Last weekend was super busy (by my standards):
Friday Jason's work hosted a picnic for employees' families, so we spent the afternoon there. I mostly sat around, talking to wives. Jason kicked a ball out from under a little girl so that she fell on the ground, but he assures me that it wasn't mean.
Saturday we skipped the Peach Festival to go on an exploratory bike ride, which was great. We usually ride around the lake by our house, and in neighborhoods around here. Our lake is very crowded! People are walking, jogging, riding bikes, ditching tricycles in the path, chasing loose dogs, etc... On our Saturday bike ride, we rode around a different little pond, and we only saw about 8 other people the whole time! It was really nice to not have to dodge around anyone, or get out of the way of anyone. We could just ride fast, and that's what's fun. Though I will confess that our local lake has the perfect Colorado view of clean water, sunflowers, pretty trees, and gorgeous mountains in the background. The other place -- not nearly as pretty scenery.
Saturday night we went to ROLLER DERBY! The Mile High Club played against the Seattle Rat City Rollergirls. Usually they just divide the Roller Dolls up into 3 teams and play against each other and another Colorado team (we've always seen double headers until last weekend). This was FUN! The competition was stiffer and the game was more exciting. Our team won, but the score went back and forth and I was worried for a little bit -- Seattle has really good defense.
The best parts about the night were these:
1. In front of us were some newcomers to the sport, and they got REALLY into it. The dude, as soon as he heard cheering, would leap out of his seat and scream and wave. The chick finally put down her rhinestone-covered pink cell phone and started to pay attention!
2. At an earlier game, I entered a drawing and won a gift certificate to a Denver furnishings store called Mod Livin'. I was really excited! But it's kind of pricey, so we ended up getting a kitchen timer, and having to pay like $6 or $8 on top of the gift certificate. It's a cute timer, but we never would have paid $30+ for it on our own. Well, on Saturday, we entered the drawing again, and guess what! Jason won the gift certificate to Mod Livin'! Oh no! Now we'll have to find another cute kitchen item there. I wish we could afford some of the cool, mod furniture they sell, but we can't right now.
3. We saw a few people leaving with 5 minutes left on the clock. Um, there were only like 500 of us there so there really wasn't any problem getting out of the Denver Coliseum parking lot.
4. The halftime show was the Denver Cruisers, a group of people who get together every Wednesday night and ride their (sometimes crazy) bikes around in an agreed-upon area. They go in different directions, running into each other, and trying to push each other off their bikes. It doesn't sound like a halftime show, but somehow it was extremely entertaining and fun to watch! This was the moment when rhinestone-covered pink cell phone girl started to like roller derby.
Spanning the full range of classiness, on Sunday we attended Polo. Yes, with horses and riding crops and tally ho! (Okay, there was no tally ho!). We took a fancy picnic, consisting of mimosas, bloody marys, bud lights, a rotisserie chicken, brie, baguettes, crackers, grapes, and cherries. A lady there had a real glass for her bloody mary, and she remembered the pickle spear, so she beat me on fancy. We had keg cups.
The polo players were really nice, and so was everyone else. They invited us to their BBQ! It was fun to watch, and pretty exciting to see and hear the horses running so fast and breathing SO LOUDLY and turning on a dime. I would go again, and so would Courtney, but I'm not sure about Jason or Dustin.
I found out about polo from the book People Who Sweat, in which Robin Chotzinoff reported that Cream drummer Ginger Baker had moved to Colorado so he could play more polo. After the matches, he would play free jazz sets with brave local musicians. Sadly, those days are over. I believe he is now in South Africa (anyone know for sure?). Still, it's pretty cool to see anyone play polo, for free, with a great picnic and a great view, and some great company.
This weekend: nothing is planned. We may go watch some roller derby in Greeley tomorrow, but one of us doesn't seem excited about the idea. I won't name names.
I hope you all have a good weekend! What are you going to do?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Some Updates
Biking: we've gone three days in a row! My bottom hurts quite a bit less than it did on Monday. I still can't jump up a curb or ride with no hands.
Jogging: I've only gone 4 times this summer, but I DO feel guilty about not going.
Jobs applied for:
11. Compliance Specialist
11.1 Compliance Specialist again, after they revised the job description
12. Paralegal Specialist
13. Paralegal Specialist
14. Clerk
15. Secretary
16. HR Assistant
17. Temp Agency
It seems like WAY more than 17. I'll never to get to 100!
The Neighborhood:
Rattail's family is being evicted from their 2-bedroom townhome, with all 5 kids and 3 puppies. I got the dirt on them last night from their next door neighbor. Now, they seem totally happy with their life, but to me this is very undesirable:
* each of the 5 kids has a different father (even Destiny and Serenity, [who in my mind I call "SERENITY NOW!" a la Seinfeld] who look almost like twins).
* the parents are very proud of having 5 kids, because they get the max welfare benefits
* 10-year old Rattail has to babysit Destiny, SERENITY NOW! and 2-year old Teensy all day long so the unemployed parents can enjoy their unemployment all day long. Rattail is lectured on "having responsibilities"
* the kids are often up until 1:00 AM. I've gone outside at midnight and seen Rattail walking his puppies, inexplicably making them pee on the gravel right next to someone's house rather than taking them out back to the huge grassy area)
So, I wish them the best of luck AND I hope the next renters are quiet, polite, with no kids, and that they never park in my driveway.
Also, our next door neighbors are missing and a different family moved in with their baby for two nights and then disappeared without a trace. Mysterious.
That mean squirrel:
I saw it yesterday, crazily attacking the tree next to my driveway. I didn't approach, so it didn't have the chance to chase me.
Jogging: I've only gone 4 times this summer, but I DO feel guilty about not going.
Jobs applied for:
11. Compliance Specialist
11.1 Compliance Specialist again, after they revised the job description
12. Paralegal Specialist
13. Paralegal Specialist
14. Clerk
15. Secretary
16. HR Assistant
17. Temp Agency
It seems like WAY more than 17. I'll never to get to 100!
The Neighborhood:
Rattail's family is being evicted from their 2-bedroom townhome, with all 5 kids and 3 puppies. I got the dirt on them last night from their next door neighbor. Now, they seem totally happy with their life, but to me this is very undesirable:
* each of the 5 kids has a different father (even Destiny and Serenity, [who in my mind I call "SERENITY NOW!" a la Seinfeld] who look almost like twins).
* the parents are very proud of having 5 kids, because they get the max welfare benefits
* 10-year old Rattail has to babysit Destiny, SERENITY NOW! and 2-year old Teensy all day long so the unemployed parents can enjoy their unemployment all day long. Rattail is lectured on "having responsibilities"
* the kids are often up until 1:00 AM. I've gone outside at midnight and seen Rattail walking his puppies, inexplicably making them pee on the gravel right next to someone's house rather than taking them out back to the huge grassy area)
So, I wish them the best of luck AND I hope the next renters are quiet, polite, with no kids, and that they never park in my driveway.
Also, our next door neighbors are missing and a different family moved in with their baby for two nights and then disappeared without a trace. Mysterious.
That mean squirrel:
I saw it yesterday, crazily attacking the tree next to my driveway. I didn't approach, so it didn't have the chance to chase me.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
New Bikes!
The other day Jason went into the garage to see if his bike was ride-able. He filled up the tires and checked the chain. The bike has been hanging from a giant hook in the garage since we moved to this house, over two years ago.
He started to take it for a spin, but some part of the shifting mechanism was broken! Curses! Within 28 hours, we both had new mountain bikes. Within a couple more hours, we both had sore bottoms from riding bikes for the first time in years (a couple for him, and I think 12 for me, except for the time I rode a cruiser around inside his office building).
So far we've gone on a ride EVERY DAY since we got the bikes (TWO days in a row!). I haven't quite mastered jumping up onto curbs yet, but I bet I will within a couple more days.
I tried to find out local bike laws, but our city doesn't post them online. Maybe they don't even have any. The state says you have to have a headlight on the front after dark, plus side and rear reflectors. You can ride on the sidewalk unless local law prohibits it. You are like a car unless you get off and walk (you must yield to pedestrians and stop at stop signs). You must ride single-file unless you can see that you're not impeding traffic by riding two abreast.
You also must keep at least one hand on the handlebars AT ALL TIMES. I plan on learning how to ride with no hands, so I guess I'll have to get good at looking out for the police. They can't wait to getcha for LOOK MA, NO HANDS!
He started to take it for a spin, but some part of the shifting mechanism was broken! Curses! Within 28 hours, we both had new mountain bikes. Within a couple more hours, we both had sore bottoms from riding bikes for the first time in years (a couple for him, and I think 12 for me, except for the time I rode a cruiser around inside his office building).
So far we've gone on a ride EVERY DAY since we got the bikes (TWO days in a row!). I haven't quite mastered jumping up onto curbs yet, but I bet I will within a couple more days.
I tried to find out local bike laws, but our city doesn't post them online. Maybe they don't even have any. The state says you have to have a headlight on the front after dark, plus side and rear reflectors. You can ride on the sidewalk unless local law prohibits it. You are like a car unless you get off and walk (you must yield to pedestrians and stop at stop signs). You must ride single-file unless you can see that you're not impeding traffic by riding two abreast.
You also must keep at least one hand on the handlebars AT ALL TIMES. I plan on learning how to ride with no hands, so I guess I'll have to get good at looking out for the police. They can't wait to getcha for LOOK MA, NO HANDS!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Book 70: The Other
This is a very well written novel by David Guterson. He's got an interesting plot, good character development, plus all the technical writing skills down. He absolutely handles temporal changes with no confusion -- flashing back to multiple past times and coming back to present day. It's a nice change from Charlaine, who tells me a story that I can't wait to finish, with characters I really enjoy, but in a slap-dash way, and sometimes so technically poorly she'd fail if I were her English professor.
Guterson tells of two boys who meet in high school, one rich and one working class. They become friends and spend a lot of time hiking and exploring the mountains in Washington. The middle class one narrates the story for us, and he lives a sort of typical American life: goes to college, gets married, has kids, becomes a teacher. He continues to visit his friend, who has rejected all the bullshit of "hamburger world." The rich kid gives it all up to become a hermit.
Mr. Middle Class feels a little torn about not Following Through and becoming a hermit with his friend -- he understands that choice. But he loves his wife and his life, and even sort of "hamburger world" itself.
It's a great read, and I'll probably see if I can get my hands on a copy of Snow Falling on Cedars now, and his handful of other novels.
Guterson tells of two boys who meet in high school, one rich and one working class. They become friends and spend a lot of time hiking and exploring the mountains in Washington. The middle class one narrates the story for us, and he lives a sort of typical American life: goes to college, gets married, has kids, becomes a teacher. He continues to visit his friend, who has rejected all the bullshit of "hamburger world." The rich kid gives it all up to become a hermit.
Mr. Middle Class feels a little torn about not Following Through and becoming a hermit with his friend -- he understands that choice. But he loves his wife and his life, and even sort of "hamburger world" itself.
It's a great read, and I'll probably see if I can get my hands on a copy of Snow Falling on Cedars now, and his handful of other novels.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Book 69: Julie and Julia
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously, by Julie Powell. It's funny, mean, ironic, sarcastic, filled with cussing, and a lot of fun to read.
When Julie was approaching age 30, she was realizing that she had a dead-end job with no good prospects for changing that, a crappy apartment, and a condition that might make child-bearing impossible (though, ironically, she had sold her eggs so other people could have children). She decided that what she really needed was ... A Project.
This is a strategy quite familiar to myself. Sometimes working through a challenge gives me a break from whatever I'm supposed to be thinking about, but my subconscious mind will figure out some shit while I'm not paying attention. A project also creates a sense of accomplishment, even though what you've done might be silly or nearly useless or whatever. It can give you a sense of Purpose and Direction and Focus. It can keep you from giving up.
Julie's Project, to cook all the recipes from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year, and write a blog about it, led to her going on TV and getting a book deal! And she has another book coming out later this year, about becoming a butcher. Success! (Though based on the excerpt from her new book, Cleaving, she's still kind of flailing around trying to figure out what to do -- but getting paid to flounder).
The copy I got has photos of Amy Adams and Meryl Streep on it (from the movie). I would have preferred NOT to picture Julie as Amy Adams, so I should have found an older edition. But I DO like picturing Meryl Streep as Julia Child, so that worked out okay. As a caution, if you read this book, you will be severely tempted to speak in Julia's grating, up and down voice. I think I've only been doing it in my head, and not at the grocery store or anything. I assume it will soon pass for me, but I bet Julie Powell will hear that voice in her head forever.
When Julie was approaching age 30, she was realizing that she had a dead-end job with no good prospects for changing that, a crappy apartment, and a condition that might make child-bearing impossible (though, ironically, she had sold her eggs so other people could have children). She decided that what she really needed was ... A Project.
This is a strategy quite familiar to myself. Sometimes working through a challenge gives me a break from whatever I'm supposed to be thinking about, but my subconscious mind will figure out some shit while I'm not paying attention. A project also creates a sense of accomplishment, even though what you've done might be silly or nearly useless or whatever. It can give you a sense of Purpose and Direction and Focus. It can keep you from giving up.
Julie's Project, to cook all the recipes from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year, and write a blog about it, led to her going on TV and getting a book deal! And she has another book coming out later this year, about becoming a butcher. Success! (Though based on the excerpt from her new book, Cleaving, she's still kind of flailing around trying to figure out what to do -- but getting paid to flounder).
The copy I got has photos of Amy Adams and Meryl Streep on it (from the movie). I would have preferred NOT to picture Julie as Amy Adams, so I should have found an older edition. But I DO like picturing Meryl Streep as Julia Child, so that worked out okay. As a caution, if you read this book, you will be severely tempted to speak in Julia's grating, up and down voice. I think I've only been doing it in my head, and not at the grocery store or anything. I assume it will soon pass for me, but I bet Julie Powell will hear that voice in her head forever.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Little Bags
I love making these little bags. They are so simple and quick to make, but look so cute. It's very satisfying for the part of me that loves matching up the fabrics with the ribbons. I love the look of a stack of them.
BUT, I have cut out the fabric for a dress, which will not be quite so simple OR quick (though it's probably easy for a good sewer). I made a dress from the same pattern earlier this year, and it went quite well. This one will be made out of much nicer fabric, and I'm making it a little longer. I may cinch in the waist a bit more, too. I'm also debating adding sleeves, short or 3/4.
I doubt I'll have much time to work on it again until this weekend, but I'll be sure to get a picture up when it's finished.
Here is the pattern, from Simplicity.com. It's number 2925.
The fabric is Alexander Henry's Dewdrop in charcoal, with black shoulder straps (or Dewdrop sleeves).
Book 68: Real Murders
Yet another by Charlaine Harris. This is the first Aurora Teagarden mystery. Aurora is a tiny librarian who sort of fills out the librarian stereotype (no boyfriend, big glasses, spends a lot of time with her mother).
But she's also a member of the Real Murders club, which meets once a month to talk about famous true crimes. Guess what! A member of the club is murdered in a way that mimics a famous true crime. And then another....
As with all of Harris's novels, it takes place in the South, stars a woman aged between mid-20s and mid-30s, and the woman is pursued by several men after a long dry spell. The woman doesn't necessarily WANT to solve crimes, but she gets pulled in.
They're fun and somehow light even though they deal with such dark subject matter.
I only have one more Harris novel on hold at the library, and then I may take a break from her for a while. I can only read so much fluff and then I need something else. But I will be back to finish up all the series, eventually.
But she's also a member of the Real Murders club, which meets once a month to talk about famous true crimes. Guess what! A member of the club is murdered in a way that mimics a famous true crime. And then another....
As with all of Harris's novels, it takes place in the South, stars a woman aged between mid-20s and mid-30s, and the woman is pursued by several men after a long dry spell. The woman doesn't necessarily WANT to solve crimes, but she gets pulled in.
They're fun and somehow light even though they deal with such dark subject matter.
I only have one more Harris novel on hold at the library, and then I may take a break from her for a while. I can only read so much fluff and then I need something else. But I will be back to finish up all the series, eventually.
Baby Whale
I made another whale from my pattern and he turned out pretty cute.
He's a baby because I used a smaller hook and thinner yarn, but the same pattern.
Somehow his pink-lined mouth and big eyes look smiley and friendly instead of like, "I'm going to swallow you whole!"
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Farm Town: What Are The Ages?
I've become hooked on a silly little game on Facebook: Farm Town! Why it's fun:
*You get to arrange, and rearrange a little farm
*You get to buy all kinds of stuff, like barns and windmills, ponds, a river, picnic tables, and houses
*Sometimes a fellow farmer will hire a bunch of people to work on his farm and then he'll say, "What are the ages, ladies?" and I giggle and picture some swarthy Italian man trying to get a date on Farm Town. I just ignore them, but I am severely tempted to reply, "56.27, gentleman."
What ARE the ages?
hm.
*You get to arrange, and rearrange a little farm
*You get to buy all kinds of stuff, like barns and windmills, ponds, a river, picnic tables, and houses
*Sometimes a fellow farmer will hire a bunch of people to work on his farm and then he'll say, "What are the ages, ladies?" and I giggle and picture some swarthy Italian man trying to get a date on Farm Town. I just ignore them, but I am severely tempted to reply, "56.27, gentleman."
What ARE the ages?
hm.
Book 67: Shakespeare's Counselor
This is Lily Bard #5. I didn't read #4 yet, but Harris filled me in on the important things that happened in Lily's life.
Another quick read, and the first Lily Bard in which the title character (the counselor) isn't the murder victim!
Lily decides to join a support group for women who have been raped. It does seem to help her to talk about her experience with other women who don't treat her like a freak (Lily's attack had been gruesome and was highly publicized). But the counselor has a secret problem of her own, and Lily can't resist trying to find out what it is.
Lily is also in training to be a private investigator, working with her man from previous books, Jack Leeds.
Don't worry -- I'm also reading more serious stuff. I just got several of these at once from the library and once I start one, I can't put it down.
Another quick read, and the first Lily Bard in which the title character (the counselor) isn't the murder victim!
Lily decides to join a support group for women who have been raped. It does seem to help her to talk about her experience with other women who don't treat her like a freak (Lily's attack had been gruesome and was highly publicized). But the counselor has a secret problem of her own, and Lily can't resist trying to find out what it is.
Lily is also in training to be a private investigator, working with her man from previous books, Jack Leeds.
Don't worry -- I'm also reading more serious stuff. I just got several of these at once from the library and once I start one, I can't put it down.
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