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| Canada Place! |
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| At the conference center/overlooking the water |
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| Absolute favorite -- on our harbour dinner cruise at sunset |
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| Also on the dinner cruise -- cool breeze in our faces |
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| Snow in July on top of Grouse Mountain |
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| My favorite ... everything! |
Vancouver: Favorite Pics
Review: Grouse Mountain
This is my Travel Advisor review, plus some pictures. More about the Vancouver trip soon... (I had grand plans to pre-blog while I was away, but I basically carted my computer to Canada for random email and blog reading. D'oh.)
Still not sure if it was worth the money to go to Grouse Mountain ($40 CAN per person), although I'm glad to say I've done it so probably was. It certainly was a hassle to get there and back to downtown.
We bought our tickets at Canada Place to ride the free shuttle to the base of the mountain. The girl manning the queue -- I believe her name was "Bran" -- was very chatty and told us to walk around but be back 10 minutes before the next bus arrived. When we did, she said "where are your numbers?" and "has your receipt been stamped?" She was the only one who would have done that, and we didn't know that needed to happen. So we didn't make that bus, shortening our time on the mountain by about an hour (time we spent waiting around Canada Place). When we made the next bus there were additional issues -- at the hotel stops "Bran" hadn't held enough seats open so people who had been waiting there weren't able to make the bus. If catching the shuttle at Canada Place, be very specific and ask questions about what it takes to get on the bus -- don't just get on line and assume that's enough. Get the plastic number! And I guess you can only hope for no screw ups if you're picking up the shuttle at a hotel.
"Bran" was at the base of the mountain when we got off the sky ride, so I'm not sure if she did so poorly she was moved to somewhere with less chance for screwing up. But you still need to get plastic numbers to get on the shuttle returning. The park/mountain stays open until 10, but the last bus runs at 5, and if there are more people than can fit, you're SOL. There is public transportation, but that tacks on an additional $5 for each person and additional uncertainty as far as finding the stops, making the transfer to the Seabus, etc. They did say the boat ride across the inlet is nice, so maybe worth it.
The pictures on all the brochures show a semi-full gondola ride up the mountain. Perhaps because it was such a beautiful day (and a Saturday), we did not experience that and on the way up had no view at all, other than the other people around us complaining about no view. We were really packed in like sardines. I think each tram can hold 100 people plus the "driver," probably just there to try to quell a riot and explain the swaying that happens when the tram goes over the towers.
On the mountain itself we had a good time. Ate some too expensive food, saw snow in July and had really great views (although very few unobstructed by people, structures, etc.). There are two grizzlies who live there, a lumberjack show (v. corny but fun), a birds show and my favorite -- the chair lift to the peak of the mountain. It was scary but provided better views. And if you're a skier it probably wouldn't be any big deal at all.
It was crowded and loads of kids, but that surely had to do with the weather and the summer Saturday. We had to wait for about 20 minutes to catch the tram going down the mountain. Because of the timing of the shuttle bus (and worrying we wouldn't be able to get back without additional hassle) we didn't end up seeing the movies or doing the eco-walk with a ranger. You can also walk/run up the mountain, which might save some money. But I'm not entirely sure/that was never clear. Be prepared for some hiking and walking around -- wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen.
Other things we didn't do because they cost extra were the wind turbine and the zip line. The "Eye of the Wind" takes you up even higher on the peak for better views and costs something like $20 per person. The zip line costs something like $120 and we heard from others who did it that it was too expensive and went too fast (i.e. not long duration) for what it cost. They also offer helicopter rides and tandem para-sailing, but I'm not sure how much those cost -- guessing a lot, like everything else.
Definitely something to do while in Vancouver, but not something we'll be doing twice.
Still not sure if it was worth the money to go to Grouse Mountain ($40 CAN per person), although I'm glad to say I've done it so probably was. It certainly was a hassle to get there and back to downtown.
We bought our tickets at Canada Place to ride the free shuttle to the base of the mountain. The girl manning the queue -- I believe her name was "Bran" -- was very chatty and told us to walk around but be back 10 minutes before the next bus arrived. When we did, she said "where are your numbers?" and "has your receipt been stamped?" She was the only one who would have done that, and we didn't know that needed to happen. So we didn't make that bus, shortening our time on the mountain by about an hour (time we spent waiting around Canada Place). When we made the next bus there were additional issues -- at the hotel stops "Bran" hadn't held enough seats open so people who had been waiting there weren't able to make the bus. If catching the shuttle at Canada Place, be very specific and ask questions about what it takes to get on the bus -- don't just get on line and assume that's enough. Get the plastic number! And I guess you can only hope for no screw ups if you're picking up the shuttle at a hotel.
"Bran" was at the base of the mountain when we got off the sky ride, so I'm not sure if she did so poorly she was moved to somewhere with less chance for screwing up. But you still need to get plastic numbers to get on the shuttle returning. The park/mountain stays open until 10, but the last bus runs at 5, and if there are more people than can fit, you're SOL. There is public transportation, but that tacks on an additional $5 for each person and additional uncertainty as far as finding the stops, making the transfer to the Seabus, etc. They did say the boat ride across the inlet is nice, so maybe worth it.
The pictures on all the brochures show a semi-full gondola ride up the mountain. Perhaps because it was such a beautiful day (and a Saturday), we did not experience that and on the way up had no view at all, other than the other people around us complaining about no view. We were really packed in like sardines. I think each tram can hold 100 people plus the "driver," probably just there to try to quell a riot and explain the swaying that happens when the tram goes over the towers.
On the mountain itself we had a good time. Ate some too expensive food, saw snow in July and had really great views (although very few unobstructed by people, structures, etc.). There are two grizzlies who live there, a lumberjack show (v. corny but fun), a birds show and my favorite -- the chair lift to the peak of the mountain. It was scary but provided better views. And if you're a skier it probably wouldn't be any big deal at all.
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| Feet on a chair lift (as opposed to on a beach) |
Other things we didn't do because they cost extra were the wind turbine and the zip line. The "Eye of the Wind" takes you up even higher on the peak for better views and costs something like $20 per person. The zip line costs something like $120 and we heard from others who did it that it was too expensive and went too fast (i.e. not long duration) for what it cost. They also offer helicopter rides and tandem para-sailing, but I'm not sure how much those cost -- guessing a lot, like everything else.
Definitely something to do while in Vancouver, but not something we'll be doing twice.
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| View from chair lift going down the mountain |
She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah)
Listening to some Beatles before bed. We still don' have Internet hooked up at the house BUT I've been able to connect to a rogue linksys router, presumably belonging to a neighbor. Not good enough to work from home or anything, but certainly doable for a quick blog post.
I got a university ID today. I'm not a university employee, but I work on campus. When I started I asked about getting an ID and was told no. A new guy started and asked and voila, request granted. Whatever works. Now I can use the library and maybe some other perks. We'll see how it goes.
In the course of acquiring the ID a colleague and I walked to the student union ... the thunder started. Of course I didn't carry my purse (it was late afternoon and I was tired), so I didn't have my umbrella. Yep, we got soaking wet walking back. Ugh. I guess the exercise was good? I went home soon after that since it was 4:30 and I'd been at work well over 8 hours.
It was still raining, and I have to cross a street to get to my car. There are cross walks, and cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians. I was very visible with my umbrella and not being what anyone would call small. Not one but TWO vehicles -- huge Louisiana trucks -- gunned it while I stood at the walk trying to get across. It was a miracle anyone actually stopped for me -- a soaking wet person carrying two bags and looking like fright. I guess all I can say is that I survived and hope that I'm a better motorist than that when I'm on the other side of the wheel. I'm certainly not a fan of LA drivers, and I know insurance companies aren't either based on the rates in these parts.
Have you ever played chicken with a car as a pedestrian?
I got a university ID today. I'm not a university employee, but I work on campus. When I started I asked about getting an ID and was told no. A new guy started and asked and voila, request granted. Whatever works. Now I can use the library and maybe some other perks. We'll see how it goes.
In the course of acquiring the ID a colleague and I walked to the student union ... the thunder started. Of course I didn't carry my purse (it was late afternoon and I was tired), so I didn't have my umbrella. Yep, we got soaking wet walking back. Ugh. I guess the exercise was good? I went home soon after that since it was 4:30 and I'd been at work well over 8 hours.
It was still raining, and I have to cross a street to get to my car. There are cross walks, and cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians. I was very visible with my umbrella and not being what anyone would call small. Not one but TWO vehicles -- huge Louisiana trucks -- gunned it while I stood at the walk trying to get across. It was a miracle anyone actually stopped for me -- a soaking wet person carrying two bags and looking like fright. I guess all I can say is that I survived and hope that I'm a better motorist than that when I'm on the other side of the wheel. I'm certainly not a fan of LA drivers, and I know insurance companies aren't either based on the rates in these parts.
Have you ever played chicken with a car as a pedestrian?
Another Moment of Genius
In continuing news on the brain drain, when packing my coffee maker I somehow managed to leave coffee IN THE CARAFE! Granted it's a stainless thermal carafe, but still. It's been so long since I've made coffee that it was extra gross. Shawn managed to clean it up before I got home and it didn't do any real damage other than ruining a box. But COME ON!Wonder what other doofenschmirtz things I'll be doing. So far I'm just trying to stay out of Shawn's way before we go back to our house. The first night's sleep there was good, although I laid awake for a while after getting up to use the loo in the night. We'll have to crank the AC a bit more, as I always sleep better when I'm cool.
Achieving Adulthood
We did it -- closed on our first house yesterday. The amount of space we have is mind boggling. We'll never be able to go back to our NYC ways of living together in less than 400 square feet of space!
Today Shawn and his amazing helpers got most of our stuff moved over (I'm writing this from the apartment and we'll take a load of foodstuffs and clothes to the house in a bit ... Internet not turned on at the house yet).
Realizing I don't have a good picture of the front of the house. I could steal one from the real estate listing, but those were taken when the trees were bare. The trees are not bare now -- there's even one that flowers purple!
We have a lot of work to do. I'm quite tired and ready to make the bed and fall asleep. More updates as we go from turning this house into our home.
Edit: Updated to thank Steve ... also, this was my 1000th post.
Today Shawn and his amazing helpers got most of our stuff moved over (I'm writing this from the apartment and we'll take a load of foodstuffs and clothes to the house in a bit ... Internet not turned on at the house yet).
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| Shawn and the new fridge: Thanks Dale and Steve! |
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| Mari and the new washer/dryer |
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| Best shot i've got for now. |
Edit: Updated to thank Steve ... also, this was my 1000th post.
Brain Drain
I'm finding that I'm losing my mind, brain cell by brain cell. I find myself making a few more mistakes at work than normal -- nothing job threatening, but still annoying for this do-a-great-job-at-all-costs girl.
Last weekend I did the grocery shopping, loaded my purchases in our reusable bags except for the meat, which I always ask to be placed in plastic. I get home, bring in as much as I can and send Shawn out to get the rest. It wasn't until I tried to make dinner on Monday evening -- 24+ hours after shopping -- that I realized the meat wasn't in the fridge. I guess it sort of helps that Shawn didn't notice the meat in the trunk either (apparently I'd tucked it behind the crate we keep in the trunk), but surely I should have remembered while I was loading up the fridge. What an expensive mistake!
We use a calendar at work that's online and everyone can see each other's appointments. I was looking at this week, preparing for what I'd need to do when I noticed something on Thursday that looked unfamiliar. From 10-11:30 I had a "Hold: Personal Time." I have no idea what that could mean or when I would have put it there. Seriously NO recollection. Thursday came and went, and as far as I can tell no personal time was needed. But things are certainly feeling mushy re: my sharpness.
Although I didn't sit on the beach in Galveston last week I did take my requisite feet shot when I was on the beach on Treasure Island, Florida, a couple months ago. So here's that.
Last weekend I did the grocery shopping, loaded my purchases in our reusable bags except for the meat, which I always ask to be placed in plastic. I get home, bring in as much as I can and send Shawn out to get the rest. It wasn't until I tried to make dinner on Monday evening -- 24+ hours after shopping -- that I realized the meat wasn't in the fridge. I guess it sort of helps that Shawn didn't notice the meat in the trunk either (apparently I'd tucked it behind the crate we keep in the trunk), but surely I should have remembered while I was loading up the fridge. What an expensive mistake!
We use a calendar at work that's online and everyone can see each other's appointments. I was looking at this week, preparing for what I'd need to do when I noticed something on Thursday that looked unfamiliar. From 10-11:30 I had a "Hold: Personal Time." I have no idea what that could mean or when I would have put it there. Seriously NO recollection. Thursday came and went, and as far as I can tell no personal time was needed. But things are certainly feeling mushy re: my sharpness.
Although I didn't sit on the beach in Galveston last week I did take my requisite feet shot when I was on the beach on Treasure Island, Florida, a couple months ago. So here's that.
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| Feet on the beach in Florida -- May 2011 |
Nearing a G
I'm just a few posts away from my 1,000th. If I were writing as I have in the past I'd be closing in on 1,500 by now. But such is (my) life.
I traveled to Galveston for work this week -- the FOURTH time to that city (?) in less than a year of work for this company. Things could always be worse, and I made it back safe and sound enough. I didn't take a single picture -- of my feet, the beach or my feet on the beach. Has the blogger bug left me?
I've been reading a lot but not cataloging for Good Reads. Whoops. I'm also watching a lot of house hunting and renovation shows. DIY has become a new favorite channel.
Because I've been spending my evenings on HGTV/DIY and some books I've fallen behind on my DVR. I have hours and hours of USA/TNT TV shows, plus Friday Night Lights, to catch up on. I have a feeling it is a futile effort though.
First world problems for real.
I traveled to Galveston for work this week -- the FOURTH time to that city (?) in less than a year of work for this company. Things could always be worse, and I made it back safe and sound enough. I didn't take a single picture -- of my feet, the beach or my feet on the beach. Has the blogger bug left me?
I've been reading a lot but not cataloging for Good Reads. Whoops. I'm also watching a lot of house hunting and renovation shows. DIY has become a new favorite channel.
Because I've been spending my evenings on HGTV/DIY and some books I've fallen behind on my DVR. I have hours and hours of USA/TNT TV shows, plus Friday Night Lights, to catch up on. I have a feeling it is a futile effort though.
First world problems for real.
Someone ...
is on his way to seeing his Auntie M!!!
Nothing like an impromptu trip to coincide w/ a work trip Shawn will be taking Sat-Sat. AMLBO and it's only a few hours until he'll be getting squeezed!!!
Nothing like an impromptu trip to coincide w/ a work trip Shawn will be taking Sat-Sat. AMLBO and it's only a few hours until he'll be getting squeezed!!!
Three Years Down
Three years ago today Shawn and I got hitched. Today we'll be house hunting to celebrate (I'm so impatient ... and don't really feel like I can chronicle the journey until it's sewn up) and later maybe some chocolate cake. Nothing like a holiday though. And sad that my President's Day post is still on my blog front page by the time Memorial Day rolls around. Whoops?! I'll try to ramp up my blogging this summer... TBD
Long Time Gone
My friends from high school married their high school boyfriends,
Moved into houses in the same ZIP code where their parents live.
But I ... I could never follow ... no, I ... I could never follow ...
That's* not really true. I'm sure if I'd had a boyfriend in high school -- if any of the Indiahoma guys had found me worthy of something more than occasional homework help -- I'd be holed up somewhere in SW Oklahoma too. But as it is, my life is turning out much better, despite living in this crazy southern Louisiana.
I can't promise a return to regular blogging, but here's a map showing my travels in March. Then in April I was on a plane to DC and back. And since have just been recovering from all that.
*These are lyrics from a Dixie Chicks song.
Moved into houses in the same ZIP code where their parents live.
But I ... I could never follow ... no, I ... I could never follow ...
That's* not really true. I'm sure if I'd had a boyfriend in high school -- if any of the Indiahoma guys had found me worthy of something more than occasional homework help -- I'd be holed up somewhere in SW Oklahoma too. But as it is, my life is turning out much better, despite living in this crazy southern Louisiana.
I can't promise a return to regular blogging, but here's a map showing my travels in March. Then in April I was on a plane to DC and back. And since have just been recovering from all that.
*These are lyrics from a Dixie Chicks song.
When Shawn's Not Home
Shawn just informed me I haven't been updating my blog... Things have been a little busy at work, and I haven't been feeling well for the last week or so. We had my in-laws visiting, which is a post in itself. (Caught in a rain storm in New Orleans after Mardi Gras parades on Saturday.)
When Shawn is gone house keeping goes to the pits. I don't make the bed as well, I just load the dishwasher instead of washing as we go, and I watch more TV than is necessary. I'll be glad when he's home tomorrow.
And I'll be even more glad when I don't feel this crummy... Hope I turn the corner before I have to start traveling on Tuesday.
When Shawn is gone house keeping goes to the pits. I don't make the bed as well, I just load the dishwasher instead of washing as we go, and I watch more TV than is necessary. I'll be glad when he's home tomorrow.
And I'll be even more glad when I don't feel this crummy... Hope I turn the corner before I have to start traveling on Tuesday.
Toxic
No, not the Britney song.
Baton Rouge is the fifth most toxic city in the U.S., according to some list just released. Just an interesting tidbit for you.
I've got to get over myself. A new girl is starting at work next week. All through the interview her name has been a name close to mine (but the version spelled w/ a Y plus a middle name). But suddenly now she's also going by a version spelled almost the same as mine (add an i after the a) without the middle name. It's driving me crazy, mainly because I feel threatened and my name is MINE. What is wrong with me?
Plenty.
I have a haircut scheduled next week, and I never like the way they turn out at this place. I called today to cancel ... and my actual stylist answered. So I chickened out and said "wrong number." WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! I guess I'll just cancel when the girl calls to confirm it.
So those are a couple of examples of just how ridiculous I am.
Edit: In other name news, when I picked up a prescription today they had spelled my name as Merilyn. THAT'S NOT MY NAME! I didn't think I was so uptight, but I'm wound up about this. I thought Walgreens would have looked me up and linked my account to my NYC prescriptions, but since it's a fresh account anyway I'm going to try a different, more convenient pharmacy.
Seriously, one crab apple of a day.
Baton Rouge is the fifth most toxic city in the U.S., according to some list just released. Just an interesting tidbit for you.
I've got to get over myself. A new girl is starting at work next week. All through the interview her name has been a name close to mine (but the version spelled w/ a Y plus a middle name). But suddenly now she's also going by a version spelled almost the same as mine (add an i after the a) without the middle name. It's driving me crazy, mainly because I feel threatened and my name is MINE. What is wrong with me?
Plenty.
I have a haircut scheduled next week, and I never like the way they turn out at this place. I called today to cancel ... and my actual stylist answered. So I chickened out and said "wrong number." WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! I guess I'll just cancel when the girl calls to confirm it.
So those are a couple of examples of just how ridiculous I am.
Edit: In other name news, when I picked up a prescription today they had spelled my name as Merilyn. THAT'S NOT MY NAME! I didn't think I was so uptight, but I'm wound up about this. I thought Walgreens would have looked me up and linked my account to my NYC prescriptions, but since it's a fresh account anyway I'm going to try a different, more convenient pharmacy.
Seriously, one crab apple of a day.
Pretty Girl Rock
Saw this video a while back, and I don't normally like to watch videos, so it was probably a random flip through thing. And then I heard the song in the car and really liked it. I am finally trying to use my iTunes gift card from Christmas (and a random $10 I had in my iTune account from filling out a survey or something?) and this is one of the songs I bought. I really like that her name is Keri, so Mari works in the song just as easily. :)
It's been a good weekend, and today, Sunday, will be super good too b/c Shawn is home from his quick jaunt to Texas and we can groove together before the start of the work week and impending arrival of some certain in-laws of mine!
Also, bring it Mardi Gras!
It's been a good weekend, and today, Sunday, will be super good too b/c Shawn is home from his quick jaunt to Texas and we can groove together before the start of the work week and impending arrival of some certain in-laws of mine!
Also, bring it Mardi Gras!
Hail the Presidents
Today I attempted to be a housewife, a given since I was home alone while the hubs was at work. Federal holidays are fun!
Anyway, I made five meals for the week -- onion soup, enchilada casserole, chicken and onion bake, hamburgers, a salad w/ mini burgers. I also went to Target because I could! I made myself fly in and out for the few things we needed, avoiding the clothing sale racks.
I'll never be a worthy stay-at-home spouse, but man it's fun for a day here and there. And that plays into some blog posts I've been meaning to write about.
They're both several weeks old. Once is a Slate article about Mormon housewife blogs and the (non-Mormon) writer's addiction to them. These blogs are an extension of scrapbooking and documenting a family's life. And they present a perfect stylized life.
There are lots of other blogs like that, with and without religious overtones, and I like reading things like that, even if they sometimes make me feel bad through jealousy. Another blog (Those Hardings) wrote about that and how she tries to avoid comparisons. The comments on her post are really good, and I actually found the post via That Wife (a Mormon blog that I probably found via the Slate article in the first place).
It's unlikely I'll ever change my blog reading habits to avoid anything that might make me want to compare my life to another blogger's. And I'll continue to write about only the best parts of things and try not to reveal the girl behind the curtain, if you know what I mean.
The rest of my President's Day involves continuing to watch DVR'ed House episodes in advance of tonight's new episode. I already worked out so I can relax until dinner.
Covet Beads
Plenty of purple beads, and looking forward to the next opportunity to beg for these pieces of plastic. Such a funny tradition.
The theme of the parade was "Once Upon a Time" and I even got a commemorative bead necklace with a medallion on it ... but I'm not wearing that one in the picture. Louisiana rocks my socks right now!
The Ledge
photo © 2007 Paul Robertson | more info (via: Wylio)Our next door neighbors in the "Big I" had this half-wall of brick on one side of the house. On the top was a little ledge/lip of brick. It wasn't too high -- I'll have to visually measure it when I'm home next time -- but I remember on more than one occasion that we'd climb up there and take turns jumping to the ground. And I would have to try so hard to psych myself up before I could fling myself the ~6 feet to the ground.I've been thinking about that ledge and that feeling.
Thursday was my worst day this week and I got a couple calls from colleagues asking if they could "talk me off the ledge." Even though I wasn't actually planning anything or given any indication that I was reaching my limit -- it was evident even from afar that I had taken on just about all any one person could handle, even if that one person is me -- especially given that they didn't know my full capacity. I think they know now.
I was wild eyed and crazy, but I even stopped at the most inopportune time to have lunch with a friend from church that I had planned well before the perfect storm of website-event planning-print production deadlines formed. The lunch was great and during our conversation she said something about me being a very positive person. I think it's all in perception and how much of myself I display in given situations.
Anyway, today was easier, catching up and my heart didn't fly into palpitations like it did yesterday. I'll press on.
Even better: it's a three day weekend! I'll probably still check e-mail lightly, but extra sleep will be delicious. And we've got a couple fun things planned already.
Every Day is Valentine's Day at Our House
One of the blogs I read suggested posting a picture with your valentine, so here's mine. This is right when the "husband and wife" thing was done and the musicians were starting up with the Star Trek theme. We're nerds, but we like it.
Happy Valentine's Day!
What Do You Do? Part Deux
Back in November I wrote about what I do as a job. But this week someone asked me "What do you do?" in the context of hobbies or interests outside of work. So really, what do I do with my time?
Much to Shawn's chagrin, TV is a big interest and time suck. I get heavily involved in shows. Lately I've been re-watching old House re-runs and being a swoony Hugh Laurie fan. But that's only the tip of the iceberg.
I read books (currently reading One Thousand Gifts as part of an online book club and loving it -- more on that later) and I write letters (accepting pen pal invitations if anyone is interested in receiving snail mail). I write here on this blog, and you know I read a lot of blogs. The number in my Google Reader is always increasing, and my stats as of today:
I crochet. Gran taught me when I was 16, the summer that she had a broken some bones and I helped Grandpa take care of her. I put it aside for a while, but right after college I got started again. I'd never put together that timing, but I must have used crochet as part of therapy to nurse a broken heart because that's when I started making scarves for everyone with their initials stitched on. I've since created loads of baby blankets (I'm at that age still where everyone around me is popping out kiddos), and a couple of larger afghan projects for my Gran and mother-in-law. One project that is in constant hibernation is a bedspread I wanted to make for Shawn and me within our first year of marriage. I think I've made 3 or 4 of the dozens of squares required. Sometime I'll turn back to it, maybe in time for a house?!
Shawn and I have our bikes now, so we do some of that. I work out most days, but I wouldn't say I do that because I enjoy it. I do it to increase my odds of getting what I most want in life. And it doesn't hurt that my legs become strong, I breathe easier and my clothes fit better.
There are other things I do, like cook dinner, do the laundry, buy the groceries, shop for clothes, webcam with my Owen Max, fiddle with my hair and wish it longer, etc., that seem less like hobbies and more like life.
Much to Shawn's chagrin, TV is a big interest and time suck. I get heavily involved in shows. Lately I've been re-watching old House re-runs and being a swoony Hugh Laurie fan. But that's only the tip of the iceberg.
I read books (currently reading One Thousand Gifts as part of an online book club and loving it -- more on that later) and I write letters (accepting pen pal invitations if anyone is interested in receiving snail mail). I write here on this blog, and you know I read a lot of blogs. The number in my Google Reader is always increasing, and my stats as of today:
From your 311 subscriptions, over the last 30 days you read 3,612 items, clicked 12 items, starred 2 items, shared 9 items, and emailed 2 items. Since August 10, 2006 you have read a total of 177,505 items.I don't read every post of every blog, but I scan almost every title. (And there are a few blogs that I read every word of ... mostly of those people I know IRL and a few that are just so good I can't stand to miss it.)
I crochet. Gran taught me when I was 16, the summer that she had a broken some bones and I helped Grandpa take care of her. I put it aside for a while, but right after college I got started again. I'd never put together that timing, but I must have used crochet as part of therapy to nurse a broken heart because that's when I started making scarves for everyone with their initials stitched on. I've since created loads of baby blankets (I'm at that age still where everyone around me is popping out kiddos), and a couple of larger afghan projects for my Gran and mother-in-law. One project that is in constant hibernation is a bedspread I wanted to make for Shawn and me within our first year of marriage. I think I've made 3 or 4 of the dozens of squares required. Sometime I'll turn back to it, maybe in time for a house?!
Shawn and I have our bikes now, so we do some of that. I work out most days, but I wouldn't say I do that because I enjoy it. I do it to increase my odds of getting what I most want in life. And it doesn't hurt that my legs become strong, I breathe easier and my clothes fit better.
There are other things I do, like cook dinner, do the laundry, buy the groceries, shop for clothes, webcam with my Owen Max, fiddle with my hair and wish it longer, etc., that seem less like hobbies and more like life.
On Being an Adult
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| Doesn't this make your heart hurt? |
All the while I knew that even if it's not fun, it's even less fun being an adult (at least in some ways).
I've got a list of things I need to do as an adult, or at least the adult I want to be. Some are daily and others are bigger/longer term.
Today I checked something off -- I established care and had a doctor's appointment in our new home town. I had copies of my medical record from my last doctors, but there is so much that just gets dropped from one move to the next. Will be nice to have some continuity. I've had physicians in Oklahoma, Maryland, Virginia, New York and now Louisiana. I guess that's what it's like to be a rambling girl.
Much more to do in my quest for true adulthood (which I write completely tongue in cheek)...
Six Months Ago
We haven't lived in Louisiana for six months yet, as we traveled for about a week before we got here.
Things are surely different than they were six months ago. I'm pushing myself socially, and I'm working. I don't know if I'm doing a good job at anything, but I'm trying.
I should be more positive in this space. Ha.
Social Media Policy
Sharing what I saw yesterday on a Strategic Public Relations blog. Oh, Doofenschmirtz.
Off to work at a campus closed for ice that didn't happen. Hope the heat is on in my building. I should be able to park closer to it though, so there's that.
Two Dishes
The replacement casserole dish arrived yesterday. Now I just need a recipe and a reason to try it out ... I'll keep looking.
Talked w/ Shawn reliving a conversation I had in which I presented myself terribly, like a know it all (shocker, right?), and I felt so bad.
Shawn pointed out that I can be like that sometime -- Ms. Bossy Britches and he described me like the little kid trying to tell the adults how it is. And even if I'm right and the "adults" do need to have things explained, I come across so badly.
Yeah, I can totally see that...
Wintry weather going on down here -- LSU even shut down. What the what?
You Can't Do That on Television
Or actually you can't do that on the Internet. Or I shouldn't do that on the Internet.
In my quest to read the entire Internet (yuck, yuck), I've found myself down a rabbit hole similar to what I found when we had bedbugs. Doom and gloom and even when someone has a happy experience it's always ... I don't even know the words to describe it -- wistful, melancholy, that-can-never-be-me?
I'll have to keep my blog going on my weather observations (seriously, a 50-degree swing in 24 hours - wtf?!), gripes about work (why do you think I'm trying to read the entire Internet, and soon it will be so busy I'll be traveling nonstop), crochet projects, book reviews and mushy gushy stuff about Shawn (although let's be serious, I should cut that out too/it's sort of embarrassing to him I think) and Owen.
In my quest to read the entire Internet (yuck, yuck), I've found myself down a rabbit hole similar to what I found when we had bedbugs. Doom and gloom and even when someone has a happy experience it's always ... I don't even know the words to describe it -- wistful, melancholy, that-can-never-be-me?
I'll have to keep my blog going on my weather observations (seriously, a 50-degree swing in 24 hours - wtf?!), gripes about work (why do you think I'm trying to read the entire Internet, and soon it will be so busy I'll be traveling nonstop), crochet projects, book reviews and mushy gushy stuff about Shawn (although let's be serious, I should cut that out too/it's sort of embarrassing to him I think) and Owen.
Asymmetry
photo © 2010 KO_Photos | more info (via: Wylio)I have a crooked smile.I have a crooked hairline and now a crooked haircut that's literally and figuratively growing on me.
I'd walk a crooked mile for this crooked life of mine, which reminds me of this nursery rhyme.
The asymmetry isn't all bad I guess. I'm getting used to it. I'm changing my blogging habits to allow growth, or something akin to that. If I published everything I thought or wrote ... it would be something else I guess. I don't do draft posts. I type, I publish, then I think. SO ... trying to think before I write leads to fewer posts. Change the process change my world, or at least my blog.
Remnants of old style chronicle of life: today I woke up at 7 a.m. when Shawn left. And I stayed up, even though that's earlier than I get up during the week (I know, lazy bones). Today I have done all the laundry. I have had too much coffee, including some at the coffee shop where I did my Bible study "homework." Today I have watched a lot of TV -- basically cleared out my DVR list (easy to do when you start at 7 a.m.).
I'm still thinking about how Medium ended, which is the pretend part of my real-or-pretend post on OSU, in that the TV series finale made me feel sad and introspective in a similar way to the sadness I felt in response to the anniversary of something real that happened.
I have been finishing books and not writing about them -- two of late being Evolving in Monkey Town and To Have Not. Those are easy enough blog posts to jump start my 2011 count. Crochet projects are easy too -- and that's another thing I did today -- wash and block and photograph my latest blanket for a grad school friend's baby.
Today I walked in the sunshine and sat outside in the 70-degree January weather. Southern Louisiana isn't all bad, at least weather-wise. This is my home now, so I have to make the best of it.
Yellow Granny Square
Finished a crochet project today. Now just need to get it in the mail. It's a simple pattern -- just one big granny square. Then I added a popcorn stitch edging -- really love that. The yarn is a soft butter yellow (perfect for either gender), and it has a little sheen to it. Goal to get it mailed in the early part of next week. The baby is coming soon!
Real or Imagined
Ten years ago a plane crashed killing ten men affiliated with the OSU basketball team, including two players. I was a sophomore, the same age as one of the players who died.
I don't have any specific memories other than seeing the news in my room in Indiahoma (happened on a Saturday and I went home ... a lot) and waiting in line to go to the memorial. The memorial itself, not in my memory banks. (I wrote about it though, but it's sappy weird 20-year-old musing, so not republishing here.)
Now I read articles about it, and that boy, and feel so sad. It feels almost selfish. I lost nothing. But I was part of that community, and like all of us, I still bleed orange.
I don't have any specific memories other than seeing the news in my room in Indiahoma (happened on a Saturday and I went home ... a lot) and waiting in line to go to the memorial. The memorial itself, not in my memory banks. (I wrote about it though, but it's sappy weird 20-year-old musing, so not republishing here.)
Now I read articles about it, and that boy, and feel so sad. It feels almost selfish. I lost nothing. But I was part of that community, and like all of us, I still bleed orange.
Word Nerd
I've had this post it at my desk, tracking all the things that bug me, grammatically, that have come up in my new job. Some aren't specifically unique to this job, but I'll list them anyway. IF I were a real blogger I would do a series, add explanations and links to the reasons behind why these things are wrong (i.e. why my way is right), but this is the best I will do for now...and no one will care about this but me.
- e-mail not email (although Google disagrees so maybe eventually I'll have to relent)
- adviser not advisor (i cannot imagine ever relenting)
- third comma in a series: "peanut butter, bread and jelly" not "peanut butter, bread, and jelly"
- click here/check out the link below (just SEO bad practice)
- hotlink/hyperlink (ick)
- nonsense abbreviations -- I hate hate hate that they call the communications team the "comms" team ... makes me want to say vom-dot-com every time
- underway as one word is almost always wrong ... although in my current job sometimes it's right, as in when you're talking about a ship or other sea faring vessel getting underway
- hyphenating after an ly word -- just not done
- two spaces after a period (there have been a few articles about this lately -- see one in my Google shared items on the right sidebar)
- over/more than (over is only for things physically over something else, but when it's one thing is bigger than another it's more than)
- entitled -- stories, books, plays, reports are not entitled to anything. they are titled something, and in most cases you can leave it out entirely and just say the title
- this is personal preference but i hate when the letters after a number are superscript. so 1st so the st are the same size as the number. it's a default in Microsoft products and I always change it/teach mine to NOT change it automatically.
Bummerware
I got our Corningware French White set from my mom's house in August when we were home. It wasn't until right before Christmas that I got it out of the box and discovered that the biggest casserole dish, the one I needed to use, had a crack in it. Blasted!
After the holidays I started searching for a replacement. The set came with lids - so I already had a glass one and a plastic one, but the new dish itself cost $25. I e-mailed customer service and asked if they could give me a discount, since I had a never used one w/ a crack (although the warranty expired 12 months after purchase).
The customer service agent actually wrote back and told me they were sending me a new casserole dish no charge. Whoopie! I knew better than to celebrate publicly though, because the picture shown here is the one I received -- even more broken than my original.
I've written the customer service guy back and sent him the link to this photo on Flickr. The package also contained another woman's name and address, so that adds to the shadiness. Basically I'm bummed all over again.
After the holidays I started searching for a replacement. The set came with lids - so I already had a glass one and a plastic one, but the new dish itself cost $25. I e-mailed customer service and asked if they could give me a discount, since I had a never used one w/ a crack (although the warranty expired 12 months after purchase).
The customer service agent actually wrote back and told me they were sending me a new casserole dish no charge. Whoopie! I knew better than to celebrate publicly though, because the picture shown here is the one I received -- even more broken than my original.
I've written the customer service guy back and sent him the link to this photo on Flickr. The package also contained another woman's name and address, so that adds to the shadiness. Basically I'm bummed all over again.
NYC Timelapse
NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.
My Flash keeps crashing so I can't watch this, but I looked at it at work and e-mailed it to myself.
Bike Helmet Hair
Although my hair is not orangey-red like this image it is practically that short again. I went for another hair cut from the same woman I didn't like last time. I took pictures from Ladies Home Journal and thought I could get a
Sela Ward style with layers and choppiness and movement. Instead I've got a short helmet with lots of weird shortie pieces and some kind of stacked back. Maybe it will go better when I wash it, but I doubt it will work with my curls.I think I just need to suck it up and try somewhere else - I need someone who can give me a versatile style that works curly or straight. There ARE Bumble and Bumble trained stylists in New Orleans. Can I justify a 3-hour round trip for my HAIR? Yeah, I probably could. We'll see what I do. I think I want to try growing it out again, but I was at the point where it was fitting back in a pony tail, so I was wearing it in a pony tail almost every day. And I don't know if I can break myself of that when I grow it back out.
These are the kinds of things I worry about, so OBVIOUSLY I've got a pretty great life.
Beta Bursts
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| Photo by Katie @ French Bakery |
In New Orleans this weekend I had brain posts going about shopping, walking, smells, the hotel and its view, weather, food, street cars and my lame attempts at photography.
Because of a series of things, I went to a UMC that was on the street car line and felt so warm and happy there. The pastor spoke to me before the service, and I was so moved by her sermon that as she was hugging people on the way out, I made the move and hugged her myself. (I'm not a hugger as a general rule.) I thanked her and told her I wished I lived here -- and she said "me too" and "hey that's a thought." Although I don't think Shawn would be down with that commute!
She had some suggestions for other UMC's I should try in Baton Rouge (I haven't really written about my quest for a church here, or the way I've stiffened to the two most obvious choices).
And today she sent me an e-mail to say it was nice to meet me and reiterating her suggestions/inviting me to come back any time. I love communicating online, and I think it's so nice of her -- to connect in a way that's meaningful to me.
So my first longer-than-two-hours trip to New Orleans was a success. I'll look forward to going back and hope I can sustain some of the renewal I felt. So far I'm not doing that great, but there's always tomorrow.
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| View from 2053 up Canal Street |
My Favorite Gift
My sister made me this AMAZING casserole carrier after I was coveting Gran's at a church dinner a couple months ago. My dad made the handles and the base, my mom bought the accessory spoon, Aunt Lee Ann helped and Gran loaned her old trusty sewing machine for Beth to get it made. And how perfect is the fabric? I bet it's called silvermari swirl or something, right? Now I just need a pot luck and killer casserole recipe... TBD on when it takes its maiden voyage.
I got some other great gifts for Christmas 2010 too, and today the package from my inlaws' finally arrived. I got my wished-for iPod clock radio so I can groove to my tunes and/or NPR in the house. Huzzah!
From myself to myself I got a new cell phone that also arrived today. The unlocked phone from Amazon really works (I wasn't eligible for a new phone from AT&T until this September because of losing the new one last March). My purple phone finally cracked -- the hinge was coming apart and the battery charger didn't do a great job without it being jiggled every few minutes. New technology is exciting, although I need to get my contacts moved over (thought they were already on my SIM card ... whoops).
And it's webcamming night with a certain little monkey moo! Darkness lifting ... I hope it stays lifted.
Some New Year Snaps
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| Professor Hat |
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| School Spirit |
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| Trying on Shawn's hat |
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| Pouting - I forget about what |
I don't have any solid new year's resolutions. What I thought I was going to do now seems to be what I should work on in 2012. Glad to be home, going to try a brighter outlook on the job front and just slog through otherwise.
Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year's, and that 2011 is shaping up for the better.
Christmas Dinner
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| With my mom's cranberry salad in the bowl Shawn's grandma Ramona gave me. |
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| Sugar Free pumpkin pie! |
Juggling Elf
For my Christmas present to Shawn I gave him three light up juggling balls. They are amazing, and I may have to attempt a video in the dark. But they still look pretty cool on first juggle. On the way home he was hassled at the X-ray machine, but they let him through with them after he explained (no demonstration required). I'm EXTRA glad I shipped them to Danville instead of carrying them on the way there -- the surprise would have been spoiled!
White Christmas 2010
Being in Danville this year was our second white Christmas in a row, after last year's blizzard in Oklahoma. Here's what we saw out the back door at the inlaws' house. (Of course I stupidly didn't take pictures of us IN the snow ... I didn't even step outside on Christmas Day!)
Dear Santa
Thinking about Santa puts me in a greedy frame of mind. Gimme, gimme, gimme. I just perused my Google bookmarks, and the category labeled "i want." In the past couple years I've been using it I've amassed 100 bookmarks of items I want, and that doesn't count items on my Amazon list. Some of them are dead links now -- like a dress I liked over a year ago that's no longer available. A lot of letterpress stuff, tons of specific Etsy things, travel products, jewelry (especially w/ an m and/or w), a few books and a magnetic photo rope.
That's not what Christmas is about. Hope you find the real meaning of Christmas in your holiday this year.
My First New York
My First New York: Early Adventures in the Big City (As Remembered by Actors, Artists, Athletes, Chefs, Comedians, Filmmakers, Mayors, Models, Moguls, Porn Stars, Rockers, Writers, and Others by New York MagazineMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A birthday gift from my mother-in-law. I put the book on my Amazon wish list once I read about it on The Noisiest Passenger blog. Basically a collection of New York magazine essays by famous people about when they first moved to New York.
I don't remember as clearly when I moved to New York in November 2007, probably because I was working to be vague about my living situation and I can even fool myself. But I have distinct memories of moving Shawn there that August. The heat without the air conditioning in the stuffy little studio, moving every box just the two of us and how filthy it was.
When he left to go get his office keys and I lay on the bed, listening to the city. In particular I listened to the noise made by the nearby bookstore's sidewalk lift (not sure what else to call it -- but it's a way to get goods into the basement without traipsing through the store -- most grocery stores there seem to have them too). I couldn't figure out what the sound was as it sounds like a high school class change bell, and it wasn't until I had moved there and seen the lift in action (and heard its associated sound at the same time) did it click. A mini mystery that eventually I solved.
After a shower I put on my black interview dress and killer heels and took the subway to Rockefeller Center. I had a job interview on the day I helped Shawn move to New York. It was at a PR firm, and I had a few other interviews during my first few months in residence, but nothing ever panned out. (The closest I came to an offer was in the Bronx, and I just couldn't face going from no commute to 1 hour-plus each day.)
Anyway, on my first day in New York, although I'm still a visitor at this point I know it's where I'm going to be living within a few months, I find myself across the street from Rockefeller Center, among the hustle and bustle and business of midtown. I felt so grown up, and it was more than a little surreal. I don't know that I really loved it or just the idea of it -- probably looking back clouds my memory because I've been able to morph my initial misgivings into a romanticized fondness for the place I truly became a Mrs.
The bedbugs and space issues came later, and they're part of my New York story too. But I like to think my First New York is more about wide eyed wonderment, empowerment and a choice to move to the best city on earth with my passion.
Projecting
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| On the Levy |
Once we were back from that I started in on the Christmas cookies. I made the dough yesterday and baked and decorated today. The dough was stickier than normal even though I had chilled it overnight, so I had to work in some more flour.
Not eating/tasting the dough produces more cookies -- actually made there be not quite enough icing. So I just didn't frost the broken ones (broken = goodie for Shawn). I focused my will power on not eating the cookies ... so far so good, but man they look tasty! 10 bells, 12 stockings, 15 trees, 9 stars plus a few broken ones of almost each. They're drying now and then I'll box 'em up. I made homemade bows out of magazine pages to go on the boxes, based on what I remembered from this tutorial. Feelin' pretty crafty today, and making them is kind of addicting! I guess better to be addicted to crafting than eating too many cookies!
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| Lovely -- including purple stockings! |
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| Kind of makes a mess! |
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| Six ornaments ... hope they're dry by Monday since we leave on Tuesday! |
2010: The Places I Have Slept
View 2010 in a larger map
Edit: Thanks to my eagle eye commenter I've edited this to reflect the nights slept on the cruise ship. I just added the ports -- no way to know for sure where we were on all the nights we were at sea, but I know I woke up in each of these places -- plus a couple out on the water. Thanks, CG!
vanity
upgraded my website, silvermari.com, to a wordpress set up instead of straight html (which basically meant i never really updated it). i haven't decided whether to shift this blog from blogger. i am weirdly loyal to google though. there are still a lot of random html pages i need to clean off my server space, but i'm going to focus on something OTHER than my own vanity site...
while i was tooling around my bookmarks and blog i found this befunky site that allows fast editing of photos with weird overlays, and spent some time playing:
while i was tooling around my bookmarks and blog i found this befunky site that allows fast editing of photos with weird overlays, and spent some time playing:
Joy
I've been working on blog posts in my head but haven't taken the time to type them out... Here are some topics, in case I don't get around to true posts:
- Mail - I love opening the box to Christmas cards. And today bonus: my This American Life USB came!
- Make-up ... how wearing it changes things and how I finally succumbed, as my 20s closed, to wearing it to work every day
- Weather -- I am certainly getting used to the balmy winter. 70s in December, yes please!
- Gift Guides -- Etsy Taste Test ... uh, this was pretty good on what I like BUT seriously I love most everything on Etsy! Then there's this Hunch Gift-o-Matic where you put in a Twitter handle and it spits out a list of suggested gifts. I have a suspicion it's just a shuffled list for everyone, but still a really neat concept.
- Recent conversations about work/career planning. I'm not sure I have any better grasp on what I should be doing, but I feel mostly OK. Especially because I'm taking some time off for the next couple weeks.
- I got my first Kindle gift book from my mother-in-law -- my One a Day Bible! So no more lugging the big book with me on trips.
- I lost a box of Triscuits. Seriously, what?
- I won a really groovy Christmas ornament at the office women Christmas party
- I had a terrible blood sugar incident yesterday ... ate a white bread sandwich (we didn't really have a choice of bread from where we ordered out) and then crashed out just before the security line at the airport. Luckily my coworker had a Kashi bar and saved me.
Elfing Tradition
I have made these for two or three years now, and this time I couldn't pick just one dance... Sorry for the ads you have to watch before you can see the video ... doesn't really make me want to go to Office Max, but there you go.
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