Listening to Music

Does anyone else remember buying albums (round disks about 12" wide that contained music)? How about cassette tapes? Wow -wasn't that the coolest innovation ever at the time? You suddenly were not tied to the stereo in your bedroom, or worse, your parent's living room, to listen to your tunes. You had portability to take your cassette player to any room in the house, or a friend's house, plug it in and you were good. MAYBE you were lucky enough to have batteries and then your music could really travel with you. Yes, life was good then! You could even sit by the radio and record your favorite songs onto a cassette...and hope the DJ did not talk over the beginning or ending. You might have to wait a long time to hear that favorite song, but eventually, it would be played. Then...Walkman entered. Your cassettes were REALLY portable. You could easily carry your music with you wherever you went and listen on headphones....but now, now, we really have it made. We have ipods. Some are so small we easily lose them at the bottom of a bookbag, purse, or even a coat pocket. We can download anything we want from the Internet and listen through our headphones, thus ensuring hearing loss at an early age, or through speakers designed to play our ipods in the same way as the old stereo system that sat in our bedroom, or our parent's living room. Hmmmm....the more things change the more they...No, I can't even finish the cliche', but you know you already did in your head. :)

Power of Music

Music is so powerful. I think I have posted about it in the past. It can sharpen the pain when you are down and help you reach new heights when you are up. I believe there is research about music helping patients going through things like Mesothelioma treatment and other cancer treatments. Some of the research and practice considers music as a way of dealing with the emotional symptoms, but I wonder how much is physiological. It is all so tied in, I do not suppose they can really be separated, though the research perhaps tries. Lower stress, lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, happy endorphins flowing through the body that allow less pain and more healing. It's all connected.

What was my point? Oh, right - music is amazing. I'll leave it at that because my coffee is ready! I wonder how many songs about coffee are on YouTube?

Not As Quiet As I Thought

Huh. Not as quiet as I thought here at work today. Apparently people were just having a leisurely morning before arriving. Now, the Dean is here, a couple associate deans, random staff. Not a full house, by any means, but guess I won't crank up the tunes without my headphones on. No partying in the hallways for me today....or at least, not without risk of getting some weird looks!

Quiet Friday

What a quiet Friday it will be at work today. This is the last day of Spring Break here. Faculty have been gone all week. The entire row of office doors across from my office is closed. I think there are four of us here, that I know about. It is quiet enough I can hear the person at the opposite end of the room calling about an insurance quote, and she can probably hear my music through my headphones. I guess I will just enjoy my music and the slow pace of the day that leads into the weekend.

Spring Weekend

Ah, Spring - a few days of sun, a few days of rain, maybe some hail, then we do it all again! The sunshine has me restless to get out and play! "A nice week at the beach sounds good," she said, drifting away in her mind, book in one hand, tropical drink in another. OK, so that probably will not be happening in my immediate future, nor will renting an Outer Banks vacation rental, but I do have this weekend all to myself, in the house, with no real plans. I found out that "The Blind Side" is on at our $3 theatre. Sounds like a good idea for Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I need to pick up Kelton's Birthday present, a few Easter things. Should be a relaxing weekend. It's good to be me!

Weekend Adventure

This past weekend the kids and I took one of our approximately semi-annual excursions to OMSI - the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This is big fun for the kids - and Mom, too! The featured exhibit changes every few months, and the one currently on exhibit is Space! Boy Wonder was very excited to see space stuff! I think it did not turn out to be as interesting as he thought it would - most of it is geared towards a slightly higher age and someone with an interest in reading what the displays are about. Still, both kids had fun creating a computerized model of a space craft, getting into a space capsule, and checking out a model of living quarters in a a space ship.





After that, it was onto the regular exhibits that don't change much. They had fun playing with displays on hearing loss, the human body, and then seeing the snakes and insects. Later, we went to the little kids area that features a sand play area, water tables and craft projects. After the play we needed snacks - popcorn and candy - yes, I sugared us all up! Once well nourished *grin*, we went to another area where there are hands on displays about energy, electricity, hydro power, earthquakes and more. Big fun.....but into our 5th hour, this mom was dragging. We finally headed home 5 1/2 hours after arriving! We got our money's worth! (Actually, had gift cards for the kids that were given out at my law school graduation at the kid's graduation. Took us a while, but we used them!)

Oh - almost forgot the best part: Kaylen is tall enough for the ride simulator. This is a big pod-like contraption on hydraulics that about 10 people can sit in and watch a movie on the front screen so it feels like you are on a roller coaster. There are about 5 adventures to choose from. She was so excited to finally get to ride! The kids chose an underwater sea adventure / amusement park. It was really fun. Kelton sat on one side of his little sister, to take care of her and tell her what to expect (so cute!) and I sat on the other side. I thought she would enjoy it, but was not positive. She laughed her fool head off! They both loved it - and so did I. The ride was fun, but enjoying my kids having so much fun was the best part.

Sunny Day!

It is a beautiful day outside. The sun is shining into my office. I just finished lunch. I am full and feeling generally happy with my life. I had a green smoothie for breakfast, and more spinach on my salmon cream cheese bagel I had for lunch. No need for herbal diet supplements today! Next, I may take a walk in the sun and soak up some natural Vitamin D!

Do You Like You?

I had a good friend text me today with the message that people suck. Sometimes, that is exactly right. She was betrayed by someone she thought was a good friend. After hearing what happened, I felt icky, like I needed a shower and maybe even some colon cleansing pills. Sometimes, when I hear about the mean things people do to each other, it makes me angry. Today, it made me sad - sad for my friend and for the person who did it. She probably does not even know what friendship really is.

Shortly after hearing this I saw a quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt: "Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world." It made me realize that this person probably does not even like herself very much.

Weekend Update Overdue

I know, I know, I said I was going to give details about my weekend with the kids and post picture. Just haven't made the time! I saved the pictures that I emailed to myself from my phone. That was step one. Now, I just have to figure out what to say. I will say we went to OMSI: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Stay tuned.....

Need Hydration!

My hands are so dry! Anyone have a favorite lotion they use that is not incredibly expensive? I usually like Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, but the bottle in my desk is almost empty. I suppose drinking water would be a good idea. I looked at lotions yesterday when I took the kids shopping. I saw the cocoa butter Casey used to use as a stretch mark cure, or rather, preventive measure. I think our midwife recommended it. Not sure, but know we used it first to prevent stretch marks and later for dry hands. A little goes a long ways!

Stay-tuned for pictures of my weekend with the kids! Just have to find a bit of time to post them!

One of Those Days

You know those days that start out great, then a headache creeps in and it is hard to focus? Yeah, I'm having one of those. There is this tight knot in my neck, feels like I have been taking bodybuilding supplements, judging by the size of the knot. I think I need to soak in a hot tub, or go get a massage. A massage! That sounds sooooooo good!

My Favorite Pen

There are at almost all times two things in my pocket, Burt's Bees Lip Balm and a Fisher Space Pen. Yes, I carry a pen with me at all times and have for...wow...since before Kelton was born. I bet it's been at least 10 years. If memory serves correctly, I first had a black one, but finally lost it. When I got the replacement I got this chrome beauty:

At only 3.75 inches long (closed - 5.25 inches open with cap on the end), it is perfect for carrying in my pocket. It writes upside down, at extreme temperatures and even underwater. It will usually write on the waxy credit card paper that some pens will not write on. Convenient! I was able to pull it out of my pocket just yesterday when an attorney I was with was trying to sign a paper and the pen he had wouldn't work on the slick paper.

The pen is ball point, which is not my favorite type of pen, but I don't use this pen for regular writing. It is my "sign credit card slips," "sign in at doc's office," "need to write a phone number" pen. It is great when you don't want to use the public pen that thousands of other people have touched. It writes smoothly, comes with black ink, and refills, in black and blue, are easily accessible on the internet.

Yes, I love my pen, but I did see one in a beautiful teal on sale a couple of weeks ago. I may have to buy myself a present before too long...

Enneagram Type

OK - I took Casey up on the Enneagram Challenge. It does seem pretty accurate. I could have gone a couple different ways. The test is only two questions, so if you are borderline on any of the answers, it throws you into a different type. I am sure there are more detailed tests. In fact, I looked into this a couple years back. Wonder what my results were then?

3 - the Achiever

You chose AZ - your Enneagram type is THREE (aka "The Performer").

"I need to succeed"

Achievers are energetic, optimistic, self-assured, and goal oriented.

How to Get Along with Me

• Leave me alone when I am doing my work.

• Give me honest, but not unduly critical or judgmental, feedback.

• Help me keep my environment harmonious and peaceful.

• Don't burden me with negative emotions.

• Tell me you like being around me.

• Tell me when you're proud of me or my accomplishments.


What I Like About Being a THREE

• being optimistic, friendly, and upbeat

• providing well for my family

• being able to recover quickly from setbacks and to charge ahead to the next challenge

• staying informed, knowing what's going on

• being competent and able to get things to work efficiently

• being able to motivate people


What's Hard About Being a THREE

• having to put up with inefficiency and incompetence

• the fear on not being -- or of not being seen as -- successful

• comparing myself to people who do things better

• struggling to hang on to my success

• putting on facades in order to impress people

• always being "on." It's exhausting.


THREEs as Children Often

• work hard to receive appreciation for their accomplishments

• are well liked by other children and by adults

• are among the most capable and responsible children in their class or school

• are active in school government and clubs or are quietly busy working on their own projects

THREEs as Parents

• are consistent, dependable, and loyal

• struggle between wanting to spend time with their children and wanting to get more work done

• expect their children to be responsible and organized

Take the Test Here.

Blending In

Some of you know that I am into the green smoothies thing. That is not really about color, it is about getting greens, like spinach and kale, into my diet. I like mixing spinach, water, a banana, and some frozen berries into a deliciouis smoothie pretty much every work morning, and sometimes weekends. It is a great raw food, and a sneaky way to eat spinach without tasting it. Really. You cannot taste the spinach.

If you do a search on green smoothies I am sure you will find a lot of information. Some web sites and books will encourage the use of a very expensive blender. Some I guess actually sort of start the digestion process for you due to the amount of blending they do. I have found just a regular blender works very well.

I have a Hamilton Beach Wavestation that cost just over $20 that works nicely. I was not sure about this blender when I first bought it. The blades sort of point upwards instead of out, and the assembly does not attach like the Oster blender I am used to, but now that I am used to it, I find I actually like the assembly. Even better, I like the plastic jar. I thought this was odd at first, but bought it because the price was right, and I thought, well, less chance of getting broken! Sure enough, I find it lightweight, easy to use, easy to clean, and I have not broken it!

There is a dispenser feature, kind of like a tap, which would probably be fun if serving kids or having a margarita party. Otherwise, just pouring from the top of the blender works fine. The little tap has a cap for when you do not want to use that feature. I leave it on, and the entire thing cleans very easily, so is not an extra hassle at all.

I do not know how long this blender will last. I have had it since the beginning of January and use it every week day. So far, going strong! As I said, it can be found on sale for just over $20, so seems like it has already been a good investment.

Oh, by the way, mine is red. Very cool. It is important to have cool-looking appliances, right? *grin*

Let's Do The Time Warp Again!

Today I was looking up "Gay and Lesbian Movies." I see there have been quite a few releases that I have missed. In my gut, I know most of them are probably not very good, but there is always hope, and it's always nice to at least see same sex couples portrayed as if we have real, normal lives.

Nothing much caught my eye on the first page of selections, so I hit "more" to see the next screen. What should pop up but Rocky Horror Picture Show! OK, now I know this is not exactly a straight flick, but had not considered it gay or lesbian necessarily. Maybe I should have...There is probably deep, dark stuff about my own sexuality wrapped all up in the movie and where I was at the time in my life when RoHoPiSho meant something.

High school. Yup....my best friend's mom took crowds of us to the midnight showing on multiple occassions. The movie itself...what can I say? Not that great, but the music was fun, and the experience of going was what it was all about. Don't know about Rocky? Well, let me not reinvent the wheel. Here is what one editor had to say:

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is a magical phenomenon unlike anything ever before seen onscreen. Borrowing largely from cinema's horror conventions, the film begins as an innocent young couple is stranded at the home of a mad scientist who is building the perfect man. The castle is filled with a most bizarre group of characters who worship their master, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played magnificently by the fabulously sexy Tim Curry, in leather jacket, pearls, fishnet stockings, and heavy makeup. Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) are forced to examine their own sexuality as the voluptuous doctor releases the hidden desires in each of them.

The movie has been on sale on DVD for a while now, and while it would not be as much fun as a midnight theatre showing, is certainly worth owning. The entrance scene of Dr. Frank-N-Furter alone, doing "Sweet Transvestite" is worth the cost, plus many of the songs are truly outstanding. I am quite sure a private party with your own big screen TV, some alcohol, and a group of friends would be a good time! I'd skip the props (toast, TP, water guns...etc...to be used at appropriate points in the movie)that were standard fare at the theatre to avoid clean-up.

"Ah, yes, let's do the time warp again," she said with a touch of nostalgia in her voice.

Five Random Thoughts

I realize I still have not used all of the words for the writing exercise that I blogged about a couple weeks ago. I may go back to that - it was fun!

This is another game for my brain. I thought I would put up the first five random, appropriate, thoughts that popped into my brain.

1) You must see Avatar in 3D. Awesome movie! I want to see it again!

2) Broccoli is a vegetable that you really should not overcook.

3) I will be happy when all threat of snow and ice has passed for the year.

4) Dogs are really good people.

5) I have wonderful friends.

There you have it - a not particularly enlightening glimpse into the mind of Dakota.

Check out this Bag!

Anyone who has been following my blog for long knows that there are a couple things I particularly enjoy - watches and bags. I just found out that something exists called "checkpoint friendly bags." Clearly, I had to investigate. These are apparently laptop computer bags designed to be able to be scanned by airport security without removing the laptop. Cool! OK, so I do not go through airport security very frequently, not having been on an airplane in about four years, but still, how cool is this bag?



Look at all the pockets and zippers! Plus, the front panel opens up to offer a wide variety of extra pocket and pen slots, perfect for organizing all the stuff that life dictates we must carry.....flash drive, gum, nail clippers, coupon for pizza, notepad, business cards, dry cleaning tickets, etc.

This particular bag, by Mobile Edge, meets the new TSA requirements for checkpoint friendly laptop bags, plus is just a really nice looking bag. It has a lifetime warranty, which means it should be really well-made, not that you would actually use it for your entire lifetime. I am pretty sure a person needs multiple bags at any given time, not just over the course of a lifetime. Really, a person might need this in multiple colors and for various purposes... one for travel, one for school? I don't know. I guess messenger bags are just another of those weird collections I have. At least it is a useful collection! The bag like the above can be found on sale for just over $50. Not bad!

Love my GPS!

I do not know where I would be without my GPS - my lovely Garmin Nuvi woman-in-a-box who tells me where to go. Uh...that may not have come out right. Where I would be is lost, frequently, or at least, staring at printed out Mapquest directions far more than I do now.

Casey got me a GPS as a gift two Christmases ago. It was an extravagant toy that I certainly did not need, but wow - am so glad I had. At first, I used it primarily to find locations where I had networking meetings with lawyers. I still use it for that, but now also to locate people's houses, hotels, parking lots, classes, restaurants and more. I love it!

I like that I can miss a turn and it automatically starts finding an alternate route, not without some degree of attitude, of course, but still is relatively accommodating. It holds many of the most recently found locations in a file called, coincidentally "Recently Found," and this is great for when you find a place, like a hotel or conference center, leave and then need to find your way back.

My Nuvi easily snaps onto the holder that suctions to my windshield and just as easily slides into my pocket if I am on the go on foot. The battery lasts a long time between charges, so walking around with it for a while is not a problem. I know many people have a GPS feature on their phone, but I really like the screen size and location of the one I use in my car, plus, no monthly fee!

There are many levels of GPS's available these days - ones with voice mode, bluetooth compatibility, lots of different entertaining features. I don't think it is hard to find a decent one on sale for under $100.

Clothes Make the Man/Woman?

Sometimes it is really hot to see a woman in men's clothes - tailored suits, untucked dress shirts, mens ties...etc. Isn't it interesting how women can be considered attractive in women's or men's clothing, but men generally cannot? Is it because of our society's homophobic tendencies, or just because not that many men look good in a skirt? I think I'll take c) both of the above. I am sure this trend varies country to country, but I think even state to state, and county by county. What a man could pull of in a downtown Portland he probably could not in a small town 50 miles east of here. I think about a Garth Brooks look-alike in a pink cowboy hat that I saw in Whole Foods a week or so ago, and am pretty sure in rural Oregon, he and the pink hat wouldn't last for long.

Friday Randomness

Should I take it as a sign that I am getting many offers for life insurance rates from many life insurance companies? Nah, probably not. Seems everyone is out to increase business, why should the insurance industry be any different? I suspect many are in the position that I am saying - no, can't exactly afford to increase my insurance bills right now, which causes the insurance companies to have to scramble harder for business. Fortunately, as long as I am working where I am currently, I have decent life insurance. Weird topic.

It is a rainy day. I want the sun back. Maybe I should just go out and walk in the rain. Embrace the rain!

Wii Still Have No Wii

This is a kid weekend for me, which reminds me that I still have not gotten our replacement wii. I wonder if the store will have any in this weekend? We have a basket of wii accessories at home, but are sadly "wi-less." It it likely to be a rainy weekend, so having the wii back would be fun for all of us. We've been without it for most of two months now. It is sometimes good for toys to go away for a while. Makes them feel like new when you "find" them again!

A Brief Message of Support for Casey

I know many of you read both my blog and Casey's, and because I know how people are intrigued by the drama of relationships, I know you must be wondering what I think about Casey's recent revelation of her new girlfriend. On some level, beyond how it impacts our children, it is none of my business. On another level, Casey and I really are still friends. I care about her and will always love her. I want Casey to be happy, and if she finds happiness with Catrina, that is wonderful for her. I wish them both happiness as individuals and as partners, if that is the path they choose. I suspect I won't have much else to say about that - but did want to put my love and support out there for all to see. Thanks to all of you who continue to support our family, even in this new structure.

Balance

Surely the dark chocolate bar sitting on my desk is actually a cleverly disguised weight loss product, right? It should be because I need something to counter the Coke and pizza I am currently eating. YUM - by the way! :) Does pizza count as a healthy food if it has artichoke hearts, pineapple and tomato on it? I thought so!

Today has been a good day. A combination of work and play...time for the serious business of making money to pay the bills, and time to read, relax and feed the soul. I have been going through a time of imbalance where it was hard to focus my mind beyond the necessary tasks of life and work. I think I am getting back close to center again. It feels good.

Invisible thoughts

Lynilu posted a comment yesterday about how sometimes the words we have inside become invisible just as we are about to post a brilliant thought. (Surely, it was about to be brilliant!) I often have that problem when it comes to forming actual verbal thoughts versus writing them down, especially when I am talking about feelings or deeply emotional subjects. When I write I can think, edit, find just the right word to express what I mean, but when I speak, it needs to be right the first time. I have a good friend who likes to challenge me to speak, not write. Sometimes the words become invisible as I struggle, not used to operating without a keyboard or pen. They come slowly, not artfully, but it is good practice. Sort of like stretching and rubbing to relieve joint pain, it doesn't work right away, but it is a good practice in the long run.

The Blog Entry That Isn't

Last week I was quite sure I was on the verge of a really deep post - things about life, love and the universe. I even emailed as much to a friend. Said life was moving right along at its own pace and to watch my blog for more. Now, seems that dog food, the weather and the latest colon cleansing diet are the only things that strike me as I sit to post an entry. Certainly it is not the lack of wheels spinning in my brain, it's more a matter of which ones will engage the gears and set the machinery actually moving forward.

Sun and Snow!

Crazy weather! This past weekend we hit mid-60's and yesterday and today, a bit of snow! It was not enough to stick, not even cold enough to stick. Still...does a bit of a number on your expectations. I am ready for spring: for warmth, flowers poking through the ground, for sunny walks outside, for new beginnings.

The Little Princess told me this weekend that she wants to plant flowers with me next weekend. I told her it was still too cold because we could get snow in March. Sure enough...I hope to postpone her gardening needs until April. Maybe we can just work on some cleanup and garden prep if the weather is good enough. Oh - we should start a compost bin!

Pastel Junior Mints

Last night I discovered Junior Mints in pastel colors for Easter. No fears, it doesn't seem I will need to seek out discount diet pills on account of this discovery. They are good, but not great. The reason: lack of chocolate. The pastel coating is just candy, not chocolate, so there is no dark chocolate melting in with the gooey mint in a pleasing blend in your mouth. As mint candies go, they are still quite good. I still have managed to eat half of the box, but won't be buying more, unless it is for my Junior Mint loving daughter to try!

Tease of Spring - Part 2

I realize I did not mention the great food I enjoyed this weekend. One night it was just a slice of pizza from a stand along side of the street...but it was so good...fresh basil, tomatoes, sprinkling of feta...Mmmmm....Later in the weekend, I enjoyed a big bowl of garlic, butter and wine soaked clams from a well-known seafood restaurant, and eventually an amazing sirloin burger topped with - get this - bacon marmalade and blue cheese! Yes, bacon marmalade.....not sure what all was in it..but seemed to be bacon and onions in a sweet sauce. It was so very good. I did not finish the burger, but I ate every bit of the marmalade off! Another couple weekends like that and I will be looking for quick weight loss diets. That reminds me, I better go get in a walk before the "wintry mix" hits (see previous post).

A Tease of Spring

Wow - what a spectacular weekend it was here! Saturday was supposed to get up to 63 degrees. I do not know what the temperature was, but it was warm, sunny, blue skies...a perfect spring day! Definitely a weekend to get out the patio cushions, mix up a refreshing beverage and just chill. Or, in my case, since it was not my weekend with the kids and the house, I got out into the sun and played! Went to a local outdoor recreation area for a while, made a brief stop to say hi to the kids because my boy was missing me, then into the downtown area to explore city life, including Powell Books, which is the most amazing bookstore on the planet. Sunday was not as warm, but there were several sun breaks. It was a nice tease of good things to come, but this morning I heard that by evening a "wintry mix" may hit the area. *sigh* It was fun while it lasted!

Have Suitcase - Will Travel

Until recently, unless I was packing for a trip, I didn't think much about luggage. Let's face it, by the time you are packing, it is probably too late to do anything about it. Since January, I have thought more and more about luggage on a daily basis. The reality of my life is that I carry a fair amount of luggage in my car because I stay at multiple locations throughout the week.

I have found there are advantages - spill on yourself at work? There's a change of clothes always handy! Need a corkscrew? I just happen to have one packed in my car! I have learned to pack wisely, certain things go in certain bags, have one bag that goes in with me at night....tricks of the nomadic lifestyle.

What has recently become distressing is that after two months, I find that one of my softsided suitcases is literally falling apart. I found a plastic corner reinforcement piece laying on a neatly folded pair of pants just earlier this week.

Now I see the beauty of hardshell luggage. It was easy to see how it might be nice for those traveling by plane frequently, but now I see that if you stack two suitcases on top of each other on a daily basis, it takes a toll on the softsided luggage.

Hardshell suitcases would allow me to stack without breaking down the integrity of the cases, and also would keep me from overstuffing and scrunching everything so my hatchback closes. It either fits - or it doesn't!

I have noticed more and more of the hardshelled luggage on sale, so have to believe more people want the security of knowing their luggage that is being tossed around airports will likely end up in one piece. Or maybe, as with most things, we just love the trendy look!

A Shout Out to Nikk -

Hello loyal readers, and those passing through! One of the most fun things about having a blog is getting to say whatever you want and knowing there is a good chance people will read it.

Today, I celebrate the birth of the person who has been my best friend since we were 15. Not many people have had a loyal friend for nearly 30 years. I am a lucky woman.

I should have a drink in her honor, maybe two, someone mentioned something about happy hour....

Nikk - have a great day, pal!

Cupcakes!

The kids and I had a low-key, but fun weekend. Sunday we had gorgeous weather! Kaylen and I played in the sandbox for a while while Kelton worked his way through a new computer game. We then baked cupcakes and let them cool while we went to go visit a friend and her dog. (The kids really wanted to meet the dog!) Later, the kids, mostly Kaylen, decorated the cupcakes. Apparently one can never have too many pink sprinkles!