In which we talk about chicken

I know, I know. We're so close to the holidays and I'm sure you're thinking "why the @#$% are we talking about chicken". Well my friends, this year the holidays seem a bit surreal, as in it's the 21st today and I still cannot correlate that that means Christmas is literally four days away.

I chalk it up to that we have moved this month, I started a new job, and in putting stuff away we've pared down and donated a lot of stuff we didn't use. All which has taken a lot of time and my tree is still in a box. Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays but this year there's been so much upheaval (not to mention the close to 60 degree weather we've had of late (and I'm so not joking) out here on the East Coast) that there really hasn't been enough time to absorb that Christmas is practically upon us.

But now, back to the chicken. (I know, this is so not important to you)

The West Coast knows what a real chicken looks like. One that's a good size with normal size portions of white and dark meat.

The East Coast... not so much. Our choices have been between Cornish Game Hens, chickens that look like Cornish Game Hens or turkeys. (They do give us the option of large and small turkeys, but they're still the size of well, turkeys.) How generous of them. No one carries normal looking chickens.

And now I know what you're thinking. Why the hell doesn't she just buy the boneless, skinless chicken breasts like the rest of us?! Because, I have a chef for a husband and it's easier (and cheaper) to break down whole chickens. He's shown me numerous times but I pretend to have amnesia every time and still make him do it.

We have gone to numerous grocery stores trying to find normal looking chickens where the meat isn't tough and old when you cook it. We're still looking, pray for us, it is Christmas time. ;)

Normal West Coast Chicken:

Abnormal East Coast chickens:

Okay fine, that is actually a Cornish Game Hen, but this is simply a visual example.

Well looky at you.

You're so special you're getting two posts tonight.

This might be more of a bitch session, just fyi.

I have to say that Jersey drivers are some of the craziest I've seen. This is not made better by the lack of cops on the road. Also the cops might be worse drivers than the normal Jersey drivers. This is also not made better by the fact that the lanes are super narrow (like just a car's width wide) and people don't know how to a) stay in their lanes and b) stay in their own lane when they turn corners. If you visit please plan on doing at least 15 over the speed limit. You might get run over otherwise. Also? (and this is to their credit) They honestly don't give a rats ass on what you think of how terribly they drive, they don't look at you and they don't make apologies. This is better at least for me because it helps me not get angry and let it go because there's nothing to react to. Also, they are so set in what they're doing (even if it's wrong) you can't argue with them.

Actual story.
I was going to the grocery store the other night and as I was walking up to the store I heard a guy in his car yell out the window at a pedestrian walking in front of his car to get to the parking lot "What are you? A fucking moron?" While yes it is offensive it honestly makes me crack up because it's such an East Coast thing. The answer to this rhetorical question was complete silence, which is again, so East Coast. It reminds me to brush it off on a daily basis. On the West Coast it feels so personal when anything rude happens but out here it is what it is and you get over it, it's not personal.

Also, I'm homesick for stuff that I love. I'm slowly finding the products that I had at my fingertips on the West Coast. Nothing is more frustrating than going to a store and not finding 3/4 of what you're looking for. I'm trying, lets just say that.

Okay now you have to wait for a little while.

Night.

Yup, still here.

So yes it's been a while since I last posted and I've been thinking for days now that I really need to post so here I am finally doing it.

Let's see, so much to catch up on.

First is the last week I was in Washington. This mainly consisted of a lot of packing, Jilian coming up one last time to help me once and for all vanquish the garage, more packing, the last day of my previous job, (Man am I glad that's over, it was starting to go to shite when I left and really has since.) and having the movers pack the van so our stuff could be moved out here. I also watched a shit ton of Vampire Diaries (I am now caught up and waiting impatiently for January when it starts again). Noop (my brother from another mother) tried to get me to start watching it two years ago but I was literally in the process of moving then and had no cable. So I waited, because I didn't want to jump in in the middle and get confused about how it all started. But right before I moved they put the first two full seasons streaming on Netflix so I had no excuse. (P.S. it's really awesome)

Oh and I just have to say that the movers that we used are awesome. I still had a lot of stuff to take to the goodwill and I was actually becoming a little worried about how long it was going to take me but they offered to take it to the goodwill for me for free. Also I donated furniture to St Vincent De Paul and they rescheduled on me twice so they also came the last day I was there. Luckily it dovetailed nicely with when the movers got done packing the truck and then I was just left to clean and make a few last trips to the dump. I was so tired at the end of that day but I managed to get it all done.

Then came the actual drive which was nice for the most part was good. We had some icy nights which weren't that fun but for the most part the weather wasn't bad. It was really great to see two of my sisters and my parents. It was like a roadshow traveling family reunion. I first saw my parents along the highway (not as strange as it sounds) as they were driving back home and we were driving out east. We sort of planned to meet up if events coincided and by chance they did. Then we saw my little sister Corey who we met up with for dinner and then we also had breakfast with her too which was really great (the sister and the food). Then we saw my older sister, my brother in law and my nephew and we actually stayed the night with them (this was also pre-planned). We made really good time and the traffic really only started to get bad once we hit Indiana so only about a day and a half.

And then we (my father in law and myself) were finally here. Our stuff was delivered last Monday and we've been working on unpacking and paring down more (It's amazing how much crap you think you need and you really honestly don't. It's also amazing at how this stuff can stay packed between move to move and a) you still lug it around and b) when you finally unpack it, you think "just get rid of it") to really just what we need and we'll actually use. I recommend everyone every couple of years purging, it feels good, freeing and it's nice to only have around the house stuff that is actually practical.

I also started my new job and I love it. Everyone I work with is super nice and helpful and yes you get an occasional bitchy phone call but you have others that understand and that you can talk to. Every job that I've loved has honestly been because I love the people I'm around. I know I would not be able to stay in a job that I dreaded going to everyday just because I made a lot of money. I would stop showing up, easy.

And that's where we're at now. We finally got cable and internet Friday and I was really worried that this CABLEcard experience would be a lot like the last one (you can read that here.) but it wasn't! Although Comcast hasn't changed because I told the service representative on the phone we needed a CABLEcard, not a box and that the installer could come between 11 and 1pm Friday. Isaac calls back to confirm and he's told our appointment is between 3-5 on Friday (which actually worked better) and when the installer guy comes he brings a box and no CABLEcard! Luckily we got the internet working but we had to make ANOTHER appointment (luckily they came out the next morning) to get a frickin' CABLEcard. But once it was in our Tivo and the guy called it into Comcast it's worked ever since (knock on wood). I guess it's nice to know that Comcast is just as reliable no matter what coast you're on and all their contracted installers hate them too. :/

Okay, off to finish unpacking/throwing stuff in the goodwill pile.

So much better.

Today was so much better and I literally stopped working (for the day) 15 minutes ago. *And I just realized I don't have the post times at the bottom of each entry so it was 8:15pm. (in case you were wondering)

Yes the stress is still there but I got some more concrete answers about the moving truck and the movers we've hired to pack the truck, and that made me feel a lot better.

Also I packed for quite a while last night and cleaned up a lot of stuff. And I finally sold the two twin beds we have. Granted it's for a lot less than they're worth but I don't think people are used to finding quality for sale and also it's a crap economy and people like a deal. It's finally gotten to a point that I have to sell them for anything otherwise I'd have to pay to get rid of them. They're the one thing I can't donate because of the possibility of bed bugs (not in my beds mind you, in general) so I'm glad that another thing is sliding into place.

I just can't think about how short the time is or it's back to head between the knees hyperventilating and then having to go for a run because movement is honestly the only thing that calms me down.

I know weird right?

This is not funny.

I might be going crazy.

I was going to write on Monday but that really felt like a day I would just rather have my head between my knees so I wouldn't hyperventilate, and so I didn't write, the anxiety was too much.

It just feels like there is so much to do and since I am a person of action this waiting in between (aka. having to work and not being able to pack all day), fretting over money, timing and packing is about driving me out of my mind. (I appreciate that my husband is a strong person and can handle when I snap at him in moments of stress) It will be such a relief even just when the truck is packed and on it's way and all I have left to do is clean the house and pack my car. I'm pretty sure I'll feel a huge sigh of relief. That or I'll start worrying about the drive and expenses while driving.

Have I ever mentioned I'm a type A personality that desperately tries to be a B and fails miserably?

Yeah, that.

Also it didn't help my nerves that I was sexually harassed in my office on Monday. All I have to say is that Noop has great timing and walked into the back office mere seconds before it got any worse.

I can get through this. Now to just repeat this to myself about a thousand times while I pack faster the rest of this week and clean my house.

Yes I have to do a cleaning before I clean it all because my little sister is coming into town tomorrow and I'm so frickin' excited to see her because it's been too long.

Oh also I've figured out the whole furniture situation, I'm donating it. St. Vincent De Paul will come pick it up not this weekend but next and now all I have to sell is the bed, at least that helps.

Okay back to work people.

I need some coordination... Oh wait, you already knew that.

So two nights ago I ran my left knee into... something I can't remember what (this is apparently how often I do this). And tonight I ran my right knee into the coffee table (it's fresh in my memory because I'm still trying to not curse about how much it hurts) because I was gifted with so much coordination... Oh wait that was flexibility which apparently means all my coordination was taken away because you don't get both.

This is the point where you keep your examples that prove me wrong to yourself because I have lovely red marks across both my knees. (No one cares about Ginger Rogers.)

I told my boss this evening that I'm formally giving my notice tomorrow because I'm moving (and moving is said in a really high sing song voice, fyi) and so tomorrow evening when I get home I'm going to post that crap on facebook. It will be nice to not have to keep such a secret anymore because it's gotten harder as the weeks have gone on. I've caught myself from slipping so many times.

And I'm currently addicted to knitting Alice gloves. I've knit 5 pairs so far in the past three weeks.

These are Alice gloves.

Picture from Ravelry dot com

Apparently I'm in love with them.

I might need to invest in some mace...

So this weekend was nothing but packing. Literally.

I would like to pack some more tonight but I'm afraid that making loud noises might signal the trick or treaters that I'm home.

I didn't buy and candy, so yes, I know I suck, but I don't need candy and I don't know how many trick or treaters even come by here because we weren't home last Halloween.

Also I'm currently very focused on getting rid of most of my crap and that's another thing lying around that I would have to do something about. (Yes I know it's trivial but anything that adds is one more thing I don't need at the moment.)

And so this brings me to the mace, because I have some furniture I would like to sell before I move, but it's just me living here. And since really no one at work yet knows that I'm leaving and all my dearest friends do not live close by it leaves me doing it by myself. (Yes, Lizzy, I know I just wrote all about girl power on your wall but for some reason inviting someone into my home is different.)

So I'm thinking I should probably go out and buy some mace tomorrow, you know just in case. I also took self defense and I'm pretty sure I remember how to use it.

Am I being paranoid or stupid? How else should I try to sell this furniture? Help?

In which I think I'm hilarious.

Continuing the random Sarah's thoughts theme. (This gives you a taste of what hanging around me all the time is like.)

I have a genius idea, I'm going to start training my cats to be sled cats. For when when driving cross country in the winter and tire chains aren't enough. It's exactly like Thundercats but I'm giving my cats realistic goals.

But anyway, still so much left to do. I did get my new hire paperwork this week so apparently my new job is for realz. And to semi-quote Sally Field "They like me! They really, really like me!" (Because that saying doesn't stick with me at all.) It's so nice how concrete that's making it.

Okay I need to go to bed now in order to see straight tomorrow (please blame this weirdness on the delirium caused by sleep depravation).

Night.

This is how random works.

Weird stuff pops in my head all the time. Like today, while I was working I started thinking about Whirling Dervishes and couldn't remember the book that I was associating with this. So I googled it and the interwebs helped me remember it was Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish which takes place in Morocco. And then I remembered that I was actually remembering another book I read around that time based on a girl in Egypt in Colonial times (ah, me as an 11 year old). And then I couldn't remember what book it was but it's not driving me crazy I'm just curious but pretty sure I won't remember it.

There is however a book that I want to remember but can't for the life of me, and with the number of books there are in the world I probably won't ever find it. It was an awesome book of poetry I found in a bookstore when I used to live in Oregon but decided not to buy it (I may not have had the money at the time) and the way it flowed was genius. But who knows if I wasn't just in one of my weird arty moods and later possibly looked at it wondering "what was I thinking?" and "this book, really?". But now? Now it's just going to be the one that got away (horrible pun intended).

Boutros Boutros-Ghali. (But maybe that goes along with the Egypt theme subconsciously?)

And boots picture below. And we are not going to discuss the size of the boots because no one needs to know how or why a 5ft. 2in. girl wears a size 10. (Mainly because my calves are gigantic. I'm backing that up with they are very muscular... Really.)

Even though my picture is crappier they are basically exactly the same. Mine for a third of the price. Booyah. I love a good deal. 

And not so random. I've happened upon an album I instantaneously fell in love with.

This is Agnes Obel who's voice is magical, mag-i-cal. I can't stop listening to it, honestly. Maybe this will mirror Twilight?

And because this is funny to me we are not going to discuss how many times I've read the Twilight series in total. Nor how many times back to back I read them every year.

Night all.

Fallen off the map...

So um, hi there.

Let's start with this. Nothing is wrong I've just had a shit ton to do and trying to coordinate schedules for moving/packing, looking for a job, dealing with a stressful current job and traveling/staying at home entertaining every weekend has taken it right out of me.

I've been meaning to write this post for at least a week now and only due to Lizzy's prompting am I finally finding the motivation (I haven't even checked mail for a week, that's how too much I have to do. And yes I know that sentence is a grammatical train wreck but deal, we're in stream of consciousness baby.) to write what's been going on lately.

Two weekends ago I went to Mel's daughter's first birthday party which was a blast. I love talking to Mel's parents and it was really great to see Josh's dad who is a really sweet guy. It's a little sad to know it is probably the last time for quite a while that I'll get to see their parents. I stayed the night like I always do and we went to Oysterfest in Shelton, WA on Sunday which was also a lot of fun. We had lots of good food and watched an oyster schucking competition. I have no idea how those boys (sorry there were no girls competing that I saw) don't stab themselves. I'm sure I would lose a hand the first oyster I would schuck so let's just hope when/if I ever do it, it's my right one.

And then last weekend Jilian came up and helped me tackle a massive cleaning out of our garage, we literally spent two whole days and I think a total of 16 hours getting it mostly cleared out and cleaned up. It's almost there but it's currently massively improved. Let's just say I don't want to have to rent/drive a moving truck again if I don't have to and I only rented a 10 ft. one to take the trash to the dump.

Oh, and some super exciting news, in the past two weeks I interviewed for and got a job in NJ. I'm super excited about this because even though it's a huge cut in pay for me, dude I have a job, and I don't even live there yet. The people I interviewed with are super cool and I like them a lot. They were willing to still interview me even understanding I'm still on the west coast and I won't be out until the end of November. And they're still willing to hold the job for me until I get out there, no sweat. They even sounded excited when I called back and said yes I'll take it. And get this, because this totally sweetens the deal. The job? A mere two miles from where I'll be living. I could even walk there if I wanted to! Compare that with an average of an hours drive one way currently and once I'm out there I might only have to fill my gas tank up once a month instead of once a week. Yee Haw.

So see? Nothing too drastic, just a lot.

And tomorrow my mother in law is taking me to Costco and buying me a pair of Costco's knock off Ugg boots. Because even though I run hotter than Hades (just ask my coworkers) I'm pretty sure they'll be great in NJ. (At least I'm convincing myself of this fact, please don't ruin the illusion.)

And also I am so behind on my Google reader (I have at least 45 to read and that doesn't count the ones I clicked on intending to read but didn't so there are more) I'm ashamed of myself. So please consider it lucky if I've a) read it and b) commented. Girlfriend needs to get some game. Also I'm still reading the twilight series and by that statement you know this means not much else matters in my downtime. Oh, you can't read that? Good. :)

Moving on.

Okay I have a funny post coming (we at least funny to me we'll see if you end up agreeing), I've been thinking about it for the past couple days. But since you're getting this mammoth tome tonight you'll have to wait. And really, I promise it's coming. I think life might be starting to even out again. :)

Happy Friday, I'm off to bed. And to read twilight. Must. Stop. Talking. About. This.

I'm really into this 14 year old... Wait, that doesn't sound right...

Okay, I'll get into the title in a minute.

But first, I want to apologize for the lack of a usual Monday post. It's due to so many things but mainly a lack of sleep which is making me lightheaded even as I type this. Part of it is Twilight (which I'm almost done with the 4th one, thankyouverymuch) and staying up to read too much and part of it is I went down to Portland this weekend to meet my newest nephew Holden who is now a month old. (Both my sisters so far have passed along the Gray faces, kinda crazy, but we're a good looking bunch if I do say so myself.)

I've also been listening to plenty of music lately and that's keeping me up. What with new album releases:

And two new artists that I'm in love with. One is Benjamin Francis Leftwich and the other is Greyson Chance - this is the 14 year old, who sounds nothing like a 14 year old until he talks about meeting you by the tire swings in the school yard and then I'm totally reminded he's a 14 year old. But really an amazing voice.

And Benjamin Francis Leftwich is perfect music in my mind for those lovely dreary overclouded fall days (you know I'm a northwestener simply by that statement) when everything seems more restful and all I want to do is curl up on my couch with a good book, some tea and his album.

Oh and we have grooveshark back at work (I'm not asking why, just crossing my fingers it gets to stay for a while) so I haven't had to buy either of the new artists albums above yet. I know I will though as they're both just too good.

Happy Wednesday all. (Let's pretend I posted this on Monday, shall we?)

It's not you, it's me...

So yes I've been somewhat quiet and lackluster lately, I've even been boring myself. But guys, I think that's changing, I can feel it. I've also had to deal with work and getting everything with the move ready along with finally having snap into place that when I do something (as in go somewhere) it could possibly be the last time I'll do so, at least for a while.

This doesn't really make me sad (well a little, it's more sobering to me) it just makes me open my eyes wider and try and soak in my surroundings in full. I try to see how vibrant all the hues are, try to name and soak in all the smells, I'm trying to be ever present and fully frame my memories that I'll soon be 3,000 miles from.

Oh and Twilight, how I love you so. What? I didn't say anything.

Um. Yeah.

I'm looking forward to opportunities and where my life will lead me and while not everything is sorted out, life is good, really really good.

Autumn

I know we're still in Summer for a few more days (even though by the time September 1st rolls around everyone starts referring to the season as fall) but this past weekend felt like fall, all overcast, gray and rainy. And I'm listening to artists that remind me of fall, Feist, A Fine Frenzy, Florence + the Machine. (All the F's are merely a coincidence. I honestly didn't plan it that way.) Speaking of Feist I really want to listen to Sealion Woman and 1234 but the album is at home so I'm distracting myself with NPR (I don't know how well it's working...)

And I have something to admit to again (even though I've admitted to it here and here before). Twilight has grabbed me again (yes, I know how sad this is)I've been trying to hold off until I have to drive cross country but the fall like weather has turned my mind it's way again and made me like a giddy little girl again (which it does every time). It also helps with the loneliness that I've been feeling as of late. I don't care for any of the outside accouterments that go with it (but yes, I also own the movies which are just okay, the books are way better) it's purely the story I'm interested in.

Even Jilian has read the whole series to see if she could figure out my fascination with this series. (Sadly she was unable to figure it out. I'm pretty sure this problem is bigger than us all.) Mel is the one who originally even made me aware of the series but she wasn't even able to get through the first one, so I lost interest. And then my friend Heather is the one who lent me her books and got me started... Oh, if only I had known then.

I'm only going to (try to) read it once and then save it to listen to as I traverse this great nation in November. I think it sounds like a plan.

Jim's Dirty Little Secret

Today’s ride was great (I think I say that about all ride… and its true. 96% of the rides thus far have been great). Prior to the ride, I planned on doing the 50 miler at the South Jersey Devils Ride but decided to opt out of it when Jim told me that he was going back to where we did the Amish ride. I was sold! But he sweetened the deal with info on the Baltimore ride in October. Might just have to do that one.
So anyway, met up with Jim at 9 am in Delaware and as I was putting my stuff in his truck and getting ready to carpool to Dover, he said “you know we are riding around here today?” Nope I didn’t realize that and I didn’t care. A ride is a ride and I love it. So off we went.

Went through some pretty areas of Delaware and I would like to tell you about them but to be honest, I couldn’t tell you where we went. Ask Jim. He knows! I will tell you though…. The first 8 miles of the ride almost took all my energy out of me. The head winds were a challenge and I was working hard to stay about 13 MPH average and that’s with drafting off Jim! We took some rests and had a great time for up to the 15 mile point. We stopped and chatted on a park bench and then noticed some bikers at the rest stop. More then what you would see in a group ride. Perhaps it was an organized ride? But off we went.

We get to a point where Jim stops me and says “When you see this don’t freak out. It will be ok”. I had no clue what he was talking about and when we started riding, it got a little smelly and I thought that was what he meant until I saw it. Yes IT did scare the shit out of me. See, I hate hills. Why? Cause I am 330 pounds and have issues with hills. We don’t play nice in the sand box. I think you could say I am scared of them. So when I saw the bridge…. The climb up to the bridge I realized why it was stinky back there because if other people saw it (you couldn’t miss it) they too must of taken a shit right after they saw the bridge (hence the reason it was stinky).

We rode closer to the bridge (called Reedy Bridge I think) but still on flat roads and Jim stopped. I was surprised because I wanted to get this thing over. But he said to me…. “Listen… the prize to get to the top is the pictures we can take.” I didn’t care about the pictures at that moment… I was hoping just to make it up the bridge still alive. Then we started riding and I started yelling “LETS DO THIS JIM!!!!” and off we went.

A nano second into the start, Jim blew past me. He doesn’t think so but he did… and no I wasn’t watching Jims butt…. He does have a nice bike though! Jim flies past me and I started to attempt to catch up but stopped because I knew it was a mistake. I needed a few things to get up this bridge: 1) rhythm 2)to pace myself 3)work on breathing 4)keep head down and just do it and 5)some help from God and 6)if all else fails… a hard drink and a cab home. Yes I know if I couldn’t do it, I could have walked it but that’s not what I wanted plus these shoes I have suck when it comes to walking.
Huff and puff….. lots of head wind but I made it. Jim broke out the lawn chair, took a 20 minute nap all before I got up there but we did it. WE did it. I was surprised I did it… still surprised. Felt great. As we were going up, the peloton from the organized ride blasted past us down hill. They had it easy with the wind against their backs. But it was good to see so many riders.

Downhill was great. Almost got to 30 miles an hour. He he he he … love that feeling too!

All in all, great ride. Challenging for sure but it was another milestone for me.

Afterwards, Jim and I went to Crabby Dicks Seafood Restaurant and it was delicious. And Sal…. One of the waitresses asked about you. Wish you could have been there. She sent Jim and I home with 2 big bags of popcorn! Maybe she has the hots for you Sal *wink wink*.

Of course I couldn’t come home without produce. Stopped by a farmer, handed him 10 dollars and he gave me plums, peaches, corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. Deliciousness for the rest of the week!

Thanks Jim! Great ride. I know being a ride leader is tough and perhaps for next year, we all can step up and host a ride. I have had a chance to ride with several different clubs and a lot of ride leaders within those clubs and by far I find that riding with you is a pleasure. A pleasure from the standpoint that you challenge me to make me a better faster and stronger rider but also shows me cool places and teaches me about the history of those places. Only one other ride leader has done that since I have been to the east coast. So I sincerely thank you!

And P.S. I think its best I don’t know about the hills before I start. I am gullible so just tell me no hills and I will come riding to me…. Lie or truth… it doesn’t matter! So much fun today! I think it was Jim’s dirty little secret not to tell me and thank goodness he did. I would have missed so much!

I gotsa job, I needs a job.

So I officially started applying for jobs today. I'm really hoping I'll be able to find something by the time I get out there. (I'm so keeping my fingers crossed about this) I'm expecting a pay cut (and also potentially part time) which is okay, I expect it. If I find a company out there that's willing to pay me what I make now I'll be shocked. Not because I'm not worth it (I mean come on have you looked at me? That's a joke people.) but because what I currently do is a rather specific niche and there aren't a lot of jobs like mine.

I don't need to make what I currently do now to break even, I honestly need to make less but having a good amount for savings  wouldn't hurt. Like I said I'm not holding my breath.

Between the drama at work (that as far as I can tell is finally over) and my anxiety over moving and all that entails, I think I've lost my funny. I'm pretty sure this is temporary, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed just to be safe. It's also tough coming home to myself every night, and I'm not much good at it. It helps to see friends on the weekends and even just getting out and doing stuff myself on the weekends. But I miss having someone to come home to (dinner prepared isn't all that bad either) being able to compare your days and just play around.

I'm honestly doing okay, promise.

Okay enough of that. I'm hopeful and I'm feeling a lot of promise on the job front. Keep your fingers crossed for me. :)

In Remembrance

You could say that I should have posted this yesterday, and in essence you would be right. 9/11 is our generation's Kennedy Assassination. We all remember where we were and what we were doing at the time it happened.

But I'm posting this today because while I remember and I will never forget how tragic that day was 9/13 affects me more. So by posting today I'm spanning the two.

When 9/11 happened I was still in college. It was the summer between my junior and senior years and I was out visiting my parents in Kansas. My step mom and I had taken my little brother and sister to school that morning and then went back home and turned on the Today show while we planned that day's adventure. And then we saw it, as you all did you yourselves at one point or another. And we sat in shock just watching, not even being able to fully comprehend the horror and tragedy so many people and families were going through. It affected us but luckily it didn't happen to us. To my family it only serves as a reminder to not take things for granted.

And then that day they grounded all flights and I remember them showing on tv as the airspace over America cleared of all the green dots that signified planes in the sky. And this made me kind of freak out inside because I was scheduled to fly back to Oregon on September 13th to make it back in time to go to college. It made me freak out because they had used planes and also I hadn't left a ton of time between getting back to Oregon and starting my last year of college.

I have been flying since I was wee high and it had never scared me until this point. I had never worried about the plane I was on crashing or any other issue. But this brought people's free will into it, and to know that people had successfully done this changed that.

Amazingly the airports reopened on the day I was scheduled to fly home. There was a huge backlog of people stranded and plenty of flights were canceled. There was no guarantee that I was going anywhere that day. I was nervous as my step mom and I got ready to go to the airport that morning and we left ridiculously early (which was barely enough time). The lines were amazing but luckily my flights were not canceled (I had two and I'm pretty sure it was miraculous that neither one was canceled and that I also hadn't been bumped off) and I made it through the 2-3 hour wait in line to get to my plane. The air was electric and there was a camaraderie in every airport as though we were all one tribe. Everyone talked to everyone, everyone got along and helped others out. I've never felt or seen anything like it since. Every time there was even the smallest amount turbulence we held our collective breath. Remembering 9/11 so fresh in our minds and wondering if what were feeling was normal or if were becoming a part of it.

This is my remembrance of that day. It's what comes to mind when I think 9/11 and it makes me think of the best in people.

This is getting weird y'all

So I started calling yesterday to get moving quotes and I think we're going to be doing this all ourselves. Well, mostly. See the most expensive part is the driving all the way across the country so I think we'll hire movers simply to pack and unpack our stuff. Isaac and our friend Amanda will fly out and we'll drive our stuff across the country. I'll drive my car with the cats. I'm pretty sure I'm getting the raw end of the deal there.

Isaac thinks it'll be a wash and I don't so maybe we'll place a wager. I just know that by renting the truck ourselves and hiring movers on both ends it will be half or less to hire a moving company and having them do it all or even doing it through PODS.

But the part that's really freaking me out? This is all becoming real. I get nervous with change (as do we all) and having to do this on my own makes it a little more scary. But I can handle this, I've got it down. (Or at least I keep telling myself this as I start to have an anxiety attack (just kidding, well sort of)) I think this is made somewhat worse that I can't go home to Isaac and have him help me rationalize my fears. Calling him or anyone else just isn't the same. For some reason having a physical body there in person makes it so much better.

What's going to be the worst is leaving two of my besties out here on the west coast. I love these girls fiercely and I'm going to be so sad to not see them on a regular basis and to not see Keller and Finley grow up. We'll just have to get better at consistent communication (the blog helps). And? The time is going crazy fast. As in I have about two and a half months left to get everything organized and set to go.

I'm going to go work on breathing normally now.

I don't want any crazy, but thank you.

Too. Much. Drama. Do you remember that coworker I wrote about on my other blog that wrote some really nasty stuff about me on the bathroom wall? We they no longer work with me anymore (thank god) but the drama getting there was intense.

So I decided to go to the Oregon coast this weekend to do something fun because I really needed to leave the stress behind. (I never realize it's a holiday weekend when I do this until I am either on my way there or there already.) So I called Jilian to see if she wanted to go and she was game. I told Isaac what I was doing and he suggested I take one of his parents dogs with me named Molly. Isaac's mom was down with that and she even helped me put Molly's car seat in the car (yes, small dogs have car seats) and gave me enough food and water for the day for her. We then picked up Jilian and we were on our way.

This is Haystack rock. I'm pretty sure you can't talk about the Oregon Coast without showing a picture of it.

This is Jilian, I love her.

And last but not least, this is Molly. She's a chiweenie (chihuahua and dachshund) and she's happy all the time.

It was so much fun. The weather was in the low 80's, I got a tan (okay so it was a farmers tan, but so what) and it was gorgeously sunny. Yes, it was labor day weekend and there were plenty of people at the beach but it still didn't feel over crowded at all. Jilian and I were able to see each other and it's been far too long and Molly ran her little tail off making friends with all the people we met.

And then this morning I came into work and the bushes outside my offices were smoldering from having caught fire we think due to a stray cigarette so I had to put out the smoldering embers. The vinyl siding is worse for wear and we lost two bushes but besides that we're just combating a lot of smoke smell left over. I think it's giving me a headache. But maybe now crazy will go home?

Update

I just have to say I love AAA and how nice I friendly they are. They're quick an efficient and so helpful. And they got me to the tire shop before it closed where I met two really nice and friendly tire guys.

Sorry, let's back up.

I hit a curb today. Ergo I blew out two tires. How was your day?

Because I need a laugh today.

New Stuff

So I didn't do much this weekend but relax and walk. I did some of my favorites by going to La Conner and the zoo. So sorry, no pictures because I'm pretty sure you've seen it all. :)

Stuff is crazy at work with drama I just don't want to be a part of. So I walked to think this weekend and de stress. It helped until I went back to work today (shoot I was hoping it'd last) but it was nice I was able to leave early.

But two things I'm excited about. While I'm excited and still loving my phone the battery gets sucked dry so quickly and I found something when I was looking for a new phone case. I love it so much. It's called a Powerskin (It sounds kinda dirty right? Maybe it's just where my mind goes.) and it has a built in battery so you basically get two batteries and twice the power. So in love.

P.S. They have lots of other cases that you can find here.

And my twin sister had her baby this past week and he's adorable. Meet Holden Andrew.

I need something to do this weekend.

So this is the first weekend that I don't have at least one activity planned. Help?

Oh, maybe I'll go hiking, we'll see. It's supposed to be really hot out...

I want to post but don't really have anything. So I'm just going to post some rather random stuff right now okay?

BTW all this stuff I learned on NPR today.

Did you know that China makes most of the world's vaccinations? Including all of ours? As in, the U.S. as a whole does not make it's own vaccines. At all. Period. So apparently no matter what China does we have to stay on their good side or we're screwed.

I don't understand why we can't make any of our own vaccinations. What if something were to happen to China's supply of vaccinations? Or there was a worldwide epidemic and they decided we weren't on the short list so we didn't get much of anything. Or they just got really pissed at a decision (any decision) we made not even involving them and decided to stop sending us everything.

But apparently our brilliant plan (Instead of obviously making our own vaccinations. And as a side side note, do you know the amount of good paying jobs this could potentially create? Probably a lot.) is to stockpile heroin and morphine at Fort Knox (no kidding) because instead of curing anyone we just want to alleviate their pain while they die because we won't be able to do anything else. Does this make sense to anyone? Anyone? Also, we're stockpiling heroin?!? I thought that was something no one was supposed to have. But I guess if it's our end of days the government doesn't mind creating addicts out of a whole bunch of us. What if the end of days is a false alarm and things are able to be restored to normal? Then we'll have a whole new crop of heroin users that the government created. I can just imagine the spin that would happen with that.

My message to the government: stockpile vaccines you idiots that way we can CURE people instead of getting them high while they die. Yay, go us.

Happy Wednesday? :)

Mundane and Fun.

So this weekend I basically relaxed. Only going where I needed to go and doing what I needed to do. I had some ideas of plans but I ended up thinking sleeping in was better. (That and watching trashy television but we won't go there. I'm kind of ashamed of the shows I picked up. Well, one show, the other one I've watched in the past.) I went grocery shopping (I just capitalized the g in grocery, apparently my subconscious thought it was an important activity) mowed the lawn, cleaned, talked to family and made an angel food cake.

Oh yeah, and last evening, I saw the Weepies. I have loved them since I heard their song "World Spins Madly On" and I love Deb Talan all by herself. Double win. And I love zoo concerts because they're cheap and they bring in amazing artists. Granted you may not necessarily get a great view but I'm really there for the music. And see? You can see them on stage, even if they are tiny. (see below)

I just wish I had known who was in their line up earlier because I would have done my damndest to see Marc Cohn. I love me some Marc Cohn, so much so he's been one of my favorite artists since Middle School. I think I should have taken it as a hint when I was swapping cassettes with my Science teacher Mr. Costa in 8th grade. (True story)

They were the opening act and the headliner was Amiee Mann who's I'm sure a great artist but the only song I know by her is "Voices Carry" from 1985. I clearly have not kept up on her music and so even though it was a concert on a Sunday night (it started at 6pm) I felt no volition to stay to listen to her (Sorry Amiee! But I don't really think I hurt her feelings. Did I mention how cheap tickets were?) So I got to hear The Weepies, one of my favorite bands and get home early to go to bed for work today. Yes I know this makes me lame and old. But again I felt no need to listen to Amiee unless she would have been opening for The Weepies and then I would have gladly listened to her.

Happy Monday all. Pictures below.

I love technology.

Until I realize that I am everyone's go to person at work to teach them how to use it. How come I don't remember this? It takes this realization EVERY TIME to remember. Hi, I'm slow.


So we got new copiers at work this week and I mainly use the efaxing capabilities. The old one was a pain in the ass (I only realized this when we got the new one. again, slow) but at least I could efax even if it required quite a few steps.

Our new copier? One step. (yes the step is a little involved but I don't have to leave the copier and go back to my computer to finish efaxing. Did I say I love this? Oh, I did. :)

A couple things for today.

Number one.
I need to learn how to be less lazy. Last weekend (so I guess two weekends ago) I was in my bathroom and decided that I need to use my favorite tweezers as a screwdriver. I didn't have a screwdriver in the bathroom and apparently it was too far to walk downstairs to where they are stored. They're in the kitchen so it's not like I even have to go to the garage or the basement for them. Well I bent the metal rendering them useless. I then started to look at my other pairs of tweezers and they all looked the same way. Apparently I have a problem... I finally broke down this morning and got a new pair because none of my other pairs work.
Note to self: bring a set of screwdrivers upstairs. (Oops, I just remembered I have an all in one combo screwdriver in my bedroom. You didn't read that.)

Number two.
I'm not so sure about this whole Google+ thing. What do you call it when you add something? You plussed it? You oned it? What? I'm not all that down with Twitter (or checking in where I'm at either) but at least there you can say you tweeted. Google+ leaves me a little confused. I don't know how much I'll use it but maybe it will grow on me. We'll see. I really use blogger the absolute most.

Happy Tuesday all.

I think today is making up for this weekend.

I would really like to rip my hair out this morning. (But luckily it's not for the same reasons Lizzy is going through) Sometime over the weekend the date and time application on our servers at work reset themselves to June 18, 2003 and 12:00pm. The servers resync with our computers every 20 minutes or so. This alone is amazingly annoying because no only do dates auto-populate and then you have to go manually fix every one of them. Also it tells you every time you update or open a new screen that the certificate isn't valid and your computer is afraid for it's life. (enter at least two more clicks and some waiting while your computer thinks about letting you take the action against it's better judgement) Now imagine working on three days of census information (aka everything that happens for a 24 hour period) that takes at best an hour and at worst at least 2 (this was more of a 2 hour day this morning) and adding in these frustrations. Now also add in everyone coming to you to fix their issues with this mess (because apparently I'm some sort of computer guru). It's a miracle I got it all done on time, which I did, but barely.

So apparently this tells me I had too much fun this weekend. Because otherwise I don't think that my morning would be so crappy.

I went over and hung out with Mel and her babies this weekend. One of my favorite parts was when Keller introduced me to his dad. Apparently we hadn't been properly introduced until this weekend? How gauche of me. But then he also told his dad to make sure to not crash into my car, and he told me to make sure I didn't crash into any houses. OMG, this kid cracks me up all the time. Mel and I were laughing so hard we were actually crying, Keller apparently thought this was status quo. So maybe it is? Because later I was trying to convince Keller that Mel and I were going to stay home and take naps and that he was going to take his little sister Finley garage saleing. Unfortunately he didn't buy it.

Mel and Josh have a huge selection of games and we always (okay fine, usually) play at least one game when I come over. This time we played Shadows over Camelot which is an incredibly hard game. And we beat it soundly, (okay fine, you've got me again, we might have given it a tweak here and there but we beat it nonetheless) barely, but soundly. We actually thought it was going to defeat us (you play as a collaboration against the board) but we were just reading the rule wrong (I swear that's the truth that time). And then we went to bed way too late but Finley sleeps through the night now so that helped.

I know I'm not ending this smoothly or with panache but there you have it. I just did errands yesterday and cleaning. I know you don't want to hear about it. :)

This weekend.

So this weekend it all started when I was getting ready to pick up Isaac from the airport. As I was walking through the house making sure I had everything I needed, I spotted them. The wooden coins that I've been saving for the Proctor Farmers Market for when August came around and I made a special trip to the Proctor Arts Fest in Tacoma. I quickly and silently panicked inside "Oh #$&^%, when is Proctor? Wait, it's August, did I miss it? Oh, good! It's the first weekend. The frickin' thing is TODAY." So it all seemed rather fortuitous to me. Because I was still planning to go this year but Isaac coming home totally threw me off. I was really looking forward to going but hoping he could come with me, it happened by luck of the draw. So when I picked him up from the airport I gleefully told him Proctor was today and we were going. I love this festival and we've been vendors the past four years to this thing. There's no way we couldn't go.

 But first Isaac requested breakfast in La Conner at The Calico Cupboard. One of our favorites. (These two places are in completely different directions, as in hours apart.) We had all day and no other commitments to keep and so we went. I love driving past all the farms and so below are pictures of cabbages that I had to stop and photograph. I think they're lovely.

And then we drove to Proctor and walked around stopping frequently talking to other friends that we had there that were vendors. I didn't take any pictures of it. I have in the past so here are those photos. It really hasn't changed and that's part of it's charm.

To finish out the day we went to sushi which made Isaac (and I) very happy. We loves us some sushi. By the time we got home we were exhausted. Especially Isaac as he was still three hours ahead. We sat on the couch until we started to fall asleep (party animals I know) which was about 15 minutes later.

Sunday we went to La Conner again (the boy was jonesing what can I tell you). And then on a whim we took the ferry to Orcas Island. I had been toying with the idea anyway and I knew I wanted to go to the San Juans before I left for NJ so being able to take Isaac was the cherry on top. It was especially awesome as he has never been and he's wanted to go.

We drove the island and went to the top of Mount Constitution. Since I'd been for a week with a friend's family in high school I wanted to revisit some of the places I had been long ago (you know, because I'm so old). And one of the places I loved was the Olga General Store which is now sadly closed. We would walk down most mornings and get their scones with berry butter. So yummy. I took my own picture but for some reason it didn't upload so I'll load it tonight. Below are pictures from the island.

At the Anacortes Ferry dock waiting to go to Orcas Island.

On the Ferry.

In town.

On top of Mount Constitution.

This really is phoning it in...

So I have some great photos that I took this weekend and I even uploaded them to my home computer but I forgot to start a post and add the post to blogger (doh). So I'll just say this, this weekend was fun, a lot of fun. (I promise a post either tonight or tomorrow morning when I actually get my act together.) But I'm pretty sure we over did it as we literally were only at home both days when it was time to go to bed.

I'm exhausted. Not to mention I have an earache that started to develop on Saturday and I only finally did something about it this morning when the pain got too bad. The good thing is that earaches aren't contagious, they go away quickly, and this one is due to allergies so I'm not sick just in pain. (Apparently I'm a guy when it comes to my own healthcare) It's better now but I'm kinda loopy today (due to exhaustion not the earache) and Isaac has my car because we didn't look into renting him a car until yesterday and most places are closed Sunday and all of this is a moot point because we didn't get home until at least 9 pm last night. Am I rambling? I'm pretty sure I am. Blame the tiredness.

Where was I? Oh yeah Isaac has my car so I might have to work late. Here's to hoping that I don't fall asleep until I go to bed tonight.

P.S. I got a tan! Which for me means two shades of porcelain. This is radical.

Tomorrow

So I got a surprise this morning. Isaac called to tell me he's coming home this weekend on business.

And I have to admit that I didn't really realize how much I missed him until he said those words. Work has been stressful lately (that's another story for another time) and being alone during the week may be making my emotions fragile (and I kinda broke down last night but that's also another story for another time, completely unrelated and probably not wholly warranted).

It will be really good to see him.

And I may have bought another copy of Mat Kearney's album Young Love from Best Buy because it had three bonus songs you couldn't get anywhere else. (I may be contemplating buying the album a third time from his website because there's one more bonus song that you can only get there. Maybe.) I get insanely happy about his music and his albums. He's one of my absolute favorite artists and when I find out he's releasing a new album it feels like Christmas morning when I'm finally able to get my hands on it. And yes I love his music so much I want every single song he releases. His upbeat songs are so infectious and his slower songs hit home and literally give me chills. (Maybe because he's a fellow Sag? Possibly.)

So look forward to pictures tomorrow. Not really sure what we're going to do as this trip is completely impromptu. I have a few ideas but it will just be nice to see him and have someone to touch. I think we forget how essential touch is to the human condition and without a partner you really don't get much. (Get your minds out of the gutter.) I think I subconsciously go stir crazy without it and don't realize how much it affects me until it's on the horizon.

See ya on the flip side.

Stuff you haven't seen (and some you have...)

 So I'm going to start with jumping around a little and then get on to photos from the weekend. More zoo, but I promise the next two weekends will be of other stuff as long as everything goes according to plan. 

Apparently yesterday the house directly across the street from me was broken into. This makes me a little more nervous because it's just me alone. But they broke into a home that has two parents and two small kids so I don't necessarily think that having Isaac around would make it less likely for them to break in. We do have a Brinks system installed, (not hooked up but I'm now thinking about it before I go) hopefully that will deter them? 

I'm trying to resign myself to this news because worrying won't help it and if they do break in (knock on wood) unless they're ready to take furniture I don't have a lot that's amazingly valuable. So let's hope this problem goes away. (I told you I live in the ghetto) I did bring my computer and camera to work with me today. I'm really only worried about the cats otherwise. But it would suck to lose the furniture cause I love it and I bought nice pieces knowing they'd last.

*Update*

Okay so I know I said I wouldn't worry but the panic is starting to set in. All I can think of right now is all the stuff I have at home that is vulnerable and I forgot about until just now. I'm trying to remain calm and hoping that the next four hours go by fast...

Oh and I'm super excited besides the fact because Mat Kearney's album came out today and I love Mat Kearney.

So here as mentioned above are more zoo photos. I tried to make up for the phone camera which is why you're seeing some stuff from last week. And it rained at the zoo while I was there so I got some cool foliage shots at the end. (It is fall right? :P)

Flamingos.

That red panda really needs to get out of the tree. It's like it knows I'm trying to photograph it and wants to thwart my every attempt. Fine red panda, it's on. I'm going to get a good photo of you if it kills me.

They also have a Pudu in an adjoining exhibit which I can never get a picture of. I will get a picture of it, if it, um, kills me...

Cranes.

Reeds in the duck marsh.

Bird.

Another bird.

I know, it's another one.

OMG, I love these. They're miniature panda cows. This is the closest I could get to them with the zoom. They always put them in the farthest pen.

An African Oryx... I think, yes I'm devolving but I already did that above.

Oh, oh I know this one! Hippos!

Asian Elephants. *rubs knuckles on shirt* I know I'm awesome. Also the elephant danced for us. It was so cute.

This is a tree shrew and I only remember that because it was doing back flips over and over again. This is the position it gets in before flipping.

Okay so the is the only Komodo  Dragon picture that loaded and it's the statue outside the exhibit. I actually got really good photos of the two Komodo's that the zoo has. :(

Grizzly Bear. Better photo.

Sea otter. I love this photo.

Okay fine, I'll let you see the whole sea otter.


And these below are just pictures of foliage at the zoo I took a liking too. Enjoy.