DC Trip - Part 7

 
 
 
 


More photos that were too much for Part 6.

DC Trip - Part 6

 
 
 
 

Here are some random photos from our first day in DC that I really like. There are tons of photos that I just love from this trip....the lighting on this day especially was so great!

Pens at Buy.com

My name is Dakota and I am an office supply addict.

I admit it, I could spend hours in an office supply store that lets me test the pens and feel the paper. I love the way office supplies smell - fresh and new - and how they feel in my hand. I am a complete sucker for a good pen. I am partial to gel pens and love the Uniball ones we have at work. OK - well, I have to ask for them to be specially ordered, because if everyone had access, they would just disappear! I just saw a really nice looking Uniball gel pen that is a step up from the inexpensive plastic ones we get at work. This one look classier. I can tell it would feel good in my hand - just heavy enough, with a cushion grip for comfort. I can almost feel the gel ink smoothly spreading across the paper as I dash off a quick memo to myself to remind me of a task for later. It wouldn't be scratchy, or skip.....it would be smooth and even-flowing. It looks classy - basic colors that won't clash with my outfit. OK, so that part really does not matter to me and I love loud colors....still, these colors would look professional, for office use. Really good if you are....oh, I don't know...a lawyer! :)

If I see one of these on sale, I may just have to pick one up!

Trip to DC - Part 5

Saturday morning we arose early....not quite as early as we'd hoped, but still...managed to get breakfast and head about an hour out to a train station, and then took a train into DC to avoid parking hassles. It was a rainy morning, and cooler than it had been, which was oddly nice. Rain didn't scare me, but it did keep the tourist population down for a while.

We first went to the Holocaust Museum, which was huge and very powerful. There was film-clip footage that I had no idea even existed, both of some of the atrocities that happened and of what US and Russian troops found as they liberated the concentration camps. Unbelievably sad and maddening. There was an interesting display about propaganda and Hitler's rise to power...frightening how relatively easily it happened. The most touching and deeply disturbing display was simply of shoes....thousands of shoes found at a concentration camp.....kid shoes, adult shoes, all styles and sizes. When I saw a shoe about Kaylen's size, I just started to cry. What that child must have witnessed, the complete helplessness and desperation the parents must have felt. All too much. So terrifying that thousands upon thousands of people let 11 million people be murdered. (Numbers somewhat uncertain.)

On a happier note, we then wandered by the Washington Memorial, took a long walk along the river over to the Jefferson Memorial, then back to the main mall for a short rest with our feet in a fountain at the WWII memorial, then up to the Lincoln Memorial and finally past the Vietnam Memorial. It was all much BIGGER than I thought....the size of the city, the grandeur of the monuments, and the distance between things. It was so much fun to see the sights I had only seen in movies or on TV. Whenever I see the National Mall, I think if pictures I saw of the AIDS quilt displayed upon it during the late 80's or early 90's. Not a happy memory, but of historical significance, which is what a trip to DC is all about.

Note: These are camera phone pictures. My "real" pictures are still on a disk in my camera and I have not gone through them. As you can tell, the sky was amazing and I think I may have gotten some really spectacular shots as the afternoon turned into evening. Stay tuned!

I Write Like....

This was a fun little test! Simply find a piece of your writing, cut and paste, and it is analyzed and compared with famous writers. I have no idea how many authors are in their database or if it is random.....but I still liked my results:

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

This is very appropriate! Stephen King has always been my favorite writer and I would love for my writing to be compared with his. Can't really argue with decades of success.

I love this quote of his about why he writes such terrifying stories, "Why do you assume I have a choice?"

Trip to DC - Part 4

Friday night, after the museum, we ended up going to a movie at GF's favorite theatre, which has seating like a regular theatre with long tables in front of each row. There is a full menu and you can order dinner, popcorn, dessert, alcoholic beverages, whatever you want and be served during the movie, up until the last 45 minutes.

We had drinks and shared a pizza, talked about the motorhome repairs that had been required before GF put her motorhome up for sale, and what we would do in DC the next day. Somewhere in there we watched The Last Airbender in 3D. It was OK, but could have been better. My sense is that it may have been too complex for some children, but did not offer enough depth (or talented actors) for most adults. Still, it was a good night, and I went to bed with a much greater appreciation for the area than I had before and excited to see DC the next day.

Trip to DC - Part 3

On Friday, I was on my own to explore Winchester, VA, or wherever I chose to drive. GF had to work, so she turned over the rectangular bar that serves as a key to her Prius and I was on my way! First off - love the car! I kept the "key" in my travel wallet that was slung across my body, so every time I walked up to it, it recognized me and unlocked the doors. The car starts with the push of a button and drives like a dream. Way cool!

I ended up first at the visitor's center watching video's about the area's civil war history, then about tourism. Then I went to see Abram's Delight on the same grounds as the center. It is the oldest house in Winchester and was built in 1754. It has been restored, contains many of the original furnishings and other period pieces and I was given a personal tour by a girl who appeared to be all of 16. She was nice and did a good job with the history.

Next I visited a building that served as George Washington's office while Fort Loudoun was being build in 1755/56. Winchester is where George Washington's political and military career started, so he plays a prominent part of the area's history.

I later drove out to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, which, according to its website, "interprets the art, history, and culture of the great valley for which it is named. This regional museum complex in Winchester, Virginia, includes a historic house dating to the eighteenth century, six acres of spectacular gardens, and a museum designed by internationally recognized architect Michael Graves."



I wandered the museum on my own and then picked up GF, who was done with work by then, to explore the gardens with me. That is her favorite part of the museum, so it was nice to experience together.

Trip to DC - Part 2

After Harper's Ferry, we headed back to GF's home in Virginia, got a little rest, and headed to her friends' house for a BBQ. I was excited to meet her friends in person because we've been texting each other for a few months now. They were warm, easy people to be around and we had a great time sitting on their back deck, listening to their kids splash in the pool, and finally eating dinner and watching fireflies. I love fireflies! I have not seen any since I was about 7 and we lived in Texas.

It was a beautiful, warm night and for a while worries about finances, the gulf oil spill and Asbestos cancer were far from my mind. It was nice to be sitting in my GF's world, experiencing life from her side of the country.

The New Neighborhood

It was the first weekend I spent with the kids and the new girlfriend in the new apartment. It all went quite well, considering two rowdy kids who are excited and need to be reminded that we are in an apartment with others around us. There was a lot going on in the neighborhood - neighborhood association sponsored a garage sale for anyone who wanted to participate, and the stores were having a big block party-type sale which included live music in various locations and free snow cones!

We found almost new, matching furniture at a garage sale right next door - kitchen table and chairs, chest of drawers and night table - for a great price, kids got lots of garage sale toys, many for free, and we enjoyed wandering the neighborhood. We got a new top mattress for the kids' bunk bed and a bed for the bedroom - all at one of the mattress superstores with the annoying commercials. Kids got new pillows. We stopped short of new lingerie - oh - and now we need sheets that fit the new mattress! So many things to think about about and purchase all at once....but it is starting to feel like a home.

Kids are waiting to visit tomorrow to see the completed bunk bed. They like it at the new place. I am glad.

Scanning for New TVs on Buy.Com

A new apartment means a new TV! Actually, I was OK with the idea of no TV. GF really does not watch TV, and the kids and I could get along with internet and DVDs. GF thinks we need one, and also pointed out that football season will be starting soon. She is a fan, which is funny, not just because I am not, but because she is one of the last people you would expect to like football - computer/techno geek, very spiritual, always reading, knows very few pop culture references.....I am amused.

Anyway, we started looking at TV's last night and this Samsung 32" LCD is one that we are considering. The picture is sharp, the price is very reasonable and...oh, who am I kidding, those are pretty much my only two criteria! It does have this other cool feature called ConnectShare™ Movie - "Connect a thumb drive or digital camera quickly and easily. Userfriendly interface allows access to videos, a music playlist and pictures via the remote" How much fun is that? Yes, exactly!

I have had other Samsung products and been quite happy with them. As you may recall, the netbook that I lusted after for months and finally got is a Samsung product, and computer whiz GF was so impressed she got herself one, too. So, we are feeling pretty good about the brand name. We'll do some shopping to see what is on sale with the kids this weekend and hopefully have a TV by the time the Direct TV installer arrives at the apartment on Monday!

Jeans!

Kaylen is wearing jeans! It has happened twice this week, that I know of. She has NEVER liked jeans, so this is HUGE!

She is so stinkin' cute it them.

Here, she is surfing on the swingset. Years of watching her brother do this has paid off!

Trip to DC - Part 1

I don't know if I mentioned previously that I had been planning a trip out to Virginia and WA DC to visit my girlfriend. Well, "planning" is perhaps an ambitious word....we had talked about it and figured eventually I would go out to visit her world, then things just fell into place and pretty soon I had airline reservations!

The week before I was to leave, the DC area was having record-breaking temps...over 100 degree days with close to 100% humidity. Apparently July and August are not the smartest times to visit our nation's capital. Oh, well, I figured any temp is fine for visiting....not like I am moving there!

I flew out last Wednesday night....11:00 pm flight....hanging out in the airport with weary travelers, parents with children and 20-somethings with their e cigarettes hanging out of their mouths. Two blissfully uneventful flights later, I landed at 9:00am eastern time in Baltimore. I'd never been to Baltimore.....within hours I had been in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. Interesting how close the East Coast states are and how easily one can travel from one to another as compared to the West Coast.

On the way from Baltmore to Virginia, where GF lives, we stopped at Harper's Ferry, WV for lunch and site-seeing. It was amazing being right there in the location of the John Brown raid, which basically started the Civil War. Harper's Ferry was also the starting point of Lewis and Clark's expedition - which ended over in the area I call home, and the site where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers converge. Thomas Jefferson declared that the view was worth crossing the Atlantic. Unfortunately, I only had my camera phone with me, but still, got some decent shots.

Jefferson Rock:

Useful Accessories - Buy.com

I have been traveling a lot lately and found an inexpensive item that has been priceless. It is basically a travel wallet that I can sling over my shoulder. It is big enough to hold both my very small camera, and my phone, plus money and miscellaneous things - like my baggage claim receipts. I bought it a few years ago, and Casey claimed it was a purse.

It is SO not a purse. :)

It is only about big enough to put a passport in, as far as width and height goes....then there are a few pockets - two zippered ones on the outside, and if you flip it open, a couple more inside. The entire unit clips closed with a buckle. You could put too much in it and make it bulky and not particularly usable, but I have managed to find just the right combination. It is perfect when traveling in warm weather because I can hold my phone and camera in it when my shorts pockets might be too loose ore get wet playing in sprinklers, and great for going through airports because all the little "pocket stuff" can be carried in it and tossed into the bin and through the z-ray machine with ease.

The one pictured is not exactly like the one I have, but is similar. Usually these can be found for sale with travel accessories like luggage locks, power converters and sleep pillows, or I got mine at an outdoor store where it was with other bags, backpacks and wallets.

Zhu Zhu Everywhere - even Buy.com

The Zhu Zhu Pet craze hit our family last Christmas and though it subsided for a time, appears to be going strong again. Kaylen received a small starter set - a few tubes and two pets - for Christmas. From time to time, she plays with them, or asks for a new one.

Recently though, both kids caught the bug for these small electronic hamster-like creatures. They really do look like hamsters and the play sets are similar to the old Habitrail tubes and cages we all grew up with. They even have a hamster ball for the Zhu Zhu pet to run around in. There are several different colors - and each character makes her own sound and has a unique design on her back. There are various accessories, like cars, outfits, and babies with strollers that can be purchased separately to increase the Zhu Zhu collection.

The kids, especially Kaylen, have worked hard weeding and doing other chores to earn money to buy more pets and accessories. At first, most of the pets were either sort of gender-neutral or "girly." Now there is a line of pets targeted for boys - they are Kung Fu pets or other versions of warrior-like creatures that can do battle. Same creatures, different gear and costuming.

They are pretty cute, I have to admit. They are soft and when you press on a place on their back "come to life" and they make whatever their unique sound is...quiet sounds, not terribly obnoxious. Their wheels allow them to run on a track and sensors make them back up and turn when they hit something.

They seem to be on sale pretty much everywhere. In fact, it is sometimes hard to find the pets themselves as they seem to sell out fast, leaving mostly accessories on the store shelves. Pretty clever gimmick and way lower maintenance than real hamsters! Call this mom a Zhu Zhu fan!

Wine Personality?

Pour Your Personality Wine Quiz

Here are my results:

Friends might have to start calling you Cabernet. Big and bold is the name of your game. You live life to the fullest. Carpe Diem might even be your motto in life.

Here's To You!

This is funny because a good Cabernet is my favorite!

I sign the apartment lease tonight! Right after that I am going to go measure all the rooms (just a one-bedroom apartment - shouldn't take long!) and draw out a diagram so I can start dreaming of furnishings. A friend suggested that we might want to get a bunk bed like the one pictured above. It would provide a sofa for seating and bed for both kids. The living room is quite big, so if there is any way I could section off a part of it for beds and a couple drawers/shelves for the kids, that is what I want to do.

I am already brain-storming inexpensive ways to make room dividers that are multi-functional....such as also serving as a bulletin board, or are usable for storage. It would be nice to have an area that is clearly "living room" and another that is "kids' room." Probably once I measure it out it won't be as large as I am hoping. That will just mean I have to get more creative. Ever been through those little rooms in Ikea that show how efficiently space can be used? I will need to do that! Uh...WE will need to do that. Strange and interesting to be in a "we" relationship again. (Caroline - I will introduce new gf soon. I have to be careful how much I share. She has a security sensitive job. Yes, that's right. She is a secret agent. Hot, right?)

I love that furniture makers have come up with variations on the old-fashioned bunk beds. You can now find on sale a full bed under the twin bed, or a desk underneath a twin, or even just a wide open area. There are also some far more space-consuming options that have the top bed going one way, the bottom going the other, with shelves next to the lower bed and a desk along one end. Really nice and seems great for two kids sharing a room. I am sure we will find just the right options to make the kids feel like this new place is their home, too.

Apartment Hunting

It was a good weekend, despite the lack of sunshine. Saturday was warmish though, no rain, and I took the kids out to go look at two apartments with me. My new girlfriend and I have decided that instead of her spending so much on hotels when she comes to visit, it makes more sense to get a small apartment and begin the transition from our old lives into a life together that will eventually include a larger house with rooms for the kids. Kinda big, right? *grin*

Yes, life is moving on in amazing ways.

The kids helped me choose between two apartments, pointing out the good features of each, and then we spent time walking around the neighborhood. GF and I had already chosen the general area on her previous trip, but the kids and I wanted to see how close things really were on a walk. Within a couple blocks we were at a trendy pet supply store, then a bookstore, and finally a Japanese restaurant, where they tried chopsticks for the first time! Those made great toys while we waited for their soba noodles to appear.

I found out last night we definitely got the apartment, and I think it was good that the kids were involved in that process. They will come for sleep-overs, not all the time on my weekends since it is a small place, but sometimes. I think it will be good for them to see where I live when I am not with them and know it is a stable place instead of "where will you be tonight?"

Yes, life moves on and I think we are all adjusting well.

Friday Facts

This has been the coldest, wettest June in Portland on record. I have no cite. I have no proof. I think the fact my co-worker was trying to slit her wrist with a plastic knife in the workroom speaks for itself. (She was joking around.)

My job goes down to half-time starting July 1. I graduated from law school a year ago and am still doing the same work I have been doing for seven years. Despite the dismal career facts, I am happy. Life feels as though it is moving along as it should and good job news is right around the corner.

Casey and I are getting along great, sharing news of people we are dating, talking openly, in an age-appropriate way, with the kids about new relationships and what that means or does not mean, and I think the kids are doing well.

Some of you may be wondering where the stories and pictures of London and Paris are. Great question! The pictures are on on my netbook, which I still love, by the way, and so does my new computer-geek girlfriend, who plans on getting herself the same model. That says something about the quality. Anyway, I still need to sort through the 1000+ photos and maybe create a relatively short slide show with the most meaningful shots to share with people. Maybe I can get a bit of time this weekend in between playing with the kids, doing laundry and various other chores.

Hope you all have wonderful weekends ahead!

Remember This TV Series?

Sometimes life is weird, right? You get a call out of the blue from someone you haven't heard from just when you need it most, or you think you hear someone at the door and you get up just in time to avoid the dog trampling you on her way to watch a squirrel in the front yard. Coincidences? Synchronicity? Universal Flow? Who knows?

These things are happening more in my life...or rather, maybe I am more aware of them. Kind of like when you decide to buy a blue Prius, every other car on the road seems to be a blue Prius. Anyway, I was chatting with a friend on Facebook the other day about life and events and she mentioned she was watching Joan of Arcadia. Does anyone remember that show? That was a fascinating, well-written show that was one of my all-time favorites.

Here is a brief description that I "borrowed" from another site:

"Millions of people speak to God. What if God spoke back? Life just got a hell of a lot more confusing for teenage Joan Girardi, who already deals with feeling out of place in her family : her police chief father, her somewhat overbearing mother, her geeky younger brother and former football star older brother, now paralyzed. They'd never believe her if she told them that God is talking to her. Does Joan have a higher purpose on earth, or are these strange conversations just in her head?"

This show touches on a lot of social issues, but underlying it all is the very big question revolving around how people who believe they talk with God are treated - prophet or nut case? Joan made a deal with God to save her brother from a car crash, so now she must do everything he asks. Are all the strangers that show up telling her they are incarnations of God and asking her to do odd things really God? Should she go along with the requests or possibly break a promise to God? Teen angst mingled with the above conflict makes for lots of drama and an excellent premise on which to base a series.

The show was only on for two seasons, from 2003-2005, won a People's Choice Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award in it's first season for Best Dramatic Series.

Both season are available for sale on-line and are worth adding to your collection of DVD's.

Mud Girl!

This weekend we finally had sunshine! Casey and I got out last year's small pool for the kids to splash around in. There is a bigger one waiting to be set up once the weather gets really nice, but this seemed like a good idea for the day. The kids agreed and had a great time running, jumping, splashing.....and making mud in the already rain-soaked ground that really could not absorb any more water. Kaylen started "trapeze skiing" and eventually decided that a mud bath sounded good. She actually kneeled down in the mud, and then put her arms in from wrist to elbow.....and then started swinging from the rings again. I could not resist taking a picture. That drew attention to it, so she quickly covered herself in more mud, but didn't really like it, so jumped into the pool to wash it off. You can guess what the pool water looked like!

Random Friday Life Update

I suppose sitting for hours on end editing my photos while munching on M&Ms is a great way to end up needing quick weight loss tips. OK, truthfully, I have not resorted to that, yet, but I can see it being something I would do, if I had an extended period of free time available. It is so much fun seeing how the photos really turned out and remembering where I was, what I was doing, who I was hanging out with....all that cool vacation memory stuff.

No, for the past two nights, and clear until next Friday, my time will be spent at work, with the kids and with my new girlfriend. (Ah, there's that inadequate word again!) She's back out here visiting from Virginia again. Her job could take her away to a poverty-stricken, probably war-torn, country half-way around the world at any time, for a couple weeks, or longer, so we want to spend as much time as we can together when we can. She and Casey went out for a bit again last night while I was having dinner with the kids and deciding what games we could play when she returned. It feels good to have this woman in my world, getting to know my friends and family, spending time with the kids, figuring out who we are together.

Life has a funny way of turning tragedies into miracles when we are open to seeing the possibilities.

Pictures!

I am starting to sort through my England trip pictures. Downloaded Picasa to help me edit and organize. I have about 1000 photos. Thank goodness for digital photography! I have no idea how much time it would take to do all the things I would really like to do with them. I know I could group some into themes, by location, by subject matter, and then many will be greatly improved by cropping. I do enjoy reviewing pictures, it is like being able to relive the experience.

Back to Work

Today I returned to work. For the most part, I enjoy the people I work with. Still, I'd rather be in London. :)

I actually made it all the way through my unopened emails....it is easy enough to click here and there and figure out what is junk and what needs a thoughtful answer. I did not make progress on a lot of work, but I sorted through a ton! I guess for a first day back after being gone for more than a week, that is not too shabby.

Tomorrow is another day for work and opportunities, love and laughter.

Monster Rain Boots

I love the great rain boots for kids available now. When I was a kid, we had plain rubber boots in basic colors - black, yellow, blue, red. I had ones that were blue that I really liked. Now the kids have had green froggies, in various sizes, blue monsters, and pink ones with flowers on them. Today, Kaylen was wearing one green one and one pink one. She had a similar pair on a couple days ago. I did not ask. Maybe I should have, but she was happy and playing in the backyard, so what the heck!

One of the makers of the themed rubber boots is Melissa and Doug. I think this is interesting because they make great, high quality toys, like wooden puzzles. Because you find their toys in specialty toy stores, like ones in touristy beach towns, you can often find their rubber boots, matching raincoats and umbrellas at these toy stores. It is not the first place I'd think to look when I need rain boots for the kids, but maybe it should be! I am not sure if it is because it rains so much at the beaches here in Oregon, or if it is more about walking in the wet sand and saving the good shoes. I doubt rubber boots would be good for walking in wet sand in, but can't say that I have tried it. I can see a kid getting their boot stuck in the sand, the foot slipping out, and soon it is "bye-bye bootie."

As the kids get older, their interest in these cute boots is likely to fade, but I must say, mine has returned. I want an adult-size pair of blue monster boots! If you see some on sale, let me know!

Seriously?

Yesterday Kaylen threw up at the park.
She threw up again after her bath.
In the middle of the night the dog had diarhea all over the carpet.
Casey noted I had been experiencing quite the bodily fluid weekend.
Did I mention the jet lag?

Today, girl, dog and me - mostly all better.

Thoughts on Carry-Ons

I know I am not the only one who has noticed the large numbers of people who now attempt to carry on to an airplane the largest piece of luggage permissible. This is presumably so they do not have to check luggage and risk it being lost, or maybe just don't want the hassle of checking and picking up luggage. It is a great idea. In theory. In reality, airplanes are not built to accommodate such large amounts of bulky luggage in the overhead bins. People end up storing their items rows away, which frankly, is not fair. If it does not fit in the compartment above your row, it should be checked.

I was a bit apprehensive about checking my one piece of luggage for my trip, but as I had to take suits, shoes and a variety of clothes for a week, I had to do it. My carry-on was perfect. I only took a messenger bag. I was able to fit in two paperback books, my netbook, some Luna bars, toothpaste, toothbrush and other personal items, plus a lightweight change of clothes. It was all I needed for the flights, plus a safety back-up in case I got stranded somewhere without my suitcase for a night. It easily fit under the seat in front of me. I did not need to worry about overhead bin storage and anything I wanted during the flights was easily accessible. In addition, it was lightweight and easy to sling across my body for travel through the airports. Even once I had my large rolling suitcase, the messenger bag was easy to carry. I had no problem making it through airports and even the London tube system with that combination of luggage.

I have mentioned messenger bags before, and I swear by the two I have. Although a backpack might be easier to carry long-distances, for safety and ease of movement, a messenger bag is the way to go. On the tube, a backpack would not have worked well - I could not have seen if anyone was trying to get into it, or if I was about to hit someone behind me with it. I would have needed to take it off and carry it. Also, I could even get things out of my messenger bag without taking it off - can't do that with a backpack!

Messenger bags are found for sale with luggage, and if you don't have one yet, consider it the next time you need to take even a day trip. I have never been sorry that is my choice of bag I carry to work every day and also my top choice for travel.

Avenue Q

I was so excited to get to see a play in London! Since we were traveling with a large group with very different tastes and lifestyles, many more conservative than mine, I figured I would go along with whatever the group decided. I hoped for a musical and quietly expressed my preference, but was not specific, adding encouraging comments whenever a musical was mentioned. I was surprised and delighted when Avenue Q came out as the winning first place choice at the official discount ticket booth, the second choice was Billy Elliot, which I am sure also would have been good. I am happy to be able to casually drop into conversation, "Oh yes, I saw Avenue Q in London. Wasn't it spectacular?"

The play is about a 22-year-old with a BA in English who has recently moved to a low-income area after graduating from college and is trying to find his purpose in life. He runs into love, lust, friendship and confusing realities of life beyond college. The play is a bit of a satire of Sesame Street and the Electric Company, and mixes human and puppet characters, and little educational snippets via a computer screen. Make no mistake. This show is NOT for children, the themes are quite adult-oriented....I have seen the words "bawdy humor" used when describing it and someone in our group who enjoyed the play still felt there was gratuitous sex and profanity useage. Kind of the point, in a way - a commentary about a certain class and way of life.

The music is fantastic! How can you not like a play whose most well-known song, The Internet is for Porn, includes these lyrics:


KATE
The internet is really really great
TREKKIE MONSTER
For porn
KATE
I've got a fast connection so I don't have to wait
TREKKIE
For porn
KATE
Huh?
There's always some new site,
TREKKIE
For porn!
KATE
I browse all day and night
TREKKIE
For porn!
KATE
It's like I'm surfing at the speed of light
TREKKIE
For porn!
KATE
Trekkie!

I MUST get the soundtrack! The Broadway version includes 21 songs by the original cast, including, It Sucks to be Me, Everyone is a Little Bit Racist, and If You Were Gay. Yes, there is a gay character, who is having trouble coming out, even to himself. The soundtrack for the Tony-Award winning musical has been out since 2003, so it should not be hard for me to find it on sale somewhere. I guess I could just surf the web....for Porn!

An Elegant Wedding

The Bride and Groom





Bonnie and me




Some old car they found for the bride to ride in.

Great food in Paris and London

While in London and Paris, I did indulge in dessert far more often than at home. Part of the vacation experience, right? Fortunately, I do not believe I will need safe weight loss pills because we generally only ate two meals per day, walked for MILES (and that was just getting through the tube), and stayed up late - always on the go! I have discovered that I like regular cheesecake, as opposed to New York Style, it is lighter and creamier, much less rich, but still very delicious. Had to have a croissant in Paris with Bonnie, and we dined at an Italian cafe on the sidewalk of Paris. (Something wrong with that sentence...) Ah, when can I go back? In the background of the Cafe shot is the Arc de Triomphe, which was completed in about 1836.

Jet Lag

It will be interesting to see how quickly I recover from time zone adjustments. I think my timing was pretty good in that I actually slept during what is my normal sleeping time last night. In London I was up until at least midnight most nights and sometimes more like 2 or 3am, which back home would have been about 7:00pm. Worked out well for the times I was able to Skype with the kids before going to bed. The first couple days there were the hardest, after the long flights over on pretty much no sleep. I could have used some eye cream and a Red Bull. I settled for my first ever Red Bull. Wow...went down smoothly....I was drawn to the dark side for two days, then my straight-guy roommate for part of the trip convinced me it was bad stuff, which I have always known, and wouldn't let me indulge anymore.

I was "forced" by the bride to drink a Red Bull and vodka at her girls night out party. The drink is called.....wait for it......

Absolut Bull.

Yum!

Safely Stateside

My internet access was limited by both cost and time, otherwise there would have been daily posts on the amazing time I was having during Bonnie's wedding trip. I made it back about 2:00am this morning, only about 5 hours later than scheduled. The London departure was late for a variety of reasons, so missed connecting flight out of Philadelphia. I got some good sleep for a few hours and since then have been catching up on emails, spam, apidexin reviews, and Facebook friend requests. It's about worn me out....maybe time for a quick nap before I head out for the 3-hour drive home to be with the kids.

First Day in England

I have arrived in England. It is actually very late, after my first night. Last night I gathered with my friend who is getting married, Bonnie, and all her female friends and family that are here so far for a nice meal and lots of chatting. We later hooked up in the lobby of the hotel with the guys. We pulled about 20 chairs into a circle, sat around drinking and laughing, and ended up playing "quarters" with any coin that could be found. It was pretty funny and I have pictures! I will see if I can download/upload some when I get some down time, probably tomorrow before the wedding, but who knows?

It was a late night...up until almost 3:00 local time, after logging in to Skype with the kids. I slept until about 11:00 though and now need to hop into the shower.

Getting Soft

It has been a year since I was carrying my law school rolling computer case up and down the stairs at school, and I must admit, my arm muscles are getting a bit soft. I walk, but I really need to get into the habit of doing some strength training. Maybe I need a gym with weights and pull up bars . Even carrying the kids, which has kept me somewhat strong, is mostly a thing of the past. As a special treat I sometimes carry Kelton to his bedroom, or give Kaylen a piggyback ride, but they are too big for it to be a routine event these days. I wonder if I am thinking about activity because I am actually writing this on the airplane where it is difficult to even get up and move?!

In Flight Thoughts

(Written about 2 days ago and posted 5/23.)

I am currently flying over some state west of Pennsylvania. By the time I post this, I should be in the Philadelphia airport, waiting for the time to board the 7 ½ hour flight to London. The flight from Seattle has been pleasant – quiet, no screaming children, no rowdy passengers. Most everyone was sleeping, reading, or using an electronic device such as a laptop or MP3 player. I have alternated between reading and resting.

Tonight I will sleep on the plane, tomorrow during the day I do not know the plan, but tomorrow night is “boys night out/girls night out” according to the intinerary my friend's fiance emailed. The wedding is Monday. It was only a few short months ago I was wandering paper stores with the happy couple, brain-storming ideas with them about custom-made invitations, and now the day is almost here! I am so happy for them, and excited to be on my way to join them half-way around the world. Wild!

Heading to England!

I am sitting at the airport, waiting to board a flight to Pennsylvania, and then on to London! I have heard from Kelton three times, calling from his teacher's phone. He is quite upset that I will be out of the country, unable to call him at the usual times. He sounds OK when we talk, but I know he is distressed. I hope to find some wireless locations during some down time so I can Skype him and Kaylen.

I used my brand new passport for the first time. I did not know that it has a little section that works in a barcode scanner for check-in. Handy! I have passed through airport security, have my shoes back on, and now need to go find a restroom. TMI? I suspect there will be an update later from the Philadelphia airport.

A "What's Really Going On" Post

Hey all! I realize that I have been doing a lot of only minimally personal postings lately, which are probably not all that entertaining. For those of you who read both Casey's blog and my own, I suspect inquiring minds are interested in life from my perspective, too. Hey - I get it - we all like good gossip, right? If you have hung in this long, which I know many of you have, you deserve to get some good stuff now and then!

I am still searching for a full-time job in the legal field - and the need for that to happen soon has increased because I was told last week my position is getting cut to half-time. (Oh, and by the way, we want you to keep doing all of your work you are currently doing.) It is time to leave the safe, comfy nest I have been in during law school and during this transition time, and find my new place in the working world.

The kids and I are doing well and we are mostly used to the new "visitation" schedule, but sometimes it is harder than others. They would like me there way more often than is realistic for a mom who no longer lives with them. I would love to see them everyday, but that is not possible. Casey and I are doing well as co-parents, and getting to a good place as friends, but it is better for us not to be together too much.....old patterns creep up way too easily and can harm the real progress we are making.

As some of you have discovered via Casey's blog or a few FB hints I have dropped, I am seeing someone, and have been for about two months. It is odd to be at this age, involved with someone, and seeking a label. It is too soon to use "partner," "lover" seems crass and limiting, and "girlfriend" seems too young and not encompassing enough, but that's what I will go with for now. So, yes, I have a new girlfriend. She lives across the country, but fortunately has both the means and a career that allows her to travel, so she has been able to visit me a number of times already. She gets along very well with the kids and they really like her, and she and Casey have gone out a couple of times to get to know each other. (Yes, that is a bit odd, but also very civilized and a great way to approach this for the kids. We are all adults and need to get along - showing respect is a minimal requirement, but if we can all actually enjoy each other's company, how wonderful will that be for the kids?! Thank you to Casey for being open about this!) For those of you quick to judge, or wonder about how we handle such things with the kids, I will say, we go slowly. We have introduced the concept of "dating," and of "girlfriend," and what those things mean and do not mean. Neither of us plans on parading a large set of women through their lives - and we are trying to balance their needs with our own realities.

What else? This Friday, I leave for a week in England! A good friend that I have known since 6th grade is getting married there and offered to pay for my trip. How could I turn down that kind of chance-of-a-lifetime trip? I am just starting to get excited. It doesn't seem real. Also, this is the first vacation I have ever had that I had no control over at all. I usually pick the destination, the hotels, the flight....all of that (with Casey's input, of course). Here, I am totally just along for the ride. We're going to London, a day trip to Paris, all sorts of fun planned!

So, though I am uneasy about my job situation, overall, I am optimistic and very happy in my life. Good things are coming, and good things are already here.

New Camera!

Did I mention that I finally got a new camera? I know I have been whining about the poor quality photos taken on my camera phone (not that it kept me from posting colorful slug and leaf pictures) and acknowledged I needed a camera of my own. I received a very nice Sony Cybershot for my birthday. I won't swear the one in this picture is the exact same model,but close enough for comfort. Except that mine is better - it is blue!

The camera is a 14.1 Megapixel with a Sony Lens with 4x Optical Zoom. The display is large - 3" - and very clear. There is a cool auto mode that "thinks for you" - "recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, and faces, and adjusts settings resulting in clearer images, faces with more natural skin tone, and less blur." Yes, I took that out of an add because it sounded cool.

What matters to me is that it is easy to use, has an easy to recharge battery that comes with it's own small charger, and the camera itself is very compact. I have an LG cell phone. The camera is slightly smaller. It is perfect for slipping into my pocket so I am ready to take pictures of the kids or nature or whatever at a moment's notice without dealing with a bulky camera case.

Now that I am noticing, I have seen several of these models, or very similar, for
sale all over the place. No wonder - it is a nice camera!

Ate the Cookies

Most likely you are not reading these in the order I am posting them because I am doing several close together. There was an entry a couple back where I referred to taking the cookies out of the oven. I was not joking. I am preparing for my upcoming trip to England to see my dear friend, Bonnie, get married. The kids decided to pretend to prepare for their own trip. They packed their luggage, turned their bedrooms into hotel rooms, and soon I decided to join in and play "room service". I first brought complimentary bottles of water, and later took warm cookies and milk to them at the local "pub" where they were hanging out.

I had to indulge in a few cookies myself. I am now looking at myself and wondering how to reduce belly fat. Probably lay off the cookies!

Great Day with the Kids

Saturday was an excellent day! We started with Kaylen's ballet lesson, then off to Target to spend the gift card I got for my birthday (Thank you, Stella!). I managed to get all of the odds and ends I needed for an upcoming trip to England - converter plug, calling card, extra SD card for new camera, underwear - plus a few extras for the kids. Kelton was a generous brother and shared his birthday money with Kaylen, and I wanted them to see me doing the same thing. A good chance for a life lesson. :)

We then wanted to use a coupon for a pizza place that used to be next to Target, but had moved. We decided to go on an adventure and find the new location. It ended up to be near downtown Portland in a trendy little neighborhood. We ate pizza, enjoyed their crazy 80's decor, posed on some outdoor lounge chairs, and then found a really nice park for the kids to play in. It was nearly 4:00 by the time we found our way home, and I still needed to weed whack and give the dogs their baths! All done! (Kaylen loves bathing the dogs!) A productive and fun day. The kids crashed fast last night and slept well. I stayed up a bit too late, but still got some good sleep. Love those kinds of days!

Discussing How Looks Matter

Let's face it, looks do matter. In the work force, at a restaurant, and certainly when dating, I bet most of us pay more attention to looks than perhaps we'd like to admit. We might not even notice that we are doing it, but do the good looking waiters and waitresses get bigger tips than those with uneven features and adult acne? I am betting they do.

I had a conversation with a friend last night about what either of us would do if we made a romantic connection over the internet with someone that we later met in person and did not find attractive. Give it a try because there had been something special in the emails or over the phone? Make an excuse because there is no point in trying to get over the state of not being attracted? Don't people get more attractive the longer you know them and the more you care? Certainly there is truth to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I think I would ultimately give it a chance, but in the long-run suspect it is more satisfying to be with someone for whom there is an immediate attraction.

Eating with Kids

Anyone else have the challenge of eating right when you are around kids? I do pretty well with eating healthy at breakfast and even lunch, but when it comes to dinnertime with the kids, I far too often fall prey to their mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, cookies..etc. Hard to just say no sometimes, but that would be easier than needing to find diet pills that work!

Oh, gotta go take the cookies out of the oven...

Hot Tubs Are Good

I am watching over my sister's/BIL's house this week, enjoying their home and their hot tub! Before they left, my brother-in-law showed me about the chemicals to be added and how to remove the cover. They have the coolest unit designed to make it easy to remove the spa covers. It is more or less a bar that fits over one side of the cover, then you lift the other side of the cover over the bar, and then the bar acts as a lever so the whole thing folds over to one side. Hard to imagine without a picture I suppose, but it is very handy! Casey's brother has a hot tub without the handy-dandy cover removal aid, and it is a real pain compared with the ease of this one!

Hmmm....is that the hot tub I hear calling my name?

The Heat is On!

It has been a mix of sun and clouds over the past few days, but today, the sun is out and it is a glorious, gorgeous day! Ah, that I were not in the office, daydreaming about the fun to be had just outside my window...

Always Another Toy on the List

This is not a technical article. This is not even a review article. This is just a "Wow, isn't this a cool thing" article. I'm not a techno-geek. I don't have a need for all of the latest technology as soon as it comes out. Heck, I couldn't afford it even if I felt the need for all the latest gadgets. I am fine with waiting for prices to come down and glitches to be resolved.

A friend recently wrote a blog advising against buying an iPad until the glitches have been resolved. He had good points about this being a new product and how in a short period of time, it will be an even better product with a lower price tag. I was at his house a couple weeks ago, and there, sitting in his house was an empty iPad box. Hmmmm....I think...has he purchased one? A bit later, sure enough, he is showing me how cool his new iPad is, and yes, it is cool.

He justified his purchase because he is a musician and can store all of his words/chord charts on it easily - easy to access, easy to read, no shuffling through pages looking for the right song. Very slick. He showed me how easy it is to watch a streaming Netflix movie on it, too. Very clear pictures, smooth - nice.

I am sure the iPad is wonderful for many things - photos, video, surfing the web, reading books. I haven't gotten onto the ereader bandwagon, yet, but that's probably not far away. This looks like a better option as it also has tons more capabilities in the size of a notepad. The price tag is certainly steeper than an an ereader, but hey, in a couple years I will probably be able to afford it, will find it on sale and will have a whole list of my own reasons justifying my need for such a toy. :)

SUNSHINE! YES!

I heard on the radio that we've not been able to see Mt. Hood for the past two weeks due to the rain/clouds/hail and general dreariness. My mood over the past few days has reflected that problem. I have been craving a nice, SUNNY walk in the woods....but the sun only comes out long enough to grab a jacket and head out the door and then there's the rain. Now, I am not one to turn down a good rain walk now and then, but not when I am in need of pure sunshine!

Today, thank God and all that is good, the sun is out and it is going to be a beautiful day! I will be in a CLE (Continuing Legal Education) class all day, but that is OK. I have a drive there and back, lunch, and MAYBE the room will have windows! Even my anticipated stop by a store later suddenly seems brighter. I will be able to walk by pop displays, magazine racks, and produce tables with a renewed smile on my face.

It's going to be a great day!

Appreciating the City

I have been spending a lot of time over the past couple months in our downtown area. I find I love it! I love the old buildings and the new trendy locales, the people on the streets, the music on the corners, the Starbucks and Subway shops that are located every couple blocks. For those on my FB page, you know that about a month ago, I stayed at one of the city's oldest hotels, and the long hallways reminded me of The Shining. Given that we did not actually see any bloody axes, possessed children or the like, I quite enjoyed it. I loved the ornate door plaques, brass fixtures, textured wallpaper, chandeliers.....all in stark contrast with nearby bars and restaurants boasting exposed pipes and industrial handles. Both designs have a feel and a charm of their own, and they co-exist well together. Hmmm....seems the city is starting to win me over. I suspect I will write more about this soon, and maybe even include pictures!

White Noise - Literally

Ever since college, maybe even before, I have been used to sleeping with white noise of some sort. In college, I used it to block out roommate noise, and just got addicted. Back more than 20 years ago, I used a Norelco air filter designed to remove smoke from the air. (Anyone remember those?) Eventually, I moved on to a sound machine that has multiple options for soothing sounds like rain, wind, ocean, birds...etc.

Over the years, I have worn out a few of them, and Casey and I managed to get the kids addicted too, trying to keep the kids' rooms relatively quiet from the wandering cats and dogs. I suspect that Casey is happy to not have to sleep with the constant noise anymore, but me, I love it!

Even in my nomad existence, I carry a sound machine with me. It is soothing and helps me sleep. After all these years of being used to white noise, trying to sleep without it can be challenging. I notice all the creaks, drips and various pet noises without it. With it, I sleep soundly.

I noticed I have not been sleeping well the past several nights, and just realized it may have something to do with the fact I have not had my sound machine on. My brain may be missing the constant buzz that blocks out the nighttime noises.

The white noise machines are generally on sale all over the place at Christmas time, but can also be found in the drug or electronics section of variety stores. The selection is usually less though. I am quite interested in the fancy ones now that have a clock and even a "sunrise" light on them so your room slowly brightens in the morning with your alarm. I may need to get one of those the next time my machine stops working.

Avatar - A Remarkable Experience

Has anyone out there not seen Avatar? If you have not, you must. If you still have the option to see it on the big screen, do it. Even better - if it is in 3D anywhere - see it that way. What an incredible experience seeing this beautiful, touching movie in 3D on the big screen.

These days, so many people have big, flat screen tvs with surround sound, maybe you can almost get a theatre experience at home. I hope so. This is one worth having.

OK, so the photo I chose to represent the movie is not really what the movie is all about. Sometimes, I choose photos just to make myself happy, and Michelle Rodriguez playing a hot-shot helicopter pilot definitely made me happy! *grin*

OK, got that out of the way. Now I will say that this is an amazing story of the beautiful way that all of life is connected and how love and compassion can cross barriers we may not have thought possible. It is about an ex-marine who learns to operate an "avatar," which is like an alien double of himself, in order to fit in with a local culture on a planet rich with a substance that humans want to exploit. He learns of their culture, their way of life, their planet, and more about himself than he ever bargained for.

I'm a bit too jacked up on coffee and the excitement of the day to go into the depth of description that this story truly deserves. I will say, buy it. Avatar is on sale all over the place now. It is going to be a classic and deserves to be watched over and over, not just for the cinematic beauty, but for the depth of the well-crafted, heartfelt storylines. Simply amazing.

A Moment of Reflection

Next week I will turn 44. I graduated from law school almost a year ago. My children are now 5 and 8 years old. My 15+ year marriage ended almost 5 months ago. These are realities in my life.

I have learned some valuable ways of coping with stress - walking instead of eating (I don't want to have to rely on curvatrim reviews to tell me which diet pill I need!), talking with friends, writing - even if it is just emails and personal journals. I am remembering more and more to enjoy the simply joys in life - my kids' laugher, a ladybug that we found on a Frisbee - and the beauty that is all around us - the way a tiny fern will grow right up out of the moss on a tree, a flower opening towards the sun. Life is good. I want to enjoy every moment I can.

Busy Busy Busy!

What a busy week! Work is busy; I have potentially gotten hooked up with a volunteer opportunity that combines tribal and energy law - exactly what I think I want; tomorrow is Take your Child to Work Day; my mom is having surgery for diverticulitis; the kids have Bingo night at the school; then Friday Kelton has a cultural parade that I want to go to....busy! The weekend has me going up to Seattle to pick up a friend at the airport, lunch with old high school friends, and then we'll see one of them in a theatre production that night. Next day - play all day in Seattle!

I suspect by Sunday night when I look in the mirror, I will be wondering if actifade would help with the dark circles under my eyes! Not that I am complaining. I enjoy being active, having lots going on, and am completely looking forward to seeing my friends this weekend! Bring it on!

Natural High

After work yesterday, I drove over to a beautiful 645-acre nature area near my old law school.(Yes..."old"....from way back last year!) I changed out of my work clothes into some comfy jeans with a hole in the knee and an old T-shirt, and took off walking. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day and the woods were alive with spring. Trilliums were blooming, birds were singing, ferns were unfolding...it was incredibly peaceful..and energizing.

I took a few pictures from my camera phone. Some are on my FB page already, and here are a few others:




Happy Spring Everyone!

Happy Birthday To Boy Wonder!

Kelton turns 8 today! Wow! The time has flown by....no longer my baby boy, my silly toddler, my creative kindergartener....he is really a boy in all his brilliant, exasperating, energetic, challending, charming wonderfulness.

Happy Birthday, My Son. You are something your other mom and I certainly got right!

Happy Friday!

I see I have been rather neglectful of my blog this week. Some weeks are like that. I have been busy spinning my wheels, trying to get out of the mud and make forward progress on the job hunt/networking front. What else - random stuff:

- Planning and shopping for Boy Wonder's 8th Birthday! His celebration with my side of the family is this Sunday. He will share his party with a cousin who is turning 9. It is so sweet that they enjoy sharing their party.

- Dealing with the usual family stuff that comes up - kid-drama, Casey and I still working out logistics, dog craziness ("my" dog and Casey make each other nuts)...etc. I SO need a place of my own. It will happen. I am learning much through this transition - being grateful for the friends and family that have opened their lives to me, taking in the the sights, people and opportunities I would never have noticed otherwise; living in the moment.

- Really taking time to think and feel deeply - and to know when not to. I have often been told I need to get out of my own head and not overthink things. That is sometimes true and sometimes not. I am learning to tell the difference.

Life is good. Be happy!

Easter Time!

The kids were so excited to decorate eggs! I don't know how many times I was asked, "Is it time, yet?" First, the answer was, "No, honey, the eggs are not even boiled, yet!"

Yesterday afternoon, I took the kids to see to see "Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel." It is Kelton's Spring Break and I had told him I would take an afternoon off to go do something fun. We did the movie, which they both loved - and I enjoyed,too - and then went home to do egg decorating. They were careful (relatively) with the colors, not spilling or blending until the end, and LOVED doing the "shrink wrap" wrappers using a hair dryer to melt the plastic. I had only used boiling water, so this was fun. They held the dryer while Mom risked burning her fingers! *grin* A good time was had by all!

HAPPY EASTER!