At least for now, I am removing the link to our happy hour webcam.
Summer may see its return, but who knows.... With a second computer and second desk, the bounds of technology may expand yet again, but we'll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime I invite you to take a deep, cleansing breath and enjoy the beautiful picture in the upper right of the beach in Mexico. On the Caribbean. My happy place.
Ahhhhhhhhh.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
What else would one do on a snow day?
Slept in.
Heard a painfully funny parody of an ad for tonight's State of the Union on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18479111
Talked to my mom and to Paul's mom.
Washed the shower curtain.
Tooled around our new Mac book, which will soon become our business' main computer.
Made some business calls.
Took a picture of sox my mom gave me:
Yesterday I scored a goal, a rarity for me. It was beautiful. After a nice long talk with my dad, Paul and I later went out to a pub called Quinn's (sadly, they don't offer a discount for 'family'), where I had a remarkable lime daquiri. The best outside Mexico.
Hope you are warm and finding something fun in unexpected places.
Heard a painfully funny parody of an ad for tonight's State of the Union on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18479111
Talked to my mom and to Paul's mom.
Washed the shower curtain.
Tooled around our new Mac book, which will soon become our business' main computer.
Made some business calls.
Took a picture of sox my mom gave me:
Yesterday I scored a goal, a rarity for me. It was beautiful. After a nice long talk with my dad, Paul and I later went out to a pub called Quinn's (sadly, they don't offer a discount for 'family'), where I had a remarkable lime daquiri. The best outside Mexico.
Hope you are warm and finding something fun in unexpected places.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Please, don't give me money! It'll just make things worse.
Sunday morning is a great time to air out some of those bees in my bonnet. Sen's Cantwell and Murray both got this, as did Rep McDermott.
buzz buzz buzz...
**********************************************
Dear [representative],
I am writing to tell you that - as a middle class resident of Washington state - I want you to VOTE AGAINST the proposed economic stimulus package because it will NOT work for the following reasons:
1) We will not spend the money as the government hopes - we will use it to repay debts such as medical and credit card bills. And, the amount will be too small to have any real or lasting impact on our household;
2) Increasing the Nation's debt in order to boost the economy is a clearly self-defeating measure: if the economy *is* boosted, it will be only for a short time and it will Not increase investor confidence domestically or internationally;
3) We regular middle class people want to hear that our leaders think this nation's economy is strong enough to weather occasional slowdowns. Such corrections force reorganizations in the economic sector that make our country even stronger over the long term;
4) Stealing from my nation's future to pay for the mis-managed present is a deeply, deeply worrying idea that reflects a lack of leadership, and a lack of stewardship for future generations.
Thank you for your time and service, and I truly hope you will vote against the proposed economic stimulus package.
Sincerely,
Rev. Elizabeth Walsh
buzz buzz buzz...
**********************************************
Dear [representative],
I am writing to tell you that - as a middle class resident of Washington state - I want you to VOTE AGAINST the proposed economic stimulus package because it will NOT work for the following reasons:
1) We will not spend the money as the government hopes - we will use it to repay debts such as medical and credit card bills. And, the amount will be too small to have any real or lasting impact on our household;
2) Increasing the Nation's debt in order to boost the economy is a clearly self-defeating measure: if the economy *is* boosted, it will be only for a short time and it will Not increase investor confidence domestically or internationally;
3) We regular middle class people want to hear that our leaders think this nation's economy is strong enough to weather occasional slowdowns. Such corrections force reorganizations in the economic sector that make our country even stronger over the long term;
4) Stealing from my nation's future to pay for the mis-managed present is a deeply, deeply worrying idea that reflects a lack of leadership, and a lack of stewardship for future generations.
Thank you for your time and service, and I truly hope you will vote against the proposed economic stimulus package.
Sincerely,
Rev. Elizabeth Walsh
Friday, January 25, 2008
On the job front, a birthday, and one mom's truth
As part of the saga I've periodically recounted in my efforts to secure employment, below is the full text of (what I assume is) a rejection letter from the EPA.
This is one of the worst and most amusing rejection letters yet.
An application was submitted, a response was sent, an applicant was confused:
***
In other news, my brother turned older than dirt last week (40!), and he and his friend came up for a visit. We, of course, had cake.
Action photo of Kelly threatening to put the candle out old-skool style....
***
Finally, my favorite story from last week: Paul, my brother, his friend, and I were in a local creperie (hooray for crepes!!) one morning and a mom walked in with her 3-5 year old son.
He declared, "Oh, it's quiet in here!"
To which mom replied with some humor, "Not anymore".
God bless such parents of young children.
This is one of the worst and most amusing rejection letters yet.
"Dear Applicant
Thank you for applying to Merit Promotion Announcement No. Reg 10-DE-2008-0010, Environmental Protection Specialist in Office of Water & Watersheds, Drinking Water Unit, Seattle, Washington.
A selection was made:
We appreciate you applying to EPA for consideration, and encourage you to apply for other EPA vacancy announcements at this web site at http://www.usajobs.gov."
An application was submitted, a response was sent, an applicant was confused:
***
In other news, my brother turned older than dirt last week (40!), and he and his friend came up for a visit. We, of course, had cake.
Action photo of Kelly threatening to put the candle out old-skool style....
***
Finally, my favorite story from last week: Paul, my brother, his friend, and I were in a local creperie (hooray for crepes!!) one morning and a mom walked in with her 3-5 year old son.
He declared, "Oh, it's quiet in here!"
To which mom replied with some humor, "Not anymore".
God bless such parents of young children.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I heart geeks!!!
I probably have too much time on my hands, or am at least spending it terribly unwisely.
But I am amused.
And, appropos of nothing, happy Winnie the Pooh Day.
I probably have too much time on my hands, or am at least spending it terribly unwisely.
But I am amused.
And, appropos of nothing, happy Winnie the Pooh Day.
Friday, January 18, 2008
little milestone
Paul and I started dating on Jan 16th, 9 years ago.
I've never met anyone weirder, and there's no where else I'd rather be.
I've never met anyone weirder, and there's no where else I'd rather be.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
From the thrilling world of home improvement
So we undertook some home improvement projects this last weekend.
Yes, you're right, we are renting the place. Even so, there are a few things we've wanted to do since moving in and the landlord has been pretty groovy about them.
Anyway, one such project was replacing the upstairs kitchen faucet, which previously leaked and the faucet head was too low to get anything big (like a kettle) underneath. We picked out the least costly model that had the bells and whistles we needed. Props to Paul for rocking the install.
Turns out, the people at Peerless have not only got smart management but also a healthy sense of humor. Paul and I laughed our way through the instructions, and I sure have to admit that I'm far more likely to buy another one of their products because of it.
Since this shouldn't be limited only to people seeking the thrills of faucet replacement:
Also, there was never a step 2. Just step 1A, 1B, and so on.
Wouldn't it be neat if the Peerless people wrote tax forms?
Yes, you're right, we are renting the place. Even so, there are a few things we've wanted to do since moving in and the landlord has been pretty groovy about them.
Anyway, one such project was replacing the upstairs kitchen faucet, which previously leaked and the faucet head was too low to get anything big (like a kettle) underneath. We picked out the least costly model that had the bells and whistles we needed. Props to Paul for rocking the install.
Turns out, the people at Peerless have not only got smart management but also a healthy sense of humor. Paul and I laughed our way through the instructions, and I sure have to admit that I'm far more likely to buy another one of their products because of it.
Since this shouldn't be limited only to people seeking the thrills of faucet replacement:
"The hardest thing about putting a new faucet in is getting the old one out.... Good luck to you, and may all your coupling nuts turn freely.
Did any water come out? No? Good. It wasn't supposed to....
Again, this may take an adjustable wrench or pliers (and if you like, a few mild curses)....
Watch out for falling rust. That stuff is no fun to get in your eyes, and even less fun to get in your mouth.... [next step]Spit and drink a pop. See? We told you it was no fun to get that stuff in your mouth....
Have you banged your knuckles on the pipes yet? If so, congratulations. Get out from under the sink, apply a bandage and move on....
In a best-case scenario, the faucet will come right out. In a could-be-better-case scenario, the faucet will just sort of sit there, snickering at you."
Also, there was never a step 2. Just step 1A, 1B, and so on.
Wouldn't it be neat if the Peerless people wrote tax forms?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Possibly my favorite NPR moment
All Things Considered did a story today on black carbon nanotubes that absorbs light better than any other material.
This brought up reference of Spinal Tap (Nigel asserted their new album cover was "blacker than black"), and at the conclusion of the story, they played some Spinal Tap music. I love that such a movie/band has made it into the set of legitimate cultural refences.
And I love that people who I rely on for delivering the best and most serious news also have a sense of humor!
This brought up reference of Spinal Tap (Nigel asserted their new album cover was "blacker than black"), and at the conclusion of the story, they played some Spinal Tap music. I love that such a movie/band has made it into the set of legitimate cultural refences.
And I love that people who I rely on for delivering the best and most serious news also have a sense of humor!
Mea Culpa, without the Culpa
A lightly edited version of an article I read this morning, with commentary:
"by the New York Times and the LA Times
ROME — Pope Benedict XVI, in a rare papal acquiescence to protest, has canceled a speech at Sapienza University here amid opposition by professors and students who say he is hostile to science. ...
"...The pope's speech at the university was to mark the start of the academic year. But professors and students objected, citing specifically a speech that Benedict gave in 1990, when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, on Galileo, condemned by the Inquisition in the early 1600s for arguing that the Earth revolved around the sun.
"In that speech, Ratzinger, who would become pope in 2005, quoted the Austrian philosopher Paul Feyerabend as saying: "The church at the time was much more faithful to reason than Galileo himself, and also took into consideration the ethical and social consequences of Galileo's doctrine. Its verdict against Galileo was rational and just." (The Church was *more* faithful to reason....wait, what?? I wonder if he meant that the Church was more faithful to the same reason that made it wrong. Which doesn't seem the kind of thing that one would want to brag about. And definitely seems a little weird to say, 'Not only was the Church right about being wrong, but it was right for oppressing someone who - as we all know - was right.')
"In the speech, Ratzinger did not argue against the validity of science generally or take the church's position from Galileo's time that heliocentrism was heretical. But he asserted, as he has often since elected pope, that science should not close off religion and that science has been used in destructive ways. (Um. Exactly how is it that discovering the earth orbits the sun - which changes nothing in terms of how the masses should live - would be destructive, I wonder? And, how is it that understanding the world around us - which I'm betting God created - is an activity that should draw the ire of any religious leader? Okay, I can see how those Dianetics people don't want to use reality as a corrective, but they're nuts...) ...
"...The pope would be welcome at the university to debate these issues, [physics professor] Frova said, but not to deliver a speech in which there would be no opportunity for discussion or response.
"Benedict is known as a strong intellectual who has emphasized the importance of reason in the practice of faith. He also says evolution is the work of a divine creator and has helped defeat Italian laws that liberalized scientifically assisted fertility procedures." (I guess if the Italian leadership can be sufficiently persuaded that God had nothing to do with giving us brains amazing enough to do science, then perhaps they don't deserve to have a population that keeps making more adherents. Or voters.)
While some of my favorite people in the world are Catholic, they are all - without exception - also admirable thinkers for themselves.
"by the New York Times and the LA Times
ROME — Pope Benedict XVI, in a rare papal acquiescence to protest, has canceled a speech at Sapienza University here amid opposition by professors and students who say he is hostile to science. ...
"...The pope's speech at the university was to mark the start of the academic year. But professors and students objected, citing specifically a speech that Benedict gave in 1990, when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, on Galileo, condemned by the Inquisition in the early 1600s for arguing that the Earth revolved around the sun.
"In that speech, Ratzinger, who would become pope in 2005, quoted the Austrian philosopher Paul Feyerabend as saying: "The church at the time was much more faithful to reason than Galileo himself, and also took into consideration the ethical and social consequences of Galileo's doctrine. Its verdict against Galileo was rational and just." (The Church was *more* faithful to reason....wait, what?? I wonder if he meant that the Church was more faithful to the same reason that made it wrong. Which doesn't seem the kind of thing that one would want to brag about. And definitely seems a little weird to say, 'Not only was the Church right about being wrong, but it was right for oppressing someone who - as we all know - was right.')
"In the speech, Ratzinger did not argue against the validity of science generally or take the church's position from Galileo's time that heliocentrism was heretical. But he asserted, as he has often since elected pope, that science should not close off religion and that science has been used in destructive ways. (Um. Exactly how is it that discovering the earth orbits the sun - which changes nothing in terms of how the masses should live - would be destructive, I wonder? And, how is it that understanding the world around us - which I'm betting God created - is an activity that should draw the ire of any religious leader? Okay, I can see how those Dianetics people don't want to use reality as a corrective, but they're nuts...) ...
"...The pope would be welcome at the university to debate these issues, [physics professor] Frova said, but not to deliver a speech in which there would be no opportunity for discussion or response.
"Benedict is known as a strong intellectual who has emphasized the importance of reason in the practice of faith. He also says evolution is the work of a divine creator and has helped defeat Italian laws that liberalized scientifically assisted fertility procedures." (I guess if the Italian leadership can be sufficiently persuaded that God had nothing to do with giving us brains amazing enough to do science, then perhaps they don't deserve to have a population that keeps making more adherents. Or voters.)
While some of my favorite people in the world are Catholic, they are all - without exception - also admirable thinkers for themselves.
Friday, January 11, 2008
We've come a long way, baby
Mindful that the Chinese press once printed an Onion article as straight news - evidence that satire often translates poorly - I would still put my money on this being a real article.
You're not going to hear me say this often in a 'freedom fries' kind of way, but there are some real perks to living in the ol' U. S. of A.!
And by the way, in regards to the Presidential Primaries, how is it that GUAM and AMERICAN SAMOA have their primaries before Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota? Man, those Guamanians and American Samoans are totally going to skew the whole process. They're ALWAYS messing with our politics, them and all that sun, and being on an island, .... mutter mutter mutter...
You're not going to hear me say this often in a 'freedom fries' kind of way, but there are some real perks to living in the ol' U. S. of A.!
And by the way, in regards to the Presidential Primaries, how is it that GUAM and AMERICAN SAMOA have their primaries before Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota? Man, those Guamanians and American Samoans are totally going to skew the whole process. They're ALWAYS messing with our politics, them and all that sun, and being on an island, .... mutter mutter mutter...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The more our world changes, ...
(**WARNING: The link below includes lots and lots of swearing. If you prefer to avoid such language or have problems discerning satire from reality, please don't read.**)
...the more it stays the same. Except maybe with an expanded vocabulary. In any event, it's a touch dispiriting to see we're dealing with all the same stuff that Carter had to handle.
AND ANOTHER THING!
Experience: let's review, shall we? Obama is taking heat for not having enough 'experience' despite his local and national service, yet our current Commander-in-Chief had only been governor prior to his election.
I hope with all that's in me that the Obama campaign recognizes that discrepancy and runs crazy with it, especially if he gets the nomination and has to go against any Republican. What fun it would be to chide the Republican candidate on that point!!!
...the more it stays the same. Except maybe with an expanded vocabulary. In any event, it's a touch dispiriting to see we're dealing with all the same stuff that Carter had to handle.
AND ANOTHER THING!
Experience: let's review, shall we? Obama is taking heat for not having enough 'experience' despite his local and national service, yet our current Commander-in-Chief had only been governor prior to his election.
I hope with all that's in me that the Obama campaign recognizes that discrepancy and runs crazy with it, especially if he gets the nomination and has to go against any Republican. What fun it would be to chide the Republican candidate on that point!!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
If I could ask a Presidential candidate one (compound) question, ...
... it would be this:
Vote early vote often, because it's just possible that we can't do any worse, even with a waffling mormon spaz who denigrates his own constituents or a sweet little vegan gnome who wants to discuss UFOs and transubstantiation.
Do you believe the President is required to follow the laws of the nation or do you believe that the President's executive status grants him/her exceptions to such laws?
If you were President today, how would you respond to the Federal judge's order to identify the status and location of documents generated in the White House?
Vote early vote often, because it's just possible that we can't do any worse, even with a waffling mormon spaz who denigrates his own constituents or a sweet little vegan gnome who wants to discuss UFOs and transubstantiation.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
my own disconnect
So I'm taking a break from working on a big cake because all the work requires tilting my head down, which is making me dizzy today (see previous post on Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo). Which is to say, this has started effecting my ability to work and earn money. And only now have I begun to think that maybe seeing a doctor could be a good move.
Of course, I'm not going to. I'm on some minimal health care plan - because I'm between jobs - and don't want to get substandard care on a condition that will then become a pre-existing condition once I DO get employment.
Meanwhile...
Yesterday I was taking a survey on the candidates, and one of the questions was about healthcare. I was asked how much the issue mattered to me; "Very important, Somewhat important, or Not important".
The disconnect between my own situation and national politics was revealed by the fact that I initially said Somewhat important. How much more important could healthcare reform be for someone like me??
Damn. Some days I feel like a very low watt lightbulb.
Of course, I'm not going to. I'm on some minimal health care plan - because I'm between jobs - and don't want to get substandard care on a condition that will then become a pre-existing condition once I DO get employment.
Meanwhile...
Yesterday I was taking a survey on the candidates, and one of the questions was about healthcare. I was asked how much the issue mattered to me; "Very important, Somewhat important, or Not important".
The disconnect between my own situation and national politics was revealed by the fact that I initially said Somewhat important. How much more important could healthcare reform be for someone like me??
Damn. Some days I feel like a very low watt lightbulb.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
totally hooky little song
disclaimers
1. The description below includes a spoiler about the game Portal.
2. I embrace my inner geek and make no apologies for her.
Backstory: You have navigated a series of near-fatal experiments - including hazards such as rockets, toxic slime, and neurotoxic gasses - partly in promise of a cake reward. In the process, you destroyed the company(Aperture Science)'s main computer that was behind it all. Oh yeah, and you also died. But the computer sings you a little song about the whole experience, and is surprisingly good natured about all the destruction. So that's something. It's not cake, but it's something.
1. The description below includes a spoiler about the game Portal.
2. I embrace my inner geek and make no apologies for her.
Backstory: You have navigated a series of near-fatal experiments - including hazards such as rockets, toxic slime, and neurotoxic gasses - partly in promise of a cake reward. In the process, you destroyed the company(Aperture Science)'s main computer that was behind it all. Oh yeah, and you also died. But the computer sings you a little song about the whole experience, and is surprisingly good natured about all the destruction. So that's something. It's not cake, but it's something.
Hens on my mind
Ok, for reasons totally related to work - really - I came across an entertaining blog about chickens.
Yep. Chickens.
Yep. Chickens.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year..... where to start?
First, congratulations to all of you who've made it to 2008. It was not an easy year for many of us, and here's hoping that the challenges of the last year have well prepared us to laugh at the challenges of the next.
Second, great gratitude to Jeannie and Aaron for the perfect night in.
Finally, (don't worry, there'll be more. Afterall, it's just the 1st day of the year...) 2007 taught me that if you get the chance to do any of the following, I would generally recommend it:
* watch "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians". A very earnest cult-classic with a crazy-memorable theme song.
* Drink a really good, really expensive bottle of wine
* spend an evening with only natural light (candles, fire, so on)
* ask someone to tell you a story/something that you don't know about him/her
* go to Akumal, Mexico and eat yourself silly
* visit family when they need you. For my part, most the time I probably wasn't able to actually do anything, but I'm hoping they'll remember I was there.
* try Amish food
* start a new business with the blind optimism and reckless confidence that made this nation('s credit card companies' profits) great.
Grateful to have made it to 2008,
Z
Second, great gratitude to Jeannie and Aaron for the perfect night in.
Finally, (don't worry, there'll be more. Afterall, it's just the 1st day of the year...) 2007 taught me that if you get the chance to do any of the following, I would generally recommend it:
* watch "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians". A very earnest cult-classic with a crazy-memorable theme song.
* Drink a really good, really expensive bottle of wine
* spend an evening with only natural light (candles, fire, so on)
* ask someone to tell you a story/something that you don't know about him/her
* go to Akumal, Mexico and eat yourself silly
* visit family when they need you. For my part, most the time I probably wasn't able to actually do anything, but I'm hoping they'll remember I was there.
* try Amish food
* start a new business with the blind optimism and reckless confidence that made this nation('s credit card companies' profits) great.
Grateful to have made it to 2008,
Z
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