Wait for it... wait for it...
That's what I did. It wrecked me Tuesday night. I had to be at the airport at 4:30 am so I didn't sleep. Instead, I separated and packed everything I owned into five categories of stuff:
First Round -
Trash = 1 large bag
Give away = full suitcase plus random oversized things
Store at friend's = 1 chest, 1 duffel
Send via mail to new home = 3 boxes (too much!)
Take with me = large backpack, large suitcase, carry-on, and oh shit enough leftover stuff to fill another large suitcase!
Second Round (desperate, exhausted, annoyed) -
Trash = 2 large bags
Give away = above plus almost all my shoes, skirts, too-tight tees, dorky fleece sweaters and the hardhat from Crowley.
Store at friend's = chest plus 1/2 full duffel (her place is small)
Send via mail = box of books to be send "media mail" and box of random stuff.
Take with me = 2 checked bags plus 1 carry on.
Turns out that if you wait until you're tired and annoyed at 3am, stuff that was initially thought of as important seems less valuable.
As far as travel goes, I always prepare for the worst. This worked out well for me yesterday because I arrived at the airport 90 minutes early (as suggested by the airline) and the line to check in took 30 minutes. The plane was late leaving, and then flew in a holding pattern for TWO HOURS before landing. But hey, I'd allowed six hours between connections. I took a 45 min shuttle ride to the train station, and then 2 hours into the train ride we HIT A CAR. I cannot tell you how many travel days I've had like this in my life. It's just amusing at this point. Not the accident, of course - plus the driver was fine. How do you get hit by a train and be fine, anyway? Well whatever.
Today I've been sleeping and watching edited rap versions of Wilfred Brimley on youtube. You can NEVER get enough of THAT!!!
Make Up For Your Complacency!
Found yourself complaining about the the government in the last few years, and not doing a damn thing about it? What about the people who ARE doing something about it - you respect that, right?
Read this blog.
then go HERE
It's easy. Send them $5 and you'll feel like you're finally doing something.
A LOT of money goes into Bush Regime campaigns. All that publicity gets soaked up in the spongy brains of ignorant folk who actually go out and vote, cuz it's all they see or read. Seattle is a microcosm of progressive, semi-liberal attitudes. The majority of the country does NOT think like us. I've seen it!!! It's scary out there! And they're all going to vote again and I'm afraid. Balance out the scales, just a little!
Read this blog.
then go HERE
It's easy. Send them $5 and you'll feel like you're finally doing something.
A LOT of money goes into Bush Regime campaigns. All that publicity gets soaked up in the spongy brains of ignorant folk who actually go out and vote, cuz it's all they see or read. Seattle is a microcosm of progressive, semi-liberal attitudes. The majority of the country does NOT think like us. I've seen it!!! It's scary out there! And they're all going to vote again and I'm afraid. Balance out the scales, just a little!
Modest Mouse
I saw Modest Mouse for the first time last night. It was at the South Lake Union Naval Reserve Building (right next to the Center for Wooden Boats) where the Arthur Foss is moored. It was cute because their new album has a slight nautical theme to it, and that building is quaintly nautical, with it's blue and gold anchor emblems on the front, and little blue stars all around the trim. I had volunteered a there few years ago during a fundraiser for the Center for Wooden Boats, and my cousin's wife Callie works there. There's large models of HMS Discovery and the topsail schooner Exact in the rear of the "venue" which is really just a gymnasium with a wraparound balcony. Anyway, lets just say that I was more excited about the venue, and a decent band playing at such a venue, than I was about anything else. That was my motivation to buy tickets, even though they sold out within 10 minutes. Capacity = 1000.
Anyway I'd spent yesterday on the ferry listening to Beck's "Sea Change," which I adore, and hanging out with everyone's favorite volunteer cook, Rande Gjerstad, who's doing AWESOME things for me, zine-wise. She also tried to teach me InDesign... and later I listened to some older Modest Mouse stuff and thought shit, they have so much stuff, I bet I won't even know half of what they play. But as it turns out, I knew most of it - the set list was mostly songs off their new album, which Jarad has had here for awhile, and off Good News... and some gems from Moon & Antarctica. I'd forgotten how much I LOVE the song "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes." The stage was small, but they had hung these lanterns behind them, as part of the light show. It added to the nautical theme. The lanterns actually looked cooler when the movement on stage caused them to sway back and forth. I don't like fake maritime kitsch, but they managed to pull this off without being annoying. I'm glad they don't try to sing about too many sailing things - so far I've only seen the Decemberists do that accurately. OH! yeah... then Jarad tells me about the teeshirts for sale (I almost NEVER buy band merchandise). They had a shirt with two sailors, pansy flowers in place of heads, pushing the spikes on one of those bollard-shaped capstans, with an anchor chain around it and a large anchor flying in the air over their heads. So I pretty much had to buy it, because I knew it would get some quizzical looks later.
Jesse Loge was supposed to spend the night last night, but he doesn't have transportation from Beacon Hill and he's leaving for Cali today anyway. It would have been nice to see him. He was up here getting his sail endorsement for his shiny new captain's license.
I'm extremely busy for the next week and shouldn't even be wasting my time posting a blog. Time to get busy.
Anyway I'd spent yesterday on the ferry listening to Beck's "Sea Change," which I adore, and hanging out with everyone's favorite volunteer cook, Rande Gjerstad, who's doing AWESOME things for me, zine-wise. She also tried to teach me InDesign... and later I listened to some older Modest Mouse stuff and thought shit, they have so much stuff, I bet I won't even know half of what they play. But as it turns out, I knew most of it - the set list was mostly songs off their new album, which Jarad has had here for awhile, and off Good News... and some gems from Moon & Antarctica. I'd forgotten how much I LOVE the song "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes." The stage was small, but they had hung these lanterns behind them, as part of the light show. It added to the nautical theme. The lanterns actually looked cooler when the movement on stage caused them to sway back and forth. I don't like fake maritime kitsch, but they managed to pull this off without being annoying. I'm glad they don't try to sing about too many sailing things - so far I've only seen the Decemberists do that accurately. OH! yeah... then Jarad tells me about the teeshirts for sale (I almost NEVER buy band merchandise). They had a shirt with two sailors, pansy flowers in place of heads, pushing the spikes on one of those bollard-shaped capstans, with an anchor chain around it and a large anchor flying in the air over their heads. So I pretty much had to buy it, because I knew it would get some quizzical looks later.
Jesse Loge was supposed to spend the night last night, but he doesn't have transportation from Beacon Hill and he's leaving for Cali today anyway. It would have been nice to see him. He was up here getting his sail endorsement for his shiny new captain's license.
I'm extremely busy for the next week and shouldn't even be wasting my time posting a blog. Time to get busy.
I took one of those tests because it was only 2 questions.
and... yeah... i guess it couldn't be more spot-on
6 - the Questioner
Thanks for taking the test !
you chose CY - your Enneagram type is SIX (aka "The Loyalist").
"I am affectionate and skeptical"
Questioners are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.
How to Get Along with Me
* Be direct and clear.
* Listen to me carefully.
* Don't judge me for my anxiety.
* Work things through with me.
* Reassure me that everything is OK between us.
* Laugh and make jokes with me.
* Gently push me toward new experiences.
* Try not to overreact to my overreacting.
What I Like About Being a Six
* being committed and faithful to family and friends
* being responsible and hardworking
* being compassionate toward others
* having intellect and wit
* being a nonconformist
* confronting danger bravely
* being direct and assertive
What's Hard About Being a Six
* the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
* procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
* fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
* exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
* wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
* being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations
Sixes as Children Often
* are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
* are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
* form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
* look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
* are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent
Sixes as Parents
* are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
* are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
* worry more than most that their children will get hurt
* sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries
6 - the Questioner
Thanks for taking the test !
you chose CY - your Enneagram type is SIX (aka "The Loyalist").
"I am affectionate and skeptical"
Questioners are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.
How to Get Along with Me
* Be direct and clear.
* Listen to me carefully.
* Don't judge me for my anxiety.
* Work things through with me.
* Reassure me that everything is OK between us.
* Laugh and make jokes with me.
* Gently push me toward new experiences.
* Try not to overreact to my overreacting.
What I Like About Being a Six
* being committed and faithful to family and friends
* being responsible and hardworking
* being compassionate toward others
* having intellect and wit
* being a nonconformist
* confronting danger bravely
* being direct and assertive
What's Hard About Being a Six
* the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
* procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
* fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
* exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
* wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
* being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations
Sixes as Children Often
* are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
* are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
* form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
* look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
* are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent
Sixes as Parents
* are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
* are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
* worry more than most that their children will get hurt
* sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries
St Patty's day SPECIAL
I'm done with the UW job. I've worked there so many times, off and on over the years, in different departments all over campus and off campus, but I don't know if I'll ever work there again, unless it's for their research vessel. I don't see myself living in Seattle until global warming makes the winters a little more comfortable.
I got my captain's license on Tuesday. It's a 100 Ton Inland Masters with Comm Towing and Aux. Sail. Let's just say I didn't expect the Aux. Sail. I hadn't even asked for it. But I should have asked for it, and much more. Elaine got a 100 Ton Near Coastal and Jesse got a 100 Ton Inland with a 200 Ton Near Coastal Mate, which is the ticket I really wanted. I follow the rules waaayyy too much. How did he get that mate's ticket? I don't know - he must have got his AB and Radar cert up in Astoria... but according to what he posted online he still doesn't have his STCW so he's only domestic with that NC Mate license. Last I read, that mate's license was hard to achieve because they were asking for AB and Radar. Seems odd to have Radar without BST, but obviously every REC is flexible. I'm happy with my little license. If necessary I can drive the boat I'm working on this summer, and by the end of my contract I hope to get my AB and maybe apply for the NC mate or masters. Even if I had the mate license I wouldn't use it until next year. Most people on traditional sail training vessels are younger than me, so I feel old amongst my friends, just now getting my captain's license. But in reality, most people in the maritime industry as a whole seem a lot older than I.
In other news, a long lost cousin found me via myspace. It's odd though because she seemed really happy to find me and my sister (the cousin she didn't know she had) and I emailed her back a few times and have since heard nothing. She has three sisters and they all used to live in Auburn, next to the Green River. When I would visit, around the age of nine, we would all do fun stuff like swing on rope swings, catch frogs and watch tadpoles or water spiders, and run around in the woods next to the river. Seattle natives might shiver at the thought of young girls playing by themselves in the woods around the Green River in the early 80's. Luckily, we never ran into any trouble or stumbled over any bodies.
With much of my free time being spent online at work, I've found an old coworker/friend in Hawaii, and a girl in Seattle that I used to hang out with when I was 19, via Classmates dot com. I might meet up with my old Seattle friend before I leave, which should be interesting! She's a really cool person. On myspace I found a guy that I'd had a crush on when I was 13. I used to put notes in his locker. When we finally started hanging out, I gave him my special boyfriend litmus test by making him hike the rocky, hilly, wooded greenbelt that ran from my house to the beach. He hated it and kept exclaiming how I had really big feet. Our love affair was over. That hike is a few miles long and it takes hours to wade across streams, claw your way up mini-canyon walls and over barbed fences, walk on log bridges and sneak through rich people's back yards, where the stream led you to the beach... I used to drag all my girlfriends, then in high school, my prospective boyfriends, through those woods. It was great. I went there alone a lot too, or with the family dog. I think that was one of the few places I allowed myself to just be a kid.
It's true. In no way does this post have anything to do with today being St. Patrick's day.
UPDATE on recently rented movies:
Hustle & Flow - good but the characters aren't that complicated, I still adore Terrence Howard though. Swerve! Swerve!
The Proposition - by Nick Cave, starring Guy Pearce. Very melodramatic. Who would've expected that?
Did I already mention the US vs. John Lennon? He's my new hero, by the way. His integrity is something to aspire to.
I got my captain's license on Tuesday. It's a 100 Ton Inland Masters with Comm Towing and Aux. Sail. Let's just say I didn't expect the Aux. Sail. I hadn't even asked for it. But I should have asked for it, and much more. Elaine got a 100 Ton Near Coastal and Jesse got a 100 Ton Inland with a 200 Ton Near Coastal Mate, which is the ticket I really wanted. I follow the rules waaayyy too much. How did he get that mate's ticket? I don't know - he must have got his AB and Radar cert up in Astoria... but according to what he posted online he still doesn't have his STCW so he's only domestic with that NC Mate license. Last I read, that mate's license was hard to achieve because they were asking for AB and Radar. Seems odd to have Radar without BST, but obviously every REC is flexible. I'm happy with my little license. If necessary I can drive the boat I'm working on this summer, and by the end of my contract I hope to get my AB and maybe apply for the NC mate or masters. Even if I had the mate license I wouldn't use it until next year. Most people on traditional sail training vessels are younger than me, so I feel old amongst my friends, just now getting my captain's license. But in reality, most people in the maritime industry as a whole seem a lot older than I.
In other news, a long lost cousin found me via myspace. It's odd though because she seemed really happy to find me and my sister (the cousin she didn't know she had) and I emailed her back a few times and have since heard nothing. She has three sisters and they all used to live in Auburn, next to the Green River. When I would visit, around the age of nine, we would all do fun stuff like swing on rope swings, catch frogs and watch tadpoles or water spiders, and run around in the woods next to the river. Seattle natives might shiver at the thought of young girls playing by themselves in the woods around the Green River in the early 80's. Luckily, we never ran into any trouble or stumbled over any bodies.
With much of my free time being spent online at work, I've found an old coworker/friend in Hawaii, and a girl in Seattle that I used to hang out with when I was 19, via Classmates dot com. I might meet up with my old Seattle friend before I leave, which should be interesting! She's a really cool person. On myspace I found a guy that I'd had a crush on when I was 13. I used to put notes in his locker. When we finally started hanging out, I gave him my special boyfriend litmus test by making him hike the rocky, hilly, wooded greenbelt that ran from my house to the beach. He hated it and kept exclaiming how I had really big feet. Our love affair was over. That hike is a few miles long and it takes hours to wade across streams, claw your way up mini-canyon walls and over barbed fences, walk on log bridges and sneak through rich people's back yards, where the stream led you to the beach... I used to drag all my girlfriends, then in high school, my prospective boyfriends, through those woods. It was great. I went there alone a lot too, or with the family dog. I think that was one of the few places I allowed myself to just be a kid.
It's true. In no way does this post have anything to do with today being St. Patrick's day.
UPDATE on recently rented movies:
Hustle & Flow - good but the characters aren't that complicated, I still adore Terrence Howard though. Swerve! Swerve!
The Proposition - by Nick Cave, starring Guy Pearce. Very melodramatic. Who would've expected that?
Did I already mention the US vs. John Lennon? He's my new hero, by the way. His integrity is something to aspire to.
this time it's personal
Today I was thinking about how when Jarad and I left Austin for Seattle last summer and his mom told him something along the lines of how he shouldn't expect me to stay in one place for very long. Note to all young men: Listen To Your Mother. It's OK though. He planned a good summer for himself. I'm not worried about him. To my credit, I entered this relationship convinced he was a nomad like myself - he'd been backpacking across Europe and he said he wanted to travel the world with me (which we might very well still do...). But after those shoestring months in Europe, plus a few months of living my lifestyle (no money, no car, no stuff, cold weather discomfort at times, potato soup and not being able to go out to dinner or to shows often), Jarad was more than ready to stay in one place for at least a year, and once again I believed that I was ready to "settle down" for awhile. I didn't want to live in a town I didn't like (ugly or landlocked), and there were lots of other reasons I thought Seattle would be good for Jarad. He has enjoyed a lot of things about Seattle. I've been in a slow decline over the last 7 months. The whole settling down thing is not for me. In no way do I mean that I don't want a boyfriend - that's not it at all. It's all about feeling physically stuck. In the city, in my apartment, in a boring job so I can pay for the apartment, the food, the bus, entertainment. Since 2004 I've been quite happy not to be dating sailors. Now I wish that Jarad was a sailor so that he could enjoy that lifestyle with me. Maybe someday when I get my own boat...
Muggers: Don't Read This
Let's see... I'm actually more inspired to write for one of my other blogs, behindthezine.blogspot.com, because of all the stuff I've been doing for my 'zine...
But I've done some fun stuff this week. Besides working 13 hours yesterday. Not to sound like a princess, but I carry a $400 leather bag with me just about everywhere - I got it in Germany when I was 18 and it's one of my few extravagances. I get compliments on it all the time. It's more like a soft briefcase or book bag. In it is kept my laptop, my iPods (one for music and the other with an iTalkPro for recording interviews), plus my wallet, which has a Merchant Mariners Document in it (much more valuable to me than both my drivers license and credit card put together). And then of course my keys and cell phone. Ok fine call me high maintenance. Just don't sell this info to any local criminals. Anyway, I get to work and my boss tells me I'm going to work OUTSIDE, in the RAIN, for 13 hours. Sure, I didn't wear a sweater or long johns so I'm going to freeze, but more what I'm thinking about is where I'm going to put my bag. My boss says "in this little booth by where you'll be" and it turns out the booth is not in my field of vision and is to remain unlocked all day. So yeah, I DID start acting like a princess. Plus I was cold and wet and bitchy. They moved me to a warmer place later... so everything turned out fine.
Been hanging out a lot with A.M., which I feel is totally necessary since there's a good chance I won't see him for years. We've been shopping buddies. Fisheries Supply, REI, Value Village, Elliot Bay Book Company. There's only a handful of people in the world that I would drop everything else to hang out with as much as possible, and he is in that group. And there's really only two friends whom I find totally inspiring and ambitious - A.M., and my friend Amy C. from New Jersey, currently living in Hong Kong. Amy and I were roommates in Waikiki, after she'd lived for awhile in Australia, and before she worked for the Manhattan District Attorney and then started traveling and working in Asia. Amy is always very positive, thoughtful, fun, and hardworking.
Jarad and I watched Thank You For Smoking and Science of Sleep this week. Both well worth renting. I love Gondry's mind. If I could inject essence-of-Gondry into my brain like a drug, I would be addicted. The actors were great. I felt sorry for Gainsburg's character because I can't imagine what it'd be like to deal with a guy like that. Not to say I didn't get the jist of the movie... I just think it'd all be kinda too frustrating to be fun.
Tonight he is working on his screenplay and I am supposed to be designing page outlines for my editor for issue #2. I can't say enough how important it is to include other people in your projects. It really helps you acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. But can you handle the truth? My truth - I'm slow at 'zine stuff. Uh... I should get to that now.
But I've done some fun stuff this week. Besides working 13 hours yesterday. Not to sound like a princess, but I carry a $400 leather bag with me just about everywhere - I got it in Germany when I was 18 and it's one of my few extravagances. I get compliments on it all the time. It's more like a soft briefcase or book bag. In it is kept my laptop, my iPods (one for music and the other with an iTalkPro for recording interviews), plus my wallet, which has a Merchant Mariners Document in it (much more valuable to me than both my drivers license and credit card put together). And then of course my keys and cell phone. Ok fine call me high maintenance. Just don't sell this info to any local criminals. Anyway, I get to work and my boss tells me I'm going to work OUTSIDE, in the RAIN, for 13 hours. Sure, I didn't wear a sweater or long johns so I'm going to freeze, but more what I'm thinking about is where I'm going to put my bag. My boss says "in this little booth by where you'll be" and it turns out the booth is not in my field of vision and is to remain unlocked all day. So yeah, I DID start acting like a princess. Plus I was cold and wet and bitchy. They moved me to a warmer place later... so everything turned out fine.
Been hanging out a lot with A.M., which I feel is totally necessary since there's a good chance I won't see him for years. We've been shopping buddies. Fisheries Supply, REI, Value Village, Elliot Bay Book Company. There's only a handful of people in the world that I would drop everything else to hang out with as much as possible, and he is in that group. And there's really only two friends whom I find totally inspiring and ambitious - A.M., and my friend Amy C. from New Jersey, currently living in Hong Kong. Amy and I were roommates in Waikiki, after she'd lived for awhile in Australia, and before she worked for the Manhattan District Attorney and then started traveling and working in Asia. Amy is always very positive, thoughtful, fun, and hardworking.
Jarad and I watched Thank You For Smoking and Science of Sleep this week. Both well worth renting. I love Gondry's mind. If I could inject essence-of-Gondry into my brain like a drug, I would be addicted. The actors were great. I felt sorry for Gainsburg's character because I can't imagine what it'd be like to deal with a guy like that. Not to say I didn't get the jist of the movie... I just think it'd all be kinda too frustrating to be fun.
Tonight he is working on his screenplay and I am supposed to be designing page outlines for my editor for issue #2. I can't say enough how important it is to include other people in your projects. It really helps you acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. But can you handle the truth? My truth - I'm slow at 'zine stuff. Uh... I should get to that now.
Can't Wait to Wake Up
from this nightmare that I've created in my head. This psychosomatic depression-sickness syndrome syndrome. Two close friends have pointed out that cities are the land of syndromes, because people with too much time on their hands to pity or analyze themselves often conclude that their anxiety and unsatisfying life can be blamed on some kind of mental or physical illness, or a toxic environment. I could go on and on about how I imagine that I have Multiple Sclerosis, pneumonia, bipolar disorder, back problems or poor circulation, and how some of it might be due to non organic foods and the gross water that not only pours out of our sink faucet but Oh No! Pours all over me in the shower. But deep down I know that I have been lazy and let myself go, and as always it will take me two weeks to get back in shape for the next boat job, and for the entire time there I will not even think about these silly things. What a relief. I will say it again - I don't know anyone who relates more to the first paragraph of Moby Dick more than I.
I just realized than I haven't posted many pictures lately. Oh wait I should plug in my camera before I finish this post....brb
I just realized than I haven't posted many pictures lately. Oh wait I should plug in my camera before I finish this post....brb
Garlic Brownies
The weather this week has been the worst kind that Seattle regularly has to offer. Cold and rainy. Not a light drizzle that freshens your skin. Not a crisp morning where you feel revived. It's more like I walk 20 feet and my ears freeze up enough to give me a headache, and the dark gray sky keeps pissing on me just enough to warrant umbrella usage. My umbrella gave up the ghost a few weeks ago during a walk downtown.
I've been in a bad mood for hours. I think it started when I was walking up the steps to Pike Place from the waterfront and realized just how out of shape I am. Plus I didn't take a shower today and that worsens my mood. Oh plus my skin looks worse than ever. Really looking forward to that Michigan tan. Ha!
Hanging out with friends who are ambitious, fun, talkative and intelligent is inspiring when I'm in a good mood. When I'm not in a good mood my thoughts veer towards my comparative shortcomings instead. Luckily I can ignore those thoughts or analyze them later and still have a pretty enjoy my company. I thought this would be impossible when I walked in on an office party being held at the J&M Cafe with all of Jarad's new coworkers - mostly semi-yuppies in their 20's. But fortunately he was seated next to what turned out to be probably the most interesting folks in the group. Seated to my left was a petite blond lawyer, about 40 years old, who was a native of Iceland. Later I learned that she used to go to school with the drummer from Sugarcubes, that her brother partied often with Bjork, and that she loved Sigur Ros. Across from her was another woman about the same age, American, who sailed on a 50' Swan from Monte Carlo to Newport Beach, CA via the Panama Canal around 15 years ago. She used to be a massage therapist in LA but her wrists and hands crapped out on her. She now works in this large accounting firm and lives in Wallingford. So yeah, a few interesting folks, including Jarad's officemate who is apparently a member of a secret goth club on Capital Hill that we can't go to because we would have to be invited. LoL. All this entertainment including free drinks and appetizers. Can't beat that.
It took us forever to get home by bus, and of course the one we finally board seems to be full of all the underworld folks from Total Recall. Later my sister came over and we all watched "Mean Girls." I made what should have been wonderful brownies, complete with caramel topping, nuts and chocolate chips. The most special ingredient was the garlic flavored olive oil that I used, instead of the canola oil. BRILLIANT. We still can't get the taste out of our mouths. And that was from one bite.
I'm really tired and I need a shower... and a better attitude!
I've been in a bad mood for hours. I think it started when I was walking up the steps to Pike Place from the waterfront and realized just how out of shape I am. Plus I didn't take a shower today and that worsens my mood. Oh plus my skin looks worse than ever. Really looking forward to that Michigan tan. Ha!
Hanging out with friends who are ambitious, fun, talkative and intelligent is inspiring when I'm in a good mood. When I'm not in a good mood my thoughts veer towards my comparative shortcomings instead. Luckily I can ignore those thoughts or analyze them later and still have a pretty enjoy my company. I thought this would be impossible when I walked in on an office party being held at the J&M Cafe with all of Jarad's new coworkers - mostly semi-yuppies in their 20's. But fortunately he was seated next to what turned out to be probably the most interesting folks in the group. Seated to my left was a petite blond lawyer, about 40 years old, who was a native of Iceland. Later I learned that she used to go to school with the drummer from Sugarcubes, that her brother partied often with Bjork, and that she loved Sigur Ros. Across from her was another woman about the same age, American, who sailed on a 50' Swan from Monte Carlo to Newport Beach, CA via the Panama Canal around 15 years ago. She used to be a massage therapist in LA but her wrists and hands crapped out on her. She now works in this large accounting firm and lives in Wallingford. So yeah, a few interesting folks, including Jarad's officemate who is apparently a member of a secret goth club on Capital Hill that we can't go to because we would have to be invited. LoL. All this entertainment including free drinks and appetizers. Can't beat that.
It took us forever to get home by bus, and of course the one we finally board seems to be full of all the underworld folks from Total Recall. Later my sister came over and we all watched "Mean Girls." I made what should have been wonderful brownies, complete with caramel topping, nuts and chocolate chips. The most special ingredient was the garlic flavored olive oil that I used, instead of the canola oil. BRILLIANT. We still can't get the taste out of our mouths. And that was from one bite.
I'm really tired and I need a shower... and a better attitude!
"In Between" Jobs
MY FIRST DAY OF SEMI-UNEMPLOYMENT! I told the supervisors at the temp job I've been working at for the last four months that I'd be happy to be On Call for days in March when they really needed someone. Apparently they always really need someone so they said "Just let us know weekly what days you can work." I really don't see myself showing up more than two days per week this month. It's easy work and pays $100/day after taxes, so it's no bother at all to work a few days per week.
I've been sleeping in until 9am lately. I was thinking I'd start acclimating myself, sleepwise, to Michigan time, but I'd rather just enjoy my days off. Plus I have a few days free in Michigan before starting work so I can get over jet lag while there.
Today was fun. Went to REI and bought my first climbing harness, all nice and padded. Hell I might even start using it for climbing! It certainly is motivating now that I have my own. Went to happy hour with Capt. A and had some killer artichoke dip. Then I came home, drank some Obsidian Stout w/Jarad and made a very tasty red sauce = sauteed cut-up steak pieces with garlic, simmered in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, and a bit of fat saved from the time we fried up that organic pepperwood bacon from Whole Foods. Oh, and add cream and you have a super rich sauce. Almost too rich. But I ate it. It was good.
I'm going to work on zine stuff now.
I've been sleeping in until 9am lately. I was thinking I'd start acclimating myself, sleepwise, to Michigan time, but I'd rather just enjoy my days off. Plus I have a few days free in Michigan before starting work so I can get over jet lag while there.
Today was fun. Went to REI and bought my first climbing harness, all nice and padded. Hell I might even start using it for climbing! It certainly is motivating now that I have my own. Went to happy hour with Capt. A and had some killer artichoke dip. Then I came home, drank some Obsidian Stout w/Jarad and made a very tasty red sauce = sauteed cut-up steak pieces with garlic, simmered in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, and a bit of fat saved from the time we fried up that organic pepperwood bacon from Whole Foods. Oh, and add cream and you have a super rich sauce. Almost too rich. But I ate it. It was good.
I'm going to work on zine stuff now.
