So, across the street from the gallery where I am working there is a cow, and a view of the ocean.
Gotta love California.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Homeless Aren't People, Apparently
A few nights ago I listened to a call-in radio show about what is going on in Humboldt County right now; people are signing petitions to get the local police to remove the "transients," as if they are garbage instead of people. I know that homelessness is a problem, but I know forcing people who have nowhere to go to just go away is hardly the solution.
A local transient known as Coffee Jim was given a warning to not loiter. He was told that he better not be found there again. Exactly 24 hours later he was arrested, for "loitering" in a completely different part of town, sitting under a tree in the lawn of a local church. He was not drinking or drunk, he was not under the influence of any drugs, he did not have any illegal substances on his person. He was sitting under a tree. And he was arrested for it.
Another woman had a similar experience, someone who was born here, who has family here, who has never lived anywhere else, has been arrested repeatedly because she is supposed to leave. She doesn't have anywhere else to go. Does anybody bother to help her find a place to be? It seems that they just tell her to disappear. A bystander said she overheard the woman quietly asking the arresting officers how was she supposed to just disappear? "Do you know how hard that is?" she asked them.
This just makes me sad. The hour-long program featured many of the local transients, who told their stories a bit, as well as other locals who know these folks, and it was a really human experience. These are people. Signing petitions to have them removed from the area is not the solution to the homelessness problem.
A local transient known as Coffee Jim was given a warning to not loiter. He was told that he better not be found there again. Exactly 24 hours later he was arrested, for "loitering" in a completely different part of town, sitting under a tree in the lawn of a local church. He was not drinking or drunk, he was not under the influence of any drugs, he did not have any illegal substances on his person. He was sitting under a tree. And he was arrested for it.
Another woman had a similar experience, someone who was born here, who has family here, who has never lived anywhere else, has been arrested repeatedly because she is supposed to leave. She doesn't have anywhere else to go. Does anybody bother to help her find a place to be? It seems that they just tell her to disappear. A bystander said she overheard the woman quietly asking the arresting officers how was she supposed to just disappear? "Do you know how hard that is?" she asked them.
This just makes me sad. The hour-long program featured many of the local transients, who told their stories a bit, as well as other locals who know these folks, and it was a really human experience. These are people. Signing petitions to have them removed from the area is not the solution to the homelessness problem.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
So I Got Another Job
So, I wasn't even trying to get a job, though I was thinking how working at home all the time, while it's awesomely convenient and I get lots of housework down and time to exercise (which is brilliant!) and I eat healthier and cheaper and am earning more than I earned at my last job, can also be lonely. But, I mean, I didn't even say that aloud. I just thought it.
And then our glassblower friend called and asked if I was available to come into a local gallery and talk to the owners about the possibility of running the gallery while still doing my own business at their gallery instead of at home. So I went in to talk to them. And I start tomorrow. (They had an employee, but she accepted another job instead.)
So I am now an employee of Front Gallery; I run the shop. Plus I still run my other business while I am at the gallery. I'm excited; it feels like something that has the potential to be really great.
And then our glassblower friend called and asked if I was available to come into a local gallery and talk to the owners about the possibility of running the gallery while still doing my own business at their gallery instead of at home. So I went in to talk to them. And I start tomorrow. (They had an employee, but she accepted another job instead.)
So I am now an employee of Front Gallery; I run the shop. Plus I still run my other business while I am at the gallery. I'm excited; it feels like something that has the potential to be really great.
Cooking as a Habit
I have decided that as a foodie, if I want to be authentic, I need to make cooking a habit. I have always wished I cooked meals on a regular basis, and haven't done much to make that wish a reality. If wishes were horses, I'd have a whole stable full of them, or however the saying/nursery rhyme goes...
So, anyway, I decided to make dinner, and I also decided to go with tried-and-true things (i.e. something I have successfully cooked in my life) that I knew Mike would like (not that he's picky, but I know there are things he definitely likes), that called for as many ingredients already on hand as possible. This greatly reduced my options since, as I have already indicated, I do not cook on a regular basis (unless you count eggs and turkey sandwiches, not at the same time).
Still, undeterred, I looked through a binder of recipes I put together in 2003 or 2004 and have never used (NEVER used!), and voila! Mexican Lasagna. A super easy yet delicious recipe that Mom had given me, something I knew I had successfully made before, and something that called for many ingredients we already had on hand. I would have to go to the store for the ground beef and taco seasoning, but I was anticipating having to go to the store. So no biggie.
I also found a chocolate chip cookie recipe that Mom emailed me once, and made that too. Mike was surprised, and everything turned out delicious.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained (can substitute refried or black beans)
1 regular sized package of tortillas (flour or corn)
2+ cups of "taco" cheese (I used cheddar and monterey jack cheeses)
Directions:
1. Brown ground beef.
2. Drain off fat.
3. Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce and beans.
4. Spray/grease casserole baking dish well.
5. Slice tortillas in half.
6. Line bottom of the pan with half of the tortillas.
7. The next layer is half of the meat and bean mixture.
8. Follow the meat layer with a layer of half the cheese.
9. Repeat the three layers (tortilla, meat, cheese) with the remaining halves of the ingredients.
10. Cook in a 300 degree oven OR in microwave until cheese is bubbly and dish looks done. (This took about 25 minutes including a few turns of the pan to make sure it cooked evenly in our quirky oven.)
11. Let stand 10 minutes or so to cool.
12. Serve as desired. (Suggestions: Salsa, sour cream, black olives - I used all of the above.)
CHOCO CHIP BUTTER COOKIES
Ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Cream butter, sugars and shortening well, add two unbeaten eggs and 1 tbsp vanilla (3 tsp), beat well, blend in dry ingredients, stir in 1 large pck. chocolate chips (I used 15 oz. bag of semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips) and 1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts), drop onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 min.
So, anyway, I decided to make dinner, and I also decided to go with tried-and-true things (i.e. something I have successfully cooked in my life) that I knew Mike would like (not that he's picky, but I know there are things he definitely likes), that called for as many ingredients already on hand as possible. This greatly reduced my options since, as I have already indicated, I do not cook on a regular basis (unless you count eggs and turkey sandwiches, not at the same time).
Still, undeterred, I looked through a binder of recipes I put together in 2003 or 2004 and have never used (NEVER used!), and voila! Mexican Lasagna. A super easy yet delicious recipe that Mom had given me, something I knew I had successfully made before, and something that called for many ingredients we already had on hand. I would have to go to the store for the ground beef and taco seasoning, but I was anticipating having to go to the store. So no biggie.
I also found a chocolate chip cookie recipe that Mom emailed me once, and made that too. Mike was surprised, and everything turned out delicious.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained (can substitute refried or black beans)
1 regular sized package of tortillas (flour or corn)
2+ cups of "taco" cheese (I used cheddar and monterey jack cheeses)
Directions:
1. Brown ground beef.
2. Drain off fat.
3. Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce and beans.
4. Spray/grease casserole baking dish well.
5. Slice tortillas in half.
6. Line bottom of the pan with half of the tortillas.
7. The next layer is half of the meat and bean mixture.
8. Follow the meat layer with a layer of half the cheese.
9. Repeat the three layers (tortilla, meat, cheese) with the remaining halves of the ingredients.
10. Cook in a 300 degree oven OR in microwave until cheese is bubbly and dish looks done. (This took about 25 minutes including a few turns of the pan to make sure it cooked evenly in our quirky oven.)
11. Let stand 10 minutes or so to cool.
12. Serve as desired. (Suggestions: Salsa, sour cream, black olives - I used all of the above.)
CHOCO CHIP BUTTER COOKIES
Ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Cream butter, sugars and shortening well, add two unbeaten eggs and 1 tbsp vanilla (3 tsp), beat well, blend in dry ingredients, stir in 1 large pck. chocolate chips (I used 15 oz. bag of semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips) and 1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts), drop onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 min.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Too Close for Comfort
This morning, I was making breakfast, and I grabbed the dishcloth to wash off the table, when I saw something weird that sort of resembled a pickle on the dishrag, and I thought to myself, briefly, "that's odd because we don't have any pickles; what kind of weird trick did Mike play on me before going to work?"
And then the pickle moved. Which caused me to scream, a little bit, and throw the dishrag into the sink.
I was semi-okay with the existence of slugs out here as long as they stayed where they belong, which frankly I am certain is NOT in my kitchen sink. The banana slugs might be sort of novel, but even those can stay out of my house!
I took a couple pictures so you could share my joy with me. I call this piece "Slugs are Disgusting and Need to Stay Out of My Sink." Enjoy:
P.S. Since we are in a sharing mood, when I carried the thing outside on the dishrag it was oozing everywhere and I thought it was going to drip on me or the carpet! So disgusting.
And then the pickle moved. Which caused me to scream, a little bit, and throw the dishrag into the sink.
I was semi-okay with the existence of slugs out here as long as they stayed where they belong, which frankly I am certain is NOT in my kitchen sink. The banana slugs might be sort of novel, but even those can stay out of my house!
I took a couple pictures so you could share my joy with me. I call this piece "Slugs are Disgusting and Need to Stay Out of My Sink." Enjoy:
P.S. Since we are in a sharing mood, when I carried the thing outside on the dishrag it was oozing everywhere and I thought it was going to drip on me or the carpet! So disgusting.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
A Few Pictures from Today
I haven't even gotten my WI pictures up yet - well there are so many more of them - anyway, excuses aside, I'm stealing time for just one moment to get these pics up from our "lovely" time at the Loleta Beach (officially called Table Bluff) with Mike's mom and Mike's kids and the dog this afternoon. The company was wonderful, the weather, not so much. Before that, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast/lunch at Hot Brew in Fortuna; and though there are no pictures of this particular event, it bears mentioning because Hot Brew is delicious.
Enjoy!
Left to right, Josh, Mike's mom Mary Ann, Mike, Kaya:
Beachfront property, complete with a fenced-in yard:
Home Sweet Home etched into the wood above the "door":
Hanging out inside the hut (away from the wind):
Kaya offered to take a picture:
Leaving our "home away from home," as photographed once again by Paparazzo Kaya:
A hanglider over the bluff:
Crammed into the back of the car:
The end.
Enjoy!
Left to right, Josh, Mike's mom Mary Ann, Mike, Kaya:
Beachfront property, complete with a fenced-in yard:
Home Sweet Home etched into the wood above the "door":
Hanging out inside the hut (away from the wind):
Kaya offered to take a picture:
Leaving our "home away from home," as photographed once again by Paparazzo Kaya:
A hanglider over the bluff:
Crammed into the back of the car:
The end.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Seriously, Kill Your Television, It's Awesome
Sometime last week or so, our TV died a violent death, and at first I was upset. After the initial "shock" of being once again TV-less (I sold my TV before moving out here and didn't have a TV for about a year, when a friend gave us an extra one she had sometime in late February/early March of this year.), Mike and I once again got creative about how to spend our newly found "free" time. We played board games and cards again. We cooked together. We sat on the couch and looked out the window holding hands while listening to favorite radio programs. We went for evening walks and bicycle rides. I used the now bare coffee table space to organize my papers last weekend, and I've been getting so much housecleaning done! And it's only been about a week!
I am sure that my life is so much more peaceful without a television set. When I first was living without a TV it was really strange to me, as I had never lived without one before. Then I got used to it. By the time our friend bestowed upon us a TV I thought I was glad to get back what I had missed so much. But that feeling doesn't compare to the feeling of peace I have now, at realizing how much energy I was expending even considering whether or not to turn it on and flip through channels. And how depressed I would feel if I sat and watched it aimlessly for any period of time.
The only thing I'm going to miss is having the TV to use for watching DVD's. The kids fighting constantly over whose turn it is to choose what they watch - that part I will NOT miss.
Kill your TV! Life is divine without it!
P.S. My biggest complaint in all of this is that it cost $10 to deliver the TV to the recycle center, but I know it was the right thing to do, so I paid. I've definitely blown $10 in way worse ways than recycling a TV I didn't even pay for, so there you go.
I am sure that my life is so much more peaceful without a television set. When I first was living without a TV it was really strange to me, as I had never lived without one before. Then I got used to it. By the time our friend bestowed upon us a TV I thought I was glad to get back what I had missed so much. But that feeling doesn't compare to the feeling of peace I have now, at realizing how much energy I was expending even considering whether or not to turn it on and flip through channels. And how depressed I would feel if I sat and watched it aimlessly for any period of time.
The only thing I'm going to miss is having the TV to use for watching DVD's. The kids fighting constantly over whose turn it is to choose what they watch - that part I will NOT miss.
Kill your TV! Life is divine without it!
P.S. My biggest complaint in all of this is that it cost $10 to deliver the TV to the recycle center, but I know it was the right thing to do, so I paid. I've definitely blown $10 in way worse ways than recycling a TV I didn't even pay for, so there you go.
Future M-I-L
I met my future mother-in-law today. She is very nice and very pretty. She flew in from Baltimore to bring home safely Mike's kids, who were out there for a visit. She is in town until Friday. We had a late lunch at our favorite local Mexican restaurant, and then we ran around at the drive-in beach for a while.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Baby Got Skunked
The dog freaked me out today. I let her out for a minute, left the door open for her to come back inside when she was done, and went in the other room to make the bed. All of a sudden she came barreling inside, literally foaming at the mouth and scared half to death. I had to physically drag her outside because she was foaming and drooling everywhere and her drool had the most awful smell! She fought me because she was scared to be outside. Only after I called Mike to come home did I realize what that awful smell was - poor Baby got sprayed by a skunk!
Anyway, we took Baby to the beach today. It was a treat for her after we spent the bulk of the day with rubber gloves on, alternating between scrubbing her with baby shampoo and dousing her with water and coating her with canned tomato juice and then starting the entire process over again. So far, it seems to have worked, as she smells much better.
I can't say I'm happy it was a skunk that caused that foaming at the mouth and crazed behavior, but I can say I'm glad that's all it was. For a minute there I thought she was having a seizure! It scared me half to death too!
I hope the evening is much more low-key.
Anyway, we took Baby to the beach today. It was a treat for her after we spent the bulk of the day with rubber gloves on, alternating between scrubbing her with baby shampoo and dousing her with water and coating her with canned tomato juice and then starting the entire process over again. So far, it seems to have worked, as she smells much better.
I can't say I'm happy it was a skunk that caused that foaming at the mouth and crazed behavior, but I can say I'm glad that's all it was. For a minute there I thought she was having a seizure! It scared me half to death too!
I hope the evening is much more low-key.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
People's Paper Trails and No Postage Necessary
It's only taken me a year and a half, but I have finally gone and done it. It took me the entire weekend thus far, but I already feel like a new person. An organized person. A person whose entire existence can be summed up by looking through a single crate filled with hanging files, folders with labels, placed in alphabetical order, containers for every important piece of paper, from birth certificates and car titles to bank and credit card statements. In the process of doing this, I have made more space in my apartment, and I have filled two brown paper bags with pieces of paper to be recycled, items that I have been hanging on to for the apparently sole reason of consuming my living space. Not any more! Die, paper, die! Or be recycled... or something. Uh... anyway...
As I tackled this overwhelming project, I came across numerous envelopes from "pre-approved" credit card applications to magical-cure-all-elixir solicitations that contain the following words in the upper right corner, where the stamp normally goes: NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. Now, is it just me, or do you have the urge to mail random crap to these companies? Because I do. I haven't done it yet, mostly because I fear it's an underpaid peon who has to process these requests (read: open the envelopes, and remove whatever junk is in them). But, then the company has to pay the postage, which if enough people did this enough times, it might actually cause a dent in their bottomless pocketbooks, right? Much like how they prey on the innocent by giving them unlimited credit limits (there's an oxymoron) attached to HUGE interest rates? Is this wrong? I'm still on the fence, so for now I will behave. For now.
As a helpful tip from my heart to yours, the key to completing this seemingly undoable project is to just handle one piece of paper at a time, take breaks for eating and sleeping and exercising, read a book or do a dance when you feel like you can't take it anymore, and Voila! It's amazing the amount of progress I have made just following this simple method. You, too, can have personal organization for only $9.99 a month plus extra verbiage in tiny print that will steal your soul if you let it... oops, got carried away there for a minute... can you tell I have been opening up lots of junk mail lately?
Well, anyway, I do have a bit more filing to do, while I'm on such a roll here... Happy Paper Trails to You (until we meet again)!
As I tackled this overwhelming project, I came across numerous envelopes from "pre-approved" credit card applications to magical-cure-all-elixir solicitations that contain the following words in the upper right corner, where the stamp normally goes: NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. Now, is it just me, or do you have the urge to mail random crap to these companies? Because I do. I haven't done it yet, mostly because I fear it's an underpaid peon who has to process these requests (read: open the envelopes, and remove whatever junk is in them). But, then the company has to pay the postage, which if enough people did this enough times, it might actually cause a dent in their bottomless pocketbooks, right? Much like how they prey on the innocent by giving them unlimited credit limits (there's an oxymoron) attached to HUGE interest rates? Is this wrong? I'm still on the fence, so for now I will behave. For now.
As a helpful tip from my heart to yours, the key to completing this seemingly undoable project is to just handle one piece of paper at a time, take breaks for eating and sleeping and exercising, read a book or do a dance when you feel like you can't take it anymore, and Voila! It's amazing the amount of progress I have made just following this simple method. You, too, can have personal organization for only $9.99 a month plus extra verbiage in tiny print that will steal your soul if you let it... oops, got carried away there for a minute... can you tell I have been opening up lots of junk mail lately?
Well, anyway, I do have a bit more filing to do, while I'm on such a roll here... Happy Paper Trails to You (until we meet again)!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Hi, There.
It's been a week of getting stuff done. Monday I rode my bicycle to the bus and took the bus to the tax man and now my taxes are done, WHEW!, and I have a nice amount of money coming back too. (And I didn't spend gas on that trip into Eureka, which is great, because gas is still somewhere around $4.60-$4.79 a gallon, depending on where you fill up.) Tuesday I took Baby for a really long walk and got a lot of catch-up work done, listed some stuff on eBay. Wednesday, we drove to Fort Bragg (three hours each way) and hand-delivered a lot of glass to our favorite gallery down there, and brought back a nice chunk of change in exchange. Yesterday I listed more on eBay. I went for a walk AND a bike ride. And I made banana bread. I used two different recipes, one that I cut off a bag of bananas that I bought at Kalscheur's Fine Foods in Mount Horeb (WI - as if anyone reads this that wouldn't know that, ha ha) so long ago, and the other one from a cookbook Grandma gave me just before I moved here. I didn't have all the ingredients listed in either, but with a little bit of creativity and modifying, I made some pretty darn good bread. Mom always said cooking was art more than chemistry, but a little bit of chemistry too. (See, Mom, I was sort of paying attention.) I think it's easier to do that with baking though. Baking, I get. Cooking, I'm still figuring out. Mike has taught me a lot. He's pretty innovative.
I've walked or biked now just about every day consistently for the last two weeks. Not crummy little distances either. And I've been doing pushups too. It's hard, but I can feel myself getting stronger and that is exciting. There is also this huge hill by my house that I have finally managed to bike all the way up. I thought my lungs might explode by the time I got to the top, but I made it up, so that's what's important.
I've also learned a tremendous amount this week about what is involved in being self-employed, and I think I can do this. I really do. Guess it's what I'm doing, so might as well go with that.
So that's my week in a nutshell. The weather has been cool and foggy, much like Humboldt, though it has been warm enough for teeshirts around here this summer on a semi-regular basis, which is different than last summer was. There are still lots of fires around me, but the sky is not smoky where we live. I think the fog protects us. I read in the paper yesterday that the fires have already cost something like 31 million dollars, and there is no end in site. I read online that it's raining like mad in southern California, so it seems we have changed places with our other half. It was also over a hundred degrees in San Francisco last week or the week before, which is record-breaking crazy. This weather, man, this weather. What else can you say?
Now I am going to package and ship marbles to the good folks who buy them from us. And then I am going to take some more pictures of marbles (I am beginning to fall in love with art marbles, which are truly mesmerizing. I can see why people collect them! You could see too! Just check out http://myworld.ebay.com/openfireglass/ ... I would say just kidding, but let's be honest here.)
I've got about 10 projects going all at once, and the kids come back next week! Mike's mom will also be in town, so I will get to meet her. I got a lot of stuff to get done while I still have some relative peace and quiet!
I've walked or biked now just about every day consistently for the last two weeks. Not crummy little distances either. And I've been doing pushups too. It's hard, but I can feel myself getting stronger and that is exciting. There is also this huge hill by my house that I have finally managed to bike all the way up. I thought my lungs might explode by the time I got to the top, but I made it up, so that's what's important.
I've also learned a tremendous amount this week about what is involved in being self-employed, and I think I can do this. I really do. Guess it's what I'm doing, so might as well go with that.
So that's my week in a nutshell. The weather has been cool and foggy, much like Humboldt, though it has been warm enough for teeshirts around here this summer on a semi-regular basis, which is different than last summer was. There are still lots of fires around me, but the sky is not smoky where we live. I think the fog protects us. I read in the paper yesterday that the fires have already cost something like 31 million dollars, and there is no end in site. I read online that it's raining like mad in southern California, so it seems we have changed places with our other half. It was also over a hundred degrees in San Francisco last week or the week before, which is record-breaking crazy. This weather, man, this weather. What else can you say?
Now I am going to package and ship marbles to the good folks who buy them from us. And then I am going to take some more pictures of marbles (I am beginning to fall in love with art marbles, which are truly mesmerizing. I can see why people collect them! You could see too! Just check out http://myworld.ebay.com/openfireglass/ ... I would say just kidding, but let's be honest here.)
I've got about 10 projects going all at once, and the kids come back next week! Mike's mom will also be in town, so I will get to meet her. I got a lot of stuff to get done while I still have some relative peace and quiet!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
To Do List
It's been so hot here that part of my to-do list was to help get Mike out the door as early as possible so he can get as much work done before it gets way too unbearable to be on the torch. He was up and out the door with a thermos full of coffee by 6:45, so that's pretty good.
We are dog-sitting Baby this week and next while Josh and Kaya are visiting their grandma (Mike's mom) in Baltimore. Baby is in heat. So a lot of my time is spent literally babysitting her. She is the sweetest dog in the entire universe (I'm not one of those annoying dog lovers that thinks that about my awful dog; anyone who meets her and/or spends any amount of time with her comments on how well behaved she is - she doesn't bark, she does exactly what you ask of her, and is an all-around very happy, social dog who just wants to be friends with everybody and their dog or uncle, literally), but I will admit I'm looking forward to when she is done being in heat. It's time-consuming to keep track of her so she doesn't make a mess in my house or have a neighborhood male dog impregnate her.
I also need to get my taxes done - I filed an extension because life was crazy hectic during the jazz festival and aftermath, and they were too confusing trying to figure out the state taxes, having moved to another state partway through 2007.
I have lots more marbles to list on eBay and have already taken many photographs that now need to be adjusted.
I need to research and contact three galleries that came recommended by one of our local gallery owners for Mike's work; one is in Dallas, one in D.C. and one in Colorado. Operation Mike Warren Next Dale Chihuly continues (clunky operation name, needs work).
And before the day gets too hot, I need to ride my bicycle. I've been working hard to be active everyday. I've also been trying to master push-ups, which is tough! But I will do it. I will do it. (I have an email support network of three girlfriends from Wisconsin, which is definitely motivating! To strong women!)
I also need to keep working on my writer's resume - it's tough! - but there is a lot of local freelance writing jobs to be done, and I'm trying to see if I can score any of them. That would be so awesome.
BUT FIRST! I need to eat some breakfast! (My usual top priority.)
We are dog-sitting Baby this week and next while Josh and Kaya are visiting their grandma (Mike's mom) in Baltimore. Baby is in heat. So a lot of my time is spent literally babysitting her. She is the sweetest dog in the entire universe (I'm not one of those annoying dog lovers that thinks that about my awful dog; anyone who meets her and/or spends any amount of time with her comments on how well behaved she is - she doesn't bark, she does exactly what you ask of her, and is an all-around very happy, social dog who just wants to be friends with everybody and their dog or uncle, literally), but I will admit I'm looking forward to when she is done being in heat. It's time-consuming to keep track of her so she doesn't make a mess in my house or have a neighborhood male dog impregnate her.
I also need to get my taxes done - I filed an extension because life was crazy hectic during the jazz festival and aftermath, and they were too confusing trying to figure out the state taxes, having moved to another state partway through 2007.
I have lots more marbles to list on eBay and have already taken many photographs that now need to be adjusted.
I need to research and contact three galleries that came recommended by one of our local gallery owners for Mike's work; one is in Dallas, one in D.C. and one in Colorado. Operation Mike Warren Next Dale Chihuly continues (clunky operation name, needs work).
And before the day gets too hot, I need to ride my bicycle. I've been working hard to be active everyday. I've also been trying to master push-ups, which is tough! But I will do it. I will do it. (I have an email support network of three girlfriends from Wisconsin, which is definitely motivating! To strong women!)
I also need to keep working on my writer's resume - it's tough! - but there is a lot of local freelance writing jobs to be done, and I'm trying to see if I can score any of them. That would be so awesome.
BUT FIRST! I need to eat some breakfast! (My usual top priority.)
I Heart KMUD
I'm listening to KMUD (kmud.org) and I have to say I've never felt so attached to a radio station before. Real live people, not the deejays like on corporate radio stations, they talk about real issues, they play a really eclectic mix of music, and I discover a lot of extremely talented musicians and artists I wouldn't otherwise have discovered.
My current favorite shows include the Hawaiian/Jawaiian one on Tuesday at 4:00PM, the trance show on Thursdays at 2:30PM, the eastern music show on Thursdays at 4:00PM, and the early morning shows on most mornings, when they play really positive music with a beat that makes you want to jump out of bed and move your feet.
Edited to add: I also love the "Audio Archive" feature on their website, so if I don't like what they have on currently or I miss one of my favorite programs (or I want to listen to some of the late-night programs, which are often really good, but I'm not up at midnight), I can listen to them anytime! Gotta love technology.
My current favorite shows include the Hawaiian/Jawaiian one on Tuesday at 4:00PM, the trance show on Thursdays at 2:30PM, the eastern music show on Thursdays at 4:00PM, and the early morning shows on most mornings, when they play really positive music with a beat that makes you want to jump out of bed and move your feet.
Edited to add: I also love the "Audio Archive" feature on their website, so if I don't like what they have on currently or I miss one of my favorite programs (or I want to listen to some of the late-night programs, which are often really good, but I'm not up at midnight), I can listen to them anytime! Gotta love technology.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Another Heat Wave
It's in the HUNDREDS a little inland, and here on the coast it's in the mid-80's. It's been that way for days, and they are saying it's lasting through tomorrow.
Yesterday when I was driving north to Clam Beach, it smelled of smoke. "Smoke" has also been in the daily forecast. It hasn't rained here in weeks and weeks and weeks. It's so not like this place. My first experience with California fires, and I have to say I'm over it. I'm sure lots of other people feel the same way.
They banned fireworks just south of us last week. I never heard of that, but it makes sense.
Yesterday when I was driving north to Clam Beach, it smelled of smoke. "Smoke" has also been in the daily forecast. It hasn't rained here in weeks and weeks and weeks. It's so not like this place. My first experience with California fires, and I have to say I'm over it. I'm sure lots of other people feel the same way.
They banned fireworks just south of us last week. I never heard of that, but it makes sense.
The Email I Just Sent to the People who Roast the Coffee We Drink:
Dear Signature Coffee Company,
We have fairly recently (within the last six months) discovered your Indian Yellikudige Jasmine Estate beans at our local Murphy's grocery store, and subsequently fallen in love with it (obviously!). We are a coffee drinking family, and thusly we buy several bags a week, spending upwards of $60 or more a month on coffee! This could potentially break us unless we switch to Folgers (PLEASE, PLEASE don't let that happen to us, I beg you!).
Anyway, we saw on the bag that we could email you, and also that wholesale (and bulk?) is available for purchase. We are just two java joe schmoes; as such is it possible for us to purchase wholesale or bulk beans? If so, how do we go about doing this?
If there is any advice you can provide (or just prices and availability), we will be forever grateful.
Very truly yours,
Naomi & Mike
P.S. If you do not sell wholesale or bulk beans to the general, non-grocery-store-or-coffee-shop public, do you do sponsorships? I know a superb local glass artist who literally fuels his creative self with your delicious roast. :-)
DO YOU THINK IT WILL WORK?????
We have fairly recently (within the last six months) discovered your Indian Yellikudige Jasmine Estate beans at our local Murphy's grocery store, and subsequently fallen in love with it (obviously!). We are a coffee drinking family, and thusly we buy several bags a week, spending upwards of $60 or more a month on coffee! This could potentially break us unless we switch to Folgers (PLEASE, PLEASE don't let that happen to us, I beg you!).
Anyway, we saw on the bag that we could email you, and also that wholesale (and bulk?) is available for purchase. We are just two java joe schmoes; as such is it possible for us to purchase wholesale or bulk beans? If so, how do we go about doing this?
If there is any advice you can provide (or just prices and availability), we will be forever grateful.
Very truly yours,
Naomi & Mike
P.S. If you do not sell wholesale or bulk beans to the general, non-grocery-store-or-coffee-shop public, do you do sponsorships? I know a superb local glass artist who literally fuels his creative self with your delicious roast. :-)
DO YOU THINK IT WILL WORK?????
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Ticks are Gross
I have found two ticks on my person in the last few months - TWO! They were on my clothing (which was on my person), but even that is way too close for comfort. No one invited you to this party of one, so get lost, Ticks. Two is two too many when it comes to ticks.
YUCK. I guess tromping through the woods and the marsh has its drawbacks. EWWWWW.
Edited to Add: One of those two ticks was located on me TODAY. Hence the post about it now.
Also, when we have the kids and the dog (which is most weekends and then some), we often go for walks either in the marsh or the redwoods or both, and we always find ticks on either a kid or the dog. Every time. There have been at least 10 ticks found on children and dog, and that is just too many. Especially with the scare of Lyme Disease.
Edited Again to Add: I just picked a tick off the dog. YUCK YUCK YUCK.
There once was a time when I wasn't sure what a tick looked like. Now I'm so familiar with the little buggers it's not funny. Not funny at all.
YUCK. I guess tromping through the woods and the marsh has its drawbacks. EWWWWW.
Edited to Add: One of those two ticks was located on me TODAY. Hence the post about it now.
Also, when we have the kids and the dog (which is most weekends and then some), we often go for walks either in the marsh or the redwoods or both, and we always find ticks on either a kid or the dog. Every time. There have been at least 10 ticks found on children and dog, and that is just too many. Especially with the scare of Lyme Disease.
Edited Again to Add: I just picked a tick off the dog. YUCK YUCK YUCK.
There once was a time when I wasn't sure what a tick looked like. Now I'm so familiar with the little buggers it's not funny. Not funny at all.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Real Live Jellyfish in the Bay!
The highlight of this day was when Mike and Baby (the dog) and I were walking on the waterfront in Eureka on a blissfully breezeless beautiful summer evening and we "ventured" out onto the floating pier. There, we saw a jellyfish, swimming in the bay (that's Humboldt Bay, not to be confused with "The Bay," which is San Francisco Bay). It was up close and personal, as in I could have reached in and touched it (if I were stupid).
I have never, to my knowledge, seen a real live jellyfish in person, though I've seen them on the IMAX screen, and that was cool too. I love where I live, I love it here, it is so beautiful and incredible.
Gotta go catch a sunset now - it looks like it's going to be a good one.
I have never, to my knowledge, seen a real live jellyfish in person, though I've seen them on the IMAX screen, and that was cool too. I love where I live, I love it here, it is so beautiful and incredible.
Gotta go catch a sunset now - it looks like it's going to be a good one.
What I Have to Say About Wisconsin
I just got some of my thank you's out the door! I had an AMAZING trip, in spite of the wacky weather (flooding, storms, hail, tornadoes), my family is WONDERFUL, and it was so nice to see everyone! Thank you so much, dear Hayley and Dan for the hospitality, and Grandma and Mom and Dad too! No, I know that doesn't count as actual thank you's and yes, I certainly know I have more thank you's to send out than just that!
I saw some friends, and I saw my family. I felt like it was a long time to be there, and still not long enough to spend with everyone. I spend some wonderful time with my big sister Natalie (though she is not so big, so I guess that makes her my little big sister), I got to spend some QT with Mom and Dad, Grandma, Avery and Sadie, my brother Ben (this is not listed in any particular order). My extended family (my mom's family) came over to Mom and Dad's on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for grilled chicken and pork and lots of other homemade goodies. I went for long walks with Hayley, went to REAL stores (no, Humboldt County, you do not have REAL STORES, sorry to say) with Natalie, Mom, Hayley and Grandma (not all at the same time), got to eat at my favorite places (Sa-Bai Thong with Anya and Mike; Monty's Blue Plate Diner with Laurie, Anthony, and Andrea; JMK Nippon with Natalie; Laredo's with Hayley, Dan and Ben; The Great Dane with Bennett; Jolly Bob's with Hayley and Dan; Maharaja's with Hayley; The Jet Room with Sherry; The Bradbury with Hayley and Liz; Culvers with Grandma ... oh my, can you tell what I LOVE TO DO! LOL! I'm sure there is more, but seriously, I need to stop now), went to The Kissers' Final Show at the High Noon Saloon, got to see Stephen Marley at the Barrymore for FREE (thank you to Dad and his connections!)... not to mention all the delicious food people prepared for me, and all the lovely time spent with everyone! And oh man, now I just need to post pictures, so I will do that now and maybe I'll be back later to talk more about how awesome my visit was!
I saw some friends, and I saw my family. I felt like it was a long time to be there, and still not long enough to spend with everyone. I spend some wonderful time with my big sister Natalie (though she is not so big, so I guess that makes her my little big sister), I got to spend some QT with Mom and Dad, Grandma, Avery and Sadie, my brother Ben (this is not listed in any particular order). My extended family (my mom's family) came over to Mom and Dad's on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for grilled chicken and pork and lots of other homemade goodies. I went for long walks with Hayley, went to REAL stores (no, Humboldt County, you do not have REAL STORES, sorry to say) with Natalie, Mom, Hayley and Grandma (not all at the same time), got to eat at my favorite places (Sa-Bai Thong with Anya and Mike; Monty's Blue Plate Diner with Laurie, Anthony, and Andrea; JMK Nippon with Natalie; Laredo's with Hayley, Dan and Ben; The Great Dane with Bennett; Jolly Bob's with Hayley and Dan; Maharaja's with Hayley; The Jet Room with Sherry; The Bradbury with Hayley and Liz; Culvers with Grandma ... oh my, can you tell what I LOVE TO DO! LOL! I'm sure there is more, but seriously, I need to stop now), went to The Kissers' Final Show at the High Noon Saloon, got to see Stephen Marley at the Barrymore for FREE (thank you to Dad and his connections!)... not to mention all the delicious food people prepared for me, and all the lovely time spent with everyone! And oh man, now I just need to post pictures, so I will do that now and maybe I'll be back later to talk more about how awesome my visit was!
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