Day Tripping

Hannah and I ended up at the ocean the other day. (She took the picture of me and I took the picture of her. She took the picture of our friend the crab).

I bought my daughter a Toyota 4Runner for her 16th B-Day. She went four-wheeling with it today -- her and a few friends. (I found out about when I looked in iphoto).

Patience is a Couch

I am not a shopper. I don't have the patience for it. When I want/need something, I have an ideal about what that is, and then I spend no more than a minute, hour, day (depending on what it is) finding something close enough and be done with it. Time to move on to the next activity. Right now I want/need a new couch. However, this time I am going to dedicate a year to this search, time to change my evil shopping ways. (Molly, 2009 is, in part, the year of the couch). I am going to find the right couch to meet my tastes, needs, and budget. It's going to be stylish, comfortable, practical -- and a steal, that will make it even more attractive.

The couch pictured above is stylish, but neither looks comfortable nor is a steal (it's a bajillion dollars) . . . but, it is the start of the process.

I am also shopping for a new mountain bike . . . I will post photos once I begin taking bikes out on demos. Until then, no bike will be bought until ridden and compared with others. The journey begins.

What Your Friends Do on Your Computer at a Party That You Find Out About Months Later

I like surprises . . .

Did you have any ideal?

Did you know that the President's plane the "Air Force One" is stocked with M&Ms that are packaged in a box that has the Presidential seal and a facsimile signature on them?  How important would you feel if your snacks were signed by you first?  Maybe we should try.

I May As Well Rename This Blog: Hannah's Photos

. . . because I don't seem to take any pictures of my own anymore. And I don't seem to have any writing in me either. Snnfff. (It will come back, right?)

Photo shoot by Hannah with her friends as models with pictures of models.

It's Nice To Hear

It's nice to hear your almost 16 y/o daughter say she'd rather stay home than go out because home is so comfortable.

It's nice to hear your youngest son crack you up daily with witty, insightful jokes, making you laugh like your best friends would.

It's nice to hear your children decline an offer for dessert by saying, "no thank you, I've already eaten something with sugar in it today.  I think I've had enough" without any prompting from yourself.  (Maybe they will make good choices without you one day - whew).

It's nice to hear your 20 y/o son say "love you mom" and give you a hug before he leaves for the day.

It's nice to hear your children have an informed discussion of the merits and downsides to a movie over the dinner table.

It's nice to hear your daughter speak enthusiastically about how she approaches her sport and what she is getting out of it.

These are some of the things I heard in the last few days . . . it's nice to hear, because as we all know with families, as with life, we don't always hear things that put a smile on our face . . . but these things that we hear, these are the things that fill us up. 

Colfax had a strong team showing as Hannah West led the way, taking sixth in 2:44.56.

The season is upon us.  Hannah is in full snow board slalom form.  (Headline taken from the Auburn Journal January 13th, 2009).

She's also had her first close call, but narrowly escaped with a sprain.  Whew!  (This happened after the race while attempting a 180 off a box . . . what did I tell you about that!)

My friend Molly sent me this photo a few months back . . . she knows how much I like the colors and style of Edward Hopper's paintings . . . she also knows how much I like Legos (actually, I'm not sure she does).  But she does know how much her son Aidan likes Legos.  Did you happen to see the episode of That 70's Show where Red and Kitty go to Phillies for dinner?

A Complex Carbohydrate

Is corn a vegetable or grain? I wondered this tonight while whisking handfuls of olive-oil-popped popcorn into my mouth. After moving from my position standing in front of the kitchen counter to a seat in front of the computer, I decided to put down the popcorn and do some research for an answer . . . and jeez, what I found is that no one seems to agree on one. In fact, the research only validated me for even pondering this topic, rather than feeling like the only dolt in the world who would want to know. The closest I came to believing one explanation (despite the very many to choose from, such as: "It's a grain. End of story"), is that it is a vegetable, a grain, and a fruit. (And as well, the corn plant sprouts from a seed, which happens to be the dried kernels we eat, so I guess it is a seed too. And it is classified in the grass family. So . . . I guess it's grass. ???!). Maaan. . . talk about your complex carbohydrates . . . (badabum [drum noise]).

If you are dolt enough to want an explanation, here is the link for the vege, grain, fruit trifecta theory: http://www.extension.org/faq/17275. They're all just theories anyway. . . corn is the religion in the food pyramid.

Dinner Therapy

• Baby scallops seared in garlic, lime, and a dash of dill and steaming clams in the shell soaked in garlic butter served over capellini pasta.
  
• A blend of baby red and green butter lettuces and baby spinach tossed with fresh tomatoes lightly dressed with extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar, fresh cracked pepper and course sea salt. Lay Parmesan shavings on top.
  
• Hearty slices of whole grain millet bread spread with fresh cream butter.
  
• Begin with a warm creamy tomato bisque.
  
• A nice glass of Cabernet sauvignon.
  
• Follow with a healthy piece of dark chocolate truffle and a cup of mint tea.
  

Dinner at home with the family tonight. . . all thanks to Trader Joe's. The ordinary Monday night family dinner that helps one face the week ahead - deliciously.

Hannah's At It Again

Buy this girl a camera and she wastes all her time.

Poll Workers (Note, I hear: Pole Workers)

It's finally Election Day.  An exciting day for so many reasons . . . and an amusing one.  Listening to the radio on my commute to Oakland, NPR heavily covered voter activity.  There were many interviews with "poll workers", which I stereotyped by their somewhat nasely, soft-spokeness as nerd-types, and now I envisioned them "working the pole."  Many discussed how long they have been poll (pole) workers.  One man said he brought home an application to his stay-at-home-wife encouraging her to become a poll (pole) worker.  "Honey," he urged, "you would get a lot of satisfaction from being a poll (pole) worker."  I chuckled to myself in my twisted little brain.  A news reporter said he was admonished by The Head Poll (pole) Worker not to take photographs. Hee-hee.

Ok, time to be mature now. . . the moment has come . . . time to go vote.  And check out my local poll (pole) workers.

Sleepless In Salt Lake City

It is almost 4 am and I have not slept a wink (well, maybe an hour which can be counted as a wink). I have been in SLC for five days and my sleeplessness is progressively getting worse . . . I believe I am going to die.

I recently changed companies (same job, new and improved company) and realized I don't neccessarily like change. I think I need to warm up to things, but this warming period is taking an exhausting toll. I am going back home in two days, and hopefully, I can rest easily there, with my cats on the end of my bed (or sometimes tucked up around me) and my kids asleep in the other room. Although, it's not just being away from home that is causing my insomnia, because sometimes we all need to get away from home. There is just a lot going on . . . and it's an election year.

Wish I could say "good night," but I'm afraid I'm not feeling it.

Duathalon

This Sunday I will be participating in a local duathalon event. Not to be confused with a biatholon (pictured). I will NOT be carrying a rifle and shooting at targets along the course. I will, however, be running and mountain biking through the beautiful American River Canyon. With a few good rains, the trail conditions are perfect. The ground has nice give to it and the gritty dust been dampened down (not muddy at all) allowing for more control on the bike by diminishing the slide effect.

It is important to note that I will be participating (not racing) in an event (not a race). Although, I anticipate the enthusiasm will kick in and "race pace" will inevitably take over. This makes me nervous about maintaining good energy levels -- any suggestions sports fans?

Palin's Joe Six Pack - Who Is He?

I know where Main St. is, but who is "Joe Six Pack"?

Is he an alcoholic?

Or an unnaturally sculpted male?
(I understand that "Joe Six Pack" is supposed to be a euphemism for the average American male.  I'd be offended if I were an average American male).

Ahhh, too much to think about. My new career goals. . .

My Cup Runneth Over

Actually, my plate has been very full (I wonder how many ingestion analogies can be applied to just being really, really busy, or as in the King James reference in the title, "more than enough" to do? No time to figure that now). I have been here and there, and Salt Lake City, Utah for a job interview. Although I have a good job, an opportunity has arisen for another and has left me analysing, debating, and researching for which position will suit me best.

Until the negotiating is final, I will try and enjoy being taken to mulitple dinners by a potential and current employer. . .

Rock Around The Clock

Tonight Cole was playing with the innards of a music box that Donna had bought for me on her trip to Europe years ago ('my friend went to Europe and all I got was this lousy innards to a music box,' I think that's what the t-shirts says). This musical device looks like a miniature piece of what is inside a player piano; it plays one song and you crank it by hand, or with your fingers really. Cole asked me how fast should he be turning the tiny crank to get the tempo right. So we opened up You Tube to play the song "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley and The Comets. I knew Cole had heard the song when he was very young because I had it on a CD we used to listen to often, but he hadn't heard it recently enough. None of us have . . . anyway, here's to you! Enjoy.