books-n-ankles

Augh! I need a new book to read.  Everything I've picked up lately just isn't cutting it for me.  I am enjoying the August issue of Interview featuring the fabulous January Jones, but I'd like a book already. If that is the worst a Monday can get however I suppose it ain't too bad. 

Last night's run: 9 miles.  It felt like nothing.  Well, I did *feel* all 9, but not in a mental blockage sort of way.  My ankles are tender so I'm wearing sneakers with my work attire.  Very suburban commuter, very barf-o.  But you have to do what you have to do.

scrapbook photo archive

Last June, I was in Oregon for my younger sister's college graduation.  After the ceremony, my mom and I ventured to the quiet coastal town of Gearhart, completely as an act of fate (my crazy pill-popping aunt was unexpectedly staying in the family's beach house a town away from Gearhart, so we had to think quickly about a Plan B and luckily, there was an option down the road some).

Lately, the Gearhart trip has been first and foremost on my mind.  It was so quiet and beautiful there where we stayed; I read A Year of Magical Thinking (which is one of those books you will never soon forget), we had fires every night and good comfort food (a root vegetable torte made by mom = delish), long walks during the day and ocean views all the time.  We were in a condo and you know how condos usually have a guestbook?  Well, the one in this particular condo turned up something neato: some family members of ours had stayed in the same place years before and wrote this mesage:



Today, I am aching for Oregon.  When I was in Portland this April:



Having lunch at ¿por que no? with sister:


Farmer's Market on the Park Blocks:


Just outside Portland - Horsetail Falls:


And some crazy lavendar azalea with raindrops, 'cause it was springtime and all:

breaking (heart) news

While making a new pot of coffee, a drop of the hot stuff landed on Jane and a drop fell on me, too; it turned my hand bright, stinging red (we pride our coffeemaker on how hot it gets the coffee = bad).  She ran out of the kitchen so fast but turned around once with a face that said, "What did I do to you!" and then proceeded to hide in agony - this is what she always does when something "bad" happens; we call it Jane's 'rejected' state.  I feel so horrible about the whole thing.  I gave her the brush treatment, followed by many a cat treat.  She's sleeping next to me right now and I think she trusts me again!  But oh, I hate when things like this happen.  It makes me feel like a jerk.

glee

I am deliriously happy that it's Thursday...

bye bye miss american pie

Finally!  I finished the book I began one month ago...in a matter of hours.  I don't understand how I let that happen, but it does...about three times a year or so. 

because that's my only other option

Old man to me:  What are you doing working in a library?

Me:  Good question!

Old man:  You should be dancing on a pole!

Me: ...

Me to you:  why are all old men so freaking nasty? 

staying up late tonight...

This definitely warrants a full copy/paste:

L-2 Update

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:49:11 PM EDT

NASA's mission management team has given the "go" to continue the launch countdown. They determined there are no issues that would prevent an on-time launch of space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 1:36 a.m. EDT.

NASA's Management Team Chair, Mike Moses gave an update of the maintenance and repair projects performed preparing the shuttle for launch and said the only concern at this point was the possible inclement weather just before the external tank is fueled.

"I'm really pleased to report that launch countdown activities are proceeding nominally and we working no issues," said Launch Director Pete Nickolenko.

Nickolenko reported that there are four launch attempts available within five days from Aug. 25 through Aug. 30 and he was "96 percent certain" of being able to launch in this time frame.

The forecast for launch has improved to 80 percent for favorable weather at time of liftoff according to Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters. There is a possibility that storms could form within 5 miles of Launch Pad 39A just before fueling of the external tank violating constraints but the sea breezes could move them out of the area in time.

Rollback of the rotating service structure that protects the shuttle before launch is planned for 5 a.m. Monday and fueling of the external tank is scheduled to begin at 4:11 p.m.

We're going to see if the weather is good enough to catch it down here...some rain is forecast but hopefully it will be nice and clear by 1:36 a.m.!

sundayz

Not even able to post through August!  Hahaha, I am always the nablopomo punch line.  Perhaps when it's "real," I'll post daily in November. 

Work, my least favorite topic to write about, is stressful.  So stressful!  I need to head back to Palm Springs and lounge by a swimming pool.  I think a trip to the beach is definitely in order for this coming Friday.  Don't you agree?  I just to need to float in some salty turquoise water and all will be okay.  Here gulf stream, have some of my stress.

Saw the future nephew via sonogram on Friday: it was so incredible! 

Five mile run in order for tonight:  yeehaw!  Short & sweet, I hope.

xoxo

careful what you wish for

Hello. December? Are you there. Can you hear me. I want you to come quickly, but I want you to last one million days. Thanks.

The funny thing is, I was again trying to post daily for the month of August.

What the heck! Why is it always so hard for me?

Other areas of slacking: reading (wtf, Madge!); keeping things generally neat & tidy.

I am hoping the week goes quickly -- for no reason other than getting to Thursday, 5 pm = le weekend. Steve has been building the most magnificent pergola in our backyard, covering our patio. We're going to tease (already) enormous bougainvillea to cover the structure and finally have a shady place to relax in these hot summer months. He installed an outdoor ceiling fan in it last night -- after running 13 miles -- it was like heaven to sit under the breeze and relax. When it is completely finished, I'm going to have some photos up here -- it deserves to be in the books!

No more news, at least nothing of note...Jane, Cole, Dean, & D. Sergei are all doing well. Jane regularly uses Cole as a pillow, which is worthy of a photo, except she only does it at during the dark of night when we're all piled on the bed.

Until I am inspired to meet y'all again...which is soon, I hope! Maybe I can finish off the rest of the month like a good blogger. Wait: I'm putzing around on my other blog, Solid Cherry -- most of my magazine scans are there now. Having two blogs is completely insane for someone as scatterbrained as me, but I'm up for it lately.

RIP Eunice Kennedy Shriver
xoxo

what!

the local news = help!

It is 10:00 a.m. -- have you had your coffee yet?  OK, how many cups?

Seen in the photo: French-pressed Stumptown Roasters in Palm Springs. 

My pretty sis smiles in the background. 

Lately I've been blogging from Google Docs...I like it.

I keep thinking this is worth mentioning: the summer here in south Florida feels extremely mild this year. This is my *gulp* seventh August in this fine state, where summers are usually torturous: extremely humid, the sunshine relentless and the storms disastrous. Nothing of it so far! Will keep my fingers crossed that it remains this way.

Last night we got coffees and took them to the beach, where the moon is rising over the ocean like a big fat pumpkin. I think this only happens in the summer months, or maybe even only in August. When I first moved to Florida, my sister and I drove to Islamorada in the Keys to celebrate the finale of a long and delirious drive across the country. What I remember most about the time in Islamorada was the pink moon rising over the oceanside. If there's one certain thing about me: I'm gaga for the moon.


[fig. 1] steve & madge sitting on a beach bench, looking out at moon

Last night, I ran 12 miles.  It wasn't easy.  I had also started my period yesterday, and yes, I just said that (hopefully we're comfortable with one another at this point; after all, it has been four years since we first met).  I was too afraid that if I took Aleve before I ran that my kidneys might not appreciate the duel workout of processing medicine and managing water shortage.  So I thought the physical exercise would knockout the cramps; didn't my mom used to tell me if I got out of the fetal position and moved around my cramps would go away?  Yes; I think so.  Anyway, quite the opposite happened.  At the end of the 12 miles I could hardly walk and the pain in my lower abdomen was so intense I thought I might not live to tell the story.  I came inside after the run, doubled over and cried.  It was all I could do.  Tears worked - legs, not so much.  It was an excruciating evening and if I didn't have Steve to fall apart on, I don't know what I'd do.  He drew me a bath, fixed me dinner and practically bottle-fed me Gatorade.  I woke up far earlier than him this morning and in his sleep, he put his hands on my knees and said, "How do you feel?"  I think I said something like much better, and that was that.  I know he was sleeping, or one-quarter awake if that, but I know he won't remember.  I won't forget!  What the heck kind of lucky girl am I?  A lucky girl with sore-ass legs and some water blisters in odd shapes and sizes.

Next Saturday I'm running 13 miles. 

Even though this story is old news, I was finally able to check A Year of Mornings out from the library. Well worth the wait! Perhaps a book to purchase for inspiration...

i have never watched american idol in my life

But now, I think I must.

miniature

Remember when I got an iPhone? I don't have it anymore for many reasons (though that call I mysteriously placed to Steve one morning for 4 minutes without realizing it? That was the kiss of death). I decided to resort back to my old cell phone (that was really very new: I had just upgraded my phone the month before I inherited the first-gen iPhone from Steve's dad), but was missing the ability to surf the webs anywhere. So I bought something a little more finger-friendly and exceptionally awesome: the HP Mini (see product here).

I don't get that excited about little gadgets too often -- but this thing? OMG.

First, I travel LIGHT. I only check luggage if I'm headed somewhere in the winter and I need snow boots, a heavy jacket, and bulky clothes. Otherwise, everything must fit into my backpack and personal item or it doesn't make the cut. The idea of traveling with a laptop usually turned me off; in fact, I never did bring my laptop anywhere, even when I was in grad school and needed to get some work done! It was just too heavy and took up too much precious space. But being without Internet is really tough these days, and I knew I needed to find an alternative to itsy-bitsy iPhone and 20lb laptop. Something to fit in my "personal item" without being my "personal item." Something light.

Two-ish pounds fits the bill. I'm not kidding you, this is the perfect travel companion; it fits in my handbag. When I was doubled over with food poisoning and had a lot of travel rearrangements to mak

e in Palm Springs, I had my Mini in bed with me...it saved my life. Especially when I realized I probably didn't have the Swine Flu (via Google, via CDC). I was going to live, damnit! I wasn't going to die in the desert!

Other gems: Steve and I always have a late afternoon coffee or ice tea or seltzer or something on our front porch when we get home from work. If we need to reference something online, Mini -- light as a feather -- comes out there with us. I've blogged from the front porch, too. Which, big deal; anything with wireless capabilities will get the job done. But this thing? It's the ticket.

The price of these Minis is super friendly considering the specs, and roughly equals what 3 months of two iPhone service bills would have cost. Not that I came up with that myself -- that is Steve talking.

A complete sidebar of sidebars: your daily dose of art should involve browsing this book:

let me be frank

Things have begun accumulating all over the land, also known as my desk. Tomorrow night, this same space won't look so junky. Right?

I'm not a fan of the speech impediment. That sounds horrible...okay, the baby voice that is nurtured too long...that usually kills me. However, I met a kid yesterday -- aged possibly five or six -- named "Fwankie." He was the cutest thing ever.

the kaufmann house

I blogged about the Kaufmann House [above] in June without realizing I'd see it in person in Palm Springs a month later...OK...we could only see the outside of it, but it was so worth it.

the little things

Today:

I made the coffee this morning at work and it was good (I have to beat the other office fool to the pot or we get light brown poo water).

It rained + thundered + stormed real hard.

I ran six miles.

I taught a class.

I remembered my cold lunch! Gratuitous back pats.

I found out Steve is going to have a nephew!

I saw the full moon at its fattest on the horizon.

it's true:

I have an unhealthy obsession with the word dang! In my opinion, it cannot be overused. 'Specially when a bit of Southern twang is involved.

one-liner reminder

Tomorrow: BRING A LUNCH to work already.

i'm on it

Tomorrow: wake up early & get to work. Already come the yawns...

2morrow

Well, only a few things happened like I predicted in yesterday's post. What really happened? Not much. The library was so quiet today and for that, I was happy.

tgyfrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyh {says jane}

In the world of Steve & Madge appliance drama, the ceramic top on our oven was shattered by a dropped blender from an over-the-stove cabinet. Why we will forever boycott Jenn Air: they no longer make the part to replace it despite it being five years old; therefore, we have to scrap a perfectly good oven to a landfill and get something new. Ugh! So we're without an oven until we figure out which one we want to purchase...which in the meantime = kitchen creativity. Friends, tonight we are trying Amy's frozen pizzas on the gas grill.

gtyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy {she loves the y}

lame -- what i do tomorrow, sunday

tomorrow, a sunday @ work:

begin: 8:00 a.m.

make coffee shortly thereafter & have a small breakfast

find friends and talk about a recent promotion we all agree is suspicious

pickup holds out in nonfiction stacks

finish weeding the 390s (translation: pull outdated, redundant books from section on customs, etiquette & folklore)

make desk schedules for the week

more coffee

more friends

lunch

midday:

doors open to public

answer questions of all kinds for the remainder of the day