How I Spent My Summer Vacation Pt.I or North To Alaska

Getting Ready to Leave on our Adventure

Part of July and most of August we spent any time off on getting ready to go. The Saint had the Jeep fully serviced, got new tires, and bought a Thule. We also had to make sure all the pets had sufficient food for us to be gone over 3 weeks. The Saint paid all the bills ahead, I cleaned the house, crossed things off the list as they were accomplished, and made more lists.

I even had a list of my lists. There was the Car list, the Meds list, the Clothes lists, the Toys and Amusements list, and more.

We knew the roads would be bad, and the State of Alaska Transportation site recommends that anyone driving the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle should have two spare tires and extra gas, food, blankets and mosquito repellent. Since we thought we might want to do this, that meant finding room for even more stuff.

August 11 finally arrived. I was so happy when work was over for the day! My plan had been to get drunk, but I was so tired I had one drink, and was asleep by 9:30 PM that night.

Our plan was to leave Tuesday the 15th, after The Saint's appointment with his massage therapist.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were a frenzy of cleaning for me; I have to clean my house spotless when we go on long vacations. We also went shopping Saturday and I got a ton of new clothes, since I needed all new jeans. It was great. The Saint had other shopping to do, and also needed to do a few things at his work before he left for a month.

Monday I had packing on my mind, and laundry. I remember I got a little peeved at The Saint because he didn't help me clean at all - but then again, that's MY thing, not his. We packed our bags, and picked up a few last minute things, and I went over all the lists and the lists of lists....and we had it all.

Tuesday, and it was time to go. The bags were packed, the cooler was full of ice, and The Saint was at his appointment. I did all the last minute things (unplugging lamps, and mopping floors) which I finished, and then I waited for him to come home, so we could load everything into the car, and off we'd go. I was itching to leave, and finally he calls.

"I'm about a mile away from home." He sounds a little stressed out.

"Okay."

"The Jeep is broken."

I am silent for a second, before I can say, "What do you mean the Jeeps broken?"

"It's messed up. I think it's the transmission. (He explains what it's doing to me) I am going to see if I can coast down the hill to the Jeep dealer...."

"%#$@!&*!"

To be continued......

Flavored Water

I am not sure how I feel about flavored water.

I have tried several kinds. One kind tasted like chemicals, even though it claimed to be all natural. The other kind was a bit better, but still not great. I am going to try a few more though, to see if there are better flavors out there.

Aside from the chemical-taste problem, I also find calories in my water a little troublesome. True, it's like, 20 calories. But drink a few bottles of this stuff, and you're looking at dessert.

I like the idea that this water has electrolytes in it, since I sweat like an ice cube on a griddle when I exercise. Replacing electrolytes always sounds like a good plan; I don't know if the average exerciser needs it.

I keep buying flavored water because all of them are packaged in the perfect sized plastic bottles that are the perfect size to fit in my water bottle holder. I re-use them, but you can't go too long or they get scary. Supposedly they can start to release bad chemicals from the plastic also. So, I change them often.

The bottles are cute. My favorite is super-skinny and clear. I also am fond of the one with a twist-top. Although I probably pay more for that. Oh well. They fit in the cup holder. Yes, I know I could just pour the flavored water out, but that would be wasteful! Oh, the horror!

"The Look"

No, not talking about the latest fashions (not that I keep track of that anyway) or the "Look of Love", either the Eighties song by the group ABC, or the super-sappy Burt Bacharach title.

I'm talking about The Look.

The one your mother used to give you. The one your partner gives you when you have Gone Too Far.
The one you give your partner when they have Gone Too Far.

It's been called the stinkeye. I call it the fisheye, although I have recently found there is a much more obscene meaning to that expression I didn't know about.

Chap-chap in Farsi. My friend called it the Ojo de Muerte, or something like that. It crosses cultures, and continents.

The biggest problem with the look, is the "lookee" may not always understand what the "looker" is giving him the look for. And might say "what?", when the lookee doesn't want to tell the other person "what" at that particular moment. Like, said person has said something too personal. Or, it's about an hour past the agreed upon departure time. Or, said person has just tramped mud across your kitchen floor, but you are on the phone with someone you don't want to hear you yelling.

A million reasons for "The Look". All good.

Sad Times

I have all kinds of funny subjects I'm thinking about making posts on.

I don't feel very funny at the moment. I am quite sad.

T.S. took my dog Suzie to the vet yesterday because she had been acting like something was stuck in her tooth for a week or so. Turns out, the vet thinks she has cancer. We don't know for sure yet, we won't until next week, but the vet seemed pretty certain.

Suzie is such a good dog. She's my dog, too. Yes, she loves T.S. too, but we have a special bond. Maybe because I was the one that walked her most of the time back when she was a hyper young dog. Maybe because she felt I saved her from the pound. Maybe because I am the more vocal of the two of us. Whatever the reason, she's my dog.

I will never not have animals, but this is the hard time. Lots of difficult decisions to make. None of them wrong, but all of them very, very difficult.

I don't feel like being funny today. I feel like taking Suzie for a short walk. And crying.

Zori's - Thongs - Flip-flops - Bathroom Shoes

The quintessential shoe of summer. Now currently, acceptable nearly every where but the workplace (and I think the girls who wore them to the White House were FINE. What a silly thing to have an uproar about!)

When I was a kid, my mom called them Zori's. We had those thin soled rubber things for the beach that made your toes hurt. Years later, we realized Zori was a brand name; they are still made today. And look, here is a whole web page explaining the entire thing. The ZORI page.

When they came into style in the 80's I had several pair. My favorites were black, thick-soled, with a bamboo-mat insole, and thick black velvet straps. Like the traditional ones, but a little more stylish. I wore them until they broke. I also had less-comfy, but coordinated red, blue and I think pink ones.

My friend Yoko's mom thought it was so funny that bathroom shoes were so popular in the U.S. In Japan, those shoes were ONLY for when one was in the bathroom.

Now they are back in style, and I have to admit, there are some very cute ones out there - whatever you want to call them. I usually call them flip-flops.

The cheapest ones I have seen, at an end of summer sale, in undesirable colors like puce and grey, were 25 cents. Then there are the most expensive. You can get them from H. Stern, Brazilian Jewelers, and they will set you back....19,840.00. Surely nobody would spend that much on flip-flops!

My favorites are the ones that light up. I would LOVE a pair. I have a thing for light-up footwear. Don't ask me why, I couldn't explain it.

Unfortunately, my feet have mutated and I can only wear Birkenstocks - and of course, all the CUTE Birks are only in NARROW width...But that's a whole other subject.

Got the Strat - Happy Anniversary - Collections of Things

So, I got my Fender Stratocaster. It is lovely. I even sound good playing it.

I was thinking lately about possessions. I like nice things. I can unerringly pick out the most expensive item - and usually it's the one I want. However, no matter how lovely, they are just objects.

All of them can be replaced.

While it would make me very angry if my possessions were stolen, sad if they were destroyed and furious if they were vandalized - they are just things.

Some may make our lives easier, others, like the Strat, give enjoyment.

I have never really understood collecting things that are useless, like stuffed animals, or figurines. My only non-useful collections are sentimental - Best of the West (toys from my childhood), Barbie & Ken, for obvious reasons if you know me.

I have useful collections. I collect tarot cards, guitars, and blank journals. Also silver earrings from every state or province I visit. I get those instead of tourist souvenirs. No thanks to those tacky things for me.

Even so - they are just objects. Some of the most sentimental, like the hope chest my Dad made in High School, and my Mom's art, are still just reminders of them.

The Strat (and the cowbell) will always remind me of our 24th anniversary. The Mustang will always remind me of my 35th birthday.

The things may be sold someday, but the memories will always belong to me.

I am in love.

No, no no, not with another MAN! T.S. is about the only man I can handle or even want...

Okay, okay, I admit Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in his black leather outfit from XIII with his claws out....nevermind....

No, I'm in love with a Sienna Burst Fender American Stratocaster Guitar. I don't care it's wrong for me - a tiny bit too big, scale wise. Perhaps a little too much to handle, with both a humbucker and single coils, and the S-1 switching but oh, I am lustful. Even though it might be a little too much guitar for me right now, it sounds so good...

However, I am willing to wait however long I have to. Okay, as long as I can stand it.

I also am planning on Ken someday building me Beauty, an all black and heavily modified version of a Fender Mustang, which is the guitar I have now. It's true, I love Boomer, (my Sonic Blue Mustang) but with Beauty and the Strat - I would be set for electric guitars.

My Driving Phobia

I have to do something about my driving phobia.

I used to drive frequently, if short distances. To the grocery store. To the Park & Ride.

I was never a big fan of driving, like some people, but I could do it.

Today I was asked to drive three miles. And I freaked. It's been about four years since I've driven anywhere. I am serious. I either take the bus, or T.S. drives me.

I have a car - my lovely (well, it's needing new paint again, but still, semi-lovely) '68 Mustang. With the correct hood. I could drive the Jeep, too. But I freak.

It's not so much the actual driving, it's the anticipation. I just need to get out there and do it. Alone. Even if I just go around the block (okay, our actual block is pretty large, but it's still a block - 6 right turns.

Driving and spiders are my two phobias - one I can live with, the other one needs to go. Wish me luck.

Movie Dreams...

I wonder where some of my dreams come from.

Not regular dreams. I have those too. Jumpy, and usually disconnected, or involving places and people you know. Those are the kind I have most of the time. And when I wake up, I remember a snip or two.

I mean another kind of dream; sometimes I have movie-type dreams that tell a a fairly complicated story. They are in technicolor, don't jump from one thing to another - one part of the story leads to another, and there is also subtext running through my dreams.

Last night's really cool dream involved a young woman who had been asked to help her family. Her step- father was being harassed by powerful men who wanted his business and his land. This seemed to take place in the late 40's or early 50's.

It had family secrets (a favorite sub-plot), action, a cute FBI agent (who was T.S. but not) to protect her because the FBI knew something was going on, and her real father was a powerful man and could request protection for her.

I was not happy when the alarm went off. I almost always write down my very cool dreams in the "Ideas" folder of my ZIP. Sometimes I use them as a jumping off point for my stories.

But I wonder what part of my life they come from. Maybe just my overactive imagination. But, I enjoy them.

Sweet Dreams

Another Weekend Gone

It was good though. The Weekend.

Friday we went to T.S.'s work deal at Emerald Downs. Networking is good. It was fun. T.S.'s Brother and sister-in-law were there too, and we saw our niece. That was fun.
Then, inspired by said niece, I proceeded to sink a good number of hours making a MySpace page, which was good. I have three friends now! Yes, I am excited.

Saturday we were out and about - went to Guitar 6000, and yes, I did play the Strat. Also Guitar Center. I didn't play any guitars there. We also went to Layne Bryant, and I got more cute shirts. Saturday I played WoW, and when I was on Shrew Removal Patrol I saw the coolest thing. The big owl who we see sometimes at night was down in our field, and he took off when I walked toward the edge of the bank. He was like a ghost, flying through the night those wide wings.

Sunday I just hung out, worked out, played with my page.

We practiced.

A good weekend.

Edited because I did something bizarre with html that didn't work. Getting tricky is not always a good plan....

Why I Never Had Kids

Sometimes people wonder why I (we) never had kids.

Well, theoretically we could still have children - but I decided about ten years ago motherhood was not for me. T.S. Would have made a good, maybe even a great, dad.

It was not an easy decision. I even gave T.S. a chance to opt out, when I realized not only was my biological clock not ticking, it was MISSING!

Of course there were times I saw a cute kid and for five minutes thought, "Aww, wouldn't it be fun..."

When I was in my twenties, I wouldn't have been a good mom. There were several instances which made me realize I didn't have my explosive temper under control enough to be the parent of a fragile child.
I won't go into detail.

In my thirties, my temper was finally leashed. I still didn't have any desire to have kids, although I thought I might someday. I knew I didn't want to get pregnant after I turned 35. Too many risks. I had some hard thinking to do. Before I made my decision, which took several years to finalize, there was a lot of talking and discussion between me and T.S. and others.

I knew;
To be a good mom, I needed to want a kid. Not just for a minute; I personally felt I needed an overwhelming, or at least long-term desire to be a parent. Otherwise the generations-old cycle (from my mom's side) of having kids and resenting them might continue. Mothers are care givers, nurturers. There are times children need a nurturing mother to grow up balanced. Completely separate from issues such as; Who ends up with kids when they are tiny 98 percent of the time? When a kid wakes up projectile vomiting, who do they scream for?

I also considered our medical histories. My dad's side of the family has a history of horrible congenital heart defects, and dropping dead young. My mom's had a tenacious thread of mental illness running through it. T.S.'s Family has a very strong genetic disposition to diabetes. While none of these things would have prevented me from having a kid, had I truly wanted one, they were marks in the against column.

I am an introvert. I need a lot of alone time to stay sane. While not as large a factor as other issues, it played a role. Even when I was still thinking about having kids, I let T.S. know he'd be taking care of them, a lot. I still wonder how all the introvert mothers out there cope. Especially the single moms.

Every married person with kids I knew had marital problems. Mostly because of the kids. T.S. And I have an excellent relationship, but it took a lot of work to get there. I didn't have great marriage role models. Still, if I had truly wanted a child, this would not have stopped me.

Those were a few of my reasons for deciding not to be a mom. There were others.

What it might also have been about, slightly;

My relationship with my mother - not good. Her relationship with her mom - worse than mine.

The chance of having a kid with severe behavioral or physical problems.

The whole process of being pregnant. For years going to the doctor made me nauseated.

What it was NOT about;
Responsibility; I am responsible for taking care of my animals, working full time. I take responsibility seriously.

Not being a good parent. I think, in my thirties and later, I would have been a good mom if I'd made the choice to have kids. Maybe a little too strict and inflexible. But, T.S. would have balanced it out.

Giving up my freedom. Sure, people with kids have more freedom than those who don't. If I had wanted a kid, I would have been glad to kiss that kind of freedom goodbye. Well, maybe not glad; try prepared to kiss it goodbye.

Bad Reasons to Have Kids;
Having someone to take care of you when you get old.
Because everyone thinks you should.
It will save your marriage.
There are others.

"Think about your future, " said a therapist I once saw. "Think of your future with and without kids." After a little thought, I decided I wanted one. Someday. When I wanted a child for more than five minutes.


I am happy with my decision; but it wasn't easy. I don't revisit it anymore. Even with similar circumstances, my choice wouldn't be right for everyone. I know several women who never wanted kids who became pregnant and realized being a parent was the best thing they'd ever done. I also know mothers who wouldn't do it again if they could go back in time. No matter how much they love their kids.

I have no regrets except one - T.S. would have been a good father.

Living Together Test #3 - The Kitchen

The kitchen can be fraught with conflict. It seems pretty simple - but it's the last specific room in the house where you want to know where your partner stands on Certain Issues.

1. Drinking glass storage
a. On the rim
b. On the bottom
c. Stacked
d. On a rack of some kind

2. Dishes should be
a. Washed immediately
b. Left in the sink to soak
c. Left for the elves
d. Paper most of the time

3. Counters
a. Bare and open
c. Things we use all the time should be on them
d. a good place to leave things we need to look at soon
e. Repository for All Things

4. Knife Storage
a. In a wooden block
b. On the wall via magnetic strip
c. In the drawers
e. Elsewhere

5. Acceptable for these things to be on the counter, yes or no
a. Papers
b. Cats
c. Personal grooming items

6. Spices should be stored;
a. In a spice rack
b. In the cabinets
c. Who needs spices aside from salt & pepper?

6. Hand towel on oven or stove or fridge?
a. Of course
b. Never
c. Eeew!
d. Only if one of our relatives gives it as a gift.

7. Dish washing soap (not for the dishwasher)
a. On the counter
b. In a cute little dispenser
c. Who needs dishwashing soap when we have a dishwasher?
d. We only use paper plates, why do we need soap?

8. Bread boxes are;
a. Great!
b. A waste of counter space
c. For hiding things other than bread in
d. See number 6, d

9. Appliances should be cleaned
a. After each use
b. Once a week
c. Once a month
d. When they get crusty

10. The kitchen garbage should be located
a. Under the sink
b. In a covered garbage can in the kitchen
c. Taken outside immediately!
d. Someplace the elves can find it.

11. Dish drying racks are;
a. Great!
b. Okay, as long as the dishes get put away soon.
c. Eeeeww!!!!!!
d. Something elves might like


Once again - compromise is king. I actually changed my view on storing drinking glasses upside down - after a HUGE spider found it's way into one, died, and was found floating in my pop. EEEWWWW!

Learning to Keep My Mouth Shut

Something I need to work on.

I am a naturally voluble person. I talk a lot, always have a story, some of which I tell repeatedly.

If you know me for long, you will know my life history, which I will volunteer without much prompting. Repeating the punchline of my story a few times for good measure is also something I do, not on purpose. I will join in on conversations I'm not really involved with, mostly at work.

Lately, I get the idea I've been irritating people. Granted, T.S. is in his stressful time of the year. If he was the only irritated person, I wouldn't care. But he's not. I have noticed signs from other people that I'm driving them stark raving mad. Okay, maybe my Drama Queen side just kicked in a little bit; more realistically - annoying them.

For the next week, I am going to try to not tell stories. Not interrupting or hijacking conversations, or going on and on about my personal life, which nobody really gives a rat's ass about anyway. No inane comments.

I am going to start listening.

I am going to not tell anyone at home about my work life (unless it's something huge, like "The boss resigned" or "I just got a huge raise". No more personal stories at work. If someone tells me a story, I will take it at face value. I will ask about other people, and not interject anything about myself. It's NOT all about me.
Telling stories is a way to keep the conversation going - but maybe not the best way.

So, going to work on it. Listen. Mouth Shut. Even if I have to think about Duct Tape to do it.

Things That Are Annoying Me Today

I try not to get annoyed very often. I fail more than I succeed.

The Things that are Annoying me today are;

It was my day off but I woke up at 8 AM, and got up anyway.
The person whose car horn has a short hasn't yet realized it's HIS car waking us up all night, and going off all day.
The landscaping timbers by the long flowerbed are still not fixed, and I nearly brained myself pulling weeds.
I think Tink the Cat has allowed one of her furry play-friends to escape into the house.
T.S. has a few things he needs to do this weekend; I have been asking him to do them for a long time.
I want a Mocha.

Now that I'm annoyed, I will try and get out of being annoyed by listing;

Things I am Happy About Today

I did all the chores I planned on.
We might have a thunderstorm this afternoon. I am a thunderstorm FAN!
I have Monday off.
T.S. will be home soon.
I put clean sheets on the bed...oooh, clean sheets tonight! (I love clean sheets)
Soon I am going to practice the guitar.
I'm going shopping tonight or tomorrow for t-shirts for our vacation trip!

Good things always out number the bad I find. Even though I am easily annoyed, I am also pleased by small things; maybe even stuff other people find silly. Too BAD!

Leave Britney Alone!

I don't know her. I don't know her husband. I honestly can say I have no desire to know either of them.

I am not a fan.

I thought her first song, was kind of cute. No, I don't remember the name. Aside from that, I have as little knowledge as I can manage; since she is so often featured in the news.
The media-fueled impression I have is of a person who is uneducated and unaware of the real world.


I find myself feeling sorry for her. She's a new mom. She's made some mistakes. She has photographers who take pictures of her every move, and seem to delight when she does anything wrong. It's disgusting.

I don't know any new mom's who haven't made a mistake or two they wouldn't want their own parents to know about, let alone have them broadcast on national TV.

I know personally of babies accidentally dropped on their heads, left on top of cars in car seats; driven to the store sitting on someone's lap. Babies who rolled off of changing tables, were stuck by diaper pins...and many more. (No, these were NOT the same baby. And, except for the guilt of the mother's involved, no lasting trauma.)

I have to say, I wish the media would leave the poor woman alone for awhile. The way they revel in her ignorance is vile. She'll learn - most parents do - how to take care of her kid. But do we have to see every trip, hear about every stupid thing?

Just leave the poor woman alone.

Living Together ? Test #2 The Bedroom

No, we will not be discussing kinky sex habits - sorry!

Second in my short series of tests is The Bedroom. While not quite as delicately fraught with mine fields as the bathroom, the bedroom has a fair share. Although most people don't decide to cohabitate (or marry) without extended sleep-over before hand, there are still some who don't; for whatever reason.

For me, the bedroom is the most personal room in my house. All my important stuff is there. I prefer comfort over style - most of the time.

Sleep-over bedroom behavior and living together behavior can be vastly different. The guy who wore silk p.j.'s during the courtship phase may, in fact, be a nude sleeper. The woman who wore nothing but lace may prefer a ratty oversized college t-shirt and a pair of bunny slippers. So - questions are good.

Test # 2 : The Bedroom

1. What temperature do you like the bedroom to be when you sleep?
a. Warm (above, say 70 degrees)
b. Medium (between 65 and 70)
c. Medium low (between 58 and 65)
d. Cool (under 58 degrees)

2. Do you like a window open during the night?
a. Never
b. Sometimes if it's warm
c. Often
d. Always, except when it's below freezing, and sometimes even then.

3. Do you like a fan going?
a. Never
b. Always
c. Depends on the temperature

4. Blankets
a. I prefer just a sheet
b. I like a light blanket in addition to a sheet
c. Depends on the temperature
d. I like a lot of blankets on the bed

5. Nightwear
a. Depends on the weather
b. Always - what if there is a fire?
c. Nothing
d. My favorite thing to wear to bed is__________________.
e. Depends on my mood.

6. Pillows
a. I like one pillow
b. 2 pillows
c. I will take all mine, and appropriate yours too during the night.
d. No pillows
e. ______pillows

7. Do you like to read before you sleep? (circle one) yes ----no

8. Can you sleep if someone else has a reading light on? (circle one) yes ---- no

9. Have people told you that you snore? (you don't have to believe them) yes ---- no

10. What kind of alarm do you prefer? Aside from no alarm; not usually an option.
a. Music
b. Not music
c. Loud
d. Soft

11. What type of alarm clock? A
a. Digital Face
b. Dial Face
c. Other

12. What type of alarm clock? B
a. Electric (with batter back up)
b. Battery
c. Wind up

13. When do you prefer to pick up your clothes after you get ready for bed?
a. I put them away that night
b. I put some of them away, and leave some of them for morning
c. I put them away in the morning
d. I wait for the elves to do it

14. What side of the bed to you prefer?
a. Right
b. Left
c. Whatever
d. Whichever side you're on

15. How often do you like to change the pillow cases?
a. Every day
b. Every few days
c. When the sheets are changed

16. How often do you prefer the sheets be changed?
a. Every day (you must have maids)
b. Every few days
c. Once a week
d. When they get dirty


From the Veterans: Remember, compromise is always possible. The sheet sleeper in our family often tosses all the blankets on the side of the person who prefers a pile of blankets on the bed. The person who prefers more blankets will often also add a blanket folded in half (or two) to their side during the winter.

Two alarms are an excellent idea, even if you get up at the same time. Trust us on this.

Buying all sheets the same color is helpful for folks who prefer to change their pillowcases more often than the sheets.

Living Together? Test #1 The Bathroom

I have been thinking it would be a good idea for people who are going to live together, or get married, to take some simple quizzes before they do the deed.

It would give each person a clue as to personal preferences. The tiny irritations which can lead to minor annoyances, that build up and become big, stinking fights. Which mostly begin, "You Never" and "You always", never good ways to begin. A good place to figure out what you can live with, and what you can't.

My first test will be about the bathroom. Yes, one would think that the first test should be about sexuality, or even holiday events or food preferences. Or cleaning requirements. (There is a whole blog in itself.) I think I will get to those later.

The first quiz should definitely cover the bathroom. The bathroom is the first place one visits in the morning. It is rife with delicate issues of sensibility and style. Especially if a person is not happy to be awake, or heading to work, and even worse for non-morning people. If anyone has any additional test questions they would like to see added, let me know. And keep in mind, no matter how much one thinks there are right and wrong answers to these questions there aren't.

Marriage Test #1 - The Bathroom

1. Company, or no company while using the toilet.
a. Never
b. Maybe when we've been together a long time
c. For some things, but not other things
d. Sure, if you must

2. Toilet seat lid
a. Always up
b. Always down
c. Whatever

2. Toilet paper A
a. Replace it when you use it up
b. The next person can replace it
c. Whatever

3. Toilet paper B
a. With the "tail" always in the back discreetly
b. With the "tail" always hanging over the front for easy access.
c. However it ends up

3. Toilet Paper C
a. Softest possible
b. Cheapest possible
c. Brand Name _____________ only
d. Whatever

4. Towels; after showering
a. Hang up to be re-used
b. Replace after every shower
c. Leave them on the floor for the elves
d. Whatever

5. Toothpaste
a. Squeeze only from the end
b. Squeeze from the middle
c. Squeeze wherever you grab - it's too early for that crap.

6. Toothbrushes A
a. In a covered receptacle
b. In a glass by the sink
c. ____________________

7. Toothbrushes B
a. Never use my toothbrush, or I will have to dispose of it, or sanitize it with bleach.
b. I don't care if you make a mistake and use mine, we share spit, don't we?
c. Whatever

8. Toilet Rugs
a. All the accoutrements - toilet lid cover, pee rug, tank cover, etc.
b. Pee rug, but none of that other crap.
c. Gross - none of that stuff

9. Bath mat
a. Hung up to dry after we shower
b. Left on the floor all the time
c. Gross; bath mats are a home for colonies of mold

10. Garbage
a. Emptied Daily
b. Emptied if there is gross stuff in it
c. Emptied when it gets full

11. Bath Soap A
a. Brand _____________ only
b. As long as it's deodorant
c. Sale brand or cheapest brand
d. Whatever

12. Bath Soap B
a. Rinse it after you use it; no hairs or other nasty stuff
b. Replace the bar if you use the last of it
c. All of the above
d. Whatever

12. Hair stuff A
a. Don't ever touch my brush and comb
b. If you must touch my brush and comb, make sure you clean the hair out of it
c. Comb only
d. Brush only
e. Whatever

13. Hair stuff B
a. Don't touch my shampoo, gel, spray or anything else
b. Use it, but don't you dare use the last of it and not tell me
c. Whatever

14. Makeup and deodorant (my guess is people will feel the same about both these things.)
a. Don't touch
b. Use in an emergency
c. Use it, but ONCE AGAIN don't you dare use the last of it and not tell!
c. Whatever


From the Veterans: When sharing a bathroom, it makes things much easier if you follow common courtesies. Clean up your hair - from the sink, from the tub. Wipe up any sprinkles on the toilet seat or surrounding area. Flush. Clean the toilet if something gross occurs. Apologize or use spray when needed.

Often there are easy solutions to things you don't care about that drive the other person wild. Separate toothpaste, soap and other personal products are a good thing. Also, compromise. (Example: I will always try to remember to flush, even if it's just tissue paper, if you try to remember to change the TP when you use it up.)

A note - always flush with the lid down. I found out a few years ago the flushing action of a toilet is similar to setting off a really large aerosol spray nozzle -when you flush, air, water, and particles of whatever you are flushing are expelled into the air over a bathroom-wide distance. Ewww. Closing the lid will contain the toxic cloud.

Who Could Be Against a Cancer Vaccine?

The Religious Right, that's who. I'm not talking conservatives, I am probably speaking of the same folks who feel contraception is little better than aboortion. The Ultra-Religious Right.

Fact:
Two different drug companies have come up with vaccines that prevent women from getting a sexually transmitted virus called human pampillomavirus that is one of the main causes of cervical cancer. While they are not available yet, the trials for these drugs have proved very successful.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death for women. This vaccine could stop most of those deaths. There are articles, just Google "pampillomavirus" and you'll find lots of information.

One of the best methods of prevention is vaccinating women who haven't been exposed to the virus yet. So, young women who haven't had sex yet. This seems like a logical point of view to me. Most of the transmission is, apparently, sexual. So, what's the problem, a logical person asks? Vaccinate the girls.

The Protest:
There are groups of the religious right who feel that such a vaccination would lead to teenagers thinking it was okay to have sex.

Can the people who feel this way really think their daughters are so naive that they will believe a single vaccination will protect them from AIDS, syphilis and pregnancy? I suppose a good girl would never be in a situation where they weren't being watched protectively by a parent, or a husband, because only girls on their own would get raped. Certainly future husbands of these women would never be unfaithful and bring the virus home to infect their wives, the mothers of their children!

Logic kind of makes me wonder if these folks also believe women who catch this virus must deserve to have cervical cancer.
Okay, maybe I'm over reacting a little there. ME! OVERREACT! NEVER!

It also makes me ponder - if such a vaccination was able to protect young men from future prostate cancer would it be so reviled by the same group?

Okay, Rant Over.

What's Going on with the Books?

In the last few months it's been difficult to find books I enjoy completely. Books that I can't put down. My most dependable authors have let me down. It's not that their books are bad, but they aren't holding my attention.

I am a voracious reader. In my own way I am particular about what I read, but I'm not a book snob.

For those of you who don't know - book snobs only read literature or good non-fiction. They do not deign to read most genre fiction like romance or science fiction, although they may sometimes read mysteries.

I will read anything if it has an interesting story. My favorite genre is Science Fiction and Fantasy, particularly the sub-genres of urban, paranormal and alien contact. Romance, especially modern romantic comedy. Mystery, Biology, Biographies, Popular Culture. I don't limit myself to those, however. I will read anything, fiction or non-fiction that catches my attention.

What do I like in a story?

If it's fiction, I like strong characters, male and female. I like well developed secondary characters, not cardboard cut-outs created to move the action along. I like a sense of place, although I don't want the author to go on and on about it. I am not a fan of unresolved endings, although I will tolerate them in a series.

I also prefer happy endings. Nothing irritates me more than to read an entire book, and then have it end; "and so the entire town was wiped out by cholera, and it was all for nothing." So, why did I read it?
In my opinion, real life is sad enough; I don't need an unhappy ending when I'm reading for entertainment.

If it's non-fiction, I want to be interested, not preached at. I feel non-fiction should have a narrative, not just cold facts. There are exceptions to this, such as the Books of Lists, which I adore. However, the author is rarely going to captivate me or convince me with just facts. Show me the other side, too, so I can make up my own mind. Often I will read several books after I become interested in a subject; I find it gives a better idea of the whole.

I have certain requirements for any book I read. The writing needs to flow. A sense of humor - doesn't have to provoke audible laughter. I am not bothered by editing mistakes, but they are distracting. If it's badly written I won't read it, even if I love everything about a book, the characters, the idea, the setting.

Of course there are exceptions to everything, even bad writing.

Summer is coming fast, and I don't want to be in reading limbo!

Hopefully my problem with books is MY problem, and not the writers. Perhaps I need to read some classics for awhile, to clear my readers palate.

Sometimes One Person Can Make A Difference

In January, I did a post called "People who Dump Garbage are Scum."

Finally I e-mailed the King County Illegal Dumping people, and complained about the garbage dumped along the green belt behind the strip mall.

Especially the computer monitor in the stream. Computer monitors leach heavy metals into the soil and water (you may already know this from other sources, sorry if it's redundant information). It bothered me more than all of the other garbage. There are many frogs and a pair of ducks living in that pond right now. Okay, probably not so many frogs anymore, thanks to the ducks.

So, this morning the guy from King County who was looking for the dump site called - unfortunately, he woke me up. I was less than coherent. He couldn't see any of the items I'd reported. I'm thinking 'How can you not see it!' and "He's going to think I'm a nut!' I explained again where it was with my limited directional skills. He told me he'd keep looking.

Several minutes later he called back. He apologized for bothering me again - and I explained I hadn't quite been awake when we first spoke. After a short conversation, he realized he was in the wrong area - he was behind the big chain grocery store across the street.

He reported, "I see the computer monitor. I'm going to grab it, and then talk to the grocery store, and maybe the property owner. We've received a lot of complaints about this site." I told him the property owner is quite elderly - if it's still the same guy it was a few years ago.

My report actually accomplished something. The computer monitor is out of the water. I couldn't have gotten it myself - it is in a stream. If I had moved it may have been my responsibility to get rid of it. My other thought is - a seeping computer monitor may draw attention to the bigger problem.

Maybe now something will be done about the garbage being dumped.

I guess the moral of the story is - don't just sit back and complain. Do something; even if it's making a call to someone who can do something.

I have been thinking about getting a garbage bag, and gathering up a bag of the garbage along our part of the greenbelt. With gloves on. I want to do more than make a call. I want to get rid of some of that garbage.
I'm tired of wondering if it's making the local soil and the creatures that live here sick.

Maybe one bag of garbage will make a difference, just like one phone call.

Next time, I am going to call immediately.

Where Does My Time Go?

I want to write more.

I have so many interesting ideas, and so little time.
During the work week I figure I have about an hour a day I'm not doing anything.

Where does the time go?
Sleep - 6-7 hours
Work - 8 hours
Commute - 2 1/2 hours (bus)
Exercise/shower/breakfast/house pick up AM - 2 hours
Dinner - 1 1/2 hours
Guitar Practice - 1/2 hour
House stuff PM - 1/2 hour
Wasted Time doing miscellaneous crap - 1 hour

Actually, part of that wasted time is writing in my journal, or my blogs, feeding the dogs and cats, (who certainly don't feel it's wasted time) but some of it is wasted on the internet. Although, some of it isn't "wasted" exactly. Like today I did some research for our Alaska trip. So...an hour.

My plan is to start spending at least some of the wasted time, and some of the other time writing. I have a few non-fiction things I'm working on. People tell me I need to write my memoirs about working with the public at the Library. I am starting to wonder if it might be fun. Also, eventually I want to write about the neighborhood I grew up in in Renton. It had an interesting history.

Also, I have about a thousand fiction stories percolating through my brain, waiting for me to finish them, or start them, or at least write the bones down so they don't melt away.

Gonna clear off some time. Guess I won't be playing Sims2 or WOW for awhile after all. Bummer.

One of Those Weekends

I've started out new posts a few times this week.

One was on parental rules and regulations. Not being a parent, I found myself sliding down a crevice into a dark and unpleasant place I decided not to go.

Then I started another entry on how we take our loved ones for granted. However, the soap box started getting a little high, and a little shaky, and rather than preaching, I decided to climb down and let it go. Quietly.

Then I was going to do a blog about our pets - but since I don't have pictures of all of them I decided to wait, because with the pets, you really have to see them. And I started thinking about our departed pets, which made me a little sad; and who wants THAT? Nobody.

So, this blog entry is about pretty much - nothing.

I worked this weekend. You may or may not know I work with the public at a large library. Libraries are not quiet. If you have ever been at a library in the middle of back-to-back toddler storytimes, or after a junior high assigned reading group discussion, you may have noticed the noise level. While perhaps not quite as loud as being at a concert by one of my favorite bands, Metallica, it can reach a truly mind-bending level of cacophony.

Most librarians are not so old, and some of them are even quite cute, young and perky. Computers have weeded out most of the old ones. However, not all of them.

Usually when I work the weekend I'm totally beat afterward, and today is no exception.

T.S. accomplished the only thing I asked him to do - finish his room so we can get the elliptical trainer out of the living room. Yay.

So, a blog entry about nothing. Perhaps tomorrow I will be inspired. Today; it's jammy time.

What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?

Since I am now "middle-aged", I've been thinking about this subject. It's a by-product of considering one's mortality.

Unfortunately, my money and time are not unlimited. It would be fabulous to visit the moon, or even just go into space, but without vast quantities of money, it's not going to happen. Also there is the aspect of choice. Yes, someone could choose to quit their job and take a tour of the world - but that wouldn't be my choice.

"Things To Do Before You Die" don't need to be large things.

Here are a few of mine, in no particular order. I am working on the ones in red.

Visit every State in the U.S. I am up to 14 so far. After our Alaska vacation it will be 15. Farthest East - Louisiana. Farthest West - Hawaii. In particular I would like to visit Niagara Falls, New York, Washington DC, South Carolina and Maine.

After I visit every state, visit the Canadian Provinces, and Mexico.

Other countries I would like to visit - England, Australia, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Greenland, Egypt, New Zealand, Guam.

Visit Medicine Hat, the town in Alberta Canada where my mom's family lived after they emigrated from England.

Get back into shape; fitness, weight and every other way as well.

Visit the Historic Colonial cemetery in Massachusetts where my many-times great grandfather is buried.

Publish at least one of my novels or stories.

Learn how to play guitar.

Work part time instead of full-time.

Get the flower beds in shape, and landscape the yard.

Have a 50th Wedding anniversary - no party, just the anniversary. With today's life expectancies, who knows, we might even make 75. I'd only be 95, and TS would be 93.

There are, of course, many other experiences I'd like to have as well.

I just wish I'd started working on some of these things earlier. I wasted a lot of time when I was young.

What do you want to do before you die?

Guitar Reviews of Our Personal Guitars

In Order of Construction Year
TS did not read my reviews, I made him do his blind...we've been married a LONG TIME...can you tell?

1956 Gibson Southern Jumbo
VG: In my opinion, this is our best-sounding guitar. I am prejudiced, because it is a family heirloom of sorts. It's tones are very rich and deep; a lot of bass. While it can sound a little blurry, it's definitely got the Gibson sound. It is a big guitar, and somewhat difficult to play for a smaller or normal sized person. The neck can feel somewhat sticky after a while, because of the type of finish.
TS: Very deep broadcasting sound - body is a little big.

1978 Peavy T-60
VG: Has a very bright, clear sound, and a quick neck. Unfortunately, it weighs a ton.
TS: Easy to play, very fast, looks cool, has a great sound. Weighs a ton.

1984 Fender 12 String
VG: Great sound. Compared to other 12-strings I listened too it has a lot better projection and tone. The neck is not as difficult to play as some 12 strings.
TS: Love the sound, one of the easiest 12 strings I've played so far.

2005 Martin 000-M
VG: A nice, bright sound with balanced lower notes. Good sound for a smaller guitar.
TS: Like the smaller size, good sound, very comfortable to play.

2004 Fender Squire
VG:Narrow neck. Lots of buzz and pop from the pickups. Not a great guitar - I think a beginner would be better served to spend a little more money, or choose a different guitar.
TS:Felt like a cheap guitar, didn't like the feel of the neck, sound was very static-y, neither the amp or guitar were very high quality.
(We no longer own this guitar.)

2005 Epiphone SG-400
VG: Has a deeper tone than the Peavey. A versatile guitar.
TS: Very flat neck, if you like flat necks it feels nice, wider spacing on the strings for bigger fingers. The whole guitar looks and feels good, tuner quality seems not the best; hard to get it in tune and keep it in tune, but all in all very comfortable and easy to play.

2005 Art & Lutherie Cedar Acoustic 3/4 scale Cedar
VG: Has a very rich, deep tone for such a small guitar. I found the 3/4 size difficult to play.
TS: Nothing special, but because of its size it's really fun to play with, and has a good sound for such a small guitar.

2005 Samick JZ-2 (Jazzbox)
VG: Acoustic-electric, this has a very rich, deep sound, which I seem to prefer in my guitars. It sounds great unplugged, but has a little feedback problem when electrified. Fun to play, though.
TS: Sounds different from any of the others; looks cool; not my favorite to play - feel doesn't match my style.

2005 Taylor T-5 Custom Maple
VG: Great sound - nice balance between the acoustic sound and the electric. Not a replacement for either, but definitely a fun guitar to play.
TS: High quality, nice guitar, easy to play. Looks and sounds very nice.

2005 Luna Moth
VG: Very pretty guitar. Has a deep sound, but at the moment has a kind of stiff under tone.
TS: Surprisingly better than I was expecting; actually not a bad guitar to play with.

2005 Fender Mustang 1969 Reproduction
VG: Fast neck, easy to play, nice contour and size. I tried a lot of guitars before I chose this one, from cheap to spendy. The only guitar I liked better was a Fender American Stratocaster; and at my level I'm not ready to spend over a thousand bucks on an electric.
TS: Looks cool, easy to play; I am not the biggest fan of the Fender necks but it's a pretty cool guitar. Sound is a little 60's surfer-ish.

Guitars we currently have GAS (Guitar Aquisition Syndrome) for;

VG: Fender American Stratocaster, transparent Cherry Burst finish. My oh my did that guitar sound fine - great resonance and HOT!
Martin 028-EC (Eric Clapton Edition) has a deeper, richer sound than the standard 028, and also the neck feels a little more comfortable to me. When I am actually in the market for a "good" acoustic, I will definitely consider this one.
TS: Rainsong 12-string. Looks, sounds and feels awesome.

Guitar Lessons - Part 2

So, the guitar lessons are going well. For me.

Shhhh, don't tell, but T.S. is not doing so well at the moment. He is not pleased. I guess my 7 years of piano lessons count for something after all. Of course, I have a floating right hand problem, and I'm not hitting the right strings....but I have timing. Unfortunately, T.S. is a little shy, and doesn't know the teacher well enough to be comfortable around him. When he's not comfortable, he gets stressed out, and loses his confidence. So his timing is not so good at the moment, especially during class. I know he feels bad, and I don't know how to help.

That's not saying he won't get it; he will, it won't take long. Then he's going to be far beyond me - but right now he's not confidant about playing in front of anyone and it shows. Me, I'm confidant I suck; but know my playing will get better; I am also not embarrassed about playing in front of people, especially someone who already knows I suck.

I always did that playing the piano too, I still do. Not that I'm some great musician - I am not. I was an adequate but not gifted piano player. After only playing sporadically for 25 years, I am lame. I know I will get better again. You know, thinking about it, I would actually feel worse playing piano in front of people, because I am supposed to know what I'm doing. Hmmm, perhaps I can sympathize a bit more with T.S. now I have looked from a different perspective.

I think another difference is - practice. I practice a lot. My goal is 30 minutes, but sometimes it's only 20. I would also like to practice piano at least every other day for at least 20 minutes as well. I kind of like doing exercises - most people find them boring, but after I get them down, I like to play around with them. So, let's see what happens when I do this....


I just love playing music.

Speaking of which, I heard a great mew song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Turnstull. This song has so much energy! I don't know her other stuff, but this song ROCKS. I am planning on buying her CD soon, just because this song has caught in my brain. I would link to it, but I can't find a good linkable song snip. But, check her out. She plays a Gibson Hummingbird when she plays this song live.

Another guitar? Ten Guitars?

In the past six months we have gone from 1 guitar to 10.

How is this possible, you wonder?

Well, here is the story.

First there was my dad's 1956 Gibson Southern Jumbo. My dad loved his guitar. I realize he played mostly two-chord songs, but we had a lot of fun. When he died, my mom gave it to T.S.; because she knew Dad would want it to go to someone who played. It sat, unplayed in it's case. Who knew it was also slowly increasing in value? Not us.

In October of 2005 while we were on vacation T.S. casually mentioned he was thinking about getting a guitar to fool around with. He played fairly well when we first got together, but sold his Peavey T-60 and amplifier after we got married. A week or so later he called me at work, "You need to talk me out of something, I'm at Guitar Center...." of course, I didn't talk him out of it. So he got a "Strat Pack", an inexpensive starter kit for beginners.

In December, after he'd played around with his Strat for awhile, he decided he wanted to get a cheap acoustic to play around on. The SJ is a little difficult to play. After we started shopping my ears couldn't take the cheap guitars, they sounded terrible. As we shopped I happened to see a guitar I really liked, the Luna Moth. Designed for women, by a woman. But, I didn't play, so why would I get a guitar?
Because he had a year-end bonus coming up, and because he liked the sound he chose his acoustic, a Martin 000 - 16.

After Christmas I decided I wanted to learn how to play guitar, but I couldn't justify spending 500 bucks for something I wasn't sure I would even like - at the same time I wanted something that sounded okay. T.S. suggested I get a small 3/4 scale guitar to try out. My plan was when I could play 10 songs, I would get a different guitar. Finally I decided on a Cedar Art of Lutherie guitar. It was a little more expensive, but it sounded better than most of the other cheap guitars.

In January, Ken couldn't take the buzzy, fuzzy inexpensive Strat anymore, so he traded it up for an Epiphone.
The Epi sounds much, much better, in my opinion.

Also in January, after two weeks of playing the Art of Lutherie guitar I decided it was too small. It wasn't comfortable for me to play. Back to the guitar stores we went, and after playing about 500 guitars, and not liking any of them, I found the Samick JZ-2. It's a candy apple red, hollow-body, acoustic-electric jazz guitar. It was easier to play than the A&L, although it was nearly as big as the SJ, it was also flatter.

Also during this time, Ken started looking on E-bay for a Peavey T-60. It was his first guitar, and he had always regretted selling it. In mid-February he found one. Oddly enough, it was from a guy who had had this T-60 since his teenage years, had sold it when he got married at 19, bought it back and had it ever since. The guy was thrilled it was going to someone who would appreciate it (and who had also married young, haha).
We also tried to get a Luna Moth on e-bay, but never won. I still wanted one, even though my guitar research showed Dean acoustics were not the best - but it was pretty!

In all our guitar travels the guitar we fell in love with the Taylor T-5. It is a hollow-body electric-acoustic. It was a LOT of money for a guitar. I started teasing T.S. about it - telling him the devil on my shoulder really wanted one. The angel thought it was far too much money, but the devil, well, we all know the devil is all about sex, drugs and rock and roll. Finally in late February the devil talked him into it - both the angel and I were surprised. We got a Custom Blue Flamed Maple.

After the T-5 T.S. and I decided we were finished buying guitars for awhile. There were expenses coming up for our vacation, and we were spending a lot of money on shelving and other home improvements. We had sufficient guitars. The Art & Lutherie went to visit T.S.'s dad. T.S. fell in love with a Rainsong 12-string graphite guitar, but because it was very espensive, started looking at other 12 strings. He found a used Fender 12 string. I told him he could cash out my change and get it, if he really wanted to. So, he got it - and my Luna Moth as well. We were guitar-full.

However, when we decided it was time to take lessons, our guitar teachers web site recommended beginners use an electric guitar. I didn't really want to haul the T-5 all over town. T.S.wanted to use his Epiphone of course, my only other option was use the massively heavy T-60, or get a cheap electric. After playing a lot of guitars I had narrowed it down to a Schector Custom, or an Ibanez thin-body. Due to my round and short body-type finding a guitar that fit me was a bit of a challenge. Then we went to Music 6000 in Olympia, and I found a Dean I liked (the baby Z) and a Fender I liked as well. After much debate, I ended up with the Fender Mustang '69 Reproduction. Baby Blue. It's cool. Kurt Cobain was a fan of Mustangs, which is not why I got one, but I like it. He even designed a Jag-Stang for Fender, which I considered.

So, now we have ten guitars. Which is more than enough. For now.

At some point the Samick will probably be traded in - probably when T.S. gets his Rainsong after our vacation. I will probably get a good acoustic next year. T.S. may want his own acoustic-electric (although the T-5 is both of ours). We both have our "special" guitars - he has his Peavey, I have my Luna, we both have the Gibson, because even though my mom gave it to him - it was my dad's. We may want better electrics someday. I actually fell in love with a Fender American Stratocaster, but I couldn't justify spending 1,500 bucks on an electric guitar to learn on.

I'll let you know how the lessons go. At this point we are only doing timing, which is NOT fabulously exciting, no matter how necessary it is.

Queen + Paul Rodgers Concert at Key Arena

It was my first concert since the Bangles - so probably around twenty years. I went with T.S.'s nephew thanks to the Christmas generosity of his brother's family.

It was amazing. From the first song to the last (We Are the Champions) I had a good time.

Queen was actually the first concert I ever went to, in 1977, with a friend of mine from High School. It was a great concert, but her car got towed, which I felt really terrible about. However, the concert itself was amazing, and a memory I will always treasure. I saw Queen again in the summer of 1980. This time with my best friend Marlene, her boyfriend, and a guy I knew from High School. Freddie Mercury was the master showman of rock. He loved the crowd, and he brought us along with him during the concert. I knew all the words to all the songs.

I had never seen Paul Rodgers live before, although he is one of my favorite male vocalists. He didn't disappoint; he put his own spin on the songs without taking away from them. He also performed several Bad Company Songs, "Bad Company" and "Feel Like Makin' Love".

While this show didn't have the energy of the Queen shows I saw when they were in the maximum level of popularity - we are all nearly 30 years older. The crowd was mixed - young and old, although more of us old rockers than the young ones.

I also liked the fact the band did some lesser known songs, like "Dragon Attack" and "I'm in Love with My Car", and the interspersion of film clips of Freddie - who was part of the show as well, especially during "Bohemian Rhapsody", when halfway through the film clip, Roger came in on drums, and Brian on guitar. Paul Rodgers took the last verse and chorus; it was very well done.

It was an excellent reminder of why I so loved both Queen and Bad Company - time to get those records out.

Spring Cleaning - Done

It's such a good feeling to be finished with the majority of my projects.
De-junking - Done.
Spring Cleaning - Done. Except for a few things I can't do. Like the Dog Area of the Utility room. We need a rubber mat. And T.S.'s room the last few things are his to deal with. His computer area and the kitchen counter - all Ken's stuff. Is there a pattern here? Yes. Am I going to nag? No. I don't believe in it.

So, what's next? Well, first, I'm going to work on finishing projects I can do.
Putting new handles on the utility room cabinets.
Washing Curtains & Blinds & windows.
Cleaning the carpet.
I don't consider them part of spring cleaning - because I don't.

Tomorrow I am going to the Queen & Paul Rogers concert with my nephew. It was my Christmas present from T.S.'s brother & family. My nephew and I both were very into Queen at points in our life. For me it was Junior High and High school. For him - about the same, but 20 years later. I am wondering what we are going to talk about. He is now a yellow-dog Republican, and I am a yellow-dog Democrat. So, politics is OUT. Music, out. The only country I like is EZ country - like Dixie Chicks and Big & Rich. I am more of a Metallica, Nirvana, Killers kind of girl. He feels Dixie Chicks are traitors to the U.S.A.


However, we can talk about dogs; we both have them.
T.S. - we both love him.
Chickens, he has them, I used to deal with them at my aunt and uncle's house.
Of course, I can talk about the pets. And work.
He can tell me about work, and what he's been up to lately. So maybe we will find things to talk about.

At the concert we will be too busy singing along to talk to each other.

Next weekend I am planning on doing - NOTHING!

Too Tidy?

In just three or four more weeks all my de-junking may be concluded.
All the spring cleaning will be finished.
The projects might be completed- well, there are always more ; but all of the immediate nagging but not emergency-type repairs will have been accomplished.
The house will be organized. It's a little on the scary side, actually. I've done this before - although perhaps not quite as objectively.

If I manage to keep the house cleaned up, it will be very, very clean and extremely tidy. I'm not completely sure a house so uncluttered is comfortable. Oh, it will never be spotless, like those white on white houses in magazines - not with two dogs, three cats, a bird, a turtle and fish. But definitely cleaner and tidier.

After we are finished with all those things we can get on with our usual lives - relaxing on the weekend. Maybe going away somewhere now and then.

Still, it's nice to contemplate a house that may almost be too clean - and a little spooky.

Rocky Horror Picture Show = Rave of Yesterday

I have been in a number of heated discussions with people over the last few days. People who have been talking about the massacre on Capitol Hill. People who say, "What was a 14 year-old doing at a house with adults?" "What was a 15 year-old doing at a rave?" "Should we have a curfew for teens?"

I say, no curfew. You might think the rave community seems weird from the outside, but you don't know what it's like to be part of a group encompassing all ages. I do.

My parents were extremely strict. I wasn't allowed to go on a "car date" until I was 16. I could go out with friends, yes, but not a date. My parents always checked when I spent the night at a friends. I wasn't allowed to attend parties without adult supervision, or even go to co-ed parties when I was 14. My parents weren't religious, just protective. What did I do?

I snuck out my window. A lot. I was never caught. My parents never suspected. The punishment would have been bad. It didn't matter, out the window I would go; the night was mine. I met my friends. I met boys a lot older than me. I rode in cars with people I didn't know. It was a risky time. I was VERY lucky I didn't get raped, crashed, or even killed.

When I was 15, my best friend, who was a year older, took me to see the midnight movie"Rocky Horror Picture Show". The first time I got in trouble - ALTHOUGH I had told my parents it was a midnight movie, they didn't realize I meant a movie starting at midnight. The cops were called.

Once they calmed down, and realized I was fine, and realized I had told them exactly the truth, they decided it was okay for me to go again. Of course, they had to meet the friends I went with and their parents.

Our group of friends went "Rocky" a lot. We dressed up in makeup and costumes. We got to know the other regular "Rocky" go-ers. We had a lot of fun. Our group ranged in age from me, to a 19 year-old. Sure, most of the people who went were between 17 and 22 or 23, but there were quite a few younger, and quite a few older. Afterward we would go to Denny's and chill for awhile. Wait for the drunks to get off the road before we headed home. Have breakfast. Chill.

If we had known anyone who lived nearby and had been invited to their house afterward, we would have gone, some of us. Older than us? Not a big deal. No, I wouldn't have gone alone, but with friends, or a friend especially if THEY knew them well, it would have been totally fine. Our love for "Rocky", for whatever reason, united us, gave us something in common. Always good to get to know people who are into the same things you are.

As far as substance abuse goes, it happened. We were teenagers. We were immortal. Some of us did drugs. Some of us didn't. Some of us drank. Most of us didn't. Most of our friends were at keggers in the woods while we were at the theatre.

I didn't sneak out my window anymore. I didn't need to. I had something to do at night on the weekends and people who accepted me for who I was. My parents knew where I was and I had a great time.

Was it a community accepted by most of mainstream America? Not Even Close. But we accepted everyone. If they were there to see the movie, they were one of us.

That seems to be the message of the Rave community too. The acceptance. The mixing of ages. The watching out for each other - that part even more so from the Rave community.


I think all the backlash against the rave community is uncalled for. When people start ranting, I say, "Hey, I was part of a group like that." Of course, things were different then. Just like they were in the 60's, and the 50's, and the 30's, and the 20's.

Teenagers have been sneaking out forever. Far better they attend events where drugs and alcohol aren't allowed, that have security. Where they can be with their friends, and be as safe as teenagers will ever be.

The community has nothing to do with the tragedy. I wish people could separate them.

Capitol Hill Murders

Why?

Sadness. Sympathy. Disgust.

Yesterday morning seven people died in my city. Six of them were victims of the seventh person, who killed himself when confronted by a police officer.

I am so sad for the families and friends of the lost. The media is making it even more tragic, as they try and coerce witnesses to talk to them, and make the whole thing into a feeding frenzy of breaking news stories.

Seeing the candlelight vigil made my heart sore.

The media is, of course, linking the killings to the fact all the victims were at a rave earlier. The house where the killings took place was having an after-party; a place to hang out, and wait for the bus, or just wind down from the party itself. All fans of listening, or dancing, to techno music. The media likes to play up something to blame; just as they do whenever someone goes nuts. If music is involved, it makes a handy scapegoat. Just as handy a scapegoat is the fact that at raves there are drugs and possible alcohol consumption, no matter what promoters do to remove it as a factor.

Just like there are at most concerts, parties, dance venues.

But it doesn't sound like any of those things was a factor in the killings. It sounds as if the killer just went nuts. Maybe a long time ago; maybe he planned it for awhile - or maybe he just snapped. It doesn't really matter.

The fact is something like this could have happened anywhere. It could have happened at a mall, like it did here recently. This guy could have decided that anyone who shopped at DEPARTMENT STORE X needed to die. It could have happened at a school. It could have happened any place where people gather.

If it had been at a Goth gathering, the media would really be going nuts. If it had been at a hip-hop party, would we be seeing the huge amount of media attention? I wonder. If it had been at a square dance, or a rock concert, or a club? If the victims had been 40-something country music listeners? If they had been nursing home residents?

The fact that seven people are dead is, and should be, just sadness for our entire community. They were at the wrong place at the wrong time. It's also tragic that someone didn't realize the killer needed help.
Sympathy is all I can feel for anyone involved - the families, the friends, the innocent.
Disgust - at the media, and even at myself, because I want to know - even as I am disgusted by the coverage, I still am compelled to read the stories.
Because, like everyone else, I want a reason, an explanation for such a terrible tragedy.

Why did this happen?

JOY

Spring is on the way!

At least where I live. Plants are budding, flowers blooming. The smell of green growing things and wet dirt has arrived. The other morning I had to stop for a moment on my trudge to the bus and listen to the birds singing.

Spring gives me a joyful feeling; the world coming alive again. Well, okay, the weeds have been alive all winter- but the change from spring to winter makes even the rainiest day seem a little more cheerful.

The singing, budding, spring-scented day made me think about other things that make me joyful. I can think of a lot. Not just every-day happy, but joyful.

The sound of rain at night.
Writing when I'm "on a roll". Writers know what I mean, even if they call it something different.
Playing music.
Playing music with "The Saint".
Unexpectedly discovering a new book by a favorite author.
Reading a truly excellent book.
Accomplishing a goal - especially the more difficult and challenging goals.
Seeing wild animals in their natural homes. Yes, even a lowly, cheeky chipmunk makes me joyful. Even bugs, well, sometimes.
New Crayons. There is something optimistic about a brand new box, I don't care how old you are.
The classic and cliche gorgeous sunset on the ocean.
Big windy storms.
"The Saint." Okay, maybe not so joyful when he forgets to replace the toilet paper on the roller, but most of the time; joyful.
The animals who live with me.


I could go on forever, but I won't. The things that make me joyful range from the sublime to the utterly silly, just as it should be I think.

(Just think how joyful I will be when I finally get my de-junking finished. Ha ha.)

Taking A Break (this weekend)

This weekend I took a break from de-junking. I was noticing my attitude was starting to get surly. Well, foul would be a better description. All work, and no play and blah blah.
While I didn't EXACTLY take the break I was planning on, it wasn't bad. Friday I was off, so I worked hard-core. I got my bedroom done - except for the extensive book re-arranging and weeding that will take me awhile. Throwing away books, especially MY books is really hard for me. But, unless I remembered it well, or decided I wanted to read it again, out it went. Either to the "Friends of the Library" box if it isn't too elderly, or to the recycle bin. I also got the dining room finished. So, I'm down to three rooms - the remnants of Ken's room, the rec. Room, and the dreaded kitchen.
The rest of this weekend I just chilled, well, mostly.

I am not quite as obsessed with it as I was; mainly because the hardest part (the back bedrooms) are almost over. I have gone through both the other rooms in the last 2-3 years, so it really won't be so bad.

I haven't given anything away that I will miss. I might have given away or thrown out usable things, but nothing vital. It is feeling pretty good right now, to NOT have so much stuff.

My goals for next week are for the stuff that needs to go into the storage shed to get there, and to make significant headway on the rec. Room.
I know, YAWN, what a boring blog. It will get better soon, I promise.

Looking Ahead

The de-junking continues. My house is not very neat at the moment. There are boxes everywhere. A narrow aisle winds from the front door to the back bedrooms. The guest bed is piled high with miscellaneous junk to sift through, box up, and organize. The porch is stacked with items to go either to the storage shed, or the dumpster.

The kitchen is relatively clear, but the counter where junk collects is quite filled. The dining room and rec room are equally full of boxes - the dining room with things to go to charity, the rec room with empty boxes waiting to be filled. If you were just to walk in, you would think; "Wow, these people are either moving or pigs."

However, it looks better than it did a week ago. While some piles are higher, most are smaller. I'm down to three rooms left; dining room, rec room, and the dreaded kitchen. The kitchen is the worst. Even though I went through a few years ago, and got rid of 25 extra spatulas, at least 15 large wooden spoons, there is still enough kitchen ware to set up an extra kitchen.

In spite of all this, I feel by next weekend, or maybe the weekend after I will be able to see real, concrete progress. Shelves will be up. I think my room will be finished and the Saint's room will be cleaned out, and ready for organization. Anyone who saw the Saint's room in the not too distant past would gasp in amazement, even with quite a bit left to do there.

At first I thought I would be de-junking until Memorial Day, but I actually think it will be done sometime in April, even if we do take a weekend off.

The things I am keeping in mind;

The things we own, or were given by loved ones are not the people. It's the memory we want to keep. I have personally followed the good advice of taking pictures of something I don't want to keep, but have fond memories of.

Beware of redundancy. Two staplers - okay - 15 staplers - why?

If it's worth something - get rid of it anyway, unless it holds more than slight sentimental value.

I can see the end of the road ahead, and while it goes up a mountain, it's still - finished. I will have my house back. A neater, more organized house. Useable, loved, and wanted items will all still be here . We'll just be able to find them.

Something Smells Funny in Our House.

So far it's been four days of hunting for the source.

*

It's not coming from the "Dead Zone"; an area under our headboard difficult to reach for humans, absolutely perfect for cats to take, well, prey. Usually verminous in nature. The smell is also not anything which escaped "The Zone" only to expire elsewhere. Anyone who has ever smelled rotten flesh knows exactly what I mean; it is utterly gagsome and unmistakable, even from the smallest critters.

A common phrase on a warm summer day "There is something dead in here."

*

This smell is possibly vegetable in nature, however the turtle tank shouldn't have anything in it too smelly - it's turtle hibernation season, and we feed her lightly. However, just for the sake of elimination I am cleaning it this weekend.

*

The garbage is emptied often, and I make sure really odiferous items go straight to the outside garbage. Lessons learned the hard way.

*

No, this is a kind of musty, moldering smell that catches in my nose every time I get a whiff. Not quite as stinky as wet cat, but a little worse than dog breath. Not a poop smell (thank goodness) or the acrid stench of cat pee. More similar to wet gym socks left in a bag. Or smelly cheese.

*

Since I am de-junking, I am highly suspicious of boxes recently packed for charity, and the garbage bag which should have nothing organic inside to create such a stench.

*

Wish me luck on my hunt, and hopefully I will track it down before it gets utterly unbearable.

Just a quick note....I've added my new blogs. Don't hold your breath on when I will be posting to them. Have a lot of work left to do....

Successful Blogs

I've been looking at other people's blogs, determining makes a blog "successful" in my opinion. I think the act of publishing a blog is one success. However, to be truly successful, a blog needs readers. I think the blogs with many hits are those that focus on one subject. One interesting blog I came across was Vegan Lunchbox. It's a featured blog, and also one with really lovely pictures. Even though I am not a vegan, I found it interesting.

Another one I like is If Flat's Come Back in, We're Screwed. Also very funny. Both of them make me think I need more pictures in my blog. Pictures can make a big difference.

There are very successful blogs that are well-known. I'm not going to link to them here, because I don't know them.

I'm contemplating the construction of three additional blogs. That sounds like a lot, I know.

However, I am going to virtually abandon my homepage, perhaps updating every quarter. It's going to contain links to this blog, and two of my three new sites.

My first blog will be book reviews. I wrote them on my homepage for years, and I would like them to be archived. There are 10,000 book review pages online, but I don't care.

The second will be a blog for my fiction. I want to get it out there. This one will be difficult, because it's my most emotionally risky act; putting my own writing out in the world.

The third blog is going to be completely separate from these, and that's about all I'm going to say about it here. Ever.

I will make VGRandomized a little more like my home page, with a weekly report as well as my random ramblings.

I suppose my personal idea of a successful blog is one that gets visits; but also I want to look more interesting. So, stay tuned. Big changes may be in store here.

Winning the Lottery.....

I can spend days contemplating the dispersal and management of the vast fortune I will win with my 1$ lottery ticket.

Right now, February 16, 2006 the Powerball Lottery is up to 365 million dollars. Say it out loud. Three hundred and sixty-five million dollars.

I even do math when I calculate the vastness of my winnings. Even if you take a half-payment, and pay the horrific 30 percent taxes you still end up with 119,000,000.00. Approximately.

What would one really do with THAT much money? Of course, all the usuals. Pay off bills, make home improvements. Quit working, unless one is in a field one doesn't do only for money.

I have this fantasy of sending a letter to all my friends and relatives, stating we will pay all their bills up to some certain amount. All done through lawyers, so we don't know how much they owe. All done with the agreement that they won't ask for more money down the road. But I remember younger, leaner days when it would have been so great just to pay off the bills, and start fresh.

Of course, an amount of money to the close family - parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews.

Yes, there are a few things I would buy for fun. Guitars - my T5, Luna Moth and Martin EC. The four or five tarot decks that are out of my price range. Some kind of fun car. But, including the new car, I bet it wouldn't be over 75,00 dollars. (And the car would be a good chunk of that. I'm a car girl.)

For The Saint, he has stated he would immediately rent a warehouse to begin housing his car and motorcycle collection and restoration projects. Buy a fun car.

Eventually we would build our dream house. Our dream house is actually not so extravagant - enough land so even if the area started to be developed we wouldn't have to see it. Well-made, not cheapo. Enough storage.

My most extravagant purchases might be a condo in New Orleans (yes, even post-Katrina) and a small house on the ocean; probably the Oregon Coast.

More interesting is the experiences that kind of money could give. No longer working 9-5 and spending as much time together as we want. Actually having the time to accomplish what can now only be squeezed in between 50 hour work weeks (including commute) and 15-20 hours of home maintenance. Traveling. Helping interesting new businesses get started. Being able to give enough money to a charity to actually help.

Winning the lottery would be cool. The only people who don't think money matters have never been poor. But - it's true that it isn't EVERYTHING. Figuring out how to accomplish what you want without winning the lottery - now that would be a challenge.

I'm still going to keep my 1$ lottery ticket and my dreams. But, maybe it's time to start thinking about how to slice a little more time out of a busy day to work on other things.

De-junking - not as easy as it sounds.

It's been two weekends now, and so far 14 boxes of mostly clothing have left, or are slated to depart for charity. I am sure there will be at least 8 more.

I didn't realized how many clothes I'd saved over the years. Some of them, I still can't let go. But I'm down to one box of "extra special priceless treasures". Such as a favorite shirt from junior high. My absolutely hottest dress (black spandex, and yes, it looked good at the time. A sweater that was my mom's from the 50's, and a flannel shirt she made that was originally my sister's.

However, I managed to part with such "priceless treasures" as the brown overalls I was wearing when I met The Saint the first time. And a shirt and nightshirt I wore on our honeymoon. My "PIF" shirt - which stood for Physics Is Fun. A highly controversial t-shirt from high school, due to the atomic bomb clutched in the talons of our eagle mascot. It was meant to be sarcastic - some people didn't get it. All those will have another life.

Also going away; all tiny clothes, even if I do get skinny I don't think sizes 5-10 will be in my future. Even if they do my tastes have changed since my 20's. I have pictures of me wearing them, that's enough.

At least a ton of stuff has gone in the garbage or to the dump - yes, it's true. Difficult throws have been the still-working, belt-slipping treadmill that always shocked me as I was working out. Non-working VCR's and CD players. Clothes charities don't want because they are stained, or ripped. I'm not sure if the difficultly comes from sentiment, or wastefulness, or the idea that good money is gone. Perhaps all of those, even though most of the "throws" were well-used.

Easy things to get rid of have been mementos - why did we have any wedding bells with Jordan Almonds inside? I mean, those suckers are 24 years past their shelf life! Also things such as a half bag of cedar chips from when we had small pets. A cabinet removed long ago from above the freezer that was too high to use. Straw sombreros.

I did find a plastic bathroom tote from a long-ago trip. Among such priceless treasures as extra toilet paper, toothpaste and shampoo I found my butane curling iron! It's really gone forever NOW, but I thought it had been discarded long ago. Yes, once I was so concerned with my hair I had a butane curling iron for those away-from-electricity mornings.

The boxes await - it is an adventure to see what "priceless treasure" rests inside, even if most of it is going away. I don't have to keep the item to keep the memories.

It's Time to Get Rid of Junk

We've lived in the same house for 21 years. While we are not complete and utter packrats as some folks are, we certainly have a share of "priceless treasures". You know them. Those items that are too good to throw away, but not anything you every use, or even look at.

My goal is to de-clutter our house. My ultimate goal is to get rid of 1/4 to 1/3 of all of our stuff. All those "priceless treasures", ultimately known as junk.

It will be much easier to find items we want to use, and can't find as they are buried under priceless treasures.

All the methods I have seen boil down to a fairly simple proceedure.

Set aside time.
All the books say you have to do what works for you. Some suggest a week.
I personally am not taking a week off to clean my house.
Some suggest one day per room.
I also don't want to spend an entire day of my precious free time cleaning.
I am planning on spending two hours on my days off - one on the designated room, and one on one of the two extra bedrooms. Trust me, the extra bedrooms are going to take at least 20 hours each to clear.

Now you get boxes, and label them.
Actually, I am bringing our big garbage can too. They suggest a box, but why sugar coat? Much of this stuff will be going into the garbage.

Garbage. Anything broken, dried up, partly used, ripped, torn, unusable. This includes clothing, and stuff that might be usable if it's fixed. If it isn't fixed now, it's not getting fixed. Recycleable stuff like old magazines that don't have anything written by either one of us.

One box for Goodwill. This will be good stuff we don't use anymore.

Another box; Treasures. Treasures are rarely-if ever used items, or those having a slight sentimental value. One treasure box per room only. This box is dated, and if left unopened for 6 months, off it goes to Goodwill, without being opened.

The Saint's box; since I am going to be going through The Saint's stuff too I am putting stuff he has to decide on in this box. He will have a month to look through it, then...off it goes.

Hopefully this will massively reduce the treasure in our house. Yeah, maybe I could sell on
e-bay or have a garage sale and ultimately make a few hundred bucks, but it isn't worth the hassle. I just want it gone. Ebay will be for later - objects I kept but decide next year I don't really use.

The final trick; now you have de-junked, nothing comes into the house without something else going. Buy a new thing - an old one goes in the charity box. This may not always be feasable in all cases. Books. Guitars. Clothes. Wish me luck.

And if you have any tips, let me know.

The most important writing tip of all.

I just spent four hours composing a blog; a thoughtful piece on basic writing techniques I find helpful.

I forgot the most important tip of all. Number one for anyone who writes on a computer. Save early. Save often.

Don't let four hours worth of work be virtually wiped out by a careless click of a mouse, and end up flipping out like I just did.

I may re-write the blog at a future date - for now I deleted the whole mess. I don't even want to look at the twitching remains. Which is probably all right anyway; usually the second re-write is better.

I have a feeling the whole thing was a pretentious mire of good intentions - at least I'm telling myself it was so I don't re-flip.

Remember. Save. SAVE. SAVE.