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September 25, 2006

Rock On, Mr. Fix
dougfix2.jpg
Renee, Mr. Fix, and me, NHS initiation, c1988?

Doug Fix was the most awesome English teacher in the world. He was also very fit, so it's been rather a shock to all of us that he died this weekend at 61, doing what he loved.
09/25/06 01:29 PM |  Comments


September 21, 2006

Wreck Room
We are converting the double garage into hobby space (though D. is by far doing more of the work). For drumming, and pounding, painting, assembling, sawing... We didn't take a "before" pic, so this "in progress" one will have to do.

The disgusting popcorn ceiling (WTF were they thinking? In a garage? Really?) drives us a bit mad, but trying to paint it only results in ceiling crumbs everywhere, and we're not quite motivated enough to rent a sprayer.
09/21/06 01:13 PM |  Comments


September 20, 2006

Dilliciousness
I made simple refrigerator dills (they wouldn't all quite fit into one quart jar) for the first time on Friday. They'll be ready to eat in two days, hurrah!
09/20/06 05:54 PM |  Comments


We Have Arrived...
...at those oft-mentioned Terrible Twos. The past few days have been fun, what with the first genuine temper tantrums. Just now, for instance, he went apoplectic because I wouldn't give him another cup of Jello.

On the other hand, he's now learning at lightning speed. There's simply no way I can track his vocabulary anymore, and he can count (more or less accurately) to twelve. His memorization of routine amazes me, things to which I don't even realize he's been paying attention (making our little cursing slips of the tongue just that much more dangerous!).

BTW, thanks much to all for the birthday wishes! Please send alcohol.
09/20/06 01:14 PM |  Comments


September 14, 2006

So This is 35.
I'm super tired today (finally asleep at two, up at six, my eyeballs feel like boulders, ugh), but I thought I should get some kind of photo to mark it, anyhow. My daemon helped.

The bub and I were messing around in the living room earlier, when I heard tiny ripping noises behind me. I believe he has mastered the concept of opening presents, though not so much which ones are his to open! ;-)
09/14/06 06:32 PM |  Comments


62 Odd Questions
Another, via Jana

[1] What is your middle name? Rebecca
[2] What color is your mailbox: It's in a big kiosk with about 29 other nondescript boxes
[3] Last time you kissed someone: I smooched the kiddo just a bit ago
[4] Have you ever hit a deer? No. Racoons, that's another story...
[5] Do you have to drive over a bridge to get home? Nope.
[6] Who checks the mail in your house? Depends
[7] How many TVs are in your house? Two
[8] Do you know anyone with the same ring tone as you? I have it permanently set to vibrate, so I'd imagine a lot of people
[9] What do you do first in the morning? Shower, ideally
[10] What brand is your printer? HP. And Epson. And Brother.
[11] Do you enjoy fighting with people? Hate it.
[12] Is your hair naturally straight or curly? Curly. As a child I had a 'fro
[13] Who was your kindergarten teacher? Oh, my. I just can't remember their names (I had three). Terrible.
[14] Are you taller than your mother? Yes
[15] Do you have a favorite word? Coffee, at the moment
[16] Are you good? I try
[17] What do you do to get over a broken heart? Walk, and walk some more
[18] Do you have a deep dark secret? A couple
[19] Drink of choice: Coffee
[20] Do you enjoy writing in colored pens? Sometimes
[21] Does anything on your body hurt? Nope
[22] Do you often cry during movies? Always
[23] Do you hate your life? Hate is a strong word. But I go through periods when "sick of" would be appropriate, like everyone, I'd suppose.
[24] Number of pets: Two
[25] Are there any animals that scare you? Bears
[26] Do you get mad easily? Sometimes. It depends on how stressed/overstimulated I am at the time
[27] Can't wait for? The Office premiere!
[28] What is your biggest pet peeve? Snotty or rude strangers
[29] Favorite song: Uh.
[31] Weather outside: Lovely clouds, less than 70. Nice
[32] Most attractive quality about you: I like to think I'm relatively creative
[33] You're in the mood for? Chinese food
[34] Do any of your friends have kids? Yes
[35] If you could have a threesome with any 2 celebrities, who? Hum. Hal Sparks... and his tongue?
[36] Do you have any friends? I guess so!
[37] Do you have any mean friends? One or two
[38] What is the ugliest color in your opinion? Dirty yellow
[39] Have you ever liked someone who all your friends couldn't stand? Probably
[40] Have you ever felt like driving off a cliff? I have pretty severe acrophobia.
[41] Have you ever been fired from a job? I was laid off once.
[42] What year was your house built? 1980-something
[43] When was the last time you slept in someone else’s bed? Like, almost a decade ago.
[44] What brand are the pant/jeans you're wearing? Too many brand-conscious folks read, so I won't say.
[45] How tall are you? 5'4"
[46] What is the closest green object? The bub's frog backpack
[47] What is on your feet? White socks with gray toes and pink stripes at the ankle
[48] Do you always wear underwear? Usually
[49] Do you want to have kids? Depends on the day
[50] Who is the last person who you would expect to be gay? Bush
[51] Do you know how to draw? Sorta kinda maybe
[52] What’s your mother's middle name? Lynn
[53] Stupidest movie you ever saw: Ever? I'd have to think much harder and longer about that than I'm willing right now.
[54] Do you collect comic books? Nope
[55] Do you look like your dad? No
[56] Do you have any TV shows on DVD? Firefly
[57] Are you wearing make up? Not unless lip gloss counts
[58] Do you have a tattoo? I have agliophobia!
[59] You win the lottery and you: BUY. A. FRICKING. HOUSE.
[60] How many pairs of underwear do you have? A bunch. Some even fit.
[61] Are you hungry at the moment? Yes
[62] Favorite movie of all time: This question hurts my head
09/14/06 11:10 AM |  Comments


September 13, 2006

On Blogging
Some questions, via Marielle:

1) Are you happy/satisfied with your blog’s content and look?

It took me over two years to finally get this current design up, so, even if it were denial, the answer as to design would have to be yes!

As far as content, no, I wouldn't say satisfied is exactly right. I don't invest as much time in it as I used to, for sure.

2) Does your family know about your blog?

I think everyone knows about it. Most don't read it, even though I started it for them. Harrumph. Oh well, it's for me (and maybe you) now, anyhow.

3) Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog? Do you consider it a private thing?

Eh, it's pretty harmless. Especially these days.

4) Did blogging cause positive changes in your thoughts?

I think so. I don't come off as well in person, so it's nice to have a place to say "Hey, look at me! I can string two sentences together! I'm really not a drooling idiot!"

5) Do you only open the blogs of those who comment on your blog or do you love to go and discover more by yourself?

It's been awhile since I've actively gone searching for new blogs -- between the ones I've been reading, well, forever, and newer ones I picked up via forums, I have my hands pretty full.

And, new commenters, here? Puh-leeze! That was, like, so 2001. ;-)

6) What does a visitor counter mean to you? Do you like having one on your blog?

I admit, I'm a stats whore. Referrers aren't as interesting (re: 2001). D. made us a system with graphs and country stats and all sorts of shiny things. I can even log RSS hits now, it rocks.

7) Did you try to imagine your fellow bloggers and give them real pictures?

Most people post a photo somewhere these days, so there's not much left to the wondering. But, yes, I do get curious about those who don't!

8) Admit it. Do you think there is any real benefit in blogging?

I'm alone in the house with a toddler most days. I'll let you guess ;-)

9) Do you think that blogger’s society is isolated from the real world or interaction with events?

It depends upon what part of the world you're speaking. Here in the Bay area, for example, it's one and the same. If we're talking about Upper Michigan, then it's two separate universes, and the twain might never, ever meet.

10) Does criticism annoy you or do you feel it’s a normal thing?

Criticism and debate here absolutely annoy me. If I posted intentionally inflammatory material, then I should expect it, but I get plenty of that stuff elsewhere, so I don't.

11) Do you fear some political blogs and avoid them?

Fear? No. And I don't avoid them, per se. But as strong as my political bent is to me personally, I rarely care to read about it. I sometimes poke into groups over at Livejournal, and that's more than enough for me.

12) Were you shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?

Clearly I'm out of the loop!

13) What do you think will happen to your blog after you die?

Egads. It depends on how spectacular my death was, I'd suppose ;-)

14) What song do you like to hear? What song would you like to link to on your blog?

I'm just not into music as much at the moment. I rarely visit other MySpace pages because all the embedded music has been driving me bats.

15) The next “victims”?

Consider yourself tagged.
09/13/06 01:32 PM |  Comments


September 12, 2006

No Shame in the Sipping
Some time ago, I saw some groovy polycarbonate straws (reusable!) on clearance at Crate & Barrel dot com, but I didn't order in time, and they disappeared. They were much like these Halloween ones, except in geometric patterns.

We were out at the outlet stores, searching for dry goods mouseproofing bins (yup), when I found practically the same straws on sale -- for fifty cents per bag of ten! Of course they were ten times that at C&B, so, with shipping and all, I was glad I waited. It's too bad Kitchen Collection doesn't carry them on their website, boo.

I love ice in all my drinks, but then icy drinks without a straw bother me, so I've been using these daily for a couple of months now, and they look the same as the day I found them. I even throw them in the dishwasher with the utensils (and let them dry in open air an extra bit afterwards before storing).
09/12/06 02:13 PM |  Comments


September 10, 2006

Hey, MSTies
I know you're out there, missing MST3K, perhaps consoling yourselves with the DVDed eps. Behold... RiffTrax! Download Mike Nelson's commentary, sync it up with the DVD, and it's almost like the good old days.

So far I've seen Star Trek V and The Fifth Element, the former being the more side-splittingly hilarious. Cocktail is up next.
09/10/06 01:28 PM |  Comments


September 07, 2006

Indulge Me.
I caught the bub's cold, so be nice to the sniffly woman with the raw throat and low-grade fever!

I'm curious about you -- what's your Myers-Briggs personality type? Not that short, free tests are necessarily the best, but if you've no idea, they're okay, and there happens to be a decent one here.

*taps foot, waits...*
09/07/06 09:42 PM |  Comments


September 06, 2006

Apple Hill '06
Teensy gallery here.
09/06/06 09:36 PM |  Comments


September 05, 2006

Trippy
We spent the weekend in Sacramento. Conceivably to enjoy Apple Hill and see a drive-in, but it was hot even waaaay up in Camino (though there were Bolster's apples and apple butter and blueberry syrup to be had, and Plubell's animals to be petted), and nothing even remotely bub-appropriate playing. So, in the end, it was more just an excuse to get out of town and eat at Old Spaghetti Factory. Oh, and a way to drive home the lesson that yours truly is not to be trusted with the choosing of hotels that are both a) cheap enough and b) nice enough. *clicks heels and chants "We're not in the Midwest anymore. We're not in the Midwest anymore."*

I've got a scant handful of photos that I'll post at some point.
09/05/06 02:57 AM |  Comments