Adventures of Aunt Judy

2010-10-14T11:01:00.001-07:00

http://www.thomashibbs.org/4872/to-kill-a-mockingbird

A Quote...

2010-10-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

"The right to the city is not merely a right of access to what already exists, but a right to change it after our heart's desire. We need to be sure we can live with our own creations (a problem for every planner, architect and utopian thinker). But the right to remake ourselves by creating a qualitatively different kind of urban sociality is one of the most precious of all human rights. The sheer pace and chaotic forms of urbanization throughout the world have made it hard to reflect on the nature of this task. We have been made and re-made without knowing exactly why, how, wherefore and to what end. How then, can we better exercise this right to the city?" -- Harvey, D. (2003). The Right to the City. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 27(4), 939 - 941.

If only he went all the way and connected this to our Biblical role and requirement to rebuild the city of God. We are supposed to be Utopian thinkers and schemers, devising ways to love the city, people and community around us.

If Only I Were Rich...

2010-07-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

...I would buy one of these for all the babies I love.

this is cool.... but is it art?

2009-03-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

I hope she didn't have to pay for all that thread.

One More Thing

2009-02-24T09:38:00.001-08:00

to do on vacation...

Paper Airplane in New York

This is so cool!

Do you think I'd be allowed to do this from any building?

Should I Know All This?

2009-02-20T10:10:00.001-08:00

As a Gen Y-er, I guess I'm supposed to know all of this already...

Bacn: impersonal e-mails (as annoying as spam) that you have chosen to receive, such as alerts and newsletters.

Bershon: that angry/bored/too-cool-to-care look that 12- to 18-year-olds sport in every family photo.

Compunicate: to chat with a co-worker when you are in the same room using Instant Messenger instead of speaking to them in person.

Cougar: Term that a younger man might use to describe an older female companion or attractive older woman.

Defriend: to remove somebody from your established list of contacts, considered the ultimate snub on a social network.

Googleganger: A person who shares your name. You find your googleganger by self-googling.

Lifestreaming: posting an online record of a person's daily activities, such as blogs.

Meatspace: referring to real life or the physical world and conceived as the opposite of cyberspace or virtual reality.

Moofer: derived from the acronym for "mobile out of office." Someone who abandons their workplace between meetings, taking laptop and Blackberry to the local Starbucks or anyplace else where they can escape the interruption of talkative co-workers.

Mouse potato: Someone who spends all their time on the computer surfing the net or playing games. Similar to couch potato.

Passion bucket: a metaphor for a job or endeavor that can fulfill one's sense of mission and ambition.

Peachfuzz billionaires: when someone launches their first startup in middle school and ends up a budding teeny mogul on the cover of a magazine.

Porntastic: something great, but slightly edgy and racy.

Palm Beach niece: Term that an older man might use to introduce or describe a much younger female companion.

(HT: http://www.limelightgenerations.com/blog/)

One of the Many Fun Things to do with Books

2009-01-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

Some animator somewhere had too much time on their hands. Well, it's pretty well done, I hope someone got paid for this: book video.

I like the first minute or so of this clever little video. There's nothing wrong with the rest of it, it's just a little too long. Plus they didn't use very many books that I've read so that makes it less interesting.

Narrative Medicine

2009-01-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what that is, but Columbia University is offering a Master's Degree in it. It kind of sounds cool; except from the description, it almost sounds like it's not about anything.

Check it out here.

Mar 27, 1920

2009-01-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

Letter to Gertrude from Chauncey on brown stationery with French, American and British flags

Dated Mar 27, 1920 PM

Dear Gert:

This is really the first chance I have had to answer your letter as I have been quite busy stocking up the store for summer.

The weather has been great out here for about a week. The ice has all gone out of the river; and a few of the launches are already running. I have been thinking of getting my little old boat fixed up for the summer. I wonder if I shall take you out boatriding this season? I sure hope so.

It would never do to go riding in Maynard’s Ford. The roads are a fright. By the way, Maynard would like to have Gerry write to him. He says he wrote the last two letters and will not write first again.

I did get a letter from, “Buddy. I am glad you let her read that letter.

Well, girlie, I will be expecting a letter from you soon.

As Ever,

A Friend,

Chauncey

Mar 5, 1920

2009-01-12T18:48:00.000-08:00

Letter to Gertrude from Chauncey on brown stationery with French, American and British flags

Dated Mar 5, 1920 8AM

Dear Gert

Was agreeably surprized to receive your card, as I sure thought you had forgotten your friends at Pearl Beach. I did not know about your hand. A sore hand is a bad thing, isn’t it? I am glad it is better.

Maynard stopped writing to Jerry for the same reason that I stopped writing to you. Because he did not get an answer to his letters. I hope Gerry’s had is better by this time.

The “Beach” has been awfully dead all winter. Will sure be glad when summer comes again. Do you expect to be up this way at all this summer? Would like to take you for another boat ride.

Will look for an answer if your hand permits.

Chauncey

Dec 25, 1919

2009-01-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

Postcard to Gertrude from Chauncey on “A Merry Xmas to You” postcard

Dated Dec 25, 1919 8AM

Top left corner: “please write.”

Bottom corner: “Chauncey”

Sept 29, 1919

2009-01-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

Letter to Gertrude from Chauncey on Aspenleiter letterhead note paper
Dated Sept 29, 1919 PM

Dear Gert:

Was sure surprized and delighted and delighted this morning when I opened the mail bag and the first letter I saw was yours, addressed to me.

It was raining like the deuce when I came down to work this morning, but has cleared up this afternoon. I hate Monday mornings when it rains, don’t you?

Maynard is work at the store now, and wants to go to Detroit next Sunday. So him and I are going down, and I think Jack is going with us. I have not had a chance to ask him so far, but I think he will go along.

We’re going to leave here at twelve o’clock, so that will get us down there at two o’clock. Will we be able to see Gerry, Leona, and you? Can’t we meet you some place? Could you be at the interurban station at two o’clock? Or can we see you at some other place? I think Jack still writes to Leona. Of course boys don’t tell everything to one another like girls do. Remember the argument we had in the Ford, that night we went for a ride.

You said that you wished you were in Pearl Beach, as you needed a rest. I wish you were here too. I am not as sure about the rest.

Well, think I had better close hoping to hear from you before Sunday.

Sincerely you friend: Chauncey

Sept 26, 1919

2009-01-11T19:17:00.000-08:00

Letter to Gertrude from Chauncey on “N. G. Aspenleiter, dealer in General Merchandise” letterhead note paper

Dated Sept 26, 1919 PM

Dear Gert:

Will answer your welcome letter which I received a few days ago. This is the first chance I have had to answer it as Mr. Asperleiter is going to build onto the store, and I have been busy moving things out of the way. He is going to put in a soda fountain. I suppose he will get some girl to run it. You’re not looking for a job for next summer, are you?

It is sure dead around here now. Think I will have to get Maynard and go to Detroit some Sunday. As you recommend the “Avenue” so highly think I will go there next time. I am glad you told me where it is.

You said in your letter that you had been reading a book and that someone had locked it in the bookcase. I’ll bet if you could have got hold of that book, I would have been out of luck for a letter. You only write to me when you can’t find anything else to do, don’t you?

Gert, you never told me how those snapshots turned out. I am beginning to think you would not send me one, if they were alright. Remember I am always looking for one.

Listen, Gert, if Maynard and I should come to Detroit some Sunday, wouldn’t there be any way in which we could see Jerry and you, if only to say “hello.” If I can’t do any better I will call you up, anyway.

I do not know if it is too cold to go boat riding, or not as I have not been out in a boat for about a month.

I had better not write too long a letter or you will never answer it.

Your friend

Chauncey

P.S. Please excuse this paper for it is the only thing I could find.

Sept 13, 1919

2009-01-11T19:10:00.000-08:00

Letter to Gertrude from Chauncey on faded, wide-rule, note paper

Dated Sept 13, 1919 6PM

Dear Gert:

Was sure glad to receive your letter but had almost given up hopes of hearing from you. Listen! Gert, won’t you try and answer this letter within two weeks, even if you are so awful busy. It is sure quiet around here now and the only time I see anybody is at five o’clock when the mail comes in. Today is Saturday so I suppose everybody will go up to Algonac to the movies. Some exciting life, isn’t it?

Jack, Maynard and I were in Detroit last week. Went out to the fair, but as there were not much doing out there, did not stay very long, but came back to town, and saw a good show at the Cadillac. At least Jack and Maynard said it was good. I thought it was shocking, but of course I don’t know much about shows. You believe I was shocked, don’t you?

The boathouse looks deserted now, as there is nobody staying there. Wish you and Gerry were back there, so that Maynard and I could go down and take you out for a boat-ride tonight. You would go, wouldn’t you?

So you and Jerry did drop out of the club? Does that mean that you won’t be out next summer?

I saw Leona at Tashmoo Park last Sunday. I see her nearly every place I go.

Won’t you please send me one of your pictures when you answer this letter? I am sure that a girl like you must have all kinds of pictures. Well, think I had better close as there is a customer in the store.

I remain, Your Friend,

Chauncey

Aug 26, 1919

2009-01-07T07:00:00.001-08:00

Letter to Gertrude from Chauncey on blank faded white linen (?) note paper

Dear Gert:

Received your card this morning after I had given up all hope of hearing from you. I was going to write a letter before but thought I would send a card first to see if you would answer that or not.
Saw Leona and some of the other girls at the dance hall in Algonac Saturday night. Nearly twisted my neck off trying to see if you were there or not, but no such luck. I expect the Beach will be good and dead after Labor Day.

If it gets too dead this winter I think I will to Detroit to work if I can land a job.

Of course I want one of your pictures, no matter how they turn out. I don’t see why you would not let me keep that picture you had taken on the breakwater, instead of tearing it up. That was a peach.

Jack and Maynard are talking of going to the Fair and want me to go along if I can get off for a day. I wonder if I would stand a chance in the world of seeing you, if I did go? They seem to think they will see Leona and Gerry.

I must have acted like a stick of wood that last night I walked to the boathouse with you. But when one gets a douse of cold water through an upstairs window it’s time to be moving, don’t you think so?

Why didn’t you come in and say good-bye, before you went home, Sunday? Were you mad at something or had the girls been kidding you?

Well, will ring off for this time hoping to receive a letter from you soon, so

I remain, as ever,

A Friend,

Chanucey

P.S. Don’t forget to send that picture.

Aug 19, 1919

2009-01-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

Postcard to Gertrude from Chauncey

black and white picture of a speed boat on water labeled “The same river but a different boat.”

Hello Gertrude:

How did you get home? The “Beach” seems dead since the Nous Beta Club has left. Why didn’t you say good-bye?

Craig's List

2008-09-17T13:15:00.001-07:00

I don't normally read Craig's List, but I was killing time on my lunch break today and came across this personal: (I'm guessing Madlibs...?)

i'm four years old. i enjoy jetpack racing, human boxing, and early titte brothers. my ideal date would be with a female human who is at least four feet shorter than me and light enough for me to carry above my head and sprint for one hundred yards. we could go to a nice appliance store and grab the spinning fans. or maybe go stare at an eclipse while screaming at it. then we could retire back to my place and play one hundred games of video pong. or simply get to know one another by dragging each other around my living room with a large magnet.

A New Hymn (well, new to me anyway...)

2008-09-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

I've not heard this before and we sang it this morning as Mrs. Marston's choice at the staff meeting. I also went to the wrong staff meeting, but whatever. It's nice to pray for the kids and know what's going on and such.

O Thou, in Whose Presence

O Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day, and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all.

Where dost Thou at noontide resort with Thy sheep,
To feed on the pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in the wilderness rove?

O, why should I wander an alien from Thee,
And cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.

The roses of Sharon, the lilies that grow
In vales, on the banks of the streams:
On His cheeks, all the beauties of excellence glow,
And His eyes are as quivers of beams.

His voice, as the sound of the dulcimer sweet,
Is heard through the shadows of death;
The cedars of Lebanon bow at His feet,
The air is perfumed with His breath.

His lips as a fountain of righteousness flow,
That waters the garden of grace,
From which their salvation the Gentiles shall know,
And bask in the smiles of His face.

Love sits on His eye-lids, and scatters delight
Through all the bright mansions on high;
Their faces the cherubim veil in His sight,
And tremble with fullness of joy.

He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for His word;
He speaks, and eternity, filled with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of her Lord.

Dear Shepherd, I hear and will follow Thy call;
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice.
Restore and defend me, for Thou art my All,
And in Thee I will ever rejoice.

Once You Start Thinking...

2008-07-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

...it's really hard to stop.

Well the University of Idaho officially turned me down yesterday. But it was the nicest letdown I've ever heard of. The director of the program spent about half an hour on the phone with me saying all kinds of nice things, including that they would love to have me as an alum of their program.

But not this year.

Well, I got all angry for most of yesterday and most of this morning. Happily, I managed not to say anything to the admissions lady while I was angry/disappointed on the phone. So no bridges have been burned.

Now I think I am calmed down enough now that I can think a little more clearly. Firstly, I hope they have scholarship money available next year. And lots of it.

Secondly, since I'm re-thinking things, I have begun trying to re-decide what I want to do. My options are a) to cool it and get more qualified before I begin my Executive education at the University of Idaho or b) find something else to do somewhere else.

Yvonne, the Executive Education Director, offered and strongly encouraged me to "let" myself learn more of the right kids of skills by volunteering to coach ("executive mentor" is what she called it) a team of undergrads who are competing in some kind of entrepreneur contest thingy; I don't know what it is really. She also wants to help me along for the next year or so while I become better peers with the rest of the group I would be studying with (who are all 45 and have been management for 7-15 years). She offered to meet with me personally on a recurring basis to discuss my current management and business planning. I am going to have to learn so much "business speak."

It's a sort of weird version of flattered (because she's offering so much and is clearly impressed with me) and annoyed (because she's not offering what I want and I have to re-plan).

Now I finally have a great time to say: "Missed it by that much."

My second option is Wayne State University. Many members of my family have attended this venerable institution (one of whom being my great-grandmother, whose diploma I proudly store in my parent's closet waiting till I have a "real" house.). The campus is right downtown near a huge Barnes & Noble and the Detroit Public Library and it's only about 15 blocks from where the Tigers play ball and where traveling Broadway artists sing their songs. Wayne has a reasonably priced "Online MBA" that is completely online with twice yearly testing on-site. The tuition -- even now that I'm no longer in-state -- is actually cheaper than at the UI, but it doesn't include books (or airfare now). I'm fairly certain I could find a place to stay while I'm there, maybe even something to drive to get downtown. This program starts in September and it's fully online. I'll be applying tomorrow and making some calls on Monday to see if my financial aid will transfer.

There is always the proverbial tertium quid and more than just these two options. I could do neither and just crawl into a hole and not ever think about my job or my life again. I'm kind of ruling that option out. Besides, I also sent my "above average" GMAT scores to Harvard...

I found $5!!!

2008-07-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

It's Canadian, but well, that's worth a whole lot more than it used to be. I wish I could use my Canadian money to get some corn on the cob and go skiing on Lake Erie.

I know, twice in one day after so long with nothing.

I'm off to go start pricing out heart rate monitors...

Also, today I carried a Venti Frappuccino in the water bottle cage of my bicycle.

Something I'm thinking about...

2008-07-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

mostly because of all the cool gadgets I could buy...

Ironman

and this:

Nike+

I'm not sure I want to actually say that I want to try and do this, but I'm thinking about it.

The Prayer of Jabez and other high school musings

2008-07-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I found an old journal I kept from when I was 16 until I was 18 and I decided it was time to hit the blog again.

A lot has happened in the last 7 months. I work here now: Logos School Materials. I'm the Marketing Director. But I also manage shipping and production. It's kind of a small operation, but it's a great job and I really like it.

I no longer sell cars, I no longer arrange silk flowers, I no longer paint or do bookkeeping, I no longer live in a duplex, or a basement or a cow pasture.

I have a "real" desk job and I live in an apartment building. It's an old converted house near two big old churches so I hear creaky staircases and church bells all day. We call it The Carlyle because the bedroom is through a hole in the closet.

I'm (hopefully, I'll know by the end of the month) going to attend the Executive MBA at the University of Idaho in the fall. That will be cool. I may even have a car to drive up to the classes in Coeur d'Alene, still working on that one.

I've been on a business trip to Austin, TX for the annual Association of Classical Christian Schools. I sold a TON of stuff. Because that's what I do, I sell school (and homeschool) curriculum.

I ride my bicycle a lot now too.

And I go to the laundromat.

If jet lag is like time travel...

2007-11-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

then maybe I'll have time to make a quilt if I go on vacation.

Here's the one I want to make: crazy squares

The Coolest Kid in the 10th Grade

2007-11-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

The new computer came from Mommy and Daddy in the mail yesterday.

It's pretty cool. I don't even know how to do all the things it can do. But it has a remote for movies/CD but it also works in programs like Powerpoint and other "useful" things. But I've been playing a movie with the power unplugged for the past twenty minutes and it only used up 4% of the battery. yay! And it's shiny silver and white and all slippery smooth all over.

Hooray for generous, come-to-the-rescue parents!

Section Leader???

2007-11-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

I joined the 4th-6th grade choir at school last week.

By virtue of being both 15 years older than the students and also faculty at Logos, I have a pile of young altos looking to me to be on key and in rhythm. Very hard. Because I'm very bad. But we are singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, which I've done before so I can pretend I know what's going on.

The only problem is that the kids are very cheerful but they don't sing very loud so I very easily get very much louder than they are. I guess I will have to get better than they are pretty quick. Piece of cake. ;-)

THUDER SHTORM

2007-09-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

I cannot spell on a white board, that is what I wrote on the board. In class today, we began a sample of the assignment my students will finish at home over the next week. We are writing a 300-word descriptive passage in the style of James Fenimore Cooper. Here is what we did in class:

"The clouds enveloped the sky with blackness; the heavy air bore down upon the visage of the hapless youth as he struggled through the curtains of rain. This poor soul quaked with fear as he gazed upon the dark anvil of clouds and envisioned the bleak task at hand."

Everyone else gets to choose their own topics and make it work in the overly-wordy, minute-detail style of Cooper. I think class was fun today, everyone was talking and suggesting things and seemed to understand it and get into it. I think, from the kinds of questions I was being asked, I will get papers about a ninja, a coffee shop, a lake, and maybe the fair.

Shake Well Before Each Use

2007-09-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hair spray? No.
Redi whip? No.
Spray paint? No.

What could it be with instructions like these? Nail polish? Nope. WD-40? Not even close.

It's orange juice. I don't understand. I only know how to use orange juice once, after that it's gone. Maybe I missed something. I should have gone to public school.

The Russian Award goes to...

2007-09-11T23:46:00.001-07:00

The Exxon station across from Rosauers.

They are officially, already, advertising Christmas. It's a small sign selling gift cards with Christmas designs. But they are first.

Spoiler Alert

2007-09-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

But you only have to wait til the 27th of Septmeber anyhow... Well, I'll probalby have to wait til the 28th when it's available for download because I don't have cable. But I'm still excited.

The Office goes on Summer Vacation

Shoot...Dang!

2007-09-05T22:27:00.001-07:00

I forgot to take a picture at my very first dinner party I threw all by myself.

I had Brendan, Sharon, Joel, Jordan and their kids over for dinner and to meet my new roommates. I made calzones from scratch! (ok, I bought the spagetti sauce... and I didn't make my own pepperonis, but I made the dough and shredded the cheese). I made two batches and timed the yeast in the water, and the dough rising in the bowl and baking and I was/am pleased with myself. It worked. I started at 3:45 with nothing. And by 5:50, there was dinner. When things like this work, it always amazes me. And I was only 20 minutes late from when I said I would serve dinner. ;-) We had a good time and Evelyn got to see the cows I live near. I wish I had remembered sooner, Flannery could have seen them too. Anyhow, Jordan told me that now that they have been over, I'm allowed to have other people over to my house without them.

But the real party started after the guests left. There was cleaning to be done. I like cleaning when I have the time to do it. When you have to eat, clean, and run off to somewhere, or run off to somewhere and then come back to dirty dishes, I don't like it. But I had nothing else to do tonight. I plopped in my Rat Pack CD and started clearing. But then I happily remembered that I had left a third batch of calzone dough rising while we all ate. So I had to make it. Since I was alone, things were already a mess, and I had time -- I experimented.

My new skill tonight is tossing and spinning dough. I had it pretty high sometimes. And I always caught it. Not always flat, but always in my hands. I don't know if it was better or faster than using the counter, but it was WAY more fun -- especially with Dean Martin singing pretty loudly in the background. So I popped the new "left overs" in the oven and kept cleaning and I did a load of laundry. Now I'm waiting for the dishwasher to finish drying so I can fill it up again and go to sleep.

So I took a picture after -- that's what I made. Except they didn't look this nice the first time. It's got to be becuase I threw them...

Today

2007-08-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

we saw a heron. Just flying around in the yard and then landing in a tree across the street in the sheep pen.

I guess there are some unexpected perks to living in the country.

Prometheus Comes to Polk Street

2007-08-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

Now I know you're not supposed to tell where you live online, but there's a lot of miles of "Polk Street" in the town where I live and the alliteration was just too nice to pass up.

Today it's the coldest day I can remember in August -- anywhere I've ever been in August. So we girls decided to try to turn on some heat. For heat we have a gas fireplace/stove. It's really neat looking but not exactly the most intuitive appliance. We plugged it in. Nothing. We adjusted the thermostat on the wall. Nothing. Then I noticed the pipe coming from the wall and I opened the valve for the gas to actually enter the stove. And we had to read the directions about 1o times -- after we found them -- before we were able to make the pilot spark. But now it works and we understand how; and Phil (the Landlord) came down and explained further.

yay! we have fire!

I tried to make Jiffy Pop on the top of the stove, but after it sat there for about an hour and didn't even start to sizzle, I gave up. I'll make it on the real stove. Like normal people.

The Great Irony of "the blog"

2007-08-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

The whole point is to keep people up to date with one's life. But one's life frequently is what gets in the way of actually writing anything. For instance, mine.

Recently I've moved -- still can't find the camera or I'd post pictures of my gigantic bathroom (with a tiny shower) and my huge closet (but that's a mess right now, I don't think I'd put a picture even if I did know where the camera was). And I have new housemates. Lydia and Laura. They are both still students at NSA, one freshman and one sophomore.

But I'm rejoining the acadmic world this year also. I've applied for, been offered, and accepted a job teaching a 10th grade American Lit class at Logos School. It's only part time teaching, but I think that'll be more than enough. I'm beginning to think I'm not nearly scared enough. From everything I've heard, I will more than have my hands full with my 26 kids. Even though it's only one class; lit is one of the more "teacher homework" kinds of classes. I have to actually read along with them! But at the same time, I think it'll be really fun to get paid to read "Huckleberry Finn" and "The Old Man and the Sea" and "The Last of the Mohicans." But before we get to that, we are doing a few weeks on the Puritans and their writings. I don't know what we will study, but it's from Leland Ryken's "Worldy Saints" which is apparently great. And I will have the kids give presentations. So I don't have to be the expert in each chapter.

I was given two giant boxes full of books, reference works, stories on tape, documentaries, art books, and folders and binders full of possible lesson plans. I'd better get back to reading all that!

'Til The Next Time I Have Time,
AJ

Grown Up? or Getting Old?

2007-07-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today I went to a place to see about a job (Potting Shed Creations, Ltd. -- kinda like if you locked Martha Stewart in a garden and told her to throw a babyshower). I wanted to turn in my resume, cover letter and application and get a feel for what the place is like. I have heard from a current boss of mine that they are growing like gang busters. The ladies all seemed nice and it looked like it would be a desk job but no cubicles! yay! anyhoo, the first person I met was not the person I needed to see. She walked me over to Cindy (the HR person) and said, "This woman would like to see you about a job." Now, I've been called, "young lady," "lady," "kid," "girl," and even occasionally "person" or "gal" but I've yet to be called "woman." Now I have.
I also now own a "spanking stick." This is something that I thought would be longer in coming but I am pleased to lend my utensils to the task of shaping the small people in my life. I think that's kind of what they mean when they ask the congregation if you promise to aid the parents in this task [nurture and admonision of the Lord].
This one's for Sharon... I was having a frappe or something about a week ago and I also was dressed up for the Logos Teacher Training where I was working. On the way home I was pleased to notice that there was lipstick on my straw!

Could This Happen In Moscow?

2007-07-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've riden the Metro twice ever in my life, I should know.

DC Metro Experiment

I didn't read the whole thing, but Joshua Bell, who normally commands $100 a seat, playing a priceless ($3 million) Stradivarius violin, went basically unnoticed for most of an hour in a subway lobby. Interesting. I don't know what it means, but it's intersting.

look what else my phone can do...

2007-07-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

Forget about talking. It's totally my new favorite toy. But the flowers are very non-tech-y and that balances the extreme nerdiness of this photo and the process of getting it on line. I have three blooms and almost three more as of tonight. I'll wait till the flower box is really going strong and then take another shot.

Future IKEA lovers of America...Unite!

2007-07-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

I Y my Poang chair and Flannery does too.

My new favorite movie

2007-07-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm hoping.

http://licensetowedthemovie.warnerbros.com/

Step Two

2007-07-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

If the drawing was step one, here's how far I got today. I'm going to a dinner for the 4th, but I think I'll get a second coat of stain on tonight.

What Will This Become?

2007-07-02T23:19:00.000-07:00

What a fun project for the 4th of July! I have the day off from all my jobs and I am very excited to make this BBQ table. It'll be two feet square and stained green. I'm also pleased because this photo came from my phone. Didn't know I could do that until recently. Should have been doing it that way for years! Don't worry, I'll be showing off the result on Wednesday.

Why I Want XM Radio...

2007-07-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Katz "Three Hobbies"
Chonda Pierce "Church"
Maryellen Hooper "Rewire the Outlets"
Smothers Brothers "Cabbage"

The Laugh USA channel. I was working late in the trailer punching tens of thousands of holes and I was listening and enjoying good clean stand up comedy. There's about a million other fun things to listen to on XM. Selling subscriptions to satellite radio was the one part about selling cars I totally, 100%, believed in. Too bad I never sold a car that was able to play it... But someday, I'm going to buy a car with it. Maybe a truck... hmmm... Whenever that money starts rolling in, I'll know how to spend it!

Some Cooking Adventures

2007-06-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Last Friday some friends invited me up and I said I would bring a salad becuase I had the stuff for it and I had (accidentally, of course!) bought a load of iffy produce so I wanted to use it up before it used itself up. I don't know what I was thinking as I was shopping. So I made the salad, sliced the tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and lettuce and dumped a pile of parmesean cheese on it. Only to look in the cheese bag and see a HUGE clump of mold. I then stuck my nose in the salad and discovered that it, too, smelled. But I had to bring it because I said I would bring a salad. But these folks are -- rightly so -- pretty paranoid about stuff like raw meat, I didn't think they would like moldy cheese. So I, slowly, by hand, picked all the lettuce and carrots and broccoli (forgot to mention that earlier) and cucumbers, and tomatoes and put it in a new bowl, leaving the old cheese behind. I then put good cheese on it, in the new bowl. It took so long and I felt like such an idiot!

Fast forward to Saturday...
I still had that salmon so I cooked it without too much problem. Except I forgot about marinade, so I had to wait because I remembered before I cooked it. But I couldn't find the correct recipe for the dip, so whatever I did find to use called for dijon. EK! I put in a lot more sour cream and it was then ok. But while I was cooking the salmon, I also grilled some chicken so I could have it on salads throughout this week (using the salad fixings I had just used up and didn't have any more of. I didn't really think about changing my weekend cooking plans just because my food supply had changed since I had shopped...). So I started the grill, and waited for it to get hot enough to scrape it clean. But I left the scraper on the grill while I waited so it melted. Eventually I got the chicken out there and it started to cook. But then I realized (worst thing yet!) that I didn't have any idea where any thing to turn over the chicken would be. I started frantically going through boxes and opening cupboards. By the time I was done the kitchen floor was a sea of crumpled newspaper and I found a sort of soup serving spoon/ladle and a normal dinner fork. But I was too late. Two chicken breasts were ruined. But then, I still don't have any salad...

I win! Twice!

2007-04-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

I never win anything. Until recently.

On Saturday I went over to Moscow Building Supply because I had been hearing ads on the radio for about a week about the sale. And I wanted to eat the free hot dog. And they are only about three blocks from my house. So I went and the hog dog bun was cut crooked, the dog was cold and the portable Pepsi fountain blew wet gunk all over my pants. So it looked like the day was going to be a bust. Except for one (two) thing(s).

I entered for door prizes. I entered myself and Rachel. And both names were drawn. I now have a red kerosene lantern and a nice cedar box planter!

I'm trying to decide between snap dragons and pansies for the the planter and I guess I'll have to learn a little somethin' somethin' about kerosene...

I want to Go!

2007-04-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1233058520070412?feedType=RSS

Thanks, Richard.

man! why did I graduate?

2007-04-11T01:07:00.001-07:00

I'm reading the posts about Austen on Dr. Leithart's blog and I want to be in that class so bad!

Vaguely Indecent

2007-04-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

If it were me in the situation, I would have done the same thing (I guess) but I still think what happened was non-ideal.

About three minutes after my shift started, about a week ago, two ladies approached me from the rear and asked where the scissors are. I directed them to the wall a few feet away and I started to walk off. They then asked if any were open packages. I said "No." As it turned out, they needed to cut something. They showed me what and I sort of paused. One of the ladies had used the public restroom and had gotten the pocket of her jeans stuck in the zipper. Therefore she could not zip her jeans. To this day, I still can't figure out how this happened exactly. I try not to think about it too much but, somehow, I can't help myself; I can't figure it out. I went up to the front and brought her the cashier's scissors. She was rescued.

Another victory for the best darn sales associate Michael's Arts and Crafts has ever seen!

cool stuff in the Bible

2007-03-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

Job 36:24-25

Remember to magnify His work

Of which many have sung.

Everyone has seen it:

man looks on it from afar.

Exodus 11:7

" But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know the difference between the Egyptians and Israel" NKJV

"But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man of beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel" ESV

I wonder if translation differences are greater in Hebrew than in Greek. It seems that most New Testament differences are more like putting "he said" before or after the thing being said. In the Old Testament, it seems that there are a lot more metaphors and turns of phrase. And with the greater flexibility of Hebrew, it makes for some more interesting translations.

Exodus 17:8-16

This is the story where Moses holds up his rod and the Israelite army prospers under Aaron -- against Amalek. In verse 14, God says to Moses, "I will will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." So I wonder, is that wiping out still to come? Or did God mean that Amalek would be wiped out except for being mentioned in Exodus?

Strangely

2007-03-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

I have an interview at Applebee's on Monday.

I dropped off an application several weeks ago and today, I got a phone call. I'm not sure waht I want to do there, if I want to do anything. Maybe I can work lunches and stay at Micahels for nights.

Hey Richard!

2007-02-27T21:29:00.003-08:00

Why can't matches play baseball?

I forgot to add

2007-02-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

I also like sweeping Michael's. I get to push a big push broom up and down all the aisles and it's really satisfying and fun. The pile of junk I collect by the end is amazing. Usually lots of leaves, flowers, punch outs to hang things on the pegs, sparkles, feathers, grapevine, cardboard and even dust.

For Your Needs Away From Home

2007-02-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

Many people ask me if I like Michael's. I think my tendency to ramble will take over if I stay with essay form so here's a list of what I like and don't about working at Michael's.

My department is the following things: silk flowers, yarn, wedding, Easter eggs, embroidery, latch hook, baskets, candles, silk hanging baskets, St. Patrick's Day, foam cut-out crafts, and I'm still supposed to keep the leftover Valentine's Day stuff clean on the clearance rack.

Don'ts

Avoiding management. I don't like this for two reasons a) because I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing and I like to know what I'm supposed to be doing and b) I'm supposed to become a manager -- and I can't avoid myself.
Hours. I work from mid-afternoon til nine usually. Which is kind of a pain because I have to miss choir practice and singing at the nursing home, and I like those things a lot.
Petty corporate rules -- like the "cashier compliance log." Everything at Michael's come from Irving, TX. Occasionally, when I get to work my time card is missing. It's in a binder where my mistakes are pointed out to me in no uncertain terms. I have to sign the form (not initial it and not date it) and then I'm allowed to sign in for my shift. This may be a fine system but I got in trouble for not circling the phone number (when I wrote in down by hand) on a check. This was my first day on the register and that was my only problem.
The fake pollen on the silk flowers generates very real sneezes
"I'm looking for a round container, you hang it on the wall and it's in blue packaging. I need to know where that is. Now." People get angry when I don't know where stuff is.

Do's

Wearing an apron. The novelty has worn off a bit, but I still like the fact that I'm instantly identified as a part of something. I'm expected to know things and be polite and professional. In the orientation for the first job I ever had they made us all take turns walking around the room wearing a cape. Just to get the idea that being at work is acting. You have to act interested and act like the right kind of employee. An apron is kind of the same thing -- it helps me take a job that I mostly don't like and reminds me to do right.
Wrapping things in paper at the checkout counter. I think it's neat that some lowly cashier (me) gets to "permanently" determine how that item (frame, mug, vase, etc.) will be protected. Whenever I buy something that has been wrapped, I always try to re-wrap it the way it was wrapped originally. Especially if it's a gift. It's just nice to keep the folds in the same place.
Price tag gun. 'nuf said.
Helping people, and hearing their stories. I can't remember anything in particular but the next point is a pretty standard example.
The nutty people that I meet. I met a lady with a 15 foot tree that she decorates for each season in Victorian style. I helped her pick out the Easter eggs she would use this year.

I am not getting as many hours as I want and I'm not so sure they are actually going to make me the manager they said they were -- there's a sign out front saying that they are hiring another one! But I'm working really hard at being cheerful and Mrs. Paul (kirker) has offered me some part time work as sort of a personal assistant as she runs the, several, family businesses. I will probalby learn payroll, and I'm going to learn to paint end o' this week. She would only probably want me about two days per week, but I think that could be really fun and I know it'll be really helpful.

Look What I Can Do!

2007-02-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

I can knit.

The other day I found a kit for ages 8 and up "Learn to Knit Your Own Teddy Bear". So I thought I'd give it a try. It was really fun. Every day I work in a different aisle restocking things and everyday I feel like doing a different crafy thing. Next I'll try embroidering some pillow cases.

I want to get buttons for the eyes, but it came with adhesive felt so I stuck them on.

He's sitting on my rocking chair.

You Must Be A Homeschooler If...

2007-02-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

At my job I have to put my belongings in a sort of locker. I was given a Master combination lock and the number code. I was not told how to use it.

Since I never went to high school or even Jr. high, I didn't know how to use this lock. So I feel and, I'm sure, look like an idiot as I focus really hard and turn the dial in many more circles than I need to. Even now, if I loose focus and think about what I'm going to get out, or what I'm going to do next, I get distracted and mess it up. So I pay attention and I feel like a little kid.

Here's how to work a combination lock, if anyone ever needs to know:
Step One: Turn the dial to the right, past the first number and then back to it.
Step Two: Turn the dial to the left, past the second number and then back around to it.
Step Three: Here's where it gets tricky. Turn the dial to the right again, but only to the number, not past it.
Step Four: Pull it open.

What I could not explain to Rachel...

2007-02-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

I had a thought whilst I was making "pasta roni" for lunch. Why is Pasta/Rice -a-roni from San Fran? It's the San-Fran-Cis-Co Treat, right? Then I realized that immigrants must, at some point, have moved from Italy (?) to California. Then I wondered why they didn't stop in New York or why they didn't stay in Italy (or wherever, depending what immigrant group I mean). Then I thought: maybe it's just new places. Every place that's newly settled has vast ammounts of potential. Not only for the natives that are being settled, but also for the settlers. But why be a settler? What's the appeal?

This is a lot to think while the noodles were boiling, but I have found that if I try to do other things at the same time, I ruin it. Becuase it's so fast. So I stare at the noodles and think.

Then I thought that maybe the appeal is not really any particlular place, itself. But the fact that most places immigrants go to are "new" or at least "newer" than the place they are coming from. New York and San Fran both had the appeal of having not only fewer people to persecute the immigrants, but fewer people period.

Then the noodles were done and Rachel had to leave.

Right now I have to make more for leftovers for lunch/dinner at Michaels.

Procrastinators, Inc.

2007-02-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

This is a place I waste a lot of time.

I wiki a lot of the answers, so at least I'm broadening my knowledge base...

funny thing happened...

2007-02-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

on the way to some singing lessons

I didn't find this.

How did this get into print?!?

2007-02-02T14:47:00.000-08:00

"In the bleaching beam of the headlights the pustulous road looked as eerie and alien as a moon landscape, at once close yet mysteriously remote and perpetual. Rolf was gazing through the windscreen with the fierce intensity of a rally driver, wrenching the wheel as each fresh obstruction sprang up from the darkness."

I am not making this up.

It's in the opening paragraph of chapter 24 in "The Children of Men" by the amazing P.D. James. The fantastic book has been made into a movie and a lot of my friends are talking about it. So I scrounged around town and found a used copy for $5 and read it. Huge waste of time.

A tiny part of me found the plot and/or "set up" compelling but most of me wanted to finish only so that I could stop. I was reading it in conflict. Why do I care how this ends? I can tell it's dopey, unbelievable and poor, sensationalistic writing -- but I read on. So many books are like this... horrible, but compelling. Bad, but I read them anyhow. The characters in this one are all either whiners, those who hope their high prinicples will make them martyrs, or two-dimensional dictators; or they change from one Type to the other very abruptly with very little warning from their past actions.

I don't want to hate it because I like books, I like holding them, reading them, shelving them, finding them, buying them, carrying them around, etc. But this one frustrated me. The hype and the unique story made me want to like it and I fought my distaste as I was reading, hoping it would all come together in the final chapters. Then the ending is sort of like she ran out of paper but had to turn it in anyway. She should have written "timed out" at the bottom of the last page. The story of universal sterility and a miracle child could have been really interesting -- even from an unchristian background (which I assume she is. But I could be wrong, she quoted the Book of Common Prayer...) -- but it fell flat. In all areas, plot, dialogue, pacing, ideology, scope, believability...

I liked the font it was printed in.

But I hear the story changes a bit in the movie. I've seen the trailer and people throw things at a subway train. That's not in the book. Maybe the changes are for the better.

"The Illusionist" v. "The Prestige"

2007-02-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

They both came out about the same time, they are more or less set in the same time period and they are both movies about fantastically skillful (and famous) magicians.

But there the similarity ends.

I liked "The Illusionist." I didn't like the "The Prestige" so much. Both stories deceive the audience, but I didn't like the secret when it was false marriage and self maiming. On the other hand, I think it was a good story when the hidden plot was to save the girl and then live happily ever after.

I don't know, maybe I'm a shallow movie watcher, but I like movies that tell a good straight-forward story without a whole lot of "angst."

Like "Stranger Than Fiction" -- that's a fun movie.
And "Pursuit of Happyness."

New year, new job...

2007-01-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

This is my fourth job since I graduated, and I hope it'll be a good one.

The local Michael's (Arts And Crafts) has hired me into the floral and seasonal department. I will be taught everything there is to know and in 60 days (if it turns out I'm not an idiot...) they will make me the manager of that department. And if the store manager and his assistant and the other manager (s?) are ever ALL out of the store at the same time, I will be in charge.

I have this week off because the schedule had already been made up and I guess new people don't get added mid-schedule. During this week I plan to:
a. figure out how my new DVD/VCR/burner works
b. learn a song on my guitar
c. get my car's tires rotated
and
d. clean my room

In keeping with my resolution, I'm not going to worry about how abrupt it seems, I'm just going to log off.

Another Resolution

2006-12-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

I realized a while ago that I have never done one of those "read the Bible in a year" things. So here's a good one: M'Cheyne. It's everything and some of it twice. Yet, it doesn't look overbearing.

New Year's Resolutions

2006-12-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

I think the first one is to forget the list of things I want to "Blog" about. I have been, for the last few months, instead of actually posting, writing a list on the back of an envelope. This list contains the things I would be writing about if I didn't feel so guilty about how many other things were on the list. Many things have been on this envelope for a long time (I may have even lost the envelope). But I decided that doesn't matter. I will just pick up with the current events. There are plenty of those without crying about the past missed opportunities. Heck, I don't even know if anyone reads this silly thing.

Things I've Enjoyed Recently... a book, a movie and a moose

2006-10-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

Two books actually:

Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud by Jonathan Safran Foer
this is a book about a young boy who has lost his father in the World Trade Center attacks. He and his father used to have scavenger hunts and after his father has died, the boy finds a key. The rest of the book is his quest to find what the key unlocks. There is a side story about the boy's grandmother and grandfather which is a little sketchy, but just read really fast through those parts... ;-)

Tepper Isn't Going Out by Calvin Trillin
Nothing morally wrong here. Tepper, a direct mail guru, likes to sit in his car and read the paper. Clever idea and lots of fun characters, but the plot moves a little slow. The mayor of New York City is trying to get him to stop parking; but no matter what law is passed, Tepper continues to find a legal way to park his car and sit and read the paper.

The Dinner Game
Foreign movies are usually scary but this one was pretty good. The story is a comedy about a group of men who get together once a month for dinner and they "compete" to see which of them can bring the biggest idiot as dinner guest. This plan fails Pierre, the main character, when his back goes out and he can't go to dinner, but his idiot still shows up. The rest of the story is how the evening goes wrong, the doctors is called, many phone calls are made, feelings are hurt and marriages are almost wrecked, but all is put back together in the end by the hands of the bumbling idiot. There is also an audit for tax fraud.

We saw a moose on the paper route a while ago. Rachel saw a ton of them while I was home for the funeral, but I saw one too! They are huge. Just like in the pictures and movies.

The Office
Thursday nights at 8:30 we are glued to NBC. This show is full of dry humor, a touch of slapstick, and just the right balance between office-romance and insane-boss-antics. We love it.

Oh, and about the promised duplex pictures, they will have to wait. Things are not so clean just now...

Sheesh! I hate being a grown-up!

2006-10-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

I had gotten thus far when I was interrupted by my manager. He told me that we are supposed to watch the lot so that when (if) customers come, we can greet them, answer questions, and otherwise be friendly. I guess I have to work at this job I have...

About three weeks have past and now I again have some time.

Tomorrow.

Thursday is my day off this week and I will have time to get excited about blogging again.

Things to look forward to:
a) real moose sighting!
b) I have sold some cars!
c) the car I want to buy
d) duplex pictures
e) phone book delivery

got to run!

Ghost Moose

2006-08-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today on the paper route we saw a moose!!

Finally, after almost two months of watching and looking and wanting to see a moose, we sort of, kind of, maybe, we think, it can't be anything else, can it? We saw a moose. The distance was bout 50 yards, it was the half-light of 5AM and we had just kicked up a bunch of dust from our least favorite dirt road; then we saw it!

That shadow over there, did that just move? Look!

So we decided it must be a moose, because it was too big and ran wrong to be a horse. Way too big for elk, and way-way too big and too dark for deer.

For clarification, that does in fact mean that there is a paper route in my life. The Lewiston Tribune starts each and every day off right, kind of like one of the more healthy cereals. Except not because I'm always hungry at the end of it. We have about 100 customers, four newspaper racks, and one (sometimes two) sacks to drop off at the post office. We drive about 79 miles, use five plastic bags, and we are gone 2 hours and 45 minutes.

This little job manages to pay for it's own gas and make our rent and utility payments. Mostly we do it for the wildlife though. So far we have seen deer (antlers and none, spotted and older), raccoons, pheasants, quail, owls, hawks, mice, the moose, a fox, horses (even in the road once), cows (in the road quite often actually), porcupines, and we even hit a coyote. The coyote must have been fine, we went back to look and couldn't find hide not hair. But it made a loud THUD and the front plate has head-

My face is in the paper!

2006-08-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

sort of...

I have a new job now. The interview a couple weeks ago was really not an interview, it was more a chance to give me the paperwork. Phil, my new manager, walked in and said, "Hi, we're very interested in having you, if you're interesting in joining us." So, since I hadn't had any other offers -- Jack in the Box never even called me back -- I decided to join the cars sales team at Karl Tyler Motors.

I know nothing about cars, especially nothing about trucks. Which is a shame, because that's sort of something we do best here at Karl Tyler Motors. But they said that was ok, because I know how to be nice to people and I can learn cars.

Back to the story about me being in the newspaper -- it's not that big a deal. They have an ad running in the local edition of Auto Finder and there are pictures of all the Sales Consultants (that's technically my job title) across the bottom.

Today I hope to sell a used Ford Taurus SES and take a lady on a test drive of a 3/4 ton crew cab Chevy Silverado Duramax Diesel 2500HD pickup (with gooseneck trailering). Both customers stopped by yesterday and the Taurus lady took the car home overnight to show her husband. He's harvesting and can't take the time to come in. (Great! Two things I don't know, cars and farming! But I don't think I annoyed her and she left pretty excited about the car, so I'm hopeful.) The lady with the truck wants to test drive it pulling her horse trailer. She was convinced that we wouldn't let her, BUT, we are an amazingly nice, people-centered dealership and we are going to let her as soon as we can plan a time.

When I'm not busy talking to customers -- about 95% of the time -- I still haven't really figured out what a cars salesman is supposed to do. Mostly I sit around and eat Twizzlers. And read owners manuals in the hope that someday I will need to know how to convert the Avalanche from truck to SUV and back again. It's really not that hard.

Interview Today!

2006-07-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

In response to the classified ad last Monday, I stopped in to Karl Tyler Motors and asked about the car business. Mr. Phil Anderson (the manager, Karl lives in Montana) told me that it's not about cars, it's about people. You have to make and keep good relationships.

A Joke for Richard

2006-07-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

I heard this on the radio and I thought it was funny.

"I was dyslexic as a kid and it really got me depressed. So depressed in fact that I wanted to kill myself to excape my dyslexia. So I jumped behind a bus."

Groan if you must...

One Month Later...

2006-07-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is just to let the world -- ok, the 5 people who know about this blog -- know that I have not died and I am indeed still going to be blogging (by the way, I think "blog" and "blogging" are two of the world most idiotic sounding words; I almost didn't do it because of how it sounds -- almost like it's a dirty word).

Anyhoo, I've done lots since the 10th of June. I've been camping, moved, went to Seattle, planted a hibiscus, folded laundry, built book cases, started a paper route, hung up curtains and I've begun counting the number of times I see porcupines in the road.

More info and many pictures will follow but just now we have to run to Wal Mart to return the wrong cable I bought to set up the house Internet network -- password protected and everything!

Open Season for Jobs

2006-06-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

So far I've recieved:

2 firm "no" responses (one of them was to try back in August...)
1 failed computer exam at Walmart (Walmart!? How did I fail this?)
3 (at least) applications/resumes that have gotten no response at all
10,000 more blank applications to fill in and turn back in
1 newspaper route

and

Nothing firm yet, but very positive feedback from a bank in Pullman. I am on the short list to becoming a "personal banker" at American West Bank. I saw the ad in the paper and went over to investigate. Turns out the manager there is an old boss of mine from freshman year. I had a part-time job taking phone surveys and Ryan was my boss then, and it looks like he may be my boss again. He remembered me and I think I was able to make a good impression in the interview. They (Ryan and an assistant, Janny) asked all sorts of normal questions, "what banking experience do you have?" and "how well do you work on a team?" "How good at sales are you?" and that sort of thing. Then Ryan leaned acros the table, handed me a flashlight and said "Take your time, but please sell this object to us."

Thank goodness for some of those Assembly speeches and Rhetoric class at NSA. I paniced for about 2 seconds, then pulled myself together and sold them the flashlight. I then recieved an email to take a personality test. The test was pretty retarded actually. Two copies of the same list of attributes, on one list I checked off what others think of me, on the second, I checked off what I think of myself. Strange.

I'm supposed to hear back this week if they think my flashlight-selling skills will be transferable to mortgage-selling skills. If not, I'm going back to re-take the test at WalMart (they pay pretty well for cashiering) and there are several other leads I have.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2006-06-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have been astute observers of my profile will have noticed that my age changed recently. I had a birthday. This one was not a milestone -- none of those left (unless you count turning 35 and becoming elegible to run for president) until I can join AARP, I'm looking forward to that discount!

Anyhow, Rachel threw me a party and we had pizza and ice cream cake and paper blow-y things and presents. I got kicked out of the room while Rachel and the boys wrapped my presents but that worked out okay, I went to pick up the pizza. But I got back too soon and wasn't allowed in. I didn't mind.

Just yesterday the last of the presents came in the mail. We're not in the new apartment yet, but we've picked a lot of the things we want to decorate with. One of them is this art print of
Water Skiing In Florida. Neither one of us has ever skiied in Florida, but we like the picture at lot.

We Invited a Rabid Squirell

2006-06-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Or maybe it's Taylor and some frosting...

Thank You Mommy!

2006-06-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

I opened the Narnia CD's and I was very happy. I've listened to several of them already. Well started them anyhow, it's 31 hours, it'd be strange if I had gotten through them all already. I'm sure we'll get very familiar with the stories while on the new paper route...

Check this out

2006-06-08T00:07:00.000-07:00

One last picture. But we didn't take it.

Glacier Web Cam

yet more pictures...

2006-06-07T23:57:00.000-07:00

I think we're a little click crazy. Rachel's camera battery died early in the trip.

Intrepid Moose and Squirrel

2006-06-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

It's raining! Let's go camping!

Glacier Pics

2006-06-07T23:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sure it's my fault. But I can't exactly figure out how to get pictures to load in the order I want them to. And I'm not sure how to connect the right picture to the right text. So here's a couple posts full of pictures. The pictures are either our campsite, Lake McDonald, Avalanche Lake, or the sunset before we got there (rainbow).

Entering Grizzly Country: Your Safety Cannot Be Guaranteed

2006-06-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we camped at Glacier National Park. Friday afternoon it was raining so hard that our street was a river, so we decided not to bring our bikes, but we still left. The drive (six and a half hours, a little longer than we thought) and putting up with a little wet, was definately worth it!

Saturday turned out to be really nice out and we hiked back to Avalanche Lake. This was one of the only things available to us. Going-To-The-Sun Road, the only road through the middle of the Park was still not finished being cleared of 50 feet of winter snow. So only about 14 miles were open to the public and you could drive South and around for about 2 hours. We didn't have that much time. But Avalanche Lake was not a disappointment at all.

The hike was posted at 6 miles and lots and lots of kids, fat people, old people and flip-flop-wearing people were doing just fine. But, somehow, we were tired. Ok, I was tired. It felt like about 16 miles. The territory is interesting but bleak. Until you get to the lake -- that was neat. The far side of the lake is a sloping, curved cliff of snow capped mountains (the glacier part). As winter is over the snow melts, but not just trickles down. The snow was coming down in waterfalls. The lake was freezing and the path around it was flooded so we went down to the rocky beach and kept going that way. I ended up with two wet feet and one pair of wet jeans.

That night at the camp site, I learned that deer do not go away when you yell "GO!" at them and snap fingers. This may work with more domesticated animals, but the wild ones have to work harder to get human food and deer come right through campsites (even occupied ones). Every morning we would see tracks in our fire pit.

Sunday we got up to rain and decided not to rent the little motor boats we wanted to -- I guess we'll have to wait til the next visit. I got the year National Parks Pass so we're good wherever we want to go.

All over the park are signs posted about Grizzly bears and brown and black bears. There are signs about how to avoid them and what to do if you meet one. And also very prominent are the signs announcing the minimum $50 fee if you get caught leaving anything relating to food out at your campsite. Food, dishes, stoves, pots, boxes, garbage, anything. You are even advised to wash your hands and face so that you, the person, don't smell like food and become attractive to bears as they pass through. We saw about 50 million deer and they were neat. But we wanted to see a bear. So we got in the car and drove about 50 miles on the most rustic dirt road I've ever seen -- trees just barely moved to the side, pot holes the size of small countries, and at one place I drove through a river. The current was actually flowing across the road! But apparently the "wild" is not the place to see wildlife at Glacier. It took about 3 hours and that whole time we saw exactly one deer. As opposed to the dozens running around our campsite. And, to make matters worse, the very hike we were on the day before did have a bear. We overheard in the gift shop that a bear was seen walking along the hiking trail for quite a distance.

Oh well. We drove on and found some mountain goats. Almost as interesting. When the explorers first saw mountain goats, they didn't know what they were and one guess was a new kind of polar bear. It was pouring rain at that point, but it's not every day you get to go to a place called The Goat Lick.

On the way home the weather broke a little bit and I decided that if I am ever filthy rich and I want to buy a cabin on a lake in the mountains, I'm going to Flathead Lake. I drove Rachel crazy saying "this is so pretty" about every 45 seconds.

We got home very late. So late, in fact, that we didn't get up in time to run on Monday. So we ran today even though it's a scheduled rest day. Things were not looking so good for our marathon the last two weeks, but we have dug out the schedules, built iPod play lists and our resolve is strengthened.

The Shoes That Will Get Me To Ireland

2006-05-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest plans --

We're going to Dublin. And we're going to run in a Marathon. The Adidas Dublin Marathon on October 30th.

We were going to work with Team in Training, a fundraising orginization for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. But there were only a few small problems with that idea. Mainly we had to figure out how to raise $5800. Each. And that means selling a heck of a lot of Krispy Kremes. Also, we don't actually know anyone with those diseases so there would not be a whole lot of personal motivation to earn the money. So we decided to just save our own money and go. Because flights are about $900 and the entry for the race is only 70 Euros. So we are saving our money and zealously following our five-month training guides.

Today is a 30 minute run.

We're not sure what else we should see while we're in Dublin, but we need suggestions. Becuase of the time change, we have to fly in about three days before the race and airline ticktets are cheaper if we fly out a few days after, so we are stuck. We have to stay in Dublin. ;-)

It may seem crazy to start with a marathon, but it's not totally starting from scratch, we have run several 5k races. And lots of old ladies run marathons, we've seen pictures! It must be possible. And October is a long way off, I'm sure we'll be in training by then.

Ask me if I ran today!

Summary of Recent Events

2006-05-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Since Graduation:

-- Just today I went up to Spokane, WA where Rachel bought a camera and we had dinner at the newest Sonic. This is one of the best restaurants ever, and this one did not disappoint, in fact there was extra amusement as we watched the new employees learn how to carhop on rollerskates!

-- Last Friday Rachel and I went camping at Dworshak Resevoir State Park. This dam is the second tallest concrete dam in the world (only shorter than Hoover by seven feet -- why didn't they just make it taller?) We had a great time. We visited the fish hatchery, went on a hike in the pouring rain, and drove up a mountain with curves posted at 10 mph. We're thinking about visiting again.

-- Before that, I finally broke down and bought an ipod. I got the nano, in black. (this was at CostCo)

-- Before that, I've basically spent my time filling out job applications, turning them in and calling potential supervisors to ask if they've gotten my information. Kinda discouraging.

-- Before that was graduation and my family (Mom, Dad, brother and Grandpa) visited. We had a baseball game picnic and everyone had a good time. I even met some new family. My grandpa's nephew's daughter, Megan, lives here in Moscow and we found out about her in time to invite her to the party.

-- Before that was senior year and that's getting a little ridicuouls to summarize in a post.

Going to bed now...

Number One Post

2006-05-29T22:35:00.000-07:00

I have high hopes that this blog will be amusing or entertaing or at least informative. My goal is to let my friends and family know what is going on way out here in potato land. This may seem like the lazy person's solution to the "communication problem" but I think it will be slightly better. This way y'all can have pictures and such to go along with the descriptions.

I can't predict the future so I don't know exactly what this will be about. But I will be moving so I'll have an apartment to talk about and show pictures of. I will be getting a new job (hopefully soon!) and I will be going on several trips; plans include camping in Glacier National Park, Seattle, Dublin, Baltimore and back home to visit.

I'll talk about what books I'm reading and pretty much anything I am interested it. For example, I just saw this on the news... the annual Cheese Chasing Festival in England.

Right now I'm reading Tepper Isn't Going Out. Which is a slow-moving adventure about a man who likes to pay to sit in his car and read the newspaper in metered parking spots in Manhattan. So far it's fun, I'll let you know how it continues.

Tonight, Rachel and I are working on our current puzzle (1000 pieces, picture of marbles) then heading off to sleep. And tomorrow...who knows!

Cheers,