here in 30 minutes. Maybe we will have sold the house when we get back--we had our first set of folks come through to look today. It went up with the MLS number yesterday.

I wish I would have put more thought into this trip. Thought of what to bring people instead of all the beautiful pictures I would take from them. I can't believe I'm going to Tibet. I can't believe I might be buying a house. I can't believe my mom might be moving to Seattle with my cutie nephew. Never mind that I'll have someone I can take lots of pictures of (smile). But for him and the upgrade in schools, I almost want to call her up and tell her come tomorrow. But those are thoughts for another time.

I almost didn't have socks for this trip. Wal Mart is evidently not open 24 hours here. Go figure. Three weeks. Here's hoping I can post at least once while on the road.

Till then...

Hot. Mess.

Not the "hillarious" southern kinda mess. But the "girl, you got issues no matter what part the country you in" kinda mess.

It's official. Says me.

I've done some crazy stuff today. No...aside from spend 3.5 hours at a Florida rest stop (so safe...I mean they have armed gaurds because of those people down there that got shot at the rest stop...). Aside from completely rearrange all of my hoards of digi scrap stuff sot aht I could avoid actually scrapping anything because I'm scared to death I'll never measure up to my "Hall of Fame" status. Okay...aside from coming to work on a day when I (clearly) should have just stayed home.

I'm not beneath going the extra mile to get what I want. Especially if you lay it out there clear as day for me about what I'm supposed to do. I am a rule follower after all. Hello! So is it my fault that I read between the lines well? No. Is it my fault that I will "go there" just because I know no better? No. Is it my fault that I might get a ticket if I stay and type this any longer. Probably. So I'ma hop on off and just say that I am officially a hot. mess. I know it, you know it. We all know it. I'm a go home and do absolutely nothing but procrastinate on all the stuff I should be doing. And rub up on my bf. Maybe pluck his arm hairs out. He likes when I do that. Or just sit across from him and stare at him. Or I could be really cruel and make him pick out a picture of us for the CK folks that I have not already used on a layout (uhhhmmm...impossible) with the catch that if he picks three and they are no good, he has to sit for another one with me. That's cruel. And I love him so I won't do that. But I should go and pimp myself out for travel money. No not like that...like THAT! Right...

Uhhhg....Come up Already...

Okay...it's 4 hours before I'll be on a plane. Things I kinda should do first:

Dry the clothes to take with me (done)
Pack the files I have to take with me (done...all 75 of them)
Put some songs on the iPod...or the other thingy. (yeah not so much...just took the laptop)
Figure out if I should pack the laptop charger or not (did, but for what I don't know)
Take a nap (it will be a long night) (was a long night, there was no nap)
Print off some more stuff (done)
Get another layout (or 4) done (well...sorta)
send about 10000000 emails (sent the three most important ones)
get offline (momentarily)
kiss Robert (oh yeah *smile*)
find the camera (where it is supposed to be of course)
take the camera (did...got some good Airport shots!)
update the to do list (I give up)
pack some toiletries...or maybe just some makeup (yeah...and forget the toothbrush...ick...7-11)
take a shower (more like boil myself in a tub of hot water)
eat something (Panda Express...yummy!)
organize something (uhhmmm...that's life...just never something important)
just do something (sigh...)

All that aside, we went out and looked at houses again before coming home to our perfectly lovely home and fixing it up for selling. Thing is...I like our place. And I like the million dollar places we keep looking at too. Problem is, we can't afford a million dollar home. So after we look at those amazing places with great views, great neighbors and great finishes and we walk over to the homes we CAN afford...well, nothing works. This is going to be a struggle. I know it. And then there's my analyst better half who is good about telling me why something will work but won't take a jump if his totally non-analytical (but slightly strategic...another post for another time) "gut-feeling" GF "feels" a house. I wasn't feeling any of them yesterday. Well...I felt the million dollar ones, but as I said, that ain't gonna happen. Sigh...where have I gone? A good ten years ago I would have never dreamed of owning my own place...now perfectly acceptable places are not "good enough". I am definitely an American. Set for a rude wake up call in about a week and a couple of days. Did I mention I hate my typhoid oral? It makes me want to puke. I wish it would just come up already.

What for Sale Sign?

So I guess we need to probably go to plan c. Chances that our neighbors have not just screwed us royally by putting their place on the market. Slim to none. We need a certain price. We're certain we can get a certain price. Then they come in. If they priced their same floorplan at a ridiculously low rate (we don't know yet) then we're screwed. Lovely. Talk about timing. My life has certainly been a very good lesson in timing these last two weeks.

The good of this (since I already had the cynical house hunting statement last week) is that thank GOD we didn't put down earnest money. I'd have croaked right about now if that were the case.

They're just Ready for next year...

my big one. It is a Christmas Tree. I know a tree when I see one. It really shouldn't bug me. Maybe I should just go ask them. but why. I know what it is. It is a tree.

shots...more of them. Ouch. But I wanna live on my trip. I can't believe I'm going to Tibet. Wow!

I can't believe the gist of my life lately. But then again, soon as I wake up, maybe we'll get it together. Time to go schmooze it up at work. Let the fun begin! I need more business cards for that other venture (surprisingly...not scrappy!). Wow life will just wrap you up in a whirlwind if you're not careful. Really. Time to go and see the negative "why her" stuff that I'm sure is out there. It will be fun because truth be told, I'll be the first to say "no clue".

Sigh...where are my cheetohs (smile).

Check, check...double check. Uncheck

Okay...lots of moving parts right now. Yes, I'm totally excited. Wow. Scrap life is going very well. And life affiliated with scrap life (photo life) is as well. Love it.

Trip life...which one. I need to book a hotel. But I got our Chinese visas back finally and got some clothes ordered and finally found a backpack. Once all that gets in, I should be able to start pulling everything together and seeing what I really need.

Work life is crazy. Crunch time...end of every cycle is always crunch time. People are cranky in this cycle (they know the answer is going to be no...just don't want to wait to hear it) and others are entitled and want us to focus on just them. It all goes as it goes. The positive is that we just had a birthday party for the March folks and the cookies were to die for. I have to get a lot more reading done, but I can print off a few things and call it a day.

Wonderful life is wonderful. My better half is at this very moment wowing the HECK out of someone. I just know it. But of course won't say it because...well you know why. Superstitious. We're going to put the house on the market probably before we leave. Which could very well mean that I'll be sans scrap space (or even sans home) by the time we get back. Ideally that would be the case. But it could very well go through the summer and leave us wondering. You can't not do it for fear of failure. And that's what I love about him. He's just as scared as I am, but he's much quicker to jump off the cliff.

Time to get back to work. What a day. What a WEEK! And I have a lucky penny maybe to show for it...

I swear...it has to be a Christmas tree

I really don't make it a point to stare into my neighbor's house through their window. It's just that their Christmad tree...check that, their LIGHTED Christmas tree (one of those fake (I hope) white flocked kinds) is staring right back at me.

Now. There was a year that I was sick with anemia. Not your mama's anemia either. I'm talking "pass out, knock your head on something, no insurance but something is cleary wrong so lets got to urgent care" anemia. Well, on the day I finally became eligble for insurance at my Top 100 employer. Yes, that is so tongue in cheek becuase if you're a top 100 employer I'm thinking all your employees should have health insurance. No it wasn't Wal Mart. Someone with a much better rep than them. Next time they make it as one of the top grocery stores in America, ask yourself why it is that every year they are pegged as this great employer, they won't allow any of their store employees to interview on the local news stations. Think about it. Still love their pasta bar though. And sushi in upstate NY. Who knew??

I digress...but on another digression, I have tainted my poor sweet innocent nephew. He loved sushi in El Paso. Yes, I know. But wait for it. SO that is all he wanted to do when he came to SEA. Go eat sushi. We took him to a couple of places--last time to our fave place. I swear he could have been a plate champion. And he eats the real stuff...unlike me. Soybeans and fried dumplings...maybe some imitation crab. Shrimp...I can do that too. Yeah... But so my mom takes him to the chinese buffet and he grabs a plate of "sushi" (it IS El Paso after all). He ate one piece. She asked him what was wrong. He said (and I quote)

"Grandma [pregnant pause]. It just...well...it's just not the same as in Seattle."

I've scared the boy for life. Gave him a taste of the good life and SNATCHED IT AWAY. Oh to have part time kids (smile). Hope he still loves me.

But back to the tree. I swear by all things I know. That HAS to be a tree. And I brought up my anemia because back some odd years ago, I too had a Christmas tree that made it to April Fools Day. But it was because I was hospitalized with anemia. Granted, that was in Feb of that month and I still had a couple months that I could have gotten up and taken it down. But really...I was just too tired. Maybe they are too tired. And I presume their's is dead. Which makes them better people than me because mine was a "live" tree. It was kinda dried by the time we took it down (April 3 folks) and really, we took it down one needle at a time. Or, I should say, we swept it up (no vacuum cleaner folks...we couldn't afford that with our no-health insurance having selves either) needle by needle.

My better half says that they still have the tree because the kids were too sad to let it go. When we took our's back to Ikea, we saw too very sad kids in the back of a truck waving goodbye to their tree. And I'm such a scrapper at hear that in the midst of all their angst and sorrow I thought to myself "I hope I have cute kids that act like that so I can take a picture and scrap it".

Heartless. I know.

On Houses and house hunting

So no...we didn't get the other house. But now we're serious about plans b, c, d...etc. As in, sista gal might not have a lovely scrap room for much longer. On a temporary basis of course. But still. My sweetness. It is a really sad state of affairs when, in looking online at houses last night, he found a nice three bedroom much more comfortably within our budget. To that I responded:

But what's the point? Why move from one three bedroom to another three bedroom?

People. We have no kids. We have no dog. We have two rooms of this current place that we never set foot in--well, he goes into the living room when he's on his way to the grill. This is ridiculous. But I love the FEELING of "planning for the future need for more space". Love it. Not pregnant. I swear mom I'm not pregnant. Just like planning for the future. Especially planning for the future with the hottie that I'm so lucky to do it with. He's hot and smart. Or smart and hot. I think his smartness is what makes him totally hot to me. Okay...it's not food people...but still I'm rambling. Life goes so like that.

Sometimes...it just ain't meant to be

and sometimes it is. I don't know what time this is. As you well know by now, I'm about as superstitious as they come so I saw this coming. And you also know that while I actually have a very cheerful, pretty optimistic demeanor, I tend to "prepare for the worst" and avoid hoping for the best. Protective measures and all.

Well, let my guard down a tiny bit. Still trying to process it all. I mean, it is what it is and as it is meant to be. And I learned a lot in the process...a whole lot that I really needed to know. But still...sometimes it just ain't meant to be. My one cynical/realist comment of the night:

It came too easy. And nothing in my life comes that easy (smile).

So it is. Just wish I hadn't quite called mom just yet. That's when the superstitions kicked in. Sho nuff they did.

On a good note...great note actually. I found a REALLY great site this weekend. You'll have to check the colored white blog for that though. Guess I should get some reading done--not with the mind of denying as many people as I can...maybe more in the mindset of really looking for ways to grant some dreams tonight. That will be a refreshing change. I've been reading nothing but denies this season...probably why I'm not liking what I do so much right now. Just want to say "yes" to someone. Just want to change someone's life for the better. That's why I really like that site I found this weekend. I actually feel like I'm doing something for someone else. And it feels so good!

Don't kick the dog...

...so remember how we didn't go to the puppy show and instead we went and looked at houses to buy to house said non-puppy? well. yeah. Sunday...we sign away our lives. I absolutely can't believe how calm he is about this. I can't believe I'm about to do this.

We went from "nope, that lot isn't available" to "Yeah...let's get the pre-qual and now let's get earnest money and let's get you to sign your lives away on Sunday because you get the lot you want". But wait for it.

It's just been one of those weeks. Last Saturday, win the CK layout contest at CKC-Portland. Nice.

Earlier this week, just about darn near buy a grown up house (I love it when he calls it that).

Today...wake up really early because of some other exciting news I can't quite share yet (mostly, because it isn't mine to share and I'm superstitious like that) and decide to check email. I get one from the folks at HP. There was a SnapShot Diaries competition some time ago and get this...I PLACED! WOW! They have to contact all the winners before I can tell ya what I won and I have to figure out if they're going to edit my diary and use it in any promos--which would be sweet. But if not, I'll link the Snapfish slideshow I submitted. If only I could find it.

But still...wait for it.

The sweetest part of all of today--besides getting to go and cuddle up with him momentarily. The sweetest part was totally forgetting and overstaying my parking permit (street parking--fee the meter every two hours...after you move your car of course) and NOT GETTING A TICKET. I love SPD. Well...that meter maid at least. Talk about some good Karma. Or luck--I'm so not Irish after all. Or someone up above looking out for me. I have no one but my sister to thank for that one.

Eyes drooping off. I think I've run the course of good luck this week. But I AM a Sagitarian so maybe not. Tagalongs are good (all you Girl Scouts out there rock my world). I really need sleep...this is quickly falling off into a "foodie" entry.

It started with a puppy show...

...and damned if we are not serious about buying a house. With a yard. Gulp. He's still breathing. I'm still breathing. Wow. We shall see. This is going to go fast. Like I like it. But wow. We shall see. I said that already. Okay...where's my tasktoy...I need to check off some todo things.

So 2peas was down yesterday. And I was late for my "Not 7:30" meeting. And I finally made some progress in reading. And I still need to get shots, but I have managed to get the plants taken care of and the clothes. Now if only I could get to the scrapping. I'm going to clean the place, sort the piles. Find something to eat. Then go look at (gulp) lots. Then talk some more. Then be very happy I got up early enough to read files and be done with that by 10:30. Should try to make it to the post office. Should email those photos. Should charge that cell phone. Maybe should take more pictures. Definitely, most absolutely will call mom. And write those checks. And await that tax return. And...

okay...I'm going to get some food. I need like a big greasy Big Mac. And a strawberry shake. And some...

Gonna go eat a salad. And I've managed to talk about my lunch again so this is beyond sad. Stressed? No I'm not stressed, why would I be stressed? Check on the visa status...that's right...okay...received Monday...done Thursday, back to us by Friday. Okay. One less thing to worry about. Shots...need shots...

Evidently, need to step away from the computer. Wonder if 2peas is still down...

8 days, 400 files

Uhhmmm...so yeah. Instead of blogging or scrapping or breathing, eating or sleeping, I should be reading files. Should being the key word there I suppose.

I really, REALLY love TaskToy for how easy it is to track the gaggillion and one things I have to do.

Totally absolutely love FontBrowser 2.0 for how easy it is to quickly see (via the internet...on the system you've installed them on of course) what fonts I have and what they look like and whether they will rock a layout or not.

And just because I need a number three, I also am loving Costco enlargements right now. Almost as much as Walgreen passport fotos. Check that...more than Walgreens who couldn't find the friggin' camera. Should have went to Kinko's like my better half did--his pictures look so much better. Then again, he looks so much better though he is convinced that he is an ogre. He's sexy and I think the reverse psych is some crazy game he plays with himself.

Anyhow...lists. And updates and all the rest?

A few things I got done recently that really needed to get done: booked my travel to Orlando--I get to judge a professional competition I participated in a couple of years ago. Love that...making good enough, lasting, impressions to have people say "Come on back".

I also finished out a bangup session at Cascadia Community College. I love doing that. I need to get back into that. Will travel to talk. Especially when it is about immersing folks in diversity. One of the kids reminded me of my fave student from a couple of years ago in my grad program when I was heading up the freshman collegium. Fun!

I also FINALLY got everything settled for the visas--get to mail those off tomorrow. I can't believe this is actually happening.

Nice.

Aight. So I have 400 files to read by next Friday. That is about 50 a day. But really, I'm doing the convention THIS weekend (ahem) and so that shoots Saturday. Sunday...I could be responsible, but I like my better half and should spend more time with him. So next week. 5 days. Almost 100 files a day. Well...and tomorrow which would make it 6 days. Uhhgh, math. More fun things. Check this out.

You know me and lists. Google played and came across this list of things we all need to do before we die. So here's what I've done in green. What I'll never do in red. What I want to do and am actively working towards in blue. I love color coding!

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diapers
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was heavily inebriated
42. Had an amazing friend
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Almost 70 down...almost half. Does that mean I'm half done with this life? Hmmm...

Fun Sunday

Oh I love Sundays. This one in particular. When I'm in transit, I get a lot of reading done. I buy a good $50 worth of magazines to just soak up color, but then, in the plane, on the bus, walking about...I like to read. At one point I had a goal of a book a month. I am severely behind in that. But...I did just start another good book after finishing the one that I thought would be the good book to end all good books.

She has others so I think I'll have to get them. Maybe it is the coming trip to India. Maybe it is the gal I know who so totally was my image of Sudha the whole time. But definitely it was the vivid way Divakaruni makes you live in the moment. In India. In the two girls' hearts. Definitely a quick read. Definitely a good read. You should check it out. Next week (uh huh) we'll have more on the current book of the moment.

A relationship like that

Issues. That about sums it up. I have total issues going on right now. As in it gets kinda hard to keep days/dates straight. For the longest, since I don't go into the office on Wednesdays, the Tuesday through Thursday stretch was rough on me. I tell ya. But today...I drove 4 hours roundtrip to the convention that wasn't. More on that on the B3Designs Blog .

But beyond keeping dates straight...the good of it all is that I have that better half. Not because he makes me feel better after a day like today which, he does, by the way. But mostly because I wasn't stresssing all the way back from Portland about how I was going to convince him that truly, your Ms. Wonderful is that much of an idiot. Further, even though I calle dhim and left a message at about 11 that I had made this great goof of all times, I didn't stress in a "oh man he's going to be trippin'" kind of way when it was 4:30 and I was just rolling back up to the joint. I stressed because I wished I had called to say "I'm okay, don't call the cops" but he hadn't done that because he thinks I'm a big girl (I kinda am) and besides...he knows when I'm driving more than 45 minutes (and that is stretching it) that there will likely be some naps in there that shouldn't be disturbed. I stressed because I wanted to get home to him and hang with him. But I didn't stress because I was worried that he'd think I was off doing something else.

Love that about him. Love that for the first time in...forever...I'm with someone that really gets me. Gets that I'm with him because I want to be with him...appreciates that we're together, trusts that not only would I not do anything to jeopardize that but most importantly is secure in knowing that he's got it on lock down (smile). Solid.

So then. I, evidently, need a scrap break. But that doesn't mean you do! Head over to Crop Addict and partake in some fun 1 year old party antics. Lots of great prizes given away this weekend. I'm going to tackle my 2Due list and post a list of 99 things I'm grateful for. A play on 99 things that annoyed one of my fave bloggers. I read it, understood it, was down with it...got REALLY down with it and then said "You know what...bet you'd be up with it and happy if you came up with 99 things to be grateful for" so it's coming...promise. Really. Okay...well...really.

Oh and in a week...

...wow. What a week it has been. It was the best of times and the worst of times.

So when I left off here, last Tuesday, I had no idea how much could be crammed into one weekend when you date a crazy guy like Robert.

Thursday, I got into work (an hour after him of course cause he works in Corporate America, I work in higher education...administration at that...land of automatic raises not at all based on merit. Not complaining...not complaining). I had a phone message and an email with an urgency to his voice. I needed to call. Quick.

I called. He confirmed that I had no plans for the weekend. Then told me that now I did. He needed some time to work it out. Few hours later, we have this:

"We're going to Napa this weekend".

Now, I've never been. And I've wanted to go specifically with him cause he's from the Bay Area (well, he spent his adult life there aside from his stint in PA for grad school and the time he's been here in SEA now) and I love going to people's places and having them show me their space through their eyes. Love it. And that was what this trip was. So the plan was to arrive in San Jose, see his friend's parents, go to his fave Mexican food place, visit Cal State Hayward/East Bay (whatever they want to call it nowadays...he was student body prez when he was there so walking the campus with him was totally fun--the whole "I remember this and WOW, look how this turned out...etc.), stay in Oakland. Get up early the next day, drive down to do the 17 mile drive with a Pebble Beach stop...which was totally cool--friggin seeing it in person...and I'm not even a golfer but about the only time I ever watched golf on tv it was watching Tiger Woods play way back in the day when he won at Pebble Beach...thinking wow he's amazing and I'd be pretty amazing at golf too if I got to golf at a place like that. Not really...but I DID indeed think that. Grab a quick lunch and eat it on the beach, go back to our hotel (in Monterey that night) for a quick hour nap, get out to take sunset pics and then get back in time for the barbeque at our hotel. Call it an early night, wake up early and go to Napa. Visit 3 of his fave wineries and make it to Santa Clara to check in, shower up and then go to dinner in San Fran. Bed early again so I could wake up early enough for the flight back in time for work.

Best laid plans went wrong at about nap time. Which figures, because I am a staunch believer that adults are not to take naps on any day but Sunday. Half an hour into the nap, my poor better half work up my worse half. You know my philosophy...if I see it, hear it or smell it...

Well...half an hour into the nap, he was doing it. And over and over again. I wasn't disgusted, I was scared to death. I had no idea what was going on. He had food poisoning before and tries to tell me it was worse than this time, but I was so scared I tried calling his insurance folks. yeah...kept getting dumped back to the switchboard. Finally just asked to speak to a counselor (since the reps were busy and the med RNs were evidently on break) and they were like "ma'am, he's not home and there is no urgent care there so if it is that bad, call 911."

Which I did. And he freaked. Was all "I don't need to go anywhere!" Fine. Okay, but I'm scared. You've been going at this for 3 hours now and I don't see an end to it. Before I let you die of this, I'm calling for help.

He didn't go to the hospital. We stayed up all night and I saw the worst of me. there he was, totally helpless, not on his deathbed, sure enough, but still, totally reaching out to me for help and through my own weakness, I couldn't...wouldn't help him. So scared to see something that I thought would make me sick that when I finally did steel myself and say "You have to do this for him" I still turned away. I was so disgusted with myself. Absolutely. Because here he is totally down and out and he's apologizing to ME for ruining my weekend. The absolutely amazing weekend he planned. That is just as ruined, if not moreso for him. And I'm such a coward I can't even help him. It turns my stomach to think of it because we had just had a long discussion about my lack of failure in life. Not like I've never not gotten something right, but for the most part, everything I try, I do well at. Ironically enough, I thought to myself, he would witness my biggest failure of all...great.

Selfishly, I continued to think that not only had I let him down, but started doubting myself really. I mean, I totally want to have kids. but what if...check that. what about WHEN they get sick? I always thought it would just kick in--when you love someone that much, you just kick in and do it. It didn't happen this weekend. And I'm scared. Or maybe reading too much into it. As he was when he this morning thought he had Botulism. My poor baby...he can barely walk and he's freaked out. I gotta find a way to make him better. At least he can play Xbox now...and he's calling out for the B's and trying to clean and go to the store. So surely he's getting better no? I mean, at the store, he was even able to do the whole "We're doing good" cheerful routine for the checker. That guy is such a trooper.

Ironically (again) enough, before we left for the trip he was like "this will be a mini prelude to our April trip" He meant the constant on the go aspect of it. Not the getting sick part. I had to tell him that for all the crap of this weekend what I learned was that I am so totally not ready for our April trip. I've no idea how I would even call for help in China. I literally don't even know what numbers to dial. And he was the one sick this time--this is the guy who almost sliced off his thumb (and made himself almost half human...another story for another time) who wouldn't cancel our WA winery tour date almost two years ago because he had a friend who was in med school who could come over and stitch him up and he would be fine. Tetanus shot? Yeah...we'll take care of that later.

Just imagine if Ms. "I can't handle any pain" (which is another reason I'm kinda scared to have kids...perhaps yet another post for another time) was the one who was ailing. Oh God. Help me please. Gulp.

Habitual

Okay...so I get stuck...in ruts. All the time. I am a creature of habit. I like it that way. Example you ask? Well...say for instance. I need to call over for lunch to be ready when I run over, pick it up and bring it back to my desk to eat (yes...I'm THAT busy).

Well, it goes something like this:

"Hello Ginger Lime this is David speaking."
"Hi David."
"Oh hi Bernadette! Will it be the usual today?"
"yes"
[note, he doesn't even ask if I want it with shrimp anymore because I don't and it is my new habit]
"okay. see you in 7 minutes"

Yes, he even knows how many minutes it will take me to get across the street.

So, I like to do things the same.

But even I, Ms. Creature of Habit, like to mix it up some. Like last night. Instead of having maybe some steamed broccoli with my sloppy joes, I made a salad. With lettuce, tomato, avocado, sauteed mushrooms, a hint of lemon. Something different.

Now if only I could find the time to write about something OTHER than food on this here blog.

Stay tuned.

Miss*t

I know. You miss me. And I should devote my life to telling total strangers (and not so strange stalkers) all about my daily musings. From dinner to Vday to Nebraska and everything in between. You have to know it all. And I've neglected you. How will I ever take over the world if I continue on this pace? That was an emotional/mental breakdown for PF Changs thank you so much.

Anyhow...so much going on in life. So much that I, madame tell the world all my stuff and archive it for all future generations to see, couldn't find the time to get online. So you know what this means. Yes, my ever faithful. It means a list. That I will promise to come back and update but never will. That will be cryptic and not even understood by me when I come back and try to follow through on my promise, but alas. It is the effort that counts no? Maybe I'll sneak some of my better half's chocolate. I don't think he'll notice since he's busy with the fun dips and all and we can't let good chocolate go to waste. And it IS such a chore to go all the way downstairs to rescue the leftover PF Changs...or the last snickers ice cream bar for that matter. Yeah I'm fat (well, it IS all relative, but no I ain't big bonededed, that is for sure so lately I've likened to calling it "fat" which is not necessarily a bad thing...an unhealthy thing yes, but the boys seem to like where the fat is ending up...well the one boy that matters...and I'm so totally digressing I just might find myself on another post. See...this is why though I'm not a big fan of chocolate, even IT is driving me crazy right now.)

Pause.

Score for the fat chick! He still had some of his vday heart cowchip. How that can ever be a leftover...I don't know. I rescued it. And there is a great piece of English Toffee on my desk now. Not chocolate, but coated in this rich chocolate with macadamia (sp?) nuts. Oh this is heaven.

But that list...yeah, I'll come back and get to it. I promise *wink*

Rules...as they shift.

So I'm a rule follower. I try to do unique things within the rules to bend them and be unique, but I pride myself in being able to figure out which are the ones to be bent and which are the ones, intent and all of the rule considered, to be followed.

Creating Keepsakes has a Hall of Fame contest. I kid you not. And I kid myself not, but that's a disucssion for the other blog. I bring it here only because yesterday, I spent about a good clip (okay...almost half a clip) sending that entry off via Fed Ex so it would get there before the deadline. The deadline (since OCTOBER!!) was February 10 by close of business. The business is in Bluffdale, UT and love scrapping though we might, I kinda figured that they wouldn't be in the office on Saturday for "official business" but maybe they'd make an exception and have someone accepting deliveries. But just to be sure, I went ahead and Fed Exed said entry to arrive by close of business today--Friday--just to be sure.

Well...about 20 minutes after I pulled out that half clip to pay and signed online I come to find out that they have EXTENDED THE DEADLINE. Which actually, is the nice thing to do. I'm just so friggin' mad with myself that I didn't call in sobbing asking them to please extend until Monday or accept a postmark so I wouldn't have to tap into my personal savings for the next round of rejection. lol

Alas. At least it will be there before the original deadline. At least some folks who had given up hope will have this weekend to finish tweeking out entries and get it in the mail. At least, I can hope, that they extended the deadline because they didn't have enough entries this year.

And at most...it is almost 11:30 am which means that I get to go and have pho. I love pho. Hate chicken noodle soup. But I get a veggie broth, tofu version--maybe even with Shrimp today...it is so to die for. And the mushroom spring rolls. It's Friday. I figure if I JUST ate that all the time, maybe I could do a Subway type commercial over the weight I lost. But, alas, I love my HW vanilla cream soda. And my snickers Ice Cream bars. Which I think I need another box of. And I love, love, LOVE me some extra crunchy peanut butter on green apples. And blue cheese. No, not on the apples. Although that is a thought...hmmm...pears with warm walnuts and blue cheese with balsamic vinegar. I'm so hungry and this has digressed into a blog about what I'm eating for lunch instead of what I paid to ship off three sheets of cardstock and this is just so not good. So not good at all.

I tell ya...

I have some great friends. Just when I get in the pitty party and can't figure why "I don't have friends like that" I then get calls and emailes out the blue and realize that the reason why I don't have "friends" like that is because I'm lame and don't make the effort. Yet, I have such great friends. Great friends. Two in particular. One really in particular. She is the bomb! And she knows it. she cares so much and others just want to be difficult. If only we could all go through what she goes through and come out such the better.

Anyhow. So I heard that at a particular institute of higher learning, they are thinking of making promotions and hiring decisions contingent on credit checks. Which I think is utterly ridiculous for the particular institution that is thinking of this, and also for higher education in general. I don't know why, but I've just come to accept that in the big money jobs--banking/finance, law...etc, that a credit check will continue to have some of those fields looking...well...looking as they do. But in higher education--the great vast land of opportunity--to some, the poshest job on this planet with almost no pay, you're going to bar folks from doing better for themselves because they are living paycheck to paycheck working for next to nothing at your institution of higher education? That is crap. They had best be glad I don't write a column for the Olympian anymore. Best be glad.

Back to trying to download stuff. I mean, Ms. Peppy has some GREAT digi elements. Aside from having to paypal everything to partake, there is the issue of agonizingly SLOW downloads. Zip that stuff up already and make it easy on a sister already. Had a few more ideas for work to showcase on that other blog, but tomorrow is a scrap happy day. Well a scrap sad day given that we don't get to go and see eagles. I was thinking of doing my photography trip downtown instead, but I think I have a concept that will work better for the layout. At least given my analysis about what I get published and not, it will work better. We shall see. 65% later, those downloads maybe won't happen tonight.

Off to bloglines I go!

So she says...

...that there is drama and a half going on. So she's persistent and she calls me. I so love that woman. I don't deserve a friend like her. Anyhow. So check to that...no need to make phone calls there, but should get in touch with others. In particular, one other who emailed me out of the blue this week with some really awesome pictures. If I had the link handy, I'd highlight one of them on the shots fired blog. Alas, you are stuck with one of my crazy shots on that blog and some uploaded layouts. More digi stuff. And tonight I need to photograph my projects for diversity designs. So lots of updates on the "other" blogs. What to say on this one.

Totally tired lately. But lots to do. Should start making lists again and doing them. But in any event...for now...I'll leave you with this.

It is almost time to go. I so cannot wait until our trip. I'm almost all moved in here with the better half. Few more things here and there and a scrap/office that really needs some loving attention. But got quite a bit finished today. Including a decent shipment off to mommy. So cool bones there!

Okay. I'm saying not much important tonight. Update the scrap blog with some cool stuff and call it a night. More interesting updates to come including a bit of a breakdown of that list of 10 great places to visit. Coming sooN!

7:07 am...on a Saturday

So...evidently, there are LOTS of people who want a free queen bed. Lots of them. Gotta love Craig's list. Time to post all sorts of other stuff I have on there.

7:07 am. For some reason, my better half thought that would be a good time to wake up this morning. Yeah, it is Saturday. No we are not going to look at Eagles. Yes, he is tinkering with the computer. And of course we watched Little Miss Sunshine. That is only one of the bestest movies ever. I mean...think about it:

It's totally short.
It starts out in Albuquerque
It has Miss America clips
It has a VW love van
It makes the abnormal so very casual...and causal for that too

NEWS FLASH! The Ferndale School District can't put a crossguard at a dangerous intersection because they have to review the procedures at all schools. I particularly like how the school district superintendent who said "Well...if you think about it...crossguards don't cause or stop accidents. Cars cause accidents."

Ah it reminds me of the "Guns don't kill people; people kill people" Okay. Back to why Little Miss Sunshine is so fantastically great. Or maybe not...I think those five reasons above are good enough.

So...someone is coming to pick up the bed this morning. And I might give them a king bed as a bonus because we're not using it.

But you know what? It is official. I have my keys, my garage door opener and this is the first weekend we've been alone. Together. Just us. WOW. Although, admittedly, I'm not ready to totally call it official until I finish vacumming and turn in the keys at the other place. But that is a matter of hours really. Oh my word.

That was a nice bottle of wine last night. Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah 2001. Long weekend of stuff. Supposedly, at some point, we're painting what will soon be my office/scrap room. I'm going to go and clean the other place. And play with scrap stuff. Tonight, if the weather clears, I might be able to convince the other half to play roaming photographer with me. Real photographers are really not that into that kind of stuff. But I'll make up a really neat scavenger hunt of some sort and then we'll see what we can come up with. Tomorrow, some stuff to take care of--including potentially a meeting for the clinic. Then I'm sure there will be a nap time in there. In the meantime, my teeth just feel so dirty from the onion enchiladas last night. Sinful. But it tasted so good...

Oh really now...

...so Craig's List (when it works) really DOES work. I think I just might have to get rid of all my stuff that way. Posted an add for a free queen bed and 20 minutes later, 5 gagillion phone calls later (and 27 emails), I still have said bed but lots of folks promising to come and get it. It is late, we've just taped (for painting tomorrow morning) and we'll deal with the overwhelming response then. Later. Not now. Now, I'm watching the BF try to get the bootleg, I mean, "altered" movie up. So that we can watch Little Miss Sunshine. I saw it already but totally want to watch it with him. It is the best. I hope it win's best picture since my really hopeful Dream Girls got snubbed. BUT...you know how you know when you're really old? When you've seen all the nominated movies for the Oscars, but none of the movies for like the People's Choice Awards...then you know you're old. Old. I'm almost old.

Totally love my student workers. Totally. They are just so...lovable. All of them. I really appreciate them and could probably never really truly express that to them without finding myself in the midst of some sort of sexual harrassment lawsuit of some sort. So. I just leave it at that. I love my student workers. They are adorable, inspiring and I know I'll read great things about them someday. I'll never know all 1000 some odd students at the school like my boss does. Come on, she's superhuman. But. I will know my student workers. And because I've worked with this batch since day one, I honestly think I will stay in touch with them.

Speaking of staying in touch--girl, I gotcha. Weekend. Time to call. And out of nowhere, one of the better half's ex-co-workers was back in touch. He forwarded her message to me and without asking, I responded back to her cause...well, I liked her. Well, he responded too. Unbeknowndst to each other, we pretty much emailed the exact same message. Her response--she better get an invite to the wedding (smile). No pressure. My people don't pressure like that.

And we get to go to the boat show this weekend. With some of his friends.

Cool.

down....for the count

so utterly sick of being sick. Not totally sick, but not being able to breath, not good. So instead, I do bed rest. And look at all the stuff I should be doing today. The stack of files, the living room full of stuff, the Feb projects, the mid Feb projects, the looming deadline.

Ahhh...the pressure. Maybe I'll go back and watch some I Love New York. VH1 reality programming at its finest. If you thought Flavor of Love was good...oh you ain't seen NUTHIN' yet!

Ms. thang...got your message...I will call, I promise. Now, I know...really I know. Reception for the column writers last night was totally fun in Oly. Wish my better half could have been there but by the time he would have been there from work, we'd have been heading back. finished in Oly about 11:30...can you believe that? I was heated for a moment because I didn't know what to do with myself for 6 hours! Of course, I went shopping.

I love Lane Bryant because I feel so small in there, YET they have my boobie holders that FIT in a right size at a decent price. Bought one got the other half off and got two more for $15 a piece. I love a clearance sale let me tell ya. Almost bought some clothes but they just didn't look right...maybe I'll go online and look. Anyhow...also managed to stop at my fave stamp store and just oggle all the wonderfully yummy stuff she has for sell. Oh my I was in heaven. And only spent $15 all in the name of DD Feb stuff.

Okay...pooped and time to just go be. I should have all the Ebay stuff up tonight (fingers crossed) and then I'll post links on the scrappy blog. Maybe I'll even have some scraps to post there. And pictures for here and a revamp of the photo blog. This week...not necessarily tonight.

Officially...

wow. Officially, it is just us. We. Him and me. Wow. I keep asking him if he's freaking out yet. He's not. I'm not. Well...so I think I'm not (smile).

No more behaving because the roommate might disapprove.
No more having someone else to blame the clogged toilet on.
No more loveseat.

Lots of no more, lots of lots more. I am super excited and beyond scared. So then. So.

This week, I'll be in Olympia Monday, some bedrest or something on Tuesday. Reading from home Wednesay and back up and getting everything together Thursday. Fun times. Fun times indeed.

I have a living room full of stuff to integrate. And a house full of trash to get rid of. And clean. And then, before the 31st of January, I get to upload all of my fun Valentine's stuff at Diversity Designs and shortly after that, all the stuff from my midmonth kit over at Crop Addict. But more scrap stuff on the other blog.

This weekend was fun in a "settled in" kinda way. We went out to Daniel's Broiler for dinner on Saturday night. My better half thinks the place is orgasmic (smile). I don't eat meat. But I was STUFFED after that place. I had a spinach salad, lobster bisque, balsamic mushrooms and creme brule to top it all off. Ugh...came home and was down for the count.

Tonight, we went over to Robert's (the other Robert's) place and hung out with R, L and Lee--the downstairs neighbor. We watched the Colts beat the Patriots. Which, well, you know I was so loving. Loving the comeback, loving the way the game ended (well, in some ways), loving that the Super Bowl is going to be historic. I love history. I loved that this was the biggest comeback for a title game. I love that this Super Bowl will be the first one won by a black coach. Some folks will say "well, color shouldn't matter, it should be all about the best man winning." Well, I respectfully say to that, wtf? Color won't matter when it is no longer mandatory for NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for open coaching positions because minority candidates will already be up in the mix. I mean come on...you mean to tell me that an industry full of minority players can't produce one said player to go on and become a coach? Yeah. Soap box done for the night.

Frito Chili Pie was for dinner tonight. I think I'm going to be sick. Football food is so bad for you. So very bad.

Ready for next Christmas...

...I mean really. Our neighbors, across the way, the ones where we can see straight into their aqua blue living room because...well...it's aqua blue and maybe also because we don't really have curtains or blinds on that window (it is a HUGE window...and we like the lighted look...yeah. Roll with it). Anyhow...they don't have any qualms with plugging in their Christmas tree every night. Yes. Their Christmas tree. As in it is January 16, halfway through the first month of the new year, and they still have their tree up. And lit up. They still have the spirit. I think it's cute!

Almost as cute as the little kids we saw at Ikea waving goodbye to their Christmas tree. It was sad. It made me want to have kids. So that I could carry around a camera. Catch them doing something like that but not have my camera on me and then make them stage the scene again. Hey...just being a good scrapbooker and all (smile).

So much to talk about...so little time. And I should have pictures eh? Let's see if the new blogger will let me insert them at the right places...

So nope...I still have to be thoughtful about where I'm going to place my pictures. But in any event, that picture of me is not about me saying "I'm the stuff, check me out." No, alas.

Out the woods. That is what is going on right now (or, write now, as I almost wrote). See...I'm absolutely determined to do this. Not quite yet sure what "this" is, but I do know I spent like $80 today on part of this here "this" so...really, I need to focus. This is multifaceted. It has to do with the job, the home, the love, the life. And it all needs to be done now. As I look up from the laptop and see him. As I avoid email and that. As I wonder what in the world I'll do tomorrow when I don't have to work. As I contemplate how I'm going to drop that off next week--especially if we're still in the midst of snow days.

Maybe it won't be so slick tomorrow and I can make it to the old place and get the last of the scrap stuff and post it on ebay. Another "now" thing. That would be some great pictures to post. Coming soon...I promise!

I think a written list is in order, but I'll be criptic about it and then I won't know what the hell I was talking about when I check back in on it so I'm going to move on from here and post pictures to the other two blogs. Shots fired...so many challenges and here I sit on many a photo. Really. Then on the scrap site...really have to get a few projects up. Been working on lots of stuff (mostly digital). Some I love, some I don't but everyone has their own opinion so...

Till tomorrow comes.

Domestic Diva?

Get out of here...no way. I mean truly...just because you whip up a tasty something or another every now and again does NOT make you a domestic diva. But if you can make some stuffed portobella mushrooms and rice pilaf (and of course perfectly steam some asparagus) unlike the likes of any other, wouldn't it be close? Maybe if the laundry were done, the beds were made and the dishes were washed. I really shouldn't kid myself because when it all comes down to it, I play house with the best of them, but if I really had to REALLY go to work all day and then come home and do all of this, I probably wouldn't be able to do it. I envy those who can "do it all" but I know my limits. That all being said. I LOVE to cook. Love it. Now I don't typically just walk up in the fridge and start throwing stuff together. I mean, I have a pretty good memory (right down to measurements) of how to do something once I've made it often enough. And my sister got all the gifts of being able to whip a pie togethe (including the crust) from scratch with no notes. But me...I love to look up recipes--in books, online, where ever they may be. And I'll alter the recipes because really, when I make seafood gumbo, I prefer scallops to white fish fillets and I don't need chicken if I already have turkey sausage. I digress.

So I went shopping a week and a half ago. Got enough food for two weeks of meals. With leftovers, plenty for lunches too. He likes that I love to cook. I love that he likes to do the boy stuff--take care of the car, drive me to work in the super slick snowy hills of West Seattle. Together, we make a pretty good team so I feed him stuff like this--stuffed portabello mushrooms. Tonight...perhaps mustard roasted, goat cheese stuffed chicken breasts with rosemary potatoes. And some broccoli on the side. Love it. Just really enjoy taking out a bunch of ingredients, tossing them together and coming up with some really yummy flavors.

1:24 left in the game. Tied. Seahawks have the ball...time to score a field goal...that would be something wouldn't it? Really...we just need to NOT turn it over (which is saying a lot)...

So as I was saying...

Remember the pics that wouldn't post? Guess that was all a ploy to get me to switch to the new blogger. Fine then. Anything for blogger.

I was saying though...our April trip to China...(Tibet and Nepal). The pictures are amazing. Absolutely amazing. The color, the air is thinner, more full of vibrant life. I'm a tad bit worried about food because I'm sorta a vegetarian. Sorta. It's all a texture thing. So I am pretty sure I won't be eating meat out there but I'm also a bit adventurous so who knows...not everyday you get to try yak meat you know?

Here was the South Africa photo collage. I mean really...we had to decide if we wanted to do Tibet or South Africa this year. I think only because I came so close to going to SA did that really and truly even become an option worth almost doing. But now, it is time to start doing my research. On the South Africa trip, we're looking to do something a bit more service oriented--and throw in a safari while there. No not that kind of shooting safari, but a photo shooting safari.

wow

did i say wow yet?

oh yeah

wow

Back to real life and watching the Seahawks who are (remarkably) WINNING in the 4th against the bears. But only by 3 which makes this very likely not going to be a win. I need to go and get ready because we're going out to watch the San Diego game. Not so sure why (because it is supposed to be a good game) but there are a couple of rooms here filling up with stuff. And I purged so much...including a toaster. Which is something that I probably should have kept. Less toast and less peanut butter on said toast is probably a good idea.

Go Seahawks! Go Seahawks! Go Seahawks! Make me feel better about being a Cowboys fan!

Chinese...officially

Sometimes, I swear to God I hate blogger. Then I remember who I am. And I apologize to God. And I try to remember what I typed. I realize that my wit is fleeting and I just move on to recap.

Short of the story is such:

Ticket from Seattle to Beijing. Check

Ticket from Delhi to Seattle (via Houston). Check

And today…(gulp!!) driver/guide for trip, time to book it. Which means that we’re also going to have the ticket from Kathmandu to Delhi taken care of, the train tickets from Beijing to Lassa purchased and the trip of a lifetime will be on. I think that makes us officially “Chinese tourists”…with Tibet and Nepal guides thrown in for good measure (smile). Wow. Wow!

Never in all my life did I EVER think I would be going to Everest Base Camp. Aside from being disbelieving and totally scared to death, I’m also so psyched for all of the amazing pictures we’re going to get. Pictures like these:

Okay...I give up.

Pretend you can view really neat collage that took me all night to make.

here

Everyday I read essays from kids half my age going to all sorts of really neat places. Neat places I never dreamed I would ever go. I mean yeah, when I was little I was sure I would go to Africa at some point in my life. And it was crushing when that slipped through my hands last year. And it was so crushing when I thought this trip might slip through our hands this year. But through all the disappointments, life goes on and when it all boils down to it, I have a pretty amazing life. Absolutely amazing!

So, this deserves a list. Perhaps a list in pictures. Of the top ten places I absolutely want to visit before I die. Probably before I retire. Maybe even within the next ten years. Yeah, because next year this time, I’ll be writing about the amazing South Africa trip I’m about to take. Let’s mark those words.

Top Ten Places I want to visit

(sooner rather than later)

And here...this is where a really neat South Africa Collage would be.

You'll have to take my word on that too.

here

South Africa/Mozambique
(1)

Scotland
(2)

Alaska Iditarod
(3)

Antarctica/South Pole
(4)

Middle East
Gaza Strip
(5)

Egypt
(6)

Italy

(7)

Russia/Ukraine/Romania
(8)

Nova Scotia
(9)

New England, U.S.
*fall foliage season*
(10)

Oh goodness...

Oh goodness. Yep, that about sums it up. Totally swamped at work with reading. Totally swamped at home with packing. Totally have things I'd rather be doing (scrapping with my kit, back to my artists salons, taking pictures...seeing eagles...curling up with him).

So anyhow. And then what. Then she said...okay.

I kinda like being this domestic diva. Cleaning the house. Cooking dinner. Going to work. Going to meetings with truly inspirational women. Going out tomorrow night to a gallery show. Staying in night after and bbq'ing as we watch pitiful Bernadette's tem number 1 take on pitiful Bernadette's team number 2. But all that is great but still not enough.

My word for the year (scrappers shall know what I'm talking about) is:

now.

Imagine that (smile). Which means I have to go and purchase something real quick. And I finally got my lovely gift for the bf. Now if his santa gift to himself would come, we would have a nice little happy home. Back to finish dinner.

Home

Ahhh...it feels so good to really be home. Not, "in house" house that looks like it should be in some design magazine, but actually home--with love.

So now I officially stay over there. I have a month to get my stuff transitioned and it is actually going okay. Got the bathroom and kitchen moved (impt things first) and have good chunks of the scrap room packed up. Speaking of which, with that whole moving sale, I've shipped off 4 large boxes and 2 small ones. Come Saturday, we'll go to week 2 prices and week 2 selection. Once I get it half together, I'll post pics of what the lucky first 4 got.

Other than that, just going to read like the Dicken's today--50 files during the day and 50 more tomorrow.

NYE was great! Went to Kianna Lodge and had some fantastic salmon (which is saying a lot cause I'm not much of a fan) in a great setting with a great guy. Had a little too much fun (smile), but that's why I love him. Sappiness over.

Well it's a rainy Seattle day (love it!) and I get to work out tonight and get lots done tomorrow. Resolution time!

and the moving goes

So I need to post pictures because my place is a hot ass mess. Pardon the french.

Really...all is well in the bathroom and kitchen which I need to finish moving over here today. The living room is about all bundled up and the dining room really just has lots of stuff in it now for obvious reasons. But the scrap room. My word I have a lot of stuff I just don't need. Don't use. So what to do with it? Sell it of course.

Here's the deal. I am making up scrapbook supply grab bags. At your post office, there are two sizes of "one price Priority Mail" boxes. One is more squareish, the other more traditional rectangle. I have twelve of the traditional and 5 of the smaller squarish ones.

You will pay for shipping ($10 for the first "grab bag", $8.10 for each additional). The prices of the boxes are as such:

Week 1: large = $30 small = $20
Week 2: large = $25 small = $15
Week 3: large - $15 small = $10

Here's how it works. Starting today, you can email me with the size you want. I will cram it full of my stuff that I have horded for the past year. Paper, embellishments, rub ons, stickers, tools, altering stuff, stamping stuff, stamps...you name it there will probably be some of it in the box. You cannot specificy what you want (I have to be out by Jan 31) and you will probably get some items in your box you don't care for. But at these prices, you're just about guaranteed to get something you DO care for at a great price.

You can check my scrap style at www.twopeasinabucket.com my name is Imanisasa.

There will be some repackaged product, plenty of new unopened product.

The pricing structure is so that if you really want something good, you should order in week one. As the weeks go on, I'll start packing whatever I have left into the last boxes. Still good selection, but not as much to pull from--kinda like the clearance going out of business sales at stores--get in early, get what you want but not as much of a discount.

All said, each box is guaranteed to have at least twice as much retail value as you pay, most will have 4 times the value.

Email me at henderso@seattleu.edu to claim your box and work payment details!

And Day one...

...of the great shift. Back from Palm Springs and had a pretty good time.

On the way back, bf saw someone he used to work with--which was totally cool watching him chat it up. I think way more than me, he just definitely needs to be around people. Saw that a bunch this past very long weekend in Palm Springs. Get him in front of people and it is just...wow. He's so the networker (smile).

Got to fly back first class. That happens when you hit the plane on Christmas evening I suppose (smile).

Now back home and contemplating. Because see...I ordered a gift for him that didn't show up until just now. Except I think it is the wrong one. Wrong by a couple of numbers which in bf geek world can be major. So I'll wrap it up for him and let him know that if it is that big of a difference, I'll return it and get the right one. Talk about getting click happy at work.

Anyhow...time to get home and start packing and shipping and labeling. I'm so totally excited about this shift. Sad to lose the beach house. But totally excited to gain just that much more in our relationship. Scared out of my mind, but totally going to do everything in my power to make it work. Fun knowing I have someone else as committed to that as I am.

Well...lunch downtown today and some shopping the after Christmas sales. I need to pick up the dinner cruise tickets and reaffirm when we're going to the symphony. You know, aside from getting to move in with the bf, what my best Christmas gift was?

It was getting to tell my adorable nephew. He was so totally excited! He loves him some Robert! I was remembering that because when I was telling him my Christmas gifts, he was telling me that he would LOVE to go to the symphony with us and on the dinner boat. He's the oddest 9 year old I know. Odd in such a good, cute, adorable way!

Packing time...or at least just getting home to change or something.

B

Moving Sale!

Well...short post because I just got power back at home and I'm at work with no walls:

Yes, I now have power.
Yep, I had a fantastic time out at the Christmas Lighting Festival in Leavenworth.
Yes, I'm about to leave for sunny southern California
Yep, have my ticket to China.
Yep, have lots of my layers for Nepal.

And yeppers...I'm moVing! Totally exciting and definitely deserves a post of it's own. It will happen...maybe Christmas.

But for now know that a moving sale unlike the likes of any others will happen. Soon. Lots of scrap stuff, lots of random stuff...lots of stuff!

Till then, Merry Christmas and more for all the wonderful holidays this magical season!

Non-Essential Workers at Work

Okay...face it. I am not essential. No where near it. But I came to work.

I gaped at the power lines twitching with the trees laid across them.

I waited half an hour before figuring out that my electric trolly bus wasn't coming up the hill.

I even paid to take a damn cab for the pleasure of eating a nastly McDonald's McGriddle sandwich as the homage to those who made the trek in today.

And now...I blog.

Because here, I have not only electricity, but internet and (most importantly given my condition--yeah THAT condition...you know, the one where I absolutely HATE being cold) HEAT!

I might have to go and "borrow" Whit's little space heater for the day. Or just get up and go shopping. I have no car so I'd really have to hoof it. My better half is picking me up so that we can head on out to Leavenworth for the Winter Lights Festival and then eagle watching. Good thing that we have the means to say "no power here? okay...let us just take a trip."

Monday. Monday?! How in the hell do you tell people that they most likely won't have power until Monday with a straight face right as a cold front is coming in.

I think maybe God doesn't so much like Washington state anymore.

Just a hunch.

You just never know...

...when your boss is going to call you in to a closed door meeting to tell you that you, pretty much, have Wednesday and Thursday off next week (more professional development)

...when you'll feel the mojo and want to stay at work to just get it done--and ENJOY IT!

...when you'll feel the other mojo and want to get home and create like crazy.

...when plans will change.

...when opportunities may present themselves in strange ways.

...when friends will come out of the blue.

...when it will be a sunny winter day in Seattle

...when I'll stop this insane list already.

Okay...time to stop procrastinating.

Would have, Could have, Should have

Oh how a week can change your life. For the better when you sit and think, but for the worse when you just let it wash over you.

All that contemplation last weekend? The worse of it is that it ain't going to happen. Which is sad, but passable. The best of it is that we really got to sit and talk about what works and what doesn't and what we are really dreaming about. And the best of it all when it was said and done? Was that I know and he knows. We know. That we're here for each other through it all. And that is the best feeling in the world. Knowing that you're down for someone who is down for you.

Cryptic...so let's just move to could have:

Could have been a very bad day yesterday. But I have a great boss who is such a duck--everything is water off her back. She gets a look and you know she's like "get real". But you start to talk and she cares. Really, genuinely cares. And can never stay mad for long. Even though I should have asked her first and THEN acted, it all worked out well because we have...


....wait for it...







....a bit longer...






...okay. Sit down. Breath.






we have BOUGHT OUR TICKETS! We're going to China! Just finally found a good deal on the tickets to Beijing. To celebrate (well, really, to look for the tickets back from Kathmandu) we're going out for dim sum. Yummmy! I'll take pictures. If only I could remember where I stashed my camera.

I still cannot believe that I'm going on this trip of a lifetime. Everest Base Camp. Wow!
If you have not been watching it (which, probably not because only folks going there probably really care), there is a great show on Discovery called, well, Everest. It tracks the progress of an expedition going up the hill. Last week, it showed how incredibly crazy this world is. Most of the folks they are following are American. They of course interact with other country's climbers. well in the last show, a couple of the Americans--the stronger climbers they have been profiling--were making their way up Everest and got backlogged behind folks who just were not climbers. And it got me to thinking...well, this and another documentary where they were telling a woman that for the right amount of money, you can be strapped on someone's back and drug up the mountain. But it got me to thinking that yeah, one day I COULD hit the top. But if I were not fit and experienced and mentally capacitated (not INcapacitated) to enjoy it, what would be the point?

Right. So last week, the team almost ran out of oxygen getting down the summit. They send the other group of climbers up next week so I'm thinking all ends well, but we shall see.

And while we're talking about tv...how about them blondes? Buh by! And to Jonathan Mr. Wannabe Survivor? yeah, see ya. Mean, but I believe there is karma and justice in this world and between the blondes who "hi I'm sexy and will screw everyone else to get my way" and Jonathan "It's just a game and I'm 'strategizing' like the best of them by sticking everyone in the back"...karma. Karma. Karma. And now my computer will crash for typing this vile trash...now THAT would be some Karma. Venting over.

Almost Older, Good Sunday morn...I mean afternoon!

So it is Sunday at the homestead. Love this.

Tomorrow, I turn almost 30. Wow. I can't believe I've been here just about three decades! Wow. Dinner with the coolest person I know. Already have my bday gift—that would be the amazing camera I’ve been taking all these cool pictures with!

So today, I am going to enjoy the really, if you stretch it, closer to 25 years old days. Okay...probably won't do that for too long.

This weekend, I went all the way "out there" to find "that" and of course, they didn't have it. I really contemplated writing a letter about removing folks from your list of distributors if every time I go there (ahem...once) they don't have anything. And they don't look like they ever will. Alas. I was the one who waited and didn't call before hopping in the car and going so instead I just went next door to Ross. Where I scored these absolutely amazing stationary sets. Really simple professional and amazing. I think I collect way too much stationary, but it did get me back thinking of "what if".

Lots of that contemplation going on this weekend. Lots of that. Change is good right? Or do you just let it go?

No matter.

So, I know what we're doing for New Year's Eve. Only because I think my better half from time to time checks in here, I won't post it just yet. Also just scored part of his Christmas gift. He's gonna love it. Of course, when someone puts something on your list, it is pretty much a given they'll love it. Pretty much. Especially when they make lists with links to where you can specifically buy stuff. Easy I know. But everyone's happy and not stressed. That is a good thing.

Speaking of stressed. We finally went out and got this:

We rented it. From here.

Totally cool. You pay like $20--$10 is a “deposit” that you get back in store credit when you bring your tree back for recycling. Now THAT, my friends, is cool. Love IKEA, good price for a tree and they recycle them nicely. Totally cool. Totally not stressed.

I especially like this:

Which my better half actually picked out. He has such great taste don’t you think??

So I have to decorate it. He perfected the lights. I’ve never had a “fluffy” tree before. Mine have always had those long branches that you could hang stuff from. This should be fun to get “the look” but what I am thinking is glitter. Lots of it. Because I am so sure R would LOVE having to vacuum that up. Every. Day.

But it is only Christmas once a year right? So gold stars and gold glitter snowflakes—big and large. And some gold bead picks. And poinsettias. Poking out here and there. Oh and I got a couple of surprises that I love. Now, I want to get a bunch of wood and felt things—and ribbon, to finish off the look. Country Christmas meets golden age. Fun times!

I really wanted to do a popcorn garland. But then I thought of the work involved and realized that no, I really didn’t want a popcorn garland.

I saw this ADORABLE bead and wood button get up at Target. But it was like $13 for 6 feet. That is NOT happening. Then I saw a simple wood bead get up at Micheals for like $3 each. Closer, but only 9 ft each strand. I’ve no idea how many I need. I know we have 26x4 (too lazy to do the math) ft of lights on the tree. We don’t need that much garland…maybe half of that in garland. So I need 52 ft? 9 times…uhm yeah…that is closer to doable, but I’m just too cheap to do that for garland. My thoughts (since I like a different theme each year) is that everything I buy for the tree has to be usable elsewhere. Ie, I can put them on a scrapbook page (of course). Or I can use them on gift wrap later in the year.

We’ll see how that all shakes out at some point. All I know for sure is that I hate shopping this time of year. As in getting in my car. Fighting for parking. Getting there. Ugh. Maybe folks will be watching football today. Or something.

Anyhow, bottom line. Gotta get the tree decorated.

After the Cowboys blow it and lose to the Giants. Reverse psychology, reverse psychology, think the worse and hope for the best. Really. 7 to 7 now. Romo wonder kid just threw an interception. great.