I have something veeery inportant to say (daughter's blog note)

Ok, this is Rose and I have a comment to make about my mom's most resent post. the post was the one about how lucky she was and how wonderful I am and yea... AWKWARD! I mean seriously, all me and my friends did was make a poem out of random words and this magazine thing called a zine that my mom is now obsessed about. The only fabulous thing about it was how fun it was (for me!!!) and some peoples poems. NOTE: I have genius artsy writer friends who are amazing writers and draw-ers. Another good thing was the coffee my mom got for me and our carpool afterwards (thank you mumsy). Now, after all that blabbing, I have an actual point. And that is... (drum roll) YOU ARE EMBARRASSING MADRE!!!! That's it :)

Lucky, lucky day

One day.
Three things:
1. Kids: 8th grade girls can be amazing. Or, at least I will vouch for the 9 I saw go to the Hugo House for a writing workshop today. I feel spectacularly grand that one of these gals is related to me.
2. Beauty: The sky on the way home on the ferry had every color of grey, and blue. It was stormin' far off, and overhead a snap, a slide of blue. The water slapped the side of the ferry hard, but the boat did not rock. The sun caused the top of the water to fragment in endless triangles of dark and light. Always moving, undulating. I sat on the ferry thinking how lucky I am to see this.
3. We moved into our house in the fall. Tonight, as I tucked Wilder in, we were overwhelmed with the sound of frogs lookin' for love in the wetlands. We have decided to catch a frog, although neither one of us has ever done this. Wilder says we need a net with wee holes. I am thinking we just need to be quick. What A Cool Sound! (Of course, in a month if this goes on and on and gets louder I may not be waxing poetic about the cute little froggies)

Feisty - Dogs in the Road

Why do I have a pic of kids as soldiers? That is a very good question, and obviously this will be one of those cranky missives that may or may not connect the dots. Plus I am heavily caffeinated this morning.
Yesterday I managed to miss all the ferries over to work. (or, I missed the ferries that would allow me to get to work on time.)
So I had to drive around Puget Sound, it takes about an hour and a half. Around Bremerton the cars were all stopping with flashers on. I was thinking babies ducks? (too early in the year) Deer? (someone would have "quietly" leveled them with a shotgun).. when I got closer it was a black dog wandering aimlessly across the highway lanes. Many people pulled over trying to catch the dog, and I thought of those stories where people run in front of a train to get their pets. They die, the pets are fine.
Even though I was running late, my inclination was to pull over, too. It was an auto pilot response, not really a rational one. Why is helping a dog that actually seemed to be doing just fine and looked a bit on the pitbull breed side such an auto "HELP" response, but something geographically far-away like genocide or starvation open for extensive discussion with moral implications, political partisanship and inaction so much easier? It is easy for me to pull over and save a dog. (or get hit trying) but it is not easy to help a whole country or even a group of people that may not be "like me" or believe in the same things I do. Especially if I felt like I don't know the 'whole story' or 'the real truth'. Well I am beginning to think that is B.S.

OH, and I am going to start saying I am "passionate" about things... not "feisty" or even "argumentative." (My board of directors is not going to have an easy time with me today... please send them your kind thoughts and best wishes)
Photo Courtesy AP Wire, "DRC Child Soldiers"

Help. Blog Layout.

Hey skilled folks out there. Tell me how to get the pics to line up nicely with text? Anyone?

Lucky Days 2

Old Happy Dog Dancin' in the Snow.

The two workhorse vehicles around the place. And the one fluffy ornament dog. The van odometer just rolled past 100,000! Thanks big-butted white minivan! (note cop -magnet truck in the background)

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Loveliness in the house during the wintertime

Lucky Day Pictures

Pic: Two boys in their new stalls. Alternate title: "Feed Me"































Pic: Guard Dog with chickens. Alternate title: Which is more of a chicken, the white fluffy thing or the tubby girls?







Pic: Sunrise this morn. (Can't quite capture the "Red in morning, sailors warning" of the moment)

Speeding Ticket, or not

I wish I had a pic of this one. It crossed my mind after to ask the officer if it was okay if I took a picture.
So, good buddy Colleen came over yesterday. We all decided to head up to Sequim to see what was up there. On the way up we were catching up and telling stories. She asked what I was reading and I went off on a tangent about "A Year in the World" by Frances Mayes. About how she seemed to have issues with large americans touring abroad, and how her language was somewhat snotty. And that her pic did not make her look like a svelte European inspired woman. She looked a bit large and american, so maybe there was a bit of self non-love goin' on. And then, the book had the most amazing descriptions about food! Things that I would not really consider eating I was hungering for late at night when reading this book! She and her husband are foodies, and she is an excellent writer about food. So Colleen was mentioning that the weight comments were more the authors issue that were shining through in her writings...
In the midst of all this book talkin' with my gesturing I saw a white police car on the left. Well, I had my cruise control on the speed limit since the truck isn't a quick and slick wee speedster, and gets about 14 mpg, so I was not worried. Next thing I know those pretty glittering police lights are pulling me over. Dang! Dang! Dang! In all my story telling I must have missed a speed sign.
And then, Rose tells me she is not wearing a seatbelt. WHAT?!?!?! Double Dang twice! I figure I am doomed.
Roll down my window, put my face on, hand the officer my driver's license. As usual, he asks in that special policeman voice "Do you know why I pulled you over...?" I said no. He said I was going 58 in a 45. I expressed shock. He said he clocked me three times. I said I did not know the limit changed. He started getting that blustery "you callin' me a liar" tone and said there were seven signs saying 45 mph . I widened my eyes and said I was certainly not doubting that he clocked me at that speed I just didn't see those signs and I was sorry. I had my cruise control set at 55. He said my tires may be off then, since he clocked me going faster. He asks for the usual registration and proof of insurance. I start digging around in my purse first. Then the glove box. I have these things because I had to change all the info when we moved. But could I find them? No. So the officer went off to his car to check my license info. Colleen, Wilder, Rose and I were tearing through every part of my purse and the car. I could find nothing. Nothing. OH GOD I AM DOOMED.
Mr. Officer comes back, and faces me in the window. I peep out at him. He turns his body to face the oncoming traffic. I remember all those accidents where police get hit by other people driving by, so I asked him if I pulled over enough for him to stand safely. He said yes.
I told him I couldn't find my registration of proof of insurance. He stood back from the window and took the grumpy police stance. "Did you know that is $550 for no proof of insurance and $100+ for no registration?!!" " Do you even HAVE insurance?!" I told him I was probably the most overinsured person he has met. He said how would anybody know I was insured if I got in an accident?? I assured him that if I was in an accident, those insurance companies are pretty savvy at finding out who is insured. And I think I said I was sorry, that I thought they were all in the car. He handed me back my license, and said to be careful and watch my speed.
I drove off with NO TICKET.
I have no idea how that happened. He did not see Rose's lack of seatbelt. (she put it on while we were sitting there).
I am still a bit stunned. That was at least an $800 ticket.

Photo courtesy http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/police/trafficstop.html

Seattle Primer - somewhat rant-y

I was rather fond of this response I gave to someone thinking of moving to Seattle and looking for hip and affordable. It was before I left Seattle, and I see in here a bit of WHY I left Seattle....

"Hip and affordable in Seattle. Hmmmmm. Well should start out that there are no real ghetto places in Seattle... compared to other cities. It is a pretty homogenous group with an enormous amount of fierce individualism thrown in. There is probably no street in Seattle that I would not live, although some lean more toward owning a car alarm, not walking your dog at 1 in the morning in the park or making sure your front door is locked. The most ethnically diverse areas are still the central area, international district, and White Center (not yet swallowed up and annexed by the city of Seattle, so still 'cheap') and can be a blast. Some folk are flipped out by the central district, since in white white Seattle it has more of a color range to it's residents... but it is becoming completely gentrified and losing a bit of it's character. But then much of Seattle is losing it's character.... but I digress. Since you said hip: I am thinking you would be fond of (the old) Fremont, Ballard, Columbia City, Capitol Hill and parts of West Seattle. Queen Anne is another hill in Seattle that some may consider hip, I think it has gone beyond that due to being way too expensive and a little high on the 'aren't we lovely' scale. If you mean hip as kinda a self-centered uptight way.. you would probably like the eastside as in Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, or the lovely gem of an island a 30 minute ferry boat ride way-- Bainbridge Island. Good for you to moving to Seattle with so many others: Here is your damn seattle primer: You gotta recycle (really, you will be fined), don't jaywalk (you will be ticketed), you gotta be pc, if you are a baseball fan and go see the Mariners...you need to sit on your rear and cheer (don't jump up! heavens! don't yell! oh no!) during baseball games so the people behind you don't get there panties in a wad because they paid good money for season tickets and don't want you jumping up in front of them during an amazing play, or even being too loud, and no, they won't tell you directly by leaning forward the 3 inches to your back... they will go get the usher who will tell you to hush (oh, no, I am not bitter), so that being said, true Seattle-lites have a bit of a passive aggressive thang going on... and if you stay you will learn the 30 second super-nice attitude to all things and the ability to committee meeting things to death --"the Seattle way" . Please come with the ability to make decisions rapidly, and speak your mind. We need more of that so if you can get through your first two very grey winters which tends to suck the everlovin' life out of some folks... welcome!
Photos: Wilder and I waving a ship with Rose on it heading to camp through the Chittenden locks
Heading down down underground to the express lanes under I-5

Kids - Hansel and Gretel and our little Nastie

Wilder got a part in a local play. He got the role of a Nastie. The hench-assistants of the witch. His big part is "Slugs! Oh, Yum, Yum, Yum, ... and dot dot dot" These are the creatures that capture Hansel and Gretel. He is dramatically ready for it with a gruff voice and scary moves. He says he will have stage fright, but I am thinkin' the kids have a flair for the dramatic and he will love it under the lights with the audience.
I have to work, but there is a full contingent that will report and have pictures of this event!

A perk to Outside of Seattle living - Turkey, no... quail, no.... pheasant!

Looked up and out of the window of my room as I am logging onto the computer. And there is a spectacular bird looking back at me. We were both a bit startled, but not like the ET movie type startle where we both scream. It ran off, I went looking for my camera... for next time.
The kids and I crack up at the 'bobble headed' wee quails that look a little bumbling and clueless as they bump into each other not knowing where to go when surprised. But dang those guys are cute!

Being Sick

Fell asleep at 8 pm on Saturday, woke up on Monday morning at 7:30. That was a doozy of a bug. I don't recommend any of you get it, so stay healthy, wash your hands, stay away from my little sneezers and coughers. (What do I always say over and over and over to them........ Wash Your Hands, Cover Your Mouth When You Cough) I know that will be deep in my children's pysche when they are big 'uns, but boy, right now, it seems like I am talking to a snot-filled wall.
Stay healthy everyone!! Don't be around me!! And it is sweet that I have friends willing to drive to the ferry, sit on the ferry, drive off the ferry, drive to my house, just to bring me a cup of broth/o.j. or somesuch. I am really not that far from either neighbors, drive-through coffee, or a store.
An upside? If you are addicted to coffee, the forced 36 hour hiatus will knock that craving right out of your system.
Photo - Wilder at the Best Corn Maze Ever. A giant Washington State located between Everett and Snohomish.

Compadres & Kids - and whiskey voiced women

We shall title this first photo: Chief Seattle's Revenge.. the Casino

And the second glam shot is me quickly photo-ing the ultrasound machine at the doc's office

Called the kids dad this morning to tell him how to plant flowers. Sigh. 48 year old man... does not know how to put a 4' square plant in the ground. Just one more learning episode for him, I expect great results and a stunning garden at his place. When I began talking he said "Whoa, have you been drinking whiskey and smoking all night?" I have one of those colds that starts in your vocal cords, so your voice sounds nothing like it usually does. Note: I am a lame drinker, we tease that I am a "cheap date" since I rarely finish a glass of wine or beer. The cold came from the kids, who sweetly shared it with me after they were sick all week. My mantra of " I Will Not Be Sick" obviously did not work.
The pic of the ultrasound office is my little moment of "I am now aging" . How many years did I push this body of mine and ignore what it was saying back? I don't get to ignore it anymore, it starts yelling at me and so do my doctors. I may just be one of those cranky, eccentric, stubborn, know-it-all women as I grey. Yay! When I was young, I used to want to live in the south, just so I could be eccentric when I age, and have it be socially acceptable. Now as I age, I don't give a rip if I am socially acceptable (oh, and how this bothers my daughter!!). I am going to start the eccentric older lady club of the NW. All you need is an opinion that you are willing to argue about endlessly (and there is no requirement that it is based in fact... or "correct") and willing to listen to other people argue their points without resorting to physical violence or throwing things. And no yelling. I think throwing butter cookies or shortbread would be fine, however. I like those.

Strange Days...Jail Letter Virgin

Last week was special. I received my first letter from a jail inmate out of the blue. (and a double special treat... it included a request to bail him out of jail)
And again, me with the sheltered life. Who knew a professional museum career would lead me to communiques from the "Hotel Graybar". I should have just gotten that pysch degree and practiced. Lord knows I would be a wealthier woman and able to fix my tilting dining room a bit quicker! Heck, I could even hire someone... oooooh.

Kids... Stalls not done, kitchen floor clean.

There. I think that is a good title for all my accomplishments today. There are other things I did, but I sure do enjoy a clean floor. I am thinking about putting socks on all the animals before they come back in the house, or maybe having them walk through a disinfectant pan like what you do when you go behind the scenes at the zoo. They are durt-tee. I am thinking I have enough to do without cleaning grimy paws. Thank god the kids are clean!
Rose and I were chatting on the stairs. I may have been griping about something that I think is crazy that the beloved former owners did to the house. Rose said "Why did you buy this house, then?" Wilder has also asked me this question. "Why do I have to go to this school?" "Why did you have to buy this house?" And there lies the rub. It may seem like an easy question, but that is not the intent. I have two kids that do understand on the surface, on the very flat area of the world why I bought this house, why I moved away from their father... but deep down in those seaweed infested crags of rocks where the eels and manta rays sleep they really don't understand. What kid in the world wants to understand that sort of thing? Why the two folk they love most of all aren't together in their world? I know, I know happens all the time. But certainly not an easy decision. That being said, I am happier than a pig in one big wallow of mud (hey, my house is better than that) and feel a humongous weight has been lifted way way way up and off of me. I have laughed more with my kids in the past three months than I have in the past 4 years.
And that is a blast.

Old dogs can learn new tricks

Hey. It is the day before my birthday, and I have learned two things. I feel so glowing and proud. I actually will say I learned three things.
1. When I am driving down the road, the odd numbered houses are always on my left.
This may seem like utter nonsense to you, but it reads like golden gospel to me. And yes, I realize it makes no sense. Let me bask in my undeserved knowledge.
2. I can't remember this one, but will ask daughter Rose tomorrow when I see her.
3. I think I am getting early onset alzheimer's because really, I just learned my second new exciting thing about 4 hours ago. There is no reason for me not to remember it, since I am remembering I learned it and that I am excited about it, but not really what that was.

And BIG news on the old farmthing. We have a guest coming for the winter. He is large, handsome and makes my heart go pitter pat, especially when he nuzzles me in recognition. Get your mind outta the gutter. I am talking one of my all time favorite horses who stayed with us last winter when I was deciding if I even wanted a horse full time.
I decided i did need that horse so got lovely Mr. Bey and gave back Strider to his owner who only let me have him 4 months. Strider is coming back for a while! (he is the one in the blanket, Bey with the spotty rump)
On the house to-do list front... this just made my fence replacement project a big ol' priority, since it is a wicked mess out there. Good enough for Bey temporarily, but not for two horses.
Dang, and tonight I just found a lovely used furnace to replace my old biggie. That will be my next topic. FURNACES.

Key Things and new Neighborhoods

Here it is an amazingly beautiful day. The snow is heavy on the trees, the sun is trying to peek through. Maybe this will be a forced dramatic pruning of our many fruit trees. The poor things have not been pruned in a while. I say that is jest, I don't want the branches to be breaking off those giants. The birds are getting fed chicken feed, since I ran out of birdseed. They don't seem to mind. It is better than bread. My house is a mess, I feel like we will never quite move-in. The garbage and recycle have not been picked up in two weeks, my garage is the waiting room for all the extra. I am such a well-trained recycler I could not even imagine throwing away a piece of paper. Neighbors and I would joke that when we went camping or traveling to somewhere that did not recycle, we would pack and take home our recycling. That is just crazy to me. But, we do it. What a strange and non-reckless life we lead here in the NW. When going against the grain is (HORROR) not recycling. I should not make light of this, our little neighborhood friend told us where the meth house used to be and what boys beat up what other boys. It has been such a long time, and I have been so citified(cityfied?) the thought of boys beating each other up seems antiquated. Where is that bully curriculum when you need it? I am thinkin' these kids missed that crucial lesson, or their parents believe otherwise. The meth house is another thing altogether. That is an issue that our society will be dealing with for a long time. It can absolutely destroy people.

Snow piles and some venting action

Pics: Snow on Wetlands, Horse Lookin' Bored, Creepy house shot at night.
















Not a usual thing for us here in the Pacific NW, snow has descended like a herd of loud white bats outta hell. We only have about 8 inches but it has paralyzed our area. Just to clarify for those smug east/mid-west/anyplace but here new residents who are used to having snow:
1. We do not have acres and acres of snow equipment sitting around worth 214 million (not including maintenance and staff) for three days of snow annually. The reason you like living here is we actually have other things to budget funds on.
2. Where you come from does not have MOUNTAINS people. Or even hills with the grades we do.
3. Ask the drivers who end in the ditches or spinning out, where they are from. It will not be from here. Before you all arrived, driving was actually an easy thing to do.
4. Welcome to the NW. I mean that sincerely. But don't bother griping about how much better "you do it in New York or (insert city name here)" You rippin' moved here so buck up and deal. At least the natives are NICE to you whilst you b(*&tch. We still love you. Until you tear down a 99 year old house to put up one ugly zero lot line behemoth of a house that looks like a cheerios box. Don't make your neighbors (whole neighborhood) hate you. Be aware of your surroundings and community and blend, baby, blend. Unless you live in Bellevue or Kirkland. Then you can do what ya want, because you Earned it, you Deserve it. You are so worth it, and it IS all about you. Community be damned.
Gawd. I feel so much better, I am off for another cup of coffee.

Twilight

OK. All you T'lighters or T'hards: This one is for you.
How truly could the Cullen kids ever go through high school over and over and over and over .etc etc etc.
Would they not want to contribute to the world in some way? By the time they got through that many times, you would think they would be ready to solve some big global issue, perhaps Edward could do some science oriented solutions for the world? So all you really need as a vampire is to suck blood and find your lifemate and then... boom. That is it? BORING. Could we please put a little thought into this? I am very concerned about their lack of global thinking. What is wrong with their educational experience that they could just look bored and beautiful and then at times hungry?
And, what DID Bella tell her Dad in Phoenix after hurting his feelings by leaving Forks so suddenly.
AND, what was wrong with filming in Forks and giving them the money? Because it is not as picturesque as the Columbia River and other Oregon locales. Let's be realistic. It is Forks afterall. Bella is not exactly supposed to be happy to be there originally.
I must say, however, that I highly recommend googling Jasper, Laurent, and James. Shirtless pics are popular for young heartthrobs. And, I was looking them up for Rose, BTW, not me. I barely noticed, since I could have probably given birth to any of them had I gotten pregnant at a young age.

Hi from the Web Masters

Hello world! My name's Rose and I am with my friend Nelly. I was bored today so I decided that I should make a post on my mom's blog. I have been (believe it or not) reading my own mom's blog that I technically made. >:3 (that little... thing is from Nelly). Moving on, the only blog I have is a school blog where I can post absolutely nothing and I'm to lazy to make another one. If you haven't noticed my mom is a whole lot better at writing than I am and I was not even aware of that until she made this blog. She work at a museum and she does write articles every months and grants and all that jazz. I suppose that I should have figured out that she was a decent writer but it never even occurred to me that she could even write (not that I can do any better...). Whatever, not important. So as she told you before I made her whole blog. You probably know that making a blog is pretty easy, but when your making one for her it gets pretty hard. She was half asleep so she was changing her mind every five seconds, it was ridiculous/funny. Well I shouldn't take up to much space (it's her blog, not mine). Bye bye!

Houses, traffic, and progress

Or, an alternate title: Shopping for that discount. Since I now have this old place, I am loathe to update it with current trends in housing fashions. That could be akin to having a post-war box house and turning it into a craftsman. That is not the house's origins, so it can look a bit funky. I am therefore driven to re-use or renew type stores. The ones that get called in to strip a classic home built like a tank so that thin walled condos can be built. Ah, I am showing my opinions. If you are going to call it progress, can you at least construct the new structures as well as the one you tore down?
Back to topic. So going to used house part stores in Seattle, and they charge more than if I bought it new. Which, I don't understand. BUT I found the habitat for humanity store in bremerton, and that has some old, some new, alot of wood and leftover paint and brass fixtures, etc etc for very reasonable prices. I have been back several times. I shall take out the previous owners walmart updates and at least get it back within 30 years of when it was built. I have no issues with updating the things you can't see.... water lines, electrical. plumbing, it is when the whole house is converted into whatever housing trend is suiting middle America at that exact moment that it irks me. You ask : why care? And I am sure I would not if I had not grown up in this area, and seen the drastic changes in housing, landscape and amount of green our city no longer has. That, and the layer of pollution that hangs over our heads. Gee... what do all those trees do? Suck up water so there is less flooding? Suck crap out of the air? What is it that happens when you develop large tracks of farmland way the bum%$# out from the cities where people work? With no infrastructure to handle that amount of traffic? People drive and drive and drive. The asthma level in our city has skyrocketed. No one talks of this, but everyone knows. My doctor told me to move if I wanted my asthmatic daughter to be able to breathe. Good philosophy, and I did, but not everyone has that option.