BallDroppings
sounds like some kind of waste product from the back end of an animal. But instread, it’s the most addictive game since Pong or Tetris. It’s genius, I tell you. It sounds like rain or windchimes. You can find the game here to download.But here is a disclaimer: when you find that 3 hours have passed by and you forgot to walk the dog, it’s not my fault. It’s Joe’s fault. He introduced me to it.
It's the 24th and all is well.
My car is back from vacation. The new belt is a little tight and it sounds like it’s riding a little high but all in all it got a clean bill of health from Wayne and Shawn at Tune Craft. I wonder if my car enjoys a new battery like I enjoy new shoes?
Take this test to find out how biased you are. From Tolerance.org.
Almost everyone yells at their kids and it doesn’t work any better now than it ever did.
Christmas is mere hours away.
My kids will be here on the 30th.
All is well.
Words Overheard
I put links to my monthly column over on the right there —->
Most recent is at the top.
Makin a list
We got so many things done this weekend. Christmas to me has always meant projects and this year has been no exception.
Things I can check off the list:
candles
cards
letters
chocolates
most shopping
most cleaning
most wrapping
Went to see the 3rd installment of Lord of the Rings last Thursday after work with Joe, Matt, Margot and Olive. It was beautifully filmed and very creepy at the right moments. And I had three hours with which to take off my fake nails that have been bothering me.
My car decided to take an electric vacation while we were in the movie. Triple A coaxed it back for just long enough for me to drive Joe and I home before it decided to take off again. It is now sleeping over at Auto Tech awaiting an alternator operation.
I took the coaster in to work this morning after Joe dropped me off at Oh-Six O’clock plus 15 minutes or so. After I got done exclaiming to myself that people are nuts that get up so early, I sat quietly on the coaster and looked outside at the quietness and beauty of early day and remembered that I used to get up at 6 am every morning and drink tea and journal. I did that for years. A part of me has missed it. But a part of me loves to sleep in.
Things I Like
Red.
Green.
December.
Year’s End.
New Beginning.
Christmas lights.
Learning new things.
Good communication.
Problem solving with Joe.
Spending time with my kids.
Being kindly, gently surprised.
My cat, Bas, purring by my head.
Being prepared for upcoming events.
The quiet right before the alarm buzzes.
The look of snow when it’s not on my street.
Warm under the covers in a slightly cold house.
Tall shopping bags to carry tall wrapping paper rolls.
Buying gifts for others that I know they won’t expect or guess.
Doing everything with Joe including bringing in the garbage cans.
Friends.
Scarves.
Coffee.
Lists.
Gloves.
Heaters.
Cards.
Sweaters.
The Weekend in Bullets
How I feel this morning in a nutshell:
E: I hate when people make erroneous assumptions without first exploring the options.
Me: Please don’t use big words this early in the morning before I’ve had coffee.
Back with a vengeance
or at least I’m awake…ok? I ate bad food, expelled it and slept for 24 hours straight. But that was yesterday.
I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Democrat. I think it’s fair game to make fun of them all with the same amount of gusto.
Along those lines, Bush has said some really funny things since he’s been in the limelight and someone has taken the time to compile them. It’s worth it to go and read a few.
Source: The Onion.com
Another religious rant, but not from me: opinion. *Not for everyone. Very tongue in cheek.
A Religious Rant
Along the lines of finding out more about religion in general and Mormonism specifically, I recently read Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer. The LDS church seems to be up in arms about the book. You can read their official response here and some more reviews here.
Although I found the book fascinating, I have to admit it is pretty one sided. And while admitting that fascination isn’t always a good thing, it did keep me turning the pages. Richard L. Evans, a Professor of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University, wrote a clear bit of comment on the trouble with a riveting story that isn’t broad enough to cover all the angles in his conclusion:
“This is like asking someone: Would you like to understand Catholicism today? Then study carefully the atrocities of the Crusades and the horrors of the Inquisition. Or: Would you like to gain a better insight into the minds and feelings of German people today? Then read Mein Kampf and become a serious student of Adolph Hitler. Or: Would you like a deeper glimpse into the hearts of Lutherans today? Then be certain to study the anti-Semitic writings of Martin Luther. Or: Would you care to better understand where Southern Baptists are coming from? Then simply read the many sermons of Baptist preachers in the Civil War who utilized biblical passages to justify the practice of slavery.
However, anything that gets so much backlash has to be based on some truth.
Being raised ‘in the faith’, I thought I knew the basic church history. There were things in this book that I wasn’t aware of. Whether they are true or not, I don’t know yet. But I like to look at all the sides of the issue before making up my mind. And while the church doesn’t deny that polygamy was at one time fully endorsed by the prophet, it now says it’s not.
Which do I like better: thinking that God once said, “Hey, all you men should have 17 wives.” or that He said, “Have 17 wives. Ok, wait. No. Don’t do that anymore.” or that He said, “You shouldn’t practice polygamy.” and the church did anyway. Any way you slice it, I think it stinks.
Camera Question
Rgate:
Leah – What camera would you buy? Sony Cybershot DSC-F717, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1S, Fuji Fine Pix S5000, Olympus Camedia – E 20 N
Rick,
Of course I’m partial to the Sony F717. It’s what i have and love. I think the 5x (38-190mm) all-glass Carl Zeiss F2-2.4 zoom lens is the best one out there in that middle price range. This review is the most comprehensive one I could find and it covers everything I like about my cam.
Of the others you mentioned, the Olympus has the better lens, but the camera itself gets such conflicting reviews. I’ve heard from people that really love it or really hate it which tends to make me shy away from it a bit. The Fuji is probablly the next best camera for the buck. You can use 2 lens adapters for wide and tele with it. The shutter speed is a little slower but compared to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1S, it’s a dream.
Well, that’s my opinion anyway…
Two Things
..that have nothing to do with each other.
I get groans in my stomach and here is why: What Causes Stomach Gurgling?
Think of your stomach as a giant mixmaster.
I think this calendar looks funny. But if you come to believe what you are told (or read over and over) it might not be such a hot idea to have this up for an entire month.
Instructions for Life
in the new millennium from the Dalai Lama.
My favorites:
3. Follow the three Rules: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
Crossed the Line
Maybe I truly am just old when I can’t see any value in wearing men’s undewear bands on my head.
There were real cloth towels in the bathroom…
Finishing up the work for North’s January issue, The 50 to Watch in 2004. One interview I did was Gavin Kaysen, 24 year old Sous Chef at El Bizcocho in Rancho Bernardo, that could whip all the masters on Iron Chef. He created a wonderful meal complete with my first taste of Egg Mousse with Citric Caviar served in a real eggshell opened at the top, cuddled by two red rose petals and squared off by sprigs or rosemary. Also a first that night: 3 different styles of oysters. And I can honestly say I liked one of them very much. His staff obviously adores him and couldn’t stop telling me nice things about him as I ate lamb loin rolled in truffles. The dessert, not to be outclassed by the food before it, was served on a marble slab and included a chocolate mousse ball with a Crème Brule center and a scoop of apricot sorbet. My meal was accompanied with wines chosen by the staff and Gavin. The entire meal was an orchestra to my taste buds. Not a surprise, I suppose, when you take into account that he was the first chef from the U.S. to compete in France for Le Trophy in 26 years and the youngest to ever compete. And he won 1st in fish.
Basilone
Our cat is by far the coolest cat ever.
I took some photos of Bas. The light was poor. I’m going to take some more soon during the day so you can see his incredible eyes.
He likes to give hugs by wrapping his paws around you and kiss your nose.
He tries to pet you back.
Still a little skittish when we stand up or move too quick, but he’s getting used to us.
"Tell Me Something
I don’t know about you” is a game I play with my kids. I don’t feel like I ever see enough of them and I know I miss out on so much. I want to know every little detail. Or at least what they can remember to tell me.
A few things I learned this past week:
Devon hates high school except for journalism club.
Alex loves her math class because her teacher rocks.
Ty didn’t know that pickles were made from cukes.
Anthony doesn’t like Jade anymore.
“Mom. Tell us something we don’t know about you.” asks Alex.
And just when I begin formulating something to say, Ty interrupts with, “Who was your first kiss? How old were you?” And Tony asks, ‘And who was your first boyfriend that you went on a date-date with?” And Devon asks, “And when was the first time you slow danced? *Really* slow danced?”
All of a sudden I realized the danger that this game holds when you have the liberty to ask pointed questions. I would have preferred to tell them something they didn’t know like, “I had cereal every single morning last week.” or “I’ve discovered that the Oxy cleaning product really does get the whites whiter.”
Instead, I told them, “My first real kiss was with a boy named Todd who was two years older than me and two inches shorter. He had lots of curly blond hair and he told me my eyelashes were as long as butterfly wings. He cleaned up at the slaughter house so he smelled sickly like warm, fresh beef and was the brother of one of my best friends. I was in 8th grade. We didn’t talk to each other for a few weeks after the kiss and then became good friends again.” That answer seemed to please them immensely.
Recap
Recap:
Monday: insane work day
Tuesday: kids came
Wednesday: shopping
Thursday: dinner with Joe’s family
Friday: sunset cliffs walk, family dinner
Saturday: movies
Sunday: swap meet
Also: 3 interviews with photo shoots, 1 pair of black pants lost on the freeway, sprained ankle, laundry, yellow flowers in a vase, a poinsettia and compliments on the kids’ behavior when I�m not around.
Monday: back to work for a short day, kids going home tonight, picking up Leo our adopted cat.
