Unnecessary

There are few things I hate more than the fact that the new version of WORD automatically inserts a big FAT, Hideous, Unnecessary space between lines every time you press enter.

I had to tell someone before I punch my computer in the face.

... You know what
I don't care if it is a feature that you can change. I don't have time for this crap.

p.s. I hate you Vista.

wheels

Soooooo nice out today

Sunset

It's better sideways. The clouds look closer this way.

Freaking out the wildlife

This little thing was surprisingly cooperative. Or petrified with fear. Either way he posed in my hand for a while.

Encouraging co-workers to take creative lisence with my tip bag

The Result:

Fatigue induced Insanity

I am soooo freaking tired right now. Just a minute ago I was trying to read my credit card number to someone over the phone and I couldn't perform either of the following tasks:

• remember how to say the word "seven"
• determine which one of the symbols on my card would correspond to that word

Black Beans in Hyperspace

Kalimba (aka Thumb Piano) Orchestra

Tonight I saw a whole orchestra of Giant Kalimba's (a traditional Zimbabwe instrument. )
These things are HUGE. I've never seen thumb pianos this big or elaborate before. Very fun.

Hindi

yay! languages!

D.A.'s House Warming

One of the highlights.
We named it "sad old man bread face" ... which is more a string of descriptive words than a name... but I think it captures something.

Let the Right One In

Really. I've thought about it and I don't think I could do a better job of reviewing this film then the Eugene Weekly did so I'll just tell you to go check out what they had to say about it. Although I will say DON'T WATCH A PREVIEW! (in my opinion most of the trailers for this film show way too much)
"She's a monster. He's a sissy. It's by far the most convincing love story of the year."
-Jason Blair of the Eugene Weekly

Inadvertent Romance ... with myself

A few weeks ago I ordered a martial arts instructional video, and I've sense been anxiously checking my mail box only to find that it arrived on the morning of Valentines Day, just in time to seem like a well planned romantic gesture. I'll admit that I had ordered it with the intention of it coming in earlier and have been slightly dismayed that it was taking so long... which makes the gesture seem a little less romantic... But in my defense, I did go to the trouble of buying a thoughtful gift for myself, so I think I deserve all the warm fuzzies I'm feeling right now.

Happy Valentines

A Comprehensive Photo Journal on "How to Make Musubi"

Sushi - Hawaiian style.

Step 1:
Unleash the SPAM

Step 2: Invoke the power of SPAM

Step 3: Sautee until golden pink
Step 4: Drain SPAM (preferably on something not meant to come into direct contact with food)

Step 5: Create omlette shell
Step 6: Arrange rice on nori with SPAM on top
Step 7: Cut egg into cute rectangular shapes and micheviously hide the SPAM
Step 8: Slice and Serve
Step 9: Solemnly regret what you have created.
Okay.... that facial expression is more likely one of Hawaii-native-nostalgia, but it looked so much like regret that something had to be said.
Truthfully, as food adventures go I have to say this was a surprisingly good one. :)

Potatoes as a Landscape

Weeeee!!!!! Proof Of My Exsistance On the Internet!

Looking through my friends recently added myspace pictures I found one picture of myself taken (Unbeknownst to me at the time) during a trip to Portland several months ago. Yay!

:)

Pumpernickle (suspicions confirmed)

I finally worked up the stomach to buy/attempt to eat a package of the German Pumpernickel (as previously referenced in the essay "Staring at a Mural from One Inch Away" which viewers may or may not have read.)


In all fairness I've never actually tasted an oily brick of sod so technically I can't say whether or not pumpernickel is worse.

Simultaneous Prepping

P.S. There's stuff in the oven too, as well as the back table. I love this part of my day.
(these two pics led to a non stop photo-shoot of documenting mundane kitchen events, but I'll spare you the details)
...
okay. I'm done.

I love you hot chocolate... and everything you do for me.

Spanish

!!! :)
I got to speak Spanish with people at LCC!
I wasn't looking forward to going to LCC at all but this was totally worth it.
Big Smile.
:)

... I want to play with languages All the time.

Yay for Concept Cars!

Jeep Renegade

oh I want one

The Perks of Food Poisoning

Last night was really funny. (Not ambiguous/all purpose/ could mean anything from traumatic to awkward "funny" but actually humorous :)
I slept with the lights on all night, mostly out of fear that I would need to throw up again and I didn't want to booby trap myself with nausea and no sense of direction. It's completely unlike me to sleep with the lights on. The tiny light on my computer that tells me when it's charging is usually enough to keep me awake at night. But last night I not only slept really well with the lights on, I also periodically woke up feeling really euphoric. It seemed like every few hours I'd wake up with a smile on my face and when I did I'd discover that I'd fallen asleep in the middle of trying to do something. Like at 3am I'd still have my jacket on but my pants would be all wodded up in my hand like I was about to do something with them. I got lots of giggles out of it. I'm not sure what made the night so great. Usually when you wake up that many times in one night it's irritating. I think I was just happy to not be throwing up. :) lol.
So there's something to look forward to if you ever get food poisoning. It makes you grateful for little nuances we take for granted. Like normal digestion.

Lament

Wanted to celebrate inauguration and Really wanted to go to BJJ for promotions. Way too sick to leave the house though. It's probably in everyone's best interest that I stayed home. Getting sick after the party is usually accepted but I get the feeling that showing up sick is generally frowned upon.

Orion

Last night I saw Orion. He looked bigger and brighter than I've ever seen. I want to experience the constellation out among the trees, away from all the light pollution. Apparently there's an Orion nebula. Who would have known?

Shadow Boxing

Shadow boxing on my new leg is weird.
hmmmm. This is the first time I've thought of it as a "new" leg... maybe because I feel like I just took it out of the box to play with it for the first time in a while... anyway, It feels strange when I pivot.
Before, when I had the screws in, I felt pressure at the screw sites when I walked/jogged. Now I actually feel it at the break site. Especially when I twist or pivot on that leg.
Guess it's still going through a metamorphosis.
I can't wait to roll with it. That'll be interesting.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Got medication AND my stitches out!!!
Be training again in no time. : )
Today was a goood day.

Today

Around 4:30 it occurred to me that there was probably a good sunset happening out there and I had just missed it. I was annoyed that it hadn't occurred to me earlier but then I figured I'd go out just in case. It turned out the best part was just happening. If I'd stayed in and been annoyed I would have missed it. Great lesson. Just go out there and do it. Beats being in a bad mood.

Chickens

Chickens make me smile

Wait in the Fire

My day centered around the sunset today. Since 4 the previous morning I've been waiting for it. Sounds strange but it was my big plan to get out of the house after several weeks of being cooped up. It was soooo much more than I expected it to be. I went outside around 3:20pm and waited and watched the sky. It was beautiful but subdued so after an hour or so I headed home. Half way there I realized the real show was starting. So I turned back and followed it and wandered places I hadn't gone before and the colors offered more everywhere I went. Every direction I looked the sky was lit up. Ardent reds and deep blues, colors that emulsified into pastels. I watched as the moon rose hallowed in a thin layer of white cloud. I watched every ember blaze but returned home before the sky turned dark. Using the burning clouds to guide my way home.

If Water Could Burn

Coals of the coolest blue
Floating in lines
Each with blazing underbelly
Strung like pearls across the sky
The subsiding rage of orange flame
Against the backdrop of deepening night

Semi Annual Flu/Cold/Mystery Illness Freak Out

4 days, 1 meal, and about 6 hours sleep. I will be so happy when this is over.

You'd think after 12 days I'd be on the up swing. Some things have to get worse before they get better. Maybe the recent worsening is a sign of immanent .... better getting....

Mistaken Identity

I've never been so consistently mistaken for someone else as I have been this year. I ran into someone at Alan Bro's this evening and she called me by another name. Luckily, it was a flattering mistake but I am thinking of changing my name to something more memorable.