Whose bright idea was this, anyway?

Goal: Daily Exercise (at least 15 minutes)
Sitrep: 1x Swimming (75 minutes)

Does anyone have a "I Survived My First Homeowner Disaster" t-shirt? Okay, maybe disaster is too strong a word. But Saturday morning when I was crouching under my dismantled bathroom sink and desperately trying to catch the water pouring out of the pipes, it sure felt like one!

The darn think has been draining slow and no amount of D.raino or bleach would clear it. Then it stopped draining period. So. I got something stronger, a big bottle of Rot.oroo.ter drain opener. Poured some in, waited, tried to flush with water. It foamed and bubbled and after a few hours the sink was empty. So I tried to brush my teeth and it backed up. Sigh. Poured the rest of the bottle down the drain. Or tried to, anyway. Let it sit overnight with no success. So Saturday morning I took the darn thing apart. I managed to fit the mop bucket underneath before pulling the pipes apart. Alas, I hadn't realized all the drain opener solution was pooled in the pipe and the trap. That combined with the now-released water made a heck of a foaming mess that overflowed the bucket rather quickly. I grabbed a towel to soak it up and prevent it from getting onto the nice hall flooring. Too bad it was a purple towel. Now it's purple with ugly yellowish splotches on it.

And after all that, the stupid pipes were clear. All the way from the sink down through the trap. Yet it wasn't draining. So I figured there had to be a clog in the part of the pipe coming from the wall and curving down to meet the trap. Only I couldn't see it. By this point it's been hours. So I put the sink back together, cleaned up and headed out to meet my little sis and her family as previously arranged. After dinner, I stopped and bought a plunger. Wouldn't you know it, that cleared the clog. For Pete's Sake!!! After hours of banging and shoving and crouching and pulled shoulder and leg muscles, a $3 plunger did the trick. [rolling eyes] It sure was easier when I had a landlord to call for issues like this!

Only now as I write this, I remember the loud popping/sucking noise when I used the plunger and am wondering if maybe I should go down in the basement and make sure I didn't rupture a pipe or something. Whimper. I hate going down there. There are spiders. ;)

I Wonder Why

Sitrep: Can you guess?

I've been thinking a lot about my Grandpa and my Aunt N the last few months. I'm not sure why. It was before my coworkers father started to get so ill, so that didn't spark it. Not a day goes by lately that I don't think on the two of them. Grandpa's been gone some 10 years now, and Aunt N...I can't remember how long. Her death was such a shock, those days passed in a blur and all I can remember is the month and date, not the year. Although it's been 2 or 3 years now.

When I think about Grandpa it doesn't hurt, exactly. It's hard to describe. A general sense of sadness, of missing. But when I think about my aunt, it's starting to hurt again, although not as intensely as those first few months after she killed herself. The evening I returned from the funeral, a good friend took me down to O'Toole's, and once Bartender B heard the news, the drinks were on the house...I had just enough to fall apart and then my friends took me home. Where we hung out and I talked and screamed and cried. It was good to get it out, to not bottle that pain up inside. And slowly over a few months I dealt with N's death, the way of it, the why, the guilt I felt for not having noticed anything when I'd been there just a few short weeks before then. Several months after N's passing, she came to me in a dream. In my dream we were all together and upset and missing her, but she was standing right there...at first I couldn't see her either, she was just a somebody in my dream that I didn't recognize, but that came to see why I was upset. When I explained why, she put her arms around me and said "I'm right here." I woke up feeling better than I had in days. It was a comforting dream, and I felt very much as if she's okay now, at peace with herself and her decision.

Maybe I think on it so much now because Grandpa died in June, and around July 4th was the last time I visited with my Aunt. She was gone by mid-August. I guess when I think on her now it doesn't hurt as much as it did at first, and I must have just pushed it aside for the most part for awhile now. There isn't guilt anymore, just a kind of wistful "I wish" and achy type feeling. It's not all tied up in anger and resentment anymore. Just a sadness and a pang, and wondering if anyone else thinks about her too. (I'm sure they do!) And a wondering why we tiptoe around the subject and don't talk about her. Or Grandpa. Maybe it hurts too much.

So I think on both of them, and get tears in my eyes and miss them. And then get on with my day, hoping I'll see them again in my next life, even if only in passing.

Mine Eyes Have Seen...

Sitrep: =8-[

You would think a trip to the library would be a safe option; a place I could let my guard down a little bit when it comes to who I have with me. All I can say is I am soooooo glad Shanni wasn't with me on yesterday's weekly outing to the library...just KT (17, almost 18, and thinking of joining the Navy, not the National Guard.)

After a leisurely morning that started at St.arbu.cks, we got to the library just before it opened at 1pm. Sat outside in the shade for a bit; it was truly a gorgeous weekend. After meandering around the library for an hour or so, we went to the self-checkout computer, which is just off to the side of the main lobby and entrance. It's right next to this large window overlooking the computer lab. I was rooting around in my purse for my library card, when KT whispered my name is this voice that was just not usual...I looked up and she had this expression on her face, part horror, part fascination, and she said "There's someone watching P.o.rn in there!!!!" I looked into the computer lab, thinking she was surely over-reacting to a nude picture. But nope. There on a computer screen, in all their, uhh, glory, was a man and woman having sex. Naturally (hah) it's zoomed in on the important, uhh, "moving" bits. I admit, it took me a few seconds to react.

I mean really. I was standing in the lobby of the public library for Pete's Sake. I couldn't be seeing what I was seeing...I don't care if you want to watch adult movies (as long as no children or animals are involved!); and I admit to having watched one or two myself. But there's an appropriate place, and Sunday afternoon at the public library is not that place. So I marched over to the librarian and told her. She was a bit surprised, and asked which computer. So I said "Just stand over here and you'll see it." Considering I was standing in the middle of the lobby at that point she looked alarmed. [g] She stepped out from behind her desk, took one look, and just about flew into that lab and made him turn it off.

I am just so glad that Shanni wasn't with me. Not because I think it's some horrible thing or anything. I just was so not up to a conversation like that. I can just see how it would have gone. She'd've yelled out loud as can be for everyone to hear "What's that? Are they NAKED? Are they having SEX? GROSSSSS. Why are they bouncing like that? Why would he want to watch that? Is that LEGAL???? Have YOU ever done that????" And she'd be off...

The Gods were smiling on me yesterday. I only had to have a talk with a teenager who's thinking of joining the Navy...

Mayhem. Chaos. Is your work done yet?

Sitrep: Zip. This is embarrassing...

Apparently last night KT told her mom & step dad that she wants to join the National Guard. I wasn't there, but the 11pm phone call I got from my little sister would indicate that all hell broke loose. Not toward KT, but between Mom & Step dad. I'm not sure which one is for or against...apparently it was an ugly scene and my little was upset. They usually don't fight, and when they do, it's minor stuff. I'm thinking my little was supposed to have been in bed and they didn't realize she was awake. Knowing her, she probably was eavesdropping. Sigh. That's a bad habit we need to address. But I got her calmed down and off to bed. Sigh.

I'm not sure how I feel about KT wanting to join the National Guard. I knew she had something on her mind yesterday when I picked her up after dance practice. We had a quick bite at We.ndy's and then she went to the store with me on the way to her Mom's work. She was distracted, kinda downcast, and didn't want to talk about it. She's taken the S.AT and A.CT the last two weekends. I think it is hitting home to her that college is a year away, and she's worried about finances. She gets good grades, but isn't one of those honors AP students. I think she's freaking out about how to go to college, and is thinking the National Guard is a way to go. Does the Guard have the same educational opportunities as the military?

Normally, I'm all for the military. I'm an AF brat myself. But with Ir.aq and Af.ghanistan...I don't want her to do it. With just a high school degree, she'd be on the front lines, right? I know it's not 100% certain that she'd be called up, but let's face it. The Guard is deployed very heavily over there, and that includes the Montana units.

The armed services have been heavily recruiting her; the amount of stuff she gets in the mail is crazy. I don't remember ever getting that kind of mail in my junior/senior year. I guess it's just more proof of how things have changed.

I've been getting her tons of info on colleges and scholarships, and trying to get her to fill out the federal student aid forms. Maybe I'll see if I can sit down with her some weekend soon and do that. I doubt her mom will; she's not much of a planner, and definitely not in the financial area. But if it's something KT really wants to do, for whatever reasons...It sucks, big time. :( I guess I'm just like every other family member/friend out there...don't want their loved one in harm's way. I've been lucky - so far - that it's been fairly removed from me.

Why do we go overboard?

Sitrep: Zero

A coworkers father died last Saturday. His health had been getting progressively worse for months, and the last few weeks were pretty bad for J.G. She asked me to come over last night and help her put together a poster board layout/collage of pictures. So I packed up a bunch of my scrapbooking materials and headed out. When I got there, she had all these old pictures from when her Dad was a kid. Not wanting to use the originals, we headed out to find a scan & print kiosk. It took 3 hours to get them scanned (four shops before finding one that worked and was free). We were just about done when the guy working the photo counter comes over, takes one look, and says "You know at the beginning you have to agree about the copyright restrictions. You can't copy those without a release."

ExCUse me? A picture from freakin' 1935?

Copyright apparently goes for 75 years. Which means 1933 to today. So no copies, folks. Unless, of course, you have your own high-quality scanner and photo printer.

J.G. turned to him and for a second I thought she was going to collapse. (These last few weeks have been extremely hard for her!) Then she goes "But it's for my father's funeral!" Poor guy...he had no idea what to say to that. I explained we were printing them out to put on a poster board for the service. He relented, and let us. A very nice guy, really. Then he stuck around and tried to cheer up my friend.

I understand copyright protection and everything. Even agree it is necessary. But why do we have to go overboard on this? Realistically, most pictures people have that are from the 30's and 40's are going to be "studio" pictures. Yet how many of them actually have the photographer or studio's name on the back? Not very many. And even if they did, what are the odds you'd be able to find them to either buy more prints (if they even had the negatives) or to get a release?

And what about all those school pictures? What if I wanted to do a scrapbook of my sister or brother or myself using school pictures? That's from the 70's onward...Wouldn't be able to copy those, and the thought of even trying to track down the photographers...well, that would be a fun job. I'm just glad I have a very nice color scanner. Now I just need to get that printer I want that will print pages up to 12" x 12" paper size. :)

I just want to scream sometimes with how overboard we go in trying to be "protective" and "fair". What the heck ever happened to common sense?

Anyway. We did an awesome layout for her Dad's Navy years...1943-1946. He joined straight out of High School. She has pictures of his ship heading out to sea, on leave somewhere in Japan or the Philippines, his "office" on board ship (complete with pinup girls on the wall!). We found a poster board with a flag/red, white & blue graphic faded into the background. Matted the pictures on black paper, and then used a bunch of Navy themed stickers from the scrapbook store. We also put pictures from his Smoke jumper days (he was one of the original Smoke jumpers) on there as well. It turned out fabulous. Then we did another poster of family pictures - his parents on through to his grand kids. Made for a long day, but it turned out pretty darned good, if I do say so myself.

Discovering a new author

Discovering a new author feels a little like how I imagine Columbus & his sailors must have felt when they finally spied land.

Especially when they have an nice back-list to glom.

Several weeks ago I picked up "The Serpent Bride" by Sara Douglass. I'd read a chapter at the store, and it piqued my interest enough to buy a new-to-me author. It's the first in a trilogy (Darkglass Mountain), and for the first third or so I was really getting into it. Then I started running into all these other characters and places and references to events that were confusing. It was written like I, the reader, should already know about this stuff. Turns out she has something like 6+ other books set in the same world, and with some of the same characters. So I was enjoying it, but it was a tiring read because a lot of things I just didn't understand. They really, really ought to put something in the blurb or on the cover that this is a "return to", ya know?

In spite of feeling like I was slogging through the book (at first I kept having to flip back to see who was who), I liked it. Enought to go to the library yesterday and get another of her books "Hades' Daughter", first in the Troy Game series (not in the same world as the other one.)

Wow. I'll say that again. Wow. Started it shortly after getting home & eating, about 6pm, by 6:30 the TV was turned off (it was annoying me, unusual when I'm reading), and at 11:30 pm I had to make myself go to sleep. I'm captivated. :) Over halfway through the book already. And it's some 584 pages long (hardback). At lunch today I'm off to pick up the others in the series. At this rate, it'll be done by Monday. =8-O

It's a bit of a different type of book for me. Definitely in the sci-fi fantasy realm, with a bit of relationship/romance in it. The thing is, in each of the following books the characters are reincarnated. Tied together, trying to fix the messes they've made, defeat the great evil. Novel concept for me in a book. Usually I don't like a lot of angst drawn out over a lot of books; the "Romeo & Juliet Syndrome" irritates me after awhile. I might give up on this series after the next book. Who knows? But I'm captivated right now. And going to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Connections; A Little Bit of Spring Madness

Sitrep: Nada. My "Fire" Element is seriously depleted.

Yesterday I attended a meeting with my new boss and our printer. We were meeting to discuss options and deadlines for our annual convention materials. The new boss wants to change things up this year (Yay!) after 20+ years of the same thing. Just printed in different colors. [insert rolling of eyes]. The two of them met briefly at R.'s retirement reception in the office. So this was a get-to-know meeting as well. Except they really sorta know each other...they both grew up in this town.

As I listened to them go through the

"We lived two blocks from...."
"Went to H Elementary School..."
"So did I..."
"Weren't you...."
"I remember him/her/them..."
"That's my sister...."
"Didn't she marry..."
"Yeah, he graduated..."

I felt a tiny little pang of envy. I wonder what that's like, living someplace where you're connected to so many people, things, events, places. A kind of loose-knit sweater of your life and history. Is it a warm feeling, or stifling? Scratchy and itchy, or soft and smooth? Maybe it's all of those.

I don't regret the way I was brought up. Living so far from extended family kept us very close, I think, as a small family unit with Mom, Dad, brother and sisters. I got to see things and explore places and learn things I wouldn't have otherwise. It's what made me as Strong an individual as I am today.

Maybe it wasn't so much a pang of envy, as one of curiosity. It's just not something I can easily comprehend. I guess the closest I could come to that is the cul-de-sac where my family moved when I was twelve. But even there there's only one family that's lived there since we were there. A few moved in when I was fifteen, one later, the others after I was in college/graduated college. I have one friend I've known since kindergarten, and she and her parents and her brothers are parts of the web of my life for those early few years, a few in college, brief little intertwinings since then. Maybe it's just like that, only on a larger scale, with your parents and siblings and relatives webs more closely overlapping yours.

It was just an interesting feeling, watching, listening, feeling that connection.

A Little Bit Of Spring Madness
The container garden has grown.
Green beans, carrots, romaine lettuce, green onions, bell peppers, and potatoes.
Basil, catnip (no, I didn't get a cat), chives, lemongrass, two varieties of sunflowers.
And a self-pollinating lime tree.

I believe I've said before that I'm really good at planning. We'll see how the execution goes.

It Just Goes to Show

Sitrep: nothing. :(

So. One week to the day after receiving the permit to mine in EH, HS&G has been ordered by the DEQ to stop work because they are in violation of the permit.

Seriously.

They are restricted to accessing the site via one road, and one road only. They've been using a different road. What, did they think no one was going to be watching? And if they can't even be bothered to follow a pretty simple up-front restriction on the permit (hello, it's one of the first things listed! I know, I've printed it all out and read it!) what makes anyone think they'll follow the rest of the restrictions?

Cost is $100-$1000 per day. I bet that's just pennies to them. Fines at their existing location never seemed to bother - or stop - them.

In the meantime, we're still trying to get the citizen initiated zoning approved. To prevent other developments like this from going in. And to restrict HSG from extending their operations to the remaining acreage. Hopefully their current actions will go to show the commissioners how unreliable HS&Gs promises are.

I've heard that the county assessors office is getting a lot of requests for property tax liability re-assessments now that the pit is being developed. Heh. I've gotta think about that. Not sure it might not bite me in the rear if I requested one. Would my living room remodel affect my property taxes? Of course, if I took out the closet in the sun-porch, it could no longer be listed as a 4-bedroom. Not sure what idiot filled that paperwork out. It wasn't me! Weird. For selling purposes, I can't call it a 4th bedroom. But for property taxes they do. How wrong is that?

calm, rational thought returns

Sitrep: 10 mins Boot Camp, Lawn

Now that I'm ~somewhat~ more calm, I'm able to blog. I was extremely upset yesterday and simply couldn't find the words. Astonishing, I know! It looks like the open cut mine, the gravel pit complete with batch plant, asphalt plant, etc, is going to be built in E.H. Just blocks from my house, next to two elementary schools, next to several parks, and surrounded on 3 sides by existing residential neighborhoods. Oh, and did I mention it's already a Superfund site due to freakin' Asa.rco and a century of their mining? We've almost got that cleaned up and now this...

HS&G was able to use their money to sue DEQ and get a court date within days of filing their suit. Nice, huh? They got their permit to mine the 111 acres the day before final approval was to go through on the zoning of EH, which would have prevented the mine. The issue was DEQ has been consistenly underfunded and understaffed and unable to complete environmental assessments within 90 days. They had to extend the comment period to the public on this one because there were only 2 notices, as required by law, in the paper, but they were right at the holidays... pretty convenient timing, huh? Not. It was deliberate, as the permitting process was started last June. Why wait until December to notify the public? Because many would be out of town or so busy they'd miss the notices, that's why. Anyway. The courts said that DEQ had to issue the permit at the end of 90 days even if the EA was not finished, and that the Opencut Mining Law trumps the Environmental laws in the state.

Miracle of miracles, the EA was finished that very day. Guess who paid for an independent firm to do the EA? Yep. HSG. And the DEQ has the nerve to say even though HSG paid the contractor, DEQ is the one who hired them? Huh. I don't mean to accuse the firm of anything shady...but it smacks of conflict of interest and impropriety to me. And reading the final EA, that addressed concerns submitted by residents, the responses were pretty much "it won't affect you badly because we say so". Right.

And it's not like this is simply a case of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard). There are some serious concerns about health, water, & safety. The H. Valley has been struggling with water quality issues for years. EH has additional water quality issues with Asar.co and it's lovely contamination of the area. The land they are seeking to dig up and disperse all over the property is contaminated with lead, arsenic, selenium. Testing has shown areas with more than 2x the EPA limit that requires cleanup. Yet they're simply to "move" it? Their plan is to mine within 5-6 feet of the groundwater level. Yet they have no study showing where it is. In addition, they are going to be filling a lot of their water needs from the existing irrigation canals in the area...one that many farms rely on. And these aren't your big commercial ones, either. Considering we've been in drought for years...

Then there's the safety of the trucks on the two-lane road that is barely adequate to handle existing traffic. A road already known for bad accidents. Theses trucks will have to pass the schools, go through EH...yet no traffic study, no improvements to the road are required. Our activism did manage to get some restrictions placed on their hours of operation...they were planning on 20 hours per day! Get real...They're now restricted to 5a-7p weekdays, shorter on Saturdays, none on Sunday...UNLESS they're under contract deadlines. Since they are the monopoly here, and are the only supplier for the state/county road improvements - which take place at night - the asphalt plant, etc, will be running, you guessed it, all night. They are also not allowed to drive their trucks during the school "arrival" and "departure" hours. Trucks aren't allowed to idle more than 15 minutes either. But who's gonna enforce that????

All the "precautions" HSG is required to take to diminish aesthetic impacts are ones they are supposed to be doing on their current property that I drive past daily. It's an ugly scar on the landscape, and the trees planted to block the view??? Dead, all but one. Nothing was done, and where's the enforcement? Dust, noise, lights from the current operation - nothing mitigated. Complaints have been steadily rising since the local owners were bought out 3+ years ago by an international firm. It's all words on paper... the fines are minimal and have no effect on this company as the past years have shown. Why would it, they're a monopoly and growth is strong in the valley. Demand is high. Although if people knew they were getting stuff from land contaminated by Asar.co that hasn't been cleaned up...

The final commissioner meeting was yesterday for zoning, and it was supposed to be finalized. But all of a sudden, they've extended the deadline until next week for "comments", and are considering giving HSG a variance allowing the remaining 389 acres of the property to be mined. Dammit. The citizens have done everything required of us by law...it's CITIZEN INITIATED zoning, out of legitimate concerns over air quality, noise, roads, water, lead/arsenic contamination...We have a right to direct how our town develops and grows. So yet again I've written the commissioners, as hopefully the rest of EH residents have. But I'd bet everything HSG gets their variance anyway. Regardless of what more than 80% of the citizens want or not.

It sucks. It really does. We don't have the money to appeal the courts decision (which I'm betting in future gets overturned by a higher court - there are other cases in other counties pending on this very issue) because the law requires us to put up a bond if we want to appeal.

Anyway. It just makes me want to cry. A giant pit in the center of my beautiful town. Air quality is going to be bad - the smell from the asphalt plant alone will cause headaches for me, the dust is going to kill my allergies. Not sure what it will do to my dog's asthma. I guess I'm going to have to figure out how to get AC installed in my house before that goes on line...Too bad, because one of my favorite things about living out here is the fresh air.

Keep your fingers crossed, say your prayers, send your positive energy this way...whatever you have, we need it to keep them restricted to at least the 111 acres.

Turning Into Earth Mother

Sitrep: 10 mins Boot Camp (I had to stop - not sure what was up mentally last night. It improved with sleep, though, as I my out-loud laughter woke me up at 5:36am!)

Okay, not really. [g] But I've finally decided to start my container vegetable garden. I'm going to have two containers - half whiskey barrels I found at Low.e's. The list of what to plant isn't very long for me as I'm such a picky eater. Here it is:

Carrots (#1 of course!)
Onions
Potatoes
Green Beans
Lettuce

I'm still hoping we're going to do corn again at my little sister's, but considering it's June and we haven't even begun to plant...

From what reading I've done (yes I've researched. Do I do anything without researching first?) I think I'm going to be able to put the lettuce, carrots and onions in one container. The potatoes and green beans in another. I might add a third container depending on space. We'll see how much of this actually comes off. [g] You know me, great on planning, lousy at implementing.

I'm starting late, so who knows if they'll grow...it's at least worth a try. So get ready for gardening posts...like you weren't sick enough of my lawn care woes! [g]

"A Slash of Blue"

Last Week: 2+ hours yard work (mowing, edging, trimming, cleanup); 45 min walk
Goals: 2x Boot camp, Continue w/yard work

Moving into a new office building a few miles north of our old one means I take a new route to work. Instead of taking the highway west in town, I now go down E.H.'s Main Street and the head North for several miles, then West into the newer part of town. It means taking smaller, two-lane roads north into the valley. The wide open view over mostly unspoiled fields west and north and in between those two points is stunning first thing in the morning, as well as the opposite view coming home at end day. Due to the snowfall this winter, and now the rain (June is supposed to be very wet as well), everything is green.

There's something about that filtered light barely lighting the valley floor and highlighting the mountains, those patches of green, the browns and blues and grays...it makes my breath catch in my throat, my heart seize in my chest. It's in those moments that a little thought flits through my brain, a sense of wonder, "I can't believe I Live Here." What stroke of luck of fortuitous living of sheer happenstance brought me to this place seven years ago?

A slash of Blue —
A sweep of Gray —
Some scarlet patches on the way,
Compose an Evening Sky —

A little purple— slipped between —
Some Ruby Trousers hurried on —
A Wave of Gold —
A Bank of Day —
This just makes out the Morning Sky.

~ Emily Dickinson

What's white with green splotches and red bumps?

Sitrep: 1x Lawn Mowing, Trimming, Edging

My legs after trimming/edging the lawn, that's what. They look like I was attacked with the blunt end of a pencil while being eaten alive by giant bugs. I've got little round bruises and red welts all over my legs from mid calf to mid thigh. Mostly around the knees/thigh area. Who knew trimming and edging the yard was so hazardous?

I admit to trimming only once last year...this year the quack grass has made it a necessity to trim just about weekly. This is the first day since I've had the trimmer/edger that it was warm enough to wear shorts. Actually, warm enough to require shorts. Too bad the stupid thing is so noisy, or I'd trim earlier in the morning before the heat gets too much for yard work in jeans...I guess I'd better get some light weight yard work pants.

But my yard looks nice. Mowed, trimmed, edged. Just don't look at the flower beds. Eeek. Gotta buy some weed killer and tackle that tomorrow. If it doesn't rain. It's already clouding up.

So I think I mighta upset my dad yesterday. Political stuff, naturally. [rolling eyes] I just never know when to shut up. It was about the political candidates and taxes and the housing crisis, and you know me. Run off at the mouth....or the email, in this case. ;) But I think all of 'em - Dems & Reps alike - have some stupid plans that will just waste money, and result in the taxpayer paying more. They might not officially raise taxes, but the end results will be the same....I was in a rush when I replied and referred him to one of my favorite sites - http://www.factcheck.org/ - and think I came across harsher than intended. :( I'm sorry Dad.

Well. Maybe I'll tackle the flower beds today...It's still lovely outside, and I'm actually feeling like being outside...even if the lilacs are blooming and the sky is clouding up. Maybe I'll get lucky and another team of fighter jets will fly over...that was spectacular this morning...there were 5 or 6 of them I think. Enough to have many of the neighbors coming outside to see what was up. An unusual sight and sound around here, even with the Fort. They were painted differently than I've seen before...maybe they were from the airshow up at Malmstrom last weekend. They definitely looked like an airshow team. And the way they were moving, the speed and maneuvers, coming from all different directions...Thrilled this AF Brat. :) It wasn't the Thun.derbirds or the Bl.ue An.gels. Maybe the Canadian team? The name escapes me momentarily, darn it, but they were at the airshow last weekend. I should make plans to take Shanni to it next year. That would be a blast!!

PS - Everyone repeat after me "Nat, you do NOT want a Pla.ystat.ion 3. NO YOU DON'T"

Triple Review

Sitrep: 1/2 Lawn Mowed (rain rain, go away...)

Three reviews today: My Arms, A Book & A Movie. I've been busy. [g]

My Arms

So I've done Boot Camp twice (with one weight each time) in the last two weeks. And the week before that I did arms & abs. I've also mowed each week, and weekend before last I used my new trimmer/edger on my back yard. That sucker is supposed to be light at 5.5 pounds (at least, in comparison to others.) Then there's all the lifting and carrying I've been doing the last few weeks at work. Last night I noticed that I can feel my biceps just rubbing my hand up and down my arm. I don't even have to do the muscle pose to see/feel them. How very cool is that?

A Book

Another good book recommendation from the bulletin board: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. Bought & read it in one day last weekend. :) I don't do that too often. It's a very good first book, I think. Different from my usual reads. Easy-going, a little enchanting.

SPOILER ALERT - SCROLL PAST THE NEXT BIT - YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
While I really enjoyed this book, and there were several lines I found myself trying to remember because they were so funny, I was left feeling a little at loose ends when it finished. Things were developing quite nicely with all the characters. Then all of a sudden Claire's hero stopped getting fleshed out - there wasn't a lot of development there. Almost as if his falling for her was secondary to her falling for him, a given, so why write about it? There were several mentions made of him needing someone like Claire to keep him organized, grounded, etc. (He had to leave notes to remind himself to eat.) But not much was made of that...not sure Claire ever found out about that in the book. I was a little unsatisfied at how that was resolved. First 2/3+ of the book devoted to Claire pushing him away, then in a few pages, she changes? And we lost him about halfway through the book...his perspective, etc. Claire got together with her hero, and that was the end of them until the last pages - focus turned to other characters.

Then there was the later introduction and development of Fred & his partner (whom we saw once? twice?) And the way that was tied up...uh, wasn't too thrilled with that. Didn't have so much to do with the two main characters, who I thought were the sisters.

I liked the relationship with the sisters (Claire, Sydney) themselves. That was well written; combined with the magical aspect of the book, this was the best part for me. Funnily enough, I hadn't read any reviews about this book, just new the title and that several ladies on the BB really enjoyed it. The night before I found it at Wa.lmart, I dreamt in depth about my sister and I. Funny, huh?

The niece/daughter was "off" in tone for me. I liked her character, would like it if she had her own book (that would be a trick - she's 5 in this book). Her age is what was "off" for me. She read more like a nine year old to me.

Sometimes throughout the book I kept thinking about the movie "Practical Magic". Not a bad thing in and of itself, but I guess I was wanting more? I'm not sure the purpose of Fred, or Evanelle, the cousin who has to give things to people. Things could have been tied together without all of that, in my opinion, leaving more page time for the two sisters and their relationships - with each other, with the daughter/niece, with the love interests, with the one sister's past, with the town...

I just felt a bit at loose ends, slightly disappointed when I finished it, even though I felt it was a good read. After all, it kept me reading all day. And I'm going to get her next book, which has just been published.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
END SPOILER

A Movie

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I loved the Chronicles of Narnia books when I was young. At least, the ones dealing with the Pevensie children. Loved Lucy. I've tried to get my little sister to read them, but she's not interested. She'd rather read the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series by Rick Riordan. That's cool. I'm not going to force books on her...just give her suggestions when she asks for them. But in 2005 we went to see the first one, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, when it came out. (Yes, it's the FIRST ONE. I'm a big believer in reading this series in the order it was written!!!) We had just gone to see one of the latest Har.ry P.o.tter movies the week before, and it was fun seeing her different reactions to the two. For HP, she enjoyed the movie, etc. In LW&W, she was literally on the edge of her seat. And when ***SPOILER*** one of the main characters died ***END SPOILER*** she sank back in her seat with a startled "Ohhhh".

It was the same for the 2nd one, Prince Caspian. After the first 10 minutes, she was enthralled. I think it's the way the stories are told, the slower pace. And the low amount of special effects, if you think about it. I haven't read the HP books, but they're much longer I think than the C of N series. And the HP movies I've seen are high paced, heavily loaded with special effects. There's no time for the story to sink in. She loves HP, yet she enjoyed the C of N more in the movie theater. I'm not sure why, other than the reduction of special effects. Or maybe it's the talking animals???

Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie. I'm actually going to get the first one and this one on DVD. A good addition to my miniscule DVD collection. Simple, fantastical, fun. And Good wins out over Evil. How can I not like that?

The "New" Math

Sitrep: 1/2 Yard Mowed.

I made the mistake of listening to NPR on the way home last night. No discs in the CD player, nothing good on the few music stations I can stand. So on went NPR. Should have just enjoyed the drive home in quiet!

The topic was, you guessed it, the housing market "crisis". They took this guy that buys/packages mortgages in those "CDO"s (they've interviewed him before) to go see some people that are having trouble making their payments. I believe they were in NYC somewhere. They get to this legal aid center where they're meeting, and start talking to this woman. From her voice, she sounded like she was in her 40's or 50's. But that's just my guess. Anyway. When she said they should have been requiring the 10-20% down in order to buy a house, the guy said "Even if that meant for a $300,000 house you'd have to have $30,000 or $60,000 to buy it?" She said yes, because then she'd "Know I couldn't afford it."

Ummm. Okay. Apparently, none of the following told her she couldn't afford to buy:

1) She was living in subsidized housing, paying $597/month in rent
2) In order to qualify for a loan her mortgage broker had her move money from one account to another multiple times (leaving it several weeks in each account) to make it look like she had more money than she did
3) Her mortgage is $2,000 per month, more than 3x her subsidized rent
4) Her annual income is $26,000

New Math:
$26,000 annual income
-24,000 annual mortgage payments
= 2,000 for remaining ANNUAL expenses = YES! I can afford this house.

WTF? And I'm going to pay to bail her out why? Because it is me. And you. We're the ones paying for this. Whether it's the tax money we pay or from not fully or properly funding teh VA or the schools or a zillion other things...Why should she get any kind of special aid or assistance? Why don't we require people to have common sense any more? There's no way in hell she should have gotten that house, and no way in hell she didn't know she couldn't afford that. I'd bet anything she thought she could do it for a few months, half a year, and then sell the house for a profit. She bought into the whole crazily rising prices and maina of flipping houses. Well tough. Lose your home, screw up your credit, and go back to renting. You probably still qualify for subsidized housing (if not more!). Then rebuild your life. I shouldn't have to bail you out.

Sorry, I know I'm harsh. But seriously. That is totally ridiculous! Whatever the mortgage broker put on paper, she didn't think "Huh...he has to lie about my income so I can get a loan?" That didn't set off warning bells? What is wrong with people? What is wrong with this country? When did owning a home change from being something you worked toward and become something you were owed? When did starting with a small fixer upper, a starter home and working your way up to your dream home change to buying your dream home (aka MANSION) as your first home?

And then I watched something on the local news last night about this couple that bought an RV in 2005 that gets 8 miles per gallon. They're all bummed because their plan to tour the USA in it has become too expensive. Even with the savings they get from staying at campgrounds, etc. And they still have to pay on it. Well, DUH. Prices have done nothing but climb and break records for years now. They seriously thought in 2005 this was a good idea? I have no pity for them. That thing was a monstrosity. They could have gotten one that was much smaller with better mileage - and probably for less money! A friend of mine has one. Or what about one that pulls behind your vehicle? Please. They can take their "oh, poor me" and...

Does NOBODY look forward when they do things? I know it might seem like I bought the new living room furniture on a whim, but I've been thinking and planning and budgeting for several months. I know exactly how much I can afford to spend on furniture over how long a period of time, and still be okay even with the rising prices. But ooops. That's right. I'm one of those home buyers that didn't listen to the mortgage company or loan officer or realtor that said I could get a house double the size for double the money on my income. I'm someone that actually {gasp}bought a house within their means.

[ducking and running for cover]

Settling In

Last Week's Sitrep: 1x Boot Camp, A whole lotta box & computer moving!
Goals: 2x Boot Camp, Lawn (Mowing/Trimming/Edging - if the grass dries)

We're finally settling in at work. For the past hour I've actually been able to stay at my desk and go through email from the past week. Thank goodness for Out of Office! That's the nicest feature we gained moving over to an Ex.change Ser.ver. I decided to wear jeans today, even though we're supposed to be back to our regular work rules. But I just had this feeling I'd still be crawling around under desks today, and hauling computers around. Which I did. Whoever wired this place did a bang up job with the numbering. Not! It took the tech and I hours today to figure out which lines went to which ports/jacks in the reception area. Which is where we added three cubicles. The actual offices were labeled okay, except one the wires for the data and phone ports were backwards. So he decided to switch them. Only he switched them on both ends when they were only backwards on one end. So all of a sudden that worker (the noisiest one!) was dropped off the network. [g] Oh, it's been a heck of a day so far!

Best thing - our boss - the executive director - came in today and gave each of us a gift card to Sta.rbucks as a thank you for all our hard work for the move. Wasn't that sweet of him? Too bad I no longer drive past Star.bucks on the way to work. I might just have to go the long way for a few days. ;)

Settling In

Last Week's Sitrep: 1x Boot Camp, A whole lotta box & computer moving! Goals: 2x Boot Camp, Lawn (Mowing/Trimming/Edging - if the grass dries)

We're finally settling in at work. For the past hour I've actually been able to stay at my desk and go through email from the past week. Thank goodness for Out of Office! That's the nicest feature we gained moving over to an Ex.change Ser.ver. I decided to wear jeans today, even though we're supposed to be back to our regular work rules. But I just had this feeling I'd still be crawling around under desks today, and hauling computers around. Which I did. Whoever wired this place did a bang up job with the numbering. Not! It took the tech and I hours today to figure out which lines went to which ports/jacks in the reception area. Which is where we added three cubicles. The actual offices were labeled okay, except one the wires for the data and phone ports were backwards. So he decided to switch them. Only he switched them on both ends when they were only backwards on one end. So all of a sudden that worker (the noisiest one!) was dropped off the network. [g] Oh, it's been a heck of a day so far! Best thing - our boss - the executive director - came in today and gave each of us a gift card to Sta.rbucks as a thank you for all our hard work for the move. Wasn't that sweet of him? Too bad I no longer drive past Star.bucks on the way to work. I might just have to go the long way for a few days. ;)

Instead of Building An Ark

Sitrep: 1x Bootcamp, 3 days moving (servers, computers, boxes - ughh)

I bought living room furniture. Makes loads of sense, doesn't it? [g] It has been raining steadily since Thursday morning. You'd think this was Seattle, not Montana. It's the most rain I've seen in the 7 years I've lived here. But I don't mind. I like the rain. And it's a good excuse not to do yard work!

Anyway. Back to the furniture. I've been wanting a new sofa for quite awhile. And additional seating. And a coffee table. And...well, you get the picture. What I have is all hand me down or put-together furniture from Walm.art. You know the kind I mean? Looks decent enough, but after a few years they start to fall apart. So I decided to go looking and see if there were any sales. I went to every furniture store in town, except one. But I've been there before and they have a limited selection of sofas, and no living room sets.

After visiting them all, I ended up back at the first store I went to. They were the only ones that had what I wanted. They were also offering 60 months interest free financing. Heh. Works for me! [Although I was almost seduced by a purple loveseat & sofa set at another place. But purple would require repainting my green living room as I just can't do purple & green. Can you say "bruise"?]

So I bought the sofa, arm chair (it reclines like you wouldn't believe!), two end tables (taller rectangle one) and the cocktail table. These pictures don't do it justice. The fabric doesn't look striped at all. Has more of a texture pattern; almost like leather. And the detail on the wood is hard to see. Anyway. I'll take better pictures when it gets delivered. They say June 17th, maybe earlier. But that works for me.

Yes, I realize I got brown. But it really is lovely, and works for the look I want. I'm all about those earth tones, nature, etc. Probably why I like the Arts & Crafts movement in the first place!

Also this week, we completed The Big Move into our new office building for work. Since I'm the IT for our company, it was up to me to develop the plan for moving the computers and technical equipment. They wanted us to be down the least amount of time. Furniture was being dismantled, taken to the new place and reassembled on Wednesday. So my plan was to move the server first thing Wednesday morning, set it up, then bring over the computers and set up each workstation as the desk went up. I got the ok from the bosses to do this, and it worked like a charm.

I had the network plus two workstations up and running by 1pm. The rest would have been up, except there were issues with the desks being set up. By end of day the majority of the computers were up and connected. No printers, however, because the boss neglected to include them in her instructions to the techs adding additional wiring, even though I'd pointed out to her where we needed Ethernet jacks for them. Ahh, such is life.

Everything else got moved in on Thursday in the pouring rain. I also spent a good portion of that day moving computers around because people kept moving their desks. Okay, two people did that. Moved one time each. But when you're crawling around on the floor 2 days after doing Alden's Boot Camp workout, and both of those days included hauling servers and computers and monitors and printers...Oh, the agony.

But at least it's over with. Just about everything was unpacked when they let us go at 3pm on Friday. The last of the wiring was still being finished. But holy cow was I exhausted. I was in bed by 7pm every night starting Wednesday. I didn't get up until 9am today. Well, I did stumble into the kitchen sometime before that to feed the dog, just to shut her up. I'm not sure what time it was. Knowing her, it was too early for breakfast. She tries that sometimes. Okay, every weekend. After getting up, I gamed for a bit, then rushed to shower so I could listen to "Says You" while getting ready for my planned Window Shopping that turned into a Major Purchase. :)

Petunias aren't Pansies

Although they may look similar. At least, they do to me. Do they to you?

Pansy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansy

Petunia - http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1120.html

They're both pretty, so why does it matter? Well, here's what happened.

Sunday I made another return trip to Wa.lmart to get yet more items I'd forgotten to buy on my grocery run last Thursday. I decided (inspired by the gorgeous weather we've been having) to plant some flowers in the two large pots either side of my front door.

I've been thinking of getting pansies, because I've grown them before without problems, and because they are fragrance free. Yes, I get non-fragrant flowers...otherwise it's heck on my allergies, not to mention migraine inducing.

Yet while I was there, all I could remember was that the name started with "P". When I saw the Petunias, I thought "Hey, those look like them!" I made my little sister and her sibling smell them for me, both of them swearing they didn't have a scent. Then after yet another discussion on why I didn't want pink flowers (or pink anything!!! My little is no longer allowed input on paint selection or anything else involving colors.) I selected the ones I thought looked the best and put them in the cart. The rest of the time in the store and in the car, I kept thinking I smelled flowers, but thought it was just my sensitivity to the ones I'd been around in the garden department. (Those places are as bad for me in spring as candle & perfume aisles are year round!).

So we get them planted and I said "I could swear these smell". Both girls said again they didn't smell a thing. [g] So that night I decided to sit outside in the quiet evening air on my front step and soak up the ambience. Just relax, you know? And what do you think comes wafting up from both sides of me? Flower pefume. Yep. Those darn petunias smell. A nice spicy scent. Yet not so nice for my head. Sigh. And my migraine meds are too pricey at $60 per nine pills (yes, that's with insurance!) to justify keeping the flowers. So I now have $15.00 worth of petunias I need to relocate. Sigh. Problem is, only people I know that would take them would have them in places I frequently visit. And I still have to buy the pansies. That is, if I want to take another chance on planting flowers by the front door.

I'm second guessing that decision. :)

"Put 'em up, Put 'em Up"*

I'm warning the world, okay? I'm in a seriously pugnacious, pugilistic, antagonistic, combative, contentious, hostile, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike mood today. If that's not clear enough...

You've probably figured out I've waded into it on the BB again. But I'm tired of not posting or saying anything because I don't want to be lambasted again. Seems lately people on there are feeling like it's okay to call names if you don't agree with someones opinion or experience. Which has made me wary and, frankly, has me avoiding the BB. Which is now pissing me off because I've been part of that community for almost 7 years now, before quite a few of these people showed up. I hate feeling like I'm being chased off a BB I've enjoyed so much in the past. And maybe I'm being too self-conscious and haven't really waded into it. And maybe I'm coming across as mean or antagonistic or nasty or something. I don't know. I do know I get passionate when debating ideas...in a good way. I love to talk and debate and hear new ideas, etc. Maybe that just doesn't come across in this type of forum. Just seems like the last few times I've posted my opinion on a topic it becomes icky - at least for me.

Anyway. I'm about ready to bean one of my coworkers with a rubber band. [rolling my eyes] She's driving me crazy about the move. We're color-coding our boxes and putting the same color on our office door jambs so the movers know where to take each box...and to help us "guide" them as they come into the new office with the stuff without having to reach each individual box label. She now wants to use special round stickers, not the colored post it notes we already have. Because the little circles have glue all around them, the post its don't. I suggested she just tape the post it's on (like I've already done with mine). She doesn't have tape, hasn't had tape for nine months, etc, and so on. Okay. EVERY OTHER DESK IN THIS OFFICE HAS TAPE. It's not that hard to borrow, ya know?

She also was complaining yesterday because we packed up the front counter. Including the little file tray next to the printer that blank paper is usually stacked in. We left a little paper, after making sure the printer was full. She comes out there and starts on with "Can't we leave the tray?" I said just leave the paper on the counter. She comes back with the counter is dirty. (hah!) I pointed out that the wipes for the counter were literally right there at her elbow and she could wipe it off and put the paper down. Does she? NO. She puts the paper in the bypass tray and walks away. Stupid bitch. What the hell would it have hurt her to wipe the counter (which didn't need it) and put the paper down. This is also the one person in the office that's not helping pack anything but her own stuff.

Well, I'm sorry. The few of us that are making sure everything else gets packed will be moving computers to the new location tomorrow and setting those up, so we won't be around to pack. And they're breaking down the desks starting at 8am. Not sure what she doesn't understand about everything needing to be packed by 5pm TODAY.

Wow. I'm seriously being irritated by people lately. I think I need to find a cave to crawl into. I'm ready to yell at my neighbor because when she waters her lawn, she turns it on full force, puts it next to the fence, and waters half my front yard. Which is what killed the plants I put in the front flower bed on that side last year...(I deliberately select plants with low water needs to conserve) And it totally derailed my plans for trimming the front yard Sunday. By the time I realized what was happening, the grass was soaked. And then the guy 2 doors down decided to do some outside work around 9 pm last and use the stereo on his truck for music. My floors were rattling to the bass, and I could make out the words. Thank goodness he turned it off a half hour or so later...I was going insane. Couldn't hear my TV without blasting it; and I'd really been enjoying reading a book in the peace and quiet until then. I heard my neighbors kid wake up crying shortly after the music started. Heh. If I'd been her, I'd've been seriously ticked at that.

Argghhh. I need to let this stuff go. I've always said it's the little things in life that're gonna give me an ulcer. I need a time out. Online and in person!

*The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.

Phaneromania It Might Be

Last Week's Sitrep: 1x Bootcamp, 1x Lawn (incl trimming/edging), 1x Hauling Boxes (63 15-20lb boxes to storage, onto shelves, etc.)

This Week's Goal: 2x Bootcamp, 1x Lawn

But at least I don't have Rhinotillexomania. Seriously. ;) I've discovered this show on NPR at 11:10 am (MST) Saturday mornings. It's called "Says You" and comes on right after "Car Talk". I enjoy both shows. But "Says You" has become something I'm starting to plan my Saturday mornings around. I've always been a wordsmith. Love words. Which is no surprise to many of you. But who knew words could be so darn amusing? This past week they had to define these two words:

Phaneromania (which I have) and Rhinotillexomania (which I don't!). The first being, here it comes, the habit of biting one's nails. [g] The second, compulsive nose picking. [giggle] I'm so glad I don't have that one!

Any wordies out there might want to check out this show. I actually sat in my car in the library parking lot for fifteen minutes one Saturday just so I could hear the end of the show. You can find a listing of radio stations and times on their website.

As for Car Talk. They're a hoot! I like listening to them just because they are so funny. I might not know what the heck they're talking about, but I might just learn through my smiles & giggles. :)